This was the calm before the storm Sasha thought as she sat on a bed in the Marauders Lair waiting for her turn to be looked at. It looked as if it would be a fair bit until that happened. There were others in greater need than her. Death Eater attacks was happing all over England this night. The DMLE were running their people ragged try to combat this dire threat. This room was filled with the product of their efforts. The number of injured was so great that this large group represented St. Mungo's overflow, Sasha hated to think how many had perished tonight already.

She looked on as Harry's second generation of Marauders answered the call for aid. While the older years were out fighting to protect the Council of Elders, the younger years were here assisting with the care and treatment of the victims. Wither it was the brewing or bottling of greatly needed potions, the applying on healing salves, and in some cases performing healing spells to the injured. They did not falter in the tasks given to them.

In a far corner of the Lair laid the fallen. Among them were the bodies of Remus and Fleur, a bitter reminder that even the Marauders were not untouchable. With despair came hope, and none knew that better than Molly Weasley. She sat next to her oldest son's bed clutching his hand to her bosom while praying to the heavens that he was spared. He was sleeping soundly and would not wake until several hours later. Dilys made sure of that.

The legionary healer and headmistress recognized the look in his eyes straight away after he set the floo up to receive the wounded from St. Mungo's. She had seen that haunted gaze too many times in her life to ever forget it. Young men with broken hearts seeking death under the banner of avenging lost loved ones. She didn't know this girl, but Dilys was sure that if asked Fleur would have wanted him to live for her. In time and the love of his family and friends Bill would see that. Dilys always saw it as her sacred duty to see that he got that time, so some deception was required. By the time Bill figured out he had drunken a Dreamless Sleeping Draught instead of a Healing Potion he was too tired to put up much resistance.

Tonks on the other hand had proved to be more of a challenge. She would make a full recover from her head injury, but like Bill had made rash decisions this night, she too was sleeping but with her concussion would need to be revived periodically. Dilys seriously doubted that she would be able to stop a fully trained Auror if the woman set her mind to leave, and for very similar reasons as Mr. Weasley. Thankfully, Sirius bound her to the bed so she couldn't leave and gave her wand to McGonagall for safe keeping.

The woman had taken control of the Order of the Phoenix, and was currently giving them orders on what she wanted done. That is with the exception of Alastair Moody and Severus Snape. The ladder had severe internal damage done to him, from most likely being under the Cruciatus Curse too long. That and going through the floo in that condition didn't help him much. The pain the man was under must have been immense.

Madame Bones revived and released Moody. Not that she wanted to, but because she was in desperate need of his experience and skills in battle. The man still believed that Dumbledore was their best bet at winning the war, even after the truth about the man was revealed to him. However a lifetime of standing up for law and order conflicted with that belief. People were dying and that would always be his first duty. Amelia and Alastair had an uneasy alliance at best, but it was still an alliance, at least until this crisis was over, and then all bets were off.

"It's time," Sirius announced to the room and those that were leaving to fight had to say goodbye to the one staying to help with the injured or who were in no condition to go out there.

"Molly?" was all Arthur uttered, but the single word spoke volumes. She stiffened for a few seconds until her shoulders sunk in acceptance. She knew this was coming. Time was too precious and short to waste on a pointless argument. If the last month had taught her anything it was to recognize ones limitations and shortcomings. As much as she wanted to be out there with her family, Molly was not a fighter. Lily Potter proved that vividly to her in the street of Hogsmeade. Raising seven spirited children, however had left her with better than average set of healing skill. This was where she would do the most good, even if it was killing her to do so.

"Please bring back our children to me, Arthur," Molly begged as she whipped the tears from her face. She then stood up on shaky legs and turned to face her husband. He wiped away a few stray tears from his prideful wife. She was trying so hard to be brave for him. He pulled her close to convey the depth of his love and his resolve to make their family whole once more. Molly rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the brief moment of tranquility. Her eye sought out her son and when she found him Molly couldn't help but gasp. Charlie and Cissy were in an intimate embrace with their heads pressed together, and the way they were looking at each other left little doubt of the nature of their relationship.

"I know you have to go handsome. I won't plead for you not to, nor will I insist you to make a promise we both know you can't keep. I simply wish to give you a reason to find your way back to me because," Cissy choked out the last part before kissing him with all her love and desire. She conveyed with one simple action to him, and to anyone that was watching, that she wanted a future with this man that has given her more than she could ever pray for, "I love you Charles Weasley, and although I know I can do this on my own," again her voice broke unable to maintain her control over her emotions, "I don't want to."

Charlie, like his father did, gently whipped the tears from the face of the woman he loved. Then he whispered something in her ear that was meant for only her. Cissy let out a small laugh and nodded her head. Charlie then did something that shocked everyone that was watching them. He dropped to one knee and kissed her tummy and whispered something to it to. He spared Cissy one last lingering gaze before he got up and joined the others. The group then left to join the battle.

The trip to the hospital wing was done in relative silence. Madame Pomfrey lead the way while levitating Dumbledore's unconscious body. James and Nevimort followed side by side while Romilda followed behind them silently. It was only when the doors to the hospital wing were in sight that James spoke.

"Poppy, we'll be along shortly. I need to set some wards up first and Mr. Longbottom wanted to learn how to do it."

Poppy nodded in understanding. Nevimort looked back at Romilda, and then pointy looked down to her stomach. She understood his silent command instantly. She was to go to the Chamber of Secrets and prepare the ritual room for him. She knew the only reason he didn't kill Dumbledore was so he could drain him of all his magic. It warmed her heart that he was concerned for his unborn child residing in her belly. What did he call it? Her most precious of cargos.

"Neville I'll leave you to it and meet up with Pansy at our special place. Don't be to terribly long," Romilda requested as she gave him a small peck on the cheek before hurrying off. James gave her a small smile as he watched her retreating form. Once she was gone he started to cast the security wards needed to protect the only entrance and exit to the hospital wing.

Nevimort recognized the wards and was quite surprised that Potter knew of their existence. They however were nothing he could not get past. Then James did something he didn't expect and casted some charm silently. A large section of stone wall from both sides of the hall slammed together. Now twenty feet of magical Hogwarts stone itself blocked him from Dumbledore.

"Now this is something special. Anyone wanting in has to combat Hogwarts itself, Riddle," James said as her turned to look at him with a smirk. Nevimort's wand was already in his hand and the two faced the other in fighting stances.

"What gave me away Potter?" Nevimort inquired as he started to circle Potter.

"I could say the way you kept eyeing the ring on my finger. You know the one you were wearing the night you came to slaughter my family, but the truth is that I would know your stink anywhere, even if it's muddle up with Longbottom's," James mocked him as he matched Longbottom's predatorily action.

"I'll be taking my ring from your dead corpse very shortly Potter," He hissed in parseltongue to unnerve his enemy. It did not have the effect he was hoping for. James caught on to his intent by observing his body language and slight changes in his scent.

"You'll try I have no doubt, but it will be I that claims that Deathly Hallow in your hand when it's over," James taunted back at him.

"You knew?"

"Death changes one's perspective, wouldn't you agree. We both cheated death in one way or another. I would say we're more in tune to the magic of the Hollow's because of it. I feel it in this ring on my finger, and I felt it the second I touched that wand."

"So Potter, where is your houses famed invisibility cloak I wonder?" Longbottom inquired with a raised brow.

"Where indeed," James grinned back at him. Did the bastard think it was going to be that easy?

"So you knew who I truly was all along, yet you still allowed me to accompany you here so far away from aid?"

"Two reasons, actually, the first being was to get you as far away from my wife and friends as possible. The second was idle curiosity in what you were planning to do with Dumbledore's body. You didn't kill the man for a reason."

"Killing him would be a complete waste of a very vast magical core, and that is all I will say on that matter Potter," Nevimort ended abruptly and stopped circling him and took a fighting stance.

"Works for me, the time for words has come to an end murder," James agreed and stopped and faced him as well. Like they did that night so long ago, James and Nevimort bowed to the other.

The younger man, with the twisted soul of a madman, acted first and went with a Killing Curse right from the off. James didn't wait around for it to hit him and rolled under it and caught Longbottom with a Blasting Curse in his shoulder. Nevimort's twisted his body at the last second and only took minimal damage from the curse. It was fortunate that it wasn't his wand arm, so he was able to send a series if cutting curses that put Potter on the defensive. That bought him enough time to heal his shoulder.

James saw what he was trying and sent a bone-breaker at Longbottom's legs. This man's arrogance was starting to annoy Nevimort, so using a Turnabout Charm he ricochet the curse back at its creator. James just grinned as he sent it right back and at a much faster speed. Longbottom decided to return it back and added more power to the curse. James simply side stepped the curse and it smashed into the wall behind him.

Battling in close quarters is always a dangerous thing. There were just too many unpredictable variables. A pushed advantage could become the deadliest of weaknesses in a heartbeat. Nevimort knew this all too well, and Potter was proving to be more troublesome than the last time they fought. Back then his attention was divided between dueling him and his family's close proximity to the battle. Now that wasn't an issue and James chose this hallway for his battleground for a reason that was only logical to him.

"You're going to die here tonight Potter. Whatever shall I do with that whore of a mudblood you married?" Nevimort taunted knowing his family was Potter's greatest weakness. He planned on exploiting it as much as possible. An unnerved enemy always makes mistakes. James was too calm and in control of his emotions right now, and that had to change for Nevimort to win. James's deflection and avoidance defense was too effective, so Longbottom decided to use an area attack instead and blasted a large section of the ceiling above James.

"She's more woman than an feeble old fart, in the body of a young inept, like you could possible hope to handle," James ridiculed him right back, as he transfigured the debris raining down on him into a lioness and had it attack Nevimort. Longbottom jumped back and with visible fear in his eyes. Wild desperate curses were fired continually at the advancing beast, but the lioness was too agile. It kept just out of reach while closing the gap between predator and prey.

Longbottom's felt his back hit the wall and the lioness pounced. Stone claws ripped and tore at his nearest arm. Nevimort cried out in pain but maintained his focus. With the lioness this close he couldn't miss and blasted it to dust. When said dust finally settled Nevimort was holding his arm while scowling at a smirking Potter. James discovered Longbottom's secret. His robe sleeve was shredded and underneath was a forearm protectors with focus crystal's in it. Some were glowing with recognizable magic and others were burned out. Everything made sense now, Lily had told him that Longbottom's magic wasn't very powerful.

"So that's why you didn't kill Dumbledore, you plan on stealing his magic. Oh how far the great and might Voldemort has fallen."

"I was left little choice being stuck in this unworthy vessel, but rest assured a new one, much more in tune to my power, will be arriving in a few short months. Until then, this one will make due."

"I can't allow you to take the old man's magic," James warned him with a grim expression. He couldn't let Longbottom have access to that much power, not with the wand he now had in his hand.

"And what weapon do you possess that makes you think you're capable of stopping me Blood Traitor! With this wand, even with this body's limited magical core, and my crystals you are no match for me Potter," Nevimort spat at him in disgust. He was sure that it was only a matter of time before he bested him. James just shook his head and laughed. He placed his hand on the wall for what looked like support as he did so.

"Do not mock me Potter!" Nevimort snapped as he leveled his wand at James. He would wait until he laughed again and then hit him with a silent Killing Curse. The man had impressive reflexes but he was close enough now to get him off guard. Longbottom should have been paying better attention to his environment instead of planning his final attack. If he had then Nevimort would have noticed small stone spikes protruding from the wall behind him and to the sides of him and ultimately the ceiling above him.

"You still don't get it do you. Your arrogance and delusions that you are the most powerful wizard that ever lived is your greatest weakness, and a playable one at that. What you fail to realize is to a Transfiguration Master-" James laughed out before snapping his head up with vengeful eyes bearing into the soul of the self proclaimed Dark Wizard. Nevimort felt a twinge of fear take hold. He quickly looked to his sides, but it was too late as all the spikes shoot at him from every direction. James walked up to him as he dropped to his knees. Nevimort's body was riddled with small, but deadly stone spikes one hundred strong. Only his head and hand were untouched by the lethal assault. James claimed the Elder Wand from Longbottom before finishing, "Hogwarts is my weapon."

Greyback lunged at the Shadowfiend, but his prey dropped to his knees and clawed the werewolf's underside as he passed over him. The werewolves experience in battle allowed him to ignore the pain, as he landed and instinctively covered his wound. Thanks to the power of the full moon that hung in the night's sky, his wound was already starting to regenerate. However the damage had already was done. Shadow had claimed first blood from the Alpha of the werewolf pack. That just changed the rules of engagement.

Shadow curled his claws dripping with Greyback's blood at him. The come-hither fashion of the act was the ultimate insult to the werewolf. In a rage the werewolf charged him again but keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground this time. Using his superior strength and his deadly claws, Greyback attacked with the intensity that made and maintained him title as alpha of his pack. The only problem was the boy showed no fear and kept blocking his every move.

Many great and powerful wizards wet themselves at the sight of his greatness. Usually his mere presence and size wound make his victims impotent with fear. Even vampires were weary to cross him. Fear brought hesitation and ultimately death, yet the panther was almost taunting him with his insistence to not die. This was what he always wanted. An enemy strong enough to challenge him, but now that the time has arrived he was finding it very vexing.

Shadow knew that by drawing first blood he insured that no other werewolf, even upon order from his alpha, would interfere with the battle. It was the best Shadow could hope for under the circumstances. He had to admit though battling his way this far had taken its toll on him. He was winded and Greyback was fresh for the fight. This wasn't going to be easy. Shadow needed to reserve his energy and learn the werewolf's style of combat to detect any usable weaknesses.

He also had to buy the others time to get Sasha out of here. Willow would know what to do to heal her mum, at least he hoped so. Shadow chanced a glance her way and it wounded him far worse than this malicious werewolf ever could. Her wings and tail gone and her bleeding sparked a flame of righteous vehemence deep within his core. Greyback would feel his full and unyielding wrath before the night was done.

Shadow ducked under a vicious attack aimed at his throat, and drove his hard knee into the werewolf's soft gut. He spun out of the range of a backslash and kidney punched Greyback. The werewolf's pride howled in pain and rage at the insult of the boy delivering yet another unanswered hit. Shadow didn't stop there though and sent a spinning back kick to his head. Greyback caught his ankle in mid flight and using the panthers own speed and power drove him face first to the ground.

Greyback wasn't going to lose his vantage and pounced. Shadow showed his resilience by rolled on his back and kicked up hard. The werewolf got the full force of the attack in his gut as he buckled over. Shadow grabbed his wrists and held hit firm as he cocked back both feet. Ferocious emerald eyes glared into icy blue ones. If Shadow could grin in this form he would have. He drove both feet up and crashed them against Greyback's face. The werewolf landed some twenty feet away on the flat of his back. Shadow rolled back on his shoulders and kicked back and up. He landed on his feet to find Greyback was on his as well. Both roared and they charged the other once more.

Fury sped into the large cluttered group of Death Eaters and ripped the one in the front's throat out and kicked him into two of their number. She then dug her claw into the chest of another bootlicker and pushed him. He instinctively reached out with his hands grabbing anything for support. That turned out to be two of his fellow Death Eaters. Fury released a large amount of electricity from her claw and took out three for the price of one.

A Killing Curse shot at her back ended up meeting another of their rank, thanks to Fury's speed and quick thinking. She closed the distance between them, and was behind her attacker before the woman that had been killed by friendly fire hit the ground. A neck snap later one more bootlicker joined the ranks of the fallen.

Fury managed to take out six Death Eaters before they got over their shock and started to Disapparated out of her range. They quickly went on the offensive and fired area curses to limit her movement and in the hopes of getting the beast through the sheer number of curses they were sending at her.

"Derik, free those gargoyles. Anderson, those giants are supposed to be fighting them, not each other! Fig and Baker, find the rest of council members! I don't want them getting back to their own herds!" One Death Eater yelled at the others, as he took command.

The manr had experience and it showed as the one ordered to free the gargoyles fired a fireball the main grouping of them. It exploded when it hit the goo and the heat of the blast dried out the Dragon-Bogeys. The gargoyles were singed but still able to break free and immediately took to the air.

While Anderson was stopping the giants from fighting each other, Fig and Baker were firing Binding Spells into the darkness that was where they last saw the council only to come up empty. Realizing they were most likely heading back to their herds already, the two of them Dispparated away in search of the council.

Fred and George set off their biggest fireworks, and a massive fire dragon chased after the gargoyles. The sky soon became a chaotic mess as the dark creatures flew in every direction to get away. Ron transformed into a very large red bull and stomped and snorted at the bootlickers trying to curse his sister. Before Hermione could advise him against it, he charged at them.

Hermione's quick thinking prevailed and she hit him with a Chameleon Charm before Ron cleared the tree line. The sounds of battle were so distracting that Ron was upon them before they even aware there was a threat. On his first charge three were trampled and one was hooked and thrown by one of his horns. Unfortunately the Death Eater's blood landed on Ron and they could see a portion of him. As Ron turned for a second run he was hit with a Confringo.

At the sight of her boyfriend collapsing and reverting back to his human form, Hermione charged the group of Death Eaters now advancing on Ron. She didn't know if the blood covering his body was his or the one he impaled. Hermione screamed curse after curse at anyone standing between her and the man she loved. Lavender, Susan and Hanna shrugged and followed suit. As a team the four of them battled their way to Ron.

A large rumbling was heard coming from the darkness of the forest and for a few hopeful seconds the Marauders thought help had arrived. Then twenty forest trolls came running out swinging their large clubs at anything that moved, who just happened to be Seamus and Dean. The earth continued to shake as three giants were over their dispute and once again under the control of the Death Eaters. Daphne looked across the battlefield at Fury. They shared a look and Daphne turned to face the Giants as Fury charged the Trolls.

Bella ignored all the battling succubi and werewolves around her. She was slowly advancing on Potter in a very seductive manor and one she would never had the courage to do in her real body. Was it wrong that she was getting off on Greyback and Potter's barbaric display of bravado? That she wanted to mount the Shadowfiend just as much as she wanted to kill him. Was she ever going to master these primal and erotic urges while in this creature of lust body? They were all valid questions, and ones she didn't have the answer for.

Bella dug her claws into her shoulder and raked them down her arm. In their wake were five bloody gashes a good five inches long. Even though the succubus's body was already starting to heal, the pain lingers. It helped her to focus her mind to the task given to her by her Dark Lord. She would also have sweet and glorious vengeance against Lily and James Potter

Potter's back was to her and the timing would never be more perfect. Lestrange wanted to saver this moment and slowly trailed her hand up the creature of lusts body on a quest to retrieve her hidden weapon. She had never felt so deadly and sexy in her life. It was a very addictive sensation, and one she was quickly becoming obsessed with. At long last the creature's powerful and deadly, yet surprisingly delicate hand reached up and slid a lock of silky hair over her pointed ear. Then down with one fluid motion to the back of her neck and to La Fay's hidden dagger.

She had cleverly tied it to the slave collar around her neck. The dagger lay between her shoulder blades and under her long mane of still striking turquoise hair. The slave collar had a name tag with Desory's new title and status on it. Bella's Bitch That and her once elegant gown that was now a tattered and frayed disheveled mess, which also barely clung to her body, was worn to incise Potter and keep him off balance. Bellatrix planned to wait until Potter, stricken with guilt, for the fate he led her to, and embraced her to deliver the fatal blow. The aggressive nature of this creature was affecting her again. Now she wanted to see the look of betrayal in his eyes as she drove the dagger into his heart. Oh it would be simply orgasmic!

Before she could put her new plan in motion, a succubus tail wrapped around her wrist and she found herself being hoisted in the air. Lestrange screamed as up and over her target she flew. She saw Potter stop for the briefest of moments and give a nod to the succubus caring her away from the battle. This succubus was smaller than all the others and Bella suspected she was still a child. That however didn't mean she was any less powerful, as she was handling Bella's added weight and flying with little difficulty.

It looked as if she was taking her to Hogwarts and for the briefest of seconds Bella could have sworn that she saw a lioness running across the grounds. Bella reached up with her free hand and tried to rip free from the creature's tail. The girl looked back at her in confusion, when she should have been looked at where she was flying. They were getting dangerously close to the Whomping Willow. The hateful tree lashed out with one of its many branches and struck the girl in her side. The two of them were then plummeting to the hard ground below. Thankfully the rolling terrain served to be a blessing in disguise. The two of them rolled down the hill and away from the tree and more importantly the range of its branches.

"YOU STUPID LITTLE BITCH!" Bella screamed as she got to her feet and kicked Emma in the head. Who flew back and landed on her back, "I ALMOST HAD HIM YOU TWIT!"

"Sasha what's the matter with you?" Emma groaned out as she tried to see through the stars dancing before her refocusing eyes and onto her mentor, "Why did you kick me?" She continued as she tried to regain her feet. She was slapped to the ground by the enraged older succubus. Emma cried out as she covered her left cheek. Blood was now seeping through her fingers.

"You stupid meddlesome pimple! Now I have to walk all the way back there to kill Potter!"

"Have you gone mental Sasha? Harry came to rescue you. How could you think to do that to him?" Emma asked as she pulled her hand away slightly from her ripped open young face and muttered the incantation that Sasha had taught her. A small green glow radiated from her cheek and when it faded, her face was flawless once more. Bella looked shocked for a few seconds, that was until it accrued to her that this small fledgling succubus was her key to unlocking Desory's power,

"Tell me your name and teach me how to use this body's magic. If you do that, I may let you live as my pet. If not-" Bella warned her in a tone laced in venom and spitefulness. She reached back and at long last, pulled back La Fay's dagger, "we can do it the hard way. What I will do to you will make the torment that Ginny Weasley's received by my hand seem like a soft pat to her bum."

"La Fay's Dagger! What are you doing with that evil thing?"

"You recognize it? That is good, do you know what purpose it was created for as well?"

"Yes I do. Sasha would never touch that cursed dagger, let alone threaten another succubus with it. You may look and smell like her, but you are not Sasha. What have you done with her?"

"Oh child, this is truly her body. But-" Bella taunted the young girl as she flicked her very special earring, "her mind was no match for a true daughter of the House of Black."

"Bloody hell, you're Bellatrix Lestrange!"

"Clever girl and you are?'

"Emma Rose Potter."

"Ah, the newest and last addition to the House of Potter," Bellatrix teased with crazed eyes and a feral smile, "I'll be using this blade to carve a special message for Lady Lily in your flesh. Wither that is before or after you're dead, depends on how cooperative you prove to be."

"Well good luck with that," Emma told her before launching into the air and flying away. Her mum had told her that if she ever ran into Bellatrix Lestrange, she was to run away as fast as she could. Emma knew she had to go get her mum. She would know what to do.

"I thought you were a Gryffindor!" Bellatrix yelled.

"Doesn't make me stupid!" Emma yelled back as she tried to get as much distance from her and that mad woman as possible. Lestrange threw her dagger at the fleeing succubus. The dagger ripped through the thin membrane of Emma's right wing. She screamed out as her wing felt like it was burned with acid. Emma couldn't control her flying and crashed to the ground. It was only when she looked around did she discovered that she was at the base of the Whomping Willow.

With Shadow believing Sasha was being whisked away to safety, he turned his full attention to the werewolf in front of him. A cold rage took hold of him. The unstoppable need to make this bastard suffer for every second of pain he caused Sasha was beyond justified, it was as vital to him as breathing. It was not avengement or even vengeance that drove him, but the reckoning that was long overdue. Tonight all his victims would have their justice.

With claw hungry for blood they slash at each other. Shadow stepped in and with a double forearm blocks stopped Grayback's attack cold. With a back swing of his inside claw he smashed the side of the werewolf's jaw and knocked several fangs out by the sheer power of his strike. Greyback staggered back, but Shadow was far from done, and his claws were hungry for werewolf blood.

Shadow leapt up and flipped over his enemy for a back attack. The alpha werewolf was prepared and dropped low and drilled his elbow into Shadows gut upon landing. Then he grabbed the panther by the neck and flipped him on his back. Greyback had his claws digging into Shadows throat. A simple rip away from victory the werewolf paused to relish the glorious moment before the kill. The panther did not hesitate and dug his claws in the back of the Greyback's hand, and ripped out the tendons controlling the beasts most deadly weapon. He then rocked back and clasped both back paws under the werewolf's jaw and launched him head like a rocket. Unfortunately, the rest of the werewolf's body went with it and landed some twenty feet away.

Since healing charms didn't require specific wand motions, Shadow was able to release his magic through his paw and heal his bleeding neck. That was too close for comfort, but he couldn't stop now. Both adversaries look at the other with earned respect and took stock of the task that lay before them. There was only one way this was going to end.

"In the immortal words of Conner MacLoed…THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!" Shadow roared as he charged Greyback for the last time. The werewolf gave a roar as he did the same. Had Harry the time he would have laughed at the similarities between Greyback's battle cry and the Kurgan's

With fang, claw, rage and hate they stood toe to toe and unleashed everything they had at the other. Speed and skill was eventually whittled away, as brute force and raw savagery was met and received. Neither backing down as pride and honor fade away in capitulation to ferocious savagery. Primal beast in their truest forms unleashed and feral. No right, no wrong, pain ignored, fatigue irrelevant only the kill remained, and to the victor the spoils.

Pivoting fast on his heels so Shadow wouldn't lose his momentum, he twisted around so they were back to back. Shadow drove his panther elbow into wolf kidney. Greyback's body reacted just as he suspected and his arms shot out, as his spine curled and head shot back. Shadow reached back and his claws dug into the under fur of Greyback's jaw.

He pulled back hard in hoped of breaking the bastard's neck and ending it once and for all. Greyback's experience recognized what the boy was going for. He kicked his feet off the ground and lifted his position if ever so slightly. It was enough to change the outcome of the move drastically. In the end Greyback was flipped over Shadow's shoulder and landed on his feet in front of him. He was dazed and wobbled to keep on his feet but Greyback was far from dead

Shadow jumped up high and brought both his fists down hard on Greyback's head. The beast dropped like a stone. Shadow drove his knees down on the murders shoulders to keep him in place and followed through by grabbing his arms. With a mighty roar Shadow pulled and twisted until he heard them pop out of their sockets.

With his enemy immobilized Shadow got off him and grabbed a leg. He locked it up and then stomped Greyback's knee 90 degrees in the wrong direction, and left it dislocated to as well. Remus had once told him that werewolf bones were extremely difficult to break especially during a full moon. That was the reason he was taking this tactic. He needed to disable the monster. Shadow went in for the final leg but the murder used it to roll over and hammered his foot into Shadow's boys with enough force to bring him to his knees. The same foot kicked the panther in the head and sent him flying backwards.

Shadow shook away his disorientation, and ignored the throbbing pain between his legs. He rolled over and with some difficulty started to regain his feet. What he saw was the last thing he expected. One by one Greyback's dislocated joints popped back into place by some unknown force. They both managed to make it to their feet at roughly the same time.

"What? Like I'm new at this. You don't remain a pack alpha without learning a few tricks to stay alive. Your fast, agile and a more skilled fighter than me, I'll give you that boy, but you'll never going to beat me," Greyback them pointed up at the full moon, "As long as that moon shines in the night sky, my bones can't be broken and I will always heal faster than you, I can keep this pace up all night boy, you can't. Sooner or later I'm going to get you." Greyback taunted and took satisfaction at Potters' roar before charging Shadow.

The boy leapt over him, but this time the Greyback was ready and grabbed his tail in mid flight. He added another claw and started to spin Potter around in the air by his tail. He was picking up speed and momentum, then with his superior strength slammed Shadow hard to the ground. Lifted him up and repeated the action several time to take the fight out of the boy. Once he was satisfied he achieved that goal, Greyback wrenched the dazed panther to his knees by his head and positioned his claws for a neck snap.

"For what it's worth kid, you gave me a hell of a great battle. The best I have ever had. I will remember you fondly every time I'm raping that succubus." Greyback scoff at his prey. His words were ignored. Shadow had one thought running through his mind and he asked the night even though he didn't expect to get an answer.

"How do I kill him?"

"Take his heart, Cub," The wind whispered back in a voice that sounded exactly like Remus. Shadow looked up and for the briefest of second's swore he saw Remus standing not far away. Not as a werewolf, but his human form and smiling at him. That would be impossible given the full moon.

"What is that?" Greyback asked in confusion. He must have seen it to. It caused him to hesitate, and if there was one thing Sirius had taught Harry it was to never hesitate. His dads words started ringing in his ears, "As long as you're breathing, it's never too late son." The faces of everyone he loved flashed in his mind. The last was of Ginny in his room and the silent conversation and vow they shared. He didn't care if his body felt like lead, this bastard wasn't taking that from him.

Shadow dropped his shoulder and twisted in the direction Greyback was going to use to snap him neck. He twisted his body and drove his claw up into the werewolf's gut with all the strength he possessed. Past the fur, thought the intestines, up higher and higher until the grizzly target was beating in his clawed hand. The eyes of two mortal enemies met. No words were spoken, only an understanding that one would stand and one would fall. One would go on to live and love, while the other would simply rot. Greyback just never expected to be the later. With one victorious and righteous rip it was over. Shadow held the heart high above his head and let out a thunderous prevailing roar, so all the werewolves would know their alpha was beaten.