A/N Sorry this chapter is a bit late. I don't have Internet at home until tomorrow so I had to go somewhere to reread this chapter before I could post it. Anyway, enjoy Part Three of Four of the Final Battle.
Part Three: Reinforcements
The students of Hogwarts were frantically trying to take down the Death Eaters. They had them outnumbered, even with the addition of the other Death Eaters just arriving, but the students were separated from their peers and teachers, and they lacked experience. Dolohov and Luna had finally started coming across teachers and easily incapacitated them. Snape had joined them sometime after the Dark Mark had appeared in the sky. Minerva bustled through the corridor, trying to get to her students. She ran into Ginny and Neville, both wearing outfits she didn't recognize. They were part of the attack. Minerva fumbled in her robes for Hermione's wand to show them before they saw and stunned her.
The two students turned to her, about to cast stunners when she shouted, "Wait!"
She pulled Hermione's wand free, holding it out to the two Gryffindors. Ginny looked relieved and mumbled, "Thank Merlin. I did not want to hex you, professor."
"I would rather prefer my students be left alone, too," Minerva snapped.
"They aren't in real dangers. The Death Eaters won't cast anything but stunners. They have instructions not to kill," Neville said.
"I must protect them."
"I'm sorry, professor, but we can't let you do that. We won't attack you outright because you have Hermione's old wand but we can't let you interfere," Ginny said apologetically.
"I see. So, I must choose to allow my students to fight an army of Death Eaters?"
"They don't have to fight, Minerva," Hermione said, approaching from behind, "We only want Harry. It's time."
"Hermione. It's good to see you safe, but what in Merlin's name do you think you're doing, leading an attack on my students?" Minerva turned to face Hermione fully, observing the young witch. She looked so in control. Like a leader.
"It's time for this to be over. Everyone is tired of this war. The stage is set. Order the students to stand down, for their safety. We don't want to hurt them." Hermione waved her hand at Ginny and Neville, bidding them to continue patrolling. She had taken out a few teachers but there were still more. They wordlessly obeyed, moving past Minerva and Hermione herself.
"That power lies with Albus."
"He's dead. It falls to you. Order them to stop. This is your duty to them. I give you my word they will not be harmed." Hermione took a step forward. It was only now that Minerva noticed the elf behind her.
"Very well. Hermione, know that I respect you greatly for allowing me the chance to spare my students." Minerva drew her own wand, storing Hermione's in her sleeve and pressed the tip to her throat to amplify her voice. "Students of Hogwarts, this is Professor McGonagall. Professor Dumbledore is unable to make this announcement, so I am doing it in his stead. Do not fight the Death Eaters and you will not come to any harm. I repeat, do not fight the Death Eaters. It is the only way to guarantee your safety."
"Thank you, Minerva. I'd rather not see any of them injured. Don't worry, this will all be over soon." Hermione strode past Minerva, Aurion following dutifully behind her as she made her way to the courtyard. Minerva felt shame course through her at ordering the students to surrender. She knew it was for the best and that the Death Eaters weren't really evil, but the students didn't know that. They would think she handed them over to evil witches and wizards, but she would have to deal with that later.
As Minerva's order to surrender echoed off the stone walls of Hogwarts, students began lowering their wands in confusion. They would listen to the professor, they all respected her and knew whatever decision she made was always for them. The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw houses both stopped fighting. They were already losing the battle with the Death Eaters, and if they could guarantee their safety long enough to bide their time until another attack, they would. The Gryffindors, on the other hand, still pressed on. Bellatrix had joined the group and they were falling easily, but they did not give up. If they wouldn't protect themselves, no one would. They just needed to get to the other houses and group together. They were being picked off too easily because they couldn't all get through the door at once.
"STOP! Just stop! They only want one person!" Harry shouted; he turned to Bellatrix, asking, "You only want me, right?"
The dark witch nodded, a twisted smile on her face. Harry stepped through the small crowd of students, looking each of them in the eyes. Slowly, they lowered their wands, faces set with anger. They stopped fighting, though, against their instincts to protect one of their own. They all knew if they kept fighting, they would probably lose. They had learned that sometimes it was better to surrender so you could live to fight another day. Ron was the last to lower his wand, torn between defending his friend and waiting until he had a better opportunity. He waited, lowering his wand and staring hatefully at the Death Eaters.
It was in this way that the students of Hogwarts were herded into view of the courtyard, aside from Harry. He followed Bellatrix into the courtyard, jaw set with vicious determination. His eyes blazed and he held his wand tightly in his fingers. Voldemort was waiting for him and he would fulfill his destiny. The dark wizard looked different than Harry remembered. He actually looked...normal. Hermione was standing next to Voldemort and Harry looked at her. She had changed so much, in ways he hadn't noticed before. He supposed they both had. They had both grown in the time they had spent apart. Was it only a year ago he had begun to realize he was pushing her away? He wanted to say something to her, anything, but couldn't find the words. Harry stopped a few feet away from Voldemort, watching Bellatrix cross the remaining distance and standing at his other side. It was a fearsome sight.
Hermione felt a large buildup of magic, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. Magic swirled in her vision, distinct colors mixing together into one. The hairs on the back of her neck rose in warning. She hastily gathered as much magic as she could manage in those few seconds. She could only hope it was enough as she released it. The buildup of the magic and her own collided violently, reducing parts of the castle to rubble. Everyone was knocked to the ground by the force of it. Hermione's head spun, her ears rang, and her body hurt.
Hermione blinked the dust and smoke out of her eyes, trying to focus on anything but the ringing in her ears. A hand appeared in her vision, one she recognized as Bellatrix's. She took it and the dark witch pulled her to her feet, an arm around her waist keeping her upright. She saw ruby red lips move but her ears still wouldn't work. Bellatrix pointed to where Hermione had been standing only a few moments ago. Hermione followed the direction of Bellatrix's finger, seeing Aurion unconscious and under a large piece of debris. She choked back a sob, turning her face into Bellatrix. He was still alive, maybe, but she couldn't bear to look at what she had done.
"Easy, love. He's still alive. Most everyone else is getting up, except the Dark Lord and Potter. They aren't even moving."
"It's all my fault. I didn't have enough time to make a proper shield, I just reacted," Hermione lamented.
"You saved almost everyone here. Injuries can be healed. Death can't."
Hermione turned away from Bellatrix, surveying the area around her. Order members were scattered about, dead, unconscious, or just getting up. The Death Eaters were all fine and checking on the students. The teachers were doing the same, working alongside Death Eaters. Harry and the Dark Lord still hadn't moved. Hermione's gaze finally settled on Aurion and she drifted out of Bellatrix's arms to approach the elf. He was pale and blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. A large shadow appeared, growing smaller as it approached the castle. Everyone tilted their heads upward, exclaiming loudly at the sight before them.
Fred and George sat on Kyndet's back, the black dragon now large and terrifying. Hermione held up her arm as the powerful wingbeats kicked up dust and small debris. He landed behind Hermione, looming over her. Fred and George dismounted as Kyndet pushed his snout into Hermione's back gently. Bellatrix came to stand next to her, scratching the large dragon's chin. Hermione looked around at the ruined courtyard of Hogwarts. The Order members were gathering and Hermione could tell they were preparing for an attack. She stepped toward Aurion, dropping to her knees in front of him. She didn't know how to save him, herself, any of them. Hermione just wanted it all to be over.