Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): Really, you guys pick the oddest things to comment about in your reviews.

Chapter 22

The Courage of Gryffindor

Harry rolled out of the Ministry fireplace into a firestorm of spells. The noise was deafening, the colors blinding and the smoke instantly began to sting his eyes. Instinctively crouching he turned to his left and raised the strongest shield he could. It turned out to be not a second too soon as several spells ricocheted off of it. A heartbeat later Ron and Hermione appeared behind him, also crouching nearby, adding their shields to his. Harry had only a moment to scan the hall amid the smoke and fire. Five of the six Aurors that had rushed past him in McGonagall's office now lay crumpled and dead nearby having only made it a few feet from the fire. Those that followed had managed to fight on but were now pinned down either taking cover near fireplaces or crouched behind the slowly disintegrating figures in the fountain.

Alex, Sarah and Matt had joined the couple Aurors that managed to reach the fountain and were also fending off multiple attacks. There may have been only four guards half an hour ago, but more had apparently arrived. Using the smoke for as much cover as he could and staying close together so the interwoven shield would cover them all, the trio moved in a crouched run straight for the fountain. More spells tracked toward them and they dodged this way and that as they made what felt like a mile long run. Once Alex had realized they were coming he and his friends had begun launching covering fire.

After what seemed and eternity though the raging battle they finally crouched down behind the professor. He turned to them and Harry was surprised and a little disturbed to see a smile on his face and more life in his eyes than he ever remembered. "Good, you made it. Nice speech back there Mr. Potter." He dodged a Killing Curse absentmindedly. It crossed the hall and took a good chunk out of a fireplace, barely missing a young male Auror. "Weasley, tactical analysis?" Harry glanced over to see Ron's face get the same glazed look it had in his bedroom several months back.

"Can't stay here. The rest of the DA is coming and there's no cover left. We have to get that door way open!" He raised his arm to block an elf ear as it was blasted off the statue. The professor nodded in agreement.

"Excellent. We'll go first, you three follow behind. If we fall, finish the job. We can't stay here." Before Harry could respond he glanced at his friends, tapped a fist with each and turned to the door across the fountain. "Go!"

Time seemed to slow down even more than the run from the fireplace as all three became a flurry of motion. The same eyes that let his see the snitch and the senses that let him be Seeker now kicked into overdrive and showed him everything at once. Matt to the right and Sarah to the left, ran around the fountain alternating shield and spell in a lethal attack toward the doorway. Keystone, on the other hand, placed a foot on the fountain's edge and launched forward. A second step on the wizard's crumbling shoulder launched him clear over the structure, his knees coming up as he drew sword and wand. Stretching out of the jump he rolled to his feet between and ahead of his friends, launching his own devastating barrage.

The three began to advance, Keystone at their center. Every other step he took spun him half way around as his wand emitted a never ending onslaught of spells, each more powerful than the last and his sword was a blur of silver that slapped away everything that came his way. The majority of the Death Eater spells were now being aimed at him and Harry realized suddenly that he was starting to be overwhelmed. He could feel the others rise with him and dash around the fountain. Harry rounded to the right and the others to the left. Lining up so they had clear lines of sight between the professional duelists to the door, they began launching spells of their own. With the added spell power Keystone was again able to advance.

Between the destruction to the sides of the doorway from the fighting and the angles Sarah and Matt were getting to, they managed to clearly target the Death Eaters. Two fell almost immediately, thrown back by something orange and nasty looking. Instead of targeting them, Harry began targeting the top of the archway. Ron and Hermione quickly followed suit. With the rain of shrapnel falling from above, the Death Eaters were forced to fall back just long enough for Keystone to close the last few meters at a dash. Silver flashed in a wide arc and Harry cringed at the wet and slightly singing sound he knew must be steel on flesh and bone. The horrible cries and flash of red rain that fell on the far side of the opening a second later confirmed it.

Two more quick flashes and the professor turned to wave them in. The trio complied as did the Aurors that had survived so far. They stopped near Keystone, each gulping slightly at the blood slicked blade dripping to his side. The Aurors merely checked to make sure the Death eaters were completely subdued before rushing off to various floors on the gold grilled elevators. The professor still had the same creepy look on his face, as did his friends. "Excellent work. Now…where to?" Harry glanced around as Ginny's squad ran up, each looking slightly nauseas at the bloody corpses and the silver red blade.

He considered his choices and found only two. The Minister and Percy were on the first floor…but so was Voldemort. Arthur and the Aurors were pinned on the second. Glancing at Ron and then longer at Ginny, he spoke. "Second floor. We can get reinforcements there, whatever Aurors are left."

"Right. I'll go with you. You two, help the students."

"On it." Matt held out his fist again and the others tapped it with their own. "Fly together…"

"Die together." The others responded in unison. "Let's go." Matt and Sarah headed back though the doorway to meet the other arriving students. Ginny watched them go and turned back to Harry.

"I told the others what to do; two squads to guard the fireplaces, three for the stairs and the other five to sweep the floors one by one." Even Ron looked impressed at her planning. Harry smiled.

"Nice. We'll start at the top. Come on!" Leading them to an elevator, he was the next to last in followed by Keystone. As the gate clanged shut the rattling chains began and the steel death trap slowly rose closer to street level. Harry glanced around to see the same look of focus on each. Most also showed a hint of panic. Those he had fought with before, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, each looked fairly controlled while it was closer to the surface on the others. Harry turned back to the front to find the professor wiping off his blade with a piece of black cloak before tossing it to the ground.

"You're doing well so far. Now comes the hard part." Harry barely had time to consider that before the lift slowed to a halt and the gate opened. Following the Professor's lead, they crouched low and silently snuck into the offices. They hardly needed to try though as the floor was a war zone. Even louder in the confined space and more violent with the larger number of combatants, Harry struggled to hear anything.

Apparently they had gone unnoticed as they reached the first line of half walls, the glass that made up the top long since shattered or melted away. Glancing over the top Harry could just see through the smoke to a large group of Death Eaters, at least twenty, behind cover and firing a ceaseless stream of spells further into the room. He felt a grip on his arm and turned to see Ginny staring at him, fear in her eyes. He didn't know if the unshed tears were for her brother, father or from the acrid smoke filling the room. He placed his free hand on her shoulder and tried his best to sound certain.

"We'll get them out of here." She nodded slowly and looked back over the wall. Though she seemed reassured, he could feel time ticking away. If Arthur was trapped back there, then every second could be his last. Feeling his drive to protect the man that thought of him as a son, he focused everything he could into his wand. He would get there in time, no matter what.

"Okay class, with everything you have in three…two…one…" All nine rose as one, pointed at the line of Death Eaters and launched a furious assault. Focusing all his drive into one attack, Harry had to flinch away from the explosive blue bolt that launched from his wand and blasted half a dozen figures into the wall by itself. As they flew past the rest had figured out someone was behind them and turned to attack. This left them vulnerable to the sudden wave of attacks from the pinned Aurors and more fell, this time never to move again. Within seconds the two sided assault dropped all the black cloaked figures where they stood. Ceasing their own barrage they only had to wait a moment for the remaining Aurors on the far side to appear from the smoke and flames.

There were only nine that appeared looking beaten and broken. Every cloak was singed and every face worn. Here and there an arm or leg was hanging loose or gone completely and two of them were holding up an older man who was still twitching from what appeared to be the after effects of the Cruciatus. They stumbled slowly toward their rescuers, one slowly pointing at Harry. Her hand rose slowly, awe spreading over her face.

"You…you're Harry Potter. Thank Merlin."

"Yes I am. Are there any others?"

She seemed too awestruck to respond. Harry jumped, as did the rest of the students as couple of the beaten and haggard Aurors pointed wands at the stunned Death Eaters and launched killing curses. Before they could move the entire lot had been hit at least once. Keystone shook his head at their actions.

"Vengeance belongs to the dead. Those deeds will haunt these Aurors from recovery until they die. No reinforcements here. Listen up! The path to the lobby is clear. Get out of here and head for Hogwarts, Defense Against Dark Arts office. Go!" They were shocked out of their stupor and scrambled toward the elevators. A younger woman grabbed Harry's arm as she passed.

"More! There's more that way!" She pointed down a hall and Harry could just make out a sign through the smoke. Office of Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, with an arrow pointing deeper into the floor. He was already moving as Keystone grabbed the woman.

"Tell Madam Pomfrey to triage. There's too many for immediate treatment." She nodded uncomprehendingly and joined her brethren in the elevator. He joined Harry in dashing down the hall.

Arthur pushed himself up using his office wall as a brace, the aftereffects of the Cruciatus still making his muscles spotty in response. Somehow he had managed to hold on to his wand through all of it. He hadn't wanted to believe when the first scream had come. By the time he stood it was already too late to escape. Not able to push himself any higher, his head fell back against the wall. His breathing was heavy and erratic and he could feel liquid that he knew wasn't sweat oozing from his side. His pounding heart seemed to be the loudest noise in the world and, even without the smoke, his vision was cloudy.

He had known being part of the Order on top of being a so called blood traitor was nearly asking for a death sentence…but not like this…not like this. He could hear the Death Eaters, at least three of them, standing just outside the office door and laughing at him.

"What are you going to do now you pathetic traitor? Didn't you learn? No one defies the Dark Lord. The whole world will be his." Arthur felt himself crying. Eight tears. One fell for each of his children and one for his beautiful wife that he would never see again. Two more fell for Harry and Hermione, his son and daughter in all but name who he would also never again see.

His jaw clenched as he took another deep breath. Blinking the tears from his eyes and forcing his vision to focus, he pushed off the wall, unsteadily gaining his feet. Though shaken and battered, his voice was clear and strong though his hand could barely raise his wand. "Never. You'll never win. For every one of us you strike down, two more will rise."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because we don't fight for ourselves. We fight for those we care about, those we love. Something you'll never understand."

"Then I guess…we'll just have to kill you all! Avad-" The man stopped with a stunned gasp and looked down at his own chest. Arthur followed his eyes to find a piece of silver steel, slightly curved, protruding right through the man's heart. Shock was evident in his eyes as he crumpled slowly to the ground, dead. His fall revealed a white shirted, black panted young man kicking the corpse form his blade and nodding to Arthur slowly. Pushing the corpse aside he stepped in and to the side to reveal an even more shocking sight. Harry and Ginny stood side by side, Ron, Hermione and it looked like several other students behind them.

Harry and Ginny rushed forward to catch Arthur as he stumbled and nearly fell. Ron and Hermione were there a split second later to help. Arthur looked at each of them in turn, pure surprise on his face.

"Harry…Ron…Ginny! Where did you come from?" Harry tapped the side of his head.

"I saw it happening. We came to help."

"But…the rest…" He gestured to the other students.

"I'll explain later. We still have one more person to find." Recognition dawned on Arthur's face.

"Percy…" Harry nodded and pulled one arm over his shoulders. Ron pulled the other over his and together they headed for the door. Ginny rejoined her team and led the way out, an action Arthur looked very surprised at. Hermione did her best to examine him and fix what she could. The professor was last, taking up the rear. Arthur glanced to him behind Ron's head. "I don't believe we've met. Arthur Weasley."

"Alex Keystone. Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Arthur shook his hand somewhat firmly before being helped out the door. He looked down and Harry noticed the slightly sick look on his face at seeing the three other Death Eaters who had met far bloodier ends. Harry felt pain deep in his heart that people had to die like this. The knowledge they had tortured and killed did little to alleviate his feelings.

At Harry's direction the group made for the stairs. Though harder on the injured man it would be easier to take Voldemort by surprise if he was still upstairs. Ginny's squad scouted ahead as the others slowly climbed the steps with Arthur. Reaching the door they helped him lean against the wall. Alex moved to open the door.

"I'll go first."

"No." Harry moved to block him. "Voldemort might still be in there. I'll go first."

"Harry…" He turned to Ginny and Hermione, both of whom had spoken in the same 'you're out of your mind' tone.

"Okay, let's make a list of everyone who's faced Voldemort and survived and then let's compare that list to everyone standing here." Neither responded in the pause he gave them. "I have to face him soon and if it's here…so be it." Before anymore objections he pulled the door open and stepped in, wand raised. It was quiet. Silence greeted his entry as he stepped further in.

Looking to the side he slid across the room and kneeled beside the still form of Delores Umbridge. Her face was contorted in horrible pain and already getting cold. Ron and Hermione kneeled beside him a second later, Ron passive, Hermione a little sad. Harry's eyes flashed from the woman's face to the barely visible scars in the back of his hand. Even after that, he wouldn't have wished this on her.

The trio rose and started for the open doors to the Minister's office. Keystone fell in behind them a moment later. With a little help from his daughter and her team, Arthur stumbled in from the stairs and followed them slowly. Walking into the office they found it barely disturbed and at odds with the general chaos of the rest of the building. The professor rushed around the desk and fell to the side of an unconscious red haired man. The trio followed and stood over him as his free hand rapidly checked Percy. He looked up as Arthur reached the door.

"Whatever luck your family lives by Arthur, it holds. Your son will live. He'll need some help once we get back to the school, but a week's rest and he should be fine." He glanced over the others before finally sheathing his once again clean sword. "I'll take him. You just keep an eye out." Lifting Percy slowly he set him over his left shoulder, legs hanging in front of his chest. Holding the passenger with one hand and his wand with the other, he stayed next to Arthur being held up by Dean and Seamus as they headed out.

Nearing the elevators, one opened and a beaten and battered Matt appeared, his left arm showing bone just below the elbow. "Hey." Keystone inclined his head in greeting.

"Hey. How's it look?"

"We've got everyone we're going to. Eaters are retreating. We should go."

"Agreed." Harry led the way as the group piled into the elevator, the trio at the front. It was a faster trip down as the clinking box fell away from the street. Arriving at the lobby only a few moments later, they piled out to find the rest of the DA guarding the area. Most of them looked fine though a couple had singed clothes or a little blood. Luna was being supported by two members of her team, awake, but dazed. Neville stepped up quickly. "Yes Neville?"

"Captain, no dead, eighteen wounded. The worst is Luna, hit her head after a stunning spell. Best count we have is thirty-eight ministry employees dead, twice that wounded and sent to Hogwarts."

"What about the Death Eaters?"

"Thirty-two confirmed killed, mostly on the second floor, half that again reported wounded and all the rest escaped. No sign of You-Know-Who."

"Thanks Neville."

"Yes sir," he glanced to Ginny, "Ma'am." Turning away he rejoined his squad.

"Quite a little force you've got here Potter. I'm impressed. But enough of that. Let's get out of here while we still can." Keystone matched his words by heading toward the door with Percy over his shoulder. Seamus, Dean and Arthur followed. Squad by squad they exited the lobby in an orderly retreat, the trio Matt and the returned Sarah last.

Harry stood alone in a corner and looked around at the room still filled with smoke, flame and rubble. How had he not lost any of the Army in this? Why had he even let them come? Ginny stepped closer to glance up into his hung head. "What?"

"I was just thinking…how do we all make it through stuff like this? A hundred Death Eaters and Voldemort against some students and surprised Aurors? We should be dead."

"We made it because of you Harry. You brought the Army together and trained us. And without this," she ran a finger over his scar, "my father and brother would be dead and I wouldn't even know it. You saved a lot of lives today Harry, no matter how many you may have risked to do it. Don't ever doubt you did the right thing." Somehow she brought the same calm to his soul she always did and a small smile to his face.

"Thanks."

"Any time."

In the entrance Arthur had enough strength to enter the fireplace alone, followed by the professor bearing his son after a glance to his friends. Sarah nearly forced Matt through next followed by Luna's Squad. One by one the squads disappeared into the fireplace, eventually leaving Ginny's squad, the Trio and Sarah. The squad went first followed by Sarah and Hermione. Ron hesitated for a moment as Harry turned back toward the archway.

"What is it mate?"

"I…I don't know."

"Come on…let's get back to Hogwarts."

"Yeah…okay." Ron grabbed a bit of powder and disappeared into the flames. Harry followed him a second later. He glanced back one last time and his body froze as he saw Voldemort standing in the arch, the limp form of Scrimgeour hanging from his hand. He could just hear the hissed words.

"Not yet Harry. Not yet." He dissapperated with his prize before Harry could respond. Throwing powder to the flames he stepped in. "Hogwarts, Defense Office." The trip through the network passed quickly as he fought down a hint of anger at not acting faster. Emerging in the Defense Office he found only Keystone and McGonagall waiting of him. As soon as he stepped away she cast a spell at the fireplace. "What was that?"

"I disconnected it from the network. So no one can follow you." He nodded at that. "Now Mr. Potter, you have a good deal of explaining to do." She waved her hand and the door to the office closed and locked. Harry glanced over at it, fairly sure he could break through whatever magical seal she might have put on it, but instead turned back. Drawing the back of his hand across his sweaty brow, it turned nearly black with smeared dirt and grime. Taking a breath he returned his attention to her.

"What do you want to know?" She looked incredulous that he would be asking that, but managed to splutter out an answer.

"Well…how did you know about the attack? What makes you think you should have gone to help? And what's going on with these students?!" She looked more unbalanced than anytime since Dumbledore had been killed. Taking only a moment to collect his thoughts, Harry began.

"I saw the attack through Voldemort's eyes, the same way I knew about it when Nagini attacked Arthur. I had to go because no one else could. By the time the word would have been spread to the Aurors scattered across the country, or the Order could have assembled, it would have been a massacre and they would have been cut down as they arrived. The DA, Dumbledore's Army, was originally formed during Umbridge's tenure; she's dead by the way, as Defense instructor to give us a chance at practicing spells. I was the instructor with Ron and Hermione's help.

"I reformed the group this year and began adding members because I knew, both from my own thoughts and Ron's analysis, that Hogwarts would eventually be attacked and there would never be enough Aurors to defend it. I'm in charge with the Ron and Hermione as advisors. Ginny's the field commander and we currently have just over fifty members broken into five person squads. We've been using what Professor Keystone has been teaching us in Defense as the basis for out training. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a good number of people to check on." At her shocked nod he headed for the door and pulled it half open.

"Are…are you all…okay?" She was as stunned by his perfectly commanding tone as by his words.

"Minor injuries mostly. Neville has the report from the battle. I'll have him send it to you when he gets the chance." He could hear Keystone chuckling as he stepped through the door…and was greeted by a sudden explosion of applause from most of the DA and a few members of the Order that had arrived. He stood a little straighter as they began chanting his name. Remus, Tonks and Moody all approached and held out their hands. He took each in turn. Remus and Moody looked genuinely impressed and Tonks had a self satisfied grin. After them he worked his way through the entire Army, sharing a nod or a few words with each member. Eventually he found himself near the door where Hermione waited. Nodding, he turned back to the Army.

"You all did very well. We made it through our first fight. Go, rest, and check on your friends. That's what I'm going to do." Hermione followed as he stepped out of the classroom and began quickly striding down the hall. "Infirmary?"

"Yeah. Ron and Ginny went with Arthur. Madam Pomfrey nearly had a heart attack when Matthew showed up carrying Percy over his good shoulder." She hesitated for a moment and he glanced at her. "Harry…are you all right?" He nodded as he tore a piece of fabric from his ripped robes. They must have caught somewhere in the ministry. Tearing the piece in half, he handed part to her.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Here." Taking his own piece he did the best he could to wipe the dirt off his face. She mimicked his action a moment later. Approaching the infirmary he slowed down, unable to continue with the massive group standing in the hall. One near the back noticed him and with a few words the crowd parted to let him pass. Again exchanging a few words here and there he glanced over the people waiting. The injuries got steadily worse the closer to the doors he got.

Finally stepping through into the less crowded but more panicked infirmary, he glanced around. Every bed was full and Pomfey was going one to the other followed by an assistant with a piece of parchment making notes. After a quick examination she would speak a few word and move onto the next. "St. Mungo's, I can't treat this." She moved on to the next. "Bed rest and chocolate. He just needs time." A bit of concentration and her wand fixed the shattered bone in Matt's arm. "There, now get going."

"I can help you."

"How?"

"Medical training. I can take care of minor things." She looked skeptical for a moment. "You can't do it all yourself."

"Fine. Start at the far end of the hall and work your way in. Stop if you have the slightest doubt."

"Yes Ma'am." Harry glanced past him to see a sheet being pulled over one on the Aurors. Matt followed his line of sight and turned back as he approached. Just before passing he put the hand of his just fixed arm on Harry's shoulder. "Take care of the living Potter, the dead can take care of themselves." Harry glanced over, stunned. "Just a bit of my experience. Take it for what it's worth." Removing his hand, Matt continued on. A moment after he disappeared through the doors Harry reached his target. Ron and Ginny were sitting on the edge of a bed with their father, looking across the small gap at Percy, lying very still. He stepped aside as Madam Pomfrey moved between the beds, turning first to Arthur.

"Chocolate and bed rest…somewhere else. Sorry, but I need the bed." Arthur nodded and stood with Ron's help as she turned to his son.

"And…Percy?"

"I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with him, could be a concussion, could be worse. He'll have to stay here until I figure it out. Fortunately, most of the room conversions for the holidays are done. You can rest there and stay nearby. Here, take this." Harry grabbed the small scrap of paper and read the room number off.

"Thank you." She nodded and moved on as another patient was led to the bed he had just vacated. Following Arthur and Ron, the group made their way slowly back through the injured and past Matt who was dealing with minor wounds at the end of the line. He gave them a short nod and Harry a significant glance before returning to the patients.

Harry led the solemn group down a couple flights of stairs and of into a little used corridor. Checking a room number against the scrap of parchment he pushed the door open to reveal a small room made up perfectly for a couple. Ron and Ginny helped their father to lie down on the wide bed so he could rest. Hermione and Harry waited outside the room. Arthur fell asleep only moments after his head reached the pillow. After he did Ron whispered something to Ginny and gestured to the door. She nodded and he returned to Hermione's side. Offering his hand, which she took, the two headed away down the hall.

Harry smiled a little as he watched them go hand in hand. Taking a breath he felt a sudden wave of exhaustion flow through him and knew it was the adrenaline leaving his system. He had been pumped full for well over two hours and he had finally stopped needing it. Taking a step back to brace his body he could see Ginny sit on the edge of the bed, keeping an eye on her father. A healing spell or some rest would settle his body back to normal, but this time he would have to go through the withdrawal.

"Harry!" He turned at the shout of his name to find Mrs. Weasley rushing up to him. Before he could respond she pulled him from the wall and into a tight hug. "Minerva told me what you did! Oh, you've saved Arthur again and Percy! Thank you, thank you…" He could see the unshed tears in her eyes as she pulled back.

"Least I could do for all you've done for me. Go on, Arthur's asleep in there." He directed her to the door which she hurried through. He could hear her exclamation of joy at seeing her husband and daughter. A few moments later Ginny emerged and pulled the door shut behind her.

"Mum's going to sit with him for a while. She's so ecstatic they're alive I think she barely noticed me. Well, as long as…" She glanced down at Harry's hand which was shaking just slightly. "Harry…what's wrong?" He raised the hand and flexed it a little.

"Adrenaline withdrawal. You should be feeling it to. Suddenly tired, little shaky?" She seemed to do a self inventory and then slowly nodded. "Goes away in about half an hour. Just your body balancing itself out. You were saying?"

"Oh…uh, just as long as she's happy…" She stepped closer and leaned into his chest. He responded by wrapping his arms around her suddenly shaking frame. He held her for several minutes as the panic and fear she finally allowed worked itself out. Again he felt the weight of the death and destruction that had plagued him for years in the lack of fear he felt. Taking a couple of shuddering breaths she managed to clam down. "Which reminds me…I never said thank you."

"For?"

"For saving my brother the git, my father and keeping my mum from going insane."

"You're welcome. You helped quite a bit yourself."

"Well then…we should really thank each other properly. Any secret passages around here?"

"Uh…yeah. Right around the corner, comes out near the kitchens."

"Good." Grabbing his wrist she pulled him down the hall toward the passage, an absolutely wicked grin on her face.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.