A/N: Credit to my amazing friend who was more than willing to help me out on this chapter. It's small I know but the circumstances demanded it. The last two or one (haven't decided) chapter/s will be published in the upcoming weekend! Sorry for the long wait. School is in the way…
Luna and Professor Vector sketched Arithmetic equations to determine which group of people would best serve as Harry's guard. Harry couldn't simply waltz on to the battlefield and fight 'Properly, face to face' besides, Voldemort would never hold to that promise either.
Narcissa checked Draco's rapidly healing arm while Harry tried to talk with Ember.
"I want you in here."Harry said quietly. Blazing red eyes looked puzzled at him.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"I know about the baby. Grandma was more than enough eager to tell me."
Ember clicked her tongue. "Harry, no. My place is out there, with you. I can't just back out now!"
"You can and you will." Severus said from behind.
"No!" She said a little louder than she should have. "Severus will go with the others and get the snake and Hermione. Me and you, Harry, will get Tom, and that's final!"
"Ember listen to me."Severus said, but when he didn't get a response he grabbed her arm, maybe a little tighter that he wanted."Listen to me! I don't want to make the same mistake twice. Not again. I don't want to lose you too. You're staying here."
"But-"
"No buts! Minerva will stay with you."
The Boy-Who-Lived turned to Neville.
"Neville."He said."You're the strongest one here, muscle-wise." Neville was confused. Harry handed over the shiny sword of Gryffindor. Neville had moved past the confusion stage and now stood on the platform of complete bewilderment."Take this sword and kill the snake with it. I'll be too busy with Voldemort."
Neville began to sputter."I c-can't-I'm not-"
"I have complete trust in you, Neville."Harry said solemnly. "I wouldn't give it to you if I didn't trust you."
Neville swallowed and held the sword tightly in his hands. He nodded.
"Alright, everyone."Luna addressed in her usual polite voice. "We have calculated the precise group of people to guard Harry." She then resumed her scribbling, glancing up at Neville and Harry every now and then.
Septima held the list up to her eyes."Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, Molly, Arthur, Ronald, Bill, George and Remus Lupin."
Luna looked to Neville."Since I saw Harry give you the sword, I gave you a little guard as well. For the best chance of success, you need Sybil Trelawney, Draco Malfoy, Parvati and Padma Patil."
Everyone on the roof stared at the blonde. "What?" they all exclaimed at once.
Luna turned her dreamy blue eyes at them. "That's what the calculations tell me. They're not wrong."
Harry stood on Minerva's left and Severus on her right staring at the moving Death eaters. A pattern was noticeable: Injured Death Eaters went with the stronger ones, to provide cover fire in case of another fight.
"I gave Neville the sword." Harry said austerely."I'll take care of Riddle. If it's not much to ask I would like you to find Hermione."
Severus looked at Harry for a long time. Harry glared sternly at him through Lily Evan's green eyes.
"Consider it done."
Professor Trelawney and the Patil twins conversed nervously in the corner. They had no idea how to kill a magical snake.
"I have it figured out." Draco said as he stood up.
"Do tell." Padma replied coolly. Malfoy may be on the side of Light now, but he hadn't always been.
"Trelawney and Parvati supposedly have 'the sight'"He mocked."And you two twins have strong twin magic that can break the bubble barrier. I can easily defend myself, Trelawney as she prophesies, and you two as you break the bubble."
Luna sidled over."That's right." She said dreamily."Once the snake is out, Neville will cut it to pieces with the sword."
Neville nodded at the three women charged to be his defenders. "I won't let that snake harm you." He vowed.
Trelawney cleaned off her coke bottle glasses with her sleeve. The twins clutched each other's hands; both were scared. Draco timidly took both of Ginny's tiny hands into his own. She looked perfectly at ease.
"I don't know what to say." He admitted.
"We can say as much as we like once this is done." Ginny replied.
Narcissa nudged her husband-as did Molly- and gestured towards the two teens. They had never seen Draco so nervous.
"I hope you make it out okay. I mean, that you're fine- I mean try really, really, really hard to be okay, okay?"He turned pink and looked at the floor; he sounded like a fool. Ginny smiled.
Ginny looked up into Draco's soft eyes. Quickly she pressed her lips on to his and pulled away.
Narcissa covered her heart with her hands. Lucius grinned and shook his head. Shouldn't the man be the first to kiss a woman?
Draco stared at Ginny before the blush came back with more intensity.
"Let's go."Harry said, standing at the exit, in determination.
.
Hermione's ankle cracked, fractures spreading further through the bone each time she took a step forward. Alejandro had wrapped his hand in her hair. His knuckled burrowed into the sensitive skin of her scalp. Trying to keep in her sobs of pain made it very difficult for her to breathe. Pain dug into every muscle and joint, even the space between her toes.
The smell of mud grew stronger as they came closer to the castle. Had it been an hour already? Hermione couldn't tell. Throbbing pain did not help one keep time. The Gryffindor fell. Lilith glanced at her, flashing a victorious smirk. Bellatrix Lestrange continued her erratic skip at Voldemort's side, even going further ahead sometimes.
Instead of flopping face first into the snow, Hermione threw her hands out before her. On her hands and knees, she paused to suck air and to think. My hands are fine. Where's my wand? Still in my waistband- I can feel it!
"Get up!" Alejandro commanded. Some her hairs ripped out as he tried to pull her to her feet.
Hermione stood up, balancing on her right foot. The pain in her ankle shot straight to her gut, churning the acids in her stomach. The taste of bile stung at the back of her throat-she wouldn't retch in front of this bastard.
Alejandro grabbed her by the back of her neck, forcing her forward. The castle, broken and damaged, came into view. As Hermione blinked the grime and tears out of her eyes, she saw a piece of the third floor cave in. On the ground, standing paced apart, were her friends. Classmates. Professors.
"No…"she choked. What are they doing? They should be hid- Harry! Ron! Tear drops, burning like acid out of her tear ducts, gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Bellatrix and Rodolphous left the safety of the trees to join their master. Voldemort stopped, holding out his hand. Without looking back, he said "Kevin, you will remain here with Nott and my Nagini. Watch the mudblood." His final order was even colder."Do not fail me."
Voldemort swept away, gray robes flinging out behind him. As he approached the castle, flashes erupted.
Harry, ringed by his friends, cut through the fighting, stunning Death Eaters from behind, flinging curses over Bill's head. A high pitched cackle reached his ears- Bellatrix Lestrange. He tried to break free of his circle, but Ron and Arthur dragged him back inside. Molly rushed to defend Ginny from that bitch's wand. Bill peeled away next, to watch Fleur's back. With each step closer to the end, Harry's guard dissolved.
Dumbledore was heavily injured by Rodolphous Lestrange and just seconds before he casted the killing curse, Gellert stabbed him from behind. Molly disintegrated Madam Lestrange.
Remus and Ron were the two last people at Harry's side. Ron ducked under Hagrid's massive arm as he swung his pink umbrella. In a distance Grawp was lying dead. Dora watched as her cousin Draco lead the way around the perimeter, sneaking into the woods. In the distance, she ccould see a glittering orb and Hermione. On the opposite side of the forest Severus Snape prowled even closer to Granger, creeping from shadow to shadow. Alejandro and the two Notts guarded the girl.
Remus blocked a stinging hex but could not stop the simultaneous Leg-Locking one. Harry shouted "Ron stay with Remus!" as he fell backwards.
"But-"
"Just do it!" Harry yelled. Curses and rubble flew all around them. Harry glanced back at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Ginny, all three fighting together. George stumbled backwards, fending off a witch. Hagrid roared as Professor Sprout slumped to the ground, her ears gushing blood.
Harry looked up through the crowd. Ember wasn't on the rooftop. Nor was McGonagall. Voldemort slowly made his way towards him, the Death Eaters parting as they dueled. In the distance, Harry heard a scream-Hermione. For a split second Harry glanced towards the way of the shout, giving Voldemort a chance and casting the killing curse.
"Harry, No!" Ember called. Harry fell backwards. Magic ripped from his body, floating away into the air. The hocrux inside him was gone but Harry fell lifeless on the snow. The last thing he saw was Ember's fiery red eyes looking over him.
.
Hermione struggled to remain on her feet. Everything hurt, everything was exhausted. Alejandro held the back of her neck. Bruises would be there in the morning- if Hermione lived to see morning that is. Beside her, the wizened uncle of Theodore Nott held the bubble, grimacing and looking away from the snake hissing at him. Lilith drew her fingers through her hair, watching the battle from afar.
Air whistled down Hermione's throat, and out of her nose. What could she do? She was in no state to take both Lilith and Ale-
Lord and Lady Malfoy suddenly appeared over the edge of the nearest balustrade. Their wands cut through the air, hexing the Notts. The old man dropped the bubble- the snake bounced around inside, hissing and snapping. Draco Malfoy ran out of the trees, flinging a counter-spell at the bubble. It popped releasing Nagini into the snow.
Hermione turned to gape into the trees as Alejandro clutched her to his body as a shield. Professor Trelawney and Parvati stood, wide-eyed and defenseless, their mouths moving nonstop. Their voices droned out prophesies, telling Draco and the rest where the snake would be.
"Let her go." Someone hissed.
Hermione crumpled to the snow. Snape held his wand to Alejandro's throat, pulling him back by the hair.
"The Traitor shall fall!" Trelawney groaned, unseeing.
Hermione screamed as Nagini leapt from the snow. The monster latched onto Snape's neck. His eyes widened- Alejandro jumped away.
"No!"Draco yelled. He spelled the snake away, flinging it into the snow. Sinews snapped away under Nagini's jaws, ripping Snape's throat open.
Neville lunged, wielding the Sword of Gryffindor high above his head. As he brought the blade down on Nagini's spine, Hermione crawled towards the fallen Professor. Behind her Draco cast the Incarcerous spell on Alejandro and stunned him. Neville watched Nagini dissolve, her body curling into black, putrid smoke. The seers sat on the ground exhausted.
Severus lay in the snow, blood seeping from his neck. Soon enough the poison would take over and then he would be dead. In a distance he saw his love killing the Dark Lord. He smirked to himself. She really had done it this time- and if he would live he would definitely argue with her about that later.
Hermione tried to stem the bleeding, pressing her palm into the exposed, blood-slick muscles of his throat.
"Don't die on me, sir!" He begged.
The Malfoys were screaming somewhere. Hermione fished her wand out of her waistband. A line of blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes remained black and deep, looking at the scene that was unfolding meters away from him.
A flash of light expanded, breezing past them all. Hermione couldn't do anything else- her magic wasn't working.