Chapter 6 – In which Sirius returns

"Tobias Prince!" The sharp voice of Professor Snape rang crisply down the corridor. The fifth year Ravenclaw spun quickly to see the tall potions master looming towards him from the gloomy corridor that led from the castle's dungeons. The boy looked defiantly at his teacher, who surveyed the scene in the corridor. One first Ravenclaw was huddling in an alcove, peeping out at the professor. On the ground around the tiny girl were three fourth year Slytherins, each unconscious with bloodied noses.

"My office. Now!"

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"So," said Hermione to her fellow 'Sisters of Shadow'. What intel do we have this week?"

"Well," piped up the smallest member of the group, Naomi. "I've heard about two Gryffindors that started dating. Apparently they've been dancing about each other for years, but they've finally…"

"Yes. Well…I don't think that's going to help Adam is it, knowing who got caught got with whom in a broom cupboard."

"Hmmm, that's interesting Hermione. I didn't know they caught in a broom cupboard."

"What? No! We weren't…"

Grace laughed at her cousin's embarrassment, while Naomi looked triumphant. Luna meanwhile, looked thoughtful as always. After a good minute, Hermione recovered her composure and fixed Naomi with a half-hearted glare.

"Any important information anyone?"

"Cho Chang," offered Luna.

"What about her?"

"She seemed different this morning; brighter, energised. I wondered at first if there were kippers for breakfast, and she was excited about that prospect, with being a Ravenclaw and all, but it turns out there weren't. My next theory was that she'd been visited overnight by a moon-fairy, but of course then I remembered that she's a Capricorn, so that couldn't be it. In the end I came to the conclusion that I really have no idea why she would be like that."

"Let's look at this logically," Hermione began, but was quickly interrupted by Grace.

"What's the kippers thing all about?"

"It's a Ravenclaw thing, really, kippers," Luna replied vaguely.

"And what does a moon-fairy look like?"

"I have no idea."

"So, Cho Chang was behaving oddly this morning. Anything else?"

"Hannah Abbott was too. Just like Luna described, she seemed perky and happy."

"Was it the blueberry muffins?"

"Huh?"

"There were blueberry muffins for breakfast. They could be to Hufflepuff what kippers are to Ravenclaw."

"I don't think so."

"So, we've seen Cho and Hannah behaving strangely. Now I come to think of it, Neville was…"

"Bright?"

"Energised?"

"Working shirtless in greenhouse four?"

"LUNA!"

"Well, he's dreamy."

"He's no Harry though."

"Well who is?"

"Eww…excuse me, that's my brother you're discussing."

"Focus people, please!" commanded Hermione. "That's one from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor behaving unusually chipper this morning. Any one from your house, Naomi?"

"Not that I heard of, but there is of course the small matter of what Tobias Prince just did."

"What?"

"Well, I was on my way here, when I followed some fourth year thugs out of the common room…"

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"So, let me get this clear. You defended a muggleborn first year from Ravenclaw from being bullied by three Slytherins?"

"You're damn right I did!"

"Don't take that tone with me. You may be my godson but you will still remember your place."

The student formerly known as Draco Malfoy had the decency to look at least slightly abashed for his tone, but certainly did not regret his actions. He wasn't sure what it was, really, but something just felt different. Draco Malfoy would have been standing behind the Slytherins, encouraging them callously from the shadows, but Tobias Prince? Not a chance. Since his 'rebranding' Prince had kept himself to himself. He worked quietly and diligently without drawing attention, just as any good Ravenclaw would. He conversed occasionally with Adam Black when they passed in the halls and occasionally that Lovegood girl looked at him strangely, but otherwise he was socially inactive.

For some reason however, this morning Tobias Prince felt invigorated and full of purpose. He was taking a shortcut to the Great Hall for breakfast - there were kippers, which he was looking forward to – which took him close to the Slytherin parts of the castle. Coming across a scared first year from his own house being bullied by three thugs from the Snake house made his blood boil. Had these idiots no honour? What cunning did they display in harassing a weaker kid? Three quick fire bludgeoning hexes dealt with them swiftly.

"Yes sir," Tobias replied to his former head of house.

"You're different, Tobias," remarked the Potion's master.

"Yes, I am. I like it as well. I feel refreshed, and as if I've finally understood what the Founders stood for. Those idiots were picking on a first year! That's not the Slytherin way; where was the honour, the cunning, the ambition? It was disgusting. Being a Slytherin is not about bullying the weak and small, it should be about tradition, nobility, honour and sharpness of wit."

"Yes, well, when you've quite finished, Tobias, back in the real world your actions must be punished."

Tobias Prince looked defiantly at his Godfather.

"Yes, I think three points from Ravenclaw will suffice."

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The spring term at Hogwarts drew to a close. Ron, Fred and George continued to keep an eye on their sister, ready to call in the Brotherhood should the need arise. The Sisters of Shadow watched and listened to all that they could around the castle, evaluating each piece of information for something of value that could be passed on to their saviour.

Voldemort, it seemed, was biding his time. Defeat in Hogsmeade had been damaging and he needed time to regroup. It was a few days into the Easter holidays when the Dark Lord reared his ugly head and flexed his muscles again.

On a particularly mild day just prior to Easter itself, Harry and Naomi had walked, via Luna's house to the Burrow, collecting the dreamy girl, where the three of them met Ron, Ginny, Grace and Hermione for a picnic in the strange house's orchard. Blossom was starting to appear on the apple, pear, cherry and plum trees, giving the impression of pink and white confetti dancing in the canopy of green leaves. After a not-so sumptuous feast of crudely prepared sandwiches and yesterday's pumpkin pasties, Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione – the two couples of the group – sat slightly away from the others, enjoying the company of their loved ones.

Harry's wolf and panther and Ginny's fox lay lazily alongside Luna, Grace and Naomi, enjoying the attention they were getting from the three girls. It was not often that the animals were 'out' together like this, and the 'sisters' took advantage to pet the cute little fluffy-wuffies, as Luna had dubbed them. Harry's snake was sunning himself on a rock a little way from the orchard, absorbing the heat of the April sun. The falcon flew in the skies ahead while the spider stayed firmly as a tattoo, given Ron's presence and total arachnophobia.

As the seven youngsters lazily whiled away their afternoon, the falcon's sharp eyes picked up an approaching bird on the northern horizon. Harry's senses picked up the falcon's reaction and tuned in to its view.

"There's an owl coming," he called to the group. "It's carrying something."

For some reason, no-one expected the bird to head to Naomi, but it did anyway and the youngest member of the group divested the small brown owl of its burden – a letter. The girl quickly scanned down the parchment, before showing it to first Grace and then Luna. After a brief whispered discussion, Hermione was beckoned over to the other three 'Sisters'. They whispered frantically to each other for a few minutes, during which Ron looked a little put out that he had lost his snuggling partner, but the rapidly maturing teen could tell something was going on. Harry tried to listen in to the conversation but was deliberately distracted by Ginny who thought he was being rude. When the discussion ended, however, everything became clear.

"Adam?" called Hermione, as she was the unofficial spokesperson for the Sisters of Shadow.

"What is it, Hermione?"

"We think Voldemort's going to attack Gringotts!"

"WHAT!" blurted out Ron before anyone else could speak.

"Explain!" Harry commanded.

Hermione was about to when Naomi couldn't hold herself back.

"I got this letter from my friend Natalie, who heard her sister talking over the Floo to some other third year, whose cousin is best friends with Astoria Greengrass. She sneaked into her sister Daphne's bedroom and read a letter she'd got from Pansy Parkinson. She eavesdropped on her Dad telling her Mum to clear out their vault at Gringotts. She said…"

"Naomi!"

"Yes Adam?"

"Thank you. Hermione?"

"Taking into account the time each of these conversations is supposed to have taken place, we think it'll be the day after tomorrow."

"We need to tell Dad…" Ron began, but Harry cut him off.

"No."

"What? We can't let Dad lose the few Galleons he's got…"

"Don't worry Ron; we're not going to let that happen. If everyone starts emptying their vaults, the Goblins will shut the bank and Voldemort won't attack."

"And that's a bad thing?" Grace asked.

"Yes. Gringotts is bloody secure. He'll need a significant amount of manpower if he thinks he can take it."

"Lots of lovely Death Eaters to toast…" laughed Ginny, causing Hermione to turn pale.

"Gin, we need the Council." Harry cupped his hands and concentrated on them for a moment, causing a folded piece of parchment to materialise.

"Adam, how do you do that?"

"Not now Hermione. Gin?"

Ginny understood the meaning in Harry's tone. "Dad?"

"Yes. I've asked him to get the others. Let's clear this picnic up and head to Hogwarts."

"What's going on Adam?" asked Naomi, who was a little young to keep up with her adopted brother's thoughts and decisive actions.

"You, little one, are going with Luna back to her house. Hermione and Grace are going safely home to theirs. Ginny and I are going to Hogwarts to talk to some of the Professors, Ginny's dad, and Moony. Ron, I expect, is about to contact his brothers."

The tall boy nodded once and drifted away from the others as the picnic was cleared up with a few well placed flicks of Ginny's wand.

"Calling all brothers. Calling all brothers. We have code red. I repeat, code red."

Hugs were shared all round, except between the two boys of course who settled for a quick slap on the shoulder. "Send Bill to Hogwarts as soon as possible Ron. Might as well co-ordinate our efforts."

"No problem, Adam." With a kiss to Hermione, Ron Weasley strode back to the Burrow and waited for his brothers to arrive. Luna and Grace said their goodbyes and set off down the path through the woods towards Ottery St. Mary, where Luna lived with her father. The two Granger cousins headed out to the lane and hailed the Knight bus back to Surrey. Having watched each of their friends and siblings depart, a flash of phoenix fire saw Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley head to Hogwarts Castle and to their first Council of War.

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"Thanks to all of you for coming so promptly, but a significant opportunity has presented itself." Harry paused for a moment to take in each of the Council members – the prophesized pair's most trusted advisors. "We have received intelligence that Voldemort is going to attack Gringotts…"

"Surely not!"

"Oh Merlin!"

"…The day after tomorrow."

"How have you come by this information, Mr. Black?" asked Professor Snape. "I was not aware of any such attack."

"To be honest, it's the conclusion drawn by my personal intelligence group, based on information received."

"Personal intelligence group?" asked Remus with a smirk.

"Don't knock it, Moony. If they're right, this gives us an opportunity to take another massive shot at the Dark Lord. I trust them. Now then, Professors, Mr. Weasley, Remus, we know we want to take out as many of them as we can, but we need a plan of action…"

A short while later, Bill Weasley joined the group and added his two galleons into the strategy session. In the end, it took several hours before the Shadowfire Council, reached a consensus. It was an audacious plan, arrogant, in some regards, but Harry and Ginny were adamant that a message would be sent. To Voldemort, that he was not going to be able to take whatever he wanted, and to the general populace they wanted to show that Death Eaters were not to be feared. No, Death Eaters were to be annihilated.

On the eve prior to Easter Sunday and the attack on Gringotts, Harry and Ginny were once again back at Hogwarts, but this time their business was with only one individual – Harry's head of house, Professor Severus Snape.

"Professor, it is time."

"Are you sure about this, Mr. Black?"

"Completely, sir. To make this plan work, we need to show our strength, and the Shadowfire camp is stronger with you in it than not. Besides, it would seem you are no longer in possession of the Dark Lord's full confidence." As it turned out, Voldemort had been planning this attack for several weeks, with only the Dark Lord's most trusted let in on the secret. Apart from his potion making skills, it seemed that Severus Snape was considered rank and file by Voldemort and as such only received his instructions regarding the attack the day before. Instructions, which of course, Snape readily passed on to Harry and Ginny, although it had little impact on their plans.

"Perhaps you are right. It would appear that that blabbering buffoon Parkinson is trusted where I am not. There is still the problem of the Dark Mark."

"Indeed, but my intelligence team have been researching…"

"Researching? Miss Granger, I presume?"

"Indeed, she is amongst them. Anyway, they have identified a number of options."

"I don't suppose any of these are short, pain-free and without complication?"

"Very astute, Professor. First, we remove your arm."

"No. Next?"

"I apply a shadow to the specific area of the mark and see what happens. The depth of the shadow would be increased as required, but there is no telling how deep the Mark permeates."

"Too many uncertainties. Next?"

"Ginny gives it a burst of phoenix fire and we see what happens. We have tears ready to apply to the burn."

"Any others?"

"No. As you can imagine, we feel the last option is likely to be the best. Our theory is that the purity of the phoenix fire will destroy the evil of the Mark, but it's only a theory."

"I would agree that this method seems the most prudent, however it too is fraught with uncertainty. However, should things go awry, the first could be used in addition."

"Did you just make a joke, Professor?" Harry asked, somewhat mischievously. The surly potions master's mouth twitched a fraction, before he quickly replied.

"I never joke, Mr. Black."

"That's what I thought," Harry muttered. "Ginny should be along in a moment. Do you want anyone else present?"

"No. This is a private matter, and if it doesn't work I would like to keep quiet."

"As you wish."

As Harry predicted, Ginny arrived a few minutes later. The pair had agreed that discussions with the Slytherin would be best with just Harry when possible. The troubled man was unlikely to be fully open in front of a Gryffindor, particularly one related to Fred and George Weasley. With a quick look at Harry, she knew the Professor had agreed to try removing the Dark Mark using her phoenix fire. Using his usual but unique technique (except for Ginny, who was the only other Harry had taught to shape magic the way he did), Harry created a stone pillow for Snape to rest his arm on. The usually emotionless man looked uncharacteristically nervous as he shed his robe and removed his shirt. The pale man laid his arm on the stone, looked once at Harry and then shifted his gaze to Ginny, the fifteen year old Gryffindor who potentially held the key to erasing the biggest mistake of his life. The man reapplied his stony-faced mask, before speaking three short sharp words to the girl.

"Do it now!"

As the furnace-hot fire touched the eerie blackness of the Dark Lord's gruesome brand, Severus Snape's felt pain unlike anything he had imagined and his scream of agony was heard throughout the castle.

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Easter was a traditional event in the Wizarding calendar, much like Christmas and Halloween to a certain extent. Despite the day's religious origins, Wizarding Society had latched onto the festival and used it as an excuse to eat excessive amounts of chocolate and give gifts to each other. Few knew of the symbology behind the Easter egg, and if they did, they were almost certainly well acquainted with the muggle world. No, Easter Sunday in British Wizarding life was a day of fun, giving, excesses and joy. A perfect day for a psychopathic maniac to want to ruin.

Unsure of the exact time of attack, but expecting something early morning, the defence of Gringotts Wizarding Bank began at 6am. On the glistening white marble steps of the esteemed building, sat a witch and a wizard in conjured folding chairs. In front of them a small table was laden with hot croissants and steaming mugs of coffee. The pair, one dressed head to toe in black and the other entirely clad in red, chatted amiably as they enjoyed the peace of the spring morning. A peace which lasted until 6.27am.

From the dark and murky recesses of Knockturn Alley, a first black cloaked, white masked individual stalked out into the brightness of Diagon Alley. Another followed, then another, and another, until a compliment of around half a score of Death Eaters were moving up the thoroughfare towards their destination. As the group moved, random shops had their doors or windows smashed by iReducto/i curses, or set alight by fire spells. As they neared the steps, the leaders slowed to a halt, bemused by the sight of two teenagers enjoying breakfast in front of them.

"Do you want to die?" asked the lead Death Eater, a sarcastic tone to his voice.

"Not today, Death Eater," Harry confidently replied. "Do you?"

"Ha! Stand aside you ignorant children, or be destroyed by the might of the Dark Lord."

Harry and Ginny were standing by now, the breakfast quickly forgotten. The prophesized pair had taken a few steps forward, so they were scarcely twenty feet in front of the sea of black and white.

"Fools. You stand here, slaves of Voldemort and about to perish for him. Do none of you know who stands before you? I am Harry Potter. We are Shadowfire. You stand before us like felons in the dock. Well, you sycophantic fools, we judge you for your crimes. You are all found guilty. And you will burn in hell for what you have done."

The Death Eaters looked stunned by the vehemence in this boy's words. But more importantly, was this really Harry Potter? All among them knew what had happened to the thirteen sent to attack the Burrow, They knew also of those who went to the Lovegood's but did not return and were never heard from again. However, even the most up-to-date of Death Eaters was aware of the wrath of the Dark Lord and found it hard to be fearful of two teenagers, Harry Potter or not.

Those at the front of the dark throng did not have long to ruminate over Harry's vitriolic words. Within moments of finishing his speech, his hands were gathering handfuls of dark, shadowy raw magic. Moving with as much speed as he knew Ginny could keep up with, Harry began flinging bowling-ball sized orbs of shadow at the Death Eaters. A fraction of a second behind him, Ginny sent out her magic, igniting the projectiles into a searing hot ball of fiery magic, with unimaginably hot flames and a shadowy edge that would carve through shields like a shark swimming through a shoal of minnows. The pair managed eight Shadowfire "bombs" before the stunned would-be attackers could respond, but eight of their number were already down and several others were burning.

Gringotts bank was built in the centre of a fork in the alley. The Death Eaters approached up from the Knockturn Alley entrance, which was a few buildings along from the Leaky Cauldron. Unnoticed by the Death Eaters, as they reached the wider part of the alley in front of the Gringotts steps, a contingent of Order of the Phoenix operatives had come through the magical gateway behind the Leaky Cauldron and had stealthily made their way up behind the massed ranks of the Dark Lord. Moody, Shacklebolt, Tonks, Hestia Jones, Emmeline Vance, Dedalus Diggle and several other civilian and ministry employees were waiting for the signal to begin cutting into their opponents. So it may not be honourable to curse someone in the back, but these were Death Eaters, and this was not a duel of honour.

Also awaiting the signal to join the fray, from the fork heading off to the left side of Gringotts was the Brotherhood of Flame. Six Weasley boys stood waiting, disillusioned, tense, anxious, but alert and ready. Each of them had thoughts of fire in their mind and small flames dancing in their fingertips. In the shadows of the magnificent bank they waited, anticipating the moment they could unleash the very fire that burned in their soul onto those would-be killers who supported the man who caused the death of their mother.

Waiting patiently for the signal to join the fray in the right-hand fork, was a third group. The Shadowfire Council, with the exception of Sirius who was abroad, comprised a formidable collection of magic users. At the front of the group of five stood Albus Dumbledore, Supreme Mugwump and Head of the Wizengamot. To his left waited Severus Snape, ex-Death Eater and master duellist, and Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration mistress. On the headmaster's other side was Remus Lupin, ex Marauder and Defence Against the Dark Arts tutor – not a position gained by one with shoddy wandmanship. Finally there was Arthur Weasley, a mild mannered man by reputation, but surprisingly wise and adept. He may not have the raw firepower of his son Percy, or the tricky finesse of the twins, but this man had experience; experience of combining the innate Weasley fire with the simultaneous use of his wand. These five were not a group to trifle with, and they waited, silent and steadfast as the cloaked and masked Death Eaters reached the steps of the Bank, where Harry and Ginny waited.

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The Death Eaters in the front ranks suddenly began to return fire – about a dozen were able to retaliate safely without fear of hitting comrades in front of them. Harry and Ginny shielded themselves valiantly from the onslaught of spells. Streaks of red, blue, purple and yellow fizzed through the air, before striking Harry's black, shadow-shield and disappearing into nothing.

As Harry's shield absorbed the curses, Ginny sent a jet of flame streaking into the sky – it was the signal to the other parties. Unbeknownst to the overconfident Death Eaters, they were about to be attacked from all sides.

The Weasley brothers watched with bated breath as the foremost Death Eaters screamed curses at their sister and their friend. It seemed an age before Ginny sent the signal up, but as the burst of fire streaked over the heads of the attackers, the firestorm was quickly unleashed. Breaking their cover, the Weasley brothers formed a line and gathered their magic. With a nod from Bill, all six hurled various forms of fireball at the Death Eater's left flank. Percy's massive fireball struck one Death Eater full on the side of the head, showering all around him with bits of flaming robe and mask. The twins sent multitudes of small balls of fire dancing into the ranks of the opposition force, whilst Bill, Charlie and Ron added their efforts, flaming jets, fireballs and arrows as quickly as they could into the evil force in front of them.

As the Death Eaters began to react to the Brotherhood's opening salvo, the six began alternating between attack and defence. Three would shield whilst three would attack, swapping over every minute or so.

From the other side of the melee, the Council also took Ginny's signal and began their assault. The imperious Dumbledore sent high powered stunners, binding ropes and chains, mixed with illusions and other distractions. Snape went straight for the darker end of the legal spectrum, with vicious bone-breakers and cutting spells. McGonagall transfigured anything that she could see – cloth robes into stone, white masks into poisonous mercury or acid, dust and debris into sharp projectiles which she would banish into the massed ranks before them.

The right flank of the Death Eater force sustained a heavy loss before they managed to respond. But respond they did, and soon they were shielding themselves and retaliating with the Killing Curse or the iCruciatus/i.

Remus Lupin held his ground and responded in typical Marauder fashion; trip jinxes, vanishing clothes, itching hexes. These distracting, childish ploys were however followed up swiftly by stunners, banishers and bludgeoners. Arthur Weasley also made his presence known, sending jets of fire at the feet of the Death Eaters, whilst attacking or shielding with his wand at the same time.

At the rear of the skirmish, the group of Order members, led by Moody, Shacklebolt and Tonks also responded to the signal with a wave of stunning spells. The rearmost Death Eaters fell forward into their comrades, who turned to face the opponent from another side.

As the fight ebbed and flowed on four sides, the scene in the wide part of Diagon Alley was soon filled with smoke, fire, explosions, shouts, curses, yells of triumph and cries of pain or anguish. Streaks of light of all colours light up the smoke as they flew from wand to target, or strayed into storefronts and side alleys.

Whilst the Council group made good ground against their opponents, thanks to the experience of its members, the Weasley boys, the Brotherhood of Flame were pushed back. Moody, Shacklebolt, Tonks and the Order of the Phoenix held their ground, preventing Death Eaters from fleeing the alley. At the front of the fight, Harry and Ginny quickly cut through the rank and file, but were soon pinned down by the experienced leaders of the Death Eater pack. At its head were Lucius Malfoy and Lucas Parkinson, as well as the heavyweight Crabbe and Goyle Seniors. Supporting, and supposedly in Azkaban were the Lestranges and Antonin Dolohov.

The eight notorious Death Eaters pushed Harry and Ginny back towards the doors of the great bank and fanned out in a semi-circle around them. The battle raged below them, at the foot of the steps, with the Light side gaining the upper hand over the dark, slowly but surely. In front of the doors, Harry and Ginny could shield themselves well, using Harry's shadow shield. To the dismay of the Death Eaters attacking them, they had been given a standing order by Voldemort that Harry Potter, if encountered must be taken alive so that the Dark Lord himself could execute the bane of his recent existence.

Harry extended the shield so that Ginny and he were completely encased between it and the doors of Gringotts. After several minutes of hammering away at the shield, and just as the eight inner circle members had decided to blast ireductos/i at the steps and walls around the pair, the shield suddenly vanished. Harry and Ginny were gone.

Bellatrix Lestrange's crazed scream rent through the air, distracting everyone who was still fighting. The eight inner circle Death Eaters on the steps then surveyed the scene below them. Being front and centre in the massed ranks, they had focussed their attentions on the boy and girl who defied them. To each side, and behind them, the sixty plus comrades who had accompanied the elite eight lay dead, dying, wounded, stunned, and bound, or any combination of those five states. Several aurors, Hogwarts finest Professors and a gaggle of red-headed Weasleys looked up at them, led determinedly by one Albus Dumbledore.

The odds were not in favour of the remaining Death Eaters. They may have been the cream of the Dark Lord's crop, but outnumbered two to one, including Dumbledore was a suicide mission. Lucius, being the most cunning and astute of the group, but also the most cowardly, was the first to activate an emergency portkey. The other seven quickly followed, as twenty stunners flew through the space they had stood, before splashing harmlessly into the enchanted doors of Gringotts Bank.

For today, the battle was over. The formidable faction that was Shadowfire had dealt another blow to the Dark Lord. The eight returning Death Eaters would not be well received by their master. That was certain. It was Ron Weasley however, who voiced the question that no-one else seemed to dare ask.

"Where are they? Where are Ginny and Adam?"

"Here!" a familiar voice called. It was Ginny who had shouted out to her brother. Through the haze of the smoky alley, the heroic figures of Harry and Ginny stepped their way over the bodies and rubble.

"What happened to you?" asked Dumbledore. I caught a glimpse of you putting up the shield but when it fell…"

"Don't forget, Headmaster," Harry replied. "You aren't the only one with a phoenix any more."

Harry glanced around at the assembled rag-tag band that stood around him.

"Casualties?"

As the three groups reported the injuries, Harry moved among them, healing what he could, as did Tonks and McGonagall. Charlie Weasley was used to treating burns, thanks to his occupation, so he also helped where he could. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mad-Eye Moody intercepted the aurors and Ministry clean-up crews as they arrived from the Leaky Cauldron end of the Alley, who then began the arduous tasks of detaining those Death Eaters who survived, but were subdued and removing the remains of those who didn't. As word of the battle spread, shopkeepers began arriving to inspect the damage to their businesses. It was still early in the morning – before the stores would usually open. For a few brief moments, a small contingent of Goblins emerged from the Bank to speak with Harry and Ginny.

There was no two ways about it – Diagon Alley was a mess. Many windows had been smashed, doorways blown in my errant curses. Lintels had broken and parts of walls collapsed. The cobbled street was pock-marked with small craters and stained with scorch marks and dried blood. But worst of all was the smell. The stench of burning permeated throughout the thoroughfare. Although it had been a victory for the Shadowfire banner, society had to bear the cost – the cleaning up, the lost stock, the damaged trade, the broken doors and windows.

But it was a victory for Harry and Ginny. Of over seventy Death Eaters, only eight escaped and these were not unharmed. There was at least some comfort for the pair that the escapees would face the wrath of their Lord when they returned. On the good side, all of the Weasley boys sustained at least some level of injury. Percy, being the most hot-headed was the worst, having taken a vicious cutting curse to his thigh. In the Order of the Phoenix unit, there were several injuries requiring attention, plus widespread scrapes, bruises and concussions. Harry stabilised those he could not heal and sent them off to seek professional help, either at Hogwarts or St. Mungo's.

Of the Council members, injuries were light. Remus took a cut on his right cheek, but it would soon heal. Dumbledore lost a foot off his beard and Minerva McGonagall had taken a tumble, bruising her hip. It was miraculous though; that the combined force of around twenty-five had decimated almost three times their number. This defeat would most certainly get Voldemort's attention.

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It was with incredible reluctance that the eight inner circle Death Eaters answered their master's call. The Daily Prophet was quickly on to the story of the iBattle of Diagon Alley/i, so the Dark Lord was soon aware of the failure of his troops. Warily, the eight assembled in front of their master.

Several hours and much pain later, Voldemort looked coldly at Lucius Malfoy.

"Now that you have experienced my displeasure at your failure, show me what happened."

"Yes, my Lord." As he kow-towed before his master, Malfoy extracted his memory of the encounter and passed the silver strand to Voldemort, who wound his wand into the shimmery wisp and brought it to his own temple. The Dark Lord spent a few minutes reviewing the memory in his mind. As crazed and psychotic as the man was, he was still a genius and in complete control of his mind.

"Shadowfire!" exclaimed Voldemort suddenly. Each of the eight cowering servants looked up at him reverently.

"Do none of you fools know of Shadowfire?"

"I believe I have heard it mentioned, my Lord," ventured Dolohov, in his heavy Eastern European accent.

"Yes, Dolohov. Of all of you, you would be the one. Shadowfire is an ancient legend, a prophecy told many years ago by a lowly half-breed of a Centaur. It is a fairy-tale, nothing more than a myth." He paused. "However! Potter, it seems, believes in this prophecy, no doubt Dumbledore has something to do with this." The Dark Lord paused to think again.

"Dolohov!"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Your father once had in his possession, a very particular book. You will bring it to me by midnight tomorrow."

"Yes, my Lord."

Hphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphphp

As it was the Easter holidays, Hogwarts was almost empty of students. The majority of teachers remained, however, which is how come the day after the battle found Harry and Ginny once more in the Headmaster's office with their council of advisors.

The discussion centred around the skirmish, unsurprisingly, the fallout at the Ministry and the like. All of a sudden, Harry's sensitive ears pricked, as he heard someone coming up the spiral staircase. The Boy-who-lived glanced at the Headmaster, who smiled back with a sparkle in his eye. A moment later, the heavy oak door into the circular office crashed open and Sirius Black staggered in. The man was clearly exhausted, dirty and had dried blood on his face and shirt. A very recently scabbed over cut on his forehead was overshadowed by the purple bruise under one eye. The animagus' eyes sought his godson immediately. Limping heavily, and with one arm hanging limply by his side, Sirius tottered to Harry, who was on his feet quickly to steady his godfather.

"I have it, pup. I have the book with the full prophecy."

SFSFSFSFSFSFSFSFSFSFSFSFSFSF

That's the end of Shadowfire!

Watch out for the final instalment, "Guardians", coming soon.