Author's Note: Just one more after this.
Chapter Fifty-Five
"No!"*
"No!" *
"Harry! HARRY!" *
Ginny surged forward, Bill reached for her, but Dad grabbed her first and yanked her back into his arms. The defenders of Hogwarts continued to flow out of the front doors. Some cried out, others gasped. They all stood in stunned silence, eyes trained on that frail body in Hagrid's arms. There was a great, swirling blackness inside Bill's gut, sucking hope out of his body. He looked around for his family, clustered loosely together amongst the fighters. This was the last stand.
"OI!" shouted Seamus Finnegan, pushing through the crowds. "Go feck yerself and the snake ye rode in on, ye feckin' lizard."
A surge of yells and abuse was heaped on Voldemort. His triumphant smile fell into a snake-like sneer, his red eyes sweeping across the crowd. Apparently, this wasn't the welcome he was hoping for. Bill couldn't care less. It was likely he was going to die along with his entire family very soon, he felt reckless. There was just one regret: that Charlie wasn't here. In the last hour, Bill had known a pain and grief so deep his soul was shaking. What would it be like for Charlie? To lose his entire family, to be the last one. Bill didn't wish that on his brother.
Looking to his side where Fleur stood, he knew regret again. She didn't have to be here, but she was. Because of him. Fleur looked up at him, her features an unreadable mask. Reaching out, she took Bill's hand.
"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort, and there was a bang and a flash of bright light, and silence was forced upon them all. "It is over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"*
Harry looked so small lying in the grass. In the last weeks, Bill had come to think of him as a man, grown and strong enough to bear the burdens of the wizarding world. Now he looked like a boy. A brave boy who deserved better than the life of a martyr. Let that reptile weave his lies about Harry, no one standing on these steps had any doubt: Harry sacrificed himself so they could live. Foolish, but brave.
"He beat you!" yelled Ron, and the charm broke, and the defenders of Hogwarts were shouting and screaming.*
Something prickled at the base of Bill's skull. Before him, Ron and Hermione were speaking to each other rapidly. How had Ron broken the charm? Voldemort jabbed his wand at the defenders, stealing their voices again. He was raving about Harry again, but Bill ignored him. Something strange was happening here. That first charm hadn't worked the way it was supposed to, and Ron and Hermione…. They had another trick up their sleeve, Bill was sure of it. Tentatively, Bill knew a glimmer of hope.
oOo
Percy peered over the heads of those around him. At the base of the steps, he could see Professor McGonagall with her hands fisted at her sides, wand clutched in one. On either side of her was Neville Longbottom, his jaw working back and forth, and Professor Flitwick. Percy searched the crowd until he saw Oliver standing head and shoulders above the rest. He was with Katie, Angelina, and Alicia who were clutching each other. Audrey stood at Percy's side, but at that moment his eyes were drawn to George where he stood next to Mum.
Voldemort's silencing charm kept Percy from saying what he wanted, or maybe it was his own heart. He couldn't quite form the words to express to George how sorry he was, how he wished he could change it all. Maybe it didn't matter in that moment. After all, they could be joining Fred soon. Instead, Percy reached out and wrapped his hand around his brother's bicep. George looked up at Percy with bloodshot eyes, something like understanding passed between them.
The moment ended quickly.
Neville Longbottom threw off Professor McGonagall's restraining hands and charged Voldemort. The crowd could make no sound, but Percy could see people opening their mouths to shout. Voldemort hit Neville with a Disarming charm. The young Gryffindor tripped to the ground, his wand flying through the air to land in Voldemort's hand. He tossed it aside like yesterday's rubbish, and his followers laughed.
"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?" *
There was a cackle, delighted and demented. Percy's eyes slid to Bellatrix Lestrange, who he had never seen in person. She wiggled like a child eager to please her teacher as she offered Neville's name. The boy who gave the Carrows so much trouble. The Aurors' son. Longbottom was struggling to his feet, no longer the bumbling boy who forgot the password into the Gryffindor common room. This was a brave young man who stood in nobody's shadow.
"But you are a pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort asked.*
Longbottom stood, alone, in the space between the castle and the Death Eaters. His spine straight, his shoulders squared in the half-light of pre-dawn. This young man stood between Hogwarts and disaster, and from the sounds of it, this was not new territory for him.
"So what if I am?" Neville said loudly.*
"You show spirit and bravery, and you come from 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!"*
Voldemort's Silencing charm broke. All around Percy, the crowd roared their support for Neville, but Percy watched the face of the villain before him. This was the man of all his nightmares since he was a child, and now Voldemort's face took on a frightening mask, more terrible than Percy's worst dreams. The crowd drowned out Voldemort's words, but he raised his wand and something flew from the castle into his hand. Percy reached out, grabbing Audrey's hand, his heart beating too hard in his narrow chest.
The crowd fell silent once more, but not for being charmed. Voldemort pointed his wand at Neville, who went instantly rigid. Then he thrust something on Neville's head. The Sorting Hat. Percy could hardly make sense of this, looking at Bill for an answer. People all around pointing wands and moving forward, only to be stayed by the Death Eaters brandishing their wands in a sea of wood.
The Sorting Hat burst into flame. The defenders of Hogwarts screamed as one at the sight of their brave boy standing stock still, aflame. What happened next was a blur. A battle cry erupted from the distant wall, then a cavalry of new fighters was rushing down the slope. And at their head was Charlie Weasley.
Percy let out a loud whoop, a smile splitting his face.
A small giant rounded the corner of the castle, colliding with its larger counterparts in earth quaking battle. Galloping hooves heralded the arrival of centaurs with bows and arrows. Death Eaters, startled by the new arrivals, scattered in panic.
And then, everyone's eyes were drawn to a glint of silver. Neville Longbottom stood like a knight of old, sword in hand, and with one great slash, he severed the head of the snake, Nagini. The moment froze in time, just for an instant, then the battle sped into chaos once more.
"HARRY!" Hagrid shouted. "HARRY—WHERE'S HARRY?"*
Through the gray sky, Percy saw a flock of skeletal figures, black as midnight, swoop at a giant's head. He'd never seen anything like it, never dreamed of it. They were like a nightmare given life, and yet he didn't hold fear for the creatures. And then he knew. Thestrals, he could see thestrals. There was no time to dwell on that, for the giants were crashing through the grounds, sending wizards scattering. The defenders of Hogwarts were being forced back into the castle by the surge of battle. Percy turned, tried to reach for Audrey, but saw her in Fleur's arms as they were pushed aside.
"Percy!" Dad yelled, grabbing his son around the collar. "It's Thickness!"
oOo
Just inside Hogwarts' entrance, Audrey and Fleur backed into the corner, arms around each other, buffeted on all sides as fighters surged into the castle. Too much was happening to make sense of any of it. From one direction, a clutch of house-elves burst through a door, brandishing kitchen knives. Then three centaurs clattered in, dispersing the fighters before them in all directions.
"We have to go—" Audrey screamed.
A body hurled through the air, crashing into the wall above them. Both women sank to the floor, covering their heads. The small creature slid down the wall and crumpled onto the flagstone. The house-elf lie still near them. Fleur crawled to his side, then looked at Audrey and shook her head.
"He is dead," she shouted.
Springing to her feet, Audrey scooped up the tiny creature—it was no bigger than a child, like one of her nieces. She placed him behind the opened door, shutting his eyes with her hand, hoping he would be safe from the carnage all around.
Fleur grabbed Audrey's hand. "To zee platform. We must help Madam Pomfrey protect zee injured. Not all of zem were moved."
Clinging to each other's hands, Audrey and Fleur pushed their way through fighters from both sides. Duels had broken out everywhere. The Gryffindor Chasers had Scabior at their mercy. Audrey saw Adrian Pucey and Liam Williamson battling a pair of hump shouldered Death Eaters. Saw Oliver Wood fighting next to his own father, dueling Avery.
oOo
Dual Stunning spells struck Rabastan Lestrange from either side. The man crashed to the ground, revealing the grinning face of Charlie Weasley standing behind him. For a moment, Bill froze, a slow smile creeping onto his face as he stared at his wayward brother.
"About damn time," Bill said.
"I'd say my timing is impeccable," Charlie answered.
The two brothers clasped hands, but that moment ended quickly. Soon, they were fighting another set of Death Eaters. All the while Bill was aware that Voldemort was at the heart of the battle. He could hear the screams coming from the center of the Great Hall. Felling the man before him, Bill craned his neck to see Kingsley and Professors McGonagall and Slughorn fighting the monster. Bodies were strewn across the floor—wizard, house-elf, and centaur alike.
Then Bill saw something that made his heart seize in his chest. It was Ginny, along with Hermione and Luna, fighting Bellatrix Lestrange. It was three to one, and yet the demented witch hardly looked winded. In that moment, Bill knew one thing: he wasn't losing another sibling. Turning on his heel, he blasted Charlie's opponent off his feet.
"Charlie, look!"
They both turned to see a jet of green miss Ginny by an inch.
"Fucking hell!" Charlie yelled.
They moved as one, pushing through the crowd without consideration as to whether it was friend or foe in their way. From the corner of his eye, Bill saw Percy and Dad battling through the crowds in the same direction. Bill was nothing but heart and nerve, his need to get to Ginny the only real thing in his life. And then something happened that froze him in his tracks.
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"*
There was Mum. Her red hair glinted under the light of the candles. Her face contorted with fury. She threw off her cloak as she ran. Bellatrix Lestrange turned, her feral face splitting into laughter at the sight before her. Across the hall, Bill was motionless, a Body-Bind could have been placed on him, but it hadn't been. It was horror that kept his boots planted on the flagstones. Charlie, Percy, Dad, none of them moved.
"OUT OF MY WAY!"*
Ginny, Luna, and Hermione cleared away, and then it began.
Spells of such ferocity sizzled between the two witches. Students tried to come to Mum's aid, but she wouldn't allow it. The battle was now just two duels. The one between Voldemort, Kingsley, McGonagall, and Slughorn. And the one between Bill's mum and the most evil witch of a generation. All eyes were glued to the two women as they exchanged curses so hot the ground beneath their feet cracked. From all around, Bill's brothers materialized. George leaned against Percy. Ron's wand trembled in his hand. Beside Bill, Charlie gripped his arm in a steel band. As one, the Weasley family held its breath.
Bill had never seen his mother like this before. This wasn't the woman who had baked hundreds of loaves of bread and knitted scores of jumpers. She was transformed. Hippolyta. Larger than life. A warrior. Fueled by grief and love and rage.
And then it happened.
"What will happen to your children when I've killed you?" Bellatrix taunted. "When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"*
Bellatrix Lestrange had gone too far.
"You—will—never—touch—our—children—again!" *
Bellatrix laughed. It was her last. Mum's next curse hit her in the chest. For a moment, nothing happened as Bellatrix froze, then she toppled to the ground and the crowd roared, but the Weasleys collapsed into each other in relief.
oOo
A scream rent the air. High, terrible, full of ice and murder.
Fleur threw herself over her patient, immediately casting a shield. For a moment—or maybe it was hours—all Fleur knew was the rasping breath of the girl beneath her and the pounding of her own heart. That scream, Fleur had never heard anything like it. There was such rage, it stabbed at Fleur with vicious swipes, she trembled under its force, her shield thickening, glowing.
"Fleur!" Audrey yelled. She stood at the end of the dais where the head table had once been.
The Great Hall was silent. Fleur imagined all the combatants spread across the floor, dead, for surely that scream foretold a massacre. She glanced at Audrey, a thick lump in Fleur's throat. This fear, it could not win, it could not paralyze her. Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths. She thought of her Bill, of how brave he was. There was no fear, no sadness when she thought of her husband, and she knew. He was alive, he must be, she would know otherwise. And if Bill was alive, then not all was lost. Slowly, she stood, leaving the security of her protective bubble to join Audrey at the end of the dais. Before her, the fighters stood motionless, all eyes directed to one place. Fleur's breath caught.
There. In the middle of the Great Hall, with the enchanted ceiling showing pink at the edges of the pearly, pre-dawn sky, stood Harry Potter. How could this be? Harry Potter, her friend, the boy who saved her sister, he was dead. Fleur saw his body. She heard the grief in the half-giant's sobs. This could not be, yet that was no ghost. It was Harry Potter in the flesh. With wand in hand, he faced Voldemort.
Fear and hope surged through Fleur's veins in a confusing mix. The two circled each other. It seemed an endless dance as Harry held his opponent transfixed. Fleur could barely breathe. She could not take her eyes from the spectacle before her. Blindly, she reached out and grabbed Audrey's hand, feeling her friend squeeze it.
Fingers of pink reached across of the sky, but still the two circled each other. Harry Potter continued his stream of words that Fleur could not hear. His eyes locked on his opponent, his wand steady in his hand. He was a contrast to the manic energy of his opponent. At once, Voldemort was terrifying and vulnerable. That rage, it surged out of him in percussive waves. His wand hand shook with the need to do violence, his red eyes slits of malevolence. Terror stole up Fleur's chest to see such fury.
A red-gold glow burst suddenly across the enchanted sky above them.* Bright light blinded Fleur. She grabbed Audrey, pulling the shorter girl into her arms. That shrieking voice, Harry's shout. Fleur's arms tightened around Audrey.
Boom!
The collision of the two spells exploded. The ground shook under the reverberation. Fleur and Audrey stumbled, barely able to keep their feet. A collective gasp ghosted around the Great Hall. Fleur's head whipped away, eyes snapped shut. Yet she could still see spots of red burst behind her black eyelids. For a moment, she and Audrey grasped each other tightly, trembling so that Fleur could not tell where hers ended and Audrey's began. Finally, silence swallowed the hall for one awful instant.
"Is it Harry Potter?" Audrey breathed, her arms tight around Fleur's ribs.
Forcing her eyes open, Fleur looked over Audrey's head.
There, on the floor, the madman lay dead at the feet of Harry Potter. After the terrible fighting of this night, it came down to two men, two spells, and it was over. Dust mites floated in the golden beams of sunlight streaming in through the broken and glassless windows. The sky arced, blue and cloudless, across the spell-damaged ceiling. Dawn had come at last, the night was over. Cheers and screams rang out. Fleur realized, as her lungs burned inside her chest, that she could breathe.
"Oui," Fleur whispered.
Laughing, tears leaking from her eyes, she buried her head in Audrey's shoulder. They had won. They had survived the night. Audrey shook against Fleur, and she knew that her friend was crying as well.
"I have to find Percy," Audrey said as she pulled away. Dirty hands wiped at her cheeks, leaving dark streaks. "I have to tell him…."
She sat on the edge of the dais, then slid to the floor.
"Tell him what?" Fleur called.
"I don't know. Everything! I'm going to have that man's babies."
Fleur covered her mouth as laughter bubbled out. She watched her friend disappear into the chaos. From the squeaks of the house-elves to the stamping of the centaurs, the Great Hall extolled the victory. Smiles broke across grimy faces. Girls hugged and sobbed. Neville Longbottom let the great, ruby sword drop to his side, swept up in the arms of those around him. Dean Thomas grabbed a girl with a long black plait, bent her over his arm, and kissed her. Kingsley was helping Professor McGonagall to her feet, and the two looked around in astonishment.
They had won.
As blood pumped again through her body, Fleur was gripped with the same raucous emotion. They had won. They had won! It was a chorus in her heart, growing louder and surer. At long last, they had won. There was still much to do, Fleur knew this. There was grief and loss to reckon with, but not in this moment. They were radiant.
Fleur craned her neck, looking for a particular ginger ponytail in the crowd. Many had fallen in this last bit of fighting, but not her Bill. She would know. And then she saw him. Walking towards her out of the crowd, smile on his face. Emotion swelled inside of Fleur, her smile wide and radiant as the sun. She jumped down, running until her arms were around him, her Bill. They kissed and kissed. The rest of the world fell away, and it was just the two of them. The feel of Bill's body against hers, the strength of his embrace, and ardor of his kiss. This was victory.
"We won," Fleur murmured.
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 730
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 730
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 731
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 733
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 736
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 736
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Chapter 36 The Flaw In the Plan page 743
