Saved By Act Of Betrayal Keeperoliver Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter Universe. That right belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Harry excused from himself Professor McGonagall, and started to walk toward Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, just as Ron and Hermione were getting hugs from Mrs. Weasley. Harry held back to let them get reacquainted with them after being apart for nearly a year, without contact. Mr. Weasley
then gave both a hug. Fred and George were patting them on the back and asking all kinds of questions. It was quite a reunion, with a few tears shed from both females. Harry looked down at Ron and Hermione's hands, which were joined. He guessed they were trying work things out, and get back together. Hermione's comment from earlier struck home to Harry, she might have loved him, if she had realised his qualities earlier. As it was, she must not have felt that way now.
Harry was happy for them though. He knew that what he and Ron had, may not be the same, but he was still a friend, and would not get between his best friend and the one she liked. He still had feelings for Hermione, but his feelings for Ginny were stronger.
He walked over to the Weasley Family, and gave all four hugs, saving the last for Mrs. Weasley, as he knew that would be the longest and most comforting. There was small talk for a while, and more questions were asked. Harry answered what he could. He looked up and noticed that Ragnok was trying to get his attention. Once again he excused himself.
Ragnok took Harry off to the side, and asked Harry where his guards could get something to eat and some rest. Harry called for Dobby, and was startled when he tapped him on the shoulder. "Give me a heartattack why don't ya. How about a little warning next time."
"Excuse me, but I think you called for me, and not the other way around. Now, what would you like, Oh kind and generous master."
"Would you please find a place for the goblins to get something to eat and rest? And please bring Professor Snape up here, but not the Carrows?"
"Sure thing boss."
"Ragnok, do you know how we could take out Nagini, without being within, say, 100 meters. I don't want anyone facing Voldemort, and I am sure, she will be very close to, if not wrapped around, Voldemort."
"If you don't want anyone that close, then the sword is not a factor. So now we have to find out what will destroy a Horcrux. We will also need a method of delivery."
"Well, if that is all you need, perhaps I could help."
Harry and Ragnok, turned around to see who had said this. To their astonishment, Luna Lovegood was standing there with her eyes looking right through them.
"What do you mean Luna, you know how to do this?"
"Why of course, Harry, it's so simple."
"What's so simple? Luna, would you please tell us what you are talking about."
She didn't get the chance, as Dobby appeared with a furious Professor Snape.
Dobby saw Luna, and his jaw dropped. He walked over to her and he asked if she would join him in something to drink. She accepted and they started to walk off. Harry told them not to got too far as he still wanted to talk to Luna.
"Potter, what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning of what Professor?"
"Why are these goblins here, and what are you doing back here?"
"The goblins are here at my request, and I am here to either kill or be killed. Does that answer your question, sir?"
"Don't get snotty with me Potter, and what do you mean kill or be killed?"
"I mean just that, I am either going kill Voldemort, or die trying. It's that simple. What I am asking from you, is to call him, and tell him I am here. Is that too much to ask. I know you want to see me gone as much as he does, so I am giving you the opportunity, to do just that."
"Do you, a snot nosed little toe rag, think you could actually defeat the greatest wizard of our time?"
"Look, if you don't want to do it, fine, you are missing a golden opportunity. Just think it over, and tell us what you have decided in, say, 4 hours. Is that OK with you Ragnok?
"That is fine with me Harry."
Harry asked Dobby to take the Professor back when Snape asked if he could remain with the rest of the teachers?
Harry called for Professor McGonagall, who came over, and when told of Snape's request, she said it was fine, with a few restrictions, with which he readily agreed.
By this time, the hall was so crowded, you could barely move. Harry started to look around, trying to find the one person he needed to talk to. As he walked through the hall, people were shaking his hand, patting him on the back, and welcoming him back. all the members of the D.A., past and present were here. He wondered how they got here. Harry started to the main entry when he saw a flash of long red hair. Harry smiled and started in that direction. He lost it for a minute, and then saw it again. When he pushed through the crowd, he saw a sight that nearly broke his heart. He couldn't believe what he saw. Ginny was leaning against Neville and Neville had his arms wrapped around Ginny and was kissing the top of her head. They were talking to Ron and Hermione, who were not holding hands, but were really close. Harry's head dropped. He turned and walked away.
Harry found Dobby and told him he was going to go lie down, but to wake him at 9PM, it was now 5:45PM.
Dobby looked at Harry and asked him if he was alright? Harry said he was fine and reminded him about the time. He then made his way to the Gryffindor quarters and his old bed. Harry laid down, and tears were streaming down his face. Everything he had done, or is getting ready to do, was to help other people. He hadn't asked for anything from anybody. Yes, he was thanked over and over again, and he knew that they really did appreciate what he had done. But in his 16 years of memories, not once had anyone told him they loved him, not once. He had been told that his parents loved him, and he knew that they truely did, but he never heard it told to him. Everyone he loved had left him, either by death or by choice. Harry remembered his first kiss, it was with Cho, back in his fifth year, just before the Christmas holidays. It was filled with tears, not for him, but for Cedric. There was no love, just loss of a friend. Then there was his first kiss with Ginny, again, no love, just joy, after winning the the quidditch cup for there house. There were more with her, and he knew he was falling in love with her. Then Professor Dumbledor was killed. He broke up with Ginny, telling her it was that he wanted to protect her from Voldemort. He guessed that last kiss in her bedroom was not enough to keep them close enough to start over when the war was over.
Harry felt someone shake him, and he looked up. Dobby was standing over him, he also was crying. Harry asked what was the matter?
Dobby answered, "Harry, I heard you talking in your sleep. I am sorry, I didn't mean to listen, but you sounded so sad, that I could feel it too. Knowing someone loves you, and hearing it from someone who loves you, are 2 different feelings. Believe me when I say, you will find love when this is over. It may be with someone you haven't met yet, but it will be there. Now, it is 9:15 and time to get up."
"Thank you Dobby, I will be down in a few minutes."
When Harry made it down stairs, he met up with Remus and Tonks. Remus told him about his son Teddy. You could see the love in Remus' eyes. Harry hugged Remus and Tonks and told them he had to go prepare. He turned and left them. Remus turned to Tonks and said, "Harry is upset about something, I can feel it, almost smell it, and it's not fear. It's like he is sad about something. I wish I knew how I could help him, I love Harry as if he were my own son."
"I know you do Remy, and I think Harry does too. Maybe Ginny or Hermione can bring him out of it?"
Harry found Luna talking to Dobby, and walked up to her. "Luna, what were you talking about earlier, when we discussed a means to kill Nagini?"
"Oh that, well, Harry, as you know, dad and I go on adventures every year, and we live off the wild when we do. Over the years i have learned to use the bow and arrow, and became fairly decent with it. So, I talked to Mr. Ragnok, and we talked with Professor Flitwick. He told us that the best way to deal with Nagini, was with basilisk venom. Dobby, the sweetheart that he is, said he knew where a dead basilisk was. He then disappeared, and was back again, with 2 basilisk fangs. He then used the fangs, and made 24 arrow heads. Hagrid had a quiver filled with arrows which he pulled the old heads and we refitted them with the basilisk tips. We then had a small challange, with the winner being the one to take out Nagini. I won."
"So, you know what is needed to be done?"
"Oh yes, Harry, Mr. Ragnok was quite explicit about when it needed to be done, and where to hit the snake to ensure it's demise."
"Thank you, Luna, I am sure you will accomplish your mission with expert precision."
Hary asked Dobby if he knew where Professor Snape was, and Dobby pointed him out.
Harry walked over to him and asked him if he had considered his request.
Professor said yes and asked him when he wanted him to do it. Harry said to give him 15 minutes.
Harry used a sonorous on himself to get everyones attention. "If everyone one would quiet down for a minute, I would like to say, that the time has come for us to fight. I don't want to make any false promises and say everything is going to be alright, it's not. People are going to fight and people are going to die. I want you all to know, that I am proud of everyone of you. I am proud to call you my friends. I hate to bring you all here for this, but in the long run, I hope, when it is over, we will be free of Voldemort's reign. If everyone would take there positions we are ready to try and end this bloody war."
The roar of the crowd was deafening. The cheering went on for a minute and the army took their battlestations.
Harry saw Ron, Neville, Ginny and Hermione walking up to his position. "Yes. Are there questions you need answers to?"
Ginny looked at him and said, "Just one. Why have you been ignoring us all night?"
"I have been kind of busy you know. We are getting ready for a war here, or haven't you noticed?"
They all felt the bite in Harry's tone and flinched. "Why are you mad at us, what have we done that has you so upset. We are your friends, Harry. We don't want you to feel like this. We want you to know that we are there for you, to watch your back. Please Harry, tell us what is wrong. We can't say we're sorry to something we don't know we did. We don't want to part like this, knowing you feel upset at us." Hermione said the last almost as a whisper.
Harry looked at them and said, "Look, you're my friends, alright, is that what you wanted to hear. Now can you please take charge of you positions, we are about to go to war." And Harry walked off leaving them to wonder what was going on.
Harry met up with Ragnok, Griphook and Dobby and asked if they were ready. They all nodded and walked outside. The goblins split up into 4 groups, with 2 groups taking either side of the main entrance to the castle, and the other 2 taking up a position on either side of the entry gates. Harry disillusioned them so they couldn't be seen.
They waited about 5 minutes, when the wards to the castle started to fall. Ten minutes after that, the gates were blown off their hinges. Through the cloud of smoke caused by the blast, walked 3 figures.
Voldemort, Bellatrix LeStrange, and Fenrir Grayback.
The forces have met, it is time for war.
