Hello Everyone! Happy New Years Eve :D
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT claim to own anything from J.K's or Tolkien's Universes
(I have sort of answered some guests questions at the end of the chapter)
Chapter 5 – Spells Collide
Voldemort's voice magically magnified drawing the attention of all those present in the Great Hall. Suddenly a scream filled the air. Hermione, Ron & many staff members ran through the entrance hall towards the courtyard. Hermione could hear the pounding of hundreds of running feet, the other fighters were close behind but in the mad rush to reach the courtyard Hermione didn't notice the Sorting Hat rip from her belt.
As they burst into the courtyard Voldemort continued his announcement. He stood in front of hundreds of Death Eaters but what caught their attention was the limp body in Hagrid's arms.
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."
"Nooo! NO!" screamed Ginny, making a break for Harry. Mr Weasley quickly reacted, catching her by the arm just in time to save her from Voldemort's curse. Mr Weasley dragged her back, just as tears streamed down her face.
"Stupid girl! Harry Potter is dead! From this day forth, you put your faith in me!"
Professor McGonagall screamed, causing Bellatrix to laugh manically at McGonagall's despair. The courtyard way slowly filling up with Death Eaters and, behind Hermione, the survivors of the battle filed out onto the front steps to face the Death Eaters and see the truth of Harry's death with their own eyes. Voldemort stepped forward, stroking Nagini's head. Ron, Hermione and Ginny's shouted in horror. Their cries caused a chain reaction, and the rest of the survivors began screaming and yelling until Voldemort cried for silence and, with a flash of bright light, silence was forced on everyone.
"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as well every member of their family… And now is the time to declare yourselves..." he said, turning back to the Hogwarts fighters. "Come forward and join us…or die".
"Draco!" hissed a voice, everyone looked at towards the source of the voice. There was Mr. Malfoy and his wife, standing at the brink of Death Eaters. He held out his hand gesturing for Draco to join them. Hermione watched as Draco just simply stood still; she saw the battle of emotions in his eyes, he caught her gaze and for a moment his eyes filled with remorse before he looked back at his father and stepped forward. Hermione stared miserably as the boy she had hated for many year walked towards Voldemort and not for the first time she felt truly sorry for that boy. Severus had told her of the struggles Draco had to face. The threats against his family should he not join Voldemort & follow his orders.
…
Neville's hair was a mess, blood trickled down his forehead as he limped to join the crowd. He leaned down, picking up what was left of the Sorting Hat amongst rocks and rubble, then stared within it's depth to see the sword of Gryffindor glinting in the light.
…
"Well done Draco! Well done!" said Voldemort, and to everyone's horror, Voldemort embraced Draco in a very strained hug. Draco on the other hand, had simply walked into him, not returning the embrace. Draco joined his family, and no one seemed to move until the footsteps of Neville Longbottom filled the air. Hermione watched in horror as her fellow comrade limped forward, the Sorting Hat held to one side and his wand gripped in the other. Hermione looked down at her belt wondering when the Hat came off, dread filled her as she knew that all hope would be lost if Voldemort got a hold of that Hat.
"Well I must say I expected better" said Voldemort a little disappointed that only two had accepted his previous offer. "And who might you be?"
"Neville Longbottom" he whispered, the Death Eaters began to laugh manically. Bellatrix was the loudest of them all.
Neville look up, "I'd like to say something."
Voldemort's face contorted, he clenched his fists holding back the growing rage within, "Well Neville, I'm sure we'd all be fascinated to hear what you have to say, Neville."
Neville slowly began, "It doesn't matter that Harry's gone." Neville turned to look at the crowd. "People die everyday. Friends. Family" He took a deep breath. "Yeah, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us" He pointed to his chest and said softly "In here." He looked around at the faces of those who had lost someone today "So are Fred. Remus. Tonks. They didn't die in vain!" his voice rising with each word. He turned to stare defiantly at Voldemort who was now laughing at Neville's speech. "But you will! Cause you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat! For all of us!"
Hermione gasp as she watched as he reached into the Sorting Hat and pulled out the Sword of Gryffindor, shouting, "IT'S NOT OVER!"
Harry fell out of Hagrid's arm and threw himself sideways, yelling "Confringo!" unfortunately the spell deflected off its target, Nagini, and into the crowd of Death Eaters.
Voldemort yelled with rage, slashing his wand over and over at Harry's retreating figure, causing the building behind him to explode. Chaos erupted, there was no time for Hermione to rejoice in her best friends survival as the battle was in full force again.
In that moment of chaos and confusion Voldemort's attention was so wholly focused on Harry that he didn't hear Hermione shouting at Neville to kill the snake. With a single stroke Neville sliced off Nagini's head just as Voldemort turned back. His face contorted with such fury as the snake's body thudded to the ground. Hermione cast a Shielding Charm around Neville giving him a chance to escape Voldemort's wrath.
The defenders of Hogwarts started to retreat into the castle, but over the screams and roars Hermione could hear Hagrid calling out for Harry still bound by shackles at the wrists and ankles. The ground began to rumble as a stampede of centaurs charged at the Death Eaters from the rear of their ranks. There was disarray amongst the Death Eater ranks many disapparating, the only defender of Hogwarts to run to Hagrid's aid was Hermione. She headed straight for the Death Eaters alone and ready to fight. As she ran, Hermione could hear her heart beating in her ears, her vision became tunnelled, honing in on her prey. Raising her wand she struck them down, all those who stood in her way, shooting out a different jinx each time. Ducking and weaving Hermione made it to Hagrid, blasting off his shackles before spinning and stupefying three advancing Death Eaters.
"Run, Hagrid! GO!" Hermione screamed at her old friend. Hagrid begins to stumble in the direction of the doors, Hermione jogging beside him stupefying all those who attempted to advance on them but being just one person, Hermione was having great difficulty watching both their backs, fighting Death Eaters and holding the shielding charm she currently had around Hagrid's person. Thunderous stamps shook the ground, Gwarp's hulking body was headed for the courtyard.
"Hagga!" he called, as he looked around madly for his half-brother. Gwarp spotted both Hagrid and Hermione, he waved at Hermione shyly, as he approached them, the way he does only for her. Hermione blasted one more Death Eater before giving him a quick wave in return. She pointed to Gwarp to draw his attention and then pointed towards the limping Hagrid. Gwarp panicked, running to Hagrid's rescue, as he did though, he manage to pummel and squash about a dozen Death Eaters before lifting Hagrid into the air helping him escape. Gwarp went to grab Hermione but she shook her head shouting for him to go, but he didn't understand. Miserably, Hermione cast a few mild stinging jinxes at him, forcing him away from her because she couldn't go with them into the forest, instead she turned & ran into the castle joining what would be known as the final battle.
Both the defenders of Hogwarts and Death Eaters were back in the castle, Hermione was shooting jinxes and curses at any Death Eater she could see, and they crumpled without knowing who or what had hit them, while their bodies were trampled by the retreating crowd of Death Eater's as the defenders of Hogwarts began to overpower them.
Bellatrix Lestrange began to viciously fight Hermione, Ginny and Luna, each of the three girls' battling their hardest but Bellatrix's cruel nature kicked in and she battled fiercely.
Hermione watched in slow motion as a killing curse was shot so close to Ginny that it missed by an inch. An enraged Molly Weasley ran at Bellatrix, furious at the Death Eater's attempted murder of her daughter. Molly ordered the girls to step aside; with a swipe of her wand she began to duel. Jets of light flew from both wands. Hermione watched as Bellatrix made the ultimate mistake of taunting Mrs Weasley about her son Fred's death, this only spurred Mrs Weasley on. With a great scream Mrs Weasley's curse soared hitting Bellatrix squarely in the chest, directly over her heart. Bellatrix froze, realization flashed in her crazy eyes before she shattered into a million pieces.
For what felt like hours, Hermione continued to battle on. Jinxing as many Death Eater's as she could and killing a number of death eaters who gave her no other choice. Hermone spun around ready to shoot off another jinx. She came face to face with Draco Malfoy who was also poised to shoot but neither did. They continued to hesitate, sizing each other up, Hermione weighing her options. His parents came up behind him armed as well, but they didn't attack, they only watched their son just standing there staring at not only his personal enemy, but someone he had grown up with over the last 7 years.
"Don't destroy your soul Draco, it's not worth it, trust me" Hermione says downtrodden thinking about her broken soul. "You have to get out of here, you're outnumbered and the Dark Lord will lose tonight. Or you can stay and fight but for who Draco?" Hermione saw his eyes flash at her question, she knew that she had his attention now. "This is not your war you do not fight for your beliefs Draco. You are fighting for something your father believes in." Pausing, looking up and locking eyes with Lucius who for a moment looked regretful. "Why are you here fighting alongside the Dark Lord? A man who tried to get you to kill at 16, who has taken over your home and does not care whether you live or die?"
"You can't kill him… He has ways of coming back." Lucius whispered like he feared the very words he was uttering.
Hermione smiled knowing to what Lucius was referring, "That's not true, not anymore. We know his secret and he WILL die tonight." Turning back to Draco who was shaking fiercely. Hermione reach out and rested the palm of her hand against his cold, white cheek and to her surprise he leaned into it almost for comfort.
"Leave Draco, all three of you, do it now because when we win they will arrest you. We may hate each other but I would never wish that fate upon even you."
Hermione watched as the Malfoy family walked from the raging battle hand in hand before she joined the other defenders, and continued to fight off the remaining Death Eaters until they were all either injured or dead. No one had seen Harry since that moment in the courtyard, worry began to take hold over Hermione. Now with no-one to fight as a distraction all she could do was fear for her best friend.
Hermione heard a high voice shriek "Avada Kedavra" from the courtyard and simultaneously heard the yell of her best friend, "Expelliarmus". There was an explosion of light. Hermione and the other Defenders ran to the edge of the Great Hall and watched through the holes and wreckage of the wall. Glowing flames erupted between them, marking the point where the spells collided.
Voldemort's green jet of light met Harry's red beam, and Harry saw as the Elder Wand wrenched from Voldemort's hand & it flew across the courtyard. He caught the wand in his free hand and watched as Voldemort began to turn to ash, floating up into the light of the rising sun.
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