The Disgraced of the House of Black - A Multi-Character Fanfiction - Part One

61. Tragedy

June 1994

"Sirius!" a voice suddenly cried.

They broke apart, both looking up.

"Get behind us!" Amara shouted to the children.

Eliana flung Severus out of the way as Harry and Hermione obeyed. Ron and Althea, however, did not move. They were staring in terror at Lupin. Quickly drawing her wand, Althea cut Ron loose, shoving him toward the others as she and Eliana jumped toward Remus. He had gone horribly rigid. The moment the shaking started, Althea knew it was over.

"Sirius, contain him!" Althea shouted, cutting Pettigrew loose and shoving the rat toward him, but before she had managed to actually push him, Pettigrew had turned, grabbing hold of her by the wrist before twisting her arm behind her back.

Althea screamed as she felt her arm pushed upwards. But she wasn't in pain for long. Grabbing hold of her wand, Pettigrew instantly transformed, dropping her wand and disappearing in the grass. Althea shot spell after spell at him, but none landed. Looking back, she saw that her mother was desperately trying to contain Remus, but it wasn't working.

When she turned back, she instantly screamed. Apparently one her of spells had landed. Pettigrew was lunging at her, looking so angry and so violent she almost thought for one horrible moment he was another boggart pretending to be those mangled corpses. She fell, the entire weight of Wormtail on top of her as she shielded her face from him. A blinding pain erupted in the back of her head, so terrible she cried out. The next moment, however, the weight was gone as with a horrified shriek, Peter jumped up and ran, transforming into a rat as he went.

Althea suddenly felt a throbbing pain as a huge shape moved above her. Then, came a horrible growl and a bark. Althea couldn't move, even as she heard screams, growls, and barking all around her. She still lay, completely still. Then, a shape appeared above her. It was a woman with dark hair and bright, warm eyes. She could not put together who it was, but as she felt a hand on her forehead, her senses suddenly returned to her. It was as though everything had suddenly snapped back into focus.

She jerked upright and onto her feet. Instantly, she staggered. Amara steadied her by grabbing her elbows.

"Where is-" Althea began, looking around her hazily.

She did not finish her thought as a bleeding, panting form suddenly came into sight.

"Sirius!" Amara screamed, letting go of Althea and dashing forward.

She caught him just before he fell and gently lowered him to the ground.

"Amara," he whispered, catching sight of her face.

She had begun crying.

"No," she snapped, cupping his cheeks. "No final words. This isn't the end!"

"Amara," he said again, but his eyes were latched on something behind her.

Althea had fallen, unable to keep herself up in her dizziness. Something hot and wet was slithering down her back. But the warmth of the blood was instantly gone as she perceived a figure gliding over the lake. Instantly, her stomach wrenched. When she had finished, the cold hit her to her core. She felt like she may be sick again. Hundreds of dementors were gliding toward them.

Forcing herself to her feet, she forced herself to think about her joy at realizing Remus was her father and raised her wand, shouting, "Expecto Patronum!"

Instantly, a huge, glittering animal shot from her wand toward the dementors. It was sleek and fast and so beautiful she felt she could stare at it for years, even as the brightness of it hurt her head. It charged toward the dementors as Harry ran forward, raising his own wand.

Althea forced her spirit to remain strong as she fought to stay on her feet. The Patronus only ranged so far. It was driving some dementors back, but others had come around it. She drew it back and directed it forward again, but she felt her strength begin to give out. She fell to her knees. She could see nothing aside from the Patronus anymore.

Her body ached with pain and tiredness, but she refused to give up. Then, she heard footsteps behind her. The Patronus was smaller now, but it had come back to her, approaching her at a slow walk. She was breathing heavily as she watched it. It was a wolf.

Then, letting out a shuttering breath, she collapsed. Fighting to keep her eyes open, she saw a hazy figure standing above her. The figure had white hair and beard and was crouching above her. His mouth was moving as though he was talking, but she could not hear him. Then, her eyes flickered shut.

.

Dumbledore had run down onto the grounds the moment he heard what was happening. Fudge, who had been having a late tea with him in his office, had run after him. Just as they reached the grounds, they saw two glittering Patronuses. The first, a stag, was cantering across the lake where it instantly disappeared, but the second, a wolf, was making its way forward, onto the grounds.

There, they watched as it approached a girl Fudge did not instantly recognize. She was pale with blood covering a large cut on her arm. He could not make out much more. Her wand arm was raised, but she was shaking, so close to collapse it was a wonder to him she was still somewhat upright, even if she was on her knees. The moment the wolf came to a stop in front of her, she collapsed.

Dumbledore dashed forward, shouting, "Thea! Thea!"

He tried a few more times to get her attention before, with a laboured breath, her eyes fluttered shut. Dumbledore straightened, flicking his wand and instantly causing her to rise onto a stretcher he had conjured.

"What has happened, Dumbledore?" Fudge demanded.

"I wish I knew, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied, moving closer to the lake.

Then, he caught sight of the figures there. Sirius Black was laying on his back on the ground with Amara clutching desperately to him. She was still conscious and sobbing silently. The moment she heard their footsteps, however, she looked up, her eyes shining with tears.

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "Please. Dumbledore, he didn't do this. You can't-"

"ENOUGH!" Fudge bellowed.

Amara let out a wail so terrible Dumbledore could not help but feel sympathy for her. She was clutching Sirius so tightly he thought for a moment he had died.

"Is he alive?" Dumbledore asked softly.

She nodded.

Then he caught sight of the other figures near them. Harry and Hermione had also collapsed. Raising his wand, he looked about him. Ron was laying a few feet away as well as Severus who was just coming to. Conjuring stretchers for them all, Dumbledore brought the whole group up to the castle.