Nothing Without You (That Special Something sequel)

Chapter 26: The Battle of Hogwarts

2nd May 1998. 10:43.

I jumped from the large hole into the Room of Requirement, which was packed with Order members, DA members and other Hogwarts students. I stood by Remus's side, and we pushed through the sea of people. I saw a pair of unforgettable green eyes, and I jumped onto them.

"Harry!" I screamed. I grabbed his face and gave him a kiss on the head. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" He told me. I let go of him.

"Good, good." I told him, breathing again. "I just needed to see your face." I gave him one last hug, and whispered in his ear. "Harry, be safe."

He looked at me hardly. "I'll be ok. I promise." I could tell he was lying.

 A piercing, high, cold voice surrouned the great hall. It felt like the voice was right behind me, screaming into my ear. My heart raced, and many students began to scream and gasp. They clasped their ears and huddled together in fright. I could barely breath.

"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."

Then silence filled the Great Hall. I turned my gaze towards my godson, as did everyone else, and I watched him intently, looking at his unreadable emotions. Movement caught my eye at the Slytherin table, and the amazingly irritating girl named Pansy Parkinson began to shriek wildly.

"But he's there! Potter's there. Someone grab him!"

There was suddenly a great wave of movement, as the Gryffindor table stood in front of Harry, all facing Pansy Parkinson with an awed expressions. In unison, the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws did the same. There was a sea of wands, pointing in her direction.

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

The hall was much more emptier, but still full all the same. Only overage wizards were allowed to stay to fight. Remus, Mr Weasley, Kingsley and I were now in charge of taking groups to the grounds to fight. Over the stampede of students ready for instruction, I didn't have a chance to squeeze my way through to Harry.

"Harry, Harry!" I shouted as I saw his head speed in the direction of the entrance hall. He looked back at me and caught my eye. "I love you!"

He nodded, and he left.

Terry Boot, one of my old students, was the first to catch my eye. Apparently he used to think I was hot.

"Terry!" I shouted, and he ran towards me. I looked around for other students who were near me. "Lavender!" The brown-haired gryffindor came towards me. "Susan!" Susan Bones came towards me. "I want you to get five people each and bring them to me, quickly!"

They all nodded, and ran, trying to find their friends. I sorted out a few other people, who were asking for instructions.

They came back quickly, with a mixture of Hufflepuff's, Ravenclaw's and Gryffindor's. 

"Great!" I told them. "You guys are my group!" They all nodded. I was going to tell them to get their wands out, but they were already at the ready. "Right, listen. I'll be leading you all out onto the grounds, where you will fight any death eaters when the forcefield breaks. It will be brutal, and less protection will be provided. I completely understand if some of you do not think you are brave enough for this. If so, then leave now."

To my surprise, nobody left.

"Fantastic." I said, but not smiling. I nodded to Kingsley, Mr Weasley and Remus. Together we all shouted "Follow me!"

Two death eaters were shooting non-verbal spells at me, their masks covering any injuries they may be supporting. I was supporting a black eye, a nose bleed and numurous cuts and bruises. I jumped over a dead body, almost too casually and easily for my liking, and sent a raging ball of fire at the death eater on the left. It singed his right shoulder off completely. He collapsed on the floor. But the other one continued, more violently than before.

I didn't even have time to check on any of my students, or my friends. I could only concentrate on the battle in front of my eyes, and continue to fight until it stopped. Or my heart stopped.

In the midst of battle, everybody froze. Lord Voldemort's voice echoed through the grounds, as though he was screeching in my ears. The fighting stopped immediately. Everything was silent, apart from that one, high, cold, angry voice of the dark lord.

"You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured. I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

The death eaters, in unison, left the grounds, without another spell being casted. We all stood frozen from fright, for a moment, and then we slowly turned back to the castle, looking at who was dead and who was alive.

I suddenly could no longer breathe. I could no longer breath as my eyes locked with a Remus's, who now looked very different.

They looked just like Lily's. And James's. And Sirius's.

Dead.

My heart almost stopped right there, as I collapsed over his body, shivering violently. I screamed into the night, my face wet and warm with tears. Not him. Not Remus.

My best friend. The person who was constantly by me. Through the good and the bad times. The one who rescued me when I was nothing but an unstable stick of life. The one who took me in and made me myelf again. The one who helped me re-unite with Sirius. The one who I never fought with and who was so kind, you could never even think if fighting with him.

He had a son. Teddy Lupin. What would he do now? I thought. With only one parent?

The body next to Remus's made me hurl with agony.

With no parents at all? Tonks and Remus, both gone forever.

They looked peacful. More peaceful then I ever will be.

"Harry Potter is Dead!"...

"I'll join you when hell freezes over!"...

"Dumbledore's Army!"...

"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me,"...

"Harry! He's alive!"...

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"...

"I don't want anyone else to help. It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."...

"I know lots of important things that you don't!"...

"It is not love that will save you this time!"...

"Severus Snape wasn't yours! Snape was Dumbledore's."...

"Try for some remorse."...

"I am the true master of the Elder Wand."... 

"Avada Kedrava!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort was dead on the floor.

And Harry was still alive.