Chapter 33 : To kill or not to kill...

[Author note : Those of you who follow my other story will learn nothing new here, but you're always welcome to read ! ^^

Upcoming Hiatus for KoSP. I still have a few chapters I plan on releasing, but expect a rather abrupt... long pause for the story. I just don't have the juice in me to continue 2 stories... And KoSP's still far from where I want to take it. And the road only seems to stretch as I write so... I'll pause, and try to find a spark again...

Increase of Iron Lad Squib chapters in 2 weeks. Nothing more needs to be said. 2 chapters at least per week. And if I manage to write more then... Good for you, guys ! Unfortunately, work's a bit... breaking my back and moral these days, so... 2 chapters is all I can promise !

As always, if you like what I write and want more, visit the Patréon website (e instead of é) and search for Cathbel ! Enjoy !]

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As Ned was contemplating what he should do with the werewolf leader, a certain trio, accompanied by a handful of Gryffindor and soon joined by others from Dumbledore's Army were heading for the great hall. Their former teacher, the Boy-who-lived, walked in silence, stewing his inability to dissuade his friends from joining the battle. Why couldn't they understand that it was better for them to just… hide ? He would have liked to do so, but the Dark Lord was coming… And he was coming for him !

Not for the first time, he cursed the damn prophecy and his phony Divination professor (who wasn't always phony it seemed). Then again, you could say that despite the air she put on, and the vague prediction she always did, one way or another, her predictions came true. Prophecies, however, were a whole different ballgame ! While it was possible to prevent the events Trelawney 'predicted', when she took on her scary voice and her eyes rolled to the back of her head, she truly saw the future. One that would come to pass, no matter what and often perhaps because someone tried to prevent them from happening. Voldemort discovered that 16 years ago when he attacked his and his parents' home… If he hadn't, he wouldn't have marked Harry as his equal and sworn enemy. And Harry would be a completely different person !

Perhaps, with his parents raising him, he would have been more accomplished. His father and mother would have taught him about the Wizarding world, and during holidays, he would have been able to ask them for help for things he didn't understand or struggle with. He looked at his side ; his two best friends were walking beside him. In a way, Hermione fulfilled that role, though she was sometimes reluctant to help and often, insufferable with the way she explained things… As if she couldn't understand why people had academic problems. As for Ron… He loved the boy, but damn if he wasn't lazy ! It was funny in a way since he wanted so badly to distinguish himself from his brothers, and yet did practically nothing in order to achieve it. Harry thought the boy took magic as well as his place in society for granted. For a moment, he thought of Ron's future and what he would do with his life. For some reason, he saw him sitting in Diagon Alley, badly dressed and dirty, with a cup in hand asking for money…

From the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny. Her face set in a determined and somewhat scary expression. His heart fluttered, and he thought back to the year they had together. She helped him through so much both last and this year. It was a wonder how she changed from the bumbling and stuttering mess in her first year, to the beautiful and capable young woman she was now. In a sense, she was kind of the opposite of her older brother Ron. In fact, she might have more in common with the twins but with a meaner streak. That's probably what drew Harry to her : she didn't take shit from anyone ! Compared to how his life had been dictated by everyone around him and the idea they had for him, he envied how… free she was !

Neville, too, had changed a lot, he thought as he looked at his other friend. Gone was the fearful chubby boy and in his place was a man hitching for some payback ! He would almost pity Bellatrix and her husband if it wasn't for the fact that they were despicable people… And ever since their 5th year, when they broke out of prison, Neville had gone through a complete transformation as much in personality, as his attitude and even his physique. Before, he seemed a bit overweight, shy and thought he would fail everything he attempted. Now, he persisted until he accomplished what he set out to do, he was much thinner and a little more muscular and he was much more sure of himself when he talked.

While Harry was mostly silent and lost in thoughts, as was Neville, the rest of the group was nervously chatting, making jokes and forcibly laughing to ease their tension. Soon, however, they reached the great hall which meant that they were about to start the battle…

Harry opened the doors and entered, scanning the room for the Headmistress only to find out that… The school employees weren't the only ones here ! The Order of the Phoenix, the former students of Hogwarts who already graduated and were members of DA, like Fred and Georges. It was as if…

« You knew… ? » Harry finished his thoughts out loud.

Minerva McGonagall frowned when she saw the children. She spoked while shaking her head :

« What is it with children and fighting… First, Edgar Stark and now, you lot ! Yes, Mr. Potter, Silver Lad notified me of the impending attack just an hour ago… I had half a mind to ignore it, but Professor Flitwick convinced me to call for reinforcement. As you can see, you can leave the fighting to the adults and return to your dorms ! »

Although she tried to send them back, she knew that was pointless. And indeed… Harry shook his head :

« I can't let other people fight when it's me Voldemort's after ! I wouldn't be able to live me myself… » The second sentence was whispered and only his closest friends heard it. Ron nodded on the side :

« Don't forget, Professor ! We've faced Death Eaters before in the Ministry ! We can handle ourselves. »

In his gruff tone of voice, Moody agreed with the children :

« They're right, Minerva. They aren't wee lads, anymore. If they want to fight… »

Hermione spoke up too :

« Moreover, professor Dumbledore has asked us to… accomplish something in secret for him, as you know since you've allowed us to miss school a few times this year. If we can't accomplish it, it won't matter if we win the battle here. »

The headmistress' frown was replaced by a raising of her eyebrow :

« And you believe you can finish this… task tonight ? »

In a small voice, Harry's bushy-haired friend answered :

« Maybe… »

At the same time, Ron nodded repeatedly :

« Definitely ! At this point, I doubt he won't let it leave his sight ! »

« Shut up, Ron. » Harry whispered fiercely to his friend.

The members of the Order furrowed their brows at what the ginger said, until finally, the headmistress relented :

« Fine ! But… Be careful ! »

« Yes, ma'am ! » The group said in unison.

* * * * *

Killing someone in the heat of battle and executing him in cold blood were two very different things. And now that Greyback had lost his pack, the second choice was basically all that Ned was left with. Thinking back on the Harry Potter story, and how the Death Eaters had escaped, or how the Joker and basically all the villains of DC kept coming back for more, Ned didn't want that to happen. That's why he had decided to simply kill the werewolf. At least, this way, he was sure the rabid dog wouldn't hurt anyone else !

However, now that he was faced with this situation, Ned felt conflicted. The 'no-killing' rule of the Justice League wasn't just because of some personal qualms or morals, though it did play a role in it. They didn't want to become judge, jury and executionner, nor did they want to turn the world into a biblical world were 'an eye for an eye' was the norm. Although, it was probably because of some editorial policy of the DC franchise… Still, the moral and ethical dilemma was there. Should he go all Injustice Superman on the dude or just restrain him ? If only there was a way to just render him powerless… If there was, he wouldn't even consider dirtying his hands !

Fenrir looked at his opponent. One, he thought would finally give the recognition and leverage he deserved with Voldemort's little group. Unfortunately, as he glanced down at the field of bodies, he realized now that it wasn't only because his men were useless that they didn't manage to capture or kill the Silver Lad. No ! The 'Superhero', as the muggles called him, deserved his name. He was a capable fighter… Or rather, his armor made him a capable fighter !

Incensed, the werewolf growled :

« I will kill and devour your entire family and make you watch. Then, I'll kill you… Even if it's the last thing I'll do ! »

That's when Ned made up his mind. The decision was heavy and it made him feel awful, but the anger those words rose up in the squib made him feel a little better. No 'Death of the Family' arc for Ned where he'll wake up one day chained to a chair with the other members of his family similarly restrained for a madman to do… Whatever his sick mind would cook up. He would just… End it. Now !

« You should have shut your mouth… » Silver Lad spoke somberly and commanded his shoulder-mounted launchers to direct an entire battery of guided bombarda spells toward Fenrir Greyback. The spells all flew in different direction before reorienting themselves as if drawn to their target. Seeing this, the werewolf started running again, using his wand to shoot down a few spells as best he could until they were upon him.

« PROTEGO ! » He shouted.

He put his all into this protection spell, hoping against all hope that he would survive this. It seemed promising to hurt Silver Lad's family had been a mistake. His shield shook, a deafening noise echoing all around him. He couldn't see anything anymore, as the explosions lifted dirt and smoke. But, at the end of the day (or rather the moment), he had prevailed !

« Ha ha ha ! You can't kill me with this ! » Fenrir yelled jubilantly.

« You're still a dead man… » The voice of Ned came from right beside his ear.

Before he had a chance to turn around, a sharp and indescribable pain from his wand arm froze him.

« Aaaaah ! » He yelled and contorted, clutching at where his arm was… It wasn't there ! He opened his shut eyes to peek at the reason why he couldn't find his arm and smelled burning flesh. His burning flesh ! His arm had been cut off below the elbow and the wound had been sutured as if by fire. He looked up at his enemy to see him standing a few feet away, towering over his prone form. Some kind of energy or light blade was coming from his wristguard and he rose the blade just under his chin before speaking :

« I think, maybe, you would have lived if you hadn't opened your mouth. When you did, however, I remember what you did to Lyall Lupin… For speaking out against you, you cursed his child to live a terrible life. »

« He was blessed ! Not cursed ! It's not my fault nobody can see our gift for what it is ! He should have died like all the unworthy ! »

« See, now… You can't help but dig your own grave. You're a lunatic, Greyback. Given the chance, I have no doubt that you'll, once again, plague this country and its people with your sick ideas and awful crimes. So… Time to die, now ! »

Before the werewolf had the time to beg, or Ned the chance to second-guess himself, the light blade pierced the feral wizard's chest in a rapid sizzling sound. Greyback only had time to look down in disbelief before he felt the life living him. As he slumped backward and the blade came free, Ned watched in horror. Fenrir Greyback's eyes were fixed on him, vacant and yet… silently accusing him.

Unable to take the image anymore, Ned turned around and jumped, his thrusters activating a second later. No time to think or feel bad for himself… He had people to protect !