Harry was wearing a Gryffindor robe and walked down to the Great Hall with all the other students. Cortney, Ron, and Hermione went to go contact the order. The war was coming and everyone knew it. Snape waited for them in the Great Hall, Ginny walked next to Harry, he had his head down.  All the colors and portraits were gone at Hogwarts. It was dark, gray, and gloomy. Death Eaters watched them with their wicked smiles. Soon they entered an unlit Great Hall, making it very unwelcoming. Snape stood where Dumbledore stood, this angered Harry. The staff looked just as scared as the students, the doors shut once everyone was there.

" Many of you are wondering why I summoned you at this hour. It's come to my attention that earlier this evening Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade," Snape began. Everyone was silent. " Now should any staff or student attempt to aid Harry Potter they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity transcribed. Further; any person found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty. Now there if anyone here," Snape began walking down the aisle among the students. He looked at anyone, who could be guilty of these actions. " Has knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening. I advise them to step forward...now". Everyone remained silent. Harry stepped out of the crowd revealing himself, everyone gasped at his appearance and started talking. 

"It seems despite your exhausting defensive strategies, you have a bit of a security problem  Headmaster," Harry said facing him. The doors opened, the members of the Order entered the room. " And I'm afraid it's quite extensive! " Cortney was standing by her cousin and Remus. Her eyes made eye contact with Theodore Nott. " How dare you stand where he stood! Tell them now how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye! A man who trusted you and killed him! Tell them! COWARD! " Harry shouted angrily. Snape took out his wand and pointed it at Harry, McGonagall pushed Harry out of the way and whipped her wand out. All the students backed up.  The staff members looked at each other for a moment before they shot spells at each other. Snape pulled his cloak over him and apparated away. Once he was gone, the students cheered as  McGonagall put the light back into the room. The happiness lasted until a hissing sound filled everyone's ears. A girl let out a blood-curdling scream, it came from a second-year girl in Hufflepuff. Harry made his way over to find her crouched down. plugging her ears. She stopped screaming, seconds later another girl let out a blood-curdling scream. Soon Voldemort's voice filled everyone's ears.

" I know that many of you will want to fight, some of you may even think that to fight is wise..." Voldemort's voice hissed, everyone covered their ears as if it was hurting them. " But this wrong...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 shall be awarded. You have one hour". Once his voice left, all eyes were on Harry.

" What are you waiting for ?! Somebody grab him! " Pansy shouted pointing a finger Ginny protectively ran in front of him. Soon all of the order stood around Harry. Cortney stepped up protectively.  Pansy looked at her in shock. " Cortney? "  Before she could answer, they heard a voice shouting.

" Students out of bed! Students out of bed !" Filch hollered, he ran in followed by Mrs. Norris. " Students in the corridor! Students-"

" They're supposed to be out of bed you blithering idiot! " McGonagall snapped.

" Oh sorry," Filch mumbled.

" As it happens, Mr. Filch your arrival is opportune. If you would, I would like you to lead Ms. Parkinson as well as the other Slytherin House out of the hall, " McGonagall ordered.

" Exactly where is it I'll be leading them to? " Filch asked.

" The dungeons will do," McGonagall answered. The students cheered as the house left. " You too Ms. Lestrange".

" No, I'll stay," Cortney protested. Harry walked up t McGonagall, she gave him a worried look.

" I presume you have a reason for returning, what is it you need? " McGonagall asked.

" Time," Harry answered.

" Do what you need to do, I'll secure the castle," McGonagall answered. Harry nodded and walked away. " Potter". Harry looked back at her. " It's good to see you". She smiled.

"It's good to see you too," Harry breathed returning the smile. He then ran off with Hermione and Ron. McGonagall then walked up to Cortney.

" Are you sure you want to stay? " McGonagall asked. " You will be fighting your parents".

" Positive," Cortney answered. " I knew this day was coming eventually". Harry, Hermione, and Ron were making their way through students.

 " Hermione and I have been thinking," Ron began. " You don't need to destroy the Horcrux".

" What? " Harry asked.

" Unless we can destroy it," Hermione added.

" We were thinking," Ron said.

" Ron was thinking it, it was Ron's idea. Completely brilliant," Hermione said astonished.

" You destroyed Tom Riddle's diary, right? Well, me and Hermione think we know where we might know where to find one," Ron continued, referring to the Balisik Fang.

" Okay," Harry breathed. " Take this". He handed Ron the Marauders map. Harry began running up the stairs past students who were running down the stairs.

" Where are you going? " Hermione asked.

" To the Ravenclaw common room, we have to start somewhere! " Harry hollered.

" Harry! " Luna called following them.

**************

A bunch of students and staff followed Professor McGonagall out of the school.

" Let me get this straight Professor...You're actually giving is permission to do this? " Neville asked.

" That is correct Mr. Longbottom," confirmed McGonagall.

" To blow it up? " Neville asked. " Boom !? "

" Boom! " She confirmed. 

" Wicked! " Neville breathed. " But how on earth are we going to do that? " Cortney and Seamus looked at each other smiling.

" Why don't confer with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyro-technics," McGonagall confirmed. 

" I can bring it down," Seamus confirmed.

" That's the spirit! " McGonagall exclaimed. " Well, you go". They followed Seamus to the bridge, leaving McGonagall and Flitwick.

" You do realize, of course, we can't keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely," Flitwick pointed out. 

" That doesn't mean we can't delay him," McGonagall pointed out. " And his name is Voldemort. Filius, you might as well use it. He's come to try to kill you either way". She raised her wand. " Plectotum Locomotor ! " Statues fell to the ground, ready to fight. Two by two they marched forward. " Hogwarts is threatened. Man the boundaries ! Protect us, Do your duty...to our school". McGonagall leaned over to Mrs. Weasley. " I've always wanted to use that spell". They began shooting enchantments in the air, a shield around the school. Cortney was now by the bridge helping take it down. She climbed down to a ledge to put an explosive there. Lavender was down with her. 

" Where were you all school year? " Lavender asked.

" At the Malfoy's growing a baby," Cortney answered as something fell from above them.

" Cortney! " Seamus shouted from above.

" Seamus! " Cortney shouted looking up at him. 

" Can you do that one thing? " Seamus asked as he lowered himself down to her. " I need you to put this in a tricky spot. He pointed to a small ledge. He handed an explosive to her.

" I think this a job for someone else," Cortney smiled. Seamus looked at her confusingly. " De' Lexi! " She came down to them. " Can you put this over there? " She pointed the spot Seamus wanted it. De'lexi smiled, she turned into a lemur and took the explosive. 

" She's one too? " Seamus asked shocked.

" So is Milan and Joey," Cortney replied.