A Wonder

Soo… this one is … really long… and like… a lot happens…. Sorry?

“Excuse me. Can someone tell me a bloody diadem is?” Ron asked.

“It’s like a sort of crown. You know, like a tiara.” Ryleigh said. 

The door to the room open and Ginny rushed in. “Harry…” she said.

“Hi there.”

“Six months she hasn’t seen me and it’s like I’m Frankie First Year. I’m only her brother.” Ron huffed.

“She’s got lots of those though, there’s only one Harry.” Seamus said smirking. 

“Shut up Seamus.” Ron responded.

“What is it Ginny?” Neville asked. 

“Snape knows. He knows that Harry was spotted in hogsmeade.” 

They all looked to Harry.

“Let’s not keep him waiting then.” He said.

Xx

They were stood in the great hall, four groups, youngest in the front. She couldn’t see Ro from the back of the Gryffindor group and it made her anxious. Snape walked past them eyes straight forward. The Carrows were standing at the head of the room looking at everyone. She couldn’t help but notice the sorrow on his face as he spun around. She was sure no one else would see it. He was good at hiding it, it’s just that she’d spent a lot of time around him. Just them in the potions lab. She’d gotten to know him far better than he’d surely intended and it was proving confusing now. That’s all she ever seemed to feel about him now, confused. 

She didn’t really listen as he spoke about Harry. But she noticed he didn’t specifically say what the punishment would be, just that it would be ‘appropriate’. She’d noticed that a lot with him. His punishment when dealt on his own had very little consequence where as when he was near the siblings or they knew the transgression he seemed almost forced to deal harsher punishments. Surely he knew of the room of requirement yet he never came looking. Never informed the siblings to keep an eye out for it, nothing. 

“… if anyone here has any knowledge of Mr Potters movements this evening… I invite them to step forward… now.” He spoke slowly. Everyone had their heads down but she kept watching him.

Then Harry stepped out into the isle to meet the man and they all gasped. 

“It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies you still have a bit of a security problem headmaster.” He said as the doors opened and the order walked in, ever with the dramatics, she thought as she watched. 

“How dare you stand where he stood?” Harry asked, “tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you! And killed him! Tell them!” He shouted.

Ryleigh watched with bated breath as Snape whipped out his wand and in a flash McGonagall was between them, her own wand pointed at him, she watched still as the man hesitated, he lowered his wand for just a second before raising it again, she noticed the look of apprehension in his eyes. 

Everyone backed away to the sides. The order drew their wands. She grabbed hers as well but didn’t draw it, just held it.

It was silent. 

McGonagall cast wordless balls of flame at him, he deflected each one. Not shooting anything back. Just backing away as she advanced. He was deflecting the blows into the Carrows then. Shooting them both down before turning to smoke and flying from the window. She watched with worry as he disappeared into the night sky. 

“Coward!!” McGonagall screamed after him. 

They cheered loudly as she lit the room, but very quickly the cheers turned to whimpers as the voice in their heads demanded Harry. People screamed loudly and she held her head. 

“What are you waiting for? Someone grab him!” Pansy Parkinson’s shouted. 

As quickly as she’d said it Ginny was standing in front of him. Then Hermione, the order and the DA, herself including joining. 

“Students out of bed!” Filch shouted running in.

“They are supposed to be out of bed you blithering idiot.” McGonagall snapped. 

“Oh- sorry ma’am.” He said.

“As it happened Mr. Filch, your arrival is most opportune. If you would, I would like you, please, lead Ms Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin house from the hall.”

“Exactly where is it I’ll be leading them to ma’am?” He asked.

“The dungeons would do.” She said. Ryleigh snapped her head to look at the woman. Everyone cheered but she just moved to Ro’s side, grabbing the boy from the Slytherin crowd and keeping him at her side.

“The young kids need to get out of here.” Ryleigh said to Ginny and Luna. 

“I’ve got to get Quinn from McGonagalls room. Ginny would you collect them? Keep Ro with you don’t let him out of your sight.” She said and the girl nodded.

People began rushing and running in every direction as she and Luna went as quickly as they could to the transfiguration room. 

She watched from the corner of her eye as Harry spoke with Ron and Hermione then ran up the stairs.

“I need to help Harry.” Luna said all the sudden. 

“I’ll be back!” Then ran after the boy. “Harry!” 

Ryleigh didn’t say anything but kept going.

“Quinn?!” She shouted as she entered.

The girl was hiding behind the couch. Her grandads wand clutched tightly in her hands. 

“It came to me… I didn’t take it…” she said softly. 

“I know love, did that when you were younger too.” She said. “We need to go. You need to get out of here.” She grabbed the girl and pulled her along. Ginny was standing with Filch and Pomfrey and a large group of you children.

“McGonagall said anyone underage has to leave- I’m staying.” Ginny said definitely.

“Ro. Take your sisters hand. Do not let go of her no matter what happens do you understand?” The boy nodded. She could hear Ginny and Molly arguing in the background. “Listen. If anyone comes near you two. Point your wands and shout ‘stupefy’ then keep running. Got it?”

They nodded tearful.

“I love you… when this is over we’re going to have something quieter okay? Something… calm and safe. I promise, but for now… go with madam Pomfrey and don’t let go of each other.” 

She watched them disappear toward the room of requirement.

Molly it seemed had relented in her fight with Ginny who was running off to help the group of kids reach the room safely. 

“Hi Molly.” Ryleigh said sadly. 

“Wish I could say it’s good to see you dear.” The woman said. 

“Me to.”

She followed them out to the courtyard where McGonagall told Neville and Seamus to handle the bridge then brought the statues to life. 

She stood toward the front, pointed her wand to the sky and said, “Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, Repello inimicum.” 

Luna returned a few minutes later. Grabbed her hand and looked at her.

“Where are the kids?” She asked.

“Out, gone. Pomfrey and Filch took them.” Ryleigh said. “Don’t leave again…” Ryleigh whispered. 

“I’m staying with you.” Luna said firmly. “You and me.” They watched with baited breath as pelts of spells came down on their shield. 

Fred and George were spotted talking with Molly before walking over to her. 

“You look like shit- both of you.” George’s commented.

She threw her arms around him suddenly and he hugged her back tightly, lifting her off the ground just slightly. 

“What’s gotten into you?” He asked.

“I missed you - you big stupid —“ she said, slapping his chest lightly. 

“What no love for me?” Fred asked and she laughed, giving him a hug as well.

“Sorry Fred- you didn’t take me to Yule Ball. And you know how it goes, George and Fred.”

“Pretty sure it goes Fred and George.”

She smiled, “please be safe.” She whispered and they nodded, running off together.

“You girls should get inside.” Molly said to them. 

“We’re staying.” Ryleigh and Luna said at the same time.

A few minutes later they watched in horror as the shield began to crumble. Luna squeezed her hand tightly, both of their wands at the ready. 

Then they began. Spells and explosions were suddenly everywhere around them. People were falling left and right as they each sent of their rings of curses toward the flying black smoke. 

“Get inside!” McGonagall shouted and this time they listened. 

“Diffindo!” she shouted as a flash of black reached for Luna, and the death eater fell to the ground in a thump.

The dementors were swarming around them she locked eyes with Luna. 

“Expecto Patronum!” They said together and the white and blue shimmering hare jumped forward followed closely by the lioness, driving away the dementors that had been heading for them.

They ran into the school where the stone was crumbling around them. Booms echoed throughout and flashes of spells burst from every corner. 

“Come on!” Luna shouted and pulled her along. The great hall was full of shouting and spells just like outside had been. There were bodies strewn everywhere as well as piles of rubble.

“Expelliarmus!” She shout out toward another death eater. “Reducto!” 

Someone shouted  ’expulso’ and she went fly back across the room, her grip on Lunas hand slipping.

“Ryleigh!” She heard Luna shout and run toward her. 

The blonde girl was in front of her suddenly, grabbing her arm and heaving her up.

Suddenly everyone stopped, they could hear Voldemort in their heads, she and Luna both clutched their temple. He wanted Harry… he orders the death eaters retreat and they all disappeared. 

The voice dissipated as suddenly as it had emerged. They looked around finally, in the calm sudden silence. 

“Ginny?” She asked Luna softly but the girl shook her head and shrugged. 

“Can you stand?” Luna asked. Ryleigh nodded and let Luna pull her to standing, she looked over the blonde. Aside from a few scrapes and bruises she looked okay.

“You okay?” She asked anyway, looks could be deceiving.  

“I’m okay, your not, come on.” Luna order and placed Ryleighs arm over her shoulders, pulling the slightly taller girl alone and out of the rubble. 

They made their way to where Arthur was checking over Molly for injuries. She could see Ginny making her way to them as well. 

“Ginny!” Molly shouted and pushed past her husband, “are you hurt?” 

“No, I’m good mum. Are you? Where are the boys?” Ginny asked. 

Luna set Ryleigh down on a solid piece of rock.

“I-I don’t know I haven’t…” Suddenely they could see Percy and Bill lugging Fred’s lifeless body toward them. 

“My boy!!” Molly screamed and ran to his side as they placed him on the ground. The woman threw herself over his body, holding him as she sobbed. The rest of them joined her in their tears and Ryleigh realized she was crying as well. Out of the corner of her eye she could see George making his way over. He was carrying a stretcher with Kingsley, the body on it was Remus Lupin and following them were two others carrying Tonks’ body as well. She let herself fall into Lunas arms as she watched George realize his twin was dead. He fell to his knees at his brothers side and she looked away. She didn’t want to see anymore, no more death, no more destruction…

The doors opened and they looked up to see Harry Hermione and Ron enter. They looked as weathered as the rest of them, heart broken and lost. 

Ron walked over to the group and fell to his brothers side, immediately sobbing with the rest. Hermione joined just a moment later but Harry didn’t. He walked up past them down a hall and she lost sight of him. 

Hermione took a seat next to Luna to catch her breath and wipe her own tears. 

“Voldemort killed Snape.” She whispered to the two girls and Ryleigh snapped her head in the older girls direction. 

“What? W-why?” She asked.

“I don’t… I don’t know…” the girl said back.

Then she stood again and made her way to Ron’s side, whispering something to him before the pair walked off together. 

She looked to Luna with wide searching eyes.

“W-why would he… I don’t… and F-Fred…. Re-Remus and Tonks… they’re all…. And for what?? For what!?” She cried and Luna just shook her head. 

“I—“ the blonde said but the truth was she didn’t know what she could say.

Pomfrey was making the rounds around the room, checking people over, as was Slughorn. The mediwitch took a seat next to Ryleigh.

“Can I check you dear?” She asked.

“I’m fine—“ Ryleigh started. “She’s not fine.” Luna said cutting her off. 

Pomfrey worked to bandage up what she could and repair a few things here and there before moving on to the next person. 

When Ryleigh was feeling better enough to at least stand, did just that and made her way to George who was sitting alone on the ground. 

She sat down next to him and pull him into her much smaller embrace. He fell into it and sobbed once more. Luna was with Ginny, holding her in a similar manor while she could see bill and Fleur standing next to Molly and Arthur who was holding his wife as she laid over the body of her son. Percy was kneeling next to the boy as well.

When Hermione and Ron returned they told them where Harry had gone, that it was simply too late to stop him now and all they could do was wait. 

Some minutes later McGonagall made her way to check on her quietly as to not disturb the mourning family. She could tell the woman had been crying as well, her face was red and eyes glossy. 

“Are you..?” Ryleigh asked and the woman nodded.

“And you?” And Ryleigh nodded in return. It was enough for now. 

Xx

As Dawn broke they continued attending to the wounded and collecting the dead. 

She followed the crowd as they filled the courtyard steps. Neville at the head of them, he was holding the sorting hat as Voldemort approached. She realized at she looked upon him that she’d never seen him before, he wasn’t a man, rather, something in between. 

The snake slithered alongside him and just behind them she could see Hagrid. He was holding someone and her breath caught, she could see McGonagall had already seen as well.

“Harry Potter… is dead!” Voldemort screamed and her mouth fell open in a silence gasp. She heard Ginny scream and watched arthur grab her and keep her back as she tried to run to him. 

“Silence!… stupid girl…. Harry Potter is dead.” The man said again, “from this day forth, you put your faith, in me.” Then he turned and walked back toward his followers. 

“Harry Potter is dead!!” He shouted and they laughed loudly with him. 

“And now is the time to declare yourself… come forward and join us… or die.” he said. 

She looked over to see Bellatrix climbing the pile of rubble. She wanted nothing more than to kill her now. When she wasn’t expecting it. But Lunas hand in her own kept her still and stable.

“Draco!” Lucius Malfoy shouted to the blonde boy standing with the other students. 

She looked at him, he was standing right next to her and Luna. He looked sad, like he didn’t want to go, often she forgot they were even related as Narcissa called him again and the boy began making his way across the courtyard to his mother.

“Ahh… well done Draco.” Voldemort said as the boy walked to him. He embraced him in the most painfully awkward way she’d ever seen. Then he joined his mother who led him further back into the crowd. 

Neville took uneasy steps forward and Luna pulled Ryleigh closer to the front of the crowd as the death eaters laughed about the boy. 

She listened as they spoke, back and forth between Neville Longbottom and the dark lord was not something she though she would ever see yet here it was.

“It doesn’t matter that Harry’s gone.” He said and Seamus snapped back.

“People die every day! Friends… family…” he said. “Yeah… we lost Harry tonight… but he’s still with us… in here… so’s Fred… and Remus, Tonks… all of them… they didn’t die in vain.”

Then he turned from them back to Voldemort.

“But you will. Because your wrong. Harry’s heart did beat for us! For all of us! This is not over!” He shouted and from the torn and dusty hat in his hands pulled the sword of Gryffindor. 

In a moments time Harry’s body thumped to the ground from Hagrid’s arms and everyone gasped. 

Draco suddenly ran across the courtyard and threw something to Harry before he disappeared behind them somewhere. 

Harry then shot a spell at the snake and then ran into the archways surrounding the courtyard. Voldemort shot bursts of flames after him as death Esther’s disapirated before their eyes. Bellatrix was shouting at them to stay and Ryleigh pulled out her wand.

“Sectumsempra!” Ryleigh shouted as she pointed her wand at the woman. Her crazed eyes met the girls as she deflected the spell. 

Luna pulled her back into the castle as they all ran inside. 

Kingsley blocked the spells as they were shot inside at them, then Neville went flying back past them into the room. 

She grabbed his arm and pulled him back to safety with Luna before they were distracted by another onslaught of attacks.  Shooting more spells off at the oncoming death eaters.

Harry had gone running of down the hallway and Hermione and Ron had followed the snake. 

“Stupefy!” Luna yelled at a man, her back to Ryleighs as the black haired girl shouted, “Diffindo!”

She could see Kreacher enter the room followed by the rest of the Hogwarts house elves, they began attacking the death eaters and she smiled at his miserable face.  

She could hear Narcissa screaming for Draco, not fighting just searching desperately for him.

She watched as Nagini chased Hermione and Ron, raising up above them and going in for the kill until Neville slashed the sword and chopped right at its head. A cloud of black smoke poofed all around them.

She, Luna, and Ginny were left facing Bellatrix as the Professors fought Voldemort himself. She hadn’t a single clue where Harry had disappeared to and she had no time to think about it as Bellatrix shot a spell at Ginny who barley jumped out of the way of it and Molly stepped between them.

Ryleigh pointed her wand wordlessly at the woman and she fell back dead. 

Dead. Finally Ryleigh felt a weight leave her chest she hadn’t even known was there. A weight for her father, her mother, her siblings and herself. 

Voldemort screamed in rage, blasting the professors away.

Harry stepped in front of him from seemingly nowhere. Wand pointed outward at him. 

Everyone was silent as they listened to Harry speak with the dark lord as they circled each other. 

“I brought about the death of Albus Dumbledore!” Voldemort yelled.

“You thought you did.” Said Harry, “but you were wrong.”

Ryleigh looked to Luna then to Ginny, they knew that Snape had killed Dumbledore, they knew that Voldemort had ordered it, they couldn’t understand what Harry was getting at.

“Dumbledore is dead!” He screamed, “I have seen it, Potter, and he will not return!”

“Yes, Dumbledore is dead.” He said back, “but you didn’t have him killed. He chose his own manner of dying, chose it months before he died, arranged the whole thing with the man you thought was your servant.”

Luna grabbed tightly to Ryleighs hand with a soft knowing smile.

“What childish dream is this?” Voldemort spat.

“Severus Snape wasn’t yours,” Harry said, “Snape was Dumbledores. Dumbledores from the moment you started hunting down my mother. And you never realized it, because of the one thing you can’t understand. You never saw Snape cast a Patronus, did you, Riddle?”

Ryleigh nearly cried at the sound of this, he was good, she hadn’t been wrong to trust him… but she’d treated him so badly in the end… 

“Snape’s Patronus was a doe, the same as my mothers, because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from the time they were children. You should have realized, he asked you to spare her life, didn’t he?”

“He desired her, that was all! But when she had gone he agreed that there were other women, and of purer blood, worthier of him.”

“Of course he told you that.” Harry responded, “but he was Dumbledores spy from the moment you threatened her, and he’s been working against you ever since! Dumbledore was already dying when Snape finished him!”

She couldn’t help the tears from her eyes. 

She listened aptly with the rest of the group and Harry explained that Draco was the master of the elder wand and that he had disarmed the boy weeks ago. That Harry was in fact the master of the elder wand. 

She watched with blurred her vision as Harry and Voldemort finally struck at each other. 

The simultaneous cries of ‘avada kadavra’ and ‘Expelliarmus’ meeting in the middle, creating to bright lines of magic, one green and the other blue- bright flames at the center. 

Then the elder wand flung itself from Voldemorts hand and Harry caught it with ease. She watched as Voldemorts own spell shot back and killed him instantly. He fell back onto the ground. His body still and sunken, just a deformed man after all.

For a moment they were silent.

Then someone clapped. Just one person at first, but one led to two and then four then everyone was clapping and cheering. 

She was exhausted, but she couldn’t even begin to imagine how Harry was feeling. They all rushed to him, but Luna and Ryleigh waited, sitting down on one of the benches shoved off to the side.

“It’s over?” Ryleigh asked. 

“We’re done” Luna confirmed. 

When Harry was finally able to slip away from the crowd he joined them on the bench. 

“You guys okay?” He asked. 

“We are, are you?” Luna asked. 

“I’m tired.” He said honestly he looked around as he pulled out his invisibility cloak.

“Go on. We’ll cover for you.” Luna said and Ryleigh smiled sadly at the boy. 

“Thank you Harry… for saving us all.”

“Ryleigh… I have so many things I need to tell you— about Snape— I saw Sirius— I… but first, his body. Someone needs to get it… would you?” He asked.

Her lips parted and she swallowed. She didn’t know if she could handle that… another image in her brain of the people she cared about dead before her… but she nodded.

He told them where to find him before taking his leave.

Luna helped her up and led her out of the great hall.

“Where are you going?” Ginny asked after them.

“To get Professor Snape…” Ryleigh said softly.

Ginny looked sadly between them, then walked over to join them. 

“I’ll help.”

“Look at us. Start to finish.” Ryleigh said grasping both girls arms.