Support System

Chapter III - Glory

**

Although the dismal rain shower made it hard to see where he was headed, Harry Potter still felt incomparably better than he'd felt all summer. After the Ministry tragedy and its many toxic consequences, basically the worst antidote had been exactly what he received: six insufferable weeks with the Dursleys. Therefore, trivial matters like inconvenient weather couldn't ruin his happiness. Harry felt, so far anyway, that the trip would be uneventful --

And then trouble of the deathly kind decided to show up.

From nowhere, four Death Eaters that Harry definitely recognized -- Bellatrix Lestrange, Theodore Nott, Walden MacNair, and more surprisingly, Narcissa Malfoy -- Apparated into their path. With dark hoods protecting their eyes from the rain, they waved their wands menacingly at Harry and his guard. They were clearly prepared already to cast lethal spells. Harry felt defenseless without his own wand in hand, as it was currently inside his pocket...

"...Protego!" Harry heard Lupin yell from afar, and a temporary shield materialized in front of Harry.

This granted Harry just enough time to get his wand out of his pocket and face his opponents. Harry cast the first spell that sprung to his mind. "Expelliarmus!" he cried desperately. A dash of sparks sprung from his wand and by incredible luck disarmed MacNair. The Death Eater lost his grip on his wand and was flung off his broom. Overtaken by disbelief, Harry gasped, unsure whether this was reality or a nightmare....

"Well done, Harry!" he heard Tonks bellow.

Deadly spells meanwhile shot back-and-forth everywhere around Harry. Harry spotted Nott nearby, underneath the mass of people battling on brooms and pointed his wand --

Then the weather worsened in the blink of an eye.

The ferocious rainfall was joined by booming lightning, and together the maelstrom of lightning and rain promised certain doom...

Harry screamed in horror as he was thrown sideways almost off his broom. Harry bellowed in pain, "AH, BLOODY HELL!" Nonetheless, he tried to keep his wand on Nott. All his deep hate for Nott seemed to peak in one surreal moment; before he could stop himself he recklessly hissed, "Crucio!"

Seeing the consequences of the spell was mind-blowing beyond belief: although a lightning bolt momentarily blinded Harry, it was not enough to push Nott's uncontrollable screams of agony out of hearing range. When the blinding bolt passed, Harry, in shock at attempting another Unforgivable Curse, watched in disbelief as Nott, convulsing in the throes of the Cruciatus Curse, fell off his broomstick to certain death. Everyone was momentarily deafened by Nott's tormented screams, which would be the subject of Harry's nightmares for years to come.

Still somewhat in shock, Harry flew back toward everyone else. He spotted Bellatrix abruptly, who was nearly falling off her broomstick amidst the fierce wind. Harry looked closer and saw her horror at realizing it was now Narcissa and herself versus all of them. Bellatrix nodded sharply at Narcissa, which suggested they were deciding to flee. Then, before they could be stopped, the two women turned and swiftly began flying away from the battle...

Desperate to stop them from Apparating away, Harry furiously shouted, "COWARDS! PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Even when his spells were joined by the spells of his protectors, Harry was left totally disappointed as Narcissa and Bellatrix successfully Apparated away successfully. Harry was shaking with rage as his eyes stayed focused on the spot where the women had Apparated away; he didn't even realize he was veering away from the group until Professor Lupin's insistent calls caught his attention.

**

Lord Voldemort was completely enraged at his two surviving Death Eaters. The Dark Lord hadn't expected such a funereal outcome, having not prepared to lose two Death Eaters. Now he was left with his plan of surprising Harry Potter a mile from the Burrow. Voldemort cleverly had stationed here the entire time just in case, but he had seen failure as a hypothetical. But although Voldemort could hardly hesitate from punishing Bellatrix and Narcissa with the Cruciatus Curse, he still needed their undivided cooperation until the mission was complete. So for now Voldemort gave only a dire warning. "Don't disappoint me this time if you know what's good for you."

"Yes, my Lord," the women automatically replied.

The powerful thunderstorm began to abate. Narcissa, buoyed by this apparent stroke of luck, said, "Any moment now, Bella, any moment now we will follow the Dark Lord and redeem our dignities."

Bellatrix agreed, whispering, "Had it not been for Nott and MacNair's halfhearted efforts, this burden wouldn't be cast upon us anyway!"

The sisters smiled at each other. Shortly afterward, Voldemort harshly yelled, "That's them, those upcoming bright figures nearing in the sky -- do not fail the Dark Lord again!"

Narcissa and Bellatrix glanced at each other and nodded confidently, opening their eyes wide to watch Harry Potter enter their trap...

**

As Harry flew on to the Burrow, he still couldn't quite believe he'd fought Death Eaters on this thunderous, rainy night. Impossible, it felt, that he and his guard beat incredibly unfavorable odds and survived the Death Eaters' surprise attack. He tried thinking to himself optimistically that the Burrow wasn't far at all anymore, and that'd he'd safe if he just held himself together a little longer. Indeed, the outline of Ottery St. Catchpole was becoming plainer and plainer., Having been a bit distracted, Harry was startled when Professor Moody's deep voice commanded, "Alright now, all of us need to descend slowly when I count to three: One .... two ... three!"

Harry brought up the rear as they began smoothly descending. But then, just as his nerves began relaxing at last, a terrifying voice he knew too well echoed. It was the sinister voice of Lord Voldemort himself! But before Harry could find him, from a considerably farther distance sounded Bellatrix's shouts. Harry located her just in time to see Bellatrix pointing her wand over them before joyously screeching, "Wallwind Deseret!" From her wand shot silver sparks that instantly evolved into an indestructible whirlwind, then finally catapulted straight for them. Harry threw an arm in front of his forehead as he tried dodging...

But then it ended, leaving Harry unscathed miraculously.

A second later, Bellatrix's intent to dispose of his defenders and leave him for Voldemort became obvious. Horrified, Harry turned his broomstick around and faced his inevitable, painstaking truth: Bellatrix, Narcissa, and of course Lord Voldemort spread-out on their brooms beside one another, forming a menacing barricade --

Harry was definitely trapped.

**