Never the Two Shall Meet

As soon as he is out of sight the remaining Death Eaters take up the battle once again. Spells continue to fly around the room, and I can’t help but wonder how everyone else is doing as I can’t hear any noises around the castle any longer.

We fight for another hour or so, only stopping when all of the Death Eaters suddenly clutched their wrists. The Dark Lord must be calling them as they turn to the younger versions of themselves to talk in a rush before they all turn to leave the room. I just now realize I can’t hear anything because nothing is happening right now. They must have a plan of some sort, but I don’t know what it is.

We watch as they all file out, stopping again to form a line facing us as they exit the castle. Going out the front doors to see what is happening I am sickened by the sight of Voldemort walking across the grounds like he owned the place. Following close behind him a large group of Death Eaters come. The biggest one in the front is carrying something bulky and angular. It isn’t until they stop in front of us that I realize he is carrying Harry’s body.

I almost collapse as I see him hanging limply from the big man's arms. Ron puts his arms up just in time to stop me from falling.

“I have won. Here is the body of your so called hero. He didn’t put up much of a fight this time. Such a shame really, I was so looking forward to it. No matter though. I have proven that no one can beat Lord Voldemort.” He smiles with a sickening kind of glee. “Now I will give you all a chance to join my ranks. If you do not join me then I’m afraid you must die.”

“I would never join you!” cried Neville.

“Than you shall be the first to die.” Voldemort raises his wand then changing his mind lowers it and starts making strange hissing noises. It’s not until Nagini is in sight that we figure out what he is up to.

“I’m not afraid of you or your snake,” Neville yelled as he saw Nagini heading towards him. “I will die if I must but I will die for Harry and for Dumbledore. They are true leaders. You're just a murderer.”

Nagini is almost upon him. As he finishes his speech something odd happens. The Sorting Hat suddenly appears on Neville’s head. I am standing beside him as the hat appears, so I hear the thunk as something inside the hat hits him. He quickly pulls it off, looking to see what it was. Reaching in he pulls out the shiny object.

Without thinking Neville lifts it over his head, where the light glints off the steel, suddenly swinging the sword down onto Nagini’s head. The giant snake stops moving at once as its head lolls to the side. Neville stands in shock as he drops the Sword of Gryffindor at his feet.

“Nooooo!!!” cries Voldemort, seeing his pet still before him. “Kill them all. But I will take care of Dumbledore.”

As he speaks to his servants we all quickly back into the school again. Spells start flying as we lead the Death Eaters into the Great Hall. The battle rages on as more screams are heard and more people fall.

I notice Fluer is engaged with Sirius’s evil cousin Bellatrix. I watch as Fluer ducks out of the way of a curse. Firing one back as Bellatrix turns to avoid it, letting out a wild cackle as she aims again.

“I’m going to rid this place of at least one Weasley. Ava…”

“Not my daughter in law you bitch!” Mrs. Weasley cries as she suddenly steps in front of Fluer aiming. A quick swish of her wand and Bella falls unconscious to the floor.

As I turn back to the room wanting to see what is going on I spot a Death Eater just as he fires off a spell at me. I try to duck as I hear…

“Sectumsempra!”

Realizing I’m not going to make it out of the way I scream as I feel the spell hit. I look down at the blood suddenly flowing from cuts across my body. Hearing my scream Severus comes running, catching me as I fall. I hear him whispering the counter curses to stop the bleeding but I am having trouble focusing through the pain.

“No, they’ll see. Leave me,” I beg weakly.

“I’m not leaving you. I made a promise.”

“Severus, why are you near that Mudblood? Have you been disloyal to me?” Voldemort has seen us as he turns from his fight with Dumbledore at the shouts of his other servants. “Get away from her at once.”

“Please, do as he says. I don’t want him to kill you. You promised you would be alright.”

He steps back as I mention his promise to me, knowing there is nothing else he can do.

“Crucio!”

Severus falls to his knees beside me screaming. Voldemort continues to hold his wand on Severus for several minutes, as I watch him scream in pain. Not realizing I have added my screams to his. He finally passes out and I pull myself to him to make sure he is still alive. I can hear his heart beating, but it is very faint.

Almost unconscious as I am I see everything as if it is in slow motion.

Voldemort removes the curse from Severus turning to resume his battle with Dumbledore, who had been holding off a few Death Eaters while Voldemort was occupied. The two return to the dance of firing and dodging each other's curses until the aid of his minions gives him the upper hand.

“I have waited a long time to get rid of you, Dumbledore. Now that the time is here it seems almost a waste to kill you.”

“Then don’t Tom. It isn’t too late. You can make amends. The first step is to ask for help. I will do my best to help you, Tom.”

“Foolish old man. I would never ask for help from you! I will control the Wizarding World and rid us of the filthy Muggles the way my ancestor Salazaar wanted.” He is flourishing his wand around as he talks. “I will be the most reveared Wizard in History.”