Disclaimer: No money is being made or received for this work in her playground of characters.
Author's Note: I have sent this to Eliza for her okay, but she hasn't given it yet. Any mistakes are mine alone (damnit). This is my version of the final battle...
June 21st, Summer Solstice, The day of destiny
At 8:45, the group met for dinner. When they entered the Dining room, they were met by just fewer than fifty people. Students, Ministry Officials, Goblins (who were served a different course), Hogwarts staff, honored guests, as well as a couple of ghosts all showed up for the party. Harry presented her with the real gift, a charm bracelet with ten charms. Each charm had the birthstone of the seven, plus hers and Sirius', the tenth was a yen/yang which signified her insanity. She put it on the same wrist her grandmother's bracelet was. It glowed for a moment before becoming invisible.
Ron told her that they wanted her to know that they appreciated all the help she had been, insane at times, but help none the less. The crowd laughed. Each one added a small story to ensure that the group believed that she had been a bit maniacal at times. But the result was the same, they were ready for the upcoming conflict. They thanked her and the others involved with their training.
It was just after midnight when Fawkes swooped into the room with a flash of bright light. Gravely, the entire party quietly watched as the red feather as is floated into Dumbledore's hand. "It is time," the old man said. He turned and directed everyone in the room to go to Hogwarts, or to their assigned posts and wait for the appropriate signal. With a swish of his cloak, he was gone.
Michael, Erika, and Selene left to contact the members of the Lair and Coven which were currently housed in the lowest recesses of the Malfoy Manor and the Cowan Estate. They would arrive momentarily, directly onto the Hogwart's grounds via port-keys. Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles, left to gather their weapons and be sure of proper clothing; flooing to Dumbledore's office. They would meet the others on the front lawn in ten minutes. Angel and his group left to dress appropriately. They watched a small look between Angel and Buffy before they left the room, confident of the outcome of this war and almost pleased that the other would be there as well.
Many successive cracks later, there were twelve people left in the dining hall of the estate. Rowan, finding her voice, looked to the adult Weasley's, "Go, you both know what you need to do." They hugged the teenagers and left with resounding cracks that echoed off the now silent walls. "Go put on the magical chain mail you were given; get your swords, knives, and strap your wands on the inside of your arms, just in case. Put on jeans and long sleeve shirts and make sure you wear your boots." A moment of hesitation on the part of the teenagers earned their ears ringing with "NOW"
It was the three lovers left in the dining room. "Look, it's time, all will be okay in a few hours. Go do what you need to do. I will find you on the battlefield. When it's over, we hide away... agreed?" she said with resignation. They both nodded before quickly kissing her and leaving.
The teens had left and ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Several minutes later, they had all returned. Madison laughed out loud when she saw her mother. Her bracelet shining, makeup, her hair up in the now familiar bun, with a short thin wand holding it in place, jeans, long sleeve t-shirt with a picture of Texas on it, and boots.Her 9mm pistol in its holster on her right thigh, matched by her sword scabbard across her back, and knives strapped to her left thigh. She was admiring the effect in a long mirror when they returned. She was a bit bulky, but told them it was due to the Kevlar vest under her shirt.
She met their eyes and addressed the group of teenagers; "The only thing you need to know is that by the end of this day, the fight will be over one way or another, remember to do what you have practiced and you will be able to defeat him. Do not allow anyone or anything to sway you from your task. Let's do this… Let's go kick some English Snake Ass!"
They surrounded themselves with their invisibility cloaks, laughed, held hands and shimmered to the gates of Hogwarts.
The scene at Hogwart's was what Ron had expected: Great torches were lit from the top of the castles, and across the top of the gates, casting an eerie glow as the flames flickered. The shadows of the Death Eaters enlarged as they came out of the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid's Hut was burning and the Dark Mark hung above the grounds observing the battlefield strangely like a blimp above an American football stadium.
The battle had already begun as the group appeared at the gates. With a final nod to the teens she loved, Rowan left them immediately to help. Dragons on the ground were snapping at anything, friend or foe, that came within reach while other dragons were flying with their keepers overhead.
The strategies that Neville and Ron had worked on consistently for the past five months had instituted groups of eight, first through seventh year plus one adult per group. The younger students sent out anything they knew ranging from the jelly legs curse to cheering charms. Those distractions allowed the older students and adults to perform stunning spells, hexes, jinxes and binding spells on intruders.
And how many intruders were there? Harry's jaw dropped as he realized there were literally thousands of cloaked figures already on the grounds, with more coming out of the forest. The difference in the two sides was immediate and impressive, as expected; those fighting for Voldemort wore classic dark cloaks and wizarding wear. Those fighting on Harry's, or the 'light' side, were dressed in Muggle clothing; jeans, long sleeved shirts that glowed bright orange when a wand was pointed at them, and lace up boots. This was Ron's suggestion so everyone could tell what side you were on at a glance. While they had been shopping in Texas in February, the idea had popped into his mind and purchased hundreds of pairs of jeans and boots which had been magicked to the school for use. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, Mason, Madison watched, Ron calculating the precise moment of their entry into the melee.
Magical Creatures at their worst...
Voldemort's army included Giants and Acromantula which were already attacking the walls of the school. The Goblins had moved unseen into the heart of the school and attacked the house elves, without making much headway. With Dobby in the lead, Goblins soon found out that the house elves, while defending their home, had amazing abilities. Small figures were flying across the rooms and halls. They were joined by the Gringott's Goblin Horde for the fight. Once the French Goblin Horde was dispatched, Dobby left twenty or so of the elves to bind the goblins and led the rest out the secret doors to circle around to help the students.
There seemed to be dozens of giants' leading part of the assault. Their magic prevented injuries from most hexes and curses. The spells just rebounded off the bodies. Some of the giants worked in unison with the Aracumantula, the large spiders. The team of giants and spiders worked when the large hands swiped at the children and adults alike, causing the injured to fly like flies. As the humans hit the ground, they were pounced on by Acromantula. However, these magical creatures were not immune to hexes thrown and many were blown to bits by perfectly aimed hexes. Other spiders were prevented their attack by the arrival of Aragog's family. Ron blanched as he saw the large spiders fighting and rolling away from the fallen students.
Centaurs shot arrows with accuracy that comes from their magic. Giants were hit many times over, but it only seemed to make them angry. A couple of the larger giants turned away from the group and forced their way back to the edge of the forest where the Centaurs stood with arrows drawn. Hundreds upon hundreds of arrows flew from the contingent of the centaur. The giants were hit over and over, finally falling from lack of blood. Bane and Firenze, for the first time united, motioned for the others to follow them to glory and battle. As they passed the fallen giants, a special effort was made to walk on the fallen, rather than around them.
The Dementors swarmed the turrets of the castle, where specific groups of specially trained older students were set to defend the castle from air invasion. With each swish of their ragged cloaks, students fell as the group got into position. The older students and adults began casting Patroni. Each individual patronus united with the others to create a unique variation, which Hermione had found during her research on the old texts. The spell "Expecto Patronum Uniteus" echoed from the highest points of the castle. The many patronus joined to bind the Dementors as they plummeted to the ground. Each time one hit the semi-soft earth, Mad-eye Moody and Kingsley Shackelbolt made their way to them, and using a violent hex of "Tearium"; literally tore the Dementors to pieces. It was a bloody job, but Mad-Eye knew he could do it easier than the children. Soon, the attacking Dementors were either blown to bits or had left the fray.
Entering the Battle…
After surveying the battle grounds for a few moments, Ron gave the signal. Raising his sword high and scream a primal yell of courage, Harry threw off his invisibility cloak; running as fast as possible into the mass of fighting bodies; the others following close on his heels. No one who saw the teenager realized that he was not alone as he began hurling wandless curses and wielding the sword. Madison's shield radiated around the group, protecting each from retaliation. Harry's intense training of the past six months had increased his speed exponentially. His abilities, coupled with the shield made him seem like an individual force with which to be reckoned; spell after spell left his hand; his wand, strapped securely to the inside of his forearm, forgotten. If he got too close and could not use magic, his sword met the opponent with the swiftness and accuracy born of the warrior. Spells flew from unseen students which made anyone watching Harry see not only his but the spells of six others. The theory being that anyone who saw him alone would be intimidated by his show of force.
The theory did not work for long as just over one hundred meters into the fight, Ron signaled that they should lose the cloaks for better maneuverability. Following his lead, the others threw off their invisibility cloaks. Their aim and fighting techniques were put to the challenge as their months of training taught how to fight in any situation. Often, one of them would have to use a fist, knife, or sword to fight to maintain their position. More than a few death eaters met their fate that night to one of the seven wielded swords. Others were knocked physically to unconsciousness by a well placed kick or punch.
A short, squat, death eater with a silver hand raised his wand as Mason ran near him. Mason, although a wizard with strength, did not think twice as he raised his sword to chest level and plowed through him, lifting the entire body off the ground and swinging it around to set the sword firmly. When the body hit the ground, Mason had left his sword in the man's chest and continued to run, not bothering to look back.
Buffy was fighting back to back with Michael. A strange feeling of familiarity rose as they fought demons and humans alike. She made no move to hurt Michael, as he made no move to hurt her. As long as it was night, he was a fierce fighter, transformed into the strange blue skinned creature with the strength of both Vampire and Lycan. They worked out a bit of a strategy between them, an enemy would come close enough to Buffy, who would come up and under the opponent, flipping or knocking them back into Michael's reach. He would bite and tear the death eater and leave them for dead. Before they broke, both were covered in blood and dust from humans and demons defeated.
Giles fought with the Arthur and Molly Weasley. His old friendship with the red headed couple erased time as they anticipated each other's movements and curses. One would defend while the other two were on the offensive. When they were first brought into this fight, Arthur and Molly had decided that they would not be split up regardless knowing that each of the children they had brought into this world had a place in this war, and would be involved in the final downfall of Voldemort. Believing this, they had chosen to stand and die together if necessary, but at the end of this fight, they would be together one way or another. With that decision, they both fought valiantly.
Rowan found Spike and Angel and fought with them by her side. Angel dispatched humans and creatures alike with his battle axe; while Spike enjoyed tasting a few of the humans as he ripped their throats apart. When Rowan began using magic rather than hand-to-hand combat, the Vampires with souls fell away from her.
The Rapid Bullets curse somehow helped her find a peace as her magic ripped open wounds in those she hit. She actually dispatched two giants with the curse, who, like in the centaurs' victory, bled to death from their wounds.
Snape threw off his dark cloak to reveal the proper attire to ensure he would survive the encounter. His eyes met briefly with Rowan's and she smiled at him. It was like an energy bolt entered him. He felt revitalized with the mere presence of her and their child. They fought to get to one another's side where they fought, back to back against the death eaters.
Rowan heard a shriek of high pitch shrill laughter. Her first inclination was that it was Voldemort, but when she met eyes with the woman more insane than she, she knew it was the LeStranges. Snape and Rowan headed off to fight the couple with a bit more intensity than should have come from the thought of an upcoming fight.
Unseen by anyone, Neville had circled the couple and was now on the opposite side of where the Professors stood facing the couple. Snape cast his shield around Rowan, who enjoyed using her long sword to remove Bellatrix LeStrange's head. Rudolfus, seeing his wife, turned to run but was met by Neville who, after a well placed kick to the head. When the Death Eater fell, Neville secured his defeat with a precisely placed knife thrown to the middle of the chest. With a gurgled cry, he looked into the once round face, once intimidated boy smiling at him. When he was dead, Neville made a mock salute to his professors and reentered the battle. Severus nodded once to him as he turned to rejoin the battle on the grounds, knowing that when it had mattered, he could and did kill the ones he had set out to.
They looked for other key members of the Death Eaters. Snape watched as the blood on her clothing grew, realizing that she was already injured and did not have the sanity to realize it. Turning to meet his eyes for a moment, she was pushed against a group of students. As she extricated herself, she heard a shouted "Avada Kedavra". Grimmacing with fear, she saw the body of the man she had called friend and lover hit her as he fell. She knew the voice of Antonin Dolohov from her weeks of torture. Turning, she raised her shield as he threw yet another killing curse at her and the group of children. It bounced off and killed someone to the side. Rowan did not know or care whose side the person had been on. She was intent on killing her tormentor. Pushing them away from her, she concentrated all of her hatred on the man and relished in the thought of killing him.
The two enemies circled once again watching carefully until she was tired of the play. She rushed at him with all the hatred she could muster and tackled him. He was not expecting a physical attack. They hit the ground, already soft with blood, with her facing down on him. By the time he tried to get his balance and flip her, she had already slit his throat from ear to ear. Smiling she saw him gurgle the blood realizing he was a dead man. She left the body to ooze until it was dry. Turning she entered the fray with a bit of a maniacal laugh. 'Three down, about 10,000 to go…' she thought.
Because they had not set the magic tether yet, Madison and Draco became separated from the others. Realizing this, they immediately attempted to back track, but entered into a group of demons and dark wizards blocking their patch. Without a choice or conscience thought they fought. Madison forgot her role as protector when she felt a power surge from her ring, sending her first hex at the advancing group. Draco felt the same surge of power when he thought for the briefest of moments that he would not live through the battle. The rings were reenergizing the magic reserves for their wearer. The doubt washed from his person as he fought to get back to Harry and the others. Draco's spells hit the dark wizards as Madison's sword dispatched several demons. They pushed their way forward as the fight intensified for them.
An invisible tether had finally been cast between the two teens as they fought. It ended with no less than twenty bodies on the ground and small piles of ash from the vampires and demons that had not been smart enough to stay out of the fight. The injured and battle worn couple ran from the area to the main fight.
Draco looked up and saw the fight between his mentor and a death eater. Getting Madison's attention, she saw what he did. They fought their way to get close enough to help her mother. Madison looked to Draco, summoned all of her training, and like her mother, threw a well placed knife into the back of her latest opponent. When he fell, Rowan and Madison made brief eye contact. Rowan nodded her thanks, removed her sword from its scabbard, and swiftly removed a head from a set shoulders.
The three watched as it rolled away from the body. Draco watched as she ran from him, not stopping to look, knowing he was dead. When she did turn, she began fired her magic with her left hand and maintained her shield with her right towards the group that had killed him. None of them would live to see Voldemort fall to her children. He felt Madison's pull on his sleeve and felt the tether begin as they found Harry and the others in the conflict.
Lorne, Wesley, and Gunn fought side by side with Selene and Erika; each with their special talents for bringing death to the enemy. The bloodbath that ensued was as gory as any that day.
As day began to break, the vampires were forced to leave the fight. Unable to assist any longer, they sought refuge in the castle, where they would protect any that were there. Many of the demons were unable to fight in the light of day, left the fight as well. They were not greeted well by the inhabitants of the castle; however, they were vanquished before they realized what had happened. Buffy's team entered the building to find those demons and stray vampires who were not part of Michael's team.
Willow joined Piper, Phoebe, and Paige were just inside the great hall, chanting the protection charms which added to the wards which were falling at an alarming rate. Wyatt and Chris were in the center of the three witches adding unknown power to their magic. Xander joined Leo as he circled the edge with a sword and pistol protecting them from any which might attack.
Tom Riddle Lives
Lord Voldemort entered the fight just after daybreak. He walked casually walked through the clusters of exhausted wizards and students, cursing or killing the ones he chose, leaving the one next to him or her standing and alive. It was an old battle trick of guilt that he would use to keep the young ones off balance. Any attempts to curse him were met with his shield and vengeance. The battle parted as he swept through them.
Nagini was not to be seen as he made the journey, he walked alone to meet his destiny, but Harry did not. Remus caught sight of the snake a few moments later as it slithered around to try to attack Harry. The group of trained teenagers was ready as Harry locked eyes with the snake-man hybrid, before asking "ARE YOU READY?"
Tom laughed a high pitch laugh, which made the ones standing closest to him stop fighting to turn to see the actual Dark Lord as many students and adults on the 'light' side had never actually seen him. The death eaters took advantage of their lapse of concentration and the light side suffered it worse immediate losses of the day.
Harry, now flanked by Ron and Hermione, Ginny, Madison, Mason, and Draco walked toward the man. "ENOUGH!" shouted Harry. "IT IS TIME TO END THIS NOW TOM!" Riddle laughed again, and knowing his love for Ginny, shot a cutting curse at her, cutting her face from the top of the ear to the corner of her mouth. Before Harry could see it, she did a glamour charm and it appeared as though Tom had missed her completely. She smiled at him sweetly.
Glancing at her for a split-second, he saw nothing but her beautiful face. Harry, confident that she was not harmed, returned his attention to the evil that was now staring at him. Feeling that it was now or never, he broke from the group and walked to within twenty feet of the thing that had killed his parents; who ordered the death of countless people; that had instilled fear of a name. Harry felt cocky as he remembered Ron's strategy to bait the dark wizard. "So, you can't even hit a teenage girl? Not up to your standards by any means Tom. I would have thought you more powerful than that." Riddle stared unblinking at him.
"I did hit her; do not concern yourself. She will bleed to death before she lets you see it however." he taunted him. While the two powerful wizards bantered back and forth, Madison and Mason touched Ginny's face. A short glow from the tip of Draco's fingers closed the wound. Ginny reached in her pocket as did the others and drank the Preserver Potions as they took up their positions.
Remus realized that, intent on Voldemort, none of the teens had seen the snake. Running from the fight at hand, he entered Voldemort's line of vision for a split second. Grabbing Harry's sword from its scabbard, he turned for a moment and came around, cutting the great slithering snake in half. With a second swing, he cut its head in two, pinning the remains to the ground with the sword. Somewhere behind him, he heard a cry rise from two men. He had not given thought that they were both parsel mouths and could understand the snake's dying words. Turning he saw Voldemort cast a hex at him, but Harry blocked it, giving him time to run away from the immediate area. He had nothing to do with this part of the fight and knew he needed to be elsewhere.
The fight continued on the outskirts of the area. Those representing both sides that were too far out to realize what was happening continued to lay down their lives for what they believed. Remus found Rowan and tethered himself to her. The fighting was intense at this stage. Bodies were lying everywhere. Rather than go around, Remus and Rowan would stand on the fallen cloaked figures to fight any that still stood. They would be some of the last ones to shed the blood that they lawn could no longer absorb, as it now lay in ruins.
There were hundreds of people that would not realize that Harry and Voldemort were facing off at that point, and should retreat. Rowan had fought her way steadily away from the castle. Having now lost her knives and sword, she was now fighting hand to hand and magically. The light side was attempting to keep the outer edges of the fighters away from the teens and Voldemort. Remus was torn between doing what they had agreed to do in strategy plans and attempting to get back to the kids to help them. Praying all the while that they would be able to dispatch their enemy and the fighting would end soon.
Harry was to distract Voldemort long enough to let any remaining light side members who noticed the true fight begin to grab the injured or dead, clearing the grounds, either to apparate to St. Mungo's, or inside the Castle's make-shift hospital. There were red and gold sparks sent out over the grounds to alert any one left to leave immediately. It took time before the grounds held little save the bodies of the dead, a bleeding and bruised woman, a werewolf, an old man with half-moon spectacles, and seven teenagers, to complete the battle against hundreds upon hundreds of cloaked figures.
As the interior of the masses left, the outer edges of the battleground began to thin as well; either falling to death or having run for cover. When people left the fight, only then did most realize that Harry had engaged his prime target. Rowan watched, almost spellbound as the dream of so many months before unfolded before her.
The teens were slowly chanting "abundantia adfero abeo dedoceo cesso adamo", building in tempo and speed. Harry and the Dark Lord dueled. Harry, knowing his wand would be useless, only pulled it out momentarily to show his opponent just how strong he was without it. As they had practiced, Harry threw his wand behind him, easily caught by Ron and pocketed, and used only wandless magic against the man he wanted to hate. Harry's wandless magic was more controlled than that of his opponent and Riddle seemed momentarily impressed with the lack of need of a wand by his young adversary.
They hurled curses after hexes after charms at one another other, peppered by taunts. The battle went on for what seemed like hours, while the sun took a firm hold of the sky above them. The shield around the teens grew stronger as each round of the spell completed and began again. Voldemort screamed at his followers "KILL THEM!" before throwing another cutting curse at Harry. He dodged the curse and, as so many others had done, it hit the shield and rebounded to someone in the crowd. Harry did not spare a moment to see who had been hit.
Rowan, being so absorbed in the events playing out in front of her, did not see it until it was too late, feeling the curse rip apart her forearm. Remus wrapped it in a conjured bandage and continued to watch the determined teenager he loved so very much.
Spells rained down on the remaining Death Eaters from the turrets of the castle and every window as students and adults, who had sought refuge inside continued to fight from a distance, hoping to thin the opposing group somewhat without losing anymore on their side. It was working; Rowan and Remus were now fighting back to back against any they could manage to get close enough to. Remus worried for a moment that the students would hit one of them instead of the cloaked humans. They continued to fight but stayed just close enough to hear Harry yell at Lord Voldemort.
"TOM!" Harry screamed, "I FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE JUST A SICK AND TWISTED PERSON WHO WASN'T TAUGHT ANY BETTER." He yelled between his defensive moves. The curses from the Dark Lord rarely connected with Harry's constantly moving form. More often than not, they were sent at the group of witches and wizards in the circle, rebounded and ended up hitting the outer circle of faithful followers. Person after person fell as they were hit either by a curse hurled by their master or someone else as it bounced off of the shield, several grazing Remus and Rowan.
"I don't want your forgiveness. You should hate me for what I have done to you for so long!" Tom said to the moving target. "I want you to hate me."
The exhausted teens had been fighting for just over nine hours found their rings secure as Harry moved to stand directly in front of his circle of friends, feeling the edge of the protective circle, he said loudly, but calm and clear so the death eaters could hear him too. "But I don't. I don't hate you. I forgive you for being a sadistic, vicious, half-blood, bringer of evil. I forgive you…"
Voldemort was incensed. He would tolerate this no longer; he raised his wand and in a final attempt to bring this boy to his destiny shouted "AVARDA KADAVERA!" The green bolt of death shot out of his wand hit Harry squarely in the chest. The protective mail covering him opened and charred as the force of the curse hurtled the dark haired wizard up and into the light of the circle of friends.
The light enveloped him. Raising him, giving him life, protecting him from death with the love of his friends, the light intensified as it infused his body. Voldemort stared as did what was left of his followers at the boy and the other children. It was over, he had won. His laughter filled the morning air. Declaring his victory to the assembled crowd, he called for them to storm the castle.
No one moved on the front lawn that moment. Rowan did not take her eyes from the sight as the light set Harry down on his feet fully alert in the center of the protection. He closed his eyes, raising his hand high above him to gather the light into a ball. A light of love, trust, and friendship, swirled in his hand, condensing the power to an incredible orb. Harry, eyes still closed, threw the orb as hard as he could.
Silver agony and purple smoke overtook the scene as it hit Tom Riddle in the chest, as surely as his curse had hit Harry moments before, and entered his heart. The light fought the darkness within. The light, overpowering the dark, ripped through his pores, blinding those around him. The group of teenagers still chanting, urging their feelings into the force of the light, with eyes closed, did not see what the charm did.
They did not see the intense light exploding from within the body before them.
They did not hear the gunshot as Rowan took careful aim to put the man out of his misery, missing him and hitting someone across the way.
They did not see the final great burst of love as the light enveloped the Dark Lord, burning him from within.
They did not watch, as the Death Eaters, Remus, Rowan, Dumbledore, and those watching in the castle did. A single ash floated to the ground in the still of the morning. But they each sensed it was over as Harry collapsed first, and like dominoes falling, the circle fell upon itself.
