Hello my darlings!

I know, I'm updating a bit late in the day for my EST friends, but expect one more chapter tonight! (Hopefully)

I want you all to know that I really appreciate your feedback, and it means a lot to me knowing that people enjoy my stories!

So with that said, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own no one, and it all belongs to C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Burrow:

Lucy felt someone tap her shoulder, and she looked up to see Viktor Krum holding out a hand.

"Would you care to dance?" he asked, and Lucy smiled slightly, taking the hand. He led her to the dance floor, where other couples were dancing, including Fleur and Bill, and they fell into the flow of the others dancing.

"How are you, Viktor?" Lucy asked as they dance.

"I am as well as I can be." Viktor replied. "And you, Miss Pevensie? Are you well?" Lucy's smile grew sad. "I am terribly sorry again for the loss of your brother."

"Thank you. I am doing better, mainly in thanks to my friends." Lucy replied as Viktor spun her. "I do miss him, though." Viktor nodded sympathetically.

"He was a good man. He replied. "A man I was happy to call my friend." Lucy glanced up at Viktor questioningly, making the Quidditch player chuckle. "He befriended me when we were fifteen, and saw more than just a Quidditch prodigy. I will always be grateful to him for his friendship." Lucy felt tears fill her eyes.

"He always had a gift for that." She replied, and Viktor guided her to a seat near the dance floor, helping her to sit.

"I am glad to know that you have friends who can help you in this time." Viktor said, and Lucy nodded, looking across the tent to where Hermione was sitting, talking to Harry and Ginny. Suddenly, a gleaming silver lynx ran into the tent, making everyone freeze.

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming." Kingsley Shacklebolt's voice said, coming from the Patronus. There was a moment of silence after the message, then everything exploded into pandemonium. People began to run out of the tent but were stopped by Death Eaters appearing. Lucy jumped to her feet, and fired a Stunner at one of the Death Eaters running at her. She ducked a flying green spell, and ran to Hermione's side where she was standing with Harry and Ron.

"You have to leave now." Lucy said firmly, grabbing onto her friend's arm. "The wards are down, so you can leave." Hermione hesitated, looking at Lucy, then looking back at the boys, obviously torn. "'Mione, you don't have much time. Go!" Hermione gave Lucy a brief, tight hug, then ran to Harry and Ron, grabbing their arms and disappearing. Lucy breathed in relief, then turned back to the battle, her wand raised.

Hogwarts Express:

Lucy sat beside Ginny, Aslan curled up on her legs asleep. Lucy was reading Eustace's latest letter and couldn't help the small smile that appeared on her face.

"A letter from your handsome suitor?" Ginny asked, her voice teasing but tense. The latest attack on the Burrow and Mad-Eye's death had affected the young woman, as had the loss of her brother's ear.

"My cousin, actually. Just checking up on me and seeing how I am." Lucy replied, and Ginny looked back at her book.

"Things are going horribly. First the Burrow was attacked, and now Harry, Ron, and Hermione have gone off, and we don't even know what's happened at Hogwarts." The redhead said. Lucy looked over her letter at her friend, and noticed that while her voice may have been steady, the tears in her eyes betrayed her worry.

"They'll be okay, Ginny. Hermione promised me they would, and if anyone can keep Harry Potter and Ron Weasley safe, it's her." Lucy said, and Ginny laughed slightly, wiping away a tear that escaped from her eye.

"I just miss them. I'm worried about Mum, and Dad, and Remus and Tonks." She said, her voice now beginning to shake.

"We'll make sure they're safe, Ginny." Lucy reassured her, and Ginny smiled thankfully at her. The train suddenly jolted to a stop, shaking Aslan from his sleep, and making the two girls look at one another. Lucy slowly stood, reaching for her wand. The door slid open, and a pair appeared in the doorway, their eyes dark and narrowed.

"Can we help you?" Ginny asked, standing beside Lucy. The two ignored the redhead, and stepped into the compartment, waving their wands around.

"Oi, losers!" Neville said, stepping into the doorway. His arms were crossed, and he looked nothing like the scared first-year Lucy remembered so well. "He's not here." Neville stared down the witch and wizards for a solid minute, never wavering. Then, they left, and Neville looked at the pair.

"Thanks, Nev." Ginny said.

"You girls alright?" Neville asked, looking them both over.

"We're fine, Neville. Who were they?" Lucy asked, sitting back down. Neville sat beside Ginny, across from Lucy.

"Death Eaters. Probably new staff at school." He replied. The three settled back in their compartment but were much more uneasy. Lucy found herself holding onto her wand much tighter as the train moved closer to Hogwarts, preparing herself for the year ahead of her.

Room of Requirement:

"Neville!" Lucy said, looking up at the portrait where her friend was standing.

"Oi! I've got a surprise for you lot!" Neville called out, a grin on his face.

"Hopefully not any more of Aberforth's cooking." Seamus called back, making some of the students laugh. Neville smirked, and climbed down the ladder, revealing a familiar trio in his place. "Harry!" The students began to applaud and cheer as Harry, Hermione, and Ron made their way down the ladder as well. Lucy pushed past the students, a smile on her face as she locked eyes with Hermione and Harry.

"Lucy!" Hermione said happily, running forward to embrace her friend. The two hugged tightly, Lucy filled with relief at the sight of her friends safe.

"You're okay. Tell me you're okay." Lucy pleaded, pulling back and looking the brown-haired witch over. Hermione laughed slightly and nodded.

"I'm okay, Lu. I promise." She replied, and Lucy smiled, a real genuine smile for the first time in a few years. She then turned to look at Harry, who grinned back at her. "I've missed you, Lu."

"I've missed you too, 'Mione. It hasn't been the same." Lucy said, and Hermione took her hand and held it tightly. They walked over to Harry's side as he told the students his plan.

"Hermione, I have an idea." Ron said, walking up to Hermione as Luna ran off with Harry towards Ravenclaw Tower. "We need to get to the Chamber of Secrets." Hermione looked at the redhead in shock.

"Are you insane? How are we even going to get in there?" She asked. "And besides, that's incredible dangerous to go back there." Ron sighed in exasperation.

"Just trust me, okay?" he asked, and Hermione looked at Lucy.

"Go. I need to get ready here if he's really coming. She might be with him." The young woman said, nodding in encouragement. Hermione squeezed her friend's hand tightly before running off with Ron.

"Lucy, you should get ready for anything that could happen." Neville said, walking up to Lucy.

"That won't be a problem, Neville." She replied, holding up her wand. "I learned a nifty trick from one of my cousins while he was doing some reading." Lucy waved her wand, and her robes and uniform were transformed into a maroon gown, the top covered in chainmail and a leather breastplate, and a dark cloak was clasped around her neck, with her hair pulled into a high ponytail. Neville took a step back with wide eyes, as did the students surrounding Lucy.

"Pevensie, what was that?" Cho asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That was me preparing. There's more than just dark wizards coming." Lucy replied, turning and walking through the crowd of students, prepared to defend her friends, and her kingdom.

Please review!

I know this may have gone by kind of quickly, but I'm going to write the battle as two-parts, so those chapters will probably be a bit longer than this :)

Well, I'll see you soon kings, queens, wizards, and witches!

Love,

Enchantress