A Glimpse of the Hidden
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Eight
After Godric's Hollow things only got worse. Ron wished with every cell in his being for an escape from his own mind, but it was only in a few, rare moments of solitude that he could voice his frustration to Draco and occasionally Peter.
His visions were becoming more common, more intense, and more frightening. He would dream of the dead and the dying. He saw Voldemort's army preparing for another assault on the school, but he was helpless to warn anyone. The marble even had control over his sleeping habits; no matter how horrible the dream he would appear to be sleeping peacefully if Draco was to be believed.
He carried the marble everywhere, holding it in a clenched fist in his pocket when his hands weren't otherwise occupied with eating and writing. Draco's fluency with swear words was becoming even more impressive and Peter's face seemed to be getting longer every day.
Ron was so out of himself that he didn't even notice Harry and Ginny's newfound happiness until Draco finally couldn't take it any more and went on a tirade.
It was the middle of April, and Ron was in the Library appearing to study for final exams. In actuality he was fighting with his inner self. Draco was, as always, nearby. He was uncommonly silent until Harry and Ginny entered the Library hand in hand.
"Ron, I hate to interrupt your misery," Draco began sarcastically. "But I must bid you adieu. I can't stand to sit here and watch your pretty boy Potter drool over her."
"What?" Ron asked, quietly so the language of the dead would confuse no one, looking up at Draco in confusion.
"Ginny and Potter, naturally," Draco made a face. "Please tell me you've been aware enough to know he finally woke up and realized how beautiful she is."
"Harry and Ginny are together?" Ron replied incredulously, his searching eyes finally finding the couple. They looked perfectly happy together, her radiant smile shining up at him, his emerald eyes sparkling in return.
"Yes, damn them both!" Draco replied rudely. He continued to say things many times worse, ranting until he was blue in the face. He never really raised his voice, just continued to talk in a monotone of bitter resentment. Ron just stared at the couple, letting Draco's words wash over them.
"But it's meant to be," Ron replied reasonably, if not happily, "You said it yourself, remember?"
"That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it," he replied, and Ron couldn't argue with the thought. "I need to get out of here," Draco continued, and walked straight out through the nearest bookcase. Ron sighed. He wasn't getting any work done anyway, and if Harry and Ginny were here Hermione was sure to follow soon. He loved Hermione with all his heart, but he didn't want her to see him like this. He had been avoiding her as much as possible.
So he packed up his books and crept upstairs, trying to be inconspicuous. It wasn't difficult, seeing as the marble also wanted to remain unnoticed. When Ron reached his dorm he gave into temptation and fell asleep. He wasn't surprised when he fell immediately into a dream.
When he woke up he wasn't physically shaking or sweaty. He appeared refreshed and exuberant. However he had never in his life been so panicked, not even at Godric's Hollow or when he saw a Death Eater almost kill Ginny and Hermione.
The date was set. In less than a week, Voldemort was coming.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next Defender meeting was spent reviewing strategy, a decision of Luna's that Ron inwardly praised. It would probably be their last meeting before the attack. He reported that he had seen nothing out of the ordinary in his dreams. Nothing could have been more untrue.
He visited Peter almost directly afterward. He listened with a somber face as he explained his dreams. It had been Peter who had warned the Ministry about Godric's Hollow, as Ron had later learned, and he had a feeble hope that he might be able to do something about this. He was not surprised when this hope turned out to be futile.
"They don't believe anything I say, and with good reason," Peter sighed. "As a matter of fact, I will possibly be called to Voldemort in the next few days. I am still a Death Eater, you know."
"I'm halfway there," Ron replied scathingly. Draco said nothing. Several moments of silence passed. They all knew what that day would bring if they couldn't find a way to destroy the marble's grip on Ron's actions.
"You do know that this will be the final battle," Peter finally said quietly, his eyes meeting Ron's.
"Yes," Ron replied, shuddering at the thought. "What can I do about it?"
"You can only do what you were meant to do," Peter replied. Ron was about to respond sarcastically when Peter pulled the small black glimpse from his pocket and handed it to his nephew. Ron took in a shuddering breath of understanding.
"The marble-" he began.
"I've not been entirely honest, I'm afraid," Peter interrupted. "I can't explain just now. I was sent by a group of powerful magicians who know about the marble and its magic. You are the only one who can ultimately defeat it, but there will be others there, unknown to anyone except myself and Dumbledore, who will intervene when and if it is necessary."
"Why don't they intervene now?" Ron asked. A few months ago his temper would have been flying. He was annoyed now, but he didn't have enough energy to be angry.
"They don't believe on intervening...especially not on fellow necromancers," Peter added the last bit with an air of hesitation. However, Ron was infinitely glad he had said it. Nothing could have comforted him more than the knowledge that there were powerful people not possessed by the marble who understood him.
"I'll try," Ron finally promised. Peter nodded.
"That is all anyone can ask you to do."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The morning dawned bright and early the following Saturday. The sun was shining, and for the first time in weeks there was not a single cloud in the sky. It should have betokened a day of fun and relaxation. That is why Hermione could not understand why she awoke with a tense knot in the pit of her stomach.
She was up before anyone else in the dorm, which was unusual in itself. Usually she was attempting to sleep while Parvati and Lavender primped. They were still sleeping (and snoring) soundly when she opened her eyes.
Of course, she had been tense for a few weeks now. Perhaps it was finally starting to take its toll.
She dressed slowly, thinking all the while. She ran a brush through her hair, taking a minimal amount of time to calm the unruly locks. Finally frustrated, she pulled them back into a sensible ponytail, brushed her teeth, and went downstairs.
She was still the only person awake. It was barely six in the morning. She could have gone down to the Great Hall, the elves always sent up something for the early birds, but she wasn't particularly hungry. Instead, she sat down to think.
There had to be something she was overlooking, some hidden and unacknowledged clue in the back of her mind that would solve this unsettling mystery of what was going on with Ron. They hadn't been alone together in nearly a month and he talked to her as little as possible. Somehow she knew it wasn't lessening attraction. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Hermione shook her head and put the thought of Ron suddenly losing interest out of her head. He would have just broken up with her outright, which would be considerably less awkward. No, it had to be something else.
Her mind reeled backward, searching for some strange event that she hadn't taken into consideration...
She had often considered that strange marble that Ron had made such a big deal about a few months ago. She remembered feeling powerful as she held it, and the strange dream she had had that night. Somehow this all had to start there. But there was nothing else...she hadn't even seen the marble since February...
Finally something clicked, and Hermione nearly sighed with relief. On Valentine's Day Harry had received his mother's locket from mysterious persons unknown. But Ron had been burned by the locket's touch. What if the locket and the marble were somehow connected...?
Hermione shook her head. It was a crazy, preposterous theory with no real evidence. It was an obvious sign of her lack of sleep and caffeine that it had even occurred to her.
She finally went to breakfast, trying to go back to being rational.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ron woke up on Saturday nearly as early as his girlfriend, but the marble refused to let him get out of bed. He did manage to carry on a whispered conversation with Draco, finalizing their plans. Today was the day, and Ron was determined that his part as a Defender would be completed despite the marble's grip on his wits.
He cut off his conversation with Draco when he heard Harry rise, and was shortly after allowed to move himself. It was actually rather humorous, to suddenly move without any kind of thought about it. Humor was the last thing on Ron's mind that morning.
He walked down to breakfast with Harry as if it were any other day. Ron's inner mind was on full alert, waiting for some kind of signal. He was desperately hoping that Peter had found a way to convince Sirius or Luna about the attack, but he was prepared for the worst.
Luna was sitting at the High Table in her usual place, carrying on an animated conversation with Professor Sprout. Hermione was waiting for them, a pensive look securely in place. Ginny joined them after a few moments and sat next to Harry. Neville was awake and healthy. Cho was chattering away at the Ravenclaw table. The only one not to be found anywhere was Sirius. Ron hoped fervently that Sirius had a hunch.
For once since the whole ordeal had started, Ron's hope paid off. Breakfast was almost over when Sirius quietly but quickly entered the Hall and went straight to the High Table. He whispered something to Luna, who quickly stood and started walking from the room. The Defender's didn't miss the exchange, and all six immediately followed her. Ron glanced over his shoulder and saw Sirius in a conference with Dumbledore.
They were coming.
The Defenders automatically made a half circle around Luna once they reached the Entrance Hall. The look on her face confirmed their worst fears.
"Apparently an army of Death Eaters is heading in this direction," she began quietly and without preamble. "Dumbledore will be making an announcement shortly."
"Oh God," Cho whispered. Hermione took out her wand and muttered the spell to change her robes under her breath. The others followed her example, their countenances grim.
"You have braved danger before," Luna said after a moment of silence. "You know what to do. Good luck."
She swept away without further comment. They didn't need instructions. They all knew what to do.
"They won't fall for the wall again," Neville said, "So I suppose we'll try Plan C?"
"Sounds good," Harry replied with a nod.
Cho lead the way. The followed in a straight line, each paling a bit as they crossed the threshold of the castle and stepped into the pleasant spring breeze. Draco followed, just as silent and somber as the rest of them.
They gathered at the bottom of the steps in a huddle. Attention as focused on Cho, who had opened her mouth to speak. Suddenly a flurry of movement diverted their attention. For a moment even Ron was surprised. It was his body that was moving.
Hermione's eyes widened with shock and horror. Ron had suddenly thrown himself at Ginny. There was a moment of confused struggle before she realized what was really happening.
Ron had his hands securely around Ginny's throat. She was fighting for breath, but his grip wasn't loosening. She was slowly turning blue.
"Ron, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry roared, staring at the brother and sister in disbelief.
Ron was even more incredulous. He was staring at his sister's wide brown eyes and purpling freckled face. He was fighting his body will with all his strength. But he was so far gone, so far under the marble's curse, that nothing could return his will. He was powerless to stop himself.
Draco was screaming profanely, and Harry was as well. Ron heard them only as a ringing in his ears. He was still focusing all his energy on not strangling Ginny. It was useless, of course, but he had to try.
He really was not surprised when Harry finally pried Ginny from his grasp and punched him. He was also not surprised when he hit Harry back. The marble gave him incredible strength and skill, as if he had been fighting all his life. Ron was still trying to stand still.
Neville was pulling out his wand, Cho was screaming at them, and Ginny had fallen to the ground, coughing. Hermione stood in horrified paralysis, trying to force her mind to think. Something was wrong here. There was something terribly, terribly wrong...
She focused on Ron. He was in the middle of a violent scrap with Harry, but he had managed, somehow, to reach into his pocket and pull out the marble that had been nagging at Hermione's brain. She bit her lip, thinking as she had never thought before, her mind whirring at an impossible speed.
Ron felt the marble pulsating with power in his fist. He hadn't even realized his was holding it. His eyes somehow found the thin gold chain around Harry's neck. Without thinking he reached up and tore the locket away, flinging it far from Harry and the marble. He cried out as it burned his flesh.
The locket landed at Hermione's feet. She picked it up, looking from it to Ron and Harry. Neville was trying to use magic to break up the fight, and Ginny was now trying to plead with them through her gasps for air. As soon as Hermione held the locket in her hand she remembered the dream she had had the night she had Ron's locket with alarming clarity.
Ron had been holding the marble and looking at her. And ink from Tom Riddle's diary had been spilled into the marble. And Tom had given the locket to Lily's mother, she suddenly realized. If the marble connected Tom and the Lily's mother the way it connected Ron and Hermione...if the locket was the marble's counterpart....
Ron was screaming at the top of his lungs in the language of the dead, begging someone to help him, begging someone to kill him so that he would stop trying to kill his sister and best friend. Draco was also screaming. Ron wanted nothing but death at that moment, yet he continued fighting....
Hermione acted without thinking. She dove right into the fight that Harry was losing. Her sudden intrusion caused Ron to stop moving for a crucial moment. She wrenched his fist open and tore the marble from it.
Ron lunged at her, but Harry intervened. Ron fought only to escape his grasp, trying to take the marble back from Hermione, still screaming guttural, unknown syllables. Little did the others realize the syllables were of joy and hope, screaming instructions at Hermione although he knew she didn't understand him. Draco had fallen silent, watching with impossible, half unbelieving hope.
Hermione held the locket in one hand and the marble in the other. She pushed the two together, but encountered an invisible force, as if she were trying to make to magnets of the same charge touch. She continued trying, realizing there must be powerful magic at work. Harry and Ron were still fighting, but her entire concentration was on the marble and the locket.
They were near inches apart now, and she could see the faint glow of a white light in the inches that separated them. She felt beads of sweat forming on her brow from the physical effort of forcing the objects to touch. In a burst of strength, she defeated the force and the marble came into sharp, sudden contact with the golden heart of the locket.
There was a miniature explosion in Hermione's hands. She felt nothing, but she saw the sudden burst of blinding white light. When it ended, her hands were raw and red. The locket was lying innocently in her left palm. The marble had disappeared.
She looked up. Ron had fallen to his back; his arms limp at his sides. Harry was still pounding him. And, Hermione realized, the language he was speaking was plain, wonderful English.
"Hermione, you're a bloody genius!" he was screaming, sounding ecstatic despite the beating. "I'm not fighting back! I'm FREE!"
Harry finally realized that he was no longer encountering a struggle and stopped fighting. He stood up, panting and glaring. Ron leapt to his feet. His eyes were sparkling and he was smiling fiercely despite a freely bleeding lip. Hermione hadn't seen him so happy in months.
"What in the hell is going on?" Neville demanded.
"I'm a necromancer!" Ron announced happily. "And I can finally tell you everything! I've been talking with the dead for months...Draco is swearing as we speak! I swear on all the gods in the pantheon I will never, ever sin again in return for this day!"
"What are you talking about?" Cho demanded.
"I was possessed," Ron replied, "Just like Ginny was with the diary back in second year, except the ink was in the marble and not the diary. But the marble was connected to the locket through Kara...Hermione, you're the most brilliant woman I've ever met and I love you with all my soul now that I have it back. But enough of that. This is the day of the final battle, and Lily Potter's given me specific instructions."
"You...marble...Lily..." Ginny was rightfully confused.
"I know it makes no sense," Ron said, but he was still deliriously happy because of his freedom, "But trust me. You will never have to doubt me again. You'll have to trust me anyway, because I'm the only one who knows how to kill him."
"Who?" Harry asked, still confused.
"Voldemort, obviously," Ron replied. "We haven't any more time to waste. Here's the plan."
The others gather around and listened for the first time as their Divinator revealed his secrets.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The students of Hogwarts could hardly believe that Voldemort had dared to make another attack on Hogwarts less than four months after the first. The sixth and seventh year volunteers were divided into several small groups under the command of a teacher.
They came pouring out of the doors, this time not encountering a giant storm swirling around them, but a long pit full of the same frightening elements, widening and spouting fire at random. Clouds engulfed the castle, and lightening flickered to the earth with alarming frequency.
The Defenders were not far apart after what had happened in December. None of them were anxious to repeat the agony of losing one of their own. Little did they know (Ron had been to busy to explain it) Draco was standing with them as well. His eyes were resting on Ginny. He finally looked away to meet Ron's gaze, and nodded. It had taken more time than he liked to face what was going to happen, but he would go through with it. Ron nodded in return, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
The Death Eaters finally made it across the Elemental Pit (with many causalities before they finally figured out how to cross it safely), and were now in full throttle battle with the army of Hogwarts. The Defenders weaved in and out of the battle, making a somewhat twisted but determined path in the same direction. It was an unspoken instinct that guided them to the east knoll, the very center of the battle, where Voldemort was waiting for them.
It seemed almost too planned. There was an open, clear circle amidst the raging battle around them, and they all reached it unscathed. Harry arrived last, and raised his chin proudly; taking his first step into the ultimate battle he had been waiting for all his life.
A hand on his shoulder stopped him. Looking up, Harry saw Dumbledore staring at the Dark Lord. It was the headmaster who entered the circle, facing the most dreaded sorcerer of recent times. They looked each other square in the eye, cold blue meeting blood red.
"I told you not to get mixed up with the Dark Forces, Tom," Dumbledore said in a deathly quiet voice that was somehow heard more clearly than all the chaos of battle around them.
"And I told you not to interfere, Grandfather," Voldemort hissed. Harry felt his blood freeze and Ron's breath stopped as all the clues suddenly clicked into place.
"I don't want to kill you," Dumbledore said, raising his wand.
"I've always wanted to kill you," Voldemort replied, raising his own wand. There were no bows or further exchange of words. The duel simply began.
For a moment, Ron's spirit soared, and he realized that it all might be unnecessary. If Dumbledore killed Voldemort, than everyone could celebrate the victory without putting Harry in danger. Maybe...
Ron's heart was beating so fast he could breathe. There was Dumbledore, standing victoriously, raising his wand to cast the final spell.
One hissed word was all it took. A flash of green light flew from Voldemort's left hand and struck Dumbledore silently. The world seemed to stop as the headmaster fell slowly...slowly...
He landed at Harry's feet, his expression still victorious. His silver hair and beard were no longer shining, but sprawled around his unmoving figure. The blue eyes were staring up at the dark sky.
Albus Dumbledore was dead.
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Eight
After Godric's Hollow things only got worse. Ron wished with every cell in his being for an escape from his own mind, but it was only in a few, rare moments of solitude that he could voice his frustration to Draco and occasionally Peter.
His visions were becoming more common, more intense, and more frightening. He would dream of the dead and the dying. He saw Voldemort's army preparing for another assault on the school, but he was helpless to warn anyone. The marble even had control over his sleeping habits; no matter how horrible the dream he would appear to be sleeping peacefully if Draco was to be believed.
He carried the marble everywhere, holding it in a clenched fist in his pocket when his hands weren't otherwise occupied with eating and writing. Draco's fluency with swear words was becoming even more impressive and Peter's face seemed to be getting longer every day.
Ron was so out of himself that he didn't even notice Harry and Ginny's newfound happiness until Draco finally couldn't take it any more and went on a tirade.
It was the middle of April, and Ron was in the Library appearing to study for final exams. In actuality he was fighting with his inner self. Draco was, as always, nearby. He was uncommonly silent until Harry and Ginny entered the Library hand in hand.
"Ron, I hate to interrupt your misery," Draco began sarcastically. "But I must bid you adieu. I can't stand to sit here and watch your pretty boy Potter drool over her."
"What?" Ron asked, quietly so the language of the dead would confuse no one, looking up at Draco in confusion.
"Ginny and Potter, naturally," Draco made a face. "Please tell me you've been aware enough to know he finally woke up and realized how beautiful she is."
"Harry and Ginny are together?" Ron replied incredulously, his searching eyes finally finding the couple. They looked perfectly happy together, her radiant smile shining up at him, his emerald eyes sparkling in return.
"Yes, damn them both!" Draco replied rudely. He continued to say things many times worse, ranting until he was blue in the face. He never really raised his voice, just continued to talk in a monotone of bitter resentment. Ron just stared at the couple, letting Draco's words wash over them.
"But it's meant to be," Ron replied reasonably, if not happily, "You said it yourself, remember?"
"That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it," he replied, and Ron couldn't argue with the thought. "I need to get out of here," Draco continued, and walked straight out through the nearest bookcase. Ron sighed. He wasn't getting any work done anyway, and if Harry and Ginny were here Hermione was sure to follow soon. He loved Hermione with all his heart, but he didn't want her to see him like this. He had been avoiding her as much as possible.
So he packed up his books and crept upstairs, trying to be inconspicuous. It wasn't difficult, seeing as the marble also wanted to remain unnoticed. When Ron reached his dorm he gave into temptation and fell asleep. He wasn't surprised when he fell immediately into a dream.
When he woke up he wasn't physically shaking or sweaty. He appeared refreshed and exuberant. However he had never in his life been so panicked, not even at Godric's Hollow or when he saw a Death Eater almost kill Ginny and Hermione.
The date was set. In less than a week, Voldemort was coming.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next Defender meeting was spent reviewing strategy, a decision of Luna's that Ron inwardly praised. It would probably be their last meeting before the attack. He reported that he had seen nothing out of the ordinary in his dreams. Nothing could have been more untrue.
He visited Peter almost directly afterward. He listened with a somber face as he explained his dreams. It had been Peter who had warned the Ministry about Godric's Hollow, as Ron had later learned, and he had a feeble hope that he might be able to do something about this. He was not surprised when this hope turned out to be futile.
"They don't believe anything I say, and with good reason," Peter sighed. "As a matter of fact, I will possibly be called to Voldemort in the next few days. I am still a Death Eater, you know."
"I'm halfway there," Ron replied scathingly. Draco said nothing. Several moments of silence passed. They all knew what that day would bring if they couldn't find a way to destroy the marble's grip on Ron's actions.
"You do know that this will be the final battle," Peter finally said quietly, his eyes meeting Ron's.
"Yes," Ron replied, shuddering at the thought. "What can I do about it?"
"You can only do what you were meant to do," Peter replied. Ron was about to respond sarcastically when Peter pulled the small black glimpse from his pocket and handed it to his nephew. Ron took in a shuddering breath of understanding.
"The marble-" he began.
"I've not been entirely honest, I'm afraid," Peter interrupted. "I can't explain just now. I was sent by a group of powerful magicians who know about the marble and its magic. You are the only one who can ultimately defeat it, but there will be others there, unknown to anyone except myself and Dumbledore, who will intervene when and if it is necessary."
"Why don't they intervene now?" Ron asked. A few months ago his temper would have been flying. He was annoyed now, but he didn't have enough energy to be angry.
"They don't believe on intervening...especially not on fellow necromancers," Peter added the last bit with an air of hesitation. However, Ron was infinitely glad he had said it. Nothing could have comforted him more than the knowledge that there were powerful people not possessed by the marble who understood him.
"I'll try," Ron finally promised. Peter nodded.
"That is all anyone can ask you to do."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The morning dawned bright and early the following Saturday. The sun was shining, and for the first time in weeks there was not a single cloud in the sky. It should have betokened a day of fun and relaxation. That is why Hermione could not understand why she awoke with a tense knot in the pit of her stomach.
She was up before anyone else in the dorm, which was unusual in itself. Usually she was attempting to sleep while Parvati and Lavender primped. They were still sleeping (and snoring) soundly when she opened her eyes.
Of course, she had been tense for a few weeks now. Perhaps it was finally starting to take its toll.
She dressed slowly, thinking all the while. She ran a brush through her hair, taking a minimal amount of time to calm the unruly locks. Finally frustrated, she pulled them back into a sensible ponytail, brushed her teeth, and went downstairs.
She was still the only person awake. It was barely six in the morning. She could have gone down to the Great Hall, the elves always sent up something for the early birds, but she wasn't particularly hungry. Instead, she sat down to think.
There had to be something she was overlooking, some hidden and unacknowledged clue in the back of her mind that would solve this unsettling mystery of what was going on with Ron. They hadn't been alone together in nearly a month and he talked to her as little as possible. Somehow she knew it wasn't lessening attraction. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Hermione shook her head and put the thought of Ron suddenly losing interest out of her head. He would have just broken up with her outright, which would be considerably less awkward. No, it had to be something else.
Her mind reeled backward, searching for some strange event that she hadn't taken into consideration...
She had often considered that strange marble that Ron had made such a big deal about a few months ago. She remembered feeling powerful as she held it, and the strange dream she had had that night. Somehow this all had to start there. But there was nothing else...she hadn't even seen the marble since February...
Finally something clicked, and Hermione nearly sighed with relief. On Valentine's Day Harry had received his mother's locket from mysterious persons unknown. But Ron had been burned by the locket's touch. What if the locket and the marble were somehow connected...?
Hermione shook her head. It was a crazy, preposterous theory with no real evidence. It was an obvious sign of her lack of sleep and caffeine that it had even occurred to her.
She finally went to breakfast, trying to go back to being rational.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ron woke up on Saturday nearly as early as his girlfriend, but the marble refused to let him get out of bed. He did manage to carry on a whispered conversation with Draco, finalizing their plans. Today was the day, and Ron was determined that his part as a Defender would be completed despite the marble's grip on his wits.
He cut off his conversation with Draco when he heard Harry rise, and was shortly after allowed to move himself. It was actually rather humorous, to suddenly move without any kind of thought about it. Humor was the last thing on Ron's mind that morning.
He walked down to breakfast with Harry as if it were any other day. Ron's inner mind was on full alert, waiting for some kind of signal. He was desperately hoping that Peter had found a way to convince Sirius or Luna about the attack, but he was prepared for the worst.
Luna was sitting at the High Table in her usual place, carrying on an animated conversation with Professor Sprout. Hermione was waiting for them, a pensive look securely in place. Ginny joined them after a few moments and sat next to Harry. Neville was awake and healthy. Cho was chattering away at the Ravenclaw table. The only one not to be found anywhere was Sirius. Ron hoped fervently that Sirius had a hunch.
For once since the whole ordeal had started, Ron's hope paid off. Breakfast was almost over when Sirius quietly but quickly entered the Hall and went straight to the High Table. He whispered something to Luna, who quickly stood and started walking from the room. The Defender's didn't miss the exchange, and all six immediately followed her. Ron glanced over his shoulder and saw Sirius in a conference with Dumbledore.
They were coming.
The Defenders automatically made a half circle around Luna once they reached the Entrance Hall. The look on her face confirmed their worst fears.
"Apparently an army of Death Eaters is heading in this direction," she began quietly and without preamble. "Dumbledore will be making an announcement shortly."
"Oh God," Cho whispered. Hermione took out her wand and muttered the spell to change her robes under her breath. The others followed her example, their countenances grim.
"You have braved danger before," Luna said after a moment of silence. "You know what to do. Good luck."
She swept away without further comment. They didn't need instructions. They all knew what to do.
"They won't fall for the wall again," Neville said, "So I suppose we'll try Plan C?"
"Sounds good," Harry replied with a nod.
Cho lead the way. The followed in a straight line, each paling a bit as they crossed the threshold of the castle and stepped into the pleasant spring breeze. Draco followed, just as silent and somber as the rest of them.
They gathered at the bottom of the steps in a huddle. Attention as focused on Cho, who had opened her mouth to speak. Suddenly a flurry of movement diverted their attention. For a moment even Ron was surprised. It was his body that was moving.
Hermione's eyes widened with shock and horror. Ron had suddenly thrown himself at Ginny. There was a moment of confused struggle before she realized what was really happening.
Ron had his hands securely around Ginny's throat. She was fighting for breath, but his grip wasn't loosening. She was slowly turning blue.
"Ron, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry roared, staring at the brother and sister in disbelief.
Ron was even more incredulous. He was staring at his sister's wide brown eyes and purpling freckled face. He was fighting his body will with all his strength. But he was so far gone, so far under the marble's curse, that nothing could return his will. He was powerless to stop himself.
Draco was screaming profanely, and Harry was as well. Ron heard them only as a ringing in his ears. He was still focusing all his energy on not strangling Ginny. It was useless, of course, but he had to try.
He really was not surprised when Harry finally pried Ginny from his grasp and punched him. He was also not surprised when he hit Harry back. The marble gave him incredible strength and skill, as if he had been fighting all his life. Ron was still trying to stand still.
Neville was pulling out his wand, Cho was screaming at them, and Ginny had fallen to the ground, coughing. Hermione stood in horrified paralysis, trying to force her mind to think. Something was wrong here. There was something terribly, terribly wrong...
She focused on Ron. He was in the middle of a violent scrap with Harry, but he had managed, somehow, to reach into his pocket and pull out the marble that had been nagging at Hermione's brain. She bit her lip, thinking as she had never thought before, her mind whirring at an impossible speed.
Ron felt the marble pulsating with power in his fist. He hadn't even realized his was holding it. His eyes somehow found the thin gold chain around Harry's neck. Without thinking he reached up and tore the locket away, flinging it far from Harry and the marble. He cried out as it burned his flesh.
The locket landed at Hermione's feet. She picked it up, looking from it to Ron and Harry. Neville was trying to use magic to break up the fight, and Ginny was now trying to plead with them through her gasps for air. As soon as Hermione held the locket in her hand she remembered the dream she had had the night she had Ron's locket with alarming clarity.
Ron had been holding the marble and looking at her. And ink from Tom Riddle's diary had been spilled into the marble. And Tom had given the locket to Lily's mother, she suddenly realized. If the marble connected Tom and the Lily's mother the way it connected Ron and Hermione...if the locket was the marble's counterpart....
Ron was screaming at the top of his lungs in the language of the dead, begging someone to help him, begging someone to kill him so that he would stop trying to kill his sister and best friend. Draco was also screaming. Ron wanted nothing but death at that moment, yet he continued fighting....
Hermione acted without thinking. She dove right into the fight that Harry was losing. Her sudden intrusion caused Ron to stop moving for a crucial moment. She wrenched his fist open and tore the marble from it.
Ron lunged at her, but Harry intervened. Ron fought only to escape his grasp, trying to take the marble back from Hermione, still screaming guttural, unknown syllables. Little did the others realize the syllables were of joy and hope, screaming instructions at Hermione although he knew she didn't understand him. Draco had fallen silent, watching with impossible, half unbelieving hope.
Hermione held the locket in one hand and the marble in the other. She pushed the two together, but encountered an invisible force, as if she were trying to make to magnets of the same charge touch. She continued trying, realizing there must be powerful magic at work. Harry and Ron were still fighting, but her entire concentration was on the marble and the locket.
They were near inches apart now, and she could see the faint glow of a white light in the inches that separated them. She felt beads of sweat forming on her brow from the physical effort of forcing the objects to touch. In a burst of strength, she defeated the force and the marble came into sharp, sudden contact with the golden heart of the locket.
There was a miniature explosion in Hermione's hands. She felt nothing, but she saw the sudden burst of blinding white light. When it ended, her hands were raw and red. The locket was lying innocently in her left palm. The marble had disappeared.
She looked up. Ron had fallen to his back; his arms limp at his sides. Harry was still pounding him. And, Hermione realized, the language he was speaking was plain, wonderful English.
"Hermione, you're a bloody genius!" he was screaming, sounding ecstatic despite the beating. "I'm not fighting back! I'm FREE!"
Harry finally realized that he was no longer encountering a struggle and stopped fighting. He stood up, panting and glaring. Ron leapt to his feet. His eyes were sparkling and he was smiling fiercely despite a freely bleeding lip. Hermione hadn't seen him so happy in months.
"What in the hell is going on?" Neville demanded.
"I'm a necromancer!" Ron announced happily. "And I can finally tell you everything! I've been talking with the dead for months...Draco is swearing as we speak! I swear on all the gods in the pantheon I will never, ever sin again in return for this day!"
"What are you talking about?" Cho demanded.
"I was possessed," Ron replied, "Just like Ginny was with the diary back in second year, except the ink was in the marble and not the diary. But the marble was connected to the locket through Kara...Hermione, you're the most brilliant woman I've ever met and I love you with all my soul now that I have it back. But enough of that. This is the day of the final battle, and Lily Potter's given me specific instructions."
"You...marble...Lily..." Ginny was rightfully confused.
"I know it makes no sense," Ron said, but he was still deliriously happy because of his freedom, "But trust me. You will never have to doubt me again. You'll have to trust me anyway, because I'm the only one who knows how to kill him."
"Who?" Harry asked, still confused.
"Voldemort, obviously," Ron replied. "We haven't any more time to waste. Here's the plan."
The others gather around and listened for the first time as their Divinator revealed his secrets.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The students of Hogwarts could hardly believe that Voldemort had dared to make another attack on Hogwarts less than four months after the first. The sixth and seventh year volunteers were divided into several small groups under the command of a teacher.
They came pouring out of the doors, this time not encountering a giant storm swirling around them, but a long pit full of the same frightening elements, widening and spouting fire at random. Clouds engulfed the castle, and lightening flickered to the earth with alarming frequency.
The Defenders were not far apart after what had happened in December. None of them were anxious to repeat the agony of losing one of their own. Little did they know (Ron had been to busy to explain it) Draco was standing with them as well. His eyes were resting on Ginny. He finally looked away to meet Ron's gaze, and nodded. It had taken more time than he liked to face what was going to happen, but he would go through with it. Ron nodded in return, a grim smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
The Death Eaters finally made it across the Elemental Pit (with many causalities before they finally figured out how to cross it safely), and were now in full throttle battle with the army of Hogwarts. The Defenders weaved in and out of the battle, making a somewhat twisted but determined path in the same direction. It was an unspoken instinct that guided them to the east knoll, the very center of the battle, where Voldemort was waiting for them.
It seemed almost too planned. There was an open, clear circle amidst the raging battle around them, and they all reached it unscathed. Harry arrived last, and raised his chin proudly; taking his first step into the ultimate battle he had been waiting for all his life.
A hand on his shoulder stopped him. Looking up, Harry saw Dumbledore staring at the Dark Lord. It was the headmaster who entered the circle, facing the most dreaded sorcerer of recent times. They looked each other square in the eye, cold blue meeting blood red.
"I told you not to get mixed up with the Dark Forces, Tom," Dumbledore said in a deathly quiet voice that was somehow heard more clearly than all the chaos of battle around them.
"And I told you not to interfere, Grandfather," Voldemort hissed. Harry felt his blood freeze and Ron's breath stopped as all the clues suddenly clicked into place.
"I don't want to kill you," Dumbledore said, raising his wand.
"I've always wanted to kill you," Voldemort replied, raising his own wand. There were no bows or further exchange of words. The duel simply began.
For a moment, Ron's spirit soared, and he realized that it all might be unnecessary. If Dumbledore killed Voldemort, than everyone could celebrate the victory without putting Harry in danger. Maybe...
Ron's heart was beating so fast he could breathe. There was Dumbledore, standing victoriously, raising his wand to cast the final spell.
One hissed word was all it took. A flash of green light flew from Voldemort's left hand and struck Dumbledore silently. The world seemed to stop as the headmaster fell slowly...slowly...
He landed at Harry's feet, his expression still victorious. His silver hair and beard were no longer shining, but sprawled around his unmoving figure. The blue eyes were staring up at the dark sky.
Albus Dumbledore was dead.