CHAPTER 36: THE GATHERING SHADOWS
"Is everything ready?" whispered a hooded figure, his voice barely audible over the distant carols drifting through the chilly air.
"Yes," replied his companion, a tall, gaunt man with a sharp gaze. "As soon as someone suspicious shows up, they'll appear."
"We just have to wait and hope everything goes well," the first man said, a note of anxiety creeping into his voice.
The two men were hidden in the shadows of a dimly lit London street, their forms blending seamlessly with the night. It was eleven at night on Christmas Eve. The street was adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, casting a cheerful glow that contrasted starkly with the grim intent of the hidden wizards. Only a few Muggles could be seen, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby, happily strolling and admiring the holiday decor.
The planned attack was to happen before midnight, a sinister reminder that the Dark Lord's influence still cast a long shadow over their lives.
An explosion suddenly shattered the tranquil scene, echoing ominously from a nearby alleyway. The two wizards pressed themselves deeper into the shadows, their hands tightening around their wands, ready for action.
From the smoke-filled alley, several figures emerged, cloaked in black and wearing white masks. The Death Eaters had arrived. They moved silently, splitting up and blending into the scattered groups of late-night revelers. For now, they did nothing to draw attention to themselves, appearing as ordinary pedestrians in the festive night.
One of the hidden wizards, eager to act, began to step forward, but his companion pulled him back.
"No, not yet," he hissed. "We need to wait until the attack starts."
The other wizard frowned, frustration evident on his face. "But if we catch them off guard now—"
"We need to catch most of them, especially their leader," the first man insisted. "If we move too soon, we risk alerting them and losing our chance."
The tension was palpable as they watched the Death Eaters disperse. The minutes dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity. The festive lights and joyous atmosphere seemed like a cruel mockery of the darkness about to unfold.
Finally, a figure in a slightly more ornate mask stepped forward, raising his wand. It was the signal they had been waiting for.
"Now," the first wizard whispered, his eyes narrowing with determination. "We move now."
The two wizards emerged from the shadows, their wands raised, ready to confront the darkness head-on. The night of terror had begun, but they were determined to ensure it ended with the capture of the Dark Lord's followers.
At that moment, a new group emerged from the alley. One of the masked figures issued orders to the rest, undoubtedly the leader. They watched as the Death Eaters moved through the street, finding their positions.
When everyone was in place, the apparent leader raised his wand, pointing it to the sky.
"It's about to start," one of the hidden wizards murmured. Both of them prepared, hearts pounding with anticipation.
"MORSMORDRE!" The dark mark appeared in the sky, casting an eerie green glow over the street.
Seeing the mark, all the Death Eaters sprang into action, attacking anyone they saw. Others burst into houses, wreaking havoc within.
"Now!" Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody emerged from their hiding place. Mad-Eye cast golden sparks with his wand, signaling the rest of the Order. In an instant, members of the Order who had been concealed in the area also emerged, wands at the ready.
The Death Eaters were caught off guard, stunned to face resistance. Several were subdued before they could react. Unbeknownst to the Death Eaters, many of the residents of the street had been replaced by Order members and trustworthy Aurors, minimizing civilian casualties.
Despite the quick response, the Death Eaters had already caused significant damage. Bodies lay strewn across the street, cries for help and the sounds of destruction filling the air. These desperate sounds were only interrupted by the crack and sizzle of spells and curses as both sides clashed.
Lupin darted forward, his wand flashing as he disarmed a masked attacker. "Get the civilians out of here!" he shouted to a nearby Order member, who quickly began guiding frightened Muggles to safety.
Mad-Eye Moody, with his magical eye whirling madly, spotted the leader of the Death Eaters. "There!" he bellowed, pointing his wand. "Take him down!"
A fierce duel ensued as spells flew back and forth. Moody's shield charm deflected a vicious curse aimed at him, and he retaliated with a Stunner that sent the attacker sprawling.
"Don't let them regroup!" Lupin called out, directing the Order members to press their advantage.
In the chaos, the leader of the Death Eaters raised his wand again, shouting, "Regroup and fall back! We have what we came for!"
But the Order was relentless. Tonks, her hair a vivid shade of red, caught two Death Eaters with a powerful Stunning Spell. Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice rang out as he cast a protective charm over a group of huddled civilians.
The battle raged on, spells illuminating the night. Slowly, the Order began to gain the upper hand. More Death Eaters were captured or incapacitated, their resistance faltering.
As dawn approached, the remaining Death Eaters, realizing their defeat, disapparated with loud cracks, leaving behind their fallen comrades.
Breathing heavily, Lupin looked around at the aftermath. "Is everyone alright?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"We got most of them," Moody grunted, his magical eye still scanning the surroundings. "But some got away."
"We'll track them down," Kingsley said determinedly. "For now, let's take care of the wounded."
The Order members set to work, tending to the injured and calming the frightened civilians. Despite the destruction, they had thwarted the Death Eaters' plan and captured many of their number. The Dark Lord's followers had been reminded that they would face fierce resistance at every turn.
Aurors started appearing at various points along the street. With hardly any time to react, the Death Eaters found themselves caught in a crossfire. They weren't prepared for something like this. Nevertheless, they had no choice; retreating would mean facing a punishment they were not willing to receive.
Mad-Eye moved with remarkable agility for his age, even with his wooden leg, taking down three Death Eaters almost effortlessly. Lupin did the same nearby.
"LUPIN, DUCK!" The werewolf didn't hesitate to obey the command. The Killing Curse passed too close for comfort.
He turned to attack the one who cast the curse. All he saw was them collapsing unconscious from Moody's spell.
"I owe you one," he said.
"Don't worry; I'm sure you'll pay it back!" Moody replied with a grim smile.
The two dodged curses and continued the fight. Soon, they realized the battle was relentless; the Death Eaters' final attacks had been merciless. Very few Death Eaters were vanishing; most fought to the bitter end. This made them more brutal and dangerous.
Moody, keeping his eye on the fray, shouted, "They're getting desperate! Watch yourselves!"
Tonks, nearby, cast a powerful Shield Charm just in time to block a barrage of curses aimed at a group of Aurors. "They're not holding back!" she yelled.
Kingsley, dueling with a particularly vicious Death Eater, gritted out, "We have to end this now! Push them back!"
The Order and Aurors redoubled their efforts. Spells lit up the night, a chaotic symphony of light and sound. Despite the ferocity of the Death Eaters' attacks, the combined force of the Order and Aurors began to turn the tide.
A roar of fury came from the Death Eater leader as he saw his forces being overwhelmed. He raised his wand, sending a shockwave of dark magic through the street, knocking several fighters off their feet.
"Hold the line!" Lupin shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. He cast a series of rapid spells, deflecting curses and striking down enemies with precision.
Mad-Eye, his magical eye fixed on the leader, barked, "Take him down! Now!"
In unison, Lupin, Tonks, and Kingsley directed their wands at the leader. The combined force of their spells hit him squarely, sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.
Seeing their leader fall, the remaining Death Eaters' morale shattered. Some tried to flee, only to be intercepted by Aurors. Others continued to fight, but their resistance was weakening.
"Round them up!" Moody ordered. "Don't let any escape!"
As dawn's light began to creep over the horizon, the last of the Death Eaters were subdued. The street, once a scene of festive cheer, now bore the scars of the brutal battle. Yet, despite the destruction, they had achieved a significant victory.
Lupin surveyed the aftermath, his heart heavy with the toll of the night's events. "We did it," he said quietly, turning to Moody. "But at what cost?"
Mad-Eye nodded grimly. "We lost some good people tonight. But we stopped them. That's what matters."
Kingsley approached, wiping sweat and grime from his brow. "Let's get these Death Eaters to the Ministry. They'll face justice for this."
As the Order and Aurors began to secure the captured Death Eaters and tend to the wounded, Lupin allowed himself a moment of respite. They had won this battle, but the war against the Dark Lord was far from over. The fight for peace and justice would continue, and they would be ready.
Many Aurors were having serious problems with the Death Eaters as they didn't hesitate to attack desperately, causing more harm than usual. The Minister was considering allowing Aurors to use Unforgivable Curses in cases of extreme necessity.
Nearby, Hestia Jones defeated another Death Eater, while Arabella Figg was hit by a Cruciatus curse. Mundungus Fletcher emerged from somewhere to take down her assailant and help her.
"Are you okay?" he knelt beside her.
"I'll survive, don't worry."
He helped her up, and together, they continued the fight.
Only about ten Death Eaters were left standing. The apparent leaders used a Portkey to escape. Their luck ran out, and their only way out was to fight to the end, which didn't take long.
They were cornered in a dead-end alley. The Order of the Phoenix and Aurors attempted to enter but were unsuccessful. Despite being a trap, the Death Eaters managed to hold out for a while.
An Auror, under an invisibility cloak, sneaked into the alley. Once in position, they cast a spell that took out the majority of the Death Eaters.
"Bombarda!" The explosion destroyed the makeshift barricade of trash containers and boxes, seriously injuring four of them and rendering three others unconscious from the blast.
"Move in!" Lupin shouted, leading the charge as the Aurors and Order members stormed the alley. The remaining Death Eaters, now severely outnumbered and outmatched, fought desperately but were quickly subdued.
Moody, ever vigilant, cast binding spells on the fallen Death Eaters, ensuring they couldn't escape. "Make sure they're secured," he growled. "No chances."
As the dust settled, Lupin looked around at his comrades. "Is everyone alright?"
Hestia nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. "We managed to get through it. Barely."
Arabella, still wincing from the effects of the Cruciatus curse, gave a weak smile. "Thanks to Mundungus."
"Don't mention it," Mundungus muttered, looking uncomfortable with the praise.
The Aurors began to gather the captured Death Eaters, preparing to transport them to the Ministry. Kingsley approached Lupin, his expression serious. "We need to discuss the Minister's proposal. The situation is getting out of hand."
Lupin nodded. "We'll address it. For now, let's get these people to safety."
As they worked, the sun began to rise, casting a pale light over the ravaged street. The battle had been fierce, but they had prevailed. The Order and the Aurors knew that they would need to remain vigilant. The war against the Dark Lord was far from over, but with each battle, they moved a step closer to peace.
With the Death Eaters secured and the wounded being treated, Lupin took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. They had won this night, but the fight would continue. And they would be ready.
The remaining three Death Eaters, realizing it was over, made a suicidal dash toward the alley entrance. But before they could take three steps, a barrage of Stunners hit them, leaving them lying unconscious in the middle of the alley. They were swiftly surrounded and bound to prevent any further attempts at escape.
Kingsley Shacklebolt, the head of the Aurors and a member of the Order, approached Mad-Eye and Lupin. "I hope we didn't take too long," he said, surveying the area with a critical eye.
"And we hope we didn't take too long to alert you," Lupin replied, weariness evident in his voice.
"It was necessary, Remus, and you know it. If we had stopped them from the start, they'd have gone elsewhere, and then we wouldn't have been able to do anything. Many more would have died."
"I know, but it's not comforting," Lupin said, distancing himself a little from the others.
Moody turned to Kingsley. "How many casualties have we suffered?"
Kingsley sighed, his expression grim. "We've lost three Aurors and two members of the Order. Several others are seriously injured. But we managed to save most of the civilians."
Mad-Eye's magical eye swiveled, taking in the scene of devastation. "We need to get these Death Eaters to the Ministry and secure the area. We can't let any of them slip through our fingers."
Lupin nodded, his face set in determination. "And we need to find out what their next move is. This attack was too coordinated to be a one-off."
Kingsley agreed. "We'll interrogate the captured Death Eaters. Someone will talk. They always do."
As the Aurors and Order members began the arduous task of transporting the prisoners and tending to the wounded, Lupin found himself standing at the edge of the battlefield, staring into the rising sun. The light of dawn brought a semblance of hope, but the shadows of the night's battle still lingered in his mind.
Hestia Jones approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We did well, Remus. We stopped them."
"For now," Lupin replied, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility. "But we can't let our guard down. Not for a moment."
"We won't," she assured him. "We're in this together."
As the first rays of sunlight bathed the street, the Order of the Phoenix and the Aurors knew that the fight against the Dark Lord and his followers was far from over. But they had faced the darkness and emerged victorious this night. With their resolve strengthened and their spirits unbroken, they would continue to stand against the tide of evil, ready to defend the light at any cost.
Moody, still keeping a vigilant watch, turned to the remaining Aurors. "Alright, everyone, let's move out. We've got work to do."
With a final glance at the battlefield, Lupin joined his comrades, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The fight for peace and justice would continue, and they would be ready for whatever came next.
"Six Aurors have died, another fifteen are at St. Mungo's. We won't know about the civilians for a while. Arabella and Mundungus are also on their way to St. Mungo's. They said Arabella was hit by a Cruciatus, but it seems minor, thank Merlin!"
"You'll have a lot of work to conceal all this," Moody remarked.
"We'll say, as always, 'Old buildings and a gas leak,'" the Auror shrugged. "But either way, the Muggles wouldn't believe the truth."
The Aurors took away the few remaining Death Eaters and began the task of finding survivors and assessing the damage. Dawn had just broken, and in the light, the chaos became more evident. By the time the Muggle authorities arrived, any magical traces had disappeared. All that remained was the horror around them.
"We're leaving; there's nothing more for us here," Lupin said. "It's going to be a bitter Christmas Eve for many people."
Mad-Eye approached him. "It's our duty to ensure no one else worries," the werewolf knew he was referring to everyone gathering that night at the Black mansion for Christmas dinner.
Resigned, he nodded, and both vanished on their way to the magical hospital. He wanted to make sure Arabella was alright.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" The frightened Death Eater fell lifeless to the ground despite pleading to preserve his life. "I'm getting very angry with everyone! This is the fourth attack we've discovered, and they're waiting for us! They know in advance that we'll strike."
"Master, it must be a spy!" Voldemort looked at him amused.
"Nooo, do you think?" The Death Eater nodded, not quite understanding what was happening. "Bravo, McNair, you've discovered the obvious! CRUCIO!" Voldemort pointed his wand at McNair, who writhed in pain on the ground. "Any other stupidity?" No one spoke. "Of course, we have a spy; the question is to find out who." He looked at all the masked figures. "Greengrass!" The named one stepped forward.
"My lord!"
"Find them, or you'll regret it!"
Voldemort left without saying more; everything had been said, and for their own good, he hoped they understood. In the room, the Death Eaters pondered the events. Greengrass was the most worried, observing the unfortunate soul being taken away lifeless and hoping not to meet the same fate. His master wouldn't give him another chance if he failed.
Voldemort headed thoughtfully towards his room; Nagini trailed beside him. "I don't understand how there could be a spy among us. Severus would know. Those who recently entered only receive information before heading out for an attack. They don't have time to warn. It must be one of the oldest; they're the only ones with that information. But who is it?"
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