Chapter 18- Battle of Hogwarts

"So this is it? The battle is to be had at Hogwarts?" George asked as the room fell silent.

"That's Voldemort's plan. We have to buy the kids enough time to find the Horcruxes." Remus explained. "We leave in a few hours."

Fred and Melody lay together in his old room, Echo laying on Mel's stomach. The couple hadn't spoken in about half an hour. The weight of what was going to happen soon was heavy on their minds, the weight of what was in Fred's pocket even heavier on his mind. "Fred?" His arm was around Mel's shoulders when she looked up to him. "I'm not too proud to admit that I am terrified." She whispered. Fred turned to face his girl and saw tears threatening. "What if we don't make it?"

That was the million pound question. No one knew who would survive this. They didn't know if they'd even win, was it even a possibility? Fred's heart hurt at Mel's tears, knowing this very well could be the last time they see each other. He grasped her hand tightly and kissed her forehead lightly. The time was now to come clean with everything he had bottled up.

"I'm scared too. I'm scared of losing my family and you. We will fight and we will make a difference; whether we live or die." He sounded so confident, so serious. "I love you Mel. I always have and always will even in death." Mel let tears roll down her cheeks at Fred's touching words. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you; no matter how long it may be." He reached into his pocket and held out the black satin box. Mel stopped breathing. The most gorgeous crystal clear diamond sat on a silver band with intricate woven knots on it and sat in the box he held out to her. "I will get you something so much better when the world gets back to normal, but for now...Melody Young, will you marry me?" She threw her arms around Fred's neck and kissed him passionately.

"I thought you'd never ask." She whispered, placing the ring on her finger carefully. "And this is perfect. Gorgeous." She smiled at Fred who had regained his confidence back. "Were you worried about my answer?" She laughed. He nodded quickly. "I love you Fred Weasley. Nothing will change that, not even Voldemort."

"Fred? Melody? Time to go." Lupin called from downstairs.

"We can do this." Fred stated.

At the castle, Melody and Fred stood with the Weasley family ready for battle. McGonnagal had behind her a group of young kids looking scared and unsure of their surroundings. "They were dropped off by the healers. They're orphans." She whispered in explanation. Melody shot them a sad look as they all crowded tightly together. Fred squeezed Melody's hand in comfort.

She could see Angelina, Oliver, and Alicia had taken their brooms and prepared for an air assault, planning their attack. Ginny and her mother chose to stay close to McGonagall near the entrance. Fred and George were assigned the Astrology tower to evade any air assaults and Percy chose to stay close to Bill and Fleur. "I'll stay with the kids; they're probably terrified." Melody told Fred who shot her a look of concern.

"They'll be easier targets Mel." He whispered truthfully. Mel placed a hand on his cheek and kissed his lips softly.

"That's why I'm staying by them. They're just kids, love. They're alone and scared." Fred knew he wasn't going to win this argument. He knew Melody wouldn't abandon the kids, it just wasn't in her.

"Be safe, and call out if you need help." Fred told her, his eyes burning into hers. "Always mine?"

"Always yours." Melody whispered, turning to the kids and corralling them to the courtyard. Fred and George found themselves climbing to the Astrology tower and gazed up to the magical shield around them.

"You okay Freddie?" George asked his brother.

"Yeah." Fred replied shakily, tears pricking his eyes.

"Me too." George smiled, nudging his brother. The two were terrified, it was obvious. However, they knew they could hold their own in this battle for a while at least. "You asked her huh?" George asked. Fred nodded, a smile etched on his face.

"I love her Georgie."

"Good. Use that to survive this. Someone to go home to other than me." George smiled, hearing the approaching death eaters. The two brothers gripped their wands tightly in preparation. It was time.

Flashes of red, green, white and debris appeared everywhere on the grounds. Melody's mind blocked out any other thoughts besides surviving this almost impossible task. She used the idea of going home to Fred tonight, marrying him one day, and living the life she knew she finally deserved to ward off any attacker that came her way. Anger and fear coursed through her with every deflection spell she used as she had the kids tucked behind her in the Great Hall entrance. She could hear them crying but she did the best she could to defend them. Ginny came up behind her and deflected a curse away from Melody. "Thanks Gin, they're coming from everywhere!" She told her.

"You're welcome. We need to leave this area, it's too crowded for just a handful of us." Ginny urged, seeing how outnumbered they were becoming. "We have to get these kids to safety; it's going to be too much for them." Mel measured her surroundings and agreed, but a blinding light shoved them both back a few yards from their spot. Ginny regained her footing as Mel grabbed for her wand, seeing the kids scatter further into the Great Hall.

"We gotta go. Now!" The girls ran through the grounds but another blast separated them as a cloud of smoke engulfed the clearing. Mel landed roughly on a pile of bricks and as she gained some consciousness, she could hear a familiar yell.

She saw Fred battling a death eater but he lost his wand quickly. Mel jumped to his defense before a curse could be used. "No! Expelliarmus!" The spell was enough to stop the death eater but he started laughing when he noticed who disarmed him.

"Ms. Young. I'd recognize those eyes anywhere. You'll make it quite easy for me to finish what I started seven years ago." That voice cut into Melody's memories like a dagger.

"It was you. You killed them." Her voice was quiet but filled with anger. Fred grabbed his wand and stood in front of Melody protectively. "He's the one that killed my family Fred." Fred froze at the information and gripped his wand tighter.

"Mel, this is Rodolphus Lestrange. Bellatrix's husband." Mel's eyes widened and aimed her wand at the death eater. Her scar on her forearm stung with the memory of Bellatrix's torture.

"You're not a killer Ms. Young; you're not your father. But you are a traitor like him."

"Leave him out of this. I am a good witch." Mel defended quickly.

"Half-blood." Rodolphus spat at her. "You and your mudblood mother will be reunited soon. I will finish what your father should have done years ago. No mistakes this time" He sneered.

"You already made a mistake Lestrange." Fred snarled, aiming his wand at Rodolphus, sharing a knowing look at Melody. Rodolphus narrowed his eyes in confusion and stepped back a few paces from the pair.

"You let me live. I was under the bed while you murdered my brother and mother." Melody growled, stepping closer to her enemy. "Now, I'm going to kill you. No mistakes." And with that Fred and Melody shot a curse at Rodolphus, making him fall over the castle walls.

The pair looked over the wall and didn't see Rodolphus's body. Mel shrugged her shoulders and leaned on Fred. "I'm not a killer, but that felt freeing." She admitted. Fred kissed her head softly, allowing himself to breathe again.

"Thank you for saving me." He whispered. Mel smiled up at him and was about to say something when the tower they were standing next to exploded. Ringing in her ears, Mel brushed off the debris and stones that held her to the ground. She looked around for Fred and saw him under a big pile of rocks.

"No! Not him!" Her scream echoed through the grounds as she dug Fred out from the pile desperately. Percy came running over to her and helped with the stones. "Please be okay, please be breathing." Mel kept was free and was being dragged away from the rubble by Melody and Percy. "I can't lose you. I won't survive this. This wasn't our plan Freddie." Melody cried, weakly dragging Fred across the ground. Percy bit back tears at her pleas; knowing his brother was in dire straits.

The battle was dying down and the injured and dead were being placed in the Great Hall. Melody dragged Fred to a bed and kept calling for a healer. "Fred please, I don't know healing magic. Please, I can't help you; I need you to wake up for me!" Her voice was cracking with emotion as tears streamed down her face. Fred didn't move. His family was gathering in a panic and she could hear Molly scream at her son's appearance. Melody backed off from Fred to allow his family some time with him, but truthfully she just couldn't handle looking at him. George saw her face and just knew something was wrong. He ran to Melody and enveloped her in a bone crushing hug. "I'm sorry George. I'm so sorry." Was all she could cry. Her body was numb when he let her go to be with his brother.

Bellatrix was taunting Ginny and Molly nearby about Fred's death. "Poor little Freddie!" Anger coursed through Mel and was about to give the witch the same treatment as she gave her husband; but Molly beat her to it. "Not my daughter you bitch!" Bellatrix screamed and burst into a mess of black as Molly's curse evaporated her in an instant. Satisfied with the death, Mel ambled away a few feet and crumbled to the ground in grief.

The ring on her finger was so heavy now that she didn't have Fred anymore. This wasn't their plan; they talked about the possibility of not surviving; but she didn't think it would actually happen. She needed Fred in her life; he saved her so many times over the years and she didn't get the chance to tell him that. Tell him how much she loved him, how much he annoyed her by his ego, how much fun he brought out in her, and the skill he had to make her forget all the bad things in her head. She needed Fred Weasley, and she lost him.

"Melody?" A motherly voice sounded. She turned and saw a broken Molly behind her. "You need to say goodbye to him, love." No amount of training, preparation, or courage could have prepared Melody for the pain of rising to her feet and saying goodbye to her best friend. The Weasley's gave her privacy and gathered a few feet away. She placed Fred's head in her lap and stroked his dusty hair gently.

"This wasn't our plan. I was supposed to be your wife. I was supposed to take your breath away when I walked down the aisle to you. I was supposed to give you a couple of mini troublemakers of ginger and black hair." Tears streamed down her face as she looked down at Fred's closed eyes. "You were supposed to expand the store, become even more successful with your brother. You were supposed to be George's best man. The fun Uncle Fred when the time came for nieces and nephews." Her heart ached at all these lost plans as Fred remained still. "I love you Fred Weasley, and I always will. Even in death." She kissed his forehead gently and allowed tears to fall onto Fred's face.

A few moments passed when George came and sat with her. Silence drug on as Melody's cries stilled. "He loved you Mel; more than I ever thought he could love anyone." Mel nodded sadly. "Since third year really. Stupid twit took his sweet time telling you." The pair laughed quietly, tears still in their eyes.

"I'm going to miss him so much." Mel whispered, looking George in the eyes.

"Me too." His voice broke with emotion and looked down at his twin. Fred's eyes fluttered slightly as his chest began to move. Mel and George froze. "Please tell me you saw that." He whispered. Mel's face paled, scared that her mind was tricking her.

"It can't be." She said, placing her hand on Fred's chest. It moved again at a slight constant pace. "Fred? Please tell me this wasn't a prank or I swear to Merlin; I'll kill you." Fred's eyes fluttered open slightly and breath returned to his lungs. Mel lost all feeling in her body as she screamed for the Weasley's to gather.

"What happened?" Fred groaned, seeing his brother and Mel crying. "Who died?"

"You twat! You died! You're an absolute prick!" Melody cried, not meaning any of the insults she was throwing around as Fred sat up slowly. George threw his arms around his brother and cried into him.

"I died? Well, I'm still here." Fred muffled into George's shoulder. His brother hugged him tightly. "Although I feel as if a train hit me."

"A bloody tower did! Percy and I dug you out." Mel cried, smacking his shoulder gently. Molly couldn't contain her tears as she wrapped her arms around her boys.

Fred laughed at his mother's love and his fiances' anger as George finally let him go. He turned to a still crying Melody. "Come here love." He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her hair gently. "I heard everything you said, I just couldn't seem to wake up." Mel froze.

"Everything?" She whispered nervously.

"Everything. You'll take my breath away walking down the aisle in a trash bag love; I just want you." Mel smiled into his chest and allowed herself to stop crying. She had her love back.

Fred tried to regain his footing but his leg collapsed on him, so Melody held him up. "Well this may pose a problem." He groaned, a shooting pain coursed through his leg.

"The fact that it hurts is actually a good sign." Melody informed him, trying to hold him up. "It means the muscle isn't dead so it's not damaged beyond repair." A healer had finally made her way to Fred and examined him closely.

"She's right. You'll be able to walk in time; you've broken the leg is all." She explained, giving him instructions to care for the leg and to go to the hospital as soon as he could. Screams and cries sounded as the group saw Hagrid carrying a lifeless Harry to the courtyard toward Voldemort.

Melody gripped onto Fred as George came up beside her with Angelina. "He can't be dead. This is a ruse right?" Hermionie and Ron looked on in complete sadness; Melody had her answer. "Merlin." She whispered.

Voldemort ranted and raved about his victory over the castle and gloated over the dead. "This is my world now. Traitors and non-followers will not be tolerated; your one hope of survival lays dead in this man's arms. Harry Potter; the boy who lived; is dead." Suddenly Harry jumped out of Hagrid's arms and shot a curse at the Dark Lord. Cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd until they saw Nagini slither towards her master. Voldemort and Harry battled with red and green spells until Neville took the sword of Gryffindor and decapitated Nagini. Voldemort screamed as Harry hit him with one last curse. The Dark Lord crumbled into oblivion as a weight of relief fell upon the crowd.

Silence dragged on for what felt like centuries. They were finally safe. He was gone and his followers apparated immediately. The aurors would catch them, they had nowhere to run now that they showed their face. Melody had Fred sit down and grasped his hand. "I have to go check on the kids." His face broke into an understanding smile and kissed her forehead gently. Melody walked through the destruction and debris and her heart broke at the sight of the dead. Tonk and Lupin had been brought to lay next to each other, their hands almost touching in death. Lavender Brown and Colin Creevey had their own cots in the Great Hall. Melody found her group of students gathered in the Hall not far from where Dumbledore used to sit.

"Hey kids, it's alright. We're safe now; he's dead. Some had cuts and bruises on their arms and faces; but it was hard to see through all the dirt caked on them. Their fear was crystal clear and Melody got down to their level. "My name is Mel, I'm going to take you somewhere very safe." A little boy about three crawled over to her. Her heart froze as she was reminded of her brother instantly. She pulled the boy into her arms and regained her footing. "What's your name?"

"James." The little boy mumbled, playing with Melody's disheveled hair. "I'm scared."

"I know honey; but I'm going to help you, all of you." She smiled at the approaching kids, none were older than five years old. Fred limped towards her slowly and pressed a kiss on her head. "This is Fred, James. He's going to help you too." Fred smiled at the shy boy and picked up a nearby three year old girl who had taken to trying to climb his leg. The pair took the kids back to the court yard where all the healers had gathered with their supplies. "Where will you take them?" Melody asked, still holding onto James.

"The orphanages will be packed pretty soon unfortunately. We'll just have to work as quick as we can to find these kids some homes." The healer answered her sadly. Melody's heart ached for the child in her arms and then remembered that Teddy Lupin would be one of those children.

"Please, can I help somehow? Help find these children a home?" Melody pleaded, seeing the healers take the children with them, the little girl Fred had in his arms, included.

"Contact the Ministry and they'll point you in the right direction. I'm sure they'll appreciate the help." The healer responded and took James from Mel's grasp. Melody allowed a few tears to run from her eyes as Fred hugged her to him.

"They'll be okay for now." He whispered.

Melody sighed as she should be thankful they had survived. Not everyone could say that. She gripped onto Fred's hand and helped him back to his family; ready to go home.