Disclaimer: Harry does not belong to myself but to the wonderful author we all know and love JK Rowling
Chapter Sixteen: Dawn of Heroes
Harry could not sleep. He sat by the window, peering out through the frosty glass and drummed his fingers along the wooden eave.
He had been awaken by a nightmare – he had been back to the cemetery with Cedric last night. Although the occurrences of these night dreams were not rare, Harry was still shaken to the point where he would not drift back into slumber.
Harry was impatient for the sun to rise and to start the day, even if it meant closer to his own demise. There was nothing to do but sit like a sitting duck and wait for something to happen.
Dumbledore was sure they had not seen the last of Voldemort, and Harry was certain that he would be knocking on their doorstep soon. Voldemort's attempt to recruit Salazar Slytherin only convinced everyone that Voldemort was still interested in the fall of Hogwarts.
Salazar had not spoken to Harry since the night where he had protected him from the Death Eaters and therefore, sealed his alliance with the white wizards of Hogwarts castle.
Harry was not sure if Salazar's 'grace' was such a good thing. He was aware that Salazar was only using him as a means to an end. That his life was not something Salazar wanted to save...just a tool. This gave Harry the odd unease that Salazar could fight on either side, depending on how he could serve his purpose.
Outside, the sun was rising against a blood red dawn…
Harry was not sure if he had accidentally slipped into sleep. He opened his eyes groggily, wondering what had shattered his reverie.
A few moments past and then Harry was thrown to the floor. The whole foundation of Hogwarts castle was rocking back and forth. It had been coming in small tremors as if the school was groaning under pressure but now the rooms were definitely moving.
Harry scrambled to his feet as the students about him started to wake. He raced back to the window and nearly cried out in dismay with what he saw.
God knew he didn't want to be right.
But the end was coming...
Over near the Forbidden Forest were lines upon lines of Death Eaters, in long black cloaks. Their cowls were pulled over their faces so all Harry could see of their faces were small patches of bone white of their masks. Harry had no idea there were so many dark wizards in Britain.
One hundred paces away from the entrance of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the Death Eaters stopped.
Harry shook his head. Everything seemed to be happening slowly. It was so enthral, that he didn't believe what he was seeing.
The end was coming...
The Death Eaters in the middle parted in a militarily like fashion and Harry nearly dropped to his knees. Voldemort past through his minions, ignoring them his crimson eyes were trained on the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He stood a good ten paces from his followers, his black cloak billowing in the wind so that Harry could see the green material underneath.
The end was coming...
Voldemort lifted his head slightly moving his critical gaze from the walls of the school to four figures that had come out to meet him.
Salazar Slytherin was the first who came into view, his emerald green cloak flowing smoothly despite the wind. His wand, Harry could see was by his side, loose. But Harry was not fooled; he knew that the founder was ready for an attack.
Slytherin must have said something because Voldemort lifted his head up and laughed. Harry ground his teeth as the laughter drilled through his ear drums and beat against his consciousness. It was the same he remembered through the dementors...
"NO!"
Harry raced towards the door of the chamber and yanked.
...and yanked...
...and yanked...
"Damn it's locked!" he cried.
"Harry?" a sleepy Ron murmured.
Harry ignored his friend and yanked more viciously at the door knob.
"Stop, stop, stop," Hermione said, from her corner. "You'll never get it open that way."
Harry glanced back at her. All he could feel a sense of urgency in the pit of his stomach; he knew something bad was about to happen.
The end was coming...
Hermione's words slowly sunk into Harry's mind. He pulled out his wand. "Alohomora!"
"Harry..." Ron whined, but Harry was already halfway down the stairs…
Harry ran down the flight of stairs, barely pausing for breath at the end. He could feel his heart beating painfully under his ribs.
He kept running until he reached the outer circle of the founders.
Voldemort looked up and Harry wasn't sure if it was smug certainty or surprise that registered in his red eyes. He fumbled into his pockets keeping his eyes trained off Voldemort and searched for his wand. He saw Salazar sigh heavily and shake his head while Voldemort and his lackeys sneered at him.
"Harry–get–back–into–the–castle..." Godric said, between gritted teeth.
Harry raised his chin proudly and stepped forward so that he placed himself in between Voldemort and Slytherin. "It ends here," Harry told his enemy.
Voldemort laughed and Slytherin grabbed Harry's sleeve and threw him to the side.
Harry fell clear and rolled. He stumbled back onto his feet and found himself looking up into Helga's eyes. She looked extremely cross.
"The castle," she hissed. Harry looked over his shoulder over at Voldemort who was rasing a wand slowly.
"Nooo!" Harry wasn't sure if he cried out or not. He jumped across Helga and pulled her down as a green curse blinded them and landed were he and Helga were standing only moments ago.
This action spurred the founders into action. It was suicidal Harry realized. There were five of them and seemingly ten thousands Death Eaters. And he knew he would be the target.
What had the founders been thinking? What had he been thinking?
Harry raised his wand and searched for Voldemort–if he was to act he would have to act quickly.
"Crucio…"
Harry dropped to his knees with a scream, but his knuckles constricted around the end of his wand. Blood rushed through his ears and all he saw was Draco Malfoy's face inches above his own.
Harry wasn't sure what spurred him to act. Instead of cursing his school enemy he drew his fist back and punched with all his might; anger and frustration. There was an all mighty crack as fist connected with nose. Draco snorted out blood and reeled backwards. Harry kicked him and stood…
The founders stood in tight circle around him their backs to him. Harry could hear the laughing and taunting of the Death Eaters…
The end was coming...
The founders began to chant in a language Harry could not identify. A soft purple–pink haze lifted from the ground and surrounded them.
"How long can we hold it?" Slytherin asked Rowena through clenched teeth.
Rowena shrugged. "I'm not sure."
"What do you mean you are not sure?" Godric demanded a little too harshly.
"Well I've never used this shield against real dark wizards intent on killing us..." Rowena snapped.
"That's comforting," Salazar commented and looked accusingly back at Harry. "What are we going to do with him?"
Helga looked over her shoulder and shook her head. "There's nothing we can do now..."
The purple – pink mist shrunk and slowly waned. "Get ready…" And then their protective shield flickered and died…
The end was coming...
A/N: The end is coming... You're all going to punch me if I say that again aren't you! One chapter to go...