A/N: Well...Been a while, but here we go. As promised, the Final Battle awaits you. Be warned, there is character deaths, injuries, and some heavy emotions coming in this and the next chapter.
Chapter 23: Shatter Point—The Final Battle
The defenders of Hogwarts spread out on the castle grounds. Harry glanced to his right as Ginny stopped beside him, taking his hand. Bill and Fleur stood hand in hand on Ginny's other side with the rest of the Weasleys, save Molly, Ron, and Charlie, beside them. Molly was in the castle, helping get the Hospital Wing ready for any wounded. Ron was up in one of the battlements directing his battle plan with the DA members, Madds, and Marty, all hidden from view. To Harry's left was his mother. His father, Sirius, and Remus stepped up to the other side of Lily, James taking her hand. Tonks and the Order of the Phoenix spread out amongst the Aurors to form a rough semicircle on either side of them blocking the doors to Hogwarts.
Voldemort stopped just outside the main gates, glaring at Harry as he smirked at the Dark Lord. Voldemort knew his Death Eaters were poised and ready to fight the meager defenses of the castle. His forces had them badly outnumbered. Potter's smile worried Voldemort, however. The boy was full of tricks. What was worse, the connection he had felt with the boy was no longer there.
Suddenly, the trolls and giants bellowed a roar at the defenders from behind the Death Eaters, waiting for the word to attack. Dementors floated behind the Acromantulas that skittered uneasily back and forth behind the Death Eaters. Bellatrix laughed out loud at the sight of so few defenders. Voldemort glared more as Dumbledore walked out to stand on the steps of the castle with a smug smile that matched Potter's.
"Hello, Tom," Dumbledore mocked.
"So eager die, I see, Dumbledore," Voldemort smiled back evilly. "Couldn't raise an army on such short notice?"
"No," Harry grinned. "We just know something you don't."
"You, Potter, will pay with your life," Voldemort snarled pointing at him.
"Why, Tom?" Harry smirked. He reached into his pocket for something. "Oh, because of these?"
Harry tossed the broken ring and locket to the ground in front of him. Ginny tossed the ruined diary out, James tossed the bent cup, while Lily threw the shattered diadem to the ground. Voldemort paled as all of his Horcruxes hit the ground in a heap. As each one hit the ground it seemed like it took a breath from Voldemort's heartless chest. His eyes widened momentarily before narrowing into a glare.
"Oh, and the one you made Nagini into is gone," Ginny taunted.
"And let's not forget this one," Harry pointed to his scar. Voldemort's eyes widened with fear. "Yeah, Tom, we knew. It's gone, too. You're all that's left."
Voldemort growled and hissed lowly as he raised his wand arm, sending a powerful curse into the gates. The metal gate doors crumpled and twisted as they were partially ripped from their hinges taking stone with them. Voldemort screamed, ordering all but the Inner Circle into battle. Suddenly, ten enormous dragons with two riders on each rose out of the Forbidden Forest. They were led by Charlie on the back of a Hungarian Horntail. Voldemort looked on in shocked silence as the dragons soared toward his forces.
The dragons created chaos among the Death Eaters as they surged forward, spitting plumes of fire. Charlie ordered the riders to target the dark creatures as the dragons dove down attacking the rear line the dark forces. The trolls and giants tried to fight back, but couldn't reach the dragons as they flew just out of their reach, belching flames at the giant spiders. Those spiders and Death Eaters in the back that weren't burned were trampled as the dragons forced the giants and trolls off balance with their dives.
The dementors rose into the air to target the riders but were burned by the dragon's flames. Every dementor screamed an unholy sound as they were reduced to ashes. The giants started throwing trees while the trolls started hurling their clubs at the dragons. Most of the dragons were able to avoid most of the objects but a few were struck with troll clubs that had long metal spikes embedded in them, causing large cuts and gashes in the dragon's tough skins.
As Charlie and the dragons were dealing with the dark creatures, the Death Eaters surged forward. A quarter of them ran into the gates, only to fall into a large murky swamp. Grindylows attacked the unaware and surprised Death Eaters, slowly dragging some of them underwater. The screams were shrill but didn't last long as most disappeared under the surface of the water.
Draco entered the gates just behind his former bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle and their fathers. He glanced back, seeing his father waiting beside Voldemort. He turned, meeting Harry's eyes. Harry gave him a nod. Draco raised his wand, looking as if to fire at the defenders. He changed his aim slightly, hitting Crabbe and Goyle in the back with a Bludgeoning spell. They fell face-first into the mud from the swamp in front of them. Their fathers turned, throwing cutting curses at Draco that he could not dodge in time. One curse sliced into his scalp as he tried to move out of the way. The other struck his stomach as he was thrown against the wall beside the gates from the force of the curse.
As Draco hit the ground, his eyes closed in pain as he covered his bleeding stomach. He heard a soft pop near him. He opened his eyes to see Dobby nod at him as his Aunt Andromeda looked over his wounds quickly. Then, Draco saw her. His mother took his hand with a soft smile as Dobby lay his tiny hands on them. The next thing Draco saw was the Hospital Wing around him.
"You're safe now, Draco," Narcissa smiled at him. "We'll get you healed up. Just rest. You did great." She kissed his forehead softly as his aunt and Madam Pomfrey started working on him.
"Thank you, mother," Draco smiled before closing his eyes.
The grounds of the castle were in chaos!
The defenders spread out to engage the attackers as they made their way around the swamp. After the first wave of Death Eaters triggered the swamp trap, they were slightly more cautious as they poured into the grounds. Unfortunately, that was not the only trap the twins had set out. Some of the Death Eaters were held up by sticky blobs that held their feet firmly to the ground, providing an easy target to be stunned and bound. Others were screaming in pain from the jaw traps littering the grounds like a minefield. One such Death Eater was able to duck as a stunner was shot at him from above on the castle. He stood, ignored the pain as he fired a Killing Curse up into the battlements as he saw a curly black-haired head rise above the edge. The Curse found its mark. Romilda Vane became the first casualty of the defenders.
"Well, well, well, look who's here?" Zacharias Smith smiled at Dean Thomas as they came face to face with Harry and Ginny. "Potter and the little minx!"
"I think I'll take her from Potter as we turn him over to the Dark Lord, then you can have a turn, Zack," Dean grinned.
"You think so, Thomas?" Ginny spoke evenly as her wand came up in a twirling motion. Dean screamed in a high-pitched voice, dropping his wand as he fell to his knees holding his crotch. "Still think you can do anything with your bullocks tied in a knot?"
"Ouch, love," Harry cringed as he flicked his wand at an astonished Smith. Smith flipped upside down hanging by his ankle from an invisible rope as Harry disarmed him. "Still think you can fight just because you're a pureblood, Smith?"
"Go f…" Smith started, then screamed. His scream was drowned out by a roar of pain as a dragon fell from the sky toward him and a still kneeling Dean Thomas. The Swedish Short Snout landed heavily on top of the two traitors, crushing them with its weight.
"Brun, no!" Harry shouted as he rushed to the dragon's head. She was bleeding profusely from several long cuts all over her mighty body. Her breathing was shallow and labored. Brun looked at Harry with sadness in her large eyes. "Gin, check the riders."
"On it, love," Ginny answered with a sob in her voice as she ran over to the two men groaning on the ground. One of them sat up, looking around hurriedly before jumping to his feet despite the gash on his head. Ginny hung back as she helped the other wizard to his feet. She could tell by Harry's emotions that Brun was not going to make it. She stood listening to them with silent tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Brun, sweetie, no!" the rider cried as he ran to Harry's side by Brun's head. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" He started to try to stem the blood from the gash on her neck, but Harry laid a gentle hand on his should. The rider looked up as Harry shook his head.
"Ssspeaker, please…" Brun spoke weakly to Harry.
"I'm here, Brun," Harry sniffed rubbing her snout gently.
"Tell my rider…it was an honor…He is a good…handler…" Brun wheezed. "I ask him…to…to look…after…my young…"
"I will," Harry swallowed as Brun gave one last sigh as she passed. Harry and her rider sobbed as they leaned over her head. Harry leaned up, placing a hand on the rider's shoulder as he wiped his tears away. "She said it was an honor to fight with you. She asked for you to look after her young."
"I will," the rider nodded, wiping his own tears away before he pulled his wand. "And I'll avenge her! Thanks for telling me, Potter."
"Be safe," Harry nodded as he stood to rejoin Ginny.
"How dare you?" shouted Crabbe, Sr. as Draco attacked his son from behind.
"Blood traitor!" Goyle, Sr. snarled as they fired their cutting curses.
They watched as Draco struck the wall, then moved in to kill the little miscreant. The adults stopped as a tiny house-elf appeared with two women, erecting a shield around the young traitor. The younger Crabbe and Goyle groaned as they stood, wiping mud from their faces. Their fathers threw curses and hexes at the little elf, only to have the creature block their every spell with his shield.
"Father, I think we have more pressing concerns," Goyle gulped.
"You'd be right about that," Sirius grinned as the Marauders and Lily ran toward them.
"Two more blood traitors, a half-bred, and a mud-blood?" Goyle's father chuckled, slapping the back of his son's head. "Are you a pure-blood or a half-wit?"
"He's half-wit, just like his father," James smiled as he slashed his wand turning the rocks Lily was levitating in front of him into metal spikes. "Go ahead, insult my wife again. I dare you."
"Nice trick," Crabbe, Sr. laughed as he conjured a shield as the metal spikes slammed into it. "You and the mudblood will have to do better than that."
"Alright," Remus smiled as he tossed a firecracker behind the shield.
"If you insist," Sirius remarked tossing another from the other side. The firecrackers went off, spewing small nails into the fathers and sons.
"I'll show you who's superior," the younger Goyle growled as he held his nail-peppered leg.
"Gregory, no!" his father hollered as Goyle summoned Fiendfyre from his wand.
The Marauders and Lily stood close together using a wind charm to blow the demonic flames back at the fathers and sons. They heard the fathers' curse and the sons squeal just before the flames struck them. Their screams were heard over the rest of the sounds of the battle. Sirius turned in time to see a well-known head peek out from behind a boulder.
"I'm going after, Peter," Sirius all but growled as he ran off.
"Good luck, Pads," James called, not even trying to stop his best mate.
"Give him my regards," Lily snarled.
"Good hunting, Pads," Remus nodded as he saw several Death Eaters headed for the castle. He narrowed his eyes at one them as he saw Fenrir Greyback among them. "I have my own score to settle."
"Greyback?" James asked as they started running back toward the castle.
"Ten points to Gryffindor," Remus smiled before he disappeared.
"Hope Harry knows what he's doing with having the wards down," James commented.
Voldemort watched with a snarl on his pale face as his first wave of Death Eaters was being decimated by traps and better duelers. He ordered his Inner Circle into the battle as he banished the Fiendfyre that the young Goyle had foolishly unleashed. Voldemort turned to Bellatrix giving her orders to take out the battlements. Bellatrix grinned cruelly as she pointed to Greyback to follow her before she disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.
Bellatrix reappeared on the battlement overlooking the battle. She cackled as a young girl turned with wide eyes.
"Goodbye, baby wabby," Bellatrix mocked as she fired the Killing curse.
"Padma!" Luna screamed. "Death Eaters! Scatter!"
"You're gonna pay for that and my parents, Bellatrix," Neville stated as he stood glaring at her with Luna by his side as the rest of the DA ran into the castle. Bellatrix nodded at her fellow Death Eaters to follow the others.
"Wittle Nevy-wevy gonna make me huwrt?" Bellatrix asked condescendingly.
"Damn right, I am," Neville ground out sending a cutting curse at her. Bellatrix leaned, avoiding the spell. She didn't see the one Luna shot at her until a chunk of her hair dropped to the stone by her feet.
"How dare you!" Bellatrix roared staring at them with pure hate.
Xeno Lovegood and Cedric Diggory were dueling with Avery and Rowle. They were holding the Death Eaters to a stalemate until Avery grinned evilly. He cast the Cruciatus Curse, striking Xeno in the chest. Xeno screamed in agony. Cedric was distracted by Xeno's pained cry. He didn't see Rowle cast the Killing Curse at him. Cedric fell limply on top of Xeno as the torture curse was lifted. Avery laughed cruelly as he fired the Killing Curse at a helpless Xeno.
Avery and Rowle laughed as they searched for more victims to kill. They spotted a silver-blonde woman fighting back to back with a tall redhead. They looked at each other sharing a nod, deciding silently to kill the redhead and have some fun with blonde after their victory.
Bill and Fleur finished off the five Death Eaters they had been fighting. They turned at the sound of the laughter.
"Oh, well done," Avery grinned.
"You two will be more fun than those two," Rowle bragged, indicating Xeno and Cedric.
"Avery and Rowle," Bill glared. "We have a score to settle."
"You must be a Weasley," Avery mocked.
"By my family honor, you won't leave this battle today and my uncles can finally rest in peace," Bill declared.
"You and what army?" Avery laughed as they took their position.
Peter Pettigrew hid behind a large rock as the battle raged around him. He was scared. He was terrified. Peter had seen Sirius and Remus standing in the line of defenders, but he had also seen James and Lily Potter. He had heard James was back from the dead the night he had tried to escape but didn't want to believe it. Sirius had captured him soon after he had run for his life. While sitting in his cell in Azkaban, he had heard whispers that Lily was back. That alone scared him half to death. Peter knew neither would be very forgiving if they got ahold of him.
After Peter had escaped the inescapable Wizarding prison, he had run to find his master for protection. That had been almost a year ago. He now regretted his part in bringing his master back so much, due to the life debt he owed Harry. However, he had to hide that from his master. Peter had been tortured enough for his failures, which would surely get him killed. He was then captured again in the graveyard in Little Hangleton, but thanks to his master, the wait in his cell was not there very long. He had been punished severely for that when he returned to his master. Peter just wanted out. Away from the pain, away from being no better than a servant.
Now, here at Hogwarts, he was trying to flee from a battle to save his pitiful life. Peter knew he would need to go deep into hiding no matter who won. His former friends wanted him dead. Sirius and Remus for sure, but now that James and Lily were confirmed to be alive that just added to the list. So, he could not change sides again. His master would want him dead for being such a coward. If the Death Eaters lost the battle, but any survived, they would want him dead for running away and not helping them fight or escape as well.
Peter spotted the Whomping Willow two hundred meters away. If he could only get there unnoticed, he could run away and not look back. He peeked out from around the rock as flames and screams were heard. He looked at Voldemort directing the battle. His master was distracted. Peter smiled as glanced at the battlefield. The Death Eaters were losing, and the defenders were too busy fighting them. Now was his moment, no one would notice a rat making a run for the tree and the tunnel to freedom. Peter transformed his body into that of a rat, scurrying for the tunnel. Suddenly there was a pain in his tail and he couldn't run away.
"Going somewhere, Peter?" Sirius growled as he stood on the rat's tail. He reached down, picking it up by the scruff of the neck. Sirius turned the squealing Peter around to look him in the eye. "Oh, no. You will not be going anywhere, you little vermin!"
Sirius tapped his wand on Peter's head with a blue light. Peter was forced back into his human form. An orange spell hit Peter's throat, then a light red spell hit his body before Sirius throw him down roughly.
"Now, you little rat, you can't transform and try to run away!" Sirius gloated. "And you can't talk to use your wand, because we both know you were rubbish at silent casting, or beg for your miserable life!"
Peter rose to his knees in a begging posture. His wand would do him no good anyway, it lay broken beside him. Sirius laughed at him before he punched him square in the jaw. "That's a message from Lily, by the way." Peter fell over, spitting out blood along with three teeth. Sirius pulled him up again by the collar.
"Oh, I am far from done with you, Peter," Sirius told him before he raised his knee to Peter's stomach. He doubled over grabbing his stomach as the air left his lungs. Sirius pulled him back up by what little hair Peter had on the top of his head before Sirius punched him between the eyes. As Peter fell back, he felt hair pull free of his scalp painfully. "That's from James and Remus."
Peter tried to form word through the blood in his mouth from his broken jaw and nose, but the silencing charm held. Sirius smiled at him with a feral smile.
"Bill Weasley has taught me a few new spells, just for you," Sirius grinned maliciously as he pulled Peter close to his face. "Wanna see 'em?"
Peter was thrown to the ground again. He tried to turn and run away, but a curse hit his leg. He felt his thigh bone shatter, the pieces embedding in his muscles. If he could have screamed, Peter would have. Peter sat down on the ground heavily. He writhed in agony more as Sirius kicked and stomped on his broken leg with his boots.
"Bone shatter hex," Sirius stated. "A gift from Harry. Like it?"
Peter tried to beg Sirius with his eyes, but as he looked at his former friend, he saw no mercy in his grey eyes, only hate. Sirius stepped back with an evil grin. He spun his wand to the left with a flick. A vile purple beam shot out of it striking Peter in the gut. Peter felt his insides twist, then excruciating pain.
"And that one is from me! It's a mummy preparation spell," grinned Sirius. "Turns your insides to liquid so they can embalm you. But I have no plans to preserve your pathetic body, Peter. In about thirty seconds, your organs will start to turn to mush, then to water. After that, they will start running out of every hole and pore in your body.
As the spell started to do its work, Peter tried to whimper.
"In other words, goodbye, Peter," Sirius spoke dismissively. "Have a nice death."
Sirius looked at him with hate one last time, adding a smug smile as he turned away. As Sirius walked away, Peter's vision blurred as the spell reached his eyes. Soon, what was left of Peter Pettigrew fell over lifeless.
"I've been waiting for this, Lucius," Moody smiled as he cut Malfoy off from the other Death Eaters.
"Have you, now," Malfoy drawled. "Pity."
They began their duel in earnest. Each casting and blocking spells trying to gain the upper hand. Neither giving the other any quarter. Moody sent a Bludgeoning curse with enough force that it made Malfoy stagger a few steps back. Moody took the opportunity of Malfoy being off-balance slightly to send a cutting curse that sliced his cheek.
"How dare you?" snarled Malfoy as he wiped the blood away.
Faster than Moody could get a shield up, Malfoy cast a blasting hex at Moody's wooden leg. Moody grunted as splinters tore into his side and arm. The next thing Moody knew, he was falling. He didn't see the green jet of light from the killing curse hurtling toward him until it was too late. The last sounds Moody heard were Lucius Malfoy's sadistic laugh.
"How dare you!" Bellatrix roared staring at them with pure hate.
"You needed a haircut, you psychotic idiot," Neville yelled as he sent another cutting curse toward Bellatrix.
Bellatrix grunted in rage as she dodged the spell only to be cut across her upper arm by another. Luna looked back at Bellatrix smugly. Bellatrix huffed in rage. She started hurling curses and hexes at the two teens, forcing them to step back. Neville and Luna held their shields under the barrage of spells being cast at them. Neville gave Luna a nod. Luna stepped behind Neville, letting her shield drop. She spun, aiming over Neville's shoulder as he knelt.
"Reducto!" Luna shouted.
Bellatrix looked shocked as the stone under her feet exploded. She looked up as she was lifted into the air as a Banishing Hex struck her in the chest, knocking the air from her lungs. Bellatrix lost the hold she had on her wand from the force of the hex as she was pushed over the edge of the battlement. She screamed as she realized she was falling. Falling to her death.
Neville and Luna looked over the edge of the stones to see Bellatrix laying twisted and broken on the grounds below.
"That…That's for my mum and dad," Neville called as he choked back tears of relief.
Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange looked up at the sound of a woman screaming.
"Bellatrix!" Rodolphus screamed as his wife hit the ground after falling from the top of the castle wall.
"Come, brother," growled Rabastan as he pointed up to the head visible at the top. "We'll find that Longbottom brat and make him pay for this."
The brothers started running toward the castle doors. They had to stop suddenly as a stone wall erupted from the ground in front of them. They narrowly avoided running into it, but still fell to the ground. As they looked back up, the wall vanished to reveal James Potter and Sirius Black between them and the doors.
"Potter and Black," sneered Rodolphus. "I should have known you two blood traitors would be here."
"You idiots can join her if you wish. We can certainly accommodate that wish," Sirius stated as he cast multiple cutting curses at them. The brothers rolled out the way, getting to their feet. Sirius and James barely got their shields up before the return spell-fire hit them.
The Lestrange brothers pushed James and Sirius back several steps with the onslaught of curses and hexes. Sirius reached into his pocket, pulling out a round ball. He tossed it toward the Death Eater brothers with a blasting hex of his own. The ball exploded with a bright flash. The brothers sent blind cutting curses toward James and Sirius. The spells caught James and Sirius by surprise as minor cuts appeared on James' left arm and face. A similar cut appeared on Sirius' shoulder and chest as he tried to dodge. James raised a quick shield to fend off any more injuries as Sirius took a step back.
"You alright?" James asked quickly.
"Yeah, just a scratch," Sirius told him after he checked his chest. It stung, but it wasn't deep. Sirius pulled out another firecracker. "Let's try that spike again."
"With pleasure," James smirked as Sirius tossed the ball at the Lestranges.
When the flash erupted in front of them, James hurriedly transfigured the rocks around him into metal spikes. This time, instead of letting their opponents see what was coming, James and Sirius banished the spikes as the light faded.
Rodolphus and Ramistan never saw them coming. Before they could react, the spikes were puncturing their bodies. One spike struck Rodolphus in the right eye, sinking half its length into his head. Ramistan wasn't any luckier. A spike embedded itself into his heart. Both were dead before they hit the ground.
"Justice served for Frank and Alice," James nodded.
"Long overdue," Sirius nodded as they ran to help the other defenders.
"How lovely to see you again, little Weasley," Lucius sneered at Ginny.
"It's Potter, now! And how revolting it is to see you again, Malfoy," Ginny sneered back. She and Harry had just finished stunning and binding a group of ten low-level Death Eaters when Ginny saw Malfoy kill Moody. Ginny decided then, Malfoy's reign of terror was going to end. Plus, it was a personal battle she had looked forward to for years. "But at least I can wipe that smug look off your face for good this time."
"Oh, do tell, little girl," Lucius taunted as he tried to circle her.
Ginny matched him, move for move. Lucius smirked slightly as he saw Amycus Carrow aiming at the redhead's back as he started casting spells at her.
"You'll have to do better than that," Ginny smiled as she blocked his every spell with ease. Malfoy's shocked expression was priceless to Ginny. "I've been trained by some of the best."
"I think not, Carrow," Harry hollered as he struck Amycus in his wand arm with a cutting curse as he was about to fire on Ginny. Amycus grunted in pain as blood poured from the open wound. He looked down to check how deep it was. It was deep enough he could almost see his bone.
"Potter," Amycus spat angrily. He tossed his wand to his other hand, trying his best to avoid the flurry of spells Harry was launching at him. Amycus was slowed by his useless arm and the blood loss.
Ginny grinned as she heard the commotion behind her. She knew Harry would have her covered. Lucius snarled as he had to go on the defensive from the sheer number and power of Ginny's spellwork as she redoubled her casting. Ginny spotted an opening in Malfoy's shield. She cartwheeled to the side, firing a bone breaker curse that slammed into both of Malfoy's legs. Ginny quickly ducked as he fell, knowing he would use the killing curse. She smiled as the green jet shot over her head, only to strike Amycus Carrow square in the back as Harry flung him into the line of fire.
"Goodbye, Malfoy," Ginny smiled smugly. "Reducto!"
The spell hit Lucius Malfoy in the chest. Harry came up to Ginny, hugging her as she breathed deeply. He sent calming thoughts to her over their bond. With another deep breath, Ginny looked up at Harry. She gave him a quick kiss, flashing him a bright smile. Then her eyes took on that blazing look Harry so loved to see.
"After we get Tom, I can finally put my first year in the past," Ginny commented, looking deep into Harry's green eyes.
"I know, love. I know," Harry consoled her. He took on a blazing look of his own as he saw Voldemort angrily walking through the gates. "Let's end this."
"Definitely a Weasley," Avery commented with disgust.
"But what a woman!" added Rowle eying Fleur leeringly.
Fleur shuttered but glared at the two Death Eaters. Bill glanced at Fleur with a look of determination she had never seen in him before. It made her pulse quicken and her heart speed up. Fleur knew if they survived this fight, she was going to marry this man.
"Enough talk," Bill snapped as he cast a wide cutting curse at their opponents.
Avery and Rowle were caught off guard but still managed to deflect the curse. As they raised their shields, they were battered by the fast pace Bill and Fleur were casting spells at them. Their shields failed from the sheer number and force of hits they were taking. Bill saw his opening. He cast an Egyptian confusion charm, watching as the two Death Eaters struggled to comprehend what was going on. Avery and Rowle stood back to back, looking around baffled as they sent spells in all directions. They were getting frustrated when they couldn't hit anything.
Sensing they were going to cast the killing curse; Fleur twirled her wand. Avery and Rowle spun in midair as the green jets left their wands. Their shocked faces frozen in fear as the last thing they realized was that they were pointing at each other. Rowle landed face down on the ground with Avery falling on top of him.
"That was for you, Uncle Fabian, Uncle Gideon," Bill breathed a deep breath as he stared at the two dead Death Eaters.
"Votre maman vill be zo 'appy," Fleur smiled as she hugged Bill.
"I can't believe my luck!" Dolohov gloated. "I get to kill another Prewett- Weasley!"
"We'll see about that," Fred ground out as he cast a stunner at the Death Eater while throwing a firecracker at his feet.
"Ha! Have to do better than that," Dolohov grinned as he blocked the stunner before the ground below him exploded. He landed on his back heavily. Dolohov groaned as he sat up quickly. He stood, shaking his head. "Well, I stand corrected."
Before Fred could react, Dolohov cast a body bind and levitated him into the air. Dolohov laughed as he spun Fred around. "Let's see how you deal with this."
Dolohov flicked his wand. A whip of energy crackled out of the tip. He lashed out, hitting Fred in the right shoulder, running the whip to his left hip. Fred screamed in pain as his back was ripped open. Dolohov only laughed more as he readied his wand to lash Fred again.
"Fred!" Hermione, George, and Percy yelled as Fred's scream made them turn from the duels they had just ended.
"What?" Dolohov laughed tauntingly. "You want some of this as well? I can do that. Starting with the look alike."
Hermione, George, and Percy all hollered at the same instant. "Bombarda!"
The three spells struck Dolohov in the chest. The Death Eater had a surprised expression on his face as he fell with a gaping hole where his torso had been. Not waiting to see the results of their spells, George and Hermione rushed over to where Fred had fallen, Percy covered them as they checked on his brother. George felt for a pulse and sighed with relief.
"Dotty!" Hermione shouted with tears streaming down her cheeks. The little elf appeared next to her instantly. One look at the cut and Dotty knew she needed to hurry.
"Dotty has him, Missus Herminy," Dotty told her gently pushing Hermione's hand away from Fred's. "Dotty will take him to healing lady."
"Thank you, Dotty," Hermione sniffed before Dotty disappeared with Fred. Hermione stayed on her knees as the tears would not stop. George gently lifted her up into a tight hug.
"Don't worry, 'Mione," George swallowed, trying to sound confident. "Freddie will be fine."
"I hope so," Hermione choked out as she hugged George back, crying on his shoulder.
Severus Snape cautiously ran out of the castle. He looked around, casting his own version of the cutting curse at any Death Eaters he saw. Most were just low-level foot soldiers, but it served his goal of trying to help. A vile yellow spell shot passed his face as he leaned against the wall of the Great Hall. The wounds inflicted on Snape from his time as Voldemort's prisoner were still not totally healed. The spell left the stone scorched and looking like it was hit with acid. Snape turned to see the grinning face of Runcorn at the end of the steps.
"Finally! The traitor makes an appearance," Runcorn taunted. "Don't worry, I won't miss again."
"Do tell," sneered Snape as he cast his cutting curse. Runcorn batted it away with a laugh.
"Time to pay the piper, Snape," Runcorn grunted.
"I think not," Snape argued as he summoned Runcorn closer to him.
A look of surprise crossed Runcorn's face as he fired a blasting hex into the wall behind Snape. The wall explodes, dropping tons of stone on both of them. A cloud of dust covered the area around them, blocking the section from view. As the dust settled, neither Runcorn or Snape was visible under the fallen rubble.
Lavender Brown ran through the corridors exchanging spells with passing Death Eaters as she and the other DA members scattered to run for the safety of the War Room on the third floor. She was suddenly overwhelmed by the silence of the corridor. She was only one floor away and halfway to the stairs when a deep growl echoed off the walls. She slowed when realized she was utterly alone, looking around very carefully. Lavender couldn't see anything in front or behind her that could have made that growl. Her eyes swept back and forth as she started down the corridor again slowly and carefully.
Lavender never saw the large frame of a man in the shadows behind her as she stopped to look behind her again. She screamed loudly as large hands with sharp claws for nails gripped her arms, puncturing her skin, before throwing her to the floor. She looked up as Fenrir Greyback pounced on top of her. He ran his claws across her stomach, leaving her clothes in shreds and blood pouring from the large gashes. Lavender cried as the pain washed over her.
Greyback grinned evilly at her as he ran one claw across her throat, ending her scream before it began again. Lavender looked up with tears streaming down her cheeks as she realized she was about to die. Greyback bared his sharp fangs, about to plunge them into her neck. Before he could move forward, a Bludgeoning curse sent the werewolf Death Eater slamming into the wall hard enough to make the stone crack and crumble.
"Dobby!" Remus called, never taking his eyes off of Greyback as he shook off the blow. Dobby popped in and popped out with Lavender without a word. Greyback stood, shaking his head to clear it. He glared back at Remus with a look of hate and bloodlust.
"Lupin," snarled Greyback. "You just stole my lunch. I'd eat you, but you have no meat on your bones."
"Well, I guess you'll have to just kill me then," Remus smirked as he levitated a velvet bag out of his coat.
"Insolent pup!" Greyback growled. "I made you. I will end you, too."
"Made me, yes," Remus agreed as he dodged spell after spell from Greyback. "End me? No. I have other ideas."
Remus caught Greyback with a bone-breaking curse in the left leg. Greyback howled in pain. He looked up glaring at Remus as he removed the velvet bag. The proud grin on Remus' face only grew wider as a silver athame shot toward Greyback at a very high speed. Greyback screamed in agony as the silver blade pierced his stomach. He looked down as his hands began to shake. He fell to his knees as his body started to convulse in reaction to the silver. Greyback looked up at Remus in shock.
"Goodbye and good riddance," Remus spat on Greyback's dying face. He turned, walking away as the werewolf fell flat on his face.
Luna Lovegood skidded to a stop, flattening herself against the wall as she came to a corner in the corridor. She was breathing heavily from all of the running and battling she had done since leaving the battlement. Luna froze, holding her breath. She heard voices coming from the next corner. She peered around her corner cautiously, hoping to find another DA member or some of the professors. Luna wondered how she had let herself get separated from Neville. She realized it must have been during the last skirmish with the Death Eaters a floor above.
Luna hoped her friend was alright. She pulled her head back quickly when she saw Pansy Parkinson and another Death Eater come around the corner. Luna knew she was trapped. She couldn't go back because the stairs had collapsed shortly after she entered this corridor. She couldn't go forward without being seen by Pansy. There were no classrooms or loos on the corridor to hide in and the alcoves were all too shallow to hide in. Luna took a deep breath. She knew she would have to fight to survive.
As Pansy and the Death Eater drew near, Luna knew she had to take the Death Eater out first. She may have been trained but she was not the best duelist. Pansy would make the easier duel that she could win and leave. Luna spun around, facing the wall, gripping her wand tightly. She carefully slid her wand out around the corner as she took aim. Her stunner was on target. The Death Eater dropped like a rock. Pansy looked around confused as if she had been slapped in the back of the head from behind. She swung her wand back and forth. Pansy turned facing the corner she had just rounded. Pansy turned back to the other end of the corridor.
"Hello, Pansy," Luna grinned as she came around the corner.
"If it isn't the misfit," Pansy sneered. Luna could tell she was shaken by the surprise attack, but Pansy was trying her best not to show it. "I'm surprised you can even handle a wand, much less perform Magic."
"Not everyone is as thick as you, Pansy," Luna replied. "Both in mind and hips."
"Why you…" Pansy raged. She cast a cutting curse that Luna easily avoided.
"You need to work on your aim," Luna teased with a smile. She knew that she could get Pansy to make a mistake by taunting her a little. Plus, it was fun to give the Slytherin a little grief after all the years of taking it from her.
Pansy huffed, stamping her foot. She started throwing everything she could think of at Luna. Luna giggled as her shield barely flickered at Pansy's onslaught. Luna dropped her shield and started firing stunners and cutting curses in quick succession. She really wasn't aiming to hit Pansy, just drive her back a little. One cutter hit Pansy in the leg, another in her left arm. Pansy started screaming and actually crying.
"Aw. Did that hurt, Pansy?" Luna taunted.
"What do you think, you little blood traitor!" Pansy screamed. She started to throw Killing Curses at Luna.
Luna jumped behind the cover of the corner again. After another deep breath, Luna swung around as Pansy paused in her casting. Luna sent a Banishing Hex at Pansy. The hex hit Pansy in the chest. Pansy grunted as she flew backward until she collided with a suit of armor in an alcove at the end of the hall. The sword the armor had been holding was knocked into the air. Pansy opened her eyes in time to see the sword falling toward her, point down. She screamed. Her scream ended as the blade ripped into her chest, through her heart.
Luna swallowed as she looked at Pansy. She covered her mouth as she cried as she knelt by Pansy's body. That had not been her intention. Pansy was not Bellatrix or Alecto Carrow, she was a student not much older than Luna herself. Luna realized, however, as she looked at Pansy's black robes and the fresh Dark Mark on her left arm that Pansy had chosen to side with the Death Eaters. Luna thought of all the hateful and mean things Pansy had ever said to her and others, especially Hermione. Luna's tears stopped. Pansy had made her choice. Now Pansy and her family would have to suffer the consequences of that choice. Luna leaned over to the young Slytherin, closing her unseeing eyes.
"I am so sorry you made me do that," Luna breathed. "I hope you find the peace, acceptance, and the love you always craved in the next great adventure."
Luna stood. She sent another stunner and a binding spell at the other Death Eater before she walked silently away.
Aberforth Dumbledore never wanted to fight in a war, but he could not refuse his brother, Albus. The thought of Voldemort and his Death Eaters taking over his beloved home and pub in Hogsmeade was enough for Aberforth to join his brother at Hogwarts to defend the castle. He just wasn't counting on the Death Eater he was dueling to be better than he was. After being hit with several cutting curses, Aberforth was helpless as the green jet of the Killing Curse shot toward him.
The Death Eater laughed as Aberforth fell. He chose another target to send to their death. Penelope Clearwater watched in horror as Aberforth fell. She sent a blasting hex at the Death Eater, only to have it blocked by a shield. Penelope could hear his laughter as he cast several cutting curses at her. Her shield failed from the sheer volume of curses that struck it. Defenseless, Penelope was hit repeatedly in the chest and stomach.
Percy Weasley saw his girlfriend falling. "Penny!" he screamed. The Death Eater swung his attention to Percy before he could send the Killing Curse at Penelope. Rage filled Percy like never before. He didn't think for once, he acted. Percy sent a cutting curse at the Death Eater. He had to dodge a return curse. Percy yelled in pain as three fingers on his left hand were severed. He looked up at the Death Eater with contempt. Percy sent the first curse that came to his mind.
"Reducto!"
The curse hit the Death Eater in the head. Percy didn't bother to watch the headless Death Eater fall as he ran over to Penelope while holding his injured hand. Looking at her wounds, he was relieved that she was still alive.
"Dobby!" Percy hollered. The little elf appeared with a pop. Dobby waved his hand over Percy's wound quickly. Bandages appeared on his hand before Dobby popped away with Penelope. Percy looked around for his brothers, sister, and father. They were all still fighting, except for Fred, who was up in the Hospital Wing already and Ron, who was somewhere in the castle. Percy saw the Potters, Blacks, and the Order driving the Death Eaters back. With a deep breath, Percy stood and rejoined the battle.
Ron dove as he dodged an oncoming curse thrown by a Death Eater. He rolled as he hit the floor, bringing his wand up. Ron fired a stunner and binding curse at the Death Eater. Ron took a deep breath. He looked around carefully before heading for the stairs to get to the War Room. Just before he reached the stairs, Ron had to stop as Michael Corner came out of the stairwell.
"Hello, Weasel," Corner glared at Ron.
"I'm surprised a traitor like you was brave enough to show up here, Corner," Ron replied as he looked at Corner's stance, assessing his options.
"The Dark Lord commanded it," Corner retorted. "We obey. Nothing more to it."
"Like good little sheep," Ron commented as he started sliding to the side. Ron smiled slightly as Corner mirrored his move.
"Sheep?" chuckled Corner. "We purebloods aren't sheep."
"Really?" asked Ron, sliding farther toward the wall to his left. "You blindly follow a half-blood claiming to be a pureblood. He tells you to jump, you ask how high. If you ask me, that's sheep."
"What do you know, blood traitor?" Corner growled as he threw a cutting curse in Ron's direction.
Ron raised a shield. The spell deflected off, harmlessly. Ron sent a Reducto at Corner's feet. The stone floor exploded sending Corner backward. Ron watched in horror as Michael Corner smashed through the window behind him. Corner screamed for a few seconds before Ron heard a heavy thud from the courtyard far below. Ron rushed to the window, looking down at his former classmate. He sighed. This was war, Ron had to remember that. He really didn't have time to worry about his feelings at the moment. He had a battle to direct. Ron ran for the stairs, hoping his family and Madds were safe.
Lily flicked her wand sending another Death Eater flying into the air. She looked around to find where she was needed next. Lily noticed Alecto Carrow trying to creep up behind Harry and Ginny as they fought more low-level Death Eaters on their way to Voldemort as he came through the gates in a rage.
"I think not, Carrow," Lily called as she sent a cutting curse at the remaining Carrow.
"Lily Potter," cackled Alecto. "Well, this is a surprise!"
Alecto fired a cutter of her own at Lily faster than Lily could put her shield up. It sliced a glancing gash in Lily's left arm as she jumped out of the way. Lily tumbled and rolled as she hit the ground. As she came up, she saw that Alecto was standing beside a large chunk of stone from the castle. Sending a blasting curse into the rubble, Lily watch with satisfaction as it exploded. The shrapnel ripped into Alecto, severing major arteries as she was thrown back into three more Death Eaters.
"Now, for the main event," Lily mumbled as she bound the Death Eaters. She looked around seeing most of the other combatants had stopped fighting as well. Lily took a deep breath as her son and daughter-in-law came face to face with their destiny. "Good luck. Merlin protect you."
Voldemort growled in rage as his forces were being taken apart little by little. Most of his Inner Circle were dead or dying as he held back waiting for his opportunity to strike the death blow to Dumbledore and Potter. He was shocked and angered as he watched Bellatrix fall from the battlement. He was more enraged as he witnessed Lucius fall to Potter's little blood traitor wife. His force had injured several of Dumbledore's Order and killed several Aurors, but still, they fought. Voldemort was perplexed about why their spirit was not broken yet. Then he spotted Potter and little woman staring at him through the gates. It was time to end this.
Harry and Ginny stopped in the middle of the grounds watching as Voldemort swept his wand, clearing the swamp trap away. As the waters disappeared, the bodies of the Death Eaters that were drug under littered the ground. Voldemort sneered at them as he banished them out of his way.
"Potter!" Voldemort snarled. "You will pay for this."
"Not likely, Tom," Harry smirked.
"You and what army gonna do that, Tom?" Ginny taunted him. "Looks to me like they're all but beat."
Voldemort glared as he raised his wand sending a Bludgeoning Curse between them. Harry and Ginny jumped in opposite directions to avoid the curse. They both rolled, firing cutting curses as the came up. Voldemort blocked both with a snide grin, only to be thrown back by a blasting hex at his feet, then slammed to the ground by a Banishing Curse from behind.
Confused Voldemort looked behind him to see Potter watching him. Glancing back, the redhead was still there. With a grin, Voldemort fired a Killing Curse at Ginny. With a smug smile, Ginny disappeared just before the green jet hit her. Voldemort looked shocked at the place where Ginny had been for half a second before he was thrown, face-first into the ground from behind.
Voldemort growled as he spun around as he sat up. Potter stood looking smug with his wand pointed at him. A rock hit the side of Voldemort's head. He turned to see Ginny tossing another rock in the air with one hand on her hip.
"I thought you were the most powerful wizard of our time, Tom?" Ginny taunted. "But you can't even deflect a rock?"
"What's the matter, Tom?" Harry taunted from the other side. "Weak from all your Horcruxes being destroyed?"
"Insolent pup!" Voldemort snapped as he threw hexes and curses at both Harry and Ginny in quick movements. He was getting frustrated as none of his spells hit either of them.
Harry and Ginny dodged each spell as they made their way back to the other's side. Tossing her wand into her left hand as she came out of a roll, Ginny clasped Harry's hand with a nod that only they understood. Their wands came up, deflecting the last of Voldemort's volley.
"Avin Ignis Flammae!" they shouted together.
A flaming red and orange jet shot from their wands. The flames joined in the middle, forming a large Phoenix that soared at Voldemort. He shot Killing Curse at it repeatedly, but they had no effect. With fear in his eyes, Voldemort screamed in terror and agony as the Phoenix engulfed him.
Harry held Ginny tightly as they watched with morbid fascination as Tom Marvolo Riddle was burned in the Phoenix flames. His body was not consumed like regular fire would have, but his very shattered soul was torn from his made body to be compressed into nothing.
A bright flash of light and heat washed over the Hogwarts grounds as the Phoenix disappeared, leaving behind the empty shell that had been Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort.
Many of the spectators were lifted off their feet as the flames expelled their energy.
Then all was quiet. Many cries could be heard as families started to mourn their dead. A shimmer was seen at the gates. A hood figure hovered there. Someone screamed as they recognized the being that floated at the gates.
Everyone stopped and stared as Death herself came floating through the twisted ruins of the main gates of Hogwarts.