CHAPTER - 44

The room lit up as Snape cast his spells. Green light headed straight for Bellatrix's head, and she conjured up a wall, blocking it. "Oh, is this how you duel now? I see you still remember how to cast the spells."

Snape blasted it down with a powerful jet of light, and followed with more spells. The air seemed like a whirling, flying rainbow, too fast for Harry's eyes to track. Harry saw Bellatrix waving her wand in frustration, trying to cast a spell but failing. A shield charm appeared as Snape's spells drew near. So close, yet so far.

"Do you think your readings will stop me? They will come soon. You can fight me, can you fight us all?" She dodged another killing curse.

Snape waved his wand to his back, and the desks began flying. Cabinets of potions exploded in the air, staining the ground hundreds of different shades of every type of color. They mixed, forming a puddle of blackish gloo. They rushed towards Bellatrix, who pushed them away with a shriek.

Bellatrix turned back to retreat, but Harry saw Snape wave his wand, and black fire appeared, blocking her escape. Her movements became more frantic. "The Dark Lord trained me himself. You cannot defeat me! Even if I fall I shall rise again." She said, her wand waving in one motion after another.

The black fire receded, but just as she stepped back it appeared again. Snape pointed his wand above her head, and the roof collapsed with an explosion. Dust and wood rained down on her head, and midair they transformed into spikes. Bellatrix howled as they pierced her body, streaks of red appearing over her clothes.

"You'll pay." She promised, throwing more spells. Or trying to. Snape waved his wand, and whenever a spell formed it fizzled out. The spikes began growing, each flying into the air before puffing up like balloons being blown. The steel squeezed Bellatrix, locking around her body as she shrieked.

The spikes caught fire. Bellatrix screamed, her silver skin melting as fire both red and black singed her clothes and skin. It began melting, her body dripping like wax before a strong fire. Her features distorted, and her white face became ashen black. The screaming was cut short as Snape waved his wand, and her lower jaw dropped. Her teeth were severed, and her tongue sliced in half. It hit the stone floor with a sickening clunk.

More potions flew through the air, some heading towards Snape while others exploded before Bellatrix. Warts spread over her face. Her hair fell out. Her eyes turned into sludge as her body convulsed, violent choking lost in the hiss of the potion mixes. Then, everything exploded.

The dungeon was set alight with a violet flame as potion mixes catapulted through the air. Stained glass flew over Harry's head like shrapnel from a mortar, and Snape watched with indifference as they bounced off his shields. In an amazing feat of vitality Bellatrix looked up with sightless eyes, somehow still alive.

Snape raised his wand. To finish her off, he supposed. But before he could her body flew back into the wall, and his spell hit nothing. Snape stumbled back as the ground exploded beneath his feet.

His legs were gone, Harry realized. Snape's robes were burning with fire to the thighs, and where his knee should be only a stump remained. Robed wizards entered, all holding a wand. "So, this is the boy who lived. Take him." One ordered.

But before their spells hit him the potion did. Wisps of silver smoke curled around Harry, and he could see his body and clothes dissipating as they drew near. He looked down to find only empty air. Invisibility? One death eater only had time to curse before he was decapitated by a vicious blow to the neck.

Snape, it seems, had not given up. Despite what should only be described as unbearable pain he still fought. It was as if his legs were still there, and he had only decided to sit down. His midsection burned, but not as bright as his eyes. They were gleaming with murderous hatred.

He heard the death eaters curse. "Search for the boy, surround the traitor!" He called. Snape responded with a spell.

His attacks were relentless, cutting down one death eater after another. None of them were as skilled as Bellatrix, nor half as terrifying as Snape. He must have killed half a dozen before they surrounded him, and the red light stunned him. Harry opened his mouth but didn't cry out. No, he couldn't expose himself like that!

His eyes searched frantically for a wand. Any wand. He needed to fight! In the midst of the black sludge puddle, Bellatrix's wand was gripped in her hand, even in her state. His eyes drifted to Snape's. Better, maybe, but the death eaters were looking for him. No, he needed to go where they didn't expect. Gritting his teeth, he dove for Bellatrix.

It was terrible. His feet burned when touching the sludge, and what seemed like a thousand needles pricked at his skin. But he continued, walking through the violent flames to seize her wand. It was hot, probably more than an open flame. But as his eyes glowed green Harry found it wasn't so bad. Just a burn. He grabbed Bellatrix's hands and plunged it into the fire.

If she could have, Harry had no doubt that she would have screamed. If he were in control of his own body, he probably would have too. His hands were charred black by then, but he pried the wand free. Turning around, he faced the death eaters.

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry shouted.