Roman had his wolves line at the openings and some before the entrance of the castle, all ready for battle. Roman and Carina had transformed back to their human forms and went to position before the wolves. Their wands in hand, ready for battle.
They saw the wave of attack come towards them. Roman and Carina turned to each other.
"So this is how a war feels like." Roman spoke, "Not the most pleasant feeling."
The spells crashed at the shield that the Professors and the members of the Order had put up. It made a violent shake. Roman and Carina held to each other's hands when it did.
"I have to tell you something." Carina said.
"What?"
"You're the best friend I ever have."
Roman smiled, his hold on Carina's hand tightened.
"You too... listen, if we get out of this alive –"
"And we will..."
"We look for Theodore and the three of us will go on a vacation."
"I'd like that."
Another wave of spells came and the dome was slowly disintegrating.
"Can I tell you something?" Roman said.
"Of course."
"Don't judge me... but I'm absolutely terrified right now." Roman let out a chuckle.
"Only an idiot wouldn't be..." Carina said.
"But I wouldn't ask for anything else... because you're with me, Carina."
The wolves growled as the threat came towards them. Roman and Carina's hold on to each other tightened.
"Hey, if you get married..." Roman said, "Can I be the Maid of Honor?"
Carina smiled. "Sure, Rome..."
The saw powerful blast of magic hit the dome. The dome was gone. They let go of their hands but stood bravely together. They both turned to each other then to the approaching threat.
"Black."
"Alston."
•†•
"AVADA KE—"
The Death Eater was taken down by the wolf, he screamed when the wolf bit him at the shoulder then stopped when it bit him at the neck.
"Stupefy!"
Roman had sent a Death Eater back. Beside him, Carina was doing well with her nonverbal spells and was battling the Death Eaters quite well. They were all at the court yard where the Death Eaters have came and ready to kill all of them.
"BOMBARDA!"
A large explosion happened in the group of Death Eaters coming their way. Carina smiled lightly at the sight of them falling on the ground –
"Incarcerous!"
Carina turned and saw a Death Eater just a few steps behind her drop down on the ground, bound with chains. Carina turned and saw Roman point his wand at the Death Eater –
Behind Roman, Carina saw a Death Eater coming their way –
"Stupefy!"
"Thanks." Roman said as he turned to his back.
The wolves' numbers were slowly decreasing as more Death Eaters have used the Killing Curse on them. One wolf in particular had just finished eating off the throat of a Death Eater when one of the Snatchers came behind it. The wolf turned and found the Snatcher and went to attack him –
"Avada Kedavra!"
The wolf fell to the ground. Dead. Another wolf, just near where the fallen one was, saw the whole scene, it growled at the sight of the Snatcher. It howled to call the attention of the other wolves then attacked the Snatcher.
Carina sent more waves of explosive spells at Death Eaters that came to them. Roman had transformed more than once and had ripped more Death Eaters than he could with a spell. After using the Sectumsempra Curse at a Death Eater, Carina paused to take a breath. She looked around and took in in what was happening. A battle – a war, was happening in Hogwarts, and every second, more lives were taken –
"Carina!"
Carina was tackled down by Roman. She and Roman rolled over and avoided the large club that came to squash them. They both turned and saw the giant swinging the club, aiming at them.
They both crawled out of the way to get out of the giant's way, then got to their feet –
"REDUCTO!" Carina casted.
The giant's club was destroyed, but it did not help, it just made things worse. The giant was angry and was not using its hands to grab them and maybe pop their heads. Carina and Roman had used multiple Stunning Spells at the giant, but it did nothing, they both ran to the other side but was stopped at the sight of the gigantic spiders coming their way. Just in time, the wolves came and attacked the spiders, biting them.
"CRUCIO!"
Roman fell to the ground, bringing Carina down with him. Their bodies in pain at the curse casted on them. They didn't know who did it, but it didn't matter, what did matter was the giant that stood just above them with a sly grin. No where to go, Roman had wrapped his arms around Carina and hid her under his body, and waited for the –
"DURO!"
A loud thud caught Roman and Carina's attention. They both got up from their crouched form and saw the giant on the ground and turned to stone. Roman looked around to see who had done it and to his surprise, their savior stood just behind them.
"You have no idea how long it took me to get here."
Theodore Nott stood there with dark robes and a wand in his hand.
"Theodore!" Carina gasped.
"What took you so long?" Roman asked.
"Went to get some help." Theodore shrugged.
"Help?"
A loud screech was heard from above. A large griffin came and took a Death Eater from the ground and brought it to the sky where it screamed for help.
"Listen, as much as I want to have a beautiful reunion with my best friend and my girlfriend... we still got a war to finish." Theodore said. "And I believe... this is yours." Theodore handed Carina her wand.
"Thanks."
Carina returned Theodore his.
"Bombarda Maxima!"
Theodore and Roman turned and saw the group of Death Eaters that Carina had casted the huge explosion at. They both smirked then started to fire spells at the Death Eaters around them.
"TRAITOR!"
A Death Eater came and was in battle with Theodore. The two were good, but the Death Eater was better, and had Theodore almost fall down on the ground.
"Time to die, boy!"
"Avada Kedavra!"
The Death Eater fell to the ground, dead. Theodore turned to where the spell came from and saw who had casted the Killing Curse. It was his father.
"I don't understand..." Theodore said.
Nott went to his son's side.
"I lost you once... and I'm not going to let that happen again, boy..." Nott said.
"Why?"
"You're my son... and that's why."
Carina and Roman were unsure when Theodore's father came to aid them in the battle. It was unusual, since the man was a huge supporter of the Dark Lord. But when Nott went to save Theodore from a Death Eater, they knew that the man had changed, but why? More Death Eaters came, and more of them came after Theodore and his father for being traitors.
A Death Eater came, ready to strike Carina as her back was turned –
"Avada Kedavra!"
Carina turned and saw the Death Eater and the green light coming at her, she didn't know where to go or what to do and was frozen to the ground –
A body came and blocked the spell and was struck by it. Carina, with wide eyes, stared as the man before her took the spell that was supposed to kill her.
Nott looked down at the girl. His eyes held so much emotion...
"Father!" Theodore called.
"Sofia..." Nott said in a whisper before he fell to the ground. Dead.
Theodore's father died to save Carina. To save the girl his son loved. Theodore went to his father's side and held on to his body.
"Theodore!" Roman called. "STUPEF—"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Roman was stunned. There was a moment of silence as Roman exchanged glances at Carina and Theodore with wide eyes. Carina and Theodore didn't know what to do as Roman stumbled at his feet before he fell to the ground.
"ROMAN!"
Carina let out a loud scream of pain as she saw Roman fall to the ground. She turned to the Death Eater that casted the spell to send a spell but was beaten by the wolves that came to attack the Death Eater and ripped his head off. Carina went to Roman's side, she cradled his body and saw his deep blue eyes that was once full of life now clouded and dead.
"NO! ROMAN! NO!" Carina cried.
Theodore went to Carina's side and held on to Roman's body as well. He felt tears forming as he saw Roman's handsome face so still.
"Roman..." Theodore croaked. "No... no... no..."
"You have fought valiantly... but in vain... I do not wish this... every drop of magial blood spilled is a waste..."
Theodore turned to his father's body just near to where they were clutching to Roman's.
" I therefore command my forces to retreat... in the absence... dispose of your dead with dignity... Harry Potter... I now speak directly to you... on this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather to face me yourself... there is no greater dishonor... join me at the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate... if you do not do this..."
Carina brushed back Roman's curly auburn hair from his face. She closed his eyes then placed her hand on Roman's chest where she hoped that there was a small heartbeat... there wasn't.
"I shall kill every last man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you from me..."
•†•
"Where is everybody?" Hermione asked.
Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the castle. Inside they saw the scene of the effects of war. Harry saw the sorrowful look of Parvati as she and Professor Trelawny cover the face of Padma Patil. Then he saw the Weasleys, there he saw them hugging and crying over the body of Fred... Harry again and this time he saw Carina crying Lupin and Tonks' body where the two lay on the ground with their hands so close to each other. Beside Carina was Theodore, comforting her. Where was Roman?
Theodore was the first to notice Harry's stare, he turned to Harry and saw his eyes. As if he could read Harry's mind, Theodore turned to the cot beside Lupin.
Harry followed Theodore's gaze and saw...
Roman Alston lay on the cot beside Lupin's body. His body unmoving and eyes closed. Harry felt the weight on his shoulders as he saw one of this closest friends dead.
McGonagall came to where Carina was. Carina turned to the woman and saw her worried look. Carina felt more tears fall, as she couldn't bring herself to tell the woman about what happened. Carina took McGonagall to Roman's cot and there the strong and fierce woman broke down to tears as she held on to her nephew's body.
Carina sat beside McGonagall and cried beside her as they mourned for Roman. Theodore stood at Roman's feet and cried in silence as he stared at his best friend's body. A wolf came at the head of Roman's body, it stat there and lowered its head, it touched its nose to Roman's head and let out a whine...
•†•
Harry stood in the Forbidden Forest. His hand held the stone that was hidden in the Snitch that was given to him by Dumbledore in the man's last will.
Before him were the last people he thought to see, but wanted to before he accepts his fate.
His father, his mother, Sirius, and Lupin.
"You've been so brave, sweetheart." Lily said.
"Why're you here?" Harry asked.
"We never left."
"Does it... does it hurt... dying?" Harry asked Sirius.
"Quicker than falling asleep." Sirius replied.
"You're nearly there, son." James said.
"I'm sorry... I never wanted anyone of you to die for me... and Remus, your son!"
"People will tell him what his mother and father died for... and he is in good hands." Lupin said. "One day, he'll understand..."
"You'll stay with me?"
"Until the end."
"Will I be able to see you?"
"No..." Sirius said. "We're here you see..." Sirius pointed to Harry's chest where his heart was.
"Stay close to me..."
"Always."