Stretto

Prologue Chapter 1

A/N: Hi! Thanks for giving this fic a chance on your reading list! Just a friendly note before we begin, this will be a stronger-than-normal Harry, but NOT a confident!Harry fanfic! IMHO there's enough of those Harry-knows-best fanfics out there, this won't be another one of them. He WILL make bad decisions eventually, stuff WILL bite him in the ass, and he will feel insecure!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor associated worlds.

Hogwarts

The breeze reeked of blood and dust as the defenders of Hogwarts stood side by side facing the entrance to the Great Hall. Wands drawn, an air of confusion and relief set in amongst them. Neville's heart sank as he came down the staircase. There were only dozens left out of hundreds. They had already picked up many of the fallen and placed them in the Great Hall, lined side by side on the four tables.

No...

Neville blasted through a particularly large rubble pile that blocked his path. Those nearby stiffened noticeably and whipped around, wands drawn with apprehension. Relaxing once they saw who stepped through, they went back to carting bodies. Life's been an ongoing nightmare. Neville couldn't help but morbidly think that the ones lying on the tables were the lucky ones.

Not to mention, their hell isn't remotely over. The Death Eaters had inflicted at least double what they lost, and they started off with roughly equal numbers to begin with. As Neville neared the Entrance Hall, he couldn't help but notice the craters and blood splatters became more frequent. For a fleeting second, he worried those he was looking for were already dead, but luckily he spotted a mop of matted red hair halfway down the Grand Staircase. They leaned against the bannister with both forearms, their leg wrapped in bandages with a stick against it. The owner looked up and acknowledged Neville's presence with a nod before turning back to watch the last of the dead being moved away.

Neville passed behind Ron, making no motion to touch him. The time for false camaraderie was long over. By now, everyone just wanted this nightmare to end in the quickest way possible.

Not knowing what else to say, Neville asked softly, "Why do you think all the death eaters disappeared?"

Ron eyed the group of ragged defenders. Only several dozen remained, mostly Order members, professors, and a few residents of Hogsmeade. With a tired heave, he replied, "Not a clue. Is Lavender back with reinforcements yet?"

Neville looked to the side, avoiding his gaze. Ron chuckled bitterly, "Of course, chances are she took that chance to get out while she can. It's a miracle we got this many people in the first place."

Neville worried for Ron. Before their fifth year he was filled with innocent bravado. Sure he got cocky and was an ignorant prat, but he was always there. After Harry's betrayal he couldn't help but witness the steady decline in Ron's personality. Cynicism and incertitude gnawed away from his emotional pedestal. By their fifth year, Fred and George's final prank against Umbridge was the last time he saw Ron laugh out loud.

Although Ron's change had been disturbing (and under normal circumstances would have warranted a visit to the mind healer), at least a part of it was due to Hermione. Said girl came up the staircase, levitating a body as she went. Neville recognized it as one of the seventh year Gryffindors.

Hermione gave Neville a pained smile and kept walking up the staircase, leaving the body at the top for someone else to move it into the Great Hall. Neville's voice clenched as she came down and stood next to them, leaning against the stone bannister.

He asked Hermione, "How are you holding up?"

Hermione shook her head, letting a small teardrop slide it's way down her scarred face. Hesitating for a bit, she slipped out her wand and held it against Neville's head.

Could've been better. At least...at least we took down the Carrows. With McGonagall being down and Ron unable to move properly though...I'm not sure how we're going to combat the disadvantage in numbers though.

Her face scrunched into a worried look as she continued, Even if our plan goes perfectly, there's still all the other Death Eaters that we'll have to kill. Somehow I doubt someone like the Lestranges would just lay down their wands.

Neville jumped as Hermione let out a gravelly laugh that quickly transitioned into a coughing fit. Ron patted her back, leaving smudges of dirt and blood on her black robes.

Neville, watching the two de-facto leaders of the defenders, realized that they were both spent forces as the situation finally dawned on them. Sure, the Horcruxes were all gone save two but they still needed to kill Voldemort.

With a sinking heart he realized that if they were to have any chance of winning, they'd need a new public face for their movement. Mrs. Weasley was still clutching the dead body of her son, tears streaking down her face. She clutched Fred's head, rocking back and forth as if it was a baby mumbling incomprehensibly. Percy's expression was completely blank as he stared down at them, blood dripping down from his wand hand.

Everywhere he looked, Neville saw only defeat and anguish. There were no leaders to hide behind or to blaze ahead, only a wall of tears and a moat of craters and corpses. Hope was completely gone from everyone's minds, only wishing for this nightmare to end. If they continued like this they wouldn't even be able to protest as Voldemort cut them down.

Something had to change.

Steeling himself, casting a low Sonorous charm to amplify his voice, he called out, "Defenders of Hogwarts! We've lost many good souls today! It seems like they threw their lives to stop tyranny and were cut down like weeds! Our enemies outnumber us, and we lost many of our most experienced duelers!

However, we can't let their sacrifice go to waste!

I know we are all grieving! We should be! Sons, brothers, friends, each one of the fallen meant something to us! That's how we are different from them! Do you think Voldemort or Bellatrix would grieve for their dead?I No! They cast them aside like used tools! I know we asked a lot from you all, but let me just make one more request! Channel that grief! Feel that anger to all that is wrong in this world! The enemy showed himself, we are the closest we've ever been to ridding the world of Voldemort! Rage and make him feel the despair we feel! For our children, for those that can't fight, even those that fought against us and betrayed us, we have to persevere! Let's make tomorrow the beginning of a new era, one free of Dark Lords and where peace can finally come back!"

Silence. Then, like the sudden arrival of the Hogwarts Express, a cacophonous roar of applause soon aroused from the battered few that remained standing. Hermione came up to Neville, keeping Ron steady as they came down the steps, beaming with renewed vigor, That was amazing, Neville. I'm sorry to say this, but I'd never expected to hear that from you.

Neville laughed nervously as he turned to Ron, "I hope you don't mind that I stole the spotlight from you."

Ron, in turn, gave him a lopsided grin, "And I thought you'd never get the balls to do public speaking."

Neville shook his head, "Seemed like we needed it."

Hermione's lips started to turn upwards but then they froze. Neville caught the sudden change in atmosphere from her and looked at her questioningly. Hermione sighed silently and tapped the small of Neville's neck lightly, Everyone is going to expect you to lead the charge now. This uplift of everyone's spirits hinges on you, Neville.

Said boy frowned. His part wasn't supposed to happen until the battle was well underway. Ron was supposed to take charge and draw everyone's attention away from him and his target.

"So what do you think we should do?"

You'll have to start off the battle. We can still count on Voldemort not showing his deformed face until later so the only danger will be Harry and the Lestranges. We'll have to find a way to distract the Lestranges while you go for Harry.

Neville nodded, brows furrowing. Ron looked at them and huffed indignantly, "I'm sorry, I didn't know that I'm demoted to chopped liver. What were you two going on about?"

Sheepishly Hermione quickly relayed the dilemma that they were having to the redhead. Ron squinted for a bit and said, "Well, isn't it obvious? The Lestranges won't interfere in any battle Harry's in. Bloody traitorous git, but he's noble to a fault. No way he'll let Bellatrix attack even if she wanted to."

Neville and Hermione looked shocked for several seconds. Neville then slowly muttered, "Leave it to his best friend to use his own virtue against him. That might be the most Slytherin thing you've said."

Ron mockingly looked offended, "Oi! You trying to pick a fight?"

Despite the grim situation the trio were in, they still found themselves laughing. Suddenly, the Grand Entrance burst open once more. Neville walked up to the broken doors, wand arm feeling heavy.

Harry

Longbottom. Wasn't he the boy whose parents were tortured into insanity by Bella? Harry dimly recalled the boy being scared by his own shadow, although he doubted that the plump boy had any recollection of what a shadow even is. It said a lot when one of his few possessions outside of school supplies was a Remembrall.

The raven haired boy, no longer wearing any glasses, glanced around looking for him. When he landed on the boy he was surprised to see that Longbottom couldn't actually be called a plump boy anymore. And if his sharp determined gaze were anything to go by, the days of him using a Remembrall were long gone.

KILL THEM

The voice. Again, he heard the voice. Of course, it wasn't hard to deduce who it belonged to. After all, he interacted with the original daily.

Harry lowered his head and a smile formed on his face.

KILL THEM!

Not until we get everything in place, master. Don't worry, we will stomp out the remnants of this resistance movement by nighttime.

A distinct din of satisfaction was all the response Harry received.

"Lestranges, we need to set a beacon for the dementors. Go for the Astronomy tower once it starts.", Harry ordered, eyes never tearing away from Longbottom's.

Bellatrix followed Harry's gaze and sneered tauntingly, "And give up the chance of seeing you tear apart your little army? Never. Give that job to Mulciber or Avery or something."

Harry chuckled coldly, "It's unwise to keep the Dark Lord waiting for your games. Get to the Astronomy Tower, or I'll make you."

Bellatrix's expression looked like she wanted to argue but a quick glare caused it to flatline in response, her lips drawn into a thin line, "Yes, my lord."

Harry looked back at the supposed new leader of Dumbledore's Army. Emerald met determined hazel, "Brought the club back together, Longbottom? Ah, that's right, we never reached the end of the syllabus. Were you expecting some sort of final exam?", Harry taunted. He appraised the group of mute and fuming fighters with a faux-stern look, looking every bit like a Professor Snape as he did so.

"Seems like several of you didn't show up though. Pity, instant failing grade.", said the turncoat with a smirk.

Neville drew a laboured breath, every fibre of his being screaming for him to throw a hex while Harry was monologuing. Anger simmered under his breath as he ignored the jibe, "Where's your master?"

"Why, you're thinking of finally joining us? Longbottom, you-" Harry cut off when Longbottom impatiently interrupted, "You know what I mean. Harry, where is Voldemort?"

"Dark Lord stuff, I don't know. Why don't you go and ask him yourself when he comes back? He might even be nice enough to not torture you."

Neville growled at the jab, face turning pink at first. However, he took a deep breath and responded with an even tone, "Is that you talking, Harry, or the piece of Voldemort that's attached to your head?"

Harry's joking demeanour soured upon mention of the horcrux. The air became oppressive as a dark aura descended on the area, emanating from the raven-haired boy.

"So it wasn't a coincidence. I assume I must give kudos to you lot for finding out. Was it Dumbledore or Hermione?"

The air became thick, palpable like blood. The weaker willed members of both sides fell to the floor, gasping for air.

"No, never mind, that's not important. If you know that means everyone else here does. I can't let any of you leave this castle alive."

Harry immediately slashed the air, sending a chain of wordless red and white curses flying at Neville. Neville swore and dove to the side.

Crap I didn't even see him move! Hermione, for all our sakes I hope you're right about the trump card. I know I can't defeat someone that duels like Voldemort did back at the Ministry.

Neville didn't get to breath as another volley of curses forced Neville to roll away from Harry. The ground he occupied only a second reduced to rubble. Neville quickly scrambled up while the dust covered his tracks and shouted, "Protego!"

A shield blossomed out of his wand and formed a wall between the two combatants. Harry bemusedly looked at the shield, "Impressive shield, but it wouldn't stand up to anything stronger than a stunner from me. What are you playing at, Longbottom?"

"Something I learned from you." Buying time.

Neville scrambled to his feet while at the same time Harry fired off a Reductor at the shield. While his shield crumbled immediately upon impact it distracted Harry just long enough for Neville to shout his trump card.

For all our sakes Hermione, I hope you were right that Harry never learned how to fight this.

"LEGILIMENS!"