Chapter 15: Showdown-Pt. 1

Chapter 15: Showdown Pt. 1

"AHEM!" Lucius cleared his throat loudly. Nicola blinked back into reality. Hermione was still watching her with suspicious eyes. Nicola frowned.

"Get out of the way," she said sternly. Hermione laughed.

"Do you really think that I'm just going to stand to the side and let you in the school? How dense can you get?" Hermione said. Ava smiled a little. Nicola shot Ava a hard glance and looked as though she was trying her hardest not to curse her into oblivion. Then she turned her gaze back to Hermione. Hermione was definitely enjoying herself. Nicola met her eyes for a moment, and Hermione grinned evilly.

Narishi, Hermione thought. Nicola flinched a bit. She made a face like she was hearing something particularly nerve-racking. She dropped Hermione's wand, and Ava made a move to pick it up. Lucius looked at Nicola. Ava turned to run inside.

"Hermione, come on!" Ava yelled back at her friend. Hermione blinked and smiled. Then she turned to run off with Ava. Lucius looked down at Nicola, who was holding her ears. He touched her. She popped up and watched the girls run away.

"Are you okay?" Lucius asked, taking a step forward. Nicola rounded on him, glaring murderously, and then turned back around.

"She's a Soliopath. Excellent. This makes my life a hell of a lot easier," she said loudly and sarcastically. She rubbed her ears. She pushed the large door open and walked in the school.

Hermione and Ava ran into Ginny, Aurora, and Neve.

"We're under attack. We just saw Malfoy and that Italian chick from Diagon Alley," Hermione said. Neve and Ginny nodded.

"We need to alert Dumbledore and the Ministers," Ginny said.

"Ginny and Aurora, go with Hermione to get Dumbledore. Neve, you and I will find the others and try to head the Death Eaters off," Ava said. They all glanced at each other.

"Good luck," Hermione said. Ava nodded and looked at Neve.

"Ready?" she asked. Neve nodded sadistically.

"Are you kidding? I live for this," Neve said, brandishing her wand. Ava shook her head and rolled her eyes. They went the opposite direction from Ginny, Aurora, and Hermione.

Meanwhile, Draco and Harry watched as the Death Eaters surrounded Bellatrix. She just smiled at them as though nothing was happening around them. Harry squeezed his wand tighter.

"Have any bright ideas, Potter?" Draco whispered urgently. Harry shook his head.

"What about you?" Harry whispered back.

"Leave it to me," Draco whispered. "Get back inside the school."

"Are you sure?" Harry looked over at Draco as if he'd said something offensive. Draco nodded. "Can you handle all of them?"

"Who says I need to handle all of them? Death Eaters are like certain kinds of animals. They won't fight without their apparent leader. Now, go before I change my mind, Potter," Draco said. Harry took a step back inside the school.

"Good luck," he whispered. Draco nodded and continued staring intently at Bellatrix.

"You really intend to hurt me, nephew?" Bellatrix said. Draco smiled and nodded slowly.

"Why else would I be standing here?" Draco readied his wand. His smirk never left his face. They stood still as stones for about a minute, and then Bellatrix struck.

"Expelliarmus!" she yelled. Draco dodged the spell and smiled openly now. Bellatrix was a little stunned at his speed, considering she was standing only five feet away from him. "A little fast on your feet, aren't you, boy?" she asked sarcastically. Draco nodded.

"Maybe a little too fast for you, dear sweet Aunt Bellatrix." Draco smirked and Bellatrix scowled. The Death Eaters behind her drew their wands. Bellatrix held up a hand.

"No one interfere. He's mine," she said in a deadly tone, never taking her eyes off Draco. Draco merely smiled at her.

"Gli scarafaggi seguono!" he blurted out. Bellatrix tried to dodge, but the curse followed her until it hit her. She flinched, but nothing happened. She looked up at Draco.

"It seems your little curse has no affect on me, baby Malfoy," she said arrogantly. Draco merely smirked.

"Oh, don't worry, AUNT Bellatrix. You won't be saying anything in about five minutes anyway. Cadere!" he yelled again unexpectedly. Bellatrix clearly was not expecting this, so she was hit and instantly sucked to the ground. She tried to stand up, but her muscles would not allow her to do so. The other Death Eaters watched her, confused as to what to do. Draco took this time of confusion and amazement to strike again. "Legatura insieme!" he yelled. Several strips of white light flew from his wand. All the Death Eaters watched as they were drawn together. The light secured itself around them. Bellatrix finally was able to stand up.

"You will regret that, Draco," she mumbled.

"Yeah, whatever you say, AUNT Bellatrix," he mocked her. Bellatrix opened her mouth to retaliate, but closed it soon after. Draco smiled. His curse was taking effect. He could have sworn Bellatrix's face turned a light shade of green. She fell to her knees and dropped her wand. Opening her mouth, roaches spilled out of it openly. Once it stopped, it started up again. Draco tried his hardest not to just burst out laughing. The other Death Eaters were all making faces. "Accio wands!" he yelled. All their wands went flying towards him. "I'll be seeing you, AUNT Bellatrix." Draco turned to go. He did not see the small figure coming around the pillar.

Harry turned the corner and ran squarely into Ron and Neville. They flew back onto the ground. Ron was first up and pulled his two friends back up.

"You're pretty solid, Ron. It hurt running into you more than it did hitting the ground," Harry said, rubbing his shoulder. Ron smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment. We heard there was some kind of disturbance. What's going on?" he asked. That was when Angelina and Fred ran up beside them.

"What's going on, Harry?" Angelina asked, panting.

"We're under attack. I left Draco alone with Bell..."

"You left him ALONE! Harry, what the bloody hell were you thinking!" Ron yelled loudly. Harry winced.

"Hush, Ron. Someone's coming," Harry said, pushing them all into the wall. He peered around the corner and saw Draco. Sighing, he stepped out.

"So, how'd it go?" Harry asked. Draco smiled rather smugly.

"I think I did rather well, Potter. Where are the others?" he asked. Harry shrugged.

"At the moment, this is all I could find. Hogwarts is a really big school, Draco. They could be anywhere," Harry said, looking around. He looked slightly past Draco's head, but before he could say anything, a curse was heard.

"Stupefy!" the person yelled. Harry decided words were not of any use at this point and pushed Draco down with one hand. With the other, he threw up a barrier. All the wands that Draco was carrying fell and scattered across the floor. Harry looked up and saw well-toned girl in a black robe standing there. She looked somewhat like the twins, Rina and Lina. Her face showed no emotion. Angelina took out her wand.

"Stay where you are!" she yelled. The girl merely stared at them with the same blank expression as before. Angelina held her wand shakily, not sure of what to do next. Ron answered that question for her.

"Expelliarmus!" he yelled. The girl made no move to dodge. She just continued to glare at them with no readable expression on her face. Ron smirked as the girl just stood there. "Now, stay where you are. Lega..." Ron began the charm, but did not finish, as he found himself unable to move. His eyes darted to the side. The girl still showed no signs of emotion.

"Ron? What happened?" Angelina asked. Neville's eyes widened in realization.

"She paralyzed him," he whispered. Before he could pull his wand, he also found himself unable to move. The girl had paralyzed him also.

"Rictusempra!" Fred yelled. This time, the girl had to make a move. She slid to the side and picked up her wand in one fluid motion. She was rather light on her feet. She immediately pointed the wand very close to Harry's nose.

"Drop your wands or he gets it," she said. Not wanting to risk Harry's life, everyone obediently dropped their wands. "Stand up," she said to Harry and Draco. They both got up obediently. That was when the Tremaine sisters rounded the corner with Luna. Before they were seen, they ducked around the corner. The girl's eyes never left Harry's. Then, a very pissed Bellatrix Lestrange walked up behind the girl.

"That was a rather tricky curse, baby Malfoy," she grumbled. Draco smirked.

"Yeah, well, I do try," Draco said smugly. Bellatrix would have liked nothing more than to slap him at that exact moment. Instead, she just looked around on the ground for her wand. She picked it up along with the others. Meanwhile, Rina and Lina were devising a plan.

"On the count of three, you two reverse the paralysis on Ron and Neville. I'll throw everyone off guard with the light charm. Be quick about it. Okay?" Lina whispered softly. Rina and Luna inclined their heads just barely, so only Lina could tell they had done so. "One, two..."

"Well, it seems that this is your end, Potter," Bellatrix said spitefully. Harry just smirked. He knew what was about to happen and was smiling on the inside. Bellatrix looked annoyed with him. "Wipe that smirk off your face, Potter. You, of all people, shouldn't be smirking this close to your doom," she said dryly. Harry just closed his eyes.

Luna, Rina, and Lina are about to set a plan into action. They're hiding behind the wall behind us. When you hear their curses, pick up your wands and run as fast as you can in the opposite direction, he said using telepathy to the others. Not knowing what to do, they all grunted in response. Bellatrix looked suspiciously around at them. Something was not right. Before she could say anything, a voice was heard.

"...THREE!" Lina yelled. The three girls appeared around the corner and pointed their wands.

"Finite incantatem!" Luna yelled, pointing at Neville.

"Finite incantatem!" Rina yelled pointing at Ron. Before Lina could do her charm, everyone immediately dropped to the ground, picking up their wands. When Lina saw all of them drop, she decided it was time.

"Lumos maxima!" A blinding light filled the hallway. Lina felt everyone rush past her. She sensed someone else directly in front of her. Dropping the charm, she pointed her wand steadily. Rina stopped and hid. The girl and Lina were holding their wands to each other, about three feet between them. Bellatrix rushed past them and followed the others. Rina watched the other two, careful to stay out of Bellatrix's eyesight. Lina's face softened when she realized who it was. Her sister, Chaylse, was standing directly in front of her. Yet, it was not her sister she was looking at.

"Chaylse?" she asked. Chaylse's face did not change, but she did seem to look a bit confused in her eyes.

"How do you know my name?"

"Chaylse, it's me, Catalina. You don't remember me? I'm your younger sister," Lina said. Chaylse flinched a little, but it was barely noticeable.

"You must be mistaken. I have no family," she said. Lina's face dropped as she realized that her sister's memory had been wiped clean. Chaylse looked slightly past Lina's head and saw a little hair. Taking Lina completely off guard, she grabbed her around the neck and held the wand to her forehead. Lina's wand fell to the floor. "Show yourself," she said. Rina flinched when she realized that she'd been talking to her. She rounded the corner, holding her wand. Rina looked her older sister directly in the eyes. Chaylse flinched visibly when she realized that this girl looked exactly like the one she was holding, with the exception of hair lengths and positioning of the moles on their faces.

"Chaylse?" Rina whispered. Lina looked her sister in the eyes. She knew Rina was not going to be able to curse her own sister.

Elsewhere, the others all slid to a stop when they came to the Great Hall's doors. Draco, who was in front of them, saw the one person he did not care to see at that exact moment. His father stood about ten feet away from him. Nicola stood next to him, and several Death Eaters were along the sides of them. They all turned to go the other way, but Bellatrix came around the corner. Five more Death Eaters had caught up with her.

"Looks like you've run out of options, my dears," Bellatrix said snidely. The seven teenagers all looked at each other.

"Not quite, Bellatrix. You still have to get to us to get to them," Harry said matter-of-factly. He motioned towards the doors of the Great Hall. Nicola scoffed loudly. Everyone's head snapped to her.

"As if that will be hard. Surely, you don't want your friends to be hurt, do you, Potter?" Nicola asked. She was still talking rather loudly from the spell Hermione had placed on her.

"We're prepared to go down fighting, if that's what you're getting at," Angelina said. Nicola smiled.

"No, I'm not talking about you all. But, we do have a little leverage which puts us at an advantage." She stepped to the side, revealing Ava, Neve, and Tommy. Ava was frowning rather deeply, and Neve looked ready to murder. Tommy looked rather placid for one in harm's way. Draco noticed this.

"Let them go," Harry said. Nicola laughed.

"As if YOU telling me that is going to coerce me into doing it. Have a little bit more sense than that, Potter. You'll get a lot further in life, believe me. Now, step aside, and we'll happily give these three back to you," Nicola said. Harry frowned.

Listen, Harry. Hermione, Ginny, and I aren't inside the Great Hall. The Ministers and Mistresses of Magic have been moved to Dumbledore's office. Hermione, Ginny, and I are behind Nicola and Lucius. Throw up a barrier around the others. The barrier has to be really powerful or else it won't work. Hermione and Ginny will put one up around Neve, Tommy, and Ava. I'm going to use the Raiden curse, Aurora transmitted to Harry. Harry blinked. Nicola looked at him impatiently.

"So what's it going to be, Potter? My patience is wearing thin," Nicola said. Harry smirked and nodded.

"All right." He stepped to the side. The other six looked at Harry as if he had gone crazy. Harry looked at Ron and winked slowly. Ron understood immediately and pushed them all together.

Here it goes, Harry, Aurora thought to him just as the three Death Eaters holding Neve, Ava, and Tommy pushed them to the side. Aurora pushed her way through Nicola and Lucius. Hermione ran over to where Tommy, Neve, and Ava were leaning against the wall. Aurora nodded to them, and Harry and Hermione put up their hands. Barriers surrounded them. RAISHI, Aurora thought powerfully. She closed her eyes, and a blinding light was emitted. All the Death Eaters seemed to be drawn to it, and they stared up at it.

Harry watched the curse. It was very bright, but because of his barrier, it was not as intense. The light was indeed mesmerizing. Then he felt a surge of pain in his head. Aurora could not hold the curse that long. Harry looked over at her. She looked like she was in a lot of pain. Suddenly, the curse ended, and both Harry and Aurora passed out.

Nicola blinked and rubbed her eyes. Everything was very blurry and bright. She blinked a couple more times and then ran to the doors of the Great Hall. She blasted them open and saw nothing. She turned to face the teenagers, who were still a little shocked.

"This is far from over. You won't get away from us next time, I assure you. Use your Portkeys," she said sternly to all the Death Eaters. Within seconds, they were all gone.

Back in the other hallway, Rina continued to hold her wand at Lina and Chaylse. Neither seemed to be able to shoot the other.

"Shoot me, Rina," Lina said in a scratchy voice. Chaylse was holding her rather tightly across the neck. Rina shook her head.

"You're both my sisters. I can't blast either one of you."

"Then I'll take that liberty. Crucio!" Chaylse yelled. The curse hit Lina just as Chaylse released her. Lina's body began curling up in pain. She screamed. Rina closed her eyes.

"Rictusempra!" she yelled, not looking at where she pointed it. The curse hit an unsuspecting Chaylse. The curse was lifted from Lina. Lina lay on the ground, reeling, but her screaming had stopped. Chaylse stood and took out a card. With the blink of an eye, she was gone. Rina sighed and ran to her sister. "Lina, are you okay?" she asked, moving Lina's hair out of her face. Lina smiled weakly at her.

"I'll live. I have a feeling she didn't really want to hurt me. That curse wasn't nearly as strong as it should've been. I think she just did it to make you blast her so she could get away," Lina said. Rina helped her stand up.

Later that night, they all ate in the Great Hall. Dumbledore walked serenely up to them. Hermione stood up.

"How are they, Professor?" she asked.

"Harry and Aurora are both fine, but Madam Pomfrey wants to keep them overnight. I want to thank you all. You fought valiantly today, and thanks to you, nothing happened and no information leaked out. However, there is one thing that was brought to my attention," he said.

"What's that?" Draco asked glumly.

"The Ministry informed me that they were also attacked. That is why you were left to fight alone in this matter. It never occurred to you that none of the Aurors or Magi made their way here to assist you?" Dumbledore said. Realization seemed to wash over everyone's face.

"Now that you think about it, it was kind of strange that no one showed up to help us," Neville said. Hermione clasped her hands together.

"Of course! If they attacked both places simultaneously, then no one could save the Ministers of Magic here! They planned it that way. Great strategy, if you ask me," Hermione said. Ron frowned.

"I thought you were on our side," he said. Hermione looked over at him, drinking something out of the flask that had become her best friend.

"Oh, Ron. I was just saying that it was a great plan, whoever thought it up," she replied.

"The real question now is..." Neve began.

"...how did they know that the parchment was telling a lie?" Ava finished. She looked over at her brother, who was staring at his plate of food.

"They could've just taken a wild guess," Lina said. Ava shook her head.

"Not possible. From what I've witnessed, Death Eaters aren't that smart. Someone must have told them that it was here," Ava said. Draco nodded.

"Ava's right," Draco said. Everyone looked at him.

"How so, Malfoy?" Ron asked. Draco sighed.

"If you all cared to noticed, all of the most powerful Death Eaters, with the exception of Voldemort, were here. Why would he send all of his powerful Death Eaters here and just send some expendable ones to the Ministry?" he asked. Dumbledore nodded.

"I hate to say it, but Draco does have a point, you all. That doesn't seem especially strange to you?" Hermione asked Dumbledore. Dumbledore shook his head.

"I am not the least bit surprised. All I can say to that is that someone in the school is the leak. The question is finding out who it is. That most likely will not be easy to find out."

"But, Professor, no one knew about the parchment's concealing charm except us. No one else was on the pitch when Darien and Aiko told us about the charm on the parchment. It was just us. How would anyone else know?" Ginny asked.

"I have absolutely no idea, Ginny," Dumbledore said, sighing. When he did this, he looked as old as ever. "Get some rest. Your trainers will be here tomorrow." Dumbledore glided away. The group all looked at their plates and ate in silence, until it was broken by the great Neve Assante.

"This is just fucking great. Now we have another lying snake amongst us," Neve said in an irritated tone. The others nodded.

"All we have to do is find out who it is," Hermione said. Ava was looking at her brother, who was still staring at his pie. Draco noticed this, but said nothing.

I have a funny premonition on who it is, too, Ava thought to herself.