– Chapter Twenty Seven –

A Call to Arms

One of the best things about the aftermath of the second task was that everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened down in the lake, despite being able to see it on the big screen during the task. This meant that for once Ron was getting to share Harry's limelight.

At first, when Ron told Romi, Neville and Ginny what happened after leaving the library the night before, he gave what seemed to be the truth; it tallied with Hermione's story anyways. Dumbledore had put all of them into a bewitched sleep in Professor McGonagall's office, first assuring them that they would be quite safe, and would awake when they were back above the water. One week later, however, Ron was telling a thrilling tale of kidnap in which he struggled single-handedly against fifty heavily armed merpeople who had to beat him into submission before tying him up. Romi gave him credit for at least being able to tell it well.

Romi had her first lesson with Dumbledore after the second task the Saturday following. She had been terribly lax in focusing her mind and breathing properly, so she wasn't exactly sure how this day was going to go.

"I take it that you have been doing other things when you should be practising?" Dumbledore said, watching her as she walked into his office.

"It's been a busy year," Romi said, collapsing in the chair in front of Dumbledore.

"Yes," he said vaguely. "It really has."

"I've been wanting to ask you something," Romi said leaning forward. "I'm just curious why you chose who you did for the hostages in the second task?"

"I believe that this might be a specific question? Why was Mr Weasley chosen rather than you for Harry's hostage?" Dumbledore asked. Romi looked away trying not to blush. It was something that had passed over her thoughts for the past few days. "Well, it has a very simple answer," Dumbledore said. "You and Harry have not seen fit to disclose that you and he are related – let alone twins – and I did not think that it would set a good idea into the minds of your classmates. What would they have come up with to explain that you were the thing that Harry would miss the most?"

"I guess I didn't think of it that way," Romi answered.

"May I ask then, why haven't you told anyone?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Dunno," Romi answered. "Just haven't got around to it. I mean, if all of a sudden, we tell people that we're twins, how many do you think will believe us?"

"You should trust your friends," Dumbledore said. "They may prove to be more understanding then you think."

Romi sighed. "Neville, Ginny and Luna know. I guess I just haven't got around to telling the rest of the world."

There was a pause and then very businesslike, Dumbledore spoke again:

"Have you had anymore visions lately?" he asked.

"No," Romi replied. "I think the dream catcher is working better than I thought."

"Hmm, and how many times have you emptied it?"

"About once a week," Romi answered. "It's quite refreshing to actually have a good night's sleep."

"I can tell," Dumbledore said. "I've received reports from all of your teachers that you have actually attended all of your classes in one week and handed your homework in on time."

Romi blushed and looked away.

"You're a smart girl, Romi, I do not understand why you slack off in school," Dumbledore said. "Except, of course, in your apprenticeship. You do realise that you have to pass your other courses to continue in that, don't you?"

"I do, really. I have been trying, I just seem to have more important things to do," said Romi. "Don't you understand that?"

Dumbledore looked grave for a moment. "Yes," he said. "Yes, I understand very well." There was another pause and Dumbledore sighed. "You know, Romi," he said looking up with a smile. "We used to have such cheerful conversations, whatever happened to those?"

"I grew up a little bit," Romi answered.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, you did."

He was quiet for a long moment, "I would like to try something new today," he said. "You've got a very good handle on your breathing techniques and floating things, and you've already started showing how powerful you can be. I think it's time we learnt how to control that."

"What did you have in mind?" Romi asked.

Dumbledore stood up from his desk and walked over to a drawer, he rummaged around for a little while, and then pulled out a short, stout candle. He returned to the desk and placed the candle in the middle of it.

"I want you to light it, and control the size and brightness of the flame – without using your wand, or saying anything," Dumbledore explained.

"I don't think I can do that," replied Romi immediately.

"How do you know if you haven't tried?" answered Dumbledore. "Just take your time, and remember to breath."

It was long and exhausting work, but Dumbledore was patient. At first nothing happened, except that Romi thought she might end up with an aneurysm. Finally, nearly an hour into her lesson, a little flame appeared on the candle, and started to grow brighter.

As they entered March the weather became drier, but cruel winds bit into their hands and faces every time they were forced to go outside. There were delays in the post because the owls kept being blown off course. Romi received a letter from her parents that was dated February 8th coming from Bali. Romi was definitely envious about that, as according to her mother it was beautiful weather in Bali. They would be returning to England just before Easter in order to be there for the end of the Triwizard Tournament; with Mr Crouch being off sick, the Minister for Magic was asking to have Hector back as soon as possible.

So with the idea that she'd probably see her parents at the Third Task, Romi and Neville went down to the Potions on Friday afternoon in relatively good spirits. Despite rumors of impending doom from War and Death, it was difficult to be negative when nothing was happening.

Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were standing in a huddle outside the classroom door with Pansy Parkinson's gang of Slytherin girls. Romi felt an annoying twinge of jealousy as Pansy casually, while laughing, kept putting her hand on Draco's arm. Neville had taken a hold of Romi's sleeve, which clearly meant that her anger was showing on her face and he was ready to stop her from acting rash. They were there for no more than two minutes when Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived.

"There they are, there they are!" Pansy giggled, loudly, and the knot of Slytherins broke apart, Pansy still managed to stand beside and rather close to Draco. She had a Witch Weekly magazine in her hand and looked extremely smug.

"You might find something to interest you in there, Granger!" Pansy said loudly, and she threw the magazine at Hermione who caught it looking startled. At that moment, the dungeon door opened, and Severus beckoned them all inside.

Romi and Neville sat at their usual table, beside Harry, Ron and Hermione's at the back of the dungeon.

Once Severus had turned his back on them to write up the ingredients of today's potion on the blackboard, Romi could see Hermione hastily riffling through the magazine under the desk. She must have found what she was looking for, because she stopped in the centre pages and started reading quickly.

"How much you wanna bet that that's a potions recipe," Neville muttered, his eyes also on Hermione.

"After what came out in that magazine a couple of months ago?" Romi replied, eyebrows raised. After a long couple of minutes which Romi watched the trio out of the corner of her eye, Hermione tossed the magazine away from her with a little huff. She glanced to the Slytherins who seemed to be watching her more openly that Romi. Hermione gave them a little wave, and then looked back to her potions ingredients. She started to whisper with Ron and Harry.

Romi glanced back to the potions that she was working.

"Whoa!" she said quickly, grabbing Neville's hand before he dumped three dried beetles in his cauldron. "Crush them first," she said, lowering his hand back to the table.

"Does it say that?" Neville asked, squinting up at the board.

"Do you want to use my glasses?" asked Romi, pulling her book a little closer to her. Neville didn't say anything but went to crushing his beetles very methodically. Suddenly, Severus, who had been walking through the rows of students, stopped at Harry, Ron and Hermione's table, and interrupted them.

"Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger," he said icily. "I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor."

All three of them jumped and looked over to Severus. The whole class was now looking around at them; Draco took the opportunity to flash POTTER STINKS across the dungeon at Harry.

"Ah… reading magazines under the table as well?" Severus added, snatching up the copy of Witch Weekly. "A further ten points from Gryffindor… oh, but of course…" Severus' black eyes glittered as they fell on Rita Skeeter's article. "Potter had to keep up with his press cuttings…"

The dungeon ran with the Slytherins' laughter and an unpleasant smile curled Severus' thin mouth. To Romi's intense fury, Severus began to read the article aloud.

"Harry Potter's Secret Heartache… dear, dear, Potter, what's ailing you now?"

HARRY POTTER'S SECRET HEARTACHE.

A boy like no other, perhaps – yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, and the recent discovery of his unwise choice in friends, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girl-friend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow in a life already littered with personal loss.

Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgaria Seeker and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections. Krum, who is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer holidays, and insists that he had 'never felt this way about any other girl'.

However it might not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms which have captured these unfortunate boys' interest.

'She's really ugly,' says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth-year student, 'but she'd be well up to making a Love Potion, she's quite brainy. I think that's how she's doing it.'

Love Potions are of course banned at Hogwarts and no doubt Albus Dumbledore will want to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart upon a worthier candidate.

Romi gripped her pestle as Severus read the article. She bit her lip so hard that she could taste a little bit of blood. She was furious at his behaviour, violently thinking that he couldn't be more like a child than he was now. Severus was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by him.

"… Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart upon a worthier candidate. How very touching," sneered Severus, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the Slytherins. "Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here. Miss Granger over there, beside Miss Parkinson. Potter – that table in front of my desk."

The next hour was agonizing as Romi tried to focus on her work rather than her godfather's behaviour. She glanced at Draco and Pansy, they didn't seem to be having such an issue with it. Maybe she was becoming more Gryffindor than she thought.

The class finally ended, and Romi hurriedly told Neville that she would meet up with him in the Study Hall after dinner, and left quickly. She didn't go very far; she went straight to Severus' office, picked the lock and went in and sat down in Severus' chair behind the desk. She knew that he would be coming soon enough. Romi took a moment to close her eyes and breathe while she waited.

She opened her eyes at his entrance and he stopped almost surprised that she was there.

"I should have guessed that you'd be here," Severus said, finally turning closing the door.

"Have a little respect for me," Romi said evenly. "I didn't call you out in class."

"I suppose I can give you that," Severus answered. He went and leaned on the desk looking down at her. "Say what you want too."

"Do you always have to antagonize my friends? Between how you are with me, and how you are in class, it's like you're two completely different people," Romi said.

Severus looked slightly surprised at her response.

"Ever heard of instinct?" he asked.

"Yes," Romi answered. "I use it all the time. But that does not mean that it's your instinct to be mean to Harry."

Severus sat down in the chair in front of his own desk. "I meant for you."

Romi frowned slightly. "What?"

"My instinct is to protect you, Romi," Severus explained, "I did give an oath to care for as my own daughter."

Romi's frown increased, "and how does protecting me result in you tormenting Harry?"

Severus gave a sigh, "Romi, it's not that I'm different when around Potter. It's that I'm different around you. I think you've got some ideal of me that is based solely on my interactions with you – and it's not me."

"Are you trying to tell me that you think you're not a good person?" Romi asked, "Because I don't believe that."

Severus watched her for a long time, rubbing his left arm as though it pained him. "I think that there is a lot about me that you don't know. A lot about my past that I'd rather you never knew."

Romi watched him for a long time quietly.

"So, should I expect more of this new Severus?" Romi asked, finally.

"Haven't you seen him for the past four years?" answered Severus. "Perhaps, you're the one that's growing up, into a beautiful and good young lady, you're just leaving the rest of us Slytherins behind."

"I'd rather take you with me," Romi said quietly.

Severus smiled, he was still rubbing his left forearm, digging his thumb into it as though trying to stop pain.

"Let me see your arm," Romi said, standing up and going around the desk. She took his arm and managed to get the sleeve part way up before Severus stopped her hand and took his arm away. She had seen something dark on the skin, like it had been a tattoo.

"What's the matter?" Romi asked. "It's obviously hurting."

There was a pained expression on Severus' face as he looked down at her.

"It's nothing that you should worry about," he said and then, standing, pulled her into a tight hug.

"What's the matter with you today?" Romi asked, muffled into his shirt front.

"Just thinking about life," he replied.

"Right, well, stop it, you're starting to scare me," said Romi.

"Sorry," said Severus, letting her go. "Go on. I'll see you later, yes?"

"Sure," she replied. "Tea on Sunday?"

Severus gave a nod and Romi scurried out of the office with her book bag.

That evening in the study hall Romi was staring very distractedly into her textbook, without reading it at all. Neville, Ginny and Luna were beside her, none of them were talking and clearly not doing much homework either.

"Hogsmeade tomorrow," Neville said after about half an hour of silence and unproductivity. "Shall we go?"

Romi stretched and nodded. "Let's go back to Elyssa's – if it's there. It's been almost two months since we saw her, and nothing's happened."

"I'll bring everything again," Ginny said, staring down at her book. She didn't have to clarify what she meant.

"Yeah," Luna said. "Probably will need it."

They sat silent for a long time.

"I have this feeling like something bad is going to happen," Romi said finally, looking up at the other three. "I can't shake it, either."

"Me too," Neville replied with a sigh. "Though, I'm not sure if it's just residue from Potions class."

The other three couldn't help smiling.

Romi went to bed early that night, and before she knew it, she was waking up with the other Gryffindor fourth year girls. Zhi was sitting on her hip this morning, as Romi was sleeping on her side. Romi turned over, and Zhi flopped her way onto Romi's stomach and looked her deep in the eyes and purred.

"Good morning to you, too," Romi answered, scratching Zhi's ears. Zhi purred contently, closing her eyes as Romi rubbed.

Romi gave her another couple scratches and then got out of bed and quickly dressed.

She made her way down to the Common Room where she found Neville and Ginny waiting for her.

"Ready?" Neville asked, then was overtaken by a huge yawn.

"Yup," Romi replied, "Luna meeting us down there?"

"Yeah," Ginny answered. The three of them made their way down to the Great Hall. They met Luna at the Ravenclaw table for breakfast. Ginny wanted to readjust the backpack that she was going to take with her, to make sure that everything inside of it would remain undetected, and so they spent the morning in the library.

When Ginny finally said that she was ready, they left and headed down to Hogsmeade a little after noon.

It was nicer today than it had been, and by the time they made it to Hogsmeade, all of them had thrown off their cloaks and enjoying the good weather.

They made a stop at The Three Broomsticks, as it felt like a good tradition and then made their way down the street to the place where they had last seen Elyssa's shop.

When they arrived, however, the lot was empty. Luna suggested that they continue walking, as it was a nice day, and maybe Elyssa was somewhere else. This seemed to make as much sense as any, seeing as Elyssa's shop appeared and disappeared at will.

They walked down the main street, and up Hollyhog road without seeing her shop. Neville was watching the Flea Market area with mild apprehension. They hadn't been there since the Astaroth had attacked it last year. As they arrived it seemed like there wasn't a market on today. Much of the field was empty, with just muddy paths where there used to stalls.

All four of them stopped and stared into the field when they reached it. "Well, that's conspicuous," Ginny said finally.

In the very centre of the field was a small wooden stall. The sign hanging in front of it said 'Elyssa's Charms and Amulets' and there were several of the merchandise hanging from the sides and top of the stall. Behind the stall, leaning on her elbows and staring right at them, was Elyssa.

"Shall we?" Romi said, glancing at the other three, and then stepped forward, walking straight towards stall. The other three followed. There was silence as they walked up to her, and then another long pause.

"Fancy meeting you here," Elyssa said, finally, breaking the silence.

"Actually we were looking for you," Romi replied.

"Yes, I know," answered Elyssa. She watched Romi for a long moment, with something unusual in her eyes, and then switched her gaze to Neville. "Are you ready?" she asked bluntly.

Neville looked startled, "Ready? Ready for what?"

"What do you mean?" Elyssa said, frowning slightly. "I figured you were just here for a quick visit, then back up to the castle lickety split."

The four of them looked at each other confused.

"We were looking for you, because we haven't seen any sign of the next horseman," Ginny explained. Elyssa looked to Ginny.

"Well, you're not going to see any sign of him down here!" Elyssa replied, "He's already at your castle."

There was a long moment of silence.

"What?!" Romi said, startled. "He's there now?"

"Hmm," Elyssa murmured, clearly unconcerned with the pressing amount of time involved, "maybe he's getting better at hiding his magic… that would explain why he managed to creep up on you... He did –,"

"I'm sorry, I'm interrupting!" Romi said, slamming a hand on the stall, "are you telling us that he's up there?! Right now?! Attacking Hogwarts?"

Elyssa looked Romi in the eyes for a very long moment, "yes," she said finally. "I hope you're prepared, Neville, because he's all yours."

"M-mine?" Neville stuttered, his voice squeaking.

"Yup," Elyssa said. There was the sound of thunder up near the castle. "You'd better hurry up if I were you."

Romi looked back to the other three, adrenaline pumping through her veins. "Come on!" she said, and grabbing Neville's sleeve, dragged him around and ran full tilt towards the road back up to Hogwarts.

They made it to the train tracks when Neville pulled his arm out of Romi's grasp and stopped, breathing heavily.

"Romi, stop!" he said, putting a hand to his cheeks, which were bright red.

"Stop?" Romi said, looking back at her best friend, "we can't stop! You heard her – he is up there right now, and we're the only ones that can do something about it!"

"I can't," Neville continued breathlessly, "She asked if I was ready – I'm not!"

"Sure you are, Neville," Ginny said, looking between Neville and Romi. "Luna and I did fine – and you have us."

Neville shook his head, still catching his breath, "We had help – Nia – but we don't this time. I can't do this by myself."

"You have us!" Romi said, "All you have to do is get his necklace – and don't get impaled."

Neville glared at her shaking his head. "I'm not brave, I can't do this. I'm not all what you think I am."

The other three were quiet. A wind began to blow, pulling at their cloaks and hair, making a screaming sound through the trees nearby.

"Neville, you are more brave than you think you are," Romi replied, quietly. "Look at all you've done in the last three and half years."

"I've just followed you," he replied, "I can't be the one to defeat this thing! I'm just you're side kick. You're the brave one."

Romi took one of his hands.

"I wasn't lying when I said that you make me brave, Neville," Romi said, softly. "Even with everything that's happened, even with Harry and all of the things he's done, and everything in between. You're the bravest person I know."

"I would have to agree with her," Luna added, smiling at Neville. "When Ginny and Romi were unconscious with Pestilence, I nearly lost it, but you kept me here. You kept a clear head, and knew what to do. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to face him."

"They are meant to test us," Ginny said, "the horsemen. We're not going to be facing one that we think is easy, and it's not much of a choice either. It's they win or we do. And we all know what bad things will happen if we don't win."

Neville looked at them all in turn, worry still etched over his face. He looked last at Romi, shaking his head slightly still. She nodded and smiled.

"You can do this," she said, "you are brilliant."

Another boom of thunder, overwhelmingly loud, exploded over the grounds at Hogwarts. Romi looked at it and then at Neville.

"We don't have much time," she said, "please?"

Neville was quiet and then looked down and sighed. "I'll let you down," he said finally.

"You could never do that," Romi answered. "Never."

Neville looked up slowly, and then ever so slightly smiled.

"Come on!" Ginny said, taking that as a yes, "we need to get up there now!"

Romi grinned at Neville again, even though her insides were jelly, and then turned and sprinted up towards the castle.

Just as they reached the grounds, they could see flocks of birds shrieking and rising out of the forest. Some of them appeared to be too large for birds. The four stopped and stared at the forest. Just then, a centaur that looked remarkably familiar to Romi, appeared at the very edge of the forest. The four looked at each other and then sprinted down towards the forest's edge. As Romi got closer she could see that the centaur was Bane, the one that Neville and Romi had met in their first year.

"I was wondering when you would come," he said gruffly, as they arrived. He stared at them, all out of breath, and huffed. "You don't even know your name yet and they expect you to fight him?" he said angrily, looking at her.

"Once again," Romi said, catching her breath, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Doesn't matter now," Bane said, looking back into the forest. There was the sound of something screaming inside of it, and the thunder boomed again. "Go that way," he said, pointing into the forest, "He's coming this way, so it probably won't be long until you meet him. But I advise you to hurry. We cannot help you – the law forbids it; however Ronan insisted that I meet you and at least guide you in the right direction. Good luck. You'll need it." And he disappeared into the forest without waiting for them to say anything.

"Well," Ginny said, pulling her bag off her shoulders, "no turning back now."

She opened it, bringing out her bow, and handed Neville his sling and rocks. Luna pulled her knives out a second later, and pulled out her wand for good measure.

"Might as well get this over with," Neville muttered, looking into the forest determined. He took a breath and walked straight into the darkness in front of him. Ginny tossed the now empty backpack away, and with a glance at Romi and Luna, went after Neville. Luna went next, and Romi, after looking back at the school one more time, followed her best friends into the forest.

The farther they walked, the more things seemed to be running past and away from them. Romi couldn't see all of them, she were sure some of them were quite large.

The wind seemed to reach them even there, and whipped through their tree tops making them rustle and bend.

They walked out into a very eerily looking clearing. The sun was blocked by the thunder clouds above them, but a white light was streaming through the tree tops lighting up the whole area. There was a small circle of round stones in the middle, almost like a fire pit, but there was nothing else there aside from an aura of power.

"Really?" said a very annoyed and angry voice. "If there were gods, I would say they are playing a trick on me!"

Romi looked around the clearing, putting up her sword and her wand but she couldn't see anything.

"You four?! You are the four that the Sight has put together to face us?! No wonder my sister thought we could handle you one by one," said the voice with a sigh.

"Well, she was obviously wrong," Romi said aloud to the voice, "Your other two brothers didn't match up against us."

"Yes, yes," said the voice. "But really, you had help."

"Maybe you should actually show yourself?" Luna said, her eyes scanning the clearing. "We'll show you what we can do."

"Well, aren't you feisty," said the voice.

"Ow!" Luna exclaimed suddenly, her hand going to her upper arm. A small line of blood was forming there.

"Luna!" Neville said, focusing on her. "Are you alright?"

Luna nodded. She was staring at a very particular spot in the clearly. "I can see him," she muttered, her hand still on her arm. Ginny gasped beside Romi, her hand flying to her cheek where there was a long thin bleeding line. She blinked a couple of times and then narrowed her eyes, clearly not liking what she was seeing. Romi followed her gaze and even though she couldn't see anything, held up her wand and sword there.

"One more," said the voice and Neville nearly crumpled over, both hands to his stomach.

"Neville!" Romi exclaimed, turning to him, taking his shoulder.

"I'm fine," he said quickly, straightening. The cut on his stomach wasn't any bigger than Ginny or Luna's. "Just a little winded."

"There we go," said the voice happily.

"What about me?" Romi said, staring into the clearing again.

"Oh, I don't think so," answered the voice. "No way am I letting you see me. Not after what you did to my brother last time we were here! And what your daughter has done to time."

Romi frowned.

"I don't have any children," she said slowly.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," said the voice. "Down to business."

Ginny, Neville and Luna raised their wands towards the little rock pile, Romi glanced at them and pointed her wand and sword in the same direction.

"Who are you?" Neville demanded.

"Oh, come on!" said the voice. "Didn't that old witch tell you? I always come first, and Death follows me."

Suddenly a force that Romi couldn't see slammed in her back, and sent her sprawling into the ground. She scraped her hands pushing herself up and looked around. Neville, Ginny and Luna had been knocked too, except they seemed to be able to see by what.

"Do you like him?" said the voice of War. "Mephistopheles had a run around the earth a couple of centuries ago, but then got trapped with us in Hell. He did me a favour, so I'm letting him out for a bit."

There was a roar and Romi felt talons scrap across her back as she scrambled to get up. There was a cry behind her and she turned to see Luna lying on the ground with her eyes closed. Neville was at her side, fingers to her neck checking her pulse. Ginny was firing spells at something that Romi couldn't see.

"You whoo!" said the voice of War behind Romi. She turned towards it.

For a split second she saw a man in military camouflage with a rifle, before the butt of that rifle impacted with the side of her head.

Neville had looked up just in time to see War slam his weapon into Romi's head and see her collapse unconscious. The knot that had formed in his stomach was rock solid now as War looked back at him.

He was quite handsome, tall and muscular, with a shock of blond hair and bright green eyes. But his expression of bloodlust took away his handsomeness completely.

"There we go," he said, looking at Neville. "That's that taken care of. Grims are so annoying. Let's tango, shall we?"

War lifted his weapon and aimed at Neville. Neville realised what he was doing and with a split second to spare, jumped out of the line of fire and managed to duck behind a tree. Pellets hit the tree and sent the vibrations through Neville's back. He was trying desperately to think of anything that might help him.

He sneaked a peak at Ginny. The demon had cornered her on the opposite side of the clearing. She wasn't doing too well, but there was nothing that Neville could do to help her.

He loaded his sling, and took a breath, dodging out from behind the tree and firing the rock and sent a stinging spell at War.

War jumped and rolled, coming to his knees, aimed and fired again. Neville felt a pellet stream past his right thigh. He jumped behind a different tree and looked to his leg. There was a long line of blood there and suddenly he was hit with the burning coming from that wound.

He took a deep breath.

Then he heard Ginny scream, and he looked. Another bullet shot past his face and he jumped back into safety. He didn't get a chance to look at Ginny, he had no idea what was going on with her.

"Thank you, Mephistapheles," said War. "You can run up to the school now. She should be waiting for you."

There was a grunt and then crashing through trees. War as silent for a very long time, and Neville dared a peak around the tree.

War was squatting beside Romi, who was still unconscious. He seemed to be looking through her pockets. Ginny was lying still on the far side of the clearing.

"Hmm, where are you," War muttered to himself. He put a hand in Romi's front jean pocket and pulled something out. "Ah, there you are."

He held up two long chains, each with a pendant on the end of them.

Neville carefully stepped out into the clearing, trying to be as quiet as possible, loading his sling again.

"Well, brothers," said War, staring at the chains in his hands, "sorry for the wait, but you'll be back up again soon enough."

Neville raised his sling, and there was the sound of gunshot slamming through the woods. War hadn't even turned around, his rifle was facing Neville, tucked underneath his arm.

Neville was thrown backwards, searing pain shooting through the side of his stomach. He landed on his back, his sling and wand flung out of his hands, a ringing in his ears and his vision blurry from the pain in his side. His fingers found their way to the pain, and he felt blood pouring out of a small hole.

"No one sneaks up on War," said the voice of War. "War always sneaks up on them."

There was sound of footsteps, and another bang. Hot wind ripped through the clearing, but Neville could barely figure out what was going on. He was staring up at the dark clouds through the tree tops. Everything was going foggy, but he couldn't call on his three friends; he was the only one left. But he couldn't move.

Just then three figures appeared looking down at him. For one very brief moment he thought it was his friends, but then one bent down beside him and War's face swam into view.

"It was a pleasure fighting with you," he said, grinning like a maniac. Neville frowned, trying to force himself to focus through the pain and looked at the other two faces.

He recognized both of them.

"No," he whispered so quietly it almost didn't come out.

"Shouldn't we just kill them," said Pestilence, voice thick with secretions. "Make sure it's done?"

"That wound will kill him soon enough," answered Famine, staring down at Neville critically. "The Grim might make it out, but she can do nothing to us alone, and I'm inclined to make her suffer the loss of her friends."

"I agree, brother. Head up to the school. We'll meet up with our Sister and start this party," said War, glancing to them. "Death will be here soon enough." Pestilence and Famine moved out of Neville's view.

War then looked back at Neville. "I give you twenty minutes. You hear that," he said, bending close to Neville, who was almost unconscious. "Twenty minutes to contemplate the fact that you're going to die – and most importantly – you failed."

He disappeared from Neville's sight, and Neville couldn't even find the strength to protest. His eyes close thinking only that War had been right, he did fail.