Ten minutes after Voldemorts announcement, Hermione and I were racing to the north tower. Professor McGonagall had allocated us and Fred and George (who refused to leave while we were still here) to guard the tower. Personally I think she sent us there because it was out of the main attack route. I wasn't happy about this and I could see that Hermione wasn't that thrilled either. We both wanted to get stuck in. Hermione had got McGonagall to transfigure her ball gown into more sensible clothes. I had ditched my jacket and tie but was still in my dress robes for the most part. Most of the rest of the defenders were in the same situation except for Dumbledore (who never wore anything except robes anyway) and a couple of the older children who had transfigured their clothes as well.
"Here we are" I said as we reached the stairs up to the tower.
"We will take the top" said Fred and George together.
"Ok guys, stay safe" I said as I shook their hands.
"Good luck" called George as they disappeared up the staircase
"Live forever" said Fred and then they were out of view.
"Well here we are" I said trying to diffuse the tense silence.
"Yea, here we are" she replied from the window she was looking out of.
"What can you see?" I asked as I checked the other side of the tower.
"Well, I think we may be here for the duration" she said in a very calm voice.
"What do you mean" I said as I came over to the window she was at. I then looked out and realised what she had seen. Coming out of the forest edge nearest to us was a huge host of Spiders. Obviously Aragog had decided to join in. The hope that he had joined us died in my heart as the spider horde simply steamrollered the outer walls and came swarming over the lawn towards us.
"Shit" I said, not quite sure what to say.
"Yea shit just about says it" she replied and took my hand. Then a voice boomed out across the school grounds.
"All defenders of Hogwarts, hear me" It was Dumbledore, "I know that we are outnumbered and outwanded and surrounded, it seems that Mr Riddle has been recruiting more heavily than we had previously thought" he said and he fell silent for a few seconds. "However I would remind you of another instance when a small group of people triumphed over overwhelming odds" then came another pause before "In 1879 in Natal, India, 100 men of Harlech stood against 4000 Zulu warriors at the battle of Rorke's Drift. These 100 men included nearly 40 walking wounded and a selection of officers and speciality men. The Zulu's surrounded the entrenched defenders using captured weapons and sent wave after wave against the beleaguered soldiers." But after nearly 24 hours of near constant fighting the British defenders were victorious and the Zulu army retreated"
Me and Hermione exchanged looks of surprise, even in the face of an army the Headmaster could still tell a tale.
"So I will remind you all to stand firm and stay strong. I will expect to see all of you at the dinner table tomorrow at the victory feast" Then his next words made us all jump.
"WARRIORS OF THE LIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER?!" he yelled and a huge cheer swelled through the defenders and it could be heard even over the chanting of the Death Eater army outside the walls.
"Once more in to the breach dear friends, once more" I muttered to myself.
"Cannon to the left of them, Cannon to the right of them, Boldly the rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell" I heard Hermione say.
"Charge of the Light Brigade"
"It seemed fitting" she replied without looking at me.
"Hey" I said, resting my arm lightly on hers. She looked round at me finally and her eyes were wide and tearful,
"Why does this have to happen now?" she said starting to sob. I pulled her into an embrace and hugged her close.
"I dunno love, Fate maybe? Sod's law?" I replied.
"What if something happens to me?" she asked now fully crying "Or you?"
"Listen to me. I swear that no harm will come to you while I am still breathing. Do you understand?" I felt her nod against my chest.
"We will get through this, both of us" I reassured her. As I said this I made a promise to myself.
"If Hermione doesn't make it through this Harry, then neither will you"
"Together forever, till death do us part" I whispered in to Hermione hair.
"I will hold you to that Potter" she replied, still sobbing gently.
"I would expect nothing less" I answered.
And we stood there holding each other close as the world continued around us and the sound of battle rose up from the distance.
"Come on" I said. "We've got a war to win"
She nodded wiped away the tears and drew her wand. I copied her and we both turned to face what could very well be our final countdown.