Chapter 12 (The Final Battle)
"WHAT!!" Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Voldemort was attacking early the bastard!!! With out any hesitation or even waiting for Ron to confirm what he'd just said Harry was out of the library wand in hand; Ron and Hermione were close behind.
"We've just received reports …" Ron started to tell Harry but he paid no attention. All he cared about doing now was stopping Voldemort. Ron grabbed hold of Harry's arms forcing him to stop and looked at him. "There are hundreds of them Harry!" He was serious and his voice held the slightest bit of anxiety.
"How long have we got?"
"Half and hour … 45 minutes at the most!"
"Oh my God" Hermione gasped as Ron told Harry the answer to his question. They had been preparing for this battle for ages but it didn't help reduce the fear or panic that was now building up inside her.
Harry reached out his hand and took hold of hers giving it a light squeeze, and with out saying another word they all continued there journey to the front entrance, each silently praying that this wouldn't be the end.
"That son of a bitch." Sirius yelled "Can't he bloody make a plan and stick to it, noooo has to keep changing it… doesn't he."
"It makes it more effective!" Remus whispered to him
"I know!" Sirius growled back, he was angry and wanted nothing more than to just get some sleep after working all day, but if he had to kick some death eater's butts instead I'm sure he could cope.
"Where are Harry and the others?" Dumbledore asked.
"Right here!" Harry called from only a little way down the corridor. Every one was ready and awaiting his orders as what to do next. "Is every one ready?" he asked looking around the crowd. Sirius and Remus stood side by side with Snape not too far away. Ginny had her arms around Draco's waist with her face buried in his chest, Lavender and Ron were in pretty much the same position. All the Aurors stood with there, wands ready. Dumbledore was looking surprisingly calm like he knew something the others didn't.
"Ready as we're every going to be" came Draco's reply and all the others nodded.
Harry looked around once more, at his friends, people he'd come to love and trust over the years. How many of them were going to make it through tonight, how many of their deaths were going to rest on his shoulders once this was all over?
Harry's eyes caught Hermione's and he could see tears beginning to form in their depths, forgetting about the battle for a second he walked over to her, engulfing her in a hug.
Harry leaned his forehead against hers, their eyes locking. He knew that this could be the last few seconds he got to be with her.
"I'll never leave you." He whispered so only she could here.
Tears began to fill her eyes but she couldn't find the words or the voice to reply. As a lone tear escaped and fell down her cheek she nodded and leaned forward kissing him passionately knowing it could be the last time.
After breaking the kiss he squeezed her hands tightly to reassure her. Harry felt a hand on his shoulder and turning he saw Dumbledore standing there.
"It is time Harry"
It was the beginning; the final battle was upon them. Voldemort stood at the edge of his old school grounds looking on. Soon Harry Potter will be dead and nothing would stand in his way. Off in the distance standing in front of the castle awaiting his death stood the thorn that had been in his side for almost 20 years.
Voldemort continued forwards, the time had come and tonight Harry and all this little friends would soon be no more.
"TONIGHT WE WILL CONQUER!" he shouted out to his death eaters. "Tonight the boy will die." A cheer could be heard from the hundreds of death eaters that were now making their way towards the castle.
Voldemort turned and surveyed his men, most were young, inexperienced and probably wouldn't survive the night, not that he was worried about that. Close to his side stood Wormtail hurrying along to keep up, while on his other side stood Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix LaStrange, his last and only true followers he had left (thanks to Harry and his friends), they would stand with him to the end; die if they had to. Once again he turned to Wormtail, a sorry excuse for a wizard but he did have his uses. A smile appeared on his face and he approached the castle; hopefully Wormtail wouldn't survive the battle.
"The one who brings me the girl will be rewarded greatly …" he paused "If she is killed whomever is responsible will suffer the same fate as the mudblood."
******************************
Harry watched as Voldemort and his death eaters made their way closer and closer. This was it, the time had finally come; it was kill or be killed.
"Remember," he shouted out to his men, "You are better fighters, we are more prepared and you have more experience, Voldemort's men do not." Although Harry knew this was true it still didn't seem to ease any the panic that was building up inside him. How many people were going to lose their lives this night, how many more if they failed? If he failed?
Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder; as Harry turned his head he saw his old headmaster smiling proudly at him.
"This is it Harry."
And boy, did Harry know it. Taking a deep breath he turned back to the approaching army. Harry gripped his wand a little tighter as they came closer and closer, he could see the dark form of Voldemort in the lead. He turned and looked at Hermione, she stood tall but Harry knew she was scared, as was everyone else. But she would go out and give it her all. As though she could feel his eye on her she raised her face; cinnamon locked with emerald for what, to them, seemed a lifetime.
"This is it." Harry whispered
Rain started to fall heavily as Voldemort neared his target, soaking everyone to the bone, but this didn't stop, or even slow him down.
"KILL THEM ALL!" his voice bellowed out like thunder "But Potter's mine!" and with that last word the death eater charged down the rest of the hill towards the small group of waiting Aurors.
Voldemort stood back with Malfoy, Bellatrix and Wormtail and they watched the battle begin below. Flashes of lights could be seen; blues, greens, reds and purples, too many to keep track of. The rain continued to fall harder than ever, the grass became mud and deatheater and auror slipped and fell all over the place.
"This is it; tonight we will be victorious while Dumbledore and his precious Potter will not live to see the sun rise."
All around him curses were flying left and right. There were death eaters everywhere, hundreds of them. Harry stood his ground shooting off one curse after the other trying to stun as many as possible. He glanced around, Sirius was only a few metres from him, duelling with a death eater Harry recognised. It was Bellatrix, while Remus and Ron were back to back defending off at least 20 death eaters. All were young boys, fresh out of Hogwarts, most likely none of them had ever been in a battle before. Harry could see fear in their faces but also determination, a determination to please their Master.
Harry watched as a few death eaters approached their old head master, a group of around 10, hoping to please Voldemort by taking out Dumbledore. Harry could see how half of them were shaking with fear as they drew closer to one of the most famous, and wise wizards ever known, while the others held a look of confidence on their faces. They were sure that this old man would be no match for them; oh how wrong they were. Without so much as breaking a sweat, the Hogwarts headmaster defeated them easily, knocking out one after the other with stunning spells.
It was then that Harry saw him, walking away from the battle, his robes flowing behind him as he moved. Harry knew this was it, if he followed up that hill only one of them would be coming back down. After sending out a few more stunning spell he set off to fulfil a prophecy spoken nearly 20 years before.
"Potter we meet again!" Voldemort grin as Harry approached him.
"Hopefully for the last time."
"Oh don't worry about that Potter … this will be the last time …" Voldemort paused for a brief second "For you anyway."
"I think not!"
"CRUCIO!" Voldemort yelled but Harry was preparing for it and managed to jump out of the way.
"You're going to have to do better than that." Harry shouted back at him.
For what seemed like hours Harry and Voldemort battled it out, sending curse after curse. The rain fell even harder now and Harry was finding it hard to see.
"Where's your little Mudblood of a girlfriend Potter?" Voldemort taunted him
"IMPENDO!" Harry fired but it wasn't quick enough.
"Is she down there Harry? Fighting with the others." Voldemort nodded in the direction of the battle.
"Leave her out of it! This is between you and me not ….
"CRICIO!" Voldemort bellowed. But once again Harry dodged out of the way.
"We can't just leave them out there!" Ginny shouted. She was pacing around the entrance hall as the shouts and screams rang through from outside. "We have to help them!"
"We were told to stay here, if the spell is broken …" Poppy began
"Who cares … it won't matter if we don't go and help, they will all be dead." She was desperate to get her point across to the other three. She couldn't just sit in there and wait for the end to come. She needed to be out there helping her husband, her brother, the people she cared about and loved.
"Ginny's right." Lavender said. "We can't just leave them out there. It's too many death eaters, a hundred or more against 15 we …"
"But a hundred against 19 isn't much better." Poppy tried to make them see sense. "I understand you …"
"You don't understand …"Ginny shouted at her. "My husband and my brother are out their fighting over a hundred death eaters. They don't stand a chance … we have to help."
"What good would we do?" Poppy sighed. "I can heal wounds of any kind, and can mend bones, even grow new ones if I have to, but I don't know how to fight."
Ginny sighed in frustration. "I just can't sit around here doing nothing I need …." But she didn't get to finish what she was going to say, Minerva stood from her chair and made her way towards the front entrance. Minerva opened the door as the other three stared in wonder at what the old professor was doing.
After a few seconds pause she turned around to face them and smiled. "19 is better than 15!" and with that she walked out through the door to join the battle. Ginny and the others weren't far behind.
Hermione quickly dogged a spell that was aimed at her. Losing her footing she slipped in the mud and landed on her stomach just as a blinding flash of red light sailed above her head. Without a second thought she lifted her wand and aimed it at the deatheater sending a stunning spell at him. The blue light hit him square in the chest and sent him flying 4 feet backwards, landing with a thud.
Quickly getting to her feet she managed to stun another death before they had a change to hex Remus.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw the front doors of Hogwarts open and Minerva walk out. Surprised she continued looking on as she her old professor quickly moved down the steps and join with the fighting instantly stunning the two or three death eaters that were in her way. Next she saw Ginny and Lavender, followed closely by Poppy, do the same.
Before she had a chance to say anything, she felt a hand go around her throat and saw a flash of green light appear from over her should and hit an auror in the back sending him crashing into the mud.
Letting out a scream she felt her captor lean forward. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. "Scream all you want" Lucius whispered, "No one can save you." And with that he started to pull her backwards.
Hermione struggled against his grip but was no good she couldn't escape.
Harry heard Hermione's scream over all the noise and out of instincts turned. Down the hill he could see Lucius Malfoy dragging her away from the fighting and in their direction.
"IMPEDIMEMTO!"
Before Harry had a chance to react to the spell a jet of blue light hit him in the stomach; knocking him backwards on to the ground. Harry quickly got back to his feet but winced in pain. Looking down at his side he saw a huge slash that was pouring blood, soaking his robes. Covering it with his hand, hoping to slow the bleeding, his raised his wand once more at Voldemort.
"Should pay more attention Potter, instead of watching out for your precious little mudblood.
Harry was losing blood too quickly, his head was beginning to spin and he wasn't sure how long his legs would let him remain standing.
"STUPEFY!" Voldemort send another spell Harry's wait only this time he was ready.
"Protego!" he cried and the spell was reflected.
Harry was still losing blood and not matter what he did, he couldn't stop it. He looked up towards Voldemort to see a triumphant smile appear on his face. He knew he had won; Harry could hardly remain standing let alone fight back.
"Prepare to die Potter!" he laughed "CRUCIO!"
Harry felt the pain run through out his body and doubled over falling to the floor. He couldn't help but let out a cry as the pain increased. The only thought running through his head was `this is it!'
Hermione watched as another spell sailed passed her head just narrowly missing Sirius.
"Get out of my way Black!" Lucius yelled at him
"Not until you let her go!"
"ADAVA KEDAVARA!" a flash of green light left the end of Lucius wand and headed straight for Sirius.
"NO!" Hermione screamed and Sirius just managed to jump of the way in time.
"Give up Black, you don't stand a chance!"
"We'll see about that … STUPEFY!"
"Protego!" Lucius just laughed, "Is that the best you have!"
"STUPEFY!" the spell hit him in the back causing both Lucius and Hermione to fall… Sirius looked behind where they had stood and saw Ginny standing with her wand outstretched.
Hermione quickly untangled herself and crawled away, standing back up she looked around for her wand but it was nowhere in sight. Suddenly she heard Harry cry out and looked up the hill; she could see him on his knees obviously in pain, Sirius saw this as well but before either could move another death eater was sending curses their way.
"Hermione go now!" Sirius shouted. She didn't need telling twice, she was off up the hill as fast as her legs would carry her.
"Why you little bitch!" Lucius roared at Ginny as she stood there, her wand out waiting for whatever he threw at her. She was not afraid of her father-in-law.
"Ginny what the hell are you doing?" she heard Draco cry. "Get inside!"
But she remained where she was, standing her ground as Lucius advanced towards her. "You don't deserve to call you self a Malfoy, my son was a fool to marry you, but we can soon correct that can't we …" a twisted smile appeared on his face.
"STUPFEY!" she yelled at his but Lucius was ready for her
"Protego!" The spell reflected off "EXPELLARIMUS" and before Ginny knew what had happen her wand flew out of her hand and landed at Lucius's feet.
"A Malfoy would never be that stupid … AVADA …"
"STUPFEY!" the spell hit Lucius in the back again only this time with much more force, sending him flying at least 5 feet. Draco stood his ground as he watched his spell send his father flying. "Ginny run now!"
Hesitantly she grabbed her wand and moved to stand by her husband's side as Lucius got back to his feet.
"Ginny I said …"
"I'm not leaving."
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT BOY!" Draco fathers bellowed at him. "You and your muggle loving bitch!"
Before he even had a chance to raise his wand at the couple they both yelled the spell simultaneously. "STUPEFY!"
The spell hit Lucius in the chests sending him once again flying into the air only this time he didn't get back up.
"Harry!" Hermione called as she reached the spot were the two most powerful wizards in the world were battling. Harry looked up at her and she could see the panic and worry that appeared in him eyes.
"Hermione get out of here … GO! NOW!!"
But Hermione couldn't move, she wouldn't. Harry was still down on the ground and she could see the puddle of blood forming under his knees. His face was growing paler and his eyes were beginning to glaze over a sure sign that he had lost too much blood.
"I'm not leaving you Harry." She called out and remained where she was standing. Voldemort turned and looked at her and she remembered that her wand was still somewhere down amongst the battle. As if to read her mind Voldemort let out an ear splitting laugh.
"You think you have a chance against me without your wand mudblood!" another laugh and Hermione could see Harry attempt to stand but it was no use he was to weak.
"You really are a foolish girl, but then, love can do that to people." He turned back to Harry. "Just like your parents. They didn't have to die, oh no. I even offered your father a chance to join my ranks but no, he fought … trying to hold me off to give your mother a chance to get away with you." He paused laughing once again.
"And then your mother sacrificed her life to save yours all out of love; but love does nothing apart from get you killed." Raising his wand he turned one more to face Hermione his wand pointing straight at her chest. "And now Harry you will have to watch the women you love die a most painful death."
"NO!" Harry shouted and pushed his self up to his feet wand out stretched "STUPEFY" but it was no use. Voldemort blocked Harry's spell sending one back of his own. Harry was flung backwards landing roughly 2 feet away with such a force he was almost knocked out.
"Say goodbye Harry …" Voldemort once again raising his wand. Hermione knew what was coming and knew that there was no chance she was going to be able to stop, block or even dodge the spell. Squeezing her eyes shut she waited. "But I shouldn't worry too much you'll be seeing each other again soon."
"ADAVA …"
"…KEDAVARA"
A brilliant green light filled the sky and the fighting below ceased as they waited anxiously for the light to clear.
"Harry!" Sirius shouted but there was no reply. Deatheaters and Aurors turned their heads to shield their eyes, as the light seemed to intensify instead of die out.
"Harry!" Ron yelled at the top of his lungs. "Hermione!" but still not a sound could be heard. All around them had fallen into an eerie silence as the world waited with them to discover who had been victorious.
After what seemed a lifetime the light began to fade …
Hermione's eyes were clenched shut as she waited for the pain of the curse to hit her but nothing came. All was quite and for a second Hermione believed she must have been dead and that's when she heard it. People, shouting, curses were being yelled and soon the sound of the battle once again filled her ears. She could hear someone calling her name; it was Ron he was getting closer. Hermione could hear Sirius voice as it called out for Harry and then she remembered! Harry! They had been up there together, Harry and Voldemort. Which meant if she was still alive then the curse must have hit …
Hermione's eyes shot open looking for the man she loved, but he was nowhere in sight.
In front of her stood the dark cloaked figure of Voldemort, still standing looming over her. They must have failed; Voldemort still stood. Only two people in the whole wizarding world could have cast a spell with that much force that much power; one remained before while the other couldn't be seen.
Tears filled her eyes as Voldemort stood there, his arm outstretched, wand pointing straight at her. Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she waited for the spell to run through her body taking away her life, soon she thought she'd see Harry again. But nothing came; Voldemort didn't move. His eyes looked even more lifeless than usual, as his body remained motionless.
Slowly, ever so slowly the motionless figure of Voldemort began to tilt, leaning forward as if about to fall right on top of her. Jumping out the way the Dark Lord hit the ground as Hermione let out a small scream of surprise. There in the mud, rain still falling lay the figure of the most deadly, most feared evil wizard that had ever lived. He lay there in the mud; dead.
Hermione couldn't breathe, what was happening? Confused she raised her head franticly looking around for answers; that's when she saw him.
The deatheaters watched on in horror as their master, their Lord fell to the ground. Panic arose many not knowing what to do; some fled with fear of what would come of them if they were caught but some stay and fought.
They fought a losing battle; with their numbers dropping drastically; they didn't stand a chance.
Harry stood there in front of her only a few metres away. His hair was soaked through, although it still managed to stick up in every direction. His clothes, torn and dishevelled, were plastered to his body, soaked by a mixture of rain, mud, and his own blood. His arm was outstretched and shaking from what he had just done. He's eyes were down cast, looking at the body as if he was waiting for Voldemort to rise; but he never did.
Blood was still flowing from the deep cut in his side as it mixed with the rainwater, dieing the mud below his feet a horrible dark red. Hermione saw that he was breathing rapidly as his left arms hung limply at his side.
Harry stood there, cold, wet and tired. He stared at the body in front of him, half expecting him to wake up. It was over, the prophecy had been fulfilled, the dark Lord had been vanquished; it was over.
Hermione! Harry suddenly remembered Voldemort was going to kill Hermione, had he managed to stop him in time? Was Hermione okay? His eyes left the still figure that was slowly sinking into the mud and began to search for the woman he loved.
Hermione's tears were falling freely from her eyes, although it was hard to tell because of the rain, as she began to make her way forward towards him. Hearing the movement Harry's head shot up and their eyes locked causing Hermione to stop suddenly in her tracks.
Within those emerald depths, Hermione could only see Anger and hatred and it scared her. Harry's eyes began to fill with tears and the anger was replaced with happiness and love, as a small smile appeared on Harry's lips.
She was alive! There she stood soaked by the rain, her clothes torn from the battle and staring straight at him. Harry could feel a small smile appearing on his lips, Hermione mirrored it. Everything was fine, Voldemort was gone and Hermione was alive, for once it seemed fate was on his side.
"Hermione …Harry!" Hermione turned to see that Sirius and Ron were still running up the hill to where they were. The rest of the Aurors had managed to bind up the remaining deatheaters and in the distance Hermione could work out the faint figures of Dumbledore and the others, slowly following suit and making their way in her and Harry's direction.
"Hermione …" She heard the fear in his voice before she'd even been able to turn and see him. His smile was now gone and his wand lay discarded in the mud as his hands clung to his side trying to stop the bleeding.
"Harry …" but before she could say another word, Harry's legs gave away from underneath him and as if in slow motion Hermione saw him drop to his knees landing in the mud which had been dyed by his blood. His eyes began to glaze over as his body gave up on living.
"NO!" Hermione shouted, and within second she was at his side sitting in the mud holding him to her. Her hands worked franticly to stop the bleed but it was no use. "Harry, hang in there your going to be fine." Tears were freely flowing from her eyes and her voice didn't hold much confidence.
"Hermione …" Harry voice was weak and barely able to be heard.
"Don't speak save your breath … HELP!!!" Hermione shouted down the hill, Sirius and Ron were coming but they just weren't close enough.
"Hermione …"
"You're going to be ok …" Harry was laying with his head in Hermione's lap as she held him close still working hard to stop the bleeding.
"I love you …"
"You are going to be ok … Harry!" Hermione looked down at him as his eyes slowly slid shut. "NO Harry! … Don't you dare … Harry?" She shook his shoulders but still his eyes remained closed.
"You can't leave me Harry not now … not like this." Still Harry's body remained limp in her arms. "Someone help me!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Leaning forwards she hugged Harry's lifeless body to her as tears continued to fall. "Somebody…" She called "Anybody … please." But it was no use.
-->