Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix

* * *
It's always here.
It's always there.
It's just love
And miracles out of nowhere.

Kansas ~ Miracles Out of Nowhere
* * *

'You are now one of us.'

Hermione panicked, fighting with whatever was holding her bound. She finally calmed down enough to realize that it was her bedcovers. She frantically pushed up the left sleeve of her pajama top and stared at her forearm.

Nothing.

It was a dream.

'You are now one of us.'

Well, no.

It was a nightmare.

She felt her body start shaking from shock, and she swallowed the puke that had managed to come up as she thought about the nightmare. She couldn't stop shaking but she knew that she hadn't screamed during the nightmare. She never had as a child and the fact that none of her roommates were awake was proof enough that she hadn't tonight.

'You are now one of us.'

The shakes wouldn't stop. She got up, grabbed her dressing gown, and hurried down the stairs. Back up another set brought her to the boy's dormitory. She knocked softly on the door that said "Seventh Year Boy's" and pushed it open. She hurried over to Ron's bed and slipped her head and arms through the bed curtains, trying to shut out the echoing phrase from her nightmare.

'You are now one of us.'

"Ron?" she whispered, trying to wake him. "Ron?"

"Hermione?" a voice called from outside the curtains. Hermione stood up straight and turned to see Harry's head stuck through his curtains looking at her curiously. "Do I want to know why you snuck in here?" He climbed out of his bed and silently padded over to Ron's. He looked concerned, so she took the question seriously, instead of the joking manner it had been delivered with.

'You are now one of us.'

"Bad dream," she replied, moving over so that he could stand next to her in the gap of Ron's curtains. "Why won't Ron wake up?"

"He's thick-skulled?" Harry asked tiredly, clearly struggling to wake up. "Let me. Aguamenti!" A spray of clear water came from Harry's wand, landing on Ron's face.

"Oy!" Ron said sitting up. "Wha' you do 'at for?"

'You are now one of us.'

"Your knight in shining armor needed you," Harry answered and Ron looked over at her confusedly.

"What's the matter?" he asked, taking in her tears and tremors and probably really wildly bushy hair. He sat up, cross legged, and looked at her more carefully, obviously worried and wide awake now.

'You are now one of us.'

"Let's go downstairs to talk so we don't wake the others," Hermione said, but the boys shook their heads. "Why not?"

"They won't wake up," Harry answered, his eyes on his fingers which were picking at Ron's bedcover. He climbed onto the bed, sitting next to Ron's feet. "Ron and I are the only ones without silencing charms on our curtains. I convinced the others to put them on during the N.E.W.T.'s so that I don't feel bad about waking them."

"Harry--"

"Don't, 'Mione," Ron said. He pulled on her arm and Hermione moved quite happily into his embrace, settling comfortably on his bed. "We've got it all worked out, don't upset our balance. Now, what's it that you need?"

"I had a nightmare," she started and then told them the details. Ron and Harry listened with growing understanding. It was everyone's nightmare, losing the War. She knew her fear of being brainwashed and Marked was something they'd understand.

'You are now one of us.'

Tears fell from her eyes, but she hadn't ever bothered to brush them away and Ron had given up. "And I woke up. I can't remember a worse nightmare. And I hated you, really hated you both and I couldn't remember any of the reasons why I love you both or why I'd put up with you and..."

"Shh," Ron said, rocking her slightly, his chin resting in her hair. Harry grabbed her nearest hand and held it tightly. "Shh, 'Mione."

"But--It was horrible," she sobbed, turning her face into Ron's chest and crying even harder. Ron held her to him tightly, Harry let go of her hand so that she could turn more easily, and instead, he put a hand on her knee so that she knew he was still there.

'You are now one of us.'

Once the sobbing subsided, she turned her head so that her ear was lying against Ron's chest. She listened to his heartbeat and breathing, timing her own hectic breaths to Ron's calmer ones.

"I just wish I knew it wouldn't end that way," she said, pulling away and turning so that she could see Harry better.

"You just have to believe," Harry said with a shrug. "I can't promise and I can't assure you. A lot of it will have to do with luck and fate, but they've always been on my side. Just believe."

"I do," she said. "It's just..."

'You are now one of us.'

"It could happen the other way just as possible," she finished in a terrified whisper

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "But it's not going to."

"Just believe," Harry repeated, cutting her off before she'd even began. "The other--I don't want to even think about it, because it's not going to happen."

"Denial doesn't keep something from happening," Hermione replied.

"Just, for once, suspend the rational, Hermione," Harry said, softly. "Just believe."

"Okay," she said, though she knew her uncertainty was clear in her voice. "It's just--"

"Hermione," Harry said warningly.

"I'm sorry, it's hard," Hermione answered. "It's hard not to think of it though."

'You are now one of us.'

"Well, let's talk about something else," Ron said with a smile. "How about Quidditch?"

"Do you have to?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes.

"Yes," Ron said, laughing. Hermione loved listening to Ron laugh when she was tucked under his arm. It reverberated through him, into her, and she loved it. It drove the haunting line further from her thoughts. "You're marrying a future keeper, you know."

"I do," she said, pretending to sound long-suffering. "But when I agreed to marry you, I thought you were going to be an Auror."

"Nope, you'd have to go for Seamus for that one," Harry said. "Ron's going to be a Quidditch star, me a lousy lay-about, Neville a student, Dean a--what's Dean doing again?"

"Working for the Twins, I thought," Ron answered. "Wow, Seamus is the only one of us boys going into a serious career?"

"Seems that way," Harry said, with a chuckle. "Who'd of thought that?"

"Makes me wonder about what I did wrong with my two boys," Hermione muttered. She ruffled Ron's hair and tried to do the same to Harry's. He pulled away, nearly falling off the bed.

"Hey, hey, leave the hair alone," he said, laughing as Hermione tried to get him. She crawled toward him, but Harry kept moving away, hands held up to ward her off.

"What does it matter, it won't look any different," Ron said from where he sat against the headboard, chuckling.

"Because my hair and I get along just fine," he said. "If you start abusing it, it just might rebel."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Harry's hair," Hermione said, laughing so hard that she couldn't stay on her knees. She lay down, her hands covering her face as she started to cry because of the laughter. Harry laughed as well, and so did Ron. Hermione wished that fewer of their days at Hogwarts had been filled with worry and terror and despair and more of them filled with laughter like this. There had been too many nights spent talking about nightmares and the War and death and torture and Voldemort.

'You are now one of us.'

She forced her body not to betray the shiver that ran down her spine.

"My hair forgives you on the condition that you never try it again," Harry said, pretending to be serious, though his eyes twinkled. Hermione laughed harder still, trying to agree, desperately thankful for Harry's distraction. Finally she gave up and just laughed. "I'm going to miss this."

Hermione stopped laughing as that comment filtered through her mind. He had been doing such a great job at making her laugh too! But, no, he just had to go and say something... so... that!

"Yeah," Ron said with a sigh. "Same here."

She sat up and looked from Ron sitting against the headboard to Harry lying next to the footboard.

"It won't be that bad, will it?" Hermione asked, looking at them. "We're planning on getting a flat together 'til Ron and I get married, and God only knows when that's going to be. I mean, we won't be near everyone else, but we can get together on Fridays or something like that just to stay in touch with them."

"It just won't be the same," Harry said with a shake of his head. "The three of us will still be together, but the rest of us, we'll just drift apart, different lives, different cares, different worries."

"Not if we make sure it doesn't," Hermione said firmly. "I'm not going to lose my friends."

"Well, if you're going to take on the cause, I'm sure it won't happen," Ron said with a smile. "After all, Spew is still around."

"S. P. E. W., Ronald Bilius," Hermione spelled out warningly. Ron and Harry just laughed at her, and she had to fight a smile threatening to cover her face. "And that failed miserably, thanks to you both."

"Hey, why's it our fault? We didn't do anything!" Harry pleaded.

"Of course, and that's why it failed," she said, letting the smile out. "I was just asking for all the wrong things then. They don't want vacations or wages, but I can try to get them protected from cruel masters. I--"

"Hermione, it's too late for that," Ron told her, smiling fondly at her. Harry nodded his head in agreement. "And, if you've forgotten, we've got our Charms exam tomorrow."

"I'm so nervous for that one," Harry said. "I haven't had a Charms class in a year and a half."

"You'll be fine, Harry," Hermione said, trying to reassure him. "I've been studying with you; I know you'll be fine."

"Thanks, but that doesn't keep me from being nervous," he replied, slipping between Ron's curtains. "Night, Hermione; night, Ron."

"Night," Ron chorused with her. He smiled at her and kissed her properly goodnight.

"I'm waiting, Hermione," Harry called, causing Hermione to smile. She and Ron broke apart and Hermione slipped between the curtains as well.

"Thanks, little brother," she said, ruffling his hair.

"My hair declares war," he said, the scowl lessened by the twinkle in his eyes.

"Ah, well, I'll be watching my back then," she replied. "Night, Ron."

"Night, 'Mione."

"Night," she said to Harry at the door. He smiled at her in response and disappeared behind his own curtains. She shut the door, careful not to let it slam, and sighed.

It wouldn't happen. She just had to believe that Harry would win. Not just win, but survive. It would be even worse if he won, but at the cost of his own life. No, she wouldn't think about that either. Harry would win and Harry would live.

She just had to believe.

That simple.

'One of us.'

But nothing was ever that simple.

Draco Malfoy paced the outer rim of Hogsmeade's defenses. A wooden palisade rose twenty feet above his head on either side of him, a wooden platform connecting the two walls about fifteen feet up. He had taken to walking in this forgotten space when he needed to think.

He clenched his fingers; he shouldn't have to think about what he was thinking. He had brought the great and invincible Dumbledore down! He had given his "Lord" the greatest gift and then spent three degrading months in Azkaban for it.

Could the "Lord" be bothered to free him?

No!

Could the "Lord" be bothered to free the other loyal compatriots?

No!

Draco wasn't sure he wanted to follow a Dark Lord who did not look out for the good of his loyal servants. He wasn't sure he wanted to serve a Dark Lord who would switch favorites just because one gave all her usefulness to the cause. He wasn't sure he wanted to be at the beck and whim of any Dark Lord at all. And he had his doubts about this "Lord's" eventual success. Harry Potter was a force to be reckoned with, and Draco didn't think the Dark Lord was ready to face the fury that would be released when Potter came knocking.

Draco had seen Potter, beaten and abused and tortured though he was, cut a path through the Death Eaters in revenge for his weeks spent as a "guest" in Malfoy Manor. Draco had seen the way Potter commanded students and professors alike when Dumbledore stumbled. Draco had seen and heard the way Potter had taken on the mantel left for him by Dumbledore's death.

Voldemort had made a mistake, killing Dumbledore. That deed had made Potter that much more stronger.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" a voice asked him from the shadows, a voice filled with disdain. Draco stopped short, and looked up at the Death Eater sitting on top of a stack of crates. Her shimmering green hair fell forward as she looked down on him, casting her face in shadows.

"Celeste. Where's your friend?"

"Here," Terry said, coming through a door that led to the village. Draco cast silencing charms, cloaking charms, and a few warning charms on the area they were in. He didn't want this to get out.

"Why all the precautions?" Celeste asked, her voice wary.

"I like to be prepared," Draco said, seeming to answer her question. "In case the worst happens, I want to have a way out."

"Surely you do not imply that our Master will fail?" Celeste asked, her voice calm and cool.

"There are other worst case scenarios," he replied. "I spent three months in Azkaban, hardly anything to what others have served, I know, but it is something. The Dark Lord works in his own time, he says. I had just succeeded in killing Dumbledore and my reward has been only that.

"The Dark Lord promises great things, but has he delivered?" he asked, looking at the two women before him. "Terry, he forced you to court that Weasley, and, Celeste, he forced you to take that despicable job in the Ministry. He uses us."

"What are you getting at, Malfoy?" Terry asked, her voice deepening. Draco could feel the tension in the air. Her unspoken warning and threat was not lost on him.

"Allies," Draco said smoothly. "Someone to plead to the Dark Lord if one of us ends up in Azkaban. Someone to watch our backs. Someone to count on if the worst should happen."

"Someone to help you make the worst happen," Celeste finished. Draco grinned up at the woman and shrugged. She exchanged a look with the red head. "Why should we help you?"

"I have the money, the resources," Draco answered. "My mother saved much of our lands and fortune, and she has secret vaults under other names that the Ministry never even found out about. My family has lands on the Continent where the British Ministry can't touch us. I want many things and I don't think the Dark Lord will be able or willing to give me what I want."

"And what if the Dark Lord has given us what we want?" Terry asked menacingly, and Draco forced himself not to swallow. Terry was not known for her patience. If he'd guessed wrong--

"Has he?" he replied, making the unspoken implication clear that he doubted it very much. Terry shifted slightly, confirming Draco's suspicions. Celeste hadn't moved at all, but if it was true for Terry, it would be true for Celeste. That's why Draco had risked meeting these two women together. Terry would give away more than Celeste ever would. "What do you both want?"

"I want my family's lands back," Celeste said, her voice carefully controlled to give away nothing. Draco was sure she was truly angry about this, but she knew better than to give it away. "My fool of a half-brother practically gave them away to the Nott's and the Montague's during the first war and I have asked for them back."

"Revenge," Terry answered passionately, her smile feral. Draco couldn't help wondering why she hadn't become a beater. She was violent enough. "Freedom to quench my bloodlust on Muggles. Our Lord keeps me on a tight chain and it chafes when I pull too far."

"I can not promise that I can get you what you want over night," Draco informed them. "It'll take years of planning and plotting, but in time, you'll have what you want. I swear to you."

"Will you make a blood oath?" Celeste asked, watching him carefully.

"Only if you swear fealty to me," Draco said.

"Let us think about this," Terry answered. "Give us until after Hogwarts to give you our answers."

"Very well, you have until after Hogwarts." The two ladies nodded their heads and ducked out of the space through the storage door. Draco removed his spells and continued down the walkway. He had two more meetings tonight, one with the Nott's and another with a few other malcontents. Hopefully he'd have at least this much success with the other two meetings, if not more.

If everything went according to plan, he wouldn't be serving the Dark Lord and he wouldn't be serving a life sentence in Azkaban.

But, in case it didn't go according to plan, Draco had several other back-up plans to follow. The worst case scenario would be if the Dark Lord succeeded. Draco did not want to blindly follow another. The Dark Lord had been his father's choice, not his.

Neville sat at the Hufflepuff table, Luna's hand coming to rest on his knee. He grabbed for the closest food and piled it onto his plate. Luna smiled at him as he reached past her for the gravy and he smiled back. Today had been a good day. Today was the only day he didn't have an exam. The rain had cleared up for the most part and Neville had spent the day helping Professor Sprout out in the green houses.

"Traveling, huh?" Seamus was saying. "That sounds like a good plan."

"If it can be called a plan," Harry answered. Neville looked over at his friend, interested. Harry was the last person in their class to come up with a plan for the near future. "I don't know when this War is going to finish and until it's done, I'm pretty much stuck."

"Yeah," Ginny said nodding. "You'll be gone most of the year?"

Neville could almost feel Ginny's pain at the thought of not being with him. He was still thankful that Professor Sprout had agreed to take him on as an apprentice. He'd still be around Luna, though they wouldn't be allowed to eat meals together. Some of the traditions and rules surrounding Hogwarts apprenticeships were annoying, but Neville understood why they'd been made, even if they got in the way of his social life.

"Probably," Harry said, pouring more pumpkin juice into his goblet. "I'll be back during the holidays, definitely while you're finishing Hogwarts, Gin."

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.

"Not sure," Harry answered. "Here, there, and everywhere. I don't know, honest," he said as Hermione glared at him. "I'm not sure about anything, I just decided this last night."

"Haven't you been thinking about it though?" Neville asked, finally feeling like he knew enough to contribute.

"Yeah, but I hadn't decided that I'd definitely go until last night," Harry answered. "I have the feeling that I won't want to be around here come the end of this war."

"What do you mean?" Padma asked.

"You know, 'Harry Potter the Boy Who Conquered'," Harry answered, his voice taking on a very bitter tone. Neville frowned; he'd realized just how close he came to being the person Harry was, how close he'd come to being the Boy Who Lived. It had to suck, having that much attention and pressure on you all the time.

"Don't blame you for running," Seamus said, throwing his roll at Harry.

"I'm not running," Harry said, and Neville had to turn his laugh into a cough.

"Face it, mate, you are," Ron said.

"Wouldn't you run from the crazy fan girls if you were him?" Neville asked, trying to spare Harry some humiliation. "Especially when you're dating a girl like Ginny?"

"What does that mean?" Ginny asked, leaning past Harry to look at Neville with one of her eyebrows raised. Merlin, Neville hated when she did that. It was scarier than Professor Snape's scowl. Severus couldn't get into the Gryffindor Common Room without a fuss; Ginny could. Neville would be safe nowhere if she wanted to hunt him down.

"Why wouldn't he?" Dean asked, diverting Ginny's attention. "You'd beat the crap out of him if one of those girls even touched him." Everyone started laughing, Harry throwing his arms around Ginny in a loose embrace trying to make up for the joke at her expense.

"Tomorrow's the last exam," Ginny said, obviously changing the subject. "You guys have Transfiguration, right?"

"Yeah," Harry answered. "You have Potions, don't you?"

"Yeah. You ready for the exam, Luna?" Ginny asked.

"Nah," Luna replied. "Professor Snape never answered my questions, so why should I answer his?"

"Because you're going to need a Potions N.E.W.T., Lune," Neville said, kissing her on the forehead. "You don't want to give Snape a reason to kick you out."

"No, I won't," Luna replied. "Tests and grades are superfluous."

"That they are," Ron agreed, raising his goblet in toast. Dean, Seamus, and Parvati joined the toast and Neville and Hermione just rolled their eyes at the group.

"Do you even know what 'superfluous' means, Ron?" Harry asked, chuckling softly.

"Not for sure," Ron answered, his grin still wide and uncaring. "But it doesn't matter, 'cause it can't mean tests rule!" The group laughed even harder as Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Excessive, inessential, or extravagant," she said, her voice taking on the 'Hermione's explaining something you'd better pay attention' tone that they all knew so well.

"See," Ron said to those who had toasted with him. "We were right to toast to that!"

"That we were," Dean said, grabbing the pudding. "I'm just glad I didn't take N.E.W.T. level Potions. Your exam sounded horrible."

"It was awful," Ron said, passing the whipped cream to Dean. "I thought my cauldron was going to explode at least twice."

"It wasn't as bad as one of Snape's exams, though," Neville said. "Nothing can be worse than doing potions with Snape breathing down your neck."

"I don't know, Occlumency came pretty close," Harry said, his fork stopped partway to his mouth. "Nothing like Snape breathing down your neck when he's teaching you how to protect your mind from invasion--which means he's invading."

"True," Blaise agreed. "That does sound worst. Glad I didn't have to take that class."

"Same here," Lavender said. "I don't know why you all continued with Potions."

"Wanted to be an Auror," most of those in the class said.

"I didn't want Grandmum to yell at me," Neville said, a half smile on his lips. He hadn't talked to her much about Luna and his plans for the future, but he knew that he would have to pretty soon. "She's almost worst than Snape when she wants to be."

"Merlin, do you remember third year?" Ron asked. "When you made that Snape-boggart to wear your Grandmum's clothes?"

"How can I not?" Neville asked, smiling brightly at the memory. "Professor Lupin was amazing. And, boy did Snape look good in that dress!"

"I still wish Remus would have stayed," Ginny said. "As good and great as Thia was, if he'd have stayed we wouldn't have had Crouch-Moody, Umbridge, or Burke. And, in my opinion, Remus was way better than even Thia."

"That's only because he called you a bright lass," Luna quipped.

"Not the only reason, but it does help in his favor."

Ginny threw herself on her bed, determined not to cry, not to lash out at her pillow, not to do anything but lay there. She couldn't keep her fingers from curling up into fists, twisted up in the crimson bedspread. She couldn't help the deep breaths that were not sobs from escaping through her mouth. But she wasn't going to cry and she wasn't going to scream. She'd done enough of that in the Room of Requirement.

Isis hooted on her stand, her huge black eyes focused on her mistress. Ginny tried to smile, but that failed and the owl spread her wings in preparation for flight. Ginny shook her head to calm her owl. She didn't want to be comforted at the moment. That's why she had the twins' locking spell on her door. She didn't want Hermione or any of her roommates asking what was wrong and trying to fix it.

She wasn't angry at Harry.

She wasn't. But how do you explain to someone that you're jealous of a girl that your guy had saved? How do you explain to someone that you almost wish that that girl had died so that Harry wouldn't leave you?

How was she going to come to terms with that?

Harry was going traveling; yes, to get away from the island, but foremost to find Arya Britton. The girl he had saved back in February.

Ginny was jealous.

The tears finally fell at that thought; the sobs, which she couldn't deny any longer, shook her body. She wrapped her arms around Prongs, drawing him closer to her body. The stuffed animal had been fixed at Christmas; Mum had been more than willing to teach her the charm. Prongs--the stuffed animal that Harry had gotten her last spring--was a lifeline at the moment. She turned her face into her pillow so that the sobs wouldn't carry too far; she hadn't put up silencing charms and she didn't want to worry anyone outside the door.

After all, there really wasn't anything to worry about.

Nothing at all.

They hadn't even fought, really. They'd exchanged a few angry words, but that wasn't a fight. A fight was something more. She hadn't wanted to fight, so she'd left the spot under the tree and went to the ocean. He had followed after a few minutes, and he explained why he wanted to travel so much.

Ginny hadn't wanted that. All she had wanted was a concession from him: that he should have talked to her about his plans before announcing them. They were going to be man and wife some day, and future plans had to be made together. She wouldn't have disagreed with the traveling; she could see that Harry needed to get away from all the fame.

But that wasn't even the main reason for his traveling. He wasn't leaving the country until he found out what had happened to Arya Britton.

And Ginny was jealous of that.

Ginny knew Harry wasn't interested in Arya romantically. He didn't even have a crush on Arya. But he was obsessed. Arya had created an obsession in Harry that even Ginny couldn't fight. It wasn't healthy.

Ginny was jealous.

How would she explain this to Hermione when the point this whole thing rested on was a secret that wasn't hers to share?

She couldn't tell Hermione that she was jealous of Arya. Harry had told her that in confidence, and though she was hurt, she couldn't tell Hermione about Harry's real reason for traveling. And if she couldn't tell that, she couldn't explain why she was crying.

Ginny loved Harry, and she knew that she would let Harry go. She would disagree, she would make sure Harry knew that it hurt her, but she'd let him go all the same. All she could do was hope that Harry would find Arya quickly and then come back to her.

Ginny was jealous, but she knew she'd lose Harry if she didn't agree with this. And she couldn't lose him. She'd have to get used to this. She knew she was first in Harry's heart; that would have to be enough for her. It really was more than enough. Arya would never take Ginny's spot. Ginny had no reason to be jealous.

She sobbed into Prongs' soft body.

But, Merlin, she was jealous.

Harry waited in the little antechamber behind the Great Hall with Ron. His turn was coming up soon for the Transfiguration practical and he could feel his stomach turn. He'd done just fine on the other exams; he ought to be more than confident for this one.

But, no, it wasn't like him not to get nervous. He'd be worried if he didn't get nervous about the exam. Even Defense had been nerve racking. He hadn't written a formal essay about Defense Against the Dark Arts since the end of November. He knew the practical was in the bag, but the theory? Completely different.

Theory had gone well enough for him that morning. He knew he had messed up the third question about switching spells; hopefully what he had would give him partial credit. Hermione wasn't so sure, when she'd listened to his answer, but Harry knew that Hermione would be the toughest grader out there, especially on a Transfiguration exam. He thought she was being overly particular about it. He hoped at least.

But Hermione was long gone and had most likely impressed the examiners with her animagus form. Harry frowned; it would be his luck to get the examiner that had her. He would expect such greatness from him and Harry just didn't have that much to wow the examiner with.

"Potter, Harry," the wheezy voice of Professor Marchbanks called. "Come."

Harry thought a little prayer of thanks and followed the witch into the Great Hall. Let Ron deal with Hermione's examiner. He wouldn't have to.

"Very well, Mr. Potter, let's see if you can vanish this koala."

Harry had to keep the smile off his lips as he remembered the prank Tonks had pulled earlier that year.

Thia let her forehead fall to rest on the pile of parchment on her desk.

A nightmare, her life was a living nightmare.

Laughter from the free students filtered up through her open window, noises from the refugee camp creating a background for a pleasant counterpoint. Life went on for these people, but she knew she had failed them all. She'd given up Hogsmeade a month ago, Diagon a week later, the Ministry last week. All that was left was Hogwarts, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that Voldemort planned to attack the school next.

She had no idea where they'd evacuate all the kids and refugees. France? Did they have enough floo powder for that? No, they didn't, just enough for the students fourth year and down.

She knew she hadn't had a choice or a chance to hold any of those places.

Hogsmeade was lost bit by bit, and Voldemort had poured all his resources into that attack. She had to keep Aurors in Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Ministry, and they couldn't compete.

Diagon Alley was taken by those in Knockturn Alley. Without their aid, Voldemort would not have won.

And the Ministry was a moot point. Anything vital had long been moved, excepting the Department of Mysteries, which was well protected. It wasn't worth the lives it would take to keep the building.

But now all they had was Hogwarts.

Their last stronghold.

At least it was a formidable castle.

Tomorrow, Thia was planning on moving the refugees into the castle proper. In case of an attack, they'd be safer in there than out on the grounds. The Aurors had finished background checks (as much as they could be called) on every resident and found that none was a spy or a Death Eater. Of course, they could be well hidden, and the background checks were sketchy at best, but it was all they had to go on. A few of them had question marks next to their names, but Thia didn't have enough proof to arrest them. And she wasn't going to start arresting people just for the sake of arresting them.

She sat up and rubbed her face.

What to do?

What to do?

What the bloody hell was she going to do to get them out of this bloody mess?

She stood up and walked to her window, staring out it. The sun was finally peeking out, the students were free, and she was stuck in here planning war. Well, not all the students. N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration students were still being tested, but they were the last. Then one week of freedom on school grounds while exams were processed, and then the summer holiday. And she couldn't let a single one of those students go home. The owls had gone out today and the announcement had been made at lunch.

She hated herself for that. Of course, Hogwarts wasn't that bad of a place to be stuck at for the holidays, but she was keeping the students from their families. Thia hated to do that to the kids. Yet, she couldn't guarantee their safety; and if she couldn't keep them safe, she couldn't let them out.

She went back to her desk and poured over the map of Hogwarts. She needed a place to hide nearly two and a half thousand people. She had thought of using the Room of Requirement, but Voldemort had to know about that room from at least Draco, if not others. The Chamber of Secret was out of the question. Voldemort would go there first if the worst was to happen. None of the secret passages were large enough for all these people.

Where was she going to put them?

How was she going to keep them alive?

A loud, deep, resonating note rang out, shaking the windows and knocking over her Sneakoscope. It started whizzing in earnest, setting off a high pitch whine. Thia swore.

"Commander," Shacklebolt said, throwing the door wide open.

"I know, Bolt," she said, trying not to be too cross, rolling up her parchments. "I want the files moved to the castle. I want the refugees moved into the Great Hall. I want all the Aurors outside in five minutes."

"Who do you want to move the files and get the refugees?"

"Find Harry, get the D.A. to do it," she replied, putting the rest of her papers away. She rushed past Shacklebolt and went outside.

"Yes, Commander," he said to her back. Thia sped outside to look at the Walls. There, at the gates, was the Death Eater army.

"Shite."

Time was up. The Aurors were lining up behind her. Harry was racing down from the castle. Shacklebolt was running up to meet him. Death Eaters stood at the gate. Thia felt her headache coming to an end.

It was here.

She could face it.

What will come, will come, but she didn't have to agonize over it anymore.

Harry left the Great Hall, a hand rubbing at his right temple, unconsciously following his scar there. He lifted his gaze to search for Hermione. Their eyes locked and he stumbled to the nearest wall and sunk to the floor

"How'd it go?" Hermione asked, hurrying over to stand next to him. She looked down at him with concern.

"Ugh," Harry said, his face in his hands. "I switched Marchbanks' teeth for the examiner's one over."

"Oh, Harry," she said, forcing the smile off her face, but Harry could hear it in her voice.

"Go ahead and laugh," he said, smiling up at her weakly. "Ron was guffawing the loudest in there. And, I know it was funny. I just wish it hadn't been during my N.E.W.T."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad," she said, patting the top of his head. "It can't be worse than the flamingos during our O.W.L.'s."

"Yeah, it is," Harry said. "I'm the one who did it."

"How about Ron's divination exam?"

"Eh, almost as bad as this."

"Oh, come on, Harry, you're being pathetic," she said, losing her temper with him. "Just ask me how my exam went and get over yours. It's not like you're going to need top marks anyway."

"Alright, I know you did brilliant, but how did your exam go?"

"Brilliant," she said, puffing up in a way that reminded Harry of her parrot form. It was very bird-like. "The examiner even gave me some fruit. It was lovely."

"Good for you," Harry said, grinning at her widely.

"Harry?" Hermione asked after a few minutes. She seemed a bit off somehow.

"Yeah?" he asked in turn, wondering if he'd like what came out of her mouth next.

"What's the matter with Ginny?"

Harry put his head in his hands again, and cursed his over-observant-and-quite-willing-to-bring-up-the-observations best friend. Ron was just letting the slight frostiness in Ginny's demeanor towards him slide. Harry knew Ron recognized it, but Ron just didn't bring it up. Ron believed that it was best for him not to get in the middle of a fight between his little sister and best mate. Hermione had no such scruples.

"I... well, it's... you know my plans," Harry started, but was interrupted by a shout.

"Merlin, Harry!" Ron shouted from where he'd just left the Great Hall. Harry promised to buy Ron a huge supply of chocolate frogs the next chance he got. "Thank you! After what you did, nothing I did looked so horrible!"

"You're welcome, mate," Harry replied.

"I mean, I was scared, when I got Hermione's examiner, but then you switched the teeth and--"

A low resonating boom filled the Entrance Hall. Harry could feel it shake the very stones of Hogwarts. The glass panes in the high windows rattled in their casements. Harry stood quickly and rushed to the doors as second boom echoed through the castle. He threw the doors wide open and saw that the refugees had all stopped whatever they'd been doing and turned to look at the gate. Thia was looking there as well, Aurors starting to form up behind her.

Harry turned his attention to the gate. Every single Death Eater stood there, and at the front, Voldemort was standing looking up at him.

"Rat's Nest!" Shacklebolt said, screaming at him as he rushed up the slope to meet him.

"Hermione, keep everyone inside," he commanded and then took off to meet Shacklebolt.

"What?"

"Thia wants you to get every refugee and the official parchments into Hogwarts," he answered. "Use the prefects, the D.A., the professors, whatever you need. We'll keep the Death Eaters busy."

"They aren't going to break the wards, are they?"

"You know the wards are weak," he said. "McGonagall had to pass a few on to Filius because of her escapade at the start of the month. If You-Know-Who has any clue that that has happened, he'll be able to get through. Let's hope the leak never found those reports."

"Alright," Harry said with a nod and salute. He raced up the stairs where he met McGonagall.

"What did Thia want with you?" Harry explained. She turned to look at everyone who had collected at the entrance. "Good. Staff, prefects, and D.A. members, come forward. The rest of the students need to go to their common rooms." She waited for everyone who she'd ask to come forward. "Okay, many of you will probably hate me for this, but I'm putting Harry in charge of the evacuation. The refugees need to come into the Great Hall and valuable information in the Auror Headquarters needs to be moved to my office. Thia wanted Harry in charge, and I agree. Filius, if you'd come with me. Good day and good luck."

It took almost two hours to get everyone moved into the castle. All the while, deep resounding booms echoed as Voldemort and his ward breakers pounded at the door. Harry split the spill over from the Great Hall between the common rooms. Prefects had been in charge of taking role call of the students and going in groups of three to look for any missing students. It had been such a nice day after a week of rain that Harry suspected many of the missing students had just been out for a walk when this all started.

Though, he knew that not all of the missing students were missing for such an innocent reason. Pansy and her ilk were missing, and Harry had called off the search for them. They weren't on the Marauder's Map and Harry all but knew they were out in the sea of black surrounding the school.

"Commander Black," Harry said, coming to stand under the tent they'd erected for the command center. It was half-way between the castle and the Auror Headquarters. "We're done with the evacuations. Everyone is accounted for except these students and refugees." Harry handed her a list. "As you can see, Pansy and her friends are among those missing. And the missing refugees were on the questionable list."

"Thank you, Harry," Thia said, briefly looking at the list. "Would you go stand next to McGonagall and Flitwick? If they need to send me a message, I want you to be the messenger."

"If I may, Commander?"

"Yes?"

"The D.A. and upper students want to fight."

"I know, and if it gets bad, I'll let them," she answered. "Right now, trained professionals are all we need. If we lose the Wall, then we'll need their help."

"Is there anything they can do now?"

Thia paused to think about it before answering. "Anyone over fifteen who wants to fight, professor, student, or refugee, can take positions at the windows. If we were to fall back to the castle, I want them to protect our backs."

"Okay," he answered and left to go meet Hermione near the castle. "She wants anyone who wants to help to position themselves at the windows and protect the Aurors if they fall back to the castle."

"Okay," Hermione said softly. "I hate that we're planning for that. I mean, we evacuated students at Christmas, but this is more."

"I know, but McGonagall is weak and the wards aren't as strong split between two people." Harry frowned, turning to look at the two shapes that he knew were the Headmistress and her Deputy. "They're doing their best, but it might be better to give them entry to the grounds. The castle is a much stronger defense."

"It's just," Hermione said but stopped herself. "I guess that nightmare still has me freaked out. I'll go get everyone ready."

Harry nodded and they parted ways, Hermione returning to the castle, and Harry toward the front lines. He came to a stop ten feet from McGonagall and Flitwick. He was the closest person to them, the magical energy the two were emitting was strong, and no one wanted to disturb them. Harry sat down, preparing to wait for hours if need be.

"Expelliarmus," Harry shouted, stopping to fire off a few more spells. "Ardent! Singlutus! Twicodio!" They were retreating, though organized. No free-for-all race to the castle.

There were ten or so rows of Aurors, Harry among their ranks. His row was at the front now, so he sped past the rows behind him, letting them protect his back. Coming to the last line, Harry turned and starting casting spells to protect the next row's retreat. Slowly he moved toward the front as row after row ran past him.

Behind him at the very back, two Aurors levitated the unconscious bodies of McGonagall and Flitwick. He knew that protecting them was their main goal. If their retreat surpassed them, the Death Eaters would be able to kill them, and, in killing them, Hogwarts' wards would fail. The Aurors couldn't allow that to happen.

The Death Eaters advanced on them, pushing them back, trying to force the retreat to fail in its organization. At least the Death Eaters were almost in range of those waiting in the windows of the castle to help protect their backs.

He was at the front once again, so he shot off one more spell, and turned to run to the back.

A spell coming from a window nearly hit Harry. They were in range now, but Harry nearly paid the price. The first Aurors were lining up at the doors, any non-Aurors forced through first. Harry stopped at Shacklebolt's side, intent on staying to help.

"Through the door, Rat's Nest," he said, shoving Harry through, ignoring his cry of dismay.

Harry stumbled into the arms of some of the professors. They helped to steady him and move him from the door so that others could get through. He rushed up the stairs and pushed a fifth year over some so that he could fire spells off.

Quite quickly, every single Auror was inside. Harry and the fifth year were shoved aside as Aurors took over the fight. He went back down the stairs to the Entrance Hall, intent on finding something he could do to help.

"Potter, here, now!" Thia commanded, and Harry hurried over to the collection of wizards and witches. Many of the most important members of the Order, Ministry, and Hogwarts stood there. Most noticeably missing was McGonagall and Flitwick.

"How's--"

"Hush, Harry," Remus said, stopping his question.

"What happened, Thia?" Vance asked, turning to her commander.

"Harry? You said we had at least twenty minutes when you left," Thia said, turning to look at him.

"I'm not sure, actually," Harry answered. "I had just got back to them, and McGonagall was telling Flitwick to drop his wards and help her with the main ones. He collapsed and McGonagall stumbled. Then Voldemort's ward breakers increased their attack and McGonagall fell too with a scream."

"Filius is dead," Pomfrey said, pushing her way through, drying tears with a handkerchief. "Minerva is barely alive. Althea and I think we can save her, but she won't be able to help for weeks."

"Go help her," Thia said. "That would explain it. Minerva gave us the warning expecting Filius to help her."

"Why the retreat?" a Ministry worker Harry didn't know asked. "It seemed that you were holding them out of the gate just fine."

"Voldemort had a group blast through the wall near Dumbledore's Pyre," Shacklebolt answered. "We couldn't hold both lines."

"There's definitely hired help out there," Thia announced. "Dark mercenaries. We need to exploit that."

"We can't pay them off," Vance said.

"We wouldn't want to," Severus answered. "There's other ways to exploit it. Better ways."

"How?"

"Easy."

"Let's go up to the headmistress' office," Thia said, heading that way as she spoke.

They sat at a Counsel of War, not an Order meeting or something else of the sort. The plan was set on how to spook off the mercenaries, how to push the Death Eaters out, and how to rebuild the Wall near the Lake. All that remained was the wards.

"We could appoint a new Headmaster," Vance offered.

"No," Thia said shaking her head. "Well, no, you're right we could. But to set the wards to a headmaster takes days and walks around the boundaries and we can't obviously do that."

"We're sure that the ward breakers are that strong?" a Ministry official Harry didn't know asked. "They didn't just over-tax Professor Flitwick and get lucky?"

"No," Shacklebolt said with a frown. "That was Andrew Goyle, Alice Rumberland, and Jerry Sutwick. They're some of the top ward breakers You-Know-Who could possibly get his hands on, and they had four or five others helping them."

"What if we just turn this into the final battle?"

"No," Harry answered. "It's not the right time."

"But how do you know?"

"I just do," he said firmly. "But--"

"Yes?" Thia asked when Harry hesitated.

"I can place wards that will keep them out." Those around the table looked at him disbelievingly.

"How so?" Vance asked.

"Professor Dumbledore taught me several ways," he answered. "I can make them self-holding, as well, so that they don't burn anyone out."

"Impossible," Professor Vector stated.

"No, actually," Bill said thoughtfully. "The Egyptians did it all the time to guard their pyramids."

"And you wish me to believe that this boy knows ancient Egyptian magic?"

"I can do it," Harry said, trying to not get cross. "Watch."

Harry unfocused his eyes so that he could look at the magic of the castle. "Contego!" he cast covering a plate of biscuits that the house elves had left for them. He severed the charm from his wand, after mentally tying it to the magic that filled the castle. "There, end it."

First Vector then others tried, finding the shield impossible to break through. Bill was the last to take a crack at it and, after studying it for a long while, he sat back down.

"You've connected it to the castle," he said. "There's no way I'll be able to break that. The Egyptians used sources that could be broken, but that, I can't beat."

"Of course not," Harry answered. He unfocused his eyes, found the connection to the castle, and reattached it to his wand. Then he unspelled it. "I won't connect it to the castle though, that'd be dooming us."

"If they would get through the wards, it would be because they overpowered the castle," Bill answered the confused looks. "The only way they got through the outer wards today was because they overpowered Filius."

"What will you connect it to?" Thia asked.

"Every plant and animal in the Forbidden Forest and the Lake," Harry answered. "If you wish, I can also attach it to the castle on top of that. But the living magic in those two places should be more than enough. And the Forest is pissed at the moment."

Everyone nodded. Voldemort's army had chopped down large sections of the Forest nearest Hogsmeade to build up their defenses. The inhabitants had been howling and roaring and strutting about in fury all month.

"You can do that?" Severus asked.

"If I have enough time," Harry answered. "I could tie it to the castle first and then, after the wards are set, remove the castle. It doesn't really matter."

"And you know the Warding spells?"

"Yes," Thia answered for him. "He helped to reset the wards when Filius took over half of them."

"Give me some time to look at them to refresh my memory and I'll be fine," Harry said. "Trust me. I can do this."

"Very well," Thia said, nodding her head.

At noon the next day, Kingsley cursed a Death Eater in front of him and spun around the falling man, trying to get back to Rat's Nest. He'd gotten separated from the group around Harry when a Death Eater had engaged him in a duel that just wouldn't end. It had taken a bit of a trick, but Kingsley had ended it eventually. Now, he just had to make it back to Harry.

But where was he?

Throwing a hex at another Death Eater, Kingsley stared at the battle that raged around him. The army made up of Aurors, professors, refugees, and the oldest students pushed the Death Eaters towards the Wall, slowly surrounding them and funneling them through the destroyed gate. Everything was going according to the plan, except one thing.

He'd lost Rat's Nest. He was in charge of the Aurors and Order members meant to guard Harry as he wove the wards above Hogwarts. And Kingsley had no idea where Rat's Nest had gotten to.

"Bolt!" Bill shouted, and Kingsley spun around to face him. He was pointing towards the Wall. Kingsley turned around again to face the direction he was pointing and swore.

There was Harry, standing alone, facing off with You-Know-Who. Ron and Hermione were right behind him dueling with a couple Death Eaters. Tonks, another member of Rat's Nest's guard, was fighting what looked like a mercenary, her hair a bright, deadly orange. Glancing around, Kingsley realized that all of Rat's Nest's guards were engaged or missing.

And Rat's Nest was dueling You-Know-Who.

Now was not the time for that!

Damn it all to hell!

Harry knew the wards were the most important outcome for this battle!

Kingsley started running through the melee, forcing his way through fighting men and women. It wasn't easy, and he found himself getting caught up in a few duels. He only fought as long as it took to get past the Death Eaters. As Kingsley pushed through the fighting crowd, something grabbed onto his robes. Recovering his balance, Kingsley looked down and swore yet again. Remus did not look good at all.

"Remus, what--"

"No time; Harry?"

"Near the wall."

"Voldemort separated us."

"They're battling right now."

"Fuck!" Kingsley filed this moment away in the back of his mind for a time when he could fully appreciate the fact that he had finally heard Remus swear. "Go save him!"

"I'm working on it! Don't die or Tonks'll have my hide."

Kingsley smiled as Remus laughed at the joke. He ran off, changing direction just slightly so that he was running towards where Rat's Nest's duel had taken him. He aided members of his side, marked by the white armbands spelled to last through just about anything that could possibly hit them. Finally, he was at Ron and Hermione's side and he helped take out the Death Eaters they were fighting. Hurrying to Harry's side, Kingsley stopped right behind him. Harry was holding his own quite well against the abomination, and Kingsley felt pride blossoming in his chest. James would have been so proud of his son.

"Let me take the duel!" Kingsley shouted and Harry nodded, casting one last curse at You-Know-Who. Kingsley placed the Contego shield around them as Harry darted behind the large Auror. The evil bastard in front of them laughed and continued the duel with Kingsley.

This was way beyond anything Kingsley had ever found himself doing and he wanted nothing more than to be shaken roughly awake by his mother to find that the last twenty-or-so-years of his life had been nothing but a nightmare. Then again, he'd of never married Abigail or had three wonderful daughters, but he'd still have a father and a brother and a sister that he didn't have any longer.

A stray stinging hex from the battle raging to his left managed to hit his thigh, reminding Kingsley that now was not the time to wish for dreams. In a small part of his mind, he realized that Harry was rebuilding the wards. He also thought Ron and Hermione were flanking Harry, but he had little mind power left to spare if he wanted to survive this duel.

Kingsley was very conscious of the fact that he lay between You-Know-Who and his mortal enemy and prey. Well, maybe not prey, Harry just proved he could hold his own after all. But You-Know-Who wanted the boy and he was the only man standing between the two. It was not a place Kingsley would have chosen to be, though he had known his job as an Auror would land him in some sticky situations. But this... this was the stuff of nightmares. His training hadn't readied him for this.

You-Know-Who dashed to the left, trying to out flank him, but Kingsley wasn't going to allow that.

"Diffindo!" Kingsley shouted, and the spell hit You-Know-Who's upper wand arm.

Blood started to spurt out from the wound and the arm fell lifeless to the monster's side. Hopefully, he had managed to cut tendons, ligaments, and muscle as well as the obvious skin and artery.

Kingsley smiled a smile that always worried him as he enjoyed the obvious pain the monster was going through. You-Know-Who must have noticed it, for he shot off a Dark spell to try and wipe it off his face. It only made him smile more ferociously.

Kingsley knew You-Know-Who was thinking hard about the injury and what it could possibly mean. The monster was taking a few small, hardly perceivable steps backwards towards the gate. Harry might not have cast the spell that had left You-Know-Who's arm in such a state, but it was a chance happening that Rat's Nest could capitalize on. If You-Know-Who stayed, he'd loose lots of blood, had already lost quite a bit. Too much blood loss and he'd faint. If he fainted, who would stop Harry from walking over and killing him while he was unconscious?

"You got lucky, Auror," You-Know-Who spat, scowling and sending one last parting Dark curse hurtling in Kingsley's direction. It went wide, but Kingsley didn't have time to look to see if it had hit someone or if the scream behind him was totally unrelated.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Kingsley fell to the ground, rolling out of the way as a killing curse came his way. You-Know-Who was nearly to the roiling mass of confused Death Eaters fighting to get out through the destroyed gate.

Kingsley shot an anti-apparation charm at him, but a Death Eater realized her lord's predicament and took the spell. The rest of the Death Eaters caught on to You-Know-Who's predicament a second later and started to close in around him. The first Death Eater started to cast healing spells on his arm as the other Death Eaters created a human shield.

You-Know-Who's injury seemed to be a signal to retreat without punishment and, with nothing keeping them within the walls of Hogwarts, the queue leaving out through the gates went much quicker. Kingsley recognized the Death Eater healing You-Know-Who as the one Harry said was called Angel. Personally, he'd call her Demon.

Kingsley's sense of relief at You-Know-Who's retreat was short lived as Rat's Nest took a step past him. Catching sight of Harry's eyes, Kingsley shuddered; the anger had turned them the most vivid emerald Kingsley had ever seen. Harry's body was glowing with a soft golden light, and Kingsley didn't need to be an Unspeakable to know that was sheer power radiating from the younger wizard.

"TOM RIDDLE!" Harry shouted, his magic carrying his voice across and over the battle field. Everyone stopped and turned as one to face Harry. Death Eaters in his line of sight shifted to get out of the way until Harry was staring straight at You-Know-Who. Glancing back, Kingsley spotted Hermione clutching the still form of Ron, rocking back and forth.

"Tom," Rat's Nest said again, his voice dropping to a dangerous softness, though his magic made sure it carried over the whole grounds.

"Yes, Potter?" You-Know-Who asked, his whole demeanor wary.

"Do you surrender?" Harry asked, and Kingsley watched the ripple that question had over the people watching.

There was no reason for You-Know-Who to surrender, escape was an easy five feet away. The Death Eaters seemed to think Harry was a fool and a few even laughed, whereas those wearing the white bands seemed to fear that their hero had gone insane. Probably the only ones that truly understood were the top Order officials and You-Know-Who. He had yet to answer. His gaze on the young man was thoughtful and interested.

"No. Do you?"

"You'll regret not accepting my offer."

The magical tension that flowed from the two wizards pushed everyone away from them. Kingsley watched as they stared one another in the eye, and he knew that an intense Legilimens battle was taking place.

He swore.

Hadn't Harry understood that the wards were more important than taking down You-Know-Who right now? They needed a safe place to operate from while they rounded up the Death Eaters if, no when, You-Know-Who falls. Kingsley had faith in Rat's Nest, and he knew that the young man would come out on top.

The only question was a simple one:

What would be the cost?

Severus Snape stared as his former student and former master dueled with each other in their minds. Severus silently swore at the stupid Gryffindor's idiotic move, cursing the bloody House courage and ego the boy had in such quantities. The foolish, foolish boy!

Not that Severus doubted Harry's ability; he had not been lying to the Order when he had said that he would rather face the Dark Lord's mind probe. He had not even been playing with the truth. He had meant it with every fiber of his being, but this was just Gryffindor heroics at its undeniable worst.

Power rippled through the air and members of both sides backed away from them.

Everyone but Ron and Granger. And they were the main reason Severus was cursing the idiotic hero-complex that nearly every Gryffindor he had ever met had.

Ron Weasley was dying and Potter's stunt was delaying treatment, treatment that was quite essential if he was to live. Not that Severus cared... too much. The boy was his nephew, he was family, and he did not want Molly to lose yet another son to this gods' forsaken war. Potter should not have to lose someone else either.

Which led Severus' mind to another problem he had with this challenge. If Potter was not careful, his reason for the Lladd Cariad would not be pure enough for the spell to work. Selfish revenge was not going to cut it. In fact, it could very well end in Harry's death, which was not something they needed right now. Selfish revenge was for the Avada Kedavra, not the Lladd Cariad.

Severus saw the Dark Lord tense and he knew that Harry had to be winning the Legilimency battle. Deciding to take a chance to save Ron's life, Severus started across the battlefield towards the "Golden Trio" hoping to make it to Ron in enough time to stop the curse from killing the boy.

When Severus reached them, the power gathering in the air around Harry and the Dark Lord intensified to an almost unbearable level. Severus could not help but wonder at what that could mean. The light surrounding Harry was now so bright that it was impossible to look at him without it affecting one's eyesight.

"Hermione?" he said softly, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. He needed her to let go. "Hermione, let me examine Ron. I may be able to remove the effects--"

"You can't bring back the dead," she said, her voice hollow and distant, sending a chill down Severus' spine. In many ways this generation was worse off than his own. "You can't bring back the dead," she repeated and Severus shook his head at her. This was where all her book learning would fail her. No book she would have read in Hogwarts would include this spell.

"I heard what curse the Dark Lord used," he told her, using his strictest lecture voice. Hermione would listen to that tone no matter what else was happening. "He is in a state that appears to be death, but it is not. Not yet. His body cannot survive in this state for too long. I need to see if he has gone past that point." Hermione nodded, dumbly, and let go of Ron. Severus started casting diagnostic spells, determining quite quickly that Ron was indeed savable.

Suddenly the power in the air intensified painfully and then shattered. Harry shouted something that was lost in the roar of power. Severus and Hermione sheltered Ron's body, and weathered the magical storm.

Looking up at the Dark Lord, Severus saw him stumble and then staggered off Hogwarts' grounds. Death Eaters swarmed after him, desperate not to be caught by the side of Light. The Death Eater with green hair, the one who had tried to heal the Dark Lord earlier, hurried to his side once more and they disapperated. Severus filed that information away. Apparently the Dark Lord had been too drained to disapperate himself to safety.

"Bloody Hell!" Harry shouted. "Damn, damn, damn!" The young man continued swearing. Severus tuned him out to continue the spells to save Ron.

The counter-curses for this spell were many and difficult, several of them actually Dark in nature. He had to remove the state of death from the boy's body in such a way that would not send it into shock and death. After that, he would have to start healing the main organs that were damaged by the spell. Hopefully, those injuries would not be too horrible, and Severus would be able to stabilize Ron so that he could be moved up to the infirmary and have a proper Healer finish the job. Sweat started dripping from his forehead as he concentrated solely on Ron and the complicated spells.

Finishing the last spell, Severus slashed his wand sharply to the right towards Ron's head. The body glowed a bright blue and Severus took a deep breath. The curse was broken. Now all he needed to do was stop the internal bleeding. Casting healing spells quickly, it did not take long for Severus to stabilize Ron. He let out a breath of relief and twisted to stretch his aching back.

The relief was short lived.

"Severus?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked, checking to see if he could speak. Severus nodded for him to continue. "Why'd he pass out?" The black wizard pointed to something behind Severus. Looking, Severus realized it was Harry. While working on Ron, Severus had tuned out Harry's swearing, so he had not noticed when it stopped. Casting a few spells, he took another breath of relief that did nothing to calm his returning frustration with the boy.

"Exhaustion," he stated, his voice short to keep his anger from boiling over. "Foolish boy. Who's going to put the wards up now?"

"Look," Granger said, pointing up. Severus first called over a wandering Healer and explained what had happened to Ron. He waited to make sure the man was competent before looking up.

It was the only time he had ever felt his jaw drop in surprise.

All of Hogwarts' wards shimmered above them, encasing the castle and grounds in a pale iridescent dome of power.