Chapter Three
Multiplicity
There were so many deaths, that the screen stayed up, fading only slightly in between separate ones. Bits and pieces of what was happening flashed before Sirius' shocked and angry eyes.
It was like watching a badly cut horror movie.
He watched as the Death Eaters marched up to the castle, blew in the doors. He saw his godson, Harry, get up from the rubble, and reach his hand down to help up Ginny Weasley. He saw Ron and Hermione dash into the hall, eyes wide in shock. He growled inwardly as Severus Snape and Lord Voldemort, side by side, systematically destroyed Hogwarts, with the help of the entire Death Eater clan. They were aiming curses and hexes at stone and student alike, sending debris every which way. Lily was sobbing next to him, and James was stony faced.
He lost count on how many Hogwarts students were murdered before his eyes.
And there was nothing he could do about it.
"There's Harry again," James said tonelessly. Harry pulled Ginny out of the way of the falling ceiling, thrusting her behind a tapestry, and the screen faded to another part of the castle. Sirius caught sight of Ron and Hermione in the background of another scene before they faded out again.
The next scene was of Gryffindor Tower-Sirius recognized it. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny clambered through the portrait hole and up the stairs to the boys dormitory. He was scared for a moment that it was their death he was watching, but noticed that a first or second year was following them; that the picture was focused on the younger student.
The tower shuddered violently. "Get on the broom!" Harry shouted at Ron, who had grabbed his Cleansweep. "Take Hermione-" Another boom sent them to the ground. "You and Hermione fly to the gate, alright? Then Apparate to your mother's house and tell her what's happening!" Another shudder. "Go!" Harry said, and Ron, with Hermione holding tightly around his waist, flew as fast as he could towards the gate.
Sirius could see that the tower seemed tilted somewhat.
"Harry?" he heard Ginny say in a strained voice. "The tower is moving." And, sure enough, a deafening groan filled their ears as the tower began to pull away from the castle.
"Hurry, get on!" Harry said, and gestured to his Firebolt. Ginny ran to him and clasped her arms about his waist as she got on the broom behind him. The tower began to lean faster now, and Harry gestured for the young student to grab on too, holding out his hand. The tower crumbled, and the student was sucked in between the falling rocks as he reached for Harry's hand.
The screen faded again, and Sirius reeled from the multiplicity of deaths that had occurred in the past five minutes. Lily sobbed still harder as it continued. The flashes were less frequent now, as the castle was mostly destroyed. Some students had escaped to the ground and out, Apparating to a safe place, but some didn't make it. Like Harry and Ginny. A deflected curse shot down his broom in the background of another death. But They must still be alive, Sirius thought, or I would have seen it. They're still alive, still-
But his heart stopped, and Lily gasped as the screen focused clearly on his godson.