Thank you all for the reviews. Harry Potter is not mine, this is a story from a fan.

(BSC 6 C24) C215 Time to slow them down.

It was at eight o'clock in the evening that the friends all walked up onto the stage. This was the night they would all explain all of their plans for the battle that was to come. Susan took the stage first and talked about what they had told the Family during the day. They told them about the way they all would fight and how to get to the next line of defense if the first line of defense was overrun. She placed a lot of emphasis on the escape parts they had placed all over the battlefield. The last thing they wanted was for anyone to be trapped outside. Just when Susan was about to tell them the last Part of the battle that would be happening on the outside of Hogwarts, a House elf popped up next to her. Susan looked down and saw it was one of their spy elves. "Miss, bonesy. Bad men are coming tonight and are Attacking tomorrow night. Bad men will be starting a war soon". Susan looked up at her friends and after it at the family, that was standing behind her friends.

Only Harry seems to realize what all of the looks meant as he gave a little curse word. They knew they would be attacked sooner rather than later, but this was a couple of days too early even for them. Harry walked to the left and was followed by Daphne and Neville. Hermione stepped next to Susan. On the other side stepped Bella. Susan knew it was her time to speak again so she took a deep breath. This was another time that they knew people would walk out on them as soon as they heard it. But still, she had to warn them all, it was the right thing to do. "I just got word that the Dark Lords are setting up camp in the forbidden forest. They are planning on attacking tomorrow night. As of now we will be in the so-called illusion mode".

It was just like the last time when they told them about the things that would be happening. People started to scream and shout in fear and panic. The fear was taking a hold of people all over the great hall. Kids were starting to cry because of the shouting the Adults were doing. That did not happen the last time, because the last time they did something like this, it was on the other side of the castle where there were no children. Susan put her fingers between her lips and whistled loudly. The sound died down a little and Susan spoke again. "Now we have told you before and we will do it again. When we know they will attack we will start our plans. Now we know where they are, we will be keeping a close eye on them. We also know they will be scouting out the grounds. So the rest of the day and tomorrow we will act like there is nothing to worry about. We will do like we always do and let our students play on the grounds behind the wards, while we take up positions to protect all of them. For all of you who do not want to join can leave right NOW".

Both Amelia and Mad-Eye looked up at those words. "They learn fast" Amelia whispered as she gazed at Mad-Eye who nodded along with her while his good eye looked at the friends and his magic eye went all over the great hall.

"That, they do less," He said as she saw the others looking at them. "This is the time the battle begins and the war starts. Now, it is also the last moment for those who do not want to fight with us, to leave this castle at once. If they don't and frieze so to speak, during the battle. They can bring us all down with them". As he looked back into the great hall he saw people standing up. Kids were still crying but he saw students of house Hogwarts joining them and talking to them. "If none of the Adults stay, I think they will do it all themselves. Just look at how that house is working together". And Amelia looked at the spot he was now looking at with both of his eyes.

As some of the people left the great hall and the war, Daphne stepped between the adults. "We said we had a way out for all of them. We do and it is Before our final stand. We made Portkeys to get everyone out. You all are young enough to get more kids so you all will be leaving too. If they get inside the castle we will all fight. They get the better of us you will all leave by the Portkeys. We will stay fighting until either they drop or we do. If we go down the castle will go in stasis. The air will leave the castle and kill everything that attacked us. It is the one thing only the heirs can do because it is part of the wards that are surrounding us. It was the one thing they did to get away from the Muggles making them think they all died, while they could get away. This ward has never been used and if we can we will not use it either. But we will if we have to".

"But Bella and Hermione" Emma started.

"They will be leaving with you all. They do not have the Hogwarts Blood and magic running through them and we do" Daphne told them as Emma started to splutter. "We can't invite them in and just kill them by closing the wards around them. The Wards only work in an attack and not by us killing them. It will mean murder and that will not be allowed by the wards. Just like Zanita can only protect us. She is the magic of Hogwarts and she can't kill. The only way she can is by sending back the curses that are thrown at her. If they are Ak curses, we can only hope they connect with the senders. Other than that she can't do a thing about it". This time she looked at Lily. "It is all about the intent of the magic. When they attack us and are getting the upper hand the Castle will protect us. If we are lucky we too can use our Portkeys but we are not sure. So at the final second, we will have to see if we can get out. If not you all have to put the Magical world right again".

"How can we do that if we don't have Hogwarts," Alice asked.

"You all use Potter Castle and the Peferell grounds," Harry told them as he got closer to Daphne. "Like Daphne said we are planning on getting out but we are not sure. So if not you all go on. If we do we'll take the magical world into the here and now". It was now that Harry had arrived next to Daphne and his friends had joined him. "Neville and I are going. Dobby and Snot will be going with us. We will be hopping all night and sleeping in between. Dobby will be keeping you informed and Snot will get us out when he has to". Harry kissed Daphne and after it, he kissed Bella. Neville did the same with Hermione as both of them Hugged the others ending in a group hug for all of them.

The Adults looked on and when the hug ended Neville and Harry were gone. "Where the hell, are they" Lily screamed.

She didn't sound mad but just concerned. It was a tone, the friends knew well. "They are performing the last part of our plans. Right now they are going from manor to manor. We will be doing our part right here. We will be showing them nothing is wrong and when they all are here we will send Neville and Harry to start the last part" Bella told them all.

Lily walked up to them and looked at Bella. She knew they would not tell her anything but she had to try. "Are they going to do something dangerous"?

This time Bella smirked as the others started to laugh. "No, Mum Potter".

Lily smiled. The hug with her son made her a mum to all of them. Just like Alice had become one earlier today. Those kids saw all of them as mothers, just like they saw the three oldest as Grandmothers.

"It will be dangerous if they are seen. But if that happens they will call for us and the Goblins who are ready to help. If they are not seen then, No, there isn't much danger for them".

Lily smiled. But the part they thought wasn't dangerous was enough for her to know they would be safe, at least from their own point of view.

#*

It was early at night the day before the big attack that Grindelwald looked at everyone that was around him. A lot of the Death Eaters weren't there yet but he knew they would come sometime during the night. As he walked between them he thought about earlier that day.

Flashback.

Grindelwald started to walk into the forbidden forest from the other side. It was one path only he knew about. He had Hagrid make it by telling him it was an escape route he would keep a secret. When Hagrid was done he obliviated him and knew that he was the only one left knowing about it. He had it made for times like this. When Hagrid had been done he walked over to the edge of the ward and placed a door in it. It was the one way in without being seen. He was sure that with Lady Hogwarts in there, she would be looking everywhere.

When he walked down the path Looking at how it looked, he had to smile. Branches were grown over the path and a lot of weeds were growing everywhere. It was clear where the path lay. But as you looked at it, you would think it had been walked on many, many years ago. So even if they had found it he knew they would not think twice about it. The one thing he didn't see was the Centaur that followed him with his eyes as he walked passed him, while it was hiding in the bushes.

Grindelwald walked on slowly. He got to the edge of the other side of the forest. He knew that After tonight he would bring some Death eaters and some of his own men to look at the castle and the defenses they might have put up. As he looked at the castle now he saw not much in the defense department. Students were still playing on the lawn in front of the castle next to the lake. He saw some Professors in the doorway looking on. They always did it like that and he hated it. He hated children more than Muggle-borns. Halfbloods and purebloods. The only thing he liked more was power and the time he could play Dictator.

He looked on at the castle and knew he would be back in it in only a couple of days. The first thing he would do is kill all of those that had double-crossed him and then brainwash the children to become his new army. After it, he will kill his old followers just like he had done with the ones before Walter. Walter had been a good kid. He had trained him well but after this battle, he would get rid of him and the others. They were getting stronger and they were starting to fight back. The had developed a lip and he didn't like it.

His gaze went up to the tower where his office was. Soon it would be his again and all of those Headmasters Portraits would be burned right away. Then he saw them. Susan Hermione and Daphne. A little ahead was Neville with that bitch Bellatrix. They were just sitting on the edge of the lake throwing rocks. He gave a sadistic smile and started to walk back to the campsite.

On his way back and far enough away from the edge, he started to laugh. He laughed the rest of his way back while he mumbled they would not know what hit them. They were just kids playing with the grownups. It would be a fast fight he only needed a little time before he and Voldemort would step into the fight and take it all. You never know they might surprise them again at some point.

End Flashback.

The one thing Grindelwald didn't know was the moment he had walked back far enough. Firenze walked out of the woods a little and shot a green Arrow between the friends. It was a sign to tell them the first one had looked on. When Bella saw the Arrow she rushed inside and knew she had to tell Harry and the Adults. Firenze and the others would keep an eye on them all and tell them by Arrows what was going to happen. It would be another day before the attack. So they would have one more illusion from their side to let them see nothing was happening before they had to be ready.

#*

Grindelwald had walked back and saw that some of the Death Eaters had arrived. Not all of them so they had to wait a little longer. He was glad this camp was only for one day. He might not die because of his five Horcrusces and the seven Voldemort had made. But it did not mean he would not get old. He might be younger in body and mind. But even at his hundred and fifty years of age, he was starting to feel the age he was. So the tent he had to stay in would be hell for him. Even if it was a magical tent. His four-poster bed might be the same as he has now, it was still hard on him.

"You have already been there to look at the castle," Voldemort asked as he stepped beside him.

"Grindelwald nodded as he looked over his man and the Death Eaters. "It might not be easy because they are young and are willing to fight. But I have not seen any defenses. They are not prepared for what we will bring them, so that might be our luck. My men had a hard fight because they had not been prepared for them. Now they are and we will get them all. So let's get a couple of more hours to sleep. Then we will go again and see for ourselves. Me with Walter and you with Lucius by your side. We will tell them what we want them to do when we get back. They will tell their men what we told them. Again we get a couple of more hours of sleep. And around eleven we will attack. The moon is not full because that was a couple of days ago. Still, it will be full enough to make our werewolves a lot stronger".

Voldemort nodded and told Lucius what to do. before he went to his own tent and lay down in his bed.

Grindelwald wanted to do the same but he knew it was not his bed so it would hurt. Instead, he just placed a couple of warning charms and Apparated back to Malfoy manor to his own bed".

#*

Harry and Neville had Apparated back to the tent they had placed on top of the mountain. They had just been to all the manors where they had made their operations. "Do you think this will work?" Neville asked him.

Harry was playing with a twig as he draw a little picture in the sand. "I hope so," he said as he looked up at him. "This was the one thing we could think of without killing a lot of people".

Neville gave a deep sigh as he looked down at Parkinson's manor. "Yeah, I know. But I still have a hard time dealing with the vampires we have killed". Before Harry could react he held up his hands. "I know we had to or they would have killed us. But it still feels bad," Neville told him with a sad look on his face.

"I know what you mean. I have the same feeling" He told him with a little smile that did not reach his eyes. "Mad-eye once told me that was a good sign. He too has trouble with the people he killed. He knew it was right, He knew why he had to do it. But he still had those feelings. It told him he wasn't a killer. The same goes for us, as long as we knew it was the right thing to do and the only way out. Also as long as we have these feelings about it being wrong for ourselves it means we are not those killers the Death Eaters are".

"Still Harry, what does this, what we are doing now tells us about ourselves".

Harry let go of a deep breath. "According to Amelia, it tells them we are better than they were in the first war. Better than the Death Eaters were and are. Better than the men of Grindelwald who had murdered those kids what drove us insane for a moment? We are looking for a way to save as many people as possible. Our ways might be crazy according to her" Harry laughed as Neville chuckled along. "But we are still saving more people than they ever could, and not only people but all kinds of magical beings". Harry looked back at the drawing he had been making and he could see that it was nothing more than a lot of jibberish.

"If you look at it in that way, it does make sense," Neville told him. Harry looked up at those words. "Just think about it. Or look at that last couple of days. If all goes right and nobody double-crosses us. The Goblins, vampires, giants, and Trolls will be on our side. If the sweetest Werewolf we know has become the real leader they too will be at our side. They can fight at our side or leave and stand back. Or they are not with us and we do have to fight them. Either way, we did everything to give all of them a way out. It is now their choice to take it or not. If they do we saved a lot of lives, not only on their side but also on ours because the battle we will have will never be as big as it would have been".

"You're right Neville. Either way we all did right".

"You did Harry".

"No Neville, we did. We all did it together. I might have been the one in front but I would never be standing if any of you wouldn't have been there".

Both of the boys looked up and about twenty people showed up next to them. Bella and Daphne were the first to rush to Harry as Hermione rushed to Neville. Susan wanted to say she was being left behind again but got smacked by Astoria. "You got me, so stop complaining".

Everybody laughed at it as Augusta and Minerva took the boys in a hug of their own. Slowly they looked around and saw that almost all of the family was there. Their mothers and Amelia were missing. Even Tonks hadn't shown up for this meeting. "What are you all doing here," Neville asked as Harry started to walk away a little to stand at the side.

Daphne wanted to speak but Susan was faster. "Firenze had shot a blue Arrow at us. So we met him because that is what he asked. He told us that the Elves who had been spying on them told him they were all there. Tomorrow they will have another look and after it, they will make their plans as we predicted".

"So after it, we will start by doing what we have been planning on doing all this time," Neville said with a little smile that was copied by the friends.

Isabella looked on and saw the same smile on the face of Minerva, Augusta, and Grandmere. "Sure they all know and we have been left in the dark again".

"Time to go" Minerva called out as she hugged her grandson one more time.

#*

The rest of that night was like always. Dinner in the great hall, lights were flickering in offices and in the common rooms. For Grindelwald and Voldemort, who had again made their way over the not-so-hidden path. It all looked like it was a day-to-day occurrence. There were no guards on the walls of the castle. There was nobody on the grounds looking for them. It was clear those brats believed they would keep to the deal and only attack in a couple of weeks as they had agreed. Voldemort looked to his side and gave a smirk. "Well, are you sure you want to wait until tomorrow and not attack right now"?

"Tempting, tempting, but no, We wait until tomorrow night. They might not look prepared, but they could still be".

"You think so," He asked in wonder.

The gaze of Grindelwald went all over the castle. His eyes rested on the headmaster's office. Oh, how he would like to be back in that office again. Not only that but he wanted to make it his home when this petty war with the brats was done. "No, not really. But they might have done some preparation. You know a trap string behind the door. Buckets of water on top of them. Those sorts of things. They are young and will not be able to make a great trap for us. I do give it to them. They are smart enough to hide the manors but other than that I don't think they can do much more".

Voldemort nodded along but he did not know why he was nodding. The only thing he was thinking of was to get back into the hidden room to rescue one of his Horcruxes. Somehow the others had all disappeared but he could still feel them. He could feel one of them inside the castle. He did not know how because he did not feel it yesterday. "Let's go back and get Lucius and Walter. We do have some planning to do".

#*

The moment they had left Firenze sent another Arrow to a member of his herd. It was then another Arrow made its way to the next, to the next, and so on to the castle. This time it was an orange one. It told the friends that they had to go on with the facade so that the other side would still think they weren't preparing themselves. On the inside of the castle, people were stegging up on Bullets, Guns Arrows, and what, not.

Minerva was walking around with Susan and looked at the so-called bullets. "Those don't look like the Bullets Dan used on Lord Parkinson".

"Because they are not," Susan told her as she picked up a ball. "Dan and some of the others will be using the real guns. Some will be using real Arrows. But most of the students will be using these paintballs. They might take out an eye if your aim is right. But we want the students to blind them with paint. With magic, you could replace an eye so the students might stop them but not kill them. Dan and the others will wait. If the first Avada is sent to one of the students they will take the person out".

Minerva hugged her and told them they had done right. It was the one thing they were all afraid of. Students of Hogwarts were killing people. Now she saw the friends had made it so they were not killing anybody. "But why".

This time Susan stopped and looked at the ground, a tear rolling from the corner of her eye. "We all know how hard it is to be reminded every day of the one you killed. So if we can keep it from them we will".

Minerva was still holding her as she let her get a hold of herself. She just patted her back as she looked at all the things around her. It was clear they had learned everything they could. Not only in protecting themselves but also others that were around them.

Before Minerva could say another thing a purple arrow sailed through the window. Susan saw it and wormed her way out of the hug. She whistled through the open window and turned back to her Grandma Mini. "The final stand is now. We have to get ready in an hour. They will be back for another look and after it, Harry and Neville will have to do their part". Minerva gave her a sharp nod and said she would tell Grand-mere and Gabrielle to get ready.

#*

Grindelwald and Voldemort had made their way back to the path as Walter and Lucius were following them. Not much was said until they got to the spot they could see the castle. There were students playing on the grounds and not much else. Here and there, there were some professors looking at it all but again it was like every other day.

"What is this" Walter asked. "There is no defense or anything. Nobody is looking out for any attack. Are they even preparing themselves".

"Typical Potter. Just thinking he is all that and thinking he can do it all. My son has told me all about him. He is a spoiled prince that just waits and thinks it will all just come his way".

Everyone looked at Lucius who just said it with a sneer on his face. Voldemort was nodding a long while Grindelwald shook his head. "I do have to say that he is right". Walter looked at his master and waited for him to go on. "Potter has been like that while he was here at the same time I was in there. Always counts on others to help him out, He is powerful I give him that. But if you kill the others he is nothing by himself".

Walter looked at the castle and shook his head in astonishment. "There is no lookout on the walls. No lookout around the edge. If I dropped this notice me not ward and walk over the grounds I bet you, none would bat an eye to me".

"I dare you," Lucius told him as he pulled out his wand and dropped the notice me not charm around Walter".

Grindelwald wanted to stop him but Walter had already walked onto the grounds. He looked on as Walter walked right to the front doors and back. He did not walk back to their spot but a couple of meters away from them. It was there he disappeared into the woods and made his way back around to them. "See, nothing happened they are just ignorant".

#*

Minerva was looking on from her window and saw that something happened on the edge of the grounds. Firenze had told them the spot they would be looking from and there it was. This big guy made his way over the ground right to the front door. The thing they did not see but Minerva knew was that Daphne was walking behind him under the invisibility cloak of Harry. Bella who had heard Minerva telling them in her mind that this man was walking over the grounds knew Bella did the next thing. Bella let go of a whistle and everyone did like they did not see him. It was the big start of it all".

It was about ten minutes later that the four of them walked away. It took another ten minutes before a Black Arrow made its way between the group of playing Hogwarts students. Daphne was between them and she turned to Minerva. ^It's time^ she said in her mind.

Minerva turned at the spot and produced a Patronus that she sent away to Grandmere. It wasn't much but when it got there it was simple. It said in her own voice. Get to the boys now. After it, she turned back and started to walk to the second great hall. Susan Had already contacted Amelia with her own Patronus and gave her the order to get them all into the hall.

Hermione had been walking around telling the Family the same thing but they had to go into the great Hall on the Hogwarts side with all the students. She ran into Fleur and told her to go. Fleur didn't need another word because she knew all about the plans they had made. Hermione walked onto the wall between the two parts of Hogwarts. This was the time it would open and this was the time their Army was going to war.

Isabella was walking from the doors to the great hall all the way between the tables to the stage where the Professors sat. Slowly she stepped up on it from the side and looked at all the students that were slowly walking into the great hall. They all sat together and as she looked on she could see them sitting all over the place. Griffindors were sitting next to Slytherins and they were sitting between the Fufflpufs and the Ravenclaws. She opened up her feelings and could feel fear all over the great hall. It was at that moment she knew, they knew what was about to happen. None wanted it but they all knew it would at some point in time.

Minerva stepped next to her and was closely followed by Augusta. She looked at the other professors who were walking between them so to say. She stepped to the middle and cleared her throat. "Listen up, Tonight is the night. We do not know when but we know it is tonight. So in an hour, the first years will be gathering right here. So will the second and third years. The fourth years will be staying here if they want just like the fifth and sixth years. For those who will not stay gather here among the others.

#*

Amelia with David and Dan on her side walked to the front of the second great hall. The bells had been ringing and everybody had gathered in front of them. "Listen up" Amelia screamed. "Tonight is the night. We will be going to our places and we will be stepping up in defense mode. In a couple of minutes, we will all go to the great hall of Hogwarts. There we will be listening to the friends who will be telling us what the plan is going to be. We all know what we have to do, but they will tell us the steps.

After those words, she stepped down and walked to the doors and into the hallways. The moment she stepped into the hallway she was flanked by Sirius and James. She got to the separating wall between the two parts of the castle and she knocked hard.

Hermione opened the door and they walked through. Amelia was in front. She was flanked by Sirius and James. Others were walking behind them like the friends were walking behind Harry. Hermione stepped up to Susan and the others. "We do it much better".

"They are trying, I give them that," Susan said.

"They are close and getting closer".

Amelia heard it and knew something was about to happen. Sirius was walking next to her and raised his nose in the air. The moment he did he didn't look at his feet and bumped his foot against something. The next thing he did was go down and go down hard.

"And that is where we are better. We don't trip" Bella said.

"And if we did we would look 'Ot doing it," Fluer said as she let go of a giggle.

Amelia stopped and faced palmed herself. She shook her head slowly as she mumbled about practicing harder.

After about ten minutes they were all in the great hall as Susan took center stage. Next to her were Minerva and Augusta. After a deep breath, she looked at all of them. "It's time. At the end of the day, early in the evening, the enemy will be attacking us. So this is how we are going to do it. You will all be at your spots. When they go into the woods Harry will be back and put up the router wards. Those are special wards that will keep everybody in. The only way out is by our port keys. We have enough for everyone if we need them. Now they will not know they can't get out so they will come here to fight and we will be waiting. When they get here we will charge up the wards and start the fight ourselves".

Slowly she stepped to the side as her place was taken over by Bella. She too stepped between Minerva and Augusta. Everyone was looking at her and knew she was the next one in charge. Harry and Neville weren't there. Where they were they didn't know, but they knew it had to do with all of this. "When they are here" Bella started and they all became quiet. We know what kind of army they have. We are not going to keep it from you. So I will be telling you what to expect". This time the two grandmas stepped to the side and made room for Hermione, Daphne, and Susan.

Before Susan could say anything Daphne stepped up and asked for the first, second, and third-years who would not be remaining at the castle. Before the eyes of everyone in the great hall, they could see them disappear on the spot. "Before we go on, who else will be leaving here tonight". This time most of the Adults kept sitting down. Some stepped up but they knew they would leave before the battle and return after it if it was done.

#*

At Potter castle, Fleur had been waiting with Emma on her side and some other Muggles that were with them. Most of them could do nothing much in a battle of magic. But they were here for another reason. When the first children arrived they knew that the preparation and the Battle would soon be beginning. This was a hard one. The kids would be brought to safety from there on, If the battle was won they would go back. If it was lost the kids would be brought to their family that was on the other side of the world. Or they would stay at Potter Castle getting the education from all those who were left.

Fleur was here to see to it that everyone had arrived safely and after it, she would go back leaving Emma to get everyone that would come after them all to the right place. Meaning the Infermary or the recovery rooms. If one of the friends would arrive they would be sent on to Longbottom manner, Only to get Harry the treatment that he would need. Because one thing was sure. He would do everything to be the last one standing. if not he would do everything to get the rest of them out before he would do the last part which would be a Suicide mission from that moment on. So as the kids arrived Popping in at the appointed place. Emma and the others brought them to the right places, While Fluer went back to say everyone had arrived.

#*

Daphne didn't say another thing and looked at the spot as the last went away. It was a second later that Fleur reappeared and looked at the friends as she gave them a thumbs up.

Bella turned back to the great hall and started where she had left off. "When they get here they will be bringing Goblins, Trolls, Giants, and werewolves. We have done something to those Numbers but we will only know if it worked when they are here later on. Harry and Neville are doing something right as" Bella stopped and held up her wand. She put a time charm in the air and looked at the time. "as I speak. What I will not tell you, but if it works it will be in our favor". And Bella went on by telling all in the great hall what they were expecting and what they were going to do. The biggest fear came when she told about the new magical beings the other side had brought this time".

This was it again for this time. See you all in two weeks.

Gr Winmau.