Chapter Four, Battle

Reacting instinctively - and aided by the dark protection charms woven into their jewellery from Orion - Vasilisa's wand fell into her hand at a mere thought and cast the strongest dark protective shield she could, to protect the three of them from the dark spells hurled at them by these hypocritical Heirs.
"Tenebris Navitas Scutum!" Vasilisa cried, waving her wand in a strong flick upwards as an opaque shield surrounded the three made up of dark energy from the earth and her Death Magick.

Getting over the shock of actually getting attacked by Dumbledore's sycophants and two of Riddle's, Lucretia and Natalia joined Vasilisa in the fight while dark curses rained down upon them including the Killing Curses that were only stopped by Vasilisa's Death Magick keeping the opaque shield in place.
"Protego Diabolica!" Natalia shouted, creating a ring of white-blue flames around them just outside the shield.

The two dark protection charms offered them a break until they could get an opening in their attackers stance; but they were no less idle. By joining her soon-to-be Blood-Sisters, Lucretia cast her own spell, an offensive curse that gave them the opening.
"Ignore Culti!"
"Albus was right. You are dark witches and Lady Peverell has just condemned you further!" A blonde with an upturned nose scoffed.

"McLaggen, would you shut up!" Ezra Diggory spat before he fired another spell, growling when the Peverell witch twirled out of the way as if she was dancing. She was incredibly difficult to land a hit on, he was starting to see why it had taken Grindelwald and multiple accomplices to incapacitate her. Heiress Ivanov was nearly as hard as her cousin, and Lucretia Black-Prewett was by no means an easy target; but it was easy to see how powerful Peverell was.

Having enough of these fools, Vasilisa twirled her wand so fast it was almost a blur as she fired off spells in quick succession to incapacitate them with Lucretia and Natalia right behind her; the three standing back to back in a triangle formation so all nine assailants were in at least one of their sights and couldn't attack them from behind.
"Repellendum!" Lucretia cried, sending the three before her back by a wave of force before she quickly disarmed and bound the mindless fools she recognised as Ezra Diggory, Timothy Boot and Marius Belby.

Not taking her eyes or her wand off of the bound and gagged men at her feet she sent a Patronus message to her father, letting him know what happened as she knew Dumbledore would try and get them off the hook; but she wasn't going to let that happen. She didn't need to worry about Aurors as the charms on the Alley would have alerted the Head of the D.M.L.E Theseus Scamander. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Natalia disarm and bind Arthur Edgecombe and Roger Davis in a similar manner to her own, leaving Vasilisa batting against Callum McLaggen, Zacharius Smith, Corban Yaxley and Adonis Mulciber.

The latter two who were aiming to kill with far deadlier and more lethal spells than the Killing Curse that Smith and McLaggen were throwing around like candy which had just killed a young man who had been exiting a shop in a bid to help them. The spell had bounced off the shield resulting in this happening.

Worried for her cousin, Natalia made a move to aid her but Vasilisa waved her off, so Natalia was reduced to watching the men with her wand pointing at them and their wands grasped in her other hand as she sent word to her own father while keeping an eye on Vasilisa out of the corner of her eye; watching with worried trepidation.
"Ignis Dolor!"
"Imperium Incidio!"
"Glacis Pugiones!"

"Illusio Animus!" Vasilisa shot her last spell at her four assailants, sufficiently distracting them as a direwolf made of black fire - a spell known only in the Peverell grimoire - distracting them enough that she could disarm and bind them with her two final spells. "Expelliarmus! Catena Clausūra!" Once the four were bound and gagged, Vasilisa stumbled a little as she finally let down the shield that had used quite a bit of magic to stay standing against the onslaught of the Killing Curses; but unfortunately it wasn't up the whole fight and was only recharged as it were, when Vasilisa's magic felt threatened enough (i.e. when Killing Curses were being fired at them) so the three had quite a lot of injuries and some of Vasilisa's had reopened but the men at their feet looked the worst by far.

Despite the small stumble - which Natalia also experienced when she released the Protego Diabolica before it destroyed the alley - the three of them looked like Warrior Queens who had just fought their way to victory. Besides, it wasn't advised to use those types of spells in a battle for long periods of time due to the need to be constantly charged to stay active despite a witches or wizards power levels.
"Are you okay?" The three witches asked each other simultaneously, letting out a breathless laugh as they hugged in relief while still somehow managing to remain stoic and threatening.

Looking as if they were a second away from killing all nine of them; and Adonis Mulciber and Corban Yaxley could reluctantly admit - to themselves at least - they were more petrified of Lady Peverell than they were of their Lord Voldemort. Fortunately (or unfortunately) they could live for a little longer as multiple pops sounded around the alley, revealing Theseus Scamander with a platoon of Aurors headed by Lord Harfang Longbottom (Monty's best friend since Hogwarts). They were shortly followed by Monty Potter, Orion, Nikolai and Alexsie, and Ignatius and Arcturus who all raced over to Vasilisa, Natalia and Lucretia pulling them in to their arms and holding them tightly as if afraid they were simply a mirage.

"Lady Peverell, Heiress Ivanov and Mrs Black-Prewett, I understand you've gone through an ordeal but could you perhaps shed some light as to what happened?" Theseus asked kindly, looking disgustedly down at those he went to school with or knew through the Ministry.
"Of course Lord Scamander." Lucretia agreed. "These nine attacked us unprovoked as we were shopping for the Summer Solstice tomorrow and I was showing Natalia and Vasilisa around when those from so-called Light families started throwing dark spells and even the Killing Curse at us."

"This... McLaggen even said with his own mouth that a...Dumbledore wished my cousin dead, and how she had condemned myself and Lucretia so we too should perish before he was told to shut up by that man." Natalia said pointing at Ezra Diggory who was spewing expletives at them but was thankfully silenced.
"You will find the spells on their wands to back up our statements." Vasilisa added, as they passed over the nine wands just as Dumbledore arrived striding arrogantly towards them.

"Before you say anything Albus I suggest you find yourself a good lawyer and stop interfering in matters that do not concern you." Monty snapped before turning back towards Theseus who was checking the spells fast on all nine wands with Harfang while Alastair Bones checked Vasilisa's, Natalia's and Lucretia's wands. The second Alastair nodded to Theseus and handed back the ladies' wands with the nine wands going into evidence bags, Monty spoke again pulling a letter from the inside of his pocket.

"You will find this letter most curious Theseus, I received it from Aberforth just before I got the message that my cousin has been attacked again!"
"Expelliarmus! Incarcerous!" Orion shouted disarming Dumbledore when he saw him draw his wand either to attack or flee; he didn't know but he wasn't taking any chances. Neither was Arcturus who summoned every single illegal Portkey that Dumbledore and the nine wizards had upon them, handing them off to Theseus. Now more curious as well as infuriated, Theseus quickly read over the letter and as he did so his expression darkened the more he read.

"Albus Dumbledore you are hereby under arrest for the conspiracy to murder Lady Peverell, conspiracy to manslaughter of both Heiress Ivanov and Mrs Black-Prewett. Murder of your sister Ariana Dumbledore, threatening to murder your brother Aberforth Dumbledore. Multiple thefts, fraud and embezzlement. For your war crimes with Gellert Grindelwald against Britannia and the Wixen community of Britannia for setting him on his current path.

Heirs Callum McLaggen, Ezra Diggory, Marius Belby, Robert Davis, Arthur Edgecombe, Zacharius Smith, Timothy Boot, Adonis Mulciber and Corban Yaxley, you are hereby all under arrest for attempted murder of the aforementioned witches, multiple uses of Unforgivable Curses, mainly the Killing Curse, and other Dark spells intended to kill. Manslaughter of Mr Wilkins who had come to aid Lady Peverell, Heiress Ivanov and Mrs Black-Prewett, being public menaces and for the destruction of Horizont Alley.

Anything you do say can still be given as evidence, if you cannot afford a wixen-lawyer then one shall be provided for you. Take them away, but Longbottom, make sure no supporter of Dumbledore or Riddle processes them or is near the holding cells." Theseus ordered.
"Understood." Harfang Longbottom nodded, ordering some Aurors to help transport the ten prisoners and others to take Mr Wilkins' body back to his parents, while the rest were to gather evidence from those in the Alley and to clear it up. Once he was sure all of his subordinates had their assignments, Theseus turned back to Vasilisa and the others.

"I won't let him or any of them get away with this, I swear." Theseus promised them. "I shall send an owl with dates for the trial and if we may need your memories. I'm sorry this has happened and I will make certain nothing like this happens again." With a nod he Disapparated leaving the group to gather themselves in silence until Arcturus broke that silence by striking the Yaxley family from the Black family his wand tip lit gold as Mother Magic accepted his vow.
"Now, let's get you three home, where Melania can heal you. Especially as Lisa's wounds have been reopened." Arcturus instructed, tightly grasping his daughter and son-in-law close as he Disapparated for Castle Black, followed shortly by Nikolai with Natalia and Alexsie.

"Orion, would it be terrible if I imposed upon you?" Monty questioned Orion. He wanted to make certain his cousin would be well, which Orion could obviously tell. "I could brew any potions your mother may need." He offered.
"Of course not. You're always welcome, Monty." Orion reassured him, Monty offered up a relieved smile and moved to the side to send word to his wife, Charlus and Dorea leaving Orion and Vasilisa a moment to talk privately.
"I was terrified I was going to lose you when I felt your pain and anger, and when Tia sent that Patronus message I -"

"Hey! Shh, shh. I'm okay, Ry. A little banged up and woozy but nothing your mother and my cousin can't fix. Besides, your protective charms helped more than you know." Vasilisa smiled, a hand touching the necklace and the other cupping Orion's cheek, brushing her thumb against his cheekbone. "Thank you." She whispered gratefully, kissing his cheek.
"Anything for you my love. Now, let's get you home." Orion smiled, kissing her temple.

His anger may be kept at bay by his worry for the time being but Orion knew that when the worry dissipated the anger would come back tenfold with the Black Dog inside him baying for his enemies blood. Everyone knew not to cross a Black at the best of times, but one that has the Black Dog inside them? They'll be wishing they could hide from his retribution.

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• Black Dog: a death omen of a black wolf with blood red eyes. Similar to that of a Grimm but Death's second death omen, as he has two that guard the realm of the dead: a black wolf with blood red eyes (the Black Dog) and a black dog with black eyes like the bottomless pit of a void (the Grimm).

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Spell meanings in order of use:

• Tenebris navitas = dark energy.

• Scutum = shield.

• Protego Diabolica = dark protection charm as it creates a ring of white-blue fire. It would incinerate any enemy of the caster if they got too close or tried to pass through the flames.

• Ignis Cuti = knives of fire.

• Repellendum = repels by a wave of force.

• Ignis Dolor = pain made from feeling like you're on fire.

• Imperium Incidio = deep cuts. Colour of spell is a dark, sickly blue light.

• Glacis Pugiones = ice daggers.

• Illusio Animus = black fire of creatures of your spirit animal (e.g. a direwolf) hi water can extinguish the black flames.

• Catena Clausūra = causes thick iron chains to wrap around the target and locks tightly in place. Will only tighten if they try to escape. Dark blue-grey light. Wand movement: a slanted N-shape within a circle.

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