A/N: Here we go again. And as you can see, I'm quick this time. YAY me. Things are now in motion and we are nearing the pinnacle of this story. So, please go on the ride with me now…

Chapter 35 – Tiger

Dionysos Foxtrott McGonagall didn't consider himself a dumb man. Granted he was no smart aleck like his twin brothers or so overly intelligent like his youngest sister, but he was not stupid either. However on this day, hastening down the steps of the Gryffindor tower, he was lost. He had not the faintest idea what was going on.

After several failed attempts, it had been Dumbledore to suggest that since they were Gryffindor-heirs and their manor directly connected with Hogwarts castle, there might be a standing connection between their fireplaces and the one in the Gryffindor common room.

The McGonagall siblings had stared at him and then at each other. Could it really be so easy?

But then another lurch accompanied by the creaking and groaning of the tortured walls had reminded them that their choices were limited. Thus, Uray had stepped forward and made the attempt.

A few minutes later, he had returned and disbelievingly told them that it worked.

There had been an immediate rush towards the hearth and only with some difficulty had they sorted a line of work.

Originally, it had been their intent to leave Dumbledore – safely, for his and their own good – at Albany House, but while running down the steps Dion didn't need to turn his head to realize that the former headmaster of Hogwarts was right behind him.

He didn't know if he should laugh or rant. Minerva would be furious once she found out, for it was certainly not to her liking to know the man she still loved was in the battle. Dion himself was rather wary of the fact as well, for he was not really sure if they could trust Albus. Yet somehow he had the feeling that a confrontation between Dumbledore, the Dark Lord and Minerva might turn out differently than they expected.

He had caught only a short glimpse of the Gryffindor common room before they had dashed out of it, but hearing Uray breathlessly say that young Mr. Potter was missing, he had an inkling that the boy had inherited his grandfather's hero complex and gone to battle. For a second, the odd prophecy shot through his mind. "The warrior shall turn to her…" Was it this young man who Minerva should protect? If it was really her to protect? To…? To what? Dion didn't understand the prophecy, it was too vague and there were too many variables.

Still, Hogwarts Castle was under attack. And his baby sister was trying to get onto the grounds to protect it.

As they finally reached the portrait that was guarding the entrance to the dormitory, Dion wasn't really surprised to see the Fat Lady in quite a state of agitation.

"What is all this balderdash?" she screeched. "First the walls begin to creak and shake – destroying my carefully done hair, I might add – then the students dash in and then this Potter boy and his gang dash out. And they did not take care of my precious picture." She added indignantly.

"Dear lady, please forgive the children." Dion heard Albus say in his most winning voice. "A situation has arisen that they feel they need to take care off. I will see to it personally that they apologize for causing you such an inconvenience once they return."

The painted woman huffed a little but then muttered with a wave of her hand. "All right, all right. I forgive them. But headmaster," her voice took on a whiny tone again, "see to it that this madness stops. We paintings cannot stand this upheaval all the time."

Dumbledore promised everything, then turned and caught up with the group that had stopped in a corner to draw a much needed breath. They flew done the staircases at a most frenzied pace.

"We need to check the headmaster's office." Uray panted. "He could be trying to orchestrate the whole thing from the center of power."

"What if he's in the chamber of Secrets?" Albus asked, gasping for breath as well, "or the Slytherin common room?"

"He's in neither." A dark velvety voice came from the shadows near a pillar.

The McGonagall siblings stopped cold. Dumbledore, who had run behind them, couldn't stop quickly enough and bumped into Uray's back.

"How do you know?" he asked the figure in the shadows.

Severus Snape stepped out of it, his face a barely held up mask of tension. "I checked the common room before coming up, to make sure that he had not employed any of the students. Then I threw a glance out of a window and saw him near the lake, gathering his followers to protect him while he's performing the spell."

The whole group ran straight for the next window that opened onto the grounds. Into the suddenly thick silence the gasp Diana involuntarily emitted sounded like the ring of a bell.

"There are so many of them."

Uray swallowed and had to make several attempts to get his voice in working order. "Where's the boy? I didn't see him in the common room." He finally managed to pant.

"Going to battle, I presume. Mr. Potter has a quite well developed hero complex, as we all know." Came the dark answer from the potions master.

"Come on!" Diana suddenly bluffed out. "Even with a hero complex he can't take on several dozen Death Eaters." She turned on her heel and ran towards the next staircase.

Uray looked after her for some seconds. "She's right." He turned to Albus. "I suggest you stay here." He said commandingly. "Min will have enough to worry about without you traipsing between the spells." With that, he took off after his sister.

Albus looked at him completely speechless. They didn't want him in the battle? They didn't want him to protect his Minerva? They cast him aside like a useless rag? Like he was only in the way? Anger rose in his soul. Anger…and madness.

So engrossed in his thoughts was he, that he didn't even notice Severus taking off after the McGonagalls. With his nose pressed to the window, he watched the drama unfold in front of his eyes.

Down in the yard, the Dark Lord stood prominently amidst his loyal followers. Nothing betrayed the fact that he was indeed the most powerful dark wizard of the century. His pale face a mask of concentration, he continuously muttered the spell that ripped at the very holds of the castle. That he didn't carry a wand made the performed magic all the more impressive. There seemed to be a halo of power radiating from his thin form.

There was a shift among the people around him as the group was approached by the teachers of Hogwarts who had their wands drawn and were ready to battle. A delighted murmur could be heard among the Death Eaters. So few teachers could be very well taken out immediately. The disparity in numbers was piteously against the teaching staff.

However, desperation made people's stronger an old saying said, and they quickly learned that it was very true.

The teachers had apparently practiced duelling and therefore quite easily disarmed at least a dozen of their enemies on first assault. The attacked Death Eaters barely managed to realize what was going on before the teaching staff had formed a new phalanx and started another assault.

However this time their opponents were more prepared and blocked the attack. And this time, some of the audible screams came from the teachers as well.

Albus, still standing at the window inside the castle, felt his heart constrict at the sight of Arameus Huntoon staggering and then falling after a silver blast hit him. His blood pressure rose to a boiling point when he saw Pomona Sprout falling to her knees and Xiomara Hooch jumping in front of her.

He could easily see that the battle was taking a turn for the worse. His colleagues were so badly outnumbered that their chances had been limited from the very beginning. But now they were dropping rapidly.

And Voldemort was still performing his devastating spell.

Yet he stood rooted to his spot even as he saw Diana, Dion and Uray, as well as Severus, running onto the lawn and join ranks with the teachers. They took one look at the stunningly familiar faces and then turned to cast spells with renewed vigour.

The group of Voldemort's followers was quite surprised at the new addition to their opponents and for a fleeting moment Albus wondered if Severus' choice to join the ranks of the Light Side would have dire consequences for the young man later on. Then he realized that it didn't matter anymore. The point where one had a chance was long gone.

For the umpteenth time during the last few days and weeks, Albus Dumbledore felt a never known weakness and desperation surging through him. He should be down on the lawn, along with his colleagues, ending this mess once and for all. Yet he stood there like a voyeur – watching, not fighting. In his mind the battle against himself was raging. He knew he had to get down there yet he could not move. Something was keeping him glued to the spot, something he could not name, not even feel.

Then suddenly his eyes were drawn away from the fighting scene below and went to look at the Dark Lord. The gaze of the two men locked and for only the crack of a moment Albus could have sworn that he saw the other man grin maliciously.

Something inside him snapped.

Power he had never known before was running through his veins, seemingly burning the tissue. All of a sudden it was no longer a problem to take the first step away from the window. Nor did it cause any trouble to take the next one, or the one after that. Within seconds, Dumbledore was running down the hall to face either his death or his destiny, whichever came first.

He never saw the group of students entering the lawn from the direction of the greenhouses. He didn't see them creeping closer and closer to the Dark Lord who was no longer surrounded by his supporters.

And he never saw the twin brothers with long flowing black hair who stormed onto the lawn from the Forbidden Forest, or the two women who were taking cover behind their running forms.

So, what do you think? Please, brighten my day and review. I'd really like to crack the 300-barrier. Thank you