Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us. Though I do own the plot...
Chapter 60
Beginning of the End...
The black cloak swept swiftly up the myriad of wooden stairs as though it were floating. Every so often it would part in the front revealing a pair of faded jeans, which flared out at the bottom, mostly covering the converse-all stars which were currently taking the stairs one-at-a-time. In the distance a voice could be heard yelling out "KNIGHTS TO ME!" The cloak sped up at hearing these words, but in the next second, the cloak and its occupant were swept up in a mass of swirling blue and white lights.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Outside the pitch, just to the left of the Slytherin changing rooms, a man stood in shadows, watching over a floating, glowing glass orb that pulsed with power every so often. This was his only task; his master had given to him personally. As long as it remained glowing, then those trapped within the pitch would remain without access to their magic and he would remain alive, safe from his master's wrath.
He jolted suddenly, looking to the west, drawing his wand. He thought he had just seen something or someone out of the corner of his eye. Wand held aloft, he continued looking around, his gaze flitting from one thing to the next. A tree here, a large boulder there…perhaps it had simply been a bird. At least that is what he hoped he had seen. He inhaled shakily, though still alert. His master had been the one to create the orb and spell it so that it was not only connected to Bixby's life-force and magic, but his as well. This it turned out was his master's insurance. If for some reason Bixby failed and the orb went silent, then both Bixby and he would lose their lives as punishment for failing their Lord.
He gazed around once more before leaning back against the wooden wall, his wand still at the ready.
He would not fail his Lord.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Clanging rang throughout the field as a multitude of spells were caught and swatted away with swords, gleaming in the slowly dying sun. The Knights of Salem were faring quite well against the many Death Eaters considering they were only able to duel with their swords, daggers. Taking the brunt of the magical attacks from the Death Eaters, were their gauntlets, which were spelled to create a dome-like shield around them, protecting them from most if not all of the curses being thrown their way. However a few of the more nasty curses that were thrown their way were not able to be shielded against and thus they had to resort to batting away the spells with their weapons.
"I think we're doing pretty well, considering the circumstances." A boy yelled out.
"Really, and what gave you that idea?" another called back rhetorically, as her shield absorbed yet another spell. At this point, all of the Knights had formed a wall, protecting their leaders from the main onslaught. It was not a perfect solution, but it gave those who needed it, the time to find a way for them to be able to access their magic. Susan sighed in relief, yet again, as a curse impacted her shield like water splashing over its surface, finally fizzling out when it found no entrance. She looked over her shoulder, during this slight reprieve and sighed, watching as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville stood huddled close together, with their Headmaster not far from them, looking as though he wanted very much to put his two cents into the mix.
"If you think about them and what they may or may not be talking about at the moment, then your head is not in the game when it needs to be. We are their defense, if we falter…."
"I know Seamus; you don't have to lay it out for me. I've been a part of the Knights since the night my parents were murdered and my aunt took me in."
"Look, are you two going to get into a lovers-quarrel now because I could really do without that at the moment." A newcomer said as he sidled up in between them. "Harry needs us and you two are not doing the job assigned to you, to all of us."
"Sorry Patch." Susan said as she twirled her blade, knocking away another spell. "We're focused, I promise." He looked them over as he too blocked a curse with the gleaming sword he held, while his shield absorbed another and then nodded and made his way back to his original position.
"What is it with you Knights and your code names?"
"It's tradition to be given a name upon completing your first ever mission, if you come back alive that is."
"But, Patch?"
Susan smiled, "Patch was given his name after his first mission, like most are. However, when he came back from his mission…well let's just say the term 'Patchwork Quilt' quite literally describes him after his mission." At seeing the look her friend was giving her she continued. "You wouldn't know it now, but he's had work done." She ended with a smile.
"So what name would you give me?" Seamus asked as his shield absorbed a curse.
Again, Susan smiled. "Pyro" She answered without hesitation. Seamus just laughed and looked at his friend. "What?" she exclaimed. "You do have a certain proclivity for pyrotechnics."
Both friends shared a look, one that lasted mere moments, before turning back to the task at hand.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Behind the wall of protection that his fellow Knights were providing, Harry was deep in discussion as to what their next course of action should be.
"All I'm saying," Ron said, pulling Harry from his thoughts, "Is that if we keep going at the rate we are, then the Knights are going to tire eventually and then the Death Eaters are going to have the upper hand."
"Ronald, the Death Eaters are the ones throwing the spells, expending their magic and thus depleting their magical cores. If we wait long enough then we will have the upper hand." Hermione threw in.
"You both are right, but that doesn't help us with the more important issue. Yes, given enough time, one of the sides will weaken, but what we need to be putting our energies into, instead of arguing amongst ourselves, is what to do about the ward suppressing our magic." Neville exclaimed.
"We need to get this ward down and fast." Ginny put in. "But how."
"If I might Harry…?"
Nodding slightly at the Headmaster, he went on. "Like most magical wards, they need to have a fixed point in order to work. This can be a stone, an object, a place, but that one is hardly ever used due to the great magical toll it takes upon not only the caster but the very foundations of the object itself. Given enough time, the object will start to degrade and lose its power thus allowing for a breach in the wards to be found."
"With all due respect Headmaster, we are not simply going to sit by and wait for a crack in the wards. We have to be more proactive about this." Neville said. "But that does give me an idea."
"What?" almost everyone asked at once.
"Knowing old snake-face, he will have left the object of our bane nowhere near us, at least inside the pitch, lest it was accidently destroyed."
"So it's going to be outside the pitch somewhere? A place we cannot get because we can't access our magic?" Ron questioned.
"Harry, have you tried…"
"Yes, I have Hermione, and it has yet to work." He replied, sending a glare her way before he continued. "Okay, so we know that the…object, or whatever it was Voldemort used, is outside the pitch, and that whatever the object is, it has to have something to power it, a link to a magical core that is not his because then he would have to be here himself to continuously power the ward, thus making him weaker and we all know that this is not something he would do." Harry fleetingly sent a look towards the Headmaster and saw him nodding.
"So who would he have tied it to?"
As soon as the question was asked, they all shared a look, and looked towards the man on the front line of the Death Eaters, the man leading them in the spell-casting, the man who had spent all year getting those around him to trust him. That man was Bixby. "We have to take him out. It's the only way. With him out of the picture, the ward will drop, allowing us access to our magic while also giving us a way off this pitch and onto a bigger battlefield, the grounds."
"When you say "take him out" you mean…"
"Yes, Hermione, that is what I mean. The only way for the ward to drop is to either ask him nicely to take it down, which will never happen, or kill him."
"But Neville…"
"Neville's right Hermione, he needs to be taken out. And if we simply stun him, then his magic would simply continue to power the ward, conscious or not." Ron agreed. Hermione sighed and then nodded.
While this conversation was going on, Harry had been watching the Headmaster. He could see on the old man's' face just what he thought of the idea of taking someone's life, even if they themselves had viciously taken someone else's. "Is there something you would like to say Headmaster?" He asked loudly, cutting the current conversation off.
"I do not believe taking the life of another human being is something that should ever be considered, much less spoken so cavalierly as you three did just now. There has to be another way to get this ward down."
"Without magic, sir?"
"Surly, there must…"
"Headmaster, you have no vote in how we run things. If we had another option, I am more than sure that we would take it. However we are being given no alternative." Harry then turned back to the others. "Any ideas on how we accomplish this?"
"I suggest we use the move we were practicing the other day." Ron replied.
"But can they do it well enough. I mean, both groups learned it separately, will they really be able to pull it off now that they are with one another?"
"I think they can. We've run simulations like this in the Room of Requirement; we just needed to field test it."
"Ron's right, that seems to be the best option we have at getting close to him." Ginny put in.
"Okay then. Now the only thing left to decide before the word is given out is who is going to do the deed?"
"I will." Neville said immediately.
"Nev, are you sure?"
"I need to do this Harry. Just hearing him talk about my parents…I can and I will do this."
Harry nodded. "Ron, give the word."
~~~hpgw~~~~
Back in the safety of the school, a mass of bright blue and white lights began to fill the Great Hall, moments after being swept away from the pitch. Out of the blue and white lights came just about every student that had just been sitting in the stands of the Quidditch pitch. The person who had been climbing the stairs as the lights had converged on them, stumbled and fell into a group of two women and a man, red hair splaying into the faces of the others.
"What the…Paige!" Phoebe called out as she attempted to push her sister off of her. When she realized who it was that in the process of standing up, she too made to get up and enveloped her sister into a hug. "What are you doing here, I thought…?"
Paige smiled, "Yeah, we were in the middle of eating and said he had to go. He said it was an emergency.
"Well Harry will be glad to see you, he was asking about you." Phoebe replied as she took Leo's offered hand to help her up.
"It will be good to see him. What with work and all, I've missed the kid. Where is he by the way? Where are we for that matter?"
"You, miss, are currently in the Great Hall at Hogwarts School." said a stern voice.
The sisters and Leo turned around to see a witch, followed by a few others, heading towards them wands drawn. "Now, I suggest explain just who you are and what you are doing here, lest you find yourselves bound and unable to move or speak until such a time that we determine whether or not you are a threat."
Piper rolled her eyes and quickly looked around. It appeared that the advancing professors had garnered the attention of all those within the Hall. With a sigh, she raised her hands and gestured to the room at large, freezing everyone instantly, unfortunately it also froze Leo, but that was quickly remedied as she turned and unfroze him. "Piper, what are doing?" Leo asked as he looked around.
"Taking stock Leo. We have some people, who may very well be some of our son's professors, bearing down on us and most of the school has their eyes on them and us. I figured they would like to "have their chat with us" in private" with that said and Phoebe and Paige's nods, Piper gestured her hands yet again, only this time she made a gesture with her hands in the direction of the professors causing only them to unfreeze.
The lead professor, along with the others, faltered in their approach after being unfrozen. As each gained their balance back, they all began to look around. After seeing all the students frozen, they turned their attention back to the strangers who were looking at them intensely.
"Now, I believe you were asking who we are."
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Back at the pitch, bedlam continued to reign, but the tide was turning. The Death Eaters continued to shoot spells at their enemies and watched in fascination as every single one of the Knights either swiftly avoided spell or caught it as they all began to come together into a single formation.
The Knights took on the shape of a 'V' consisting of several layers. As soon as they all came together, and the V took perfect shape, they began to charge the Death Eaters; they were going to end this.
The Death Eaters did the best they could to come into a formation of their own, but within their ranks, there were some who knew that it wouldn't matter.
The Death Eaters couldn't see that within the V was a single Knight with a sword in one hand and a wand in the other. This Knights' eyes were ablaze with a determination, a resolve to accomplish the task that he had volunteered for. Tonight, he would bring down someone who was partly responsible for the current state in which his parents were. Bixby would be the first, but he wouldn't be the last. He had an appointment with another, and that witch would feel his wrath.
"First Bixby, then Bellatrix." These words continued to reverberate within Neville as he charged forward.
~~~~hpgw~~~
The figure standing outside the Slytherin changing rooms was pacing back and forth, nerves very much on edge; for he could hear the screams coming from within the pitch. He looked over to the floating orb, it was still glowing. "Good" he thought as he turned around and made to walk the same path that he had worn into the ground. All of a sudden an unearthly scream pierced the night. The next thing this Death Eater knew, he was flying through the air into the forest and slammed into a tree. His head was swimming and he was attempting to stand again, but was failing miserably. Through the haze, he could just make out the shattered remains of the orb. This sight caused him to lose the grip he had on the knob that sticking out of the tree. He slumped to the ground again. He lay there unmoving, his breathing ragged. In the distance he could just barely make out a mass of black cloaks streaming onto the grounds of the school.
The Death Eater gasped again, praying for another breath, though knowing it wouldn't come. His last thoughts flew by in quick secession. He had failed his master…He was going to die…He had chosen the wrong side to support in this war. Just as the last bit of life began to fade from his eyes, he saw an enormous spider bearing down on him, pincers clicking viciously.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
McGonagall stopped mid-sentence in her conversation with Piper and pulled out a crystal from within her robes. She paled. She sent an apologetic look to Piper and brought her wand out and tapped her throat. After a quick 'Sonorous' she addressed the Hall at large.
"Professors and Students, the wards and magic surrounding the Quidditch Pitch have fallen. Professors, I want you to mark off an area for the wounded. The battle has moved out onto the grounds and there will be many in need of attention. Please get with Madam Pomfrey to coordinate with her. Students you will assist the Professors with anything they need help with. Those who do not will be detained. I suggest you all get moving, now!"
"What would you like us to do Minerva?" Piper asked as the Deputy Head turned back around. "My husband is a healer and my sisters and I are very good with potions. Simply tell us what you need and we will do it."
McGonagall looked over the four people standing in front of her. It was not widely known, but her family had ties, albeit distant ties, with the Halliwell family. That her favorite student happened to be this woman's son had taken time to get used to, but in the end, all the pieces seemed to fit together in a way she hadn't seen before. This had certainly explained a few things that Lily, James and even Sirius had said over the year before the Potters were murdered. McGonagall smiled, "If you could have Leo meet with Madam Pomfrey, that way when the wounded arrive he can be there to help her. As to potions…if you and your sisters wanted to set up an area to brew some of the potions we will need that would also be a help."
"We can do that." Piper said.
McGonagall nodded, "Also, do not be afraid to pull some of the seventh years to help you in your brewing. More hands are always better."
"Oh Piper won't have any problem in giving direction to those she pulls to help us." Phoebe said with a smile.
Piper sent her a glare and then turned back to McGonagall. "We will get started right away. Although, is there any way we can get a whole bunch of cauldrons. With as many potions as you are wanting brewed, we'll need them."
Again Minerva nodded, "Yes, simply call for Topsy, my personal elf and she will assist you with anything you need. Now, if you don't mind ladies, I really need to be seeing to be checking in with everybody else."
The sisters and Leo nodded. Just as the Deputy Head began walking away, she turned back around, "It was a pleasure to meet you and to know that Harry was and is in good hands. I look forward to getting to know you all more at a later time; that is if we make it through this night."
"We will, don't worry. Things will work out, you'll see." Phoebe said with certainty.
McGonagall gave a slight smile before turning and heading off in the direction of Flitwick, who was casting some powerful charms to expand the Great Hall so to better accommodate the influx of people that would most certainly appear in any moment. As she made her way over to him she couldn't help but silently pray that the middle Halliwell sister was right, and that they would make it through this night.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Death Eaters were streaming from the pitch left and right; although most were apparating out, leaving only their wounded behind. Of those left behind, only one was dead. It was thanks to this that the Knights and Order were able to take care of those who were unconscious with magic. After that was taken care of, all of the knights began to congregate near the center of the pitch waiting for their leader to direct them.
"Professor," Harry said, direction his gaze towards the Headmaster. "I need you to instruct all those within the Order to grab a hold of one of my Knights; we are getting out of here and are going to take care of those who escaped."
"Grad a hold of?"
"Yes sir, I'm going to transport all of us out of the pitch and onto the grounds where they are sure to be gathering for their next strike."
"Would it not be quicker..."
"No sir, it wouldn't. We do not need to expend our energy in chasing after them when we can follow them this way. With my way, we will appear instantaneously and be able to start attacking the enemy." Harry said. When the Headmaster didn't go on, Harry continued, looking directly into the eyes of the Headmaster.
"Look sir, you are here and said you would give me the help we need. The only way that you and the Order will be of any help is if you do exactly as I say. Now I know that there are those in the Order who would rather hug Snape than take orders from me or Neville, but I also know that there are others that are willing to follow me no matter what. Which camp are you going to fall into Headmaster?"
"Harry,"
"Trust me on this sir, I can and will get all of us out of this alive, but that is only if we work together."
The Headmaster simply stared at this boy, no, young man, in front of him. In the past months he had been inundated by a flurry of owls exclaiming over the mysterious force that was out there actively opposing the Death Eaters and protecting the innocent. Only now was he putting together the pieces of that puzzle and of course, knowing what he now knew, it only made sense. In the last few months it seemed that Harry had done more than he or the Order could have ever hoped to do to stop the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore sighed and came out from within his reverie, "You have our support in any capacity you need, Harry." The Headmaster then turned and began to spread word amongst the Order to find a place next to a Knight.
Harry sighed as he watched the Headmaster take up a place next to one of the Knights. As he stood there, he let his gaze fall on all those assembled before him. Never once did he think that he would be here, leading a group of people like he was now. As his eyes continued to wander, his gaze fell upon Neville. Harry smiled. Gone was the ever-so-nervous Gryffindor who once stood up to him, Ron and Hermione on their way out of the dorm, back in their first year at Hogwarts. The man that now stood at the front of the assembled mass was one who had a courage and demeanor that Harry hadn't known his friend possessed.
Harry shook his head, moving into position, facing all those in front of him. He brought his hand up to his throat and tapped it once, spelling it to sound louder than normal. He took note of those within the Order who looked shocked at his display of magic without a wand. "Well aren't they in for a treat once the real battle begins"Harry thought to himself, smiling again.
"Okay Knights, you all know the drill. We're going up against Voldemort's elite, so be on your guard. They are ruthless and will not hesitate to kill you, so show them no mercy. Take them alive if you can, but remember, this is war and we have a duty to uphold. We are the Knights of Salem; we are Protectors of the Innocent." At Harry's words all of the Knights as well as some of those from Order cheered loudly. This lasted seconds as Harry had begun to speak again.
"As I said, we protect the innocent and as such, remember that there may be those who were coerced into fighting by the Dark Lord. Therefore we must, again, take care to take any and all we can alive. There are those however that we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, are there willingly. Unto them will we bring the full-force of our power. Never again will they be allowed to torment those under our care."
Again a tumultuous sound rang throughout the pitch and again, Harry quieted them with a raised hand. "Now, I want everyone, when we are out there on the grounds, to be in a group of three. Knights, you know the drill, but tonight we are going to shake things up. Tonight here will be two knights together and an Order member will make up the third. No one is to take any unnecessary risks, but if you are injured in any capacity, you are to get out of there ASAP. This goes for the Order members as well. Order members, if you are injured out there one of the knights in your group will get you out so do not worry about not being able to. It is my hope that none of us would need to use this measure, but as this is war, I am sure that injuries will occur."
"If we are injured, where is it we'll be taken too?" a voice called out from within the crowed.
"If you are injured you will be transported to the safety of the school to wait out the remainder of the battle. This is where all of the younger years were sent along with a majority of the staff to see to them. If I know our Professor McGonagall, then she has corralled everyone and is making a plan to care for those of us after the battle subsides. Now, the time for talking is over, we have dawdled too long. Now, everyone, wands at the ready as we will appear deep within our eneimies midst. Order members make sure you have a hand on a Knight, we are going to war."
And in one sweeping gesture, with both arms, Harry orbed the Knights of Salem and the Order of the Phoenix out of the pitch in a mass of blue and white lights.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Professor McGonagall stopped mid-sentence as she and the other habitants of the Great Hall stared around in wonder, and shock, as they felt the castle shake beneath them.
"What was that?" Piper asked, turning back towards the Deputy Head. McGonagall didn't answer, she merely reached into her robes and pulled out the same crystal from earlier, only this time it was a deep set purple, pulsing fervently. A small gasp escaped from her mouth.
"The wards around the pitch have fallen."
"We already knew that." Phoebe said sounding confused.
"Yes, but it seems that those were only the first to fall."
"What does that mean exactly?" Paige asked.
"It means that with the falling of the pitch's wards, all the others that are in place around the grounds are beginning to fall as well."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"Apparently it is Phoebe, now sshh." Piper looked back to McGonagall, who simply nodded.
"That shudder we all felt was the total failure of the wards surrounding the grounds. However, that comes with both good and bad news. The good news is that in the event that the wards surrounding the schools grounds fail, then they are programmed to 'meld' together, forming one powerful ward, and converge on the school itself, protecting all who are inside of it."
Phoebe and Paige shared a look of relief, both glad that this was indeed good news. Piper however, was not as at ease as her sisters. "What's the bad news?"
McGonagall sighed, "That means that no one may enter or leave the school until such a time that the danger has passed. We are stuck in here until someone outside stands victorious. Hogwarts stands to protect those who call this place home. It was created by the most powerful witches and wizards of the age, it is a force that has withstood many battles and has not a scratch. No one can get in here and we cannot get out."
All of a sudden, a cry broke throughout the Great Hall, "Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall get over here, quick!"
~~~~hpgw~~~~
The Knights of Salem and the Order of the Phoenix appeared on the school grounds in a mass of blue and white light, still in formation, ready for a fight. Harry stood at the front and beside him stood Ginny, with Ron and Hermione flanking either side of them. It appeared that their sudden entrance had caught the other side unawares and for what seemed like an age, no one moved. Looking back, most would agree there hadn't been any one thing that had started the fighting. It could have been as simple as someone blinking their eyes or a twitch of a hand, but there was no telling. One second there was no movement, and the next, pure bedlam spread across those gathered on the grounds, like a wave covering a beaches shore.
Harry shared a look with Ginny just as she broke off to fight, she had partnered up with Luna and Remus. Not daring to risk another glance at her, Harry broke off as well, partnering with Ron and Hermione. It was an understood thing within the Knights; those three always fight together, it had been that way since first year and it wasn't going to change now.
Harry, Ron and Hermione took down two different sets of Death Eaters before most had even taken down their firsts. They were a force to be reckoned with. They had just taken down their third set when something in the atmosphere rippled through the grounds and through Harry. He stumbled. Ron caught Harry by the arm and helped to stabilize him and noticed he was looking around. He noticed the change in his best friend's eyes and then heard his voice inside his head.
'Knights, be on your guard and take no unnecessary risks, Voldemort has arrived…and he brought friends.'
'What?" Harry winced slightly as the voice echoed throughout his head.
'You heard me Gin.'
'I know, it just caught me off guard, that's all.'
'I know, I'm sorry.' Harry thought back as he parried a spell that had just been shot at him. Though as he spun round, he gestured to the spell that had just shot past him and redirected it back to where it had come from.
'Harry, you've got to go deal with 'ole snake-face now, while he's still getting his bearings.'
'I'm kind of busy Gin. I'll get there as soon as I can.'
'But Harry!'
'No Gin, we don't even know where he is at the moment. We need to stay focused on the task at hand. I said no unnecessary risks Ginny and that includes me too. Do you understand?'
'I…' but their line of communication went out. It hadn't been done by him, so it had to have been closed down by her. He took a breath. They were all in the midst of battle right now so he forced himself to focus on the fact that she and those with her might have simply run into trouble that required all of her focus. He could still sense that she was alive, but at the moment that was all he could get from her. That's all she would give.
"Mate, are you alright?"
"Not really Ron. Voldemort's here and I just lost communication to Ginny."
"Were you two…? Man, you have got to show us how you and she do that mate."
"It's not something that can be taught Ron. Harry and Ginny have a bond…" But Hermione was stopped from saying anything more as she had been interrupted by the sudden appearance by the Headmaster.
"Did I hear you right Harry, Voldemort's here, now?" Harry nodded.
Dumbledore scrunched up his face in a frown, which Harry noted look out of place on the face of the Headmaster, and nodded gravely. "I will distract him for as long as I can Harry, but you will need to get there as soon as you can." The Headmaster said before speeding off in no particular direction.
"Headmaster no!" Harry called out fiercely. When he saw the Headmaster vanish from where he had been moments before, he sighed.
"Just focus on the task at hand Harry. You'll know when you will need to find the Headmaster." Hermione said as she placed a hand on his arm. Despite the chaos around them, it seemed as though in this moment, they had a moment's peace. As a spell flew over the pairs heads, Ron yelled out and turned and began firing spell after spell at their oncoming attacker. Harry and Hermione shared the briefest of looks before they too began assisting their friend.
As they battled on Harry's thoughts never seemed to stray too far from the path it was currently on, namely Ginny.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Remus screamed as the spear slammed into his shoulder. It wasn't silver, though it wouldn't have mattered if it was, he was free from that curse, but it didn't make the pain from the wound any less. He watched through tear ridden eyes as his comrades in arms took out the one who had conjured the spear and spelled it into him. Though before the two girls had the chance to turn and help him something else had already filled the space that was only moments ago occupied by a Death Eater. "Girls, watch out!" He managed to yell through the pain just as he slipped closer to the ground.
He watched in fascination as both Luna and Ginny worked in tandem, avoiding the multitude of energy ball, all the while making their way closer to the Demon. It seemed that the Demon had picked up on this too and was doing his best to distract the girls by starting to throw energy balls towards the spear-ridden Remus. Ginny and Luna shared a look, Ginny nodded. Luna vanished from where had just been and appeared right in front of Remus and continued to shield him from the onslaught of energy balls that seemed never-ending.
In the same moment that Luna appeared at Remus's side, Ginny's body slumped to the ground, causing the ex-werewolf to cry out in even more anguish than before. His cries cut off mid-scream as out of nowhere Ginny appeared and drew her sword and swung it with a force he thought not possible. The Demon exploded in a ball of fire, its screams joining others that fell to similar fates. The moment Ginny sheathed her sword she vanished. Despite the pain, Remus turned to Luna who was looking at the prone form of her friend who was doing her best to get into a standing position. Luna and Ginny smiled, Remus cried out as another wave of pain hit. Both girls immediately went into action. One vanished the spear that had been lodged into Remus's shoulder blades, while the other did their best to patch him up enough until they got him to Madam Pomfrey.
"He needs to be sent away from here." Luna said, as she slipped her wand back into its slot in the gauntlet.
"I'm not going anywhere. I've got to stay and fight." Remus exclaimed, but as he tried to move another wave of pain slammed into him.
"The spear may be gone and we may have stopped the bleeding, but the damage is still done. Besides, you heard what Harry said at the pitch. No matter how wounded you may be, you are to get out of here." Ginny responded resolutely, as she pulled from within her uniform a bright white Phoenix feather. Remus immediately recognized what it was and again began to protest. But his protests fell upon deaf ears as Ginny promptly pressed it against his chest. The feather, upon contact, burst into flames and began to completely engulf Remus, though it didn't take long before the entirety of his form was swallowed up by the flames. Then as quickly as the flames had come, they left, leaving behind only a puff of smoke signaling that the professor had been taken to safety.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ginny saw yet another burst of flame. "Only two so far, that's better than I'd…" but she was cut off from saying anything more when a spell landed right at her feet, blowing up the earth from under her, sending her flying, away from her friend and into another firefight, where she promptly collided with an Order member.
Luna could only watch as her best friend was thrown into the air like a ragdoll and then slam into an Order member about one hundred feet away. When Luna saw her friend begin to right herself, she turned to face the one who had sent the spell. "You will pay for that." Luna said serenely, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Oh I think not you meddlesome pest." A sickly saccharine voice called out as they made their way closer towards her.
Luna gave her wrist a flick and her wand sprang forth from within the confines of her gauntlet and into her awaiting hand. She caught it with a grace that most thought not possible.
The man in front of her sneered, "Do you really think that you have what it takes to go up against me? You have no idea with whom you are dealing.
"It's you and those like you that have no idea with whom you are dealing, Mr. Malfoy." Luna said dead-panned.
Lucius Malfoy's face darkened and twirled his wand and then brought it up and sent a spell careening towards the blonde Ravenclaw, who was already in motion and had sent a spell of her own as well towards her attacker. Both were shocked as the spells met mid-air, connecting their respective owners. Each stood there, wands connected, magic pulsating between then with reckless abandon, neither sure of what to do. Luna however had the sense to use this to her advantage and promptly sent a surge of energy through her wand at her opponent and then thrust her wand upward and broke the connection and sent a barrage of spells towards Malfoy, most of which he tried to block, but something unexpected had found its way through one of his many shields and lodged itself into his shoulder.
Lucius cried out in agony, falling to his knees, hand drawn to the daggers hilt. It took a great effort, but he eventually pulled it out and threw it to the ground, anger now coursing through him as he shot a glare towards his attacker. "You have no idea what you just did and you are going to regret even thinking about it." And with this, Lucius healed himself as best he could before sending an onslaught of deadly spells at Luna, who raised her shield just in time for the first spell to crash into it.
Lucius grinned, if at all possible, even more evilly as his onslaught of spells caused her shield to shatter, the sudden force sending her to the ground flat on her back. With a gleam in his eyes, Lucius sauntered towards Luna, who was breathing heavily. Upon reaching her he saw that she had propped herself up and was attempting to reach into her cloak, but with a quick wave of his wand he forced her arms out from under her, prompting her to fall onto her back. Smirking he came to stand over her.
"You have no idea how much I am going to enjoy torturing you before I eventually kill you, you who have been lost to me for fifteen years." Lucius laughed, "The Hidden One. Not so hidden now are you? Although, it seems almost anticlimactic, that after theses long years of you being lost to me that I have you know, at my mercy, much how I had my late wife. It was with her dying breath that she defied me for the last time, but not before the Dark Lord, my Lord, got enough information from her fractured and fading mind to locate you and your identity. Oh it took time, but locate you we did and it was all I could do to keep myself from coming and killing you the next morning while you sipped your tea and ate your porridge at your house table. A Ravenclaw: despicable. You dishonor your family." With that said Lucius leveled his wand at Luna's chest and cast the spell that would end her life, just like it had for many others.
"Avada Kedavra!"
~~~~hpgw~~~~
The Dark Lord approached at a steady pace, scanning the battlefield as he came, searching for his target. As he watched, bright spots appeared in the midst of the chaotic colors of spells and fireballs, flaring for a moment then dying instantly like shooting stars. Dazzled and disturbed, he quickened his steps. He came to the edge of the battle and threaded his way through his own forces. Then their eyes met and he came up short.
Albus Dumbledore stood, heedless of the chaos around him, staring in Voldemort's direction, his eyes glinting behind his spectacles. Voldemort surged forward, yelling curses at the man, but a fireball came at him from the left. He dispelled it with a wave of his hand. He prepared to move forward but an energy ball came from the right. He blocked it with a shield charm, the energy crackling as it dissipated across the surface of the shield. He continued on, immediately tripping over the body of a dead Death Eater. He caught himself magically before falling, yet when he looked up it seemed there were at least 30 beings of various species between him and his old mentor. With one sweep of his hand, Voldemort cut them down, Knight, demon, and Death Eater alike, until he could see the bottom of Dumbledore's robes. He grinned at the Headmaster.
"We meet again, old man."
"Tom. What have you done? Slaughtering your own men among others, indiscriminately?" Dumbledore swept a hand before him, the sleeve of his robe trailing behind, encompassing the bloodshed between them. A few flashes appeared amongst the lot, leaving patches of scorched earth where bodies had been. Dumbledore continued. "This was always your weakness, Tom. Your rage, your petty selfishness, your impatience and your utter lack of compassion. You have the cleverness, the determination, the forethought, the vision, even the passion and charisma to accomplish your ends, but you will never be the leader of this world because you lack the heart of it. You lack the wisdom, courage, and self-sacrificing nature that defines a leader that good, free thinking, independent people will follow. As long as such people live, you will never be their lord. You have been found wanting."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed. The sound of battle around him became a sharp ring in this ears. How dare he? The Dark Lord'swand came to his hand and he pointed it at a short looking, hooded figure just behind Dumbledore.
"Your compassion will be your undoing, old man."
He grinned again as Dumbledore turned, rushing toward the hooded and unaware fighter, knocking them to the ground just as a green flash of light skidded by the professor's left ear. The hood fell back as they hit the ground, spilling long red hair out from under it.
"Miss Weasley, are you quite alright?"
The girl looked up and nodded. Then her eyes, huge with surprise, became unfocused, staring at something behind him.
Dumbledore followed her gaze and turned just in time to see that Voldemort had closed in upon them. Voldemort began the curse, sneering in victory, his wand outstretched. Then suddenly, the girl stood between them. She raised her hands and a gold and red Triquetra edged in white fire bloomed from them, pulsing with power. The green curse bounced off the Triquetra with an almost metallic clang and the whole shield flashed like sunlight on impact. Voldemort's hands flew to his eyes and he stumbled backward.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley," Dumbledore's voice said.
Voldemort heard no reply and only dimly saw the girl nod again as she ran, sword drawn, blasting a demon away as she went.
Dumbledore turned again. "Now, Tom, where were we?
~~~~hpgw~~~~
Lucius Malfoy screamed in frustration as the Killing curse slammed into the cold earth where his target had just been. He lifted his gaze from the ground and quickly found who he was looking for, but it was as he started to make his way over to her, another spell already on his lips, that he noticed the figure standing between them. "Out of my, that little whelp is mine!" Lucius screamed as he threw a spell at the one standing between him and his prey.
"If you want her, you are going to have to go through me Death Eater." A Knight exclaimed, swatting away the curse sent towards him as though it were a simple fly. This only enraged Lucius further. The Malfoy patriarch sent spell after spell at the Knight, who dodged and rolled, all the while sending spells of his own back at his attacker. "You're going to have to do better than that." The Knight taunted.
Lucius screamed and conjured a spear and sent it sailing towards the Knight in front of him. The Knight raised his wand and sent a wall of pure magic away from him. It met the spear, which was vaporized upon impact and continued on, slamming into Lucius, sending him spinning to the ground. It took a moment, but Lucius was finally able to stand without much effort, but by the time he actually made it into the standing position, he saw the figure before him raise their wand and conjure no less than eight, slender arrows and send them straight towards him. Lucius raised his wand and sent a banishing spell at the arrows, but what he hadn't expected was for the arrows to part around him and slam into his back, forcing him to his knees, screaming out in agony.
"Hurts don't it." The Knight said as he came to stand in front of the fallen Lucius. "Although from what I saw earlier, those arrows aren't the first things to be lodged into your body. Luna over there got a pretty good shot in with her dagger. She should be commended."
"You are a disgrace to the title 'Wizard', you fight with no honor."
"How is that?"
"You fight with your face concealed."
"You're one to talk you filthy Death Eater. You lot follow your "Lord" around in your black cloaks and white masks attempting to strike fear into the hearts of those whom you hope to conquer." With a wave of his wand, the Knight drove the arrows in a little deeper into Lucius' back. He screamed as his body was thrust to all fours.
"Who are you?" Lucius coughed out.
"The name's Rune," The Knight said as he lifted his hands and threw back his hood, "But you can call me Draco."
"Draco," Lucius spluttered, "I never thought I'd see the day you'd betray your family. You're nothing but a filthy blood traitor."
"Oh, but I am protecting my family. And we, The Knights of Salem, believe in justice, equality, and brotherhood. That's why our table is round. You're the traitor. A traitor to everything our ancestors and our royalty have stood for. Believe you me; you would rather have me to deal with than him.
"The Dark Lord would honor me for slaying a blood traitor."
"Don't play dumb. You know who I mean. MY Lord would not be so kind as to grant you the mercy I now bestow." But as Draco raised his wand, he felt a weight fall upon his arm and turn to see the silvery-gray eyes that he had taken to watching from a distance, he hadn't known why, but now, at the end of all things, something in him unlocked and he knew that these eyes had a power over him. Slowly he felt his wand drop as he turned to look at the girl in front of him. She didn't have to say anything; he already knew what she was going to say. It was something that many others before had tried to say, but it wasn't until this moment that he knew what he had been about to do was wrong, even if it were deserved. He let her lead him by the arm, away from the pain and suffering that had been done to him by Lucius Malfoy.
Draco was forced from this place of peace the moment Luna was thrown to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony. Draco looked over his shoulder and saw his father, who had somehow gotten to his wand and had cast the torture curse at Luna. A fury, that he thought he had just walked away from, rose up within him, along with his wand and in one slashing motion Lucius Malfoy was cut down, wand torn from his grip. His body slammed into the earth with a force that should have killed him, but didn't. Draco walked up to his father, his gray eyes boring deeply into those of his fathers.
"You will stand for the crimes you have committed in the name of "Blood-Supremacy". And what a day that will be." Draco said as he raised his wand and bound his father in unbreakable ropes before promptly stunning him. Just before he turned to head back to Luna, he pulled from within his robe a small pebble sized ball and tossed it towards his father, who vanished into thin air upon contact, being swept away by magic and delivered to a secure holding cell in which no magic could be done.
He quickly made his way over to Luna who was doing her best to stand up on her own, but was having a hard time accomplishing this task. He knelt down upon arrival and opened his hand to her, which she took and both stood. Luna looked him in the eyes and gave a soft smile and then turned to look at the field surrounding them. Everyone still seemed to be locked in some sort of battle. One in particular had caught her eye. It was Ginny. She had somehow ended up over by the Headmaster and Voldemort and was between the two, using a magic that Luna had thought not possible. The shield had only blinked into existence for mere moments, but the beauty of it would be forever etched into her memory. She smiled, her friend was okay. She turned back to face Draco, who was looking at her curiously. She smiled at him and withdrew an item from within her cloak, one she had tried to reach earlier, but couldn't; a bright white Phoenix feather speckled here and there with a bit of black. She noticed that Draco too was holding one. Luna took one of Draco's hands and then both clutched the Phoenix feathers to their chest and disappeared in a flash of pure, white flames.
~~~~hpgw~~~~
"Oi, big and ugly!" yelled Ron as he jabbed his wand at the two-headed demon, just feet from Hermione, which froze momentarily before blowing up.
"Nicely done Ron." Harry exclaimed as he too took out his own attacker. This one, however, had been a Death Eater and so Harry took him down and bound him so that only that one of the Knights could undo the bindings. He turned quickly to locate Hermione and saw her throwing up a protective shield around herself, just in time for an energy ball to fizzle out across it. He watched in fascination as she dropped her shield, spun around clockwise and threw a dagger at the demon before her. He burst into flames mere moments after the dagger lodged itself in his chest.
Both Ron and Harry stared wide-eyed at the wild look Hermione had in her eyes, and the smirk the she wore when she turned around to face them. "What, do I have something on my face?" she asked as her hand met her face. Harry and Ron shared a look before Harry said, "You're a little scary sometimes, you know that, brilliant, but scary." Hermione simply smiled and rushed over to the next band of Death Eaters and Demons that were ganging up on a few Order members that had been separated from the Knights they were with.
"Better you than me." Harry said as his eyes followed Hermione. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ron smile and nod before he too ran off to help her out with whatever trouble she may get into. Harry smirked as he watched his friends protected the Order members while simultaneously taking out the threat against them. While Hermione was seeing too and sending the injured Order members away, Ron was dealing with the binding of the two Death Eaters. He watched as Ron took something out from within his tunic and tossed it at the two Death Eaters. This was the Knights way of sending those captured to a secure location that was accessible only to those who knew where it was.
Harry smirked as the Death Eaters vanished into thin air and was just heading over to his two friends when something flying through the air caught his eye. It was only for a brief second, but he could have sworn he had seen some red hair whistling out from within the hood of the tunic. He watched as the figure landed, slamming into an Order member, who helped himself up and then turned to help the fallen Knight up. Again, Harry thought he had seen some red and was about to say something to Ron and Hermione, who were now by his side looking at him curiously, but just as he was about to say something, Hermione exclaimed and pointed over towards where the fallen Knight had been. Harry followed her outstretched hand and saw the reason for her cry. Many flashes of white were occurring left and right, as Knights were using their feathers to get themselves to safety as a force was moving its way through a myriad of fighters, flinging them out of its way. It shouldn't have surprised him, but Harry's breath caught in his chest when a few of his friends within the Knights went flying out of the way of the Dark Lord, who had his arms spread out in front of him, panting in frustration.
Harry didn't get the chance to dwell on this a moment longer as five demons materialized in front of him. It didn't take too long to dispose of them, but it took long enough. This was due to the fact that at some point during the fight he lost his concentration and faltered. He couldn't explain it, but during the fight, he had felt a pull…almost a drain…on his magic. It was as though something were calling out to him, calling for him. As soon as it had come, it was gone. The next thing Harry knew, he was being helped up by his friends, both of whom looked very worried. "Harry, are you alright?" Hermione exclaimed.
He nodded, "I'm fine Hermione, or at least I am now."
"Maybe we should get you out of here…" Ron began to say.
"No, I'm good; really, whatever it was is passed now. Just give me a sec." Harry said as he looked around again. This time, he didn't see a Dark Lord, or anyone flying through the air, what he saw made his heart soar. Out in the distance, he saw two people drawing closer together. Even from this distance, Harry could see the look of peace on both of their faces. This moment that they were now sharing was one that both 'Time and War' had ruled over for fourteen years. But no longer; now, in the midst of battle, a family that had once been torn apart was being brought back together again. Harry watched; smile broad across his face as brother and sister reunited with each other. Minutes later, he watched as brother and sister vanished from the battle field in a flash of white fire.
Harry was in the midst of turning back to face his friends when he saw it. This time there was no mistaking the red hair, it was Ginny. She was hurriedly running away from the battle between the Headmaster and the Dark Lord when it happened. Moments after taking out a Death Eater, she had just turned to the next one when she was clipped on the shoulder by an overpowered energy ball that sent her spinning, nearly flying, a good few feet off the ground before promptly slamming into the ground.
"GINNY!" Harry yelled out before he took off running, Ron and Hermione close behind. Harry hadn't gotten very far before he and his friends were ambushed by no less than eight demons, all of whom had a hungry look in their eyes. They all attacked at the same time and it took most of, if not all, of Harry's training to avoid the onslaught of energy and fireballs. There were even a few lightning bolts that were sent careening towards him. As he rolled out of the way of a few of the bolts, he threw his hands out in front of him, freezing them and their senders before he gestured with his hands again and sent the bolts back from whence they came. Those demons exploded in a shower of sparks. He was just about to do to the other demons what he did to the ones who had just exploded when a shield appeared out of nowhere, surrounding him and his friends. He looked around for the source of the shield, but saw no one. This shield had not come from him, not this one, someone else had done this. He frowned and turned his attention back to the demons, who were throwing their fireballs and energy balls as if their lives depended on it, attempting to breach the erected shield. Harry huffed and turned to look at his friends, who were also looking at the shield around them.
"This has got to end now, Ginny needs me." He said out loud, to no one in particular and in one swift, but very quick, movement Harry raised his hands and flung them, palms outstretched, towards the demons and let loose a wave of magic that obliterated not only the shield, but blew the demon to pieces. There was nothing left of them, only scorched earth.
"What was that mate?" Ron questioned.
"Pure magic." Was Harry's only reply. He then moved to stand between his two friends and grabbed a hold of their hands.
"Harry what…?" But Hermione was interrupted as she felt a warmth grow from her hand that held Harry's and before she could say anything more the three of them vanished from where they stood in a flash of fire themselves.
When the fire subsided, Hermione looked around to gain her bearings and nearly screamed at the sight before her. Ginny was lying on the ground, blood seeping from her shoulder. The wound, Hermione noted, looked as though it had come from an energy ball, but she had never seen one cause so much damage before. "Oh, Ginny!" she exclaimed as she joined Harry and Ron by her side. On the other, Harry's phoenix, Flynn, was tending to her wound, which by now resembled a deep scratch. She turned and looked at Harry, he was frowning.
"Ginny, you shouldn't have called for Flynn; you should have gotten yourself out." Harry chided. Now it was Ginny's turn to frown.
"I used my feather to get Lupin out, besides, I was fine up until a moment ago, even when I was sent flying through the air by that energy ball that caught me unawares, I was fine." As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she shouldn't have said them.
"Oh, Ginny…"
"Its fine Hermione, it doesn't even hurt anymore, Flynn's fixed me right up." Ginny said, attempting to drive the conversation elsewhere. It didn't work.
"Ginny, you should have gotten yourself out when you landed on that Order member, you landed pretty hard."
"But not hard enough to warrant me leaving the battle, besides, I already told you…"
"You had used your feather, yes, I heard that, but as you have just done, you could have called Flynn, he would have taken you to the safety of the castle."
"Right, and leave you out here…no way, I need to be here."
"Sounds familiar." Ron muttered, earning a glare from Harry, only he didn't back down and returned his friends glare with a pointed look. Harry sighed and turned back to Ginny and helped her up off the ground. The moment she was on her feet, he pulled her into a hug.
"Ginny, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. It's a cliché, but for me to do what I need to in this battle, I need you gone from here. Ginny, I'm sorry." And before she could respond, Harry brushed his right thumb over one of the jewels set into her bracelet he'd given her, activating a charm that he had spelled into the bracelet. The moment his thumb had connected with this particular jewel and he had whispered his words of apology, Ginny was engulfed by a flash of silvery light and vanished from the spot she had just occupied.
"Harry, what did you do?" Hermione called out, turning to her friend. His head was bowed, his shoulders slumped.
"I just did what I told her parents I would if it came to it. I am protecting their little girl."
Hermione was about to respond when an energy ball hit her square in the back, sending her sprawling to the ground. Both boys leapt into action without even thinking; Ron went down to her, while Harry conjured a spike with one hand and pulled the demon down on top of it with the other. He exploded in fire upon contact. Demon taken care of, Harry joined Ron at Hermione's side, she was barely conscious. "Ron, you have to get her out of here."
Ron nodded and produced his white phoenix feather and clutched Hermione closer as he touched the feather to his chest. Both vanished in a blaze of fire. Harry sighed heavily. First Lupin, then Ginny and now Hermione; too many of his friends and loved ones were getting hurt in this battle. He stood up with one thought on his mind. He needed to find Voldemort. It didn't take long for him to locate him as he was in the center of the field amid a myriad of colors as spell flew around him from the Headmaster's wand. Just as Harry was about to make his way towards the two duelers, it was as if time had stopped. Voldemort turned and looked Harry dead in the eye and smirked. Time sped up again, going even faster, if that were possible, and Harry had only seconds to spare if he wanted to get there in time. He didn't know what it was; it might have been the look Voldemort had given him or it was just a feeling he had in the pit of his gut, but he just knew he had to get to the Headmaster and fast.
Unfortunately he wasn't quick enough; for a spell as black as night had connected with the Headmaster and sent him to the ground in a heap. Harry yelled and began to run pell-mell towards Voldemort. Mid-stride, Harry disappeared in an impressive swirl of both fire and orbs and appeared before the Dark Lord, throwing every spell he could think of from his hands. This was something he had learned to do a few weeks into the summer, once he had learned to properly meditate. His Aunt Phoebe, along with the help of his father, Leo, had helped to teach him to channel his magic into his hands and cast spells that way. It was towards the end of the summer when he was finally able to mold the spells into what appeared to be an energy ball or simply jets of magic and cast them that way. He still could cast spells with his wand, but when he did it this way, without a wand, his spells were rawer, more powerful. When asked how he could do this, his dad had explained that he had always been capable of this, it was simply because when he and Piper had given him to the Potters, his magic had had to change, to adapt. But now that he was back with them, he would now be able to learn to control and manifest his powers as he had always been meant to.
Harry ducked as a black jet of light sped towards him, the same one that had just taken out Dumbledore. The spell had barely missed him. Harry rolled back into a standing position and began again, sending spell after spell as fast as he could, but nothing seemed to work against the monster. The Dark Lord wasn't even bothering to use a wand as he slapped away Harry's spells with little effort. Growling, he began to run towards the monster. He was feet away from the Dark Lord when he bent his knees and pushed off the ground, using his magic to propel himself into the air and flipped over Voldemort. He spun in the air, doing a somersault and landed with barely a sound and spun on the spot, only to come face to face with the Dark Lord. He didn't have time to react, he had been reckless to think that Voldemort wouldn't follow his movements and attempt to catch him off his guard, but he had, and now Harry was at his mercy. Voldemort smirked and grabbed a hold of his neck and squeezed and with a force Harry thought not possible. The Dark Lord spun on the spot and threw him away like a ragdoll.
Harry did his best to roll and recover, but by the time he had come to a standing position, Voldemort had already let loose another spell. Harry, not knowing what to do lifted his hands and let instinct drive him. A wave of pure, unadulterated magic swept from his hands and slammed into Voldemort, sending him flying. However, the Dark Lord did not slam into the ground as Harry would have expected, no, while in mid-air, the Voldemort spun into an upright position and just stayed there, pure hatred pouring from his eyes. Harry was unsure how long they stayed like this, both staring at the other. It wasn't until Voldemort began to float towards Harry that he tried to move, but for some reason he was unable to. Voldemort cackled, "You are under my control now Potter, or should I say, Halliwell."
Harry stared horrified as the Dark Lord disappeared from the air in a flash of yellow and red flames, reappearing on the ground, walking towards him. "Oh, yes. You see, I've known for quite some time who you really are. How do you think my Demons could find you as easily as they did in Diagon Alley this past summer? You have the smell of a Halliwell all over you."
"But you can't…how could you possibly…?"
"Know? Look into my eyes Potter." And Harry did, paling even further at what he found there. "You are no match for me Harry. Neither is your family. This is the day that you are going to die Harry and then there will be nothing in this world that will be able to stop me. Not even the collective force of every magical being on this planet will be able to stop me. You are their champion," He gestured to those around them. Harry hadn't noticed until Voldemort had pointed it out, but the fighting had ceased and every eye was on the two of them. "or at least you were supposed to be. How pathetic. Goodbye Harry Halliwell."
Voldemort cackled and raised his arms; elbows bent inwards towards him and then in one sweeping, circular motion, called upon the very darkness that made him what he was and conjured a ball of pure blackness. He held onto it for a moment longer, reveling in the power he had called forth, his power, all the darkness he had at his command and in one movement, he pushed his arms out from himself, palms facing outwards, sending the conjured mass towards Harry. Not being able to move, Harry could only watch as the dark mass hurtled towards him with deadly precision. Knowing that there was nothing he could do, he closed his eyes and prayed to whatever entity was out there that his death would be quick and painless.
His eyes snapped open, however, as a rush of wind surrounded him and an echoing crack, followed by a scream pierced his thoughts. There, still standing across from him was the shell-shocked Voldemort. 'Had his spell failed?" Harry wondered in confusion. Voldemort was staring at Harry, his black-soulless eyes wide in surprise and anger. Harry was about to make a snide remark about Voldemort's inept spell casting, but the snake-face man beat him to it.
"Not the result I was hoping for," Voldemort began, smirking "but it will do." And with a slight tilt of his head he left the battlefield in a blaze of red and yellow flames.
This small movement did not go unnoticed by Harry, who had followed the Dark Lords gaze and looked downwards. His legs gave way under him when he saw the lifeless figure of Ginny Weasley in front of him.
A/N: I have one concluding thought: 'Begin the Begin!'