Author's Note: Look how close we are people, only a couple chapters left. Again this chapter is shorter because of the ending that I wanted (another cliffy, made not as bad as the last one though – I love being able to write cliffy's )

Special thanks to Howl for helping me with the violence of the chapter and the constructive criticism and another special thanks to golden enki for the help.

Chapter 35

No Rest for the Weary

The night was long and stressful, the Demons were on guard now until dawn; there would be no rest for the weary. As the night grew darker and colder, the tension in the air grew so thick it could be cut through with a knife. The students who would be allowed to fight were moved to the Great Hall (the real one above ground) and the rest of the students were moved to the dungeons near an emergency exit, for a quick escape; they prayed none would be needed.

Every Demon that had the ability to fly were stationed up above, wings glittering brightly in the starlight, weapons of their choice glinting dangerously in the moonlight. The sparse Water Demons had taken it upon themselves to watch from the streams and rivers; they knew enemies could be lurking anywhere. But even with the extra watch duties and building tensions, the Demons still remained in very good humor. Late that night, there were about 100 Demons not patrolling, including Ashitaka and Lea.They created a bonfire, glowing abnormally bright, even as dark as the night was.

Their voices rose, carrying up towards the heavens, exotic, tantalizing rhythms telling stories, recreating their ancient history, their forgotten lore. A space around the burning wood cleared and dances began; smooth, graceful movements that carried them over the human Earth, teasing her with the beauty of their presence, resting up her sturdy ground, if only briefly.

"How can they be dancing at a time like this?" Ron whispered venomously, glaring darkly at the laughing figures.

"If they die tomorrow, they want to know that their last night was joyous not sad," Hermione was far from upset about Ron's disbelieve in their unfamiliar ways, she knew what it felt like to be in the middle of their culture and feel very alienated.

He snorted at her, and neither made an attempt to strike up conversation again.

"Hermione?" Harry asked softly, "Have you ever heard of the Forgotten Prophecy?"

"Well, yes…why?"

"I heard some Demons talking about it, what is it?"

"I don't know it word for word, actually, I don't know it at all, what did these Demons say about it?"

"I didn't really catch much but something about an exiled Prince and the end of the world, nothing important."

She smiled at his feeble attempt to lighten the mood. It almost worked.

"We should go down to the Great Hall to get some sleep," Ron didn't even need to add that they would need it.

………

Dawn came fast. Along with it came the woes of war. Their formation was simple, the Hogwarts students allowed to fight were on the roofs with visual magnifying and aiming spells –they were only aloud to stun- at the ready. Wind and Bird Demons hovered over the main army. In the front were the archers and Fire Demons, in the back the Earth Demons were preparing bombs of poison. Severus Snape or Price Ashitaka was no where in sight.

Lea was at the head, dressed for war. Black, tight shorts, and a short that cut off just below the breast in a V-shape, was all she wore. Her skin was tinted blue and the Symbols for Wind was painted on her face and stomach. Her black hair was cut short, to her chin and pulled back into a tight ponytail. She bore only her dagger and a sword, hovering inches above the ground shouting orders at the clumsy Humans from the Order that stood next to her.

As her last bellow died away, a trembling silence ensued, deafening and eerie in all ways as it blanketed the castle with tension that was to the extremes.

And then….

There it was….

It came softly at first, nothing but background music that would have gone by unheard by the human ear, but not all among them were Humans. Slowly the cackle grew until it echoed across the grounds, "Fear…." A cold voice that was all too familiar to some ears spoke, "the castle is ranked with it,"

The Dark Lord and his minions had finally come.

………

There was always one pleasantry about being a double agent, he decided, free good. Well you're human after all, Snape, he chided himself, the Humans are on the brink of destruction and you have been tempted by food. It was tradition, he guessed, to feast the night before the attack, but whatever the house elves put into the food it was positively delicious, and he never thought he would say that about something coming out of Lord Voldemorts castle.

"You are ready then, Severus?" the Dark Lord watched him finish off his wine and wave to the house elf to carry it away.

"More than ready, my Lord, I've been planning this day for a very long time, it will be nice to finally get my revenge," score one for sounding like the perfect Death Eater.

Voldemort smiled, wickedly, "That is nice to know, you have told me now that Dumbledore has aligned himself with the Demons, is that right?"

"Old fool, those monsters are liable to turn on him as soon as they get the chance," score two for acting like a Demon-hater.

"Don't underestimate them, Severus; they are stronger than they appear. I fear…" he trailed off for a moment, "I fear that the Forgotten Prophecy will be fulfilled tonight."

"Forgotten Prophecy, my lord? I was aware that a prophecy would be fulfilled but I don't recognize that of which you speak." But he had heard of the Prophecy of the Forgotten (no one ever got the name right) and he had long ago wished to put it out of his mind, he had hoped to change the prophecy, but it seemed Fate was not on his side for that matter.

"It's a Demon Prophecy," he sighed, "no time to dwell, the battle is about to begin."

………

"Come out you cowardly dog, or do I have to send my people in to burn you out," Lea's voice echoed back and the wind picked up around her as her anger flared.

Their was a deep laughter again and out of the shadows of the woods waltzed out, rather casually, none other than the Dark Lord himself, "You talk big for such a little girl."

"I'm surprised you aren't hiding behind your people, you tend to do that so often."

"You don't even know me," he sneered, around him the shadows were moving, cloaked, unmasked figures stepped out of the woods, wands already at the ready, curses already staining their sinners lips. One was a very familiar face as he stepped out to take his place at the Dark Lord's side.

Lea's eyes went wide, "Severus," he initial shock disappeared when he smiled cockily, "you traitorous BASTARD!"

To everyone's surprise that got a cold laugh out of him, "You always were so naïve, Castel; I should have known you would be a Human's lap dog,"

She visible fumed at that and the wind picked up even stronger, blowing back many of the Death Eaters, Severus stood his ground, "Enough with the small talk, Voldemort, attack or we attack first,"

Voldemort smirked and casually raised his hand, "Ready……begin."

………

The DE's blindly charged forward with a cry, all except one. Silently he ducked around Voldemort in the process his disguise slipping off, he crouched down in the darkness and when he was sure the Dark Lord's back was turned he pounced out like a cat. He grabbed his shoulders and firmly placed his feet on the man's back and then with all his might he pushed forward on the spine while pulling back with his shoulders. The cry of surprise and pain that escaped Voldemorts lips was one not often heard and a sound that was treasured by his enemies.

Just as Voldemort spun around, Ash leaped off his back skidding to a halt in a crouch position, sliding across the forest floor. The two stood frozen, staring each other down waiting for one or the other to make the first move. Neither did, slowly Ash took a step back as if testing how much he could move without provoking an attack out of the wild beast before him, "This is unwise, boy," Voldemort said, slightly out of breath, "do you know who I am?"

Ash didn't speak, knowing his voice would give him away immediately, "May Filiolus quod Dea vomica vos (May the Gods and Goddesses curse you)," he whispered making his voice slightly deeper than it actually was. The shock on Voldemort's face gave him the open opportunity he wanted, he lunged and as his dagger struck shield a light flared out, bright enough for the battle to cease. They all turned towards the source of the light to see Voldemort, slightly bent backwards as vines entwined around his arms and legs, thorns biting into his flesh. Ashitaka still held his arms with one hand the other pressing a dagger, hard to his throat, "Call them back," he whispered heatedly, "pull back or I swear to the Gods I'll kill you right where you stand,"

Voldemort didn't have to call the order, the Death Eaters pulled away immediately swarming to their masters aid, Ash took that opportunity to leap to impossibly high heights and land gracefully in the middle of the now empty field. As soon as Ash had left the vines retreated, sending one last snap at Voldemort's legs.

………

Hermione's initial reacted was to sigh in relief, she had for a moment honestly thought that Professor Snape really had turned, but she should have known better. He was dressed different too, she realize and even from here she could hear the girls exclaiming, "He cut his hair," his hair was short, shaggy and messy it hit the middle of his ears, bangs falling untidily in his eyes. He simply wore black breeches, boots and a quarter length shirt (that being in muggle terms, the length of the sleeve was somewhere between short sleeve and tank top) so the vines were visible all the way up his arms. The only make-up he wore was a simple vine pattern drawn coming from his forehead and covering the right side of his face. He would have looked harmless if not for the dagger he held in his hand, his only weapon.

"Severus…." Voldemort's voice had gained some of its malice back as he came forward to stand in front of the Exiled Prince of the Demons. Just then, instead of attacking him like she expected him, Ash tossed his dagger in the air and caught it by the blade and then through it into the ground.

"You should know, my Lord, I did that only as a precaution," from where the dagger landed a beam of light went up and around, creating a shield around Voldemort and himself, "I will always be on your side, I had to show my true colors some time, I couldn't well just betray my people, I had to do it with stealth, you should know that."

Voldemort laughed at that and then watched with interest as a captured Lea fought one of the guards as she was dropped next to the Dark Lord. Her hands were the only thing tied, but it was enough to prohibit her from using her magic, "So what are we waiting for, you could easily destroy everyone right now,"

"That wouldn't be fun, now would it?" he smirked, "Besides there are some people that are going to come take care of that for me, they should be here fairly soon, so we can just sit around and wait, can we not?"

"Of course we can. You know, I thought I had you figured, Severus, I never knew you to be so honest."

"Me? No, I'm dishonest," he began circling them, "and a dishonest person you can always trust to be dishonest, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for," he locked eyes with Lea nodding slightly, "because you never know when they are going to do something incredibly," he pulled out a dagger, "stupid," and then in one quick motion brought up his hand and push the Dark Lord forward all the while cutting Lea loose,"

Voldemort lunged as Ash pushed her away, he turned just in time to lock daggers, they were only inches apart, glaring with all the hate and anger they could muster, "How long ago was it that I told you that quote would come back to haunt you, eh? 15 years now?"

"Traitor,"

"Witch,"

They both pulled apart then, "You can't defeat me, Severus,"

"Of course not," he lunged again, but instead of hitting Voldemort he leaped past him and in one fluid motion, jumped into the air, turning so he was facing his enemy and chucking the dagger. It grazed his shoulder, leaving nothing but a simple flesh wound.

Before Ash even landed on the ground Voldemort had his wand out and was shooting a curse. Ash just managed to dodge it before catching sight of Lea, "Get the hell out of here, get outside the barrier!" he quickly dodged another familiar green ray of light.

"And leave you in here with that? LIKE HELL I WON'T!"

"I can handle it, get out of here, make sure," his words were cut off as a Crucio curse brushed his arm and sent a sudden jolt of pain, "make sure the students are safe and get the HELL OUT!"

He turned his attention away from her then, knowing (or praying) that she would leave and let him handle it, and she did….surprisingly.

Outside the barriers a battle had begun, but now that the Dark Lord was in a battle of his own, his minions had lost their sense, they were running blindly for their enemies, usually missing and sometimes hitting their own with killing curses. In the better part of 15 minutes they were either knocked-out, dead or run away. Lea staggered out just as the 'battle' was ended, all they head left to do now was wait and pray that Ash would come out victorious.

So they watched.

………

Ash dodged a curse, leaped to the side, rolling with skill underneath another before coming to his feet and snapping his fingers, he realized he needed to get the upper hand fast, the flames exploded from his fingertips and set a ring of grass around Voldemort on fire, to bad it missed the actual target.

"If I knew you before I would say you were loosing your touch, Severus, or is it Prince Ashitaka now?"

He didn't answer, but straightened and held out his hand as if ready to snap, neither moved and then as if to through him off guard Voldemort whipped his wand around but Ash was faster, "Too slow," and he snapped, that gave him the upper hand.

"That was a cheap shot," Voldemort said snidely.

"In war, its kill or be killed, there are no cheap shots," he snapped again and Voldemort was forced to dive before sending his own curse.

In one fluid motion he clapped his hands and slammed them on the ground forming a wall between the two of them. He clapped again and created himself a staff out of the strong earth. The curse shattered the wall and the next one was easily blocked by the spinning of the wooden weapon that he wielded.

The battle went on as such for the next hour, all the reset of them could was watch as Voldemort took what would be a fatal blow if he wasn't a monster, to the head and Ash had taken many minor blows himself. Neither party was going to relent, this would be no negotiating battles, it would be a fight to the death.

End Chapter 35

No Rest for the Weary

Note, yes I did borrow some lines from both Fullmetal Alchemist and Pirates of the Caribbean, I claim not their brilliancy.