Chapter 2: In His Element

A jet of light shot from Alastor's wand and shattered a foe-glass that sat on the shelf above the head of one of the intruders. At least ten wands turned and pointed at him from under dark black coats. He knew instantly who these intruders were, the black hooded cloaks gave it away. Death Eaters.

"Well well well Mad-Eye, not to old to notice intruders yet?" said a sleek voice he recognized instantly.

"I know everything that goes on inside and outside of my house. You ought to know Snape," Moody growled angrily.

"Of course," he sneered, eyes glinting from the slits in the hood. "Constant Vigilance right?"

"Kept me alive this long hasn't it? I knew you lot were breaking in."

"Hm… Maybe you did. Not that it matters much Mad-Eye, you can't fight like you used to. Even in your prime you couldn't fight the number of people that are here today/ Last time you tried to fight this many people I'm quite sure you lost your leg."

It was a low blow, but it did little to faze Moody at that point, at least outwardly. He was back to his Auror self. He was in his element, he wasn't that rusty.

"Aye, I admit it, but lived and that was damn shot better than a good amount of Death Eaters that day. I think it was three I took out that day?"

It was just a low blow but he didn't care. If they were stating the facts he had the facts of his own.

"That may be true but you will not be so true this time, leader for only a month and already dead? Such a blow to the Order Two of the oldest member of the Order dead so close together…"

"We have you to thank for that," he growled. "And for one, I'm not dead yet. Two, I have a feeling your master would be pretty upset if you killed me."

It was a life line, and some may have called it cowardice. Alastor knew that Snape knew about the letter, or at least that Dumbeldore wrote such letters to Potter. It was the only was he'd have chance of getting the letter to Potter. Voldemort would want the letter, and the only way he could get it was from him. In the end he knew it would end up being worse and more painful for him—they weren't exactly going to ask him nicely to hand over the letter. But there was no better chance of him possibly living, and then the letter getting to Potter. As long as Snape took the bait…

"Little you know old man. The Dark Lord wanted to come here himself, but more pressing matters came up. Though I can't see why he even considered giving you the honor of having him personally kill you. I can't see what he finds so threatening in a crazy paranoid old man like you."

"Maybe he does want me dead, but he wouldn't knowing what I have."

"What are you talking about?" Snape snapped irritably.

"You didn't get it did you Snape? The newest letter…"

Snape's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What is he talking about?" A Death Eater behind Snape muttered, whose voice Moody didn't recognize.

Snape shot a cold glare back at them but quickly looked back at Moody.

"You're bluffing…" he said stepping closer, his wand pointed at Moody's heart.

"How else would I know you didn't get it?" Alastor threatened.

"Another Order member told you they had it…"

"You know better than that Snape. We don't discuss who has it. The most we said was the possibility that you could have had it."

"It doesn't matter, we can just kill you can find it then."

Alastor shook his with a small smile, but kept both his eyes on Snape.

"Filimus Charm Snape. Can't kill me if I still have it, you won't get it. Imperio doesn't work on it either."

Snape's eyes glinted in a malevolently.

"Your choice…"

He gave the Death Eaters behind him a singal and the spell started flying.

"Alive now!" Snape yelled as a jet of green light flew over Moody's shoulder.

Several different spells were shouted at Moody, and he wa just able to evade most of the spells. Some of the cutting hexes managed to hit, but nothing too bad.

The spells continued to fly for sometime, breaking the countless dark detectors scattered around his house, tearing cushions, and causing stuffing to spill out from his furniture. Scorch marks littered the walls, and even though he was tiring, and barely dodging the spell Alastor had managed to stun two of the Death Eaters. Even though it did little good, he was still very out numbered.

Moody's magical eye was darting quickly looking at the other Death Eaters, his normal fixed on Snape. The traitor's eyes glinted shortly with an idea, and Moody instinctively braced himself. But what Snape did Mad-Eye had not expected at all.

"Accio Wooden Leg!"

Moody glared at Snape and tried to keep his leg from flying to Snape, but in trying to do so, and dodge spells he lost his balance. The wooden leg game undone from its fastenings and flew into Snape's hand; Moody fell to the ground with a thud.

Damned bloody leg.

He would have fought from the ground, but before he could cast another spell someone yelled 'Stupify' and the red light hit him square in the chest. He was illuminated in a red glow before falling the rest of the way to the ground with a thump.