In This Life

Chapter 53

The Battle Of Their Lives

Voldemort's evil red flashing eyes watched them all like hawks, rage simmered through him seeing his spy walking out of the church. He had wrongfully assumed the old fool Dumbledore had figured out his Alchemist had been a spy for him. It seemed he was the fool, and his spy had been working against him. The treacherous spy would suffer the consequences of his actions. The slippery spy would writhe in agony before him, die knowing he should never have crossed him, he was Lord Voldemort, and he was the most powerful wizard alive. He was curious about the pale creatures standing across from him, it didn't take long for the snake faced Wizard to find out what exactly they were. Vampires. They were different from the vampires he had come across, not just by their curious eye colour, but by their odd skin - if he didn't know any better he could have sworn they were twinkling almost blindingly for a few seconds. Unaware of the cloud that had parted, letting the sun shine down for one brief shining moment, before it covered the ball of fire back up again. Heaven forbid should Forks be allowed any decent sunshine - which was good for the vampires and depressing for the humans that dwelled in Forks Washington. The church continued to burn behind them, a place where Harry and Edward had declared their true love to one another.

"Well, well, my slippery spy, how wrong was I?" said Voldemort with deceptive coolness.

Severus arched his eyebrow in Voldemort's direction; inwardly he was very worried about the outcome of this battle. Nobody that Voldemort wanted dead survived, it was just the way it had been for so many years. Until he had gone after a year old baby, and been somehow defeated. Now he was here to prove to his Death Eaters that it had been a fluke, an accident when Harry had defeated him. He'd been a spy since he was eighteen years old, he knew how Voldemort thought. He was no fool; he had learned all he had to know about Voldemort. Know the enemy, and keep your friends close and enemies' closer had been sayings or mottos he had held close to his heart. He'd not had friends, not since Lily anyway, not truly. Severus didn't respond to Voldemort's question or statement instead just wondered how the hell he'd get everyone of them out of there safely. The good thing about the Anti-Apparation wards was that Voldemort nor the Death Eaters could flee either. Not unless they reached the end of the wards Voldemort had put up.

Silence didn't suit Voldemort at all, he hissed in anger; most of the Death Eaters were just about jumping up and down in anticipation of the attack that was to come. There were a few that were standing completely immobile, staring lacklustrly ahead. Severus didn't take long to figure out those were the ones under the Imperious curse. Edward if he had been able to read Severus' thoughts would have agreed.

Edward could hear their inner thoughts, crying out in desperation, defeated at their own disgusting actions. Yet on top of it, were demands they couldn't help but comply with. He didn't understand that, how could they be forced to do such horrible things? Was there magic that could make you perform magic on others? It turned his stomach, he suddenly felt sorry for those people, obviously enchanted into doing this red eyed beings bidding. He whispered to the others, none of the humans could hear what he was saying, but his vampire brethren could. "The ones that are still are not acting under their own minds, don't hurt them if you can avoid it." he said to them.

Carlisle was staring at Voldemort with complete revulsion written across his face. He'd have assumed this being was a vampire, so pale he was with red eyes. Unfortunately no vampire would ever be that disgusting looking, he reminded Carlisle of the Volturi. Waiting for the fear to paralyze them, and then of course subdue them and disposing of them. Of course these magical beings had a lot more power and people on their side than the Volturi could hope to have. Maybe not more power, Carlisle idly thought, after all Alec's gift worked on everyone on a whole, not just one person like the magic did for Wizards and Witches. The same could be said for Jane, she could hurt more than one person if she desired. The question was could Wizards? He wished he had paid more attention to Harry and Draco's training. If this was confusing for him, he didn't like to think on how his sister Clan was feeling. They'd only discovered magic was real, when he had called them a week ago. Issuing invitations to Edward's wedding which they had gladly accepted, and he had of course had no choice but to tell them about the world of magic. Upon hearing Edwards' words, he realized he was more like the Volturi than expected; he had them twisted so they would do his bidding? That was like Chelsea's gift…did that mean she was a Witch before she was turned? It was a curious thought…who's to say Harry wouldn't loose his magic once he was turned? That was indeed a disturbing thought. One he had to share with Severus soon, Harry had basically just learned what he was a year ago, even if he'd always had magic he'd never used it. Would Harry still give up magic to be with Edward? Carlisle went cold just thinking about it. Sighing in exasperation at himself, this wasn't really the time or place to be thinking about this. Especially in the presence of Edward.

Draco was trembling in the background, knowing his father was here and would kill Angela in a heartbeat. It was terrifying to say the least; he had thought he was finished with the wizard world. He hadn't expected, Voldemort to find them, despite telling Harry that they would find him. That had just been him being negative, something he had been since joining Hogwarts. "Don't let the green spell hit you, avoid them if you can - and even better break their wands if you get the chance…do you understand?" he said his voice hoarse and full of terror.

Angela's alarmed, terrified eyes, met the blue ones of the man she had just realized she loved. Nodded her head, with determination she didn't feel. She didn't understand what was happening, she'd only recently learned about the magical world. Who was this man? Why was everyone so afraid of him? She could tell by the way Sirius, Remus, Severus, Harry and Draco were acting they were completely frozen in fear of him…well almost maybe she was, over exaggerating a little, okay a lot.

Jasper could feel the hate leeching from the central figure; it was a curious combination for one person to have. Self loathing, Anger, disgust, self disgust, determination, worry, fear, and also smugness at his own superiority. Self loathing and self disgust he was curious to why this man, wizard felt like that. Of course if he had known Voldemort's past he would have realized why. As it was Jasper had no idea who this Wizard was never mind his history. The rest of the 'Followers' as he was going to call them, most just felt hate anger and pride; they obviously loved what they did. He could sense unending shame, horror, sickness; it was like a twisted knife to the stomach. He finally understood what Edward meant, he in his own way could tell them apart too.

"Why don't you introduce us? Your parents wouldn't want you to forget your manners Severus," said Voldemort tauntingly his eyes narrowed to slits, his voice still had that snake like mannerism to it. To think if he had been loyal, a mere potion would have changed all that. Restored Voldemort to his natural look, but it was the last thing Severus wanted. The bastard had enchanted many people because of his looks and false promises.

"As fucked up as they were at least I had both my parents," sneered Severus caustically, watching with sheer delight as Voldemort seemed to pale at his words. His eyes flashing with disbelief, fury and worry.

"Crucio!" snarled Voldemort taking a lot of offence from that single sentence than anything else could.

Severus sidestepped the spell; it went flying past blasting its way into the church. He had wanted to do that for years, yet he'd been unable to - knowing the punishment for such an action would have been ten times worse. He'd taken all he would from Voldemort, his spying was done he wasn't going to sit down and take it anymore.

Emmett was watching the proceedings a very un-Emmett look on his face, same could be said for Sirius as well. He could hardly believe how this day had gone, he'd been catcalling his brother, intending on winding him up about his honeymoon all through the day. Yet here he was, facing the unknown, his new brother-in-laws life in danger. It wasn't acceptable to him, sure he didn't take a lot seriously, but his family meant everything to him. He'd do anything to protect them; he'd kill for them, every single one of them without remorse or regret. He could tell by the look on his wife's face that the same thoughts were going through her mind.

Suddenly all hell broke loose as a barrage of spells came their way.

Sam and the other Shape-shifters received their pack mates distress call, Sam made the ruthless decision to stay out of it. As much as he liked Remus, he didn't trust the others - and he was also not going to put his pack at risk. They destroyed Vampires not wizards, it went against everything they believed in to harm anyone breathing.

"You're breaking one of our most absolute laws!" snapped Jacob completely astonished by Sam's lack of feelings. They knew he was jealous of Leah, that she had found someone else, her imprint. It was obvious to them that despite finding an imprint of his own - he still had feelings for Leah. Not love, but controlling feelings, as if he owned her and not just her Wolf form either. He could hardly believe it himself, here he was completely naked standing up for Leah after the annoying pain in the arse she had been. Then he realised belatedly…that this was what Sisters were like. He had sisters so he should have realized it sooner. He was only glad his sisters were well out of the way, he'd have been devastated if they had succumbed to the curse he was forced to live in. He didn't like Harry Potter or whatever his name was - well Cullen now he supposed, but he didn't want to see the boy dead. He finally acknowledged to himself, that it had been his fault the way Harry had reacted that year.

"This has nothing to do with us," said Sam demandingly and demeaningly.

"Imprints come first! You know that!" snapped Jacob unsure of where his vehemence was coming from.

"Enough Jacob!" snarled Sam sounding like his Wolf form right now.

"This isn't right!" he said angrily.

"Are you challenging me?" boomed Sam towering over Jacob, or at least trying to but Jacob was as tall as him now. "To do that you need to be Alpha." he continued. Phasing into his wolf form he growled up at Jacob.

"I am the great-grandson of Ephraim Black, I was never meant to follow an Uley," snarled Jacob unable to stand back and do nothing. Something inside of him burst, transforming back into his wolf form, he began to radiate dominance.

"So this is how it will be? You choose to fight me for the pack?" growled Sam communicating with Jacob through the link the Shape-shifter's shared.

"I'm not fighting you! I'm going to defend Leah! As you should have done!" snarled Jacob before he bound off, it was eerily quiet, he felt cut off from all that he had known. He wasn't sure if he liked that thought much, then he heard another voice coming from his mind.

"Wait up!" yelped the young wolf, Jacob knew to be Seth.

"Go back Seth, you're sister will kill me if I bring you!" barked Jacob.

"I'm not going back," said Seth continuing to run, his sister was in danger and he'd be damned if he sat back and did nothing about it now he had an option. He'd been completely defeated under Sam's rule, his heart breaking at the thought of loosing his sister after loosing his father. It would kill their mother; destroy her completely if she lost Leah. He loved his mother more than anything else in the world, and he'd do anything to bring his sister back - as annoying as she was all the time. When it came to it, she was his sister, his blood and it meant more than petty squabbling. Jacob thankfully didn't protest anymore, just trying to get to the Church as quickly as possible. Leah had been ominously quiet; he wasn't sure if it was because she wasn't part of his pack or because she was no longer a werewolf.

Jacob grumbled under his breath at Seth's impudence but nevertheless he continued on. The sight that met his eyes, shocked him to the core, and without thought he joined in the Frey, copying Leah's actions. Biting the right hands of the black cloaked wizards, that held their wands in. It stopped them throwing out those glowing balls that was causing damage to even vampires - even if it was only throwing them in the air without much damage.

"Harry Potter," said Voldemort his eyes glowing with malice.

"It's Cullen actually, thanks for waiting until my wedding vows were said," replied Harry sardonically.

Voldemort's eyes widened in surprise, he had not expected the boy to speak back to him so casually. Did this boy have no idea who he was? What he had done? It was well seen Snape was part of the boy's life; sarcasm seemed to come second nature to him. Just how long though? How long had his slippery spy been laughing at him behind his back? It infuriated him to the point he almost wanted to seek him out and kill him himself. "Potter and Snape are mine! Do not kill them!" snarled Voldemort eventually his mind made up.

"You won't get near my dad," snapped Harry, his own anger bubbling up inside of him. As the battle around him continued.

Voldemort's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, if he had eaten anything he'd have choked on it.

"Crucio!" snarled Voldemort, wanting to let off a little steam before he killed the brat, nobody spoke to him that way and got away with it.

Harry summoned a nearby bench and threw it at the curse in mid air, stopping it in its tracks. Metal and wood flew everywhere, showering both sides in it; Harry winced as the metal side banged into him, wounding his shoulder severely. Thankfully though it was his left, and didn't affect his right arm, his wand arm.

Voldemort had a grudging look of respect about him that did indeed quickly vanish to be replaced by anger. It seemed as though the boy had been taught by Dumbledore that was his signature move. Had Dumbledore known Eric wasn't the one? Duped him into believing it and began training the brat in private? He hated this - he was just as bad as Dumbledore for wanting to know everything. He was done playing around, "Avada Kedavra," snapped Voldemort, again Harry summoned something, a big boulder this time, stopping the Killing curse. If angrier Voldemort got the bigger opportunity he'd have when Voldemort was magically spent and liable to make mistakes.

Loud pops penetrated the air; the American Auror's were here. They weren't dressed like the Auror's back home, their robes weren't red, and they were black with silver lining on them. A huge 'A' adorning the middle of the closed robe, and they immediately began stunning, fighting if they had to, and binding the Death Eaters - not letting them get the upper hand.

Now Harry could concentrate on Voldemort without worrying about his family - both of them. He had to end this now, before someone got hurt, he'd never forgive himself for standing there letting anything happen to them.

Angela was being manhandled by Draco, he was edging away from the battle, still firing spell after spell at the Death Eaters. He stuttered to a halt when he saw the tell tale sign of long blonde hair under the mask the Death Eaters mask.

"A Muggle Draco?" said Lucius his voice cold vicious and hard, not that of a father talking to their son. Rather an enemy talking to an enemy.

Angela started she realized what Draco had meant that his father was an evil man. She had wrongfully assumed that he'd abused Draco or something of the sort. Not that he was actually evil, that he killed people - that he was a mass murderer. Poor Draco he was trembling something awful.

"I shall remove you from the Family tree before you touch one more Knut of my money," sneered Lucius Malfoy starting at the pathetic form of his son. "But first I'll teach you a lesson in defying me." he exclaimed darkly.

Angela gasped audibly.

"And you Muggle, will be next." said Lucius his curled in obvious repugnance.

Angela puffed out in righteous anger! How dare he judge her just because she didn't have magic? She was just as human as Draco was without such an extraordinary gift! She was completely enraged by his tone and words.

"Crucio!" snarled Lucius pointing the wand at his son.

Angela paled, as Draco fell to the floor writhing in agony, his body bowed and bucked back and forth. Scratching his face and body as though he was trying to get something out from under his skin.

"STOP IT!" shrieked Angela her brown eyes wide in fear.

"As I said Muggle…you're next." said Lucius a malicious smirk on his face, he truly had no parental side whatsoever.

Angela swore angrily, and with one swing, brought her leg across Lucius' causing the blonde to fall flat on his back. Before he could recover his equilibrium, or get his shock under control, Angela had grabbed his wand and snapped it in half then before Lucius knew it his wand lay in four pieces before him completely useless.

"There! That will show you what a Muggle can do," she said proudly using the word 'Muggle' with full rancour just as Malfoy had done. She was glad to see that Draco had stopped screaming, but lay panting completely shaken under the spells after affects.

"Draco are you okay?" she asked crawling down beside him, narrowly missing a spell that had been thrown over unexpectedly.

Unfortunately Draco was speechless, staring alternatively between his fallen father and Angela as if he couldn't believe his eyes. The woman he loved had gotten the better of his father! When Wizards and Witches had failed to stand up to him, when he had failed to stand up to him. His heart glowed with happiness, and tender love he felt for her surprising him with its intensity. "I love you," he said for the first time, before his eyes widened and with a swift movement shouted "Stupefy!" Angela looked behind her and saw that Malfoy had been up once more. Not anymore, he was lying on the floor unconscious.

Turning back Angela stared at Draco's eyes and repeated him "I love you too," she said a small smile playing across her lips. "My dress is ripped." she commented out of the blue, and it was, she'd ripped it right down the leg when she'd knocked Malfoy over. Her poor Draco, how had he grown to be so loving with a merciless father like that? She was glad he had though - no doubt about that.

"Avada Kedavra!" yelled Voldemort, once more training his wand on Harry. Who was beginning to panic, there was nothing left to move - he'd used all available resources.

"Avada Kedavra!" yelled Harry hoping beyond hope that he could at least take Voldemort out with him if this was his end. He couldn't duck, otherwise the spell would hit Severus and he wouldn't allow that. He was back to back with a woman with black hair whose laugh chilled him to the bone.

"NO HARRY!" shrieked Sirius from a distance, forgetting his opponent he ran towards Harry as the spell came loomingly closer.

Severus turned around, his eyes wide with shock, distracted away from Bellatrix who chose that moment to turn tables on Severus - she used his own spell against him. "Sectumsempra," at the same time the killing curse hit Harry, and he went flying back limp bodily into Bellatrix's laughing face, it was cut off as she was impaled on part of the wooden beam from the church. Harry still limp and for all intents and purposes dead slid from her body like a rag doll and slumped with finality that crushed everyone there.

Nobody seemed to pay any attention to Harry's spell hitting Voldemort, and the snake faced bastard flying back dead as well. Everyone that had begun fighting on Harry's side ran towards him pale, shaken, crying and screaming.

"Severus!" cried Leah completely inconsolable, turning him around she was grateful to see him alive still. The odd thing was, more colour was coming back to his pale face, and he wasn't loosing any blood. He was….healing? But Severus had told her Wizards couldn't heal themselves…not like that anyway…not once they properly became wizards. Accidental magic could heal them sure…was this accidental magic? But no - Severus was just as confused as her she could see it in his eyes. Sitting up abruptly, Severus began patting at his side a look of deep confusion on his face…he should be dead…he had expected to die. The only person who knew the counter curse for that was him. Yet here he was…and he couldn't think about it, he all but crawled over to Harry who was still lying there unmoving. Edward was rocking him back and forth a howl of despair leaving his lips.

Rosalie had her eyes closed, wrapped around Emmett completely stunned - Harry couldn't have died - no this was going to destroy her brother. Right now she wished more than ever she could show her grief - cry release those pent up emotions that were inside of her. Alice was in Jasper's arms pretty much in the same state, only she was blaming herself, for not seeing it. Esme and Carlisle wrapped their arms around their inconsolable son, giving him the only comfort they could - a mother and fathers comfort.

Sirius was on the floor tears streaming down his face, Remus looked completely defeated his face ashen and filled with tears he slumped down on his knees. Comforting Severus and Sirius the best he could, gripping them tightly on their shoulders. Poor Draco was murmuring inconsolably, Angela keeping a tight grip on him tears pouring down her own face. This day had been the worst in her life, and it had started so happily too. She choked some more when she remembered how happy he had been just an hour ago.

Irina, Kate, Tanya, Eleazer and Carmen all stood back, letting the family grieve, Eleazer had Carmen in his arms, and the three sisters had their hands over their mouths in a show of horror. They'd never seen Edward like this before; he'd always been stoic and unaffected by everything. Not that they could blame him, he'd just lost his mate and there was no coming back from that not really.

Nobody was sure how long they sat there, but darkness had descended upon them. The Death Eaters and Voldemort were gone, the Auror's obviously reporting back to their Ministry. The smouldering ruins of the church were the only thing left that showed the devastation - other than Harry.

"Come, you are all freezing, let's go." said Eleazer sympathy written deeply across his face.

Without difficulty, Edward who still looked tortured lifted his mate effortlessly into his arms. Their suits beyond dirty, he then began the long walk back home, going at a human pace without thought. Too lost in misery to think straight, he led the devastated families to the Cullen's house. You wouldn't have thought just three hours ago he'd been the happiness man, vampire alive. All of them still dressed in dresses or suits all sat down in the many chairs the Cullen house had to offer stunned out of their mind still unable to process what happened.

Jasper forced himself to stay, even though the sadness and misery was clinging to him like smog. It didn't help that he was feeling it as well, his feelings on top of seventeen other people. He didn't even dare try and lighten their mood, not now, it would be very inappropriate, instead he tried to comfort Alice in the deathly silent house.

There you go the epilouge will be followed shortly so what did you think of Angela kicking Lucius Malfoy's arse? what do you make of Severus surviving? healing as quickly as a werwolf? will they ever truly get over Harry being taken from them on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their life? will Edward go to the volturi and ask for death in hopes of joining Harry once more? R&R PLEASE!