As they went their separate ways, McGonagall was leading the staff and the students. Neville and Seamus were following closely. "Let me get this straight. Are you really giving us permission to do this?" Neville asked.
"Yes, Longbottom," McGonagall confirmed.
"Blow it up? Boom?" Neville inquired.
"BOOM!" she clarified.
"Wicked," Neville responded and then asked, "But how on earth are we gonna do that?"
"Why don't you confer with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics," she suggested.
"I can bring it down!" Seamus confirmed.
"That's the spirit, now away you go," McGonagall commented.
As the boys left, Flitwick spoke up, "You do realize we can't keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely."
"That doesn't mean we can't delay him. And his name is Voldemort, so you might as well use it, he's going to try and kill you either way," McGonagall told him. She turned around with her arms pointing up to the walls and said, "Piertotum Locomotor. Hogwarts is threatened. Man the boundaries. Protect us. Do your duty to our school," she said as the stone guards came down from the walls and marched in time to guard whatever threat is coming. She whispered to Molly, "I've always wanted to use that spell!" Molly rolled her eyes at that comment but couldn't help but smile.
Ella and Edward were with their family and allies, Carlisle spoke up, "Most of the guards have been killed and destroyed but be on the lookout. The Volturi may have somehow increased their guards somehow" He turned to Ella and she nodded.
"What we don't know is what Voldemort has planned. The Volturi knew that we'd be watching their decisions, so be aware of your surroundings. They will use whatever weakness you show against you."
"Most of all, do not kill Voldemort," Jasper added.
"What are you talking about?" Tanya asked.
"I know that most of you do not understand the magical world but Voldemort needs to stay alive for the final confrontation against Harry. Edward and I will be with Harry after we disperse," Ella responded. "I've asked Jasper to work with all of you about…"
"Since there isn't enough of all of us, I'm asking that all of you to spread out to different areas where vampires can come in," Jasper intervened. They made brief eye contact, and nodded to each other.
"What of other allies?" Irina questioned.
"The shapeshifters are planning their own strategies against the Volturi and whoever else is on their side," Carlisle answered.
"There is some plans in place for both of us as well as the wizarding world," Edward added. "All we're asking is help fight against the Volturi."
"This will not end well," Kate responded.
"You're right," Ella said. "This won't end well for anyone but that does not mean we shouldn't give it all we have." Murmurs and agreements were heard all around. "I fear how things will turn out with this war because it can go any which way. All I ask… all any of us," she said as she motioned to her family, "is that you do the best you can to fight and survive."
Alice gasped, "Alice, what is it?" Jasper asked.
"The Volturi…" she started off.
"What about them?" Emmett questioned.
"They just killed off 3 vampires," she said. "It seems that the numbers are dwindling down."
"Some hope at last," Tanya commented.
"Some but not much, it still doesn't change the fact that we still have a war to fight," Ella said.
"What is it about this fight that has all of you on the edge?" Garrett asked.
"This is the final battle that will either make us or break us," Ella answered. The answer didn't settle well amongst the crowd but Ella with the help of Carlisle managed to quiet them. "This is why we're asking all of you to fight. Voldemort and the Volturi need to be stopped! I know that the Romanians want the power that Volturi took from you. If this goes well, there may very well be a power shift."
"To whom?" Stefan inquired.
"No one knows," Edward.
"Does Alice not know?" Vladimir questioned.
"Things like that are not set in stone and are unforeseeable," Alice answered.
"Now, Edward and I need to leave to meet Harry but Carlisle and Jasper will give instructions on what to do. Please understand that this is a choice. You don't have to stay here to fight but we are asking that you stay and help us somehow defeat the Volturi," Ella spoke up. She turned towards Edward and they both flitted away and ran towards the Hogwarts entrance.
When they got there, they were listening to see where Harry was at. When they found him, Luna was chasing after him, "Harry, wait, I need to talk to you."
"I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, Luna," Harry responded.
"You won't find it where you're going, you're wasting your time," Luna tried to explain.
"We'll talk later, ok?" Harry told her.
"Harry Potter!" Ella spoke up. Both Harry and Luna looked over to where the voice was. The rest of the students moved away from them and slowly continued down the stairs. "You listen to Luna right now! What she has to tell you will help you." Harry stayed silent and looked over at Luna.
"Don't you remember what Cho said about Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem?" Luna questioned. "There's not a person alive whose seen it. It's obvious isn't it? You have to talk to someone whose dead," she explained. She led them to the small quad area that led to Ravenclaw's tower. Luna saw Harry's expression, "It's very impressive, isn't it? If you're to find her, you'll find her down there," she said motioning to where the ghost was at.
She was starting to leave when Harry spoke up, "Aren't you coming?"
"No. I think it's best if you two talk alone," she said, "She's very shy." Luna left, not only to give them space and privacy but also to go back and support the others in the pending battle.
Harry walked around and saw the ghost, "You're the Grey Lady, the Ghost of Ravenclaw Tower."
"I do not answer to that name," she responded as she was leaving.
"No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Harry said, trying to reach out to her, "It's Helena, isn't it? Helena Ravenclaw. Rowena's daughter."
"Are you a friend of Luna's?" Helena inquired.
"Yes. And she thought you might be able to help me," Harry informed her.
"You see my mother's diadem."
"Yes. That's right," Helena said.
"Luna is kind, unlike so many of the others. But she was wrong. I cannot help you," she said and was ready to leave.
"Wait. Please. I want to destroy it," that stopped her from truly leaving. She turned her head slightly. At that moment, Harry continued to talk, "That's what you want too, isn't it, Helena? You want it destroyed."
She turned, facing Harry fully, "Another swore to destroy it many years ago… a strange boy with a strange name."
"Tom Riddle."
"But he lied."
"He's lied to many people," Harry confirmed.
Helena flew close to him and in a ghostly voice, "I know what he's done! I know who he is! He defiled it with dark magic!" and flew to the other side.
Harry ran over there, "I can destroy it once and for all. But only if you tell me where he hid it. You do know where he hid it, don't you, Helena? You just have to tell me. Please."
Helena looked at him carefully, "Strange. You remind me of him a bit," she told him. She started to move back, "It's here, in the castle, in the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask, you'll never know. If you know, you need only ask."
Harry knew what she was talking about, "Thank you." When Harry faced Ella and Edward he felt a bit stronger and it was something he needed in a time like this. "Let's go." They both ran towards to a hallway that will open the Room of Requirement. They ran down a set of stairs in midst of students running in all directions, trying to find a place to stay safe. Harry saw Ginny and paused, "Ginny!" They both shared a kiss before breaking apart and saw that Neville was running up to them, "Neville!" he looked up and down at his classmate, "Are you all right?"
"Never better! I feel like I could spit fire! You haven't seen Luna have you?" he asked.
"Luna?" Harry questioned to make sure he understood him right.
"I'm mad for her. I think it's about time I told her, since we'll probably both be dead by dawn!" he exclaimed before leaving. Edward and Ella looked at each other a bit confused but a smile on their faces.
Harry looked at Ginny but no words were exchanged and Ginny knew what he needed to do and simply said, "I know."
Ginny left towards the Great Hall. He looked at both Ella and Edward and nodded. All three of them walked furiously towards the hallway where they could privately enter the Room of Requirement. Ella and Edward stayed back and allowed Harry to call for the room. When the doors revealed itself and the doors were open, Ella and Edward turned around in time to see Draco come with Goyle and someone else. "Harry, go inside and find the diadem," Ella told him. Harry looked down the hall and saw Draco. "Harry, go now! Edward and I will take care of them." Harry nodded and went inside. The doors closed and hid itself.
"Well, well what brings you here?" Draco asked
"Could ask you the same," Edward responded.
"Harry have something of mine, I'd like it back," Draco informed them.
"What's wrong with the one you have?" Ella inquired.
"It's my mother's, it's powerful but it's... not the same. It doesn't quite... understand me, know what I mean?" he said
"So a wand is more important to you than family?" she questioned.
"Family is important but without my wand, I feel like… I'm not me," Draco replied.
"You have never been you, Draco, especially since Voldemort made decisions for you," Ella stated.
"He's family!"
"No, he isn't! You've been blinded by him, thinking that he will reward you but he isn't," Ella said. "Think about it, Draco! Ever since you couldn't kill Dumbledore, Voldemort hasn't been able to trust you fully."
"He trusts me!"
"Does he?"
"Of course he does!"
"If he did, then why didn't he put you in the higher ranks of his army?"
"Because I didn't do what he wanted," Draco choked out.
"Exactly! Because you didn't do what he wanted, he doesn't trust you. What kind of family does that? I bet you that your parents don't trust Voldemort, either. I'm sure that your parents would rather have you by their side than to fight with Voldemort. I mean, think about it, Draco. Your mother gave her wand to you because she loves you and you are her only son!"
"I… I don't…"
"You're confused, and it's okay to be confused. Just put the pieces of what you know to help you understand that Voldemort doesn't want you to be with him. He took away your choices for you and it's time to fight back for your right to do whatever you want."
"I just want my family," he confessed.
"And you can have your family back but only if you fight what Voldemort taught you and led you to believe."
"But my wand?"
"It doesn't belong to you," she said.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Who disarmed you when you had your wand?"
It took him a moment to realize what she was talking about, "No, no, no. NO!" With that he ran away, screaming. Goyle and the other had left following him.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing to worry about for now," Ella responded. "We need to go in and help Harry." Just as they were ready to call for the Room of Requirement, the doors reappeared and Harry walked out.
"I have it," Harry said as they all saw the diadem in his hand.
"Good, let's move," Ella said. "Draco may come back and we need to be away from here." Harry looked puzzled, "I'll explain later but first we need to destroy the diadem." All five of them started walking down the hall and found a secluded area.
"Here, Harry," Hermione said as she had given him a basilisk fang.
"Where did you get this from?" Harry asked as he took it from her.
"Ron had the brilliant idea of getting it from the Chamber of Secrets, so we went to get one," she explained.
"That's brilliant!" Ella agreed.
"Always the tone of surprise," Ron muttered.
"Go on, Harry!" Ella nodded as she saved Ron the embarrassment.
Harry put the diadem on the ground and with the fang, he destroyed it, the ground shook and dust was flying around them, Ella and Edward both did their best to protect Harry, Hermione and Ron from the flying debris that was around them. During that time, Harry unintentionally saw and felt Voldemort. Harry saw that he was becoming overprotective of the snake and knew that it was a Horcrux. He could hear Voldemort say, "Come, Nagini. I need to keep you safe."
Once things have died down, Harry spoke up, "It's the snake. She's the last one. It's the last Horcrux."
"Harry, I need you to do something for me," Ella said after looking at Edward, who nodded his head.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Look, Edward and I have a theory," she started off.
"More like, she does," he interrupted.
"Shush!" she retorted, waving him off. Hermione tried to hide her grin but couldn't. "We figured that if Voldemort could get to you, maybe you can get to him."
"Look inside him, Harry," Ron replied, agreeing with her. "Find out where he is. If we find him, we can find the snake. Then, we can end this."
"Exactly," Ella said. She looked over at Ron, "Where is this coming from?"
"I've always been this brilliant," Ron retorted.
"Yeah, right," Hermione said under her breath but Ella and Edward were grinning at what they heard.
Ella looked at Harry who was unsure about what to do, "Look, just close your eyes and focus on Voldemort and nothing but him. Just see what happens." He sat down and closed his eyes and after a few short moments, he could see where Voldemort was.
"My Lord?" Lucius inquired. "Might it be less… Might it not be more prudent to call off this attack and simply seek the boy yourself?"
"I do not need to seek the boy. Before the night is out, he will come to me. Do you understand?" he replied. Lucius wasn't looking at him, uncomprehending what Voldemort was talking about. "Look at me. How can you live with yourself, Lucius?"
"I don't know," he simply replied.
"Go and find Severus. Bring him to me," he commanded. Lucius left as Harry opened his eyes.
"I know where he is," Harry responded.
All five of them stood up at the same time, "Show us," Ella said. As soon as she said those words, Harry led them down the stairs and headed towards where Voldemort was at.