Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews ^^ I've managed to finish this extremely long part in record time (longest part I've ever written, I might add). Please let me know what you think :)

Also: When you get to the action scenes, please note that a number of these are overlapping one another, time-wise (meaning they happen at the same time).

Another note: I could not find Ollivander's first name, so I gave him the first name of Xanimaous.


- - - Book 3 — Part 11: No Restraint

Dumbledore walked out of the second floor bathroom, having had a delightful discussion on layered magic with Salandra. He really enjoyed the in-depth conversations with her and he wondered if anyone else alive had access to such knowledge.

Canceling the notice-me-not charms on himself, he continued down the hall, his cane lightly tapping against the floor as he went. He had stopped needing the cane a long time ago, but he had grown to liking the feel of it in his hand, and he also enjoyed the way people paused in the ministry as he made his way across certain areas. People really reacted oddly at times when they saw him with it, though many quickly caught on that he really didn't need it. Perhaps spinning it around like an expert baton twirler was the reason? No matter, he had something he needed to do, now that Ollivander would be awake.

Arriving in his office, he firecalled Ollivander, who, of course, invited him for some tea soon after.

After leaving a note for McGonagall, in case she needed him, he flooed over to Ollivander's shop.

"So Albus, what do you wish to talk to me about?"

"Well, Xanimaous, just one thing in particular. . . ."

O o O o O

Ollivander, along with all of his wands and belongings (kindly packed by Dumbledore into an extra-dimensional bag) moved into Hogwarts the following day. He secretly took residence in a side room that Dumbledore had wisely added a few hours before that was attached to his quarters.

Harry and the others were quite pleased when they learned of this (Dumbledore sending the news through Snape, who then told Draco, since it wasn't a pressing matter that needed to be told through the mirror).

Later that week, the Custosae were alerted to an assault on a shop in Diagon Alley. Peg (Moody) and a few other Amici arrived on the scene to find Ollivander's had been broken into and ransacked — not that there were many items to break and destroy. Evidently, the individuals who had broken in (after suffering the rather nasty hexes through the door — thanks to the Custosae), had been enraged to find the place empty.

This news quickly made Ollivander grateful to Dumbledore, as well as this Mage fellow who had requested Ollivander's relocation.

As for the Wizarding World, Sirius Black, the representative of the Custosae, calmly informed the public that Ollivander had been placed in protective custody earlier that week due to the war and his knowledge on wands and magic. Minister Fudge kindly demanded to be shown proof of this. Thankfully, Ollivander had agreed to sign a magic document confirming his safety dated earlier that day. The Ministry accepted this after casting several charms to verify the validity of it, then asked the Custosae to keep them informed of Ollivander's wellbeing.

During all of that rather interesting drama, Fudge asked Dumbledore to have a brief meeting with him (mainly to discuss recent events and possible preparations for possible future events).

"Cornelius?" Dumbledore asked, entering Fudge's office.

"Ah, Albus, thank you for coming."

"What can I do for you? You have not needed much of my advice for some time," Dumbledore said kindly.

Fudge had taken what Harry had told him that day in the infirmary to heart. He wanted to be a man his grandfather would have respected and would have been proud of. He wanted to bring the Fudge name into an age of respect and honor, instead of cowardice.

"I have been thinking on something for some time now, and now would like your thoughts on the matter," Fudge said, both of them sitting down. He took out a sheet of paper and slid it toward Dumbledore.

Dumbledore instantly recognized the handwriting that of a goblin's before reading.

The children of nations are the future of nations, and the time has come for the Goblin Nation to make this fact known once again — for sadly it seems to have been forgotten or overlooked by a great number of every kind.

The inhabitants of Hogwarts have our protection, for the one who has our respect and allegiance is within.

A great blessed change is coming, dear Minister. Are you and your people ready?

With great pride and pure purpose,

Lord Kraknek, King of the Goblin Nation and Head Elder of the Noble Guard

"When did you get this?" Dumbledore asked softly.

"Not long after the attack on Hogwart's Express. They had sent this in reply to my publicly thanking them."

"Well, I don't know what to make of it, but I will think on it," Dumbledore said honestly.

"Hmm, I had thought you would know a bit more and maybe . . . perhaps, you were this person who has their respect."

"Perhaps I am. I do have their respect, but I don't recall ever having a conversation with a goblin where they told me I have their allegiance. They are two entirely different things, as you very well know," Dumbledore said.

"Well, either way, this is good news. For whatever reason, the goblins have made it clear that they wish to protect your students."

"Yes, they have," Dumbledore said, now thinking more than listening.

Had the goblins truly meant what they had written? Who was this person who had their allegiance? The only person he could think of was Mage, and he certainly didn't rest in the walls of Hogwarts. Perhaps it was simply because Mage had asked them to protect Hogwarts, and because they respected him and such, the goblins would do so — but why the bit of 'within' Hogwarts?

He didn't know, and he didn't even know where else to attempt to focus his thoughts to find the answer. The only other thing he could think of was that the goblins had lied to give a daunting reason why they would be protecting Hogwarts.

That could be it, but for some reason, he doubted it.

O o O o O

They were a few weeks into spring, and practically all dark activity had fallen off the map. Dumbledore and Harry particularly felt that was not something to be excited about, especially when the Ministry decided to relieve their Aurors from patrolling the grounds around Hogwarts — though they did leave the blasted dementors around Hogsmeade. A number of people in high political circles felt that, because it was the only settlement in Great Britain inhabited solely by magical beings, it should remain protected by the horrid beings — after all, there had been no attacks thus far, so they must be deterring them, right? And they had been behaving themselves quite well, which was a pleasant surprise when one recalls what these creatures like doing. . . .

Dumbledore had tried speaking to Fudge about it, and though he was apologetic and admitted to agreeing with Dumbledore, his hands were tied. Too many old families thought it was best to keep the old settlement 'protected'. Fighting against their wishes would not help his position and may prevent him from doing more important things in the war.

Dumbledore wondered what could be more important than the safety of Hogsmeade, but understood the position Fudge was in. He was in a very similar position in the Wizengamot. Blasted societal inertia. Things continue moving as they always have, despite how absurd they are.

Harry and a few of the others would be lying if they said they were not feeling a tad claustrophobic around this time within Hogwarts. So Harry, Ron, Draco, Hermione and Neville decided to go to Hogsmeade that weekend. The others would remain at the school, since it was decided that, should anything happen, people who were respected in the Army of Hogwarts should be around (that, and those staying behind had all gone to Hogsmeade at least once).

Harry and the others would go fully prepared with their Custosae kits, just in case anything happened of course, but because of exams and things, they really wanted a break from anything school related (save for Hermione, who just wanted to see what Hogsmeade was really like, since the books only told her so much).

Harry, Ron, Draco, Hermione and Neville entered Hogsmeade with the other students. The Prefects, Flitwick and Somac were their escorts, but soon they all spread out among the shops, enjoying the freedom.

Harry exhaled a content sigh as he looked at the other students who had ventured out of Hogwarts before looking at Hogwarts, which was resting boldly to the south, beyond the Quidditch pitch.

O o O o O

[Azkaban]

Bellatrix, the Goyles, the Crabbes, and a hand full of other death eaters exhaled slowly as their small disguised boat made it closer and closer to the place they had escaped from months before, but instead of feeling fear or dread, they were eager and excited.

Their eyes fell on a few dementors, who briefly faced them. After Bellatrix made three or so distinct hand signals shared with her by the Dark Lord himself, they gave a brief bow and glided away. . . .

Less than ninety seconds later, the dementors turned their focus away from the prisoners, and onto the guards, while Bellatrix charged into the control station and took out the Warden before opening the gates of the cells and lowering all the wards she could. The other death eaters scattered throughout the prison, throwing out portkeys to those who shouted their loyalty to the Dark Lord.

The portkeys took them to several safe houses where wands and supplies had been placed, along with directions to be followed if they were well enough to serve the Dark Lord soon after arriving. Very few turned down the instructions (eager for a reward from the Dark Lord) and took yet another portkey to another location.

Before the end of that day, over eighty-five percent of the prison population would be on the side of Voldemort.

O o O o O

[Diagon Alley]

Several handfuls of death eaters arrived in Diagon Alley (all of them a recent escapee), and began causing as much mayhem as possible. The only good thing about it all was that they didn't know the new curses Voldemort had created.

The Custosae/Amici, and the Ministry were soon alerted.

O o O o O

[Hogsmeade]

Harry and the others (Teddy on Harry's shoulders) stepped out of Zonko's and headed toward Hog's Head. They wouldn't necessarily enter, but they were curious about whether or not their sticker was still on the door's window, and if it was still visible.

Coming to the corner of the street, which turned down to Hog's Head, they suddenly stopped, at first confused by what they were feeling.

"Dementors," Ron hissed, turning around and whipping out his wand. The others quickly followed suit, but before they could do anything else, several cracks filled the air.

Dark masked figures appeared, many of them trembling from pure elation and anticipation. They had not experienced freedom in such a long time!

"Ready for some fun!!!" one shouted, before thrusting his wand forward and exploding a shop window and striking a man with a quick crucio.

Pure chaos soon followed, the professors present casting patroni in attempt to keep back the invading dementors as the prefects began herding students into groups before shuffling them into shops, trying to get out of the line of fire.

"Dobby!" Draco called, the five of them (six to include Teddy) ducking between two shops.

-Pop-

"Master!"

"Go to the kitchens, get a dozen or so House Elves, and begin popping students and innocent people into the Great Hall! Leave me and the others so we can continue helping."

Dobby nodded, quickly doing as he was told.

"Great idea, Draco," Hermione said, before they heard horrible screams to their right.

They quickly turned to the face the cries and saw at least three death eaters enter Hog's Head.

"Aberforth," Hermione gasped.

"You three, go help there. Neville and I will go this way," Harry stated.

"Got it," Ron said.

The five of them went into action, separating into two small groups.

Harry and Neville quickly turned and made their own small team. Harry fired curses and protective charms while Neville released his patronus, keeping back the distracting affects of the dementors. Hermione cast a patronus for the others, Draco and Ron firing spells as they hurried to their headmaster's brother.

Soon after, dozens of pops rippled through the air and continued; the professors at first concerned over the disappearing students, before recognizing who were taking them.

"Harry!" Teddy shouted, pointing his stuffed arm toward the gate of Hogwarts (though they couldn't directly see it from their vantage point).

Harry and Neville looked to where he indicated. For a very long second, their eyes came to rest on the last thing they had expected just above the roofs of the shops. Pale skinned giants.

"They're going to the gates!" Neville shouted.

"Dumbledore and the others are at Hogwarts. We'll have to trust they will handle what is going there!" Harry shouted back, dodging a spell before throwing back his own. "We have problems here!"

BOOM!!!

They turned just in time to see Hog's Head collapse on itself before hearing a cry of laughter.

Many of the shops by now had suffered damage. There were a few bodies on the street, but thankfully none of them were students, not that that made any of it okay. The pops of house elves continued to drizzle through the other sounds in the village, leaving fewer and fewer students about. The professors were focusing their attention on keeping the dementors at bay, but they were slowly losing as the death eaters continued to have their fun with the left over masses.

Not two minutes later, another crash in Hog's Head echoed forth, but before Harry or Neville could make it there, several curses, from seemingly nowhere, rocketed toward them.

Evidently, a few death eaters had gotten tired of their presence and impressive teamwork.

Casting several protegos, they managed to block most of them, but sadly not all.

"Teddy!"

O o O o O

[Hogwarts]

Dumbledore felt the wards tremble in alarm as the Custosae coin he always carried in his breast pocket warmed. He stood up, wand in his hand as the magic of Hogwarts began giving him information about the threat. Immediately, he alerted the other teachers (via patronus and Hogwarts magic) and dashed out of his office to head to the main gates of Hogwart's grounds.

"Albus!" McGonagall shouted, hurrying to the entrance with all of the other professors.

"Tell the Prefects and those able in Hogwart's Army to get all of the students into their common rooms. Lockdown will be in place very soon. If they don't think they can make it to their common rooms, tell them to get to the Great Hall. Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Hogsmeade are under attack," he stated, not pausing for a moment as he continued to dash to the gates.

Running out with almost all of the other professors and joining the guards around Hogwarts placed there by the Custosae, such as Blade and Shade (Joseph D. Moy and Forshaw Craw), they soon found what was attacking and effectively bringing down the gates at the perimeter of the grounds. . . .

Just less than a dozen giants, a small cluster of darkly robed figures (which they instantly recognized as vampires due to their robe design), over a hundred masked individuals (death eaters), and, behind them all, Lord Voldemort himself.

"So, Tom, it comes to this?" Dumbledore whispered, before initiating lockdown, completely sealing the school from nearly all possible access just as the metal gates crashed down and two giants went forward. The winged boars on either side of the once grand entrance shattered on the ground.

O o O o O

[Inside Hogwarts]

Madam Pomfrey had been alerted to the attacks by Dumbledore's patronus and was prepping the beds for any wounded. Setting a collection of potions beside each bed, she hoped to Merlin none would need to be used.

It was not meant to be.

-POP-

An elf appeared with an injured student. Not asking questions, she set to work, setting the girl down on the nearest bed.

-POP-POP-POPPOPPOP-

Five more.

After quickly calming her raging heart, she called one of the elves to bring Ms. Clearwater, Ms. Susan Bones, Ollivander, and two other students to help.

O o O o O

[Hog's Head]

Hermione, Ron, and Draco rushed into the filthy building, quickly finding the bar area was on fire and that there were four death eaters greedily attacking the people within. There were already a number of people hurt, if not worse.

"Stupify!"

"Reducto!"

"Stupify!" the three of them shouted, Ron in the lead before they continued spouting off other spells as quickly as they could, taking out two of the death eaters.

The fire at the bar continued to grow, but then it flared violently as one of the death eaters jabbed his wand at it and pulled it out at them.

"Ahh!!!" Ron shouted, fire licking at his hand, sleeves and cheek.

"Aguamenti!" Hermione shouted, extinguishing the fire, but not soon enough. Ron collapsed, despite trying to stay on his feet. "Mudblood and bloodtraitors!" the other death eater shrieked. "Avada Kedavra!" Draco yanked Ron away as they dived behind a table, the green light exploding against the floor.

"Reducto!" a man shouted to their right. Aberforth.

The death eater was slammed extremely hard into one of the support beams of the bar, snapping it.

The last death eater standing, apparated out, but not before throwing something in the middle of the room.

"Take cover!!!" someone shouted.

"Protego!!!" Hermione, Draco, and Aberforth bellowed, trying to protect as many people as they could, including themselves.

BOOM!!!

Several things fell, and a good portion of the roof had narrowly missed them as the fire flared and spread even more.

"Here, get up!" Aberforth said gruffly. Draco and Hermione pulled Ron up to his feet. Ron was barely conscious. "This way!" he said, the area quickly filling up with smoke.

The people, who were still alive in there, were panicking and jumping out the windows or running to the back to get out of the burning building. They didn't follow Aberforth, since he appeared not to know where he was going. He was going upstairs!

Draco and the others followed without question, entering the sitting room. Aberforth went to the fireplace and placed his hand on the portrait above it. They would later realize this picture was of Arianna. The portrait moved aside, revealing a passageway.

"Through here!" he ordered.

They began climbing through, Aberforth the last to enter, when the entire building shifted.

"Oh no…" Hermione breathed as the sensation of falling overtook them. . . .

They landed hard, and a sickening crack echoed around them. Aberforth's leg.

"Sir?!" Hermione shouted after everything became still, though it wasn't quiet. The crackle of fire was growing.

"Lumos," Draco whispered, their eyes settling on Aberforth's form. Several slabs of wood were across the man's form, and he was definitely having trouble breathing. His eyes were closed.

With barely a glance at one another, Draco and Hermione took out two polyjuice-glamour pills and used them, instantly turning into Hermit and Viper.

"We'll take them to Pomfrey, and then we'll come back and find Harry and Neville," Draco said.

Hermione nodded, grabbing Draco's shoulder and Ron's uninjured hand as Draco took hold of Aberforth.

-POP-

O o O o O

[Hogsmeade]

Teddy leapt off of Harry's shoulders, straight into the path of the lucky-aimed curse.

"Teddy!"

The curse hit, slamming Teddy back and into a wall of the building beside them, while his arm plummeted to the ground near where he had been hit.

"Bloody bear," a death eater grumbled, screaming and panicking people all about.

Harry was furious as the death eater sneered before lunging forward.

The death eater shouldn't have moved, for before his foot touched the ground, Harry's magic lashed out as a dark green mist and banished him all the way down the street. The man didn't move after that.

Rushing to Teddy, Harry and Neville found him struggling to get up with one arm missing, stuffing leaking from the hole where his arm used to be.

"Ahh! My stuffing! Help!" Teddy cried, trying in vain to keep more stuffing from escaping with his other arm.

"Accio arm!" Neville shouted, the arm on the ground shooting toward them.

Harry, practically beside himself, watched Neville put the severed stuffed arm back on Teddy as he put a hand on Teddy's trembling chest, stuffing as much stuffing as he could back in before casting reparo.

"We can do a better repair after this," Neville said.

Harry nodded in agreement as he scooped up Teddy, wondering why it was suddenly getting colder, only to come to the only conclusion he could.

Most of the buildings around them were on fire from the recently freed death eaters, who were now rushing to Hogwarts, leaving the professors and the frightened villagers to the dementors. It only took a brief moment to notice the elves had quit their rescues, and Harry wondered how bad it was getting at Hogwarts for that to happen.

Teddy suddenly gasped, looking up and pointing with his good arm.

They looked up, the sky growing darker in despair and death as cloaked flying forms circled above like vultures.

O o O o O

[Inside Hogwarts]

Pomfrey and her helpers were busy moving beds to conjure more. Thankfully, the flow of the injured had slowed, but she didn't really know if that was a good thing or not.

Suddenly, a very loud -POP- echoed from the center of the room, pushing Susan out of the way to bump into Ollivander.

"Ahh!" Susan screamed as four people plopped right in the middle of the once completely sterile and empty hospital wing. They were covered with ash, chips of wood and filth. Two of them had their wands out, and three of them were adults.

Faster than even Pomfrey thought possible, she and the others had their wands pointing at the people who had just appeared, before recognizing two of them.

"Mr. Weasley, Aberforth!" she shouted, instantly abandoning offensive measures and falling back to her job description.

Deciding to overlook how these people got in (considering Dumbledore had the place in lockdown, no portkeys could enter, and apparating within or into Hogwarts was impossible) she knelt down beside Aberforth with her wand, the man she didn't know slowly moving out of the way, while the woman gently tried to make the Weasley boy comfortable.

"Madam, we are a formation of defenders. I am Viper, and this is Hermit. We were notified of the attack on Hogsmeade and managed to bring these two back with us. I am sorry we cannot stay and help you with the injured, but we must return and help," the man said, standing respectfully as Hermit levitated a somewhat conscious Ron to an empty bed Susan had motioned to.

Pomfrey saw that he was a cleanly shaved man with white hair and gray eyes in forest green and silver robes before turning her eyes to Hermit. Hermit was an older woman with sky blue spiky hair with light green eyes. She had blood red robes with laces of silver thread throughout.

"I understand, Viper. Thank you for bringing these two in. Any instructions?" Pomfrey asked.

Viper and Hermit turned their eyes to her as they stepped beside each other.

"Begin moving the less seriously injured into the Great Hall, or allow them to go to their common rooms. Hopefully, those we were unable to take with us will be able to arrive here shortly," Viper said before giving her a sharp departing nod.

-POP-

Viper and Hermit vanished.

"Well! Let's do what he's said!" Ollivander said, the only one not phased at all by their quick appearance and departure.

O o O o O

[Hogwarts]

The giants charged, those in black cloaks trickling in behind them. Their movements instantly had Dumbledore worried, but not because they were crazed giants attacking his school. No, it was because they were undead. Whatever deal Voldemort had made with the vampires, this had been included in it.

He would have never thought such a thing was possible, and if the situation had been different, he would have laughed at the absurdity of it. Only Voldemort could think of something so contradictory, insane, and so unnatural.

He began walking forward, leaving his cane jabbed a few inches in the ground behind him. It was his goal not to allow anyone beyond that point. His cane was the limit. Period.

As the giants drew closer, crossing a hundred yards in only a few strides, he bowed his head, the professors beside or behind his cane, in formation.

:Salandra:he called, his eyes snapping up to watch the giants take one more stride as the ground trembled, and then opened several hundred yards before him.

Salandra came from the ground, coming out of the passageway from the chamber that wove under the grounds of Hogwarts, and advanced, the ground closing upon her exit, thanks to Hogwart's magic. Giving the first giant within reach a deep, hard bite, she coiled around the massive form as spells began flying from both sides.

By their smell alone, she knew her gaze would not work on them. They were already dead. Undead. She would not bother with the smaller attackers. These giants were the real threats to Hogwarts at the moment and any distraction may make her fail. With a few solid strikes, a giant might be able to break through the walls, and let her home be invaded. She would rather die.

:My basilisk?!: Voldemort roared, rocketing forward over the ground, only to be intercepted by Dumbledore.

:No, Tom. She was never yours: he stated.

Stunned surprise made Voldemort pause as he realized Dumbledore had not only understood him, but replied in parseltongue.

:I'll kill you all!!!: He bellowed, anger and hatred now fueling him.

"I'm sure you'll try," Dumbledore stated as the first giant dropped several dozen yards away, the debilitating venom having done its job. Nothing could withstand basilisk poison.

:Let me eat him when you have killed him, Master: a voice suddenly hissed, a large serpent's head coming out from the neck of Voldemort's black robes.

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, instantly knowing Voldemort had charmed his robes to comfortably house the large serpent.

:I will my sweet, I will: Voldemort hissed as Nagini positioned herself comfortably, almost lovingly in fact, on Voldemort's shoulders, half of her body still hidden by robes.

O o O o O

[Inside Hogwarts]

Ginny (holding Revlis), Greg, Vince, and the twins were in the Great Hall, trying to figure out what was happening. An elf had come a few minutes before to pop Susan to the infirmary, along with a fourth year they didn't know. They knew Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley were under attack, as well as Hogwarts, but they also knew something else.

Azkaban had fallen. Mad-Eye Moody had used the coin to alert everyone of this fact, warning them of dementors and that the ones at Azkaban were already out of the North Sea and moving inland, joined by death eaters, presumably to Hogwarts.

They tried their best to remain calm. The house elves had been popping in and out everywhere, dropping students off at first, before bringing in villagers. Now they had stopped and no one wanted to ask why. They could still hear the sounds of battle outside the walls, but what was really happening?

They knew the injured were being taken to the infirmary, but everything was in utter chaos, so it was quite unclear. The Prefects did their best to calm the students, but soon the Army of Hogwarts rose up to the task as well, organizing guards by the doors to lessen some of the unease and handing out orders to people to make them at least feel they were doing something.

Doing nothing and waiting was the worst.

Fred, with the help of George, found a secluded spot and slyly cast the necessary spells and contacted Breaker (Bill). He told him what was going on, or at least of what he knew, but due to all of the simultaneous attacks and mass movement of the dementors from Azkaban, he didn't know when more help would be coming. Very soon, Breaker told him he was heading for Hogsmeade, but didn't know how long it would take for them to get to Hogwarts from there. Something was preventing them from arriving there directly, so they had to go to the next closest location.

So, for right now, they were on their own.

O o O o O

[Ministry of Magic]

Sirius and Lupin ran through the halls, gathering all of their employees, as well as trustworthy volunteers, to form three groups to help fight off the recent attacks in the three known locations. Azkaban was lost. They wouldn't be sending help to that death trap.

Nearly everyone was in a panic, wondering if this was the end of all they knew, if Hogwarts would still be standing the next day, or if they would even be alive themselves by that time.

Mad-Eye and as many aurors as they could spare apparated to Diagon alley, while all of Sirius' team apparated to Hogsmeade, in hopes they could then dash off to Hogwarts.

The rest of the Ministry employees, who were able, were sent to warn the public of the dementors sweeping to either Hogwarts or Hogsmeade (their target was currently unknown), and to get them out of harm's way as quickly as possible.

O o O o O

[Hogsmeade]

"We need to get to Hogwarts!" Somac shouted.

"They're under attack as well!" another cried.

"Don't give up! Help will be arri—" Flitwick shouted, only to be cut off by a loud pop and the appearance of two dusty individuals behind them.

The professors, still keeping their charms up, for the moment safe from the dementors, took in the newcomers' appearances, hoping these were not new enemies.

The man looked as if he had to collect himself for some reason.

"Identify yourselves!"

"We are a formation of defenders. I am Hermit," Hermione stated, quickly moving toward them, Draco right behind her, having found the area harder to pop into than before for some reason.

"This is Viper. Do you know where Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom are?" Hermit continued, Flitwick at least feeling a little better. These were Custosae!

All the while, dementors above were still looming, waiting for the defenses of those below to wear down so they could take their souls, as well as the terrified villagers' still among them.

"No, but the elves took all of the students I believe, though I don't know why they have stopped," Flitwick said. "There are still many people here, as you can see."

Those who were able had begun moving to their defenders, though those who were severely injured were stuck where they were, hoping more help would come.

"It's the dementors. They must be making the area hard to enter," Viper stated, before suddenly getting the urge to look up.

The number of dementors seemed to have multiplied. It was an unimaginable sight. In a sky that had earlier that day been completely blue, it was nearly black now, the evening sunlight barely cutting through the dark cloaks.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say Azkaban has . . ." one of the villagers began, before suddenly realizing that was exactly what had happened.

Soon after, the forms above dived down.

Only a few of them managed to cast or recast patroni, but they soon snuffed out when the despair became too thick. A dark form crashed down against them, swallowing up every last drop of hope and happiness they had managed to still hold onto up to that point.

Hermione thrust his wand out, the charm on her lips as she fell to the ground, but she could not bring much of any power forth as the dementor's hood went back.

Silver wisps streamed weakly from her wand as those around her cried out in despair, trying to fight the dementors back, primarily the one on top of her, its mouth edging closer to hers. . . .

O o O o O

[Gringotts]

Rook took hold of his axe, knowing every second that passed may be the one that would make all of their efforts meaningless. The goblins beside him were armed and ready, and with one final bow to their king, they all placed their hand on the jewel on their weapon's handle, and vanished.

Vanished to the one they had given their allegiance to.

O o O o O

[Hogsmeade]

Harry and Neville, near the street where the Hog's Head . . . used to be, stood up. Harry stuffed Teddy in his shirt as they ducked around another building now unrecognizable. Harry didn't want to risk Teddy getting hurt again, so put him in the safest place he could think of.

Safely in the shirt, Teddy's fur rubbed up against Harry's bare chest and his beady little eyes barely peeked over the top of Harry's collar, his ears under Harry's chin.

Heading to the Hog's Head, Neville suddenly froze, grabbing Harry's arm and twisting around.

"Expecto Patronum!" Neville shouted, feeling a presence behind them that hadn't been there before. A furious badger charged forward, bashing against a dementor. "We need to get to the others!" he cried, just as his breath hitched from the suddenly overwhelming frost of dread.

Dark memories surfaced, and though his badger rushed to their side, it quickly faded as things fell from the sky all around them. Sweeping low and sucking all warmth.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry and Neville both cried, identical calls echoing from the other side of the village.

Both of their wands spout out lights of hope. Neville's brought forth a form, but Harry's light seemed to linger longer around them, encasing them in a large comforting bubble.

They stared in wonder as the cloaked beings glided around them, trying to get at them but prevented by the bright brilliance of their charms. It was as if they were underwater, watching great, black, soul sucking sharks prowl around them, but the feeling instantly dropped. It was a moment in time that slowed nearly to a standstill.

Draco.

Suddenly, for whatever reason, Harry knew there were people around Draco, and that at least one of them were about to suffer something more than anything imaginable, conceivable, believable. . . .

Fear, grief, loss.

Terror, sadness, regret.

Horror, sorrow, pity.

All of it soaked Harry's very being, before his soul retaliated.

Fury, rage, wrath.

Grace, mercy, hope.

Purpose, harmony, love.

He would not let them win. Would not let them hurt those he cared for, let them get away with what they had done and what they were doing.

He would not lose to them.

:EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!:

He will never understand why he said it in parseltongue, but he will never regret having done so as he thrust his wand up, high above his head, and poured every emotion he had behind it.

The moment in time, which still seemed to be jammed or incapable of normal passing, remained practically stationary, while it was as if only Harry was unaffected by whatever had slowed it.

A golden beam, brighter than and as unrelenting as the sun, shot out of his wand, but something more. A call of hope, a call to arms, a call to war, rammed through the air, its ripple surging outward as a form in the beam solidified and continued higher, as something below transpired.

Green mist gathered around him, pulsing from around his feet and extending out a dozen yards around them. As the call continued, the mist grew thicker, before it too took on form.

At first he didn't know what it was. It was huge, whatever it was. Large curved things, coiling around him and around the buildings.

"Salandra?" he breathed.

And just like that, time continued again, only it was as if it was trying to catch up to where it needed to be, the dementors not standing a chance against the onslaught of such positive magic and unrelenting fury.

Crunch!

The Salandra-patronus slammed her jaws down onto an unlucky dementor, before chucking it aside and going for another, all of them fleeing now, or at least attempting to. The golden light was literally burning them up.

Harry kept his wand up, his eyes taking in everything above him.

A transparent golden phoenix circled above, the light from it repelling and destroying the dementors as the misty basilisk snapped her jaws onto dementor after dementor . . . and was that a patronus-Teddy on top of her head?

In what felt like several minutes was actually less than ten seconds, and before any could believe it, the dementors had all either fled or died.

Slowly lowering his arm, Harry exhaled, feeling Teddy shift against him as the light from his wand dimmed and his patroni faded into nothing in less than a second, for the danger was gone.

"Lord Potter."

O o O o O

[Hogwarts]

Four giants were dead, and Salandra was taking on three at once while the other giants were trying to get past the professors and the Amici.

Vampires were engaging the defenders who had recently appeared — house elves.

Who would have guessed that house elves were so aggressive to even make a vampire pause after witnessing their first attack? And their magic. . . . How were they enslaved? Or better yet, why were they?

A number of the death eaters, thought to be normal evil wizards, revealed themselves to be werewolves, their superior strength and speed clearly being seen in their aggressive attacks, which were barely deflected by skilled spells and dodges.

But then something happened to them.

Arrows?

Though only a few defenders saw them, the affect they had on the werewolves was unmistakable. They screeched out in pain and agony before collapsing. Evidently, the centaurs had a nice supply of silver dust and silver arrow heads, and had a very nice aim to remain within the forest as they carried out their assault.

Snape fought alongside Hagrid, double teaming one of the other giants. Snape created a sink hole below the giant's foot, making him trip and land hard onto his side, breaking his trapped ankle. Hagrid, with his trusty crossbow, fired, showing why he trusted that weapon above all others when entering the Forbidden Forest. . . .

The giant would not be moving from that spot any time soon.

Sprout and McGonagall worked their magic, conjuring plants and transfiguring particular objects and creatures of doom to run rampant against one of the death eater teams. Transfigured wasps and flying Devil's Snare can be disturbing, not to mention lethal.

But not everything was going well with the Hogwarts defenders, and the death eaters were showing why they were feared by most of the Wizarding World. Barely any of the professors were uninjured, and when such a time would come where they would be able to think back, many of them would wonder how they managed to keep fighting.

Dumbledore and Voldemort were going at it, displaying magic far beyond what was thought possible. Earth was manipulated, grand transfigurations towering over them, only to be dwarfed by the giants around them. Salandra's form was wrapped around one giant, while she tried to bite another, spells from death eaters harmlessly bouncing off of her scales.

No enemy, yet, had gotten beyond Dumbledore's phoenix cane.

O o O o O

[Hogsmeade]

Harry and Neville slowly turned, finding Rook and a large number of goblins filling the street and land at the edge of the village.

"Rook?" Harry asked.

"It is I. We came as soon as we could," he said. "What is your command?"

"Secure the area with the smallest number you think you can. Everyone else needs to get to Hogwarts and stop Voldemort. Mage will be there as soon as he can," Harry said, just as several people ran onto the street, only to freeze at the sight before them.

Sirius Black, and those he had gathered, arrived on one side (just having portkeyed before the giant beam of light and the two transparent forms that accompanied it appeared and then vanished after dismantling the dementors' attack), while the professors and the surviving villagers were at the other.

-Pop-Pop-

Draco, in the guise of Viper, popped away from Hermit's side to appear beside Harry and Neville, leaving Hermit's weary form beside Somac and Flitwick (she had almost been kissed, after all).

"Rook," Viper greeted with a bow of his head, placing his hand on Neville and Harry's shoulders, before hearing Harry whisper, 'Chamber.'

"Lock onto Mage's signature and arrive, we will, to aid him in this fight," a goblin said beside Rook.

Harry bowed his head in thanks as Viper tightened his hold on his friends' shoulders.

-Pop-

Harry, Teddy, Viper, and Neville disappeared, leaving behind seriously confused villagers, stunned fighters, and smug goblins.

They turned to Hermit, who was being slightly supported by Flitwick and Somac.

"To Hogwarts," Hermit stated, her weakness quickly being replaced by urgency and determination.

O o O o O

[Chamber of Secrets]

The four of them appeared within the chamber, Harry gently but quickly giving Teddy over to Neville, who immediately reached out and took him.

"I'll take care of him, Harry," Neville said before Harry took out a pill from his Custosae kit.

"What are you planning to do?" Draco asked, his voice still a deeper tone, thanks to his Viper disguise.

"I'm going to show Voldemort who and what he is really dealing with," Harry said, barely restraining his magic. "It's time for the gloves to truly come off." Harry swallowed the polyjuice-glamour pill and morphed into Mage — a furious, ready to fight, defend, and, if necessary, kill, Mage.

"It's time for the world to see what happens when good people get fed up with evil. No one attacks those under my protection and gets away with it," Mage said as he stood up straight, his wand safely in his wand holster as his other hand gave a reassuring pat on his breast pocket. "No one."

-POP-

O o O o O

[Hogwarts]

They barely spared a glance towards Hogsmeade when the brilliant light shot up, for any hesitation on their part could mean their end.

The three giants left were now focusing their attentions on simply trying to kill Salandra, but she was fast and her scales were strong, improved even further by the magic of Hogwarts trying to aid her protector.

Bodies of the dead, belonging to both sides, were spread throughout, but the professors of Hogwarts were proving to be no pushovers, and a higher number of the dead belonged to Voldemort's side, but he of course had far more to lose.

"Getting tired, old man?" Voldemort asked, deflecting a spell Dumbledore had just fired.

They were about a dozen feet apart, and no one was interfering with their fight.

"Not really, Tom," Dumbledore replied, dodging a crucio.

"Stop calling me that filthy name!" Voldemort said, Nagini hissing insults and profanities in the defense of her master.

:But it is your name: Dumbledore smoothly hissed back, knowing his subtle verbal blows were affecting Voldemort's footing more than his spells.

"ARGH!!!" Voldemort, enraged, fired half a dozen spells in one long breath.

Dumbledore began to sidestep, preparing to block, dodge and deflect them, both of his hands at work with magic, but then something happened, making both sides pause and idly ask what it was.

A magic, with a daunting presence, surged between Dumbledore and Voldemort, making the spells Voldemort had just cast warp and veer up to dissipate or explode harmlessly into the sky.

-POP-

A magic, so unimaginable, so powerful and thick, brushed against them all as a figure, not tall or short, appeared in the center, his back to Dumbledore. Ebbing from the nobly dressed form was a fury thought only possible from Voldemort himself, but there were another emotions present that made it clear the man was nothing like the monster before him.

The man, his face perfectly balanced by a trimmed mustache and goatee, his temples bearing the white sign of age and experience, stood with his head slightly bowed, his eyes drilling into Voldemort's.

"Voldemort," he said, his voice strangely amplified by some even stranger magic.

"Yes?" Voldemort asked, actually curious and privately impressed.

"Do you know what you are doing?" he asked, his eyes, though still focused on Voldemort, taking note of the serpent on the Dark Lord's shoulders.

"Well, what does it look like I'm doing?" Voldemort asked, condescendingly.

"Like you are attacking those under my protection."

Voldemort's eyes suddenly narrowed. "And who might you be? Another petty wizard here to try to stop me?"

"No. I am Mage, Head of the Custosae de Lux. And I never try. I do or do not. And I am here to stop you."

Voldemort laughed as the forces on both sides regrouped, not daring to break the momentary ceasefire while wondering when curses would begin flying again.

"The Custosae? That idiotic security company?! If I'm not mistaken, a number of your people have fallen here, as you can see. I've had a look at this 'company' of yours, and I must say, though it is a decently organized group that thwarted my victory at the Ministry, better than the old man's group at any rate, you can't be serious that you and your little band of merry men are going to take me on."

If it had been possible, Voldemort would have had tears in his eyes.

"Oh, I assure you, we are much more than what you think we are," Mage said, for the moment not thinking on who may have been lost.

"Oh? And what would that be?" Voldemort asked mockingly. "An army?"

Just as the word came from his lips, a mighty wave of air shot out, having been displaced by hundreds of goblins that had just materialized, standing at the ready and in formation on either side of and behind Mage.

"Yes."

Upon that word, both sides moved — one retreating, the other advancing.

Mage whipped his hand to his breast pocket as his other hand called forth his wand.

Retrieving and using the knowledge he had gained from Voldemort's memories and his own research, he allowed his wild magic to weave around him, more controlled and terrible than ever before as he made up his mind and acted on his decision.

-Pop-Pop-

Disappearing from where he was and appearing in front of Voldemort, who was trying to get beyond the wards preventing him from apparating or portkeying away, he focused his sights on Nagini, who was currently hissing insults at him.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort shouted, thrusting his wand at Mage who was too close for comfort.

-Pop-Pop-

Mage vanished and appeared just to the right behind Voldemort's right shoulder, his aim true. Voldemort actually felt a heavy breath from Mage on his neck before he heard a very sharp shwootch-oosh.

He felt his balance shift for a reason he couldn't understand in that split second, but then he didn't need to, for the answer landed against his chest.

Rage, like no other, pulsed through him as his eyes took in the sight of his familiar's head with a fatal stab wound right at the back of her skull. He rotated on his heel, gripping his wand so tightly it was in danger of breaking, his familiar's limp body hanging from him. His face came to a stop in front of Mage's, which was barely two inches away, as he slammed his suddenly curse laced hands forward into Mage's chest. Wishing with every grain of his being to cause as much pain as possible to this man, his hands connected . . . .

-Pop-POP-

O o O o O

[Seconds before]

"Oh? And what would that be? An army?" Voldemort sneered at Mage.

Mage simply stood, without so much as a wand in his hand as the tides immediately turned in his favor.

Dumbledore couldn't believe his eyes. Goblins. Hundreds of them, armed and ready to fight for this man, willing to fight against the worst Dark Lord of their time, if not of that millennium.

And evidently Voldemort couldn't believe his eyes either because he was STUNNED.

"Yes," Mage answered.

Dumbledore and the others advanced as Voldemort's forces immediately began retreating.

Casting spells at fleeing targets, Dumbledore couldn't help but place the other half of his attention on Mage. He watched in amazement as the man disappeared and then appeared in front of Voldemort, before vanishing again as a killing curse was fired at him.

Dumbledore would later watch this over and over again after everything had settled, but he had still taken in a great deal the first time witnessing the unbelievable.

Mage appeared right behind Voldemort. He was so close that he could have yanked off the Dark Lord's cloak, but instead, with a dagger in his hand — a very familiar looking dagger — he stabbed Nagini at the back of the head in one, fluid, in-out motion.

Voldemort's last horcrux. . . .

Unfortunately, immediately after that, Voldemort reacted far quicker than he had ever seen before.

Still running forward, all attention now on Mage and Voldemort, the fleeing death eaters no longer Dumbledore's concern at all (the goblins had them covered anyway), he could only watch as Voldemort turned and faced Mage, pure unrestrained hatred etching his face, but his face was not what concerned Dumbledore.

Even from at the distance he was, Dumbledore could see the haze of magic covering Voldemort's hands and wand as they connected with Mage's chest. He was about to push himself to run faster as Voldemort's hands made contact, but didn't get the chance to as . . . .

-Pop-POP-

Mage's form disappeared after being slammed back a few inches, and Dumbledore immediately whipped around, hearing the second pop somewhere far behind him.

O o O o O

[Harry's POV]

He pulled back the blade, watching Nagini collapse. He had actually got her . . . he wasn't sure if he would be able to do it, but he had.

He reared the blade back again, Voldemort's form turning toward him with unexpected speed, though not exactly with unforeseen aggression and hatred. He felt his core flare, sensing the coming danger as he braced for the impact in case he wasn't able to pop away quickly enough.

He suddenly felt two magics embrace his chest when Voldemort's hands rammed against him. The breath was knocked out of him, and all he could feel before he managed to pop was inconceivable pain.

O o O

Dumbledore didn't see Voldemort and the rest of his surviving force make it to the edge of the wards to disapparate, nor the now enraged goblins utterly destroy a giant before chucking their weapons at the fleeing death eaters and at Voldemort. He only saw the trembling form just beyond his phoenix cane, which was still sticking up from the ground a dozen yards in front of the school's entrance.

Not so gently shoving persuing Custosae allies out of the way and shooting past bewildered professors and Amici, Dumbledore came to Mage, whose face was scrunched up in obvious pain, his hand gripping the bloody dagger so tightly, his entire hand was practically white. His wand was on the ground beside him.

"Mage!"

Dumbledore was immediately at Mage's side, trying to figure out how to reverse the curse Voldemort had clearly just placed on him.

Mage gasped, opening his eyes to reveal a flash of their true color while gritting his teeth before the pill's magic regained its strength again. Seeing the flicker of dark green terrified Dumbledore even more, believing it had something to do with the curse.

O o O

Everything hurt so much!

But he had done it! Nagini was dead! No more horcruxes left!

With that thought, he actually smiled, oblivious to the fact that tears were leaking from his eyes as Dumbledore waved his wand over him, nearly frantically.

No more horcruxes . . . Harry thought again, agonizing, debilitating pain now just a minor inconvenience in light of that happy fact. Voldemort could be killed now; his friends would be safe soon; Hogwarts would be safe; the world would be safe.

O o O

It was as if all of his nerves were in overdrive, as if he was under at least a dozen crucios, but there was more than that. There was a powerful magic, possibly Mage's, trying to fight off the pain, and among all of that, there was an odd glamour-like charm completely covering Mage's form.

Dumbledore closed his eyes for a long moment as he took hold of Mage's hand, trying not to imagine what Mage was currently going through, but he was unable to stop himself.

Mage squeezed his hand back, though it wasn't exactly from the pain, but determination.

O o O

They were now a step closer to ending this war. A step closer to bringing the peace so many had been fighting for for so long. His parents' and so many others would finally truly be able to rest, knowing their loved ones were now safe from the man who had created so much death and hate.

Yes, peace would soon come. All of their efforts would soon be worth it. Even this pain was worth it. Hate would not win.

With that final thought, Mage sighed, feeling the curse slowly ease away, his magic having gathered itself enough to finally push it away completely. His chest glowed gold for a moment, before it faded into green and disappeared.

"Mage?" Dumbledore asked, undeniably relieved to see that the pain had left his ally, his comrade, his friend. "Mage, please tell me you can hear me," he said, kneeling over him, the cane to his far left forgotten.

"L-Long Beard?" Mage asked, blinking away his recently shed tears of pain while inwardly thinking . . . oh no, what am I going to do now?


A/N: Well, I had thought about ending the part at "Lord Potter," but figured that wouldn't be enough for a part called 'no restraint'. Then I thought about ending at Harry leaving the chamber, but decided I myself couldn't wait, so continued... and then I had thought about ending it with Voldemort obviously bashing Mage, but realized that would be evil. I'm not as evil as Voldemort. SO, I decided to end it here. . . .

So yeah.... I'm really curious to hear about what you all think and thought about this part since I've been mentally working on this for about .... oh .... nearly a year.

ADDED NOTE: In answer to why Harry's last thought was what it was, think about how you would feel if you were in his place, having to keep your cover in the middle of all of this....