A/N: There is a lot going on in this chapter. And it's a little all over the place, but everything is pretty much happening at the same time. I guess could have split into two or three chapters, but don't you guys like long chapters?
Chapter 13: Hitting Closer To Home
Draco opened his eyes though he couldn't see anything since it was pitch black in here. I need some light, He thought. Suddenly, there was a flicker of light one of the walls in the room. It continued to flicker brighter and brighter until it stopped enough where light fill the entire room. Draco looked around the room the empty room that only held his torn shirt and a bucket for his natural business. There was a thick wooden door on the other side of the room. His way to get out of here once and for all. He looked at the chains around his hands and ankles, wondering out he was going to get out of them. They chains were bolted into the stone wall. He was took weak to pulled them out. If only he had a pick lock to get out of the shackles.
There was suddenly a sound of something small falling onto the stone, making a clinking sound. Draco snapped his eyes around, turning down to see a small lock pick of something had falling in front of his hands. Draco picked up the pick and looked around. He kept wondering how this was happening but he wasn't so sure. Maybe he was in the Room of Requirement or could it have been the Castle's magic? Draco shook his head. There was no way that the castle had its own magic or was alive. Draco picked the lock on the shackles of his ankles and wrists, feeling the soreness and relief of pain once he was released. He massaged his wrists and ankles to relieve some of the tension. He leaned back and sat for a moment to live the moment of freedom and to gain enough strength to stand up.
With all the strength he could muster, Draco stood up with a groan, using the wall for support. It felt like ages since he used his legs. At least two and a half months. Draco stood against the wall, walking against it so he could use it as support. He wasn't sure his wobbling legs could support his own wait. He made it over to the door, but it was locked. "Shite," he cursed. How was he going to get through this door? If only he had a wand. Draco looked around, but this time, no wand appeared. Instead, as Draco leaned on the door, the door unlocked itself which slowly open outwards. Draco cried as he fell backwards and hit the ground. "Ow," he groaned, hoping no one was around. He stood up again and looked around. He was in a corridor he never seen before. It was a long corridor with other doors similar to his. It must have been the actual dungeons of the castle. He thought they were sealed off long ago. He figured McGlaggen and his goons sought out this place or found it by accident.
Draco began walking towards the end of the hall where another door was. Maybe it was the way out of this place. Draco stumbled over to the door at the end of the corridor, still using the wall as support. He finally reached the end door after what felt like he had walked a mile in his unused legs. He breathed had become heavy and his legs were burning a little. Draco grabbed the door and opened it up to reveal a brightly covered corridor but there was and exploded wall in front of the door way. McGlaggen must of had to blown out the wall to find these dungeons.
Draco exited into the more brightly corridor and looked around for anything familiar. He saw the usual Hogwarts decorations but he thought he had never even been in this corridor before. Checking for the coast is clear, Draco began to leave the dungeons and walk through the corridor in search for help. He wasn't sure what day it was or what time it was, but he hoped he would run into someone soon.
Harry and Hermione exited the back door of the Black residence, entering a back porch. It was a small quaint porch that held a small bench. Harry and Hermione walked over to sit on the bench. The two sat for a minute in silence, shyly stealing glances at one another. Their cheeks were flushed and pink. They couldn't help it since they had to kiss in front of everyone at the party.
"Er...well," Harry started, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was a little embarrassing." Hermione nodded in agreement. "I thought our first kiss was going to be more private."
"I thought so too," Hermione agreed as she place her hand on his. She gave it a squeeze as she looked up at Harry.
"I'm sorry," Harry suddenly blurted out. "I'm sorry for what I said and probably for what I made you feel. I didn't mean it. We were caught off and I was in confused, angry, and hurting."
"I know," Hermione softly spoke. "I know, it's okay." She placed a hand upon his cheek. "It's okay, Harry. I know you were hurting, but you have to let me be there for you, if not me, then one of our friends. You can't push us away when something awful happens, because that's when you'll need us the most." Harry nodded, grabbing onto her hand. "I can't bear to see you like that. I want to be there for you, Harry Potter. So let be me there."
Harry nodded, feeling the warm feelings he was getting from Hermione. Finally letting them out, by leaning down and kissing Hermione on the lips. It was a nice warm and beautiful kiss between the two who pulled one another close. Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione, rubbing his hand over her back. Hermione lifted one of her hands to touch Harry's hair as he deepened the kiss. The two kissed, unwilling to let go too soon.
Harry reached up with his hand, feeling high on love, when suddenly, something wrapped around Harry's wrist. Hermione was stunned when Harry was pulled away from her and off of the porch, hitting down on the hard ground. Harry growled out in pain. Hermione snapped to her feet in an instant, wand in her hand, running off the porch. She was met with a Death Eater standing over Harry. "Harry!" She screeched and whipped her wand forward. "Stupefy!" The orange spell soared over to one of the death eater's but it was met with a shield charm.
A second Death Eater disarmed Hermione from behind while another bound her in ropes, causing Hermione to fall to her knees. "No!" Harry shouted out, as his wrists were tied behind his back, "Leave her alone!"
"Shut it, Potter!" The Death Eater that stood over him said, and then knelt down next to Harry, his wand pointing threateningly at Harry. "You don't remember me, do you?" the death eater asked, glaring down at a worried Harry, whose eye shifted between the death eaters and a scared Hermione. "I was there back at the Ministry." The death eater removed his mask to reveal dark brown curly hair and a surprisingly handsome face.
"Sorry, who are you?" Harry said through his teeth.
The handsome death eater smirk and suddenly backhanded Harry. Hermione yelped in horror. Harry took the slap and glared up at the handsome death eater. "I wouldn't look at me, like that," he threatened, and then dug his wand into Harry's neck. "The name's Avery. I could kill you now, but my Lord wants that justice for himself. So I'll settle for whoever's in that house." One by one, death Eaters began to apparate all around them. In the front and back of the house.
In the front of the home, on the street, Cyrus apparated with a few Death Eaters. His mother appeared next to him. Cyrus looked at the family home of the Blacks, smirking to himself. He could see the lights and shadows of the occupants inside, hearing the chattering and laughs. "Typical," he muttered. He turned to the other Death Eaters, smiling. "Remember, Black is mine! And no one harms my sister. You see her? Take her back with you." The Death eaters Cyrus was leading, nodded. "Let's get this started." Cyrus pulled out his wand and waved it towards the house where the lights shut off while every window cracked and suddenly shattered inward.
Everyone ducked as Josh and Sirius covered Sandra as glass showered all over their bodies and all over the house. "What the hell is going on?" Ron shouted out as he pulled out his wand. Sirius, Lupin, Victor, Dora, Bill, Fluer, Arthur, Tracey, Daphne, Ginny, Rina, and Josh had all pulled out their wands as well. Standing up and looking around. Molly and Aurora stood next to Sandra who was groaning in pain.
"What has happened?" Sandra groaned out.
"We're not sure yet," Sirius answered as he moved to one of the open windows and glanced outside. Lupin, Dora, Bill, and Arthur moved over to other opened windows. "Looks like we got company," Sirius revealed. "Death Eaters in the front of the house."
"I've got Death Eaters too," Dora spoke from one of the side of the houses.
"We have a problem!" Bill shouted from the back and soon came jogging in. "Harry and Hermione have been captured by other Death Eaters."
"Damn it!" Sirius growled out, though Ron stood up at once and began to walk towards the back door but he was stopped by his older brother.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Bill hissed, grabbing onto his brother's arm. "You can't just go barging out there."
"My best friends are out there in the hands of death eaters," Ron scowled, anger burning inside of him. "I need to go save them!"
"You can't go out there with a plan of action, son," Arthur spoke up. "We need to figure out what to do." Ron clenched his wand tighter, frustrated and afraid for his two best friends.
"We can't apparate out of here," Dora revealed, walking in from another room. "They've set up wards and it looks like it's the whole block. What are we going to do?" Dora looked over to her older cousin. Sirius turned away from the window seeing that Dora, Arthur, Bill, Victor, and Lupin were looking his way. Josh noticed to and walked over to his father.
"What do you think?" Josh asked his father who worriedly looked around.
"Son, I don't know," Sirius whispered to Josh. "I just follow the plans, I don't necessarily plan them out."
"Dad," Josh said, really gaining the attention of his father. "Everyone's looking to you right now. We're surrounded by Death Eaters, your Godson is out there being held hostage, and your wife is about to have your baby. Now is the time to step up and prove you can do this."
Sirius looked into his Son's eyes, as fire ignited in his own eyes as he nodded. "You're right."
"Alight, Black!" someone shouted from outside. "We can make this easy or very difficult." Josh recognized the voice of Cyrus, anger began to boil inside of him. "You can all surrender, hand over my sister, and only some of you will die. Fight back, and all of you will die. Simple as that. You've got three minutes."
Sirius stared back out the window and towards the others who were looking around worriedly. Most of them were ready to fight including his own son. Sirius glanced over to his wife who was heaved over in pain, groaning from her oncoming contractions. "Looks like we're not going to St. Mungo's." He declared, tightening the grip on his wand. "Molly! Aurora!" Molly and Aurora snapped to Sirius. "Take my wife to out room. She's having the baby here - "
"What!" Sandra growled, looking up at her husband. "Are you insane?"
"Dear, we're surrounded by Death Eaters," Sirius began, walking over to his wife. "We have to deal with this, and while we're doing that. You're going to be having our son in our upstairs bedroom. There's no time to argue." Sandra nodded. Sirius looked over to Molly and Aurora. "Go on. Take her there." The two mothers nodded and helped Sandra leave the room and upstairs to the master bedroom. Sirius turned to Daphne, Rina and Ginny. "You three go with them. While Molly and Aurora are helping with the deliver, there going to need some defense just in case." Rina and Ginny gave firm nods and ran after the women going upstairs. Daphne turned to give Josh a kiss on the cheek and followed after the girls upstairs. Sirius turned to the others. "We're going to need to save Harry and Hermione, but we'll also have to set up some defense, so we'll split into a few groups. Also one of you will need to get out of the ward to get help from the Order or the Ministry if they haven't caught wind of it yet."
"I'll go!" Dora volunteered.
Sirius nodded. Arthur, Bill, Fleur, Josh, Victor, Tracey, and Ron were left. "Josh, you, Ron, and Tracey are on rescue duty. Find a way to get Harry and Hermione out of whatever trouble they're in." Josh, Ron, and Tracey nodded and began to run towards the kitchen and the back door. "Bill, Fleur, Daphne, you stay here for back up. Send spells out the window." Bill, Daphne, and Fleur nodded. "Victor, Arthur. Looks like we're going out the front door." Arthur and Victor nodded.
The three fathers tightened their grip on their wands as they stood in front of front door. Sirius nodded once more to the other two fathers who nodded back. Sirius oped the front door and walked out first. Victor and Arthur followed behind him. Using a disillusionment charm, Dora was sneaking behind them, stopping on the porch, waiting for the right moment to run for help.
"Ah, the patriarch of the Black Family," Cyrus said as Sirius, Victor, and Arthur left the porch and settled on the front lawn. "Ah, three patriarchs. Greengrass and Weasley." The three fathers lined up and stared down Cyrus and the rest of the Death Eaters. "Well, what will it be, Uncle? Are you going to hand over my sister?"
Draco peaked around the dimly lit corridor, but it was empty. Void of any people or ghosts. He had to get to Snape, or Dumbledore, or any other Professor that came his way. Draco continued down a corridor and turning into another one, hoping he would find some or maybe some painting that would tell him where he could get back to familiar territory. If there was someone who could help him right this moment, he would be so grateful, but as he traversed through the unknown corridors, he couldn't find anyone at all. These corridors were like an entire maze with no way out. After about an hour of searching for anything, he stopped and leaned against the wall, sliding to the ground, taking a rest. If things continued like this, there was no way he was going to get out of here.
"Can't find a way out of here, can you?" Draco heard from down the corridor. He looked down in his blurry vision to see a figure coming his way, but he couldn't tell who it was. "That's because this area around where we are has been bewitched." The figure continued, getting closer to Draco. The voice sounded a bit familiar to him as well. "Only someone as smart as me could cast such a powerful spell. A spell to make a small area seem like a unending maze."
Draco struggled back up to his feet. "Who are you?" he asked as he knew it wasn't McGlaggen or Elphick, since the voice was feminine.
"You don't know me?" The figure said, "I am appalled Malfoy. I once had a crush on you when we were younger. I sent you that note in third year."
Draco racked his brain. He didn't remember getting many notes in his younger years especially from girls. "I don't remember receiving any notes back then," he replied.
"Oh, then I guess I chose the wrong messenger in Parkinson," The womanly figure replied. "I mean, you two started something after that, didn't you." Draco did remember dating Pansy back in third year, but she did break up with him after the whole humiliating ferret moment. "Of course, I got over it." The figure walked up to Draco who's vision was clear enough to see who it was.
"Brocklehurst?" Draco gargled in surprise. "You're...you're...working...for McGlaggen?"
"Wrong!" Mandy Brocklehurst snapped back, pushing Draco up against the wall. He let out a growl in pain. "I'm working with him! You didn't think those other three idiots were the only partners McGlaggen was working with, did you? McGlaggen can be very persuasive when he wants to be. He is true to his word."
"What's in it for you?" Draco groaned out as Mandy rubbed her hands over his chest. "I mean, I thought you were a nice person."
"I thought I was too," Mandy replied with a shrug. "But then McGlaggen showed me things I never knew was possible. I showed me wondrous things. Magic beyond our understanding. Even all the dark magics he has learned. He even showed be a few things." Mandy reached down into her pocket to pull out her wand, but it wasn't there. She stepped back in a huff and began searching all around her body for her wand, panicking a little.
"Lose something?" Draco asked. Mandy looked up wide-eyed and saw Draco holding her wand and pointing it directly at her. "You know, a wand is a scared thing. You should take care of it as if it were your child." Mandy opened her mouth to talk but Draco sent out a stunning spell, knocking her out cold. "Also, you talk too much," he said once she was on the ground, unconscious. Draco took a deep breath, holding the wand straight up in the air. "Finite Incantatum!" He incantated. There was a waved a magic around Draco that suddenly dissipated. Draco looked down a corridor where he finally saw a large window. He sighed in relief and continued down the corridor.
"Crucio!"
Hermione screamed in pain as she writhed out in pain on the cold stone ground as one of the Death Eaters cursed her. "No!" Harry shouted in horror. "Stop! Please! Leave her alone! Curse me instead!" He shouted.
"Oh, don't worry, Potter," Avery spoke, grabbing a ruffle of Harry's hair. "You'll get your chance. But right now, just watch and enjoy us torturing your mud-blood girlfriend." Anger boiled inside Harry as he wanted nothing more to break out of these restraints and curse these death eaters. He clenched his teeth, trying to look away as the girl he loved was being tortured. He felt to helpless right now and hoped the others would come for them soon. Avery turned to the other few death eaters that were standing around.
"Oi!" Avery snapped towards them. "Didn't you hear the glass? That was the signal. Get in that house and start murdering whoever's in there!"
About five Death Eaters nodded and began making their way towards the back door, walking up to the porch. The leading Death Eater was about to open the door when it was suddenly blasted outwards magically, knocking back two of the death eaters and knocking them unconscious. The Death Eater torturing Hermione stopped and turned towards what had happened as did Avery who pushed Harry into the ground. "Be ready boys!" Avery commanded.
The three remaining Death Eaters cautiously looked into the darken doorway. They were surprised when a hawk whistled and flew out of the doorway, pecking the closest Death eater who was screaming and shouting. Ron and Tracey jumped out next, shooting out a barrage of spells and jinxes. The surrounded death eaters jumped out of the way and hid behind something or used shield charms to block the spells before sending out their own curses and jinxes.
Josh transformed back into himself, jumping next to Harry and unbinding him. Harry instantly grabbed his wand and stunning the death eater who was holding onto Hermione, though she was still near the Death Eaters. "We need to get to Hermione!" Harry yelled, blocking a barrage of spells. Josh nodded in agreement as he shot a stunner, knocking back a Death Eater.
Ron was dueling a death eater when was caught off guard by another death eater and blast back into the window of the house. "Ron!" Tracey shouted in anger. She sent a darkly blue spell towards the Death Eater who had sent Ron flying. It struck the death eater in his wand arm, exploding his arm off the rest of his body. The death eater screamed in agony where Tracey put him out with a stunner. She was suddenly tackled down to the ground by Ron as the familiar sickly green curse flew over their heads. "Thanks," Tracey breathed out.
"Please don't die before we've even had a chance to be together," Ron said to her.
Tracey tried not to smile at a time like this. "Don't worry, I won't," She replied. The two jumped back to their feet to continue to trade spell with Death Eaters.
"How do we get Hermione?" Harry asked as he shot a stunner towards a ducking death eater. Hermione had been dragged away and behind a wall with a couple of death Eaters, including Avery.
Before Josh could answer, he heard steps from behind. He snapped around and saw a few more death eaters running his way. Josh thrust his wand straight upwards. "Protego Maxima Fianto Duri!" Josh suddenly created a shield ward around him, Harry, Tracey and Ron, instantly stopping the spells from attacking them. Tracey, Harry, and Ron stopped their attacks, noticing the Death Eaters behind them. They were surrounded.
Sirius stared at his nephew in defiance. Shouts could be heard from the back of the house. "It seems like the fun has already begun," Cyrus said with glee. "But before we begin? What of my sister?"
"She doesn't want to go with you," Sirius spoke loudly, "For once in her life, she's happy where she is."
"She doesn't belong here," Cyrus replied in annoyance. "And what would you know of her life. You've been imprisoned for most of it. Having abandoned your own son. Stuck in a dingy cell, having your happiness sucked away. Oh, that reminds me." Cyrus continued looking up in the sky. "Some of a few friends of Azkaban decided to join with me tonight."
Sirius looked at his nephew in confusion, wondering what he meant by that. He soon got his answer when the temperature around them suddenly dropped more than it already was. Sirius, Victor, and Arthur looked up to see a group of Dementors floating around above his home. While the three fathers were distracted, Cyrus turned to a couple of death eaters and nodded forward.
To Sirius, it felt like everything suddenly began in slow motion. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a few death eaters run forward with their wands drawn, thrusting them forward, and each sending out the sickly green killing curse. It was Victor who thrust his wand upwards, gathering all the snow around them, lifting upwards, creating a wall of snow, that Victor then turned into hard ice. The killing curses struck the wall of ice, exploding it into pieces. Sirius stepped forward, waving his wand, turning the ice pieces into small sharp pikes, sending them towards the Death Eaters who seemed caught off guard. It was Xerina who jumped ahead of her son and the others, waving her own wand, creating a barrier that once the pikes flew into it, they turned into steam. And with that, the battle had begun.
The three patriarchs began trading spells and curses with the Death Eaters. Sirius, Victor, and Arthur were outnumbered, creating their own walls of ice to help them keep cover. The Death Eaters would in turn do the same. Cyrus, Xerina, and a couple of Death Eaters would slowly move forward, so they could get into the house. Sirius noticed and would send stunner their way, but it was no use. Sirius was too distracted with the other Death Eaters that were attacking him from the front.
Cyrus blasted the front door into pieces, striding in. His mother and the other death Eaters followed in after him. "Check upstairs!" Cyrus ordered. Xerina smiled at her son's dominance and led one of the Death Eaters up the stairs while Cyrus walking into another room with the other Death Eater, only to be faced by Bill, Fleur, and Daphne. "Greengrass!" He spoke excitedly. "Been a long time!"
"Not long enough," Daphne replied, instantly sending a stunner towards Cyrus who ducked out of the way. Cyrus magicked furniture towards Bill, Fleur, and Daphne who would either duck and explode the furniture before it hit them. Daphne and Fleur sent stunners towards Cyrus who magicked a table up. The stunners struck and exploded the table, which Cyrus and his partner sent their own curses towards the women. Fleur tackled Daphne to the ground as the curses flew and struck the wall behind them. Bill jumped forward slashing his wand in the air, sending a few cutting jinxes. Cyrus stepped out of the way but the death eater he was with wasn't so lucky as he was slashed in the arm, chest, and neck. Blood spurted out the Death eater as he dropped to the ground motionless.
"Expluso!" Cyrus shouted. The spell soared and struck the floor in front of Bill, exploding the floor and sending Bill flying out a window. Fleur and Daphne jumped to their feet, sending stunners towards Cyrus, yet he blocked them. Cyrus then jumped out of the way, pointing his wand towards Fleur. "Incarcerous!" he incantated. Ropes were conjured, flying over to Fleur and wrapping around her. Fleur yelped as she dropped to the ground. He whipped again, sending Fleur out the same window as Bill. He then whipped his wand again sending a spell that threw Daphne off her feet. She was lucky enough to land on the cushions of an overturned sofa. "Looks like it's just me and you, Princess." Daphne grounded her teeth and slowly stood up to her feet, glaring daggers towards the older man. "Fiery. I like that."
Daphne sent a barrage of spells to which Cyrus easily blocked. "Oh, come on, Greengrass," Cyrus taunted, "Is that the best you've got?" He then jabbed his wand, sending a cutting hex, where it struck Daphne's right cheek. She gasped in pain, ducking behind the sofa as a few more hexes flew over her head. "Has my little cousin even taught you anything? I mean, didn't he have that little defense group last year?" Daphne confusingly peaked over the sofa. Cyrus smirked. "Oh, you didn't think I knew about that?" He spoke. "News flash for you, sweetheart. I've got eyes all over Hogwarts. Deep withing the crowds of that school. And the best part is, you don't know who they are. Or maybe you do, they just haven't revealed themselves."
Daphne suddenly looked worried. They were people in the school that were on the dark side, but who could it be? Cyrus suddenly blasted half of the sofa into pieces. "Come on out, Greengrass," Cyrus spoke, "We can make this easy. Surrender, and I'll let you live. Though you won't get to go home, I'll be taking you with me as my personal prisoner." Daphne felt a cold shiver run through her spine as the memory from fourth year popped into her head. "I mean, don't worry." Cyrus continued as he would send a random curse over Daphne's head. "I won't harm you too badly. You will be somewhat useful to me. I am thinking about starting a family once day, and I would need the purest of blood to bare my children."
Daphne was suddenly disgusted as she stood up. "In you dreams," she growled, pointing her wand. "Deprimo!" The spell soared towards Cyrus who ducked out of the way, where it struck the stairs which suddenly and violently exploded outwards into pieces off wood. Daphne ducked when the spell hit and heard Cyrus yell out. She peaked over to see that a sharp shard of wood pierced his leg.
"You Bitch!" Cyrus cursed, siting on one knee. He pointed his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"
"The fighting's started," Aurora revealed, as she was standing next to the window, watching the three patriarchs duel off the death eaters. "I hope help comes quick." She turned to see Sandra groaning in pain in bed as Molly Ginny stood next to her. Rina and Astoria were standing by the door, waiting for anyone to come in. The two girls jumped when they heard shouts and destruction from downstairs.
"What do we do?" Rina asked, turning to her Aunt and the others.
"We have to protect Sandra," Aurora said as she pointed her wand at the door. She began whispering words and sending her own powerful charms at the door. Charms to protect the door from charms and curses. She was done in time to hear a blasting hex strike the door.
"What was that?" Ginny asked.
"They're at the door!" Astoria warned. "Mum, how long with it last?"
"I'm not sure, sweetie," Aurora answered, glancing at her friend who was groaning in pain. "Hopefully long enough."
Sandra screamed in pain. "He's coming!" she yelled, "He's coming now!"
Molly turned to her daughter. "Get more blankets and pillows dear," she instructed. Ginny nodded and began grabbing blankets and pillows from a nearby closet for Sandra. "Aurora, I need water!" Aurora nodded, waving her wand towards a candlestick and turning it into a bowl, and then magicked some warm water into the bowl, bringing it over to Molly. More spells and curses struck the bedroom door which still held. Molly then stood at the end of the bed. "Alright, dear," she spoke to Sandra. "I'm going to need you to push, okay? And I know we shouldn't rush right now, but we are being attacked right now, so, push!" Sandra screamed as loud as she could as she suddenly began to push and push, trying her best to get her new baby born so they could safely get out of here.
Suddenly, there was a few loud explosions from downstairs, but then right at the door, something else struck it, causing it to vibrate and crack. "Mum, they're coming through!" Astoria cried as she and Rina stood at the door, their wands at the ready. Aurora joined her daughter and Rina, holding out her wand.
"Be ready for anything," Aurora spoke, and then glanced over at Ginny. "You're our last defense, okay?" Ginny nodded, looking nervous, but she was ready to take one whatever came through that door. Suddenly, the door vibrated even more causing all the charms and spells to break off the door, which was suddenly blasted open. Aurora quickly pulled up an impenetrable shield to keep her and the girls from being hit with debris.
Rina watched in stunned silence as Xerina glided into the room, smiling when she saw her sister-in-law in labor. "What an interesting sight," she said, her eyes falling on Rina. "Rina, darling, there you are. It's time to come home." She said, holding on out her hand giving a twisting charming smile. "Come home with mother."
Rina glared at the woman. "You know damn well that you're not my mother," she said through her teeth.
Xerina's smile almost faltered as she clasped her hand and lowered it. "Your brother wants you to join him," she continued.
"I'm not going," Rina replied.
"I'm sorry, darling, but that wasn't a request," Xerina said, "There is no choice for you in the matter." With fluid motion, she whipped her wand and Astoria was suddenly thrown magically back into the wall, knocking her unconscious.
"Astoria!" Aurora growled, whipping her wand at Xerina, throwing some hexes that were deflect by Xerina with ease. The two Death Eaters ran in from behind Xerina.
Rina jabbed her wand towards the Death Eaters. "Epoximise!" Her charm struck one Death Eater, gluing him into the wall. Rina then stunned him with ease as Ginny ran up to the other Death Eater.
"Levicorpus!" Ginny incantated, causing the Death Eater to be strung up by his legs, causing him to drop his wand where Ginny used the Reductor curse to destroy it.
Meanwhile, Aurora and and Xerina traded spells with one another with great fury, screaming over the screams of Sandra who was pushing out her new baby. "It's almost here!" Molly shouted as Rina and Ginny ran over and grabbed Astoria to drag her over to the bed. Rina and Ginny turned to watch the duel and were in shock at what they witnessed.
Xerina angrily deflected Aurora's spells and suddenly twirling where she whipped her wand, confusing a whip that wrapped itself around Aurora's neck. She pulled the whip and threw Aurora up and down to the ground. Aurora could only yelp in pain as she was tossed around. "Gladios Confodere!" Xerina growled, as two daggers conjured out of Xerina's wand flying towards Aurora who was able to deflect one of the daggers, yet the second one struck her in the gut. Aurora fell to the ground.
"No!" Rina shouted as she jabbed her wand, sending a cutting hex and striking Xerina on the top of her left shoulder. Xerina growled out in anger as she fell to the ground herself. Rina ran over to Aurora who had dropped her wand and was holding onto the dagger that was in her stomach. "Mrs. Greengrass!" Rope suddenly wrapped tightly around Rina. "No!" She screamed as she was lifted into the air.
"Rina!" Ginny shouted as she stepped forward, but Xerina was ready as she waved her wand over to Ginny, knocking her back into a wall unconscious. Molly suddenly appeared and whipped her wand towards Xerina, sending angry spells and curses to which Xerina deflected. One of Molly's spells was a fire spell, which Xerina deflected over to a wooden dresser that suddenly caught fire.
"That's enough!" Xerina shouted as she pointed her want to the floor and caused a wide energy blast, blasting everyone back into a wall except her and Rina, including the burning dresser which would help catch more things on fire. As she was about to leave, Xerina heard a baby crying. She turned to see Sandra, in the corner, behind the bed, holding her newborn baby, with her wand ready. She was frightened and very vulnerable at the moment. Xerina smiled. "Too bad he won't see what kind of world he could have lived in,' she commented and then pointed her wand upwards. A flame shot up and struck the ceiling, catching the whole thing on fire. "Say hello to your father for me," Xerina commented, and left the room, leavitating a screaming Rina behind her.
"No!" Rina shouted, tears flowing from her eyes. "No! Sandra!" After Xerina left the room, she would go on to seal it up with magic so no one could escape. The baby cried more and more, but Sandra was too weak to move or do something to help her, the baby, and everyone else to get out of here.
Daphne's eye's widened in horror at the green curse when suddenly a flash of purple suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She screamed when she saw that it was Josh's phoenix who flew in and took the killing curse, bursting into black and purple flames, the ashes dropping to the floor. "Damn phoenix!" Cyrus growled and Daphne took her chance.
"Duro!" she shouted. Her charm flew towards Cyrus who summoned a chair towards the spell. The spell struck the chair, turning it into stone, falling in front of Cyrus who was now fuming.
Cyrus struggled back to his feet and started waving his wand around causing a large gust of wind to blow around the room. Furniture and debris flew around the room as Daphne did her best to dodge the furniture, when she noticed something moving in the pile of ashes that had lifted up and over a small baby phoenix. It too was suddenly lifted by the wind. "Accio!" Daphne shouted, and the baby phoenix soared into her open hand. She looked up as Cyrus thrust his wand upwards. Clouds and thunder were conjured out of his wand. Lightning began to strike random furniture, catching them on fire. Daphne was suddenly scared and unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, Xerina appeared with a tied up Rina behind her. "I have her!" Xerina shouted over the high winds, rain, and thunder. "Let's go!" Cyrus nodded, turned to glare and smile evilly one last time towards Daphne. He then turned and began to leave with his mother and Rina who was screaming out for Daphne.
Daphne tried to stand, but the high winds made her fall to the floor.
Draco turned a corridor and let out a breath of relief as he noticed that he was in a familiar corridor. He was in the actual dungeons that he knew and was actually close the Slytherin dorm rooms. Draco quickly stumbled around till he finally came face to face with the entrance to his common room. He was about to speak the password, hoping it hadn't been changed yet, but before he could, the entrance suddenly opened. Draco watched in wide-eyed when it was revealed that Inigo Elphick was standing on the other side.
"Oi!" Elphick gasped in shock that Draco had somehow escaped. He quickly stumbled into his pockets for his wand.
Quickly thinking, Draco pointed the wand he had. "Everte Statum!" he breathed out. Elphick was magically thrown back, landing on a nearby sofa. Draco immediately turned around and tried to run as fast as he could, feeling the burning muscles in his entire body, but he wasn't going to allow himself to be captured again. He was going to push through the pain to get to safety, making it to the stairs that would take him up to the entrance hall.
"Get back here!" Draco heard Elphick scream after him.
Draco heaved himself up the stairs when something whizzed by his air, slicing through his ear. Draco growled out in pain, pointing his wand behind him and sending a random stunner. "You missed!" He heard the smug voice of Elphick. "Why don't you turn around and face me!" Draco ignored him as he continued upwards. He knew if he turned and fought, he wouldn't be strong enough to hold down Elphick. He grunted as moved up the stairs, blood trickling down his ear. After a few minutes, He made it to the entrance hall, wondering where everyone was. That's when he noticed the Christmas decorations and it dawned on him. Most of the people had gone home for the holidays, but the professors had to be around somewhere, right?
"I know you're one of the smart ones, But I'm not so sure about this, Filch."
Barty sighed as he held onto a medium sized wrapped present filled with his magical bomb that he had constructed with his wits and knowledge. He turned to Elphick as the two made their way towards Black's party. "Look, we're just going to go in and out. Once we're out of that party, we'll be safe. This will work, trust me, Elphick!" Barty Filch hissed. "I made it and I did so carefully! It will go off when Black opens it, and poof! He's gone. One down."
"I'm still not sure you did it right," Inigo replied with a worried expression. "I think you skipped a step at one point."
"Shut up, Elphick," Barty huffed, annoyed. "I was put in Ravenclaw for a reason. I'm very intelligent, alright! We're going to blend into this dumb party for Black and sneak it into his pile of gifts, and when he opens it, the explosion will go off! Black with be wiped out in an instant."
Inigo nodded. "Alright then, let's go do this thing."
"Stop right there!"
Inigo and Barty froze in their tracks, turning around to face Draco Malfoy. They stared at the Slytherin and then at one another. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Inigo asked.
"Shut up, Elphick," Draco growled, grasping his wand with both hands. If Barty didn't know any better, he'd think Malfoy was nervous. "I heard what you two were saying, and I'm not going to let that happen!"
"M-"
"I said shut it!" Draco hissed, tightening his grip on his wand, visibly looking uncomfortable. "L-look, I'm going t-t-to lead you a p-professor - " he cleared his throat. "I'm going to take you to a professor and turn you in!" His voice more clearer and without stuttering.
Inigo and Barty laughed while glancing at one another. "What happened to you, Malfoy?" Inigo asked. "You were a truly fear Slytherin, but...but you went soft, mate." Draco glared at the older Slytherin. "You got made fool of yourself a couple years ago and instead of taking revenge, you decided to be a...nice person. Why? Why did you decide to follow, Black? He's nothing, mate. And he'll become nothing in just a few minutes. All you have to do is just walk away."
Inigo and Barty turned around but didn't move as a spell struck the ground by their feet. The two sighed as Inigo turned back to Draco. "Joshua Black is my friend and my family!" He said. "And I can't let you harm him, whether or not he is my friend. I am a good person. I want to be a good wizard. So I decided to choose my own path!"
"Look's like you chose the wrong path, mate," Inigo said as he smirked, looking behind Draco. Barty noticed Inigo's expression and smirked himself. The next thing Barty heard was a yelp from Draco and then his body collapsing to the floor.
"Go on, finish the task." He heard from the voice behind him. "Elphick, come help me with this traitor."
Barty continued on with his task, walking a little bit down the corridor. Luckily no one had heard their little interaction. Barty soon entered Black's party that was in a full buzz. While trying to look inconspicuous, Barty made his way over to the pile a gifts that were for black. He carefully made sure no one bumped into him, if so, it would be bye bye for him. A second later, Barty stood in front of the table of gifts. Gently place the gift down on the table, letting out a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding. Feeling confident, he turned and began to leave when he suddenly bumped into someone and knocked the person down to the ground.
"Oi!" Michael Corned growled from the ground, his drink spilling on the ground. "What's your problem?" Michael stood up and blocked a now worried Barty from leaving.
"Sorry," Barty lamely apologized, and tried to walk past Corner but was held back. Before Barty could do anything, with all his strength, Corner pushed Barty back. A terrified Barty flew into into the gifts. An explosion suddenly overcame him as he was suddenly vaporized, fill pain in every cell of his body disintegrate into black mist. The last emotions and thoughts he felt were confusion, horror, and then suddenly emptiness of the beyond.
William bolted upright, screaming his lungs out as if he was the one exploding in the nightmare he had just witnessed. Pansy screamed herself, jumping out of the chair in shock at how William just suddenly woken up as if he was having a night terror. Pansy quickly jumped over to him and throwing her arms around him as he continued to scream. "William, you're okay. You're okay!" Pansy shouted over his screams. "I'm here, You're okay. You're safe. Please. Madam Pomfey!" She screamed.
Pomfrey was already making her way over to them as she had heard the screams of the young boy. "Oh Merlin, What happened!?" she asked, grabbing a hold of the screaming William who was suddenly trying to tear away at himself.
"I don't know, he just woke up like that!" Pansy answered as she tried to get a hold of his arms. Pomfrey nodded thrusting out her wand. In an instant, a small bottle zoomed into her hand. She un-stoppered the potion and held onto William's head as she poured the potion down his throat. William coughed and coughed through his screamed which stopped within seconds as he slouched down, falling back to sleep. Pansy and Pomfrey gave out sighs of relief. William was back to sleeping peacefully. "What did you give him?" Pansy asked.
"Calming Draught," Pomfrey answered. "Hopefully the next time he does wake up, he will be more calm and collected. We don't know the extent of the potion he took, but I guess we'll see when he wakes up." Pansy nodded and watched as the nurse walked away. Pansy sat next to William and held onto his hand. She wasn't going to leave his side anymore until he woke back up.
They were surrounded. Josh, Harry, Ron, and Tracey could only watch as the Death Eater bombarded Josh's shield. "This won't last that long," Josh said, turning to Tracey, Harry, and Ron. "We need to figure out a plan. Any ideas?" He turned the other three.
Tracey suddenly shivered as did Ron. Josh and Harry glanced upwards to see the Dementors floating around in the sky. "Great," Ron mumbled. "What do we do now?"
"Ron, how good is your patronus?" Josh asked, looking up at the dementors.
"After all I've been through?" Ron scoffed, "Not great."
"Well I'm sure you could think of something happy," Harry commented. Ron looked a bit wary.
Josh turned to his friends. "Okay, when my shield breaks, explode the ground, alright? We can use the dust and snow for cover, and I'll take care of the rest," he told Harry and Tracey. "The dementors will probably swoop in too, so, Ron you're going to need to bring out that dog of yours." Ron gave an unconvincing nod. He wasn't sure if he could produce his patronus after everything.
"You can do this Ron," Tracey told Ron, who nodded again.
"Harry, once you hear the screaming, run to Hermione. Got it?" Josh said. Harry nodded. Josh looked at his shield as many curses and jinxes struck it and the shield began to crack. "Alright, get ready. Shield's about to go."
Harry and Tracey nodded, their wands at the ready. Ron began to shake his head. "No, no, I can't produce a Patronus right not, guys," he nervously spoke. "I can't. We're going to get out souls sucked because of me!"
"Ron, calm down," Harry said, "It's alright, you can do this, mate."
"No I can't," Ron retorted, "We all know I'm the weakest out of all of us. I can't - " Ron was suddenly silenced. Josh and Harry turned to see that Tracey had suddenly pulled Ron by the shirt and pulled him into a kiss.
Tracey released the kiss from a stunned Ron. "How's that for a happy memory," she said to Ron, turning away from him, smirking to herself. A small smile appeared on Ron's face as his shook his head to regain his composure, and this time, he was very much more confident.
The four teens turned their backs onto one another, get ready to take back the fight and save their friend. And then, the shield shattered into nothingness, a second later, Harry pointed the wand towards the ground in front of one group of Death Eaters, while Tracey pointed hers to the other group. "Bombarda!" Harry and Trace shouted in unison. Their explosive spells struck their respective grounds, exploding and shattering the grounds, causing stones, dust, and snow to fly upwards and give everyone cover. The four dropped to the ground.
Josh pointed the wand at his eyes. "Mutatio Aspectu Calor!" The charm stuck Josh's eyes which suddenly changed his regular vision to see the heat of the Death Eaters. He quickly did the same to his friends so they could all see the Death Eaters. Spells, curse, jinxes, and killing curses flew over their heads. The Death Eaters couldn't see them, but they could see the Death Eaters. "Now!" Josh shouted as he and Harry jumped and began stunning the death eaters that had Hermione while Tracey and Ron stunned others.
Ron then felt the shiver down his spine and felt the Dementors coming. He suddenly remembered his courage and smiled at the new memory of Tracey kissing him. He pointed his wand into the sky and shouted as loudly as he could, "Expecto Patronum!" The shape of a Jack Russel Terrier wisped and appeared out of Ron's wand, running and barking into the sky, to chase away the dementors. Ron smiled as he chased away the Dementors, when suddenly, his right shoulder was stuck with a piercing curse. Ron yelped as he fell to the ground, blood pouring from his shoulder.
"Ronald!" Tracey shouted, anger boiling inside her. She waved her wand, blowing away their cover so she could see clearer. There were a few death eaters in her view. She ran forward thrusting her wand forward. "Sagitta Maxima!" she growled, and a barrel of arrows soared towards the three death eaters, striking them all down. Two of them were mortally wounded while the third was struck in the arm and leg. He weakly held up his wand, and sending a bone breaking curse towards Tracey, striking her in the thigh, shattering it. Tracey yelled in pain, falling next to Ron. Ron painfully stunned the last death eater and scooted over to Tracey and pulled her close to him.
Josh and Harry ran up to the death eaters, stunning the closest ones and throwing them off their feet. The two teens fought together, standing next to one another, dodging and blocking spells with prowess. They were helping each other out, trading spells and shield charms between the two. "I can't get them," growled a death eater. "They're matching us and they're only kids!"
"That's it," Avery growled, stepping out, and thrust out his wand. "Ingis Tempestra!" High burning flames soared out of Avery's wand towards Josh and Harry who quickly ducked out of the way, flying to the ground. Avery's fire storm soared over the teens and struck the back of Josh's house which caught fire.
"NO!" Josh shouted in horror. He turned back and was surprised when he was blown back by Avery, landing next to Ron and Tracey. Harry jabbed his wand, sending a stunner at Avery who sucked up the stunner with his wand and sent it back at Harry, stunning him, and knocking out the boy-who-lived.
"What such pathetic teens," Avery taunted, walking up the the four teens. "But I can only kill two of you, but it'll do." Avery pointed his wand over to Tracey. The tip of his wand glowing sickly green.
"Expecto Patronum!" Arthur shouted, pointing his wand into the sky. A large white Weasel flew out of his wand and soared towards the Dementors, chasing them away. Victor used a cascading jinx to help eliminate and stun a few more Death Eaters. Sirius was dueling two Death Eaters, twirling his wand and and stunning the two Death eaters with ease.
Sirius groaned when he was slashed with a cutting curse on the side of his abdomen. It was soon followed by wicked laughing. Sirius turned and wasn't surprised to see his cousin walking up to him with crazy glee in her eyes. "Tut tut Sirius," Bellatrix spoke, waving her wand. "You should have given us the girl, this would never have happened. Now you're all going to die." She waved her wand, sending her curse Sirius's way. Sirius groaned as he deflected it away. "Are you hurt there?" she mocked in her baby voice. "I could end the pain for you, just like that." She snapped her fingers.
"I don't think so," Sirius growled out. He suddenly heard yelps and shouted. He turned to see that Cyrus had come out of the house and knocked away Arthur and Victor, sending them flying into the ground. Xerina was behind him with Rina floating behind her, but that wasn't the worst part. His home was on fire, and there was some kind of storm on the bottom floor. "No!" Sirius yelled as he was about to run towards them, but the back of his leg was slice. Sirius growled in pain as he fell to his knees, hearing a giggle from behind him.
Bellatrix strode up from behind Sirius. "Oh no," she feigned, and then grabbed a truffle of her cousin's hair, lifting his head up, causing Sirius to groan in pain. "Look at that. Whoever's in that house is already dead."
Sirius shook his head. "No, they're not!" he growled through his teeth.
Xerina walked up and knelt in front of Sirius. "Yes," she confirmed, "Yes, they are. Including that newborn baby of yours." Xerina patted Sirius's face, stood up and walked up. Tears formed on the brim of Sirius's eyes. It couldn't be true. He wasn't going to believe it.
"Now what to do with you?" Bellatrix asked herself. "How about a little torture?" She threw Sirius on the ground, pointing out her wand. "Crucio!" Sirius cried out in pain as he writhed around on the ground.
Draco continued down his way, and decided to go to the closest place which was the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey was sure to be. He turned a corned when a spell struck him in the leg. Draco yelped out, feeling the shin of his left leg fracturing. He dropped to the ground in pain. He heard slow footsteps coming his way. He looked behind him to see Elphick casually walking his way. "You can't get away from me, Malfoy." He said, "Especially not in the state you're in."
"Merlin, give me strength," Draco prayed and he struggled back up to his feet.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you," Elphick said, lifting up his wand. "I'm going to be sad to see you go." Draco turned to face his classmate, looking at him questioningly. "McGlaggen was coming to finish you off tonight. You turned out to be useless. You have no information to give." He pointed his wand at Draco who smirked. "Why are you smirking?"
"I do have information," Draco hoarsely replied, "You just can't get it out of my head."
Elphick scoffed. "What could you possibly know?"
"Harry Potter has been meeting with Dumbledore," Draco revealed, "I believe Potter's been training in secret. Learning advanced magics that would help him in defeating the Dark Lord."
"The Dark Lord cannot be defeated," Elphick replied, "Especially once Dumbledore's gone."
Draco's ears perked up. "What does that mean?"
"I guess I'll tell you since you won't live through the night," Elphick replied, "Dumbledore's going to die by the end of the year. We're going to kill him."
"Who's we?" Draco asked.
"Me, the Death Eaters," Elphick answered, "And McGlaggen, he's going to be the one to do the deed."
"Is he now?" Draco replied, "But you're the one tasked to kill me?" Elphick gave a nod as he pointed his wand at Draco. "But have you ever killed a person before. Don't you know what that does to a person. It tears into the soul. Rips it apart. Makes you inhumane."
Elphick sneered, though he was uneasy. "How would you know?"
"I read," Draco replied, "Deep Reading. So are you sure you can do this?"
Elphick swallowed, tightened the grip on his wand. "Shut it, Malfoy," he stuttered. "I can. And I will." He then jabbed his wand towards Draco. "Av... Ava...Damn it." But it was too late. Elphick looked up to see a stunner strike him in the chest, knocking him out cold.
Draco smiled and turned back around, continued his way towards the Hospital Wing, picking up the pace and wincing with every step he took and then turned into the next and final corridor.
Pansy exited the Hospital Wing. It was late and she wanted to take a shower and change into some new clothes. She wanted to make this quick and then come back to keep an eye on William. "Pansy," she heard a hoarsely whisper. Pansy stopped in her tracks, unsure if she did hear her name. "Pansy!" she heard louder. She snapped around, seeing someone coming her way. Someone beaten and battered. Someone she thought to be dead. It was an unbelievable sight as a beaten Draco stumbled towards her.
"Draco?" She said.
"Pansy!" Draco said a bit louder, trying to pick up that pace.
"Draco!" Pansy said excitedly as she began to make her way over to Draco. "Draco!" she shouted loudly. She ran past the Hospital Wing Doors where Nott and Madam Pomfrey exited to see what all the yelling was about. They too saw that Draco was running up to Pansy. Pansy smiled which soon disappeared when she noticed a hooded figure appear behind Draco. She couldn't see a face, but she heard one word.
"Obliviate!"
The charm struck Draco in the back of his head, as he lost consciousness and dropped to the ground. Pansy pulled out her wand, but the figure vanished just as quickly as he appeared. She and Nott quickly ran over to Draco as Madam Pomfrey quickly beckoned them back into the Hospital Wing to heal Draco and find out what happened to him, and how the hell he was still alive.
"Everte Statum Maxima!" A white spell out of nowhere, struck Avery in the chest, knocking him several feet into the air, landing into some trash cans. "Sorry I'm late." Josh, Harry, Tracey and Ron turned their heads and were stunned to see Ron's older brother, Charlie, had appeared out of no where. He jogged up to the teens. He pointed his wand at his younger brother. "Ferula." A bandage was magically was conjured and wrapped around Ron's wound. "Is everyone alright?" Charlie asked.
"We're alright, for the most part," Ron answered, pointing his wand at Harry. "Rennervate"
"Hermione!" Harry shouted as he bolted upright. "Where is she?"
"Over here!" Hermione shouted. "I'm okay, but I would very much like to get out of these ropes." Harry jumped to his feet and ran over to Hermione so he could free her from his ropes. Josh turned to his house, that was suddenly ablaze at the back of it.
"Daphne," Josh muttered and then without a thought, he ran back to his house.
"Josh, wait!" Tracey shouted, but it was too late, Josh ran back into his burning home.
"Let him go!" Charlie spoke, "We have to go help the others at the front of the house." Harry and Hermione regrouped with the others who then began to move up to the front of the house.
With all her strength, Aurora dragged herself to the others, levitating everyone together. "Aurora, what are you doing?" Sandra asked as she and her baby son were levitated to Molly, Ginny, and Astoria, who were all unconscious.
"I'm saving your life," Aurora replied, waving her wand around them, creating a protective bubble around her daughter and the others.
"Aurora, wait," Sandra spoke, "What about you? You can't stay here."
"Don't worry about me," Aurora replied, as she pointed her wand towards the wall with the windows. "Finestra!" the wall immediately turned to dust and fell away, leaving a hole to the outside. "You have to get out. You have to survive for your baby."
"Aurora!" Sandra cried, trying to reach out of the bubble, but she couldn't. "Aurora, wait. Don't let us leave with out you. You have to come with us."
"You know I can't," Aurora said, "But I have to get you all out of here, and that is something I can do. It's already too late for me, but not for you." It was true. Aurora had already lost so much blood and she knew she wasn't going to get out of this house alive. Sandra touched the bubble. Aurora placed her hand over Sandra's. "Take care of my daughters, please?" Sandra nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Mum?" Astoria's eyes fluttered open and saw that she was in a bubble, but her mother was on the outside. "Mum? What are you doing?" She tired to get out of the bubble, but she couldn't. The bubble was levitated. "Mum!" Astoria cried, tears forming in her eyes. "Mum, what are you doing?"
"I'm sorry, baby," Aurora replied, tears in her own eyes. "I love you so much. You, your sister, and your father. I love you all so much."
"Mum, please, no!" Astoria cried, banging on the wall of the bubble. "No! Don't go! No!"
"Take care of your father," was the last thing Aurora said to her daughter as the bubble flew out of the second story of the home, and down to the front lawn. The bubble disappeared from around the group. Astoria cried into the ground as silent tears fell down Sandra's cheeks, her baby crying aloud.
Xerina and Bellatrix witnessed them appeared, as did a tortured Sirius. "Would you look at that," Xerina spoke. "They survived." She turned to a smiling Bellatrix. "Why don't you have fun with them." Bellatrix skipped over to the Astoria and the others, pointing her wand at Astoria, planning on using the killing curse.
"Expelliarmus!"
Bellatrix was suddenly disarmed. "Hello, Auntie Bellatrix." Bellatrix spun around, seeing her niece, Dora with her wand trained on her aunt. "I brought some help!" Suddenly there were many pops as Aurors apparated in and began to duel the remaining death eaters. Not only that, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Harry, Hermione, and Ron with Tracey on his back appeared from the back and began to duel what Death Eaters that were still around. Sirius felt a bit a relief when he saw everyone appear to help, except he noticed a few people were missing, including his son.
Josh ran through his kitchen and up towards a doorway to the sitting room where he was surprised to see a storm inside. He also saw Daphne huddled in a corner. "Daphne!" Josh shouted through the storm. Daphne looked up when she heard her name being shouted, feeling a bit relieved to see her boyfriend had appeared. She tried to stand to her feet, but the winds kept her down. Thinking quickly, Josh pointed his wand at the storm. "Meotola Recanto!" Josh's charm bolted out of his wand like lightning, striking the storm and dissipating it away, causing it to stop. Daphne stood up and ran over to Josh, hugging onto him. Josh held her as he led her over to the front door. "Are you alright?" Josh asked.
Daphne nodded, "I am now. Thank you." She then held out her hand, where Josh's baby phoenix sat. "He saved my life."
Josh nodded with a proud smile, looking up at Daphne. "Go ahead outside," he told Daphne, "I need to grab a few things and check to see if everyone else got out." Daphne nodded, giving her boyfriend a quick kiss and running out of the house. Josh turned around and did his best to get up the shattered stairs, making his way over to his room. Part of his room was on fire, yet nothing important had burned. He grabbed his back pack and snatched the photo of the DA from his drawer, stuffing it inside. He stuff many of his and Harry's things into his bag, running to Rina's room and grabbing a few of her things as well. That's when he ran down the burning hallway towards his parents room, only to be knocked back by an invisible door. He rubbed his head and suddenly noticed that Daphne's mother was the only one inside, laying on her stomach and unconscious. "Mrs. Greengrass!" Josh shouted, pointing his wand at the invisible door. He shot a spell, but it bounced off. He the aimed at the wall and blew a whole in it, which was a very bad idea as fire exploded outwards, launching Josh through another wall into the bathroom.
"Ow!" Josh groaned, picking himself up. He could feel the warm blood trickling from his head, ears, and nose. He ran through the hole he created and ran over to Aurora. He checked for her pulse and found that it was faint. He had to get her out of there. Josh waved his wand around, summoning some of his parents things into his backpack. He stood up, and with all his strength, he lifted Daphne's mother into his arms. He ran over to where there was no more wall, finally witnessing the whole scene that was happening in the streets in front of his home. Flashes of different spells. Death Eaters and Aurors falling every now and then. Neighboring houses catching fire or being exploded, no doubt the muggles occupying those homes were too getting injured or killed.
Josh stepped forward, thinking of a spell two when a spell or curse struck the house from underneath him, blowing out walls and windows, yet the second story still stood. A spell whizzed by, causing Josh to nearly drop Aurora. He looked out and saw that it was Cyrus who was shooting spells his way. That's when he noticed Rina, tied up, and being led away by Xerina. "Rina," Josh muttered in horror. Another explosion took out another wall from underneath Josh, causing the floor to give out and fall diagonally forward into the yard. Luckily Josh and Aurora slid forward, hitting and rolling down on the snow covered ground. Josh quickly sat up on his knees, producing a shield for him and Aurora as a barrel of spells and curse were thrown his way.
"I was looking for you!" Cyrus yelled out, throwing a blasting hex towards Josh who tiredly swung his arm to deflect hex. Cyrus thrust his wand forward. "Fulgur!" Green lightning shot out of Cyrus wand, soaring through and shattering Josh's shield, striking Josh in the chest, throwing him back into some bushes in front of his house. Cyrus then caught the bushes on fire, smirking to himself, and began to turn to leave.
"Joshua!" Sandra shouted for her son.
"Josh!" Daphne, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Rina had all shouted.
Cyrus was turning to follow his mother when suddenly, a magical spear pierced through his stomach from behind. Cyrus wailed out in pain, causing his mother to turn back and run to her son. Catching him before he fell to the ground. She looked up towards the culprit and saw Josh had stepped out of the burning bushes, literally steaming off his body. He had torn away his dress shirt that had caught fire and was tossed away. He was stunningly calm, yet glaring daggers at Cyrus and Xerina.
"Take them!" Xerina cried towards the closest Death Eaters who quickly grabbed Cyrus and Rina disapparating them away. Xerina stood to her feet, looking more mad than ever before. She screamed at once and began throwing killing curses Josh's way. Josh slowing walked towards Xerina, summoning debris in front of him that would take the hit of the killing curses. Josh tightened the grip on his wand, his eyes suddenly flashing as he sent a dark red curse towards Xerina, striking her hip. She screamed out in pain and anger as she fell to her knees. "Just die!" Xerina screamed, "All of you!" She waved her wand around and suddenly conjuring a purple fiendfyre curse. The purple fiery beast roared as it came to life in front of everyone taking the shape of a enormous Chimera. Josh blinked as Xerina and all of the Death Eaters disapparated away, leaving them and the Aurors to deal with the fiendfyre that was now catching everything on fire.
Aurors ran around, throwing water, flame freezing spells, or what ever they could use to fight with the fiendfyre. Though the more destruction it caused, the bigger it grew. Josh ran over to Sirius who was fighting with his strongest water spell. "That's not going to work!" Josh shouted. "We need to surround it with a combined countering spell." Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Charlie, Bill and Fleur ran over to them.
"What do we do?" Bill asked, "Nothing can hurt this thing."
"We have to destroy it, together," Hermione spoke up. Josh nodded in agreement.
"We have to surround it," Josh told everyone, "We have to contain it and then use a combined general counter spell to get rid of it. It's going to take a lot of magic to get rid of this thing."
Sirius looked around and nodded. "Alright, let's surround it and do this. Anyone who can apparate will go to the other side of this thing, alright?" Everyone nodded. Sirius turned to Josh and Harry. "You and the others handle this side. All together, alright?" Harry and Josh nodded. Sirius turned as he, Charlie, Bill, and Fleur apparated to the other side of the fiendfyre.
Josh, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Charlie, Bill, and Fleur surrounded the growing fiendfyre. "Alright, now!" Sirius shouted out as loud as he could. Everyone raised their wands in the sky and shouted all at once.
"Finite!" everyone incantated, thrusting their wands into the sky and then down onto the ground. A magical counter barrier enclosed around the fiendfyre. The fiendfyre roared as he roamed around it's containment, and trying to get out.
"It's too strong!" Daphne shouted out as everyone now had their wands pointed at the barrier.
"I don't think its enough!" Hermione shouted.
"We need more help!" Josh shouted.
"Finite!" Josh heard a few voices shout. He turned to see Ginny, Astoria, Dora, Victor, and Arthur had joined in to help. The barrier around the fiendfyre began to close in tighter as everyone began to step forward. The fiendfyre cried out as it now couldn't escape. The barrier enclosed tighter around the fiendfyre tighter and tighter, and then it was squeezed by the magic of the counter spell turning the fiendfyre into smoke. Everyone fell to their knees in exhaustion except Josh who snapped around and ran over to his mother and his new brother. Sirius apparate to them, hugging them all as they all looked up at their home that was ablaze.
"Aurora!" Victor shouted when he noticed his unconscious wife laying on the ground. Astoria and Daphne quickly ran over to their mother. Victor pulled his wife into her arms as his daughters knelt next to them. Aurora's breathing was raspy as she fluttered her eyes open. She smiled at the sight of her family.
She reached up to Astoria's cheek, wiping away her cheeks. "Don't cry, sweetie," she whispered hoarsely. "It's okay." Daphne grabbed a hold of one of her mother's hands while Victor grabbed the other. Aurora turned to her husband. "Look after our daughters. We've taught them well enough. I am proud of them and you." Victor nodded. Aurora turned to her youngest. "It'll be okay. You and your sister take care of each other. You both turned into great women." Aurora turned to a teary Daphne. "You found yourself a good boy. Hold onto him. I am proud of who you became. You're stronger than you think. I love you. I love you all so dearly. You'll be fine." Aurora looked up at her husband. "My love. I'll be...waiting...for...you..." Aurora fell unconscious, her breathing and beating heart slowing more and more, and then her breathing stopped, her hands went limp in Victor and Daphne's hands.
"Momma," Astoria cried, burying herself into Daphne's shoulder. Daphne wrapped her arm around her younger sister, crying harder. Victor hugged his wife closely as he silently sobbed into her shoulder, rocking back and forth.
Josh had witnessed the whole scene. He couldn't help but feel their pain and loss. He wanted to run over to Daphne and pull her into his arms, but decided to involve himself in their family moment. Josh saw movement out the corner of his eye. He turned to see a death eater moving and regaining consciousness. He got to his feet and walked over to the death eater, anger building inside of him. Josh pulled the death eater up by the robes. "Where are they!?" he growled. The Death Eater only smirked in response. "Where did they take her?" Josh growled out, ripping the mask of the death eater, revealed a middle-aged man.
The death eater only laughed. "You'll never find them," he said.
Josh suddenly punched the death eater in the jaw. "Where are they!?" he repeated in anger. The death eater continued to laugh, angering Josh more. Josh clenched his fist and punched the man again and again. Blood spurted out of the death eater's mouth which only made him cackle. The cackling angered Josh even more as he threw punch after punch, screaming and repeating the question. "Where did they take her!?"
"That's enough!" Tonks hissed, grabbing a hold of Josh and pulling him off of the death eater who was still laughing. Josh was breathing heavily as he looked around and saw that everyone was looking at him with concern, including his girlfriend. Josh was suddenly overcome with shame and quilt. He looked down at his own hands which were covered in the death eater's blood. A couple of his knuckles were cut open from punching the death eater's teeth. Josh walked over to the families.
"He'll never find them," the death eater laughed. "She'll be locked away forever, never to be seen - " Tonks quickly silenced the man with a quick stunner and followed after Josh.
Sandra held onto her newborn wrapped in a blanket, staring up at her destroyed family home that had been finally been put out. "What do we do now?" she said, looking up at Sirius. "Where do we go?"
"You need to go to St. Mungo's," Sirius said to her. He then turned to Arthur and Molly. "Arthur, Molly, may the children go stay with you?"
"As well as my daughters?" Victor spoke hoarsely. "I need to take care of my wife."
Arthur and Molly nodded. "Of course, dears," Molly answered. "We'll make room for them."
Meanwhile, Harry was staring at the destroyed home with a blank face. "Great," he drawled out. "All my things are probably burned and turned to ash."
"Oh right," Hermione spoke, latching her arm around Harry's. "You can buy new things, can't you?"
Harry sighed. "I can't buy a new photo album of my parents."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Harry," Hermione gasped. Harry could only shrug in disappointment.
That's when Josh grabbed his bag and walked up to Harry. "Why the sad face," Josh said to Harry who rolled his eyes. Josh reached into his backpack and pulled out said photo album. He handed it to Harry whose face lit up in relief. "I thought I'd grab a few things on the way out." Harry took the album and opened it to see the smiling faces of his parents.
"Thank you, Josh."
William's eyes fluttered open in confusion as he looked around, seeing the ceiling of the Hospital Wing. He wondered how he got here, and thought the last thing he remembered. Suddenly he bolted up right. "Draco wasn't the one who was killed!"
"Shhhhh," someone shushed. William turned to see that it was Pansy who moved to sit on the bed.
"No, you don't understand!" William spoke excitedly, "I saw it! I saw the memory! I saw who died and it wasn't Draco!" He looked around. "Where's Josh and the others? I have to tell him."
"Sweetheart," Pansy said, putting a hand on William's heart. "There is something you need to see." William's expression turned to confusion. Pansy took him by the hand, leading him out of bed, and took him to a bed surrounded by curtains. The two entered, and William's eyes widened in shock. The bed was preoccupied by Draco. He was alive, but he was covered in bruises and cuts.
"B-but how?" William asked turning to a shrugging and worried Pansy.
A/N: I don't know how many times I had to rewrite some of this chapter because my computer kept freezing and it's never as good as the first time I wrote it, but I still you guys enjoyed it. But a lot happened during this day. Let me know if things don't add up. Thanks.