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Oz- Who do ya think it is?

Chapter 16: The Ashoken Farewell

Persephone and Harry landed on the side of the house in a secluded spot near the large wrap around porch. As soon as their feet touched the ground she moved her hand to his mouth to cover it, shoving him against the porch supports she glanced over her shoulders to make sure they were alone. When she was sure they were safe she looked at him, furious,

"Harry! What in Gods name are you doing here!" she was more panicked and nervous than anything else, although her anger was high. He looked into her eyes, her lock on his arm getting tighter and tighter by the moment.

"I wanted to help." he said nervously, trying to change the subject he asked, "Doesn't this place have a secret keeper?" She wasn't swayed, her eyes were wide and angry,

"Help? All you're going to do is get yourself killed! I told you I would get your friend back didn't you think I could?"

He shook his head yes, too nervous to say anything that might upset her more. When he refused to elaborate any further, she shook him forcefully, "Answer me boy!"

He gulped, "I was scared for you, I wanted to come and make sure you got out of here alright." She shook her head and mumbled, "This is why Dumbledore shouldn't have told you." In full force she told him, "Go back to the castle and stay there!"

Feeling a bit more confident Harry shook his own head, no. "I wont leave you."

She let out an aggravated sigh and then suddenly, she heard voices approaching and the sounds of their accompanying footsteps. She looked at him in desperation and he merely shook his head no, "I'm not leaving you." he repeated. She moaned in nervous frustration, arguing furiously in silence Persephone finally grabbed his shirt collar, pulled him in and whispered a hidden plea, "Your Mother, her favorite flowers, ironically, were roses." He wanted to respond but she was too fast for him, donning her mask at last she covered him in the cloak and pushed him under the porch, quickly whispering, "hide!"

Harry rested on his knees under the porch and watched as she pulled her hood up and over her head, 2 Death Eaters walked towards her. He felt a small chill go up his spine at the sight of her in full "uniform," she looked completely unrecognizable and undoubtedly evil. She greeted the others with familiar hellos and played the part seamlessly, Harry was shocked at how easy she made it look to converse with her enemies.

"Lucius, is there something wrong?" she asked the Death Eater with silver hair protruding from his hood. He sneered and nodded,

"It is good, and dare I say it? Convenient, that you showed up right now."

She cocked her head slightly in confusion, "Lucius, I don't understand. What is convenient about my arrival?" she was adjusting her hood and didn't see him pull out his wand, nor did Harry who was at the worst angle to see it.

Pointing it at her he replied, "It is convenient dear because Desmond has already showed up."

She went to pull her wand but thought better of it, knowing that a fight would draw attention and perhaps allow them to discover Harry. She raised her hands in the air to show her defeat, Lucius used a curse to wrap her hands in tight rope cords that cut painfully into her skin, and caused her wrists to begin bleeding. He pulled his arm back and hit her jaw with all his might, she swiftly fell to the ground and hit the hard earth. Harry saw her fall, blood spurting from her mouth, covering her teeth and chin, he sunk into the shadows when he saw her eyes pleading into the darkness for him to stay there.

The Death Eaters boastingly told her, "It's off to the graveyard with you! Our Lord needs to talk about some things." He said, laughter rang in his voice. Harry could see the fear in her when Malfoy mentioned The Graveyard, before he picked her up and hauled her away towards the front of the house.

Harry new he had to get to Dumbledore, after almost 20 years, the perfect spy had been caught, and now her life was in danger. Harry had to find the one person that he knew could help her. Emerging from his hiding place he apparated with much difficulty to the town of Hogsmeade and didn't stop running until he reached Dumbledore's office.

Bursting in he explained to the old Headmaster (with rapid speed) exactly what had happened, Dumbledore didn't even have time to be angry with him or Harry have time to remember what he had said in this office earlier. All they knew was that they had to get to her as soon as they could, or she would be dead.

Dumbledore brought McGonagall to his office and had her call together the Order for a rescue mission, if he could help it, there wouldn't be any casualties today. Harry told McGonagall where to go and within a few minutes he and Dumbledore were heading towards the gates and Voldemort.

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Malfoy had taken Persephone's wand and released the body bind, choosing to shove her into the graveyard where Voldemort awaited her. At the sight of her being pushed towards him, he smiled,

"Lucius, check the grounds, she has an accomplice somewhere."

"My Lord? How do you know?"

"Because if she had been by herself she would have killed you about 4 times by now, with her hands alone." He glanced down at her and smiled a sadistic toothy grin, his sharpened fangs revealed all the way. Malfoy ran off to do his masters bidding, leaving Persephone with Voldemort in an empty graveyard, she knew there was no way of talking herself out of this. Her body was no use to her anymore, he wasn't interested. In all the years she had been a spy in his inner circle she had never known of anyone who came out alive from the graveyard. He chose it as a place for torture and eventual execution of any traitors that he deemed important enough to kill himself.

She prayed that Harry had made his way back to the castle, with baited breath she waited for Lucius to return with news.

She was on her knees, her mask torn off and her cloak hanging from her left shoulder, her hair was tangled where Malfoy had chosen to pull her along. Her face was covered in dirt from falling during the trek here and blood from the punch a few minutes earlier, and her hands were tied in front of her with an unbreakable rope. She did not look at him, knowing that he would try and read her mind, he couldn't know Harry had been here. Voldemort crossed over to her and took a white hand and began to caress her face, she pulled away, disgusted. He laughed.

"Now Persephone, we were lovers for years and you craved my touch, why the sudden change of heart?"

"I felt nothing but revulsion to your touch, I fought back vomiting every time you laid a finger on me. Why do you think that I wanted the teaching job? I could get away from you." He didn't look slightly hurt by this information, instead he leaned down and looked her in the face, smiling once more.

"Do you know what Persephone? You are going to tell me anything I want to know and I am not going to have to fight you for it now will I?"

Her steel grey eyes looked up into his and she suddenly, spit her bloody saliva, right onto his slitted nose, his face went into a contorted look of revulsion. She smiled, "It's a bit clichéd but I think you got my point?" She could afford to be insulting now, the only person he could hurt was her, which he didn't mind doing.

He stood and swiftly smacked her with all the force in his body, she tried not to move but the force, and pain, of the hit caused her to teeter to the side. Voldemort wiped his face clean and turned from her.

At that moment Persephone heard someone coming down the hill, two people actually, one seemed to be stumbling and falling. Voldemort looked up the hill and waited for the new arrivals. When they came to the bottom of the hill Persephone saw Ron, tied the same as she with Desmond not far behind.

Laying on the earth, she looked at Desmond with a passionate hatred burning in her usually cool eyes, he smiled at her and bowed his head in recognition. Her body shook from the pain of the ropes and she pulled herself back onto her knees, the blood from her face sticking to the dirt and pulling it up with her. Desmond began to laugh.

Voldemort took his wand and levitated Ron next to her. He was bloody as well, but it mainly looked as though he had fallen a few times, not that anyone had beaten him. The Dark Lord spoke, "Desmond, what do you suppose we do to the boy?"

She knew he was baiting her, but the look of terror on Ron's face forced her to act the part, so she played his game.

"My Lord, what would it take for you to let him go?" she tried to say it without rolling her eyes, knowing he was waiting for that question. He smiled,

"One thing actually."

"And what would that be?" she asked solemnly, her head still bowed, blood still dripping from her face. Voldemort crossed over to her once more, not dropping to her level anymore, knowing that would be a bad idea.

"Spy on old Dumbledore. Well," he paused, "For real this time."

She barked out a laugh, "No way," she paused, "But you didn't honestly think I would accept that did you?"

He shook his head no, "The niceties must be observed Persephone and now that they have been we can get down to business." he swung around and pulled his wand,

"First, you sit." he conjured a chair and she felt an invisible force pull her into and more ropes bind her. Ron was still shaking in the floor. "Usually now is the part where I do a terrible evil deed to show that I'm not kidding but I think we have known each other long enough that you don't need to be told that." The pain had subsided in her head so she gave a small grimace,

" You are actually right about something, good for you." He smiled at her boldness,

"Do you want to die? Because if you keep saying things like that you will die very, very soon."

Finally pulling her head from its position on her chest she looked at him and right into his eyes, "I have been wishing I was dead for a long time. You can only help me now."

"And if I kill the boy?" he pointed his colorless wand at the shaking figure of Ron next to her tied feet, her eyes fell and all was silent. She couldn't insult him any longer, it wasn't only her life she was dealing with anymore. "But this could be fun for awhile." His disgusting face went into a wide grin and his wand was between her eyes, pain overtook her. Nothing but pain, let me die, let him kill me, please. She prayed in her mind, she could hear him cackling and she could see through her blurred vision that Desmond was behind his master, laughing as well.

No, I cant do this, I cant give in. She wanted to fight the curse but it was so difficult. She could feel knives cutting and slicing her flesh, an intense pressure pushed down on her muscles and she wanted to throw up. Her body was writhing in pain, pushing down painfully on the cords that bound her, her screams reverberated on the sounds of the tombstones. She could feel Death reaching for her, she waited to see Sirius and then,

The Curse was lifted and she began to gasp for breath, choking on the blood that remained in her mouth. Tears of pain stung in her eyes and she looked angrily at Voldemort, who stood, towering, above her. He contemplated what to do with her, as she sat there breathing heavily, his attention turned when Lucius Malfoy came running back down the hill.

"My Lord, I am sorry but, we found no one." He panted, awaiting the punishment. Voldemort was bound to give him, Persephone sighed, wanting to weep with joy that Harry had gotten away safely. Voldemort turned to Malfoy,

"You will find them, is that correct?" his voice was dangerous, Persephone knew that tone too well, it meant he was about a second from killing you. Lucius's eyes grew wide.

"My Lord-" he was stammering to find the words, seeing Voldemorts favored Death Eater of near to 17 years tied to a chair being tortured was just a tad offsetting for him.

The Dark Lord spoke again, "I know what you are thinking Malfoy, and if you do not produce some kind of information within the next ten minutes I will be forced to tie you in a chair right next to dear Persephone here." Lucius's face was full of fright, he turned and practically ran up the hill towards the house in order to search for Persephone's companion. He turned his attention back to Persephone, whose breath had returned to normal, her eyes blaring into him.

"Now, lets see if we can try this again." He raised his wand once more at her,

"What do I have to do for you to send the boy home!" She yelled at him. He gave a hollow laugh, and smiled at Desmond.

"Now Persephone, I thought more of you. Did you actually think I was letting him go for anything? I am going to have much more fun killing him." he paused, "Or I could always give him as a gift to Amycus, what do you think Desmond?"

The Irishman smiled, "Why deny yourself My Lord?" Persephone wanted to respond but before she could speak she felt it again, pain, only the blinding, deep and scorching pain.

"Sirius I am coming to you." She thought, as all began to fade to black.

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Harry and Dumbledore were crouched behind a large bush, watching Voldemort and his…company. It was hurting Dumbledore to not immediately jump in but she seemed to be fine for now, despite the blood. If she was cursed again he would have no choice, but for now he waited for reinforcements.

Harry prodded his arm but Dumbledore brought a mysteriously bruised finger to his lips to silence him, "When we get her out she can answer any questions you have."

Harry nodded, obviously anxious, they had just watched Lucius Malfoy run down the hill and begin the report to his master. Dumbledore did not take his eyes off the scene in front of him but said to Harry, "Does Lucius have Persephone's wand?" Harry nodded once more, all of a sudden someone was behind him, Dumbledore didn't flinch and instead turned around to face the new person crouching behind him. It was Mad-Eye Moody, having much difficulty with staying low to the ground he had taken off his prosthetic leg so that a stump was supporting half of his weight.

In his gruff Scottish brawl he whispered to Dumbledore, "What do ya need me to do?" The Headmaster finally took his eyes off of the conflict in front of him and turned to his friend,

"Alastor, when Malfoy leaves I need you to retrieve Persephone's wand, he took it and she is gonna need it to help us." Without another word Moody apparated away to wait to spring a trap. The two remaining Order Members sat and watched as Malfoy was being scolded by his lord, Dumbledore said to Harry,

"When we finally do jump into action I need you to free the captives. I know you are going to want to go and free Ron first but you need to get to Professor Parker as soon as you can. With all due respect to Mr. Weasley he just doesn't match up to the dueling abilities that she has. Can you do that?"

Harry responded with a low yes, the pair watched as Malfoy began running back up the hill and Voldemort advanced on Persephone. Dumbledore began to fidget,

"Harry this is going to happen soon, with or without backup. Keep yourself out of trouble as best you can." Voldemorts wand was raised to her face, Kingsley and Tonks apparated in behind them as Dumbledore took out his wand and Moody appeared and handed Harry Persephone's. The Phoenix was rising from the ashes of the devils graveyard.

Persephone began to scream in pain and Dumbledore's cavalry came flying out to defend one of their own.

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Everything was beginning to fade, she knew she was screaming but she couldn't hear it all she could think of was Sirius. As soon as his face floated into her mind the pain succeeded, she blinked furiously to remove the blood from her eyes that the cut had let drip down from her forehead. She could barely make out an old man advancing on Voldemort, it took her a few minutes to comprehend that it was Dumbledore.

While trying to process this she felt something hard collide with her side, it wasn't painful, it just gave her a jolt and she turned to see, Harry. He was using his wand to burn through the ropes that constrained her, as soon as her hands were free she took Harrys wand from his hands and preformed a spell to blast through to rest. At last, standing Persephone glanced out at the Graveyard, Dumbledore and Voldemort were dueling so fast that they were only blurs. Moody was advancing on Desmond whose eyes were searching frantically for a way out, Kingsley and Tonks were sending spells at the Death Eaters streaming down the hill to assist their lord. A stray spell flew at the two boys (both were now free) and Persephone grabbed them both and took them to the ground.

Taking her wand from Harry she pushed them to the bushes, "Don't leave this spot unless you absolutely have to, send out as many curses and spells as you want but don't leave this spot." She stood and ripped the Death Eater cloak from her shoulders, she then ran to assist Tonks and Kingsley.

The three wizards stood and shot spells and curses at the Death Eaters coming down the hills until they finally got smart and began apparating into the Graveyard. Persephone turned to them and began with her true talent, dueling. It was Amycus, clad in full Death Eater garb, she smiled wide when she saw him.

"Oh I have been waiting a long time for this moment." she cooed at him. He had no time to respond, she sent a spell, royal blue flying at him as he sent a golden stream towards her.

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McGonagall had called Lupin to arms only 8 minutes ago and he was already on his way up the steep grade to Sirius's cave. He didn't like to apparate here, always fearing that if he screwed up his calculation in anyway he could not end up on the mountain and instead end up falling off of it. Once he reached the top he wiped the sweat from his brow and walked inside the cave, trying to catch his breath.

Sirius was asleep in the bed, his bare chest exposed with the serial number given to him in prison open to the world. Lupin went to his bed and kicked at the posts to wake him up, yelling his name at the same time. Sirius, always the deep sleeper opened his eyes and squinted at the room.

"Whassamatter?" he said, rolling back in the covers, even deeper than before. Remus sighed attempting to keep calm,

"She's been caught." Sirius did a double take and stared at his friend in absolute horror.

He had been waiting for this moment to happen for close to 20 years, he sprang from the bed, not remembering the fact that he had just been asleep. He went to his dresser and threw on whatever shirt he could grab first. As he dressed, he drilled Remus on what had happened.

"Where is she?" He said as he pulled on a pair of worn black pants that hung loosely on his hips.

Remus spoke quickly, "She is at the graveyard near Voldemorts family home Dumbledore and Harry are there now, waiting for assistance before they can attack."

"He brought Harry?" Sirius was incredulous, "AND he wants me to be there? Has he lost his mind or something?" (He was pulling on old and also worn black Dockers)

Remus nodded slightly, " Actually I think he has, but that doesn't matter to you right now. Dumbledore wants you to be near Persephone and, clearly, Harry. This is a good thing, take it for what it is and go save them." Sirius stood and grabbed his wand in his right hand not even bothering with tying his shoes, he just headed for the door, Remus right behind him.

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The battle was still raging, Amycus's corpse now lay limp and motionless on the ground as both sides took setbacks. As more and more Order Members arrived even more Death Eaters raced down the hill to join the fighting. Persephone had taken a permanent position, fighting alongside Mad-Eye Moody against Desmond. The Irishman was weakening, but he was a fighter through and through. Hiding behind headstones and trees the American and the Scot were having much difficulty trying to pin him down. Desmond laughed at them, even though he knew he had had too many near misses.

Kingsley was down and Tonks had taken to protecting Ron and Harry who were firing spells rapidly at any opposition. Dumbledore and Voldemort had been whizzing around the Graveyard for so long that hardly anyone took notice of them, except to get out of the way.

Persephone and Moody ran into a small group of trees after Desmond, they located him a few minutes later hiding behind a large oak. The two hunters flocked around the sides of a tree to corner their prey, Desmond sprung at her and she ducked beneath his arm and hit him with a spell, right to the gut. He doubled over in pain, coughing and sputtering onto the ground, she glanced at Moody to keep him there while she ran off to join the others.

When she reached the main battleground she saw that Dumbledore and Voldemort had stopped whirring around and had come to a stop in the center of the "arena." The Gladiators faced each other, Dumbledore, wheezing and shaking slightly was in front of Tom Riddles grave stone. Voldemort stood, his back facing the old ancestral home, out of breath and smiling a maniacal smile.

"Tom!" Dumbledore shouted, "What do you want from all of this? From today!"

Voldemort looked confused that Dumbledore would stop a battle when there were people getting hurt on both sides, good thing he didn't care. Voldemort shrugged his shoulders and laughed,

"Well the original purpose of today was to kill her!" he said, pointing to Persephone, "But it doesn't look as though that is going to happen now does it?" Persephone sprang to be at Dumbledore's right hand side, he glanced at her,

"No Tom, it doesn't look as though she's dying. She actually looks quite healthy to me." He laughed but Voldemort looked even crazier than before, his anger seeping out of him like lava. He looked at Persephone, standing proudly by Dumbledores side and he was overtook by hatred for the both of them. The battle raged on on either side of them and without warning, Voldemort sent Avada Kedavra straight at Persephone's heart.

The next few seconds were the longest moments that Dumbledore ever experienced, all the things that he had put his followers through, the lies, the lives lost, the families destroyed all came rushing through his mind. Even as he watched that light speed towards Persephone all he could see was the Potters, the Longbottoms, Sirius and Persephone in jail, Lupin being forced out of a job, Alastor on his wooden leg, Arthur Weasley lying in the hospital with his family hunched around him and it hit him. Why did these people follow him? He was just as manipulative as Voldemort, perhaps even worse. There was only one way to try and make it right.

He dived. The jet of light hit him square in the chest and he fell backwards, Persephone catching him and lowering him down to the ground. Time returned to it's normal speed and sound came back to him, the spell hadn't worked like it should have, but it was working. Dumbledore couldn't breathe, his hands shook uncontrollably and for the first time, he dropped his wand.

Persephone clutched at Dumbledore, trying to hold him up, his eyes were glassy and he was trying so hard to get air in. She crouched low over the body of her teacher, finally looking up at Voldemort, with tears fighting to emerge from her swollen eyes. She bit them back when she saw the Dark Lord, he stood, shocked at what had just transpired, slowly the other battles settled down, each looking at the impossible. All watching Dumbledore die.

Voldemort looked confused, as if his earth had just been turned upside down, the graveyard was silent except for the wheezes escaping from the old man on the ground. Voldemort shook himself out of his surprise and spoke to his Death Eaters,

"Leave!" he barked, no one dared disobey him, only the severely wounded remained behind, too hurt to apparate away. "He deserves better than that, to have all those people watch him die."

Persephone could barely believe her ears, "What are you talking about?" her arms were wrapped around him, clutching at his body and his life. "You've done it havent you? Go! Claim your victory, let him have these moments in peace!"

Voldemort, whose eyes had not left Dumbledore finally glanced around at the Order Members surrounding him. He became nervous and started to pull out his wand but Persephone spoke, "Don't do it, I want to strike a deal." At this time Harry came running up to the group and fell to his knees in front of Dumbledore, Persephone, now confident that he was taken care of stood and walked toward Voldemort.

The Dark Lord wasn't exactly nervous, but he knew he was facing a near to full order that was in the throes of mourning. He had no idea who to speak to, a leader would have to emerge, Dumbledore would never have left his beloved family alone. He watched as Persephone came towards him, she was a foot from his face before she began to speak.

"Both of our sides have suffered losses today, I know that. I also know that you respect him more than anything, you may hate him but that is one area you cannot deny." She paused and looked at Dumbledore, who was being held by a weeping Harry, the two seemed to be talking about something. Persephone went back to Voldemort, "I ask for 2 weeks, a proper mourning period for the entire country. There will be no attacks from us and nothing shall come from you. Is that understood?"

With those simple words, Persephone took control of the Order of the Pheonix and Voldemort realized it. He didn't even want to argue with her, he was still in such shock that the immortal Dumbledore was in front of his feet, dying. His lifelong enemy was finally gone, everything was going to change. Voldemort nodded,

"It is agreed, let me take my wounded and you all be out in 10 minutes. Is that understood?" Voldemort attempted to sound menacing, but he couldn't take his eyes away from the shaking body on the floor so his threat came out sounding hollow. He glanced at her before apparating away, his people slowly fading after him by a tricky piece of magic Voldemort employed. Persephone watched them go before racing back and kneeling next to Dumbledore, trying to find a way to save him.

Actually seeing his eyes become dark launched her into a frenzy, she kneeled before him not knowing what to do. But even in death he acted the part of a mentor and teacher, grabbing her hand he said,

"Persephone, calm down." She shook her head violently no, the tears were putting up an even stronger fight than before to burst forth.

"No! I wont let you go out like this, you have lived to great a life to die at the devils doorstep. I wont let you die like this." The rest of the Order was slowly gathering around, forming a tight circle. Tonks was crying, Amos Diggory watched in horror and Mad Eye Moody simply held his hat in his hand and bit his lip. Dumbledore looked into her eyes once more,

"Persephone how would you want to die?" She looked back at him, her hand on her forehead, a single tear broke through and went down her cheek. She didn't bother to wipe it away, she gave a small chuckle, "Fighting sir."

"Then at least that's how it happened." She smiled and bent to kiss his cheek, when she pulled her head away he whispered to her, "Forgive him." His eyes rolled back into his head, Harry fell upon the now lifeless corpse, weeping uncontrollably. The Other Order Members shoulders slouched down and Persephone was calm, there were no sounds in the entire area. No wind at all, everything was still as glass. The group of people had silently and without uproar become a band of mourners, there leader fallen dead in front of them.

Persephone looked up at them, "Who has ferry money?" She pulled a coin from her pocket and looked up expectantly at the rest of the people surrounding her. Moody pulled another coin from his many pockets and handed it to the woman sitting on in the dirty grass. She reached over and lowered Dumbledore's eyelids, gently placing the money on top of his closed eyes.

The band sat together for a few moments more, only Tonk's sobbing could be heard and then there was the crack of someone apparating. Persephone jumped up and looked around the graveyard, already suspecting foul play on Voldemorts part. When she saw no one in the yard itself she saw Tonks yelp and run towards the iron gates near the southwest corner. Standing there was Remus and Sirius side by side. Tonks jumped into Lupins arms but Sirius stood, still as a rock and looked back at Persephone.

To Be continued…

Like/Hate?- IT finally happened::sings: Reunited and it feels so…pissed! Ha ha