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Chapter 15 - The Final Straw

"It's her choice, Harry. You can't do anything about it." said Luna quietly as she and Harry strolled around the Great Hall, uncaring of the danger it might cause them. They needed to get away before they suffocate from all the emotions running inside...fear...anger...frustration...

"She said we let her down....maybe she got so frustrated with the situation that she eventually decided to join the dark side." said Harry, staring glumly at the once majestic hall.

"Or maybe...she just fell in love...Sometimes people do foolish things when they're in love...maybe she saw a side of Draco that we have never seen before."

Harry vaguely remembered the hint of panic in Draco's voice when he suggested that they would like Ginny to cure them of their boredom but it was there. Even Hermione noticed his instinct to protect his 'slave' which was highly unnatural for him. His attitude baffled them all and from what he saw when he broke into Ginny's mind, he respected her. He sat in confusion, thinking in silence. So far, the side he was in had done nothing but hide and defend themselves. Some of the Order members severed their communication ties with them for fear of being found out. 'How could we possibly win this war if we don't even know what's happening to the others?' he thought. 'Dumbledore, we need you, please come back' he pleaded, hoping that his mentor could hear him. Harry concentrated hard and called the headmaster again but the familiar feeling of someone entering his mind did not come.

Meanwhile, the person Harry was trying to communicate with could not gather enough strength to reply...

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"Get the old man, now!" shouted the man with a slit-like nose at the trembling figure of a small man with a hand made of shining silver. He watched as the man struggle on his feet to bring what his master wanted. When he returned, he was levitating a limp form of an old man with long white hair and a beard that almost reached his waist. A magical metal chain ensured that he would not be able to escape IF he had enough energy for it.

"Enervate!" The limp figure slowly rose from his position to meet the gaze of his captor.

"Where's the boy?" asked Voldemort, arrogantly pointing his wand on him. The old man stubbornly shook his head.

"CRUCIO!" The old man fell on the floor and writhed in pain. "WHERE'S THE BOY?" Harry demanded without lifting the curse.

Again, there was eerie silence...a few minutes had passed before Harry released the man from the spell.

"Well...you're quite useless to me now...I don't care about the stupid prophecy anymore...and the youngest child of the blood traitor Weasley already joined our ranks..." The old man looked stunned at this bit of information. The dark lord merely laughed at his reaction. "You mean...you didn't know? The all-knowing Headmaster actually didn't know?" he chuckled evilly. "You're losing your touch, old man....maybe I should just kill you now. But I'm not that wicked --- tell me where the boy is and I'll let you live."

"You're the one losing your touch if you believe even for a second that I would succumb to your wishes." said the old man defiantly, looking him directly in the eye.

"Wonderful! What an amazing display of heroism..." The dark lord mockingly clapped his hands before he continued with narrowed eyes, "...unfortunately, I'm not in the mood for games tonight so tell me --- WHERE'S THE BOY?"

"You're a fool." said the old man calmly which amplified the wrath of his tormentor.

Voldemort raised his wand angrily at the old man who just proudly and peacefully waiting for his death.

"Death is but a next adventure..." the old man said, bracing himself for the blow.

"Aveda Ked --- "

"M-master! D-do you really have to do this? He might still be useful to us..." said the small man with a silver hand weakly, vainly trying to protect the old man who was once his mentor and confidant. He was rewarded with a vicious glare from his master.

"Did I hear you right? You're questioning my judgment now? Perhaps you would like to join him..." The terrified servant recoiled from his scrutiny.

"N-no, master! My apologies....Y-you may do as you wish..." he said in a pitiful voice, throwing an apologetic glance at the captive who was oblivious to the exchange. His eyes was fixed on something and his forehead was creased in intense concentration.

"Very well, then. Never let me doubt your loyalty again." The dark lord reverted his gaze to the old man whose strength might have faded but the spirit remained. He pointed his wand at the old man, positively gleeful at being able to finally eliminate one of his most powerful adversaries. He licked his lips before enunciating the words...

"Aveda Kedavra!"

Two words. Just two words...a flash of green light and the man who once courageously fought for the common good fell lifeless on the floor.

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"Harry.."

"Professor?"

"My time is running out...but you should continue the fight. You should understand..if I perish, the remaining wards will fall...The castle would not be able to protect you anymore. Inform Alastor at once. He'll know what to do..."

"Professor, why did you let them take you?"

"I'm not as invincible as you all think. I am already weak even before the attack on the school...there was no way to save them all if I did not sacrifice myself. I just used my remaining time wisely..."

"B-but how can I defeat him?"

"I already told you...the answer lies within your heart. Have faith in yourself and your friends...goodbye Harry...."

The aura of the greatest wizard of all time faded in Harry's mind...and was replaced by the image of a hooded figure, wand still pointed at the crumpled being and laughing triumphantly at his latest conquest. Behind him, the small man with a silver hand was trying hard to restrain his tears from
falling on his pale cheeks.

"DUMBLEDORE! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Harry snapped away from his stupor.

"What's wrong, Harry?" asked Luna, looking mystified at his outburst.

"Dumbled----" They both felt the walls vibrate vigorously. Remembering the Headmaster's last words, Harry grabbed Luna's hand and ran to the Room of Requirements where they found people nervously drawing out their wands. Some were crying hysterically, imagining the worst.

"Professor Moody!" shouted Harry when he found the man heading towards the door. From his worried expression, Harry could tell that he already had an idea as to what had happened.

"Potter, is he ---?" Harry nodded. Moody visibly paled and slowly, he saw tears running down his disfigured face. Professor McGonagall rushed to their side and saw their broken expression. She looked questioningly from Professor Moody to Harry.

"Dumbledore's gone. Voldemort killed him." said Harry, putting up a brave front so that the other's would not lose hope.

"D-dumbledore is g-gone..."

Harry watched as the most strict professor crumble to the ground in despair. Moody was still crying silently, very unbecoming of a dark wizard catcher like him. The teachers from other schools had also hidden their faces from view. The professors he thought were the epitome of strength of the whole school were falling into pieces right before the eyes of everyone present in the room.

He scanned the room and saw the crushed faces of the others, showing signs of acceptance of defeat even before they joined the war. Were they just waiting for Dumbledore to save them all? And now that he was gone, were they thinking that the dark lord's takeover was finally complete? 'It's a good thing, no one else knew about the prophecy yet.' he thought furiously.

"Are we all going to die now?" squeaked one small voice in fright.

Harry stared hard at all occupants in the room before replying angrily, "YES....WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE BECAUSE MOST OF YOU REFUSE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE. HOW DARE YOU PUT ALL YOUR HOPE IN ONE MAN! HOW DARE YOU SEEK COMFORT HERE WHILE THE OTHERS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES IN DANGER TO KEEP YOU ALL SAFE!"

Everyone stopped moping to listen to the young man fuming with rage at the sight of their weakness.

"A FEW WEEKS AGO, OUR DEFENSE GROUP ROAMED AROUND THIS ROOM TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS CARED ENOUGH TO TRAIN BUT WERE WE SUCCESSFUL? NO! MOST JUST LAUGHED AT OUR EFFORTS AND SOME BLATANTLY RIDICULED US! NOW, YOU TELL ME WHOSE FAULT IT IS IF THE PATHETIC DARK LORD SUCCEEDED..."

The onlookers noticed the golden glow that seemed to emanate from the young man as he spoke and backed away nervously.

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR MOURNING NOR IS THIS THE TIME TO CONCEDE! WE ALL HAVE TO FIGHT IF WE STILL CONSIDER THIS OUR HOME." He paused for a while and continued in a quiet but determined voice, "From now on, we won't hide anymore. We shall all train for battle. If the enemies come, we will fight them with all our heart. They thrive on our fears and weaknesses but they recoil from bravery and affection. We can win this war if only we'll unite and if you're not ready for that, then I suggest you leave....this world is not for you..."