Chapter Six

The Battle

Harry woke up the next morning feeling wonderful. He didn't feel the exhaustion of the day before. He got up easily and began to dress. He didn't notice Serena wake and sit up in the bed, smiling at him as he dressed. Harry finished dressing and looked in the mirror. The dark circles from lack of sleep were already fading. Ruffling his hair he noticed that is hair was longer, hanging on his head lazily.

Serena laughed as he looked at his hair. "It has gotten longer since last year." She said.

"Are you trying to tell me it's time for a haircut?" Harry asked.

"Not at all. It makes you look even more wonderful."

"Speaking of hair, I miss seeing bubblegum pink at times." Harry said, smiling.

"I do miss that. Its the only part of my transforming I do miss." Serena said, still laughing at him. "Too bad I haven't found a reasonable spell to do it."

"Use hair dye." Harry said. "Don't know if they make it in pink, but muggles use it all the time."

"I'll look into it when schools over." Serena said seriously. "Sounds like it might be fun."

"I guess. It was never really my style." Harry said. He sighed deeply. "Busy day today."

"What do we have to do?" Serena asked, referring to their part in the plan.

"The Marauders, DA, and the Order are going to Hogsmeade. Students acting as if it is a regular Hogsmeade visit, teachers acting as supervision." Harry said. "When death eaters approach, we attack in full force."

"Sounds like a good plan." Serena said.

"Well its mine and the rings. We both know that it has a strong sense of cunning in it." Harry said.

"So I'm assuming there is no chance for a lie in?" Serena asked jokingly.

Harry laughed softly. "Not today. Tomorrow is Sunday however. We could spend the whole day together, never leaving the room."

"Sounds very good to me." Serena said. "It's a date."

With that Serena dressed and they made their way to the great hall. They ate their breakfast, talking amongst themselves in thought. They couldn't let anyone hear the plan until they were finished. Ginny and Neville had the first part done. The owlery was inaccessible, which would cause a commotion for everyone. Death Eaters would not know what was happening until it was too late. Everyone began walking to the doors in the main hall to leave, only to be thwarted in their attempts by Dumbledore.

"I am sorry students, but the trip has been cancelled due to an emergency in Hogsmeade. I will need the DA, and a few teachers to help us stop a fire that has broken out. The rest of you should stay here. I am sorry children." Dumbledore said.

The DA came quickly at Dumbledore's call, including its leaders. Remus, McGonagall, and Flitwick stood with them. They walked out of the school, thinking their plan had moved to perfection. Harry stopped quickly and turned around. He began speaking softly under his breath so no one could hear. When he was done he turned and caught up with Dumbledore and his friends. Stopping just outside the gates Dumbledore and Harry turned to their army behind them.

"Children, I will not lie and say this will not be dangerous. This will be a battle, one for which you have all been trained by some of the best wizards and witches of our time. It is because of their trust in your abilities that you are here. I ask now that if you do not wish to be in this battle, please return to Hogwarts now, for your safety." Dumbledore said.

When no one moved Harry spoke. "Look, for most of you this is your first battle in this war. For some this is a second or even third battle. We will not be able to lead you, as we will all be fighting. Remember your training, and remember that you were chosen because you are the best that we have in the DA at this time. Let's show the death eaters what happens when you piss off people as strong as we are."

The DA nodded firmly, none spoke as no words were needed. They had their jobs and were ready to do them at whatever cost. Harry nodded at Dumbledore and they walked into Hogsmeade. The town looked even more wonderful than normal. Upon entering the students acted normally, splitting off into their own groups and walking to shops, looking in windows, going to the Three Broomsticks.

Harry kept his mind open, a power the ring gave him. He listened for thoughts of death eaters every moment. He knew he could reach Dumbledore this way as well, but he'd rather not show this trick till it was needed. Besides, Dumbledore had a way of knowing when something would happen. The one thing not on his mind was worrying about Sam. He had taken her to Grimmauld Place last night as a safety precaution.

The day seemed to drag on. No thoughts of violence were coming to Harry. He was beginning to think his plan had failed. At lunch everyone was found in the Three Broomsticks eating and talking somberly. Harry noticed Order members gathered in the pub as well. He wasn't even paying attention till he heard it.

"We have to capture as many as we can. The Dark Lord requires more servants!"

"Harry Potter?"

"He is to be taken dead or alive. Whichever seems most safe for us."

Harry quickly stood and had his wands in his hands instantly. Walking out the door he stood in the middle of the street, waiting for them to arrive. He knew he needed a trick up his sleeve and then he thought of one.

Serena, tell everyone not to leave the pub till I send my first spells, then start a full attack. Tell them to be careful, I feel hundreds of them coming.

Be careful.

I'm not dying today.

Harry pulled all his arrogance into his stance, eyes, and smile now. He knew he would need a way to unnerve this many death eaters to keep everyone in the town alive. Whispering to the ring for help, he saw it glow red, green, and blue. He nodded. He was going to need all the cunning, courage, and intelligence he could get. His mind began running through all possible outcomes as he saw them approach. His smile returned instantly as he saw them. His plan was in motion.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?" Harry said lazily. "Practice?"

"Harry Potter!" A familiar voice said.

"Hello, Wormtail. I have a special present for you. It comes from my mum, dad, and Sirius. I just know you will love it." Harry said easily.

Hundreds of spells flew at Harry, who had his shield up before the first spell was finished. He waved his wand once, using his other wand to send an explosion towards ten death eaters. This was the cue for action. They would not be escaping now and Harry wanted it this way. Harry moved himself behind Wormtail and smiled.

"Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Petrificus Totalus!" Harry shouted quickly before moving again.

He stood in front of Serena, Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Neville. Nodding quickly they split into three groups, Ron and Harry, Ginny and Neville, Serena and Hermione. Harry teamed them up this way so one member from each group could call shields wandlessly. Harry nodded again and his silent order was followed instantly.

Harry and Ron set out straight for the middle of the swarm of death eaters. Harry moved them into the center, and with shields covering them they began sending spells outwardly towards death eaters. Watching their spells expertly, they only hit their targets who were too busy facing what seemed an angry mob of students, teachers, Order members, aurors, and even townspeople.

Serena and Hermione came on one side of this army of men, half of the DA following behind them. They began attacking on the left side of them, knowingly watching for Harry and Ron in the center. Their spells were being sent quickly making sure that they could finish this quickly. They only hoped that innocent people would stay away from this fight. This was before they saw the mob of townspeople, wands drawn sending spells to the back of the group of death eaters.

Dumbledore, Kingsley, and Remus led the aurors to the right of the death eaters, leaving the rest in front. They began attacking swiftly, the aurors moving deftly, Kingsley sending spells in fury, Remus using all the speed and strength that his werewolf blood had given him, and Dumbledore moving with grace and speed while easily out-maneuvering the death eaters with spells of his own every time a spell was sent to him.

Ginny and Neville began attacking with all the power Harry had given them. Using both wands, wandless magic, and any other strength they might have, they were casting spells with dangerous results. The DA beside them were doing much the same, only to a lesser degree. Their spells seemed to have improved greatly over the past two months. Ginny felt a moment of pride that she had helped teach these people such things.

The battle raged on for quite some time. Though everyone with Harry was well taught, he was correct in seeing that there were hundreds against them. It seemed they were being hit by a wave of spells all the time. Harry and Ron looked like the eye of the storm, however they had yet to be seen by anyone since this battle started.

Harry started to loose his patience. Putting his wands away he began hissing spells and throwing spells no one had ever seen before. One summoned snakes to attack his enemies, one gave him a boost in his power which shocked even him, and the last shocked him most of all. The sword of Gryffindor appeared in his hands. He did not know the spells effects only that they would harm enemies. Seeing the Gryffindor sword he smiled again. His ring now glowing only green and red, he began attacking death eaters with the sword. Gone from him was the feeling of being overwhelmed, now he was overwhelming. He was shocked once more when he hissed a spell and a burst of light shot from the sword, searing everyone it touched.

Serena and Hermione were shooting spells through enemies furiously, and lethally. They didn't care about laws and rules anymore. They were worried about Ron and Harry. They began hitting death eaters with spells they knew would be deadly, but they no longer cared. They were going to end this battle quickly or die trying. Serena quickly cursed twenty death eaters, causing them to attack their allies, cursing ten more with the insanity spell of Harry's. Hermione was attacking with the most violent spell she remembered. She kept waving her wand at people in the sharp motion used on her in the department of Mysteries. Both began making instant progress through the wave of death eaters coming towards them, as their eyes gleamed with rage.

Ginny and Neville seemed to feel the anger build in Hermione and Serena, and only increased their attacks. Using spells they had learned from Harry and Dumbledore, explosions and fires could be seen erupting from their side of the death eaters. They told the DA members to attack with any force, causing wave after wave of deadly and vicious spells. No one noticed that the eyes of the two Marauders now glowed with a fire behind them that was only matched by Harry's.

Ron watched Harry, amazed at the anger building in him. He knew that Harry was angry enough to kill, and he felt the same anger build in him. Quickly, spells he never knew before flew from his lips. Spells that his mind told him would maim, cripple, and kill were coming from him with a force no one would recognize. He only had one thought enter his mind through this time. We have to keep everyone safe.

Dumbledore felt something that he had never experienced before. Watching the battle, he felt an enormous swell of magic build. It seemed as if someone was sucking the magic from the air, though he could not find the purpose for it. He knew instinctively that it was Harry when the army that once faced them turned quickly and began charging inward. With a quick look at Remus and Kingsley he rushed behind the death eaters, attacking as many as he could with Remus and Kingsley following quickly to do the same.

Harry felt magic willing itself into him, and saw what was happening. His friends, the people he loved, were fighting a war that would leave them changed forever. This caused his anger to flare up worse than it ever had. He no longer bore a smile of arrogance but a look of pure hatred. He held the sword in his hands tightly and whispered his spell to it. Fire began to dance around the blade. Harry then began attacking death eaters with a fury that would rival their lords. In what seemed like seconds Harry stood with bodies sprawled around him. He sent the sword away, feeling it wasn't quick enough. He felt spells enter his mind he knew he could use. Spells in Parseltongue, and at the same time he knew these were the spells Slytherin used in his time to save the people he loved as well. No longer even bothering with wands, his fury exploded in every spell.

Serena no longer thinking began sending spells in anger, making them much stronger than they should have been. Listening to her spells to find out what they were, she heard herself hissing as Harry did when talking to snakes or his ring. Not caring what was happening she continued the assault, seeing that they had left as many bodies behind as they had in front of them. She saw the DA starring at her in awe and shouted for them to keep fighting. Shocking them from their stupor they jumped into battle again.

Hermione had noticed the hissing but paid no attention, thinking that meant she was close to Harry and Ron. Had she listened she would have found it was her voice that was hissing with every spell. She felt Serena thinking the same thing, and continued to fight harder. She would not let any thought enter her mind other than getting to Ron, and seeing him safe again. This made her smile again, even as her anger burst when she saw that the people in front of her were trying to keep her from him.

Ginny and Neville were no longer thinking at all. Every spell seemed to come from a place neither of them knew of, and neither cared to examine it. With the spells they were using this army of death eaters were dropping in tens with every spell. Ginny quickly looked at the DA to notice them moving quickly and more determined then she had ever seen them. Smiling, she grew proud again. Then she felt the anger swell in her again, as she stumbled on the thought that the death eaters were trying to keep her from her friends. She looked at Neville and saw the same thought form in his mind. This fueled their powers even more and both set to work.

Dumbledore looked down as he stepped on something soft. He noticed a body which was slashed and burnt. His eyes widened as he realized that they were now passing into the area where Harry had his assault. Spells were still flying from every direction but he began to notice that screams were heard coming from the direction of the largest mass of death eaters, which was the back of the army, who now seemed to contest not only with townspeople but everyone besides the group of men trying to catch up to the death eaters who kept attempting to flee.

Harry and Ron stood close again as they began sending spells at death eaters in a speed even they didn't recognize. Harry realized Ron was speaking Parseltongue but chose to worry about that later. They had more important things to worry about now. These people were keeping them from those they loved, their future wives, their friends, their families. Love and Anger twisted into an emotion Harry had never felt before, but it was this emotion that was giving him the strength he needed to keep going. He looked into Ron's mind to see the same thoughts as his, and this only increased his urge to win.

Hermione and Serena began to hear other voices hissing as they moved through the crowd of death eaters. Forcing a line to open they ran into the center to stand beside Harry and Ron. They left the DA to make sure none ran, knowing with Dumbledore's side, Ginny's side, the DA and townspeople none of these would escape. Now the four stood in the center of this storm of death eaters, showing a violence like none have ever seen. It seemed hundreds fell in a matter of moments.

Ginny and Neville stormed through death eaters as they heard those four familiar voices. Reaching their friends, no one spoke. They all moved into a circular form, and then spells in Parseltongue erupted from their voices again. No death eater save one would come out alive. This was their unspoken, un-thought vow to each other. They would pay for trying to hurt those they loved. Voldemort would pay for trying to start this war.

Dumbledore, Remus, and Kingsley, followed shortly by the aurors found the circle of death eaters shortly after all six of the Marauders stood together. They had seen the destruction in the wake of those six, and they were terrified of what was happening. Dumbledore spotted a DA member who told them they were ordered to keep the death eaters from escaping. Dumbledore nodded and set back to work on trying to stop as many death eaters as he could, and attempt to help the six children in any way he could.

Harry noticed the death eaters ranks dropping quickly, the spells were no longer coming in the mass that they were earlier. Harry thought for a spell that could finish this easily. Finding it he thought it to the other five, who only prepared themselves with the same spell. All of them smiled as the thought of victory approached them and they knew this day would be remembered as the strongest message to Voldemort anyone ever gave.

Dumbledore had sent another stunning curse as he suddenly felt the magic drain towards the center of the circle again. Then a awesome light exploded from the center, followed by the sound of an explosion that could kill from vibrations alone. When he could see again he saw that none stood standing in the circle except the six who stood in the middle. Seeing them at this moment, Dumbledore's eyes widened. he could almost see the magic pour into them. He noticed that Slytherins ring had a flashing glow, changing from green to red, then quickly faded back to its black color. He told himself to ask Harry about the ring when the time was right.

Remus stood shocked to see the children looking as they did. They all appeared to be glowing a bright gold, as if a light had been turned on in them, causing them to light up. None of them smiled, which scared Remus more than the battle that had just taken place. In place of their normally happy or arrogant expressions was one of grave knowledge that the battle was over, but they did not know the cost.

Harry looked at his friends and knew he bore the same expression. The seriousness of battle had hit them in that instant. No one could fight a war and not be a killer. They all realized this now more than ever. Suddenly the anger rushed from each of them, as well as all knowledge of the spells they cast. Harry looked at Dumbledore solemnly.

"Is everyone safe?" Harry asked, sounding as if he barely had the strength to continue.

"I do not know of the townspeople, but the DA, the Order, and the aurors are all well." Dumbledore said.

"Wormtail is in the middle of the field probably fifty rows in. He's alive." Harry said.

"I will see to it that he suffers for his crimes." Dumbledore said.

"Thanks." Harry said. Then all six of the Marauders fell to the ground, unconscious.