CHAPTER 24
THIS IS IT!
An uneasy silence filled the Great Hall, the day that they had been expecting and preparing for months for was finally upon them and now that it was here the full impact hit them all.
"The first barrier has been broken.'' Dumbledore's voice broke the awkward silence that had enveloped the entire Hall. "It wont be long before the next ward is broken. We need to get the youngest out of danger.''
Terrified first and second years looked around nervously at each other, panicked parents wrapped their arms around their children, and shared worried glances with each other, knowing that this could well be the last time that they saw their children and each other alive again. The last war had claimed many lives and this was to be no different.
"I'll take them.'' Harry shouted above the whispered words of comfort and fear spreading around the Great Hall. "I know the perfect place.''
"Very well Harry.'' Dumbledore said, looking into Harry's eyes and seeing the steely resignation, war was upon them and whether Harry liked it or not he was to be the only person who could end it. "First to fourth years follow Harry please.'' Dumbledore called out across the hall, watching as the last few remaining staff that hadn't been present at dinner rushed through the doors of the Great Hall. "And don't dawdle, we have no time to waste.''
Harry walked out through the doors of the Great Hall, his head held high, trying to bestow a confidence upon himself that he deep down knew that he didn't possess. His mind was set on the perfect place to hide and protect the youngsters, the room of requirement it had never failed them before. He proceeded up the many flights of stairs leading to the room, followed by the first to fourth years all whispering in fear and apprehension. He paused outside the portrait of the trolls and proceeded to pace back and forth thinking about the thing that he needed most.
'A room to hide and protect the pupils where they are safe from danger.'
'A room to hide and protect the pupils where they are safe from danger.'
'A room to hide and protect the pupils where they are safe from danger.'
Suddenly out of nowhere a doorway appeared, Harry grabbed for the handle and pushed the door open, revealing an enormous room, filled with chairs, the walls looked to be at least an extra two foot thicker than the walls of the rest of the castle. It was comfortable enough and Harry knew that they would be safe as long as they remained inside.
"Right then everybody inside, I'm going to shut the door and soon it will disappear all together so that nobody other than the people who know you are here will be able to find it. You will still be able to get out, but I warn you now, do not open this door whatever happens, do not leave this room.'' Harry instructed, his eyes set, searching the faces of the pupils standing inside the room. He looked around once before nodding and closing the door tightly on the terrified faces of the pupils left to hide in the room of requirement.
He sighed deeply and turned to walk back down to the Great Hall, ready to face his fate whatever it may be.
*************************/*****************/**************************
A team of aurors met Harry as he walked into the Great Hall, to be met with the entire fifth year brewing extra potions, preparing beds for the injured and setting up a temporary Hospital wing.
"Harry" A familiar voice called out over the sea of aurors cloaks. "Wotcha Harry.'' Then he saw the shock of pink hair protruding from over the top of the mass of heads. "Emergency back up has just arrived, came as soon as they knew. Don't worry you won't have to do this alone.''
"Thanks Tonks.'' Harry said unsurely, knowing that in the end that's what it was going to come down to. Just him and Voldemort: face-to-face, wand-to-wand. The final confrontation and he wasn't going to have to wait long.''
He turned away from the crowd of aurors and headed towards Dumbledore to inform him of where the first to fourth years were hidden. But his intentions were interrupted as he saw Hermione rushing towards him, pushing through the crowd of wizards and witches preparing to fight.
"Harry, Harry where did you take them, are they safe?'' Hermione called to him. He smiled, evening the onset of a battlke Hermione always had to know every single fact.
"Yes Hermione, they're safe. I took them all to the room of requirement. They'll be fine.''
"Good.'' Hermione said stopping in front of Harry and regarding him for a moment. "I just want you to know Harry that even though the prophecy says it'll be down to you in the end, that I'll be there every step of the way for you, we all will.''
"Thanks Hermione.'' Harry said flatly, letting himself be gathered up into a hug. He glanced around over Hermione's shoulder and caught the eyes of the one person in the room that he wanted to hold the most. Ginny smiled sadly over to him and even from across the room he could see her eyes shining with tears, that he knew were probably for him. Ginny knew as well as he did that this could be their last few days alive.
****/******/*****/*****/*****/*****/******/*****/******/*******/*****/****
"The wards aren't holding! They are using powerful dark magic.'' Sirius shouted as the second last ward was brought down, the death eaters were close now, they could hear their shouts from inside the castle walls. "We can't let them get any closer to the castle, they'll bring it down.''
"What do you suggest that we do about it?'' Snape shouted agitatedly from across the Great Hall, the entire sixth and seventh years had been prepped for the battle, their wands were drawn, and their swords from battle classes were sheathed under their cloaks.
"We construct an invisibility charm behind the last ward.'' Lupin shouted from his position, overlooking the Great Lake, it waters were clear and still, not betraying any of the turbulence that was occurring on land.
"What good will that do.'' Snape called back.
"It'll give us the element of surprise.'' Lupin stated, they won't see what we're doing they won't know what to expect.'' He said excitedly. "It's the only thing that's going to save us. The wards are falling fast, this last one will only last another hour and darkness is approaching.''
"So what do you suggest we do with our advantage of surprise.'' Snape yelled back, not noticing the silence that had fallen around them as the three men planned their attack.
"We go out and meet them!'' Sirius said quietly from his place in the window, watching the death eaters firing spell after spell at the final ward.
"Are you mad? What are you thinking?'' Snape called, his voice raising a few notches.
"What are you thinking?'' Lupin asked, soundings more interested than frightened, there were times when Sirius had come up with some very stupid ideas but this sounded as if it would be one of his better ones.
"We go out and meet them, sneak up on them catch them unawares. We go out and take down the ward and attach whilst they're unaware. It'll be the last thing that they expect.'' Sirius said, his eyes glinting manically.
"It'll be the last thing that they expect because it's madness.'' Snape choked.
"What other hope have we got Severus, to sit in here and wait for them to come and corner us.'' Lupin said angrily. "This is all we've got. It's our only hope.''
"We'll do it.'' Dumbledore said, walking over to Snape and placing his hand on his shoulder. "It's the only way Severus.'' Dumbledore said sadly. "So, you say we've got an hour left.'' Dumbledore asked Sirius.
"At least, they're having problems with this one.'' Sirius said, smiling grimly as a death eaters curse rebounded, knocking him flat on his back. Dead.
"Right them, Remus you are responsible for making sure that everyone of the students knows the different stunning curses and Severus, make sure everyone is ready to go. I'll make sure the invisibility shield is prepared. And then we leave.'' Dumbledore said grimly staring around at everyone in the Great Hall. The parents, many of which had fought in the first war. The students, all of them knowing nothing about the true horrors of battle, and his faithful staff, many who had fought beside him before but all willing to die for Hogwarts and for the students.
***********************************/////////*****************************
The hour had come to an end, and everyone was ready. The door of Hogwarts slid open slowly; they were shielded by the invisibility shield and by a soundproofing cover that Professor McGonagall had thoughtfully constructed. And for the first timer they got a full glimpse at what they were about to face. Death eaters, surrounding the entire castle, their masks eerie in the fading light.
"This is it everybody.'' Dumbledore said as they closed in on the final ward. Standing feet away from a horde of Death eaters that could neither hear nor see them.
Dumbledore raised his wand and prepared to lower their last line of defence, the only thing that was separating them from the crowd of murderous men and women standing before them.
This really was it!!!
*************////////**************//////****************************///////**
(A.N Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, I tried to get this out a bit quicker for you all, sorry it's short but if you want more updates the chapters will have to get shorter I'm sorry!!! Hope you all enjoy and remember to please leave a review thank you xxxxxxxxxxx)
THIS IS IT!
An uneasy silence filled the Great Hall, the day that they had been expecting and preparing for months for was finally upon them and now that it was here the full impact hit them all.
"The first barrier has been broken.'' Dumbledore's voice broke the awkward silence that had enveloped the entire Hall. "It wont be long before the next ward is broken. We need to get the youngest out of danger.''
Terrified first and second years looked around nervously at each other, panicked parents wrapped their arms around their children, and shared worried glances with each other, knowing that this could well be the last time that they saw their children and each other alive again. The last war had claimed many lives and this was to be no different.
"I'll take them.'' Harry shouted above the whispered words of comfort and fear spreading around the Great Hall. "I know the perfect place.''
"Very well Harry.'' Dumbledore said, looking into Harry's eyes and seeing the steely resignation, war was upon them and whether Harry liked it or not he was to be the only person who could end it. "First to fourth years follow Harry please.'' Dumbledore called out across the hall, watching as the last few remaining staff that hadn't been present at dinner rushed through the doors of the Great Hall. "And don't dawdle, we have no time to waste.''
Harry walked out through the doors of the Great Hall, his head held high, trying to bestow a confidence upon himself that he deep down knew that he didn't possess. His mind was set on the perfect place to hide and protect the youngsters, the room of requirement it had never failed them before. He proceeded up the many flights of stairs leading to the room, followed by the first to fourth years all whispering in fear and apprehension. He paused outside the portrait of the trolls and proceeded to pace back and forth thinking about the thing that he needed most.
'A room to hide and protect the pupils where they are safe from danger.'
'A room to hide and protect the pupils where they are safe from danger.'
'A room to hide and protect the pupils where they are safe from danger.'
Suddenly out of nowhere a doorway appeared, Harry grabbed for the handle and pushed the door open, revealing an enormous room, filled with chairs, the walls looked to be at least an extra two foot thicker than the walls of the rest of the castle. It was comfortable enough and Harry knew that they would be safe as long as they remained inside.
"Right then everybody inside, I'm going to shut the door and soon it will disappear all together so that nobody other than the people who know you are here will be able to find it. You will still be able to get out, but I warn you now, do not open this door whatever happens, do not leave this room.'' Harry instructed, his eyes set, searching the faces of the pupils standing inside the room. He looked around once before nodding and closing the door tightly on the terrified faces of the pupils left to hide in the room of requirement.
He sighed deeply and turned to walk back down to the Great Hall, ready to face his fate whatever it may be.
*************************/*****************/**************************
A team of aurors met Harry as he walked into the Great Hall, to be met with the entire fifth year brewing extra potions, preparing beds for the injured and setting up a temporary Hospital wing.
"Harry" A familiar voice called out over the sea of aurors cloaks. "Wotcha Harry.'' Then he saw the shock of pink hair protruding from over the top of the mass of heads. "Emergency back up has just arrived, came as soon as they knew. Don't worry you won't have to do this alone.''
"Thanks Tonks.'' Harry said unsurely, knowing that in the end that's what it was going to come down to. Just him and Voldemort: face-to-face, wand-to-wand. The final confrontation and he wasn't going to have to wait long.''
He turned away from the crowd of aurors and headed towards Dumbledore to inform him of where the first to fourth years were hidden. But his intentions were interrupted as he saw Hermione rushing towards him, pushing through the crowd of wizards and witches preparing to fight.
"Harry, Harry where did you take them, are they safe?'' Hermione called to him. He smiled, evening the onset of a battlke Hermione always had to know every single fact.
"Yes Hermione, they're safe. I took them all to the room of requirement. They'll be fine.''
"Good.'' Hermione said stopping in front of Harry and regarding him for a moment. "I just want you to know Harry that even though the prophecy says it'll be down to you in the end, that I'll be there every step of the way for you, we all will.''
"Thanks Hermione.'' Harry said flatly, letting himself be gathered up into a hug. He glanced around over Hermione's shoulder and caught the eyes of the one person in the room that he wanted to hold the most. Ginny smiled sadly over to him and even from across the room he could see her eyes shining with tears, that he knew were probably for him. Ginny knew as well as he did that this could be their last few days alive.
****/******/*****/*****/*****/*****/******/*****/******/*******/*****/****
"The wards aren't holding! They are using powerful dark magic.'' Sirius shouted as the second last ward was brought down, the death eaters were close now, they could hear their shouts from inside the castle walls. "We can't let them get any closer to the castle, they'll bring it down.''
"What do you suggest that we do about it?'' Snape shouted agitatedly from across the Great Hall, the entire sixth and seventh years had been prepped for the battle, their wands were drawn, and their swords from battle classes were sheathed under their cloaks.
"We construct an invisibility charm behind the last ward.'' Lupin shouted from his position, overlooking the Great Lake, it waters were clear and still, not betraying any of the turbulence that was occurring on land.
"What good will that do.'' Snape called back.
"It'll give us the element of surprise.'' Lupin stated, they won't see what we're doing they won't know what to expect.'' He said excitedly. "It's the only thing that's going to save us. The wards are falling fast, this last one will only last another hour and darkness is approaching.''
"So what do you suggest we do with our advantage of surprise.'' Snape yelled back, not noticing the silence that had fallen around them as the three men planned their attack.
"We go out and meet them!'' Sirius said quietly from his place in the window, watching the death eaters firing spell after spell at the final ward.
"Are you mad? What are you thinking?'' Snape called, his voice raising a few notches.
"What are you thinking?'' Lupin asked, soundings more interested than frightened, there were times when Sirius had come up with some very stupid ideas but this sounded as if it would be one of his better ones.
"We go out and meet them, sneak up on them catch them unawares. We go out and take down the ward and attach whilst they're unaware. It'll be the last thing that they expect.'' Sirius said, his eyes glinting manically.
"It'll be the last thing that they expect because it's madness.'' Snape choked.
"What other hope have we got Severus, to sit in here and wait for them to come and corner us.'' Lupin said angrily. "This is all we've got. It's our only hope.''
"We'll do it.'' Dumbledore said, walking over to Snape and placing his hand on his shoulder. "It's the only way Severus.'' Dumbledore said sadly. "So, you say we've got an hour left.'' Dumbledore asked Sirius.
"At least, they're having problems with this one.'' Sirius said, smiling grimly as a death eaters curse rebounded, knocking him flat on his back. Dead.
"Right them, Remus you are responsible for making sure that everyone of the students knows the different stunning curses and Severus, make sure everyone is ready to go. I'll make sure the invisibility shield is prepared. And then we leave.'' Dumbledore said grimly staring around at everyone in the Great Hall. The parents, many of which had fought in the first war. The students, all of them knowing nothing about the true horrors of battle, and his faithful staff, many who had fought beside him before but all willing to die for Hogwarts and for the students.
***********************************/////////*****************************
The hour had come to an end, and everyone was ready. The door of Hogwarts slid open slowly; they were shielded by the invisibility shield and by a soundproofing cover that Professor McGonagall had thoughtfully constructed. And for the first timer they got a full glimpse at what they were about to face. Death eaters, surrounding the entire castle, their masks eerie in the fading light.
"This is it everybody.'' Dumbledore said as they closed in on the final ward. Standing feet away from a horde of Death eaters that could neither hear nor see them.
Dumbledore raised his wand and prepared to lower their last line of defence, the only thing that was separating them from the crowd of murderous men and women standing before them.
This really was it!!!
*************////////**************//////****************************///////**
(A.N Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, I tried to get this out a bit quicker for you all, sorry it's short but if you want more updates the chapters will have to get shorter I'm sorry!!! Hope you all enjoy and remember to please leave a review thank you xxxxxxxxxxx)