Disclaimer: You've heard this before, guys. Isn't mine. How depressing (for me, that is).

A few hours later, they had contacted as many members of the Order as they could to warn them of tomorrow's coming attack. They said a Death Eater member of the Order had found themselves having a change of heart and warned them. They didn't want Voldemort knowing about Gin for as long as possible, if there was indeed a spy among them.

When they had finished warning everyone they could track down, Malfoy asked to use the floo.

Gin turned to look at him. "Oh, Draco," she said, looking sorrowful, " I'd forgotten."

He took some powder and shouted at the fire, "Malfoy Manor."

Harry recognized the woman in sitting room as Draco's mother, Narcissa. She was already pale, but seeing Malfoy made her lose even more color.

"Hello," Draco said quietly.

"Are- Are you a relation of my husband?" she asked him, looking terribly frightened.

"Yes," he said, after considering. "I'm here to help you."

"If you want to help me," she said. "Find my son."

Malfoy considered, smiling slightly. "Oh, he'll manage. Right now, I'm more worried about you. Come on," he said, reaching out to her. "You'll be safer where I am."

"I don't know," she said, looking ever more frightened. "Maybe I should pack some…"

"Come on," he said, gently but firmly. "I only want to help you."

Gin whispered to Remus, who was standing beside her. "In our time, she was killed soon after this."

Narcissa finally nodded and climbed through the floo.

As soon as she was standing in front of her, Malfoy embraced her. She stiffened. "Hello, mum," he said.

"Draco?" she said. "How can you-"

"It's a long story," he said, smiling a little.

"Now, then," Gin was saying, after she had gathered together everyone who was still in the castle and could fight. "I think we should go into this with at least something resembling a plan."

"Generally we-" Ron began.

"I know what you usually do, Ron," Gin replied. "I was with you and your and friends most of the time. That is not a plan. And what the Order generally did does not count as a plan either, Remus," she added when he opened his mouth.

"Ah," he said.

Malfoy seemed to be the only one who understood what she'd meant. "I'm going after my father. He was here tonight, probably in a final attempt to reingratiate himself with the Dark Lord."

Gin shook her head, smiling a little. "Such a lovely family you have there, Draco."

"How about you?" he asked.

She smiled craftily. "I was thinking of Bellatrix."

Lupin raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you should-"

Gin patted him on the shoulder. "I killed her once, I can do it again." she told him. "What about you?"

Lupin shrugged and then imitated Gin, saying, "I was thinking of Greyback."

"Good one," she said. After that, Fleur, McGonagall, Hermione, Ron, and the various other Weasley's chose several less important death eaters apiece.

"I'm going after Snape," Harry said flatly.

Gin gave him a sad look. "Oh, I'd almost forgotten," she said. "I think I'd better do that. I need to talk to him."

"You don't think I can do it?" Harry asked through gritted teeth.

"I'm not saying that, Harry. I'm just saying there are a lot of things that need to be cleared up. I promise you will get closure about what happened to Dumbledore. I promise."

There was something in her expression that made him nod.

"All right. I'm going after Snape, then." She said, sighing quietly. "That leave's Bellatrix a lot of time to do damage. I want her dueling from the start."

"I'll do it," Lupin said.

She shook her head. "And before you say anything, you can't, Harry. I have something else for you to do, and I promise you'll get plenty of action eventually."

Harry was not pleased, but he said nothing.

Hermione volunteered. "I'm sure I could," she said, quietly.

Gin looked at her. "I know you could. At this point, no one quite knows everything you're capable of. Still, there are a lot of very important things for you to do in this battle. I don't want risk it."

"Who, then?" McGonagall asked.

"I'm not sure, unless…" her voice trailed off as she thought. "Unless," she said again, more firmly, and left the room.

Gin sat down next to Nymphadora Tonks where she crouched in the dungeons. Tonks looked up at her. "You here to kill me?"

Gin shook her head. "I'm going to ask you a favor." When Tonks stared at her incredulously, she put her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "I know why you did it," she said. "And I understand better than you know. So, I'm asking you, could you really give a damn about their cause?"

Tonks shook her head. "I'd fight them, but-"

"But?" Gin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"But I don't know how we could possibly win. Every one of these people could die, and Remus may be able to do that, fight with that knowledge, but I'm not so sure. I'm just trying to preserve something I care about." She wiped away a tear that was sliding down her cheek.

Gin hugged her shoulders. "I know. But Voldemort is not known for keeping his word. I don't think he'd let anyone live."

Tonks nodded. "I was a fool. I know that, but now I'm so deep into this mess that I don't know if I can get out." She shrugged, wiping her eyes again. "Unless I get myself killed, of course."

Gin smiled, a little sadly. "Let me tell you what. Help us when they come. I can guarantee you that even in the worst case scenario the Order survives for ten more years, and we can protect you. I can't guarantee anything else, even whether you'll live or not, but, then again, it's as good a way to get yourself killed as any."

Tonks nodded. "What do you want me to do?"

Gin took her by the shoulders. "I need you to hold Bellatrix for me. It will only be for a few minutes."

Tonks nodded again. "To tell you the truth, I've wanted to fight her for a very long time."

Not long after, everyone was assembled in the Great Hall.

"All right," Gin said. "According to the version of events I know, nearly all the death eaters come straight in through the front doors. I want guards there and all the way down the hall, but you all should fall back until you get to the Great Hall. That's a fairly good place to make a stand. Snape will come through a more difficult to find door because he knows the castle better. I'll be able to meet him. Other than that, I want everyone waiting for the death eaters in or on the way to the Great Hall. Except you, Harry."

Harry looked up from where he was sitting. "W-What do I do?"

"There is something in the castle that the death eaters want. You need to find it and destroy it, or at least bring it to me."

"I'm not going if you won't tell me what is," Harry said.

She nodded. "Of course. But it would be so much easier if I could just show you." And then she grabbed his arm, a little roughly.

He saw a small, rectangular box. It was made of a metal darker than silver, possibly iron, and it was deeply engraved with Celtic knot work along its border and edges, with two dragons on it, facing each other, their scales made of diamonds and black jewels he didn't recognize. A bird flew between them, holding in its claws a large sapphire. As he watched, two pale hands, belonging to a woman he could not see, opened it by touching the keyhole with her finger. The box opened, and Harry saw that it contained nothing, but was lined with black velvet, indented as if it had been filled for quite some time. The woman placed a small vial, filled with clear liquid and half empty, back in the box. Then she closed it, and Gin let go of his arm.

"Wow," he said quietly. "I don't know if I'll get used to you doing that anytime soon. Where can I find that box?"

"It is in a part of Dumbledore's office that is locked by password. The reason I needed you to wait for the attack to go looking for it is because I don't know the password, but the Order has a spy in Voldemort's ranks too, and he has spent the last few months finding out what it is. He needed this to contact us."

"Who told him to find out the password?" Harry asked.

"I did," Lupin said. He must have guessed what they were talking about. "I understand why Dumbledore wanted to keep it where it couldn't fall into the wrong hands, such as it is, but it needs to be destroyed. Now. On that note, Harry, you are by no means to bring it back. Destroy it as soon as you find it. Don't think twice about it, and you are not to open that box."

"Professor, I don't know if I can destroy something without even knowing what it is," Harry said.

"That's why I offered for him to bring it to me," Gin said.

"I know," Lupin said. "But it would be much more difficult to destroy it knowing what it is. I am having a difficult enough time farewelling the concept as it is. Harry, it must be enough for you to know that it is one of Voldemort's Horcruxes and must be destroyed."

"Why that box, or vial, or whatever?" Harry asked.

"Well," Lupin said. "I expect it was for several reasons. One, it is something belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw. Two, its nature is such that Lord Voldemort does not believe we would destroy it. Its continuing presence is evidence that Dumbledore couldn't, and heaven knows I couldn't, knowing what it is."

"We must not let Voldemort get it back," Gin added.

"Why is he coming for it now?" Harry asked.

"It is my belief," Gin said, clearly more to Lupin and those in the room who knew what the box contained than Harry, "That he intends to use it."

"Ah," Lupin said. "We've been prepared from that eventuality for some time. To answer a question you might have, Harry, I know so much about it because I was the one Dumbledore originally asked to steal it from the keeper to whom Voldemort had given it. He asked me to do so in order to keep us from the horrors that would result. That said, Harry, you need to destroy it. We will tell you what it is, or was, when this is over."

Harry nodded.

"Now," Gin said. "Everyone to their posts. Harry, I want you to go up to the Headmaster's old office. Find a door with the tapestry of a black phoenix over it. Now take this-" she handed him a small stone- "And keep your hand on it always. When I know the password, I'll use it to tell you."

Harry nodded, and headed to Dumbledore's old office. He saw everyone else either position themselves behind tables in the Hall or head to the hallway outside the Great Hall. It seemed to take forever to reach the office.

Hurriedly spitting out the password, he climbed the stairs and entered the room. McGonagall had yet to redecorate it, and the only change he recognized was that Dumbledore's portrait was now on the wall. The Headmaster was smiling benevolently at him.

"Won't tell me the password?" he asked, looking at the tapestry he'd been charged to find. Dumbledore shook his head. "Why you trusted Snape?" He shook his head again. Harry sighed. "There's a portrait of you in the hallway leading up to the Great Hall, isn't there?"

"Yes," Dumbledore replied.

"Could you go keep an eye on the battle for me?" Harry asked. He wanted to know if anyone was killed, and he didn't want the Headmaster watching him.

Dumbledore nodded and departed.

Harry removed the tapestry and sat down, leaning against the wall behind him. He held the stone in his hand. "And now," he said to himself, "I just have to wait."

"I would never have done that," one of the Headmasters said. "Run from a battle to hide here."

Harry glared at him. "Will you shut up?"

It was not long before Dumbledore returned. "There's been a heavy fire fight, and the Order's been driven back, but no one's hurt. I'm assuming you planned to fall back?" he said.

"Yes, sir," Harry said quietly. Dumbledore departed once again.

About five minutes later Dumbledore was back. "A young lady I don't know has left the hall. I believe, however, that she is a Weasley."

"That's great, sir," Harry said. Again the headmaster left. It wouldn't be long before Gin told him the password. He closed his eyes, praying no one got hurt. When he opened them again, Dumbledore was peering at him.

"If you would like a detailed explanation of what is occurring, Remus is dueling Fenrir Greyback, and is having quite a time keeping him from biting anyone, a young man I'm not certain I know is fighting Lucius, Nymphadora is dueling Bellatrix and I am afraid she may be loosing, several other death eaters are also locked in battle, a few are down, and Miss Granger has brought down several in the past few minutes."

So everything was going as planned. Harry mustered some enthusiasm. "Good. Go back now." And he did.

Harry suddenly felt the stone in his hand grow warm. He heard Gin's voice in his head. "Atrum Phoenix Carmen. That's the password." Then, the stone grew cold again.

Harry stood, held his hand above the door, and said, "Atrum Phoenix Carmen," very firmly. The door swung open. He found the box lying on the floor, covered in dust. He held out his wand, ready to destroy it. Suddenly, he heard a whisper, a woman, singing to him a language he did not know, but somehow he knew she was telling him to open the box. And he wanted to; the urge was almost over powering. He reached out, and, when he was inches from touching it, he remembered what he'd been told. "Don't think twice about it," Lupin had said. Harry knew he had to trust him. He destroyed it.

As soon as his spell hit the box a wave a blue light flew back at him, throwing him against the wall. He fell unconscious.

"Harry," he heard Dumbledore's voice wake him. "Harry!"

Harry's eyes snapped open. He pulled himself to a sitting position and stared at the empty doorway. The box and its contents had been destroyed.

Dumbledore was staring at him worriedly. "You must hurry," he said. "The battle is over."

Harry stood with great effort. "Is anyone hurt?"

"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are both unconscious, and nearly everyone is hurt, but not badly. By the look of him, I think Greyback bit someone-"

Harry did not hear any more. He ran down the stairs and to the Great Hall, shouting before he even saw anything. "Is everyone all right?" he asked the room in general. He was met by grim looks from everyone, including Gin, who had picked up an unconscious Bellatrix Lestrange under the armpits and was carrying her to a table. Blood was streaming down the side of her face. "More or less," she said.

"Are Ron and Hermione all right?" he asked.

Madame Promfrey was bending over Hermione. "They'll both live," she said quietly.

"And-" Harry stopped. He was just seen the end of the Great Hall. An enormous hole had been blown through the wall, to the outside. "What the hell happened?" he asked after a moment.

Malfoy limped toward him. He was covered in dust and scratches and his leg looked like it was broken in a dozen places. "My dear father was in quite a hurry to leave," he said, looking a little triumphant.

"Did he do that to you?" Harry asked, gesturing at the other's leg.

Draco looked around and pointed at a large stone from the wall. "That did that to me," he said grimly. Madame Promfrey moved to him, clucking her tongue.

Harry looked around. "He said Greyback had bitten someone."

Lupin nodded. He too was limping, and he was cradling his arm. "He did. Me. Luckily, it wasn't the first time."

Madame Promfrey handed Gin a pot of same mixture she'd used on Bill, and Gin wordlessly crossed the room, made Lupin sit down, and began to smear it on his arm. Before he could say anything she told him, "In my opinion I will always be your wife, and it will always be my job to do this kind of thing. Now then, Harry, did you destroy it?"

Harry nodded.

"Good. Now, how are we on prisoners? I got Bellatrix, I know that. And we have Severus. What else?"

"Greyback, though not for long," Lupin said, then, "Ow." Gin was still dabbing his arm with the ointment. She slapped his uninjured arm playfully.

"Don't be such a baby," she said.

"We have a few less important death eaters," McGonagall said. "And this man is dead."

"Who did that?" Tonks asked. Her arm appeared to be broken and she was covered in dust, Harry would learn, from being thrown against the wall by a very powerful spell.

Malfoy limped over and pulled a small, sharp piece of the wall out of the man's chest, fairly grinning. "Friendly fire, of a kind."

"Now," Gin said, looking up from her work on Lupin's arm. "We'll apprise Hermione and Ron of the situation when they wake up, but until then I think everyone deserves an explanation."

Author's Note: Sorry about the long delay. I'm not sure when I'll update again. By the way, Atrum Phoenix Carmen means Dark Phoenix Song, according to my translator. Don't hurt me if I'm wrong.