Background Hogwarts

Chapter Nine - The Battle

Everyone was awake, the younger students (except Elizabeth) were safely in the Room of Requirements. Harry could see the clouds turn darker. He turned to his obviously nervous cousin. "Liz, you're going to do great. You're a great witch already. I wouldn't have suggested it if you weren't capable of taking on those deatheaters. You can do this." She smiled meekly. "Stay safe Harry." She ran and got into position. "Draco, come with me." Harry said. And led him to their new position hiding in the dungeon. They heard a voice. "BRING ME HARRY POTTER AND NOBODY GETS HURT. YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES." Draco kissed Harry softly. Harry deepened the kiss, he realised that Draco was crying. "What's the matter?" He whispered, full of concern. "I don't want to lose you." Harry placed a kiss on his nose. "You won't. I promise." Draco grabbed him and kissed him. Harry kissed back, feeling Draco's tongue on his lips. He parted them. Draco's tongue explored Harry's mouth. Their tongues intertwined and they stopped for breath. "TIME'S UP! PREPARE FOR A WAR THAT YOU WILL NOT WIN." Harry kissed Draco quickly then both boys ducked behind a row of barrels and listened for footsteps. They didn't have to wait long. "I thought I might find you here Severus. You have been most loyal." He paused. "This wand is failing me Severus. That is why, I must kill you now. You see, you killed Dumbledore, so this wand answers to you. Not for long." He paused again. "Nagini. KILL!" They heard a hiss, then a thud. Draco flinched and Harry held him close. They heard footsteps exiting. They heard another hiss, that gradually got quieter. They heard Snape say, "Snake." Which was the signal for all clear. "Harry, I don't have much time. Do you have a vial?" Draco pulled one out and gave it to Harry. Snape put his wand to his head and a silvery substance came out. He put it into the vial before saying. "You have your mother's eyes. You're just like her, and your father, the good parts." He was bleeding violently from his neck. Harry watched the life leave him. Slowly he got up and walked towards the head's office where the Pensieve was. He poured the contence of the vial into the pool before plunging his head in.

*****

It was a picture of young kids. Snape and Lily. They were laying under a tree, talking. The picture changed. "Who wants to see me take of Snivelly's trousers?" Said a young James Potter. Lily spoke up. "James that's mean." Snape spoke from the tree that he was currently hanging upsidedown from. "I don't need your help, mudblood." The picture changed again. To Snape and Dumbledore in his office. "Please, keep Lily Potter safe." Severus begged. "But the prophecy only spoke of a child born at the end of July. Not a woman." Dumbledore replied. "The boy is Lily's son." It changed again. Snape was in Godric's Hollow. He had entered the house and stepped over the body of James Potter. He entered the nursery and saw Lily's dead body on the floor. He was holding her in tears as a baby Harry cried loudly. The picture changed again, back to Snape and Dumbledore, but clearly later. "You said you'd keep them safe." "Be quiet and listen. That night in Godric's Hollow, when Voldemort attempted to kill Harry, part of his soul split off and latched onto the nearest living thing." He said. "The boy." Snape breathed. "There will come a time when he needs to die, but he must be ready." "You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE MUGGLES THAT HE LIVES WITH DO TO HIM?" Dumbledore silenced him by holding up his index finger. "There will also come a time when you have to kill me. It must be you Severus, do you understand?" The memory faded. Harry came out for the pool. "What did you see?" Draco asked. "Nothing, we need to fight." 

*****

Elizabeth was surrounded by deatheaters. "LUMOS SOLEM!" She yelled and a beam as bright as the sun came from her wand, she spun in a circle and all the deatheaters were thrown to the ground. Seriously injured. Elizabeth brushed it off and carried on fighting for her aunt and uncle. She stopped as she heard a voice. "THIS IS VOLDEMORT. I NOW CALL MY FORCES BACK, GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO BRING OUT YOUR DEAD AND MOURN IN DIGNITY AND PEACE, TO HEAL YOUR WOUNDED. HARRY POTTER, I NOW ADDRESS YOU. YOU HAVE ONE HOUR TO MEET ME IN THE FORBIDDEN FOREST TO AVOID ANY MORE BLOODSHED. ACCEPT YOUR FATE." Elizabeth turned and ran toward the Great Hall.

*****

Harry watched the Weaslys and Hermione reunite, none dead, Bill had a significant injury on his arm. Remus and Sirius entered and hugged Harry and Draco close. "Thank goodness, are you alright?" Sirius asked. "Fine." Harry replied. Elizabeth ran in. Harry excused himself and went over to her. She jumped into her cousin's arms. "You OK Liz?" Harry asked. She nodded. He walked her over to Draco, Sirius, Remus, McGonagall, Hermione, Neville and the Weaslys. "New plan. I'm going to the forest." There were several objections. "Nevile, is the snake dead?" Neville shook his head forlornly. "OK, when you get a chance, kill it." "Like I said, I'm going to the forest. I'm going alone, don't follow me." "Harry, what did you see in the Pensieve?" Draco employed. Harry stared at his feet and began to answer quietly. "That night in Godric's Hollow, when the curse rebounded, part of Voldemort's soul latched onto me. I'm the horcrux that he never meant to make. He has to kill me so someone can kill him." Everyone gasped. Hermione clung to Ron. Sirius burried into Remus's chest and Draco grabbed Harry's hand. "Harry, go and see your parents." Elizabeth said. "Go and see Dumbledore." Harry nodded, she understood. She had such a great mental capacity for someone of her age. The Weaslys hugged Harry as a group. Elizabeth hugged him. Hermione and Ron hugged him. Remus and Sirius hugged him and told them to say hello to his parents from them. Draco grabbed him into a kiss, tears falling down his face. Harry put his hand to his face and stroked his boyfriend's cheek with his thumb. He left the Great Hall and headed for the forest.