Chapter 7: The Raven's Fall

Albus Potter opened his eyes to several people with concerned faces looking down on him.

"Al, Al, are you ok?"

"You just passed out."

"The way you fell, I thought you were dead."

"It was just like Naumkeag. What did you see this time?"

"It will be the Nargles."

Albus attempted to smile. "Hey Luna, long time no see," he said to the person talking about Nargles. He ignored all the other comments. The vision was so fresh in his mind; Ashley lying, lifeless, at the feet of Voldemort. He didn't want to talk about it. He had to find some way to fix it, some way to reverse the spell. He was the Master of Death after all, surly there was some way to get her back. Was this what the prophecy had meant, The Master of Death must fight with Death...

But even as he thought it, he knew he was wrong. Ashley was gone and there was nothing he could do to truly bring her back. Travers's spell created inferi, not people and the Resurrection Stone only created sadness. Ashley was dead. The realization flooded his mind and he was forced to excuse himself to the restroom before the tears started flowing.

Once inside the nearest public bathroom, the one inside Flourish and Blotts, he began to bawl. Already he could feel a hole inside his soul, an Ashley sized hole. They had only been dating for a little over a year, but they had been through so much together. She was more than a girlfriend to him, she was his life. He remembered all the times that he had had a chance to tell her, but hadn't had the courage. He had always figured that he would have the chance, once the war was over. But now...he couldn't even think about it. It was all too vivid, too fresh. Too real.

"Al," James's voice called across the bathroom. "Al, you in here?" Albus grunted a response. He could hear the door shut and footsteps approaching. He heard each stall door open as James came closer, looking for him. He didn't want to talk to anyone, but he didn't have the energy to move. And besides, if anyone would understand it would probably be James. He was the only one Albus could think of who wasn't too focused on the task of stopping Voldemort.

Voldemort. What was the point of stopping him now? Ashley was gone. It seemed a cruel joke that the world had kept turning; that time had continued rolling on.

Albus's stall door opened and revealed a very concerned looking James looking in. Albus nodded in acknowledgement but didn't say anything. James conjured a chair and sat facing Albus.

"You ok?" James asked. Albus nodded. "It's just," James said, "I mean, you're in the women's restroom." Albus nodded again. Truth was he was hoping no one would look for him here.

The two sat in silence for several minutes before Albus finally spoke. "She's gone," he said. The words made it real, but they made him feel better somehow. Albus was finally able to stop crying at least.

"No she's not," James said. He looked at his watch, "We've still got 41 minutes to figure out how to save her."

"No," Albus said. "That's what I saw in my vision. Voldemort killed her right after he sent the message. He had only kept her to lure me. He used her as bait and he intends to use me the same way. To get to dad."

"You sure?" James asked. Albus nodded. "Where is he?" James asked.

"The muggle bookstore across the street," Albus said.

"You can't take him Flamel," James said. "He'd be unstoppable. That's why dad's gone to all this trouble to fight him here. He can't get access to Flamel."

"I wasn't going to take him Flamel before and I certainly am not going to do it now," Albus said.

"Then what were you planning on doing?" James asked. Albus answered with silence. "You're not," James began, "you're not planning on fighting him are you? Albus, think for a second. Grindelwald may have been good, but he is nothing compared to Lord Voldemort. Even you can't take him one on one. Don't be a fool."

"I wasn't planning on fighting him," Albus said. But an idea was beginning to form in the back of his mind; an idea which would reunite him with Ashley. "Thanks," Albus said, wiping back the last of the tears. "Thanks for being there for me."

"No problem little bro," James said. "You wash up; I'll get with dad and figure out what to do next."

Albus watched James leave the bathroom. He waited for a minute, washing the tears from his face. He stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had read about his father's fight with Voldemort; how, when faced with certain death, his father had felt a deep sense of calm and ease. He hadn't felt that way before the fight with Grindelwald, he had felt incredibly nervous. But now, staring into his reflection, he understood the calm. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the Cloak of Invisibility and put it on.

He left the bathroom. He looked over to where James and his father seemed to be arguing about something. Maybe James was trying to order an all out strike on Voldemort. Maybe he had told Harry that Ashley was dead, or that she needed to be rescued and fast. Whatever they were arguing about, Albus didn't have time to find out. He weaved through the crowded alley, trying hard not to hit anyone before he realized that no one would suspect an invisible person if they were bumped here. He walked through the Leaky Cauldron and waved his wand. Suddenly there was a large commotion as the big cauldron over the fireplace began shooting sparks in all directions. The people in the pub rushed over and began fussing with it, trying to fix it. Meanwhile, no one noticed the front door open and close on its own as Albus left.

The muggle street was eerily quiet. Albus looked toward the bookstore. The lights were on. Voldemort wasn't even trying to hide his location. Albus walked toward it, taking the cloak off and folding it back in his pocket. He walked into the store. A little door bell went off and six hundred faces immediately turned and looked at him. He found Voldemort and Travers standing at the customer service desk. The Death Eaters and inferi parted to let him walk up to them.

"So, young Potter did come," Voldemort said. "But no Flamel I see. So like your father you are. Proud, arrogant, always itching for a fight. Tell me, did you think just because you beat Grindelwald that you could take me? I must say, the idea amuses me, but if it's a duel you want..."

"Where's Ashley?" Albus said, raising his wand and pointing it at Travers.

Voldemort recognized the threat. "Bring her," he said.

A woman approached, Voldemort. She had long, black hair which she had up in a style that looked like road kill, a crazy smile and her eyes looked like they hadn't seen sunlight in ten years. "Here master," she said, forcefully throwing a lifeless lump on the ground between Voldemort and Albus. Albus recognized the body of Ashley immediately. His dream had been real. Ashley was dead.

"I thought she was supposed to be alive," Albus said, not lowering his wand.

"You were supposed to bring Flamel too," Voldemort said. "We both knew that would never happen."

"What do you want Tom?" Albus asked. Voldemort's nostrils flared.

"Do not disrespect the Dark Lord!" the woman who had brought Ashley out said, jumping up to curse Albus. But Voldemort stopped her with a flick of his wand.

"Be nice to our guest, Bellatrix," Voldemort said. Bellatrix bowed and backed away. "As for your question, I would have thought that obvious to a smart boy like you."

"You want me," Albus said. "Dead."

"Exactly. Even though I could take you it would be so much easier if all those other people weren't around," Voldemort said.

"Tom, you said it was me or Flamel," Albus said, carefully choosing his words. This had to be perfect. "I'm raising the stakes. It's me or them. If you get me, you'll not harm any of them. No one in the Ministry will be harmed?"

"What is it worth to you?" Voldemort said.

"What's it worth to you, Tom?" Albus said. He could see Voldemort's anger rising. "I didn't even break a sweat against Grindelwald. I stand a chance against a half-blood like you, no matter how good you are. But I'll go easy on you, all you have to do is promise not to harm anyone in the Ministry."

"You dare..." Voldemort began.

"Yes I do, Tom," Albus interrupted. "Yes or no? Even a Slytherin should be able to comprehend that."

"Yes," Voldemort said.

Albus smiled. "Alright then," he said. He lowered his wand and time slowed down. Voldemort mouthed words, but Albus couldn't understand or hear them. He only caught them out of the corner of his eye as his view shifted to Ashley. He saw a dark green spell rush toward him, felt it slam into him and knock him backwards. He heard a triumphant roar and then everything went silent.