Harry runs off with Hermione and Ron, leaving Hunn to search for Fred and George. They were the only things on Hunn's mind. Crashes and screams ring and rattle her to her very core. Young students ran through the halls, and Death Eaters cursed at anything that moved and could hold a wand.
The night air filled her lungs, and a giant nearly crushed her. It's foot slamming down only a few feet from where she stood.
When a Death Eater nearby whipped out her wand, Hunn didn't take a second to think about it. She flicked her wand and sent a defensive shield spell to protect the student running past.
The killing curse rebounds and hits the Death Eater in the chest, killing them instead. They fall to the ground with a hard thud.
Energy filled Hunn from her head to her toes, and she took off running, fighting any Death Eater or beast that crossed her path. She killed without thinking and without regret, sometimes to save a life, and sometimes just because it was a Death Eater that would try to kill.
Flashes of red and green spells flew from all angels as Hunn searched for her husbands. They were nowhere to be seen as she dodged a falling rock and ran inside to reach the halls. Bodies littered the floor from both sides of the battle.
The castle fell apart in chunks of walls, and flames spread throughout. Rounding the corner to the Great Hall, she saw many members of The Order fighting.
A giant spider ran at Tonks as she reached for Lupin, who was crawling away from the flames that were licking at his heels, but she could not bridge the few inches that separated their fingers.
The giant spider nipped at her outreached hand, and before Hunn could do anything, the creature took Tons by the arm and slammed her against the wall with a loud and clear thud.
Hunn flung a spell at the creature, sending it flying against the opposite wall. It landed with a shriek, its legs curling inward.
Molly was standing not far away with Ginny at her side when a random Death Eater whipped a spell in their direction. Hunn rushed to their side just as Molly shielded her daughter and took to the offensive, casting an unrelenting wave of magic in their direction.
A familiar voice screams, "Hunn!"
Her eyes found the source, Fred. He had his wand drawn and pointed right at her as he sent a curse above her head at a foul-faced snatcher who was ready to pounce on her while she was distracted.
Looking back at her husband, she smiled and went to scream, 'Thank you,' as a Death Eater, she recognized Augustus Rookwood and launched a spell at the crumbling wall above Fred's head. A scream ripped from her lips as the wall fell and pushed Fred down to the ground, crushing him.
Tears sprang forth, but her wand was faster than her grief as she threw the killing curse at Rockwood in her rage. He fell with a smile still on his lips to the ground dead.
Spells are flying all around her head, pushing her into the Great Hall with the students and shattered members of The Order. The Death Eaters were using their numbers to push them back until they were all inside.
Voldemort's voice filled their minds, causing everyone to halt and freeze.
The glass windows shook until they could no longer bear it and shattered, raining colored glass all around, "You all have fought bravely but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I, therefore, command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured," his pause screams louder than any of his words, "Harry Potter, I speak now directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. Should you do so, I promise that no other life will be lost on this night. You have one hour. If you have not given up at the end, I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you from me."
The Death Eaters retreated as commanded, and everyone in the hall breathed a collective sigh of relief. The healthy sprang into action to care for the wounded and lay out the dead to be claimed and recorded.
Hunn scrambled out into the crumbling corridor where Fred lay under rubble and ash, where he was attacked. Her movements were jerky, and her wand shook as she lifted the rocks away one by one until she could finally see his head of red, firey hair sticking out in tufts.
Working hard to keep herself steady, she lifted the remaining rocks off his body until he was clear. Without a word or cry, she fell beside her husband, who was still clutching his wand, and rolled him onto her lap so she could stroke his hair away from his dirt-covered face.
He was still smiling.
Fred's face was covered in blood and ash. His clothes were torn and bloody.
The dam broke, and sobs fell from her, as did her tears while she clutched her broken lover to her chest. Panic was setting in as warm, strong hands wrapped all her shoulders, holding her as she sobbed.
"Why are you crying so bloody much?" A warm and rough voice asked.
Lifting herself away, she saw Fred gazing up at her from her lap, grinning and clutching his side as he broke out into laughter.
"Fred, you utter arse."
He smiles at her, "You wouldn't have me any other way, babe."
She knew he was right, but not wanting to encourage bad behavior, she pinched his arm and lifted him to his feet. They worked together to reach the entrance of the Great Hall, and before they entered, Fred turned to his wife and whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too. Now let's go find George."
Ginny rushed to their side and helped them both in and to a table where they could rest, "I'm glad you two are okay. Have you seen George?"
"No, can you find him and look for Harry? I haven't seen him in ages."
"Don't want him to do anything stupid," Fred added, wincing as Hunn checked his tender ribs.
When Fred was situated and wrapped up tightly, Hunn moved on to the other injured and worked as quickly as possible to help as many people as possible before the fighting began again.
Flitwick's face was laced with deep gashes when Hunn reached him, where he sat among the students he fought alongside.
"Let me seal these together, professor."
He cringed in pain as she worked, "You were always one of my favorite students, Hunn. I always knew you would do great and wonderful things."
"Thank you, Professor," Hunn smiled and squeezed his smaller hand, "You were always my favorite teacher."
He waved her off, smiling brightly, pleased with her comment nonetheless.
Hunn moves quickly with a bit more pep in her step to a long line of injured students when a deep and panicked voice yells for her and Fred. George stood in the doorway to the Great Hall, covered in dirt, blood, and ash, as his eyes scanned the crowded room.
When his eyes landed on Fred, he ran for his brother. Hunn jogged to him and wrapped both her husbands in her arms tightly, "Thank fuck you're okay."
Molly joined them weeping as she hugged them before collapsing onto the floor. Puffy-eyed and pale, Ginny takes her mother in her arms just as Ron runs over.
He draped his arm over Fred and George, drawing his brothers into a limp embrace as they looked down on the lifeless body of their father.
Arthur lays on the ground with his eyes closed next to Percy. They were both dead and not the only ones. At least a hundred were gone, and more were being found under the rubble.
Lupin lay over Tonks' body, crying and clutching her close to his chest. Hagrid was close by, his massive body noticeable everywhere in the room. His face was barely recognizable, having been bitten by a rampaging spider and killed by the venom.
The dead filled the room just as much, if not more, than the living.
Peeling herself away from everyone, Hunn returned to work helping the injured.
She worked her magic hard for many hours, and by the time George wrapped her in his arms, the sun was rising, and many were sleeping.
"Come on. You need rest. We're not finished yet."
Hunn nodded and let him lead her toward Fred, who was sleeping propped up against the wall. She settled down between them and drifted off to sleep.
The castle was quiet as the sun rose higher, and everyone slept for a few hours until a loud cracking woke them with a start. Everyone rose to their feet and gathered outside in a desolate courtyard. The Death Eaters, led by Voldemort, were approaching. He strode toward the castle with his wand held high and a large mass floating before him.
"Who's that?" Ginny asked, peering around everyone to get a clearer look at what was happening.
Neville stares, mute.
Ginny's eyes shift to him and then back to Voldemort, who was grinning.
"Neville, who is that?"
Before he can answer, others begin to spill out of the castle.
Luna and Seamus.
Cho and Molly.
Ron and Hermione.
Fred steps up, "What's going on here, Neville?"
Voldemort grins with cruel satisfaction, "Behold, Nagini. Our work is done."
The world seems to stop until Ginny screams in pain, "No... No!" Her primal cry echoes over the grounds as she rushes towards Voldemort, but George steps up and wraps her in his arms, letting her struggle briefly before pulling her tighter, closer, safer.
"Silence!" Voldemort points his wand to the sky, letting Harry's body drop. Voldemort gestures to the body lying still on the ground, "Tell me. These last few hours, as you collected the dead and tended your wounded, was he by your side?
Voldemort surveys the throng, who stand mute and teary-eyed.
He nods as if their silence were answer enough, "While your hands ran dark with the blood of mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, brothers and sisters, his were clasped in prayer, but it was a prayer for one and one only. While you battled courageously until you could no longer will yourself to stand, he had long since fallen to his knees. While you cursed me until your voices grew ragged, he begged me for mercy in a voice as meek as a child's," Voldemort's eyes narrow, "So do not cry for that. He's not worthy of your tears, and do not despair of his betrayal. You were never in his heart. Not for one single, solitary beat."
Ron screams, "Liar!"
Voldemort flicks his wand, and Ron drops to his knees, grimacing in pain, "Did you not hear me? Harry Potter is dead! From this day forward, you put your faith in me or suffer the consequences. HARRY POTTER IS DEAD!"
Nagini hisses madly as Voldemort, looking a touch mad himself, rakes his eyes over the students and staff, "Now is the time to declare yourself."
There is a nervous murmur among the crowd.
Lucius Malfoy steps forward and raises his arms, "Draco..."
All eyes turn to Draco, who is frozen still at the back of students.
Lucius smiles thinly, "Draco, don't be stupid..."
Still, Draco does not move.
Narcissa Malfoy steps forward, smiling, "Come, Draco," Her tone is quiet but absolute.
Draco looks into her eyes, then ducks his head to avoid looking at his mother and father, "He saved my life," he whispers.
Draco falters briefly and looks up into the crowd of Death Eaters, "Harry Potter saved my life."
Voldemort stands tall, strong, and angry, "You are my Death Eater," he hisses angrily.
"I will live with that mistake forever, but I won't make another," Everything is silent as Draco's words sink in.
"So be it!" Voldemort growls, "Who will make the correct choice and join me?"
In stunned silence, the others watch Neville, blackened with soot, step forward.
"Well, I must say, I'd hoped for better. Is this truly the best Hogwarts has to offer?"
The Death Eaters laugh. Bellatrix grins in cruel amusement.
"Who might you be, young..."
"Neville Longbottom."
"Well, welcome, Neville. We can find a place for you in our ranks."
Bellatrix grins, "Someone has to do the washing."
The Death Eaters roar with laughter.
"Now, now, Bellatrix. Let's not underestimate our young friends. By stepping forward, he lives to see another day," Voldemort's eyes shift regarding those standing before him.
The implication of his statement is not lost on them. They would die.
"I'd like to say something," Neville says, grabbing the sorting hat.
Voldemort's brow furrows, "Very well, Neville. We'd all be fascinated to hear what you say."
Neville turns to the others, their weary faces regarding him with confusion and suspicion, "It doesn't matter that Harry is gone."
The crowds go silent.
"People die every day. Friends. Family. Yes, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us, here," He points to his heart, "And so is Hagrid, Tonks and... all of them. They didn't die in vain."
Neville stands tall and glares at the Death Eaters, "But you will, and you and you and you will." he says, pointing at each Death Eater in turn before resting on Voldemort, "And so will you because you're wrong. Harry's heart did beat for us. All of us..."
Neville takes a step forward, looks Voldemort in the eye, and spits at his feet before reading into the Sorting Hat, "This isn't over."
The Sword of Gryffindor pulls free, and Voldemort's curse rebounds into a group of Death Eaters standing nearby. Harry hops to his feet and snatches a wand from a stunned Death Eater. He looks to Neville and nods to the snake, "Kill it."
Neville nods and moves into action, quickly closing on the hissing snake. Nagini moves away rapidly from Neville's strikes and attempts to reunite with her master.
The strongest of the order moves forward to attack the Death Eaters while still in shock, sending spells in every direction, hoping they'll take someone out.
Hell breaks loose all around them at that moment, and curses fly. The battle is on again, and Harry attacks Voldemort just as Neville swings at the snake, taking its head off in one swipe.
Voldemort's scream echoes throughout, filled with pain and rage. He sweeps down and away from Harry, attempting to dodge and throwing his killing curse at him.
He misses, "Why do you live!"
As Voldemort's face looms close, eyeing Harry like a curious specimen, Harry looks up at the castle from their new vantage point and smiles, "Because I have something worth living for."
Angrily, Voldemort poises the Elder Wand over Harry's scar.
The flesh there begins to color with blood, burning as the lightning bolt turns white as paper.
Voldemort's hand holding the Elder Wand begins to shake.
He stares at it and watches in horror as the wood begins to crack and expand along its length. He only stares momentarily as if betrayed by his last weapon.
Harry takes his moment and flicks his wrist, "Confringo!"
The tendrils of Voldemort's cloak burst into flames as he fell. With his mind racing, Voldemort dashes away into the castle with Harry hot on his heels and uses his Death Eaters as a distraction as he gathers his wits.
Bellatrix grins at her master and laughs madly as she climbs a table for a better view. She sprays the room with spells, hoping to hit anyone.
One flies by Ginny, nearly hitting her in the chest.
Molly turns to Bellatrix with fire in her eyes, "Not my daughter. You bitch!"
"Come on, granny, give us your best." Bellatrix taunts, laughing madly.
Mrs. Weasley fires a volley of spells, and Bellatrix's smile fades, knowing Molly has skills, "Be thankful we only took one. Besides... you can always pop out another," Bella cackles, "Wait, we got a dear old dad. Sorry!"
Just as Bellatrix counters, a jet of light hits her over her heart, filled with Molly's rage, and her smile falls. Her lungs collapse with her chest, and blood pools in her mouth as she gasps for air. When she hits the ground, she is dead.
Harry rises from the ground nearby, and Voldemort fires again, but Harry rises again. Furious, Voldemort steps forward and points the wand only inches from Harry's forehead, seething.
Harry glances behind, his vision spinning before he turns back to Voldemort, "You were right."
Voldemort's eyes glitter curiously.
Harry's eyes drift to the wand in Voldemort's hand, "When you told Professor Snape it was failing you. It will always fail you."
"It belongs to me! I killed Snape!"
"But what if the wand never belonged to him? What if the wand's allegiance was to someone else?"
Voldemort stares at him, confused and concerned.
Harry lunges at Voldemort and grins, "Come on, Tom. Let's end this the way we started it..." He grabs Voldemort's cloak and shoves him back as he raises his wand.
They both cast their spells, but Harry's is clearly stronger. They hold their grand until they can no longer break apart, their magic crackling in the air. With their chests heaving, they stare at one another, then Voldemort's eyes shift following as the Elder wand is forced from his hand, his spell hitting him in the chest as it turns over on end in the air until it falls.
Harry watches the Elder Wand roll to a rest, "I told you it would never listen, Tom."
Voldemort stands utterly still for a long moment, his eyes on Harry, then drops to his knees and falls once more to the floor, dead.
A light breeze blows over the damaged grounds, whistling through the shell of the castle.
Harry walks over the castle grounds for several with Hermione and Ron. They can still hear the celebration nearby. He takes the broken bits of his wand from his pocket and uses the Elder Wand to repair it. It works like new, and Harry can't help but smile.
"I don't know what to do with it," he says, looking at the wand.
"It's the strongest wand ever created. We could do so much!" Ron goes on excitedly, thinking of all the possibilities.
"Maybe we could use it to free the house elves, or... or..."
Harry holds both ends of the powerful wand in his hands and feels the wood groan when a red light flashes, sending the wand hurtling through the air.
"Harry James Potter, are you daft?" Hunn screams, still holding her wand in the air directed at him. Her heart beating frantically in her chest.
He stares at her confused, "I was just going to..."
"Going to what? Snap the most powerful wand in half?" She scolded him as she used her wand to call it to her hand.
His cheeks flush, realizing that was exactly what he would do, and then he looks up at her and smiles deviously.
Frustrated beyond belief at this boy, Hunn holds the Elder Wand up to her eye, inspecting it for damage before holding it out to him.
Harry refuses, holding up his hands, "Nope, that's not my problem anymore, he tells her, laughing.
It was Hunn's turn to look down at the wand in her hand as she realized what she'd done, "Oh, for fucks sake."
Harry bursts out laughing, and so does Hunn.
Hermione and Ron rant about everything they could do with the wand as they walk back to the castle together to celebrate.
They were finally free.