The Battle of Godric's Hollow. Mild violence

Chapter 6 Knight Takes Rook.

October 31, 1981: 3 am till 3:10 am

Their marks burned simultaneously. Abraxas, Lucius, Regulus, and Severus looked at the others in turn before they stood and apparated to the location. They did not even have the time to summon their robes and masks, not that they had wanted them anyway. They had been in the manor trying desperately to think of ways to keep the Potters from harm.

The Dark Lord had made it clear, at their last meeting, that he was planning on using the Potters as a sacrifice. Just last week he had announced that it would be on Samhain, or All Hallows Eve. He believed that by doing so not only would he vanquish possibly the only person that could destroy him in several years, but also that a sacrifice on Samhain, as in ancient times, would be the final act that he would need to secure the phoenix draught. Even the most deviant of his Death Eaters abhorred the practice of child sacrifice.

Bellatrix herself braved the Dark Lords ire and spoke out against the slaughter and sacrifice of a witch and her child. She may not have liked Lily, or even engaged in anything other than a sneer when they were both at one of Narcissa's luncheons. Still Lily was obviously a fertile witch, and a young one at that. She could easily see the desirability of that trait alone, and it was one that any upstanding pure-blooded family would covet. Lily had confided in the both the lengths that they had to go to in conceiving their child, and the rituals that were observed before and during her pregnancy. It was that fact alone that she had begged the Dark Lord to spare the woman if he could not spare the child.

Severus had thanked Bellatrix for her attempts. While the Dark Lord promised that he would spare her, he studied the oldest of rituals hoping to uncover what was to take place. They were specific. James was not the sacrifice. The ones who were suitable was Lily, and more important, Harry. He had tried to pass the information off to the headmaster, but something seemed off. It was as if the headmaster started weighing his words and was almost considering using them as a sacrifice for himself. The man was extremely powerful. He may have even rivaled Merlin, but he had known the lengths that the ancient Slytherin had taken to achieve his power. If Dumbledore was truly a bastion of the Light and stood as sentinel opposing the Dark Lord in his rule of shadows and dark magic, then he would not even contemplate studying the magics needed.

Severus couldn't find anything in his research to confirm that it was even needed. The arithmancy didn't add up. Severus had spent the better part of his free time the last two weeks huddled in one of the empty classrooms with Abraxas, Regulus, and Lucius trying to help resolve the numbers. Abraxas even approached Professor Vector to see if she could make heads or tails of their calculations. The only outcome they had made resolve was that the Dark Lord wanted to summon some of the old gods and steal their powers for his own.

They had all agreed that was the most absurd thing anyone would think to try. It had the chance or tearing the veil asunder, the last time anything like that had been tried was with the Peverell brothers. If the Dark Lord succeeded that meant that he believed in the Hallows, and thought he knew where they were. Was that why he was calling his followers Death Eaters?

Abraxas thought he had a better idea of where they were wrong in the arithmancy. He had debated the topic for hours with the boys and Professor Vector. There were unwritten parts in many of the old rituals. There also had to be missing parts to the formula. Even things that were missing from the books that Severus had brought back with him.

He had made his own model at home and was trying to balance it there. He knew what the numbers hinted to, it would not only call for a sacrifice of the Potters, but of all his Death Eaters. They would all be used to fuel the ritual, but only with their regalia on them it seemed. It was a bold move, almost one that he could see the old headmaster performing, or even perhaps making The Dark Lord perform if that is possible. While many others only saw the benevolent headmaster façade, he had studied the man, learned his secrets, and he thought he could see what the old man was hiding. He had even voiced in private his concerns to his brothers in arms. Many did not listen, those few who did braved some of the harshest punishments in hoping to steer the Dark Lord in a different direction.

Still here they all were prepared to confront the Order of the Phoenix in what could easily become a suicide mission should things go pear shaped. The four of them would be going in to face their friends. Severus wasn't even sure that he would be able to face some of them. Oh, if he needed to, he could easily duel both James and Sirius to a draw never truly injuring them, well at least not permanently. He could if he wanted to, but his heart wasn't in this battle.

They found themselves on the outskirts of Godric's Hollow. There were at least twenty of the Dark Lord's inner council members and close to thirty of the regular lackies. Abraxas looked at each boy in turn. They all seemed to know that this was not a good situation and they needed to find a way to save their, well if not their friends, then at least their allies. They slunk to the back of the group hoping to keep from drawing their lord's ire.

"Ah, I see our latecomers have arrived. Tell me Abraxas, why are you not properly cloaked, nor are your other charges?"

"Sire, we did not have enough time to apparate home before coming to your side." Abraxas hung his head. He and the young men were concerned about their lord's wrath at their perceived actions.

The lie seemed to pass undetected. "Very well then. As the four of you cannot follow simple orders you shall guard the rear. I expect the Order," he smirked, "to arrive within minutes of the first wave. I think I shall let you be the ones to greet them." His smirk turned to manic glee, "now I know that both the Longbottoms, and the Potters are being held here by the Order. From what my spy in their ranks has informed me they are being held under a fidelis charm."

Abraxas, Severus, Regulus, and Lucius took in a sharp breath of air. They all knew who that had to be. Pettigrew had ratted out his friends for what he thought the Dark Lord would give him. Was Gryffindor loyalty worth so little these days? "Get them out" both Regulus and Severus whispered to the Malfoy's at the same time.

"Now, we need ways of removing the fidelis charm, I was hoping that we would get the location from the secret keeper, before now. But it seems like he has not yet been persuaded." Looking at his inner council members, he tilled his head thoughtfully. "How do you propose to get them out?"

"Fiendfire." Bellatrix interjected with a maniacal grin. She tried desperately to save her sister's friend. She knew if she acted the zealous sycophant that no one would notice anything amiss with her actions. If she could be the one to cast it, she could control the inferno and keep people safe if needed. After all, all she needed was to protect Lily and her baby. The husband and her cousin could stand in for the necessary sacrifices. She had even brewed a mild draught of living death that could be given to a baby. Fearing the worse she had let Lily read and memorize a few spells from her mother's grimoire.

"No, my dear Bella. I do not wish to waste additional wizarding lives. The parents may even live if they give up the boys peacefully."

Regulus stepped forward, "My Lord, they are comrades of ours in the Wizengamot, if you wish we can call them out." He really didn't like the idea. His brother was likely James' secret keeper and would be tortured for the information. A squeak sounded from behind him.

"That sounds like a marvelous idea, Mr. Black. But since I have a nice little scrap of paper here, I don't think it will be necessary." Pettigrew shifted from his Animagus form before the rest of the Death Eaters. His voice grated on most ears. "Now the Potters can be found in Godric's Hallow at Kendra Dumbledore's family cottage. I have duplicated it for any who arrive late. I have to go play their loyal friend so I will not be directly fighting." The home appeared before everyone shimmering into view. He relished the look of abhorrence he received from Severus and Regulus. He gave a snide grin and knew that this would hurt them both.

"Go on Wormtail, continue to follow my orders, but do not hurt your fellow allies." The Dark Lord tried to smile at the ratty man.

Peter shifted back into a rat and scampered off as each Death Eater prepared for battle. The Dark Lord's smile turned to a disturbing grin at his loyal followers. "Severus, Regulus I think I may have need of you away from the rear guard after all. It is your brother, is it not Regulus? And your dear mudblood friend Severus, that are in that house?"

They both nodded carefully. "Good," the Dark Lord continued. "The two of you shall be my escorts into the Potters home. You will be able to keep them busy while I get the boy," he asked, and the two men nodded at their lord again. "Very well you all have your assignments, now go." For a moment there was chaos. The Dark Lord and the two men approached the house and forcefully entered.

~ooOoo~

The Death Eaters saw several bright flashes of wispy blue light leave the house in front of them, and they spread out quickly expecting the Order of the Phoenix at any time. Abraxas looked at his son. "Lu, get somewhere safe, as much as I hate to turn my back on our friends, we cannot let them win. Take a sniping point and shoot whomever you can when their back is turned. Do not let them see you, and I do mean either side. You know who to protect, do not spare the two Lestrange's if possible. Their madness runs too deep for us to keep in the family. We cannot have Bella giving either one a child. Also try to take out anyone who is wearing their mask and cloak."

"I understand father," Lucius ran off to find himself a good lookout spot.

"Sweet Salazar, and all of the Founders. Please keep my boys safe." Abraxas prayed to any god who would listen.

~ooOoo~

The door was blasted inside leaving only fragments of wood behind. James and Sirius both looked at Lily, "Get Harry. Run!" They were as in sync as twins. Moving to try to block the trio as they entered, James backed into the hallway trying to duel the Dark Lord. Sirius rounded on his friends. "And we called you brothers, I knew you could never be trusted Snape."

"Siri," Regulus yelled, "It was Peter. Go we've got your back."

"As loathe as I am," Severus sneered, "to admit it. He is right, the Dark Lord has plans to sacrifice everyone in this house tonight. Warn your Order, tell them to shoot to kill and take down any who wear a mask and cloak." The bright wispy light of a patronus flew from his wand.

Both Regulus and Sirius quickly followed his actions. They had to warn as many people as they could, even if the Order would not listen to any patronus other that Sirius', they could at least back his up.

"Reg, I am going out there whether you like it or not, that rat is mine." Sirius pushed pass his younger brother, knocking Regulus' wand out of his hand.

~ooOoo~

"Stand aside Potter. Think of your wife. I just want the child, for now." James did not hear the Dark Lord's comments, he only focused on killing the madman in front of him. They threw spell after spell at each other, some had connected, and both were bleeding freely. Multicolored lights flew around them as the Dark Lord advanced pushing James back to the stairs.

Lily had paused seeing the spell fire within the safehouse. The Dark Arts may not be her strong suit, but She was talented in charms having previously been Professor Flitwick's apprentice. She could at least try to help her husband before she cast the spell Bellatrix had shown her.

Summoning all her magic to cast a spell, "well, it worked in Blazing Saddles," she giggled to herself, rolled her shoulders back and sent off a hex that was a sickly yellow. She followed it up with a hex that sent the furniture and everything flying at Voldemort. She even tried to cause the floor to collapse under them. James took several steps back avoiding the buckling floorboards. Lily felt her magic draining under the weight of her castings.

"Lily, Run. Just run. Get Harry and leave me behind."

"James, NO!"

He blew apart the lower section upstairs. "Go now. Go now and leave me."

Lily cried and ran the rest of the way up to Harry's nursery and summoned some of the last of her magic to save her son. The ritual would take most of her energy and leave her defenseless and drained. It only mattered that her son was unharmed this night, she could always rest and regain her magic slowly as her body healed.

~ooOoo~

There were multiple pops of apparition, and one person began chanting. "You won't be able to run away, we've got aurors, and jinxes set up."

Lucius could not tell who spoke before all hell broke loose. He quickly set up an anti-apparition jinx. There were already too many to hold off for long. He saw his father start casting spells typically used as harmless pranks, but at levels that could only torture others. 'Right get your head into the game Luci. The biggest targets first, let the others play clean up.'

He had gone with James and several others to the cinema. Lily had practically ordered them. He remembered something from one of them where a person hid, somewhere away from the main battle and still killed many of the enemies. Lily said that was a real thing and muggles had used it back when Grindelwald was at the height of power. "Sectumsempra." He whispers to not give his location away as he joined the fray. Spells flew from his wand taking out target after target. He followed his fathers' orders and tried to kill as many of the robed witches and wizards as possible.

~ooOoo~

Sirius ran through the Death Eaters, dodging curses as he went to find his quarry. "Peter, come out, come out wherever you are." He dodged as bright green light soared towards him.

Peter was pretending to defend himself from other death eaters, while attacking Dumbledore's forces. He saw Sirius coming and tried to turn into a rat, he failed. "Stupid aurors and their stupid anti-animagus wards." He growled and turned to face Sirius raising his wand, "Avada Kedavra." Another bright green flash flew towards his former friend.

Sirius dived out of the way accidentally dropping his wand. He grabbed Peter and threw him as hard as he could into a tree. "If I have to fight you like a muggle I will." The wand in Pettigrew's hand snapped as Peter hit the tree.

~ooOoo~

Bellatrix cackled with glee as she cast unforgivable, one right after the other, randomly into the fight. "Oopsie," She saw her cruciatus hit one of her fellow Death Eaters. She had cast it with an immediate severing charm. She had been trying to target both sides and in her own way was trying to protect her brother-in-law and his close friends. The rest she couldn't bring herself to care about. She understood Abraxas' orders, and since it was her life on the line, she would focus on that and for once not the Dark Lord. She had seen the formula. She didn't' understand it but she saw it and knew that her lord would survive.

MacNair fell as he took Bellatrix's spell to the back. Abraxas, who had been dueling by his side sent the killing curse at her unknowingly. His original target had been Corbin Yaxley; however, the man had darted off. He was chasing after Remus Lupin, who had tapped into the wolf and was tearing his opponent's limb from limb in his attempt to get to Fenrir Greyback. Abraxas left the Death Eater to Lupin, he prayed that Lupin could kill Greyback. Even if he shunned the wolf after this night, those that had been infected by the monstrous lycanthrope would have a chance at being rid of the curse.

Three flashes of green light hit Bella at the same time. He saw one come from a tree in the graveyard, 'So that is where Lu is, shame really ah well, one down the rest of them to go. Now who…' His thoughts drifted off as he felt a powerful and somewhat familiar magical signature nearby.

Dumbledore stepped out of the shadows; he had been casting curse after curse trying to remove as many rival pieces from the playing field as possible. He trained his wand on Abraxas.

"For once Dumbledore, I am not your opponent. He, he… The Dark Lord performed a ritual that once complete will destroy all those nearby." Abraxas purposefully left details out. He exaggerated several others hoping to play off the old man's sense of, well he wasn't sure really. He could either convince Dumbledore of the partial truths that he gave him, or this would be the moment of his last breath. With his resolve firmed he aimed his wand at another powerful and prominent Death Eater. He took out a man that was a vocal critic of the old man's hoping that this action alone would sway him even further.

"I should take you out for your chosen loyalties, but it seems that you are on my side for once. Where is he?" Dumbledore gave Abraxas a calculating look, he performed a quick surface scan of the man's thoughts and saw he spoke the truth.

"The house, the Dark Lord is in the house."

~ooOoo~

Bright flashes of color came from the outside. Severus stepped out and leveled his wand. He began slinging some of his recently developed curses at his fellow Death Eaters. "Reg, get Sirius, back him up."

Regulus nodded picking up the wand that had fallen to the floor. He headed off through the chaos surrounding him to go help his brother.

~ooOoo~

"Avada Kedavra," James fell from the curse. The Dark Lord broke free of the bookcase that had fallen on him. 'Why is my ritual not working?' he limped away from where he had been held. The pain was almost as bad as a crucio. He stopped, 'Arm broken, thankfully not wand arm, right ankle most likely broken, several ribs I am sure, and a sucking chest wound.'

He took further stock of his injuries and tried to stay conscious. He moved to the kitchen; magic was draining out of him along with his life force. This would not do, he looked around for anything that he could use and found a Gringotts card that the Potters must have used in the muggle world. 'This will have to do. Now tape. Where do they keep the blasted tape?' He swiped his hand through his hair, it was wet. He looked at his hand, it was covered in crimson. He was bleeding. 'Salazar soggy scrotal mass, Severus said not to take the potion a second time, but he also said it was a powerful healing potion.' He put the card in his pocket and pulled out a bright red glowing bottle of potion and quaffed it down.

His wounds began healing and he felt very warm. He turned back to the hall, concentrated, and propelled his body up into the air to the second floor. He felt a tremor in his magic. "I will have to worry about this later," he muttered.

~ooOoo~

Frank Longbottom grabbed his wife Alice, "Take Neville and go. They will suspect my mother's house, so anywhere but there."

Alice nodded, grabbing her purse, and kissing her husband goodbye. Frank ran out of the door to assist the order and his fellow aurors. She ran into Neville's room. The boy was cooing and playing with his toes. 'Frank please be careful.' She grabbed her son and summoned all his things. She tried apparating. It was no use.

Neville giggled in her arms, the attempt at magic tickled him. "Blast it, the back door then, alright honey. We are going to go see grandma tabby." She knew that Minnie should be protecting the school even if the rest of the Order was here. Hogwarts would be safest for the time being.

"Tabby," Neville repeated and then started blowing saliva bubbles at his mother. "See Tabby. Want to see Tabby." He formed more spit bubbles from his mouth. He drew the word out and giggled, before turning to blow a raspberry at something Alice assumed only, he could see.

"That right dear, we will see Grandma Tabby." Alice ran out the back and into the field behind the house. There was a bright flash of green light, and the dark mark glowed in the night sky above her.

~ooOoo~

Frank ran out of the front door. There were people injured everywhere around him. Most were Death Eaters, so he set to work on placing body binds to each for their arrests later. As he came across a member of the Order, he quickly tended to their wounds and enervated them to get back into the fight. He did not see the lanky man step out from behind a tree.

"Crucio." Frank fell to the ground as the curse hit him in the back. Fire burned through him as the pain continued. "Crucio." The pain broke for only a moment before it hit him again. The voice that had begun ringing through his head laughed. "Crucio." This time the spell was held for as long as Frank could focus on. The laughter changing in pitch and volume, changing from one sound to another. It became disturbing as it distorted in his mind. Franks world slowly turned black as the spell eased up again. 'At least the pain is gone.' He slumped over onto his side in the mud.

~ooOoo~

Lucius was scanning the field. He saw Barty Crouch step behind Frank Longbottom. Why was he there, Barty's own father was with the Order attacking the other Death Eaters. He took aim at the teen a spell beginning to form on his lips. 'Barty Sr. is a strict person, but' he paused for a moment, 'at least he is fair. This will ruin him. Circe, I'm too late.' Lucius watched the father find his son torturing Frank Longbottom.

"Hello father." Barty screwed up his face, it was an attempt at a grin. The boy had clearly lost his mind with forcing a cruciatus on someone he did not have the proper hatred for. He had been imagining that the man on the ground was his father. As he cast his eyes about the battlefield, he realized everyone looked like his father. He shook his head trying to clear it. The visons stayed firmly in place. The man in front of him had to be his father.

"You're no son of mine." The man looked at his son with disgust clearly written across his face.

"Avada Kedavra." Lucius let the curse fly. He heard both father and son cast it at the other, almost at the same time.

The curse hit the older man square in the chest, as Barty jr. dove out of the way from his father's curse. He stood, wheeling around trying to find his next victim. Everyone still looked like the man he had just killed. He did not notice the large bolt of green light hurtling towards him. He took Lucius curse straight to his back.

~ooOoo~

Lily looked at her son and finished drawing runes with her own blood on his head, body, arms, and legs. He was still sleepy having been woken by the noise from downstairs. "Momma loves you, Harry. Dada loves you." She turned to look the Dark Lord straight in his bright red eyes, as he entered the room from the landing.

~ooOoo~

Peter grabbed Sirius around the throat and dug his nails in. Sirius struggled to get the man off his back. Peter had been biting and scratching while Sirius hit him with every ounce of his strength. Regulus could see them in the distance. He sped up, trying to get to his brother faster. Peter bit into Sirius's neck. Blood welled and bubbled out his brother.

Regulus pushed himself even harder. He watched the life bleed out of his brother. "NO." Bright purple light flew from Regulus' wand hitting Peter square in the chest. Ice covered both Peter and Sirius, stealing the breath from both. He skidded to a stop. There was a blast of strong magic, it was as if a bomb had gone off. Screams could be heard as the wave of magic flew outward knocking everyone off their feet, as they all succumbed to the wave of magic. Darkness and followed in the blasts wake. A bright green light rose above them all. The dark mark bright in the sky. The battlefield which had been awash with a rainbow of spell fire, and screams fell silent.

~ooOoo~

Alice heard the screams stop. She had gotten to a point hundreds of meters away from the battle, and the air had lightened. She was past the wards. As she was apparating away with her son, she saw a dark purple and blue Phoenix rise above the remain of the house she knew Lily and James were in. Then she thudded down, falling to her knees just outside of the gates to Hogwarts. "Not my most grateful landing huh Bubba."

~ooOoo~

The Dark Lord turned to look at the young woman. "Your friend, Severus, bargained with me to save your life. You know, he loves you." There was a feral grin on his face, more a showing of sharp teeth, than anything from the charismatic man in front of her. "All you need do is step aside."

"Never." She held her wand aloft threateningly. She knew she had exhausted her magical core, but he didn't. "I will stop you somehow."

"How very sweet of you," he sighed looking at the proud lioness guarding her cub before him. "But the prophecy must be fulfilled. I ask you again to step aside."

"You want the Prophecy filled? Fine you die first." Spit flew from her mouth as she growled at him. Harry began crying in the crib behind her.

"You vex me woman. For the last time, STAND ASIDE!"

The force of his voice, and the magic that backed it up, physically pushed her back several steps so that she landed against the crib's railing. "Leave, and I will spare you." She tried to sound threatening right back but her composure was waning. Her wand arm began to droop in front of her.

The power that coursed through him from that last dose of potion was exhilarating. He had offered her freedom thrice and had been denied thrice. He snarled at her. "You are wasted on a genius like your young beau. Why Severus wishes for you and not a pureblooded woman is beyond me." He exhaled quickly, "But that is of no matter anymore. I tried." His voice like a parent scolding a child. He waved his wand lazily and cast the killing curse at her. Green light flooded the room.

"Now Harry, aren't you precious. Only I am destined to rule the world, and you only stand in my way. What is the muggle expression?" He smiled at the young boy, "ah yes, like taking candy from a baby." Another bolt of green light flew from his wand. It hit Harry straight in the middle of his chest, and green light exploded from the baby to encompass the whole room. The boy's eyes reflected the light of the spell and swallowed it turning to a pitch black.

The baby screamed and howled in pain as his muscles started to seize. Bolts of lightning flew through the child's body. Leaving black scorch marks in their wake. With each shock a small light exploded from the runes that had been lovingly painted on him by his mother. The light pulsed and danced about the boy, occasionally flaring out to strike at the Dark Lord.

Pain flooded every nerve. Green light burned away as purple consumed it. The blue light turned to flames and licked at both the Dark Lord and Harry. There was a loud crack of thunder that deafened the Dark Lord and brought him to his knees. Flames licked at his clothing, burning parts away. He looked at the young boy who had fallen back into his crib, his forehead and part of his face bore a burn pattern resembling a large bolt of lightning. It bled across the boy's face, and only the main bolt could be seen. Harry was still. The dark lord crawled over and onto Lily's body. Why was his curse not working? Was the child and its mother not a proper sacrifice. As the flames flickered about the room a deep guttural laugh could be heard faintly, before a raging inferno enveloped the Dark Lord, and he knew no more.

~ooOoo~

Severus heard the loud crack of thunder that shook the house. He ran to the stairs and conjured a ladder so he could climb up to the landing. He took several steps and rushed into the room. There was an explosion, and he was knocked off his feet. He fell atop of both Lily and the Dark Lord's lifeless bodies. His dark mark burned itself away, along with part of his robes. He saw the beginnings of his mark float into the air and glowed a sickly green, which was chased by the dark blur of a Phoenix. The pain and shock of the magical backlash exploded around him, he fought to stay awake, but the magic was too much, and he fell into an unconscious stupor.