Chapter 22: Don't forget about me

The order rushed through the forest at lightning speed. They could see their destination in sight and they stealthily roamed toward their goal. Godric's Hollow sat hauntingly in the dark with nothing but a single light gleaming in its back window. Dumbledore saw the light and knew immediately that there must be gaurds around. The dark lord would never be ignorant enough to leave an entrance ungaurded. Albus raised his right hand signaling to the others to slow down and regard their surroundings. They knew the death eaters were lurking around every corner.

Suddenly a green curse flew out of a tree a mere fifteen feet infront of him and hit something to his right. Albus raised his wand and fired back, hearing an ear peircing screech and thud he knew whoever it was...was now dead.

"Albus!" He heard someone whisper his named frantically. He turned and there, where the orginal curse had flashed by him, was Professor McGonagall. He knelt beside her and quickly felt her pulse. There was none.

"You, "he pointed to the man standing on his left. "Stay here with her-"

"But Dumbledore, she's dead."

"I said stay with her!" Albus rose his voice angrily. He could not manage to keep the emotion from his voice as he mentally said his final goodbyes to greatest confidant and love.

He stood up quickly and rushed for the back door entrance to Godric's Hollow knowing fairly well what awaited him on the other side.

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The tears were coming and she couldn't hold them back. For the first time in a long while her mind wasn't helping her find a solution. Not even her extensive knowledge of the magical world could help her solve this puzzle that would ultimately lead to the deaths of so many. She could feel it in her bones that the battle was near. The only problem was... the would be hero of this 'battle' was locked in an office miles away from where he should be. Everyone was relying on her mind.

"I'm sorry Harry, I cannot, for the life of me, think of a way out of here!" Hermione was upset with herself for so many reasons.

Suddenly the trio heard a cry and stopped in their tracks. They looked to to the corner of the room. there sat Fawkes, the headmaster's phoenix. The sound was unnerving and shook the three deep down.

"Why is he crying? This is making me more sad than before." Ron said slumping down further into his chair.

"A phoenix cries when its owner or loved one dies. Its mourning." As Hermione stated the textbook answer, she realized the monumentality of her statement.

"So that means..."

"Albus Dumbledore is gone?" Magillicutty asked from the frame on the wall.

The room became instantly silent. Everyone took a moment of silence as they all mourned for their headmaster. Suddenly the lock twisted on the door, and it creaked as the door swung open to reveal an unblocked passage way.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at each other. As their eyes met they decided on the plan at hand.

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