Of Lions and Wards2 Chapter29

Chapter Twenty Nine: The Battle:

God had to be on their side Severus mused as he stood waiting for Voldemort's forces to show up. They had the full day before to get ready and now the students, staff, centaurs, half giants (full blooded giants had died out fifty years prior) dwarves and the villagers of Hogsmeade waited. The students stood behind a solid wall of shields, the only way to tell what house they were was by the border of their shields. Slytherin green and silver stood by Gryffindor crimson and gold, Hufflepuff black and gold by blue and bronze Ravenclaw. No-one stood by house anymore, students and even villagers stood together waiting. Fourth year and above stood grimly waiting for the attack.

Most looked in awe at Severus, he was clad in silvery goblin made armor with sliver and green robes. His green cloak flowed behind him and he had shield in one hand and wand in the other. The Slytherin crest was on the front of his surcoat and he looked every bit the heir of Slytherin. He looked noble and fierce as he walked back and forth making sure everyone was in their place. He kept the students attention even when they wanted to look back where Harry was standing feeling ridiculous. He too was in armor with crimson robes trimmed in gold with the Gryffindor crest on front of his robes. He was very self-conscious about how he was attired now.

"Headmaster tell me again why I am in armor?" Harry asked.

"To protect you, you will have to fight Voldemort, I do not wish you harmed." Dumbledore said.

"I feel silly sir." Harry said.

"You look noble Harry." McGonagall said. "You are our champion, you must look the part."

"Why do I have the feeling everyone is having way too much fun with this?" Harry said feeling very nervous.

"They are coming!" Severus shouted.

Near the back the centaurs waited, steel bows in hand with silver tipped arrows on the string. They were clad in the armor that had been made who knew how long before for them. A chill was felt and the students shifted feeling nervous as they knew the Dementors were coming. They had abandoned Azkaban and now were at the head of Voldemort's army coming their way. Harry was hoping the theory on the Patronus would work or the Dementors would make short work of them. Hundreds of Dementors could be seen floating a few inches over the field to them and the students stuffed chocolate into their mouths and waited for the signal. Severus gave it and at once the students shouted in unison and light came from their wands, connected and created a bright light so bright Harry had to shield his face. When it faded not one Dementor remained on the field, the Patronus shield had destroyed them all.

"Lovely, Inferti." Neville said near Harry, "I really don't like Inferti."

"Zombies oh joy." Sirius said, next to Harry with bow and arrows.

"I knew Remus was right in that you should not have been allowed to watch Night of the Living Dead." Harry muttered.

"Great movie, but Thriller is better."

"You sure you know how to use that?" Harry asked him looking at Sirius with his bow and arrow .

"Yea, I used to practice at home, it annoyed my dear mother but as it kept me out of trouble my father allowed it." Sirius said fitting arrow to string. "Only time my mother dared not beat or hex me as I could have shot one of the portraits or one of her dark objects."

"Nice family." Remus said dryly.

"And you wonder why I ran away from home at sixteen." Sirius said. "Dear mum was going to kill me."

"Wow that is not a nice thing to do." Harry said.

"No, look sharp!" Remus going to get in position.

On a signal from Severus again the silver tipped potion dipped arrows hit the Inferti "killing" most on contact. The students took up their spears but did not have to use them at this moment as Severus drew his sword and on this signal the centaurs charged and hued the heads of the Inferti leaving them "dead" on the field. The battle was far from over as sadly hundreds of Werewolves from all over the world and under Grayback came up to fight. Once more silver tipped arrows dipped in potion hit the werewolves and killed many outright. Remus hated seeing this but he knew it had to be done. He took a silver tipped spear in gloved hands and speared a werewolf that had come too close to McGonagall.

The students were not using magic, magic was not as good for this work as the spears and shields they were using. Many students were doing their best not to cry as battle can be a traumatic time even when you are fighting for freedom and the light. Still no-one broke rank and every one fought bravely as the werewolves and the remaining Inferti tried to take out the students. Finally when the students were not sure they could kill another dark creature or werewolf it was over. Voldemort's main army was defeated and all he had left were death eaters to fight for him. Severus held up his hand and Harry came forward to as Voldemort himself came forward to face the students and staff of Hogwarts.

"Hello Tom." Harry said calmly facing the black clad Voldemort. "This isn't very nice to attack a school."

"You insolent child, you think this will stop me?" Voldemort said looking over the students.

"Um yea I do, your Dementors are dead, your Inferti, dark creatures and werewolves too." Harry said. "I am giving you one last chance." Harry took up the magical megaphone used at Quidditch matches so everyone would hear him. "I have a power that lord Voldemort has not, I have warned him of this months ago and still he attacks me. I wish no bloodshed of any here."

"Yet you have killed my army." Voldemort hissed at Harry.

"Peace, let Harry speak!" Severus snapped at him.

"How dare you…"

"I am the true heir of Slytherin, as are any students of my house." Severus said. "You are not of us!"

"I would like to speak to the followers of Voldemort, those who surrender now, and pledge to never go to evil and renounce their wicked ways will be given mercy. The minister wishes to mend broken relations and has agreed that you will serve seven years probation with magical restriction. You will not go to Azkaban, we do not wish to punish you but to have you come back to your brothers and sisters."

"Can I speak?" Draco had come forward to stand by Harry. "Father I know you are there, please is not family worth more than a dark lord who uses you as his slave? Mother and I wish you to come be with us."

He handed the megaphone back to Harry and waited. Someone stared to walk forward and threw off his mask and hood. Harry was shocked to see it was Rabastan who came forward first and fell to his knees before a shocked Neville Longbottom begging his forgiveness for not stopping Bellatrix. Another death eater stepped forward and cast off his hood to show his platinum locks and pale face. Lucius Malfoy stepped forward and hugged his son and went with him to where Narcissa stood. A flood gate was opened and two thirds of Voldemort's followers abandoned him that day to come and stand with those on the side of good. If Lucius Malfoy was going to abandon the dark lord then he was doing so because Voldemort really was weak and they better side with the winning side.

"Tom I now speak to you, will you yield?" Harry asked.

"I will not yield to you, you all have betrayed me!" Voldemort screamed.

"No!" Severus roared looking crazed with anger. "You betrayed us my lord you gave false promises, told us we would conquer death and a new kinder world would be ours, all you gave us was death and hatred, fear and pain!"

"You dare speak to me this way Severus?" Voldemort said. "I who am the heir of the house you lead?"

"You are not the heir of Slytherin Tom, Professor Severus and those in his house are." Harry said coldly. "You have no house, you are cast out."

"You dare speak for Salazar?" Voldemort said.

"I have seen him, I have spoke to him." Harry said. "He renounced you."

"You lie." Voldemort hissed.

"He does not Tom." Dumbledore said stepping forward.

"One more thing you must know." Harry said. "Your Horcruxes were found and destroyed."

"No you lie, you wicked child!" Voldemort howled.

Harry conjured up a table and drew from his pocket a small bag. From there he dumped the Horcruxes on the table and Voldemort howled in rage. Harry watched him calmly, the students were in awe at how he could stay so calm in the face of such an evil, powerful wizard. Dumbledore had put a hand on Harry's shoulder and that calmed the boy even further. At this moment Nagini was slithering through the grass getting ready to strike Harry. Neville saw this and threw his spear and pierced it through the snake's head, he retrieved his spear with his wand and went back to the shield line. High above Charlie steered his dragon to swoop down and she took up the snake and made a meal of her quickly. Voldemort howled in rage at the loss of his familiar and Horcrux.

"Last chance Tom, surrender or die." Harry said.

"I will kill you, you little brat!" Voldemort snarled.

"Tom you are a fool, you have lost yes but if you continue you will lose your life this day." Dumbledore said.

"I am showing mercy my lord." Harry said. "Though you murdered my parents in cold blood I will spare your life if you surrender now."

"Avada Ke-" Voldemort never finished that spell, Harry had taken the sword he had in hand, the sword of Gryffindor and hued Voldemort's head from his shoulders.

There was a ringing silence then a deafening roar as it was realized Voldemort was truly dead. The remaining followers of Voldemort turned and ran with the students, villagers, dwarves and centaurs after them. Most were killed, a few were captured and only a handful escaped. Those caught were locked up, in the ministry. Harry was carried to the castle and the house elves pulled out all the stops with a grand feast for all. Voldemort was dead, the Wizarding world could rejoice and Harry was relieved it was finally over. He saw the ghost of Salazar walk through the great hall, smile at him and disappear. He was free at last himself, the school was united, it had been saved and all was well, for now.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

So there is the battle and the end of Voldemort. Lucius is a clear leader after Voldemort and really want he does many others will too. If he said jump quite a few pureblood families would ask how high as they see him as someone to look up to. If he were a noble he would be a Duke over Earls, Barons and knights second only to the king and he knows it too. Still he is not a wicked man, just power hungry and very, very foolish, though he loves his family and has a heart as noted by the last book.

So thank you all for coming this far and reading and reviewing! One more chapter to go!