Rookwood Part 2
There was an unpleasant tugging sensation at your navel and a swirl of colors around you, not unlike when you traveled by floo powder. With a heavy impact that almost made your knees buckle your feet connected with the solid earth. You had barely a chance to get your bearings before voices began shouting around you and jets of light rocketed at where you stood swaying.
“Protego!” You instinctively threw up a shield charm and ducked out of the way, taking shelter behind an outcropping of rock. “Sebastian!” You looked around wildly, dread coiling in your stomach.
“Here!” He was locked in combat with two Ashwinders, and as you peeked your head up a stream of red light parted your hair.
You didn’t see Rookwood anywhere, only the men working for him pouring into the large courtyard. You rolled out of the way again, waving your wand and sending a large boulder smashing into one of them. Regaining your feet you rushed over to Sebastian, pressing your back against his and firing off every spell you could think of into the oncoming Ashwinders.
“Levioso! Protego! Crucio!”
“That spell got my attention!” Sebastian grunted with effort as he sent another blasting curse spiraling into the group of Ashwinders. “Did you hear-protego!- what Rookwood said?”
“The same thing Anne heard?” A blur of movement caught your eye as a masked wizard apparated within feet of you, raising his wand at Sebastian. “Oh no you don’t!” You drew upon the ancient magic bubbling to the surface of your blood, calling a bolt of lightning down from the heavens which struck the man head on, reducing him to a pile of ash in moments.
“Who needs the killing curse when you have that?” Sebastian glanced over to where the wizard had been.
An eerie silence fell, Sebastian still at your back, the two of your moving slowly on the spot, searching for where Rookwood hid.
“Well done.” The man emerged from the shadows, sauntering closer as he clapped slowly. “Didn’t expect two children to put up much fight.”
“No, you’re used to preying on those who are helpless.” Sebastian snarled, drawing Rookwood’s attention from you for a moment. “Like my sister.”
“Friend of yours?” Rookwood asked you, jerking his chin at Sebastian.
“Expelliarmus!” You shouted, hoping to catch Rookwood off guard but the wizard blocked your attack easily.
He shook his head. “It’ll take more than a disarming charm to beat me.”
And with that he disapparated.
“Coward!” Sebastian shouted, furiously wheeling around, staring with wide eyes into the shadows. “Where did that bastard go?”
A prickle up the back of your neck was the only warning you received; your first thought was to protect Sebastian. You pushed him roughly aside and cried “protego!” just as Rookwood materialized, sending a wordless curse directly where Sebastian had stood seconds before.
“Quick one, aren’t you.” Rookwood sneered, his gaze falling briefly to where Sebastian was picking himself off the ground. “Too bad it won’t be enough to save your little beau.”
With a snarl Sebastian brushed ahead of you, sparks of red flew from his wand as he slashed it through the air. “Crucio!”
Rookwood deflected the attack, the force of Sebastian’s curse shattering the protego shield like shards of glass. “Very good. So young, yet filled with such hatred. I sense a kindred spirit in you.”
Both you and Sebastian attacked together, your spells slamming into Rookwood sending him flying back into a stone pillar. Before the wizard had time to collect himself or utter another poisonous word you began levitating crates and boulders, throwing them at Rookwood while Sebastian fired off multiple curses in rapid succession.
“Enough!” With a blast of energy that sent you stumbling, Rookwood rose to his feet, a ring of singed grass surrounding him.
With a cutting movement through the air, he slashed his wand at Sebastian. A stream of crackling energy flew toward your friend and, before either of you could react, hit him squarely in the face. Sebastian was sent flying through the air, he crashed into a large wooden crate where he lay motionless among the debris.
“No!” Your strangled cry was muffled in your own ears as panic consumed you. You took several instinctual steps toward where Sebastian was only to be forced back as Rookwood sent another crackling burst of magic your way. “You bastard!”
You blocked the next attack and countered with a jinx of your own, anger consuming you as your spells made impact with Rookwood. You could tell he was weakening, his offensive position shifting to that of unsteady defense. You felt the surge of ancient magic course through you just as Rookwood raised his wand, beginning the utterings of the killing curse.
With the familiar sensation filling your mind, you called upon it and blasted the dark wizard with all the destructive energy your wand could muster. It hit home before Rookwood could finish the curse, shattering his form into a million ashes. The wind picked up then, rustling your hair and robes as it carried what remained of Rookwood towards the forbidden forest.
“Sebastian!” You rushed over to your friend’s side, kneeling and pulling off your gloves to feel for a pulse. “Rennervate!” You shouted, pointing your wand at him.
You gasped in relief as Sebastian shifted in your grasp, his eyelids fluttering as he looked blearily up at you. “Did we get him?”
“Yes.” You laughed tearily, pulling him into a tight hug as he struggled into a sitting position. “How do you feel?”
“Sore.” Sebastian patted your back weakly. “Having a bit of trouble breathing at the moment.”
“Sorry.” You pulled away, still searching his face for signs of pain. “I was terrified you…” Unable to finish the thought, you shook your head and helped Sebastian back to his feet.
He almost collapsed again, unable to stand fully on his own.
“Come on.” You panted, struggling to keep the both of you upright. “We need to get out of here, and you need the hospital wing.”