Thanks for all the positive reviews folks:)
This is the last chap. hopefully you won't find the ending too abrupt.
The weeks before Halloween were filled with careful planning and some very delicate rune work. The trap had to be perfect or it would all fall apart. Several of the students were involved as well as Jade, Amethyst and Severus but none of them except for Ron and Hermione knew what the things they were preparing were really meant for.
On Halloween morning Amethyst was preparing the ritual stones and placing the candles. He was not only making sure they couldn't be moved but also that no one would notice them until time came. While Amethyst was outside dealing with the ritual, Jade was sitting by her desk in their rooms writing a very insulting letter. She wanted to make certain that Voldesnot didn't think clearly when he left whatever hole he was hiding in.
Finishing the letter with a flourish Jade stood up. She looked out thought the window to check on Amy. The brunette seemed to be almost finished. Jade smiled. She would meet the brunette down in the Great Hall.
…
Evening was falling the sky was full of clouds. It was a good thing that weather would affect the ritual they were going to use. Amethyst looked over at her friend. Jade smiled nervously. They were on high alert the trap was rigged. Now they were only waiting for the guest of honour. The women looked over at Severus. He shook his head slowly. There had been no summons.
There was a roar. It sounded like thunder but it couldn't be. The clouds outside weren't thunderclouds. Then there was another strike.
"The wards," Jade whispered.
Amethyst nodded.
The blond caught Hermione's eyes and signalled. She and Ron would be the ones to lead the students in this. The brunette took a deep breath. Then she let the glamor on her clothes drop. She was wearing battle robes beneath the dress robes she had been wearing to the Halloween feast. She signalled to Ron and the redhead blew a long high whistle.
"Time has come," Hermione said. "Let us do our very best and remember the battle plan."
"Phase one is a go," Ron roared.
The reaction was instantaneous. Every student who was involved dropped their glamors and proceeded to stun those who were considered a threat. That included Professors. It all happened so fast that not even Dumbledore managed to avoid being hit. Jade raised her wand and revived Severus before casting a Disillusionment Charm at him. It wouldn't do to have him hit again. The students – the ones that were still standing – walked out of the Hall. They gathered in the shadow of the castle close to the walls.
Jade, Severus and Amethyst walked out of the castle and around the ritual star. They would all be attending one of the five points each. The other two points – the ones closest to the castle – would be manned by Ron and Hermione.
Jade shuddered as Death Eaters moved past her. They were waiting for Voldemort and she desperately hoped that the students could handle these idiots.
There was no need to worry. It would seem that Ron had worked out a most effective strategy to deal with the white-masked menaces. Half of the students by the castle walls raised shields while the other half started casting spells left right and centre. Then the beaters from the four quidditch teams rose into the air as the Bludgers were released to wreak havoc on their unsuspecting victims.
Amethyst smirked. 'This is insane,' she thought then she froze. Just a few feet away from her she could feel her father's magical signature. She took a calming breath grateful to the fact that they had placed silencing spells around themselves.
The man moved forward not long after. He was not alone though. Amethyst could hear the slithering of a snake through the high grass. Voldemort was here. Now she just had to wait for Jade's signal.
A sparkle of blue in the air quickly turned into a flower of fireworks.
Hermione and Ron ran forward and positioned themselves by their points of the star.
"Earth," Severus whispered.
"Air," Jade said.
"Water," Hermione shouted.
"Fire," Ron roared.
"Shadows," Erenigh said calmly.
"On to thee we bring this offering. On to thee we gift this magic. Magic not deserved nor appreciated. On to thee we make this sacrifice."
The air inside the ritual circle started glowing. The runes activated and the students by the castle wall quickly moved forward as they disarmed any Death Eater that was not caught by the circles magic. The spread out between the five points of the star and kneeled. A hand landed on either shoulder of every pillar in the ritual as the students lent them their own magic.
The air in the circle looked like it was on fire. The ground was glowing and from the skies lightning struck. There was a rumbling and then the light was gone leaving an all composing darkness in its wake.
Jade breathed in slowly. That had taken a lot out of her. She raised her staff into the air. "Lumos Maxima," she said and threw the ball of light high in the sky. The light spread out over the ritual circle. She walked forward slowly. In the middle of the star, Voldemort and his Death Eaters lay. They were moving slowly as not only Jade but Severus, Amethyst, Ron and Hermione approached. They stopped in a loose half-circle around the heap of bodies.
Then Voldemort got to his feet. He narrowed his eyes at the five people standing before him. Jade smirked at him before she pulled the glamor bracelet off. "Hello, Tommy-boy," Harry said with a grin.
"Potter," the snake-face hissed. "You have finally come to meet you doom." He pulled his wand and said, "Avada Kedavra."
Nothing happened.
Harry tilted his head to the side. "Really Tommy-boy you should pay more attention," he said before turning to Hermione. "Aurors?" he asked.
Hermione blinked then she turned around. "Susan, get you Aunt over here," she called.
The redhead quickly pulled her wand out and sent of a Patronus. It wouldn't take long for her Aunt to arrive she knew that.
Harry turned back to Voldemort. He tilted his head – something was wrong.
"Is it just me or is he falling apart at the seams," Amethyst said.
Harry snorted. "Maybe he can't keep that makeshift body together without magic," he said remembering the ritual Voldemort had used to return.
"That's very possible," Hermione said. "I didn't think of that possibility." She frowned. "Is that going to cause problems do you think?" She looked at Harry.
The raven shrugged. "Doubt it. There are way too many witnesses," he said.
"Don't you dare ignore me you imprudent little brat. I am the great Lord Vol…" he didn't get further before his body slowly dissolved leaving only a bone, a hand and his bloodied robes behind.
The Death Eaters scattered away from the remains of their Lord. But they were still in such a state of shock that they didn't move to attack.
"What has happened here," a stern female voice sounded over the Hogwarts grounds.
Harry turned slightly. "Madam Bones," he said with a slight nod. "Voldemort and his Death Eaters tried to attack the castle. They have since been dealt with." He motioned towards the huddle of people before him. "The ones you see before you won't create much trouble they no longer have any magic. The others," he moved his arm about, "are stunned. There might be stragglers that we have not dealt with though."
Amelia Bones, the head of the DMLE, was shocked. All around her stood students of Hogwarts. They looked like they had seen battle she couldn't deny that. Then there were the Death Eaters in front of her. Shaking her head she straightened her back and quickly started shouting orders to the Aurors she had brought along.
They gathered up the Death Eaters that had been stunned outside of the ritual circle first and shipped them off to the Ministry before coming back.
Amelia had been listening to the explanation of what happened in the meantime. She was shaking her head greatly disturb at what she was hearing. It shouldn't have come to this. The grown-ups should have dealt with this crisis not their children.
By now the Death Eaters who had been caught up in the ritual were starting to realise what was going on around them. One of the masked men tried to take advantage of the groups' obvious distraction and launched forward. He grabbed one of the women by the neck and pressed his wand against her throat. "Don't you even dare to scream bitch," he hissed in her ear.
The next few events happened so fast that no one could actually follow it. The result however was that Lucius Malfoy was now lying on the ground clutching his groin and a very livid Erenigh Potter-Black was standing above him with his staff pressed against the man's chest.
"That was probably one of the least intelligent things you could ever have come up with father," the last part was spat like the blond on the ground was some kind of slimy – whatever.
Harry was looking at his husband amusement glittering in his eyes. "So, so 'Nigh don't get to worked up it's not good for…" Harry's carefree tone and demeanour changed to horror as Erenigh doubled over and fell to the ground. "Erenigh!" he shouted. He fell to his knees beside the snowy-haired teen and turned him over.
"He needs to get to the infirmary Potter," Severus said as he pulled his wand out ready to levitate the young man.
Harry nodded and stood up. He knew he couldn't do it so he was glad for the help Severus provided.
Erenigh woke up slowly. He felt like shit his mouth was dry and his muscles hurt. He blinked his eyes open slowly. It was white. He was lying on something soft. Turning his head he could see several beds lined beside his. 'Hospital Wing,' he thought groggily.
Then he sat up with a jerk. He looked down at his stomach and then he wrapped his arms around it. He could remember what happened. Voldemort, the ritual, his father, and then he'd collapsed. 'My baby,' he thought desperately. Was his baby O.K?
"Erenigh." A hand landed on his shoulder.
The white-haired teen looked up into the concerned eyes of his husband. "Harry," he whispered his arms tightening around his waist.
The raven sat down. He reached up and ran a thumb down Erenigh's cheek. "How are you feeling, love?" he asked.
Erenigh took a deep breath. He couldn't answer that not until he knew if their baby was alright.
"We've been worried about you, love. It was so close. I was so close to losing you," Harry said as he pulled his husband close.
Erenigh broke down slowly he couldn't not anymore. Why wouldn't Harry tell him? He needed to know. He cried himself back to sleep.
…
The next time he opened those beautiful amethyst orbs. He refused to move his arms were still wrapped tightly around him and he curled up even further.
That's how Harry found him. The raven sat down next to his husband and tried to get a reaction out of him. A tray with food had been delivered by Winky and he needed Erenigh to eat.
Erenigh fell asleep once more without touching the food.
…
"I don't know what to do with him. He's been awake a handful of times but apart from the first time he won't even interact with me," Harry looked at the Potion Master the distress obvious in his entire demeanour.
Severus shook his head. He had heard Poppy say something similar that morning. You'd think that the medi-witch would know better. He looked down at the teen in the bed. He could see that he was awake again. He looked up at Harry. "You should get cleaned up and eat something, Potter. I'll stay here until you get back," he said.
"But…" Harry went to contradict him.
"No buts Potter now get going," Severus ordered. He waited until the raven had left the room before he looked down into those diluted amethyst eyes. He leaned forward slightly. "Your baby is fine, Erenigh," he said. The eyes cleared up slightly. "Do you want me to perform a scan?"
A nod.
Severus pulled his wand out and then he moved the covers down. Erenigh had lifted his shirt up. Severus cast the spell and suddenly the white-haired teen could see his baby.
"He or she is fine for now Erenigh," Severus said. "But you need to take better care of yourself if that is going to continue."
Erenigh nodded. "Why wouldn't someone just tell me," he whispered. Not really expecting an answer.
"It has been a crazy month Erenigh. The few times that Harry hasn't been here with you he's been stuck in the Wizengamot chamber dealing with Death Eater trials. I don't know if the life of you baby has even crossed his mind yet he's so winded up," Severus said. "He'll realise it sometime soon though."
"A…a month?" Erenigh said shakily.
Severus nodded. "Yes you've been in here for a month," he said.
Erenigh looked down at his hands. No wonder he was feeling weak. He shook his head. "Winky," he called and the female elf appeared. "Can I have some soup please?" he asked her.
Winky didn't even respond she just poped away again and was soon back with a bowl of soup. "Master Erenigh be eating all of it," she demanded.
"Yes Winky thank you," Erenigh said as he accepted the bowl. He ate in silence.
Once he was finished, Winky poped back in and took the empty bowl away. Erenigh smiled softly. When he looked back up at Severus his eyes were hard. "How come the medi-witch didn't pick up on my pregnancy?" he asked. "You'd think she would know enough to tell a pregnant person that their baby is O.K."
Severus sighed. "I don't actually know if Poppy knows you're pregnant. It isn't something she'd usually check since the condition is so rare," he said.
Erenigh looked at him. "And no one has thought about informing her about this," he said scratchily. "What if she fed me a potion that had killed the baby?"
Severus glared at him. "All potions you have been given have been administered by me," he said.
Erenigh, who was impervious to death glares, just glared back at the man. "It was a valid question, Severus," he said.
Severus didn't get a chance to respond as Poppy had just walked out of her office and started to fuzz around the white-haired teen.
Erenigh was out of bed a week later. He hadn't said anything about the baby to Harry. He was waiting for the raven to catch up to it himself. Now that he knew that there was no danger anymore he had no problem with acting like nothing was wrong.
They were invited to Black Manor that evening. Harry had been moaning about seeing his godfather again. The raven knew that he was in deep shit after disappearing like he had.
…
Erenigh couldn't understand why Harry had been so nervous. Lord Black was acting very much the gracious host throughout dinner. Of course Erenigh didn't know what was going on right now since he'd gotten separated from the group a while ago. He was the heir of the house so he could pretty much go wherever he wanted.
Sirius had even taken the news that the two were married pretty well. He had done a classical Spanish inquisition but he'd been O.K. with it.
Erenigh ended up in a big room that held a myriad of frames. He passed the frames though. They didn't really interest him, but at the far side of the room there was a tapestry. He walked up to it and traced the lines. He slowly placed his finger over his own name. It hadn't appeared on the tapestry until after he'd cast the Malfoy name aside. Linked to his name was Harry's and down from the two there was a line that ended with the words: One child. Erenigh smiled softly.
"There you are."
Erenigh turned around. He inclined his head to the long-time friend of Lord Black. "Mr Lupin," he said.
The man smiled tiredly. "I was wondering where you had disappeared of to. He looked up at the tapestry. "Sirius hates this thing," he said with a chuckle. "Says it reminds him of all the bad the Blacks have done."
"Moony, Moony save me," Sirius screeched as he came running into the room. "Prongslet has unleashed a panther. It is hunting me."
Remus rolled his eyes and walked out into the corridor.
"There goes a brave man," Sirius said solemnly before turning to Erenigh. "Now what on earth are you doing looking at this old thing?" he asked. Grey eyes widened as he looked closer at the tapestry. He had seen the area the young man was standing by and he followed the lines. "One child," he read. He looked down at the white-haired teen.
Erenigh was standing with one hand over his stomach protectively. Not that he noticed. It was a subconscious reaction. Then he was being lifted in the air suddenly. "You're pregnant," Sirius exclaimed cheerily. Then he put Erenigh back down. He looked at the teen. "Harry didn't say anything about that," he said.
Erenigh shook his head. "He was the one who performed the first pregnancy charm to check if I was pregnant. He should know but he hasn't said anything about it since the battle against Voldemort," he said.
A mischievous glint appeared in the Marauder's eyes. "That means he is in need of some serious pranking," he said.
Erenigh chuckled. "If you say so my Lord," he said.
…
"What on earth brought that on?" Harry asked later as he and his husband was getting ready for bed.
"You seem to have forgotten something very important Harry," Erenigh said. He sat down in the bed and waited for Harry to get comfortable before he straddle the raven.
"Oh, really," Harry said with a smirk.
"Yes," Erenigh hissed as he dipped down to give the raven a kiss. He sat back up letting Harry's hands travel over his hips and then he gave the raven an innocent look as he asked ,"What colour should we paint the nursery?"
