Order and D.A. members were appearing. People Harry hasn't seen in years arrived. Oliver Wood, Alicia Snippet, Angelina Johnson, and many more. Everyone was rushing to the GReat Hall, awaiting orders. 

Harry's eyes scanned the Gryffindor table feverishly for three people;

Hermione

Ron

Nova

Harry wish Nova was here. He knew he might die tonight. He just wanted to hold her in his arms one more time before then. Then again, he hoped she wasn't here. He didn't want her fighting. He didn't want her to die. But he knew he couldn't control Nova. 

He'd bet all his inheritance that Nova would be here. 

Harry would not be losing his inheritance. 

Minerva McGonagall stood on a small wooden platform addressing the room. 

". . . evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madam Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organize your House and take your charges, in an orderly fashion, to the evacuation point." 

Many of the students looked petrified. However, as Harry skirted the walls, scanning the Gryffindor table for Ron, Nova, and Hermione, Ernie Macmillan stood up at the Hufflepuff table and shouted, "And what if we want to stay and fight?" 

There was a smattering of applause. 

"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."

"Where's Professor Snape?" shouted a girl from the Slytherin table. 

"He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk," replied Professor McGonagall, and a great cheer erupted from the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws.

"I know that you are preparing to fight." There were screams amongst the students, some of whom clutched each other, looking around in terror for the source of the sound. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood." 

There was silence in the Hall now, the kind of silence that presses against the eardrums, that seems too huge to be contained by walls. 

"Give me Harry Potter," said Voldemort's voice, "and none shall be harmed. Give me HarryPotter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. 

"You have until midnight."

"ON YOUR LEFT!" Came a strong and powerful voice. 

Nova appeared on the back of a black dragon to McGonagall's left. 

Many around the room had their spirits lifted by the mere sight of the girl. If she was here, they knew they had a chance to win. 

"Sorry bout the wall, Minnie, I'll fix it," Nova said as she jumped off the back of Nyx. "Your wards are down but I've got a new spell for that."

Nova looked at Nyx and in a silent agreement, Nyx flew away. 

"If you do not wish to fight or side with Riddle, get the fuck out," Nova growled. "I don't have time to deal with that shit."

No one moved. 

Nova seemed satisfied. 

"We've only got half an hour until midnight, so we need to act fast! A battle plan has been agreed between the teachers of Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix." Kingsley spoke.  "Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and McGonagall are going to take groups of fighters up to the three highest towers —Ravenclaw, Astronomy, and Gryffindor — where they'll have a good overview, excellent positions from which to work spells. Meanwhile Remus" — he indicated Lupin — "Arthur" —he pointed toward Mr. Weasley, sitting at the Gryffindor table — "and I will take groups into the grounds." 

"Neville, Lilly," Nova began to bark orders. "You take your fellow Herbologist and round up every plant that can cause harm. Oli, you're in the air with flyers. These bastards can fly."

Without another word, groups began to dispatch begin to set up.

Nova had yet to find Harry, and it worried her. However, she had more pressing matters to deal with.

"Seamus, blow up that bridge."

Seamus practically sprinted from the hall of excitement.

"Fred, George, you're on traps and tricks. Anything that can stump the Death Eaters, use it. Also, guard the entrances and the passageways." Nova ordered.

"On it, Moonfoot!"

The twins followed Nova's orders as their heads bent together, devising a plan. 

"Who here knows anything about how to take down a giant?" Nova asked. A few raised their hands. "That's your job. Riddle has giants. They are one of the biggest problems. They can snap our spins with their fingers. Go.

"Cho! Where's Cho?" Nova called.

"Here!" the pretty Ravenclaw called standing up. 

"You're on the Astronomy Tower."

Cho started pointing to different students of different houses, telling them to come with her. 

Kingsley took over and slowly everyone began to leave the Great Hall. 

Remus moved to talk to his daughter. 

"I look pretty good for a dead bitch, huh?" Nova grinned. 

Remus had happy tears streaming down his face as he brought his daughter into his arms. "I love you, Lion."

"I love you too, Pa," Nova smiled. "But we've got a war to fight. I'll talk to you after we kick arse."

"Be careful, Lion," he said before leaving the hall. 

Nova turned to start working on the wards. She had given Molly, Fleur, Minnie, and several other people the spell to put up. However, Nova needed to reinforce it. 

"'Ello, love," a voice Nova had so desperately craved to hear sounded behind her. 

Nova turned around with the biggest smile on her face.

She launched herself into Harry's arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as she hugged him. 

"You're alive," She breathed into his shoulder. 

"I'm alive?" Harry asked incredulously. "You're the one that told everyone you were dead."

"I said I might be dead and to not get your hopes up," Nova justified. 

"Do I get my 'Sorry For Making You Believe I Was Dead' kiss?" Harry asked as he set Nova down. 

"No," Sirius huffed. 

"Don't die or sacrifice yourself, darlin. Then I'll think about it," Nova grinned before kissing his cheek. 

"Potter!" McGonagall's stern voice came. "Don't you have something to find?"

"Right!" Harry to find what he was looking for. 

"'Ello, Minnie," Nova greeted. 

Nova didn't even get a chance to think properly before Minerva pulled Nova into her arms. 

"You know," Nova grinned cheekily. "I'm starting to think you might love me, Min Min."

"You're needed to guarding the Room of Requirement," Minnie stated, ignoring Nova's comment. 

"On it, Mins!" Nova shouted before sprinting towards the Room of Requirement. 

Nova ran past Lilly, Sprout, and Neville getting ready to throw Mandrakes at Death Eaters. She saw Seamus working on the pyrotechnics for the bridge. Fred and George were rushing around, laying traps as they went. 

Ginny and several other students that were forced to remain in the RoR jumped when Nova threw the door open. 

"NOVA!" Ginny cheered before bringing her into a hug. "Where is everyone?"

"Alive," Nova stated. 

"NOVA!" Tonks shouted before practically squeezing Nova to death. "Don't. You. Dare. Do. That. Again."

"I won't."

The castle shook. Nova was growing worried. 

The doors of the Room opened and Ron, Hermione, and Harry entered. 

"Ah, Potter," Augustus Longbottom said crisply as if she had been waiting for him. "You can tell us what's going on." 

"Is everyone okay?" said Ginny and Tonks together.

"'S far as we know," said Harry. "Are there still people in the passage to the Hog's Head?"  

"I was the last to come through," said Mrs. Longbottom. "I sealed it, I think it unwise to leave it open now Aberforth has left his pub. Have you seen my grandson?" 

"He's fighting," said Nova. 

Ron and Hermione were absolutely shocked by her presence. Nonetheless, they look overjoyed. 

"Naturally," said the old lady proudly. "Excuse me, I must go and assist him." 

With surprising speed, she trotted off toward the stone steps. 

Harry looked at Tonks."I thought you were supposed to be with Teddy at your mother's?" 

"I couldn't stand not knowing —" Tonks looked anguished. "She'll look after him — have you seen Remus?" 

"He was planning to lead a group of fighters into the grounds —" 

Without another word, Tonks sped off. 

"Ginny," said Harry, "I'm sorry, but we need you to leave too. Just for a bit. Then you can come back in." 

Ginny looked simply delighted to leave her sanctuary. 

"And then you can come back in!" he shouted after her as she ran up the steps after Tonks."You've got to come back in!" 

"Hang on a moment!" said Ron sharply. "We've forgotten someone!"

"Who?" asked Hermione. 

"The house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?" 

"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" asked Harry. 

"No," said Ron seriously, "I mean we should tell them to get out. We don't want any more Dobbies, do we? We can't order them to die for us —" 

There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione's arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet. 

"Is this the moment?" Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. "OI! There's a war going on here!" 

"Now is not the bloody time!" Nova shouted. 

Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other. 

"I know, mate," said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, "so it's now or never, isn't it?"

"Never mind that, what about the Horcrux?" Harry shouted. "D'you think you could just —just hold it in until we've got the diadem?" 

"Yeah — right — sorry —" said Ron, and he and Hermione set about gathering up fangs, both pink in the face. 

It was clear, as the four of them stepped back into the corridor upstairs, that in the minutes that they had spent in the Room of Requirement the situation within the castle had deteriorated severely: The walls and ceiling were shaking worse than ever; dust filled the air, and through the nearest window, Nova saw bursts of green and red light so close to the foot of the castle that she knew the Death Eaters must be very near to entering the place. Looking down, Nova saw Grawpthe giant meandering past, swinging what looked like a stone gargoyle torn from the roof and roaring his displeasure. 

"Let's hope he steps on some of them!" said Ron as more screams echoed from close by. 

"As long as it's not any of our lot!" said a voice: Nova turned and saw Ginny and Tonks, both with their wands drawn at the next window, which was missing several panes. Ginny sent a well-aimed jinx into a crowd of fighters below. 

"Good girl!" roared a figure running through the dust toward them, and Nova saw Aberforthagain, his gray hair flying as he led a small group of students past. "They look like they might be breaching the north battlements, they've brought giants of their own!" 

"Have you seen Remus?" Tonks called after him. 

"He was dueling Dolohov," shouted Aberforth, "haven't seen him since!" 

"Tonks," said Ginny, "Tonks, I'm sure he's okay —" 

But Tonks had run off into the dust after Aberforth. Ginny turned, helpless, to Harry, Nova, Ron, and Hermione.

"They'll be alright," Nova assured. However, it sounded like she was assuring herself more than the others. 

Harry began to pace the corridor before the door appeared. 

"And he never realized anyone could get in?" said Ron, his voice echoing in the silence. 

"He thought he was the only one," said Harry. "Too bad for him I've had to hide stuff in my time . . . this way," he added, "I think it's down here. . . ." 

He passed the stuffed troll and the Vanishing Cabinet Draco Malfoy had mended last year with such disastrous consequences, then hesitated, looking up and down aisles of junk; he could not remember where to go next. . . . 

"Accio Diadem!" cried Hermione in desperation, but nothing flew through the air toward them. 

"It's not going to be that simple, Mione," Nova stated. 

"Let's split up," Harry told the other two. "Look for a stone bust of an old man wearing a wig and a tiara! It's standing on a cupboard and it's definitely somewhere near here. . . ." 

They sped off up adjacent aisles; Nova could hear the others' footsteps echoing through the towering piles of junk, of bottles, hats, crates, chairs, books, weapons, broomsticks, bats. . . . 

"Somewhere near here," Harry muttered to Nova. "Somewhere . . . somewhere . . ." 

Nova searched through the piles of objects hoping to find it. She searched and searched, but found nothing of use. She found loads of junk, nothing useful. 

"Hold it, Potter," a familiar voice sneered. 

Nova hid behind one of the stacks. 

"That's my wand you're holding, Potter," said Malfoy, pointing his own through the gap between Crabbe and Goyle. 

"Not anymore," panted Harry, tightening his grip on the hawthorn wand. "Winners, keepers, Malfoy. Who's lent you theirs?" 

"My mother," said Draco. Harry laughed, but it sounded lifeless. 

"So how come you three aren't with Voldemort?" asked Harry. 

"We're gonna be rewarded," said Crabbe. "We 'ung back, Potter. We decided not to go. Decided to bring you to 'im." 

"Good plan," said Harry in mock admiration. He could not believe that he was this close, and was going to be thwarted by Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. He began edging slowly backward toward the place where the Horcrux sat lopsided upon the bust. If he could just get his hands on it before the fight broke out . . . 

"So how did you get in here?" Nova asked, trying to distract them as she stepped out from behind the stack. 

"I virtually lived in the Room of Hidden Things all last year," said Malfoy, his voice brittle. "I know how to get in."

"We was hiding in the corridor outside," grunted Goyle. "We can do Diss-lusion Charms now! And then," his face split into a gormless grin, "you turned up right in front of us and said you was looking for a die-dum! What's a die-dum?" 

"Harry? Nova?" Ron's voice echoed suddenly from the other side of the wall to Nova's right. "Are you talking to someone?" 

With a whiplike movement, Crabbe pointed his wand at the fifty-foot mountain of old furniture, of broken trunks, of old books and robes and unidentifiable junk, and shouted, "Descendo!" 

The wall began to totter, then the top third crumbled into the aisle next door where Ron stood. 

"Ron!" Harry bellowed, somewhere out of sight Hermione screamed, and Nova heard innumerable objects crashing to the floor on the other side of the destabilized wall.

Nova pointed her wand at the rampart, cried, "Finite!" and it steadied. 

"No!" shouted Malfoy, staying Crabbe's arm as the latter made to repeat his spell. "If you wreck the room you might bury this diadem thing!" 

"What's that matter?" said Crabbe, tugging himself free. "It's Potter the Dark Lord wants, who cares about a die-dum?" 

"Potter came in here to get it," said Malfoy with ill-disguised impatience at the slow wittedness of his colleagues, "so that must mean —" 

"'Must mean'?" Crabbe turned on Malfoy with undisguised ferocity. "Who cares what you think? I don't take your orders no more, Draco. You an' your dad are finished." 

"Harry?" shouted Ron again, from the other side of the junk wall. "What's going on?"

"Harry?" mimicked Crabbe. "What's going — no, Potter! Crucio!"

Nova was faster. She blocked the spell.

"Dray," Nova began. "Listen to me."

Draco's attention moved to his cousin. 

"Do you remember when we were nine?" Nova asked. "We used to play knights."

Draco caught on instantly understood what was happening. He knew for a fact that he and Nova played pirates, not knights. That meant this was the code they created before Nova escaped. 

Knights meant stall. 

"You wanted the garden to be your base."

Garden meant left. The Garden was his base. This meant he got the left side. 

"I wanted my base to be the treehouse."

Treehouse meant right. Nova would get the right side. 

Ron and Hermione appeared around the edge. 

"NOW!" Nova shouted. 

Crabbe and Goyal had their wands trained on Harry, Ron, and Hermione. 

Draco stunned Crabbe as Nova stunned Goyal. 

"Told you the code would be useful!" Draco boasted. 

"Sorry I wasn't the most optimistic while I was bleeding out on the floor," Nova hissed. 

"I tried healing you!"

"You blood replenishing spells suck arse!"

"What the bloody hell just happened?" Ron demanded. 

"I'll explain later," Nova waved her hand. "Harry, grab the bloody crown and stab it or whatever. Dray, where are Blaise and Theo?"

"Let's go before they wake up!" Draco urged before pulling Nova to the door. 

Ron, Hermione, and Harry shared confused glances. 

"Harry, give me the diadem," Nova ordered.

Harry placed the Horcrux and a fang into her hands. 

She crouched down and lifted the fang above her head. She drove the fang into the diadem as hard as she could. Black smoke emerged, and Nova knew she succeeded. 

"Let's Go!" Draco urged. 

Finally, the group of five left, running for their lives. 

Yells and shouts and the unmistakable noises of dueling filled the corridor. Harry looked around and his heart seemed to fail: Death Eaters had penetrated Hogwarts. 

Fred and Percy had just backed into view, both of them dueling masked and hooded men.Harry, Ron, Nova, Draco, and Hermione ran forward to help: Jets of light flew in every direction and the man dueling Percy backed off, fast: Then his hood slipped and they saw a high forehead and streaked hair — 

"Hello, Minister!" bellowed Percy, sending a neat jinx straight at Thicknesse, who dropped his wand and clawed at the front of his robes, apparently in awful discomfort. "Did I mention I'm resigning?" 

"You're joking, Perce!" shouted Fred as the Death Eater he was battling collapsed under the weight of three separate Stunning Spells. Thicknesse had fallen to the ground with tiny spikes erupting all over him; he seemed to be turning into some form of sea urchin. Fred looked at Percy with glee."You actually are joking, Perce. . . . I don't think I've heard you joke since you were —"

A wall exploded, sending everyone back. 

When the others found their balance, they saw Nova stand under the wall that was beginning to collapse. She stood with her hands over her head as she used her magic to hold the wall up. 

Fred's unconscious body lay beneath her. 

"Get him out of here!" she groaned under the weight. 

Draco and Percy pulled Fred off to the side. 

"Go!" Nova shouted looking at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Kill the snake!"

With much reluctance, they left. 

Death Eaters noticed who Nova was as she held the wall up. Instantly they moved to grab her. She waited until the very last moment to move. 

The wall crushed at least twenty Death Eaters. 

Showers of sparks continued to rain down over them. Walls were crumbling again. Even the most courageous of souls were cowering. 

"He's not dead," Nova told Percy over the noise. "He's just unconscious."

"Nova! We need to move!" Draco shouted. 

"Fred's safe here for the time being," Nova stated. "We'll come back for him. Right now, we need to fight."

"I'm staying," Percy replied. 

"Be careful," Nova shouted before she and Draco ran off into the battle. 

Bolts of light shot past Nova as she ran. Debris flew every which way. Death Eaters and members of the resistance fought head to head. 

"On your left!" Nova grinned as she fought alongside Minerva. 

"You really need to stop doing that!" Minnie shouted. She flourished her wand and the Death Eater flew out the twenty-story window. 

"But it's fun!" Nova groaned. "BOMBARDA!"

Draco stunned a Death Eater. 

"ALARTE ASCENDARE!" Nova shouted. Greta Morgenstern flew and hit the ceiling. 

Not even twenty minutes later, the Death Eaters began to retreat. 

"You have fought," said the high, cold voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. 

"Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. 

"Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. 

"You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured. 

"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

"If he goes," Nova began. "I'm killing him."

Together, the two cousins made their way to the opposing side of the castle; the Great Hall. 

Nova moved to enter but she was stopped by Blaise and Theo. 

"Don't go in there," Theo warned. 

"Why not?"

"You won't like it," Blaise informed as he held Nova back. 

"I just want to see if Fred made it so he can be healed-"

"Don't go in there."

"I will go in if I so wish." Nova yanked her arm from Blaise's grip. 

She saw Ron kneeling beside Fred's sleeping body. She saw Hermione comforting Ginny. She saw the Weasleys surrounding Fred. She saw Firenze being healed by Madam Pomfrey. 

"She can't be here," Cho said urgently as she walked up to Nova. 

"Why the bloody hell can't I be here-?"

The next thing Nova saw made her heart drop. 

Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling. 

"No. No. No. No." Nova repeated as she rushed forward. 

She pushed herself through the band of redheads and stopped at her father's side. 

Her heart shattered. 

"No. No. No. No." Nova repeated again. 

"Nova . . ." Ginny said softly. 

"Pa .. .come on, Pa, wake up," Nova pleaded as she dropped down to her knees. 

She couldn't feel the pain of her knees hitting the floor. 

"Oh, Nova . . ." Hermione cried softly. 

"Dora, come on," Nova said trying to keep the tears from falling. "This isn't funny. Wake up."

"Nova," Theo said softly. "They-"

"Pa, please," Nova pleaded once more. 

Tears were falling from her eyes. 

"PA!" Nova shouted shaking his body. "Please! Wake up!"

Ginny appeared beside Nova. 

"Nox . . ." She said taking Nova's hand. "He can't hear you-"

"You aren't allowed to die!" Nova sobbed. "No! You can't die! I need you! You can't die!"

It felt like the Earth spontaneously combusted as the reality set it. Nova was officially an orphan (even if she is an adult). Both her fathers are dead. Her stepmother is dead. 

"Pa, please!" Nova pleaded, despite knowing it was useless. "I can't lose you! I already lost Da! I-I can't lose you too!"

Ginny pulled Nova in for a hug, providing her friend with whatever comfort she could give. 

"I didn't get to say goodbye!" Nova sobbed. "I-I brushed him off! I told him we could talk later!"

Nearly an hour later, Nova was completely out of tears. Her heart was in complete shambles. Nothing could break her more than the death of her father and stepmother. 

Apparently, the universe liked the challenge. 

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked. 

"I saw him a few minutes ago," Neville informed the group. "He told me to kill the snake."

"Why didn't he come here?" Ginny asked. "It's a rather un-Harry-like thing to leave Nova upset. Especially when she's crying."

"He said he had a job to do."

"What?" Nova demanded as she jumped to her feet. 

"He said something about a plan-" Neville stopped. "He went to the forest, didn't he?"

Nova laughed humorlessly. 

"Looks like I'm murdering Harry Potter."

***

James and Sirius waited "patiently" for Remus Lupin to wake up. 

"Are you sure you aren't upset?" Nymphadora asked her cousin for the fiftieth time since she arrived. 

"He's been the captain of your ship since the moment you two showed attraction towards each other," Lily stated. 

"REMUS JOHN LUPIN! WAKE UP!" Sirius yelled in his ex-husband's ear. 

"Fuck off," Remus groaned. 

"PA!" Nova shouted. "Please! Wake up!"

"I'm up!" Remus shot up groggily. "The fire extinguisher is under the sink-"

"Goodmorning!" James greeted. 

"I'm in hell," Remus groaned. 

"You aren't allowed to die!" Nova sobbed. "No! You can't die! I need you! You can't die!"

"Definitely hell," Remus confirmed. 

"Sixteen and a half years he hasn't seen me," Lily mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear. "And he just sits there. Thanks, Remmy. I totally didn't want a hug or anything."

"Yeah, Moony," James whined. 

"As your ex-husband, I at least expected a hello," Sirius stated. "I also would like to warn you. If you fuck up your relationship with Nymphy, I will make sure you see hell."

"Don't. Call. Me. Nymphy." Dora's hair turned blood red. 

"Holy fuck!" Alex said in amazement. "It just- what-huh?"

"Who are you?" Remus asked curiously. 

"Oh! This is Alex!" Marlene introduced. "Our resident non-binary! Also the muggle Reggie kidnapped."

"I did not kidnap them!" Regulus objected. 

"Sure ya didn't . . ." Dorcus teased. 

"Fuck you!" Regulus flipped her off. 

"I did that two days ago," Marlene rolled her eyes. 

"Oi!" Euphemia called as she entered the room. "Keep the conversations PG!"

"Sorry, mum," everyone replied instantly. 

"Good," Euphemia grinned. "Hello, Remus. It's been a few years."

"Yo! Siri!" Fleamont barged in wearing a t-shirt Sirius made. "I love it!"

Ronks 4 Life was spread across the front. 

"Who the bloody hell made that?" Remus demanded. 

"I did!" Sirius grinned proudly. 

"That, sir," Alex told Remus. "Is the perfect ex. He's been supporting you and Tonks for years."

"It's honestly hilarious," James laughed. 

"Looks like I'm murdering Harry Potter."