Up in Gryffindor Tower, Harry was having a restless night's sleep. He was tossing and turning, the covers almost falling off the bed with the constant movement. Inside his head, Harry was experiencing one of his connections with Voldemort, and he'd found himself in a shady room. Shadows fell at odd angles, but a couple of figures began to take shape around him. There was the sneering face of Lucius Malfoy and the cackling madness of Bellatrix Lestrange.
Harry's connection to Voldemort's mind was a result of the attack when he was just a baby, or at least that was what Dumbledore thought. Dumbledore was also pretty sure that Voldemort himself wasn't aware of the connection, so he'd advised Harry that when he experienced such flashes, he was to let things play out before reacting. Dumbledore was convinced that if Voldemort knew about the connection he would try to use it to his own advantage and Harry might end up being an unwitting pawn for The Dark Lord.
Harry had never been able to control the connection, but for weeks now he'd been hoping to have a glimpse into Voldemort's mind in case it provided any insight on Draco and how Hermione's boyfriend was faring. However, nothing had happened, and now Harry was sharing Voldemort's mind he was asleep and the scene was playing out in his head like a nightmare.
Inside Harry's head the shadowy figures of Lucius and Bellatrix were gathering for a meeting of some sort with Voldemort himself. For a while the conversation was just a low hiss in Harry's mind, but suddenly Voldemort's voice rang out with clarity.
"I've made a decision," Voldemort announced. "It's time we took the fight to the Order. Gather everyone, we're going up to Hogwarts."
The word Hogwarts echoed in Harry's head as the scene began to fade, and when there was nothing but darkness left, Harry jolted up in bed, gasping for breath. Initially sleep clung to Harry's mind, but as it cleared, the remnants of the dream returned.
"No," Harry gasped, shoving aside the hangings on his bed and fumbling on the bedside table for his glasses.
In his panic, and in the dark, Harry knocked several things off his bedside table and they went clattering to the floor. The noise was enough to wake the other occupants of the room, but Harry didn't care as he finally found his glasses, grabbed his wand and leapt from the bed.
"What's going on?" Ron muttered sleepily as the other three boys in the room sat up to see what all the commotion was about.
"I have to go and see Dumbledore," Harry said as he shoved his bare feet into his shoes and took off towards the stairs that led down to the common room.
"Harry. Wait up," Ron called as he jumped out of bed and shoving his own shoes on, he took off after his best friend.
Ron reached Harry just a she was yanking open the portrait and exiting Gryffindor Tower. As they stepped out into the landing, they were greeted by shouts from The Fat Lady, but they both ignored her as Harry led the way towards Dumbledore's office.
"What's going on?" Ron asked breathlessly as they travelled down the deserted corridor at top speed.
"Voldemort," Harry gasped. "He's coming here."
"Here," Ron repeated with a frown. "You mean Hogwarts?" he asked, pulling Harry to a standstill in the middle of the corridor.
"Yes, he's coming to Hogwarts," Harry said with a nod. "And I don't know when. We have to warn Dumbledore and evacuate the school."
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered as the pair continued on their way.
When they reached the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office, Harry luckily knew the password and they raced up the spiral staircase. Reaching Dumbledore's office, the two boys pounded on the door until they could hear movement inside the room. When a sleepy looking Dumbledore warily opened the door, Harry burst through into the office and warned Dumbledore what was coming in a breathless voice.
"Calm down Harry," Dumbledore urged. "I can't understand you."
"Voldemort," Harry panted, doing his best not to talk too quickly. "He's on his way to Hogwarts."
"How sure are you?" Dumbledore questioned with a frown.
"I had a dream," Harry explained. "He was with Lucius and Bellatrix. He clearly said they were coming to Hogwarts."
"Then we have no time to lose," Dumbledore said hurriedly. "Harry, use the floo to go to Grimmauld Place. Warn everyone what's coming and ask them to gather the Order. I'll be there as soon as I can. Ron, you're going to help me wake the staff."
"And then what?" Harry asked.
"We get the students out of Hogwarts and we prepare for a fight," Dumbledore said in a steely voice.
"Do we have time?" Ron asked, looking at Harry.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "No time scale was mentioned."
"Even Voldemort needs time to gather his forces and come up with a battle plan," Dumbledore reassured the two teenagers. "But we still need to move swiftly. Harry, tell Hermione I'll be sending Madam Pomfrey to be with Lyra. Merlin forbid anything happens to that little angel, but if it does, Madam Pomfrey is the best person to be with her."
With a quick nod, Harry wished Dumbledore and Ron luck as he grabbed some floo powder and headed to Grimmauld Place. Since the attack on The Burrow all the Weasleys, bar Percy who still had his own flat and refused to move, were staying at Grimmauld Place. The move was mainly because The Burrow was currently in a bit of a state and was unsafe, but Harry suspected being at Grimmauld Place where she could help people was helping Molly cope with the loss of her husband.
Harry's arrival in the middle of the night set off an emergency alarm, and he hadn't even made it to the foot of the stairs before a wand light was shined in his eyes and his godfather's voice ordered him to stop where he was.
"Sirius, it's me," Harry called as he shielded his eyes from the bright light.
"Harry," Sirius replied, lowering his lit wand and heading down the stairs towards his godson. "What's wrong? What's happened?"
"Voldemort's planning an attack on Hogwarts," Harry quickly explained. "Dumbledore wants the Order gathered. I think we'll be heading off to Hogwarts to fight. This is the final battle Sirius, I can feel it in my bones."
"Let's hope he brings that snake of his then," Sirius remarked as behind him on the stairs more people began to appear.
Within a couple of minutes, everyone who was currently staying at Grimmauld Place was gathered in the front room and Harry explained everything he knew. While Remus, Sirius and Molly set about contacting the rest of the Order, or people they thought might want to help, Harry headed over to Hermione and told her about Madam Pomfrey arriving to be with Lyra.
"What do I do, Harry?" Hermione asked. "Do I stay here with Lyra, or come with you and fight?"
"I don't know, Hermione," Harry answered honestly. "But my every instinct is screaming to me that this is it. This is the final showdown."
"We know we said we'd stay with you Hermione, but we would like to go and fight," Theo said from Hermione's side.
"Yeah, the time has come to make a stand," Blaise added. "We think we can be of more use in a battle."
"Of course you must go," Hermione said. "I really want to come too, but I hate the thought of leaving Lyra."
"She won't be alone," Theo offered. "Madam Pomfrey will be here, and some other people might likely stay behind."
"Like George," Harry said. "Unless we're going to reveal we faked his death, and that might cause more trouble for Draco, he's going to have to stay out of things. Lyra won't be alone, and you can be back here in an instant. But don't think we're pushing you, Hermione. This is your choice and no-one will judge you for staying with your daughter."
"I'm going to go and get dressed and I'll think it over," Hermione said, before she turned and departed from the front room.
Other people also began to drift off to get dressed, but Harry remained in the front room as a regular flow of Order members trickled into the house. Almost everyone had gathered when Madam Pomfrey arrived from Hogwarts, closely followed by Dumbledore, Ron and Ginny. While Madam Pomfrey headed off to be with Lyra and Hermione, Ron and Ginny were embraced by their family.
"I have to be quick, so can we please be quiet," Dumbledore called. "As you know we're sure that Voldemort is heading to Hogwarts. The students are being gathered in The Great Hall and the Hogwarts Express is making its way to Hogsmeade. Any student of age will be given the chance to remain at school and fight, and the others are going to be sent back to London as soon as possible."
"What about the Slytherins?" Harry asked. "You can't let them fight, or at least not the ones you know will be on Voldemort's side."
"Anyone not on our side will be removed with the other students," Dumbledore said.
"We're going to need protection on that train," Alastor Moody, a former Auror, advised.
"Filius and Pomona will be on the train, but if you want to join them with another couple of people Alastor, I'd be happy with that," Dumbledore said.
"I'll come with you," Kingsley Shackelbolt, a current Auror, volunteered.
"And us," Bill offered, indicating he was offering Charlie's services as well.
"No," Molly cried. "I can't lose any more family."
"We can't sit here and hide, Mum. Like it or not, we're going to fight," Charlie said gently but firmly. "Let us do our part."
"What if something happens to you?" Molly whispered, looking to be on the verge of tears.
"We're just going to have to take that risk," Bill said. "You didn't raise us to be cowards, Mum. Be proud that we're going to fight."
"Those who will be coming on the Hogwarts Express, come back to school with me," Dumbledore said. "Once the students are evacuated, I'll send for the rest of you. Anyone not fighting, should stay here as it's going to be the safest place to be."
"I'm coming back with you," Harry said to Dumbledore. "I might be able to persuade people to stand with us."
Before Dumbledore could reply, Hermione burst into the room, startling everyone. Thoughts instantly turned to Lyra, but Hermione quickly reassured them that her daughter was safe. Madam Pomfrey was looking after her and she was in the same state as she'd been for the last couple of weeks.
"It's a message from Draco," Hermione explained. "I've just had a visit off Tipsy. It was just a brief message, but he was warning us that Voldemort is gathering the Death Eaters. He didn't know where they were going, but they're all to be ready to move at first light."
"Thank you, Hermione," Dumbledore said. "Now we know how much time we have. By first light, we need the students away from Hogwarts and we need to be ready to fight."
"I'll be there," Hermione said to Harry as those who were leaving early got ready to depart. "Draco will be there and I need to see him. Plus I need to fight and stand up to that monster. I hate to leave Lyra, but I can't stay here and do nothing."
"See you at school then," Harry said with a grim smile as he gave her a quick hug and headed back to Hogwarts to prepare for the biggest day of his life.
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Since the day Voldemort had snapped Lyra's ribbon and started using his mother against him, Draco hadn't gotten very little sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he either saw his mother being tortured at his own hand, or his sweet, innocent daughter lying dead. The fact he didn't even know if Dumbledore's protection spells had worked on Lyra made things so much worse, and even though he hoped for the best, he couldn't help but think the worst. It almost destroyed him to think that his little girl might be dead and Hermione would be going through hell, and he wasn't there for them. Instead he was stuck as Voldemort's prisoner until The Dark Lord's temper snapped and he killed Draco in a fit of rage.
On one of the rare nights where Draco had managed to drift off into a fairly dreamless sleep, he was roughly jolted awake by his father. Lucius was smirking smugly at his son and he took great pleasure in announcing that the final battle was at hand. He refused to give details of where they were going, but he made it clear that Draco was to be ready and downstairs for first light.
"Don't be late Draco, or your mother will feel The Dark Lord's wrath," Lucius warned as he swept out of his son's room.
Getting out of bed with a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach, Draco headed into the bathroom to start getting ready. It was still several hours until first light, but he knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. As he took a bracing shower he couldn't help but wish he could warn Hermione of what was happening, but then Tipsy entered his head. He hadn't dared use his mother's elf for weeks because he was afraid Voldemort and Lucius were keeping an eye on him, but things were different now. They'd already done what they could to Lyra, and yes his mother was still in the firing line, but Draco knew she would urge him to take the risk and try and warn Hermione and the Order of what was to come.
Making sure both his bedroom door and the bathroom door were shut, Draco remained in the bathroom as he quietly called for Tipsy. When the elf appeared the first thing he did was ask about Lyra, and he sagged against the wall in relief when Tipsy confirmed that she was alive. She was in a coma, but she was alive and she had strong protection spells around her.
"I have to be quick," Draco whispered to the elf. "You need to go to Hermione and tell her an attack is imminent. The Death Eaters are being gathered and we're expected to move at first light. I don't know where we're going, but the Order need to be prepared. Oh and Tipsy, tell Hermione that mother and I love her and Lyra so much."
Draco felt a sense of relief as Tipsy disappeared with the message, and knowing he'd done all he could to try and aid the Order, he slowly got dressed. He was ready with plenty of time to spare and waiting downstairs before first light. When Voldemort appeared with Bellatrix at his side, he gave Draco an approving nod to see him ready and waiting.
"Nice to see you're keen, Draco," Voldemort drawled. "Now give me your wand."
"My wand?" Draco questioned in bewilderment.
"Your wand," Voldemort repeated. "Or do you need a reminder that I'm the boss?" He asked as he snapped his fingers.
When Lucius appeared from the shadows with Narcissa, Draco wasted no time to pulling his wand out of his pocket and handing it to Voldemort. Draco watched silently as Voldemort removed his own wand and cast several spells on Draco's, before handing it back to him.
"Now just in case you go getting any ideas once we're at our destination, I've put a few special spells on your wand," Voldemort said. "Anything you do to anyone with a Dark Mark will also happen to your mother. Even a simple spell to stun someone, will knock your mother out. I take it you don't need an example."
"No. I don't need an example," Draco answered quickly. It was obvious that Voldemort had made it so that he couldn't fight against his fellow Death Eaters, and while it was frustrating, it would just mean he would have to be careful over the coming hours.
"I rather thought you would understand the implications right away," Voldemort said with a chuckle as out of nowhere his creepy snake slithered across the floor and wound itself around his ankles. "You just remember that once we're in battle. And just in case you're thinking of running off, I've cast a spell on Nagini so she knows where you are. Nagini will be staying with your mother, and if she senses you've left the battle, your mother will be bitten. And just in case you're not sure, her venom is poisonous. Your mother would be dead before you could get back here to her."
"I won't run," Draco promised. "And I won't fight any Death Eaters."
"We shall see, won't we," Voldemort said with a smirk.
Turning away from Draco, he bent down to whisper to his snake in Parseltongue. Draco couldn't understand what Voldemort said, but Nagini hissed in response and slithered over to Narcissa.
"Oh, and don't you think of running, Narcissa," Voldemort warned. "Lucius has altered the wards so you can't use magic to leave, and the second you take one step outside of the manor, Nagini will kill you."
Finally satisfied that he still had both Draco and Narcissa exactly where he wanted them, Voldemort announced it was time to go. First they were meeting up with the other Death Eaters, and then they were going to surprise the Order. They were going to initiate the battle that would determine once and for all who would win the war and emerge victorious.