Chapter 36:  Nil Desperandum

 Ginny fished in her robe pockets before finding some of the medicinal chocolate she'd bought earlier in Honeydukes. She was crouched on the ground with Harry leaning against her. They were behind the Professors and Aurors for protection. Quickly she guided a piece of chocolate into his mouth and he ate it quickly, sitting up a little more. Hermione and Ron stood over them, wands at the ready as well.

"Are you alright?" she asked, trying to hide her own fears. Her hands trembled as she opened another Honeydukes wrapper.

 Harry nodded and she handed him another piece of chocolate.

 In truth he was alright, though extremely fatigued, as well as a bit sore. The blood on his cheek had dried now and made his face feel stiff.

"Ginny?" he said, "Was that..."

"Yes," she replied while forcing a small smile, "It was your Mum."

"Does Dumbledore have a plan?" Harry questioned his friends, hoping the answer would be yes.

Hermione nodded, though she didn't turn her head completely. "Portkeys as soon as we're able to use them."

Ron reached into his pocket and tossed something to Ginny, though he stayed alert as well.

"Here," she told Harry, slipping the chain of a pendant over his head. "Once we're out of range of the wards you'll just trigger it by yanking on the pendant as hard as you can."

 Harry stood now, holding his own wand tightly. He and Ginny stood alongside Ron and Hermione, carefully scrutinizing the area. It seemed that a few death eaters had fled, but there were enough left for them to make quite a formidable group. Harry new that everyone in the clearing was wondering what would happen next.

"Potter," called Voldemort, "A cute trick, and it may have rid you of the dementors, but rest assured that you will be taken care of anyway. This old fool won't be able to save you."

"A fool I might be, Tom," replied Dumbledore, "in the eyes of many. But I have done what I know is right and will continue on that path. You on the other hand are confused, so lost that it has driven you to this kind of murderous madness. Killing doesn't stop the anger, Tom. It only fuels it."

"Silence," he said loudly, hissing the 'c', "It is the boy I want, not you."

 The death eaters were regrouping now, all of them pointing their wands at the group. It seemed like they were going to close the circle around them soon. If they didn't get out of here fast Harry doubted even another miracle would save them.

"Not coming out then, Potter?"

"I'm not as daft as you think," said Harry, trying to keep anxiety out of his voice once more, "Do you honestly think I'd just stand there and let you kill me?"

Voldemort laughed, an eerie sound, "You let your uncle try, didn't you?"

Harry was suddenly filled with rage and without realizing it he brandished his wand, "STUPEFY!"

 Yet another surprising thing happened that evening. Many wizards would have told you it was impossible to harm Voldemort. He was supposed to be untouchable, immortal. Everyone watched in awe as his body gave a violent and involuntary shudder. Even his long fingers trembled as he staggered slightly.

"Enough! You may not be willing to let me kill you without a fight, but then again I suppose you wouldn't let me kill your friends here either?"

 Harry's stony silence seemed to be enough of an answer.

"Alright then, this is your last chance. Your life or theirs."

 Harry knew it would be ridiculous to step forward, that Voldemort would kill them all anyway, but at the same time he couldn't just not do anything. The famous Gryffindor Chivalry, as well as his hate of being helpless, might have taken hold of him at that moment but Ginny squeezed his arm and Hermione shot him a stern look. The girls both knew what was on his mind. Even Ron wasn't completely oblivious. He cast a worried glance at Harry.

"It doesn't work that way," said Dumbledore. "Lives are not bargaining chips and using them as such never works out."

 Voldemort twirled his wand, the one that was brother to Harry's, between his long fingers. He began to lift it with a long swish.

"I suppose it has to be the hard way then."

 The group braced themselves, frantically trying to construct shields, muttering various protection charms. The aurors had rather strong shield but they all knew that their small group couldn't hold out long.

"PERNICIEM!"

 A wall of violent red, orange, and purple light streamed towards them and it seemed it would crush their protective shields which now appeared very, very feeble.

 Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, clenching Ron's hand. Ginny clutched Harry's arm. In that millisecond they all prepared for the impact. Only it never happened. Just before it would have destroyed them there was another cry in the clearing.

"EXPECTO PROTECTUM!" shouted someone, stumbling forward.

 This particular someone was wearing a  death eater hood and mask, and out of his wand came a single beam of thick silver light. It cut into the curse which would surely have destroyed them, causing it to stop and dissipate in slow vibrating waves. Then the unknown death eater lowered his arm as if he were suddenly fatigued and stumbled briefly before tumbling to the ground. After witnessing this act Harry and most of his companions knew who it had been.

"Snape," Ron whispered, disbelieving. The man he'd always cursed had just saved their lives.

 Harry reminded himself to thank Snape later. Then he realized he probably wouldn't have the chance as Voldemort spoke again.

"A traitor in my midst," leered Voldemort, "and you were all kind enough to reveal him to me!"

 Harry broke free of his friends and began to step forward, though Voldemort did not notice because the other members of the rescue team obscured any sight of him.

Voldemort began to twirl his wand again, "You know I don't tolerate traitors, Severus."

 Snape only move his head slightly and then tiredly removed his hood and mask. The shield charm had taken most of his strength. He comforted himself with the thought that he had died doing something right and waited for the curse to strike. Harry on the other hand didn't know what he was doing. He was probably inspired by Snape though. He was breaking away from the group of teachers and aurors when Voldemort pronounced the death sentence for Severus Snape.

"Avada Ke-"

The fatal words were cut off by another pair of words, "EXPECTO PROTECTUM!"

 Harry was using the same charm that Snape had used, except that his had a different effect. Once more the two beams of light met. Now they interlocked. Harry's hands shook and he remembered the third task. 

"Do nothing!" shouted Voldemort as the golden web formed around them. Harry wondered if this was for pride's sake again or if there was really more to it. Had he heard fear in the Dark Lord's voice? He concentrated his energy on the golden bead centered on the main line connecting the wands. He struggled to force it to the other side as he had done before. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. An agonizing minute passed as the bead stayed in the center, wavering only slightly from side to side. Both of them were experienced now. Both knew what was necessary to win this contest of sorts. Harry's arms began to ache but at the same time he heard a faint call rising, one that distracted him from the pain.

 It was a phoenix song and as it rose into the air he felt his heart soar. He allowed it to envelop him now, like the warmth from the sun or a strong embrace. Golden tendrils spiraled through the web, concentrated around him. The power of the song filled the air. Voldemort's end however seemed stark in comparison, only a few thin bars of gold. Everything else flocked to Harry, giving him a sense of power and energy he'd never felt before. As Harry felt the strength this majestic song seemed to grant him he watched the bead and focused once more, channeling this ethereal energy. The bead leapt down the cord, at least 5 feet. Then it progressed at a steadier rate towards Voldemort's wand. Words filled his head now as the song became clearer to him.

"Go!" he shouted to his friends and rescuers. "You've only got a few seconds. As soon as this falls go!"

 Surprisingly Voldemort didn't react and Harry realized that his voice went unheard by his enemies. He suspected the song had something to do with it.

"NO!" shrieked Ginny and she made to dart forward. Ron grabbed her arm though he was about to scream at Harry as well.

"Professor Dumbledore," said Harry. "I know what to do. But I can't until you've all gone. I swear I'll follow."

 Dumbledore gave him an appraising look and also glanced at Snape who lay on the forest ground a few feet away from Harry's feet. Harry nodded twice then, conveying his answer. The agreement came more quickly than he'd guessed it would. At least Dumbledore's trust was a good sign. He just hoped he was doing the right thing.

The bead lurched forward again and Harry thought Voldemort looked panicked. It jumped back a few inches, guided by the dark lord's rage. Harry focused on the song again though and the bead moved the other way again, slowly and then it began to pick up pace. Finally the bead touched the tip of Voldemort's wand and as it did a final order came to him through the song. The words sounded Latin, and he couldn't quite make them out. He caught one phrase though "Nil Desperandum" and felt strangely comforted. He was sure now that this would work.

 This time when the ball of light touched the dark lord's wand, instead of causing Priori Incantem there was an explosion. An explosion of power and golden light. Harry knew that it would be enough to disrupt the portkey wards. He watched as Dumbledore made to follow his instructions. A split second later they had all disappeared, portkeys activated successfully. Thankfully Dumbledore had made sure his stubborn friends had left as well.

 Harry had only one thing to do now before the orb surrounding him subsided. He grabbed Snape around the middle with his left arm. Then, being careful not to jab himself in the throat with his wand, he used his right arm to pull on the pendant as hard as he could. The chain broke and a sickening tug behind his navel told him he was finally on his way back to Hogwarts.

~*~

 As soon as they had appeared in Dumbledore's office Ginny officially decided that if Harry Potter survived she would be the one to kill him. He'd better have a damn good reason at least. Everyone else in the office was anxious as well. Ron clenched his hands tightly as they all caught their breath. Hermione held her hand to her mouth, biting her lip. The aurors checked everyone over, assessing any injuries, and then left the room to send in a report and possibly ask for backup if Harry didn't return soon. It seemed like they had been waiting for ages. No one had said much yet though. Ginny was about to scream. She knew they were all wondering the same thing, yet no one had voiced it yet. They all just sat there, staring at nothing in particular. She held her breath, clutching the small golden necklace she wore tightly. Everyone watched as if they were waiting for Harry to fall from the sky.

And then he did.

 To say Harry entered the room gracefully would be a lie. In truth he really did look as if he was falling from the sky, one arm flailed out in an attempt to catch his balance. The other arm encircled the waist of his companion, a man renowned for being a greasy git. At this moment though Severus Snape did not look frightening at all. Harry's friends rushed over to help them and he felt a surge of relief after counting to make sure they were all there. He didn't allow himself much time to greet them though, as he was too concerned with making sure Snape hadn't died on the way.

"Er, maybe we should back up some, give him some space?" said Harry when he realized how tightly encircled he and Snape were.

"Right you are," said Dumbledore who was standing behind the group. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, would you two kindly fetch Madame Pomfrey."

Hermione and Ron nodded and headed for the office stairs. Before they descended though each of them shot one last glance at Harry, to be sure he was really there. After they exited the room Dumbledore knelt down beside Snape, placing two long fingers against the unconscious man's neck.

"Professor Snape has been a lucky man tonight," said Dumbledore. He motioned for Harry and Ginny should sit down on the sofa as he levitated Snape to another one. "I believe a dose of restorative drought and a good night's sleep will be enough to put him back in prime condition. You, on the other hand ought to be looked at as well."

"I'm fine," said Harry, just now realizing that he was bruised and bleeding in several places.

"Like hell you are," exclaimed Ginny. She only colored slightly when she glanced at Dumbledore. He only gave a rather bemused look.

"I'm alive, Ginny," he said. He placed her hands between his.

"Just barely," she said stubbornly, turning her body away from him tightly. It was all hitting her now, how close she'd come to losing him, and Harry was thinking the same.

"Oh, Harry," Ginny said. Her voice sounded choked and she new any second she would start crying. She buried her head in his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him. Harry did the same in turn and then realized that there were tears in his own eyes.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," he said, "I just couldn't let you stay. I didn't want to see you hurt."

"I know," she said, "I know. Just... Just promise you won't do that again. I was so afraid you'd be killed. I don't want to see you hurt either"

"I promise," managed Harry. He ran a hand through her hair and pulled her even more closely toward him.

  They held each other while they cried, as if their lives depended on it. It was as if this one physical hold, this lifeline, would keep everything else from falling apart as well.

 For the first time that day Harry and Ginny both felt truly safe.