Rose felt all breath knocked out of her when lot of masonry fell on her. A sharp pain seared across her arm and leg. She could sense her blood gushing out of her cuts, soaking her robes. The weight pushed painfully on her back, trying to kill her.
She straightened her fingers and opened her mouth. "Win-ard-" It was of no use. Shock and dust choked her mentally and physically. She did her best to keep calm, but panic kept on building in her.
Taking a deep dusty breath, she closed her eyes to concentrate. But even before she could think of anything, she felt weightless.
Rose snapped her eyes open. She was flying amidst the rubble that fell on her. A little away from her, Aberforth stood pointing his wand at her. He had his gold monocle on his eye. It took her a second to understand what happened.
He lowered his wand. All the rubble fell down first and then she jumped on it. A bone in her leg cracked as she did but she didn't pay attention to it.
Limping, she walked upto her mentor. "Thank you, grandpa Aberforth."
He returned her a smile and said something when Rose caught a sight of Death Eater behind him, pointing his wand straight at her.
She pushed Aberforth and blocked the curse. A mix of shock and surprise formed on the enemy's face, when she gave him an unseen sarcastic smile. She raised her arm high up over her head.
The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, thrashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch flew out of the castle.
"Maybe I will not challenge you for duel next time onwards." she heard Aberforth say slowly.
Before Rose could reply anything, a group of Death Eaters ran towards them. "I will take on them." She stood right in front of them. With a wide swing, she lifted her arms like that of an orchestra conductor.
Everyone in the group fell back like paper pieces blown by wind.
She was enjoying the battle when the whole school went silent. There was no more blasts of curses and spells flying around. No one around her spoke a word.
A high cold voice reverberated from the walls and floor, as clearly as if the one who spoke stood beside her, his breath on the back of her neck.
"You have fought," said the voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste."
Rose swallowed. Her throat was drier than ever. "Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured."
She sprawled back when Aberforth caught her shoulders. "So much darkness, pain. How can anyone bear such voice?"
"Rose, hold on you nerves." She heard, when she limped slowly to nearby bench. She sat down as Aberforth went off to look around in case of any help required.
Voldemort, so evil, so dark, was kept contained by Dumbledore. He was doing his best to stop his own student from destroying Hogwarts. But was murdered by his own teacher, who took pride of being a Death Eater.
Rose was hurted more by her second Godfather's death than anything. A tear of sadness rolled down her cheek. She wiped it and folded her sleeves up to examine the cut in her arm.
It was deep and had not clotted even a bit. She took a quick glace around for Madam Pomfrey and rubbed her good hand over the wound. It stitched itself together. She casted the same charm over the wound on her leg. If not the best way to heal the cut magically, Rose was sure that she wouldn't bleed to death.
She looked up and saw people rushing about. A few crying over their friend's or sibling's death. Other carrying injured to hospital wind.
Only if Dumbledore was here. She thought, when she remembered something that Dumbledore once asked her do. She closed her eyes, trying to remember what happened a year ago.
Rose remembered being in Headmaster's office. He was anxious about something and appeared weaker than usual. He was wishing her to do something, something which could take a bit of patience. He wasn't even sure if there was even need to trouble her for that.
Whatever Dumbledore wished, it hardly made sense to her. Taking a bit of time to find right words, he asked her to make a promise which he might ask for later.
Confused, Rose agreed to do whatever the Headmaster tells her to. "Your wish is my commandment" she remembered saying before going out of the office.
It was time to know it.