Chapter 54: Battle Begins And Ends(Final Chapter)

I stumbled back, I could feel his power, I could feel how unhuman he was. He smiled and beckoned for me to come to him. "No, let me go." "Now now, I had to meet you. My followers had told me interesting things about you during the school year." I stood behind a desk, I could use it as a shield or a weapon if needed. "I'm nothing special…" I breathed, my words shaking. "I don't believe that. There is something very special about you. It reminded me of something from long ago, something a follower was trying to do…but it seems like a dream now."

I blinked my father was a follower of his…maybe he thought he would help Vampires gain power. I shrugged and moved back more, trying to get to the door. "Oh well, none of that matters. You are going to be very useful to us. Come along, we have much to talk about." I moved back again, bumping into something on the floor and heard another hiss. A large python was blocking me from the door. "Nagini is getting hungry, I would hate to lose you since you are powerful." I looked between the man and the snake. "I'll never join you, I'd rather die." he sneered and nodded to the snake, "So be it. Nagini…eat."

I pulled out my claws, grabbing the snake as it launched at me, shoving my nails into the scales. I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his red eyes with my crimson ones flashing. "I'm hungry also. I would love to tear you both apart." he shot a spell at me, making me drop the snake and take off running. I ran until I found Hagrid's hut and banged on the door. He opened and ushered me in, seeing the fear in my eyes. "Aethna, what's going on?" I shook my head, unable to talk just yet. He allowed me to stay hidden there, running into the forest when they came looking for me.

I felt a pain in my pocket a few days later and pulled out the coin Neville gave me, it said Harry Potter was back and they were going to take back the castle. I told Hagrid and he said he would be back and went into the forest, I assumed to get reinforcements. I stuck the wand into my pocket with the coin and left the hut, sticking to the shadows and heading back to the castle. Someone was using the coins again, maybe that meant Neville was back. When I finally got to the castle, I seen fighting going on. A battle had broken out and I searched the halls, not bothering with anyone I passed.

It was as if he had vanished from everywhere, Neville was no where to be found. I had heard the voice of the dark lord, telling us to not fight and just hand Harry over, but who was actually going to believe him. I saw the Herbology professor and rushed to her. "Where's Neville? Is he with you?" "Longbottom? He went to get more plants. The greenhouses." I didn't need much more than that, I knew he was here, I knew he was alive and fighting against the death eaters, I would find him and fight with him. If we were going to die, we were going to die together.

I heard his voice boom, saying to collect our dead, that he would give Harry an hour to surrender before he would come and kill every man, woman and child. I pushed forward, I needed to find Neville. I found the greenhouses untouched, the death eaters not bothering to worry about them, but I knew how dangerous these plants could be. I searched all of them and they were emptied. Neville must have already gone back to the battle, I scoffed and went to take off again, ready to search every inch of the castle if that's what it took, when something hit my back and my body became frozen and rigid. I fell face first and wasn't able to move at all, but was rolled over and I saw Scabior standing above me, his eyes piercing mine. "Now lookit here…we meet again, my beauty."

He bent beside me, his fingers running along my face as he just grinned. He lifted me into the air and I was floating beside him as he began to walk along a path. I drifted down to a wooden bridge, he was taking me from Hogwarts, I wouldn't be able to make sure Neville was safe if he took me away. My mind reeling with what this psycho had planned, but I was stuck, unable to get my wand, unable to break free. He placed me on the ground on the other side, licking his lips. "My, you are just breath-taking." his fingers traced my neck and my breast, I would have vomited had I been able to.

His fingers moved against my breast and I closed my eyes, wishing I had came my father's power, I would have been able to break this curse then. I felt a kick at my legs, forcing them apart and my eyes shot open. This was not fucking happening. I would die before I let him take me… I dug deep, willing my vampire powers to surface, if I could just reach my wand, if I could just break free. His hand was almost there, his other hand unbuttoning his pants. "Special girl deserves special treatment. I'll take care of you my sweet. Show me those blazing eyes again. It turns me on so."

His face appeared before me and he smiled, "There they are…this is going to be amazing." "So is this!" a voice cried out and he was blasted off of me. The curse released and I rolled into a crouch and growled at him, finally free. Neville's voice rang out and I looked, seeing him half way across the bridge, telling me to run. I nodded and turned back, seeing him getting to his feet already. I took off running, meeting Neville in the Middle. "Seamus is about to blow it, we gotta get off of this." he held my hand tight and we started running, dodging the spells the bastard was shooting at us. Neville shot his own off as I didn't bother with my wand.

I heard the last click and the booming sound of the bridge giving way. We weren't going to make it, I gripped Neville's hand tight and he glanced at me. "Aethna? What-" "Neville, I love you. Stay safe!" and before he was able to speak, I grabbed his arm and gave a twirl, sending him flying off the end of the bridge. "You're mine!" I heard from behind and turned in time to see Scabior grab at my throat, but I moved with ease. "Aethna!" I heard Neville scream as I glanced back, dodging another grab from the wizard. His face was terrible to look at, heartbroken and filled with despair. "I love you." I breathed out a final time and turned back to the wizard, grabbing his throat.

"We're both gonna die if you don't let me go." "You'll be dead long before this bridge goes down." I growled and barred my fangs, digging my claws into his flesh. "What are you?" "Your death." I replied and sank my teeth into his neck, tearing it from him as the bridge collapsed under the explosions. I let his body going, watching it fall as his face was left with only terror on it. 'You think this is the end' I had closed my eyes, just glad I got to see Neville a final time. 'Get a grip. You are not human! Save yourself dumbass!' I realized it was my own voice talking and I surged forward, forcing my hands and feet into the rockside.

Slowly but surely, I stopped before hitting the water and remains of the bridge. 'Took you long enough. Now go get him' the voice called and I sighed, if I had been human, I wouldn't have been able to do this, I would have never got to see Neville again. I wrenched my hands and feet from the rock and began to climb, using my speed to hurry it up. I was getting close when I heard the crying. "Why! It's not real! It isn't happening!" his words made me dig in and throw myself over the edge, knocking him onto his back. "Neville!" I cried out, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Aethna?" he breathed out, as if it was a dream. His shaking hands grabbed me tight and held me against him, almost crushing me. He faced me and checked my face over, making sure I was truly there before taking my lips with his, taking my breath away. We broke apart and he stood up, seeing my hands and feet all bloody and my neck covered with blood. "What happened?" "I ripped that bastard's throat out and let him fall. I dug into the rockside and barely stopped. I'm alright, I'll heal." he wiped the blood off my face and neck and hugged me tight. "Never do that again. Never leave me like that."

I agreed, knowing how I felt without him around, it was hollow. "It's over though, Harry got him. I killed his snake with the sword of Gryfindor! It appeared in the hat, for me! Can you believe it?" I nodded, "Of course, I always knew how brave and loyal you were. You're the greatest man I've ever known." he grinned, taking my hand before his smile faded. "We lost a lot of people though…friends…" I gave him a squeeze, before we started walking back toward the castle. "Neville, war is messy…death happens. But at least now they will know what it's like to be free of terror of evil wizards like him. The future is bright." he pressed a hand to my stomach, "And our future is now. I want a big family Aethna. Lots of little ones." I laughed, he was so hopeful it was sweet.