::30::
Hermione pulled Ron into a corner by the staircase and quickly cast a Disillusioning Charm around them to ward off potential attackers until Harry and the ninja could catch up.
"Let go of me, Hermione!" Ron snapped, wrenching his sleeve out of Hermione's grasp. "I need…I need…"
"What do you need, Ron?" Said Hermione desperately. She noted Ron's wracking from and the tear tracks that made their way through the soot and grime on his face. He looked angry, but overall, so lost that Hermione didn't know what to do. She angrily swiped at the tears covering her own face.
"I need to kill them!" Said Ron. "I need to kill them…I need to do something after what they did to F –"
Ron snapped his mouth shut, unable to say Fred's name.
"Let go!" They heard an angry voice snap and both Ron and Hermione looked up to see Harry looking around desperately while an angry Naruto pushed Sai away from him.
"Harry!" Hermione called, making sure to not pitch her voice too loud so that others could hear them. She waved the spell away and Harry spotted them at once, relief crossing his face.
"We don't have time to stand around, kicking people to death." Said Sai sharply as Naruto glared daggers at him.
"I don't give a shit!" Naruto snarled. "Fred is dead! And he…I need to do something! They deserve to die!"
The sentiment was so similar to Ron's that Hermione shook her head. "We are doing something! We go after the snake and we end this! We end it so that no one else dies!" She said fiercely, tears now flowing so fast down her cheeks that she could barely see more than a fuzzy outline of her friends before her.
"POTTER!"
The shout of malice surprised the group and their heads quickly snapped up to spot two unknown Death Eaters on the staircase behind them. A curse was sent their way and Harry quickly conjured a shield, deflecting the curse.
Hermione hurriedly pointed her wand at the stairs. "Glisseo!"
The stairs flattened in to a huge slide, causing the Death Eaters to lose their footing as they slid down helplessly. They hit the floor, sliding across it harmlessly until Ron hit them both with a hex.
"C'mon!" Said Harry, grabbing Ron by the back of his sweater when it looked like he was ready to do more to the Death Eaters. "The Shrieking Shack, that's where Voldermort is!"
Remus Lupin ran down the halls of Hogwarts. He flicked his wand as he ran past, shooting stunning spells at two large Acromantulas as they chased after screaming students. He was getting too old to be running at such a pace, but he could have sworn he saw…
Lupin emerged into the courtyard which was already full of combatants. Wand held in front of him, Lupin tried to scan the faces in the courtyard, but it was too hard.
"Remus!"
Lupin spun around at the sound of his name being called only to throw himself to the ground in a perfectly executed duck and roll that Kakashi had taught him. Lupin safely sprang back to his feet not far from where he stood and watched as an unbelievably large sword passed through the air before being driven into the stone with a 'chink'. With horror, Lupin realized there was a slain Hogwarts student lying on the ground beside the sword, his body almost severed in two. He had no illusions about what a sword that size could do.
Suigetsu Hozuki smirked at Lupin, smiling even wider as Lupin sent out a curse. His body melted into the ground, easily avoiding the curse.
Lupin's eyes widened as he watched the ninja dissolve into fluid liquid that pooled on the courtyard ground before. How would he be able to hit a person that could melt? Suigestu reformed in mid jump, swinging Kubikiribocho above his head before bringing it down on Lupin. Lupin barely had time to counter with a protection charm. Suigestu bounced off the shield, giving Lupin a chance to attack.
"Furnunculus!" Lupin shouted.
Suigetsu growled, flipping through the air and away from Lupin as he dodged the spell.
"Expelliarmus!" Another voice shouted out.
Suigetsu felt Kubikiribocho slipping through his grasp as he landed on the ground. He fought with both hands to keep it in his hands before he was hit with another curse that threw him back into the castle wall.
"Remus!" Tonks shouted, her face almost ghostly as she ran toward him. Lupin felt his heart plummet to his stomach as he realized his worst nightmare was coming true.
"Tonks!" Lupin hissed, both fear and anger evident in his voice. He glanced at the wall as he ran toward to greet Tonks, but saw no sign of the ninja. He turned his attention back on his wife as he reached her and grabbed for her hand. "What are you doing here?"
"You're crazy to think I'll just sit back and not fight!" The brightly haired woman complained. "Teddy will be just fine with Mum!"
Lupin shook his head, entirely exasperated. "That's not the point!" He shouted. "You would be safe –"
"And ignorant to what is going on!" Tonks snapped, "I couldn't just stay there, not knowing…" She trailed off and Lupin squeezed her hand, knowing all too well the fear that she was speaking of.
Lupin didn't have time to say anything more on the subject as Kubikiribocho came hurtling out of the darkness. With a rough tug, Lupin pulled Tonks behind him before he twirled his wand, causing Kubikiribocho to reverse directions midair. Suigetsu jumped up, catching the large sword by the handle, swinging it around with ease before he landed on the ground.
"Thanks, Kabuto." Said Suigestu, grinning. Tonks shivered as he bared his shark teeth.
A lithe form joined Suigestu from out of the darkness, his hand glowing green for a brief second before it vanished and he adjusted his glasses on his nose.
Kabuto looked Lupin and Tonks over before cocking his head. "I guess two on two could be fun."
The walk to the Shrieking Shack had been long and dreary and as a result, Sakura had practically missed all the excitement of the ensuing battle. Still, the Dark Lord had entrusted her with specific orders and Sakura was loath to disappoint him just because the mad woman had been cackling with bloodlust.
Mildew assaulted Sakura's nose as soon as she set foot in the dilapidated shack and she scrunched her nose in disgust as she moved quietly over the floorboards. The air was silent around her, as if even the mice were too afraid to disturb the quiet. Voldermort had left his Inner Circle out of the beginning festivities, leaving it to the Oto ninja and his other followers – mainly Snatchers – to wear down the Hogwarts defenders. Still, even the Inner Circle was not present inside the Shrieking Shack.
"My Lord." Said Sakura softly into the darkness.
There was a soft creak and then the Dark Lord was there, standing before her, his silhouette framed by the moonlight.
"You have it?" He asked softly.
Sakura felt great pride swell inside of her as she pulled the glittering diadem from her robes. Voldermort's expression didn't change as she handed it to him, but he did let out a great sigh as he took it into his hands and caressed the blue jewel in the middle.
"Finally." He breathed.
He contemplated it a moment longer before setting it softly on a table near the window.
"And now, My Lord?" Sakura asked bowing her head. "Shall I join the battle?"
There was a light pressure as Voldermort patted her hair although there was little affection to be felt in the gesture. "Soon enough." He said softly as the mad woman bemoaned this. "There is still something that troubles me."
Voldermort held his wand aloft for Sakura to see it. Sakura studied the wand, but she could see nothing that appeared wrong with it.
"I shall need Severus Snape for this problem, I think." Said Voldermort, still looking to the wand. "Fetch him for me."
Sakura found Snape standing with the rest of the Inner Circle, overlooking the Hogwarts battle upon a grassy knoll although he stood apart from the rest as if he did not wish for them to be too near to him. Snape's position as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had not put Sakura in his path since she joined the ranks, but she knew the Dark Lord kept in contact with him often. Still, his appearance was much the same as it had been when she had attended Hogwarts although now, his face perhaps looked a bit more gaunt and his hair a bit more lank.
'Traitor.' The beast snarled, although it was said weakly like the mewling of a kitten. It was easy to ignore.
Snape bristled when he saw her before drawing himself to his full height. "Yes?" He asked, his lip curling.
The Dark Lord's spy. She wondered if he could truly be trusted. If the Dark Lord only asked him back to the Shrieking Shack so she could bury a kunai in his gut, she would gladly do so. There was something about his demeanor that set her on edge and she didn't quite like it.
"Out with it, girl." Snape said, his voice impatient as if he had better things to do than waiting on this grassy knoll.
Sakura's own temper flared at his tone and callous way of addressing her and bared her teeth like the mad woman wanted. "The Dark Lord requests your presence."
For a brief moment, Ron Weasley saw nothing but red. "GREYBACK!" He bellowed, his wand lashing out faster than he thought possible.
Fenrir Greyback's head snapped up, his fangs glistening and dripping with freshly spilt blood as he jumped back. He greeted Ron with a mocking salute which only drove Ron mad with rage.
Harry let out a curse before sending a stunning curse Greyback's way, Hermione following suit, but the werewolf merely dodged the spells before taking off down the hallway. Ron immediately followed, sending curses out along the way.
"Ron, no!" Harry cried. He made to follow after him, but Sai quickly pushed him back toward Naruto.
"I'll go after him." He said. "Get to Voldermort." Sai nodded toward Naruto before taking off down the hall after Ron, his ink brush and a kunai in his hand.
Harry could only hope that his best friend would stay safe. He looked toward Hermione and found her kneeling on the ground, next to Greyback's latest victim. The girl was breathing shallowly, looking up at the ceiling with fluttering eyes. Blood gurgled from the large wound at her throat where Greyback had ripped into it. Hermione was holding the girl's hand and she still held it, even when the girl took a last breath before going still.
It was a minute before Hermione finally dropped Lavender Brown's hand and wiped at the silent tears running down her face.
Wordlessly, Harry threw the Invisibility Cloak over them and they set out toward the Shrieking Shack. Just the snake, then the diadem if they could find it. And even if they couldn't, Harry would still end Voldermort tonight, even if he had to sacrifice himself in the process. He would do it for his friends.
Kakashi, his hands in the tiger seal, popped up behind a Snatcher who was terrorizing some students.
"Sennen Goroshi!" He yelled, stabbing the Snatcher in the butt.
The unsuspecting Snatcher shrieked as he jumped about five feet into the air. Spinning, Kakashi quickly countered a kunai that would have gone into his side. He twisted the Oto ninja's arm around so the ninja ended up stabbing himself in the stomach with his own kunai.
Immediately after stabbing the ninja, Kakashi felt horrible. He dropped down into the grass, his hands shaking as he grew colder by the second. What was happening to him? Some sort of detrimental side effect from stabbing the ninja? Kakashi glanced over at the body of the Oto ninja beside him, but his thoughts were disrupted but another feeling he felt deep in the pit of his stomach. Everyone around him was dying…why bother fighting anymore when he would just be alone in the end anyway? He should end it now, before it got that far…
"Stupefy!"
The red spell darted past Kakashi, startling him, although it wasn't nearly as bad as the fright he got when he was tackled by a grey blur. Claws dug into his skin through the material of his clothes as he was rolled onto his back. There was a heavy weight on his back and his scalp screamed in protest when his hair was pulled back, lifting his face from the ground. He was surprised to see Ron and Sai before him. Kakashi's skin felt so cold. Couldn't they feel that?
"I could rip his throat out now." The voice above Kakashi rasped. Kakashi could feel the man's bristly hair on his cheek and smell his foul breath tinged with the coppery tang of blood. "I bet he would taste just as good as the girl."
Ron let out a snarl of rage and pointed his wand, but froze as Kakashi felt a claw dig into his Adam's apple.
"The Dementors…" Kakashi heard Sai say to Ron.
The man above him gave a throaty chuckle and if possible, Kakashi felt the temperature drop even colder than it had before. Dark, ghostly shapes began to ghost in and out of his vision and Kakashi knew for sure that he must be dying.
"Ron…" Said Sai, glancing around them. Kakashi noted that Sai's face almost seemed…afraid. Yes, he was dying for sure.
Ron raised his wand higher, but he seemed uncertain. The claws digging into Kakashi's throat dug in deep enough that he could feel the tips piercing his skin. He was going to die…
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Ron and Sai looked around wildly in surprise as a brilliant, shining stag erupted in the distance before racing toward them. It cantered in a wide arc around Kakashi, the cold seeping out of his bones as it did so before it disappeared into the distance.
As the warmth flooded back into Kakashi's system, so did his rational thoughts. He wasn't going to die, certainly not now or today for that matter. He had too much to live for. He felt the chakra flooding into his hand as if second nature, the lightning electrifying his chakra points.
Kakashi pulled his head away from the creature's hand, the claws scraping his skin as he did so. "Raikiri!" The lightning cackled and sizzled as Kakashi plunged his hand into the creature's stomach.
The creature howled in pain, writhing as Kakashi pulled his hand from the creature's body.
"Confringo!" Ron shouted.
Fenrir Greyback was thrown backward as Kakashi jumped to his feet, the lightning disappearing.
Never could Harry recall a time where he had struggled as much with producing a Patronus as he just did 60 seconds ago. Maybe it was because all he could think about was death; Fred's death, his own death, the deaths of his friends and the deaths of everyone defending the castle. It plagued his mind but at the same time it made him run toward the Whomping Willow that much faster, if only to end all this.
A sudden boom reverberated across the grounds and with an earsplitting crack, a tree from the Forbidden Forest fell to the ground as a giant emerged from the trees.
"Holy shit!" Naruto yelled, pausing in his run long enough for Harry and Hermione to pass him up. "It's a –"
Harry doubled back, grabbing Naruto by the arm and pulling him along just in time as the giant's foot descended where the blond haired ninja had previously been standing. The giant let out a yell which echoed out across the grounds a beyond.
"It's chasing us!" Naruto screamed, picking up his pace as Harry let go of his arm. With a shout, he dove to the side just as the giant swung its club down at them.
Naruto jumped back to his feet, looking up at the giant as Harry and Hermione scattered from under the giant's feet. The thing was so massive that a kunai wouldn't cause more than a papercut and a jutsu – any jutsu – would just be an annoyance rather than an instrument of death.
Naruto's thoughts were interrupted when another form staggered out of the forest. This one was massive, but not nearly the size of the giant trying to stomp on them. The small giant opened its mouth, revealing a row of ugly yellow teeth before it charged at the first giant like a rabid dog. Naruto let out a shriek when the smaller giant almost fell backward onto him and he quickly hightailed it to where Harry and Hermione were still running.
"Be careful, Grawp!" Hermione shouted, looking behind her at the two giants.
Naruto wasn't even going to ask.
Harry dove when they reached the Whomping Willow, sliding underneath the thrashing branches before he tumbled head over heels to a stop next to the secret tunnel. Hermione followed soon after, falling on her knees as she sucked in air like she had been long deprived of it. Naruto ended up jumping and weaving between the branches before he finally dove next to the tree.
"I've had more surprises in the last five minutes than I've had the entire year." Naruto grumbled as he stared up at the branches. "What the hell is this thing?"
"Naruto, meet the Whomping Willow." Said Harry as he peered through the branches for the secret knob. "It almost killed me and Ron beginning of our second year. It's also the secret passage between here and the Shrieking Shack."
"It only tried to kill you because you crashed the car into it." Hermione said. "There." She said, pointing a finger out.
A large tree branch smashed down on the ground by Naruto's head, a stray twig scratching his cheek and Naruto quickly scrambled away. "Will it stop trying to kill us now if we ask it politely?"
"We've got to hit that knob." Said Harry.
"That knob?"
"Yes," Said Harry, his eyes lying on a stray branch. "Wingardium –"
With an easy flick of his wrist, Naruto had a kunai sailing over to the knob, thudding squarely against it before Harry could finish his spell. The tree was immediately still.
"Perfect!" Said Hermione.
Harry put his hands to the dirt and started to crawl over the roots towards the opening. Once he crawled inside, he hesitated; blocking the passage so Hermione and Naruto couldn't enter. Voldermort was waiting at the end of this tunnel. What was he doing by allowing Hermione and Naruto to crawl in after him? Was he bringing them to the deaths?
But the snake, and likely the diadem were also waiting at the end of the tunnel. If they didn't do something to stop the terror now, it was just as likely for Hermione to get hit by a stray Killing Curse or for Naruto to get crushed under another giant's foot. There was death waiting at every turn and Harry realized with finality the only way to go was forward.
"What are you waiting for?" Naruto asked, giving Harry's shoulder an impatient push. "Let's go!"
Harry pushed farther into the tunnel.
Lupin felt a sharp stinging sensation right below his knee before the leg gave out on him completely. Crying out, Lupin fell to the ground, collapsing on his good knee.
"Remus!" Tonks shouted. She had summoned an angry flock of ducks that were currently squaking as they flapped indignantly around Suigetsu's head. The white haired ninja snarled and snapped at them before he began waving Kubikiribocho at them. With a series of intricate loops with her wand, the ducks were transfigured into a bunch of pointy kunai that drove themselves at Suigestu.
One kunai caught him along the side of his face before Suigestu knocked the rest away with his sword.
Using the momentary distraction, Tonks dove toward her husband. Lupin was struggling to get up, but his leg just wouldn't move for him. A sneering pain ripped through it whenever he tried to move it the slightest inch.
"It's useless."
Lupin looked up at his white haired opponent and Tonks was immediately in front of Lupin, her wand pointed at Kabuto.
Kabuto merely smiled, as if Tonks posed no threat. "I cut off all the nerves to that leg." He explained, holding up a hand encased in green chakra. "You can't move it."
Lupin glared at him. With a quick slashing movement with his wand, he caught Kabuto off guard when he sent the ponytailed ninja flying through air. Lupin quickly started to mutter incantations to his leg. Slowly, he could feel his leg starting to get better. Kabuto grunted as he landed with a few tumbles, a deep gash almost to the bone across his forearm.
Standing up, Tonks swung her wand around to create two fiery lassos. She swung one toward Suigetsu who now had blood gushing down the side of his face. He barely dodged as he grabbed another water bottle from his belt and chugged it down in one gulp before chucking the bottle away. The other was sent toward Kabuto who disappeared in a flicker type movement.
"Suiton: Suigadan!"
The water bullets flew towards Tonks with amazing speed, but with a wave of her wand, the water grouped together and launched back at Suigetsu before exploding. Suigetsu growled in distaste. The girl was good, but it was also very annoying.
"Incarcerous!"
The spell came at him though the mist of the water and Suigestu was caught in it unsuspectingly. The tight magical ropes wrapped themselves around him and he thrashed, trying to get free. Lupin allowed himself a small smile of victory.
Suigetsu snarled before relaxing his body, letting it melt down to water. He slowly drifted out of the confines of the rope before regrouping. The smile on Tonk's and Lupin's faces disappeared.
Suigetsu acted quickly. "Suiro no Jutsu!"
The water rushed around Tonks, encasing her in a watery prison. She gasped, gurgling bubbles from her mouth. She pounded at the water but it made no difference.
"Tonks!" Yelled Lupin. He fidgeted his leg. He was almost there…
Suigetsu threw his head back and laughed. "How do you like that, magic bitch?"
He walked a few steps closer as Tonks started to gasp for air. "Should I let you drown?"
Tonks narrowed her eyes at him before pointing her wand at her wand at her head before muttering an incantation that lost to him. What looked like a large air bubble encased her head and Suigestu let out a shout of anger as he watched Tonks take in a huge gasp of air.
Tonks would be safe as long as she used the Bubblehead Charm and as Lupin gave a his leg a stretch, he knew that as long as he only used minimal movements, he would be able to endure any lasting pain, at least until a skilled Healer could look at it…
A shout of rage alerted Lupin and he looked up in time to see Suigestu charging at him, Kubikiribocho pointed right at his heart. Tonks screamed his name, but it was drowned out. Lupin flicked his wand and the giant sword flew out of his gasp but it didn't stop Suigetsu. The shark like ninja dissolved into water before reappearing behind Lupin. Lupin's wand was quickly pried out of his hand and tossed away like garbage before Suigestu's hands went around Lupin's neck.
Suigestu looked at Tonks, making sure she was watching before he snapped Lupin's neck before her eyes.
The water around Tonks was suddenly released, flushing her to the ground in a sopping wet mess. Tonk's scream echoed across the Hogwart's courtyard before she was up and on her feet, her hair having turned as black as the night itself.
"Crucio!"
Suigetsu writhed and yelled in pain as the spell, infused with Tonk's rage, hit him. Tears were coursing down her face, but Tonk's refused to look at her fallen husband's body as she twisted her wand causing Suigetsu to scream louder.
Kabuto reappeared, his arm fully healed except for a long gash. He charged at Tonks but she flicked her wand at him, causing him to move as if he were stuck in molasses.
Suigestu managed to escape the Cruciatus Curse as he once again dissolved into water. Tonks grit her teeth, tossing spells at him whenever it looked like he was trying to reform once again. Kabuto managed to reach an exploding tag and he tossed it at Tonks while she was distracted. Spinning around just in time, she managed to shield herself from the more detrimental effects of the explosion although it did knock her off her feet.
Suigestu came after her and Tonks barely had enough time to jump to her feet before she tossed a spell straight at his chest. But instead of Suigestu falling to the ground stunned, or dissolving into water as she half expected, he exploded into a spray of mist that temporarily left her blinded.
The real Suigestu took advantage of the distraction made by his kage bunshin and he grabbed Tonks, throwing her toward Kabuto. The effects of the spell hadn't quite worn off yet, but it was enough that when Tonks came toward him, Kabuto grabbed her before shoving a chakra encased hand at her heart.
Tonks gave out a sharp gasp that wasn't indicative enough of the piercing pain she felt in her ribcage, as if her heart had been snapped in two. She coughed and her lips felt warm and tasted of copper. She looked at Kabuto who smiled at her before she sank to the ground.
"Enjoy a slow death, bitch." Said Suigestu as he retrieved Kubikiribocho from where ever Lupin had tossed it to. He spat on the ground near Tonk's face before he ran to join the rest of the battle. Kabuto had to wait until the final effects of Tonks' spell wore off before he disappeared from the courtyard.
The pain was dulling her senses now and Tonks gazed at the sky before letting her eyes drift close.
"Remus…" She whispered.
Jutsu: Sennen Goroshi- 1000 Years of Pain
Raikiri- Lightning Edge
Suiton: Suigadan- Water Release: Water Bullets
Suiro no Jutsu: Water Prison
Bingo Book
Undesirable #21
Ronald 'Ron' Weasley
Status: Pureblood, Known contact of Undesirable #1
Family: Arthur Weasley (father) – Pureblood (Undesirable #17), Molly Weasley (mother) - Pureblood (see Undesirable #20), William Weasley – brother (see Undesirable #18), Charles Weasley – brother (see Undesirable #19), Percy Weasley – brother (Accepted), Fred Weasley – brother, George Weasley – brother, Ginerva Weasley – sister
Security Status: TRACKED. Ministry officials have confirmed is ill at home with Spattergoit. Is being watched in case Undesirable #1 contacts.
MISSING – SPATTERGOIT A RUSE, CONFIRMED IN LEAGUE WITH UNDESIRABLES #1, #14, #15 and #22 AFTER ESCAPING MALFOY MANOR. OFFICIALS TO BE SENT TO OTTERY St. CATCHPOLE