Clash of Shadows - Harry's POV

"Get away from them, Lucius," Sirius growled, his voice carrying a lethal edge.

The Death Eaters spun around, shock flickering across their masked faces. For a brief, breathless moment, the dungeon was filled with a taut, deadly silence.

And then, all at once, chaos erupted.

"Stupefy!" Kingsley Shacklebolt bellowed, sending a bolt of red light flying across the room. The spell collided with a Death Eater, knocking him out cold.

"Protego!" Remus Lupin shouted, casting a shimmering barrier that deflected a barrage of curses aimed at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The three of them scrambled to their feet, still dazed and shaken.

Sirius lunged forward, his wand a blur of movement as he parried Lucius's attack. "You're going to pay for what you've done," he snarled, his face twisted in fury.

Lucius sneered, deflecting Sirius's spell with a sharp flick of his wand. "Bold words, Black. But we'll see who's left standing when this is over."

"Expelliarmus!" Tonks cried, her spell knocking another Death Eater's wand out of his hand. She ducked and rolled, avoiding a curse that shattered the wall beside her, and then leapt back to her feet, firing off a stunning spell in one fluid motion.

The room was a blur of flashing lights and shouted incantations. Spells ricocheted off the walls, sending shards of stone and dust flying through the air. The Death Eaters, though outnumbered, fought back with a ferocity that was terrifying to behold.

"Stay behind me!" Harry yelled, pushing Hermione and Ron back as he deflected a jet of sickly green light. "Get out of here if you can!"

"No!" Hermione gasped, clutching her wand tightly. Her face was pale, but her eyes blazed with determination. "I'm not leaving you, Harry. We do this together."

"Confringo!" Ron roared, his spell exploding against the floor, creating a burst of fire and smoke that sent two Death Eaters reeling. He turned to Harry, his expression fierce. "Like she said—we're not going anywhere."

Harry opened his mouth to argue, but before he could respond, another Death Eater lunged at them, his wand flashing. Harry threw himself sideways, narrowly avoiding the curse. He rolled to his feet, his heart pounding.

"Petrificus Totalus!" he shouted, his spell hitting the Death Eater square in the chest. The man froze, his body snapping rigid as he toppled backward.

"Impedimenta!" Hermione cried, sending another attacker sprawling to the ground.

But for every Death Eater they took down, more seemed to appear, pouring into the dungeon like a swarm of dark shadows. And at the center of it all was Lucius Malfoy, his eyes alight with vicious glee.

"Enough games," Lucius spat, raising his wand high. "Avada Ke—"

"Protego!" A shimmering barrier sprang up between Lucius and Sirius, absorbing the Killing Curse with a blinding flash of green light.

"Good try, Malfoy," Sirius growled, stepping forward, his wand blazing with raw, crackling magic. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Before Lucius could respond, Sirius flicked his wand, sending a wave of blue fire roaring toward him. Lucius barely managed to dodge, the flames licking at his robes as he staggered back.

And then, from behind, another figure stepped into the fray.

"Enough of this."

The voice was soft, almost gentle, but it sent a chill down Harry's spine. He turned, his heart dropping like a stone.

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Bellatrix Lestrange stood at the entrance to the dungeon, her eyes glittering with dark amusement. She twirled her wand lazily between her fingers, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"Well, well," she purred, her gaze sweeping over the room. "What a lovely little reunion. All your friends, Potter… how touching."

"Bellatrix," Sirius spat, his voice thick with hatred.

Bellatrix's smile widened. "Cousin," she cooed mockingly. "Still playing the hero, I see."

"Expulso!" Sirius roared, his spell slamming into the ground at Bellatrix's feet. But she danced aside gracefully, her laughter ringing through the chaos.

"Oh, Sirius," she crooned, shaking her head. "You always were so predictable."

And then, with a flick of her wand, she sent a jet of green flame hurtling toward him. It shot Sirius square in the chest.

The impact was instantaneous and brutal. Sirius's eyes widened in shock, his expression freezing in a look of stunned disbelief as the cursed fire consumed him. He staggered back, a strangled gasp escaping his lips as the magic spread through his body, green light flickering ominously against his skin. The world seemed to slow around him, time itself faltering as he crumpled to his knees.

"No!" Harry's voice tore through the air, raw and desperate. He lunged forward, his wand clutched tightly in his hand, but Bellatrix was faster. With a triumphant laugh, she flicked her wand again, sending Harry flying backward with a wave of dark energy.

"You're too late, Potter!" she taunted, her voice ringing with cruel delight. "Poor little Sirius, always the fool. Always thinking he could fight the inevitable."

But Harry barely heard her. He scrambled up, his heart hammering wildly in his chest, his gaze locked on Sirius's crumpled form. The green flames still danced across his chest, fading slowly, leaving behind a twisted scorch mark where the spell had struck. Sirius was gasping, struggling to draw breath, his hands clutching at the ground as if trying to hold onto something solid.

"Harry…" he wheezed, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"No, no, no," Harry whispered, dropping to his knees beside him. He reached out, his hands trembling as he tried to pull Sirius upright. "Don't talk, Sirius, just—just hold on. You're going to be fine, okay? You're going to be fine—"

But even as he spoke, he knew it wasn't true. The light was fading from Sirius's eyes, his breaths coming in shallow, painful gasps. He looked up at Harry, a faint, bitter smile tugging at his lips.

"Harry… I'm… sorry…" His voice broke, and he shuddered violently, his body convulsing as the curse continued to spread. "Didn't want… to leave you… alone…"

"You're not leaving me!" Harry choked out, gripping Sirius's shoulders desperately. "You're not—Sirius, please—"

But Sirius's eyes were already glazing over, the life draining from them as the last remnants of the green flame flickered and died. With a final, shuddering breath, his body went still.

"No!" Harry screamed, the sound tearing through the air like a wild, wounded animal. He shook Sirius's lifeless form, his vision blurring with tears. "No, no, no—"

"Aw, poor little Harry," Bellatrix sang mockingly, her voice dripping with false sympathy. She twirled her wand lazily, her eyes glittering with sadistic glee. "All alone again. Just like always."

Something inside Harry snapped.

With a roar of pure rage, he whirled around, his wand raised, magic crackling in the air around him. "You'll pay for this!" he shouted, his voice shaking with fury. A surge of raw, uncontrolled magic exploded from his wand, hurtling toward Bellatrix in a blinding flash of light.

But she was ready. With a sneer, she flicked her wand, deflecting the blast effortlessly. "Temper, temper, Potter," she taunted, her eyes flashing dangerously. "You'll never defeat me if you let your emotions get the better of you."

"I'll kill you!" Harry yelled, his voice breaking with grief and rage. "I'll—"

"Will you?" she interrupted, her smile widening. "How sweet. But you see, Harry, you'll never be able to kill me. Not when you're so weak. Not when you're—"

"Expulso!" A new voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding.

Bellatrix spun around, her smile faltering as a jet of blue light shot toward her. She barely managed to throw up a shield in time, the force of the spell sending her skidding backward. Her eyes narrowed, rage twisting her features.

"You!" she snarled.

Remus Lupin stood at the edge of the battle, his wand raised, his face pale and drawn. His gaze flicked briefly to Sirius's lifeless body, pain and fury flashing in his eyes. But when he looked back at Bellatrix, his expression was cold and deadly.

"Stay away from him," he said softly, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion.

Bellatrix sneered. "Another one of the Order's pathetic pets," she spat. "What are you going to do, Lupin? Lecture me to death?"

"Expelliarmus!" Remus shouted, his wand slashing through the air.

Bellatrix dodged, but the spell clipped her arm, sending her wand spinning out of her hand. With a snarl, she dived for it, but before she could reach it, a second spell—one of Harry's—blasted the ground beside her, forcing her back.

"I'm going tomakeyou pay," Remus growled, advancing on her slowly. "For Sirius. For everyone you've ever hurt."

For the first time, Bellatrix hesitated. She glanced between Harry and Remus, her eyes narrowing. Then, with a flick of her fingers, she summoned her wand back to her hand and took a step back.

"This isn't over, little Harry," she hissed, her gaze boring into him. "But when it is, you'll wish you'd died w-"

But before she could finish, Remus charged forward, his wand slashing through the air. "Get away from him!" he bellowed.

Bellatrix whirled, deflecting his attack with a lazy flick of her wrist. "And Lupin, too!" she cackled. "How delightful! Shall we dance, werewolf?"

"Keep her busy!" Tonks shouted, throwing herself into the fight

"Easier said than done!" Harry retorted, ducking as a bolt of green light sizzled past his ear.

But then, in the midst of the chaos, a high, cold voice cut through the din like a knife.

"Enough."

The room fell silent. Every head turned, every breath caught in every throat.

And there, standing at the top of the stairs, was Lord Voldemort.

His crimson eyes swept over the scene, taking in the fallen Death Eaters, the defiant members of the Order, and finally, Harry himself.

"So," he murmured softly. "The Chosen One has come to die."

Harry stared up at him, his heart thundering. He could feel the weight of Voldemort's gaze, the icy pressure of his magic pressing down on him.

But he didn't look away. He raised his chin, gripping his wand tightly.

"I'm not afraid of you," he said quietly.

Voldemort's lips curved into a thin, terrible smile. "Brave words, Potter. But bravery will not save you this time."

He lifted his wand, the tip glowing with a malevolent, pulsing light.

"Avada Kedav—"

"NO!" Hermione screamed, throwing herself in front of Harry.

But before the curse could strike, a figure stepped forward, his wand raised.

"Protego Maxima!"

A shimmering wall of light exploded into existence between Voldemort and the trio, absorbing the curse and sending a shockwave of energy rippling through the dungeon.

"Get away from them," Severus Snape snarled, his eyes blazing. "Now."

Voldemort's smile vanished. His gaze turned to Snape, cold and calculating.

"Severus," he murmured, his voice dripping with malice. "What is this?"

But Snape didn't flinch. He stepped forward, his wand held high, and met Voldemort's gaze with unflinching resolve.

"I am not your servant," he said, his voice low and fierce. "And you will not harm these children."

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hang in the balance.

And then, with a roar of fury, Voldemort raised his wand.

"Traitor!" he spat.

But before he could strike, a burst of white light filled the room, blinding them all.

"Harry, go!" Snape shouted, his voice echoing through the chaos. "Take them andrun!"

everything erupted into pandemonium once more, but harry couldn't help but think about how that was the first time Snape had called him by his first name.