The Battle (I)
It was Tuesday. A great day to take down a castle and establish the reign of the Dark. Lord Voldemort was feeling good. So good, in fact, that he could not suppress the small grin that fought its way over his face. He even shot Bellatrix – a very loyal and amusing woman who always got a bit too close for comfort – a wink which sent the witch nearly swooning.
Yes, today was a great day indeed, Voldemort thought as his gaze swept over his army of Death Eaters. Dumb little creatures, willing to march to death for him. Lucius, one of his rare sane followers – though that was debatleable, the man excluded him from his grande New Year’s Eve party, after all, and tried to appease him with a bubble bath for Merlin’s sake! {though he had to admit he quite liked the blood-crying skull bubbles} – had assured him, the giants, Acromantulas, and other dark creatures would meet up with them on Hogwarts grounds.
Lord Voldemort took a deep breath. The next deep breath would be scented with blood and dark curses. He could nearly taste his victory. Poor old Dumbledore wouldn’t even know what hit him. And the little children! Oh, he could not wait to see the panic and terror striken faces. A giggle escaped his lips. After reassuring himself that nobody had heard this slip of composure, he cleared his throat.
“Then, let us march on Hogwarts!” Voldemort called out and apparated.
Landing on the grounds, Voldemort was met with the headmaster himself. Well, that was odd. How could the old man know where and when he arrived?
Nevertheless, the optimist he was, Voldemort took it as a good sign. No need to waste his time looking for the sneaky headmaster.
“Hello, Tom. I must say, I am not particularly pleased to see you again. But if you wanted to seek repentance, you are more than welcome to join me for a cup of tea in my office.” Dumbledore said cheerily but with a hint of earnest hope in his voice.
The old man would never learn to give up his sentimental bullshit. “If you want to have me so badly in your office, Dumbledore, why don’t you surrender your wand first? Oh, and call dear Harry Potter, too. I have so much to apologize for to the boy.” Voldemort smiled serenely as Bellatrix cackled next to him.
Dumbledore’s blue eyes twinkled sadly as he shook his head. “No need for sarcasm, Tom. I hoped, we could resolve this peacefully–“
Voldemort interrupted him with an angry scream. “Your peace offering comes too late, old man. You should have cared when you first met me in the orphanage. But your schemings didn’t include saving an unwanted eleven-year-old. Even twenty years ago we could have compromised when I asked you to take me on as a teacher. But for fear of the Dark you rejected me. And now I don’t need your guidance anymore for the Dark has guided me more truthfully than your pathetic Light magic and morale ever could. I’ve come to kill you, you manipulating fool.”
Dumbledore shook his head in disappointment. “But how do you plan on doing that, Tom?”
Voldemort laughed, incredulously. The audacity of this old man! “Don’t you see the army of followers I have gathered behind me, Dumbledore? I stand with hundreds of allies. And who stands behind you? Children who hide in the castle?” He mocked the headmaster. This was seriously getting ridiculous. Pathetic.
“But Tom. Look a little closer. I am not alone. And look around you. There are not too many left who are willing to follow your lead into chaos and destruction.” Dumbledore said kindly, gesturing behind himself und around Tom.
Confused, the Dark Lord took in his surroundings. Indeed, there stood the Order of Phoenix and several others he did not recognize. But there was no need to know them, they would all die, in a matter of time. Then, he heard Bellatrix stuttering beside him. “My–my lord” she said gesturing behind them.
Voldemort turned his head. There were the werewolves, though they did not seem that impressive in numbers like Greyback had promised. There were his Death Eaters, but they also seemed sparser than when he greeted them this morning. And where were the giants and other dark creatures?
His thoughts running, he turned to his most trusted advisor, Severus. But his right side was blank. He looked back at Dumbledore and spotted the black clad figure beside him.
And there, next to the potion master, stood a tall man, blonde hair immaculately held back in a low ponytail, his hand on a cane.
“Et tu, Lucius?” Voldemort asked, his tone cold.
“Yes, my lord. I only joined your ranks to get back at James Potter. But then, the light side offered me a union with Harry Potter. I can’t let you crush the only hope of fulfilling the Malfoy legacy, now can I? Surely, you understand.” Lucius apologetically shrugged his shoulders as if to say ‘well, what can you do?’.
Hot fury rushed trough Voldemort's veins which then turned into ice cold hatred. He had been played. And now, everybody here would pay dearly. He slashed his wand through the air which cackled with electricity. Then, he advanced, followed by a madly cackling Bellatrix and his remaining followers.
Theodore Nott stood motionless as the world around him collapsed into chaos. His father had dragged him out of school to ‘a very important meeting’ and suddenly Theo found himself lost in a sea of black robed people and an evil wizard grinning madly in the front. Then, he was whisked away and landed in front of Hogwarts. He tried to comprehend what was happening. But his father already pushed him forward and screamed “The dark lord has been betrayed. We must revenge him. Kill everyone you see, Theo!”
Theo numbly watched as his father threw curse after curse. He didn’t want to fight. Not for the wrong cause. And he wasn’t certain anymore that following the Dark Lord was right. He had seen Draco and the other Slytherins befriending other houses and mudbloods. And they were having fun. They even invited them into Slytherin territory and had them learn light magic. When Potter helped Theo producing his own corporeal Patronus, he began to question the teachings of his father about pureblood supremacy and the superiority of the Dark above the Light.
As he watched the battle in front of him – people screaming in pain, blood spluttering everywhere –, Theo realized, just how horrible the rule of the Dark Lord would be. Terror and fear paralyzed him. He had to get out. But everything around him was beginning to blur, he no longer knew which way was up or down, left or right. He plopped onto the ground and drew his knees to his chest, hoping for it all to end.
Draco flinched badly as another shock wave shook the castle walls. Luckily, the evacuation of the students went smoothly, and all were brought to safety, thanks to their prior planning. Pansy and Blaise were tasked with protecting the children in Hogsmead. Some of the older students stayed behind to help in the castle. Some even joined the battle outside – only the students of age, under the watchful eye of Minerva McGonagall. Draco was proud to see several Slytherin students among them. Even more students had remained in the castle, barricading the halls, and setting up station in the hospital wing. That was where Draco was headed to, right now.
Being absorbed in his mission of getting the younger students to safety, he totally forgot to keep an eye on his impulsive idiot of a boyfriend. He prayed that Harry had the sense to stay put and meet up with him in the hospital wing like promised.
The Slytherin entered and was met with Madam Pomfrey already bustling around, commanding students with all kinds of instructions. He searched for the familiar mop of wild black hair but only caught eye of fiery red.
“Ginny, have you seen Harry?” Draco called out to the girl. Ginny was sitting with Luna, bottom lip sticking out, clearly pouting.
“What happened?” Draco asked when he reached them, with a dawning sense of horror.
“They wouldn’t let us come with them”, Luna answered serenely. “Though last year we helped Harry in the ministry. That’s why Ginny thinks it’s unfair.”
“It really is unfair!” Ginny scowled.
“Who didn’t let you come where?” Draco asked, struggling to control his breathing.
“Oh! They didn’t tell you?” Ginny asked him back, clearly happy for not being the only one left out. Draco just wanted to shake her very badly.
“Harry wanted to sneak out to the battle grounds. He said, he just wants to be on stand-by. But Ron and Hermione followed him. We wanted to follow them, too, but Hermione forbid it.” Luna explained.
Now, Draco wanted to shake Luna very badly. “When did they leave?”
“Oh, just ten minutes ago, I think.”
“Merlin. Why can’t those stupid Gryffindors ever follow the plan!” Draco shouted exasperated, annoyed, terrified, and more then a little with murderous intent while turning abruptly and storming out of the hospital wing.
“And where do you think, you’re going?” Suddenly Neville Longbottom appeared in front of Draco, blocking the way.
Attempting to make a beeline, Draco hissed “To collect a stupid boyfriend from the battlefield. He shouldn’t be there!”
Neville took a step to his left, effectively blocking the Slytherin again, who bumped into his shoulder. “And neither should you. You’re sneaking out again, aren’t you?”
Draco struggled to go around the other boy but was always met with the other’s surprisingly broad and strong shoulder. Since when had Longbottom become that muscular? Draco huffed, “Now, Longbottom, listen–“
“No, I won’t let you!” Neville interrupted him. “You’ll get us all in trouble. I’ll–I’ll fight you.” The Gryffindor adopted a sloppy fighting stance, looking very insecure but his eyes had a determined glint.
Draco clenched his jaw. “Longbottom. Get. Out. Of. The. Way.” He gritted out and drew his wand.
When the Gryffindor still stood defiantly, he cast a tripping jinx and hastily ran past him. Neville stumbled but caught himself soon enough to chase after the Slytherin.
“Go back, Longbottom! You’re too young to fight in the battle!” Draco shouted while running through the corridors.
“So are you, Draco!” Longbottom huffed right back, reducing the distance between them rapidly.
“I am a prefect, and I am coming of age next month, for fuck’s sake!” Draco panted, still managing to add a snooty sniff. He tried to speed up but to no avail. Why was Longbottom so fast?
Catching up with the blonde, Neville said, “You’re only a month or so older than me.”
Before Draco could snipe back again, they both stilled. Before them lay chaos: wizards and witches were screaming either in pain or in outrage, hexes shot left and right, blood and rubble covered the once lucious green grounds.
Draco swore colourfully under his breath. It was going to be hell, looking for his idiot boyfriend in this mess.
Longbottom pulled him along by his sleeve and they hid behind a stray boulder.
"So, what is the plan?" Neville asked, struggling for breath.
Draco frowned. "Uhm..."
"You don't have a plan?" Neville cried out hysterically.
"Hey, I'm making this up as I go!" Draco cried back.
“This is madness!” Neville screamed.
Draco couldn’t help but agree. Another bang made them both flinch. The Slytherin muttered darkly, “I’m this close to murdering Harry.”
“Your fingers are touching, though?” Longbottom looked confused.
Draco nodded grimly. “Exactly.”
“Merlin, Draco is going to murder me”, Harry mumbled as he slowly made his way towards the center of the battlefield, dodging a stray hex.
It was a pain in the arse to escape from Ron and Hermione. The two of them clung to him like burrs. But somehow Harry managed to shake his friends of in the headmaster’s office. He wanted to get the sword of Gryffindor. While Hermione and Ron admired some weird construction of Dumbledore’s Harry slipped under his invisibility cloak and out of the office which he barricaded hastily. Then he ran towards the battlegrounds. He knew he had a headstart but his friends would surely find him soon enough and try to drag him back inside.
He felt guilty at the thought of leaving his friends behind like that and hiding his plan from Draco. But the need to do something and protect his loved ones was too pressing.
Harry did not regret his decision. He already encountered Sirius who slipped on the ground, and Harry barely managed to cast a shield charm over his godfather before hexes rained down on him.
Now, he finally got to the main battle. Voldemort and Dumbledore were duelling viciously. But Harry could see the old headmaster panting and getting weaker by the minute from exhaustion. And right then, as if in slow motion, Dumbledore was hit square in the chest and knocked out.
Triumphantly, Voldemort made his way to the motionless headmaster. Harry ripped the invisibility cloak off, wand trained on Voldemort before he could cast the killing curse on a defenseless Dumbledore.
“Well, well, well, look who finally deigned to join us.” Voldemort mocked as his red eyes turned to Harry.
Both of them cast in sync, the spells meeting between them. But like Dumbledore explained, their wands were brothers and wouldn’t assist in beating the other. Instead, the wands flew out their hands.
Voldemort scrambled forwards, ripping the elderwand of the still motionsless headmaster’s hands.
Harry clutched the sword of Gryffindor.
The battle around them stilled, finally realizing that Dumbledore was down and the boy-who-lived had taken his place to fight.
“Harry!” The Gryffindor closed his eyes for a second as he registered the heart wrenching scream of his boyfriend. When he opened his eyes again, he saw green light and heard more screams.
Voldemort had fired the Killing Curse.