Harry Potter and the Siege

by Yoda

[Book V AU:] Voldemort holds the castle, Harry and Dumbledore are back with three new friends could hold the key to salvation, and the final battle has begun....WORK IN PROGRESS

8. Parts 22 - 24

Chapter 22: The Castle Falls

'That did not sound good.' Harry said the sentence and was surprised at how loud it sounded in the suddenly silent hall.

'Give that man a prize,' Dudley muttered as hushed whispers suddenly erupted throughout the hall.

* * *

Using borrowed eyes Voldemort looked around the Entrance Hall, it was a picture of destruction, the doors had been completely blown off their hinges, marble tiles and stonework littered the floor. Sighing in the cave Voldemort withdrew his mind from the body he had inhabited briefly, 'I must do that again sometime.'

* * *

Without the mad screaming and yelling Lucius Malfoy led the main Death Eater force into the Entrance Hall, ignoring the rubble and chaos that was clustered around them. 'Get the doors open,' Malfoy said pointing with his wand and several robed wizards moved forwards and began to release blue beams that began to shift the brickwork away from the doors.

* * *

Inside the hall Harry pulled out the Marauder's Map to check the situation outside and it almost fell from his hands when he saw the names of the group who were now there. He swore loudly and attracted the attention of several mothers who gave him stares as they covered the younger children's ears, then Harry left the table and ran to the window where Dudley and Ron had joined Hermione and Viktor. 'Guys we have a big problem,' he said producing the map and then letting them look over it while he focused on the doors where the House Elves were now struggling to maintain the camouflage. 'What do we do?'

'Tell Fudge first,' Viktor said managing to be calm and collected, 'then ve haff to get these people out of here.' Staring around the room Harry realised this was easier said then done, but went to find Fudge all the same. Climbing onto the Ravenclaw table he scanned the hall for the Minister and was surprised when Cho climbed up beside him.

'What's going on Harry?' she asked, 'who are we looking for?'

'Fudge,' Harry said, answering only the second question, 'I have to tell him something important.' Then he resumed looking with Cho glancing around.

'That's not all that's happening though, is it?' and Harry turned to look straight at her, 'what's going on Harry?'

'There are Death Eaters in the castle,' Harry said it quickly and quietly, 'just don't let on you know, see if you can find a way to get people out, ask Hermione and everyone else to do the same.'

'How?'

'I don't know, but I've got to tell Fudge and we all have to do something before they get in here.' Looking over to the doors Harry found Fudge and turned back to Cho, 'good luck…we're all gonna need it.'

'Good luck Harry,' Cho whispered as he took off, then with a small leap she ran over to where Hermione waited for an idea on what to do.

'Minister Fudge!' Harry shouted over the chanting of the elves as he got nearer and was rewarded when the wizard turned away from the doors and moved towards him. Not wasting any time Harry produced the map and showed Fudge what was going on outside, then he turned to the people in the hall, 'how are we going to get them out?'

* * *

'A few more seconds should do it Lucius, then we're through the doors.'

'Excellent, remember, Stunning Jinxes only, we want prisoners to recall most of the defenders from the walls.' Sneering to himself Malfoy felt contempt for the people in Hogwarts who had tried to stop the Dark Lord, surely now his will would be done.

'NOW!' shouted one of the Death Eaters and with an enormous slurping noise the doors were pulled free of the mortar.

'Enter my friends,' Lucius said, then a deep chuckle erupted from his mouth as the first Death Eater started to open the doors.

* * *

The first Harry and Fudge knew the spell had failed was when the backlash from the Death Eater spell sent most of the House Elves flying across the room, several with small fires on their hair and coats. 'Harry!' Fudge almost shouted, 'get as many out as you can through the passages, MINISTRY WIZARDS TO ME!' and with a small shove he sent Harry back into the hall.

'Over here Harry!' he heard Hermione's voice above the general panic that was emerging and the crashing of tables that signalled the makeshift barricade the Ministry was putting up around the doors. 'What do we do?' she asked quickly when he arrived at the group.

'Get as many out by secret corridors as possible, get Fred and George to help you, they know this place inside out, everyone else just try and find them.' Splitting quickly the group ran to all the points where they knew there were exits, on the way Harry passed Malfoy at the Slytherin table. 'Death Eaters outside!' he shouted, 'get everyone out by the secret passages!'

Eyes widening Draco ran immediately to a shield adorning the wall across from the Slytherin table, 'Bisectorium!' he cried and with a groaning the shield split in half to reveal an earthen passage. Placing his fingers on his lips he released a piercing whistle that attracted the attention of nearby families, 'In here everyone, quickly!'

Running over to the head table Harry looked at the map and found the trapdoor underneath it, tapping his wand against it he read the text and shouted aloud, 'Pull to open!' then nothing happened. Suddenly a ginger haired twin rushed past and pulled up a teachers chair that was screwed onto the trapdoor, and visibly kicking himself Harry called for people to go down the ladder that emerged…then all hell broke loose.

'CHAAAAAAAARGE!' cried Malfoy and with a roar the first wave of Death Eaters ran into the Great Hall, its doors now wide open for all. Staying at the back Malfoy watched as the first row promptly collapsed on entering having run full tilt into the twenty or so Stunning Jinxes the flew over the makeshift barricades that had been erected. 'Expelliarmus!' he cried and with a colossal BANG one of the tables flew apart as the disarming spell punched through the wooden surface. Laughing to himself Lucius began to walk forwards when he noticed a familiar body lying beside the door, turning it over with his foot, he revealed Peter's bloodied face. Snorting with contempt he kicked the body aside, as Voldemort had said, the traitors would all pay eventually.

'Everybody, down here!' Harry shouted and gestured but in the panic no one seemed to want to follow him down into the passages, across the hall the situation was similar. At least Draco had got some out before the fight had begun but now it was impossible to get anyone's attention, even Ron's bright hair hadn't attracted a few looks. Then running through the crowd he saw Dudley dragging Aunt Petunia behind him as random shots began to fly into the hall.

'DOWN!' cried George and with a thud he collided into Harry as a blue stunner shot towards him and impacted against the wall. 'Be careful Harry,' he said as he helped him up, 'it appears the world's gone mad.' Then he ran off to try and get people into the passages before…but then the Death Eaters were among them.

'Quickly!' Harry shouted at Dudley and with forceful strides his cousin and aunt arrived at the passage, 'go down and I'll be there soon, help anyone else who arrives.' Then, ducking and diving about Harry ran out into the hall to try and get more people. Over by the entrance he saw Draco disappear into the wall having blasted back an approaching Death Eater, they were everywhere! Over the yells he tried to pick out the rest of his friends, but again he just caught sight of their cloaks or faces as they ducked into the passages away from attacks. Even the house elves, who had the most powerful magic available, were retreating under the pressure, ducking another spell Harry looked up and saw Dobby disappear in a bright flash as two Death Eaters charged towards him.

Standing by the table Harry was about to retreat when two small blurs ran into him, falling over he saw Colin and Dennis Creevey lying opposite him. 'C'mon,' he said and almost dragging both he led them to the trapdoor, 'where are your parents?' he asked but the boys were already down the ladder. Turning quickly, Harry looked around at the hall which was now overrun by Death Eaters, cursing he withdrew into the passage, what had happened out there? And where was Dumbledore?

* * *

Sighing painfully Dumbledore shifted his position within the hollow pillar, his left arm was broken at least once and half of his face felt like it was on fire. Muttering rapidly he tapped his wand on his arm and a cold blue light fell around it, setting and healing the bone. Gritting his teeth against the pain he felt a tear winding down his cheek, his castle had fallen…

* * *

Lying stiller than he imagined possible Peter felt his life slowly ebbing away from his broken body, the blast had sent him flying into a pillar. Most of his vital organs had been crushed, even now he could feel one of his lungs collapsing under some broken ribs. Well, at least I can die with a clearer conscience…

* * *

Inside the Great Hall most of the Ministry wizards lay stunned on the floor or under the wands of Voldemort's Death Eaters. Chuckling at the destruction which littered his ex-school, Lucius turned the Announcement Charm onto himself, cleared his throat and began to speak to the school. 'Now here this…

* * *

'HOGWARTS ACADEMY IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF LORD VOLDEMORT, WE HAVE TAKEN THE GREAT HALL AND HAVE HOSTAGES…'

On the battlements Flitwick and the defenders lowered their wands as the announcement rang out, Arthur slumped against the wall and sank slowly to the floor.

'I SUGGEST ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN, WIVES OR WHATEVER FAMILY THEY HAVE, ALIVE, THEY GIVE UP NOW. ANYONE WHO IS NOT IN THIS COMPLEX SITUATION SHOULD SURRENDER ANYWAY, OR WE'LL KILL SOMEONE ELSE'S FAMILY TO MAKE UP FOR IT. LEAVE YOUR WANDS AND REPORT TO THE GREAT HALL, YOU HAVE A NEW HEADMASTER TO LISTEN TO…'

Throwing his crossbow off the wall Vernon cursed out loud, then with a resigned slump he began to slowly trek towards the hall.

* * *

Deep underneath the hall Harry, with his small group of escapees, heard the announcement and cursed in a similar fashion to his uncle. Turning back to his family and the Creevey brothers he signalled to move down the passage, 'Lumos' he muttered and with a small spark his wand lit the way. Crawling on hands and knees Harry pulled out the map and scanned the hall, there were now about a hundred Death Eaters in there. Looking more carefully he also found Molly Weasley, Ginny, Justin, Ernie, Professors Sinistra and Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, and then moving into the hall were his uncle and Arthur Weasley. Cursing again Harry scanned the tunnels and found the spot where they all met, Draco was moving towards there quickly while the rest were slowly gathering their thoughts and leaving. Why had it all gone so damned wrong? Returning to the map Harry looked outside the hall and found the three dots he was searching for, Dumbledore was inside a pillar, but Peter's and Karkaroff's dots and tags were slowly fading away…

* * *

Looking through a gap in the mouth he had climbed through Ron could have reached out and pulled his sister inside, then he could have fought off Voldemort's horde and been creamed like a bug, Ron added as an afterthought. He didn't notice the hot tears that were flowing down his face as he watched the Death Eaters move his only sister and mother into the centre of the room where everyone else was slowly being herded. 'C'mon Ron,' he turned to see Fred in his wandlight, 'we're gonna see who we can find at the place where all these passages meet.'

* * *

'Time for a glorious entrance,' Voldemort said in an almost happy tone as he prepared for arriving in Hogwarts. Reaching out he used the Imperius spell on Malfoy, cast the reverse summoning spell on you Dark Mark…

* * *

In the Great Hall, Malfoy stepped into the centre of the crowd of wizards, witches, parents and children who had been caught by the Death Eaters or surrendered. With a hushed atmosphere he slowly pulled back the sleeve that covered his Dark Mark and placing his wand on it, he muttered, 'Oicca!' and with a gasp of pain the mark turned completely red and blood leaked from the edges. Suddenly the candlelit hall dimmed as electric green bolts surged out from it's centre, plucking at the flames of the candles and extinguishing them until only a few remained and it was a towering pillar that shot up and swamped the ceiling, hiding the outside world from view. It diminished rapidly and exploded outwards as green flames that washed over everyone without burning, and when the crowd turned back in the centre of the hall stood their most feared and greatest nightmare…Lord Voldemort had returned.

* * *

Deep beneath the Great Hall Harry's group pressed onwards even as the ground around them turned a vivid green, then with a small cry of pain Harry's scar lit up bright green and he collapsed unnoticed at the back of the crawling line. The castle had fallen, and so had the heroes defending it…

Chapter 23: Recovery and Revenge

Inside his pillar, Dumbledore had heard Malfoy's announcement and had felt the results of Voldemort's arrival in the building. Sighing with pain he shifted around and pressed his toe against a small ridge causing the ground beneath him to disappear, revealing a small spiral staircase that led to the network of passages running beneath the school. Stumbling down he tripped on the last step and fell heavily onto his back with a click, 'ah…' he whispered to no one in particular, 'I needed that.' Then with nothing else to do he passed into a blissful unconsciousness.

* * *

Beneath the hall and in the labyrinth of tunnels George knew he had found the small cave when the ground he'd been crawling on abruptly vanished and he fell head over heels on top of Viktor who had just emerged from the tunnel below his. With much confused waving of wands and threats the two almost blew each other to kingdom come before Hermione illuminated the cave and the two fighters realised who they were.

Breathing outwards in relief the two almost had a heart attack when a door in the floor opened and Dennis and Colin came bundling out, closely followed by Dudley and his mother. Leaning against the walls and breathing slowly as more people filtered into the cave it was only when Ron arrived that Hermione realised someone was missing. 'Hey guys,' she whispered, loudly in the muffled room, 'where's Harry?'

* * *

Harry lay unconscious in the tunnel through which some of his family and the Creevey brothers had crawled to relative freedom underground. With a sudden flash in the darkness Dobby and Binky appeared beside Harry, 'We is taking him to the kitchen,' Dobby said picking up one of Harry's limp arms. With another flash the two house elves and Harry disappeared, leaving only the Marauder's Map lying on the floor bleakly showing the forces of Voldemort spreading throughout the castle.

A few minutes later a muddy faced Dudley crawled past followed by a similarly caked Ron who saw the map, grabbing it he picked it up to find Harry Potter had totally disappeared from the map. Cursing out loud Ron threw it aside and leant against the tunnel wall, his face buried in his hands, could anything else possibly go wrong?

* * *

In the hospital wing Lupin attempted to pull his foot out from under the massive slab that had fallen onto him, as soon as Malfoy's announcement had rung out most of the remaining wizards and elves in the room had stopped firing. A few seconds later a howitzer shell had detonated in the middle of the wall, tearing the room apart, as well as several wizards and elves unable to put up any Shield Charms. Groaning out loud he tried to shift the block again and was about to let it fall back when a bloodied pair of knuckles caught it.

Looking up Lupin stared into the darkened eyes of Severus Snape, 'Hurry up Remus,' he grunted, 'I can't hold this all day.' Using his hand Lupin shifted out and with a crash Severus dropped the slab back down as soon as his leg was free.

'I owe you one…thanks.'

'Help me with Weasley then,' was the muttered reply, and following his gesture Lupin saw the crumpled form of Percy, his head lying in a spreading pool of blood.

'Oh god no,' Remus let the words flow out as they turned him over, his glasses were completely shattered and the right side of his face was covered in blood.

'It's cosmetic only, I think,' Severus said heavily, lifting aside a mop of Percy's hair he revealed a jagged cut, 'use a healing spell will you?'

Placing Percy in Lupin's arms Severus wandered off, checking the other bodies of the wizards and house elves who had been in the room. Muttering under his breath Lupin sealed the wound that was adorning Percy's head when the door to the wing suddenly burst open and fell from its hinges with an almighty crash. Training his wand on the doorway Lupin lowered it with relief when a large black dog gingerly padded its way through the rubble then as it neared Lupin, Sirius rose from all fours and crouched down beside Percy.

'Is this Arthur's boy?'

'Yes,' Lupin replied quietly, 'they put a shell into the room when we stopped firing.'

'Heartless bastards,' Sirius cursed, 'all that talk of give yourself up, and then this…' flailing his arms around Sirius came to a rest on a small body. 'Winky…' moving slowly he turned the house elf over and stared into eyes that would see no more, closing her eyelids he picked up a torn bedsheet and draped it over the frail form.

'So what the hell do we do now?' Remus said.

'First,' Snape replied after a pause from across the room, 'we disappear…' sliding open a secret panel he conjured a stretcher under Percy and the two moved inside. Placing an arm under Lupin and lifting him up, Sirius supported his hobbling friend and they too disappeared into the wall before sliding the panel on the bloody scene of death that had once been a hospital.

* * *

Strutting around the Great Hall with the residents of Hogwarts around him Voldemort let ou a great sigh as he finally collapsed into the headmaster's chair. Staring out at the frightened or demoralised faces before him he began speaking to the crowd; 'I always knew this chair would suit me…really I should have become headmaster sooner.' With a smirk he looked around at the total lack of reaction to his joke by the crowd, 'oh come, come my friends, surely you agree that I would be a great headmaster to your children. I would fill their minds with the knowledge that made me great so they in turn could spread my will throughout the entire world. Actually yes, Lucius, how is my world-wide campaign going?'

'A grand success my lord,' Malfoy replied in a smug tone, 'most of the major Ministries of Magic have been destroyed by our forces with overwhelming odds.'

'Ah yes,' Voldemort almost sung, 'another advantage that I have, your never ending belief that there is enough good in the world to overcome me. How many Death Eaters do I have now worldwide, half the wizarding population? Surely you realise you can never defeat me, and with the Dementors, vampires and all dark creatures beside me how can I fail to win?'

'Except for those traitorous giants now my lord,' Malfoy crooned from the side.

'Of course,' Voldemort's red eyes locked onto Hagrid's massive form, 'and how was your little trip abroad with Olympe, did you have much success Rubeus?'

'Yeh know the giants will never follow yeh again, why'd yeh bother askin'.' Hagrid's response rumbled across the hall and his two meaty fists involuntarily clenched tightly by his side.

'Such brave words for your people, that's if they ever show themselves again,' Voldemort's lips thinned as he spat out a response, 'too afraid aren't you?'

'We'll take anythin' that yeh can throw at us,' was the fierce reply.

'Really?' Voldemort retorted, drawing out the words, 'how about you take this then?' and raising his wand the Dark Wizard released a golden stream of light that caught Hagrid in the stomach. With a loud cry the groundsman flew into the wall with a sickening crunch and landed face down on the hard floor, one of his arms twisted backwards. 'How clumsy of me!' was the simpering exclamation, 'now who do I need to see next?' around the hall the Death Eaters began to laugh and shout while in the centre families moved together and colleagues put on brave faces.

* * *

A flickering in the corner of his eye caused Harry to jerk upright sending the sheet that had covered him flying, gasping he sat upright on a table near a roaring fire. 'Be still sir!', he heard a squeaky voice and soon helpful hands were getting Harry to down onto the table and a cushion was placed behind his back. Turning his head Harry looked into the saucer wide eyes of Dobby, 'me and Binky is finding you in a tunnel sir, we is not knowing about anyone else.' The house elf added the last part quickly in case Harry should get any ideas about moving or even running off to find his friends.

'Wha's happenin'?' he asked with a raspy voice.

'Too much sir,' Dobby replied as another elf handed him a bowl of soup, 'you is drinking this while I tell you please.' Harry gratefully accepted the soup and while he drank it down Dobby continued; 'We is not knowing too much about in the Great Hall, but from the hospital wing we is knowing that it is destroyed…' on saying this Dobby paused while Harry sprayed out a mouthful of soup. '…There is a lot of casualties sir, I is knowing Mr. Lupin and Master Weasley is alive, they were not there when we returned. Professor Snape is also not there so we is certain he is hidden somewhere…many friends are not being alive though…Harry Potter, Winky is dead.' When Dobby said it Harry suddenly saw floods of tears roll down the elf's face despite him not crying out loud.

'Dobby…I…' but Harry couldn't say anything as the elf placed a spoonful of soup in his mouth.

'We is all upset Harry Potter,' Dobby said the words quietly, 'but now we must worry about what to do, You-Know-Who has arrived in the school, we is scared but ready to help.'

'I…' Harry had no idea what on earth they could do, instead he just spooned more soup into his mouth, feeling the liquid soothe his dusty and sore throat.

'It is okay Harry Potter,' Dobby whispered, 'we is not out of hope.'

* * *

Well I can't accomplish anything lying here all day, Dumbledore thought, despite the fun he had had so far staring at the ceiling of the tunnel. Groaning to himself he rose from the floor and twisted his back experimentally, at least the fall had put something back to normal. Leaning against one of the earthen walls it was at times like this Dumbledore wished he had a photographic memory, he had no clue where this particular tunnel went.

Keeping one hand against the wall Dumbledore began to walk without knowing his destination, stumbling over the ground he soon found that he was walking in a large spiral taking him deeper and deeper into the school's foundations. That's odd, he commented to himself, I thought only the kitchens were below ground, and I've passed them already at this depth. Ignoring the feeling of concern, the elderly wizard continued his progress until the magical light that had kept his path alit suddenly faded.

'Lumos,' he whispered in the resulting darkness and with a small spark his wand produced a brilliant orange glow that lit the tunnel around him. With a small gasp he turned to the nearest wall, instead of the familiar roughly hewed earth he found the beginning of a finely crafted stone wall. Carved upon the wall were images and words in a variety of languages, some he could not guess at but he was sure a castle was Hogwarts, and that…that one of the figures carved beside it was…him.

Pulling his robe around him as if chilled he held the wand closer, light seemed to spill off of it and onto the wall, that figure beside him, that was Balthasar Dippet, the previous headmaster. Moving quickly Dumbledore moved along the tunnel, along the line of headteachers until he came to the end, and there the path split four ways. Holding is breath without realising, Dumbledore moved the wand in so close it was almost touching the nearest figure, beneath them were four names written in dense script:

Godric Gryffindor

Salazar Slytherin

Helga Hufflepuff

Rowena Ravenclaw

The school founders, looking back Dumbledore saw that generations had come and gone several times, the age of the school was…he had know it was long, but to pass so many generations. Almost oblivious to the fate above of the school he had served for such a short time in its history, he continued to study the carvings, moving further along the tunnel as he attempted to translate some of the script. The whole time he was unaware of the eyes gazing upon him as he walked onwards…

* * *

'Where are we?' Sirius hissed as he walked into Lupin for the fifth time in as many minutes.

'I don't know,' Lupin whispered back fiercely, 'but my back is beginning to hurt.'

'Stop stopping suddenly then,' Sirius said nudging his friend into the back.

'You are heading for a fight Padfoot,' Lupin said over his shoulder.

'Anytime Moony.'

'Will you both shut up!' Snape suddenly interrupted, 'it's like we were back in school, you could never stop arguing then.'

'We did not!' they both shot back.

'Anyway, you were both Marauders, how in god's holy name do we get out of here?'

'Easy,' Sirius said over Lupin's head, 'just push that little button, and hey…' the wall slid away to reveal the corridor by the charms classroom, and the five Death Eaters who had just walked into it, '…presto.'

* * *

'So what now?' Harry croaked to Dobby as the soup began to smooth his sore throat but before the elf could reply another came running up.

'Dobby,' he squeaked quickly, 'there is another fight out by the Charm's classroom, we is thinking they are cut off defenders.'

'Stay here Harry Potter, I is letting Binky look after you,' and then he was running to the main group of house elves, within a second several had flicked out for the fight. Sighing Harry turned to the house elf who had remained by his side.

'You must be Binky.'

'Yes I am, Harry Potter sir.'

'Just call me Harry,' he mumbled as he drank more soup, it wasn't that he minded the house elf's obvious reverence, but it was so annoying to hear it. 'Do you know what has been happening anywhere else in Hogwarts?'

'We is knowing that You-Know-Who has taken over the Great Hall and most people are moving there. There are still small battles all over the castle, not everyone has surrendered, there are lots more passages then Death Eaters.'

'Passages…' Harry trailed off then grabbed Binky's arm with a sudden jerk, 'I left people in the passages under the hall!'

'That is no problem,' Binky replied, 'there are no Death Eaters near there, but I is sending some elves to get them anyway, wait here please Harry Potter, and do not be moving.' With nothing else to do Harry watched as the house elf ran back to the crowd in the kitchen, then another three flicked out from the sides.

* * *

'So vot do ve do now?' Viktor asked Hermione while the rest of the escapees sat dejectedly around the outside, Ron and Dudley had returned without Harry a few minutes earlier.

'I don't know,' she replied, 'but the most sensible thing to do is wait for something to happen.'

'And what if that something is a Death Eater coming from one of those holes?' asked Fred while his brother tried to talk to a deeply depressed Ron. opening her mouth to reply Hermione was silenced as three miniature explosions landed in the centre of the room. 'Or if that happens instead?' Fred continued, whipping out his wand.

'If this happens you is please doing nothing,' came a squeaky voice and from the shadows came a small house elf, 'we is coming to get you out, Harry Potter is sending us.'

'You mean he's alive?' Ron blurted out.

'Of course he is alive sir,' replied another house elf who was busy drawing a symbol on the floor, 'he is only a bit woozy though, his scar is lighting up again we is thinking.' Completing the symbol the elves began to hustle people politely into the centre, then raising their paws they began to chant, 'hold on sirs and madams,' the elf squeaked as they finished, then violet energy shot from the hands of the elves and lit up the symbol. With a small bang everyone inside it disappeared, three smaller bangs were heard and then the elves were gone leaving a deserted cave deep under the hall.

* * *

'Um…' Sirius said as the Death Eaters turned to face the three men and unconscious body on a floating stretcher, '…Stupefy!' and as the first Dark Wizard went flying into the wall the curses shot back and forth. After the first volley both sides found their aim ruined by the smoke that had erupted into the small corridor. Even more amazing for Sirius was that none of their small group had been hit despite being outnumbered.

The biggest surprise emerged though when the smoke cleared and instead of four battleweary wizards, one who was unconscious, the Death Eaters found themselves facing four wizards, one of whom was still unconscious, but there were also six very angry looking house elves. Muttering under their breath they flung their arms forwards and when the green smoke cleared a second later, the remaining four Death Eaters lay in a heap of unconscious bodies.

'Well that was fun,' Severus said wryly.

* * *

With a groan Professor Flitwick fell to the floor after being subjected to the Cruciatus Curse for trying to prevent Malfoy hurling a Muggle parent through a window. Most of the hall was now either shouting at the top of their lungs while cursing at the Death Eaters or remaining huddled together for protection. 'Still you try and defy me, it's pitiful,' Voldemort muttered to himself before raising is voice to the entire hall, 'why? Why do you defy me?' he spat the question out but no one answered.

'Don't tell me you still believe that Muggle loving old fool Dumbledore will save you all, he's gone, vaporised, his body couldn't even take a simple explosion. Right now he's looking on you from the other side while I tear this place apart, there's no hope for any of you, no hope at all. Why do you even bother pretending?' the whole time he was becoming more and more furious, voice raising in intensity. 'If he was here he would be powerless,' turning around Voldemort aimed his wand at the stirring body of Hagrid, 'I can do what I want, and I will,' muttering under his breath Voldemort sent the same golden beam out at the struggling man.

With a grunt of effort Hagrid rose and punched the nearest Death Eater flying before the beam caught his midriff again, with a sickening crack Arthur saw part of his chest implode and with a crash the half-giant was sent flying through one of the hall's windows, and rolling down the slope away from the castle.

In the hall Voldemort brought a fist down on the table with such force that it split, 'Hogwarts is mine.'

Chapter 24: Developments

Groaning slightly Harry levered his back up against the pillow that Binky had propped behind him, there had been a small explosion in the centre of the kitchen that most of the elves had rushed over to. Fearing the worst Harry had gripped his wand and trained it over the spot where they had clustered, only to see them burst apart as Ron and Dudley ran over to Harry. Smiling with relief Harry lowered his wand as the two came over, but it soon faded as they began bickering from both sides.

'Disappeared, what the hell were you–'

'I thought you'd gone and died you–'

'Scared mum half to death–'

'Hey!' he shouted before they could overwhelm him, 'I was unconscious, Dobby brought me here.'

'Where is Dobby?' asked Viktor who had just joined the group with Hermione.

'He said there was a fight somewhere, he went to help with some friends.'

'And bloody brilliant he was too!' came a familiar voice as three figures stepped out from a passage that had opened in the floor. Grinning Sirius stepped out and dusted himself causing a small green cloud to arise, 'course we had the situation under control.'

'Mmm…' said Lupin as he two emerged, '…under perfect control, just like when you were knocked into the lake by the Whomping Willow. I believe that was just after you said that–'

'Alright, alright. We had absolutely no control over the situation whatsoever but then Dobby and co came along and saved out butts, that okay Remus?'

'Perfectly adequate Sirius.' Lupin replied with a small grin at his friend's easy collapse.

'I hate to interrupt the reunion,' Severus said, 'but we have slightly bigger problems to worry about then what we just faced. Any ideas on what to do Lupin, with Dumbledore gone you're next in his chain of command.'

'He's not gone,' Harry interjected, 'he's stuck in a pillar in the Entrance Hall, look on the map.' Reaching into his robes Ron withdrew the map and gave it to Lupin and Snape who spread it out on the table beside Harry. 'Hey, how come we're not on there?'

'I changed it for Albus over the holidays,' Lupin said to Harry, 'he wanted certain rooms excluded, the kitchens were one of them.'

'Look, our common room is missing!' Hermione said with surprise, 'why would he do that?'

'I don't know, but Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff must be missing as well,' Sirius added, 'I definitely remember putting them in.'

'We put everything in,' Lupin replied, 'we even managed to put a charm on for the rooms that move around or disappear. Harry, I can't find Dumbledore anywhere, show me the pillar.'

'It's right there,' Harry obliged, pointing at the column where he had seen Dumbledore's spot, but now there was just a circle. 'I don't understand, he couldn't have gone out, there are Death Eaters all around there, and you can't apparate inside the castle.' He added the last comment before Hermione could for him and shot her a wink across the parchment.

'Where the hell did he go then?' asked Ron.

* * *

Deep underground Dumbledore had lost all sense of time and was only quietly comforted by the familiar presence of the castle founders nearby. He had wandered along the passage for what had seemed like miles but so far had found no end to the magnificent wall. The line of headteachers had been replaced by one showing the construction of Hogwarts, then of early history; goblin rebellions, dragon attacks, unicorns wandering safely in the wild.

Who is he?

Almost jumping out of his robes Dumbledore spun as he heard the voice nearby, it had been quiet before and once again ascended into a deafening silence. Shaking his head Dumbledore returned to a wall but had only studied it for a second when a new voice entered his hearing.

Must be Dumbledore, the new one.

This time he did jump and with a small crack he hit his head on the ceiling, gasping at the sudden pain the old wizard slowly slid down the wall to unconsciousness.

NOW YOU'VE DONE IT.

Quiet, you silly old man, he'll wake up again.

Looks a bit young for a headteacher doesn't he?

Desperate times…

…DESPERATE MEASURES.

* * *

Vernon Dursley knew he was probably going to die soon anyway, uncle of Harry Potter and a Muggle, that was a real attention seeker for the crazed man in the castle. That was why he stood up after Hagrid had been thrown through the window. That was why he was now staring into two red eyes that showed no mercy or compassion and now he was shouting as well, brilliant.

'What?' Voldemort whispered.

'You heard me you evil bastard,' Vernon sneered back at the Dark Wizard. All the hatred that he had felt for the wizarding world was now directed at Voldemort, he was the reason for all of it. 'You're just a psycho with no place in life so you ruin others, you have no family so you decide that why should anyone else should have one?'

'You Muggle fool, how could you hope to understand anything about me?'

'SHUT UP! I WASN'T FINISHED WITH YOU,' Vernon shouted so loud that even Voldemort looked taken aback at his anger. 'You take families and decide that isn't enough so you try to get rid of all that is decent in this life but that still isn't enough. And do you know why? I'll tell you why, because when it all comes down to it you're nothing but a petty child.'

'Stop.'

'No I won't stop because the child tells me too, you're just angry at the entire world because you could never have what you wanted.'

'STOP!'

'NO! YOU JUST CAN'T ACCEPT ANYTHING THAT IS REAL, YOU NEED YOUR OWN WORLD AND THIS IS IT. A MONSTROSITY. YOU CAN'T LET ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST A CHILD.'

'AND WHAT ARE YOU, A WEAK, PATHETIC, MUGGLE WITH NO IDEA OF THE POWER THAT I HAVE.'

'YEAH, JUST LIKE A LITTLE BOY WHO HAS FOUND HIS FATHER'S GUN. I'M PATHETIC? WHO'S THE ONE THREATENING CHILDREN TO GET HIS WAYS?'

'SILENCE!' and with a mad scream Voldemort levelled his wand at Vernon Dursley, 'YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY WORLD.'

'I know enough to be confident that it will fail,' with the wand steadily aimed at his chest Vernon ceased shouting but kept his eyes locked with the lunatic.

'AND WHAT IS THAT WHICH WILL FAIL ME?'

'Everything. Your pathetic friends who pick the neighbour hood bully. Your own power. But that isn't what will destroy you.'

'And what is that then?' Voldemort asked quietly, his eyes darkening.

'Hope. That is what has kept you dead for so long and that will kill you again,' but the speaker was not Vernon, instead the voice came from Neville who now stood among the crowd.

'HOPE!' Voldemort shouted shrilly, 'hope is the fantasy here you fools, what can hope do for you? Will it brandish a sword and fight me? NO! Hope is useless and it will never destroy me.'

'You're wrong,' Neville continued, his voice calm, 'hope is everywhere and in everyone, you can't fight it and it will fight you.'

'WHAT HOPE DO YOU HAVE THEN?' Voldemort screamed at Neville, spittle flying from his mouth in anger.

'Harry Potter,' Neville uttered the name, his voice still calm.

'NO, THE BOY IS DEAD!'

'Ha!' Vernon started again, 'if my nephew is dead then why are you so afraid.'

'THE BOY IS DEAD,' Voldemort shouted again, then he raised his wand, 'AND SO ARE YOU! AVADA KEDAVRA!' and in a flash of green that swept across the hall there was a shout of anger that cut through the room.

* * *

With a brilliant flash of green Harry's scar erupted in pain and a tortured yell escaped his mouth as he convulsed on the table where he lay. The Marauder's Map flew from his hands and was grabbed swiftly by Dudley as Sirius and Aunt Petunia crowded round Harry. 'Grab his arms!' she shouted as she tried to hold his head steady, with strong hands Sirius pulled down on Harry's right arm while Dudley and Ron clung onto his left.

'Look at me Harry,' his aunt whispered and with his teeth gritted Harry turned his sweating head towards her, 'I'm here, I'm right here and I'm not going to leave.' As he visibly calmed she turned to Dobby who had run in with a small column of house elves when Harry had yelled. 'Get me some ice cold water please,' Petunia said to Dobby and within seconds the house elves had passed a jug along the line.

'I need a towel,' and with a quick flick of her wand Hermione conjured a small cloth that floated into Petunia's hand. Dipping it in the water Harry's aunt carefully mopped at his brow as his body began to slowly cease convulsing, letting go of his arm Sirius reached for his godson's hand and gave it a squeeze as he steadily began to draw in deep breaths. 'It's over Harry,' his aunt's soothing voice cut through the barrier of pain that had been around him. Looking up with small eyes Harry croaked back a reply.

'No…it's just beginning.'

* * *

'NO!' with a cry Arthur Weasley rose and punched out the nearest Death Eater as the lifeless body fell trembling to the ground. Grabbing the fallen Dark Wizard's wand Molly cast a shield charm as two more Death Eaters began to aim at Arthur, but then they too were attacked by angry people. Throughout the hall chaos now reigned as the captured turned on the captors after the horrible death that had been unleashed.

Yelling loudly Vernon released a punch that threw a Death Eater back five feet as the wizard attempted to charge down the Weasleys. Running into the blue bubble that surrounded them he caught the end of the brief conversation between Ginny and her mother, '…under the main table.' Turning to face the large table he saw that a chair was leaning backwards and beneath it was a large gap, realising the significance he began to run as the spells released inside the castle intensified.

Across the hall Neville lay very still, his eyes focused on nothing, staring up into the endless sky that was portrayed on the ceiling. Beside him lay Justin who had rushed over as the spell had been released, aiming to knock him away, but this had not been the case. Breathing a deep breath Neville stirred and carefully lifted the boy in his arms, Justin had taken the full blast as he had tackled Neville. Tears sprung unbidden from Neville's face as he looked into the grey and sightless eyes of the Muggle wizard, 'maybe Eton would have been a better choice,' he whispered as he clutched the lifeless body.

* * *

Outside the castle Hagrid stirred in pain as his lungs objected to the force that had been applied, gingerly touching his chest he felt the ribs that had been snapped by Voldemort's attack. Inside the hall he heard the shouting and saw the different lights of spells being launched across the room. Groaning he carefully lifted himself up and with a shake of his head he began to move towards the trees that were dizzy in his vision. Shuffling with a limp he moved into the branches that brushed over his enormous shoulders, steadily moving he walked deeper and deeper into the forest until he had disappeared. A few minutes later a large howl came from the forest followed by the snapping of branches.

Draco had once said there was all sorts of things in the forest, werewolves were among the nicest he had mentioned.

* * *

Deep underground Dumbledore awoke to find himself lying in the passage that was now lit with a blue glimmer of light. His foggy brain found focussing on his surroundings difficult but his ears soon heard the conversation around him:

WRECKING MY CASTLE

How many times must we say this, it's our castle.

We did help build it, even he helped out.

Now he real question is what do we do now?

LET'S GO AND START A FIGHT.

Stupid, nice but stupid.

You should know by now that the odds of us doing anything like that are immeasurable.

DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T TRY.

Yeah, I can just see you tackling someone and then flying through into the trophy room when you suddenly remember you're a ghost.

LOOK WHO'S TALKING.

Quiet both of you, now we can't do anything overly physical as you have both effectively argued. However in terms of a small effort do you have any ideas?

In the silence that followed Dumbledore slowly turned his head to face the voices and his eyes managed to focus on three blue shimmers. 'Who are you?' he croaked towards them.

AAAAAARRRRRGH!

Quiet Godric, that's enough to scare anyone to death – again.

HE SCARED ME.

Ahem, we have a different problem than worrying about dying again.

As his gaze slowly reverted to normal Albus saw the faces of the trio of ghosts that were beside him, thinking back to the carvings their names shot into his head; Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. 'Am I dead?' he whispered to the nearest face that hovered in his vision.

No, but you have one massive bump on your head.

Nodding to himself Albus slipped into peaceful unconsciousness again as the trio of phantoms moved in.

AND HE'S MEANT TO SAVE THE SCHOOL, HE CAN'T EVEN STAY CONSCIOUS FOR FIVE MINUTES HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP?

Godric, it's not as if you were king of staying awake during any situation.

Stop bickering with him Rowena, we have to do something, but what?