The Other Black Book 6

Chapter 23 - Flight of the Prince

Aurora collapsed in shock and anger. She heard Snape say, "Out of here, quickly." She heard her mother run over to the edge of the tower where Dumbledore had fallen.

"Petrificus Totalus!" came a shout by the wall, followed by a thump by the door.

Harry's voice.

Aurora still couldn't move. She didn't want to believe... She couldn't believe... Dumbledore couldn't... He couldn't...

"We have to go," came a gentle voice. "We must assist the others. We must-"

"Chase down Snape," Aurora heard herself say. "And Harry. I have to."

"Snape-"

"Killed Dumbledore," Aurora said, pushing herself to her feet. "I don't care what he was to you. He killed Dumbledore. He enraged Harry. Now I must chase them before Harry does something he regrets."

The battle wasn't over. There was more to do. More to face. She had to get up and work. Do what she had to. She could grieve later. She had to grieve later. But right now...

Aurora took off. She was slightly behind Harry, but when she bolted (shooting spells at attacking Death Eaters), she passed Ginny who told her where Harry, Snape, and Draco went. Aurora followed, using instincts, directions, and shortcuts to follow and catch up to Harry and Snape. She knew they would be outside by now; they all had a massive head start on her. Yet, after dodging spell after spell, some Death Eaters right behind her, Aurora made it to the front doors with the group still in her sights.

There were flashes of red light and the shadow of a lumbering figure and Aurora knew that the Death Eaters were trying in vain to stun Hagrid, whose giant blood made him far more impervious to such spells.

Then, from the ground, two Death Eater figures between her and the voice, she heard Harry shout, "Impedimenta!" The two figures fell, tripping over each other, as Harry got back up. Aurora cried out, trying to get his attention, but her shout must've been lost amongst the din of the battle because Harry paid her no mind and shot a Stunning Spell towards the fleeing Snape and Draco.

Snape told Draco to run, then Harry and Snape started dueling.

"Cruc —" Harry started, causing Aurora to scream again.

But Snape parried the curse, knocking Harry backward off his feet before he could complete it; Harry rolled over and scrambled back up again as the huge Death Eater behind him yelled, "Incendio!"

Aurora heard an explosive bang and a dancing orange light spilled over all of them: Hagrid's house was on fire.

"Fang's in there, yer evil — !" Hagrid bellowed.

Aurora stopped listening to the duel. Hagrid was yelling, Harry kept trying to Crucio Snape, poor Fang was yelping, and she was bolting towards Hagrid's house. She froze just outside the door when she heard Harry shout, "Sectum-"

"Harry, no!" She shouted as Snape parried the curse.

In the light of the golden flames, Aurora could see that Snape's face was full of rage. A horrible, terrifying rage, and suddenly she was torn. Aurora knew something about those spells that Harry did not. Harry was making a huge mistake, and she should help him, but poor Fang was stuck inside the burning house and she was barely parrying the spells being thrown at her... Harry raised his wand again, wordlessly, but it seemed Snape still knew what he was attempting to do.

"No, Potter!" screamed Snape. Harry was soaring backward, hitting the ground hard again, and this time his wand flew out of his hand.

Aurora shot some water from her wand then ran to help Harry.