All Along the Watchtower

Chapter 17- The Face of the Enemy

"You have to be quick!" Allie pushed the blade into his hands.

AJ looked panicked. "I…I can't you could die!"

"I'll be fine, I'll just wake up like this never happened!"

"But this can kill us…" AJ said, looking over the slim blade of grey metal.

Allie sighed in frustration, "It can't kill me!"

AJ looked unsure. "But you can never come back, ever, if you fall!"

"God will help me!"

"God?" AJ paled at the absurdity. "In case you didn't notice God left this party a long time ago, long before me or-"

Allie and AJ turned away, looking in opposite directions into the blinding white light.

Allie grabbed him by the shirt. "Do it before they find us!"

"I can't do this; I'll buy you as much time as I can, I'm sorry." He shoved the blade back into her hands.

"AJ NO!" She made to grab him but he shimmered away. Allie's eyes watered as she thought of AJ standing before the Archangels but it reaffirmed her will. Allie positioned the blade at her side. "They have to know, they have to know, they have to know…" She repeated her mantra over and over, gaining courage until finally she drove the point of the angelic blade into her side and jerked it upward.

The angelic grace flowed from her body like a river of molten rock and her last moments Heaven where filled with unrelenting agony as her knees buckled and her wings froze, cracking and shattering as she fell through the light beneath her feet.

xxxxx

Allie came back to consciousness face down in a puddle of muddy water as rain poured around her. She smiled at feeling herself shiver at the cold, damp rain as she re-acquainted with a human body. A glint caught her eye and without standing Allie reached a hand toward it and groped around until it curled around the small metal pommel tightly, breathing a sigh of relief as she did, it was still with her.

"You won't need that my dear."

Her relief turned to sudden, shock inducing pain as a booted foot crushed her hand to the metal. Allie felt each of the four fingers in her right hand snap and her hand cracked and fractured until with a twist of boot; it gave entirely and snapped. The pain only grew worse as the foot lifted and Allie sobbed as she pulled the mangled limb to her chest and cradled it as she attempted to sit up, eventually for sitting against the granite of her own headstone. She shook with pain as hot tears splashed from her eyes. She had forgotten how human pain felt and persisted and how unrelenting it could be.

Her attacker, the man, if he could be called such, only looked to be about the same age as Kaden. He had an uncanny similarity to Harry, except where Harry was emerald this boy was sapphire. With vessels the rule was simple, the younger and more powerful the better, so long as they could be abused for a few years and had the capacity to say yes and she knew the varied ways people could be made to do so. The boy was dressed simply, a pair of jeans, black t-shirt and a short grey jacket. Despite his youthful appearance he carried himself with the weight of someone much older and was regal in his straight-backed posture, the only giving of supernatural tendency was the rain which seemed to 'bend' around him, not touching his clothes or skin.

Allie watched as he played with her creation, as it whistled through the rain and lit up like a little Christmas tree as magic coursed through the runes.

"This is incredibly well made my dear, really quite remarkable for one so young!" He said with a brilliant smile, Michael always had the finest vessel available, even if it couldn't contain his power for long.

Allie made to speak but found her lips unable to part.

Michael shook his head and buried the small blade's tip into the top of the nearest headstone. "You shall have a chance to defend yourself soon my dear, very soon. Until then I ask for silence."

Allie nodded having little choice. She was fucked either way; they had been much quicker than she anticipated. Finding a Vessel to contain Michael's power for any length of time so soon was nothing short of a miracle Jesus would be proud of.

Michael cocked an eyebrow. "It's the bloodline dear; I knew we made the right choice by tipping Fate and making another brother…" Michael said, taking time to fix his collar and pull his sleeve over the nasty burns developing over his vessel's wrists. "But alas, even the best cannot be expected to last, we must get on. James here needs to be back before supper."

"Why? So you can kill me and pack me off to hell?" Allie snapped reproachfully and was it not for her hand she would've attacked him, it would've been better to die fighting than having Michael lay patronizing judgment over her.

"You disobeyed." Michael stated resolutely, not a drop of feeling in his tone. "You disobeyed repeatedly, over and over for your own selfishness. Never once taking thought of the plans set in motion a thousand years before you were a speck dribbling down your mother's chin."

She was silenced again.

"We allowed your infractions. Pandered your needs in the mortal realm, but what you never considered was that you were out living your usefulness. You never once considered that as soon as you crossed that thin line in my mind that I would stop indulging Gabriel's fantasies." Michael let out a derisive laugh. "Gabriel has always been the soft one, I think Father made him that way, more sympathizing; more like the monkeys he would one day create." Michael spat the last word with venom. "It was his idea to lock-up Lucifer in the cage, he said we couldn't kill our own brother, that dad would come back some day and make things right again, convince Lucifer that he was wrong for fighting us all those eons. I've played along but when the day comes I will do my duty to my Father, my word and your people by destroying him. Do you see the difference between us? Why you don't deserve another chance from us?"

Allie looked away.

"Duty is acting beyond your selfish desires; do you think I want to kill my brother? Do you think I want to kill all the people who will get caught in the crossfire?" Michael shook his head. "Gabriel gave you abominations a chance, a chance to redeem yourselves from the sins and selfishness your ancestors cursed you with and this is how you repay him? And the worst part, the part I will never understand Allison is why? Less than a day ago, you were one of the most perfect and powerful beings in existence and now you're nothing more than a monkey with a few extra brain cells and the ability to play with heavenly power." Michael said; genuinely dumfounded, compared to his kind humans were nothing. A pet project his Father had set in motion millions of years passed. Michael had watched them war with each other, steal from one another, rape and murder one another for thousands of years. He may have respected his Father's wishes to watch over them but that was all it was to him. A job, he held no affection for them or the way they treated the world his Father created for them.

Allie wanted to scream at him but she was becoming lightheaded. Her hand was swollen to twice its original size and numbed sufficiently she thought she could at least stand. "It's free will, no orders or duty, just the choice to do whatever you want, when you want, just because you want to do it-"

"-enough!" Michael stated and her jaw snapped shut. "You are now one of the eighty-three Fallen and you shall burn in the fires for eternity for your crime of disobedience-"

Michael didn't get a chance to finish as Allie made her move, the sledgehammer her broken hand had become almost barrelled him over as it connected with his jaw but the simple open palmed strike to his solar-plexus which followed was caught easily at the wrist and he jerked it over harshly.

"You will be in a lot more pain soon enough but I am sorry." He jerked his hand and snapped her wrist, breaking it like a twig, using the trapped hand he pulled her like a ragdoll and a vicious kick to her chest which lifted her from her feet; yielded a loud crack.

Allie was shaking with pain. The pain was like a hammer, rapping her limbs over and over again. And the broken ribs made her breath ragged, short, uncertain bursts that made her want to cry out in agony.

"Painful isn't it? You should be going into shock soon but we'll be finished much before then." Michael assured her as he studied her impassively.

Clouded by a sea of pain Allie barely felt it as she began to shake and Michael's hand grasped her around the throat. He pulled her upright and despite the pain she saw the glint of her blade and heard his voice clearly.

"I take no pleasure from this Allison but some Fallen, like Mr. Potter have their use. He will play into my hands and fail again but he will have his chance at redemption when he lets me in unless he wants to see me tear apart his brother's body. You have no such uses to me and will die for your disobedience." Michael plunged the small blade into her side hard and concealed it up to the pommel. "Gabriel had such high hopes for you. A bridge he called you, guess you're a broken one now."

Allie's eyes went wide and the blood dripped from the lip she bit through. She tried to speak but found herself unable and instead stared pathetically into his cold, uncaring eyes for an end to the pain, knowing he would leave the blade in and let her bleed out over hours.

"Drop her NOW!" A strange, deep voice shouted.

Michael turned to the newcomer and dropped Allie like a used match.

Allie groaned as she hit the ground and almost cried out as the blade jerked and twisted. Allie's eyes barely opened as she looked at the newcomer; there was something familiar about him.

"RYAN RUN!"

"Running will not help child of the Fallen." Michael said calmly as he walked towards Ryan.

Ryan Stevens stood perfectly still, keeping his battered Colt pointed directly at the boy black haired boy. "Stay back or I'll shoot." Ryan promised and when he kept moving Ryan jerked the trigger until the clip rang empty.

Michael looked down at his Vessel to find it riddled with holes and seeping blood at an alarming rate. "Enough; or the girl will die so-"

Ryan watched in amazement as white light engulfed the damaged vessel and it disappeared in a blinding sliver fire. He fumbled with the reload before stowing the gun on his belt. He found the girl hunched next to a grey gravestone with a marking painted in what looked like blood. When Ryan lifted her and when he pushed the matted and wet hair from her face he was astounded.

"Hi little brother," she said before coughing and turning into his warm embrace, she was so cold and tired.

"Allie," Ryan said and he felt the water coming to his eyes, it was a miracle.

"Ryan," she tried to gain his attention, "Ryan!"

He looked directly at her.

"You need…" Allie coughed and shivered, "You need to tell them you found me like this, they can't know about him, or that…" She said motioning at the blood drawn sigil, the one she used to banish Michael to heaven.

"But-"

"No! Just do this, for me Ryan…" Allie pleaded, if she survived the Masters had to hear her version of events and not come to their own conclusions.

Ryan nodded and kissed her forehead. "Let's get you home big sister."

"Okay little brother." She passed out.

xxxxx

Allie came to consciousness slowly, feeling the drug induced haze lift a touch. She still felt tired and sleepy and kept her eyes closed. At least she was alive.And she sighed in relief at the sterile white walls; she was at the Academy. Safe and hidden from them, she thanked God for small miracles and Ryan. The little brother who saved lives, the one she had watched grow until he would throw himself at the fire in the defence of a nameless girl.

She felt the head resting on the bed next to her leg move a touch. She immediately stiffened, thinking the tiniest of movements would wake him. Kaden being asleep around her or anyone was a rarity except when alcohol was involved. Before his senses where so heightened that any sound or even movement would wake him. Allie just watched him as he slept; he was more peaceful than she remembered. Her eyes were drawn to the book lying on the bedside table; she read the cover and smiled. Eagle in the Sky lay on the bedside table, the fetching story of dashing David, a pilot, and his love for the delicate Deborah, the women for whom he left his country and fought for another.

It was also what Kaden always dreamed of being before he realized his life was chosen for him. That he could never be normal. His Element would've short circuited every instrument on a plane should he ever get anxious. It was mandatory for any Thunderkid, no matter their level of control to be sedated on any flight. Ollie was the only one she knew able to fly. Allie remembered the look on his face as she told him the truth. That he would never be a pilot. Kaden had told her to shut up and stormed off in a childish tantrum claiming he would find a way, the sad thing was; he never did.

Allie tried to move but found her ribs to be wrapped tightly and she could only assume all or at least some were broken, Allie looked down at the hand he was holding and found it wrapped in plaster covered with names and a little stick Reaper. At least she wasn't out that long, she could tell by her injuries. She used her other only lightly bound hand to fix her hair as best she could and desperately wished for a mirror.

She felt very self-conscious all of a sudden, looking overly skinny and by the look of her arms, extremely pale. Added to the IV tubes and needles piercing her skin Allie was sure she looked horrible. Regardless she reached over and ruffled his hair with her free hand and watched as his head shot up and his ice blues opened.

He made to speak but his mouth opened and no words came out. He just looked at her and smiled. He could barely believe she was alive, again.

Allie's hand ran up his arm and lightly touched his face, a spark leapt from her palm and he laughed when he felt it. It was their spark, the spark which brought them together and bound them across space and time. Allie felt a sudden pain in her abdomen and leant forward in pain.

Kaden panicked. "Are you okay, you need the Doc, a nurse?"

Allie looked up with a twinkle in her eye. "Not really, but I do need to pee!"

Kaden laughed.

"Kaden I'm not joking, I need to pee!"

xxxxx

Harry walked in the door quietly, not knowing if she would be awake or not.

"Hello Harry." She said; awake and looking over the book in her lap.

"Allie." Harry said as he settled in the chair next to her bed. He had been in the sterile room intermittently for weeks, mostly to see Kaden. "How are you feeling?"

Allie raised both her arms, drawing attention to her bandaged wrist and hand, "Useless more than anything."

"You'll get better." Harry assured her.

Allie nodded, "I know, but it's taking too long. Another four weeks before the casts come off, even then, class-three magical tissue damage." She didn't know where the damage came from; it must've been Michael's mere presence.

"I know the feeling," Harry said. He remembered the months of needing someone else to do the most minor tasks. He even tested Dobby's unlimited patience a few times. But now he couldn't even roll up his sleeve to look at the reminders of that time. All he had now was perfectly smooth skin and a conduit for the all the magical power from that deep well within him. "And for what it's worth I recommended you be re-instated." He said as he picked up the book and laid it on the bedside table.

"Thank you." Allie said.

"So you got a welcoming party like me?"

"Of sorts."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Michael."

"The Archangel?"

Allie nodded.

"You're lucky." Harry said.

"I know, lucky Ryan was there," Allie admitted but she didn't mention Michael's rather curious choice in vessel. She couldn't burden Harry with that just yet, she had to figure out just what it meant.

"Do you remember much?" Harry asked, trying not to look desperate for the answer. He would never admit it to her but he wanted to remember heaven, he craved the power he once held, the power which was buried so deep within him and so very hard to reach.

"It's cloudy but it's coming back." Allie said.

"I still can't remember much of anything."

"Your fall was a lot more violent than mine." Allie said, she could remember as the lights of heaven burned red for days after.

"You came back with an Archangel on your ass." Harry deadpanned.

Allie sighed, "I chose to fall, they made you cut out your grace, they forced you to fall."

Harry's head was in his hands, the yearning was coming back fully as they talked of heaven. "Is that why I feel like this? Like a well of power could explode out of me at any time, I'm afraid it'll happen at home and not out on a mission. I've got it under control, I think, but..."

Allie rested her casted hand awkwardly on his shoulder. "It's okay AJ's binding spell will wear off in time or I'll take it away when I'm better."

"Thank you," Harry said as he gently placed her hand back on the bed.

"But Harry you have to understand, we're more powerful than we can possibly fathom...we're Fallen now. Only God can redeem us." Allie said mournfully, there was a price to pay for power and that was everlasting damnation when their souls fled the mortal realm.

Harry took a deep breath as he took in the view from the infirmary; it was pissing with rain and looked like a horrible day. It suited his mood. "When we go down, we take them, no racks, no torture. We destroy them, once and for all."

Allie smiled sadly, knowing the sheer impossibility of the task. "I'll do it, to see him again, I'll do it."

"And I'll do it for her." And their pact was agreed. The words of their conversation would never leave that room and when the time came Harry knew they would curse them from the tops of Heaven, but they didn't have a choice. Abominations were not welcome in paradise.

"So," Harry said, hoping to break the grim mood. "Where's Kaden off to?" Harry had wanted to find out the details of Kaden's classified Operation, one a mere Captain didn't have the clearance for.

Allie shrugged. "I don't know, he said something about a graveyard and some aggressive Recon. Nothing they can't handle; nothing he can't handle." Allie said with confidence, Kaden had grown so much that she could barely recognize him. Even with their hour a month together and watching him, Allie felt like she was getting to know him all over again.

"Graveyard?"

Allie nodded, "Some Legion forward operating base."

Harry's eyes screwed up in concentration. "A Manor too..." Harry asked, his voice almost trembling.

"Now you mention it, yes and a little town called Hagleton."

"You mean Little Hangleton?"

"Where are you going with this?" Allie questioned worriedly.

Harry almost swore as he searched for the place in his mind which he used to wall so heavily and found nothing. "Hopefully nothing, but I'll need to go, you be okay by yourself?"

Allie nodded sleepily, lying back carefully so she didn't agitate any of her wounds. "I'll call Karen if I get bored." She said picking up the book on her bedside table.

Harry was out the door before she finished.

xxxxx

"Harry calm down, the Reapers can handle this. There is no intelligence to indicate the Dark Lord will be within a thousand miles of Little Hangleton. In fact, the Operative Corp has been tracking his movements across southern Europe where he is courting some of the smaller Vampire Houses." Adam assured the boy; Harry was simply projecting his negative feelings for the place.

"What if it's more than a forward operating base? What if it's the Headquarters of the Circle or Stryfe? Will they be able to handle a hundred dark wizards?" Harry questioned, he had a bad feeling about the Graveyard. It had haunted his life for too long, he had been waiting for the day his lucky escape would come back and bite him on the ass.

"We have no information to confirm any of that Harry, you need to calm down. If it makes you feel better, put your team on standby and await the Reapers' first check-in. If they miss it, you can move in and ascertain why, is that acceptable?" Adam asked, knowing Harry would be forced to accept his branch. Adam however knew one thing; the Reapers never missed a check-in since Rossi was back in the team.

Harry almost took out his phone then and there, "but sir-"

"Stop this Harry!" Adam said forcefully. "This is only Recon, I understand your concerns but they are unwarranted! This is no different than if it was any other Recon Op on any other target. The Reapers will be fine. Now if you don't mind I have Council business to attend to." Adam said, dismissing him entirely.

"Not if Voldemort turns up!" Harry muttered under his breath as he brought his phone out. He messaged all his team and made his way down to the Talons' ready room.

He briefed them all on the situation and saw the weariness on their faces. They all thought they had a night off; Jack was the only one to come forward, the rest just pulled out cards or went to the other amenities spread throughout the room.

"What's up boss? They're just on a Recon Op?" Jack asked.

Harry shook his head. "I just have a bad feeling about this one."

Jack nodded, when a Wizard as powerful as his Captain had a bad feeling, you listened, "-got it boss."

"Get the gear ready for immediate transition, full-load, wands, hand to hand, everything. Grab some combat jump gear too, get Russ and Stefan to help. I think this'll be messy, very messy." Harry said quietly as he made his way to the door.

"Yes sir!" Jack said and set to work rousing all the Talons, shaking a few out their racks and to their Armoury.

They would run to hell and back if it came to it.

On the road they would find dragons

On the road they would be dragons.

xxxxx

The Talons sped down the road to hell like the demons they were descended from. Their fellows, the Reapers, where heavily entrenched in a fight to the death and they rushed to the rescue with the wind at their backs. It was an unnatural, stormy night with bolts of lightning thundering the air and powering individuals to strength they could never aspire.

Harry almost smiled when he saw the pillar of hope, his best friend held aloft by the wind and the power which surged from his hands, burning and tearing at his body. The power Harry had taught him how to unlock. But as he raced across the field with his Talons, Kaden was well beyond the point of feeling anything. Harry knew how that felt; you couldn't even recognize the power tearing apart your body, if he survived till the end of the night he would be out of action for at least a week recovering.

Gale force winds buffed the tide of dark robed warriors from overwhelming the inferior force, while individual duels where fought all around. Fireworks could be seen for miles and Muggles would stare in amazement at the fantastic light show before them, never knowing the deadly dance the creators where playing. "Now!" Harry shouted; his team disappeared with a deafening crack.

The wind whipped by his face so hard he could barely keep his eyes open. He looked to the side to see his team plummeting toward the crystal blue pillar of magic. Before Harry could blink, his body was covered in white flame and his team was on the ground, it took a moment for him to get his bearings but his wand acted on instinct as it swatted minor hexes and curses from the air like flies.

His flame wreathed form moved like a demon and he could feel the fear from the Legion before him. Harry barely spoke, he didn't need to, he was so focused and determined his magic knew what he wanted and it streaked from his wand in the destructive hues of the rainbow. He spun, duck, dodged and cleared a swath in the ever increasing number of enemy combatants; he lost count of how many fell before him. It was pure instinctive intuition which saved him from the flashes of light careening toward him at an ever increasing rate. He even took a few hits but shrugged them off. He turned back only when the light was taken from the sky, cut down horribly by a crimson flare.

Harry finally came to conscious thought at the felling of his friend to find himself encircled by black robed individuals all wielding a deathstick similar to his own but nowhere near as potent. He could see the shadows casting over their faces from his light, he could smell the charred ozone and sulphur lying thick on the air from his flame. Harry could see their fear, they shone with it; like a second sight he could see the waves of red which rolled from them.

He rose through the air, propelled by enhanced strength and a lightweight charm. Spinning like a top, tendrils of white hot flame lashed out and when he landed the crowd was reduced to nothing but ash and the dark creatures among them a thick tar which clung to the burnt ground. He fell to his knees as he landed, even for him; that was pushing it but there was a battle to be fought and he dived back into the fray.

The surviving Assassins' had formed a protective circle around their felled leader as the marauder cut his way back into their ranks.

"You been busy boss?" A panting Jack asked as he worked a Mantis Shield into place, pouring precious magic into its construction, affording a spectacular light show as it exploded into a kaleidoscope of colour.

"HOLD THE LINE, HELP WILL COME!" Harry shouted and he felt their acknowledgement and his wand shot towards the sky, a spell of unmistakable red fire burned the air and shattered the pitiful Ward encasing the grounds with an ear shattering screech. The flare burned brightly until the Assassin Seal seared the sky. Harry moved toward his fallen friend to find him propped against a gravestone, almost completely spent.

"Help…up," said Kaden, reaching out with one hand, the other tightening around Lightning.

Harry ignored the visible wound in his friend's side, it looked to familiar. "Are you good to fight?"

Kaden gritted his teeth and breathed shakily moved back to the line with renewed strength.

But without a Guardian in the sky they could not stem the tide. One light fell then two and Harry could only watch as another two of his team fall from the battle until they where enclosed in a tight circle, those wounded being back to back in the centre. The spellfire stopped and Harry sighed as he lowered the Devil Bringer, any respite was welcome.

"Sit-rep?" Kaden said quickly, he was paled from blood loss and deathly close to unconsciousness. But he willed his eyes open, he couldn't let his men die, he wouldn't let them die.

"We're down to nine, four wounded, four MIA assumed KIA, one confirmed KIA." Rossi shouted from his side.

"Call the ball."

"Malfoy, able."

"Constanza, on the ball sir!"

"Potter on it."

"Jackson, still here."

"Grieg on the wing."

"Watson, it'll take more than them to stop us!"

"Green, let's light them up sir!"

"Smith here, we'll give 'em hell sir!"

Harry sagged as he didn't hear her sweet voice on the air and only three of his team, including himself where still up. He walked them into a massacre.

"-Chang, I'm up!"

Harry turned to see her struggling to her feet, not a wand to be seen, just her shining silver brand lighting the way. He wanted nothing more than to help her and take her away from it all.

"Ready up!" Kaden called out, checking all of his equipment.

"What the fuck are they waiting for?" Harry hissed, as he snapped his last clip into the single silver Hardballer. "They could cut through us without so much as blinking."

"Maybe the dead are putting them off." Kaden said, knowing all it would take is a few well-placed AKs to take them all out. But they just stood like statues, rooted to the spot. A chorus of "Ready" echoed as the last clips snapped into place.

Harry shuddered as the crowd parted like the red sea to Moses' staff and the smoke which poured through materialized into twelve distinct figures, the Master, the Apprentice and the Elite, the Circle of Immortals.

For the first time in Harry's life he prayed to God for a miracle.

Kaden moved forward, readying Lightening and Harry moved with him.

More black robes apparating in. "If it comes to it, I'll supernova."

Kaden looked to his side with a thin smirk. "I plan on getting out of this."

Harry chuckled quietly but couldn't see past the increasing numbers of the Legion of Death Eaters and the fact Kaden looked like he was about to keel over. The last thing they needed was to be a further man down. And as much as he didn't want to look on as the blood dripped down her forehead, he knew Cho wouldn't be up for much longer and when she came to his side he smiled at her wanting to reach out and wipe the blood away.

And forward he came.

Harry would never let it reach his face but he felt a cold streak of fear split his spine, the first since hell. The waxy white skin of his adversary shone in the moonlight and a step behind him the line of his finest came with him. Harry pulled the covering from his face and threw it to the ground. They needed a distraction and he would be it.

The Dark Lord saw the gesture but ignored it as he came to a stop. "You have fought with skill and bravery Assassins of the Element. More than forty of my men have fallen at your feet; you will be assured of recognition in the New Order. However you have one choice, surrender or die." Voldemort announced to the gathered crowd as the Dark Mark took to the skies.

"We will not be hostages to be bartered." Kaden said back shakily but with conviction as he tightened his grip on Lightning.

"Then you will die tonight." The Dark Lord said simply, the red slits immediately changed focus to Harry.

"Harry, do your thing, Chang, you to…Richie two, Rossi two, I'll take three, the rest of you one and try to stay alive. HELP WILL COME!" Kaden shouted to his men and they stepped on the road to oblivion.

Harry didn't look back as he dropped the Devil Bringer and levelled his wand. The sword was a useful tool for the masses but he couldn't risk the size. He had to his most natural advantage, speed. He made his way toward the Dark Lord who was shedding his outer robes without much thought.

"We meet again."

"Only one of us will walk away this time." Harry said certainly as he kept his wand at his side.

"Of that you can be assured." Voldemort said evenly, finally producing the brother wand.

Harry's shield was up just in time and he grinned. "No bowing this time?" The only answer was another stream of light but this time Harry's shield buckled and he had to dive for cover. Harry finally countered with a blasting curse which he saw slapped aside with contempt. Harry found himself on the defensive as he fell back, again and again; shields he threw up barely lasted a few seconds before being torn apart by over-powered spellfire. Harry used everything, his element, his wand and even surroundings as he dragged one of the Legion to intercept the sickening green energy meant to take his life.

Undeterred, the Dark Lord kept pounding him with strong and potent magic.

Harry stepped back almost stumbling over a broken gravestone and he stayed on his feet only wishing he'd feel as a whip of purple light took his feet away. On his back the alarm bells rang but he was mesmerised as the greenish hues of the Mark above him disappeared in a flash of light as the seal of his Order exploded across the sky for the second time and an army of white robed Assassins plummeted to the earth.

Harry rolled away again and again, being showered with dirt and sprang to his feet only for his wand to once again intercept a flash of red magic and reflect it back. They traded blows for what seemed like hours. Harry barely moved as they inched closer and closer, the streams of energy became thicker, more powerful with each passing second. Harry couldn't remember anything but the smell of sulphur his fire left on the air, as it twisted through his wand to re-direct magic or attack his opponent.

Once again he was lost, lost in instinct as his wand weaved complex patterns with little to no effort, barely aware of the bloody battle raging behind him. The only difference being he was tiring, he was tired and he could feel his reserves emptying as each ounce of energy left his body.

By contrast he could see Voldemort standing his ground strongly, not a flinch or flicker of effort twisting his snakelike features.

Harry felt that fear begin to trickle up his spine again as he stepped back, keeping his wand at task but using his other hand to rip stones from the ground and toss them toward the Dark Lord who caught each one with little effort until there was a halo of stone surrounding them . Harry shook his head as the halo slowly closed in around him. "NO!" And his hands pushed out from his body, a surge of unfamiliar energy pushed the tons of rock away from him, spinning end over end.

Harry leapt back again as the Dark Lord, while surprised by the rejuvenated Harry began to pound him again and again. Harry knew he had to do something. It was the graveyard all over again, he was better but he was still being outclassed in finesse and the slugging match their duels both descended into. Harry knew he couldn't last another ten minutes under the constant bombardment.

It was less; as a delicate flare of silver-like energy passed through his strongest Mantis shield with little more than a tear of wind and struck him on the shoulder sending him spinning to the ground. Harry rolled out again but his shoulder exploded with pain and he was on his back again. He scrambled up but time seemed to slow as the arrow of sickening green energy was certain to take his life, Harry suddenly wished for the Devil Bringer.

And the wish was granted.

Cho appeared, spinning through the air, a sword in each hand as she cleaved the green energy in two.

Harry felt the wash of energy and was stunned as he watched Cho spin the blinding silver blades at the Dark Lord, who despite his frail form was equally as dexterous as he slid away from each slash and cut, countering with magic against the muggle onslaught. It was sickening as Harry watched Voldemort slap away her Blue Queen, then his Devil Bringer and as the beam of silver energy pierced her gut and sent her flying through the air, bouncing off a statue only to land on the burned ground with barely a whimper.

Harry's blood boiled as his vision shifted and blurred. Suddenly all he could see was colour, reds and blues from the amassed armies and he saw them flicker and one even wink out without a fight. HIs vision turned to her fallen form but she was a dull golden colour, flickering and waning as her pulse became weaker. He saw the cracks all along her spine which would ensure she'd never walk again and the stain of brown around her abdomen where the Dark Magic infected her.

He found another golden figure, this one who shone brighter than any sun and Harry struggled to keep his stare on him. The first wave of magic pulsed out from his body unintentionally and the golden figure fell back. The second wave took him from his feet and sent him careening toward the battle. His arms spread wide and he felt himself lift from the ground and his body was alight with flame. Finally he felt the band twisting and restraining his magic snap and the fire pressed outward from his back in a caricature of flaming wings.

Harry advanced through the air to his target anger fuelled magic seared the air. He saw as his wings of flame snap out at the sea of red under his vision, taking life as they saw fit. When he was less than ten feet from his target and his flamed wreathed eyes shone with murderous intent but the golden figure turned and a spell slipped past the fire and knocked him from the air and crashing back to the earth twenty feet below.

Harry got to his feet and his wings spread again, following his direction fire streamed from them as the well of power deep within him easily kept up the tide, flowing through his body easily. However Voldemort's shield was equally as powerful but his feet slid through the scorched earth as he struggled to grip the ground under the train of power being thrown against him.

The magic begin to tear at him again, twisting and burning but he continued without a care. He was beyond feeling pain, it just fuelled his power alongside the sheer, unadulterated agony he felt since he was torn from Heaven; and the rage as he watched the life flicker from her body. But his power came at great price and he felt a punch in the back, and while it wasn't strong it sent him careening off balance and his flame was snuffed.

It was suddenly dark for all as the cyclone of fire dissipated and Harry saw the golden figure stumble back and twist, disappearing. His vision suddenly shifted back to normal and the fighting continued. Harry staggered through the mass of bodies, barely avoiding being hit as he lashed out at every black robe in his path as exhaustion began to take hold but he willed himself to stay standing, he had to find her.

She had to be alive.

When he finally stumbled down next to her limp body, he was so blinded he didn't even notice the final spells cast or the groans of the dying which littered the field. Harry only saw Rossi cradling her broken body and fell to his knees at her side.

"I'm sorry, she's gone." Rossi said quietly, his robes were torn and bloodied as was his face.

Harry shook his head in denial as his eyes watered. "No." He said cradling her face in his hands, "You're not allowed to die…no…understand? I can't let you die." Harry whispered and his bruised hand found Cho's.

All around them stood a ring of white robes and Rossi let Harry take her from him, stepping back and into the crowd.

"Harry stop!" He heard the voice of his mentor in his ear and a hand touch his shoulder, but it flew away, as did its owner.

Before Aberforth hit the ground they were encased by light, a blinding white power.

Harry knew this power, the power of paradise, the power of heaven. He felt as it mended the cracks and fractures, knitted together flesh and burned symbols into her body, as their power became one. The horrible wails and curses of her ancestors as he ripped her soul from their loving arms encouraged him more, he wanted her, he needed her more.

Theycould wait.

Every scream and curse he heard only made his pull stronger until finally he cradled her healed body in his arms. The blinding light faded and she took a deep gasping breath.