A Forbidden Love

Chapter Twenty-One: The Battle Begins

Meg told Harry to put on his Gryffindor robes while she put on her Ravenclaw. They both followed their respected houses to the Great Hall where Snape ordered the students to gather. Hermione, Ron, and Draco met up with other Order members at the castle and came up with a backup strategy in case the one Meg and Harry had in mind backfired. Once the students were in the Great Hall, Snape addressed them threateningly. "Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this late hour. It has come to my attention, that earlier this evening, Harry Potter and Megara McCown were both sighted in Hogsmeade." The students began to whisper to themselves, but Snape silenced them. "Now, should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter and Ms. McCown, they will be punished in a manor consistent with the severity of their transgressions. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events, who fails to come forward, will be treated as equally guilty. Now then, if anyone here has any knowledge about Mr. Potter and Ms. McCown's whereabouts, I advise them to step forward now." A deep silence was among the students in the Great Hall. No one stepped forward, and no one spoke. Meg and Harry looked at each other, and Meg signaled him to step forward. One they were both standing in the middle of the hall, everyone gasped and turned towards them. Harry then addressed Snape, "It seems, despite your exhaustive, defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster. I'm afraid it's quite extensive." As soon as he finished his first statement, the remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix walked through the main entrance to the Great Hall, and Harry continued. "How dare you stand where he stood! TELL THEM HOW IT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT! TELL THEM HOW YOU LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE, A MAN WHO TRUSTED YOU, AND KILLED HIM! TELL THEM!" Without hesitation, Snape drew his wand at both Harry and Meg. Harry and Meg did the same thing, but McGonagall stepped in front of the pair and dueled Snape. Snape ended up escaping, but that was just the beginning. 

A few seconds later, both Meg and Harry felt Voldemort's presence among them. They both fell to the ground, and a first-year girl started screaming. Sooner than later, another girl screamed, then Voldemort's voice entered the hall like a hushed snake next to someone's ear. "I know that many of you would want to fight. Some of you may think that the fight is wise, but this is a folly. Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have one hour." Within a few seconds, his presence was gone, but everyone was staring at both Meg and Harry. One of the Slytherin girls shouted, "What are you waiting for?! Someone grab him!" Without hesitation, Meg cast herself in front of Harry as to protect him, and others followed her move. To break the rising tension, Mr. Filch came running into the Great Hall. "STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS IN THE CORRIDOR!" McGonagall corrected him, "They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot!" "Oh, sorry, mam." "As it happens, Mr. Filch, your arrival is most opportune. If you would, I would like you please, to lead Ms. Bulstrode and the rest of Slytherin house from the hall!" "Exactly where is it I'll be leading them to, mam?" "The dungeons would do." With that, everyone cheered, and Meg and Harry talked to McGonagall about the plan. "Potter, McCown, I assume there is a reason for your return. What is it you need?" Meg responded quickly, "Time, Professor, as much as you can get us!" "Do what you have to do, I'll secure the castle. Potter, McCown, it's good to see you two!" "It's good to see you as well, Professor! Hold the fort, Neville." 

Within a matter of minutes, all of the students began to escape the castle or protect it. Harry and Meg began running to where Harry thought they would find the diadem, but Ron and Hermione stopped them. "Harry, Meg, wait! 'Mione and I were thinking, it doesn't matter if we find a horcrux." "What do you mean?" Hermione finished Ron's statement, "Unless we can destroy it!" Ron continued, "So, we were thinking, you destroyed Tom Riddle's diary with a Basilisk fang, right? "Mione and I think we know where to find one." Harry liked their plan, "Okay, but take this, that way you can find us when you get back." He handed them the Maurader's Map and began to leave again. "Where are you going?" "The Ravenclaw common room. Got to start somewhere!" Ron and Hermione went on with their plan, but Meg knew Harry was going on a wild goose chase by searching the Ravenclaw common room, so she ran after him. Meanwhile, McGonagall cast a spell on the statues to go and defend the school from Voldemort's army. 

Harry continued to run to the Ravenclaw common room, and Meg yelled after him. "Harry, wait! I need to talk to you!" "Look, I'm preoccupied at the moment, Meg!" "You won't find anything where you're going! You're wasting your time!" "Look, we'll talk later okay, Meg?" "HARRY POTTER, YOU LISTEN TO ME RIGHT NOW!" Harry stopped dead in his tracks and faced Meg with eyes full of terror. Meg explained, "Don't you remember what Luna said about Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem? There isn't a person alive who's seen it. It's obvious, isn't it? We have to talk to someone who's dead." Harry trusted Meg with his life, so he let her lead him to where they could talk to someone about the diadem. "If you want to find her, you'll find her down there." "Aren't you coming?" "No, I'll remain here. I think it's best if you two talked alone." Meg remained outside the room, while Harry went and talked to one of the ghosts. "You're the Grey Lady, the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower." "I do not answer to that name." "I'm sorry, it's Helena, isn't it? Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena's daughter." "Are you a friend of Meg or Luna's?" "Yes, both. Meg said she thought you'd be able to help me." "You seek my mother's diadem." "Yes. That's right." "Megara is kind, unlike so many of the others, but she was wrong. I cannot help you!" "Wait, I want to destroy it!" Meanwhile, Voldemort's army was posted on a hill looking over the castle. Voldemort ordered their first attack, and the shields that were cast over the castle began to break slowly. Harry was persistent to convince Helena to tell him where the diadem is. "That's what you want too, isn't it, Helena? You want it destroyed!" "Another sought to destroy it many years ago. A strange boy with a strange name." "Tom Riddle." "But he lied." "He's lied to many people." "I KNOW WHAT HE'S DONE! I KNOW WHO HE IS! HE DEFILED IT WITH DARK MAGIC!" "I can destroy it once and for all, but only if you tell me where he hid it. You do know where he hid it, don't you, Helena? You just have to tell me." "Strange, you remind me of him a bit. It's here, in the castle, in the place where everything is hidden. If you ask, you will never know. If you know, you need only ask." Harry thanked her, grabbed Meg and Headed towards the Room of Requirement to find the diadem. 

Meanwhile in the Chamber of Secrets, Ron and Hermione were gearing up to destroy the Hufflepuff Cup. Ron pulled a fang from the Basilisk skeleton and gave it to Hermione. "You do it." "I can't." "Yes, you can." Ron knelt down and positioned the cup so Hermione could stab it with the fang. Hermione was hesitant, but she did it. The water in the chamber started to swirl and landed on the pair. Harry collapsed in the hall, and Meg knelt beside him, and Voldemort felt it as well. They were down to two more horcruxes.