Harry Potter and the Last Year

Level 1.9: The Leaving Dance

There is a room in the Department of Mysteries that is kept locked at all times.₁

Harry was vaguely aware that the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests lived up to their name. They were far more difficult than his O.W.L.s had been, but he did not feel the same mix of pressure and dread that he had during fifth year. He was surreally calm. His mind was incredibly clear and focused. He remembered the O.W.L.s looming like an impossible barrier. The N.E.W.T.s on the other hand seemed like another short hurdle to jump on his way to the Leaving Dance.

Hermione was still studying during every free minute, but she was not snapping like she had during the O.W.L.s. She kept repeating Zabini's words like a mantra. "I either know it, or I don't."

Ron was showing some signs of stress, but he was keeping them in check. Harry might have been projecting his calm, but most of the other students seemed to be handling things well. One of the Slytherin girls was reported to have broken down in the middle of her Arithmancy exam and sent to Madam Pomfrey for a calming draught, but she was the only one Harry was aware of having done so.

Hannah Abbott was practically giddy and kept asking everyone about their career plans until Ron asked her to "Please shut up about that already." Ernie Macmillan was thankfully not comparing his study habits with everyone but seemed to radiate determination.

The same group of ancient examiners from their O.W.L.s was administering the N.E.W.T.s except one of their number had been replaced by a younger wizard in his thirties. Harry could not help watching him suspiciously when he was not answering exam questions, but the N.E.W.T.s passed without incident. The examiners left Hogwarts, and the students had a few days of freedom to relax before the Leaving Dance.

Or they would have been able to relax if they were not anticipating the arrival of Lord Voldemort. The Room of Requirement was keeping a constant hum of activity. Harry was checking and rechecking his plans with the school prefects. They risked one more dorm drill with the younger students.

Ron went into a bit of a panic when he realized his dress robes no longer fit. He had not tried them on since the beginning of sixth year, but Harry convinced him to let Persephone have a look at them. Ron was extremely nervous to have her point the silver wand at him, while he stood in burgundy robes that were way too tight and several inches too short, but her Tayloris spell worked just as well on Ron's robes as they had on Harry's.

"Cool," Ron said, admiring his renewed robes. "You've gotta teach me that one."

But there was no time to learn new spells, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were called in to decorate for the Leaving Dance along with the other prefects. This suited their plans all too well. Garlands of Juniper and Milfoil were hung around the Great Hall. Pansy Parkinson told everyone that is was a pity the Head Boy and Girl were in charge of decorations and gave long explanations on how she would improve them. No one told her the greenery had been chosen for reasons other than its appearance.

Hermione slipped down to the kitchens to arrange things with the House Elves. When Pansy commented on her absence, a fifth year Slytherin prefect suggested she had left early to get ready and said that Pansy could go do the same if she liked. "It will be all right. I don't have to get ready, so I'll handle your part," the fifth year assured her, and Pansy took advantage of her generosity.

The Leaving Dance was less formal than the Yule Ball had been. Instead of a banquet before hand, there was a large but simple refreshment table to one side. The four great tables had been cleared out of the room, and a number of smaller tables were put in their place. They were probably the same ones from the Yule Ball though fewer in number, as only half as many students would be attending. They arranged these so that they were close to the wall and left a clear path of retreat to the doors. The High Table was also removed to make room for the band to set up.

Harry had a nervous desire to be involved in every element of the preparations and had a little trouble reminding himself to step back and supervise. He lingered in the Great Hall longer than he was really needed and watched the fifth years set out the flower arrangements, which had been laced with memory enhancing forget-me-nots.

Persephone and Draco entered the Great Hall, attempting to look casual while carrying between them a chest large enough to stuff a full-grown man inside. They were actually pulling off the casual part remarkably well, and Harry probably would have ignored them if he did not already have a good idea of what was held in the trunk.

"Is that what I think it is?" he asked them quietly.

They paused. Malfoy gave him a tired smile. "Yeah, it's our little surprise for Uncle Tom."

"Are the rooms ready?" Harry asked.

Malfoy nodded. "Yup, all three of them. We made all the modifications you asked for."

"Where's the box?"

"Classroom Eleven, north corner."

Harry had had some reservations about using Classroom Eleven, but he had been spitting fate in the eye since he was one year old. He saw no reason to stop now.

"It looks like they're nearly done," Persephone said. "Why don't you go get yourself ready, Harry?"

"What about you?"

"We're gonna stash this under the refreshment table, then I'm heading back to the dorm," Persephone said lightly. "It's gonna be murder finding a free sink in the girls bathroom."

"Right, well, I guess I could go ahead and change," Harry said.

"I'll see you at the dance, Harry," said Persephone.

Harry turned to leave. "Hey, Potter," Malfoy said. "Good luck, Potter." Harry waved to show he had heard without turning around or breaking stride.

****************

Harry changed into his dress robes and brushed his hair, wondering why on earth he was bothering to dress up at all. True, he would be the only one on the dance floor in blue jeans if he did not, but at least he would be comfortable. Not that his dress robes were uncomfortable exactly. They fit him perfectly, but he still found himself tugging at the sleeves. He had never pictured himself fighting Voldemort in formal wear. Not that there was an appropriate dress code for duels to the death, but he had the irrational desire to not look silly.

He checked himself in the mirror. Nothing was sticking out in a strange place. Nothing that should be hidden was visible. His hair was not lying down, but he decided the effect was not so bad. He found himself with nothing left to do in the process of dressing and wondered how girls managed to occupy themselves with multiple hours of it. He glanced at his bed, with a fleeting desire to crawl into it, and spotted Life of the Auror lying beside his pillow. He had skipped Chapter Seven: Creating Non-Work Related Relationships last night so that he could finish Chapter Eight: When It Comes Down to Kill or Be Killed.

Harry went down to the common room. It was strangely quiet considering how many people were packed into it. Though Harry had never done such a thing, it was normal on the night of the Leaving Dance for many of the younger students to sit at the top of the marble stairs in the entrance hall and watch the sixth and seventh year students pass in their formal wear. This year however notices had been posted in all the common rooms saying that fifth years and younger who were not accompanying a sixth or seventh year to the ball were required to stay in the dormitories. The younger D.A. members had been spreading helpful opinions about how boring it was to watch the older students pass anyway. Several students had been quickly indoctrinated into D.A. when they had expressed a desire to complain to their teachers about this new restriction. By now, even those who did not know the whole story had certainly figured out that something unusual was going on.

Parvati, who was wrapped in green and gold and looked even more stunning than she had at their last formal, was casting protective charms on everyone's clothing. Harry lined up with the others waiting to be charmed, extremely aware that most of the younger students were watching him. He felt guilty for spoiling everyone's fun. All his classmates looked so serious. At the same time, it was better than being caught unawares. There was always the small possibility that Voldemort would not come at all and everyone would be irritated at him for getting them so worked up.

He tried to make himself not think about it. If Voldemort came, they were ready. If not, they should be grateful. "He will, or he won't," Harry murmured to himself. It's out of your control at this point.

He left the common room immediately after he was charmed, more to escape the stares and whispers than out of need to be somewhere. He had just started down the stairs when he heard someone calling his name.

"Potter! Hey, Potter!"

Harry turned his head to see Charles Bulstrode running towards him with Thomas Dey trailing behind him. The two first year Slytherin boys came to stop right in front of him. Harry greeted them mechanically, not sure if he wanted to deal with the boys right now or not.

"I want to give you something," Charles said. "It might prove useful."

Harry looked uncertainly at the object Charles was holding out to him. "Your wand? Why do you want to give me your wand?"

"Priori Incantatum," Charles said.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Persephone told you about that?"

Charles shook his head. "We overheard Millicent and Indigo talking about it." Thomas held up a pair of Extendable Ears as explanation.

"So you know what's supposed to happen?" Harry asked, and the boys nodded. "I can't take your wand, Charles. You may need it."

"I plan to be hiding down in the Slytherin dormitory," Charles said. "The fifth years have some rather nasty traps waiting for the Death Eaters if they do manage to get through the door. Besides I'm a first year. What am I going do if they get past? Shoot sparks at them?"

"You shouldn't sell yourself short," Harry said. "You'd be surprised what you can get through as a first year. I can't take your wand."

"Don't be silly, Potter. It'll do you a lot more good that it'll do me," Charles insisted. "I'll be fine. Thomas will protect me." Thomas nodded.

Harry took Charles' wand. It could not hurt to have an extra, and the kid could have a point about Priori Incantatum. "Thanks. Now, you two better get down to your common room. I don't know exactly when the party's starting."

Charles grinned at him, and the boys ran off.

****************

Harry arrived early at the Great Hall. A few of the fifth year perfects were helping the band set up.

"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks voice carried across the hall. She waved him over. "Ooo, don't you look sharp? Got a big date planned tonight?"

"You could say that," Harry said wryly. Seeing Tonks made him feel a little better. Her hair was very pink tonight with a few purple strands shot through. He had a scary thought. "You have your wand on you right?"

"Never go anywhere without it," said Tonks. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How come?"

"Just in case," said Harry, trying to look nonchalant.

"In case of what?"

"Just in case." He gestured to the instrument hanging around her neck. "Is that an electric guitar?"

"Now where would I plug in an electric guitar?" Tonks said, shaking her head. "This here is a magic guitar. Sounds a bit like an electric though, wanna hear?" She played a riff. It did sound a lot like an electric guitar but not quite, and it shot off brightly colored sparks with every note she hit. "Wicked, huh?"

"It's great," Harry said, feeling slightly anxious. He was starting to wonder if Tonk's band could play the right kind of music for a school dance. "Do you sing too?"

Harry noticed the other band members twitch. Tonks sighed. "I'd love to, but this lot said they'd kick me out of the band if I tried again." Tonks surveyed the Great Hall. "Interesting choice in decorations. We went with a bit more sparkle during my last year...but this is nice, very mellow."

"Hey, Potter, have you seen Hermione?" Draco's voice preceded him as he walked towards the stage. Malfoy had changed into his dress robes as well. They were silver and cut in a series of sharp layers. He seemed to have taken much greater care with his hair than Harry had.

"Not recently," Harry said, suddenly feeling like his black robes were very boring.

"She was supposed to meet me here," Malfoy said.

"It's still early," Harry said, sounding more irritable than he had intended, but Malfoy did not seem to notice. "Where's Persephone?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Probably still fixing her hair."

"So, are you gonna introduce me to your friend, Harry?" Tonks interjected. "Or am I just here for ornamental purposes?"

Draco eyed Tonks uncertainly, and Harry felt a wicked grin grow on his face. "Draco Malfoy, this is your cousin Nymphadora Tonks." Draco looked startled.

"Don't call me Nymph--" Tonks stopped in mid rebuke. "Who'd you say he is?"

"Draco Malfoy. He's your first cousin right?"

"We've never met," Draco said, not sounding particularly thrilled to be meeting now. He was eyeing Tonk's pink hair and ripped T-shirt disapprovingly.

"Decide he was alright, did we?" Tonks asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah," Harry said, resisting the urge to qualify. "He's with us."

Her eyebrows raised a little higher, but she seemed to be willing to take Harry's word on the matter. "Wotcher, cous," Tonks said and stuck out her hand for Draco to shake. Draco stretched out his own hand reluctantly.

"Tonks is an Auror," Harry explained.

"You're kidding," Draco said.

"What's that 'spose to mean?" Tonks demanded, pulling her hand back and placing it on her hip.

"Nothing," Malfoy backpedaled. "You just expect Aurors to be a bit more..."

"A bit more what?" Tonks tone was starting to get dangerous.

"Well, I'll leave you two to get acquainted," Harry said and hurried off before either of them could object.

People were starting to drift in, and Harry spotted Ron and Luna. Ron had his hand around Luna's and seemed to be half guiding, half dragging her along. Luna drifted contently beside him. Harry joined them.

"Hey, Ron."

"Hey."

"You look nice," he told Luna. He was not exaggerating. She was dressed in silky, silver dress robes, a much softer shade and cut than Malfoy's, and her long hair was pulled up in an elegantly complicated way with artistically escaping tendrils.

"Thank you, Harry," she said with a misty smile. "What do you think, Ron?"

"Oh, yeah, you look fine," Ron said distractedly. "Where's Hermione?"

"She's still getting ready," Lavender Brown supplied.

"Still?" Ron said. Lavender shrugged, and Seamus led her towards the dance floor.

"Why don't we get some food?" Harry asked.

"I'm not hungry," said Ron.

"I'm not very hungry either," said Luna.

"Okay, then, I'll get something," said Harry. In the midst of the preparations he had skipped lunch, and he was very hungry. He piled a plate and brought it back to the table where Ron and Luna had taken seats.

Ginny swept up to them in floaty, pale blue robes that left her shoulders bare. She had white flowers woven into her red hair. "Are you going to sit there all night, Ron?"

"Maybe," Ron said obstinately.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Do you wanna dance, Harry?"

"No thanks, I think I'll sit this one out," said Harry. "I've got a good view of the room from here and food."

"You're both hopeless," said Ginny disapprovingly.

"I'm not hopeless," said Harry. "I'm hungry."

Ginny eyed him skeptically and sighed. "If Uncle Tom's not here in an hour, I'm going to physically drag you onto the dance floor. Anyway, Padma says all the fifth years have checked in from their common rooms."

"Thanks, Ginny."

"Who are you here with anyway?" Ron asked.

"Dean," Ginny said.

"I thought you broke up."

"We did," said Ginny. "We just decided to go to the dance together."

Dean made his entrance carrying two cups. He handed one to Ginny. She smiled him, and they wandered off.

"I thought they broke up," Ron repeated when they had left.

"I didn't know they were together," said Harry with a shrug.

"I like the garland," said Luna.

The band began to play, and Harry was pleased to hear that Fred was right. They were not bad. Harry gave Tonks a thumbs up, and she winked at him. He spotted Malfoy milling about just out of the way of the dancers and looking a bit lost. There was still no sign of Persephone. Hermione however was finally making her way through the doors. She was wearing pale green robes with long, split sleeves. Harry was happy to see she had not done a thing with her hair.

He stood to greet her. "New dress?"

"Same one I didn't get to wear last year," Hermione said. She glanced at his plate. "Good, you're eating."

"I do that on occasion," Harry said. "Where have you been? Everyone's been asking for you."

"Down in the kitchens," Hermione said. "Didn't get away until a few minutes ago. But I think everything's ready now. Make sure you drink some punch. It's got a Strengthening Solution in it. That should give you better resistance to any physical attacks and help you heal faster. And there's pickled Myrtlap in the dip, that's good for curse and jinx resistance. And then we individually wrapped the chocolates, that's part of what took so long, but I thought it would be good if everyone slipped a few in their pockets in case the dementors...and don't worry if the hors d'oeuvres taste a little funny, that's just the Wit Sharpening Potion, and well...just make sure you eat a bit of everything and spread the word."

"Sounds like you've been busy," Harry said.

Hermione tried to smile but had trouble holding it. "Oh, Harry." She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him very tightly.

He pushed her bushy hair out of his face and patted her back. "It will be all right," he whispered. "We're ready for him. I'll be all right."

She released him, nodding and looking slightly embarrassed. She looked at Ron who was determinedly looking somewhere else. Harry thought she would like to hug him too, but Ron was still radiating hostility. Hermione bit her lip. "Be careful, Ron," she said. Ron gave a small grunt of acknowledgment. "You too, Luna."

Luna smiled at her.

Hermione looked around and spotted Malfoy. "Has he been waiting?"

"Yeah," Harry admitted.

She sighed and straightened her dress with the air of getting something unpleasant over with. "I'll see you later, Harry," she said.

He sat back down when she left and stared past the stage at the great windows. He thought pickled Myrtlap sounded pretty vile but forced himself to eat some dip. He watched Tonks' magic guitar rhythmically spit sparks as she played. He felt oddly calm but also that something was missing.

"What he doing?" Ron said suddenly in a startled voice.

Harry sighed and located Draco and Hermione on the dance floor. "Looks like they're dancing." Harry leaned towards him and murmured. "Hey, Ron, why don't you dance with Luna? Make Hermione jealous for a change."

"I'm not jealous! I just don't like that slimy--" he said something that made Luna raise her eyebrows. "--git touching Hermione."

"I'm not crazy about it either, but he's here with Hermione. And you're here with Luna."

"It's okay, Harry," Luna said. "I really don't like dancing. Would you get us some punch, Ron?"

"Sure," Ron said irritably and made his way towards the bowl.

Harry scanned the crowd. Pansy Parkinson was dancing with the Slytherin team captain. She was casting Draco and Hermione looks every bit as acidic as the ones Ron was giving them. Harry was doing his best not to look at them. Several of the school ghosts were flying overhead, enjoying the festivities. Nearly Headless Nick was dancing with the Grey Lady. Moaning Myrtle was sulking in the corner but waved when Harry looked her way. He gave her a quick nod in response. His eyes passed over the teachers who were chaperoning the dance. He knew Firenze had been drafted, but it was still strange to see the centaur in the Great Hall. McGonagall was deep in conversation with the Professor Kotter, who if Harry remembered was the Muggle Studies Master.

Harry realized what was missing. He abandoned his plate and hurried across the room to the cluster of chaperons. "Professor-Professor McGonagall, where's Dumbledore?"

Professor McGonagall surveyed Harry with a wary eye. "He's gone to bed early, Potter. Why? Is there a problem?"

"No, Professor," Harry said, willing his pulse to return to normal. "Is he all right?"

McGonagall's expression softened. "He's not ill, if that's what's worrying you. Just tired. I'd rather not bother him, unless it is necessary."

"I understand," said Harry. For a second he considered asking McGonagall to wake him. He knew Dumbledore's powers would be a significant asset if and when it came to a battle, but Harry did not want anything to come between himself and Voldemort. Dumbledore would be difficult to dissuade from protecting him. "It's best to let him sleep."

"Milfoil and Juniper," Firenze remarked upon decorations. "An interesting choice. Have you been watching the stars, Harry Potter? Mars is at its brightest this night."

"We took that into consideration," said Harry.

Firenze gave him a tight smile. "We must consider all the stars. Venus shines clear as well."

"Isn't that a planet?" said Harry.

"So it is," said Firenze, with an indulgent air as though Harry had entirely missed the point.

"Good evening, Professors," Snape said as he joined the group. He was unsurprisingly dressed in black as well, only with green accents.

"Good evening, Severus," said McGonagall.

Professor Sinistra frowned at him. "Severus, where's Persephone?"

Snape shrugged, looking slightly nervous. "I don't know. I haven't seen her."

Professor Sinistra exchanged a startled look with Professor Kotter. "I'll go," he said, and hurried towards the entrance hall. He did not get very far. Persephone met him at the door. Harry felt a wash of relief and went to join them. By the time he reached Persephone, Kotter had finished scolding her tardiness and was wandering off.

"You're late," Harry said.

"Sorry, my hair took a long time." Harry saw that she had managed to tame it. Probably with copious amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. Harry wondered if Hermione had turned her onto it. Persephone was dressed in short sleeved robes of soft peach.

Harry grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the refreshment table. "Come on, you need to eat something."

She made no protest as he loaded her a plate with a little bit of everything and filled herself a cup of punch. Professor Snape wandered over to the punch bowl. "Here, drink up," Persephone told him, handing Snape a cup. They gave each other a secretive smile, which Harry ignored for his sanity's sake.

"Here eat," he said thrusting the plate at her. Snape sensed the hostility and slinked off. "Did you tell him?" Harry asked.

"No," Persephone said, setting down her cup so she could takes some crisps and dip. "I wanted to, but I didn't. He'd tell the staff. Though maybe...Harry, what is it, Harry?"

Harry propped himself against the table. He felt suddenly dizzy. His scar was hurting, burning. "He's coming?" Persephone said, and Harry nodded. "He's coming!" She repeated more loudly.

More than a warning, Harry felt as though someone was attempting to actively invade his mind. No, no, I won't let you in. While Harry tried to fight off the attack on his mind, he heard Hermione's voice rise about the murmur. "Everyone get into your Houses. He's coming!"

Persephone touched his shoulder. "Harry?" she said tentatively.

Harry clamped down his mental defenses. He had to keep his focus, everyone was counting on him. The music faded off as the students broke away from their dates and quickly divided into their Houses. They looked determined, but the staff and band looked extremely confused. "Clear the stage!" Harry shouted. "Tonks, clear the stage! Get everyone away from the windows!"

"You heard him," Tonks shouted at the other band members and pulled out her wand. "Clear off!"

McGonagall was standing over Harry as well, already gripping her wand. "Professor McGonagall," Harry said urgently, still fighting the pain in his scar. "Go wake Dumbledore."

"Potter, what is going on?"

"No questions, just do it. Tell him Voldemort is here!"

McGonagall's eyes widened. She tensed, and Harry feared that she might demand further explanation. She did not, however. With a last glance around the room, McGonagall hurried out of it. He had a vague realization of how incredibly strange it was for him to order around the Head of Gryffindor House but pushed that thought aside.

Harry surveyed the room. The students were sorting into their Houses. Many of them already had their wands out. Slytherin and Ravenclaw arranged themselves to the sides while Gryffindor took the middle column, and the Hufflepuffs guarded the doors. Ron and Hermione stood at the head of the Gryffindor column, their wands pointed at the windows. Harry shook off the last touches of the mental attack and took his place towards the back of the Gryffindor column.

Harry pointed his wand towards his own throat. "Sonorus." When he spoke again his voice boomed through the Great Hall. "Space out so your wand's not pointed directly at anyone's back," he instructed. Students shuffled to comply.

"What's happening?" Pansy Parkinson's whimper cut through the grim silence. Harry caught sight of Victoria Dey but had no time to ponder how she had managed to slip out of her dormitory.

"I think I see something," Ron murmured.

Harry pointed his own wand towards the windows. "Get ready," he said, his voice rising above the Great Hall. "REICIO!" he shouted and heard the sixteen prefects echo him. They finished the spell just in time. The great windows behind the stage shattered spectacularly. Large pieces of glass fell onto the stage. Smaller but still substantially sized shards flew into the air and would have rained upon the teachers, entertainers, and students if the shield they just established had not protected them. A few screams added to the din of the breaking glass.

Six figures cloaked in black flew through the windows. They were masked so it was hard to read their faces, but Harry could still read the uncertainty in their body language as they set down just in front of the stage. They had their wands out, but were clearly expecting to find a room full of cowering and bloodied teenagers, preferably wandless, not a calm and organized army with their wands pointed. The Death Eaters had their own wands out but hesitated a moment in their confusion.

"ONE!" Harry shouted.

A sea of voices came from behind him. "STUPEFY!" "PROTEGO!" "EXPELIARMUS!"

Four of the Death Eaters went down immediately. One of them managed to cast a spell of their own. A Ravenclaw near the front collapsed. There was noise coming from behind Harry, which meant at least one Death Eater had gotten through the secret passage and was attempting to attack the group from behind. The Hufflepuffs were casting at will and not waiting for Harry's count.

"TWO!" Harry shouted.

"RICTO SEMPRA!" "EXPELIARMUS!" "STUPEFY!"

One of the four that had fallen tried to get back up but was knocked down again. A fifth Death Eater fell. "THREE!" Harry shouted. The sixth Death Eater did not manage to evade this barrage, but as he fell, five more figures entered through the window. Harry's scar burned fiercely. The first two were Death Eaters, after them came Lord Voldemort with two more behind. Unlike the first group, Voldemort's did not hesitate. There was too loud a clatter of confused voices to make out what spells and curses had been thrown, as Harry yelled, "FOUR!", but it was clear to him that Voldemort arrival signaled the time to change tactics. "RETREAT!"

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" yelled all four Houses in unison. If the crackle and flashes of the clashing spells had been confusing, it was nothing next to the mob of darting silvery figures that filled the air. Not every student had managed to produce a full Patronus but enough of them had. Harry pointed the wand back at his throat and muttered, "Quietus."

The neat columns of students dissolved as they rushed their way towards the doors the Hufflepuffs were supposed to be keeping clear. Harry struggled to pull out the invisibility cloak he had tightly tucked into his robes. The teachers were hurling spells at the Death Eaters now. Harry caught Voldemort's red eyes. Voldemort raised his wand, but when he opened his mouth Myrtle flew into face.

"MURDERER!" she screamed, and kicked and punched at him. "You murdered me! I was going to be a doctor! You foul--" As a ghost her attacks did no real damage to the dark lord, but the ice fists through his face were extremely distracting. He turned his wand upon Myrtle and hissed a spell that threw her screaming across the room.

Harry had not wasted Myrtle's distraction but had wrapped the invisibility cloak around himself and headed for the gap held open by the Hufflepuffs.

It seemed like a cowardly thing to do, to run away using the other students as a shield, but his survival meant that the Dark Lord was weakened. He wove his way through the chaotic mob of students spilling out from the Great Hall and raced down the hall of classrooms beyond it. He focused his mind on the escape tunnel that had been prepared for him in Classroom Eleven. He pushed every other thought out of his mind but that escape tunnel and the path he must take to get there.

He heard more screams from behind him, felt Voldemort probe his mind looking for him, but all he let himself think about was the escape tunnel in Classroom Eleven. He fought against Voldemort's attempt to read his thoughts but knew that Voldemort was better at these things than he was. It did not matter if Voldemort knew where he was going, anyway. The tunnel would seal itself behind him. If only he could reach it before Voldemort caught up to him.

He heard another scream, knew it was Ginny, and almost tripped on his cloak. No, I can't go back. They're fighting for me, so I can escape.

He caught sight of Classroom Eleven and put a renewed effort into closing his mind, finally managing to kick Voldemort out of it entirely.

He hoped the trail of thoughts he had left would be sufficient to lead Voldemort here. There was no escape tunnel, but the mixture of trees and open ground in Classroom Eleven made it an ideal place for a duel, particularly with the modifications Malfoy and the other students had made. Several of the large trees had been hollowed to give him places to retreat and all of them had been reinforced with protective spells to block dark magic. If he needed a better retreat and Voldemort was blocking the door, there were four more doors that had been transfigured out of the wall. At first glance they appeared to be seamless with the stone, but there were small, discreet latches that Harry knew how to recognize. The doors led to adjacent classrooms that had been similarly prepared.

Most importantly to Harry, it was far away from the all the dorms and the hospital wing. The other students had been instructed not to attack Voldemort but focus their efforts on any Death Eaters that might try to accompany him.

Harry felt another press on his mind and allowed a quick glimpse of the classroom before fighting it off. It was enough to let him know Voldemort had taken the bait.

Good, Harry thought behind his Occlumency. Let him come. I'm ready.

****************

Voldemort entered Classroom Eleven warily. It appeared empty, but he could sense that Harry Potter was nearby. The blood in his veins, Potter's blood, was calling for him. "I thought you were brave, Potter," he called softly, listening for the slight sounds or surge of emotion that might betray the boy's location. "Why do you hide from me?"

"Hey, Grandpa, over here!"

Voldemort whirled. A black-haired, teen-aged boy was standing in the doorway, looking vaguely like himself at the same age only bespectacled and sporting a lightning shaped scar. His wand was held at his side, and his mouth was curled in an arrogant smile. Voldemort understood immediately that the boy had lured him here. He was mildly surprised by the child's cleverness, but it did not matter. He had come to kill Harry Potter, and he would still do so, no matter how clever the boy thought himself. Yet, to call him "grandpa"...had that merely been a slight upon his age or did the boy mean something else? Voldemort hissed as a possibility he had long dismissed re-entered his mind.

"That's right," the boy said. "I thought you would have figured it out by now, but maybe I've been giving you too much credit."

"I knew it was possible," Voldemort admitted. "Do you think I will show mercy because of it?"

The boy snorted. "No, I'm not the stupid one here. You killed your own father, and then killed your own son. Killing your grandson would be such a little thing for a soulless beast like you."

"Soulless am I? Perhaps. I've grown beyond the need for such things."

"Grown? Hardly. You're pathetic. You're the same bitter little boy you were sixty years ago. You never learn, never grow. You killed your father out of revenge for abandoning you and your mother, and then turn around and do the same to your wife and son. You, Tom Riddle, are just like your father."

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

The green light hit with enough force to blast the door to splinter and shatter the surrounding stone, but it passed through the scarred boy without the slightest hint that it touched him. He laughed, and Voldemort began to look frightened. "Now really, that didn't work the first time. Why did you think it would work now?" His holly wand pointed at Voldemort. "Like I said, you never learn."

****************

There is a room in the Department of Mysteries that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. ₁

Dumbledore's words came back to Harry, as he hid behind the hollowed tree. He listened to Kagome distract Voldemort with words he doubted he could ever say, though they came out in his voice. He would have to strike soon, before Voldemort realized he had been tricked. But he hesitated because inspiration had just struck. He was starting to understand.

Love. That power was love.

AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER₂

Which meant he had to kill Voldemort, but not with hate. Harry realized he could never summon the amount of hatred needed to work the Avada Kedavra curse even against Voldemort. What he needed was a force equally strong, stronger.

Harry spun out from behind the tree. Wand pointed at Voldemort's back, he summoned everything good, everything positive. He pictured the faces of everyone he had ever loved and who had ever loved him, focused on those thoughts and memories until the force of them flooded his veins and threatened to spill over.

"Why don't you strike?" Voldemort asked. "Afraid to destroy the last of your family?"

The force inside Harry sharpened, willing to be unleashed against this evil threatening to destroy his real family. Let the thing be killed, Harry thought. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A red light sprang from his wand and struck Voldemort as he turned towards the new voice. For a second Voldemort's white face was awash in red, then he crumpled to the ground in a pile of black robes. Harry took a deep breath and dropped the wand to his side. It had worked.

Voldemort was...still alive.

Harry realized this only a millisecond before the Dark Lord stabbed the wand in his direction.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

There was a scream and everything went dark.

****************

Voldemort laughed. He was shaken by the boy's attack. It had left him weak, but he could still stand. He looked at his grandson, lying face down on the grass. Pity, he thought. He would have been a worthy heir.

"Petrificus To-!"

Voldemort whirled. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted at the wizard at the door. The wand flew out of the boy's hand and clattered uselessly against the wall behind him.

The boy glanced at it helplessly and must have realized the futility of reaching for it, because he turned his black eyes defiantly to look upon Voldemort. This was not the echo of Harry Potter that had distracted him before, but another boy that he knew just as well. His black hair, impracticably cut, fell into his face, but he was recognizable all the same.

"Oh dear, Severus," Voldemort said with a soft chuckled. "What have you done to yourself? I heard about your little accident...or was is it an accident? Foolish thing to do, when you must have known I was on to you. Or did you think I might overlook you, if you were no longer a threat to me?"

"I'm a still a threat to you," Snape spat in the depthless voice of a teenager and tossed his head so the hair fell away from his eyes.

Voldemort laughed again. "Your memory really must be gone as well. Or you would know better than to defy Lord Voldemort, to whom you have sworn your allegiance."

"I never swore allegiance to you," this young Snape hissed. "The man who did that is gone, along with the mark that bound him to you, and even then, he was lying when he swore."

"But as you said, that liar is gone. I am in a good mood at the moment, Severus," Lord Voldemort said. "You are young and hot headed, once again. But I will give you one last chance to redeem yourself. Swear your loyalty to me, return to your friends. Now that the boy's threat has passed, I may even be willing to spare the Potter girl...yes, I know she lives. Narcissa was foolish to think that she could hide her from me. Beg me for her life, Severus. Grovel on hands and knees, and I may consider sparing it."

The boy seemed to weaken for a moment. Voldemort had always been skilled at discovering the weaknesses in others. Such an unfortunate looking, palid little boy, great in skill but starved for affection. But while Voldemort had great skill in manipulating his followers, he had never discovered an easy way to improve their intelligence.

"No," the boy said.

"Perhaps I was mistaken, Severus," Voldemort said. "I was under the impression that you loved the girl."

"That's why I won't grovel, because I love her."

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Voldemort said. He was being to grow tired of this child. He had elsewhere to be. "Do you want her dead?"

The boy smiled. He regarded Voldemort with the sort of arrogance only a teenager could be capable. "You're pathetic. You don't have the vaguest inkling of how love works, do you? That's why you're pathetic. That's why I know Potter will kill you in the end."

Voldemort spared a quick glance over his shoulder to confirm that the Potter boy was still lying face down on the grass. "Potter is dead, as you soon will be. But first I will hear you beg for mercy. CRUCIO!!"

Snape screamed, his body twisting painfully under the Cruciatis Curse, and the Dark Lord laughed.

****************

Harry Potter lay listening on the grass. His first thought when the darkness cleared had been why didn't it work? He was so sure it would work, so sure he had figured out how to kill the Dark Lord. It was shortly followed by thought why didn't it work? Only this time he wondered why Voldemort's curse had not killed him.

He knew Voldemort would be upon him again the moment he moved, so he lay still, trying to take advantage of Snape's distraction to give himself time to think. How he survived was of secondary importance, he could figure that out later. He had to figure out why his attempt to kill Voldemort had not worked, and he had to do it fast.

I should have known love couldn't kill, but it had felt right.

Nothing was coming to him, he was so sure he had done it right. Why didn't it work? He had even used Charles' wand to avoid the Priori Incantatum effect. Wait. Charles' wand. Using another wizard's wand never worked as well as using your own.

Family. Whatever yeh say, blood's important.... ₃

Family. It all came down to family. Why hadn't it been Neville? Neville was fairly competent once he had gotten his own wand. Why had Voldemort's brother wand chosen him? His blood surely. His connection with Voldemort. It had to be more than saying the right spell. If it had been a matter of the right spell alone, it could have been done by any number of people. But there was something unique about Harry. Something he alone must be able to do.

Priori Incantatum.

Snape's scream snapped him out of his reverie. Now. Do it, now! Harry leapt to his feet. He focused as before.

"Hey! Snake-face!"

Voldemort spun around. His red eyes wide. Snape fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" he shouted at the same time that Harry shouted, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

The spells collided in midair, just as they had three years ago. Harry knew what to expect this time though. A beam of light connected the two wands, only it was not gold like before. This time it was red. The beam splintered, encasing them in a web of light. Harry focused on the force flowing out of him, forcing it and the beads of light towards Voldemort. Harry could feel his weakness, his fear.

EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER

But Harry had already died once, as his short lifeline attributed to. It may have only been for a moment, but he knew death had passed through him and rejected him. It was Voldemort's turn.

The largest of the beads reached Voldemort's wand. It contacted. An explosion of green and red light mixed together in a blurred Christmas colored swirl. Voldemort's mouth opened in a soundless scream as he was surrounded by the light, which emitted backwards from the wand. Once again, he fell in a black pool of robes. The connection broken, the lights vanished. Harry did not lower his wand this time but kept it pointed at the fallen lord.

Voldemort however did not move, and Harry was sure he would never move again. Death had accepted him. His wand had disintegrated into ash. His white face and hand were now similarly blackened. There was no indication of breath. Harry stood there for a moment, catching his own breath, and letting it all sink in.

He heard a small movement and glanced at the door to see Snape pull himself up on the rumble of the entrance. "What was that?" he asked hoarsely.

"Priori Incantatum," Harry said.

"Oh," Snape said. He had only managed to pull up to his knees. He was trembling slightly and far paler than usual. Harry saw that there was blood stained on the bandage wrapped around his abdomen.

"Do you need help?" Harry asked, stepping towards him.

"No, I think I've--" His hands slipped on the rocks, and he fell back to the ground. There was a scream from the hall. Harry pointed his wand in the direction of the scream. The person who had made it came to a halt in the doorway.

"Harry?"

"Persephone?"

"Severus!" She dropped to her knees and felt his neck.

"Ouch," the prone form creaked.

Harry took this as confirmation that he was still alive and went to check that Voldemort was still dead. He did not want to put his hands on the blackened flesh, so he kicked it. The shoulder of the corpse crumbled where he had kicked. "Yuck," he said, deciding to leave the rest of it intact as evidence.

"Is that Voldemort?" Persephone said breathily from the door. "Is he?"

"Yeah, he's dead," Harry said. Snape had rolled onto his back with Persephone's help. Harry kneeled beside them.

"Where's Kagome?" Persephone asked.

"I don't know," Harry said. "I thought she was posing as Snape, but if this is the real Snape..."

Snape coughed. "That thing that looked like Harry? It jumped into the green light. I've never seen anything move so fast, then it was gone."

"She rode his death?" Persephone said softly and closed her eyes. She opened them again and looked at her nephew. "Are you okay, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "I'm fine. You take care of him. I have to..." He would prefer someone to come take him away for a much deserved rest at this point, but he knew that was not going to happen. He had won his battle, but the war was still going on. "...have to see what's happened to everyone else."

He walked back into the room to the north corner and groped along the bottom of the wall. His hands found the invisible box that Neville had given him. He opened it and pulled out the Marauder's Map inside. He knew it would have been too dangerous to keep on his person. If Voldemort had won their encounter, it would have given him the castle.

He hoped it was undamaged, they had folded it extra to fit it inside the box. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He opened the map and checked Classroom Eleven. There were three dots. Harry Potter was at the north corner. Persephone Potter and Severus Snape were at the door. There was no dot labeled Lord Voldemort or even one labeled Tom Riddle.

He's dead, Harry thought. He's really dead.

"But it's not over yet," he reminded himself, and hurried back to the door. Persephone had conjured a stretcher. He helped her lift Snape, who had fallen unconscious, onto it.

"I have to get him to the hospital wing," she said quickly. Her eyes flew to a spot past Harry's shoulder. "Is that the invisibility cloak? Can I borrow it?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "I've got to make sure everyone else gets there." He touched her arm. "Be careful, Persephone."

"You too, Harry," she said and hurried to grab the cloak.

Harry checked the hall to make sure it was still clear and then checked the map again. He spotted Ginny's dot not too far away. There were two more dots near hers, but they were not moving. Harry tucked the map into his pocket and started walking in that direction. He kept his wand in one hand, with his other hand he reached for the small mirror in his pocket.

"Hermione Granger," he said clearly, but his breath merely fogged the mirror. He felt a surge of panic but fought it down. She could be busy. "Ronald Weasley."

For a terrible moment he thought Ron was not going to answer either, but then Ron's face appeared in the mirror and his voice came out of it, sounding as sweet as Phoenix song to Harry's ear. "I'm here, mate."

"I couldn't get hold of Hermione," Harry said.

"Her mirror broke," Ron assured him quickly. "Fell out of her pocket, but she's okay. How about you? Is Voldemort...?"

"He's dead," Harry confirmed.

"Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent. He's not on the map."

Ron let out a loud war whoop.

A small, tinny voice that was not Ron's came from the mirror. "Is that Harry? Is he all right?"

"Yeah, it's Harry," Ron told someone out of view. "He's fine. He's done it."

"Thank goodness," the tinny voice said.

"Is that Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Ron said. "She's here with me. We're at the hospital wing. Where are you?"

"First floor," Harry said. "I'm heading toward the Great Hall."

"We'll come to you."

Harry paused. "No, you stay put. You have to hold the hospital wing."

"Malfoy's got it under control," Ron said. "We'll meet you at the Great Hall."

"Weasley, don't you--!" But Ron's face was already gone. He must have pocketed the mirror. Harry swore violently but decided not to waste more time trying to get him to pick up. "Padma Patil," he said into the mirror. There was no response.

"Anthony Goldstein."

"I'm here," Anthony responded. "What's up?"

"Padma didn't answer," Harry said.

"Stunner got her," Anthony said grimly. "We had to leave her."

"Where are you?"

"Heading back from the Owlery. The signal went off as planned. All those owls going up at once, I'm sure they saw it in Hogsmeade."

"Good," Harry said. "I'll check back on you later."

Anthony nodded, and his face too disappeared.

"Ernie Macmillan," Harry said. There was no response. "Hannah Abbott." No response. Harry tried not to think about it. "Draco Malfoy."

"I'm here," Draco said. "Hospital wing's under control at the moment."

"Persephone's on her way up with Snape," Harry said quickly. "They're under the invisibility cloak, so make sure no one stuns them by mistake."

"Gotcha."

"Check in on all the Fifth Year perfects for me. Call me back only if one of them is having a problem."

"Right," Malfoy said. "Weasley said you got Voldemort. Is it true?"

"It's true," Harry said.

Malfoy looked at him from the mirror with a mix of uncertainty and respect. "Thanks," he said.

"Don't mention it," Harry said and tucked the mirror back into his pocket. He was close to Ginny's dot now. "Ginny?" he called softly.

"Over here, Harry!" Ginny called back. He rounded a corner and saw her crouched beside Dean's prone form. Two more six years were crouched beside her, keeping guard. Ginny's face was streaked with tears. "I don't know what he hit him with, but I don't think I can move him."

Harry could not remember seeing a dot labeled Dean Thomas. "Ginny," he said gently. "We have to leave him." Ginny shook her head. "We're still fighting, Ginny. We have to leave him for now. We'll come back for him later." For a second, he thought Ginny was going to argue with him, but she nodded and stood up, gripping her wand.

The other two sixth years looked grim but slightly relieved. "Follow me," Harry said.

"Harry Potter!" came a voice from his pocket. Harry fumbled for the mirror.

"I'm here."

Ernie face greeted him. "Sorry about the delay. Hannah and I were a little busy. We got cut off from the hospital. There's a group of us holed up in the library."

"Okay, thanks," Harry said. "Stay tight for now. I'm going to try to seal off the Great Hall. After that we'll start rounding up stragglers."

"Gotcha," Ernie said. "Sure you don't want help?"

"I've got help," Harry said. "You wouldn't get here in time. I'll call you back later." He put the mirror back in his pocket.

Harry paused with the others as he came to the entrance hall and listened. There were several bodies lying on the floor, one of them was groaning softly, and he could hear activity coming from the Great Hall itself. He wished he had more people with him but did not dare wait for them to come. "Come on," he said softly and crossed the hall cautiously. The others followed. Harry spared a glance at Ginny. Her face was still pink and tear streaked, but her eyes and jaw were now set with fierce determination.

Harry paused again at the entrance to the Great Hall. He motioned for the others to keep back and peered cautiously into the room. It was a strange sight that greeted him. There were a few fallen bodies here as well, and six new statues had appeared in the Great Hall. Harry recognized that the statues were of Death Eaters. There were eight students still standing, Luna and Chesann Blampied among them. They were standing in a dense cluster behind Virginia Dey who was pointing her wand at the remaining Death Eater.

The man had already been hit by several hexes. His mouth was missing, and he seemed to be incapable of much movement. His Death Eater's mask was gone. His bearded face was so dark the whites of his eyes seemed to glow in contrast. Those fierce eyes were turned upon Victoria.

"You are a very bad father," said Victoria. "Corpus saxum fieri." The room gained its seven statue.

"Luna," Harry called.

Luna turned to him. "Hello, Harry," she said calmly. "Did you kill Voldemort?"

"Yeah, he's dead," Harry said, stepping into the room. Ginny and the others followed him.

"He's dead?"

"He's really dead?"

"Are you sure?"

"Later," Harry bit at them. "We need to get this sealed up." He pointed his wand at the shattered windows.

"Reparo?" one of the students suggested.

"Think that'll be strong enough?" asked Harry.

"If we all do it together," said Luna. She turned to face the refreshment table. "Are you going to help?"

Harry followed her gaze to see two girls in red and green, Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass huddled together against the wall. They both looked very shaken. Pansy was glaring rather murderously at Harry through her fear, but she seemed to be unarmed. Daphne however had a wand. She disentangled herself from Pansy and stood slowly. "I'll help," she said.

Pansy pulled her knees to her chest and started to cry into her formal wear. Luna gave her a disgusted look. "On three then?"

But as they raised their wands seven more people on broomsticks flew in through the windows. "Expelli-"

"WAIT!" yelled Harry. "They're Aurors!"

The students cheered, and the Aurors set down looking slightly baffled. Harry heard a scrabbling of feet from behind and turned to find Tonks rushing into the room. Ron and Hermione were on her heels. Hermione was clutching something orange and fluffy.

"There you lot are!" Tonks shouted at the other Aurors. "Took your time."

"Where have you been?" one of them that Harry recognized as Dawlish shot back at her.

"Had to find a fireplace," Tonks said, brushing soot off her knees. "Ran into these two on the way back."

"Can we fix the window now?" Luna asked.

"Wooo! What happened to them?" exclaimed a female Auror, who was admiring the statues.

"Victoria happened to them," Chesann said with a laugh. "Well, Victoria and us." Victoria just fixed the Aurors with a stony stare.

"There's more of them tied up in front of the hospital wing," Hermione added, still breathing heavily. Harry saw that she was also sporting some tear tracks.

"That's our fall back point," Ron added. "Where the other students are gathering."

"Dawlish, Baudelaire, you come with me," Tonks said. "We'll check it out. The rest of you listen to Harry. I think he knows what's going on."

"Where's Dumbledore?" another Auror asked.

Harry pulled out his map. "If he's in the school, he'll be on here."

Tonks put her hand on Harry's shoulder. "Leave you to it, then," she said, and she, Dawlish, and Baudelaire ran off.

They fixed the windows first. The wards were probably still damaged, but it got rid of all the broken glass littering the floor. Harry explained the Marauders Map and the mirrors as quickly as he could, while the students worked on reviving those who had been stunned and injured or getting them onto stretchers. Some of the Slytherin girls tried to console Pansy, but she called them "traitors" and would not let anyone but Daphne near her.

They discovered a couple of Death Eaters assaulting the Hufflepuff common room. Three of the Aurors and four of the students ran down to deal with them. Almost immediately after they had left, Dumbledore burst into the room in his dressing gown, followed closely by Professor McGonagall.

"Headmaster!" Harry cried with relief. The map had shown him that Dumbledore was alive, but it was a great relief to see him.

Dumbledore was flushed and paused to catch his breath. "I seem to have over slept," he said.

"There are still Death Eaters in the castle," Harry said quickly.

"I know," Dumbledore said. "Professor McGonagall had to subdue three of them to reach me. If we add the seven in here, that takes ten effectively out of the fight."

"Sixteen," Ron said. "There are six more tied up in front of the hospital wing."

"Two more down stairs," Harry said, holding the map so that Dumbledore could see. "These three are Aurors and those fours are students going to fight them."

Dumbledore turned to McGonagall. "Professor, if you would go assist them."

"Certainly," McGonagall said and hurried off.

Dumbledore took the map to survey it, and it was then that Harry remembered that he had neglected to tell him something important. "He's dead, Professor. Voldemort is dead."

Dumbledore looked at him with a look that was not really happy and not really sad. It was both and neither. "Well done, Harry. You may tell me all about it later if you like. I certainly want to hear. Right now, we have to take care of our army."

The remaining Auror introduced himself as Quagmire and helped them round up the injured from the entrance hall. Harry was greatly relieved to discover many of the students and band members had simply been stunned. A few were injured, some of those injuries looked rather severe. Dumbledore borrowed Ron's mirror and left them to collect the group in the library. Harry kept one eye on the map and another eye on the Great Hall.

"Is that Crookshanks?" Harry asked Ron when he noticed Hermione was still clutching the limp orange form while she conjured stretchers.

Ron nodded somberly. "You should have seen him. Death Eater jumped us on our way back. Crookshanks came flying out of nowhere and took a curse he'd aimed at Hermione. Then Colin hit the piece of troll dung with a nice stunner. Tonks showed up while we were binding him. Hermione and I told her where you were going, and she said she'd just told the Aurors they could get in through the broken window."

It was quite possibly the longest night Harry had ever experienced. After they had gathered everyone up, he led the large group to the hospital wing. Once they were deposited. He used the map and mirrors to organize small parties to retrieve the stragglers and the wounded. Students who had been watching the windows told stories about circling dementors and a band of giants who had started off surrounding the castle, then started fighting each other.

"Goblins! The goblins!" shrieked a curly-haired girl who had been watching the windows. "I think they're fighting on our side!" She screamed again as a large flash of light lit the windows.