A/N: Well guys, this is the second to last chapter. I just thank you all for staying with me. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. The battle at last!!!!
Oh, and by the way, I apologize in advance for the end of this chapter...*hides*
Chapter Twenty-four
Of Death, Daggers, and the Heirs
Ron never knew Harry and Hermione had followed him through the woods. His mind had been set on one thing: Harmony. He had to find her, help her...protect her.
The sight of Marigold, the city he had come to love, being plumaged by Death Eaters had momentarily paralyzed him. Then anger and adrenaline began to pump through him, shattering the trance. His eyes flared with hatred. He pulled out his wand and ran into the city to save it, unable in his fury to realize how foolish a move it was.
He managed his way through quite nicely, apparently allowing Harmony to teach him the traditional Marigold style of fighting had paid off. He was halfway to the palace when a hand shot out of an alleyway and pulled him out of the battle in the main streets. He turned with his wand poised, and had nearly shouted a rather nasty curse before he realized who it was.
"Sirius," Ron sighed with relief. "Don't scare me like that."
"I had to find you before you did something stupid," Sirius replied curtly. His face was streaked with an ominous mixture of blood and dirt. His wand was nowhere to be seen, but his sword was scarlet with blood. Obviously King Shinra had made a wise decision in making Sirius the General of Slytherin's Army.
"Where's Harmony?" Ron finally blurted out. At that Sirius smiled, and Ron felt strangely childish.
"Off fighting, of course," The General answered. Ron was about to make a sarcastic reply when...
"Ron!" Ron spun around and felt his heart thudding in his chest. Her dress was horribly torn and ripped, a cut across her right cheek was bleeding freely, but it was still Princess Harmony Zalaras Slytherin calling his name.
"Harmony!" He called, but before he could say anymore someone leapt from the shadows and tackled her. She fell with a muffled shriek, her fists flying.
The rage that had been building up in Ronald Weasley finally exploded. His vision went red, and he wasn't entirely aware of what he was doing as he lifted Harmony's attacker by the collar and shoved him into the brick wall on the left side of the alley, his feet dangling several inches from the ground. Ron's snarling face was only centimeters away from the attacker's.
"Ron?" The feeble word escaped the other man's lips. Ron's vision began to clear, and he realized the person had had pinned to that wall had familiar green eyes behind crooked glasses, untidy black hair and a lightening shaped scar. Ron's eyes widened with realization.
"Harry?" He choked. "What are you doing here?"
"I...we followed you and..."
Ron cut Harry's splutters short by releasing him and turning to Harmony, who was lying on the ground watching the exchange with interest. After several moments, Ron gathered his courage. "Need a hand?" He asked in an anxious voice, extending his own.
"I'm fine alone, thank you," Harmony replied, giving him an icy glare and rising gracefully to her feet. She dusted off her ruined dress as if it were one of her best royal gowns and not utterly destroyed by battle and looked beautiful despite the wound on her cheek that added a grisly color to her face. Ron quickly retracted his hand, feeling stupid and like a perfect jerk on top of it.
"Look," He finally began after an antagonizing moment of silence. "I-"
He was cut off by a jet of deathly green they all jumped to avoid. Harmony turned and shot some curse or another back. Whatever the red light was, it worked. The Death Eater responsible fell to the ground.
"Ron, this isn't the time or place," She said, spinning around to face him.
"Exactly," Sirius said quickly as Ron opened his mouth to reply. "There are more important matters at hand."
"Such as telling us what the hell is going on!" Hermione finally burst out. Ron jumped. He had completely forgotten about Harry and hadn't even realized Hermione was there. Sirius turned his gaze to them, his face softening.
"Yes," He replied. "You don't know how long I've waited to see the four of you stand together. I was born to make sure you four would unite, and it's somewhat of a relief that my entire existence hasn't been completely in vain."
"What are you TALKING about?!" Harry cried in frustration. "This girl is Harmony SLYTHERIN! You know, as in Salazar?"
"Yes," Sirius nodded. "I know. I'm the General of Slytherin's Army."
"WHAT?!" Harry's eyes bulged. Ron sighed.
"The most important thing for you to know is Salazar Slytherin had two heirs," Ron explained to Harry in a professional manner. "Voldemort, who was (obviously) the heir of Salazar's evil work, was the human heir. Eventually Salazar repented because he married a wood nymph and created a second heir to help the three of us defeat Voldemort. Harmony is Salazar's second heir." He concluded as if it all made perfect sense and they should've figured it out on their own.
"You're not making any sense," Hermione said, getting somewhat angry. Harmony stood next to Ron, knowing she would have to make a stand for herself.
"I know this is hard to believe, you have every reason to hate me and no reason whatsoever to trust me," She said softly. "But I have been trained since birth to fight and defeat Voldemort, and many of my people have died in your defense, Harry Potter. I want nothing more than to see the Dark Lord fall, then come back to what's left of my city to pick up the pieces. We're on the same side, Harry, Hermione...we always have been."
"And that's why you kidnapped Ron?!" Harry demanded fiercely, gesturing to his best friend. Ron's eyes widened.
"WHAT?!" He cried. "What gave you a ridiculous idea like that?"
"You were captured by Voldemort, and Brooke-Harmony-whatever! She said she was responsible."
"You did what?" He turned to Harmony, feeling more horrible than ever as she looked away. He turned to Harry and Hermione with unfounded anger. "She is not responsible."
"She said-"
"Okay, Harry, you want the truth?" Ron snapped. "Here it is. I was NEVER CAPTURED! I ran away from home, and accidentally stumbled into the Forbidden Forest. I met up with Harmony and Sirius on accident, and I have been in Marigold the WHOLE TIME of MY OWN FREE WILL!! I was never kidnapped, never hidden, never tortured. I stayed because I wanted to."
Silence. The sounds of battle seemed to be cut off from this alley after this speech, all the five of them could hear was Ron's heavy breaths. Harmony turned her head away, her hand over her mouth. Harry finally spoke, a look of hurt betrayal in his eyes.
"Ron...you didn't want to come home?"
"No, it wasn't that Harry," Ron let out a gust of air, running a hand through his hair and avoiding Hermione's eyes wet with tears. "I just..." Now Ron's eyes traveled to Harmony. Now was the perfect time to tell her why he stayed: because he was in love with her. It was the perfect time to beg for her forgiveness, explain himself. But somehow, he just couldn't. He was absolutely positive she now hated him, and now, in front of Harry, Hermione and Sirius and right before the battle...he just couldn't handle the rejection. "They were planning for the battle," Ron finally explained. "I was preparing."
Ron was a horrible liar. But at the moment, there wasn't enough time for any of the parties present to pry into his true meaning. Only Sirius knew.
"You mean...Harmony isn't working for Voldemort?"
"NO!" Sirius finally cried. "Look, I know this is really dramatic and you teenagers are relishing in it, but there is a FULL SCALE BATTLE going on as we speak. You four need to get to Hogwarts before Voldemort does. Harry, Hermione, your just going to have to trust me and Ron that Harmony is on our side."
"Ron and me," Hermione immediately corrected.
"WHATEVER!" Sirius yelled, almost losing it completely. "The point is she's not going to kill you. Harry, please. Without her, you cannot defeat him!"
Harry looked at Hermione, who made it clear just in her eyes that she would follow his lead. Sirius was looking furious and Ron anxious. Lastly his eyes fell on Her: Harmony Slytherin. She was right; he had absolutely no reason to trust her. But somehow...her eyes were a clear blue, and he felt like he could see everything about her. He saw in her eyes an intense hatred...for Voldemort. He never knew, in years to come, why he trusted her at that moment, the most important of his life. Maybe it was destiny.
He nodded.
"C'mon," Hermione said, giving Harmony a shaky...well, something that distantly resembled a smile. "We need to get to Hogwarts."
Without further conversation the four of them turned and fled. Sirius watched them, pride filling his heart. Harry and Hermione led the way with Ron just behind them, all three in uniform. Then there was Harmony, conspicuously different in the long green fabric, yet the determination in her stride and the glow surrounding her matched that of the other three.
Sirius returned to the battle, knowing he had to hold them up long enough for the Heirs to reach Dumbledore and prepare the castle.
In next to no time, it seemed, the four of them were nearing the castle. Halfway up the lawns, Hermione suddenly cried, "STOP!" In shock more than anything else the other three halted in their tracks. "What are we going to do, exactly?" She asked, pointing out a problem none of them had stopped to consider.
"Everyone will be at lunch," Harry remarked.
"We can't just going barging in!" Hermione cried, her pitch alarmingly high.
"The time for discretion has passed, Herm," Ron said, taking the lead. The other three gasped. "What?" He asked, annoyed.
"Your...your robes..." Hermione pointed a shaky finger at Ron. He looked down and for the first time realized he was no longer wearing the uniform. He was wearing long robes of ebony and rich yellow. Ron hadn't noticed them because, despite their elaborate look, they were very light.
"What happened?" Ron demanded, somewhat alarmed.
"Your amulet," Harmony said, gesturing to the ebony badger glowing at Ron's chest, the golden eye alive with a mysterious shimmer that reached the chain around his neck holding the amulet in place. "It activated when you stepped onto the grounds. You are now in your official Hufflepuff battle ensemble."
"Why didn't you change?" He snapped. Harmony looked down at her deep green robes and glowing emerald snake pointedly.
"I was already in full Slytherin regalia," She commented. Something suddenly occurred to her and her eyes flew open. She turned to Harry and Hermione. "Where are your amulets?"
"Amulets?" Harry asked, but Hermione caught on immediately.
"Upstairs, in the tower. We didn't know we'd be using them. Do we need them for the battle?"
"YES!" Ron and Harmony cried in unison.
"Okay, here's the plan," Harmony said slowly. "Ron and I will warn Dumbledore while you and Harry collect your amulets."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Hermione asked, and immediately looked as if she wished she hadn't. Harmony bit her lip, catching the references in that statement. Hermione was referring to the fact that she didn't exactly trust Harmony, not to mention Harmony's current state of expulsion. She threw her shoulder's back defiantly.
"It the only way," She said bravely. Harry nodded, and with that he and Hermione sprinted into the castle with Harmony and Ron on their heels.
"Mr. Potter! Miss Granger!" Professor Sprout cried irritably as the Head Boy and Girl ran past her, causing her to drop her papers all over the floor. She turned around to see two more students running in. "And Miss..." Sprout cut off with a gasp, then pulled out her wand and pointed it at Harmony. "Don't move, Miss. I'm going to get Dumbledore."
Ron's eyes flared. His hand went to his side and to his great satisfaction he found the sword he had always used for practice in the Training Room in Marigold. He pulled the sword out and put the point to Sprout's neck.
"Put the wand down," He said, his voice low. Sprout immediately dropped her wand, her hazel eyes wide with fear.
"Ron, stop it!" Harmony cried, trying to make him see reason.
"Mr. Weasley?" A voice spoke in astonishment. Ron's eyes shifted to Albus Dumbledore, who was standing at the door of the Great Hall, his eyes wide, with McGonagall behind him. Slowly, Ron lowered the sword. "What is going on here?" Dumbledore demanded, his gaze leaving Ron and settling on Harmony.
"Voldemort, sir," Ron explained. "The Death Eaters are preparing to attack, the entire army."
"And how does that explain threatening the life of Professor Sprout?" Dumbledore replied, as if he didn't believe Ron, who felt anger rising within him.
"Because she was going to shoot a curse of some kind at Harmony!" He cried. "You people don't get it! I was NOT kidnapped, Harmony NEVER tried to kill me. She's on OUR side, and she left hundreds of her people to God knows what horrible end to come here and defend this damned school. She's on our side; she's not the enemy. All of Voldemort's power is marching toward these grounds with the Dark Lord himself at the head, and we need to get out there! And furthermore-"
"Harmony?" The soft voice interrupted Ron's fierce speech. They all turned to see Crystal Jenkins now standing next to McGonagall. She swept past Dumbledore and right to Harmony. "Oh God, what did you do?" She whispered, gently touching the scar on Harmony's cheek.
"A scratch," The Princess replied, wincing.
"Professor Jenkins!" Dumbledore said sharply, his fiery blue eyes turning on his professor angrily. "What is the meaning of this?" Crystal straightened and turned to face the Headmaster, her hand on Harmony's shoulder.
"Professor," She said, "Mr. Weasley is telling the truth. Harmony Slytherin is on our side of things, I've been in contact with her for years. You have to believe us."
"Crystal, you have to get Mindy and Remus," Harmony said quickly, talking for the first time. "I'll need all three of you."
"What's going on?" Crystal asked, her brown eyes anxious.
"Just like Ron said. Full scale battle. The Death Eaters are destroying the city as we speak."
"Sirius?" She managed to squeak. Harmony smiled reassuringly...or at least tried to.
"He's fine. He'll be here shortly. Mindy and Remus, quickly!" Crystal nodded, and ran off in pursuit of them.
At that moment, Harry and Hermione came sprinting down the stairs. They looked magnificent. Harry's scarlet robes stood out like fire, the gold adding a touch of dignity. Hermione looked like the seat of wisdom, yet at the same time intimidating in bright sapphire and hints of subtle bronze. Their amulets were glowing like fire as they ran down to join the other two Heirs.
"Headmaster, Voldemort is attacking," Harry said, placing himself next to Ron.
"So I've heard," Dumbledore replied, trying to hid his surprise. The four of them, standing in the full glory of their houses, the one named Harmony looked just as proud and determined as the others.
"I believe you know Sirius, Headmaster," She whispered. "He's leading an army of reinforcements here as we speak. I've been protecting him."
"It's true," Hermione nodded, suddenly realizing the signifigence of Sirius's presence. Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a sound eerily familiar to Harry's ears.
As if to cast away any doubts Dumbledore, Harry, or Hermione harbored, Fawkes came flying into the Entrance Hall. He swooped downward, landing neatly on Harmony's outstretched arm and singing. Dumbledore nodded, then turned to McGonagall.
"Come, Minerva, we've got a lot of work to do in not a lot of time. We need all the students in the Great Hall right now and-"
"Ron! Harmony!" Harry and Hermione watched in shock as the speaker, Draco Malfoy, came running toward them. He stopped short, his eyes widening at the sight of Harmony. "Jesus Christ, Gem! What did you do now?!"
"Siege on the city, attack by Voldemort, full scale Death Eater battle, war I've been training for my entire life...you know, the usual." She snapped sarcastically. Draco's eyes widened and he swore loudly.
"We'd better get moving," He commented, starting to take off.
"Draco," Ron said suddenly, grabbing his arm. "I'm counting on you to keep Ginny out of this."
"Of course," Draco replied. Ron released the other's arm and watched as he sprinted toward the Gryffindor Tower with mixed emotions. If he didn't know better, he would think he was actually...trusting Draco Malfoy!
"Let's get a move on," Harry said, and everyone sprang into action. Dumbledore and McGonagall set about rounding up the students and putting all of Hogwart's reinforcements up and ready.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked, rather awkwardly, after realizing she didn't have a clue what to do.
"There's no use going out there until we have an army backing us up," Harry pointed out logically. Harmony crossed the entrance hall and magically levitated herself up to the long narrow window. She turned her head to talk to the others.
"Voldemort's already here," She said. Ron felt his stomach fall out of his body, his throat constricting like a snake. This would probably be the end of them all.
"Shall we go?" Harry asked, his voice calm but a glare in his eyes that told them how serious he was.
"We're not going anywhere without reinforcements." Hermione said firmly.
"No need to wait," Harmony continued. "Sirius has arrived."
"This is it," Ron said, looking the two people that had been his best friends for the last seven years...before he had met Harmony. Even if they lived to see the end of this battle, could things ever be the same? Could they ever forgive him?
Harmony landed neatly on the floor and marched up to the doors without turning back and reached to open the door. Ron couldn't go out there. Not without say something...anything to Harry and Hermione.
He turned to see the two of them with looks to similar to the one he imagined he had on his own face. He took a step forward, and not really knowing what to do he just blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.
"You two are my best friends, you know that?"
"Yes," Hermione whispered. "Oh Ron!" She cried, throwing her arms around his neck and letting out a muffled sob. If the situation weren't so real Ron would've thought he had been sucked into a melodramatic novel.
"Yes," Harry said as Hermione pulled away. Not really knowing what to do he held out a hand. Ron clasped it warmly, then pulled Harry into a brotherly embrace.
Harmony had turned impatiently, and watched the exchange with unmoving blue eyes. Only someone who knew her quite well would've detected the guilt, pain, and (she had to admit) jealousy. She coughed rather loudly, calling her fellow Heirs to put it together.
"Come," She said. Ron, Harry and Hermione followed her example, and when the doors of Hogwarts Castle opened, the four of them went out together.
They arrived just as the armies of Voldemort and Marigold clashed for a second time. Wordlessly they plunged into the fray, working their way toward Voldemort. They didn't need to talk or search to find the Dark Lord, for some reason they all just knew which way he was.
The Death Eaters were overwhelming Sirius's tiny army, sheer numbers overtaking many of Marigold's most valiant men. Harmony felt a fire burn within her as she watched the boys, many of whom she had known all her life, fell before the Dark Lord's army.
'We're never going to win this battle,' Harry thought, looking around with a pang at all the people dying. Similar thoughts were passing through the minds of the others. Just when they were seriously considering giving up hope...
"CHARGE!" A shout rang through the air. It was Miranda Himalia leading an entire army of Hogwarts fifth, sixth, seventh years and faculty. Ron saw this and couldn't help but grin. Trust Mindy, in spite of everything, to do something ridiculous like that.
However, Ron wasn't smiling for long. In next to no time, it seemed, Ron was beholding the very face of evil: Lord Voldemort himself.
He smiled at them, and Ron felt chills running down his back. There seemed to be a clearing in the battle just for them, as if he had been waiting. It was Harry who first reacted, as Ron knew it would be. With a final look at Hermione, he boldly stepped forward and raised his wand.
There were no bows, not even an exchange of words, before Harry and Voldemort were dueling. If there had ever been a time Ron didn't envy Harry it was at that moment. He managed to stand up to him for fifteen minutes, which stretched as an eternity for Ron, Harmony, and mostly Hermione. The Dark Lord sent a jet of bright blue light at the Boy Who Lived, and with a cry of distress from Hermione he fell to the ground: alive but unconscious.
Hermione looked from Harry to Voldemort and normally soft blue eyes hardened and flashed. With a snarl, she ran at him, her wand spitting spells. It didn't take very long for Hermione to fall next to Harry, who was just starting to wake up. He immediately checked Hermione's pulsed, and nearly fainted again when he knew she was still alive.
Ron knew he was next. He stepped up and met the Dark Lord's eye. Then they were dueling. Ron knew he was going to lose, so long as he didn't die that would be okay. But nonetheless, he found thoughts of his past, of his mistakes, of his life flying through his mind. He realized how stupid he had been these last few months. He should've gone back to Hogwarts and taken Harmony with him. Oh Lord, how he loved her. Why hadn't he told her? How could he have been so stupid, so stubborn? Why hadn't he ever told Harry that he loved him like a brother, and that Hermione, next to Hermione, was the person who understood him better than anyone? Why hadn't he told his parents everything and given his mother an extra hug before she left? Or told Ginny that she was the best sister in this world and his favorite sibling, and verbally told her that he didn't mind Draco Malfoy if that's what made her happy?
He didn't have time to answer his own questions. He lasted only a few minutes longer than Hermione had. He hardly felt the curse that hit him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. He couldn't think of the what-ifs now, he had to prepare. He knew what was coming, and he had to stay focused. He clasped the badger around his neck and watched where Harry was lying. He couldn't bring himself to watch as Harmony faced her kinsman, fighting for the final call on the right to be Slytherin's Heir. He knew that if he watched Voldemort attacking Harmony he would jump up and attack, and he mustn't. He knew he had to wait.
Ron was dimly aware of the fact that around him the battle had all but ceased. Teacher, student, Marigold army man and Death Eater alike stood around the circle where the duel between the Heirs of Slytherin was taking place. He watched Harry, waiting for the signal, waiting...
Finally, it happened. As if guided by some outside force, Harry leapt to his feet, holding out his amulet. The ruby lion looked like a firecracker in his hand as he began to shout at the top of his lungs the incantation he hadn't known he knew. "In the name of Godric Gryffindor I summon the Sword of Honor. In the name of Godric Gryffindor I summon the sword of-"
Hermione jumped up now, catching on. She held up the sapphire eagle, and began to chant. "In the name of Rowena Ravenclaw I summon the Lance of Wisdom. In the-"
Ron, who had known this was all going to transpire and didn't have to wait for the implanted Hufflepuff knowledge descended from millennia to kick in, leapt to his feet with the ebony badger in his fist. "In the name of Helga Hufflepuff I summon the Arrows of Loyalty. In the name of Helga Hufflepuff..."
Voldemort was looking around at them, somewhat confused but still on his guard. Neither he nor anyone else heard Harmony soft chant for the Dagger of Justice. It was tucked neatly in her boot, so she hardly needed to make a scene.
In a flash, Harry found himself holding the sword his had last seen five years ago in the Chamber of secrets. Hermione was next. With a jolt she opened her eyes and saw a lance with an intimidating jagged point at the end. The long pole-like handle was of bronze and partially encrusted with sapphires. She would later see an elegant script declaring the words Rowena Ravenclaw. Ron was next. His bow was made of ebony, and engraved in gold was the name of Helga Hufflepuff. He wasn't concerned about he bow however. He reached into the quiver now at his back and pulled out one of the ebony bows with strong steel points painted a bright yellow. He quickly fitted it in place.
Ron knew what to do, and he knew the others did too. As one, he, Harry and Hermione shot their weapons at the Dark Lord. The arrow pierced his heart, the sword his stomach, and the lance through his right shoulder. Ron's heart began to flutter with the realization of victory until the Dark Lord smiled.
"You cannot kill me in spirit," He whispered. It was then that all three of them realized the Weapon of Slytherin had not pierced the Dark Lord. Ron looked wildly around for Harmony. His eyes found her just in time to see her raise the dagger and...
A bright light momentarily blinded the world. Voldemort let out a piercing scream as he died, body and spirit. The light cleared and Ron's heart stopped as his eyes found her.
Harmony was lying on the ground, her arms at weird angles and her golden locks twisted around her body. A pool of blood was quickly forming around her, and the emerald encrusted silver hilt of Slytherin's Dagger of Justice protruding from her stomach.
"No," Ron whispered, not even able to hear himself as he ran to her body. "No!" Louder this time as his knelt down onto the grass, lifter her head onto his lap. Her hand rolled away from her body at the movement, landing in the pool of blood, but her eyes would not open.
Oh, and by the way, I apologize in advance for the end of this chapter...*hides*
Chapter Twenty-four
Of Death, Daggers, and the Heirs
Ron never knew Harry and Hermione had followed him through the woods. His mind had been set on one thing: Harmony. He had to find her, help her...protect her.
The sight of Marigold, the city he had come to love, being plumaged by Death Eaters had momentarily paralyzed him. Then anger and adrenaline began to pump through him, shattering the trance. His eyes flared with hatred. He pulled out his wand and ran into the city to save it, unable in his fury to realize how foolish a move it was.
He managed his way through quite nicely, apparently allowing Harmony to teach him the traditional Marigold style of fighting had paid off. He was halfway to the palace when a hand shot out of an alleyway and pulled him out of the battle in the main streets. He turned with his wand poised, and had nearly shouted a rather nasty curse before he realized who it was.
"Sirius," Ron sighed with relief. "Don't scare me like that."
"I had to find you before you did something stupid," Sirius replied curtly. His face was streaked with an ominous mixture of blood and dirt. His wand was nowhere to be seen, but his sword was scarlet with blood. Obviously King Shinra had made a wise decision in making Sirius the General of Slytherin's Army.
"Where's Harmony?" Ron finally blurted out. At that Sirius smiled, and Ron felt strangely childish.
"Off fighting, of course," The General answered. Ron was about to make a sarcastic reply when...
"Ron!" Ron spun around and felt his heart thudding in his chest. Her dress was horribly torn and ripped, a cut across her right cheek was bleeding freely, but it was still Princess Harmony Zalaras Slytherin calling his name.
"Harmony!" He called, but before he could say anymore someone leapt from the shadows and tackled her. She fell with a muffled shriek, her fists flying.
The rage that had been building up in Ronald Weasley finally exploded. His vision went red, and he wasn't entirely aware of what he was doing as he lifted Harmony's attacker by the collar and shoved him into the brick wall on the left side of the alley, his feet dangling several inches from the ground. Ron's snarling face was only centimeters away from the attacker's.
"Ron?" The feeble word escaped the other man's lips. Ron's vision began to clear, and he realized the person had had pinned to that wall had familiar green eyes behind crooked glasses, untidy black hair and a lightening shaped scar. Ron's eyes widened with realization.
"Harry?" He choked. "What are you doing here?"
"I...we followed you and..."
Ron cut Harry's splutters short by releasing him and turning to Harmony, who was lying on the ground watching the exchange with interest. After several moments, Ron gathered his courage. "Need a hand?" He asked in an anxious voice, extending his own.
"I'm fine alone, thank you," Harmony replied, giving him an icy glare and rising gracefully to her feet. She dusted off her ruined dress as if it were one of her best royal gowns and not utterly destroyed by battle and looked beautiful despite the wound on her cheek that added a grisly color to her face. Ron quickly retracted his hand, feeling stupid and like a perfect jerk on top of it.
"Look," He finally began after an antagonizing moment of silence. "I-"
He was cut off by a jet of deathly green they all jumped to avoid. Harmony turned and shot some curse or another back. Whatever the red light was, it worked. The Death Eater responsible fell to the ground.
"Ron, this isn't the time or place," She said, spinning around to face him.
"Exactly," Sirius said quickly as Ron opened his mouth to reply. "There are more important matters at hand."
"Such as telling us what the hell is going on!" Hermione finally burst out. Ron jumped. He had completely forgotten about Harry and hadn't even realized Hermione was there. Sirius turned his gaze to them, his face softening.
"Yes," He replied. "You don't know how long I've waited to see the four of you stand together. I was born to make sure you four would unite, and it's somewhat of a relief that my entire existence hasn't been completely in vain."
"What are you TALKING about?!" Harry cried in frustration. "This girl is Harmony SLYTHERIN! You know, as in Salazar?"
"Yes," Sirius nodded. "I know. I'm the General of Slytherin's Army."
"WHAT?!" Harry's eyes bulged. Ron sighed.
"The most important thing for you to know is Salazar Slytherin had two heirs," Ron explained to Harry in a professional manner. "Voldemort, who was (obviously) the heir of Salazar's evil work, was the human heir. Eventually Salazar repented because he married a wood nymph and created a second heir to help the three of us defeat Voldemort. Harmony is Salazar's second heir." He concluded as if it all made perfect sense and they should've figured it out on their own.
"You're not making any sense," Hermione said, getting somewhat angry. Harmony stood next to Ron, knowing she would have to make a stand for herself.
"I know this is hard to believe, you have every reason to hate me and no reason whatsoever to trust me," She said softly. "But I have been trained since birth to fight and defeat Voldemort, and many of my people have died in your defense, Harry Potter. I want nothing more than to see the Dark Lord fall, then come back to what's left of my city to pick up the pieces. We're on the same side, Harry, Hermione...we always have been."
"And that's why you kidnapped Ron?!" Harry demanded fiercely, gesturing to his best friend. Ron's eyes widened.
"WHAT?!" He cried. "What gave you a ridiculous idea like that?"
"You were captured by Voldemort, and Brooke-Harmony-whatever! She said she was responsible."
"You did what?" He turned to Harmony, feeling more horrible than ever as she looked away. He turned to Harry and Hermione with unfounded anger. "She is not responsible."
"She said-"
"Okay, Harry, you want the truth?" Ron snapped. "Here it is. I was NEVER CAPTURED! I ran away from home, and accidentally stumbled into the Forbidden Forest. I met up with Harmony and Sirius on accident, and I have been in Marigold the WHOLE TIME of MY OWN FREE WILL!! I was never kidnapped, never hidden, never tortured. I stayed because I wanted to."
Silence. The sounds of battle seemed to be cut off from this alley after this speech, all the five of them could hear was Ron's heavy breaths. Harmony turned her head away, her hand over her mouth. Harry finally spoke, a look of hurt betrayal in his eyes.
"Ron...you didn't want to come home?"
"No, it wasn't that Harry," Ron let out a gust of air, running a hand through his hair and avoiding Hermione's eyes wet with tears. "I just..." Now Ron's eyes traveled to Harmony. Now was the perfect time to tell her why he stayed: because he was in love with her. It was the perfect time to beg for her forgiveness, explain himself. But somehow, he just couldn't. He was absolutely positive she now hated him, and now, in front of Harry, Hermione and Sirius and right before the battle...he just couldn't handle the rejection. "They were planning for the battle," Ron finally explained. "I was preparing."
Ron was a horrible liar. But at the moment, there wasn't enough time for any of the parties present to pry into his true meaning. Only Sirius knew.
"You mean...Harmony isn't working for Voldemort?"
"NO!" Sirius finally cried. "Look, I know this is really dramatic and you teenagers are relishing in it, but there is a FULL SCALE BATTLE going on as we speak. You four need to get to Hogwarts before Voldemort does. Harry, Hermione, your just going to have to trust me and Ron that Harmony is on our side."
"Ron and me," Hermione immediately corrected.
"WHATEVER!" Sirius yelled, almost losing it completely. "The point is she's not going to kill you. Harry, please. Without her, you cannot defeat him!"
Harry looked at Hermione, who made it clear just in her eyes that she would follow his lead. Sirius was looking furious and Ron anxious. Lastly his eyes fell on Her: Harmony Slytherin. She was right; he had absolutely no reason to trust her. But somehow...her eyes were a clear blue, and he felt like he could see everything about her. He saw in her eyes an intense hatred...for Voldemort. He never knew, in years to come, why he trusted her at that moment, the most important of his life. Maybe it was destiny.
He nodded.
"C'mon," Hermione said, giving Harmony a shaky...well, something that distantly resembled a smile. "We need to get to Hogwarts."
Without further conversation the four of them turned and fled. Sirius watched them, pride filling his heart. Harry and Hermione led the way with Ron just behind them, all three in uniform. Then there was Harmony, conspicuously different in the long green fabric, yet the determination in her stride and the glow surrounding her matched that of the other three.
Sirius returned to the battle, knowing he had to hold them up long enough for the Heirs to reach Dumbledore and prepare the castle.
In next to no time, it seemed, the four of them were nearing the castle. Halfway up the lawns, Hermione suddenly cried, "STOP!" In shock more than anything else the other three halted in their tracks. "What are we going to do, exactly?" She asked, pointing out a problem none of them had stopped to consider.
"Everyone will be at lunch," Harry remarked.
"We can't just going barging in!" Hermione cried, her pitch alarmingly high.
"The time for discretion has passed, Herm," Ron said, taking the lead. The other three gasped. "What?" He asked, annoyed.
"Your...your robes..." Hermione pointed a shaky finger at Ron. He looked down and for the first time realized he was no longer wearing the uniform. He was wearing long robes of ebony and rich yellow. Ron hadn't noticed them because, despite their elaborate look, they were very light.
"What happened?" Ron demanded, somewhat alarmed.
"Your amulet," Harmony said, gesturing to the ebony badger glowing at Ron's chest, the golden eye alive with a mysterious shimmer that reached the chain around his neck holding the amulet in place. "It activated when you stepped onto the grounds. You are now in your official Hufflepuff battle ensemble."
"Why didn't you change?" He snapped. Harmony looked down at her deep green robes and glowing emerald snake pointedly.
"I was already in full Slytherin regalia," She commented. Something suddenly occurred to her and her eyes flew open. She turned to Harry and Hermione. "Where are your amulets?"
"Amulets?" Harry asked, but Hermione caught on immediately.
"Upstairs, in the tower. We didn't know we'd be using them. Do we need them for the battle?"
"YES!" Ron and Harmony cried in unison.
"Okay, here's the plan," Harmony said slowly. "Ron and I will warn Dumbledore while you and Harry collect your amulets."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Hermione asked, and immediately looked as if she wished she hadn't. Harmony bit her lip, catching the references in that statement. Hermione was referring to the fact that she didn't exactly trust Harmony, not to mention Harmony's current state of expulsion. She threw her shoulder's back defiantly.
"It the only way," She said bravely. Harry nodded, and with that he and Hermione sprinted into the castle with Harmony and Ron on their heels.
"Mr. Potter! Miss Granger!" Professor Sprout cried irritably as the Head Boy and Girl ran past her, causing her to drop her papers all over the floor. She turned around to see two more students running in. "And Miss..." Sprout cut off with a gasp, then pulled out her wand and pointed it at Harmony. "Don't move, Miss. I'm going to get Dumbledore."
Ron's eyes flared. His hand went to his side and to his great satisfaction he found the sword he had always used for practice in the Training Room in Marigold. He pulled the sword out and put the point to Sprout's neck.
"Put the wand down," He said, his voice low. Sprout immediately dropped her wand, her hazel eyes wide with fear.
"Ron, stop it!" Harmony cried, trying to make him see reason.
"Mr. Weasley?" A voice spoke in astonishment. Ron's eyes shifted to Albus Dumbledore, who was standing at the door of the Great Hall, his eyes wide, with McGonagall behind him. Slowly, Ron lowered the sword. "What is going on here?" Dumbledore demanded, his gaze leaving Ron and settling on Harmony.
"Voldemort, sir," Ron explained. "The Death Eaters are preparing to attack, the entire army."
"And how does that explain threatening the life of Professor Sprout?" Dumbledore replied, as if he didn't believe Ron, who felt anger rising within him.
"Because she was going to shoot a curse of some kind at Harmony!" He cried. "You people don't get it! I was NOT kidnapped, Harmony NEVER tried to kill me. She's on OUR side, and she left hundreds of her people to God knows what horrible end to come here and defend this damned school. She's on our side; she's not the enemy. All of Voldemort's power is marching toward these grounds with the Dark Lord himself at the head, and we need to get out there! And furthermore-"
"Harmony?" The soft voice interrupted Ron's fierce speech. They all turned to see Crystal Jenkins now standing next to McGonagall. She swept past Dumbledore and right to Harmony. "Oh God, what did you do?" She whispered, gently touching the scar on Harmony's cheek.
"A scratch," The Princess replied, wincing.
"Professor Jenkins!" Dumbledore said sharply, his fiery blue eyes turning on his professor angrily. "What is the meaning of this?" Crystal straightened and turned to face the Headmaster, her hand on Harmony's shoulder.
"Professor," She said, "Mr. Weasley is telling the truth. Harmony Slytherin is on our side of things, I've been in contact with her for years. You have to believe us."
"Crystal, you have to get Mindy and Remus," Harmony said quickly, talking for the first time. "I'll need all three of you."
"What's going on?" Crystal asked, her brown eyes anxious.
"Just like Ron said. Full scale battle. The Death Eaters are destroying the city as we speak."
"Sirius?" She managed to squeak. Harmony smiled reassuringly...or at least tried to.
"He's fine. He'll be here shortly. Mindy and Remus, quickly!" Crystal nodded, and ran off in pursuit of them.
At that moment, Harry and Hermione came sprinting down the stairs. They looked magnificent. Harry's scarlet robes stood out like fire, the gold adding a touch of dignity. Hermione looked like the seat of wisdom, yet at the same time intimidating in bright sapphire and hints of subtle bronze. Their amulets were glowing like fire as they ran down to join the other two Heirs.
"Headmaster, Voldemort is attacking," Harry said, placing himself next to Ron.
"So I've heard," Dumbledore replied, trying to hid his surprise. The four of them, standing in the full glory of their houses, the one named Harmony looked just as proud and determined as the others.
"I believe you know Sirius, Headmaster," She whispered. "He's leading an army of reinforcements here as we speak. I've been protecting him."
"It's true," Hermione nodded, suddenly realizing the signifigence of Sirius's presence. Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a sound eerily familiar to Harry's ears.
As if to cast away any doubts Dumbledore, Harry, or Hermione harbored, Fawkes came flying into the Entrance Hall. He swooped downward, landing neatly on Harmony's outstretched arm and singing. Dumbledore nodded, then turned to McGonagall.
"Come, Minerva, we've got a lot of work to do in not a lot of time. We need all the students in the Great Hall right now and-"
"Ron! Harmony!" Harry and Hermione watched in shock as the speaker, Draco Malfoy, came running toward them. He stopped short, his eyes widening at the sight of Harmony. "Jesus Christ, Gem! What did you do now?!"
"Siege on the city, attack by Voldemort, full scale Death Eater battle, war I've been training for my entire life...you know, the usual." She snapped sarcastically. Draco's eyes widened and he swore loudly.
"We'd better get moving," He commented, starting to take off.
"Draco," Ron said suddenly, grabbing his arm. "I'm counting on you to keep Ginny out of this."
"Of course," Draco replied. Ron released the other's arm and watched as he sprinted toward the Gryffindor Tower with mixed emotions. If he didn't know better, he would think he was actually...trusting Draco Malfoy!
"Let's get a move on," Harry said, and everyone sprang into action. Dumbledore and McGonagall set about rounding up the students and putting all of Hogwart's reinforcements up and ready.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked, rather awkwardly, after realizing she didn't have a clue what to do.
"There's no use going out there until we have an army backing us up," Harry pointed out logically. Harmony crossed the entrance hall and magically levitated herself up to the long narrow window. She turned her head to talk to the others.
"Voldemort's already here," She said. Ron felt his stomach fall out of his body, his throat constricting like a snake. This would probably be the end of them all.
"Shall we go?" Harry asked, his voice calm but a glare in his eyes that told them how serious he was.
"We're not going anywhere without reinforcements." Hermione said firmly.
"No need to wait," Harmony continued. "Sirius has arrived."
"This is it," Ron said, looking the two people that had been his best friends for the last seven years...before he had met Harmony. Even if they lived to see the end of this battle, could things ever be the same? Could they ever forgive him?
Harmony landed neatly on the floor and marched up to the doors without turning back and reached to open the door. Ron couldn't go out there. Not without say something...anything to Harry and Hermione.
He turned to see the two of them with looks to similar to the one he imagined he had on his own face. He took a step forward, and not really knowing what to do he just blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.
"You two are my best friends, you know that?"
"Yes," Hermione whispered. "Oh Ron!" She cried, throwing her arms around his neck and letting out a muffled sob. If the situation weren't so real Ron would've thought he had been sucked into a melodramatic novel.
"Yes," Harry said as Hermione pulled away. Not really knowing what to do he held out a hand. Ron clasped it warmly, then pulled Harry into a brotherly embrace.
Harmony had turned impatiently, and watched the exchange with unmoving blue eyes. Only someone who knew her quite well would've detected the guilt, pain, and (she had to admit) jealousy. She coughed rather loudly, calling her fellow Heirs to put it together.
"Come," She said. Ron, Harry and Hermione followed her example, and when the doors of Hogwarts Castle opened, the four of them went out together.
They arrived just as the armies of Voldemort and Marigold clashed for a second time. Wordlessly they plunged into the fray, working their way toward Voldemort. They didn't need to talk or search to find the Dark Lord, for some reason they all just knew which way he was.
The Death Eaters were overwhelming Sirius's tiny army, sheer numbers overtaking many of Marigold's most valiant men. Harmony felt a fire burn within her as she watched the boys, many of whom she had known all her life, fell before the Dark Lord's army.
'We're never going to win this battle,' Harry thought, looking around with a pang at all the people dying. Similar thoughts were passing through the minds of the others. Just when they were seriously considering giving up hope...
"CHARGE!" A shout rang through the air. It was Miranda Himalia leading an entire army of Hogwarts fifth, sixth, seventh years and faculty. Ron saw this and couldn't help but grin. Trust Mindy, in spite of everything, to do something ridiculous like that.
However, Ron wasn't smiling for long. In next to no time, it seemed, Ron was beholding the very face of evil: Lord Voldemort himself.
He smiled at them, and Ron felt chills running down his back. There seemed to be a clearing in the battle just for them, as if he had been waiting. It was Harry who first reacted, as Ron knew it would be. With a final look at Hermione, he boldly stepped forward and raised his wand.
There were no bows, not even an exchange of words, before Harry and Voldemort were dueling. If there had ever been a time Ron didn't envy Harry it was at that moment. He managed to stand up to him for fifteen minutes, which stretched as an eternity for Ron, Harmony, and mostly Hermione. The Dark Lord sent a jet of bright blue light at the Boy Who Lived, and with a cry of distress from Hermione he fell to the ground: alive but unconscious.
Hermione looked from Harry to Voldemort and normally soft blue eyes hardened and flashed. With a snarl, she ran at him, her wand spitting spells. It didn't take very long for Hermione to fall next to Harry, who was just starting to wake up. He immediately checked Hermione's pulsed, and nearly fainted again when he knew she was still alive.
Ron knew he was next. He stepped up and met the Dark Lord's eye. Then they were dueling. Ron knew he was going to lose, so long as he didn't die that would be okay. But nonetheless, he found thoughts of his past, of his mistakes, of his life flying through his mind. He realized how stupid he had been these last few months. He should've gone back to Hogwarts and taken Harmony with him. Oh Lord, how he loved her. Why hadn't he told her? How could he have been so stupid, so stubborn? Why hadn't he ever told Harry that he loved him like a brother, and that Hermione, next to Hermione, was the person who understood him better than anyone? Why hadn't he told his parents everything and given his mother an extra hug before she left? Or told Ginny that she was the best sister in this world and his favorite sibling, and verbally told her that he didn't mind Draco Malfoy if that's what made her happy?
He didn't have time to answer his own questions. He lasted only a few minutes longer than Hermione had. He hardly felt the curse that hit him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. He couldn't think of the what-ifs now, he had to prepare. He knew what was coming, and he had to stay focused. He clasped the badger around his neck and watched where Harry was lying. He couldn't bring himself to watch as Harmony faced her kinsman, fighting for the final call on the right to be Slytherin's Heir. He knew that if he watched Voldemort attacking Harmony he would jump up and attack, and he mustn't. He knew he had to wait.
Ron was dimly aware of the fact that around him the battle had all but ceased. Teacher, student, Marigold army man and Death Eater alike stood around the circle where the duel between the Heirs of Slytherin was taking place. He watched Harry, waiting for the signal, waiting...
Finally, it happened. As if guided by some outside force, Harry leapt to his feet, holding out his amulet. The ruby lion looked like a firecracker in his hand as he began to shout at the top of his lungs the incantation he hadn't known he knew. "In the name of Godric Gryffindor I summon the Sword of Honor. In the name of Godric Gryffindor I summon the sword of-"
Hermione jumped up now, catching on. She held up the sapphire eagle, and began to chant. "In the name of Rowena Ravenclaw I summon the Lance of Wisdom. In the-"
Ron, who had known this was all going to transpire and didn't have to wait for the implanted Hufflepuff knowledge descended from millennia to kick in, leapt to his feet with the ebony badger in his fist. "In the name of Helga Hufflepuff I summon the Arrows of Loyalty. In the name of Helga Hufflepuff..."
Voldemort was looking around at them, somewhat confused but still on his guard. Neither he nor anyone else heard Harmony soft chant for the Dagger of Justice. It was tucked neatly in her boot, so she hardly needed to make a scene.
In a flash, Harry found himself holding the sword his had last seen five years ago in the Chamber of secrets. Hermione was next. With a jolt she opened her eyes and saw a lance with an intimidating jagged point at the end. The long pole-like handle was of bronze and partially encrusted with sapphires. She would later see an elegant script declaring the words Rowena Ravenclaw. Ron was next. His bow was made of ebony, and engraved in gold was the name of Helga Hufflepuff. He wasn't concerned about he bow however. He reached into the quiver now at his back and pulled out one of the ebony bows with strong steel points painted a bright yellow. He quickly fitted it in place.
Ron knew what to do, and he knew the others did too. As one, he, Harry and Hermione shot their weapons at the Dark Lord. The arrow pierced his heart, the sword his stomach, and the lance through his right shoulder. Ron's heart began to flutter with the realization of victory until the Dark Lord smiled.
"You cannot kill me in spirit," He whispered. It was then that all three of them realized the Weapon of Slytherin had not pierced the Dark Lord. Ron looked wildly around for Harmony. His eyes found her just in time to see her raise the dagger and...
A bright light momentarily blinded the world. Voldemort let out a piercing scream as he died, body and spirit. The light cleared and Ron's heart stopped as his eyes found her.
Harmony was lying on the ground, her arms at weird angles and her golden locks twisted around her body. A pool of blood was quickly forming around her, and the emerald encrusted silver hilt of Slytherin's Dagger of Justice protruding from her stomach.
"No," Ron whispered, not even able to hear himself as he ran to her body. "No!" Louder this time as his knelt down onto the grass, lifter her head onto his lap. Her hand rolled away from her body at the movement, landing in the pool of blood, but her eyes would not open.