How They Fell

Chapter Forty Five


Harry woke a couple of hours later grumbling because of the people running noisily up and down the stairs. The groan was replaced by a smile that refused to disappear in the time it took him to shower and get dressed.

As he walked into the Great Hall the first thing he saw was Draco’s blond hair. He tilted his head down trying to hide his smile and made his way over to the Gryffindor table, making sure to sit facing Draco.

Hermione and Ron were already there along with most of seventh year. Without anything to do most had got used to waking up late and breakfast on a Sunday always continued until ten.

The relaxed atmosphere of post exams was having an effect on the rest of the school. The majority of the students were still in the hall, walking between tables to sit and talk with their friends. Everyone seemed happy and carefree and Harry couldn’t help but grin widely as he sat down with his friends.

“You look cheerful Harry.” Hermione commented.

“I know. It’s just that everyone’s so relaxed, it’s nice.” He said helping himself to food and shooting a glance across the hall to find that Draco was smiling at him. It filled him with warmth and made his insides flip over.

“Yeah, even the teachers.” Ron pointed to the empty staff table.

Harry turned to look at it, a slight frown on his forehead.

“That’s strange.” Said Hermione. “Generally there is always a teacher looking over things.”

Ron shrugged. “More freedom for us, I don’t mind!”

Just then the post arrived with the familiar whoosh of owls that had so surprised Harry on his first day. One of them landed in front of him to drop off Hermione’s paper. Harry untied it while Hermione dug around in her pockets for some change. He flipped the paper open and his eyes were caught by the headline.

Ministry Attacked! War Begins! Minister of Magic dead!

The Ministry of Magic was attacked and overrun last night. The number of victims are unknown and the country has been declared to be in a state of national emergency.

At present not much information is available. What reporters do know was that at around four o’clock last night, just before the workday was due to end, the floo connections were cut off and the anti-Apparation wards strengthened. Those that have escaped described mass confusion amongst the ministry workers and officials when it was discovered that they were unable to leave the building. However, messages from high up insisted that there was no danger, that the ministry was safe. Half an hour later this message was proved to be utterly wrong as hundreds of death eaters Apparated into the building.

Survivors then describe the terror that followed, they say that a few brave individuals tried to stand and fight, but were quickly overcome, while most ran for their lives. But with no way of exiting the building it is suspected that many have been killed. Those that escaped managed to do so because of the brave work of the Portkey office. They all tell similar tales of panic and hysteria. Several say that they witnessed the mass execution of many of the Ministers of the most important departments. They describe how Minister Fudge was saved until last and how they gloated when he was killed. They even state that it was a curse from you-know-who that did it.

The description from witnesses vary, some say that there were many killed and tortured, others, instead emphasise the panic of those trying to flee the Death Eaters. However there is still a small degree of hope. There are reports of pockets of resistance. Some workers fled down into the courtrooms at the lowest level of the ministry and have barred them from attack. It has also been stated that the Aurors warded themselves off, protecting as many people as possible.

At this time there does not seem as though there is much to be done…

But there Harry was interrupted. The doors of the great hall had slammed open and Snape stood in the centre of them, his black robes billowing, his face pale.

“There will be no interruptions! No gossiping! And no noise until I have finished, is that understood?”

Silence resounded through the hall. Eyes flicked from one bemused student to another, but there was a bold of intensity that ran through them all, no one had heard the potions master speak in such a voice before. To Harry’s ears it sounded hollow.

“What some of you have read in the papers is true. Voldemort and his followers attacked the ministry last night.”

There were gasps from around the hall, but Snape did not pause, and they did not speak.

“Many are suspected dead, including the Minister for Magic. The ministry is overrun and the second war has begun.”

Complete silence reigned.

“But there is still hope as the Prophet emphasises. The Order of the Phoenix attacked the Ministry at full strength this morning. Many are dead and with only some Death Eaters taken in retribution. The Aurors have been freed and they will now fight alongside the Order. We have yet to reach the bottom levels of the ministry so little is still known. The headmaster wishes me to lead you into the dungeons, the Slytherin Common room is the best defended and more will be told to you…”

But Harry had stopped listening. He felt as though iron bars were falling down all around him, blocking him into a tighter and tighter space, the clanks filling his head as blackness swirled around him.

It had come.

Finally, now, after seven years of waiting it had come and there were things he had to do.

His eyes squeezed shut, the paper crinkled beneath his fingers as he tried to orientate himself, building determination. Looking up he took in Ron’s green and worried face, the tears in Hermione’s eyes, the way that all the students sat absolutely silent turned towards Snape. He saw the terror, horror, anger and shock evident in everyone’s faces, from those in seventh year right through to the eleven year old first years.

Then, with the feeling that the world was focusing in, his eyes turned to Draco until Draco was all he seemed to see. It didn’t surprise him that Draco was looking strait back at him. His eyes burned with some mixture of emotions which seemed to hit through Harry’s chest, and he had to blink to make sure he could do this.

He had to do it. He had no choice.

He shook his head slowly, his eyes burning to convey all his regret, all his sorrow.

He watched as Draco’s eyes shone brighter, sitting utterly still before he nodded, jerkily once.

They continued to look at each other until the hall broke out into chaos around them. Then Harry blinked and looked away.

It was surreal watching the school breakdown, his ears still ringing with the silence of before, mixed in with the soft sound that Draco made in the back of his throat when they kissed. It drowned out the crying of students so that they cried silently, all their grief and horror evident wordlessly.

His eyes swept over the room once more, the images imprinting themselves into his memory. The younger students crying, the older pale and shaking, Earny Mcmillan desperately clinging to Hannah Abbot, Neville with his eyes still fixed on Snape trying to hope that it had never been heard. His fists gripped the table once more, blackness surrounding him. His eyes swept back to Draco briefly, then coldly and stiffly he stood and looked across to Snape. Their eyes met and silence fell once more as Harry walked determinedly, past Snape and out of the Hall.

Fin.

(Author's note: Thanks everyone!!!(sorry) xxx)