Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.

A/N: Originally I had planned to have the whole battle arc in one chapter but realized that it would be too long, so I decided to break it up. We are getting down to the last few chapters of the story as I try and wrap things up. I hope to not leave any holes or forgotten threads. I think there will be maybe five more chapters left. Don't know if I will write an epilogue or not. If you want one let me know if I get a large response in favor I will write one.

Chapter 35

The dining hall of Grimauld Place was almost filled to capacity as the family and some of their allies gathered to discuss the discovery of Voldemort's base of operation. An expansion charm was used on the hall and extra seats conjured by Narcissa and Minerva to accommodate the large gathering. The elves had provided enough drinks and finger food for a small army.

Harry wanted to keep the knowledge of Black Manor down to just his 'family' and as such took over Grimauld place since the Order had been broken up and its former leader deceased. Upon their arrival they discovered the house elf Creature, dead and lying in front of a portrait of his late mistress, Walburga Black.

The portrait began a diatribe of profanities at anyone who passed by until she saw her three nieces; Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Andromeda. Stunned at their presence she inquired about their presence in the Black Ancestral home. Bella answered that she was now the Lady Potter-Black and matriarch of both Houses, and warned the portrait about further outbursts or as the new Matriarch of the House she would have her permanently removed. Walburga beamed with pride that a daughter of House Black was now the matriarch of two powerful houses and quickly agreed to the terms. This would bring great prestige back to the family the portrait smirked.

Harry stood at the head of the long table; to his right was his beloved Bella, sitting tall and straight and looking every part the aristocratic but powerful witch that she was. Bella with her unmatched skills at dueling and her unnatural sixth sense of knowing where her opponent would move was a formidable opponent in any fight and it was right that she should be at his right hand side as his second in command of the allies and vassal houses to House Potter-Black.

To his left sat his godmother Amelia Bones who had a fierce and determined look about her. Those who knew her were well aware of the power at her command; she was cunning, extremely intelligent and a terrible force of nature if you got on her bad side. Harry could not have picked two better people as his generals than Bella and Amelia. Amelia also brought with her the weight of the Ministry which made available an enormous amount of logistics and manpower.

The family had been planning the demise of the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself since the family came together. Amelia had been quietly working behind the scenes to organize a militaristic response from the Ministry should Voldemort be located. She was determined to bring a swift end to this war, and by damned she would throw everything she could at the problem to see it done.

To the right of Bella sat Narcissa, and then Andromeda. To the left of Amelia sat Augusta Longbottom, and to her left Minerva McGonagall. It did not escape anyone's notice that it was these six independent and powerful witches that made up Harry's inner circle. These were the people he trusted most, these were his counselors and his conscious but most of all he saw them as his family.

Amelia and Bella were his military advisors, Augusta and Andromeda were his government and legal experts, Narcissa and Minerva covered a wider range of things from banking and finance to magical education and magical exploration and innovation.

Under Bella and Amelia were Bill Weasley and Alastor Moody as captains' in the Potter-Black militia, which now boasted close to two hundred witches and wizards that had been recruited from the allied Houses and now defunct Order of the Phoenix. Included in this militia where the Weasley twins, Charlie, Neville and Hermione much to Bills displeasure, who did not want her part of an active combat team, but wanted her in a safer area of the mission. But Hermione above all else was a Gryffindor and had courage and determination to spare not to mention a stubborn streak a mile wide. She would not sit in safety while others risked their lives.

Amelia had also quickly but quietly put together a reserve force of one hundred and fifty Aurors and Hit Wizards placed under the command of Rufus Scrimgeour. He had been informed that a possible strike against a Death Eater strong hold would occur sometime soon. No details were given to the recruits to avoid the information making its way back to Voldemort. They were told that this was a joint live fire exercise with a ministry sponsored militia and to come battle ready.

The militia, Hit Wizards, and Aurors would be divided into twenty teams that consisted of a twenty soldiers each. They would be used in waves. Three waves of five teams would assault the castle from different sides if the ritual should fail. Otherwise they were to pick off those who managed to get past the wards. There would be no taking of prisoners, anyone with a dark mark went down…for good. The five remaining teams would be held in reserve until needed.

Narcissa and Minerva's team included Luna, Susan, Daphne Greengrass, and Professors Septima Vector and Aurora Sinestra, who were recruited by Minerva from Hogwarts. These witches would be part of the Ritual Team who would play the most important part of the assault on Nott castle, using their combined power to activate the two part battle magic ritual that Luna and Narcissa had learned from the Potter Grimoire. Seven was a powerful magical number and according to the Grimoire it would take at least seven powerful witches to maintain the power flow needed to keep the curse viable.

Aurors Nymphadora Tonks, Hestia Jones, Gerry Dunegan, Connie Hammer, along with Remus Lupin were charged with the protection of the ritual witches, they were to protect them at all costs. If one Ritual Witch was to fall the circle would be broken and the curse would fail.

The ritual had two parts to it. The first part was called the mist of fear; the circle would summon a mind altering greenish mist that would rise from the ground between the ward stones. It would find its way through every nook and cranny of the castle and grounds infecting every witch and wizard it came in contact with. It was created to cause fear and an overwhelming feeling of betrayal that would compel the Death Eaters to turn on one another, thinning their ranks quickly.

Only those who could out run the mist or had strong occlumency shields could escape it. The downside was that it was severely taxing on the circle and could not be held for long periods of time. They had ten minutes max that they could hold the curse before it dissipated and the intended targets would return to normal thought processes. It was hoped that a large concentration of the Death Eaters would be found together were the curse could work with devastating effect.

The second part of the ritual would be the most crucial for victory. Runes would be drawn on the chest, arms, and legs of the militia. The ink used to draw the runes was a combination of blood from the seven Ritual Witches and a mixture of herbs and plants such as ginseng, fennel and sow thistle, which were known to produce strength, energy, and protection. Corresponding runes were drawn on the witches and on a master rune stone in the middle of the Ritual Witches circle which would activate the curse and the protections.

The blood in the inked runes linked the combatants to the witches. The combined power of the witches and the rune stone acted as an amplifier of magic as the combined cores of the witches in theory became one supercharged magical core. This supercharged core then pulsed out ward and activated the runes on the soldiers within the wards, they would then receive an increase of strength, speed, and be capable of throwing off minor curses and spells.

The ritual would bare an incredible strain on the Ritual Witches, taxing their own strength and challenging their ability to maintain focus under such a great stress. As great as the risk was to the witches involved, Narcissa believed that they were all capable and powerful enough to meet the challenge.

Augusta and Andromeda would be responsible for any necessary emergency portkeys and medical needs. Poppy Pomfrey, once the teams had left would convert the large dining room at Grimauld Place into a triage and trauma center. She had brought with her two interns that were learning from her and who happened to be in two of the allied Houses; Penelope Clearwater and Samantha Stevens.

They would treat the injured and send any who had life threatening injuries to St. Mungos. Poppy had notified her old friend Marcus Welby the Head healer of St. Mungos, that there could be a confrontation coming soon and to prepare for wounded witches and wizards. Welby a vassal house to House Potter had been asked to keep the information quiet but to be prepared.

Welby as director over the Wizarding hospital had made discreet orders from all his potion providers to increase the number of healing potions, blood replenishers and the like to his orders. Welby felt confident that the hospital was well enough stocked to care for a large number of patients requiring emergency care.

Ginny Weasley, Tracey Davis and Astoria Greengrass were also a part of the medical team. They made up the part known as the recovery team; they and seven others would be onsite near the battle field and would be the ones to tag the fallen and injured with a ward synchronized portkey to be transported. Five Hit wizards all loyal to Amelia would serve as the recovery team's protection.

The kitchen would become an emergency medical dispensary and was stocked from floor to ceiling with a myriad of potions from blood replenishers to burn ointments and skele-grow to calming draughts.

Bill, Charlie, Tonks and Narcissa had arrived earlier from scouting the old Nott Mansion in Northumbria. The small group was able to locate all of the ward stones surrounding the castle like home. Narcissa had painstakingly piggybacked the Potter ritual runes on to the existing runes surrounding Nott manor while the others watched over her and noted locations of any sentries. They opined that Voldemort felt very secure with his defenses because the group found no sentries except for at the castle itself.

The castle sat on one hundred and fifty acres, there was very little open field to mount an all out straight on offensive against the castle. There was a large labyrinth of hedge rolls to the rear of the property. All though it provided cover it also obscured your view of what was coming toward you. If the enemy came into the maze it would be close quarters fighting.

A large stone garden dominated part of the front and sides of the ancient building with a variety of stone and marble statues more hedges but of the shorter variety, and a large bowery and other water features sporadically placed around the property. A large fountain dominated the front of the building obscuring the entire main entrance from a forward moving force and thus not giving the attacking forces a clear line of sight at exiting targets.

There were anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards in the original ward scheme; this would actually benefit the attackers making sure their targets did not escape the influence of the ritual. Their only worry was that they did not know how many Death Eaters were located within the walls of the large building, and there was no way to know if Voldemort himself was there.

The task would be a difficult one if they weren't able to thin the ranks in the initial attack with the ritual curse. But it was too great a prize not to attempt it. And Harry and Amelia had resolved themselves to bring the war to a swift end.

oooOOOooo

Voldemort sat on his throne in the large reception hall of Nott Castle looking over the five hundred assembled Death Eaters. His captains who were at the front of the gathering were kneeling in front of their lord waiting patiently for him to address them. Three hours earlier the Dark Lord had called for all his subjects. There was only one reason that their lord would call for all their numbers, he had planned an attack and it was to happen tonight.

Voldemort would only assemble his troops the day of a planned attack. It was to eliminate the possibility that a spy within his ranks could tip off his enemy. Although this did help in keeping loose lips silent it had a major drawback. The captains had but moments to organize their troops in some sort of manageable chaos once they learned of the objective.

A muggle village near Hogsmeade was the target. Voldemort chose it because of its close proximity to the all magical village. It would be a shot across the bow to warn the magical that he was still a threat and to cause fear to ripple through the residents of the magical town letting them know that they could be next.

The objective was simple…complete annihilation of the residents, every man, woman, and child, the bloodier the better. Voldemort had also sent for Fenrir and his pack of about a hundred werewolves to slash, rip and tear flesh from bone. He wanted the magicals especially the Ministry to witness the horror he could leash upon them. He knew that psychological warfare could be just as traumatic as physical and he wanted to traumatize those who would defy him and his destiny to rule over them.

"TONIGHT!...my loyal purebloods, tonight we strike back at those who have forgotten their place, those who have the hubris to think that they are our equals! Halfbloods and mudblood filth and those who champion their cause stink up and befoul our noble and ancient traditions and customs.

They walk down our streets with their noses turned up at our society; they supplant themselves within our government and hack away at are venerable laws, they are within our very institutions of learning, corrupting the minds of our young denying them their heritage and birthright as masters above those of lesser blood!" Voldemort chided to a chorus of hisses and callous epithets.

"They are in our noble halls of learning and government right this minute and they are smirking! They are laughing at all of you here that represent the pinnacle of our society! Yes…yes, they mock you and spit on you! You who are gods among mortals! They mock you!"

The crowd was getting worked up more and more as Voldemort spat his venom, inciting the black hearts of those assembled, those whose very beings were now shaking with pure bloodlust, an irrepressible desire to kill those putrescent muggle lovers who have corrupted their way of life.

"Tonight my faithful we will visit upon those who the Bones whore would protect such mayhem, such carnage… that it will be remembered for generation upon generation and only whispered afterward in their secret places. The streets shall run red with blood, no structure will be left standing, and we will scorch the earth that it shall not bring forth life for millennia…"

oooOOOooo

"Bill, you and your team will make your way through the hedge rolls at the back of the castle. Make sure you wait until all the green mist has evaporated I don't want you guys turning on each other. I understand the twins have come up with some unique defensive weapons." Harry stated.

"Peruvian darkness powder Harry." Fred replied.

"We've used it several times on confusing the Death Munchers we've eliminated in the past." George followed his brother. "It causes a cloud of complete darkness that no lumos spell can get through; no one will be able to see."

"That's great and all but how do you intend to engage the Death Eaters? If they can't see you then you can't see them." Harry stated.

"Ah, but that…"

"…is where you…"

"…would be wrong…"

"…you're most…"

…worshipfulness."

Harry raised an eyebrow at the twin speak and shook his head reeling from the back and forth between the two redheads.

"How so?" Bella asked from Harry's side.

"They got the idea from a muggle movie they saw." Charlie replied to Bella. "The muggle soldiers in the movie used some sort of glasses to see in the dark. These glasses saw the heat from another's body." Charlie continued.

"Ah yes, infrared I believe they're called." Harry offered. "I saw them used on a show on the telly when I lived at the Dursley's.

"Well, we made our own 'body seekers' as we call them." George answered.

"Indeed dear brother, these body seekers…" Fred picked up from his brother. "allow us to see through the Peruvian powder and see anyone with a body temperature."

"Completely useless against vampires and inferi of course." George said.

"Brilliant…" Harry replied. "How many do you have?" He asked.

"About twenty." Bill stated. "Is that right Fred?"

"Yeah, twenty."

"What do they look like?" Bella asked the twins.

"Happen to have a pair on me." George replied and withdrew a pair of glasses from his cloak that looked amazingly like the round glasses that Harry use to wear except for the metallic green color of the lenses.

Seeing Harry's look of incredulity Fred added." Gives them a look of class don't you think?" Bella and a few others of the family chuckled, Harry just rolled his eyes.

"Riiiight." Harry dead panned.

Harry looked at the other team members for a status report from their respective assignments. Each gave a positive state of readiness. The tension was beginning to increase as Harry gave out his final assignments.

"Voldemort, if he is there will most likely not immediately join the fight till he absolutely has to. We will control the wards once Narcissa and her team begin the ritual. That means they will not be able to use apparation or portkeys. Amelia will make sure the Floo network is closed to the castle.

"If all goes to plan, the Death Eaters will be in such a state of confusion and fear, that we should be able to overwhelm them with few losses. But as Moody has warned us, plans can go to hell in a hurry once battle is engaged. So stick to your assignments." Harry stated, his heart pounding in his chest.

"What of Voldemort?" Tonks asked.

"Once Voldemort reveals himself anywhere on the battlefield the one who sees him will fire a purple flare into the air. He or she will then back off and not engage him. I and my handpicked team will then engage him and bring him down. I have a little surprise in store for the insane git." Harry shot a quick meaningful gaze to Narcissa who nodded back grimly, worry etched on her beautiful face.

"Right then, we leave in fifteen minutes. All team captains' report to your teams. The rest of you know your assignments." Harry stated dismissing everyone.

oooOOOooo

"…and so, I will lead us into a New Era, where we are seen as Gods living amongst worshipping mortals!" Voldemort ended his speech to the ringing cheers of his followers. His cold sneer looked over his dark army and he almost felt pity for those foolish enough to defy him or stand in his way.

Voldemort abruptly came to a halt as his minions continued their revelries, something was…off. His mind whirled with confusion as he tried to identify what had just changed…something had changed! His inner circle noticed the suddenly pensive looking Lord, and had quieted. Like the tide washing back out to the ocean the roaring numbers suddenly fell silent in a wave that began from the front of the hall to the rear.

No one moved, no one dared speak as they all watched the Dark Lord seemingly staring off into oblivion. It was very disconcerting and no one knew what to do. The silence in the room was deafening. It came to him then, "…the wards…the wards have changed." He could no longer feel them, which meant only one thing…

The whole hall jumped as the sounds of screams and spell fire suddenly burst through the stillness. Besides the five hundred in the hall an additional three hundred were spread throughout the castle and the grounds.

The Death Eaters nearest the large oak double doors that lead out of the hall threw them open to ascertain what the cause of the commotion was. Those same Death Eaters who had opened the door had looks of confusion on their faces as a fast moving rolling green mist quickly enveloped them.

oooOOOooo

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter and would kindly review. This story is near the thousand review mark and I would love to pass it with this chapter. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews of the last chapter. Have a great weekend!