Chapter Eighty-Seven

Severus watched as Lily Disapparated with the little boy, his eyes left staring at the spot for a second after they disappeared. Another cry came from upstairs, shaking him back to the present situation, so he took the steps two at a time to the top level and quickly surveyed the surroundings. Different colors of light were flitting in and out from the doorway the farthest down the hallway.

As Severus inched his way toward the area of combat, a blackly-clad body suddenly was thrust out of the room, slamming hard into the opposite wall. The plaster cracked from impact, and Severus surmised the Death Eater was knocked out cold. As he cautiously approached the figure, he kept his wand pointed at the body. He kicked the figure in the leg, but there was no movement. Despite this, Severus aimed his wand at the prone form, and ropes sprung from the tip of his wand, tying the man up.

Severus now turned and took in the scene before him. The eldery lady was lying on the floor, her blank eyes staring at the ceiling. His worst suspicions were confirmed. They had already killed her.

Frank Longbottom, realizing Severus was there, called, "We could use your help, Severus!"

Severus scowled, but didn't waste another minute. Unlike most of his fellow Order members, he was not a reckless Gryffindor who jumped head-first into battle without thinking. True, he didn't waste time standing around like an idiot, either, but had he not taken the extra precaution of binding the unconscious man in the hallway, he could have easily regained consciousness and taken an Order member by unpleasant surprise.

"Crucio!" one of the Death Eaters boomed at Severus, who jumped out of the way just in time.

Recognizing the voice as Goyle, Severus shot a Reductor Curse at his opponent. Goyle, although fairly inept, somehow managed to block it. Severus inwardly swore and swerved just in time as another Death Eater shot a beam of blue light at him. Throwing up a Shield Charm, Severus moved farther into the room, finding it far too small to be battling. Three other Order members and five Death Eaters, plus himself... too many people in that room. Most of the furniture had already been destroyed, but the mattress, although filled with holes, was still mostly intact. Severus smirked and levitated the mattress, thrusting it at Goyle just as the brute was about to use the Cruciatus on Alice, pinning him to the wall. The force of the impact knocked Goyle out, and he fell to the floor.

Severus was about to tie him up as well, but something hit him in the arm, stinging. He glanced down and found his shirt burnt away, and large boils were forming on his upper arm. Looking in the direction the curse had come from, Severus saw Doholov leering down at Alice, who was the only woman in the battle and didn't have enough physical strength to hold off her opponent.

Edgar was otherwise engaged with two Death Eaters, who were driving him closer and closer to the window. Frank held his own against Travers, who was muttering something meant to threaten the man.

Seeing his wife in danger, Frank's adrenaline pumped faster through him, and he threw a Sponge-Knees Curse at Travers, who crumpled to the floor, his knees unable to hold him up. Before he hit the hard wood, however, Travers aimed his wand at Frank's backside as he was retreating to help his wife.

Frank doubled over in terrible pain, shaking uncontrollably. Travers laughed maliciously.

"Serves you right for followin' us round like some lost puppy, Longbottom! Be a real Auror and don't hold back next time... if there is a next time!" Travers taunted.

Alice watched in horror as her husband twitched on the floor. Edgar was now pinned against the window, both Death Eaters' wands jabbed into his chest. He tried to Disapparate, but to no avail.

"No!" Alice screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Leave him alone!"

Dolohov, who had been intent on harming her a minute ago, instead turned toward the helpless Frank. "You love him that much, do you? You'll be next; just wait..."

Dolohov made to cast the Cruciatus on Frank again, but Severus ran in front of him, blocking Frank. He hadn't a moment to really think through his actions as he felt the curse run rampant through his torso and limbs, every nerve firing in agony. Maybe he had been influenced by too many Gryffindors, after all...

Severus's diversion gave Frank the opportunity to stand and fight back.

"I don't need to resort to using Unforgivables to make an impression!" he shouted at Dolohov.

Frank tried to Stun the Death Eater, but Dolohov was older and more experienced. From the floor, Severus was still recovering from being Crucio'd and therefore couldn't yet assist. He heard glass shattering, and his eyes lifted to the window, watching in a mixture of shock and horror as Edgar fell through it. The two Death Eaters by the window thought they had won, but a second later, a loud crack issued forth from just behind them, and Edgar was standing there, catching the Death Eaters by surprise.

Edgar shot a series of Stunners at them, hitting one and taking him down. The other was faster and jumped out of the way. This Death Eater wasn't going to play "nicely" anymore. A jet of green light erupted from the Death Eater's wand and dropping to the floor was all Edgar could do to avoid winding up a corpse like the old woman feet away.

Unfortunately, Travers had somehow mended his knees and was standing again, advancing on Severus, who was finally beginning to regain his strength. On his knees, Severus slashed his wand at Travers, but only a trickle of blood fell from the man's coarse cheek. Travers glowered at Severus, closing in to kill.

Frank and Dolohov were sizing each other up, Frank too afraid to act, lest Dolohov inflict damage upon Alice. But Dolohov didn't seem to care about waiting any longer. He pointed his wand at Alice, who, Severus realized, had already been Disarmed, and inflicted the Cruciatus upon her. Her screams filled the room, and Frank charged at Dolohov, tackling him.

As the two men scrambled on the floor, Severus darted out of the way as Travers's Killing Curse coursed inches past him. Focusing his strength on the task at hand, Severus slashed his wand through the air again, but Travers wasn't like Mulciber. He was an accomplished wizard who could hold his own. He blocked Severus, knocking him down again.

Alice was recovering and shakily crawling across the floor to where her wand had fallen. Edgar, realizing their fight was fruitless, called, "Retreat! Now!"

Severus cursed. Frank and Alice were in no position to be Disapparating, and truth be told, neither was he. Edgar disappeared, leaving his opponent free to attack Alice, and Severus thought Edgar an idiot or a coward for leaving his allies like that. Then, suddenly, Edgar appeared next to Alice and grabbed her, taking her with him.

Severus tried to hold off Travers, but his Shield Charm was growing weaker by the second. Frank was still in a full-on fist fight with Dolohov, and the other Death Eater was now turning, ready to join Dolohov. His reflexes lightning quick, Severus grabbed Frank's leg and pulled. This was just enough to disentangle him from Dolohov.

"What the-?" Frank started to demand angrily, realizing his wife and Edgar were gone.

"NOW!" Severus bellowed.

Realizing he had but a second to retreat, Frank Disapparated, and Severus did likewise simultaneously.

Severus had Apparated to Spinner's End, of course, but there was no telling where the others had gone. Panting and bleeding from the forehead, Severus dropped onto the sofa in the sitting room. His arm was still covered with boils, which were oozing pus. Lily came running into the room a moment later.

"Sev!" she exclaimed, worried. "What happened? What took so long?"

"We couldn't help her," Severus said in between breaths. "She was already... dead by the time I got up there. Six Death Eaters... took three down, but hell of a good it'll do... seeing as we left three standing... to take their fallen comrades with them. What about the boy?" he finished softly.

Lily was dabbing at his forehead, murmuring healing spells. "You're bleeding," she observed, then turned her attention to his arm. "What'd they do to you?"

Severus waved her off. "It's nothing," he said, standing. "Is the boy all right?"

"He's upstairs," Lily said. She had a strange look on her face.

"Did you alert Dumbledore yet?"

"He's..."

"What?" Severus asked, unnerved.

"I think the boy... he's a wizard," Lily said.

Severus's mouth gaped. "Wizard?"

"Yes," Lily affirmed. "When we appeared here, he was frightened and inadvertently placed a protective bubble around himself."

"Well, that certainly changes things," Severus stated. "He won't need to be Obliviated, but-"

"But he's lost his grandmother," Lily replied sadly. "We need to tell Dumbledore now. No doubt everyone else has already reported... that is, if they're okay?"

"No one was killed, if that's what you mean," Severus said grimly. "Come on, let's get this over with."

Throwing a pinch of Floo powder into the grate, Severus called, "Dumbledore's office!" Lily and he stuck their heads into the flames and were looking into the familiar headmaster's office. Despite the late hour, Dumbledore was wide awake. He stood from behind his desk and approached them.

"Ah, Severus, Lily," he said, "I am glad you called. Edgar and the Longbottoms already reported. I know what happened. I am sorry."

"There is one more thing, sir," Severus said. "They didn't know, but there was a boy-"

"A boy?" Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Yes, a little boy, only about seven years old," Lily cut in. "He was hiding in one of the rooms downstairs, and I got him out before they could discover him, but, sir, he's a wizard."

Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Indeed," he intoned. "In the morning, some Ministry officials shall come by to collect him. I will send word."

Lily felt a coldness go through her at his words, but what could she say? She wanted to protest for some reason, but maybe her emotions were just getting the better of her. Lily nodded.

"You have done well," Dumbledore said. "You saved the boy's life. It is unfortunate that the old lady didn't survive and that you were outnumbered, but you did want you could."

"Which wasn't much," Severus said roughly.

Sighing, Dumbledore replied, "This is a war, Severus. What did you expect?"

"Somehow, I expected better," Severus ground out, breaking the connection.

Back in their sitting room, Lily led Severus to the couch and sat next to him.

"Sev, what's wrong?"

"This shouldn't have happened," Severus muttered. "I wish-"

"You wish you had known about this attack?"

He nodded dejectedly.

"But how could you, Severus? You can't put that kind of pressure on yourself. Not even the most brilliant person could remember every small battle. Besides, like you said, things may have already changed too much this time around. It's the child I'm worried about. Poor kid..."

Severus knew Lily's natural maternal feelings would cloud her judgment.

"We can't keep him," Severus said.

"But Dumbledore was so prosaic. The boy is an orphan, Severus. He's just lost his grandmum. When you expressed your disappointment toward the headmaster, what did you mean? The boy? Or something else?"

Groaning, Severus buried his face in his hands, then quickly withdrew from them and stared at the ceiling.

"I don't know," he said hollowly. "I just thought... Frank Longbottom and Edgar Bones are supposed to be skilled Aurors. I have years of combat experience, Lily, and yet, we didn't succeed in taking even six measly Death Eaters down. I bound one and knocked out one myself, in hopes of the Aurors taking them to Azkaban, but they escaped. Surely their unfallen comrades would have taken them with them. And the one we were meant to protect is dead... We were too late. Too slow. Too uninformed..."

"But the boy-"

"Is alone now!" Severus yelled, standing. "Just like your son, Lily! He's an orphan because of Death Eaters, an orphan like Harry Potter was because of me, a Death Eater!"

Lily hoped his shouting wouldn't waken the boy. "Severus-" she started to say, her voice breaking.

"And the Longbottoms were tortured into madness with the Cruciatus Curse during my first lifetime! They were using it again on them tonight, like some kind of mockery."

Lily hadn't known about the Longbottoms, but didn't think it appropriate to pry right now. In Severus's rage, he developed a pounding headache, and the cut along his hairline in front split open again.

"You're bleeding, Sev," Lily said, leading him back to the sofa and forcing him to sit. "You can't keep doing this to yourself," she gently admonished, fixing him up once more. "This is madness... You'll drive yourself crazy like- like the Longbottoms under the Cruciatus if you do. You did what you could. We all did. You all escaped alive. Be content enough in that. Besides, it's no small victory to have saved a child-"

"You saved him, Lily," Severus whispered, meeting her eyes.

"We all did," she corrected him. "Had you not fought those Death Eaters, who knows what could have happened. Now, come on. It's late, and we'll have to face the Ministry officials in the morning."

Severus frowned, but stood and silently followed Lily upstairs.