Born A Weapon

Deus non sum

tw: mentions of relapse/ child abuse/ mentions of Stockholm syndrome/ drug and alcohol use/ mild mentions of sexual assault/

shit gets real with the war and Voldemort's plans

okay here comes a little warning for everything after this chapter:

this is a real turning point, and from here on it will be very dark for a while until after the war. i advise anyone who doesn't enjoy angst and all of that to read any of my other stories and/or wait until after the war in terms of chapters

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The death of Dumbledore hit the wizarding world hard, and it hit Hogwarts the hardest. The shock of losing someone so powerful and respected had left a wound that seemed to stretch through every corridor, every classroom, and every common room in the castle. For years people had looked to Dumbledore as a symbol of safety, someone who always seemed to have a plan no matter how dark things became. Now he was gone, and the reality of that loss settled over Hogwarts like a thick fog that refused to lift.

Parents were showing up in herds to take their children home since the news of the Death Eater break-in had spread across the country. What had happened at Hogwarts wasn't just an isolated incident anymore; it was a sign that the war everyone had hoped was finished had begun again. The whispers in the corridors had turned into fearful conversations, and fearful conversations had turned into panic. Every day more owls arrived carrying worried letters from parents, and every day more families appeared at the castle gates demanding their children be returned to them immediately.

Remus, Sirius, and many of the other teachers were doing their level best to sign paperwork, answer questions, and talk to parents. They spent hours reassuring frightened mothers and fathers that Hogwarts was still one of the safest places in Britain. They explained the protections around the castle, the precautions being taken, and the plans that were already being discussed to keep students safe. Some parents listened and reluctantly agreed to leave their children at school. Most did not. Fear had a way of drowning out logic, and no amount of reassurance could erase the image of Death Eaters walking through Hogwarts itself.

By the end of the week, there were only two hundred students left out of the nearly fifteen hundred who had attended Hogwarts at the start of the year. The difference was staggering. Hallways that had once been packed with students hurrying between classes now stood almost silent. Entire dormitories sat empty. The Great Hall felt far too large for the small number of students who remained.

Most of those who stayed were Slytherins whose parents were either allies of Voldemort or direct followers. They had little reason to fear the return of the Dark Lord when many of their families welcomed it. Harry, Hermione, and Luna also remained, though for very different reasons. They were among the few who seemed determined to see things through no matter what happened.

The Weasleys had all gone home almost as soon as the news broke. Mrs. Weasley hadn't hesitated for a second. One by one the redheads had disappeared from the castle until not a single Weasley remained. Most of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff followed shortly after, leaving behind nearly deserted common rooms and empty seats in classrooms.

The school that had once felt alive now felt abandoned. Walking through the corridors often meant seeing nobody at all for several minutes at a time. Occasionally, a student in green robes would pass by on their way somewhere, or a Ravenclaw in blue would emerge from a staircase before disappearing around a corner. Their footsteps echoed through the stone halls in a way they never had before.

Day five after Dumbledore's death felt strange. Classes were being mixed together because there simply weren't enough students left to justify separate lessons. Teachers were trying their hardest to keep things running normally, but everyone could tell it wasn't working.