**A/N** Sorry for the cliffhanger! Haha. Well, I'm back for the fifth chapter of the day. This is a labor of love! I swear it! I do love you guys! All of my reviews are still amazing! (If only my English teachers would agree with you!) Anyway, I'm sure you'll all be glad to know what happens so....
Hermione wasn't exactly sure when she started throwing curses at the Death Eaters who were invading the Great Hall, but she had almost instinctively begun to disable as many as possible. Multiple petrified or screaming Death Eaters lay at her feet as she desperately dodged more dangerous curses from those left standing. Her hands were full of wands taken from her adversaries. There seemed to be an infinite amount of Death Eaters prepared to do Lord Voldemort's bidding. Setting her jaw grimly, she took a moment to scope out her surroundings. Things definitely weren't looking good.
Harry was surrounded by three of Voldemort's servants, but he was proving to be more trouble than expected, especially since Voldemort had demanded to have Harry alive. Hermione wasn't aware of this at the moment, but Voldemort had also wanted herself and Severus to be brought to him still breathing. Flitwick had gone down a few minutes ago, but she didn't have time to wonder if he was alive or not. Hagrid was using his umbrella both as a wand and as an actual weapon, swinging it viciously like a Germanic tribesman fighting the unstoppable Roman army.
The sounds of curses flying through the air and of wild battle cries filled her ears, mingling with the sounds of her own frantically pumping blood. Almost casually, she downed another Death Eater, and then another. She was falling into a rhythm, and welcoming the adrenaline rush that helped her chances of survival. her magic supply was still nearly full. Her emotions seemed to add even more power to the curses she flung. Luckily, she still had her wand, which was taking care of most of the work for her. She hoped this would end well, but she was definitely doubting the plausibility of a happy ending.
Suddenly, Hermione felt her legs lock under her, and then everything went black.
~~
Severus had been fighting with the ferocity that had characterized him as a Death Eater. His curses were brutal, his aim true. He was somewhat proud that he hadn't forgotten the numerous illegal curses he'd picked up while still a student at Hogwarts. He never imagined that they would serve him as he fought for the Light.
Voldemort had more servants than Severus could have imagined, and what horrified him was that he knew Voldemort saw these particular men as expendable. The Hogwarts staff was far outnumbered, and Severus worried that this battle may have been lost before it began.
Those such as Peter Pettigrew and the Dark Lord himself would not enter the fray until they knew it was safe. Until they knew they would win. Even when outnumbered, Severus and his colleagues were dangerous and extremely capable witches and wizards. Severus knew that once he recognized members of Voldemort's inner circle joining the battle, all hope was lost.
He barely dodged yet another curse as he watched Hooch and Trelawney fall. He vaguely hoped they weren't dead as he took on yet another Death Eater, probably a recent graduate of Hogwarts. He was fortunate to be recognized and revered among younger Death Eaters as a ruthless and formidable opponent. Snape had even more power over his former students who had gone into Voldemort's service: they didn't want their intimidating Potions Master facing them in actual battle. They all seemed afraid to attack him, and their hesitation usually resulted in them writhing on the floor in unspeakable pain. Severus felt no regret as he moved on to yet another enemy. But he also noticed that none aimed to kill, making him fear the worst for himself. What did the Dark Lord have in store for him?
Turning, Severus watched in horror as Hermione went down, and forgetting himself, he called her name and tried to rush to her. Snape's rash decision--the first in years-- resulted in him taking a curse straight in the back, and down he went. His last thought as he hit the ground was of Hermione.
~~
Voldemort's forces were undeniably winning the battle. The Dark Lord himself stood just outside of the school, feeling very happy with himself. Tomorrow the children enrolled at Hogwarts would wake up under new administration, and his first course of action would be to cleanse the student body of all impurities. Gryffindors would go through some exceptional suffering, and he definitely had to save some curses for those weakling Hufflepuffs. The Slytherin students, however, had probably already turned on their professors, and the Ravenclaws would be intelligent enough to see reason. He'd make sure to reward them handsomely. Voldemort smiled to himself and motioned to Narcissa Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew to head inside. He followed smugly. This was going to be priceless.
He knew that his forces were already in possession of Severus and the mudblood, but he hadn't heard any news regarding Potter, Dumbledore, or the young Malfoy. Of course, there was no way they could flee him now. There was nowhere safe for them to go, and besides, their misplaced senses of honor and courage would probably drive them to face their inevitable deaths. Voldemort decided to make those deaths come as slowly and painfully as possible. He smiled to himself, or at least tried to. The part of his body that he called a mouth wasn't particularly accustomed to smiling.
Drawing his wand, Lord Voldemort prepared to enter his new acquisition. How he had waited for this moment!
~~
"Damn it! Ron! Seamus! Neville! Wake up!" Harry hissed to the Gryffindors. "Get everyone up. Voldemort is inside the school. We have to do something right now or we'll all be dead tomorrow." Draco was currently hitting Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. He managed to get by the paintings without a password because this was a very special occasion.
He met Harry with the Gryffindors and the students all stopped to hear the whole story. Nodding gravely, they all drew their wands and prepared to meet the Dark Lord they had feared for their entire lives. Draco noticed that none of the other Slytherins were part of their student army, and he had a feeling they weren't in their dorms, either. For the first time in years, however, representatives from each of the four houses were prepared to work as one. It was about time.
Hermione wasn't exactly sure when she started throwing curses at the Death Eaters who were invading the Great Hall, but she had almost instinctively begun to disable as many as possible. Multiple petrified or screaming Death Eaters lay at her feet as she desperately dodged more dangerous curses from those left standing. Her hands were full of wands taken from her adversaries. There seemed to be an infinite amount of Death Eaters prepared to do Lord Voldemort's bidding. Setting her jaw grimly, she took a moment to scope out her surroundings. Things definitely weren't looking good.
Harry was surrounded by three of Voldemort's servants, but he was proving to be more trouble than expected, especially since Voldemort had demanded to have Harry alive. Hermione wasn't aware of this at the moment, but Voldemort had also wanted herself and Severus to be brought to him still breathing. Flitwick had gone down a few minutes ago, but she didn't have time to wonder if he was alive or not. Hagrid was using his umbrella both as a wand and as an actual weapon, swinging it viciously like a Germanic tribesman fighting the unstoppable Roman army.
The sounds of curses flying through the air and of wild battle cries filled her ears, mingling with the sounds of her own frantically pumping blood. Almost casually, she downed another Death Eater, and then another. She was falling into a rhythm, and welcoming the adrenaline rush that helped her chances of survival. her magic supply was still nearly full. Her emotions seemed to add even more power to the curses she flung. Luckily, she still had her wand, which was taking care of most of the work for her. She hoped this would end well, but she was definitely doubting the plausibility of a happy ending.
Suddenly, Hermione felt her legs lock under her, and then everything went black.
~~
Severus had been fighting with the ferocity that had characterized him as a Death Eater. His curses were brutal, his aim true. He was somewhat proud that he hadn't forgotten the numerous illegal curses he'd picked up while still a student at Hogwarts. He never imagined that they would serve him as he fought for the Light.
Voldemort had more servants than Severus could have imagined, and what horrified him was that he knew Voldemort saw these particular men as expendable. The Hogwarts staff was far outnumbered, and Severus worried that this battle may have been lost before it began.
Those such as Peter Pettigrew and the Dark Lord himself would not enter the fray until they knew it was safe. Until they knew they would win. Even when outnumbered, Severus and his colleagues were dangerous and extremely capable witches and wizards. Severus knew that once he recognized members of Voldemort's inner circle joining the battle, all hope was lost.
He barely dodged yet another curse as he watched Hooch and Trelawney fall. He vaguely hoped they weren't dead as he took on yet another Death Eater, probably a recent graduate of Hogwarts. He was fortunate to be recognized and revered among younger Death Eaters as a ruthless and formidable opponent. Snape had even more power over his former students who had gone into Voldemort's service: they didn't want their intimidating Potions Master facing them in actual battle. They all seemed afraid to attack him, and their hesitation usually resulted in them writhing on the floor in unspeakable pain. Severus felt no regret as he moved on to yet another enemy. But he also noticed that none aimed to kill, making him fear the worst for himself. What did the Dark Lord have in store for him?
Turning, Severus watched in horror as Hermione went down, and forgetting himself, he called her name and tried to rush to her. Snape's rash decision--the first in years-- resulted in him taking a curse straight in the back, and down he went. His last thought as he hit the ground was of Hermione.
~~
Voldemort's forces were undeniably winning the battle. The Dark Lord himself stood just outside of the school, feeling very happy with himself. Tomorrow the children enrolled at Hogwarts would wake up under new administration, and his first course of action would be to cleanse the student body of all impurities. Gryffindors would go through some exceptional suffering, and he definitely had to save some curses for those weakling Hufflepuffs. The Slytherin students, however, had probably already turned on their professors, and the Ravenclaws would be intelligent enough to see reason. He'd make sure to reward them handsomely. Voldemort smiled to himself and motioned to Narcissa Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew to head inside. He followed smugly. This was going to be priceless.
He knew that his forces were already in possession of Severus and the mudblood, but he hadn't heard any news regarding Potter, Dumbledore, or the young Malfoy. Of course, there was no way they could flee him now. There was nowhere safe for them to go, and besides, their misplaced senses of honor and courage would probably drive them to face their inevitable deaths. Voldemort decided to make those deaths come as slowly and painfully as possible. He smiled to himself, or at least tried to. The part of his body that he called a mouth wasn't particularly accustomed to smiling.
Drawing his wand, Lord Voldemort prepared to enter his new acquisition. How he had waited for this moment!
~~
"Damn it! Ron! Seamus! Neville! Wake up!" Harry hissed to the Gryffindors. "Get everyone up. Voldemort is inside the school. We have to do something right now or we'll all be dead tomorrow." Draco was currently hitting Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. He managed to get by the paintings without a password because this was a very special occasion.
He met Harry with the Gryffindors and the students all stopped to hear the whole story. Nodding gravely, they all drew their wands and prepared to meet the Dark Lord they had feared for their entire lives. Draco noticed that none of the other Slytherins were part of their student army, and he had a feeling they weren't in their dorms, either. For the first time in years, however, representatives from each of the four houses were prepared to work as one. It was about time.