Chapter 42
It was ten in the morning when, Ewan, Harry, Hermione, and Ron apparated to Hogsmeade under the invisibility Cloak. They all went up at the castle. Ron, Hermione, and Harry ran to the Chamber of Secrets.
Within an hour the school was ready to take up arms against Voldemort. Ewan ended up being very busy, he helped 'Mad-Eye' Moody and Remus Lupin defeat Antonin Dolohov, then help Tonks and Sirius defeat Bellatrix Lestrange, finally helping Percy and Fred Weasley fight Pius Thicknesse, thankfully both Percy and Ewan were able to cast shield charms to protect all three of them from the resulting explosion.
* * *
Ewan decided that he needed to talk to Snape. He didn't know why but he knew it was important to speak with him. So while everyone was dueling, he made a run for the Shrieking Shack.
Changing into his animgus form of a wolf, he made his way into the dilapidated building. Once inside he changed back, instantly aware of the threat in front of him.
"Mr. Potter," said a cold dark voice of Voldemort. "So much like you're bother, helping to defend the weak. Ah- I see you have what I need. Cruio!"
Ewan fell to the ground in pain. "Accio Elder wand." The Elder wand flew out of Ewan's hand, into Voldemort's. "It isn't truly mine yet."
Suddenly, a knock was at the door. "Enter." hissed Voldemort.
Severus Snape, the man he trusted behind anything, entered the room.
"My Lord you wished to see me?" asked Snape.
"Severus, my slippery friend, all this time. You were the Master of what I seeked." said Voldemort.
"No, he wasn't! The true master of the Elder wand doesn't have to kill to get it. The true master of the Elder wand is at the school." said Ewan.
"Who?" asked Voldemort.
Ewan didn't say anything. Voldemort's eyes glazed red. "Crucio! Tell me, Potter."
"Ahhh, NO!"
"Cruico!"
"MALFOY! Draco Malfoy."
"How is that so, Potter?"
Ewan didn't reply. "Crucio!"
"Okay... okay....Draco disarmed Dumbledore, Draco became the master when he disarmed him."
Voldemort looked to smile, yet it wasn't really one. He pointed the Elder wand at Nagini's cage. Then spoke in Parseltongue before leaving the room, "Kill both."
Ewan thrust his hand towards Snape. "Accio wand!"
Snape's wand flew into Ewan's open palm, a second later he pointed it to the snake. "Avada Kedavra!"
A green light burst through the wand hitting the snake.
Ewan sat panting on the floor to the Shrieking Shack, Snape's wand still in his hand, and his arm still pointing to the snake.
"Ty- Ewan." started Snape, kneeling down to Ewan. "Come on, we need to get to the castle, we need to warn Potter."
"I killed it." whispered Ewan.
"Yes, you did. That doesn't make you bad."
Then a light bulb turned on in Ewan's head. "I killed it! He exclaimed joyfully. "It was a Horcrux, the snake and I killed it! Yes!"
"Good, now we must warn Potter." said Snape.
"Warn Pot- Harry, about what?" asked Ewan
"A part of the Dark Lord is in Potter." said Snape. "Dumbledore told me, there was a lot he told me, a lot he asked me to do."
"Like kill him?" asked Ewan. "He was dying anyway, right?"
"How do you-" started Snape.
"His hand. Back in the September of last year, we went to get Professor Slughorn to come out of retirement. I saw the hand. I knew then. He asked you to kill him."
"Yes."
"Harry is a horcrux." it wasn't a question. "It makes sense, Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue and the connection between him and Wadofsnot."
"Wadof- what?" asked Snape.
"Wadofsnot, you know his name was taboo was we called him Wadofsnot."
It was like pigs were flying because for a whole minute Severus Snape, greasy haired git of the dungeons, laughed. It was a deep laugh, hearty, and full. Once Snape gained his composure he looked at Ewan.
"What?" said Snape.
Ewan smiled. "Nothing. Here put this on." Ewan said tossing Snape his Invisibility Cloak.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"The Dark- Wadofsnot will know that you're still alive." said Snape.
"Yeah, but I'm not the one that has been spying on him for years." said Ewan running out of the room, down the tunnel out of the Shrieking Shake. Professor Snape behind him the whole way.
Finally the duo found Harry in the castle, with the other Professors.
"Harry, we have to talk to you." said Ewan.
"We?" asked Harry.
"Oh, here give me the Cloak." said Ewan to the invisible Snape. Snape took of the cloak and a second later every wand in the room was pointed at him.
"NO! If any one you hurt him or even kill him, you'll have to kill me too. Dumbledore gave him a job, a job that he has been doing for years. He's been on the side of the light for over sixteen years, never once has he strayed away."
"He killed Dumbledore!" shouted a voice from the back of the room.
"Dumbledore was dying, dying of a curse. He asked Snape to ease his burden, to kill him so he won't suffer any longer. Dumbledore told Snape to do it at the right time." said Ewan. "Dumbledore trusted Snape, as do I."
The room was silent. "Who has a flask on them?" asked Ewan.
"I do... I always carry a flask in times such as these..." said Slughorn, pulling out a flask and handing it to Ewan.
"Professor Snape, I need those memories, everything you've got to show Harry. It's the only way." said Ewan, handing Snape the flask and his wand.
Snape placed the tip of his wand to his temple and pulled out the wispy memories from his head, gently stroking it into the flask. Ewan corked it and gave it to Harry.
"The truth." said Ewan. "It tells you what you have to do. Oh and by the way, all the Horcruxes have been destroyed. I killed the snake."
Harry took it, but before anyone moved a high, cold voice spoke. Voldemort's voice reverberated from the walls and floor, Voldemort was talking to all off Hogwarts and the surrounding area.
"You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a lost and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour, dispose of your dead with dignity, treat your injured.
"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all ran up to the Headmasters office, going to see the memories. While Ewan went to see the killed of injured. Thanking none of the Order sustained any losses. All the Weasley's were still together and Remus and Tonks were still alive and together. But unfortunately there were some loses. About 50 deaths in total for the Order, most were the creatures that lived in or bordered around Hogwarts but there were a few humans that were killed. Little Collin Creevy, that used to be obsessed with Harry was one of them, his brother Nigel was crying on his body. Then Ewan saw one of his friends Le Chun, fellow Ravenclaw in his year, lying a few feet away from Collin. Liam Scott and Roger Davies were by his side, Ewan joined them.
It was nearly a half hour later that Hermione got Ewan and brought him to where Harry was.
"You going to go?" asked Ewan.
"I know now, what must be done." said Harry.
Ewan hung his head down. "And if you die?" asked Ewan.
"Neither can live, neither can survive." murmured Harry.
"Harry, I- I-" said Ewan, tear fulled up his eyes. "Stupid sinuses." said Ewan wiping his face.
"I know, Ewan. I love you too." said Harry. "I got those same sinuses."
Ewan laughed. "I'm with you Harry," said Ewan, pointing to his heart. "In here"
"I know." said Harry. Ewan pulled out the Invisibility Cloak from his pocket. Then carefully placed it over Harry.
"If you see them... Mum and Dad, I mean... tell them... tell them..." said Ewan, tears freely running down his face.
"I will." cried Harry.
The brothers hugged, then Harry walked to the door, taking one last look at Ewan. Their eyes spoke to each other, then Harry left. Ewan rubbed his hands on his face, and left the room. Now, he had to wait.
