Another chapter.
Oh wow an action chapter. How did I go? I've never written action before.
...I don't have high hopes. Eek.
The windows were boarded up, but most would be smashed in anyway. The air hung with a deadly silence aside from a murmur of orders passed about like a game of whispers but delicately un-exaggerated. As Aurors stood about the perimeter of the legal forces, Harry tapped an enchanted gallon with his wand to confirm his units positions. Draco and Ron lead one team, isolated from the main bulk of the army, hoping to both corner and surprise the invaders. Hermione had pairs all over the roofs, a perfect vantage point over the coming battle and - with any luck - a position the Death Eaters won't think of.
Harry stood with the main force. While those with Hermione had been specially trained for support and sharp single-target spells and Ron and Draco's unit had been trained with stealth in mind, Harry's force had a lot more damage behind it. They knew some of the most devastating spells they could get their hands on, and between the Black's library and Mad-eye Moody's intense training the spells where incredibly devastating.
They stood, apprehensive, at the ready. The Death Eaters were expected at any moment. Worse - multiple spies had reported back with the same information; Voldemort himself was expected at any moment. So they stood, making peace with themselves and wondering how many would survive the day.
Then the streets echoed with what could've been hundreds of firecrackers going off. But what these sounds announced were much worse. Upon apparition the outer Death Eaters attempted a volley of Avada Kedavra's. This was anticipated and most got out of harms way. Most, but not all. The Order and Ministry forces erected their barriers and the first wave rushed forward to engage the Death Eaters head on. Hermione's forces attacked the centre of each group of Death Eaters, attempting to at least weaken their inner wand-wielders. The core of the groups scattered from the seemingly random attacks, pushing the Death Eater circles apart and scattering their forces.
A second wave from the Ministry. Auror's rushing the Death Eaters, disabling many personal ward spells and moving onto their next victim. After a minute the wave split, half continued keeping personal wards and shields down while the other half joined the dueling. They were evenly matched, showing the Ministry and the Order Voldemort's disturbingly high amount of followers - at least twice the size of what it ever was. Most duels were one-on-one with deadly spells flicking from the wands of both sides, each already aware that this was a battle for their lives - past, present and future. Stunning spells were secondary, and gained a quick response of a much more constricting spell. Legs sank in a gelatinous fashion, arms caught fire, torso's were meshed with bodies and walls (whichever was closest).
Death eaters in tight-fitted clothes flitted through the crowd forcing both vials and needles of potions into their opponent. Ron and Draco arrived with their unit, striking these ninja-esque Death Eaters the hardest. Far more used to watching other's backs but not their own, they quickly learnt to from their dead comrades. Now a medley of confusion spells joined the throng, sickly and neon spells hitting the Death Eaters and turning them on each other. Spells similar to hallucinogenics turning them into a near perfect shot for a moment before they dissolved into paranoia and panic.
All the while Harry's unit stood, strong and professional, in the middle of it. They took their share of potion-Death Eaters and killed many average Death Eaters. Some even duelled the inner circle Death Eaters. But Harry Potter himself dodged about the edges of the battle, shimmying along the high stone walls as he kept his eyes pealed for the only foe he really wanted to fight. He didn't neglect the battle - he had started out stunning, still uneasy with the idea of killing anyone. But after a few too many Avada Kedavra's - at both himself and his friends and allies - his resolve hardened into determination and he retaliated in kind. A few minutes into the battle, he had lost Tom, whom had stayed by his side for most of the planning and all through the moment prehensive to the battle.
A series of unmissable screams silenced all other sound for a moment as tension built in the thickest part of the battle only to literally explode. Bodies, fully- and half-charred like overdone orders of chicken flew into the walls of the street. Some still standing were taken down by these missiles but that just meant more people further away could see the cause of it. Ministry, Death Eaters, the Order and D.A. all stared for a dangerous moment at the figure centered in the circle of unadulterated carnage. He stood tall and menacing, the black cloth whipping about him in a magic induced wind. His crimson eyes positively glowed from his snake eyes, almost a Basilisk's gaze with the death they promised in them. A painful death, a long death, an agonizing death and the death of your heart as you watched the death of everyone you knew.
Then the Death Eaters pulled their wits together and realised that that force would be aimed at them if they didn't act soon. A volley of green similar to their entrance announced their realisation as the Death Eaters plunged on with renewed determination. For them now it wasn't just defeating the enemy - it was the threat of their own master as well. For a moment the Ministry and Order was overwhelmed. They were tired and disheartened by this revelation. But a whispered passed through the younger members of the battle and as one they exclaimed;
"FOR FREEDOM!"
And a small golden glow emitted from pockets or chests, where ever their enchanted gallons were and with this energy boost they fell into the battle once more, renewed physically and renewing their allies mentally. But still the battle was at its most difficult. Not only did they now have the Dark Lord himself to contend with, but a long thick scaled tail flipped about ally and foe alike, tripping all but her master up. Nagini bared her fangs in a hiss of lethal promises and she coiled about five at a time, her fangs poisoning some and her jaws crushing others. Magicians were swallowed whole or picked up and flung like rag dolls.
Hermione and what remained of her pairs scattered along the roofs signalled to those on the ground to find a way up or to the secluded alleys that they had secured for healing, wards and boosts. The battle stood at its most intense, but also had a sense of calm. Soon, neither side would be able to hold on. Soon they all would be duelling themselves to death via plain muggle exhaustion.
So it was a relief when a brilliant flash hit the Dark Lord Voldemort square in the chest.
He reeled to face his assailint personally and the few in the way parted to admit Harry Potter into the ring that was forming. Fighting around them stopped. All present knew that nothing matter much but the outcome of this duel. They paced each other for a moment, sizing each other up.
"Potter." the Dark Lord practically hissed.
"Voldemort." Harry spat in return.
"It doesn't matter how many new spells you know, Potter. I offered you power and you refused it. The only alternative to power is death."
"Let's see whose really on the side of power then."
They both barely missed each others first spell, Harry literally rolling away and Voldemort quick-footing his way to safety. Spells flew again, green and red sparking as they fused into golden before the green quickly terminated, Voldemort holding his wand close to himself eager to miss another Priori Incantatem. Each remembered exactly how they had to play this duel, their spells couldn't connect. Not for long. Bright colours narrowly missed each other as the duel continued, but the first spell to hit was from Voldemort's wand. The jagged red struck Harry and he spasmed as he fell to the ground in a lungful of screams. Pleased by this progress, Voldemort moved forward and attacked again. Out of breath Harry's leg caught the flesh-eating spell and his calf began to dissolve. He shoved his wand into the wound and muttered a few words, gritting his teeth at another scream as he burnt the surface of the flesh, halting the curse's progress. He twisted his wand in Voldemort and fired the second spell of the duel to hit. An orange Confringo collapsed onto the cloth surrounding Voldemort destroying his robe and part of his clothes before it was quelled.
With a snarl Voldemort threw himself into the fight again. More spells connected this time, the smell of burnt flesh and something acidic hung in the air and wafted over the spectators. Blood dripped heavily from a cut somewhere on Harry's head and a blister swelled at a magically enhanced rate on Voldemort's wand arm. He flung up his wand and a silencing spell shot from the tip, a brief ripple indicating a hemisphere of silence around the pair. He turned his head and motioned to his most trusted servant and even though Harry managed to dodge the curse from Voldemort he promptly tripped over an engorged tail, his allies warning absorbed by the silencing spell. Now Harry ducked and weaved between serpent and sorcerer, dodging the worse spells but having to catch the more minor ones. Half his own spells rebounded from Nagini's skin, magic obviously embedded in her very being.
As he faced up to the serpent who reared high above him Voldemort advanced upon his back. As it became clear to the audience that his attention was occupied by the snake in front of him and had no room for considering the other threat they reacted. His allies surged forward, those on the roof either yelled or dropped from their perches. Everyone on the ground surged forward. But all in vain. The Death Eaters pushed them back and the battle swelled once more. None could reach nor warn the Chosen One as the Dark Lord advanced upon his vunerable back. His wand ready the death curse on his lips Voldemort uttered the deadly words;
"Avada-"
Before a cold voice muttered clearly above the rest, yet without a shout;
"Penitus Poena!"
And Voldemort was caught in a streak of purple flames before the curse took affect and he doubled over in pain. The battled quelled once more as the participants turned as one to face the wizard who had the nerve to interfere with the duel between the Dark Lord and the Chosen One. Voldemort turned, still holding his middle - Harry had already spun towards the voice. Though it was Harry who caught on first, it was Voldemort who voiced his disbelief first.
"You! It- it can not be."
"Oh it can." came Tom's unmistakable voice, so much crisper than his older counterpart's.
"No-"
"This inability to adapt - when on Earth did we develop that? It's so weak."
An instinctual spell shot from Voldemort's wand as his anger flared.
"I am not weak! It doesn't matter how you got here. Nagini!" He partially turned to address her "They are both your targets!"
Voldemort flung another Avada Kedavra at Harry, but he was prepared enough to dodge and counter now. Nagini rolled up to Tom, unease evident in her unblinking eyes as she tried to comprehend why she recognised him. Her tail flicked out at her new opponent. Tom dodged and raised his wand cautiously.
"Nagini-"
She flicked her tail at him once more.
"Nagini-!"
But she wasn't deterred. Her master had given her an order and she would never betray him. No matter how unsavoury he had turned. She attacked once more and Tom dodged for the third time but rebounded with his wand at the ready and let a spell fly. Nagini braced herself, ready for a curse. Instead, she felt a smooth warm feeling envelope her. Each of her scales felt shiny and new, her eyes felt clear for the first time in years and her fangs were spic-and-span with her venom positively begging to drip. She knew this charm and she knew who had invented it. She had watched as he had poured over books taken from various libraries and promised her a treat. Her master had made this eggshell charm, the warm, comforting spell she hadn't felt for a decade or more. Only her master knew this charm...
"...Tom...?"
The grin that broke the young boys face left no doubt in Nagini's memory. This was her master.
"Nagini, oh my sweet Nagini. What has he done to you my dear proud serpent?" Concern and care laced Tom's voice.
Sensing that something was amiss with the supposed battle behind him, Voldemort turned to face the pair. Shock brief passed his face before his features contorted with outrage.
"Nagini! I said attack! He is the enemy and you must kill him!"
Tom calmly looked up at his snake. In placetating tones he talked only to her.
"Remember how it used to be, my sweet? How you used to be a pet, my companion - not just a tool? Harry Potter is not my enemy, Nagini. But my older fool of a self is. It is your choice, of course. But if I had you with me... Oh Nagini, if I have missed five things all five have been you."
Barely a moment passed before Nagini raised herself higher than some of the buildings surround them and brought herself crashing down.
On top of Voldemort.
With a yell he flung himself out of the way but her body still pinned his legs. She raised herself up and prepared to attack once more. Tom had skirted around and faced him from one angle, his wand cautiously held in a lower stance. Harry finished off the triangle points with his wand held out defiantly in front of him. Voldemort looked about, taking in the three who had designated themselves his opponents. His younger self, miraculously in the present. His life-long companion, siding with his other self. The Chosen One, who he'd never been able to kill. And for just a damning moment of clarity Voldemort realised he wouldn't be able to kill him this time either.
With a desperate shout Voldemort sent a shockwave of magic from his wand. The spell harmlessly swept over Nagini's scales, was casually absorbed by Harry and Tom's wands and terminated at the silencing spell barrier. Nagini slide her tail over and constricted his legs, still Voldemort flailed about curses. In a conjoined sense of serenity Harry and Tom advanced upon him as a pair. They raised their wand as a pair and - without so much as a glance at each other - they fired the twin curses. As they simultaneously hit, the Dark Lord Voldemort's heart stopped pumping at the same time that the electrical impulses in his brain stopped functioning permanently terminating all life.
Voldemort was dead.
As this news registered through the crowd the reaction was mixed. Some howled with despair, or fought for escape. Many merely hung their heads in defeat and let their wands drop. Some raised their voices in victory, or began detaining the Death Eaters around them. Others desperately fought the throng searching and calling for loved ones.
Standing next to each other, sound filtered back in to mask their panting. Harry and Tom glanced at one another, not knowing what to expect from each other. Then a smile crept onto their faces and before they knew it they were throwing their heads back and sharing a laugh. A laugh of relief, a laugh of acceptance, a laugh of peace, a laugh of victory and most of all a good old honest laugh.
Friends and allies enveloped Harry, voices loud and blurred as hundred's congratulated him. Group hugs held him up as strangers kissed his cheeks. Hands pulled him in all directions. Then Ron and Hermione were right their hugging him and jumping with him shooting that they'd won and that Harry had did it over and over and over. As the celebrations turned into a more conventional mandatory arrest crew, some one rounded up the five of them - Harry, Tom, Draco, Ron and Hermione - and took them back to Grimmuld Place. Many of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army were already there and though Molly Weasley tried to coax them into sleeping nothing - nothing - could have stopped the quintet from enjoying the celebrations.
Oh wow. Another chapter.
So how'd I do with the how action writing? Tell me please, because that's something I'd like to refine.
Other than telling me about that - reviews please? Reviews make me very happy.
Which reminds me: Kudos to Lvmj for being both my only reviewer for chapter ten and for leaving a very nice review.
...
Now what a nice sounding conclusion... But wait-
It ain't over yet, folks.
