Chapter 49:
The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was dark and scattered with stars, and below it the four long House tables were lined with disheveled students, some in traveling cloaks, others in dressing gowns. Here and there shone the pearly white figures of the school ghosts. Every eye, living and dead, was fixed upon Professor McGonagall, who was speaking from the raised platform at the top of the Hall. Behind her stood the remaining teachers, including the palomino centaur, Firenze, and the members of the Order of the Phoenix who had arrived to fight.
"…evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madam Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organise your House and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point."
Many of the students looked petrified.
"Where are they?" Harry asked Alicia as they skirted the walls.
"They're in the bathroom."
"What Bathroom?"
"We need something to destroy horcruxes with Harry." she whispered "Well there's a dead basilisk downstairs with fangs to spare." he looked at her surprised.
Ernie Macmillan stood up at the Hufflepuff table and shouted, "And what if we want to stay and fight?"
There was a smattering of applause.
"If you are of age, you may stay," said Professor McGonagall.
"What about our things?" called a girl at the Ravenclaw table. "Our trunks, our owls?"
"We have no time to collect possessions," said Professor McGonagall. "The important thing is to get you out of here safely."
"Where's Professor Snape?" shouted a girl from the Slytherin table.
"He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk," replied Professor McGonagall, and a great cheer erupted from the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws.
The twins moved along the Gryffindor table and faces turned to the two of them, causing whispering to break out in their wake.
"We have already placed protection around the castle," Professor McGonagall was saying, "but it is unlikely to hold for very long unless we reinforce it. I must ask you, therefore, to move quickly and calmly, and do as your prefects —"
But her final words were drowned as a different voice echoed throughout the Hall. It was high, cold, and clear: There was no telling from where it came; it seemed to issue from the walls them- selves. Like the monster it had once commanded, it might have lain dormant there for centuries.
"I know that you are preparing to fight." There were screams amongst the students, some of whom clutched each other, looking around in terror for the source of the sound. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."
There was silence in the Hall now, the kind of silence that presses against the eardrums, that seems too huge to be contained by walls.
"Give me Harry Potter," said Voldemort's voice, "and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.
"You have until midnight."
The silence swallowed them all again. Every head turned, every eye in the place seemed to have found Harry beside Alicia, to hold him frozen in the glare of thousands of invisible beams. Then a figure rose from the Slytherin table to be recognised as Pansy Parkinson as she raised a shaking arm and screamed, "But he's there! Potter's there! Someone grab him!"
Alicia moved forward to the Gryffindor table, stepped up the bench and then again to stand on top of the table glaring at the girl.
At her lead there was a massive movement. The Gryffindors in front of Harry and around Alicia had risen and stood facing, not Harry, but the Slytherins. Then the Hufflepuffs stood, and almost at the same moment, the Ravenclaws, all of them with their backs to Harry, all of them looking toward Pansy instead, wands emerging everywhere, pulled from beneath cloaks and from under sleeves.
"You wanna say that again Porkinson?" Alicia demanded angrily, standing above everyone else, her voice echoing around the room.
"Thank you, Miss Parkinson," said Professor McGonagall in a clipped voice. "You will leave the Hall first with Mr. Filch. If the rest of your House could follow."
The benches ground as the Slytherins stood and trooped from the hall.
"Ravenclaws, follow on!" cried Professor McGonagall.
Slowly the four tables emptied. The Slytherin table was completely deserted, but a number of older Ravenclaws remained seated while their fellows filed out; even more Hufflepuffs stayed behind, and half of Gryffindor remained in their seats, necessitating Professor McGonagall's descent from the teachers' platform to chivvy the underage on their way.
"Absolutely not, Creevey, go! And you, Peakes!"
Alicia stepped down from the table as Kingsley stepped forward on the raised platform to address those who had remained behind.
"We've only got half an hour until midnight, so we need to act fast! A battle plan has been agreed between the teachers of Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix. Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and McGonagall are going to take groups of fighters up to the three highest towers — Ravenclaw, Astronomy, and Gryffindor — where they'll have a good overview, excellent positions from which to work spells. Meanwhile Remus" — he indicated Lupin — "Arthur" — he pointed toward Mr. Weasley, sitting at the Gryffindor table — "and I will take groups into the grounds. We'll need somebody to organise defence of the entrances of the passageways into the school —"
"Sounds like a job for us," called Fred, indicating to himself and George, and Kingsley nodded his approval.
"All right, leaders up here and we'll divide up the troops!"
"Potter," said Professor McGonagall, hurrying up to him, as students flooded the platform, jostling for position, receiving instructions, "Aren't you supposed to be looking for something?"
"What? Oh," said Harry, "oh yeah!"
"Come on." Alicia said and she took his hand.
"Then go, Potter, go!" McGonagall said
"Right — yeah —" and Alicia pulled him away.
"Where do we start?" Harry asked as they went into the entrance hall and allowed themselves to be swept up Marble Staircase.
"Well, for one, Voldemort thought you'd go to Ravenclaw tower didn't he, that's why Alecto was there right?" she asked him and he nodded.
"Then it has to be something to do with Ravenclaw. He must have found the Diadem."
"But it's lost."
"Doesn't mean it can't be found." Alicia said "The next thing to focus on, is where he hid it?" she said thinking. I mean if you were going to hide something… she said thinking.
"But how did he find it? How was it possible that Voldemort, the Slytherin, had found the diadem that had eluded generations of Ravenclaws? Who could have told him where to look, when nobody had seen the diadem in living memory?" he asked. He stopped and looked at her.
"In living memory." he repeated.
Alicia however wasn't looking at him she looked surprised.
"Alicia, I know what to do." he said and he turned to run off away from her.
"Me too." she realised.
If you wanted to hide something in the castle, where did you do? "The the place were all things are hidden." she mumbled. 'He alone knew where in Hogwarts he had stowed the Horcrux, because he alone had plumbed the deepest secrets of that place…'
"A secret place, where everything was hidden."
Alicia's breath quickened and like her brother she tore off, but in a different direction.
But she had forgotten. The Students were all marching toward the Room of Requirement. The underage students were going into it then out through the tunnel to the Hog's Head. Prefects were shouting instructions, trying to keep track of the students in their own Houses; there was much pushing and shoving. Zacharias Smith bowled over first-years to get to the front of the queue; here and there younger students were in tears, while older ones called desperately for friends or siblings…
Alicia got into the Room of Requirement, pushed her way through the line of slytherins who'd reading the room first in order to climb the stairs. A few made grabs for her and shot insults but with a wave of her wand they were silenced and she got into the room before they did. Ginny was still there as she should be, and was helping to line the students and organise them out through the tunnel.
"We need to speed this up." Alicia said instantly to her.
"Why?"
"I need the room." she said and she began to shout orders and people looked at her surprised.
"Yes I'm Alicia Potter, not get your asses out of the castle!" She shouted in frustration.
The students began to flow past her, climbing up and disappearing through the new passageway.
It seemed to take forever to get the students out, but at the same time, no time at all. Looking at her watch the time clicked closer and closer. Five minutes to Midnight.
All the students got clear as the clock struck twelve and sound of bangs, crashes, screams and cries echoed from far beyond the Room of Requirement. The students were finally all gone and the room was empty besides Ginny and Alicia.
"Well! I suppose you think it's funny to use my pub a rain station." the two girls turned to see Abeforth climb through.
"Would you rather they stayed here and died?" Alicia asked annoyed. "What are you doing here? Decided it's worth fighting after all."
"Someone's gotta be mad enough to." he said
"Guess it's good we're all mad then." she said before the man turned and ran off from the room to join the fight, mumbling about stubborn and rebellious children.
Ginny and Alicia were the only two in the room now and Alicia turned to her.
"So, guess it's your lucky day." Ginny looked at her "I need the room to change and for that, I need you to leave." Ginny beamed
"But," the girl faltered and Alicia moved to her to place her hands on Ginny's shoulders. "Please, please, please be careful. If something happened to you, because I asked you to leave—" Alicia pursed her lips and Ginny rolled her eyes. "No seriously, I don't think I'd ever forgive myself, I'd constantly wish I'd gotten you to stay with me instead. And I'd never be able to look your family members in the eye, nor would I ever be able to apologise enough to Harry." she said honestly. "You're too important Ginny, so promise me." she said.
Ginny smiled and pulled Alicia into a hug.
"I promise Alicia. Besides, I can't leave you and Hermione to deal with my family alone." Alicia chuckled slightly.
The two turned as there was a clattering and they turned to see another women climbing through the hole from the Hog's Head. Her purple hair proceeded first and then Tonks grinned at them.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" Alicia demanded and Tonks looked surprised "You can't have both you and Lupin here! What about Teddy! What if something happened to you both."
"He'll know that—"
"I grew up without anyone Tonks don't you dare give some noble speech." Alicia snapped angrily. Tonks smiled and move over to the girl. She placed a hand on her cheek.
"You grew up alone Alicia, but I know, that if anything happens to me and Remus, Teddy wont have that. You and Harry for one will make sure of it."
"He already lost a grandfather Tonks, he can't loose his parents too, you should go home." Alicia believed but Tonks shook her head.
"I'm an Auror, it's my job to fight dark wizards. I'm also a part of the Order, it's my duty to assist others."
"You're also a mother and in my opinion your duty should be to your son first." Alicia reminded her "And we both know Remus will kill you." she said simply. Tonks chuckled and kissed Alicia's head.
"Look after him for me."
"I wont have to." Alicia said crossing her arms. "Teddy needs a mother and Remus is the last connection to my parents, I'd rather see you both when this is all over." Tonks nodded.
There was another clattering and another women moved through the hole. This time it was an elderly women with a moth eaten hat on her head.
"Mrs Longbottom." Alicia noticed, slightly surprised. "We heard you were on the run."
"Yes well, I heard of the commotion here and knew it was my duty to lend a hand." she said as she straightened herself up.
"Neville will be pleased." Alicia smiled
"What is happening then?" she asked her
"There's a fight but that's all I'm aware of right now." Alicia admitted.
"Alicia!" the girl turned to find Harry moving into the room with Hermione and Ron behind him.
"Ah, Potter," Mrs Longbottom addressed crisply as if she had been waiting for him. "You can tell us what's going on."
"Is everyone okay?" said Ginny and Tonks together.
" 'S far as we know," said Harry. "Are there still people in the passage to the Hog's Head?"
"I don't think so." Alicia said
"I was the last to come through," said Mrs. Longbottom. "I sealed it, I think it unwise to leave it open now Aberforth has left his pub. Have you seen my grandson?"
"He's fighting," said Harry.
"Naturally," said the old lady proudly. "Excuse me, I must go and assist him."
With surprising speed she trotted off toward the stone steps. Harry looked at Tonks.
"I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's?"
He looked at his sister who started grumbling and Tonks smiled at her fondly.
"I couldn't stand not knowing —" Tonks looked anguished. "She'll look after him — have you seen Remus?"
"He was planning to lead a group of fighters into the grounds —"
Without another word, Tonks sped off.
"Did you get them?" Alicia asked the Hermione and Ron and they nodded before showing the number of fangs in their arms.
"Excellent, and the cup?" Ron pulled it from his pocket and she beamed.
"That means only a few left."
"And I know where the diadem is." Harry said
"I know, it's here. Where everything is hidden." he looked at her surprised but she turned to Ginny.
"You're gonna have to leave now."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, but we need you to leave too. Just for a bit. Then you can come back in."
Ginny looked simply delighted to leave her sanctuary.
"'Sorry', like you want to be here." Alicia mumbled to Ginny who giggled.
"And then you can come back in!" Harry shouted after her as she ran up the steps after Tonks. "You've got to come back in!"
"Good luck Harry, she's gone." Alicia said watching her.
"Hang on a moment!" said Ron sharply. "We've forgotten someone!"
"Who?" asked Hermione.
"The house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"
"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" asked Harry.
"No," said Ron seriously, "I mean we should tell them to get out. We don't want any more Dobbies, do we? We can't order them to die for us —"
There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione's arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
Alicia stood absolutely shocked at the sudden emotion, as though frozen, linking in surprise, before she couldn't help it and she started laughing.
Harry seemed to feel the opposite.
"Is this the moment?" Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. "OI! There's a war going on here!"
Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.
"I know, mate," said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, "so it's now or never, isn't it?"
"Never mind that, what about the Horcrux?" Harry shouted. "D'you think you could just — just hold it in until we've got the diadem?"
Alicia laughed even harder.
"Yeah — right — sorry —" said Ron, and he and Hermione set about gathering up fangs, both pink in the face.
"Give 'em a rest Harry." Alicia said between her giggles. "I mean it's about time." Hermione and Ron blushed a little more as Alicia lead the way from the room and back into the corridor.