The Order met at Grimmauld the morning after, the fireplace a constant green attesting from all the arrivals. Everyone sat, vibrating with anticipation. All ready to finally end the war. With a quick flick from Severus' wand, various multi-dimensional graphs appeared above the table, visible to all.

He started enumerating, "Number one: Shaklebolt, Tonks, Percy, Ginny - you leave for the ministry... The council has been called for an exceptional audience starting at 11am. All our little parcels were sent yesterday with clear instructions. I expect to have a new minister of Magic before the end of the day. Congratulations in advance, Kingsley."

Hermione and Ginny looked like two cats that ate the canary, finally seeing years of spying and gathering blackmail material coming to fruition. Severus continued, unbothered by the Furies' glee. "Number two: Draco. Time to claim what is owned at Gringotts."

Malfoys had acted as a bank for many seedy deals that wizards wanted to keep confidential for generations. Often, the payment asked for wizard debt rather than gold. With money not a concern, the Malfoy patriarches would ask for contracts bidding the soul, offering short term solutions for people less fortunate than them. It was time for Draco to call on those life debts.

"Number three: we cut some of the snake's heads. Hermione, with me. Harry, you'll know how to find us."

That was the last part, the most dangerous. It required stealth and efficiency. They hoped to hit as many dark wizards as possible in a raid of Knockturn Alley, all without being noticed. Based on their last patrols, an easy ten to fifteen death eaters were using a couple of shaggy hostels as accommodation. If they were to take care of them before the ministry's change of politics was known, this could make a significant difference in the battle to come.

.

The rest of the Order knew their role.

The teachers would protect the children, in case Voldemort decided to risk everything in a craze and take the future of the wizarding country in his downfall. Harry was too important to risk him before the final battle. He would stay at Hogwarts with the rest of the Furies and they would help the staff.

Remus, Mad-Eye and the rest of the Weasleys would part in groups of three and follow some of the most senior members of the ministry that were in cahoots with Vodemort. Their plan was to arrest if possible with no harm, but to overcome by all means the targets before they had time to flee.

Percy just waved his hand, defeated by the violent means of his sister's and Hermione's plan. "Aren't you tired of all of this? Blackmail, murders...where does it end?"

Ron hunched his shoulders, ready to give his brother a tongue lashing. If Hermione or Ginny lost their focus, they could get killed. Family drama was the last thing they needed right now. But Ginny was faster. " You wonder if we are not tired, Percy? Don't you see? Why do you think we do what we do every day to end this?

Let me ask you this in return: what have you done to help? You, a pureblood male, who would risk the least by fighting back. Who benefited the most from this system… What did you do to prevent your 11 year old sister from being gang-raped, or your brother's mudblood best friend from being tortured?"

Ginny took a couple of steps forward, and Percy instinctively backed out. She sneered, "The people we are fighting tonight don't need to be lectured or educated, they need to be stopped. Indefinitely. You don't like our way of fighting? What should we do then? Wait for another white knight like Dumbledore to save us? It worked so well the first time…"

She came closer, and poke his chest. "I chose to save myself, because I didn't have the luck you have. The luck of not knowing in the flesh what it would mean being under his reign. Both Hermione and I experienced first hand his appetites, and I'd rather die that risk living this even for another day. Draco grew up with a man that was getting off on torturing women, in particular his wife. Harry was thrown in this mess as soon as he was born...

We had no choice. But you did. And you did nothing. We all sacrificed our innocence for the sake of others, for people like you to judge us from your high horse! If we had had more people willing to help, maybe we wouldn't need to pass that line you draw in the sand.

So yes, I am tired. I've been tired for a very long time. And it is time I put an end to it."

.

The room was completely silent. Most Weasleys glowered at Percy, incensed by his attitude. Molly though, the everloving mother, opened her mouth to defend her son.

"It's enough," Ginny stopped her. "We don't have time for this. We have a job to finish." She placed herself between Harry and Draco, who each attached one hand to her waist in silent protection.

Severus turned to Harry, looking for a diversion. "Harry, a speech?"

Harry looked at Severus, unamused. He remained silent at first, lost in the sea of eyes looking expectantly at him. Ginny's hand found his, and Draco murmured words of support. He realized the people around him needed this. They didn't live like him, thinking they were about to die in a battle for the past five or six years. They were rusty, or inexperienced. And they were afraid. They needed to remember why they fought.

He blinked, and his eyes took a mossy shade of spoke confidently, "When I joined the wizarding world, I was already the boy-who-lived. Soon enough I realized that what people expected me to be is the 'boy who will die'. The one who will sacrifice himself again for the sake of the world. I've always thought I would die in this fight, and that I would die alone. Having you by my side, fighting with me, fighting for what you believe is right...it means more than I can ever say. Tonight, I have hope.

I have hopes we will fight the monsters and win. I have hopes I will live another day. And even if I die today, I will die knowing that I am loved, and that I chose the way I died. I will die among friends and family."