𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 (𝖽𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗅𝖿𝗈𝗒 𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋)

Chapter 42 ~ The Battle of Hogwarts

We walked down to the Great Hall, following the many students of Hogwarts. I stayed with Star the whole time.

We sat with the Gryffindors instead if the Slytherins. Everyone was terrified of what was about to happen.

The Professors were outside putting charms and protections on the castle with some of the Order. Except for Professor McGonagall, who had the undivided attention of every student.

"... evacuation will be lead by Mr Filch and Madam Pomfrey, and when I call you House you will go, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point."

Harry and I skirted the walls of the hall, looking for Ron and Hermione.

Ernie Macmillan stood up at the Hufflepuff table and shouted, "And what if we want to stay and fight?"

"If you are of age, you may stay."

"What about our things?" called a girl from Ravenclaw. "Our trunks, our owls?"

"We have no time to collect possessions," said Professor McGonagall. "The important thing is to get you out of here safely."

"Where's Professor Snape?" yelled a girl from Slytherin.

"He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk."

A great cheer erupted from the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws.

We continued searching for Ron and Hermione and many heads turned our way. A great deal of whispering broke out.

"Protection has already been placed over the castle," Professor McGonagall said, "though it will not hold during the battle. That is why you must mics quickly -"

Her final words were drowned out by an unmistakable voice. High, cold, and clear. Voldemort's.

There was no telling as to where it came from. It seemed to just be there, in the air.

"I know that you are preparing to fight."

There were screams amongst the students, assuring me that everyone could hear it.

"Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers at Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."

The hall was silent now, the kind of silence that presses against the eardrums, that seems too huge to be contained by walls.

"Give me Harry and Y/n Potter," said Voldemort's voice, "and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry and Y/n Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry and Y/n Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."

The silence swallowed us all up again. Every head turned, every eye seemed to be looking at me and Harry. Then a figure rose from the Slytherin table. Pansy Parkinson.

"But they're there! The Potter twins are there! Someone grab them!"

Before we could speak, there was a massive movement. The three other House tables stood in front of us.

"Thank you, Miss Parkinson," said Professor McGonagall coldly. "You will leave the Hall first with Mr Filch. If the rest of your House could follow."

The Slytherins left without me and Star.

Harry and I ran out of the hall to look for the Horcrux.

"Where are we going, Harry?" I asked as we ran through the students.

"We need to find Nearly Headless Nick!" Harry yelled. "Nick! NICK! I need to talk to you!"

Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, stood waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs.