James Castle
Chapter 23: Endgame
Four days later, Luna's prediction came true. Voldemort's army had gathered after the battle of Hogsmeade and slowly began moving towards Hogwarts destroying everything in their path. No one had heard from Scrimgeour after he had disappeared with Fudge. The Ministry had been attacked by a team of Death Eaters at the same time as the Hogsmeade attack and all owls sent there were being returned with a generic message that the Ministry was locked down until further notice.
The families and students that were in Hogsmeade during the attack escaped none the worse for wear, not counting the families that were killed to use their Floo connections for Death Eater reinforcements. The people of Hogsmeade were given temporary housing in the castle by Dumbledore as they were forced to evacuate as Voldemort's full army returned days later and overran the town.
Families of students began arriving a couple days after the attack, to check on their kids and complain to the Headmaster about the danger they were put in. Unfortunately for them, Voldemort's armies had surrounded the castle shortly afterwards, trapping them inside the castle.
The defenders of the Hogsmeade were recovering as well as could be expected. Everyone's wounds were more or less healed, besides Luna's blindness, which she kept assuring them was no trouble, oftentimes as she held a Quibbler in front of her face 'reading'.
The Great Hall was packed one night, with all the families, students, and refugees when a loud voice broke over the castle. "I am Lord Voldemort," the voice boomed as people began to scream and panic. "You will surrender Harry Potter and Frank Castle to me tomorrow at noon, or we will destroy you all," the voice boomed, shaking the Great Hall.
All sets of eyes in the room turned to look at the small table where the people that had defended Hogsmeade were eating alone, talking among themselves. James frowned, pushing himself away from the table, headed to the exit of the Great Hall.
"James, where are you going?" Dumbledore asked as he quickly ran across the room to intercept the boy.
"To get ready, still have to figure out the power he knows not and all," James stormed off, Hermione pushing past the Headmaster apologizing as she caught up with him.
"You okay?" Hermione came up behind James, draping her arms across his chest as he stared into the fire in the Gryffindor common room, alone on the large couch; all the other kids had gone to bed after seeing the look on his face.
"Wonderful," James frowned, doodling on the notepad he had before him.
"Looks very interesting," Hermione laughed as she slipped in beside him, taking the notebook from his hands. She flipped past the doodles, seeing what he had jotted down, before giving it back to him. "Not bad, might just work ," she smiled, pulling him close. "Come on now, it's time for bed," she grabbed him by his hand, pulling him along.
"Hermione, I need time to prepare, to get everyone in on the plans," he complained as she pulled him to the stairs to the girls' dorms, muttering an incantation at the banister.
"Everyone who is going to fight tomorrow needs a night of rest James," she glanced down at him from the top of the stairs. "I just disabled all the charms in the school keeping boys from going to girls' rooms," she taunted him. "Now get up here, before I find someone else to do it," she threatened as she ran to her room, seeing he had already started climbing the stairs after her.
"Harry Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived-Then-Died-Then-Lived-Again," Voldemort glared at James who was flanked by Dumbledore on the right and Frank on the left. Voldemort had the few surviving members on his inner circle with him, leaving the bulk of his army at the tree line. "Might I ask as to where Severus has disappeared to?" Voldemort smirked at the men in front of him.
"He's badly injured, some Hufflepuffs blasted a wall into his face," Frank glared at the Dark Lord as he limped forward. "We gave the bastard to the Ministry, so much for your spy."
"A pity, he was always a useful tool," Voldemort smirked at Dumbledore.
"You won't spare them Tom, so why the promises?" Dumbledore asked, glancing back at the closed castle gates.
"Truthfully? To see if they would force you to come out, or to see if you came out on your own?" Voldemort laughed at the men in front of him. "Are you ready to die today?"
"Not looking good, is it?" Max asked as he surveyed the crowd of Death Eaters, trolls, and the like through his high powered rifle scope.
"No, not really," his partner replied as neither noticed the figure behind them pull their wand, blonde hair glistening in the sunlight.
Draco Malfoy left his companions, Crabbe and Goyle behind as he felt the orders from his master come through the Dark Mark. Most of the Slytherins had been imprisoned in their tower after the attack on Hogsmeade, the only contact being from the house elves that brought them food, and the commands issued through their Dark Marks.
They had managed to break down the tower's main door, using the combined power of all the children of Death Eaters present, besides Draco. He leapt through the door, rolling on the ground before gathering his bearings and sprinting up the closest set of stairs. His lungs burned as he exited the stairwell, recognizing the door to the astronomy tower that was overlooking the battle going on below. He paused as he reached the door, feeling something move behind him, whipping his wand out to meet his opponent.
"Hello Draco, I beg you to reconsider this course of action," Luna smiled at Draco, with her closed eyes.
"Lovegood, I heard you were blind," Draco sneered, stepping away from the door to taunt the girl.
"Can't see a lick," she smiled at where she thought he was. "Draco, lay down your wand, or I will be forced to duel you," she opened her eyes that had turned completely black at him.
"My master commands," Draco ignored her, going to the door that had a pair of chains wrap around it suddenly. "Do you really want to die that much? You can't even see!" he growled at her, throwing a Reducto that destroyed the wall behind her.
"Please Draco, surrender now," Luna's black eyes watched him as he threw curse after curse at her, avoiding them by a hair each time.
"Stay still you bloody witch!" Draco shouted as Luna froze in his sights. "Reducto!"
"Steady now," Remus Lupin tried to calm the witches and wizards that were gathered just outside the entrance to the school. "Wait for the signal before engaging the enemy," he lectured like he was teaching again, going over the plan James had laid out.
"There's a lot more of them than I thought," Hermione said quietly beside him, taking in the numbers of trolls and giants she counted.
"Steady girl, stick to the plan," Remus gave her arm a quick squeeze.
"Death isn't really high up there on my to do list, I'm personally looking forward to shacking up with a nice witch tonight," James laughed at the Dark Lord. "I have no intention of dying today," he glared at Voldemort.
"You are surrounded by an army, if whatever ragtag army you have in there fights, they will die," Voldemort glared at them. "The Ministry will not come to save you, they are crippled," Voldemort taunted. "It's just you, alone against my army," Voldemort hissed.
"You're half right, we're not alone, and your army is about to get a lot smaller," Frank raised his hand, waving it behind him.
Voldemort frowned as most of the Hogwarts sixth and seventh years, along with nearly fifty adult wizards moved out from the castle entrance, hands on their wands. "That is all you have to offer as a resistance?" Voldemort laughed.
"No," Frank shook his head at Voldemort. "The others just take a little time to find their targets," he commented as the giants and trolls at the back of the army came under fire from the centaurs in the forest and two snipers in the tower.
"Kill those beasts," Voldemort snarled at one of his Death Eaters. "Send the Dementors to kill whoever is in that tower," he shouted back at his army.
"Shall we dance?" James smirked and drew his wand and gun, along with Dumbledore and Frank.
"Kill them all," Voldemort hissed to his Death Eaters as the battle began.
"There's the signal, get ready," Remus ordered as he moved out from his cover with the other defenders. "Wait for it," he cautioned as he watched James, Frank, and Dumbledore talk with Voldemort a bit more. "Now!" he shouted and ran forward as Voldemort and his Death Eaters started firing on the three men in front of them.
The blonde haired figure moved their wand between the two snipers for a moment as they continued firing, before choosing her target. "Expecto Patronum!" Luna shouted, startling the squib Max Smart, and the Muggle Frank Castle. She smiled as they turned to look at her as her patronus, a duck-billed platypus, circled in the air, keeping the Dementors away.
"Luna?" Frank pulled back from his rifle, moving to the girl. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked her.
"You two would be killed most quickly, if no one was here to protect you," she smiled at them. "I will keep the Dementors away, keep shooting," she hummed a song to herself, concentrating on strengthening her magic.
"Are you okay?" Frank asked, wiping a spot of blood from her cheek.
"I am fine, Draco Malfoy was on his way here, he would have ambushed and killed the both of you," she sighed. "I begged him to surrender, but he decided to fight me," she sniffed back a tear. "He fell from the tower, he tried to hit me with a Reducto, but the shockwave when I blocked it knocked him out a hole he had blasted earlier trying to kill me," she smiled weakly. "You should get back to your position, there are many targets to choose from," she patted Frank on the head like a dog, before closing her eyes and humming, concentrating on her Patronus.
"Move, move!" Frank shouted as dove to one side with James as Dumbledore covered the other other side.
"So much for the plan," James grumbled, pulling his wand in one hand, a pistol in the other. "Go on three?" he asked, peeking around the earthen barrier they had created.
"Got a few on your side, and some more on mine, including the snakeface," Frank replied after taking a quick peek around the side. "One, two, three," he counted before the two of them spun around, firing at the dark wizards. Frank moved quickly, nailing three Death Eaters before dropping to a Crucio.
James dodged out the other side, launching a couple spells and shots at Voldemort himself, that the Dark Lord easily shielded. "Accio!" Voldemort hissed as Frank's body flew to his hand, using him as a shield against James. "Give up boy, or I will kill him," Voldemort hissed as he gripped Frank by the throat. James tossed his gun and wand to the ground dejectedly, glaring at the Voldemort. "Crucio!" Voldemort shouted the curse at Frank as he tossed him to the ground.
Voldemort's laugher stopped as Frank struggled to his feet against the pain. "Crucio!" he roared, doubling the power he was putting into the spell. Frank staggered for a moment, but kept rising. "Impressive, Muggle," he hissed at the man. "What fuels you, Frank Castle? What keeps you going when you know the fight is lost?" Voldemort snarled as he kept his power focused on the spell.
"I fight for those who can't," Frank glared at Voldemort, fighting off the spell. "I fight to protect those I love," his eyes flashed green as a crackle of magic surrounded him. "I fight, to make you pay for what you did to me!" he shouted as a magical shockwave erupted around him, ending the effects of the polyjuice potion. "I fight to kill you today, you snake faced son of a bitch," James stood a few feet away from the Dark Lord as he shook off the last bits of Frank's form.
"Then who…" Voldemort looked quickly at 'James' who had reverted back to the form of Sirius Black and summoned his weapons back to his hands. "Where is The Punisher?" Voldemort snarled at the boy in front of him. "I will not be denied my revenge," he spat at James.
Dumbledore dodged to the opposite side of James and Sirius as the fight began. He stared down the Death Eaters opposite him, waving his wand, quickly knocking them out with a barrage of spells, reminding them why he was the only wizard Voldemort ever feared. He watched the edge of the forest as the gathered giants, trolls, and other dark creatures were cut down by a rain of gunfire from the tower and arrows from the forest.
He allowed himself a moment to smile, before stunning a werewolf that had moved to attack him, noticing the fury that Bane the centaur grappled with a troll, dropping his bow on the ground. He twirled his beard in his hand as he shielded himself from another attack. "Quite curious, Bane fighting like that," he mused under his breath as he transfigured rocks to block the spells coming at him. "Oh Merlin," he frowned to himself as things clicked into place.
He turned in time to see 'Frank' fighting against the Imperius curse, feeling the small shock wave of magic from him. He smiled a bit as Voldemort took a step back from the boy, startled by whatever he was saying. "Well played, well played," Dumbledore turned his back on Voldemort, focusing his attention on keeping the other Death Eaters from getting to James.
Hermione ran forward to the Death Eaters, Remus Lupin on one side and Ron Weasley on the other. Spells fired from all sides as she outran the others, shooting from her wand in one hand, the pistol Harry gave her in the other. The defenders clashed loudly with the Dark Lord's army as spells erupted all around. She ducked a spell from a Death Eater, shooting him in the gut as she spun past him, concentrating on reaching James and Voldemort.
"Frank Castle is up there," James jerked his head back at the tower that was glowing from the Patronus being cast. "If you're looking for The Punisher, I solemnly swear I am up to no good," James pressed his wand to the corner of his robes, changing them to the tattered Punisher gear he had worn in Hogsmeade. "Frank did not come here until Christmas," James glared back at the Dark Lord. "It was me," he smiled as Voldemort grew furious. "It's just you and me," James held his arms at his side, ready to draw on the Dark Lord in a moment.
"I have to admit I am impressed Mr. Potter," Voldemort hissed at him. "Hiding here in Hogwarts the whole time," Voldemort sneered."
"I wouldn't call it hiding, so much as waiting as I took your idiots out," James stared back at him. "I killed Bellatrix, I delivered Wormtail to Sirius, I raided all those houses, it was all me," he watched Voldemort carefully. "What, no witty response?" James glared at him.
"I will destroy you, and all you hold dear," Voldemort threatened.
"You'll have to go through me first," James smiled back as the two of them pulled their weapons and began to duel.
"James!" Hermione yelled as she watched him begin to fight Voldemort one on one. "Out of my way Remus," she glared at the werewolf that tried to hold her back. "He needs me!" she slapped him in the face hard before he grabbed her arms holding her still.
"He does not need you, he needs you to stay safe," Remus stood by her, fighting back the Death Eaters. "Let him be," he ordered Hermione as they concentrated spell fire on a group of werewolves. "See?" he growled as he shielded a red spell that was headed at the two of them. "He's fine, he just needs us to stay safe and out of the way," Remus pointed to where James and Voldemort were circling each other, throwing spells back and forth like it was nothing.
"How's it looking on your end?" Frank asked as he drilled another giant in the eyes, making sure to avoid Haggrid and his half-brother.
"Oh, peachy," Max frowned as he fired at a troll that was closing in on Lupin and Hermione. "You think your boy can do this?" he shouted back over to Frank.
"James will be fine," Luna smiled as her Patronus shield around the tower flared, sending the Dementors away. "The show is about to begin," she smiled.
James dove and roll out of the range of a Reducto from Voldemort, propelled along as he conjured a wall of dirt to shield him. "That all you got, you snaked face son of a bitch?!" James yelled at the Dark Lord as the barrier exploded behind him.
"Your games are beginning to annoy me boy, what with the hiding behind others and all," Voldemort hissed. "No more hiding boy," he snarled, destroying the mound of dirt James was behind as he dove out of the way. "Finally grown a backbone, have you?" Voldemort taunted as James got up pointing his wand at him.
"I've always had what took to destroy you," James glared back at the man. "You're an idiot, obsessed with power," he frowned as the two of them eyed the end of the other's wands. "Me, I fight for the good side," James dropped his arms, glaring at the end of Voldemort's wand.
"Harry!" Dumbledore yelled as he caught sight of James being defenseless at the mercy of Voldemort.
"Imperio!" Voldemort shouted, casting the spell on James. "Draw your wand, kill Dumbledore," Voldemort ordered.
"Oh hell," Frank swore as he caught sight of James pointing his wand at Dumbledore. He swiveled to the left, catching sight of Voldemort. "Max, Snake at 10:45, fire at will," he shouted as he fired at Voldemort.
"James!" Hermione yelled as she saw the curse wash over him, taking control. "No!" she screamed, shooting a Death Eater that was taking aim at her. "Shoot him now!" she screamed to the wizards and witches that had helped lead the attack, taking the time to aim and fire a half dozen of the Reducto shots from her pistol.
"It's over Dumbledore," Voldemort laughed as he controlled James, having the boy take aim at the Headmaster. "You will die, and then I will finish the boy," Voldemort hissed as he turned to reinforce his shield against the spells and bullets that came at him. "That the best you have?!" he screamed at the night as he deflected and absorbed the shots.
"No, I have a couple more tricks," Voldemort froze as he felt the gun press to the back of his head.
"Impossible!" Voldemort hissed, spit flying from his mouth as he slowly turned to face the boy. "You were under my Imperio, I had you under the Cruciatus earlier," Voldemort ranted.
"Yeah, and you tried to AK me when I was a kid, guess I get the hat trick," James looked him in the eyes. "I was trained to overpower the Imperio and Cruciatus," James watched him carefully. "Goodbye Voldemort," James nodded slightly before pulling the trigger, spraying a shower of blood from the back of the Dark Lord's head.
Remus froze as he saw James take aim at Dumbledore. He watched Hermione shoot at Voldemort, only drawing his attention their way for a moment. He struggled to hold Hermione back after she shot at Voldemort, trying to help James. "Down!" he yelled as he pulled her down, avoiding some spell fire from the enemy wizards.
The roar over the battlefield died as a single shot rang out. The defenders moved quickly as the Death Eaters clutched their arms in pain. The Dementors, Trolls, and Giants felt the change and moved to flee as fast as they could. James moved over the body of Voldemort, firing shot after shot, no one moving to stop him until Hermione made her way through the crowd.
"James?" she asked as he fired another shot into what was left of Voldemort's head. "James," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him.
"Hermione?" he asked, shaking his head, trying to make sense of the battle. "Is he gone?" he relaxed, grabbing Hermione around the waist.
"Yeah James, he's gone," Hermione smiled as she comforted him.
The Daily Prophet, Special Edition, May 15th
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, aka Lord Voldemort is dead. He was defeated in a heated battle at Hogwarts when he faced off against The-Boy-Who-Lived, aka Harry Potter, aka James Castle. The forces of Light feigned weakness in order to draw in the armies of the Dark Lord before they turned the tables and drove back their enemies.
Harry Potter was unavailable for comment following the battle, having disappeared with his paramour, Hermione Granger in the direction of the castle immediately following the battle. Albus Dumbledore was questioned shortly after the final battle and said the following: "We were saved today by quick thinking and cooperation with our Muggle allies. The Punisher, that the Aurors have been looking for, for the past months, is none other than Harry Potter. He had been polyjuicing as his uncle in order to take out his vendetta against Voldemort without being caught."
The Ministry of Magic has issued orders for the capture of Harry Potter, aka James Castle, as well as Frank Castle, Maxwell Smart, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, on charges of unlawful operation of a militia, murder, violations against the statute of secrecy, and treason against the Ministry.
Hogwarts, the rumored current home of these men has been closed and denied entrance to all Aurors following the battle five days ago. Albus Dumbledore has ignored all requests for an interview, sending the following statement.
"In a time of war, people must do desperate things to keep the peace. Brave men fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Most of you were hiding in your homes as the final battle took place. Do not question the integrity of those men who defended your way of life."
"All packed?" James asked as he watched Hermione double check all her shelves and drawers for books.
"I think so," she looked over the room, now stripped bare of all that made it hers. "I can't believe I'm quitting school…" she frowned as she walked to the common room with James.
"Don't call it quitting, call it broadening your horizons," he gave her a peck on the cheek as they came down the stairs to where Frank was waiting. "This is one hell of an ugly welcoming party," James laughed, grabbing the man in a hug.
"Stuff it, the others went to make sure the safe house was safe," Frank smiled, messing up James' hair.
"Damn it Frank," James swore as Hermione joined Frank in laughing as he tried to straighten out his hair.
"I bet chicks dig the annoyed hero look, what do you think Hermione?" Frank asked as Hermione blushed and helped James straighten his hair. "Look at you two, already acting like you're married," Frank laughed again as the kids blushed.
"Enough Frank," James frowned, moving with Hermione's shrunken trunk to the fire. "This is secure?" he asked Frank.
"Far as I know, I'm just the middle man here," Frank shrugged.
"Ready to go Hermione?" he held his girlfriend's hands in his own as he looked into her eyes. "I love you," he whispered as he felt the small ring on her finger.
"I'm good," she smiled back at him. "Better get going, Luna will be mad if we're late for our own wedding," she kissed him quickly before throwing a handful of powder and jumping into the Floo.
"Nice woman you have there James," Frank watched the young man as he pulled another handful of powder out.
"I know, don't know what she sees in me," James sighed.
"Chicks dig the hero James, never forget that," Frank patted him on the back.
"Gee, thanks Frank, ready to go?" James asked before throwing the powder into the Floo.
A/N: Well, got my doublecross, some shooting, some deaths. Think I did pretty good for the story as a whole, more or less. I am going to work on the Cap. America and Iron Man stories next, then if I can think up a good premise, maybe revisit this with a part two. I left enough openings in the end to drive a truck through on purpose. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Anyway, that's it for here, I think I wrapped it up good enough, was realistic and ignored some of the crap in the books that needed ignored. IF I do a sequel, it will not be posted until the ends of the Cap/Iron Man stories, so don't be holding your breath. It took me 5 weeks to write this, so at that rate, a sequel will begin in January at earliest unless I write fast.
Can't really think of anything else, I know lots of you wanted to know more about Luna, Ron, etc., but I did not want to go into it here. You can be guaranteed that if/when the sequel comes things will be explained. Besides that, I am rambling. More or less, I am happy with how this story turned out, encouraged by reviews, etc., etc. Off to shifting gears now, I need to write a WW2 fic and an Iron Man fic at the same time, so wish me luck, hope y'all liked this story.
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