A/N: Hey everyone! This one took a while to edit, and I hope it comes across on paper like it does in my head. You may have some questions at the end, but most (hopefully) will be answered in the next few chapters. Thanks for all the interaction with the story!
Chapter 47
Remus deflected a powerful blasting curse as the small group moved forwards, as Charlie led the way with an impressive example of fiendfyre. The smell and sound of goblins and Death Eaters being burned alive would be something he remembered for the rest of his life, but he couldn't deny the efficiency of the spell.
The first squad of goblins barely even saw their deaths approaching, and those behind hesitated when they should have moved. He took a defensive stance as Sirius and Daniel cast the same spell, conjuring walls to block the few Unforgivables, and deflecting everything else he could get his wand to.
He was glad for the forethought of Robards' orders, as he heard the troops behind them engaged with new enemies on either side, but a quick glance showed their force was more than capable of repelling the attackers. He closed his eyes in disappointment, however, as the air was suddenly sucked from the room. Things just got much more dangerous, and he searched for Harry instinctually.
The teen was radiating power, and it was immediately clear he was the source of the atmospheric change. Remus' heart soared as he watched a rejuvenated Harry stalk forward confidently, Daphne's right hand in his left, with Neville circling the pair deflecting spells as they moved. The teen's expert defense wasn't enough, however, and his stomach sank as he saw a powerful blasting curse speeding towards Harry's blindside.
He almost smiled at the ridiculously pessimistic thought, as Harry caught the curse in his offhand without even turning. The spell seemed to morph in his fist, growing brighter as he fed it, and he threw it angrily forward like a ball that had offended him. The spell shook the entire chamber when it connected, and a spray of blood and bone splattered even the ceiling, fifty meters above their heads.
"Alright there, Moony?"
"My jaw's on the floor somewhere, if you have time to help me look," he countered, watching as Padfoot forced his fiendfyre to die.
"I assume that was my godson's doing?"
"Who else could it be?" Daniel interjected with a smirk, sweat dripping down his face from the heat of his recently ended spell.
"We're officially surrounded," Bill offered airily from behind. "Our troops are handling themselves, but that blasting curse came from the back right."
"Then we can fight in any direction," Remus countered with a smile.
"Albus, Moody!" Charlie called as he rushed back towards the rest of the team. "Take fifteen of First Squad and protect our right as we move, Daniel and Remus, move to cover the left with the other half. Bill, keep an eye out and float where you're needed."
"What about Robards?" the ex-auror asked with a deranged smile, firing curse after curse at the regrouping enemy.
"I figured you wanted your revenge, since you've abdicated your command so quickly," Charlie offered with a matching grin. "I think Harry intends to collapse the hallway from behind, so there'll be plenty to be had."
"You figured it correctly."
"Then you'll join me and Sirius at the front with the Holy Trinity there, and our flanks will move with us, converging into a spearhead as they do."
Remus couldn't help but chuckle at the new nickname, knowing it would stick as he watched the three overpower the last of the eager attackers. At least a hundred bodies were strewn between his team and the entrance to the tunnel, with countless others likely hidden inside. The sheer amount of death was overwhelming, but so far, things were going well. And if the look on Harry's face meant anything, they would continue to.
—
Harry took a deep breath as the last of the attackers reentered the tunnel they'd come from, and extended his senses to get a better picture of the entire battlefield. Ragnok's troops had been cut in half, but they would soon prove victorious over the remaining twenty or so Death Eaters. His troops were still firing into the tunnel with abandon while fighting off fifty-ish attackers on each side, but the largest enemy force left was huddled in the tunnel in front, clearly trying to find a way to turn the day in their favor.
"What's the plan, Harry?" Neville asked into the sudden silence.
"Not really sure," he admitted with a bemused grin. "I know I can collapse the tunnel behind them, ensuring the non-combatant's safety, but that'll push 'em right back to us."
"Can you collapse both ends at once?"
"I don't think so. I'll pull the spell towards us as quickly as I can, but I doubt I'll catch everyone."
"Then we'll deal with the survivors as they're pushed out," Daphne offered, squeezing his hand.
"I'm gonna need you for this," he whispered in response. "There's still hundreds of them in there, so to cut them off, I'll need your power to send the spell deep enough."
"Didn't need to be said, love."
"More for Neville's benefit, I guess. Nev, I'll wait for our team to catch up, but you'll be on Daphne duty…"
"There's worse jobs…"
"Watch it, mate."
"What? I can't make a joke during a lull in the battle? I thought that's what we did!"
Harry chuckled at his friend's indignant response, though Neville's knowing grin proved his reaction was made in jest. He looked at Daphne, her gaze meeting his as openly as it'd ever been, and he felt his magic swell in response.
"On three," he offered with a smile, unwilling to postpone the inevitable. "One… two… three!"
He pooled his and Daphne's magic with a thought, and raised the Elder Wand firmly. His extended senses felt like they were directed by the weapon, and his head spun as it followed the spell forward. Within a second he was remotely inspecting the far end of the tunnel, and realized the magic required was much more than he expected.
Undeterred, he sank further into himself, and fed power into the incredibly precise beam of magic. He directed the spell with a thought, and celebrated internally as it connected with the ward stone holding up the far entrance of the shaft. An audible explosion echoed through the chamber, and Harry pulled the spell back, hitting other supports as he did.
His strength waned again as the far half of the tunnel collapsed, and Harry recalled his magic immediately. He sagged to his knees as his mind seemed to reenter his body, though he managed to catch Daphne before she fell as well.
He immediately reached into his bag for a third Pepper-Up, though the potion barely made a dent in his magical exhaustion. He knew he'd accomplished a great thing, but the feat meant his people were again in immediate danger, which tempered his celebration.
"Nev," he rasped as he slowly regained his feet. "Carry Daphne back to our troops, and stand next to her while she recovers."
"What about you, Harry? You're in no state to…"
"Go!" he demanded, cutting off his friend. "Get to the lines, and through the walls. I'll be fine, and I have another Pepper-Up if I need it."
"Mate… you're gonna kill yourself…"
"I'll be fine. Do your job, please."
He saw Neville's face tense at the command, though he managed to bite back his response to the unfair order. Harry kicked himself for his lack of leadership, but he needed Daphne safe while she recovered. Outward portkeys were blocked at the moment, and he didn't have the strength required to make one that broke the wards.
He softened his expression in an unseen apology, as Neville was already moving, and mentally kicked himself a second time instead. Harry watched as he carried the girl back to the safety of the walls, and downed the fourth potion as he backpedaled towards his team.
"Alright, kiddo?" Sirius asked as he and Charlie stepped in front of him.
"I'm fine."
"You look it. Why don't you head back to the wall, let the rest of us have a moment to shine?"
"I'll be right here," he countered firmly. "But let's ease back to the others."
He watched as Charlie and Sirius shared a look, knowing he was being spoken of without words, but they and Robards moved back at the command. He saw the rest of his team and First Squad backpedal around them, though the enemy hadn't yet crawled out of their hole. He knew his spell would slowly continue its work as the ward stones were linked, and they had only seconds before the battle was joined anew.
His team reformed around him in their familiar positions, Bill's shield covering the group, but Robards stood outside it, clearly hoping for first crack. Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise as Grimlock joined the man, the goblin's expression furious at the betrayal of his people. He thought about ordering them back, but knew he had no influence over the goblin, and that his friend was too far gone in his quest for vengeance to listen. Rather than allow the man to be accused of dereliction of duty, he halted his team, determined to stand with him.
He heard Davies call his large force forward as they settled, the walls and shield moving up to stand just behind his team as they'd trained so hard for in the recent days. He sent a silent word of thanks to the man as he met his gaze, Samuel returning the look with a nod as he turned a determined eye back to the tunnel.
—
Charlie sent a prayer of thanks up for his older brother, as the massive cutting curse heading for his neck was sent back to its caster as Bill stepped forward. He was flagging quickly, the dragon and fiendfyre sapping most of his magical reserves. He fought on, however, at the head of their team, though the force at their back proved their worth tenfold.
The enemy pouring from the still collapsing tunnel was more numerous than he'd expected, and they seemed unending as they sprinted forward in a last bid for their lives. Harry, Gawain, and Grimlock fought furiously on either side of him, with Sirius, Remus and Daniel picking their moments to eliminate approaching threats as quickly as they could.
His brain couldn't make sense of the sight of Harry whirling through spells gracefully, unsure of how the teen remained on his feet. He knew the group apparition through wards would be enough to send anyone else into a week-long coma, and the magic the young man had managed after that was unbelievable in its power. He could tell their leader was finally slowing, however, and stepped closer to guard his back, leaving Robards and Grimlock to cover each others'.
The dead were piling up in front of them, serving as an obstacle to the goblins and Death Eaters behind, and the friendly forces were quick to use the grotesque wall as an advantage. They hunkered behind it, killing as many as they could when they breached the top, growing the wall in a morbidly advantageous way. He could hear screams of pain behind him, and knew their own forces hadn't gone unscathed, but the sheer power behind their volleys of spells was impressive as they sped accurately towards the enemy that had no other choice but attack.
"Charlie!" he heard Harry call, his head swiveling immediately in response. "I… I think I'm done, mate. I can barely stand…"
"Get back to the formation!"
"I'll take another Pepper-Up, and be back in a jiffy…"
"No need," Robards countered, grinning dangerously. "I could go for hours, Harry! Go take a nap, we'll finish up here."
"Give your girlfriend my regards," Grimlock added, clearly under the same bloodlust as his companion. "An impressive young witch, my friend!"
Charlie shook his head in confusion at the pair's mental state, though they made a good team. Robards blocked magical attacks heading their way, but didn't return fire until the enemy drew near enough for Grimlock to join him. They'd managed to build a circle of dead around them inside the outer wall of bodies, and neither seemed to be slowing any time soon.
"Watch out for them if you can," Harry called exhaustedly, sending Charlie a warning look.
"We will, now go check on Daphne."
He breathed a sigh of relief as the teen moved backward, but the world seemed to freeze as Harry's gaze refocused dangerously. Charlie turned to find where it pointed, and his heart fell at the sight of Grimlock with an axe embedded in the joint where his neck met his left shoulder.
Robards' furious scream echoed around the chamber, and he watched helplessly as the man sprinted towards his new partner's killer. The goblin simply ceased to be as the man's blasting curse connected from point blank range, but the killer was clearly the berserker paving the way for one last attempt.
Twenty goblins cleared the wall in tandem, and Charlie sprinted forward in an attempt to fight them back. Remus and Sirius were quick to join him, though none of the three were quite fast enough.
Robards went down fighting, killing eight before falling to a knee from a point of an axe to the neck. He didn't utter so much as a whisper of pain, though his eyes dimmed quickly as his hand searched for Grimlock's. He died upright, propped up by the bodies around him, his new friend's hand tight in his own.
Charlie cut three of the goblins down with one spell as he drew within range, Sirius and Remus killing the others in similar fashions. The three shared an exhausted look as the world stilled once more, and they were quickly joined by the rest of their auxiliary unit, Daphne looking a bit better than she had minutes earlier.
He watched as she moved towards her boyfriend, grasping his exhausted hands in her own, and placed a firm kiss on his lips. The reaction from their leader was instantaneous, as he seemed to draw power from the air around him to stand straighter. He kissed Daphne once more in gratitude, before dropping one of her hands and leading her forward with the other. Neville joined them from his usual position, and Charlie was immediately uplifted by the sight.
The trio drew even with him in the slimmest of moments, Harry placing a casual hand on his shoulder that meant more than it should have. Charlie turned to follow, as did the rest of their team, though his peripheral forced him to turn in warning. His stomach unclenched at the sight of Ragnok approaching from the left, bloody, limping, but victorious all the same. He saw the Goblin Leader grimace in pain as he took in the devastation before him, hurrying to join Harry's team, leaving his own troops to join the human.
"ENOUGH!" Harry intoned, the power behind his words echoing throughout the chamber so loudly it hurt. "You have nowhere to go, and nothing but death or mercy before you! Lay down your weapons and wands, and do it now!"
Charlie shook away the urge to drop his own wand at the command, and saw similar reactions among the friendly force behind them. Silence reigned in the chamber, a foreign feeling after what felt like hours of misery, the unseen enemy clearly unsure of how to respond.
"RABASTAN LESTRANGE!" Harry continued powerfully. "You're the last remaining lieutenant, order your men to stand down!"
"Why would I do that?" an unseen voice called back hesitantly. "We'll die to a man, and take as many of you bastards with us as we can!"
"Because I'll spare your men! In fact, the Death Eater that brings a living Rabastan before me will serve their prison sentence in Finland, if I can manage it! Their prisons look like five-star hotels compared to what the rest of you will see…"
Charlie heard a loud scuffle from the far tunnel, the entrance on this side still standing, and spells fired indiscriminately. He couldn't help but smirk at how quickly Voldemort's forces turned on each other, though the spellfire quieted after a long moment.
"I have him, Potter!" a voice called, unwilling to show his face just yet.
"Then produce him, and tell me your name!"
"Devon," the voice called back. "Shane Devon! I'm coming out!"
Charlie watched as Neville's eyes lit up with rage, and it took him a moment to figure out why. He moved towards the trio as quickly as he could, knowing the young man was likely emotionally unstable after the battle.
"Lestrange is mine," Neville hissed dangerously.
"He can't be," Harry countered neutrally. "I'm sorry, Nev, but he's the only inner circle we have today. We need him."
"That's too bad."
"Neville," Charlie offered gently. "I can't imagine how you're feeling, but we can figure this out later…"
"No! There won't be a conversation, and I won't be pushed aside again. He's mine!"
Charlie winced as Harry casually stunned the teen, though their leader's expression was even more miserable as he caught Neville before he could fall.
"I'm so sorry, Nev," Harry whispered tiredly as he lowered him to the floor. "Charlie, Moody, disarm the prisoners and call for our medics. Brunson has portkeys in. Ragnok, if you'd lower the wards for a few minutes, we'll be out of your hair, prisoners in tow."
"I won't allow you any goblins, Harry," Ragnok countered firmly, though his eyes showed his empathy.
"I wouldn't ask it."
"Then consider it done, my friend."
Charlie felt the magic shift around them slightly, and fifty medics popped in without a moment's hesitation. The tension in the air seemed to pop at their arrival, and he watched as Davies and Ragnok's troops worked in concert to disarm the remaining attackers.
His eyes, however, were drawn back to Harry, grief evident on their leader's face as he sat next to his friend's inert body. Of all the possible outcomes, the loss of Robards included, Charlie knew this could prove more damaging.
"Let's get you home, brother," Bill offered gently, as he felt his arm drawn over the taller man's shoulder. "I don't know how you're still standing…"
"Was there another option?"
The words seemed to sap the last of his strength, and Charlie knew no more.
—
August 23, 1996
Harry entered the den to a frustratingly familiar sight; Neville standing to make his exit. His friend hadn't forgiven him for the stunner so far as to even communicate outside of training, and putting himself in the opposite shoes, Harry didn't expect it.
He felt miserable for how he treated his friend, but looking back, he still didn't see another option. They needed Lestrange's information, and after over a week of work, Snape had declared the prisoner fully interrogated, including methods they hadn't yet been forced to turn to. Rabastan was skilled in many ways, but his occlumency skills were incredible, forcing Snape to turn to more active avenues of interrogation. Harry wrestled with the decision when it was put to him, but the necessity helped him come to terms with the obvious answer.
The necessity was proven immediately, as Snape was able to uncover exactly why Voldemort allowed his men to act so decisively without him. The man was in the Middle East, at an unholy gathering of blood supremacist groups intending to double his numbers. The group was watching the battle through Rabastan's eyes, a spell none on Harry's side had heard of, and he was glad to know he ruined the bastard's day from halfway across the world. He knew he'd convince, coerce, or threaten the groups anyway, but he was certain Tom's newest recruits were likely shitting themselves in fear at what they were walking into.
"We have a Wizengamot meeting in an hour," he called over his shoulder, Neville slowing briefly to nod his understanding.
"He'll come around, love," Daphne offered understandingly, moving towards him for a hug.
"I wouldn't," he countered, as he squeezed his girlfriend for strength. "Hell, I forced more from everyone than I wanted to that day…"
"You did what you had to, Harry," Daniel countered from the table, as he and Daphne moved to join him and his wife. "Gringotts was a shit show, and the only reason it doesn't go down in history as a crushing defeat was your reactions. You did what you had to, and Neville will forgive you eventually."
"He'll forgive me today," he replied knowingly, though he knew a long conversation was still necessary.
He spent four days in the hospital upon their return from the bank, unconscious for three and a half of them. He'd not only emptied his reserves, he'd built them back superficially to empty them a few more times. Brunson was worried he'd sustained permanent damage, but his tests yesterday proved his levels even stronger than before. He promised the frustrated man an opportunity to conduct experiments once the war was finished, though he fully intended to skip town before that ever happened.
He felt the growth in power, though to him, it was similar to lifting a hundred pounds instead of ninety-nine. Compared to normal, however, he was now more of a freak than he'd ever been. He was happy that he hadn't caused damage, but that happiness was tainted by the fact that he was even more of an abnormality.
Daphne had joined him for the tests and talked him down expertly, and Harry was grateful for her presence after the tense week the pair spent together. She, like Neville, wasn't happy with being pushed to the side so suddenly during the battle, though she was quicker to understand his necessity to do so.
All three had daily appointments with Healer Wilson to talk through the battle, as they'd all killed multiple enemies, but according to Daphne, she wished she could have mirrored his selfish chugging of Pepper-Ups so she could remain at his side. Harry tried to explain why that wasn't an option, but her logic outweighed his at every step. In the end, he promised not to repeat the feat, and agreed to allow her to do the same if he had to break that promise.
"The memorial's tomorrow," Emily offered gently. "Do you have your speech written?"
"Remus helped me with it," Harry confirmed with a sad smile, still devastated by their losses. "Charlie's speaking too, and I think Narcissa's helping him with his."
"I wish I had a child to name after that crazy bastard," Daniel interjected seriously. "Charlie was incredible when you were down…"
"He's great, isn't he?" Harry asked with a grin. "He's really come into himself recently…"
"Because of Cissy," Emily offered immediately. "He has something to fight for now… something to live for, I should say."
"I didn't know you were on such familiar terms."
"His room was next to yours while you were out, and you somehow vanished the wall in between while unconscious… we had time to bond, and I couldn't be happier with the new friendship."
"I'm glad," Harry offered with a smile. "She needs a friend, and he needs her. He'll take over for me if I…"
"Harry," Daphne interrupted frustratedly. "Stop talking like that."
"I don't mean to be pessimistic, Daph… I just want there to be some sort of easy succession…"
"Charlie would hit you if he heard it."
"Then don't tell him, love," he countered, kissing her on the cheek in apology. "I don't plan on going anywhere, but I'd like to know our side is in capable hands if I do."
"He's not you," Daniel interjected seriously. "He's incredible, and he's growing into his power for sure, but he doesn't have what you do. So let's focus on keeping you here, if you don't mind…"
"I can agree to that," Harry answered with a grin. "Sorry for the maudlin thoughts, I'm just everywhere right now…"
"Because you need Neville," Sirius offered as he entered, cutting to the heart of the matter with no context at all.
Harry watched as the man poured himself a cup of tea, and waited patiently as he took his time to join them. His smugness over the matter had grown infuriating, and the fact that he was right only made it worse.
"Hello, Pads."
"Hi, kiddo!" he answered enthusiastically. "You ready for today?"
"Eager."
"And if Lestrange proves to be better?"
"He won't."
"But if he does?"
"I'll break all the rules and kill him where he stands."
"Now that's what I wanted to hear… 'Bout that time…"
—
Harry watched as the Wizengamot named the multitude of charges against the man, Rabastan sneering from the seat he was chained to.
Neville sat stolidly to his left, though he could feel the anger radiating from his friend, and Harry hoped his plan would bridge their gap. Somehow Neville had become his best non-Daphne friend, something he'd apologize to Ron and Hermione for, but his entire being demanded the relationship be prepared. Remus provided an idea for it the day he awoke, and he was eager to see if it would pan out.
"Does anyone present stand against moving to trial?" Amelia asked imperiously, clearly expecting silence from the gathered leaders.
Harry watched as Neville prepared to stand, and quickly jumped to his feet to cut him off.
"I do!"
Every eye in the room turned to him, and a long-forgotten uncertainty resurfaced at the attention. He shook himself frustratedly, reminding himself he had the political power to do as he saw fit, and cleared his throat.
"I demand a trial by combat."
His words were met with whispers throughout the room, though the seat to his left was thankfully silent.
"Lord Potter," Albus replied neutrally. "Mr. Lestrange's guilt is a certainty, and his punishment will be carried out as soon as he's convicted… Are you certain you wish to demand this?"
"Completely, Chief Warlock," he answered with a small smile. "I demand Rabastan Lestrange die for his actions against his people, and I demand it be at the hands of one of those people he's betrayed."
"Does anyone here accept the challenge?" Albus asked tiredly, suddenly looking older than ever.
Harry turned in his seat, immediately finding Neville's eyes on his. The teen clearly expected him to accept himself, but he merely smiled in surrender. Lord Longbottom's eyes lit up in realization, and he stormed to his feet faster than he'd ever moved before.
"I do!"
"Mr. Lestrange," the Chief Warlock continued regretfully as he turned to the accused. "Do you accept?"
"It would be my absolute pleasure, Dumbledore."
"Then we shall reconvene in two hours on the parade grounds, and our lives shall be filled with further bloodshed…"
Harry watched as the man rose from his seat of power, feeling a lump of regret at the exhaustion and disappointment in his demeanor as he made a slow exit. He made a mental note to apologize later, but he knew this was the best course of action.
—
Word of the duel had clearly spread, as the parade grounds were filled with thousands of spectators. Harry shook his head at the civilian public's excitement, though his veteran troops stationed around the grounds looked as conflicted as he felt himself. Hearing about, and even watching a fight to the death was one thing, but participating in one was an entirely different beast. His heart clenched painfully at the realization that so many people understood that now, but Daphne squeezed his hand in support when she felt his hesitation.
"Where's Astoria?" he asked with a grateful smile.
"Right where she should be," she answered with a smirk. "She's in the tent with Neville, making sure he's calm enough to survive this."
"Do you doubt him?"
"No… though from what I've heard Lestrange may be a tougher fight than he's used to…"
"He doesn't underestimate the piece of shit," Daniel interjected from behind. "I spoke with him before I left him to the mercies of my wife and daughter… His focus is perfect."
"It always is," Harry offered with a fond smile. "Neville is the human version of a boulder, in every way that matters."
"And if he loses?"
"He won't."
"But if, Harry…"
"He won't," he repeated firmly. "He's twice the man Rabastan is in every way, and if luck is against him, I'll kill the bastard myself."
"You could be charged for that."
"By whom?" Sirius interjected with a chuckle. "Harry controls the military, and the military is the only power going right now… The troops would walk into hell itself for their Marshal."
"And when all this is over, and the power lies with the government once more?"
"I'll be long gone," Harry answered confidently. "You'll be lucky to get a goodbye with how quick I'm moving to Antarctica."
"Italy, love."
"Right! Italy. And good luck getting me extradited…"
"I'll be standing next to you," Daniel argued with a smile. "Just playing devil's advocate."
"Then stop," Sirius countered with a frustrated sigh. "This is supposed to be a joyful day! Neville gets the revenge he's owed, and Lestrange dies like a dog!"
"Our definitions of joyful are much different…"
"Because you read too many books. There's Remus, he's saving us spots at the front."
The trio followed Sirius as he pushed through the massive crowd, returning any indignant responses with the famous 'Lord Black glare'. Harry made his apologies to those affected, though the starstruck expressions he received from those he didn't know was a bit frustrating. They eventually carved out space for themselves on the edge of the dueling wards, and Albus escorted Emily and Astoria towards them a few seconds later.
"How is he?" Harry asked, trying to keep the worry from his tone.
"He's ready," Astoria answered with a glare. "I understand why you orchestrated this, Harry… but it'll take me a while to forgive you for it."
"He needs it."
"No, he thinks he needs it. He needs to be back at Hogwarts in a month, being a teenager like the rest of us."
"Sometimes things don't work out the way we want them."
"Because he'd jump through fire for you!"
"You act like Harry asked for this!" Daphne countered angrily. "He's done nothing wrong besides being born, Tori. And if your boyfriend isn't up to the life he's volunteered for, he's welcome to back out!"
"Stop it!" Emily demanded tearfully. "This is hard enough without you two turning on each other! Your boyfriends are both doing what they feel is right, and you should be supporting them instead of sniping at each other. They've been forced to grow up too quickly… and the way you two are talking, I'm suddenly wondering if it's you who doesn't deserve them!"
"Sorry, Mum," Daphne offered immediately, the danger in her eyes dissipating as she squeezed his hand.
"No…" Astoria breathed, her shoulders dropping in disappointment. "I'm sorry, Daphne. And to you Harry. He's just a mess right now, and it's physically sickening with this stupid new empathy thing…"
"I get it," he countered, pulling the younger girl into a hug just as her tears began to fall. "This can't be easy on you, but it's not easy on us either… We could all do a bit better at trying to understand each other right now."
"Probably. You still need to talk to him…"
"I know. I was planning on stealing him for a weekend soon…"
"Steal Ron, too. Neville needs some guy time that isn't in a training room with the elderly…"
"How did we catch a stray insult?" Sirius asked indignantly, turning to Daniel.
"Nobody's safe when the Greengrass girls are upset. Here comes Rabastan. Harry, you're sure you can fire through the wards if you need to?"
"Dad," Astoria answered before he could. "Harry'd cast through the Earth if Neville needed it."
Harry shot the father a bemused look at the statement, the women among them quickly forgetting the men's presence as they turned.
"Last chance to get out, Harry," Daniel whispered.
"That ship's sailed," Daphne countered, clearly not as distracted as she looked.
"I love that ship," Harry agreed with a grin at his girlfriend's father, earning himself a quick kiss on the cheek before Daphne turned back to the field.
—
Charlie stood in the middle of the parade grounds, slightly confused as to why he'd been asked to act as referee. This was Albus' job, but the older man had approached him an hour ago, asking for the favor. He immediately agreed, earning a grateful smile, but the Chief Warlock refused to answer why until they had a chance to sit down for a private meeting. The man seemed almost pleading in the request, and it was a disturbing moment for him to see someone he respected so much act in such a way.
It was bizarre, to say the least, but he knew his role in this fight would be minimal. It would be a duel to the death, with no holds barred, so his presence was superfluous at best. He thought of addressing the huge gathering of spectators, but quickly wrote that off as luckily unnecessary, as he had no idea what to say. This was purely a judicial execution wearing a duel's clothes, though he knew he wouldn't be able to refrain from stepping in if things went south.
A quick glance to their fearless leader assured him he wouldn't be the only one to do so, the power behind Harry's eyes leaving no doubt as to how he'd respond. The youngest Greengrass was just as stubborn apparently, as she stood at the front despite not meeting the age limit of sixteen. As Neville left his tent, however, Charlie immediately realized the help would go unneeded. The teen was outwardly as calm as he'd ever seen him, but the anger and righteousness in his gaze seemed foreign. He breathed a sigh of relief at the sight, and returned Neville's nod as he approached.
He moved towards Lestrange, pulling the man's wand from his pocket, but raised his own before delivering it, knowing the bastard would kill him if given the opportunity.
Rabastan took it with a self-satisfied smirk, raising it and his offhand in surrender. Charlie stepped back carefully, his wand trained on his target as he created space. He watched in confusion as the man placed the wand against his own throat, and sighed in frustration as he amplified his voice.
"Charles Weasley," the man intoned into the rapt silence, his voice echoing off the nearby buildings. "The great mass murderer… I wonder, do your people know how many of their countrymen you killed last week?"
Charlie refused to be goaded, his eyes never leaving his target, though as the man spun towards the crowd he wished he was a less moral man. The opportunity to curse him in the back was tough to ignore, but he did so regardless.
"Tell me!" Rabastan continued. "Do your people know of the hundreds of their friends and family that you and your little military killed? That you chose goblins over your own kind? That they follow a deluded boy into an unnecessary war? Do they know of the hundreds of their own people being held in prisons around the world as we speak?"
"They do," his father answered, standing from his seat in the middle of the crowd, his eyes burning dangerously.
The Minister didn't need to amplify his voice to be heard, but the power behind his answer seemed to uplift the thousands around him. Charlie couldn't be more in awe of the public persona Arthur managed, and he felt a huge surge of pride at his answer.
"My people know exactly what's happening," he continued, turning towards his citizens. "And I'd wager a guess that they're just as eager to see a traitorous bastard such as yourself snuffed from this existence as I."
The roar of agreement from the crowd was almost physical in its power, and Charlie grinned at the shock on Lestrange's face. He clearly thought he'd be able to sow discord before he died, but the resounding 'fuck you' quickly disabused him of that idea.
"Fools," Lestrange hissed when he could be heard once more. "You choose supplication over power… You allow your heroes to dictate the terms of your life, when you deserve so much more."
"And you allow your Dark Lord to send you to your death when he was too afraid to join himself."
Charlie almost performed a double take at the passion in Neville's tone, and watched as the young man stalked forward confidently. The air around them was filled with whispers and laughter, and Lestrange's face colored in rage.
"The last Longbottom," he offered, ending his amplification charm, though his voice still carried in the returned silence. "I stood next to my Master when he killed your grandmother… But that joy doesn't hold a candle to my evening with your parents. How are they these days?"
"They'll be better in ten minutes, when I tell them I've sent the last of their attackers to hell."
"Careful, boy… you're only the great Harry Potter in your mind. I'm sure Charles here will kill me when you fall, but you will fall just the same."
"We all fall at some point…"
Rabastan didn't wait for Charlie to initiate the fight, instead, he fired a blindingly fast blasting curse before Neville could draw his wand. The teen spun away from it casually, the calm look on his face enraging his opponent.
Charlie backed away quickly, raising a shield in front of him to catch any stray spells. Those spells flew furiously, though Neville hadn't yet returned fire. He couldn't help but grin at the tactic, as he watched Rabastan sink further and further into madness.
"Does anyone have a wand for the boy!" he called loudly. "Someone please, give the infant a wand so he can die with a weapon in his hand!"
Neville merely smirked as he ducked under a Killing Curse, the troops stationed around the field raising a wall to block it before it reached the crowd. Charlie breathed a sigh of relief when the teen responded by drawing his wand, though he kept it pointed at the ground while he dodged another Unforgivable.
"Fight back, you child!"
"Why? To give you the satisfaction of some 'glorious death'? No, Lestrange, you'll die like the insect you are, humiliated in your weakness."
"Then what!?" Rabastan demanded angrily, dropping his arm in frustration. "We spend the next ten minutes watching you dance and refuse to act like the man you pretend…"
Charlie barely concealed a jolt of surprise as the man's wand arm was torn to pieces, Neville moving faster than even he expected. The crowd released a collected gasp at the suddenness of the spell, though the teen ignored them as he stalked forward. He stopped ten meters away, his wand raised, before he turned slightly towards his referee.
"Give the infant a wand."
Charlie immediately moved to do so, the power behind the young man's words allowing no argument. He grabbed the bloody piece of wood with his offhand, tossing it at the feet of the man who seemed to finally be at a loss for words.
"Pick it up," Neville hissed dangerously.
The crowd began whispering in surprise as Rabastan did so, cauterizing his right shoulder with a spell. He couldn't help but admire the man's pain tolerance, though he knew it was likely because he was in shock at the sudden loss of his wand arm. Charlie watched as he shuddered at the healing, before leveling his wand towards Neville once more.
The teen responded by reholstering his own and swaying back and forth, his feet never leaving the ground, dodging the man's spells with ease. Lestrange was slower to gloat, however, and the paleness in his face showed his weakness.
Charlie winced as Neville drew and fired his second curse, removing the man's left leg as cleanly as he had the right arm. Rabastan lost his grip on the earth and tumbled to the ground, his wand landing feet away from where he laid. The teen didn't wait for the man to heal himself this time, however, firing an incredibly precise cauterization charm on the stump where his leg used to be.
"Give him his wand," the young Lord repeated, his eyes showing his lack of mercy.
Charlie did so, tossing the stick onto the man who was struggling to regain sanity after the second loss of extremity. Rabastan finally managed to aim and fire, though Neville batted the curse away as if it were a fruit fly. A third blasting curse took the man's left arm, and the teen summoned the wand as it sailed through the air.
He incinerated the stick when he caught it, making sure the defeated man saw, and threw the ashes into the breeze.
"Now die," Neville hissed as Rabastan's eyes began to roll upwards. "Die like the monster you are, and take the knowledge that a child killed you with three spells. Die, and remember you brought this on yourself, you pathetic excuse for a wizard."
—
Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he felt Rabastan's magic leave him, though the crowd's response was much louder. He couldn't help but chuckle as he saw Neville wince in response, and knew his friend would hate the attention almost as much as he would himself. He watched as Astoria collapsed into her Mum's arms, tears flowing all around, and welcomed Daphne into her spot when she moved towards him.
"Well I guess Harry doesn't need to move to Italy…" Sirius offered dryly, clearly unsure of how to respond.
"He doesn't, though I might if Neville hears I pretended to doubt him…" Daniel countered with an awkward grin. "Harry, you mind destroying the wards? I'd like to hug that young man."
"Wait your turn," Astoria interjected tearfully, though her eyes showed her relief.
He did so with a casual gesture, and watched as the Greengrass' moved forward to console his friend. Neville accepted their love as well as he could in his current mental state, but as he released Daniel, the last to hug him, his gaze found Harry's.
He moved forward at the obvious invitation, and approached his friend warily. He saw Ron and Hermione doing the same from the Minister's side of the grounds, but sent them a quick wave to warn them off. Hermione stubbornly continued forward, but Ron placed a hand on her wrist in understanding. He smiled at the pair gratefully, and continued to the center of the field.
"Well done, Nev."
"Come with me, Potter."
The response surprised him, but he bit down on his response as Neville grasped his wrist. He pushed his own magic back, as his friend clearly intended to apparate them both, and closed his eyes in preparation.
—
They reopened at the entrance to their new hospital, and he followed his friend as the teen stormed through the doors. The staff seemed shorthanded, and Harry quickly realized it was because people wanted to see the duel, and he couldn't help but shake his head at the frustrating idea of 'bread and circuses'.
Neville led him through the lobby and into an elevator, neither saying a word as they reached the correct floor. He continued behind the silent victor, though his friend stopped suddenly as he seemed to hesitate to open a familiar door.
Harry moved to place a supportive hand on his shoulder, but the hand didn't land before Neville swung the door open confidently.
"Mum, Dad…" he began, the constantly confused pair looking up at the sound of his voice. "They're dead. All of them. All of your attackers are dead, and Harry and I won't stop until this world reflects the… sacrifice you've given..."
His voice broke as he finished, and Harry pulled his friend into the tightest hug he could manage. His own eyes welled up as Nev's parents didn't respond in any way, though neither teen expected them to. He held his friend as he cried his heart out, and wiped his own eyes when Neville pulled back.
"I'm sorry, Harry… I should've trusted you."
"No," he countered emotionally. "I'm sorry. I need to do better at telling you what I'm thinking."
"And I'll do better at following orders… I consider you my family as much as my parents, and it's just tough seeing you put yourself in danger…"
"Then we have our marching orders, brother, and we'll work towards better from here on out."
"Just until this is over," Neville countered with a grin, wiping his eyes. "I'll go back to telling you to fuck yourself when we're done with this."
"I really can't wait."
A/N: I wrote the A/N at the start three days ago, and three days later, I'm still not done editing this chapter. I realized it's one that I'll never be happy with, though, and decided to save myself the frustration of trying to get it to be one. Going from never writing to writing massive battles and multiple perspectives has been a silly choice, and my next story will be much more focused in its scope. Either way, here it is, and I'm sorry for the delay!