Welcome back everyone! I apologize once again for the late delay but…life.

Decided to release this chapter to go along with the 'Last Jedi'. Here's to hoping that it's not a shot for shot remake of 'Empire Strikes Back' (cough-New Hope and Force Awakens-cough).

Anyway, hope that you all enjoy! There are probably two more chapters after this one, and they will be quite long if I'm to get everything I want into them. So hopefully I'll be able to get them out sooner rather than later. Happy holidays everyone!

And lastly, a huge thank you to my beta's HowInMadHowie and DustanXenon.

Chapter 25

Standing on the ramparts over the front gate, Major Ryder watched as shells, missiles and…magical spells impacted the shields surrounding the school. As he watched the fire spread across the sky, he couldn't help but think that under any other circumstance, such a sight might be considered beautiful to watch.

"Major!"

Turning his head to the side, nodded towards the Sergeant that'd approached him. "Report Sergeant."

Giving him a quick salute, the Sergeant stood at attention. "Major, both GAU-19's are set up on either side of the gate. Sniper teams in towers one, two and three have all reported in and are ready. And Lieutenant Shepard's team has finished their preparations in tower four."

'That was fast. And thank god for those seemingly never-ending packs Grandmaster Nox supplied us. We would never have been able to transport all this heavy equipment here without them.' Ryder thought as he nodded to the Sergeant. "Very well Sergeant. Resume your post."

"Yes sir!" The Sergeant shouted, snapping a salute to Ryder, which he returned in kind.

Just as he turned his attention back to the sky overhead, he heard three almost inaudible footfalls behind him. Turning around, he wasn't surprised by who was behind him. "Knight Potter, Knight Tano. Apprentice Weasley." He nodded to each of the three seemingly inseparable Guardians in turn.

"Major." Potter responded politely as he stepped up beside Ryder and turned his face towards the sky. "Everything is proceeding as hoped. The younger years, and the marked students, are being led to a secure location and will be looked after by one of the Professors, as well as our three young Apprentices. Lieutenant Jane and Auror Moody are putting the older students who've volunteered to fight into position as we speak. And the Deputy Headmistress is activating some of the castle's defensive measures."

Nodding, Ryder couldn't help but admire the pose the boy was keeping. He'd known battle hardened infantry commanders who commanded less of a presence than the teenager beside him now. There was no doubt in his mind, that should this young man survive this coming war, he would be a figure of influence known across the world for the rest of his life. And he also knew without a doubt that if he himself survived this battle that he would be right beside this boy until the end.

"What sort defenses does this castle have?" Ryder asked.

"Unfortunately, I'm not sure." Potter answered. "But considering just who designed this castle, and in which era it was built in, I imagine Hogwarts has more than a few unpleasant tricks up her sleeves for unwanted guests."

"You would be quite correct with that assumption Mr. Potter."

Ryder's weapon was in his hand and he was halfway around before he felt something wrap around him and freeze him in place. "I apologize Major Ryder." Harry said calmly as the invisible force hold him disappeared. "But I couldn't have you shooting the Deputy Headmistress. And Professor McGonagall, it's unwise to apparate right next to trained soldiers just before a battle."

McGonagall, for her part, had a slightly paler complexion than normal as she realized just how close her actions brought her to physical harm. "I– understand Mr. Potter." McGonagall nodded to him before turning towards the Major. "I apologize sir if I startled you. That was not my intent."

"Understood ma'am." Ryder nodded back to the elder woman. "But for the sake of myself, my men and yourself; please do not do that again."

"I understand…Major, was it?" McGonagall asked, to which Major Ryder nodded. "I will limit apparating in you and your men's presence until this fight is over."

"It would be appreciated Professor." Harry said as he turned towards his old Head of House. "You said that Hogwarts had defenses, Professor. If so, now would be the time to show us what they are."

McGonagall nodded her head and turned back towards the courtyard. "Indeed, Mr. Potter. In fact, I have adjusted the wards to allow yourself and the other's you brought with to apparate within the grounds as well. And as for what else Hogwarts can do, just watch and learn young Mr. Potter." Pulling her wand out of her left sleeve, McGonagall held her wand above her head and parallel to the ground. "Hogwarts…as my duty of Deputy Headmistress I hereby call upon you to protect your charges! Piertotum Locomotor!"

It started as low groan of stone against stone. But soon, the noise was almost deafening as it seemed the entire castle started groaning. The men Harry had brought with him were all looking around, clearly confused as they tried to pinpoint exactly where the noise was coming from. As for Harry, he was momentarily stunned as a wave of pure Force energy washed through him and settled into every inch of the castle giving it an ethereal glow that was beyond beautiful.

A single loud crash startled Harry out of his revere as he whipped around, lightsaber in his hand ready to face the threat. But instead of a threat, all he found was a single stone soldier, one that'd been lining the walls of Hogwarts, kneeling on courtyard's ground. Its halberd held aloft and ready for battle. A second crash announced the arrival of another stone soldier, this one armed with a sword and shield. Then a third as another with a halberd landed on the ground.

Looking up, Harry was struck dumb as he watched the stone soldiers step out from the wall, fall to the ground, and right themselves as if they had a mind of their own. Once the walls had been nearly vacated of every soldier, the stone guardians of Hogwarts began to march five abreast out of the courtyard, through the gates, and out onto the long stone bridge that served as the primary access point for Hogwarts.

"I…bloody hell Harry." Ahsoka breathed as they watched the stone soldiers making their way down the bridge. "I love the magic of this world. Utterly brilliant."

"Thank you for that assessment…Ms. Tano wasn't it?" McGonagall asked, to which Ahsoka nodded absentmindedly, her eyes still watching the moving statues. "Hogwarts will do its best to protect her children, Major. We have nothing to fear now."

Standing on a high ledge overlooking Hogwarts, Voldemort watched as a combination of muggle and magical attacks impacted the barrier protecting the school. He felt a slight wave of annoyance flicker through him as he noticed that, despite everything they were throwing at the barrier, it was still holding strong.

'Calm yourself, my Voice. Everything is proceeding according to plan.' The Emperor's voice sounded within his mind.

'The barrier still stands, my Emperor.' Voldemort thought back, his frustration seeping into his thoughts. 'The Child failed. Should've never trusted a muggleborn to such a delicate task.'

'My Child may have failed in this last task, but she did provide me with some interesting information.'

'Yes…Potter is back at Hogwarts. And he brought his bitches with him.' Voldemort snarled as he watched the barrage continue against Hogwarts's shield.

'Yes. But that is not all.' The Emperor responded. 'Where the son is, the mother will not be far behind.'

Voldemort felt a chill settle over his person. Everyone always said that the one wizard that he feared was Dumbledore. But that wasn't quite correct. He respected Dumbledore's power, and therefore was never stupid enough to openly confront the wizened headmaster in a one-on-one duel. But Nox…that was a different story. He'd been wary of her ever since he'd learned of her existence, but never truly considered her a viable threat. That stance however was quickly altered after he became the Voice and the Emperor informed him of Nox's true past. And after hearing of her exploits…he did fear her slightly. Not that he would ever admit it aloud of course.

'I thought that was why we sent Nightshade out to attack the muggle cities with her dragons.' Voldemort thought, looking overhead as one of the modified dragons swept back down from the clouds and bathed the barrier in a blanket of dragon fire. 'If she failed to pull Nox and her allies away from this battle-'

'I never expected Nightshade to pull Nox completely out of this fight.' The Emperor said curtly. 'Rather, Nightshade's purpose was to weaken the force that Nox would be able to send against us. We will still have to confront Nox and her so-called 'Guardians'. But this will work in our favor. Dumbledore is here. Potter is here. And soon Nox and her Jedi allies will be here as well. All of our enemies in one location. And we will crush them all. One at a time until none are left to stand against us.'

Voldemort felt the corners of his lips turn upwards. 'So it's a race then Master. We just need to defeat Potter and Dumbledore before Nox arrives. And when she does…it will be the sight of her dead son hanging from the walls of Hogwarts.'

A fire suddenly burst from within Voldemort's chest. A pain of near unimaginable proportions coursed through every fiber of his being as he was left standing stock still, mouth open and his eyes rolling back into his head. Just as Voldemort felt his knees begin to buckle, the Emperor forcibly took control of his body, straightening it so that none would suspect anything was wrong.

'It seems that Darth Bellatrix has failed in her task.' The Emperor's voice was just barely able to reach him through the fog of pain that'd clouded his soul. 'And yet another of your Horcruxes has been destroyed. And now you only have one left. The one you left hidden with Hogwarts.'

'We…we must act Master!' Voldemort cried from within the prison that was his own mind. He knew better than to try and retake control once the Emperor had taken over. He'd made that mistake only once before, and it was a mistake that the Emperor made him pay dearly for. 'If…if they manage to destroy the diadem-'

'They have been at this school for four years and have yet to locate your Horcrux Voldemort.' Vitiate chided him. 'But…it would not do well to have you weakened further. Now watch Voldemort…as you see that my Child did not fail in the slightest.'

Voldemort's moved beyond his control as he turned around to face his followers. "Azcarin. Cease the bombardment."

The Wrath nodded before turning around and barking out orders. Less than a minute later the muggle fighters and the dragon that'd been flying over Hogwarts veered off course and away from the school and the artillery ceased their bombardment, leaving the valley in a dead silence.

'Now watch my Voice.' The Emperor spoke to him as his body moved towards the edge of the cliff. 'And know my true power.'

Voldemort felt his wand fall into his outstretched fingers as the Emperor used his body like a puppet. He could feel the buildup of pure magical energy being pulled into his hand and wand in a manner that only the Emperor himself could manage. The air around him crackled and darkened as more and more power gathered within him. And then, without a word or movement, all the energy shot forth out of his wand in a single black bolt of pure magical energy. The bolt sailed across the valley unimpeded until it slammed home against Hogwarts barrier and disappeared.

For a moment it appeared as if nothing had happened. But then a single large glowing crack appeared on the surface of the barrier where the spell had stuck it. The crack expanded and spider webbed outwards until the entire shield was covered in glowing cracks. And then, all at once, the shield shattered like glass and disappeared as if it'd never existed in the first place. Unfortunately, the shield wasn't the only victim. Voldemort, as amazed as he was by the display of power, could only stare blankly down at the blackened and ruined stick that was once his wand.

'This was a useless tool.' The Emperor remarked, throwing his now useless wand to the ground. 'Soon you will lay your hands on the wand that was destined to be held by my Voice.'

'Yes, my Emperor.' Voldemort mentally nodded as he felt his body turn around and face his followers.

"Begin the assault."

Standing on the ramparts, Harry watched slack jawed as the barrier was, for lack of a better word, shattered with only a single spell. "Well," Harry breathed, staring up at what was left of the quickly dissipating shield. "That didn't last nearly as long as we hoped it would."

Ryder started barking out orders, which his men were following without a second thought. McGonagall however, she was staring up at the now clear night sky with horror in her eyes. "He…he destroyed the barrier…with a single spell."

"That is the power of the Emperor, Professor." Harry said plainly as he stared out over the long bridge that was packed with hundreds of stone soldiers. "And it's one of the many reason why we have to end him here and now before he can become even more powerful."

A loud roar echoed across the landscape as dozens of giants, swinging clubs the size of small trees, ran towards the bridge. The stone soldiers at the end of the bridge moved as one, setting themselves into a defensive line with their pikes raised ready to meet the approaching threat.

Just as the giants stepped foot onto the end bridge, a dozen black clouds passed overhead just above them. Multicolor streaks of light shot out from the black clouds, striking and destroying the stone soldiers to try and clear a path for the giants.

"Major." Harry called out.

"Already on it Knight." Major Ryder responded as he tapped the two gunners manning the machine guns that'd been bolted to the ground. "Open fire men! Concentrate on the black clouds and don't let those fuckers get close!"

The gunner's replies were lost in the sound of gunfire as both GAU-19's let loose, firing off hundreds of rounds at the quickly approaching Sith forces. Walking so that he was standing just behind the two gunners, with Ginny and Ahsoka on either side of him, Harry drew his wand and aimed it skywards. "Interficiam abyssi."

The overpowered dark red cutting curse left the end of Harry's wand like a bullet from a gun, cutting through the air until it cut clean through one of the pockets of black mist flying through the air. The mist instantly dissolved, revealing a person that was wearing pitch black robes…and was cleaved cleanly in two.

Scanning the air, Harry fired off several more cutting curses, each one taking down a misted Death Eater in midair while beside him Ginny and Ahsoka started taking down their fair share of the flyers as well. Just as Harry was about to fire off his seventh cutting curse, he noticed something. A small speck on the horizon, but one that was steadily getting larger and larger.

"Ginny, Ahsoka! Joint shield now! Protego!" Ginny's and Ahsoka's spells echoed his own, creating a blue opaque bubble that surrounded not just the three of them, but every soldier on the wall as well.

The moment the shield slammed in place, the small speck that'd been on the horizon, which was then close enough to be easily identified as a fighter, let loose a pair of missiles that were coming straight for them. The missiles impact against the shield was more than a little jarring as the three Guardians were literally forced to take a step back as their shield was covered in a wall of fire.

"Lieutenant Shepard!" Major Ryder shouted into his comm link as the fire rolled off the shield. "Take that son of a bitch out before he can make another pass at us!"

Harry couldn't hear the response that was given, but as the fighter started to bank hard in order to make another pass, several bright lights shot out from the astronomy tower. One of which caught the fighter dead center and turned it into a ball of flames. "Good work Lieutenant." Ryder nodded as he turned his attention back to the bridge. By that point the giants, despite the efforts of the stone soldiers, had managed to cross nearly a third of the bridge. "Continue firing! I don't want those guns to stop unless you're reloading!"

"Yes sir!"

Standing on the edge of the cliff, Azcarin watched as the fight for Hogwarts progressed. Their giants were making steady progress across the bridge, however their approached had been slowed considerably by the gun emplacements just above the main gate. Emplacements that certainly hadn't been there before this night. 'Very clever Nox.' Azcarin nodded as he watched yet another giant succumb under the barrage of spells and bullets coming from the castle. 'I wonder…just how many men did you send in besides your son in order to set up these defenses?'

"Blackwood."

Tearing his eyes away from the battle, and the fun in his opinion, he watched as Blackwood stepped forward and sunk down on a knee. "Yes, my Emperor?"

"The tower." The Emperor said plainly, without taking his eyes off of the battle. "They have snipers and at least one well trained wizard. Kill them all."

Blackwood rose from his kneeling position and gave the Emperor a wide smile. "As you wish, my Emperor." He bowed lowly and disappeared in a puff of black mist, but not before shooting Azcarin a last parting look that almost screamed, 'I got chosen over you'.

'Fucking idiot.' Azcarin growled, his grip unconsciously tightening on his lightsaber. 'He doesn't have a clue what a true battle is! This is just a fucking skirmish. A true battle destroys worlds!'

"Patience, Azcarin." The Emperor chided him without turning around. "Despite his many uses and talents…Blackwood is still but a pawn. And the pawns always go first. When the time has come, you will have your fair share of bloodletting my Wrath."

"Of course, my Emperor." Azcarin nodded as he turned his attention back fully to the battle. 'Soon…but not soon enough for my tastes.'

After having set the student volunteers into position with the help of the ex-Auror Alastor Moody, Jane Shepard pulled back to the rear bridge that connected the castle to the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. 'Honestly,' Jane sighed, shaking her head as stepped out into the night and came to a stop just at the beginning of the bridge. 'Why would they call it the 'Forbidden Forest?' I mean, I get the fact that there are a lot of big creatures in there, but still, you could call it something different. Calling it the 'Forbidden Forest' is almost like daring a teenager to wander in and see what makes it so dangerous.'

"Ma'am, they're here."

Giving herself a mental shake, Jane forced her attention back to the here and now. Her man wasn't wrong. The supporters of the New Sith Order were starting to file out from the tree line. First there were only a handful. Then there were several dozens. Then there were easily over a hundred plus with the number steadily rising.

"Fuck me sideways." One of her men breathed, as he took a knee and readied his weapon. "That…is a lot of cannon fodder."

"Unfortunately." Jane nodded.

She and the other officers had spent countless hours over the past months in briefings with Grand Master Nox and the, former Jedi, now Guardians from beyond the stars. During these briefings, they were given every scrap of information regarding the Sith that they had. Their motivations. Tactics. Power structure. Anything and everything. And judging by those briefings, her man wasn't wrong. These idiots were nothing more human shields until the true Sith stepped foot onto the field.

"Prime the charges." She commanded as the line of men and women reached where she knew the edge of the barrier was located and stopping just short of it.

One of the more idiotic of the Sith followers yelled something at them and charged at the bridge, only to run headlong into the barrier and bounce back flat on his ass. "Well…I guess we can figure out the average intelligence level of our enemies." Jane remarked dryly as she watched as several others pulled out their wands and started throwing spells at the barrier. "Corporal, are the charges primed?"

"Yes ma'am." The Corporal nodded, holding up a detonator in one hand. "Just waiting for your order ma'am."

A loud cracking noise came from overhead, making Jane snap her eyes skywards. The barrier was…fracturing in a spider web pattern that was rapidly heading towards the ground. "Get your finger on that button Corporal." Jane breathed as she watched the fractures descend all the way to the ground before the barrier completely shattered. Leaving the school undefended against the Sith.

The members of the Sith that'd been waiting on the either side of the bridge gave of a triumphant yell before they surged forward and onto the bridge. "Conserve your ammo boys." Jane said as her men raised their weapons in preparation to fire. "We'll need every round we can spare if we want to survive the night."

Pulling out her wand, Jane waved it in a lazy circle before her. The air directly in front of her circled with her wand in a whirlwind pattern before solidifying into a boulder that was as tall as she. With a second flick of her wand, the boulder was sent rolling down the bridge. The boulder took up nearly two-thirds of the interior of the bridges width, leaving the advancing Sith next to no room to maneuver around it.

"Watch a little too much Indian Jones growing up ma'am?" One of her men joked lightly as Jane and her squad watched the boulder rapidly approach the Sith.

Just as the boulder reached the halfway point of the bridge, it exploded in a cloud of dust and fractured stones. "Doctor Jones never had that type of trick up his sleeve." Jane cursed as the Sith forces kept advancing. Using her wand to draw a box in the air, Jane created a shield over the end of the bridge and took a step back. "Corporal. Blow it."

Nodding, the Corporal pressed down on the detonator. "Fire in the hole!"

The entire bridge shook as the explosives that'd been strategically placed along the support structures of the bridge all detonated at the same time. The Sith that were on the bridge had only a second to look startled before the bridge started to give way beneath their feet. She was just barely able to make out the man would been leading the charge. His eyes widened to almost comical proportions before the bridge gave way completely and he was caught in the debris falling down in the ravine below.

"Fall back to secondary positions." Jane commanded as the dust from the explosion began to settle, giving her an unobstructed view of the other side where more than two thirds of the original Sith forces remained.

"Yes ma'am!" Her men shouted as they began to systematically pull back into the school while keeping each other covered.

Just as Jane was about to enter the school, another explosion rocked the grounds, drawing her attention skywards. The top of the astronomy tower, the same tower that her twin brother was stationed, was falling to pieces as flashes of green, red and yellow lights came from within.

Her first instinct was to apparate right up to the top of the tower and see to her brother. But that instinct was crushed by years of discipline and training. 'He's alright.' She said to herself as she pulled back into the school with her squad. 'Jon has his duty…just as I have mine.'

Setting herself up behind cover, she nodded towards her men and the half dozen sixth and seventh year student volunteers that she'd stationed just within this entrance. "No one gets past us." She said, drawing her sidearm in her left hand while holding her wand in her right.

Standing in the astronomy tower overlooking the battle going on below, Lieutenant John Shepard watched through the scope of his sniper rifle as the giants slowly made their way through the plethora of stone soldiers standing on the bridge leading up to the gates of Hogwarts. "Higgins, big ugly. Third from the front."

"Yes sir." Higgins nodded, tilting his own rifle just slightly as he took aim the given target.

Through his scope, Jon watched as the giant staggered as Higgins shot took him right at the base of the neck. The beast opened his mouth and let out a cry of agony. His cry was cut short as John put his follow up shot right through the giant's open maw, blowing out the back of its head. The beast staggered for a moment before toppling over the side of the bridge, taking the giant that'd been just behind it down with it.

Catching a blur out of the corner of his scope, John quickly maneuvered so he could line up his shot on the black mist that was barely visible against the night sky. Leading the target, he took a breath before pull the trigger. The mist evaporated immediately, and he caught sight of a woman falling out of the mist and to her death. "Nice shot LT." Higgins said without removing his eye from his sight. "Looks like they've got some more of the big guys at the end of the bridge."

"Copy that." Shepard acknowledge, moving his sight towards the end of the bridge where no less than a dozen giants were standing, waiting for their chance to proceed single file due to their large size. "Primary target is the one in the lead."

"Copy that LT."

Lining up the crosshairs to the base of the creature's neck, Shepard took a low breath. "Fir-"

The world exploded around him as the roof to the astronomy tower crashed inwards, sending stone and wood debris all over Shepard and his squad of snipers. Rolling over onto his back, Shepard brought his rifle around ready to face the new threat. But the cloud of dust and debris was so thick that he could barely even see the end of his rifle let alone what'd dropped in on them.

"Shit." Shepard hissed, scrambling to his feet, his eyes ever searching the slowly falling dust.

"LT! There's someon-" Higgins shouted just before a green streak of light pierced through the dust heading towards his voice. For a brief moment, Higgins was illuminated by the green light as it struck him dead in the chest. The Private looked stunned as he stared blankly ahead before his body fell backwards over the railing and into the night sky.

"Fuck." Shepard cursed as several more killing curses emerged from the swirling dust, one of which he just barely managed to dodge by rolling further into the tower.

His men however, judging by the cries and sudden silences, were not faring well. Shifting his weapon over to his left hand, he snapped his right hand out and summoned his wand into his palm before he swiped it vertically across his body while shouting, "Ventus!"

The dust immediately dispersed as his spell cleared the air. And when the dust finally settled, his grip on his wand tightened to the point of almost painful. He'd been given a team of six snipers when he's been assigned this position. Higgins was gone, his body more than likely a smear on the courtyard below. And the other five members of his squad where all laid out in varying positions within the now clear tower.

"Diffindo!"

Only years of training saved Shepard as his body immediately went into a forward roll, the cutting curse that'd been meant for his neck just barely missing his head as it passed him by. Coming out of his roll, he turned and slashed his wand across his body. "Uitta circumdatos!" A red ribbon leapt forth out of his wand, stretching half the radius of the tower and cutting through everything; stone and wood included, as it followed the path of his wand.

"Avada kedavra!"

Again, John was forced to let go of his spell as he rolled once again to dodge the green curse. "Muro lapis!"

A stone laden wall appeared, separating Jon from the direction the killing curse originated from. The moment the wall was tall enough to conceal himself, he apparated to the far corner of the astronomy tower away from his conjured wall and where his assailant was.

"Not bad." The voice immediately put John even further on edge. 'Shit. He's using sonorus spell to cover his tracks. Clever son of a bitch.' "Your reflexes are superb, and your power is nothing to scoff at either, judging by the ribbon cutting curse you used to destroy half of this tower. You must be one of the legendary Shepard twins. Jon, if I'm not mistaken. How is your sister Jane doing? I take it she's in a different part of the castle then no? I would be stupid to put two such powerful individuals like yourselves so close together in a battle like this."

Casting more than one anti-detection charm on himself, he disillusioned himself before silently apparating once more clear across the tower. "And you must be Blackwood," John replied after casting a weak sonorus charm on himself. "The Emperor's little bitch boy. Tell me…you didn't shoot the messenger did you? You know the one I'm talking about right? The lackey you sent after my sister and myself with the offer to join you."

"Why? I didn't take you for the sentimental type. Especially with the reply you sent back with my littler errand boy."

"Nah, not sentimental in the least. At least, not when it comes to you dark magic worshiping cocksuckers." John replied, casting several detection charms in rapid succession but failing to find any trace of the Darth.

"How colorful."

Apparating again, John found himself atop the astronomy towers roof, staring down through the hole that Blackwood had created when he arrived. "I try my best."

"And in the end it won't be enough. You will regret the day you and your sister rejected my offer. Perhaps, I'll make her my little slave after this is all said and done. Don't worry, I'll treat her well. Well…well enough of course. But I can't guarantee the same will be said for my underlings that I give her to as a reward."

It took every fiber of his being to stay still. "Trying to goad me won't work Blackwood. And plus…if you really think you either force or coerce my sister into that kind of life…then you're and even bigger idiot than I thought. And that is saying something."

"Then I will enjoy the challenge of breaking her in…in more ways than one. But I tire of this game of cat and mouse. Why don't you cease being a fool and come out and face me."

"Who you calling a fool Blackwood?" John shot back. "You're hiding your sorry ass somewhere up here just like I am." A moment of silence stretched on between them, making John sigh. "You're not going to force me to spell that one out for you, are you Blackwood? I thought your wee brain had at least a mediocre amount of processing power behind it. Or maybe you did get to your rank by kissing your Emperors ass."

Then, to John's complete and utter surprise, Blackwood apparated right into plain view in the middle of the ruined astronomy tower. "Here I am, John Shepard." Blackwood called out, his arms raised slightly too either side. "Come out from the shadows and face me like a man."

Deciding that honor could take a back seat for a moment, John snapped off a cutting curse at the back of the man's exposed neck. The red streak hit its target. And then did absolutely nothing as it stuck a small shield that John hadn't even noticed was there.

"Well, that tickled." Blackwood commented as he rolled his neck in a circle while turning to face where John was standing. "I must say, I'm impressed. I thought you would be too brainwashed by those Jedi to actually attempt something like shooting me in the back. But still, I'm stupid. No doubt you know that most of my skin is covered in a metal alloy, which red-skinned Jedi would've told you as such. And while my neck does have the alloy, my spine does not as I like moving my head. So, I took a precaution and placed a small shield charm right on top of my spine. Oh, and you may as well drop the act Shepard. I know that you're hiding behind the second pillar to the right on the upper level."

Cursing silently, John deactivated the spells that were keeping him hidden and emerged from behind the pillar. "So, what now?" John asked as he dropped down from the upper level so that he and Blackwood were on even footing. "We just gonna start casting spells back and forth at one another until one of us gets in a lucky shot and kills the other?"

Blackwood merely shrugged. "Do you have a better idea Shepard?"

"Just this."

In the blink of an eye, John had his sidearm out and leveled right at Blackwood. A single gunshot reverberated throughout the tower as Blackwood's head snapped back. Not wanting to take any chances, John kept firing until he unloaded the entire clip into Blackwood's chest, each shot forcing the man to take a step backwards towards the edge of the balcony. When his clip ran dry, Jon fluidly dropped the clip out of the pistol and reloaded it within a split second. But before he could fire a single shot, he was forced to roll away as a green streak of light shot at him from Blackwood's wand.

"Not bad Shepard." Blackwood commented, as he rolled his head around lazily. "But in case you've forgotten, I've had reinforced metal plates surgically and magically grafted onto and under my skin. Including my skull."

John felt a sense of dread settle in as Blackwood's head righted itself. His first shot was still embedded into the man's forehead on the surface. Reaching up with a deliberate slowness, the Sith plucked the bullet from his forehead and tossed it aside. "Oh shit." John cursed as he kept his gun and wand trained on Blackwood.

"Well then Shepard." Blackwood grinned, drawing a second wand into his off hand. "Let's have some fun!"

"It should be right about…here!" Ron yelled out as he followed his wand to a pile of junk that was stacked nearly to the ceiling within the Room of Requirement.

"Shite." Hannah cursed staring at the pile. "I think I should've stayed with the others than to walk into…this. This is going to take us longer than the last one! And we're running out of time fast!"

Ron shrugged, "At least you managed to regroup with us in time to find the last one, what kept you anyway?"

Hannah scowled, "Apparently the Child was playing 'hostage' and while I was escorting Lieutenant Jane to Great Hall we walked into that."

"Then let's make this quick." Tracey said, pointing her wand at the stack. "Bombarda!"

Ron and Hannah both let out cries as they stumbled backwards, trying to avoid backlash of debris caused by Tracey's spell. Ignoring them both, Tracey reapplied the point-me charm, which led her to a much smaller pile that'd landed just off to her right. Within less than a minute, she was holding up a small gold galleon in her right hand. "Holy shite…" She muttered looking at the coin.

"What?" Ron asked, stepping up to her side. "Is that the Horcrux?"

"No." Tracey said, shaking her head as she grabbed the coin and began to examine it closely. "This…this is one of the first coins ever minted by the goblins. See the date here? This…this thing is worth a fortune to the goblins!"

"But it's not the Horcrux." Hannah said, drawing Tracey out of her musing. "So either pocket it or drop it. We still need to find what we came here for in the first place."

Deciding her friend had the right idea, Tracey quickly pocketed the coin and turned around to see her boyfriend looking at her with mild confusion. "What?" She asked, brushing past him. "This coin is extremely valuable to the right people. And besides, it's been in here for only Merlin knows how long. I doubt the original owner is going to raise much of a fuss over my taking it."

"Argue later." Hannah snapped, holding up her wand and recasting the point-me charm. "The first two 'treasures' were a bust. Let's hope the third one is the charm."

Falling in step behind Hannah, Tracey pointedly ignored the look her boyfriend was sending her way. "Later Ron." She growled, knowing that this would more than likely lead to one of their little 'talks' again.

"I didn't say anything." Ron replied sourly. "It's just…"

"Holy mother of Merlin."

Tracey had been so engrossed with Ron that she'd failed to notice that Hannah had stopped in front of her until she nearly ran into her back. "Shite Hannah," Tracey breathed, stepping around her friend who seemed frozen in place. "What is…it…holy shite."

Standing proud before them was a blank faced mannequin wearing a stunning ball gown. But it wasn't the gown that took her breath away. It was the shining, diamond encrusted raven diadem that was sitting atop the mannequin's head whose center was dominated with a large sapphire jewel with the emblem of House Ravenclaw carefully engraved into its surface. "Is…" Hannah breathed, her hand half raised as if to reach out for the diadem. "Is that…"

"Yes." Tracey nodded, swallowing heavily. "That's Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem."

Not even Ron was immune to the sight. Tracey's boyfriend, or boy-toy as Daphne liked to call him, was staring at the diadem with completely awe and no small amount of want. As embarrassing as the sight was, Tracey was self-aware enough to admit that she was in a similar state. 'Her diadem is said to increase the intelligence of the wearer.' Tracey thought as she took a half step towards the object. 'If I could put it on, even for a few minutes…we could defeat the Sith easily! Then…then I could show that I'm worthy of being a Knight! Maybe even a Master! No…no with the diadem I could easily replace Master Nox as the Grand Master of the Guardians! That would show everyone that she was worthy!'

It was that thought that brought Tracey up short. That…desire…while it was her own she had certainly never voiced it before. Palming her wand, she sent a silent stinging hex at her own leg before following it up with two more hexes aimed at Hannah's back and Ron's backside.

"Ouch!" Hannah gasped. "Why did you do that?"

"And why did you aim so low with me!?" Ron demanded as one hand furiously rubbed at the spot that she hit.

"Cause the closer I aim to your bits, the sooner I get your attention." Tracey answered as she kept her eyes off of the diadem. "Now stop staring at the diadem. It has a powerful dark compulsion charm on it. More than likely ol' snake-face's doing."

If Tracey had needed any more confirmation of her hatred for the Dark Lord, she'd found it. 'How dare he.' She thought spitefully, trying hard not to look directly at the diadem. 'He took a priceless artifact, a piece of magical history and corrupted it with dark magic! All for his own gain! That…that fucking arsehole!'

Pulling out the black pouch Master Nox had given them, Tracey kept her eyes off the diadem as she reached out with the Force and carefully removed the priceless artifact off its stand. 'Bloody fucking hell.' She cursed as she felt the curse trying to force its way to her through the ether of the Force. 'There's no doubt in my mind now…Voldemort turned Rowena's Diadem into a horcrux. Thank Merlin Master Nox sent these bags with us. Hopefully the charms on them will keep the compulsions in check…otherwise we're going to have to stash this thing somewhere until Master Nox arrives.'

The moment she pulled the string tight and closed the bag, she immediately felt a sense of relief as the compulsion immediately dissipated to the point of being non-existent. "Come on." She said, letting out a breath of relief as she turned towards Ron and Hannah. "Let's get this to Master Nox." 'And hope that she knows a way to remove a horcrux without destroying it's housing.' She added silently as the trio turned and made their way towards the exit of the room.

Rolling forward to duck under a spell, Harry brought his wand to bear as he regained his feet and let a blasting curse go at point blank range right into the chest of Death Eater. Not bothering to see the results of his spell, Harry spun and threw his lightsaber as hard as he could. The black-purple blade spun through the air, cutting through the chest of two more of the Sith forces before it arched back around and into his open hand.

Tracking another streak of black smoke, Harry ran forward as he tried to get to the general area where the mist was heading. As soon as the mist landed, Harry's lightsaber was already in motion, and the Death Eater that'd materialized from the mist could do nothing more than gawk as at his sudden turn of fortune before his life was ended. Not bothering to give the dead man a second glance, Harry turned his back on him and made his way back towards the edge of the ramparts that overlooked the courtyard below.

The yard was a mess as men and women dressed in black cloaks and silver masks ran around the courtyard firing curse, jinxes and on the rare occasion, using a blaster to fight against the defenders. On the opposite ramparts, Ahsoka and Ginny were jumping and spinning around, their lightsabers and wands a constant blur of motion as they took down Death Eater after Death Eater without hesitation.

On the ground level, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were fighting at a level that was, to be frank, surprising given their age and size. McGonagall, while mostly staying stationary for the most part, was proving herself to be a transfiguration and conjuration master as she created dozens of objects, both sentiment and inanimate, to fight against the Sith. And Flitwick, the diminutive professor was moving and fighting with an agility that reminded Harry greatly of Grand Master Yoda. The two squads of soldiers that'd been stationed in the yard with them were set up at opposites sides, one with McGonagall and Flitwick and the other stationed at the gun emplacement over the main gate.

While they were holding well, Harry didn't know just how much longer they'd be able to continue to do so. The Sith forces were pouring in like rain. For every one that was killed, two more took their place. The only reason that they hadn't been overrun yet was because of McGonagall's stone soldiers that were fighting alongside the Hogwarts defenders.

Feeling a new presence behind him, Harry pivoted and readied his lightsaber as a Death Eater materialized right in front of him. But before his strike could land, the Death Eater staggered as the side of his head exploded and the man cartwheeled over dead as a doornail. "Jesus kid…I almost feel sorry for these poor fuckers for going up against you."

"You're one to talk Major." Harry said, nodding past the Major towards the line of dead that the man had left in his wake. "I think you've downed more than me so far."

Dropping the empty clip out of his weapon, the Major quickly reloaded. "Age and experience kid. Someday you'll get there." Slapping the new clip in place. "But now's not the time to-"

Both Harry and the Major ducked instinctively as an explosion rocked the grounds of Hogwarts. Snapping his eyes upwards, Harry felt his heart sink as he saw that the top half of the astronomy tower was gone. "Shit." Ryder cursed, as he activated his radio. "Ryder to Shepard, come in Shepard…damn it. Nothing."

Reaching out with his senses, Harry could sense two presences in the tower. One was Shepard. And judging by just how revolting the second presence was, Harry had a good idea about who had entered the fray. "The Emperor has sent in Blackwood." Harry cursed. They hadn't expected the Emperor to send in his best. Not yet at least. "We need to get someone-" A second explosion, this time from the ground level, staggered both Harry and the Major again as the gun emplacement over the main gate went up in flames.

"Fuck." Harry cursed loudly, grabbing the Major by the arm and apparating the short distance to the emplacement.

The area was a mess. There was nothing left of the two gun emplacements save for a smoking black crater in the walkway and only two of the original squad members were still alive, although both were heavily injured. "Shit." Ryder cursed, going over to the nearest soldier who was still semi-conscious. "Private, what happened?"

"Spike-head…bastards." The private coughed, spitting up a wad of blood in the process. "They…teleported in…ran at us. Tried to fight them off…they…nothing seemed to hurt them. When they got close they…they detonated."

'Fuck…they're using the Condemned as suicide bombers now. Just fucking wonderful.' Harry cursed as he stood on the edge of the wall, so he was looking down at the bridge leading up to the main gates. With the support of the turrets or the tower, the giants were cutting through the stone soldiers like tissue paper as they made their way closer and closer to the castle.

Raising his wand, Harry closed his eyes for a moment to center himself before opening them once more. "Fiendfyre!"

The cursed fire shot out of his wand like a bullet from a gun as it quickly formed into the image of a snake. The snake sunk down to the bridge and started to weave through the lines of stone soldiers before coiling around the nearest giant. The giant screamed in agony as it tried to brush the flames off of it, but all of its efforts were in vain as the dark fire quickly overcame the giant's magical resistance and reduced it to ash. While the snake was still consuming its first prey, a second creature, this one a hawk, shot out from his wand and soared overhead before dive-bombing down onto the second giant.

The hawk was quickly followed by stag, then a wolf and then an owl. Each of whom avoided the stone soldiers as they made their way down the bridge in favor of the giants. "That should by us some time." Harry said, cutting off the spell after letting loose a dozen fire-made animals.

Moving back, he saw that the Major had managed to move both survivors up into a sitting position and was currently applying whatever first aid treatment he could to both wounded men. "How much time did you buy us?" Ryder asked without looking up from the soldier he was aiding.

"A few minutes at most." Harry answered before turning back around and firing off a cutting curse, which went right through the chest of a Death Eater that'd apparated next to him. "But only against the giants. We still have these Sith flunkies to deal with."

Tying off the bandage on the soldier, Ryder rose to his feet. "How much longer until our reinforcements arrive, Knight?"

Cocking his head, Harry reached out with the Force trying to find his mother. "Not long." He answered. "We just need to hold out a little while longer."

Ryder winced. "I don't know if we have a little while long Knight. This position is completely overrun. We need to fall back to within the castle if we're going to hope to survive until our reinforcements arrive."

"We can't give up the courtyard." Harry said. "We have to hold as best we can until-"

"Knight Greengrass to Major Ryder or Knight Potter. Come in now."

Deflecting a killing curse away with her saberstaff, Daphne reached out, her fingers curled in as she grabbed the would-be caster with the Force before pulling him in towards her. The man wasn't even able to bring his wand around to bear before he passed her by and her saberstaff bisected the man. Feeling an ever so slight warning from the Force, Daphne raised her wand just in time to create a barrier around herself and Luna as the windows next to them shattered inwards, showering the hall with glass.

Her apprentice didn't miss a beat either. The moment the windows shattered she ducked behind Daphne until the worse of the shrapnel was past them, and then she was leaping over Daphne's head and bringing her lightsaber down upon the Death Eater's head who'd broken the windows.

"We should move Master." Luna commented, turning her head away from the man she'd just killed. "They're learning to avoid us and are now heading towards the students we left behind to hold this wing."

As if to prove her Apprentice's words, a loud explosion came from down the hall, followed by the cries of pain and screams of curses being thrown about. Daphne took a single step to retreat down the hall when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. Turning back towards the broken windows, Daphne gazed at the darkened grounds that lay beyond between Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. The ground was…moving.

'No.' Daphne thought, staring hard and reaching out with her power only to sense an unbridled hunger and yearning to tear flesh asunder. 'The ground isn't moving. Something is moving across the grounds!'

"Oh dear." Luna sighed stepping up beside her completely calm despite the ongoing war around them and the enemy that was approaching. "I do believe that we forgot about the acromantulas during our briefings. The Sith must've flushed them out of the forest and herded them towards the castle grounds. I wonder how many died for that to happen?"

"Not nearly enough." Daphne responded, lifting her hand up to her ear and activating the com-link that was wrapped around her ear. "Knight Daphne to Major Ryder or Knight Potter. Come in now."

"Ryder."

"Major, I'm afraid that we have a situation on our hands." Daphne said as she fired off a cutting spell down the hall without looking. The Sith that'd been disillusioned gasped as he became visible, his hands clutching desperately at the gaping hole in his chest before he fell face down onto the ground dead. "The Sith must've flushed out the acromantula colony that was in the forest. And they're all heading for the castle as we speak."

"What the fuck are acromantulas?"

"Spiders that can get to the size of LAATs Major." Harry's voice cut in over the comm. "I see them Daphne. Fuck…how in the name of Force did we forget about them?"

"Worry about that later!" Ryder shouted back. "I see them. Shit…that's a lot of spiders. And our reinforcements are still not here. I need options people now."

"Hermione." Harry's voice cut across the channel. "You're our walking encyclopedia. What are our options?"

"Acromantulas are far larger than any known species of spider and are considered a class five beast by the Ministry." Hermione said, her voice more than slightly strained over the comm. "They thrive in the dark dense jungles, and therefore have developed a slight aversion to bright light. A lumos maxima at close range will drive them back for a time. But their size is also their disadvantage as they have trouble in tight corridors. They're also not known to be loyal to dark wizards and are more than likely just as dangerous to the Sith forces as they are to our own."

"Then that's our plan then." Major Ryder acknowledged once Hermione was done. "Everyone, fall to secondary positions within the school. We'll let the Sith and the spiders kill each other and hold a defensive position within the castle until our reinforcements arrive."

"Wait." Harry said, stopping Daphne in her tracks. He sounded almost…relieved. And then Daphne felt it and she couldn't help the feeling of elation that passed through her. 'Finally.'

"Then that's our plan then." Major Ryder said next to him, his eyes trained on the fast approaching spiders. "Everyone, fall back to secondary positions within the school. We'll let the Sith and the spiders kill each other and hold a defensive position within the castle until our reinforcements arrive."

The Major hadn't even completed his command to pull back, and Harry was already doubting the plan. 'The Sith wouldn't unleash something like the acromantulas without having a contingency plan. Pulling back won't work…that's what the Emperor wants us to do.' Looking around, Harry felt his stomach plummet as he realized that no new Sith were approaching the castle. Even the giants had momentarily halted their advance.

The air cracked next to them as both Ginny and Ahsoka apparated into existence next to the two of them. "Harry," Ginny said, staring off into distance with a look of utter horror on her face. "Why the hell is the entire colony of acromantulas coming out of the forest?"

"Cause the Sith flushed them out and herded them towards the castle." Harry answered swiftly before turning back to the Major. "We can't abandon this position Major. This is the only truly accessible landing zone within the school."

Giving Harry a hard look, the Major glanced back at the field. "With respect Knight Potter…we can't hold this position with those…things closing in on us."

"We won't have to." Harry answered, his eyes going skywards. The moment Harry looked up the field between Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest came alight as a wall of fire erupted in the middle of the horde, burning hundreds of acromantulas at once and scattering the rest. "Our reinforcements have finally arrived."

The Major's eyes went skyward as a dozen fighters passed overhead at breakneck speeds, each engaging one of the dozens of fighters that made up the Sith air force. "Holy shit." Ryder breathed as a ship, far larger than any that'd been previous unveiled before, broke through the clouds. "I knew Grand Master Nox said she had a ship but…I never expected to see something like that."

"The first completely Earth made space Cruiser class vessel. The Satale Shan." Harry stated as the two watched as the dozens of batteries that lined the hull of the Shan continued their bombardment of the acromantula covered field.

Turing his back on the field, Harry glanced quickly at the courtyard. They were nearly completely overrun as the Sith continued to appear in different locations throughout the yard, the only reason they hadn't been was because the defenders within the school were providing just enough firepower from their positions to keep the Sith pinned down.

"We need to clear an LZ for the LAATs." Harry stated as he held his lightsaber diagonally across his back to turn a killing curse back to the Death Eater that'd just tried to curse him in the back. "We'll fall back to the main entrance and provide covering fire for the dropships as they arrive."

"Yes sir," Ryder nodded as he moved over to help the two soldiers up to their feet.

Just as Harry, Ginny and Ahsoka were about to apparate the three men to the entrance, Ahsoka stopped dead. Her eyes went impossibly wide as she turned towards the castle. "Nat."

Pausing, Harry turned to Ahsoka. "What is it?"

Swallowing, Ahsoka turned towards him, her eyes wide and full of fear. "Something…I can sense that Nat is in danger."

'Shite.' Harry cursed as he turned and deflected another curse away before returning the favor with a cutting curse. 'Nat is with Gabby, Astoria and the younger years. If she's in trouble…'

"You two head into the castle." Harry said, making both Ginny and Ahsoka blink. "If Nat is truly in trouble, then so too are the younger years. They'll need your help."

"What about you Master?" Ginny asked as she let loose two powerful blasting curses in quick succession. "We can't just leave this position and you alone."

"I'll be fine." He said with a quick glance skyward. "Our reinforcements are almost here. Ryder, the men we have left and myself will be able to hold this position until they arrive. Nat and the others need you two more than I do now. So go."

Casting a quick glance skyward, Ahsoka cursed. "Damn it." Stepping up to him, she pressed her lips quickly against his own before backing off. "Stay safe Harry. Ginny, let's go."

Standing on the bridge of the Satale Shan staring out of the forward viewport, Admiral Hackett watched on silently as his newly acquired battle cruiser rained fire down on the grounds between the ancient castle and the forest. "Admiral."

Turning his head, he found his temporary XO, Captain Anderson, standing behind him with a datapad in hand. "Report Captain."

Nodding, Anderson's eyes flickered down to the datapad. "It's not good sir. Initial scans indicate that the Sith forces are slightly larger than anticipated. The tower where Lieutenant Shepard was supposed to be station is destroyed, however we have picked up energy fluctuations coming from within the ruins. The gun emplacement is gone. And the Sith have almost completely overrun the main courtyard."

Nodding, Hackett turned back to the battlefield below. "And these…creatures that came from the forest?"

"Scattered." Anderson reported. "Most have fled back into the forest; however, some have managed to get to reach the castle walls despite our best efforts."

Folding his hands behind his back, Hackett watched as one of the enemy fighters was taken down by one of theirs. "Launch all LAATs and inform Grand Master Nox of these developments."

"Yes sir!"

Staring out the portside view of the LAAT she was in, Nox stared down at the destruction the Shan was raining down on the acromantulas that'd been trying to reach the castle. Part of her was kicking herself for not thinking of the spider colony in the forest, but in her defense, only an idiot would lure acromantulas out onto a battlefield. 'Although I should have had a contingency in place for them.' She thought. 'Vitiate never cared about the losses he sustained. As long as the battle went in his favor.'

"Pilot." She called out as she surveyed the castle and the surrounding grounds, her mind racing as she tried to adjust their battle plans based on the information provided to her by Hackett. "Direct LAAT three to what's left of the astronomy tower. LAATs one, two and five will head down to the courtyard will LAAT four will head for the rear bridge of the castle. All other LAATs will unload on the castle walls before taking up a holding pattern around the castle to provide additional air support."

"Yes ma'am!" The pilot acknowledged before he began relaying his commands to the other LAATs.

"Tonks."

"Yes ma'am?" Tonks asked, moving up alongside her.

Staring down, Nox's mind raced as she tried to predict the Emperor's next move. "After we land I want you to take a few of our men and find Ron, Tracey and Hannah."

Tonks gave a slight start. "W-what?"

"I have a feeling I know what Vitiate's next move will be." Nox answered, not taking her eyes off the rapidly approaching castle. "And if I'm right, I need to be there to prevent it from happening. I can't be running around the castle trying to find those three to see if they've located the last Horcrux or not. After you've found them and the Horcrux, bring them to me. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding me."

"I– yes ma'am." Tonks nodded. "I won't fail you."

As they descended past the first tower of Hogwarts, Nox felt a not so small thrill swell within her. 'And so it begins Vitiate…the beginning of the end of your reign.'

Staring down at the destruction before him, it was taking everything in Vitiate's considerable power to keep himself calm. The presence of this…cruiser was an unexpected variable he hadn't even considered possible. His Voice wasn't helping any either. Voldemort was alternating quickly between anger, surprise and most prevalent of all, fear. Such confliction wasn't helping Vitiate maintain his control as he tried to quickly add this new variable into his plans.

"My…my Emperor…should we pull our forces back an-"

With a wave of his hand, Vitiate sent a blast of Force energy at the offending fool, obliterating him into nothingness. "Azcarin."

"Yes, my Emperor?"

Keeping his eyes on the vessel in the sky, Vitiate finalized his plans. "Retrieve my wand and the diadem. Kill any who stand in your way."

He could practically hear the smirk coming from his Wrath. "As you command, my Emperor." And then, with the slightest cracks, his Wrath was gone from his side.

'Well done Nox.' He thought, staring up at the ship as a slight grin started to form on his face. 'This may have given you a slight edge…for the moment. But in the end it will not matter. You will still lose. And thanks to you, my New Sith Order will be ready to take to the stars far sooner than I'd originally hoped.'

Feeling the ship rock, Obi-Wan tightened his grip on the overhead rungs as the LAAT descended into the Hogwarts courtyard. Dozens of blacked cloaked individuals were running around the courtyard, using what cover they could to advance towards the entrance of the school despite the heavy onslaught of spells and blaster fire that was keeping them at bay. The gun emplacement that was supposed to be above the bridge was nothing more than a blackened crater, which had allowed the giants to reach them main gates which they were now working on smashing in. And standing alone just before the entrance leading into the interior of the school was Knight Potter, his lightsaber moving in a blur as he turned away every shot was being taken at him. The only upside that Obi-Wan could see was that the Sith were so focused in on Harry and the defenders within the school that they'd yet to notice the incoming drop ships.

"Stay close to me." He said lowly to Narcissa, who was standing so close to him that the two were practically touching. "This is a hot LZ we're coming into," he continued on, louder so the rest of the soldiers in the LAAT could hear him, "we will not be touching down. As soon as your boots are on the ground spread out and lay down covering fire for the next shuttle behind us."

"Yes sir!" The soldiers all shouted.

"Just like old times eh General?" Gregor said with a slight hitch in his voice. "This almost reminds me of the report I read on your entry into the second battle for Geonosis."

"Yes well," Obi-Wan coughed, as he was inadvertently brought back to that battle when his shuttle was shot down well away from the predetermined landing area. "Let's just hope that this battle goes slightly better than that one."

While they were still five meters from the ground, the side panels on the LAAT opened and Obi-Wan, followed quickly by Gregor, Narcissa and the rest of his troops jumped out of the LAAT and made the short drop down to the ground. The instant his boots hit the ground, Obi-Wan's lightsaber sprang to life as he jumped into the fray.

The first of the Sith forces he encountered was an older man who snarled and tried to cast some sort of dark red spell at him, but Obi-Wan calmly deflected the spell away and into another Sith before closing the distance between the two of them and ending the man before he could get off a second shot.

Before the man's body could even hit the ground, Obi-Wan felt a pull from the force and leaned back as a sickly-green spell passed through the air right in front of him. Turning to face the caster, he found himself facing off against a young man that couldn't have been much older than Anakin. "Died Guardian scum!" The man shouted, raising his wand as he prepared to cast a second spell. "Avada ke-ahhhh!"

A bolt of white light impacted the man before he could finish his incantation and sent him clear across the courtyard and headfirst into one of the still standing stone columns in the yard. "I thought that you were supposed to be protecting me Obi, not the other way around."

'Well, I guess that there is no denying it now.' Obi-wan thought as he deflected another spell away as Narcissa sent one of her own back at the caster. 'Narcissa is definitely channeling Satine's spirit through the Force.'

Behind the two of them, Gregor had set his men up to form a half-circle with their backs to the entrance of the school, so they could provide covering fire for the next LAAT, which was just now hovering over their group. As the side doors opened Master Secura jumped out, her blue lightsaber already activated in her right hand and her wand held tightly in her left.

"Master Kenobi," Secura said as she landed gracefully next to him while simultaneous blocking a spell and firing off a spell of her own.

"Master Secura." Obi-Wan nodded as he stood side by side with the rutian twi'lek so the two could work in tandem to provide their troopers with time to set up a defensive perimeter.

A black-purple blur flew over both Master's heads just as Obi-Wan heard the third dropship start to hover overhead. The black-purple blade arched through the air, cutting down four of the Sith before arching around and boomeranging back towards the Masters. The air cracked next to Obi-Wan as Harry snapped into existence next to him, his hand raised and ready as his lightsaber came back around and into the palm of his hand. "Glad you could make it to the party Masters."

"We have a very different definition of 'party', Knight Potter." Aayla responded not unkindly as the three of them stood shoulder to shoulder against the onslaught of Sith.

Blocking another spell, Obi-Wan cast a quick glance around the yard. "Where's Ahsoka?" Knocking another spell away, Harry reached out with the Force and lifted a witch off her feet, letting her hover in the air for a second before throwing her clear over the wall of Hogwarts.

"She sensed that Nat was in danger." Harry answered, his attention still on the battle around him. "I had her and Ginny pull back into the castle to make sure that Nat, Astoria, Gabrielle and the younger years were okay."

Frowning, Obi-Wan kept his focus on the incoming spells. 'Running after her Apprentice as soon as she sensed she was in danger. Ahsoka picked up more than a few bad habits from Anakin, I see. But if those three were guarding the younglings within the school, I cannot say that it was an incorrect decision for her to go.'

The sound of wood and stone shattering brought Obi-Wan's attention to the far end of the courtyard. "Well…it seems like this battle just got a lot more interesting." Harry sighed as the three of them watched as the first of the many giants that'd been outside ducked its way through the now ruined main gate.

'Interesting.' Obi-Wan thought, staring up at the beast that was easily two-to-three times taller than himself. 'That is an interesting word for this situation.'

Standing next to the one of the blown-out walls in the astronomy tower of Hogwarts, Darth Blackwood watched as the flying ship blasted the ground with firepower equal to any blasting curse he could've produced. 'Hmm…I always knew that there was something to be said for muggle science. But if they can create this type of destructive force without the aid magic…I can only dream of what we'll be able to create once we acquire that knowledge for ourselves.'

"Hey…asshole…we're not fini- finished yet."

Casting a look over his shoulder, he sighed, as he saw a heavily wounded Shepard trying to regain his footing. Part of him respected the wizard. He was powerful, there was no doubt about that. Blackwood would even admit that Shepard was nearly on par with himself. Nearly. But not quite. Which was why Shepard was near death and Blackwood didn't even have a scratch on him.

"You should know when you're beaten, Shepard." Blackwood sighed, turning his back on the battle going on below them.

Slowly getting to his feet, Shepard had one hand pressed against his side trying to stem the tide of bleeding from the wound on his midsection while holding his wand weakly in his other hand. "Suck a cock."

"Not really my thing Shepard." Blackwood shrugged while lazily casting a cutting curse at the man's legs.

Showing a surprising amount of agility, considering how injured he was, Shepard managed to dodge the spell by rolling to his left before righting himself and firing back a spell of his own. Unfortunately, Shepard was so weak by this point that Blackwood could simply deflect the spell away with barely a flick from one of his wands. "Give it up Shepard." Blackwood sighed. "In the condition you're in…you couldn't even fight your way out of a wet paper bag."

"Fuck…you." Shepard managed to get out as he cast another cutting curse, this one Blackwood didn't need to deflect as the spell flew uselessly over his shoulder and into the night sky.

With only a half-flick from his wand, Blackwood sent the soldier flying across the room and into a pile of debris in the corner, his wand falling uselessly out of his hand in the process. Taking a few steps forward, Blackwood looked down at Shepard's wand laying on the ground. It was long, probably a good foot in length and was pitch black in color. Picking the wand up, he touched it with his own.

"Hmm, interesting." Blackwood muttered as he magically examined the wand. Even though he'd defeated its owner, the wand refused to acknowledge him like so many others had in the past. "You truly are something John. Your magic is certainly nothing to scoff at. And if it hadn't been for the training the Emperor had personally given me, not to mention my skin, you probably would've wiped the floor with me. But despite my respect for you and your abilities Shepard, it's time to end this."

Two more steps forward and Blackwood was standing over a heavily bleeding and barely conscious Shepard. Wielding Shepard's wand, Blackwood pointed it at the soldier. "Your wand is fighting me quite severely right now Shepard. So I apologize if this isn't as a clean a kill as I would prefer. Avada Kedav-ahh!"

The invisible force that struck him square in the face felt like a brick and he was to roll backwards ass over elbow twice until he managed to right himself. When he did, he glared up at Shepard, only to have his path blocked. Blocked by the same red-skinned, horned alien woman he fought back on the island of Azkaban. And just like before, standing beside her was the pale skinned alien with red horns protruding from her forehead.

"Well, well." Blackwood grinned, rising to his feet. Things had suddenly become much more interesting. And fun. "I take it that you two are the 'cavalry', come to bail that poor sack of shit out of the hole he dug himself into? I thought that you two would know to avoid me after our little squabble back at Azkaban."

The pale faced one looked more than slightly annoyed at the reminder of their last match, but the red-skinned woman just stood there completely composed. "Maris, take the Lieutenant and fall back to the med point."

The pale-skinned one, Maris, looked at the red woman in surprise. A surprise that mimicked Blackwoods although he managed to keep any from showing. "Master Ti." Maris said, keeping one eye on him and one eye on her master. "I– I can't let you fight him alone."

"I will be fine Maris." Shaak Ti stated simply, which only served to infuriate Blackwood. Did she already forget about the clinic he put on for the two of them? "Take the Lieutenant and go. I will not be long."

The young woman looked like she wanted to argue further, but after a moment of silence she simply nodded her head and retreated to pick up the injured Shepard. "I must say," Blackwood marveled as he watched the young woman effortlessly hoisted the older and heavier Shepard up onto her shoulder before making her way out of the tower. "I am surprised that you would be willing to face me by yourself."

Shaak Ti's face didn't change as she just continued to stare at him blankly in a manner that was almost unnerving. "I will admit, Darth Blackwood, that our first encounter surprised me. I've met cyborgs before, but none have gone to the level you have with your augmentations. But now that I have had time to meditate on it, you will not be able to surprise like that again."

Blackwood merely smiled. "Brave words. I look forward to breaking you this time. So, how shall we fight? Magic to magic? Hand to hand? Or will you be using your lightsaber again? Either way…you'll lose."

"Your overconfidence will be your undoing, Darth Blackwood." Shaak Ti stated as she shifted her left foot back slightly, yet still remand unarmed, oddly enough.

"My overconfidence?" Blackwood scoffed. "You're the one standing before a clearly superior opponent unarmed. Perhaps it is your overconfidence that will be your undoing."

"A superior opponent?" Shaak Ti asked, tilting her head slightly before shaking it. "Before coming to this planet Darth Blackwood, I was a seated member of the Jedi High Council. And now I hold a seat on the Guardian High council. Both positions I earned not solely based on skills as a mediator, I can assure you. And one like yourself, whose based solely in the darkness, will never be my equal let alone my better."

Blackwood felt himself grinning. 'Oh yes…this is going to be fun!' "The Jedi and the 'Guardian' High council…I'm almost impressed Shaak. So what? You expect me to fall on my knees? Repent and beg for your forgiveness for my wicked deeds? And then spend the rest of my life in a six by six stone cell with only a bucket to shit in and a small window for light?"

"No." The Jedi said, surprising Blackwood.

"No?" Blackwood asked, using one of his wands to scratch at his temple. "Which part are you saying no to?"

"All of it." Shaak Ti stated plainly. "Recent events have…changed my perspective. I used to believe that everyone should have a chance at redemption, that no one was too far gone. But now…now I realize just how naive I was. Those like yourself who've delved so deeply into the darkness do not deserve a chance for redemption. So no, I will not be taking you prisoner today. I will be ending your life, Darth Blackwood. And removing your stain of existence from the galaxy."

It was all Blackwood could do not to gape at the woman. 'This…this is completely contradictory to everything the Emperor told us about the Jedi. Everything he showed me about the Jedi! Did Nox…did Nox really change them so much?' "Haha…I must say Jedi…I'm pressed. But I do have to ask, did it hurt?"

The woman's head tilted back to the other side. "Did what hurt?"

"The removal of that iron rod from your ass Shaak. I thought your Jedi training imbedded those things so firmly that they could never be removed."

Shaak Ti stared at him blankly for moment before doing something he never expected. She grinned. And it wasn't just any grin, it was a sultry grin that could get the heart of any man racing, even his own. A look that was further compounded as she lightly traced her parted lips with a finger. "Oh no…it felt so good Blackwood. Incredibly…good. After all, that is why I shoved it up there in the first place."

He honestly didn't know what to say. Her quick shift left him dumbfounded. And as soon as that realization came, so to came the realization that he'd fallen into her trap. Within a blink of an eye she'd managed to cross the distance between them and her right fist was coming straight for his face.

It was only because of his years of training in preparation for the return of the Emperor that he could catch the woman's arm before she struck his face. "Hand to hand combat than?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear. But his grin faded slightly as he tried to move her arm, only to find it held firmly in place. 'She's stronger than she looks.' "Too bad for you, I've had years of combat training in every area imaginable. You had your opening, and I must admit it was a legitimate opening no matter how underhanded it might've been. But now that opening is closed my dear. And you won't get a second one."

"Who ever said that I missed my opening, Blackwood?"

He felt the muscles in her arm twitch under his grip, drawing his gaze to her hand. A long thin metal cylinder was sliding out from a holster on her wrist. Only too late did his brain recognize the shape of a lightsaber. A lightsaber that was pointed right at one of the only places on his body where he couldn't have armor. His eyes.

"Oh shit." Was the only thing he managed to get out before a bright blue light filled his vision and he knew no more.

A red beam of light shot through the darkened Great Hall of Hogwarts as Dumbledore, who was fighting alone after making sure that Severus was in a safe location, cast another stunning charm at an oncoming Death Eater. 'So much violence.' He thought as he cast a binding charm onto the unconscious man before banishing over towards while simultaneously casting a sticking charm on him so he would be kept out of the battle. 'Such waste…'

Tearing his eyes away from the now incapacitate man, Dumbledore looked around the Great Hall and felt a knot of anguish form in his gut. His school, Hogwarts, was being torn to pieces. A mixture of spells and muggle weapons were destroying the ancient structure one brick at a time. But it wasn't just the destruction of his school that was weighing heavily on his heart. No, it was also the unfortunate loss of life that was occurring all around him.

'And for what?' He thought, flicking another stunning charm over his shoulder and knocking out the witch that'd been trying to sneak up on him. 'We could've had peace under other terms. Sure, we might've had to concede some points to the Death Eaters…but in time I could've worked out how to defeat Tom. And with him gone, the Emperor would've lost his Voice and we could've had peace. But no…instead Nox had to escalate this war. And now who knows how many have died because of her incompetence!'

Snapping off another stunning curse, a Death Eater was flung clear across the room and out of one of the stain glass windows. His internal musing was interrupted when a mocking voice brought him to the here and now.

"Hmm…so you do have a decent amount of power. I was starting to worry you wouldn't be entertaining with all this stunning shit you have going on here."

Dumbledore stiffened as the voice from the shadowy recesses of the room reached out to him. He couldn't see the individual who'd spoken. But he could feel them. He could feel the darkness about them. Like an endless abyss into the deepest pit of hell. 'Who is this man?' He thought trying, and failing, to isolate the presence in the room. 'Not even Tom has fallen to such levels. I didn't think one could fall to such levels such as this. Could this be the one that Severus spoke of? This…Azcarin?'

"There is no mistaking this darkness. You are the one they call Azcarin are you not?" Dumbledore called out to the shadows. "Show yourself, fiend of darkness."

Heavy footfalls coming from behind made Dumbledore turn on his heel. Severus had given him several detailed reports about this 'Emperor's Wrath'. But seeing this man, or rather the creature that emerged from the shadows was beyond anything Dumbledore had expected. His skin was completely blood red and he had almost horn-like protrusions jutting out from his cheek bones and where his eyebrows should've been. But it wasn't just his appearance that put Dumbledore off. It was his presence. Now that he wasn't concealing himself…the stench of darkness that was flowing of the creature intensified ten-fold. He was truly, as Severus put it, a true demon.

The demon stopped a dozen paces from Dumbledore and fixed him with an almost amused stare. "Ah yes…I've almost missed these types of insults. I've heard them all from countless Jedi over my time. And every single one of those fuckers fell to my blade in the end. But please, continue. I'm wondering if you can think of any newer insults than the ones used by the Jedi."

'I cannot give him time to formulate a plan.' Dumbledore thought as Azcarin merely stood there, unarmed and with his arms across his chest. 'I do not relish attacking an unarmed foe…but according to Severus even Tom is scared of this man. But then again…there is always a chance for redemption. No matter how far one has fallen. I shall strive to give even this monstrosity that chance. And when Tom's horcruxes are no more, he too will come to see the light.'

"Well old fuck?" The demon taunted, spreading his arms wide leaving himself defenseless. "I'm waiting."

Instead of obliging the creature, Dumbledore snapped off nearly a dozen stunning spells in quick succession and all aiming at differing points on the creature's body. But the man did something that only shocked Dumbledore, but also confirmed everything Severus had been telling him about the man. Instead of dodging, the creature merely held up his hand and batted away each spell with his bare hand as if he was swatting at flies buzzing around his head.

"Really?" Azcarin asked, his head tilting to the side. "Stunning spells? How utterly pathetic. And what a letdown. All I've been hearing since my release is how you're one of the greatest Force users on this planet. So naturally, I've been waiting for our inevitable confrontation. But now…now, I see that you're nothing more than a sorry old piece of shit, whose mind has gone soft."

Pursing his lips, Dumbledore upgraded his spell casting to start including hexes and curses. Each of which was either batted away with Azcarin's bare hand, or simply missed as he moved out of the line of fire. "Getting a little better old man." Azcarin taunted as he dodged a cutting curse that'd been aimed at his legs. "But still nowhere near good enough. But I'm tired of this cat and mouse game. Time to have some fun!"

His last word spoken in an earsplitting shout and in response every stained glass window in the Great Hall shattered into thousands of pieces. Each of which hovered in mid-air for the briefest of moments before tilting so their edges were pointing towards the aged wizard.

Dumbledore barely had enough time to form a spherical shield several meters in diameter around his person before the razor-sharp glass shards impacted it. As each shard passed through the barrier, they dissolved into nothing more than sand. Whiling his wand around his body, Dumbledore transfigured the sand into a living statue much the like ones that lined the walls of Hogwarts. The statue immediately drew its sword and charged at Azcarin. But yet again, the creature didn't seem even the slightest bit phased as he simply sidestepped the attack, and slashed with his own glowing red sword, bisecting the statue.

"Not bad old fuck." Azcarin nodded. "I guess you do have a decent amount of power…but how about your physical capacities?"

In the time it took Dumbledore to blink, Azcarin had crossed the distance between them and his sword of light was cutting through the air and aiming right for his neck. It was only by sheer luck that he managed to bend back just enough for the blade to singe his beard but luckily miss his neck. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Azcarin kept spinning and the next thing Dumbledore knew he was sailing through the air after receiving the back of the red-faced devil's foot to his jaw.

Shaking his to try and get the spots out of his sight, Dumbledore crawled backwards across the floor away from Azcarin, who was once again just standing there as if he didn't have a care in the world. "Hpmh. Pathetic." Azcarin sighed as he started to calmly walk towards him. "You've counted on your power to maintain your position that you neglected your physical body. A classic and fatal mistake old man. Luckily for you though…you won't be alive long enough to truly regret it."

Propping himself up on one arm, he flicked his wand and sent a powerful and silent cutting curse towards the man's arm that was holding his sword. What happened next happened so fast he could barely process it. Azcarin's sword twitched to the side, his spell struck the edge of the glowing blade…and the next he knew, Dumbledore was short his wand hand. And the Elder Wand was rolling uselessly across the ground away from the two of them.

"Really? A cutting curse?" He heard Azcarin sigh as he continued to stare down at the cauterized stump where his right hand used to be. "I was expecting something a little…more. Especially seeing as how it would probably be your last chance to cast anything before I cut you down. Although I will admit it was powerful and fast. But still…a cutting curse? Fucking pathetic."

The tip of the glowing red sword appeared underneath his chin, forcing his eyes away from his missing hand and up into the cold yellow eyes of the demon before him. "So…any last words old man?"

The space between the two men erupted in flame, forcing Azcarin to jump back as Fawkes flamed into existence between the two of them. "Fawkes…" Dumbledore breathed, more relieved than ever before to have his familiar by his side once more.

"What the fuck?" Azcarin spat. "What is this? Some overgrown pheasant is your last line of defense? And just when I thought you couldn't get any more pathetic." Fawkes gave of a defiant cry at being called a pheasant, but Azcarin didn't seem to care. "Either way, it doesn't matter. After all, you were never my target old man."

Azcarin held up his hand, and Dumbledore realized a moment too late just what he'd meant when Azcarin said he wasn't his target. The Elder Wand, which had been laying uselessly on the floor, twitched once and then started sailing through the air towards Azcarin. But instead of flying into his hand, the wand sailed just above Azcarin's fingertips and past his ear and behind him.

"Well well well…what have we here? Have you two boys started having fun without me? How inconsiderate of you both."

Fawkes started cheering merrily, but Dumbledore couldn't find it within himself to feel good about this turn of events. For standing just within the entrance to the Great Hall, holding the elder wand in her right hand and tapping it against the palm of her left, was perhaps one of the last people he ever wanted to see holding the wand.

"Nox." Azcarin growled, although there seemed to be a tone of excitement to it as well for some reason that eluded Dumbledore. "You always did have a way of showing up exactly where you were unwanted."

"It's a gift Azcarin." Nox shrugged before turning her attention to himself, or rather Fawkes. "Fawkes, if you don't want your master to die I highly suggest you get him the hell out of here before he decides to do something stupid. Like trying to get between myself and Azcarin."

Fawkes gave of a cry, then turned and before Dumbledore could so much as utter a single word, grabbed hold of him. By the time his mind had finally caught up with what was happening, Fawkes's flames had encompassed both of their bodies. And the next he knew, he was laying on the floor of his office and Fawkes was moving up to his perch.

Standing across the now vacant hall, Nox continued to tap the elder wand against her palm as she and Azcarin stared one another down. "Well…now that the excess baggage is out of the way…how do you want to die Azcarin?"

One of Azcarin's horns above his right eye twitched as the corner of his lips turned upwards. "Tell me Nox…do you even recognize the importance of what you're holding right now?"

"You mean this?" Nox asked, lifting the wand and holding it perpendicular to the ground. "It's the Elder Wand. One of the three fabled 'Deathly Hallows'. Or more specifically…it's one of Vitiate's three horcruxes."

That took Azcarin back, and Nox couldn't help but laugh internally at the unflappable Sith's surprise. "So you have figured it out then Nox." Azcarin nodded, overcoming his surprise. "Although I shouldn't be surprised should I? You always were praised as being one of the brightest and most powerful Sith born in generations. After myself of course."

"Of course," Nox nodded, humoring the Sith. "But tell me Azcarin…why did you give these three away to those brothers all those years ago? You held the keys to your Master's immortality in your hands, and you gave them away instead of using them to your advantage. How very un-Sith like of you Azcarin."

"I never did care about how 'Sith' I looked Nox, you should know this." Azcarin shrugged. "And besides…Vitiate is the closest thing to a true god this plan of existence knows. Destroying his soul anchors would temporarily weaken him. It won't kill him. And until I figure just to go about that, I'm more than happy to be his sword, cutting anything and anyone who dares stand in his path." Both his single bladed lightsaber and saberstaff ignited, illuminating the space around Azcarin with a red glow. "Now come Nox…let us see if your skills have improved at all."

Sliding the wand into a holster on her wrist, Nox snapped her right arm down to her side, sending her own lightsaber into her waiting palm. "I think you'll find Azcarin." Nox smiled as she activated her blood-red blade. "That a lot has changed."

Grinning like a madman, Azcarin settled into a dueling stance with his lightsaber held in front of him and his saberstaff held across his back. "I hope so Nox."

Well, hope that you all liked it! Please leave a review and let me know what y'all thought!