Harry saw just how pronounced the fear the students felt towards the Carrows was as he followed everyone on their way to the Great Hall. They all walked with their spines ramrod-straight and they kept their eyes staring dead ahead. The twin Death Eaters were eyeing them from higher ground, looking awfully excited. The Chosen One could only imagine what they could be possibly anxious for.

Hogwarts has definitely changed. The mood was much darker, and the wonderful magic that had once rested within these walls has disappeared. The suits of armor stood grimly at their posts and there was no sign of Peeves either. If the mischief-loving poltergeist kept a low profile along with everybody else, then there was most certainly a frightening level of danger in the school.

They arrived in the Great Hall, where all the tables have been removed to make room for Hogwarts' many students. The staff was standing behind Snape while looking somber, and as Harry placed himself at the far end of the Great Hall along with the other Gryffindors he saw Professor McGonagall take her place between Professor Flitwick and Professor Slughorn, who both looked relieved to see her. Harry gave a small half-smile at this before bowing his head like the other students, staring long and hard at the floor.

When everyone had filed in, Snape took a step forward and addressed the crowd.

"It has come to my attention," he said silkily, "that we have an intruder running around the school. Of course, I speak of Harry Potter."

A murmur broke out as the students stared at each other in astonishment and began to exchange quick words. Harry rolled his eyes at how Snape was pretending to not have known that Harry has been at Hogwarts for months. It took all of the Chosen One's self-control to not cause an outburst right at this moment; he willed himself to wait a few extra minutes.

"Silence," Snape ordered, and the entire Great Hall fell silent. "As you all know, the Dark Lord demands that Potter should be handed to him the minute he is discovered. Anyone, teacher or student, who is currently holding information on Potter and is concealing it from us will be punished severely. It would be in your best interest to step up. Now."

Harry took a deep breath and placed himself between the rows of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. Everyone gasped at the sight of him as the Carrows let out victorious cries. Harry, however, only had eyes for Snape, who was staring back at him impassively.

"I've been among these walls for much longer than you imply, Headmaster," Harry snarled, putting as much venom in the last word he could muster. "Why don't you tell them? Why don't you tell them that you have kept me locked up in your office since August?"

A few cries of outrage were elicited from both the staff and the students and Harry noticed that some were gripping their wands in their pockets. He prayed that they wouldn't do anything just yet.

"How dare you stand where he stood? How dare you take his place? Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him!" Harry yelled furiously.

Snape opened his mouth to speak when the high windows behind him shattered and various members of the Order of the Phoenix forced their way inside the Great Hall. They materialized before Snape, encircling him, as Professor McGonagall struck down the Carrow twins with Remus Lupin's help. Harry watched the scene with a great sense of satisfaction.

The doors flew open with a bang, and Harry turned around along with everyone else. Ron and Hermione marched in with more Order members tailing after them, among them including Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks. They stalked forward, Mad-Eye Moody's wooden leg clunking on the tiled floor with every step he took. They stopped by Harry's side and the Chosen One gave them a brief smile before focusing on the scene in front of him.

The former Potions master betrayed no emotions as he locked eyes with each member of the Order. He then whipped out his wand and the Order wasted no time to act. Many yells echoed in the Great Hall and Harry's vision was obscured by flashes of blinding light. He pulled Ron and Hermione closer to him and they huddled together until the lights and the banging sounds subsided.

When everything cleared, Harry glanced over Ron and Hermione's heads at the front of the room and saw in astonishment that Snape had disappeared. Some of the Order members had been knocked off their feet and were currently being helped back up onto their feet. Grateful that no one got hurt or killed, Harry broke free from his friends and rushed towards Mrs Weasley, who was aiding her husband to stand again.

"Harry! Oh, thank goodness you're all right!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed, letting go of Mr Weasley to hug Harry tightly. Mr Weasley, who had only risen half-way, lost his balance and toppled over.

"Sorry, Arthur!" Mrs Weasley said as a few people laughed.

"That's quite all right, Molly, dear," Mr Weasley replied placidly as he accepted his wife and Harry's hands. "How are you faring, Harry?"

"Okay, I guess. I'd feel a whole lot better if we were in a completely different situation."

"Enough with the pleasantness," Mad-Eye Moody growled, limping forward. "We've got a murderer along with his followers somewhere, and Snape just escaped our grasps again. We are at war."

"Escaped?" Harry repeated in disbelief. "W-What you mean?"

"Do you see him anywhere, boy? If you do, by all means, speak up," Moody said sardonically.

Harry cursed himself for his stupid question.

"Calm down, Alastor," Lupin said serenely as he approached them hand in hand with Tonks. "We won't get anywhere without a cool head."

"Tell the Dark Lord that," Moody spat.

"Remus is right," Kingsley said, striding towards them. "We need to figure out our next move rationally."

Harry nodded in agreement. Suddenly, much to the shock of everyone, Voldemort's voice boomed out in the Great Hall. It was cold, almost gleeful, and it sent a chill down Harry's very core.

"I know that you are all preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight."

Silence fell after those words as everyone stood stock-still. Pansy Parkinson then stumbled out of the Slytherin row and pointed her finger at Harry, her face wild.

"What are you waiting for? Grab him!" she shrieked.

The Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs all suddenly whipped out their wands and pointed them at the Slytherins. The Slytherin students took a few steps back, horror written plainly on their faces.

Ginny broke out of the Gryffindor crowd and faced the Slytherins.

"If anyone," she said venomously, "lays a finger on Harry, they will be force-fed Polyjuice Potion containing one of his hairs in it and thrown outside to fend for themselves. Do I make myself clear?"

"You don't even have Polyjuice Potion on you," Blaise Zabini declared.

"Want to test that theory?" Ginny asked.

"Even if you did, you wouldn't perform your threat."

"Try me."

"That's enough!" Professor McGonagall ordered sharply as she was being led to the heart of the room by Professor Slughorn, who was holding her hand in a gentlemanly fashion. "Thank you for your devotion to Potter, Miss Weasley, but this situation needs to be handled in orthodox way."

Ginny retreated to find her parents. A commotion resounded all over the room and it was the result of Filch excitedly running into the Great Hall, a wide grin plastered on his face.

"Students out of bed! Students out of bed!" he exclaimed cheerfully, stopping in front of Professor McGonagall.

"They're supposed to be, you blithering idiot!" she snapped irritably.

"Oh," Filch said, disappointment displayed all over his features. "Sorry, ma'am."

"Actually, Argus, your timing is impeccable. I would like you to escort the Slytherin students out of the Great Hall."

"Escort them? Where?"

"Oh, the dungeons will suffice." Professor McGonagall gave the caretaker a knowing smile.

Laughter echoed in the Great Hall as Filch led the scandalized Slytherins out into the Entrance Hall. Professor McGonagall took Snape's place and brought order back among the students.

"This is how we will do things," she told them firmly. "All underage students will evacuate the premises immediately without protest. There is a passage that leads to the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade, where you will be taken to safety. A member of the Order of the Phoenix will take you there. Those who are of age have the choice to fight or to leave."

A small buzz of disapproval passed among the students as Professor McGonagall whispered a few instructions to Dedalus Diggle, who eagerly nodded and went off with his task. As he brought the underage students out of the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall made her way towards Harry with Professor Slughorn following her closely.

"What do you need, Potter?" she asked earnestly.

"Time, professor. I still don't know where the other two Horcruxes are," Harry replied, deliberately failing to mention that he had yet to know what those Horcruxes were.

"Time is what you will get," Professor McGonagall said. "One way or another," she added, with a small lack of confidence.

"Thank you," Harry told her. He glanced at Professor Slughorn. "Uh, why is Professor Slughorn constantly lurking behind you?"

Professor McGonagall looked over her shoulder and smiled a little.

"Professor Dumbledore has put him in charge of making sure that I'm all right," Professor McGonagall said warmly. "I think I may have given Professor Slughorn a fright when I took refuge in the Room of Requirement for a few days."

"He's not gonna let you out of his sight for a second, is he?"

"I do not doubt it, Potter. Now go."

Harry nodded and hurriedly joined Ron and Hermione, who were by the doors talking to Hestia Jones. This was going to be one battle they were never going to forget.

It's been a while! Sorry for the wait. I thank you very much for your patience.