School had started again despite Harry wanting to get rid of Voldemort over the summer. Both he had Hermione had been very busy between studies, some dating and death eater attacks. Now it was the first Hogsmeade weekend and Harry was 99.9 percent positive that Voldemort was going to attack. So much so that there was a potential trap set for the evil dark lord and those he had following him. Up on Goat Hill (the name of the small mountain just outside of Hogsmeade) anti-aircraft guns sat under an American invention called Magical, Muggle Camouflage System or MMCS. These guns were good not just for shooting things out of the air but could be used to take out giants, trolls and the like.
Many of the towns folk and students had been trained in the use of crossbows , bows and arrows, and even modern muggle firearms. The centaurs would help as well as they were fierce warriors and now that the hedge was back between their lands and the human lands they were more than glad to help get rid of Voldemort. The town and lands around Hogsmeade even had hedges much like those that protected the forbidden forest, but the gates were the weak point and these were where Voldemort would focus his troops. Hogsmeade was crowded that day with students out to enjoy the lovely day. Harry was with Hermione at the Three Broomsticks enjoying a fine meal with the woman that would, he was hoping and praying become his wife.
"So Mr. Potter what are you thinking?" Hermione asked him.
"I know we are young Hermione, but well I was wondering something." Harry said getting on his knee as music swelled in the background, "would you marry me?"
"You, you want to marry me?" Hermione squeaked out.
"I know I am not the best looking wizard and that I can be thick at times but I love you so much Hermione." Harry said taking out a box with his mother's ring in it, "please say yes."
"Oh Harry, yes, yes, yes!"
She held out her hand and Harry slipped the ring on her finger then kissed her tenderly giving the pub quite a show. Their kiss and tender moment was interrupted by the anti-aircraft guns going off. With a sigh both threw off their school robes to show they were clad in battle armor and robes underneath them. They stepped out into the street the trap set up was about to be sprung and while the villagers dealt with the Dementors and others Harry and Hermione were going to go death eater hunting. The main gate gave way and the Dementors came through first and the small army opened up on them taking them out quickly. This was the cue for Harry and Hermione to wade in, they activated the rune shields on their belts to protect them, and Harry started some music somewhere in the background and Hermione smirked and started to sing, yes sing as she fought.
"They say we're young and we don't know, We won't find out until we grow" she sang as she cut through several werewolves.
"Well I don't know if all that's true 'Cause you got me, and baby I got you" Harry sang slicing a Carrow in half coating the cobblestones with his blood and killing his screaming twin with the next blow.
"They say our love won't pay the rent Before it's earned, our money's all been spent" Hermione sang as she cut through more werewolves and a Lestrange, the shields and their skills just were no match for the death eaters.
"I guess that's so, we don't have a pot But at least I'm sure of all the things we got" Harry sang as he cast a death eater into a tree impaling him there and leaving him screaming in pain to slice open the belly of another with his wand. "I got flowers in the spring I got you to wear my ring"
"And when I'm sad, you're a clown And if I get scared, you're always around." Hermione sang killing four lower level death eaters limbs and blood flying from them.
"I got you to hold my hand."
"I got you to understand."
"I got you to walk with me."
"I got you to talk with me, I got you to kiss goodnight, I got you to hold me tight, I got you, I won't let go I got you to love me so!"
The singing along with fighting did its job, it terrified the death eaters and many had a hard time fighting back. Two warriors, clad for war singing and shielded so well they could not be touched by most spells and those spells that might have harmed or killed them they just flashed away and seemed to disappear only to reappear and strike them down. Their fighting got the students and villagers trained to fight back and they were determined not to let any leave alive. This whole battle was a trap and one that the death eaters and filth that followed Voldemort had entered willingly. It was laughable that they thought they could just walk into Hogsmeade and slaughter students, this would teach them that was something they were not going to be allowed to do.
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Dumbledore sat at his desk in his office worried. While it was true that Harry, Hermione and in fact most of their year and above had taken on the death eaters in Hogsmeade routing them and killing them he was not happy how they went about it. He was worried that Harry and Hermione were going dark and he feared for the world if they did! He looked up as the two students entered at his bidding and took a seat before them. Harry knew why he was here, he knew how the headmaster thought and he respected the man. However Dumbledore was not a general, he never could be, he was a good wise man but he was no solder and Harry was. He did what he had to and if that meant to kill, like solders in the past had to keep his world free than that is what he would do.
"You are worried sir." Harry said, "I am not going evil or dark I am a solder sir, I do what a solder must."
"It seemed to several students you enjoyed what you did, you two were singing of all things." Dumbledore said.
"Yes, to hide our fear, it's our song sir and well it helped get through that." Hermione said, "solders in the past sang going into battle and it helps. I was scared sir, I was terrified but I will be damned if I let my foe see my fear."
"You know I hate killing." Dumbledore said.
"You think it is murder." Harry said nodding, "it is not, I never have and never will use the killing curse, that is murder, I use my skills to kill not murder."
"Everyone deserves a second chance Harry." Dumbledore countered.
"Yes and let God give it to them!" Harry said, "they murder torture and maim, I will not have that continue sir. They must die and I am one to give them death. No offence sir but you are no general or leader of solders, you deserve to lead in peace and I am determined to give you that peace."
"Yet so many deaths…"
"Yes deaths, yes we kill but we have to sir." Hermione said, "it's us or them sir, we fight for freedom sir, can you say we do wrong when we fight for God, Queen and country?"
Dumbledore knew they had a point, that the only way to stop the deaths of innocents was to kill the enemy. They were right too in the fact he was not a good general and he wondered just what good was he? He wanted to make a good world, and he had tried so hard with Tom and others like him. He had failed time and time again and now he was no longer needed, or that is how he felt. He was surprised to find two teenage children right by his side looking at him with concern.
"Sir you are needed." Harry said gently, "you cannot beat yourself up for Tom, it's not your fault."
"He went evil all on his own." Hermione added, "you can try and save them all but in the end well if God cannot are we better than he?"
"You are right, but it hurts to see so many I taught go bad." Dumbledore said sadly a tear sliding down his aged face.
"You are not to blame, not at all." Harry said, "you are a good wizard, a good man because you care."
"They are right you know." Lily said from her portrait, "you are a good wizard, a great wizard in fact."
"You should try pranks sir, I mean they do cheer…..ow! Lilly what was that for?"
"Your pranks never were funny in school and you know it!" Lily shot back.
"I was thinking funny things, like oh turning the school pink or having the Gryffindors end up in green while the Slytherins end up in red, that would be funny and would not harm anyone. Besides that prank last week Severus told me about?"
"Hell must have frozen over, dad and Severus working on a prank together." Harry muttered.
"I heard that and don't swear near your mother!" James said, "that is, ow Lily!"
Harry laughed as Lily literally chased James from their portrait and through the paintings of Hogwarts. Dumbledore smiled, the twinkle back in his eyes. The only one not amused was Severus who had been trying to grade papers when James came and tried to hide behind a tree in the painting of the forbidden forest Severus had. He of course let Lily know where James was, this was not a good idea as he had to listen to James screams for help for the next fifteen minutes before he threatened to remove all paintings from his rooms. That got Lily to drag James out of the room him begging and pleading for mercy, mercy that was not coming. Severus smirked and got back to his grading, terrifying several students as he gave them a higher grade than normal.