10. Soul pieces
While Daphne and her friends would get their NEWT this year Astoria had to get good marks for her OWL's. She already spent time reading more books about Herbalogy to get a high mark for her best class. She had already told Professor Sprout she wanted to continue Herbalogy and the short teacher had answered she knew no reason why Astoria should not make it.
This good marks she will get a good job even she didn't know what she wanted to do one day. At least she would not wait at home for Draco who didn't show up like she had expected it. It was a bad joke.
"How did you escape?" Ron took the new salve they got from Hadgrid and rubbed Draco's shoulder. The half-giant was meanwhile taking care of Hermione but was pleased with her recovery.
"The guards and goblins were after us after we broke in. First they were not suspicious but when they noticed we had no key for the vault and my disguise was half gone we had to use our wands. On the way out they had more men and somebody screamed it was stupid to believe us because Bellatrix Lestrange is dead... and..." Hermione stopped and looked to Draco. He was still upset and made Ron stop taking care of him. "I want to help you but... my mother is the only one who is left and... if anything happens to her... then I'm alone..."
"Here. Take Hadgrid's salve and my deluminator. When the war is over I'll come and take it back" Ron showed Draco how to use the deluminator and saw him nodding slowly. "This is... thank you Ron, I wasn't expecting so much help from all of you... I will keep it safe for you"
Draco quickly kissed Ron's cheek and disappeared the next moment. Fred and George couldn't resist laughing and even Harry and Hermione giggled while Ron blushed and wanted to hide.
Jade felt untouchable in her new home. No marriage law and no Greengrass family. One gobstone in the most important rooms. The only one she would miss a bit was Astoria. The gobstone the girl had touched and kept with her was in Draco's old room which Jade redecorated as a present for Astoria. She would invited her as soon as her term was over and tell her she was always welcomed here.
Scabior often came to visit her and she wasn't surprised he came today but it surprised Jade it wasn't about Petunia. "The Dark Lord has requested we snatchers patrol around Hogwarts. He thinks Harry will soon arrive there and... where will you be?"
"No one told me to go anywhere"
"But you are with him... one of his supporters... he killed Bellatrix in your presence... You have to go and stand with him in this war. Everybody expects this" Scabior bit his lip when he saw Jade smiling. "I never do what everybody expects me too. I wanted might. I want to have everything I can possible have and I will have it. I don't care about your little war. I don't care about anyone involved in it"
"You're a monster"
"Yes, if you want to say it like this. Your little Hogwarts school is all about caring and helping each other... that's how you are trained. Salem on the other hand is different. We grow cold. We serve the greater good and this is magic in all forms" Jade's gobstone by the window glew brightly golden and gave the entire room a golden touch.
To reach the entrance to Hogwarts they had to use spells since Ron had given away his deluminator. Hadgrid stayed behind and hugged Harry before they left. "When all this is over... I have something you must see"
Harry didn't say anything and followed his friends. They had to be quick and didn't risk destroying Voldemort's soul piece until they were inside Hogwarts. Dean was waiting for them and brought a second piece which he was happy to lose. "Whatever this is it gives me this bad feeling... so, how many are left?"
"Two... but we know only one of them" Hermione swallowed hard thinking about Harry's necessary death. They would lose him which no one of them was prepared for. Harry didn't want to think about it and followed Dean to the Great Hall. If he was dead only one soul piece was left and so this was the best chance they had to attack.
Astoria and other students were shocked to see Harry. Daphne grabbed her sister and pulled her closer while Astoria wished Jade was here. While Harry spoke of war no one stood up against him. No one told him they don't wanted to be involved and were scared. Harry believed everybody would follow him and when the teachers entered they were mostly on his side.
Snape and other supporters of the Dark Lord left before McGonagall gave orders who had to fight where. Astoria, Daphne and others were sent to the dungeons and were told to let no one in.
"Ehm... Jade?" Scabior felt the tiny earthquake first and saw the change in Jade. She ran upstairs and opened a door. A gobstone by the window had lost it's golden color and was silver instead. It casted small amounts of energy and it took Jade a bit to get close to it.
"What is wrong with your stone?"
"Astoria... What did you say about Hogwarts? Is the war inside the school too?" Jade turned back to Scabior who was amused. "I thought you didn't care... of course the school will be part of it. The Dark Lord thinks Harry Potter will return to it and so we all will attack the school"
"No, Astoria... my soul piece is in there" Jade put the silver stone in her pocket and dragged Scabior out of Malfoy Manor. No time to fly to Hogwarts Jade forced Scabior to cast a spell while her own wand was at his throat. In less than a minute they were outside Hogwarts and heard the voice of the Dark Lord in their ears. "I know Harry Potter is in Hogwarts! Give him to me and I won't kill anyone. Give me Potter and this war will end!"
Every student inside Hogwarts could hear the voice but Astoria felt another pain. She took Jade's stone from her pocket and saw it had turned silver. "What is happening... Jade... if this thing could deliver a message... I wish you were here"
"Harry, he knows you are here" Hermione looked scared when Harry nodded and ran to the front door. One last time he stopped and froze. He hugged his friends and cried. "I'm sorry I was such a burden to you. Ron... Hermione... you did everything without me. Take the sword and destory the last piece... I... I will go to him..."
Ron tried to stop Harry but Hermione held his hand and knew it was time to say goodbye.