17 Morsmordre

Professors Flitwick, Slughorn, Sprout and Madam Hooch joined by The Order were soon on the grounds to counter the Death Eaters. Their strikes were sporadic throughout the school. Professor McGonagall was unable to determine their plan of attack.

A dozen Death Eaters managed to herd a group of frightened students into the Great Hall.

"Morsmordre," one of them cackled, pointing a wand at a broken window.

The Dark Mark formed once more over the Astronomy Tower.

Dawlish stalked the third floor corridor. A couple of students lay unmoving on either side of him. A flash of light came from a doorway and a Death Eater appeared. Dawlish crouched and pointed his wand. The Death Eater collapsed on the threshold before he could get off a spell.

Dawlish crept into the room. Slughorn was in the corner, shielding a huddled group of students with his ample bulk. Dawlish looked to the Death Eater. "Slughorn, I didn't know you had it in you."

"It's easy when you're cornered," he groaned.

Nearly Headless Nick swooped into the room.

"There's trouble in the Great Hall, they've rounded up some frightened students. The Dark Mark is upon us. Your best approach will be from the Staff tables."

Dawlish turned to the students. "Hide yourselves or help the injured. They're a long way from taking the school from me," Dawlish growled.

Dawlish and Slughorn left for the Great Hall.

"You mean from us," the Hufflepuff girl from Diagon Alley said softly as she followed them out.

Moody chased Alecto to the stairs. She narrowly missed him with a spectacular violet spell, shattering stonework all over the ex-Auror.

Mad-Eye rapped the banister with his staff. The stairs swung halfway to the next landing and stopped. Alecto caught herself in time. Trapped, she turned towards Moody. Moody put up a stout shield.

"Face me now or jump and join your brother. It's only seven floors," he roared as he clunked up the stairs.

The sword of Godric Gryffindor clattered down the stone steps of the castle. Harry had managed to strike him seven times before the sword became too hot to grasp. What had once been Tom Riddle crumpled onto the blood spattered flagstones. The massive Oak doors of the entrance hall burst open. Voldemort's followers spilled out onto the stone walk never to rise again.

An unlikely pair stumbled out after them.

"Hold me steady, Longbottom!" Moody growled. With his wooden leg shattered by a Reductor Curse he was being held up by a dirty, grim faced Neville Longbottom. Mad-Eye was unstoppable, picking off the masked invaders with the Avada Kedavra curse.

"Look at the Astronomy Tower!" a deep voice boomed. The skull of the Dark Mark had been split in two by a huge dagger and the snake had turned to blood.

Harry heard shouts and chants from all around the Astronomy Tower as the violence renewed itself. Something slammed into him, shooting up his spine. He fell to his side, unable to move.

Harry watched helplessly as a mob of Death Eaters gathered around Voldemort. They levitated their fallen leader and formed a procession. The column began to march away from the school towards the lake.

Dean Thomas got to Harry first and cast up a shield charm around him. The retreating Death Eaters ignored them both.

The ground began to shake. A faint rumbling sound came from the forbidden forest. The rumbling stopped as quickly as it had begun. Ron looked towards the forest. A dark cloud spilled from the trees.

"Bats, blimey, I've never seen so many bats," Ron gasped, short of breath.

"Those aren't bats Ron," a battered Hermione answered. "They're arrows."

Scores of Death Eaters collapsed under the hail of arrows shot by the centaurs. Voldemort fell several times as his followers perished. Even this did not stop the survivors from pressing on. Carrying the Dark Lord in their arms as their magic failed them they disappeared into the fog shrouded mountains above the lake.