Saving Each Other

Chapter 9: The Battle

Draco watched as Ginny led her small group of the dungeons. Then he turned his attention back to the rest of the student body and, raising his voice, addressed them.

"Everyone! Up to the Great Hall! Dumbledore will need our help!"

Draco led the group up the stairs into the Great Hall. Dumbledore stood behind his usual place at the staff table, the teachers arrayed behind him. Facing them was Voldemort and his Death Eaters. What seemed like thousands of Death Eaters to Draco but he knew that there couldn't be more than 200 were arrayed with Voldemort. Every one of them clutched their wands, ready for battle. Apparently Dumbledore had just said something to which Voldemort replied, "No, I don't think so. I think it's time to do things my way."

A hail of spells flew from the ranks of the Death Eaters lancing out in every direction. One hit a kid standing next to Draco which prompted him to send his own hex back in the direction of the Death Eaters. Soon chaos reigned over the Great Hall, charms, hexes, curses and spells flying every where. Many people fell but weren't permanently injured. Still there were those who fell that would never get up again.

Draco wove in and out of the fight, firing Stunning spells and Binding curses at every Death Eater he saw. But no matter how many he hit, another always seemed to take their place. It was, Draco thought, as close to hell on earth as you would every get. It seemed to go on forever. Draco was tired, but there was no end in sight. Where were Ginny and the Aurors? Had Ginny and her gang failed to bring down the charm?

It was then that a Freezing Charm hit Draco from behind. His arms and legs snapped together and he fell hard on his back. He stared up at the ceiling, unable to move. Slowly, the one who had frozen him came into view.

It was his father.

He couldn't see his face but he could tell by the sadistic smirk that was visible. Lucius leaned down so that Draco could hear him over the sounds of the battle.

"What's this?" Lucius asked in mock-surprise. "My son fighting against the Dark Lord? Why it is. Whatever shall I do? I suppose I should take him home and just ground him for the rest of his life."

Then Lucius leaned closer yet, his normally emotionless eyes filled with rage. "Or I could just kill him."

Lucius then stood up to full height and pointed his wand at Draco, savoring the moment.

Ginny, I love you, Draco thought as his father opened his mouth to speak.

"Avada-"

Lucius was then interrupted by someone shouting, "Stupefy!"

Lucius crumpled down and out of Draco's sight. Draco could hear his savior scurrying over to him from behind. If Draco could have spoken he would have cried out in happiness at the sight of Ginny Weasley crouched down beside him, throwing curses and hexes at any Death Eater that came within a ten meter radius.

After about fifteen minutes of lying uselessly on floor, Draco was able to move again. He sat up and put a Binding charm on his father right away, before the Stunning spell wore off. Then he leaned over to Ginny and said, "We've got to go and help Dumbledore!"

Ginny nodded, no trace of fear on her face. Draco looked around, spotting numerous Aurors now in on the fight. Then he spotted Dumbledore and Voldemort up near the staff table, alone. Draco tapped Ginny on the shoulder and pointed. She nodded and they both ran forward, throwing hexes and curses at those who tried to stand in their way.

Ginny split off from Draco and headed to the left where, as Dumbledore had specified, was Godric Gryffindor's sword, which Harry had pulled out of the Sorting Hat in his second year, mounted on the wall. She removed the spell holding it there and she and Draco approached the face off between Dumbledore and Voldemort.

Voldemort appeared to be oblivious to Draco and Ginny's approach from behind. Dumbledore had told them not to interfere unless it was absolutely necessary so Draco and Ginny stood back, letting Dumbledore handle it.

"You can't win Tom," Dumbledore said in a quiet voice that nevertheless carried over the sounds of the on-going battle.

They couldn't see Voldemort's face or wand but heard the smile in his voice as he replied, "Not without your help I can't. Imperio!"

Dumbledore was struck by the spell and Ginny took an involuntary step forward into Voldemort's field of view. Voldemort turned to face her and gave her a blood-chilling smile.

"You're the girl who escaped capture," he said, still smiling his chilly smile. "Too bad. You look like a girl who would have had a bright future."

He turned his wand on Ginny prepared to utter the words that would snuff the life out of her. Draco however, had other ideas. With a flick of his wand, he levitated the sword from where Ginny had dropped when she had stepped forward. Being careful to keep it out of his field of view, Draco directed it to Voldemort's back, and drove it in through his heart.

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Ginny was as surprised as Voldemort was to suddenly see the sword come through his chest. He turned around to face Draco and tried to lift his wand, but was unable to. His strength and life were going fast. Finally with one last breath he stumble and fell, dead before he hit the ground.

Ginny turned away from Voldemort's body fearing that she was going to be sick. Draco dashed over to her and helped her stand, holding her loosely around the waist. They turned to check on Dumbledore, but found that he had already moved off, to help the Aurors. They surveyed the Great Hall with weary expressions. There were still small skirmishes taking place but now that Voldemort was dead, the battle was basically over. The teachers let the Aurors take over subduing the last of the Death Eaters and moved through the Great Hall, checking on those that had fallen.

Ginny suddenly felt the weight of all that had happened in the past day crash down on her and she felt more tired than she had ever felt in her life. She leaned heavily back against Draco.

"You ok?" asked Draco from behind her, his voice tinged with concern.

"Tired," said Ginny.

"Well, it's all over now," said Draco, drawing her in tighter against him.

A yawn was the only response she gave him.

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It took them hours to round up all the Death Eaters and when they finally had them all accounted for, everyone was sent back to their Common Rooms to get some well deserved rest. Draco and Ginny had been helping with the clean-up crew on the Great Hall so they hadn't really gotten a chance to talk about anything.

Just as Ginny was getting into bed, an owl flew through her window and dropped a note in her lap. She opened it and read the note inside.

Dear Ginny,

Meet me tomorrow out by the lake.

Love,

Draco

Ginny smiled. Love Draco, she thought. He really does love me.

She snuggled into bed, still smiling, the note under her pillow.

I can't wait until tomorrow, she thought.