Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks to SingularityStar, who beta this story for me.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Battle of Hogwarts
"The Battle of Hogwarts," Percy read in a grave voice and several people groaned at this.
Mentions behind her the remaining teachers, including the centaur, Firenze:
"Firenze is one of our professors?" Harry said.
"Who's Firenze?" Ron asked.
"He's the centaur that saved me from Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest in our first year," Harry said.
"Oh, him …" Ron started to say.
"WHAT?!" a few people exclaimed.
"Er … I suppose I didn't tell any of you that," Harry smiled sheepishly.
"You mean that thing … that was the Dark Lord," Draco paled.
"Wait a second … are you telling me that you went into the Forbidden Forest with this git," Fred said pointing at Draco.
"It's not like we had a choice, we were in detention," Harry said.
"What?" Molly exclaimed again and looked at McGonagall and Dumbledore. "You gave them detention in the Forbidden Forest!"
"Hagrid had begged me to let him be the one to give them the detention," McGonagall sighed, normally she wouldn't have listened to something like that, but she knew she had been a little harsh on the three of them and she thought this might have been something they would want. "Believe me, if I knew what he was planning I wouldn't have let this happen."
"Hmph!" Molly huffed.
"And yes, I believe that Firenze is going to become the Divination Professor," Dumbledore said. "I have already talked to him and asked if he would join our staff if, and apparently, I should say when, Umbridge fire Sybill. I felt it prudent to have a backup seeing as we don't want another Ministry employee inside our school."
"No … we definitely don't want that," Harry agreed darkly.
Ernie stood up and asked and what if we want to stay and fight:
"Ha … it's a Hufflepuff that offers to fight first! Take that Gryffindors! Loyalty is better than bravery," Tonks cheered.
"Believe that if you must Tonks," Sirius said shaking his head. "But everyone else knows the truth."
Mentions that Harry was still looking for Ron and Hermione:
"I don't think we're there," Hermione frowned. "Where are we?"
"In the bathroom supposedly," Ron shrugged, looking worried.
"But that doesn't make any sense … that can't be where we really are," Hermione frowned. "We wouldn't have just disappeared like this when Harry needs us."
"Well, then maybe you're in a special bathroom or something," Sirius said.
"Special bathroom … what does that even mean?" Percy said rolling his eyes, but the trio were all looking at one another thoughtfully.
"You don't think that we would actually go there do you," Hermione said to them.
"Go where?" Charlie asked.
"It would make sense," Harry said thoughtfully. "One of you must have realized that we could destroy the Horcrux if you go there."
"Go where?" Charlie asked again, but this time he was joined by the twins and Sirius.
"You're talking about the Chamber of Secrets, aren't you?" Ginny said shivering.
"Yeah," the trio answered together.
"I see … that is a rather brilliant plan," Dumbledore said.
"What's the plan?" Charlie asked.
"I think we'll just let you see," Ron said smiling at him and Percy chuckled as he started reading again (Charlie was looking rather mad at the moment).
Voldemort says give me Harry Potter and they shall not be harmed, I shall leave the school untouched, and you will be rewarded:
"Does he honestly think that we would follow that nonsense?!" McGonagall said. "We would not just hand over a student like that."
"Even if it would save more students if you did just hand him over," Draco questioned.
"It would not save anyone, Malfoy," McGonagall said coldly.
"I know, because Saint Potter is the only one that can kill the Dark Lord," Draco said. "But what if he wasn't … would you still put one student's safety above all the others."
"Yes, I would," McGonagall said. "It would not be right to hand someone over, someone that is innocent and has done nothing wrong. I would not want to put anyone else in harm's way if it could be avoided, but that doesn't mean I would let this happen."
Mentions that every eye in the place seemed to have found Harry:
"I suppose we shall see what everyone else thinks about this," Draco muttered to himself.
"I think most of them will agree with Minerva," Severus said. "They have lived through a year under the Dark Lord's control and that is enough for them to see that they don't like it."
Pansy says but he's there, Potter's there, someone grab him:
"You were saying Professor," Draco said.
Severus actually chuckled at this, "I was not thinking about my Slytherins, they would likely have enjoyed all that was happening … likely being treated better with the new change … I was talking about the other houses."
"Yes, so was I," Draco admitted. "I would have thought that at least a few of them would want to turn in Potter to save their own necks."
"As if," Tonks rolled her eyes.
Mentions the sound of the Slytherins trooping out on the other side of the Hall:
"It doesn't sound like any of them are going to stay behind," Charlie said.
"And if they did, I would be worried about them actually being on the Death Eater's side," Sirius said darkly.
Harry says where are Ron and Hermione:
"You really shouldn't have asked us that question Harry," Ginny said seriously. "All it's going to do is make Mum and Dad worry."
"I was probably starting to panic myself," Harry sighed.
Kingsley says Remus, Arthur, and I will take groups into the grounds:
"He probably should have called him Lupin... everyone there would have remembered you, but they wouldn't know the name Remus" Hermione pointed out.
"I don't like the sound of that," Molly said squeezing her husband, she had nearly lost him just a few days ago, she didn't want to think about what might happen to him if he was going to be on the grounds. That was going to be the first place they will be attacked … probably the most dangerous too.
Kingsley says we'll need someone to defend the entrance or the passageways into the school and Fred says sounds like a job for us:
"Oh dear," Molly moaned again, that didn't sound any safer than being on the grounds.
"But we're the ones that know the passageways best," Fred said to his mum. "Of course, we would be the ones to guard them."
McGonagall says Potter, aren't you supposed to be looking for something:
"Honestly Harry, you have more important things to be doing than just standing around," Hermione said.
"Hmph, well maybe if you didn't disappear on me, I wouldn't have been just standing around," Harry huffed.
"It's not my fault you can't figure out where we are," Hermione shrugged with a smirk.
Mentions that without Ron and Hermione to help him he could not seem to marshal his ideas:
Ron and Hermione looked smug about this.
"I've told you before I can't do anything without you guys," Harry chuckled.
Mentions that Harry couldn't see Ron or Hermione on the Marauder's Map:
"That's assuming that we would be in the Room of Requirement," Hermione said.
"Which you might be," Remus said reasonably. "If you had returned from wherever, you are, you would likely go back there because that's, where you believe Harry would be."
"I suppose that's true," Hermione allowed. "But I think it's more likely that we're in the Chamber … I doubt that's on the map and that's why Harry can't see us."
Harry thinks Voldemort thought I'd go to Ravenclaw Tower:
"Yes, good reasoning Potter," Severus said, not realizing that he had said it out loud until everyone turned to look at him. "Well, it was," he added feeling unnerved by the looks he was getting.
"Oh, we know that we're just surprised that you can actually admit that," Bill said with a chuckle.
Mentions how was it possible that Voldemort had found the diadem that had eluded generations of Ravenclaws:
"Because the Dark Lord is more cunning than the Ravenclaws are," Severus said. "He can find things that no one else can."
Mentions no one had seen the diadem in living memory, in living memory:
"You don't think the Gray Lady knows where the diadem is?" McGonagall said looking astounded by this revelation.
"She might, she had been in this castle almost as long as it has existed," Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "I know that many have asked her about this, but she never answers them..."
Mentions beneath his fingers, Harry's eyes flew open again:
"Maybe you should always keep your eyes close Potter, you seem to think better that way," Draco chuckled.
"Maybe you should come up with better insults, that one was kind of lame," Harry commented.
"You're right, I'll try better next time," Draco sighed.
Mentions that Harry saw Zacharias Smith bowling over first years to get to the front of the queue:
"What a bloody git!" Ginny hissed.
"Stupid coward!" Ron agreed.
"You really should let us use one of our products on him," Fred said.
"For insulting Dumbledore's Army like this," George added.
"This guy is in Dumbledore's Army?" Sirius said looking shocked. "Is he not a Slytherin."
"As if," Draco rolled his eyes. "He's a Hufflepuff … worthless git, too."
"Hufflepuff huh, what were you saying Tonks?" Sirius said, turning to Tonks with a smirk that was wiped off his face as soon as he looked at her. She looked seriously angry at this behavior.
"That this guy doesn't deserve to be in our house," Tonks said. "He shows none of the qualities that we take pride in!"
Harry says Nick, Nick, I need to talk to you:
"I thought you were going to talk to the Gray Lady, she would be more helpful to you now," Remus said frowning.
"I don't even know who the Gray Lady is," Harry said. "I'll need Nick's help to point her out."
"Oh … I don't think Nick is going to like that," Sirius chuckled.
Mentions that Nick pointed at a tall ghost who caught sight of Harry looking at her, raised her eyebrows, and drifted away through a solid wall:
"Mm … obviously she doesn't want to talk to you," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I think she might know what we need to know."
Mentions Harry supposed the Gray Lady was beautiful, but she also looked haughty and proud:
"I don't see how that stops her from being beautiful," Draco said.
"What's this … does little Draky have a crush on the Gray Lady," George teased.
"No," Draco huffed, his cheek turning pink, though he wasn't lying, it was clear that everyone believed he was.
"I don't think that's it," Sirius said thoughtfully, "I bet he was thinking about his mother … she always looked haughty and proud to me …."
"That's not it," Draco huffed again, but this time he was lying.
The Gray Lady says I am afraid that I cannot help you:
"Argh! That's annoying!" Ron huffed. "She obviously knows something if she is smiling like that!"
Mentions it was a quarter to midnight:
Everyone got nervous about this, there was barely any time left for him to find the Horcrux, and then he still had to find a means to destroy the Horcruxes. Everyone was also thinking how unlikely it was that they would be able to do that before the time the battle started.
The Gray Lady says it – it is not a question of … My mother's diadem:
"Mother's!" Several people said. "She's the daughter of Rowena."
"Hm … I always wondered if she was," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
Percy didn't seem to really hear this, he was very interested in what the Gray Lady had to say, so he continued to read.
Mentions the Gray Lady looked angry with herself:
"Of course, she does, that was something that she had kept secret for centuries," Fred said. "She would hate that she just let it slip that easily.
The Gray Lady says I doubt that it would greatly increase your chances of defeating the wizard who calls himself Lord …:
"Was she going to say his name?" Ron asked surprised.
"It certainly seems that way," Dumbledore said.
"But I don't know why you're so shocked, she's dead, it's not like she has anything to be afraid of now," Ginny said.
Mentions a since of hopelessness engulfed Harry, if she had known anything she would have told Flitwick or Dumbledore, who probably asked her:
"Well, I have not, but Filius definitely has," Dumbledore said. "But that doesn't mean that she would have told him … or anyone else. I have found her to be a very private person … I don't think she would share information like this easily."
The Gray Lady says I stole the diadem from my mother:
"And I doubt anyone would want to admit to doing that," Draco added thoughtfully.
Helena Ravenclaw (the Gray Lady) says I stole the diadem, I sought to make myself cleverer, more important than my mother, I ran away with it:
"That seems silly," Hermione said frowning.
"Yeah, well it has to be hard to live under her mother's shadow," Remus said. "Having one of the brightest witches to ever exist and to have been so important in history … it would have been hard to always been compared to that … expected to be great."
"You should keep that in mind Mione, for any kid of your is likely to be feeling that way," Fred teased.
Helena says my mother never admitted that the diadem was gone, she concealed her loss, my betrayal, even from the other founders:
"Was that out of pride or because she didn't want the other to know that her daughter was the one that did this," Bill mumbled.
"Why don't you ask the Gray Lady and see if she tells you," Charlie suggested to his brother.
Helena says the baron was always a hot-tempered man, furious at my refusal, jealous of my freedom, he stabbed me:
"Ouch … that really sucks," Fred said.
"That's kind of a pointless way to die," George added.
Helena says the Bloody Baron, yes:
"Merlin no wondered I've never liked the man," Sirius said.
"I thought it was enough that he was a Slytherin," Remus said.
"Well yeah, but still … you've got to hate the guy more for stabbing a beautiful lady like this," Sirius shrugged.
Helena says a forest in Albania, a Lonely place I thought was far beyond my mother's reach:
"Albania," Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head. He had always known that there had to be some meaning behind Voldemort going there when he was in his weakened state, but he never would have imagined it was something like this.
Mentions Tom Riddle would certainly have understood Helena's desire to possess fabulous objects to which she had little right:
A few people snorted at this in agreement to Harry's thoughts.
Mentions the diadem became his precious Horcrux, had not been left in that lowly tree, no the diadem had been returned secretly to its true home:
"But, put it where?" Bill asked.
"I have no idea," Harry said.
"I hope the Harry in the book knows more than you do," Fred said.
"Me too," Harry agreed.
"Do you really think he had to remove it from the hollow tree … wouldn't it have been safer there than anywhere that Voldemort could put it?" Hermione questioned. "I mean then at least it wouldn't have too much connection with Voldemort."
"You have a point, but I don't believe that Voldemort would think that a hollow tree held enough prestige to harbor a Horcrux," Dumbledore said.
Harry says the night he asked for a job:
"That is what I thought as well," Dumbledore said frowning.
"Er … what am I talking about," Harry said.
"Voldemort had desired a job at Hogwarts …" Dumbledore started to explain.
"No way!" several people said paling at the very idea of that.
"I'm afraid it is true," Dumbledore said.
"What job did he want?" Fred questioned knowingly.
"Defense against the Dark Arts," Dumbledore said. "And yes, he is the one that has hexed the job, which is why I've never had the same Professor for that subject two years in a row."
Harry says but it was well worth trying to get the job, then he might've got the chance to nick Gryffindor's sword as well, thank you, thanks:
"Gryffindor's sword wasn't in my office until you pulled it out of the hat," Dumbledore informed him. "And I think I might add that the sorting hat was another of Gryffindor's possession so he might have been after that as well."
"But the hat could think for itself, wouldn't it be foolish to make it one of his Horcruxes," Hermione said.
"Yes, and I don't believe he would have ever actually used it," Dumbledore said. "But Voldemort has done many foolish things in this book, one of which was making the Horcruxes in the first place, so I wouldn't say he was above doing anything."
Mentions what hiding place had Tom Riddle discovered inside Hogwarts Castle, that he believed would remain secret forever:
"The Chamber of Secrets," Ginny suggested.
"That is quite true," Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"But you don't think it's there," Ginny observed.
"No, I don't think Voldemort would keep his secrets that he had discovered in the same place," Dumbledore said. "Seeing as he knew that if his diary was ever used that it would lead to the Chamber."
Ginny shuddered, she didn't want to think about the diary or the stupid Chamber. Harry grabbed her hand then and she felt herself relax.
Harry says Hagrid:
"Yeah, Hagrid's there!" several people cheered, but Harry wasn't one of them. It seemed like just about everyone he cared about was there now … he was worried sick about losing one or more of them.
Hagrid says not exactly what I meant, but where's Ron and Hermione:
"I do hope that Ron and Hermione show up soon," Molly mumbled, she was really starting to get worried about them, and though she knew they would likely be in more danger when they were back with Harry, at least she would be able to hear about them.
Mentions the first casualties of the battle were already strewn across the passage ahead:
This sentence has everyone tensing, wondering what he meant by the first casualties and fearing that there would be people there.
Mentions the two stone gargoyles:
Oh, everyone let out a relieved breath, but they couldn't really relax … they might not have been people this time, but there was no way that this war would end without real casualties in the future.
Mentions as he reached the end of the passage, the memory of a third stone effigy came back to him:
"What is this stone effigy that you're thinking about?" Fred questioned.
"I have no idea?" Harry said.
Mentions Harry knew, at last, where the Horcrux sat waiting for him:
"Well, it is a good thing that book Harry is smarter than you are," George said.
"I don't think smarter is the right word … just lived through more adventures," Harry said.
"Fine, if you don't want to be smarter in the future, who am I to argue," George chuckled.
Mentions Tom Riddle might have been arrogant enough to assume that he had penetrated the deepest mysteries of Hogwarts Castle:
"His arrogance truly has made him vulnerable," Remus said.
"Maybe so, but I daresay we all have weaknesses that we don't realize are so strong," Dumbledore said.
Mentions by Professor Sprout, who was thundering pass followed by Neville:
"Well, that's not really shocking, Neville will be able to handle the plants almost as well as Sprout can," Ginny mumbled to herself.
Sir Cadrigan says braggarts and rogues, dogs and scoundrels, drive them out, Harry Potter, see them off:
"Wow, I never thought I would say this, but I agree with Sir Cadrigan," Fred said.
"Who's Sir Cadriagan?" Arthur questioned, though he was more questioning about how all the younger students seem to know him so well.
"He guarded out portrait hole after this git slashed the Fat Lady up," George said glaring at Sirius.
"Thanks a lot for that mate, that guy was nuts," Fred added.
"He really was," Percy said, "he would be constantly changing the password, but he never listened to me or the Perfect about what they should be," Percy grumbled.
Mentions found Fred and knot of students Lee Jordan and Hannah Abbott, standing beside another empty plinth, that concealed a secret passageway:
"Am I not there," George said.
"We probably had to split up," Fred said, and they looked at each other and paled. They didn't like that idea one bit; they had always assumed that they would be together when it came to a fight like this.
"Seeing as you are both the ones that know the castle passageway so much, it would make sense that you would split up," Arthur said, but an uneasy knot fell into his stomach, something that all the Weasley seemed to be feeling, at this thought.
Mentions there were owls everywhere, and Mrs. Norris was hissing and trying to bat them with her paws, not doubt to return them to their proper place:
"Stupid cat," McGonagall shook her head, and everyone looked at her oddly.
"You actually don't like a cat!" Sirius said shock.
"Are you telling me that you like all dogs?" McGonagall raised her eyebrow.
"Well … not all of them," Sirius admitted.
"Then it shouldn't be a surprise that I don't like this cat," McGonagall said.
Aberforth says I've had hundreds of kids thundering through my pub, Potter:
"So, he came all the way here to yell at Harry," Fred chuckled.
"I think he has come to fight," Dumbledore smiled sadly.
Aberforth says attacking because they haven't handed you over, yeah, I'm not deaf, the whole of Hogsmeade heard him:
"That was foolish of Voldemort," Bill said. "I'm sure there's more than a few people in Hogsmeade that are fed up with the Death Eaters being in their town all the time … they would want to fight too and now he's told them."
"Do you really think that they would want to fight?" Fleur asked. "That they wouldn't be afraid to help?"
"Oh, I'm sure they will be afraid," Bill allowed, "But I'm also sure that they will want to fight."
Aberforth says never occurred to you to keep a few Slytherins hostage, they are kids of Death Eaters you just sent to safety:
"He does have a point, the Death Eaters would have been more cautious if we were still in the castle," Draco said.
"It wouldn't have stopped them," Severus said. "There are few that would be willing to disobey the Dark Lord's orders. … his wrath would have been terrible."
"Besides, it's not something I would do," Harry said. "I couldn't let innocent people be held hostage just to give myself a shield."
"Mate, you just call the Slytherins innocent," Ron said to Harry.
"Er … I guess I did," Harry said a little shocked by that himself. "But they are, aren't they? Most of them have never done anything. Sure, they might grow up to be maniacs like their parents, but right now they're just kids."
"Who are you and what have you don't with my best mate?!" Ron questioned.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "he right Ronald, there's no point in blaming them for things they haven't done yet. Honestly, if we didn't assume that they were all going to be rotten from the beginning then the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin wouldn't have been as strong and things might not have been this bad."
"Yeah, but the Slytherin's wouldn't have just left us alone," Ron rolled his eyes. "You know that Malfoy picked all the fights with us … if he didn't come at us, we wouldn't have even spoke to him."
"Oh yes I'm sure that's true," Severus rolled his eyes. "I'm sure …."
"Actually, he's right," Draco admitted. "I'm not sure if I started every fight, but if not it's only one or two of them …."
"Hm … you're less like your father than I thought," Severus said to Harry who looked like he had just been insulted (he was also remembering Sirius saying that to him not too long ago).
"He means that as a compliment," Remus rolled his eyes. "James and Sirius had a thing for cursing just about every Slytherin they saw … especially Severus."
"And what about you Lupin, I seem to recall you being there a lot too?" Severus said bitterly.
"If you had any brains at all you would have known that those times you had more than a few of your buddies with you," Sirius said.
"The point is," Remus said speaking loudly as he held onto Sirius shoulder.
"Did my dad really curse people just for being Slytherin," Harry frowned.
"That was mostly my idea," Sirius sighed. "I hated Slytherins … it made me think about my family too much. I wouldn't say that James was sad about this, but I'm the one that usually started the fight."
"Oh … right," Harry sighed and then he motioned Percy to continue reading.
Mentions then he skidded around a final corner and yell of mingled relief and fury he say them, Ron and Hermione:
"Oh, thank Merlin!" Molly said, and everyone else, especially Ron and Hermione, looked relieved that they were there.
Mentions both with their arms full of large, curved, dirty yellow objects, Ron with a broomstick under his arms:
"Well, we were definitely right about the Chamber," Ron chuckled. "And it looks like it worked perfectly."
"Wait a second … how did you even get the Chamber open?" Ginny asked. "You have to be a Parselmouth"
"Er …" Ron said, not having an answer to that.
"I think the best way to finding out how we did it is to have Percy read," Hermione pointed out.
Hermione says it was Ron, all Ron's idea:
"Really," Ron said looking pleased.
Hermione says wasn't it absolutely brilliant, I said to Orn even if we found the other one, how were we going to get rid of it, and he thought of the basilisk:
"The basilisk!" several people gasped.
"Of course," Arthur said.
"You mean to tell me there's a basilisk corpse in the school somewhere," Molly said to Dumbledore.
"Yes, I didn't know how to get down to the chamber, for I do not speak Parseltongue and I didn't want to ask Harry to go down there again," Dumbledore said. "But believe be that no student could have just wondered across the basilisk my accident."
"Besides, it looks like it's a good thing that the basilisk is still down there, we've needed it to destroy the Horcrux," Hermione said.
Harry asks but how did you get in there, you need to speak Parseltongue and Hermione says he did:
"I spoke Parseltongue?!" Ron said looking shocked. "How?"
"Who knows Ronnie, the important thing is that you've really done a brilliant job," Charlie said.
"Yeah, you definitely maximize your time wisely," Percy said. "Finding a way of destroying the Horcruxes while Harry found out where the other Horcrux was … that was very good."
"Thanks," Ron said, his ear bright red.
Ron made horrible hissing noise and says it's what you did to open the locket:
"Oh," Ron said, yes, he would remember what Harry said that day … everything about that event must have been burned on his memories.
Hermione says he was amazing … Amazing:
"Well, it seems like you've really impressed her, Ronniekins," Fred chuckled. "I think it's about time you make your move."
"I'll take that into advisement," Ron chuckled and wrapped his arm around Hermione.
Ron says we're another Horcrux down, Hermione stabbed it, thought she should, she hasn't had the pleasure yet:
"Oh yeah, I'm sure it was such a pleasure," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well, both me and Harry have destroyed one, it was time you got off your pretty arse and stabbed one!" Ron chuckled as Hermione looked affronted by his comment.
"Ronald Weasley, I don't want to hear that kind of language coming out of your mouth," Molly reprimanded.
Harry says I know what the diadem looks like, and I know where it is, he hid it exactly where I had my old Potions book:
"Why would I hide my old Potions book?" Harry said looking confused.
Everyone seemed to be confused by this expect for Severus, he was deep in thought. Could it be possible … is there a way that Harry could have gotten his old Potion book. The one where he wrote all of the spells that he had invented. He wouldn't have ever thought this, but that would explain how Harry, and the other two, had known the spells that he had invented.
Harry says where everyone's been hiding stuff for centuries, he thought he was the only one to find it:
"If it's somewhere that everyone has been hiding things for centuries, how could he be the only one to find it?" Fred questioned.
"If it's the Room of Requirements, it's possible for someone to find a place to hide an object and then never find the room again," Harry said. "I mean you two had hidden yourself in there, but you didn't realize what it really was at the time."
"I supposed that's true," George admitted.
Come on." As the walls trembled again, he led the other two back through the concealed entrance and down the staircase into the Room of Requirement. It was empty except for three women: Ginny, Tonks
Mentions the Room of requirements, it was empty except for three women, Ginny, Tonks:
"What are you doing there?" Remus groaned.
"If you think I wouldn't be in this …" Tonks started.
"I know you would want to fight … but what about Teddy?" Remus said to her, and Tonks anger faded.
"I don't think I could stand waiting for the fight when I know I can help," Tonks said bowing her head. "It's just not in me Remus."
"I know," Remus sighed. "We're going to want to fight to make this a better place for everyone … for our child."
"I'm worried too, Remus," Tonks said hugging him, she could hear the wavering in his voice, he was afraid that he might lose her … or that they might both die and Teddy would be alone.
Everyone seemed to be fearing that too, for Teddy Remus Lupin was the reason they were all in this room, and what better motivation would he need to want to change the future than if both his parents had died ….
Mentions and an elderly witch that Harry recognized as Neville's grandmother:
"Well, that's good," McGonagall said, trying not to let her worry over what might happen to Remus and Tonks affect her. "She would be a good addition to the the fight."
Harry says Ginny, I'm sorry, but we need you to leave too, just for a bit, then you can come back in:
"Well good luck getting me back in there Harry," Ginny chuckled.
"Argh," Molly groaned, but didn't make to argue.
Mentions Ginny looked simply delighted to leave her sanctuary:
"Of course, she did," Molly grumbled to herself. "Ginevera Weasley if something happens to you in this book I swear you won't be able to so much as talk loudly in the library without me punishing you."
Ginny sighed, knowing that was not an idle threat and prayed more than ever that nothing would happen to her … she was baby quite enough already.
Harry says and then you can come back in, you've got to come back in:
A few people laughed at Harry's words.
"Sorry mate, but there is no way that's going to happen," Ron chuckled. "I'm actually surprised that she was still in the room."
"I probably didn't realize the fighting had actually started," Ginny said.
Ron says the house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they and Harry says you mean we ought to get them fighting:
They probably would be useful if they were persuaded to fight, Remus thought, but to actually get them to fight against wizards would be hard, it goes against their nature, and they would likely only get themselves killed if they were in this fight.
Ron says no, I mean we should tell them to get out, we don't want anymore Dobbies, do we, we can't order them to die for us:
Hermione turned to beam at Ron for that comment, but before she could say anything Percy continued to read with a rather amused tone in his voice.
Mentions Hermione flung her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth, Ron responded with such enthusiasm he lifted Hermione off her feet:
Everyone was laughing happily (Molly let out a happy squeal seeing the two together in the book now too) at this as Ron and Hermione blushed but looked pleased. Again, Percy didn't let anyone interrupt him as he read this scene.
Harry says is this the moment and when they only kissed more he added oi, there's a war going on here:
"Oh, butt out of it Potter, can't you see the man is busy," Fred laughed.
"Yeah, Ron is finally getting some action and you have to go and ruin it for him," George laughed.
"I think he's just lucky that you two weren't the ones that were there when this happened," Ginny pointed out to them. "Who knows what you would have done or said."
"To true," the twins laughed.
"Unsurprisingly it's Hermione that makes the first move," Fred said.
"I don't know, Ron had to know what talking about rescuing all the house elves would have done to Hermione … I think the he might have planned that out," Percy chuckled.
"Hm … I wonder if he had shown more support in spew that Hermione would have done this sooner," George mused.
"Oh, shut up, all of you," Hermione grumbled, she was blushing from all their comments. "Ron and I are already together so this is a moot point. Now Percy would you kindly continue reading."
With the tone she was using, Percy realized that it was more of a command than a request and he quickly started reading again.
Aberforth says Remus was dueling Dolohov, haven't seen him since:
Molly groaned at that... she hated Dolohov for what he had done to her brother, and she worried what was going to happen to Remus … Dolohov was a good dueler.
Tonks shivered in Remus's arms, and he tightened his grip around her.
Mentions they were in a place the size of a cathedral with its towering walls built of objects hidden by thousands of long-gone students:
"Merlin Harry … how are you going to find the diadem in there?!" Charlie said.
"Apparently, I've actually found it already … I suppose I know where it is," Harry said, looking slightly worried himself.
"It's no wonder that Voldemort thought it would be safe in here," Hermione said. "It would be near impossible to find anything in there unless you know where it was."
Harry says he thought he was the only one, too bad for him I've had to hide stuff in my time:
"That is odd, you had to have hidden the thing exactly where Voldemort had," Hermione said frowning. "What are the chances of that?"
"Near impossible I think," Remus said. "But Harry likes to show us all at that anything is possible."
Dumbledore, however, was thoughtful, wondering if this had something to do with Harry's connection with Voldemort … that somehow, he was drawn to that spot.
Mentions that Crabbe and Goyle were standing there and between their jeering faces he saw Draco Malfoy:
"YOU!" The younger Weasleys all yelled at Draco, who was looking pale.
"What are you doing there?" Fred questioned.
"I thought you had realized by now that fighting for old Voldy wasn't in your best interest," George added.
"Look, I don't know why I'm there," Draco said, and Percy started reading before anything more could be said.
Draco says that's my wand you're holding, Potter:
Draco thought that might have made it easier for him to want to face Harry … he must have been angry with the other boy for stealing his wand. But still, he really wished that he wasn't here right now.
Mentions that Crabbe voice was surprisingly soft for such a enormous person, Harry had hardly ever heard him speak before:
"And that's why he doesn't speak very often, he doesn't like to ruin his image with a soft voice," Draco muttered but everyone just glared at him, obviously angry about his interference.
Mentions Crabbe was speaking like a small child promised a large bag of sweets:
"It seems like he's one of those enchanted by Voldemort and his prestige," Remus said, "I would watch out Harry, people like this tend to be madder than the normal supporters of Voldemort."
Mentions Harry couldn't believe that he was this close but was going to be thwarted by Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle:
"That would be a horrible ending to the story," Ron said.
"I would have to agree with you," surprisingly Draco said, though everyone thought that he was just saying that because he was surrounded by so many people that didn't like him very much.
Draco says I virtually lived in the Room of Hidden Things all last year, I know how to get in:
"What were you doing living in that room?" Fred questioned Draco. "And couldn't you have come up with a better name than that... it sounds stupid."
"I have no idea what this room is and I doubt I chose to call it that," Draco rolled his eyes.
Crabbe says it's Potter the Dark Lord wands, who cares about a die-dum:
"Voldemort cares," Sirius said.
"But honestly, as a whole, I think he would be happy if this thing were buried right now," Remus said, now hoping that Crabbe listened to Draco.
Draco says potter came in her to get it, so that must mean …:
"It must be getting hard and hard for you to disguise that," George commented, "having to always be surrounded by people that are so dimwitted must really suck."
Crabbe says must mean, who chare what you think, I don't take your orders no more, Draco, you and you're dad are finished:
Draco looked shocked at this, Crabbe had never questioned him before and now he was doing something like this.
A few people chuckled at this and Ron said, "you really have fallen Malfoy if you can't even keep your lackies in order."
"This is not funny boy," Severus said, looking slightly pale. "Without Draco instilling some common sense into Crabbe he is capable of doing anything in this moment. I fear you might be in more danger than you realize."
Percy decided he would start reading again as everyone seemed to have grown more worried than ever after that statement.
Crabbe mimicked Ron, Harry, what's going on, no Potter, Crucio:
Several people winched, now completely sure that Severus was speaking the truth before.
Malfoy says stop, the Dark Lord wants him alive:
"Do you think that I might have gone in there to try and control them …?" Draco asked Severus.
"I don't know … you would know yourself more than I do," Severus answered. "It seems that you're not going to have much control over him."
Crabbe says but if I can I will, the Dark Lord wants him dead anyways, what's the diff:
"Fool, the Dark Lord would kill you for killing Potter against his orders," Severus said shaking his head.
"But his thinking is right, if your Dark Lord wasn't so stupid to have issued orders like that, Harry would have been in like a hundred times more danger than he already is," Sirius said. "So, I guess we have to all be glad that Voldemort is an idiot."
Mentions a jet of light shot past Harry by inches: Hermione had run around the corner behind him and sent a Stunning Spell straight at Crabbe's head:
"Did you really have to send it so close to me," Harry grumbled.
"Sorry Harry," Hermione said.
"No, it was a good move, I doubt any of the others were expecting it," Tonks said. "It was a clever move."
Mentions it only missed because Malfoy pulled him out of the way:
"Argh … Malfoy why the hell did you have to do that!" several people yelled.
"It's instincts," Draco mumbled. "You don't let your friends get curse."
No one could really argue with that, but they all still glared at him anyways.
Crabbe says it's that Mudblood, Avada Kedavra:
"NO!" everyone yelled, even Draco yelled and paled at this.
"I can't believe it …" Hermione said, truly shocked. Someone that she had gone to school with for five years (and six in the book) had just tried to kill her. Okay so they had been enemies all this time, but that still didn't mean that she wanted to kill him … and she didn't think that he wanted her dead either.
Percy started to read again, he wanted to know what happened next, and he knew everyone else needed to know that too.
Mentions Harry saw Hermione dive aside:
Everyone let out a relieved breath, but Percy didn't pause in his reading.
Mentions that Hermione charged toward them, hitting Goyle with a Stunning Spell:
"Aim at Crabbe … he's the dangerous one," Charlie shouted.
"It's best to make sure that none of your enemies are around … they could all be dangerous," Tonks said, "even if they are wand-less."
Mentions but Crabbe to have no control over what he had done, flames of abnormal size were pursuing them:
"He didn't!" Severus said paling farther.
"What … what is happening?" Harry asked.
"If that is what I think it is you're all in terrible danger," Remus was the one to answer this time. "You have to get out of there now before the fire consumes everything in its path."
"If it is what we both fear it is, it matters little if they try to run … it will not let them get away," Severus corrected and Remus paled seemed to show he agree with him.
Mentions Draco grabbed the Stunned Goyle and dragged him along:
"I'm surprised that you didn't just leave him behind," Ron snapped at him.
Draco just looked at him coldly, though Crabbe and Goyle were idiots they were still his friends, and he wouldn't just let one of them lay there to die like this.
"Ron, stop it," Hermione said. "He obviously cares about his friends."
Hermione screamed what can we do:
Nothing, was the words going through the head of everyone that knew of the fire, there was no stopping it once it started, and it would let nothing get out of its grasp. Molly started crying as Percy kept reading in a detached tone.
Mentions Harry could not see a trace of Malfoy Crabber, or Goyle anywhere:
Draco shuddered at that wondering if he was going to die in this fire.
Though no one was particularly pleased with anyone of these boys at the moment, none of them would want them to die like this, so they were all giving him sympathetic looks.
Mentions what a terrible way to die, he had never wanted this:
"Gee, thanks for caring!" Draco snapped and Harry sighed.
"I'm sure if I could find you, I would save you," was all he could say to that.
Mentions and he saw them, Malfoy with the unconscious Goyle, the pair of them perched on a fragile tower of charred desks, and Harry dived:
"You really are coming to save me!" Draco said astounded.
"I told you I would," Harry said looking at him, "I wouldn't want anyone to die like that..."
"Even Voldemort?" Fred questioned.
"Well …" Harry shrugged.
"Harry is a true hero, he doesn't make judgments on who you are … he does the right thing," Fleur said smiling at Harry.
"It's something to be proud of Harry," Remus smiled at him. "I know your dad would have done the same thing."
"He did do the same thing," Sirius said looking down, thinking about what had happened while he was still at school.
"Hmph," Severus huffed not seeming to agree with what Sirius said, in his mind what James Potter had done at the time was to save his friends and himself more than it saved Severus. However, what Harry was doing now was far more gallant that he thought the boy would show, risking his own life to save his rival, not having any other motivating factors other than it being the right thing to do.
Ron yelled if we die for them, I'll kill you, Harry!:
"Well, it looks like Ronnie is being a reluctant hero too," Fred said.
"I knew Harry wouldn't leave them behind," Ron said, as he thought what he would have done if Harry wasn't there. Would he have left them? He knew it wasn't right … but they had just tried to kill him and Hermione … still it was a horrible way to die.
"Harry's right, we had to save them," Hermione said firmly, she agreed with Harry's actions completely.
Draco says what are you doing, the door's that way:
"Harry don't worry about that thing … it will be destroyed in the fire!" Remus said.
"It will," Harry said.
"Yes, which is a good thing because you seem to have lost all the basilisk fangs that Ron and Hermione brought," Remus said.
"Don't worry so much Remus, Harry is on a broom … there's no way even killer flames could stop him on a broom," Sirius said.
Mentions Draco fell off the broom and lay facedown, gasping, coughing, and retching:
"Thanks Potter," Draco said begrudgingly.
"All I ask is that you remember this, Malfoy," Harry said.
"I doubt I will forget any of this," Draco said seriously.
Draco says Crabbe and Ron says he's dead:
"Ron!" Hermione and Molly both said.
"Sorry … but he did just try to kill us all," Ron sighed.
Draco bowed his head as tears threatened to come at the loss of one of his friends.
Harry says where's Ginny, she was here, she was supposed to be going back into the Room of Requirement:
"You really want me to go back into that fiery room?" Ginny said to Harry.
"No … but that doesn't mean that I couldn't just wish for a different room," Harry said.
"I'm not sure it would work," Dumbledore said.
"You mean you think the Room of Requirement is broken now," Harry said shocked.
"I not sure about that, but in the very least it will likely be unusable for as long as the fire lasts," Dumbledore said.
Ron asks blimey do you recoon it'll still wor after that fire? Shall we split up and look:
"No bloody way!" several people said.
"You three have to stick together!" Molly shouted, in a panic.
Mentions Harry felt the diadem vibrate violently then break apart in his hand and he heard the faint scream of pain:
"Yes … one more Horcrux down!" everyone was able to cheer.
"That means there's just the snake and old Voldy himself," Fred said.
Dumbledore sighed, knowing that wasn't true, and wondering how Harry was going to find out the truth … fearing how he was going to deal with hearing that.
Hermione says Fiendfyre, it's one of the substances that destroy Horcruxes, but I never would have used it, how did Crabble know how to:
"Who knows but he was a fool to ever use something like this," Severus said, he was looking grave, he didn't like hearing about one of his students being killed.
Mentions Fred and Percy had just backed into view, both of them dueling masked and hooded men:
Molly's heart started to hammer painfully in her chest as she heard this.
Percy says hello, Minister, did I mention I'm resigning:
"Brilliant Perce!" the twins said together, smiling at their older brother and Percy smiled back at them before he read again.
Mentions then he heard a terrible cry that pulled at his insides, that expressed agony of a kind neither flame nor curse could cause:
Molly sobbed bitterly, as she waited to hear which of her children had died, for she knew that this cry could mean nothing else. Everyone else seemed to have realized this as tears came to their eyes.
Percy was having trouble reading, his voice couldn't seem to form words and Remus took the book from him, his own voice was shaky.
Mentions Harry stood, more frightened than he had been that day, more frightened, perhaps, than he had been in his life:
Harry felt his insides going cold, didn't want any of the Weasley or Hermione to be the one that … he couldn't finish that thought as Remus's voice continued to read from a distance.
Someone shouts no, no Fred, no:
"NO!"
Everyone had said this, some had whispered it, some had screeched on the top of their voice … some had said it in great denial, but everyone said it.
Molly had immediately gone to grasp her true middle child in her arms, holding him as tightly to her as she could, trying to make it so this couldn't be true. Trying to remind herself that it wasn't true.
George didn't move a muscle, he just looked at Fred with wide eyes, his eyes seemed to have been beyond fear or sorrow, but showed the great loss he would feel if Fred was ever to be taken. Fred in return didn't take is eyes off his twin, and horrible sickening feeling going through him not for his own lost, but for his twin that would now always feel the pain of this. For he knew exactly how George would feel if he was gone … it was the same way he would … empty … loss of identity … loss of his best friend, brother, other half.
All the Weasleys seemed to be swarming around Fred now, one massive hug embracing him. It was Ginny that went to George and hugged him. She was trying to whisper comforting words in his ear that this wasn't going to happen, that they were going to protect Fred this time around. He hugged his little sister back, his arms starting to shiver as he felt hot tears roll down his eyes.
As the Weasleys hugged each other, the others in the room cried as well. Harry shoulders shuddered as he cried. Fred and George had always been nice to him, had always stuck up for him, had always been there to tell a joke and now that was gone. He felt as if he lost a brother, it might not have been as painful as if it was actually Ron that was gone, but it was painful enough.
Hermione wrapped her arms around him, she was crying too, and he knew she felt the same way about this as he did. He held her tightly as his eyes traveled to where Ron was with his family, the pain in his best mate's eyes cutting through him and he looked way. He couldn't look at the Weasleys as they thought of the lost that could happen in the future. He pulled Hermione closer to him though, as they both cried.
Mentions Fred's eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face:
It was a while before Remus was able to read these last words of the chapter, and hardly anyone was able to hear as their thoughts lingered on Fred's fate. His own face was tear stained at the loss of one of the brilliant pranksters that he had been fortunate enough to teach. Tonks was crying in his chest as well as Sirius bowed his head.
"That was the end of the chapter," Remus said, getting up and motioning from everyone to leave the Weasleys to their grief, this was the last chapter they need to read for the night.
Remus, Sirius, Tonks, McGonagall who was being supported by Dumbledore for she was sobbing too, Severus and Draco got up to leave immediately.
Fleur stayed behind uncertainly, but Bill had held out his hand to her and she moved to hug him, and he pulled her closely to him.
Harry and Hermione didn't seem to have noticed what Remus had said, but that turned out to be a good thing for when Ron joined them back on the couch Hermione was able to offer him some comfort. Feeling suddenly out of place Harry was about to leave, but Ginny had joined them, and he found himself comforting her as much as he could as she cried on his shoulder. He looked over to where Molly still sat holding not only Fred but also George, a heart-breaking expression on her face. Arthur was sitting there too, his face seemed more determined than anything else, that he wasn't going to let this happen. Charlie and Percy were sitting close to them as well, Charlie's arms around Percy, both of whom seemed to be crying.
He looked back down at Ginny and pulled her close to him, he too was determined to make sure the Weasleys never had to go through a grief like this in the future.