Apples and Snakes

Angel With a Shotgun

The Death Eaters marched back in triumphantly. Hagrid, in chains, was dragged behind, carrying Harry, glasses askew on his face in my arms. It was hard to remember what Korr said, that he would survive. He had to, right?

Yet I focused on the rage even the idea that grief gave me. The grief and rage that the last three years had given me came crashing down, and steeled my courage for what I was about to do.

I'd given Korr the titanium wand, since apparently metal wands are great for necromancy, which she needed to do in order for the plan to work.

"Give up, for Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort cried. He looked at our ranks. "Ah, Draco, Ky... If you come over now, all will be forgiven."

Everyone exchanged looks. Draco stepped forwards slowly. Traitor, I know we were all thinking. Will use any means to achieve his ends, I thought sadly, remembering my Sorting song. How could I be so wrong about him? How?

Yet Ky seemed to have a big-time struggle, but then he shook his head. "No."

"Very well, then. I will attend to you in a moment. As for you, Draco, you will be the only of my ranks to receive this honor," Voldemort said. He then hugged Draco awkwardly.

I readied my grasp on my wand.

"As for you, Emrys... You will obey me." He flicked his wand, and I instantly saw Ky's pupils shrink, and the sheen on his face. It was fear again. Panic raised inside me. Don't hurt him!

"Leave him alone!" I snapped, my voice rising like a trumpet, triumphant over the silence as I stepped forward.

"Ah, Alice Potter. We meet again, at last," Voldemort said in a soft, cold voice. "Put down your wand and stop playing. The war is over, you know."

I didn't lower my wand, and kept up the red-eyed stare.

"You could have power, in our ranks, Alice. You could be feared, like you want to be feared. Worshipped, revered. Mere mortals will be granting your every wish. Everyone will see you for who you really are, without the shadows of my family."

"And who am I really?" I retorted. My voice felt confident now. "I'm certainly not the monster you described. I'm an angel with a shotgun, fighting for justice. I'll join you when Hell freezes over. Fire is catching!"

I raised my three fingers in the salute of the rebellion, and everyone else did, too, and cheers threw themselves from the lips of the crowd standing with me. With a yell of battle, I began a fierce and furious duel with Voldemort.

In the corner, Wesley and Korr were sticking the titanium wand in the crack revealing soil, and throwing salt around.

I threw a storm of lightning, first, but Voldemort turned that into a wave of lightning, crackling about him for a few seconds before it came at me. I turned to shadow, and it went through me. I threw fire at him, only for it to be frozen to some sort of ice fire, and was thrown at me, when I unleashed a strong ribbon of light, which streamed from my wand and I used it to dissolve the ice fire.

I then brandished my light ribbon like a whip, and hit Voldemort with the stream. He screamed at the light, even though it felt like pure, sweet sunshine to me when the stream crossed over my hand.

I smirked. "You really are far gone, aren't you?"

With that, he shot a beam of lightning at me. I screamed and fell back.

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU B***!" I heard someone yell, but it wasn't Mum. Wish it was, I thought bitterly. I got to my feet, and realized that Voldemort hadn't taken the opportunity to kill me. I discovered that Wesley was focusing on holding Voldemort where he stood and was preventing him from casting spells.