Seventh-Year: The Next Generation

Author's Note:

Hey, hey, hey! Here's the next chapter. Fast paced, and action filled, it will pretty much pull you through it. For those of you who care, I'm already at ten thousand words for NaNoWriMo. So if I can keep up the pace, I'll be finishing a few days early. Fingers crossed. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 18: Piercing Fire

"I feel like cursing very loudly and for a very long period of time, but I will refrain from doing so, because there is a lady present," said Scorpius, leaning around their little wall of protection and firing off a salvo of spells.

"Please, don't hold back on my account," said Lily dryly. Throwing her arm over the barrier, and firing off a couple of jinxes without looking.

"I want to know how the heck you guys knew we were coming here?" demanded Scorpius, ducking back just as a curse singed by.

"Hugo's a Diviner, remember?" said Lily.

"Gah, so we can't ever do anything without his knowing, again? That's going to make life fun," said Scorpius sarcastically, casting a Patronus just in time to deflect some Dementors that came swooping down.

"I don't know how much he sees, but I doubt your personal life will be infiltrated, Scorpius," said Lily.

"Who knows? Maybe he controls what he sees?"

"In which case, I highly doubt he'll spend his time, and gift, stalking you, Scorpius. I hate to burst your bubble, but most people do not spend every one of their waking moments thinking about you."

"Must you tell me the terrible truth at a time like this?" wailed Scorpius, again casting a Patronus.

"Sorry, but it just couldn't wait."

On the other side of the roof, Albus was also casting a Patronus, while Monique and Hugo fired hexes at the enemy.

"Why aren't any Aurors showing up?" demanded Hugo, leaping back undercover as a black jet of light soared by.

"They're all at the stupid Official's meeting. We purposefully chose today to come here because it was going on right now. Besides, the Dementors are supposed to 'hold the fort down,' and they don't exactly have a way of contacting the Ministry. It's supposed to be completely safe, so the Aurors won't expect a break out at all. It'll be ages before they know what's going on," yelled Albus over the crashing of the waves, and the distant screams of prisoners below (the prisoners who had been on the roof itself had long since either jumped over the edge, or fled into the prison itself, or been given the Dementor's Kiss, and were now wandering around aimlessly, blankly staring into space).

"How are we going to get out of here?" asked Monique, firing off a slew of spells over the barrier.

"I'm working on that," Albus ground out between gritted teeth. "How did you guys get here in the first place?"

"On brooms," answered Monique.

"Where are they?" asked Albus.

Monique made a gesture that indicated they were somewhere on the other side of their protection.

"Same as mine," answered Albus woefully. "Where did the Pricker go?" he asked absentmindedly of the air.

"You mean the weird plant thing?" asked Hugo. "It kind of got trampled into the ground."

"Great, just great..." Albus muttered.

Back over on the other side of the roof, Scorpius was complaining.

"This was supposed to be a prison break, not a redone version of the O.K. Corral," whined Scorpius.

"Sorry your day isn't turning out as planned," snapped Lily, just before she leapt to her feet, shot off a couple of hexes, and dived back down. Many returning curses flew over the barrier, and some actually collided with it, making chips of stone fly off in all directions.

"Okay, here's the plan," began Lily.

"Oh, no, not one of your plans."

Lily glared at him.

"Yes?" he asked innocently.

"You're going to provide cover for me, while I try and grab a couple of the brooms, okay?"

"Sounds risky," said Scorpius. "Kind of like something I'd come up with. I like it. Lets do it."

Lily nodded. "Ready?"

"Always," said Scorpius, with a grin.

Lily leapt to her feet and ran around the barrier, charging for where a couple of their brooms lay on the ground.

Scorpius stood up, planning on firing a fast salvo of spells, but immediately got hit by a curse. He was thrown back and slammed into the low wall that ran around the roof, and narrowly avoided falling over. As it was, black dots danced across his vision, and he half-stood, leaning on the wall, too dazed to move.

Lily was still running for the brooms, trying to fire off her own jinxes to cover her, but she got hit by a hex sent by Zabini, and she was drawn toward him like a fish being reeled in on a hook. He caught her lightly in his arms.

Albus leapt over his barrier, charging at his enemies. "Let go of my sister!" he bellowed firing off a spell.

A red jet of light flew from Driscoll's wand, hitting Albus in the chest. Albus was thrown back and crashed into the stone barrier. He slid limply to the ground, knocked unconscious.

"Quick, let's get out of here!" yelled Lestraud's mother over the commotion. The group of six, with Lily struggling in Zabini's arms, turned and swept down the stairs into the prison.

"Lily!" screamed Monique, running around the barrier and charging after them. Hugo was hard on her heels.

It was a few minutes before Scorpius fully recovered, and pulled himself off the wall. And it was only just in the nick of time, for a Dementor was swooping in on the still form of Albus.

"Expecto Patronum!" cried Scorpius. The scorpion beat the Dementor away in a couple of seconds. "Piece of filth," Scorpius muttered under his breath.

The roof was almost empty now. Only Scorpius and Albus were up there. Well, them and a few absentminded prisoners who were wandering around, looking lost.

Scorpius ran over and bent down by Albus. "Ennervate," he breathed.

Albus's eyelids fluttered open, his bright green eyes focusing on Scorpius's face.

"Will you stop passing out every time things get exciting?" asked Scorpius.

Albus sat up, ignoring his question. "Where's Lily?" he demanded.

"They took her," said Scorpius. "And Hugo and Monique went after them."

Albus's eyes widened. "Quick, lets go," he cried, leaping to his feet.

They each grabbed a broom, and ran over to the side of the roof.

Far below they could see the narrow causeway that led to the mainland. Here and there a few straggling prisoners were running along it, as some Dementors tried to pick them off. They could see their six enemies, sprinting along, Lily still held in Zabini's arms.

Hugo and Monique were a little ways behind them, but still pursuing, and sending spells flying at them on the go.

Albus didn't even hesitate. He lunged off the roof, swinging his broom between his legs. He shot downward, a splash of color in the air.

Scorpius was right after him, flying his broom to its limits.

As they hurtled down from the very high roof of the prison, they watched in horror as Lestraud fired a spell over her shoulder. It flew and collided with Monique, who wasn't quite fast enough to dodge it. She staggered backward, and into Hugo. The two of them lost their balance, and tumbled into the roaring ocean.

"You get them. I'll get Lily!" Scorpius yelled over the roaring of the wind in his ears.

Albus hesitated, then finally nodded. He veered off and down sharply, heading to where Hugo and Monique could be seen struggling in the outrageously high and furious waves.

Scorpius was now closing in on his targets, who were getting relatively close to the mainland by this time. He fired off a slew of spells, but none of them found their targets. His opponents cast curses over their shoulders as they ran, but didn't stop or turn to face him.

He flew in circles around them, continually firing more jinxes, but they continued to run on, blocking his attacks and sending counterattacks after him, forcing him to keep on the move.

He could see that Lily had seemed to stop struggling. He figured that they must have stunned her.

Scorpius continued valiantly on, but was unable to get around their defenses before they got to the mainland.

"Go!" yelled Driscoll to his companions. "I'll take care of this kid." He turned away from his fellow ex-prisoners.

Scorpius came whipping around him, firing a spell at his chest.

Driscoll blocked it easily, and with a flourish of his wand, sent a spell flying into Scorpius's path of motion.

Scorpius was blasted off his broom. He hit the icy ground, and bounced along until he fetched up against a tree. For the second time that day, black spots danced across his vision.

Driscoll strolled calmly toward Scorpius, his wand held loosely in his hand. Behind his advancing attacker, Scorpius could see the fleeing figures of Lestraud and the others.

"I'm going to make you pay, boy, for your father putting me in Azkaban," said Driscoll coolly.

"My father-- what?" gasped Scorpius in surprise.

"He has made my son feel the disgrace of an imprisoned father. And while I cannot make you feel that pain, I'll be sure to make sure you feel plenty of physical agony."

Scorpius started to draw himself to his feet, but he wasn't moving very fast, and with a wave of his wand, Driscoll sent him slamming back into the tree.

Scorpius groaned, but grabbed at a low branch to help himself stay on his feet.

"Crucio!" hissed Driscoll.

"Protego!" snapped Scorpius, blocking the curse.

Driscoll's eyes narrowed. "Oh, no you don't."

"You bet I do," snarled Scorpius.

"Incendio!"

Scorpius dove to the side, just as the tree burst into flames.

"Locomotor Mortis!" cried Scorpius from the ground.

Driscoll's legs snapped together just as he took a step forward, making him peel over on the ground.

Scorpius was already on his feet again, and charging after the now-distant figures that had possession of Lily.

But Driscoll had already cast a counter-curse, and was standing again. "I don't have time for this," he spat. "Avada Kedavra!"

Lucky for Scorpius, his foot slipped on the icy ground, and he fell flat on his face, leaving the killing curse to soar over his head, and him unharmed (well, other than his wounded pride that he fell).

He rolled over onto his back. "Stupefy!"

Driscoll stepped aside, easily dodging the spell.

"Crucio!"

"Protego!"

Driscoll's calm demeanor was starting to fade. "You're making me angry, boy."

"I'd say the same," said Scorpius, leaping to his feet and to the side. He yelled the first spell that shot into his head. "Sectumsempra!"

Driscoll spun, and the jet of light flew just over his shoulder, barely missing him. He stared at Scorpius in horror, as if contemplating what it would have been like if the curse had actually hit him.

Scorpius stared back in equal astonishment, surprised that he had cast such dark magic.

The look on Driscoll's face turned quickly to rage.

"Petrificus Totalus!" he cried, his wand shooting up in a blur.

Scorpius didn't react fast enough, and found himself in a body lock, lying in the snow.

"You'll suffer for trying to pull that off," said Driscoll, his voice like ice. "I'm going to let you drown. Flipendo!"

Scorpius was blasted up into the air. His body soared through the sky, and with splash that couldn't possible be heard over the crashing of the sea, fell into the water.

Having absolutely no control over his limbs, Scorpius slowly sunk toward the watery deep.

***

Albus shot toward the water, not sure exactly what he planned to do to try and help Monique and Hugo. As it turned out, he didn't need to make a decision.

For as he was nearing them, a Dementor he hadn't caught sight of, shot right out in front of him. Letting out a little yelp of surprise, Albus tumbled over backward, and off his broom. Plummeting downward, he crashed into the tumultuous sea.

He was bawled over beneath the waves, spinning uncontrollably, not sure of where he was or which way was up.

Opening his eyes, he let out a little of his breath, and seeing which way the bubbles floated, swam to the surface.

His face breaking out into the air, he took great shuddering breaths, and looked around.

He could see Monique and Hugo, clinging on to each other, only a few yards away.

"Hugo!" he called. The redhead caught sight of him, and turned and said something quickly to Monique.

Albus was bowled over once more from a large wave. Surfacing again, he found that he had actually been knocked closer to Hugo and Monique. Spluttering on salt water, Albus crossed the last little span of distance that separated them.

"How are we going to get out of here?" cried Monique over the loud noise of the ocean.

Albus shook his head. "Let's head for the causeway," he replied.

They started to swim toward it, but found that the waves were actually fiercest here. The water rose above them, slamming down over their heads and knocking them beneath the water.

Yet again, Albus fought to get his head above water. Pulling his wand out, he didn't hesitate. "Flipendo!" he repeated, twice, quickly.

First Monique, and then Hugo, were blasted up and out of the water. They landed heavily on the causeway with gasps of pain, but at least they were out of the water.

Albus struggled in the water, but finally, managed to cast a spell on himself, that shot him up and landed him beside a gasping Hugo.

He hit the hard stones with enough force to knock the breath out of him, and cause his wand to fly out of his hand, spinning down the slippery walkway.

As he lay there, trying to regain his breath, the Dementors came down.

There were four of them, one for each teenager, and two for Hugo.

All warmth and happiness was gone in a second, and the Dementors came in closer, preparing to give the Kiss that would turn them into walking zombies. And Albus was the only one could cast the Patronus of the three of them, and his wand was too far away.

It was getting worse each second, already all three of them were immobilized by despair. All seemed lost.

"Help, someone, please, help," croaked out Hugo.

Suddenly there was a loud crack.

Hugo stared up in surprise. Standing over him was a tall man in a Irish-green suit, with a bowler hat lying on his head at a jaunty angle.

Fire spurted from the fingers of the man. They sprung up, great and brilliant. The heat washed over the three teenagers, warming them to the core. The fire blasted out, engulfing two of the Dementors.

High pitched screaming sounds issued from the dark hoods. The Dementors turned and started to fly away, but only made it a few feet, before completely burning up. Dark ashes fell to the water below.

The man turned, letting lances of fire shoot out of his palms. They speared through the two remaining Dementors, who didn't even have a chance to run, but exploded in a burst of black dust.

"You," gasped Hugo, scrabbling to his feet.

The man flashed a wide smile. "Yes. Did we not tell young Mr. Malfoy that we would be watching over you?"

"Why didn't you intervene sooner?" asked Monique, heaving herself shakily to her feet.

"We can't solve all of Hugo's problems for him. If we did, he would not be able to grow and learn."

Albus, leaping to his feet, rushed to his wand, snatched it up, and began to sprint along the causeway.

Hugo grabbed Albus's arm as he tried to rush by. "Albus, where are you going?"

"I need to find Lily before it's too late!" yelled Albus, jerking himself out of Hugo's grip. Hugo grabbed him again, this time with two arms.

"Come on, think! They're long gone now. We need to get out of here. We can tell the Ministry, they'll know what to do."

"Yeah, right after they chuck me in a cell," snarled Albus. "Besides, Scorpius went after them."

"Then you need to trust him," snapped Monique.

"If anything happens to him, because of me, I'll never forgive myself. Never. You guys would never understand," Albus's voice was almost a scream. His eyes were blazing and heated.

"Mr. Potter," said the man in the suit. "Listen to your friends. This is no longer a matter that just concerns you. My brother and I may be able to help you a little, as long as Hugo is involved, and he asks to do what he would have us accomplish. For now, I suggest that we withdraw back to the school, to discuss the next actions we should take."

"But Scorpius--" began Albus.

"Can take care of himself, I am sure," said the man. "Do you have no trust in him?"

"I--" began Albus helplessly, before subsiding for a moment. "Where is this brother of yours?" he asked.

The man frowned, and anger flashed across his face for a brief moment. "He should be here already, but do not worry about him. He will have a good reason, I am sure, for being delayed. But no more talk now, quick, let us go!"

With three quick snaps of his fingers, the man summoned to him the teenagers' brooms.

"How--?" began Hugo in surprise.

"Just go, you will see me at the school," said the man.

Three weary teenagers flew off into the dark sky, leaving a tall man with dancing blue eyes, a silver beard, and wearing a bright green suit, staring after them.