The Great Hall
With a crack like a thunderbolt it happened. Bright light, almost blinding hit the shield surrounding the castle, shimmering gaps appeared and it began to open and fall. Disappearing like paper to a flame the defences began to fall. Minerva's eyes widened as she watched, tightening her grip on her wand. He was angry, that much was clear; none of the other death eaters could have thrown a spell with that much force. He would be more dangerous than ever. Loud bangs and explosions echoed from behind her across the grounds. 'That means Seamus has blown something up, let's hope it was the right bit' she prayed silently.
A silvery wisp of light in the form of a horse appeared at her side.
'Bridge is down, took most of the snatchers with it.' Ginny Weasley's voice echoed from the patronus. 'We're spreading out across the castle to help the others. Heard about the stone knights, nice one, Headmistress.' The horse vanished as quickly as it arrived. Minerva chuckled to herself and gave Molly reassuring nod.
Before Minerva could blink flashes of green light were hitting the knights, death eaters swarmed across the sky, black smoke billowing behind them. Spells crashed from all angles; balls of fire and crashes of stone filled the air as the spells hit the castle. The students and aurors standing in the courtyard rushed back to her through the castle doors to shelter, firing curses at the sky as they did so. Wordlessly she threw shields and curses into the air, death eaters that had been soaring through the sky crashed down into the castle walls or onto the courtyard. The shields deflecting curses aimed at the retreating aurors. Gracefully she stepped aside as a curse came flying towards her, another bounced back from an invisible wall that seemed to surround her. She did not move from her spot on the stairs until the last of the aurors and students had rushed behind her.
From the steps they fired curses and hexes across the courtyard. The aurors taking individual duels against death eaters, trying to take giants and Acromantula out of their way as they went. As they spread back out across the courtyard Minerva began to duel, her heart returned to her twenty year old self, duelling with Gellert Grindelwald's armies. She spun with the agility and ease of a woman much younger than herself, stunning death eater after death eater, blocking the curses thrown at the others aurors and her students. From the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Harry, Ron and Hermione dashing across the courtyard towards the steps that led to the black lake. She directed her attention to the Acromantula, one well-placed spell and each fell in writhing agony, Hagrid would eventually forgive her she hoped. A feeling of ice cold and sorrow swept over her suddenly, taking her by surprise. She saw them, like a black cloud gliding towards the castle, hooded, cloaked, dementors. She summoned a memory to her mind, her wedding, the day she and Albus had promised their lives to each other, her heart swelled, but before she could raise her wand a tall figure rushed into view behind her three Gryffindors. Her heart skipped for a second. Albus. Then she realised. 'Perhaps he's not given up after all' a voice in her head chuckled.
'Aberforth' she breathed, love and pride flooded through her at the sight of her brother in law. The dementors tumbled away at the power of his patronus. Before he whirled around and began duelling with a slightly confused and surprised death eater to his left. Taking the moment of surprise to her advantage Minerva managed to stun two death eaters and take out one of the giants. Spells and bodies flew across the air in front of her again as she threw shields and stunners into the crowd, her eyes darting around her cubs checking each was unharmed.
As Tom Riddle's voice echoed through the air again like an ice cold breeze, the crowd froze once more. The death eaters swept away, summoned back to their master. A lump appeared in her throat at the thought of Harry, called directly to Voldermort to face his destiny. Silently she prayed he would not go alone. The remaining order members and students in the courtyard turned to her.
'Everyone inside, any casualties to the great hall, we'll see what Poppy can do.' She stepped back to allow them in, several reaching to support each other. Waiting while they all made their way in, she followed, pausing momentarily in the entrance hall to summon a house elf and request tea and hot chocolate be taken to the hall as well.
A heart-wrenching scream bought Minerva's attention to the great hall. In the doorway she could see Molly Weasley; the unmistakable body of a redheaded boy lay across the floor before her. Minerva's eyes darted round the group counting them. Fred. There was no mistaking him, the pain and torture in George's face, which was pressed to his father's shoulder, told her everything she needed. Molly had knelt to the floor now and began to run her fingers through her son's hair. Minerva's face paled further as she saw more bodies levitated through the doors. Kingsley Shacklebolt lay Remus Lupin's body on one of the blankets before her, behind him Dean Thomas placed his wife, beside him.
'Both of them.' Minerva croaked as Kingsley placed an arm around her shoulder. Dean knelt before them and placed their hands together and gave Minerva a watery smile before retreating to where Seamus and Aberforth sat on a bench at the back of the hall, both clasping mugs of hot chocolate.
'We found them like that. Seems only right.' Kingsley explained. Minerva nodded, patting his hand reassuringly before walking towards the grieving Weasley's. Words were not needed when she reached them, a nod to Arthur, her sorrow and pain clear on her face and a gentle hand on Ginny's shoulder gave them all she could in that moment. She carefully made her way around the students, mentally counting the casualties and consoling the survivors. The doors to the great hall opened once more and her heart gave a happy leap as she saw three familiar faces. Harry, Ron and Hermione entered. It wasn't over by any means, but she was relieved to see all three of them safe. Harry hadn't gone to Voldermort yet, which meant they still had a good chance. She watched as realisation dawned on Ron and he ran to his family, her heart wretched as she saw him fall to his knees beside his brother. Hermione had followed him, but stood a little back from the family, tears stinging her eyes. Harry stood before Remus and Tonks, watching the closest thing he had to a family fall to pieces at the loss of one of their own.
Minerva's heart ached for him as he looked around, catching sight of the injured and the dead. When he looked at the bodies by his feet, the tears finally filled Minerva's eyes. She started to move toward him, wishing she could wrap him in her arms and take the pain and suffering away, he was too young to feel these things, and he didn't deserve anymore pain and grief than he already held. A look of guilt passed over him; he believed it was his fault, just as Albus would have done.
He turned and left the hall before Minerva could reach him. She watched as he ascended the stairs, a little relief filling her. He wasn't heading to the forest yet, at least that hope she could hold onto for a few moments.
From behind her, Hermione and Ron emerged, hand in hand. She smiled weakly at them, despite the pain and sorrow that was engulfing them, love seemed to have blossomed. She watched for a moment as they headed up the stairs Harry had taken before them, and came to rest together on one of the steps. They leaned into each other for support and Hermione allowed Ron to cry into her arms. Minerva turned away, leaving them to grieve in peace. Despite the suffering that had filled the great hall, groups of students, aurors and staff had clung together. Pride swelled through Minerva, even in the darkest moment each had found love and friendship, no matter what was about to come, they had each other… Something worth fighting for.
