The Dark Promise// Theodore Nott

CH 53

This was it. The final horcrux. The Hogwarts team had taken a moment to collect themselves. The fright of Hermione almost getting killed by the basilisk had lingered and they were about to go up against yet another vile, vicious snake. At least that's what they assumed. What if instead of Nagini, it was Lord Voldemort himself? At least they had known that Malfoy had succeeded in weakening the man, but could they really defeat the dark wizard with just the four of them? Part of the order was already on the floor of the dining room and the Weasley brothers were no where to be seen as well as Mattheo. This worried Olivia. She would have thought they would cross paths at some point, but she had not seen him all night.

Neville stood at the large door to the ballroom, Theo right behind him. He placed his hand on the doorknob, jiggling it before turning around. "Locked. Figures." He said pointing his wand at the large lock underneath. Before he could cast alohomora, they heard heavy footsteps coming from the other end of the castle, heading right for them. They turned to the noise, their wands at the ready. Would it be more death eaters coming to guard the horcrux? To their delight, it was Bill Weasley, followed by the Petil twins. Hermione flashed the group a wide smile, running up them. "Bill! Oh, I'm so happy to see you! Where is everyone?" Bill was just as happy to see the Hogwarts team alive and well.

"Ron has led a team to find Voldemort, but last time I saw them they hadn't found him yet. Fred and George are setting off bombs in the towers ahead. There are still guards making sure no one comes in. Or out." That last 'out' meant that certain death eaters were trying to make a break for it. Theo wondered who was trying to go AWOL. Goyle had to be for sure. "What about Mattheo? Have you seen him?" Olivia asked nervously, hoping he had at least been spotted. Padma shook her head. "No, we were worried for him too. We had hoped you guys had seen him."

A deep sense of worry came over Olivia. If Ron hadn't found Voldemort and neither group had seen Mattheo, that means they had to be in the same place. That couldn't be good. Neville turned the conversation to the task at hand. This was no time to worry for others. They had a job to do. "Theo destroyed the painting, and Hermione killed the basilisk guarding the door. We suspect the snake is in the ballroom." He pointed his wand to the locked door before pulling out the basilisk fangs from his pocket. "And we have these."

Bill looked at the fangs in Neville's hand before looking around the room. At least twenty order members were laying there, dead. The basilisk was their main weapon and had proved to be deadly. This was more casualties than he had thought. Shame filled him. He had failed his people. His head hung low, his red hair falling in front of his face. Parvati placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort their leader. "It's not your fault. We are winning. We are saving the world. Those people died for this. Let's not make it in vain."

The rest of the group agreed. It was Bill who had given them a pep talk back at camp. They couldn't let fallen soldiers distract us from the big picture. They still had to kill the snake. They still had to kill Voldemort. Bill raised his head, a look of fire now in his green eyes. "Open that door. We will follow your lead." He said, looking like the leader they all needed in the moment. Neville cast alohomora, hearing a small click of the lock. He turned to the group behind him before slowly opening the door. Everyone nervously tried to take a peek in, but no one wanted to be the first to walk through.

Neville gathered his courage and stepped in first, he was the one who carried the fangs after all. When he looked about the room, confusion hit him. The room was empty. Chairs lined the sides of the room where death eaters would sit at their meetings. An empty throne sat at the front of the room. That was all. No snake. As the rest began to follow in, the same look befell their faces. "You have to be kidding me! All that work for nothing!?" Hermione groaned, her words echoing through the barren room. Bill looked very wary, sensing something was off. "No, I think this is something else. Keep your wits about you."