Endless Night

A hushed murmur ran through the crowd of assembled Death Eaters as the body of Severus Snape, most trusted of servants, appeared before them.

Voldemort eyed the crowd vigilantly, taking in every reaction and even those who didn't react. His vision was momentarily consumed by a giddy response from Bella, as she skipped around laughing loudly whilst clapping her hands together. Voldemort smiled faintly.

As the crowd settled, and all looked from the Potions master back to Voldemort, he continued.

"See what happens when you deceive me. Take a good look at your brother. You all swore an oath of service to me, as the Mark on your left arm shows quite clearly. Still there are those," he spat, "who attempt to betray me. This is what will become of you. Mark my words," he said, eyeing each of his Death Eaters present, "I will know."

Voldemort let the silence stretch. No one moved.

"You are all dismissed." When no one moved, Voldemort pointed his wand at the assembled mass. He menacingly whispered, "Now." The crowd of Death Eaters dispersed quickly. Bella looked as if she wanted to linger until Voldemort gave her a pointed look. Her face fell as she too Disapparated.

Voldemort held his hand up to Lucius, who was standing next to his Lord. He knew this to be a sign that he wasn't dismissed just yet.

"Lucius," he said, breaking the stillness, "take the traitor away."

"Yes, My Lord," he replied, making to move past the Dark Lord and collect Severus. Voldemort's hand was on his shoulder, causing Draco to cease all moment and become still.

Leaning close to Lucius's ear, Voldemort whispered, "Make him pay for his treachery and bring that of which we spoke to Hogwarts. I can't wait to see the look on Harry Potter's face," he finished cryptically. Draco could feel the smile on his near non-existent lips as he finished.

Draco swallowed before nodding his head.

Voldemort dropped his arm before straightening up.

"It is a pity I do not have the time to finish off Severus, for there is nothing I would like more than to watch him die slowly, pleading for his pathetic life. But I shall leave him in your more than capable hands, Lucius."

Draco took a step forward, turning to face Voldemort. He knew this could go either way. He hoped that he could get Severus back to Hogwarts soon...he didn't even know if he was still alive, though Voldemort's obscure words hinted that he was. He wouldn't know the extent of his injuries until he managed to get him to the hospital wing at Hogwarts; he just hoped he wouldn't be detained for much longer.

Voldemort turned his reptilian head slowly from side to side, as though he were studying Lucius. Draco straightened up significantly at the perplexing look his Master was giving him.

"You know of my intentions regarding traitors, Lucius. I want them carried out to the full extent for this one." He spat as he kicked his heavy boot into Severus' ribs. The man lying on the ground didn't even give so much as a groan.

"I shall enjoy watching your memories when the war is over, Lucius. Be certain to make him pay for his deception; make him beg for his life...or death." An evil smile crossed Voldemort's serpentine face as his eyes narrowed and unfocused.

"Yes, I shall get much pleasure from those memories," he said before turning his back on the traitor and Lucius.

Draco made his way over to the lifeless body of Severus Snape. Taking out Lucius's wand from the cane which held it, he placed a feather-light spell upon him and then took up Severus's limp body into his arms. Draco held the wand and housing, which fortunately worked well enough for him, and prepared to Disapparate. He was halted mid-spin by the Dark Lord's voice.

"Meet me at Hogwarts when I call for you. I shall be in the Forbidden Forest," Voldemort stated.

Draco turned to face his Lord and abruptly nodded his head. He lifted the wand again, taking a few steps before the Dark Lord spoke once more. Draco thought he had changed his mind and would torture Severus himself. Stranger things happened when it came to dealing with the megalomaniac. Draco froze, about facing, and successfully controlled the fear welling up inside of him, throwing every last ounce of strength into his Occlumency shields. He felt dizzy, as if he were about to throw up. He quickly swallowed the bile that made its way up his throat. He knew that the 'Great Lucius Malfoy' would under no circumstances be that undignified.

"And Lucius, just so I make myself very clear, do not forget the Mudblood." Voldemort saw a flicker of tension enter the man's body before he nodded his head and Disapparated with the traitor.

Idiots, the lot of them. He was working with incompetent morons. Lucius would have to be taught a lesson once the war was over. Desiring a Mudblood, no matter how good she was, was unbecoming of his second-in-command. When he ruled the Wizarding World he would make sure that those of his supporters who were too dense to grasp the concept of a simple order would meet their doom. But first, he needed all of those within his ranks, no matter how dim-witted, for in just a few days Hogwarts would be a smouldering pile of useless rubble, and all of its inhabitants would come to their knees and bow before Lord Voldemort.

***

Draco raced through the grounds of Hogwarts, levitating the prone body of Severus before him. He had placed a warming charm upon Severus'naked body before covering him with his Death Eater robes when they had first appeared outside the gates of Hogwarts. Time was something neither of them had.

He burst through the infirmary doors, noticing at once its lack of occupancy, and placed Severus on the nearest bed. He started at once shouting out frantically for Madam Pomfrey, whilst running towards her office.

Poppy stumbled out of the door next to her office, wiping sleep from her eyes and doing up her dressing gown. She wondered briefly to herself who was making such a racket at this hour. She yawned, rubbing her eyes as she came through the door, almost colliding with Lucius Malfoy. She gasped as she held a hand to her heart.

"What are you doing here?" she spluttered, taking a step backwards into her room.

"It's Severus," Draco said, his breathing frayed. He indicated the man that was lying on the bed closest to the doors.

Poppy gasped once more, switching into mediwitch mode as she rushed over to attend to her patient. The taboo of Lucius Malfoy forgotten, she didn't even notice that Severus was covered with the robes of a Death Eater; she was solely focused on saving his life.

Pulling out her wand, she immediately set to work casting diagnostic spells and cleansing charms. She didn't blanch when she saw the deep lacerations on Severus's back and upper thighs.

When Severus's wounds were no longer oozing blood, she calmly Summoned the necessary potions vials. Poppy made Severus drink the various potions, every so often swishing her wand in an arching motion above his body, checking his vitals.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Draco, Poppy breathed out a sigh of relief when Severus's heartbeat and breathing stabilised. Wary of moving her patient more than necessary, she changed him into a nightgown and covered his naked body with a fresh sheet. She suddenly remembered that her unwanted guest, Lucius Malfoy, was the one who had brought the Potions master in. Whirling around, wand at the ready, she gave a startled shriek when she saw Draco standing in his place. Poppy rubbed her eyes, thinking that her own mind was playing tricks on her. Opening them and blinking rapidly, she saw that the clothing Draco wore was the same that his father, Lucius, had worn not moments before, and that they were ill-fitted to his frame.

"What is going on here?" she demanded, placing both of her hands on her hips, her wand still in her hand.

"I will explain all later. Please, just tell me that my godfather will be okay?" Draco pleaded, his eyes beseeching the matron.

Her hands dropped to her side as she looked at Draco, his face showing a vulnerability that she had never before witnessed in the boy.

"He will recover," she replied, taking pity on the boy who looked so concerned for Severus. "Though it was a close call. A few minutes longer, and I fear there would have been nothing that I could have done for him."

Draco slumped forward, casting himself on the nearest bed. Poppy thought she heard him let out a sob, but when he looked up towards her, his face was clear of tears, and he looked as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders.

"I must go and speak with the headmaster now, but I promise you, I will reveal all that I can when I return," Draco stated.

Poppy nodded her head once, her mind still reeling with all that she had witnessed this night.

Draco marched out of the infirmary, Poppy thoughtfully watching his departing back.

Lifting her hand, she waved her wand at the closed infirmary doors, putting up wards to alert her if she would have more visitors this night. She wearily walked back over to stand before Severus's bed. He was stable for now, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. She would have to move him soon to the teachers' section of the hospital, away from prying eyes.

***

Dumbledore was standing towards the back of his office, looking out the window at the darkened ground of Hogwarts. The portraits had alerted him to the presence of Lucius Malfoy, levitating the body of Severus Snape. They were headed towards the infirmary. Albus wasn't too concerned, as he knew that the real Lucius was locked away in his dungeon cell, safe and sound.

He was preparing himself for Draco to come through his door at any moment, and he took a hefty breath in and slowly let it out.

As though on cue, Draco burst into the room, breathing as though he had just run a great distance, and Albus supposed he had.

"The Dark Lord attacks, here at Hogwarts, in four days," the blond burst out, his breathing ragged.

Turning around slowly, Dumbledore raised both his eyebrows.

"Ah, Draco, I see you are back. How did the meeting go?" he asked calmly.

A look of confusion crossed Draco's face as he ran his left hand through his already tousled hair, his right hand clutching onto Lucius's snake-headed cane.

"Did you hear a word I just said?" he asked, his voice getting louder. "I told you the Dark Lord plans to attack Hogwarts in four days...he knows that Harry is here; he almost killed Severus, and all you can ask is how the bloody meeting went."

Albus's face took on a look of shock at the mention of Severus's name.

"You say that Severus is alive?" he asked, his voice a mere whisper.

"Barely. I managed to get him to Madam Pomfrey on time, but it was a close thing. She will either need to be Obliviated, or given some form of explanation, as I fear I gave her quite a scare, turning up as Lucius," Draco said. He was perturbed at the fact that Dumbledore had singled out the information on Severus first, as he thought he would be more concerned with the fact that the Dark Lord was planning on attacking the school.

"Come. Take a seat, and let's discuss how the meeting went," Dumbledore said, motioning towards his desk.

Draco nodded his head, running his left hand once more through his hair. Albus glanced towards Draco's right hand at the cane he still gripped in his fist.

After both men were seated, Albus motioned for Draco to begin.

Taking a deep breath, Draco began his story.

***

Harry was startled awake by the Bloody Baron's disembodied voice and the feeling of icicles all over his body. He quickly jumped up and collapsed almost immediately when his legs wouldn't cooperate. They must have fallen asleep, his brain sluggishly supplied. His back and neck didn't feel much better. Stabilising himself on the armchair he had fallen asleep on in front of the now-dead fire, he was thankful that his wand was still clutched in his right hand, and he cast a Lumos on the room.

Taking off his glasses, he rubbed at his eyes. The Bloody Baron was standing a few feet away, looking mightily put out.

"I thought you would want to know that young Mr Malfoy has been at your door for the past thirty minutes," he said, by way of explaining his intrusion into Harry's private rooms.

"Oh, thanks," Harry mumbled, still half asleep. The icy wake-up call was not pleasurable and he shivered noticeably.

Finding the Marauder's Map lying on the floor next to the armchair, he bent over and picked it up, immediately regretting it when his back gave a painful twinge. Grimacing, he folded the map up and put it into his back pocket before rubbing his throbbing back.

The Bloody Baron nodded his head, seeing Harry to the door, and kept on gliding through the wall.

Opening the door, Harry saw that no one was there. Sticking his wand out into the corridor, he peered out first to the right and then to the left. He was just about to give up when he felt someone brush by him and into his rooms. Spinning around quickly, wand held at the ready, he was just about to shoot off a stunning spell, when Draco appeared before him.

Harry went pale as he noticed the blood on Draco's robes, as well as the tired and weary way he was standing. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before settling on the first thought that had crossed his mind.

"What happened to you?" Harry could have slapped himself as soon as his brain caught up with his mouth, and he stammered around searching for the words to make this right whilst he closed the door with an audible click.

"What do you think happened?" Draco's sarcastic drawl came out before Harry could take the words back. However, Draco's derision lacked its usual bite.

"I didn't know you knew where I was staying," Harry said, changing the topic quickly. Draco either didn't care or was much more tired then he let on.

"Severus told me. I have been waiting outside your room for ages. Luckily, the Bloody Baron passed by, otherwise I fear that I would still be out there. Aren't you going to offer me a seat?" Draco asked, his voice showing his exhaustion.

Harry motioned towards his discarded seat in front of the fire, and as Draco took it, he sent an Incendio towards the fireplace. Harry still felt the chill from the Baron's wake-up call. He quickly turned around, to see Draco cradling his head in his hands. At a loss as to what to do, Harry swayed slightly on his feet, looking nervously about whilst playing with his wand.

Draco finally looked up into Harry's anxious green eyes.

"Do take a seat and quit your hovering," Draco sneered, his behaviour ingrained after eight years of animosity between the two wizards. He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.

"I didn't mean to snap at you, Potter, it's just been a really trying night," Draco said, sounding weary.

"That's fine," Harry replied, taking a seat on the settee that occupied the room. "I have to confess that I haven't slept that well tonight either, as I was waiting for you to return," Harry said, rubbing his neck. He shifted slightly, taking the Marauder's Map from his pocket and holding it up so Draco could see.

"What's that?" Draco asked, a look of confusion on his face.

"This is the Marauder's Map," Harry stated, unfolding it before pressing his wand to the map and stating, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Tucking his wand away, Harry leant forward and handed a bewildered Draco the map.

"This is amazing," Draco whispered, awe in his voice as his eyes greedily scanned the map in his hands. It was Hogwarts, complete with the names of everyone that occupied the castle. He saw that Albus was currently in the infirmary, standing close to Madam Pomfrey. He wondered if he had already performed the Obliviate on her. "You didn't make this, did you?" he asked, looking up from the map and into Harry's eyes.

"Nope." Harry shook his head, "My father and his friends made it when they were at school here," he said proudly, sitting up a little straighter.

"Have you looked at the map since I arrived?" Draco enquired, raising both eyebrows as he waved the map in Harry's direction.

"No," Harry confessed, looking away from Draco and into the fireplace. "I admit to having fallen asleep in the very chair you are seated in; that's why it took me so long to answer the bloody door." Harry looked towards Draco then, grinning sheepishly.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Draco asked, waving the map at Harry once more. He was wearing his own grin.

Taking the map from Draco, Harry pushed his glasses more firmly up his nose while asking, "And where exactly do I look?" He was confused, and his mind was still trying to wake up.

"Where do you think, Scarhead, the infirmary of course," Draco sighed, a hint of laughter in his voice.

Harry didn't take Draco's ribbing to heart as his eyes immediately went to the infirmary. Scanning it, his eyes first noticed that Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were there, but then he gave out a gasp as his eyes landed on a name on the map: Severus Snape.

"But how?" Harry blurted out, his eyes shooting up to Draco's face with a look of bewilderment.

Draco grinned from ear to ear.

"It's a long story. Needless to say, it wasn't easy. The Dark Lord told me to dispose of the body, and I brought him here instead. It was a close call, but I think he should be all right," Draco said.

Harry jumped up off the settee, tossing the map aside, and crash-tackled Draco. He threw his arms around the stunned wizard, as he crushed him, laughing out loud.

"Thank you so very much, Draco," Harry said, between bouts of happy mirth.

"You are welcome," Draco replied through gritted teeth, pushing at Harry. "Now will you get off me, so I can tell you the bad news?"

Draco sounded put out. He was not used to open affection. Nobody in Slytherin would be caught dead hugging like this, especially two blokes.

Harry straightened up and looked down at his feet, suddenly feeling embarrassed about his reaction. He had forgotten that this was the Prince of Slytherin that he was hugging. It was just that all of Gryffindor were very touchy-feely. It had unnerved him at first, for he had experienced no affection of any kind from the Dursleys, but after seven years and with best friends like Hermione and Ron, he had got used to the hands-on approach.

Harry walked back to the settee in a daze. Severus was alive and well. It didn't matter to him what Draco would say; there was no way he was coming down from his euphoric state any time soon.

The feeling of the room suddenly changed as Draco sat up straighter and looked directly at Harry. He wore a frown on his face, and Harry knew that what he was about to say was important.

"The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters are coming here, to Hogwarts, in four days' time," Draco stated, looking at Harry, waiting for a reaction once he was seated again.

Harry just shrugged his shoulders as though it wasn't of any concern. He was still on a high, knowing that Severus was going to recover and would be there by his side.

"We all knew this was coming," he started, "and if it's on our own grounds, so much the better."

"The Dark Lord will want me by his side; I will not be able to openly fight with you, Harry," Draco said, his voice cracking as though the mere thought of this action was deplorable to him.

Harry sat up straight then too. He felt the importance of Draco's words, in both what he was saying and what he was not.

"I know, Draco," Harry sighed. "Just promise me that you will do everything in your power to stay safe. I would find myself at a loss without your ferret face around," Harry joked trying to dispel some of the tension that had enter the room on Draco's last words.

This tentative relationship, though just beginning, felt somehow right to Harry, and he found, to his surprise, that he meant every word of what he had just said.

Draco nodded his head slowly before turning his head towards the fire.

***

Severus awoke, his body shaking with the after-effects of the Cruciatus Curse. He lay still and tried to relax, eyes still closed, and waited for the shaking to subside.

He felt relatively whole, and he gradually opened his eyes, staring at the wooden door that was across from the bed he was currently residing in.

'Not dead then,' he thought sarcastically as he looked down at his body. He took in the clean white sheet that was draped over him and lifted a sluggish hand to push it downwards. Looking at his body covered in a standard hospital gown, he scowled. This had the trademark stamp of Poppy Pomfrey written all over it.

As if that one thought had power, the door opened and the mediwitch herself appeared. His scowl deepened.

"Oh, Severus, you've finally decided to join the land of the living, I see," Poppy joked as she made her way over to the bed and waved her wand over his body.

He grunted a reply as Poppy bustled around, checking his wounds and tut-tutting as she did so. Severus allowed this; he knew from past experiences that the school matron was not to be trifled with, and it only made matters worse when one tried. So he begrudgingly allowed her to accomplish her task.

When she was done, and the sheet was once more pulled up to his neck, she conjured a glass of water and helped him drink it. He sneered openly at her once he had finished the water.

"I'll have none of that, young man; you almost died last night," Poppy said in her no-nonsense voice, usually reserved for the likes of Severus and her other difficult patients. "The headmaster wants a word with you," she continued, "and I told him it could wait until you were awake. Did you know that he wanted to Ennervate you last night?" Poppy asked, looking him right in the eyes.

"It wouldn't surprise me," came Severus's croaky reply.

Poppy shook her head at that, the glass still in her left hand, wand in her right.

"Well, I told him in no uncertain terms that you were not to be disturbed. It was rather touch and go last night, and I feared that any more magic would have pushed you over the edge." Her voice softened. She put the glass down on the side table next to the bed and patted his cheek. Severus had to avert his eyes from the look Poppy was giving him.

'She always had a soft spot for me,' Severus thought, gruffly. Though his facial expression did not change from that of the truculent child he once was, his posture softened demonstrably.

And it was true. From the first time he had appeared in the infirmary a scrawny, sullen, under-fed eleven-year-old, Poppy had taken him under her wing and treated him as though he were her own. This had galled the young Severus, and he remained surly throughout Poppy's poking and prodding. Inside, however, he was relieved that someone showed a scrap of concern for him, although he revealed nothing to demonstrate this to the mediwitch.

"Well, then, I'd better tell Albus that you're awake. He is not to distress you, mind, and I shall tell him that myself. I shall keep this meeting as brief as possible," Poppy said, a tone of warning in her voice, and Severus didn't envy anyone who had to go up against this formidable witch. When it came to her patients, no one crossed Madam Pomfrey, ever.

The door closed behind Poppy, and Severus sighed out loud. He was sure he would get the answers to the question that had been plaguing him since he had awoken: who had brought him back to Hogwarts? The last thing he remembered was the Dark Lord using him for target practise. He closed his eyes and scowled deeply, racking his brain for any memory of the previous night. He came up empty.

He opened his eyes at the sound of the door opening and Albus walking through. Albus closed the door and conjured himself a comfy chair before seating himself and looking expectantly at Severus.

'So, he is here for a while, at least,' Severus thought to himself as he looked at the man in question making himself comfortable.

"Severus," Albus began in what sounded to Severus like a belligerent tone, "it seems as though Tom will be marching on Hogwarts in four days' time, and I found myself speculating as to what you could possibly have told or shown him to make him believe he could accomplish such a task?"

Although it was a question, Severus didn't for one moment believe he could get away with feigning ignorance. He knew he had disappointed The Great Albus Dumbledore, but right now he couldn't care less.

"I may have shown him a hole in our defences near the Forbidden Forest," he stated, looking at the white of the sheet that was currently covering him. He fiddled with his fingers which were mercifully hidden under said sheet. He couldn't bring himself to look at his employer at that moment.

"And why, in Merlin's name, would you have done such a thing?" Albus posed in an enquiring voice.

Severus took a deep breath in before looking up and meeting Albus's eyes.

"Do you know what it is like to be held under the Cruciatus until you are literally begging for death to take you? All the while trying to hold onto secrets you know will tip the war in the favour of the lunatic who is currently using your body as a particularly nasty potions ingredient. I had to get him to stop, Albus, so I could at least die with a little dignity." Severus whispered. His voice still felt as though it was not his own, scratchy and uneven.

"I am well aware, as are you, what would become of you had Tom ever established your duplicity," Albus stated coldly. His usually sparkling blue eyes were glaring daggers at Severus, who felt the room suddenly drop about five degrees.

Severus nodded his head. He found it hard to look into the wizard's cold blue eyes, and it took every ounce of willpower he had not to look away.

"You will be by Harry Potter's side when Tom and the Death Eaters arrive. You will sacrifice yourself if it means that Harry will have even a couple of seconds more to defeat Tom. Do you understand me?" Albus's voice was a mere whisper, but the iciness and finality behind it made it clear to Severus that they were all just pawns on Albus's checker board. Disposable.

Severus could do nothing but nod his head numbly. He felt hollowed out, sick to his stomach, like a starving man shown a most welcome feast, but then told he could not eat.

"I shall leave you, then," Albus said as he stood and Vanished the chair. He walked to the door as Severus's eyes followed him. Albus did not look back.

The only thought running through Severus's head was that he never had been given the chance to ask how he turned up here, in his own private room in the infirmary no less, and who had brought him home.

***

That very night Severus was up and moving around his hidden rooms. He needed to start planning and couldn't do this from a bed. Besides, he was getting antsy cooped up in here and was not prepared to wait another minute before he left the hospital wing.

Although his muscles gave the occasional twinge, he ignored them as he continued to do up his frock coat.

Draco and Harry had been down that very morning, after Albus had left, under the cover of Harry's Invisibility Cloak. It appeared that they had both taken Severus's words to heart and formed a silent truce. Draco had filled in the gaps in Severus's memory from the previous night with a grin on his face. Harry had looked at him with adoring eyes and the largest smile he had ever seen coming from the brat. Severus had to look away. He was no one's hero. From the admiring look on Harry's face, he supposed the boy thought otherwise. Brainless, gullible Gryffindor that he was.

Severus was relieved when Harry pulled something out of his pocket, if only for the fact that his attention was diverted away from Severus's face. At one point he thought the boy was going to throw his arms around him and give him a hug. Perish the thought. Harry enlarged the package, and to his relief, he saw that it was his usual attire: boots and socks included, and he almost groaned out loud, but managed to restrain himself. He nodded his head in thanks when Harry passed him the enlarged clothing and placed it under his pillow for later, his boots going under the bed. He would bully Poppy into letting him leave...either that, or he would just up and leave on his own, and the mediwitch be damned. They had just over three days to plan and execute the battle, and he'd be damned if he were going to be lying in bed like an invalid waiting for Death Eaters or Voldemort himself to finish him off.

Straightening up and rearranging his face into its usual look of indifference, he marched towards the door to meet his destiny.

***

There had been much arguing and yelling within the Order. It seemed that they all had different opinions on how the battle was to take place. Albus didn't want anyone alerted that they knew of the threat of Voldemort's imminent arrival and therefore wanted to leave most of the students in ignorance. Harry had agreed, although begrudgingly, stating that those who were too young to fight would have to be placed into the Room of Requirement while the battle raged. Those that were willing to fight would be given the opportunity. After all, they would be fighting to free their world of the terror and deprivation that Voldemort stood for. If Voldemort won, there would not be one among them who could live in a world ruled by Voldemort and his lackeys without fearing for their lives.

It was agreed that Kingsley and Mad-Eye would be in charge of the Aurors when the time came to call for them. Fred and George Weasley, along with Madam Hooch, would be in charge of the air assault. They would recruit those who possessed outstanding talent on a broomstick, whether or not they played Quidditch. Hagrid would be in charge of the grounds due to his extensive knowledge. Severus would stay by Harry Potter's side until the final confrontation with Voldemort, a move that both perplexed and delighted Harry immensely. Harry would trust no one else, besides perhaps Draco, to have his back. Not even Ron, his best mate, but he wasn't likely to voice that opinion. Ron would be by his side anyway, although almost a full year had passed by with little or no contact from the redhead. Harry could still not bring himself to forgive Ron for keeping the deaths of the Creevy family from him.

Remus and Tonks would be out in the Forbidden Forest with the werewolves who had made it their temporary home. The werewolves were by now familiar with the terrain and, having already agreed to fight, would only make their side stronger.

Albus didn't want to involve the shopkeepers and the people who made Hogsmeade their home. He argued that if they were told about the attack and there was a leak from within their ranks, which was very likely, Voldemort might just change his mind at the last minute, and all of their careful planning would be for naught. They had all agreed that discretion was the key.

With everyone assigned a role in the forthcoming battle, and just seventy-two hours to prepare, nerves were frayed and tempers raged.

Therefore, three days later, in the frosty wind and bitter cold of a mid-November's night, when the unmistakable sight of a sea of black on the pure white snow-laden landscape of Hogwarts was seen from the castle, marching out of the Forbidden Forest towards its goal, the side of Light was prepared for them.

***

Love it or hate it. Have I left anything out? Please leave a review and let me know your thoughts.

One more chapter is left. How will it end? Well, I have some idea, but shall keep you all in suspense.