Last time Virgil located the source of the anti-teleportation field. Over at Harry's group, Steve dug up and blasted the first power crystal. Over with Hermione and Ginny, things didn't go as smoothly. Before retrieving the other power crystal, Skeater had his head removed by a large demon. This caused D.P. to go berserk. Eventually the final crystal was destroyed, allowing Scrimgeour and 100 Aurors to apparate onto the island. But just before the final assault on the fortress could start, a lone Death Eater emerged and launched a killing curse, which hit and killed Fay. Vowing to end the fight, Max blasted a hole in the fortress walls with his B.F.G. 6000. And now, on with the show!
Chapter 48: Assault on Death Eater Island part 3
With a 100' wide hole in the walls entering the grounds of the fortress was easy. As was wiping out the demons that had stayed outside. The remaining demons had retreated inside. "So what's the plan now?" asked Ron. "Well," said Jill, "We can enter the fortress and try to rout out the enemy room by room; a costly and time consuming venture at best."
"Or," said Steve as he liberated the B.F.G. 6000 from Max, "We can blast them out." "Do you even know how to use that thing?" asked Hermione. "Relax," boasted Steve, "I know exactly what I'm doing." "I think you're holding it backwards." Said Harry. "How do you know?" asked Steve. "Because you are holding it backwards." Said Virgil as he turned the device around so that the business end was facing the fortress. "Oh," said Steve mutely, "Well, anyway I'm gonna smoke this bitch of a fortress!"
"Just to be safe," said Will, "Let's just give him some room, just to be safe." Everyone then took ten large steeps back from Steve. "That's good," said Will, "Fire when ready." "Ready, willing and able!" exclaimed Steve, "Okay Death Eaters, suck on this!" He pressed the trigger, sending a charged particle at the fortress. It struck and disintegrated several square feet of stone and collapsed a large area of stonework around the impact site.
Steve fired two more shots into the fortress, producing a total of three gaping holes. "That should be enough," said Max, but Steve fired another shot into the fortress. "Sorry," said Steve, "My finger slipped." "Well make sure it doesn't slip again." Said Jill, but Steve fired again. "That," said Steve grinning widely, "That was on purpose." "Well quit it!" exclaimed Max, "Otherwise there won't be anyone left in there to surrender!"
Steve muttered something that to Harry sounded like "Spoil sport," as Scrimgeour made his ultimatum to the remaining Death Eaters, having already magnified his voice, "IF THERES ANYONE LEFT ALIVE IN THERE, COME OUT AND YOUR LIVES WILL BE SPARED. I GIVE MY WORD AS MINISTER OF MAGIC." "Parley!" exclaimed a voice from the ruined fortress, "Parley! Don't shoot! I'm coming out!"
Out from the fortress cam a short man with rat like features and a silver right hand. Wormtail stopped less than ten feet from the group. "It appears minister," said Wormtail, "That you and your forces have us at a disadvantage. I'm somewhat surprised that you haven't killed us all outright." "A few weeks ago Mr. Pettigrew," said Scrimgeour, "the circumstances were reversed. This time, there's nobody to come to your rescue, unless your master decides to show his face."
"That reminds me," said Max, "Just where is your master so I can cut his head off?" "He abandoned us when the alarms went off," said Wormtail, his voice quivering in disbelief, "The master just, left." Wormtail's expression then changed to slow furry. "You wouldn't happen to be Distructicuss Maximus?" "In the flesh." Said Max.
"Everything was going to well!" snapped Wormtail, "Until you and your Mutant filth showed up and ruined everything!" "Watch it buster!" snapped Steve, his Zatt blaster drawn and set for kill, "Two of my friends were killed today, and I'm looking for some retribution." "You'll have time for retribution later Steve," said Max, "You were saying…"
"As I was saying," said Wormtail, "The rest of us are prepared to surrender, that is, all but two." "Let me guess," said Harry, "Lestrange and Snape." "I might have known that you'd be here as well." Said Wormtail. "Well here's my offer," said Max, "Subdue the holdouts and I promise that those who surrender shall not be harmed, and all shall receive a fair trial."
"How do I know that you'll keep your word?" asked Wormtail. "I've never made a promise I've failed to keep," said Max, "So you'll just have to trust me." "Even if you won't trust Max," said Harry, "You still owe me a life debt. Consider this your way of paying me back." "Then we surrender," said Wormtail, "With the two holdouts subdued."
Five minutes later the remaining Death Eaters had fully surrendered and the remaining demons were disabled. Meanwhile Snape and Bellatrix Lestrange were restrained outside the fortress. Lestrange glared hate at everyone, while Snape just glared at Harry. Harry was ignoring Snape for the time being.
"So," said Lestrange, "With the master away with his affairs, I've been betrayed by my fellow Death Eaters." "Let's get one thing straight," said Jill, "Your master left you as soon as the fighting started. Face it, the Death Eaters are finished." "The master would never abandon me!" exclaimed Lestrange, "I am the most loyal of his followers!"
"And look where your loyalty got you," said Will, "trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey." "If you're going to kill me," said Lestrange, "Just do it already and stop wasting my time." "Death is to good for you," said Jill, "Instead, I think you shall receive 'The Pain.'"
"What's that?" asked Ron. "I'll tell you," said Jill; "The first our 'friend' here loses is her left eye, followed by her right eye, then her nose." "And then my tongue I assume," said Lestrange, "Just do it already!" "I'm not finished!" exclaimed Jill, "You're very rude."
"The next thing you'll lose," continued Jill, "Shall be your feet below the ankles, followed by your hands below the wrists." "And then my ears perhaps," interrupted Lestrange again, "Can we get on with it!" "Wrong!" exclaimed Jill, "You keep your ears, and I'll tell you why:
"So that every time a child cries out in terror; every exclamation of disgust; every shout of 'Dear god! What is that thing?' will be yours to cherish with your perfect ears. That is 'The Pain,' in which you are left in physical and mental agony for the rest of your natural life."
Lestrange glared at Jill, but now with more than a hint of fear. "I doubt you have the stomach to carry out your plan," said Lestrange, "I doubt anyone here can do it." "I'm sure," said Scrimgeour, "That something similar can be arranged. Take her away!" And so that was the last Harry ever saw of Bellatrix Lestrange.
"What about this sack of pig vomit?" asked Steve, referring to Sanpe. "Death is too good for this creep as well," said Jill, "But what to do with him?" "I know," said Harry, "His actions are nothing but the actions of a coward." This seemed to strike a nerve in Snape, "Don't you call me a coward Potter!" "I'll call you what I damn well want!" exclaimed Harry.
Harry then asked Scrimgeour, "I suggest he be banished from the magical community. But first, is there a way to take away his powers? Some means that he can never use any magic? Not even the most basics of spells?" "If there isn't," said Scrimgeour, "I'm sure we'll find one. Take him away!" At that, Snape was dragged away, "It appeared I misjudged you again, Potter. However, this small victory is meaningless. The Dark Lord shall triumph! And you and all your friends shall be destroyed! You hear me? You are a dead man!" "Of course I'm dead!" said Harry sarcastically, "I just haven't stopped moving yet!" At that, Snape was lead away and was never seen again.
"Well," said Hermione, "We haven't done too badly today." "So is it over?" asked Bloom. "It's not over until Voldemort is found and killed." Said Ginny. "Well he won't be using this place anymore." Said Steve as he attached a large sign to the ruined fortress reading:
'DEATH EATER ISLAND FORTRESS
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT'
Just then, Harry clutched his forehead, his scar erupting is such agony the likes he'd never seen before. "What is it?" exclaimed Ginny as Harry fell to the ground. "He's here!" gasped Harry, "He's still on the island!" "Look!" exclaimed Jill. She was pointing to a large dark purple glow off to the southeast of the island.
"If Voldemort isn't there," said Max, "I'll eat my jacket." He began to hurry towards the southeast. "What are you going to do?" asked Ron. "I'm gonna rip his head off with my bare hands!" exclaimed Max as he, the other Ramblers, the Guardians, Fairies, Specialists and everyone else (minus Harry and Ginny who had stayed with him) ran towards the dark purple glow.
The end of chapter 48. Next chapter, its Max vs. Voldemort, so get ready for World War 3! Please read and review, and I'll see you next time!
