Longbottom residence
Augusta Longbottom was getting the house prepared for her darling Neville coming home. She had been shocked and appalled to hear that the great Albus Dumbledore was dead. For many years, he was the beacon of light and hope. He was the one man who never feared He-who-must-not-be-named. Now that he was gone, Augusta couldn't help but wonder if anyone would take up the mantle that Dumbledore held. The Daily Prophet had repeatedly called Harry Potter the chosen one, the one who was destined to end the reign of terror of the Dark Lord once and for all. Augusta doubted this very much. She liked and respected the boy. How could she not? He was the child of whom she was proud to call dear friends. James, Lily, Frank and Alice were the greatest of friends and Augusta had taken an instant liking to them as well. She knew of course that they were members of Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix and worried about them every time they went to meetings just in case they may be sent on a mission, never to return. She was heartbroken when she discovered that the four friends were attacked on the same night. It was the tiniest of solace that Frank and Alice weren't dead even though they might as well be. Their minds lost due to Bellatrix Lestrange's prolonged use of the cruciatus curse. Augusta vowed to herself that if she ever saw that woman again, then she would unleash hell upon her.
She was just putting the finishing touches to Neville's bedroom when she felt a strange tingling all over her skin. She withdrew her wand ready to defend herself knowing that this feeling meant that the wards around her home had failed.
She jumped a little when she heard the front door being blasted off its hinges.
"Come on old woman, come out and play" taunted a male voice.
Augusta's face contorted into a scowl. These bastards were in her home. The one place where she was supposed to feel safe.
Two house elves apparated to her side, shock and horror displayed on their faces.
"Is we going to fight mistress?" asked a high squeaked voice.
"I'm going to fight Binky. I want you and Fegal out of here now. I don't want your deaths on my conscience. If I should fall then I want you at Hogwarts with my grandson. He is your next master" ordered Augusta.
"No mistress…" started Fegal in a very deep croaky voice.
"Are you disobeying an order?" Augusta asked warning in her voice.
"Yes, we protect you and Master Neville and this house. It is our duty. You must give us permission to attack these wizards though mistress" replied Fegal defiantly.
"In that case my dears, have at them. Don't hold anything back. I think this will be kill or be killed" Augusta said resolutely.
"Yes mistress" both elves said simultaneously.
"And thank you both. You are kind and loyal house elves and friends" said Augusta smiling down at them both.
The heavy footfalls alerted the witch and two house elves that the attackers were making their way up the stairs searching each room on their way and taunting Augusta the whole time.
"Whose going to look after your beloved little Neville after we kill you? Surely not his parents, they can't even wipe their own arses" taunted a male voice.
Augusta's blood ran cold as she instantly recognised the voice of Rabastan Lestrange. He was one of the most evil of the death eaters. He boasted openly about joining them, not for prestige or because he believed in the Dark Lord's views, but simply because it would allow him to maim, kill and torture. He relished in it. Augusta made a silent vow to herself that if this was where she was going to fall, then she would be taking that bastard with her.
The door to Neville's bedroom swung open with force, ripping it off the top hinge to lie at an awkward angle. Rabastan stormed into the room, firing a red spell wordlessly. Augusta brought up a shield parrying his attack. Rabastan shot another two spells that richoted off of her shield which she now realised was being strengthened by Binky and Fegal. She cast a glace at both elves who were flanking her.
"NOW" she shouted loudly.
Augusta and the elves held nothing back. They were firing spells at a continuous rate but each one was being absorbed or bouncing off Rabastan's shield. To Augusta's dismay, five more death eaters in masks came bustling into the room and then they had no choice but to be on the defensive again.
"I see that your friends aren't brave enough to attack my home unmasked" Augusta addressed Rebastan.
"Our great and gracious Lord has allowed me to fight today without my death eater garb" Rebastan sneered.
"That's a pity, I would rather that your ugly mug was hidden to protect my eyes" replied Augusta through clenched teeth.
She was trying her best, but she was old, and her elves, although powerful, weren't prepared for battle. The thought of Neville being on his own brought pain to her heart. She understood that he was nearly of age, but he didn't have prowess with magic like his parents had. He made up for it in friendship and kindness. Being friends with Harry Potter had helped him out of his shell a lot. She was proud of her grandson although she couldn't bring herself to admit this aloud.
The house shook with ferocity, and three death eaters were picked up off the ground and then forced together with such ferocity that they became one mangled bloody grotesque being. Augusta glanced to her left and saw Fegal with both of his hand raised and a satisfied smirk upon his face.
"Well done Fegal. That was brilliant" Praised Augusta.
"Thank you mistress" Fegal replied proudly while puffing out his chest.
Augusta saw Binky to her right holding off two death eaters. She squeaked something that Augusta could not understand and the death eaters dropped their wands and raised both hands to their throats. They were gasping for air. Binky held them like this for a moment and with a snap of her fingers, they fell to the ground lifeless.
"NO" screamed Rabastan as he fired five spells in quick succession.
Four of them were blocked by the shield that Fegal had hastily erected. The last spell however was the familiar green jet of death. Augusta saw this speeding towards her and was sure she was going to die when she saw Binky dive in front of her taking the curse to the chest. She was in shock. Her wonderful little elf in one last act of loyalty and devotion had saved her life. She snarled at Rabastan and the last cloaked death eater.
The ground shook under her feet and she turned to look at Fegal. His eyes were closed in concentration and he was muttering some language that she could not understand. She was ducking and dodging spells from both the death eaters while simultaneously trying to protect Fegal.
"You will die now bitch and then we will go after your darling grandson and then after that for good measure, we will finish the job that my lovely sister-in-law started and kill your son and daughter in law while they…."
Rebastan never got to finish his sentence as his head was ripped clean from his body, hitting the ceiling with such force that Augusta could see a dent in it. She smirked in the knowledge that one less harbinger of evil would be stalking the world. She had no idea what spell she had even used. All she wanted was to shut him up.
The last death eater upon seeing the destruction around them turned tail to run away but was dragged back into the room by a powerful summoning charm from Fegal. They were forced to the ground at Fegal's feet, their eyes the only thing that could be seen under the garb as they looked up at Augusta and Fegal.
"You attacked my mistress' home. You killed Binky. Now I will kill you"
Fegal didn't bother with magic this time. He reached behind his back to withdraw a small knife and then promptly cut the death eaters throat. Fegal watched the life drain from the death eaters eyes.
"Good night" he croaked to the death eater who let out a final gurgle and then started up at them lifelessly.
"Are you alright mistress?" Fegal asked with all his care and attentiveness back.
"Yes Fegal, only cuts, scrapes and bruises" replied Augusta shakily.
"I'm surprised that we survived mistress" croaked Fegal wide-eyed.
"Not all of us" Augusta said sadly.