All of a sudden, a scream roared from the opposite side of the hall where Venice was standing. Then, a girl right beside Venice screamed. The room went quiet. "Give me Harry Potter. I know what you're doing, and it won't work. Don't be foolish. You have one hour," The voice said. Everyone turned to look at Harry. "What are you people doing? Someone grab him!" Pansy Parkinson yelled, as she pointed toward Harry. D.A. members were walking to go stand beside Harry, and soon everyone joined. Venice turned to go walk toward Harry, but spun on her heel to turn towards Pansy instead. "Professor?" Venice asked, indicating Professor McGonagall. "Ms. Evans, I already have terrible vision," McGonagall said, as she turned to look away from Venice. Venice stepped toward Pansy and slapped her right across the face. Venice gave her a little smirk and turned to walk toward Harry. McGonagall turned around to look at Filch, who had just ran into the hall. "Students out of bed! Students in the halls!" Filch hollered. "You blithering idiot, their supposed to be!" Professor McGonagall yelled at him. "Oh," Filch said, and started stroking his cat, Ms. Norris. "Actually, why don't you take Ms. Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin house other than Ms. Evans away from here, please," McGonagall instructed Filch. "And where should I take them, exactly?" he asked. "Oh, the dungeons will do!" She said. Everyone clapped and cheered again, as the Slytherins walked out of the hall. Professor McGonagall went over to talk to Harry, and everyone started a conversation about the events that had just happened. "Nice one, Venice!" Said someone from behind her. To no surprise, Venice turned around to see George Weasley strolling toward her. Venice hugged him as he approached. "It's good to see you, Georgie," she whispered in his ear. They let go of their embrace and he smiled. Venice then looked over to see Harry running out of the hall with Ron and Hermione.
"Now! For the rest of you. Younger students will be sent home immediately. Older students have the choice to stay and fight for their school, if they wish!" McGonagall explained. The heads of houses started leading their younger students out of the halls. The rest of the students stayed, awaiting further instruction. Professor McGonagall flicked her wand, and two lunch tables flew to both sides of the rooms. McGonagall walked out of the room, with the staff all following her. Venice rushed to the window to see that they moved to the courtyard of the school (where one of the entrances was). Each staff member proceeded to lift their wand to the sky. A cloudy substance started coming out from it. Venice then noticed that it was a giant barrier that was supposed to surround the school. "Who's ready to fight for Hogwarts?" Neville announced at the front of the room. Everybody clapped and cheered, getting off of their seats from the table. People started pulling out their wands, and heading around the school. It was hectic- thousands of students were running through the halls, saying 'Good luck's, which could end up being 'Good Bye's. Venice thought it was quite sad. She decided she was going to go to her dormitory to put on something that was a little more appropriate for the situation.
Up in her dormitory, she didn't have much clothes. So, she picked out the first things that she could find, which ended up being her Hogwarts uniform sweater, a leather button-up jacket, and tight fitting black pants. Venice made sure she had her wand, and she ran back to the main part of the school.
People were crowding in the courtyard, wanting to get a first look of what was to come. If there was anything to come, for that matter. Venice looked up into the sky to see the peaceful light blue transparent barrier was being disturbed by beams of bright yellow light. There was only one explanation for this- the Death Eaters were at their perimeter.
Draco was with his mother and father, at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Voldemort was at the front of the group, observing his wand. "They never learn, do they," he said quietly. He then turned to face his army. "Begin," he said to them. All the Death Eaters pointed their wands at the sky, and began to fire. Yellow streaks came from their wands, and arched perfectly to hit the barrier.
"INCOMING!" Someone yelled from the courtyard. Venice looked around to see the same black smoke-like substances she saw earlier from Snape fly around the air. The barrier in the sky had broken spots in it, causing the early arrival of some unwanted guests. Everyone proceeded to get their wands out. A few Death Eaters turned into their human form, and started fighting. It was about 1:00 in the morning by this point, and it was pitch black outside, causing the light from people's wands to be extra bright. "Crucio!" Venice heard Dean Thomas shout beside her. The Death Eater he was fighting fell to the ground in immense pain. "Avada Kedavra!" Dean then said with anger in his voice. The Death Eater fell dead. Venice looked up at him and smiled, when she noticed a Death Eater coming her way. "Stupefy!" She said, stunning it to the ground. More were coming her way, and to the surrounding people beside her. "Stupefy!" "Crucio!" "Expelliarmus!"
The duelling went on and on, until it seemed that the first wave of Death Eaters had passed. But, there was a rumbling between Venice and her schoolmate's feet. They all looked up to see Giants walking toward the courtyard, stomping their feet and swinging their bats. The stone Knights that were sent by McGonagall started attacking the Giants. One giant ended up defeated, and fell to the ground with a giant 'thud'. But there was about two more that came trotting into the courtyard. The whole group of students pointed their wands to them, and started firing spells. It seemed to work, until the Giants realized that they had the better power; they started swinging their bats and scooping up students. They stomped their feet, making the ground shake even more. Venice was tossed around, and she tried to stand up to gain her balance, when the ground took a sudden upshake that caused Venice to fall forward. She felt something sharp against her cheek as she fell. She hit the ground, and started to feel light-headed. But, she knew she had to get through this.
With all her might, she pushed herself up on a piece of fallen stone beside her. She put a hand to her cheek, and saw that her fingers were covered with her own blood immediately. She bent over to pick up her wand, which was luckily still intact, and was ready to fight again. Whooshing sounds of Death Eaters rung through her ears, and she saw them appear in front of her. "Hey, girlie," One of them called. Venice then remembered something. She stuffed her wand in her jacket, and put her hands in front of her. She thought of Pansy again (who knew?), and from her hands came the same bright green energy blasts from weeks before. The Death Eaters shook, as if they were electrocuted, then fell to the ground with burn marks on their bodies. Venice waved her hands toward the Death Eaters around the courtyard, being careful not to hit anybody that was on their side. Venice dropped the energy, and brought out her wand again, as she felt her hands getting a bit tired. Giant spiders started coming in the courtyard from the bridge that connected to it. "Stupefy!" She cursed at one of them, but it did nothing. "DURO!" She yelled. It froze, and started turning the familiar grey colour of stone. Venice turned to its friends, and cursed them too. "Crucio!" Someone cursed from behind her.
Venice felt pain flood through her body. It was so intense, her muscles felt like they would never move again. Suddenly, she felt it stop. Venice jumped up off the ground and pointed her hands toward the Death Eater. The green energy seared them alive. Venice grinned. "I see that you have not brought Harry Potter to me," Came Voldemort's voice again. Venice covered her ears with her hands; it felt like he was literally in her head. "My army will retreat! I will give you until 3:00 to get Harry Potter to me. If not, I gladly allow you to risk your lives. I will kill every man, woman, and child who is in affiliation with Harry Potter if you do not oblige by my rules," the voice finished. Venice uncovered her ears, and focused on her sight. She saw that the Death Eaters that were in the school grounds were Disapparating out, or flying in their little smoke. The spiders and Giants turned to cross the bridge again, walking away from Hogwarts. Everyone stopped fighting, and took a breather. 'Where was Harry, anyway?' Venice asked herself.
Draco couldn't take it anymore; he apparated as soon as he could to inside the school grounds, where somehow immediately he found Goyle and Zabini. "Come with me," he spoke harshly to them, grabbing them by the collars. He noticed everyone was flooding the same direction, hoping to get to the dining hall. The Dining hall was now acting as a hospital, and a place for the unfortunate deaths. He took them straight to the room of requirement.
But as he was walking, he couldn't help but think about Venice. Where was she right now? Was she still fighting? Was she helping Potter, fight against the forces his father so dearly tried to care for? He didn't know; he just hoped that she wasn't one of the people lying on the stretchers. He hoped she hadn't drawn her last breath.
Venice walked into the Dining Hall, scared of what she would see. She prepared herself for the worse; and that was what she got. Parvarti Patil and Professor Trelawney were covering up the unconscious body of Lavender Brown. Remus Lupin was lying on the ground, his hand inches away from Nymphadora Tonks'. Venice never knew them very well, but she knew Harry did. The thought of them dying together, with love, made her sad. Venice walked along the line, and saw the little body of Colin Creevey. He was the little Gryffindor who was known for being absolutely obsessed with Harry. Venice felt a tear roll down her cheek and onto her cut, which stung. She put her hand up to it, to wipe it off. Venice then heard a loud cry, coming from a voice that was familiar to her. She looked ahead to see George sitting on one of the benches of the lunch tables. He was staring down at the body in front of him. It looked exactly like him. "George? GEORGE!" Venice called, running over to him as fast as she could. "Venice, I-" "No, no, shhh," She said, sitting down beside him. Venice noticed the way Fred's lips were curled, that he died the way he loved living: laughing.
Venice leant over to kiss George's cheek, when she stopped midair. She couldn't focus. Her eyes swelled up with tears, as she turned her head to see the line-up of bodies on the ground. Venice noticed the clock at the front of the room read 5:00. It was two hours after Voldemort's deadline for Harry. Venice got up from the bench, took one last look at Fred Weasley, then walked right out of the Dining Hall. She turned to her right to look out to the courtyard. Everybody else was already crowding around the edges of it, looking defeated and slouched. The Dark Lord himself was standing in the middle of the courtyard, and behind him was his army of Death Eaters. Hagrid was also in the Death Eater's group, looking beaten up and in a horrible state. In Hagrid's arms was a dead Harry Potter.
From the front of the group, Ginny stepped forward to scream and run to Harry, but Mr. Weasley caught her. "Silly girl!" Voldemort said, in hysterics. "Harry Potter is dead!" He cackled once more. His army behind him applauded and cheered. Venice studied his army, and saw Mr. And Mrs. Malfoy standing at the front. But Draco was not with them. "I'd like to say something," Someone suddenly said, from the crowd. Venice saw that it was Neville. The crowd went silent for a few seconds. "I'm sure we'd all be fascinated by what you have to say," Voldemort said, in a gentle tone. "It doesn't matter that Harry is gone. People die everyday! Friends, family, yeah. We lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us, in here!" He said, pointing to his heart. "So is Fred. And Remus. Tonks. All of them. He didn't die in vain! But you will!" He said angrily, toward Voldemort. Voldemort started laughing. "Cause you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us! For all of us! It's not over!" Neville said, picking up the tattered, familiar sorting hat from the pile of rubble beside him. He put his hand in it, and pulled out the sword of Gryffindor. It gleamed in the bright sun, and everyone gave a look of shock. Suddenly, everyone turned to see Hagrid struggling to keep Harry in his arms. "You stupid beast, can't you keep the boy still?" Voldemort snapped at Hagrid. As soon as he said that, Harry slipped through Hagrid's fingers, and got on his feet. He ran through the courtyard and directly for the front pathway. Harry Potter was not dead.
Everybody was laughing and cheering as Harry ran. But it did not last for long. There was a loud noise coming from one of the halls, and soon enough a few aurors came crashing into the courtyard, fighting a handful of Death Eaters. Everybody who was there stopped to look at the fighting, then joined in. Curses began flying everywhere. Venice ran out of the courtyard, but was blocked by four Death Eaters. "Crucio!" One of them screamed, aiming the curse at her. She wouldn't be able to block it fast enough, so she waited for the pain to come. But it didn't.