They crawled back through the tunnel, none of them talking and Harry wondered whether Ron and Hermione could still hear Voldemort's voice ringing in their heads as he could.
You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest... One hour...
And potion master's dying voice: You are the Horcrux.
Then the prophecy: Neither can live while the other survives.

Harry was following his friends mechanically unable to think properly, it was as if some people inside his head were talking about him, while he was walking to his destiny. Different voices from different locations:
"Voldemort want to kill you," hissed Snape's cool voice from the right, hint of superiority in it.
"And by that he kills part of him," said clear voice of Dumbledore in front of him as if explaining another Riddle thing.
"Harry Potter must die and then death can finally claim Riddle," whispered unknown cold voice from behind him.
"Harry Potter can't live," urged whisper from behind.
"Baby Potter is Voldemort himself," laughed Belatrix's insane voice from left.
It was like standing on top of cathedral, bells ringing everywhere. It was like dreaming and walking through some alien world.

"Where is everyone?" whispered Hermione.
Ron led the way to Great Hall. Harry stopped in the doorway. His friends walked away between the bell ringing. Harry could see bodies of Remus and Tonks. He could not draw the breath. He could not bear look at any of the other bodies, to see who had died for him. He turned away, to run and hide somewhere to be alone, but someone high with white beard stood in the way. Headmaster? Dream? He tried to push through, but then the words of the old man got to him through the ringing bells and he stopped.

"I'm going to keep going until I succeed - or I die. Don't think I don't know how this might end. I known it for years."

Harry looked to Aberforth's eyes. They were not mocking. They were serene and serious, firm as was his voice. His words were strangely calming confusion inside him:

"You have not permitted your friends to die instead of you. You were defending them, fighting for them. When you are dead, he will torture them and kill them and no one will fight for them. So don't go to him to die, you have chosen to fight and we need your example to keep fighting. If you go to him, you will die and we need you, we need your help to defeat him."

There was moment of silence as Abeforth's eyes were sinking into Harry's.

"There is nothing else I can do," whispered Harry in reply.

Old man slowly put his hand on Harry's shoulder and asked him three questions:

"How do you know?"

"How many people did you ask?"

"Can you come with me to war council, where we will plan how to survive this?"

Aberforth released him and part of Harry wanted to run away, his legs mainly, but then he stopped. Bells were not so loud as before, voices were more distant. His could draw breath and sense of reality was slowly returning to his mind. Hi didn't know what to do. He needed to talk to his friends, he needed Ron's and Hermione's advice. Maybe they can think of some plan. He couldn't defeat Voldemort and all his Death Eaters alone but together with teachers and the order... maybe there was something to do.

"Ok, ..." He said finally and looked back at Abeforth.

"We will meet in staff room." Said old man guessing answer to unsaid question and second later Boy-Who-Lived ran away.

Harry's mind was racing. Situation was desperate. They were fighting for life and dying. Not for him, but against HIM. Everybody here wanted the Voldemort's terror to end and he was not their savior, not the hero they saw in him. He was just Harry, young wizard who was trying to fight who? Was there even chance to win against him when older and much wiser wizards were dying? Where aurors trained to fight dark wizards, could not win? They were fighting and he was fighting too. He was not alone in this. Maybe together, they could do more than alone. He slowly walked through the empty castle to the staff room. There he sat and put his hot face in cold palms, his mind blank. Occulmency exercise came to him and he was performing it, slowly clearing his mind of images of broken bodies and Hogwarts destruction. Image of dead Cedric. Sirius falling through the veil laughing. Albus Dumbledore falling down the tower. And Dobby with that knife in his chest. And many, many others.

Five minutes later, they were sitting at the table with him - forest of black pointed hats - Minerva McGonagall's stern face, Kingsley Shacklebolt's gleaming earring, Aberforth Dumbledore's white beard and blue eyes, Weasleys red heads and Hermione's bushy brown hair, bruised Neville's face, serene Luna, Flitwick, Sprout, Slughorn and Oliver Wood. All of them wearing marks from current battle.

Kingsley as head of Order of Phoenix began speaking as soon as was everyone seated with his deep reassuring voice directly to the center of problem:

"Ok, first we have to decide if we can stand our ground and fight even if we know they will eventually win or if we will retreat using Neville's escape route."

"No, we can't left our dead here for them to disgrace!" protested Percy loudly.

Mrs. Weasley put her hand on her son's to silence him as professor Slughorn mildly said: "Maybe it's better if we all die here, m'boy, but maybe we can do more if we are alive."

"Yeah," said Ron and nervously looked uncertainly around at others, more experienced wizards, "I think Voldemort knows that he will loose too may Death Eaters in this attack, so he gave us time to think. He wants us to surrender. It's like chess. He can win this battle, but at great cost to his forces. If we surrender, he will win battle and still have enough Death Eater and enough slaves to do his bidding. Retreat might not be possible anyway," Ron looked at Harry who in turn spoke in calm, detached voice as professor's Binns talking about goblins, "Room of Requirement was damaged by Fyendfire when we were searching for... that item, so we don't know if we can use it to retreat. Maybe secret entrance is still available, but we have to check to be sure."

"So this means fight or surrender, ..." grimaced Slughorn maybe in second thought to his decision to stay with fighters.

McGonnagall said in her crisp voice: "We were fighting because Harry had to find some item and because it was high time someone had to stand to them. Have you got what you came here for?"

Harry shared quick look with Hermione and Ron.

"It no longer needs to be secret, he knows we know, after that dragon ride from Gringotts." Said Hermione hesitantly.

There was silence for a moment and then Harry nodded and spoke with little more life in voice: "You are right Hermione, secrecy is no longer needed. Well, ... you have surely wondered how was he able to live after hi gave me that scar. Voldemort sealed parts of his soul into precious items to survive his death. To make this dark magic work, he intentionally killed person each time. Item crafted in this way is called Horcrux. Our mission from Dumbledore was to hunt six Voldemort's Horcruxes in secret, so Voldemort don't know we are hunting them and don't hide them better. Currently there are two Hocruxes left. One is Voldemort's snake Nagini - it can be destroyed by basilisks fang, Fyendfire or by Sword of Godric Gryffindor - it's not easy, believe me. Now after our Gringotts escape on dragon, Voldemort knows we are after his Horcruxes, so secret is no longer secret. We came here to Howgwarts to find Ravenclaw's diadem with part of his soul which is destroyed now. As is Cup of Hufflepuf and Slytherin's locket."

Harry was looking at other wizards and witches as they were absorbing this information.

"You have destroyed them all? Good work! Good work!" Praised Slughorn.

"Yeah!"

Praise was coming from all around the table and Harry felt good suddenly. Until...

"And second missing Horcrux?" Asked mildly Luna staring right into Harry's eyes as if she knew answer before he could say it and as if it didn't matter. Really. Others silently waited for Harry's answer, Ron and Hermione were both looking uncertainly at that knag in the center off the table.

"It's my scar," finally murmured Boy-Who-Lived, "he made me Horcrux accidentally while murdering my Mum."

All eyes in the room were staring at Harry, at his scar, perhaps wondering if You-Know-Who can see them now. Nobody said anything. Harry was imagining horrified face of Molly Weasley as he was looking at the same knag in center of table as Hermione and Ron before and didn't have enough of famous Griffindoor courage to check.

It was the Shacklebolt, who spoke slowly at last: "So we have to kill Nagini, you Harry and then we can kill You-Know-Who."

"No! We are not going to kill Harry!" Screamed Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and professor McGonnagal together.

"Then we can not kill You-Know-Who," slowly responded Shackebolt, "are there any other possibilities? Do you have suggestions?"

Ron was grinning despite the situation: "Maybe we can transfigure him to ferret as Moody transfigured Draco Malfoy."

"That is not very easy as we all know that You-Know-Who is very competent dueler," said Flitwick and Ron's grin faded.

"Let's say, we don't want kill You-Know-Who, then we don't need to kill Harry, am I right?" Asked Luna with slight smile while gazing at painting with Hogwarths behind Harry.

"Anyone else?" Asked Kingsley Shackebolt and when nobody responded, he answered his own question:

"Ok, I think, they will probably attack us at full force and break our defenses. Voldemort will guard his snake and maybe he made another Horcrux already, we don't know of. There are other options, but we don't have time to discuss them, so we will assume that he will simply come here and demand we give him Harry or he will use force and kill us all."

"I can go to the forest a he will let you go," said Harry in that detached voice.

"He will not let us go," corrected Luna smiling sweetly, "half of us will end dead or tortured and other half will be slaves of his hearth desire for the rest of our lives ordered for example to torture prisoners."

"I don't understand why Dead Eaters follow him, don't they know he will kill them? Or do they like feeling of power, torturing others and killing so much they don't care?" Said Hermione impatiently while holding Ron's hand under the table. "Ten minutes ago we saw Voldemort murder Snape for no reason."

"So you believe we should ask them to leave You-Know-Who's side and joined us because he will kill them anyway?" Asked McGonnagal, "they will not see reason."

"I do know spell which will show memories from Pensieve to large crowds. Imagine great image of Snape, his most trusted servant, dying by You-Know-Who's hand." Suggested Flitwick.

Harry was sitting there and his mind was wandering away from voices of so important meeting. Yes, he was listening, but half his mind was blowed out. Of course, why kill Voldemort? Or why kill him immediately. Take his wand, bring Veritaserum and ask where are his Horcruxes. Collect them and destroy them later. Capturing Voldemort was no small feat, but it didn't involved killing Harry. Until all other Horcruxes were collected. Of course dead Voldemort can not be rescued by his faithful Death Eaters, but then, they were not searching for him before. They were serving him, because they didn't want to die.

"He will surely not like that, and he will try to destroy the spell."

"If he will be shooting at that, he will not shoot at us."

"I don't think Death Eaters will attack Voldemort, but Voldemort might kill them, if he thinks that they are betraying him and that he don't need them anymore."

"This sounds too complicated, we need something simple yet effective."

"All right, we can make a show and someone under invisibility cloak can use Imperius curse to make some Death Eaters attack him or his snake, perhaps two at once."

"So you think it's wise to tell dark wizards about Horxruxes?"

"Maybe he will just assume they know about Horcruxes if we do this right and let them attack snake."

"Again, it looks too complicated to work, we need to plan this, but we don't have enough time. Maybe Do you have idea how to defeat You-Know-Who himself?"

"He is too good dueler for any of us."

"If we can fire together at him, he will not be able to stop our spells"

"We can fire spells at him and next to him, so he can't dodge."

"But even if he is hit and his body dies, he will survive and come back," said Harry.

"Yes, You are right, but we will be free and alive until then. Moreover he could made another Horcrux we don't know about."

"We need to hit him, when he is distracted by something, maybe when he is called Tom Riddle."

"Or maybe when we tell him, that he can't personally kill Harry because Harry is his Horcrux."

"Or we can tell Death Eaters to surrender You-Know-Who and get themselves pardoned for their crimes a get heap of gold."

"Yes, then we can use Imperius."

"And when fight between Death Eaters starts, we will fire our spell barrage at You-Know-Who."

"What curse do You recommend we send at You Know Who?"

"Hmmm..."

Then there was a flash in the middle of table and basset hound Patronus said in Mundungus Fletcher's voice before disappearing: "Fifty bleedin' fighters from Hogsmead are coming to your aid."

"Hey, that is something we can work with!"

"Can we truly believe him?" Cried Molly Weasley with desperation in her voice and then everyone was talking at once. Until flash of McGonnagal's wand and loud bang.

"Thanks, Minerva." Said Kingsley Shackebolt with short nod. "Our time is short, we need to prepare. I'll tell you our plan - don't hesitate interrupt me, if you see a flaw but please don't argue if there is not a good reason."

Head of Order of Phoenix took moment to gather his thoughts and then began to talk: "Aberfoth and Neville will go check for our escape route and try to get to Hogsmead. When they enter the village and look around if it's safe, they will send me a message. After that, they will try contact that group of Mundungus and tell them how to coordinate attack on Death Eaters with us. Be very careful, it can be a trap. We will agree on passphrase which will indicate that you are not prisoners of Death Eaters."

There was short time for questions, but nobody said anything so Kingsley slowly continued: "Philius, Minerva, Harry, Ron and Hermione will work on memory show for Death Eaters. You will retrieve Pensieve from headmasters office, take it to the main gate, extract all three memories of Snape's Death and choose best one. Then You will make projection charm, which enlarges vision from Pensieve and lock it in the cycle on your command. Then You will cast defensive spells, so Pensieve projection will not be easy to destroy."

Again there was a moment of silent pondering before Ron said: "George is good at defending his spellwork from undoing."

"Ok, George go with them."

"Others will prepare battle groups which will cast different spells in one direction on command, so we can hit Riddle or Black even if they are stronger than each member of our group. Make ten minute training session and make sure three are casting directly at target and someone else is casting next to your target, so dodging your attack is not easy."

When he finished, Minerva McGonnagal added: "Each group can train in separate classroom and I will make quick scheme where will be who."

"Maybe we don't hear command in the middle of battle," said George pointing on his missing ear without his characteristic grin, "so two fingers up can be fire at Voldemort, three fingers up, can be fire at Black."

Nobody added anything else.

"Then if we want to make quick attack through main gate, we should clear the way or make some slides, so we can get quickly at them to support group from Hogsmead."

"Maybe we can ride brooms and attack them from air," suggested Oliver Wood.

"Are you sure, you can ride broom, dodge enemy spells and fire at them at once?"

"It is not easy, ... but we can do it," said Oliver with his usual determination.

"Then take only best fliers that are aware of the risk - it is not exactly easy to land, when you are hit by curse and great speed means strong impact. Of course, speed of the broom can be very useful for hit and run attacks."

Something in Harry's mind clicked into the right position and he remembered his last return to Hogwarts with headmaster: "There is danger that Hogwarts wards will not allow you to return at full speed."

"But fliers have undeniable advantage over Acromantulas and Giants."

"Fliers are easy targets too."

Nobody said anything else, so Shacklebolt continued after a moment: "Ok, so that's it. Our plans are very simple and it's easily possible that some Voldemort's surprise will come too. So be ready to improvise and don't let yourself killed." He them slowly looked around the table. "Half of our time is out, so we will move to Great hall, where I will tell plan to others. I will not tell them about fifty fighters outside, because we don't know if there is not another traitor here. Neville and Aberforth, go to Room of Requirement - good luck on your mission. Don't forget to say flobberworm, when you report. If you don't say it, we will know that they got you. Good luck. Others let's go to Great Hall."

Chairs creaked as all of them stood up and then moved to Great Hall. People there noticed them and slowly stopped talking as they moved in expecting some kind of decision. Kingsley Shacklebolt walked briskly to the staff table with Mcgonnagal by his side, faced them and waited few moments before speaking:

"We are under siege!" His deep voice was resonating withing the Great Hall.

"Dark wizards are there and they will use force to take young Harry. They kill our friends and members of our families to get Harry Potter."

There was low angry murmur from the crowd and Kingsley Shacklebolt was looking at motionless, broken bodies sadly. Harry was looking at them too. Lupin and Tonks were lying there so still and they died because of him. And left little Teddy alone as his parents have left him. He couldn't let them do this.

"They say: Give him to us and we will not harm you! Don't give him to us and you will all die!"

Crowd was murmuring more angry and loudly and speaker had to raise his voice. Yes they are angry with me, thought Harry desperately staring at angry faces, I should go there to finish with Tom...

"Do you know what? I don't believe them. If we give them Harry, they will kill him and then they will demand something else from us and threaten to kill us if we don't give it to them. They are lying! They don't want Harry Potter! They want to take our freedom!"

He spread his arms widely to contain all people in Great Hall who were now really noisy.

"We have to say no!"

And crowd shouted agreement. Harry was staring at them silently, his mind empty. What did Shacklebolt said?

"We have to say no! We have to stand to them and say, that we are ready to fight for our freedom! That we don't let them take whoever they want or do whatever they want!"

Crowd agreed noisily and some of them sent burning red sparks from their wands to dark enchanted sky of the Great hall. Kingsley Shacklebolt let them, waited until they were calmer a then spoke once more, slowly but with inner strength.

"I know that you are tired, that you are sad a don't want to fight again. But Voldemort will come in half hour and we have to be ready to defend ourselves. Time to rest will come, but it is not yet here. Come to Professor McGonnagal and she will assign you to group and tasks to prepare our defenses. Then be ready to attack Voldemort's forces when or if it is called for. Then we will attack them together. Be careful and good luck."

With these words Kingsley Shacklebolt turned to Harry and his group and told them to go retrieve Pensieve and bring it to the main gates, he will send McGonnagal there. Then he walked to deputy headmistress to help her with assigning others to groups.