Nick was in a way happy to be back at the manor. Once again it wasn't for the reason he hoped, the war was on him, and it would be a hospital. But he had his eyes coming back, and unlike last time, he could see much of the home. His brother just promised him, when this was all over, he'd get to come back for good reasons. France would be home, even after the war he would go to Beauxbautons eventually, but this was also a part of him. They had realized the hospital was too dangerous, they couldn't ward it, and their men would be sitting ducks. The manor was a safer combat hospital, and they could control the portkeys in, to make it safer. Neville's parents were among those who had been moved, not to the manor as suggested, but to a safe house. They didn't need immediate care; they had an elf with them, and were safe r than at St. Mungo's.

Nick was working with his Aunt and some others who had training, mainly veela Fleur had brought with her. Poppy and Severus had training, but they were needed at the school, as they were members of the order. They had plenty of help.

Narcissa came into the room and looked at Nick. "The battle will be starting any hour now. The enemies are moving in on the school."

It was New Years' eve, Christmas having gone forgotten for now. "I guess we should be lucky most of the kids were away from school."

Lucius agreed with his brother. "And we got some more out, or into the woods. The only young ones left, are hiding in Hufflepuff, now."

Nick had been told only sixth years and up were allowed to fight. "Should I be expecting my nephew's company soon?"

Narcissa nodded and kissed her husband. "Lucius is on his way to school to join the Order, but I am about to summon our son."

Nick found his way to his brother and hugged him. "Come back in one piece please. I lost both my dads, I need you."

Lucius kissed him on the head. "You know I don't plan to enter full battle. But I will be back up. I will do all I can to come back to you."

Narcissa agreed with her brother in law. "I wish we had kept to our original plan, to remain in exile, and for you not to enter battle."

Lucius sighed and looked at his brother and back. "I have a lot to make up for. And I can't just sit back."

Nick understood as he insisted on coming. "You were forced into the mark, and then to spy, you have nothing to make up for."

Lucius looked at his brother. "And you already did your part in the war, and aren't needed either."

Watching two of the men she loved, Nick like a second son, Narcissa shook her head. Nick was much more like Regulus, he was a real little Black, but times like this he showed his Malfoy blood as well. Both Nick and Draco were a mix, and had a lot in common, though Draco was the opposite as he was far more a Malfoy than a Black. Narcissa wished she could have convinced the both of them to remain in France. If Nick hadn't insisted on coming, Lucius may have been convinced to stay, but she held her tongue. Nick didn't need that guilt on him.

Nick was surprised when Fred came in, well not that he was there, but who he had with him. Molly had been brought into the manor by her sons. It seems Ginny was in a safe house with her Aunt, and Ron at school, but Molly still needed care.

Nick was surprised. "I would have thought she'd be with Neville's parents or such."

Narcissa kissed his cheek. "We knew you would worry about her, so we thought to bring her here."

Fred smiled when Nick came to their side. "I'm happy mum is here with you. George and I can focus on our work."

Molly smiled when she saw Nick. "I was happy to hear your eyes are coming back."

Nick kissed her on the cheek. "I'm just happy to see you a bit. I will have you put in the room across from mine."

George watched Fred lead his mum off. "We promised her we wouldn't go into battle."

Nick smirked. "Does she know you and Bill never intended to?"

George shook his head. "Bill, she knows he remained abroad, even with Fleur here. Us, well we let her believe she still has a say."

Nick was not surprised. "No matter what your parents put you through, you are still good to your mum."

George agreed. "She was a good mum, and I know she didn't try to hurt you. I want her safe."

The twins were running the underground, with Bill on the final end, with Xeno as well. Fred would be at school, but he had Harry's cloak, and would sneak people out from the town and school, those they didn't trust to the manor. George would be in London, at Grimmauld, where he would over sea sending them to any number of safe houses if needed. Bill had one of the safe houses in France under control. They hoped it wouldn't be needed, that they would win the war and people could return a day or two, but every precaution was taken.

Narcissa had activated the pendant but was shocked when she realized. "More than one person is coming through the wards."

Nick was shocked when he found Hermione and Luna standing there, as well as Neville. "Where is Draco?"

Neville looked around in shock. "He tricked me, it was just meant to be the girls."

Luna looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"

Hermione guessed. "The pendants we have, and Neville's, were actually portkeys. I assume one was from Draco's mum."

Narcissa nodded in shock. "His Uncle gave it to him, it was to bring him to safety, when the battle started."

Draco had found out they realized, and had no intention of leaving, and hiding from battle. He had tricked the girls and Neville, knowing how much Nick loved them, and wouldn't want them to be killed. He had sent them to Nick, knowing they would be safe, there was no going back. Hermione and Neville were both upset, Luna had actually considered leaving like her dad.

Hermione hugged Nick. "I always thought when today came, we'd be side by side, I just never imagined it like this."

The order, the ministry and every person they could get was at the castle. The teachers and order were in control, they had the portkeys for the manor and other safe houses, throughout the castle for the injured. They had the young kids still there, down in Hufflepuff, and painting gone. They had the centaurs watching from their backs, with the likes of Lucius, and help from the spiders even thanks to Hagrid,

Harry knew the day had come, he would meet his fate, and one way or another he would be free. He would win, he kept telling himself, and he would return home. He would finally be reunited with his relatives, and with Travis, and be free to have his own life.+

Draco and Harry were headed together when he saw his Uncle. "Oh shit."

Severus looked him up and down. "Oh shit is right. Where is your pendant?"

Draco showed the one he wore around his neck. "Right here. How else did you find me?"

Severus snarled at his godson. "I don't know how you found out it was a portkey, but you are not meant to be here."

Draco looked to Harry and back. "Had a bit of help. I used it to send Hermione, Luna and Neville to safety."

Harry spoke up. "Nick was worried about them, and Draco can hold his own in battle, better than those three."

Severus thought Hermione likely could as well. "The point is you are meant to be at the manor. I am sending you there."

Draco shook his head. "You won't waste a portkey that could be used later to take injured fighters to safety."

Severus knew he was right, and with the wards the enemies erected, no new ones could be made to key out. "You will go to Hufflepuff."

Draco shook his head. "I am not hiding with first and second years."

Severus passed him the portkey. "You will. You will go down, and hold the corridor. If the lead defense falls, you get the kids out."

Draco wanted to protest, but he knew his Uncle would send him back, if he didn't. He knew there were eight kids in Hufflepuff, and he was placed in the lower corridor leading to the entrance, down in the kitchens. The elves and he would be down there, the elf would be able to gain him entrance, as the painting had been removed. If he heard the enemy coming, he wasn't to do anything, but to get the kids out.

Harry felt a bit bad, but he shared a look with Severus, and a nod. He had told the man where Draco was, and had reactivated Draco's portkey, which Severus was aware of. Severus didn't let on to his nephew, but Draco would be leaving with the kids, if it was needed.

Albus and Fudge on his heels were coming their way. "There you are boy, you need to get ready. You will face Voldemort soon enough."

Harry had known and lived for nothing but this moment for so much of his life. "Yes sir."

Fudge looked him up and down. "You better have this boy, not a screw up like the other kid."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "The other kid?"

Albus looked at Severus and snapped. "What are you doing in here? I believe you were told to be in Hagrid's hut or the woods."

Severus hid a laugh when he saw the man was a fool enough to believe it forgotten. "One might think you'd want to lose this war."

Fudge smirked. "Harry is the only one needed to win this war. And we don't need former turncoats to decide to turn again."

Severus went to leave but called to Fudge. "You better hope many of those so called turncoats are killed, or you better kiss your job goodbye."

Fudge would have been out of office, a long time ago if even in office, if not for men like Lucius. Lucius knew enough to sink the man, and had every intention of doing so, when this was over. He would nail the man, for all he had done, especially to his brother. Fudge likely had no idea who Nick was, he was a lot of things, but when it came to old bloods he usually was no idiot. The son of Abraxas Malfoy, and grandson and heir of Orion Black, was not a child he would have used as a pawn. For Albus of course it was

Albus assured the man as they watched Severus go. "You know the people will never learn; besides we did what was needed to win the war."

AN: Keep up the reviews, for an update. Continued amnesia of how to review will lead to amnesia of how to update. And the final battle is next.