Unexpected | Bill Weasley

~57~ The End Of A Long Battle

We heard uproar from the distant boundary of the school as what sounded like hundreds of people came swarming over the out-of-sight walls and pelted toward the castle, uttering loud war cries. At the same time, Grawp came lumbering around the side of the castle and yelled, "HAGGER!" His cry was answered by roars from Voldemort's giants: They ran at Grawp like bull elephants making the earth quake. Then came hooves and the twangs of bows, and arrows were suddenly falling amongst the Death Eaters, who broke ranks, shouting their surprise. I drew my wand out, and Neville stood up.

In one swift, fluid motion, Neville broke free of the Body-Bind Curse upon him; the flaming hat fell off him and he drew from its depths something silver, with a glittering, rubied handle, The slash of the silver blade could not be heard over the roar of the oncoming crowd or the sounds of the clashing giants or of the stampeding centaurs, and yet, it seemed to draw every eye. With a single stroke Neville sliced off the great snake's head, which spun high into the air, gleaming in the light flooding from the entrance hall, and Voldemort's mouth was open in a scream of fury that nobody could hear, and the snake's body thudded to the ground at his feet.

"HARRY!" yelled Hagrid. "WHERE'S HARRY!"

Chaos reigned. The charging centaurs were scattering the Death Eaters, everyone was feeling the giants' stamping feet, and nearer the thundered the reinforcements that had come from who knew where; Buckbeak the hippogriff scratching at their eyes while Grawp punched and pummeled them and now the wizards, defenders of Hogwarts and Death Eaters alike were being forced back into the castle.

I shot jinx after jinx at Death Eaters, until we all found ourselves back in the Great Hall. Voldemort was firing spells from his wand as he backed into the Great Hall, still screaming instructions to his followers as he sent curses flying left and right.

Voldemort saw me and shot a spell at me, but it ricocheted right off of the air. The centaurs Bane, Ronan and Magorian burst into the hall with a great clatter of hooves, as the door that led to the kitchens was blasted off its hinges. The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall, screaming and waving carving knives and cleaver, and at their head, was Kreacher, his bullfrog's voice audible even above this din: "Fight! Fight! Fight for my Master, defender of house-elves! Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"

I could see Charlie and Rue, fighting Death Eaters. Sirius, Remus and Tonks were battling Avery. Yaxley was slammed to the floor by George, Fred and Lee Jordan. Dolohov fell with a scream at Flitwick's hands. Walden Macnair thrown across the room by Hagrid, hit the stone wall opposite, and slide unconscious to the ground. Ron and Neville were bringing down Fenrir Greyback. Aberforth Stunned Rookwood. Arthur and Percy were flooring Thicknesse. Narcissa and Lucius were running through the crowd, not even attempting to fight, screaming for Draco.

Voldemort was now dueling Minnie, Mad-Eye, Slughorn, Kingsley and me all at once, and there was a cold hatred in his face as we wove and ducked around him, unable to finish him.

"YOU CAN GO TO FUCKING HELL!" I screamed at Voldemort.

Hundreds of people now lined the walls, watching the two fights, Voldemort and five opponents and Bellatrix and Molly.

I heard Bellatrix and Mrs. Weasley screaming at each other, and then Bellatrix fell. Minnie, Kingsley, Mad-Eye, Slughorn and I were sent flying backward as Voldemort's fury at the fall of his last, best lieutenant, exploded with the force of a bomb, Voldemort raised his wand and directed it at Molly Weasley.

"Protego!" someone yelled, and a Shield Charm expanded in the middle of the Hall.

Harry Potter pulled off his Invisibility Cloak.