The Forbidden Forest

Lord Voldemort: I walked out of the Great Hall, out of the school altogether as a matter of fact. I glided across the grounds until I reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. There I waited for my followers.

Lucius: I returned around the time many of the others had. The Dark Lord was already there. "My Lord," I bowed my head in greeting.

Bellatrix: We finally came upon the others who seemed to be just arriving. Excellent. I smiled inwardly and looked around. Lucius was speaking to the Dark Lord. I stood still to listen in and find out how everything had gone...

I stayed behind Bellatrix and off to one side. As we had walked closer and closer to the forest, my head had gradually begun to throb in pain. It felt as though my head was going to split wide open, and the atmosphere wasn't helping. I wheeled around as I thought I heard a rustling in the bushes.

Lupin: I stopped at the edge of the forest and sent another steady stream of sparks from my wand as I went around and came into the Death Eaters meeting location from another point.

Lord Voldemort: I nodded to what Lucius was saying. I wasn't particularly listening to what he had to say. I assumed that since he had returned, he had accomplished what I had sent him out to do. If he was explaining the fact that he had failed in his task--and I had no idea how he would do that--he had no reason to return.

Tonks: I followed Bellatrix and Draco to where the other death eaters and Voldemort were standing, I felt so on edge, my auror training was kicking in, we were trained to fight death eaters, not to stalk them and not take action, I also felt on edge because I knew that other than Harry, members of the Order of the Phoenix and Aurors were the top targets, being both wasn't the most calming thing, and being married to a werewolf, well, that didn't help either. I followed the trail of sparks Remus was emitting from his wand, trying to make as little sound as possible, hoping I didn't trip over something and give us away. At least, for now, we still had surprise on our side.

Lucius: I took the Dark Lord's nodding as a greeting and acceptance of the job I'd done and backed up to the others. I spotted Draco with Bellatrix and walked to them. "Where have you to been?" I asked.

Bellatrix: I raised an eyebrow as the question seemed to suggest an accusation against me. "I did nothing, Lucius! I was out looking for Draco! You might want to thank me, hm?" I tossed my hair over my shoulder and made my way to the others.

Lucius: "Where have you been Draco?" I asked again with revision. I tried to keep irritation out of my voice.

I frowned as I attempted to think of how Draco would respond. The unbearable throbbing in my head wasn't helping things. I hesitated only a split second before saying, "I...I was coming, naturally. I was all the way up in the Astronomy Tower, and by the time I got all the way down.... It just took longer than I thought." I finished lamely. Luckily I had seen Draco up in the Astronomy Tower as I had looked at the Marauders Map earlier.

Lord Voldemort: "Has the cat got your tongue Draco?" I asked after I heard his hesitant response. "No matter...." I let my eyes wander from face to face. "We have work to do."

Lucius: I shook my head at Draco and turned to the Dark Lord waiting for our orders.

Alecto Carrow: I angrily stomped to the Forbidden Forest after waking up in the blasted Gryffindor Common Room-- Severus was right to want to bring back the old punishments for those brats-- there were intruders, no student I'd ever seen had been able to cast a successful disillusionment charm. None. One of those Gryffindors had contacted-- or had been contacted by-- one of those Order people. This wasn't going to end well, for them at least.

Lord Voldemort: I turned as I heard someone approaching. I smiled as I recognized the form of Alecto. "It is so nice of you to join us Carrow. Where is your brother?" I asked quietly. "And what in the world has you so upset?"

Alecto: "I haven't the slightest idea where he is, my lord," I admitted. "But, I know all those ignorant Gryffindor students are gone, I was stunned by someone under a disillusionment charm, obviously not a student, I believe we have guests." I sneered. "It's likely they're watching us now,"

Lord Voldemort: I nodded, "That is likely." I turned and looked at nothing in particular, "Show yourself!" I bellowed.

Lupin: I stood up from my crouch and shot a jinx at a tree right above Voldemort's head.

Tonks: I waited for a response from one of the many Death Eaters. I wasn't sure if the rest of us should break our cover and start firing at them yet, I waited for a signal from Remus. They knew we were here now, and we had them outnumbered (this group, at least), we might as well do some damage.

Lord Voldemort: I shot a spell where I had seen the jinx come from, but it ricocheted of a tree. I ducked behind a tree and did an anti-disillusionment charm.

Tonks: I shook my head as Remus became visible. I jumped up and started hurling curses at every Death Eater in sight, hoping to get considerable damage done, the others immediately followed. We had them cornered.

Lord Voldemort: I aimed killing curses at each of them as fast as I could and actually hit one of them, though I couldn't see who it was.

I cried out as I looked over at the members of the Order who had come. I watched as Bill crumpled to the ground as a killing curse hit him in the chest. In the mayhem, no one noticed as I moved over to where the Order was and crouched down next to Bill.

Tonks: I ducked out of the way of the killing curse aimed for me, and started hurling curses immediately again, skillfully dodging and blocking others with Protego. I watched Bill go down, there wasn't anything I could do, he was gone. Fleur started attacking with a new-found vengeance from that point. I was prepared to use the killing curse if needed, Aurors were the only wizards and witches who could legally cast the Unforgivable Curses, but it wasn't something to be done lightly.

Lord Voldemort: "Retreat for now!" I called as I wheeled around, "This is not our final battle!" I said before I disapparated.

Tonks: I sighed, and watched all the Death Eaters disappear after their 'master'. Immediately, the Weasleys rushed to Bill, and while Fred, George and Arthur stood there in shock, the others, including Fleur--she was his wife, well widow now, after all--, knelt down and began to quietly sob. I looked around at the others: Kingsley, Hestia Jones, Dedalus Diggle, and finally Remus, looking to see if anyone was injured. None that I could tell. "We were lucky this time," I shook my head. "The next time we see them it won't be nearly as short, and we won't come out with only one fatality." I finished speaking, and noticed Draco was still standing there, looking confused. I pointed my wand at him. "Aren't you going to follow them?" I asked.

I looked at Tonks and nodded before turning to look at Lupin, "My Patronus is a replica of my father's. An animal with many prongs." I said before disapparating to the Slytherin Common Room, which only moments ago Lucius Malfoy had whispered in my ear.

Tonks: I stared in confusion at the place Draco had been standing, before putting my wand away and looking at Remus. "Do you know what he meant by that?" I asked.

Lupin: I nodded, "That wasn't Draco Malfoy." I smiled grimly, "That's Prong's son." I shook my head, "That's Harry."

Tonks: "Harry?" I asked incredulously. "What is he doing?! He's going to get himself killed!" I muttered, shaking my head. "The boy has a knack for getting into sticky situations, doesn't he?"

Lupin: "No...he's onto something. As long as he isn't caught."

Tonks: "Well, let's hope he doesn't," I shook my head. "It's probably best that we go back inside, Ginny's probably rounded up the rest of the DA by now,"