Authors note: Sadly I own nothing of the Harry Potter realm...*Sigh* All contents, save the plot, belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling
Another Authors note: This will be fairly short story. However I will be posting a sequal that will, hopefully, be longer. Everything in years 1-7 is the same, save a few and Ron never get together, and Lupin and Tonks never have a relationship. Snape never returned to Hogwarts, so McGonagall is the Headmistress. And the final battle is different, though some parts will be the same... Other than that everything is the same, mostly. This starts just before the war starts. And let's begin...
Chapter 1 - Preperations
Three shadowy figured apparated into Hogsmeade and limped tiredly up the hill to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When they arrived at the gates, one of the taller figures raised his wand and shot a stag patronus through the gates. They all turned and leaned heavily against the gates, until a severe looking witch in emerald green robes, graying hair tied in a tight bun on top of her head and specticals, came striding down to the gate. They all took of their hoods and looked at their professor.
"Hello, you three. You look exhausted." She opened the gates and let them in. "Are you going to tell the Order what you've been out doing?" A tall boy with messy jet black hair, brilliant green eyes and round glasses sighed.
"Yes Professor McGonagall, as soon as we relax. We've been searching for almost 10 months straight." The tall red head beside him gave an exhagerated nod, his blue eyes holding a deep look of exhaustion. The girl in the trio was a full head shorter than both of the boys. She had light brown hair that fell in matted curls down her back, probably from lack of care in the last few months. She had a pale complexion and chocolate brown eyes. And all she could think about was taking a bath and sitting down with a good book for the night.
"That's fine. I'll call a meeting for 10 am tomorrow." The trio nodded and finished the trip up to the castle, hearing the showers and beds calling to them. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley had pretty much saved the Wizarding world and all they wanted now was to relax before the final war came.
The next morning the trio was up and dressed and in the Headmistresses office, along with the Order of the Pheonix. Everyone was patiently waiting for them to begin explaining.
"For the last 10 months," Harry began. "We've been seaching for things. They're called Horcruxes" At this many of the Order members gasped. "We have managed to find a destroy all but 2 of them. The only remaining 2 are Voldemorts pet snake Nagini and Voldemort himself." He paused and glanced at Hermione, silently asking her to continue so he could sit down. Hermione stood and continued from where he left off.
"We're letting everyone know that during the final battle if you have the chance to kill Nagini, do so immediatly. We weren't able to get close enought to do it without getting caught. The one's we found were the diary of Tom Riddle back in second year, Dumbledore found his mothers ring and destroyed it. A locket was destroyed long ago. We found Godric Gryffindors Sword and Rowena Ravenclaws diadem."
"All that's left is Nagini and Voldemort himself." Ron finished. The Order was quiet for a while, thinking over this new information. A man stood and walked over to the trio. His sandy blonde hair was starting to show streaks of gray but his ocean blue eyes were as youthful as ever and it took attention away from the scars that marred his face.
"You three have done so much for this world." Remus Lupin stated. "And I thank you. We all do. Hopefully when this is all over you can settle down and have a calm, normal life."
"Nothing is ever normal with us Professor" Hermione joked. "You should know that by now." Ron and Harry chuckled and nodded their agreement.
The next few days pasted in a blur of preperations for the soon coming war. Everyone was practicing every defensive spell they knew. They were informed that when needed they would have to use the killing curse. The Death Eaters certainly wouldn't hesitate to use it on any of them. Anyone who wasn't of age or didn't want to fight was sent home. There were dozens of Aurors staying at Hogwarts and many more on call. And to everyone's suprise there were quite a few Slytherins, including Draco Malfoy. Everyone was suspicious of him, thinking he would attack them in the confines of Hogwarts.
One day while they were practicing defensive spells Harry collapsed in pain and clutched his forehead. Hermione rushed over to him. He faintly whispered "He's coming" before passing out. Remus was standing behind Hermione and heard what Harry had said.
"Everyone! Great Hall!" Everyone rushed out of the Room of Requirement where they had been practicing. Remus stepped to Harry and pointed his wand at Harry's chest. "Enervate." Harry's eyes fluttered open and he stared up at the ceiling for a moment before jumping to his feet and running out of the room.
When everyone was gathered in the Great Hall Prefessor McGonagall began.
"Attention everyone please!" When they had quieted down she continued. "Voldemort is coming. Now. This is the day you've been training for since you came to Hogwarts. This will be the final battle. The final battle between good and evil. Between us and them. Aurors, I need you to contact as many people as you can to come. My office floo network will be open with a password. The password is Albus." The Aurors all took off out of the hall to contact friends and family. "Everyone else, spend this time visit with family and friends. This could well be the last day for some. Let's hope it's Voldemorts as well." With that she stepped off of the platform as everyone began yelling. Harry pulled Hermione, Ron and Ginny aside.
"You guys have been there for me for 7 years." He told them. "This is my destiny. It's either me or him tonight. Just know that no matter what happens tonight, you three are the best friends I could have ever asked for." Hermione began crying and threw her arms around Harry's neck.
"We love you Harry! Please be careful." She sobbed.
"Yeah mate. Mum will never forgive me if I let you die." Ron added. Harry slowly pried Hermione off of him.
"Can you guys excuse us for a second?" He grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her away. Hermione and Ron went to find Remus.
"Ginny, I know we've never been able to have a real relationship. But if we make it through this tonight, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you." He promised. Ginny smiled and she leaned up to press her lips to his.
"I know that you are prepared to fight," The voice echoed through the Great Hall and many people screamed. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood." The silence in the hall was so great that it felt like Hermione had gone deaf. "Give me Harry Potter." continued Voldemorts voice, "and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight." The silence swallowed them again and every head turned to find Harry. He gulped. Harry pulled Ginny towards the Weasleys, Hermione and Remus as McGonagall took the platform once more.
"We've only got half an hour until midnight, so we need to act fast! A battle plan has been agreed between the teachers of Hogwarts and the Order and the ministry Aurors. Professors Flitwick, Sprout and I are going to take groups up to the three highest towers - Ravenclaw, Astronomy and Gryffindor - where they'll have a good overview, excelent positions from which to work spells. Meanwhile Remus, Arthur and Kingsley will take groups into the grounds. We'll need somebody to organize defense of the entrances of the passageways into the school-"
"Sounds like a job for us," called Fred Weasley, indicating himself and his twin, George. McGonagall nodded her approval.
"Alright, leaders up here and we'll divide up the troops!" They were quickly divided up. Harry, Ron and Hermione were in one group so they could work together, Remus was their leader. "Flitwick, Sprout up to the towers, I'll join you momentarily." They nodded grimly and set off. " Arthur and Kingsley set up front line stations. Your job is to make sure Harry gets to Voldemort alive. Remus stay in the Great Hall with your group until the fight begins." With that she strode off to Gryffindor tower with her group. It was now fifteen minutes to midnight. They were standing around practicing defensive spells with Remus when the first sounds of the fight began. Moments later the front doors were blasted open. Remus had baracded the doors so no Death Eaters could get in, but they could get out, when the time came. They heard Death Eaters running up the grand staricase and some were trying to get through the doors.
"Everyone ready?" Remus asked glancing behind him. They all nodded steadily. Remus trained his wand on the doors and blasted everything aside. The doors were pushed open by 4 Death Eaters, who were quickly taken down. They rushed into the entrance hall to hold off a wave of Death Eaters.
The battle raged on for what seemed like hours. No one had seem, nor heard from, Voldemort. Harry, Ron and Hermione were on the 5th floor near the Room of Requirement trying to rid the school of Death Eaters. Fred and Percy had just backed into view, both battling masked Death Eaters. The Death Eater Percy was battling shot a killing curse and he dived out of the way. It hit the wall behind them and Fred was caught in a down pour of stone. Percy quickly shot stunning spells at the Death Eaters and rushed over to his brother.
"No - no - no!" Ron shouted, sprinting over to Fred. "No! Fred! No!" Just then a dozen or more Death Eaters swarmed down the corridor. Harry seized Ron and tried to pull him up. Ron shook his head furiously. Harry pushed passed him and grabbed Fred beneath the armpits. Percy took the message and grabbed Fred's legs. They quickly dragged him in to a niche where a suit of aromr had once stood and took of down the corridor.