[3] downfall ~ harry potter × marvel

2.16

2.16

strategy and chance

SKYLER

"Are we interrupting something?"

To say that Remus Lupin had a sense of timing, would be softly put. Skyler and Raymond had been too lost in their own world to realise the odd looks from the Teacher's Table. It now situated a map of the Hogwarts grounds and the Forbidden Forest.

Remus, Tonks, Sirius and McGonagall stood around the table, their eyes focused on the Asgardian couple. The rest of the Order, those essential to strategizing, were in deep debate on the next steps.

"My apologies for being late to the meeting, I was busy raising people from the dead," Skyler said, drawing the attention to her, as Raymond helped her up the steps. "Now, where are you stuck? I would say it's quite clear on how to defend the castle next..."

With a flick of her wrist, a chair appeared for her at the head of the table, and several members of the Order sent her incredulous looks as she took her seat.

"Excuse me," spoke Kingsley, "but who the hell would you be?" Despite the initial offense Skyler felt at the question, she had to admit, no one had really been aware of who she was, before or during her act of wrath.

"Woah, Kings, you wound me. I had hoped you would at least recognize your youngest Order member." Skyler put a hand over her heart and gasped in mock surprise. It took a second, before Kingsley's eyes widened, and the rest of the table realized who she was too.

"No fucking way!" Tonks exclaimed, her hair popping a cheerful pink. "Welcome back, Sky!"

Skyler smiled genuinely. Thank Merlin she'd managed to save them. "Hi there, Dora. Congrats on Teddy, by the way."

Before the young Auror could gush about her newborn, Narcissa Malfoy then cleared her throat.

"As I mentioned earlier, Mister Shacklebolt and Mister Lupin, the Dark Lord's numbers are far too great to put up Anti-Apparition wards. If some of them fled, it would give us an advantage." Her entire vision seemed to darken as Skyler's mind refocussed on the war and the losses they had suffered. Even though recently revived, about two hours ago, this Hall was filled with bodies. That had to stop. The Death Eaters had to be stopped.

"I doubt the Death Eaters will be much of a problem once I've dealt with an example, honestly." Skyler spoke clearly, the entire table silent in one turn.

McGonagall appeared pale as she dared to break the silence. "Miss Foster, please elaborate on your idea of an example. I would like to remind you that we are still on school grounds."

Skyler scoffed. "Oh, please, Professor. I'm quite sorry to stereotype my own House, but Slytherins are nothing, if not self-preserving. I merely suggest that we trigger that same instinct in the Death Eaters. By making a brutal example, if necessary."

"That is not what our side does, Skyler," Remus said, sternly. "If we lower ourselves to the Death Eaters' level, we are no better than them."

"Are we trying to establish a totalitarian regime by excluding all those different from us by killing those same different beings?" Skyler replied, "No, we're not. That's quite the opposite of what we're doing. The Death Eaters have been killing and cursing our side left and right and all we've been doing is play nice with them, because we realize they're human too. Well, Remus, I'm done playing nice."

"If we resort to their methods, we are no better than the Death Eaters in history's eyes, Skyler," Tonks said, her fingers intertwined with her husband's. Of course, it was only logical for the two of them to not want to be associated with darker shades of magic. Remus didn't want to be associated with Greyback.