Chapter 92. Tomorrow's War
The Death Eaters celebrated, escorting Draco and Snape from the Astronomy Tower. They slapped Draco on the back, calling him a hero, but when Harry met eyes with the Slytherin, he saw a mixture of despair, confusion, and guilt in his gaze. Feeling sympathy for his involuntary friend, caught in the grip of his own obligations, Harry crossed his fingers and mentally wished Draco not to stay on the dark side.
Snape walked grimly, looking around. When he caught up with Harry, their eyes met for a moment - and Harry felt like the Potions Master was trying to tell him something. Something important...
Next to them, walking with an air of importance, was the unfamiliar woman. He recognized her face completely unexpectedly, but couldn't remember where he might have seen her. The woman's hands seemed clenched into fists. Who was she and what did she know?
Mordred caught Jack the Ripper, not allowing her to escape. Jack writhed in her grip, contorting her face and sneering sarcastically:
"What, can't King Arthur's daughter hold on to a little girl?" Jack mocked her. In response, Mordred grabbed her tighter and lifted her above her. "Oh, these royal offspring! Holding onto me so tightly, as if I'm your only chance to prove your worth!"
Mordred pulled Jack closer, looking her in the eye:
"And it seems like you have no one else to show your teeth to other than defenseless old men?"
Though her tone was sharp, Jack's words hurt Mordred. Indeed - she couldn't prevent the tragedy. Reluctantly, she released Jack. When Mordred delivered her line, Jack paused for a moment, then chuckled - quietly and bitterly:
"Oh yes, you have no idea how vulnerable I really am... I'm just a reflection of unborn hopes, lost opportunities. What else do I have left but to cling to the elusive reality when the treacherous Occam's Razor cuts me out of it?"
Her eyes suddenly seemed very childlike to Mordred - and at the same time, unfathomable darkness lurked within them. Mordred loosened her grip, and Jack twisted out, sending her a farewell smirk.
"Farewell, Your Highness! It was a pleasure chatting with you!"
"Don't let them escape!" barked Scrimgeour.
From his words and the actions of each of the defenders of Hogwarts, Harry understood - the Room of Requirement was sealed off, the Death Eaters would not be able to return the same way. He didn't bother to check if the Vanishing Cabinet was still intact, he just walked almost automatically, alongside Ron, Hermione, and Dudley. Jeanne kept whispering something in his ear, holding onto his shoulder all the way, not letting him fall. Each of his friends was led by their servants: Mordred led Ron, Tesla led Hermione, and Koyanskaya led Dudley. In a split second after realizing this, Harry felt uncomfortable and broke free from Jeanne's grip, but lost his balance and fell. He felt nauseous. And at that moment, tears filled his face. Not from the pain of the fall, but from the bitterness of realizing what had just happened, mere minutes ago. Dumbledore was no more.
The image of the falling professor flashed before Harry's eyes again, and at that moment, it felt as if he himself was falling with him, cutting through the night darkness. He didn't notice as Jeanne approached him and sat beside him on her knees. Without saying a word, she held him close - either for comfort or to help him stand. He only noticed as she removed the gauntlet from her hand and wiped his tears from his face. The deep pain, sharper than any sword on the planet and piercing deep into his heart, slowly began to recede. He was not alone, and he would not bear this burden of loss alone. The whole school loved Dumbledore. At least, that's what he preferred to think at that moment, completely forgetting about the peculiarities of Slytherin and the atmosphere prevailing in the silvery-green house.
When Harry came to from the shock and grief, he felt Jeanne still holding him in her arms. Her touch was gentle and soothing. Harry looked up and met her sad blue eyes.
"Forgive me, Harry," she whispered. "I know what you're feeling right now."
He nodded, accepting her sympathy. Despite the complexity of their relationship, Jeanne was the only person who could ease his pain even just a little.
"Thank you," Harry said softly. He couldn't say any more but Jeanne seemed to understand.
She helped him to his feet.
"Come with me," she said softly.
Harry let her lead him away from the crowd, away from the noise of battle, to a quiet corner under one of the arches. There they sat in silence until Harry's sobs subsided. Jeanne didn't leave his side, sharing this moment of sorrow for the man they both loved. Their respite didn't last long - despite the bitterness of loss, their hearts couldn't leave their friends in battle and led them back into the thick of the fight.
Faces of friends and acquaintances flashed before Harry's eyes. Through the battle, Jeanne led him to a safe place, sometimes leaving him aside, sometimes fighting alongside him. Spells flew from all directions in unimaginable quantities, but she didn't care.
Servants stand above magic.
Harry remembered that. To Jeanne, all these spells were child's play, including the Unforgivables. Including even the deadly ones. But he didn't leave her, trying not to expose himself to danger, hiding behind any convenient shelter and literally rolling between them, sending his spells at the Death Eaters. Nearby, Neville fought fiercely. The news of the headmaster's death seemed to have not only not broken this round-faced boy but also gave him the motivation to fight - let them know how much Dumbledore meant to the school. Side by side with Neville, a tall man in armor fought. This mysterious servant in battle looked almost scarier than even Tesla. Pondering where this servant came from, Harry spotted the Summoning Circle nearby. "Better late than never," he thought and mentally praised Neville. His own heavy inner scales still wavered, unable to stop and give a definite answer to the question of whether he had the resolve to also summon a servant. With each passing day, these scales became heavier, and it became more difficult for him to decide. But Harry was weighed down by the heavy burden of the conversation with King Arthur and the cold command - to obtain the Grail.
While the students fought the Death Eaters, the teachers of Hogwarts also showed remarkable skill and courage.
"Bombarda!" McGonagall waved her wand, and a powerful explosion knocked Nott and Goyle back several meters. "Excellent, Miss Patil! Keep it up!"
Professor Sprout deftly dodged Carrow's curses with unexpected agility, simultaneously summoning thorny bushes that entwined the enemy.
And Flitwick was almost dancing in the middle of the hall, sending precise, accurate spells in different directions. Three Death Eaters were already lying unconscious after his Everte Statum. Meanwhile, Sinistra and Vector led the younger students out through a secret passage. The danger was still great, but Hogwarts held its defense.
Chaos reigned in the corridors of Hogwarts. Flashes of spells illuminated the space, students and Death Eaters fought with varying success.
"Cover the left flank!" commanded Ron, trying to cast Incarcerous on a massive opponent. The ropes only lightly bound him, causing no harm.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted Hermione, but her spell only grazed the target.
Meanwhile, Luna and Sam, holding hands, repeatedly jumped and twirled around three Death Eaters, dodging their curses. It was like a strange ritual dance, accompanied by flashes of light.
"Tarantallegra!" Ginny yelled, pointing her wand at Avery. He suddenly began to dance, kicking his feet.
"Excellent!" chuckled Fred Weasley, using his own invention of a stretching chewing gum to tie up Carrow's hand.
Harry himself didn't know when or how the Weasley twins entered Hogwarts, but standing beside them, he saw Bill, Mrs. Weasley, and others. This warmed his heart. But it was still too early to relax.
Gradually, the young wizards gained the upper hand over the more powerful Death Eaters, although victory did not come easily.
Neville cast Mimbulus Mimbletonia at Yaxley, causing him to step high as if overcoming invisible obstacles.
"Great Flipendo, Crivy!" Simus laughed as the Death Eater's wand exploded in his hand.
Meanwhile, Crabbe sent a fire whip towards Harry, but he managed to cast a powerful Shield Charm. The flames flowed around an invisible dome, not harming Potter.
Suddenly, the doors of the Great Hall swung open, and a tall figure in a black cloak with a hood entered. The stranger looked over the battlefield with an unreadable gaze.
"You fight well. But you clearly lack skill," he sneered, pulling out his wand from the folds of his cloak.
"Who is this? Another Death Eater?" Hermione asked, alarmed.
But before she could finish, a powerful shockwave swept through the hall, causing everyone to fall to the ground.
After the shockwave, everyone regained their senses and stood up. The mysterious wizard stood in their midst, holding his wand aloft.
"Nevertheless, you clearly need a lesson," he said, sweeping a heavy gaze over both the students and the Death Eaters. "Your pitiful excuse for a battle offends my sense of the aesthetic."
"Who are you, damn it?!" Ron shouted, grabbing Hermione's hand just in case.
"You may call me Oberon," the wizard lazily replied. "I am here for my own entertainment. And I think I'll start with you!"
He abruptly gestured his wand towards Ron and Hermione. A powerful gust of wind picked them up and threw them across the hall. Luckily, Luna conjured a cushion to soften their fall.
"Merlin! He's strong," Ginny gasped. "What are we going to do, Harry?"
He frowned as he watched the mysterious wizard Oberon deflecting the curses of the Death Eaters with a wave of his wand. Something told him - they still have to overcome this opponent...
For several minutes, spells flew around the room. Oberon skillfully dodged or deflected them, occasionally sending retaliatory strikes with his staff. Gradually, the Death Eaters and students were running out of steam.
Finally, Oberon casually traced a wide circle with his staff. A sharp wave knocked everyone off their feet.
"That'll do," he said indifferently. "You don't even come close to my powers. Dreadfully boring."
With these words, the wizard turned, theatrically lifting the tails of his cloak, and left the room.
"W...who the hell was that?" Ron gasped, coming to after the strike. "He could have killed us in one move. But why didn't he?"
Harry nodded grimly. Even the Death Eaters looked disconcerted. This strange wizard clearly had his own goals in mind. But what were they?
At the same time, Lupin and Tonks synchronously attacked several Death Eaters, demonstrating coordinated teamwork and understanding.
"Wow!" Neville exclaimed admiringly, watching them cover each other skillfully.
Alastor Moody grimly smirked and waved his wand predatorily. His opponent let out a prolonged wail - his arms and legs unnaturally bent under the curse.
Meanwhile, Sirius Black, with his characteristic cheerful spirit, fought three opponents at once.
"Now that's a duellist! Harry, are you sure you're his godson?" Sirius remarked in admiration.
Other members of the Order also clearly dominated the battlefield, inspiring and encouraging those around them. Victory was within reach!
As it became clear that victory was near, many Death Eaters tried to apparate out of Hogwarts. But the protective spells were still in effect, preventing them from escaping.
"We're winning! Hold them off!" McGonagall commanded.
Some Death Eaters were quickly disarmed and bound. Others did not hesitate and fled without the help of apparition. Among the students and Order members, there were also wounded, but fortunately, without serious injuries. They were already being led to Madam Pomfrey's infirmary.
"The main thing is that everyone is alive!" Harry sighed in relief.
"Yeah, the only one unscathed is that weird guy Oberon," Ron grumbled, rubbing his bruised shoulder.
The joy of victory was overshadowed only by one thing - the death of Dumbledore. They still had to come to terms with this loss.
Soon, Voyager carried the body of the headmaster to the castle's vestibule. Looking around, Harry saw Hagrid's tear-streaked face and many mournful faces belonging to the students. He couldn't cry anymore and just stood there with everyone else. He looked at the old wise face and secretly hoped that Dumbledore would open his eyes in the next moment, stand before everyone, and instruct them to disperse to their respective common rooms, then call the heroes of this evening to his office for an important conversation. But reality was unforgiving.
"Let's go, Harry..."
"No."
He didn't want to leave Dumbledore, didn't want to go anywhere. Hagrid's hand, lying on his shoulder, twitched. Then another voice said:
"Harry, let's go."
Someone's small, warm hand took his and pulled him up. Harry obeyed almost thoughtlessly. And only when he made his way through the crowd, not seeing anything around, suddenly understood from the scent of flowers in the air that it was Ginny leading him back to the castle. Unrecognizable voices sounded in his ears, sobbing, crying, and wailing pierced the night, but Harry and Ginny kept walking, climbing the steps to the entrance hall. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw everyone staring at him, whispering in surprise, and the Gryffindor rubies, like drops of blood, glinted on the floor as they walked together towards the marble staircase.
"Let's go to the hospital wing" Ginny said.
"I'm not injured", Harry replied.
"It's Professor McGonagall's order", Ginny said. "Everyone is already there, Ron, Hermione, Lupin, everyone..."
After the battle, everyone passionately discussed what had happened, trying to understand what went wrong. To their surprise, the only event that seemed insignificant - the appearance of the Berserker from the Room of Requirement turned out to be a failure.
"Without him, the Death Eaters would have stayed locked inside!" Ron lamented.
"Yes, but Dumbledore only wanted to protect the students... He couldn't have predicted this turn of events", Hermione sighed.
Harry nodded grimly. One coincidence, one unfortunate series of events - and their carefully constructed defense collapsed. Why?
No one seriously blamed Snape and Malfoy. After all, Snape's role was known in advance. And Draco clearly acted under duress, as he himself confessed.
But that did not ease the pain of loss. Now they had to live and fight without Dumbledore - the wise mentor and friend...
Somewhere in the darkness, a phoenix sang - Harry had never heard such a song before: a mournful cry of stunning beauty. And Harry felt, as he felt before while listening to the phoenix, that the music was inside him, not outside, it was his own grief magically transformed into a song that echoed, carried over the castle grounds, flowed through his windows.
They remained silent for a long time, listening, unable to say anything, unable to explain why, while they listened to the sound of their own sorrow, the pain seemed to subside; however, it seemed to all of them that a long time had passed before the hospital door opened again and Professor McGonagall entered the room. Like everyone else, she bore the marks of the recent battle - scratches on her face, torn clothing.
After that came a gloomy and oppressive conversation in Dumbledore's former office, where McGonagall, Hagrid, and the other professors gathered for a meeting. McGonagall suggested that the school might have to close because of what had happened. Professor Sprout, with a keen understanding and deep insight, suggested that Hogwarts should remain open at least for one student. But Professor Slughorn doubted that parents would agree to send their children back into these walls, which deeply affected the hearts of those present.
However, Hagrid, with his simple and honest heart, wondered whether the school should continue its activities without Dumbledore. In response, McGonagall proposed to make this decision together with the trustees and at the same time prepare the Hogwarts Express for sending the students home.
Harry reacted in his own way, suggesting that the sending off of the students be postponed until the funeral ceremony so that each student could say goodbye to the headmaster. His words found a response in the hearts of Professors Flitwick and Sprout, who supported his wise suggestion.
At that moment, McGonagall announced the arrival of the minister and his delegation. Feeling the weight of his destiny, Harry begged to be allowed to leave the meeting and avoid meeting the minister. McGonagall understood his words and allowed him to leave.
"Is it true?" whispered the Fat Lady as he approached her. "Is it really true? Dumbledore - is he dead?"
"Yes," Harry replied.
She groaned and, without waiting for the password, stepped aside, letting Harry pass.
As he had expected, the common room was packed. When he emerged from the portrait hole, everyone fell silent. Harry saw Sam Brightwood, Dean, and Seamus sitting right by the entrance surrounded by other students: so, the dormitory must be empty or nearly empty. Without saying a word, without meeting anyone's gaze, Harry crossed the common room and disappeared behind the door leading to the boys' dormitories.
After the battle, Ron entered the dormitory and found Mordred sitting on the bed looking miserable.
"Hey, something wrong?" he asked cautiously.
"I... I'm not sure I'm worthy of being the heir," Mordred reluctantly admitted. "The words of Jack the Ripper... they hit home. I really am too harsh and blunt for a queen and I think too much of myself."
"Nonsense!" Ron replied fervently. "Being soft is not the main thing. You are strong, decisive, honest. That's what makes you worthy!"
Mordred raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"You... you think so?"
"Absolutely sure!" Ron squeezed her shoulder. "Being a king is difficult, but... You will handle your destiny perfectly. Just stay yourself, okay?"
A grateful smile flickered on Mordred's lips. It seemed like she was ready to move forward now.
After that conversation, Ron sat on his bed, still fully clothed, waiting for his friend. Occasionally, he exchanged short phrases with Mordred. There wasn't much mood for anything more, and what was there to discuss? Their minds were still filled with scenes from the recent battle, along with thousands of unanswered questions. Harry lay down on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. He felt no curiosity about the Grail, he doubted he would ever feel curiosity again. As he lay there, he suddenly realized that there was silence over the castle. Fawkes's singing had stopped.
And Harry understood, without knowing how or why, that the phoenix would no longer be there, that he had left Hogwarts forever, just like Dumbledore, just like he had left this world... and left Harry.
At that moment, a new meaning of the words spoken by Fujimaru before the battle as a farewell message reached each of them.
It wasn't a battle between Masters. It wasn't a battle between Servants. It wasn't a battle for the Holy Grail. But this battle defined their tomorrow.