Chapter XXXVI: The Battle of Hogwarts I.
Harry, Hermione and Dumbledore looked out across the courtyard and the narrow bridge over the chasm-like moat, to the glowing mass of Voldemort's army, illuminated by the burning torches of the giants.
"Perfect, they're coming straight at us," Harry smiled at the sight.
"You've increased in intelligence since your first day here harry," Dumbledore chuckled.
"It helps to be connected to the intelligences of twenty-five women, whose total experiences dwarf yours," he replied, not taking his eyes off the approaching army, who were firing spells at the shield over the school. "No offence."
"None taken my boy. I will admit that with the two Black sisters, Ms Rosmerta and her majesty connected to you, you are perhaps the most intelligent person in the country, maybe even the world." Dumbledore chuckled. "But you're this side of the shield, and that's all that matters now."
"Why isn't he threatening us?" Hermione said aloud. "He usually threatens you before things like this."
"He's probably too 'focused' on destroying me, to even bother threatening us." Harry smiled. "But he's coming straight at us, not trying to envelop."
"Meaning he's overconfident," Hermione smiled. "He believes his forces are unbeatable, so he's going to try smashing through our lines."
"You two really were meant for each other, you're so in synch." Dumbledore smiled; a slight twinkle in his eye.
"How long do you think it'll take them to break through the shield?" Harry asked.
"Less than an hour, Moody ensured the shield was at full strength, in accordance with your plan." Dumbledore replied.
"Well, we should get comfortable," Hermione sighed, leaning against the wall, as the bell tower above them struck ten.
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There was a flash of orange, and the shield began to crumble from the top down. Harry stiffened and watched as it got closer and closer to allowing Voldemort's army to attack. When the last part of the shield had faded away, Harry watched as the giants charged into the chasm, and Voldemort's army streamed across the bridge.
'Wait for it!' Harry said over the link.
He waited until most of the army was either in the courtyard, or crossing the bridge, whilst the giants were stuck in the chasm.
'Now!' Harry commanded, as the last death eater moved on to the bridge.
The castle erupted into light as spells were fired down on the attacking death eaters, from all sides. On the far side Harry could see the Centaurs moving on the giants, and even over the spellfire, he could hear the water churning in the chasm.
"And so it begins." Dumbledore sighed.
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As she and the Centaurs charged on the nearest giant, Lavender let the savage nature of her wolf form take over.
"Remember Miss Brown, do not wound, either incapacitate or kill" Firenze yelled.
She leapt into the chasm and ran sideways along the cliff face, before leaping on to the giant's back. The giant roared and tried to swat her off, but lost its hold on the cliff wall and fell. Lavender pounced to the next giant and clawed its back. Other giants were falling into spiderweb traps and being quickly picked off by the ever-charging Centaurs.
"For Hogwarts!" a voice screeched.
Lavender glanced down and saw the water surging below the giants. Ropes of seaweed shot out of the water and held the giants in place, while the Centaurs hurled spears and fired bows at the eight to twenty foot high giants.
"Golgomath smash!" the biggest giant roared, measuring twenty feet in height, smashing the foundations of the nearest wing of the castle.
Lavender snarled as she saw the stonework collapse, revealing the Veela positioned behind it.
'Master! They're focusing on the castle!' she said over the link.
'It's okay, as long as they're in the chasm, not on the bridge, my plan is working.' He replied. 'Gabby is in the other wing, influencing their movement, hence why some are fairly inactive.'
Lavender slashed at the giant's throat and leapt toward the one called Golgomath.
"Puny werewolf!" Golgomath snarled, swatting her from the air, and sending her hurtling towards the water.
She hit the water and was momentarily stunned by the impact, and the ice-cold water.
"You're not out yet," Murcus hissed.
A jet of water propelled her upward, and she dug her claws into Golgomath's ankle, she wouldn't let this monstrous being destroy her master's property.
"For Lord Hogwarts!" Bolesh and Goraga hissed loudly, as a swarm of Acromantula surged from the forest, quickly building bridges across the gorge and caging the giants in the moat.
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"Silver, be careful." Fleur said, watching as the giants moved into the chasm. "Don't exert yourself."
"Silence it sis!" Gabby snapped.
They watched as the largest giant smashed the foundations of the opposite wing.
"Sorry" Fleur said weakly, returning to firing at the death eaters in the courtyard, many of whom were taking flight, attempting to find a weakness in the defences.
Gabby concentrated her allure on her appointed task. She could feel the giants wanting to climb the four storey cliff and attack the castle, but she was influencing them to stay in the chasm. But some were being attracted toward her.
"Are Hippolyta et mama okay?" Gabby asked, knowing her lapse had endangered their lives.
"Oui!" Fleur yelled, before dodging a spell that shattered the windows. "C'est au-delà de ce que nous avons formé pour!" (This is beyond what we trained for!)
"Ma'am, our forces on the right need your help!" a Veela called. Fleur snarled and hurried down the nearest flight of stairs, the left wing wouldn't fail on her watch.
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The darkened corridor above the courtyard was alight with activity, as the Veela hurled fire from their hands at the death eater followers below them. Hippolyta was having more fun than she'd had in centuries, summoning fire and hurling it down on to those below with grace and ease, as her people did the same all around her.
"Comment sont mes filles font?" (How are my daughters doing?) Apolline asked.
"They're doing fine my dear; Fleur is making sure Gabby isn't threatened." Hippolyta said softly, contrasting her fast, fluent flame-throwing fists.
"Je suis surpris que vous avez vous-même lié à un seigneur humble, quand vous pourriez avoir quelqu'un d'aussi votre compagnon." (I'm surprised you've bonded yourself to a lowly lord, when you could have anyone as your mate.) Apolline said quickly, punching a man with fire as he'd attempted to fly in through the window.
"Ah, but there are so few noble kings left, with men of honour and courageous hearts are even fewer." She replied. "Harry is unlike any man I've ever met, and I do not regret choosing him as my bondmate."
"Je comprends ma reine. Mes filles ont de la chance d'avoir trouvé un homme comme lui de les aimer comme ils méritent d'être aimés." (I understand my queen. My girls are lucky to have found a man like him to love them like they deserve to be loved.)
"I'm sure he could help you learn English my dear, he taught Hermione's mother about the magical world quickly and easily." Hippolyta laughed.
"Le français est ma langue maternelle, j'ai parlé toute ma vie. Pourquoi voudrais-je parler anglais maintenant?" (French is my mother tongue; I have spoken it all my life. Why would I want to speak English now?) Apolline snapped, clearly insulted by the notion.
"It was merely a thought my dear, I only understand you because of the bond link." Hippolyta said quickly. "Mon français l'habitude d'être un peu rouillé, mais maintenant je suis couramment, je suis sûr qu'il pourrait faire de même pour votre anglais." (My French used to be a little rusty, but now I'm fluent, I'm sure he could do the same for your English.)
"Je vais y réfléchir." (I'll think about it.) Apolline said simply, blasting through the death eater crowd.
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Bellatrix was on the front line with several retired Aurors and some of the more experienced students. She did feel slightly uncomfortable, as she knew her past crimes included injuring or killing relatives of those she was now fighting with.
"Evening Bellatrix, long time no see," Scabior called, pushing his way to the front, to duel the ex-death eater.
"Scabior, you licking Riddle's arse now?" she cackled, keeping him on the defensive.
"Whereas it seems you're Potter's cum dumpster!" Scabior laughed, spotting Bellatrix's bump.
"And proud of it!" she snapped, forcing him backward. "At least now I have a future that's full of hope!"
"I have a hopeful future, I'll get one hell of a payday when we're done here," Scabior retorted. "I hope I get your ex-husband's vault."
"You'll need to cash out if you want to live," Neville snarled.
Scabior deflected Longbottom's spell, and fired a cruciatus curse at him.
"No!" Trixie yelled, blasting Scabior back, before diving in front of the spell.
The cruiciatus curse hit her, and she writhed on the floor in agony, finally she had experienced the pain she'd caused hundreds before. Scabior quickly got to his feet and looked at Bellatrix writhing on the floor.
"Karma's a bitch!" he snarled, raising his wand to strike.
"No you don't!" Neville roared, hitting Scabior with three spells in quick succession.
Scabior flew over the massed death eaters and out of sight, Neville helped Trixie to her feet, and she smiled at him, her hands quickly feeling her bump.
"We're okay, I think." Trixie smiled, before hugging Neville tightly. "Thank you Neville, you saved us."
"That was for them, not you!" Neville said coldly, pointing at her pregnant belly, "I still haven't forgiven you!"
Before Trixie could reply, Neville quickly moved away to duel other death eater minions.
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"Where are they?" Tonks moaned, looking out of the window at the dark landscape outside, seeing the occasional flash below her.
"Something's not right" Moody snarled, his magic eye swirling around wildly. "They should be swarming from all sides, but they're focused on the courtyard."
"Think Voldemort's up to something?" Tonks asked, looking at the impatient defenders sitting around the common room, bored out of their minds.
"He's always up to something" Moody growled. "Check with Potter, see what's going on elsewhere?"
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Harry watched as the massed death eater forces struggled to break through the castle defences. The Veela were forcing some death eaters to fight on two fronts, and he could see the giants dropping like flies in the chasm.
That seems appropriate with the spiders involved. he thought to himself.
"So far we're holding, but they're not letting up." Dumbledore said. "If we don't get a reprieve soon, our line will break somewhere."
"How? Voldemort wants us dead; he's hardly going to stop for a tea break." Hermione said sarcastically.
"If we keep holding like this, he'll stop, and try to undermine our defenders." Harry theorised. "His best hope in that scenario is to try and weaken us, before unleashing everything."
"Hasn't he already sent everything at us?" Hermione asked, seeing the flashes going off across the courtyard.
"Oh no" Harry chuckled. "He said his forces dwarf ours, at the moment it's a stalemate."
"Then he's testing us, seeing exactly what our defences are, before his real attack." Hermione caught wind of what Harry was thinking quickly. "So he can properly deal with us."
"Too bad I've got something to do the same to him." Harry smiled, flashing the diadem in his pocket.
"What are you planning Harry?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"When he sues for 'peace' and threatens to unleash his full force, then I will act as I have previously stated." He replied, watching the battle below him.
'Master, what's going on?' Several harem members asked over the bond link.
'Voldemort's testing our strength, if you're not engaged, do not engage them, we need to hold some back in order to keep a surprise advantage over him.' Harry said authoritatively.
'Yes master,' they all said together.
It only took a few minutes before that moment came. The death eater forces retreated back across the bridge, and the remaining giants were quickly killed off by the Centaurs and Merpeople, with the Acromantula moving toward the lake, chasing some unfortunate stragglers.
"Now we wait for his 'offer'." Harry said, looking up to see the moon directly overhead. "Prepare the suits and statues, and send word to Bolesh and Goraga."
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"My lord, our surviving forces have returned, as you ordered." A peon said feebly, as Voldemort stood in a smaller forest clearing that was closer to the castle.
He was surrounded by his inner circle, and loyal death eaters. His eyes were closed; his body in a meditative state, with Nagini curled up at his feet, hissing softly.
"Mr Scabior, what are your losses?" Voldemort said coldly.
"Minimal my lord," Scabior smiled, supporting himself with a broken tree branch, as he'd broken his leg when Neville had sent him flying. "Your giants however were ambushed and wiped out."
"By what?" he asked, his tone cold and icy, sending shivers down Scabior's spine.
"Centaurs, Thestrals, Merpeople, Acromantula, and what my men swear blind, was a blonde werewolf." Scabior listed. "Golgomath and his all his followers now lie dead in the bottom of the chasm that surrounds the school."
"How can he have a werewolf? It's not a full moon!" a werewolf in his human form asked, looking longingly up at the crescent moon. "Though there is a smell of one hanging in the air."
"They swear blind it was a werewolf," Scabior said defensively. "I heard its roars but didn't see it."
"What of the boy's defences?" Voldemort asked, ignoring the werewolf rumour. "How do they fare?"
"Hard to tell, we were forced into a courtyard, and then confronted with wand fire from the first two floors of the castle," Scabior said quickly, pacing back and forth behind Voldemort, who hadn't moved or looked at him since his return from battle. "We were then hit by fire from both sides."
"He has students in the flanking courtyard buildings?" Voldemort asked.
"Not sure, but they were hurling fire at us nonstop." Scabior sighed.
"Veela," a death eater snarled. "The boy's got Veela on each side of the courtyard my lord, by the sounds of it they're fully fledged as well."
"It matters not." The dark lord snapped, silencing his followers. "What of the battle, how did they fare against you?"
"They held their ground, we weren't able to make any headway, and none of the giants made it across the chasm." Scabior replied. "Although, it looked like large parts of the castle are undefended."
"Excellent." Voldemort said, turning and looking at the outline of the castle in the distance. "Since the boy is so fond of ultimatums, I'll give him one."
With that Voldemort glided past Scabior, his death eaters following close behind.
This time everything he had at his disposal would be brought to bear on the meagre defence force that the boy had mustered against him.
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"Nice touch Luna," Harry smirked, he had left his position on beneath the bell tower, to check on the situation throughout the castle. "This'll certainly surprise them."
Luna had gathered all the suits of armour and statues in the Great Hall, and instead of clasping antiquated swords, spears and axes, Luna had fitted them with equally antiquated firearms; crossbows, bows and blunderbusses.
"Thank you master, with the giants all dead, they needed to have ranged weaponry." Luna smiled. "I also made sure they fire spells, not bullets or arrows."
He pulled her in for a smouldering kiss, before addressing the ranks of statues and suits of armour.
"Attention!" he said, making all the suits stand at attention. "This is the Lord of Hogwarts speaking, you have been reanimated because my castle is threatened, and my dear Luna has updated your weaponry to better defend the castle. You are to return to your posts, and act lifeless until danger is near, then you must act accordingly. Do not let your home fall to these hostiles, do not fail me."
The animated suits and statues saluted him, before clanking past, back into the castle, returning to their posts.
"Clever master, this will certainly surprise the death eaters who breach the castle walls." Luna purred, before skipping off after the suits.
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Harry apparated to Lavender's side, and found her and the Centaurs resting by the lake, many tending to the wounded.
"Evening Harry, how goes the castle?" Firenze asked, trotting over and bowing before him.
"We held, but I know that wasn't his full force," Harry smiled, caressing Lavender's mane. "How'd things go for you?"
"Losses were minimal, mostly cuts and scrapes from the giant's backlashes, the spiders certainly helped." Firenze breathed. "Your Lavender certainly gave her all, she took down Golgomath single-handed."
"Good girl" he said softly, making Lavender purr at the praise. "Golgomath?"
"King of the giants basically, I only know him by reputation, but it was definitely him leading the giants on Voldemort's behest." Firenze said quickly. "What are your orders?"
"Any critically wounded are to head into the castle for refuge, the rest of you move up along the lake until you're behind their lines." Harry commanded. "When I send the signal to Lavender, I want you to charge into the back of the death eaters, and make sure they can't retreat."
"No survivors?" Firenze asked curiously.
"If they clearly surrender," he demonstrated by raising his hands over his head. "Then let them live, otherwise, yes."
"I never expected such a ruthless streak from someone so young," Firenze marvelled.
"Voldemort is ruthless to us, we must do the same, or they will take advantage." A Centaur said loudly.
"I agree, but Voldemort would kill any who surrender, that's where I differ." Harry said quickly.
Their conversation was silenced by rustling in the trees.
"Move, get into position!" Harry hissed, and Lavender, the Centaurs, Thestrals and Buckbeak moved up the lake. At that moment, Voldemort's Acromantula burst from the trees and charged towards Harry.
"My Lord!" Firenze called, slowing down.
"Keep moving!" Harry yelled, hearing movement in the water behind him.
He dived to the floor as ropes of seaweed flew past, and latched on to the spiders, dragging them toward the water's edge. The Acromantula clawed desperately at the stony shore against the tugging ropes, but the moment their hairy bodies were immersed in the cold lake water, it was too late. Tentacled creatures, the size of small dogs leapt up and attacked the Acromantula's eyes, as they were dragged under. Harry dived into the water, and was immediately met with a tall, muscular merperson, with a rusted crown in her long yellow hair.
"My lord," Murcus hissed. It took Harry a moment to realise she was speaking Mermish, and he understood it. God I love Luna's little oddities.
"Good work with the giants," he smiled. "But the battle isn't over yet."
"What do you command?" Murcus hissed.
"Move back into the moat, any chances to drag death eaters down, take it." Harry said quickly.
"With pleasure," Murcus smiled, before swimming away, as Harry swam back to the shore.
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"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as he returned to her side, she immediately hugged him tightly, and kissed him ferociously on the lips.
"Hey Mione, sorry it took so long, had a slight incident on the shore of the lake," Harry chuckled, putting an arm around her waist, as she moved to stand beside him, her head resting in the crook of his neck. "Needless to say Voldemort lost another faction of supporters."
"What happened?" Dumbledore asked a smile on his wizened face.
"I'm guessing Voldemort's on the move toward us, and he sent his Acromantula to flank us," Harry smiled. "Unfortunately they saw me, and went too close to the water."
"The Merpeople?" Hermione asked.
"Dragged the spiders to a watery demise," Harry grinned. "I told Murcus to move back into the moat, and take any opportunity to help."
"That leaves the majority of his supporters, death eaters and the Dementors." Dumbledore smiled. "And speaking of which…"
The three of them turned to see the enemy marching toward the castle, a single figure in the lead, illuminated by his followers' wand light.
"I will speak to your lord!" Voldemort's cold voice echoed loudly. "So we may discuss terms of your surrender."
"Don't go Harry!" Hermione clung to him as the idea hit her. "He'll kill you."
"I have no intention of going down to him," Harry smiled, giving her forehead a gentle kiss. "Now you may want to get out of here, it's going to get a bit loud."
Dumbledore lead Hermione inside and shut the door, as Harry pointed his wand at his neck, and muttered a quiet spell.
'Fleur, Hippolyta, do not attack until I say so.' Harry ordered, as he watched the death eater line stop just across the bridge, with Voldemort front and centre. 'Everyone else only attack on my command.'
"Will your lord not show himself?" Voldemort laughed coldly. "Is he so cowardly to hide behind aged, crumbling stone?"
"I'm not hiding Voldemort, not like you have for the past few months!" Harry called back, illuminating the balcony he was standing on. "Surprised you're surrendering so quickly."
"I'm not the one who needs to surrender!" Voldemort snapped.
'Master! I've got news that'll really brighten your night!' Cissa said excitedly. 'Move everyone to the front of the castle, I've found something that will really force them into a trap!'
'Only on my orders!' Harry replied. 'You heard her, all defenders to cover the courtyard, but I want three of you to maintain watch on the other sides.'
'We'll take care of that master' Angelina purred.
'We will maintain watch on the surrounding sides.' Katie added.
'Who else works well in three?' Alicia finished their sentences.
"Your defenders have fought valiantly, but I've only sent a third of my forces against them." Voldemort spoke slowly and deliberately, punctuating every word that would undermine their confidence. "If you give yourself up I will allow you all to live. If you do not, I will unleash everything I have, and no leave part of the castle standing over a foot tall."
"All bark and no bite Tom, you haven't done anything lasting in fourteen years!" Harry mocked. "Besides, if you try to destroy this castle," he paused and placed the diadem on the ledge in front of him, the metal clink echoed loudly through the silence. "I'll destroy you."
He placed the chalice on the ledge and stared down at Voldemort. Even from this distance, he could tell Voldemort was now in a tough situation, and was desperately trying to find a chink in Harry's armour.
"You may keep talking, and taunting me, but I will have the last laugh" Voldemort smiled. "You are surrounded."
"By what?" Harry laughed. "The corpses of your giants in the moat? Your Acromantula at the bottom of the Black Lake? By the Dementors I can fend off with ease?"
"By our superior numbers!" Voldemort said proudly. "But if you won't surrender, then you will die, in front of everyone you love."
There was a moment of absolute silence, before he uttered those chilling words.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled, a flash of green illuminating the entire valley.
Time slowed as the green bolt flew toward him, all the while; Harry's smug smile didn't fade. At the last second, the clock tower's pendulum swung out of the darkness, and the spell impacted on the cold metal, as the clock struck the first bell of midnight.
"Time's up Tom!" Harry yelled.
He whipped his Basilisk's fangs out from his pocket on the second strike, raised them on the third, and slammed down on the forth.