Chapter Twenty Two: The Final Battle

Nevra gave birth to a baby boy almost six months after making the announcement. They named him Darien Arthur, though his middle name was never publicized, and they called him Dart. He had the Weasley red hair, but he had his father's stormy grey eyes. His mother never let him out of her sight unless Dray or Snape was holding him. He may have been born into a living nightmare, but no child had or ever would be more loved than little Dart.

When he was only six weeks old everyone around him seemed to have gone insane. For a week Lord Draco had been sending as many death eaters as he could to remote locations that could not be traveled to by apparition in one jump, requiring at least one stop on the way. For a week Nevra had been making everyone leave the room as soon as she entered, saying that she was sick of their faces. For a week Snape's whereabouts were a mystery a good percentage of the time. But that week was over, and the mysterious actions were explained.

It had been week since the trio had returned. Remus, Bill and Dare had been sending out diversionary expeditions ever since, just enough people to draw death eaters. Dare learned from Snape how to find the Riddle Manor and gave the intelligence to Potter as his own. It was safer this way, Potter still did not trust Snape, regardless of what Dumbledore's letter had said, and they did not need him questioning every little detail or things would move too slowly to work.

The attack was planned and executed. Order members surrounded the nearly deserted manor house, entering through every available exit. As they did so, before they were detected, Nevra entered Tom's study and all present death eaters quickly disapparated. Dare silently cast a tracking charm on Nevra and led Potter, Weasleys Bill and Ron, Granger, Lupin, and Tonks straight to her and consequently Voldemort. Dray and Snape were leading the defense of the manor, for now.

The death eaters, expertly led by one of the sleepers, pushed the Order members out of the mansion. By this time Voldemort had summoned death eaters from all corners and they were apparating on the grounds. Dray called for those that had been in the mansion to pursue the Order while he and Snape sealed the manor behind them, making it impossible for any to enter or exit until they lifted the charm or were both killed.

The second sleeper stood next to her son, wand at the ready, when the Order members, led by the third sleeper, broke into the room. The Lestranges, Nott, Zabini, and three other death eaters, Marks, Cole, and Lane, had remained behind to protect their Lord and Lady should any of the Order break through and entered the room a mere second later. The Order members barely had time to register the fact that Ginny was there and appeared to be protecting an infant if it registered at all. Curses and hexes were flying faster than the eye could see. Dart was screaming. Mayhem ruled.

Dray and Snape turned on the death eaters. It took a moment, but Snape had the Order taking Dray's commands and the tide of that battle changed. Soon the death eaters were attempting reentry to the manor, getting stunned in process, another handy effect of the charm that had been cast.

Ron was down with a broken shin but he was still casting spells. Cole was out cold. Marks was blinded and causing as much trouble for his allies as his enemies. Rudolpho sent him down and hit Tonks with a curse that had her unconcious as well before Hermione hit him with a petrification hex. Remis was occupied with Nott and Bill was going one on one with Zabini. Dare was squared off with Bellatrix while Harry took on Lane. Remis finally took down Nott but was hit with a rogue curse. Bill was up against the wall and Zabini had opened his mouth to finish him off. When Dare heard the first syllable of the curse he turned from Bellatrix and blasted Zabini. Bellatrix took advantage of his distraction and turned to kill Harry while he had his back to her fighting Lane. As she turned Lane fell, finally hit by Harry, but he would never turn around in time. Dare and Bill looked over but neither was fast enough with his wand.

A green jet of light bolted straight toward Bellatrix and she fell dead. Time stood still. Voldemort screamed in rage and turned toward the source of the curse. Nevra stood with her wand extended. Voldemort raised his own wand. Someone yelled, it might have been Dare. Voldemort's wand moved slightly to the left. Nevra's eyes narrowed and she dove toward where his wand was pointing. Someone else yelled, it sounded like Harry that time. A jet of green light left Voldemort's wand aimed at Dart. Nevra willed herself to move faster through the air. She heard someone shout something, again, it sounded like Harry. The curse hit her in the chest and she fell.

Harry had indeed shouted. He had pointed his wand at Voldemort and had cast the spell that would finish him, but he had done so too late. Tom and Nevra fell the floor at the same instant. Everyone stared at the red head. Ron began to cry. Dare ran to her side.

"She has a pulse!" He scooped her up in his arms and turned to Hermione. "Find Dray. Tell him I have Nevra. Bring him to St. Mungo's as soon as possible. Try to bring Snape as well." He turned to Remus, "You should stay here to help with the other wounded," he indicated Tonks as he spoke. He turned to Bill, "Help you brother, you're coming with me." Finally he turned to Harry, "Grab Dart, but be careful, if anything happens to him you will not survive." There was something in his voice that you simply did not argue with, so they all did as they were told. Harry gently picked up the still screaming infant with no idea how to calm the poor boy. Bill found it easier to carry Ron than help support him, and waited for Dare's word. "Grab my arm, both of you." Bill and Harry did as they were told and they apparated to the hospital. He explained later that they would not have been able to do so without physical contact with Nevra, that was why they needed to hold his arm.

The hospital had antiapparition charms on it, but there was one room in the top floor on which the charm had been lifted so that casualties of war could be brought in quickly. This was where they arrived. Dare told Harry to keep Dart and wait there for the others. He took Nevra downstairs to find a healer and Bill did the same with Ron who was now unconscious.

Harry sat down in one of the chairs that lined the room and held Dart. The child was still screaming and he had absolutely no idea what to do. Fortunately Hermione arrived with Snape and Malfoy almost immidiately. Snape reached for the infant and Harry gladly released him. As soon as he was in Snape's arms the screaming stopped.

Draco turned to Harry with the most concern he had ever seen on anyone's face. "Where...where is she?" Harry had to strain to hear the words, but he assumed he knew what was asked.

"Neville took her downstairs. He should be back any moment with word from a healer on how she is." He was completely confused but he didn't really think now was the time to start asking questions.

Draco paced the room a few times. While he was pacing Remus, Tonks, and Molly arrived. "My boys, where are my boys!" Molly was a nervous wreck. Remus was trying to calm her down. Tonks had only been stunned earlier, but was still a little dizzy so she sat down.

"Bill is fine, completely uninjured. Ron just broke his leg, that's all. Bill took him downstairs to get it mended. They should be back soon." Harry felt like an answering service, but he didn't really mind, he was still trying to figure out what was happening. Why were they in the same room with Malfoy and not arresting him? Since when did Ginny have a son? Why did he stop crying when Snape held him?

Molly sighed deeply and sat down for a moment.

"WHERE THE BLOODY..." Malfoy started yelling out of frustration, but as soon as he had started Dart had begun to cry again so he quickly stopped. He turned around and then back to Harry. "What happened?" His voice was strained and it was evident he was trying not to yell.

Harry couldn't speak, he was too confused. "She killed Bellatrix and Voldemort tried to kill the baby but she jumped in front of the spell." Hermione answered when Harry didn't. Draco nodded and started pacing again.

Molly noticed Draco's presence for the first time, listened to his question, and then realized who they were talking about. "Gin...Ginny is here too?" Her voice was very weak.

Before anyone had time to answer Dare returned and Dray launched himself at the new arrival.

"Well?" He demanded.

Dare looked very tired. "They won't know anything for a few hours. They have asked that we remain up here and out of their way until they do."

To everyone's surprise Draco just nodded and went back to pacing. Harry had been sure that Malfoy would have tried to kill the messenger.

"Gin...Ginny is here?" Molly asked again, standing up this time and facing Neville. He nodded and she sat back down.

Ron and Bill entered the room. Bill went to his mother and Ron went to Hermione. Remus had sat down next to Tonks. Everyone was simply staring out into space. Malfoy was pacing the far end of the room and Snape was standing in the corner with Dart watching the others, waiting for the shock to wear off.

Finally it hit, and it seemed to hit Weasley and Potter at the same time. Ron turned bright red a split second before Harry demanded "Someone tell me what is going on RIGHT NOW!" Dart started crying again.