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The students of Hogwarts fell in line, walking down the stairs and towards the Great Hall with the Heads of their Houses at the front. The Carrows were looking on from the upper floor with grins as they knew they'd be able to finish off Dumbledore's Army once and for all as Snape promised them. Because of their planning however, they didn't notice two students in the crowd. One in Hufflepuff robes and the other in Gryffindor robes.

Deanna and Harry exchanged glances and smiled, knowing their plan was going well. The students marched into the Great Hall and stood there with the other members of the staff except for Filch and Sybill. No one except for those who knew seemed to notice Harry and Deanna yet. They fell silent when Snape and the Carrows entered after them. Deanna held in her anger as Snape walked towards the place where her father stood. No, it was not yet time. She needed to hold it in no matter how hard it was.

Snape stood at the center with the Carrows behind him, scrutinizing the crowd of students with his usual sour frown. "Many of you are surely wondering, why I have summoned you at this hour. It's come to my attention that earlier this evening... Deanna Dumbledore and Harry Potter were sighted in Hogsmeade."

Deanna who was in between Ernie and Eleanor pretended she was murmuring along with the other students who didn't have an idea about what was happening. It proved to be effective since nobody still noticed her or Harry.

"Now, should anyone..." Snape spoke coldly. "Student or staff, attempt to aid Ms. Dumbledore and Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events, who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty."

Snape started walking in the middle of the hall, looking over the students who avoided his eyes. "Now then, if anyone here has any knowledge of Ms. Dumbledore and Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward... now."

It was so silent in the Great Hall that you could hear a pin drop... All the students had their heads down, especially those who knew where Harry and Deanna were. As they promised, they would be loyal to them until the very end and they would help them in whatever ways they could.

"Oh, dear Professor." Deanna stepped out from where she was hiding, earning gasps and whispers from everyone around them. It was brief but she saw the surprise on Snape's face, making her smirk at that though anyone could feel the anger radiating from her. "I'm sorry... Should I call you Headmaster now?"

"It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster." Harry also stepped out from where he was, making the murmuring and chatting louder. As he stood beside Deanna, the doors to the Great Hall opened, revealing Hermione, Ron and the Order, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Ria, the Weasleys and Kingsley, standing proud and strong with their glares on Snape who was once their ally. The Dumbledore smiled at that, perfect timing. "And I'm afraid it's quite extensive... How dare you stand where he stood?"

Deanna glared at Snape, finally letting her emotions run free as she let herself say the words she couldn't say back then. "How dare you call yourself Headmaster when that night, you looked my father in the eye and killed him. He trusted you with his life and you took it away from him, from us with a simple wave of your wand."

Snape's eyes widened when he saw Deanna's eyes glowing gold. It happened again. But he quickly masked his face into one of indifference and took out his wand, but before he could even do anything, Minerva and Pomona suddenly came in front of Deanna and pointed their wands at Snape.

Deanna, Harry, the Order of the Phoenix and some of the members of Dumbledore's Army had their wands out. Minerva and Pomona glanced at each other before simultaneously casting nonverbal Fire Spells at Snape who easily blocked them.

Minerva and Pomona were joined by Flitwick and Slughorn who each took on a Carrow. All students stepped aside and marveled, watching this three-way duel where no words were said but the tension was felt with every spell that was cast. The Professors of Hogwarts advanced onto the Carrows who counterattacked and Snape who blocked their spells until they were reaching the walls.

Severus Snape then realized he was already at the windows so he wrapped his cape around himself and started moving so dynamically Minerva and Pomona didn't know where to cast the spell anymore until he flew into the window, breaking the glass as he flew like a bat.

"COWARD!" Minerva yelled out furiously at Snape's disappearing figure.

"This is not over. Especially for you, Nightingale!" The Carrows yelled out and the woman, Alecto, touched her Dark Mark before they Disapparated along with Snape. Deanna felt her head ache at that moment, knowing they let Voldemort know they were there.

The Great Hall burst into cheers once Snape and the Death Eaters were gone. Minerva waved her wand, and the hall was now alight once more with fire.

"Oh, Deanna." Pomona hugged Deanna who felt a little weak but hugged her friend back nonetheless.

"Deanna." Minerva also joined the hug. "What are you doing here?"

But before Deanna could say anything, she suddenly felt her head ache again. She felt herself fade away for a moment before she opened her eyes and saw herself standing on a dark rock. She saw Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters behind him, and her eyes hardened immediately. Deanna suddenly heard the gasps and whispers from around her, knowing that the others were now seeing Voldemort too just like how her father saw him before.

Everyone was frozen behind Deanna at the fear that Voldemort might be in Hogwarts. Hermione worriedly stared at Deanna's back, hoping the woman she loved would be alright. Deanna did not even glance in their direction. This was a moment between her and Voldemort... It was the final time this would happen because Deanna was going to make sure to end everything today.

"I see you've got an entire army behind you." Voldemort spoke in a high yet soft voice, staring Deanna in the eyes.

"And you look like you're readying for war." Deanna remarked, glancing at the Death Eaters, the Dementors, the Werewolves and all his allies. This was going to be tough.

"Come with me." Voldemort said for what he knew would be the final time. He knew everything was going to end today, and so, he took his last chance. His last chance of trying to get Deanna to his side. His last chance of saving Deanna from her fate. "I can save you."

Deanna could only smile at him, knowing that whatever he or anyone else says, she's already made her decision. Harry was going to battle him to the end, and when Harry has defeated him, she was going to make her sacrifice to finally take down Voldemort. She was going to take them down with her.

"I am the salvation." Deanna answered in a determined voice, blue eyes meeting red. "And I will end this today with you."

Voldemort stared at her for a moment. Still the stubborn badger. He stepped aside and looked at the people who were crowded behind Deanna. Some of them looked fearful at the sight of him while others were bravely facing him, not showing if they felt scared. He glanced at Harry. "Harry Potter..."

Harry stared at him straight on, a glare in his eyes. "Voldemort."

The Dark wizard laughed at that before he smiled menacingly at the others. From the staff to the Order of the Phoenix and finally, Hermione Granger. Oh, he loathed her for how Deanna chose her over him.

He looked over all of them while speaking his next words. "I know that many of you will want to fight. Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is folly. Give me Deanna Dumbledore and Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed. Give them to me and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Deanna Dumbledore and Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."

"You've made your decision." Voldemort's eyes glowed red, meeting Deanna's own that suddenly glowed gold. "You're giving up your life that you could have been happy with if you chose to be with me. We'll be bringing an entire army and no mercy. Get ready."

"I make my own choices." Deanna answered him back in a resolute tone. "You'll be bringing an entire army and no mercy? Bring it on. We've got the Order of the Phoenix... We've got Dumbledore's Army. And we here at Hogwarts will fight with everything we've got."

A few moments passed with Voldemort and Deanna just staring at each other before they finally broke the connection, and Deanna was back in Hogwarts. She opened her eyes and turned around to look at everyone there who could only stare back at her. "If any of you would want to give me and Harry to him, speak up now. Because if even one of you wants me to give myself up, I will do it. I wouldn't want to put you all in a tough situation. So, speak up now."

There was silence in the room and a tense atmosphere for everyone waited for someone to speak up. Deanna stared at them in anticipation when somebody suddenly raised their hand and Deanna smiled to see that it was Pansy. "Pansy..."

"I just wanted to say..." Pansy spoke up before letting the smile spread on her face. "You once told me the moment you choose not to have a choice, you've already made your decision. We, Slytherins... Well, the ones who are here at least have talked about this for a long time and have decided. We're going to fight with you. For Hogwarts, our home."

Deanna grinned widely at that and realized that there were indeed a lot of Slytherins missing. "Where are the others?"

"We locked them in the dungeons." Daphne shrugged and answered nonchalantly. "Some of them don't want to face their families, and the others... still have their heads stuck in their arses so we can't do anything about that."

"Anyways, we'll try helping with what we can help with." Blaise smiled at the other students and staff and the members of the Order who were also smiling at them. "But I don't think we'll be able to fight. Those are still our families and they may be bonkers, but I don't think we can fight them."

"Just tell us what to do." Theo nodded with resolve. "We've got you, Deanna. And you too, Potter."

Everyone cheered and shouted in agreement, making Deanna and Harry smile widely for they knew that they had the rest of Hogwarts behind them. This wasn't just their fight. It was the fight of everyone there who decided to risk their lives and everything they've known for the greater good.

"Students out of bed. Students out of bed!" Filch suddenly came into the Great Hall, shouting when he saw all of them.

"They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot." Minerva snapped at Filch.

"Oh, sorry, Ma'am."

"Bring the underage students and the others who'd like to go out of here and evacuate them to safety." Minerva ordered him before looking at Deanna and Harry who walked towards the Hufflepuff. "I presume you two have a reason for returning. What is it you need?"

"Time, Professor. As much as you can get us." Harry answered with gratitude at their assistance.

"Do what you have to do." Minerva nodded. "I'll secure the castle."

"Thank you, Minerva." Deanna smiled gratefully before she and Harry started making their way towards the others.

"Deanna, Potter."

The two turned around at the call of Minerva, seeing a motherly and proud smile on her face. "It's good to see you."

Harry and Deanna couldn't help but smile back.

"It's good to see you too, Professor."

"Likewise, Min."

"Hold the fort, you guys." Harry turned to Dumbledore's Army with a smile before he and Deanna continued to move to Hermione and Ron, greeting the members of the Order as they went.

"Deanna, Harry." Ron said immediately. "Hermione and I have been thinking. It doesn't matter if we find a Horcrux."

"What do you mean?" asked Deanna.

"Unless we can destroy it." Hermione answered. "So we were thinking... Ron was thinking. He's got a brilliant idea for the first time in a while – "

"HEY!" Ron glared at her but continued explaining. "Harry, you destroyed Tom Riddle's diary with a basilisk fang, right?"

When Harry nodded, Ron smiled widely. "Me and Hermione will go to the Chamber of Secrets and try to find one. We'll try to destroy the cup to see if it works."

"Okay." Harry nodded in response before taking out the Marauder's Map that he retrieved from Hermione's bag. "But take this. That way you can find us when you get back. We'll try looking for the diadem."

"Alright." Ron nodded.

"Deanna." Hermione suddenly said and gave the Hufflepuff a tight hug, making Deanna smile, hugging her back right away. Words were unnecessary for what they wanted to tell each other was relayed in the brief yet tight hug they had.

'Stay alive. I love you. I'll see you soon.'

It was everything they needed to say and hear as they pulled away with smiles on their faces. The group of four split into pairs and Harry turned to Deanna with a serious expression. "Do you think we should still go to the Ravenclaw common room to see how it looks like?"

Deanna was about to nod when she finally realized something, making her let out a sigh. Why did she look too far when they had their answers all along?

"What is it?"

"Nobody alive has seen it. Of course, someone dead knows. Helena. Helena Ravenclaw." Deanna told him, seeing Harry's eyes widen in realization. "I know where to find her. Come on."

Deanna grabbed Harry and the two of them quickly went out of the Castle and into the yard. The Dumbledore sighed in relief when she saw the familiar figure of Helena Ravenclaw and glanced at Harry. "Stay here first. Helena's shy so she might not be too welcoming to strangers."

"Alright, I'll wait for you here." Harry nodded.

Deanna started making her way over to Helena who had her back to them. "Helena."

Helena's eyes widened at the sight of her old friend. "Deanna? You're really back."

"I am, Helena." Deanna smiled at her. "How have you been?"

The Ravenclaw only frowned though, knowing that Deanna was not there to drop by and ask how she had been. She knew her friend well enough to know that. "Deanna... Why did you come back? You know it's too dangerous."

"I need your help, my friend." Deanna answered in an honest voice. "We need to look for something that can help us end this war. Your mother's diadem."

"I..." Helena remembered everything that happened because of that diadem and closed her eyes, shaking from the memories and the regret she felt. "I'm sorry, Deanna, but I can't help you... I can't."

Loud explosions and sparks took their attention then, and Deanna knew they were running out of time. Of course, Voldemort wouldn't wait for an hour. They had to act now.

"Helena, we need to destroy it." Deanna spoke in a soft voice, pleading with her friend. "I know you want that too, Helena. You want us to destroy it."

"Another swore to destroy it many years ago." Helena's regret could be felt in her voice. "A strange boy with a strange name."

"Tom."

"But he lied." Helena said in anguish and guilt. She played a part in Voldemort's rise to power. If she didn't let him fool her, Deanna would never have slept for 50 years. "I know who he is now! I know what he's done. He's hurt many people! He even hurt you! He defiled it with dark magic."

"But I'm here now, Helena." Deanna reached out for her friend's hand, and although it just passed through it, Helena could feel the warmth of her friend. "We will destroy it. But only if you tell us where he hid it. Please, trust us, Helena. We won't let you down."

The ghost stared at Deanna who had only sincerity and spirit in her heart. Perhaps, this was the way for her to finally atone for her sins. "I'm sorry... for trusting him who only brought you pain. It's here... In the castle, in the place where everything is hidden. If you have to ask, you will never know. If you know, you need only ask."

"Thank you, Helena." Deanna spoke in a soft voice, smiling at her friend. "Let yourself be free. You've done well."

As Deanna ran back to Harry and the two of them quickly made their way to the place they knew where the diadem was, Helena let a tear slip out of her eye and smiled. "And I wish that after your mission, you will finally be free, Deanna. Free to live your life."

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