Twilight of the Gods

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Potterverse and Pratchettverse, nor do I own any beings from European mythology.


(Severus’ s POV)

Several vampires spread to the air and attacked Trojan, Stribog and Hel. Trojan - the highest bies – died easily, but Stribog changed to wind and escaped and Hel disappeared to Helheim. Severus, Bellatrix and Draco turned towards Lord Voldemort and together they cast Avada Kedavra on him. The Dark Lord immediately died. Without complications, without problems, surprisingly even without Potter.

“See, we didn’t need scarhead. Who cares for horcruxes? I doubt he has another fifteen years to create new body”, uttered Draco.

The rest of vampires successfully attacked and killed Bres and Lucifer tried to cut Surt’ s head off with his flame-sword (with almost Slytherin tactic – the best attack is from behind), but Surt immediately grow to his giant size of six-floor building. Vampires and all three remaining wizards ran from Surt in all directions (they made very good impression of chickens running from hawk attack), but Lucifer didn’t have the luck. Surt stomped on him with an earthquake curse and much smaller Lucifer splashed like a bloody tomato under his leg. Severus realized, that Surt must have used some very strong magic to dispose of Lucifer like that – only with severely burned leg. Then Surt continued towards Draco. Draco ran for his life, but in several seconds he followed the fallen angel on his way into oblivion. Severus had a bad feeling that the fun (like for example casting Avada on Voldemort) just ended.

Surt then killed four youngest vampire fledglings, which were not quick enough to escape. Enraged vampire Elders and panic stricken demons lead by Lilith attacked him like wasps from the air and practically cut him to pieces.

Vampires and both remaining wizards now rose from the ground, which finally stopped to shake. They removed biggest pieces of Surt from their bodies and attacked Jotunheim giants. Infuriated goddess Hel came back from Helheim and she sent her horde against them from behind. Bella tried her machine gun, but it was useless against dead, nevertheless she managed to kill several small giant’ s youths before she ran out of projectiles. Soon they all were covered with blood and vampires nastily cursed in several languages – the blood was somehow tainted and tasted horrible, so they couldn’t kill by sucking it out of giants. Bloodied Severus caught Bella, who fired Avadas in every direction and apparated away from this desperate situation.

They felt to the ground right behind main group of gods and Hogwarts wizards. Severus noticed Weasley twins and could not help but smirk and mockingly utter: “Ah, Spits and Swallows”. But then he saw goddess Morrigan turning with a sadistic smile, pointing at Bella and at him and speaking. Suddenly they felt terrible frost, because almost twenty ice giants made tight circle around them, and started to playfully fire icicles. Both lovers stood back-to-back and shot at giants Avada, Crucio, Diffindo, Sectum Sempra and another killing and harming curses, but unfortunately these giants didn’t react.

So Bella drew her rapier and attacked one of them by bravura pass. When she succeeded, she dodged another giant with imbroccata and pierced his abdomen. Then she tried patinando on another one, but third giant hurled her to the ground and fourth one thrust an icicle through her heart. When she cried out, Severus turned to see what’s wrong. Bella lay on the ground with her blood splashing around the icicle and running from her mouth. She tried to clutch the icicle, but she had no strength anymore and her hands slowly felt to the ground. Her eyes closed. Severus’ s face was absolutely motionless, only his black eyes widened. Then he firmly clenched his wand and turned to giants to avenge her, but in this moment a freezing curse hit him from behind. He felt he could not breathe and move anymore.

(Intermission)

Loki’ s lament

Oh friend of mine, how to say goodbye
This was your time, but the task you fulfilled was mine
I will not rest until giant’s blood is spilled
Their bones will all be broken, dragged across the field
This dear friend is how we\'ll say goodbye
Until we meet in the sky

(Hermione’ s POV)

The Golden Trio stood in a long line of wizards. Gods and giants were killing one another exactly how one could expect in a battle. Wizards worked in groups; whole group simultaneously casting the same curse at one giant. The Trio worked with their friends: Fred, George and Ginny Weasleys and Neville Longbottom.

Hermione noticed Morrigan suddenly turning and casting some spell to the back. She realized, that Morrigan could assign death to mortal warriors and she wanted to know who was this unfortunate. So she turned and witnessed the fall of the last Death Eaters. She saw Bellatrix Lestrange’ s elegant fencing and her violent death. She saw professor Snape, who was always so high and mighty. Now he stood there covered in blood, stricken, motionlessly watching Bellatrix die. And then he was struck by a curse and he fell to the pool of Bellatrix’ s blood.

So it was her, who first saw ice giants attacking from behind. Ginny felt down with her skull cracked by an enormous ice ball. Harry unbelievably stared at her and Hermione had to shake him to move. They lost several precious seconds, that cost Neville’ s life, but then the remaining five pull themselves together and started to cast Avadas. Giants did nothing; they simply continued their attack. “Lets try fire or warming spells like Incedio or Relashio”, said Harry. They tried and giants obediently reacted to Incedio, which melted them to water. Other groups saw this tactic and soon they destroyed the whole troop, but during this time there came fire giants.

Group of Ravenclaws then tried flame-freezing spell, which had to be used first followed by killing curses. Ron was the first to taste fireball and he stood no chance. Harry cast flame-freezing charm to nearest enemy, but then three of the giants raised their hands and together they said incantation. And from the sky right through fighting air forces started to fall burning meteorites on wizards. Last thing Hermione saw was a very nice effect of a bright meteorite falling on ice and raising a cloud of steam.

(End of Hermione’ s POV)


(Major Weinberger’ s POV)

Go to hell with such freaks. He was supposed to lead attack against normal people. But instead of normal war he and his soldiers faced army of monsters. Not only one, but two armies fighting with one another. He only wondered how much can he be promoted for killing a demon. Never read any instruction about this in any military book.

They were called to arms, when first attack of monsters came. That was five days ago.
First there came black ghosts, who attacked people and left them unconscious or dead. The less happy ones, who woke up, were in deep depression. Then came the giants. And four days ago they all began to gather in Germany. Sadly, the first thing they have done here was total genocide.

Desperate Security Council of UNO called everyone to arms and sent them to Germany to do anything they could. They tried tanks and helicopters, but these machines were no matches for giants. Now they had prepared missiles earth-to-earth and some fighters with massive bombs. Major Weinberger also knew of the secret command – in absolutely hopeless situation they could use nuclear bombs.

Yesterday morning the main fun began. Giants made camp over former Hamburg and then there started to appear faeries. Or more likely – monsters from fairytales. His men understood seriousness of the war, but nevertheless they stood there all day with field glasses and watched these monsters in children astonishment. Soon it became clear there were two camps. Soldiers recalled every tale they heard and before attack began, they identified most of the monsters. Giants were unmistakable. In first army there were wolves, normal people, strange thin people (elves? Sergeant Mayer almost two hours searched for Legolas. She didn’t succeed), small tattooed people (hobbits?), black ghosts, black winged people (angels or demons?) and skeletons with some tissues on their bones. In opposite army there were normal people, but in Celtic, Viking or medieval outfits, several white winged people (angels?) and almost transparent ghosts. Colonel Grossmann swore he saw unicorns, which raised long debates over his virginity. Major Weinberger was expecting news of the Little Red Riding Hood any minute now. Or Sleeping Beauty and her prince.

Around 8 p.m. there appeared general staff and sergeant Thorwaldson shitted himself. And together with other soldiers familiar with Viking mythology they recognized Viking gods Odin and Thor and realized what it means – the Twilight of the Gods. Ragnarok. The End of the world. Armageddon. Crack of doom. He almost followed Thorwaldson’ s example.

Now gods fought with giants. The snake killed Thor. Snake stalled. Fenri killed Odin. Fenri was killed. Angels and demons fenced in the sky and fell to the ground with broken wings. Black ghosts sucked lives out of Valkyrias. Burning birds killed these ghosts. Fire giants spew fire; ice giants spew ice. Earth was shaking. Gods sent lightning against giants. People in medieval outfits shot green and red rays. Someone played a trumpet off-tune in the sky. Skeletons fought Viking warriors. And suddenly meteorites started to fall from the sky. In the beginning just small ones, then enormous ones falling to anybody except giants.

When the smoke did clear, many thousands were dead. There was much blood and gore. Their bodies lay broken and scattered across the battlefield like brown leaves blown by the wind. (AN: Manowar – I could not resist) And the only ones standing on their feet (or on somebody else’ s feet or other body parts) there were giants.

Major Weinberger finally decided to partake with his army, as there was no one else between giants and the rest of the world. He commanded his men to shot all missiles against giants. His command was fulfilled. Missiles hit a lot of giants, but some of them were only hurt and some were completely unharmed. Giants regrouped and started to march against human army. Major and his officers panicked. And then he did the last decision of his life. He commanded to use nuclear bombs. They were so nice. Brighter than a thousand suns.

(End of Major Weinberger’ s POV)

\'Neath sea the land sinketh, the sun dimmeth,
from the heavens fall the fair bright stars;
gusheth forth steam and gutting fire,
to very heaven soar the hurtling flames.

(Seeress’ s song again)

Still no chance to move. Severus thought about how is that possible that he’s not already dead when he’s buried in ice. He saw a tall dark silhouette coming from a distance.

THIS IS NO USE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PLAY A TRUMPET WITH NO LIPS?

Severus tightened his eyes, even if metaphorically. “Oh, damn. Are you another mythological git? I think I’ve seen enough of them for the rest of my life.”

YOU DID.

“Aha. Hmm. What would happen now? Am I finally going to hell as every single one of my students sincerely hoped?”

DEPENDS ON YOUR BELIEF, I GUESS. I NEVER MUCH CARED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO MORTALS AFTER THEIR DEATH. BUT, AS FAR AS I CAME TO KNOW YOU, I MUST SAY I FEEL SORRY FOR THE HELL.

“I appreciate your professional opinion. Did we win?”

Death took a look at the freezing planes. HOW MUCH DOES IT MATTER?

Severus took that look as well and corrected himself: “Did anybody win?”

I DID. I ALWAYS DO.

“So this is the final end?”

FOR YOU, OR INDEED FOR THE MANKIND, IT IS. I’M JUST GOING TO TAKE A HOLIDAY, MILLION YEARS OR TWO, AND THEN A NEW LIFE WILL EVOLVE, OR SO I’VE HEARD. THE BASTARD WILL NEVER STOP. CRAPPY WORK.

Death vanished into a realm of his own. And the Earth, turned into a gods’s forsaken ball of ice, slowly flew through the universe…towards eternity.