6

A Lost Battle

Harry landed in an abandoned industrial section of London. The buildings had long since fallen into disarray from the lack of human maintenance. Harry wordlessly pulled up his hood, as Lucius Malfoy approached him. The Death Eater bowed politely to his master's heir.

"The Order has just received added reinforcements from the Aurors." The Death Eater paused waving to where the battle was being waged. "The situation is hopeless."

Harry's face hardened, assuming the role that he played. "My father did not find this 'situation' hopeless, Malfoy. So if I were you, I would hold my tongue."

The older man reddened at the insult to his honor. "If my Lord wishes to continue this fray, then we should go immediately."

Harry nodded coldly and followed the senior Malfoy down the abandoned passageways of the factory district. Ahead he could hear the sounds of spells being cast, people shouting, and spells smashing into the cement walls. The two increased their pace, as they neared the battle.

With the battle in sight, Malfoy turned to Harry. "Good luck, my Lord."

Harry gave a brief nod before entering the fray with his wand in his right hand. With efficiency, he cast a spell that he had seen Dolohov use, causing zigzagging flames to exit from his wand's tip. The spell hit its intended target causing him to fall instantly to the ground dead.

"INCENDIO," his voice shouted, turning his wand on a fast approaching Auror. The man screamed in pain as the flames engulfed him. Harry quickly turned his attention to his new attacker. "SECTUMSEMPRA!" His spell hit the man's face causing him to collapse.

Harry inhaled sharply catching his breath. His eyes assessed their plight with one glance. It would be a toss-up on who would win this skirmish. His hand reached into his robe and removed one of the few daggers that he had with him. Swiftly, he tossed it, saving the life of a Death Eater.

He noticed to his left, Bellatrix was fighting her traitorous cousin, Sirius Black. Before his eyes he saw her suddenly fall before Black, as one of his spells broke through her defenses. His heart seemed to stop, as he watched Black loom before her with his wand pointed at her head.

The initial shock wore off, and Harry ran to Bellatrix's aid. Leveling his wand with Black's chest, Harry came to a stop.

"Walk away, Black." He whispered in a menacing voice.

Sirius immediately removed his wand from Lestrange, and moved it to cover the newcomer. "Ah, Voldemort's little ickle son!"

Gasping for air, Bellatrix turned her head, until she saw Harry. "Marvolo, leave!" She commanded.

Harry's eyes shifted to look at her feeble form. "You're in no condition to finish this duel. You will apparate back."

Bellatrix tried to stand, but found herself unable to perform even that simple task. "I can't."

"You will." Harry ordered, this time not taking his eyes off of Black.

Sensing the futility of arguing with the stubborn youth, Bellatrix apparated back to the Dark Lord's lair, leaving Harry to fight Black alone.

"Brave of you, boy." Sirius stated calmly. "Unfortunately, I doubt my dear cousin would do the same for you."

"You might be surprised."

The two combatants eyed each other, daring the other to make their move. It was Harry, who initiated their duel, by throwing a stinging hex Black's way. The older one did not wait long to return a few of his own jinxes, which Harry blocked with a shielding charm.

The two found themselves moving through the edges of the battle in a tedious routine of blocking and jinxing. They found themselves nearingan ancient wall of one of the factories. It was at this moment that Harry got through an Expelliarmus Charm, causing Black's wand to fall harmlessly into Harry's out stretched hand.

"You should have listened to me, Black, and just walked away."

Sirius face was set in a grim façade, as he expected death.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw James dueling another Death Eater. Their eyes met briefly, and then James suddenly pointed his wand in the assassin's direction. Sirius smirked suddenly, only to suddenly duck when James's curse was sent off target by the Death Eater he was fighting. The curse instead hit the cement wall hard, causing it to crumple. Both Sirius and the assassin were hit with the spray of debris.

After a few moments, Sirius rose slowly, and then began to brush off the dust that clung to him. He started to cough fitfully, as the dust attacked his lungs.

"Damn it, James!" Sirius said between coughs, though his friend was nolonger in sight.

His gray eyes landed on the crumpled form of the assassin, who appeared to be unconscious. Shaking, Sirius walked over to the figure and shook him. There was no response. He pressed two fingers to the youth's throat and felt a weak pulse. The assassin's face still remained hidden behind his mask.

A misfired spell reminded him of the battle that was taking place around him. Picking up the battered and bloodied assassin, Sirius quickly apparated to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place where Dumbledore wasbound to bewaiting.

Still holding the unconscious assassin over his shoulder, Sirius quickly moved upstairs and placed him in one of the bedrooms before rushing to get Dumbledore. He found the Headmaster getting ready to Floo to the battle.

"Albus," he called hurriedly. "I have him."

Dumbledore immediately stopped and without further use of words followed Sirius to the bedroom. The Headmaster moved to the motionless form that lay on the bed. Raising his wand, he began to heal some of the young man's wounds. With the assassin's life no longer in danger, Dumbledore's hands gently began to remove the hood.

He suddenly froze. Sirius moved to stand beside the blanched Headmaster. His own face paled instantly.

"Harry?" He croaked, when he saw the sixteen year old that closely resembled his best friend.

Dumbledore's eyes closed tightly. He shaking took a few steps back, before meeting Sirius's eyes.

"How are we going to tell James and Lily?" Sirius said waving his hand toward Harry. "That we failed their son."

Dumbledore was about to answer when the door opened. James Potter stepped in breathing hard. "I'm sorry, Sirius. I didn't mean for the spell to do that. I heard you caught the assassin-."

Sirius watched as James's eyes widened in disbelief. "James," Sirius called, as his friend quickly retreated from the room and the truth of his son's identity.