Chapter 52

Hermione wandered away from the group and into the battle absently. She didn't even raise her wand when Bellatrix Lestrange came in front of her with her own wand pointed directly at Hermione's chest. Luna turned in time to see what was happening and started sending spells in that direction. Ginny also started to duel with Bellatrix. When a curse narrowly missed her, Mrs. Weasley got angry. It didn't take long until one of Mrs. Weasley's spells sent Bellatrix Lestrange to the ground; dead. Hermione still hadn't moved from where she stood. Luna, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley moved to her quickly.

"Hermione, are you alright dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly. Hermione didn't answer. When she looked into Mrs. Weasley's eyes, the matriarch gasped. "What's happening?" Hermione's eyes were empty. Luna placed a hand on her shoulder and then pulled back as if burned.

"My brother…" she trailed off in tears. "He's gone… Who?" Everyone flinched when Luna yelled the last part. She started shaking and smoking.

"Crabbe, but he died along with Orion." Minerva said sadly and took Hermione by the shoulders. "Hermione, Elizabeth and Emmett need your help. Madame Pomphrey has them in the hospital wing and the Death Eaters are getting closer. You need to protect them Hermione." Hermione looked up with fire in her eyes and tried to run toward the hospital wing. She was stopped by a scarred Fenrir Greyback. He had burn marks from his last encounter with Orion. He started dueling with her with an evil smile. Suddenly he was completely engulfed in flames and lifted slightly from the ground. His scream caught the attention of several Death Eaters and Hogwarts defenders, who turned to see what was happening. When he dropped to the ground, Rolanda was standing over him still smoldering. She looked into Hermione's eyes and nodded toward the hospital wing. Before Hermione could move another Death Eater tried to send a curse her way. The spell was intercepted by a ball of golden fire and a loud screech of a hawk was heard by everyone. The golden flames shot straight at the Death Eater and knocked him down before turning into the form of a human.

"Orion!" Hermione ran forward and into his arms. "You're alive." She said quietly. He winced in pain as she squeezed him tighter. "You're hurt."

"Later." He said and turned in time to stare down an approaching Death Eater. They were interrupted by a loud scream that came from Minerva. Everyone was now on their own sides and staring at the entrance to the castle. Hagrid was sobbing and carrying an unmoving Harry Potter.

"You're hero is dead." Voldemort's cold voice echoed through the entrance hall. "He was and is nothing. Now, you will all join me or die."

"We'll never join you." Neville Longbottom stepped forward. "Dumbledore's Army!" He yelled and was answered with cheers from his fellow members. "For Harry Potter!" He yelled and was met with even more cheers.

"Draco." Lucius Malfoy's voice caught their attention. "There you are, get over here with the rest of us." Draco looked down at the body of Harry Potter and then at Voldemort, who had a hold of Longbottom.

"No." Draco replied. He straightened to his full height and looked back to his father. "He's wrong father. It doesn't have to be this way and I see that now. Even though I've been horrible to these people, they gave me a chance and saved my life. I am not going to use my second chance to betray them now." He looked back down to Harry. "I fight for Harry Potter!" He yelled and listened to the similar cheers around him.

Voldemort shoved the Sorting Hat on Neville's head and caught it on fire. He was busy laughing when Neville pulled the sword of Gryffindor from the hat and sliced the head from Nagini the snake. Harry had told him before he left that the snake was the last horcrux. Voldemort's scream could be heard through the entire castle. Then he was thrown across the room by a spell. Everyone spun around to see Severus Snape standing in the entrance. He could barely stand and he was bleeding heavily. No one noticed at the time that Harry had moved under his invisibility cloak and was up and running.

There was chaos everywhere as Orion tried to make it to Professor Snape, but he was too late. Several Death Eaters cursed him at once and he fell back to the ground. Orion kneeled next to him with tears in his eyes. "Professor?" Snape's breathing was ragged and he looked into Orion's eyes.

"I'm sorry Orion. I didn't want to hurt you all. I was following Dumbledore's orders."

"Shh, don't talk. I saw everything in the pensieve with Harry. You're going to be okay, we just have to get you to Aunt Poppy." Snape chuckled slightly and shook his head.

"I'm dieing Orion."

"No, don't say that."

"Orion, listen to me." Orion closed his mouth as he was about to protest. "You've been a good friend to me, and I want to thank you for that. I was honored to be your friend and your child's godfather. I just wish I could have been here to watch those children and you grow up. You will make a great teacher someday and I know you will be an amazing father." His voice got quieter as he spoke. Hermione dropped to her knees next to Orion finally and looked to their Professor. "Ah, Ms. Black…" He trailed off and coughed. Blood trickled from his mouth and he cleared his throat. "Brightest witch of her age. Take care of him, will you?" Hermione nodded with tears falling down her face. "Goodbye my friends." He took one more breath before Orion felt him go limp. Orion sobbed and closed his mentor's eyes.

"Goodbye my friend." He placed his hand over Snape's heart as he said it. "My family." He said before standing up and hugging Hermione tightly.

"Impossible!" They heard Voldemort's shrill voice in the Great Hall and ran toward it. They skidded to a halt in the doorway when they saw Harry standing with his wand raised at the Dark Lord.

"You can't win Tom." Harry said with a smirk. "You have nothing to protect you now. You're finished, all that's left for you to do is apologize."

"Apologize? Ha!" He sent a curse at Harry but he deflected it.

"You want to know why that wand isn't as powerful as you expected? It doesn't belong to you. It belongs to the one who took it from Dumbledore. Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore before Snape killed him, on Dumbledore's orders by the way. Snape was Dumbledore's man." Tom Riddle's was growing angrier by the second. "But no the wand doesn't belong to Draco Malfoy either. You see, I disarmed Malfoy earlier this evening. The Elder Wand belongs to me. It will not kill me, Tom." Voldemort snarled and sent a killing curse at Harry just as Harry moved to disarm him. The spells collided and shook the castle. Rubble was flying around and everyone was trying to find their balance. When the dust settled they saw Harry standing there with two wands and Lord Voldemort dead. There was a moment of silence before people started cheering and Death Eaters started disappearing.