CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: THE ENDLESS NIGHT
Harry hardly slept that night. He finally gave up trying for fear his tossing and turning would wake Dean, Seamus and Neville. They'd waited up for them last night, wanting to express their sorrow over the losses the Weasleys suffered. But Ron had not returned to Gryffindor Tower.
McGonagall had gone one step further and turned half the hospital wing into accommodations for the Weasley family. None of them wanted to return to Grimmauld Place and the Burrow was out of the question. So with a few flicks, she and Flitwick created a comfortable and private space where they could all be together.
Harry and Hermione opted to return to their dormitories, but promised to have breakfast with the Weasleys.
Kingsley, Lupin and Moody had stayed overnight and it didn't appear that they had plans on leaving anytime soon.
Harry knew breakfast was still hours away, but he couldn't lie in bed any longer. He crept downstairs to the darkened common room and plopped into his favorite chair. It only took him a second to realize he wasn't alone.
"Hi, Hermione," he said.
"Stop doing that," she replied. "It's rather spooky, you know."
She waved her wand and rekindled the fire that had long since burned out.
"I couldn't sleep," she added.
"Welcome to my world."
"I keep waiting for someone to pinch me and tell me that yesterday was all a horrible nightmare," she said. "I want to hear Mrs. Weasley yelling at the twins and I want to see Percy walking around ignoring everyone else."
"I know," he said.
"I hate feeling like this, feeling so helpless. It's just like when you lost Sirius," she said, her cheeks coloring even in the firelight.
"It's okay," he said. "The words don't really do very much. But being there for Ron and the others like you have been is what will get them through this. It's just going to take a lot of time."
"You really shouldn't be an expert on grief at the age of seventeen, you know. Then again, you shouldn't be stalked by a mass murdering madman, either, so what do I know," she said in exasperation.
Harry stared at her and then actually managed a small laugh.
They talked and nodded off, waking up on and off to talk some more about everything under the sun, as long as it didn't involve death, murder or destruction.
A knock at the window finally woke Harry from his deepest slumber of the morning. It was Hedwig, with a note in her beak. Harry let her in and she glided happily around the room before landing on his shoulder.
"What you got there, girl?" he asked, summoning an owl treat for her and trading it for the note she still held.
Harry opened the note and saw Hagrid's handwriting.
I heard about what happened to Molly and Percy. I feel awful for Ron and his family. Things are getting really bad. Fang and I just wanted to know how you and Hermione were holding up.
Hagrid"What is it, Harry?" asked Hermione, pulling herself upright on the sofa.
"It's Hagrid, checking in on us," he said. "I'll go down and see him later today."
"Well, we'd better get changed," she said. "Are you going to talk to Lupin and Moody after breakfast?"
"Yeah, I am," said Harry. "They need to know that at least one part of this complete."
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It was late afternoon before Lupin and Moody were able to meet with him. This time they were meeting in Tonks's quarters, and Moody sealed the room after Harry's arrival.
"You said it was important and that Moody and I both needed to be here," said Lupin. "Has something else happened?"
"Well, yes," said Harry, finding it oddly difficult to say what he needed to, because afterwards, there'd be no turning back. "It's finished."
"What's finished, Potter?" asked Moody, but Lupin had that glint of understanding in his eyes.
"What Dumbledore and I started last year," clarified Harry. "It's finished."
"Are you certain?" asked Lupin.
"Yes," said Harry. "Although it wouldn't have happened without a lot of help from Ron and Hermione. And Bill stepped in big time last night. There is one more thing, but it can't happen until—until Voldemort shows up."
"What do you mean shows up?" asked Lupin.
"I mean it's time to face him and his henchmen," said Harry, sounding far more confident than he actually felt. "I can't remain at Hogwarts forever."
"But are you ready?" asked Moody.
"I don't think I ever can be, really. Could I learn more things in a month or three months?" asked Harry. "Absolutely. But Voldemort isn't going to wait for me to sit N.E.W.T.s or for me to build up more nerve. He proved that yesterday. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen soon and we might as well start planning for it."
"He's right, Remus," said Moody. "I know you don't like to hear it, and neither to do I; but Potter is right."
"I know," said Lupin, and he looked pained as he said it.
"We'll have to call in the others this evening," said Moody.
"Let's meet back at nine o'clock," said Lupin, glancing at his worn watch.
"You're with us tonight, Potter," said Moody.
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"What's the matter, Harry?" asked Hagrid, "I see yeh in front of me, but yer mind sure is someplace else."
Harry had come down to see him right after dinner and Hermione had gone off to the hospital wing.
"Sorry, Hagrid," he said. "I'm just thinking about the Weasleys."
It wasn't a complete lie. The Weasleys were definitely on his mind, along with everything else.
"Umh, it's sad, really sad," said Hagrid. "I went to see 'em fer a spell this afternoon. It's hard, but they got each other, Harry. And they got yeh and Hermione, too. They'll be okay. Yeh just wait and see."
"I hope you're right," said Harry, as he drank from the oversized cup of tea Hagrid poured for him.
Harry looked at his watch and saw that he had an hour before the biggest meeting of his life.
"I guess yeh should be gettin' back," said Hagrid. "Come on, I'll walk with yeh. McGonagall wants to see me at nine, anyway."
Hagrid didn't know Harry would be the reason for tonight's meeting.
They'd just stood up from the table when the floor felt like it moved. Harry had definitely felt something, but Hagrid hadn't seemed to really notice. Then it happened again, and there was no ignoring it. Plates and cups rattled from their hooks and crashed to the floor. A low growl was coming from Fang, who stood stock still in the corner, his ears flat. The next jolt nearly knocked Harry against the table.
Hagrid raced out the door, yelling for Harry to stay back, but there was no chance of that. Harry ran behind him and stood outside, looking towards the main gates and waiting for the second nightmare in two days to vanish before him.
"GIANTS!" yelled Hagrid. "IT'S GIANTS!"
There were half a dozen of them and Harry had never seen anything so huge. The Order who were stationed on the grounds came out of hidden nooks and began running towards the gates. Harry raised his wand and a shower of vivid blue sparks lit the sky.
Every inch of Hogwarts was protected with some of the most powerful spells, incantations and jinxes imaginable. But giants were a different breed of magic all their own. Harry didn't know if, or how long the gates would hold against the relentless damage those powerful beings could inflict.
Hagrid turned back to the cabin and grabbed his crossbow, taking off in an earth-rattling run of his own to join the Order who were headed for the gates.
Harry went to retrieve his own bow and quiver from just inside the cabin and took off in the same direction. When he reached the gates, his breath hitched.
The gates were still holding, but you could see the wrought iron beginning to buckle in spots where the giants were hammering away at them with clubs. But the Order was having trouble casting spells beyond Moody's magical barrier to try and push back the giants. Only Hagrid's arrows seemed to have enough arc to consistently clear the barrier; but he couldn't cause very much damage to them on his own.
Harry turned into the faint glow cast by the now open double entry doors of the castle. Others were running towards them, but they were a still a good distance away.
Harry loaded his own bow, aimed and just as he released it, thought "Incendio Maxima," and saw the length of the arrow burst with scorching flame as it soared over the barrier and embedded itself in the neck of one of the giants.
The giant roared with pain as it tried to remove the burning arrow. It was slightly injured, but now also increasingly angry.
Kipling took his cue from Harry and ran to Hagrid's side, pulling his wand and setting every one of Hagrid's released arrows ablaze.
DeSousa and Kingsley were the first of the others to reach the gates, Jillian and Tonks on their heels.
"DAMN!" said DeSousa and that about summed it up.
More rumbling could be heard and Harry feared more giants were on the way. But he was wrong. The rumbling was coming from their side of the gates. He'd heard that sound two years ago in the forest. It was unmistakable. The centaurs were thundering across the grounds, inches of raised dust from the ground ushering their approach.
Lupin and Moody had arrived and were standing on either side of Harry as the centaurs drew closer. There had to be nearly a hundred of them and they looked feral. Magorian was dead center in the first row, facing Harry. Bane and Ronan flanked him.
"I believe we could be of aid, Harry Potter," said Magorian, his head held high and his eyes unwavering.
Harry's heart soared.
"You certainly know how to make an entrance, Magorian," said Harry and moved forward to offer his hand to the centaur.
Bane looked distrusting as ever, but said nothing as Magorian reached out and shook Harry's hand.
"Tell me what you'd like us to do," said Magorian.
"Line your centaurs along the width of the gates and walls," said Harry. "The others will stand beside each of you and ignite your arrows as soon as you release them. Just like that," Harry said, pointing to Hagrid and Kipling who were still trying to inflict some damage.
Magorian nodded.
"We don't want to lower the protective barriers on the gates, so you'll need a lot of arc to clear them," said Harry.
"That is a simple task for us," said Magorian and Harry was glad to hear him say it.
"As you can see, there are six of them, so if you can set up teams to target each one, we can probably overpower them."
"You heard the young wizard," called Magorian to his centaurs. "Move out."
And so they did. If Harry hadn't been so busy firing his own blazing arrows above the barrier line, he might have taken a moment to appreciate they'd brought about something that would have made the destroyed Fountain of Magical Brethren weep tears of joy.
Two of the giants finally fell in succession, their death cries as loud and agonizing as their battle cries had been. And now with more centaurs free to attack the remaining four, the more injured of the giants began to retreat. But the distance seemed not to matter for Magorian and his centaurs. Their arrows were relentless and found their marks time and time again; and the centaurs' strength seeming to increase as the fight wore on.
Just as a third giant succumbed, another one lumbered into view and Harry thought they were going to be overrun by them. But Hagrid's shout made him look again and he saw that it was Grawp, who wasted no time uprooting a tree and swinging it until it cracked against the base of the skull of one of the larger giants. The ground shook so hard when it fell that several of the centaurs and Order lost their footing and found themselves thrown to the ground. Grawp began trading blows with the last two giants. The centaurs and Order kept up their deadly volley of flaming arrows. And finally, Harry could just make out a huge foot in the distance as the last once collapsed in retreat. The ground was blessedly still.
The centaurs kept their bows loaded, but lowered them at their sides. The Order began looking around.
"What happened to the Ministry guards on the other side of the gates?" asked Kipling.
"I don't like to think about it," answered DeSousa. "Let's hope they were able to Disapparate to Hogsmeade. They wouldn't have stood a chance by themselves against those giants."
"For a moment there, I didn't think we did either," said Kipling. "The gates were taking a serious beating."
"Well, the plan worked," said Kingsley. "Good work."
"Yeah, it was," said Kipling. "But I can't take credit for it. You can thank Potter for coming up with that one on his own. I was just following his lead when you arrived."
"Well, it wouldn't have done any good until Magorian and the others showed up," said Harry.
"Thank you," said Lupin to Magorian. "We will not forget this."
"And why didn't backup come from Hogsmeade?" asked DeSousa. "There's no way they couldn't see or hear what just happened."
"Something's wrong," said Lupin.
And before anyone else had a chance to even consider what might be coming next, loud and terrified screams tore through the night.
It was a woman and she sounded like she was screaming for her very soul. She was running towards them on the road that led to and from Hogsmeade. Actually, she was staggering towards them, and she looked to be in pretty bad shape. The woman collapsed a few yards shy of the gates, but she lifted her face and you could hear the collective gasp from those on the other side.
It was Narcissa Malfoy, or what used to be her.
"Please help me," she begged. "They've taking over Hogsmeade. I slipped away during a fight. I cannot go back. Please do not let them find me. I would rather die."
Harry didn't think there was one among them who didn't believe that her last statement was indeed true.
Moody and Lupin looked at each other for a long moment.
"What's happening out here?" came McGonagall's voice.
She'd come down from the castle, but she wasn't alone. Bill, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna were with her. There was a line of students illuminated under the open entrance to the castle. They were too far away to make out individually, but Harry could see their stances, and knew it was the rest of the D.A.
"We told you it would be better if you stayed inside, Minerva," said Moody.
"Alastor, this is my school and I will go wherever I am needed," she retorted. "This lot," she said with a wave at Bill and the D.A. standing with him, "has taken care of things inside, so I felt it prudent to find out what was going on out here. Now, I ask again, what is happening?"
Harry and the others did not answer her. They had turned to Bill and the D.A.
"Your contacts came through," said Bill, and the Order who'd been outside looked extremely relieved.
"And Charlie, Fred and George are waiting with the others," said Hermione to Harry, meaning they were in the tunnel. "Professors Flitwick, Slughorn and the other teachers are standing guard over the ones we couldn't reach. Dobby and the other house-elves Apparated a lot more to safety."
"We didn't know what was happening out here," added Ron. "It sounded like the castle was going to be swallowed whole."
"Are those giants?" asked Luna calmly, as she glanced past the gates and saw huge body parts across the road.
McGonagall wiped at her glasses, and saw exactly what Luna had seen. But before she could say a word, a second plea for mercy reached all their ears.
"Help me," cried Narcissa, more loudly this time.
McGonagall saw Narcissa Malfoy prostrate in the road and her thin mouth went nearly colorless.
"She's the wife of a Death Eater," said Moody, making his position on the matter clear.
"I know who she is," said McGonagall. "Let her in."
Moody still hadn't budged.
"I understand your concern, Alastor," she said. "But she is one woman. She cannot do anything to us. What would Albus have you do?"
Moody's lips turned up in a snarl, but he waved his wand and began mumbling a series of incantations. When he was finished, he nodded at one of the Order who'd been stationed on the grounds.
"Go retrieve her, Matthews," he said. "And make it quick."
Matthews squeezed through the small opening and walked into the road, looking carefully around as he did so. He'd no sooner bent down to pick up Narcissa when he was surrounded by swirling masses of black that turned out to be an army of Death Eaters. He was down before anyone could blink and the gates to the school swung wide.
The Order and centaurs ran up and out to meet the onslaught. They had to keep the Death Eaters from crossing the gates, while Moody worked to restore the barriers he'd lifted. Thankfully, he'd not lifted the Anti-Apparition spell.
Harry found himself side by side with Bill as they joined the fray. As soon as they'd beaten back the first group of Death Eaters, more appeared to take their place. They were moving into the next assault when arrows shot through the air. Harry saw something attached to the first one and he yelled for the Order to retreat back.
They did and Harry watched as the first arrow landed in front of three Death Eaters. It only took a second for the Confundus Charm to render them useless. Someone had summoned the Dungbombs; and the centaurs were launching them. The Order made quick work of overpowering their attackers.
The smoke cleared and the Death Eaters appeared to have lost this battle. A few of the Order and the centaurs were injured, but they didn't appear to have lost anyone else except Matthews. The Order began moving back towards the gates, watching for any signs of movement. When only Lupin, DeSousa and Harry were left to cross back through the gates, it was Lupin who stooped to lift Narcissa Malfoy from the ground.
"Tsk, tsk," came a voice Harry hated. "You really have sunk as low as possible, my dear. I tried so hard to get you to see reason."
It was Lucius Malfoy. He had arrived silently and he was not alone. He was with Dolohov, whom they'd fought at the Ministry, and three other Death Eaters they'd never seen. But standing at his father's other side was Draco.
No one moved. Lucius had Madam Rosmerta pinned before him. He was using her as a shield. Narcissa had not been lying. They had taken over Hogsmeade.
"If you come along quietly, Potter, we may just decide to let your friends live through tonight," crooned Lucius.
Jillian provided their first needed distraction. She and Tonks were among the last to cross the gate and she was just behind Harry, Lupin and DeSousa.
An unknown Death Eater yelled as he was struck with an unseen spell and he dropped to the ground, his wand falling from his outstretched hand.
Harry, Lupin and DeSousa moved quickly, exchanging wand fire with the others. One more fell before them just as Jillian and Kingsley raced back out the gates to join them. But a cry from Madam Rosmerta forced them to yield, yet again.
Lucius had broken the arm pinned behind her back without a moment's hesitation.
"You are all so pathetically weak," said Lucius loudly. "You can't even stand to hear a woman cry. It's a good thing you weren't at the Weasley boy's flat, then. His mother's cries were gut wrenching. But not to worry, we put her out of her misery rather quickly. Sadly, things didn't go as quickly for her son."
Harry really wanted to summon one more Dungbomb, but they were too close to Lucius and his men.
"We always wondered how that Ministry poster boy ended up in Gryffindor," said Dolohov gleefully of Percy. "He seemed so different from the others. But in the end, he proved as foolishly noble and stubborn as the rest of you. He even killed one of our newer recruits. I guess the Sorting Hat had it right, after all."
"Draco," said Lucius, "retrieve Max's wand. You need a replacement."
Draco moved from his father's side and walked to the fallen Death Eater. He picked up the wand and looked at his mother as he stood. His face showed absolutely nothing. Harry though he looked like a zombie.
A gust of wind made them all look up just in time to see Buckbeak diving towards them. The hippogriff opened its massive beak and then blood sprayed everywhere. He'd picked up the last unknown Death Eater by the neck and torn his head clean off.
The next thing anyone knew a cry of "Avada Kedavra" rang out. It had been Draco, and the Order was desperate to see which of them had been hit.
But it wasn't one of them. It was Lucius and his eyes were locked in a perpetual state of shock as he'd looked at his son and fallen flat to the ground.
Draco had just killed his own father, his spell passing mere inches above Madam Rosmerta's head, and Harry watched as a flicker of light returned to his flat eyes.
"Get the women and get in the gates," called Lupin, and Draco obeyed immediately, making a quick grab for the injured Rosmerta while the others provided cover. He dropped the Death Eater's wand as he knelt to help Narcissa to her feet and the three stumbled behind the iron gates.
"Harry," said Lupin as they continued firing at Dolohov, "get in."
If they did not stop him, Dolohov would Disapparate back to Voldemort's side. Harry really shouldn't have cared, but he kept hearing their taunts about Percy and Mrs. Weasley playing in his head. They'd not even buried them yet.
"Harry," called Hagrid above the noise, "move now."
Harry swallowed the rage bubbling beneath him and he too, rushed through the slowly re-closing gates, Lupin and DeSousa backing in last.
A spell shot well over their heads and for a second, Harry couldn't image what Dolohov had been aiming at. A deep grunt came from behind him and he knew. Dolohov had fired at Hagrid. Well, that was stupid, because Hagrid was part giant and it would take more than one stupid spell to hurt him.
Harry turned expecting to see Hagrid looking no worse for wear, but what was left of Harry's bruised and battered heart stopped as he watched Hagrid fall to the ground. He heard Fang howl and McGonagall and Hermione scream.
The next thing he knew, an arrow rang out and passed through the small opening in the gates. It buried itself deep in Dolohov's chest. Firenze was standing just behind the spot from which Hagrid had just fallen.
If the Death Eater ever felt the pain of it, they'd never know. A second spell whizzed by Harry's head and Dolohov dropped dead before the center of the gates just as they finally sealed shut once more. Harry could hear Moody murmuring the rest of the incantations. He whipped around and found Bill standing behind him, his wand raised in an arm that was as straight and steady as a lead pipe. His eyes were fierce and Harry knew without a doubt that he, Ron and Ginny had heard Malfoy and Dolohov's taunts about their mother and brother's last minutes alive.
Bill nodded curtly at Harry, lowered his wand, and the two of them rushed to Hagrid's side, Harry kneeling down.
"It looks pretty bad, Harry," said Hermione, her tears dropping on Hagrid's forehead as she cradled his head in her lap.
Harry held one of Hagrid's massive hands in both his own, but Hagrid did not stir.
"Let's get him to Poppy," said McGonagall and four of the Order pulled their wands and lifted Hagrid gently in the air and up the grounds to the castle. "I'll keep you updated, Potter."
Harry wanted to go with him, but he knew he couldn't do so just yet. Hermione, Ron and Ginny went for him.
"A great many have rallied behind you this evening, Harry Potter," said Firenze.
He looked around and realized there were more new faces than he'd first thought. Where had they all come from? Many of them were watching him.
Jillian came to his side and said, "Kingsley and Bill arranged for additional support to arrive by Portkey in McGonagall's office. It seems Hogsmeade was hit pretty hard. We've gotten word to the Ministry and they are coming to investigate. I fear there were a number of losses. Your minister will be arriving this evening."
Harry was beginning to feel numb.
Lupin, Kingsley and Magorian joined them.
"We need to realign security on the grounds," said Lupin. "Magorian has offered his continued support."
"We know every inch of this land. Do not worry. There will be no unanswered surprises this night," promised Magorian. "Firenze, come with me."
Harry watched as the two centaurs trotted off together, taking a second to be glad that at least one family seemed to be mending.
"Kingsley, can you and DeSousa start working out a schedule for the others?" asked Lupin.
"Of course," he said.
"What do you want me to do?" asked Harry.
"We want you to go inside, get cleaned up and get some rest," said Jillian. "You are covered in blood and goodness knows what else."
"No way," said Harry, shaking his head.
"Harry," said Lupin, "at least go and get cleaned up. You can come back down once we've got everything situated out here. We do still need to meet. In the meantime, I know you want to check on Hagrid and your friends will no doubt be upstairs waiting for you."
Too weary to argue, Harry did as they suggested.
His first stop had been the hospital wing, but he couldn't get near Hagrid. Madame Pomfrey was attending to him. McGonagall had already sent Hermione, Ron and Ginny back upstairs to Gryffindor Tower and told Harry he should do the same.
From there, he'd gone straight to the Prefect's bathroom, locking the door behind him. He stood beneath a powerful spray, letting the scorching hot water wash away all the dirt and blood. The water pressure massaged his aching body, but nothing could wash away his memories and thoughts.
Harry turned off the water and wrapped one of the big, soft towels around his waist. He used another one to run through his wet hair. He couldn't put those same clothes on again. They weren't fit for anything but an incinerator; and Harry waved them away. He summoned clothes and shoes from his dormitory, not paying the least bit of attention to what he was putting on.
He walked into the common room and found it packed with students. Harry didn't know why he was so surprised. There was no way anyone would sleep tonight. All conversation stopped as he entered.
"Upstairs, everyone," called Ron. "Now."
Harry said a heart felt thank you to each Gryffindor member of the D.A. as they passed him on their way to the staircases. Soon, only he, Ron, Hermione and Ginny remained.
They waited until they heard doors closing, and Ron and Hermione went upstairs and sealed each door.
"What happened out there?" asked Hermione. "I mean at the beginning. We obviously saw the rest."
Harry told them about running from Hagrid's cabin and seeing the giants in the distance as they started attacking the gates. He told them about the idea for the flaming arrows and about the centaurs arriving to help.
"That would explain some of what we saw from the windows. We couldn't see the gates from where we were, but we kept seeing what looked like shooting stars or flaming meteors. We didn't know what they were," said Ron.
"So, what happened in here?" asked Harry and it was Ginny who started filling him in.
"Bill had gone with Kingsley and Lupin to wait for reinforcements to show up. It wasn't long after that we heard this really loud noise, almost like rolling thunder. But it came again, and you could feel some of the windows rattle."
"One of the Order must have sent some sort of signal, because a few moments later, Kingsley and DeSousa were out the front door. Lupin ran out next, but yelled for Bill to handle the Portkey transports," added Hermione. "People kept running out, but no one was running back in."
"At first, we didn't think the castle was close to being overrun or anything, but we didn't know how long we should wait," said Ron. "Finally, we decided to follow part of the evacuation plan. The D.A. started gathering up the younger students and we had Fred and George take them into the tunnels."
"Fred said he was about to open the door on the other end, when something told him not to," added Ginny, "even though he knew it meant fitting fewer students in the tunnel."
"McGonagall saw us when we were headed back down to find Bill and we told her what we'd done," explained Hermione. "She summoned Dobby and asked him to gather the other house-elves and get to the third floor corridor."
"I'd forgotten house-elves could Apparate nearly anywhere," commented Harry.
"We all had," said Hermione, "except McGonagall. She directed them to start getting the youngest students back to their families. Even Kreacher helped. Of course, he'd only take the Slytherins, but still…"
Too much had happened for Harry to do anything but raise a brow at the news of Kreacher's selective assistance.
"Well, I'm glad Fred followed his gut," he said. "I know Moody put a number of protective spells on Honeydukes, but I hear the Death Eaters nearly took over all of Hogsmeade tonight. What did you do with the other students?"
"We rounded up as many as we could find and hid them in the Room of Requirement," answered Ron.
"Smart idea," said Harry.
"Well, if it turned out we absolutely needed to evacuate, at least a good number of them were in one spot," replied Ron. "Anyway, Bill caught up to us again and we all followed him and McGonagall outdoors. You know everything else."
"And you remembered the Dungbombs?" asked Harry to Hermione.
"Yes," she said. "Ronan heard me telling Tonks about them and he said he and the other centaurs could help.
"Any word on Hagrid?" asked Harry. "I stopped by the hospital wing first, but McGonagall practically kicked me out. Have you heard anything else?"
"No change," said Hermione sadly. "I went down again and McGonagall said I'd just missed you. She told me it seemed that Dolohov's curse hit Hagrid in the face. It's the most vulnerable part of him, just like it would be for any of us – lots of softer tissue and bone structure… Are you going back down again?"
"Yeah, I am," he said. "The others can find me there when they're ready."
"Do you want us to come with you?" asked Ron.
"No, you three try and get some sleep," he said. "I don't know how long I'll be, but I'll wake you if anything changes."
The portrait hole had barely sealed behind him when McGonagall's silvery white cat appeared and Harry had to head to her office.
This was a much smaller meeting than he was expecting, but then realized why. Moody, Lupin, Aberforth and McGonagall were standing around a seated Narcissa and Draco Malfoy.
"We need to figure out what to do with these two," said Moody, by way of greeting. "I'm leaning towards prison myself, but I'm having trouble convincing more than one of them to vote my way. Care to wager in, Potter?"
"I thought we might be able to use Aberforth's services," said Lupin calmly. "However, he is a little less than enthusiastic to assist."
"It's what Albus would have wanted," said McGonagall, gesturing at the portrait.
It was empty. Harry found that strangest of all. Where else would Dumbledore be when all of the Order was here at Hogwarts?
"Well, I'm not as forgiving as my brother was," said Aberforth. "And Minerva, you might want to try another line of argument, seeing as it's what got them all ambushed outside not more than an hour ago. You should have never opened the bloody gates."
McGonagall colored, but she bit back her retort.
"We'd like your thoughts, Harry," said Lupin.
Harry stared at them. Why in the world would they want his input on the Malfoys? If it weren't so unbelievable, it might have been funny. Harry had despised Draco and his parents for as long as he could remember, and he would have given away all his fortune to have been asked this question nearly a year ago.
But things had changed since that day atop the Astronomy Tower. True, Draco was responsible for getting the Death Eaters inside the castle; but he had been unwilling and unable to kill Professor Dumbledore.
Harry also now had the answer to one of the questions that had plagued him since Christmas Eve. He had no doubt Draco had indeed gambled that Blaise would somehow leak that message to him. It really had been a warning.
And as Harry looked at Draco now, he felt no hatred, only pity. Draco had spent his whole life believing in and worshipping a way of life that had nearly destroyed him. And maybe it had. After all, he'd had to choose between his mother and father; and done something Harry couldn't imagine ever having to do.
Draco met Harry's gaze and did not look away. His eyes were no longer dead looking. But the malice that had always peered from behind them was gone. He knew his fate rested in Harry's hands and he seemed resigned to whatever that might be.
"Do it," said Harry simply to Aberforth.
Aberforth gave a grunt and ushered the Malfoys from their seats. "Come with me, now," he said.
As Draco was about to leave, he looked back over his shoulder at Harry and their eyes locked. Harry had one more thing to say.
"Draco," he said slowly. "You'd better make sure I never regret this."
The door closed behind them and Harry was alone with the others.
McGonagall finally lost it when Harry told her he was planning to lure Voldemort out in the open.
"Professor," he said, "this fight has been coming for seventeen years. It won't wait any longer. And I refuse to wait around for him to try and ambush us again, or see anyone else I care about killed in an attempt to get at me. It's way too dangerous; surely you see that. If I stay here they will come again, and I'm willing to bet he will be with them the next time. You've got hundreds of other students who need your protection. You cannot shield me any longer. I did all that Dumbledore asked me to. It's time."
He was right and she hated it.
"Do you know where you want to draw this battle line, Potter?" asked Moody.
"Yeah, I do," he said, and they were shocked when he told them.
"I figure I can use all the help I can get," he said, and they didn't ask what he meant by that.
"When would you like to start?" asked Lupin.
Harry looked at his watch and saw that it was only a little after eleven. He'd have sworn it was much later.
"How's four-thirty?" he asked. "Does that give you enough time to get everyone ready?"
"Don't worry," said Moody. "We'll be ready. Is there anything else?"
"Yeah, something very important," he said. "If you see Nagini, take her out."
"His snake?" asked Lupin, his expression confused.
"Yes," said Harry with complete seriousness. "Nothing else will matter until that snake is destroyed. If it's a choice between getting to me or destroying her, you need to kill her."
Harry knew they wanted to ask why, but he also knew they wouldn't do so.
"Only then can Voldemort be touched," he said, giving them a hint of the answers they wanted. "If I'm down and someone else can get to him, it still has to be after Nagini is destroyed."
They all looked ill at Harry's words, but made no comments.
"Got it," said Moody. "We'll spread the word to the Order."
"Okay," he said. "What's next?"
"Nothing," said Lupin. "You go back to Gryffindor Tower and get some sleep. And do not argue with me. You are going to need your strength. We all are. Someone will wake you when it is time."
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Harry had stopped off at the hospital wing to check in on Hagrid. Madam Pomfrey told him he had not awakened; and that his injuries were very serious. They'd have to see how he did through the night. She let Harry spend a few minutes beside him, then ushered him out of the wing. She promised to send word if anything changed.
And now, Harry was lying fully clothed on the sofa in the common room. Ron and Hermione were each asleep in two of the oversized, squishy chairs. Harry made himself close his eyes and breathe in slowly, but he kept floating back to consciousness. It was hard to sleep when you sensed you were about to step off the edge of an abyss. He peered at his watch in the darkened room and squinted until he could make out the small hands. It was nearly one o'clock.
Then he heard soft footsteps on the staircase and knew they belonged to Ginny. Harry shifted against the back of the sofa, creating a small space for her to claim beside him. She fit easily against him, her face resting on the left side of his chest. Her hand found his and not a single word passed between them. Ginny did finally give in to the need to sleep, but not Harry. When he finally closed his eyes, it was only so he could let his mind's eye show him the dreams in his heart. Time seemed to rush by too quickly.
At four o'clock, Harry's opened his eyes when he sensed somebody else in the room. He found Bill Weasley standing over him. To Harry's relief, Bill did not seem particularly bothered by the site of his sister asleep next to Harry. He pointed at Ron and Hermione, and went to silently nudge each of them.
They woke up and saw Harry trying to extricate himself from Ginny without waking her.
Bill pulled his wand and Ginny's sleeping form rose gently in the air. Harry slid up and over the back of the sofa, as Bill placed her back down again. Harry bent over and kissed her tenderly on the forehead.
They'd all slept in their clothes, not sure if or when something else might happen.
They were following Bill back out the portrait hole in a matter of minutes, having summoned their traveling cloaks, and of course, Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
"Lupin sent me to wake you, he said. "All set?"
"Yes," said Harry.
"Where are we going?" asked Hermione.
Harry looked at her and Ron and actually considered Stunning them if it meant it would keep them safe.
"Don't even think about it," said Ron, looking straight at Harry. "We told you we were going with you and we meant it. So, where exactly is that?"
Harry remembered Sirius's words to him about the strength of their friendship and knew he couldn't do this without them.
He smiled softly and said, "Bill can fill you in. I want to see Hagrid again before we leave. I'll meet you in the Great Hall."
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Harry had been sitting quietly by Hagrid's bedside, recalling some of the moments he'd spent with this gentle giant of a man. He'd not been there more than five minutes when Hagrid finally moaned softly and tried opening his beady, black and kind eyes.
"Hagrid," said Harry. "Can you hear me?"
"Hagrid?" tried Harry again.
"Yeh alright then, Harry?" asked Hagrid in a deep whisper.
"Would you stop worrying about me for once?" cheeked Harry. "You're the one in the hospital."
"It's been me job to worry about yeh," he said. "Has been since I pulled yeh from that ruined house, yeh know."
"I'm a big boy, now," said Harry.
"I know," said Hagrid. "Looks like yeh got trained up real good, too. I saw yeh out there. Yer dad and Sirius couldn't have done any better."
Hagrid coughed several times and blood poured from the corners of his mouth. Harry looked around and Madam Pomfrey came running over. She took a few moments examining Hagrid and then cleaned his mouth and bathed his face with a cool cloth.
She caught Harry's gaze and shook her head discreetly before leaving him alone with Hagrid. Harry closed his eyes and tried to still the thing inside him that was screaming its head off.
He touched Hagrid's shoulder, not knowing how he managed to control the shaking in his hand.
Hagrid opened his eyes again and looked directly at Harry.
"I want yeh, Ron and Hermione to keep lookin' after each other," he said, with increasing difficulty.
Harry could not form a single word. He trailed his hand down Hagrid's massive arm and placed it in his open palm. Hagrid squeezed Harry's hand gently and Harry perched on the edge of the hospital bed and waited.
Hagrid's grip lessened and the light slowly left his eyes as he slipped quietly away, a small smile on his lips. Harry got slowly from the bed, shut Hagrid's eyes and pulled the sheet up and over his head. Madam Pomfrey walked beside him and placed her hand against her own heart, tears spilling down her face. Harry had lost the first friend he'd ever had; but he didn't have another tear left to shed. His eyes burned and his heart thudded against his ribcage as he walked quietly from the hospital wing.
He headed straight downstairs to the Great Hall, nearly running into McGonagall as he did so.
"I was just coming to find you. The others are ready for you – what's the matter?" she asked, looking at Harry's expression.
"Hagrid's gone," he said, and watched as his words sunk in and her own face turned into a mask of grief.
He did not wait for any words or gestures of comfort. He walked around her and headed into the Great Hall.
There was lots of talk among the house tables now occupied by grown witches and wizards. Scrimgeour was among them, and so were the D.A. and a number of other seventh-year students. Ginny was there. She must have awakened as soon as they left and alerted the others. Neville and Luna were on either side of her, George and Fred sitting across from then. Mr. Weasley was sitting next to Bill and Charlie. Harry had thought he'd been asleep at the other end of the hospital wing. All conversation seemed to come to a halt as Harry made his way to the top of the room. People were watching him, including those who knew him best.
If he'd walked past a mirror, he might have been startled by his own reflection. He was dressed from head to toe in black: shoes, jeans, and a slightly billowing shirt that he'd gotten from Tonks at Christmas. His shoulders, normally hidden beneath his robes, had obviously broadened from his training with DeSousa. His hair had grown out some and blew back slightly from his face as he strode purposely through the hall. But it was Harry's face and eyes that now stood out in striking contract against so much darkness. His jaw line was hardened and shadowed, and there wasn't a single trace of the boy most of them had watched over these seven years. Harry's bright green eyes seemed to have darkened several shades and one eyebrow was angrily arched higher than the other. Only his round glasses softened the look upon his face. If he'd had an eye patch instead of glasses, he'd have looked like a very dangerous pirate.
McGonagall came back in and shut the doors. She stood at the back of the room, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. The others figured out what was wrong and turned towards Harry; but he did not want to have this conversation. Just like Ginny, he found his current irate state far more useful to the business at hand.
"I'm ready," he said flatly to Lupin and Moody as he went to stand beside Ron and Hermione, both of whom stood shocked as they realized Hagrid was gone, too.
"For those of you who have been asleep the last decade or so," said Moody, "we've been joined by Mr. Potter."
Harry looked out at the table of faces and nodded. He'd certainly not planned on saying anything to those assembled. He'd always hated being the center of attention and although he wasn't necessarily shy, he certainly never went looking for opportunities to address the masses. But as he really looked at the faces in the room, the right words found their way to him and he stepped slightly forward and cleared his throat.
"I was too young to remember when the first war nearly destroyed everything, but I have felt its effects every single day of my life. But that story is not mine, alone. There are so many of you whose families and lives have been torn apart by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. But I am still here. And you are still here. It's never been about The-Boy-Who-Lived. It's been about a way of life that has survived."
Ginny was watching him, a quiet smile on her lips and in her eyes. Hermione squeezed his hand and Ron caught his eye.
"I really don't know what will happen today. I only hope that when it's over, a better future is left for those of us who are fortunate enough to still be a part of it."
The room rang with applause. Harry was not expecting it and was startled when a strong hand grabbed his arm, and he looked up into Lupin's face.
"Well said, Harry."
"You have your orders," called DeSousa over the noise of those assembled, "Be ready to move when signaled."
"Come along, you three," said Jillian. "You're with me, Kingsley, Tonks and Andre."
And they walked from the room together to stage the biggest battle of their lives.