A/N: Twell, here it is, the last chapter of my story. Dude; this is where it ends. I think this is the first time I've ever completed a full, major story. (I've had three, and all fell to the waste side for some reason or another). I feel so… done. I dunno. It's a cool feeling, but kinda sad.
I'm not positively sure I like my ending. I mean, it's all right, but kind of reeks of… sappiness. Well, you'll see what I mean when you get there. Oh, and I thought that Vector was a wizard, but I went on the HP Lexicon, and it said Vector is actually a witch. So, I had to change the first name when making one up….
Again, a billion thanks to you bloody brilliant people who took the time to review my story and stick with it. A golden ticket for each of you!
Lock and Key
Chapter 35
Dumbledore hastened back into the castle, magically closing the doors behind him and casting the same spell he had used on Hagrid's hut. He would need to see if all of the wards had been erected, but would deal with that issue soon enough….
The headmaster bustled into the Great Hall. Every person on the premises should have been inside of the room.
"Albus!" called McGonagall. She led a tier of her colleagues over to him; all appeared solemn. The children, who sat at their House tables, were on edge and did not like what was happening.
"Everyone is present Minerva?" the headmaster inquired.
"Yes. All staff members and students. The ghosts have taken their positions," she responded.
"Severus, Sarai—you informed the Ministry?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape austerely told him, "The Minister set to work immediately in dispatching every single law enforcement wizard to Hogsmeade."
"Very well. They must proceed with extreme caution."
"Sir, is it… it truly… him?" Professor Vector asked.
"I am afraid so, Velena." Dumbledore answered. They all shuddered in fright, changing colors.
"Hogwarts, under attack." Sprout said, silently crying.
"And we must deal with it. The gates will give at any moment, and then they will be on the grounds. I myself will go forth and meet them, but we must address the young ones first."
"They will go to the safe havens?" Hooch asked.
"Indeed," nodded Dumbledore. The safe havens of the school had only been used once before in its ancient history.
"Be ready to escort them." The staff then moved about the Hall, reassuring kids and trying to restore some calm. McGonagall, however, remained with the old wizard.
"Is it… is it time for him, A-Albus? Are you certain? A-Are you positive?" she wondered, in a cracked voice. He gave an enormous sigh.
"I, unfortunately, am rather sure, Minerva," he quietly said, "We must get Harry." Dumbledore closed his eyes briefly, and then made his way to the center of the floor.
"He is but a child," the Transfiguration instructor mumbled, refusing her tears.
Ron sat at Gryffindor table next to Ginny, Colin, Bethany, Dean and Seamus. They were all so apprehensive, and did not like the way things were going. It was obvious something bad was happening; no good could have come from that siren. He had been in Divination when things had gone wrong, snapping him out of his drowsy reverie and knocking the crystal ball off the table. Ron looked down the table at Harry, Hermione, Neville, Hannah, Parvati, Daniel, and Lavender. His eyes lingered on them. They looked a bit scared. Dumbledore then walked into the middle of the room and all the clamor died instantly.
"A crisis is at hand," he began, "Hogwarts is… under assault." Distressed cries rang out. Ron stiffened.
"By whom!" shouted a fifth year Slytherin.
"By an army, led by Lord Voldemort." At this, a riot ensued. People jumped out of their seats, wands at the ready. Others burst into tears. Screams and wails bounced off the wall. Yells fell deaf against the ears of those trembling and losing color. Objects were knocked over, and the need to escape increased without thought.
A few professors were ready to use a couple of incantations to silence and immobilize the students, but Dumbledore simply raised his arms and stated:
"Please! Order, if you will. I must continue." They quieted, but the pure terror inside their bodies did not crest. The toll of mobilizing against Voldemort for four years straight was suddenly apparent. He was an old man, a weary, yet strong, old man. Harry tightly held Hermione's hand and had gone snow white. His mouth was clamped shut and razor thin. The Head Girl's eyes glistened with water and her mouth was open. It couldn't be…
"The school has its own defense mechanisms—wards. I am confident in its ability to protect itself and you students. Even so, you all will be moved to Hogwarts' safe havens. Your safety is my top priority. There, you will be watched over by your professors while I tend to the threat facing the castle."
"H-How… how long will we be in wait?" a brave Ravenclaw seventh year questioned.
"I do not know, Mr. Shaw. But, rest assured, you will be out of harm's way. You will not be able to hear a thing happening above. When the danger has gone, you will be retrieved." A few noticed the headmaster did not say by whom; he made no promises of coming out of this ordeal unscathed.
"Is it r-really, You-Know-Who?" wondered a Gryffindor.
"I would not lie to you, especially about something of this degree." Dumbledore revealed. Frightened stirring began again. This was dreamlike.
"Will you be all right sir?" inquired a timid Hufflepuff. He gave a miniscule, sad smile.
"I should hope so. I will show Voldemort that I have no tolerance for his attacking this school."
A monstrous roar was then heard, no doubt belonging to a troll or giant. It was much closer than before and could only mean the gates had fallen. It was faint, but it sounded as though a riot was taking place. The frenzied, panicky tumult of before started to rise again as shrieks could be heard.
"Quickly—to the havens!" Dumbledore commanded, clapping his hands. He called out to his colleagues to aid in organizing the children and getting them out of the Great Hall.
Draco Malfoy sat as still as a statue as pupils all around him rushed to and fro. This was simply insane. Hogwarts, being assaulted by the Dark Lord… having to hide…. Yes, he knew all about the significance of the siren—it had been explained to him upon being made Head Boy, and what to do if it ever sounded. And yes, he had even heard tidbits about Voldemort planning something massive sometime soon from a few sources, but this? Hogwarts' demise? He was utterly perplexed, and even a bit… afraid?
"Mr. Malfoy!" someone yelled. The blonde looked up. Professor McGonagall stood across from him, looking upset and perturbed.
"You must help with getting your peers to the safe places! Surely, you remember it is one of your duties as Head Boy!" The Slytherin looked dolefully at the High Table and past it, to a door on its right: the door which the Triwizard champions had gone through. It was there that the path to the castle's shelters began.
"Malfoy! Snap out of it and come on!" she ordered. He rose slowly and followed her. They hastened to the Gryffindor table.
"Ms. Granger." McGonagall sorrowfully stated, gazing at her. (She was still sitting with Harry, though they were alone). The Transfiguration teacher did not need to say anything more, for the Head Girl knew what was needed of her. This didn't stop Hermione from looking fearfully at Harry and gripping his hand more securely. Standing about eight feet away, Ron watched them intently with a grimace on his face.
"Go on," Harry croaked, "I'll be fine."
"Ms. Granger," she repeated, a little more urgently. Hermione then stood up and joined the animagus and Head Boy. They took off.
"Malfoy, help Professor Sprout in leading the Slytherins and Hufflepufffs. Hermione, aid Madam Pomfrey and Professor Trelawney with your House and the Ravenclaws," McGonagall told them, "Enlist the help of the prefects if you need it!"
Harry melted into the throng of lions all heading eagerly for the High Table. They were parallel to the Ravenclaws, squeezed in together so that some of the students from both Houses were meshed with one another. To Harry, things seemed to be moving incredibly fast and incredibly slow at the exact same time. He had to be in a dream gone dreadfully array. Voldemort, trying to destroy Hogwarts…
"Harry!" several voices cried out. He looked back and saw a group of people quickly forcing its way through the fearful crowd to get to him.
"Harry, you all right mate?" questioned Dean, looking concerned.
"We lost you when Dumbledore told us all to get to the havens." Neville told him. Harry nodded, and looked at everyone. Seamus, Parvati, Padma, Lavender, Ginny, Colin, and Matthew were all there as well. And Luna was too, Luna… who stood next the closest to Ron. Ron was gazing directly at Harry, and appeared confused and upset. Harry studied him in return, clueless as to what to do or say. The others were looking at him sincerely and protectively, as if not wanting anything to disturb or bother him.
"Where's Hermione?" asked Ginny, looking around.
"Helping lead everyone to the right place," Harry reported, voice somewhat hoarse, "It's a Head duty."
"Come on, let's move," Parvati said, "Hurry up and get there." His friends enclosed all around him and followed the path. They made him feel a deal better, but something still didn't feel right…
The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws had just met a large cluster of Hufflepuffs & Slytherins, meaning they were in close proximity to the side chamber, when it happened. Harry could hear Hermione's calls to her fellow students and was careening for a glimpse of her when a professor grabbed his attention.
"Potter." Higgins stated, popping in between two second years to get to him. He focused his eyes upon her, but she turned and pointed out. The headmaster stood by the Gryffindor table and looked somber. Dumbledore's stare was fixed on the Boy Who Lived.
Harry felt his insides turn ice cold. He had ceased moving and his friends had moved further up, not yet having noticed.
"He w-wants me?" he murmured. She nodded sadly. It took a minute before Harry mechanically moved his heavy feet and walked over to the old wizard.
Hermione stopped mid-sentence and hand gesture. She had just seen Harry leave the mass of pupils right outside the door and was now watching him tread slowly towards Dumbledore. Her heart began to thump rapidly in her chest. Harry's group, likewise, had noticed its (second) loss of him and stopped moving, letting other restless children go before it.
"Where's Harry?" Seamus wondered.
"There!" Colin noted.
"Going to Dumbledore." Lavender remarked in a low voice. Harry took his last step and stopped in front of Dumbledore, his face tense. They stared at each other.
"Professor," he stated, his hand clutching his wand inside of his robes.
"Harry." Dumbledore replied, inclining his head. His blue eyes were full of misery and resolve.
"You… you wanted to see me, sir?" The headmaster did not answer right away. Instead, he sighed and surveyed the children all hurrying to safety. It was cruel that Harry could not be one of them, for once in his life….
"Harry," he grievously began, looking at him again, "I regret being the one to express this, and so very soon after discovering it yourself, but… but I feel it is—"
"Stop," Harry said, briefly closing his eyes, "Please." Dumbledore consented, and bowed his own head in sadness momentarily.
"You don't have to s-say any more, Professor," the Gryffindor told him in a shattered voice, "I-I know what you're going to say. Voldemort is out there. He's moving against Hogwarts. My time to fight has come."
"I could be wrong, Harry," Dumbledore responded, becoming even more woeful, "I could be terribly wrong. You could go with your classmates, your friends, and ensure your protection. Now does not have to be the moment the prophecy told of."
"I appreciate your concern, Professor, but… but it is now. I know it. I can feel it. So can you. I have to do it." Harry remarked. There was silence between them for a short while.
"Very well Harry," the old wizard muttered, eyeing him, "But you will not be alone. I will accompany you, as will many others. The Ministry sent its forces, and I presume they are extremely near the castle, if not already on the grounds." Harry nodded stiffly, exhaling quietly.
"Albus," came McGonagall's voice. She stood with Snape, Flitwick, Higgins, Sinastra, Vector and a few other teachers not very far away. The other staff, including Hooch, Grubbly-Plank, and Filch, were at the end of the lines of the few students left, pressing them to get through the door, and fast. Were they going to fight Voldemort's army as well?
"Come." Dumbledore said softly to the Boy Who Lived, commencing to lead him away to his colleagues.
Harry's friends, who had watched most of the exchange, tried to rally out. They knew it—they knew that Harry would be taken, taken to duel Voldemort. Their efforts were ceased, however, by the remaining educators; they overpowered the group and made it go on its way to the safe havens. Ron, on the other hand, managed to get away. There was no way they were going to detain him. He had finally come to all of his senses and had to see Harry, talk to him for at least a minute, if only to apologize. This was his best friend walking to his death! That got through to Ron crystal clear, and all old grudges were swept from his mind.
Consequently, the redhead was no match for Hermione. She had viewed the headmaster speaking to Harry with weary, horrified eyes. And when they proceeded to walk away, Hermione fled.
"No!" she shouted, tears beginning to form. The Head Girl abandoned her post and ran away from the side chamber.
"Ms. Granger!" cried Madam Pomfrey. Malfoy watched her go, taken aback. Was Granger mad! Hermione ignored the people she had startled and made a beeline straight for Harry. She bypassed Ron, without noticing, and reached Harry before he did.
"No," she insisted, planting herself in front of him and facing Dumbledore, "Sir, you c-can't—Harry doesn't have to, shouldn't h-have to—it's not fair! I k-know Hogwarts is in trouble, so, so let him go to the havens like everyone else! It doesn't matter that V-Voldemort's out there! Not now!" The headmaster was looking at her with a pained countenance, completely in sync with her feelings.
"Hermione, my dear…" he delicately commenced.
"No, please! No! No excuses, no reasons, no explanations! Let Harry go." The other adults were grimly uncomfortable and pitied the girl; they could not keep their gaze on Hermione.
"Hermione." Harry stated, stepping forward to pull her back and turn her around.
"You don't have to go, Harry," she said, the tears beginning to fall over, "You don't. Who says the time is now? Please—just come with me, a-and we'll go with everyone else!"
"Hermione, I can't," he murmured, not looking at her.
"Yes, you can!" At that instant Ron came into the scene, standing about a foot behind the Head Girl. He glanced at the professors, and then stared at Harry. The Boy Who Lived stared back. Initially, neither moved, but then the redhead began to move his mouth soundlessly. He needed to say something.
Noticing that Harry had become still, Hermione turned to see what the cause was: she saw Ron. She looked at him with teary eyes for a few moments before turning back to the raven haired boy.
"Harry, please—let's go." Hermione pleaded, tugging his hands. Ron's gaze dropped to her, and it was full of misery.
"Hermione, I told you, I can't," Harry commented, trying to keep his voice steady, "I can't walk away. I-I have to do something about it!"
"No you don't! Not today, not now!"
"That's the thing Hermione, it is now. I know it. I can just tell! I have… I have to… the prophecy…"
"Oh, God, no! Don't say it!" she ordered through clenched teeth, shutting her eyes. Harry surveyed her with desperation, wanting to comfort her but not knowing how.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore started, "You must get to the side chamber and proceed to the safe places. The door will seal itself very soon, please. Harry, I am afraid that… we, must depart as well. I am sure the Ministry and Order are here by now and must surely need our help." At the mention of this, Harry's ears picked up the commotion that was happening outside: shouts, yells, blasts, screams, roars.
"What," Hermione demanded, eyes widening, "NO—no!"
"Headmaster, sir—we are ready to go out this instance and face the Dark Lord's army." Snape announced.
"Yes," added Flitwick, "We may give, Harry, some time…" Snape's mouth twitched, as if this weren't his reason to face Voldemort. Harry noticed and did not care; he himself was annoyed with the Potions master for not calling Voldemort by his proper name.
"Very well; it is wise," Dumbledore nodded, "May the spirits of the Founders be with you."
All the wizards exited quickly, as Harry subdued Hermione.
"No…" she continued to say, tears not having desisted.
"Hermione, listen," Harry remarked, eyes on her, "I don't want to do this, okay? I don't. But I have to, and I will. We already talked about it, remember? We already spoke about it. Please, just try to accept it as best as you can. I k-know it's hard. Please. Go to the safe havens. I'll… I'll hold my own. I'll come back." He couldn't hide it now; his voice was absolutely broken.
She began to sob quietly. To console her, and to keep himself from crying, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. It was as tender and slow as their first, just as full of emotion. Harry did not care that Dumbledore and Ron could see them. To him, Hermione was the only one in the room, the only one whose opinions mattered.
"It'll be all right," he told her, when he had finished. She held onto his hands, staring into his green eyes with her own filled with water.
Harry looked up at Ron. An immediate understanding seemed to flow between them, forging a path of forgiveness.
"Ron," he said, voice thick, "You'll watch out for her, right? Make sure nothing happens… to either one of you."
"Of course I will," the Keeper guaranteed, giving a sad, trembling smile.
"Be careful."
"You too Harry, okay?" The Potter boy nodded, and slowly let go of Hermione. Dumbledore watched, not daring to say anything more until Harry did.
"No," the Head Girl cried, giving up her silent sobbing. She made an attempt to grab for Harry again, but this time Ron stepped forward and took hold of her right arm.
"Get off of me, Ron! Let go!" Hermione screamed, tears and anger falling.
"Hermione, please," begged Harry, in a cracked voice, "Please. I'll be back. I promise." He moved forward, grabbed both of her arms, kissed her for the last time, and stepped back.
"I'm ready," he shakily revealed to the headmaster. Dumbledore nodded.
"NO!" she yelled, struggling against the redhead.
"Ronald, Hermione, please—get to the havens, now," the old man advised. He and the Boy Who Lived turned and began to walk out of the Great Hall, Harry leading the way.
"Harry!" Hermione shouted, continuing to try to gain her freedom. He shut his eyes and clenched his wand, squaring his shoulders as he walked out. He did not turn around.
Moments later, Ron and Hermione were the only two people left in the magnificent room. Upon realizing this, the Head Girl slowly ceased her fighting. During the stillness, the sounds of the raging war outside could be heard. Ron looked at Hermione; she was trembling. Then, without warning, she collapsed against him, crying. Ron fought to maintain his self-control and held her closely. They had no idea if they would ever see Harry again.
A/N: And there you have it—Lock and Key is done. Tear! I said I would explain the title when the story was over, so, here it is (be warned, it's cheesy): Hermione is like the key to Harry's lock, and vis versa.
Will I write another story, you ask? Perhaps a sequel? The answer to that is… :drum roll please: … yes. I will. Give me about a week until I post the first chapter. The title will be I Never Lived. Yeah. I didn't know whether or not I should write it, what with HP 6 and the events that took place in it, but I decided to. I can't get Harry Potter out of my system and need to write another story! So, hopefully you all enjoyed this story and will check out my next one. Until then, you Irken Invaders! Victory is mine!