Chapter 92: The Drawing Of Battle Lines

The Court Yard, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Swirling winds enveloped the already world-weary traveling Order Of Phoenix Members as they moved through the vast courtyard of Hogwarts Castle. Grim expressions were etched across their faces in light of what was to come. Trepidation was as thick as the tension that hung in the air as the skies darkened and the sea became rough and unpredictable much like the fates of those who had chosen to do battle.

Hermione Granger was among them as was a stoic-looking Harry James Potter. The Boy Who Lived had finally accepted his destiny in terms of facing off against the very despot that had taken the lives of so many he cared for despite the backing of his numerous friends and allies. He had carried the weight of survivor's guilt for most of his existence and now here he was gripping tightly to his wand as the moment fast approached for him to finally get his vengeance.

The redhead Weasley clan had been right beside him each ready to meet their collective fates in the final determining outcome of this long dragged-out war. The icy blue eyes of Order of Phoenix founder and Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore had been just as intensely focused as the rest of the soon-to-be combatants. He held tight to the elder wand aiming to finish the war he failed to put an end to long ago when he allowed the continued existence of his former student-turned-monstrous tyrant Tom Riddle.

It was he who had set this entire unfortunate Wizarding World catastrophe in motion when he chose to bring a clueless and decidedly malicious child Tom Riddle Jr. into the wizarding world where he spread his hate and plunged Wizarding Society into chaos not once, but twice all to stave off his own eventual death.

For far too long the monstrous despot had twisted and ruined every known Slytherin to have attended Hogwarts since his accursed arrival. Unable to combat the charismatic antics of his long-time foe and former Protege, Dumbledore orchestrated the events that would ensure he had a man of his own on the inside of the proceeding.

That man had been a young outcast Severus Snape who had been perfectly chosen due to his upbringing being so similar to Tom's that it would create the much needed empathy in the normally heartless despot and allow for him to be deceived as he had deceived so many in the wake of his own blind ambitions for power and prolonging his miserable existence.

Hermione searched the courtyard for signs of Severus only to find that the wolves had not yet arrived. Steeling her disappointment, the rather nervous witch focused on what needed to be done. No sooner had the order members reached the corridor, the telltale green flash of a death eater's wand gave the form of the dark mark, a hideous skull with a serpent hissing and protruding from its mouth encompassed by a dark green mist.

The caretaker Argus Filch and Grounds Keeper/ Care Of Magical Creatures Professor, Rubeus Hagrid, arrived at the iron gate to greet the headmaster and the other order members.

"It has begun," said Dumbledore with a stern expression on his aged face. "Summon the staff, let us ensure this battle goes no further than the courtyard, I want all the students to take shelter within the dungeons, no exceptions!"

With that, both Filch and Hagrid left to follow The Headmaster's instruction as he turned his attention to the task at hand.

"Ready yourselves," he said to those still beside him in the courtyard.

No sooner had the aged Headmaster said this than everyone felt the onset of numerous tremors as if there was an earthquake rocking the entirety of Hogwarts. The crushing of stone and the grinding sound of something making its way continued to make everyone tense.

The tremors that continued to rock the courtyard were getting closer and more frequent as if a thousand mini-earthquakes were occurring at once.

Ronald Weasley was the first to take notice of a hulking shape protruding from the trees. His blue eyes widened as he gripped his wand tight in his hand.

"GIANTS!" he shouted giving everyone a head's up as the massive behemoths invaded the school grounds via the forbidden forest.

"Wands up!" shouted Remus Lupin with his eyes trained on the massive monstrosities. "Spread out to ensure you have someone watching your back, don't let these cretins get the better of us!"

Everyone did as he instructed given his status as Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor it was only fitting. Hermione thought back to her first year and how Harry had gone out of his way to save her from a troll set loose on school grounds by their first Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor.

As the apparent handful of giants began to advance through the castle courtyard, the remaining branches of death eaters headed up by none other than Bellatrix LeStrange entered the grounds holding tight to their wands and aiming to leave a trail of blood and death in their wake.

Tonks had barely any time to take up a position to join the fighting before Albus Dumbledore blocked her path and encased her into a magical ball of protection, she had been pregnant after all, but vastly stubborn. He allowed her to return to Hogwarts with them in a bid to keep her from doing something reckless, but his end goal was always to keep her from fighting if only to spare the child.

Narcissa Malfoy had gripped her wand as well choosing for the first time in her life to stand against her elder sister in defense of not only Hogwarts and her family but the future of the wizarding world, she refused to be a bystander as the fate of her world was decided by the outcome of a battle with children.

Lucius Malfoy had steeled himself as well. For years he'd been the prized bull and secretly hated by any and all of his death-eater peers due to his looks, his vast wealth, and his charming personality. He'd been essentially the joke of Slytherin according to Voldemort who had felt he represented everything he wasn't nor could ever hope to be.

The fire behind his gray eyes suggested that he was well and truly done with taking orders from an aged inferior.

Draco smirked as he noted the onset of death eaters he'd spent the better part of his life admiring and the latter part fearing. For once he'd been grateful to his godfather for bestowing the gift of lycanthropy upon him despite it not being ideal beforehand.

He could sense the fears and the anxiousness of his lessers and relished the shocking turn of the tables as he got ready to do battle with those monsters that mocked his father and threatened his mother in the vilest of ways.

His eyes flickered with malice as the bloodlust from his wolfish side became well aware of the enemies who had held enormous power over him before his transformation. It was surely time to return the favor once the fighting got underway.

Hermione stood beside Harry who had been more than ready for battle as he glared out over the horizon at his opponent, the despot Voldemort had been bold in coming to this place, especially with Albus Dumbledore alive and well. It stood to reason he hoped the giants would be more than enough of a distraction for the aged Headmaster as his duty was to protect Hogwarts first and foremost. Then he planned to do away with the boy Harry Potter once and for all.

No sooner had the fighters arrived for combat, a deep and resounding howl filled the air followed by a series of grunts and growls as the entire able-bodied werewolf army made its presence known with Severus Snape leading the charge, his obsidian eyes flickering with blood-lust and his intent as plain to note as the indifferent expression upon his sallow pale face.

Hermione fought the urge to smile as she once more set her eyes upon her werewolf lover. His presence renewed her sense of courage and she became all the more determined to see this battle through once and for all.

The stage had been set and all the players were more than ready to risk it all for the sake of the future in the wizarding world without this long drawn-out war looming over them once again.