A/N: This chapter is pretty long, sorry bout that, and also sorry if you like Prof. Trelawney, because I sure don't.
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Chapter 10: The Battle for Hogwarts
The horde of Death Eaters stopped advancing quite a distance from the group of defenders. The tension was so palpable you could cut it with a very sharp and dangerous object.
Suddenly, Legolas and Aragorn let fly with two incredibly swift arrows, both taking down a Death Eater. Before the evildoers knew what had happened, two more arrows were loosed, taking down another two henchmen.
After that, the Death Eaters got smart and magically set fire to every arrow that came their way. While the arrows distracted the bad guys, Snape and Professor Flitwick Banished the potions the former had brewed, aiming them at the enemy. The potions burst when they landed, sending complex, painful liquid every which way. Death Eaters fell to the ground, some with boils springing up on their exposed skin like the plague, some spontaneously combusted, and some evaporated into thin air.
Now the evil ones were really getting angry. They started moving forward again, drawing their wands and casting any curse they could think of. Legolas and Aragorn ran behind the teachers, who immediately put up magic shields to absorb the spells. Students climbed on each other's shoulders so they could reach over their professors' shields and throw a few hexes back at their enemies. The Death Eaters hastily put up shields, doing all in their power to stop the curses from getting to their Master.
Harry got on Ron's shoulders, keeping low until he saw Peter Pettigrew huddling behind Voldemort's robes. ~Pathetic little rat~ thought Harry, ~now you shall die like you should have three years ago~
Taking careful aim, Harry raised his wand and yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" The flash of green light momentarily blinded both sides as the spell chased Peter down. Voldemort, thinking the spell was directed at him, laughed menacingly and said, "You think that measly little curse is going to hurt me, Potter?"
Lord Voldemort stepped two feet to the right, out of the path of the killing curse, leaving the cowering Pettigrew to take it. Peter's eyes grew wide, but before he could move, the curse hit him, and he lived no more.
Grinning triumphantly, Harry got off Ron's shoulders . ~ That's for my godfather, you cowardly murdering lousy excuse for a human being! ~ "Ron, I got Pettigrew!"
Ron, who was as mad that Pettigrew had gotten away all that time ago and never cleared Sirius's name, gave his best friend a high-five. "All right, that's what I'm talking about!"
The number of Death Eaters was rapidly dwindling. The Hogwarts side had lost two students and one teacher, Professor Trelawney. This especially saddened Parvati and Lavender. The looks on the Death Eaters' faces told them that they were frightened by the horde of students, teachers, and strangers fighting their meager number that weren't annihilated, unconscious, or in too much pain to move.
Professor Severus Snape was the most nervous and scared of anyone on the battlefield. ~ Voldemort didn't summon me for this attack. He knows I've left him ~ Indeed, Voldemort was glaring at him with an evil grin on his hideously snake-like face.
Crouching behind Dumbledore's shield, Gandalf noticed the terrified look on the potion master's face. He wasn't sure why, but he knew that none of the other professors showed their fear even remotely as much as the usually calm and sneering Severus Snape. He guessed it was something to do with the Dark Lord, since that was who Snape's gaze was locked on.
Voldemort strode forward, brandishing his wand. Gandalf stood up, walked around the teachers, and calmly walked out to meet him.
The snake-like creature grinned and hissed, "Nice hat, old man."
Gandalf was ired. No one made fun of a Maiar's headgear! He'd never made fun of Saruman's sequined pink headband, so he saw no reason why his choice of oddly pointed hat should be mocked. He lost his temper a bit. "I am the wielder of the flame of Anor! YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!"
He brought his staff down, jabbing it into the ground. A bright light flashed, and a rumble shook the ground. "Go back to the shadow!"
Voldemort, intimidated by this strange magic (and that weird hat that the old man was so protective of), conceded. "Fine, Weird-Pointy-Hat-Man, but I shall return, with a stronger force, when you are no longer here to stop me! Beware, Hogwarts, your day will come!
With that, he retreated with the few remaining Death Eaters. The defenders looked at each other, then broke out in a resounding cheer tat shook the very foundations of the castle. They had done it!
Professor Snape walked up to Gandalf. "Thank you for saving me from a most untimely death, Sir Gandalf."
There was a sparkle in the Maiar's eyes. "It was no trouble at all. Just promise me one thing."
Severus nodded. "Anything, Gandalf."
Gandalf smiled. "Look after young Harry for us when we go. That fool of a Potter is going to get his foolhardy self killed if he's not careful."
Snape rolled his eyes, but agreed. The Maiar chuckled and went to congratulate Dumbledore.
The hobbits were celebrating with a small picnic feast. Everyone sat down to join them. Legolas and Aragorn were commended on their archery, and Dumbledore told Harry he was proud of him slaying that "slimy deceiving rat man."
Everyone was happy and enjoying each other's company. But a dim sadness was also hanging over the festivities; the Fellowship had to go back, and nobody wanted such good friends to go. ~ Especially the girls ~ Harry noted. ~ Stupid girls. ~