Chapter 23
Bella's POV
(A/N: From now on, It'll always be BPOV unless I specifically say so.)
I turned my attention back to the platform where the teachers, Order members, and Aurors were.
Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped forward. "We only have half an hour until midnight, so we need to act fast. A battle plan has been agreed upon by the teachers of Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix. Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and McGonagall are going to take groups of fighters up to the three highest towers—Ravenclaw, Astronomy, and Gryffindor—where they'll have a good overview, excellent positions from which to work spells. Meanwhile, Remus" — He pointed to Lupin— "Arthur" — He indicated Mr. Weasley — "and I will take groups into the grounds. We'll need somebody to organize defense of the entrances of the passageways into the school—"
Fred and George stood and Fred called, "Sounds like a job for us." Kingsley nodded his approval.
"Leaders up here and we'll divide troops."
At just a minute before Hogwarts, all possible defenses were in place.
McGonagall bewitched the suits of armor.
Sprout had arranged for Neville Longbottom and herself to lead a group of students to be ready to lob Mandrakes, Tentacula, Devil's Snare, and Snargaluff pods over the walls at the Death Eaters.
Fred and George were poised to attack any who came through the secret entrances.
Carlisle and Esme had gone to Hogsmeade and gotten them all either to come as reinforcements or to get the evacuating students to safety. They were on their way.
Oh, yes, and the house elves. That had been funny…
Flashback:
"We have everything covered," Hermione said, as she and the leaders went over plans, double checking.
"Wait!" Ron exclaimed. "The house-elves!"
"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" Hermione asked, confused at his meaning.
"No, I mean we should tell them to get out. We can't just order them to die for us—" Ron explained.
There was a clatter as everything Hermione had been holding cascaded to the floor. She jumped at Ron and flung her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron dropped what he'd been holding too and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
"Finally," I muttered exasperatedly.
Everyone's mouths dropped simultaneously, except for McGonagall who looked at Snape and said, "I believe you owe me five Galleons, Severus."
Amused, I asked her, "You professors bet on the students' love lives?"
She shrugged. "What else is there to do? Plus, I know you all bet on ours'."
I flushed a bit at the memory of when my friends and I discovered that Dumbledore and McGonagall were married. I'd said almost the exact same words to Harry and Ron.
I heard Snape grumble while handing McGonagall the gold coins.
She smiled at him smugly. "A word of advice, I know my Gryffindors better than you; stick to the slippery Slytherins next time."
End Flashback
So, anyways, we let the house-elves out. Most of them—including Dobby and Kreacher—refused and were persistently adamant that they'd fight.
Hagrid got Grawp from the Forbidden Forest as well as Buckbeak the hippogriff and the Thestrals.
Mr. Filch had gotten Peeves ready before he left with the evacuated students.
We were ready.
The main group was in front of the Entrance Hall. The Cullens had insisted upon being in the front, seeing as most—or all—spells do not affect them.
The professors, Aurors, Ministry officials, slowly arriving Hogsmeade residents, and adults were right behind them. They point blank refused to allow any children up front. Especially Harry or me.
Like we agreed to that.
Swiftly, I'd cast a Disillusionment charm on myself and Harry. The Cullens were more focused on the enemies, so they didn't notice Harry or me.
Harry and I shared the dislike of having our friends lay down their lives for us.
Now, we'd agreed on the location. We guessed that they'd come through the Front Gate, so we were just off to the side of the gate. I was to the right; Harry on the left.
When they entered, we'd attack from behind and get an advantage: surprise.
Sure enough, just as the great clock in the Clock Tower chimed midnight, they burst forth the gate.
I Stunned four immediately, causing them to be trampled.
Harry Disarmed five and I caught the wands.
As I continued to incapacitate enemies, I risked a glance.
The Cullens were going left and right at vampire speed, hitting Death Eaters on the head just right so they fell to the floor, unconscious.
Many of my teachers and the other adults noticed that spells were coming out of nowhere, but didn't have time to investigate it.
I incapacitated opponents before they knew what hit 'em. I loved nonverbal magic! Have I mentioned that? No? Well, I have since I used to to de-Petrify myself in Second Year...but that's another story for another time. (A/N: Indeed. That'll be in the Prequel, which is now posted!)
Eventually—I didn't know how long it'd been—but I was exhausted. There was no break for us. I knew it hadn't been more than a couple hours because it wasn't daylight yet.
Every ounce of magic I used seemed to drain me. I was forced to remove my Disillusionment charm.
When I did, Moody apparently saw. He had his back turned, so it was probably with his false eye. But when he saw, he growled just loud enough for me to hear, "You had better be glad I didn't tell what you and Potter were up too, Swan. It was reckless…but ingenious. Be careful next time."
I nodded. "Plan on it."
It was at that second that Selwyn saw me and attacked.
I barely managed to dive out of the way of a Killing Curse in time. He cackled. "Not so mighty now, are you, Lestrange?"
I leapt up and tried to Disarm him. He parried the spell.
"My master and Bellatrix will be delighted when he learns I kill you," he cackled, deranged.
I heard someone yell, "Stupefy!" behind me, trying to Stun me, so I leapt out of the way, and the Stunning Spell hit Selwyn in the chest. He was unconscious before he hit the floor.
I spun to see who had tried to stun me.
It was Snape. Why wasn't I surprised that he'd been a traitor all along?
"You!" I shrieked, enraged. Nonverbally, I tried to disarm him, but he deflected it.
He sneered. "You and your friends think you know everything," he snarled. "But in truth you know nothing."
"I trusted you," I roared, furious, firing spells at him left and right. "Dumbledore trusted you! All this time! You've been a spy! A double agent! Coward! Coward!"
As we duel back and forth, both our faces were curled into snarls.
"You know nothing!" he growled, blocking my Disarming Spell.
"You're right there, but I should have listened to Harry! He thought it was you and Malfoy all along—the necklace, the poisoned mead. You probably told Voldemort that Dumbledore left and caused Dumbledore to die! You were behind it all! You and your little ferret sidekick, you cowardly—"
"You know nothing!" he snarled again. His face was contorted into an expression of utmost hatred. "His death is on you, foolish girl! Why did he drink that potion, instead of you? He would be alive, and you might—might—have survived it! It is your fault, Isabella Lestrange! If that vampire friend of yours hadn't had that vision of Voldemort getting the locket, he wouldn't have gone and drank that potion in the first place!"
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a cloaked figure approach, wand raised. A blast of red magic was fired from it and I couldn't dodge.
Just before I sank into unconscious, I saw Snape Stun the cloaked figure, who had attacked me, who I realized to be Bellatrix Lestrange. My mother. Great. Not.
But…she was his ally…and he incapacitated her…I was so confused…
Then the blackness consumed me.
Again.
A/N: *cue thunder* MWA HA HA HA!!! I FEEL AS EVIL AS DEAR VOLDIE-POO!!!!!!! Cliffie. Review, or I shall Imperio the Lord of Bad Anagrams into sending his minions (the flying monkeys--I mean, erm, (Snape,) Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Malfoy, and Malfoy's dad. I'm not calling them flying monkeys...(even if that Malfoy kid looks like an ugly wart on a flying monkey's butt)(Jk...kind of...) after you!!!
REVIEW!!
