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Soon after, people spread out from the Great Hall to get in their positions all around the castle, like we had planned on. Ready for the war to break. "Be careful." I tell Sirius and Remus right before going our separate ways. There are so many people, running around right past us. "We'll do. Don't you worry about us, (Y/N)." Remus gives a gentle smile. "Remus is right. It should be you we should be worrying about." Sirius smirks mischievously. My eyes flickers between them before forcing a smirk:"Least kills treats a night out after this.". Bigger smiles appears on both of them. "That's more like it!" Sirius chuckles proudly. "We'll keep the count." Remus promises. "And no cheating." I quickly raise a finger as a warning. "Wouldn't even dream about it." Sirius again chuckles. There is a pause as we stare at each other. Hoping this isn't the last time we see each other. "Come on now, (Y/N). We need to keep on moving." Minerva interrupts us by pushing me to go forward. We share the last fade smile before the duo starts running up the stairs. Please be careful.
There are bunch of people rushing out of the front doors to the yard among us. Neville and couple more students are trying to keep up with me and Minerva, still a bit hesitant what they need to do. "Let me get this straight, Professor... You're actually giving us permission to do this?" Neville asks while we are speed walking side by side. I nod without looking at the boy:"That's correct, Neville. Minerva was the one who suggested it, after all.". "To blow it up? 'Boom'?" he still can't believe this is all real. "Boom!!" I mimic with my hands big explosion. "Wicked." he breaths out amazed. But then his face goes more pensive:"Ho-how on earth are we going to do that?". I glance at the Gryffindor who's been following us:"Mr. Finnigan. As I recall it, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.". I remember there has been couple of occasions when he has managed to set some plants on fire back when I was teaching Herbology. No idea how he did that, but ever since I never gave him a task where he can treat the plants without supervision. "I can bring it down. No problem!" Mr. Finnigan smiles proudly, like he already has a plan what kinds of expositions he's going to use on the old wooden bridge - also knows as the Covered Bridge, that leads to Hagrid's Hut.
Right after that, Neville, Vivian and Ginny goes after Seamus to get the right items. Immediately when we step outside, I feel this cold breeze going thru me, reminding me this isn't a dream we are living. This is actually happening. The sky is pitch black. It's almost hard to see the Dementors that are still floating above the school. "You do realize, you can't keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely?" Professor Flitwick worries as he walks down the stairs with us. "That doesn't mean we can't delay him." Minerva looks in the distance with such a determined. "And his name is Voldemort! Filius, you might as well use it. He's going to try to kill you either way." she continued. Filius and I both turn to look at her. But for different reasons. Professor Flitwick might seem a bit stunned by her words, unlike me - who has admiring gaze at her. She's so brave.
After that, Filius continues his way and Minerva turns around to face the school while raising her wand:"Piertotum Locomotor!". And just like that, all along the corridor the statues and suits of armor jumped down from their plinths, and from the echoing crashes from the floors above and below, we knew that their fellows throughout the castle had done the same. My eyes are sparkling by the sight. Woah! As the statued armors walks past us, Minerva speaks to them:"Hogwarts is threatened. Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!". For a moment, we both stand there and watch how they walk towards the entry of the castle. There's not much I can do, but stand here all stunned how amazing Hogwarts really is. I always knew it has the ability to surprise every year. But this... This might be the top thing I've ever witnessed. Minerva stands there all giddy, leans a bit towards me and whispers:"I've always wanted to use that spell.". Lifting up my eyes on my friend with a slight smile. I'm so proud of her.
When the people outside started to cast the Protective Enchantment up in the sky one by one, I remember how I should start heading where I was ordered to be. Just before I'm about to start running there, I turn to Minerva:"Are you sure you're going to be alright?". "Don't be silly, (Y/N). Now go. Do your part." she quickly waved her hand. Then, I turn to the few other students that happens to be there waiting on me:"Come on. Let's go.". Just when they began running ahead, I manage to take two running steps when Minerva calls:"And (Y/N)!". "Yes?!" I quickly stop to glance over the shoulder. She flashes this lip tight smile:"Count me in on your little bet with Remus and Sirius.". Little bit taken aback by her words, I still manage to nod few times and return to the smile:"Of course, Minnie. Wouldn't have it in other way.". And with that, I went after the students.
There are people running right past us, from all Houses and ages, getting ready what's to come. Some of them being more scared than the others. "(Y/N)!!" familiar female voice suddenly calls. I immediately stop to see who it is:"Huh?". The rest of the students continue their way since we don't have much time to stay put. My eyes widens when I see her running towards me:"Tonks!!!". She seems out of breath, like she has already ran around the castle twice:"Where's Remus?". "Wha-what are you doing in here?!" I gasp, and our bodies thuds as we give each other a quick hug after she had run up to me. "Remus, (Y/N). Where is he?" she asks, ignoring my own question. "In the Clock Tower." I answer, still shocked to see her here. She then gives a quick nod and starts running there. She really is the Hufflepuff into his Gryffindor. "Tonks..-!!" I yell. She stops and turns to me, looking little bit impatient. We are now standing eight meters away from each other. Offering her the brave face:"Keep both of you safe.". "Three." she corrects. Three? She gently placed a hand over her stomach with a quick smile. Huh? And before I had the time to fully understand what she meant by that, she had already left. Tonks...
Having no time to waste, I continued running towards the bridge. And after arriving to the bridge and Seamus returned with a box all kinds of his own personal equipments, we immediately started to tie up and attach some wires all over the bridge. The whole castle is now shielded with the Protective Enchantment. The hour is almost gone. "How long do you think this will keep them away, (Y/N)?" Neville asks with hint of worry while staring up in the sky the huge shield. It's just the two of us at the other side of the whole bridge. "Uh... Probably, most likely... Ten minutes?" I hesitate while tying up one of the weirs around the old wood. Neville keeps his gaze to the sky:"Aren't you worried?". I shrug, trying to act calm:"Well, worrying won't make any difference, now would it?". Soon after that, I got up from and sweep the hands together:"There.". "What about Snape?" he suddenly ask and turn to see my reaction. Huh? Without realizing, my lips apart while staring at him little bit stunned. He calmly waits for my answer. That's when I purse my lips and nod:"More than for my own life.".
Then, Neville nods back and again looks up to the sky. Only this time the look on his face falls:"(Y/N).". I come beside him and look up in the dark sky as well. We see these hundreds of thousands of bluish lights that looks almost like shooting stars, flying far in the distance in long curves, coming towards the castle. The sight of them makes my breath shudder. So it has began. Right when the lights hits against the massive shield that is surrounding Hogwarts, this strong rumble fills up the whole air. Our eyes are glued on the sight. To be honest, I wish Severus would be here with me now. Holding my hand... "Well, at least I'm not dying as a virgin." Neville suddenly says quietly. My head snaps right at him with half surprised, half amused look on my face. Didn't see that one coming. Without him saying yet another word, it came to clear to me he and Luna did it last night when they finally get to spend their first night next to each other. This gentle smile appears on my lips and I give him a shove. The touch makes Neville let out this soft chuckle as his cheeks and ears turns full on red, realizing he had said it out loud.
After that, we both hear this odd sound coming from the distance. "Huh?" we lean away from the gap we had looked up in the sky, and now our focus is towards the very end of the bridge, where the forest is. "Is that..?" I start, but quickly rush to take a look. Neville quickly follows behind. We stop right at the entry of the bridge and narrow our eyes to see better what's happening at the outskirt the foggy forest. Our eyes then widens and hearts drop somewhere in the deep when we both realize what that sound was. It's hundreds of men and women - Voldemort's allies, screaming their war cry as they are all running towards us thru the forest! Shit! It's very terrifying sight. They are all running right at us. Harold being one of the firsts in line. My legs are not working. I'm frozen to this spot right here. I then pull out the wand even I don't know what to do here, Neville does the same right after.
Just when Neville and I take our positions with our wands, ready to fight, couple of the Dark Wizards suddenly turns into sparkling dust before us and disappears. What?! As soon as this happens, rest of the men and women stops right in there, all looking surprised and confused. "I-it's because of the barrier!" Neville gasps out right when he realizes what just happened. Of course! If anyone tries to walk thru the shield Minerva and everyone else created, they will turn into the sparkling dust and die! The wave of relief washes over both of us as we stare at the huge group of people in front of us. Seeing Harold among the other witches and wizards - looking so furious, this nervous smile creeps on my face:"Hahh...". It somehow makes me feel powerful. "Yeah? You and whose army?!" Neville shouts at the witches and wizards with his chest buffed up. "...Neville, luv - as much as I admire your bravery and how far you have come... I wouldn't celebrate quite yet." I try to calm him down. "Oh, come on, Professor. Those fools can't get to us! It's over for them if they tries to come here." he keeps smiling. Guess he's right.
Neville's excitement is contagious and I look at all the tatty looking people in front of us. Specially at Harold. The mark Severus did in his eye can be seen all over here. Too bad he wasn't the one who ran to the shield. It's like my free hand from wand is moving on its own as I raise it, just to give him the finger across the yard. My arm is shaking a bit as I stare at him, right in the eye:"See this?!". This baffles all of the Snatchers and other wizards beside him. Even Neville looks at me little bit stunned why I'm showing them the middle finger 'out of nowhere' in his eyes. Just when Harold is about to yell something back, this awfully loud 'FUM-!' can be heard, followed by this blue flashing light. Huh?! We all immediately turn to look up in the sky to see what's happening. "No..-" I breath out when I see it. The shield... It's getting destroyed with powerful magic. The whole thing is crumbling and rumbling down slowly. "(Y/N)..." Neville's voice sounds like a whisper as he's staring the terrifying sight. My hands starts to sweat. And my heart... I don't even know if it has stopped or beating faster than it has ever before. It really feels like the world is ending.
Burned pieces began to float all over the castle. This can't be good. They slowly danced from the sky, right down to our level. Like a burning paper. This... Harold gently swift his wand when one of the burning pieces came to close to him, removing it to the side while looking in disbelieve. Most definitely... Then, he and all the other witches and wizards raise their gaze back to me and Neville. It's dead silent. Isn't good. And with that, they all let out this loud war cry and started again running towards us. SHIT. Feels like I can just hear Severus's voice inside my head screaming:'You dumb badger!!!', if he would see this all happening. "MOVE!!!" I shove the boy next to me to run and he does exactly that. Both of us are now running as fast as we can along the long ass bridge to get to the other side where everyone is waiting for us. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck..!!! Has this bridge always been this long?! Different colored spells starts to flash every few seconds right behind us. Good thing is, this bridge has little curves and small turns, so all of the spells these Dark Wizards are trying to cast on us keeps hitting the sides of the walls and floors. Neville keeps on running away ahead of me, thanks to his long legs.
We're not even in the mid way, when all of sudden - my foot got stuck in my professor robe, and I trip:"AH-!!". Neville hears the loud thud as my body hits the wooden floors. He quickly stops running, turns to see me and gasps:"(Y/N)..-!!". "Go and blow this shit down!!" I scream. The enemies are coming further behind. I can feel how the floors are shaking. Oh, no. Neville struggles what to do:"Bu..-", "DO IT!!!" I again scream and he grudgingly continues to run. Fuck..! As fast as I can, I try to get up and go after him, but..- "There you are." Harold's murderous voice shoots into my ears as he comes from the slight curve. It all happens just in seconds when he grabs me and we both fall down to the floor, so he's on top of me. "Ah..-!" I let out a sharp gasp. Everyone else just runs right past us, completely ignoring us. Part of their foots happens to smack the sides of my head and I have no chocse, but shut my eyes tight and try to keep the head as still as I can.
In middle of this chaos, Harold won't waste any time and wraps his right hand around my throat while the other one tries to keep me down by the shoulder. That's when I shoot my eyes wide open, meeting his dark gaze:"I'll tear you apart with my bare hands. Just like I did to your mother!". No..! The panic raises to the roof and I squirm in his grasp. But he's too strong. My mind is a mess. I don't know what to do. I'm panicking. No matter how hard I try, I can't get him off of me. There are still people running right past us, screaming the top of their lungs. I can't breath. The nasty scar that is going over his left eye squints as he grins like a mad man:"Any last words, (Y/N)?". Right in that moment, just when Neville is about to get to the other end of the bridge, he shoots a fire spell which set the wires we had wrapped around the whole place and..- Boom..-! Boom..! Bom, BOOM!! The base of the old wooden bridge starts exploding. "Huh?!" Harold gets distracted by this, and that was my cue to answer his question what my last words will be:"Look out!".
As soon as those words came out of my mouth, the grip around my wand tightens and I stab him with it - right in the right eye. "AAAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!" he screams from the severe pain and lets go of me, leaning further away, but not getting off on top of me. The wand immediately pulls out from the eye, splashing fresh blood, partly raining on me. But that's least of my concerns right now. The bridge is about to break down completely. Dragging us all down with it. Harold tries to get off of me, and run away, but I hold onto him by the legs for my dear life. He falls down to his stomach and turns to me while panting as the fear raises in him. Looking him in the eyes even he can't see me:"You're coming with me. Father.". And with that, the wooden blanks gets destroyed underneath us. The sound of every Dark Wizard's scream echoes around the rocks as we all fall. "(Y/N)!!!" all of the students screams out of terror when they realize I'm falling down with everything. My eyes shuts tightly and all I can feel is the wind blowing my hair. Only the image of Severus's face flashes before my eyes during all of this. Sev..-
Right in there, I hear this high crowing sound and a flap of pair of wings echoing thru the rocks. And soon enough, I feel these claws tightly grabbing me by the right arm, snatching me from the mid air and lifting me up. Huh..?! My heart jumps and I shoot eyes wide open. The familiar, overly large bird has the grip on me, flying us to safety. There is mix of happiness and disbelieve written all over my face as I stare up to him:"Buckbeak!!". The beast lets out another crow and flap his wings to boost the speed and get us higher. Harold's long scream of terror among the others can be heard all around as they fall. But soon cuts off when he breaks the spine after smashing into one of the sharp rocks in the river underneath the bridge - or now its remainings. Not the prettiest sights as he just now lays there, back bended backwards, head under the water...
The look on the students faces brightens up when they see me flying back up. Tears raises on Vivian's eyes:"(Y/N)!!". And as soon as Buckbeak gently places me onto the solid ground and lands right next to me, they all runs up to me for a hug. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!" Neville cries as he hugs me, not letting go. "What happened there?" Ginny asks stunned. Gently, I push the boy away to have a breather:"My last family reunion, that what it was.". They all look little bit confused since they had no idea the man I just struggled with was my father. Or at least that's what I've been told ever since I was a child. "Professor, you're bleeding!" Seamus suddenly points out. "Oh?" I look down to check. Everyone around me also looks at my clothes and face that are partly covered in blood. "Oh, that's, uh... That's not my blood. Thank Merlin for that." I chuckle awkwardly. "Whose then?" Vivian ask. Taking off the school robe that is actually torn here and there:"Not important.". Then, I drop the robe down, revealing the civilian clothes that has been underneath it the whole time:black high-waisted pants with beige brown sweater. Wonder if I can count all of these Wizards in that bet I have with Remus and Sirius?
Don't know if it's because of the near death experience, or the fact there's not much time to waste, I walk back to Buckbeak - who's luckily been waiting there this whole time. "Professor?" Ginny notice my leaving. They all turn to see me as well. Climbing up to the beast's back while giving the orders to them:"Neville and Ginny, go find Harry and help him with everything you can. Seamus and Vivian, go to the Clock Tower and help Remus and everyone that are there.". "Wh-what are you going to do, (Y/N)?" Vivian asks. I adjust myself on the hippogriff:"There's a place I need to be.". With that, I give a slight kick on Buckbeak's sides and after he takes couple running steps, he hops on the wings. "Where's that?!" Neville yells after us. "MY MAN NEEDS ME!" my voice echoes thru the war noises. They all are now left to stand there, everyone looking a bit stunned. Both of Seamus's eyebrows raise as it finally hits him:"She has a man?".