Not long later, Ginny went outside to help bring the injured in. Neville ducked into the hall briefly, to make sure that all of his friends were okay. He was slightly surprised to see Venus in her wolf form, but petted her head (much to her dislike), and told her that he was going back outside to help.
Venus stayed inside with Mali. She rested her head on Mali's lap and let her friend absentmindedly stroke her head with her uninjured arm.
The minuets ticked by, drawing closer and closer to the hour deadline, when Voldemort would return.
"Where's Harry?" Mali asked no one in particular.
Neville walked quickly into the hall at that very moment, "I think Harry's gone to the Forest." He said quickly. "I just saw in him the grounds, he-"
In no time, Venus was on her feet. She darted out of the hall and through the grounds, towards the forest.
Dementors were swooping in and out of the trees and there was no way that Venus would make it through them, as she had no way of casting a Patronus. Dejectedly she hurried back to the castle and saw her friends and family waiting anxiously in the entrance hall.
"Is he there Ve?" Ginny demanded. She looked ready to run into the forest and drag Harry out herself. Venus didn't know quite how she could convey the fact that Harry wasn't there. She looked up towards the slowly lightening sky, and let out a howl. Once the noise died out, there was silence all throughout the castle.
"Harry Potter is dead." The high voice of Voldemort broke through the silence, like a knife, "he was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone.
"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live, and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together." The voice once again continued to echo even after it was gone.
Without words, the crowd of survivors poured, once again, into the grounds and stood on the steps of the castle, watching the dark crowd, lead by Voldemort himself, approached the castle.
"No!" Professor McGonagall screeched. Venus looked for what she had seen. There, bound in chains, stood Hagrid, and in his arms was the body of Harry Potter. He looked tiny in comparison to Hagrid, who had red puffy eyes and tears streaming down his face.
"NO!"
"HARRY!"
"No!"
More cries came from the crowd. Venus couldn't stop a loud growl escaping her throat.
"SILENCE!" Voldemort yelled. He waved his wand, and with a bang and a flash of light, the silence was enforced upon them, "it is over! Set him down Hagrid, at my feet where he belongs."
The crowd watched in silence as Hagrid was forced to lay Harry on the grass.
"You see?" said Voldemort, "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"
"He beat you!" yelled Ron, just like that the charm was broken, and the survivors were screaming and shouting again, until Voldemort waved his wand again and the were silenced.
Then from beside her, Neville lunged forwards and ran, full sprint at Voldemort. Venus made to go after him, but both Lupin and Sirius had grabbed her, preventing her from following him. With a bang, Voldemort had disarmed Neville, and he hit the floor.
"And who is this?" Voldemort asked, "Who has volentereed to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"
Bellatrix Lestrange let out an excited whoop.
"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"
"Ah yes," Voldemort looked down at Neville, who was scrambling back to his feet. "But you are a Pureblood, you show spirit and bravery. You will make a valuable Death Eater. We need your kind Neville Longbottom."
"I'll join you when hell freezes over!" said Neville, "Dumbledore's Army!" There was a loud cheer from the crowd, and Venus howled along with them, still trying to escape from Sirius and Lupin, trying to get to Neville.
"Very well," said Voldemort, "if that's your choice Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head, be it."
Venus was so focused on Neville that she didn't notice the Sorting Hat zooming into Voldemort's hands, until he bought everyone's attention to it.
"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School. There will be no more houses, the emblem, shield and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone, won't they, Neville Longbottom?"
Voldemort pointed his wand at Neville, who grew stiff and rigid. Venus whimpered, but the Death Eaters had all raised their wand, keeping the, at bay. Voldemort rammed the sorting hat onto Neville's head.
"Neville here is going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me." With a flick of Voldemort's wand the hat burst into flames.
Then Venus's enhanced hearing picked up on a roar of cries, as the familes, friends and villagers of Hogsmead charged towards them. Neville ripped the flaming hat off of his head and pulled a gleaming sword out of the hat. In one fluid motion Neville sliced the head clean off of Voldemort's pet snake, Nagini fell to the floor in pieces.
The Centars and creatures of the forest were joining the fray and the reinforcements had made it to them.
The sun began to rise over the horizon, bathing the battle in a red light. The light hit Venus and almost instantly she transformed again.
Mid transformation she charged into the hall and grabbed one of the table cloths that had been piled up at the side of the hall. She wrapped it around herself, like a dress, and readied herself to rejoin the fray, she watched as her mother's spell hit Bellatrix in the chest and the woman toppled to the floor. Voldemort aimed his wand at Molly, but a shield charm expanded from the middle of the hall, and Harry emerged from underneath his invisibility cloak.
Harry and Voldemort began to circle each other as they spoke back and forth, Harry telling Voldemort all about how his Horcuxes were destroyed and how Harry was alive.
"I am the true master of the Elder Wand!" Harry declared. A golden light of the dawn lit up the great hall as both Harry and Voldemort yelled spells.
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The spells hit each other in mid air, and Voldemort's wand flew from his hand. And the most evil wizard in the world thudded to the floor.
The world seemed to slow down.
Everyone stood around the edges of the hall, looking at Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Then, all at once, everyone seemed to break out of their daze, and charged towards Harry, all determined to be near the Boy Who Lived. In no time, he was gone from view, enveloped in a crowd of cheering people.
But Venus only sought one person. She clutched her tablecloth dress tight to her as her eyes raked around the room, until she saw a glint of silver and a smiling face.
"Neville!" She sprinted across the hall to him and crashed into him, knocking them both onto the floor.
Neville laughed and smiled, pulling her into a kiss.
"Sorry about that," Venus laughed, as they scrambled to their feet, not letting go of each other's hands.
"You never need to be sorry for kissing me Ve," Neville smiled.
Venus caught sight of something over Neville's shoulder, and laughed even harder than she had been before.
"What?" Neville followed her gaze, and he too burst out laughing. Because there was Sirius Black. In a tight embrace with one of the other Order of the Phoenix members, Ophelia Fawley, and it didn't look like they were going to break apart for years.
Extra long chapter for you all. THIS BOOK IS NOT OVER! I REPEAT IT IS NOT OVER!
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~Em xx