Author Note: The Death Eaters get a full meal. (Warning violence and some gore Parental Guidance suggested. And as always I disavow owning, writing or thinking of any of this. All intellectual properties are the domain of their creators and all hail J.K. Rowling who created these characters.)

Begin chapter

Lily appeared in front of the diner. The town was small enough that she was within running distance of either end. Looking up she fought back traumatic memories of standing under that same glowing symbol around other friends, classmates and associates.

Focusing she saw that it was coming from the house of Harry's friend Wyatt Ambrose. They had joked about how much they looked alike and she hoped this was not a case of that getting him in trouble. She saw the red lights of the volunteer fire crew as well as the flashing blues of the Benham police car. Walking quickly she saw Pandora's jeep approaching from the other direction.

Harry leapt out causing Pandora to come to a sudden halt as Harry ran to his friends who had been gathered. Lily took a chance that everyone was distracted and did a short leap to be by his side.

"What's going on?" Harry grabbed Rodney's arm as he stood near the police car.

"I dunno man. Some crazy bitch like the wicked witch of the west just popped outta nowhere with Freddy Krueger and some other wierdo in a mask. She cackled I have you now Harry Potter and grabbed Wyatt. Austin tried to grab her but the fugly dude with the claws tore his chest open. The ambulance is on the way here."
A siren wailing in the distance underscored his words. Harry glared through the small crowd of people who had come to watch, to see if they could help or just offer support. Officer Stillwell was kneeling over Austin holding bloody towels on his chest as Austin's head rocked back and forth.

Luna looked at the sky and shook her head, "She is in the waning aspect."

Harry nodded understanding what Luna meant. Lily did too as she recognized the description of a werewolf, one she had hoped she would never encounter, Fenris Greyback.

"What happened after that."

"Well Denver threw the ball at the guy with the mask and ducked. Good thing too cause the bastard shot a red laser at him."
Harry looked around, "Where's Denver?"

"He helped get Becky inside. She saw Austin go down and totally wigged man. We thought she was going to loose it."

"Then what happened Rodney?" Lily asked gently, all too certain of the answer.

"The crazy lady poofed out followed by ugly and the other masked guy after he shot that crazy firework into the sky."

"Rodney, get Denver and go home. Things are not going to be safe for a few days." Lily said.

"Ma'am. If this has somethin ta do with Harry we're his friend. We wanna help."

"Speaking for Denver again."

"Hey I'm his big brother I can do that." Rodney declared.

"You are five minutes older." Luna huffed.

"That still makes me the big brother."

Lily shook her head, "No. This is not something you can help with."

"Mom. They need to know. What'll happen when they find out he's not me?"

Lily looked at Harry who was looking determined back. She knew that if Bellatrix was involved like Sirius suspected she would not be satisfied until she got Harry, and probably her as well, and if she had to go through all of Harry's friends to get to him then she would.

"Lily, you know what will happen." Pandora said quietly, though her voice carried.

"Rodney. Go get your brother and come here. Spencer lives up in Benham?"

"Yes ma'am."

"We'll call him from the house." Lily said.

Harry felt Hermione put her hand on his arm in support or comfort he didn't know. He felt something twisting inside himself as he watched them put Austin into the back of the Ambulance and begin to speed away.

"Fenrir doesn't usually kill outright. He likes to play with his prey. There's a good chance he'll survive." She said with an uncertain quaver in her voice.

Harry stood still and quiet in response Lily noticed. Like his father before the storm of battle hit him.

…...

"C'mon man. I thought you said you could drive. Put your foot on the floor and let's go." Sirius was urging.

"I am unfamiliar with these roads, it is dark, and I am not going to go rushing into danger like a fool."

"Look, I'm going to go to Lily's farm so let me out."

"What? Not afraid to try and apparate from a moving vehicle are you?" Severus sneered.

"Not afraid, just the last time I tried that it didn't end too well. I forgot to cancel all of my momentum and broke a few things."

"Oh how unfortunate." Severus sighed, "We shall continue to drive to Lily's home. If she is not there we shall wait, she will have no doubt repaired her wards so apparating there might be problematic."

Sirius considered that for a moment then with a nod said, "I bet Peter somehow alerted Bella. That cowardly little fuckspit." Sirius snorted through his nose.

"That is one of the few intelligent things you have said this entire trip." Severus agreed kicking himself for allowing the dirty rat out of his sight last night. That must have been the time he contacted her. Severus was still surprised that Bellatrix would dare go against the wishes of the Dark Lord himself. She was usually cowed by him quite thoroughly, as he had treated the whip marks to show.

"I wonder who she got to come with her. The Big V is not going to be happy if she does manage to kill Harry." Sirius mused as they drove.

"No. It will probably be her death and anyone who went with her."

"Which means its got to be her hubby and his brother, Barty junior and Fenrir."

"What makes you think Fenrir would wish to be involved?" Snape did not disagree with the other three as they were almost more loyal to Bellatrix than they were Voldemort. It was like a queen and her sycophantic consorts.

"Well she wants disposable muscle. She won't want to get rid of any of her court, and Fenrir is already a loose canon for V. I figure getting to come here, play with a few of the little kiddies. Fresh meat. Makes sense."
Severus silently and wandlessly cast a sensory charm as he pressed down harder on the accelerator.

…...

After a crowded ride in Pandora's jeep they arrived at the Parker trailer. Rodney and Denver looked confused and upset.

"Harry what's going on? What was that bitch doing?"

"She came for me. She's a witch."
"Witch, bitch. Whatever."
Luna produced a ball of sparkling silvery blue light in the palm of her hand, "Witch."
Rodney and Denver both looked at her then Harry. "Neat trick. I saw a guy do that at the state fair." Rodney scoffed.

Harry snapped his fingers and Rodney felt himself getting lifted off of the floor. He was soon stuck to the ceiling. Harry snapped his fingers again and Rodney landed back on his feet.

"Holy sheet." Rodney hissed blinking, "You guys are fucking. For real?"

"We are doing that too." Luna said, "But yeah. Magic is real. Those people who took Wyatt are bad guys from England."

"We came here to get away from a war they are having over there. A battle between good and evil." Lily said as Xeno appeared in the kitchen. "I would explain more but we are on a time limit. We have to figure out where they took Wyatt."
"Maybe we can help." Denver said.

"How?" Hermione asked, "You're muggles?"

"Muwhat?" Rodney asked.

"Muggles. Mundanes. No Magic." She explained.

"Yeah okay? That don't mean we're not capable of doing something to help." Rodney argued.

Harry nodded, "They know the area, and can shoot."

Lily frowned, "Rodney, Denver these are some very, very bad people. The one that slashed Austin is a werewolf. We don't know how many others are here with them."

"Which is why you need all the help you can get." Rodney pointed out.

"Wyatt is their friend too mom." Harry quietly said.

Lily looked at Pandora who nodded, "I will need to take a few moments to prepare at least a limited defense for them."

"Go ahead. Xeno can you help her take them to your place."

Xeno smiled, "Okay boys. You're gonna enjoy this." He said taking them by the arm and vanishing in a small flash of light.

Pandora sighed, "Thomas is approaching. He will want to help as well."

Lily nodded, "I know. We've already got him as prepared as we can."

"It is time to give it to Harry." Pandora said.

Lily took a deep breath before nodding. "I know." She turned and headed for her bedroom. Pandora smiled at Harry, "Your friends will be alright."
"I know that Aunt Pan." Harry said before she vanished as well. Luna took the moment to go to Harry's bedroom and recover their firearms.

"Harry where's your mom?" Tom asked coming in.

"She went to the bedroom for something."
"Oh. I heard about what happened earlier. Are you okay?"

"So far. But they took Wyatt."

Tom nodded, "Okay. So you want to go get him back?"

"We're working on that."
The door opened once more and Richard entered, "Harry. Rachel got a call from Matilda in town. She said your friend Austin got hurt bad?"

"Yes sir."

"She said it was a bear attack. Only bears don't launch green fireworks that linger. That and what the way the girls done lit outta the house tells me it was some of them magic people your momma was fighting." he said.

"Yes sir. The Death Eaters."

"You got enough hardware and folks to deal with it?"

"I think so. Aunt Pan is helping get Rod and D-man prepared, plus Tom will help."

He spit out of the open door, "Good. Anything I can do?"
"Stay here and protect gramma." Luna said quickly, "We will have sufficient forces."

He looked like he was going to argue when Lily came out of the bedroom, "Richard. Someone will have to keep Rachel calm and safe. If she finds out that we are going to go on a rescue mission she is going to have quite the fit. You're the only person she will listen to."

Richard looked disappointed but nodded, "If any of them Death Eatin folks show up they'll be eating buckshot."
"I'm sure they will." Lily said as she came into the living room. She had a silvery silken piece of cloth draped over her arm. "You also have the special shells we gave you. Use them first."

Nodding he was going to say something when he was illuminated by headlights swinging around the bend slowly, "Now who in tarnation is this?"

Lily sighed as she had felt two magicals cross the wards a second ago. One of them an animagus. "They are, allies." She said distastefully.

"You sure bout that?" Richard asked. Spitting as the car stopped and two men got out.

"Hey Lily. We think we know who it was and how they got informed about Harry." Sirius called out jogging around the front of the car.

"Did Peter talk?"

"No Lily but Sev and I used our brains."

Richard looked the newcomers up and down, "Lily, you sure these folks are okay?"
"No they are not okay but they are going to be helpful."

"Well I'm going back to the house and get Rachel to calm down."

Lily gave him a hug, "Okay Grampa."

Sirius watched the old man walk off, "Grampa?"

Lily glared at him, "So who, and how?"

Severus said, "Bellatrix, Barty Jr, Her husband and brother in law and Fenrir. Everyone else would be noticed if they left, or are too cowardly to come. As for how I did not keep Peter under constant observation. He told me he went to the kitchens but I believe he contacted Bellatrix somehow."

Lily frowned, "Okay. Get in here."

Sirius and Severus entered. Sirius was almost brushing the ceiling with his height as he looked around, "Comfy. Kind of a downgrade from Potterplace."

"Maybe. But its a nice home now." Lily said.

"Is that what I think it is?" Sirius said looking fondly at the piece of cloth.

Lily took a deep breath. "Yes. I managed to convince Albus to give it back to me before we left."
Sirius looked melancholy for a moment, "Some heavy memories connected to that."

"Connected to what?" Harry asked.

Lily shook the cloth out to reveal a simple gray cloak. She smiled and said, "This was your father's invisibility cloak. It was a family heirloom that has been passed down for as long as your father knew." She held it out to him, "And now its yours."

Harry swung it around so it sat over his shoulders. Connecting the clasp he looked amazed as his body vanished, "Wicked."
"Still Harry. They can hear you and Fenrir will be able to smell you. Even though he's in human form his senses are still better than a normal person."

"The cloak only hides you from sight not the other senses." Lily confirmed.

"Okay. I'll remember that." Harry said.

"So where do you think Bella and her buddies went?"

Lily shook her head, "They would need someplace they wouldn't be disturbed, someplace they could control access to and someplace they could torture someone and the screams not be heard."

Tom said, "Sounds like they need an old mine shaft or something."

"What about Hardy?" Harry asked.

Tom snapped his fingers, "Yeah, Hardy Mining Camp. That place was shut down back in 36 when the mine got blown up."

"Okay. Do you have a map of the place?" Lily asked.

"Back at the office. Massey owns the land it sits on but since its on the other side of the ridge we don't do anything about it."

"Okay Tom sit down and concentrate really hard on thinking about the map." Lily said, "Luna can you read it from his mind?"

"I think so. Mama's been teaching me how." Luna said sitting across the dining room table from Tom.

"So how would Peter or Bella know about this Hardy place?"

"Its an old ghost town. It used to be a mining company town until someone blew up the mine and burned the owner's house. Almost everyone knows about it in the area."
"And this Massie person that owns it? Will they say anything?"

"Massey is a big corporation that bought out a lot of the smaller mines in the area. If we do it right they'll never even know we're there."

"Yeah its too creepy to be a good make out spot and security checks on the place too often for any of the potheads to do any growing there."Harry said then added, "Or so I've heard."

Lily looked at him dubiously but said nothing. Xeno appeared suddenly with Rodney and Denver in his possession. They each held a black military style rifle with silvery glowing runes carved into the barrel and receiver.

"They are as prepared as Dora may make them." He said, "She had to use Henna as they did not want any permanent tattoos."

"Hey mom's a Pentacostal. She catches us with this stuff we're dead." Rodney said. "Much less anything permanent."

"We'll get it scrubbed offa you when we're done." Harry said.

"Who's the reject from the Dracula movie?" Denver asked nodding towards Snape.

Snape inhaled through his nose sharply, Sirius barked out a laugh while Lily said in amusement, "An old friend of mine from back home. They're going to help us."

"Oh, alright then." Rodney said with a shrug.

"Dora will be along soon. She was finishing getting ready." Xeno said. He was carrying one of the rifles as well. He was dressed in a green jumpsuit that had a shifting and moving camouflage pattern, the skin on his face was covered in moving grease paint as well.

Tom shook his head as Luna announced, "I have it."

Everyone gathered around the table where Luna had drawn the map in marker directly on the table. Tom looked at the rifles Rodney, his brother and Xeno were carrying, "Uh Xeno are those things ATF approved?"

Xeno laughed deeply, "Not hardly my friend. Not hardly at all."

"Yeah he told us these things have been tricked out with all the mods and Hollywood style mags." Rodney said, "Oh yeah, eat your heart out Rambo."

Pandora appeared a moment later. Her leather skirt, knee high leather boots and a bone apron as well as her body paint all she was wearing. A belt of pouches hung around her waist. "Do you have their location?"

"Hardy Mining Camp." Lily said pointing at the map.

"There are spirits there. Spirits who do not rest easily." Pandora said ethereally. "They may be persuaded to help us."

"So how are we going to approach this?" Tom asked.

Lily looked at Sirius and Severus with an evil grin, "This is how."

…...

Severus drove the car carefully according to Lily's directions. They were on a narrow gravel road that wound through the thickly forested hills, the moon had not risen above the ridges so anywhere the headlights did not reach was pure blackness. A glow that Lily had said was the mine was the only other light aside from stars.

"I still don't like this idea Lils." Sirius opined from the passenger seat.

"I know. But Dora needs time to get set up and the others will need to get into position too."

Severus looked in his mirror and shook his head as he did not see the truck all of the others had piled into. Xenophilus was supposedly driving it with a cat's eyes spell to let him see in the dark.

"Bella isn't the most conducive to diplomacy on a good day. When she finds out she messed up and grabbed the wrong kid that is going to cause her to definitely not have a good day." Sirius pointed out.

"I know. And trust me she will pay for her sins, but we have to give the others enough time."

Severus slowed the car as he drove past the remains of a church. Its steeple had fallen into the sanctuary when the roof caved in. A large sign that was rusted and pockmarked with bullet holes might have said Hardy. Other signs that had just as many holes and rust on them stated it was private property and that there was no trespassing.

There were no beer cans or other signs of parties in the road as it wound through the ruins of about two dozen narrow dilapidated shacks. Roofs caved in and windows broken out. On the other side of the small town they came to large modern gates that were in much better condition. Sirius got out, unlocked the gates with a simple alohomora and they were driving again.

A few hundred yards down the road and a large gout of fire impacted the grill of the car melting it and shutting the engine off. The occupants of the car all bailed from the vehicle rolling and tucking as they landed. The car coming to a crackling and hissing stop as the tires melted.

"Dammit Bella! Now we'll never get the deposit back on that thing." Sirius shouted.

Cruel laughter came out of the darkness, "Sirius Black. You are the last person I thought I would see here." A male voice called back.

"Oh you know, Severus and I were just in the neighborhood and thought we'd pop in for a spot of tea." Sirius casually shouted.

"So where's Peter?" The voice called out again.

"Lily killed him. But we managed to get her. Do you mind if we bring her to see Bella?"

"You captured the great Lily Potter? I am amazed Sirius. Of course Bella will be pleased to see you."

…..

Severus, Lily and Sirius were led into a large cinder block building that had been part of the tipple at one time. Lily frowned as she saw Wyatt laying on the floor. The smell and the way he was twitching indicated Bella had been indulging in her usual practice of crucio in lieu of conversation.

Looking at the assembled Death Eaters Sirius was glad to see that his guess had been correct as Barty sneered at him from a pile of broken blocks near a hole in the wall. Fenrir and Rodolphus stood on either side of Bella while Rabastan stood behind them. Two of the minor recruits that Sirius did not recognize stood on the other side looking amused. He winked at the one causing him to scowl at him.

"Ahh. Lily Potter. Such a pleasure to see you again." Bella purred.

"Can't say the same for me." Lily smirked, "Nice to see they regrew the tits. Should have got a facial upgrade too."

Bella snarled the word crucio causing Lily's back to arch as she screamed in agonized pain. Flopping to the ground writhing as her wrist broke due to her hands being tied together. Bella released her after only a few seconds but Lily panted like she had been tortured for hours.

"Well that was just as much fun as I remembered." Lily quipped.

"So you gentlemen found out where we were hiding. Who else have you told?" Bella pointed her wand at Sirius.

"We have told no one. Pettigrew explained your plan." Severus smiled, "I wish you had discussed it with us as we could have improved it."

"Yeah like making sure you grabbed the right kid. This is not going to look well at the next board meeting you know." Sirius pointed out sarcastically.

Bella scowled but Fenrir barked, "What did you do with the whelp?"

"He abandoned ship when he discovered you had come for him." Severus sighed, "It would seem the Potter arrogance was not in his blood after all."

Bella sneered, "How unfortunate. Although it looks like Fenrir will have a bit of sport after all."

"I have got to know though Bella, why are you doing this when the bossman himself told you to leave Harry alone." Sirius casually asked.
"Because as long as Potter lives he is a threat to our Lord." The way she said that Sirius and Lily both understood she was not using that as a member of the peerage but in a more deification sense. "Any threat to him must be removed. He will understand and reward me, when we return with his head he shall be grateful."

Sirius looked stunned as Severus swallowed hard, realizing that Bellatrix was not only bent in the head but completely wrapped around in a circle of crazy.

Before anyone could say anything else the low mournful tone of a lonesome steam whistle in the distance carried across the night as the moon broke over the ridge. Lily grinned as she burned through the common twine binding her hands with a thought.

Rabastan briefly felt the cold circle of a shotgun barrel at the base of his skull before the top of his head exploded in a 12 gauge induced red mist. The sight of a barrel floating in mid air caused Bella to scream, "He's got an invisibility cloak!" as she caused a swirling cloud of dust to radiate from her.

Harry dove as several spells passed through the location he had been standing in. Lily, Sirius and Severus parried and dodged their way towards the doors. The anti-apparate ward Xeno had dropped over the structure and the area preventing anyone from leaving via that method.

The arrival of a pale glowing 4-6-0 pulling a set of hoppers confused the Death Eaters as they turned and fired spells at it. The engineer and fireman glowed as if they were on fire as they exited the cab.

The two young recruits fled through the side doors only to see Pandora outlined in a pale green feyfire leading a troop of glowing miners with their picks and shovels approaching. They hesitated too long and were beset upon by the cold hands from the beyond.

Fenrir growled a challenge as he charged after the fleeing prey. The moment he was silhouetted in the doorway bright blue rounds came twipping across the open lot from the twins rifles. Peppering him with the magically enhanced silver tipped 5.56 rounds. He managed to shrug off the first dozen rounds as he fell rolling into the shadows, trailing blood along the way.

Barty had dove out of the hole into a bramble bush that had not been here a moment ago. As he slashed and cut at the grasping thorns that writhed and climbed him like a bean trellis he heard a soft feminine voice chanting from his left. Seeing a brown haired girl chanting he tried to turn his wand towards her only for a large bird to come hurtling out of the night sky and clutch it from his grip. Screeching as its brown wings beat the sky.

Bella had the intelligence to douse the lights as soon as she saw what happened to Fenrir. Rodolphus and her carefully moved as quietly as they could. Harry knew that Severus, his mom and Sirius had gotten out of the building so emptied the five rounds in the tube he had left at the openings. Bright red flames roiled from the barrel and hurtled screaming at the blocks melting and shattering them.

"That's cheating little potter boy. Not very sporting at all." Bella called out from the shadows as Harry ducked to pull more shells out of his pocket. He didn't respond to the taunting knowing that she wanted to hear his voice to know where he was.

He heard his own voice call back, "Welcome to America bitch!" from a pile of shadows near the building. A bright green gout of magic illuminated the bramble bush briefly showing the tall brown haired man tangled in the vines. His struggles ceased when the light struck him.

Harry had seen where the light had originated from as had Xeno and the twins as more rounds poured into that area. Harry heard the loud bark of his dad's .357 revolver coming from an area not far away. Leaping over a pile of discarded posts he saw Fenrir grappling with his dad. The two men struggling as they rolled over and over on the ground. Harry had almost reached them when Fenrir managed to sink his teeth into Tom's shoulder, at the same moment Tom had drawn the special knife Lily and he had gotten him for his birthday. A saw-backed Ka-bar with special runes on it that kept it razor sharp and clean. When it was plunged into Fenrir's side he howled in pain as Tom pulled the blade up twisting it along the way.

Fenrir shoved himself off of the mundane, blood gushing from the wound as the knife slipped easily out of his side. Harry raised the shotgun and unloaded the rounds over and over. Pulping the werewolf's head and chest as the green and silver sparkling rounds impacted him. It took three empty pumps before Harry realized he was out and Fenrir was dead.

Falling beside Tom he tried to remember the healing spells Pandora and his mother had taught him. Tom's throat had been torn so badly he was spraying blood with each breath. The spells he tried did very little.

"Ha-ary." Tom choked and coughed as he sighed his last breath. A pale blue glow forming over his chest as Harry began to cry.

Lily was fighting beside Sirius like old times. Bella was trying to pin one of them down with her spells but every time she stepped out of her concealment to do so she had to parry a spell from the other of the battle pair. She would also have bullets dance on the ground or the spoil pile as she moved. She had begun to swirl debris around her as a form of shield, hoping they would intercept some of the attacks against her.

Rodolphus had managed to sneak through the combat zone until he was within striking distance of Pandora. He circled around a large pile of spoil only to discover she was not standing in the same spot she had been.

"You are dead Rodolphus Lestrange." She intoned in a cold voice. The moonlight making her pale skin look pale blue, her eyes were pure white as she pointed at him saying a series of low pitched sing-song words.

He started to laugh until he saw the ground begin to writhe and move. Shadows coalescing into serpents with their tails rattling, as they advanced upon him. Lashing out with his wand the shadow serpents would explode then reform a moment later as Pandora continued with her strange song. Realizing the song was making the snakes he pulled his wand back to cast only to have a huge hairy paw grip his arm. He was unable to wrench his arm free before he felt it being torn loose at the shoulder.

Dropping to his knees he felt an overly large foot shove him forward into the writhing mass of shadow vipers. Their fangs were solid as they struck him over and over. The last thing he saw before being buried under them was Pandora standing on the top of the spoil pile. Her silver blonde hair whipping in a wind that only she could feel.

Harry felt someone kneeling beside him, "Aw damn man. They got your dad." Rodney said in a grim tone.

Harry forced himself to stop as he looked up, "How may are left?"

"The wicked witch of the west I think. Luna's mom has one over by the mine entrance and I think I saw a wookie."

"They're friends of Pan's"

"Sure okay. D-man and Xeno are taking pot shots at the crazy lady so your mom and that reject from the grateful dead can throw spells at her." He looked up snorting, "I hope one of them gets a natural 20."

Harry gave a weak smile, "As long as its not Bellatrix."
"Yeah lets hope she gets all 1s."

Harry nodded, he was still staring at the body of the man he had called dad for the last decade. The man who had taught him to hunt and fish. Who had talked to him about girls when he had begun to notice Luna was one. Who had taught him to drive, and who had talked about when Harry graduated high school he would drive him to Lexington so he could go to the university and get a good degree.

Rodney slapped Harry on the shoulder, "Hey man you with us?"

Harry nodded, focusing on Rodney he nodded again, "Yeah."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Give me your rifle." Harry said dropping the empty shotgun. Rodney slid the sling over his head and passed the rifle to Harry. Climbing to the top of another spoil pile Harry looked through the ghost ring Xeno had put on the rail. Watching as Bella bobbed and weaved he carefully aimed. His friends had laughed at how he consistently hit the X ring on the target while having the worst vision they had ever seen. It was time to put that strange talent to use.

He timed the pattern of the blocks swirling around her, the way she moved her head, he stopped breathing as he watched and waited. When he saw the moment, he felt it was time, he pulled the trigger. Whispering "Avada kablam bitch."

The rifle gently bucked as the round exited the muzzle in a shower of green sparks. It flew straight and true impacting Bella's temple just in front of her ear. There was a flare of green light from her eyes as the round traveled through her skull depositing the magical energy before it exited in a shower of gray matter, bone and blood. She stood for a brief moment, a comical look of surprise on her face before she fell like a marionette with its strings cut.

Harry noticed Rodney was staring behind him with a look of shock and terror causing Harry to spin around. His dad Tom was standing there looking at him proudly. "Dad?"

"I think so."

"You're a ghost."

"Yeah. Weird. Good shot Harry."

Harry felt his throat too tight to be able to speak, tears ran down his cheeks unheeded.

"Oh hey, don't cry. You've got work to do son. I'm proud of you."

Harry nodded. He heard two sharp blasts from the train as Tom looked up, "I think that's my ride. Tell your mother I love her."

"I will. I'm sorry I didn't get there quicker."
"You did good Harry. You saved your friend. That's what mattered."
"But I didn't save you." He wailed.

"You can't save everyone Harry." Tom said sadly, "Go and end this. Stop this war before anyone else gets hurt."

"I will dad. I love you."

"I love you too son. You made me proud."

Harry nodded choking up. He watched as his dad walked to the glowing train, boarding the now passenger cars that sat on the siding. The other miners filing aboard recognizing him as one of their own welcoming him into their midst. He gave a grim chuckle as he saw the spirits of the death eaters being dragged aboard a black shadowy train that had cars filled with flames and green smoke.

Once all of the spirits had boarded the two trains pulled out, the dark flaming shadowy one sinking into the ground while the other flew over the trees into the sky until it was a faint point of light.

Lily hugged Harry as Sirius stood looking around, "Did we win?"
"Yes, Sirius we won. But at a high price."

…...

Severus had fled the combat scene and reached the edge of the anti-apparate ward. He had a great deal of faith that Lily and her friends would carry the day so he chose to deal with Pettigrew.

Arriving at the medical center he saw the duty nurse reading a book while Pettigrew slept. Snape hit her with a somnus spell quickly when she looked up. He pulled back her eyelids and erased the memory of his face before letting her go back to sleep.

Reaching Pettigrews bed he briefly considered slitting the rat's throat himself. He decided not to as Lily and Harry deserved the satisfaction of watching this Judas die. Twice now he had betrayed Lily. Betrayed her son. Twice now he had shown himself to be untrustworthy.

Levitating the body out of the bed he carefully walked out of the center. Apparating back to the battle.

…...

"Did we win?" Sirius asked looking around as he watched Lily hug Harry. Luna and Hermione had illuminated the building as they worked to comfort and save Wyatt.

"Yes Sirius we won. But at a high price." Pandora said walking slowly.

"Damn." Sirius said as he realized what the tear tracks on Harry's face must mean.

The pop of an apparate caused every rifle, wand or hand to turn in that direction. Snape walked slowly with Pettigrew floating in front of him.

"I was going to ask where the hell you went but I see. Any particular reason you're bringing this vermin here?" Lily spat.

"I thought that you would want to finish this creature. He has betrayed you twice now." Snape pointed out.

Lily stared hard at Peter before saying, "I'm not the only one who has to live with this decision."

Harry wiped his face on his sleeve, sniffing back his tears he composed himself as he stared at the floating figure. "Wake him up."

"Harry? You don't have to do this." Sirius said then fell silent when two pairs of emerald green eyes turned towards him.

"Wake him." He repeated.

Sirius cast a spell that caused the chubby creature to wake up. Wrinkling his nose he looked around as he danced in mid air.

"Stop it Peter." Lily said, "Behave like a man for once."

"Lily. How charming to see you. And Harry. My how you've grown."
"Stow it Pettigrew. Why'd you betray us?"

"Betray you, oh no, no I would never do that."
Harry pulled his knife. The knife he carried on his belt everywhere he could. Walking over to the rat man he plunged it into his thigh in the meaty portion. Peter screamed in pain, "Please. Please don't torture me. I'll tell you. Bellatrix forced me to help her. She had this plan to kill you to please the Dark Lord. To remove the threat to him you posed. I didn't want to kill you Harry. She made me."
"You're a spineless worthless piece of shit. And what excuse do you have for betraying mom and dad back in 81?"

Peter shook his head, "Oh please Harry. Show me some mercy. I beg you Harry. Friendly, Harry." Peter groveled.

Twisting the blade to cause the man to scream and wet himself Harry asked again, "Why did you betray my mom and dad?"
"Because I had to. I had to. The Dark Lord is implacable. You cannot resist him when he sets his desires on something. All you can do is obey him."
"Drop him." Harry said pulling his knife from the wound. Rubbing the blade clean on Peter's shirt.

Severus released the spell letting Peter fall onto his half regrown knees. The potions had not had enough time to do their job so his legs collapsed under him. He laid on the ground crying and sniveling.

Looking disgusted Harry shook his head, "Pathetic worm."
"Its your decision Harry. Let him live or not." Harry looked at his mom before saying with a heavy heart, "Guilty of all of his crimes. He's not a person. He's just a dirty rat." Turning he raised the rifle and fired two shots into Pettigrew's forehead. The sniveling turned into along drawn out sigh as Harry began to cry on his mother's shoulder.

…...

Randy Boggs and Sheriff Edgar arrived when Lily summoned them with a patronus. The two men stood by the squad car looking around shaking their heads.

"Damn Lily what did you do? Have a full fledged war out here?"

"I wanted to rescue the poor boy that had been kidnapped." She said.

"So we came and tried to talk. They didn't want to talk." Sirius said with a smiling shrug.

"What the hell. Just the two of you did all of this?" He said waving his hand around indicating the carnage.

"Well Tom followed me and got in the way before I could do anything about it." She said with a hitch in her voice.

"This is the story you want to put on the report. The verified and sworn report."
"Self defense. Oldest story in the book. Besides I can vouch for these people. They were certified bad guy terrorists."

"You're not helping things Mr Black." Boggs shook his head with a heavy sigh, "I just got the marshals out of my hair from the little stunt these people pulled yesterday. I got Doc Taggart calling me at my home five minutes after I laid down to try and get some sleep before I have to get up in an hour. Telling me his nurse fell asleep and lost his patient. A patient with two shattered kneecaps that I see laying over there that someone double tapped in the haid."

Lily stood quietly letting Boggs rant. She elbowed Sirius in the stomach when he started to say something.

"Not to mention we got a dead mundane in the middle of all of this. Not to mention a mundane minor sitting in the hospital that is going to have a real meat fetish for the rest of his life. Do you realize how much paperwork you are generating? You are personally deforesting half the northwest territory."

Since it seemed that Boggs had reached a simmering point Lily said, "I'm sorry Randy. These people took Wyatt because they thought he was Harry."
Boggs closed his eyes. "The boy got home safe?"

Lily said, "Xeno and Pandora saw to it."

Boggs rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Anyone else involved?"
"Just magicals." Lily said pausing before she said, "Except for Tom."
"Okay, we can get Doc Taggart to fix him up so he can have an open casket. Heart failure sound good to you?" he gently asked.

"It'll do." Lily said.

"Yeah it will." Randy said, "This going to happen again?"

Lily narrowed her eyes as she said, "After the funeral Harry and I are going to go make sure it doesn't."

Randy nodded his head as he worked his tongue around his mouth. "Alright. Ed and I'll fix it with Frankfort and any MACUSA suits that snoop around. You go home. Take care of that son of yours."
Lily nodded, "And Tom?"
"I'll make the arrangements with Doc Taggart personal like. It'll be good."

"Thank you Randy. Thank you very much." She said giving the rotund man a tight hug.

Surprised he patted her on the back gently before saying, "Alright. Alright. No need to get all excited."

Stepping back she smiled as Edgar pulled out his notebook, "Okay lets write the next great novel eh?"

…...(End Chapter 7)

Review Responses

OfficerdonNZ: Okay. Thanks I guess. And yes it is going to get interesting. The political ramifications and fallout are not going to make Dumbledore have a very nice time, nor Malfoy or Voldemort. All in all its going to be a very interesting time.

Dennisud: The magic of the hills is rather subtle and gentle a lot of the time. Some of it though, like what Pandora has been doing, can be rather more on the spectacular end of things. We will see bits and pieces of it as things keep going. Luna is going to be showing off more of her stuff coming up too. So we saw some voodoo, native/shaman, American techno-magic and will see some more stuff coming up. One thing about the techno magic and the firearms thing it does justify some of the secrecy act and makes muggles a bit more of a equal footing. So they are not entirely a weak victim set.

Spellboundfool: Cool. Glad you're liking it.

Pteaset: Thank you.

Timekeeper: Good. That means its working. Lol..BTW talking to my brother he suggested reading Peter's lines in the voice of Peter Lorre.

Wandamarie: Thanks.

Manwe Illuvitarian: The great meeting is coming soon. And glad your enjoying.

Kgfinkel: Lol. Might have to go back to the war between the states for some Appalachian war music. Either Dixie or Battle Hymn of the Republic would work. And while my brother does not listen to other forms of music I was thinking of Sabbaton's Battle of Bannockburn. Most of the traditional Appalachian folk music is celebrating life, remembering death is not far away or celebrating hard work and the history we live.