The DA coin warmed in George's pocket. They were being summoned to Hogwarts. Harriet had arrived. Worse Snape knew it. George was not going to wait around this time.
"You coming?" George asked Fred. It was the only warning he was giving him. Fred nodded.
They appeared at the Hogs Head a moment later. Luna, Dean, Ginny, Cho, and Lee Jordan appeared within the next couple of moments.
"So you're who Longbottom meant -" Aberforth did not look at all pleased to see them. "My bar is not a station for all the bloody Order to be using -"
There were several more cracks, Oliver Wood appeared with Angelina, Katie, and Alicia.
"We're the DA actually!" Ginny said, "The Order is on its way."
George pointed his wand at him and said in a dangerous tone, "You're going to let us into Hogwarts the same way you did Harriet if you know what's good for you!"
"Bloody hell, remind me never to let Harriet go on an escapade again if you're going to get like that," Fred teased as they traveled through the tunnel Aberforth had opened up for them. George merely shrugged. He wasn't in the mood to be messed around. It had been too long since he had seen her - well looking like herself. The last time had been her birthday.
The moment that he caught sight of her, as they stepped through the door at the end of the tunnel. George felt lost for words. The Room of Requirement was full of people all expectedly looking at her. Harriet looked worse for wear, her clothes were torn, she looked pale and a little thin. Still beautiful and a sight for sore eyes.
"Aberforth's getting ratty," Fred said, "says his bar is not a railway station." Fred rubbed his hands together, "What's the plan?"
The teachers and students mobilize to defend the school. George is not able to talk to his girlfriend after all. Harriet disappears somewhere within Hogwarts. George teams up with Fred to check the secret passageways. By the time they made the rounds fighting had begun. Death Eaters had swept into the school. Though still no sign of Voldemort.
They help Percy floor Thicknese. The air exploded with spells being cast all around them. Harriet came pelting past them, overpowering Death Eaters with her Stunning spell. But the breather she provided lasted only moments as the world went apart. The corridor had been subjected to a terrible attack, the cold air told him that the side of the castle had been blown away ... the wall crumbled on top of them. Harriet had spun on her heel, wand out. Fine dust and small bits of rumble filled the air. George spun around, Fred looked as perplexed as George felt. Percy let out a huge sigh of relief. George turned - Harriet was gone from sight.
George soon realised others had not been so lucky, Harriet's spell been aimed above their direction. The Death Eaters George could care less about. Percy helped him pull a body free of the rumble behind them. There was no sign of life. George didn't even recognize who the girl was. But she looked to around his age.
They head down the stairs, in silence. Battling any who dare disturb their path. George looked around the Great Hall. It had been made into a makeshift hospital where his mother was currently helping Madame Pomfrey heal the injured.
Harriet appeared with Ron and Hermione. She too took in the sight of the bodies lay around the Great Hall. The three of them caught sight of Remus and Tonks laying together. Ron asked her something and Harriet whispered in reply. They vanished back out of the Great Hall. When they returned much later Harriet, Ron and Hermione had brought Snape's body with them.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Hermione asked.
George had been healing small minor cuts and bruises from the moment they had stepped into the hall. "Whatever you can. Madame Pomfrey is looking at the worst injured, as is mum. But anything minor -"
Hermione nodded.
"Where did Harriet go?" George asked Ron.
"Had something to do - she needed to go alone-" Ron replied and hastily added, "Don't worry, she's only gone to view some memories. She said she's coming back."
The Hall was beginning to fill. People had started to remove the dead from the battlefield. Harriet had been gone some time.
"Has anyone seen Harriet?"
"Yeah," Neville said, "I'd say about ten minutes or so ago - thought it was odd she was on her own - but she said it was all part of the plan."
George knew something was wrong when Hermione and Ron both spun around at the same time and demanded, "What plan?"
"She wouldn't," George whispered. But Voldemort's voice rang through the castle walls, answering his question.
"Harriet Potter is dead. She was killed as she ran away, trying to save herself while you lay down your lives for her. We bring you her body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you and The Girl Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle, now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents, children, your brothers, and sisters will live, and be forgiven, and you join me in the new world we shall build together."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other in disbelief. Neville speed out of the Hall - George rushed to his feet. It couldn't possibly be true.
"NO!"
The scream was terrible because he had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound.
"No!"
"NO!"
Ron and Hermione's voices were worse than McGonagall's
George turned the corner and there within Hagrid's arms lay a lifeless form. Harriet.
"HARRIET!"
Hot tears hit his cheeks, though George did not stop them. He felt like something had ripped his very soul apart. He wanted to hurt someone, he wanted to kill - he wanted to hold - their cries acted like a trigger, the crowd of survivors took up the cause, screaming and yelling abuse at the Death Eaters, until -
"SILENCE!" Voldemort cried, there was a band and a flash of light, and silence was forced upon them all. "It is over! Potter is dead! IT IS OVER!"
George went for his wand but Fred and Percy held George back.
"You're wrong! Harriet would never surrender to you," Ron yelled, "She beat you."
"She was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," Voldemort said, and her body was suddenly being forced away from the safety of George's arms, and landed on the ground with a thump, "killed while trying to save herself."
"Bullshit!" came a yell and shuffle, a bang and flash of light and a grunt of pain.
"And who is this?" Voldemort said.
Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh, "Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"
"Ah, yes I remember," Voldemort said, "But you are a pure-blood, aren't you, my brave boy?"
"So what if I am?" Neville said loudly.
"You show spirit and bravery, and you come from noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."
"When hell freezes over," Neville said, "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's silencing charms seemed no longer able to contain.
"Very well," Voldemort said, there was a dangerous tone in the silkiness of his voice. "If that is your choice Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head, be it."
The sound of shattering windows, something that looked like a misshapen bird flew through the window and landed in Voldemort's hand. He shook the object by its pointed end and it dangled, empty and ragged: the Sorting Hat.
"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," Voldemort said, "There will be no more houses. The emblem, shield, and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone, won't it Longbottom?"
He pointed his wand at Neville, who grew rigid and still, and forced the Hat to Neville's head. There were movements from the watching crowd in front of the castle, as the Death Eater raised their wands, holding the fighters at bay.
"Neville here is going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," Voldemort said, and with a flick of his wand, he caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames. Neville was aflame, rooted to the spot, unable to move, George was still being held back by his brothers - Grawp had come lumbering around the side of the castle, his cry was answered by roars from Voldemort's giants Then came hooves and twangs of bows and arrows were suddenly falling amongst the Death Eaters, who broke ranks. Neville moved too.
In one swift motion, Neville broke free of the Body-bind; the flaming Hat fell off him and he drew from its depths something silver, with a glittering, rubied handle - The slash of the silver blade could not be overheard by the crowd. Chaos reigned. The charging centaurs were scattering the Death Eaters, everyone was fleeing the giants' feet, reinforcement had come out of nowhere; George managed to break free of his brother's grip - winged creatures soaring around the heads of Voldemort's giants, Thestrals and Buckbeak were scratching at their eyes while Grawp punched and pummelled them, defenders of Hogwarts and the Death Eaters were being forced back into the castle. George battling with a burning desire he had never felt before. He wanted to reach Voldemort before anyone else did.
Death Eaters were folding under the sheer weight of numbers, overcome by spells, dragging arrows from wounds. The shopkeepers and homeowners of Hogsmeade had turned up. Three of centaurs had burst into the Hall, and even the House-elves had joined the battle. Voldemort was in the center of the battle, the Great Hall became more and more crowded, Yaxley was slammed to the floor by Fred and Lee Jordan, Dolohov fell with a scream by Flitwick's hands, Macnair was thrown across the room by Hagrid, he hit the stone wall and slide unconscious to the ground. Ron and Neville brought down Fenrir Greyback, Aberforth Stunned Rockwood. George only had eyes for one person Voldemort was now dueling McGonagall, Slughorn, and Kingsley at once, and there was cold hatred in his face as they wove and ducked around him, unable to finish him - Bellatrix was fifty yards away dueling three people at once: Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, Bellatrix was equal to them, his mother broke through the crowd, as a curse missed Ginny. "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" Bellatrix spun on the spot, roaring with laughter at the sight of a new challenge. his mother's wand slashed and twirled, Bellatrix's smile faltered. Jets of light flew from both wands; both women were fighting to kill.
Hundreds of people now lined the walls, watching the two fights, Voldemort and his three opponents, Bellatrix and Molly, Bellatrix laughed, and George knew what was going to happen before it did. His mother's curse soared beneath Bellatrix's outstretched arm and hit her squarely in the chest, directly over her heart. Bellatrix's smile froze, her eyes seemed to bulge: for the tiniest space of time she knew what had happened, Voldemort screamed.
McGonagall, Kingsley, and Slughorn were blasted backward from his fury. And as he rose his wand towards his mother.
That was the final straw for George no one else would be dying by Voldemort's hand - there was a flash of green light - A Jet of light appeared from out of nowhere, beating George to it. The spells had collided and his mother was safe.
A.N. I didn't have the heart to kill off Fred
