Chapter Nine
With a great roaring rush of sound and light, Malcolm was thrown back into reality, and the chaotic anarchy of the battle. He was lying on his back, the Dark Lord standing above his body, a look of triumph upon his twisted face.
Of course... the Dark Lord thought he was dead. Quickly, quietly, he turned into his Animagi. Where the body of a dark-haired human had just lay, a large wild cat stood, it's back arched, eyes wide against the dark night. Malcolm purred with vindictive pleasure as he watched the Dark Lord spin around in confusion, searching for his prey. In a flash, Malcolm pounced, claws outstretched. With a yowl, he grabbed the Dark Lord's robes as best he could, and hung on for dear life. He watched as Voldemort lost his grip on his wand and it rolled away, much to the fury of its owner... he just hoped that Trip, or Ellie, would take the distraction as a chance to recite those two deadly words.
But they were otherwise distracted, Malcolm realised, as he looked 'round, his cat's eyes searching deep into the night. But it wasn't quite night anymore, the sun was rising; a reddish hue was appearing on the horizon. It was at that point that he remembered an old story his father had once told him.
"Just make it through 'till dawn, and you know you'll be alright." His Dad had been talking about storm's ships had to endure at sea, not duels with one of the most dangerous wizards in the world, but Malcolm supposed that his words could apply to either. It mattered little.
With a frustrated "meow" he transformed back into a human, and had his wand immediately upon the worthless waste of a man lying on the ground before him. The man laughed, an infuriating cackle which sent shivers down Malcolm's spine.
"Very, very good Reed. I had no idea you were an Animagi." Malcolm said nothing, merely aimed his wand closer. The fallen hero raised a single pale eyebrow, watching Malcolm's wand slightly dubiously.
"Surely you wouldn't kill me, Reed?" He asked, slightly mockingly, and Malcolm stepped even closer.
"Oh no." Malcolm hissed, a vindictive smile upon his face, so quietly that no one but the Dark Lord could hear him. "Death would be too good for you. It's Azkaban for you, "my Lord". The greatest punishment a wizard can bear... and you can keep the Philosopher's Stone. Then your punishment will be eternal." Malcolm was shocked at how much pleasure he drew from saying those few words. With a whisper to his wand, coils shot from it and bound the Dark Lord so tightly he had little chance to breathe, let alone escape.
Malcolm bent down and picked up the dropped wand, and snapped it in half. The phoenix feather within it fluttered to the ground, lost forever, just like the lives of the people the Dark Lord had so cruelly taken.
Malcolm stood there, watching over his captive charge, until the fighting at last died down, and all of the Death Eaters had been subdued. Most were bound in the same way Malcolm had tied their leader, but he saw a few who were still and lifeless, their broken bodies littering the ground. Malcolm felt a flicker of remorse for the men, but it was soon drowned by his bottomless hatred for any of the Dark Lord's supporters.
All twelve of his group had survived, though some were hobbling along with help from comrades, but otherwise they were mostly unhurt. Ellie and Trip approached, both looking exhausted, but smiling all the same.
"Look's like we made it, eh, Malcolm?" Trip grinning, as he embraced his friend. For a moment Malcolm stiffened, his instinctive British reserve kicking in, but then he relaxed, realising that they could all have died that night, and that he should be grateful for every moment he had with those he cared for. As soon as I get back to Enterprise, he thought, I'll write a long letter to Mum and Dad, and apologise for the fool I've been. And Madeline, I've been so stupid not to contact her in all the two years we've been out here. Then Ellie stepped forward, grinning just as Trip had.
"You were brilliant, sir." Malcolm, too, smiled back.
"Less of these "sir's", Crewman. I do have a name." She raised an eyebrow in a look of mock effrontery.
"And so do I. You know - "She was cut off by an extremely groggy Archer, who had only just come round from the Stunning he'd received earlier.
"Malcolm? What the hell is going on?" Malcolm glanced up at the other two, smiling slightly.
"I'll let you two explain..." Then his eyes lit up. "Or we could just go straight for a Memory Charm... who's the highest bidder?"
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