Chapter 13 - End of an era
The following afternoon found Harry strolling down the Hogwarts lawns towards the boar-flanked Hogwarts gates. It was a Saturday, but not a Hogsmeade weekend, so Harry's walk in to the small wizarding village was a peaceful one. The late October sun was shining properly for probably the last time of the year, and a nice breeze threw the golden-red forest leaves across the path. They rustled pleasantly under Harry's feet as he forged his way past Honeydukes, Zonko's and another shop that had the sign "under new owners" written across the top in handwriting that made Harry suspect that Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes was coming to Hogsmeade, until he reached his destination: The Three Broomsticks. As he entered he spotted two people who would, several years ago, have been the most unlikely pair or drinking buddies: Malfoy and Ron.
"Hey Harry," Ron said, grinning up at him from over his butterbeer as Harry took a seat at their table.
"It's everyone's favourite knight in shining armour!" Malfoy said, setting down his own glass and smirking as he pushed a third towards Harry, who took a grateful swig.
"How're you two?" Harry asked, taking another gulp of his butterbeer and sending the pair of them into hysterics as he managed to spill some down the front of his robes.
"Very suave," Malfoy commented, regaining control as Harry siphoned off the drink with his wand. "I'm alright, working at the Ministry with the Misuse of Magic office." Harry couldn't tell if the tone was smug or sullen, but didn't press for answers.
"Auror's have been busy I imagine?" Harry asked Ron, who rolled his eyes.
"Like you wouldn't believe. I was just telling Draco about some of the raids we've been on recently. You definitely made the right move in going in for a career in Quidditch."
"Yeah, that's proved to be much less dangerous," Malfoy remarked drily, rolling his eyes. "One hundred percent kidnap rate so far." Ron and Harry laughed. "So how come you're living at Hogwarts?" Malfoy asked. "For all the sexy seventh years?"
"Nah, just for the new Transfiguration teacher," Harry said, laughing as Ron looked mutinous. "She is just lovely. Great kisser too." Malfoy roared with laughter as he watched Ron's face move past red and onto the maroon colour of his pyjamas. "I'm joking Ron, I'm joking!" Harry said, throwing up his hands as Ron prepared to jinx Harry. He put his wand down, smiling ruefully.
"I was only going to use the Cruciatus curse," Ron said, grinning and shrugging at the same time. "Nothing painful."
"Quite," Harry answered shortly. He knew Ron wouldn't have used that curse, but at that moment he didn't know whether Ron would have used a jelly-legs jinx or something similarly annoying yet painless. He quickly went back to answering the question. "Well, it's just, after what happened with Neville, I wasn't sure how safe Godric's Hollow was. They said they just wanted to keep an eye on Ginny to let me know how serious they were. I know it could well have just been a bluff to keep me scared. If it was, it worked very well."
Ron made a sympathetic noise, or what was obviously meant to be a sympathetic noise but actually came out more like a snort. "How's life with you and Gra- Hermione?" Malfoy asked, almost lapsing back into old habits. "Pushed the beds together yet?" Harry roared with laughter as Ron threw a drink's mat at Malfoy's head.
"As a matter of fact, Malfoy," Ron said through gritted teach, punctuating every gap with the launch of another coaster, something which reminded Harry so forcefully of Hermione that he couldn't help but laugh even harder, until tears were beginning to stream out of his eyes. "As a matter of fact," Ron resumed, "she is currently living at Hogwarts most nights now." Harry and Malfoy exchanged a glance at the undoubtedly resentful tone in Ron's voice whilst Ron ducked down to pick up a drink's mat to put his butterbeer back on.
"That, err," Malfoy started, obviously trying to think of a tactful way of putting it, "must be a bit difficult."
"No, it's alright," Ron said, although his tone and downcast eyes, told the real story. Harry shot Malfoy a look that said plainly to change the subject.
"Well, I don't know if you've heard," Malfoy started quickly, although obviously moving onto something he had wanted to talk about since Harry had arrived, "But I've been talking to my father again."
"Your dad?" Harry hadn't been able to keep the slight hatred out of his voice, and Malfoy noticed it.
"I know and understand why you'd be thinking that," he said, obviously searching for a way to phrase it, "but I really think he's changing his ways. He's not the man he was: hating muggles; being angry; he even asked me to apologise to you two next time I saw you."
"He mentioned us specifically?" said Ron disbelievingly.
"Yep," Malfoy answered immediately and emphatically, "Along with Dumbledore and some other members of the Order but yes, you two in particular."
"That's quite an improvement," Harry said, sensing that Ron was looking very sceptical and that Malfoy was seeking to elicit some sort of positive response. "How did he speak to you?"
"Very apologetically," Malfoy answered, sounding both grateful and pleased. "I think he's really turned a corner. Whilst he was a very active Death Eater he never actually committed murder, although I'm not seeking to absolve his sins, there is a possibility that he will be released."
"Just like that?" Ron asked, showing his magnificent level of tact at its full level. Malfoy couldn't help but look slightly crestfallen and Harry shot Ron a reproachful look, although Malfoy rearranged his face a second later.
"Pending a veritaserum test," Malfoy eventually responded, "although he would have to meet a ministry supervisor twice a week. He'd also have to be restricted to his home for a month, and to England for six months."
"Small price to pay," muttered Ron, so only Harry could hear. Harry kicked him under the table.
"When will the veritaserum test take place?" Harry asked curiously. "And where?"
"At the ministry in a couple of weeks." Malfoy answered quickly. "It's as simple as it sounds. Dad would be given a thorough questioning, probably over two hours worth, whilst under the influence of veritaserum. If he hasn't really changed, he'll be found out. If he has..."
"He'll be let out," Ron finished, sullenly. Harry kicked him again under the table, something Malfoy must have noticed for his smirk returned.
"Children," he chided sarcastically, and he smirked even wider when he saw Ron look up at Madame Rosmerta's reappearance at the bar. Harry knew that it meant nothing and he too found it extremely funny, although Hermione certainly did not. Ron started talking about Fred and Angelina, who had apparently recently celebrated their six months' anniversary, although Harry knew Ron had just changed the subject to avoid the mocking that he had been about to receive.
*
Harry spent the rest of the evening in the Room of Requirement. The "Not Yet" zone had not changed in the slightest bit, and so Harry had, for the first time, actually used the library. He researched the veritaserum test and Lucius Malfoy's history. Although he did feel a small pang of guilt he quickly suppressed it with his curiosity. The test had never been beaten and there was little in Malfoy's history that Harry didn't know, although he did smile at the recording of Dobby's employment and subsequent freedom. He didn't mention this to Dobby when he got home and, eventually, turned in.
His sleep did not last for long. He was awoken by Fang barking that insane, terrified burst of noise that Harry knew so fondly and so well. However this was not a couple of one off, scare-the-birds style yaps. This was continuous, petrified noise making.
"What's up you dozy-" Harry heard Hagrid emerging from his cabin, and Harry, pulling on his robes, hurried from his own cottage.
It was immediately apparent what Fang was concerned about.
A group of about fifteen Death Eaters were racing up the lawn, heads bent, intent on getting away from the racket that Fang was making. Hagrid, spotting Harry, gestured towards them and they both began to chase afterwards. Harry sent a patronus into the castle to raise the alarm, but his patronus also alerted the Death Eaters to his presence. Within seconds of his firing the stag off into the night a killing curse had been launched back at him, and was only thanks to Hagrid's timely shoulder barge that Harry avoided being hit. He looked up to see Hagrid draw his wand, (Harry remembered that Dumbledore was teaching Hagrid magic in his spare time), and, as Hagrid fired a simple stunning spell into the midst of the group Harry transfigured into a thestral and tore off into the night sky. Quickly overhauling them, Harry transfigured again into a hippogriff, crashing into them with his talons raised high. With the slash of his wings and feet he knocked four of them out cold and then flying off again before any of the others could retaliate. Realizing that being outside they were an easier target, the Death Eaters redoubled their efforts and, as one of them magically opened the entrance hall doors, they climbed the steps. Before they even entered the castle however, they were stopped in their tracks as Albus Dumbledore, flanked by Hermione, Emily, Flitwick and Professor Diggory stood framed in the light spilling from the castle.
Dumbledore raised his wand and, flicking it casually, he sent a golden net around the Death Eaters. "I will allow you one opportunity to leave, Andromidus. Leave this school now and no one need be hurt."
"And why would I do that?" Andromidus' jeering response seemed to be also loaded with malice that Harry, who was now perched directly above the Death Eaters in Phoenix form, found highly disturbing.
"Because, I gave the same option to your master, Tom Riddle," Dumbledore answered calmly. "He declined my offer and was defeated by Mr Potter. I would suggest that you avoid a similar fate." Harry watched as a couple of Death Eaters glanced at each other, but the two at the front, obviously Regalus and Andromidus, did not turn their masked faces away.
"So be it," said Andromidus, sighing softly. Then, with a flick of his wand, the golden net vanished into thin air and he began raining spells down on the five in the door way. With yells the remaining Death Eaters, of whom there were about ten, charged forwards towards Dumbledore.
Dumbledore and Hermione were first to react. Blocking instinctively the pair started returning spells at the would-be attackers. They seemed to be working as a team, Hermione raining down obstructions, trip jinxes and other delaying spells whilst Dumbledore calmly knocked them out cold. However it was taking the combined efforts of Mr Diggory, Emily and Flitwick just to hold Andromidus off and Harry, seeing Regalus break free from the group, dived into the fray. He raced down straight into Regalus, transforming on the moment of impact and so throwing the full weight of a roaring lion into Sirius' brother. The two of them tumbled immediately off the stone steps and onto the open grassy lawn.
Harry had transformed back before Regalus, whose mask had fallen off, had returned to his feet. There was a brief moment where they faced each other, seething anger etched into their faces, before they began duelling. Harry started attacking on all fronts. His lessons with Hugh McMan in the Auror training facility had taught him that attack was, in open combat where there was no natural feature to take advantage of, the best form of defence. Harry fired stunning spells and impediment jinxes but all were met with Regalus' unfailing defence. Soon Harry found himself having to dodge spells of his own, so he started to retreat towards the lake. This gave the impression of his being forced backwards, whereas the opposite was true. Harry was using himself as a lure, bringing Regalus towards the lake. Harry backtracked down the slope towards the lake front.
At the exact moment that Regalus reached the top of the slope, cackling madly with triumphant glee, Harry acted. Whipping his wand around his head in a lasso manner, seemingly half the lake into the sky and, with all his might and the magic of his visit to the golden room, he launched it at his foe.
Regalus never stood a chance. The flood of water crashed down upon his head, instantly knocking him to the floor, but, before Harry got the chance to subdue and capture him, Regalus was swept back into the lake. Borne upon a tidal wave of fury, Harry watched helplessly as Regalus sank out of sight, never to rise again. Harry stood stock still for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest, before a flash of light and a bang from the castle behind him reminded him of the continuing battle raging within.
Harry hastened up the steps, the flashes of light becoming more and more regular. Harry entered the entrance hall as Hagrid was hit by three stunning spells at once. Hagrid however, shrugged them off as if nothing had happened, casting his own rudimentary but powerful stunning spell back at one of them. Harry quickly fired off his own jinxes and followed the cracks and explosions echoing from the great hall.
Upon entering Harry immediately noticed three things. On his left, all but one of the Death Eaters were unconscious and trussed up by thick, shimmering cords of something Harry didn't recognise. On his left he could see Hermione and Flitwick attending to a bleeding Professor Diggory and a heavily breathing Emily Hilier, who was watching the third event. In the middle of the room, Dumbledore and Andromidus were duelling with terrifying ferocity. The great hall was already strewn with rubble and scorch marks, the enchanted ceiling above was roaring with the violence of a tempestuous, raging storm. Jagged lighting and rolling thunder clouds crackled and fought in the blood red magical sky above the battle taking place on the ground below.
Andromidus' ability was astonishing. Despite all the emotions Harry felt he was unnerved to find that he was admiring Andromidus' skill as a wizard. Casting spells every second he launched attack after attack at Dumbledore, with terrifying power and variety. Distracting explosions; pit falls which Dumbledore had to counteract, whilst firing stunning spells, vicious jinxes and murderous killing curses. Dumbledore was battling back with equal vigour. Andromidus sent a tongue of fire which Dumbledore doused and tried to drench Andromidus with, but Andromidus cast a blocking shield above himself whilst sending an electric ripple across the room which sent Harry flying into the wall behind him, but which Dumbledore somehow withstood.
With blurry vision Harry staggered to his feet as Dumbledore cast a shining rope like that which kept the other prisoners trapped, and it seemed as though he had managed to suppress the mighty Death Eater, but Andromidus flicked his wand and the air exploded with a gas that shrouded both duellers in an orb of fiery yellow colour. Within this new orb Harry could see more flashes of light but, as the orb melted away Harry saw something he would never forget.
Dumbledore lifted his wand for the tiniest fraction of a second, preparing to cast some other spell back at his foe and, at a seemingly impossible speed, Andromidus struck. A jet of green light exploded from his wand, striking Dumbledore directly in his midriff. Dumbledore's face shrank back into a sort of peaceful, relaxed death mask as he arched back through the air, as Sirius had in the department of mysteries, before sliding to a rest on the floor. Harry became only numbly aware that Andromidus was running past him out of the room, his eyes still fixed on his fallen headmaster.
It's not true, Harry though desperately, although his subconscious was already reeling with shock and grief. Harry staggered backwards, his arm resting on the door to support him, before he raced out of the door after Andromidus. He could hear Hagrid roaring behind him, howling with grief, but Harry was focussed only on Andromidus. He saw him ahead as he emerged into the ground. He was tearing over the hillside, and Harry thought he could see another figure ahead. Harry took aim.
"Avada Kedavra!" A ray of green erupted like a bullet out of his wand, impossible to avoid but, somehow, at the very last second, there was a loud cracking noise, and Andromidus apparated out of the grounds. Registering dumbly that this should be impossible, Harry dropped to his knees as he felt something explode in his head, and he let the waves of unconsciousness overwhelm him, his vision turned to black, and he slumped to the floor.