The army outside Hogwarts…
was no longer something that could be called a "force."
It was a catastrophe.
Hundreds of Death Eaters formed the core.
Behind them—
giants, towering like mountains, wielding massive clubs.
Each step shook the earth.
On the flanks—
packs of werewolves, baring fangs, growling under the dark sky.
Above—
thousands of Dementors.
A second layer of darkness beneath the clouds.
Their presence alone drained warmth from the world.
Spiders.
Trolls.
Inferi.
Every creature of darkness—
gathered.
This was not war.
This was the apocalypse.
The Final Ultimatum
At the front—
Nagini rose.
Voldemort's fractured soul watched through her eyes.
He knew.
Lucian was inside.
And this—
was his last chance.
His voice, amplified by dark magic, echoed across the sky:
"Students and professors of Hogwarts!"
"Listen well!"
"I am Voldemort!"
"That 'savior' you worship—Lucian Thornwick—is hiding among you!"
"You have one hour."
"Hand him over."
"Or Hogwarts will fall."
"Every stone is reduced to dust."
"Every life—extinguished."
"Choose."
Silence followed.
Inside the Castle
The Great Hall—
filled with students.
Fear spread.
Younger ones cried.
Older ones stood pale.
Outside—
monsters beyond imagination.
Could anyone stop that?
Even Lucian?
Doubt crept in.
"…maybe… we should—"
A Slytherin began.
SLAP.
Daphne Greengrass struck him.
"Coward."
Her voice was nice.
"He stayed to protect us—and you'd hand him over?"
Hermione stepped forward.
"He saved this school."
"He saved all of us."
"And now you want to sacrifice him?"
"No."
Voices rose.
"We won't!"
The Stand
Professor McGonagall stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only steel.
"Hogwarts has never abandoned its own."
"And we will not bow to darkness."
She raised her wand.
"We fight."
"FOR HOGWARTS!"
"FOR HOGWARTS!!!"
The hall erupted.
Flitwick.
Sprout.
Slughorn.
All stood.
Wands raised.
The Speech
McGonagall's voice rang out again:
"This battle is not about numbers."
"It is about what we fight for."
She pointed—
Gryffindor.
"Courage."
Hufflepuff.
"Loyalty."
Ravenclaw.
"Wisdom."
Slytherin.
"Ambition."
"This—"
"is Hogwarts."
"And we will defend it."
The Call to Arms
"All students of age—"
"Take your wands."
"Stand with us."
"Fight."
The D.A. Rises
Harry stepped forward.
"D.A.!"
"For Hogwarts!"
"For Lucian!"
Hermione.
Ron.
Neville.
Luna.
Ginny.
They stood.
More followed.
Cedric.
Cho.
Fred and George.
Fear remained.
But something stronger rose.
Resolve.
This was a battle they might not survive.
But they would fight anyway.
Even against overwhelming darkness.
The Final Moment
Time ran out.
Outside—
Voldemort lifted his head.
No one came out.
A rasping laugh echoed.
"…a foolish choice."
Then—
his voice turned sharp.
"Then die with it."
He gave the order.
The army roared.
Magic rose.
Darkness surged forward.
And the war—
finally began.
~~--------------------------
Visit my pat reon for advance chapters:
patreon.com/DevilWarden