Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related settings, characters, ect. are property of JKR.
Chapter 7: The Phoenix and the Serpent
"You're one of them?" Regulus asked, raising his voice over the din of the battle waging around them. He couldn't believe it. His brother, sorted into Gryffindor, and constantly disagreeing on his parents' views of Pure-blood supremacy, had always been considered a disgrace to the family. Even so, Regulus had never expected him to join the enemy…
Sirius frowned, pausing halfway through casting a spell.
"Well, if it isn't my little brother," he said, recognizing Regulus' voice. He let out a bark-like laugh, but did not lower his wand. "Ironic circumstances for such a…charming family reunion." Regulus saw his sibling's gaze flicker from him to their cousin, Bellatrix, who was busy dueling another Order member near the far side of the foyer.
Regulus took the moment to glance quickly around the rest of the scene: a Death Eater he didn't know the name of was fighting against Lily and James Potter; Remus Lupin, was firing a stunning spell at the Death Eater, Rosier; the last of Sirius' old friends, Peter Pettigrew, was nowhere to be seen (Regulus wondered whether he was ducking out of the fight in one of the side rooms); and in the heart if the chaos, Voldemort was dueling Edgar Bones, Dorcas Meadows, and Mad-Eye Moody all at once. Unable to get the upper hand, they were dodging and ducking away from his curses; Regulus watched as a green jet of light soared past Edgar, death missing him by inches.
"When did you join Dumbledore's little band?" asked Regulus, reverting his attention back to his brother.
"Since when do you care?" There was no laughter in Sirius' eyes now. "Sixteen years—sixteen years of neglect and hatred was all my family ever offered me. Why did you think I ran away? I had had enough—"
A sudden noise caught both of their attentions. Sirius and Regulus glanced up, only to dive out of the way a split second later. The chandelier suspended overhead had been struck by a stray curse, and it crashed to the floor where they had been standing, sending shards of glass in every direction.
"Well," continued Regulus, "maybe if you hadn't gone out and associated yourself with Mudbloods and Blood-traitors—"
"Don't call them that," Sirius said dangerously.
"Who?" Even though Regulus didn't like to admit it, he was getting a terrible sort of pleasure at his brother's anger. "Those friends of yours?
If you were smart you'd join us"—Sirius scoffed—"No, listen to me for a minute!" Regulus said sharply. "It's pointless to resist—you're fighting a losing battle! The Dark Lord is close to taking over the Ministry, Sirius, and there's nothing you or the Order can do about it! Joining him is the only way you can stay safe—"
"I know what you're going to ask me," interrupted Sirius. "My answer is no, I will never join you. I don't know how you can live with yourself, knowing that you're helping him do all of these terrible things."
"We're only doing it for the good of the wizarding race!"
"All of this pain and suffering?" Sirius continued. "No one is going to benefit from any of it!"
Regulus opened his mouth to retort, but stopped—a sharp hissing was coming from somewhere.
Regulus and Sirius turned to see a chilling sight. All across the foyer the combatants were pausing to watch, mesmerized with horror, as an enormous snake emerged from the tip of Voldemort's wand. But the thing that drew so many fearful gasps from the crowd was the fact that the creature appeared to be made up of pure Dark magic; its coiled body was nothing more than swirling, black vapor, and it seemed to drift through the air rather than slither upon the ground.
Both Order members and Death Eaters alike were watching the scene unfolding before them, all previous animosity temporarily forgotten. Moody, Meadows, and Bones, who had been dueling against Voldemort, backed up, wands raised warily, though uncertainly—how could they stop something that had no physical body? The giant serpent turned its unblinking eyes on them, readying itself to strike—Voldemort was laughing, a high, cold laugh that made the hair on the back of Regulus' neck stand up—the snake reared—
--But before it could strike, a brilliant flare of orange fire streaked through the air and arced overhead, illuminating the entire chamber with dancing light. In one fluid motion, the bewitched flames shot at the giant reptile, severing its body straight through the middle; Spitting and writhing, the creature fell back as its vaporous 'body' reconnected.
"What—" Voldemort turned, his red eyes searching the crowded area for the interloper. "Dumbledore," he hissed.
Regulus looked up to see the tall form of the Hogwarts Headmaster framed in the doorway against the starry night.
The room became deathly quiet. The onlookers watched with apprehension as the new arrival stepped forward into the room.
"Good evening, Tom," Dumbledore nodded, speaking as calmly as if he were commenting on the weather.
Voldemort did not return his greeting, and there was a tense moment of silence.
"I thought you were not due to return until Saturday?" Voldemort forced himself to speak.
"As did I," admitted Dumbledore. "However, my meeting with the Minister finished sooner than expected due to a most urgent message." Regulus noticed the Headmaster's gaze flicker in the direction of one of the members of the Order, and Regulus figured the person must have alerted Dumbledore to their attack. "Indeed, it seems fortunate that I returned immediately…" His twinkling, light-blue eyes were watching Voldemort closely.
"Most fortunate," said Voldemort quietly. Regulus looked on nervously; he knew his master well enough to detect the malice hidden within the silkiness of his voice. "Of course, even you must know it is unwise to trust something as fleeting as chance…"
To Voldemort's right, the large snake shifted restlessly. With a single hiss, he commanded it, and the creature began to circle around the two wizards.
"It can be destroyed in a matter of seconds…"
Even with the snake moving so close behind him, Dumbledore remained unconcerned.
"You do not fear death, old man?" Clearly, Voldemort's innuendo threat had not produced the effect he had anticipated.
"Dying, I believe, is not the worst thing that can happen to a man," replied Dumbledore brightly.
"Then you're a deluded fool," Voldemort said.
Dumbledore shook his head sadly.
"You see, Tom, to the well-organized mind,"—He cast him a meaningful look from over his half-moon spectacles—"death is but the next great adventure."
Voldemort's eyes flashed angrily. He waved his wand, and the monstrous serpent turned to face Dumbledore, opening its mouth wide to reveal long, curved fangs.
"Since death is nothing, Dumbledore, I present to you the beginning of your so called 'next great adventure…'"
Keeping his gaze and wand fixed on the Hogwarts headmaster, he spoke to the snake in Parseltongue.
"Kill him."
The creature lunged, but Dumbledore sent another blast of fire erupting out of his wand, and the snake recoiled. Instead of dissipating, the crackling flames spiraled higher into the air. As they reached the height of their ascension, they transformed into a magnificent shape: the fiery image of a phoenix.
A/N: All right, so the scene with Sirius didn't last as long as I planned, but I do have a reason. I won't say when but I plan on doing a sole chapter that focuses only on the two brothers. I didn't want to put it here yet, because I felt it would have taken too much away from the rest of the scene around them.
So yes, rest assured, there will be a chapter later on. And now I would like to thank everyone who has been reviewing! Au revoir for now.