Random Disclaimer: I still do not own anything Harry Potter. It's JKR's world and I'm just playing in it. Prophecy text borrowed from OOTP. This story is for entertainment only. No profit sought/no profit gained.
"He's going to wear a hole in the carpet," Ron commented, watching Harry pace the floor of the Common Room. He shared the sofa with Hermione who, like Harry, was still in Muggle clothing.
"You're making me nauseated," she said, closing her eyes as she leaned her head against her hand. Her elbow was propped on the arm of the sofa.
Despite the number of people present, the Common Room was eerily quiet as those who watched Harry waited, it seemed, for him to let them know what to do. In Dumbledore's absence, everyone knew the most powerful entity on campus was a scrawny raven-haired sixth year who was too short for his age.
Harry's eyes were flashing as his thoughts raced. He had moved on from denying Dumbledore's departure or questioning his motives. He was focused on creating a tactical plan to protect his wife, child, and the other students. "Hermione," he stopped. All eyes turned to him as if expecting a miracle. "Tell me everything you know about the barriers protecting Hogwarts."
"There's a force field of sorts that keeps wizards from apparating in and out. It also keeps Muggles from seeing what the school really looks like and sort of repels them. The forest itself is filled with creatures that could harm any stranger if provoked."
"Other ways to get in?" he asked.
"Invitation. Taking on a different form."
"House Elves can apparate though."
"They're a different kind of creature. They have their own powers."
"And Voldemort came in as a memory and as a parasite," he added.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione gasp as dawning settled upon her. "The protective shields are linked to the Headmaster. McGonagall has to reset them all since Dumbledore left." Other students murmured at this revelation. No one doubted that Hermione knew exactly what she was talking about. She was the only student who could practically quote Hogwarts: A History.
"He left last year for a while and there were no problems," Ron pointed out, thinking of what had happened when the DA had been revealed.
"He did not relinquish his title willingly then," Hermione answered. "Magical contracts, Ron. They're binding in ways we sometimes fail to consider."
"So, we're at our most vulnerable right now," Harry deduced. "Because of Dumbledore's exit, the school has the weakest protection it has had in decades." His eyes caught Hermione's.
"He is going senile," Ron shook his head. "What a time to desert us!"
"It's what he planned," Hermione said, realizing what Harry was thinking. "He knows that as soon as Voldemort learns he left, then they'll attack and go after Harry."
Harry called out, "Everyone, gather around!" and he sat down between Ron and Hermione.
All of the Gryffindors present came closer, surrounding the Trio as they took seats, sat on the floor, or even stood to hear what Harry had to say.
"Death Eaters will be here soon," Harry announced. "We're at our most vulnerable right now and Voldemort will take advantage of that. There's no doubt. Dumbledore knows how to read him. He knew that as soon as he left, Voldemort would get word and use it to his advantage."
"Why are you sure he's going to come here?" a fourth year girl asked.
Harry thought a moment. He was sure because he was at Hogwarts and Voldemort was after him. "I could leave," he said suddenly, realizing he could save Hogwarts an attack.
"No you will not!" Hermione barked. "No way! This trap is set for Hogwarts for a reason."
"You're right," Harry answered, his hopes of moving the battle dashed. He knew there were pieces of Dumbledore's plan that he did not understand and it would be best to follow the path that was laid out before him. His summer training had taught him as much about using his mind to out-think the enemy as it had to focus his magic.
"I know he's coming to Hogwarts because I know he's coming after me. The best thing for all of you to do is to get out know. I've shown you where the secret passageways are, so take them."
"He's coming after you," Seamus asked, skeptical as always. "You specifically? Not just Hogwarts?"
"Yes, me specifically," Harry answered. "He's been after me specifically for sixteen years. The rest of you do not have to be targets. You can get out and that's exactly what you should do."
"Why?" Pavarti asked, looking frightened as she huddled closer to Lavendar. "Why is he after you?"
Harry could see the frustration, sadness, and fear in her eyes. He instinctively took Hermione's hand. "I'm not sure I can say," he answered softly. He was sure Ron and Ginny would feel betrayed if they learned the truth at the same time as the majority of Gryffindor.
"It goes back to the Prophecy, doesn't it?" Neville asked. He was leaning against the chair where Ginny was sitting. He had figured out long ago that the Prophecy had to have been vastly important for Voldemort to go to such extremes to find it.
"But it got broken," Ron replied casting an accusatory look toward Neville.
"I think you should tell them," Hermione said. "They need to know."
"Why?" Harry asked, unsure that it was the best thing to do.
"So they'll know what we're up against, what you're up against and how paramount to our survival this really is," she told him. She nodded as if to say Go ahead, letting him know it was okay to reveal the truth.
"Neville's right," Harry began. "It all goes back to the Prophecy."
"What prophecy?" Dean asked.
"About seventeen years ago, a prophecy was made. It's the reason Voldemort has tried to kill me so many times. It's the reason he killed my parents. They didn't have to die," he added sadly.
"Why was he trying to kill a baby?" Lavendar asked, captivated by his words and by the element of fortune telling. Even as his yearmate for six years, she had not become immune to the legend of Harry Potter.
Harry took a deep breath. "The Prophecy states: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
There was complete silence for one very long minute.
"You? You're You-Know-Who's equal?" Ginny asked, stunned. "He's... his power...is," she grappled for words, knowing first hand how powerful just his memory was. "And you..." she was unable to voice a complete thought.
"You have to kill him?" Ron exclaimed, floored by the revelation and too shocked to be angry that he had not been told earlier.
"How are you going to kill him?" Colin asked, wide eyed and even more in awe of Harry than he had ever been before.
"I don't know," Harry answered truthfully.
"Well, you're not going to have to do it alone!" Neville stated decisively. No one was expecting it from him. "Harry, you're the only hope we have to avoid complete domination by evil. If I have to die defending you, so be it."
"Neville, don't- " Harry started. He could not bear the thought of someone else dying to protect him.
"Harry, you can not take on a gang of Death Eaters and Him. You leave the Death Eaters to me and Ron. We'll clear the way for you to focus on him. If he kills you, we'll all pay dearly, so you have to survive to fight him."
"You and Ron?" Ginny repeated. "And me and Hermione. I'm with you guys!" she jumped to her feet. "Bellatrix Lestrange's ass is mine!"
"Not if I get go her first," Neville replied.
"I'm staying," Dean stood up. "You've trained us to fight and that's exactly what we're going to do. You didn't waste all that time training us so you'd have to take on You Know Who and the Death Eaters alone."
"I'm staying too," Colin said, standing up. Dennis joined his brother voicing his resolve as well.
"I'm not running," Seamus said. "I'm a Gryffindor."
"We're all Gryffindors," Pavarti said proudly as she stood up with the other members of the DA. Soon everyone in the Common Room other than the Trio were on their feet, declaring their support.
Harry smiled, overwhelmed by the dozens of students standing up, ready to fight with him and for him.
"You leave the Death Eaters to us," Neville repeated. "And you kill You Know Who." He turned to the other students, "Harry Potter will be the one still standing when all of this is over. It's our job to see that he's got the backup to fulfill that Prophecy."
"I think we should inform the rest of the DA," Ron said. "And we should go do it now. Come on. Who wants to visit Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?"
Harry and Hermione got up to go with the group as they split up.
"No," Ron said. "You've both had a hell of a day. Go take an hour to celebrate Hermione's birthday."
"You remembered?" Hermione asked.
Ron beamed. "Of course I did." He amended his story when he heard Ginny clearing her throat behind him. "Well, Ginny mentioned it earlier. And Mum sent you a present."
Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry laughed at his admission.
"Seamus, Dean, Neville, come on!" Ron called. He leaned close to Harry "You've got one hour," he informed him softly.
Harry did something totally unexpected. He hugged Ron. "Thank you for everything," he said, compelled to somehow let Ron know what his friendship meant. He realized that Voldemort could be bearing down on them and he might not ever have another chance.
Ron patted Harry's back a few times, then pulled away blushing to the tips of his ears. "You're welcome," he sputtered, embarrassed that Harry had just hugged him in front of the entire house.
Harry laughed at Ron's embarrassment and took his wife's hand, leading her to his empty dorm room.
She put a locking spell on the door while Harry rummaged through his trunk for a small rectangular silver box he'd put there over a month ago.
Hermione opened the curtains around his bed and sat down, kicking off her shoes as she sank into the soft mattress. "Is that a present? For me?" she asked practically singing her playful question.
"I told you I had one," he grinned, sitting down next to her. He placed the box in her outreached hand.
"Good things come in small packages," she said, shaking the box. She heard a slight rattle. "Sounds promising," she smiled as she tore open the paper to reveal a black velvet box.
She opened the lid and found Lily and James's rings on golden chains. She picked up the chain with Lily's engagment ring and wedding band. "Harry, is this?" she asked, fingering the delicate golden band.
"My mother's," Harry answered. "I wanted you to have it, but I wanted you to have your own wedding and engagement ring too."
"But, Harry," you have nothing of your mom's but this. And you're giving it..." her words trailed off as bittersweet tears filled her eyes. She knew how he treasured every photo, every memory shared of his parents and how he valued his Invisibility Cloak more for it's belonging to his father than for it's power.
"I'm giving them to you. I wanted to... well, I want you to have them." It was difficult for him to put into words that he wanted the most important women in his life to share something.
He picked up the other chain with his father's wedding band. "I thought I could wear his and you could wear hers. If you don't want to, that's okay. I don't, like, expect you to be like my Mum or anything." How could have any expectations of anyone to be like his mother when he had no basis of comparison?
"Harry, I'm honored," she kissed his cheek. "I think it's a beautiful way to honor them and our family." She held her hair up. "Put it on for me please."
He obliged, finding the little clasp to be more of a challenge than he would have expected. Hermione let her hair fall again and then fastened Harry's chain around his neck. "Thank you," she said. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Harry answered, placing his hand gently on her stomach. "Both of you." He kissed her softly before reaching out to close the drapes around the bed.
@@@@@@@@@@
"My Lord, we should allow the others to go ahead of you to make your way clear," Snape suggested, bowing low before Lord Voldemort.
"Yes," Voldemort hissed, waiting in the dark of midnight, just inside the Hogwarts grounds. Snape's information about Dumbledore's departure and the weakness it left in the castle's security had earned him the highest position in Voldemort's lair. His loyalty and usefulness had made him second in command. He had earned the honor to travel by Voldemort's side and to act as adviser since he was most familiar with Hogwarts.
There was grumbling among the ranks of the Death Eaters. Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange both felt entitled to Snape's position of esteem and both were eager to show themselves as his rightful understudy. Malfoy was particularly put off by Snape's appointment since he had held the spot just days before when he had told Voldemort of the apparent hostility between Dumbledore and Potter. The Dark Lord had been very pleased to learn that the two wizards he loathed most were at odds, making each of them weaker.
Just as Gryffindor had sent warning to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws, the Death Eaters had sent word to their own children to stay within the shelter of Slytherin, for only it would be spared. Death Eaters planned to infiltrate each house, annihilate any resistance and stake their claim to power over the school, the children of the wizarding world, and thus the wizarding world itself.
Without question, the strongest of the Death Eaters had been assigned to the task of taking over Gryffindor with the specific instructions to leave Harry Potter to Voldemort. They could hurt him; torture him, and break him, but Voldemort reserved the pleasure of killing him for his own. The rest of the house was to be destroyed.
Voldemort laughed his evil laugh as he imagined sacrificing Potter in front of them all, using him as the example of what would become of anyone who should resist. Voldemort would usurp Harry's power as his own, becoming the most powerful sorcerer alive.
Harry bolted upright in his bed. His head was searing with pain from his scar.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, sitting up with him. The dark room was quiet and still.
"He's here," Harry told her. His eyes were watering from the intensity of the pain. It felt stronger than ever before, perhaps because he had not felt Voldemort's emotions for months, or perhaps because Voldemort had never been this jubilant before.
"Block him out," Hermione said, rubbing his back. She touched his scar and her caress was like a calming balm as the pain subsided.
"That is amazing," Harry commented, placing his hand over hers. "How do you do that?" he asked absently.
She shrugged. "I just love you."
Before Harry could respond, Hedwig came soaring in from the window, squawking frantically.
"We have to go," Harry said, realizing the moment that had been coming so long had arrived. In a flash, they were both dressed again. Harry gathered both of their wands.
Hermione unlocked the door, but turned to her husband, "I'm not ready!" she cried, embracing him tightly. It did not feel real, being in this quiet room when all hell was about to break loose outside of it.
Harry hugged her with all his might, "Yes, you are. We both are."
With a crack, Dobby appeared. "Mr. Harry Potter, Sir! Mr. Harry Potter, Sir!" he jabbered. "Come quickly, Sir! He's here! He Who Must Not Be Named is at Hogwarts!"
"Harry! Harry!" Pavarti Patil came rushing into the boy's dorm room. "Death Eaters!" she wailed. "They're trying to get in! They're going to take over!"
Harry kissed Hermione quickly, "I love you," he told her, his resolve strong.
"I love you too," she answered, tears brimming in her eyes. "I can't loose you."
"You won't." He squeezed her hand, "Let's end this war."
Hermione and Pavarti rushed down the stairs behind Harry. Dobby had disappeared.
As they were descending the stairs, a band of Death Eaters burst through the portrait hole. The Fat Lady was shrieking in terror as she raced through surrounding portraits calling for help. Ron, Neville, and Seamus fell to the floor, pushed over when the door they were trying to barricaded was forced open. Neither spells nor brute strength had kept the attackers out.
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Impedimenta!" Dean Thomas called out, aiming at every intruder. He managed to stun Nott, but missed Avery and McNair. By this time the three boys were back to their feet.
"The little boys want to play?" Avery growled, brandishing his wand. "Cruc-"
"Petrificus Totalis!" Harry shouted before Avery could affect Dean.
McNair had taken aim at Ron, but Ron used Protego to save himself. McNair's spell backfired and he fell to his knees, twitching in spasms.
In the midst of this, Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, and the elder Crabbe and Goyle were also in the Common Room. They had not realized they were under attack the moment they entered Gryffindor. Instead, they had gone in with arrogance and certainty given their surprise tactics.
Every member of the DA was ready with shielding and stunning spells, not to mention a variety of hexes, jinxes, and curses used as defense. The Death Eaters, who had assumed their strength would far outweigh even the Gryffindors found they were vastly outnumbered, unlike their last encounter with students.
Harry pushed Hermione to the floor behind a couch. "Stay down," he told her. "Stay safe." He reached into his pocket to find the charmed galleon, an idea had come to him that he'd never considered before. "Protego," he said, clutching the galleon in his hand. He felt it become warm. A wave of energy flowed through him as the coin became hot and glowed brightly.
"We meet again!" Bellatrix's laughed, coming face to face with Neville. "Crucio!"
Neville was too stunned by her appearance to do anything to protect himself. However, to his and Lestrange's surprise, there was a soft glow surrounding him and her spell backfired, just like the one McNair had directed at Ron.
"What the?" she asked, befuddled, ducking to miss the rebounding magic.
"Reducto!" Nevile cried out, using the first spell that came to his mind. "Reducto! Reducto! Reducto!" he repeated over and over until Bellatrix was the size of a grasshopper. Crookshanks came zipping through the chaos and slapped the reduced witch to a corner where he decided to amuse himself with his capture.
"You rock, Neville!" Ginny exclaimed having turned from bat-bogey hexing Malfoy to help her friend.
While Malfoy was swatting at his face, he, like the other Death Eaters, was also being pelted with food and doused with scalding water that the House Elves had brought from the kitchen. They assaulted the band of evil-doers with lamps, vases, and goblets too. The effect was to torment, blind, and confuse them all at once, giving members of the DA the upper hand in casting spells. The sounds of breaking glass blending into the shouting and cracking of furniture.
Harry made his way to the stunned Nott and petrified Avery to conjure binding ropes and cuffs that could not be removed without his releasing them magically. He petrified McNair, who had recovered from twitching only to be scalded by the elves and stunned by Seamus.
Dobby zipped through, taking all the wands that had been dropped.
In moments, Lupin and Tonks were also in Gryffindor, accompanied by Aurors that Harry did not recognize.
Harry saw that Malfoy was regaining his bearings. The blonde lifted his wand and pointed it toward Ron, who was face to face with Peter Pettigrew. "Avada--"
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, but it was too late. Malfoy had been able to complete "Kedavra" before his wand flew from his hand.
Ron froze, realizing what was coming.
"Ron, no!" Pettigrew shouted as he threw himself between his former master and Malfoy's curse. Pettigrew fell dead, his eyes wide open.
Malfoy hit the ground next to Pettigrew with a thud, having been petrified by Lupin as Harry disarmed him.
"Ron!" Harry shouted, running to his best friend's side. "Are you all right?"
Ron nodded silently, still shocked over how close he had come to death and still processing that his former pet rat had just given his life to save him. "He saved me. That bloody bastard saved my life."
"Crabbe and Goyle are down," Lupin said, coming to Harry's side. "Tonks, McElroy, and Warren were able to subdue them.
"Where's Lestrange?" Harry asked, mentally accounting for each Death Eater that had come in other than her.
"Crookshanks has her," Neville told them as the pandemonium around them stilled. Eight of the strongest Death Eaters had come into Gryffindor expecting an easy take-over and each one had been subdued by the students or the aurors. Aurors were gathering the restrained, stunned, and petrified Death Eaters and spirits were starting to soar.
"What's going on in the other houses?" Harry asked. Hermione had left her shelter behind the couch to join him, ecstatic that the Death Eaters had been detained without any harm coming to Harry or their baby.
"Between Dumbledore, the other professors, and the army of aurors we've got, it's been a bit of a good old fashioned Death Eater ass kicking," Lupin replied with a grin on his face.
"So it has," a cold voice hissed as evil entered the house. "You bastard! You led me into a trap!"
All eyes turned to see that Professor Snape had led Voldemort into the Common Room. "Your prize," Snape said coldly.
Harry fell to his knees as he felt Voldemort's rage as it had never been before. He barely heard the "Crucio" that was used against the Potions Master. Harry felt as though his world was turning black as the anger and hatred poured through him. He collapsed in a heap.
He heard Hermione crying his name as she kneeled by his side. "Harry, come back," he heard as if she were calling from miles away. He heard screaming and crying as the students panicked. Voldemort was in their presence. He was torturing Snape for his betrayal before their very eyes. "Run!" he wanted to shout out to them, but no sound came. "Hermione, run!" he thought over and over, until the words finally escaped his lips.
She helped him to his feet and as she did, Voldemort turned his attention to them.
"It matters not what you've done with my Death Eaters," Voldemort hissed, approaching his nemesis. "All that matters is you and me, Harry Potter."
"That's right," Harry answered, feeling dizzy, but focusing on Hermione and protecting her, pushing her behind him so that he would be a human shield for her. "It's down to you and me."
"Once I get rid of you, I'll get my forces back. I'll be stronger than ever." His arrogance was unwavering.
"You're so sure you can get rid of me?" Harry asked, boldly approaching Voldemort, purposefully moving away from Hermione so she would not be in the line of fire. All eyes were upon them, watching the confrontation in rapt attention.
"You have been a challenge, I'll give you that." Voldemort answered, in no hurry to end things as he was confident that he would be able to defeat the boy. "You have been more trouble than you're worth and those who have tried to protect you will pay the price." He nodded toward Snape who was pale and still.
"Seems to me you've been a failure," Harry replied, goading him, understanding Voldemort well enough to know that as long as the wizard's attention was focused on him, the other students were in a safer position.
"Strong words from a little boy who's always had his mummy or headmaster there to help him."
"Weak excuse from the self-proclaimed Dark Lord." Harry stepped closer to the wizard as the other students held their collective breath, finding it impossible to believe that Harry was simply having a conversation with You Know Who. "Are we going to dual or not?" Harry asked.
"You dare issue a challenge to me?" Voldemort laughed, raising his wand. "We've been through this before, Potter. Be polite and bow to me. As enemies go, I find you quite amusing."
Harry's eyes flashed, meeting Voldemort's. He remembered the graveyard and Cedric. "You bow to me," he ordered. His eyes did not stray from the evil red orbs as he willed the other wizard to bow before him.
Voldemort's body curved forward and he raised himself. He appeared briefly confused by his own actions, and the realization hit him. The child, the easy target, was truly the one who had the power to vanquish him. Voldemort drew his wand quickly.
He began to shout a curse, but no sound came as, to his astonishment, he was face to face with a magnificent green-eyed lion. Harry had morphed instantly. In seconds, the lion was pouncing upon him, the broad paws holding his shoulders to the ground and giant teeth were bared.
"Gryffindor," was all Voldemort said. He reached to the side to retrieve his briefly fallen wand. There was no time to torture the boy. He could not afford to take him alive for the sacrifice. His only way to get out was to kill Harry Potter immediately. Immortality would have to wait.
Before Voldemort reached his own wand, Harry had morphed again, becoming human once more. "Enough play," Harry told him. Dumbledore had instructed him to use as many distractions as possible to confuse the evil wizard and to make him doubt himself.
Voldemort clinched his wand tightly and raised it to his foe. "Ava-"
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted, purposefully using Harry's wand. Just as had happened in the graveyard, the two forces met, taking both users into the air, splintering into a web of golden beams as a thread of light connected the brother wands.
As the light radiating from their wands met, Hermione saw into the eyes that Harry had faced too often. She saw the pure evil, the hatred, the murderous desires. She did not have to take her gaze away because she felt warmth to his cold and love to his hate. Lily's wedding band was radiating from it's chain around her neck. If she had seen Harry, she would know that James' ring was doing the same and the two were reaching out as if to find each other.
Voldemort willed his killing spell to reach Hermione, but it would not budge. There was a shield between him and the young witch. He saw the glow in her eyes and realized at once his plan to sacrifice Harry was futile. Only the innocence of the unborn could so powerfully shield a witch from harm.
Like red lasers, the magic within James and Lily's rings sought each other. As they met, Harry too was drawn into the dome of light created by the priori incantatem of the wands. He was lifted off the ground and he and Hermione were on either side of Voldemort, surrounding him in bright, warm beams.
Voldemort groaned as the light enveloped him. He broke eye contact with Hermione and she shifted her focus to Harry. The magic connecting them shown like the sun, so that everyone watching had to turn away from the intensity of the red and gold rays. Voldemort was trapped within the sphere connecting Harry, Hermione, James, Lily, and the unborn child. He fell to the ground, shrieking unforgivables, but they had no power. As Harry and Hermione were drawn closer to one another, Voldemort was caving in upon himself. He was fighting to the end, but the love that had trapped him was too strong for him to bear. With a fading moan of agony, the corporal wizard vanished and a cloud of black swirled in his place. The smokey spirit zoomed frantically within the sphere, bouncing off the sides and paling with every second. Harry and Hermione reached for one another as both were drained of their remaining energy. A final scream echoed as the spirit disintegrated into nothingness and Harry and Hermione collapsed, unconscious, onto the floor of the Gryffindor common room.