The Man Who Lives
By: PenPatronus
Chapter 20:

Siege and Showdown

The Great Hall burst into chaotic screams as rainbows of sharp spells zigzagged around and through students, professors, House-elves and Death Eaters. Argus Filch leapt onto the Gryffindor table and with a fierce grin and a magnificent wave of his wand he took down a handful of Voldemort's followers. Through the double doors came a herd of centaurs from the Forbidden Forest. Harry recognized Firenze who caught Avery with a crossbow. The elves were running in between legs, tripping people, using their Wandless powers to tie Death Eaters up. The school ghosts sailed in and Peeves, cackling, chucked Dungbombs, sometimes at the Death Eaters, sometimes at the students. Filch's cackles filled the Hall.

Harry stood frozen a moment too long. Gregory Goyle aimed a spell at him but suddenly Ron was there with a shield in front of them both. Hermione ran over and grabbed their hands, and all three dashed for the hall, jumping over overturned chairs and prone bodies, swerving around centaurs, maneuvering through the stampede of students trying to escape. Half of the students were already crowded at the entrance as the front doors were pulled open. A wave of smothering coldness flowed in and Harry's knees buckled from the dementors' presence. He had to grab onto Ron to keep from falling over. Some first and second years were slumping to the ground as well. Hermione shouted a spell that sealed the front doors, then another to seal the entrance to the Great Hall, leaving the students in the lobby area.

"Shut up and listen to the Head Boy!"

"No! Shut up and listen to Harry!"

What happened next startled Harry as much as Filch had. Hermione had climbed up a few stairs and her wand spread her voice across the panicked students so strong and sudden that they all froze and listened.

"Everyone SHUT IT! Listen up NOW!" Harry had the urge to salute her. She pointed at Ron and Harry and waved them forward. "We need to escape but not to the grounds! Follow me to the Room of Requirement and we'll create some fireplaces connected to the Floo network!" Just then a pounding came from the outside door to the grounds and from inside the Great Hall. Footsteps were rumbling from the direction of the Slytherin dungeons. And the dementors were about to come through.

Hermione pushed the nearest student up the stairs, "Move it! Get out however you can! Protect the younger students and try to stay higher on the floors and staircases than the Death Eaters! GO!"

Harry took Ron by the shoulder, "Follow Hermione—I'll bring up the rear."

"Stay right behind us, mate," Ron said, shooting Harry an anxious look before taking the steps up three at a time. The noise in the Great Hall was getting softer, but it was difficult to tell who was winning.

Prefects stepped forward and quickly gathered students and set off. Most everyone seemed to calm down and focus. The front doors were beginning to warp, folding inward. The dementors were nearly through. Harry waved the other students in front of him. Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs scurried after Hermione, their wands drawn. Another batch of Death Eaters burst out of the hallway leading to the Slytherin dungeons just as the dementors came through the front doors. Harry, the last going up the stairs, launched Prongs into the liquid shadows. The Death Eaters were right behind him. Spells shot past his head from all directions.

And then the staircases began to move.

Harry was thrown off his feet. He hit the steps and grabbed the railing as the staircase bucked. A Death Eater who hadn't been ten steps behind him fell over the railing and into the river of dementors below. The staircase below Harry was also shaking violently, shaking off every Death Eater while the ones above were holding still as the students climbed.

"Harry, move it!" Harry heard Ron yell from above. Harry pulled himself up, put his wand safely in his robes and started climbing again. As soon as he left one staircase it would start moving so that no one else could climb. When Harry neared the second floor a nearby portrait started yelling for him to look out. Harry grabbed the robes of a couple Gryffindors beside him and yanked them down as Death Eaters appeared on the floor and shot spells at them. The peasants in the portrait stuck their tongues out.

Sir Cadogan shoved the peasants out of the way and called to Harry "They've shut down the magical wards around Hogwarts, the knaves! They can Apparate!"

Harry aimed his wands at the nearest Death Eaters before calling "Hermione! HERMIONE! They're Apparating!"

Hermione, four floors up, leaned over the railing. "But that's impossible! Hogwarts, A History says that no one can Apparate within Hogwarts!" Just then Death Eaters appeared on the floor above her, and on various places on the stairs.

"Yes, Hermione, keep saying that to the Death Eaters Apparating around us!" Harry heard Ron yell from the middle of the students.

Spells started ricocheting up and down the stairs. Harry watched in horror as a Ravenclaw girl was hit in the chest by a spell. She collapsed against the railing and fell over it, unconscious, towards the bottom floor. Students started screaming, some crouching against the stairs in fear, others separating from the group running down the hallways.

"Stick together!" Harry heard a Hufflepuff Prefect yell. A moment later the kid was hit in the stomach with a red spell and he collapsed.

"Bloody—" Harry cursed. The steps were chaotic and he was at the second floor. When the idea occurred to him he yelled to the students around him, "This way! Come on! Follow me!" Harry pointed down the hall towards Myrtle's bathroom while he held off a Death Eater he recognized as Macnair.

"Harry!" Ginny was suddenly beside him. Her hair was pulled back and her cheeks were red. "There are about fifty students with us. Where do you want us to go?" Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and guided her and the other students inside the girl's bathroom. By the candlelight reflected off of the bathroom mirrors Harry found the copper tap with the snakes. Harry focused on Parseltongue and told the Chamber of Secrets to "open up."

"It's ok," Harry told the gathered students. "Just slide down and hide there. Ginny's been in there. Nobody else knows about it so you'll be ok." Harry turned to Ginny to have her slide down first but found her still and pale. "Ginny—Ginny!"

Ginny broke out of her trance and looked at Harry as if she didn't know anyone else was around her. She shook her head. "I can't go back in there. I can't, Harry I can't—I, I still have dreams…"

Suddenly screams came from down the hall and they all heard footsteps nearing. Harry took Ginny by the shoulders and shook her. "You have to! They're coming and there's no where else to go! You'll be safe there, I promise! Please, I have to know that you'll be ok—" Harry found himself staring deeply into Ginny's blue eyes. She was staring back, and Harry realized that his hands were still on her shoulders.

And then Ginny stretched up on her tiptoes, kissed Harry on the cheek, turned and disappeared into the tunnel. The other students followed her, including Luna, Dennis and Dean among others that were in the group. Harry waved them all down and when the last one disappeared into the Chamber of Secrets he sealed the tunnel behind them, just as Nott and Rookwood ran by, noticed the light in the bathroom, and looked in to see Harry's wand pointed at them.

"Well, well," Nott sneered. He lowered his own wand and folded his arms as if all three of them were old friends. "If it isn't the Potter brat."

Rookwood advanced, his wand pointed at Harry's. "We know other students came this way. Where are they, Potter!"

Harry simply glared back. The entrance to the Chamber was shut safely behind him. He hoped Ron and Hermione were alright.

"Stupefy!"

Nott crumpled. Rookwood whirled around to the entrance of the bathroom and Harry immediately stunned him from behind. The Death Eaters were unconscious.

Draco Malfoy stood at the door. His blonde hair was disheveled, his eyes blazing, and his left arm appeared useless because of a bloody slash. Harry wondered if Draco's father had caused it. "If you ever speak of this," Draco hissed, lowering his wand, "I'll sever your balls."

Harry snorted. "Come on." He brushed past Draco and broke into a run for the staircases where the fighting continued.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry leaned over the railing and saw that the dementors were still gliding through the first floor. "Expecto Patronum!"

"Expecto Patronum!" Draco yelled from beside him.

Harry could've sworn a ferret came out of Malfoy's wand.

"We have to get to the seventh floor!" Harry said as he stepped onto the staircase. The steps had been vibrating but stilled when he touched them.

"What the hell is up there?"

"The way out!" Harry left Draco behind and started darting up the stairs. Harry ran as fast as he could, wanting to get away from the dementors more than towards safety. The stairs were covered with bodies of students and Death Eaters but Harry knew he had no time to check them. He heard Draco climbing behind him. Right before they reached Barnabas the Barmy the door to the Room of Requirement flew open and two people stumbled out.

"Hermione! Ron!" Harry spread his arms and Hermione fell into his hug.

"Oh Harry!" Hermione squeezed him. "We got everyone to the Ministry through the Floo network but couldn't leave without knowing—Malfoy?"

Ron moved between Harry and Draco and put his wand to the Slytherin's chest. Harry grabbed Ron's shoulder and just then a green spell grazed Harry's black hair. The four students whirled around to find Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy and Mulciber nearing them. Lucius aimed a spell at his own son but Draco ducked. Voldemort's followers were between them and the Room of Requirement and Harry shoved the other three towards Gryffindor Tower.

"Hurry up, hurry up!" The Fat Lady screeched, opening for them and instantly locking the door behind when they passed. They heard her yelling at the Death Eaters about how rude they were.

When Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco got to the 6th year boy's dormitory the Death Eaters were in the Gryffindor common room. Harry threw open a window and immediately ducked his head back inside as a spell flew into the air.

"Bloody hell!" said Ron when he looked past Harry and down at the Hogwarts grounds.

The lake was completely drained. Dead mermaids lay among a twitching giant squid. The Whomping Willow had been reduced to kindling, the main trunk burning with the green fire. The Forbidden Forest was on fire as well. Smoke billowed across the sky.

But the Order had arrived.

And so had the professors. All of them, including Dumbledore, were on broomsticks and sailing over the Forbidden Forest to land on the grounds and join the fight against the dementors and Death Eaters. Harry was reminded of Fawkes coming to him in his second year because of his loyalty to Dumbledore. He was extremely glad Dumbledore himself came this time.

Dumbledore landed smoothly, lifted his wand and Harry actually heard him yell "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A tingle went up Harry's spine as a phoenix twice the size of a dragon erupted from the headmaster's wand. Amazingly every dementor touched by the patronus shriveled up. Their ashes became a gruesome snow globe swirling around Hogwarts.

"Holy-!" Malfoy gasped when he looked down at the battle below, his right hand clenched around the wound on his left arm.

"Hush!" Hermione hissed. The three boys turned to her. They could hear the Death Eaters getting close to the room. "How are we going to get out of here?" Hermione gasped. Ron stepped forward and took her in his arms. Draco looked repulsed.

Harry looked back out the window. "I don't know…Can we get to the roof?" Hermione shook her head.

"Shit," Draco hissed. "We're dead."

Harry looked around the dorm room as if a secret tunnel would appear.

Suddenly a gust of wind blasted so hard through the open window that Harry was almost knocked down. Ron ran to the window and stuck his head out. "Do you hear that? Doesn't that sound like wings—"

"Dragons!" Harry yanked Ron back inside the window as a spurt of fire was burped across the tower.

A massive black Norwegian Ridgeback spiraled down the side of the tower and distinct Weasley hair could be spotted on the armored rider.

"Charlie!" Ron shouted. He jumped up and pumped his fist. "CHARLIE! Help us!"

Charlie Weasley pushed thick goggles off of his face and grinned at his little brother. "Easy, Norbert!" he shouted at the dragon. "Ron! Hermione, Harry, just crawl slowly up his neck and I'll get you out of here!" A red spell flashed past Charlie's hands and Norbert reared up with a roar. Charlie tugged on his reins and held the dragon steady by the tower window. "Bloody hell! Ron, come on! Hurry!"

"Hermione first!" Ron grabbed Hermione by the waist and pushed her towards the window. They had to squint through the wind caused by the dragon's wings and their hair and robes flapped back. Smoke from the forest made the night sky even darker while a warm fog from the spells below formed grotesque clouds among the dementor ashes.

"Ron, I'm terrified!" Hermione gasped. Someone screamed below them. Ron reached out and patted Norbert's head.

"It's ok, it's ok," Ron assured her, though his voice was as shaky as hers. "You just have to crawl a little bit, I'll be right behind you. If you start to slip Charlie will grab you." Ron grabbed her hand and helped her onto the windowsill. "I won't let you fall, Hermione, I promise."

Harry could see her visibly relax. Hermione stuck her wand in her pocket, patted Norbert's nose and then reached out for Charlie's hand. She crawled out, with Ron keeping his hand on her back as he followed. Charlie struggled to hold Norbert still and succeeded and after a few moments, Hermione was behind Charlie with Ron behind her. Harry and Draco moved to the window as Norbert flexed and snorted under the extra weight.

"Hey wait!" Charlie looked from Ron to Harry and then to Draco. "Norbert can only handle so much weight! I don't think he can handle five of us!"

Harry and Draco looked at each other. Hermione's eyes widened. Norbert snorted impatiently at them all.

Draco rolled his eyes, stuck his wand in his robes and sat down on the nearest bed. "Guess who has to stay behind…"

Harry took a steadying breath. "No, go on," he said, regretting his choice already. He brushed his black hair out of his face and remembered not to mention that Malfoy had probably saved his life. Ron started to protest and Harry raised his hand. "Just land and come back for me, I can hold out."

"Harry three Death Eaters are about to come through that door!" Hermione choked. "We're not leaving you here."

"Malfoy is going!" Harry pushed Draco towards the window. "And you're wasting time. If you want to help me then hurry!"

Draco cursed under his breath, and managed to quickly crawl across Norbert's neck. The dragon growled and struggled to hover. Hermione shrieked and wrapped her arms around Charlie's waist. Norbert's wings began to flap harder but Charlie tried to calm him. "Sorry, Harry!" he yelled over the dragon's whines. "I'll hurry!"

Harry made eye contact with Ron and Hermione before Charlie steered Norbert away. Hermione began shouting for him and Harry heard tears in every letter of his name. Ron stared at his best friend until they were out of sight of each other. Norbert sailed through the ashes and fog towards Hogsmeade where Harry saw other dragons assembled protectively over the town.

And then Harry heard wood cracking behind him and when he turned, three wands were at pointed at his chest.

"Potter!" Lucius Malfoy hissed. Mulciber grinned and Lestrange cackled so hard that she had to hold her stomach. The candlelight in the dorm room and the red fog outside cast grotesque shadows across the Death Eaters' faces. Harry raised his wand and backed up until he was against the windowsill.

"Where's my son?" Lucius spat. "I had a small hope that he had killed you, but now I hope he fell out the window." Harry said nothing. "Expelliarmus!" Harry blocked it. The red light bounced through the room, making it feel claustrophobic, especially for a duel.

"Oh I wish the Dark Lord was here," Lestrange jeered. "But we'll be sure to make this a clean kill. Maybe we can preserve your body and turn you into a statue and I can play with you everyday, Potter."

"Shall we all do the Killing Curse at the same time?" Mulciber asked as if he were ordering for them at the Leaky Cauldron. "On three?" Malfoy, Lestrange and Mulciber all aimed their wands and smiles at Harry's heart. Lucius' eyes blazed. "One…two…"

After one syllable Harry bent at the knees and jumped backwards. He fell out of the window and his shoes were just out of the tower when three streaks of green light shot out. His glasses flew off as he fell, but Harry kept his fist clenched around his wand. He was freefalling. No Firebolt in sight, no Dumbledore keeping an eye on him to slow his momentum, no dragon below him. All he heard were screams…Harry Potter closed his eyes and waited to die.

Something grabbed him around the waist. He fell a few more yards, his momentum slowing as he went, and when he stilled and hovered, Harry opened his eyes and found himself in Sirius Black's arms, hovering above the grounds on a broom.

"You maniac," Sirius gasped as they landed. "You really are your father's son, I swear. Merlin, Harry, you're your father's son. If I hadn't been the death of him, he would've been the death of me. Merlin, Harry!"