::29::
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Naruto and Sai had reached the Room of Requirement, only to find an unexpected sight quite literally sitting before them. Harry pulled out his wand warily, Ron and Hermione following suit, but Harry had the suspicion that he wouldn't have to actually use it.
Draco Malfoy was sitting on the floor outside of where the door to the Room of Requirement usually appeared. Goyle was lying on his stomach beside him, but seemed to be out cold and Crabbe…well Harry honestly wasn't sure if Crabbe was alive or dead. It was a frightening revelation. Draco's hair and robes were disheveled and when he glanced up at Harry, Harry saw a large, purplish bruise spreading across his cheekbone.
"Potter." He acknowledged, without any of his usual malice.
"Malfoy." Harry said with a tip of his head.
Malfoy cast a glance around the group that had assembled before him. "Is that my wand?"
Harry tightened the grip of the wand in his hand. "Yeah."
Silence followed and when it became apparent that Malfoy was neither going to attack them nor explain what had happened to them, Hermione broke the silence. "Malfoy, what happened here?"
"I'd hate to say this…no, actually, I've got absolutely no problem saying this. You look completely knackered." Said Ron with a shake of his head.
Draco ran a hesitant finger along the bruise on his cheek before he stood up on wobbly legs. He looked back at the wall before he shook his head. "I…I can't remember."
Despite it being June, the air was cold and clear as it blew past those who were waiting upon the Astronomy Tower for the assault to begin. Kakashi looked out into the darkness but was only able to make out the vague shapes of the Scotland Highlands in the distance as no light emanating from the castle was able to penetrate the night.
But he could feel the magic and the chakra gathering in the waiting darkness and if that was anything to go by, then they were going to have a hell of a fight.
Kakashi turned to the twins who were squatting on the ground, sorting through a variety of equipment underneath the light coming from their wands.
"Are you ready?" Kakashi asked.
"Well," Said Fred. "We couldn't decide between the Exploding Pastels…"
"Or the Flaming Fireworks." Finished George.
"We decided on the Flaming Fireworks." Said Fred. "We have a better chance of setting someone on fire that way."
Kakashi couldn't find it in him to laugh at that moment.
Harry had just pulled open the doors to the Room of Requirement when a huge shockwave knocked him off his feet and had the objects inside the room tumbling to the ground. Harry picked himself up, stumbling as he did before he teared off through the corridor.
There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and it grew with each step that he took. Objects were scattered from the shockwaves that shook the castle, but as Harry rounded the corner into another corridor, he found scorch marks in the ground and in the blasted piles of objects around him that said someone had been carelessly throwing around curses recently.
'No no no no no…'
The statue of the funny looking wizard was untouched. His nose was just as big as Harry remembered and the wig on top of his head was just as outrageous and frilly as it had been on the day he had put it on the wizards head. But where the diadem once sat, there was nothing.
The Horcrux was gone. Someone had taken it.
Harry sank to the ground on his knees and let out a terrible scream that had been building in the back of his throat.
There were no battle cries. There were no trumpets sounded or drums pounding to signal the charge of the enemy. The battle for Hogwarts, the battle for the fate of the wizarding world began with silence.
Kakashi watched as a dazzling blue spell arched up from the invisible enemy lines toward the Astronomy Tower where it exploded over in a shower of blue and gold sparks as if it struck an invisible barrier. Several more followed suit, each exploding with a dull thud before it could touch the castle walls. How long would the barriers hold against such spells? Kakashi didn't know as the first wave of spells was followed by another that had the castle walls shaking as they made impact with the barriers.
Another spell had Kakashi and those on the Astronomy Tower stumbling backward as the force of it reverberated across the grounds.
"Get ready." Kakashi warned as he stepped backward, away from the railing of the tower. "It won't –"
A red spell hit the barrier, exploding against it with a low pitched boom that echoed off the distant mountains. The castle walls shook violently as they were hit with the aftershocks and red tendrils of magic raced along the barrier like cracks in an egg shell.
Then, the barrier, the first line of defense against Voldermort's troops exploded, lighting up the sky as magic sparked everywhere.
That's when the chaos began.
"Where's Malfoy?" Harry thundered as he emerged from the Room of Requirement, his green eyes ablaze and his wand drawn.
Ron, Hermione, Naruto and Sai turned to Harry, exchanging glances with each other as they did so. They had allowed Draco to leave when the walls begun to shake, pulling a still unconsious Goyle with him as he escaped into parts of the castle unknown. In fact, Naruto had almost felt sorry for the bastard, having been forced to leave his friend behind.
"Harry?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"Where is that bastard?!" Harry roared. "He has the diadem! I know he's got it!"
The color drained from both Ron and Hermione's faces as they absorbed Harry's words. "The Horcrux…it's…gone?" Ron whispered. "Who –"
"We have to find him!" Harry shouted as he began to angrily pace the hallway, ignoring the tremors that threatened to send them tumbling to their feet. "I have to find him. He's got the Horcrux!"
"Harry…" Said Naruto shaking his head. "That bastard didn't know whether he was coming or going…I don't think he had it…"
"He has it!" Harry shouted, pouncing on Naruto and sending them both tumbling to the ground. "He has to have it!"
"Harry!" Hermione shouted in alarm as Ron and Sai quickly hurried to pull a crazed Harry off of Naruto. "Harry, we can't do this right now!"
Harry pulled his arms free from Sai and Ron with a jerk, sending glares their way. He opened his mouth to begin shouting again when Hermione quickly put her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look her in the eyes. Her grip was like a vice on his head as she stared him down. "The snake, Harry." She said through the faint tremors in her voice. "The snake is our only option now. Please."
Harry stared at Hermione, finally taking a deep breath as he let the rage and desperation that had been clouding his brain escape. When he finally felt calm enough, he gave Hermione a small nod who returned it before pulling her hands away. Ron offered Harry a hand which Harry gratefully took and allowed the red-head to pull him to his feet.
"Sorry." He apologized. He gave Naruto a sheepish look before grimacing. "Sorry, Naruto. That was really uncalled for."
Naruto gave him a small grin before shrugging. "It's ok. I understand."
Harry took another deep breath. Someone had taken the last Horcrux. Harry didn't know who, but the fact was that it was gone. Malfoy had no recollection of what had happened to him other than that he had been planning on apprehending Harry in the Room of Requirement. It had been easy for Harry in his rage to latch onto Malfoy as the culprit, but now that he was thinking clearly, could Malfoy have really taken it? Or was it more likely that Malfoy had dueled whoever the really thief was? It would explain how Goyle ended up unconscious and Crabbe dead. It would also explain the spell marks in the Room of Requirement.
Had it been Voldemort? He was the only one who could have known the location. But how could he have slipped into the castle without anyone…without Harry knowing? Harry hadn't been pulled into his thoughts since he saw Voldemort leaving the Inferi filled lake where the locket was once hidden. If anything, Harry would have expected to feel some elation on Voldemort's part if he did get to the diadem.
So then what? He had someone retrieve the diadem for him? Perhaps placed someone under the Imperious Curse to get it for him? Had Snape gotten to it? The Carrows?
Thinking about all of it made Harry's head hurt as he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. And the fact was, Hermione was right. The shaking of the castle walls was getting more violent with every passing second which could only mean that Voldermort had begun his assault. Which meant that if Harry didn't hurry up and end this, a whole bunch of people – people that Harry cared about – were going to get hurt.
"Hermione's right." Said Harry, pulling his hands away from his face. "The snake is the only option we have right now."
Hogwarts had erupted in to chaos as the Death Eaters and ninja swarmed into Hogwarts like locusts in a plague.
The entrance doors had exploded backward off their hinges soon after the breakdown of the magical barriers and were now littered around the hall in smoldering piles. The suits of armor that McGonagall had summoned to protect the castle had been able to defend against the first wave of ninja that attempted to enter the castle, but they hadn't lasted long once the giants stormed out of the Forbidden Forest, each of their footsteps like an earthquake.
Screams and shouted curses echoed along the walls along with explosions that sounded off with deafening booms and left piles of debris and broken glass in their wake.
Fred and George had set off their first wave of Flaming Fireworks when the barriers had been broken, catching the ninja off guard. The grass beyond the entrance doors had erupted into fire, catching a few ninja by surprise as the flames caught their clothing. Their screams had echoed into the night and those that did manage to escape were soon cut down by the suits of armor.
Fred prepared his wand, ready to light off another wave of Flaming Fireworks when a burst of chakra sizzling in the air alerted Kakashi's senses.
"Fred!" Kakashi jumped, tackling the Weasley boy away from the edge of the tower just as a powerful Katon jutsu demolished a portion of the Astronomy Tower. Crumbling bricks fell into the darkness, the remainder of the Flaming Fireworks falling with them. George stumbled back from the void, his legs almost giving out beneath him.
"Bloody hell." George murmured in shock.
"Ugh." Fred groaned, putting a hand to his head as Kakashi rolled off of him and sprang to his feet. "Thanks for that one, mate."
George pulled Fred to his feet as Kakashi retrieved Fred's wand which had clattered away when he tackled him and shoved it back into the red-head's hand. "Get down into the castle, now."
Kakashi began pushing them toward the staircase, giving them no time to argue. "I'll be down there soon." He said, not wanting to tell them that they had more of a fighting chance within the confines of the castle rather than staying exposed up on the tower.
Fred and George exchanged glances before silently agreeing to obey Kakashi. They had just reached the staircase when George suddenly flicked his wand out. Kakashi turned in time to see a stunned Oto ninja fall backward off the tower. George shrugged and gave Kakashi a salute before they disappeared from view.
Kakashi turned, flipping over a kunai that would have ended up in his back if he had been a fraction of a second slower. Readying himself into a fighting stance, Kakashi briefly took note of the two ninja and one wizard that stood before him before the ninjas charged. They were fast, but they weren't as fast as Kakashi was. He used a shunshin to reappear behind one ninja and grabbed at his arm, swinging him around before throwing him into the other ninja who had turned around to attack Kakashi.
The ninja deftly avoided the collision while the one Kakashi had thrown careened, out of control until he smacked into the stone wall of the tower. Kakashi parried a kunai to his ribs and neck before he reached out and pulled the ninja down by the hitai-ate around his forehead.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Kakashi twisted around the Oto ninja in his grasp, using him for a shield as the wizard's spell hit the unsuspecting ninja. Kakashi tossed him to the ground, where he fell to the ground, dead before he backflipped and brought his hands through a series of hand seals.
"Katon: Karyuu Endan."
The flames ripped from Kakashi's mouth, causing the wizard to pull up a hasty shield. Although he had dark robes on, his lack of mask told Kakashi he wasn't dealing with a Death Eater, but perhaps one of the more competent Snatchers. Kakashi touched down on the ground, but didn't hesitate before pulling up his own hitai-ate and once again disappeared in another shunshin. This time, the wizard wasn't prepared as Kakashi appeared before him, his Sharingan eye spinning. Kakashi shoved his kunai in the wizard's neck before the Kanashibari could break.
He let out a weary sigh as the sticky heat of the wizard's blood coated his hand before he wretched the kunai out and discarded it on the ground.
As Harry, Ron, Hermione, Naruto and Sai descended into the lower levels of the castle, they realized that the battle had really and truly begun. The once orderly halls of Hogwarts were now littered with dust and debris and multi-colored jets of light as curses were thrown and shields conjured.
Harry jumped over a body that was lying in the hallway and he refused to look down, afraid that he would recognize whoever it was. A shuriken whizzed precariously past Hermione's ear, but when she turned to fend off her attacker, wand shaking in her hand, there was no one in their midst.
"Where to now?" Naruto asked, gripping a kunai tightly in his hand as he stared down the final staircase that would lead them to the heart of the battle.
"To Voldermort…and Nagini." Said Harry as apprehension and adrenaline raced through his body.
"I doubt he's down there." Said Ron shaking his head toward the staircase. "Like any good general, he wouldn't ride into battle with this lot. He's probably waiting it out somewhere, waiting until –"
A stray Killing Curse hit the area where Ron was previously standing, had not Naruto and Sai pushed the three wizards into a small niche next to the staircase. Both ninja had kunai out and stood with their backs to the wizards, blocking them from any potential attackers.
"Use your mind, Harry." Said Hermione quickly. "Tell us where Vol…Voldermort is." She said.
"What?" Said Harry incredulously. "For years, Hermione, you've been telling me to block my mind and now –"
"Oh, just do it, Harry!" Hermione snapped. "We haven't got the time!"
Harry closed his eyes and this time, more than ever it was so easy to delve into Voldermort's mind. He found the Dark Lord sitting calmly, surrounded by darkness save for the sparse slants of moonlight that shown through the boards on the windows. He was staring down at his wand, twirling it idly in his fingers as if contemplating something.
It was as if he didn't have a care in the world.
Outside, the distant sound of shouts and explosions could be heard but Voldermort paid the sounds little attention. He was waiting for someone, but he wasn't in a hurry. At his feet, the great snake was coiled, sleeping in peaceful contentment…
"The Shrieking Shack." Harry gasped, wrenching his eyes open as he grabbed onto Hermione's arm for support. Hermione quickly enclosed his hand with her own. "He's in the Shrieking Shack. The bastard…"
Harry couldn't even bringing himself to express the words of anger.
"Well let's go then!" Said Naruto. He quickly took off down the hall, leaving the others to trail after him.
"Ron!" Someone shouted, the name ringing out above the cacophony of ringing metal and screams.
Ron turned wildly, suddenly relieved when he spotted Fred and another red-head engaging in battle with two Oto ninja.
"Ron, you'll never guess who's here!" Fred shouted, dodging a swipe of a kunai as Ron approached.
"Percy?!" Ron cried in disbelief.
At the sound of his name, Percy Weasley turned, momentarily distracted from the ninja he had been fighting. There were bags under his eyes, but a determinedness in his eyes that Ron never remembered seeing there before.
Their brief reunion was cut short as the ninja, taking advantage of Percy's momentary distraction used the time to form a jutsu.
"Doton: Doryuu Taiga no Jutsu."
The Earth jutsu hit an unsuspecting Percy and Ron gave a shout of surprise before sending his own stunning curse the ninja's way. The ninja easily dodged it, but he wasn't prepared for the kunai that Sai unexpectedly drove into his back. Naruto reappeared a few feet away, holding onto a dazed looking Percy.
"Naruto Uzumaki, it's nice to meet you." Said Naruto with a grin as Percy blinked at him in surprise.
Fred twisted his wand and all of them watched as the Oto ninja flew horizontally into the before crashing back into the ground with scream. He seemed out for the count, but Sai slammed his foot onto the ninja's neck for good measure. Their celebration, however was short lived as a purple colored spell came toward them, deflected only when Percy pulled up as hasty shield.
Naruto flicked a shuriken as the dark robed wizard who cast the curse and he swiftly stepped back to avoid it. As he stepped back, the hood of his dark robe slipped off, revealing that the wizard was Pius Thicknesse, the current Minister of Magic.
"Hello Minister!" Percy cried, stepping forward as flicked his wand out to send a curse. "Did I mention I was resigning?"
Fred looked at his brother incredulously. "You're kidding, Perce!"
Percy sent a jinx straight at Thicknesse and the Minister of Magic was unable to avoid it as it hit his chest. He fell to the ground, itching uncontrollably as some sort of rash began to cover his skin.
Fred looked at Percy with a smile. "You're joking, Perce! I haven't heard you crack a joke since you –"
The ground at their feet exploded. The world had momentarily gone mute and Naruto could feel himself flying through the air before he landed with a crash against a solid object. A sharp, splitting pain erupted in his shoulder, quickly traveling down his arm and his head felt like he had been bludgeoned by a brick. Dust coated the air, choking him.
When Naruto finally came to a few seconds later, he found Hermione hovering over him. He could tell it was Hermione because of her bushy hair, now coated with dust and flecks of stone. When his vision finally cleared and the pain in his shoulder began to lessen, Naruto sat up. He noticed that Hermione wasn't even looking at him, but rather at a group of figures huddled a bit further down from them. When the horrible ringing in his ears finally subsided, Naruto could hear there was a terrible moaning echoing down the corridor. And the sound of it scared him.
Naruto reached out, his hand covering Hermione's which had been placed on his chest. She jumped when she felt his touch, but when she turned to him, there were tears brimming in her eyes. "I think…" She began. "I don't know if…"
For the first time since finding Sakura's apartment empty, Naruto felt real fear enter his heart. Naruto began struggling to his feet and Hermione immediately scrambled up and offered her shoulder for support.
"No…no, no, NO!" Percy, who had been lying on his back, as dazed as Naruto had been after the explosion, quickly rolled to his stomach where he half crawled to where Ron was sitting, hovering over someone on the floor…
"FRED, NO!" Percy shouted, lunging as the red-head on the ground, shaking his shoulders while silent tears slipped from Ron's face.
Naruto's hold on Hermione slipped as his legs gave out on him. Hermione let out a strangled cry and put her hands over her mouth as Percy continued to shake Fred, yelling and screaming for him to get up. Fred Weasley couldn't possibly be dead…he couldn't…
A hand touched Naruto's shoulder and Naruto turned to see Harry there beside him, copious amounts of blood covering his cheek and his green eyes brimming with tears. He, Fred, Percy and Harry must have gotten hit with the brunt of the attack. If only he had been standing where Fred had been…maybe…just maybe…
"We need to go." Said Sai suddenly. He pointed to where a hole had been blown in the wall and Naruto let out a shout as a huge spider began climbing through.
"Percy!" Ron shouted, "We need to go!"
"We can't leave him!" Percy shouted desperately.
"It's bringing friends!" Naruto shouted as he extended a hand to Hermione who helped pull the ninja to his feet.
Wiping his nose with the back of his hand, both Harry and Ron sent out a curse toward the first spider, propelling it backward into the darkness of the night. Harry pushed at Hermione and Naruto to flee while Sai grabbed at Fred's body, slinging the taller boy over his shoulder. Percy allowed Ron to help him to his feet and as a group, they all hustled away from the spiders while Harry shot curses at them over his shoulder.
Harry spotted another small niche set where a suit of armor previously stood. He pointed to it, gesturing to where Sai should set the body down, all the while trying to avoid actually looking at it. As Sai set the body down, taking the time to make sure it was well hidden, Naruto jumped at an unsuspecting Snatcher who had been dueling a couple of students. Naruto body slammed him into the wall, kicking off with his good leg and when the Snatcher crumpled to the ground, Naruto gave him a kick to the face for good measure. The students who the Snatcher had been dueling cheered and then ran off to another part of the castle as if it were a game. But how could it be a game when people were dying?
Percy gave Fred's hand one final pat before he stood up, wiping at his blotchy face. He took a quick look down the hall, snarling when he spotted someone he recognized and it wasn't long before he took off after them, wand clutched tightly in his hand.
On the other side of the castle, George Weasley felt as if part of him had died.
Jutsu:
Doton: Doryuu Taiga no Jutsu- Earth Release: Earth Slide Technique
Bingo Book
Undesirable #20
Molly Weasley (nee Prewett)
Status: Pureblood, Known member of Order of the Phoenix
Family: Arthur Weasley (husband) - Pureblood (see Undesirable #17), children: William Weasley (see Undesirable #18), Charles Weasley (see Undesirable #19), Percy Weasley (Accepted), Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Ronald Weasley (see Undesirable #21), Ginerva Weasley
Security Status: TRACKED. All movements are being monitored. Strong likelihood that Undesirable #1 will contact.
MISSING – HAS ABANDONED JOB AND HAS FLED FROM OTTERY St. CATCHPOLE. WORKING ON TRACKING IMMEDIATELY