Battle Lines

Chapter 20: Clash of the Titans

09 Jun 03: Mount Megiddo Battleground

2003h

General McMahon winced as another shell landed right next to his fleeing tank, spraying him with debris. Around him the Union was in full retreat tanks, LAVs, Bradleys, Mechs, all fled for the relative safety of the mountain. The Forts had already set up a defensive perimeter around the holding point. Infantry and line troops were dug in, just waiting for the tanks to come back to add an extra punch to their defensive line. The main gun of his Challenger boomed again, covering its own escape. Shells rained down around the retreating force, kicking up great geysers of dirt. Red beams from the enemy Forts slammed into the ground, pulverizing everything in their path, leaving black tracks on the earth. Tracers sliced through the air, cutting down those who weren't safely encased in steel. The Pharaoh ducked involuntarily as the flaming wreckage of an F-14 screamed over his head. It slammed into the ground and exploded, a mighty warplane turned into so much scrap metal in a matter of seconds. The General slipped back inside the turret as his driver ran straight on, through the burning hulk. So this was it, this was where it was going to end.

* * *

09 Jun 03: Durmstrang Institute; Bulgaria

2005h

It was like storming the gates of Hell.

Nat Boone's LAV erupted from the tree line, shooting into the kill zone and sped up the road toward the main gate of Durmstrang. Fifty metres disappeared in a hailstorm of magical energy from the sentries on the walls. Blasts slammed into the ground around the speeding vehicle, throwing up gouts of earth and molten rock. Nat gripped the wheel more tightly and floored the accelerator. The engine roared and it shot forward, gaining momentum.

CRASH!

The big eight wheeler smashed through the heavy gates of the Institute, splintering the half closed wood. The turreted gun on the back opened fire, spraying tracers around the courtyard. Magic slammed into the LAV's armored flanks, pitting the metal and sending hot shrapnel flying. Nat jammed on the brakes, binging her vehicle to a screeching halt, swinging the tail around ninety degrees to bring it flank on to the castle doors. Ron was straight out the side hatch, demolition charges out. Up in the turret, Ginny blasted away with the 25mm chain gun, keeping the Death Eater's heads down. Thirty seconds later Ron was back inside the LAV, detonator in hand.

'Hold tight people.'

He depressed the trigger.

KABOOM!

Five pounds of C4 plastic detonated, blasting the doors inwards. The LAV rocked over on its suspension, lifting one side off the ground before it crashed back down on the level. Hermione and Harry took up covering positions on the door, while Ron went through into the entrance hall of Durmstrang.

'Clear!'

The two marines on the door jumped through, disappearing inside the gloom of the area.

'Ok, Ginny! Go!'

Ginny swung herself down from the turret and climbed through the hatch, running inside the building. That was it, Nat was the last one. She reached down for her new Colt M4...

'RPG! SHIT!'

Nat threw herself out through the hatch, grabbing her gun on the way through. She hit the ground...

Drop, roll.

Quickly she scrambled behind one of the walls just as...

BOOM! KABOOM!

Two RPG-7s nailed her stolen LAV 25, blasting it off its wheels. The big vehicle exploded, red hot shrapnel and armor plates roared through the door to the entrance hall, right past Nat's head; loose metal skittered across the floor and bouncing off walls and columns. Boone picked herself up, checking her carbine as she did so and looked around the room they had entered. It was about thirty metres long by ten wide. A balcony ran around the space, one story up, supported by thick stone columns. The whole space was lit dimly by flaming torches. Up the far end was a set of massive wood door, the entrance to the great hall.

That's where we're going.

There was a scuffing noise of shoes on stone. Nat looked up, dark robed figures started to emerge from the shadows on the floor above.

'Stay where you are, place your weapons on the ground and you will not be harmed,' rang out a voice.

Nat glanced over at Harry, their eyes met.

'SCATTER!'

Nat hurled herself sideways, just as the first blast of energy slammed into the ground at her feet. She sprinted toward the side wall of the room as more magic rained down around her, vaporizing the rock where it hit. Nat flung her self behind one of the massive stone columns as magic hammered the other side of it. There was a booming report of shotgun fire. Nat popped out around her pillar, spraying tracers upwards toward her assailants. Across the room Harry and Hermione were hunkered down behind the same pillar, G-36s spitting fire at those above Nat. As she watched, Ron appeared from behind another stone column, sprinting up the rows. Magical energy slammed into the ground and walls behind him. Just as the blasts caught up he threw himself forward, disappearing behind a new pillar. Nat ducked back behind her own pillar as more fire assailed her from above. Crouching down she swiped away her nearly depleted mag and rammed anew one into place. They had to get rid of the wizards above them...

'Seeker, where are the guys above me?'

Harry's voice returned to her through the headset. 'Look around and I'll show you.'

Nat popped her head around the pillar again. Tracers erupted from the sides of Harry's pillar, disappearing right above Nat.

'They're just a little to my right of that now.'

'Roger.'

With that Natalie put down her gun and unclipped one of the RDX grenades from her belt, then unsheathed her wand.

This had better work.

She pulled the pin with her teeth, pressing the lever down with her hand. Holding her wand in the other she pointed it at the grenade.

'Callusadhisio!'

A bright stream of light flew from her wand tip and hit the grenade, marking a purple patch on its surface. Slowly the patch began to grow. Nat re-sheathed her wand and let the colour spread for a second; then looking up at about the point that Harry had described, tossed the grenade upwards.

Clink.

The arming lever flew off as it soared through the air till thunk the grenade hit the underside of the balcony, and stuck fast. Nat was already up and running, grabbing her gun as she went. Spells and curses whipped around her as she ran, pummeling the rock at her pounding feet.

...two - one thousand, three - one thousand, four...

Pound for pound RDX is approximately six times more powerful than C4. When it explodes it makes a big impression.

KABOOM!

Nat's grenade went off. High velocity gasses expanded out from the epicenter, demolishing everything in their path. The stone support pillar holding up the balcony blasted outward, throwing stone and shrapnel out across the foyer. Devoid of any support the platform above collapsed. Stone, wood and Death Eaters rained downward onto the floor below. Black cloaks slammed into the fallen rock, rolling down the rubble like rag dolls, arms and legs flailing at angles they were never meant to bend to. Nat ran back towards the carnage she had just created, Colt Commando up on her shoulder, its red laser sight slicing through he dust cloud. One of the dark cloaks started to get up, raising a wand in its hand. Nat's combat boot connected squarely with the robe's face, sending it crashing backwards into a piece of rubble, never to rise again.

* * *

09 Jun 03: Mount Megiddo

2020h

Draco Malfoy slowly brought his broomstick into line with the fleeing Union pilot. He grinned, enjoying the moment. His elation was quickly cut off as a burning pain in his upper arm cut into his consciousness.

What! Now!

Draco couldn't believe it, the Dark Mark on his arm was burning, his master was calling him back.

But now? At a time like this?

Swearing to himself Draco drew his wand, and disappeared from the battlefield.

* * *

09 Jun 03: Running Battle - Lobby Area; Durmstrang

2025h

Nat rammed a fresh mag into her gun and looked back. She was about halfway up the entrance hall, moving toward the doors at the end. Those were her final destination. She rolled back up onto her feet again, tensing behind her column, ready to run to the next bit of cover.

KABANG!

The side door in front of Nat flew open, revealing no less than four Death Eaters, looking down the length of their wands directly at her! The wizards exploded out through the door, screaming curses and hexes at the tops of their voices. Time slowed down. Nat threw herself towards them, dropping her gun and sailing through the air as the rock exploded behind her. Fragments of destroyed stonework soared through the air, following her boots...

Time caught up.

She slammed into one of the wizards, crash tackling him linebacker style and bearing him to the ground. The Death Eater moaned as the wind was knocked out of him. Nat and her enemy slid along the ground together. Wham! His head connected with the wall, skull collapsing in on itself, killing the man instantly. Nat glanced behind her. One of the dark wizard's compatriots was raising his wand again. Nat kicked out backwards, both feet connected with the unfortunate magician and he went over. With the momentum of her kick still going, Nat straightened her arms, throwing herself off her first victim. Her body followed her feet twisting in the air and landed in a crouched position on the stonework. She lashed out sideways, knocking a Death Eater's feet out from under him. She stood up, turning to face the other wizard.

WHAM!

Nat had the wind knocked out of her as the man's fist connected with her kidneys and she was thrown off her feet. Nat's shoulder connected heavily with the ground, popping as it did so. From her prone position she looked up at her assailant, he was a big man, about six-nine and heavily built.

Crap.

Nat rolled back up onto her feet, coming up in the classic hand to hand combat pose, left side leading. The man advanced, cracking his knuckles as he came. She edged backwards, out of the cover of the pillar.

KABLAM!

Magical energy earthed itself next to her. Nat jumped back behind the pillar, still in her combat pose, still facing her enemy.

Well this makes things interesting.

If she didn't move around enough, she would get pulverized. On the other hand, if she moved outside the cover of the stonework she was going to be turned into so much cooked dog meat.

Great.

Her enemy swung; a massive haymaker. Nat ducked under it, keeping tight, not wanting to stray to far from her cover. The big man swung again, a closer punch this time, Nat caught it on her arm, the impact almost knocking her over and elbowed her enemy in the solar plexus; he didn't even respond.

Not good.

The man struck at her again and again. It was all Nat could do not to step out of her safe zone, let alone lay in her own attacks. The Death Eater swung again, Nat took a step backwards, her heel appearing outside the pillar's shadow.

BLAM!

The rock next to her foot exploded in a shower of magical fire. She spun around, ducking in behind the column's protective bulk. The enemy's fist whistled over her head, missing it by millimetres. Nat came to a halt, backed up against the cold stonework of the pillar. She looked up, just in time to see a flesh colored mass rushing at her face! She ducked down, the wizard's fist slammed into the stone, knocking a chunk out above Nat's head.

Holy crap! What's this guy on!?

He swung again. Nat threw herself forward...

...right between her assailant's legs!

She slid through the gap on her stomach then rolled back upright. She spun around, leg flying out in a massive roundhouse kick that connected with the man's back. He went flying forward into the column with a crack of bones breaking. The Death Eater peeled himself off the stone and turned to face Nat, blood dripping from his nose.

'You're gonna pay for that girly.'

He lashed out, arm coming through in a wide right hook. The "girly" saw her chance. It all happened in a split second. Nat caught the punch as it came through, twisted her own forearm around to lock into his and stepped forward. Her right hand came up, landing on the man's shoulder and her foot went in behind his legs. The foot came up, sweeping away the Death Eater's support, just as she pushed with her right arm, tipping her enemy over backwards. He fell, puling them both outside the cover of the pillar! Magical energy flashed through the air as a dozen righteous Death Eaters opened fire from the balcony above. Nat pulled her captive around in front of her. The big man screamed as spells and curses slammed into his body, rupturing internal organs all the way down to the cellular level. The fire eased, Nat dropped what remained of her human shield and ducked back in behind cover and picked up her carbine from where she had abandoned it. It was fine, but the magazine was toast, melted where a spell had hit it. Swearing, Nat wrenched it out and slammed a new one into place. She looked up toward the end of the room. The two Death Eaters she had missed were a gap up, exchanging fire with the marines on the other side of the space. Nat launched herself out from behind cover, racing up toward where the two were standing. Fire erupted from the balcony opposite, tracking her as she ran, rock exploding behind her as the water inside superheated, showering her with red hot shrapnel. Nat threw herself forward, just as the next shot landed under her feet. She hit the deck hard, rolling up behind one of the Death Eaters. Her foot flew out, slamming into the back of the man's knees. He started to go down and Nat brought her gun but around.

Crack!

The butt connected with his head. The wizard collapsed, grey matter seeping from where his skull had cracked just above his ear. His buddy started to turn towards Nat, wand up. Nat's kick pummeled the man's hand, sending the piece of wood flying. The carbine came up.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

The Death Eater's face exploded as three rounds entered it directly between the eyes.

'Nat, this is Seeker,' came through her ear piece, 'hurry up, we're nearly at the doors.'

Nat spoke into her mic. 'Sorry sir, got a little caught up, be there shortly.'

Nat slung her carbine over her shoulder and drew her Five-seveN. In the other appeared her wand.

Time to rock and roll.

She erupted from behind cover, sprinting down the row of columns. Magical energy roared around her, slamming into the ground, kicking up razor-sharp shards of rock. Slowly the blasts caught up with her. Nat launched herself into the air, flipping her legs up sideways and kicked off the nearest pillar. She spun herself again, binging her feet in line with the wall. Nat hit it, collapsed her legs and jumped again, sending herself further into the air. The force sent her tumbling, legs going over the top of her head; she twisted round, still upside down, bringing her guns to bear.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

Magic slammed into the wall below her, missing her head by inches. Then her bullets struck home, the Death Eaters lining the balcony fell backwards, red gouts of blood erupting across their chests. Pure raw magic burst from Nat's wand, the rock of the platform below the enemy exploded where it hit, crumbling onto the level underneath.

Nat hit the ground, rolled commando style then was back up on her feet and running, gun pointed toward the enemy. More shots rang out as the Five-seveN spat metallic death. There was only one more gap between her and the final set of pillars. She could see Hermione hunkered down at the end, covering Nat with her G-36. She raced out into the final gap, curses and hexes slammed in around her; Nat returned fire...

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Click!

Out of ammo.

Bight beams of light flew around Nat's head. They were going high. She dropped, sliding along the floor, leg outstretched like a base-baller as an absolute hailstorm of magic tore the air above her apart. Shards of red hot rock sizzled down, stinging Nat's face as she slid the final few feet to the pillar. Her feet went behind cover; Nat slammed her soles down and pushed up with her arms, rolling upright beside Hermione, just as the last blasts of energy hit the rock wall.

'HIEE! DOZO!'

Braniac gave her a calculating look. 'Do you even know what that means?'

'Nope, but it sounds funky,' returned Nat, sliding a fresh clip into her Five-seveN.

'Whatever,' replied the Lieutenant.

With that she popped out around the side of the pillar, spraying fire toward the enemy with her G-36. Nat re-sheathed her wand and pistol, then unslung the Colt. Automatic fire seemed the best way to go from here. She stood up, the leant around the stone and opened up. Magic lanced back at her, smashing into the column, cratering and blackening the surface. Nat's bullets found their mark; the dark wizards on the balcony went down as their chests exploded in a mist of red. There was a high pitched scream as another enemy fell over the railing, face a mess of blood. Nat's clip went dry and she ducked back into cover. The empty mag clattered to the floor. Nat looked over her shoulder as the fresh slid smoothly into place. There were only a few enemies left on the other side, most sheltered down behind statues or suits of armor. Ron's face appeared around one of the pillars, shotgun raised.

BOOM! BOOM!

The jackhammer, the only truly automatic shotgun in the world fired, its drum mag spinning to bring a new shell to bear. Seconds later a massive wave of magic flew back from the Death Eaters, pulverizing the stonework near Ron's head. The Sergeant quickly withdrew. Nat flicked her weapon over to three round burst and leaned around the pillar again.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Another wizard went down; slumping at the feet of the armored knight he was hiding behind. Harry's head appeared around the base of the pillar. Before he could even snap off a shot, bright beams of destructive energy slammed down around him.

The Captain's voice broke through Nat's comm. 'Braniac, Nat. We're kind of pinned down here, can you do anything?'

Hermione looked at Nat. 'You got any frags?'

'Nope, RDX, flashers and smoke.'

The Lieutenant shook her head. 'Well, I don't particularly feel like bringing the roof down on our heads, here...'

She tossed a spherical fragmentation grenade to Nat.

'...I'll cover you, lob that onto the balcony. GO!'

They jumped out from cover at exactly the same time. Nat ripped the pin from the grenade and hurled it onto the floor above them. Hermione sprayed fire from her G-36 keeping the enemies' heads down. The marine's clip went dry and the two ducked back under cover.

KABOOM!

The frag exploded, spraying metal shards in all directions. Those that didn't jump behind cover were torn to pieces as the fragments scythed through the air. From the other side of the space came the booming report of Ron's shotgun, mixed with the tinier noises of Harry's G-36 and Ginny's M249. The fire ceased, Nat popped around her own pillar, nailing the last remaining dark wizard on the other side of the hall. There was a meaty thud as the corpse of what had once been a man hit the lower floor.

Hermione appeared from behind the pillar. 'Ok, everyone right?'

The others slowly appeared from behind their cover, weapons still leveled.

'Yeah, just about,' said Ginny.

The Lieutenant's face took on a softer expression. 'What about you Harry, are you ready?'

'I guess so,' replied the Captain grimly.

Nat walked over to him.

'Good luck,' was all she said, then kissed him hard on the lips.

When they parted he looked down at her. 'That's fraternization you know.'

'I don't care.'

* * *

09 Jun 03: Mount Megiddo

2045h

Rear Admiral Jordan looked down from her smoke filled bridge at the scene below. She couldn't believe it. The Union tanks were rolling back out of their defensive lines, guns blazing. Mechs strode out across the trenches, blasting the enemy infantry, the giants had fled. This was not supposed to happen, when they had retreated back this far, both she had General McMahon had agreed, it would be the end, the final loss of the Union. But twenty minutes ago the enemy offensive had gone to shit, paving the way for this roll out. What the hell had happened?

The only way she could explain it would be if the entire command structure had somehow broken down; as if all the brass had left. But surely, even wizards wouldn't be stupid enough to do that in the middle of a battle, would they?

* * *

09 Jun 03: Durmstrang Institute; Bulgaria

2046h

Nat took up her position, ready to open the doors into the great hall of Durmstrang, Voldemort's throne room. She and Ron faced Ginny across the divide in the wood. Harry and Hermione were further back, down behind a pillar, Hermione serving as BG for her CO.

Nat looked over at Ginny. 'You ready?'

'As ever.'

Nat pushed down her handle at the same time Ginny hit hers. They braced their shoulders against the doors, and slowly, ponderously the heavy wood swung open. Beyond them was the great hall, all dimly lit stone and dark green hangings. Closer to the door however was a group of around thirty wizards. They looked like they had just walked off a battlefield, some still wore their pilots' kit, others were covered in dust...

They were Jordan's missing brass.

Whatever they were wearing all had two things in common.

All had wands leveled at the door...

...and all looked mighty pissed off.

'Eh. Heh' said Nat waving sheepishly. 'Wrong door.'

An absolutely gigantic wave of raw magical power erupted from the Death Eater's wands. Nat and Ron threw themselves out of the way just as the explosion of heat and energy roared through the doorway. Ginny wasn't so lucky. The young marine was picked up in the torrent of spells and curses and flung backwards, gun firing reflexively as she went over; flying backwards through the air. Nat and Ron fetched up behind the nearest pillar. Nat had her Colt at the ready, as the flow of magic started to ebb she burst out from behind the column, jamming her finger down on the trigger of her weapon. Rounds shot out of the barrel, slamming into the Death Eater ranks. Some went down, spattering their comrades with blood, but not enough. Nat swore to herself, they were so close. She ducked back in behind her pillar just as her mag went dry. Ron was there, breathing hard, face red with rage. Nat looked over at him as she rammed home her new mag.

'You ok?'

'They killed her. They fucking killed her.'

'Ok,' said Nat, 'calm down.'

Ron turned to her and held out his jackhammer. 'Take this.'

'Why where are you going?'

The Sergeant pulled something from his webbing. 'To avenge my sister.'

'Ron, that's a very stupid idea...'

Ron stepped out from behind the pillar. Death Eaters swung their wands around to face him, but held their fire. Was this guy insane? The red headed Sergeant walked slowly towards them, eyes looking out from a mask of hatred, fists clenched tight. None of them heard him muttering under his breath...

'You killed her. You barstards. You fucking killed her. You killed my sister. You killed my fucking little sist...'

'Avada Kedavra!'

The killing curse hit Ron in the chest. The man's lifeless body slumped to the floor, and his fists fell open.

Clink. Clink.

The arming levers flew off the two fragmentation grenades as the little round charges rolled, bouncing across the floor. They rolled through the legs of the first rank of Death Eaters, into the centre of the group.

KABOOM! BOOM!

The two frags exploded. Metal shards ripped into the grouped Death Eaters, tearing through any soft body part they encountered; to a fragmentation grenade, all body parts are soft. Legs, torsos, heads whatever, they were all torn to shreds by the blast. Nat leapt out from behind her pillar, just as the last shards passed her by. She brought her weapon up and squeezed the trigger. Ron's shotgun boomed in her hands. One of the surviving dark wizards went down as a mass of red explosions racked his body. Hermione was also on her feet, G-36 up and firing; a fresh clip giving the assault rifle a new lease of life. A man leveled his wand in Nat's direction.

BOOM!

His head disappeared in a mist of red blood. Another two Death Eaters fell to Hermione's bullets. Out of the corner of her eye Nat saw another dark shape, she swung the jackhammer around, to late; the wizard already had his wand pointed at her head.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three red explosions ripped through the man's chest. Nat whirled around to see Harry staring down the barrel of his rifle at her assailant.

'Thanks.'

Nat scanned the room; there were not any Death Eaters left; down the far end of the hall, illuminated by red torches, sat a skinny figure, covered from head to foot in black robes. The figure was seated in a massive stone throne, its boney fingers resting on the arms of the chair. The head rose, revealing dark red eyes.

'Ah yes, the great Mister Potter,' came the voice. It was high and frail, but beneath it was a coldness that chilled Nat to the bone.

Harry walked further into the room. 'Lord Voldemort.'

Nat started to rise, gun coming up, but Harry motioned her to stay where she was. 'Stay there, guard the door. This one's mine.'

Harry walked slowly toward the Dark Lord. As he moved he unslung his G-36, dropping it on the ground. His scar began to throb; automatically, almost without thinking, Harry emptied his mind, setting the mental barriers that had become second nature during the war.

Voldemort stood up, stepping down from his throne. 'Potter, there seems to be something interrupting our link, this is, most vexing.'

Harry drew his wand, clenching it tightly in his hand.

'Expelliarmus!'

The full force of the spell hit Harry square in the chest, throwing him bodily backwards, wand flying from his hand. He hit the floor and rolled back up onto his feet and leapt away as another blast of energy earthed itself. He flew through the air, fetching up against a statue. Potter reached down, drawing his Desert Eagle pistol, pulled back the cocking slide and looked up. Above him towered one of Durmstrang's founding fathers, held for all eternity in a stained glass window. Harry erupted out from behind his hiding place.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The D'eagle went off, spitting fire and hollow point rounds. Voldemort was forced to dodge aside as the bullets sped through the air. Harry never heard what he said next. Bright purple energy lanced out from Voldemort's wand.

Harry ran.

Magical energy thundered into the floor around him, the rock exploding where the spells hit, always just behind his fleeing feet. Gunfire erupted from the far end of the hall as Nat and Hermione opened up through the doors. They just had to hold out till Harry was finished. The marine dove for the floor and rolled, coming up firing. Harry jinxed left as more magic assailed him. There, just next to another statue was his wand. He reached down into his webbing, puling out a cylindrical grenade. Still running he pulled the pin with his teeth and lobbed the thing towards Voldemort.

BOOM! HISSSSS!

The room started to fill with dense orange smoke, shooting from the base of the grenade and cutting visibility to zero. Harry dashed towards the statue as the smoke shielded him from view. As he ran he slapped a new clip into his gun, dropping the almost empty mag on the floor. He arrived at the statue, reached down and scooped up his wand. Green fire suddenly erupted through the smoke screen. Harry threw himself out of the way as it raced past and slammed into the statue which exploded, showering him in red hot rock fragments. Harry roared in agony as a shard slipped in under his armor, lodging itself in his shoulder. He shunted the burning pain aside then moved his recovered wand through a complex motion. A transparent gold shield materialized, covering the entire forearm. More fire erupted from the smoke, pummeling the ground around Harry. He brought his pistol around and squeezed the trigger. The gun boomed in report, fire bursting from its muzzle.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Click!

The slide stuck in its rearward position. No more ammo left. Harry threw the now useless weapon aside, and ran.

* * *

Nat rammed the fresh mag into her Colt, and aimed it back into the entrance hall. Behind her the entire room was full of bright orange smoke.

Come on Harry, we can't hold here much longer.

Another wizard appeared in the gloom. Nat's laser sight cut through the darkness.

BANG!

He dropped as blood sprayed from the hole in his skull. Nat had discarded the jackhammer when it ran out of shells, now working solely with the carbine. More Death Eaters were charging up between the columns. Nat flicked the weapon to three round burst and jammed the trigger down. Fire erupted from the muzzle of her gun. Another wizard went down, red explosions riddling his chest. Magical energy blasted the ground next to Nat, adding to its already pitted, destroyed surface. More shots raced in at the two marines. Nat threw herself sideway as another blast sliced through the air towards her.

She wasn't quick enough.

The beam of magic whirled past her leg, burning deep into the flesh. Nat crashed onto the floor, clutching the wounded limb, swearing though gritted teeth, gun forgotten for the moment.

'Fuck, pain, fuck, pain, fuck, pain, fuck, pain, fuck, fuck, FARRRKKK!'

She leaned her back against the wall, still holding the wound tightly. With the other hand she reached into her webbing and drew out a pressure bandage. Two minutes later she was done. Shunting aside the hurt, Nat picked up her carbine ready to rejoin the fight.

* * *

More fire flew from the smoke at Harry; he brought the shield around, deflecting the blast away. Another beam of energy ricocheted of his shield, demolishing another statue into red hot shrapnel. Shots erupted from Harry's wand as he fired blind into the gloom. Another lance whizzed past his head. From the smoke two cracks issued out in rapid succession.

A sound just like...

...someone Apparateing.

The next blast came from a completely unexpected direction. Harry bought his shield up just in time.

CRASH!

The force of the spell threw him backwards, straight out through the stained glass window!

Harry threw out a desperate hand, grabbing the frame of the window. Shattered glass cut into his palm and fingers as he swung back, slamming his head into the stonework.

It was like opening a flood gate.

All his carefully constructed barriers crumbled as the pain racked his skull. Suddenly he was linked with Voldemort, part of him was now seeing through the Dark Lord's eyes. The golden shield winked out of existence as he lost concentration.

But; if he was seeing through the Dark Lord's eyes, then Voldemort could see through his.

Oh crap.

Harry struggled to pull himself up through the window, dragging himself across the shattered glass, praying that his body armor would stop it from shredding his stomach. In the hall the smoke was starting to disperse. Harry glanced around; to his left was a slightly darker patch of orange. Just in time Harry dodged aside as the beam of raw magic erupted through the smoke. He brought his wand up with his left hand, returning fire. With his right Harry drew the sword from is sheath on his back; the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Bight light rocketed towards the Captain, almost without thinking he brought the sword round. The spell slammed into the blade, ricocheting off into the night...

...and Harry found a use for his link.

He grabbed the weapon in both hands, readying it in a guard position. Voldemort's next salvo roared in on the young wizard, but Harry already knew where it was coming from. The sword flashed through the air, catching the spells on its blade, sending them shooting off into space. All he had to do now was keep reactive, and the enemy would be on the back foot all the way. Through the thinning smoke Harry could see his opponent now, wand raised. Voldemort attacked again. Harry didn't even bother to return fire. He fell back, swinging Gryffindor's sword through the air, parrying away the spells, sending their destructive energy screeching into the inanimate stone. The blade hissed and sizzled as it cut through the air, leaving blue afterimages behind, its blade brightened to incandescence by the energy absorbed. The next salvo screamed through, slamming into the ground a Harry's feet, blasting the rock into a million sharp fragments. The marine staggered backwards, fetching up against the stone wall of the hall. Then Harry felt it, a slight twinge, Voldemort was tiring. Another burst of raw magic erupted from the wizard's wand. Harry brought his sword up, sending the blast upwards, ducking underneath it and darting forwards.

Reactive all the way in.

Spells screamed past him, fired in rapid succession as Voldemort fought to defend himself. Harry dodged, feinting left, then right, slashing what he couldn't dodge away into the hall. Suddenly he was upon his nemesis. Harry swung the blade around and plunged it into his enemy's chest.

Voldemort screamed; a high, earsplitting shriek. The marine twisted the blade and rammed his wand in beside it.

You can't kill me came Voldemort's voice in his head not without killing yourself, we're linked...

'Then I die with you!' roared Harry. 'AVADA KEDAVRA!'

* * *

Nat turned toward the yell. Hermione also whipped around. Harry stood in the middle of the great hall; his sword plunged deep into Voldemort's chest.

'Avada Kedavra!'

The Dark Lord screamed; a scream of pure terror and agony. Bright golden light erupted from his eyes and mouth, shooting up into the gloom.

Hermione turned to Nat. 'This is where we run.'

She grabbed the Pilot Officer, hauling to her feet. Abandoning their weapons they sprinted away, the only escape route possible, the windows.

CRASH!

The two Union fighters exploded out through the stained glass, shards and lead raining down around them. They hit the ground a story below, rolling down the muddy slope, fetching up beside an outbuilding and looked up. Golden light was streaming from the windows of the hall, a roaring sound or tortured air filled their ears. The light grew brighter, painful to watch, then.

KABOOM!

The building exploded, fire and rubble streaming up into the sky. Windows shattered, blasting outwards. A massive shockwave burst out of the fiery heart of the explosion. It expanded outward, shaking the earth below it and annihilating everything in its path. Nat and Hermione threw themselves behind their outbuilding as rubble and debris rained down, crashing into the ground and rolling down the hill. They hunkered down as a literal avalanche of rock assaulted them, bouncing away down the slope.

Slowly the rumble subsided. Carefully Nat peeked around the side of the building. Of the great hall there was nothing left, just the foundations and the remains of a wall here and there. Smoke rose from the ruins, twisting its way into the evening sky. She pulled back behind the wall and slumped against the stonework.

Harry was gone.

She looked over at Hermione. The Lieutenant already had her emergency radio out. She pulled the tag to set its homing beacon transmitting, then crawled over towards Nat.

'Ok, how about you give us a look at that leg.'

* * *

11 Jun 03: Durmstrang Ruins; Bulgaria

0530h

The early morning mist curled away, twisting in eddies and swirls as it was hit by the downwash from the two massive Pave Low III helicopters. Gently the big machines touched down, rotor blades still beating the air. From one jumped two units of fully armed marines, they hit the ground running, setting up a perimeter. The marine Lieutenant ran up to the taller of the three and saluted.

'Perimeter set sir.'

General Simon "The Pharaoh" McMahon returned the salute. 'Thank you Lieutenant.'

The Pharaoh walked slowly to the edge of the marine perimeter. Behind him the noise of engines faded away as the pilots shut down. He looked down at his companions.

'What do you think Squadron Leader? Major? Anyone alive?'

Cho Chang drew her flight jacket closer around her against the chill. 'I don't know sir. I really don't know.'

'I've got to concur with her sir.' said Major Marquette. 'But it was a marine beacon, if anyone can get through, it's us marines.'

They stood, staring out into the mist. Finally McMahon beckoned the marine Lieutenant over.

'Lieutenant, I want you and you men to condu...'

He stopped mid sentence, looking out into the mist. One of the marines in the perimeter came up to a crouch, bringing his rifle up to firing position. The Pharaoh followed the man's gun. There, out in the fog. A figure, two figures, one supported by the other, moving slowly towards the Union force. Carefully the marine stood up, lowering his weapon. Gradually the perimeter began to stand, lowering weapons, watching as the two figures came closer, individual features began to resolve through the fog; the vapor swirling away in front of them. They came to a halt in front of the officers.

'Granger? Boone?' said Cho quietly.

Natalie threw Cho a salute and smiled weakly. 'Reporting ma'am.'

Cho returned the gesture. 'Sit down Pilot Officer, you too you too Lieutenant; God knows you two have earned it. Can we get a medical team over here!?'

Nat relaxed as the medics lay her back on the stretcher, covering her with a reflective space blanket to keep her warm. That was it, over, finished, done with. They had won, it had come at a cost, but, then again, victory never had been cheap...

* * *

They will not grow old, as we who are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

The Ode