Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the plot.
The Second Darkness
Chapter 14: Inside the Castle
Dumbledore nodded at Harry. Harry grinned at his Headmaster, turned and ran back towards the DA. Harry hacked down a Death Eater who jumped into his way. Another Death Eater hit him with a spell from behind but it merely bounced of the dragonskin armour. Harry ducked as a spell flew towards him and blocked another.
He caught up with Ron as Ron was leading the DA to help some Aurors who were pinned against a wall by a ring of Death Eaters who were killing or wounding an Auror with every other spell. Harry grabbed Ron by the robes and began to drag him away,
"What are you doing? We need to help the Aurors!" Ron yelled over the noise of the fight.
"We've got to get that book!" Ron shook his head and began running back to help the Aurors. Five goblins and two members of the Order ran passed Harry. Harry stopped them and directed them towards the Aurors. They nodded and attacked the Death Eaters from behind. Harry turned to Ron, blocking two spells that flew his way as he did so.
"Happy now?" Harry asked sarcastically, Ron nodded equally sarcastically. Harry began leading the DA over to his target. Susan Bones gave a cry and fell to the ground as a slashing spell hit her. Neville paused and healed her in an instant. Another wave of Death Eaters swarmed out of the double doors, killing five Aurors and wounding a load more as they forced their way over to a group of Goblins who were putting up a brave resistance against a larger group of Death Eaters. The next time Harry looked, a minute later, the Goblins were all dead.
Every so often a group of Death Eaters would swarm out of the double doors, target a group of the attacking forces, wipe them out, and then get caught up in the battle. Harry heard a cheer and turned to see another group of the Order pour over the breach. The wall either side of the breach was occupied by Aurors who were raining spells down on the Death Eaters below. One of the Aurors was hit by a jet of red light and toppled silently off of the wall. Another Auror was hit by a jet of purple light, he staggered backwards with his hands at his throat as if he was choking and fell over the wall.
Harry winced as a spell hit him in the side. A second later another spell hit him sending him flying backwards and crashing into the wall. His arm was broken by the impact and his wand clattered to the floor. The DA sprinted over to him. They formed a defensive semi-circle around him, firing spells at Death Eaters who attacked them. Another wave of Death Eaters poured out of the double doors and headed straight for the DA.
Hermione inspected Harry's arm.
"It's broken. I only know one spell for healing broken bones and it takes about five minutes to work. Best do it then." Hermione waved her wand over Harry's arm; "Restoracitatus" Harry felt a tingling, sometimes painful sensation in his arm as the bones came back together.
The DA were locked in a vicious fight with the wave of Death Eaters. A few of the DA had fallen, Seamus ran over to heal Dennis Creevey who had been duelling with a Death Eater before being hit by a stray spell and crumpling to the ground, but before Seamus could get there he was hit by a jet of red light and fell down unconscious.
The DA were putting up a valiant fight but were falling in greater numbers and in some places where there had originally been three ranks, only one remained. Ron cast a worried look at Harry and then back at the DA, He clapped Harry on the shoulder of his undamaged arm,
"Mate, I've got to go and help the DA. Stay with him Hermione." Harry watched Ron run over, slip in between Parvati and Lavender; heal Seamus and Dennis before firing a dozen stunners at a Death Eater.
At one point a Death Eater broke through and ran straight for Harry, Hermione fired a stunner at the Death Eater blocked it and it rebounded and Hermione. The Death Eater, urged on by adrenaline, did not stop running until he was inches away from Harry. The Death Eater raised his wand to fire a spell at Harry. Harry grabbed his sword in his left hand and plunged it into the Death Eater's stomach.
Putting his sword down he picked up his wand and waved it in a clumsy motion over Hermione and revived her. Harry looked to see if any help was coming. A group of Aurors and Goblins had spotted them and were running to help when a bunch of spells flew and hit them, wiping out half of them and forcing the rest to defend themselves.
By now less than a third of the DA were still fighting, and each of them had at least three deep gashes on them, they had fallen back slightly to keep the semicircle tight. Harry watched Dean get hit by another slashing curse, fall to the ground, try to rise, failed and tried again before a stunner in the back made him still.
Hatred boiled in Harry like never before. Watching Dean struggle to rise and keep fighting to protect his leader had touched Harry. Harry felt a surge of anger against the Death Eaters for forcing the DA into this situation. He was touched by the DA's loyalty, the Death Eaters had thrown everything they had against the DA and the DA had faced them and not once looked like they were going to run. The Death Eaters were going to pay for what they had done to the DA
Harry felt the tingling in his arm subside; he stood up and picked up his sword his face furious, completely forgetting about his wand, the Death Eaters saw he was standing and suddenly most of their spells were directed at him. He sprinted forwards, through the DA and into the ranks of the attacking Death Eaters.
He stabbed, hacked and cut down the Death Eaters around him, not feeling the spells that struck him. He cut down a Death Eater before turning and stabbing another in the side; he ducked a spell and swept his sword across a Death Eater's leg sending the Death Eater crashing to the ground. Harry dispatched the wounded Death Eater with a stab to the neck.
He leapt to his feet and plunged his sword into the face of one, withdrew it and reverse stabbed another. One Death Eater fired a curse at Harry; Harry ducked it and stabbed him in the groin. The Death Eater fell with an agonised cry.
Two more Death Eaters fell to swift strokes, but the spells were beginning to take their toll. Harry had four cuts on his body, all of them bleeding profusely. He was starting to tire but kept up the attack relentlessly. Another Death Eater fell with a slash wound across his stomach. One Death Eater was pushed to the front; he panicked and made the slashing movement with his wand that Dolohov had made on Hermione in the Department of Mysteries. Harry jumped to the left and stabbed the Death Eater in the side. Harry leapt over the falling Death Eater and plunged his sword into another one. The Death Eaters could take no more. They turned and ran, Harry managed to kill another one by stabbing him in the back.
Panting, Harry turned back to the DA, who were standing there watching him open-mouthed. He walked over to the wall and picked up his wand, fully aware of the DA's gaze on him every step of the way.
"What?" He asked them, as if taking on thirty Death Eaters alone with only a sword and killing or wounding two thirds of them without getting killed was an everyday occurrence.
"When the hell did you become that brutal?" Demanded Ron, "Harry you idiot, you've just taken on thirty Death Eaters, alone, with only a sword and killed or wounded two thirds of them, sent the rest running for their lives and you're still here to tell the tale! What the bloody hell do you mean 'what'?" Harry shrugged. Ron shook his head and the faces of the rest of the DA showed they agreed with him.
Harry led the DA towards the castle, another wave of Death Eaters poured out and slaughtered a group of Goblins who had just overcome a larger group of Death Eaters.
"We've got to find a way to stop that." Harry muttered to himself. Suddenly an idea came to him. He turned to Ron eagerly,
"Take half the DA and get on that wall opposite the door where all the Death eaters come out of. Kill, wound or stun as many as you can before they get into the fight." Ron nodded. Harry and the DA fought their way over to the wall; a group of Death Eaters were still on top of it and were raining spells down onto the Aurors below.
Harry got the DA as close as he could, he held up a hand, a second later he let it drop and a volley of stunners flew towards the Death Eaters. All of them were stunned. Harry led Ron and half of the DA up the steps on to the wall; using his sword he slit the throats of all the unconscious Death Eaters. Ron organised the nine members of the DA he had with him into two ranks. Harry clapped Ron on the shoulder.
"Good luck Ron."
"You too, mate, fight well." Harry nodded to the DA. A group of Death Eaters were running up the stairs on to the wall Harry began a duel with them but was getting forced back. Ron noticed Harry was in trouble but couldn't do anything about it for fear of hitting Harry. Harry glanced back at Ron nodded. Ron understood in an instant,
Without warning Harry leapt of the wall and Ron and the DA began an exchange of spells with the Death Eaters that ended up in the killing of one Death Eater and the wounding of three.
Harry fell thirty feet to the ground; he hit it and rolled forwards to absorb the impact. Seamus walked over to him grinning,
"Impressive." He said, Harry grinned at him, "Suicidal, yes, but very impressive."
"Thanks." Said Harry laughing. The two of them ran over to where the DA were caught up in a duel with some Death Eaters that had just finished off a group of the Order.
Harry blocked a stunning spell and retaliated with a slashing curse. The Death Eater sidestepped and fired his own slashing curse back. It hit Harry on the side of the face causing a mass of blood to well up there and start pouring down his cheeks. The Death Eater opened his mouth to fire another spell at Harry when Padma Patil stepped in with a slashing curse to the Death Eater's neck. The Death Eater crumpled to the ground.
"Thanks." Harry called to her. She smiled at him.
"No problem." Harry glanced back at the Ron and the DA on the wall. They were being attacked by Death Eaters on the ground and by a few who were running up the steps. Harry gathered the rest of the DA and led them over to the wall where the Ron and the other half of the DA were fighting.
At that point a group of Aurors ran passed them, chasing some fleeing Death Eaters. Harry stopped them. To his surprise it was the Aurors he had rescued earlier.
"I need you boys to do something for me."
"Anything." Harry pointed to where Ron was.
"I need you to get up there. Tell him I sent you. He'll explain what I want you to do." They nodded and ran off. Harry watched them go. They were half way there when a Death Eater fired a jet of green light at one of them. The Auror stiffened and then fell to the ground dead. Harry felt an overwhelming sadness. The Auror couldn't have been a day older than nineteen.
He shook his head to clear it and led the DA to the base of the wall. From there they began firing spells into the mass of Death Eaters in front of them. Harry blocked to black spells and fired a burn curse at A Death Eater who stunned an Auror before running towards Parvati Patil.
Harry glanced upwards but instantly regretted it. Two slashing curses hit him. One on the thigh and one on the chest. He ignored them to step in front of Lavender to protect her from a Death Eater who ran towards her with a knife held high.
The Death eater sprinted at Harry, Harry side stepped the knife lunge and tripped the Death Eater up, before plunging his sword down into the Death Eater's back.
Lavender nodded at Harry in thanks, not at all fazed by the blood that had spurted all over her and Harry. A sudden realisation hit Harry. He had turned the DA into warriors. Into killers. He felt a sudden rush of guilt.
He snapped back to reality by a jet of green light that was speeding up to where Ron was. Harry watched it, time seemed to slow down, he ignored the spells that thumped into the ground around him, he ignored the cries of the DA as they duelled with the Death Eaters. He ignored the darting bodies all around him.
He watched the spell fly towards Ron. Ron hadn't seen it. He was too busy duelling with a Death Eater running up the steps. Harry began to shout a warning but it was too late. The jet of green light struck Ron square in the face. Ron stiffened, then went limp and fell off the wall. Harry ran to catch his best friend. Inside his mind he knew it was fruitless. Ron was dead.
He caught his friend's dead body just before it hit the ground. Harry laid it down gently, weeping over him. The DA paused and turned. Their eyes widened in shock. A few of them screamed.
Uncontrollable fury flooded through Harry. He had just watched his best friend die. He wanted revenge. He stood up shaking. He drew his sword from his scabbard. Pure fury seemed to radiate off of him and the Death Eaters around him paused. Harry thrust his wand into the air and emerald green sparks poured out of it. The DA on the wall leapt off and ran to him, the DA on the ground gathered around him, they knew what this meant. This meant that the Death Eaters would know the true meaning of fear. There would be revenge. The DA would make sure Ron's death was avenged. There was a time for mourning but this was not it.
Harry stared at the battle raging around him and anger boiled in him. He wanted the Death Eaters to know that they were about to die. He opened his mouth,
"YOU WILL PAY!" He led the howling DA into the Death Eaters. Blood poured everywhere as Harry cut them down with his sword. A few tried to run but didn't get far. Another Death Eater fell to his knees begging for mercy but Harry swiftly beheaded him.
He stabbed another Death Eater in the face and fired a slashing curse into the stomach of another. The DA killed anyone they could in a howling, bloody rage. They wanted revenge and they sure as hell were going to get it. Another five Death Eaters fell to the DA and the rest turned to run. They got nowhere, there was nowhere to run. The DA cut them down mercilessly and the ground ran red with the blood of the Death Eaters.
A brave group of Death Eaters tried to fight back but Harry sprinted into their midst and killed every one of them.
Harry saw two more Death Eaters try to make a break for it but slashing curses from the DA soon ended their lives. Another Death Eater sprinted for Harry with a knife in his hand. Harry waited for him and at the last second thrust his sword into the Death Eater, impaling him.
Harry was drenched from head to foot in blood but didn't care, he slashed another Death Eater's face open. He turned and plunged his sword into the eye socket of a Death Eater who had tried to stun him but missed.
And then he was spent. The DA continued to fight around him but Harry had no energy left. He was tired of all this war and hate. He wanted it all to end. Now that Ron was dead, he felt there was nothing to live for.
He walked over to his best friend's body and knelt beside it. He took Ron's hand in his own. It was still slightly warm but the heat was fading fast. He closed his eyes and wept for his dead friend. He remembered all the good times they'd had together. Meeting for the first time on the train. Ron standing by him all through second year. Rescuing Ginny from the basilisk. Meeting Sirius. Laughing and talking by the lake. Forming the DA together. Worrying about OWL's together. Fighting beside him in the Department of Mysteries. Helping Harry get over Sirius.
A fresh wave of tears poured down Harry's face. Ron had stood by him no matter what. He had always been there for him. Always been ready to fight alongside Harry. Ready to die for Harry. Harry remembered Ron's words just before the Battle for Hogwarts 'I trust Harry, I trust him with my life, where he goes, I go with him, where he fights, I fight with him, if he dies, I die with him'
For a minute, amidst the hate, war, fear and death, Harry was left alone with his grief.
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Harry never noticed Hermione walk over to him. But suddenly she was there, clutching Ron's other hand. Tears were pouring down her face. There was no denying it they both knew that Ron was dead.
"He knew. He knew he was going to die. That's why he told me he loved me." Harry nodded, feeling too weak to contradict her. They knelt beside each other the tears pouring down their faces. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up and saw Lupin standing there.
"I'm sorry Harry. I really am. Ron was a good person." Harry nodded weakly. Harry stood up shakily, he had a battle to fight. Ron would not want them to lose on behalf of him. He would do it for Ron, he would bring a new fear to the Death Eaters, he would make them pay, he would damn well make them pay.
Harry felt a bloodlust like never before. He threw himself into the fight with a frightening enthusiasm. Death Eater after Death Eater was fell to Harry's flashing blade. Harry fired a stunner at a Death Eater who had just knocked Parvati to the ground. The Death Eater fell forwards in a graceful arc. Harry thrust his sword into the Death Eater's throat.
A scream from Hermione told him that she was in trouble. He spun around and darted back towards her. She was trying to fight off two Death Eaters. Harry came up behind them and stabbed his sword into the back of one of them. The other turned around at his comrades dying scream and was met by a barrage of slashing curses to the face.
Harry slowly walked over to where Hermione was kneeling by Ron's body. He gently pulled her by the shoulder.
"C'mon, we've got a battle to fight. Ron wouldn't want us to lose it because he fell. Let's do this for Ron." Harry said, his voice hoarse. Hermione nodded,
"Let me say goodbye then, one last time." Harry nodded. Hermione knelt by Ron and put her hands around his neck and pressed her forehead to his.
"Bye, Ron. Thanks for everything. We're going to miss you." Then she looked up, surprised.
"Harry." She said slowly, "Come here." Wondering what was going on Harry walked over to her. A spell flew over his head, and narrowly missed Hermione, he paused to block any others. When he turned back to Hermione she was looking extremely excited. He ran over to her,
"Give me your hand." She instructed. He did so and she pressed it to Ron's neck. Harry frowned, he couldn't feel anything. But suddenly there it was. A faint beating. Harry frowned trying to work out what it was. But the it hit him. A pulse! Harry sucked in his breath, hardly daring to believe it. Then it sunk in. Harry leapt to his feet.
"LUPIN, GET OVER HERE!" Harry bellowed, relief flooding into his voice, Lupin looked surprised but ran over anyway,
"What?" Harry turned to Hermione,
"Show him, Hermione."
"Give me your hand, professor." Lupin frowned but did so. Without hesitation Hermione pressed it to Ron's neck. Lupin looked puzzled but then comprehension dawned on his face,
"I don't believe it, it's impossible!" He muttered, "He's alive!" The last part was said out loud to Harry and Hermione, they nodded, tears of joy in their eyes. Lupin looked thoughtful, but then smiled.
"I know what this is."
"What?" Harry asked him.
"It's a long explanation, I will tell you when we get back to Hogwarts, but it basically makes up for the fact that many Death Eaters can't perform the actual killing curse." He turned to Ron and frowned, then he smiled, waved his wand over Ron and said a few words.
And Ron began to blink.
A shout of warning from an Auror snapped them back to reality. Two Death Eaters were sprinting towards them. Lupin leapt to his feet,
"Stay with Ron, I'll handle these two." Harry and Hermione nodded. Lupin sprinted off and began duelling with the two Death Eaters. Harry silently urged Ron to wake up, he hoped that Lupin had known what he was doing.
And then Ron woke, relief flooded through Harry and he keeled over sideways and vomited. He turned to look at his best friends surprised face and burst out laughing with relief, Harry felt light-headed, it was difficult to focus so great was his relief. Ron groaned and shook his head.
"What happened." Harry laughed harder,
"You were dead, and Lupin brought you back to life." Hermione smiled,
"You were hit by a spell that gave you the appearance of being dead. We both thought you were dead, but then I felt a pulse and we got Lupin over here and he healed you. We'll tell you more at Hogwarts." The three friends paused, savouring the relief, each of them had tears sliding down their faces. They stood at the same time, and ran towards the fight.
Harry nudged Ron, "Let them know you're back." He said grinning broadly. Ron paused, searching for the right words.
"DA! RON WEASLEY IS BACK!" The DA turned in surprise, then gave a loud cheer, unable to believe what they were seeing but having to.
Harry, Ron and Hermione threw themselves back into the fight. Death Eater after Death Eater fell, the DA urged on by Ron's return.
Harry grabbed Ron and forced him down to the floor. A barrage of spells flew over their heads. Seamus saw what was happening and went to duel with the Death Eater who had attacked Harry and Ron. A spell hit the ground inches from them, leaving a large crater, Harry and Ron threw themselves to the right, taking cover behind a large rock, evidently from the explosion that breached the wall.
Spells hit the other side of the rock, pinning Harry and Ron down. A group of battle weary Goblins were standing nearby, engaged in a vicious fight with some Death Eaters, another group of Goblins were fighting alongside some Aurors who were pushing some Death Eaters backwards. Harry continued to look around desperately for any possible help.
A group of the Order had just finished off some Death Eaters and were running over to Harry.
"Death Eaters behind us! We're pinned down." The Order members nodded and ran round the back, a few minutes later one of them reappeared,
"They're dead." Harry nodded his thanks and ran back to the DA, a Death Eater turned and stunned Ron and Harry ducked the stunner that was meant for him and hit the Death eater with a slashing curse to throat.
Harry was duelling with a Death Eater when a scream of horror went up from the Aurors by the door, this was followed by more screams and then suddenly it seemed like all the Aurors were running, Harry blocked a stunner and grabbed an Auror who was sprinting past him,
"What the hell is going on?" The Auror paused for breath,
"Death Eaters, assassins, thousands of them, we tried to hold them but we must've lost half our men -" The Auror said no more as a jet of green light struck him. Harry dropped the dead body,
"Shit." He ran over to where the DA were still fighting fiercely. Hermione blocked a slashing curse and turned to Harry.
"What's going on?" Harry looked around at the fleeing Aurors and Goblins.
"We're falling back."
"Why?"
"That's why!" Yelled Ron, pointing over at the door, a group of about a hundred assassins were firing killing curses into the ranks of the Aurors. Harry watched an assassin fire a killing curse at a Goblin, the Goblin instinctively held up his shield to block it but the killing curse burnt a hole through it and hit the Goblin. Harry swore again and drew his sword; he began to run towards the assassins but felt someone pull him back, he turned around angrily to see Lupin standing there,
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry asked him angrily,
"I was going to ask you the same bloody question! You'll get yourself killed if you attack them!" Harry shook his head,
"I've got to, otherwise we'll lose."
"We've lost already, we can't hold them!" As if confirming it Dumbledore's voice was magically amplified over the screams and shouts of the dying and the scared,
"Retreat!" Everyone turned and ran. Harry swore loudly,
"Lupin, we've got to get that book."
"It was stupid coming here, we underestimated it. We've already lost over half our men, we can't risk any more! We should have known we were never going to find that book." The screams were closer now and more assassins could be seen pouring out of the double doors, six Aurors and a dozen Goblins fell next to them as the assassins closed in on them.
"Harry!" Dean yelled, "We can't hold them much longer!" Sure enough the DA were being pushed further and further back under a barrage of spells.
"We've got to go!" Finally Harry nodded,
"DA, fall back." All law and order broke down then as the DA joined the fleeing troops, there were screams everywhere as the attack forces fell left, right and centre, the DA fought their way over to the breach.
And suddenly they were out and were pouring down the hill. Harry could not believe how quickly it was over. But then again, that's how battles go, he mused, one minute it's all equal and the next one side is fleeing, all it takes is one subtle shift in power and the scale is tipped completely.
Harry and the DA ran into the forest and formed a battle line awaiting a counter attack. It never came; the Death Eaters seemed content just to hurl spells down into the forest. Every so often there would be a cry as a lucky spell found its mark.
Dumbledore was walking along the line, his face calm and impassive. Harry felt anything but. He was furious that they'd had to retreat but he felt guilty most of all; he felt he had let the DA and the Aurors and the Goblins down. He felt guilty that he promised the Hogwarts students not to fail and he had failed.
Dumbledore interrupted Harry's thoughts. "Portkeys in five minutes, Harry." It was then that Harry realised that Dumbledore was as upset as he was. Harry nodded sadly. As Dumbledore moved up the line an Auror walked over to Harry.
"Sir? We're ready to go back in if you want us to."
"Who are we?" Harry asked, hope flaring in him. The Auror waved a hand behind him,
"The two hundred Aurors behind me, the Goblins will come to. They want revenge." Harry considered it. He looked at the DA. They were standing there watching him. Hey were battle weary and exhausted, all of them were wounded and Ginny, was clutching her arm, which was bleeding profusely, to her chest. It was Hermione who spoke.
"We'll go if you want us to." Harry looked up at the Death Eaters, the breach was filled by about a hundred of them, and they covered the top of the walls.
For a minute Harry considered it. But one more glance at the exhausted DA quenched that fire.
"No," He said to the Auror, "It's over, we lost. And now we just have to tell the wizarding world that."
A/N IMPORTANT PLEASE READ. I'm sorry this is a day late. I broke up with my girlfriend on Thursday night and didn't feel like writing. If I had written it would have been poor writing.
Ok, half term is upon me once again so I can't get a chapter written for about a week, next chapter should be up about 10th of June. Sorry
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
The Second Darkness
Chapter 14: Inside the Castle
Dumbledore nodded at Harry. Harry grinned at his Headmaster, turned and ran back towards the DA. Harry hacked down a Death Eater who jumped into his way. Another Death Eater hit him with a spell from behind but it merely bounced of the dragonskin armour. Harry ducked as a spell flew towards him and blocked another.
He caught up with Ron as Ron was leading the DA to help some Aurors who were pinned against a wall by a ring of Death Eaters who were killing or wounding an Auror with every other spell. Harry grabbed Ron by the robes and began to drag him away,
"What are you doing? We need to help the Aurors!" Ron yelled over the noise of the fight.
"We've got to get that book!" Ron shook his head and began running back to help the Aurors. Five goblins and two members of the Order ran passed Harry. Harry stopped them and directed them towards the Aurors. They nodded and attacked the Death Eaters from behind. Harry turned to Ron, blocking two spells that flew his way as he did so.
"Happy now?" Harry asked sarcastically, Ron nodded equally sarcastically. Harry began leading the DA over to his target. Susan Bones gave a cry and fell to the ground as a slashing spell hit her. Neville paused and healed her in an instant. Another wave of Death Eaters swarmed out of the double doors, killing five Aurors and wounding a load more as they forced their way over to a group of Goblins who were putting up a brave resistance against a larger group of Death Eaters. The next time Harry looked, a minute later, the Goblins were all dead.
Every so often a group of Death Eaters would swarm out of the double doors, target a group of the attacking forces, wipe them out, and then get caught up in the battle. Harry heard a cheer and turned to see another group of the Order pour over the breach. The wall either side of the breach was occupied by Aurors who were raining spells down on the Death Eaters below. One of the Aurors was hit by a jet of red light and toppled silently off of the wall. Another Auror was hit by a jet of purple light, he staggered backwards with his hands at his throat as if he was choking and fell over the wall.
Harry winced as a spell hit him in the side. A second later another spell hit him sending him flying backwards and crashing into the wall. His arm was broken by the impact and his wand clattered to the floor. The DA sprinted over to him. They formed a defensive semi-circle around him, firing spells at Death Eaters who attacked them. Another wave of Death Eaters poured out of the double doors and headed straight for the DA.
Hermione inspected Harry's arm.
"It's broken. I only know one spell for healing broken bones and it takes about five minutes to work. Best do it then." Hermione waved her wand over Harry's arm; "Restoracitatus" Harry felt a tingling, sometimes painful sensation in his arm as the bones came back together.
The DA were locked in a vicious fight with the wave of Death Eaters. A few of the DA had fallen, Seamus ran over to heal Dennis Creevey who had been duelling with a Death Eater before being hit by a stray spell and crumpling to the ground, but before Seamus could get there he was hit by a jet of red light and fell down unconscious.
The DA were putting up a valiant fight but were falling in greater numbers and in some places where there had originally been three ranks, only one remained. Ron cast a worried look at Harry and then back at the DA, He clapped Harry on the shoulder of his undamaged arm,
"Mate, I've got to go and help the DA. Stay with him Hermione." Harry watched Ron run over, slip in between Parvati and Lavender; heal Seamus and Dennis before firing a dozen stunners at a Death Eater.
At one point a Death Eater broke through and ran straight for Harry, Hermione fired a stunner at the Death Eater blocked it and it rebounded and Hermione. The Death Eater, urged on by adrenaline, did not stop running until he was inches away from Harry. The Death Eater raised his wand to fire a spell at Harry. Harry grabbed his sword in his left hand and plunged it into the Death Eater's stomach.
Putting his sword down he picked up his wand and waved it in a clumsy motion over Hermione and revived her. Harry looked to see if any help was coming. A group of Aurors and Goblins had spotted them and were running to help when a bunch of spells flew and hit them, wiping out half of them and forcing the rest to defend themselves.
By now less than a third of the DA were still fighting, and each of them had at least three deep gashes on them, they had fallen back slightly to keep the semicircle tight. Harry watched Dean get hit by another slashing curse, fall to the ground, try to rise, failed and tried again before a stunner in the back made him still.
Hatred boiled in Harry like never before. Watching Dean struggle to rise and keep fighting to protect his leader had touched Harry. Harry felt a surge of anger against the Death Eaters for forcing the DA into this situation. He was touched by the DA's loyalty, the Death Eaters had thrown everything they had against the DA and the DA had faced them and not once looked like they were going to run. The Death Eaters were going to pay for what they had done to the DA
Harry felt the tingling in his arm subside; he stood up and picked up his sword his face furious, completely forgetting about his wand, the Death Eaters saw he was standing and suddenly most of their spells were directed at him. He sprinted forwards, through the DA and into the ranks of the attacking Death Eaters.
He stabbed, hacked and cut down the Death Eaters around him, not feeling the spells that struck him. He cut down a Death Eater before turning and stabbing another in the side; he ducked a spell and swept his sword across a Death Eater's leg sending the Death Eater crashing to the ground. Harry dispatched the wounded Death Eater with a stab to the neck.
He leapt to his feet and plunged his sword into the face of one, withdrew it and reverse stabbed another. One Death Eater fired a curse at Harry; Harry ducked it and stabbed him in the groin. The Death Eater fell with an agonised cry.
Two more Death Eaters fell to swift strokes, but the spells were beginning to take their toll. Harry had four cuts on his body, all of them bleeding profusely. He was starting to tire but kept up the attack relentlessly. Another Death Eater fell with a slash wound across his stomach. One Death Eater was pushed to the front; he panicked and made the slashing movement with his wand that Dolohov had made on Hermione in the Department of Mysteries. Harry jumped to the left and stabbed the Death Eater in the side. Harry leapt over the falling Death Eater and plunged his sword into another one. The Death Eaters could take no more. They turned and ran, Harry managed to kill another one by stabbing him in the back.
Panting, Harry turned back to the DA, who were standing there watching him open-mouthed. He walked over to the wall and picked up his wand, fully aware of the DA's gaze on him every step of the way.
"What?" He asked them, as if taking on thirty Death Eaters alone with only a sword and killing or wounding two thirds of them without getting killed was an everyday occurrence.
"When the hell did you become that brutal?" Demanded Ron, "Harry you idiot, you've just taken on thirty Death Eaters, alone, with only a sword and killed or wounded two thirds of them, sent the rest running for their lives and you're still here to tell the tale! What the bloody hell do you mean 'what'?" Harry shrugged. Ron shook his head and the faces of the rest of the DA showed they agreed with him.
Harry led the DA towards the castle, another wave of Death Eaters poured out and slaughtered a group of Goblins who had just overcome a larger group of Death Eaters.
"We've got to find a way to stop that." Harry muttered to himself. Suddenly an idea came to him. He turned to Ron eagerly,
"Take half the DA and get on that wall opposite the door where all the Death eaters come out of. Kill, wound or stun as many as you can before they get into the fight." Ron nodded. Harry and the DA fought their way over to the wall; a group of Death Eaters were still on top of it and were raining spells down onto the Aurors below.
Harry got the DA as close as he could, he held up a hand, a second later he let it drop and a volley of stunners flew towards the Death Eaters. All of them were stunned. Harry led Ron and half of the DA up the steps on to the wall; using his sword he slit the throats of all the unconscious Death Eaters. Ron organised the nine members of the DA he had with him into two ranks. Harry clapped Ron on the shoulder.
"Good luck Ron."
"You too, mate, fight well." Harry nodded to the DA. A group of Death Eaters were running up the stairs on to the wall Harry began a duel with them but was getting forced back. Ron noticed Harry was in trouble but couldn't do anything about it for fear of hitting Harry. Harry glanced back at Ron nodded. Ron understood in an instant,
Without warning Harry leapt of the wall and Ron and the DA began an exchange of spells with the Death Eaters that ended up in the killing of one Death Eater and the wounding of three.
Harry fell thirty feet to the ground; he hit it and rolled forwards to absorb the impact. Seamus walked over to him grinning,
"Impressive." He said, Harry grinned at him, "Suicidal, yes, but very impressive."
"Thanks." Said Harry laughing. The two of them ran over to where the DA were caught up in a duel with some Death Eaters that had just finished off a group of the Order.
Harry blocked a stunning spell and retaliated with a slashing curse. The Death Eater sidestepped and fired his own slashing curse back. It hit Harry on the side of the face causing a mass of blood to well up there and start pouring down his cheeks. The Death Eater opened his mouth to fire another spell at Harry when Padma Patil stepped in with a slashing curse to the Death Eater's neck. The Death Eater crumpled to the ground.
"Thanks." Harry called to her. She smiled at him.
"No problem." Harry glanced back at the Ron and the DA on the wall. They were being attacked by Death Eaters on the ground and by a few who were running up the steps. Harry gathered the rest of the DA and led them over to the wall where the Ron and the other half of the DA were fighting.
At that point a group of Aurors ran passed them, chasing some fleeing Death Eaters. Harry stopped them. To his surprise it was the Aurors he had rescued earlier.
"I need you boys to do something for me."
"Anything." Harry pointed to where Ron was.
"I need you to get up there. Tell him I sent you. He'll explain what I want you to do." They nodded and ran off. Harry watched them go. They were half way there when a Death Eater fired a jet of green light at one of them. The Auror stiffened and then fell to the ground dead. Harry felt an overwhelming sadness. The Auror couldn't have been a day older than nineteen.
He shook his head to clear it and led the DA to the base of the wall. From there they began firing spells into the mass of Death Eaters in front of them. Harry blocked to black spells and fired a burn curse at A Death Eater who stunned an Auror before running towards Parvati Patil.
Harry glanced upwards but instantly regretted it. Two slashing curses hit him. One on the thigh and one on the chest. He ignored them to step in front of Lavender to protect her from a Death Eater who ran towards her with a knife held high.
The Death eater sprinted at Harry, Harry side stepped the knife lunge and tripped the Death Eater up, before plunging his sword down into the Death Eater's back.
Lavender nodded at Harry in thanks, not at all fazed by the blood that had spurted all over her and Harry. A sudden realisation hit Harry. He had turned the DA into warriors. Into killers. He felt a sudden rush of guilt.
He snapped back to reality by a jet of green light that was speeding up to where Ron was. Harry watched it, time seemed to slow down, he ignored the spells that thumped into the ground around him, he ignored the cries of the DA as they duelled with the Death Eaters. He ignored the darting bodies all around him.
He watched the spell fly towards Ron. Ron hadn't seen it. He was too busy duelling with a Death Eater running up the steps. Harry began to shout a warning but it was too late. The jet of green light struck Ron square in the face. Ron stiffened, then went limp and fell off the wall. Harry ran to catch his best friend. Inside his mind he knew it was fruitless. Ron was dead.
He caught his friend's dead body just before it hit the ground. Harry laid it down gently, weeping over him. The DA paused and turned. Their eyes widened in shock. A few of them screamed.
Uncontrollable fury flooded through Harry. He had just watched his best friend die. He wanted revenge. He stood up shaking. He drew his sword from his scabbard. Pure fury seemed to radiate off of him and the Death Eaters around him paused. Harry thrust his wand into the air and emerald green sparks poured out of it. The DA on the wall leapt off and ran to him, the DA on the ground gathered around him, they knew what this meant. This meant that the Death Eaters would know the true meaning of fear. There would be revenge. The DA would make sure Ron's death was avenged. There was a time for mourning but this was not it.
Harry stared at the battle raging around him and anger boiled in him. He wanted the Death Eaters to know that they were about to die. He opened his mouth,
"YOU WILL PAY!" He led the howling DA into the Death Eaters. Blood poured everywhere as Harry cut them down with his sword. A few tried to run but didn't get far. Another Death Eater fell to his knees begging for mercy but Harry swiftly beheaded him.
He stabbed another Death Eater in the face and fired a slashing curse into the stomach of another. The DA killed anyone they could in a howling, bloody rage. They wanted revenge and they sure as hell were going to get it. Another five Death Eaters fell to the DA and the rest turned to run. They got nowhere, there was nowhere to run. The DA cut them down mercilessly and the ground ran red with the blood of the Death Eaters.
A brave group of Death Eaters tried to fight back but Harry sprinted into their midst and killed every one of them.
Harry saw two more Death Eaters try to make a break for it but slashing curses from the DA soon ended their lives. Another Death Eater sprinted for Harry with a knife in his hand. Harry waited for him and at the last second thrust his sword into the Death Eater, impaling him.
Harry was drenched from head to foot in blood but didn't care, he slashed another Death Eater's face open. He turned and plunged his sword into the eye socket of a Death Eater who had tried to stun him but missed.
And then he was spent. The DA continued to fight around him but Harry had no energy left. He was tired of all this war and hate. He wanted it all to end. Now that Ron was dead, he felt there was nothing to live for.
He walked over to his best friend's body and knelt beside it. He took Ron's hand in his own. It was still slightly warm but the heat was fading fast. He closed his eyes and wept for his dead friend. He remembered all the good times they'd had together. Meeting for the first time on the train. Ron standing by him all through second year. Rescuing Ginny from the basilisk. Meeting Sirius. Laughing and talking by the lake. Forming the DA together. Worrying about OWL's together. Fighting beside him in the Department of Mysteries. Helping Harry get over Sirius.
A fresh wave of tears poured down Harry's face. Ron had stood by him no matter what. He had always been there for him. Always been ready to fight alongside Harry. Ready to die for Harry. Harry remembered Ron's words just before the Battle for Hogwarts 'I trust Harry, I trust him with my life, where he goes, I go with him, where he fights, I fight with him, if he dies, I die with him'
For a minute, amidst the hate, war, fear and death, Harry was left alone with his grief.
------------
Harry never noticed Hermione walk over to him. But suddenly she was there, clutching Ron's other hand. Tears were pouring down her face. There was no denying it they both knew that Ron was dead.
"He knew. He knew he was going to die. That's why he told me he loved me." Harry nodded, feeling too weak to contradict her. They knelt beside each other the tears pouring down their faces. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up and saw Lupin standing there.
"I'm sorry Harry. I really am. Ron was a good person." Harry nodded weakly. Harry stood up shakily, he had a battle to fight. Ron would not want them to lose on behalf of him. He would do it for Ron, he would bring a new fear to the Death Eaters, he would make them pay, he would damn well make them pay.
Harry felt a bloodlust like never before. He threw himself into the fight with a frightening enthusiasm. Death Eater after Death Eater was fell to Harry's flashing blade. Harry fired a stunner at a Death Eater who had just knocked Parvati to the ground. The Death Eater fell forwards in a graceful arc. Harry thrust his sword into the Death Eater's throat.
A scream from Hermione told him that she was in trouble. He spun around and darted back towards her. She was trying to fight off two Death Eaters. Harry came up behind them and stabbed his sword into the back of one of them. The other turned around at his comrades dying scream and was met by a barrage of slashing curses to the face.
Harry slowly walked over to where Hermione was kneeling by Ron's body. He gently pulled her by the shoulder.
"C'mon, we've got a battle to fight. Ron wouldn't want us to lose it because he fell. Let's do this for Ron." Harry said, his voice hoarse. Hermione nodded,
"Let me say goodbye then, one last time." Harry nodded. Hermione knelt by Ron and put her hands around his neck and pressed her forehead to his.
"Bye, Ron. Thanks for everything. We're going to miss you." Then she looked up, surprised.
"Harry." She said slowly, "Come here." Wondering what was going on Harry walked over to her. A spell flew over his head, and narrowly missed Hermione, he paused to block any others. When he turned back to Hermione she was looking extremely excited. He ran over to her,
"Give me your hand." She instructed. He did so and she pressed it to Ron's neck. Harry frowned, he couldn't feel anything. But suddenly there it was. A faint beating. Harry frowned trying to work out what it was. But the it hit him. A pulse! Harry sucked in his breath, hardly daring to believe it. Then it sunk in. Harry leapt to his feet.
"LUPIN, GET OVER HERE!" Harry bellowed, relief flooding into his voice, Lupin looked surprised but ran over anyway,
"What?" Harry turned to Hermione,
"Show him, Hermione."
"Give me your hand, professor." Lupin frowned but did so. Without hesitation Hermione pressed it to Ron's neck. Lupin looked puzzled but then comprehension dawned on his face,
"I don't believe it, it's impossible!" He muttered, "He's alive!" The last part was said out loud to Harry and Hermione, they nodded, tears of joy in their eyes. Lupin looked thoughtful, but then smiled.
"I know what this is."
"What?" Harry asked him.
"It's a long explanation, I will tell you when we get back to Hogwarts, but it basically makes up for the fact that many Death Eaters can't perform the actual killing curse." He turned to Ron and frowned, then he smiled, waved his wand over Ron and said a few words.
And Ron began to blink.
A shout of warning from an Auror snapped them back to reality. Two Death Eaters were sprinting towards them. Lupin leapt to his feet,
"Stay with Ron, I'll handle these two." Harry and Hermione nodded. Lupin sprinted off and began duelling with the two Death Eaters. Harry silently urged Ron to wake up, he hoped that Lupin had known what he was doing.
And then Ron woke, relief flooded through Harry and he keeled over sideways and vomited. He turned to look at his best friends surprised face and burst out laughing with relief, Harry felt light-headed, it was difficult to focus so great was his relief. Ron groaned and shook his head.
"What happened." Harry laughed harder,
"You were dead, and Lupin brought you back to life." Hermione smiled,
"You were hit by a spell that gave you the appearance of being dead. We both thought you were dead, but then I felt a pulse and we got Lupin over here and he healed you. We'll tell you more at Hogwarts." The three friends paused, savouring the relief, each of them had tears sliding down their faces. They stood at the same time, and ran towards the fight.
Harry nudged Ron, "Let them know you're back." He said grinning broadly. Ron paused, searching for the right words.
"DA! RON WEASLEY IS BACK!" The DA turned in surprise, then gave a loud cheer, unable to believe what they were seeing but having to.
Harry, Ron and Hermione threw themselves back into the fight. Death Eater after Death Eater fell, the DA urged on by Ron's return.
Harry grabbed Ron and forced him down to the floor. A barrage of spells flew over their heads. Seamus saw what was happening and went to duel with the Death Eater who had attacked Harry and Ron. A spell hit the ground inches from them, leaving a large crater, Harry and Ron threw themselves to the right, taking cover behind a large rock, evidently from the explosion that breached the wall.
Spells hit the other side of the rock, pinning Harry and Ron down. A group of battle weary Goblins were standing nearby, engaged in a vicious fight with some Death Eaters, another group of Goblins were fighting alongside some Aurors who were pushing some Death Eaters backwards. Harry continued to look around desperately for any possible help.
A group of the Order had just finished off some Death Eaters and were running over to Harry.
"Death Eaters behind us! We're pinned down." The Order members nodded and ran round the back, a few minutes later one of them reappeared,
"They're dead." Harry nodded his thanks and ran back to the DA, a Death Eater turned and stunned Ron and Harry ducked the stunner that was meant for him and hit the Death eater with a slashing curse to throat.
Harry was duelling with a Death Eater when a scream of horror went up from the Aurors by the door, this was followed by more screams and then suddenly it seemed like all the Aurors were running, Harry blocked a stunner and grabbed an Auror who was sprinting past him,
"What the hell is going on?" The Auror paused for breath,
"Death Eaters, assassins, thousands of them, we tried to hold them but we must've lost half our men -" The Auror said no more as a jet of green light struck him. Harry dropped the dead body,
"Shit." He ran over to where the DA were still fighting fiercely. Hermione blocked a slashing curse and turned to Harry.
"What's going on?" Harry looked around at the fleeing Aurors and Goblins.
"We're falling back."
"Why?"
"That's why!" Yelled Ron, pointing over at the door, a group of about a hundred assassins were firing killing curses into the ranks of the Aurors. Harry watched an assassin fire a killing curse at a Goblin, the Goblin instinctively held up his shield to block it but the killing curse burnt a hole through it and hit the Goblin. Harry swore again and drew his sword; he began to run towards the assassins but felt someone pull him back, he turned around angrily to see Lupin standing there,
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry asked him angrily,
"I was going to ask you the same bloody question! You'll get yourself killed if you attack them!" Harry shook his head,
"I've got to, otherwise we'll lose."
"We've lost already, we can't hold them!" As if confirming it Dumbledore's voice was magically amplified over the screams and shouts of the dying and the scared,
"Retreat!" Everyone turned and ran. Harry swore loudly,
"Lupin, we've got to get that book."
"It was stupid coming here, we underestimated it. We've already lost over half our men, we can't risk any more! We should have known we were never going to find that book." The screams were closer now and more assassins could be seen pouring out of the double doors, six Aurors and a dozen Goblins fell next to them as the assassins closed in on them.
"Harry!" Dean yelled, "We can't hold them much longer!" Sure enough the DA were being pushed further and further back under a barrage of spells.
"We've got to go!" Finally Harry nodded,
"DA, fall back." All law and order broke down then as the DA joined the fleeing troops, there were screams everywhere as the attack forces fell left, right and centre, the DA fought their way over to the breach.
And suddenly they were out and were pouring down the hill. Harry could not believe how quickly it was over. But then again, that's how battles go, he mused, one minute it's all equal and the next one side is fleeing, all it takes is one subtle shift in power and the scale is tipped completely.
Harry and the DA ran into the forest and formed a battle line awaiting a counter attack. It never came; the Death Eaters seemed content just to hurl spells down into the forest. Every so often there would be a cry as a lucky spell found its mark.
Dumbledore was walking along the line, his face calm and impassive. Harry felt anything but. He was furious that they'd had to retreat but he felt guilty most of all; he felt he had let the DA and the Aurors and the Goblins down. He felt guilty that he promised the Hogwarts students not to fail and he had failed.
Dumbledore interrupted Harry's thoughts. "Portkeys in five minutes, Harry." It was then that Harry realised that Dumbledore was as upset as he was. Harry nodded sadly. As Dumbledore moved up the line an Auror walked over to Harry.
"Sir? We're ready to go back in if you want us to."
"Who are we?" Harry asked, hope flaring in him. The Auror waved a hand behind him,
"The two hundred Aurors behind me, the Goblins will come to. They want revenge." Harry considered it. He looked at the DA. They were standing there watching him. Hey were battle weary and exhausted, all of them were wounded and Ginny, was clutching her arm, which was bleeding profusely, to her chest. It was Hermione who spoke.
"We'll go if you want us to." Harry looked up at the Death Eaters, the breach was filled by about a hundred of them, and they covered the top of the walls.
For a minute Harry considered it. But one more glance at the exhausted DA quenched that fire.
"No," He said to the Auror, "It's over, we lost. And now we just have to tell the wizarding world that."
A/N IMPORTANT PLEASE READ. I'm sorry this is a day late. I broke up with my girlfriend on Thursday night and didn't feel like writing. If I had written it would have been poor writing.
Ok, half term is upon me once again so I can't get a chapter written for about a week, next chapter should be up about 10th of June. Sorry
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.