Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 111: Breaching Hogwarts
"Oculi Procul." Dumbledore enhanced his eyes and looked down from the highest tower in Hogwarts.
On the massive field before the boundaries of the wards stood the army brought by Voldemort to take over the ancient castle.
Dementors hovered in the sky. Giants, trolls, a pack of werewolves, and a small group of Death Eaters flying on their brooms stood a short distance away from the others.
Dumbledore had been expecting a larger force. If this was everything that the Dark Lord had to offer, he would not have been that worried. Hogwarts' defenses could take this much.
If only this were all.
Dumbledore frowned when he saw him. Floating in the air without a broom. Looking back at him with those eerie red eyes of his.
Voldemort's black robes fluttered around, pushed by the wind, and he adjusted his magical hat before smiling at him.
"He can see me…" Dumbledore felt shivers running across his back. He had never felt this afraid of another wizard. Not even Grindelwald at his peak of power could make him feel like this.
He knew they had no chance of stopping that monster. The castle wards would crumble, and once they did…it would all be over for them.
Fawkes flew behind him, perched on another window, and let out a loud cry.
"I know, my friend. But I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts. I need to see this to its conclusion. But not all is lost already." He had heard the news about Harry's awakening.
"If V's theory was correct, then…this Harry Potter should be more than capable of defeating him." Dumbledore had gone over the last message that V left behind for him.
"The prophecy called it 'The Power He Does Not Know.' V called it something else. It matters little. If Harry has truly awakened it, then it will be all over…but for Voldemort." Dumbledore muttered.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
On the balconies of the first floor, McGonagall and the others were also watching the forces threatening them.
"They managed to get an entire clan of giants." Hagrid grimaced. "I wonder what he offered them in exchange for their help."
"That's a lot of Dementors…" Hestia was looking up. "Can the wards really stop them from entering?"
"They should. For as long as they can hold." McGonagall said.
"It is not the giants, Dementors, or the trolls that worry me. I know how to kill those." Tonks' eyes were focused on the floating figure of Voldemort. As someone who had faced the Dark Lord before, she knew very well how invincible he was.
No spell that they threw at him managed to connect, because all magic was first absorbed by the magical hat. No matter what they tried, they only made him stronger.
"What are they waiting for?" Flitwick asked.
The creatures had all stopped a few feet away from the boundary of the wards, but did not attempt to break in. Instead, they remained there, not moving a muscle.
"They were waiting for their Lord. Look!" Tonks, who had been staring at Voldemort the entire time, was the first one to notice his strange movements.
He raised both hands in the air. His mouth was moving, but he was too far away for them to hear what he was saying.
"It's a chant…he is summoning something," McGonagall said.
Above the Dark Lord, a small spark of light appeared.
Everyone watching was confused as to what he was trying to accomplish with that. But it soon became evident that he was far from done.
The tiny spark of light began to grow very quickly. Bolts of electricity constantly traveled across its surface.
What started as something smaller than a golf ball was now ten times bigger than a cannonball and continued to grow.
"He wants to destroy the wards in one blow!" McGonagall knew how powerful Hogwarts' wards were. Even if that entire army started to attack them, it would take them hours to exhaust their energy reserves.
But Voldemort had a different idea in mind. To use a single spell so destructive that the wards would be unable to stop it.
"Get back!" Hagrid shouted. "If that thing gets past the wards, the entire front of the castle will be destroyed." That would include the balcony where they were standing.
"He is right. Hurry!" McGonagall urged everyone to back away and move to the other side of the castle.
They gave the Dark Lord one last look before escaping. That sphere of energy was massive enough to make the wizard look tiny in comparison.
"Shit! What kind of magic is that?!" Hestia cried. This went far beyond what any of them was capable of.
They were approaching the back end of the castle, which led onto the inner gardens, where the students would usually have their flying lessons or practice Quidditch. Then…all of a sudden, they heard a deafening sound coming from the other side, followed by a blinding flash of light.
"We are hit!" McGonagall felt the wards breaking apart and groaned.
The resulting explosion was potent enough to throw them off balance despite already being far away, as the entire castle shook violently.
After the attack, there was a long pause. Everyone was quiet now. No one could think of anything to say.
Then…they heard them. The giants, trolls, and werewolves. They had entered the castle and were getting closer at an alarming rate.
"Stand up…" McGonagall said. "Stand up and fight." She glanced at the others, wand in hand. "No matter what we are against, this is the only thing we can do now."
"She is right. I'm not going to give up." Tonks stood firmly at the professor's side.
The others soon followed. They had all come here fully knowing about the dangers.
Voldemort had already taken the Ministry and Diagon Alley. If he also got control over Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, they would have nowhere to go next. This was their last stand.
One way or another, the war will end tonight.