A/N:
Okay, here we are. Usual disclaimer applies. Don't read this right now if you can't deal with a little wait
- I had a hard time with this chapter, and am having a sorry time with
the next one, so it'll probably be an hour or two between them. Sorry :(
In this chapter, we watch the Order betake themselves to Stone Hollow for the planned rescue, and watch as the night goes…badly…
Chapter 12: The Night Goes Badly
Severus was woken from his dreamless, edgy slumber by the sharp pain lancing through his left forearm. His thoughts swirled round in his heavy, hurting head, as he tried to right himself on the mattress beneath him. The pain of the last few hours came back, pouring over him in hot, horrible waves, even as the murmurings from the room around him became audible –
"Right, Hestia – you'll go in Kingsley's group, then – " came the muffled, gruff voice of Alastor Moody, the dull clunk-clunk seeming to pass by Severus' prone form.
He closed his eyes as many other Order members hurried past, knowing well that he shouldn't have been delaying the awful return –
"Severus," A warm, wrinkled hand descended on his burning arm.
Dumbledore.
Severus Snape reared up at the thought of that name, all of his boiling, simmering anger at this whole awful situation suddenly beginning to pour from him in the form of magic, making the bare mattress he lay on heat up, even as he ripped aside the blanket that had been covering him.
"Severus…" Blue eyes filled with sorrow and determination met his, infuriating Snape all the more.
"The Dark Lord calls, Headmaster – " He spat out the name like a curse, not caring who heard, trying to rid himself of the thought, the possibility of having to hunt down his son – on the other side.
"Severus, please – "
"No!" Snape's cry echoed down the hall, halting Granger and the two Weasleys hanging pathetically onto her in their slow progress from the room. Ronald Weasley seemed, for a moment, about to make some remark, but a quick glance at Severus Snape's livid, pallid features, stretched with anger, made him shuffle his miserable feet and move on. Quickly.
Severus bared his teeth at the Granger girl, uncaring of Dumbledore's reproving look, of Ginny Weasley's reproachful, frightened one, of Hermione Granger's flinching guilt. Let them feel it, his heart raged within him, as he stalked back into the nearly empty drawing room, intending to retrieve his cloak and be gone. Let their hearts be crushed – as my heart is – is being –
Severus blanched in disgust, at his own pathetic snivelling. He felt too stretched, too thin, too wild with these unfamiliar emotions of despair and grief – guilt was familiar, an old friend, etched into the walls of his dungeon. This wild feeling of impending loss did not sit heavily in his chest – it moved savagely through his body, battering about his insides, making him want to howl with the sheer unfairness. He stooped, fetching up his cloak, slowly, making sure his valuable cases were still inside – still whole, not tampered with –
And at this horrible, stretching moment, feeling Dumbledore hovering in wait nearby, feeling eyes on him – it was Lupin – Severus Snape came to face with the hidden contents of his heart, and the shock of it kept ravaging his system, even as he began to inventory his potions, despite the burning, the infernal burning –
Possessiveness. Second only to what he'd once felt for Lily Potter – that foolish, enticing, confused young woman, trapping him between her legs and in the intoxicating embrace of her arms, ruining his revenge –
Smirking, foolish Harry Potter, stirring away at that stupid, stupid potion, beaming as if he truly cared.
Severus snapped the two cases shut, re-shrinking them and tucking them away within his voluminous, stained Death Eater cloak, before he put it on.
The unfairness threatened to strangle him, then and there. He turned on the old man beside him, because he could.
"Severus – "
"Don't apologise – you old – you – don't you dare speak, not now, not when you didn't see him lying there like a dead fish, screaming at me – you don't have the right, Dumbledore – "
"I ask you – " Dumbledore wearily tried to cut in, but Snape was having none of it, stepping forward, fists clenching spasmodically.
"You'd better bring him back," the furious spy snarled, ignoring the exclamation that came from behind him, stepping even closer toward his old master. "I won't vouch for my actions if you don't – if he is dead, and you bring him to me…" Severus Snape turned away, hoping angrily that the vise crushing his own heart was performing a similar action on Dumbledore's.
The old bastard, the manipulating old coot – he deserved to have his heart feel like it was being wrenched from his body –
"I understand, Severus."
"You don't – you've never lacked for anything, have you? I have – and if I do, after this night, pray – pray you do not see me again, Headmaster."
As Severus strode out of the room, an offensive, shabby arm reached out to block him from leaving. He turned on its owner, snarling –
"Tell me – you didn't say how he was…" Lupin's hoarse voice faltered as he cleared his throat. "Tell me – "
"You – you stupid bastard – " Severus began, wanting to – Merlin, he might as well tell him – the utter fool wouldn't let him go – he deserved this knowledge, for his folly – "FINE! He could barely stand. He poured with blood. He was incoherent, weak, skeletal – shall I go on?" He was almost shouting at Lupin now. "You fools – all of you! Must I relive what I saw? Take my place, Lupin – if you only saw – do you know – I saw him used – raped – by Lucius Malfoy – " bitter satisfaction soared within his breast as he saw his old adversary's drawn face blanch even further, " – with my own eyes! I'll give you the memories – you can have them, you utter fool – "
Severus tore his arm from Lupin's, feeling unsteady on his feet. He half-staggered, half-ran from the house, past Nymphadora Tonks' foolish, wide eyes, past the crippling sorrow on his foolish master's face, past the muttering words of the portrait.
He stood in the clear, cold night, for a minute, to clear his mind, promising himself.
He still had that Portkey, after all – if things went – badly – well, he'd use it.
Severus fingered the unobtrusive feather quill, baring his teeth at the quiet, unsuspecting houses around him.
Harry wouldn't be within striking distance of Dumbledore from then on, if he could help it. Severus put away the quill, and Apparated, touching his wand to the hated Mark on his arm.
It was time.
I only manage to keep standing, keep walking, by sheer dint of will, as Severus staggers madly from the house.
I clench my fists – it is almost too hard to keep from following him, from somehow Apparating with him – somehow reaching Lucius Malfoy and shredding his smug face –
I unclench my fists. It's a pity that fat bastard Veron is definitely dead – what I wouldn't give to have seen that – or done that – the anger in me reaches out to my consciousness, curbed as it is by the absence of moonlight. If there was only a way to transform at will – stupid curse, not being there when you need it, when you need to rip Lucius Malfoy's throat out with your teeth –
Or, preferably, Peter. Shredding Peter's poor excuse for a face would be almost as satisfactory – seeing as he's the bastard that got Harry here in the first place.
"Remus? Where are you?" Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice booms from nearby. He stalks over to me, shepherding me into another of those dank little rooms Harry and I –
Harry.
"Are you listening, Remus?" Kingsley demanded, glaring at me from under his thick brows. "We don't have time for daydreaming, understand – "
"I'll be fine," I grind out, unable to control the feral anger multiplying in my veins, easily breaking loose from its tight control at the mere thought of – of Harry – being – raped – "I'll be fine, Kingsley. Just get on with it, all right?" He shoots me a worried look, but gets around to the explanation, motioning me, Minerva, Molly, Arthur, Hestia, Dung, and Bill and Charlie closer.
"Now, Group One, headed by Mad-Eye, is accompanying Dumbledore to the Ministry for that meeting of his with Minister Orwell. As that shouldn't take long, they will meet us in the village near Stone Hollow, in Martin Cragg's house, if all goes well. If it doesn't, they'll scry us and join us, wherever we are. Now, listen," Kingsley growled, his eyes shining with wary anticipation, "Stone Hollow is very out of the way – deep in Waring Wood, and nigh impossible to find, if you don't have any idea where you're going. So we'll stick to simple, untraceable Four-Point Spells and low-energy scrying of Harry's medallion, and try and get there as quickly as possible. Our effort tonight is not going towards discovering Voldemort's forest holding – which is definitely at least within a mile's radius of Stone Hollow – but to rescuing Harry. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone nods fervently, mine being the most fervent. I finger my wand nervously as we file out of the room, Disillusioning ourselves one by one. I stay visible, as I'm the designated wizard to lead the party out of the house without arousing suspicion from watching eyes, with Tonks by my side, pretending to stay at 'home' without me. She sticks close, gripping me by the arms, far tighter than she would normally, a strange, wild look on her face.
"Tonks – I have to go – "
"No you don't – you won't be careful, will you – only throw your life away like the garbage you think it is, as if I'm not going to be in the same place, watching you die – " her voice is harsh, drilling into me, full of awful despair.
"I'll waste my life any way I like!" I grind back, worry and fear and despair and the need to kill tearing at my insides. I jerk my hand from her strong grip, ignoring the wrenching of my heart that accompanies it. Nymphadora is breathing harshly, angry tears only just under the surface –
"Why won't you listen – "
"I'll be fine, Tonks – I told you – just get back in the house, all right?" I turn away, walking quickly, following the nearly silent footsteps that accompany me, ignoring the new guilt that is swamping me. I promised, didn't I – I promised I wouldn't do this, wouldn't push her away, wouldn't refuse to see her hurt like James refused to see Lily's, but Merlin, it doesn't matter – with Harry gone, everything seems to reduce drastically in importance. His death tonight will tear me apart – tear everything to shreds –
God – we're doomed, aren't we?
I just thought of his death as a certainty.
I quicken my pace, dread settling heavily on my raging heart. We are doomed.
My hair turns a piercing black, not unlike my real hair, I am so angry.
You bloody bastard, I rage at his disappearing, shabby back. You think I don't care? You think I don't want to kill that Malfoy bastard just as much as you?
Feeling a snarl rise onto my face, which is rapidly getting uglier, I whip back into the house, slamming the door, bile rising up in my throat.
They all think I'm weak – too young to hear, too young to kill –
Even Remus, stupid bloody Gryffindor sod, going fiercely out to his death – I can feel it, this mission could easily turn into a suicide one – the potential is there, with us not knowing if You-Know-Who has already gotten his slimy hands back on Harry – if Harry is already dead, from his wounds –
God!
I slump against the wall of the hall, trying to stifle my loud sobs. I heard – I heard Snape, shouting at my foolish werewolf, and even at Dumbledore, just before he left, a puzzlingly angry whirl of black robes. I weep for Harry – this war of ours, this foolish war of adults, seems to tear every single thing from him, and usually by force.
That he was raped –
I curl my wand hand into a fist around the ten inches of birch in my robe pocket, my lips curling into a ferocious smile. Remus can have that traitor, Peter – Malfoy is mine. I stalk into the drawing room, ignoring the concerned, irritated look from Moody, who is gathering up some sort of bundle of paper, yanking my Auror cloak from the back of the chair it had been draped on during the meeting.
Malfoy will pay, I mutter to myself. Harry's first – first time – was supposed to be with Ginny, for crying out bloody loud – with a bloody girl, any bloody girl, or boy, for that matter. How will he stand to have anyone touch him, after this – if we get him out alive? That kind of torture warps you – reshapes you…I shake my head, leaving the room, coming face to face with an even more irritated Moody, who beckons towards the room across from us.
"Right – Tonks, hurry the bloody hell up, we're about to leave – " I follow him into the room, fleetingly noting the faces in it – Dumbledore's worried, weary countenance; the pale, determined faces of the Pritchards; Emmeline's sad, strained look; Eliphas Doge's angry, wrinkled visage.
"Keep your eye in, Mad-Eye," I snap back, shaking back my dark hair, shortening it as much as I can, while clustering around the old comb Dumbledore has just produced from within his subdued navy robes.
"Reconcile…" The password fades away as the hooking sensation of the portkey seizes us all.
We land in chaos.
The first thing we all think to do is raise shields – the Atrium is a bloody, dank mess, zinging and lighting with flying spells that thrum hungrily at our shields. Moody's good eye widens – good, he's in Auror mode, I can always see it happening on his face –
And so am I.
"Release – one – two – THREE!"
We all drop our joined shields simultaneously, firing sprays of curses straight ahead, grouping together in a tight knot of angry bodies, tight around the form of Dumbledore, who continues to grimly shield and deflect, shield and deflect. The power of his shields wash over us like stinging, powerful rain, making us nearly giddy with the feeling of invincibility.
"To the Minister!" Dumbledore urges, and we all comply, breaking and dividing at will, tearing through the massed Death Eaters that block our way, finally reaching the lift, which closes with a huge slam, and then –
"Headmaster Dumbledore – it is a pleasure indeed – "
Pandemonium rips through us all, drowning out the rest of those cultured words in the haze and smash of spellfire. Anger seems to coat me, soak through my very bones – it is a snarling, spitting hag that attacks Lucius Malfoy, behind me, wand burning with fire, entirely restricted curse on the tip of my tongue –
"Seize her!"
My fury knows no bounds – I hit out like a missile, ignoring the second clang behind me, the roars of Mad-Eye, the cries of the rest of my group – they won't take me –
And suddenly, a Portkey – two sets of hands still hold on, I can't believe –
" – you BASTARDS – !"
"Stupefy."
And I fall, hitting the ground, my consciousness draining from me…
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
I wake to pain –
"She's awake, Avery – you handle her, I've got to get back," a disembodied voice comes, from above me, as the pain stops coursing through my limbs. "The half-blood bitch kicked me in the teeth – Crucio – "
Oh GOD –
"…make sure she feels it, Avery…!" The voice calls out, merrily, going farther away. I shiver – I can't feel anything – that curse –
"Now, here we are…Tonks, isn't it? Andromeda's little by-blow, eh?" Hands squeeze – oh Merlin – "Nice body, too…wouldn't want to lose that, would you?" I can hear the smoke-clang of something nearby.
A brand, my brain tells me. That's the only thing he –
"You'll be thinking you'll be able to hide it, won't you?" Avery chortled. I grit my teeth – if I could only – Merlin, those ropes are so tight – "Well, little Tonks, I'm afraid not…" his disgusting breath draws closer to my ear. "…because you won't be leaving this place, alive – unless someone else has a – a claim on your further services…" He reaches downwards…
They trained me well, I scream within. I'll kill you – stupid bastard –
But he is already unbinding me, spelling away my clothes, touching me, squeezing my breasts so hard they hurt, laughing –
Accidental magic, I growl, within. Once he separates my legs –
Now –
Power seems to explode from me, made strong by the force of my hatred, turning his laughs into howls, shredding painfully through my ropes. I am weak, but I know I have strength enough for a little wandless magic –
"Accio wand!" I say, softly, my throat rasping – god, that curse – Avery snarls as it reaches me, it feels heavy, too heavy, but I don't care, I'll do anything to –
"Going to escape, are you, little Mudblood? You won't get away – too weak – " He lunges at me, but I've already decided, I've got nothing to lose now, not when Harry –
"Decedo roburis!" I command, my voice cracking – I've got to put my strength into this – Merlin, let it work –
Avery screams. I pant with anticipation.
Yes! Strength pours into my limbs like a flood – I bare my teeth – wasn't expecting a Draining Curse, was he – and stand tall, not feeling the harsh wind that blows into the room – barn – I don't know –
Lucius.
He steps in, looking shaking, peaky –
I know it's wrong – the curse is only restricted, though – he won't be expecting it either…
And my mind is made up.
"Decedo roburis!" I shriek again – his eyes widen in shock, his wand coming up to block – his Wall Charm fizzles desperately, as my Draining curse reaches through, bringing a feral smile to my lips – thank Merlin I chose this one –
"Annelli viris!" He shouts back, colour rushing into that pale, handsome face as he wilts. I laugh this time – his curse won't reach me in time, his Wall Charm is already collapsed –
Strong fingers grasp me at the throat, squeezing – I struggle for air – need to hold on – they're weakening –
I drop to the floor, almost at the same time as Malfoy does, spent from the draining effects of both my curse and the Annelli. I get up immediately, prowling towards him, spelling ropes – no, chains – onto him immediately, taking his horrid cloak – can't go naked, can I – revelling in the situation before me.
But, before I can say or do anything else – and I do want to – a frantic shout comes from without. I shift to Lucius Malfoy's disgusting frame, almost without thinking, casting an Obscurus charm on him, so that –
A frantic, shaking Death Eater breaks in, staring at my unmasked face in surprise.
"Lu – Lucius – "
"The Mudblood overpowered Avery," I snap at him, kicking the 'Mudblood' hard in the genitals. Good thing I spelled him silent, as well. "I got here just in time – what do you want?" The Death Eater gulped, but spoke. Hoarsely.
"The Master wants her before him – now – "
I shrug, fear hammering at my heart. God, he'll see through me in a minute – but the Death Eater is standing, shivering in the doorway, watching me sneer at Avery as I shed some of the bindings on the 'Mudblood', silently shooting a few choice charms at Malfoy and Avery while the shaking man looks nervously behind him, out at the shouts coming clearly through the door, the cracks of Apparation –
"Let's go." I levitate Malfoy before me, doing my level best to march like he does, the great poofy bastard, trying to ignore the bleeding men and women appearing around me. I've done what I can – I have to play along from here, and hope they'll not suspect I'm –
"…t-there are w-w-wards, my Lord," I can hear – Snape –
"Silence!" The monstrous figure at the centre of the circle turns this ay and that, looking – "Lucius – the girl – "
I step forward, levitating Lucius Malfoy into the clearing as roughly as I can, hoping –
"S-stone hollow…" Lucius mutters dementedly, all the while. "S-stone hollow…"
"She will say nothing else, My Lord," I offer cautiously, holding myself as humbly as possible. Surely he will –
"Crucio! I heard her myself, you fool…"
I cannot – believe – I can – hear – through the pain –
"Leave the mudblood bitch – there is no time," Voldemort orders, striding forth, parting the circle of Death Eaters like water. I can't believe I can still see – I stand, reaching blindly for Lucius Malfoy, meaning to plant a timed Portkey, so that – "Leave her, Lucius! Crucio!"
I scream – it hurts…so much…
I can barely stand – my brain thuds in my skull, my nerves are raw with pain – Merlin – I hurry forward, no matter how much I want to stay with that bastard, conveniently tied up as he is – I force myself forward, no matter how much my limbs shake, betraying me – Severus Snape is hanging back, a wild look in his black eyes, eyes that promise murder, but he turns from me –
"Ah – Stone Hollow – " Voldemort's – Merlin – happy tone reaches us all. My brain is dulled, I can barely decipher what they're saying – Voldemort keeps going on about wards – I am at the fringe of things – I reach blindly forward, into the clearing, feeling magic wash over me – there are wards – oh, Harry – I pull my hand back, hoping no one saw –
Suddenly, we are moving forward, into the clearing, Voldemort ordering us into position, laughing triumphantly even as an Impediment Ward curtails the rest of them, even me – only Severus seems to fall oddly – good old Harry – he surges forward, to the barn –
Crack – crack – crack – crack – crack – crack –
Apparation – the Order –
I take my chances, morphing back to myself, under the voluminous robe and cloak, and fire off three Stunners, power draining from me with each one – they all hit, confusing the Death Eaters, I can practically taste their surprise – "That came from behind – "
"Stupefy!" voices roar, ahead, and the battle has begun. I stay low, keeping my sights on that rickety barn nearby – not safe to join the other side in these robes, as keyed up as they are – I can duck in and transfigure –
An opening, Tonks, take it –
I dart around the strange, confusing spectre of Severus – he's duelling Remus, of all people – forcing myself to sneak into the barn, out of range of spellfire, crushing away my objections, my fear that Severus is really not –
Harry!
He's so thin – his eyes glow oddly, scanning my face in confusion even as he raises his bloody wand –
"Rudentis ligo," he intones, hollowly. I succumb to the ropes, dropping to my knees, my hood clearing my sodden head – I think someone got me with something –
"Tonks?" I change my hair to pink – Merlin, that actually hurts, someone did get me there – the ropes fall from me, easily –
Harry stumbles towards me, his breath coming hoarsely, rattling through his chest as he clumps forward, embracing me. He stinks of blood and sweat and – and – I hug him back, fiercely, tears pouring from deep within – I should have killed that bastard –
"Tonks – what – you're here – " Harry whispers brokenly, incoherent – just like Severus said – oh God. "Ow – you're – " I let him go hastily, holding him at arms length – he's so filthy –
"I'm here," I say lowly, fiercely hugging him again. But my hug is not so fierce – stars are dancing behind my eyes – and I am falling dimly, in Harry's arms, not really hearing his moans of dismay…
We were all keyed up – that's how I see it. I duck the branches snapping at my cloak – mutter a silencing spell at my body, motioning at whoever's nearby to do the same – keep going, fucking fuck my leg's playing up again.
"Carpo dolor – " I mumble, rubbing irritably at where my stump meets the wooden leg. I'm fast on it – I need to be, don't I – but it plays up at the worst times.
My heart sinks even further, as we draw close to the outskirts of the clearing around the valley that is Stone Hollow. Tonks was taken so quickly – stupid girl, going for that Malfoy bastard on her own. They were waiting for us, damnit – shoved us from the lift with spells, slamming the gates as they Portkeyed her away. I growl to myself, coming to a stop just before the clearing.
Someone knew, as always. Sometimes it's bloody annoying being on this side – being supposed to trust people when you really should be watching your backside, like Voldemort certainly is.
"Apparate forward on signal…" I say silently to the person next to me. He steps forward, nodding, twisting to pass the message on to the rest of the group huddled behind me.
It is Lupin, and my heart sinks further. Had to be him, didn't it – he can't be thinking clearly, not now, not while Tonks is somewhere nearby. I shake my head regretfully, remembering the argument we left behind at Cragg's. It had to be done, of course – couldn't leave him there, crying away…
I sigh to myself, wand raised, lighting.
I wish Dumbledore was with us – bloody craven Minister Orwell, keeping him –
– the rushing vacuum envelopes me as we all Apparate forward – well within any good wizard's repertoire, that – and spellfire erupts.
From the other side, at the other side, too. I smile nastily to myself as I raise my wand – I wonder who else isn't happy with that demented snake bastard – can't have been Snape, Voldemort's eye is always on him, what with the 'spying' he's supposed to be doing.
"Stupefy!"
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
I make for the barn with all my might, seeing a staggering, black-robed figure slip in there. They may know something we do not – Harry may be in there –
I slip in, too, after re-silencing my blasted leg. Wouldn't hurt – just in case it wore off, during the –
"Tonks – "
Great Merlin, it's him. Bleeding like a stuck pig – a pile of rags lies nearby, reddened with the same blood –
The hooded, black figure is on its knees, the ropes binding it falling away, pink hair matted with blood – it is Tonks –
She mumbles something at the staggering boy in her arms, and begins to slump to the floor. I move forward quickly, coming to a dead halt as the boy's wand trains on me.
"Ask your question, Harry," I order, at the surprised look on his face, a grin twisting painfully onto my face – I cannot help it, really, with him pointing that sodding thing at me, looking like a feather would give him a concussion. To his credit, he straightens, a weak smile crossing his face as he says:
"What did I help you with, summer last year, in the kitchen at Privet Drive?"
"You helped me rinse off my magical eye, Potter – needs a bit of that now, but it's hardly the time, is it?" Harry's smile widens, and he lowers his arm, breathing hard. I stomp forward to – yep, it's definitely Tonks, lying there at Harry's feet, mouth open, blood dribbling down her pale face. I shift her roughly over to the pile of rags – she's got a bit of a concussion, from the amount of blood in her hair, but it doesn't look serious. Harry sinks to a sitting position across from me, the movement almost boneless – unnerving, that – and stares, rather blankly, at the floor, as I whisper a crude healing charm at the Tonks' head.
"Took you a while, didn't it." The way he speaks – but it's only fair, at this point – he looks half dead. I shrug, too jumpy to let the slight hardness in his rasping tone affect me.
"We had problems, Potter," I reply, gruffly, shaking Tonks awake. Luck isn't on our side tonight – I've a feeling we'll be needing all the magical energy we've got, to be honest. "The Ministry was being attacked at exactly the same time Dumbledore had an urgent meeting with the Minister. We Apparated into chaos, spells flying everywhere – the Headmaster had to stay behind. Couldn't leave that bloody Orwell, snivelling on about where were his guards and so on…there you are, Tonks – how the bloody hell did you – "
A weak smile blossoms on her face as she speaks, weakly drawing breath.
"…knew someone got me…" she coughs. "Managed to hit Avery with a Draining Curse, Mad-Eye – and Malfoy, when he came in…" The smile turns nasty. "A glamour and a Babbling Curse later, and voila – he's me, babbling on about the location of poor old Harry." Seeing my frown, she continues quickly. "Didn't have time to use the Portkey, or try Apparating – someone came in, and the place I was held was crawling with Death Eaters…I just played along, pretended to be the stuck-up bastard, and that."
"Well done, then – I wondered who that was, firing Stunners at their own people." She grins weakly, trying to sit up. I look round to see Harry staring at us both, a wistful look on his face.
"You've got – you've got a Portkey out of here…?" he faltered. I curse myself – here we are, nattering on in the midst of a bloody battle –
Boom.
The barn wall opposite us flies apart, covering the three of us in splinters and stinking dust. A presence steps in, slowly.
I move to shield Harry, as fast as I can, bones aching with the force of that blast – he's crumpled to the ground now, won't be any use against him –
Because I know. I know it's Voldemort standing in what's left of that rotten wooden wall, and as red, merciless eyes seek me out, I know I am facing my death.
"Seco!" Tonks shrieks, from beside me – that wonderful girl – she catches him off guard, just a bit, with that bright, whistling spell, so I can hurl my own powerful Stunner at him. I stand tall, firing at him in tandem with Tonks, who has somehow gotten to her feet.
He laughs coldly as we face him, deflecting our attacks easily, red eyes intent on the bloody figure I do not dare to look at – he's amazingly fast –
...certainly didn't see that coming –
I fall heavily, pain shivering over my bleeding body, and he turns on a shrinking Tonks, firing off a luminous yellow beam of light. It could be anything, anything – duck, you poor fool –
Tonks screams – god-awful – what curse was that –
"Enough." Harry has risen behind me, even as Tonks shrivels to the earth, writhing in the yellow light. He doesn't say anything more, just mouths off a spell I know is restricted, darting over to the rags, withdrawing – bloody hell, he never told us –
The Sword of Gryffindor – I thought – Snape said something about it, but I didn't –
It glows redly, gleaming in Harry's bloody hands as he deflects, deflects, deflects. I stagger to my feet to join him, only to be knocked down by a stray, awful slashing spell. Voldemort is angry now – none of that cold confidence – Harry doesn't stay still, moving from place to place, a strange hissing seeming to accompany his –
The yellow beam of light emerges from Voldemort's wand, and suddenly Harry is screaming too, the blade of Gryffindor glowing a sick yellow now, and it's madness, madness – it goes on, and on, and on –
The blade falls, and Harry follows, streaming with blood.
I rise, foolishly – there's nothing for it, my stump is squishing in the wooden leg, and I know I can't touch this laughing monster, but I need to try, for Harry –
The yellow beam of light comes at me, and all I know is pain…
…and darkness.
A/N: You're not really reading this note, are you? I'm writing the last chapter as we speak, wrestling with it, more like, so it'll be up in one hour or so. On we go.
