Chapter 77

Beginning of an End

Note from J.M. Jackson: And so the end begins. The next few chapters are going to be epic, we hope, and maybe a little heart wrenching.

Morning came to Hogwarts, but no one had really slept much. Eventually, Lily had fallen asleep crying, with Ginny watching her. Hermione had spent the night studying her books, ready for Fleur's arrival. Lavender and Parvati had noticed what Hermione was doing and had done the same as her.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked, looking at Hermione.

"What's up? Is Lily waking up?" Hermione asked. Ginny shook her head.

"You disappeared last night," Ginny commented. "I didn't say anything, but I saw you take Lily's cloak."

"I had to do something," Hermione replied. "Something I never thought I would do."

"Which is?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked at her.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Hermione asked. Ginny didn't even hesitate.

"If it's to help Lily, yes, I want to know," Ginny insisted.

"Alright. I used a new communication orb that Fleur and I have been designing, and I contacted her. I told her everything that's happened, including in detentions. Umbridge won't be the Headmistress by this time tomorrow," Hermione promised.

"Good. We should contact the rest of the DA, and get them prepared," Ginny said. "I know you don't want everyone involved, but we'll need to deal with all of Umbridge's little squad."

"Alright, I'll use the coins to alert them," Hermione agreed. "I just… never imagined we'd be doing… well, planning a full battle in the school."

"If it turns into a battle, you know the teachers will back us up. None of them like Umbridge, and after what she did to Professor McGonagall, and Hagrid, they'll be ready to take her on, I hope," Ginny replied, as Hermione got her communication coin from her trunk.

"Let's hope so," Hermione agreed, sending the message. She took a deep breath. "I just… I don't know what'll happen today, but there's been too much evil happening her. Whether she's a Death Eater, or just plain evil, it's time for Umbridge to go."

"Do you know when Fleur and the others will arrive?" Ginny asked. Hermione shook her head.

"We'll likely know when she's here," Hermione pointed out.

"When… who's here?" Lily's voice asked weakly from her bed.

"Lily? You're awake?" Hermione asked.

"When who's here?" Lily repeated. Hermione stood up and walked over to Lily's bed, sitting on it and taking Lily's hand in hers.

"I… spoke to Fleur last night. After everything, we can't let anything else happen to people we care about," Hermione explained. "She'll be here today, with others, to take on Umbridge."

"Good. I want to be there," Lily said. "She could have killed Aunt Minnie! I won't let her get away with that."

"Then we get dressed, and go down to breakfast, as if everything is normal," Hermione insisted. "We go through the day as though this is just another normal day, with exams and classes."

"You think Umbridge will buy it?" Lily asked.

"I don't know, but we need to try," Hermione said. Lily nodded, getting up from her bed. Hermione watched as Lily went to the bathroom to get herself ready, before doing the same, a sense of anxiety filling her like never before. When would Fleur arrive? The bigger question, though, was whether it would be in time, before Umbridge tried something else.


Thankfully, most of the day went normally, with the students all going to their exams, and to classes, as if nothing had happened. Everyone knew Hagrid was gone, and that Professor McGonagall had been injured. Lily wasn't left alone at any point during the day; either Hermione, Lavender, or Parvati was with her at all times, and Ginny when she could be.

Lily noticed Malfoy and his cronies nearby at all times as well, as if looking for any excuse to attack, or any opportunity, but Lily made sure to give him neither the chance nor a reason. She knew that evening was going to be important, and every time she passed a member of the DA or the Order of the Dragon, they gave her a subtle nod, to confirm they had received Hermione's message.

As the sun came close to setting, Lily felt ready for what was coming, and waited on tenterhooks for whatever signal Fleur would give. Lily made her way to the courtyard, with the other members of the DA and the OotD all in different locations. She looked around, seeing most of them, but as she took a deep breath, she felt a cold chill run down her back. Looking ahead, she saw Ginny waiting for her, but Ginny also had a look of shock and horror on her face.

Lily didn't need to turn around to know that Umbridge was there, along with her Inquisitorial Squad. Did they know of Hermione's message? Or was this Umbridge taking pre-emptive action, knowing Lily would want revenge after her Aunt Minnie had been injured?

That didn't matter. She looked at Ginny and smiled. This was something that she had expected, so she turned around, and saw Umbridge and the Slytherin's, all of them looking like they had just been given the greatest gift ever.

"So kind of you to be out here, Mr Potter," Umbridge said. Lily already felt angry at the evil hag, and her misgendering Lily made her even more angry, but she wasn't about to make a mistake and attack too soon.

"I was going to say the same thing to you. Makes this so much easier," Lily said. She pointed her wand at her throat. "Sonorus."

She knew her voice would now be amplified, and so she had to be quick with what she was going to say.

"Everyone here at Hogwarts," Lily started, her voice echoing through the school and across the grounds, "has always made a choice about who they are, and who they want to be. Everyone chooses to use their magic for good, or for evil," Lily begun, as several shields were cast to protect her, before Umbridge or anyone else could react. Several Slytherin's attempted to break the shields but failed.

"This year has been one of the darkest Hogwarts has ever faced. Voldemort has returned and has been ensuring that people such as Umbridge are able to give their voice a platform. Why? Because fear, anger, and hatred has always divided us. Many of you weren't sure of me when I came out as Transgender," Lily continued. Umbridge went to cast a spell, but a well-placed disarming spell from Flitwick stopped her. Lily saw the teachers all emerging from the school, all of them clearly ready to side with Lily.

"But we can't let dark emotions cloud us. We can't let the darkness win, not when it's already been proven that light is stronger. Look around you; this is a place we all call home, a place where we all have stood, preparing ourselves for the future," Lily spoke, a smile on her face. She was starting to feel a little more peaceful than she had done in some time.

"We must choose what kind of future we want. Do we want a future of darkness, where prejudice, racism, bigotry, and hatred guides all of us? Or do we want to be able to live our lives freely, without fear of being attacked just because of a choice we make to be ourselves?" Lily asked.

"MR POTTER!" Umbridge's voice began to echo as she also cast the Sonorus charm on herself, but within seconds, she was surrounded by a green field, again cast by Flitwick.

"Dolores Umbridge has tortured us, and has tried to make us into her perfect little servants. Some people were afraid of her, and of the Ministry, and so they made mistakes," Lily said, looking at Marietta Edgecombe, who was holding Cho Chang's hand. "But the time for judgement on mistakes is past."

"I was asked a question at Christmas," Lily spoke, her heart racing as more people began to fill the courtyard, with even the Slytherin's outnumbered. "I was asked why I felt I had to fight. I didn't have an answer back then, because it felt like I didn't have a choice. Everyone expected me to be the 'boy who lived' and then it was the 'girl that lived' which meant everyone expected me to be the one to fight."

"But now… now I realise what my answer is," Lily smiled as Ginny approached her, and held her hand, with Ron, Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender all standing next to Lily. She looked at them, all of whom had a smile on their faces.

"I don't have to fight. I choose to fight because it's the right thing to do, because I choose to protect my friends, my family… my loved ones. I choose to fight because I can't stand to let evil succeed, and now, I choose to reject Dolores Umbridge and her methods, because I choose to fight for all of you," Lily continued.

"So now the question is, what will you fight for?" Lily asked, looking around. "Will you fight for tyranny and persecution, or freedom and justice?"

Lily ended her Sonorus charm and looked around. The Slytherin's were looking amongst themselves, some whispering. Lily noticed that the first year Slytherin's were moving away from Umbridge and her group.

"You think you've won here, Potter?" Umbridge seethed. "You're children; you don't know anything about the world. I try and protect all of you from this stupidity of yours, and yet you only show disobedience?"

"No, I show truth, and friendship. I've got friends, which is more than you have. I've got family, who love me, and whom I love. I have more than you ever will, Umbridge," Lily said, glaring at her.

"You also have given me everything I need to ensure you spend your life, short as it will be, in Azkaban. The world doesn't tolerate criminals, Potter, and that's what you've just become," Umbridge pointed out.

Before Lily could say anything, she heard a voice whisper in her ear, a voice that was disguised, but it was saying something important to Lily, helping her to solve a puzzle that had been bothering her all year.

"I wonder how the world will react to you setting Dementors on Muggles, and on children, like you did during the summer holidays," Lily said. Her friends let out a collective noise of shock and disgust, as Lily stepped forward slightly. "You sent them to kill me, or to make me use magic so I'd be expelled from Hogwarts, didn't you?"

"You've always been a troublemaker, ever since your first year, and someone had to deal with you," Umbridge replied coldly. "Just like now."

Before anyone could stop her, Umbridge raised her wand, sending a jet of green towards Lily and her friends. However, it didn't make contact with Lily, or her shields, as a large chunk of rock dropped from the sky, intercepting the killing curse.

Lily smiled as Sirius landed on the ground, having leapt off Buckbeak, with Remus and Fleur joining them.

"I want a word with you, Umbridge," Sirius snarled angrily, his teeth practically growing.

"Sirius Black. Of course Potter is delusional and arrogant, with you having raised him," Umbridge said.

"How did an idiot like you ever get any OWLs or NEWTS when you can't even see if someone is a boy or girl, or are you just as stupid as your boss?" Sirius asked. "You think you can attack my goddaughter with Dementors, and torture her, without paying the price?"

"You were never as strong as I am. I have always been better, Black," Umbridge said.

"Better at losing," Sirius replied, before sending a jet of red light at Umbridge. The students, all of them, moved and got clear of the centre of the courtyard, including Lily, although she was held back by Remus.

"Sirius has to do this," Remus said. "It's a matter of pride for him."

"We heard your speech, Lily, you were amazing," Fleur complimented, as Umbridge tried to attack Sirius, who dodged the attack, and launched another blast at Umbridge.

Lily saw the Inquisitorial Squad silently move away from the crowd, and head back into the school, as did the rest of the Slytherins. Professor Spout, and Madam Pomfrey were ushering them into the school, as well as the rest of the students nearby, just as the members of the Order of the Dragon were casting shields, blocking any stray spells from hitting students.

Lily was entranced by the fight between Umbridge and Sirius, watching the hatred in Sirius's eyes; this was why she hadn't told him about what Umbridge had been doing.

"Wait, if Buckbeak is here…" Hermione asked. Lily heard Hermione's question, as Remus answered.

"Minerva is going to be fine; she's resting now. She'll need a few days off her feet, but she's strong," Remus assured the group. Lily let out a sigh of relief at hearing that.

"You really should surrender now, Black. If you're lucky, maybe you'll be in Azkaban for life, rather than be kissed by the Dementors," Umbridge smirked.

"Even your boss can't cover for you now, Umbridge," Sirius countered.

"You think White is my boss?" Umbridge asked. "He's just the face of everything right now. After all, why should my Master make an appearance when people don't believe he's back?"

That statement caused Lily to freeze; Umbridge, and White, were both Death Eaters! Lily should have known that for certain. She watched as Umbridge took advantage of the way Sirius paused, launching a killing curse at him.

Sirius, however, simply leapt to the side, morphing into Padfoot, and snarling as he ran at Umbridge, who was shocked herself at the sight.

Sirius knocked Umbridge down as he leapt at her, snarling and scratching at her face. She was screaming in anger before she was able to send Sirius flying backwards. Lily ran to Sirius, who was shifting back to human form.

"Lily, get clear," Sirius said. Lily shook her head, and quickly cast a spell to create a field of smoke as she felt something different about herself.

Umbridge used her magic to clear the smoke, but as she did, she wasn't looking at Sirius and Lily, but Sirius and… Sirius!


"Merlin's beard," Hermione gasped as the two Sirius Black's stood up, each starting to circle around Umbridge in different directions. She was trying to choose between the two Sirius's, both of whom were firing curses at her, as she dodged them. She then launched a curse at one Sirius but missed as a rock came between Sirius and Umbridge.

Umbridge let out a soft gasp as her body stiffened; looking at her target, she watched as the Sirius she had attacked was changing form back into Lily, who was smiling, just as the real Sirius had hit Umbridge with the killing curse.

"Go to hell, bitch," Sirius snarled, as Umbridge fell to the ground. She didn't hear him, as the light had already left her eyes. There was silence for a moment, before everyone remaining cheered at the sight of Umbridge having been beaten.

Sirius limped over to Lily. "Lily bud… that was…"

"Bloody wicked," Ron complimented. "You never said you were a Metamorphmagus."

"I wasn't sure," Lily replied, panting. "I mean, I had an idea, and I spoke to Tonks about it, but this was the first time I've been able to change my form."

"My girlfriend, strong, and amazing," Ginny said, grinning, as the teachers were helping to control the students, although Flitwick approached them.

"Excellent spell work, Miss Potter. I've never seen anything like it before," Flitwick complimented.

"Thank you, Professor," Lily said. She looked at the others. "We can't rest, though. We need to get to the Ministry."

"No, absolutely not," Sirius said.

"Uncle Sirius, you heard her, White is a Death Eater! If we don't stop him, who knows what'll happen?" Lily asked.

"And if it's a trap? You think she let that slip by accident?" Sirius asked.

"Sirius is right, Lily, that wasn't any ordinary slip of the tongue. She wanted you to know, so you'd go to the Ministry. Voldemort has needed to get you there all year," Remus said.

"Remus, no, not now," Sirius exclaimed.

"Sirius, she deserves to know. She's ready; more so than any of us expected," Remus pointed out. "You heard her speech."

"I'm right here, and I want to know," Lily demanded. Sirius sighed and nodded.

"Lily, I told you about a prophecy, right? Well, no one knows what it says fully, although there is a copy of it at the Ministry of Magic. Only two people can access it; Voldemort, and yourself, because it relates to the two of you, and if Voldemort goes to the Ministry, everyone will know he's back," Sirius explained.

"And it won't be long before everyone knows, so if we don't stop White now, then he'll get it. We can go there and destroy it; that way, Voldemort will never know what it says," Lily told him. "I'm going, and you can't stop me."

"I'm your Godfather, and I can," Sirius replied.

"Uncle Sirius, I love you, so much. You've been a father to me my whole life. But if I don't do this, then Voldemort could win. You heard what I said; I choose to do this. You asked me why at Christmas, and now it's not because I have to fight, but because I choose to fight," Lily explained. Sirius looked at her, tears in his eyes.

"I'm so damned proud of you, Lily. You're stronger, smarter, and better than anyone I've ever known, and that includes your parents. You're not going alone," Sirius insisted.

"I have an idea," Ron said. Everyone looked at him, shocked. "What? I can't have a good idea every now and then?"

"Of course you can, Ron," Lavender complimented. "What is it?"

"Lily, Hermione, myself, and the Order of the Dragon will go first. He won't know about this just yet, so we can make him think we're doing this alone. We get there, they show themselves, then you show up and launch your attack, whilst we find the prophecy and destroy it," Ron explained.

"Ron… that's brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Always the tone of surprise," Ron replied.

"Alright, we need to do this now. We'll go by broom and Thestral," Lily said.

"We'll get the rest of the Order of the Phoenix," Fleur said.

"Don't do anything stupid," Sirius insisted, as Lavender and Parvati gathered up several of the older students, including Angelina, Cormac McLaggen, Katie, Ernie McMillan, and Cho, whilst Luna, Neville, and Ginny insisted on going along as well. The one person who also insisted on joining them was Marietta Edgecombe, who wanted to make up for her betrayal of the group before.

It didn't take long to summon their brooms and gather Thestrals, with Hermione riding on Buckbeak, along with Cho.

"Alright, let's go save the world," Lily said, smiling at them. "Before we go, I just… I want to say thank you, to all of you."

"Save the world first, thank us after," Cormac said. "And for what it's worth, I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Lily."

"Don't worry about it. Now, let's do this," Lily nodded, before kicking off the ground, leading the charge towards London, and to the first battle that the Order of the Dragon would fight in the war.