Hey guys! Here it is! The chapter that you've all been waiting for!! Actually, I'm not too happy with it, but meh! You guys can tell me what you think:D

Thanks for reviewing to: Avatarfanx2, Amy.Lee.Rox and Sheen Rox! You guys are simply the best of the best!!

Disclaimer: Basically, if you've read about it from the books, I don't own it. That belongs to J.K. Rowling. I also don't own the name 'Meilin', that belongs to the anime Card Captor Sakura. I own the character though, I just borrowed the name.

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Secret of the Chosen Heir

Chapter 9: War

Harry shivered and stamped his feet, trying hard not to think about the bitter coldness of the morning. Everyone was ready, drawing strength and encouragement from each other for the task before them.

"G'luck mate!" Ron said, thumping Harry on the back, "Cold this morning isn't it?"

Harry peered carefully at Ron, "Are you alright Ron?"

"Yeah, perfectly fine, never felt better," Ron continued to ramble absentmindedly.

"Ron?" Hermione appeared next to them, "What's wrong with him?"

"Hi Hermione!" Ron nearly squealed, "How are ya this fine morning?"

Hermione stared at him for a moment, then threw herself at him. In less than a second, their lips had met in a heated passion.

"Took them long enough," Cho sighed, watching them contently from beside Harry.

"What?" Harry was still shocked at the sudden behaviour of his two best friends.

"Oh Harry, you are so naive!" Cho said in a scolding tone, "Couldn't you tell they've liked each other for ages?"

"That doesn't explain why Ron was acting so weirdly," Harry said stubbornly.

"Doesn't it? Ron wanted to tell Hermione before we went into this, but he was scared, so he started rambling instead."

Harry didn't answer but hugged her quite suddenly, "Please stay safe Cho."

"I would say the same for you," she replied, burying her face in his shoulder.

"It's time," Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice cut through the quiet din of voices, "Remember the plan, stay with your groups and good luck."

Everyone fanned out and began to make their way to the Riddle Mansion. Harry caught up to Hermione, "Take care of Cho for me, Hermione."

She gave him a small smile, "Don't worry, Harry. She'll be fine. Besides, even if I can't, I'm sure either you or James would be doing that. All I'm going to ask of you is to stay out of everything that's not part of the plan."

Harry grinned, "Right."

Hermione ran on ahead and took her place.

A twig cracked somewhere, echoing in the silence.

"Who's there?" a gruff voice called out, "Show yourself!"

"It's Malfoy! Draco Malfoy!" Draco called out. Harry felt a wand digging his back as Draco locked his arms. He gritted his teeth.

"Malfoy? Is that really you?"

"Yes, Amycus!" Draco shoved Harry to the ground once they were within sight of the two Death Eaters that were guarding the door.

"Who's that with you?" the other Death Eater snarled.

"That only concerns the Dark Lord. Where is he?" Draco replied coolly.

"He's out," Amycus answered, "Where have you been, Malfoy?"

"Making friends with Potter, where did you think I've been?" Draco snarled, "Where's the Master?"

"Let me who you've got with you," the other Death Eater cut in before Amycus could reply.

Draco shrugged and hauled Harry to his feet again, "Meet Harry Potter!"

Immediately, three Stunners came shooting towards the Death Eaters. Taken by surprise, they had no time to react before they got hit.

"Let's go!" Draco muttered, throwing open the door.

For a while, everyone searched the entire house. It was mostly empty except for a few other Death Eaters that were placed as guards. After they had all been taken captive, everyone regrouped at the front hall.

Pop! Neville Longbottom Apparated clumsily into their midst. There was a large gash on his head that was bleeding freely.

"Neville!" Hermione cried, rushing to him, "What are you doing here? What's going on?"

Neville looked at her, "Hogwarts...attacked! Need...help..." his breathing was laboured.

"Healers! Attend to Longbottom! Everyone else, to Hogwarts!" Kingsley Shacklebolt bellowed. There were numerous pops as everyone rushed to obey.

Hermione supported Neville with her arm, "Neville, how did you know we were all here?"

"Snape...told. He said he...guessed...or something. Sprout and Trelawny dead." Neville panted, his eyes starting to close.

"Neville! Stay awake!" Hermione shook him gently as a Healer came to help him, "Just stay awake alright?"

He nodded faintly. Hermione took one last look at her friend before quickly Apparating to Hogwarts. She arrived outside the gates and was met first with the noise of people shouting and screaming. The Dark Mark shone brightly over Hogwarts, reminding her of Dumbledore's death last year. It seemed to mock the battle below. Taking a deep breath, Hermione flung herself into the battle, hurling hexes and curses everywhere she could see a Death Eater.

Cho was near the castle. She could hear the student's screams of terror from within and fought hard to get inside. She wasn't sure what she would do once she got inside, but it didn't matter at the moment. She hurled another hex over her shoulder and was satisfied with the yell of pain from the Death Eater as his face broke out in boils. Cho was almost surprised at herself. Gone was the girl that trembled at the sight of a fight. Gone was the girl who nearly swooned at the sight of blood. Gone was the girl who never lifted her wand against another human being in attack. The path to the great doors cleared and she flew toward it. As she was about to pull them open, Harry appeared at her side.

"Harry?"

He nodded at her, "Be careful. I can feel Voldemort inside."

"Harry, what are we going to do about the students?" Cho asked.

"Shacklebolt and McGonagall are directing them all to Hogsmeade. Most of them are safe now, the ones who can't fight that is. Some have joined the battle."

She nodded, "I love you Harry."

"And I love you," Harry gave her a kiss much too short for either of their liking, "Let's go."

Together, they pulled the doors open and were met with a terrible sight. Bodies and broken furniture were strewn all over the place. Some students who haven't been escorted to safety were screaming and crying all around them. Death Eaters and some of the Order were engaged in various duels.

Harry looked over at Cho, whose face was set with determination, "I'm going to find Voldemort."

"I'll go help the students." She nodded and hurried over to the students. They couldn't be older than first years from the fear in their eyes as they looked up at her.

"It's alright, I'm going to help you get out of this mess," she soothed, holding out her hand to the one nearest to her. He reached out to take it.

"Well well well! If it isn't little Chang," a high familiar voice rang out behind her.

Cho whirled around, "Bellatrix!"

"I think it's high time that we finish what we started that afternoon, Chang, don't you?" Bellatrix crooned, twirling her wand in her fingers, "Or would you like one of these snippets to convince you?"

She tossed the boy who had reached out to Cho high into the air and dropped him.

"Arresto Momentum!" Cho screamed. She caught him as he floated down and gently set him down among his friends once more.

"You've gotten better," Bellatrix commented, "But you are still the dirt beneath my feet."

"Leave the students alone Lestrange! This is between you and me." Cho replied, her wand pointed at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix smirked, "Of course." Without warning, she sent out a curse, throwing Cho into a wall. Cho struggled to her feet and sent her own curse towards the woman. Not expecting a counter-attack so quickly, Bellatrix was also blown back, earning a cut on her cheek.

"Quickly, go find McGonagall and get to Hogsmeade. Hurry!" Cho said urgently to the first-years, trying to catch her breath. She cast the Disillusionment Charm on them to protect them as much as possible and pushed them in the direction of Hogsmeade. After she was sure the first-years had moved off to safety, she turned and face to face with Bellatrix. Bellatrix physically slammed Cho into the wall once more and pushed her wand at her throat.

"This ends now, little girl," she hissed, "You've been on my nerves for far too long."

Cho stared at the older woman in terror. Her wand arm was useless to her since Bellatrix was crushing it to the wall with one hand. It's all over, she's going to kill me.

--Meanwhile--

"Hello Potter," Voldemort's all too familiar voice drawled as Harry entered the Great Hall.

"Voldemort," Harry growled, levelling his wand.

"Incarcerous!"

Vine green ropes shot out of Voldemort's wand and circled around Harry, binding him tightly.

"You know Potter, I still don't understand how a snivelling little boy could defeat me. Especially if you can't even defend yourself against the easiest of spells," Voldemort said cordially, drawing closer. Harry's scar began to throb painfully.

"Come, let us see how this battle stands," Voldemort levitated Harry and swept out of the Great Hall, "Ah, I see Bella has continued her duel with Chang."

Harry watched fearfully as Cho was at the mercy of Bellatrix. He tried to yell, but Voldemort had silenced his voice. He struggled against his bonds.

"Ah, the werewolf must learn his lesson," Voldemort said, drawing Harry's attention to Lupin on the other side of the room, duelling with Lucius Malfoy, "What do you think Potter? Death or torture?"

"No!" Harry screamed silently, thrashing wildly, "Don't! No!"

"What did you say Potter? Death? How lovely, I was thinking the same," Voldemort smirked smugly and pointed his wand at Lupin, "AvadaKedavra!"

A jet of deadly green light made its way across the room. Harry watched in horror as everything seemed to be slow down. He saw Lucius smirking and pointing toward the green jet. He saw Lupin turn and meet his eyes for a moment before the jet of light caught him full in the face.

"Lupin! No!" Harry's voice had returned. His bellow rang through all of Hogwarts. The ropes that bound his disappeared and he flew to Lupin's side. His friend's normally weary face was untouched and young once more. It was as if death had left him in peace. Harry's tears fell freely.

"Remus! No, Remus! No!" Tonks had also arrived at his side and began to wail. Curses and hexes flew over their heads, but nothing touched them. Nothing could touch them now. With burning eyes, Harry turned to Voldemort.

"You're going to die Voldemort."

--Cho--

She had heard Harry's cry and saw Lupin fall. Bellatrix's wand was still digging into her throat. When Harry and Voldemort had begun duelling, Bellatrix's grip on her wand hand had loosened slightly. Taking advantage of her distraction, Cho brought her knee up and managed to kick Bellatrix with enough force to make her stumble back, freeing her completely. Before Bellatrix could cast a hex, Cho gave another flying kick and caught her wrist, making her drop the wand. Bellatrix made a move to snatch it, but a blur of motion crashed into her, knocking her flat.

"Cho! The wand! Snap the wand!" James yelled, holding Bellatrix down.

"No!" Bellatrix threw James off with surprising strength and flew to her wand just as Cho stomped on it with all her strength. The was a loud snap and Bellatrix screamed. She took a swipe at Cho's face which Cho barely managed to evade. She swung again and Cho realized Bellatrix was holding a dagger.

There was a clash as the dagger was met with James' sword, "Cho, leave this to me."

She nodded, "Thanks James." She ran towards Harry, knowing he would probably kill her if he saw her. She skidded to a stop as Lucius Malfoy stepped in her path, wand levelled.

Cho deflected the curse he threw at her, "You're sick."

"What have you done to my son, whore?" Lucius snarled as he deflected her hex.

"Nothing. Just helped him become human."

"He's weak to give into you."

"He's stronger than you can dream."

"Crucio!" Cho couldn't move in time. The curse hit her and for the first time that night, she screamed as a wave of hot pain swept through her body.

--Harry--

"You hear that Potter?" Voldemort drawled as Cho's scream cut through the noise, "After you die, she's going to scream like that more as I ravish her, then kill her."

"You won't touch her!" Harry snarled, "Sectusempra!"

A deep slash appeared on Voldemort's chest. He looked surprised, "Impressive. That spell went clear through my shield."

Harry felt his wand knocked out of his hand as Voldemort twisted his wand in a way he had never seen before.

"You're wandless Potter, what are you going to do now?" Voldemort asked smugly.

Slowly, Harry drew the sword of Gryffindor and pointed it at him.

"Ah, the sword of Gryffindor. The sword you killed my Nagini with, I assume? It won't work for you this time. AvadaKedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled at the same time.

The two spells clashed and joined together, reminding Harry of the duel in fourth year. He concentrated on the ball of light and willed it to go to Voldemort. It complied, moving faster and faster until it hit Voldemort. Harry snapped out of his concentration and was shocked to see the sword of Gryffindor buried to the hilt in Voldemort's heart. Voldemort looked shocked too as his blood seeped out of his robes and dripped onto the marble floor. He looked at Harry's face and screamed as his life flew out of him.

Harry stumbled back, unable to tear his eyes from Voldemort's slain body. He had done it. Voldemort was dead.

"Harry, watch out!" he heard Cho scream a split second before a burning pain tore through his back. He yelled as he fell on his knees. The pain was more intense now.

"Harry!" a dozen different voices shouted. There was an insane cry that was abruptly silenced as something fell to the floor with a thud. Through his blinding pain, Harry thought he saw the head of Bellatrix roll to a stop a few feet away from him.

"Harry!" Cho fell to her knees in front of him, her face contorted with tears, "Harry, no!"

"Cho..." Harry whispered, watching the tears spill from her beautiful eyes.

"Harry, no...don't leave me!" she sobbed, holding his face in her hands, "Please don't leave me!"

Everything was fading, "I'm sorry."

"No, Harry...please...no!"

"Cho..." Harry took a deep breath, "Don't cry anymore. Smile for me."

She gulped, closing her eyes, "How can I?"

"I want the last thing I see to be you smiling." He could barely get the words out. It was getting hard to breathe, his eyes felt so heavy.

Cho opened her eyes slowly and smiled through her sea of tears.

"I love you." His eyes closed at last and released everything that had been holding him together.

"Harry!" Cho screamed, "No! No!"

Someone whirled her around and crushed her to his chest. She didn't know who it was. It didn't matter anymore. Harry was gone. She trashed wildly, trying to reach Harry again.

"Cho, stop it!" Draco said through gritted teeth, trying to hold her flailing arms down.

"He's dead! He's dead! Harry!" she continued to scream, "How can I live without him? Harry!"

Draco didn't answer but let her do as she wished. He held her tightly in his arms, letting him be something solid she can hold on to. Eventually, she stopped. Draco looked down at her and found her unconscious, tears still running down her face.

"Is she...?" Ron trailed off. He couldn't bear to look at his best friend. He swallowed hard, trying to stop the tears.

"No. She just fainted," Draco said softly. He glanced at the still body of Harry. From his position, anyone would think he was only sleeping. People were starting to crowd around now, forming a circle around the Boy Who Lived, the girl he loved and the former Death Eater.

"Move! Give them some air!" James was warding them all away. He kneeled beside Draco and held out his arms for Cho. Draco hesitated, then handed her over reluctantly.

"Harry..." Hermione was reaching out for Harry's hand. She withdrew quickly at the coldness and buried her face in her hands.

"Draco," Ginny had appeared. She had been fighting with the Order the entire time, "What are we going to do?"

Draco stood and faced her, "We're going to continue living and make Harry's death worth it."

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No more ranting, I know you're all about to kill me!

but please review :D