"So that is where we stand, I'm afraid." Dumbledore said sadly. He had gathered Harry and his friends in his office, far away from the fighting. The Marauder's Map lay open upon his desk, and he kept watch over it to monitor the battle. The main battle was centered around the entry hall, but several groups of people had broken away an scattered throughout the castle.
"So, there is only the snake and the cup left, and you're sure that Voldemort has the cup on him." Harry confirmed.
"I am. Thanks to reports from Bellatrix's escapade at Gringott's, I am positive the final two Horcruxes are near us. We must lure Voldemort to us, and destroy them before we kill Voldemort himself."
"How do we do that?" Hermione asked.
"It's not as if we can send him a invitation." Susan said angrily. She had only just learned of the Horcruxes.
"He wouldn't come anyway. He's a coward." Neville remarked.
"But a smart coward." Ron said. "He' send his pawns to weaken us so he can come in and finish it. That way he gets all the glory."
"Any ideas?" Daphne asked, looking at her friends who all looked just as lost as she felt.
Maybe we could go to him." Blaise offered. "We could have Harry appear in front of him. While he's occupied with Harry, the rest of us could destroy these things."
"No. Undoubtedly he will have surrounded himself with his best Death Eaters. It would be suicide." Dumbledore sighed. "We need him to on our field, where we have the advantage."
"I've got one." Harry said, staring pointedly at the Marauder's map. "Let's make him angry."
He stepped closer to the desk and leaned closer to the map. The others followed him to see what it was that had caught his attention.
Harry felt only rage. The little dot upon the map signified so much to Harry. From the first trip into Diagon alley, to his capture last fall. One name had been the bane of his existence at Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy.
The map showed Draco had entered the castle. He was currently on the sixth floor in the northern part of the castle.
"He's going to bring in Death Eaters in through the Transfiguration Corridor." Daphne pointed to the map.
"And it looks like he's going to have help." Ron pointed.
"Ron, Neville, you guys come with me. The rest of you head off his buddies." Harry said commandingly. "We've got to stop him before he gets the Death Eaters in."
"I'm going with you." Daphne said stubbornly. Harry didn't argue, but turned and led the way into the castle. Dumbledore had been silent through the whole exchange, watching the interaction with fascination. He finally looked at the map on his desk to find out what had agitated the youth so fiercely.
"Oh dear." Dumbledore sputtered when he saw Draco's name. He quickly moved to the perch of his familiar. "Fawkes. Please retrieve Severus right away. I'm afraid Harry and his friends are heading into something they are not prepared for."
There was a flash of fire and the phoenix was gone. Dumbledore felt himself grow cold as he stared at the name upon the map.
Snape mounted his broom and waited while the rest of his group prepared. He checked his makeshift bandolier where seven vials of his new acid waited to be pelted down upon the Death Eater army.
"We're ready Severus." Charlie Weasley nodded. He had been sent up here when he arrived. Snape was happy to have such a good flyer with them. He would have been extremely happy to have Potter, but Dumbledore had argued that they must keep Harry's involvement as quiet as possible until the Dark Lord himself appeared.
While Snape agreed with the plan, he still would have felt better having Harry up in the air with them.
"As before, aim for the giants." Snape ordered. "And be careful. We no longer have the element of surprise."
With a deep breath, Snape leapt off the Astronomy tower, followed by the others he led. Like birds of prey, the aerial group dove their brooms at the attacking force, still pounding and smashing at the great oak doors which led into the castle. Snape wondered how they had held up this long against the continuous onslaught from the giants.
Roars of confusion and searing pain came from the angry giants and Death Eaters, as the flying warriors begun flinging their vials of acid. Snape smiled with satisfaction as his first vial went right down the throat of a howling giant, who had been hit in the back of the head by another Order member. Snape pulled away quickly to prepare for his next run, so he didn't see the giant clutch his smoking throat as it was eaten away from the inside. The dying giant stomped and flailed, smashing death Eaters under his gargantuan feet until he finally fell in a smoldering heap crushing a few Death Eaters who had been unable to escape.
Charlie Weasley flew low, banishing a vial straight at the face of a Death Eater, and pulling up just as two others tried to hex him off his broom. As he pulled up through the legs of a giant, he smashed another vial against the inside of the grayish skinned thigh. The giant howled in agony and swatted at the growing wound on it's leg.
"We're never going to get the giants on our side if we keep doing things like this to them." he thought wryly.
Charlie swung his broom around when he had gained altitude. He saw others diving, swooping, and speeding above dropping their vials upon the biggest targets. Charlie had to admit that this had been a good idea. Controlling the skies would not ensure victory, but it would tip the balance in the light side's favor. The key was to eliminate the threat of the giants.
The lumbering beasts had the strength, and for the most part were impervious to most magic. As it now stood, the giants were most nearly finished. Only five remained fighting of the original forty. Thirteen were sleeping thanks to the Draught Of Living Death, and the others were now nursing serious burns, or in the case of the one Snape had gotten, dead.
Charlie saw a flash out of the corner of his eye, and turned in time to see Snape following Fawkes north. He had no time to wonder what the reason was for Snape's quick retreat as his broom was struck with a blasting hex, snapping off the front of the handle. Charlie was losing altitude fast, and didn't have much time for fancy ideas. He fought the broom through a window of the castle, and crashed into the library. He was buried in an avalanche of books and shelving.
As he emerged from the mess, only bruised, Charlie began thanking whoever watched over him that it had been books and not the ground. He would live to fly another day. Charlie dug into his pocket to fetch his wand and join the others, only to find his wand had been snapped in the crash.
"But I'm still alive, and that's something." He shrugged. Quickly he left the library to seek out his comrades, and hopefully find a usable wand.
"Why are we going this way?" Pansy Parkinson asked. "McGonagall told us to go to the Hospital wing to help Pomfrey."
"Why would we want to help the side that's going to lose?" Theodore Nott asked. He turned on Pansy, who involuntarily took a step back. "We're going to help get our families and the other Death Eaters inside to finish this farce of a battle. Then we'll be rewarded by the Dark Lord for our service."
"Or we'll get killed." Pansy argued. "Do you really believe that You-Know-Who is going to give you some fancy medal or loads of gold for opening the door?"
"Ever since the start of the year you've become this goody-goody bitch. You've become worse than Granger, and I'm so sick of listening to it. You used to know where your loyalties were."
"Shut up, Theodore." Pansy shrieked. "Astoria has done good things for our house."
"Yeah, letting mudbloods and blood traitors get in with us. She's setting us up for the chopping block." Nott argued. Behind him, Crabbe and Goyle stood, nodding stupidly. Pansy looked to her best friend, who was now moving to stand next to Theodore.
"Millie?" Pansy said, her voice a surprised whisper. "You're not seriously siding with them, are you?"
"I don't even know you anymore Pansy." Millicent said in her deep nearly masculine voice.
"You're just siding with them because Theodore took your virginity when no one else would even touch you." Pansy stamped.
"Is that true?" came a familiar drawling voice. "Theodore I'm shocked."
"Draco?" Nott asked, not believing his eyes.
"I hoped to find people loyal to the Dark Lord still hiding inside." Draco purred. "But tell me, did you really give it to Bulstrode? Have you sunk so low?"
"I am standing right here." Millicent snarled, clutching her wand tightly.
"Ever since Greengrass took leadership of Slytherin, she's been spreading this treat others equal tripe. She's got nearly the entire house believing in it. Pickings are slim. However, in Millie's defense, she's a great…"
"I don't need details, thank you." Draco said, shuddering as recent memories of his own escapades flooded his mind's eye.
"What is the situation?" Draco asked, changing the subject.
Pansy, seeing that their attentions were distracted, began backing away from her former friends. She hoped to get clear and possibly warn others that Draco was inside the castle. As she turned however, two hands clutched her and swung her back around.
Crabbe had his meaty arms around her now, and she was facing Draco's arrogant sneer.
"You weren't going to warn the Order, were you?" He smirked. "After all the good times we had?"
"They weren't good. It was me fooling myself. You were never good enough for me, I just couldn't see it then." Pansy spat.
"Theodore, Why didn't you hook up with Pansy?" Draco asked mockingly, not turning his vivid blue eyes from her smoldering brown. "She wasn't very good in bed, but at least she was pretty."
"Was?" Nott asked confused.
Draco reached out and violently tore a strip of flesh from Pansy's face as if ripping off a bandage. He used the same dark cutting hex he always used, but did it much faster than usual. Draco tucked the fresh cut strip into his pouch, never taking his eyes from Pansy, who struggled to get free of Crabbe, screaming in frightened agony all the while.
With a nod from Draco, Crabbe pushed the shrieking girl to the floor. Pansy fell hard, cracking her knees on the hard unforgiving stone floor. She clutched at her face where blood seeped through her fingers staining her school sweater. She spun to face her former friends as they slowly closed in on her.
"What should we do to her?" Draco asked rhetorically. "Oh how I would love to keep you screaming all night, however, I do have things to do, people to kill, and a kingdom to conquer. So, I'm afraid you're to get a reprieve."
"You're going to let her live?" Nott asked angrily.
"Please." Draco chuckled. "Avada Kedavra."
A flash of green and Pansy Parkinson slumped over, dead.
Without a word, Draco turned and headed down the hall, followed by Nott, Crabbe and Goyle. Millicent lingered just a second after the rest to stare at her lifelong best friend, killed at the hands of the one they had trusted above all others. The one Pansy had sworn she would marry. For the first time in her life, Millicent Bulstrode was having second thoughts on where she stood in this war.
The Great Oak doors finally gave way and the entrance hall was flooded by Death Eaters. Leading the charge was Fenrir Greyback, the leader of the werewolf tribes who had declared loyalty to Voldemort. They had been given wands, but Fenrir preferred using his hands and teeth. He would have preferred a full moon night, but his blood lust knew no limitations.
He moved like an animal unleashed, barreling into his victims and tearing at their flesh until he was soaked in blood. He howled into the cavernous entrance hall, beckoning his forces forward.
Fenrir stood from the carcass that had once been a man and searched for the next closest victim when he spotted Remus Lupin, who was rushing towards him.
"You betray your roots, boy!" Fenrir called out in challenge. "It isn't to late to join us."
"You're sick, a disease on humanity." Remus countered. He whipped his wand, sending a mess of arrows at his opponent. Fenrir, clutching his own wand conjure a shield in time. The arrows fell to the floor and became vapor.
"Nice little trick, but no where near good enough." The werewolf called as he banished a large piece of the once great door at Remus who side stepped as elegantly as a ballet dancer.
The two werewolves traded spells, each one growing more and more agitated with each failure. They circle each other, snarling in challenge. Fenrir struck first, tossing his wand aside and bull rushing Remus, who also tossed away his wand. Remus gasped as the impact of Fenrir's bulk into his stomach pushed all the air out of his lungs. Still, Remus bashed and hammered at the elder wolf.
The two men crashed through a door into the staff room. Tumbling end over end, they fell on the floor, clawing, punching and snapping at each other. Fenrir was able to hole Remus down and strike blow after blow at the traitor.
"I gave you immeasurable power you ungrateful whelp!"
"You took my innocence and cursed my life." Remus shouted, pushing Fenrir off of him, and landing a solid punch into Fenrir's windpipe. The older wolf tumbled back, clutching his throat. Remus didn't let up, kicking and punching the bigger man until Fenrir was a bloody mess.
Remus took a few steps back, catching his breath, while Fenrir, laying on the floor began laughing maniacally.
"You can't kill me, Lupin. No silver, and you won't lower yourself to use a killing curse. You're too good for that, eh?"
"You're better consider yourself lucky that I have no silver, you bastard." Remus shouted.
"I can fix that." Tonks said. She waved her wand and conjured a silver dagger which she plunged deep into Fenrir's chest. Fenrir howled with rage and pain. He struggled to pull the knife free of his chest as he felt fire spreading inside of his body.
The alpha male of the werewolf clans tried to get to his feet, tried to crawl for safety, anything to save his life. It was all for nothing however when he finally succumbed to the poison that Tonks had pierced him with.
"You okay?" She asked of Remus who looked exhausted.
"You have impeccable timing, my love. Impeccable." Remus gasped.
"I saw you two roll in here and figured I'd back you up."
"Thank you." Remus said heartily as he kissed his lover firmly. "I will thank you properly later on.
"You better." Tonks smiled deviously.
"Come on, others need our help." Together they waded back into the raging battle just inside the castle entrance. The Death Eaters had made significant progress into the castle. The entrance all was no empty of fighting. Only bodies showed the signs of that battle had been there.
Remus and Tonks could hear the screams and war cries of people waging war inside the castle. Tonks grabbed Remus and they went to the Great Hall to see if anyone needed their assistance.
It happened so quick. Tonks passed a small alcove, not even looking. Remus who was just behind her smelled the Death Eater before he saw him. With a ferocious cry of feral rage, Remus tackled the robed figure just as he emerged from the shadows to attack Tonks. The two rolled on the floor, grappling with one another until there came the tell tale flash of green, and Remus went limp.
Tonks reacted instantly, blasting the robed attacker with a severing hex, cutting the man just above the shoulders. Tonks lunged forward, toppling the body of Remus' killer to the ground and picking up her lover's head and cradling it in her lap.
Tears of rage and loss spilled down her cheeks. Her normally spiky Pink hair began to lengthen and darken into a flat, mousy brown color. Her bright, sparkling eyes became darker as well. She sat there holding on to Remus until she was found by Professor Sprout twenty minutes later.
"This would be easier if we had that map." Tracey panted.
"We should be with Harry. Why did we agree to this?" Hermione asked.
"Because Nott is just as bad as Malfoy." Blaise growled. "He's got all Draco's supporters with him. As stupid as they are, they are quite powerful."
They rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. On the floor before them lay a body of someone familiar. Slowly they moved forward.
Tracey knelt down and felt a storm of emotion as she looked into the sad brown eyes of her former dorm mate, Pansy Parkinson.
"Who did this?" Blaise asked.
Tears fell from Tracey's eyes. "She had begun to see the light. She was becoming nice."
"Do you think she fought with Nott?" Hermione asked.
Tracey reached down and closed Pansy's eyes. She noticed a pool of blood, and turned pansy's head to see a long thin wound beginning just below Pansy's eye and straight down her cheek.
"What's that?" Hermione asked, peering closely at the wound.
"Draco did it." Susan said, her hand flying to her mouth in disgust. "He did it to my mom. Draco killed her."
Everyone turned to look at Susan, who was slowly backing away from Pansy's body.
"Draco's got help now. We need to get to Harry." Hermione urged.
Without another word Hermione led the groups as fast as they could go down to the Transfiguration Corridor.
"So what is your plan?" Nott asked as he ran next to Draco. The blonde wizard smirked as he eyed his companion. They had just emerged into the courtyard connected to the Transfiguration corridor.
"We clear any resistance and send up sparks. This will signal our forces waiting in the forest."
"Then what?" Nott was curious.
"Then, I am going to kill Dumbledore."
Nott stop so suddenly that Millicent ran into him, knocking him flat to the ground. Nott quickly got back to his feet and stared hard at the former Slytherin Prince. Draco simply smiled arrogantly.
"You don't truly believe you can beat Dumbledore in a duel, do you?" Nott asked in awe.
"Yes. I can beat him, and I will. And then I will kill the Dark lord, and the entire world will fall to their knees and do as I command."
"Have you gone insane?"
"Obviously he has."
Draco, Nott and the others turned to se Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Daphne Greengrass.
"YOU!" Draco said angrily. He pointed his wand and fired a series of spells which Harry dodged. "How are you still alive? I watched you die!"
"Then I must be a ghost." Harry said, ducking another volley of hexes.
"Take them, Potter is mine!" Draco shouted as he began moving forward. He kept up a steady stream of hexes and curses, keeping Harry from countering. Draco figured he would simply keep Harry running about until he became tired, then he would eliminate the nuisance for good.
"You're a lousy shot, Draco." Taunted Harry.
"It doesn't matter Potter. Sooner or later you're not going to have anywhere left to hide."
Harry knew it was true. Draco was systematically eliminating every statue, low wall, and anything else Harry could hide behind. Harry would have to go on the offensive if he were going to have any chance.
"Diffindo." Harry shouted. Draco simply waved off the spell, and fired several more at his target. Harry rolled and dodged and leapt out of the way of each spell.
Draco suddenly fell forward onto his knees. Harry could see and angry looking Daphne holding her wand level at Draco's head. Crabbe, Goyle and Nott had been knocked out and lay on the ground. Harry also saw Neville and Ron looking over the Slytherins, making sure they were bound tightly.
"Looks like your back up is out. You've got no more help, Draco. Give up, and maybe we'll go easy on you."
Draco sneered at Harry, and with a speed no one present had ever believed possible, Draco was on his feet and with a flash, All Harry's friends were sent sprawling down the long corridor. Then Draco blasted a large chunk of the hall, cutting Harry off from rescue.
"It looks like we're even now, Potter."
"In your dreams, Malfoy.
"The Dark Lord may not be able to kill you, But I can."
Draco sent a flurry off spells at Harry. The raven haired boy countered with a shield spell. Harry began to feel trepidation at his chances as he felt each spell smash against his shield.
"When I'm done with you Potter, I intend to make Greengrass my personal pet!"
"Over my dead body." Harry screamed as he fired several Confringo curses at his long time rival. He growled with each miss, and sent a stunning spell at his school rival. Draco fell back as the spell hit him in the chest. Harry stood up slowly, breathing hard. He nearly fell over when Draco sat up, smirking wickedly.
"It's going to take more than that, Potter." Draco grinned, opening his robed to show his armor. "I've become very powerful since our last encounter. I'm even stronger than the Dark Lord. And after I've killed you, I will kill him."
Harry's eyes grew wide as Draco stood again. Harry again fired a volley of spells. Draco began to laugh as he dodged each spell. Harry was beginning to rack his brain for an idea to take down the arrogant ferret. He was beginning to feel tired from running and dodging Draco's spells. Harry needed something surprising.
He shoved his hand into his pocket and grabbed a soft packet, which he smashed onto the ground. Both boys were shrouded in darkness as the Peruvian Darkness Powder spread out. Harry quickly put his Glory Goggles on so he could take down his foe.
Just as Harry was about to strike, Draco conjured a strong wind to clear away the magical powder. He hit Harry with a stunner and followed up by summoning Harry's wand. "Accio Wand."
Harry heard the spell uttered and cursed himself when he felt his wand ripped from his grip.
"Beg Potter."
"Never." Harry said angrily as he tried to get his breath back after being hit by a very powerful stunner. He stared defiantly up at Draco who only smiled back.
"It doesn't matter. It wouldn't change anything. Goodbye Potter."
"Diffindo!"
Draco fell to his knees clutching his wrist where his right hand used to be. Blood sprayed form the horrible gaping wound. Draco looked completely lost and surprised at the loss of his limb which rested by his knee, still clutching his wand.
Harry too, looked taken aback. He had been so sure that he was finished. Both boys turned to see the approaching figure of Severus Snape.
"I can not allow you to continue Draco." Snape said slowly, keeping his wand leveled at Draco. "I know what he's done to you, and I will not let it finish."
"You traitor. You Bloody Bastard!" Draco screamed in defiance. Draco's eyes began to glow bright red in his fury.
"I am sorry, Draco. But it must be done. Sectumsempra!"
Draco's eyes went wide as he was hit with the spell. There was no scream, no cries of pain. There was simply a surprised little "oh" and Draco fell back onto the ground. He stared silently up at the gray sky, trying to think of all he had done, and what awaited him beyond the veil. He could feel his body growing colder as all his blood spilled out onto the snow.
Draco could see both Snape and Potter enter into his darkening field of vision, but he couldn't speak as his throat was dry. He could only stare at there faces, wondering why they both looked so saddened. Draco had hated them both. He had spent so much of his life dreaming of ways in which to destroy Potter, many splendid manners in which Potter could meet his demise at Draco's own hands. He could fathom in his final moments why Potter would ever shed a tear at his demise.
Harry watched as Draco bled out onto the snow. He knelt beside his rival and looked up at Snape.
"Shouldn't we do something? We can't let him die." Harry asked of his old teacher.
"I'm sorry, but he must. It's a long story, and we've no time for it. Trust me when I say I wish there was another way." Snape said as he too, knelt beside Draco Malfoy. Neither man did anything other than watch as Draco's eyes closed and his breathing ceased. There was no sound. Harry felt a strange conflict. He had hated Malfoy more than any person he'd ever known. Yet he had never wanted to see Draco dead. Though it was true the Slytherin had deserved the very worst, Death seemed far to cruel.
There was a flash, and Harry felt himself tossed back into the snow covered ground. Harry scrambled back to his feet in time to see a strange blue energy leap out of the wound in Draco's chest and soar into the sky. Harry looked to Snape who looked quite upset.
"That should bring him to us." Snape smiled sadly.
Not far away, Lord Voldemort sat alone in his tent, struggling for breath. He had sent word for Draco to return, and there were two Dementors standing by. It was time. The bond was complete.
Voldemort stood weakly as his ears caught the sound of something approaching. Before he could figure out what the sound was, a brilliant blue light filled the tent and Voldemort felt himself lifted off the ground. Every fiber in his frail body became alive with energy and power. His magical core had returned to him. But it was stronger, more alive.
Voldemort fell into a heap on the floor. He sat up, flexing his fingers in front of his face. Energy crackled between his fingers.
Rage began boiling up in him now. From the very pit of his being until he could drown in the feeling. Draco had been killed. His new body had been destroyed. The Dark Lord stood now, shaking with anger until it culminated into one long, gut wrenching, earth shattering roar.
High up in the headmaster's office, Dumbledore took one long deep breath. He had just heard the far off cry, and he knew the time had come.
With a great sigh, he sealed the envelope on his desk and walked slowly to the vibrant looking bird who watched his master sadly.
"Fawkes, I thank you, old friend, for your companionship. I am truly grateful for all you've done. I must ask one more thing."
Dumbledore explained his wishes and allowed the phoenix to take the envelope. With another flash of flame, the bird was gone. Dumbledore went back to his desk, and took his wand in his tired, old hands. He gazed about the office before taking another deep, soothing breath.
"At last, it is time." he said softly. Dumbledore left his office and began to make his way to the grounds where he knew Voldemort would be soon.