Chapter 3: We Fight Together

The girl at the other end of the room screamed and screamed while pressing her hands to her ears, her face screwed up in what looked like pain. Then to my right Parvati Patil screamed in the same manner as the other girl. Then a voice as cold as ice was the only thing that I could hear.

"I know that many of you will want to fight." the voice whispered in my ear, Kayla jumped and grabbed me just below the elbow. "Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is folly. Give me Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."

The ringing stopped and the lights in the Great Hall roared to life again. I looked around and saw Harry standing alone in the middle of the Hall. The grip Kayla had on my arm was so tight that it was starting to go numb, I raised my eyebrows at her and she nodded and let go.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" burst Pansy Parkinson pointing wildly at Harry, "Someone grab him!"

Ginny walked out and stood right in front of Harry while several other students stood between him and the Slytherins. Chris, Kayla, and I went and stood with them all our wands raised.

Behind me I heard scuffing and yelling coming from just in the Entrance Hall, I turned in time to see Filch come wheezing in the room. We all made way as he went straight for Professor McGonagall.

"Students out of bed! Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!" he cried as he ran.

"They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot." Professor McGonagall said sharply.

"Oh, sorry ma'am," mumbled Filch looking dumbfounded.

"As it happens, Mr. Filch, your arrival is most opportune." Professor McGonagall said briskly as she walked towards us, she waved her wand at the Slytherins. "If you would, I would like you, please. To lead Miss. Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin house from the hall.

"Where exactly where is it I'll be leading them to ma'am?"

"The dungeons would do."

Kayla, Chris, and I laughed and cheered with everybody else as we watched Filch take them away. I then nudged Chris and Kayla so that we could listen in to what was going on.

"I presume you have a reason for returning Mr. Potter. What is it you need?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Time Professor. As much as you can get me." Harry said.

"Do what you have to do. I'll secure the castle."

I watched as Harry walked away when Professor McGonagall called him back.

"Potter. It's good to see you" she said with the flicker of a smile.

"It's good to see you too, Professor." he responded. "Hold the fort, Neville." He said as he passed all of us, Hermione and Ron sprinting after him.

We all looked around at Professor McGonagall who was directing everybody.

"Alright, we don't have much time so if I can get everybody's attention so we can make this go more smoothly. We are at war. I would like to get everybody out of here as quickly as possible."

"What about those of us who want to stay and fight?" shouted a boy from behind me. I nodded in agreement and pulled out my wand again.

"Anybody who is of age may stay and fight if they wish." she said approvingly.

Chris let out a sound of outrage next to me.

"You can't be serious!" he bursted out. "I want to stay! I want to fight!"

I opened my mouth to tell him off but Professor McGonagall cut across me.

"I'm sorry Mr. Langdon, but that decision is up to your parents. The only reason I'm allowing those who are of age to fight is that they are old enough to decide for themselves." she said kindly. "Now, those of you who are staying to fight need to go to their heads of house for orders. Everybody else if you could, please, follow Madam Pomfrey I do believe we can get you out through a secret passage on the seventh floor."

I looked at Chris who looked like he was ready to burst out again.

"Look," I told him sternly. "go with Madam Pomfrey. I need to know that you are safe I can't concentrate on fighting if I'm worrying about you the entire time."

"How do you expect me to stay at home while you and the rest of my siblings are here risking their necks!" he said angrily.

"What are y-"

"Look!" Chris demanded pointing. I turned and saw my brother and sister Tyler and Jamie and my older friend Brittany Fish entering the Great Hall, all with their wands out.

Chris and I wove through the crowd of students running in every direction trying to get to their Heads of House or trying to leave the hall to go with Madam Pomfrey. Brittany nudged Jamie and Tyler when she saw us and they started fighting their way through the crowd towards us.

"Jamie, Ty, Brit! What are you guys doing here?" I cried fearing that I knew the answer.

"Did you really expect us to stay home, Scott?" Jamie said seriously. "We heard from Brittany who heard from the Order that we were all fighting and that some students would be allowed. We weren't staying home while you're fighting."

"That's what I said!" Chris mumbled

"No!" Jamie snapped. "You're too young. Mum may not be in charge of you, but Tyler and I are. I'm sure he agrees." She turned to Tyler expectantly.

"Well..." he mused "Jamie do you really expect him to stay home while the rest of us fight."

"Tyler! He's too young. He could get himself killed!"

"I'll stay with him," I piped up. "I'll stay with him the whole time." I looked at Chris. "We'll fight together."

"Great idea!" Tyler intervened before Jamie could interrupt. "Now, Jamie c'mon we need to figure out where to go. Let's find Kingsley." He gave Chris and I a brief one arm hug before running off with his wand held out.

"Please be careful both of you." Jamie pleaded, tears in her eyes before she wrapped us in her arms. "I love you guys." she said into our shoulders her voice muffled. Then she ran off to join Tyler.

I turned to Brittany. But before I could open my mouth her ex Travis bursted into the Hall. They both froze at the sight of each other.

"We'll catch up with you later, Britt." I said wanting to give them alone time.

Before I could move however Brittany threw her arms around me and hugged me tight.

"Be careful, Budday," she said using the nickname she had given me.

"You too," I said as she let me go.

Chris and I ran up to join Kayla and the other Gryffindors who were gathering around Professor McGonagall for directions.

"What's been planned so far Kay?" I whispered in her ear.

"McGonagall's giving people jobs to do in order to help put up defenses up around the castle." she said.

"Now, I need students to be in the viaduct entrance with me and a couple other teachers. This is where we believe most of the battle may take place once Longbottom takes out the bridge."

Neville stared at her in shock. She went on before anyone could interrupt her.

"Any volunteers?"

Kayla, Chris, and I exchanged looks before we all raised our hands.

"We'd like to help Professor." I called up to her. "Kayla, my brother, and I."

"Thank you Marshall. Actually you are who I was hoping could help. As I understand it from Professor Flitwick you have achieved high marks in your charms class and may be able to help in a task we require from you to help secure the castle for a certain amount of time. Any others?"

I looked around and saw that quite a few students volunteered to help defend the entrance.

"Alright, Marshall, please come here." she said. "Professor Flitwick and I need to give you directions."

I fought my way through the crowd up to them.

"What is it you need, Professor?" I asked.

"Marshall, I need you to help put up protective barriers around the school." squeaked Professor Flitwick as he came towards us.

"Like a shield, Professor." I asked uncertain.

"Precisely. You know the incantations Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, and Repello Inimicum am I correct?"

"Yes, sir. But that requires quite a bit of power behind it are you su-"

"Marshall, I have seen your work in our lessons and I believe you can."

"Thank you Professor. I know what I have to do." I said.

"Alright, let's go." said Professor McGonagall as she swept away into the Entrance Hall.

"Let me get this straight, Professor." Neville panted catching up with Professor McGonagall. "You're giving us permission to do this?"

"That is correct, Longbottom." she replied.

"To blow it up? Boom?"

"Boom!"

"Wicked. But how on earth are we gonna do that?"

"Why don't you confer with Mr. Finnigan. As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics." she said as we all walked into the cool night air.

"I can bring 'er down." said Seamus eagerly.

"That's the spirit. Now away you go." she said shooing us all away.

I walked away with Kayla and Chris and ripped off my cloak and threw it aside.

"What does she want you to do Scott?" Chris asked as he and Kayla got rid of their

cloaks.

"Help set up a shield against You-Know-Who." I said, I looked over and saw Caroline, Hannah, Tasha and Mike being led by Kingsley. They caught my eye and rushed over.

"Where are you guys being put for now." I asked hurriedly.

"Kingsley says that he needs people in the top tower for now. But, that once the battle starts that we all will be all over the place anyway." Caroline said.

"Well good luck and be careful." I said looking all my friends in the eye.

Tasha ran over and threw her arms around me, soon we were all in a group hug. When we broke apart I saw Caroline and Tasha had tears in their eyes. We all waved as the left us.

"Piertotum Locomotor!" I heard Professor McGonagall cry behind me. I turned in time to see one of the statues from the Entrance Hall fall to the ground and that all of them throughout the castle had done the same. Soon an army of them were marching out into the courtyard were we were.

"Hogwarts is threatened." Professor McGonagall ordered the statues. "Man the boundaries. Protect us. Do your duty to our school."

"Marshall!" Professor Flitwick cried to me. "Get ready. We all need to do this together."

I raised my wand into the air and watched Professor Flitwick give me the nod of approval.

"Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, Repello Inimicum!" the Professors and I said in usion. Wispy blue spurts of light flew out of the tip of my wand in to the air soaring high above us and connecting with the ones from others throughout the castle causing an invisible shield to form surrounding the castle.

I lowered my wand and looked at Kayla and Chris. We then stared at the stone bridge in front of us knowing that Dark Forces were planning to break in just beyond it.