MetaFic

Arthur Weasley strode down the halls of the Ministry of Magic, six burly officers of the MLE unit and two Aurors at his side. They had been chosen specifically because they could cast a powerful Patronus. Arthur Weasley was herding the Dementors toward the Department of Mysterious and into the Death Chamber.

They felt the chill of a Dementor wash over them, but could not see the creature in the hallway. They blasted open doors and looked under desks. Twice they found the soul-stripped bodies of Ministry workers who had not managed to flee the building before the attack. Finally as the chill became more pronounced, Arthur made a decision. He blasted away a section of wall.

The MLE wizards cast their Patronus and started herding the dark creature away. Arthur left them to their job and turned back toward the center of the building, where the Minister and a group of officials were cut off and fighting a holding action until Arthur could rally enough troops to rescue them. The two Aurors followed Arthur to the battle.

Many people tended to underestimate Arthur Weasley. He was friendly, curious about Muggles and their ways, and seemed a bit of a buffoon. Most considered Arthur someone likable, who had a position that wasn't terribly suited to him, but had done a decent job so far. Many of his own Aurors and Hit Wizards had been dubious about his appointment. They had seen his previous work, and were mostly amused by him. Arthur Weasley was easy to underestimate.

But Arthur Weasley had hit upon the plan to destroy the Dementors, and Arthur Weasley had set up a nasty ambush that killed three Death Eaters, including Travers and Goyle Sr., as well as two large trolls.

And when Arthur Weasley had found his third oldest son lying sprawled across the threshold to the Minister's office surrounded by a swarm of Dementors and two dead dark wizards, it had been Arthur who had cast the portal spell that sucked all nine of the creatures into the Death Chamber and through the veil. Later, it had been Arthur who had cast the spell that had made Rabastan LeStrange scream in pain before he dissolved into a red puddle.

Suddenly the Aurors and Hit Wizards and MLE officers realized something important. Arthur Weasley was an easy man to underestimate, but an even easier man to fear.

Arthur Weasley waded into the dark wizards, Dementors, and trolls attacking the Minister's position.

***

Neville Longbottom stood at the top of the Astronomy Tower and watched as his love walked into the Forbidden Forest. He could see two-dozen trolls, and the twisted body of a Death Eater on the front grounds, but could not spot the Dark Lord himself. Neville sighed. It didn't matter. The battle would happen outside according to Luna. Neville slipped into the shadows and waited for the reason he was here to appear.

***

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had almost made it to the entrance hall when they hit their first obstacle. Several of the Dark Lord's followers had set up a position, trying to secure a spot for their master to reach once he had finished his duel in the entryway. Crabbe Sr., Crabbe Jr., Macnair, and Goyle Jr. had set themselves up well.

The four teens walked into a crossfire.

Ginny's heightened senses and Ron's intuitive grasp of tactics saved them from being mowed down. Still, they were pinned and not moving toward the front doors.

"We need to get past!" Harry yelled.

Ron flung a series of stunners toward their opponents. "I'm open to ideas!"

"Cover me," Ginny said.

"What?" Harry looked at her.

Ginny Weasley shifted down to her Ginger incarnation and bound away.

"She's trying to flank them," Ron said.

"She's mad," Hermione gasped, then turned and cast a disrupter, blasting away Goyle's cover. Ron took him down with two stunners.

There was a roar and a scream, then suddenly spells started to go wild on the other side. Harry and Ron broke cover and dashed ahead, Hermione moving slower and covering their backs.

When they reached the spot of the screams, they found Ginny the lioness looming over the torn body of Macnair and the quivering form of Crabbe Jr. Harry stunned the Slytherin sixth-year.

As they started to assess the situation a stunner from behind struck Hermione, knocking her down. Harry and Ron dived for cover while Ginny took Hermione's robes in her teeth and pulled her to safely.

"Enervate!" Ginny cried out from cover as a series of powerful curse whizzed near them.

Ron turned to Harry. "You need to go on!"

"I can't leave you guys," Harry told him.

"You have to. We can't fight Voldemort. Now go on, we'll keep them off of you."

Harry sat motionless for a few moments, then nodded at his oldest friends and continued working his way toward the front door, keeping low the whole way.

***

Charlie Weasley lay on his side and gasped. He had managed to get the first dark wizard by using the element of surprise, but three to one had proved too long a set of odds for him. The three remaining wizards stood over him, Mulcibur, Borgin, and a pinched-face woman he vaguely remembered from his school days.

"Well, if it isn’t my little puppet," Mulciber sneered. "Thought you'd cut your strings did you? Well, you can replace Crawson. Perhaps we'll get lucky, and you can kill one of your own family for us, the dark knows there's plenty of Weasleys to spare." Mulciber raised his wand. "Imper–"

Charlie Weasley pointed his wand at the ceiling and cast his final spell.

The tunnel collapsed.

***

Nymphadora Tonks Lupin strode down the battered halls of the school, a one woman wrecking machine. She had so far destroyed three Acromantula, six trolls, and one surprised Crabbe Sr., who had the misfortune to materialize in front of her.

She was about to join a battle she could hear raging near the front hall when a terrible pain flashed across her back, she gasped and turned.

Narcissa Black Malfoy faced her niece. "You horrid disgrace," Narcissa whispered, then attacked again.

Tonks had heard of, but never seen, the Cat-O'-Nine-Tails Curse. It struck her fully, and she spun into the wall as several large gashes opened across her chest and abdomen.

"You half-blood whore, prancing about with your misbegotten werewolf lover, besmirching the Black family name," Narcissa lashed out again.

The spell caught Tonks across the face and upper shoulders. She shuddered as the cuts appeared, but faced her aunt with cold resolve. "Whatever, Auntie N." Tonks hit Narcissa with a bludgeoning spell, and she flew down the hallway. Tonks stood and advanced on her. "You and your blood-prejudice. It's your kind's fault that this stupid war's happening."

Narcissa stood and faced the younger woman. "Magic should be for Purebloods! All others only muddle our noble arts. We are better than your kind!"

Tonks' expression softened for a moment as she realized her aunt was truly mad. "I'm sorry, Narcissa," she whispered.

Narcissa Malfoy screeched like a Harpy and raised her wand. Tonks cast another bludgeoning spell, but it missed, striking the wall behind the Malfoy matriarch. Normally this wouldn't have mattered, but the magic keeping Hogwarts together was failing.

The entire section of wall fell forward, crushing Narcissa without warming. Tonks watched as one of her aunt's pale hands, poking out from the rubble, twitched, and then was still. Blood ran out from underneath the stones where Narcissa lay buried.

It was too much for the young Auror. Battle hardened though she was, Tonks fell to her knees and broke down in tears, sick at the waste of it all.

***

Luna Lovegood stood among the shaggy creatures and waited. She hated what was about to happen, but she knew of no other way. As Voldemort broke down the door and the trolls began to advance on the school, Luna used her wand to goad the animals into a stampede. It didn't take much goading; the shaggy beasts loved her and would happily do her bidding.

The small legion of trolls found themselves being trampled under the sharp hooves of the charging Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. They screamed and cried in confusion as the shaggy beasts of burden ran over them.

Luna watched the terrible scene, a single tear running down her face, then she turned and started back to the castle.

***

Emmeline Vance gasped for breath and prayed for a miracle. She had dueled Voldemort for several minutes, far longer than even she thought she might hold out, but it was over. She had burned up all her reserve energy in the desperate finally blast of a modified stunner. The Dark Lord had laughed as he batted it away.

Voldemort strode up to her and grasped her under the chin. "It has been years since any has lasted so long against me. It seems a shame to waste such a powerful gift. Join me, and I will spare your life."

Emmeline Vance smiled sweetly and spat on the Dark Lord.

The Dark Lord slapped the defeated witch, busting her mouth and knocking her flat on the ground. "As you wish," Voldemort hissed raising his wand. "Avada Ked–"

Harry Potter's bludgeoning spell sent Voldemort sailing backward in a violent flip, back out the door and onto the front lawn.

"Hello, Tom," Harry Potter said, stepping outside to face his nemesis.

***

Ginny Weasley kept looking over her shoulder, hoping for Harry to return, dreading that Voldemort might come up behind them. Finally, Ron had yelled at her to go back up Harry. She changed forms and bolted.

"We're not going to make it, are we?" Hermione asked.

Ron sighed. "No, I don't think so."

"I'm scared, Ron," Hermione admitted, even as she cast a spell blasting a statue and making it fall into a huddled group of their opponents.

"Me too, love, me too," Ron hit Darien Rosier with a petrifying spell and dived back for cover.

They glanced over their cover to see at least nine wizards and witches advancing on them.

"We have to hold them off a little longer," Ron said.

"I love you, Ron," Hermione smiled at her boyfriend.

Ron Weasley looked at Hermione Granger. She was scorched, covered in dirt and soot, her hair was a mess, and her clothes were torn and tattered. She was the most beautiful thing in the world to him. "I love you too, and I intend to spend the rest of my life with you, even if it is only ten more minutes."

Hermione cast three rapid-fire stunners at the advancing wizards. "Is that a proposal?"

Ron chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it is."

"In that case, I plan to survive this little engagement," Hermione suddenly became very business-like.

Ron started to reply, when the most glorious sound in the world came to his ears. Seamus Finnigan was singing some Irish rebellion song. Ron peeked over his cover. Seamus was leading a large band of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff sixth and seventh years into battle against the dark wizards that had him and Hermione pinned.

Hermione and Ron exchanged a look, then popped up and started casting hexes and curses as fast as they could pronounce them.

***

Neville Longbottom watched the woman glide up to the side of the Astronomy Tower observation deck. He held his breath, trying not to give himself away. He knew there would only be one shot at getting her; if he failed she would probably kill him and Harry both.

Neville tensed as she raised her wand. He pointed his own and muttered "Stupefy." The stunner hit the woman squarely in the back, then rebounded toward him. Neville turned and let it pass.

Bellatrix LeStrange spun and cast a killing curse into the shadows. Neville rolled under it, then came up awkwardly to his feet.

"Do I know you?" the LeStrange woman whispered. "You seem familiar, and I always like to know my victim's name."

Neville smiled without humor. "Longbottom, Neville Longbottom," he said. He sprang at her.

Bellatrix raised her wand.

"Crucio!"

***

Arthur Weasley finished the cleanup at the Ministry. He was about to give his final report to Madam Bones before going to Grimmauld to break the news to his wife that Percy was dead.

Bill and Fleur came rushing up to him. They had been leading the fight in Diagon Alley, along with some of Bill's curse breaker friends and the twins.

"Dad! There's no one at Grimmauld, something's gone wrong." Bill paused, seeing the look on his father's face. "Dad?"

Arthur Weasley placed a hand on his oldest son's shoulder. "Percy's dead, Bill."

Bill nodded as Fleur turned her grime-covered face into his shoulder and wept.

"Now," Arthur said, trying to remain calm. "Where are the twins?"

"On their way to make sure Grimmauld stays secure. There was no one there when Fleur and I arrived five minutes ago," Bill whispered.

Arthur turned to the half-Veela. "Fleur, please ask Fred and George to secure headquarters, then go to Hogwarts." The older Weasley turned to his son. "Bill, we're going up to the school. I'm afraid that's where Voldemort is."

Bill Weasley pushed the urgent need to grieve aside. There was still a battle to be fought, and Ron, Ginny and the others needed him. He took a deep breath. "Let's go then."

***

Ginny Weasley stood in the shadows in her cat form and waited. If Voldemort had a trick up his sleeve to attack Harry with, she would be ready to stop it. She scanned the grounds while trying to pay attention to the two combatants.

"Avada Kedavra!" the Dark Lord shouted.

"Stupefy!" Harry countered.

The two spells struck and the brother wands connected in a high-pitched hum.

It was Voldemort who broke off the attack first, before the previous spells he had used could begin to manifest.

"No matter, Potter, I came prepared," Voldemort reached into his robes and pulled out a long three-headed whip. The whip heads where fashioned with sharp points that appeared to be dripping some thick liquid.

Harry nodded, and then raised his hand.

Fawkes, screaming a battle cry, swooped from the castle carrying the Sword of Godric Gryffindor to his master.

"Yeah, I had a back-up plan also," Harry said, smiling.

Ginny Weasley watched the two circle each other. From time to time Voldemort would look up, as if expecting something to happen. Finally he scowled and charged Harry with his whip.

Ginny realized suddenly what was going on, as Voldemort kept trying to maneuver Harry in one direction. She changed into lion form and sprang just as Nagini broke from under the invisibility illusion and struck at Harry's exposed back.

***

Luna Lovegood patiently moved through the battles that raged around her. It seemed, to her untrained eye anyway, that the Hogwarts defenders where gaining the upper hand. She ignored it all, intent on her target.

She found him in the Charms classroom, torturing Mandy Brocklehurst. Luna knew he liked to torture people, especially women. Neville had told her about Rodolphus LeStrange.

Mandy was a screaming, bloody mess, lying helpless on one of the tables. LeStrange had an odd glint in his eyes, and his breathing was coming raggedly. The sight of him sickened Luna. With a flick of her wand, she smashed him in the head with a candelabra. LeStrange staggered and turned on her. She cast a stunner, but he recovered too quickly and bashed it aside.

Luna gritted her teeth as he countered with the severing curse. Luna tried to avoid it, but it cut her legs from underneath her. She tried get off a disarming hex, but he beat her to it, causing her wand to fly away. Luna took a deep breath. She knew this was going to hurt, at least for a little while.

***

Neville Longbottom took the curse full in the chest. He braced himself and pushed past it, moving forward toward the startled woman.

He grabbed her wand and pointed it in the air.

Bellatrix shrieked and lashed out with her other hand, using her long nails to scratch Neville in the eyes.

He took the pain, and hung on, wresting her for control of her wand.

She jerked to the left as hard as she could.

Neville continued to hold onto her wand arm.

She raised a knee into him, catching him between the legs.

Neville gasped and pushed her backward.

They struck the guardrail, and then toppled over.

Bellatrix regained control of her wand as she fell, but the killing curse she cast only struck the tower wall.

Neville Longbottom looked into Bellatrix LeStrange's good eye as they plummeted, and smiled.

The ground came up to greet them.

***

Ginny Weasley was rolling over and over on the grass with the giant snake wrapped around her. The two were locked in combat, Ginny's teeth behind the snake’s head, trying to pull it off, while the snake twisted, tying to escape. She could hear the sounds of Harry and Voldemort panting and grunting. Voldemort had conjured a shield to help protect himself, but Harry was proving too quick for the older wizard's attacks with the whip. Ginny had almost pinned Nagini down when a scream and a powerful blast of magic distracted her enough to lose her grip.

Nagini slithered lose and struck, catching the lioness on the right flank.

Ginny roared in pain and lashed out, pining the snake to the ground and ripping off its head, but the damage was done. She'd been bitten.

Too weak to hold her form, Ginny changed back into a fifteen-year-old woman. She looked down at her right leg as the blood poured freely from it. The snake's venom coursed through her and finally she collapsed, dizzy and weak from the pain it. As she lay on her back she saw two figures lying a dozen feet away from her, and the Astronomy Tower teetering ominously.

Ginny gasped for breath and closed her eyes against the pain.

***

Luna Lovegood looked at Rodolphus LeStrange and laughed.

He had spent the last five minutes torturing her, but in that time Mandy had managed to crawl away, leaving a bloody trail back to them for anyone to follow. Luna hoped Mandy would live. Mandy had a singular gift for hiding things. Luna looked squarely into LeStrange's dark eyes. She had hoped it wouldn't come to this; it had been hazy what her own fate would be. But here she was, and that was that.

She laughed again.

"What's wrong with you girl? Don't you realize you're going to die?" LeStrange was angry because she had not provided the kind of screaming and begging he so desired.

"Yes, I do realize that. The funny thing is, you don't realize that you're about to die." Luna laughed again.

Rodolphus LeStrange opened his mouth to retort, but suddenly a nasty, crumpled, stubby, but still rather sharp horn protruded from his chest. It withdrew, and he fell over with a shocked look on his face.

Luna toppled over and waited. She knew they were coming.

The Snorkack nudged her with its shaggy nose. She smiled benignly at the creature. She couldn't wait to see Neville again.

***

Harry Potter saw Ginny collapse to the ground in a bloody heap.

He had battled Tom to a draw with weapons and spells, trying to get him to do the one thing Harry needed him to, but so far Tom had been content to fight it out. Harry knew that if he continued, Tom would eventually be forced to give Harry what he wanted. The older wizard was starting to pant and struggle. But he also knew that Ginny's wounds looked bad, and he needed to reach her.

Harry watched as Tom also noticed Ginny's collapse. Riddle attacked him suddenly, and then broke off. Tom dropped his whip and drew his wand again, which he pointed at Ginny.

Harry was too far away to use the sword, so he lashed out with a spell of his own. He attacked Tom with a razor whip curse; a piece of nastiness Bill had taught him. The spell sliced across the Dark Lord's front.

Tom Riddle looked down at his own blood in shock.

***

Draco Malfoy stood in the shadows and watched the duel between the Dark Lord and Harry Potter.

He saw Potter wound Voldemort, and the Dark Lord look down in amazement at his own blood. It couldn't be. Potter couldn't possibly win, could he?

In that instant, Draco Malfoy realized that he would always be a pale second to his rival. Potter was a powerful wizard. Potter was and had everything Draco knew he would not have or could ever be. The hatred boiled in his chest.

Potter might be powerful, but he had one weakness.

Draco Malfoy pointed his wand at the prone form of Ginny Weasley. He had wanted her for himself, but he would make do with Susan Bones instead. Killing Ginny would destroy Potter, no matter if he vanquished the Dark Lord. Draco Malfoy channeled all his anger and hatred and opened his mouth to utter the killing curse.

"Expelliarmus!"

Draco's wand was torn from his hand. He turned to the source of the spell.

Severus Snape appeared from the shadows. "Attacking a helpless opponent. How very Slytherin of you." Snape smiled an oily, evil smile and pointed his shiny black wand at Draco. "I've wanted to do this for a long time, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco dived for cover, but was too slow. Snape's spell struck him squarely and flung him across the grounds to the Dark Lord's feet.

***

Ron and Hermione found Luna lying in a pool of her own blood in the middle of the Charms classroom.

Luna smiled up at them as they approached. "Remember, things may seem bad, but–" Luna coughed a choking, wracking cough. "Hermione, you have to do something for me."

Hermione Granger knelt next to the young woman who she had never completely understood. It was obvious that Luna was dying, though she seemed to have taken her opponent with her. "Of course, Luna, anything you need," Hermione whispered.

Luna smiled up at Hermione, then took her wand and waved it over her middle while softly muttering an incantation. Hermione watched wide-eyed as a small form bathed in gold light appeared, Luna gave a gentle flick at Hermione and before anyone could react, the small form disappeared in the brown haired girl's body. Hermione grabbed her middle and gasped, her eyes very wide.

Ron reached down and put a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Are you all right?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Yes, yes I'm fine." She looked at Luna sadly.

Luna smiled up at Hermione. "Take care of her for us."

"Of course."

Luna swallowed and laughed aloud, a happy, joyous laugh, then stilled.

"What just happened?" Ron asked.

Hermione looked at her fiancé. "I'm carrying Neville and Luna's child," she said. Then she burst into tears.

***

Draco Malfoy looked up in horror at the creature before him

"Ah, young Master Malfoy, perfect timing," The Dark Lord hissed. Voldemort pointed his wand at Malfoy and spat a word.

Harry watched as Draco Malfoy's very essence was ripped from his body and transferred to Tom Riddle. The wound on Riddle's front healed, and Tom seemed suddenly revitalized and refreshed.

Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, was now a dried corpse.

"You fought well, Potter. You are exactly what I need. Look for me in the one place only you and I can reach, and we will finish this little game."

Voldemort vanished.

Harry Potter dashed to his girlfriend. There was blood everywhere, far too much of it. Ginny's eyes were closed, and she was taking slow ragged breaths. Harry picked up her head and rested it in his lap.

Ginny opened her eyes, "Harry–I–you have to promise–please don't go off all–it's cold and--"

"Sshh, save your strength, Gin," Harry whispered.

Ginny Weasley got a very confused look on her face, then she nodded. "Of course, I understand now."

"Understand what?" Harry whispered.

She turned suddenly clear eyes on him. "Promise me you won't go running off after Riddle right away."

"Gin–"

"This is—important Harry," she gasped. "I need you--to stay–calm and wait--for me."

"Ginny, don’t die."

Ginny swallowed and glared at him. "Promise me!" she hissed. "I'll be with you–" she gasped. "Remember–cat–" she croaked out softly, then exhaled and went limp. Her head rolled to one side, her eyes stared at nothing.

Harry Potter raised his face to the heavens and screamed out his sorrow.