Chapter Fifteen

Dumbledore's Finale

Nobody like the news that Dumbledore was going to die, no matter what the necessity. Dumbledore and Harry spoke in private at length until they found a suitable way for this to happen. Neither seemed too happy about this. When everything was set, they both agreed that it was the only thing to do.

They planned no ball for valentine's day, as the news that hit the school left everyone in no mood for such an event. It seemed that Death Eaters had been attacking places that seemed of strong importance to the wizarding world. In order to protect the school, Dumbledore announced that he would be placing stronger wards on the school to prevent anyone who wasn't a student, teacher, or the Minister of Magic himself from entering.

Harry nodded his approval of this, and watched as the Slytherins around Malfoy began whispering in harsh tones to him. Malfoy started glaring at Dumbledore angrily, whispering furiously to his friends. Harry sighed as his held fell and his eyes closed. He knew it was coming, and he could do nothing. Dumbledore was going to die today, killed by his own students.

Dumbledore was making sure all his preparations were in order. He knew things were going to change this day. He would be leaving the school defenseless except for the wards he was placing on the school. He found himself almost preparing to fight these children when they decided to come for him. He had always looked at death as just another adventure, but he found that he did not yet feel ready for that adventure yet.

He trusted in Harry's wisdom however. He knew that the boy didn't want him to die, let alone die in such a way, but that this was necessary for the world. It came to him that the choice was of one life for hundreds, and he would not leave the lives of others in danger if he could help it.

Sighing his final sigh, Dumbledore made his way outside of the castle. He stood out there smiling as he looked over the grounds for the last time, then made his way to the perfect spot for the spells he was about to cast. Finding the spot easily he began to concentrate all his energy into his spells, not knowing how this was going to work.

Just as he started to cast his first spell he was interrupted by three children snickering. Turning around he saw the children he had known since they were eleven years old. His heart ached as he saw Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle with their wands aimed at him. He frowned as his head dropped.

"What is it that your master has commanded of you?" Dumbledore asked.

"He wants into this school, and we cannot let you stop him." Draco said, his voice venomous. "I'm going to enjoy this a bit more than my master expected, though. Just the thought of what it's going to do to Potter is almost enough to make up for the fact that my parents are dead."

"Is this what it has come to, Tom?" Dumbledore asked to the ground. "Using children to fight your battles. What has happened to you?"

"Are you ready for the end then, old man?" Draco asked.

"Death is not the end, child." Dumbledore answered. "It is but the next adventure, the next step a person takes. I am always ready for a new adventure."

"Than meet your adventure, old man!" Draco said violently. "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry could feel his heart break as the old man fell to the ground. He wished it did not have to be this way, but he knew this was something he could not stop. Dumbledore had to die in order to stop Voldemort from keeping his forces as large as they were. Dumbledore would be in his thoughts, his memory would be behind Harry's every action. But now he had to move carefully, as so much depended on what happened next.

The next week passed slowly for Harry. The six prepared for Hermione and Ron's wedding, after everyone said that Dumbledore would not want his death to be dealt with by postponing life. None of them looked happy on the day of the wedding however, not even Ron and Hermione. Everyone knew Dumbledore was supposed to be there to wed them, but instead McGonagall was there. She had taken over as the Headmaster in every way, including offering her help at the wedding.

The next week moved even more slowly. Harry was on guard constantly as he prepared for what he knew was coming. The next fight would be hard without Dumbledore's help, but that was beside the point to Harry. He would not let Dumbledore's death be in vain. He would show the Death Eaters what happened to those who chose to attack the school he called home. He would show them what would happen if Dumbledore were still here.

The DA began practicing constantly, doing homework and eating in the training room as well. They only seemed to leave during classes and for a shower and clothes. They were advancing at a rate close to what the Marauders had over the last year. Remus, McGonagall, and Flitwick often stayed in the training room with them, teaching other spells they would all need to know. Some Harry knew but wasn't sure if he should teach, and some even he had not seen.

Harry's anger was being unleashed on Malfoy is a very dangerous way. His pranks no longer held the air of being funny, but completely mean, and rather vicious. He locked Malfoy in a room with a pack of angry wolves, which caused people a great deal of shock. Especially when McGonagall only said he had no witnesses that proved it was Harry.

One day, after remembering a cartoon he had seen while Dudley was watching the telly when he was younger, he began to make sure that Malfoy stayed on his toes creating anvils and having them fall from the air directly where Malfoy was standing or walking. He became so afraid after this that he locked himself in his dorm for the rest of the day, which didn't help as Harry would move in, send an anvil or twelve flying, and move right back out.

For the most part the only change in the Marauders was their increased withdraw from anyone but the six of them. They all had a look of sorrow and pain in their eyes, though none of them spoke about it. Remus was worried that they had all taken Harry's stance on things like this, and were blaming themselves for what had happened. Remus knew why Harry blamed himself, and could understand even though he didn't blame Harry himself. He knew Harry had the power to save Dumbledore, but that he let him die to stop Voldemort. He also knew it was Dumbledore's decision to let this happen, and knew that Dumbledore could have saved himself if he had wished it.

After a month of life moving in this fashion, everyone began growing restless. It was now March and soon NEWTS would come, which was not a worry for the six Marauders, who were at the top of all their classes. There was only one thing that mattered to them, and that was ending the war.

They were finally seen outside of class halfway through March, when they all decided to have lunch in the great hall. They still refused to talk outside their group, most times they were not talking at all. They used their necklaces more and more since Dumbledore had died. No one spoke to them, acknowledging that they didn't want to talk. Harry looked up from his food to notice that half of the Slytherins were missing.

He knew what was going to happen just seconds before it did. An explosion of noise rang through the air causing many of the students to jump. Harry stood quickly and ran to the front of the room. He nodded at McGonagall who rushed off. Remus, Flitwick, Sprout, and Hagrid all raised in unison and nodded at Harry. Harry quickly turned to the students.

"QUIET!" Harry shouted. "We have ten minutes before the attack comes. DA, this is what we have been training for, so get ready for it. I want ten groups formed among the fourth through seventh year DA members in front of me now!" He said, and quickly ten groups stood in front of him. "Follow one of the Marauders or teachers when we move. The rest of you in the DA, I want you to get everyone back to their common rooms now, and protect them at all costs. Slytherins, Snape will protect you."

Harry moved quickly. Knowing his friends had their own teams to lead, he didn't wait for them but moved his team to the battle. He smiled quickly as he knew what this meant. It was time for Dumbledore's final spell to come into effect soon. Harry also knew this was the time when the biggest surprise in his plan would happen. Moving to the place he and Dumbledore had discussed for a strong stand against the Death Eaters he saw it begin. Dumbledore's finale, as Dumbledore termed it, had finally begun.