Love Enough for Both by Manwe Valarian



Summary: Harry heard a goblin speaking and he came out of temporary stupor. He was surrounded by witches and wizards all staring at him. The most shocking thing was he had his arms around someone. Who was she and how did they get here?
Rating: PG-13 starstarstarstarhalf-star
Categories: Alternate Universe
Characters: None
Genres: None
Warnings: None
Challenges: None
Series: None
Published: 2012.10.25
Updated: 2018.05.01


Love Enough for Both by Manwe Valarian
Chapter 29: Britain Falls
Author's Notes:

“I can’t believe you kept this from us. How could you lie to us about being a Horcrux? Don’t you have any consideration for anyone else except yourself? What do you expect me to tell our parents?” screamed Bill.

Harry stared at him. He had never seen Bill like this in the two and half years that he had known him. He was red in the face, and he glared at Ginny with a maniacal expression. Harry had expected this type of reaction from Sirius. He had always been the emotional one. Sirius had dropped into a chair that Harry didn’t remember being there earlier. Remus was standing there with a resigned look on his face. He looked sad but not shocked.

Ginny was an emotional wreck. Tears were glistening in her eyes. Her face was drawn tight and her hands were clutched in fists at her side. Harry turned to take her hand to give her comfort. He wanted to yell at Bill for upsetting Ginny.

“I made Remus and Sirius swear an Unbreakable Vow to die to protect your lives. I just gave them a death sentence because of this.”

“That isn’t necessarily true, Bill” said Remus calmly.

“If Harry is dead what does it matter if I am dead,” said Sirius with venom.

“Sirius don’t say that. Ginny and I were thinking about making you Godfather,” Harry said trying to console his godfather.

“Bill, I realize that I will die with Harry,” Ginny growled at her brother. It was obvious that she was having a hard time containing her anger. “However, if I can give birth to a child and my death brings about the downfall of Voldemort, I will feel that my life has been worthwhile.”

The room was silent at Ginny’s statement. Harry knew she felt this way, but the rest seemed shocked at her revelation. Bill looked close to tears as he stared at her.

“How long have you known about this?” Remus asked.

Ginny stared at him before responding to Remus’s question. “Ever since we met Tom in the Chamber. I started sensing this darkness in Harry about six months into our relationship, but I was not sure what it was until I met Tom. The signature was identical to the one from the Horcrux. It had to be a piece of him in Harry’s head.”

It bothered him that she never said anything to him before this past month. Was there anything else she was not telling him?

“I didn’t realize it, or I wasn’t sure until Christmas. Finding this last Horcrux confirmed my fears,” he said. He looked at Sirius, Remus, and Bill. “I don’t want anyone else to die, especially Ginny. Please believe me, I don’t care if I die. I am living on borrowed time, because of what Mum did when she died for me. I am hoping there is some way to save all of you.”

Harry had to fight back the tears. These people in this room were the first people he could remember caring for him in his life. He never received that feeling from his actual relatives. The possibility that he could be the cause of their deaths was tearing him up. Ginny came over and wrapped an arm around him. Normally, she could drive away any pain he was feeling, but this only made him more emotional.

“I’m sorry this bond is causing this,” he said through tears.

Ginny pulled him into her and whispered in his ear. “It’s all right love. It will be all right.”

Harry hated that he had broken down like this in front of everyone. He felt like some little kid again; not the leader of the fight against Voldemort.

“Could I say something,” said Albus Dumbledore. He waited until Harry had controlled his emotions before speaking again. “Unfortunately, I cannot think of any way around getting rid of the Horcrux, Harry. The most important thing is to ensure that you are the last Horcrux to be destroyed, and that Voldemort is the one to end your life.”

“Why must it be Voldemort?” asked Remus.

“Harry, has your reaction to the destruction of the Horcruxes become more intense with each Horcrux that has been destroyed?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

Albus smiled. “I have noticed your reactions. So far Voldemort doesn’t realize the Horcruxes have been destroyed, or he would have done something to protect them. If we can keep him from realizing the Horcruxes are being destroyed, his reaction to Harry’s death should be so intense…,”

“You want to have Harry’s death set up Voldemort so we can kill him?” shouted Sirius. He was standing up and glaring at the Headmaster.

“I don’t want my death to be meaningless,” he said to his godfather. “If my death can ensure that Voldemort dies, then that is fine with me.”

“That is exactly what I said too.” Ginny repeated her opinion from before. “I just hope that I can have some time with my child before that happens.”

Harry hugged her. She looked so sad when talking about spending time with her child before her death. “There is one other thing that you all should know. I have been seeing visions that could only be from Voldemort.”

“Exactly, what do you mean by visions?” asked the Headmaster.

“I see things from his perspective, almost as though I am looking through his eyes. I can also feel his emotions. It only happens when he is extremely happy or extremely angry. I think he would be angry if he discovered that his Horcruxes are being destroyed.”

“Can he see into your mind, Harry?” asked the Headmaster.

“I don’t think so?”

“Good, that is very good,” sighed the Headmaster.

“I have been using my Occlumency Shields. I usually have these insights in the morning or late at night.”

“That is good that you can use Occlumency. Excellent idea to teach him that skill,” the Headmaster complimented Bill, Remus, and Sirius. They all chuckled at the irony of his compliment.

“We taught him Occlumency to protect his thoughts from you,” said Sirius unapologetically. The Headmaster seemed to find this rather humorous.

“It is still very useful skill considering the circumstances,” chuckled Dumbledore.

“We need to slow things down,” said Remus. “If Harry’s sensitivity to the Horcruxes increase as we destroy them. We must assume that Voldemort’s sensitivity also increases. We should wait until the baby is about six months old before we destroy any more Horcruxes.”

“Can we wait that long?” asked the Headmaster.

“We will have no choice,” barked Sirius. “Ginny and Harry deserve some time with their child, before…,” Sirius choked up and couldn’t talk for several seconds. “Well, before we finish this.”

“I understand, but we may not have the last say in how fast we pursue Voldemort’s destruction,” countered Dumbledore.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Harry watched as Ginny prepared for bed. She was brushing her long red hair. He couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. Even now when she was pregnant it didn’t take away from her radiant beauty. He realized that it was a rather shallow thing to think, but he was glad he bonded with her. He just wished they had more time together. It was the only unfair thing that has happened to him since he met her in Diagon Alley almost three years ago.

“Argh, I will be glad when I don’t have to take that anymore,” said Ginny setting her Potion vial down. She stood up. She was wearing a light weight dressing robe over her nightgown. The robe was unfastened and fell to the sides revealing her large belly. “I feel like a whale. No! I look as if I swallowed a whale.”

“I think you look beautiful,” Harry said sincerely. Ginny smiled and light blush covered her cheeks.

“You are a good husband,” she said as she laid down beside him. “In two months, you will make a wonderful father.”

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Albus looked at his old friend Alastor Moody. Over the past few months Alastor was the happiest that Albus had ever seen him. He was here at Hogwarts to discuss the training of the various Order members. Potter Manor’s expansive grounds and it extensive security measures had allowed Moody to conduct large scale training exercises. He wasn’t just teaching spells, but formations and techniques to attack large scale targets. There had been at least two training sessions held every week. It was something that wasn’t possible during the last war.

“I have been thinking about somethings, Albus,” said Moody. “Just listen to everything that I have to say before judging my plan.”

“You have my promise,” replied Albus. He was slightly amused at Alastor’s request. It was usually Alastor who would not let anyone finish their explanations before criticizing them.

“All right, I think we need to put two people inside of the Muggle Minister’s office,” Alastor declared. “If Voldemort takes our Ministry, he will most certainly use the connection between the two Ministers office to cause havoc. We all know he hates Muggles. What would be his next thing to conquer, but the Muggles’ section of Britain? I don’t think he will be satisfied with just taking over the Magical Britain. Maniacs like him never are.

“It will leave us shorthanded and it might not even be enough, but I would like to place two of our best in their Ministry. We would actually need to have at least four rotating through there, so people in our society wouldn’t notice them gone. What would be really nice is if we could get some Polyjuice Potion. That way the Muggles would think they are the same people. Do the Potters have any in one of their estates?

“I also would like for the Potters and to be with us in case Voldemort would try to overthrow the Ministry. I have a plan that would take advantage of their unique powers. It has become apparent that they are more powerful when they are standing side by side. Hell, Albus, I think they are probably more powerful than even you. I know they are expecting a child in two months, but without them I don’t know if we could drive Voldemort and his followers out of the Ministry.

“Which brings me to something that has been bothering me. Why hasn’t Voldemort attacked the Ministry? He started attacking, back in February, villages every two weeks, and then he slowed down to making only two attacks over a six week period. I thought he would have attacked sometime over the last month, but he hasn’t. It is now the beginning of May and he still hasn’t attacked. What is he waiting for?”

Moody had stopped talking for a few seconds before Albus said anything. “I cannot remember the last time you talked this much my old friend.”

“I hate waiting. I hate this sitting here waiting for Voldemort to execute his plans. I am assuming you haven’t found his Horcrux, and that is why you are waiting?”

“Horcrux?” calmly asked Albus. He tried to be nonchalant and cover up his surprise at the mention of a Horcrux.

“You are looking for an artifact that gives Voldemort his power. The man came back to life after his Killing Curse rebounded on him. You also said that the time wasn’t right to kill him back on New Year’s Eve. The only explanation would be he made a Horcrux and you need to destroy it.”

Albus stared at his old friend and one of the original Order members. What should he say? It was obvious that he had figured it out.

“Are you actually worried that I will tell this to the wrong people, Albus? Do you know a more cautious person than me?”

“Voldemort did not make a Horcrux…,”

“Bah, don’t lie to me,” barked Moody.

“He made six,” said Albus. He smiled at the shocked expression on the old Auror’s face.

“Six, no wonder he barely looks human anymore.” Alastor stopped talking and rubbed his scarred chin before speaking again. “It’s not like he was all that human before.”

“We have found and destroyed four of them. The last two are particularly difficult to locate. Until we locate them, we can only keep Voldemort and his followers under control. It may take some time to locate the last two Horcruxes. We may be stuck in this defense mode for some time.”

Alastor sat in deep thought for several seconds. “That explains a lot. Now that I know, It would be best if you Obliviated that information from my mind. I will be satisfied in knowing that you are progressing in your quest, but if I am captured there will be nothing there for Voldemort to use.”

“Are you sure you want me to Obliviate you?”

“I said it didn’t I? I don’t want to be the leak that causes you to fail.” Alastor stopped talking and look of concentration was on his face. “I am ready, just take the thoughts at the front of my mind.”

Albus lifted his wand and pointed it at Alastors forehead. “Obliviate!”

He watched as Alastor’s face went slightly blank before quickly recovering. “Do you like my plans for training?”

“Yes, I do. I will contact Harry and obtain some Polyjuice for you.”

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

It was a clear and cool May evening in northern Scotland. The sea beat against the stony shores at Potter Manor creating a calming thrum to fill the air. The sun was nearing the horizon of the North Sea casting long shadows over the grounds. Arthur and Molly Weasley were enjoying this lovely panorama from the open windows of their bedroom at Potter Manor. They had a perfect view looking out over the green grounds of the estate.

All the members of the Order of the Phoenix were there also, but they were there to practice battle tactics. Arthur and Molly Weasley were not included in the battle practice, because they were not scheduled to be in the strike force that might be needed to invade the Ministry. It bothered both of them since their son and pregnant daughter were in the strike force. Both of their children might be able to beat them in a duel, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to protect their children.

“Arthur, I need you and Molly to be my eyes for this training session. I can’t watch, because I will be in the middle of everything,” said Alastor Moody.

“Alastor, why must Ginny be involved?” asked Molly. “She is due to give birth in a month. She shouldn’t be doing things like this. I will take her place. I can be pretty handy with a wand.”

“I know you are, Molly. Poppy asked for you to help with the injured,” replied Moody. “No offense to your magical abilities, but your daughter is one of the most powerful witches around. With her and her husband standing side by side, they could probably clear the Ministry by themselves.”

“Well, I don’t like it,” shouted Molly.

“I didn’t think you would. If we can get this formation down. Your daughter will be safe. Arthur, Molly, make sure we move as a unit. Tell me if someone is creating problems with our formations. I can’t always see things while I am in the middle of everything.”

“We will Alastor,” said Molly. “Just don’t make them do it over and over again for no reason.”

“I won’t if they get it right the first time,” Moody growled as he walked away.

“They will be running this until dark,” sighed Molly, as Moody exited the room.

“We best make ourselves comfortable, because it will be a long night,” said Arthur. He Transfigured a chair into a large elevated settee with comfortable pillows. He helped his wife up onto the settee before climbing up to snuggle up beside her.

“This would be rather romantic Arthur, is wasn’t for the battle exercises,” sighed Molly.

“Go,” shouted Alastor Moody from below them.

Sirius, Remus, Harry, Ginny, Albus, and Bill moved out of the front door as a unit. Ginny was in the middle of the group as they stepped out of the door. They quickly shifted to face to their left. They were casting practice spells that were not much more than flashes of light. The spells would leave marks on a screen that was there target. Moody had bodies on the screen so people could test their accuracy.

Molly watched with pride as Bill and Ginny hit a person with each spell the cast. “Our children are doing rather well, Arthur.”

“I don’t think anyone in that group has missed yet.”

“Yes, I suppose,” sighed Molly. Her husband just burst her happiness at the talent of her children. “They are the best we have.”

After the first group had moved out away from the manor door, a group led by Alastor moved out behind them. The second group were two people wide and moved quickly firing spells out wider to the right. Ginny’s group kept moving slowly to the right. The second group had all moved out to the right until the last person was standing beside Sirius. The back row of the second group turned and moved quickly to their left. They started firing spells as they moved past the left of the first group.

When the last person moving left cleared the first group, the entire group broke off and ran to the left. Molly lost sight of them as they ran along the manor. The people that remained to the right of the first group also broke off and ran to the right. Ginny’s group started moving forward as the other two groups also moved forward. The other two groups moved forward until they came to the screen that Moody had set up.

“Stop,” shouted Alastor. “Everyone look where you are. Are you in the right place? I see we have had some errant spells cast. You need to hit with every spell in practice, when people are firing spells back at you, your accuracy is going to get worse. Everyone back in the manor, we are going over this again.”

Alastor cast a spell and erased all spell hits. Molly thought they were actually pretty accurate. There were only about a dozen misses and a hundred hits. Alastor didn’t even look up to them as he returned to the manor.

They ran the formation again five minutes later. Alastor was again upset that people were missing the targets. They ran the formation a third time thirty minutes after they ran the first. Again Alastor didn’t ask them what Arthur and she thought.

“What are we doing up here. If he isn’t going to ask us our opinions,” complained Molly. “Ginny shouldn’t be working like this it will be hard on her back.”

“Did I hear my name?” said Ginny as she walked into the room. “Alastor sent me up here so he didn’t have to deal with ‘that lunatic mother of mine’. Our group is good, I pity the other two groups until they get more accurate.”

She waddled over to the settee. “Help me up please.”

Arthur hopped down off the settee and expanded it before helping their daughter up. Molly pulled Ginny next to her and wrapped an arm around her before kissing her cheek. The smile that Ginny gave her warmed her heart. Her daughter still enjoyed being treated like a little girl.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Amelia Bones rode the lift to the fourth floor with Arthur Weasley. It had been a ritual over the past month. Alastor had pulled four of the more competent Order members who worked at the Ministry to work in the Muggle Ministry. It had created a shortage of guards for her. Arthur worked on the same floor, so it was a natural that they would enter the Ministry together.

Arthur Weasley was a man like she had never met. He was a talented wizard and extremely smart. Yet, he chose one of the least respected positions in the Ministry. He was not unmotivated. He just chose a profession that he would not get wealthy or highly respected. She even looked at his employment record. He showed tremendous promise for loftier positions. Watching him handle his temperamental wife and the disappearance of his daughter when she bonded with Harry impressed her. She could see the concern of a loving father, but he was always level headed and patient when the reports came back that his daughter could not be found.

“I am not sure what Percy is planning on going into after Hogwarts,” said Arthur Weasley. “I know he won’t be training dragons like Charlie.” Arthur chuckled at the statement. “I had thought he might give the Ministry a go, but we will wait on his NEWTs before applying for a job.”

The lift door opened to the fourth floor. “You can use me as a reference Arthur, if Percy decides to work at the Ministry.” She smiled at the comment. The only way her support would help Percy, would be if they can defeat Voldemort and clean up the Ministry.

Arthur walked with her to her office. She saw Dawlish sitting outside the door of her office. He had his feet up on the receptionist’s desk. Upon seeing them, he stood up and started to leave.

“Madam Bones,” Dawlish said with a nod of his head. He walked past her without saying another word.

Amelia had a strange feeling about Dawlish’s actions. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave. “John, anything happen last night?” she asked the retreating Auror.

“No,” he said. He barely turned around to answer her. “It was quiet,” he said over his shoulder while walking away.

Amelia had a bad feeling. Without hesitating she Stunned Dawlish.

“What is wrong Amelia?” asked a shocked Arthur.

“There is something wrong. I can feel it.” She turned and looked at the door to her office. It was closed and looked perfectly normal, but she knew something was off. She lifted her wand prepared to cast a diagnostic Charm on the door.

“Hold on Amelia,” said Arthur. He had placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve learned a few things from Bill over the past year. Let me check the area around the door.”

Arthur stepped forward and cast several Charms around the door frame. The door glowed red for a second. Arthur stepped back. “We need to get out of here,” Arthur nearly shouted.

Amelia ran beside Arthur until they were in the hall beside Dawlish’s Stunned body. Arthur cast a spell and pushed Dawlish behind the wall with them.

“Arthur, what is the meaning of this?”

Arthur looked up and down the hall. No one was in the hallway. “Your door has been hexed. I am pretty sure that it is set to explode when it is opened. There are other Charms to check that, but I don’t want to risk us getting blown up.”

“Why would they set my door to explode?”

“It would be heard throughout this floor. Amelia, I think they are planning on attacking the Ministry this morning.”

Amelia’s heart started racing. What Arthur said made sense, and it appeared that Dawlish was complicit with the plans. It was time to put the plans that she and Alastor had devised in action.

“I am going to open your door. If it explodes, I will leave as quickly as possible. If it doesn’t than I will further investigate what was done to it. Someone cast a deadly hex on your door, I think it is an exploding Hex.”

“All right Arthur, if it explodes. You get out of here, and don’t forget your promise to me,” she whispered.

Arthur nodded, before turning to cast a spell at the door. Amelia could hear the small click of her door opening, before the air was rent with a massive explosion. It knocked her and Arthur off their feet. She hit the floor and the impact jarred the wand out of her hand. Arthur quickly recovered. He handed her wand back to her.

“Time to go,” he said before getting up and running off.

Amelia could hear voices shouting around her. She was quickly coming to her senses. The air was acrid with thick smoke. It clouded the hallway as it poured from her office waiting room. She looked around and came up with a plan. She could use this as an opportunity to get to the magical transportation office and ensure that Voldemort can’t control it. Pushing up from the floor, she started running towards the lifts. She needed to get there before the lifts get closed down.

Running while crouching low to stay below the smoke, she started casting Patronus Charms to warn the Order. There was no doubt now that the attack on the Ministry had started, because she could hear spells being cast in various departments on her floor. Voldemort’s supporters had caught her allies by surprise. She wished she could help, but it was already too late. She had to gain control of the Magical Transportation Department as quickly as possible.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Albus Dumbledore stared at the spot that Amelia’s Patronus had been. He knew what this meant. If the Ministry falls, the Order would have no choice, but to resort to drastic guerilla tactics. He didn’t want that, but that wasn’t the worst thing that was going to happen. He knew that Hogwarts would become Voldemort’s next target. He could not let that happen. He shall prevent this school from falling under Voldemort’s control.

He was not thinking positive about this attack. All his dark thoughts would be unfounded if they are able to prevent the Ministry from falling completely under Voldemort’s control. With a new positive attitude, he started casting his Patronus Charms. His bumblebee Patronus would be inconspicuous, if it would appear in a crowd. His biggest task shall be convincing Minerva to remain here, in case something would happen to him. She could take control of Hogwarts.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Amelia Bones stood shoulder to shoulder with Gregory Bright. She had been able to gain control of the Magical Transportation Department within minutes of the start of the attack. Upon gaining control of the Department, they stopped the lifts. It was going to be impossible for Voldemort and his Death Eaters to quickly take over the Ministry. She had no idea how many Death Eaters made it into the Ministry using the Floo Network, before she closed it down. It didn’t really matter, she couldn’t stop them from Apparating into the Atrium. That had to be closed off in the Atrium.

“Here they come again,” shouted someone from the front of their formation.

Savage and other Voldemort sympathizers had gained control of the Magical Law Department floor quickly after the explosion. He was now leading the attack to regain control of this department. It was only a matter of time before they would succeed. There were already many dead lying on the floor. There was originally fifteen Order members fighting with her. Now there was only six. She knew this was their last stand. They had been able to hold them off for nearly an hour, but they wouldn’t be able to stop Voldemort’s supporters any longer.

She cast a Blasting Curse at the Portkey tracking board destroying it. Watching it she knew that there was a battle raging in the Atrium. She didn’t know how it would turn out, but she couldn’t risk that the Order’s method of Transportation could be tracked, she turned back to the battle. Spells were already flying at their defensive positions. She saw two more Order members die.

Casting spells to defend her movements, she worked her way up to the front. She wanted to do one thing before she died. She saw her opportunity. Savage was growing bold. He was moving quickly from hiding spot to hiding spot. She waited until he stepped out from behind an overturned desk.

Savage cast a Severing Curse as he moved out from behind the desk where he was hiding. Amelia did something that she loathed to do.

“Avada Kedavra,”she shouted and with satisfaction she saw the traitor of an Auror fall dead.

Then the wall beside her exploded and everything went black.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Ginny held her hand over her belly. Her son, James Sirius Lee, was kicking up a storm. It was to be expected considering she was extremely nervous. She and the rest of the Order was standing in the maintenance area of an office building. Harry was standing beside her, but he was as nervous as everyone else. Voldemort was attacking the Ministry.

Amelia Bones had warned everyone about the attack. She had sent a Patronus to Albus Dumbledore about thirty minutes ago saying that someone had sabotaged her office and it appeared the attack was starting. She sent another Patronus fifteen minutes later saying that she and several other Order members had secured the Magical Transportation Office. She never mentioned Ginny’s father. He was to return to Potter Manor as soon as possible after the attacks started. They all left the manor ten minutes ago and he still wasn’t there. Harry had transported her Mum and Madam Pomfrey to France to prepare for casualties.

Harry put his arm round her shoulders and gently kissed the side of her face. “It will be fine. We will all get out of here alive. I won’t let anything happen to you and our child.”

“You can’t forget that means you must protect yourself too.”

“I will not do anything heroic to get myself killed,” he said with his lopsided smile.

“I love you, Harry James Potter.”

“I love you two too, Ginevra Molly Weasley Potter and James Sirius Lee Potter.”

Ginny looked over Harry’s shoulder and saw Sirius pretending to retch. She started sniggering at the sight.

“If you are all done having your laughs, we have a serious situation here,” barked Alastor Moody.

Ginny smiled at Sirius as he didn’t even responded with a cheeky remark to Moody’s choice of words. Everyone knew the gravity of what they are about to do. The last group had just Portkeyed into the basement. It was time to start the attack.

“Group one you can open up the wall,” barked Moody. “A good Blasting Curse should do it.”

“I have a better idea,” said Albus Dumbledore. He raised his wand and drew glowing red lines on the wall separating them from the Ministry’s Atrium. He passed his wand along the lines a total of three times. There were a total of six sections that he had created. “Sirius levitate the top section and move it to the extreme right. Remus Levitate the next one down and move it to the right next to Sirius’s section. Ginny…,”

“My section will be beside Remus’s.”

“Harry the next section. Bill the one after that, and I will take the bottom one. If you are all ready? I will break them now.”

The Headmaster jabbed his wand at the wall. The stone where the red lines were exploded outward. Everyone had cast their Levitation Spells on the sections of wall. The opening was larger than they had ever worked with before and this was a new twist to the plan.

They moved the sections of the wall out away from them as they stepped out. Ginny could feel that there was a large crowd to their right as Moody had guessed.

“To the right, they are all to the right,” she shouted out to everyone.

Sirius quickly shifted his section of wall to the right and dropped it. He moved forward and knelt behind it. Remus followed his lead. They quickly had a low wall the hide behind to help block the spells that were being fired at them. Harry dropped his section of wall and his protective shield went up surrounding him and her. He was so nervous about her getting hit by a stray spell that he had blocked them from casting any spells.

“Harry drop the Shield. We can’t cast spells through it,” she shouted at him. “We must help them, Harry. We can’t hide behind the Shield.”

Spells were flying at them constantly. Sirius was pinned down. He was barely able to cast any spells that weren’t defensive. Remus and Bill weren’t faring much better. Albus Dumbledore was the only one able to go on the offensive. He was using the shield to protect him so he could attack. The second wave was pinned behind them and the blocks of stone. There must have been seventy wizards and witches casting spells at them. Most of them were deadly. Harry’s protective nature made their shield impenetrable. She could see Voldemort standing behind all his followers smiling.

“Harry, we need to attack or we will fail!”

Harry looked at her with a look of fear and anger. He was afraid that something was going to happen to her and the baby, but without their help this attack will fail and the Ministry will fall.

Remus let out a scream as spell hit his shoulder. The spell hit his Dragonhide cape and it still cut through to his shoulder. Sirius had blood seeping from his hair. Harry must have seen the damage to his friends. Rage filled him that Ginny had never felt before.

Their protective Shield disappeared. Harry swung his wand in a large arc. He cast an Inflamare spell as he did. The clothes of the half the front row of Death Eaters caught flame. He started firing Spell after Spell at them. The wave of the battle seemed to shift. She was able to start disabling the Death Eaters. As they were trying to extinguish their burning clothes, she was Stunning them. She didn’t care that her actions might cause them to have severe burns. She wanted to stop this battle.

The rest of their group was now standing up and taking the battle to the Death Eaters. Moody was leading the second wave out to their right. They were able to take advantage of the shift in the battle. The Death Eaters were firing spells wildly at them. Many of the spells were colliding with the walls of the Atrium and the Fountain of the Magical Brethern. Large pieces of stone fell from the walls as the errant spells started to destroy the Atrium. Many of the statues of the fountain were breaking up and falling into the water.

The Order members were more accurate. Many of the Death Eaters and their sympathizers were going down in waves. They were getting revived by others, but it still took two wands out of the battle and helped shift the battle more towards them.

Harry was firing spells at a frantic pace, but they were accurate. She was getting encouraged. She saw several of the opposition turn to retreat. Bellatrix, Voldemort, and Rodolphus Lestrange started Killing and torturing the people retreating. Their ranks turned and started fighting with more ferocity. Bellatrix and Rodolphus now joined the battle. They were casting Killing Curses.

Albus Dumbledore changed his tactics. He was Levitating blocks stone that had been blasted off from their barricades up and in the way of the Killing Curses. The blocks of stone exploded creating a stone dust in the air between the two groups.

“Move that far barricade,” shouted Moody.

“Move Bill,” yelled Harry. Bill jumped behind the block with Harry.

Harry flicked his wand and sent the block at Voldemort. It exploded with tremendous force. Large chunks of stone the size of bushel baskets flew into the line of Death Eaters. Voldemort was unharmed but Ginny could feel his anger growing. Harry must have felt it too, because he hesitated and went to grab at his head. She touched his shoulder and could feel the spike of pain in his head. It quickly disappeared after she touched him.

The second wave of the Order had split into two groups. The one group was moving quickly to the right Francis Proudfoot was leading the second wave. They had moved past Bill. It was time to move forward and engage the line of Death Eaters. The group of seventy wizards and witches that they had first engaged were now a ragtag group with their holes in their ranks. The only thing that bothered her was his Inner Circle. They would inflict damage on the Order.

“Throw the barricades,” shouted Albus Dumbledore.

Ginny Levitated her block of stone. It had large gouges out of it from all the spell fire. She sent it forward towards the line of Death Eaters. They were all casting spells to break up the blocks of stone, but it didn’t stop them completely.

One large chunk of stone flew back towards her and Harry. He put up his Shield and it just bounced off the shield and landed in the fountain. Everyone started moving forward. Moody had gathered what was left of his flank and moved to the far right. Francis Proudfoot lay dead, but the rest of his flank moved forward to the extreme left. Sirius and Remus took point for their group.

The fighting was intense and their forward progress was slow. She was hit with a Cutting Hex on the left leg. It wasn’t severe. It only slowed her down a little. As they moved forward, Harry and Albus were busy using the stones to block the Killing Curses being cast towards the Order fighters. They had been able to block most of the Killing Curses. Some still made it through, as evidenced by Francis Proudfoot’s dead body. They weren’t able to stop the cutting and Cruciatus Curses that were being cast. Many of the Order members were bleeding and some had been hit by Cruciatus Curses. Fighters beside the tortured members would pull them away from the curses breaking the torture. Others who were too injured to fight were using their Portkey to get medical help.

Remus was hit with the Cruciatus, and Sirius pulled him away from the Curse only to get hit by a Cruciatus. Ginny could see who had cast the curse and Stunned the wizard. Sirius started casting Spells before he was able to stand up.

She looked at Bill. He was looking tired and haggard, but he was still fighting fiercely. He was able to fire off Spells with great regularity, but it was obvious he was tiring quickly. She could sense that everyone around her was tiring except Harry. Why wasn’t Voldemort retreating? Most of his fighters were now down. He should realize that he wasn’t going to win.

Harry fired a Cutting Hex at Voldemort. He raised a Shield but the force of the Spell had knocked him back a few steps, but Voldemort still seemed quite pleased with how the battle was going. Ginny looked behind her, to see if there were any other fighters coming around behind her. She couldn’t see anyone, why would Voldemort be so confident.

Bill’s blood curdling scream caught her attention. She turned to see him break away from his position. He was running to his left towards the Death Eaters. Ginny stared in the direction of where Bill was running. Her blood ran cold. She saw her father lying on the ground being tortured by a Death Eater.

“No!” she screamed, and took off running towards her fallen father. She fired spell after spell at the people torturing her father. Bill and she quickly drove all the Death Eaters away from him. As her anger and fear subsided she realized that she had run too far from Harry. They had lost their magnified magical ability. She had to get to her father. She was almost to him, when Bill stopped and pointed his wand at their prone father. She couldn’t figure out why. It suddenly occurred to her, now that she was close enough to feel his emotions. This man on the ground wasn’t her father. His clothes were too new and too expensive.

It was a trap!

She sensed the Killing Curses being cast at her. It wasn’t one, but several.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Harry was frustrated. Voldemort should be retreating. The Order was able to break up his forces. Soon it would only be him and his Inner Circle. They may be formidable, but Harry was sure that he, Ginny and Dumbledore could defeat them.

A wave of emotion washed over him. It was coming from Voldemort, and it was a happy thought. Harry couldn’t concentrate on the emotions because he was busy trying to block the Killing Curses coming their direction and casting some offensive spells. He heard Remus’s scream of agony. He was going to free him from the curse but Sirius has already broke the spell. His father’s best friends were bleeding and looking worn out. He could sense people using the Portkey because their injuries were too severe to continue the fight.

Harry turned back to move closer to Voldemort’s forces. He noticed Bill moving away to the left. He was supposed to stay close to him and Ginny, to feed off of their magical power. Harry was going to tell him to come back when he felt a pull on his magic.

Ginny had also moved too far away from him. He pulled his attention away from the battle. He saw Ginny running behind Bill. He stared at where they were running for a second before another round of Killing Curses were fired. They were all aimed towards Ginny. He was able to lift enough stone off the ground to intercept all of the Killing Curses. He was getting ready to yell at her, but she had already stopped running. Something was wrong, he could see by her and Bill’s reaction.

It was then that he saw another wave of Killing Curses being cast at her. He had to get her out of there. He focused completely on her. He wanted her back in his arms. His focus was on entirely on her and ignoring everything else around him. He saw her disappear as the Killing Curses passed through the space that she had earlier occupied. However, he was helpless when he sensed the powerful Killing Curse coming at him. It was going to hit him a split second before Ginny would reappear.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Ginny knew Harry had pulled her back to him. She had been so thick to fall for that trap. Everything changed just before she reappeared. A cold iron hand grabbed her heart and made her convulse in pain. She hit something hard and warm. It was Harry. He was dead, she could feel his soul pulling at hers.

The cold that had gripped her heart was quickly spreading throughout her body. Her sight was darkening. Then she felt another pain. She had a massive contraction. She was going to die. She could feel Harry’s dead soul pulling on her, but she wasn’t going to give up that easily. She will fight pulling with all her love and desire to bring Harry back to her.

Someone grabbed her, she couldn’t focus on who it was. She had to focus through the pain of her contraction to pull Harry’s soul back to her. As her contraction eased, she felt a pull behind her navel.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

“HARRY POTTER IS DEAD!” Rang Bellatrix Lestrange’s magnified voice throughout the Atrium.

Albus stared at the place that Harry had laid with a convulsing Ginny lying on top of him. Remus and Sirius had grabbed them and activated their Portkeys. The remaining Order members all started activating their Portkeys to escape. They were taking the severally injured and dead with them.

“The Dark Lord is victorious,” screamed Bellatrix Lestrange. “All shall bow before him.”

Albus looked up and saw something encouraging. Voldemort was staggering. The Horcrux in Harry was destroyed. However, he still had two Horcruxes to destroy. Albus couldn’t stop the Ministry from falling. Reaching into his pocket, he activated the Portkey to take him back to Hogwarts.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Voldemort felt weak, but he had defeated Harry Potter. There was no one left to defeat him. The Ministry was his. All of magical Britain was now under his control. He looked out over the Atrium. There was still dust floating in the air from all the destroyed stone. It will be remade to how he wanted it to look. It would be made to honor the greatest of the Hogwarts founders Salazar Slytherin.

“Lucius,” he called. “Come to me.”

He watched as Lucius Malfoy worked his way to him, Lord Voldemort. Somehow, the title of Lord Voldemort didn’t seem glorious enough for him anymore.

“Yes, my Lord,” said Lucius as he knelt before him.

“Go and collect Cornelius Fudge.”

Lucius quickly stood up and walked to the lifts. There was one still working. He needed to get the Ministry in working order again.

“Rookwood, go and put this building in order. I want it presentable in three days. In three days, we shall redefine the place wizards and witches have in the world. We shall no longer hide and cower from Muggles. They shall become our servants. We are the superior race.”

He shouted the last line. Everyone in the Atrium cheered him. He walked to the highest pile of rubble and looked out over his followers.

“I shall lead us out of this self-imposed prison our society is in. As your leader and by my magic, I shall make us the greatest society to ever walk this world.”

Everyone started shouting and cheering again. Bellatrix climbed the pile of rubble to stand by him. She was always his most loyal follower. Maybe in three days he will make her more than that. For now he had other things to set straight. He smiled as Lucius brought a nervous looking Cornelius Fudge out of the lift. Fudge was looking around in dismay at the condition of the Atrium.

“Well if it isn’t the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge,” he said with an oily voice.

“Yes, I am the Ministry of Magic as appointed by the Wizengamot, Lord V…v…,” Fudge said. He smiled at the Minister as he went to say his name but stuttered when he couldn’t bring himself to saying it. “I would like to know why you have done this to my Ministry.”

“How dare you question the Dark Lord,” screamed Bellatrix. Her wand was out and pointing at the Minister of Magic.

He laid his hand on Bella’s arm to stop her. He saw the spineless creature quivering with fear. He was originally going to kill him quickly, but he changed his mind.

“I am Lord Voldemort and I have no need for the Wizengamot or is there any need for a Minister of Magic, because I alone shall rule. Bella make sure that Rookwood cleans up his body after you are done playing with him.”

He walked down the pile of rubble and towards the lifts. He pointed at Lucius Malfoy. “Show me to my new office. I am assigning you to be in charge of Hogwarts. Take as many of my subjects as necessary to Hogwarts and drive that Muggle lover out of the Headmasters office. I am tired of hearing about him.” He had to yell because the Minister’s screams of pain and agony were echoing off the walls and ceilings.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Albus Dumbledore stood in his office staring out the window that overlooked the school. He had called for Minerva McGonagall five minutes earlier when he first came into the office. He knew she would be here in a few seconds. She had always been a trusting assistant. She didn’t always agree with his decisions, but she always carried out his wishes.

He turned to look at the portraits of the Headmasters. “It is time for you to move to your other portraits. As being I am still the Headmaster of Hogwarts, you are all forbidden to speak of what you have seen in this office to anyone.”

“You are planning on being the last Headmaster of Hogwarts,” said the portrait of Phineas Black.

“I will not let the school fall into his hands. Shouldn’t you be moving to your other portrait?”

The image of Phineas sneered at him. “Do you remember where my other portrait is? It is in the dungeons. I am coming to an end no matter where I reside.”

“I am sorry Phineas,” sighed Albus.

“Don’t be, I wasn’t liked by anyone even when I was alive. No one will miss me.”

The door to his office opened revealing his Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

“Albus, didn’t things go well?” asked Minerva. She was wringing her hands.

“Harry Potter is dead. Voldemort has control of the Ministry. It will only be a matter of time before he comes to take control of Hogwarts. Call all the students together, I want you to try to organize the Muggle born and the half-blood students and escort them to safety.”

“Where would that be, if he has gained control?” snapped Minerva.

“I would suggest Potter Manor. Harry may have died, but the Order is still there. It is our best hope.”

“What will you do?”

“I am going to remain here and ensure that the school doesn’t fall into his hands,” Albus said. He saw the disbelief in Minerva’s eyes. “Do not worry about me. Please take care of the students. If he gets them, I shudder to think what he would do to them. I have something else for you to do for me.”

He moved to his desk and opened one of the lower drawers. He pulled out a wand holster and removed the wand that he received all those years ago before going to Hogwarts. Placing the Elder wand in the holster he handed it to Minerva.

“Please do not use that wand. When the time is right, and it no longer has a master, break it.”

“What, why would I do that? What are you going to use for a wand?”

“I have my original wand. That was the wand I took from Geller. Now go and collect the students.”

Minerva looked at him, but she didn’t question him. She left to collect the students. Albus walked over and removed the ancient book written by three of the founders. He sat down and stared at it. He never thought it would come to this; no, he had hoped it would not come to this.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Ron Weasley was wondering what was going on today. During breakfast the Headmaster, Bill, Harry, Ginny, Professor Lupin, and Professor Black all left in a hurry. He wasn’t the only one that noticed. So far today, none of them came back except for the Headmaster. Fred and George have been checking with the Marauders Map every few minutes. The Headmaster had returned. Now they had been called to the great hall. Whatever is happening, it isn’t good.

Professor McGonagall stood up in front of them, not Professor Dumbledore. “The Ministry has fallen. We are closing Hogwarts. All students have one hour to collect their possessions. You will go to Hogsmeade where your parents will collect you.”

The great hall erupted with protests.

“Silence! This is not negotiable. Now return to your houses and get your things ready to leave.”

“The Dark Lord will hear about this,” shouted Draco Malfoy.

The Slytherins started shouting at the other three houses. Soon there were skirmishes between the houses.

The walls of the great hall shook with an explosion from the Headmasters wand.

“You all shall leave now,” he shouted from the doorway leading to the great hall.

“Maybe we should stay and you should leave, Mugglelover.” Someone shouted from the crowd of the Slytherins.

The Headmaster raised his wand without saying anything. Grating sounds could be heard from the entrance hall. Ron looked at Hermione who looked excited about something. Soon the suits of armor and the statues started entering the great hall.

“Remove the Slytherin students,” he commanded the suits of armor and the statues.

Ron started laughing at the looks on the Slytherins faces as they were escorted out of the great hall by Hogwarts armor and statues. A tap on his shoulder made him turn to see Professor McGonagall look grave at him. “I need a word with you, Mr. Weasley.”

He looked and saw his three brothers standing behind her. She walked to a side room where she took the first years before sorting. She closed the door and cleared her throat. “I don’t know how to say this, so I will just say it. Harry Potter is dead. The Order of Phoenix is in shambles right now.”

“How did he die?” Ron heard himself asking. Everything seemed so surreal at the moment.

“Killing Curse by He-who-must-not-be-named. That isn’t all. Since you are all high risk because of your parents and sisters involvement in the Order of Phoenix, the Headmaster and I feel it wouldn’t be safe if you left with the other students. I am going to be escorting the Muggleborns, the half-bloods, and the other high risk students to Potter Manor in Scotland. I feel that you should come along for your safety.”

“I am willing to help you, Professor,” said Percy. “I am Head Boy.”

“We have all had extra training,” said Fred.

“In case this day ever came,” said George.

“I’m going to help too,” shouted Ron.

“All right, Thank you. Prepare something that you can carry easily. We will be walking for days. Meet me by Hagrid’s hut in one hour and don’t be late.”

Ron watched Professor McGonagall leave. He was numb. His sister by now was dead along with her baby. How could life be so cruel? The numb void he had when he heard that Harry had died was now filling up with anger. He realized he isn’t extremely strong, but he was going to fight the bloody Death Eaters with everything he had.

He ran up to Gryffindor tower to be met by a confusing sight. So many of the fellow Gryffindors were looking like they were getting ready to hike to Potter Manor. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were packing a Rucksack. He wasn’t surprised by that, but Neville was also packing a backpack. Ron remembered his family was involved with the Order during the first war. No one spoke to each other as they packed. Ron led the group down the stairs to find Hermione waiting for them. She looked scared.

She flung herself into Ron’s arms surprising and embarrassing him slightly. “I am so sorry about your brother-in-law. Have you heard from your sister?”

“No, I haven’t,” he said harshly to her.

She looked at him as if he had slapped her. He didn’t have time to worry about her emotions right now. He just possibly lost several members of his family.

“We need to walk to Hagrid’s hut,” he told Hermione. Ron looked around and saw that there were about fifty Gryffindors preparing to walk to Potter Manor.

They walked as a group out of the portrait hole. As they walked to Hagrid’s, they met people from Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. Susan Bones pushed her way through the crowd until she was beside Ron. She didn’t hug him. She just looked at him and whispered. “I’m sorry. Professor Potter was a good man.”

When they reached the entrance hall, there was another group waiting for them; House Elves. They continued with Percy in the lead towards Hagrid’s. As they were walking the Head Girl, Penelope Clearwater, moved through the crowd to walk beside Percy. When they arrived at Hagrid’s, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were waiting for them.

“I don’t have to tell you that you will be in danger if you go on this trip. The sad thing is you will probably be in less danger than if you stayed or had gone to Hogsmeade. I just learned that the Minister of Magic had been murdered and the Wizengamot has been disbanded.

“The trip will be slow and tedious. We must stay together, if we are to survive. Hagrid will be leading us until we get through the Forbidden Forest. Then Percy Weasley, Professor Flitwick, and I will take turns leading us. We have many miles to travel. The House Elfs have brought some food for us. We must eat conservatively. Let us begin....”

Professor McGonagall was interrupted by the sound of hooves clomping out of the woods. It looked as if the entire herd of centaurs were standing there.

“Bane, what do you want?” asked Hagrid.

“We are all on the same journey, Hagrid,” said the large dark Centaur. “We must all walk until we pass off of Hogwarts grounds, if we are to survive. We cannot waste time standing here and talking. Your foals are slow and will make it difficult to pass through the forest. My herd will guide you to the edge of
Hogwarts land. We will even travel along with you for many more days, before we must part ways.

“We must leave now and we cannot stop until we are safe off Hogwarts land.”

“We can’t make these children walk for hours without rest,” said Professor McGonagall.

“If they do not than they will be destroyed with the castle,” said Bane.

“What are you gettin’ on ‘bout. Albus Dumbledore wouldn’t destroy Hogwarts,” shouted Hagrid.

“We have long known that he was going to be the last Headmaster of Hogwarts. The lion would rather destroy that which he loves than see it defiled by the snake. Gaze one last time upon the castle, but do not linger for we must hurry or we too may die.”

A murmuring arose from all the students. Ron saw Hermione was pale as she stared at the castle. He loved that place even though it was a school. It was one other thing he would use for motivation when he starts fighting Death Eaters.

[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Minerva McGonagall stared at the castle. So many years of her life was spent there. She realized that Albus was going to do something radical, but she couldn’t imagine that he would or could destroy the castle.

She thought of the wand he gave her. It was also a strange thing to do at this time. She checked up her sleeve to ensure the wand was still there. She touched the ribbon bracelet Portkey that Harry had made her, as she checked on the wand. She might as well take it off since it would have quit working now. It was braided from a ribbon her mother used to tie her hair up. Another idea popped into her head, taking her wand she cast a Detection Charm on the Portkey, to her surprise it glowed a bright blue.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

This story archived at http://www.siye.co.uk/siye/viewstory.php?sid=129631