There was silence.
The walls themselves seemed to hold their breath in anticipation for what was to come.
Minerva paced back and forth, twirling her wand mindlessly between her fingers. Her children waited anxiously around her.
Off in the distance, an alarm signaled.
A loud pop echoed in the room, and the occupants turned to find a bloody Narcissa Malfoy kneeling on the carpet, blood running from the corners of her mouth.
"He's coming," she rasped, holding her hard out in front of her, keeping them at bay. "Go!" She pleaded, her glassy eyes raised to Minerva. "Go…"
With that, she was gone.
Xxxxxx
The air was cold and sharp, stinging Minerva's lungs as she made her way through the forest. Her paws lingered but a second on the branches as she darted this way and that, determined to meet
In the distance, trees snapped and crashed to the ground. She wondered what exactly she'd be up against, who was coming for her, who wanted her dead.
In the past battles, Dark wizards had used creatures and animals in battle, and she feared that such would be the case again.
The sirens cried out in warning as the front line grew ever closer.
As the crashing grew louder, she morphed back into her body and began sprinting forward, determined to meet Donal and whoever or whatever else was out there head on. The further the fight was from the castle, the better.
Xxxxxxxx
Esmerele ran parallel to the sounds echoing through the trees. Her job was to come in from the east with Filius. Arm extended, wand at the ready, her steely green eyes peeled the foggy horizon for any indicator that someone was out there.
No alarms had signaled in the area, but she wondered.
When she'd reached her destination point beside the tree marked H, she grinded to a halt and waited.
A twig snapped behind her.
She spun around, wand out, but the spell on her lips died as a centaur's hand covered her mouth.
"Don't cry out," he whispered. "They'll be here in ten minutes. We are the first line of defense. When you see a purple streak in the sky, go."
Esmerele nodded. She turned towards where Filius was hiding, and he gave her a nod.
With that, the creature bowed low and galloped off.
Xxxxxxxx
Tessa waited at the edge of the forest, agitated that she wasn't in the midst of the battle. She should be there by her mother's side, not standing here waiting to be killed.
She paced back and forth. She'd been told to stay, but she wanted to go. What if things got bad in there and they needed help? If the fight didn't stay in the forest, it'd surely push ahead to the castle.
And then what? It'd be her against an unknown about of assailants?
Never one to listen to her mother, Tessa left her post and ran into the woods.
Xxxxxx
A Giant named Balkazzur tore down another tree as Donal's army pressed forward. Consisting of four giants, a few rogue centaurs, and about twenty or so ex-convicts, the group was formidable and well armed.
"CHAOS!" Donal hollered out to the crew. "I WANT MOTHER FUCKING CHAOS!"
As if to emphasize his words, he shot out a wave of fire, igniting all the tress in his vicinity. The air, already thick with the evening fog, grew denser with the rising smoke and ashes.
With another sweep of his wand, the trees fell to the ground, setting those nearby ablaze. Donal yelled out and apparated ahead, his very blood boiling for revenge.
Xxxxxxxx
There was a flash of light and a deafening crash.
The thunder clapped in sync with the curses that were flying- bolts of green light from the killing curse shattering the onyx sky.
Another crash, and a tree came smashing down into the thick, icy ground of the Forbidden Forest.
An acrid smell began filling the space between the trees. Off in the distance, a fire began to rage, burning everything and anyone in its path.
In only a few short moments, the air was gray and thick with smoke, clouding any vision, blocking out the scant light the moon and stars provided.
She knew it was going to happen. She knew even before it started. She ran forward, wand in front of her, desperately trying to stop what she knew had to come.
From somewhere in the forbidden forest, there was a scream of agony, a blood-curdling, horrid scream.
Pomona moved towards the sound, heart filling with dread at what she knew she was about to see.
Before she could round the corner, she felt a curse hit her in the back, sending her sprawling to the ground. Her head collided with something hard, and in an instant she felt warm, slick blood coat the side of her face.
Then her world went black.
xxxxxxx