The arrival and the disappointment
"Get ready. Your friend is coming for you."
"Who is?" Hermione asks curiously.
A portrait swung wide open before Aberforth could say another word, revealing a tired and beaten Neville Longbottom, "I knew you'd come! I told them all! Harry Potter would never abandon Hogwarts!"
Hermione's gasp rang clear, "Neville..."
"Neville, you look..." Harry didn't know what to say. His friend had clearly been beaten within an inch of his life, and yet he was still smiling.
"Like hell? I reckon. This is nothing. Seamus is worse. You'll see. Hermione! Ron!" Neville embraced them, then turned to Aberforth, "Hey, Ab. There might be a couple more people on the way."
"Who else is coming?" Ron asked, confused.
Neville grinned, "Only the important people. Well? Ready?" Neville led them down the passage, which was narrow and littered with spiders and rats,
"I don't remember this being on the Marauder's Map."
"That's because it never existed till now. The seven secret passages were sealed off before the start of the year. This is the only way in or out now. The grounds are crawling with Death Eaters and Dementors."
Hermione taps Neville on the shoulder and softly asks, "How bad is it, Neville? With Snape as Headmaster."
"Hardly ever see him. It's the Carrows you have to watch out for."
"The Carrows?"
Neville nods, "Brother and sister. They're in charge of discipline. Like punishment, the Carrows." Neville points to a gash on his face.
"They did that to you? But why?" The Neville they remembered never set a toe out of line.
"Today's Dark Arts lesson had us practicing the Cruciatus Curse. On First Years. I refused," he let out a loud, tired sigh, "Hogwarts has changed."
The others look shocked, Neville grinned again, "Aw, c'mon. Don't be grim. We're all used to it by now, and the thing is, it helps when people stand up, gives everyone hope. I used to notice that when you did it, Harry," Neville waves them forward, "C'mon, we're almost there."
Neville led them up a short flight of stone steps to a small door, pauses. He looks back at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?" He pushes the door open, "Hey! Listen up, you lot! I've brought you a surprise!"
A chorus of groans reach their ears, "Not more of Aberforth's cooking, I hope. Be a surprise if we could digest it," Seamus says, groaning and holding his stomach.
Neville looks back with a wide grin and jerks his head toward the open door. Harry, Ron, and Hermione step forward, duck through, and emerge into a large room resembling a sumptuous tree house.
Utter silence swept over them as the crowd of students gaped in awe.
"Blimey," Seamus said, "You're really here?"
Madness erupts as the runaway trio is swallowed up in a scrum of backslaps and handshakes. As everyone greets them, Neville orders, "Get the word out to Remus and the others that Harry's back," Nigel nods and scrambles over to a battered radio.
"River, DA calling. Do you read? We have a new weather report: Lightning has struck. I repeat, lightning has struck..."
"Okay, okay! Stand down! Let's not kill them before You-Know-Who gets the chance!"
The crowd settles and listens intently, "Right then. What's the plan, Harry?"
Harry gazes out over the expectant faces in the room, noting the hollow eyes and broken bodies and the desperate need for hope. For a moment, Harry is lost, awed by his friends' sacrifice, "Okay. There's something we need to find, something hidden here in the castle. It could help us defeat You-Know-Who."
"What is it?" Someone screams, ready to help.
"We don't know."
"Where is it?" Dean inquires, ready to turn the castle upside down.
"Don't know that either."
Silence greets them again, and the disappointment is evident.
"I realize it's not much to go on."
"That's nothing to go on..."
"I think it might have something to do with Ravenclaw. It would be small, easy to conceal, and valuable. Any ideas?"
Luna smiles sweetly, "Well, there's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem," no one says, "The lost Diadem of Ravenclaw? Hasn't anyone ever heard of it? It's quite famous."
"Yes, but Luna, it's lost. For centuries now. There's not a person alive today who's seen it." Cho Chang explains
"Excuse me, but would someone tell me what's a bloody diadem?"
"It's a kind of crown. You know, like a tiara. Ravenclaw was rumored to have magical properties to enhance the wearer's wisdom," As Cho explains, there's a loud crash at the doors and the echo of footsteps racing.
Before they can even guess who it is, Ginny stands before them, "Harry."
He smiles, waving, "Hey there."
They stare each other down for what seems like forever until Neville interrupts, "What is it, Ginny?"
"Snape knows. He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade. They're calling for all students in the Hall."
"I need a cloak," Harry says bluntly with no explanation.
They scrounge up a cloak and slowly leak into the corridor to find the Hall full of students awoken from bed.
Everyone remains silent. Waiting.
"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you here at this hour. It has come to my attention that earlier this evening... Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade," Snape announces, sounding grim.
McGonagall struggles to keep her cool standing near her students.
"I mention this in the hopes that truth will not be supplanted by rumor. This comes as little surprise for me and a few select staff members. We have, for some time, considered Mr. Potter's return to Hogwarts to be not only possible but inevitable."
Snape's eyes scan the tired students, "Consequently, in the past several months and under my specific direction, exhaustive defensive strategies have been employed to defeat any attempt Mr. Potter might make to breach these walls, but know this. Should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter, that person will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Rest assured, so long as I am Headmaster at Hogwarts, Harry Potter will never again step foot in this castle."
Students break into small whispers. Their chatter started as a dull murmur and grew to a roar. Snape raises his hand, and the Hall returns to silence, all eyes on him.
The doors to the Great Hall slam open against the walls, and students move away toward the walls in defense. Teachers raise their wands and immediately lower them.
Hunn walks into the Great Hall, standing tall with a grin plastered on her face. Her wand was held at her side, knowing no one would attack her.
With a deep breath, Harry stepped forth, lowering his hood to be seen by everyone, nearly sending Fred and George into a fit of laughter, "It would seem that, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster."
Snape stares in stunned disbelief, and then his gaze shifts as, one by one, more of The Order comes forth, entering the Great Hall with their wands drawn and heads held high.
Fred and George behind Hunn, who insisted on entering along to make a statement.
Ron and Hermione.
Lupin and Tonks.
Arthur and Molly.
Percy.
Luna and Neville.
Bill and Fleur.
Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Harry whistled, "I'm afraid it's rather extensive..."
The Carrows, who had been slowly and cautiously moving towards Harry, faltered and turned to Snape with uncertainty lingering within their gaze.
Harry's eyes narrow with malice as he stares at Snape, "How dare you stand where he stood," he pulls Hermione's wand, "Tell them how it was that night. Tell them how you looked him in the eyes, a man who trusted you... and killed him. Tell them!"
Snape's eyes find Harry's, but his face remains a mask.
McGonagall stands poised, no longer an ashen ghost.
Flitwick's hand twitches over his wand.
The air around them prickles with anticipation as Snape moves as if to retrieve his wand, but McGonagall steps forward in front of Harry and sends a blast of magic his way with a flick of her wrist.
Flitwick and the rest of the staff, inspired by Harry and McGonagall, leap forth and wand out.
Snape, outnumbered, standing at the epicenter, parries spell after spell with astonishing skill, deflecting two curses into Alecto and Amycus Carrow, who lose their barring and run.
Snape seemed to know he was done for because he quickly flourished his wand, bringing the room into total darkness. The students scream, and the intricate glass windows are shattered into millions of pieces, allowing Snape to escape in mass confusion.
When the lights slowly bring the Hall to life again, McGonagall's voice rings loud, clear, and full of anger, "Coward! COWARD! He didn't even stay to fight!"
Not able to give Snape a piece of her mind, McGonagall turns to Harry, "Mr. Potter, do you mind telling me what you're doing here, which, I trust you realize, is an act of complete and utter lunacy?"
"I'm a Gryffindor," he shrugged as if that said it all.
"I thought it might have something to do with that," She turned to the room, "All right! Settle down! Settle down! It appears that your Headmaster, to use the common phrase, has done a bunk."
While McGonagall was speaking, the castle began to shake.
All voices went silent as a voice began to boom, "I know that many of you will want to fight. Some of you may even think this wise. But this is folly."
Looking through the faces of each student, their fear was clear as day.
"I wish you no harm. I have great respect for the students of Hogwarts. I was once one myself, after all. I ask for one thing, and no magical blood shall be spilled if granted..." Voldemort paused as if allowing his words to sink in, "Give me Harry Potter. Do this, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded."
The booming voice faded away, leaving them to process in silence. Above their shocked faces, the clouds evaporate in the Enchanted Ceiling. Then, like iron filings flaking to the surface of a magnet, every eye finds Harry.
Pancy from Slytherin house stepped forward and pointed at Harry, "Potter's there! Someone grab him!"
Instinctively, Ginny steps in front of Harry with her wand drawn.
Then, as one, the Gryffindors assemble in a line and face towards the Slytherins, shielding Harry. Moments later, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs do the same. Harry's eyes glitter at the sight, emotionally moved.
McGonagall's eyes turn to Harry. She rises to her full height, her jaw firm, "I presume you have a reason for returning, Potter. What is it you need?"
"Time. As much as you can give me."
"Do what you have to do. We'll secure the castle."
"Is that possible, Professor?"
"We teachers are rather good at magic, Potter. We've even been known to turn out a worthwhile witch or wizard occasionally," Flitwick said, smirking and winking.
McGonagall nodded in agreement, "I think it's time I ask a few of them to take their magic beyond the classroom. What d'you think?"
Hermione grinned and tightly held Harry and Ron's hand, "I think you're right."
The golden trio ran from the Hall on a mission to find what was lost.
McGonagall calls for Neville and the other DA members, "I need you a lot to blow the bridge and keep the Death Eaters off the grounds."
Neville gave her a confused look, "What?"
"Blow the bridge up."
"Let me get this straight, Professor. You're permitting us to do this? That is to blow it up. Boom."
"Correct, Longbottom."
"Wicked," Neville turned to Ginny and Seamus, "Um... exactly how do you propose we do this, Professor?"
"Why don't you confer with Mr. Finnegan? As I recall, he has a particular penchant for pyrotechnics."
Seamus grinned with a magical glint, "I can bring 'er down."
"That's the spirit. Now off you go."
Neville, Ginny, Seamus, and the rest of the DA peel off from the Great Hall on a mission filled with excitement and fear. The Professors of the castle marched through the castle, leaving prefects to escort the snakes back to their common room.
When they were locked in their common room, safe from interfering and messing with the battle, McGonagall led every Professor out into the courtyard to prepare.
Flitwick turned nervously to McGonagall as they stood under the stars, "You realize, of course, that nothing we do will be able to keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely."
"That doesn't mean we can't hold him up," Sprout said.
"His name is Voldemort, Filius. You might as well use it. He's going to try to kill you either way." With that, McGonagall raises her wand and points it toward the Great Hall.
"Piertotum Locomotor!" she cast, looking as excited as a schoolgirl again.
Hunn stood with Fred and George in the corridor, clutching their hands, "This is it."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay with the boys?" Fred asked, thinking about their twins being safe with Tonk's mother and her child.
She shook her head, "You know I can't do that."
Her men wrapped her in their arms and laughed, "It was worth a shot."
"You know we're scared of anything happening to you."
She knew they were scared; she was scared herself of losing them, but there was no way in hell she would be able to sit with her boys and be able to wait this out, "I love you. Both of you."
"We love you too," Fred and George spoke together. They pulled apart when they heard a loud bang. Turning, they saw Harry wondering and looking quite confused.
"Harry!" Hunn called out, stepping away from her husbands embrace.
"Sorry, I can't talk. I need to get to the room of requri..."
"Requirements?"
He nodded, "To find the..."
"Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw."
He nodded again, listening intently, waiting for her to speak.
"Do you even know what it looks like?"
He motioned around his head, "It's like a crown... maybe... blue..."
"No, don't think of a crown, more like a tiara... delicate and feminine," Hunn told him, smiling at his male thoughts.
"You know what it looks like?"
Hunn nodded. She knew exactly what it looked like. She had studied it intently while in school as a part of their History of Magic class in her seventh year.
"Can you help?"
"Definitely," Hunn and Harry run to the room of requirement and dart inside.
Together, they ran into the room, looking for clues but seeing nothing immediately.
"Of course, he would be smart enough to hide it where students hide their unwanted crap."
Harry faltered as they turned the corner, causing his knees to buckle, "We're getting close. I can feel it."
They wandered down a row with stacks of books as high as the ceiling close to falling. Hunn wrapped her arms under Harry and held him up as they walked. Harry paused before a smaller stack and pushed books away, causing them to fall to the floor. He revealed an aged and dusty goblin bust. On top of its head sat a delicate diadem. The silver shone brightly in the dim light; diamonds and sapphires sparkled, or they would have if they had been cared for properly.
In their place were two large eyes staring back at them, unblinking and full of hate.
"That's it, Harry. You've found it. Gosh, it's beautiful... Maybe I could wear it for just a moment..." Hunn suggested, starting to be mesmerized by the beautiful eyes.
"No," Harry snapped. He slapped away her reaching hand and snatched the Diadem.
Hunn focused again, "I'm sorry. I looked at it, and it felt a powerful urge to wear it..."
"Don't worry. We need to find Ron and Herm..."
"Well, well, what brings you here, Potter?" Draco's voice interrupts as he walks in, surrounded by his friends Blaise and Goyle. They strolled past the unwanted garbage, smirking like they were a step away from winning.
"I could ask you the same," Harry retorts almost automatically, so used to his and Draco's bickering.
"I virtually lived here last year. Remember?"
"I remember."
"You have something of mine. I'd like it back," Draco gestures to the wand sticking out of Harry's pocket.
Harry laughs, "What's wrong with the one you have?"
"It's my mother's. It's potent, but it's not the same. It doesn't... understand me. Know what I mean?"
Hurry nods, "I know what that's like. First, I have a question. Why didn't you tell her?"
Draco doesn't respond, and Hunn is eating up this intense exchange like the soap opera she had seen on muggle television.
"Bellatrix, you knew it was me. You didn't say anything."
Blaise and Goyle, confused by this, regard Draco dimly from either side. Draco fidgets, his hand twitching on his mother's wand, "Give me my wand."
"No, I don't think so..." With blatant disregard, Harry removes the wand from his pocket and ponders it, "Besides, its allegiance is to me now. If you want it, you'll have to win it back. Perhaps even kill me..."
"C'mon, Draco. Don't be a prat. Just do 'im," Blaise says teasingly
Bored of the slow exchange, Goyle raises his wand, "Avada Kedavra!" The spell bounces off the Diadem, spinning into the room endlessly.
Hunn whips out her wand now, and fires spells in their direction, distracting them enough that Harry can run away while she follows behind, defending him as they run.
The three Death Eaters fall behind, and Hunn turns to catch up with Harry. They run through the maze of trash for what feels like forever when they hear a loud hiss followed by a bright, almost blinding red and orange light.
Everything felt warm, and suddenly, she realized why. Pumping her legs harder, she nearly slams into Harry when he goes to stop and turn. Hunn grabs him by the scruff and tugs him on, "Goyle's set the bloody place on fire!"
They race through the stacks of forgotten treasure and trash. They climb when cornered and end up on top of one of the highest stacks, trying to find a way out.
The blaze is catching up, and just as they lose hope, Harry spots a pile of old brooms, "Grab one! We need to fly!"
Hunn grins, "You're brilliant! Accio brooms!"
The brooms fly at them, and standing their ground, they hold out their hand and manage to catch two of them. Only getting whacked a few times as the others fly past their heads. They fly through the air away from the flames. They were flying as fast as they could.
Hunn darts out the door into the corridor and crashes into the wall, feeling her bones ache as she turns to search for Harry.
Expecting Harry to be close behind her, she is stunned to find Harry lagging with Draco on the back of his broom. Hunn jumps to her feet, and Ron and Hermione race around the corner, nearly tumbling into her.
"Bloody hell. Tell me you didn't risk your life for Malfoy!"
Hermione is holding a fang, and as Hunn goes to explain, Harry and the Diadem crash to the floor, having escaped the fire.
Hermione's mouth dropped open as she drew her wand. "That's Fiendfyre! Close the door before it burns the castle down!"
Almost as if on instinct, Ron punts the Diadem into the magical blaze, and Hermione uses her wand to slam the door.
Ron looks around, panting, "Now what?"
Screams ring through the Hall, and a loud crash kicks them into gear, "We need to make sure everyone is okay, "Harry says, picking himself up again.
Hunn dusts herself off and nods, "Let's go."