All I Ever Wanted Was the World

chapter 34

Minerva looked to the darkening sky and recognized the skull that began to take shape in the clouds. A grimace settled into her features and she let out a sharp exhale. Her eyes held a calculating look as she stared at the grey sky.

There was no mistaking that this was going to be an attack on Hogwarts and all those within it.

"Professors!" She turned her attention to the others briefly before giving them a nod.
She raised her wand to the sky and her frown began to deepen as she concentrated, pouring all she had into it.

She had hope and though she knew she was to rely on a boy who had so much life left to live, she had no choice. She would fight for Hogwarts and she would fight for the wizarding world.
She wouldn't let Harry deal with this all on his own.

The professors followed suit and light was cast across the grounds of Hogwarts as the shielding charms began to form. The sky turned brighter as the spell was cast, and a faintly ethereal light began to glow. The charms began to stick and bleed into each other, melding to form what was one of the most powerful acts of defense in Hogwarts history.

Students paused in their evacuation, eyes glued to what they believed to be almost impenetrable due to the amount of force put behind the spell by the professors.

Hermione looked at Ron, her brown eyes shining as if she knew what was going to happen. He looked at her, worry and determination etched into his features as he tucked a bushy strand of hair behind her ear.
How fast had they had to grow up within the past year without Harry by their side?
He supposed that's why they had become so much more serious in their studies and social events.

His hand squeezed her own and they watched the sky from the Great Hall.
They were still only sixth years after all.
That didn't mean they wouldn't be staying for Harry and Hogwarts.

Then there was a loud boom that sounded, and the grounds of Hogwarts began to shake.

The centaurs erupted from the tree line of the Forbidden Forest and Firenze slipped into his place as leader.
His fair hair billowed behind him, and his eyes closed as he took a deep breath, his chest caving in before it began to rapidly expand as it filled with air.
He exhaled deeply, and his eyes opened.

The protection shield that had formed and settled over Hogwarts began to flare a bright blue, and the light was so strong that the centaurs momentarily had to look away.

The protection charm began to break away.
Holes began to break into the shield, and the spell that had been cast began to slowly eat away at it, making it flicker with an orange intensity.

Uncertainty remain in the air and a sudden stillness blanketed the world as it came to a stop.

A fire was ignited within Firenze and, without hesitation, he began to gallop forward towards the grounds of Hogwarts with the colony of centaurs following in his stead.

The students quickly began to make their exit through the passageway, their feet scurrying quickly to get far away from what would be the battleground. Terror filled the atmosphere and not a word was shared as many glimpsed at each other with fear filled eyes.
This was the final stand.

The professors began to make their way to the forefront of Hogwarts, and Minerva felt something in her shift once she saw Voldemort's forces start to trickle in.
She could hear the clatter of hooves as they came closer, and the sound was more prominent when she saw the centaurs arrive shortly after.
They stood behind the forces of the seventh years and the professors, and the Order of the Phoenix shortly arrived just after, with Remus Lupin at the front of the group. The Weasleys, Tonks, and the others took their place just behind the werewolf.