Chapter 15 It's What Fortresses are for

Thanks to darrelldeam and alix33 for looking this over. All mistakes are my own.

Yeah, so, I did it again. I added a couple of paragraphs to the last chapter on 2/13/16. However, you don't have to reread it. I added that some of the muggles had guns (the elves got them), and now Harry carries one. It is not vital, but since I am using them in the battle I don't want you to think, 'Where did the guns come from?' That's about it.

I ask you to understand that in order for me to continue with few plotholes, I have to reread the previous chapters, so I remember where I am. Thanks for your patience.

I've added a new poll. Thanks for voting on my previous ones.

Now for the battle, it is one of my weaker points in writing and it took me days to finish.

Thanks again for your support.

Hphphp

"Oh, Merlin, look at all the Dementors. I hope those wards hold."

"There are giants and trolls too, good thing we had those catapults and bombs."

"Did the Weasley twins get that silver powder ready? I've never seen a werewolf half-human half-wolf before. Shite, that's Greyback."

"Yeah, but it hasn't been tested. I pray it works."

"Oh my god, are those vampires. They don't look anything like the ones on the telly."

"Is that him?"

"The bald snake-like man in the back? Yeah, that's Tom."

"Harry Potter is supposed to fight that?"

"Don't worry, I have faith in him. He saved all our lives."

"Quiet. We don't know if the wards will block our voices."

Were the whispers alone the walls, until Kingsley ordered them to be silent. The talk died down and they all sat and waited.

The people on the walls looked at the enemy army and had it not been for the happiness wards, they would be cringing with fear. They were spread out along the western wall, mixed with one another; muggles, centaurs and wizards like blended together to form an army. Those that could use the bows and guns were making sure they had ammunition. Those that cast magic held their wands at their sides, shield bracelets on their wrist. Everyone would have one, but they needed a core to work off of.

Harry was armed with his gun and wand, Mokeskin pouch on his belt and shield bracelet on his wrist. He couldn't hit a target dead on every time with his left hand, but he could hit it. He briefly thought of trying the snitch, but it seemed unimportant right now. He had no idea why Dumbledore deemed it important enough to win the war. The more he meditated on that man, the more he didn't really like him, but those thoughts were for another time.

Right now, they just stood firm and watched to see if they were found. There was a small chance that Tom would give up and try again another time. They were hoping to be better prepared, but were still confident enough that if the battle broke out today they would win, though not without casualties. They had been training for this for many weeks, and with the rituals they all had a boost of power.

The enemy was scouring the woods to try and find them, their wands lit. The werewolves were sniffing about, as were the vampires. The giants and the trolls just seemed confused, they were ready to smash things and the clubs they toted were swinging at the trees. They were too far away to fire weapons, except the catapults and some of the rifles. The Death Eaters were casting spells to find the enemy, but were not near enough just yet. Some of the spells were weak and dull, and those casting them were warily watching Tom as if he would strike them dead any minute.

Harry noted that many of the Death Eaters were smaller than the rest. He wondered if they were the younger students of Hogwarts. He kinda felt bad for them; most would have been forced to revere the madman by their families. He remembered Draco crying in the bathroom last year. He knew the boy didn't want to kill, but if he was out there then he would have no choice. This thought made him condemn the Dork Lord even more. He really hoped it was the older students. He would feel really bad if they had to hurt kids.

"Kingsley, look at some of the humans. I think he's got kids down there," he whispered to the bald man.

"Shite. Spread the word, no killing the kids," the Auror stated to Kyle and the man turned to the next person and the whispers started.

Everyone held their breaths watching them. They waited for about an hour in that cold, damp night, just listening to the calls of frustration from the enemy, the howls of the werewolves and the hissing of the vampires. So far they had not been sensed by the Dementors, making sure to keep their emotions dull. They didn't know if it was the wards preventing them from being noticed, or if they were being held back by Tom. Either way, they felt safe behind the walls of Halstead.

Tom continued to spur his army on, saying he would kill them all if they did not find the resistance. Whenever he spoke the Death Eaters looked harder, casting revealing spells and moving further into the woods. The werewolves in their half-formed state were getting closer, though they did stop to sniff the bodies of the dead. The vampires, the giants and the trolls were almost overcome by the smell of the carcasses. The Dementors were swarming above the trees, almost in a frenzy over the promised feast. The army was getting closer and would soon run into the wards.

Kingsley turned to Kyle, Harry, Luna and Neville. "Send a Patronus to the roof and tell them to fire on the giants and trolls," he ordered quietly. He had made the decision that Tom wasn't going to give up this night. So they would fire the first shot. He had been appointed leader and was taking that role very seriously.

They all did as bid and the only noise heard inside the keep was the release of the catapults, making the enemy look to the skies. Five bombs sailed and "Boom" everything as tall as the trees fell, some even crushing the people in front of them. The vampires hissed when the bombs went off and fled further away from the light.

"Revive them," Voldemort ordered, his voice cutting across the woods.

The Death Eaters scurried to do as commanded and waved their wands to no avail. They could not wake them. "They will not wake, My Lord," Bellatrix said, being the only one brave enough to face an irate Tom. Yeah, she was crazy.

"Fools, how hard can it be?" Voldemort stated as he glided to one of the giants. His bare feet, making small rustling sounds as he softly treaded on the leaves. He waved the Elder Wand, which he had fought young Draco for; threating him with dire consequences should the child try and win. He had been going to kill Snape, but the fearful teen told him about how he was the one to disarm that bumbling old fool. He dueled the pathetic, simpering boy and simply disarmed him in under a minute. Now, the wand belonged to him. He didn't believe in the foolishness of the Deathly Hallows, but this wand was purported to bring power, and that was all he cared about.

When the giant did not wake under the Death Stick, he killed it with the Killing Curse. They were useless stupid beasts. To fall so quickly to a strong stunning spell, he thought they were spell resistant, which is the only reason he brought the monsters in the first place. He went to each of the fallen killing them one by one.

The people in the fortress were ecstatic that the man would kill his own troops. They knew he was crazy, but didn't realize just how far gone he was.

The Dementors now felt the happiness of the people in the keep and swarmed towards it. The wards only boosted the feeling and the demons took no note of them. There was never a ward invented that could keep them out. All one hundred converged on the walls, only for most of them to fry on the wards. The skies lit again as the wards flashed silver, (that was an unexpected side effect and it would now pinpoint Halstead). The inhuman screeches filled the air, and everyone covered their ears, even Tom's army.

The Death Eaters watched with horror as their most valued fighters died. The dark, ratty cloaks, empty of the demons, floated to the ground. Only a few survived, and they flew away as fast as they could. They had never been killed before, and this was not something they would attempt again. They would retaliate against the idiot that brought them here, but for now they needed to get away.

"Potter! You will pay for that!" Voldemort bellowed into the night, looking towards the keep. He couldn't see them, but now knew where they were, since there was still a huge shimmering silver dome. "You cannot hide from the greatest Dark Lord ever, Potter. I will find you and you will wish for death before this day is over," he threatened smoothly. "First troop to the wards," he ordered and a group of six made their way to where the dome ended. "Death Eaters, werewolves, fire on that shield. Take it down or it will be your life. Vampires, stand at the ready. You will get your promised feast."

His loyal did as he bid, and soon enough spells were bombarding the dome, including Tom's. It was weakening with every spell of the Elder Wand. You could feel the wards starting to fall, the silver glow was dimming. All but the werewolves were casting, they were otherwise occupied.

"He's got ward breakers!" Bill shouted as he noted the wand movement of the first troop.

"Marksmen! Fire!" Kingsley ordered under a Sonorus.

Arrows, bullets and curses rained down on the Death Eaters and the ward breakers. They only got a few before the shields went up, though all were wounded. There were four breakers left, and bullets, spells and arrows bounced off their protections. Kinsley decided that they must be wearing a ward amulet. So he ordered them to turn their attention to the half-formed werewolves, who were eating the giants and not paying attention to the battle. When one fell to a shoulder wound, howling in pain, Tom turned to see what they were doing and shot spells at them to get them back into action. He erected a ward to hold off the weapons, losing two before he noticed, but cast weak Crucios to get them to pay attention.

"Fools, this is no time to bow to your animal instinct. I will kill you all if you do not listen to your master," he said, making them cringe in fear. The last week this man had tortured many and none wanted to be on his bad side. He dropped the ward and turned back to the dome, firing spell after spell on it.

"Silver Powder, launch!" ordered Kingsley and a few seconds later silver powder fell on the trees, glittering from the light of the happiness ward (it was very pretty), making the wolves howl in pain.

They were rubbing their bubbling skin trying to get it off, but it clung to their fur. They quickly dispersed into the trees, making it impossible to see them. They were covered in powder, and they ran to find water, hoping to wash it off before it killed them. Voldemort fired on them, but they were much too fast, giving in to the fight or flight instinct.

"Fire the Sun Spell," Kingsley shouted. Many spell casters raised their wands and shot the spell into the air, and soon the sky was lit as bright as a summer's day, making the vampires hiss and take cover. Some of them sported burns on their pale faces and hands. It was too bad there was nothing to anchor the spell, because it dissipated after a few minutes. But, they now knew it worked and it will be useful in closer combat.

Now, most of Voldemort's troops were gone or dead, he raged and shouted for them to take cover and they all ran to the trees, barring the ward breakers.

The residents of the keep held their breaths, hoping the mad man would leave. They lit the sunlight spell again and saw the enemy flitting from tree to tree, coming even closer to the fortress.

"Keep firing on the ward breakers!" Kingsley ordered, and spells rained down on the surviving men. They were however covered with a blue dome that could only be penetrated with Unforgivables, and no one was about to shoot them off. "Cease fire."

"Some of us are going to have to go down there," Harry said, looking at the shields, "We might be able to take them down if we're closer."

"Harry's right, I can take them down, if I'm next to them," Bill said with a nod.

"Alright, Bill, Harry, Tonks, Kyle, Flitwick, and I will go down there. Bill, you take down the wards and we'll cover you. The rest of you fire at will. Prepare for a breach. Spread the word," Kinsley sighed. He had hoped they could fight this behind the walls.

The silver dome finally faded and the woods were dark again, except the moonlight off the silver glitter. The team made their way down the ramps and moved quickly to the door. They all disillusioned themselves, Harry using his Cloak, and made their way out of the keep. Sticking to the walls they followed the light of the blue shields. Bill snuck up on the closest one and waved his wand to release the protection. The dome fell and Harry's gunshot was heard, but couldn't be separated from the guns of the walls. They crept closer to the next one and did the same. However, when they got to the third, he was crowing with triumph. The wards fell.

"Shite. Fall back," the bald Auror ordered and they quickly made their way back to the keep, avoiding being hit by the barest margin.

The enemy could now see the fortress and moved swiftly to breach the walls. Ladders were conjured and they climbed them, only to be brought down by arrows and gunfire. Though, since they thought it might be kids, judging by their height, they only hurt them and took them out of action. The enemy hadn't gotten far enough to be killed by the fall.

Kingsley hoped that Voldemort had healers with him; he really didn't want the kids to die from blood loss. Then again, knowing Tom, he wouldn't care.

"Cowards! Idiots! The rest of don't let them get away!" Voldemort bellowed, not so much as glancing at the children he consigned to die.

Kingsley ran inside the door, the team followed, they put the bar down and the Auror yelled, "Second Team Fall Back!"

The muggles and the centaurs stayed on the walls, half watching outside and the other half turned inward, and all spell users ran down the ramps. They all stood and waited for the door to open. They put up shields and blinds and were hoping to bottleneck the enemy when they came in. The castle lights went on and you could just make out people behind the shutters. It caused the shadows to thicken, giving people places to hide.

"Tom is going to use a bombardment spell!" came the warning from above.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!" The door crashed to the ground, splinters flying everywhere.

The first to come through were the vampires, they were being driven by the Death Eaters. They ran through the door and were hit with the sunlight spell. They hissed and ran with their cloaks over their heads. The bright light burning them as they ran, but they had nowhere to go and soon fell to ash. Unfortunately, this gave time for the Death Eaters, which now numbered thirty, to come through and put up their own shields and blinds.

Spells were cast and arrows and guns were fired, but the Death Eaters had formidable shields. They were casting Unforgivables, and a few off the keep's residents fell. One turned as started firing on the friendlies, but he was soon slapped out of it and turned back and fought the enemy.

"Refugees to the houses," Kingsley ordered, seeing many of them fall. They just weren't ready to fight. The uninjured picked up their wounded and made it to the houses; the Order, the DA and the Professors covering their flight.

Molly was now engaged in a battle with Bellatrix, Ginny by her side. They were fierce in their spells and soon drove that woman back. All three were sporting wounds, the Weasley women were the most cut up, but Bellatrix had a huge gash on her chest. It was bleeding profusely and she was hiding behind one of the houses. Molly and Ginny were still firing on her, making the wall she was behind shudder at each spell. Soon the wall came down and they both fired a cutting curse and the evil witch fell to the ground and didn't move. The two Weasley women turned to reenter the battle.

Fred and George were fighting Yaxley, they were using every prank in the book and the man now looked like a cross between a monkey and a squirrel. As he attempted to undo his transformation, they turned their sights on the next enemy, making sure to keep one eye on the man. They were both sure that the spells used could not be undone, but they didn't want to take that chance.

Neville, Kyle, Kingsley and Luna were taking care of the Lestrange brothers. They were holding their own, but no one was without cuts or spell damage. Luna couldn't use her left arm, but she was still agile enough to fight.

Tonks and Hermione were blasting Malfoy Sr. they were taking years of insults out on the man. He wasn't a formidable as he had bragged to be all these years, and the two girls soon had him transfigured into a rock, which they placed in Hermione's purse that was hanging off her belt.

Remus and Dick were in the castle, shooting spells from the window.

Harry was blasting away, using every spell in his arsenal and many fell to his wand. So far he got McNair and Flint and others he didn't know.

Everyone was fighting, and the Death Eaters were grossly outnumbered. Now their numbers were fifteen. And the people of the keep still had seventy, if you include the ones banishing knives from the houses.

Just when the Death Eaters were going to give up, Voldemort stepped through the broken door as if he were simply walking into any room, his bare feet stepping on shards of wood as if they were just grass. There was no fear in his body stance. He casually fired spells to destroy the blinds and a few more people fell. "Potter, come and face me," he said softly in that silky voice of his.

Harry took a deep breath and weighed his options. This could be the end, he thought. I can finish this once and for all. Maybe I should try and open… His thoughts were cut off, and he was taking completely by surprise when hands fell on his elbows, holding his arms firmly in place at his side. Harry tightened his grip on his weapons and he turned his head and looked, but could not see who held him.

"Potter, you must listen to me," came the refined voice of his most hated teacher.

"You're a fucking traitor, why the hell would I listen to you," Harry spat as his head followed the voice over his left shoulder. He tried to shrug off the hands, but they held him fast. He couldn't even turn around. He cursed himself for not watching his back. That thought gave him pause. They hadn't covered their flank. Shite. He couldn't call out just now and warn the enemy, and with Snape having him trapped he couldn't fire off a Patronus either. Shite, shite, shite.

"Potter, I will swear by my magic that I am on your side. Dumbledore gave me a message to give to you," Snape said, his hands squeezing the arms under them, giving the boy a shake.

"You killed him, you bastard. How can you be on our side?" the teen asked, confused. He did remember Mr. Weasley stating something along those lines, but he also remembered Dumbledore falling to this man's wand.

"Damn it, Potter, just listen," he snarled, and removed his hands, taking up his wand. "I swear on my life and magic that I am on the side of the Light," he vowed quickly, a light shining from his wand. He looked to see if the Dark Lord noticed, but the man was fighting Kingsley, Lovegood, Longbottom and a man he didn't know. "Listen, you miscreant, you have a Horcrux in your scar. The Headmaster said you must die, though he believes you will be revived," Snape said urgently. "You must let the Dark Lord kill you."

"We got rid of the Horcrux weeks ago. I'm not letting that man shoot me down like a dog," Harry sneered, once more cursing Dumbledore for plotting his death.

"What? How did you manage that?" the potion master asked his voice rising and full of doubt.

"Severus, what are you doing?" came the soft voice of the Dark Lord. He had wounded the people he was fighting and was now waiting behind a shield for Potter to play hero. Kingsley and Kyle were knocked out and bleeding. Luna and Neville were trying to get them to the healers. Some of the healers were levitating them to the houses, the teens covering them. The Dark Lord was turned away, looking for his faithful follower.

The battle raged on, but there were only a few Death Eaters left.

"I have Potter, My Lord," Snape said, smoothly, not believing for a minute that the Horcrux was gone. If Dumbledore couldn't get rid of it then there was no way Potter could. Not even the mudblood, Granger, could do what the Headmaster could not.

That caused everyone to pause, some of the fortress residents to cry out in denial. Neville took that moment to stun every Death Eater he could see. The rest took up his task and soon it was just Voldemort and Snape left.

"Bring him to me," the mad man hissed, angry that his loyal were taken down by riffraff. He was still confident he could win, all he had to do was take out the Boy Who Lived and then he could rule Britain.

"Of course, My Lord," the traitor stated, replacing one of his hands and propelling the boy forward.

Harry casually took his gun out, twisted and fired it into Snape's right shoulder, making the man fall and release him. His ear rang with the shot, but it was only his right ear. He shot him again in the knees, bent down and grabbed Snape's wand and then turned to the Dork Lord. He would give Snape the benefit of the doubt for now, he did make a vow after all, but he'd be damned if he was going to let him give him to Tom. He would go on his own power and not like a prisoner. "Tom," he said as he left his blind. He nodded his head cordially, gun in his left hand and wand in his right.

"Don't call me by that muggle name," Voldemort hissed, his red eyes narrowed with hate. He dropped his shield so he could fight the boy. He folded his arms and looked over the boy of prophecy, finding him lacking. The Elder Wand sat in the bend of his left elbow, being held there with his right hand.

Everyone stood and watched the two leaders. They were worried that the teen might lose, and they all held their weapons ready. The only reason they didn't fire was because of the thrice-damned prophecy.

"Right, whatever. You really should make up your mind. You don't want to be called 'Tom', but you put a taboo on 'Voldemort'. I mean, really, what are we supposed to call you? Dork Lord?" Harry quipped, hoping to make the man mad.

That caused some to twitter, and others to roll their eyes.

"You will call me Master when…" was as far as the man got, when Harry raised his wand and fired off an Expelliarmus. The Elder Wand flew to him; he caught with his right hand, next to his holly wand.

"You really should learn to stop talking," Harry chastised, hurriedly putting the Elder Wand in his Mokeskin bag, with the gun leveled at Tom's head.

Tom brought out his original wand and fired a Killing Curse.

Harry ducked his head and the curse flew by and hit the house behind him, causing the wall to shatter. He fired a skinning hex at the man, but it was stopped by a piece of debris. He shot off the gun and clipped the Dork Lord in the left shoulder.

"Little Potter, fighting like a muggle," Tom sneered, looking at his wound and casually flicking a healing spell, but he lost use of that arm. "Can you not fight me with your wand, little boy?" he asked as he cast the Crucio.

Harry banished a piece of wood from the house in front of him and returned the favor with a blasting hex.

They fought all over the courtyard and many walls were brought down by the power of their curses. Luna could be heard cheering Harry on in the background, at the same time warning him to be careful. The rest took up the cheers and warnings. It was like a schoolyard fight.

It was then that it happened: Grawp's yells of pain and Hagrid's bellow, alerted them that there were people coming from behind. It was the werewolves; they had regrouped and tended their wounds. They came into the courtyard, firing off deadly curses. Since the people of the keep were all wounded and tired they were caught completely by surprise and a few more fell.

Spell fire rained down from the castle and the catapult once again fired off silver, but they now had shields to protect them. The people on the wall took up the fight and fired silver bullets and arrows at them. The rest turned and started to fight yet again, still the wolves were outnumbered and soon fell to their enemies.

Harry was still engaged with Tom and they were both getting tired. It was when Harry heard someone say, "Bugger this," that he saw the Dark Lord fall. Luna, using her good arm, had snuck up behind the… man and struck him down. Harry, seeing his lifelong enemy fall, cast a skinning curse and every bit of skin was removed.

"The power he knows not, is my girlfriend," Harry told Tom as the dying man drew his final breath.

Hphphp

I hope you liked this, I worked hard on it. Anyone who thinks they can beef it up, is welcome to pm me. There should be one or two more chapters. Thanks for reading.