AN: You guys almost unanimously voted for me to update faster and finish by September. That alone gave me the extra motivation to push through and finish writing the story that day. And now I have an update schedule. It's not regular, but careful calculated based on length of chapters and how good the cliffhangers are. But there is a schedule and I will stick to it. You will see this marked as complete before September 1st and all you younger ones have to hop on the train back to Hogwarts. Enjoy.

Chapter 18: Together We Stand

Celestia looked at him in shock. This was Emrys? She knew the prophecies of course, and she had heard rumours that they had come to pass. Only she assumed Emrys would rise to be a well known figure in the land; she had never known what the man looked like. Quite honestly she had expected him to be a lot older and wiser. None of this powerful fury that was causing her to back up faster than she cared to admit. But he was still young, and that gave her hope. Maybe the prophecies had only begun to come true. He might not be a match for her yet.

"You might be Emrys, but you are still just one man," she said defiantly. "I have an army of sorcerers at my command." She sent a blast of energy at him which she knew he would block but it gave her time to teleport back to the center of her forces. From the safety of the masses she screamed, "Attack!"

As one, those with magic performed a coordinated attack to destroy any protection spells on the five of them and the castle itself. Merlin didn't know what they were doing but he instinctively threw up a shield. He was thrown off for a second as his shield was ripped away. He realised the intent of the spells when he felt his personal shields being ripped away as well and cursed.

Any spells of protection on your person are now gone, he yelled through the link. He heard quick swears in response.

Split up now, Godric ordered. As they ran in different directions, already firing spells, he continued his directions. Concentrate on the sorcerers, I'll take the swords. Merlin?

Celestia, he immediately responded. Leave her to me.

Be careful, Rowena warned them all. Nothing further was said as they were all concentrating on fighting off the sorcerers that outnumbered them ten to one.

Inside the Great Hall, the students were standing nervously. They hadn't been told much. Only that there was a danger to the castle and that they needed to stay in the great hall. Professors Hemslock and Goodfellow remained in the hall with other members of the staff but they did not seem much more knowledgeable. Soon after Libæna and Flora were propelled back into the Great Hall by Merlin, Stephen came over with Anna and asked if they had seen Drugen anywhere.

"Usually the three of you are side by side." They exchanged nervous glances.

"Uh, no. We haven't seen him," Flora stuttered.

"We haven't seen him anywhere either," Anna said with a worried frown. "I thought all students were supposed to be here in the hall. I didn't have class but I saw the professors leading their students straight here."

"Actually he wasn't in class," Libæna interrupted. She had frozen up before but she quickly realised that there was the possibility of a reasonable excuse for his absence. Anna and Stephen looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Stephen asked. "All first years have classes this hour."

"He was called out of class. I only know because I was sent to deliver the letter and I saw his name on it before Professor Salazar folded it up. Maybe he heard the warning bells and took cover in the nearest room."

"But wouldn't he have realized everyone else was being lead here and followed?"

"Not if he took cover fast enough or if he was in a part of the castle that wasn't near a classroom with other students." Libæna persisted in her lie, hoping they would buy it. "I know you may have known where to go but we are only first-years and I wouldn't know where to go if I suddenly hear warning bells. I'd likely just run and hide as well."

"I just hope he's safe," Stephen said.

"Me too," Flora agreed. They stood in a companionable silence before they became aware of a growing commotion by the windows. They were standing closer to a window than many of the other students so they were able to rush close enough to get a view of what was going on first thing Flora noticed was the darkness. It had been a sunny morning with no signs of clouds, but the sky was now darkened by storm clouds from which bolts of lightning were striking the ground and lighting up the grounds. The windows were not in the right place to see the actual battle, but the students were mesmerised by the streaks of light flying past as they were deflected by shields and the other subtle lightening of the grounds from spells that did not get reflected.

One of the mercenaries tried to sneak around the castle and get around the five defenders. He was not prepared for fighting against a sorcerer who could use a sword better than himself. Trickery would clearly be the only way to win. So he took off running and ran into the field of view of the students watching out the window. They watched him run and they watched him get hit by a bolt of light that slammed into his back, knocking him flat. He struggled to get up but another spell had him frozen in time, left vulnerable to Godric's sword slicing his head from his shoulders before he returned to the fray.

It was in that stunned silence that the students realised that there was a proper battle taking place outside. This wasn't just any small threat that needed some talking to and a few confusing charms; this was a formidable foe.

.

.

.

Merlin couldn't reach Celestia. She was like the other priestesses he had the misfortune to know, always hiding in the back and sending others in first. Whenever he could, he would glance to where he saw her last to make sure he wasn't caught off guard by her magic while he was preoccupied fighting the other sorcerers. One of the times he glanced up, he saw her give a familiar hand signal he had learned from watching Arthur and his heart sank. Throwing up a hasty shield and lashing out with the small dagger he had stolen, he pulled out of the fray and ducked behind a tree close to where Salazar was battling. The man looked over with an expression of confusion and concern as Merlin leaned heavily against the tree.

You alright? he asked.

Fine, he responded immediately. I need you to cover me for a minute. Salazar nodded and Merlin began murmuring another spell.

.

.

.

The attention of the students was drawn away from the windows when a cry alerted them to the apparition that was materializing just inside the big doors, hovering a foot off the floor. Slowly flickering into existence was the figure of a tall man with a slightly golden glow around him. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties but that could be wrong; the disheveled hair seemed to say younger but there were lines of stress on his face as he frowned in concentration.

When the image finally settled, nearly opaque but still glowing, the figure opened his eyes and blinked them for a couple seconds as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The hall was silent as everyone's attention was riveted on him. The man let slip a tiny smile before he looked out at the students with a grave expression. He addressed them in a voice echoing with power.

"Students of Hogwarts," he began. "This castle is currently under attack. While we are doing all we can to fight them off outside, they outnumber us and we cannot defeat them all. But in truth, it is we who outnumber them. So long as you, the students of this wonderful school, stand together, they have no hope. As we speak there are enemy forces attempting to sneak through the castle to take us from behind. Though I am loathe to do so, I must call upon you to leave the safety of the Great Hall and draw your wands to protect your home. Are you with me?"

The students whipped out their wands and held them up in a salute. A voice called out, "For Hogwarts!" and the rest of the students echoed. The man smiled proudly.

"Then fight well. For the love of Hogwarts." With that he blinked out of existence and the students rushed out the doors. Professor Hemslock was trying to call them back in, to stay safe, but nothing could sway the mass of young adults determined to prove themselves and to fight for their home.