The Savior

44. Let The Battle Begin

The grounds shook as Victoria rushed down the halls and stairways towards Gryffindor Tower. Her heart pounded in her ears and her blood was rushing through her veins with a feeling of fear she had never felt before. The sound of screams overwhelmed her as the school shook again. 

"VICTORIA!" James yelled in search of her.

The group of five had split up in search of her after the first spells were shot at the castle. Parts of the castle were starting to fall apart and many teachers scrambled around gathering students trying to evacuate them. 

"JAMES?!?!" Victoria yelled as her head whipped around in search of him. 

She climbed to the top of a small pile of rubble trying to separate herself from the crowd of terrified students who were tripping over each other trying to find safety. The sight of a panicked looking James spotting her gave her a sense of relief that didn't last long as the school shook again. A large pillar falling and crashing causing students to run in the other direction. Teachers began apparating students away in large groups in hopes of avoiding a climbing death toll. Almost in the blink of an eye James Potter had gotten to Victoria's side despite the sea of students who seemed to trample their own friends to scurry away. 

"Are you okay?" James asked as he helped her off the pile of rubble. His hands gripping her shoulders tightly as she continued to look at the landscape before her. He examined her quickly not noticing anything major. "Victoria?"

"This is all because of me. I should have just gone to him like he asked." Victoria mumbled as she stared out at the destroyed corridor. Yesterday the same students were giggling and laughing as they walked to their next class. 

"Hey, don't do that. We don't have time for that. We are gonna stop this and everything will be fine." James reasoned shaking her from her trance. 

"Where are the others?" Victoria asked looking at him with concern. He didn't seem to hurt but he still had a few small scraps and a gash above his left eye. No doubt his wounds coming from the falling debris. 

"We split up looking for you, but we agreed to meet back up by the astronomy tower soon. Let's go" James explained with worry. He was worried someone wouldn't make it to the tower in time. 

It didn't take long to get to the tower. Victoria overcome with relief at the sight of everyone pretty much unharmed. She released James's hand as she launched herself into Mays hug.

"So, looks like you all have quiet the death wishes huh." Victoria said through a breathy laugh as she let go of May. 

"Please you don't know us very well if you thought we would leave you here to do this alone." May said with a tense smile. It was meant to come off cheerier than it had but what can you do when the sounds of people dying weren't very far. 

"This might be the last time I see any of you alive." Victoria muttered in realization as she looked at them. Her voice was so quietly it almost went unheard. 

"It's not. We're gonna make it out of this. I promise." Remus whispered as he pulled her into him. 

"We'll make it out alive and when we do..." Sirius paused looking at her with sparkling eyes that held too much hope for a boy about to step onto a battlefield. "When this is all over, we're going on a proper date and I'm spending the rest of my life glued to you." 

Victoria smiled at him, her head still resting on Remus's chest as they held each other. The thought was a bit nice, and, in that moment, she was allowing herself to dream a little bit of a life after the war. A life full of love.

"We would have to buy houses next to each other ya know." May added in as Alex wrapped his arm around Mays shoulders. He looked the least confident out of them all. He had a feeling that they wouldn't all make it. 

"It's a nice plan." Victoria mumbled squeezing Remus one last time before pulling away. Her arms immediately reaching for Sirius in a much shorter but still comforting embrace. 

"Well, are we gonna go kick death eater ass or what?" Alex said with a show of fake confidence a grin plastered on his face. 

"Let's do this." Victoria sighed looking at him with a glance that spoke a thousand words. It was almost like a goodbye between the two. They both knew one of them wouldn't survive.

The group reluctantly left their safe haven in the astronomy tower. The crumbling castle eerily quiet as they walked through the decimated halls of Hogwarts out to the courtyard. It seemed like the battle had frozen. People stood still as Victoria and her little group made their way through the crowd. As she made her way to the front, she felt her heart drop at the littered lawn of bodies. 

"This could have been avoided Victoria." The Dark Lord spoke with a slight frown as he gazed at the girl. "If you would have just given yourself to me, we could have avoided all of this suffering."

"You would have still killed whether I joined you or not." Victoria sighed as she looked at the ground. Classmates, school elves and the occasional death eater all lay beneath her, their eyes empty and cold. 

"Songbird-" Voldemort started. Victoria ignoring him turned to the crowd of teachers, students, and house elves that stood behind her. 

"This is your last opportunity to turn and around and leave." Victoria spoke loudly her wand to her throat amplifying her voice so they could all hear her. "If you stay, I cannot guarantee your safety or the opportunity for you to see tomorrow. There will be no hard feelings if you choose to save yourself."

She waited as she watched the crowd not many moved. A few students found their way back into the castle in hopes to apparate away before the fighting started again. Victoria sighed in relief at the sight of them leaving. She had enough blood on her hands. She was glad they took her warning and fled before it was too late. 

"let's get this over with Tom" Victoria smiled as she turned to look at him. She wouldn't show any more fear. 

Of course, the man and his theatrics he bowed his head before snapping back with a spell a flash a blue light zipping past her head. In the blink of an eye spells were flying as everyone defended themselves against the death eaters. Voldemort had disappeared in a puff of black smoke as Victoria whipped around searching for him. Her eyes finding a familiar brunette instead.

"Renee?" Victoria called out in confusion. Renee smirked as she made her way through the battling crowd. She had waited for this moment for a year now and she was excited to knock the blonde down a peg or two. 

"Well, if it's little miss Hearts" Renee said with a wicked grin as she approached. Victoria couldn't help the chill that crawled up her spine. 

"Ya know I expected you to be knocked up by now no offense." Renee sighed as she looked her up and down. "You still could be just maybe a bit too early to tell."

"I'm not pregnant."

"I'm surprised since you've been acting bit whorish if you ask me, I guess that's a good thing you haven't mated with that dirty half breed yet though. The dark lord will be pleased."

"What happened?"

"You happened." Renee snapped. "Perfect little Victoria Hearts with the perfect name and perfect face and three soulmates cuz she's so special. So, special that even the dark lord has to have her." 

"Renee"

"No, No more talking Victoria." Renee smiled before aiming her wand. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"