Witch Hunt (Re-written)

Chapter 14, Confronting the Devil

       Where was Peeves when you need him?
You've been searching the school for the blasted poltergeist for the last ten minutes.
"What's this? A student wandering around before school started?"
Finally Peeves.
You made to bolt, but he floated in front of you.
"In such a hurry huh? I'm going to tell!"
He laughed gleefully and moved through the floor, so you took off towards the dungeons, hoping he didn't cost you too much time.
Your friends looked over as you approached, making Sebastian and Ominis sigh softly.
"Took your time," Sebastian said in a rush, though his tone was lathered with worry.
"Peeves is hard to find when you're actually looking for him."
"Did he go tell the headmaster?" Ominis asked, getting you to nod. "Then the Minister should be here soon. We should go get ready."
You took off, with Sebastian, Anne and Ominis trailing after you.
This plan was highly elaborate and you hoped it was enough for this mess to end.
You went into the court yard, making it seem like you were escaping, barely stopping as a bunch of people apperated in.
"My, my, this was stupid coming back here."
"We could say the same for you," Sharp said making panic shoot through the group of dark wizards as Sharp, Hecat and Richard dropped the disillusionment charms, having surrounded them.
Growling, one of the dark wizards made to shoot a spell at you, but Felix appeared before you, blocking it.
"You're not touching a hair on my daughter's head," he hissed, before casting his own back. "Time to move on! Hurry!"
When you hesitated, Sebastian grabbed your hand and pulled you back into the castle, to head to the next stage.
The next stop was the clock tower court yard, and as planned aurors dropped in, pointing their wands at your group until, Weasley, Garlick and Ronen appeared.
Chomping cabbages quickly joined the fight, getting a few people to scream when they were attacked by them.
Now that they were taken care of, your group moved to the now empty great hall, seeing Spavin's back already waiting.
"Pretty smart of you to bring the teachers into this," he said as you pointed your wand at his back. "Once this is over, we'll have to obliviate any memory of this. We can't have all the teachers dying all of a sudden. It would cause too much panic this close to term."
He turned, meeting only your eyes, ignoring all the wands pointing at him.
"For a Gryffindor, you've certainly involved a lot of people, instead of forging on alone."
"My mom was Slytherin," you shot back. "You know that."
"That I do. Though I must admit. You ending up friends with the Sallow twins was a shock, given who killed their parents."
"Don't try to shock us. We know everything. Just like we know you're not her father," Sebastian snapped.
Spavin looked like he was about to laugh. "I'm not? How do you know? All three of us had relations with her mother. She could easily be my child as Felix's or De'lany's." He smirked as you glared, your knuckles hurting from how tightly you held your wand. "Come on now, you know it's only a matter of time before I get you on my side. Why even try fighting? You are your mother's daughter."
"She's also her father's daughter," Felix said coming in with the rest of the teachers.
The Minister chuckled when you looked back, a bad move on your part.
"Imperio!"
Your body relaxed as the spell settled over your mind, Sebastian cast at him in retaliation before his eyes looked at you.
"You remember this spell, don't you? Your mother cast it on you that night."
"Yes, but I'm not a child anymore," you replied, pushing the spell's effect away, seeing his face become enraged. "Surprise."
The door to the right opened and more dark wizards came in, separating your group from the teachers, their backs to you.
"I wouldn't worry about them. You'll be a little busy."
You looked back as green mist flew out of his wand and swirled around Sebastian, Ominis and Anne, turning their eyes green.
Of course he'd stoop this low.
You quickly flipendo-ed the one closest to you, which was Anne, knocking her out, before Ominis and Sebastian started casting at you.
Much to your horror, the Minister forced Ominis to cast Crucio and Sebastian to use Avada Kadavra, all the while he chuckled and stalked just outside the fight.
They had moved to different sides of you, making it impossible to cast back. So, you focused on blocking them. It wasn't easy to push the childhood memories from amplifying your fear as green and red filled your vision. 
You were grateful that professor Onai taught you wandless magic, because you could block both of them.
"I read up on them," the Minister laughed, enjoying himself way too much. "One of them will eventually break through your defenses. Will it be Mr. Gaunt or Mr. Sallow? Pain or death?"
Your eyes looked between your friends, their features were hauntingly calm as they continuously cast spells you knew they'd regret using later, even if it wasn't their fault. 
"Spavin!" Felix snapped, taking everything you had not to look back at him. "If you kill her. I will return the favor!"
"Such tough talk Felix, this is bringing back memories. You fought so hard for her mother and like her mother I will break her. I just need to know where to push."
You could feel ancient magic bubbling up, wanting to join the fight, containing the swirls around your wand and hands.
"You know, it's a little funny," Spavin said, tilting his head with a glint of pleasure in his eyes that only angered you further. "You've been beating yourself up for killing De'lany, but I planted that memory in your head. I killed him and your mother." 
The shock made your magic waver just as Sebastian and Ominis moved to cast at you again. A sinister smile spread on Spavin's face as he got what he wanted, you distracted.   
"Depulso!" Anne's voice was almost drowned due to the noise.
The Minister flew off his feet as the spell over Ominis and Sebastian dropped and they quickly lowered their wands.
You let out a relieved breath, grateful you didn't have to hurt either of them, but the expressions on their faces were a painful mixture.
You and Anne moved close to them, but they glared in the Minister's direction as he rose to his feet. All of you were angry.
The four of you looked at each other just before he started to raise his wand.
"Confringo!" Your voices echoed in chorus with each other.
Your spells shot out, connecting together before finally hitting Spavin in the center of his chest, spinning him violently before he smacked his head hard on the stone floor.
The blast knocked the four of you to the floor, shooting pain through your side as you landed on it.
Anne was the first one on her feet and when you looked over, you saw her holding her hand out to help her brother up.
He was hesitant at first, but took her hand. You smiled as she pulled him up to his feet, you and Ominis climbed to yours.
You couldn't help but feel happy that it was all over while  your eyes moved to Spavin, who laid there, eyes open, body still.
You didn't have time to think about it before you were yanked against Sebastian.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I tried to stop myself."
His fingers dug into your shoulders.
"I'm okay Sebastian," you whispered, giving him a light pat on the back.
You knew how hard it was to break that spell and certainly wasn't going to hold their action against them while under it.   
He only pulled back when the teachers came over and Felix stood beside your group.
"I don't think we'll need to worry about the Minister ever again," Richard said looking over at the teachers.
"Alright, kids, go back to the room while we take care of the rest. You've done more than enough."
Not waiting for an invitation, all of you headed to the room of requirement.
Natty, Gareth and Poppy who were waiting at the back of the room, joined your walk up.

       You paced as you waited for the teachers to come back. They were taking a while, but there were a lot of people who attacked too.
"You're over thinking again," Sebastian called.
He gave an uncertain smile when you sent a glare over your shoulder as you turned back down your path.
"To be honest, I didn't understand where you were coming from with Solomon, but when I saw the Minister-" Anne sighed, shaking her head. "I understand it now. I didn't even think twice."
"You did what you had to," Natty replied, as you spun, seeing Ominis standing behind you, getting you to jump.
"You need to sit down before you fall from exhaustion."
You rolled your eyes and changed your direction, but he caught your arm.
"Ominis, I need to move. It's the only thing that's keeping me from falling apart," you whispered, his pinched brows settling as he let you go.
You moved back to pacing, but the door opening made all of you look over.
Felix and Sharp walked into the room, the former shooting you a smile and a wink.
"And?" You asked moving close.
"No one is going to hold the Minister's death against you, not with so many witnessing it was self defense. Spavin's twin brother is going to replace him so the wizarding world isn't thrown into chaos. We've already looked into him, he wasn't involved with his brother's machinations. He's already pardoned Felix and Sebastian after viewing the evidence we gave him. You and Anne are expected to start the term with everyone else," Sharp said, keeping a neutral expression, but his eyes seemed happy.
You excitedly looked at Sebastian, who seemed like he was about to fall down, before Anne hugged him from the side.
"The innocents at Azkaban?" You pushed.
"The new Minister Spavin, will release them up on reviewing the evidence and the ones attacking us will receive a proper trial." Felix answered, smiling. "Until things settle down, I recommend you stay here."
He patted your shoulder, giving a smile, before Sharp moved to leave.
"I think we should celebrate, this feels like something we should be happy for," Natty said, clapping her hands together.
As everyone agreed you moved to Felix. "How are you doing?"
He chuckled. "I doubt I've ever been happier, but you look conflicted, why?"
When you shook your head and glanced towards your friends, he motioned for you to follow after him into the beach vivarium.
"I just keep wondering if I'm bad luck," you admitted once you knew your friends couldn't hear you. "Ever since I was young, bad things have happened-"
"You're not cursed or are a curse," he cut over, glancing at you, before he sighed. "You know, my parents were the best ones I could have ever asked for. Honestly, they kind of spoiled my sister and I. So, I grew up thinking the world was just like them, kind, caring and welcoming. For the most part, people were and it wasn't until your mother, did I realize the world wasn't kind to me. It was kind to the name I carried, or the work I pursued. No one, outside my family, cared about me. Some people don't even get that."
You blinked as you shifted towards him. "Okay, what's your point here?"
"Bad things are happening to you, not because of you. You were in just as much danger tonight as your friends. They chose to fight alongside you of their own free will. You can choose who you'll be, but what happens to you is not always the world getting back at you for bad deeds. The world doesn't discriminate on who it attacks or how much pain it gives you. All you can do is keep fighting. This is why lives can't ever be lived peacefully, it's a pretty sentiment, but if you show your belly to a cruel world, it will eat you. That's not me telling you to be cruel in return."
"Were you trying to be a professor before you were an auror?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, short and sweet then. Overthinking things you can't take back only makes you live in the past. If you can't change it, give yourself a moment to be upset and move on the best you can. Focus on not making the same ones over and over again. Better?"
"Better."
"Alright, go enjoy your night. You've earned it."
When you didn't move, he pushed you up to your feet.
"You're not your mother or Spavin, not even me. You're your own person, don't hold yourself to their mistakes or standards."
You smiled, glad you came in to talk to him. "Keep going like that and you'll make a decent role model yet."
His laughter trailed you back into the room, where you saw Poppy, Natty, Anne, Deek and Gareth decorating whilst Sebastian was tied to a chair by vines and Ominis was laughing at what he was saying.
Maybe Felix was right, you've spent too long worrying if you're ending up your mother, you forgot to enjoy your life.
"There you are, please come help me," Sebastian called as he looked up at you.
"I'm always helping you Sebastian," you teased as you headed down the stairs. "Who tied you up?"
"The room did," Poppy answered, half laughing. "He tried to follow you and Felix."
Sebastian shot a glare her way as he blushed.
Yeah, you could get used to this kind of life.