Chapter Twenty-Seven – First Strike

A/N – This chapter has some dark images. (It is the Final Battle, after all)

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They stood in the shadow of the forest, where they couldn't be seen from the manor. Draco immediately took charge.

He pointed to the front of the house. "That's where we're going in," he said confidently. "You-know-who lives in the back of the house. And that's where the meetings are."

"There are four windows in the front. We'll break into pairs," Draco said. "Squirt, you're with me. As one goes through the window, the other has to cover for them."

"Remember, hoods up and don't run," Ron said. "We can't be seen."

Neville took the hood of his robe and put it over his head.

"Let's go," Ron said.

They went in row and walked slowly to the front of the house. Neville could see Draco scanning the upper windows, looking for Death Eaters.

"We're in luck," Draco whispered. They made it to the windows without being seen. "Smaller partner first."

Neville stood next to the window, his wand at the ready while Luna cast an unlocking charm. She quickly opened the window and went inside.

"It's clear," Ginny whispered from inside the house.

Neville went through the window and looked around. There was hardly any furniture, and he could see the burn marks where poorly aimed spells had hit the walls.

Harry motioned to the group to split up. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione went in one group and Neville, Luna, Draco and Nata in the other. Draco still led the way, knowing the house the best. Draco pointed the Harry and motioned his group to go upstairs.

But then a squeaking could be heard. Harry looked down and swore. "Wormtail," he said angrily. Neville watched the rat scurry towards the back of the house.

"That's it then," Draco said. "They know we're here. Split them up and don't let Harry or Neville be taken."

Harry and his group ran up a circular staircase while Neville and his group ran into a dining room of some sorts. Neville looked outside and could see Death Eaters apparating into the field like mad.

"We're really outnumbered," Nata said fretfully.

"Doesn't matter as long as we get Harry and Neville in a room with Voldemort," Draco said.

"You said his name," Luna pointed out.

"Good for me," Draco said quickly. "We need to keep moving."

They ran into the next room, a type of study. Two Death Eaters were waiting for them. Draco took his wand out and said an incantation that Neville had never heard before. Both men dropped to the floor, writhing in pain.

"That's not a very nice spell," Luna said peacefully.

"Really?" Draco said sarcastically. "Next room. Go!"

A single Death Eater was waiting in the room. He started to cast a spell when Nata of all people said in a loud, clear voice, "Stupefy!" The Death Eater crumpled to the floor. She then placed an anti-disapparation jinx on him.

The others stared at her in surprise. "This is one of the men that tortured me," Nata said, standing up. No other explanation was needed.

"That's a good idea," Neville said. "If we stun any others, place the jinx on them so they can't get out of here."

Luna was staring out the window. "Aurors are here," she said calmly.

"What?" Draco asked. He looked out the window. "Members of the Order, too. I recognize some of them when I was staying there over the summer. We need to split up. They can't find us all together. It'll be too easy. Luna, stay with squirt. Neville, you and I are on our own."

"I am taller than you, Malfoy," Nata said through clenched teeth.

"You're a fourth year, squirt," Draco smiled.

"Go," Neville said. He squeezed Luna's hand before they went their separate ways. Neville found a staircase and went up two at a time. He ran smack into Ginny.

"Did you all split up?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah," Neville said quickly.

"My dad and Tonks were right behind me," Ginny said angrily. "They need to get out of the house! They'll be killed!"

"Ginny!" a man yelled that Neville recognized as Ginny's father. "What in the world are you trying to prove?"

"Where's Tonks?" Ginny asked worriedly. "She was right behind you."

Neville winked at Ginny. "Go find Harry, Ginny," he told her. "I'll wait for Tonks."

"Right," Ginny said slowly. "Come on, Dad."

Ginny started running and her father was right behind her. Neville did wait for Tonks for a moment. He was about to go to another room when he heard a scream.

Clutching his wand, Neville ran towards the scream. He stood in a doorway and took in the scene before him.

Bellatrix Lestrange was standing over Tonks. Tonks was twitching slightly, and Neville knew instantly that she had been hit with the Cructius curse multiple times. Luckily, Bellatrix had his back towards him and didn't see him there.

"You know what my favorite part is?" Bellatrix asked Tonks. "Watching the life drain from their eyes. Knowing that when I'm done with you, you'll be little more than an empty shell."

Hearing those words said out loud by that woman made Neville snap. "Expelliamus!" Neville cried. Bellatrix' wand flew out of her hand and fell harmlessly down the nearby staircase.

"Who dares to take…" Bellatrix screamed. She whirled around and her eyes lit up when she saw Neville. Neville stood his ground. He refused to shy away from her.

"Longbottom," Bellatrix said almost maternally. "Well, this should be fun. I'm unarmed now, boy. Do you have it in you to kill me?"

Neville knew that killing Bellatrix would the absolute worse thing that he could do. He simply didn't have the luxury for revenge tonight. Standing absolutely still, he simply stared at the woman.

"Let me give you a reason. Then you'll realize how utterly pathetic you are when you still can't kill me," Bellatrix said with a smile. "I saw the blood trickling down your parent's throat, boy –"

That was enough for Neville. He took all of his grief, all of his frustration and put it into his next words. "Stupefy!"

Bellatrix was knocked backwards forcefully. She fell over Tonks, who was lying at the edge of the stairs. Neville watched in horror as Bellatrix fell down the stairs, almost in slow motion. Finally she landed with a sickening crack at the bottom of the stairs. Her neck was at an impossible angle.

Neville ran to the edge of the staircase and stared at her body. He had killed her. That was the one thing he hadn't wanted to do. He wanted her to be taken into custody and tried for his parent's murder. Not this. Anything but this…

"I'm so sorry," Neville whispered under his breath.

He vaguely felt Tonks grabbing his hand and then having to run down the hallway. "Where's everyone else?" Tonks asked quickly.

"They went ahead. I said I'd stay behind to wait for you," Neville told her.

Arthur Weasley was up ahead, looking incredibly upset. Ginny was no where to be seen. She must have run away. Neville concentrated on the dinning room downstairs and quickly apparated there.

Luna was there, dueling with a Death Eater. The loud crack that Neville made when he appeared distracted the Death Eater long enough were Luna was able to stun him.

"Where's Nata?" Neville asked.

"She ran off," Luna said, looking worried, which is a look Luna rarely had. "She ran after a Death Eater. I think another one of her torturers."

Neville quickly glanced outside through a nearby window. There was a huge battle taking place outside. Luckily the battle hadn't spilled indoors yet.

"We should split up again," Neville said half-heartedly.

"No," Luna said, shaking her head. "Not again. I'm staying by your side."

Neville took her hand and gave it a kiss. "Fine by me," he said, smiling slightly.

Together they ran into the next room, which seemed to be a bedroom. "We need to find Voldemort," Neville said.

"Do you think he would leave because of the fighting?" Luna asked.

"No," Neville said, shaking his head. "He's happy. He's incredibly happy. He thinks he's going to win tonight."

Neville's forehead was tingling, but there was no pain. He glanced in a small mirror and saw that the scar on his forehead was bright red.

"He could be anywhere," Luna started. "Maybe he-"

"GINNY!"

Neville fell to the ground and took Luna with him as Ginny Weasley flew forcefully into the room. She hit the wall and crumpled to the ground.

Two Death Eaters followed her into the room. Without a word to each other, Luna went straight to Ginny and Neville stood up and started dueling with the Death Eaters.

He took the first out easily. The second Death Eater was much more skilled. Twice, Neville just moved out of the way in time of a nasty spell. But then someone hit the Death Eater from behind. The Death Eater didn't have a chance as he fell to the floor.

"Ginny!" Harry yelled. He had been the one to hit the Death Eater. "Close the door, Neville. We can't let anyone else attack her."

Harry ran to Ginny's side and knelt next to her, while Neville closed the door and locked it. Ginny was clearly unconscience. "I tried to wake her, but it didn't work," Luna said, chewing her lower lip. "Her pulse is really low, Harry."

Taking Ginny's hand, he placed it next to his cheek. "You can't leave me, Ginny. You know how much I need you," he whispered. "What are we going to do?"

"Get up," Neville ordered.

"I can't fight Voldemort if she's dead, Neville," Harry said in a dull voice. "I will never forgive him if she's dead."

Neville walked over to Harry and pulled him up. Harry tried fighting him, but Neville grabbed him by the collar of his robe. "I want to be a Healer, remember?" Neville said forcefully. "Let me try to heal her."

Harry stopped struggling immediately. Neville knelt next to Ginny and took out his wand. He had never tried to do any actual Healing before. But thanks to the many essays he had to write for his St. Mungo's application, he had studied a number of different theories. And thanks to his mother's Remembrall, Neville actually started remembering some.

Neville placed the back of his hand on Ginny's forehead. She was cold, which could mean she was going into shock.

"What was she hit with?" Neville asked Harry.

"I don't know, Neville," Harry whispered. "I don't know."

Neville took his wand and cast a warming spell on Ginny. Then he conjured up a goblet and some water, forcing Ginny to take a sip.

"Think, Neville, think," he said to himself softly. In his research, he had read about a common used spell by Healers that's stronger than "Ennervate."

He closed his eyes and tried to think of what spell he would need if Luna was in this position.

"Suro Surrexi!" Neville said, pointing his wand at Ginny's temple. She stirred instantly, coughing up the water Neville had given her.

"Neville?" she asked wearily.

Grinning stupidly, Neville said, "Stay down. I need to say one more spell."

Ginny nodded weakly. Neville didn't even need to think this time; he had the spell he needed at his finger tips. "Salio Acclivius," he said. A yellowish light emitted from his wand and covered Ginny for just a moment.

"What is that?" Ginny said incrediously . "I feel great now."

Neville stood up and put his hand out helping her up off of the ground. "A Healer never reveals his secrets," he said grinning.

"Ginny," Harry said softly. Ginny then proceeded to throw herself in Harry's arms for a long embrace. Neville and Luna turned discretely away.

Luna had a look on her face that clearly said, "I told you so."

"That feel good?" she asked.

He felt Harry place his hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, mate."

Ginny gave him a big hug. "How cool is that? You just saved my life!"

Neville couldn't keep himself from blushing. "We better get going. We still need to find-"

He was cut off by the sound of someone clapping slowly. At once, the four young adults had their wands out and were ready to fight. Neville inched towards the door and found that it was locked.

"So touching," a voice said quietly, "What one will do for one's friends. Even when it means his defeat."

A tall, thin man stepped out of the shadows. The moment Neville made eye contact with him, his forehead felt like it was going to explode.

Even though Neville had never seen the man in person before in his entire life, Neville knew instantly who it was.

"Voldemort."

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A/N – So…Kerry apparently likes to torture her devoted readers with cliff hanger after cliff hanger. I was going to make the final battle one chapter, but I realized that it would be way too long. I promise you all that I will have the next chapter up within 48 hours. You can time me, really. And feel free to leave a review! They honestly don't make me write faster, but they give me warm fuzzies. Which I need, cause these last few chapters have been emotional roller coasters!

Suro Surrexi (Latin) – Surgo (to arise) Surrexi – (Unfortunately, I found a word that fit, immediately put it in the story and then forget to write down the meaning before I did my next search. And I can't seem to find it anywhere now.)

Salio Acclivius (Latin) – Salus (health, safety) Acclivius (well-disposed)