A/N: Ok, the second to last chapter (not including epilogue). Next update Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for the reviews, and enjoy!
31. The Second Battle of Hogwarts
With NEWTs behind him, the only thing that remained was Graduation Week. The seventh years had the last week of term to themselves. Curfew was extended, and they were allowed to visit Hogsmeade whenever they wished. It was a time to decompress from the stress of NEWTs, and a time for friends to reminisce about the last seven years at Hogwarts. On Saturday, the first through sixth years took the Hogwarts Express to King's Cross Station, and the Express returned the following Saturday with the families of the seventh year students. That night would be a Graduation Feast in the Great Hall for the graduating class and their families, and on Sunday the graduation ceremony would take place before their final train ride.
Harry was reluctant to go to the Graduation Feast. He had no family, after all, but Hermione and Ron managed to convince him. Ron thought it would be good for Harry to see his parents and brothers again, even if it had to be for the "first" time. Hermione wanted Harry to meet her mother and father, since they had previously only met briefly at the station and in Diagon Alley. So, Harry changed his Auror robes to match Gryffindor ones, and he went to the Great Hall and found a spot at the Gryffindor table between Ron and Hermione. He suppressed the urge to call out to Mrs. Weasley, and made pleasant conversation with Drs. Granger.
An hour into the Feast, the doors to the Great Hall were suddenly blown open with a loud bang. Everyone looked up in surprise as hordes of black robed figures stormed the Hall, taking positions along the back wall. The teachers and other adults stood and swiftly drew their wands, ready to defend themselves, when a deathly silence filled the room. A tall figure slowly entered the room, his hands hidden within the folds of his robes. Harry knew who it was immediately – Voldemort. With the exception of Harry and Dumbledore, no one in the Great Hall had ever seen the revived Voldemort in person before this very moment. A near panic swept the Great Hall as students and parents screamed and backed away. Only the professors remained calm (though some had gone pale), Dumbledore fixing Voldemort with a steely look.
Voldemort raised his arms and held the clearly restored Orb of Tomsduval in front of him. He let go of the Orb, and it hovered in place. Withdrawing his wand, Voldemort pointed it at the Orb. A spell from his wand hit the orb, and instantly every wand in the Great Hall shot from hand and holster and stuck to the Orb, as a magnet draws paperclips. Every person was disarmed in an instant, from students to siblings to parents to teachers. Only the Death Eaters retained their wands. A hooded Death Eater went to Voldemort's side, carrying a bag. He held it open underneath the Orb, and Voldemort released his spell as the wands fell into the bag. Voldemort then muttered another spell at the Orb, and ropes shot out the Orb in all directions, binding every person in the Great Hall.
Harry had little time to react to Voldemort's entrance. Along with the others, Harry rose and drew his wand immediately when the Death Eaters entered, and he did not shy away when he recognized Voldemort. However, also like the others, his wand was pulled from his grasp by the power of the Orb, and thick ropes covered his body, immobilizing him. As Voldemort watched impassively, the Death Eaters then spread throughout the room, pushing and prodding the captives until they were lined up against the wall, some standing, many kneeling, sitting, or lying down. Students and parents alike cried in fear, as tables and benches were vanished away. Three Death Eaters conjured a large, raised circular platform in the center of the room, and Dumbledore was dragged onto the center of the platform. Voldemort casually walked to the middle of the platform where Dumbledore stood, his body bound by ropes.
"Finally, Hogwarts, the symbol of light, has been toppled!" Voldemort yelled in glee, the Death Eaters cheering mightily as the captives shrank back in fear. "Now, my faithful Death Eaters, spread though out the castle, pick up any stragglers, and prepare this place to be the center of my new world order!" The Death Eaters left the Great Hall, leaving two behind, who took positions around the Great Hall. Voldemort looked at Dumbledore, who stood in defiance.
"Kneel before your master!" cried one of the Death Eaters, hitting Dumbledore in the back of the leg. Dumbledore fell to the ground in pain, but he retained his defiant look.
Meanwhile, Harry stood against the wall, with Hermione and Ron sitting on either side. The raised platform was high enough so only Harry's head was level with it. Harry struggled, but couldn't free himself from the ropes. If only he had his wand. His wand! Harry only then remembered one of the features of the Auror robes: the hidden pocket located in the sleeve of his robe. Harry felt relief wash over him as he felt his wand, his original wand, still securely in his pocket. He looked around, placing each of the two remaining Death Eater: one was on the platform with Voldemort, while the second walked slowly around the Great Hall. Both were watching Voldemort with rapt attention, as he mocked and insulted the old Headmaster. Harry eased the wand from the pocket, and quietly cast a proximity-based silencing charm around him; it would prevent any sound they made from reaching Voldemort's ears, although Harry doubted it would be necessary as Voldemort was focused solely on Dumbledore. Harry waited until the Death Eater was close, then quickly flicked his wand and stunned the Death Eater, who collapsed into a heap, to the silenced gasps of those who witnessed. He used his wand to free himself from the ropes and quickly tied up the stunned Death Eater. He looked around was relieved to find his actions go unnoticed by Voldemort, though he had quite an audience from the captives who could see him. Harry cast a powerful locking charm on the doors to the Great Hall to prevent any unwanted Death Eaters from entering.
"Sean!" he heard Hermione and Ron whispering at him. Harry took one look at Voldemort to make sure he was still occupied. He was, having brought Professors McGonagall and Flitwick to join Dumbledore on the platform. Harry turned to look at his friends.
"Sean, quick! Cut us free!" Ron said. Hermione looked at Sean expectantly. When Harry did nothing, realization slowly dawned in her eyes.
"Sean, don't do this!" she begged. Ron only looked confused, wondering why his friend wasn't releasing him. But Harry only looked at Hermione.
"It's the only way, Hermione," he said sadly.
"That's not true! We can help, we can be there for you!" she cried, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"Not this time," he said gently, wiping a tear away. "This is something that I was meant to do alone. Remember the Department of Mysteries, the prophecy I told you about? It all comes down to this moment. It ends here and now," he said resolutely.
Hermione shook her head vigorously. "I don't believe that!" she cried. "And you shouldn't either. We can help! You promised!"
Harry just stood there and looked at her sadly. "You know I have to do this alone. If I fail, there's still a chance you'll live, and I can't risk that," he said, and then turned around to climb the platform. He took one last look back at Hermione and paused.
Harry knew he was most likely going to die. He knew despite all his preparations and training, that Voldemort was still the superior wizard. As Harry looked at Hermione, her teary eyes full of fear and anguish, he felt something. His stomach did no back flips, and there was no funny feeling in his chest. Instead, as Harry looked at the girl who's always stood by his side, he suddenly understood. He understood why he always sought out Hermione's advice and comfort. He understood why he instinctively protected her, and her alone, when confronted by danger. He understood why he could never be truly angry with her, even as she argued against him. He understood now why reading Hogwarts, A History comforted him even when he wasn't interested in the material. He understood it all. Hermione was his anchor, his foundation, and has always been. He knew if that if he were to die now…
Harry pocketed his wand and stepped up to Hermione as she watched with eyes full of the hope that he would free her. He paused, and then turned to address her parents. "I'm sorry about this, Drs. Grangers. But I'm probably not going to survive the next five minutes, and I would never forgive myself if I didn't do this," he said, matter-of-factly.
Hermione looked at him in confusion. Harry lifted his hands and placed one on either side of her face. Cupping her face gently, Harry gave her a small smile, a reassuring smile. There were no butterflies, no nervousness; this was not Cho in front of him. Harry knew that this was meant to be, that all the experiences they shared together had built up to this one event, had occurred for this single purpose. He lightly pressed his lips against hers and closed his eyes, her tears warm and wet against his face. He felt her stiffen in surprise, but then, slowly, tentatively, her mouth softened and responded, her lips moving ever so slightly against his own. All of sudden, the calmness he felt earlier disappeared in a rush of indescribable emotions; excitement, longing, nervousness. But most of all, the feelings of completeness and love. Harry moved his hands, gently massaging the back of her head and tangling his fingers in her hair as they kissed. Their lips gently brushed against each other, before he pressed his lips more firmly against hers. Hermione began to kiss him back in earnest, almost desperately, as if afraid to stop and let Harry go to face Voldemort alone. He heard a soft moan escape her mouth as she parted her lips and allowed Harry in deeper. Their kiss took on a feeling of urgency, as they each tried to communicate their feelings through it. With great reluctance, primarily caused by a lack of oxygen, Harry broke the kiss and looked into her wide eyes. No words were exchanged, understanding passing silently between them.
Harry released her head and stepped back. Resolutely, he turned and drew his wand, approaching the platform. Additional captives had been brought to the platform, parents who were Ministry officials or otherwise important. Harry pointed his wand at the last Death Eater and muttered a stunning spell, sending the Death Eater flying from the platform. Voldemort spun around as Harry climbed the platform. They faced each other, Harry's wand raised.
A/N: hehe…I'm so evil! Mwhahaha! My first real cliffhanger! Ok, maybe I had one before when Hermione had just realized who Sean is, but c'mon, I posted six chapters in a row before that, so it doesn't count.
That second-to-last paragraph, the kiss, was the hardest to write because it's been 12 years since my first kiss so it was hard to remember all the jumbles of feelings (don't tell my wife that though!)
Game 3 of the NLCS tonight. Woo!