I own nothing, J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. All my 'ideas' are basically ripped from stuff I enjoy; Harry Potter (duh!), Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dragonball, The Matrix, The Lion King, 24, and anything else that even remotely looks far too creative for me to just make up! Don't say I didn't warn you alright!

Yes I know that my 'celebrations' were rather similar to those in Prisoner of Azkaban, but with some minor adjustments. So is the first little bit of this chapter.

Oh yeah, and this is the 'Easter' bit I was talking about some…10 chapters ago I believe. So if you can't handle a bit of battle action…I suggest you stop reading this chapter from about halfway onwards.

Chapter 25 – Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold

Harry's delight at leading the team to victory in the Quidditch cup lasted all week. He'd found out that Remus had bet Trent that Slytherin wouldn't score any goals. Since he was proved to be correct, Trent had been forced to pay up. The weather had also decided to celebrate. April had approached, and the days became cloudless. All anyone felt like doing, was taking strolls around the grounds and flopping onto the grass with several pints of pumpkin juice, or watching the giant squid doing laps of the lake.

The trouble was that they couldn't. Hermione was driving everyone mad with her increasing anxiety about exams. The only people who didn't seem to mind were the fifth and seventh years, as they had OWL's and NEWT's coming up respectively.

Harry had at last found in Sirius' books how to accurately sense other people's magical aura. He couldn't believe it, but for some strange reason, it had been in the back of the pink cook book all along. It had been so simple in the end. When Trent had cast the spell on him allowing Harry to sense the wards around Hogwarts, he had also inadvertently given Harry the ability to sense other people's signatures.

Once Harry had found in the book how to focus on people's auras, he had been flooded by everyone's aura at once. He was now working out how to single out someone's aura. So far, he could correctly focus in on Dumbledore, Remus and Trent. He had started to test himself and decided to try to sense Voldemort, when Sirius' mirror started to buzz.

Harry grabbed it and asked Peter what was wrong.

"Nothing Harry, I've just had an idea. Once you've figured out where…he is hiding, what's to say he's going to be alone? You'll need an escort to get to him."

Harry hadn't thought of that, and made a mental note to spy on Voldemort once he'd mastered his sensing ability to find out when he was alone.

"And I s'pose you want to be that escort then?"

"I do. You did promise me you'd help me get out of here" Peter reminded him.

"I know, it's just…" Harry was interrupted by voices coming from outside his dorm.

"Peter, I'll call you back!" Harry then shoved the mirror under his pillow before Dean and Seamus had wandered in.

They spotted Harry and asked him how he was getting on with his Defence essay on Banshees. Harry told them that he'd finished it last night, and was currently working his way through his Potions homework which compiled of a list and detailed description of all the potions they'd made this year. Both Seamus and Dean grimaced and mock teased Harry about what he should do with Snape during classes.

After Dean and Seamus had left for lunch, Harry telling them he really needed to finish off his homework, Harry pulled out his mirror. He checked the map to make sure it was safe before he contacted Peter.

"Right, before I was interrupted, I had a thought. Do you remember me telling you about sensing a person's magical aura?"

"Yes, I remember that. Have you found out something about it? Peter asked.

"I have, and I've almost perfected it. But I can only concentrate on a few people. I'll have to practice more to be able to sense just anyone's. But that's not what I had in mind."

"Ok, what's your suggestion then?"

"Once I have mastered this. I'll be able to tell when Voldemort is alone, and when he's got company. I'm not going to risk marching up to him when he's in the middle of a Death Eater meeting."

"Smart move, but where do I fit into this?"

"I need you to pretend to have captured me."

Peter didn't say anything for a while. Harry had another quick glance at the map and saw that no one was near Peter, so Harry knew that Peter was just thinking it over.

"You positive the Sorting Hat put you in the right house, Harry? That's worthy of a Slytherin!"

Harry sighed. "Yes. It did consider putting me there, I begged for it not to. You would've too if you'd met Malfoy!"

"I have. Well, his father anyway. Can I have some time to think this through?"

"Sure"

Harry had another quick glance at the map and saw that Snape was approaching Peter's cell.

"I'd better go. Snape's coming your way."

"Ok, thanks Harry, bye."

About halfway through dinner, Harry looked across at the staff table to see Trent whisper something to Dumbledore. At that moment, he felt his scar really burn for the first time all year. Ron immediately looked at him and asked what was wrong.

"I don't know. Something's going to happen really soon. I've got a horrible feeling about this."

Before Ron could say anything, they were interrupted by a loud siren filling the Great Hall. All of the teachers immediately leapt to their feet, pulling out their wands. Dumbledore pointed his wand at his throat before whispering a sonorus charm.

"STUDENTS, DO NOT PANIC. I NEED YOU ALL TO REMAIN SEATED FOR THE MOMENT. WE ARE UNDER ATTACK, WE NEED ONLY SIXTH AND SEVENTH YEARS TO COME WITH US. WE WILL NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET TO DEFEND THE CASTLE. PREFECTS, ONCE WE HAVE LEFT YOU MUST ENSURE THE GREAT HALL DOORS REMAIN LOCKED. NO ONE IS TO ENTER OR LEAVE. KEEP THE YOUNGER STUDENTS CALM. Quietus."

Dumbledore and the other teachers, as well as some seriously shaking sixth and seventh years, headed for the doors. Harry leapt to his feet, and could see most of the sixth and seventh years, including a few Slytherin's doing the same. As he was looking around the Hall for his friends, he noticed Draco had remained seated and was looking relaxed, with a large smirk on his face. 'He knows' Harry realised before exiting the Hall.

They found the teachers and students on the main steps, arranged with the eldest and most experienced at the front. Harry immediately headed for Dumbledore, and he looked at him in acknowledgement when Harry stood next to him, wand drawn.

Dumbledore turned his attention back to the forces emerging from the forest. There were Death Eaters, and rows of figures dressed in black robes, Dementors Harry realised. To one side, werewolves were gathered, and to the other, five giants stood, large clubs in their hands. Harry looked around the forces gathered, and tried to focus in on Voldemort's aura. He couldn't sense it, so he assumed that Voldemort hadn't come.

No one could say which side moved first. Curses, both Light and Dark, started flying through the air from both sides. Voldemort's forces were using the Unforgivables as much as they could, leaving many students and teachers alike severely injured, but thankfully none dead. Trent was tackling the Dementors, while Harry and Remus made a beeline for the werewolves. They leered at them as they approached, stretching out their nails and baring their teeth. Harry simply smirked back, summoned his swords from his dorm, before transforming, with Remus following his lead.

The werewolves didn't know what hit them as two blurs of yellow launched themselves at them with a vengeance, ripping them to shreds with curses and slices. They tried to fight back, to turn the creatures into one of them. However, Harry knew he was safe. After all, he knew that unless they caught him unawares, he could not be harmed. Remus of course, while never having to go through the transformation again, knew he also could not be infected again.

Over in the main battle, Trent was disposing of the Dementors rather effectively, using Patronus after Patronus. Ron and Hermione were helping the students and teachers fight off the wizards. At one point Dumbledore had spotted Trent throwing curses back and forth with only his hands.

Seeing wandless magic had frozen him in shock for a second, allowing a nearby wizard to send a Killing curse his way. Trent, spotting this, quickly summoned a fallen log in front of the curse. Dumbledore nearly fainted when the green light hit the log and dissipated. Quickly stunning the culprit, Trent turned back to the headmaster.

"Albus, you have to stay focused and ignore me. I thought you'd be used to this by now."

After Dumbledore gave him a sharp nod, he turned back to the fight, stunning two more of Voldemort's men.

As soon as they had finished off the werewolves, Harry turned to the problem of the giants. After they had finished with the Dementors, Trent and Hagrid had gone to help a small group of students who were trying to hold off the large beasts with little success. Harry could see that the giants were too strong for them to take down as it was, but knew if they were distracted, they could bring them down. He looked at Trent, who nodded and transformed himself. Trent then proceeded to hammer the giants with curses and hexes, while Harry attacked them with his swords.

Remus and the others were holding their own, but knew they were losing ground. Looking around when two blurs tore past, Remus was a little relieved to see Harry and Trent in their transformed state. They were distracting the creatures so the others could deal with them. Remus raised his wand and threw a series of strong stunning curses at the nearest giant. Before it was distracted, he had not been able to send enough of them in succession to have any effect. After the sixth curse the giant finally fell to the ground, and Remus went to the next giant.

They were still holding their own. Harry, Trent, Remus and Hagrid had managed to subdue the non-human creatures, and Harry was about to go over and help his friends with a small group of Death Eaters. Just as Harry tucked his swords away and sent a stunning curse at his opponent, he was hit in the back with the Cruciatus curse. Harry tried not to scream, but he dropped his wand. Once the curse was lifted, he saw who had sent it.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't wee wittle Potty."

"Lestrange" Harry spat out, noticing she had Harry's wand and was twirling it in her fingers.

"This time, you won't be getting away Potter. The Dark Lord will reward me for capturing you"

Harry noticed both Neville and Trent slowly making their way towards him and decided to stall for as much time as he could.

"Really, I believe you said a similar thing last time. You don't have a very good record of keeping promises."

Lestrange glared at Harry dangerously before raising her wand.

"Be that as it may, I will make good on this one. I'm going to have some fun with you before handing you over."

"Forget it Lestrange."

Bellatrix whirled around at the new voice and found herself on the wrong end of Trent's and Neville's wands.

"Who…who are you?" she spluttered out

"You mean you don't remember? You captured me some twenty years ago. But I managed to escape, and have a little fun along the way" Trent smirked dangerously.

Bellatrix's eyes widened in recognition.

"You're that Auror! I remember you now. I still don't know how you got away."

"Nor will you get the chance. STUPEFY!" Trent yelled at the same time Neville did.

Bellatrix crumpled to the ground. Harry, Trent and Neville stood around her body. Trent grabbed both wands Lestrange had, before tossing Harry's wand back to him.

"Who wants the honour?" Trent asked

Harry and Neville both looked at Trent with confused faces, and Trent sighed.

"Which one of you wants to dispose of her more? She's hurt both of you deeply, so decide which one of you wants to kill her, before she wakes up."

Harry and Neville turned to each with a shocked looked on their faces before Harry found his voice.

"Er" was all Harry said until he remembered what Sirius and Remus were going to do to Peter in the Shrieking Shack three years ago.

He smiled before saying, "you know, I want her to see this."

Harry bound and gagged her, before saying "Enervate."

Lestrange's eyes slowly opened then widened when she saw Harry smiling devilishly down at her. He turned to Neville and started,

"You should've realised, Lestrange, that if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would."

Harry then turned to Neville, withdrew his swords and tossed one to him, before explaining his idea.

"What do you say, Neville? She's hurt both of us. Let's do this together."

Neville's face relaxed as he understood Harry's plan. He nodded, then added

"Yeah Harry, I think that's a great idea. Even if death is too good for her."

"Today gentlemen, there's still a fight going on around us" Trent reminded them.

Neville nodded, then raised the sword.

"Ready Harry?"

Harry also raised his sword and pointed it at the person who had killed his Godfather.

"On three; one…two…three!"

The duo then thrust their weapons at the same time. Two blades slammed into Lestrange's chest and she screamed into her gag before slumping to the ground in a heap.

Neville then turned to Harry, his eyes wide. "You know, that was oddly disturbing."

Harry nodded and removed Lestrange's bindings, before the three of them made their way to help the others with the battle.

Sensing they weren't going to win, one of the Death Eaters lifted their hand in a signal and the remaining forces retreated.

Students and teachers started to pour into the Great Hall. Harry didn't hear the buzzing of the students and Professors. He didn't see any of the looks of relief on their faces. He was frozen in shock. Harry couldn't believe he'd just killed someone out of cold blood. Just like that. Just like Voldemort does. Numbness filled him and tears started to run down his cheeks. The first thing to penetrate the haze in his head was a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Trent peering down at him with deep sorrow in his eyes.

"You did the right thing, Harry. It was more than she deserved."

"She didn't deserve it like that though. That just makes me as worse as Voldemort."

Trent smiled lightly before answering,

"No Harry, the fact that you are regretting your actions makes you the opposite of Voldemort. You have saved those lives that she would have taken in the future Harry. You've given those a chance to live. I know you don't want to hear this right now, but Harry, in many people's eyes, you are the only hope in this war."

"I don't want to be the only hope. Why can't I be normal for a change?"

Trent sighed "I don't think I can answer that, Harry. If I were you, I'd have a chat about it with Remus. He's normally better at thinking about things like that."

Harry nodded slowly, and shuffled his way back to Gryffindor tower still feeling awfully numb.