Chapter 91. Together until the end
The stranger in a black hooded cloak, concealing his face, stealthily slipped out of the Room of Requirement. None of the defenders of Hogwarts paid him any attention, as they were all focused on repelling the attacks of the Death Eaters.
After emerging from the Room of Requirement, the stranger moved stealthily, his eyes burning with hatred. He scorned all these foolish defenders of Hogwarts who were fighting so desperately against the Death Eaters. He cared little about the outcome of this battle; all he desired was to sow chaos and destruction in this accursed country that had once rejected him.
Dumbledore's Army engaged in battle with the Death Eaters. Neville fought with particular bravery, but his attacks were clumsy. Bellatrix Lestrange cackled with laughter, mocking his efforts.
But then two figures in armor dashed past. It was Jeanne and Mash with their purple hair. They swiftly exchanged blows with Jack the Ripper and Abigail Williams. Their movements were so fast that the eye could barely track them.
Harry and Hermione merely exchanged glances with barely noticeable smiles. For them, this was not a revelation. The others gasped, watching the unreal spectacle.
"This... These are the true Servants?!" Ginny exclaimed.
Jeanne and Mash skillfully dealt with the enemies and high-fived each other in victory before rushing into a new skirmish. And behind them, Dumbledore's Army surged forward with renewed vigor.
Spells flew from all directions, resembling an unseen rainfall or blizzard. Every bright beam found its mark every second. Every second, someone rose after aid from comrades. Harry could barely send spells at the Death Eaters faster than their ranks were being replenished. Voldemort sensed the trap they had set, but he did not remain passive.
The mysterious stranger cautiously moved in the shadows until he found himself behind a group of students who were bravely fighting the enemy. He quietly uttered a few words in an unknown language and waved his wand.
The students suddenly felt a strange confusion and disorientation. Their spells weakened, and their movements slowed. The Death Eaters took advantage of this and began to press on them.
The mysterious stranger approached other groups of Hogwarts defenders in the same manner. After his influence, their fighting spirit waned, and they became scattered and confused in their actions.
As he weakened the students' resolve with his charms, a sly smile played on the lips of the stranger. However, he knew he could not allow the Death Eaters to achieve an easy victory. His hatred needed fuel, and for that, Britain had to withstand and continue its wretched existence.
However, when the stranger tried to do the same with the Death Eaters, his spells did not have as strong an effect. It seemed that the Dark wizards were better protected against such charms. Nevertheless, the actions of the mysterious stranger weakened Hogwarts' defense, allowing the Death Eaters to dvance.
The mysterious enemy of all within the castle only slightly dulled the vigilance of Voldemort's minions and waited. He decided to wait and see how events would unfold, so he could intervene at the right moment and enjoy the chaos and destruction that lay before him.
Bellatrix Lestrange cruelly smiled and swiftly approached Neville Longbottom, a young Gryffindor bravely trying to resist her. The mad witch with a maniacal gleam in her eyes watched for a few moments as the boy unsuccessfully raised his wand, trying to immobilize her.
"Well, darling Neville, have you completely weakened?" Bellatrix reached out, grinning. There were venomous notes of mockery and superiority in her voice. "Didn't expect this turn of events? We all underestimated your... hmm... potential threat."
Neville swallowed hard, feeling a cold sweat trickling down his back. Lestrange's gaze pinned him in place, poisoning his mind with primal terror. However, the Gryffindor bravely withstood her searing stare, suppressing his tremors.
Stunned by what was happening, Neville felt a wave of fog roll over his mind, reminiscent of the tricks of the mysterious wizard in black robes. Gathering his thoughts and focusing on spells was a struggle. However, when the familiar figure of Bellatrix Lestrange suddenly appeared nearby, smirking and openly mocking the young Gryffindor, a righteous anger flared up in Neville's chest.
Before his mental eyes flashed the faces of his parents - Alice and Frank Longbottom, whom this mad witch had once driven to madness with Cruciatus torture. Because of Bellatrix, Neville had to grow up without a mother and father... Gathering all his determination, the youth tightened his grip on his wand and exclaimed, looking at the hateful features of Lestrange:
"I will never allow you and your minions to spread terror and evil again, Bellatrix!"
With all his might, Neville focused, mentally erecting powerful protective barriers around him. Raising his wand, he stood with his legs apart, bracing himself against the stone floor, and loudly shouted the battle spell:
"Stupefy!"
A dazzling crimson flash erupted from the tip of his wand, materializing into a powerful energy impulse. Bellatrix clearly did not expect such a swift attack from the youngster, as the surge of magical energy struck her chest with terrible force. Screaming, the mad witch flew several yards away and collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
Righteous anger gave Neville the strength to resist the sinister fog clouding the minds of all Hogwarts defenders. The young Gryffindor focused, dispelling the enchantment, and realized - the source of this dangerous anomaly must be dealt with immediately. Otherwise, resistance risks faltering under the enemy's pressure.
"Quick!" he exclaimed, looking around at his comrades in battle. "We need to get rid of the fog clouding our heads! Focus, guys, or we won't hold out!"
However, not everyone realized the urgency of the situation - some students and teachers still helplessly struggled in the grip of the unknown horror. And precisely at this critical moment, a deafening explosion thundered from the East Tower! Stone debris scattered with a roar in all directions, and from the rising smoke, menacing figures appeared one after another...
From the ruins emerged squads of huge hunchbacked trolls, armed with crude clubs, behind their roaring backs hordes of Dementors crowded - depleted spawns of the Dark in tattered robes. And to the right and left of this horrifying procession, numerous Death Eaters advanced, led by several leaders in featureless masks. Taking advantage of the confusion, the enemies seized the initiative in the battle for Hogwarts.
A new wave of evil approached, threatening to sweep away the weakened ranks of the castle defenders.
The waves of enemy spells, increasingly launching from the wands of an unknown stranger in a black cloak, relentlessly pressed upon the defenders. His power was so great that even the most skilled spells from experienced professors and aurors shattered against the invisible dome of protection surrounding the figure in the hood. No one could harm this mysterious foe.
Meanwhile, trolls and dementors, incited by the Death Eaters, brought chaos to the ranks of Hogwarts defenders. Startled students froze at the thunderous crashes of giant troll maces and the paralyzing horror emanating from the cloaks of the soul-sucking dementors. Many panicked students scattered, unable to withstand this unholy onslaught.
The sight was truly hopeless... However, Harry Potter suddenly frowned, studying the unfolding scene. He squinted and then tightened his grip on his wand.
"That is a Servant," Harry guessed.
"Mash, Jeanne!" Fujimaru called out loudly, addressing his allies. "Engage in combat immediately! Show this Servant the true power of our Noble Phantasms!"
Jeanne Alter and her battle companion Mash were already fighting fiercely, desperately holding back the assault of the first waves of giant trolls. The air trembled with the thunderous blows of their massive maces, mercilessly shattering the stone walls. Every second, tons of stone rubble flew in all directions, and the huge troll corpses, one after another, erupted in flames from Jeanne's relentless attacks.
However, the efforts of the two Servants were clearly not enough. Despite dozens of fallen giants, new trolls emerged from the ruins of the Vanishing Cabinet, driven by the Death Eaters. Mash whistled as she cut through the air with her shield, scattering and repelling the colossal beasts, but they kept coming, overwhelming the castle's defenders with their abhorrent bulk.
Harry gazed at this scene with horror, not even considering what was happening now in Knockturn Alley - most likely, hordes of trolls and other undead creatures had flooded Borgin and Burkes through the paired Vanishing Cabinet. The wizard dismissed this grim thought, focusing on the battle. As long as there were even remnants of that ill-fated cabinet left, the Death Eaters would exploit it with all their might.
"Where are all these trolls coming from?!" Mordred moaned, rushing to help his comrades, slicing through the crowd with his sword as he ran.
The defenders of Hogwarts were frozen in horror, crammed in by the unimaginable physical power of the troll giants. The colossal beasts ruthlessly pummeled them with stone debris and shattered walls, swinging their maces haphazardly. It seemed that the ranks of the defenders would be swept away in a swirling dust cloud under the hail of these deadly strikes.
However, in the most critical moment, above the roar of battle, a thunderous cry, greatly amplified by magic, rang out:
"Do not give up, brave ones! Help is near!" bellowed the resonant voice of Albus Dumbledore himself.
And indeed, just a moment later, amidst the whirlwind of battle, the Headmaster of Hogwarts Apparated right into the thick of things. His appearance was accompanied by a dazzling flash. The gray-haired wizard, in his star-embroidered robes, regally took a position ahead of the defenders, raising his wand radiating with energy.
Dumbledore was like an unbreakable beacon of hope in the midst of the engulfing darkness of the battlefield. With just a few mighty flourishes of his wand, the advance of the monstrous trolls seemed to freeze for a moment, and following the giants, rows of dementors recoiled, thrown back by a colossal wave of radiant energy. For from the tip of Dumbledore's wand emerged a brilliant Patronus in the form of a giant phoenix, illuminating everything with the brightest light. The dementors, pitiful creations of Darkness, with suppressed groans, fled from this embodiment of pure joy.
Now, with Dumbledore joining the fight, there was a glimmer of hope among the defenders of Hogwarts that they might prevail.
Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard alive, rushed into the thick of battle, like a mighty rock plunging into the waves. Powerful spells shot out of his wand one after another, piling up new barricades of defensive magic around the director's figure.
Trolls, Dementors, and Death Eaters were repelled by powerful strikes of invisible energy. Clusters of hefty stone boulders soared into the air with a roar, only to crash down on the heads of enemies like a mountain landslide. The earth trembled from the thunder and the fierce roar of wounded giants.
Dumbledore's figure resembled more of a natural disaster than a single wizard. It seemed as if all the power of ancient natural magic was concentrated in his hands. Crimson flashes of curses, burning rays, and explosive shock waves blended into a single spectacle, pushing the advancing horde back for tens of yards.
And yet... the enemy seemed endless. New squads of Death Eaters and monsters surged to aid the fallen, regrouping and closing ranks.
The enraged Death Eaters counterattacked fiercely, forcing the students and teachers to gradually give ground. Then, a mighty roar resounded over the battlefield – Dumbledore, the centenarian wizard, raised his hand, summoning those gathered:
— Defenders of Hogwarts! Do not succumb to cowardice! Stand shoulder to shoulder! Move forward in a united front! — His eyes gleamed with courage, and his beard fluttered like a flag in a stormy whirlwind.
The director's rallying cry encouraged the defenders. Closing ranks, they charged into a fierce attack. Flashes of spells sparkled, showering enemies with a deadly rainbow. The Death Eaters staggered, bewildered by the sudden onslaught. However, their numerical advantage still gave them the upper hand.
— Hold the line! Raise your shields! — The commanding shout of Grindelwald rang out. The old auror, leading his fighters, fiercely countered with streams of curses.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione fought shoulder to shoulder in the thick of the battle, exerting all their strength. The air rang with cutting spells, the fields were shrouded in a hazy smoke, tainted with the sulfuric stench of burning auras. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw two Hufflepuffs carrying their wounded comrade.
Suddenly, a new force burst into the midst of the battle. Between the ranks of defenders, a figure in a long cloak flashed, spinning amidst the flashes of spells like a whirlwind. It was Nikola Tesla, whose mad inventions were renowned throughout the magical world.
— Prepare to receive the gift of genius, my friends! — He declared with a warrior's voice. — Today, I will bless you with the power of my lightning!
The wizard-scientist raised his hands to the sky, his fingers trembling, charged with lilac discharges. It seemed as if the atmosphere vibrated with static tension. Tesla surveyed the hordes of monsters and Death Eaters, his face displaying unwavering determination.
— Receive the spark of life from Nikola Tesla's hands! — he roared, unleashing a stream of lightning.
Dazzling electric discharges poured out of his palms, incinerating enemies. Trolls writhed in agony, their lumpy bodies scorched by bright flames. The cries of horror merged into one long wail as the Death Eaters convulsed under the lashing strikes of lightning. Their cloaks smoked, their flesh burnt by hideous burns. The air was filled with the smells of ozone and burnt flesh.
Tesla raged, focusing intently on directing the raging lightning bolts at the approaching enemies. His hands rose like a conductor's baton of a mad maestro, commanding a deadly electric orchestra. Dazzling bolts scattered in all directions, burning the air with acrid ozone. It seemed like this unrestrained show of fury and energy had no end.
Finally, the charred, howling trolls turned in panicked retreat, entangled in their own limbs. And the thunderstruck Devourers were forced to retreat, no longer able to resist the raging berserker Caster.
However, in the midst of his electric performance, Tesla failed to notice one tiny shadow slipping through the ranks of defenders. Jack the Ripper skillfully made her way forward, weaving through the crowd, crawling on the walls and floor like a venomous snake. Her target was Dumbledore himself, who was already dangerously close.
A formidable figure in black clothing - Koyanskaya, stood in Jack's way. Sparkling with a mad gaze, she aimed a huge machine gun at the Ripper.
"Stop, you bastard!" Koyanskaya screeched hysterically. "I'll shoot, turn you into a sieve!"
And she wasn't lying. Skillfully jumping and rolling from side to side, the witch opened a furious fire with long bursts. Large caliber bullets cut fountains of sparks, flashing when they hit the stone. The walls and floor around were charred and crumbled into dust under the unrestrained lead storm.
But Jack, agile as mercury, escaped the barrage with a series of lightning-fast somersaults. The witch continued the pursuit, yelling furiously and tracing corridors with fiery tracers. However, the Ripper veered off and dashed away, elusive as a deadly shadow.
Her target remained Dumbledore.
Jack was very close to her target when suddenly her path was blocked by an imposing figure in a long cloak and a top hat. It was none other than the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in his incarnation as Ruler's Servant.
"Your intentions are obviously illegal and cannot be justified!" he solemnly proclaimed, aiming his spiritual pipe at the Ripper.
Jack burst into fragmented, barking laughter, not at all fazed by this attempt to stop her. Flashing mad, glowing eyes, she swiftly slipped past Holmes, deftly dodging his mystical weapon.
Ruler tried to pursue her, but Jack, like a elusive shadow, had already turned into one of the many corridors of Hogwarts. The detective only clicked his tongue, rushing after her in pursuit. However, his instinct told him that he had lost her for good.
Suddenly, Jack's path was blocked by the knight Mordred, defiantly standing in her way. Heavy boots echoed loudly on the stone floor, marking a powerful stride. Mordred's eyes shone crimson, as if filled with blood, proudly surveying the crowd of Hogwarts defenders with a contemptuous glance.
"And where are you hurrying off to, little pest?" her voice thundered, drowning out the noise of battle. "Have you decided to harm my master?"
Smirking, Mordred gracefully raised the sacred sword Clarent, reveling in the cold gleam of the blade. Casting a final glance at Jack, she swiftly swung the sword, slicing through the air.
The Jack-the-Ripper agilely sidestepped the deadly strike, evading it with ease. The stone shattered with a resounding crack under the force of Clarent, showering the floor with shards. Mordred was quick, but Jack matched her agility, flowing from side to side like liquid mercury.
Undeterred, the Jack-the-Ripper pressed on, effortlessly maneuvering between the defenders of Hogwarts. She glided like a venomous serpent, focused and ruthless, leaving bloody slashes in her wake.
"Stand still, you creature!" Mordred growled, attempting to reach Jack with another lunge.
But Jack only laughed, effortlessly evading the attack. Even the most skilled duelist would pale in comparison to her lightning-fast movements as an assassin.
In a desperate attempt to stop the Jack-the-Ripper, several defenders tried to block her path, but Jack ruthlessly carved through their bodies, splattering blood across the floor. And now, she stood right in front of Dumbledore himself.
The defenders froze in horror, unable to move. Jack's bloodied knife pressed against the Director's throat. He calmly looked at the Jack-the-Ripper over his half-moon glasses, not a trace of concern in his demeanor.
"Come on then!" Bellatrix laughed, clapping her hands in delight. "Finish off the old fool!"
The other Death Eaters joined in, their bloodlust eager to witness the demise of the despised Director. Their hatred for Dumbledore was so great that they were willing to plunge their knives into his body with their own hands.
Beside Snape, a tall figure appeared, draped in a long black cloak with a hood, emerging from the shadows like a creation of the night itself. Her face remained halfway hidden in thick darkness, with only glimmers of sharp features and full lips catching the flickering light reflected by the fabric on the floor.
"Semiramis?" Snape called out, puzzled.
Semiramis tilted her head slightly towards Dumbledore - the gesture could be interpreted as both sympathy and biting mockery. Her gloved hands with intricate embroidery froze in a strange gesture, reminiscent of an ancient magical ritual.
"Such a pity, dear Director..." she whispered almost imperceptibly, her soft velvet voice tinged with steel.
The mysterious figure slowly waved her hand, tracing a pattern in the air. Something briefly sparkled in her palm, only to vanish in an instant, leaving no trace. Semiramis's gaze swept impartially over the defenders of Hogwarts, enveloping them in an invisible cloud of mysterious threat.
Her gesture could mean both a warning and a hidden threat. Even the Death Eaters froze in paralysis, not daring to move under that malevolent, scrutinizing gaze.
"Drop your wands!" Jack suddenly hissed, sharply pressing the knife closer to Dumbledore's throat. "Or your beloved headmaster will die!"
Semiramis squinted slightly, continuing to loom motionless above the stage, neither approving the actions of the Guttersnipe nor preparing to intervene.
With the dagger pressed against Dumbledore's throat, Jack, with a mad gleam in her eyes, turned to the Death Eaters:
"I'm taking the old man up to the Astronomy Tower! Soon he will be dead!" she exclaimed triumphantly, slashing her words like a knife.
"Stop!" Snape called out, taking a step forward. His black cloak rose up as he moved, like the wing of a sinister bird of prey. "The Dark Lord has ordered Draco to kill Dumbledore himself. Release him, or the Dark Lord's wrath will be terrible!"
Jack hesitated for a moment, pressing the bloodied blade harder. Dumbledore, holding her with a steady gaze, quietly spoke, addressing Snape:
"Everything is fine, Severus. Don't interfere... My time has come."
The last words hung in the sepulchral silence, broken only by Jack's malicious breath. The defenders of Hogwarts rushed forward in horror, but Mordred blocked their path with a furious roar:
"No! Stop her, you fools! Immediately!"
With a clang, Clarence rose, blocking the way. Mordred's eyes burned with madness, threatening to push aside anyone who dared to stand in the Guttersnipe's way. In the billowing folds of her crimson cloak, a fog of rage and murderous desire swirled.
The defenders stood frozen in confusion, clutching their wands. The unknown and the horror immobilized their bodies, not allowing them to move. Too much strange and incomprehensible was happening around them.
But the Death Eaters barred the way for the defenders, forming a solid wall. Harry, without hesitation, rushed forward, breaking through their ranks. Following him, struggling to push through the crowd, were Ron and Hermione, and just ahead of them ran Dudley Dursley, barely able to move from fear.
The mysterious figure in a black hooded cloak glided silently nearby, suddenly unsheathing a curved blade. The blade emerged with a metallic ring, threateningly gleaming in the semi-darkness.
Harry burst onto the Astronomy Tower just as Jack was leading Dumbledore to the edge of the platform, the knife still pressed against his throat. The Death Eaters followed them up the stairs, elongating like a snake.
Snape and Draco Malfoy faced Dumbledore, cornered at the edge. It was time for decisive words. Dumbledore slowly looked over his students and the Death Eaters, pausing on Draco.
"Well," he said in a steady voice. "Time is the fire in which we inevitably burn."
The last words sounded with a strange humility and yet a challenge to fate. Dumbledore clearly knew something beyond the understanding of the others.
He barely winked at the students standing before him and looked at Snape who had walked ahead. Another figure emerged from behind the former professor. Harry made out a female silhouette dressed in rich dark robes, heavy folds cascading down.
Hasty footsteps sounded from below, and as Harry turned around, he saw Death Eaters rushing upstairs. Spells flew towards them from the side corridors, sent by members of Dumbledore's Army, but it did not stop the onslaught of the Death Eaters.
"Severus, please..." Dumbledore barely audible addressed Snape.
Semiramis above spoke something in a seductive whisper, reminiscent of a desert wind. Her hands in richly embroidered gloves froze in a peculiar gesture. Her beautiful face with delicate features briefly lit up with a bright flash of Avada Kedavra.
Harry saw the long pointed tips of her ears elegantly protruding from under the hood, and her large brown eyes, resembling two moons in the night sky. Semiramis hesitated for a moment when the deadly curse resounded, and turned away, concealing her emotions.
As the green flash illuminated the tower, Joan of Arc screamed and rushed towards Dumbledore, but stopped abruptly, pale as a sheet. Her knightly armor creaked threateningly.
Even from this distance, Harry saw the body of the great wizard falling from the top of the Astronomy Tower, struck by the deadly Avada Kedavra curse.
Time stopped for Harry, and that moment stretched into eternity, full of shock and incomprehension. Only when that dreadful moment ended and Dumbledore fell down, did Harry feel an unspeakable horror. Thousands of awful premonitions and guesses flooded his mind.
From below came Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant screech, and that cry, like icy water, stirred Harry's desire for battle.
Mordred whispered something cold in the language of dead kings. Melusine and Voyager flying nearby rushed forward sharply, trying to catch Dumbledore's falling body. But it was too late.
Voyager only managed to pick up the lifeless body of the great wizard. Melusine flew up to them headlong, still nurturing a tiny hope of somehow saving Dumbledore by some miracle. But a couple of seconds later their faces contorted with grief and the realization of their own helplessness.
And in the far corner, a tall figure in a black cloak continued to stand. Someone silently watched the tragedy, hidden in thick shadows. His eyes briefly glowed crimson, like two smoldering coals.
Nikola Tesla stood aside, turning away and covering his face with his hands, unable to watch what was happening.
The great wizard had departed forever.