Courage - Harry Potter

-126-

Book: Courage
Chapter 126
Word Count: 3259

The words washed over them like ice water, stopping everyone in the Great Hall from tending to the wounded and recuperating from the earlier battle.

"Harry Potter is dead," declared the magically amplified voice of Tom Riddle. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."

Layla had stopped breathing; she looked at Hermione and Ron, her eyes wide.

"It's not true," Hermione said breathlessly. "It can't be, any of it."

"The battle is won," Riddle's voice continued. "You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anybody who continues to resist, man, woman, or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall all build together."

Silence.

Layla looked around the Hall, despair gripping her heart, and for the first time saw the combined defenders of Hogwarts for what they were, no matter what Professor Slughorn had said: a ragtag group of exhausted teachers and students, with a handful of family and Aurors sprinkled in for good measure.

If Harry was dead... but she pushed that thought aside as quickly as she had borne it. If Harry was dead, which she would not believe until she saw, she would fight on. They all would. His death, her father's, her step-mother's, the deaths of her friends... they would not be in vain.

"They're coming," Lee Jordan said, looking out a small hole blown in the side of the Great Hall. "They're coming from the edge of the Forbidden Forest, a whole group of 'em, and they've got giants and... and I think that's Hagrid with 'em."

Everyone looked to the teacher's table, where Kingsley and Professor McGonagall and Mr Weasley had been holding an impromptu council of war. The three of them looked to each other.

"Well?" Mr Weasley asked Kingsley.

"Minerva, open the gates," Shacklebolt said decisively.

"But—"

"If they're coming for a fight, let them come. We'll meet them head on. I'd like to see if what the Dark Lord says is true."

Professor McGonagall nodded curtly and headed to the entrance hall. Hermione, Layla, and Ron looked at each other and moved quickly to follow her; they were not alone as the standing population of the Great Hall slowly began to follow suit. Professor McGonagall approached the main doors to the castle, and looked back to Kingley; he nodded to her. She flicked her wand and the doors opened.

The sky outside had gone pink, a sign of the impending dawn. The Death Eaters were at the gate, lining up now single file in front of them. Leading them was their master, his skin pale and thin, his eyes reddish slits, a large and heavy snake around his shoulders. He was flanked by Bellatrix Lestrange, and being shoved now to the front of the line was Hagrid, who seemed to be carrying...

"NO!"

It was Professor McGonagall who first saw, and as soon as she did, others in the entranceway saw it as well. Some cried out in anguish, others burst into tears; others set their jaws and readied their wands. For her part, Layla would not believe it, could not believe it, even though it was right there in front of her to see.

Harry's body, still and motionless and lifeless, lay in Hagrid's arms, the Gameskeeper sobbing uncontrollably.

"No!" cried out Ron, echoed immediately by Hermione.