AN: Sorry for the delay on getting this chapter posted. I had just started a second job and it has been eating into the free time that I had planned to use to finish out this story. I'm not sure how long it will take me to wrap everything up but I plan to have the next chapter up very soon. I liked the direction that the previous chapter had taken me and tried to incorporate a little bit of that into this chapter. The next chapter will expand on this chapter and the points of view of some of those presented in the previous chapter. I hope that you enjoy the chapter. Please review! They really do inspire creativity.
Chapter 16
Severus Snape knew what the Dark Lord expected of him. The students would be arriving any minute and he would address them and inform them that things would be changing around Hogwarts. Severus was astonished when the Dark Lord informed him that he was mobilizing his followers in order to march on Hogwarts. He thought back on the times that he had spent with Dumbledore, before being forced to kill the old man, and realized that it was almost time to initiate the final stage of the plan. As Dumbledore predicted, the time has come when Lord Voldemort has become extremely moody and wary of letting his snake leave his side.
Reflecting upon the times that he had spent with Lily Evans as a child, Severus thought: It's almost a pity that the boy has to die. Even though he is the son of James Potter, which in itself is an inexcusable sin, I must admit that fate has not been kind to the boy. Dumbledore, why did I let myself become so entangled in your web? I should have left once I figured out what you had planned but, as much as I hate the reminder of what I lost, I couldn't imagine a world without those emerald green eyes. Lily, you abandoned me for James. I, inadvertently, set the wheels in motion that would cause your death. Now I am the one who will bring death upon your son. Please forgive me.
While he was thinking, Severus Snape had made his way to the Great Hall where he would await the arrival of the students. He couldn't help but notice that the seats that should have been occupied by the Carrows were empty. Amycus and Alecto, have your new positions as members of the Dark Lord's inner circle swelled your heads to such a degree that you feel above your appointed positions within these walls? Your absences are inexcusable; you were sent here to make an example out of those who would dissent against the Dark Lord. I shall be forced to make an example out of you if this insolence continues.
Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick had assumed their customary positions near the castle's main entrance to welcome the new students. Unbeknownst to the self-styled headmaster, Severus Snape, the pair had another reason for stationing themselves at the entrance to the castle; they were to send the signal once all the children were inside letting Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix know that it was time to evoke the ancient magic that would protect Hogwarts during its darkest hour.
The pair had been in position for several minutes before the first of the Thestral-pulled carriages arrived. Seeing the faces of the young witches and wizards as they arrived at Hogwarts always brought joy to Minerva's heart, especially during the turbulent times when many parents didn't let their children return to school due to the fear of something happening to them. McGonagall and Flitwick greeted their pupils and encouraged the first-years as they made their way into the castle. After about twenty minutes the rush of students entering the castle had come to an end. When McGonagall saw Rebeus Hagrid walking toward Hogwarts she knew that all the students had safely made their way into the castle.
While Minerva waited for Hagrid to make his way into the castle she caught herself marveling at the ingenuity of four of her former pupils. The work of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, the Marauder's Map, had allowed the Order members to secretly make their ways to strategic positions within Hogwarts. From their positions each person was waiting for the blue stream of magic shooting toward the sky that would indicate that Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick had assured that all the students had entered the castle and that it was now time to begin casting the protective spells.
As soon as Hagrid had crossed the threshold, Minerva lifted her arm to the sky above Hogwarts and shouted, "Protego Totalum!" Alone, her light stood out as a beacon. However, many other similar shafts of light soon joined the one that had originated from Minerva's wand. Together the combined power of the spells was such that it completely incased Hogwarts in a midnight blue dome of protection.
Lord Voldemort felt vindicated. Those who sought to defy him had raised barriers to keep themselves safe from his wrath. The barriers were a direct challenge to him. They would raise barriers against him; he would tear those barriers away. They, who would see him kept out, had just invited him in. Surely they would not have raised the walls if they did not mean for him to test them and ultimately tear them down. His army had assembled, his power was undeniable, and he would not be denied.
"Come, my loyal followers, the time is now. We will march on Hogwarts and I shall claim my kingdom!" exclaimed the Dark Lord Voldemort. Without further ado, he began the march through the Forbidden Forest that would take him and his army to the boundaries of the castle's defensive magic. Once they arrived, Voldemort turned to address his followers once more. "I shall now prove my power beyond any doubts. Those who seek to defy me have cast spells to keep me out. Witness that no one has the power to keep me out once I have decided to enter."
Lord Voldemort then raised his wand and focused all of his rage before beginning his onslaught against the castle's defenses.
While Voldemort and his army were marching toward the castle, the new students heard the dire warning in the song of the Sorting Hat before they were sorted into their new Houses. Inside of Hogwarts, the students were quite surprised when they heard the sound of an explosion reverberate through the halls of the castle. In their panic induced state many of the newer students had broken ranks and were running around screaming. Severus Snape called for order; his voice, which had been augmented by the Sonorus charm, failed to quell the dissent. So he cast an Expulso charm at one of the tables causing it to explode with a tremendous bang. The students stopped moving when they heard the sound.
"That's better. It appears that the castle is under attack. All of you are to go to your House common rooms, at once. The consequences if you do not follow this instruction will be dire." Upon finishing this statement the former Potions professor strode out of the Great Hall with his cloak billowing behind him.
The announcement had the intended effect on the majority of the people in the Great Hall and the majority of the students began to make their way to their respective houses. However, while on their way to Gryffindor tower a certain group of students veered off of their path. Instead of going to their common room they sought another room. Shortly they were joined by several Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in front of the Room of Requirement. To those who were assembled, it was a surprise that Neville Longbottom was the first to speak.
"Hogwarts is under attack. Whoever it was, that called us, must have known that something like this would happen. We once stood behind the name Dumbledore's Army, he is gone but we still need to do our part to protect Hogwarts; we're Hogwarts Army!"
While Neville was addressing the host of students that had banded together to face the ominous threat the door to the Room of Requirement had been opened by Luna Lovegood. She had a feeling that the speech would be good if it had prompted Neville to break out of his shy persona to speak publicly and she was not disappointed.
"Too true, Neville," Luna beamed as she announced her presence. "Come in, everyone. There is a lot that you are going to have to be caught up on."
"Luna, that is a lot to take in," Cho Chang said to her fellow Ravenclaw once the younger girl had filled the group in on the events that had brought them all together. "If there is going to be a battle then I will fight."
"We want to fight too," agreed Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott while Earnie McMillan nodded while crossing his arms across his chest in resolution.
"If You-Know-Who is attacking the castle then we don't have much time. We need to do something," stated Colin Creevey while adopting what he considered a bold face.
The door to the Room of Requirement opened and the conversation came to an abrupt halt. When the group saw that it was Harry that opened the door they rushed to greet him. Cho was the first to lock him in an embrace. The young witch ran to the door to embrace the wizard who had once competed against her as the Gryffindor seeker. She had spent much more time contemplating his safety over the break than she cared to admit. Therefore she was very enthusiastic in her greeting and squeezed Harry much more tightly and much longer than entirely appropriate considering how things had ended when they had attempted to act on their feelings during their fifth year.
"Er, hi Cho," said Harry who was very surprised by the enthusiasm that the shapely Ravenclaw was showing him. He couldn't help but notice how her body had filled out since the last hug the two had shared in the Room of Requirement. The pretty girl that had occupied his day dreams during his fifth year had been replaced by a very beautiful young witch, who was starting to elicit a reaction that Harry did not want to have to explain. So instead, he broke away from her grip and moved into the group so that he could greet the other witches and wizards who had heeded the call.
Cho was extremely disoriented. After losing Cedric she had become a much more emotionally reserved individual. She knew how much emotions could hurt and did her best to make sure that she was removed enough that she would not be hurt again. How was it that a simple hug could evoke so many emotions that she was trying to suppress? Cho was working through her thoughts when she got the feeling that someone was looking at her. Putting her thought processes on hold for a minute, she glanced up and met the disapproving gaze of Hermione Granger.
Hermione started to make her way over to the exotic Ravenclaw but was distracted by the fireplace igniting with the green flames that indicated that the group was going to be joined by more allies.
"Oi, my dear brother it would appear that we almost missed the party," said one of the new arrivals to the other.
"I believe the term fashionably late is the one that best describes us now," Fred Weasley responded to his brother George Weasley.
"Right you are, but someone had to make sure that these rookies wouldn't be marching into battle unprepared," countered George.
"Too true, dear brother," bantered Fred as he took a trunk from his pocket and magically expanded it. "Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and get your very own protective cloaks and gloves right here."
"Only the finest Wheezes for those who would step up to protect Hogwarts in the hour of need," added George as he started to distribute the protective attire to those who had gathered in the Room of Requirement.
It had been a very long time since Voldemort had been denied from anything that he sought. He had power that most witches and wizards could not fathom. He had strove to make sure that his knowledge of magic was without equal. Thus, when he saw the midnight blue shield that those inside Hogwarts had erected in order to stop him he realized that it implied that even he would hard pressed to overcome the magic. With a mighty shout, he reached into his deep magical reserves and increased the power of the curse that he was using to overcome the magical barrier.
He began to feel the protection slip and used his free hand to press the mark on his forearm to signal to his followers that it was time for them to join their powers with his to overcome the defensive barrier. Not long after, Voldemort's lone beam was joined by many others. The dome had been steadily lightening in color under the power of Voldemort's spell; the additional strength of the wizards under his command was too much for the protective spell to negate. With a resounding crack the spell was broken and the dome dissipated in a shower of sparks.
"Now, my Death Eaters, we have bested what protection those who seek to defy me have provided. Now we move into the castle and I claim my throne!" When he finished speaking Voldemort resumed his march to the castle, for all intents and purposes, resembling an unstoppable force.