The Battle Begins
Harry had fallen ten feet before he caused a strong wind to push him back up to his broom. As he remounted his broom the crowd erupted into loud cheers. Harry took off after Malfoy who was now trying to get as far away from Harry as fast as possible.
"Potter is back on his broom!" Dean said with a sigh of relief, "He is chasing after Malfoy the stupid git…"
"Mr. Thomas!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
"Sorry, Professor," Dean replied, "Anyways back to the action. Potter is really laying into Malfoy. Elbow after elbow into Malfoy's chest not to mention the Bludgers that Longbottom and Finnegan are expertly sending his way."
"Mr. Thomas, while you have been giving us the play by play on Mr. Malfoy's beating the score has changed," Professor McGonagall could be heard shouting over the crowd, "now please call the game."
"Yes, Professor, the score is now sixty to thirty Gryffindor," Dean began calling the game action, "Weasley, Patil and Rose are putting on a flying class out there. Look at them weave in and out of each others flight paths. How do they get that close to each other? I can barely keep up with who has the Quaffle. Weasley does!She shoots and scores! Seventy to thirty Gryffindor."
Harry felt he had dealt enough punishment on Malfoy as he was barely flying anymore. Harry went back to circling the pitch while looking for the Snitch. It didn't take long for him to spot it, flying right behind Ginny. Harry smiled as he got an idea. He took off straight for the Snitch. The Snitch really was mimicking Ginny's every move, if she went left it went left, if she went right it did.
Harry closed in on the Snitch and Malfoy was nowhere around, he had landed his broom and Madam Pomfrey was looking him over. Harry caught up to the Snitch and grabbed it firmly in his hand.
"Potter catches the Snitch!" Dean shouted to the crowd, "And he steals a kiss from his girlfriend on his way passed her, upside down! Manhe canfly! Gryffindor has won the Quidditch House Cup again!"
The team had landed and were huddled together celebrating their victory. The entire Gryffindor House swarmed onto the field to celebrate with their team. Professor McGonagall came down to the field and congratulated the team.
"Well done, Mr. Potter," She said with a smile, then leaned forward and spoke quietly, "and that was a great beating you gave Malfoy by the way."
"Thanks, Professor," Harry smiled, "I told you that I would make sure you kept the Cup."
That night there was a huge party in the Gryffindor common room. Fred and George had sent the team numerous treats and fireworks, it had taken five owls to bring all of it. Colin had managed to get pictures of Harry, Neville and Seamus delivering the beating of a life time on Malfoy. The Gryffindor's watched the moving pictures over and over while drinking butterbeers and eating all sorts of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes candies.
Fireworks were constantly going off, Smoke and Crookshanks would take turns chasing after the smaller fireworks. One had turned into a dragon and began chasing Smoke around the room and into Ginny's lap.
Harry had been across the room talking with Neville and Seamus about their perfect Beater skills. He saw Ginny and Hermione sitting on the couch talking and decided to excuse himself from the conversation. He walked over to the couch and picked Ginny up and cradled her in his arms. Smoke didn't like where this was going so he quickly jumped out of Ginny's lap. Harry spun Ginny around while she giggled loudly, he let her legs down and now held her around the hips.
"We won, Ginny," Harry exclaimed, "and I have you in my arms. I truly am the happiest man alive right now. You do forgive me for taking so long to notice you properly, don't you?"
"Of course I do," Ginny answered while she blushed as everyone watched Harry spin her around the room, "I knew you would come around eventually."
Harry set Ginny's feet back on the ground and kissed her gently. Ginny felt she could stay like this forever.
"Hey mate," Ron interrupted their kiss, "if you two are going to keep this up you should really get a room."
Harry laughed while Ginny playfully hit her brother in the arm. Ron went over and sat down next to Hermione, Harry and Ginny joined them on the couch where Ginny sat on Harry's lap. They spent the rest of the night talking about whatever came to mind. Right now, none of them had a care in the world.
"Are you ready Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked at the beginning of the third week of may.
"Yes sir," Harry knew that Professor Dumbledore was referring to the coming battle, "I have been waiting for this day for a long time."
"Good, good," Professor Dumbledore nodded his head, "ah here is Fawkes now with the first member."
Fawkes appeared in a bright flash of fire, holding onto his tail was Remus. Just as quickly Fawkes vanished again. Remus looked around the Room of Requirement, it had five beds and resembled an army barracks. They had wanted to bring more Order members into Hogwarts tonight but they couldn't risk having that many people gone the next day. They instead chose to bring those who wouldn't be as missed for as long as they could be gone.
Remus, who just arrived, Mundungus Fletcher, Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, andMad-Eye Moody, were the only members that would be arriving here tonight. They along with the staff would consist of the Hogwarts defenders. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Fred and George Weasley, would be the ones to defend the students in the Wizengamot Council Lounge.
Once all of the Order members arrived they called a meeting in the Room of Requirement. All of the teachers that were members of the Order were there as well. They went over last minute plan details.
Harry got some last minute instructions from Dumbledore before he returned to his common room. He got there and saw his three best friends waiting up for him. He nodded his head and told them that everything was in place.
Tuesday, May Thirtieth:
It was a normal day, everyone went to class, teachers taught their classes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in Snape's double Potions class. Harry couldn't keep his eye off of his time piece, it was now 10:30.
Once again Snape came over to Harry and looked at his perfectly brewed potion and scowled. There were ten minutes left until the end of the period.
"Mr. Potter," Snape spoke while Malfoy began smiling, "once again you have used your friends talents to cheat and make your potion. Ten points from Gryffindor, Evanesco."
The potion in Harry's cauldron vanished as the bell to end the period rang. Harry gathered his things and walked with his friends to the Great Hall for lunch. He took his normal seat at the Gryffindor table and tried to act normal. He looked at the staff table and could see that the Headmaster's chair was empty. Ginny came in and sat next to Harry after giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"A Knut for your thoughts, Harry," she asked sweetly.
"Oh you know, the usual stuff," Harry answered as he felt more and more butterflies form in his stomach. "It's the end of the month and nothing has happened yet. I'm starting to get nervous."
"Don't worry too much, Harry." Ginny tried to relax him, "We are all ready for whatever could happen. You have done a great job training us."
The next hour passed and Harry barely ate anything off of his plate. At the end of the lunch hour they got up and left for their next classes. Ginny kissed Harry before they parted ways and told him everything would be ok.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class when it happened. Directly in front of Harry a bright flash of fire appeared and Fawkes was in the center of it.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted immediately, a silver stag appeared out of Harry's wand, "Go, run throughout the school. Notify the DA, we are under attack!"
With a nod of acknowledgement, Prongs ran down the corridor and into every room as fast as it could. Harry could see DA members spring into action, Robert Tooker's group was gathering up those that were to go to the Wizengamot Council Lounge. Harry saw Ginny lead her group into positions of defense.
"Come on, it's time to go," Harry shouted to his friends, "it is time to get the Order members."
The trio ran to the Room of Requirement. Remus, Bill, Charlie were waiting.The rest of the members had snuck down to the main entrance to stop any retreats.
"They are here," Harry reported, "I have sent Prongs out to notify everyone. Professor Dumbledore should be on his way to notify other Order members."
"To your positions," Remus gave the order, "you three, stay with me."
The group ran down the corridor to the Grand Staircase, Harry noticed several fifth and sixth years in position defending the staircase. They made there way to the main entrance and took positions behind statues or anything that could provide cover. They waited for another ten minutes when suddenly the doors were blown off of their hinges.
Bellatrix Lestrange entered the Entrance Hall first, she was followed by Peter Pettigrew and two large masked Death Eaters. They came further into the Hall and still more Death Eaters filed in through the doorway. Finally when twenty Death Eaters stood in the door way Harry saw the one he was waiting for. Voldemort walked through the door to Hogwarts.
"I am here for HARRY POTTER!" Voldemort yelled into the castle.
"You want me! Come and get me," Harry couldn't help it he jumped to his feet and yelled back, "Stupefy!"
Harry ducked out of the way as three spells came flying at him. All hell broke loose at this point. Order members began casting spells at the huddled death eaters. Four Death Eaters quickly fell to the ground before any of them fully realized that they had walked into a trap.
"Clever boy, Potter!" Voldemort yelled as he retreated back outside. Numerous small battles instantly broke out, some spilled into the entrance to the dungeons while others went into the Great Hall or even up the stairs. Remus had entered into a duel with Bellatrix while Ron and Hermione were fighting against Pettigrew.
Harry made a decision immediately, he closed his eyes and concentrated. When Harry opened his eyes it was from a new perspective, he was the red fox. He snuck out of the hall unnoticed and took off after Voldemort's scent.
Robert Tooker
Robert delivered his group to the fifth floor corridor and had Kaylee take the group into the Lounge. When they were all inside he shut the door and placed a bar across the door so no one could get back into Hogwarts. He ran up a flight of stairs to what seemed like an empty classroom.
"Ok, it has started,I got most of the students out of here."
Five forms threw off their invisibility cloaks and walked to the doorway.
"Good job, Tooker," A masked Death Eater spoke, "Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle come on. You," He pointed at a second masked Death Eater, "Take Tooker and round up as many students as you can find. Don't kill them."
Robert walked out of the room with his Death Eater companion and lead him to where he knew students would be positioned to defend. They were able to sneak up on Colin Creevey and another fifth year. They cast the stunning spell on them and bound them in ropes they had conjured. They proceeded down the staircase and continued immobilizing pairs of students from behind.
Robert hadn't seen where Ginny and her partner were hiding. Ginny had watched as Robert and the Death Eater worked their ways down the stairs. When Robert heard it, it was too late.
"Stupefy, Stupefy," Ginny shouted in quick succession. Each spell hit their mark, Robert fell to his knees and lie on the ground, the unknown Death Eater stumbled backwards when he was hit. The stairs changed as the Death Eater fell backwards, he missed landing on the staircase and Ginny watched as he fell into the dark abyss.
"Tie him up," Ginny ordered her partner, "I have to warn the others that Death Eaters are behind them." Ginny waited for the staircase to comeback and then headed down the stairs.
Draco Malfoy
Draco was leading his Death Eater from room to room looking for any straggling students or teachers. So far their attempts hadn't turned anything up. They turned the corner and were heading towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom when Professor O'Bannon came running towards them.
"You there," get into a classroom and hide, "Death Eaters are here."
The Professor slid to a stop as he saw that one of the people he was giving an order to was in fact a Death Eater. As he slid he fell down and pulled out his wand.
"Stupefy, Stupefy, Stup…" O'Bannon hit the Death Eater and Goyle with his stunning spells before he heard another spell being cast, it was the last sound he would ever hear.
"Avada Kadavra," A bright green light filled the room as Malfoy killed his teacher, "Come on Crabbe, they will come to eventually we have to keep looking for others."
They continued looking through the corridors and were heading down the stairs when Malfoy heard Ginny cast her stunning spell and knocked the Death Eater off the stairs. Malfoy cast a stunning spell at Ginny but missed as she ran down the stairs, he cast another one and hit Ginny's partner. Before Malfoy could get onto the stairs to follow Ginny they changed again.
Ron and Hermione
The two of them were sending curses at Pettigrew in quick succession but it appeared that he had improved his dueling abilities. He blocked and dodge their spells while at the same time sending his own back at them.
Ron heard something that sounded like it was falling and looked up. He watched with a scared look on his face. The Death Eater Ginny had hit with the stunning spell was quickly falling right at him. Ron pushed Hermione out of the way just before the body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
"Ewww," was all Ron could manage to say.
"Stupefy!" Peter used his opportunity to cast the spell at Ron.
Ron fell to the ground stunned and unable to move. Hermione took up position behind another statue as she cast Protego to block another stunning spell. She watched as a seventh year came out of a hidden room and pulled Ron to safety.
Hermione could see that Remus was still battling with Bellatrix and he seemed to be fighting with extreme emotion. Every spell he cast seemed to have a little extra power behind it. Bellatrix looked like she was getting tired.
Another spell hit the statue Hermione was hiding behind and she came up with an idea. She looked around the statue and saw where Pettigrew was.
"Agito Occulto," Hermione said as she pointed her wand at herself. She could now see Pettigrew's back, "Stupefy," The spell hit Peter and he fell to the floor, then to help Remus, "Stupefy."
Bellatrix froze as Hermione's spell hit her in the side, Remus' stunning spell hit Bellatrix in the chest right after. He conjured some ropes and tied Bellatrix and Peter together. They were about to join the other members of the Order when the heard Ginny.
"Professor," Ginny called out, "Tooker, and Death Eaters."
"Calm down, Ginny," Remus spoke slowly, "Is Robert ok?"
"I hit him with a stunning spell," Ginny replied, "He was helping a Death Eaters stun students. I think another one was behind me cause a spell just missed me when I started running down the stairs."
Remus nodded and ran straight up the stairs. Ginny looked around and saw that Ron and Harry were gone.
"Hermione," Ginny spoke, "Where are Harry and Ron?"
"Ron is in a secret room, he got hit with a stunning spell," Hermione answered, "I don't know where Harry is, he disappeared after the fighting started."
Without hesitation Ginny ran outside into the courtyard, she didn't see any sign of Harry. She closed her eyes and concentrated, when she opened her eyes again she had the ears and muzzle of a fox. She could smell Harry, she began following the scent and she could hear his voice now, he was casting numerous spells. She rounded the corner and saw Harry, and the five Order members that were guarding the entrance in battle with Voldemort and seven more Death Eaters. Ginny changed her ears and nose back and ran to join the fight.
Harry and Voldemort
"You have learned a lot this last year, Potter," Voldemort yelled, "it is a pleasant surprise, I must admit. You are a worthy adversary."
"I will beat you, Voldemort!" Harry yelled back.
The Order members and the Death Eaters were beginning to spread out. Moody had just hit one of the Death Eaters with a stunning spell. This Death Eater fell into the lake where the Giant Squid pulled him into the lake. Even Moody felt somewhat bad for the man.
"You don't have it in you to kill me, Harry," Voldemort spat.
"You have no idea what I am capable of!" Harry yelled.
"You are full of too much good, Harry, you would never be able to cast the killing curse!"
"Avada Kadavra," Harry cast the killing curse at Voldemort.
Voldemort was quick enough to dodge the spell and took cover behind a tree. He knew that Harry got close to hitting him. A spell had just missed hitting Harry, he looked to see where it was coming from and saw that a Death Eater that was currently fighting with Kingsley had sent the spell at Harry.
In the time it took Harry to look and see where the spell came from Voldemort cast a spell.
"Avada Kadavra!" There was a bright flash of green light as the spell traveled straight at Harry. Harry was too slow to cast a protection spell and knew it was over. Then he saw a flash of red hair streak in front of him and fall to the ground. Another spell just missed Harry and Harry looked up to see Malfoy was charging at him. Harry took a second to look at the body lying in front of him, it was Ginny.