Aww, only one more bit left after this - just the epilogue. Boo Hoo. I've had such a great time writing this as well. I'm sad now that it's almost over.
Myr Halcyon: Oops, always had a problem with past and present tense stuff. Thought I'd managed to sort most of it out but guess I missed a bit!! The bit about the moon, well, now you know it was Remus it makes sense that he'd know which way and where it would be so I don't have much to say about that. I'm glad I managed to shock you about that actually. I was wondering if I'd put too many hints in there but I suppose could I wrote it I'd notice them more. I'd love to have seen this from an outsiders point of view! It doesn't flow really does it? I tried but it got annoying in the end. I also don't think this chapter flows that much but it isn't meant to that much because it's thoughts and thoughts are never ordered and flowing - they're random and flit back and forth. Hope you like this.
Chapter Fifteen - Through Dark Places.
Things moved very quickly after that night. Meetings took place; plans were put into action. The news of Professor Snape's death spread quickly amongst the Order but was kept quiet from the rest of the school who were just told he'd been injured and taken to St. Mungo's. Harry knew of course, which meant so did Hermione and Ron. I had been asked to take over his lessons for the remainder of the year and I was honoured to take his place, and I made sure to keep to his schedule and planning. It made me saddened to sit in his office, knowing that he'd never return to it.
Remus and I recovered quickly from our ordeal - we had to. There was so much to do, so much to set up. It was heard that Voldemort hadn't been playing with a full deck lately and many death eaters had been captured in only a space of a few months and the ones that hadn't been killed had been held down in a secret room in the Department of Mysteries that no-one can get out of unless told to leave by someone outside the room. It was all very hush hush.
I can remember about a month before the final battle, which had taken place a few weeks into the New Year. It had been so very calm and still. Christmas was a very quiet affair, tensions between the Order were high, but in the school it was very calming. Few students knew of the impending doom slowly creeping up on them. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been given extra training for defence and attack as both Ron and Hermione had said they weren't going to leave Harry's side and there was nothing any of us could do to change their minds. Ginny had also wanted to be there with Neville but both were asked to stay behind and help with casualties along with Mrs Weasley and Madam Pomfrey. Plus now we had the Ministry on our side so we had extra help. A few healers from the hospital that could be trusted were let in on the plan as well as some of the old pupils that had supported Dumbledore 100%.
The school seemed to have a very calming effect on the teachers. Remus, who had been asked to teach for another year as I had been, was always around when I needed him as I was for him. The bond we had between us was stronger than ever, and after everything that had happened he was my main constant, my saviour.
We all went through a very dark place that night. Deeper than the deepest darkness. Voldemort's death eaters had been rather diminished by that point which meant casualties on our side were not as high as they would have been. Voldemort was sluggish, but still very powerful and when we stormed the castle he'd been staying in, he himself had taken many lives from the Entrance of the castle. The dementors had also been a huge problem and had to be taken down first by trained Auror's and anyone skilled enough to deal with them. Harry had stayed close to Dumbledore as instructed because he was the only one capable of defeating Voldemort because of the bond they had, and he had a few of his own guards to get him into the castle - Remus included. That scared me because I had been left outside to deal with the dementors and any death eaters along with Tonks and Kingsley. I was also there to port-key anyone out that was seriously injured and needed immediate treatment, a field healer of sorts.
It took almost two hours to storm the place and for the whole time adrenaline was pumping through my veins and it took all I had to not think of Remus even though the images I still had of him dying were strong in my memory. Knowing that it had in fact been Severus lying there was no help either.
We lost many friends out there that day: Kingsley, Dedalus, Sturgis, Filius. Bill and Fleur had died fighting side by side as a couple. And so many others. Then there was the many injured including Tonks, Arthur, Minerva - but they had all been lucky. Ron had ended up being in a coma for two weeks after saving Harry from an attack, as I recall Hermione didn't leave his side the whole time and they're now a recently married couple.
Harry fought bravely side by side with Dumbledore and eventually, after almost an hour of exhausting fighting, they were able to defeat him in one hell of an amazing light show that was seen for miles, scaring many muggles in the area. There was some force shot out at that moment that moved outwards for about a 50 miles radius, knocking all of us off our feet, into trees, walls, onto the ground. Luckily the muggles merely thought it some sort of earthquake.
Even now I can still smell the stench of death as I wandered through the forest alone, after port-keying Tonks to the school for treatment. Many trees had fallen or were burning from spells and curses - I even saw one which appeared to have been hit with some sort of curse and was covered in dozens of pussing boils. I soon found Fred sitting on the ground with Bill's prone body lying in his arms; George was throwing up at a nearby tree. I port-keyed them to the school, telling them I would port-key Bill and Fleur to the dungeon where the dead were being kept. It wasn't a nice task, but I guess someone had to do it.
Again I was alone, heading back towards the castle, limping slightly from spraining my ankle, covered in blood and mud once again. I must have looked a right state but I guess no more than anyone else. I was desperate to get to the castle to find Remus, I needed to know if he was okay, and deep down in my heart I knew that he was alive, I could sense him still in the world.
It wasn't long before I spotted Hagrid standing, looking towards the castle and I went up and joined him. He was very happy to see me and we gave each other a long hug. He'd been staring out at the main battlefield. There were a lot of death eaters and dementors' bodies lying about. A few of ours were still amongst them but a couple of people were wondering through port-keying them to the castle. I spotted a couple of the older students sitting on the floor, staring out - they looked to be in shock.
"Was worried bout ya."
Hagrid suddenly said. I looked up at him having been staring out too.
"I got led on a merry dance through the woods by a death eater. No matter what we threw at each other neither of us got hit. It was quite comical in the end. Then the blast hit us and he fell and dropped his wand. Unfortunately so did I and we ended up doing hand-to-hand combat. But again we were both the same I took him down, and then he'd take me down. We went round in circles."
She shrugged the last bit and Hagrid laughed.
"So how did you get out of it?"
"He tripped, bloody fool. Knocked himself out on a tree. So I tied him up and port-keyed him outta here."
Hagrid laughed again, then looked back out at the massacre. Looking towards the castle entrance I couldn't wait any longer. Turning to Hagrid I asked,
"Have you seen Remus?"
My voice sounded quivery and I know he noticed. He gave me a sympathetic look.
"Sorry love, nah. Haven't seen anyone of the ones that went into the castle. Not Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, Harry or Moody."
"I have to go look for him. Keep an eye on those two."
I gestured to the older students. He nodded.
"I will. I gotta stay out here anyway, and keep an eye on these guys, make sure they all get accounted for. Let me know when you find them."
I nodded and headed off towards the castle. Stepping over the entrance I felt a chill that went right down to my bones and I shivered. It felt like death in there - more so than outside. It was like Voldemort had been scattered with the wind and was causing fear and death to circulate. Luckily the feelings faded after spending a few moments there. Moving towards where I knew the Great Hall to be I turned a corner and saw someone sitting on the floor with someone else in their lap. Feeling my heart tug I started to run which was more of a limp up the corridor. It was Hermione and she looked up as she heard the footsteps. Kneeling next to her I realised it was Ron lying in her lap; I could see his chest slowly rising and falling so he was still alive.
"Hermione?"
"He's okay, he's alive. He was so brave, saved Harry."
She muttered, staring at him, then she brushed a hair from his forehead. Pulling another small metal ornament from my pocket I quietly cast a spell on it.
"Here, it's a port-key. It will take you straight to the school." She nodded. "Do you know where Remus is?"
She gestured to the doors of the Great Hall.
"They all went in there, but they haven't come out again."
I nodded, anxiously, then handed her the port-key. She took a strong grip on Ron, then I counted to three and she was swept away. Standing up I looked to the door of the Great Hall and took a breath. I didn't know what I was going to find in there and part of me didn't want to know. But the other part, the part telling me I had to find Remus no matter what the consequences, was pushing me forwards. Taking cautious steps I slowly reached the doors and listened for any sound. I couldn't hear anything at first, then the sound of someone throwing what sounded like bricks and rubble came to my ears. Someone was alive in there. I pushed on the door, but it wouldn't budge. Something was stopping it.
"Hello?"
I called. The quiet movements stopped, as if listening so I called again.
"Kaitlyn?"
A gruff voice questioned. It was Moody.
"Are you guys okay in there?"
I asked. Kind of a dumb question but I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"The roof caved in, can't get out. Wands are all broken."
He barked, almost military fashion.
"Okay, stand back."
I heard a shuffling and waited until there was no sound. Then, stepping back I lifted my wand to the door. A quick spell later and the door vanished, causing rubble to slide down. I jumped back just in time. Then looked up and saw Moody through quite a large gap at the top of the rubble.
"You okay?"
I asked him. He nodded.
"And the others?"
I was almost afraid to ask.
"They're alive if that's what you're asking."
I didn't like that reply. Pocketing my wand I scrambled up the rumble and through the hole, Moody helped me down on the other side.
I got my first look around and almost gasped. The room was a complete mess, there was no roof, and the whole thing had caved in, probably from the impact of Voldemort. At the other end of the room, next to the throne, Dumbledore was sitting on the floor with an unconscious Harry in his lap. Remus was sitting next to them, holding a piece of cloth to his head. Blood could be seen trickling down his face slowly. I looked to Moody in question.
"He got hit my falling rubble, he's okay. Concussion, plus his ears are ringing; he can't hear much at the moment. He was standing closest to Voldemort after Harry. Go to him, he's been asking about you since I pulled him out of the rubble."
I smiled slightly at that and started to head over. Dumbledore, hearing my footsteps, looked up and smiled to see me. I smiled back, and then I saw him nudge Remus who looked at him, then frowned and looked over in my direction. I stopped walking and smiled at him, feeling tired all of a sudden. Guess my adrenaline was all gone. His eyes lit up at the sight of me and he went to stand, but only managed a couple steps before he stumbled sideways. I darted forwards and managed to get to him as he sunk to the floor. I went down with him. He smiled at me.
"I was so worried."
He whispered.
"Me too."
I said so he could see my mouth, then I leaned in and put my forehead lightly against his. He smiled.
"Is Harry okay?"
I asked, pulling away again.
"He's fine. Took most of the blast, knocked him out. But he's alive. What about everyone else? Did we lose many?"
"As many as could be expected."
I gave him the names of the people I knew to be dead, and he nodded solemnly.
"I knew you weren't dead. I could just feel it."
He told me. I smiled again.
"So did I."
He smiled, then leaned in and kissed me. At that moment I knew things were going to be okay, finally.
Hope you liked that. Now just for the Epilogue...
