Life Begins Anew

JK Owns Harry Potter and I do not. I do not make any money from this story.

Chapter 68Flight

They made their way out on the fourth night. Two nights to go and they would be free of the wilderness. Harry thought

After five hours into the trek, they found themselves skirting a ravine. Harry passed the word back to his group. ”Ware the ravine.” He called out.

The students warily avoided it as a Hufflepuff witch screamed as the ground gave way as she fell down fifty feet.

Hermione slid down to the Hufflepuff as she screamed out in pain. “Harry!” She yelled up as the group of students looked down to her. “Belinda will die if I do not use magic!” Trying to staunch the flow of blood from witch’s chest.

Harry looked down at Hermione. “Do it!” He turned around and snarled at his group. “Drink the Felix potion now and save yourselves. Think about the end Point and run! Ron, look after them!” Harry commanded. The group drank the potion and did as he commanded as he slid down the ravine and joined Hermione with Bootstray and Slightly following him.

Hermione stated the healing spell as they heard a plop of apparition as she began the spell. They looked up and saw Percy looking down to them as he pressed his wand to his Mark and slid down to them wand in hand.

Hermione silently casted Sara’s protective spell around them. “Don’t move. You are protected.” She whispered.

Everyone looked up and noticed that fifty Death Eaters arrived at the top of the ravine looking down to them.

Percy looked up. “Go and kill the rest of the Mud Bloods!” He commanded as he pointed his arm in the direction of the fleeing students.” They immediately obeyed as Percy was wearing the mask and robes of one of the Inner Circle.

Harry’s group took advantage of the distraction, drinking their Felix potion unnoticed, Hermione slipping the luck potion down Belinda’s throat.

Harry looked to Percy in anger. “Percy! How could you betray us?”

“It was easy Potter. No one in my family ever took me seriously and actually laughed at my ambitions, always putting me down. Who would have ever expected a Weasley as a Death Eater, much less one of the Inner Circle?” He chuckled as he pointed his wand to Hermione.

Hermione eyed the wand with fear. “It doesn’t have to be this way Percy. You could just walk away.”

“No Hermione. I was revealed when The Dark Lord took down the Order. There is nothing to go back to.”

Hermione looked into the cold eyes of her former friend waiting for the green light to shoot out.

“Avada Kedevra” Green light shooting from the traitor’s wand, bouncing off the protective shield, killing Percy instantly.

Bootstray walked over and grabbed the dead wizard’s wand and broke it in half, tossing the pieces onto the body. He kicked the body a few times as he had no respect for a traitor.

***Sara, Voldemort is short a member of the Inner Circle. Hermione has killed Percy Weasley with a shield that bounced the killing curse back to him. *** He quickly fed her the events of why the Death Eaters were upon them.

Sara sat in the Headmaster’s office listening to Miss. Lovegood tell of how Neville had changed, cursing Gryffindor sense of loyalty. ***I’m in the middle of something and will meet up with you when I can. ***

Bootstray picked up the injured witch. “Let’s go.” He turned his heel an Apparated to the top of the ravine and looked down to Harry and Hermione. “What are you waiting for? Voldemort is not going to send anyone as he has already sent a member of the Inner Circle to deal with you. Besides we’re lucky for the next two days because of the potion.”

Hermione, Harry, and Slightly joined the wizard and began their way towards the end Point.

&&&&&&

Luna looked to the Headmaster expectantly after she finished her tale. Severus looked to Sara. “Professor Snape, this is more of an area of your expertise.”

Sara slipped into the Ravenclaw’s mind and immediately exited, pain searing through her mind at the love the witch held for Mr. Longbottom, causing her to moan out loud.

She held her head in pain as Severus sensed what had happened and forced a pain potion down her throat.

“Many thanks Headmaster.” Sara replied as she turned to Miss. Lovegood. “You realize part of removing the darkness is a willingness of the person to want to be rid of it.”

Luna nodded her understanding. “But it has only been three days Professor. Surely there is not so much in him that he cannot be healed.”

“Miss. Lovegood, I noticed the consuming anger in Mr. Longbottom as he was punished tonight, focusing on the Headmaster. Anger such as this is like a moth attracted to light for the Darkness. The Darkness loves witches and wizards in this state and would be reluctant to let go.”

“I told Neville that the Headmaster is on our side, but he won’t believe me.” Luna told her with tears in her eyes.

“And how do you know that Miss. Lovegood?” Sara asked.

She looked nervously to her Dark Arts professor. Should she reveal what she was told to keep secret for so long? Her father had warned her that she would be considered a freak if her secret was known. But helping Neville was more important than keeping her secret. “I am an empath and I see the auras of people that reveal their true nature.” She quietly replied.

Sara looked to her in surprised. Her additional powers were rare in the Wizarding world. “And what do you see and feel in the Headmaster?” She asked of the blonde haired witch.

Luna looked intently at the Headmaster, making him nervous. “He has many auras. Darkness is wrapped around the colors of love, loyalty, and….family. But the Darkness is a thin wrapping that will be shed and allow the other auras to come through in time.” She looked deeply into his eyes. “Congratulations Headmaster on the conception of your daughter. With Hermione’s intellect and your power, she will be a witch of her own right and will protect the Wizarding world in the future, her power surpassing that of Headmaster Dumbledore in time.”

Severus quickly masked his look of surprise. “Divination is not a false art.” She quietly stated.

Sara looked to her. “And what do you see in me Miss. Lovegood?”

Luna looked to her professor. “A thick black aura surrounds you, but underneath that flashes the color of love. And then the color of death floats between that and the black aura. All you want is death and you strive for that. The only goal in your long life, though when the flashes of love push through you doubt your choice. In the end you will get your wish, but you will live again in time. Mr. Bootstray and the Headmaster will suffer, but in the end life begins anew.”

“You are very perceptive young witch. Your father was wise to tell you to hide your talents.” Sara told her. “In all my five hundred years of living I have never met a person that was true goodness. The Darkness flees from persons such as you. You are a very special witch Luna Lovegood.”

Sara sighed. “I have Mr. Longbottom in class tomorrow. I will see how much Darkness is residing within him. I require an oath from you Miss. Lovegood not to speak of what you have revealed to me and the Headmaster.”

“It really isn’t necessary Professor Snape. I have known of this since the beginning of the school year. I only told you because I want to save Neville’s soul.” She dreamily told her.

“Headmaster, I am through with her.” She looked to the witch. “I cannot promise you anything witch and trust you to keep your word.”

“Miss. Lovegood, as Professor Snape is willing to look into this you may go. I will call you if you are needed.”

Luna stood up and grabbed the Headmaster’s arm. “You will be redeemed at the end Severus Snape.” He watched the student leave.

“What do you make of that Sara?” Her brother asked.

“A weapon revealed to us brother.” Sara replied. “You do not realize the gem of Luna Lovegood that resides in this school. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood will be important in the end. It proves that prophecies do not reveal all.” She looked to him.

“The nation has been attacked and the Dark Lord has lost a member of his Inner Circle.” She told him. “They are on the run now, and the Felix potion is their only hope. Bootstray and Slightly are with Hermione and Harry so they should be in good hands.” She entered his mind showing him the death of Percy Weasley.

Severus looked to his sister. So that is why the Bond did not open up after he left the Dark Lord.

&&&&&

Ron ran after the group but it was hopeless as he disillusioned himself as a Death Eater ran passed him. He had never felt so sure of himself as he pressed his back against the tree. He continued on to his goal, sure that he would make it.

Bootstray, Harry and Hermione saw another Death Eater searching around the tree that they were hidden. Bootstray pointed his wand and cast the killing spell and watched as the body fell to the ground. He chuckled as he picked up a branch and created a Port Key sending the body to Diagon Alley.

“Bootstray, are you sure that is wise?” Hermione asked looking to the spot that the body previously occupied.

“Not sure Hermione. But it seemed the right thing to do.” Bootstray replied. They continued their trek, Bootstray killing and sending the bodies of Death Eaters to Diagon alley as they came across them.

After two days travel and thirty bodies later, they arrived at the end point. There was no one missing from the group as they hugged one another.

Harry looked to his group. “Felix has worked. Scatter close by and make shelters. We should hear from Professor Snape soon. Make sure you are well hidden. Medics, check your charges.”

He watched as Hermione, Kevin, and Seamus made their rounds. Soon the medics stood in front of Harry and told them that the group was whole and healthy. Harry shuddered in relief as he bade the medics to bed down. Merlin! Out of sixty witches and wizards, forty three had survived. He broke down and began to sob in relief as he realized that Professor Snape would take over the responsibility of the group.

Harry rubbed the tears from his eyes as he noticed a shadow. “Harry you have done well.” Bootstray sat down and offered him his flask. “Take a drink Harry. You have done well for one so young.” Harry drank deeply from the flask and sat for a moment. “Why did you not take over once you revealed yourself Bootstray?”

Bootstray chuckled as he handed the flask to Slightly, who sat down beside him and took a long drink from the flask. “The task was yours young Potter, and none of your group would have trusted me fully.”

Bootstray hugged the wizard as all of the stress came out of him, the young wizard sobbing into his chest. He held the young wizard close as he sent out. ***Sara, we have arrived. ***

Sara pulled herself out of Mr. Longbottom’s mind as she sent out. ***Sanctuary soon Bootstray. A bus will meet you tomorrow. ***