Love Breaks The Noble Spirit

by Hippothestrowl

Harry & Ginny's love was understated in Hallows. They knew they should separate but love can break the noblest of ideals. This tells you what secretly happened between the two.

37. The Darkest Day

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Author's Notes: Sorry for the long delay and the humongous length of this chapter but a huge amount of continuous action takes place in this so I could not split it without spoiling the flow. It's around 30,000 words so, if you can't finish it in one go, you might want to bookmark and copy a line from where you reach to a text file. - Enjoy!

Note that in the books, Hogwarts' main courtyard is an enclosed area for students' breaks (recess) down a corridor off the Entrance Hall whereas the main entrance is at the front of the Entrance Hall.

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Chapter 37

The Darkest Day

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On the morning that Harry, Ron, and Hermione robbed the Gringotts Bank, the Weasleys had begun with their customary routine. Ginny had awoken early as usual. The absence of owl messages was as expected and the grumblings of Aunt Muriel could be heard at their typical level. Breakfast began at the normal time and the wizard radio station chattered away as it always did. In short, it promised to be a normal, dull, unremarkable day for the outlawed Weasleys and there was nothing to indicate that in less than twenty-four hours Ginny would be in Harry Potter's arms and their world would have changed forever.

The growing collection of her unsent letters was now ribboned in three stacks as a statement, a visible declaration of her devotion that no one could challenge. What a strangely-shifting atmosphere had enfolded this day! A fearful cry escaping her lips at the morning meal had set the tone, and the image on her medallion confirmed her resonant feeling: Harry was in grave danger; his fear jolted through her so strongly that there could be no doubt.

Half an hour of hot and cold discussion followed. Mrs Weasley's persuasions failed to influence her husband to relent. When he had told Harry in anger, 'Never!' he meant no relationship, no contact, no nothing - and now he himself could not find it easy to change that stance. In any case, Ginny refused to ask anything of Harry, anxious not to distract him.

Fred and George sat by listening, boiled eggs reluctantly forsaken, still holding their spoons erect like sentries at their posts. Apart from an occasional "Humph!" even Aunt Muriel was strangely quiet, aware that something important was unfolding. Occasionally her gaze travelled around the faces of her relatives then returned to yesterday's Daily Prophet, but whether she was truly re-reading the old news could not be discerned. Mr Ollivander had not yet risen from his bed but was benefiting from vapour potions and plenty of sleep during his long convalescence.

"What about Ron? Can you tell?" implored Mrs Weasley.

"I don't know, Mum. It doesn't work like that. I don't know anything except Harry is in serious trouble - but he's not captured."

"But you could-"

"I won't disturb him from whatever he's doing, Mum. I won't ask him." Ginny made a rare eye contact with her father. "But I'd like to give Harry some support... Dad?"

Mr Weasley read the plea in her gaze, hesitated, then nodded back at her as he sank down into an armchair, no longer sure even of his own beliefs. For years now he had accepted the growing importance of Harry Potter in the fight against Voldemort and had wanted to help in any way he could. But he loved his daughter more and it had been unbearable for him to know she had fallen into the hands of the worst kind of enemy because of Harry's weakness.

'Weakness?' Not 'wickedness?' Not even 'selfishness?' thought Arthur. He felt himself sink a little lower into the chair while confusion rose higher.

Ginny's kiss, long-sustained, was sent, then stoically she awaited developments. Harry could already feel her solidarity with him - that she knew - but the medallion's communication was directly tangible and focused their shared feelings very powerfully.

As the morning progressed, she sensed his earlier scares had diminished to mere concern and anxiety. Two engravings merged on her medallion in a curious way she had not seen before: a faint, barred gate impressed upon a sailing ship. Harry was still at risk, but he was travelling. What did it mean? So faint did the portcullis become that Ginny seized the opportunity and kissed her silver disk once more.

all okay?

She regretted it instantly. So slow was the answer in coming that she feared Harry was compromised, unable to use his medallion. But in time the message came.

difficult but 3 safe 4 now

Ginny rose at last from the breakfast table where she had sat for so long and all eyes that might have wandered, returned to rest upon her.

"They're all fine-"

Mrs Weasley released one sob then, clamping a hand over her mouth, fought to control her emotions. Mr Weasley sagged even further into the deep upholstery until he seemed mostly knees and white knuckles and a lowered head. Aunt Muriel's Daily Prophet rustled. The twins nodded at each other and lowered their spoons.

"They are still in difficulties; been travelling for quite a time..." Ginny looked at the little grandmother clock ticking softly against the far wall. It was now mid-morning. She stretched her aching limbs then took a more comfortable seat near her mother and put a hand on her arm to comfort her.

"Ron's not in serious danger at the moment," she said. "Nor Harry and Hermione. They're travelling. So whatever happened, I think they're escaping."

"But what are they-?" began Fred.

Ginny shook her head at him. George got up and went to the tall wireless cabinet in the corner. Aunt Muriel made no protest when, once again, he began quietly tapping it with his wand.

Fred joined him but Aunt Muriel coughed and noisily shook her newspaper into a new fold. Fred looked back.

"It's getting late," Muriel announced to no one in particular. "What a pity we can't receive owls now. Soon be lunchtime and none the wiser." She took a quill from her handbag and began scratching away at the crossword.

"Want me to fetch a Prophet again, Auntie?" said Fred, brightly.

"Well, before teatime I hope," she huffed.

"No, Fred!" Mrs Weasley started to rise but Ginny pulled her back down into her seat.

"I'll stay concealed, Mum!" protested Fred. "I'm only Apparating to the Jordans to see Lee for a bit."

"Don't you say anything!" cried Ginny. "Not if you want to keep your-"

"Me? My seals are lipped," said Fred from the parlour doorway. He paused. "Look, I'll only mention it might be worth him asking around. With all his contacts he might find out something."

Ginny frowned but Fred was gone.

Anxiety then, had coloured their day but now it was evening and still Ginny replied patiently,"No, Mum. No change," when challenged.

"But surely after all this time they can't still be travelling?"

"CHARITY!" cried George from the vicinity of the radio. "It was-"

"Humph!" said a startled Aunt Muriel, but she abandoned her crossword, folded her arms, and listened. So did they all.

The stunned silence that followed the astonishing transmission was broken by the noise of Fred trying to get through the back door before he had properly opened it.

"Did you hear it! On Potterwatch?" he cried as he exploded into the sitting room. "Our 'ickle Ronnie robbed Gringotts and flew off on a dragon!"

"What time do you call this!" shrieked Mrs Weasley.

"Tomorrow's Prophet will be printing in a few hours and some of us haven't even seen today's!" moaned Aunt Muriel.

"He's still on it," declared Ginny quietly. "All three of them."

All eyes turned to Ginny. She nodded her head to affirm what she had said. "That explains why Harry's still a bit anxious."

Fred and George roared with laughter.

"Yes, one would be slightly concerned. I can see that," grinned George.

"These youngsters," sighed Fred with mock theatricality, "worry about a little thing like a dragon ride."

"Think it's funny, do you!" squawked Mrs Weasley. "How are they getting off? What if they can't get off? What if it flies to Romania? What if it eats them? It's a dragon for Merlin's sake!"

"Calm yourself, Molly," said Mr Weasley. "They're very resourceful. They'll think of something. I can't believe Harry Potter is going to end up as a dragon's supper - not after all he's been through, evading You-know-who and now robbing Gringotts of all places!" He eyed Ginny meaningfully but she was unsure what he intended to convey.

"So he's a bank robber then, this Harry Potter?" said Auntie Muriel, returning to her crossword. "Thought he looked a rather reckless character. He deceived me at the wedding but I won't let him catch me unawares again." She used her wand to clear the crossword and began to fill it in again.

Ginny winced and her fingers dug into the arm of her chair.

"Ginny?" Mrs Weasley turned to look closely at her daughter.

"It's nothing. Headache." She rubbed her forehead on the right side until the pain had passed.

"Early night for you, young lady." Mrs Weasley rose from her chair with a no-nonsense expression on her face.

"Mum! It's only quarter past nine! Not really dark yet."

"You've had a stressful day - bed!" She stood with her hands on her hips.

Ginny sighed and got up. She did feel weary and it made no difference where she was so long as she had her medallion. She would lie awake until she saw Harry was completely safe again, send him a kiss then go to sleep...
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—oOo—

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The gathering of fugitives hidden away in the Room of Requirement watched as Lavender Brown swang shut the picture frame upon Neville and gazed upon the painting. Gone was the maiden in the portrait - gone away down the passage. For a while, Lavender watched the painting of Neville's tall figure receding down the damp, earthy tunnel accompanied by the young girl. The couple were talking vigorously, Neville nodding, waving his arms, questioning, pausing in his stride now and again then resuming, until finally they both were pale silhouettes fluttering like moths from lamp to lamp. As they passed the most distant light that Lavender could perceive, a tiny glint of gold shone through the gloom, highlighting Neville's cupped hand and the tip of his wand.

"He's using his Galleon," said Lavender, turning to the others. "Why's he using his Galleon?"

...

Neville felt a growing excitement as he walked completely alone along the tunnel. There had been something in the portrait girl's smile when she had beckoned to him that was different to her normal manner. What had Abe said was his sister's name? Ariana, that was it. She never spoke; yet somehow he felt she had conveyed to him a hope and a new joy whose shape he could not yet identify.

Intoxicated by this intrigue, he somehow felt her touch; a mute communication but full of meaning. Neville stopped walking, startled yet unafraid. There was a rush of unformed ideas in his head and he began to walk again, eagerly striding a little further each step of the way. Deep, deep, deep from the back of his mind a longheld faith burst forth within him, flowering into his awareness. There was but one event he had awaited so patiently these long months of trial. Without speech, Ariana conveyed to him all that he had hoped and without hesitation, he reached for his Galleon. He sent out the word.

No child experienced greater joy when unwrapping a longed-for gift than Neville did as he swung open the farther portrait. The sight that greeted him fulfilled his patient vision. Harry Potter, older, more world-weary, yet the same dishevelled hair and spectacles framing eyes that widened as they beheld him. Beyond the wonder of Harry, the astonishment of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Neville blinked, eyes popping at the incredible reality. Old inhibitions were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the occasion and, roaring his delight, he threw himself upon his friends in a string of mighty emotional embraces. "I knew you'd come! I just knew it!"
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—oOo—

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When Ginny reluctantly entered her bedroom she never had a chance even to undress; the heat of the fake Galleon in her pocket was unmistakable and its message clear:

Harry Potter back at Hogwarts! All D.A. needed NOW! Use Leaky.

The girl froze with amazement, thinking what to do; how to answer the call without being seen leaving? That she must go was not a question; but how? A concealment charm might get her to the back door if she was careful but if anyone felt the draught of air as it opened she'd be noticed. Then there was the problem of Apparating. She dare not now use magic outside of Aunt Muriel's home because of the underage trace. There was a faint sound on the stairs: footsteps and whispers.

Ginny opened her bedroom door a crack. The landing was in dark shadow but she recognised the shapes and the lowered voices of her twin brothers.

"Say nothing, Fred. That's the Weasley way."

"Right, but we need an excuse. What if we-"

The rest was lost as the twins' bedroom door closed. When it opened again a couple of minutes later they were in for a shock. Ginny stood there and her expression was firm. She was holding up her Galleon. "Take me with you or Aunt Muriel learns where that giant cockroach came from!"

"Go where, Gin? What cockroach? Which Aunt Muriel?" whispered the twins from the darkness.

Ginny took out her wand. She looked mean.

Fred moved into the light and sighed. "Okay, this is the plan. We just sent a Patronus to Lee. He's Apparating here right now to ask us to pop out for an hour to his place. You conceal yourself and keep between us till we're outside, right?"

A loud knock on the front door distracted Ginny before she could even nod. George started towards the top of the stairs. Fred hissed at him, quietly, "Let someone else answer it!"

George leaned over the banister rail to try to pick out what was happening in the flickering torchlight below.

"Fred! George! It's the Pottywatch boy again!" screeched Auntie Muriel from the foot of the stairs then her voice, more faintly, could be heard saying, "So, have you got the early edition of tomorrow's Prophet yet? What's a six-letter word beginning with 'M' meaning a degenerate, filthy non-magical person?"

"Actually, I wanted them to come over for an hour or so..." Lee's voice.

"Not at this time of night, you two!" Mrs Weasley's voice snapped from out of sight.

"Quick Ginny!" whispered George. "We're going down."

Another voice from below speaking softly: Mr Weasley. "Molly - they're not boys anymore - they're adults. They have their own choices to make."

Mrs Weasley was hardly listening; she was staring at the twins as they filed rather stiffly and slowly down the stairs, synchronised but well apart.

"What's wrong with you two!" demanded Mrs Weasley. "I know that guilty look!"

"It's a surprise, Mum," said Fred who was in the lead and pausing on the bottom step. George stopped abruptly four steps above and grabbed the stair rail to steady himself.

"I'll give you surprises! Have you been drinking?"

"Molly, let them be."

Mrs Weasley turned to her husband in the shadows but when she saw his expression she relented. "Don't you be too late then - either of you!" After only a moment's hesitation she turned and walked slowly back into the sitting room without another word. Mr Weasley followed. Aunt Muriel went after them as soon as the twins had departed.

"I think that... unfortunate incident... last year may have affected George's... inner ear," she declared loudly. "Wearing perfume now. And he was walking very oddly."

"Don't be silly, Auntie," said Mrs Weasley. "He's been seeing Angelina on and off since then, hasn't he!"

There was silence for a while.

"So... you think she's on the turn, then?"

...

Ginny, still clinging to Fred's arm after Apparating into the Hog's Head, leaned down to check her trainers. Apart from sawdust creeping in over her socks, they were intact.

"Not sick from the Apparition are you?" whispered George.

"No - but I've lost a sole or two before now when I do it."

"Who's there!" a gruff, sleepy voice called from beyond the doorway behind the bar.

"Hi, Aberforth," said Lee, brightly. "We were told-"

"All you lot?" Aberforth growled. "Longbottom said to expect a couple but they've already gone up!" He looked them over then sighed. Come on then."

As they entered the passage behind the portrait, Fred called back to Aberforth, "Erm... might be... erm... a couple more then, Abe."

"What d'you mean by 'a couple' is what I'd like to know!" roared Aberforth but Fred had already swung the portrait shut behind him.

They had not walked more than a few paces when Lee, who had been leading the way, said, "Who's that up ahead?"

Fred and Ginny strained their eyes but could see no one beyond the first few lamps.

"There! Someone passed that light." George hesitated. "I think it was Dean Thomas!"

"And Luna!" cried Ginny but before she could call out to her, Ginny folded up into a crouch, rubbing her forehead.

Fred and George kneeled at her side. Fred put his hand on her shoulder. "Ginny?"

Lee turned and came back but was looking beyond them, along the way they had come. "Someone's coming after us. Might be Aberforth."

"Just a headache. Took me by surprise." Ginny remained crouched and took out her medallion, wondering whether to tell Harry she was on the way. What if he said no? Ginny put away her medallion and stood up.

"Okay?" asked George.

Ginny nodded and they pressed on. Lee kept behind them, looking back. "No, it's Cho! Hey! Cho!"

They slowed their pace to let her catch up to them but Ginny, after a brief nod to Cho, rather coolly pushed to the front to lead the group - or perhaps to be as far away from Cho as possible. She glanced at her watch as the tunnel steepened. "Half past ten! Come on or it'll all be over!"

They pushed up the final slope with Cho, at the back, hanging on to Lee's arm. Ginny cried out when she saw the back of the painting and with renewed energy thrust on with growing excitement.

When she began to swing open the portrait she was worried how Harry would react to her being there; never before had she distracted him while he was on a mission. There was a blaze of light compared to the gloomy tunnel, and a myriad of faces but only one she properly saw. Despite her misgivings, her face beamed with happiness as she looked into his eyes.

His rejection shocked her like icy water thrown in the face. The displeasure she sensed within him was a cold stone wall. Yet through it all she saw his pain, the urgency, the fear, the desperate need to carry out some all-important task without this commotion; a duty so urgent he was desperately afraid of failing. They were all intruding, distracting, overloading his senses; he had never wanted any of this. Only she, of all those gathered there, perceived the depth of his suffering. He was not here to gather an army but to perform some covert operation. There was a plea in his eyes but before she could respond, a dispute flared up.

Ginny became aware of all the others now, shouting and snapping at Harry. Why don't they leave him alone! Can't you see you're hurting him? She wanted desperately to hold him and give him some comfort but the gulf between them was impassible. Yet through the tumult of heightened emotions, noise, shouts, and waving arms she sensed something more: Harry was reaching out to her. True, there was no outward indication of it but it was as clear to her as if he stood before her and spoke.

Was he seeking support in this, his most desperate hour? No. In spite of all else that assailed him, Harry was generating a feeling he knew only she would be able to sense. She felt the meaning but found it difficult to define. Like one of his kisses it was loving and supportive - yet he had not used the medallion. There was something more explicit too which she could only imagine. It suggested the future. That was it! He was saying 'not now - later.'

Ginny's shoulders relaxed their tension a little and she became more aware of her surroundings. Harry's initial shock at seeing her was for her sake, not his. Now she knew he was focused on some other task and did not want to be distracted by questions, by praise, and by... girls.

Watching without being too intrusive was all Ginny could do for now so she sank down into a convenient armchair; ready if needed. She looked around. Row upon row of hammocks were squeezed between stout wooden posts supporting the ceiling. What looked like an untidy heap of discarded cloaks and other clothing filled one dark corner. The wireless stood next to it, lights still flickering and crackling. Colourful banners boasted the three supportive houses from every spare surface. A column of bags, chests, trunks, and footlockers snaked around the walls, and books were scattered everywhere. Ernie was providing Dean with a choice of wands from the spares and he was trying them out on a test dummy.

Harry's scar was hurting again but Ginny was prepared now. She brought to mind a feeling of clear, clean sea breezes and solid ground and she felt it helped him. Fred and George were entertaining with jokes a few of the D.A. girls who had been stuck in the Room for over a week. Neville and others seemed to be insisting that they all help but she felt Harry's reluctance. The babble was incessant. Her eyes fell upon Ron and she observed her brother for the first time with wonder. It was, perhaps, no surprise that she had not noticed him before. He had grown in stature and not just physically. Hermione was there too with her fervent expression devoted to the cause. Ginny hoped there would be time later to talk. Someone else perched upon the arm of her chair and squeezed her hand. It was Luna. There was a new understanding between them since Shell Cottage. Ginny looked up and smiled. "This is it! This is really it!"

Luna nodded. "Of course it is. Harry's come and together we're going to fight Death Eaters again." With Luna it was always so simple.

"Okay." It was Harry Potter speaking.

The noise and movement ceased very abruptly and everyone's attention swooped to centre upon him.

"There's something we need to find. It might have belonged to Ravenclaw. Has anyone ever come across something with her eagle on it, for instance?"

Ginny watched her man as the entire gathering listened to what he said. He did not look at all the boy who first kissed her last year after the Quidditch match.

"That's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem of course," said Luna so loud and close to Ginny that her breath tickled Ginny's ear.

Cho offered to show Harry what it looked like but Harry's scar was paining him again.

Ginny glared at Cho and said rather fiercely, "No, Luna will take Harry, won't you, Luna?"

"Oooh, yes, I'd like to," said Luna happily, jumping up to join Harry.

Ginny observed with satisfaction as Cho sank back disappointed into her seat. Don't you get it yet? He's MINE!

She watched as Harry left with Luna then Neville came over and chatted with her about conditions at Hogwarts after she had left a few weeks earlier at Easter.

"Things started to get worse," said Neville, "until someone tipped me off that the Carrows were going to finish me one way or another so I scarpered. Been hiding in here ever since."

"Who? Who tipped you off?"

Neville grinned. "You'll never guess."

Ginny thought for only a few seconds. "Astoria Greengrass?"

Neville's eyebrows went high. "How did you-?"

"She helped me that time didn't she? She's the only Slytherin I know who's even slightly sympathetic to our cause. Still alive, I mean," she added hastily as she remembered Edmund. "I think she wants Voldemort out the way as much as we do."

Neville nodded. "Yeah - McGonagall destroyed the original message but Seamus recognised her handwriting among some of Slughorn's test papers."

Before Ginny could reply, Ernie and Hannah grabbed Neville to discuss supplies and Ginny was left alone once more. She noticed Ron and Hermione were still here, having an animated discussion behind a shaded pillar. She had had little chance to talk with them after her rescue.

"Has Harry still got it or have we?" Ron was saying as Ginny drew near.

"No - he gave it to me for safekeeping," said Hermione, patting her bag. "But it's hopeless - without the sword, I mean."

Ginny was shocked. "You've not got the sword! Then how in the name of Merlin can he-?"

"You know about the sword?" Hermione rounded on Ginny rather harshly.

"Of course, Harry always told me everything," said Ginny, looking her straight in the eye without a qualm.

"Well, he shouldn't have!" snapped Ron.

"Hello, Ron. How are you after all this time?" said Ginny with mock sweetness.

"Never mind all that! He had no business-"

"Focus, Ron. Stay with the problem at hand," said Hermione, the first to come to her senses. "How are we going to destroy it without the sword? Think!"

Ron frowned, screwed up his eyes, and rubbed his head, hoping for inspiration. In the background, Fred and George were arguing with Neville. "Why not get everybody?" they were saying.

"It?" said Ginny, with a puzzled expression. "He's not going to kill You-know-who with the sword?"

"Ginny!" scowled Hermione. "Harry never told you anything at all, did he!"

Ginny grinned. "Harry never even hinted at a single thing all year! Secrets. Secrets. Secrets! I hate ruddy secrets! I only know he wanted the sword because Dumbledore must have bequeathed it to him for a reason. Anyway, I used it myself once."

"Impossible," said Ron. "It can't be wielded by just anyone. It has to be earned first." He looked at Ginny. She was still grinning.

"How could you have, anyway?" he said, with less certainty.

"It's a secret," she said, sweetly.

"The Order should be called too," said George loudly, looking across to Ginny with a warning look. "Mum and Dad included. This is just too big now. We need everyone."

"Ron, we've got to think of something quick," said Hermione, looking at her watch.

"So, what's got to be destroyed, then?" said Ginny, nervously trying to guide Ron and Hermione into a shadowy corner. "Three heads are better than two. Maybe I might have an idea you haven't thought of."

Hermione looked at Ron who had opened his eyes and was looking back at her vacantly. He nodded, but doubtfully.

Hermione reached into her bag and pulled up the Hufflepuff Cup to the rim, just enough for Ginny to see it. "This is what we took from Gringotts."

"Is that all?" Ginny was reaching for her wand.

"No, Ginny!" Hermione stuffed the cup back into her bag and closed it. "It's not that easy. It's..." She looked at Ron again. "It's rather like... Riddle's diary."

Ginny's eyes widened and her jaw gaped at the recollection. Ron was looking at her and his memory was working hard too.

"Of course!" he cried, clutching at Hermione's arm. "Fangs!"

"What?" said Hermione, weakly.

"We get the original Basilisk fangs!" said Ron. "After all, that's how Harry destroyed the diary, isn't it! We only wanted the sword because of the venom from the fangs!"

"That's brilliant, Ron!" cried Hermione, putting her hand over his. "I think you've got it!"

Ron smirked. "Oh, well... I have my moments."

She tilted her head on one side, frowning while she tried to concentrate. "But how do we open... We'll have to wait for Harry. He's the only one that-"

Hermione then whirled so suddenly towards Ginny that the younger girl took a step back. "Ginny! It was you! It was you that opened the Chamber of Secrets!"

"You know I couldn't help it!"

"No, no! I don't mean that. Listen," said Hermione, looking closely at Ginny's anxious face. "We need you to open it again."

Ginny took another step back. Hermione advanced on her with Ron quickly following.

"But... I... I can't..."

"Ginny, listen, there's no need to be afraid. It's empty now. We'll be with you - and you needn't go down. We just want you to open the-"

"But... You don't understand..." spluttered Ginny.

"She will need to go down," said Ron, firmly. "The entrance in the girls' toilet just leads down to the chamber. Harry said he still had to open the chamber." He turned to his sister. "Don't worry, Ginny. I'll help you to-"

Ginny stamped her foot. "I'm not afraid!" she huffed, before continuing more sedately, "But I simply don't know how to open it. I was possessed, wasn't I? I don't remember opening it at all."

Hermione's disappointment showed. "We'll just have to wait for Harry, then."

"Kingsley!" cried George from the middle of the room. "Glad you could make it so quickly!"

"What's happening, George? I got your message."

"Harry's here. Something big's happening."

"Here? What in Merlin's name is he thinking of?" boomed Kingsley. The Room became quieter. There was an air of authority emanating from the big man.

"He knows what he's doing, Mr Shacklebolt," said Neville. "He's here for a reason - to look for something. We're here to help him."

"We don't have time to wait, Hermione!" said Ron trying not to get distracted by the newcomer. "Every minute counts. Look, I heard Harry do it - and I also heard him..." He glanced at Ginny then mouthed at Hermione, "open ... the ... locket."

"Locket? What locket?" said Ginny, lip-reading her brother from long practice.

"Angelina!" cried George. "I knew you couldn't keep away from me!"

"Think you can, Ron?" said Hermione, looking over her shoulder as more newcomers arrived. "Oh, my! There's Professor Lupin!"

"Worth a try," said Ron. "Damn! We'll need broomsticks - to get back up, really."

"The Ascendio charm should get us out," said Hermione.

"Er... right - you use that and I'll summon my broom!" said Ron. "Ginny - you wait here and-"

Ginny pouted.

"Someone's got to tell Harry where we've gone!"

Ginny brightened up. She had a mission - and it involved Harry. She was happy.

"Whatever you do, Ginny - NOBODY else must know, get it?" said Ron firmly.

"Erm... let me think for a few minutes..."

"Oh, for goodness sake," said Hermione.

"Of course I get it!" snapped Ginny. "NOBODY must know. It's another humongous secret so nobody knows what's happening which is dumb because if anything happens to you then the secret..."

She tailed off and looked at her brother for a few moments then flung her arms around him.

"S- Steady on, Gin. We're only-"

But Ginny was already hugging Hermione. "Take care, you two," she said hoarsely then stepped back to let them leave. With a last wave, she watched them go out the door into the castle then hid her face behind the pillar and shed a few tears. There was a sense of danger hidden behind tonight's excitement that felt tangible, and she knew how a life could be taken without warning.

Not long after she had composed herself, the portrait swung open again. It was Mr and Mrs Weasley with Bill and Fleur. Ginny tried to shrink back behind her pillar but to no avail.

"Ginny!" shrieked Mrs Weasley. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here!"

Ginny sullenly went to join her family. Lupin's eyes widened in sudden recognition but they were not for her; he was looking over her shoulder towards the steps that led into the castle. "Harry! Harry! What's going on!"

The room fell silent once more. Ginny spun around. Luna waved at her from the steps that led out but though Ginny waved back, she only had eyes for Harry standing beside Luna, surveying the Room.

"Voldemort's on his way!" said Harry, breathlessly. "They're barricading the school - Snape's run for it!"

There was a loud cheer from Neville and the D.A. students.

"What first, Harry?" called George.

"They're evacuating the younger kids and everyone's meeting in the Great Hall to get organised," Harry said. He paused. There was an expectant silence as he looked upon all their eager faces. "We're fighting."

A great roar of approval thundered throughout the Room and everyone surged forward, eager for the fray, but Ginny, passionate to go with them, felt a hand clutch her arm.

"You're underage!" barked her mother.

The dispute which followed was both fierce and bitter; the more noisy and noticeable as the crowd thinned away through to the castle. Ginny watched them go with despair. Had she not proven herself time and again resisting Snape and the Carrows? Even Bill was against her. She turned to her last hope: she looked at Harry. Their eyes met.

When Harry shook his head, it felt as if all the trust and certainty and meaning were sucked down, drawn into a void, and tears sparkled, not yet fallen. Her head dropped forward as she made for the tunnel entrance back to the Hog's Head tavern. "Fine, I'll say good-bye now, then, and-"

She was vaguely aware that Percy had just entered the Room before her and, for the moment, everyone was distracted - but something else had happened that consumed all her attention. An impression of shame had engulfed her but it was not her shame; it was Harry's. She looked slowly around but his presence could not be in doubt. Their eyes met again and her forgiveness flowed unrestricted. He kissed his medallion.

When Ginny looked at her own disk, the words said, We'll find a way. As ever, her face showed no reaction to his kiss but she sensed a new trust that she would be respected as a young woman with choices of her own, and not as a child. His eyes flicked towards the last of those heading into the castle and she took his cue while the rest of the Weasleys were reconciling themselves to Percy, to try to sneak out.

"Ginny!" shrieked Mrs Weasley.

It was agreed that she would remain in the safety of the Room. She would trust Harry to find a solution. His almost imperceptible nod confirmed it. As Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Lupin headed up the stairs, Harry called after them, "Where's Ron and Hermione?"

Ginny gasped. She had been completely distracted from delivering her message but how could she tell him secretly?

Bill moved towards Harry with Fleur and Percy in tow. "I saw them go up shortly after we arrived."

"They said something about a... bath ... room," said Ginny, leaning heavily on the words and opening her eyes wide to prompt Harry as to which bathroom she meant.

"A bathroom?"

Harry looked in the Room's own bathroom. It was empty.

"No, they definitely went up the steps," said Bill.

Come on, Harry! Wake up! thought Ginny.

"You're sure that they said bath-?"

But then they both staggered into dark pain together. She saw clearly what he saw. They were looking together through the gates of Hogwarts - their kissing gate - the castle was before them; murder was in their hearts.

Harry wrenched free of the vision first and drew Ginny out with him. "He's here, Bill! He's at the gates!"

Ginny sank down onto the nearest column of bags and rubbed her brow, wondering how Harry had managed to deal with these painful visions for so long - and she only felt a fraction of what he endured. Yet, he was already running swiftly up the steps followed by Fleur, and Percy, and Bill who looked back sternly at Ginny.

"They'll be evacuating through here very soon, Ginny. I'll get whoever's in charge to look after for you."

Ginny thrust herself up to a standing position, put her hands on her hips and glared at her brother. "I don't need babysitting - I can take care of myself, Bill! I've been doing it all year!"

"I mean-"

"I know what you mean, Bill!" snapped Ginny. "You mean you don't trust me to stay here so you want someone to spy on me. That about it?"

"Well, you've not exactly set a good example of trust, have you?"

Ginny screamed with frustration and with a sweep of her wand several luggage bags launched themselves at her brother, narrowly missing him. "You can trust me to support Harry all year while you sit at home knitting! You can trust me to resist Snape and the Carrows all year and be tortured with the Cruciatus curse and not give away any secrets! You can trust me to heal scores of students who might have died or been permanently injured otherwise! You can trust me to fight Death Eaters on the train home to protect my friends! You can trust me to slay giants! That trustworthy enough for you! Obviously not."

Bill looked genuinely shocked. He scarcely knew his sister - he realised that now.

"Bill, we 'ave to-" said Fleur quietly.

"There's no time for this, Ginny. I'll try. I'll..." He turned away abruptly and sped up the steps after Harry, followed by Fleur and Percy. Left alone, Ginny flung herself into a hammock and fought with her emotions, resolved not to cry.

"Ginny?"

Ginny struggled upright and tipped herself out of the hammock in an untidy heap on the floor. She had thought the Room to be empty. "Romilda? You still here?"

"I wanted to fight for Harry. I was hiding under the cloaks in the corner. What's the point of all the D.A. training if they're going to evacuate us just because we're not seventeen."

"Rommy, it won't be like practice. They'll be fighting to kill."

Romilda's face went pale and she whimpered, "I know." She looked as if she wanted to say much more but ended with,"It's our duty isn't it. I must be brave. I'm not going to run away, you know! No matter what."

She was trembling and a new admiration for the terrified girl took hold of Ginny. "No, I don't think you will."

Romilda's bravery was to be put to the test in the very next moment for from deep within the castle a distant sound was thundering. Ginny knew that voice. "Riddle!"

Romilda shrank back towards the pile of cloaks "You-know-who? Here?"

But Ginny had the door open and was listening.

"Is he inside? W- What does he want?" stammered Romilda.

"Harry Potter," said Ginny, fiercely, drawing her wand by instinct. "He wants Harry." She came back into the Room, closing the door behind her, and looked at the clock on the wall. "Twenty-past eleven - that's only forty minutes to midnight."

"And then-?" whispered Romilda.

"Then all hell breaks loose."
.

—oOo—

.
At that moment, Harry was looking at his own watch in the Great Hall. He could hear Neville speaking close by.

"Dumbledore's Army! This is going to be our biggest test yet but all the stuff we've learnt will carry us through because we've learnt it by reflex. We'll also got the advantage of unorthodox, unexpected behaviour and, unlike those selfish bastards out there, we've learned to look out for one another. It was great training with you - you're the very best of Hogwarts. I did my best to follow in Harry's footsteps. It's been a privilege to lead you."

Neville raised his hand to silence the applause before continuing, "Now they're going to break us into groups - it'll be just like when we split into teams in practice, right? You all know who you work best with. I'll be helping Professor Sprout but Kingsley Shacklebolt will be asking for volunteers so be ready! All year, we've suffered. Now's your chance to make them pay!"

He raised a fist high in the air. "DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY!"

"DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY!" responded the excited students.

"But Neville," protested Hannah, once the D.A. started chatting amongst themselves and gravitating each to their best friends, "I thought we'd be on the same team!"

"Too risky, Hannah," said Neville. "Some of the magical plants we'll be using are as deadly to us as the enemy. You've gotta be confident handling them."

"You can come with me and Fred if you want, Hannah," said Lee.

"Yeah, join Fred's team, Hannah," said Neville. "They're... guarding the tunnel up on the seventh?" He glanced at Lee who nodded.

"But-"

"It'll be much less risky in the castle than outside!" persisted Neville.

Harry could see Parvati with her sister Padma. Fred and George were handing out pockets of unpleasant-looking devices. Luna and Deane were comparing their wands with Seamus. Katie Bell and Lavender Brown were with Angelina Johnson. Hannah was still hassling Neville to let her stay with him. Nowhere could he see Ron and Hermione.

"Absolutely not, Creevey," said Professor McGonagall "Miss Lovegood! When is your birthday!"

"Oh, you've missed it, Professor!" cried Luna, jumping up and down with excitement.

"I don't want to send you a bloomin' birthday card! I'm trying to determine if you are underage!"

"February! I wanted to be a leap baby but they didn't have-!"

Madam Pomfrey cut across her, "Minerva, Nurse Wainscott won't be enough on her own. There'll be injuries... More than we can handle."

"Help Filch with the evacuation, first, Poppy. I'll see what I can do."

Matron nodded and moved off through the throng towards the doorway to the Entrance Hall.

Harry found the Weasleys at the Gryffindor table but Ron was not with them. Kingsley had taken to the rostrum and was trying to organise everyone amidst the confusing disorder. Harry's mind whirled as he tried to assimilate what he was seeing. There was Neville in an intimate embrace with two girls at once. One of them might have been Luna, the other was Hannah. Harry shook his head to try to clear it. Seamus was tightening an old wound dressing around his throat as casually as one might wrap a scarf before a storm. The Patil twins were hugging each other and crying at the very place from where Dumbledore used to command attention. A beautiful girl was passionately kissing Terry Boot; she reminded Harry of reclusive Spotty Midgen. Nothing made sense any more. The light, the heat, the noise was getting to him, he thought.

Ginny's kiss steadied him. He had not forgotten her but how was he to help her? He had to find Ron and Hermione.

"Potter! Aren't you supposed to be looking for something?" said McGonagall in his ear.

"What? Oh," said Harry, "oh yeah!"

He couldn't think straight without Hermione and Ron to exchange ideas and his unspoken promise to Ginny he would never again treat her like a child conflicted with his wish to keep her wrapped up safe somewhere.

"Go, Potter, go!"

"Right - yeah-"

He made his way slowly towards the exit, mind racing. How was he going to find the Horcrux without Ron and Hermione's help? He pulled the Marauder's Map out of the pouch around his neck. He could not see their names anywhere on it, though the density of the crowd of dots now making its way to the Room of Requirement might, he thought, be concealing them. He put the map away, pressed his hands over his face, and closed his eyes, trying to concentrate. He looked again at his watch. Only thirty minutes! He stopped. He stood aside from the doorway, columns of students jostling past him, and stared at his watch. His medallion trembled and with another kiss from Ginny came inspiration at last.

When Luna had taken Harry to her common room, they had found that Voldemort had stationed Alecto Carrow there. Only one explanation seemed plausible: Voldemort feared that Harry already knew his Horcrux was connected to that house. But the only object anyone seemed to associate with Ravenclaw was the lost diadem and nobody had seen it in living memory.

In living memory!

It was so obvious now he laughed aloud. Someone who was dead might remember! He needed one of the ghosts.

He sprinted towards the Entrance Hall but a shadow crossed his exultation: what of Ginny? Instantly this solution followed the first like the last few pieces of a jigsaw puzzle - it was right before him...

"Colin!" He grabbed the youth as he was being marshaled past.

"Alright there, Harry?" Colin said breathlessly. "I wanted to help but-"

"You can!" said Harry, pulling him to one side of the streams of students.

"Really?"

"Special mission. I need someone I can trust."

"Great! I'm your man, Harry, you know that!" Colin said, excitedly.

"You know the potions store downstairs?"

"It's locked, Harry. Snape has the key. Perhaps there's another key somewhere you think? Or-"

"Blast it!" said Harry. "Smash it. Destroy it!"

Colin's eyes widened. "Blast it! Smash it! Right, Harry!"

"Whatever it takes, right?"

Colin nodded.

"Now this is what I want you to do." Harry whispered in his ear for a few moments then removed his watch...

While they talked, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Bill and Fleur led a group of seventh-years past them to take up their positions to defend the outer perimeters of the castle. Kingsley Shacklebolt led his team after them while Lupin took his volunteers to the main courtyard to guard against an overhead attack. Nobody noticed Colin slip away downstairs...
.

—oOo—

.
Ginny felt Harry's kiss at the same moment as the door opened and the silence of the Room was ended by the shouts and cries of underage students pouring in, led by Filch.

"Now, now, you lot! Queue along 'ere," said Filch, then he noticed Ginny. "Weasley! Get in line like everyone else!"

"I've got orders to stay in here!" cried Ginny.

"Oh, yes?" sneered Filch. "And what might I ask-"

"I've... I've got to... I've got to direct you!"

"Oh, really?" said Filch suspiciously. "I know this castle like the back of my hand. There ain't-"

"What's the hold up!" called Madam Pomfrey from the door.

"It's alright, ma'am. Just some people think we're helpless without them."

"Fine! Go ahead," said Ginny. "Let's not worry about the students coming up behind."

The Room was beginning to fill up. Younger students gazed around round-eyed for the first time at the trappings and fittings of the legendary D.A. hideaway. More were struggling to get in and a crush was forming.

"Mr Filch! What are you waiting for!" cried Pomfrey again. "Miss Weasley is supposed to be here!"

Filch looked around. "Can't see the exit, ma'am."

Ginny leaned against a post and examined her finger nails.

"Alright, Miss Smartypants," growled Filch. "So, where's..."

"Me? Oh, are you talking to me, Mr Filch?" said Ginny. "Do you need my help?"

Ginny swung open the portrait frame and stood back as the evacuees began to file through. Then she remembered Harry's kiss.

She slipped backwards from the centre of the Room until her heels met soft fabric then she sank down onto the heap of spare cloaks.

"Ow!"

"Sorry, Romilda. You still here? Best stay hidden unless you want to get out now."

There was a muffled cry from below but Ginny was looking at her medallion. Help is on its way.

Ginny looked around. The column of students was still extensive and only moving slowly into the passageway beyond the painting. She felt a hand on her arm.

"Not now, Romilda."

"It's me."

Ginny leapt to her feet. "Who's there?"

"It's me. Special Mission!" then the voice added in a low, conspiratorial whisper, "It's Colin. Harry sent me!"

"Col-?"

"Ssshh! You've got to conceal yourself, Ginny. Use the Disillusionment charm."

"Someone will notice. Pomfrey's looking at me now and again. My brother might come back any time. It's not perfect invisibility; I can faintly see your camouflage if I look closely."

"Trust me. Trust Harry. Look... Just do it, okay?"

Ginny sighed and hugged herself back as far as she could into the shadowy heap of clothing. There was another muffled cry from beneath her.

As she cast the charm, something, or someone, appeared before her. It was a shock. The last person on earth she ever expected to see. It was herself, Ginny Weasley. She stared at her likeness as if she was looking in a mirror except she was sprawled backwards in a pile of dirty laundry and her other self was standing grinning at her.

"Good innit?" he said, still in a very low voice. "Bet you didn't know he's got a secret lock of your hair in his watch! He gave me a couple of hairs. Polyjuice, you know."

Ginny stared at herself. "But you're still wearing school robes!"

"Yeah, so did you and there's not much-"

"But I left at Easter! Why would I change back and-"

"There's going to be fighting! Nobody's going to bother about why you're wearing school robes - loads of kids are!"

"-and I wouldn't be seen dead in those pink and green socks!" Ginny wrinkled up her nose. "Now what, though?"

"You have to report to the hospital wing. See Nurse Wainscott. Tell her you're a volunteer. They'll be desperate for help you see. Especially healing help. They'll need people to go looking for the wounded. Give them what assistance you can. They can't turn anyone away once it's started, can they?"

"I don't want no poxy backroom job! I want..." Ginny paused. "I'd have to go into the battle though, wouldn't I? Help the injured?"

"That's right. It's very risky," Colin said. "He said it needed someone who can look after themselves in a tight spot. Someone who can fight. There's something else. He said to give you this. Said you'd understand what to do. He said... 'Use it well.' I don't know what it is, though." He held out a blank, folded piece of parchment. Ginny recognised it instantly as the Marauder's Map. Her eyebrows raised and her expression brightened as she took it from him with invisible fingers and it disappeared beneath her concealment.

"Right - I'm outta here," she said. "But what are you going to do?"

"My mission is to stay here and pretend I'm you. Guide people in and out I suppose if they're not sure where to go. Erm... What do you call your brother, if he should...?"

"Bill. His name's Bill. You'd better keep your mouth shut as much as possible though and turn your face away; you might look like me but-"

"Right. Mouth shut. Avoid attention." Colin retreated down onto the pile of clothing. There was a muffled grunt from below him.

"One other thing," said Ginny. "Take my locket."

"Take it?"

"Yes, just take it. Just in case anyone notices. I'm never without it."

"Erm... Where are you exactly? I don't want to..."

Ginny watched her other self blushing scarlet and she rolled her invisible eyes. "For Merlin's sake, Colin!" She grabbed his hand and guided it to her locket. The conjured fake should hopefully last as long as the Polyjuice, she thought to herself as she headed for the entrance into the castle.
.

—oOo—

.
Something was wrong. Ron could hear Hermione squealing as she slid down the pipe from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom after him and it sounded as if she was spinning out of control. The girl flew out in a rush of flailing limbs. Ron dived to catch her and his hand cushioned her head before it hit the side of the pipe. They landed together in a heap upon the wet slime, both with the breath knocked out of them and unable to rise for a few seconds. Ron could feel an animal bone prodding into his back but he could not yet make enough effort to move with Hermione's weight pinning him down, and he could see nothing because his face was buried beneath her hair.

Why is she not moving? Is she-?

"Hermione?" The spoken name blew hair away from his mouth but it fell softly back. "Are you alright?"

"Hmm..." It was the faintest of moans.

"Are you hurt?"

"No," she said, weakly.

Ron waited. He was not in any hurry. The rat skull or whatever it was against his back could wait. Let her get her breath back, I suppose. Got to, really. It's the right thing to do, after all, he thought to himself. He would worry about his bone later.

"You alright, Ron?" Her breath was hot on the side of his neck.

He wondered how to answer. His back was quite sore and the back of his hand was slightly bruised where it had been crushed against the pipe by Hermione's head. And he did feel rather unnaturally warm.

"Ron?"

"Totally winded."

"Me too."

They lay there till Hermione saw the far edge of believability approaching then she pushed herself up, faked a few gasps for air, and looked around in the chill gloom.

They lay upon a bed of fractured animal skeletons. Ron's broomstick leaned where he had flung it against the dripping stone wall of the start of a tunnel. A dim lamp threw a greenish tinge upon every surface.

"I can't believe you had the nerve to come down here when you were only twelve - not even knowing what dangers you would face!"

Ron saw no reason to remind her he had been thirteen. "Well, my sister was in danger wasn't she? Got to really."

They took time cleansing each other with spells.

"You saved me. Thanks, Ron."

"Keeper's instinct, I suppose." Ron shrugged nonchalantly but for some reason he felt really pleased - more pleased than with any Quaffle he had ever blocked. It gave him something to think about as he moved his wand slowly by Hermione to remove all the slime stains.

Hermione suddenly gasped and looked at her watch.

"We'd better get moving!"

"Yeah - right."

Turning to the pile of rubble that Professor Lockhart had caused to collapse during Ron's second year, he launched himself up onto a large block and reached back to help Hermione. She took his hand and he guided her carefully across the cracked and broken stones that extended way down the tunnel.

I'm sure I can do this perfectly well by myself, Ronald! thought Hermione - yet she felt she ought not to distract him by saying it aloud. Her hand remained in his.

Fingers still entwined, they walked along in silence, each pretending they had forgotten they were holding hands.

"What was it like being petrified?" asked Ron suddenly.

Hermione pulled her hand away without thinking then wished she had not.

"Oh, it's - not anything really."

"So... you weren't... conscious then?" said Ron, hesitantly.

"No... Why do you ask?" she said.

"No reason."

A remembered daydream entered her head and she ran forward, laughing shyly around the next bend. "Because you kissed me, didn't you!"

Ron flushed and hurried after her. "Is that what you think! - I was only twelve! I was too young to even think of such a thing!"

"Did you say 'was', Ron?" She had turned back and was waiting for him around the bend in the middle of the tunnel.

"If you must know, I asked because once I was petrified with fear and I hated to think that you..." Over her shoulder, Ron thought he could see, far off in the gloom, a stone wall in which two entwined serpents were cut, their eyes ablaze with emeralds.

"This is it at last, Hermione!"

"It is?" said Hermione, very weakly, her lips slightly parted. She closed her eyes.

He rushed past her and gazed at the stone snakes. Hermione turned around to look after him. Ron glanced back at her excitedly. "See!"

He waved his arms about and made a harsh hissing noise. Nothing happened. This he repeated several times without effect, despite hissing in different, more contorted ways. "I don't get it! I did it all right up in the bathroom to open the pipe."

"That's because you're rushing it, Ron. Did Harry wave his arms about when he opened the locket?" said Hermione, suspiciously.

"Erm... No..."

"Focus, Ron. Think. Visualise what happened. Try to remember exactly how Harry did it."

Ron tried hard, but what had happened immediately after Harry had opened the locket overwhelmed his memory. A chill took him suddenly and he shuddered; the recollection of all his fears had not been pleasant. He turned to look at Hermione. She was real and not at all threatening.

"What is it, Ron?"

"Harry... he-?" He stared at her then, seeing so clearly how precious she was to him and what he might strive to achieve in order to be worthy. He summoned all his concentration.

"Ron?"

The sound that escaped his lips was a strangled, hideous, sibilant whisper that unsettled Hermione. The serpents reluctantly parted. The wall cracked in two and each half slid smoothly out of sight.
.

—oOo—

.
"Whoever's under there - it's safe to come out now," said Colin in a high voice, grateful that he was using Ginny's vocal chords. He thought himself quite convincing but he stared in disbelief at the face that emerged from below the cloaks and the arm that reached out and grabbed his.

"M- Miss V- Vane?" he stammered.

"Who are you, really?" she said, pulling herself upright and poking and prodding him as if his real self might protrude as stuffing from the seams of his garments.

"M- Me?" he said. "I'm Ginny Weasley of course - you know me Miss Vane - I mean, Romilda - That is to say... Rommy."

"Who do you think you're kidding with clothes so odd and ill-fitting as those? I heard some of what you told to Ginny. You're Loony Lovegood aren't you!"

"A Gryffindor! I'm a Gryffindor!" cried Colin, quite affronted. He had never been this close to Romilda Vane before, although in their third year he had asked her to take tea with him in Hogsmeade and she had told him impolitely where he might take himself. Still, he thought, if she thinks I'm Luna perhaps she might remain this near without objection. He scratched in his ear, thinking furiously.

"Merlin! You're a boy!" squealed Romilda, endeavouring to close up the looseness of her robes.

She tried to rise but Colin urged her to stay low, "because I thought I heard someone coming." He had to think quickly so he fussed around with the cloaks for a while under the pretence of preparedness and confirmed he had a couple more shots in his bottle of Polyjuice potion. Then, emboldened by the occasion he snuggled down as best he could beside her.

"I'm Harry Potter," he said finally, trying to deepen his voice. "But don't tell any-"

"Harry?" she said, suddenly breathless.

"I... erm... You're the real reason I came back, Romilda," he said. "I was... worried about you."

"Me? About... me?"

"I have to confess. The truth is, it's always been you I've really liked, Rom-"

Colin was unable to complete his performance for Romilda flung herself upon him, enwrapped his new frame utterly, and easily unbalanced him down into the pile of clothing.
.

—oOo—

.
Ginny narrowly evaded several anxious juveniles in the corridors as she sped near-invisibly down to the hospital wing on the first floor. She countered her concealment just outside the door.

"Ginny? Ginny Weasley?"

Ginny spun round. A girl, half-hidden behind a blanket-heaped trolley was hurrying towards her. "Alice? What are you doing here?"

The girl tugged back on the trolley to bring it to a halt. "I stayed behind in the Great Hall to fight but Pomfrey conscripted me in as a general runabout and fetcher. Nurse Wainscott's showing me the- Are you hurt? What's wrong? Why are you here?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm here to help too." Ginny thought quickly. "Madam Pomfrey sent me down as well."

"Oh yeah - you're great at healings! Maybe they'll release me now to fight!"

"But you're not of age yet are you?"

"Only just. Beginning of April." Alice suddenly gasped. "But you're not, are you!"

"Don't tell anyone!" snapped Ginny quickly. "Tell them... If they ask, say I'm a bit older than you!"

"Okay but it's your funeral if you get caught." She gasped again as she realised what she had said and began adjusting the blanket pile unnecessarily. Ginny changed the subject.

"Why didn't you rejoin the D.A. this year if you want to fight?"

"I did! Well, I only went to a couple of the meetings. I liked it when we were learning with Harry because we weren't get any proper defence lessons. But this protest thing against Snape - I didn't really see the point."

"It's to give people hope, you prat! And to keep reminding everybody about Harry. Anyway, we still did training - better than-"

The hospital wing doors burst open and a white-faced nurse with dishevelled hair pushed out. "Tolipan! There you are! Quickly! Quickly! Who's this?"

"Nurse, this is Ginny Weasley. Madam Pomfrey sent her to help. She's a healer."

"Too young to heal! Well, get in here. Can you duplicate? Conjure? We need more beds - down the middle there, every square inch you can squeeze them in. Then more mattresses and bedding and bandages to the Great Hall! Hurry it up!"

"Great Hall?"

"Wake up! Wake up! There won't be time to get all the casualties up here will there! Show her, Miss Tolipan." She rushed back into the ward and they followed.

"So Harry's really here?" said Alice as soon as she and Ginny were out of earshot in the hospital storeroom. "I didn't get a good look at him earlier."

"Yes, he's searching for something upstairs."

"Is he... Is he... like... seeing anyone?" She stopped piling pillows onto her trolley and waited with a hopeful look in her eyes.

Ginny looked across the top of the linen sheets neatly piled in her arms and snarled like a tigress, "Yeah! He's seeing me, so hands off!"

"Alright! Keep your pants on." She resumed her pillow-stacking. "I only wondered since everyone reckoned you broke up with him last year."

"Yeah, well..." It took a while for Ginny's dark scowl to fade...
.

—oOo—

.
Ron and Hermione walked down the few steps into the length of the Chamber of Secrets, their eyes fixed upon the body of the great Basilisk before the huge statue at the far end. Decayed and translucent now, the green lighting shone through the scaly skin, picking out the tunnel of ribs protruding along the sweeping coils of its spine. Despite its deathly stillness, they approached cautiously, feet splashing through puddles of water and the sounds echoing back to them from the surrounding stone.

Hermione clutched at Ron's arm. "It's eyes! Look where its eyes were! I saw those in Penny's mirror!" She shuddered. Ron put his arm around her shoulders but, as in life, she could not tear her face away from the dead creature's blind gaze.

"Punctured!" said Ron. "How did he do that?"

"Didn't Harry tell you?"

"He never spoke of it. He must have stabbed its eyes first."

"With his own eyes shut?"

"Ah, no! It was Fawkes! It was Fawkes! I remember now, him explaining it in McGonagall's office! Harry must have been completely mental though - fighting that thing! I mean, now you can see the size of it!"

They stood and marvelled at the sight, each picturing in their own way the dreadful battle, the flashing sword, and the final thrust. They looked long upon the dark ink stain nearby until they were interrupted by a sustained distant rumble as if from the stone chamber itself. They looked up first to the great standing statue of Slytherin then at each other nervously.

"It's a voice, I think," said Ron, still looking at the monolith's face.

Hermione's eyes widened. "It's him! You-know-who!" She ran to the nearest wall and pressed her ear to it. Ron sprinted after her.

"He's asking for Harry!" squealed Hermione and turned to run, her cry echoing from the cold grey walls. "We've got to go back up, Ron! Stop them before-"

"Hermione, they'll never hand over Harry Potter."

She stopped and tried to calm herself down. "No... No, of course not."

"Our job is to get..." Ron went directly to the gaping jaws of the snake. It would have been large enough for him to squeeze inside but for the long slicing fangs that lined it. Between them weaved the black ribbon of its dried-out tongue. He heaved out a fang and held it up like a trophy. "...one of these." He hefted it in his hand to feel the weight then looked back inside the dead beast's savage jaws.

"There's lots of them, Hermione!" He turned and, with a puzzled expression, looked around the stone floor. "One of them is missing - the one Harry took."

"There!" Hermione pointed at the longest puddle near the black stain. She went and retrieved the fang, examining it carefully. "Wonder if this one will work again."

"Let's get all fresh ones just in case. How many do we need?" said Ron, returning to the gaping maw of the beast.

Hermione cast aside the used fang and it clattered noisily across the grey slabs while she considered. "Well, there's only the cup, the diadem and the snake so if we-"

"Snake?" said Ron, looking at the Basilisk remains with a startled expression on his face.

"Not the Basilisk! Oh, Ron - you remember. April last year when Harry told us about the Horcruxes. You-know-who's snake Nagini is a Horcrux."

"Oh, right - that snake, yeah." He thought he saw disappointment in her face.

"I didn't forget!" snapped Ron. "It just slipped my mind for the minute."

Hermione said nothing.

Ron felt her disbelief as sharp as the fang he held. He shuffled his feet then said sullenly, "You think I'm a bit of a prat don't you."

"No! No, of course not, Ron!"

"The truth, Hermione."

"This is hardly the time to-"

Ron's stern expression stopped her, then she resumed, "Ron, okay, you do act like a prat sometimes..."

Ron's shoulders slumped. "Thought so. That's how you see me, isn't it?"

"Ron, incidental behaviour is of little significance - it's what you truly are that is of merit. It's where your heart lies. You need to look to the very great men and women in history for inspiration. They sometimes did foolish things but they won through in the end. History books are full of their exploits."

Ron tried to mumble something but Hermione continued, "Do you know what is the most intelligent, most noble, and most courageous act I've ever known?"

Ron rejected the History of Magic with which he could not compete. He stuck with what he knew. "Harry dodging that dragon in fourth year, I'd say. That took nerve and skill."

"Harry was bound by a magical contract so he didn't have any choice - and he did everything he could to avoid the creature."

"Fighting off all those Dementors then, the year before. Only Dumbledore could have equalled that on his own."

"He was safely across the lake waiting for his dad to do it. It was a powerful act of wizardry but he knew the outcome for certain - he told me so."

"Well then, nearly killing himself to get the sword out the pool in the-"

"He had no idea the locket would try to drown him!" cried Hermione, so loudly that she waited for the echoes to die down before continuing. "Harry! Harry! Harry! Do you think he's the only one who ever does anything noble or grand? So all other great deeds throughout history have to be placed beside and below his?"

"Well, he's a good example to others isn't he? A way to measure-"

"Do you want to know what I always measure nobility and courage and intelligence against?" said Hermione, and she was tearful now. "The greatest deed I know?"

Ron shook his head. He knew he could never out-think Hermione Granger.

"There was a person who did something that did not seem risky at all. Oh, no, on the contrary, the outcome seemed to be certain death. When someone offered up his life for his friends and for a good and righteous cause." She paused, and tears did trickle down now before she composed herself enough to continue. "...And not only that - he expected and accepted that another would reap the glory for his sacrifice. But he did it anyway without a thought for himself."

Ron blinked. He could not remember many of the great events recorded in magical history but he knew Hermione had dates and probably the days of the week memorised.

"It was when a great knight deliberately sacrificed himself to allow his friends to move forward safely and to complete their quest without him. It was you, Ron, in your first year, playing one of the best games of chess that Hogwarts has known. That's what I always measure magnificence and bravery and nobility and intelligence against, Ron; that's my measure."

Ron flushed deeply. He might have croaked something but Hermione had turned her face away and was rubbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "So... we need at least three fangs," she said hoarsely. "Look, let's just stuff the lot in my bag in case something goes wrong."

"I'm not keen on them being in your bag, Hermione," said Ron quietly, his face still very hot. "Suppose one of them stabs something else in there? Or jabs... your leg through the fabric? Please don't put them in there."

Now it was Hermione's turn to go pink. "Good thinking... Erm..."

"Better take all we can carry then," said Ron.

They managed three apiece under the crook of their arms then laid them on the ground while Hermione took out the Hufflepuff Cup from her bag and placed it beside them. Ron recovered another fang from the jaw of the great Basilisk and laid it down next to the cup. They stared at the collection for some time until it seemed the deed could be put off no longer.

"Right then," said Ron, taking up the fang. "If you stand well away, Hermione while-"

"Why? Was it that bad?" said Hermione. "The locket? What actually happened?"

"No, it was nothing really but best to be safe, eh? Remember Dumbledore's hand?"

"That was from wearing the ring, not destroying it."

"Yes, but it was a trap set to to protect the Horcrux wasn't it? Well, then the diary-"

"Oh my goodness! Save us from the spots of ink!"

Ron glared at her and she relented. "It was the locket wasn't it? Something really bad happened didn't it?"

"My worst fears. I don't want to talk about it."

Hermione knew then she should not push him further. Pain was evident in his expression. Yet knowing that, here he was taking the risk upon himself again.

"I must do it," she said firmly.

"What?"

"It must be me. Dumbledore did the ring. Harry did the diary. You did the locket. It must be me to destroy the cup."

"Now who's being a prat!" said Ron, instantly regretting it. "I mean, where's it written that it must be a different person each time?"

"Right here on the end of my wand," said Hermione, pointing it at him. "Take a close look. There's a nasty little hex waiting to pop out."

Ron scowled, then grinned. "Alright. Alright. You win. But I'm staying here beside you."

"Why?"

"Erm... just because."

"Suit yourself. Probably nothing will happen anyway." She put out her hand and Ron placed the fang upon it.

Hermione steadied herself then wasted no further time: she plunged the point of the Basilisk fang directly into the Hufflepuff Cup.

An icy howl erupted from the cup which continued while it vomited a copious flood of the same slimy water that puddled the chamber and the tunnel that led to it. The cup itself, bent and twisted by the impact of the fang, was flung aside by the initial jet, but the slime water continued to expand from where it had stood in a huge spreading mushroom of gunge whose pressure thrust both Ron and Hermione backwards like corks before a surge tide.

"Hermione! The fangs!" Ron began scrabbling in the growing depth of murky liquid and his hand found the mangled cup, now passive. He stuffed it into his jacket and continued feeling around for the fangs.

Every few seconds the filthy water let out an additional shriek to add to its banshee howl, and its swelling, flowing mound continued to expand as if from an underground gusher. Ron, kneeling in the flood, raised one arm. "Got one!" Hermione found another soon after but, crawling on her hands and knees, the vile liquid was almost up to her mouth. Ron sprang up waving a second fang then his expression darkened. Without them realising it, the water had flowed to all corners of the chamber and was now well over two feet deep. Hermione stood up, utterly drenched and slimy water pouring off her. She looked around, then turned desperately towards the exit steps.

The howling increased in volume and penetrated their ears painfully. "Ron! We have to get out!" She wasn't sure he understood but he nodded and half-crouching, waded towards her, the filthy mire now up over his waist. He suddenly dived, almost immersing himself but came up immediately with hair plastered down, a wet grin and two more fangs, one of which he fumbled into Hermione's arms.

They made their way towards the open doorway and looked back. The torrent was swirling around the chamber, increasing its power and mass as it did so. Hermione, already shoulder-deep, stumbled down but Ron, at her side, had his arm around her and up she came spluttering. As they clambered up the steps out of the chamber the serpentine door closed behind them automatically, leaving a chilling silence.
.

—oOo—

.
For the next half hour, Ginny was kept busy running to the Great Hall and back again. Fortunately, no one seemed to take any notice of a supplies pusher with their head down. She and Alice piled up the trolley with more blankets and some standard potions from the hospital's stores and turned it towards the door. Nurse Wainscott seemed to be increasingly nervous.

"Where's Matron got to? Did she say how long she'd be? Where's your satchel, girl!"

"What?" said Ginny.

Alice explained, "Potions and quick dressings and so on. I'll get you one."

The ground suddenly trembled and Nurse Wainscott, turning an even paler shade, clutched at a bed post, staring around at the rattling windows where lights were beginning to flash. She whirled upon Ginny.

"Well? Did Matron say? How are we going to manage if she-"

"Don't worry, she shouldn't be long, I don't think," said Ginny reassuringly. "The last of the youngsters should be evacuated by now."

"Don't worry! Don't worry! You silly girl! Have you any idea what might happen! Do you!"

Ginny calmly took the leather satchel that Alice was handing to her and slung its strap over her shoulder. "Nurse Wainscott, have you ever been in a serious fight - to the death I mean?"

"Of course not! I'm a registered St. Mungo's nurse. I deal with-"

"Yes, well I have - lots of times," interrupted Ginny as she examined the contents of the bag. She looked up. "You'd better get a grip or you might not survive. Once the injured start coming in then focus on what you know: healing and nursing, and let others worry about what might happen. Harry Potter is here. He knows exactly what he's doing. He'll end this tonight."

Wainscott looked like she had been slapped in the face. "You know him? You know Harry Potter!"

"Puh! She's only his girlfriend! Thought everybody knew that!" smirked Alice.
.

—oOo—

.
After escaping the repulsive torrent in the Chamber of Secrets, Ron and Hermione collapsed their load of fangs onto the tunnel floor and sank down with them to get their breath. Not a whisper could be heard of the deluge within the chamber. Ron was spitting gunge from his mouth in disgust.

"Tergeo," said Hermione, getting to her feet rather weakly. Ron gratefully stood up straight to let the foul water be drawn into nothingness from his hair and clothing by Hermione's spell. She looked a sorry sight. Her hair was now a cap of slime flattened around her scalp and her clothes clung to her wetly like a skin of disgusting, slippery mucus. Ron stared slack-jawed at her outline seeing only the silvery wet sheen that curved around her thighs and stomach.

"Ron?" Her eyes pleaded.

"Erm... Right - sorry... Erm..." His voice was very dry and hoarse considering all the wetness. "What is it again?"

"You know damn well what it is, Ron, you arse!" squealed Hermione. She shook her arms in disgust and her whole body quivered like sealskin, spraying slippery droplets from every point.

"Just that... " His voice grew fainter and fainter until it was no more than a whispered croak. "mind's... blank... for a minute... after all... been through..."

"Tergeo! It's Tergeo! You just heard me do it!"

"Right!" He raised his wand very reluctantly, still staring at her, slack-jawed. "Tergeo," he murmured unenthusiastically.

In a moment she was clean and dry again. A warm air charm fluffed up her hair in a bushy brown halo. Hermione retrieved a hairbrush from the beaded bag then looked around for a puddle near enough to a light to show her reflection.

"Here... Let me."

Ron's touch was surprisingly soft and gentle as he stroked her hair into place and Hermione meekly accepted the back of his other hand against her face and neck as he did so. They did not speak. When it was over and he had circled completely around her, their eyes met - but still they did not exchange any words.

They gathered up the fallen Basilisk fangs and walked back along the passage.

"Five altogether," said Ron, as if not directly to anyone. As he spoke the tunnel seemed to vibrate briefly - then it gave a heavy shudder. Ron looked back at the chamber door behind them but it remained secure.

Hermione looked at her watch. "The fighting - it's started."

They increased their pace.

As they walked, Ron thought about Hermione. This was the first time they had ever been isolated with one another; really doing something important together. Yes, they had sometime been on their own at Hogwarts or in the tent but Harry might have returned at any moment. This was different. It felt different. They had been the sole partners in a venture that had been their own idea. A thrill took him. He dared a quick glance at the girl walking beside him. The dark tunnel wall outlined the pale profile of her face: strong, determined, resolved, chin jutting forward to take whatever the world threw at her. She was a formidable person at the beginning of her life. What might she achieve in the years ahead? He ached so much to help her he found himself making a promise:

If we survive this, I will tell her how I feel.

As they walked, Hermione thought about Ron too. He had just helped kill part of the most evil tyrant the magical world had ever known yet she knew he still saw himself in Harry's shadow. Ron it was that had thought of the fangs. Ron who had saved her from a clumsy descent. Ron who had ingeniously opened the chamber. Ron who had offered to strike the blow. He had not needed her at all. She sensed his eyes upon her, just for a moment. How did he see her? A bossy know-it-all who couldn't even sit on a broomstick without falling off? A cold, aloof, bad-tempered shrew living inside books like a worm? A career person with ambitions to move away from and way above him as soon as this was over? To leave friends and family and make her way in the world? Did he feel the distance between them was too great to cross? She ached so much to reach out to him that she promised herself:

If we survive this, I will tell him how I feel.

There was another tremor like distant thunder. Crumbling mortar dusted from between the great stones of the tunnel and the puddles ahead rippled silvery-green in the gloomy light. They both shuddered suddenly from the chill.

For some reason Ron's entire body recalled her mother-warmth laid upon him - even the rat skull seemed a fond memory he could have endured without limit. Her hand had been softly intimate and so tiny it had been enclosed within his like a possession. He shook away the memory and tried to think of their accomplishment. The cup Horcrux destroyed! What a torrent! He could see her sinuous shiny, slippery curves risen like Venus from the... He shook his head inwardly again - with disgust at himself this time. That was not what he wanted, he knew that. He wanted the person. He wanted her. He wanted Hermione Granger.

Hermione recalled the strength of his support from her frightening fall and how her wish to get off him had fled, leaving her helpless till shame took her. His hand had encompassed hers, enwrapping her soul with its father-warmth. Why had she broken that contact? Then again, why had she insulted him when his eyes lusted upon her silly, imagined sense of wet nakedness? Why had she felt anger while waving her arms like a hussy and wiggling her body to tease him further? She shook herself inwardly, disgusted with what she was becoming. To trap his lowest instincts was not what she wanted at all. She wanted the person. She wanted him. She wanted Ron Weasley.

When they emerged from the girls' bathroom, they left silence behind. As well as the commotion of distant curses accompanied by the flashes of various colours upon the corridor walls, there was a continuous bedlam of shouts and screams from near and far. They hurried along as best they could with their arms full, trying to push past the clusters of frightened students that seemed to clump at every awkward corner.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Harry!" squealed Hermione.

"Chamber of Secrets," said Ron.

"Chamber - what?" said Harry, coming to an unsteady halt before them.

"It was Ron, all Ron's idea!" said Hermione breathlessly. "Wasn't it absolutely brilliant?

Ron turned to look at her. Her eyes were shining, her face beaming with sincere admiration. He felt taller - as if a weight was no longing pressing upon his shoulders.

"He was amazing!" she was saying. "Amazing!"

Ron felt he was living a dream. This was surreal. Explosions. Shrieks and sounds of desperate duelling. The windows flashing and flickering with lights. It was a fantasy theatre and the audience was Hermione, praising, applauding, adoring him. He struggled from the vision but briefly.

"So we're another Horcrux down," said Ron, hearing himself sound almost normal. From under his jacket he pulled the mangled remains of Hufflepuff's cup. "Hermione stabbed it. Thought she should. She hasn't had the pleasure yet."

Hermione felt she was living a dream. Ron had taken no credit for himself though it had been entirely his idea and his enaction. She looked at his expression. His face was alight with reverence and awe when he looked her way. She felt herself to be some great performer and he the mighty audience, praising, applauding, adoring her. She strove to cast out the vision but it seemed irresistible.

Harry brought them both back to reality. "Listen, the other Horcrux we need is definitely the diadem. I spoke to the Grey Lady, the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower, and she told me who had had it - it must have been Tom Riddle! Better yet, I know what the diadem looks like now and I've seen it before! I saw it last year in the Room of Forgotten Things when I hid Snape's Potions book!"

They hurried along to the Room of Requirement. It was almost empty. Ron could feel Hermione taking up position by his side; his side - not Harry's. Vaguely he was aware of Neville's gran being there and Harry directing her to find her grandson. He could see Tonks and Ginny there too, Ginny asking if they were all okay in a strange falsetto. Hermione noticed Harry glaring at Ginny and vaguely worried if they had quarrelled but Hermione's mind was more preoccupied elsewhere. She looked towards Ron and found him already staring back at her, a strange expression of determination on his face like when he steeled himself to block the Quaffle during his Quidditch tryout. He flushed and turned away. Harry seemed to be running things alright without them, sending Tonks out to find Remus, asking Ginny to leave so he could transform the Room into the Room of Forgotten Things.

Hermione thought Ginny looked pleased she was being told to leave the Room but her silly voice was still very noticeable. Was Ginny teasing Harry or trying to irritate him? He looked annoyed and kept glancing at Ron. And why did she insist on hovering all those cloaks and jackets out of the Room too?

"What are those for!" snapped Harry.

"They're needed, Harry - People keep asking for them."

"Yeah right - 'course they do! And then you can come back in!" roared Harry after the retreating figure of Ginny. "You've got to come back in!"

Harry never felt so odd in all his life. To see Ginny yet know it was not her made him feel angry even though it had been his idea; he wanted the real Ginny not this counterfeit. And Colin sounded nothing like her; surely everyone must realise his silly posturing and his voice were just ridiculous? And why was he taking those cloaks?

"Hang on a moment!" Ron said sharply. "We've forgotten someone!"

"Who?" asked Hermione.

"The house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"

"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" asked Harry.

"No," said Ron seriously, "I mean we should tell them to get out. We don't want anymore Dobbies, do we? We can't order them to die for us-"

A great intensity of affection swelled through Hermione in that moment. At last she saw Ron clearly as she had always known he must be once youthfulness departed. It was not then possible to restrain her emotions. She was in his arms and neither doubt nor fear nor any trace of reservation could separate their lips. The Room was a soft void and Ron's happiness suffused with hers; his mouth was as eager, his arms as willing. And oh! the release and the freedom! Shackles of long-held uncertainty fell away like the Basilisk fangs, to poison them no more.

As they sailed their rapture, a distant voice called them home to worldly matters.

"Oi! There's a war going on here!" Harry was still with them.

Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.

"I know, mate," said Ron, beaming dazedly at Harry, "so it's now or never, isn't it?"

"D'you think you could just... hold it in until we've got the diadem?" Harry shouted.

"Yeah, right... Sorry," said Ron, and he and Hermione set about gathering up fangs, both pink in the face.
.

—oOo—

.
Colin looked up and down the corridor outside the Room of Requirements. The noise of battle rose and fell along with flashes of colour from every window. He could see someone further along in deep shadow, straining to peer out of a broken window into the night but nobody else was within sight. Occasionally a young woman's face was briefly revealed in shocks of colour to contrast with the hot magenta of her hair. He recognised her then from the room he had just left - and her unusual name: she had called herself Tonks. The nearest wall suddenly trembled heavily. He turned to the floating cloaks beside him.

"You can cast them off now, Rommy, but stay concealed until we know who's where! If McGonagall's about she'll pack you off quicker than a greased broomstick."

"Why'd we bring them then, Harry?" said Romilda as the clothing cascaded into a heap on the floor. "I couldn't see or hear anything!"

"Told you it's not perfect invisibility! Harr... ermione and Ron, they'd have spotted you for sure."

"Who was with them? I heard someone else and-"

"Oh, that was Colin Creevey," said Colin. "He's helping us kill Voldemort. He's brilliant actually! I could never have managed without him all this time."

"He's been with you all year?"

"Sure he has. He's one of the team. He's the one who came up with all the plans - like raiding the Ministry and Gringotts and how to finish You-know-who."

"Why'd you say You-know-who, Harry? You were the only one never scared to say his name."

"Oh, yeah, just erm... yeah - out of respect for you, Romilda. I'd hate to offend you."

"Oh... Harry! You're so lovely! Can't you... undo your Polyjuice somehow? Please, Harry... I want to... see you properly - not looking like Ginny Weasley."

"It has to wear off slowly, Rommy," said Colin. "You'd best stick close to me as long as possible so-"

Colin felt her invisible arms snake around him again and hot lips placed upon his own. She's so soft, thought Colin, and her hair smells like meadows full of flowers...

A vivid flash of blue light from Tonks' window further up the passage caught their attention and they turned and ran towards her.

"Group of Death Eaters!" cried Tonks, hurling a vicious curse down through a broken pane. "Down there, Ginny - see near where my light is? Can you get another light down while I try to-." She did not wait for a reply but sent a red jinx crackling after her curse.

"They're backing off round the tower wall. I think I saw Kingsley's group further along so they can't get away!" Tonks cast two more of the jinxes then glanced sideways at Ginny briefly. "We can hold them from here! Come on, Gin!"

"Sure," said Colin, casting out an additional light.

"What were you doing back there, anyway?" said Tonks, while they waited for the Death Eaters to show themselves again.

"Just practising erm... movements."

"Yes - further out, look! That's Kingsley isn't it?" cried Tonks. "They've got them pinned, driving them back towards us along the boundary wall! Go for it, Ginny!"

Tonks was thrusting and circling her wand rapidly and curse after curse rained down on the fighters below. Colin sent a hex of his own at an unmasked Death Eater. He found the hex very effective from their vantage point so repeated it at every one of the enemy that was pressed back into his range by the Hogwarts defenders below. He could feel Romilda's warmth pressing up close against him on his other side. A sense of exhilaration had grown within him. They were so well-protected both by the restricted view from below and the darkness that he began to feel unstoppable, invulnerable - as if he really were Harry Potter.

The door to the Room of Requirement suddenly opened again along the passageway.

"It's Ron and Hermione, I think," whispered Romilda into Colin's ear above the din. Colin threw another hex down at a Death Eater who appeared to be running away.

"Good girl!" roared a figure running toward them leading a small group of students past. It was Aberforth Dumbledore. Colin looked at Tonks then realised that he, himself, was the girl whom the man was encouraging.

"They look like they might be breaching the north battlements, they've brought giants of their own."

"Have you seen Remus?" Tonks called after him.

"He was duelling Dolohov," shouted Aberforth, "haven't seen him since!"

"Tonks!" said Colin, trying to think what Ginny would say, "Tonks, I'm sure he's okay-"

But Tonks had run off into the dust after Aberforth and didn't even hear him.

Colin turned with a helpless expression on his face, hoping Romilda would not look round but keep her invisible lips pressed against the side of his cheek. He could see Hermione and Ron with Harry who was looking directly at him.

"They'll be all right," shouted Harry, looking hard at Colin. "Ginny, we'll be back in a moment, just keep out of the way, keep safe!" The three sped back into the Room.

Despite the thunderous noises from all directions, it seemed to Colin there was a dreadful silence and he felt Romilda pull coldly away from him. He pretended there was another target below and sent out a hex blindly through the window.

"You're not Harry," she said flatly.

He glanced sideways. Romilda had cancelled her concealing charm and was looking at him with a shocked expression on her face. She wiped her mouth with a tissue from her pocket.

"Who... Who are you then, really?"

Colin tried vainly to cast another hex but it fizzled off the end of his wand and collapsed as damp sparks at his feet.

"Erm... Colin. I'm Colin Creevey." He couldn't face her but kept looking out the window although the fight had moved further out.

There was a long moment where he steeled himself for a mighty hex from the girl at his side - but it never came.

Romilda let out a long breath. "Ah... for a minute I was scared you might be Mr Filch."

"Filch!" cried Colin. "He can't cast spells, can he!"

"...s'pose not."

"So..."

"I can't believe you can kiss that good, Colin."

Colin tore himself aside from the window and looked at her astounded. He didn't tell her he'd read a book on it only a few weeks before. "You're not... not mad at me?"

Romilda shook her head very slowly as if evaluating afresh the situation in which she found herself; it was all rather bizarre. She did not have time to come to any conclusion. A loud crash shattered and sprayed all the glass remaining from the window where Colin had been standing moments before. He crunched over the fallen shards and peered carefully out.

"More Death Eaters from the other side! They're... Kingsley's group are going to be overrun - We've got to get down there and help them Romilda!"

He grabbed her hand and together they dashed for the stairs.
.

—oOo—

.
A loud crash below in the Entrance Hall caused Ginny to crouch on the great marble staircase, her trolley hovering ahead of her to give some protection. The great front doors were still sealed but the corridor to the courtyard was peppered with blasting flashes and as she watched, a winged lion, vivid in silvery blue, escaped the smoky detonations and, in Lupin's voice, cried loudly to the Great Hall for extra support. From there burst Anthony Goldstein, pale and clumsy-footed with fear but leading Cho and Padma, all recklessly sprinting towards the deadly corridor. On the landing above Ginny, a joining cry from Michael Corner and Lisa Turpin was heard amidst the din and the pair of them soon were thundering down the stair past her.

Ginny drew her wand, intending to follow the Ravenclaws, but Alice, blood soaked across the front of her tunic, appeared briefly, yelling and waving at Ginny from the Great Hall doorway. A sense of her own urgent duties prevailed. She spared another glance at her medallion. The portcullis had been fading in and out since Harry's return but now it was clearly and fixedly etched into the metal. Yet Harry... She sensed he was searching, unaware of the danger. She kissed the silvery disk.

Danger near u.

She hesitated only a moment at the doorway to the Great Hall to make sure she was not observed by her mother or McGonagall but they were not in sight. The noise from outside the sealed castle entrance was matched by the shouting within the halls. Another injured student was being guided in behind her by a prefect. Ginny pushed on in to get out of the way.

On the podium was Madam Pomfrey with Nurse Wainscott. Ginny sighed. She had not been seen by Matron yet but it was bound to happen eventually.

"Ginny! Hurry! Have you the dressings?" called Wainscott above the din.

"Yes, Nurse." She pulled off a pack as she hovered her trolley onto the crowded platform.

"Are they enchanted yet?"

"Yes, all ready."

"Nurse," called Madam Pomfrey, hands busy measuring out a potion, "See to the newcomer, please."

"Yes, Matron - Ginny, can you finish this one?" Wainscott pointed at a badly withered leg. "She's unconscious. I've ported in Skele-Gro but fix the outer tissues quick as you can or she'll lose that limb."

"There's more out there," said the prefect. "I need help. My wand's gone. What am I-?"

"NURSE!"

"Right away, Matron."

Ginny crouched down and wrapped the charmed dressing around the corroded flesh. It looked like a blasting curse, she thought to herself. Her eyes alighted on the young woman's face. It was Katie Bell. Ginny was startled for a moment but quickly composed herself. None of the injured she had treated so far had she recognised. She held the dressing pack in place all the firmer. After a few more moments it took hold and she could feel the cooling, healing influence even in her hands. Someone was coming up behind her.

"What now, Ginny?" It was Alice.

"Can you just hold this for me, Alice - give it another minute then replace it with the final dressing from the blue packs."

"Should I bring more in on my own?" said the prefect. "Or is there someone to help?"

Ginny left Alice with Katie while she turned aside to examine her medallion.

"Miss Weasley, can you leave what you're doing and help Bennett?" Madam Pomfrey was pointing at the prefect with one hand and healing a ruptured throat with another. She never questioned why Ginny was working with them. The podium on which they stood and upon which the injured lay suddenly shook noisily but nobody took any notice. Ginny was preoccupied by the dungeon on her medallion.

"GINNY!"

"Sorry, yes, Matron." Ginny grabbed the arm of the prefect and they hurried of towards the exit, Ginny with her eyes still on her medallion.

"You're Ginny Weasley, then?" said Bennett.

"Yeah..." They paused in the Entrance Hall while another prefect on sentry duty, arm in a sling, called to someone unseen then unsealed the great oak doors for them. The cool night freshness coming in the open doorways was a blessing - though it carried acrid fumes and the thunder of battle. She had not realised until then how hot she was.

"Someone said you'd got spare wands in the D.A.," said Bennett. "Any chance I can have one? Mine got-"

Ginny staggered against him, her face flushed. The breeze was not easing the burning sensation that was increasing within her. A coughing fit took her and she wheezed and gasped for air.

"You alright?"

"Fire..."

"What?"

The sentry was shouting at her. "Get out of the doorway! I have to reseal the wards!"

Ginny continued to lean against Bennett, gasping and choking, face upturned, eyes wide. She didn't need to look at her medallion; she could feel it and smell it.

"What's going on? If you're sick you should report back to Matron."

A figure ran past them and up the grand staircase yelling incoherently at the top of his lungs accompanied by a couple of ghosts who were also calling out for him to stop.

"WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BLOODY DOORWAY!" bellowed the prefect sentry, menacing Ginny with his wand. Another sentry outside was glaring at her too.

"Nick!" croaked Ginny, as she pulled out the Marauder's Map. "Over here!"

One of the ghosts whirled around and flew back towards her. "My dear Miss Weasley! What a pleasant-"

"Onto me - Close in!" Ginny staggered into his arms, within him, feeling the icy sensation flood through her yet still she felt ablaze. She hurriedly shook out the folds of the map but could not find Harry upon it anywhere, nor Ron and Hermione.

"Well, I must say-"

Bennett, seeing the doors beginning to close, abandoned Ginny and ran out into the night.
.

—oOo—

.
"Hey! Where's Fred? Lee said you'd got trouble-" called Percy as he ran towards the small knot of students on the seventh floor.

"He's in the tunnel casting detection spells!" cried Hannah, white-faced with anticipation. "What happened to Lee?"

"On his way. I ran ahead."

Fred stepped out into the hallway. "Percy! Nicely on time as usual. I think this is it - Have a listen down there! Sounds like they're coming!"

Percy cast one charm down the tunnel then backed out. "You students: wands out! Get slightly behind Fred and myself and keep on our right and brace yourself. Do NOT cross the line of our fire! Who here was in Dumbledore's Army?"

"Only me!" said Hannah, raising her hand meekly as if in class.

"The rest of you look to Miss Abbott if we are div- BOMBARDA!" He sent a series of blasting curses down the tunnel simultaneously with Fred then they both swerved to safety out of the line of the opening. Fred threw something into the tunnel opening and it soared quickly out of sight into the darkness. A series of pressure waves accompanied by flashes of red pulsed heavily from the passage. There were no cries.

"Be ready!" cried Percy. They waited. He cast another detector. His face went white. "Fire at will!"

Before he had completed his command, Fred's entire team, nerves tensed up for action, knee-jerked dozens of curses at an angle into the tunnel. That instinctive reaction no doubt saved most of them for those spells fortuitously confronted eight Death Eaters who were flying like black smoke out from the gaping maw. At least half were instantly stunned or bound but two students went down with them. Three of the remaining invaders engaged Fred and Percy; the fourth was heavily shielded by a charm and cast a killing curse at one of the students who died instantly, his face frozen in an unvoiced shriek. One of the other youths panicked and ran, leaving only two Hufflepuff girls standing with Hannah. She, finding herself very close to the Death Eater, screamed "FINITE!" to break his shield but was hit by extreme pain on top of her left shoulder, from what she did not know.

A purple flash blinded her for several seconds and she tried to weave about to dodge any further attack but they were all so confined she collided with one of her own team mates and there were shrieks and squeals of confusion. She heard "Expelliarmus!" and a hex being repeated again and again. When her eyes recovered, she saw the Death Eater on his knees against the wall with one of the girls frantically and repeatedly striking him with hexes that seemed to be choking him. The other girl held his wand but was staring, wide-eyed, unsure what to do with it or with herself.

Hannah cast a full body-bind to totally disable the Death Eater before grabbing the arm of the hexing girl to calm her down. "It's alright - you got him. You'll kill him if you don't stop." She took the wand from the girl's friend and patted her on the shoulder. "Well done. You did good."

A fire flash of brightest orange and yellow followed by a strong wave of heat made Hannah look up. Fred and Percy were silhouetted by the powerful light around the corner behind them and were being driven towards it by their three Death Eaters. The sound of a door slamming ended the illumination. The Death Eater on the left seemed disoriented by the sudden relative darkness. Hannah stepped forward and used the disarming charm on him, not realising she had walked in front of the tunnel opening. As his wand flew through the air, she lost consciousness for several seconds, clipped by a stunner from another of the enemy approaching along the tunnel.
.

—oOo—

.
As abruptly as it had begun, Ginny was free of the searing heat, wedged in the front door, shuddering within Nick's spectral shape. The prefect was still yelling at her to get out of the doorway, reluctant to reach in and drag her out of Nick's icy form. The medallion showed Harry was, for now, free from danger. She shook out the map with her free hand; Harry's name had joined those of Ron and Hermione. Draco and Goyle were beside them, unmoving. Further along the passageways around a corner from them, the marks of Fred, Percy, Hannah, and other students were still moving about. Relief swept over Ginny's face.

"Thanks, Nick! I really needed that!" cried Ginny, pulling herself away from the ghost and squeezing out the almost-closed door past the irate prefects to chase after Bennett. "HEY! BENNETT! WAIT!"

"Glad to have been of service..." muttered Nick to himself with a puzzled expression on his partially dislodged head. He adjusted it then glided off up the stairs trying to remember what he had been doing.

As Ginny ran across the grassy slope she could see Bennett ahead of her, diving behind a stone pillar at the side of the driveway. Ginny took her cue from that and, pulling out her wand, weaved across to her right to crouch behind a broken perimeter wall. "What's happening, Bennett? What do you see?"

"Looks like Mr Shacklebolt's lot fighting. I can't get through without a wand..." He turned his head back to her. "Someone said you'd got spares. Have you-?"

"I've been away for weeks!" she said impatiently. "See Ernie. If you can't find him then Neville or Hannah Abbot."

A fiery-red curse hurled over Bennett's shoulder and he backed off towards Ginny.

"Where are your injured?" asked Ginny.

"Beyond Mr Shacklebolt's group." He slumped down suddenly. "It's hopeless. There's too many-"

"Don't say that! We must be positive and do our best!" she cried.
.

—oOo—

.
When Hannah became aware of her surroundings again, she lay, almost paralysed, amidst the debris of broken stonework, her shoulder hurting her severely. The hexing girl's body lay across her legs; the other girl was not visible. She could still hear Fred's and Percy's voices around the corner; taunting the enemy they were still duelling.

The air exploded with unbearable power and as she lost consciousness for a second time, her last memories were of open sky, black and starry, where the outer wall had been, and terrible, heart-breaking screams from around the bend in the corridor.
.

—oOo—

.
A huge explosion shook the walls of the castle high above Ginny and complete stone blocks came hurtling out to land with ground-shaking thuds only a hundred paces away. She looked up and could see a long gaping hole slashed right across the side of the castle. A sense of dread despair swamped her then but it was not her own feeling; it was Harry's. She collapsed down beside Bennett.

"I have to go back..." she muttered to herself. "Something happened."

Bennett's face was now streaked with grime. "What?"

"Don't know..."

"BACK! BACK!" It was Kingsley's deep voice bellowing at his team far in the distance but getting nearer. "BACK TO HOLD THE MAIN ENTRANCE!"

Ginny's attention was drawn to the shout. Kingsley was not yet visible but several students were backing away towards her; the leg of one sagged and down she went on her knees. One of the young witches behind her ran forward and began casting shields to protect the fallen girl. Ginny saw her face amidst the flashes of colour: it was Susan Bones.

Bennett grabbed Ginny and urged her back towards the castle entrance. Ginny irritably pulled free of him.

"Shields won't stop a killer, Sue!" she screamed on the run. Susan was suddenly intensely lit as if by a flash of yellow lightning. She dropped to the ground, clutching her eyes and a lethal green curse passed over her. The young girl beside her struggled to her feet. It was Leanne casting furious curses towards a foe that Ginny could not see beyond the low wall.

When she reached them, Leanne was attempting to drag Susan back from the action but so fast was the enemy advancing she could barely keep ahead and only Kingsley's line of fighters was protecting them from the worst of the dark magic. Ginny sank down beside Susan and almost received a curse from a nervy Leanne.

"Ginny! Thank Merlin!" Leanne cried. "Susan! You'll be alright! It's Ginny! Ginny's here!"

"Just a blinder," shouted Ginny, digging a charmed swab from her satchel. She swiped at the dark gunge in Susan's eyes, chanting as she did so, then threw the mess aside. "Blink! Keep blinking! Here's water." She pressed a sop into Susan's hand then used a refilling spell on her water bottle.

Kingsley could be seen now in the thick of the battle but falling back with the front edge of his team step by step back towards the castle. Ginny had a clearer view of the Death Eaters and their supporters - and they of her. There was a respite as two monstrous spiders scurried into view beyond the enemy and fell upon them first - whether intentionally or from ignorance, Ginny could not tell. While the enemy were preoccupied, Kingsley drew his team behind the partial safety of the paved area's side wall and directed his supporters to defensive positions. Three looked injured and another, a girl, was being hovered.

"Ginny! What are you doing here!" Kingsley cried as soon as he spotted her.

"Helping Pomfrey! Have you seen my Mum and Dad's group?" She turned her map to catch what light was available but couldn't find them quickly amongst the many dots in motion in and around the castle.

"Around the castle, protecting the East Wing," gasped Kingsley as he tried to get his breath back. His face looked drawn and haggard with worry. "You can't get this way now. You should be inside the castle."

Ginny, face still buried in her map, took a step back and turned to see if the other direction was clear. She stumbled upon something at her feet. It was the wandless Bennett, scorched and twisted, his hair black ash, staring sightlessly up at the smoky haze above them and adding to it. And beyond that deathly veil, the stars still wheeled, oblivious and uncaring as to whether they influenced events below.

Ginny recoiled and joined the others at the wall and spread wide her map, blanking out the horror she had just witnessed. "I see them! Mum and Dad, they're okay - on the east side and there's not much fighting there."

"Are your brothers with them?" called Kingsley. " We could use more help here if they're not pressed."

"Bill's with Mum and Dad. Ron's with Harry on the seventh near the Room of Requirement. Can't find Fred yet though - he must be back in the Room."

Kingsley closed his eyes for a moment and raised his wand and all his inner resources. His lynx Patronus flew swiftly from him to skirt low around the castle walls.

Ginny thrust the map into her pocket while she tried to help the injured. The unconscious student she now saw was Eloise and her condition did not look good. "I'll take her back in with me!" she yelled at Kingsley. He nodded. It took her a moment to recognise the student with Eloise was a very distressed Terry Boot. She gave him Dittany for his curse-bloated face then scurried back to the castle entrance doors with Eloise hovering beside her. She could sense Terry's agony as he chose to stay outside and fight.
.

—oOo—

.
Arthur Weasley carefully checked his team who were mostly students. Molly was dabbing Dittany onto a minor cut on Ernie's arm but otherwise everyone was unhurt. A distant blue-white light caught his eye and Arthur dropped into a crouch with his wand on target. He blinked. The light coalesced in his vision to the shape of a lynx that swooped noiselessly to the ground before him.

"Desperate. Need help front entrance. Can you spare a few?" It was Kingsley's voice.

"Go, Dad! We can hold here!" called Bill. "Fleur and I and and just a few of us."

"Right - Molly, Luna, Seamus, Oliver, Angelina - follow me and stay alert. Ernie? You okay to come too?"

"Of course!"

"Luna? Seamus? You holding up alright?"

"Yes, thank you, Mr Weasley," cried Luna, happily. She gave her wand a few swishes; there had not been much opportunity yet to use it since she had floored Alecto Carrow in the Ravenclaw common room. Seamus just nodded his agreement grimly as they moved off at a slow run.
.

—oOo—

.
As Ginny levitated Eloise into the Great Hall, Nurse Wainscott ran towards her and began a quick examination. "Did you see Alice? I think she went out there after you."

Ginny shook her head. "Will Eloise be alright? I couldn't detect what it was."

"No magical trace, that's why. Looks like she just got hit by something. Most likely thrown high and dropped. She's okay though; look, she's stirring."

As Wainscott flourished her wand, Eloise opened her eyes.

Ginny cast her Patronus. She felt the message that Eloise was out of danger depart from her to inform Terry, then she took up her map again. Hannah had not moved an inch since last she checked; it worried Ginny.

"Ginny, put her with the others at the front, please."

"I have to help a friend upstairs." She dashed off before Wainscott could protest, taking the steps upward two by two. As she reached the top of the great marble staircase the front doors below shook as if with heavy thunder and the inner sentry bolted for cover. The doors blasted open soon after.

Ginny was exhausted by the time she reached the seventh. All the corridors were littered with debris: stone and timber and fragments of furniture blasted from classrooms. Doors lay scattered like discarded playing cards and wall-torches had been extinguished to add to the confusion. Someone's wand light remained, floating half-embedded inside a toppled pillar but otherwise there was no sign of life nor any indication that Hannah had been here. At the far end of the passage was the left turn to the Room of Requirement corridor but its side wall was gone, gutted open like a fish to the dark skies. A terrible shape crawled upwards past the gaping stones, heading for the battlements. She tried not to think what it might be but concentrated on where she was and the task in hand. The map still showed Hannah close by so she must be alive. Ginny began moving stone blocks with her wand.

The first two bodies she found were badly crushed. Ginny looked quickly away, glad of the poor lighting and dark shadows. The third was alive but, obscured by dirt and debris, was scarcely recognisable as Hannah. Ginny washed away the brick dust that covered the girl's face and eyes and examined her with a spell.

"Stupefied... Fractured clavicle," she muttered to herself. She healed the collar bone then countered the stunning curse. The girl came awake rapidly, spitting out tiny fragments of stone. Ginny gave her water to drink. Only then did Hannah recognise her.

"Ginny, Oh, Ginny! It's terrible! Have you seen Fred and Percy? Are they okay? Is Neville alright?"

"Percy's moved down the other stairs. I think Fred's must be back in the Room of Requirement. Not seen Neville though."

Ginny opened out her map and began to look for Harry. Hannah wanted to see for real. She struggled to her feet, despite Ginny's protest to take it easy, and went around the corner. Not only was the passageway's outer wall missing, the floor was heavily cracked and scorched and half-buried by the remnants. She swayed a little, still slightly dizzy from the stunning curse.

Hannah cast a wand light to examine some mangled metal that might once have been a suit of armour. A tattered cloak was spread from it to a twisted wall bracket. Behind it she found Fred sitting in a niche, smiling at her and she stumbled back a step with surprise. It took several seconds for her to realise he was dead. She turned her head back the way she had come. Ginny was approaching.

"The Room's further along," said Ginny, pointing ahead. When Hannah did not respond but kept staring back at her, she asked, "What's that you've found there?"

As Ginny crouched beside Hannah she did not understand at first how the person before them could be her brother. He was usually so dynamic with eyes that danced about mischievously. But this person had neither the heavy breath of sleeping, nor the attitude of careful listening. He was, in fact, doing nothing more than any lifeless table or chair might do if left idly in a corner.

"Fred?" She put her hand on his shoulder. "It's me, Ginny." Some part of her, the unfeeling, reasoning part, knew of course, knew that he was gone forever. The other part of her was just catching up. An animal wail then escaped her lips. She clung to her brother uttering incoherent, meaningless words. Hannah could not console her nor did she know what to do for the best. She waited a decent while as the noise of battle outside and within grew more vigorous and alarming.

"We must take him down to the Great Hall, Ginny; to be with his family. That's where he belongs."

"No... they mustn't know... It's... they won't be able to bear it. They must never know. You must never tell anyone." She was rocking back and forth, patting her brother's hand in a vain attempt to comfort him.

"Ginny..." Hannah wanted to use a soothing charm on Ginny but it seemed sacrilege to intrude upon the intimacy of her grief. She searched her own mind for something to say. "It's not fair on Fred. He'd want to be with his family. Please help me with him, Ginny. Help me get him to where his family will be." Hannah dared not mention names; dared not speak of Fred's mum and dad and was afraid to even think of George.

Ginny nodded. "Yes, he'd want to be with them, wouldn't he? It's good of you to help us, Hannah. It's kind of you to help me and Fred."

Hannah could tell that Ginny was not herself at all. "I'll cast the spell, Ginny, but it's most important you keep holding his hand to guide us down. Promise me you won't let Fred go."

"I won't, I promise." Her eyes were open but vacant, unseeing. "I've got you, Fred."

Hannah had no idea what she was saying; all she wanted was to get herself and Fred back to sanity downstairs and bring Ginny with them so this would all go away and everything would be alright again. She laid Fred on a broken door, covered him with the cloak and she levitated him slowly along with Ginny being pulled along clinging to his limp fingers.

Ginny did not speak again until they had almost descended to the ground floor where she paused on the marble staircase. The battle noises from outside were fierce but the Entrance Hall, exposed to the night air was cool. Ginny slipped the cloak from her brother's face, remembering briefly upon him every expression she had ever seen but spite, then cast the cloak back. "My brother's dead, isn't he, Hannah?" Ginny's eyes were focused again but deep with sorrow.

"Yes, Ginny," whimpered Hannah, looking down over the last few steps to where Madam Pomfrey crouched over the still and silent form of Lavender Brown, gently cleaning her wounds and healing her injuries. She looked up inquiringly at their approach but Hannah shook her head and Matron's sigh was lost amidst the sound of shouts not far outside the Front Entrance.

Madam Pomfrey watched as they hovered Fred into the Great Hall, patiently waiting for Lavender to recover before she could finish her treatment, then she too returned to the Great Hall, with Lavender leaning against her.
.

—oOo—

.
As Arthur's team charged around to the front of Hogwarts Castle they did not realise that they were not reinforcements - they were a rescue squad. Kingsley's team were all but overwhelmed and spread too wide. Arthur's deliverance came from the side, driving the enemy before them and narrowing the front line. Beyond the opposite side, the farthest flung remnants of Kingsley's group tried to close back in. Arthur imagined he recognised one of them but dismissed the notion: he knew his daughter to be safe back in the Room of Requirement.

The line held, but it was a desperate hold. If they were driven back to the front doors they would need quick access or be trapped. Arthur, struggling to get closer to Kingsley, did a double take - the doors were already breached. Likely then that there were already pockets of fighting within the castle itself; could they hold back the main attack?

But all was chaos after that. The nearest that Arthur got to exchanging information with Kingsley was to swap looks of despair seen by the flash of curses. Seamus, Luna, and Ernie came sprinting rashly by on his right, throwing hexes, jinxes, curses of many types and they were weaving and dodging and shielding so rapidly together that Arthur, if he had had time, would have marvelled. A horrifying thought entered his mind that they would be cut down in glory - reduced to an inspiring footnote in a history book and he, Arthur, might be the one to have to write it - if he survived himself.

He himself was busy duelling and his wife on his right side was doing likewise. They knew how to blend together and cover one another. Bill was further back on his left. He chanced a quick look in that direction and his heart sank. He was certain now that it was Ginny he had seen far over on the other side of Kingsley's group. He strode forward in a fury and hexed down the Death Eater in front of him who doubled up in pain allowing Arthur to blast his wand to splinters. "Molly! This way!"

There was a surge by a new influx of Death Eaters and all lines disintegrated and dispersed into madness. He heard Kingsley's voice for the first time. He was shouting, "Back into the castle! They're fighting inside!"

Arthur was swept along with six students, one of whom appeared to be dead and caught up in the throng, unable to fall. Moments after the pressure released and individuals spread. Figures were running everywhere. A crowd of huge Acromantulas swept past Arthur, heading for the Forest. His legs gave way, hit by an accidental Jelly-legs curse from his own side. Molly was there instantly, countering the curse and helping him back up. He looked around desperately for another sight of Ginny but he was now further from where he had last seen her. Luna was still out there; Ernie too. The enemy seemed thinner but only because so many must have entered the castle. He saw at least one giant near the castle wall, tearing at windows. He wondered if Ginny were inside after all but he could not take that chance.

Arthur made a last desperate try to get nearer to where he had seen her. He could hear Oliver calling him back. Finally, he had one horrifying glimpse of her long red hair and pallid face illuminated by the green curse which directly struck it, then the figure fell from his sight and he was brushed away like a leaf once more, choking with emotion, unable to speak, unable to tell Molly what he had seen.
.

—oOo—

.
Ernie was fighting for his life. His opponent, dressed as a Snatcher looked as worried as Ernie himself felt but being too far in front, Ernie knew how vulnerable he was to being hit any moment from the sides. Every step he took blindly backwards to rectify the situation was fraught with risk.

"There's Harry!" It was Luna's voice, closer behind him than he had realised. His opponent, hearing her call, could not resist flicking his eyes to where she pointed, vainly hoping for one chance at the prize - the fabulous trophy of Harry Potter. It was a critical mistake.

"Stupefy!" yelled Ernie. The Snatcher fell.

Now Ernie had the luxury of looking where Luna pointed. He could see Ron and Hermione too.

"Should we join them, do you think?" she cried.

Seamus was at her side. "They're heading towards the Forest! Don't they know there are Dementors out there?"

Luna was running forward. Seamus and Ernie ran after her. "What are you doing, Luna!"

"Harry must live! Harry must live!" she panted.

From the Forest swept a black cloud of Dementors to block Harry's way and he and his companions stopped in their tracks.

"Quickly!" roared Seamus. They were close enough now to hear the unsuccessful attempts to cast Patronuses up ahead. They could see Ron's silver terrier burst into the air, flicker feebly, and expire; Hermione's otter twisted in midair then faded; Harry seemed to be struggling too.

Luna was close enough now to feel the frigid air on her face and the pull of despair but she was bursting with enthusiasm.

"Expecto Patronum!" she cried excitedly and a silver hare sprang from her wand chased by Seamus' fox and Ernie's boar to soar clean over the heads of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The Dementors fell back before them. And now Luna had reached Harry, his spirits lifted sufficiently by what he had seen, was trying again to cast his Patronus.

"That's right," she said encouragingly, as if they were back in the Room of Requirement and this was simply spell practice for the D.A., "That's right, Harry... come on, think of something happy..."

"Something happy? he said, his voice cracked.

"We're all still here," she whispered, "we're still fighting. Come on, now..."

There was a silver spark, then a wavering light, and then, with a great effort, Harry's stag burst from the end of his wand. It cantered forward, and now the Dementors scattered in earnest, and immediately the night was mild again, though the sounds of the surrounding battle were still loud.

"Can't thank you enough," said Ron shakily, turning to Luna, Ernie, and Seamus. "You just saved-"

With a roar and an earth-quaking tremor, another giant came lurching out of the darkness from the direction of the Forest, brandishing a club taller than any of them.

"RUN!" Harry shouted, but the others needed no telling; They all scattered.

After running hard, Luna came to a halt, out of breath and looked back but Harry, Hermione, and Ron and, thankfully, the giant too were all lost in the darkness. She gasped out, "Oh, I ... wanted ... go with them!"

"Come on, Luna!" Seamus called back. "We're needed over here!"

"Give me ... minute. I'm ... out of puff," panted Luna.

Seamus and Ernie trotted back and nervously waited with her until she recovered enough to try to join the fray again but they were isolated and vulnerable.
.

—oOo—

.
When Arthur saw half his forces scattered it added to the turmoil of emotions he was suffering. There was no time to think of the things he had said, and those left unsaid, to his daughter while fighting for the life of those living. "Molly! Oliver, Angelina! There's Luna and Ernie and Seamus cut off!"

For almost half an hour they fought to reach them. Only occasional glimpses of the youngsters still fighting encouraged them to persist but there came a moment when Molly screamed and fell with Angelina burning and Oliver Wood's face tortured and anguished in the flashing light and Arthur's heart was finally broken and defeated as the Death Eaters closed in for the kill.

A voice spoke then so close to his ear that in spite of the noise of battle, Arthur was shocked into turning to face this new enemy, his wand clutched tightly in his hands. He had heard that voice before and primal fear gripped him as never before.

The voice reverberated from the castle walls behind them and from the bloody ground below.

"You have fought," said the high, cold voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery.

"Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste.

"Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately.

"You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured.

"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

Arthur collapsed to his knees as he saw the Death Eaters reluctantly back away; as Seamus' unbelieving face appeared once more beyond them, Ernie leading Romilda, severely Confunded, back into the main group; Oliver, tears streaking down his face, tending to Angelina, healing her burns while ignoring his own terrible injuries. Arthur crawled in a daze towards his wife who was staring painfully at him but, thankfully, conscious. Kneeling, they held each other, unspeaking until a hand on his shoulder brought Arthur back to the present. It was Luna. "Mr Weasley, we should go back inside the castle don't you think?"

He had to carry his wife, following Wood with Angelina staggering at his side. Up the stone steps past the fractured, twisted doors and startled faces, yet seeing only in his mind's eye that green flash that so clearly had lit up his daughter in death. Green too, were the stones spilt from the Slytherin hourglass across the Entrance Hall floor; House points already meaningless by injustice, now justly scattered to oblivion.

The Great Hall was packed with walking wounded searching for healers; stretchers carried by empty-faced children grown quickly old; and the dead lay as if sleeping undisturbed by the movement and the noise and the odour of pungent fumes. Through this, Arthur tried to fight his way to the podium to wait his turn only to find the platform's morbid burden now placed upon the stone floor, the house tables long since removed.

"MUM! DAD!" The shriek joined dozens of other cries - cries for help, cries of greeting, cries begging for merciful release. Ginny was sobbing against them both, Arthur disbelieving, Molly overwhelmed, George kneeling on the stone slabs looking blankly up at them, Bill standing with him, looking odd too. Why were they not rejoicing with him? My daughter, who was dead, yet is alive again! He embraced her fully then, joining in her sobs, pitifully shamed that he had ever denied her even a moment's life and happiness with the one she loved..

Luna looked on, mindful of her own father and his unthinkable misery in Azkaban. But she had already worked off that sorrow and, at least, had hopes for his future release. But she knew with certainty what was to come for Mr and Mrs Weasley and that they were without hope. She watched as Ginny led them to the shrouded corpse laid upon its shattered door; listened to their wails of despair that mingled disagreeably with so many others in Hogwarts' greatest chamber. Yet still, in her little heart, she had room for one other: she made room for Harry. She, perhaps alone in common with Voldemort, entertained the conviction of what Harry would do, what such a noble spirit must do to save those suffering here. Luna cried then. She cried for Harry and she cried for her friend Ginny who still blindly believed in a prophecy she did not fully know. And finally, she cried a little for herself because she was alone at a time when she longed to be comforted.

Luna left the hall then, hoping to make herself useful elsewhere. She found Professor Slughorn trying to drip potion between the clenched lips of a youth in a passageway so damaged she had to follow it to recognise it led to the main inner courtyard. Here too had been fierce fighting. At the far end a knot of teachers crouched around a prone figure, chanting a lament, while high above, sprawled across the battlement as if she had been attempting to launch herself without a broom, the body of a woman with vivid pink hair was being retrieved by Kingsley Shacklebolt.

She found Parvati there and helped to lift her injured sister onto a stretcher made of torn carpet. They all looked at one another but, burdened with misery, they barely spoke.

As they turned, the small group of teachers broke apart and McGonagall led Flitwick with the others following like a funeral procession towards the Great Hall. Between them floated Lupin upon a white sheet.

They laid Remus and Tonks together next to Fred. The Hall had lapsed into a more subdued atmosphere. Occasionally the tap of a wand or an incantation was heard amidst the soft murmurs that rose together to the darkened ceiling.

Luna backed away, unwilling to endure the deep melancholy for another moment. Behind her, the voices of Kingsley, McGonagall, and Flitwick debated a final, desperate plan. Arthur joined them and Slughorn was summoned.

"Yes, Charlie is organising it now," said Mr Weasley. "But how soon they can reach us I do not know."

"Horace," boomed Kingsley, "How many can we count on you for?"

"Dozens at least and I hope for more," said Slughorn, and Luna saw many Patronuses streaming over her head and on, out into the night, "and at the first opportunity," he added. "But where should we gather?"

"Hogsmeade," said Kingsley, emphatically. "Almost all of Voldemort's forces are now within the Forest. Hogsmeade has been left only a token guard."

Luna watched as Professor Slughorn, still wearing his emerald pyjamas, departed, passing Hannah with her father leaning wearily upon a small table. An open crate bulged at his side and they were replacing broken and lost wands for those that needed them. Sparks flew up occasionally or lights of different colours flared. She saw Ron and Hermione arrive but could see neither Harry nor Neville.
.

—oOo—

.
No one can be sure if or to what extent magical life is conscious, but certainly the portrait of Dumbledore had to suppress a groan when it heard Harry Potter ascending the steps to the headmaster's office. It was easy to hide behind its frame; all other portraits had sped to other paintings to gain better views of the momentous events that were taking place in and around Hogwarts. No so, Dumbledore. As far as he could, wherever Harry went, he covertly followed.

What had gone wrong with his plan? Severus had succeeded in informing him that the snake, Nagini, was now being kept very close to Voldemort and that he, Snape, was seeking Harry Potter to tell him what his final task must be. Dumbledore's portrait had itself heard the Dark Lord's demand that Harry surrender. Why then was Harry not hurrying to sacrifice himself? There were barely forty minutes left.

He watched as Harry entered. The boy looked lost, desolate even. Was he in search of advice? Had Snape then been unable to reach him? Were all the years of plotting to fail because of the lack of a few minutes when they might meet? There was one last resort: the portrait revealed itself; he, himself, would explain to Harry where his duty lay.

But Harry now had his back to the headmaster's chair and the picture frame behind it; his sorrow-filled eyes were only on the cabinet that housed the stone Pensieve. Instantly, the portrait knew that Snape must be dead - most likely at the hands of Voldemort. No other memories could interest Harry in this dread hour except those of a dying enemy. Dumbledore withdrew again behind his frame.

The portrait showed relief that Harry did not delay in absorbing himself into the Pensieve memories but the clock on the wall ticked perilously onwards...

One threat yet remained: Dumbledore had not anticipated the depth of Harry's devotion to Ginny Weasley. The numerous reports he had received over the preceding year had revealed the boy taking huge risks to meet the girl, any of which might have overturned all the scheming with which he had taken so much care. Would that same love stay his hand in this final hour? He had thought he knew the boy and rested in his certainty that he would not shrink from his awful forfeit. Not so now. Now he had grave doubts.

The clock ticked so many times. Harry lifted his face from the basin's ghastly revelation and fell upon the carpet in mental torment. One eye of the portrait watched, seemingly unmoved, while the boy tortured himself, unable yet to absorb the enormity of the extreme and final payment demanded of him: his life.

For the greater good, Harry knew there should be but one outcome: Voldemort must die, including the part of the evil wizard's soul that lived within Harry. Yet, his spirit broken, something else would now sway him: Ginny's happiness. He pushed himself to his feet, knowing what he would do - but dreading it.

The portrait had one glimpse of his face as he left yet could not tell from that expression: would he yield himself to Miss Weasley? or sacrifice himself to the Dark Lord?
.

—oOo—

.
Had Luna known, Neville was looking for her outside. He had missed her amongst the tumult that followed the ceasefire and feared the worst. It was a miserable task for there were many fallen to be investigated. He looked back to the castle entrance. Others were coming out, no doubt on the same quest: to search for loved ones and to recover bodies. Ginny he saw, escaping the unbearable reminder of her loss for a while. Others spilling out onto the steps to look around and to reassess the situation. But no Luna could he see there.

He came at last upon a dirty sock in pink and green that stood out like a banner from a debris pile of fractured blocks and beams ripped from the castle's innards. He stared at the little sock and his heart sank. It was just the sort of excess that Luna might wear. He flung aside some of the timber. Feeling the largest shaft beyond his strength, he reached for his wand but someone else had joined him.

"Wingardium Leviosa." Oliver Wood was at his side. "Nasty business," he said. Neville nodded, watching the splintered oak cracking open as it floated to one side. The body revealed was not Luna but Colin Creevey, wand still gripped tightly in his hand though he looked asleep. They all look as if they are asleep, thought Neville as they carried him back to the Entrance Hall, passing other corpses on the way: a macabre nursery.

At the threshold, Oliver said, "You know what? I can manage him alone, Neville," and he heaved Colin over his shoulder in a fireman's lift and carried him through to the Great Hall.

Neville leaned against the castle's violated entrance for a moment and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He was mind-weary and suffering greatly. Then he set off down the steps again into the darkness to search for more bodies and pray that Luna was not among them. He lit his wand to look at his watch. It was almost four in the morning. The light revealed another body, almost at his feet. It looked like a Snatcher or some other ragamuffin supporter of the Death Eaters. He bent down to make sure, peering closely at the face.

"Neville."

"Blimey, Harry, you nearly gave me heart failure!" said Neville, jerking upright. "Where are you going, alone?" he asked, suspiciously.

"It's all part of the plan," said Harry. "There's something I've got to do. Listen... Neville... "

"Harry!" Neville looked suddenly scared. "Harry, you're not thinking of handing yourself over?"

"No," said Harry. "'Course not... this is something else. But I might be out of sight for a while. You know Voldemort's snake, Neville? He's got a huge snake... calls it Nagini..."

"I've heard, yeah... what about it?"

"It's got to be killed. Ron and Hermione know that, but just in case they-"

Harry seemed to choke up for a while, struggling within himself to be strong. Neville understood. He waited for Harry to continue.

"Just in case they're... busy... and you get the chance-"

"Kill the snake?"

"Kill the snake," Harry repeated.

"All right, Harry, You're okay, are you?"

"I'm fine. Thanks, Neville."

But Neville seized his wrist as Harry made to move on.

"We're all going to keep fighting, Harry. You know that?"

"Yeah, I-"

Neville could tell Harry was overcome. He patted Harry on the shoulder, released him, and walked away to look for more bodies. Behind him, Harry swung his invisibility cloak over his shoulders and vanished into the night.
.

—oOo—

.
Madam Pomfrey had been very apologetic, mindful of Ginny's brother laid nearby. "I hate to ask you at a time like this, but Alice hasn't returned..."

Ginny had nodded, glad of any diversion. "Of course. I'll have a look around."

She had gone outside to search while it was still safe. Some of the haze had cleared away from the smouldering castle and the stars were visible high over the turrets. If she didn't look back at the ruin she could hardly tell it wasn't any normal evening at school - apart from, that is, the macabre shapes that lay scattered across the bleak expanse she was crossing.

Each one had to be checked carefully. Most seemed to be Death Eaters and their supporters, left for the enemy to recover if they wished. She thought she heard someone talking far off in the darkness. Her heart quickened - it had sounded like Harry. She listened again more attentively. Another voice, fainter, was calling for help. She turned towards it and began to sprint.

There was a heap of Death Eaters, one sprawled across a young girl, pinning her down. It was Alice Tolipan, still holding her wand, still carrying her healer's satchel at her waist.. The girl had been caught up in the fighting and tried to play her part but now she was confused. Ginny could see the deep gash down her sleeve but the injury was not as severe as she at first feared. She pulled her well away from the dead and cleaned her wound.

"I want my mum," whimpered Alice.

"It's alright," Ginny said. "It's okay. We're going to get you inside."

"But I want to go home," whispered the girl. "I don't want to fight anymore!"

"I know," said Ginny, and her voice broke. "It's going to be alright."

Ginny took Alice's hand to try to comfort her. She knew she needed a minute or two before she could guide her back. A waft of cool air swished across Ginny's face and she looked around into the surrounding darkness. A strange sensation had come upon her. Since discovering Fred she had been almost in a dream and only now she was outside had she awakened to thoughts of Harry.

She sensed little of him - as if he were numb with grief. A deep melancholy took her. Ginny inspected her medallion. He was safe - but where was he? It was a blessing that she thought not then of the Marauder's map but the Trysting Stone instead and her hope that one day she and Harry might fulfil their tryst there. Again she looked around, wondering if he was out there, perhaps not too far from her heart, then she kissed her medallion.

I love you, Harry.

She did not wait for a response but persuaded Alice to her feet and they returned to the Great Hall.

She found Luna trying to lift her own spirits by raising others', passing around words of encouragement, preparing them with a smile for the coming test. Luna flew like a portent to Ginny when she saw her and embraced her without explanation.

"What is it, Luna?"

Luna looked at her watch. In some ways she knew Harry better than Ginny. "Come and sit with me for a while."

A broken bench in a corner half-secluded by a trolley sufficed and there Luna held her hands. Brown eyes looked into silvery-grey and saw the compassion expressed there. The brown widened in realisation.

"NO, LUNA! No, you're wrong!" She tried to pull away her hands but Luna resisted. "He's not that stupid!" insisted Ginny, "He must know it would be for nothing! Voldemort's word is worthless! Harry wouldn't... I'm sure he wouldn't..." They both heard the doubt in her voice.

The moment of Harry's sacrifice came and Ginny experienced its terrified resignation and the finality of his trembling last kiss. She knew the medallion was gone too without looking down, then her face was buried in her friend's long straggly hair and Luna was embracing her and the Hall echoed to a new lament that haunted everyone but which nobody comprehended.

And yet Luna's wise reasoning knew nothing of miracles - nothing that is, until she felt metal pressed upon her breast. Her expression changed to puzzlement and she eased Ginny from her.

"Ginny, Ginny, you must tell nobody!"

Ginny opened her eyes to see excitement and a new hope upon the face of her friend - and then that smile she knew so well. In the moment that Ginny looked down and saw the medallion there once more, Luna flung her arms tight around her friend to hold her from leaping up with joy.

"Ginny! Stop! Think!" she whispered in her ear, pulling her down with all her weight.

"What's wrong, Ginny?" Arthur and Bill were there, followed by Molly.

Luna leaned over the sitting Ginny to obscure her beaming smile. "Think, Ginny!"

Ginny lowered her face and rubbed her eyes.

"She's just scared Harry will surrender himself," said Luna.

Molly sat with her daughter and tried to comfort her. "Harry knows better than that, Ginny. He knows that Voldemort's promises are not kept so it would be for nothing, wouldn't it?"

Luna was gradually eased aside and took the opportunity to go out. Hermione was just within the entrance now, anxiously peering into the blackness. Ron was a little further out, pacing back and forth on the grass at the edge of the flickering torchlight but he came back to rejoin Hermione with a shrug.

"Luna! Have you seen Harry anywhere?" Hermione said. Her face was agitated and streaked with grime.

"Oh, he'll be along shortly, I'm sure," Luna replied.

They stood together for a few moments then Luna moved forward to look up at the stars. The stone steps were cold and Luna remembered then she had lost a shoe. There was no doubt about where it was so she stepped out across the grass, ignoring Ron's warning to keep inside the castle walls. The sky was starting to lighten over the Forest as she walked towards it.

She found the shoe easily at the edge of the trees, still clutched by the Death Eater she had killed an hour before as he had tried to drag her away by the leg. His mask looked very uncomfortable so she removed it. It was quite a young man that she found. He looked peaceful and displayed none of the agony or surprise she had expected. Luna charmed the youth from the tree that had impaled his back when she had repelled him then laid the corpse gently down upon the dark turf. She sat with him for a while. It was nice being completely alone in these few minutes breathing the fresh air.

"Thank you tree, for saving my life," she said reverently. She listened but the only reply was the murmur of distant voices, deep in the Forest. They were coming. Luna would be ready.

When she returned to the front steps, Hermione and Ron were further inside but Ginny had come forward.

"What do we do, Luna?" said Ginny as soon as she could drag her inside and into a private corner of the Entrance Hall which was still almost empty.

"We wait and think, Ginny. Somebody or something healed Harry. He must have passed back through the veil and back into his body like I did - remember me telling you how Mr Wormtail healed me? I think You-know-who tried to kill him but Harry came back." A sudden thought occurred to her. "Merlin! He must love you so much, Ginny, to come back from Heaven to be with you!"

It was too much for poor Ginny. Her face screwed up with emotion and she clutched Luna's arm.

"Ginny, can you tell if Harry is awake? If he's stunned we must try to help him."

"No, Luna. He's conscious. I can feel him. I mostly only feel strong emotions from him like terrible fear or... joy. Right now he feels like... intense excitement. He's frightened but..."

"But what?"

"I don't know. He's not despairing - he's... hopeful."

"Then perhaps he's hiding somewhere among them," said Luna. "What if he's disguised as one of them and wearing a mask? We must be careful."

"Yes, it does feel like that - but I see a dungeon on my medallion. That means he's captured. It doesn't make sense."

"I'm sure Harry knows what he's doing. Just remember, don't give him away if you spot him."

Luna looked thoughtful for a while. "Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"Does he know you're thinking of him? Supporting him?"

"He knows, Luna. We always know now."

Luna looked back at those gathered around just inside the entrance to the Great Hall, seemingly unaware of the significance of the time. Looking back outside, the light from the east was growing stronger and the grassy slopes were no longer black shadow but pallid grey surfaces.

"There they are!" said Ginny and she and Luna pulled further back inside the Entrance Hall. Ron came forward and attempted to close the great oak doors but they were unhinged and immovable.

Within the dark silhouette of the far treeline bobbed many lights. They seem to dance innocently without progress for almost a minute before they could be seen to be approaching. Lumbering into view in their rear, two hulking giants thrust out from the creaking timbers of the Forest to add to the impending threat.

The enemy advanced only a short way out of the long shadows of the Forest then halted. The distant murmurs fell silent; all was still. Then a great high voice thundered out from their midst, magically magnified so that it swelled through the grounds, crashing upon their eardrums.

"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."

Luna felt Ginny's hand gripping her arm tightly. "What does he mean, Luna? He must have someone else's body."

"I think..." Luna gasped and put her hand over Ginny's. "I think Harry must be pretending to be dead!"

"The battle is won," cried the high, cold voice. "You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anybody who continues to resist, man, woman, or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."

There was silence in the grounds and from the castle.

After a short wait, one figure came forward from the Death Eaters followed by an even larger one with a heavy gait.

"Why, it's Hagrid!" whispered Luna.

The gleeful voices of the Death Eaters could now be separately distinguished above their tramping footsteps, nearer and nearer they came.

"Stop."

The Death Eaters came to a halt on the grass, spreading out in a line facing the vulnerable front doors of the school from which torchlight flooded to highlight the cruel masks and the brandished wands and here and there the gleam of malice.

"NO!"

The scream was terrible and came from behind Ron. Professor McGonagall pushed past him and onto the exposed steps, utter despair upon her face as if everything upon which her faith was pinned lay destroyed before her. A woman laughed outside.

From the Great Hall, others were coming out now through the Entrance Hall and spilling out to spread themselves along the front steps, some carrying lanterns and torches, pressing before them Ron and Hermione, Luna and Ginny. And then the flickering, badly-lit shapes before them resolved into clearer images and they could all see what McGonagall had perceived.

"No!" Hermione's shriek matched McGonagall's for despair. Ron groaned.

"Harry! HARRY!" screamed Ginny. Her medallion's truth overshadowed by the dreadful scene, she sagged against Luna. A steadying hand was placed upon her shoulder and she looked up. Neville, resolute and grim-faced stared out at the enemy. Hannah at his side, looked equally determined. Seamus too, was with them, angry hatred in his eyes.

"We have to kill that snake, Ron," Neville said, without taking his eyes off the serpent draped around Voldemort's shoulders. "Harry told me you two knew."

"Yes, a diversion, Ron" said Hermione. "Wait for a chance. if I could distract him long enough perhaps you can strike."

As the limp figure in Hagrid's arms was recognised by others, more cries were added until the defenders roared their fury at the intruders and the atrocity they had committed. Arthur sent out one last desperate Patronus to Charlie.

"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort, and there was a bang and a flash of bright light, and silence was forced upon them all. "It's over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"

Hagrid, his eyes full of tears, lowered Harry onto the grass.

"You see?" said Voldemort. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

You arrogant, lying bastard! Ron was livid with anger. He pressed across Luna's shoulder and somehow the silencing charm was broken as he shouted his defiance, "He beat you!" and the defenders of Hogwarts were shouting and screaming again until a second, more powerful bang extinguished their voices once more.

"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," said Voldemort, and there was relish in his voice for the lie, "killed while trying to save himself-"

Hannah saw Neville's face change. His eyes flared wide, affronted by the blasphemy and she clutched at him as he surged forward out of control.

Neville charged out from the steps, wand extended ahead of him. The crowd gasped as Neville flung himself upon Voldemort. There was a scuffle and a shout, then another bang, a flash of light, and a grunt of pain and Neville hit the ground hard. Voldemort threw aside the boy's wand and laughed derisively.

"And who is this?" he said in his soft snake's hiss. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

A woman gave a delighted laugh and Hermione's fingers tightened on her wand as she looked Bellatrix Lestrange in the eye. The revulsion she felt for the mad witch resolved itself then into a fierce determination to combat that wicked life once and for all.

"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"

"Ah, yes, I remember," said Voldemort, looking down at Neville, who was struggling back to his feet, unarmed and unprotected, standing in the no-man's-land between the survivors and the Death Eaters. "But you are a pure-blood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort asked Neville, who stood facing him, his empty hands curled into fists.

"So what if I am?" said Neville loudly.

"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."

"I'll join you when hell freezes over," said Neville.

"Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's Silencing Charms seemed unable to hold.

"Very well," said Voldemort, "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head," he said quietly, "be it."

Voldemort waved his wand. Seconds later, out of one of the castle's shattered windows, something that looked like a misshapen bird flew through the half light and landed in his hand. He shook the mildewed object by its pointed end and it dangled, empty and ragged: the Sorting Hat.

"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," declared Voldemort. "There will be no more Houses at all. The emblem, shield, and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?"

He pointed his wand at Neville, who grew rigid and still, then forced the hat onto Neville's head, so that it slipped down below his eyes. There were movements from the watching crowd in front of the castle, and as one, the Death Eaters raised their wands, holding the fighters of Hogwarts at bay.

"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," said Voldemort, and with a flick of his wand, he caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames, intensely bright in the shadowy gloom.

Hannah's cry split the dawn, and Neville was afire, rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Many things then happened at the same moment. The shouts of the defenders and the flaming pyre seemed to act as a beacon, a catalyst that triggered a response from within and beyond the immediate drama.

Hannah and Luna, screaming "FINITE!" ran suicidally forward to help Neville who was transfixed like a macabre human candle by the flaming hat.

There came the thunder of hooves and the twangs of bows, and arrows were suddenly falling amongst the Death Eaters, who broke ranks, shrieking their surprise, looking beyond their dying comrades for the source of this new assault from the Forest behind them.

At the same time, Grawp came lumbering around the side of the castle and yelled, "HAGGER!" His cry was answered by roars from Voldemort's giants: They ran at Grawp like bull elephants, making the earth quake.

And a greater uproar was heard as hundreds of people came swarming over the distant boundary walls and their pale faces surged like a tidal froth towards the castle, uttering loud war cries.

"Charlie!" shouted Mr Weasley to his wife. "And Horace too!"

Amidst this chaos, only Ginny, already sprinting towards Harry's prone figure, noticed his slight movements on the ground and saw him vanish. She kissed her medallion. The astonished red glare of Voldemort then fell full upon her - she sensed his recognition - but another movement caught his attention...

Neville was free of the Body-Bind Curse; the flaming hat fell off him and he was drawing from its depths something silver, with a glittering, rubied handle. Voldemort, temporarily distracted by Ginny's approach screamed as he realised what it was and he clutched protectively at the great snake coiled around his shoulders when his wand should have been his first instinct.

The slash of the silver blade could not be heard over the roar of the oncoming crowd or the sounds of the clashing giants or of the stampeding centaurs, and yet its bright flash seemed to draw every eye. With a single stroke Neville sliced off the great snake's head, which spun high into the air, gleaming in the light flooding from the Entrance Hall, and Voldemort's mouth was open in a scream of fury that nobody could hear, and the snake's body slid from around his neck, down with a lifeless thud to the ground at his feet. Harry, hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak, cast a Shield Charm between Neville and the dark wizard. Ron and Hermione, knowing the significance of the serpent's death, shouted their shared joy and stole one fleeting kiss from the midst of madness before resuming battle.

Then, over the screams and the roars and the thunderous stamps of the battling giants, Hagrid's yell came loudest of all.

"HARRY!" Hagrid shouted. "HARRY - WHERE'S HARRY?"

Chaos reigned. The eager mass of the new outer forces was pressing defenders and Death Eaters alike back inside the castle; the fallen were being trampled by the retreating crowd.

Still hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak, Harry himself was buffeted into the Entrance Hall, searching for Voldemort and finding him across the chamber. The dark wizard was backing into the Great hall, firing spells from his wand as he did so and still screaming instructions to his followers.

And now the Death Eaters were overwhelmed. Storming up the front steps were Charlie and Professor Slughorn leading what looked like the families and friends of every Hogwarts student who had remained to fight, along with the shopkeepers and homeowners of Hogsmeade.

The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed up from the kitchens, screaming and waving carving knives and cleavers, and at their head, the fake locket of Regulus Black bouncing on his chest, was Kreacher, his bullfrog's voice audible even above this din: "Fight! Fight! Fight for my master, defender of the house-elves! Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"

All pushed and fought to converge into the Great Hall where Voldemort and his few remaining Death Eaters were now trapped in the centre of the furious battle. The first faint traces of flat daylight were angling in through the tall windows to mix oddly with the stark flickering illumination from the torches and the enchanted star-sky above.

Hermione Granger's thoughts were filled increasingly with a lust for vengeance against Bellatrix Lestrange and here was her opportunity. Ron, separated from her by the press of the crowds could restrain her no longer as he was swept apart. He caught the eye of his sister who, with Luna had just pushed a Death Eater into Seamus' line of fire. Ron's expression pleaded with them as he pointed frantically over the heads of the throng at Hermione. Their heads turned to see Hermione at bay, out of her depth and battling desperately against the more experienced Bellatrix.

There was no hope of attack nor of revenge. Hermione could scarcely dodge and shield herself against the onslaught of curses that the gloating Bellatrix threw at her along with her taunts. "Come to die, you silly Mudblood? Let me pluck you apart like a common fly, limb by limb!"

With those words, Hermione's wand arm froze helplessly and as another paralysing curse hit her foot she staggered, knowing she was once more at the mercy of the cruel woman.

"Crucio!" cried Lestrange and her wicked gaze was as steady and determined as her wand.

Luna well remembered Hermione's screams at the hands of Lestrange while she was captive in the Malfoys' basement. Hermione and her friends had come and they had rescued her; she would not fail Hermione now in her hour of need. She screamed her defiance at Bellatrix as she and Ginny ran to support Hermione.

As Bellatrix eyes gaped sideways at this new intrusion, Luna conjured a fiery curse that forced back the dark witch and obscured her view giving Ginny time to cast shields and counter-spells upon Hermione.

Bellatrix snarled her fury, "BLOOD TRAITORS!" and swept her wand across the newcomers' path.

Being light on her feet, Luna had dodged many spells during D.A. practice and this saved her now from a deadly curse. Ginny's attempt to stun Bellatrix was easily deflected but Luna landed a stinging hex on Bellatrix's leg that temporarily staggered her and before she could retaliate, Hermione was back in the fight. Consumed by hatred for all the suffering her adversary had inflicted upon herself and others, she attempted a killing curse of her own. Although surprised by the unexpected spell, the crazed Death Eater successfully sidestepped it and Hermione had to shield against a full body-bind returned in full measure twinned with another killing curse that sailed narrowly past Ginny's jaw, causing her to stumble. Bellatrix now directed the full force of her dark magic upon the helpless redhead...

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

Mrs. Weasley threw off her cloak as she ran, freeing her arms. Bellatrix spun on the spot, roaring with laughter at the sight of her new challenger.

"OUT OF MY WAY!" shouted Mrs. Weasley to the three girls, and with a swipe of her wand she began to duel. Molly Weasley's wand slashed and twisted, and Bellatrix Lestrange's smile faltered and became a snarl. Jets of light flew from both wands, the floor around the witches' feet became hot and cracked; both women were fighting to kill.

"No!" Mrs. Weasley cried as a few students ran forward, trying to come to her aid. "Get back! Get back! She is mine!"

Of the Death Eaters, only Bellatrix and Voldemort now remained. Hundreds of people lined the walls, watching the two fights: Voldemort comfortably holding McGonagall, Kingsley, and Slughorn; Molly and Bellatrix head to head. Harry stood, invisible, torn between both, wanting to attack and yet to protect, unable to be sure that he would not hit the innocent.

"What will happen to your children when I've killed you?" taunted Bellatrix, as mad as her master, capering as Molly's curses danced around her. "When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"

"You - will - never - touch - our - children - again!" screamed Mrs. Weasley.

As if exhilarated by the threat, Bellatrix cackled loudly and carelessly waved her wand to taunt her opponent. Molly's curse soared beneath Bellatrix's outstretched arm and hit her squarely in the chest, directly over her heart.

Bellatrix's gloating smile froze, her eyes began to bulge. For the tiniest space of time she knew what had happened, and then she toppled, and Hermione and the watching crowd roared their approval and exultation while Voldemort screamed his rage.

McGonagall, Kingsley, and Slughorn were blasted backward, flailing and writhing through the air, as Voldemort's fury at the fall of his last, best lieutenant exploded with the force of a bomb. Voldemort raised his wand and directed it at Molly Weasley.

"Protego!" roared Harry, and the Shield Charm expanded in the middle of the Hall, and Voldemort stared around for the source.

And Ginny's heart, already thrilled to see her mother claim the foul life of Bellatrix, soared with a new joy. For there was Harry, pulling off the Invisibility Cloak at last to reveal himself to the astounded onlookers. She looked upon him in that moment not just as her boyfriend but as one exalted, resurrected beyond all known possible magic. Never could she adore him more than when her every conviction in the Prophecy was confirmed and even surpassed. Not a trace of doubt now remained; destiny must have placed the Chosen One to cancel forever Riddle's dark magic and end her nightmares with it. All misgivings fled her to be replaced by a rapturous certainty which no one else there could share.

The shock to the rest of the magical folk was very great. Screams of "Harry!" "HE'S ALIVE!" came from all sides and yet a strange fear quickly stifled the crowd as Voldemort and Harry looked at each other, and began, at the same moment, to circle each other.

Hermione felt that concern most keenly. She it was that had lived so closely with and understood Harry's rebellious and over-adventurous mistakes. She took out a Galleon and somehow caught Neville's attention with it. The flat of her hand at her throat conveyed her meaning and Neville passed the word to the other D.A. members; they would cut down Voldemort before he could strike. Though their losses might be great, not even one such as the Dark Lord could withstand a synchronised volley of thirty or more curses.

Yet Harry seemed to catch the tiny flutters of motion as wands were gripped more securely, and breaths were drawn in.

"I don't want anyone else to try to help," he said loudly, and in the total silence his voice carried like a trumpet call. "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."

Voldemort hissed and sneered at Harry but Hermione's attention was entirely upon Harry. Had she misjudged him? Or was there more knowledge of which she was unaware? Until that moment, she had forgotten Snape's memories: what had they revealed? Certainly she had been astonished when Ollivander had confirmed that Voldemort was after the Elder Wand - there it was in Voldemort's cold white hand before her. Was there more to the story of the Deathly Hallows? Could Harry possibly survive single-handed before the most powerful dark wizard in history who was wielding the greatest wand ever created? Harry did not even have his own wand; he was stuck with one he'd taken from Draco. Oh, Harry, don't be so noble all over again. You've done enough. Let us try.

She glanced to her left where most of Dumbledore's Army had drawn themselves together, ready to strike if needed. At their head were Neville, still clutching the sword of Gryffindor in his left hand and a wand in his right; Hannah at his arm; Luna looking dreamily on as if assessing a theatrical performance; and Ginny with a serene smile to match Luna's. Why does Ginny look so calm? thought Hermione.

Yet why did Voldemort not strike? She saw doubt in his red eyes as Harry engaged him, circling each other, not for an opening, but to ease the unbearable tension of trying to keep still and calm.

"I know things you don't know, Tom Riddle. I know lots of important things that you don't. Want to hear some, before you make another big mistake?"

"Is it love again?" sneered Voldemort. "Love, which did not prevent me stamping out your Mudblood mother like a cockroach, Potter. Love, which did not stop Dumbledore falling from the tower and breaking like an old waxwork?"

"Dumbledore was cleverer than you," said Harry, "a better wizard, a better man."

"I brought about the death of Albus Dumbledore!"

"You thought you did," said Harry, "but you were wrong."

To her right, Hermione heard McGonagall gasp, as did the rest of the watching crowd. Was Dumbledore then alive? It was not possible. Or had someone else killed the headmaster before Voldemort could?

"Yes, Dumbledore's dead," said Harry calmly, "but you didn't have him killed. He chose his own manner of dying, chose it months before he died, arranged the whole thing with the man you thought was your servant."

Hermione heard McGonagall drew a deep breath yet again, her attention solely fixed upon the words of the young Gryffindor seemingly so confident, so knowledgeable before her.

"Severus Snape wasn't yours," said Harry. "Snape was Dumbledore's from the moment you started hunting down my mother."

And now Hermione sensed, at the edge of her vision, a pale handkerchief drawn quickly to McGonagall's eyes.

"He was Dumbledore's spy from the moment you threatened her," continued Harry.

A satisfied realisation seemed to dawn in the scarlet eyes of his adversary, "So, Dumbledore was trying to keep the Elder Wand from me! He intended that Snape should be the true master of the wand! But I got there ahead of you, little boy - I reached the wand before you could get your hands on it; I understood the truth before you caught up. I killed Severus Snape two hours ago, and the Elder Wand, the Deathstick, the Wand of Destiny is truly mine! Dumbledore's last plan went wrong, Harry Potter!"

Hermione's heart sank then, not because she felt McGonagall stiffen beside her at the news that Snape was dead but that Harry had misunderstood: Voldemort had truly gained mastery of the wand. She felt Ron's hand slip into hers and she smiled briefly without turning, her attention still upon the drama playing out before them.

"Yes, but Dumbledore's last plan hasn't backfired on me - it's backfired on you, Riddle," said Harry.

Hermione could see Voldemort's hand trembling on the Elder Wand and for the first time she began to wonder if her judgement had been hasty...

"That wand still isn't working properly for you because you murdered the wrong person," continued Harry. "Severus Snape was never the true master of the Elder Wand. He never truly defeated Dumbledore."

"But then, Potter, Dumbledore as good as gave me the wand!" Voldemort's voice shook with malicious pleasure. "I stole the wand from its last master's tomb! I removed it against its last master's wishes! It's power is mine!"

"You still don't get it, Riddle, do you? Possessing the wand isn't enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. Someone else disarmed Dumbledore before Snape, didn't they?"

Harry paused and Hermione held her breath.

"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy."

Hermione was astonished. She had read enough wandlore to know what that meant. And she had derided Harry for his belief that Dumbledore had hidden the resurrection stone within his Golden Snitch. What if she were wrong about that too? Is Harry master of all of the Deathly Hallows? Master of Death? Was that how he had survived his sacrifice this night?

Blank shock showed in Voldemort's face too for a moment, but then it was gone.

"But what does it matter?" he said softly. "Even if you are right, Potter, it makes no difference to you and me. You no longer have the phoenix wand: We duel on skill alone... and after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy..."

"But you're too late," said Harry. "You've missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took this wand from him."

Harry twitched the hawthorn wand, and he felt the eyes of everyone in the Hall upon it.

"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" whispered Harry. "Does the wand in your hand know its last master was disarmed? Because if it does..." There was the tiniest pause and the attention of all was on Harry's next words...

"I am the true master of the Elder Wand."

A red-gold glow burst suddenly across the enchanted sky above them as an edge of dazzling sun appeared over the sill of the nearest window. The light hit both of their faces at the same time, so that Voldemort's was suddenly a flaming blur. Harry heard the high voice shriek as he too yelled his best hope to the heavens, pointing Draco's wand:

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The bang was like a cannon blast, and the golden flames that erupted between them, at the dead centre of the circle they had been treading, marked the point where the spells collided. Harry saw Voldemort's green jet meet his own spell, saw the Elder Wand fly high, dark against the sunrise, spinning across the enchanted ceiling like the head of Nagini, spinning through the air toward the master it would not kill, who had come to take full possession of it at last. And Harry, with the unerring skill of a Seeker, caught the wand in his free hand as Voldemort fell backward, arms splayed, the slit pupils of the scarlet eyes rolling upward. Tom Riddle hit the floor with a mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken, the white hands empty, the snakelike face vacant and unknowing. Voldemort was dead, killed by his own rebounding curse, and Harry stood with two wands in his hands, staring down at his enemy's shell.

One shivering second of silence, the shock of the moment suspended: and then the tumult broke around Harry as the screams and the cheers and the roars of the watchers rent the air. The fierce new sun dazzled the windows as they thundered toward him, and the first to reach him were Ron and Hermione, and it was their arms that were wrapped around him, their incomprehensible shouts that deafened him. Then Ginny, Neville, and Luna were there, and then all the Weasleys and Hagrid, and Kingsley and McGonagall and Flitwick and Sprout, and Harry could not hear a word that anyone was shouting, nor tell whose hands were seizing him, pulling him, trying to hug some part of him, hundreds of them pressing in, all of them determined to touch the Boy Who Lived, the reason it was over at last-

The sun rose steadily over Hogwarts, and the Great Hall blazed with life and light. Harry was an indispensable part of the mingled outpourings of jubilation and mourning, of grief and celebration. They wanted him there with them, their leader and symbol, their saviour and their guide, and that he had not slept, that he craved the company of only a few of them, seemed to occur to no one. He must speak to the bereaved, clap their hands, witness their tears, receive their thanks, hear the news now creeping in from every quarter as the morning drew on; that the Imperiused up and down the country had come back to themselves, that Death Eaters were fleeing or else being captured, that the innocent of Azkaban were being released at that very moment, and that Kingsley Shacklebolt had been named temporary Minister of Magic...

They moved Voldemort's body and laid it in a chamber off the Hall, away from the bodies of Fred, Tonks, Lupin, Colin Creevey, and fifty others who had died fighting him. McGonagall had replaced the House tables, but nobody was sitting according to House anymore: All were jumbled together, teachers and pupils, ghosts and parents, centaurs and house-elves. After a while, exhausted and drained, Harry found himself sitting on a bench beside Luna.

"I'd want some peace and quiet, if it were me," she said.

"I'd love some," he replied.

"I'll distract them all," she said. "Use your Cloak."

And before he could say a word she cried, "Oooh, look, a Blibbering Humdinger!" and pointed out of the window. Everyone who heard looked around, and Harry slid the Cloak up over himself, and got to his feet.

Now he could move through the Hall without interference. He spotted Ginny two tables away; she was sitting with her head on her mother's shoulder: There would be time to talk, hours and days and maybe years in which to talk. He kissed his medallion.

I love you, Ginny. Wait for me upstairs.

She lifted her head and watched as Ron and Hermione suddenly looked up too then rose and left and she knew who was with them.

"Dad..." she said tentatively. He looked up. His face was very tired but a smile came easily. "Mind if I sit with Harry in the common room for a... a little while?"

"For always, Ginny. For always."
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—oOo—

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Author's Notes

Watch out for the next and final chapter, Epilogue, set in the days following the Great Battle. This is being polished up and will be published very shortly, hopefully within a week.

I wish to credit J K Rowling with some of the lines in this chapter which are directly quoted from Deathly Hallows because I felt they were irreplaceable and the situations obviously unavoidable.

I tried to stick to an accurate timeline of events but note that in the original book, Voldemort says Snape died three hours before sunrise (05:30am - 3 = 02:30am) which is impossible because from then, Harry is given one hour to surrender, ie, by 03:30am - yet he doesn't start out from the castle until 04:00am so he would already be 30 minutes late plus half an hour walk into the Forest and we know he arrives on time (or about one minute late.) So, I put Snape's death at TWO hours before sunrise at 03:30am. (and no, the error is not a summer time thing; Scottish sunrise on 2nd May is well documented at 05:30am local time.)

Just to expand on my earlier note: in the books, Hogwarts' main courtyard seems to be an enclosed area for students' breaks (recess) down a corridor off the Entrance Hall whereas the main entrance is at the front of the Entrance Hall and with stone steps down to grassy lawns that slope down and around the west side of the castle to the lake in the south. There is a paved driveway up to the stone steps and it is assumed there is a paved area in front of the steps for the Thestral coaches to pull in or at least, turn around in. I also assume some boundary markers such as pillars and low walls although it cannot be a true, enclosed courtyard or JKR would have said so. She always just seems to say they walked down the steps and across the grass. The movies fudge this lot together as a courtyard and tack it onto the wrong end of the Great Hall overlooking a sheer drop to the lake which makes no sense if you try to draw it. I looked at a lot of maps and eventually settled on JKR's own rough map. Noble Spirit tries to stay with book canon even though it is vague in some respects.

Many thanks for all comments and reviews. These are most welcome and very encouraging. :)

- Hippothestrowl