Chapter Sixteen: The Battle of Bellatrix:
Severus had taken his son to Hogsmeade to get him a few things on this bright spring day. He did not know what Bellatrix had planned and he did not know that his life and the life of his son were in more danger than normal. Severus was enjoying his son's excitement and how little Max took in the stores with wonder. They had lunch then headed for an empty house that Fred and George Weasley had just bought. They were going to turn the main floor into their second shop and the upstairs they would rent out. They really were very smart business men as they knew how to invest their money wisely to keep it growing.
"So this is what my money is helping you boys get into." Severus said to the identical twins surveying the space.
"Yes sir, we are expanding far and wide." Fred said.
"Filch is even going to allow our things in the school." George added.
"I don't see why, you two caused me more problems than this deal is worth!" Filch said from the shadows.
"Mr. Filch what are you doing here?" Severus asked the old caretaker.
"Um, well professor…"
"We have given him something to help him find items that students may try to hide from him that they should not have." Fred said grinning. "And keep them from using their magic on him."
"We invented it, we figure we owed him." George replied.
"It sounds like you are bribing him." Max said looking up at them solemnly.
"Bright boy." Filch said smiling, "and you are right young Snape, you caught me."
"It seems these boys bribed more than one person." Severus said looking over at the twins who were trying to look so innocent.
"Right you are Severus." Filch said. "Still they mean well, I will give 'em that. Saved Mrs. Norris they did too."
It was only too true, Mrs. Norris had been very sick in the last year the twins were in school and they had brewed potions to heal her. They loved all kinds of animals and could not allow such a loyal cat hurt as she really did her job well. Before the pleasant conversation could go on there was a commotion outside and Severus walked to the window wand out. He stared in horror as death eaters Apparated in the streets of the village and began to attack. At the head, unmasked and clad in robes of blood red was Bellatrix. Here little Max did something extremely stupid but in his mind brave. He grabbed a small bucket of water and snuck out of the house and ran up to Bellatrix. Severus did not see his son do this until it was too late and he ran to the door in horror.
"Oi you!" Max yelled up at her and she looked down, only to get a face full of water. "Take that you wicked hag!"
"Oh he is going to get killed!" Fred said going white.
"Accio Max!" George said and the little boy zoomed back into the store and Severus took him in his arms.
"What were you trying to accomplish young man?" Severus asked him trembling slightly at what his son had just done. "Why did you do something so foolish?"
"Um trying to melt her?" Max said scared he really was in trouble now. "I thought wicked witches melted when water was dumped on them."
"Knew we should not have showed him the Wizard of Oz." Fred said to George.
"Yea, professor, you take care of your son, we are going to have fun with Bellatrix." George said grinning.
"Yea something like"
"hello color changing charms"
"Just"
"for fun!"
The door to the shop banged open and Bellatrix was there fury on her face. Severus quickly covered his son with his own body shielding the small boy. To say Bellatrix was upset probably would not do it justice, she was going to teach this brat a lesson before she killed him and his father. However she had not taken into account the Weasley twins. They took after their dead uncles in more than just name, they could duel extremely well and they stepped up to protect Severus and little Max. George put a ward circle around Severus and Max and Fred bowed mockingly to Bellatrix.
"Hello Bella, lovely to see you!" Fred said.
"Or not, who did you kill to get those robes so red?" George added grimly.
"You brats get out of my way!" Bellatrix said. "I want the boy!"
"See that is exactly what you are not going to get." Fred said.
"Nope not this time, you will have to get through us." George replied, "but that is not going to happen."
"You will go down like your foolish uncles!" Bellatrix snarled.
"Bad form." Fred said frowning. "You should not have said that."
"Too right, let's begin shall we?" George said casting the first spell.
On the other side of the village the death eaters were not having as easy at time if it as they thought they would. The villagers had sent up the hue and cry and now the sounds of hooves could be heard. Though centaurs do not like to be around humans any more than they can help it they had good hearts. They had promised to help in times of need and would never think of going back on their word. They came thundering into the village clad in their armor and began to shoot arrows at the death eaters. They got most of them with one pass. They were an impressive sight and many brave death eaters turned and tried to run to the borders of the anti-Apparation shield but all were hued down by arrows or swords.
"See if there are more dark creatures." Morgane shouted. "We cannot allow any to escape."
"I was hoping these guys would have learned to stay away?" Sirius said striding down the street a bit too casually.
"Nope, and would you get out of the street?" Remus said from the sidewalk. "You trying to get killed?"
"Some days I wonder." Charity Burbage said hiding behind a house and shooting spells out at death eaters. "Sirius you get over here or I will personally make your life hell!"
"Severus does that already." Sirius said shooting a death eater who had tried to kill a centaur. "I think things would be more fun if Padfoot were here."
With that he turned to his dog form and started to hunt down death eaters and bark out where they were trying to hide. Lucius Malfoy meantime was having his own hard time of it. He had worked with Bellatrix to find out her weaknesses and had helped mass an army to stop her, all with out her ever finding out he wanted her dead and gone and had the means to make that happen. He was now facing down Yaxley who looked murderous. Lucius was wounded but he would not give in, no not he. He had had enough of evil to last him several lifetimes and he was serious wondering if he would die here today. No matter if he did it would be in the cause of good and right.
"I knew I should not have trusted you!" Yaxley snarled.
"Trust me with what?" Lucius said taunting him. "I don't remember giving you a reason to trust me."
"You have fed Bellatrix lies, all your visits to take her down."
"Visits?" Lucius smiled coldly. "Only your word and her word I am afraid." Lucius said blocking a spell. "I never visited you."
"That is all that is needed!" Yaxley shouted. "My word that you worked with her!"
"This from a man who believes the Deathly Hallows exist and what is more can conquer mortal death?" Lucius laughed. "You are as mad as Voldemort was."
"You dare use his name?" Yaxley snarled.
"Yes, I feel I have earned it." Lucius said blocking another spell. "Two choices, come with me…"
"I will see you in hell!"
"Fine, die then!" Rookwood said stepping up shooting Yaxley dead with the killing curse, "you did not wait for me."
"I could not, thank you Rookwood." Lucius said, "glad you are on our side."
"If it is the queens then yes I am on your side." Rookwood replied.
Back in the house Severus was shielding his son the best he could. He wanted to fight, to take down Bellatrix but knew his top priority at the moment was protecting his son. Fred and George were fighting for all they were worth and it was clear they were very skilled. Still they were battling a very dark witch and she had many years of experience on them. They fought to kill this time, they were not looking to take her in, they were looking to kill her. The normally happy joyful twins were now showing just how powerful and deadly they could be.
"You know brother dearest she is very upset don't you agree?" Fred said as he shot another spell that managed to get Bellatrix.
"Yea, she really needs to cheer up." George replied.
"Insolent children!" Bellatrix snarled. "You dare mock me?"
"Yea, you see we didn't fear Voldy and we don't fear you." Fred said.
"Feel sorry for you, you must be miserable to want to hurt others." George replied as he blocked a curse from her. "It's really not very nice of you."
"I will kill you and your brother." Bellatrix said shooting a curse that caught George on the side of the head, a curse that took part of his ear.
"Oi that was not nice!" George said holding said ear with one hand and fighting back with the other.
"I quite agree." Came the voice of Dumbledore. The old wizard stepped into the room calmly and looked over at Severus huddled with his son. "Are you alright Severus, Max?"
"I am headmaster,." Severus replied.
"I am fine sir." Max said doing his best to be a brave boy and not cry. "She is a wicked witch!"
"Yes she is, Bellatrix you have done things that sadden me, I had hoped you could be a great witch. You were so bright in school but you have failed everyone around you." Dumbledore said. "I am sorry but you no longer deserve a wand."
"You foolish old man." Bellatrix snarled. "Don't you know what you could have if you unite the Deathly Hallows?"
"You are foolish, there are no hallows." Dumbledore said calmly and he raised his wand. "The only way to immortality is through the Gods."
"You fool there are no Gods!" Bellatrix snarled.
"Bellatrix your wand." Dumbledore said and as he said it the wand flew to his hands. Looking her in the eye he snapped it in half. "You are banned from ever using magic again and you will serve the rest of your life in the same cell you did take Grindelwald's life."
"No, no you cannot do this!" Bellatrix screamed.
It was no use for her to struggle, to fight back as she was drug off by the Aurors. Lucius walked up and saw George holding a now bloody rag to his ear. He walked up and took a look and was able to stop the bleeding. He knew that Poppy could take care of the wound but the chunk of ear was gone. Rookwood was by him and he quietly took in the room looking for any death eaters that might have managed to hide or get into this room.
"Thank you for your help Lucius, I must confess I did not expect you to do what you did." Dumbledore said smiling. "Nor you Augustus, but I am glad you did."
"I could not let her win, she is evil." Rookwood replied.
"Headmaster that is why I am Slytherin and you sir are not." Lucius said bowing slightly.
"Hmm, yes have a lemon drop my boy?" He asked Lucius.
"No thank you headmaster." Lucius said, he hated the sweets but was flattered he was offered one.
"Well let's get things cleaned up here and we can talk at the castle." Dumbledore said.
Lucius had meant what he said when he wanted to change his ways. He had done all he could to help defeat Bellatrix and had saved so many lives by what he did. They made their way back to the castle, Severus carrying his son who did not want to be put down now. Bellatrix would never harm anyone again, they were safe and life was going to get better for all concerned…
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That was what good ol' Lucius was up to. Yes he had an army and used it to great effect to end the reign of evil. He is fully on the side of good here though he can still be a bit of a jerk at times. Max has spent a bit too much time with Gryffindors but he has a good heart, though he did very nearly give his father a heart attack. Yes I always saw Fred and George as extremely powerful.
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