Upside Down

My goodness...I spurprise myself sometimes...

You guys only gave me about four reviews...and I gave you two chapters....It makes me sad. But you could make up for it....with this chapter. If there are any lurkers, then feel free to become a reviewer. (o)_(o)


distinctlyME - oh...I know...but I couldn't get that stupid house-elf to shut up....damn creatures....*grr* Anyway....I promise the Final Battle will be action-packed and awesome. Just you wait. In the meantime...
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Voldemort stood in front of the house with several of his Death Eaters. He would pick the Order apart one at a time if he had to. He was pissed, and the only way he was going to get any sort of relief was to see some blood and gore. According to his sources, there was a family of four in this house. There was the mother and father, both active members of the Order, and two children. The Fairwell family would be getting a rude surprise tonight…

Voldemort raised his hand, and flicked his finger silently, and two Death Eaters rushed forward, slamming into the door, knocking it off its hinges. There was a shriek from the sofa, as Vivienne Fairwell looked up from her book, her eyes widening at the sight of the masked Death Eaters.

Farnsworth Fairwell rushed in from the kitchen, wand drawn, a ridiculous pink apron around his waist. He wasted no time in firing spells at them rapidly, yelling directions at his wife.

“Get the children!” he snarled, dodging a spell sent off by one of the Death Eaters. She ran for the stairs, only to be caught about the feet by a stray spell from another Death Eater. She fell heavily to the floor, her face smacking against the first stair heavily, and knocking her front teeth loose. Farnsworth was quickly becoming overwhelmed. And he knew it. So in an attempt to give his children a chance to be saved, he lunged for the fireplace, slamming his palm against a gold medallion etched with a phoenix. It was an emergency signal for the Order. Order members should be there any minute, and hopefully arrive in time to save the children.

Farnsworth caught a Killing Curse in the back, his deep brown eyes going dull and forever sightless.

A few Death Eaters surrounded the bloody-faced Vivienne, grinning horribly beneath their masks. They stepped aside as Voldemort approached. Vivienne screamed, blood bubbling down her chin. Voldemort looked at his Death Eaters.

“Rape her, beat her, then kill her.” He said, stepping past them and heading up the stairs.

~~

Supper at Grimmauld Place was going rather well. Ruby and Molly had prepared a large and sumptuous feast, and the Order members, as well as the resident Death Eaters, were eating heartily. Even Dumbledore had stopped by to check on Ruby, and partake in one of Molly’s famous home-cooked meals.

As they ate, there was an unholy sound from the floo. The Order members were out of their seats immediately, realizing that one of the emergency signals had been activated. Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, Snape, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were out of their seats and into the main room immediately. Bellatrix and Draco followed out of curiosity.

Dumbledore pressed a phoenix insignia at the fireplace, and the flames flared, forming an address in fiery letters.

“It’s the Fairwells.” Dumbledore said. “Sirius, Ron, Severus and I will go to their aide.” He said.

“Is it Death Eaters?” Draco asked. Dumbledore turned to Draco as Ron disappeared through the floo, and nodded.

“Let us go.” Bellatrix said, motioning to herself and Draco. Snape disappeared through the floo as Dumbledore leveled his gaze with Bellatrix.

“We’ve been trying to keep you two secret.” He said, turning back as Sirius disappeared in a flash of green.

“Please….let us make up for our sins.” She said. Dumbledore didn’t have time to argue.

“Through the floo. It’s set automatically for the address.” He said.

~~

Dumbledore was the last to appear on the scene. There was smoke billowing through the house, a fire blazing through quickly. The assigned Order members were already fighting, several Death Eaters already slain. Draco and Bellatrix were quick with their wands, slicing through the men they once called ‘brothers’ quickly and mercilessly.

They fought their way up the stairs, Dumbledore leading the way. As they reached the top of the stairs, Voldemort appeared from one of the rooms, his gleaming red eyes shining in the firelight.

“Too late, old man. And mark my words: I will keep killing your bloody little bird club until you give me back what’s mine. And I will-” but he paused as the smoke cleared slightly, revealing the faces of Bellatrix and Draco. It wasn’t very often that Voldemort was stunned speechless….but this was one of those times. “Bella….I would not have chosen to kill you, sweet….but you were out of line.” He said, extending his hand. “Come back to me, and I will forgive your transgressions, and take you back under my wing. Come, Bella.” He said, his hand still outstretched.

All eyes were on Bellatrix. She looked at Voldemort, her black eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and a bit of fear. It would be stupid not to fear Voldemort…

“You betrayed me for protecting my sister…” she said softly, finding her voice.

“She was a traitor to the cause, she should not have been mourned…” Voldemort said, his hand lowering a bit.

“You tried to kill me.” She tried again.

“You would have acted foolishly…I could not allow it. Now I ask you one more time, Bella…your last chance: will you join me again?”
Bellatrix looked at his hand, and swallowed hard. “I will follow you my Lord…” she started. Voldemort grinned viciously. “When hell freezes over, you traitorous snake-faced bastard!” she hissed, and threw a spell at him. In his shock, he was knocked backwards. But he didn’t stay down long. He was back on his feet immediately, and out of the house through a hole he blasted in the wall.

“You’ll pay, you bitch! I will make you and your husband die a thousand deaths!” he hissed, flying through the hole via the Locomordres spell. The flames of the fire had reached the second floor, and were quickly consuming everything in sight. The members of the team thrust open the door that Voldemort had come through, and were pushed back by flash fire, unable to enter the room. Dumbledore peered through the flames, and was met with the sight of the Fairwell’s little girl lying motionless in a pool of blood. Dumbledore paused, and took off his colorful hat.

“Damn….an innocent lost to the tyrant.” He said softly. He then motioned for the others to get out while they could, as the flames were almost inescapable. They went past Bellatrix, who was rooted to her place in shock. She had faced down her master, and her true allegiances were known now. And she was torn…

Dumbledore grabbed her arm, and shook her, breaking her reverie.

“Come, Mrs. Lestrange. We must escape.” He said. She nodded, and he left ahead of her. As she approached the stairs, her sharp ears detected a sound not related to the fire. She paused, and strained to hear it again. Her ears picked it up again, just to her left. It sounded like…no….

She used her wand to blast down the door, and rushed into the room. There was a crib in the corner, a blanketed bundle in the middle, crying soundly. Bellatrix coughed through the smoke, and rushed to the crib. The baby couldn’t be much older than a few weeks. She cast a bubble-head charm on the baby to keep it from inhaling smoke, and picked it up, holding it close to her body. Then she made a run for it.

As she ran down the stairs, the flames seemed to engulf everything. She could cast a heat-protection charm, but it would cancel out the bubble-head charm. She could handle a bit of heat, but a newborn couldn’t handle the smoke. She went for the front door, and was knocked back when a beam fell from overhead, nearly crushing her. She threw herself back, and looked around for another exit. There was a large picture window on one wall, and the way was clear. She looked down at the squalling child.

“Hold on, little one.” She said, and took a run for the window. She jumped, and used her back to break the glass, and fell through, cutting herself on the stray glass. She landed hard on her back, the baby tucked safely in her arms.

Snape looked up, rubbing soot from his face.

“Merlin! Is she holding…?” Bellatrix was struggling to get away from the burning house.
“Get her Severus! The Aurors will be here any second.” Dumbledore said desperately. Snape ran towards Bellatrix, and grabbed her by the robes, Apparating back to headquarters.

Snape let got of Bellatrix when he reached the den, and she sat up, coughing violently. Dumbledore appeared a few seconds later. The members of Grimmauld Place gathered around Bellatrix. She gingerly placed the child on the floor, and coughed again, spitting up smoky phlegm.

“Dammit!” she hacked, and spit on the floor.

Sirius grimaced. “Please don’t spit on my floor, Bella…”

“That’s the last time I pull somebody from a fire!” she said. Snape frowned as she spit again.

“That’s the only time you’ve pulled someone from a fire…”

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Hmm....my goodness.....what has Bella done? How will this affect her? I don't remember....but a few reviews might jog my memory...