We sped down to the passage after the Ravenclaw, hand-in-hand, and when we arrived at the entranceway I saw the best thing, except Hermione earlier, I had seen that day. It was also the most surprising. Dumbledore was standing with his back to us talking quickly to the newcomer. When he heard us he turned and stepped to the side to let the newcomer talk to me.

"Hello Harry" said Cornelius Fudge. The minister was standing at the head of wizards all of whom had their wands drawn and looked like they had fought their way here and I said as much.

"Well we have" answered Fudge.

"Well I have to ask minister, not that I am not grateful that you are here, but what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well Harry" Dumbledore interjected "I floo called Cornelius when Riddle started to advance on the castle. I only managed to get a partial warning out as Riddle closed the floo links shortly after"

"And I knew that something must have gone horribly wrong here so I gathered everyone I possibly could in the time I had and we apperated to a muggle village near here and fought our way here to help" Cornelius added.

I was about to answer him when I saw a small commotion at the back of the group. Someone new had come down the passage. They pushed their way to the front and stood in front of me.

"Harry. It is good to see you" said Sirius Black. He was not as scruffy as he had been when I saw him last and his eyes had lost a little of the dead look.

I decided not to speak and I threw myself at my godfather and hugged him as hard as I could.

"Well I couldn't just sit on the touch line and cheer you on could I?" he said as I pulled back. "James would never have approved" Tears were starting to form in his eyes and could feel matching ones in mine.

"Hermione" Sirius said looking over my shoulder.

"Good that your here Sirius, I can't keep my eyes on Harry all the time I could do with another pair" she replied and I turned to see her smiling at me and Sirius.

"Harry Potter"

Suddenly all joking died as the deathly voice trailed over the castle again.

"Your time is nearly up. Since you have decided to ignore my offer you leave me with no other alternative but to kill everyone in the castle. I swear that I will kill you Harry Potter but before I do I will rip everything that you love and hold dear away from you"

"I think boys and girls, playtimes over" said Dumbledore when the voice faded.

"To work" I said and everyone turned to look at me.

"I know things look pretty grim but we are not out yet. Are we?" I asked when silence followed my words.

"No" said Hermione and Sirius at almost the same moment.

"Good. So let's get going. Cornelius talk to Albus and organise your reinforcements into the defence. Sirius get the students in order. Hermione come with me" I said and strode away without looking back.

"Harry!" called Hermione from a short distance behind me.

"What?" I called over my shoulder without looking back.

"Stop" her voice was icy.

I recognised the tone of her voice and I did as instructed. I turned to face her and she stopped in front of me.

"What are you doing?" she asked when she had got her breath back.

"I will show you" I said and returned to walking and she fell into step beside me.

"Where are we going?" she asked after a minute

"The tower over the main doors"

We walked in silence for another few minutes until we reached the base of the tower.

"Wait here please" I said. She nodded.

"Good luck" she said and I kissed her. Then I turned and ran up the stairs to the window above the main doors. The glass was gone but it was otherwise intact. I raised my wand to my throat and said Sonorous.

"TOM RIDDLE" I called across the grounds. His answer came seconds later.

"Harry, have you come to your senses yet?" he asked in the same raised voice.

"Let's say not for a minute shall we?" I said. As I was speaking I saw a rustle of movement at the edge of the forest.

"Then there is nothing left for me to do except kill you"

"I guess. You know this could get quite violent. Sure you don't want to surrender?" I asked

"You dare insult me Potter!" came the very terse answer from the head of the approaching army that had just appeared at the edge of the forest.

"I insult you very easily Tom. But enough of the pleasantries" I paused for a second to see if he would reply. After a minute of silence I spoke again.

"Hogwarts! Hear me. We fight today for our lives and our freedoms we must not falter from our duty" A huge cheer arose from the castle at these words. I turned away from the window and saw Hermione coming across the room to me.

"Good speech, nice and short"

"I thought so" I smiled. I looked back to the oncoming horde of Death Eaters and replaced my wand to my throat.

"DEFENDERS BATTLE STATIONS"