A/N: Oh My GOD! This is the beginning of the end. I typed out the whole battle sequence and found out it was four chapters long...So sorry about that. But that is what my brain told me to do. Blame my brain. :D
So, this is the first of four chapters. It is all the final battle. And I found it really intense. If you don't, please tell me. Because I would rather get told I suck then go about boring people.
Happy reading!
Henny, that lucky Penny!
Hell Rains Down On Us
My Mary-Jane's kept slipping out from under me. I was trying to sprint to Hagrid's hut. I knew that was where my owl was. Since we were not under the rule of a psychopathic killer, I could have my bird. And he would be there to help me. I just hoped his wing was all in one piece. Because I had a feeling that his sharp talons would be useful. I had evidence on my own body to prove that they are.
I finally made it to the round hut and I blew open the door. An approaching screech resounded and I was hit in the chest by a powerful black mass. We tumbled off the steps and I cradled the warm feathers protectively to my chest.
"Damn you, you stupid bird." I grumbled. I think I landed on a few pebbles. An excited hoot met my ears and I could not help but smile. I had my baby back and now all I needed was my father and my siblings in all but blood and I would be the happiest person, "Can you fly, you crazy animal?" the confident hoot had me chuckling darkly. Oh yes, my secret weapon was roaring to go.
I let him push off from my wrist and we were bounding towards the castle. Anxiety and adrenaline were feeding my blood. I could feel my magic in my body thrumming, waiting to get out. I think this was the most alive I had felt in so many months. Not a damn thing was clouding my thoughts and I was able to finally taste clean air. I know that many felt the dark looming ever closer to the castle, but all I felt was refreshed. It might have been the fact that I had been training most of my short life for this and now it was finally here, but I did not care.
Voldemort would be no more and Wizarding Britain would be able to breathe without fear.
I sprinted up the steps and heard the distinct cracks of apparation. I spun on the balls of my feet and brandished my wand. Figures with their wands out were aiming them carefully at my chest. I panicked for a moment before I saw orange red hair on a number of them. Confusion replaced anxiety. The males resembled Ronald, but I do not remember them from the meetings I could bring forth to the front of my mind. A grisly looking man with a walking stick was the only one not pointing a wand at me.
"She's a Slytherin." I heard one of two identical copies observe. I looked down at my robes and almost cursed out loud. Well, shit. This does not look good.
"Are you Weasleys?" I called out, my arm relaxing a little.
"Clever that one, dear brother." the other copy quipped to his obviously twin brother.
"Henria, do you remember me?" an older version of the twins held his hands out, showing he would not harm me, "I'm Arthur Weasley. I remember seeing you on Albus' knee, braiding his beard into tiny braids." he took a step forth.
"No, but you look familiar. I've seen you in some memories of my mother." I lowered my wand and most of the Order members present relaxed a little, "I am Henria Sownbinder. You're Order members, right?"
"Yes, little one. You can understand our apprehension. Green and silver make most of us nervous." Arthur seemed to have appointed himself the spokesperson, "How did you get sorted into Slytherin?" the grisly man coughed. I ignored him as I smirked at Mister Weasley.
"I told the hat to place me there." I left my explanation at that.
I opened the Entrance door and held it wide. The red heads lead the way. While I was holding the door open, I shrugged off my outer robes and tossed them on the floor. I grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled it apart sharply. The sound of tearing fabric and buttons bouncing on the floor was loud in the quietness. Most of the men present snapped their heads away from me. I heard a horrified gasp from a witch with red hair. As I pulled my torn shirt off, I smiled wickedly.
"Henria, dear, what in Merlin's beard are you doing?" Arthur asked nervously.
"Stripping myself of the confusing colors." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders, "I am wearing a tank top underneath. But it is adorable that even your sons are trying to protect my honor. Although, the man with the missing nose is an old pervert." I dropped the Oxford shirt on top of my robes, "Incendio." I flicked my wand and the articles of clothing burst into flames. There, no more trying to accuse me of being a snake bitch.
"I think I like her, Gred." one of the twins whispered and snuck a wink towards my direction.
"She's the witch of my dreams, Forge." his brother responded in agreement. I rolled my eyes.
"Boys! That is enough!" the plump witch scolded them, "Dear, do you have another shirt? It isn't appropriate to be running around with so much skin showing." I looked down at my shoulders.
"I guess I get to be inappropriate." I replied as the new comers continued to file in the castle, "Last I saw of Minerva, she was in the Great Hall snapping out orders. You must be Missus Weasley. Awful that we have to meet under these circumstances, but a pleasure all the same." I respectfully bowed my head to the witch. I could hear the twins snickering over their shoulders. All I heard from Missus Weasley was an angry huff.
I let the door swing shut and trailed behind the group. I clicked my tongue and Denali descended upon my shoulder. My heart grew two sizes at the familiar weight. I reached my hand up and stroked down his throat. The soft feathers loosened the tight muscles in my back. I took a full breathe of air for the first time since Snape took over the school.
"- running around half dressed! The indecency of it all!" I heard an angry voice talking loudly.
"I can't control the girl! Don't you think I haven't tried, Molly?" I heard Minerva snap back.
I entered the Hall quietly and saw more Order members assembled. Some of them were slightly familiar. Their faces were blurry memories. Some of them were from the memories that my grandfather had shared with me. I leant a shoulder against the wall and just stood there. Yeah, I guess I was a little under dressed. I still had my regulation skirt on and my Mary-Jane s. In combination with that, my tank top showed off my shoulders and collarbones. The only good thing was that I had opted to wear black stockings under my shorts today. It had been chilly this morning and I did not want to catch a chill. Merlin knows what would happen if I tried to ask a Death Eater to let me get through a coughing fit if I got sick.
"Henria, did you honestly rip your shirt off?" Minerva asked and most heads turned towards me. I crossed my arms loosely over my stomach. Denali hooted questioningly.
"I did. The wonder twins over there were about to curse me because of my colors. Who else would get the same idea but not voice it? I couldn't take a chance to be stunned by one of you in the heat of battle because they only saw green and silver." I replied looking directly at her dark eyes. Denali pushed off my shoulder to perch in the rafters. He was watching the large group carefully.
"Honey, you can't be running around in a skirt. What would happen if you tripped and fell?" Molly tried again, her voice barely restrained. I quirked an eyebrow up at her.
"I guess then everyone would see the color of my knickers." I drawled. I actually heard a growl come from Molly. Her eyes were narrowed and her face was pinched in anger, "Look, worry about what we are going to do and not how I am dressed." she huffed again, "Woman! I am wearing shorts under my skirt and stockings! And all you can fucking see are my shoulders! Get a grip!" I snarled. Honestly! You would think I was flashing my lady bits for the whole world to see! The tank top comes up high so you cannot even see where my breasts begin.
"Henria!" Minerva's whip like tone came out again. I flinched at the sound, but did not back down.
"I'm going to tend to escorting students out. Call me when the Death Eaters are here so I can go flash the goodies at them." I pushed off the wall and stalked out with my head high. I heard a rush of air and Denali landed on my shoulder again.
"Young lady!" I heard Minerva snap. I purposefully ignored her and continued my way to the seventh floor.
The halls were mostly clear. Older students could be seen rushing around here and there. Everyone was in groups. I could hear myself snarling about prudes. If I want to look like a slut, I will. But really, is a skirt and tank top that bad? No. I always make sure I am covered up. If a guy gets off on seeing my boney shoulders, then he obviously needs to get laid.
"Henria!" I heard Neville's voice at the other end of the corridor I was walking down. I snapped my eyes up to see him and Seamus standing and watching me.
"Hey! What are you two up to?" I called out. I needed something to do.
"We're going to blow up a bridge, want to come and help?" Seamus responded with a mischievous grin on his face. I felt my lips curve into a smile.
"Hell yes!" I replied enthusiastically. Molly faded into the back of my mind.
"Come on then." Neville motioned for me to follow them. They started jogging towards their destination.
"Up, Denali." I ordered with a last stroke of his wing. He hooted and lightly pushed off.
I sprinted down the corridor and turned the corner to follow them. I spotted their retreating figures and sped up my pace to catch up with them. I fell in pace behind them and we continued our way to the bridge. I could hear the beat of Denali's wings over the pounding of our feet. I felt completely safe.
Well, I did feel completely safe. That was before we got to the bridge.
Seamus was good with explosions. He waved off our help and so Neville decided we would cross the bridge and stand guard at the end since no one could get into the castle. I let him stride ahead as his legs were much longer than mine. I strolled behind, looking to the sky for any Death Eaters. I did not see any, but the clouds were dark like the sky knew what was happening. It was a precursor for a long, hard night. I shivered a little. My shoulders were kissed with the slight breeze that came with the canyon under the bridge.
I came up behind Neville and nearly fell over. At the top of the hill were hundreds of figures lining the edge. I pinched a few strands of hair between my fingers and began to play with them. I heard Denali's talons scrape the roof of the bridge. His soft hoot was nervous but determined. He was waiting for orders. I would not give him those orders.
"Neville, what if they come down here?" I whispered nervously. I licked my lips to moisten them.
"I don't know, Sownbinder. I don't know." he responded gravely. I looked up to his face and his eyes were set. I went up on my toes and lightly kissed his cheek. He blinked down at me in surprise.
"We'll do it together though, right?" I asked hopefully. He realized that I was nervous and not at all confident. His quick nod gave me some ground. I gave him a nod of my own and tucked my wand in the waistband of my skirt.
"Well, don't unarm yourself! Are you crazy?" he exclaimed instantly nervous. I ignored him as I doubled over and flipped my hair towards the front.
"I'm not, you dumbass. I'm pulling my hair out of my way. You think it is easy to see through a wall of hair?" I gathered it all up at the crest of my head, "Want me to curse you instead of someone trying to hurt you?" I righted my frame and began to twist the ends for a tight bun.
"No. Girls are odd creatures." he commented.
"Gay then?" I smirked as I wrapped the hair tie to secure my bun.
"Bitch." he muttered. My smirk deepened, but I did not reply.
I drew my wand and kept a close eye on the huddled figures. Neville and I snapped our heads around as we heard a strange noise from the sky. I tensed because I thought that the Death Eaters had arrived. What we saw instead was a bright, magical shield beginning to encase the school. The group on top of the hill saw it too because I heard a yell and turned back in time to see them begin their descent. I swallowed dryly.
"Let's hope that it makes it in time." Neville murmured. I nodded and dropped into a loose defensive stance.
"Remember Neville, in order to be brave, one must have fear." I recited from memory. Uncle Albus burned it into my brain so that I would always know how to find my courage deep down in my core.
My gut was twisting painfully though. The pounding of the approaching horde was like thunder in my head. I could feel the tremors under the ground. I started to shift my weight from foot to foot, trying to release some of the extra nervous energy. I could hear Neville begin to mutter powerful hexes under his breathe. He was preparing a line up in case we needed it. Seamus had better get that fucking bomb built in time. I would rather be blown up than run over by a herd of crazy people.
And then I saw the barrier begin to drop down in front of us. The men, because I was able to make out features they were so close, were moving at about the same pace. I saw Neville take a step back out of the corner of my eye. I held my ground because I am stubborn. I took a long pull of air through my nose and held it. And then I held a stunner hex on the tip of my tongue.
And then the leader slowed his steps. Three or four foolish men did not catch the movement and I flinched when their bodies hit the shield. I let out the air quickly. Before I knew it, I was standing eye to eye with a werewolf. How did I know that? His eyes were gold and eerily bright. A dark grin erupted on his face. I had forgotten that some of my skin was exposed. His leering eyes made me shrink back a little. I had never had someone look at me like that so intensely before.
"You and whose army?!" Neville yelled and I could hear the smirk in his tone. The werewolf's eyes snapped to Neville. He looks unperturbed by the latest development.
His eyes shifted back to my face and I could see the wicked thoughts running through his mind in his expression
"This will not hold girl." the leader growled at me. I felt Neville stiffen behind me; "You're pretty." a good way to ignite the fire in my belly is to infer that you are going to be taking advantage of me.
"And you're ugly. What of it?" I narrowed my eyes at him. Neville lightly touched my shoulder to remind me that I was not here to make friends, "SEAMUS?!" I hollered.
"ALMOST!" his reply echoed down along the canyon.
"Fuck!" I heard Neville utter so quietly, I thought I had imagined it. The flick of the leader's eyes to his face told me I had not.
"My mum always told me never to play with my food." the disgusting man taunted as his golden eyes shifted back to my brown ones, "But sometimes I do find it enjoyable." he licked his lips in anticipation. I lifted my lip in disgust.
"Your table manners must be appalling then." I sneered, "Remind me to never-"
And that is when I heard the first burst of magic hit the barrier around the school. I watched as more of them kept hitting it. I turned to Neville and he was pale. Fuck! Shit! Fuck!
"SEAMUS?! WE NEED IT NOW!" I screamed over the booms in the sky.
"DONE!" his response had me feeling better.