Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix

* * * * *
Can't you hear us coming?
People marching all around.
Can't you see we're coming?
Close your eyes, it's over now.
Can't you hear us coming?
The fight has only just begun.
Can't you see us coming?

Creed ~ Freedom Fighters
* * * * *

A beehive, that's what Hogwarts reminded Harry of right now. It looked just like the beehive he'd seen on that nature program Aunt Petunia had made Dudley watch, and Dudley, in turn, had made him watch. Dudley had thought he'd figured out a new and brilliant way to torture Harry, expecting him to be just as bored. Instead, Harry had found it riveting.

And now he was fascinated by the activity going on in the Entrance Hall and, if the glimpses he got through the open door were anything to judge by, the Great Hall.

Refugees, Order members, and Aurors hurried through the Entrance Hall to the Great Hall. Once in there, Harry knew the fighters got in queue and waited there. Once to the front, men and women told those in line what squad they belonged to and where to meet others in their group out on the lawns. Then they would hurry out of the Great Hall and back through the Entrance Hall to go to the spots before they forgot. He could tell some were messengers from the way they fought their way to whoever they had to find and then back out, taking messages back and forth between those organizing this whole thing.

In the Entrance Hall, Healers had just started handing out supplies to the Battle Healers and those authorized to be group healers. Althea had been quite adamant about not letting the normal Healers go. Voldemort had targeted Healers before he'd finished setting up his siege, and there were only about a hundred left, a third of who were only trainees. Hardly enough for the two thousand or so people located at Hogwarts, especially since around a thousand of those would be going into battle. She only wanted those who were Auror-trained Battle Healers--Healers who knew how to fight and who could and couldn't be helped.

Instead, the Healers were issuing each group with certain potions. Hopefully the person who got them would know what to do with them. Potion carriers had been picked carefully--those Severus remembered as his top students, apothecary owners, or actual potion brewers. Harry felt relief that his group had a trainee-Healer in Ginny and a Potions Master in Severus. It helped knowing that the people who'd be pouring potions down his throat or casting spells knew what they were doing.

Other Healers were organizing the supplies, preparing to move into the Great Hall once the fighters left. Madam Pomfrey knew the limits of her infirmary, and Nettle didn't want the evacuated wounded to travel so far into the castle. Any delay of treatment could mean death for those brought away from the battle. Those fighters would only be the worse wounded.

He shook his head and started down the stairs, taking each step unhurriedly to conserve energy for the fight to come. It would be an intense battle, and he felt a huge weight on his shoulders. All his training, everything he'd learnt here at Hogwarts over the past seven years would come into play today, particularly everything he'd learnt this year.

First he'd have to find Voldemort. Once he got close to Voldemort, he'd have to protect everyone from being sapped by Voldemort. And then he'd have to fight to get to Voldemort and duel with him. And then he'd have to use the Lladd Cariad and finish it once and for all.

Deep in his own thoughts, Harry didn't pay attention when the first person stopped to watch him. By the time he did notice, the whole Hall, which had been so busy before, was uncannily still, not a single person moving. Their eyes where focused on him.

The reason was simple, though Harry didn't know it. He looked impressive in his Auror robes, striding down those stairs as if he owned the place, as if he was going out for a walk, not off to battle the most feared wizard in a hundred years. He looked young, yes, but not in the reckless immature sense. Youthful vitality and confidence seemed to cling to him, giving most of those watching him even more hope. Surely such a figure would conquer the twisted and aged wizard he'd be going up against.

It was a moment they would tell their children and grandchildren about, in the years to come, whatever might come.

"I saw him, before going to the battle. Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, walking down those stairs at Hogwarts. I knew, watching him, that he'd finish off that fool of a wizard. Voldemort-smoldermort! He never stood a chance!"

At least that's what most of them hoped to say some day. The more pessimistic of the group dared to think what they'd say should he fail.

"Foolish boy, he was barely an adult, hadn't even been a graduate for a full day before he took on our Lord. The Dark Lord was gracious granting the idiot boy a quick death. What did he think he was doing, throwing away our only hope? I still spit on all his 'holidays' July 31st, November 1st, and June 12th, just to show my displeasure. I had such high hopes--"

Well, not the pessimists in the Great Hall today, they didn't hope high. They were just hoping that the war would still be going once the battle ended. That Harry Potter wasn't just throwing his life away, and his appearance did soothe many of their fears. He looked competent. They'd dare to hope that the boy would live. But that was the best they could do; anything more would be optimistic and that would be just too much.

But Harry didn't know any of that. He fought the urge to pull at his robes or to turn around and run or to scowl at the staring faces. Shacklebolt, Bryant, and Thia had stressed the importance of authority figures always giving off an air of calm and control. Heck, hadn't Blaise said that to him over a year ago, long before any of the other three started teaching him how to be a commander?

Reaching the floor, he walked through the crowd, stopping to talk to those he knew: assuring them that things would be alright, that there was nothing to worry about, that they'd succeed today. He truly believed they would. Like he'd told Hermione weeks ago, they had to believe. Anything less would be unsatisfactory. The crowd took comfort in his words. He reached the main doors and turned around, smiling. A quick wave and he was outside. They had wanted a speech, but he'd already given one today. That was more than enough for him.

His first stop was the gathering point where Thia and her Special Ops Aurors stood. They'd be going before the rest to clear out and secure the barracks built near the cathedral. Draco Malfoy had guaranteed that there would only be twenty or so Death Eaters when they arrived, and Harry hoped the double-crosser hadn't set them up. Between truth serums and Legilimency, Harry and Severus were next to positive that Malfoy had been telling the truth, but there was still a small, albeit worrisome, chance that he had fooled them.

"Thia," he said, hugging the woman. He didn't want to forgo hugging his close friends and family and then regret it the rest of his life... or for them to regret it. "Ready to go?"

"You?" she asked, smiling at him, an arm still slung around his shoulders. He laughed in relief that it was finally here.

"Yes," he answered. "I have to talk to the D.A. and then I'm going to be standing around just waiting. I hate waiting!"

"Me too, lad," an old Auror he knew was named O'Bleery said, with a nod. O'Bleery might be old, but he was quick, and Dark Wizards had been trying to kill him for years and years and years and had failed each time. "Rather be doing."

"Exactly," Harry said with a nod. "Too much time to think."

"And the thinking isn't comforting."

"Well, now that you've found your soul mates, I'll go let Mrs. O'Bleery and Ginny know that they've lost you both," Thia said with a laugh. "You'll both be fine, old and young alike!"

"You hear that, laddie, she called you old!" O'Bleery commented.

"No, I think she called you old."

"Or is being young the actual insult?"

"Good question. I'm not sure."

"They're both insulting," Thia said with a shake of her head. "Be gone, Harry, you're distracting my Corps from concentrating on the coming battle."

"Alright. May we meet at the end, safe and sound."

"May we meet," the others echoed, saying the traditional farewell of the Aurors. Harry hoped they would all meet. One more quick hug, and he moved on to find the D.A. They were beginning to collect around Blaise who was organizing them into small groups that would work together in the coming battle, his manner professional and quick. Harry walked over to join the group waiting to be assigned to larger "adult" groups.

"Hey, mate," Dean said. Seamus, standing next to him, just nodded his greeting. The Irishman seemed to be slightly green, his nerves worse than what they were before Graduation.

"Ready?" Justin asked, trying to hide his nervousness too.

"Hell yeah," Harry answered with a huge grin. Better to play it up with Justin than to pretend cool and collected like Thia was doing with her Aurors. "You?"

"Hell yeah!" Justin replied, echoing Harry and nearly shouting.

"Wish you'd be with us," Sephra said with a sigh. "Or us with you. Dumbledore’s Army isn't the same without you."

"We're tools better served in different parts of the battle," Harry replied. "They wouldn't put me, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny in the center, like we are, if they had a choice. They can't argue that I shouldn't and the other three deserve to be with me wherever I am. They just don't like putting us young'uns in the hottest part though."

"Can't believe they're letting us come," Parvati said.

"Yeah, what did you do to get them to let us?" Lavender asked.

"Reminded them that you're all fully-trained and deserve to fight for what you want," Harry answered.

"Glad you did," Cho said with a grin. "I couldn't think of being in a group without a D.A. member. Thanks for letting me into the group."

"Once a D.A. member, always a D.A. member," Harry said with a smile.

"To Dumbledore's Army!" Terry Boot shouted. The cry went up as everyone joined in, even the fully distracted Blaise.

Once more, an army was gathered on Hogwarts grounds, every member of this army dressed in white, a third of it in the uniform of the Aurors of Britain. Today, they were going to leave Hogwarts and take the fight to Voldemort. Today, they were going to end the War.

Harry hoped they would like the ending.

Standing around the grounds were groups of Aurors, refugees, and D.A. members waiting for the Portkeys to activate and take them to Voldemort's Headquarters. Thia's group of Special Op Aurors had just left to clear out and secure the barracks. Those who remained had twenty minutes until it was their time to leave.

Everyone stood ready, but the refugees shifted nervously. Aurors and Order members were mixed among them, offering support and calmness to the men and women who had never fought before. Aurors stood at the ready, waiting nonchalantly for the coming battle. The Order members were a tad tenser; after all, they had fought in battles before, but it wasn't their livelihood, as it was for the Aurors.

Only one group was completely at ease, standing or sitting on the smooth lawn of Hogwarts grounds with a dilapidated leather boot resting at the center of them. Harry had hugged those who he knew best as they had arrived, not wishing to regret anything in their last minutes before the battle. At the moment, he laughed as Tonks continued telling Shacklebolt and O'Neil about Remus's "grand scheme."

"The old dog was limping around pathetically all week, and now look at him!" she exclaimed, throwing an arm around her husband's shoulders good-naturedly. The three Aurors and Remus were standing, though only O'Neil stood at the ready. "I think it was all an act to get me on permanent diaper duty!" Remus chuckled, then tilted his head back as his laughter roared across the grounds.

"Wasn't he out with silver poisoning?" O'Neil asked, not realizing that Tonks was teasing.

"That I was," Remus said, his laughter dying instantly with those words and a feigned look of sobriety crossing his face. "I nearly died a week ago, and my wife is still nagging me about not changing diapers!"

"You couldn't have got more unlucky, she's such a bad wife," Harry said mockingly, standing up to ruffle Tonks' neon green curls falling around her ears.

"It's not like she doesn't put up with you turning into a registered Dark creature once a month," Hermione said sarcastically from where she was sitting cross-legged on the grass. She, Ron, and Ginny had been discussing Ron's up coming Quidditch practices with the Cannons, and Harry hadn't realized they were listening. Ron and Ginny laughed at Hermione's comment, Ron squeezing Hermione's hand, and Ginny plucking a few more blades of grass.

"Oh, that's what you all think," Remus answered, shaking his head sadly. "You should hear some of the prejudiced things she says when you're all not around!"

"Like what?" Tonks asked, affronted.

"Just last night she damned me for my sense of smell," he informed them, shaking his head once again. "I can't help it that the lycanthropy enhances my senses!"

"Bugger," Tonks muttered, shoving Remus away lightly. "You'd just used that 'enhanced' sense of smell to figure out I was lying about your chocolate stash and what had happened to it!"

"No reason for you to belittle my sense of smell," Remus said, wrapping his arms around Tonks. Ginny and Hermione laughed as Tonks pulled a face at Remus's attempt to kiss her cheek. After giving them a huge grin, she turned her face and kissed Remus properly.

"Will wonders never cease?" Severus asked, coming up to join the group. He was the last of Harry's 'guard' and he had been handing out vials of healing potions to the Battle Healers. Severus motioned for Ginny to stand as he continued, saying, "Only five minutes until we go into battle and Remus Lupin, the mangy werewolf and resident slacker, is snogging his Auror wife."

Ginny stood, tossing the grass she'd plucked at her uncle. He arched his brow and handed her a few healing potions which she placed into the carrying case fitted onto her belt.

Harry stuck out his hand and shook hands with Severus. He knew better than to try to hug Severus out in public. Hell, he didn't even think he had the guts to hug Severus in private. That was just asking for a slow and painful death, and he was no longer suicidal.

"It isn't five minutes," Ron said. "The signal hasn't--" He stopped as yellow sparks flew into the sky, letting everyone know that the Portkeys would leave in five minutes. "Never mind."

"Everyone circle around," Shacklebolt said, bending over to pick up the decrepit boot. Harry took a hold of it, his hand brushing Hermione's and Ginny's who stood on either side of him. "Remember, we follow Harry's lead. If he's unable, I take charge. If we get separated, our main goal is to get back to Harry as soon as safe, no suicide missions. It's our duty to watch Harry's backside while he deals with You-Know-Who, and you can't do that dead."

"I just want to remind everyone that Harry's backside is mine, so be careful of any admiring glances sent that way," Ginny said airily, a huge grin on her face. To Harry, it looked predatory and territorial, especially as she pinched his bum. Harry glared at her.

"Miss Weasley, you are one of three women in this group," Severus replied, his voice dripping disdain. "One of the other two was happily snogging her husband not three minutes ago and the other one is like a sister to him. If I catch anyone, you included, actually staring at Harry's derriere, I will personally make sure your life afterwards is hell. That's a sure-fire way to get yourself or someone else killed. Understood?" Severus glared across the boot at her and Ginny returned the stare. Thankfully, red sparks flew into the sky overhead.

"One minute," Shacklebolt said, distracting the two from their staring contest.

"You do have to admit that Harry does have a nice bum though, Severus," Tonks added, causing Harry to blush. Remus and Shacklebolt both chuckled at his reddening cheeks. "Even Mad-Eye was concerned for its wellbeing, right, Remus? Heck, I still want to know who he knows who's lost a buttock."

"Twenty seconds," O'Neil said, putting the pocket watch he'd been looking at away. "May we meet at the end, safe and sound."

"May we meet," the others echoed. Harry felt the pull of the Portkey and he hoped not to throw up at the end of this trip. He was scared about the coming end. Things would be very different once they returned to Hogwarts.

The afternoon sun shone down on a small valley in the Lake District, the light glinting off half-destroyed stained glass windows. Muggles had steered clear of this valley in the middle of Britain's largest National Park for centuries, ever since the town that had built and worshipped in the cathedral that housed these windows had dwindled and died. Those Muggles had left, claiming that the spirits of those who'd died in the roof collapse haunted the area. Every subsequent attempt to rebuild the cathedral had failed, until the whole town was convinced to leave.

Recently, though, there was a more compelling Evil keeping the Muggles away.

The cathedral lay silent, unassuming in the summer's heat. The Evil was missing at the moment and only a few of his servants stood sentry and a few more wandered its crypts. The taint of this Evil was thick, soiling the cathedral more thoroughly than centuries' worth of dirt and debris ever could.

Those standing guard swore they heard screams coming from the crypts, though they knew there were no tortured prisoners down there at the moment. New rumors of ghosts had been spreading like wild fire among the servants of this Evil. Actually, only one ghost, though the search parties had yet to find it. Reports that it was the Auror who had been captured earlier in the spring confirmed the lie in most of the servant's minds, particularly of those searching right then.

These "ghost stories" were just that, stories made up by men and women who couldn't stomach being Dark and looking for a way out of torturing their prisoners. Aurors weren't afraid to die, and that particular Auror had been particularly stubborn and defiant; definitely not a coward afraid of death.

Celeste Blackstone led her group of Death Eaters up the stairs, stopping to let her eyes adjust to the light at the top. Several Death Eaters passed her, heading out to join those posted as guards. Terry stopped next to her and opened her mouth.

"I can't believe they really think that that Bluezy character stayed back as a ghost," she said contemptuously. "And I can't believe our master made us search yet again for this 'ghost'."

"Hush," Celeste said, cautioning her agitated friend. Terry had always been an angry person with a quick temper because of it. They were too closely entwined for Terry to fall without her, and Celeste would not let the witch's temper condemn them. "Watch your tone when you say stuff--What the fuck!"

Stunners and a few hexes hit the two Death Eaters who had been trying to climb through the hole in the fallen wall of the cathedral. Celeste pulled Terry with her as she jumped down into the staircase, for the first time thankful for the tight spiral even as Terry tumbled down a few more stairs. As she peeked around the bend, an Auror stepped through the gap in the outside wall, wand firing off spells to cover her entrance. It was hard to tell, but Celeste thought it looked like Synthia Black, Commander of the Aurors.

"Terry, go, get reinforcements!" Celeste shouted, hoping the Death Eaters nearby would remember that it had been she who had thought of retrieving their Lord. Celeste would have gone herself, but it was Terry who was trusted enough to have the key to apparate in and out of the cathedral proper. "Get our master!" Terry nodded, knowing that she had meant Draco as much as she had meant the Dark Lord. Shouts--unfamiliar shouts--outside informed Celeste of the deep shite they were in.

Commander Black was storming the Dark Lord's Headquarters. Celeste nearly smiled as she realized that this had the Malfoy brat's signature on it. The Dark Lord wouldn't be able to hold this place, not that he really needed it. But the loss of one's Headquarters was a devastating blow. Unless--as the Aurors had done--it was surrendered willingly because it was obsolete. The Cathedral wasn't obsolete. Potions of all sorts were being brewed in the crypts, the mercenaries all lived in those barracks and all their things were there, and many of the Dark Lord's darkest tomes resided in the 'Library' behind the altar.

Celeste did smile once she smelled the smoke coming from the barracks. That would piss the mercenaries off, and most likely at the Dark Lord. How lucky could the Light have got? The Dark Lord was busy at the Ministry, trying to break through the wards on the Department of Mysteries and end that siege. Terry would have to take the stairs down there because the lifts were out, and they would have to climb the stairs before apparating to Hogsmeade and getting reinforcements there.

Hadn't Draco dropped the key ring with the pubs' keys on it yesterday afternoon? The men and women stationed in Hogsmeade would have found them and been at the ale all night.

She giggled. Beautiful.

Now all Celeste had to do was make sure she lived. She couldn't just hide here, for if the Dark Lord did win, she would want to have done something noteworthy. She wanted the Dark Lord to realize his Angel of Death had been present and active. But she didn't want to stack the deck against getting out of Azkaban should the Dark Lord fall. Draco had informed them that Azkaban would most likely be in their future, but all of their--well, his--resources would be spent on getting the three out as soon as possible. Terry and Celeste hadn't informed him of their own resources and plans. They wouldn't until Draco proved that he was a capable and brilliant leader.

Someone better than the Dark Lord.

Not that it would take much to surpass this wreck of a wizard. She hurried down the spiraling staircase, intent on reaching the back door that led outside. It would be a death trap inside the cathedral itself, and she would have better luck picking off members of the Light's Army from the small cave where the door was.

Alastor Moody grinned as he watched a mercenary fall to the ground, blood oozing out of a nasty gash on his head. He was in charge of a group of fighters, mostly Aurors and Order members, but there were a handful of refugees. So far, none of them had hindered their group's mission: destroying the barracks and anyone still around them now that Thia and her group had cleared out.

An actual Death Eater in full regalia stepped out from around a pile of charred beams and cast a Dark Spell at a girl he remembered was named Alicia. She easily blocked it with a piece of rubble and sent a stinging hex at him in return. Alastor smiled as the man yelped, then Alastor sent a curse that wasn't technically legal in his direction. It hit its target and the man fell over. Alicia sent him a smile and moved down a path between two burning barracks.

Alastor's returning smile twisted his scarred face into a gruesome mask. He hurried after her, ready to attack anyone on the other side. Alicia already had three attackers, so Alastor quickly picked one off, shaking his head at how easy that was. One of the remaining two broke off and entered into a duel with Alastor. He was another mercenary, and the young buck never stood a chance against him.

"Nice job, sir!" Alicia shouted to him, standing over the body of her own attacker. Her eyes shifted to something behind him, and Alastor ducked as her wand came up.

"Ardent!"

The spell hit a Death Eater who had been sneaking up on the two. She dropped to the ground screaming as imagined flames burned at her. Alastor stunned her, ending the first spell's effect, and then bound her in anti-apparition spells and a few aversion spells. It would take a very determined ally to free her.

"Nice spell work, Spinnet," he replied, nodding to her.

"Teach me that aversion spell so I can put it on this lout," she said, nudging the body at her feet with the toe of her boot. Alastor smiled once more. This girl had steel in her backbone. She'd make a good Auror. Too bad she was only a refugee and a seamstress at that.

Remus nearly let a curse he detested pass his mouth as a Death Eater hit his Nymphadora with a curse that made her crumple. One bad thing about being well versed in the Dark Arts to defend oneself was that you did know the Dark Arts. And the wolf in him clamored to kill the one who had hurt his mate, the mother of his pup. It might be true that during a fight, Remus let the wolf's sense of instinct take over, but he kept it on a tight leash, pun intended.

But it was sorely tempting.

"Stupefy!" he cried instead, hitting the Death Eater in the back. He rushed forward, adding a few spells and wards to keep the Death Eater unable to fight and, ignoring the wolf's last cry of 'TEAR OUT HIS THROAT!' he made sure Tonks was alright.

Ginny was at his side a second later, complimenting his spell work on the Death Eater and silently telling him that she understood his problem with leaving it at that. He must have glared at the man a second too long before turning to Tonks' aid. Ginny understood having something that only wanted to harm be in control.

A few quick spells later, Tonks was up and actively fighting once more. All three stood, trying to locate Harry and the rest of their group amongst the trees. Remus caught sight of Bill and Melissa fighting two Death Eaters near some brambles off to his left.

As Remus watched, the Death Eater fighting with Cho Chang performed the Killing Curse, and she fell in a heap. Remus clenched his jaw; he remembered having her as a student. She'd only been fourteen then, but she was only four years older now. Not pausing his visual check of the area, he finally understood why Peter's uncle hadn't wanted them in the Order. She was so young, had so much life to live yet. But he could still remember their own arguments back then. It was this generation's world too; she had every right to die for it.

The Death Eater who'd so recently killed Cho ran to help the two Death Eaters trading spells with O'Neil and Severus. Severus sent a spell at the new Death Eater and he fell; Remus suspected the Death Eater was dead. O'Neil raised an eyebrow, to which Severus replied with a shrug.

Funny, they probably both agreed that true Death Eaters didn't deserve the regular rules of war--or the legalities, really. Heck, if that Death Eater had been a former Slytherin, Remus would bet they were both glad to be rid of the scum who had besmirched their House's name.

He shook his head, moving with Tonks and Ginny towards the two members of their group. Looking past the two Slytherins, Remus watched as Ron and Hermione fought with two Death Eaters. Ron hit the closer one with a stinging hex. Hermione sent a Confundus Charm at her Death Eater and he stopped, looking around confused. Ron performed the full body bind on the Death Eater he was fighting and she fell. Hermione, seeing what Ron had done, cast it on her Death Eater, and he, too, fell.

Casting a quick glance behind them, Remus saw Neville, Terry, and Ernie fighting three Death Eaters. Justin was lying next to the group, but wasn’t moving. Remus sent a spell at a Death Eater trying to help them, but the Death Eater shielded himself in time. He shook his head and moved with the group to find Harry. The D.A. members could take care of themselves just as well as he could, and Remus had seen Bill rushing over to help.

Kingsley and Harry were at the edge of the trees lining the cathedral, obviously waiting for them to arrive. Remus jogged forward, hurrying the rest with him. The sooner Harry finished off Voldemort the better off they'd all be.

"Circle 'round me and push for the cathedral!" Harry shouted over the noise of the fighting that surrounded them.

This seemed to be the main fight of the battle, at least at the moment. Remus frowned to see his sister and a few of her Special Ops Aurors holding an entrance into the cathedral by themselves. Death Eaters pushed at them trying to get in, but the opening was small enough to be held by the six Aurors. Other members of their Army held other doors, Death Eaters trying to push in from there as well. Death Eaters seemed to pour from around the corner, but there weren't really that many. Looking to his left instead, Remus noticed what seemed to be one person picking off members of the Light.

Harry, Severus, O'Neil, Kingsley, Tonks, and Ginny started to push forward towards Thia, but Remus felt this oddity needed to be investigated. He hand-motioned to Tonks that he'd be right back and hurried to circle around the area he thought he'd seen the spells coming from. He disarmed and stunned what appeared to be a young mercenary, casting the spells to keep him a non-combatant.

He waited, watching the spot he thought he'd last seen a spell. There it was again. Someone had found a small hillock with a hole in it, an old well or some such thing. The spell flew and hit an Auror on the back. He never stood a chance because he'd never seen it coming. Something had to be done.

Cautiously, he snuck up on what he was certain to be a lone Death Eater, his wand going to her throat when she popped out to pick off yet another enemy. Her green hair glimmered in the dappling sunlight, her wand dropping limply to her side.

"I'm sworn to Draco Malfoy," she said calmly, surprising Remus slightly. "I haven't killed anyone yet. Just took a few out of the battle."

"Where do those stairs lead?"

"Crypts and a stairway into the sanctuary of the cathedral," she answered.

"You'll lead us there," he commanded, stunning her for the time being. He hurried back to the others, noting that everyone was there, and shouted at Harry. "Follow me!"

Harry didn't question but turned around and followed, fighting their way back out. They hadn't even managed to move five feet towards the cathedral. Remus led them back to where he'd left the green-haired witch, with O'Neil discouraging Death Eaters and their allies from following.

"Celeste," Harry hissed after Remus brought her around and she'd sat up. "What are we doing here, Remus?" he asked, turning confused eyes on Remus.

"I work for Draco Malfoy," Celeste answered before Remus could. "I know a back way in."

"Why should we trust you?" Severus asked, yanking her head back roughly. The woman closed her eyes at the pain, but Remus was impressed that that was the only sign she showed.

"The Dark Lord is a wreck of a wizard, a fool," she spat. "He doesn't share glory like he promised and he views his followers only as tools. I swore to be his slave when I thought it was to be a trusted ally. He lied to me; I want to see him brought down."

"So you swore yourself to a boy," O'Neil spat at her.

She shrugged in reply. "He has the connections and the means to turn other Death Eaters against the Dark Lord. He's united us against the Dark Lord, and gained some degree of trust from you. It's a tempting offer."

"You'll lead us into the cathedral?" Harry asked, looking towards the sounds of the fighting. Remus could tell that things were getting even hotter back the way they'd come. Voldemort was hiding inside like a scared little pup, letting his servants fight and it rankled Remus.

"Yes, but--"

"You want to cover your arse, should I fail," Harry answered when she didn't finish. She nodded. "You can stay here firing hexes around the doorway, just like you were before," he said, stressing the command. "I saw that not a single one you hit were seriously injured or killed. Keep it that way or I will make you pay." They locked eyes and it was Celeste who looked away first. Harry motioned for Severus to let go of the young woman. "Lead."

She nodded and hurried down the stairs, turning at a landing to continue down. Severus and O'Neil went first, followed by Kingsley and Harry. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione followed them, Remus and Tonks taking the rear.

"Interesting girl, Celeste is," Tonks muttered. "I remember her from Hogwarts. She's opportunistic and stubborn. As long as we're offering the best, she won't lead us wrong."

"And if she gets a better offer?" Remus asked, curious.

"Voldemort's finding that out the hard way," she answered darkly.

Remus raised an eyebrow, but in the shadowy wand light he doubted that Nymph saw it. They followed the lights of the others, glancing back every so often to see if they were being followed. Remus could feel the small hairs at the back of his neck raise, but he couldn't see anything. Deciding it was just his imagination running wild in the dark, spooky crypt he ignored it. His arm brushed Nymph's and he was surprised to feel gooseflesh.

"You feel something not right, Tonks?" he asked in an undertone. She nodded, looking back and halted. Remus didn't like the pale white of her face. He turned and saw a familiar looking ghost. "Halt!" he called out and was glad to hear their footsteps pause behind. Remus wasn't sure who the ghost was, but Tonks did.

"Bluezy?" she asked, sure, but yet unsure of herself.

"Huh," Celeste's voice drifted back to them. "The rumors were true after all."

"I'm innocent! I'm not a Death Eater! I didn't tell a word! I'm an Auror of Britain! Why don't you believe me? Don't arrest me! I'm innocent! I'm not a Death Eater! I didn't tell a word! I'm--"

"So that's why he stayed," Celeste said to herself. "Smart lad, he was."

"Why don't you believe me? Don't arrest me! I'm innocent! I'm not a Death Eater! I didn't tell a word! I'm an Auror of Britain! Why don't you believe me?"

"Attention!" Kingsley belted, and Remus was amused to watch Tonks come to attention, her back straight and her arms held stiff at her side, chin up and feet together. Ah, the glories of being in the military. Maybe it was a good thing the Aurory didn't take werewolves. The command and tone of voice had the same affect on the pathetic sounding ghost. "Name and rank, Auror!" he barked.

"Alec Bluezy, Auror!" he responded sharply.

"Report!"

"Arrest and fight was staged to get me captured with a minimal search party," Auror Bluezy stated in the uninterested tone used by all reporting Aurors. Heck, Remus had used it himself while giving Order reports. It made things easier when your emotions were violently wrapped up in the report. "They brought me here to interrogate, sir! I refused, so they tortured. I didn't let a word past my lips in answer to any of their questions. An over-eager Death Eater accidentally killed me during a torture session. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named killed him in punishment. I became a ghost to give my last report, sir! Stayed out of their way, mostly, but I couldn't help but spook some of them. I've stayed away from the search parties, sir!"

"Good report, Auror," Kingsley said with a nod. "You are dismissed. Go haunt in peace!" Bluezy saluted and faded away. The group stared at the spot for a few minutes before Harry shook his head and ordered them to move out.

"And you made fun of me for following a kid?" Celeste asked O'Neil.

"No more talking, anyone," Harry warned. "Places like this echo. We've made enough noise as it is." The others nodded and they continued in silence.

"Up those stairs," Celeste said, pointing to a curling staircase. "It comes out near the altar, or what used to be the altar. Good luck," she said, shaking Harry's hand. "This is probably the only time we'll be on the same side when we meet, but I do seriously want you to win. I'd like my future Voldemort-less."

She left, ramming hard into Remus's shoulder. He glared back at her, letting her have the parting shot at the one to force her into this position.

Tonks wasn't so obliging.

The stinging hex hit her square on the behind. Celeste didn't even look back or rub the spot that must sting like hell; Remus had experience with that hex from Tonks. He'd promised himself never to swipe from her stash of chocolate ever again. He just wished she'd stay away from his in return.

"Let's go," Harry said, glancing at the stairs. Remus watched as they took formation and started up. Following Tonks, he felt his gut clutch. This was going to be it. He could feel it and the wolf agreed. Remus knew to trust the wolf's instinct in things like this. It could always sense the coming of the end of the hunt.

Luna watched Professor Lupin follow his group towards Harry, and turned just in time to watch Neville finish off the Death Eater he'd been fighting with. Luna smiled; Neville looked so good covered in sticks and dirt and sweat. He must have tripped or been tripped at some point to have leaves stuck in his hair. Her man wasn't afraid of a little dirt or a Death Eater trying to kill him.

Before she fell into the daydream of him sweeping her off her feet, Luna turned to see if she could help any of the other D.A. members. Lavender, Parvati, and Padma were fighting three Death Eaters behind her. One of the Death Eaters made a violent slashing movement at Lavender and she fell in a heap.

Parvati sent a spell at that Death Eater and the Death Eater fell also. The girl ran to her fallen friend and tried to find a pulse. One of the two Death Eaters, now fighting only Padma, saw that she was distracted and sent a similar slashing spell at Parvati.

Luna didn't have a chance to shout a warning.

Padma screamed as she watched her twin sister fall.

It all happened in the space of a few seconds, and Luna never had a chance to react or help.

She'd been useless. But not anymore.

Luna helped Padma finish off her Death Eaters, and then stood guard as Padma checked both girls for pulses. Scanning the woods she saw that Neville was standing up from checking Terry's pulse, Blaise watching his back. Neville sent off a Patronus, so Terry must be alive but needing a Healer's attention quickly. The two men left, moving on to continue fighting as they'd been commanded, a specially erected shield covering Terry. Only a Healer from their side would be able to get through.

A sob coming from Padma brought Luna's attention back.

"They're dead," she choked out. "Both...dead..." She stood, eyes flashing dangerously. "Come on, where's the main group?"

Luna pointed to where she'd last seen Blaise. Fighting in this small forest was a pain. Visibility was hampered by the trees.

It reminded her of the time she and her dad had spent looking for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. The tree cover had been so thick it'd been hard enough trying to spot each other, let alone the creature they'd been searching for. At least these trees weren't pines. She detested--

"Ingravesco!" she said, pointing at the Death Eater aiming at Padma. The other Ravenclaw smiled at her in thanks and stunned the Death Eater. Luna floated his body and hid it inside a large decaying tree stump. A squirrel came out to scold her. "Sorry small one," she replied seriously. "I'll come back and remove the smelly oaf later. Sorry for that."

"How did you know the squirrel didn't like his smell? Maybe he's just ugly."

"Oh, I talk Squirrel-ish," she said airily, running to catch up with Neville and Blaise.

--the smell of pines and the needles that got stuck in her hair and the sap that covered her hands after climbing one for a better view of the ground surrounding them. Dad loved it, but she had hated every moment of it. She'd loved their time climbing the mountains or flying over the glaciers. It was known that Snorkacks lived in Sweden but no one knew anything more than that, so they'd searched everywhere for them. There'd been that one time when--

"Mollismanus!" she said, casting it at one of four Death Eaters charging her and Padma. The man dropped his wand, unable to hold anything now that his fingers were jelly-like.

She dropped as another of the Death Eaters cast a stunner at her. Rolling, she jumped up, sending a blinding hex at the man. He dropped to his knees, clawing at his eyes that had turned into maggots.

Padma easily stunned that Death Eater as Luna took care of the Death Eater Padma had been fighting with. The last Death Eater took one look at the two of them and started to run away. Padma got him with a spell Luna didn't recognize.

"What was that one?" she asked, unable to hold back her curious nature and love of learning even in the present circumstances.

"You need to know the theory," Padma said, her eyes conveying how sorry she was. Luna felt her bottom lip go out in a pout. "I'll teach you once we're back at Hogwarts, promise."

Luna smiled, mollified by the promised teaching. They'd reached the edges of the trees. The D.A. had managed to get themselves deep in the thick of things. It would be nearly impossible to meet up with them. Luna looked around and smiled even broader once she'd come up with an idea.

"Let's climb the trees and pick off Death Eaters from up there," she suggested to Padma. The other girl nodded. Luna helped her shorter friend up into one and took another tree right next to it. They started to carefully pick off Death Eaters and their allies.

--they had thought they'd found one of the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. Unfortunately, it had turned out to be a young pig who had got free from a nearby farm. The pig's owner had been thrilled when they'd returned it, though the pig squealed quite loudly to be home. Luna still said a prayer for the pig, hoping the man didn't mistreat the sweet thing--

She couldn't keep from wondering how Harry's leg was doing. He'd been so befuddled when she'd asked about it after that Quidditch game, whatever one that'd been. How he couldn't know it was injured, surprised her, but he'd been walking on it since without taking any care to protect it. She hoped he wouldn't regret it. Just like she regretted giving the man the piglet back that ended up as a ham supper.

Nearly an hour after they'd first arrived, Hermione threw herself to the ground as the curse Draco Malfoy sent her way shot over her head. She could smell smoldering hair and batted down her snarled ponytail to put out any microscopic fires before they'd turn into something a bit more problematic. She tried not to think what that spell would have done to her face had it hit; she wasn't a vain person, but it would have done just more than burn and scar her face. It probably would have boiled her brains.

She scurried to put a pew between her and the ex-Slytherin, searching for a better angle to fight the duel. He had the better position no matter where she moved.

At least Draco wasn't putting his all into the duel, she thought to herself. She could tell that he held something back. Obviously he and his little posse really did want Voldemort to lose and get out of the way if the blond wasn't taking this opportunity to kill her and rid the world of one more 'Mudblood'. She shot a jinx at the 'Pureblood' (in her mind, the word sounded just as dirty as 'Mudblood' did coming out of his mouth). The jinx would have earned her a detention in Umbridge's class back in fifth year. That was why she'd learnt it.

Why had Draco turned against Voldemort?

Shutting her eyes against the plaster and stone dust showering down from the ceiling above her, she tried to shut out something Professor Dumbledore had said to Harry last November.

"Draco has been playing the part of a double agent for some time now. Tom knows this. I know this. We also know that in the end, Draco is only loyal to himself. Having me out of the way furthers his plans for the future. Having you out of the way does not. He wants you to kill Tom, so that he can be free."

To be free... Had Draco not wanted to be a Death Eater ever? Had their expectations of him and his father's forced him into a life he hadn't wanted?

Realizing that she'd been thinking too long without paying attention to her whereabouts and the fight going on around her, Hermione peeked over the pew to see what Draco was up to. He hadn't fired a curse at her for a while.

The reason was quickly obvious. Ron had distracted the blond and the two nemeses were dueling it out yet again. At least Harry wasn't involved. It was a small comfort to Hermione. It was also for the better, because Hermione couldn't duel properly when her mind was thinking too much about Draco's true loyalties and the fact he was really an ally in this battle.

That wouldn't perturb Ron; he'd just say that Draco had earned whatever he got for all the things he'd done to her over the years.

She hurried towards the center aisle, half bent over, towards the spot where Harry, Shacklebolt, and Professor Snape fought against several Death Eaters and their allies. She searched for Voldemort and the rest of their group, engaging the nearest enemies so that she could get to Harry.

Jinxing the nearest, she spotted Remus and O'Neil on the other side of the aisle, fighting back to back. Her jinx hit its target, and the man dropped his wand to tuck his wrists into his armpits and start clucking like a chicken. Not seeing Tonks near Remus, Hermione swept her eyes the other way, and caught sight of her near Thia, alone. It seemed that she'd given up on fighting the tide between her and Harry and was trying to join Thia and her companions.

A hex zipped past Hermione's cheek, but a quick side-step made sure it didn't hit. Unlike Tonks, only a handful of Death Eaters stood between her and Harry so it wouldn't be suicide trying to get to her friend.

The reason for the higher concentration of enemies was obvious as soon as the nightmare of a wizard stood on what seemed like the rubble of a collapsed dome or spire. Probably a spire, considering the age of this particular cathedral. Like most cathedrals, this one was built like a cross, the section on the other side of the Dark Lord being the longest. Thia blocked one of the fallen walls at the end of the crossbar to the right, Harry fought in the middle aisle of the short top piece trying to reach the middle. Voldemort had made sure that his human slaves stood between him and his downfall.

"DROP!" Ron shouted, and Hermione hit the floor. A green light from Draco's wand sped through the area where her chest had just been to hit a Death Eater who had been about to curse her. Had Draco done that on purpose, trying to help her stupid arse for standing stock still for a minute during a battle? Had he been aiming for her, ridding the world of an immensely stupid Mudblood (this time the word sounded even more nasty than any of the times Pansy had whispered it in her direction in the girl's loo)? Had it just been a coincidence either way?

"There you go, thinking again!" she muttered to herself. "Less thinking, more fighting." She cast a curse that sent the wild-haired red-head charging her way, and sent her flying back towards Thia. The witch continued screeching at her even after landing, so she wasn't dead.

Spinning to avoid a yellow-ish spell that just looked unhealthy, Hermione cast four spells hitting three of her targets. Another two hexes finished off the last Death Eater she'd missed. Thanking her lucky stars that she had actually convinced Harry to start and continue the D.A., Hermione made sure these Death Eaters wouldn't be getting up to fight. Remus had taught her a few handy spells that would keep them asleep and unable to fight for forty-eight hours.

Thinking of her favorite werewolf, she looked at the spot she had last seen him. He wasn't there, so she looked around worried for him, her eyes looking at the bodies laid out on the ground.

"Harry's there, 'Mione," Ron said near her ear. She followed where his finger pointed and saw that Remus and O'Neil had made their way to Harry. "Come on, let's get to them." She nodded and between the two of them, the Death Eaters parted between them easily.

"Good," Harry said, his breath raspy. "Tonks, anyone?" A quick peek over at Thia affirmed her last known position.

"With Thia. She couldn't make it back to us without committing suicide," Hermione said. Harry nodded, casting a non-verbal spell that knocked a Death Eater out. Hermione frowned to notice that a large gash was on the Death Eater's head.

"Ginny?" he asked.

"Last I saw her, she'd got tossed over there," O'Neil said, pointing to the far end of the cathedral. "I couldn't see if she's alright or not."

"Okay, plan is this," Harry said, between spells, his grip on his wand tightening at the news. Another two Death Eaters went down, well cursed. Hermione hoped Ginny was alright. "We push forward. We push with all we've got. He'll run out of room eventually. That's when we take him. Remus, send a Patronus to Thia or Tonks and get more of our people in here to help take out the trash between him and me. Bolt, I want you to take point, O'Neil and Severus on either side. Remus in middle, Ron and Hermione on either side of them, and me in the back. Diamond around Remus. Once Remus is done, he and I are switching. Got it?"

There were nods of agreement and an 'Aye!' from Shacklebolt.

"Good!"

They moved into position, Hermione already missing fighting directly next to Ron and following Harry. Things just didn't seem quite as right with the three spread out like they were now.

Angelina, Fred, and Mundungus were fighting five Death Eaters. They were doing pretty good, in Angelina's opinion. She got one of them and Fred got another. She started dueling with another as Mundungus stunned his Death Eater and turned to engage the fifth in a duel.

Fred bound both his and her Death Eaters with anti-apparition spells. A slashing hex finished off her second Death Eater. Mundungus took care of the last Death Eater.

Battle was a funny thing. She'd been disappointed to learn that her long time crush had found the love of his life while she'd been away playing Quidditch in Australia, and she'd been dismayed to find herself in a group with Fred and his twin and their twin girlfriends, a thief, Katie Bell, the girl's uncle, and two Aurors.

The Aurors were long gone. George and the female twins had disappeared while they'd been busy with the five Death Eaters. And she found herself fighting back to back with her long-time crush and old friend on one side and a drunken lowlife on the other. At least both men knew how to fight.

"Anybody see anyone else from our group?" Fred asked. Angelina was surprised at how calm Fred was without George. She could still remember that time, first year, when the two of them had got separated from Alicia and George and lost in the bowels of Hogwarts dungeon. Fred had been frantic to reach his older and wiser twin. Now he calmly took in their surroundings, only the frantic left to right motion of his eyes giving away his true feelings on being separated from his twin.

Realizing she'd been staring at Fred instead of the ground around them, she scanned the forest looking for anyone remotely familiar. She'd done enough staring at the boy, or man now, that would never see her for anything more than a Quidditch teammate and an all around mate. Someone to go to a ball with as a friend, nothing more. At least it was nothing less.

"Wha' we do now?" Mundungus asked, looking around uncertainly.

"We head towards the fighting," Fred said decisively. "Keep a lookout for any of our group."

"Particularly George?" Angelina asked, not above teasing him during a battle. He'd do it to her the first chance he got.

"No," Mundungus said with a grin that showed missing teeth. "His pretty lady."

"Shut it, Dung," Fred muttered. "I think it's that way." He pointed and Angelina could hear a faint roar coming from that direction.

"Your guess is as good as mine," she replied. "Should have stayed in the down under. Shouldn't have come home to help Mum. Wouldn't find myself in this mess."

"Yeah, but then I'd be stuck by myself with Dung and he'd prolly mug me and leave me to die," Fred said with a bright grin. She cursed what that grin did to her insides for what seemed like the millionth time. That grin was a major reason for her crush.

"No prolly 'bout it, mate," Dung said, starting forward on bandy legs. "I'd've robbed you blind."

"I have no doubt, no doubt at all," Fred said, following. Angelina took the other side of 'Dung' and they continued forward in a small V formation. It reminded her of her Quidditch days with Katie and Alicia; she always took the right side of their normal V formation. Katie at point, Alicia at her side.

No way could she confuse the drunk as Katie and Fred as Alicia, though. Nor could she forget that she was on the ground, not flying. Nor was the worst injury she was facing today as simple as a bludger to the head. No, it could be so much worse today.

"Should have stayed in Australia with my teammates. I think Rob wanted me to go out on a date. Could have woken in his arms this morning instead of in the refugee tent room I share with my little sisters."

"Oh, stop your whingeing," Fred said, pretending to be exasperated. "You'd have been furious to know you'd missed a jolly good fight!" Two figures dashed through the thinning trees, the leader running right into Dung.

"Sorry!" she said, picking herself and Dung up. Angelina was surprised and overjoyed to see that it was Alicia.

"Into the forest!" Mad-Eye Moody shouted. "Something's about to blow back there!" The group, now numbering five, turned back the way they'd come, running as fast as the peg-legged ex-Auror could go. They weren't going to leave him behind. After what seemed like an eternity that was probably only a few minutes, a large boom sounded behind them and a bunch of hot air pushed them to the ground.

"What was that?" Angelina said, unaware that she was shouting. She grabbed Alicia in a crushing hug. She'd only seen the other girl in passing at Hogwarts, Alicia had always been so busy.

"No idea this side of Hades," the crazy Auror replied. "Why you guys heading that way? Dung hadn't convinced you of nicking goods from the barracks during the fight?"

"Damn Salazar, good'dea," Dung mumbled, though it was still a shout. All of their ears were ringing. "You should'uv been a crook, Moody."

"We got separated from our group, didn't know where to go, so we followed the sound," Fred answered. Angelina let go of Alicia, the two smiling hugely. "Guess we picked the wrong direction."

"Guess you did," Moody said with a nod and a smile that still unnerved Angelina. "I don't think there's anything left back there. Let's find this cathedral!"

"What'd Remus want, Tonks?" Thia asked, casting a curse at a Death Eater trying to get too close.

"Harry wants us to get more of our people in here to clear out the 'trash'," Tonks answered, hitting a Death Eater that was attempting to hex Thia.

"Well, we must oblige the Boy Who Lived," she said with a smile. "MOVE IN!" she shouted to the Aurors around her. They nodded, and the group of about twenty, started to push into the building. Tonks noticed a group of Death Eaters surrounding a red-head off to their left. The woman seemed to be in charge.

"Thia, that group looks like trouble. Balbutio!"

"Funestus! Yeah, noted already."

"Just making sure. Ardent!"

"Noted. Stupefy!"

"Furnuculus! Very funny."

"Shouldn't you be concentrating on the fight, Commander?" a wizened and scarred member of their group said. Thia and Tonks exchanged the briefest of smiles.

"Yes, sir, Senior Auror, sir!" they said in unison, shooting different spells off at different enemies.

"Oh, my ribs are cracking from holding in the laughter," he replied. Tonks swore she saw him roll his eyes. O'Bleery was always one of her favorite 'oldies but goodies' as he and his group of aged Aurors were nicknamed.

"Has that witch got green hair?" Tonks asked suddenly, spotting a new face surrounding the red head. She couldn't be certain if it was green, but if it was--

"Now is not the time to be admiring hair treatments," Auror Angelica "Jelly" Rodgerson stated. Normally, Tonks and Jelly traded hair secrets, but Tonks could understand the reprimand. Normally she wouldn't have cared one fig for what color the witch's hair was... but if it was Celeste?

"Is it?"

"Yes, why?"

"Harry told her to stay put," Tonks muttered under her breath. "She must be Celeste Blackstone and the redhead must be Terry O'Murray, our leak and our torturer."

"And now our trouble," Thia put in. "FAN OUT! MEET THEIR CHARGE STANDING! FIRE AT WILL!"

Tonks immediately stopped, taking Thia's right side while O'Bleery took the left. Auror Jelly took Tonks' right and she said a small prayer in thanks that friends stood around her. She hated fighting with people she didn't know. Things just never worked right.

A collective group shield went up, reminding Tonks of how much she appreciated her Auror training and working with others who were Auror-trained. "Meet their charge standing" was an order that let everyone know that they should put up this particular shield and once it fell, the "fire at will" let them know they were on their own and could do as they wish. Refugees and even Order members just didn't have the training to be this quick and thorough.

The first volley of spells disappeared as the shield absorbed them. On the second volley, Tonks ducked as she saw a green spell come right at her. It fizzled out on the shield, but she could still feel her heart beating. The Avada Kedavra would have just passed right through, killing or destroying the first corporal object in its path, which would have been her had she not crouched

"Smart lass," O'Bleery commented, casting a personal shield as the third volley brought down the group shield. "Never know when a green spell is a Killer or not. Best not to chance it. It'd be a shame to see you fall."

"I think I'm taking that as a compliment," she replied, hexing a Death Eater who'd been overwhelming Jelly.

"Thanks," Jelly said, helping the Auror on her right with his Death Eater.

She knew it was stupid, but it bugged her that the Death Eaters weren't in their full regalia. As she spun to get out of the way of a hex, Tonks glanced around trying to spot just one person in the distinctive robes and masks. Not a one that she'd seen on that spin.

She knocked out an offending enemy, punishing him for his lack of proper apparel. Tonks had only seen a few masks and maybe twenty or thirty Death Eaters in robes. Granted, not all of these enemies were full Death Eaters, many were just mercenaries or Brits Voldemort hadn't trusted enough to brand.

But, it just didn't feel the same, fighting Dark wizards who were dressed just like normal people. There was no sense of creepiness or terror.

It did make her glad Alicia Spinnet and Madam Malkin had finished off Minerva's order for the army uniforms. Somehow Minerva had known they'd need uniforms, and the two seamstresses plus all their aides had done a fabulous job finishing them off, even after Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley fell.

Where the house elves had come up with all the white canvas those two needed, Tonks didn't know.

She pushed the thought that had been bugging her for weeks away and jinxed the approaching Death Eater with a "bad luck" jinx. Poor guy's mask fell half off, affectively blinding him. That's what he got for wearing a Mask with cut-off shorts and a Tee. It looked just plain stupid.

Remus would know how the house elves did it, and she'd ask later. She should have done so last night or the night before or right after it had first come to mind.

Thinking of Remus made her look for him. Glancing around as she surveyed the cathedral battle, she spotted Harry and his guard surrounded by Voldemort's soldiers. No wonder Harry had wanted more of their army in here. The Death Eaters severely out-numbered the Light inside the cathedral. Harry looked to be fine, though frustrated. Remus had his teeth bared and a gash down one cheek. Hermione's hair was flying half-loosed from its tie. Bolt, Severus, and Ron led their push. There was no sign of O'Neil or Ginny.

Suddenly, the Death Eater she'd been fighting with for the past several minutes caught her full attention. Not paying full attention to her fighting, she hadn't noticed that not only was this Death Eater wearing full robes, but she had green hair as well.

"Harry told you to stay put," she hissed at Celeste Blackstone.

"I'm not sworn to him," she answered, bringing her wand down sharply. Tonks swore as the spell got her left arm, opening it up in a nasty looking gash. "I have other goals to accomplish and I couldn't 'stay put' as he said. I'm 'covering my ass,' as he pointed out."

"He would have testified on your behalf," Tonks informed her. "Got you out of some years of Azkaban, just like Draco managed."

"That's assuming he wins," Celeste said, trying to hex Tonks. She ducked the spell and shot a jinx back at her. "Draco thinks he will, but I'm not so sure. We've got something up our sleeves that'll give you all a heart attack, I'm sure."

"Fine," Tonks said with a shrug. She sent a hex at Celeste that missed and then a curse at Terry O'Murray who had been trying to sneak up on Thia.

"You shite-faced Auror!" O'Murray screeched. She cast a curse Tonks had never heard before and a puke-green spell shot out of her wand and towards Tonks. She spun, sending a hex at Celeste as Thia sent one at O'Murray. The puke-green spell hit Jelly from behind and the other Auror instantly fell to her knees and started to puke.

"What the hell was that?" Thia asked her, casting the summoning spell for a Healer. A bright ball of white light sped off in search of the nearest free Healer. Tonks and Thia stood on either side of their heaving friend, protecting her while she was so vulnerable.

"No idea," Tonks answered, trying not to gulp as O'Murray and Celeste closed in on them, looking very competent Dark witches. She had to give them credit, at least, for both being in partial uniforms. They wouldn't have looked quite so intimidating if they hadn't been wearing the Death Eater robes.

"Don't let them separate us," Thia ordered and Tonks nodded her understanding. "I'll take O'Murray, you take Blackstone."

"Got it, boss," she said, casting a long-term shield charm over Jelly. It would take quite a battering before it would fail and only she could remove it. Celeste stopped, raising her wand to cast, but Tonks beat her to it. The other woman hissed as a numbing charm hit her left arm. It had always worked well for Tonks as a distraction and it almost always threw the target's balance off.

Celeste seemed to be no exception, her left arm hanging limply at her side, her equilibrium ruined by the lack of information from the nerves in the arm. She thanked Sirius for telling his little cousin that story when he visited her Mum way before his arrest. Without the inspiration, she might never have thought of learning a spell like this.

Tonks pushed her advantage, knowing the spell would wear off in ten minutes. She kept Celeste busy, so that she wouldn't think of trying the simple Finite to end it. Scoring several more hits, Celeste became frustrated enough to try the slashing hex once more, only this time, her downward slash sent her to a knee.

The hex went wide.

Tonks didn't give her a chance to get up. In a proper duel it was the done thing to do letting an opponent stand, but this was a battle and only someone inordinately noble and stupid (a.k.a. Gryffindor-ish) would do that. She cast three hexes and a stunning spell. The first two hexes were absorbed into Celeste's shield, the third one shattered it, and the stunning spell hit her.

"Why you little--!" O'Murray shouted at Tonks. "Rennervate!" she said, bring her friend back into the fray. Thia took advantage of her opponent's lack of attention by casting a slashing hex. O'Murray stooped to help Celeste up, and her face took the brunt of the hex. As she stood, Tonks realized that it had hit the other woman's eye, most likely ruining it for life. "I am going to kill you for that, Auror scum!"

"Give it your best," Thia taunted, blocking the curse O'Murray sent at her. She retaliated in kind. Celeste and Tonks slowed their spell casting, stunned as their friends' duel turn nasty, using the worst hexes, jinxes, and curses. By unspoken agreement, the two women kept the missed spells from hitting any unsuspecting person in the back; Tonks could tell Celeste was not pleased with her friend's reaction to the lost eye.

It was obvious that O'Murray hadn't been joking about what she'd said and Thia worked to hit her opponent instead of taking hits. Each time Thia scored a hit, O'Murray would scream an insult and become nastier.

A tap on Tonks' shoulder brought her attention to a Battle Healer, waiting to work on Jelly. Tonks ended the shield and watched as the Healer tried to get Jelly's retching to end. Looking back only a few seconds later, she felt all color leave her face as Celeste screamed something that sounded a lot like "NO!"

A green light enveloped Thia, and then she fell, dead long before she hit the ground.

Tonks stared at her sister-in-law's face, hoping that her eyes would open, that she wasn't dead, that it had only been a curse that knocked her over, that it hadn't been the killing curse, that she wouldn't have to tell Remus that she'd been distracted when O'Murray had cast it, that she hadn't been watching, that she'd failed at helping her.

She couldn't be dead.

"You idiot!" Celeste yelled at her incensed friend. "You've just added years to your sentence! There's no way Harry Potter will testify for you now! You bungling cretin!"

"Stupefy! Stupefy!" Tonks cast twice, hitting both women while they were distracted. They crumpled to the ground and Tonks secured them so that someone wouldn't rejuvenate them. She looked around and realized the Special Ops Aurors were done fighting for the moment. They circled around Thia and Jelly, bringing in others who were dead or injured. She closed her eyes as she saw O'Bleery among the dead. She waited, eyes fixed on Thia, to see who'd take charge. After a few minutes she looked up, realizing they were waiting for her to give the orders.

"You know the overall battle plan," stated an Auror she didn't know well. "We don't."

"Right," she said, clearing her throat. "We push forward then, clearing out the Death Eater scum between Harry's group and Voldemort." They nodded, many looking assured by her abilities. "You two, stay and watch over the healer." She didn't know why they listened to her.

She'd let Thia down.

This was going to crush Remus; Merlin, it was crushing her.

Her mind echoed one thought as she continued battling:

Thia was dead.