Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. Again, nor do I own a few little bits of this chapter. However, the cliffhanger at the end is all mine! You'll love it!

I know this chapter isn't the longest, it's actually a bit on the short side, but I'll do. I think the action and suspense this chapter is full of will more than make up for its length or lack thereof. It's going to rock you socks off!

Only 3 more chapters to go after this! Please, let us take this moment of silence to look back on this story, from its humble beginnings as a mere role play, to the popularity and wonderful reviewers it gained. It's almost time to say goodbye to our little story. We will all miss it dearly.

Okay, now that that's over let's move on. I understand why I didn't get oodles of reviews for this last chapter, since I'm updating too fast for some people to keep up with, but I would like to ask for good feedback after this one. I eagerly await what you think!

Without further ado…

Chapter 59

Draco POV

As everyone gathered in the Great Hall, the tension felt thick enough to cut with a spoon. Students milled around in confusion, all dressed in nightclothes. All the professors, well nearly all, were up in front of the crowd looking very solemn. Some of the Order member had taken seats at the long front table or crowded around it while others sat at the house tables with the students. Taking our seats at the Gryffindor table, a place I never thought I'd sit, I held Ginny to me tightly as thoughts of what could happen this fateful night filled my head. Would I lose her? Would she lose me? Who would die tonight? With Voldemort himself stepping into the fray, there was no doubt in my mind that there would be casualties. He didn't fight to just win, he fought to kill and so did his followers.

After all settled down and students got seated, McGonagall stood before the gathering, all eyes on her, to explain what was happening. When she told them of how Snape had fled the school cheers rose all around the Hall. Once things quieted down again, she continued. "Now, all students not of age will need to evacuate the school. If you are of age and wish to stay and fight, you may. Be warned though, this is no Defense Against the Dark Arts class, this is war. People will die. Prefects, you will gather your Houses and calmly processed to the evacuation point when I say."

She looked around at the students with a sad expression, taking in what could be the very last time she stood before them. "What about our things?" one student from the Slytherin table called out.

"There is no time to gather them. It is only important that everyone gets out of here and-" she started, but the rest of her sentence was drowned out by a cold, high voice that I knew all too well.

"I know you are preparing to fight," Voldemort's voice rang out from the very walls themselves. Many students screamed around the hall and everyone paled. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not wish to kill you. I have a great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."

The silence following his words was deafening. "Give me Harry Potter," the voice hissed. "No harm will come. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will all be rewarded." His voice was smooth as butter, quiet as a hissing snake, yet it filled the room and bounced off the walls. It induced fear into every heart in that room. "You have until midnight."

The silence that followed was broken by Daphne Greengrass, who stood up from the Slytherin table. "Well then let's give him what he wants!" she cried, point towards Potter. The scene that followed was awe-inspiring. As one, the students at the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw stood and faced towards the Slytherin table, wands appearing everywhere. Even I, with Ginny at my side, stood to defend him.

"Thank you for that, Miss Greengrass," McGonagall said sarcastically, a glare trained on the girl. "Mr. Filch, please escort this young lady and her house to the evacuation point." The sounds of many benches being scooted back and the sounds of tromping feet filled the room as the Slytherins' rushed to safety. "Ravenclaw, follow them."

One by one, the houses stood up and filed out, those wishing to fight stayed in their seats. Half the Gryffindors, many Hufflepuffs, and several Ravenclaws remained. The teachers eventually had to descend from the table to weed out underage students. As they did so, Potter dashed from the room. Finally, only those who were going to fight were left.

"We've only got an hour before midnight," Kingsley said, standing up and looking out over the crowd of friends, family, students, and teachers. "We need to work fast. A battle plan has been decided between the teachers of Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix. Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and McGonagall are going to take groups of fighter up to the three tallest towers – Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and the Astronomy Tower – where they'll have good overview, excellent positions from which to work spells."

"Meanwhile Remus, Arthur, Bill, Charlie and I will take groups out into the grounds," he said, pointing to each in turn. "We'll also need someone to organize defenses of the entrances of the passageways into the school –"

"Sounds like a job for the two of us!" called Fred before Kingsley could name off who would.

"Very well, you will both organize groups to defend the entrances. Whatever you do, keep the Death Eaters from coming inside this castle as long as possible," Kingsley told them and they both nodded solemnly. "Now, they won't be able to hold them off forever so I'll need Tonks, Alicia Spinet and Neville –" he began again but whatever he was going to say was interrupted as Hagrid, his silly dog on his heels, burst into the hall.

"Sorry I'm late!" he called as he made his way through the crowd of people. "Blimey, you sure did get a large group together." He looked around the hall in amazement, a grin spreading across his face.

Kingsley nodded to him. "Yes, good to see you made it Hagrid. You will join us on the grounds and lead your own group. You know this land the best. Now, like I was saying, Tonks, Alicia and Neville will need to organize groups to defend the halls of this castle if and when the Death Eaters get in. I'll need a large group, led by Collin Creevey, to go to the main entry hall."

Creevey nodded, accepting his role in stride, his chest puffing with pride. "Okay, leaders come up to the front so we can divide up troops." The fourteen leaders made their way up to stand next to Kingsley. The dividing went quickly, each person being put in a group that supported their strengths. Ginny was going to the Astronomy tower with Flitwick, thankfully a place she could be relatively safe as she fought from afar. It was the first time I'd wished I'd excelled at Charms like her. At least then I'd be with her and know she was safe.

Instead, I was enlisted into Tonks' group that was getting send into the halls of the ancient castle. We would be in close combat once the Death Eaters got inside. Until then, we would fight from windows as best we could to help those on the grounds. Once orders were given and people grouped up, we were sent our ways.

At the stroke of midnight, Voldemort's cold voice ran over the grounds and castle once again. "You've refuse to give me Harry Potter. This means you shall all die." As the voice faded, the first crashes could be heard echoing through the halls. I ran to the nearest window with Tonks as we began to shoot curses at the oncoming Death Eaters. The others around us were doing the same.

Even with all the enforcements at the passages, it didn't take too long for them to break into the castle. Luckily for us though, Voldemort hadn't entered the fray himself. We'd be doomed if he had. Before I knew it, we were battling with the first wave of Voldemort's followers. Luck was on our side as nearly all of them were stunned for a moment at seeing me, giving us ample time to attack them.

"Stupify," I cried, shooting a stunning spell at Crabb Sr. as our little group began to get driven back by the oncoming foes. All around me, spells flew in colorful blurs. The jet of red light from my wand hit the man I'd aimed at square in the chest and he fell to the floor with a thump, getting trampled by his fellows. From my left, Tonks downed another Death Eater.

"How are you alive?" roared a man in Death Eater robes and mask, lunging at me. "You're father said you were bloody dead, you traitor!" I recognize the voice as that of one of my fathers close friends, if you could call anyone like that a friend.

"He lied," I mocked, drawing him away from the fray, my wand trained on his chest. "I escaped him and he couldn't bear the shame of losing so he lied. He lied to you, to Voldemort, to everyone."

His roar of anger was expected, as was his sudden lunge at me. I dodged him easily, my fist connecting with his face, the crunch of bone unheard in the loud hallway. He stumbled back, dumbstruck, and I stunned him. Kicking his limp body for good measure, I turned back to the battle, taking out the enemy I'd once fought beside.

The battle wore on and the little ragtag group of fighters had been broken up as people in ones or twos fought on. I myself had been driven down a long corridor by three Death Eaters. I took them out one by one with ease, sustaining only minor injury from the buffoons. Eventually, as the last of their motionless bodies slumped to the floor, I ran down the nearest passage, looking for a way back to the battle.

When I heard sounds, voices, down a side corridor, I didn't hesitate to run towards it. It was either allies I could assist or enemies I could take out. As I neared, the voice registered in my mind: my father. Rounding the corner, I came upon a sight that made my mouth go dry with fear. There, standing tall in his calm rage was Lucius Malfoy and in front of him stood a very alone Harry Potter.

Nearby I could hear the sounds of fighting going on, but nobody had come to help him. Nobody knew their savior had been cornered by a man nearly as evil as Voldemort himself. Thankfully, neither had noticed me yet. "He'll reward me for killing you," Father was saying. "I'll take him your body and he'll reward me far greater than anyone."

"He wants me alive though," Potter told him, hatred ringing in his voice as his wand pointed unwaveringly at the man before him. "He'll punish you."

"He only wants you alive so he can kill you!" my father roared. He flicked his wand and sent a curse towards Potter.

I slipped quietly down the hall to hide in a hole in the wall once occupied by a suit of armor as Potter dodged the curse with ease. "You'll not kill me so easy," he taunted, thinking to buying himself time. Little did he know that would only anger my father into killing him faster.

"Then I'll prove you wrong!" He cried, brandishing his wand at the boy in front of him. "Avada Kedavra!"

Jumping from my hiding spot, I cast a shield charm between the two and deflected the deadly green light that had been headed straight at Harry. Spinning around to see who'd disrupted his murder, my father stopped dead in his tracks at seeing me, his own wand brandished in my hand.

"So you're alive after all?" he questioned in a cold hiss. "How disappointing." With that, he pointed his wand towards me and prepared to battle to the death with his own son.

Slowly, I started to circle, his footsteps mirroring mine. Potter looked like he was going to try and help, his want pointed at my father. "Stupify!" he yelled, shooting the spell towards my father who blocked it without blinking.

"No, Potter!" I called to him, holding up my free hand to stop him from continuing. "Just get out of here. He's mine to finish." Nodding, he did as I said and slipped away to rejoin the battle.

"Do you really think you can kill me you insolent boy?" my father questioned mockingly at me with a cold laugh.

"No," I answered just as coldly. "I don't think I can, I know I can."

Dun, dun, duuuuuuun! *dramatic music* You thought the last cliffhanger was bad? What will happen? Who will win and who will die? Oh I love cliffhangers, though I'm betting you hate them huh? Well, oh well! They are to fun to write to give up. Besides, I wanted to go to bed and this was the best place to end the chapter. Keep posted to see what happens! Tehehehe!

Well, BJ and I would like to thank everyone that reviewed! Please, keep them up and keep BJ healthy!

Oh, and by the way, once this story is over, I've decided to pass the tradition of BJ along to a new author, a new home, where I know he'll get just as well taken care of as with me. Anyone looking to adopt a six-an-a-half-year-old metaphorical starving five-year-old for their story? He will only go to the best home!

And remember, a happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!