Chapter Sixteen

Losses Of War

Harry saw the explosions coming from all around the Death Eaters, causing Harry's smile to broaden. The smile was short lived as he began getting everyone prepared for the upcoming battle. He handed out two potions to every student standing there, telling them to drink quickly. He nodded as they did as he said and moved them forward, as he saw Serena's group coming up behind him. Harry's group was the first wave to enter the battle, just as it was planned.

Aurors began to appear behind the army just as Harry cast his anti apparition spell on the Death Eaters. Kingsley ordered the aurors to attack before joining in the battle from the back of this army before him. He could do nothing else but hope the children would be all right. Thinking of what happened to Dumbledore, he went into the battle preparing to avenge the death of his friend.

Serena's group was moving in to the side of Harry's. Already the battle was moving quicker then they had expected. She wasted no time in sending her spells out and watched as the Death Eaters fell. She told her group to attack to capture before losing herself in the battle. Before she knew what was happening she saw that her group was being surrounded, and ordered everyone to use whatever spells were necessary.

Ron's group quickly fell, leaving Ron alone in the battle. None were dead but he knew they would need attention soon. He cursed at the fact that they hadn't evened out the groups before starting, but knew they didn't have time. This changed his attitude entirely as he felt a shield form around him, and his spells began flying faster than they were seconds before.

Hermione was standing strong with her group. Seeing what happened to Serena and Ron, she mentally nudged Ginny to help Serena before running out to help Ron herself. Both knowing this meant Neville's group would be alone on the other side of Harry, they could only hope he would be alright.

Ginny attacked viciously, as did the rest of her group. They all knew what was at stake in this battle and no one wanted the school to fall. Explosions and fire burst across the line of Death Eaters as the spells hit their targets. Cutting curses were causing blood to flow more freely than it should, showing the anger and emotions put into these spells. None of Ginny's group showed any sign of slowing as they moved deeper into the battle.

Neville's group was slowing at times, but Neville would only encourage them to fight harder. With every one student that slowed, he would send spells to fend off the Death Eaters closing in on them, making the students fight harder. His own face would be unrecognizable to his friends, now grim and full of rage. Thinking not only of Dumbledore, but also of his parents, his anger raged on and he attacked even stronger than before. Explosive spells were hitting Death Eaters and not the ground as they were supposed to, but he didn't care. This was not going to be his last battle. He was going to win this fight and then help Harry end this bloody war, for his parents as well as Dumbledore.

Harry couldn't take the chance to check on his team, as he seemed to be the person the Death Eaters were focusing on. He pulled all of his anger of the passed month into his spells, causing vicious attacks from the most gentle spells. Stunning spells were throwing people through the air, disarming charms were obliterating wands and often times the hands that held them. He had no cares about this anymore. They had taken a friend, a mentor, and a wonderful man from Harry, and now they were going to pay.

Summoning Gryffindor's sword, he lashed out at the Death Eaters, thrusting his sword into some, slicing gaping wounds in others. He moved with a style and grace that he knew came only from the knowledge of Gryffindor. He didn't care about this either, it was only helping him. He didn't even notice the emerald and now crimson colors shining from the two rings, only knew that it was coming. Soon the spells would fly from him and the aftermath would be horrible. He only had one thought that carried him through the battle: revenge.

Serena saw no way out of this situation. Most of her team had fallen now, even with the help of Ginny. She couldn't see her yet but knew she was there. Serena could only fight as hard as she knew how. The odds seemed insurmountable to her, but feeling Harry's rage boil over, she felt the anger form in her too. Thinking of all the people that would die if they lost as well as those who gave their lives for this war she began to fight with renewed energy.

The spells came from her like wildfire. She knew that again she was speaking Parseltongue, but didn't dwell on this fact. She didn't even care that she seemed to see things differently, as if there were a haze between her and everyone else. Her mind knew what was happening, and that was enough for her. Her spells were violent, angry, and filled with more power than anyone should have used for them. Violent wounds appeared on her enemies that seemed to want them to bleed to death. Blood flooded the ground, and she knew she was breaking every oath she took as an auror. That didn't bother her now. She was fighting a war with people who would do the same to her if they could, but she was worried as she began to feel the power sinking out of her. She knew what would happen soon. She was not as strong as Harry, and if she kept up the fight at this pace, she would soon pass out or die.

Hermione had managed to get Ron out of a large group of Death Eaters he was fighting alone. Splitting her group they took their own paths again. Hermione could feel her own anger rising as she felt Harry's. She knew this meant the battle would only be worse soon, but she felt the same need for revenge that Harry did. She knew these bastards had to be stopped. They would kill everyone in the school if they weren't stopped. This thought fueled her strength and raised her spells damage as she heard an unfamiliar voice in her mind.

Heir of Ravenclaw, claim you weapon.

Suddenly she heard herself hissing, as she had in the last battle. This time however, a bow appeared in her hands. She felt the knowledge of how to use the bow fly through her mind and began to use it expertly. It seemed the bow fired magic instead of arrows, and she knew how to manipulate the magic around her. Shots were fired with deadly accuracy, and the increased power in her spells was even more terrifying. She paid no attention as the air around her shield became thick, and her eyes glowed with an unnatural light. Ending this battle and having everyone safe was all that was important.

The anger burst into Ginny like a lightning bolt. At that moment the enemy felt the change. It looked as if blue lightning bolts flew inside her shield, begging to be let out. As her eyes glowed to a bright blue, leaving only the pupil visible, she felt the power well up inside her. She pointed her wands without even saying spells, and a rainbow of different colored sparks flew from them. The damage they did was immeasurable.

She shielded her group quickly then continued with the barrage of spells. Spells she couldn't even find names for flew from her wands with a force she had never seen. Some caused so much damage it looked as if holes were punched through the Death Eaters. She didn't let up once. She kept have the same thoughts play through her mind. They will kill everyone, they killed Dumbledore, because of them Sirius is dead, because of Voldemort Harry can't live a normal life, they must not win. She was still sending the vicious spells when she heard a mans voice shout.

Ron never expected to feel power like this. He could feel power and magic flooding into him. His eyes shined a gold color, as did the shield that that stayed around him. He didn't know what to make of it, but knew it was only helping him. He began to let his emotions free, and felt his mouth form the snake like words easily. He knew Harry's power was flowing in him now, and he wasn't going to let it go to waste.

He practically threw the spells from his hands, and watched as they hit their targets regardless of whether they moved or not. The anger flowed through him when he thought of his friends fighting in this battle, and knew that the Death Eaters could not be allowed to win. As the anger flowed he felt the power only increasing with every spell. The only thing that stopped him was when he heard a man's voice.

Neville's anger had doubled quickly, then tripled as Harry's anger flowed into his mind as well. Thoughts of all those dead or hurt because of this war was enough to make anyone angry, even him. He felt the shield around him grow even stronger as the snake language began to escape his lips.

He quickly cast a spell for renewed energy over his team before continuing his fight. He was sending only the spells the snake language in his mind gave him. These spells were not the kind taught in any school, regardless of speaking the language or not. These spells were of a group so deadly most would cower in fear at thinking of them. These spells ripped arms and legs from bodies, and left many more in a condition that would beg for that treatment. He didn't stop, didn't blink, didn't even care of the damage he was doing until he heard that familiar voice shout from behind them.

"It appears we need to help the children!" Dumbledore shouted to the Order members near him. "Attack strong! They are here to destroy the school and those in it!"

Harry turned around and smiled. He knew the old man wouldn't let him down. This thought was fleeting however, as his anger was still rising to its peak, and thoughts of his mother and father dying because of the Death Eaters' master. The sword in his hands glowed white, as his eyes did the same, sparing nothing in his eyes from the white shine that had taken his eyes. A storm exploded inside his shield. Harry had finally found total control of his power.

Holding the sword in his right hand, he violently moved the left straight ahead. Bolts of lightning that were once held in his shield streaked through the ocean of Death Eaters in front of him. He could smell the burning flesh but paid it no mind. His eyes began to show him things as if everything slowed to a crawl. His began jumping through space moving constantly. His spells moved quickly and his sword motions were fierce. Dumbledore's arrival had only pushed him to the final step of this power, and now he was going to use it well.

Serena began to weaken as the shield blazed a tremendous orange. She was no longer in control of the magic in her, and it was weakening her with every spell. She kept using the spell to give her more strength but it had long since lost its effect on her. The Death Eaters noticed and began to surround her closely.

She tried to use her last bit of strength to use the spell they had in the last battle, but she didn't have that much power in her. As her shield went down, the Death Eaters grabbed her. As she tried to struggle to free herself, the ring Harry had given her on his birthday fell to the ground. She gave one last attempt to bring herself the power she needed, but could only call out the name of the one person who could save her as she was port keyed away from battle by the Death Eaters.

Harry! Help!

Harry heard the voice, but could not follow it. It was like Serena disappeared as soon as she called to him. He knew then she had been taken. This forced Harry into an anger beyond any he had felt before. Throwing the sword into the chest of a nearby Death Eater, he no longer even thought of spells and charms, didn't even raise his hands.

He felt the anger overcome him and he walked to the last place Serena was before she disappeared. As he moved, the Death Eaters burst to flames, were charred to ash by the electricity the lightning in his shield held, or developed wounds so horrible they died almost instantly. Harry paid attention to none of this until he reached the spot where the ring lay on the ground. He picked it up and a tear fell from his eyes.

Something changed in him in that moment. His eyes that were once white, were now as black as night. The lightning inside his shield died away instantly, replaced by what looked like the worst storm imaginable. Two swords appeared in his hands now, and he knew who they belonged to.

These were the swords of Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor.

Hermione was firing her spells from the bow with amazing speed and power. She was fighting hard, but she was beginning to worry. It seemed that the Death Eaters wouldn't stop coming. She saw bodies everywhere, but no end to the countless more coming. The more her fear grew, the quicker the magic she had felt before drained from her.

She felt the last of the power flow from her with her last spell. With her down, her group shortly followed no longer having her to keep them from the attacks of the spells. The Death Eaters grabbed her and pulled out a portkey as they heard the screams coming from nearby.

Ron felt Hermione fall, but couldn't get Harry to listen to him. It seemed as if Harry's mind had shut down. Ron ran to where he felt Hermione was, using any spell that came from his mouth as he made his way there. His only thought was whether Hermione was okay or not. Not one Death Eater between him and where his wife had to be lasted more than a second. When he arrived where she was, he found her group all laying about, but no sign of her. In a wave of confusion he screamed a spell so powerful it sent a shock through the battle, including the people the spell didn't affect.

Ginny felt the shock and knew something was wrong. She couldn't find out however, as she was fighting with so many it seemed to have no hope. When she heard the thought that Hermione was gone, a tear fell from her eyes and the spells she used now were meant not only to kill, but to make sure every Death Eater facing her felt the wrath she now had inside her.

Neville began his explosive attack even more violently as he heard that Hermione was missing. A good friend of his was now gone, and those fighting him were responsible. Explosions, fire, lightning, and spells of deadly intent were fired upon the Death Eaters now. He began to slow as he noticed the battle was drawing to an end. After the hours of intense battle he saw Ron and Ginny making their way to the last mass of Death Eaters. He ran there as well, knowing that Harry was in the center of them.

Harry no longer thought, no longer felt. His mind could not take anymore pain. So many died, so many gone, and now his own wife had been spirited away because he couldn't protect her. He no longer used any magic save his shield. His swords moved with lightning speed. He thrust his sword into any part on an enemy that would kill them and moved to attack the next one before that one had even fallen.

He felt that if his wife was to be killed, then none of those who faced him today would leave here alive. Sweeping Slytherins sword in a wide, sweeping ark, he saw the blood fall from many. Knowing they would die quickly, he paid them no mind and continued his assault. When the last was dead and he saw his friends standing before him, he knew the battle was over. It was only then that he spoke the words that had been repeating in his mind since he found the ring.

"Serena's gone. They took her." He said emotionlessly. His shield was now down, but his eyes maintained the blackness that had been held in them since that moment.

Dumbledore looked at Harry as he spoke the words, but his shock at seeing him like this was too much for him. Harry was covered completely in blood, and the swords seemed to have been the instruments that caused him to be so. His eyes were black, and nothing of his manner betrayed any emotion at all. It seemed as if the boy had not shut down, but shut off completely.

"Hermione's gone too, Harry." Ron said, tears flooding into his eyes as he spoke. "We have to save them, Harry. We can't let them..."

"We will, Ron." Harry said, his voice still not betraying any emotion. "I will travel into the depths of hell itself and kill every one of these sorry imitations of life before I let them hurt Serena and Hermione."

Harry walked away from them all, heading to the castle quickly. He walked in without looking at anyone, though he knew that the eyes of the DA were on him. He walked quickly to the Slytherins dorm. As he approached the painting hiding it, it exploded and he continued never breaking his stride.

He saw Snape, and no longer cared what he would do but ripped through his mind, allowing the cold fury that was unable to escape him to destroy memories, thoughts, and precious moments inside the man's mind. As he howled in pain Harry found his secret and nodded to himself. He continued to walk through the Slytherins dorm walking directly to the seventh year boy's room. The door here exploded as well. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, and Zabini looked up in surprise. Seeing Harry, their surprise quickly turned to fear and they drew their wands.

Harry didn't even move, but the wands burst into flames quickly. Harry looked at Zabini, and he screamed in pain as the Dark Mark cut itself into his forehead. Looking at the others in turn, the same thing happened to them. Then Harry moved his head slightly, and Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, and Zabini flew across the room quickly, and more than a few distinct cracks and crunches could be heard. Still, Harry made no sign of stopping. He walked up to Malfoy, who had backed himself into a corner. Throwing both swords expertly, they stuck in the wall, millimeters from Malfoy's neck. Harry spoke in a voice that was filled with an emptiness that caused more fear in Malfoy than any voice ever had when angry.

"You will tell me everything I want to know and live. If you don't, I will kill you slowly, so that you will have the chance to scream and reconsider before you die. The choice is yours."