of the Death Eaters and their tramping footsteps； signs of life from those within。
〃Stop。〃
The Death Eaters camte to a halt； Harry heard them spreading out in a line facing the opne front doors of the school。 He could see； even
though his closed lids； the teddish glow that meant light streamed upon him from the entrance hall。 He waited。 Any moment； the people for whom
he had tried to die would see him； lying apparently dead； in Hagrid's arms。
〃NO！〃
The scream was the more terrible because he had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound。 He heard
another women laughing nearby； and knew that Bellatrix gloried in McGonagall's despair。 He squinted again for a single second and saw the open
doorway filling with people； as the survivors of the battle came out onto the front steps to face their vanquishers and see the truth of Harry's death for
themselves。 He saw Voldemort standing a little in front of him； stroking Nagini's head with a single white finger。 He closed his eyes again。
〃No！〃
i〃No！〃i
〃Harry！ HARRY！〃
Ron's； Hermione's； and Ginny's voices were worse than McGonagall's； Harry wanted nothing more than to call back； yet he made himself lie
silent； and their cries acted like a trigger； the crowd of survivors took up the cause； screaming and yelling abuse at the Death Eathers； until …
〃SILENCE！〃 cried Voldemort； and there was a bang and a flash of bright light； and silence was forced upn them all。 〃It is over！ Set him down；
Hagrid； at my feet； where he belongs！〃
Harry felt himself lowered onto the grass。
〃You see？ said Voldemort； and Harry felt him striding backward and forward right beside the place where he lay。 〃Harry Potter is dead！ Do you
understand now； deluded ones？ He was nothing； ever； but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him！〃
〃He beat you！〃 yelled Ron； and the charm broke； and the defenders of Hogwarts were shouting and screaming again until a second； more
powerful bang extinguished their voices once more。
〃He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds；〃 said Voldemort； and there was a relish in his voice for the lie。 〃killed while trying
to save himself … 〃
But Voldemort broke off： Harry heard a scuffle and a shout； then another bang； a flash of light； and grunt of pain； he opened his eyes an infinitesimal
amount。 Someone had broken free of the crowd and charged at Voldemort： Harry saw the figure hit the ground。 Disarmed； Voldemort throwing the challenger's
wand aside and laughing。
〃And who is this？〃 he said in his soft snake's hiss。 〃Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the
battle is lost？〃
Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh。
〃It is Neville Longbottom； my Lord！ The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble！ The son of the Aurors； remember？〃
〃Ah； yes； I remember；〃 said Voldemort； looking down at Neville； who was struggling back to his feet； unarmed and unproctected； standing in the
no…man's…land between the survivors and the Death Eaters。 〃But you are a pureblood； aren't you； my brave boy？ Voldemort asked Neville； who stood facing him；
his empty hands curled in fists。
〃So what if I am？〃 said Neville loudly。
〃You show spirit and bravery； and you e of noble stock。 You will make a very valuable Death Eater。 We need your kind； Neville Longbottom。〃
〃I'll join you when hell freezes over；〃 said Neville。 〃Dumbledore's Army！〃 he shouted； and there was an answering cheer from the crowd； whom
Voldemort's Silencing Charms seemed unable to hold。
〃Very well；〃 said Voldemort； and Harry heard more danger in the silkiness of his voice than in the most powerful curse。 〃If that is your choice； Longbottom；
we revert to the original plan。 On your head；〃 he said quietly； 〃be it。〃
Still watching through his lashes； Harry saw Voldemort wave his wand。 Seconds later； out of one of the castle's shattered windows； something that looked like a misshapen bird flew through the half light and landed in Voldemort's hand。 He shook the mildewed object by its pointed end and it dangled； emtpy and ragged： the Sorting Hat。
〃There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School；〃 said Voldemort。 〃There will be no more Houses。 The emblem； sheild and colors of my noble ancestor； Salazar Slythering； will suffice everyone。 Won't they； Neville Longbottom？〃
He pointed his wand at Neville； who grew rigid and still； then forced the hat onto Neville's head； so thta it slipped down below his eyes。 There were movements from the watching crowd in front of the castle； and as one； the Death Eaters raised their wands； holding the fighters of Hogwarts at bay。
〃Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me；〃 said Voldemort； and with a flick of his wand； he caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames。
Screams split the dawn； and Neville was a flame； rooted to the spot； unable to move； and Harry could not bear it： He must act …
And then many things happened at the same moment。
They heard uproar from the distant boundary of the school as what sounded like hundreds of people came swarming over the out…of…sight walls and pelted toward the castle； uttering lowd war cries。 At the same time； Grawp came lumbering around the side of the castel and yelled； 〃HAGGER！〃 His cry was answered by roars from Voldemort's giants： They ran at Grawp like bull elephants making the earth quake。 Then came hooves and the twangs of bows； and arrows were suddenly falling amongst the Death Eaters； who broke ranks； shouting their surprise。 Harry pulled the Invisibilty Cloak from inside his robes； swunt it over himself； and sprang to his feet； as Neville moved too。
In one swift； fluid motin； Neville broke free of the Body…Bind Curse upon him； the flaming har fell off him and he drew from its depths something silver； with a glittering； rubied handle …
The slash of the silver blade could not be heard over the roar of the oning crowd or the sounds of the clashing giants or of te stampending centaurs； and yet； it seemd to draw every eye。 With a single stroke Neville sliced off the great snake's head； which spun high into the air； gleaming in the light flooding from the entrance hall； and
Voldemort's mouth was open in a scream of fury that nobody could hear； and the snake's body thudded to the ground at his feet…
Hidden beneath the Invisibilty Cloak； Harry cast a Shield Charm between Neville and Voldemort before the latter could raise his stamps of the battling giants； Hagrid's yell came loudets of all。
〃HARRY！〃 Hagrid shouted。 〃HARRY … WHERE'S HARRY？〃
Chaos reigned。 The charging centaurs were scattering the Death Eaters； everyone was feeling the giants' stamping feet； and nearer and nearar thundered the reinforcements that had e from who knew where； Harry saw great winget creatues soaring the heads of Voldemort's giants； thestrals and Buckbeak the hippogriff scratching at their eyes while Grawp punched and pummeled them and now the wizards； defenders of Hogwarts and Death Eaters alike were being forced back into the castle。 Harry was shooting jinxes and curses at any Death Eater he could see； and they crumpled； not knowing what or who had hit them； and their bodies were trampled b