"We rode on the winds of the rising storm,
We ran to the sounds of the thunder.
We danced among the lightning bolts,
and tore the world asunder"-Robert Jordan-Crossroads of Twilight
"Veni, Vidi, Vici"-Julius Caeser
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill
"All I see give to me, that is my decree.
My will be done"-Sabaton-Carolus Rex
One by one, they exited the Cabinet. The towering debris threatened to collapse on them, the footsteps of the small army making the ground tremble.
He looked over at Snape.
"Can you guys attack the Wards from in here?"
He shook his head, his sallow face appearing more pinched than usual.
"No. It is not-not truly a part of the Castle. We need to enter"
"But once you're inside, anywhere's fine, right?"
Snape and Rookwood both answered at the same time.
"Yes"
"And you guys won't be able to fight or anything? While you're busy?"
"No"
"Fine. We head out. There's an old, empty room, about halfway down the corridor. On the right of the Room. You guys work in there. We'll cover you"
"How-"
He ignored him, turning to the wolves.
"Jason. Take your people. You'll take the left side of the corridor. I want some guarding it, the rest moving on. Kill everyone you come across unless they're a kid and they surrender"
"How old?" He growled.
"If they look under fourteen or fifteen. Don't assume they'll surrender"
The wolf nodded, turning to his squad and beginning to divide them up.
"Me, Daphne, Blaise, Horatio, Morag, Andrea, Jeremy, Xavier, and Derrick will move further into the school, from the right of the corridor. Everyone else, guard the classroom"
He locked eyes with Snape again.
"How long do you think it'll take?"
"An hour. Maybe two"
"That long?"
Snape sneered at him. "Potter, the original Wards on Hogwarts were the most complex of their time. They have only been strengthened with the passage of time and the additions of the intervening headmasters. If I hadn't worked here so long, if Waffling hadn't given us the information she did, it would be all but impossible"
"Fine. Just join in when you're done. Ok. Let's move out people. Fucking kill them all"
Blaise gripped Horatio's arm tightly, holding him in place as everyone made their way to the exit.
"Don't you die on me" He whispered. "Don't you fucking dare"
"I won't"
"Hey! Guys! Come on! We can't get separated this early!"
They reluctantly followed.
As the group exited the Room, a suit of armor in a small alcove diagonally opposite the door straightened up.
It took a ponderous step forward, it's helmet creaking as it slowly turned to face them.
It smashed the bottom of its spear into the floor three times, the loud banging echoing through the castle.
And as it's spear came to face them, a loud banging could be heard from the lower floors, as the other suits of armor answered its call.
Harry's Reducto hit it in the chest, succeeding only in knocking it back into the wall.
"Jason. Go" he called, not taking his eyes of the armor as it slowly straightened itself.
And with a howling cry, the wolves ran in the opposite direction.
As Snape's curse hit the suit, blasting it apart, a ghost appeared.
It took Harry a moment to recognize it as the Gryffindor Ghost.
It looked different, less grey and more black.
Its eyes were wide, wild and angry.
Before anyone could banish it, it shrieked.
The sound was horrific, like nails on a chalkboard through a Sonorous.
It blocked out thought, canceled actions as it dug its way into his brain.
Harry found himself on the floor, hands over his ears, blood dripping through his fingers.
It finally ended, and the ghost disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
He got to his feet shakily and looked around him.
"To that fucking room. Let's fucking start already"
And from around the castle, clanking and ghostly screams could be heard, mingling with the wolves' inhuman howling, merging with the sound of spellfire and shouts.
War had come to Hogwarts.
The Dark Lord raised His wand, His movement mirrored by ten chosen Death Eaters around Him.
"Remember. Leave the anti-apparition, anti-portkey, and muggle repellants. Destroy everything else. Someone signal the creatures"
As He and those of His followers who had been selected for their experience with Wards began to work, one of the Death Eaters behind them raised his wand.
A firework shot out of it, flying high above the ground, coming in line with the spire of the Astronomy Tower before exploding, lighting up the entire night sky.
And as Voldemort and His chosen few set to destroying the Hogwarts Wards, the ground outside the Forbidden Forest rumbled.
On the side of the Forest away from Hogwarts, the side uncovered by the Wards, an army of monsters charged.
Werewolves ran alongside Vampires, shrill, high-pitched calls echoing and seeming to bounce off of the howls not meant for human throats.
Three giants bellowed as they ran, uprooting trees and throwing them ahead as they went.
And a horde of Dementors flowed silently through the trees, their cloaks making no sound as they dragged seamlessly along the ground.
"Sir, What should we do?"
He looked over at them, at the group of puffed up children standing before his throne, awaiting his orders.
He had trained them, every single one.
And now he would send them to die.
"The elves are evacuating the children?"
Dean Thomas swallowed but kept his back straight.
"They were. But-but they can't apparate out anymore. Everyone below the fifth year is barricaded in the kitchens. The elves say they're allowed to fight, to protect them"
' So he doesn't simply discount the elves. Clever'
Grindelwald calmed the trembling in his hand, letting the Elder Wand's deathly song fill his veins.
"Fight. Kill. Give no quarter"
Thomas nodded, and the group began to leave his presence.
They didn't talk among themselves as they walked out. They made no jokes, sang no songs.
They knew what the outcome would be.
Grindelwald waited until they had left before standing.
' Curse you, Albus. Curse you to Hell and back'
He made his way to one of the smaller dungeons, to where his remaining two waited, safe in the clutches of unconsciousness.
He simply stood there and stared for a minute, trying to make up his mind.
And with a sigh, he raised his Wand.
' As terrible as another death will be, as damaging as it will most certainly prove itself. Every wand is necessary. And if they are found here, once the battle is over, they will share Fred's fate. Far better to perish fighting'
"Ennervate"
Minerva McGonagall stood, adding the finishing touches to her robe.
As shields went, it was not amazing. But it would be far better than nothing.
She turned around, taking in every detail of the office for what she was certain would be the last time.
The portraits were silent, every single one of them.
All of them were there, having returned from their positions around the castle to bid one final farewell to her.
To the last true Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Her gaze met Albus'.
He nodded at her, tears streaking his face.
"Good luck, Minerva. Fight well"
As if it broke the dam, the other portraits immediately began chiming in.
"Give them what for, eh!"
"Show them why you're the Head!"
"Kill them all!"
Her gaze stayed locked on Albus, on the crying visage of her mentor and hero.
She turned and walked out of the office, drawing her wand.
Harry and Daphne jumped, sliding into a classroom, curses and hexes flying through the air where they had just been.
He looked at her in the dim light.
Their faces were splattered with blood, their clothes singed, small bruises and cuts dotting them both.
They had been fighting for what felt like hours, coming up against students, security trolls, suits of armor, and traps left behind.
His leg throbbed where some plant had attacked him, tearing through his robes and ripping open his skin.
He felt a dull ache in his ribs where one of the suits of armor had gotten him with a spear. He hadn't been impaled, but he was sure he had a broken rib or two.
And he had never felt so alive before.
Explosions and screams filled the castle, shouted incantations and rabid yells.
He leaned over and kissed her savagely, wanton desire filling his mind.
"Let's try to get another pet" she whispered, breaking the kiss.
He smiled.
They could hear the enemy group slowly approaching the classroom door. She took a step back as his wand began to twist and turn.
And he jumped out of the door, screaming in mid-air.
"FIENDFYRE!"
Filius Flitwick looked around, his fingers curled tight, the sharp nails digging into his skin.
"You will be able to do it?"
Pomona and Poppy nodded, both of them looking far more serious than he had ever before seen them.
Some of the children were still crying, no matter what the house-elves said or did. Mostly the younger ones, but their terror was infectious.
He looked around the kitchens again.
The children sat huddled in small groups, mostly on the floor. They talked quietly among themselves, the older ones comforting their younger companions.
Around each group, a few elves stood. Some armed with knives and cleavers, some with their little hands balled into fists.
They lived to serve the students of Hogwarts. They were prepared to die to serve them as well.
He didn't allow his eyes to settle on the earthenware pots scattered around the kitchens, the soil leaking over the tops.
"Do you think it'll work, Filius? Do you think they'll accept it?"
He looked at Pomona and sighed, feeling his age.
Feeling like the last member of an extinct race.
"If you phrase it correctly, he should. Blame the rest of us. Blame Grindelwald. Tell them how you did not take part in the fighting, and simply retreated here to save as many of the children as you could"
A single tear made its way down her face.
"Will you not stay with us?"
He shook his head sadly, his right hand drawing his wand as his left pulled out a long knife.
He stared into the blade, remembering how it had been given to him the day his Hogwarts Letter arrived. Remembering his grandfather's exhortations not to forget his heritage, not to forget his blood.
"I may only be part-goblin," he said, his voice far harder than its usual squeak, "but my grandfather's blood cries out for vengeance. The blood of my people cries for vengeance. Farewell, Pomona. May we meet in another world"
He looked at the pots as he walked out, the house-elves making way for him and unbarring the door.
He looked at them, and thought of the careful charms he had applied, ensuring that the sounds of their contents would be heard throughout the castle.
Ensuring that if Pomona and Poppy's surrender was not accepted, Hogwarts would become a burial ground for all its occupants.
His lips twisted into a cold sneer, his incisors peeking out, and he thought about the cry of the Mandrakes.
Cho Chang turned around the corner, and immediately slashed her wand through the air, shouting out "Reducto!"
The werewolf flew through the air, long nails flashing as his hands clawed at nothing.
He smashed into a wall and somehow managed to land on his feet.
An animalistic face turned toward her, its features somehow lacking any semblance of humanity.
"Little bitch," he growled, "I'll feast on your tits"
As he leaped through the air, her mind focused into a sharp point, all of Grindelwald's lessons showing their effects.
' You don't deserve life'
"Avada Kedavra!"
She felt nothing but satisfaction as the beast fell to the ground.
She stood there for a moment, looking down at his body and taking pride in her kill until a soft moaning broke her reverie.
"Oh! Fuck, Lavender!"
She kneeled next to the girl, stroking her cut face, blood soaking its way through the Gryffindor's robes.
"Shhh. It's gonna be ok. It's gonna be ok"
She started to cry, as Lavender's breathing slowed.
"No! Lavender! It's-it's-we'll get you Madam Pomfrey-hospital wing-"
But Madam Pomfrey wouldn't be there. She would be down with the younger kids, hiding from all the death.
The full horror of the war suddenly struck her, the death and destruction she had seen cutting its way into her mind, and she began to sob.
And suddenly, her mind was empty, filled with a pleasantly relaxed feeling, all her pain and fear and heartbreak washed away.
' Stand up. Turn around'
And because the thought was hers, she did, coming face to face with a pockmarked man with empty eyes.
' Find your friends. Kill them'
' Wait. That isn't right. I don't want to-'
Her train of thought vanished, crushed brutally into nothingness.
' It's completely right. Let them have painless deaths, as opposed to what the Death Eaters will do. Give them peace'
Something didn't seem right about that, but who was she to argue?
She turned around and walked off, leaving Augustus Rookwood standing in the corridor with a small smirk.
The Death Eater advanced on the screaming girl.
He ended the spell, letting her stay on the floor in a trembling heap.
"You stupid little bitch," he said, his voice tinged with a heavy European accent, "you have no idea who you are fighting against. I'm sure Potter will be most pleased when I give you to him, and-"
His wand dropped out of his hand, rolling away from unfeeling fingers.
His mouth opened once or twice, a small line of blood drooling out.
He fell forward, revealing Minerva McGonagall standing a few meters away, her lips pursed tightly.
"Miss Bones? Are you all right?"
Susan nodded shakily.
"Well then. Up you get. And next time, do make sure to use a lethal curse"
Two of the giants bellowed as they grabbed their traitorous, smaller relative.
With a loud cry, they hefted him, throwing him through the air and into the castle walls.
Masonry screamed as it broke.
They bellowed again, and ran at him, ignoring the tiny thing near their legs that screamed it's half-brother's name.
The Inferi turned to face him as he walked forward, their groaning cries filling the air as they advanced, waving rotting arms.
Sanguini snorted and raised his own hand, the intricately painted fingernails glittering eerily in the starlight.
Vampires did not have magic, not in the same way that humans or other magical creatures did.
But what they did have, was Necromancy.
An untrained, newborn vampire was as powerful a Necromancer as the most exceptional wizard.
And one such as him, a clan leader who had turned thousands over the centuries.
Well, he was an entirely different story.
His hand came down, and every Inferius on the grounds of Hogwarts collapsed, the magic that had given them a parody of life fleeing their bodies.
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