Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The second jet hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.
It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arc... And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind then fell back into place.
Voldemort did not want to tip his hand to the ministry or to the Order. He had carefully planned the events to cause confusion and disorganization. It required a mastermind to orchestrate the deeds he planed, unlike the sloppy methods his subordinates used. True, their outcome was horrific and served the need at the time, but each failed to cause more then a ripple of fear in his prey.
Toward the end of their seventh year, news from the Order was grim. There had been numerous attacks on muggles and wizards since Cho Chang was murdered last June, the explosion in Marseille when Beauxbatons Academy of Magic was attacked shook those in Europe, and when the news broke from America, the reach of the Dark Wizard was known. Hagrid had found Madame Maximes body or most of it, in the rubble of the school she loved dearly. He had stayed for nearly a year to help rebuild the school. When he returned to Hogwarts, he had a new conviction and desire to help rid the world of this evil. The attack and the murder of one of their own also caused turmoil in the smaller communities of Giants, some were promised no harm would fal on them if they remained neutral, but this was an attack on one of their own.
Draco had been summoned to Hogsmeade under a suspicious request, one he refused to share. He had left the school without permission or notice and was not seen or heard from again.
The deaths in Florida had served their purpose, to draw on the recourses and weaken the defenses of the Order, but now enough for his plans to work. He knew more had to be drawn away before he could strike. That was another link in his master plan, he had dispatched two of him most trusted followers to capture and hold certain hostages.
The two that had been sent to accomplish that task managed to plan their timing to the exact second, an unnoticed spy had slipped through the defenses and signaled his allies when the two guardians had both momentarily left the building unprotected, the more experienced of the pair, Kingsley Shacklebolt, left momentarily to report to Dumbledore from a secured fireplace in the vacant house across the street, leaving an inexperienced Hestia Jones on guard. When he returned moments later, she had been killed.
In London, a group of muggles had been attacked. The reports credited them to local gangs fighting for control of portions of the inner city. Moody had witnessed the attacks and knew it was a group of Death Eaters that organized the local gangs to fight. Some muggle families in Little Whinging had also been attacked, and a report of a large young man was found dead in a park near Privet Drive.
That last piece of news was kept from Harry.
It was a pleasant morning, like most others, they were up and about quite early as was their daily habit. This spring morning brought an unusual freshness in the air she had missed most of the winter. She hummed a light tune as she prepared the morning's meal of toast and tea while her husband was busy preparing for the day's patients for the dentistry practice they shared.
The rustle of the shrubs outside followed by a dull thud went unnoticed by the occupants of the home, until the rear kitchen door exploded from its hinges.
"Who the HELL do you think you---"
"SILENCE! Where's the mudblood bitch, muggle?"
"HOW DARE YOU SPEA----"
"CRUCIO---"
"CRUCIO---" Alex Granger was hit with the full force of the two torture spells from the pair of assailants, causing all his muscles to tense and relax at an incredible rate, almost causing his flesh to vibrate. As the pain instantly coursed through his body, the force slammed him into the kitchen wall. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, from the ruptured vessels in his mouth and sinuses, and from the corners of his eyes. His eyes gazed to his wife who stood in shock at the attack, but he was unable to even mouth a last word, or move his head. Every bone in the poor man's body was shattered from the impact with the brick wall and the doubled curse. The sounds of crunching bone sickened his wife as she watched his body fall limp to the floor. Each sharp shard of bone sliced into his flesh.
"NOO…" she cried as she ran to his side.
"Damn muggle… STUPEFY…" a beam erupted from the Death Eaters wand, and hit the woman.
"CRUCIO---", the combined force of these two spells tossed her small frame into the kitchen table at an awkward angle, snapping her back. Although not as devastating as her husbands fate, the effects were certainly as fatal. She felt her life drain as the flow of blood from the injuries inside her body began to pool.
"YOU FOOL… He wanted them ALIVE! They were going to lure that mudblood bitch of Potter's into the master's trap."
The oversized Death Eater, Goyle, walked to the crumpled bodies, and kicked the dying man across his battered face before they turned and left the house.
It took what little strength she had left to pull herself to her husbands side to hold his hand as they both lay dying. He was more fortunate, as the extreme pain caused him to loose consciousness quickly. She was grateful for that. Her last thoughts she had as life slipped from her broken body were for her daughters safety. She knew Hermione could feel the pain she was suffering now, as they shared a special bond between mother and daughter. They always knew when one or the other was in pain or trouble.
As the minutes slowly ticked by, she held the broken hand she took 'until death us do part', raised it to her lips, and gave him one last kiss.
She had visions of a baby being placed in her arms; bright honey brown eyes stared into a new mother's eyes, a tiny hand reached out to grab a handful of hair as a kindly old man handing her a teddy bear, "A gift from the staff".
The pain increased.
She watched a young girl playing happily with her father, the long brown curls bouncing with joy as the two chased each other in the yard.
The visions dimmed.
She watched a self-confident girl climb the steps to the train taking her to a new, special school.
The edges began to fade.
She saw the girls eye gleam with joy when a she met a young boy on a busy street.
The sharp pain faded to a dull throb, her breathing became labored.
She saw her daughter smile as she and a young man with jet black hair approached them in the crowded airport terminal, glowing with love.
She saw a thin line of light.
There was no more pain.
As she passed to the next life, she saw a jagged blade pierce a young woman's breast allowing her blood to spill from her body. Her last breath escaped from her lips as a scream of pain for the young woman. The last image was is that of a jagged scar, that sent a shock through her body severed her life from this world.
She never left his side.
good evening
In a small common room quite some distance away, a young woman quietly left the bed she shared with her new lover, needing a moment alone to make sure her plans had succeeded. She went to recover a few items she required to check her condition in the outer chamber. She quietly entered the room when she first heard a whisper in her ear, a voice from her childhood called her name, then a surge of pain coursed through her mind. She closed her eyes and imaged a dream, a terrible waking nightmare unfolded in her eyes as she stood frozen in the moment.
When the voice screamed in agony She fell to her knees and she watched her own father die, she felt a snap and pain shoot through her legs as she fell further to the floor. There she lay as tears burst forth from her face buried in her hands. Every sensation, every sight, every sound was shared between mother and daughter until the end. She suddenly felt alone and helpless as she felt the intense pain ebbed and vanished. She was vaguely aware as a pair of strong loving arms wrapped around her and pulled her to his chest. Her sobs broke the still morning light and there, weeping, she felt her whole being become numb for two people in her life that she had cared for, now lay lifeless and alone. She wept for her loss and because she alone knew an unborn child will never know a grandparent's love.
"Please, tell me what's wrong?" he asked. He lifted her in his arms, and turned to carry her to the bedroom just as Ron came out of his room when he heard the cries.
"Mate, what happened to her?" He ran to his friends side to offer any help he could. Even though there was nothing between them, he would still lay his life down to protect her.
"I dont know, she was laying here crying when I woke up."
"T-Theyre d-dead." She mumbled.
"Who? How do…" Harry carried her to their bed, with Ron following.
"Mum and daddy." She sobbed with her head on his shoulder. "Theyre dead." Her chest continued to heave in convulsions while she cried through her grief. "He murdered them!" She screamed as she beat her fist on Harrys chest.
"Hermione, Im here." He pulled her closer, stoked her hair and kept whispering his love for her in her ear as she sobbed. "My love, I vow to you he will pay. Ill kill him and make those he used to do this pay. I swear to you." He whispered.
All she could manage was to nod her head on his shoulder. They stayed locked in each others arms for the morning, she was unable to clear the images from her mind, the vision of her fathers broken body, and her mothers suffering lingered.
Ron left to bring Dumbledore. His council and advice did little for her grief. Harrys comfort was the only thing that calmed her in those first hours. Ron brought food to the room for them, since she couldnt move and Harry wouldnt leave her.
Harry sat holding her, gently rocking her in his arms most of the day, barely speaking a word. Long after the morning had turned to evening he whispered to her, "Mione, dont be afraid, you have nothing to fear. Ill stay here with you."
"Don't be afraid... Where have I heard that before?" She muttered in his shoulder.
"It takes time. Trust me I know. Ill be with you every second. You wont go through this alone like I did to myself." They stayed alone in their bedroom the remainder of that first day day and the next without any outside contact. She remained dependant on him for that first week, refusing to leave the confines of their shared common area during that time. He knew arrangements would have to be made, a task he wouldnt let her worry about. He sent word to the muggle authorities with explicit instructions to wait, that request backed by the headmaster. A sudden call from Dumbeldore forced him to leave her in Rons care mid way into her second week.
"Well? Are you going to be a blood-traitor and become one of them or join us?"
"Father, how could you do that to mother!" The younger wizard screamed at his father,
"SILENCE you sniveling retch." Draco felt the full force of his own father's closed fist strike his cheek. The signet ring he's worn since he became of age gashed the soft flesh of the young wizards face.
Draco sobbed at the loss of his mother, even though she disowned him for turning away from his father's wishes. He was frantic to escape the fate he faced, join Voldemort or join his mother in death. His brain swelled from the pain inflicted by his own father.
He was reminded of the decision he must make buy the sharp twinge of pain from a repeat blow to the jaw.
"Father, stop, I-I'll join." His brain raced for a way out, and devised a plan.
Before he could think, his arm burned in pain, searing pain, deep to the bone. Just as the fog lifted his mind, he watched his father replaced the wand back into the walking stick he carried. The next instant, he felt the cool smooth surface of the marble floor on his face, and the jagged shards of broken teeth cut the inside of his cheek.
"Go clean yourself up boy, before your new master arrives."
He pulled himself to his feet, and he felt the strength leave his legs as he blindly stumbled over the limp form of his mother. He managed to find a bathroom, closed the door, and began to clean his wounds. The blood on the back of his head from earlier has congealed with his matted hair into a thick scab. The twin gashes on his cheek were still tender and oozed blood. His eye, just above was swollen shut, blood leaked from under the lid. He poured a glass of water, and tried to rinse the damage to his mouth; he used his tongue to count the 2 missing and 3 broken teeth.
From the door he heard his father reporting success to the dark lord, as a single set of footsteps grew fainter.
His wand was still in his father's possession, so he had to think fast. He knew the house; this was his family's home. He'd seen Harry use magic without a wand, but he's never attempted that before. Then it hit him, the bathroom was adjacent to his old bedroom, maybe the wand he had before he started Hogwarts was still in the cupboard. He opened the door leading to the bedroom, and as quietly as he could, found the object of his search. "ACCIO NIMBUS…" His broom glided into the room without being seen. Without another thought, he shouted "Alohomora" to the locked window, and glided out of the home of his childhood.
He made good his escape, now if he only hold on till he can make it back to Hogwarts. The numbing cold of the air was a mixed blessing, although it chilled him to the bone, it also helped numb the fresh wounds and helped keep him awake. Once he made his way back to the dungeons of Hogwarts he knew what he had to do.
Draco managed to return to the safety of the school, landing in an isolated area of the school. In his current state, he was unable to move for what seemed to be an eternity; images of his recent ordeal flooded his memory, the image of his mothers face as she died at his fathers hands. He managed to find the talisman he was given, still in its hiding place in his pocket. He uttered an incantation and the coin glowed before it faded. Moments later, before the cold and pain forced his mind to shut down; he saw a pair of feet.
Harry had left Hermione alone for the first time since she felt her parents murder, he had been called away to the hospital at Dumbeldors request. Harry had begun to trust Draco the day he peered into his thoughts earlier that year, but he still had reservations about his loyalty. Draco also knew once Harry noticed the Dark Mark, he would have to explain.
"When did you get that? You know what it means."
"Yes, my father burned it on my arm and said join or die." Talking was painful sucking air through the gashes in his mouth. "That was after he murdered my mother. V-Vold… he was displeased with her because of me, and ordered my father to kill her."
"Draco, I understand. How much did you learn?"
Draco reveled all he knew of the impending battle. They had to inform Dumbledore. Draco made his choice, and he would stand in the ranks to be counted as a member of Harry's DA. Shoulder to shoulder with those he was taught to hate but had grown to respect, and there was one in the ranks he would lay his own life for, she stood by his side. Dumbledore and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix would soon be waited on Harry's flank, to be called when needed.
Harry returned to his rooms after his meeting with Draco, leaving his spy to recover from his injuries, to find Hermione in Rons arms, her face pale and shaky. His concern was for her sudden decline in health, having been gone an hour at the most.
"Hermione, are you ok?" He quickly rushed to her.
"No, shes been sick since you left. Cant hold a thing down."
"Im fine, Harry, might be a touch of the flu." She replied, trying to boost her moral as well as his.
"Then you need rest," he tried to help her to her feet with the intention of putting her back in bed, but she defiantly pushed him off.
"Im fully capable of doing things for myself, thank you very much." She snapped. She quickly rose to her feet with the same defiant air, turned to leave and wobbled as she turned. She instinctively grabbed Harrys arm for support.
"Ok, so Im a tad weak, but Ill be fine; I cant stand to sit in this room one more minute."
"Come on. Im tacking you to the hospital, theres something wrong."
"Nonsense, Im fine, and dont you dare force that womans probing on me, I wont stand for it."
They walked out the head boy-girl common room, for the first time in nearly ten days, for some air and at her insistence, something from the kitchens. The news of her family had spread quickly, Eileen and Jake returned as quickly as they could after the news reached them. Notes of sympathy flooded the hallway outside their door, weakening her mood all the more. They walked through the hallowed halls of their youth; that innocence has vanished forever.