Author Notes: One final battle coming up! I had to split it into two parts. Enjoy!

Chapter 18a

McGonagall Manor, Scotland, and Bleaklow, Dark Peak District, England

Friday, April 18, 2014

Miranda made her way to where the guest bedroom was located, Andrea right behind her. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Miranda slammed the door and rounded on the younger witch.

"How dare you tell me what to do with my children," she growled.

"I did not!" Andrea answered in a wounded voice which Miranda promptly ignored. "I was just offering another perspective."

"Don't be absurd. As if you have any idea what it is like to raise a child," she said in a scathing voice.

Miranda began throwing her belongings into her beige Nicoli leather carryall bag, ignoring Andrea. She was angry, so angry she could feel it rolling through her in waves. Of course, she knew it had nothing to do with Andrea's overstepping while they were having breakfast with everyone that was causing these emotions, although the telepathic ambush she had been subjected to while Andrea sought to convince her to allow her daughters to accompany them today had annoyed her immensely.

A hand on her shoulder pulled her backward into Andrea's muscular body as the other arm wrapped around her waist. "You don't get to talk to me that way!" Andrea hissed into her ear. Miranda wriggled in the strong arms, letting her discontent at being manhandled be known.

"Release me," Miranda enunciated slowly.

"Not until you listen to reason. If I had intended to embarrass you or to undercut your authority, why would I have spoken to you telepathically? I would have voiced my opinion out loud, and everyone else would have heard me," Andrea said in exasperation. Miranda did not respond, standing stiffly in Andrea's embrace. "Miranda!"

Hardly able to believe it, Miranda felt Andrea shaking her as if she were a little ragdoll. Huffing, Miranda said, "Andrea. Really." She breathed in deeply when she felt Andrea's forehead resting on the back of her head.

Why am I so angry, anyway? If she were being honest, she would have to admit that the way Andrea had handled the situation had been rather thoughtful. So what was driving her emotions? Her thoughts skittered toward the tasks awaiting them, but she shied away from such reflections. She didn't want to think about the possibility that they might fail, that they might get hurt, that her daughters might get hurt, that Andrea might get hurt. Or worse. She just wanted to take solace in the powerful arms that were wrapped around her, squeezing her gently as she was pulled closer toward the warm body behind her. Her eyes fluttered closed, and Miranda indulged in the feelings of strength, and affection, and rightness.

"Miranda," Andrea whispered, stirring the hair next to Miranda's ear. "In case something happens to me, I want you to know that I—"

Eyes flying open, Miranda turned quickly as her hand shot out to cover Andrea's mouth, stopping her from completing a sentence Miranda could not bear to hear. "Don't!" Miranda watched dark, liquid eyes widen with surprise. Not able to resist, Miranda outlined those succulent lips with trembling fingers, her eyes focused on how they parted, puffs of air hitting her palm.

Miranda, please.

Shaking her head, Miranda broke free of Andrea's loose embrace and strode to the bureau to remove the rest of her belongings. She laid out the dragon hide apparel on the bed and took off her blouse.

"You aren't wearing those, are you?" Andrea said in a disgusted voice.

Sighing forcefully, Miranda speared Andrea with a fierce look. "Andrea, I realize that it is dragon hide and that you have experienced rather intense, negative reactions to my wearing them, but they have protective qualities I need when interacting with dragons."

"Well, isn't that great. Why don't I just skin someone and wear them as a coat. That won't gross you out, will it?" Andrea said sarcastically.

"It is not the same!" Miranda shouted, her hands balled into fists. She turned to the window and stared blankly at the view of the loch, appalled by her outburst. She could not remember the last time she had raised her voice in anger. She felt out of control and desperate. Why, though? Why do I feel so agitated? She felt Andrea approaching slowly and grimaced. Gentle hands ran up her back and rested on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry. It probably won't even affect me when I'm in my animagus form. And even if it does, I want you to be protected. Please. I don't want to go into this battle while you are angry with me," Andrea said softly.

Turning, Miranda gazed into Andrea's sorrowful eyes. "I am not angry with you. I," Miranda sighed, "I am sorry." Miranda ignored Andrea's stunned look and pulled her forward for a tight hug. Her lips sought out Andrea's, and she kissed the younger witch fervently. She moaned softly as she explored Andrea's mouth, calming down as she reveled in the friction of their tongues rubbing together. Groaning, Miranda luxuriated in the decadence of Andrea's taste. She admitted to herself that she did not want this to be their last kiss.

She would not allow this to be their last kiss.

When it broke, Miranda stepped back. She smirked as Andrea's eyes traveled over her bare torso, the arousal in her eyes apparent. "We have to change and join the others. I am sure they are wondering where we are," Miranda said huskily, regretting the fact that she could not take Andrea to bed and forget their responsibilities.

"When we get back, and I know we will, I am going to make you forget your own name, you'll be screaming mine so often," Andrea whispered, a promise shining in her eyes.

"That is a promise I hope you will keep," Miranda whispered.

"I will. You'll see," Andrea said.

Without another word they dressed and joined the others. Andrea stood next to Miranda, even though she looked nauseous. Miranda squashed down her concern. There was simply no help for it. She needed to protect herself, and these clothes would defend her from dragon fire and many of the curses that Death Eaters loved to cast.

"I'm okay. Just a slight reaction to the dragon hide, but I want your mom to be safe," Andrea said suddenly. Miranda looked over and saw her two daughters standing next to Andrea. Perplexed, Miranda wondered how she had missed her daughters' questions. Obviously, she had been woolgathering.

Miranda looked around and noticed that everyone was present. It was time.

"Right. So, we will split into two groups. I will go with the Dragon Whisperer, her daughters, and Professor McGonagall, and Ron will go with Hermione and the Headmistress," Harry said.

"Call me Andy," Andrea inserted.

"And I prefer to be called Miranda," she said. Harry nodded at both of them.

"Right. Hermione, when you get to the location, you'll turn into your phoenix animagus and transport everyone onto the compound. Don't worry about disarming any spells unless they are detrimental to your mission. I suspect they will know of your arrival pretty quickly, so stealth will not be your priority. Just find the eggs and get out of there. Then, send a Patronus to us so we can let the dragons know. Although the Death Eaters we interrogated weren't able to reveal the exact location, they were able to tell us that the eggs are all together in an enclosure. Do whatever is necessary to retrieve the eggs," Harry continued. He looked at Ron. "Is your team ready?"

"Yes. We have five," Ron answered.

"Good. You can all apparate together by holding on to Hermione," Harry said.

"How? I thought side-along apparations could only occur with up to three or four people," Caroline asked in confusion.

"That is a common misconception. In truth, the more people who apparate together, the stronger the drain on the lead apparator's magic. The limitations inherent with side-along apparations are proportional to the strength of that person's magic," Minerva said.

Harry looked at Miranda. "Miranda, I have seven people on my team and two dozen more will be ready to join us once the spells have been disarmed. We'll want to work on silencing any intrusion charms, reversing any anti-apparation spells, and disarming any protective spells immediately. My team will focus on those while you, Andy, and your daughters locate the dragons and reverse the Imperius Curses. If at all possible, stay under cover while you do it so the Death Eaters will not find you. The longer we have before they engage us in duels, the better. We fully expect that the majority of remaining Death Eaters will be there." Miranda nodded her understanding.

"We have already checked out the locations where the Death Eaters claim we need to go. We'll apparate in pairs," Harry said. Miranda tuned out his directives once he paired her up with some man named Williamson. She glanced at her daughters. They looked excited. So young. They did not yet know when to be afraid. And they should be afraid. Very afraid.

I will protect them. And they might just surprise you. They are not the young girls who used to attend Dalton.

Bronze eyes captured hers when Miranda looked at Andrea. She wanted to believe her words. If anyone could protect them, it was Andrea. Nodding, Miranda pressed her lips together. She needed to concentrate on the mission. Andrea was right. Her daughters were adults now. She could not allow her fears to distract her.

"In case we get separated, we will meet back here. Just make sure to send a Patronus to let the others know. If you become outnumbered and have the chance to escape, take it. No one will think less of you," Harry said.

As one, they nodded their understanding.

"Time to put the Death Eaters out of business for good," Harry said. "Let's go."

Several pops and cracks sounded around Miranda as people disapparated, then a strong grip on her arm signaled her imminent departure. A spike of adrenalin roared through her. She felt the familiar tug beneath her bellybutton, saw a funnel of rapidly changing places falling in on themselves, and landed on a barren stretch of land.

It was cold and overcast. A strong wind pulled at her clothes as she looked around. They were standing on a boggy, peat-covered moorland dotted with broken outcrops of gritstone. The sparse vegetation, large boulders, and sharp cliffs were strangely attractive in this wild land. She could see the cloughs cutting into the countryside, creating deep tracks, as if some God had spread his fingers and dug them through the land, much like a little boy raking sand at the beach.

"After I transform, everyone climb on, and I will fly us to the compound. Stand back," Andrea instructed.

Although she had already seen the transformation once before, Miranda's jaw slackened while witnessing Andrea turn into her dragon animagus. She was stunning. Magnificent. Sleek. Muscular. Dangerous.

Miranda, get on. Andrea's puissant voice rang clearly through Miranda's mind, feeding her stupefaction. The pure power Andrea embodied sparked a fire within Miranda, and she fought her response by tapping into the self-discipline she had honed over the years, knowing how inappropriate the timing was for her to be immobilized by lust.

Not just lust, Miranda admitted to herself. No. It was much more. Her mind danced around the words, an act she found herself doing much too often of late, unwilling to admit to herself the depth of her feelings for this incredible creature.

Shaking her head to clear it, Miranda signaled to the others to follow her and bravely climbed on Andrea's cerulean back. She held a hand out to help Caroline, who stepped on Andrea's extended leg and hopped up behind her. Cassidy was next, then Williamson. Six other Aurors scrambled onto Andrea's back, and Harry climbed up last. Miranda marveled at how many of them fit.

Hold on, Andrea directed.

Miranda yelled the directive to the others.

Clenching her thighs around Andrea's muscular neck, Miranda leaned forward to grip one of the spikes that protruded in a line from the top to the base of the dragon animagus's skull. She felt Caroline's arms around her waist tightening convulsively as Andrea squatted down and pushed into the sky forcefully. Miranda felt exhilarated. She could feel the muscles shifting beneath her as Andrea navigated toward a sheer-faced canyon.

I can see the structures. I will circle around from the north and land across the field from them so that we can attempt to remain unseen, Andrea thought.

Be careful, Miranda directed unnecessarily. She snorted at her silliness. Andrea could take care of herself. They landed on a cliff that overlooked the structures. Everyone quickly dismounted and lay on the rocky ground behind a row of haphazardly positioned boulders. About a hundred yards behind them the cliff-side ended, dropping sharply into the vale. Miranda watched Andrea change back into her human form and sway, as if dizzy. Miranda grabbed her, providing support.

"I'm okay," Andrea said. Miranda quirked an eyebrow, skeptical. "No, really. I'm fine now." Andrea stepped away, and Miranda had no choice but to drop her hand.

They crouched behind the boulders, and Miranda quieted her mind, extending her consciousness outward to search for the dragons. She could feel an immenseness along the edges of her mind but nothing more. Distractedly, Miranda heard an explosion and felt a wave of heat, but she did not break her concentration. She trusted the others to keep her safe.

"I need to get closer," Miranda finally admitted, frustrated. She turned to Harry. "I cannot connect with the dragons' minds from here. How much longer before the protective spells are disarmed?"

"Not long. We're just checking to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises—" Harry stopped mid-sentence, a loud roar causing them to look toward several large structures about three hundred yards away. Two dragons flew out of the buildings toward the lowering clouds before looping around, the dragons' destination obviously where they remained crouched behind the enormous stones.

"Shit!" Caroline squeaked.

"Martin, we really need those spells reversed. Now!" Harry called. "Georgia, Linus, Robbie, Kevin—make a circle around them. Hurry!"

"Well, we don't have to worry about proximity any more. I'll take the Hebridean Black. You take the Ridgeback," Andrea yelled out. The dragons were quite close now, roaring, spewing fire, and generally causing quite a commotion.

Flinching as a stream of fire rained over them, the protective shield the Aurors had created acting as an umbrella, Miranda trained her mind on her assigned dragon. Vaguely she heard people shouting and running, but Miranda felt as if she were far removed from all the activities as she moved through the molasses-like sludge that the dragon's mind had become as a result of the Curse. She kept her focus on finding the core of the dragon's essence—that small ball of light hiding in the deepest recesses of the dragon's mind, trapped and defenseless. Miranda found the bindings created by the Imperius Curse and cut through them methodically.

Who are you?

I am the Dragon Whisperer. You were under an Imperius Curse. We have come to free you.

My eggs!

Do not worry. We are freeing them, too. Will you help us fight the people who enslaved you?

Once you have freed the eggs, I shall. However, until then, I must attack.

No! Pretend to attack our front lines, but breathe your fire on the Death Eaters or the buildings. I give you my word, your young will be safe in a matter of minutes.

Miranda heard no answer, but the dragon roared so loudly that the land beneath her feet shook. She dropped to one knee, only then realizing that another four dragons had taken to the sky. She noticed that the two she had freed of the Curse the day before flew along the edges, screeching and diving toward them but not actually attacking. Meanwhile, the Ridgeback she had just freed soared toward the western flank where a dozen or so Aurors battled with just as many Death Eaters.

Wind blew ash into Miranda's face, and she started, recognizing that the protective shield was not holding. She looked around and saw Andrea, blood running down her arm, which was extended as she dueled with two Death Eaters. Her daughters stood between them with their wands pointed above their heads while they reinforced the shield. Spells pummeled their tenuous defense, and the girls called for help. Several Aurors ran over, their wands extended as their mouths moved, incantations floating on the wind.

Did you free the Hebridean Black? Miranda asked Andrea silently. It was easier than attempting to be heard over the sounds of destruction, and shouting, and screeching surrounding them.

Yes. We need to free the last two.

Miranda watched as Andrea flicked her wand and several large rocks flew toward her opponents, splitting apart and burning trails through the air. The red-hot projectiles rained on her attackers, who were unable to deflect all of them. They became bloodied and grim-faced as they sought to break through Andrea's defenses, and Miranda watched as two more Death Eaters joined the fight. Miranda looked around but could not find anyone to help. She quickly aimed at one of Andrea's attackers.

"Immobulus! Petrificus Temporus!"

Not expecting Miranda's attack, the dark wizard fell on the ground heavily, his stiff body rocking back and forth as if it were a coin dropped onto a tabletop. Miranda watched as Andrea's other attacker was thrown backward while his wand sailed through the air in the other direction. Miranda and Andrea both unleashed more spells at the remaining two Death Eaters they faced. Together they created a mesh that expanded as their attackers' spells hit it. Once the mesh reached them, it bound them with a sticky consistency that adhered to every part of their bodies, tightening the more they struggled.

We have to free the other two dragons, Miranda thought to Andrea. She was worried that they were running out of time. I'll take the Vipertooth. She watched Andrea nod her consent as she turned toward the other dragon, the Romanian Longhorn. Miranda's eyes searched the sky for the copper-colored dragon, ready to dive into the Vipertooth's cursed mind and free it. She took another moment to reassure herself that her daughters were faring well. They were fighting alongside Harry and two other Aurors. Watching them as they held their own, Miranda felt pride well up in her breast.

Taking a deep breath, Miranda dove into the Vipertooth's mind, pushing through the Curse's barriers without finesse. She knew that this type of invasion was probably hurting the dragon, but time was not on her side. She felt the layers of confusion, grief, and anger underneath the haze of forced commands, and she reached out with her mind.

Watch out! a voice rang through her mind, breaking her concentration.

Caroline? Miranda wondered. How—?

A thunderous blow pushed Miranda across the moorland, cutting her off mid-thought. Her body twisted through the air, as her discombobulated mind scrabbled to make sense of what was happening. For a timeless moment she could not understand why she was falling. Fear lanced through her as her eyes caught sight of the barren land at the bottom of the canyon rocketing toward her at an alarmingly fast pace.

Mom! Holy fuck! Cassidy's voice rang through Miranda's mind.

Considering she was seconds away from a most painful death, Miranda decided that Cassidy's unfortunate choice of words was rather warranted.

Author's Note, Too: Don't hate me for the cliffhanger! The second part is finished and betaed. I promise to post it soon. I hope you enjoyed!