Part XVII

Elisabeta Héderváry woke up to blackness, inside Malfoy Manor. The lack of people astounded her; she suspected that they had all gone off to Hogwarts, to the final battle.

She Apparated to Hogsmeade, where people were gathering in the middle of town.

"Are you off to fight the Dark Lord?" she asked, tugging on someone's robes. He turned around. "Feliks!"

"Like, oh my gosh, it's you!" Feliks grinned and hugged her. "I was totally wondering why you didn't, like, show up earlier!"

"But are we going to fight?" the Hungarian girl demanded.

Feliks nodded. "The Dark Lord totally killed Harry Potter. It's like, totally not fair now. So I'm going to totally, like, fight. Even if I like, break a nail and mess my hair."

Elisabeta giggled. She looked to the man standing next to her. "Roderich!" she exclaimed in pleasant surprise. "I thought you went back to Austria!"

"I return to do duty to my school," Roderich replied stiffly.

"We will return to Hogwarts, aru!" Yao Wang called from his spot next to Charlie Weasley on a raised platform. "We must fight against the Dark Lord, aru!"

Everyone cheered.

The Death Eaters stood on the lawn before Hogwarts; Nataliya feared them now. She had defied orders to return to Voldemort's side, defied her brother's calling.

And even after all he had done for her… Nataliya bit her lip, looking at Alfred. He smiled reassuringly, tears in his eyes.

They walked out to meet the Death Eaters with the rest of the defenders.

Sure enough, the news were true. Harry lay limp in Hagrid's arms; Hagrid was weeping. There was a scream of anguish; Nataliya looked to see Professor McGonagall, her face a mask of horror and sadness. Bellatrix Lestrange cackled opposite her.

"No!" Alfred breathed, as Ron and Hermione cried the same thing.

"Harry! HARRY!" Ginny wailed. Nataliya's eyes filled with tears and she tore her gaze away from Harry's body to look at the rest of the Death Eaters.

The Warsaw Pact stood there, looking nervous and unsure of themselves. Only Ivan remained confident, standing next to Voldemort with his scarf blowing in the slight breeze. Nataliya couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze. All around them, the defenders screamed and yelled at the Death Eaters.

"SILENCE!" Voldemort bellowed. There was a bang and a flash of light, and the defenders' voices fell silent. "It is over! Set him down at my feet, Hagrid! Set him down where he belongs!"

Hagrid gently laid Harry down onto the grass. Nataliya bit her lip as Alfred squeezed her hand tighter, as if he was trying to hold in his anguish.

"You see?" Voldemort jeered. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

"He beat you!" Ron yelled, breaking the spell once more. It took another powerful Silencing Charm to quiet the mob once more.

"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," Voldemort hissed with relish, and part of Nataliya knew it was a lie. "He was killed while trying to save himself – "

"You lie!" Nataliya and Alfred screamed simultaneously, as Neville Longbottom broke out of the line of defenders and charged at the Death Eaters.

There was a gasp in the Warsaw Pact section as Nataliya stepped forward with Neville, staring defiantly at her brother and his master.

"I will not fight for the Death Eaters," Nataliya said quietly, "Not when they threaten the lives of those I love. Brother, I saved your life once; do you not remember? I loved you, Brother, because you were all I had left."

"Nat," sobbed Yekaterina from her spot next to Toris Lorinatis. "Please, please don't end up like Feliks…"

Nataliya shook her head, even as a Disarmed Neville stood up and looked bravely towards the Death Eaters.

"Nataliya, you are a fool," Ivan said quietly. He glared over her shoulder at Alfred.

"I'm done playing the fool to you," Nataliya replied. Voldemort looked at her, hatred in his eyes.

"I have no use for disloyal subjects. Avada Kedavra."

Nataliya fell to the ground, not hearing Alfred's cry of dismay.

"Who is this?" Voldemort hissed at Neville, kicking aside Nataliya's body as he walked towards Neville. Kiku gritted his teeth. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord!" Bellatrix cackled from his right-hand side. "The son of the Aurors, the one who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble!"

"Ah, yes, I remember him," Voldemort said, looking down at Neville who stared back at him with his hands in fists. "But you are a pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?"

"So what if I am?" Neville demanded.

"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."

Ginny's hands clutched Kiku's shoulder tighter as Neville stared at Voldemort. Kiku watched them, a sinking feeling of horror in his stomach.

"I'll join you when hell freezes over," snapped Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he cheered, and everyone answered.

"Very well," Voldemort whispered silkily, somehow managing to extinguish the cheer without raising his voice. "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan."

Suddenly something flew out of a window and into Voldemort's hand. It was the ragged old Sorting Hat, looking very ragged and old indeed.

"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," Voldemort whispered. "There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?"

He then placed the Sorting Hat onto his head and set it aflame.

Kiku screamed, his scream echoing with those of other onlookers. And then far off in the direction of the forest, as the blackness of night lightened into indigo, a massive army of centaurs appeared. In their midst was a pure-white unicorn; it whinnied loudly, rearing up magnificently as the centaurs charged, yelling war cries. Little colourful balls of light zoomed towards the Death Eaters with the centaurs; Grawp lumbered around the side of the castle and engaged Voldemort's giants in battle once more. The Death Eaters scattered as arrows filled the air and the ground trembled with the giants' battle.

Neville broke free of the Body-Bind Curse. The Hat fell off and he drew from its depths a sword with a glittering, rubied handle. Kiku gaped as Neville slashed the blade through the air, slicing off the head of Voldemort's snake. It spun through the air – Voldemort screamed in fury – and the snake's body fell at his feet.

"Harry!" Kiku gasped. The Boy Who Lived was there no more. He stumbled forward as battle recommenced; a Shield Charm erupted between Voldemort and Neville.

"HARRY!" Hagrid shouted. "WHERE'S HARRY?"

The Death Eaters fled from the faeries and the centaurs; the proud unicorn cantered up to Kiku. He looked up at Arthur, who was sitting astride the unicorn and looking pleased with himself.

"Hello," the Brit said, jumping off the unicorn and stroking its mane. He smiled at Kiku. "Said I'd get help."

Kiku couldn't help but smile.

Notes: I know, another short chapter. AND THREE MORE CHAPTERS UNTIL THE END. XD;;

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