A/N Thanks for the feedback. Send more and I will post more =)
Lots of little red herrings and comments the reader and Harry aren't supposed to understand are being thrown in the first few chapters. The story is going to move into the past shortly. Since the events of the past have already occurred for all the characters, it's only natural for them to make passing references to the past even if the reader doesn't quite understand them till later.
This chapter includes graphic violence.
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In the distance, he could see what had to be at least two dozen cloaked forms flying towards them. The moonlight glittering ominously off of their white masks clearly indicated they were not the cavalry.
For the moment, the moon and cloud cover appeared to be working on the Death Eater's side, illuminating the night sky too brightly to provide any hopes of running away. There were too many Death Eaters and they were already too close. No amount of Quidditch maneuvers would be able to prevent all of them from landing a spell on fleeing figures.
"There's too many of them!" said Harry.
"Then we will just have to even the odds, won't we." McGonagall fingered the pouch on her side, loosening the drawstring. "Potter stay calm. Keep under the cloak and don't make a sound."
Still approaching, the leader of the Death Eaters had a different idea.
"Accio invisibility cloak!"
Harry recognized the voice and the dark hair swinging around the face of the Death Eater that cast the spell.
"Kill the boy, but take the changeling alive. The Dark Lord wants to enjoy a bit more bed-sport before he's through with her."
Bellatrix Lestrange began to laugh.
McGonagall sighed. "Fine, don't stay under the cloak." She flicked her wand and holding the bottom of her pouch, emptied it's contents into the night air.
As the light-colored stone figures emerged from the bag they instantaneously expanded to adult size. Wings sprouted from their backs, enabling them to fly. Even including McGonagall's contribution to protecting the sorcerer's stone, no chess set Harry had ever seen was like this. All eight pawns held a silver shield in each arm and flew to encircle Harry and Professor McGonagall. The castles and rooks duel-wielded swords. The knights had no need of wings as their noble steeds were given those. Both knights had a shield and a lance. The Queen also held a shield, but in her other hand was a wand.
Since white always moves first in chess, the pieces did not wait for the Death Eaters to cast first. As if on signal, the seven chess pieces charged as one. The King remained behind.
The Death Eaters were scattered in a line that was closing into a half circle as they got closer.
The thinking perhaps being that once the two live participants were eliminated from the battle, their animations would cease, the Death Eaters at first ignored the approaching chess pieces. They tried to cast through the pawns at Harry. The order given had been to take Professor McGonagall alive. With her close proximity to Harry, the Killing curse was not used. Using their magical shields, the pawns were able to deflect most spells sent and absorbed those that could not be deflected. As they were stone, petrifying and stunning spells were useless. Imperius and Crucio likewise had no effect. It took a few moments for the Death Eaters to realize severing spells landed, but as the figures were stone, several were needed to disable a single pawn.
Ignoring the approaching pieces had been a miscalculation. They were made of stone and as such had the capacity for neither compassion nor mercy. Buoyed by their winged horses, the knights galloped to the opposite ends of the half circle with lances ready. The single line made it easy for the knights to fill their lances. Harry looked on in horror and wonder to discover no less than four Death Eaters could fit on each lance. Lances at capacity the knights simply released them, allowing them to fall thru the night sky.
Casting at the pawns, one of the more intelligent Death Eaters soon realized the easiest way to remove them from the fight was two well placed severing charms to remove their wings. Unfortunately for him, he was fifth from the end of the line and soon engaged in combat with a knight. The wizard's wand was soon of no use in the close quarter fighting as the knight ruthlessly used his shield to bash the Death Eater and interrupt his spells. Harry could see a similar display going on with the knight on the other end. Both knights managed to unseat their opponents, but one knight tumbled into the night sky still grappling with his opponent.
The still seated knight continued on to another opponent. Not to be outdone, the rider-less horse also returned to the fray. He reared on his hind legs and attempted to unseat broom riders with his front hooves. Those lucky enough to remain seated when his legs came down were greeted by his gnashing teeth. When the teeth managed to break skin, either by some venom or an enchantment, the victim was petrified.
While the knights had charged at the ends of the circle, the Queen headed for the center. The sword wielding castles and rooks separated and scattered in-between.
With the moonlight reflecting off of the steel of their blades, they were an impressive vision. As the castles and rooks approached and each removed their first enemy from the battle, one of the Death Eaters had a brilliant idea.
"Expelliarmus!"
The voice that had shouted was soon rewarded with the two swords his target had been carrying. However, unlike the two dull ends of a wand, swords have a sharpened edge. It was this end which greeted the voice, twice.
It was the Queen's actions which finally made Bellatrix realize the chess pieces should be concentrated on. The Queen was casting with her wand. Quietly and unnoticed at first, the Queen had been transfiguring the combatants brooms into ordinary muggle brooms. Several Death Eaters fell from the sky never realizing what happened because the change in feel and appearance was too subtle in the heat of battle.
Bellatrix however, noticed as her broomstick changed. The Death Eater beside her didn't have time to register what was happening before she had successfully unseated him and appropriated his broom.
Expressing the thought one of the other Death Eaters had had long ago, Bellatrix ordered, "Sever their bloody wings! Form double lines."
All of this happened so quickly. Each of the chess pieces was operating independently and yet in time with the others. Harry might only have the Transfiguration knowledge of a fifth year, but even he marveled at the concentration and pure power required to simultaneously maintain and direct such a production. Certainly Dumbledore had transfigured the statues in the Ministry of Magic and used them defensively, but this was much more than that. These were doing defense and a very impressive offense.
And the Queen! It took Harry only a moment to realize the constant muttering under Professor McGonagall's breath was both her casting spells and sometimes the Queen delivering them.
The pawns numbers were dwindling under the Death Eaters' continued fire. At the start, Harry had attempted to send a few volleys of his own at the Death Eaters, but instead he accidentally hit the pawns and his Petrificus Totalus had been harmlessly absorbed. When Professor McGonagall cast spells, the pawns knew instinctively when and where to move to avoid them. Not so with his spells, so Harry had just silently watched the on-going battle.
But now their circling protectors were lessened in numbers so perhaps he should try again. He was occupied, considering this thought, so he didn't notice until the second time Professor McGonagall questioned him.
"Harry, do you have anything in your pockets?"
Reaching in Harry produced a few coins.
"Count to three and throw them."
Harry did as he was told. He watched Professor McGonagall's brow furrow slightly in concentration as her lips and wand moved. The coins became ravens. They circled once before flying directly at the Death Eaters.
Once the transfiguration was complete her face returned to its previous intent, but calm expression. Her gray eyes were alive with an energy Harry had never seen before. Her hair had long since escaped the confines of it's braid and flowed freely in the night wind. Watching his Transfiguration professor in this most unusual setting, Harry was struck by a thought that had never before occurred to him. Minerva McGonagall was beautiful. He had always thought Minerva, with her counterpart Athena, to be the goddess of wisdom and reason. But tonight, watching Minerva McGonagall orchestrate this campaign, he was reminded that Minerva was also the fierce and ruthless battle goddess.
Watching Professor McGonagall, Harry missed much of what was going on around him. The Death Eaters had managed to remove the wings of the attacking chess pieces, but not without significant losses of their own. Realizing what the Death Eaters were doing, each castle, rook, and the remaining knight grabbed onto a Death Eater with their stone hands. The sheer weight of the stone statues was enough to drag down the cloaked figures. The chessmen remained locked around their enemies, preventing them from using their wands until both flesh and stone shattered on the ground far below. The two horses each bit a final victim before their last wing was severed. The Queen continued casting, but eventually she too succumbed to the same fate.
It was only after the last of the circling pawns were destroyed, when Professor McGonagall moved in front and took the "Crucio" meant for him, that Harry returned his attention to the battle. Professor McGonagall grimaced and closed her eyes for a second as the spell landed. With the spell still upon her, she continued casting her own spell. The remaining ravens descended on the still casting Death Eater and obstructed his view with their beaks and talons.
As that Death Eater was eliminated from the battle, Bellatrix and another Death Eater also cast the Unforgivable spell. The two casters were spaced far enough away that Professor McGonagall was only able to move quickly enough to get in the way of Bellatrix's spell.
The agonizing pain that had no discernable effect on Professor McGonagall caused Harry to lose his balance. He reeled enough when the pain started, that even though he was straddling his broom he still fell off. His fist had instinctively clenched, so he still had his wand, but the pain was too intense for him to focus enough to cast any type of spell to stop the fall.
For a moment the pain stopped and Harry felt a hand grab his wrist. A different, much lesser pain started in his wrist as the new hand jerked his wrist up and stopped his fall. Head down, Harry opened his eyes in time to watch a wand fall to the ground. Looking up, he realized it was Professor McGonagall's wand. After diving down after him with one hand wrapped around the broom for support, she had to relinquish her wand to grab his wrist.
As he scrambled up onto the broom behind her, McGonagall warned him, "What ever happens, don't let go of your wand Potter."
"Incendio!"
The few remaining Death Eaters were chasing after them. As the wood at the end of McGonagall's makeshift broom caught fire Harry shifted around to try to put it out with his wand. Still attempting to maneuver the quickly failing broom, Professor McGonagall shook her head. "Summon your broom back and get on it."
"Accio Firebolt!"
The broom flew right up to his hand. With a little difficulty, he was able to avoid the burning end of McGonagall's broom and swing a leg over to mount his own. Flying beside him, McGonagall attempted to jump onto his broom. Harry had to swerve a bit to avoid a curse. He was sure it had thrown off McGonagall's aim, but the sharp claws scratching halfway across his back before becoming hands, informed him she had found a way to compensate. Wrapping one arm around Harry's waist, the other hand found it's way to his wand hand.
When Professor McGonagall's hand made contact with his own, Harry felt a surge of energy pass through him. His whole body flooded with an incredible sensation. It was like burning, but without the pain. A pleasant tingling. An almost inaudible roar filled his ears.
McGonagall spoke and the color of the fire changed before the burning broom turned and went blazing into the cluster of Death Eaters. Harry realized she was casting spells through him.
The three Death Eaters whose cloaks caught fire when the broom passed by them tried to put the fire out with their wands. Harry didn't know what McGonagall had done to the fire, but whatever it was the fire wouldn't go out. With the masks, Harry couldn't be sure, but from the shrieks he thought at least one of the Death Eaters was female. Too late, the Death Eaters struggled to remove their burning cloaks. Not wanting to watch the fire spread anymore, Harry turned away.
Down to a group of only seven now, Bellatrix had finally had enough. "The hell with what the Dark Lord wants. Kill the boy and the changeling. Master has already gotten all he needs from her."
Whirling the broom around to face their attackers on McGonagall's command, Harry picked the nearest Death Eater,. He began to cast stunning spells. "Stupefy!"
The seven remaining Death Eaters were still in a cluster with Bellatrix in the center. All seven began to cast the Killing curse at almost the same time.
Harry had only a second to wonder at Professor McGonagall's choice of spells. She said the words so quickly, surely he couldn't be hearing right. "Accio Comet 260!"
Harry's spell was anticipated and the Death Eater he aimed at was ready to block it, but McGonagall's spell was too unexpected. As the Comet 260 broomstick a Death Eater in the back of the cluster was riding shot towards McGonagall, it knocked into the group of Death Eaters. They scattered like the tenpin bowling pins Chocolate Frog cards claim Dumbledore to be so fond of. All of the Killing curses missed their intended marks, but not all landed harmlessly. Two cloaked figures were enveloped in the green glow before silently slipping off their brooms. Harry's own stun knocked out the Comet 260 rider and off his broom before he could actually reach McGonagall.
Bellatrix, whose own spell had been one that hit a Death Eater, shrieked in outrage.
"Again!"
McGonagall, again in that super fast voice, called out, "Accio Nimbus 2001!" For a second, Harry marveled. He always knew Professor McGonagall was a very observant woman. At Hogwarts, it was commonly held that Professor McGonagall could spot trouble quicker than any other teacher. And she was an avid Quidditch fan. He just never realized how much attention she paid to the minor details of the sport. Of course, it helped that the Nimbus company clearly printed the model number on their brooms.
Again the last four Death Eaters all started to cast the Killing curse.
Stupefy was a good spell. It was short, easy to get in while others were trying to get out the longer Killing curse. It had been useful once, even if not quite how he imagined it, so Harry tried it again. This time the Death Eaters were so focused on McGonagall, that he managed to stun one. Even as the cloaked figure began the fall to the ground, Harry cast the spell again.
Professor McGonagall's spell went off first, followed quickly by all the others.
The front rider was the proud owner of the Nimbus 2001. Against his will, he moved forward as the spell urged his broom along. The front rider absorbed the Killing curse from the two behind him at the same time Harry's stun hit him. None were in time to prevent the front rider's Killing curse from going off.
Just as the green glow reached the front of the Firebolt, the long forgotten Chess King finally joined the fray, sacrificing himself so Harry might live.
The two remaining Death Eaters were no longer of the same mind. In an absolute fury, Bellatrix screamed out "Crucio!" as the other again tried the Killing curse.
Bellatrix's anger was so intense that the Crucio spell hit Harry with such force that this time he did the unthinkable. Not only did he lurch and would have fallen off the broom had McGonagall not tightened her grip around his waist and taken her hand off of his to brace herself on the broom, but as his hand spasmed, he lost grip of his wand.
Professor McGonagall was so intent on not letting Harry fall that she could do nothing against the other Death Eater's approaching curse. As Bellatrix released Harry from the Crucio spell, the only thing that stopped the Killing Curse from hitting was the arrival of a screech owl. As the mail owl swooped down, the curse hit it in the back. Harry only had time to note the neat formal writing of his name on the letter attached to the owl's leg before it dropped out of sight.
So much for Trelawney's predictions. Harry had always known the woman was a fraud. With two Death Eaters hovering side by side directly in front of them, there was no way their aim would miss.
They had fought valiantly. Against such incredible odds, it was amazing they had lasted this long. His only regret was that the woman who had killed his Godfather was not amongst the ones they had defeated. But now, Harry knew it was over. Both he and Professor McGonagall were wand-less. Surely a woman who laughed as she killed her own cousin would have no issue against killing an unarmed witch and under-aged wizard.
Bellatrix raised her head and laughed. "I really must thank you for a lovely evening. But now, I can't think of a better ending than…
The unknown Death Eater raised his wand and started the spell first.
"Av-"
Bellatrix started the spell too.
"Av-"
Harry felt McGonagall's arms loosen from around him.
"-a-"
Before letting go completely.
"-a-"
Suddenly, with a slight popping noise, the presence behind him on the broom was gone.
"-da-"
With shock, Harry realized Professor McGonagall had apporated away.
"-da-"
A skill he lacked.
"Ked-"
Not that he blamed her, after all no sense in them both dying when just he would suffice.
"Ked-"
Harry turned to look the masked Death Eater in the face. He would stand and face death proudly, even if the one bringing it to him was too cowardly to show their face.
"-av-"
And then he heard the pop again.
"-av-"
And Professor McGonagall reappeared. This time with her arms wrapped around the masked Death Eater. Her hands covering his hands. And pushing them up. Pointing the wand back at it's surprised holder.
"-ra"
The green light was still starting out of the wand. Professor McGonagall was transforming. Her impeccably balanced cat feet were pushing off the broom. Her front claws were extended. Her cat jaw was closing.
"-ra"
As the scratching, biting Professor McGonagall leaped into Bellatrix, the younger woman gave an inhuman howl of pain and frustration. The spell missed it's target and wandered off into the night sky.
The blood trickled from the bites on her throat, but more disturbing was the liquid seeping from her eyes. Blindly, she tore at the writhing form upon her. By the time Bellatrix finally managed to properly grasp the feline Professor McGonagall, what was left of her face compared most unfavorably to Mad-Eye Moody.
Bellatrix hurled the unseen gray and black cat into the night sky. Utterly shocked at what had just happened, it took a moment for Harry's Seeker reflexes to take hold. Diving into the night sky with his Firebolt to speed him along, Harry easily overtook Professor McGonagall. Clinching his legs around the broom, he used two hands to catch her around the middle.
After he leveled out the direction of the broom, she returned to human form. Harry kept his arms wrapped around her until he was sure she was steady. Even through her light summer dress, he could feel the power radiating from her with every beat her heart made. As her heart rate began to settle he let go.
More to have something to say than anything else, he asked, "I wonder how the others are doing?"
She nodded. After a moment she spoke. "We should start moving again." She apporated to the back of the broom to let the more experienced rider steer.
As Harry started to turn the broom around, he saw the figure in the distance. When the searing pain started in his scar, he lurched. Professor McGonagall's arms encircled him, now holding him steady on the broom. As her hand made contact with his flesh, the pain instantly stopped. Righting himself, he followed McGonagall's gaze, scanning the distance. The cloaked figure gave an elaborate bow before disapporating.
Harry tensed expectantly. After a minute, Professor McGonagall returned her attention to him.
"It's over for now, Harry. Let's go."
"But I saw him! Voldemort was here!"
She nodded. "He's gone now. He won't be returning tonight."
Harry was still alarmed. "You don't know that. How can you be sure?"
"It's not his way. He will find something else to do." There was a certainty to her voice that both reassured and alarmed him.
Lots of little red herrings and comments the reader and Harry aren't supposed to understand are being thrown in the first few chapters. The story is going to move into the past shortly. Since the events of the past have already occurred for all the characters, it's only natural for them to make passing references to the past even if the reader doesn't quite understand them till later.
This chapter includes graphic violence.
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In the distance, he could see what had to be at least two dozen cloaked forms flying towards them. The moonlight glittering ominously off of their white masks clearly indicated they were not the cavalry.
For the moment, the moon and cloud cover appeared to be working on the Death Eater's side, illuminating the night sky too brightly to provide any hopes of running away. There were too many Death Eaters and they were already too close. No amount of Quidditch maneuvers would be able to prevent all of them from landing a spell on fleeing figures.
"There's too many of them!" said Harry.
"Then we will just have to even the odds, won't we." McGonagall fingered the pouch on her side, loosening the drawstring. "Potter stay calm. Keep under the cloak and don't make a sound."
Still approaching, the leader of the Death Eaters had a different idea.
"Accio invisibility cloak!"
Harry recognized the voice and the dark hair swinging around the face of the Death Eater that cast the spell.
"Kill the boy, but take the changeling alive. The Dark Lord wants to enjoy a bit more bed-sport before he's through with her."
Bellatrix Lestrange began to laugh.
McGonagall sighed. "Fine, don't stay under the cloak." She flicked her wand and holding the bottom of her pouch, emptied it's contents into the night air.
As the light-colored stone figures emerged from the bag they instantaneously expanded to adult size. Wings sprouted from their backs, enabling them to fly. Even including McGonagall's contribution to protecting the sorcerer's stone, no chess set Harry had ever seen was like this. All eight pawns held a silver shield in each arm and flew to encircle Harry and Professor McGonagall. The castles and rooks duel-wielded swords. The knights had no need of wings as their noble steeds were given those. Both knights had a shield and a lance. The Queen also held a shield, but in her other hand was a wand.
Since white always moves first in chess, the pieces did not wait for the Death Eaters to cast first. As if on signal, the seven chess pieces charged as one. The King remained behind.
The Death Eaters were scattered in a line that was closing into a half circle as they got closer.
The thinking perhaps being that once the two live participants were eliminated from the battle, their animations would cease, the Death Eaters at first ignored the approaching chess pieces. They tried to cast through the pawns at Harry. The order given had been to take Professor McGonagall alive. With her close proximity to Harry, the Killing curse was not used. Using their magical shields, the pawns were able to deflect most spells sent and absorbed those that could not be deflected. As they were stone, petrifying and stunning spells were useless. Imperius and Crucio likewise had no effect. It took a few moments for the Death Eaters to realize severing spells landed, but as the figures were stone, several were needed to disable a single pawn.
Ignoring the approaching pieces had been a miscalculation. They were made of stone and as such had the capacity for neither compassion nor mercy. Buoyed by their winged horses, the knights galloped to the opposite ends of the half circle with lances ready. The single line made it easy for the knights to fill their lances. Harry looked on in horror and wonder to discover no less than four Death Eaters could fit on each lance. Lances at capacity the knights simply released them, allowing them to fall thru the night sky.
Casting at the pawns, one of the more intelligent Death Eaters soon realized the easiest way to remove them from the fight was two well placed severing charms to remove their wings. Unfortunately for him, he was fifth from the end of the line and soon engaged in combat with a knight. The wizard's wand was soon of no use in the close quarter fighting as the knight ruthlessly used his shield to bash the Death Eater and interrupt his spells. Harry could see a similar display going on with the knight on the other end. Both knights managed to unseat their opponents, but one knight tumbled into the night sky still grappling with his opponent.
The still seated knight continued on to another opponent. Not to be outdone, the rider-less horse also returned to the fray. He reared on his hind legs and attempted to unseat broom riders with his front hooves. Those lucky enough to remain seated when his legs came down were greeted by his gnashing teeth. When the teeth managed to break skin, either by some venom or an enchantment, the victim was petrified.
While the knights had charged at the ends of the circle, the Queen headed for the center. The sword wielding castles and rooks separated and scattered in-between.
With the moonlight reflecting off of the steel of their blades, they were an impressive vision. As the castles and rooks approached and each removed their first enemy from the battle, one of the Death Eaters had a brilliant idea.
"Expelliarmus!"
The voice that had shouted was soon rewarded with the two swords his target had been carrying. However, unlike the two dull ends of a wand, swords have a sharpened edge. It was this end which greeted the voice, twice.
It was the Queen's actions which finally made Bellatrix realize the chess pieces should be concentrated on. The Queen was casting with her wand. Quietly and unnoticed at first, the Queen had been transfiguring the combatants brooms into ordinary muggle brooms. Several Death Eaters fell from the sky never realizing what happened because the change in feel and appearance was too subtle in the heat of battle.
Bellatrix however, noticed as her broomstick changed. The Death Eater beside her didn't have time to register what was happening before she had successfully unseated him and appropriated his broom.
Expressing the thought one of the other Death Eaters had had long ago, Bellatrix ordered, "Sever their bloody wings! Form double lines."
All of this happened so quickly. Each of the chess pieces was operating independently and yet in time with the others. Harry might only have the Transfiguration knowledge of a fifth year, but even he marveled at the concentration and pure power required to simultaneously maintain and direct such a production. Certainly Dumbledore had transfigured the statues in the Ministry of Magic and used them defensively, but this was much more than that. These were doing defense and a very impressive offense.
And the Queen! It took Harry only a moment to realize the constant muttering under Professor McGonagall's breath was both her casting spells and sometimes the Queen delivering them.
The pawns numbers were dwindling under the Death Eaters' continued fire. At the start, Harry had attempted to send a few volleys of his own at the Death Eaters, but instead he accidentally hit the pawns and his Petrificus Totalus had been harmlessly absorbed. When Professor McGonagall cast spells, the pawns knew instinctively when and where to move to avoid them. Not so with his spells, so Harry had just silently watched the on-going battle.
But now their circling protectors were lessened in numbers so perhaps he should try again. He was occupied, considering this thought, so he didn't notice until the second time Professor McGonagall questioned him.
"Harry, do you have anything in your pockets?"
Reaching in Harry produced a few coins.
"Count to three and throw them."
Harry did as he was told. He watched Professor McGonagall's brow furrow slightly in concentration as her lips and wand moved. The coins became ravens. They circled once before flying directly at the Death Eaters.
Once the transfiguration was complete her face returned to its previous intent, but calm expression. Her gray eyes were alive with an energy Harry had never seen before. Her hair had long since escaped the confines of it's braid and flowed freely in the night wind. Watching his Transfiguration professor in this most unusual setting, Harry was struck by a thought that had never before occurred to him. Minerva McGonagall was beautiful. He had always thought Minerva, with her counterpart Athena, to be the goddess of wisdom and reason. But tonight, watching Minerva McGonagall orchestrate this campaign, he was reminded that Minerva was also the fierce and ruthless battle goddess.
Watching Professor McGonagall, Harry missed much of what was going on around him. The Death Eaters had managed to remove the wings of the attacking chess pieces, but not without significant losses of their own. Realizing what the Death Eaters were doing, each castle, rook, and the remaining knight grabbed onto a Death Eater with their stone hands. The sheer weight of the stone statues was enough to drag down the cloaked figures. The chessmen remained locked around their enemies, preventing them from using their wands until both flesh and stone shattered on the ground far below. The two horses each bit a final victim before their last wing was severed. The Queen continued casting, but eventually she too succumbed to the same fate.
It was only after the last of the circling pawns were destroyed, when Professor McGonagall moved in front and took the "Crucio" meant for him, that Harry returned his attention to the battle. Professor McGonagall grimaced and closed her eyes for a second as the spell landed. With the spell still upon her, she continued casting her own spell. The remaining ravens descended on the still casting Death Eater and obstructed his view with their beaks and talons.
As that Death Eater was eliminated from the battle, Bellatrix and another Death Eater also cast the Unforgivable spell. The two casters were spaced far enough away that Professor McGonagall was only able to move quickly enough to get in the way of Bellatrix's spell.
The agonizing pain that had no discernable effect on Professor McGonagall caused Harry to lose his balance. He reeled enough when the pain started, that even though he was straddling his broom he still fell off. His fist had instinctively clenched, so he still had his wand, but the pain was too intense for him to focus enough to cast any type of spell to stop the fall.
For a moment the pain stopped and Harry felt a hand grab his wrist. A different, much lesser pain started in his wrist as the new hand jerked his wrist up and stopped his fall. Head down, Harry opened his eyes in time to watch a wand fall to the ground. Looking up, he realized it was Professor McGonagall's wand. After diving down after him with one hand wrapped around the broom for support, she had to relinquish her wand to grab his wrist.
As he scrambled up onto the broom behind her, McGonagall warned him, "What ever happens, don't let go of your wand Potter."
"Incendio!"
The few remaining Death Eaters were chasing after them. As the wood at the end of McGonagall's makeshift broom caught fire Harry shifted around to try to put it out with his wand. Still attempting to maneuver the quickly failing broom, Professor McGonagall shook her head. "Summon your broom back and get on it."
"Accio Firebolt!"
The broom flew right up to his hand. With a little difficulty, he was able to avoid the burning end of McGonagall's broom and swing a leg over to mount his own. Flying beside him, McGonagall attempted to jump onto his broom. Harry had to swerve a bit to avoid a curse. He was sure it had thrown off McGonagall's aim, but the sharp claws scratching halfway across his back before becoming hands, informed him she had found a way to compensate. Wrapping one arm around Harry's waist, the other hand found it's way to his wand hand.
When Professor McGonagall's hand made contact with his own, Harry felt a surge of energy pass through him. His whole body flooded with an incredible sensation. It was like burning, but without the pain. A pleasant tingling. An almost inaudible roar filled his ears.
McGonagall spoke and the color of the fire changed before the burning broom turned and went blazing into the cluster of Death Eaters. Harry realized she was casting spells through him.
The three Death Eaters whose cloaks caught fire when the broom passed by them tried to put the fire out with their wands. Harry didn't know what McGonagall had done to the fire, but whatever it was the fire wouldn't go out. With the masks, Harry couldn't be sure, but from the shrieks he thought at least one of the Death Eaters was female. Too late, the Death Eaters struggled to remove their burning cloaks. Not wanting to watch the fire spread anymore, Harry turned away.
Down to a group of only seven now, Bellatrix had finally had enough. "The hell with what the Dark Lord wants. Kill the boy and the changeling. Master has already gotten all he needs from her."
Whirling the broom around to face their attackers on McGonagall's command, Harry picked the nearest Death Eater,. He began to cast stunning spells. "Stupefy!"
The seven remaining Death Eaters were still in a cluster with Bellatrix in the center. All seven began to cast the Killing curse at almost the same time.
Harry had only a second to wonder at Professor McGonagall's choice of spells. She said the words so quickly, surely he couldn't be hearing right. "Accio Comet 260!"
Harry's spell was anticipated and the Death Eater he aimed at was ready to block it, but McGonagall's spell was too unexpected. As the Comet 260 broomstick a Death Eater in the back of the cluster was riding shot towards McGonagall, it knocked into the group of Death Eaters. They scattered like the tenpin bowling pins Chocolate Frog cards claim Dumbledore to be so fond of. All of the Killing curses missed their intended marks, but not all landed harmlessly. Two cloaked figures were enveloped in the green glow before silently slipping off their brooms. Harry's own stun knocked out the Comet 260 rider and off his broom before he could actually reach McGonagall.
Bellatrix, whose own spell had been one that hit a Death Eater, shrieked in outrage.
"Again!"
McGonagall, again in that super fast voice, called out, "Accio Nimbus 2001!" For a second, Harry marveled. He always knew Professor McGonagall was a very observant woman. At Hogwarts, it was commonly held that Professor McGonagall could spot trouble quicker than any other teacher. And she was an avid Quidditch fan. He just never realized how much attention she paid to the minor details of the sport. Of course, it helped that the Nimbus company clearly printed the model number on their brooms.
Again the last four Death Eaters all started to cast the Killing curse.
Stupefy was a good spell. It was short, easy to get in while others were trying to get out the longer Killing curse. It had been useful once, even if not quite how he imagined it, so Harry tried it again. This time the Death Eaters were so focused on McGonagall, that he managed to stun one. Even as the cloaked figure began the fall to the ground, Harry cast the spell again.
Professor McGonagall's spell went off first, followed quickly by all the others.
The front rider was the proud owner of the Nimbus 2001. Against his will, he moved forward as the spell urged his broom along. The front rider absorbed the Killing curse from the two behind him at the same time Harry's stun hit him. None were in time to prevent the front rider's Killing curse from going off.
Just as the green glow reached the front of the Firebolt, the long forgotten Chess King finally joined the fray, sacrificing himself so Harry might live.
The two remaining Death Eaters were no longer of the same mind. In an absolute fury, Bellatrix screamed out "Crucio!" as the other again tried the Killing curse.
Bellatrix's anger was so intense that the Crucio spell hit Harry with such force that this time he did the unthinkable. Not only did he lurch and would have fallen off the broom had McGonagall not tightened her grip around his waist and taken her hand off of his to brace herself on the broom, but as his hand spasmed, he lost grip of his wand.
Professor McGonagall was so intent on not letting Harry fall that she could do nothing against the other Death Eater's approaching curse. As Bellatrix released Harry from the Crucio spell, the only thing that stopped the Killing Curse from hitting was the arrival of a screech owl. As the mail owl swooped down, the curse hit it in the back. Harry only had time to note the neat formal writing of his name on the letter attached to the owl's leg before it dropped out of sight.
So much for Trelawney's predictions. Harry had always known the woman was a fraud. With two Death Eaters hovering side by side directly in front of them, there was no way their aim would miss.
They had fought valiantly. Against such incredible odds, it was amazing they had lasted this long. His only regret was that the woman who had killed his Godfather was not amongst the ones they had defeated. But now, Harry knew it was over. Both he and Professor McGonagall were wand-less. Surely a woman who laughed as she killed her own cousin would have no issue against killing an unarmed witch and under-aged wizard.
Bellatrix raised her head and laughed. "I really must thank you for a lovely evening. But now, I can't think of a better ending than…
The unknown Death Eater raised his wand and started the spell first.
"Av-"
Bellatrix started the spell too.
"Av-"
Harry felt McGonagall's arms loosen from around him.
"-a-"
Before letting go completely.
"-a-"
Suddenly, with a slight popping noise, the presence behind him on the broom was gone.
"-da-"
With shock, Harry realized Professor McGonagall had apporated away.
"-da-"
A skill he lacked.
"Ked-"
Not that he blamed her, after all no sense in them both dying when just he would suffice.
"Ked-"
Harry turned to look the masked Death Eater in the face. He would stand and face death proudly, even if the one bringing it to him was too cowardly to show their face.
"-av-"
And then he heard the pop again.
"-av-"
And Professor McGonagall reappeared. This time with her arms wrapped around the masked Death Eater. Her hands covering his hands. And pushing them up. Pointing the wand back at it's surprised holder.
"-ra"
The green light was still starting out of the wand. Professor McGonagall was transforming. Her impeccably balanced cat feet were pushing off the broom. Her front claws were extended. Her cat jaw was closing.
"-ra"
As the scratching, biting Professor McGonagall leaped into Bellatrix, the younger woman gave an inhuman howl of pain and frustration. The spell missed it's target and wandered off into the night sky.
The blood trickled from the bites on her throat, but more disturbing was the liquid seeping from her eyes. Blindly, she tore at the writhing form upon her. By the time Bellatrix finally managed to properly grasp the feline Professor McGonagall, what was left of her face compared most unfavorably to Mad-Eye Moody.
Bellatrix hurled the unseen gray and black cat into the night sky. Utterly shocked at what had just happened, it took a moment for Harry's Seeker reflexes to take hold. Diving into the night sky with his Firebolt to speed him along, Harry easily overtook Professor McGonagall. Clinching his legs around the broom, he used two hands to catch her around the middle.
After he leveled out the direction of the broom, she returned to human form. Harry kept his arms wrapped around her until he was sure she was steady. Even through her light summer dress, he could feel the power radiating from her with every beat her heart made. As her heart rate began to settle he let go.
More to have something to say than anything else, he asked, "I wonder how the others are doing?"
She nodded. After a moment she spoke. "We should start moving again." She apporated to the back of the broom to let the more experienced rider steer.
As Harry started to turn the broom around, he saw the figure in the distance. When the searing pain started in his scar, he lurched. Professor McGonagall's arms encircled him, now holding him steady on the broom. As her hand made contact with his flesh, the pain instantly stopped. Righting himself, he followed McGonagall's gaze, scanning the distance. The cloaked figure gave an elaborate bow before disapporating.
Harry tensed expectantly. After a minute, Professor McGonagall returned her attention to him.
"It's over for now, Harry. Let's go."
"But I saw him! Voldemort was here!"
She nodded. "He's gone now. He won't be returning tonight."
Harry was still alarmed. "You don't know that. How can you be sure?"
"It's not his way. He will find something else to do." There was a certainty to her voice that both reassured and alarmed him.