Chapter Twenty-Eight

Unable to move or talk, Draco could only watch the next scenes unfold. "My family and friends, welcome. Tonight we shall succeed where our Lord had first failed. But with a plan he started before his demise, in which I had taken and played my part, our Lord will finally triumph. I have here a spell that requires the body of a rival. Ronald Weasley is the true spirit of Gryffindor, more so then Harry Potter could ever achieve."

Guiding Ron by the arm, Cho pushed him onto the right altar. Draco realized it was his right since he was the farthest from the only door. And Ron simply stared forward as his legs and arms were strapped down. A red-golden lion hide strip was placed over his forehead to symbolize being a rival, a Gryffindor.

"The soul of a virgin is required next. Susan Bones of Hufflepuff is also a virgin of the body, in which will strengthen this spell." Once again, Cho led another student to the right altar, making the girl kneel, facing the Death Eaters. Susan's head was covered with a veil of white, silver, and gold unicorn pelts, sewn together by the hair of a unicorn, symbolisms of the purest creatures.

"A sacrifice must be made as well to invoke the dead. The stronger the relation to the dead, the better. Who better then my best friend,his favorite child, Millicent Bulstrode of Slytherin." This time Lavender strapped Millicent to the second altar. Various cloths and herbs were placed around the body, almost as if offering a delicacy at a party. Acherry blossom's petals, which Draco realized was a favorite flower of the Dark Lord, adorned her face.

"Then finally, the mind of a childish one. Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw fits perfectly since she is the one of childish thoughts and ways." Luna was made to kneel in the same position as Susan before Millicent's altar. Over her head lay a veil of shimmering fairy wings sewn by Pegasus' hair, symbolizing the fantasy delights of children.

"A body to live and thrive in, a soul to guarantee immortality, and a mind to start a new life shall mix well with the sacrifice and the dousing of an ancient immortal creature's blood to sow the seeds of this binding spell."

As the hours slowly fell and the spell being invoked, a large group of Light members had finally reached their destination, allowing a tired snake to rush off for the shadows to rest. A weakened War Mage fell back against a very concerned Potions Master. Osiris had been taxing his magic and energy to reach the Zambini Mansion and now he was pushing his reserves to breach the heavily layered wards and magical traps.

"Now how do we get inside?"

"Give me a moment. We'll be inside shortly."

Severus wanted to say something but a doubtful part of him kept quiet. He cared deeply for the Mage but couldn't help but believe the Mage was still hiding something that could ruin his hopeful future with the infuriating man.

Gathering his stubborn will, Osiris quickly transported the group into an already crowded room. He sent them a message to not attack yet, not until he gave the signal. Which might not have been needed when a very well known figure sauntered inside, shocking them all,"Minister Fudge, thank you for joining us now."

Surprisingly, the middle-aged, grey haired, portly looking Minister was now looking quite healthy and confident, almost as if he was on top of the world, shocking the Light members even more. "You should feel honored. If not for me, your ancient's blood would not have been found. He did put up quite a fight but, thankfully, we did have a large batch of venomous Hydra's blood in a dusty storage, purposively left behind centuries ago by Dark magicians."

In the shadows, Isis grew angry. Her demonic blood soared in hopes to fight, even Thor was hungry to spill blood. Especially since he just now saw a drugged and chained Blaise Zambini. Even Lucas was angered at the sight of an identically treated Draco Malfoy.

As the Minister stood near the Malfoys, a smug Pansy lifted the two daggers high above her head. "It is almost time. This time, my Lord, you shall rise and triumph."

Just a mile away, something else was crashing through the heavy wards surrounding the mansion. Panting loudly, it pushed to find its target. The century old creature long for a taste of spilt blood. From its sleep it woke, over three hundred centuries of sleep, it woke with a desire to feed, a desire to kill, a desire to avenge when the tugging of its mind said an ancient spell would fail.

Mere moments from crashing a sacrificing party, Pansy delicately dipped both daggers into the hissing blood. Lavender and Cho levitating the vials, "With the dousing of the ancient, I call to thee."

Blood, hissing angrily, poured over the still figures to be sacrificed, covering them swiftly. No one dared to move or speak, even as Narcissa felt the tears fall, believing they had lost. "With the staining of pure silver, I invoke thee!" All three females surrounded the left altar, the one with Millicent. Each wrapped their hands about the two daggers, arms raised high.

Though barely aware, Osiris readied his allies, knowing the spell would backfire and call forth a beast the minute the daggers fell into soft flesh, Maya! You and Raja, take care of the students!

The daggers fell, embedding deeply into Millicent's chest. Draco tried to fight the chains and his drugged mind to save his friend but he was forced to remain quiet, docile, and unmoving. Especially when the sacrificing students suddenly began to scream in pain.

Something was wrong. The blood of the ancient had begun to steam and pulse over the bodies. Ron's body violently shivered as the two kneeling females fell to the ground, out cold.

The three ringleaders jumped back, neither sure what went wrong, "The spell should have worked!"

A furious Pansy whirled on the followers, "Who tampered with the spell!"

No one answered, at least they didn't get the chance when a very familiar voice called out two "STUPEFY!" spells. The lights slammed into the two elder Malfoy's, dropping them swiftly.