Leroux ignored his cousins, wanting to catch Vilandra before she died. Vilandra, in turn, ignored them so she could find out if her brother was all right or not. She hit the bottom of the stairs and slammed out of the portrait, running down the corridor at full speed. She rounded the corner and screamed seconds before a red blast slammed into her chest. She flew off her feet, slamming into the wall, being knocked unconscious. Leroux hurriedly replaced his wand and ran up to his cousin, hoping none of the Death Eaters had heard her scream. He lifted her in his arms and hurried to the passage, kicking it open. His two cousins and the Malfoys let out startled cries as the portrait slammed into their faces, but he ignored them, kicking it shut behind him.
"This woman is bloody mad." He grumbled as he walked past the four stunned students, walking back up the stairs.
When he'd taken the adjacent passage, hoping it would let him cut her off, he'd been right. He'd appeared only one corridor over, but it was enough for him to be able to stop her.
Rhett caught up to him, looking down into his arms where Vilandra lay, being carried by her over-protective cousin.
"She's going to kill you when she wakes up." Rhett reminded him in a low voice, the others not speaking at all. Leroux turned to Rhett angrily.
"And what was I supposed to do?" He snapped. "Let her go off and get herself killed!"
"You know," Sharka's timid voice interjected. "The Great Hall is where all the professors are."
"It's also where all the fighting is." Talak walked into Leroux as he froze in his steps, his eyes wide with horror.
"Merlin help us." Leroux whispered. He turned on his heel, Vilandra still in his arms. "We have to go to the Great Hall!"
"Should I stun him, too?" Salai asked, beginning to pull out his wand.
"No!" Leroux exclaimed panicked, fear in his eyes. "Don't you see!" He turned to his two conscious cousins. "Remember how we were talking about the Death Eaters coming for the professors? What if that's what they're doing? We have to go and help them!" He started to push past them but Salai stopped him.
"Hey, no way, Weasley. Why should we go looking for trouble? If it's going to find you, it's going to find you, no matter what we do."
"You're bloody mad, Leroux." Rhett agreed with Salai. Talak shook his head.
"But he's also bloody right. Come on." He hit Leroux lightly in the shoulder. "We need to get the Marauder's map. We can bring all the students to their dorms via passages." Talak turned on his heel and ran up the stairs, Leroux following behind him—still holding Vilandra. Rhett thought about it for one second, then followed his cousins. Salai and Sharka shared a look, and Sharka sighed.
"We're all going to die." She ran up the stairs after the four Gryffindors, her bother right behind her. They caught up easily, the five conscious students making their way cautiously down the corridor. They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and Rhett turned to the Malfoys.
"Cover your ears." Salai blinked at him.
"We're in a life of death situation here, do you really think we care about what the Gryffindor password is?" Salai demanded.
"You'll know it for the rest of the year!" Rhett argued.
"If there is a rest of the year." Salai snapped. Rhett opened his mouth to speak but Sharka interrupted him.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake you two! Rhett, stop hassling my brother. Salai, stop annoying my boyfriend. Just say the bloody password."
"Iustitia." Rhett and Leroux turned to Talak annoyed. He just shrugged.
"They're right. Who bloody cares?" He walked through the portrait hole and the others followed, Salai bringing up the rear. Leroux placed Vilandra down on one of the sofas, pushing her hair from her face.
"You." Leroux turned as Salai pointed at him. "Wake her up."
"What do I look like? A bloody dog who'll obey all your orders?" Leroux snapped.
"Enough with the fighting!" Sharka insisted annoyed. "We are all in danger, the professors are fighting for their lives, can we please put aside our difference and get on with it?" She pulled out her wand, aiming it at Vilandra. "Ennervate." Vilandra shot up, searched the room, stopped on Leroux who was crouched beside her, and punched him. He let out a pained cry as he fell back onto his butt, clutching his nose.
"How dare you!" She screamed at Leroux, getting to her feet and towering over Leroux. "How could you do that to me, Leroux! If anything happens to Chaim, so help me, I'll—" She cut off as Salai put his hand on her shoulder.
"It'll be all right, love." He pulled her to him, hugging her. "It'll be all right. Chaim will be safe."
"I've got it." They all turned to Talak as he opened a piece of parchment. None had even noticed he left. Vilandra pulled away from Salai and grabbed the parchment from Talak. She drew her wand and aimed it at the Marauder's map.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." She said. Salai smirked at her.
"Well, when you say it like that—"
"It's how to activate the map!" Rhett exclaimed disgusted, watching Salai.
"Gutter mind, you've got, brother." Sharka crinkled her nose. Salai blushed slightly, but kept a cocky look on his face. Vilandra ignored everything, her eyes scanning the Great Hall.
"There's only about twelve Death Eaters. They're all going after the professors." She looked up at the students before her. "We have to hurry." She bolted for the portrait hole, keeping her eyes on the map. She ran down the corridor and turned down an adjoining one instead of going straight. The others followed her, no questions asked. Her cousins knew that she was keeping them out of harm's way because she knew who was where. The Malfoys simply assumed she was keeping them safe. Although, Sharka thought bitterly, us being safe would mean us going home and contacting the Ministry.
They continued running, ducking into secret passages and disappearing down corridors before anyone even knew they were there. Vilandra was the first to reach the Grand Staircase. She flew down them and jumped down the last three steps, bolting for the Great Hall. She threw open both doors and ducked seconds before a blue beam hit her in the chest. The others ran to her, staying low, and looking into the Great Hall. It was absolute chaos. The last time Vilandra had counted the Death Eaters, there had only been twelve. Now, there were at least twenty-five.
Leroux hollered a curse, hitting a Death Eater square in the back and sending him to the floor. It was only then that they noticed it. People were trying to exit the Great Hall, but an invisible shield was preventing them from passing the doorframe. Whoever was inside—was trapped. Leroux turned to his cousins.
"We go in, there's no coming out."
"My brother's in there." Vilandra pushed past them all and ran into the Great Hall.
"Stupid, stubborn tosser!" Salai growled angrily as he ran in after her. The other four had no choice but to follow their family members into the chaos, running and ducking to the middle of Gryffindor table. Vilandra fell to her knees beside the table, grabbing Chaim's face in her hands.
"Are you okay? Are you okay?" She yelled over the cries of fear and anger. He nodded vigorously, his face incredibly pale, his brown eyes wide with fear. "Stay down, all right? Stay out of the line of fire."
"But—"
"No, Chaim!" Vilandra insisted. She looked behind her and saw Lexa and Jase cowering near the Ravenclaw table—which was right beside the Gryffindor one. "Lexa! Jase!" They turned to her. She motioned them over and they crawled to her. "Get under this table and please, keep my brother safe." She turned back and noticed other First years under the table, Alca and Chaim's friend Kian among them. She turned back to her two dormmates. "Keep them all safe." They nodded and—glad to be out of danger—crawled under the table, shushing the First years who had started to cry. Vilandra stood up, looking around, when someone grabbed her arm and yanked her behind them.
"Stay behind me!" Salai's gruff voice ordered. "Sharka, get under the Gryffindor table!"
"I can help you!" The fourteen-year-old insisted.
"Now!" She jumped at the anger in her brother's voice and complied, joining Lexa and Jase with the First years. The Great Hall doors slammed open again, and Vilandra felt her heart stop beating. Wave after wave of Death Eaters were pouring into the Great Hall. There was no doubt about it. No one's going to leave this hall alive.
-----
Salai let out an angry cry as he waved his wand another time, sending a jinx flying towards a Death Eater. He held Vilandra's hand tightly, standing before her so that he shielded her with his body.
Leroux, Rhett and Talak were throwing their own spells from all around Salai and Vilandra. The Death Eaters—they were everywhere. Almost everyone above Fourth year was yielding their wand, attacking as many Death Eaters as they could. The problem was: they were only students. The twins and Vilandra were probably the only ones who knew any really damaging spells, but since Salai was stopping Vilandra from joining the fight, all she could do was stare helplessly.
Jase, Lexa, Alca, Chaim, Kian and Sharka were hiding beneath the table right where the four cousins and Salai were. Chaim was unusually pale, Kian was sweating profusely and Alca had tears steaming down her cheeks. Vilandra couldn't blame them. This was their First year and so far, it hadn't gone too well for them.
Vilandra scanned the crowd of people fighting for her last cousin. She spotted Kei close to the door, throwing hexes and curses at lightning speed. She was training to be an Auror, so Vilandra wasn't surprised. And then, her eyes widened. A Death Eater stood up behind her—having recovered from a previous curse—and aimed his wand at Kei's back. Before Vilandra could breathe—before she could even blink—a green bolt flew from the Death Eater's wand, heading straight for Kei. Vilandra stared horrified when the most incredible thing in the world happened. Inches away from Kei, the green light turned blue, and Kei merely flew off her feet, lying unconscious on the floor.
Vilandra couldn't understand why the Killing Curse had suddenly turned into something else—at first, anyway. That sod must still have some of his humanity left, she thought bitterly. Other people had the Killing Curse flung at them, but theirs didn't turn blue. Only Kei's had. Only family's would.
"No! Let him go!" The shriek was like a knife to Vilandra's gut. Her eyes found Alca as she shrieked after the Death Eater to let go of him. And 'him' was Chaim.
"Chaim!" Vilandra shrieked ten times louder than Alca did. Wrenching herself free from Salai, she pushed past him, whipping out her wand. Chaim was struggling hard as he was being carried over the Death Eater's shoulder. She would have to be careful not to hit him. She threw a curse at the Death Eater, but he dodged it. She continued to throw everything she knew at him, and he either dodged the curses, or countered them—and he was getting closer to the exit.
"No!" She shrieked again, throwing another curse at the Death Eater. Chaim's eyes were locked on Vilandra's, wide with horror, his mouth open in a scream his vocal-chords wouldn't allow him to voice. "Chaim!" She shrieked and to her horror, the Death Eater flew right through the barrier at the door, causing Vilandra to slam into it painfully, and then bounce back into the Great Hall. She stood up. "No!" She slammed both fists against the barrier. "No! Chaim!"
Someone grabbed her arm and she whipped around, her wand raised. Leroux wrenched her to the side, a blue beam shooting right past her shocked face and through the barrier of the Great Hall door. He pulled her towards the wall, keeping her shielded. She wanted to tell him not to worry. She wanted him to know she was safe because of who she was. But she couldn't. Her brother was gone. All she had left was Sterling, and Merlin knew Ron would go after him, too.
"Lonnie, focus!" Leroux hollered at her. That was when they heard the shriek. Both turned and stared horrified as McGonnagall's body fell lifelessly to the floor, her eyes wide in horror. Leroux and Vilandra could only stare, horrified. Minerva McGonnagall was dead! How had this happened? She was one of the most powerful witches in the world!
Leroux saw a First year scrambling away from McGonnagall's body, and he understood immediately. She'd been protecting a student, just as Ron had hoped the professors would do. They'd lost three professors this year. How many more would they lose before the year was up?
They saw movement out of the corner of their eyes and turned horrified to the door. More Death Eaters? No. This time, they weren't Death Eaters, and Leroux almost cried out with joy. Ministry Aurors and Order of the Phoenix members were flowing into the Great Hall in waves larger than the ones the Death Eaters had. The curses flew at lightning speed now that experienced witches and wizards were around, but that didn't mean the Aurors were any safer, no matter how experienced they were.
Kingsley Shacklebolt flew off his feet, slamming into a wall as he was hit with the most Unforgivable of Curses. Mundungus Fletcher also suffered the same fate, falling to the ground with his eyes open wide in shock, his mouth hanging open. Veronica MasBeth—one of the newer members of the Order—also lost her life, but not in vain, for the Death Eaters were falling twice as fast as the Order members and Ministry Aurors. Soon, they retreated, running through the barrier, the Ministry unable to chase them. As soon as the last Death Eater disappeared through the doors, the room exploded into more noise.
Crying, screaming, people shouting each other's names. Vilandra and Leroux were silent as he took her hand and led her back towards the twins and Malfoys. She looked around sadly as some people cradled their dead brothers, sisters or friends in their arms. Aurors were running around trying to counter the curses thrown at some of the students while the professors did the same. Vilandra's brain seemed to be on slow motion as she watched everything unfold, and the sound had disappeared from around her. She searched near the door for Kei and saw Tonks bending down in front of her, trying to revive her. Vilandra's breath was coming much faster than it should've been and as she stopped in front of Salai, he took her shoulders and spoke to her—but she couldn't hear anything he said. The only thing that she heard was her own voice within her head. The one that kept repeating 'Chaim is gone'.
"Lonnie!" She shook her head as the sharpness in Salai's voice, and the noise came rushing back. "Are you okay?" She nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?" She touched his chest for any kinds of injuries or curses, but he shook his head, taking her hands in his.
"No. I'm fine." She turned to the twins. Talak was nursing a cut on Rhett's eyebrow as he cringed. He'd probably received it from flying into something.
"Students!" Everyone stopped speaking at exactly the same time, all turning to the front to stare at Dumbledore. "All of you are to return to your dormitories immediately. Begin packing your trunks. The school is closing." The four cousins shared a look. What should they do? Vilandra's mother had told her never to return home when Dumbledore closed the school or people were being called home, but she had nowhere else to go. I guess it's over to Gran and Gramps' house, she thought, happy she would at least be able to see Sterling. She still didn't know, after all, about their attack.
"The wounded are to go to the Hospital Wing." Dumbledore continued. "They will be moved to St. Mungo's as quickly as possible. The dead—" Dumbledore cut off and he seemed to be trying to hold back tears. Everyone seemed uncomfortable with this thought. "The dead will be dealt with accordingly, returned to their homes and families. Dismissed."
"Come on." Vilandra turned to Salai as he pulled lightly on her arm. "Let's get out of here." She allowed him to lead her towards the door, Rhett helping Sharka out from under the table while Leroux and Talak helped Alca and the other First years.
The Gryffindors, Slythering, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws all split at the Grand Staircase. No one said anything to anybody. They all simply filed silently towards their respective dormitories, wondering if the school would ever open again.
-----
Vilandra spun around as there was a knock at the door to her room. Lexa walked up to it—since she was the closest—and opened the door. Dumbledore stood there, inclining his head.
"Good evening, Ms. Johnson." Dumbledore said, then looked over her head at Vilandra. "Ms. Weasley, if you would collect the rest of your things and join your cousins in my office? You may leave your trunk by the portrait hole." She nodded and he inclined his head again before departing, Lexa closing the door. The girls all continued to pack in silence. Vilandra was finished first, having lost all reason to fold and merely shoving everything she owned into her trunk. She slammed it shut and headed for the door with it. She reached it and turned back to all her dormmates. They all stared at her.
"We'll see you soon, Lonnie." Jase insisted, forcing a smile. "Everything will work out." Vilandra nodded.
"I hope so. Be careful." She said to the four girls in her dorm, and then turned, pulling her trunk loudly down the stairs. She reached the bottom and dragged it towards the portrait hole where three other trunks already lay. Her three cousins stood up from their chairs and the four of them began to head for the portrait hole when Vilandra stopped.
"Wait."
"What?" Leroux asked.
"He wants to speak to our family. Kei's in the Hospital Wing and—" She cut herself off, not able to say Chaim's name. "Alca's still here." She finally continued. "And she's family. He probably wants to speak to her, too."
"Oh, thank God." They all turned as Alca lugged her trunk down the stairs. "I was sure you'd forget I was here." Talak went over and helped her bring her trunk to the portrait hole and together, the five cousins exited their dormitory, Vilandra dropping her trunk loudly to the floor.
They headed for Dumbledore's office in silence, none trusting their voices to speak calmly. They all wanted to reassure Vilandra, insisting that Chaim was all right, but they didn't want her to be thinking about him. Alca didn't quite know how to reassure her, and the boys wanted her to try and just ignore the fact that her brother was now with the most evil man in the world—her father.
They reached the Gargoyle statue and were stunned to see it was already on the side, revealing the spiralling staircase. They all got onto it, rising steadily to the top. They reached Dumbledore's door and Rhett knocked on it.
"Enter." The five cousins entered his office, taking their seats before his desk. Dumbledore laced his fingers together, watching each student carefully for a few seconds. "As all of you know, it's unsafe for me to send any of you home. Therefore, I've decided that the best thing to do would be to send you to Grimmauld place to reside with the Order of the Phoenix members. St. Mungo's will be sending Kei over when she's recovered."
"She'll be all right, won't she?" Alca asked urgently, clutching the arms of her chair tightly. Dumbledore nodded, reassuring her, and she loosened her grip.
"They have informed me that she is merely knocked out with a spell which cannot revive her magically. She must wake up on her own, I'm afraid. This may take no time at all, or several days. But they've assured me she'll be fine when she awakes, so she'll be sent straight to headquarters."
"Should I go pick up Sterling?" Vilandra asked. "Or will Gran and Gramps bring him there?" Dumbledore cringed, knowing that would come up, but really wishing he wouldn't have to be the one to deliver yet more bad news to Vilandra Weasley. He sighed, shaking his head.
"Vilandra—Molly and Arthur were attacked a few days ago." Vilandra's face paled. No, she thought panicked. Please, God, no! Don't let me have lost everyone! "The King of Darkness himself arrived at their home and attempted to take Sterling. He was sent to the Ministry seconds before the King of Darkness could get him, but Molly and Arthur are now missing. Sterling has been at Grimmauld place with Ginny ever since." The cousins looked at Vilandra as she clenched her fists and grinded her teeth.
"And no one thought to inform me of this?" She hissed angrily through clenched teeth.
"You had enough to worry about, Vilandra. We didn't want to worry you any further."
"Is he all right?" She demanded. Dumbledore nodded.
"They've had to stun him a few times because he's been hysterical. He wanted you, but like I said, I couldn't let you know. You had too much to worry about without knowing the King of Darkness is after your family."
"Um, professor?" They all turned to Alca. "You don't have to speak in code. I know who the King of Darkness is." Her cheeks flushed red at the looks she got, and she rushed on. "I heard mum and dad one night. He was really upset, and I found out that it was Ron, but I never told anyone." She shrugged. "I see no reason to pretend I don't know." Dumbledore nodded.
"Then you must know that you're also in danger. Ronald wants all of you, because you are his family." He looked at the five before him. "I suggest you each take every precaution to stay safe." They all nodded.
"Shall we head off, then?" Leroux asked.
"No, we're waiting for more people." The twins shared a look.
"Who?" Talak asked.
"The children of our source within Ronald's stronghold." There came a knock at the door. "Ah, here they are. Enter." The door opened and they all turned to it. Salai entered the room first, followed by Sharka. Leroux's jaw hit the floor.
"Malfoy!" He turned back to Dumbledore. "Draco Malfoy is your source!"
"And a fine source he is." Dumbledore motioned two seats that had suddenly appeared and the two Malfoys took them.
"But—how do you know he's not playing you?" Leroux demanded stunned. Salai and Sharka both glared at him, but Dumbledore just chuckled.
"Mr. Weasley, there is a lot about Mr. Malfoy's past that none know about save for Mr. Potter and myself. He has provided us with a lot of good information these past months, and we continue to rely on him."
"How is he?" Sharka suddenly asked. Dumbledore smiled at her.
"He is fine. He is safe. You, on the other hand, are not." Salai and Sharka shared a look. "We're unsure of what your involvement with the battle downstairs made the Death Eaters think so we thought it best for you to reside in the Order of the Phoenix headquarters with the Weasleys and Potters." He motioned the cousins. "Just in case something goes wrong. Your father requested that your safety come before his own, so we will abide by those wishes." They both nodded. "Well, now that we've got everything settled, Remus, Hagrid and Snape will escort you all to headquarters. I shall meet you there as soon as I can. Dismissed."
The seven students rose and exited his office, all of them heading back down the spiral staircase. Vilandra turned to Salai and he spoke before she could.
"I'm sorry about your brother." He said to her. She pressed her lips together.
"I've got one more at Grimmauld place." Salai nodded.
"Sterling, right?" She nodded. "Well, I'm sure he'll be glad to see you." They reached the bottom of the stairs and moved to the side, the others continuing to their dorms, but the two of them staying to chat. Vilandra leaned forward, her head resting on his chest. He wrapped both arms around her, swinging her from side to side.
"I'm glad you're coming with me, Salai." She said to him, her voice slightly muffled.
"I'm glad, too, Lonnie." He strengthened his hold on her. "I'm glad, too."