Chapter 23:

Assault on Azkaban

The next couple of weeks passed by without incident. Harry and Dumbledore had several meetings about the Order's activities. Dawlish and Remus were coordinating spying and surveillance. Thus far they had had no luck in finding Voldemort's new base of operations. One day, Harry stepped into Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore looked up as Harry entered and shook his head, "I just got a progress report from Kingsley. They still haven't found anything."

Harry shrugged, "I didn't expect much. I just came by to get permission to use the Astronomy Tower for Valentine's Day."

Dumbledore smiled and chuckled, "And what did you have in mind for young Miss Weasley?"

Harry smiled, "I'm not planning on proposing yet. It just wouldn't be romantic enough in the atmosphere of tension around the castle right now. If I'm still around after Voldemort attacks, I'll propose."

Dumbledore nodded, "Have you picked out the ring yet?"

Harry nodded, "You better believe it."

Dumbledore asked, "Have you shown it to anyone?"

Harry shook his head, "Only the jeweler. Ginny is going to be the first person to lay eyes on that ring."

Dumbledore beamed, "That is as it should be. Hilda was the first person to see her ring."

Harry quirked an eyebrow, "I didn't know that you had proposed to Hilda."

Dumbledore smiled, "Yes, I did so a week before the final battle. We were to be married as soon as Grindelwald was defeated. Alas, it was not to be."

Harry sighed, "I'm sorry that I couldn't change things, Albus."

Albus shook his head, "It isn't your fault. It would have been too dangerous to change anything."

Harry sighed again, "I know, but that doesn't make it any easier."

Albus smiled, "It was a long time ago. Time goes on."

Harry smiled, "Yes, it does. I'll be going. I assume that I have permission to take her up the tower tomorrow night."

Dumbledore chuckled, "Of course, Harry. You deserve to have a little fun."

Harry replied, "I just wish that I had time to do it a little more often."

"You will, Harry. One day this will all be over, and the only concerns in your life will be your wonderful wife, your wonderful children, and how to get your students to pay attention in Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

Harry laughed, "I hope you're right. I really do. Well, I have to go tell Dobby that tomorrow night is on. I'll need plenty of help if I am going to get this set up." Harry left Dumbledore's office in a rush, and headed down to the kitchens to alert Dobby to the plan. Once he was sure that Dobby knew what he was supposed to do, Harry returned to the common room.

Ginny eyed Harry suspiciously, "Where have you been?"

Harry replied easily, "Talking to Dumbledore."

Ron asked, "About what?"

Harry smirked, "If I wanted you to know, I would tell you."

Ron groaned, "Don't tell me we're going to start this again." Hermione leaned over and whispered in Ron's ear. His face gained an expression of shock for a moment before settling into one of understanding. He mumbled to himself, "Oh, I get it."

Neville snorted and said under his breath but loud enough for the other's to hear, "I highly doubt that."

Ron pointed a finger, "Hey, that's not funny."

Hermione sighed, "Its so true, though. You had to be told."

Ron grumbled good naturedly at the playful teasing that he was being subjected to. Ginny kicked her foot at him, "I think I know what you understood. Its that Harry is up to something considering the fact that Valentine's Day happens to be tomorrow."

Harry made a show of looking around the room as if in disinterest. Then, he said, "I don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. I was planning on sitting in Gryffindor Tower all night tomorrow."

Ginny protested hotly, "Then, I guess you will be sitting by yourself. I don't intend to stay here all night."

Harry sighed, "I guess that I will just have to be bored, then." Harry stood up, "Goodnight all." He raced up the stairs without even kissing Ginny goodnight.

She gaped after him in surprise, "He didn't even kiss me."

Neville chuckled, "He's good."

Hermione looked over at him, "What do you mean?"

Neville pointed at Ginny, "She's going to be awake half the night now, trying to figure out what he has planned for Valentine's Day, and since he didn't even tell us guys what he was up to, she has no way of finding out. As I said, he's good."

Hermione laughed, "Yes, I guess he is. Ginny, I hope you know how lucky you are to have a guy that will go to that much trouble to surprise you."

Ron said, "Especially with all the things he has to worry about. I mean, Voldemort could show up tomorrow and kill him for all we know."

Hermione slapped Ron in the side of the head so hard that he flipped sideways out of the chair that he was sitting on. He asked sullenly as he rubbed his head, "What did you do that for?"

Hermione practically snarled at Ron, "Do you ever use your brain before you speak?"

"Why?" Hermione pointed to where Ginny had put her head into her lap and began crying. Luna was sitting next to her, attempting to comfort her. Neville gave Ron a look of disgust.

Hermione replied, "That's why. Don't you think we all know that Harry could die? The only way any of us get through the day is not to mention it, and you go and blurt it out during a conversation about Valentine's Day. Do you have any idea how much you upset Ginny?" By this point, Ginny had leaped up from the couch and raced up the dormitory stairs. Hermione looked over at Luna, "I'll go talk to her."

Ron said as Hermione headed for the stairs, "I'm sorry. I just didn't think…"

Neville interrupted him, "Exactly, Ron. You never think. Try it sometimes." Neville stood up and held out a hand to Luna, "Come on, Luna. I'll walk you back to the Ravenclaw common room." Neville and Luna walked out the portrait hole, while Hermione headed up the stairs to the girl's dormitory, leaving Ron in the room by himself.

Hermione entered the fifth year girl's dormitory to find Ginny lying on her bed, "Ginny, why don't you come to my room so that we can talk?"

Ginny nodded mutely and followed Hermione to the Head Girl's room. The two of them sat down on Hermione's bed and had a long talk which consisted of a great deal of insulting Ron for having no sense, and Hermione allowing Ginny to talk about how much she loved Harry.

The next morning began as usual, Harry greeted Ginny with a kiss and said, "Good morning." Then, he followed this with another kiss, "Happy Valentine's Day."

She smiled back at him, "The same to you. Now, what do you have planned for tonight?"

Harry smirked, "I have no idea what you are talking about." He began humming to himself as they walked down to breakfast. The day seemed to drag by for Ginny, since she couldn't wait to see what Harry had planned. After class, she got ready to go to dinner, but Harry stopped her as they walked out the portrait hole. He shook his head, "We're not going to the Great Hall."

Ginny looked at Harry, "Then, where are we going?"

Harry chuckled, "That is a surprise. Now, I'm going to cast a mild Blinding Charm on you, so that you can't peek."

Ginny smiled slightly, "Alright."

Harry waved his hand in front of her eyes, and Ginny's vision was removed. Harry took her hand and pulled it to his elbow and said, "Now, follow my lead." Ginny did so and the two of them began walking through corridors. Harry took her through a series of wrong turns to insure that she had no idea where they were going, although this did not stop her from asking. Finally they reached the top of the Astronomy Tower. Harry asked as he snapped his fingers to remove the Blinding Charm, "How's this for a view during a candlelit dinner?"

As Ginny's vision returned from the Blinding Charm, she sucked in a gasp of surprise and delight. Sitting on top of the Astronomy Tower beneath a beautiful tapestry of stars was a small table set for two with a sumptuous dinner lying prepared on top of it. There was also a vase of gold and red roses sitting amidst the lit candles in the center of the table. Ginny sighed, "Harry, this is wonderful."

Harry swept past her and pulled out her chair. Then, bowing he said, "You haven't seen anything yet."

Ginny curtseyed, "Why, Lord Gryffindor, that is an excellent thing to hear. Although if you're not careful, a girl could get used to this."

Harry smiled as Ginny took her seat, "You had better get used to it, Lady Gryffindor, for I intend to spoil you for the rest of your life."

Harry then walked around the table to take his own seat. Then, Ginny asked, "How did you put all this together?"

Harry grinned, "Dobby. How else?"

Ginny laughed sweetly, "That figures. I don't know what you would do without him."

Harry joined her laughter, "Probably a lot of work."

Ginny snorted, "I doubt it. I just wouldn't get all these romantic dinners."

Harry smiled, "Yes, you would. I would just have to start working on them much sooner than I do."

The two of them continued to banter and chat as they enjoyed the delicious dinner that Dobby had prepared for them. As the dinner was winding down, Harry's scar gave a twinge. His eyes widened in horror and he looked over at Ginny, "Go and get the others. Voldemort has launched an assault on Azkaban." Ginny gave a small squeak of shock before leaping to her feet and racing from the tower, Harry Apparated directly to Dumbledore's office, "It has begun."

Dumbledore immediately asked, "Where?"

Harry answered, "Azkaban. Have the rest of the Order follow as soon as they are alerted. I'm taking whoever Ginny finds and gets here with in the next five minutes."

Dumbledore tapped his wand to a figurine on his desk and within moments Dawlish and Remus popped through the fire. Dawlish asked, "Where is the attack?"

Dumbledore replied, "Azkaban." Dawlish nodded, "I will assemble the Aurors and meet you there." Dawlish grabbed a pinch of of Floo Powder and leaped back into the fire. Ginny came running into the office a moment later with Tonks, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Snape.

Harry nodded grimly, "Hermione, you're on messenger status. Finish filling in Order members as they arrive. Neville, Ginny, Ron, Tonks, Luna, you have sentry duty in the castle. Hermione, aid them when you're finished with the Order. Albus, Severus, Moony, let's go."

All three men latched onto Harry and he Apparated them all to the far side of the island. The battle was already engaged fast and furiously. There was a huge pulsing black portal that was the source of an army of Giants, Trolls, Acromantulas, and Vampires that were being led by groups of Death Eaters. The golems were holding their own, but it was quickly obvious that they would be overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers of dark creatures that were attacking them. Snape asked, "Why aren't there any Dementors?"

Harry replied, "They would be useless against golems. Golems have no feelings of happiness to suck dry so Dementors wouldn't be a lot of help."

A group of Aurors and several more Order members Portkeyed onto the island beside them. Kingsley swore violently when he saw the massive array of dark forces that were spread out beneath the hillside they were standing on, "Damn! This is crazy."

Harry looked over to Dawlish, "I want all of you to concentrate on the Acromantulas and Death Eaters. I'll handle the Trolls and Giants. Ignore the Vampires unless they attack you first. Let's turn the tide of battle."

The Aurors chorused, "Yes, sir."

Dawlish yelled out, "You heard the man. Move!"

Harry turned to look at Remus and Severus, "The two of you, cover me. We're about to see how trolls like whirlwinds." The two wizards beside him grinned in anticipation of what Harry was about to do.

By this time, the Aurors had infiltrated their way down into the ranks of Death Eaters, which disrupted the chain of command. Very quickly, the Giants became disorganized and haphazard. The trolls became confused and started attacking allies as well as enemies. During this confusion, the golems reorganized and began pushing the invaders back towards the portal. Harry stood up and began casting a spell, "I command the winds to obey me. Swirl and blow. Hurricanos!" The Hurricane Spell tore into the ranks of trolls in moments. They were buffeted around and swept from the field of battle. Many of them were deposited out into the ocean. When the vampires saw this, they immediately fell back in retreat towards the portal. Once the Death Eaters realized that the battle was lost, they abandoned the field and Apparated away. The golems made short work of the remaining Acromantulas and Giants, who quickly filed away in retreat. Several members of the Order gathered around Harry a few minutes later.

Dawlish asked, "Why was that so easy?"

Harry replied grimly, "This was a feint, a test. Tom wasn't even here. He just wanted to give his forces a field run." Harry froze, "The castle is in danger. I have to get back to Hogwarts."

While Harry and the others had gone to Azkaban, Ginny and Tonks went on patrol one way, while Ron and Neville went the other. Luna remained in Dumbledore's office with Hermione. During their patrols, Bellatrix Lestrange led a strike force of Death Eaters onto the grounds. Ginny caught sight of them out a window she and Tonks were passing. She looked at Tonks as she leaped onto the window sill, "Go, get Ron and Neville. We have Death Eaters at Hogwarts." Ginny whistled loudly and Aurellia swooped down to latch onto Ginny's shoulders. She took flight out the window to take Ginny to the ground.

Tonks looked out the window to see at least eight hooded and masked figures. Tonks swore loudly, "Damn it. Harry is going to kill me." She raced through the corridors to find backup.

Ginny landed on the ground and yelled out challengingly, "That's as far as you go."

The Death Eaters spun and looked at the young witch, holding sword and wand defiantly before them. Bellatrix cackled, "Well, this couldn't be more perfect. The Dark Lord sent us to retrieve Potter's girlfriend and she has presented herself to us."

Ginny taunted her, "Don't be so sure of that, Bellatrix. You still have to take me."

Bellatrix motioned for two of the Death Eaters to attack her. They advanced and one of them paused to fire a Stunning Spell, while the other continued to close in on Ginny. She casually flicked her wand and said, "Protego." The shield flared into existence, and the spell bounced harmlessly away as Ginny dove forward tucked her body into a roll, and came to her feet just in front of the first Death Eater. Before he could begin to react, Ginny plunged her sword into his abdomen. He fell back gurgling, taking her sword with him. Without pausing in her movements, she almost without thought threw a Full Body Bind at the second Death Eater, "Petrificus Totalus." He fell frozen to the ground. Ginny calmly looked at Bellatrix, "Are you still so confident?"

Bellatrix cast her mask aside and threw back her hood, "We shall see how confident you are when you are forced to duel the Dark Lord's chosen." Bellatrix turned to the other Death Eaters, "Keep anyone from interfering." Then, she turned her gaze back to Ginny. The two began to duel. The curses flew back and forth between the two witches at a pace one would have to see to believe. During this exchange, Tonks, Ron, Hermione, and Luna came running out the front entrance onto the grounds. The remaining Death Eaters immediately began hurling curses at them. Each of the four dove behind cover, and began to exchange curses with the Death Eaters. Bellatrix finally managed to trip Ginny during mid-flip. Then, a Stunning Spell later, Ginny was beaten. Bellatrix crowed in triumph until she felt the tip of a sword touch her throat.

A swirl of cloak and Neville appeared before her. He grinned with malice, "I wouldn't be so sure that have won. You still have to deal with me. Now, arm yourself, for I am going to enjoy this." Bellatrix conjured a sword and the two of them began to fight in earnest. It was immediately clear that Neville was the superior of the two. The battle was so fast paced and exciting that Tonks, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and the Death Eaters stopped fighting to watch. Finally, Neville caught Bellatrix with a Tickling Charm. She paused to counter the Charm and Neville quickly took advantage of the lapse and buried his sword into Bellatrix's abdomen. Four of the Death Eaters hurled Cruciatus Curses at Neville, while the fifth scurried over to heal Bellatrix. Neville avoided three of the curses, but wasn't quite quick enough for the fourth. It hit him square in the chest, and he fell to the ground writhing in agony. Ron stunned the Death Eater that was holding Neville under the Cruciatus Curse, but in turn left himself exposed to be stunned by the other three Death Eaters.

Bellatrix grabbed her sword and placed the tip of it to Neville's throat. She was still bleeding from the stomach wound, but it appeared as if she would live. She yelled, "Enough, or he dies."

Tonks, Hermione, and Luna stopped attacking again. Tonks called out, "Alright, just don't hurt him."

Bellatrix sneered, "We will do as we please." She looked at one of the other Death Eaters, "Create a Portkey. We're leaving. Take the girl." At that moment, a panther slammed into Bellatrix from the side. The sword dropped to the ground at Neville's side, while Bellatrix was slammed hard to the packed earth by the force of the panther's body. The panther transformed into Harry and he pointed his hand at the four remaining Death Eaters, "Stupefy." Four jets of red light sprang from each of his fingers to stun the four Death Eaters. While he was doing this, Neville rolled to his feet grabbing Bellatrix's dropped sword on the way. He plunged the blade into her body pinning her to the ground.

Harry walked over and looked down at her, "It seems that we finally have you, Bellatrix. You are meeting your fate."

Bellatrix snarled, "Fine, fetch a healer, and you can take me to prison, Potter."

Harry looked at Neville, "Do you know anything about prison, Neville?"

Neville shook his head, "I don't believe so. Prison would be far too good for her."

Harry nodded, "I agree. Not to mention, I don't see any healers around."

Neville made a show of looking back and forth, and then shrugged, "Me neither. I guess she will just have to die."

Bellatrix gasped, "Are you saying you're going to let me bleed to death?"

Harry and Neville gave her grim and determined looks. Harry said, "What did you expect from us? You robbed Neville of his parents for sixteen years, and you took my godfather from me. You have gotten exactly what you deserve, Bellatrix."

Hermione walked up to Harry and Neville, "Are the two of you really going to let her die?"

Harry and Neville both looked at Hermione and said simultaneously, "Yes." Neville walked over to Luna, while Harry turned to walk to Ginny. He leaned over and said, "Enervate."

Ginny sat up, "Is it over?"

Harry chuckled, "For the time being."

A/N: I will no longer be responding to every single review. To the reviews that require a simple thanks, thank you for the reviews. I will only answer reviews that require more of a response than that.

Udderpd: That was a taste of romance.

TuxedoMac: I'm not planning on a full length novel for the Ginny's seventh year, but there will be some shorts.

ShadowKnightBaelin: Don't worry too much. The fight is going to be interesting.

Lord of Darkness13: Don't expect the fight till Chapter 28.

Lunawolf: I thought that the ring was nice.

HP-wannabe69: I will look forward to more reviews then.

Blind Faeri: I don't think we know when Ginny's birthday is, so I just arbitrarily picked late March.

Aalikane: Don't go batty.

TempestDragon: the final battle will be at Hogwarts.

Silver Warrior: All will be revealed.