Author's Note: Here is what I came up with for the final battle, or at least part of it. It looked like a lot more when I had my ideas on paper. I hope you enjoy. Thanks for all the great reviews. Redfrog
Chapter 44: The Final Battle
Harry was focused. He was fighting his way through the death eaters trying to get closer to Voldemort. His squad had surrounded him, protecting him and saving him for the important fight. He was protecting them with shield charms while looking for the most evil man on earth.
The death eaters were enraged. They had been tricked; the students were stronger than most fully qualified wizards! The aurors had appeared and surrounded them and now the wards were back in place. That was when they noticed that the Slytherin students were fighting against them as well. They had counted on the support of at least half of Slytherin house and here they were fighting for Dumbledore.
"My lord, we have been betrayed," Severus said with fake outrage. "Someone has informed them of our attack! The wards are back up and I cannot access them."
"Dumbledore must suspect you my son," Voldemort said seeing the anger Severus was projecting. "The old fool will fall and then we will torture whoever it was that gave our plan away. We need insurance against Potter. Go and capture one of his little friends and bring them before me." He told Severus who bowed and hurried away to perform his task, although he had no plans of carrying it out.
The death eaters were focusing their attacks more on the Slytherin students than the rest of them. Hermione had to fight off two or three death eaters from surrounding her Slytherin soldiers. She had just stunned two big burly death eaters after they were attacking Graham Pritchard with slicing and cramping hexes, it seems that some of the death eaters had noticed that Crucio did not have an effect. She shot up white sparks over Graham before running off after Sylvester Spinnet. She had just seen him dragged off by three death eaters!
She hurried after the two dragging the boy and heard the third, a woman, yelling that he was a disgrace to the family and she would personally hand his heart to the dark lord. It took her a few minutes to fight her way to his side. She was able to take out the two who had been dragging him and subdue them fairly quickly. The woman was slightly harder. Hermione had to rely on her shielding charm many times against the nasty hexes the woman sent her way. She finally got her and tied her up.
"Sly, oh Sly are you alright?" She asked rushing to his side. She could see that he had been cut into multiple times and was covered in blood. He looked so pale and she just knew that he would bleed to death before they ever got him back to the school.
Sly opened his eyes to see his angel Hermione above him looking so worried. He could tell that he was dying; his mother had taken care of that. "It's no use Hermione," he told her as he noticed her tears. "At least your beautiful face will be the last thing I see."
"No, I won't let you die," Hermione said crying. She didn't know what to do. She unscrewed the blood replenishing potion she had in the stem of her rose pendant and forced him to drink it before sending up white sparks and praying they would get there in time.
"Thank you Hermione," he told her with a smile. "You saved me. My life may end but you saved me from ending it on the wrong side."
"You are going to live, because if you do them we will go on that date to Hogsmede you always ask me on. I promise." She told him and gave him a tender kiss on the lips as he lost consciousness. Just as she was about to stand she was grabbed from behind by two death eaters.
Severus had been making his way through his 'comrades' sending harmless spells at those on the light. He was searching for Hermione so he could make sure she was safe. He saw the white sparks go up on his side of the line and looked to see who it was. His heart stopped for a moment to see her long bushy hair bent over a body. He rushed to her side but was not fast enough to warn her of the two death eaters behind her.
"Give her to me. The dark lord has sent me to capture this mudblood friend of Potters," Severus told them. Only one of the death eaters would let go.
"I'll take her with you Professor," the voice of Pansy Parkenson told him. "I want to see what our lord does to this filth."
Severus knew he now had no choice but to lead his love to the vilest monster he had ever known. He tried to reassure her by rubbing small circles on her arm with his thumb as he held her arm.
Hermione was scared. She knew he had to take her in front of Voldemort. She at least knew that he was safe. She had feared he would meet with an unforgivable from one of the aurors. The ministry officials had decided that there was no use taking prisoners and were killing the death eaters if needs be. Luckily for the light most of the new recruits were not powerful enough to cast Avada Kedavra and killed their victims using slicing hexes and other brutal means.
"My lord," Pansy yelled out as soon as they neared Voldemort. "I have caught you Potter's mudblood."
"Quiet!" Voldemort hissed in annoyance. "Severus, is this Potter's favorite mudblood?" He asked his faithful follower.
"Yes my lord and I have brought her to you as requested," Severus said knowing Pansy was going to speak out of turn again and hoping she was just killed now.
"I caught her, my lord," Pansy said giving Hermione a punch to the ribs.
"Enough!" Voldemort hissed again. "I said to capture this vile creature not harm her. Is it true that this slip of a girl caught your target before you Severus?" He asked curiously.
"Yes my lord, although it is not hard to capture someone who is grieving over the body of a dead classmate. The mudblood was not paying attention and didn't even have her wand drawn." Severus told him. "Any idiot could have grabbed her, my lord."
"Leave us," Voldemort hissed at Pansy and Severus took over full control of Hermione who had made a single noise since she was grabbed. "So you are the great mudblood head girl that the fool Dumbledore trusts so." He was disappointed his barb had not caused her to yell at him. "You are a foolish girl. Do you really believe you and your little friends could ever defeat me?"
"You will speak when asked a question mudblood," Severus growled at her and gave her a slight shake. Hermione was leaning back against Severus' strong frame concentrating her entire effort on blocking her mind so the monster in front of her could not read her fear or her thoughts about Severus. She loved how he held her so gently yet to anyone it would look like a bruising grip. He also had not taken her wand which she still had hidden in the wand sheath on her arm.
"Tell me mudblood; do you think your friend Harry Potter will be able to save you?" Voldemort laughed evilly. "Or do you think it will be the great fool that will come save you?"
"The only great fool here is you. You and your army are surrounded and outnumbered. Even if you kill me you will still loose. Harry is going to kick your arse!" Hermione told him with a glare, infusing her voice with as much venom as possible.
"This from a worthless muggle-born chit whose only accomplishment is a line of hair care potions. For tying the all time highest scores you have nothing to show for your wisdom." Voldemort cackled. "You should just join me now and I will spare your life. I'm sure one of my loyal followers would like using you as a house elf."
"I would never join you, you filthy piece of slime. I am stronger than that, nothing you could ever do could get me to bow down before you," She threatened knowing he would take that opportunity to try Imperio and prove her wrong. Snape smirked as well at how she was keeping him talking and giving Potter the time needed to approach.
"We'll just see about that," Voldemort said knowing he would enjoy breaking the impertinent little chit. "Imperio," he said pointing his wand at her. "Now bow before me in reverence." He expected someone as week minded as her to instantly bow. He looked up to see her smirking at him.
"What's the matter, your little curse not working?" Hermione asked in a smug voice. "I had always heard that no one was able to cast off one of your unforgivables. But then we both know that is wrong since now I've done it and I know Harry has." Severus had to work extra hard to hide his amusement. He didn't know that Hermione had the balls to taunt the darkest wizard of all time.
"What have you done?" Voldemort yelled in outrage after trying the curse three more times without results, even with Severus helping him.
"I guess I do have something to show for my life then huh?" Hermione said in a sing song voice she knew would grate on the nerves of the dark lord. "You see, I've developed a little potion that counters Imperio."
"How? Where did you brew such a thing without my knowledge?" Severus asked with mock outrage.
"Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. You know the one that holds the entrance to the chamber of secrets. I wasn't going to trust some Slytherin with my potion; none of you are worthy enough to try it." She said haughtily. She was just itching for him to try Crucio on her; she knew that would really irk him. "I guess you could say I've found a way to forgive one of the unforgivables."
"If you won't bow down in reverence then you will bow down in pain!" Voldemort hissed, "Crucio!"
"That the best you got?" Hermione asked laughing at him. "That didn't even tickle. I thought you were supposed to be all powerful or some other load of crap like that." She knew she was pushing it now and was hoping Harry would hurry or the only thing they would have to say about her was that she succeeded in royally pissing him off before he used the one unforgivable she couldn't block.
Voldemort didn't know what to make of the outspoken girl in front of him who was unaffected by his curses. He tried Crucio on her two more times and each time he cast it she would only laugh. "Fine," he hissed in anger. "If unforgivables don't work then a severing charm across you neck most definitely will. I will be most pleased to see you dead in a pool of your own dirty blood." He started to raise his wand and was surprised she had the gall to speak again.
"You blood is just as dirty as mine is Tom Riddle. You are a half-blooded orphan. You shouldn't have even been allowed in Slytherin house with your father being a muggle!" She yelled hoping to stall him. She had never thought that drowning in her own pool of blood would be the way she died; it just didn't seem very dignified.
Voldemort shouted the curse with rage but Severus pulled her out of the way and down to the ground with him. "Severus!" Voldemort hissed in anger.
"My lord if she can cure the unforgivable perhaps she could be of use to us later," he told the mad man.
"She will die Severus, but first you must be punished for acting without my permission, Crucio!" Voldemort said watching Severus scream with pain.
"Stop!" Hermione yelled, furious at the monster for hurting the man she loved. She was unaware that Severus was just playing along and that he had taken the potion and was not hurt.
Voldemort looked up at her and paled. She was glowing in a purple halo, her hair was blowing in a breeze of its own. Hermione watched as the most evil wizard lowered his wand in fear, fear of her. She could see the fear in his red eyes and knew instinctively that it was because of her yet she didn't know why. "Not possible," He croaked out as he slowly was backing away.
Harry and the squad were almost through. He was fighting harder than ever now that he could see that Voldemort held Hermione hostage. There were only a handful of death eaters between them now. "Now is the time Harry," Albus told him. "Show them your true colors!" Harry nodded and transformed into Flames. He flew above the fighting mass and sang his phoenix melody. He could see many fights pause to look at him and some even called out that it was the Heir of Gryffindor. He let out one last long note and landed to the side of Voldemort who was still backing away from Hermione in terror. He transformed as he landed and there were many gasps on both sides as they realized that he was the Heir of Gryffindor.
As planned Harry cast the most powerful freezing charm on Voldemort and it stopped him in his tracks. It would only hold him temporarily and if it wasn't for his increased powers and Voldemort's inattention it never would have worked. Ginny was instantly behind him. She laid both her hands on his shoulders and began the spell. "I love you Harry Potter. As soul mate to soul mate, receive my love." Harry could feel the love from Ginny and began to glow a soft white. As he looked at his nemesis he realized that as much as he loved Ginny and vise versa, her love alone would not be enough to bring down the evil that is Voldemort. He couldn't even call for help as the next words he spoke had to finish the charm or all would be lost.
Luckily Ginny was still in tune with his feelings and thoughts and called out for help. "He needs more love; it's not strong enough yet!"
Hermione scrambled over to her friends side and placed her hand on his left shoulder. "I love you Harry Potter. As sister to brother, receive my love." It was no surprise to anyone who heard her that she used sister instead of friend. She and Harry were too close to be anything other than family.
Ron, who had left his squad as soon as Harry approached Voldie, hurried to Harry's right side. "I love you Harry Potter. As brother to brother, receive my love."
Albus is next, "I love you Harry Potter. As Grandfather to grandson, receive my love."
"I love you Harry Potter. As father to son, receive my love." Remus added. As each person said the beginning of the spell the white light around Harry got brighter. Severus and many of the squad were holding off the death eaters that had rushed to their master's side when they saw Harry approach.
"I love you Harry Potter. As mother to son, receive my love." Tonks added standing next to Remus. As she held Remus' hand the light got even brighter.
"Hold onto someone you love and Harry can receive your love for them as well." Ginny yelled as she felt the surge when Tonks touched Remus.
Fred, George, Bill and Charlie joined hands and Fred held onto Ron. As one they said, "I love you Harry Potter. As brother to brother, receive my love." The white light doubled in brightness as there is one thing all Weasleys have in abundance and that is love.
Draco stood behind Ginny, "I love you Harry Potter. As brother to brother, receive my love." Several Death eaters gasped to see the young Malfoy heir helping the light and claiming to love Harry Potter as a brother.
Gabrielle held onto Draco, "I love you Harry Potter. As friend to friend, receive my love." The white light was bright now and it was growing with every person added.
Neville, after taking out two more death eaters, placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder. "I love you Harry Potter. As brother to brother, receive my love." Luna held onto Neville and added her love as well.
Justin, Dennis, Blaise and the Queen were left to defend the group as Arthur joined the spell. "I love you Harry Potter. As father to son, receive my love." He had one hand on Charlie and the other on George and the light brightened significantly.
"We need more people who love them," Justin said knowing that they were the only ones left and that the others couldn't get through the wall of death eaters surrounding them.
The Queen dropped her shield and joined the spell. "I love you Harry Potter. As Queen to Subject, receive my love." The light was almost blinding at that point as the Queen had love for every one of her subjects and they all had love for her.
Severus heard Ginny say they only needed one more, but Justin, Dennis and Blaise were outnumbered and couldn't drop their shields without a gap forming. He could hear the other DA and Order members fighting on the other side yelling out their love for Harry in hopes it would help the spell but it wasn't quite enough. Severus saw that Voldemort had almost broken the freeze spell. He was trying to move his mouth and a cold laugh fills the air. It was time to end the spell, so he did what he knew he had to do and hurried to Hermione's side and held her hand. "Traitor!" Voldemort had the strength to yell out before he adds to the spell.
"I love you Harry Potter. As friend to friend, receive my love." Severus said completing the first stage of the spell as the white light surrounding Potter became so thick that you couldn't see him any more.
Harry felt the power course through him and knew it was time. "As light overcomes dark so will good overcome evil. Tom Marvolo Riddle, receive my love." As Harry finished the spell the ball of white shot straight at Voldemort who screamed in agony before crumbling into a pile of ash.
They all stood still and watched as the ashes of the evil man were sucked into a crack in the ground and swallowed forever. Voldemort was defeated, and this time it was forever. There was a cheer from the side of light as they returned to fighting twice as hard as before knowing that they were victorious.
Harry stumbled forward, his three best friends the only thing keeping him upright. "Harry, you did it mate, you won." Ron told him as they lowered him softly to the ground as his legs would not support his weight.
"It's over Harry, you can rest now." Hermione told him with a smile as she could see how drained her friend was.
"Ginny?" Harry called reaching out. His eyes were raw from the light of the spell and he could only see blurs not people.
"I'm here Harry," She said brushing a kiss to his lips. "I'll always be here my love."
"I could feel them," Harry told them as he started to drift off to sleep. "Mum, dad, Sirius, they were all there too. I love you." He then drifted off to sleep as his body had used all its power to take out the evil man.
Ginny and Albus remain to take care of Harry while the rest head off to round up the rest of the death eaters and get the wounded to white squad. The war may have ended but the battle was still going on.