Chapter 28:

The Attack

The last few weeks of school passed quickly. Ginny was starting to fold under the pressure of the O.W.L.'s. The night before the tests began found Ginny studying furiously. Harry was standing behind her massaging her shoulders and telling her to relax. She snapped at him repeatedly to shut up. Harry merely grinned. Finally, he decided to put an end to it. "Alright, Ginny, its time to stop."

She shook her head stubbornly, "I can't, Harry. I have to do well on this test."

"You're going to do fine, Ginny. You know this information standing on your head. The best thing for you to do is relax and then get a good night's sleep. That way you will be alert tomorrow."

"But, Harry.." began Ginny.

Harry cut her off immediately, "Don't but Harry, me. I forbid you to study anymore."

Ginny put a defiant expression on her face, "Oh, you forbid me, do you?"

Harry drew his wand and pointed at her, "That's right. I forbid you. You're going to relax if I have to hex you."

Ginny made a mock fearful face, "You wouldn't curse me, would you?"

"Would you have cursed me that day that Cho kissed me?" asked Harry.

Ginny nodded, "Probably. I'm not for sure, though."

"Well, I'm a hundred times more serious about this than you were that day." responded Harry.

Ginny's eyes widened, "Okay. I'll stop studying and relax."

Harry grinned triumphantly, "Good. Now, come over to the couch and relax in my arms."

The two teenagers walked over to the couch where Harry laid down and stretched out. Ginny laid down beside him and he wrapped his arms around her. Ginny snuggled back into him and smiled, "I should have listened to you earlier. I could get used to this."

Harry smiled as he leaned in and nuzzled Ginny's ear, "You better get used to this. We are going to be spending evenings lying in front of the fire for years to come."

"Mr. Potter, you're going to have to put a ring on my finger if you want me to stay with you for that long." exclaimed Ginny in mock disbelief.

Harry chuckled as he pulled Ginny closer to him, "When the time is right, I intend to, Miss Weasley.

The next morning Harry met Professor Dumbledore in the corridor. He smiled, "Ah, just the person I was looking for."

Dumbledore smiled, "And why is that, Harry?"

"Well, the Gryffindors have been working really hard studying for their exams. I think that they need a party to unwind after they get through with the tests. So, I was going to ask your permission to go down to the village on the last day of exams. That way I can get some things for us to have a party with that night. I know none of them will party until the last day of the O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s."

Dumbledore nodded, "I think that it is an excellent idea, Harry."

"So, that means I can go next Friday, right?" asked Harry.

"Of course. Just don't be out of the castle for too long. We don't want to give Voldemort much of a window where we aren't both in the castle." answered Dumbledore.

Harry grinned, "I somehow doubt he'll even find out that I've left the castle before I get back. I'll go through one of the hidden passages to make sure that I'm not seen leaving the castle."

Dumbledore patted Harry on the back, "Don't worry. I'm sure that I can handle things till you get back. Enjoy."

"Well, I'm going to get to class. Professor McGonagall will skin me alive if I'm late." said Harry as he took off down the corridor.

After Dumbledore and Harry disappeared from sight around opposite corners, Draco Malfoy stepped out of a nearby classroom and smiled evilly to himself. He went immediately to the Slytherin dungeon. Once he was in his dormitory and alone, he pulled out a mirror similar to the one that Harry gave Ginny. "Father."

Lucius Malfoy's face appeared in the mirror. "What is it, Draco?"

"Father, Potter will be leaving the castle to go into the village on Friday afternoon after his last exam." answered Draco.

Lucius' face lit up, "How do you know this?"

Draco smiled, "I overheard him asking that fool of a Headmaster for permission to go."

"Were you seen?" asked Lucius sharply.

"No, Father. I was hidden in a classroom off the hall. They didn't know that I was present." answered Draco.

Lucius grinned with malice in his eyes, "Excellent. The Dark Lord will reward you well for this information, Draco. You are well on your way up the ranks of the Death Eaters."

Draco inclined his head, "I live only to serve the Dark Lord."

Lucius broke the connection with Draco and Apparated to the chamber of Voldemort. He knocked on the door and bowed, waiting to be acknowledged. "Rise, Lucius."

"Yes, Master." Lucius rose to his feet and walked into the room.

"What information do you have for me?" asked Voldemort.

"My Lord, Draco has reported to me that Potter will be leaving the castle next Friday to go to the village." said Lucius.

"How did he come by this information?"

Lucius smiled, "He was eavesdropping from an empty classroom while Potter was asking Dumbledore for permission to go."

Voldemort placed his hands together in front of him, and began tapping his fingers against each other, "This is excellent news. Lucius, inform the rest of the Death Eaters that we will commence the attack on the castle on Friday week. Assemble the giants as well."

Lucius bowed, "Yes, My Lord." He turned and swept out of the room.

Voldemort clasped his hands together with glee, "Victory will be mine."

The two weeks of exams went by in a blur and before Harry knew it, it was the final day of exams. The four sixth year Gryffindors got out of their last exam which was Charms, and breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione smiled brightly, "Let's all go down to the lake until the fifth years finish with their O.W.L.'s."

Ron and Neville both nodded, "Yeah, that's a good idea."

Harry shook his head, "Sorry, guys, you'll have to go without me. I've got something that I have to go do. I'll catch up with you later." He turned and headed down a different corridor.

Ron hollered after him, "What are you going to do?"

Harry yelled back, "It's a surprise. Tell Ginny that I'll see her later."

Hermione turned to look at Ron, "I wonder what he's up to."

Ron shrugged, "I don't know."

Neville grinned, "He told us that it was a surprise. I guess we'll find out soon enough."

Ron grinned back, "I just hope its good. Let's go to the lake. I need some good rest and relaxation."

The three Gryffindors sat under a tree and watched some of the younger students play with the giant squid in the lake. Ron stretched out and laid his head on Hermione's lap. She was sitting with her back leaning against the tree. Neville laid on his side and propped his head up on his elbow. He grinned, "I'm so glad that we're done with exams."

Ron laughed, "Yeah, I love not working when someone else is. All those poor fifth years taking their O.W.L.'s. It's just horrible." Ron pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye.

Neville laughed at his antics while Hermione snorted, "I'm sure that Ginny and Luna would love to hear about your sincerity."

Ron looked up at Hermione in mock indignation, "Hey, I feel bad for the two of them. It's the rest of them that I'm laughing at."

Neville snorted, "So, you're saying that you're not laughing at your sister?"

Ron shook his head emphatically, "I wouldn't dare. She's terrible to deal with when she thinks you've been making fun of her. If that's not bad enough, her boyfriend is probably the most talented and powerful wizard that has ever been seen at Hogwarts."

Hermione slapped Ron on the top of the head, "Hey, what about me?"

Ron rubbed his head, "What do you mean what about you? I said most powerful wizard. In case you haven't looked in a mirror lately, Hermione, you're a witch."

Hermione grinned and looked slightly sheepish as she said, "Oh. I didn't think about it like that."

Ron grinned slyly, "Although, I do have my doubts about you being able to take Harry. I think that he could beat you."

Hermione bit her lip, because she knew that Ron was right even though he was just teasing her. None of them could begin to compete with Harry's power. They sat around and talked for about another hour before the next exam period was over. The rest of the school came streaming out onto the lawns. Even the N.E.W.T.'s were over now.

Ginny walked up to the three of them and asked, "So, where's Harry?"

Ron shrugged, "I dunno. He said that he had something to take care of and that he would catch up with us later."

Ginny looked puzzled for a moment, "Did he say what he had to take care of?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, he just said that it was a surprise."

Ginny grinned, "Well, if it's a surprise from Harry, I'm sure that it will be interesting."

Ron snorted, "That's an understatement."

Neville sat bolt upright a moment later, "Here comes Luna."

Ron snickered, "I'd say that she's got you trained."

Hermione smacked Ron in the head, "Are you saying that you aren't trained?"

Ron hesitated, "Uhh.." He broke off as the group heard a scream coming from the front lawn. They all looked over to see giants lumbering into the Hogwart's grounds.

Hermione and Ginny's eyes locked, "Voldemort." they both said at once. Neville immediately jumped up and ran towards Luna. A split second later, Voldemort appeared in front of the group with four Death Eaters surrounding him. Hermione noticed immediately that the five of them were holding a talisman. The first thing that went through her mind was Portkey.

The Death Eaters split into two pairs and each pair grabbed one of the girls and took their wands from them before they could react. Ron drew his wand and leveled it at Voldemort. "Let them go."

Voldemort laughed, "Why should I do that, boy?"

Ron gulped, "If you don't I'll kill you."

Voldemort laughed even harder at this, "You must be a Gryffindor. Such silly courage. You will have to die, I think. I have who I want. Avada Kedavra." A jet of green light shot out of the end of Voldemort's wand. It hit Ron in the chest and he fell to the ground.

Both girls screamed in distress as one watched her boyfriend fall, and the other watched her brother. They both sagged in the arms of the Death Eaters holding them, but the Death Eaters merely drug them along.

A clear voice rang out, "Voldemort." The students that had been fleeing back to the castle stopped to see what was going to happen. Dumbledore stood just outside the castle radiating power with the Hogwart's professors at his back. All of them had their wands drawn and looks of grim determination on their faces.

Voldemort chuckled, "I see that you have come out to play, Dumbledore." Voldemort walked forward slowly, while the Death Eaters behind him drug Hermione and Ginny along. The group of giants that appeared to number about seventy-five had lined up in a semicircle around the front of the castle and had been joined by about fifty Death Eaters. All in all it was an impressive force to behold.

Dubmledore spoke firmly, "Leave the students out of this, Tom. This is a battle between you and me."

Voldemort shook his head, "Oh, we can't have that. As you see I have acquired two of our young Potter's friends. They are much too valuable to give up. However, I am in a generous mood. I will duel with you one on one. Potter's girlfriend can be the prize. Once I have defeated you, I will kill her."

Dumbledore paled, "It seems that I have no choice in the matter. However, I want you to know this, Tom. Even if you kill me today, you will still not win the war. Harry is out there, and he is the one you cannot defeat. I may die, but I will die knowing that you will fall at the hands of Harry Potter. He will destroy you."

Voldemort screamed in rage, "I will be the one to destroy Potter, Dumbledore. That's why you sent him away. He isn't ready to face me. He's afraid."

Dumbledore smiled knowingly, "You're the one that is afraid, Tom. You waited to attack until Harry had gone away. You were afraid to face him. You think that if you kill his friends and his family that you will be able to break him. You are wrong. Anyone who dies here today will be avenged in blood. Harry will take no prisoners. You and all your minions will die at the hands of the power Harry carries."

Voldemort cackled cruelly, "Bold words, Dumbledore. I would like to know something before we duel. How does it feel to know that Potter's best friend Weasley is already dead?" Voldemort pointed back towards the lake where Ron's crumpled body was clearly visible.

Dumbledore saw this and his heart broke. "I'm sorry, Harry." he mumbled under his breath. Out loud to Voldemort, he spoke, "Mr. Weasley was a symbol of the courage that it takes to be a Gryffindor. He may be one more in your list of murders, Voldemort, but he will stand as one of the last. Your time on this planet is over."

During this exchange of words, Hermione mumbled brokenly over and over again, "I wish Harry were here. I wish Harry were here."

Ginny merely cried softly. Then, what Hermione was saying registered in her brain. She had a way to contact Harry. The magical mirror was in her robes. She just had to find a way to touch it. She took a quick step to her right and wrenched her left arm loose from the Death Eater holding it. She quickly darted her hand inside her robes to touch the wand and screamed, "Harry." The Death Eater that she had pulled away from backhanded her across the face, splitting her lip. Then, he grabbed her and held her arm again.

Voldemort looked around in irritation, "What was that all about?"

One of the Death Eaters bowed, "She appeared to be calling for Potter, My Lord."

Dumbledore grinned when he heard this. They might have a chance after all. Dumbledore knew about Harry giving Ginny the two-way mirror. Dumbledore also knew that Harry carried the other one with him at all times. It would only be a matter of time before Harry would return to the school. All he had to do was buy some time for everyone else until Harry returned. "Tom, it is time. You have stalled for too long."

Dumbledore sent a curse sailing at Voldemort, who easily erected a Shield Charm to block it and the duel began. Both of the wizards were extremely capable. They both summoned monsters from the earth to do battle. Dumbledore animated the gargoyle statues that were on the exterior of the castle to attack Voldemort. He handled all of this easily.

While this duel was getting ready to begin, Harry was standing in Honeydukes trying to decide what sweets to buy for the party that evening. The mirror grew warm inside his robe and he heard Ginny's voice screaming, "Harry."

Harry immediately pulled out his mirror and when Ginny's face didn't appear, he grew worried. "Oh, no, something has happened." Harry pointed at the shopkeepers. "Floo the Ministry. Ask to speak to Dawlish, Kingsley Shacklebolt, or Arthur Weasley. Tell them Voldemort is attacking Hogwarts. I've gone to face him. Hurry." Harry transformed into a phoenix right in front of the stunned shopkeepers who hurried to do his bidding.

Harry winged his way back up to the castle, and surveyed the battle below. It was obvious that Dumbledore was tiring and that Voldemort would eventually wear him down and kill him. Harry had to find Ginny and remove her from harm before he could intervene, though. As he was thinking this he saw Dumbledore hit the ground.

The battle below was going quite badly for Dumbledore. His golems and statues had been defeated, and his shields were getting increasingly weaker.

Voldemort laughed, "I feel your power dropping, Dumbledore."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed, "I'm not finished yet, Tom. While I live you will not take this school."

"True. I will not take it while you live. Once I kill you, though, I will walk over your corpse to claim what is mine." sneered Voldemort.

Dumbledore shook his head as he deflected another curse that was thrown at him. "No, Tom, even then you will not take the school. Should I fall, another will take my place. Then, there will be another one after them. That process will continue until you have no choice but to face the Child of the Prophesy. The child that frightens you to death. Harry Potter."

Voldmeort screeched in rage, "I will kill Harry Potter." Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse at Dumbledore, "Crucio!" This curse finally shattered the last of Dumbledore's defenses and he fell to the ground writhing in agony.

While this was occurring, Harry spotted Ginny and Hermione being held by the Death Eaters. He made himself invisible and then landed and transformed into his human form to deal with them.

All the time that the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort had been occurring, Hermione had been zoned out. She kept repeating over and over, "I wish Harry were here. I wish Harry were here." However, in her mind, there was much more turmoil. She just couldn't believe Ron was dead. It just couldn't be true. She played the events of the last six years through her mind. Their first Halloween when Ron had made fun of her after Charms class. How later that same night Ron had used the very spell that they had learned that day to save her life. How she felt when she saw him being hit by the queen in that awful chess game when they were going after the Sorcerer's Stone. How glad she was to see him again after being petrified in their second year. How worried she was when she saw Sirius drag him into the passage underneath the Whomping Willow tree in third year. How mad she was at him when he didn't ask her to the Yule Ball in fourth year and then made fun of her for going with Viktor. How much that she had finally come to realize that she loved him. It was all so unfair.

Ginny's thoughts were similar to Hermione's. Ron was dead. Her closest sibling was lying lifeless beneath a tree beside the lake at Hogwarts. She reflected on all the years that they had spent together at the Burrow before Ron had finally went off to Hogwarts and she got to join him a year later. The teasing that she received from him for the crush that she had on Harry. The complaining that he was always doing. She would never hear any of that ever again. What was worse, anyone of them might follow him soon. All of them might die. What if she had to live on without any of her friends or family? What if Harry had to live on without any of them? Would he be able to bear the knowledge that he couldn't save them?

The Death Eaters standing around hooted in triumph when they saw Dumbledore fall. It would be a great victory for the Dark Lord. The giants pounded their clubs into the ground to signify their pleasure.

Dumbledore writhed on the ground in pain until Voldemort removed the curse and laughed maniacally. "This is a glorious day. I have defeated my greatest enemy at last. Dumbledore is fallen, and the rest of you will follow his passing. I'm going to kill you in a moment, Dumbledore. Before I do, though, I want you to see that I have killed Potter's girlfriend. I want you to die knowing that I have taken the one thing that is most important to the boy and eliminated it."

While Voldemort was doing his gloating to the staff, who appeared to be standing ready to attack, Harry was positioning himself to attack. He waited until Voldemort motioned his two Death Eaters to bring Ginny forward and then he attacked. Four well placed Banishing Charms sent the four Death Eaters sailing past Voldemort's head. Two more sent Ginny and Hermione to land neatly right beside Professor McGonagall.

As Voldemort was motioning his Death Eaters to bring the girl to him, he spoke the final words of his boast, "I guess your precious Mr. Potter is not going to save the day."

As he said these words, his Death Eaters suddenly whizzed past him and landed in a tangled heap on the ground. He spun to see what the disturbance was just as Harry made himself visible.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I had to. Two chapters to go.

TopQuark: I needed the calm before the storm. Thanks for the review.

Josh Maxwell: The first chapter of the sequel will be up a week from today. Thanks for the review.

SeekerGinny: You found out a little ;). Thanks for the review.

SacHigh05: There will be a change in the relationship between the trio in Seven, but it will be short-lived, so don't stop reading when it happens. Thanks for the review.

Maria: The next one will start about five minutes after this ends. It will be in the same vein with the same characters. The title is Harry Potter and the Spirit of Time. Look for it in a week. Thanks for the review.

Lourdes: I hate that myself. Thanks for the review.

Plasterwork: I'll try to give you some longer chapters. Thanks for the review.

David M. Potter: Thanks for the review.

Blip-dragon: One would suspect that you are a red-head J . Thanks for the review.

Athenakitty: Not today. Thanks for the review.

Captuniv: You can see if you were right about the hint on Thursday. Thanks for the review.

Kyntor: She wasn't thinking rationally. Thanks for the review.

John: I must have typed something wrong somewhere. Two more chapters to go. The sequel is underway. Thanks for the review.

Jeangab057: Not long. Thanks for the review.

Voxenking: There will be the sequel for sure. Beyond that, we will just have to wait and see. Thanks for the review.

Joulez: The sequel. There will still be plenty of Death Eater smashing to go. Thanks for the review.

KEmporer: Remember the Mirror of Erised. At least half of it had to come true. Thanks for the review.

Dragonclawz: I'll do my best. Thanks for the review.

Piper: Shock can do strange things to your mind. Thanks for the review.

Froggy1: Expect an even wilder ride in the next one. Thanks for the review.

Seipher: I'm glad that you have enjoyed. Thanks for the review.