Spur of the Moment

Chapter 73

Warning: blood, death, tears, and violence

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Harry stared around the grounds of Hogwarts that were nearly unrecognizable. The grass was stained with blood and hidden by countless bodies though which were unconscious and which were dead, Harry had no idea. The ground was covered in a layer of dust from the castle and parts of the castle lay everywhere. He gazed up at what was once a school. Now it hardly looked like a building let alone a school. There was fire all over the castle, the flames reaching out to the sky in the spots where the roof and walls had been destroyed. Hogwarts was so destroyed that Harry was frightened it might actually collapse before the battle was even over.

He had no idea how long they had been fighting but it felt like forever. He was exhausted and in pain, covered in mud and blood. He pushed through, however. Voldemort still had to be destroyed but he hadn't been able to find his enemy. He looked around, trying to find friends as well as Voldemort. In the blur of spells and movements, it was nearly impossible to distinguish between his side and the Death Eaters. It wasn't just witches and wizards in the battle though. Fenrir Greyback and his pack were there. Giants and centaurs fought however they could. Even house elves could be seen within the fight.

The various lights of the various spells mixed as they soared through the air. Thunder sounded and lightning cracked but rain had yet to fall. He wondered if maybe it was being influenced or even created by the raw magic and hatred accumulated in one place. It was clear that everyone was throwing every bit of power and hatred into their spells.

Desperation was almost tangible as everyone fought to survive and also because both sides wanted the war to be over, except both sides wanted to win as well.

Harry ducked, spun, and threw a silent Stunning Spell at the Death Eater who had sent the Killing Curse at him. He watched as Avery fell unconscious to the ground. Harry had yet to kill anyone, whether accidental or otherwise, and he was determined to keep it that way even when it came to facing Voldemort. He would destroy the madman, but he refused to cast the Killing Curse. He would find another way to rid the world of Voldemort.

He cast a string of various spells as several Death Eaters headed his way. A Cutting Curse caught his shoulder but he ignored it. Any injury would be dealt with after the battle. He battled the three Death Eaters that had set upon him, stunning one and incapacitating the other two by using severe Cutting Curses on vital places, but not places that would cause them to die.

He spun around when he heard a scream and watched with wide, horrified eyes as Lavender Brown fell to the ground, her neck all but torn out. Greyback grinned in a feral way, the girl's blood dripping off his hands and chin. There was no full moon, but clearly that didn't stop the man from acting like an animalistic monster. Greyback's insane eyes met his and the werewolf's grin grew before he took off to find another victim. He heard another shout and looked to his right just as Katie Bell was hit with Sectumsempra by Yaxley.

It wasn't the first time he had seen friends fall. He had already watched the deaths of Charity Burbage, Cho Chang, and Padma Patil. While he hoped everyone he loved was alright and would make it, he couldn't help but hope for the survival of Draco, Kingsley, Remus, and especially Severus the most. They were the ones he knew he would never be able to live without. He loved them far too much. He didn't know where Severus was. He hadn't seen his lover since the beginning of the battle when they had parted.

"Don't promise to survive," Severus had said.

"Promise to try," Harry had returned just before they joined the fight.