A/N ~ Welcome, once again<3 We're so close to the end, it feels surreal. Hope you all enjoy the chapter xx

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Y/N collapsed on the grassy shore, coughing and shuddering.

Though Harry could have happily lain down and slept, he staggered to his feet, drew out his wand, and started casting the usual protective spells around them.

Ron had given up and laid still on his back, as Hermione went through her beaded handbag.

It was the first time that Y/N saw all of them properly since escaping from the vault.

The three had red burns all over their faces and arms, and their clothing was singed away in places.

Hermione and Ron were wincing as they dabbed essence of dittany onto their many injuries.

"Well, on the upside," said Ron finally, now sitting and watching the skin on his hands regrow, "we got the Horcrux. On the downside-"

"No sword," said Y/N through gritted teeth, as she twisted the water out of her soaked robes.

"No sword," repeated Ron.

Hermione handed Harry the bottle of dittany, then pulled out dry robes for all of them.

"He knows," said Harry, suddenly, as he dropped some dittany onto his palms. "He knows we broke into Gringotts. He knows we stole the Horcrux... he knows we know about the Horcruxes."

"How is it you know all this?" Hermione shot, whipping her head around.

"I saw him," said Harry shamefully.

"You let him in? Harry, you can't do that!"

"Hermione, I can't help it!" said Harry, frustrated, as he pulled his soaked shirt over his head. "Or maybe I can, I don't know!"

"Never mind that, what happened?" Y/N frowned, buttoning up her new robes.

"Well, he's... he's really angry," Harry said quietly, his face paling. "He... he killed them."

"Who?"

"All of them... everyone at Gringotts," whispered Harry. "Griphook... there was blood everywhere."

No one responded to that. Not even Ron, who had been cursing Griphook all the way there.

Y/N tried not to picture the scene as she handed her wet clothes to Hermione, who stuffed everything into her handbag hurriedly.

"When you were in his mind," Ron said loudly, clearly noticing that Harry was upset. "Did you see anything that'd help us find the Horcruxes?"

"I... I did, actually," Harry looked up at the three of them. They stared back, waiting. "It's at Hogwarts. One of his Horcruxes is hidden at Hogwarts."

"What?"

"I just saw the castle and Rowena Ravenclaw," said Harry, rubbing his scar in irritation. "we have to go there- now."

"What?" Hermione repeated, looking at Harry as though he'd lost his mind. "We can't do that! We've got to plan, we've got to figure it out!"

"Well, look where one of our plans got us," Y/N laughed, looking around with her hands on her hips. "I'm very serious when I say I don't ever want to do that ever again."

"Exactly my point," said Harry. "We plan for weeks, but when we actually get to the plan, hell breaks loose. All. The. Time."

Hermione crossed her arms, frowning at the ground in deep thought.

Ron was now drinking pumpkin juice from a flask they'd taken from Bill and Fleur's.

Y/N sighed and flopped onto the ground, letting herself lay down for a second. She wasn't quite sure if she'd been dreaming the past day.

"So, what now?" She asked, wanting nothing more than to just lay there until the sun rises.

"We should go through the Honeydukes passageway," inquired Hermione, finally giving in. "Snape'll be a problem."

"We're really doing this?" Y/N sat up straight. She gazed around at her friends and their looks told her there was no other choice. "Fine. After all that, death'll have to try harder to catch me."

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Y/N's feet touched the road of Hogsmeade village.

Though it was hard to see in the dark and under the Invisibility Cloak, Hogsmeade looked just as beautiful as the last time she was there.

She saw the mist line of black mountains beyond the village and the curve in the road ahead that led off toward Hogwarts.

Light was spilling from the windows of the Three Broomsticks. The sky was almost completely dark.

Suddenly, the air was rent by a scream that sounded like Voldemort's, and she knew that their appearance had caused it.

"Well shit," Y/N grumbled, almost in boredom, as Harry seized her wrist and raised his wand.

The door of the Three Broomsticks burst open and a dozen cloaked Death Eaters dashed into the streets, their wands aloft.

There were too many of them to run from, so the Quartet held their breaths under the cloak as they stood still.

"Accio Cloak!" roared one of the Death Eaters

Harry seized the folds of the cloak, but it made no attempt to escape. The Summoning Charm had not worked on it.

"Not under your wrapper, then, Potter?" yelled the Death Eater who had tried the charm. "Spread now. He's here."

They'd been expecting the four of them.

"Let's just leave!" Hermione whispered. "Disapparate now!"

"A great idea," said Ron.

"Not a great idea," Harry protested. "We're this close-"

"He can't risk getting caught again, Harry!" Hermione cut him off.

"They would track us down even if we Disapparated now-!"

"They'll kill us here-!"

"Shut up! All of you!" Y/N hissed, silencing them in a heartbeat. "Alright, do you trust me? I hope that was a nod, Ron... if you don't want to die, follow me."

They all obeyed without hesitation, hurrying after Y/N in careful steps.

Harry couldn't see anything outside the cloak and struggled to keep all of them under, but he chose not to point that out to Y/N.

Not long after, Y/N stopped in front of a door on the left side of the narrow street.

"In here, quick!" said a rough voice. The four of them did not hesitate. "Upstairs, keep the Cloak on, keep quiet!"

A tall figure passed them on his way into the street and slammed the door behind him.

Harry had no idea where they were, but now he saw, by the stuttering light of a single candle, the grubby, sawdust bar of the Hog's Head Inn.

Y/N scrambled out of the Invisibility Cloak and looked around the room as if she was searching for something. Or perhaps someone.

"Of course it was you lot," said a rather soothing voice Harry didn't recognize.

There was a click from the corner of the room, and the light from Ron's Deluminator illuminated the room.

Now, Harry could see everything clearly.

Y/N's face bloomed with relief and gladness as Sebastian Dumbledore entered the room... except- it wasn't Sebastian Dumbledore.

By the looks on Ron and Hermione's faces, Harry was comforted to know he wasn't the only one staring at a man he just didn't recognize.

The man was middle-aged, with long black curls that twisted like snakes, and a slightly crooked nose.

His eyes were so grey, that they almost looked black. Something about him... the glisten of his eyes reminded Harry of someone.

"Really, Y/N, I thought you'd be more tactical," said the stranger, stepping closer to them.

"Well, if you've been keeping up with the news, Sebastian," said Y/N, grinning, "I just broke into a bank and escaped on a dragon. I couldn't be more tactical."

He grinned, showing rows of white teeth.

Ron and Hermione backed away, wands raised. Harry looked at Y/N for an explanation.

"You should break the news to them," said Y/N, to the man, "before they hex you into oblivion. Hermione's very capable of that."

"Well, I'm quite offended you haven't told them about me," Regulus teased, as he drew himself a chair and lowering himself on it, throwing a leg over the other.

"I was keeping your secret-"

"I know, I know, I was just nagging," Regulus chuckled. Harry swore he had heard that laugh from somewhere. "I heard he's a good godfather, Harry?"

"Who?" asked Harry.

Regulus smiled softly. "I suppose he could've been a good brother... if he wasn't so busy being so jealous and arrogant."

"He's still your brother," Y/N shrugged.

"He never considered me as his brother... not really." Regulus shook his head. "But he's always been mine."

Ron and Harry were too slow, but of course, Hermione let out a sound in between a cry and a scoff.

"You've got to be kidding me," She shook her head in denial.

"What's going on?" Ron demanded.

"You're... you're Regulus Black?" Hermione whispered. Her brown eyes were wide. "Oh my god... All those years... all... right in front of us."

"Wait, hold on-" Ron held up a finger, the corner of his lips curling with hesitance. "What do you mean, he's Regulus Black? Regulus Black-"

"Died eighteen years ago," Harry said quietly, his eyes fixed upon Regulus' broad face. "except he never did..."

Regulus nodded subtly, and Ron let out a noise that sounded like a choke.

"But how did you... you escaped the inferi?" asked Harry.

"With difficulty," Regulus nodded, intertwining his fingers. "Plus, I ended up in a muggle hospital... a hospital. C'mon, give me a good reaction! That place is truly terrifying!"

"But how?" Ron's mouth was agape.

"Well, a bunch of muggles saw me laying half-dead in their streets, so-"

"No, how are you-" Ron let out a shaky breath. He just couldn't wrap his head around it. "How are you here? Where have you been?"

"It's a very long story, Y/N can assure you," Regulus replied calmly, with his signature smile. "But I supposed it won't hurt, telling it again-"

"Oh, no, there ain't no time for that!" growled Aberforth's voice.

Hermione jumped and Ron backed away from the front of the room as the barman entered the room.

In the light, his long grey beard and bold blue eyes were visible behind the dirty lenses of his spectacles.

"You bloody fools," he said gruffly, looking from one to the other of them. "What were you thinking, coming here?"

"Thank you," said Harry. "We can't thank you enough. You saved our lives. Y/N told us you were the one who sent Dobby, so thanks for that too."

"That would be my doing," Regulus grinned, looking innocently proud of himself.

By the intense look Harry had on his face, Y/N suspected he was still desperate for an explanation from Regulus.

"For another day, Harry," Regulus said firmly, then straightened himself. "So what are you lot doing here?"

"I'm afraid we can't tell you that," Y/N said solemnly. "We just need to get into the castle-"

"You will not," Regulus' voice was no longer playful. It sounded more like a demand than a suggestion. Y/N stared at his dark piercing eyes.

"Reg, if you knew what we were doing-"

"Which I don't,"

"-you'd understand," said Y/N grimly. She tried to communicate with him through her eyes. "It's about... it."

Regulus' expression softened and his eyebrows relaxed slightly. Aberforth muttered under his breath in exasperation.

Ron gasped.

"The silver doe," he said excitedly, "Was that you?"

"Ron-"

"What are you talking about?" asked Aberforth.

"Someone sent a doe Patronus to us!"

"I'm flattered you assume I can still produce a Patronus," Regulus laughed, his voice sounding as comforting as the hot chocolates he makes. Though, Y/N could sense sorrow behind that laugh.

"Well, if you're alive, anything's possible, at this point," Ron muttered, his ears reddening slightly. He looked at Aberforth and his face lit up again.

"My Patronus is a goat," said Aberforth, before Ron could start. "And I've been asked to keep an eye on you, not be your guardian angel."

"Oh," said Ron, slightly disappointedly. "Yeah... well, I'm hungry!"

"We've got food," said Regulus, and he sloped out of the room, reappearing moments later with a large loaf of bread, cheese, and a pewter jug of mead.

Ravenous, the four ate and drank, and for a while, there was only the sound of chewing.

"Thanks, Abe," Y/N muffled, between her bites. She hoped he knew she wasn't only thanking him for the meal. Aberforth huffed in return.

"You know, you can take the time to-" Ron swallowed. He looked at Regulus. "-tell us how the bloody hell you're here- and alive,"

"Y/N, you want to help me out, here?" Regulus turned to her.

"I'm busy," Y/N's voice echoed the large mug she had to her lips.

"Thanks," Regulus simpered. He looked around at Ron, Hermione, and Harry's hungry expressions. "Well, let's just start by saying I survived the inferi, alright."

"That, we know."

"Kreacher told us everything up to the point where you... die."

"Kreacher never dissapoints, huh." Regulus nodded, "You could probably guess the rest of the story. I lived in the muggle world for a decade or two, under a fake identity."

"Regulus Black, living in the muggle world for a decade?" Ron raised his eyebrows.

"Yep," Regulus smiled. "As you can tell, I love my family. So much so, I was willing to fake my death to go live in a society I know nothing about. To be away from them."

"How did you manage that?" Even Hermione sounded baffled. "I mean- all those years, just living like a muggle under a fake name..."

"That's why it took me years to adjust," said Regulus. "And when I finally did, I had to return to this world. That was four years ago."

"Does Sirius know?" Harry asked in a mere whisper.

"He doesn't, Harry. And even if he did, he wouldn't care," said Regulus. There was no tone of grudge in his voice, but rather- casualty.

"I'm sure that's not true," Hermione piped.

"Really?" Regulus chuckled.

"He doesn't hate you," Harry chimed in defensively.

"Tell me then, Harry, what has Sirius told you about me? Did he tell you how much he missed me, or did he tell you I was a fool and a coward?"

Harry didn't reply. He looked at the floor firmly.

"Don't feel bad, I'm not upset about it," said Regulus. That just made Harry feel worse.

"What happened after?" Hermione quickly asked.

"There really isn't anything special about my story." said Regulus. "You'd expect the story of hero, a secret spy, perhaps, but I can assure you that isn't my story."

"You're wrong on that," said Y/N. Regulus turned to her with an eyebrow raised. "Oh, come on. You turned against the Dark Lord. You were willing to risk your life for that Horcrux. The world owes you, Regulus."

"You speak a lot like your father," Regulus said thoughtfully. "Sean Scamander... I didn't know him well, but everyone who did completely adored him."

Y/N wasn't sure if he knew what happened to her father.

"Are any of you going to tell me why you're all still standing here, in my inn?" Aberforth's voice rose from the corner of the room.

"I thought we'd told you," said Harry. "We're going to Hogwarts."

"Don't be stupid, boy," said Aberforth.

"We've got to," said Harry.

"What you've got to do," said Aberforth, leaning forward, "is to get as far from here as from here as you can."

"Your brother left us a mission!" said Harry.

"My brother is gone." Aberforth shot, "How can you be sure, Potter, that my brother wasn't more interested in the greater good than in you?"

"Aberforth, be easy," Regulus warned.

"It isn't easy, Black," Aberforth barked. His eyes remained on Harry. "How can you be sure you aren't dispensable?"

A shard of ice seemed to pierce Harry's heart.

"I don't believe it. Dumbledore loved Harry," said Hermione.

"Why didn't he tell him to hide, then?" shot back Aberforth. "Why didn't he say to him, 'Take care of yourself, here's how to survive'?"

"Because," said Harry before Hermione could answer, "sometimes you've got to think about more than your own safety! This is war!"

"You're seventeen, boy!"

"I'm of age, and I'm going to keep fighting even if you've given up!" said Harry. "If you can't help us, we'll wait till daybreak, leave you in peace, and try to find a way in ourselves. If you can help us- well, now would be a great time to mention it."

Aberforth remained fixed in his chair, gazing at Harry with his bright blue eyes that were so extraordinarily like his brother's.

There was another silent pause.

"Is that your sister, Ariana?" said Hermione's whispery voice. Y/N glanced at her and saw that she was gazing at the painting behind Aberforth.

It was a portrait of a young girl with braided black hair. She was thin and wore a soft and gentle smile.

"Who?" Y/N blinked.

"He's never mentioned-? Another reason why you shouldn't praise my brother unconditionally," Aberforth said bitterly. "She was my sister. Our sister."

Y/N could tell only half the people in the room knew about this. Harry and Ron looked as equally taken back as she was.

"My brother sacrificed many things during his journey, including our sister," said Aberforth. Y/N noticed how his voice softened when he spoke of her. "I was her favourite."

He stepped forward towards the painting and whispered something to his sister.

She smiled and nodded, before turning around and starting down the path in the painting, her figure getting smaller and smaller as she walked.

"What exactly did he tell her?" Y/N asked Regulus quietly.

"You'll see," Regulus grinned.

The Quartet stood there for another a minutes, staring at the still painting, waiting.

At last, a tiny white dot reappeared at the end of the painted path, and now Ariana was walking back toward them.

But there was somebody else with her now, someone taller than she was, who was limping along, looking excited.

Hermione let out a delighted gasped as she recognized the figure.

The whole framed painting swung forward on the wall like a little door, and the entrance to a real tunnel was revealed, as well as the person Ariana brought with her.

His hair was longer than Y/N remembered. He looked ragged; his face slashed and his eye swollen.

"Neville?" Harry gaped. "You look-"

"Like hell, I reckon?" Neville grinned weakly. "Alright there, Seb? There'll be a couple more coming through, hope you don't mind."

"That's fine, thanks Neville," Regulus said quickly.

"Look after them, then," said Aberforth gruffly. "I might not be able to save them a third time."

Y/N gave him a small smile and clambered up onto the mantelpiece and through the hole behind Ariana's portrait.

"Come on," Neville gestured for them to follow him down the passageway. "I knew you'd come back! I just knew it!"

"Neville, what happened to you?" Y/N asked in concern. She was closer to him and could now see more cuts and bruises on his face.

"The Carrows," Neville replied furiously. "They're horrible. They're in charge of discipline and they love punishing students."

"Ah, another Umbridge."

"Oh, they make her look like a saint." Neville scoffed.

"Are you serious?"

"We're talking Cruciatus Curses here, Harry," Neville replied grimly.

"Come again?" Y/N really hoped she'd misheard him.

"They make use the Cruciatus Curse on the Muggleborns," said Neville. "I got this one for refusing," he pointed out the deep slash across his cheek.

"And no one's trying to stop them?" Y/N asked quietly.

"We have no choice but to let it happen," replied Neville. "I got this one," he indicated another slash to his face, "for asking Alecto how much Muggle blood she and her brother have got."

"Blimey, Neville," said Ron, "there's a time and a place for getting a smart mouth."

"You didn't see her," said Neville. "You wouldn't have stood it either."

"That's..." Y/N couldn't even find the words to describe her disgust. "And you go to their classes every day?"

"Well, you see," a smirk lingered on Neville's lips. "At one point, I was positive they were planning to kill me or send me to Azkaban. So I knew it was time to disappear."

"But," said Ron, looking thoroughly confused, "aren't- aren't we heading straight back for Hogwarts?"

"Of course," said Neville. "You'll see. We're here."

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"Look who it is! Didn't I tell you?" Neville stepped aside so the Quartet can step into the room they'd just arrived in.

As Y/N emerged into the room behind the passage, there were several screams and yells:

"HARRY!"

"Scamander!"

"SHE'S ALIVE!"

"It's Potter, it's POTTER!"

"Ron!"

"Hermione!"

The next moment, the four were engulfed, hugged, pounded on the back, their hair ruffled, their hands shaken, by what seemed to be more than twenty people.

Y/N was beyond confused. They might have just won a Quidditch final.

"OK, OK, calm down!" Neville called, and as the crowd backed away, Y/N was able to take in their surroundings. It was a handful.

Multicolored hammocks were strung from the ceiling.

She saw some gold and scarlet banners, the black badger of Hufflepuff, the bronze eagle of Ravenclaw, and two Slytherin flags.

There were bookcases, a few broomsticks propped against the walls, and in the corner, a large wood-cased wireless.

"The Room of Requirements," Y/N breathed, grinning in awe and realization.

"And the Carrows can't get in?" asked Harry, looking around for the door.

"No," said Seamus Finnigan, whom Y/N had not recognized until he spoke. Seamus's face was bruised and puffy.

Now that she looked around properly, she could see many others.

Both Patil twins were there, as were Terry Boot, Cho Chang, Lavender Brown, Ernie Macmillan, Anthony Goldstein, Daphne Greengrass, and Michael Corner.

"Tell us what you've been up to, though," said Ernie.

"There've been so many rumors, we've been trying to keep up with you on Potterwatch." said Anthony, Y/N's cousin. His eyes met hers and she knew what he was referring to.

"I'm alive," Y/N shrugged. "And not evil," she added, quickly.

"You were at the Ministry!"

"You didn't break into Gringotts?"

"They did!" said Neville. "And the dragon's true too!"

There was a smattering of applause and a few whoops. Ron took a bow. Y/N laughed. Harry grinned.

"So what's the plan, Harry?" asked Neville. The clapping and whooping ceased. Everyone eyed the Quartet readily.

"I... I'm sorry," Harry sighed heavily. "But this mission Dumbledore left us- we can't tell anyone about. You can't help us."

Protest erupted around the room, people shaking their heads and frowning.

Some were mentioning Dumbledore's Army and some were rolling their eyes.

"Look," Harry began, without knowing what he was going to say, but it did not matter.

The tunnel door had just opened behind him. The room quieted down and their heads turned.

"We got your message, Neville! Hello you four, I thought you must be here!" It was Luna, Rolf, and Dean.

Seamus gave a great roar of delight and ran to hug his best friend.

"Hi, everyone!" said Luna happily. "Oh, it's great to be back!"

"Look at you all," Rolf looked around in amazement. "What is this place?"

Y/N caught her brother's gaze and he gave her two thumbs-ups and a broad smile.

"Glad to see you, sis," He said. "how much gold did you steal?"

"Luna," said Harry distractedly, "what are you doing here? How did you-?"

"I sent for her," said Neville, holding up the fake DA Galleon Hermione had created, two years ago. "And... a few more."

Then, behind them, from the hole in the wall, climbed out Fred, George, and Lee Jordan. They were all greeted by another round of applause.

"Look at us," Fred bowed. "I think we're famous, Georgie,"

"I think you're right, Freddie," said George, looking around pleasantly.

"We got your message, Neville," said Lee, holding up his fake coin.

"This is it, isn't it?" said Rolf, rubbing his hands together. "Isn't it, Harry? We're going to fight them out of Hogwarts?"

"Listen," said Harry with a rising sense of panic, "I'm sorry, but that's not what we came back for. There's something we've got to do,"

"Then let us help!" said Neville angrily. "We want to be a part of it!"

An idea sprouted in Y/N's head.

"Wait, wait, Harry," she spoke up. Everyone fell quiet and looked at her with hope. "They can help us... We don't have to tell them, exactly, what we're doing. Just what we're finding."

The room echoed with agreement.

"OK, OK," Harry gave in and took a deep breath. "There's something we need to find. Something here, in this castle. It may help us defeat You-Know-Who."

"Cool," Neville acknowledged. "What is it?"

"We don't know."

More silence.

"Where is it?"

"We don't know that either," Y/N admitted. "Don't think there's much to go on,"

"There's nothing to go on," Seamus blinked.

"Well, I think it has something to do with Ravenclaw," said Harry.

"It'll be small," Y/N added. "Easily concealed. Most likely very pretty and shiny. Expensive."

She looked at the Ravenclaws in the room. Terry, Padma, Luna, and Cho were frowning thoughtfully. Y/N's hope deflated slightly.

"Well," said Luna, "There's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem?"

"Bloody hell, here we go," Ron murmured. Rolf scowled at him.

"The lost diadem of Ravenclaw?" Luna looked around at her friends. No one reacted. "Hasn't anyone heard of it? It's quite famous,"

"Yes, but Luna," Cho sighed. "it's lost. For centuries, now. There isn't a person alive who's seen it."

"Sorry, but can someone tell me what the bloody diadem is?" Ron asked impatiently.

"It's a sort of crown," Cho explained. "You know, like a sort of tiara..."

Suddenly, there was another noise from across the room, and Y/N whirled around in alarm.

She turned and saw Ginny and Pansy dashing into the room, hand in hand, both slightly out of breath.

People stared as they stopped abruptly.

Ginny looked as beautiful as ever, her flaming hair in a ponytail. One look and Y/N could tell, Pansy thought so too.

The Slytherin had a single red slash on her face that ran across her cheek to the bridge of her nose.

Y/N smiled, and both of them returned it, their smiles complimenting each other perfectly.

"Six months she hasn't seen me, and it's like I'm a franky first year," Ron scoffed, then his eyes landed on his sister and Pansy's clasped hands. "I see,"

"What is it, Ginny?" asked Neville.

Ginny's smiled quickly disappeared once she realized what she'd come here to tell them.

"Snape knows. He knows you four are here."

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"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you here at this hour." Severus Snape snarled as he strode across the hall, his black robes flickering along the way.

Y/N stood in the middle of the Great Hall, surrounded by hundreds of Hogwarts students with their heads bowed low. They were lined up in rows, by house.

Y/N's hand was trembling in Harry's. She wasn't ready to lose anything or anyone else. She wanted him to hold her.

"It has come to my attention that earlier this evening..." Snape's eyes raked around. "Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade."

A murmured thrill filled the Hall. Y/N could see McGonagall's eyes glisten with curiosity.

Just ever so slightly, Y/N looked sideways at Harry. She could sense his fury and impatience.

Harry caught her eye and nodded lightly. She got his message and slowly let go of his hand.

The others were waiting outside, just by the door.

It was going to be fine, Y/N. Harry'll be fine. You'll be fine.

Snape held up a hand and the hall returned to silence

"Now then," he continued, his voice sticky and sickly. "If anyone here has the knowledge of Mr Potter's movements... step forward, now."

Dead silence. There was a nervous shift of glances, but no one moved. It was so silent that Y/N was afraid they'd hear her hammering heartbeat. And then...

A figure shifted forwards. All heads turned in the direction of the source.

McGonagall's chin rose in disbelief. Y/N had her wand ready at her hand.

Even Snape seemed taken back, as Harry appeared in the middle of the hall. Shocked gasps and murmers were past out around the room, once again.

"I think I can help you with that," saud Harry, coolly. "It would seem that, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster."

As the double doors opened, Y/N relinquished from the crowd of students.

Professor McGonagall, who was several feet to her right, let out a soft gasp.

Snape stared in stunned disbelief, then his gaze shifted as one by one, others emerged:

Ron, Hermione, Neville, Sirius, Remus, Arthur, Molly, the twins, Luna, Rolf, Bill, Fleur, Kingsley, and to Y/N's surprise, Percy. The Order of the Phoenix.

"And I'm afraid it's rather extensive," Harry snarled.

Y/N took a deep breathe before walking to his side and stood by him, her wand at the ready. Snape's gaze burned through her.

The Carrows, who had been moving towards Harry, falter, and turn to Snape with uncertainty. Snape raised a hand for them to stand down.

"How dare you stand where he stood," Harry's voice trembled with fury. "Tell them how it was that night. Tell then how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you... and killed him."

Snape moved as if to retrieve his wand.

Y/N was halfway through a stunning spell, but Professor McGonagall noticed and stepped in front of her wand.

Not only did she stop Y/N from risking a suicide duel, but she also put herself into the duel.

Chaos erupted as students screamed and backed away from the scene.

Professor McGonagall shoved Harry aside and Harry pulled Y/N with him.

"Professor!" Y/N gaped at the sight in front of her.

McGonagall and Snape stood face to face in the middle of the hall, wands raised and faces plastered with fury.

With steady flicks and a few screams from the students, McGonagall sent spell after spell after Snape, who started backing away.

Y/N noticed he wasn't firing back, and frowned when she noticed him deflecting two of McGonagall's spells onto the Carrows, who collapsed immediately.

With nowhere else to go, Snape twisted in mid-air and turned into some sort of bat-like form, before hurtling out the window and into the night.

"COWARD! COWARD!" Professor McGonagall cried. Snape was no where to be seen.

The students, including Y/N herself, burst into cheers and applause, as McGonagall waved her wand and increasing the lights of the torches on the wall.

Harry gave Y/N's shoulder a squeeze and she peered at him with a small smile.

"Mr Potter, Mrs Scamander," Professor McGonagall came striding towards them. She did not look happy. "do you mind telling me what you're doing here?"

"It's good to see you too, Professor," Y/N grinned. For a second, she could've sword McGonagall smiled back.

"I trust you realize this is an act of complete and utter lunacy?" the professor raised an eyebrow.

"I'm a Gryffindor," said Harry.

"I thought it might have something to do with that." Professor McGonagall said primly, then turned to the room. "All right! Settle down! Settle down!"

The room went quiet in an instant.

"It appears that your Headmaster," she acknowledged, "to use the common phrase- has done a bunk."

Cheers rose from all houses again, and even from members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Y/N turned back and caught Remus and Sirius' beaming faces at the same time. She waved at them as a little girl would.

Remus waved back instantly, and Sirius chuckled before saluting at her.

Before they could celebrate any further, however, a slow rumbling filled the Hall. The cheers and clapping ceased.

Y/N glanced up and saw that grey clouds had coagulated the enchanted ceiling.

To her side, Harry twitched briefly, his hand immediately jumping to his scar.

Y/N froze as a chill breeze took over the hall.

A girl screamed from somewhere. Her voice kept rising and rising.

Harry spared Y/N a questioning glance, before rushing through the throng, the students parting as he pelted forwards.

Another person screamed somewhere in the Hall... then another. Y/N whirled around on her feet, confused and alert.

"I know that many of you will want to fight." Spoke a cold and clear voice. Y/N screamed, startled. It was as though the voice spoke right into her ears.

By the reactions around the hall, she knew everyone was experiencing the same thing.

"I wish you no harm. I have great respect for the students of Hogwarts. I ask for but one thing and if granted no magical blood shall be spilt..."

For a moment they stood, hung in silence and fear.

"Give me Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed... Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded."

Another flow of silence spread across the room. Then, the Great Hall erupted with screams, cries, and protests.

"Students, STUDENTS-! Remain calm," Professor McGonagall tried desperately to calm them down. It worked for most, but the first and second years weren't listening.

"Professor, you should get them out of here!" Harry came swimming through the crowd back into view.

McGonagall nodded once and turned back to the mob of chaos.

"Prefects organize your House and take your charges in an orderly fashion to the evacuation point!"

The few Prefects nodded and began shouting orders.

Many of the students looked petrified.

"And what if we want to stay and fight?" Ernie Macmillan inquired.

There was a smattering of agreement.

"If you are of age, you may stay," said Professor McGonagall.

"What about our things?" called a girl at the Ravenclaw table. "Our trunks, our owls?"

"We have no time to collect possessions," said Professor McGonagall. "The important thing is to get you out of here safely."

"Harry!" Y/N called, as she ran towards him, pushed by dozens of panicking students.

She found him in the middle of the crowd. She reached out her hand and could see glipses of Harry's own. Finally, Harry managed to sweep her up in his arms.

"Y/N, listen-"

"We've got to find the diadem, quick, I know!" said Y/N.

"No, Y/N," Harry shook his head firmly. "I'm going to find the diadem. You go find Ron and Hermione and help Professor McGonagall protect the castle!"

"Harry-"

"Please, Y/N,"

"I wasn't going to-"

"I have to go!"

"Just listen-"

"I'll be fine," said Harry. "You have to help the others-"

Y/N cut him off by drawing his face in her hands.

She kissed his trembling lips deeply, hoping he'd get the message that she'd kick his arse if he got himself in trouble.

"I'll be back," Harry assured her, stroking her hair. "And I'm going to find you. Be there for me to find."

With that, he took a turn and ran out of the hall, before Y/N could say anything else.

Y/N called after him, but he was way ahead. He didn't turn back once, as he sprinted away, disappearing into a crowd of Ravenclaws.

Y/N bit her bottom lip nervously as she broke free into the crowded corridor outside the Great Hall.

At this point, the prefects had gotten the younger students out. Almost all the students of age stayed to fight. They ran in groups, following the professors down to the courtyard.

Y/N turned a corner and spotted a group of familiar faces gathered together and sighed in relief.

Mrs Weasley was struggling with Ginny, whom Pansy had her arm wrapped around.

Around them stood Remus, Sirius, Fred, George, Percy, Bill, and Fleur.

"You're underage!" Mrs Weasley shouted at her daughter, "I won't permit it! The boys, yes, but you, you've got to go home!"

"I won't!" Ginny's hair flew as she pulled her arm out of her mother's grip. "I'm in Dumbledore's Army-"

"A teenagers' gang!"

"A teenagers' gang that's about to take him on, which no one else has dared to do!" said Fred.

"She's sixteen!" shouted Mrs Weasley. "She's not old enough!"

"Molly's right, Ginny," said Pansy gently. "You can't do this. Everyone underage will have to leave, it's only right."

"I can't go home!" Ginny shouted, angry tears sparkling in her eyes.

Pansy shook her head, her black hair rustling, as she reached out for Ginny's face and wiped away her tears.

"Gin, you've done amazing," she whispered.

"My whole family's here," Ginny said, looking into Pansy's eyes pleadingly. "You're here... I can't stand waiting there alone and not knowing and-"

Her eyes met Y/N's. She looked at her beseechingly, but Y/N shook her head.

"Y/N, there you are," said Sirius, and he took her by the shoulder and hugged her briefly. He smelled of Grimmauld Place. "How do you feel?"

"Like crying and throwing up," Y/N muttered.

"I'm not going to stop you from fighting," said Remus' voice, as he popped up behind Sirius. "I'm sure you can decide, yourself, what's right."

His soft brown and grey hair and his eyes were calm and gentle.

"You're right on that," Y/N agreed.

For a moment, Remus looked like he wanted to order her to go home like Molly did Ginny.

Sirius threw him a look and shook his head knowingly. Remus looked up at his goddaughter.

"You have to meet Teddy," he said quietly. "Promise me you'll be there in the morning- to meet Teddy."

Of course, Y/N knew promises are merely empty words. No promise could truly be kept.

"I promise," Y/N gave him her most promising smile. "But you'll have to promise you'll be there with me."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The Protection Charms were broken. There were more Death Eaters than Y/N had ever seen.

Y/N had been looking for Ron and Hermione, for the past half an hour, but they were nowhere to be found. Nor Luna and Rolf.

The Room of Requirements was flooding with students and people from the village, but they weren't there.

Y/N tried the bathrooms, the halls, but they weren't there either.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as Y/N ran through the halls of the castle to the courtyard.

She ducked and shot out some spells, her vision blurred and her ears ringing.

Sounds and flashes of light were being thrown out everywhere.

To her left, Kingsley was dueling Yaxley. Yaxley had just shot a spell upwards and a chunk of the ceiling fell thunderously, missing Kinglsey by a few inches.

As the masked Yaxley laughed at Kingsley humorously, Y/N took the chance and pointed her wand at his back.

"Stupefy!"

Yaxley gasped as he was sent off his feet. He hit the wall behind Kingsley with a crash, before sliding down onto the floor in a pile in a muffled thud.

Kinglsey gave Y/N a grateful nod.

"On your left!" Professor Sprout shouted.

Y/N leapt to the side just in time as the Herbology Professor thundered past, followed closely by Neville and half a dozen others, all of them wearing earmuffs and carrying large potted plants.

"Mandrakes!" Neville bellowed at Y/N over his shoulder as he ran. "Going to lob them over the walls- they won't like this!"

Y/N and Kinglsey glanced at each other for a second, before deciding to follow the group to the courtyard.

Y/N looked around frettingly as they ran. Still no Ron, Hermione, Luna, Rolf, or Harry. She would have to do this alone.

She was panting heavily by the time they got to the courtyard.

As Y/N entered the chaos, she wasn't stepping into a school coutyard, but a battlefield.

A tiny boy ran past her and Y/N turned to look at him, recognizing his curly blonde hair immediately.

"Collin, come back here!" she called. If her calculations were right, the boy was still underaged.

If he'd heard her, he ignored her completely, sprinting right into the massive fight.

Y/N stared after him in horror. She stared around in horror. About fifty students and Death Eaters were dueling in every direction. Spells of all colours flew past her.

Already, parts of the castle were turned into rubble. Already, there were bodies sprawled all over the floor.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ I'm excited and giddy. Only a few chapters left ! How are you all feeling? Any theories? Requests? Comments?

Can't believe his fanfic took more than a year to finish. This has been a unique experience <3

-ScribblingQuills