It was still hard to get around the new castle.
Built from the old plans, raised from the rubble- most of the secret passages and probably a few new ones were the same. Many thought it was daft to build on the spot where it was known the castle was. But others took it as a sign of the future hopes and dreams of the Brittiana Wizarding World when the tall Ravenclaw Aerie Tower and the tallest Astronomy tower were magically lifted and sealed back into place.
A permanent memorial was placed in the main hall to honor the students and faculty who died in the massacre. For a change I ran by it without a second glance. Still being among the youngest faculty members, I quickly outstripped the rest at a full sprint all the while really wishing for a broom.
I began taking the winding stairs more then 2 at a time hoping I wouldn't land in one of the trick stairs at the speed I was going.
Voldemort and his followers had invaded the castle again.
I saw one of the ghosts floating down through the stairs. "Sir Nicholas! Have you found them?"
"Room of Requirement."
Shit. I put on a fresh burst of speed. Was there a D.A. meeting tonight? I couldn't remember what Neville had told me. How did Voldemort get into the castle- help from the inside? Maybe a student?
I was nearly out of breath when I reached the out of the way corridor.
The door was no where to be seen, but I could faintly hear the sounds of screams and spells on the other side of the wall.
Room of requirement? What I required was an entrance and the room to provide us with what we needed to defeat Voldemort permanently. I paced my required 3 circuits thinking all the while "Griffendor- you made the room, now your heirs defend it. Help them!" and the door appeared. I pulled it open quickly enough to see the room dissolve from the D.A.. classroom, to resemble a dark stone room at the ministry with the stone arch with its concealing and ever-floating curtains.
Harry, Neville, Seamus, Ron, Hermione and the rest of the D.A.. were fighting a losing battle for their lives against 15 death eaters and Voldemort. The room seemed huge, more then big enough to accommodate the numbers. There was a brief stunned pause as the environment changed.
Harry was the first to look and see the door was open. I heard him order Hermione and Ron to start getting the students out. Several refused to leave, including Neville. There were also several down on the floor, I was unsure who they were, but by the look of the way they fell- they wouldn't be getting back up again.
Time seemed to move into slow motion.
I provided cover fire for the students making for the exit hoping the other teachers would help get them to the grounds safely. Neville was holding his own against Bellatrix and Harry was once again facing Voldemort yelling at his friends to leave the entire time.
Voldemort was laughing in that odd high-pitched way of his. I began to think that this was only a set back. That he'd set us up. Then I heard the voices from the curtains; the voices hungering for revenge on the one who sent many of them beyond before their time.
Potter must have heard them as well, sence he started to steer Voldemort towards the opening.
I saw Bellatrix fall clutching at her abdomin in pain. I'm not sure what Neville did, but there was a lot of blood. She fell to the ground in a heap her life pouring across the floor. Neville smiled a maniac grin.
"AVADA KADAVRA!!!" Potters deep voice boomed across the dungeon above the rest of the noise.
A green light shot out of his wand straight at Voldemort.
Nothing happened. Silence once again filled the room.
Then Voldemort started laughing. And pointed his wand at Harry.
"Let me show you how it's done, boy. First you have to really WANT to hurt your opponent."
"Crucio!"
Harry doubled over as the red light hit him. He tried to raise his wand to protect himself, but a death eater kicked it away. We finally got the students who would leave out the door the last one wedged the door open.
What was taking the faculty so long to get here!
Sir Nicholas found me again as if answering my unspoken thought- "Ambush, stairs moved and destroyed, much of the faculty got caught under the rubble. Rest still trying to get here."
"Crucio!"
Harry hit the floor clutching his abdomen blood forming at the side of his mouth. I knew I could never cross the room in time, but I began to duel my way through the wall of death eaters to try.
"Crucio!"
Another Death eater blocked my way, a strong silver hand reached out from the robe and grabbed my by my neck. As the air slowly began to run out, my thoughts and eyes were still on Harry and the remaining students. Very few have felt the full force of that spell from "the master" and lived to tell about it.
Death would seem preferable and kind at this point.
"Accio Wand" I heard Ron's clear tenor voice and saw Harry's wand fly through the air to Ron who then sent it flying back to Harry. Harry picked up the wand, and forced himself to stand and try to cast another spell.
"Avada Kadavara!" Potter managed to get the spell out- a bright green light flew out of his wand staggering Voldemort back a few steps before he fully regained his footing he began to cast at Harry again. But Harry amazingly fired off a second spell, apparently trying anything.
"Expecto Patronum!" A stag burst out of Harry's wand. Driving Voldemort a few more steps backwards.
"Avada Kadavara!" The Green light shot at Harry. He fell backwards into Ron who caught him.
"NOOO!!!" And a body flew threw the air at Voldemort knocking him even closer to the opening in the wall. Momentum carrying Voldemort and his assailant to the opening, tripping on the dais, and turning in such a way that I could see that the attacker was Neville. I tried to scream, but it was getting hot, harder to breathe. My neck and shoulders hurt from the pressure being exerted as my feet lifted off the floor.
But what Harry and Prongs started, Neville finished.
Voldemort was beyond the veil.
The silver hand clutching my neck suddenly vanished and was replaced by a cauterized stump. I fell to the floor hard on one shoulder, and took gasping breaths rubbing my throat.
"Patrificus Totalius!" A feminine voice said from behind us. The death-eaters body went fully rigid from Hermione's spell.
We were closest to the door, where we staggered to keep the rest of the death eaters present from escaping. I was having a difficult time breathing, didn't feel like I was getting enough air, but this wasn't the time for injuries. Several had surrendered by throwing their wands to the floor others were trying to push past us to escape. This was when the remainder of the faculty finally caught up with us.
Hermione took the mask off of the death-eater she froze, revealing a rather starved and terrified Peter Petticrew. The final part of that mystery solved, I felt myself crack backwards against the doorframe.
And I saw no more.
Awareness came back in waves.
I found myself in the infirmary along with many of the students.
How long had I been here? I tried to sit up, found I couldn't. And that my left arm was strapped to my side. I heard quiet voices on the other side of the curtain. I tried to piece back what had happened. One thing I did remember, was Lord Voldemort, Tom Marvolo Riddle was gone.
And so was Neville and Harry Potter. I felt like I couldn't breathe and started coughing.
Madame Pomphry appeared with Severus Snape and Pomona Sprout.
He sat in the chair near my bead while Poppy gave me a once over and some more potions.
"No stunt flying for me for a while- eh?" It was all I could manage to croak out around the pain in my throat and my heart.
"Shh-hh." Poppy pressed her fingers to my list. "Keep talking and I'll have Carly put one of her silencing spells on you!" I waved my hands in mock defeat and looked at Severus.
"We wanted to say thank you for protecting the students. There must be some Gryffendor in you to run into danger that way." His looked at me through his mess of hair. "Hermione and Ron told us that the room changed just as you came in, that there wasn't supposed to be a door anymore. It would take a true Ravenclaw to think of having the 'room of requirement' to provide the way to destroy Voldemort.." I merely nodded.
"Students okay?" I whispered, already knowing the answer. Wincing as Poppy changed the bandages on my dislocated shoulder.
At this Profosser Sprout looked sorrowful and shook her head no. Severus went on to tell me that that beside the several killed in the room, another dozen were lost when the stairway collapsed along with most the faculty and Professor McGonnagal and Albus Dumbledore. Among the studets were my oldest nephew, Seamus Finnagan. At that, I couldn't stop myself when I started weeping quietly so not to disturb the other patients. My nephew and my son both I finally understood my younger sister's description of 'empty arms'. Pomona placed her hand on my shoulder until I quieted a few minutes later.
Poppy helped fit my arm to a sling and said it was okay for me to leave the infirmary as long as I took it slow the first few days out. She also ordered me to the Great Hall to get some food, as it had been more then 3 days since I'd properly eaten.
Professor Snape helped me through the castle and up to the head table where the other teachers were eating.
I sat down heavily in my accustomed seat between Professor Snape and the empty chair where Professor Lupin usually sat. Professor Sprout explained Lupin was still working with the fallen, and should arrive shortly. The hall was decorated with all the House banners above their tables, except for the black banner hanging behind the faculty.
"So what do you want to do now, Professor Finnagan?" I could tell Severus was trying to avoid looking or talking about the large number of empty seats at the faculty tables.
"Probably retire to my teaching, coaching, and expanding my broom restoration business." I said quietly.
"So, nothing's really going to change?"
"Are you kidding- no more ministry owl's at all hours or long ministry meetings. That's a HUGE change for me after nearly 20 years." I tried to grin mischievously but felt it flatten. Damb the ministry to Hades anyway.
The house elves kept a steady stream of appetizers at all the tables. I learned that we were waiting for everyone who was going to be released from the hospital before the feast began. I didn't really feel like eating, and less like celebrating. But I knew my place as Head of Ravenclaw was to be present in the moment for the surviving students.
More chairs were set up at the head table, and finally 2 more tables were added to the dais- expanding the table to an 'I' shape. We were hosting all the various department heads, the remaining Order of the Phoenix, and other officials of the Ministry of Magic. I couldn't meet the eyes of my Department head, or the ex-Head Minister Cornealus Fudge. I couldn't trust my temper.
Finally everyone arrived, and the remaining faculty and ministers processed in to scattered applause. I think many present were still in emotional shock.
The Head Minister stood up as the applause died out. She got right to the point, which I was grateful for.
"We are here to honor those who have fallen, and acknowledge those who helped bring about this astounding event. Please hold your applause to the end."
"First, Order of Avalon, second class – to the Faculty and Staff of Hogwarts School. You trained your students well to think and defend themselves. You also provided safe-haven for the students during the war. This is the second highest award the Ministry can grant to a group of people."
"Second, Order of Avalon, second class – to the Defense Association, also known as Dumbledore's Army. For your unswerving defense of the school and all the students therein. Hermione Granger was kind enough to loan us the roster of the group from these past 3 years, so each student is recognized, as well as the years they participated. She also asked that the names of the members who departed in the line of duty, be plated in gold rather then silver."
"Third, Order of Avalon, first class – to the Order of the Phoenix, for your work in the community boosting morale, your work on the front lines, and your commitment to the truth in the face of opposition your first year. Per request no members names are on the plaque."
"Fourth, Order of Merlin second class to – Professors Severus Snape, Remis Lupin, Lory Finnagan, Students Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood."
"Finally, Order of Merlin first class – Posthumously to Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. For finally defeating the Dark Lord. Probably the greatest service to the wizarding world since the defeat of Grindeweld."
"These and more awards and acknowledgements being sent as we speak to the families of those who have fallen these last few years. Severus, I believe the floor is now yours." Professor Snape stood up slowly unaccustomed to this role.
"It's not quite the end of the year, but it is still time to celebrate. We have received official confirmation from the department of Mysteries- Tom Marvolo Riddle, known as Lord Voldemort has crossed beyond the veil of Death. He cannot return."
The cheering accompanying this announcement was deafening- even from the remaining students at the Slytherin table. I applauded as loud as I could, since my voice couldn't hold out for any cheering.
"But you should know how it came about. It was a team effort between Harry Potter, and Neville Longbottom. Neville forced Voldemort through the veil, and fell with the enemy. He was a true Gryffendor through the end. Please, stand and raise your glasses to Neville."
Snape looked like he wanted to say more, but words had failed him. It seemed ironoc to me that the teacher Neville feared more then Voldemort, gave him final respects. I've never seen him look that forlorn. Everyone stood. Even Draco Malfoy who wouldn't stand for Cedric. He's changed a lot since the death of his parents a few months back.
As we all sat I couldn't help feeling concern that once again we were celebrating pre-maturely. But after everyone sat down and began to eat the feast that was prepared for us, Snape told us that his dark mark was gone.
Whatever connection existed between the boy dark load and his servants was over.
I just wish Dumbledore could see it too. It would ease his mind to know he could truly rest in peace.
And it occurred to me, Neville would go down in Wizarding history, as a hero.
His Grandmother would finally have been so proud of him.