The Crossroads of Fate

Chapter 28: The Enchanter's Princess

A/N: Hi all. Sorry for the death last chapter. I regret to inform you it is not the last. Anyways, now we've reached the tense part of what is still building up to the climax (no, despite recent events, this is only the prelude to the climax, a teaser), I guess it's time to talk a little bit about it. I won't keep you long so I'll talk about it after this chapter.

In the Shrieking Shack…

Maria Prince sat down, looking over her letter from Lex. It had arrived in a burst of flames alongside her Black Orb. It was an unexpected present and she was just beginning to understand why it was sent back to her. She had to admit, she did not expect this and being only eleven years old, she was not sure how to deal with it. For the first time, she felt like she had maybe gotten herself in too deep. She had to think about this. Could Mark help? Would he, even after their last try with the Arsenal? He had openly betrayed them, but not her. Not yet. She read it again, her heart beating less intensely the more she read it.

Miss Prince,

With this letter is the Black Orb as left by His Foulest Lord Herpo. Your instructions come from him, me as but an intermediary. Your job is simple. Sacrifice a soul to it, destroy the Reservation, and then hand it back to his Foulest. With an unstable three souls, he will need it as a container for the third. This will hand him true immortality and invincibility. In return, you become the immortal custodian of Great Britain upon the takeover of later countries and in time, the new Ruler of the Revived Island Nation of Avalon. You will operate as independently as you please, free to practice whatever you wish so long as you share any new findings with His Foulest.

Sincerely,

Zandar Lex

Hogsmeade…

Albus stared at her body, taking it all in. His cousin. Hugo seemed to be hit hard, but he didn't cry. At least, not yet. He was being held tightly by Lily and Lucy was staring in shock while Scorpius kept his hold on her, alone tear-strained and broken. Albus did not expect this, he viewed Rose as the safest of his cousins. She was the one who refused to get involved, taking the safer course of action and assuring a life for herself. She was on a track to be successful, even if Incommodo won the war. At least until Apollo got involved and gave a warning that made all the difference, presented to her a darker aspect of the future which she had in mind. He wondered if she had any idea that getting involved when the old her would've almost certainly run for help might've cost her the life she held dear.

Alex and Eric looked shocked too. Slowly, a tear leaked from Alex's eyes, his mouth trembled but he said nothing. Eric reached out and hugged Hugo tightly and the boy sobbed into Eric's shoulders. Alex just reached down and touched her lifeless face.

The Wallaby twins came originally to report something. Apparently, the Goblins were not the only ones who attacked. Lex had led some Arsenal members to try retaking Hogsmeade while the DA was stetched thin across England, against the Goblins and in Hogsmeade. Their efforts were futile when Aries and Msrk held them off. Albus did not hear much of what they did, just that the msgic they pulled was spectacular and made it nigh impossible for the numbers Lex had to infiltrate in the slightest.

Rose's death was met with gradually increasing reactions. Hugo for one had not been seen since, but Albus could hear him sobbing in his room. Lily was in there comforting him but Hugo was very upset. It was the first time Hugo had lost family so close to him. Sure, he had seen his family as threatened but they always pulled through. Always. Hermione was captured but alive, Ron was also still alive, the Quibbler insisted they were spying from the inside, Lily had been taken hostage but still alive and this time, his sister had been hostage and this time was ultimately killed. Hugo had lost the first of his family and it devastated him so much. A part of him even refused to accept it. That Rose was dead.

Scorpius too was taking it rather hard. Lucy did not leave his side at all and Albus was grieving with him too. Grieving with Scorpius and Lucy was rather quiet. None of them cried or sobbed anymore than they already had when she had initially died. They just sat alone, reminding each other of their adventures with her. How they had all met in the train over a chance argument between Albus and Rose when they used to be close, how Scorpius met her in first year and they discovered what Albus' father was truly responsible for, how Rose had tried talking to Mark on Albus' behalf to quell the fighting, how she had ventured into the forest with them before going their separate ways.

Rose had not liked adventure. She went the first time to look after her brother, reluctantly and begrudgingly but nonetheless as a Gryffindor both times. She had tried talking Albus out of continuing being friends with Scorpius but in the end, she dated the boy, dated him for a whole year before fighting him, perhaps unnecessarily attacking his family. They had broken up and Rose focused on her studies only to arrive after being cornered, only to see her brother fight to protect her and only to die in the very end. Albus would never forget, till his dying day, how she stared sightlessly up at them, once again marking another cousin for Albus to lose, his closest one yet.

Scorpius and Lucy did not seem to mind Albus being with them this time, in fact they almost fed off his presence. Scorpius had finally moved past his tears and just started trying to accept that Rose had died. Lucy, who looked up to Rose in childhood, took it hard because it was the second time she lost somebody particularly close to her. What surprised both her and Albus was when Scorpius started opening up. "Know why she started fighting with me?"

"Family?" Albus asked, remembering their initial fight the year before.

"Misunderstanding your intentions?"

"No," Scorpius mumbled. "That was- that was after she first started arguing with me. It was- I didn't- I never told her I loved her. Never."

"Well… didn't you?" Albus asked.

Scorpius had a very guilty, sad smile on his face as he looked up at Albus and Lucy. "No. Not as more than a friend. I just thought she was a cool girl."

"Then wh-why did you date her?" Lucy asked, a little shocked at the revelation.

Scorpius folded his arms, "Rose was being walked over by Daniel. I really meant to show her how a real boyfriend would act. Like how an artificial, fake one like Daniel would."

"Hey, Rosie? Today is the Hogsmeade weekend, right? Well… how about you let me show you how a real guy acts? Want to go with me?"

"It just… sort of evolved without me meaning it to," Scorpius admitted. "After the first date, she really enjoyed it and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. That's always my problem. I had trouble turning Lily down last year, even getting rid of her when she started imposing herself. I just don't know how to say no to a girl."

"You say no to me all the time," Lucy said pointedly. "So you could never break up with her. I know, you told me. I remember."

Scorpius was silent, staring out the window with sad eyes. Like he could still see Rose there. "I shouldn't have treated her like that. Even if I was honest. I should've told her the truth."

"It's not your fault," Albus told him. "Going out or breaking up wasn't going to save her. She died because the Goblins took her. Again. First Hagrid now Rose." Now Albus thought of it, the Goblins were responsible for deaths. They killed Hagrid and Rose and nearly killed Hugo and Lily. If he had any prejudice, he hated the Goblins.

"We gave them a chance," Lucy recalled. "They could've turned, they could've given up and gotten off ok. They could've helped against the Reservation, released Rose and Pierre, let everyone off ok and that could've been the end of it. Why- why do they hate us?"

"Because, it's their chance," Scorpius mumbled, getting up and staring out the window. "Wizards and Goblins never get along well. This is their chance to end it in their favor. They don't want to pass it up. Not at any cost. Even when they allied with the Arsenal, they had the intention of breaking with them first opportunity they got."

Albus fell into thought. How would things be after the war? After Albus was dead? How would any new Ministry treat the Goblins? Or would they simply eliminate the Goblins from the fold completely? Even if the Reservation lost and the Arsenal lost, even if Herpo fell a second time and the Wizarding world was saved, the Goblins would either be extinct or pushed aside. How would future Ministers treat them? How would Albus? Even if Albus survived and became Minister, how would he treat them after what they did to Hagrid and Rose? He felt Scorpius pat his back slightly and Albus' eyes leaked before he dried them off and sighed. Scorpius got up, "It's over. It's done. There's nothing we can do. She's dead."

It was only lucky it happened in Hogsmeade. They held a small funeral for her in the gravesite. At best, the Hogwarts Guard all showed up, every last one of them. Aries seemed pretty upset too, perhaps because Rose was in fact a dorm mate of hers. It explained Fauna's grief too not to mention Laura who looked strangely quiet. Alex and Eric looked devastated too. Eric for one had actually looked broken up, destroyed almost by Rose's death. Nobody dared to speak either. They just quietly paid their respects, leaving flowers by her graveside. Scorpius had actually journeyed briefly to the Malfoy Manor to pick up a lasting rose and left it on her site, making sure it was secured in the ground.

Then, someone appeared calmly, walking very carefully across the graveyard. Aries actually got up and hugged him. Apollo L. Kimble had arrived. No Centaur was with him. He looked free, somewhat. His face was solemn, like he had known beforehand, long ago, that this would happen and came for it. Albus was almost touched seeing him nestle himself against Aries' chest, a single tear leaking from his eyes. From his point of view, he had truly tried saving Rose. Had she been open and more receptive, she might have saved herself. Apollo too sat across from her gravesite, Aries sticking very close beside him, not letting him out of her sight at all. And Apollo did not seem eager or willing to leave it.

Albus sat with them too, even Seth conjured a bouquet and set it for her with Sierra. Simon actually artistically fashioned a wreath of roses spelling her name and hung it over her stone. He sighed over her for a time and before anyone left, Simon said solemnly and quietly, "We're all going to join her one day, sooner or later. I'll just leave with that."

"Did she have anyone with her?" Alpha asked quietly. Lily and Hugo nodded quietly and Alpha actually used some enchantments to make her grounds fertile in hopes of any plant growing there. "So… so she won't be alone. She'll have life around her eventually."

Albus stayed longer with Hugo and Scorpius, both of whom were still broken up. They stayed till the evening, watching her grave intently, maybe hoping she would rise again but she never did. Only after night fell did Scorpius get up and leave. Hugo and Lily stayed longer, resting against each other's backs. Albus had to go after getting cold, conjuring a blanket for Hugo and Lily to keep warm overnight, and returned to the inn.

Scorpius was not in the room, of course and he heard Simon yelling at Seth about something incomprehensible from behind the door across from them. Albus shut his own door and fell asleep. Even when he woke up at five in the morning briefly, finding his eyes watery, Scorpius had still not returned. Even when Albus woke up again at ten in the morning, feeling very refreshed, Scorpius was not in and when he passed by Lucy's door, it was wide open with only Lucy and her roommate Lily there, the latter seemingly having returned from her night at the gravesite.

Albus sighed and walked into the bar itself, ordering a glass of Butterbeer and sitting alone in a corner. He never knew how people did it. He hated sitting alone but he did not know who to be with. He felt like they all had their own grieving to do. Scorpius had disappeared, Hugo had spent the night there with Lily, Lucy was consoling Scorpius for a time. Should Albus look for Alexis? No, he felt this was better dealt with for family. He stared solemnly out the window when he sensed rather than saw somebody sitting across from him. He did not have to look. He could already tell who it was due to the quiet way of sitting down. Neil Nott was staring at the table. He was not holding any bottle of anything, just staring down.

Albus was not sure what he needed but he learned long ago that asking would not get any response. They just sat quietly, not saying anything to the other. Neil had been sleeping in the Hogs Head during the battle after having a drink. So had Mark. Speaking of Mark, Albus had not seen him either. He'd been at the funeral, even saw Alex grieving by Eric but Mark disappeared afterwards like Scorpius. Albus could not help but feel a little betrayed. Mark was talented. If he had been there, it might've made a difference. At least, he thought so because Mark was not known for balking if hostages were involved.

He was vaguely aware of Seth watching him from a short way off. Albus kept his eyes determinedly off him, not in the mood to talk to Seth at the moment. He did sense someone small approach him from behind though.

"Hey," Neil said quietly, so quietly Albus barely heard him.

"Ok?" Albus asked.

Neil just shook his head and stared down, as if considering how to say something very carefully. Then, he looked up, "I'm leaving. Hogwarts I mean. After the war, I'm not coming back."

Albus took a while to process what he meant by this. Not coming back to Hogwarts. It certainly looked like the war was drawing to a close. Whether it would stop by the time the next year started, Albus did not know. He just knew that he was not completing his own seventh year. He'd likely be dead in any case. "You know- James wouldn't want you to do that."

"James is dead," Neil muttered. "And in the very end, so am I, probably."

Neil wiped his eyes and left. Albus did not know where. Neil did not stay at the Three Broomsticks but at the Hogs Head. Albus was left to stare out forlornly, wondering how everyone was coping. He could not get it out of his mind. His father had screamed at him almost a year ago for seeing James die, for leaving Lily to knock on death's door for the third time in her life.

Where was her brother? Don't blame this on James. Albus Potter, my most intelligent, hard-working son, finally managed to screw up and get his brother killed!

Would Harry blame this on Albus too? Perhaps Albus should never have raised the Guard. Perhaps he should have resigned himself to working with Seth and only Seth in finding the Heirs and the Princess, freeing Harry, and then maybe James would have lived, Molly and Walter would've lived, Rose would've lived. Who else would die? Who else would Albus be forced to watch die before their time was even up?

As Albus walked out, he saw that Hogsmeade streets were almost empty. Only the DA and the Hogwarts Guard were walking and many looked on alert and tense. It was not until Albus saw Simon lead a bunch of Guard and DA members past the Three Broomsticks towards the Hogsmeade entrance, long after his drink was finished, when Albus got up. What on earth were they up to? They were surely not thinking of returning to Hogwarts, were they? That would definitely get them all killed in seconds. Albus was not sure Lex would be forgiving either. Well, if Albus had to stun them to stop them, he would. Better stunned than dead. He stopped upon walking outside, eyes wide.

Groundwork was being done, it seemed. As he walked out, the streets did not look the same at all. Simon was talking to Louis Weasley and Neville Longbottom, beside whom was Alice and Frank. The two seemed really happy around him themselves and they listened to whatever Simon was saying with slight interest. Proxima was there too, folding her arms as if he'd been speaking nonsense. Her eyes, however, suggested she was actually taking everything in. What on earth? He hurried his pace up and found Simon was actually laying a plan down.

Aries was there too beside Mark and thinking very carefully on Simon's plan that the young boy was laying out. Albus was not sure why he was being listened to, and why he felt so comfortable speaking. He remembered hearing Simon's mother and father were in the Muggle Army, perhaps his idea came from them? He did not know. Judging by Sophie looking familiar with what he was saying though, Albus' guess could not be too far off the mark.

"Trenches are basic military strategy," Simon said frankly. "Dad used to talk about it all the time."

"It all seems very nice, but what you're asking us to do is destroy the streets," Proxima said as if the very idea was blasphemy. "These streets are cobbled from the best stones of"-

"I think our efforts are a lot more important than some crappy street that can be repaved," Simon told her. "Besides, think about it. Having the lower ground is an advantage when you're frequently ducking down, hiding in the earth, and not many Wizards can use Elemental Magic to undo the trenches."

"But having the higher ground is better strategy," Neville argued. "That's why Hogwarts has never been taken over."

"Until now," Simon shrugged. "Besides, the only higher ground you have here is the rooftops and witches and wizards are more destructive and can easily blow them up. You're practically asking for the buildings to blow up. Earth is tougher than that. Look, just build the trenches and you'll see how well it works."

"We don't even know if they're going to attack," Louis said skeptically.

"After the Goblins' attack, they'd be stupid not to," Simon shrugged. "The momentum is against us, people are fleeing in the dozens now, Lex knows full well Herpo would be furious if Hogsmeade was lost, but we have the element of Muggle surprise and these Arsenal blokes seriously underestimate a Muggle's capabilities. I say we can't be in a better position to outsmart them."

"They'll just close them on us"-

"That's it," Aries said suddenly, raising her wand. "I've heard enough. You want to die, that's nice. I don't. Stand back, everyone, Multi: Terra Dimoveo!"

The streets and grounds split up on her command. They looked like waist deep trenches, much to Simon's satisfaction. More and more, she moved the ground apart, wide and deep enough for a man to crouch down and hide in, or jump up and fire spells. Albus could see how it could work but Proxima did have a point. If any wizard in the Arsenal new Elemental Magic, they'd close up on whoever was hiding in them and kill them. As if she had read her mind or just thought of it herself, her Amulet started glowing again. She flicked her wand and the trenches started glowing briefly and Albus knew they were enchanted to resist further magic. Even Proxima looked impressed.

"We have a chance to catch them by surprise," she told them. "Knowing they're coming is not preparation. Denying they're coming is worse. If you call yourselves Dumbledore's Army, act like it. Besides," she smirked as she held up the Goblin's fake Amulet, "They don't know we have this. We use it once and upon its use, we destroy it."

"Al," Mark pat him on the back.

Albus turned around and saw Mark, who still looked down. "I've been wanting to talk to you."

Curious to see what Mark wanted from him, he followed Mark off towards the Shrieking Shack, or what remained of it. Mark was walking at a slower pace due to the stick leg he was forced to have. Albus helped him physically up the hill and they sat on a patch of freshly grown grass. "You should get a prosthetic leg or something."

"I will," Mark mumbled. "Maria is suggesting Alchemy but that would require human ingredients." He looked around solemnly. "Been a while since we sat up here, huh?" he asked lowly.

Albus just nodded quietly. "Yeah. Nothing was ever the same since fourth year."

"To tell the truth, nothing was the same for me since first year," Mark mumbled. "The whole year, Phoenix is calling me in, telling me my parents are in danger, that they were doing what they could. Even Aries' father came that year to try to stop the murders but it was too late. They died… and till now I wish I was with them. I wish- I wish I'd been there, to hold them or- or something. Anything."

It was the first time Mark opened up about his parents' death, Albus felt he had to stay quiet. Mark went on, "The one who did it is dead… and I had to give up my morals to make sure of that. How- how do you do it? How do you kill people? How do you make peace with that?"

"I didn't," Albus sighed. "I don't regret killing Ridge after what he did, but it did lose me a damn good friend."

Mark stared at him dubiously, "You were singing praises about your deed in fifth year."

"You sort of put me on the spot that day," Albus reminded him. "Plus… I'm not sorry Ridge is dead. I'm just sorry about the method. Even now, I don't think I had a choice. He was more powerful than I was, he could've lived if he was expecting the Killing Curse, he could've blocked any other spell. And I thought Hugo and Lily had died at the time."

"Hugo's heart did stop beating briefly," Mark admitted. "But Astoria saved him and a House-elf did wonders." Mark lay on the grassy ground, staring up at the clouds. "I'm gonna die, aren't I?" he asked with a terrified whisper. "I'm going to be dead. Just like Rosie."

Albus lay back too, staring up as well, "You and Melvin really aren't cut out for war. Why don't you just take a Portkey and flee."

Mark sighed, eyes welling up as he said quietly, "Because I'd never forgive myself if I did. And that's the only thing keeping Morpheus here and the only thing keeping Melvin here. Morpheus is probably the most loyal person I've met aside from Eric and Hugo."

They got up, Mark trying very hard not to scream in agony. Albus knew what he wanted to say now, but he also knew what sort of reaction it might provoke in an emotionally fragile Mark. He took a breath and said, "I'm- I'm so sorry, Mark. For everything," Albus had a tear leak out as he said this. "I'm sorry for your mum and dad, for Hagrid, Walter, Molly, James, Rosie, I'm sorry for everything. I- I didn't- the war's been hard on you and I didn't notice till now."

Mark burst into tears just as Albus expected. He buried himself over Albus' shoulders, hugging him tightly, sobbing into his chest, feeling dejected, lost and alone. Albus did not know how long he was there looking after Mark. Just that it was afternoon by the time he stopped. He hoped Mark had let it all out, sniffling, using the grass itself to wipe his nose, his eyes bloodshot, staring at what used to be a whole body, recalling what used to be a whole life… before all of it was snatched away. Whatever happened, Albus would never forgive Incommodo, the Goblins or Dubium. They were the ones behind this. It all boiled down to one of those three. And one of them wanted to destroy the Wizarding world completely.

"Al…" he said quietly as they stood on the hill. A distant bang sounded but neither noticed. "Please, whatever happens, no matter what… don't die. I beg you, I'll do anything just don't let yourself die. Please."

Albus stared in shock. Begging for Albus' life. If Albus died, Mark would collapse. Albus was forcibly reminded of him making a similar plea to Mark when Harry told Albus that he and Mark owed each other their lives. That Mark definitely owed Albus for what Albus did in second year. He hoped he would never come to regret saving Mark… if Mark gave his own life.

Yo-you have to promise me. That- that whatever happens, whatever bargaining chip you think of using, you will never give your life. Ever!"

"Ok, Mark," Albus said quietly. "I- I mean, I- look, I just… I'm trying my best"-

Before Albus could finish anything, a loud explosion sounded, making the ground shake, even the rubble of the Shrieking Shack shook slightly and from their hilltop, Albus could see why. It was just as Simon had ominously predicted. The gates were down and the Arsenal was attacking.

Albus and Mark rushed down, Albus overtaking him due to the wooden stump. Luckily, the hilltop was not far from the gates and by the time Albus descended, he was there too. Simon fled into the battle, jumping into trenches with Seth and Sierra, hiding from the shields Sierra erected while Seth fired a jet of green light. Witches and wizards in blood red robes were coming in by the dozens, entering Hogsmeade easily. The protections had been connected to that of Hogwarts and so the Arsenal had full capability of entering.

Battle commenced immediately. Explosions were heard and there was no choice. Former students rushed to the trenches Aries had dug and Mark had just arrived down, evidently having lost balance and rolled down the hill instead. He fired a jet of red light and erected a shield giving him time to get up and fire. He alone was firing defenselessly in the open. Other DA members, Louis in the lead, fired from them. Neville was the one who sent an explosion.

The first to fire a spell was Louis, who fired an Impediment Jinx at an Arsenal member at the back where he was regrouping with other DA members, trying to form a protective wall against the rest of the village. Fred followed suit and Neil Nott fired a weak spell from the front trench. Pierre and Morpheus ran out suddenly and up the hill, hoping to do as Neville and Proxima had advised and take higher ground. Proxima was there too beside Alpha, both safe for the time being as they fired as many spells as they could at the invading party. Albus supposed this must have been how Muggles felt like when they went to war.

Before anyone could stop him, Alexander Ackerly ran out of a trench in the back and with his wand sent a basic line of flowing gas spilling from his wand. He barely avoided a jet of green light when he turned tail and fled, unable to do anymore. He fired an Incendio Curse but it did not work. Catching what he meant to do, Seth considered it and then fired, "Confringo!"

The explosion was huge. The only reason none of the Guard or DA was affected was because Aries conjured up such a powerful shield, her Amulet glowing bright blue. The Arsenal backed away. Why they did so was not just due to the explosion but a disturbance from behind them. They scattered in fear as arrows landed either on or feet away. Centaurs had arrived and behind them were students. Albus gaped his mouth open. Students. They had never joined the Hogwarts Guard and yet, there they were, partaking in civil disobedience.

They did not stop until a jet of green light impacted one of the student at the front. Lex had arrived. He parried any stray spells effortlessly as he put his wand to his throat and spoke loudly, "This was a taste. Next, you will face our full might. To the Hogwarts Guard, I understand if you cannot walk out freely because of the control you have been placed under. Stay in Hogsmeade and be killed, come over to us and you will be spared. Consider yourselves warned for the final time."

None in the Guard seemed to consider this though. Melvin looked like he wanted to but Morpheus held him where he was. Both were staying. It was because of Morpheus Melvin did not leave overseas to begin with. The Centaurs grouped around Apollo, the lone boy standing at the very back, far away from the actual battle. Aries seemed close to going over herself. It looked hopeless. More and more Arsenal members came up and over, the students behind looked terrified and uncertain. Only the Guard seemed poised to fight, some looked about to restart the fight regardless. Then…

"Stupefy!" Alex yelled.

The spell was parried and it rebounded and hit him in the face. Eric fired a jet of white light, impacting a witch and a loud bang sounded from elsewhere. Albus raised his own wand, ready to get involved when a horde of cats attacked the Arsenal members. Pieces of rubble and rocks were being transfigured into cats, large and small, lynxes, tigers, and jaguars and the one responsible for them was not far away. It was the former Headmistress, Professor McGonagall. Fiery spells escaped from her wand as well and flying snakes rushed them as well. It was surprising Lex alone managed to repel them all.

This marked the beginning of the battle as Professor McGonagall led the DA members including Neville into the forefront of the fight. The students in the trenches were being protected more. Despite the battle going on, none had died yet, barring whoever might've died from behind. The centaurs regrouped at the back and fired their arrows, hitting their targets perfectly but none doing damage when Lex cast a massive spell to repel physical objects.

Explosions were heard again, and Albus had a bad feeling this wasn't Louis this time. This was battle. He could see, formed in the afternoon light, Zandar Lex, wand in hand, swiping and casting at all who were before him. Albus could not stay out any longer. He turned to Mark and nodded. "Let's go, mate."

"Stupefy!" Mark yelled.

Albus let loose a small burst of fire, not too good at elemental magic of either the classical elements or the air itself. It was then when Alexis, from beside him, enflamed it even more and sent it at the Arsenal members. Hugo gave Lily a last smirk before they left into the fight too. Albus and Mark led what was left of the Guard, charging in like an army into the warzone. As if on cue, Aries began doing her own thing. Each time any Arsenal member entered a trench, it spat them out roughly and at the same time, she decided to rush in and duel Lex directly.

As Albus ran in to join the battle after only a few hours of preparation, he spotted even a few younger kids from Zonko's disobeying orders and sending fireworks with loud guffaws. They were protected this time by a wall of earth that rose up on Seth's command. Pierre Macmillan stuck by Alexander Ackerly and Morpheus Ollivander. Kabe Vulneroman stayed with his sister Fora in a middle trench. Fauna Redgrow transfigured each of the arrows Centaurs sent into actual swords that were enhanced with fire by Albus and Alexis.

Albus read of wars, but it was nothing like he imagined. So far, it had not gotten to the catastrophe the first Hogsmeade battle was. The residents themselves abandoned all hope and fled for the Portkeys nonetheless, now having a close way out. They had reason to when the Arsenal, with Lex's help, managed to push their way in little by little. Lex was dueling ferociously with Aries who dueled maniacally, moving so fast and swiftly, she herself looked like a blurring sword. Jets of green light illuminated the scene and flew everywhere. The first death had occurred. Terry Boot's face was illuminated by a jet of light before he fell flat on the ground.

Aries was dueling directly with Zandar Lex, taking command of her knowledge of the air around her to force him to summon a Bubble-head Charm, effecting his vision. She jumped back, into a trench and ducked before sending pieces of earth and rubble at the man mercilessly. Albus watched hopefully. Perhaps if he helped Aries, this would go quicker. If he went down, the Arsenal would be leaderless and retreat. He pointed his wand as Alexis left to stay by Alexander and Pierre.

"Stupefy!"

Lex dodged the spell skillfully and Aries strafed to the side of another. Seth Lean also entered the battle beside Aries and Albus and the battle begun. Jets of light were flying from the center battle Albus found himself involved in. He was forgetting all else, even his sister who was battling alongside Scorpius and Hugo against a wizard who was putting an excellent fight up. Mark, Laura, and the twins were fighting against five at once, and they waved and smashed their wands around, hitting and casting at once so viciously, it was surprising the Guard was still standing.

It seemed an addition to the students helped Hogwarts' advantage though. The Arsenal members were being pushed back and some of them were even killed as the Centaurs charged in, Apollo staying at the very back. Nate had fired a well-aimed curse straight at the heart of an Arsenal members and Gabriel Dagger led a bunch of kids out to the back and set off even more fireworks, those Weasley products that attacked as dragons and other magical creatures. He whooped excitedly as the Arsenal pushed closer and closer to where he was. He fired spell after spell, Nate rushing to join him. Lorcan and Lysander were fighting back-to-back against Arsenal members but the twins refused to go down easily, due mostly to the fact that Alice Longbottom was casting spells at the three from afar.

Frank on the other hand fled to the hill again, Simon firing Stunners and Disarmers, refusing to kill any of them. The Arsenal was still gaining ground, even when Lucy rushed in to risk her own life again, and nearly got herself killed when she fled. The Arsenal members were not Goblins for her to duck around so easily. Frank briefly cast a fire-repellant on himself, a physical repellant, and ordered Alexander to unleash another burst of gas. Aries ducked a jet of green light, her Amulet glowing as a wall erected itself to defend against the next attack. Frank leapt in madly, doing the same as he did before. There might've been squeals of delight from the girls behind the Arsenal, probably firing spells of their own to help.

Frank ran in, "Expulso! Expulso! Confringo! Expulso!" The repellant of fire and physical objects did so well in protecting him from the explosion and debris that he was unhurt while the Arsenal was taken by surprise. He continued casting, "My presence is an explosion of madness! EXPULSO!"

He rolled to the side, barely avoiding a jet of green light as Alice shirked in anger. He rushed into the same trench with Simon and the Lean siblings.

Four Arsenal were fighting against Gabriel and Nate. Jets of green light were the only curses flying from wands as Gabriel ducked and dodged from them, throwing himself to the ground. A jet of green light zoomed across the grounds and took Anthony Goldstein down. The four Arsenal members who had been fighting Gabriel and Nate converged with the three fighting the Scamander's and formed a seven-Arsenal horde.

The horde walked the grounds, firing jets of green light at centaurs and mostly witches and wizards. Many fell but Mark blocked off most of the curses by conjuring a strong, sturdy wall between the horde and the victims, blocking the spells. Aries continued her fight alongside Seth and Albus against Lex. Lex proved to be very adept. The battle with Lex raged on, neither Albus, Seth, nor Aries able to pick the weak spot if there was any. Lex fiercely battled on and yet failed on killing either of them. Aries' wand blocked off most of his powerful spells as Albus and Seth took a closer strategy and tried casting from up close to give him a shorter time to block. He only backed off a little and continued the fight just as it had begun.

Albus himself was also firing the best of his curses, enhancing them the best he could using the most offensive Charms he had ever learned alongside Alexis. He had never thought these would come in handy either. He charmed a rock to crawl up Lex to distract him, enflamed a horde of falling tree leaves, and ducked a jet of green light, ducking behind Seth who fired a jet of green light and jumped out to fire a Stunner.

The seven Arsenal members that got together were beginning to make a difference, being much further in Hogsmeade than any other. Gabriel sighed and sent his last rocket at them, barely avoiding the retaliatory jet of light. He Disillusioned himself and rushed in. Gabriel was always good at sneaking, he could only wish he could say the same about dueling. He snuck behind one Arsenal member and aimed a jet of red light at him. As he fell, he ducked behind the body allowing the others' attention to be diverted, and then threw himself into the middle, ducking his head as he attempted two more down. They blocked the attacks however and shot their own spells at wherever the invisible caster might've been. Gabriel threw himself to the ground to avoid them.

Lorcan, Lysander, and Fauna found it easier to combat the six remaining ones, especially with an invisible Gabriel to help. Alas, the remaining ones were aware of an invisible being and searched acutely through the darkness for something transparently moving. The Charm was not perfect. Meanwhile, Riley fired a jet of fire from under a trench blindly letting it rush at the Arsenal members. Nate fired another curse but both were blocked and doused. Alex and Eric were staged in front of Mark and Laura to protect the both of them and Roxanne wasn't too far off.

Students were falling though, most stunned, and the six Arsenal members remaining against the group of the Scamander twins were putting a tough fight up. The invisible Gabriel was perhaps the one who kept the group up and stable. He managed to take one down when one Arsenal member waved wildly and yelled "Finite!"

Gabriel was pushed down and Nate yelped in fright. The Arsenal member looked down, face contorted in anger and fury at the difficulty the group of students was posing, she yelled "Avada Kedavra!"

Lorcan dove out of the way and Lysander erected a shield. Gabriel firing up a shield, he rolled out from the center and crawled over to Nate. Riley rushed over too, casting wildly and even trying to bite some who were close by. The female had little time to block it, so she ducked and fled to aid Lex. She was killed by Sierra halfway there. Lorcan found himself stunned at the hands of a male who also took his mask off to reveal blonde hair like Lorcan's though dirtier. Lysander stood in front to defend his fallen brother.

The original seven-Arsenal horde now broken up with two stunned and one killed, Gabriel had at least broken them up and indirectly killed one when he ducked a jet of green light, allowing another Arsenal member to take the blast. He continued crawling towards Nate when one stepped over him roughly, fired a curse at Nate to blast him away and aimed her wand down at Gabriel. Gabriel barely had time to conjure a shield that proved to be useless.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Gabriel's shield was shattered, and he would've died if Nate had not raised his wand and pulled him away from the jet. His life was barely saved and Mark turned and raised the earth to cover them both from ensuing attacks before defending himself.

The Arsenal was gaining ground faster. Frank had barely managed to get into another trench with a bloody welt on his forehead, apparently almost having met his match. Seeing their advance, Seth shrugged and moved the earth under Lex, ducked back, and whipped his staff out. Lex used his wand to stop himself losing footing just as a flying snake burst out. Lex aimed to kill it when Aries Apparated behind him and raised her wand just as Albus cast "Incarcerous!"

Aries raised her wand, "Avada Kedavra!"

Lex stopped, at first looking surprised at what had happened. He crumbled down and died and the Arsenal members fled back, retreating back into the castle. Some students in the grounds whooped at their failure which earned them retaliatory jets of green light when suddenly, a loud bang sounded. Albus backed away from Lex's body as a burst of green fire announced a new presence. A more dangerous one. A wave of fear rippled through everyone. Just when the Arsenal had proven to be defeated, their true leader had shown up. So Lex had died, so the Arsenal lost, their leader was back.

Albus knew it had to be him, judging by his scepter, papery yellow skin, and yellow eyes. But he had a small white beard descending, and his yellow eyes were monstrous and yellow. He was much the same as Incommodo used to look. It looked like a merger between him and Herpo himself. Albus knew he was back to power- somewhat- but with a brand new body, Incommodo's body. Ink's body. Albus suddenly understood it all. Aries' blood from the thorns in Hogwarts, Lex's missing leg, he supposed the bone came from Greece. Mors Incommodo had returned, this time as Herpo the Foul.

A/N: Firstly, stay tuned. A double update and the chapter after this one is one called The Salem Prodigy which is a bonus flashback on Aries. Next chapter (after this) will be one called the Medieval Relics and the one after will be the Crossroads of Fate- Life and Death. After that is one more 'calm before the storm' chapter and then, the final battle will come. The final battle will span 5-6 chapters and then four chapters of the aftermath, more if you count little tidbits. This is what I'm about to get into. One of the aftermath chapters is an Epilogue taking place twenty years later, like Rowling did. With the Epilogue, a bunch of one-shots will be released to detail the Epilogue. These are not required if you prefer to just read and leave it at that. I know Rowling's Epilogue has a small cult of haters mainly because of how abruptly it came (like, final battle and suddenly, Epilogue.) This is why I have a few chapters of the aftermath to really drive home the ending and what the state of the world and the characters will be in. Then, the Epilogue comes which is basically a small scene. All of this isn't required but for those who want a detailed ending, the Epilogue and its companions are there.