Chapter 14

Heart of a Gryffindor

"Look!" Someone shouted out. It took a moment for Harry's gaze to leave the image of Signora Aradia, lying there motionless on the floor. When he did look up, he saw through the door a knife covered in blood. It was stuck through the crack, from someone on the other side. Whoever was holding it on the other side, pulled it back through.

He heard the worried murmuring of students all around him. A few stood from their benches and hurried to the other end of the hall, far away from the door. Harry had the urge to standup as well. But he didn't want to run away, instead, he wanted to run ahead.

Hagrid's loud footsteps came booming down the isle. He walked towards the group of teachers huddled at the door. As he reached the end, another loud knock came at the door. This time, the students became even more frightened. There were screams and loud talking.

"What is happening?" asked Ron, who'd remained quiet up to this point. Harry didn't turn to look at him, he was too busy watching the group of teachers. His view, although, had become momentarily blocked by the large form of Hagrid. He still continued to watch, bending his body so that he could see a little more. He couldn't hear any clear words coming from them, just whispering.

Hagrid bent down, and picked up the lifeless form of Signora Aradia. He stood there, back towards them, with her body in his arms. Harry had to hold onto the table, so that he wouldn't jump up. Something new yet familiar seemed to be flowing in his veins. It had been there before, that need and want for action.

Mr. Winfred stepped around Hagrid, and stood before the frightened students. His face was grim, but concentrated. "Listen very carefully," he spoke, his voice echoed as another knock came at the door. "Do not panic. I understand that the scene before you may appear frightening, but you must stay calm. Professor Hagrid will lead you to a secret door in the back of the Great Hall. Out of that door, you will follow him. Do not, by any circumstances, disobey him." He turned to Hagrid, and stepped closer to him. He told him something that was inaudible to Harry, and then walked back to the group of teachers.

The students seemed to jump from their chairs. There was an obvious panic in there step. Harry could feel cloaks brush by his face, while he remained seated. He could see, out of the corner of his eye, that Ron and Hermione hadn't moved also.

"What are you thinking Harry?" he heard Hermione's voice ask. After her words, another loud knock came at the door. Somehow, this one seemed to shake the entire room. It felt as though it were closer.

"I'm not going anywhere," said Harry. He watched as Hagrid turned to face the other end of the hall. Harry could not see Signora's face, it was turned away from him, but he saw the bloody hand again.

"Harry, you can't-" But he wasn't paying attention to her, he was watching what was before him. Mr. Winfred had stepped up to Hagrid, speaking to him in a very hurriedly manner. Hagrid nodded his head, and turned towards the table to his right. He bent down, and laid Signora Aradia on its vacant bench.

Another loud knock came at the door, but this time another sound came with it. The cracking of wood. Harry stared at the door, it was cracking against the knock of what was on the other side.

"What do y'er think ya doin'?" Hagrid ran up to them. "Get up, we've got ter go!"

Harry didn't move, but he heard Ron and Hermione get up from their seats. Hagrid pulled Harry's arm, picking him a good 3 feet off the bench. He set him down, and let his arm go. "You are not goin' to make this difficult," Hagrid looked at him fiercely. It'd been along time since Hagrid had talked forcefully towards Harry. "Yer not stayin', now come on."

Harry followed Hagrid, but at a slow pace. He watched as Hagrid walked faster now, trying to catch up with the students who had already decided to exit the hall.

Turning back now, Harry could see the teachers form a human wall. They all lined up in front of the door, Mr. Winfred stood in the center. They seemed to be preparing themselves for whatever was about to come through that door. Harry didn't understand, wasn't there some type of spell they could use to stop whoever it was from coming in? And why were they in the school in the first place? And who were they?

Harry's vision fell on the form of Signora Aradia again. He could see her face now. Her eyes stared blankly at what was before her. They were like coal against her white skin. He couldn't believe it, but it was there, in front of him. At that moment, a group of familiar words ran through his head; "...there was reportedly one death connected with the situation..."

Another knock came at the door, this one louder than ever. Harry had stopped walking now. It was evident that he wasn't going anywhere, and not even Hagrid could make him. He turned around. The students had almost completely filed out of the hall, and no one seemed to notice that he was missing.

What happened next was something Harry hadn't prepared himself for. Again, a loud knock came at the door. With it, the door had swung open with a crack. Through the cloaks of the teachers, he saw what was on the side. It was a large group of figures, all dressed in black. Harry had seen them before. Death Eaters.

Both sides held their wands at the ready. There was a loud hymn of the Cruciatus Curse and others, flashes of light hit some and flew past others. Harry felt paralyzed at the scene. Maybe staying behind wasn't the best choice. Whether true or not, Harry curled his fingers around his wand, and pulled it from his cloak.

The Death Eaters out numbered the teachers at least three to one. Even with the disadvantage, the assortment of professors advanced with great force against the cloaked enemy. Even the tiny Professor Flitwick pulled down a Death Eater with Stupefy. Professor McGonagal was taking two at a time, while Mr. Winfred was holding his own right next to her.

And then, a name flashed through Harry's head. Bellatrix Lestrange. What if she was among the Death Eaters? He could get his revenge for what happened to Sirius. Harry now began to walk forward, with his wand held out. He was ready to take the life of the person who took away what was closest to him.

A Death Eater caught a glimpse of him. He wasn't a very tall person, not much taller than Harry. He charged at Harry, his wand held up, ready to fight. But Harry was also ready. "Stupefy!"

The man fell to the ground. Harry felt energy pulsing through his veins. He couldn't be stopped now. He was going to find her, he was going to avenge Sirius' death. He felt a hand grab his arm, and turned.

"Potter!" It was Professor Snape. He was staring at Harry in disbelief. "What do you think you're doing!"

But before Snape could say anymore, a flash of light shot between them. Forcing the two to separate. While Snape was caught again in battle, Harry found himself searching the Death Eaters, looking for any sign of Bellatrix. Another Death Eater spotted him, but this time, Harry felt it wasn't going to be so easy.

The man charged at him, pushing Harry down over one of the house tables. He pushed the plates and goblets around him, trying to sit up. The man got a hold of the front of his robes, and pulled him forward. Harry wouldn't let him, he kneed the Death Eater in the stomach, forcing both of them apart.

Harry clumsily flipped backwards off the table, putting the table between he and the Death Eater. The man overlooked the obstacle, by whipping out his wand, pointing it right at Harry's chest.

"Avada K-"

"Stupefy!" Harry shot out quickly. It hit the man right in the face, forcing him backwards. He fell, and Harry could no longer see him with the table in his view. Harry looked around him, waiting for another Death Eater to charge at him. But they were all in a fierce battle with the band of teachers.

During this distraction, Harry failed to realize that behind him, a man had just noticed his distinguished look among the grown adults fighting.

Harry felt an arm wrap around his neck, cutting off his air supply. "Thought that Azkaban could keep me busy for awhile, did you Potter?" It was the obvious voice of Lucius Malfoy.

Harry heard the sound of metal, and in front of him, Lucius held out an already bloodstained knife. "Don't worry," he told Harry, who began to struggle. "I'm not going to kill you, just hurt you a little. I have orders, just like we all do; to bring you alive."

Lucius put the knife against Harry's left hand, which was struggling to pull Lucius' other arm from around his neck. The knife began to cut into his skin, sending a pain throughout his body. His wand fell out of his right hand, and he heard it fall to the floor. He didn't scream, but putt all his energy against Lucius. The knife was still being pushed into his left hand, the pain increasing.

Harry felt the pressure of Lucius Malfoy decrease, as he let go. He stumbled as he gained his footing. He turned around, and saw Lucius hit the ground, paralyzed. Harry looked up to see who it was who had cast the spell, and almost fell at the shock.

"S'you forget what s'your job is Potter!" Signora Aradia strode towards him. Her face was still pale, and her hand was still covered in blood. Despite Harry's previous thoughts, she seemed completely fine standing in front of him now.

"You were dead!" Harry shot at her.

"Forget v'what s'you saw," she told him, pushing him away from the scene around him. "S'your job is not here fighting. S'you is to protect the people, the students." She stuck her hand inside her black cloak, and then pulled it out. With it, came the familiar glimmer of a very familiar sword. Out of thin air, Signora Aradia had just created the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. "Go through the doors, protect the students." She pushed the sword towards him.

"But-" He felt his fingers grasp it's metallic handle.

"She is not here, Harry," Signora Aradia continued, looking him dead in the eye. She held out her hand to the side, and Harry's wand flew into her palm. She handed it to him. "Go, Harry!"

Author's Note: Short, but full. I hope you enjoyed it. And thank you for the reviews! I appreciate it!