Chapter 1: Plans Ruined

All Harry knew was that his scar suddenly felt like it was aflame, and he let out a pained yell. Then, the pain faded, and he could suddenly move again.
Malfoy had turned around, and was looking about wildly.

"Who's there?", he shouted, sounding terrified. "Who's – who's there?"

Dumbledore paled. 'It can't be'.

Harry threw off his cloak and yelled out the first spell he could think of.
"Expelliarmus!".

All Malfoy could do was gape as the red light rushed towards him. His wand was snatched out of his grasp, and Harry, with all his Seeker skills, neatly caught it.

"Professor, are you alright?", Harry called out, keeping his eyes trained on Malfoy. "Are you hurt?"

It took Dumbledore a moment to respond, as Harry, with all his good intentions, had sent months of plans tumbling down. Into a volcano.
"Yes, Harry. I'm fine. Be on guard. There will be more coming."

Harry took one look at his headmaster, and shook his head. They were in no condition to fight. Well, Dumbledore wasn't in any condition to fight, and it wouldn't matter if Harry fought.

After a split second, he aimed his own wand at the wall above the solitary entrance to the Astronomy Tower.
"Bombarda Maxima!"

The area above the entrance collapsed, blocking the doorway, and raising a whole lot of dust.

Dumbledore managed to find the energy to raise an eyebrow. "An admirable idea, my boy, but a single spell can clear that out."

"Dammit", murmured Harry. Then, his eyes fell on the broomsticks, and he slapped himself for not thinking of it before. Mentally, of course.
"The broomsticks, Professor!"

Harry ran over to the Headmaster, and helped him up and onto a broomstick. Then, he mounted the other, keeping one eye on Malfoy who was crying piteously on the ground, and the other on the Headmaster, who was alarmingly pale and slumped.

"Harry.", Dumbledore weakly said, jerking his head at Malfoy.

Harry cursed under his breath and pointed his wand at Malfoy.
"Locomotor!"

Malfoy slowly floated up a few inches. "Potter!", he yelled, his voice wobbly. "Potter, put me down this instant!"

Harry ignored the boy and turned towards Dumbledore. "Professor, lets go to the Hospital Wing."

Dumbledore nodded and kicked off. Harry followed the old man, astonished that even being weakened, he flew like a master.
Draco flew behind them, performing somersaults and almost hitting the walls of the castle, screaming like a little girl.

Madam Promfrey was nowhere in sight, so Harry helped the Headmaster onto a bed. He then tied Malfoy up, giving his wand to Dumbledore.
"Harry, be careful." Dumbledore said. "Find Severus, and bring him to me."

Harry nodded and ran out of the Hospital Wing. Everything was quiet, but as he neared the Astronomy Tower, shouted spells and yells became clearer.
It was only a guess, but Harry thought Snape would also be in the fight.

The first sign of the fight was an orange spell that Harry didn't recognize barely missing his head.
His next sign was a Reductor curse barreling towards Ginny.

"GINNY!", Harry yelled in panic. He rushed forward even as he knew there was no hope. At the very last second, Ginny somehow moved to let the curse miss her by a hair's breadth.

"Harry?", Ginny turned around. "What are you doing here? Where's Dumbledore?"

"How did you DO that?", Harry shouted, finally reaching her.

"Do what?", Ginny looked confused. "Oh, you mean the spell. We all drank that luck potion. Where's Dumbledore?! We need him!"

Harry grimaced. "Long story. Where's Snape?"

"SNAPE?", Ginny looked at him as if he was crazy, while simultaneously dodging a rouge Stunner. "SNAPE?"

"Again, long story. Where is he?"

"He went up the Tower. None of us can get there. There's some barrier, but Snape ran right though it as if it wasn't there!"

Harry scowled. Before he could answer, his scar screamed in agony. Or that might have just been him.
And suddenly, illogically, Harry knew the barrier wouldn't stop him. He pushed past Ginny, who had stepped towards him in concern.

"Harry?!", Ginny shouted, but he was already long gone.

Harry saw the rest of his friends, as he raced back to the Astronomy Tower. They too seemed to have an uncanny ability to dodge curses without even looking at them. However, they seemed to use up all their luck in this endeavor, as none of their curses seemed to be hitting either.

A large blonde Death Eater was firing off curses everywhere, and barely missing everyone. Including his fellow Death Eaters.

Harry almost reached the stairway when Bellatrix Lestrange came barreling down the stairs.

"Retreat! Retreat!", she screamed, and then saw Harry.

Harry's vison tunneled. All his saw was Sirius's face as he fell into the Veil.

"YOU! Reducto!"

Bellatrix batted it away like it was a pesky fly. "Does itsy baby Potter want to play? Sorry, honey, but I haven't got the time. Maybe later. Stupefy!"

There was nothing Harry could do at such close range. The Stunner was on him before he could react, and the last thing he remembered was the floor coming towards him. It was too fast.