mpled； not knowing what or who had hit them； and their bodies were trampled by the retreating crowd。 Still hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak； Harry was buffered into the entrance hall： He was searching for Voldemort and saw him across the room； firing spells from his wand as he backed into the Great Hall； still screaming instructions to his followers as he sent curses flying left and right； Harry cast more Shield Charms； and Voldemort's would…be victims。 Seamus Finnigan and Hannah Abbott； datted past him into the Great Hall； where they joined the fight already flourishing inside it。
And now there were more； even more people storming up the front steps； and Harry saw Charlie Weasly overtaking Horace Slughorn； who was still wearing his emeral pijamas。 They seemed to have returned at the head of what looked like the families and friends of every Hogwarts student who had remained to fight along with the shopkeeps and homeowners of Hogsmeade。 The centaurs Bane； Ronan and Magorian burst into the hall with a great clatter of hooves； as behind Harry the door that led to the kitchens was blasted off its hinges。
The house…elves of Hogwarts swarmed intot he entrance hall； screaming and waving carving knives and cleaver； and at their head； the locker of Regulus Black bouncing on his chest； was Kreacher； his bullfrog's voice audible even above this din： 〃Fight！ Fight！ Fight for my Master； defender of house…elves！ Fight the Dark Lord； in the name of brave Regulus！ Fight！〃
They were hacking and stabbing at the ankles and shim of Death Eaters their tiny faces alive with malice； and everywhere Harry looked Death Eaters were folding under sheer weight of numbers； overe by spells； dragging arrows from wounds； stabbed in the leg by elves； or else simply attempting to escape； but swallowed by the oning horde。
But it was not over yet： Harry sped between duelers； past atruggling prosoners； and into he Great Hall。
Voldemort was in the center of the battle； and he was striking and smiting al within reach。 Harry could not get a clear shot； but fought his way nearer； still invisible； and the Great Hall became more and more crowded as everyone who could walk forced their way inside。
Harry saw Yaxley slammed tot he floor by George and Lee Jordan； saw Dolohov fall with a scream at Flitwick's hands； saw Walden Macnair thrown across the room by Hagrid； hit the stone wall opposite； and slide unconscious to the ground。 He saw Ron and
Neville bringing down Fenrir Greyback。 Aberforth Stunning Rookwood； Arthur and Percy flooting Thicknesse； and Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy running through the crowd； not even attempting to fight； screaming for their son。
Voldemort was now dueling McGonagall； Slughorn； Kingsley all at once； and there was a cold hatred in his face as they wove and ducked around him； unable to finish him …
Bellatrix was still fighing too； fifty yards away from Voldemort； and like her master she dueled three at once： Hermione； Ginny and Luna； all battling their hardest； but Bellatrix was equal to them； and Harry's attention was diverted as a Killing Curse shot so close to Ginny that she missed death by an inch …
He changed course； running at Bellatrix rather than Voldemort； but before he had gone a few steps he was knocked sideways。
〃NOT MY DAUGHTER； YOU BITCH！〃
Mrs。 Weasley threw off her cloak as she ran； freeing her arms； Bellatrix spun on the spot； roaring with laughter at the sight of the new challenger。
〃OUT OF MY WAY！〃 shouted Mrs。 Weasley to the three girls； and with a simple swipe of her wand she began to duel。 Harry watched with terror and elation as Molly Weasley's wand slashed and twisted； and Bellatrix Lestrange's smile faltered and became a snarl。 Jets of light flew from both wands； the floor around the withces' feet became bot and cracked； both woman were fighting to kill。
〃No！〃 Mrs。 Weasley cried as a few students ran forward； trying to e to her aid。 〃Get back！ iGet back！i She is mine！〃
Hundreds of people now lined the walls； watching the two fights； Voldemort and his three opponents； Bellatrix and Molly； and Harry stood； invisible； torn between both； wanting to attack and yet to protect； unable to be sure that he would not hit the innocent。
〃What will happen to your children when I've killed you？〃 taunted Bellatrix； as mad as her master； capering as Molly's curses danced around her。 〃When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie？〃
〃You … will … never … touch … our … children … again！〃 screamed Mrs。 Weasley。
Bellatrix laughed the same exhilarated laugh her cousin Sirius had given as he toppled backward through the veil； and suddenly Harry knew what was going to happen before it did。
Molly's curse soared beneath Bellatrix's constreched arm and hit her squarely in the chest； directly over her heart。
Bellatrix's glounting smile froze； her eyes seemd to bulge： For the tiniest space of time she knew what had happened； and then she toppled； and the watching crowd roared； and Voldemord screamed。
Harry felt as though he turned into slow motin： he saw McGonagall； Kingsley and Slughorn blasted backward； flailing and writhing through the air； as Voldemort's fury at the fall of his last； best leutenant exploded with the force of a bomb； Voldemort raised his wand and directed it at Molly Weasley。
〃iProtego！i〃 roared Harry； and the Shield Charm expanded in the middle of the Hall； and Voldemort stared around for the source as Harry pulled off the Invisibility Cloak at last。
The yell of shock； the cheers； the screams on every side of ：〃Harry！〃 〃HE'S ALIVE！〃 were stifled at once。 The crowd was afraid； and silence fell abruptly and
pletely as Voldemort and Harry looked at each other； and began； at the same moment； to circle each other。
〃I don't want anyone else to help；〃 Harry said loudly； and in the total silence his voice carried like a trumpet call。 〃It's got to be like this。 It's got to be me。〃
Voldemort hissed。
〃Potter doesn't mean that；〃 he said； his red eyes wide。 〃This isn't how he works； is it？ Who are you going to use as a shield today； Potter？〃
〃Nobody；〃 said Harry simply。 〃There are no more Horcruxes。 It's just you and me。 Neither can live while the other survives； and one of us is about to leave for good。 。 。 。〃
〃One of us？〃 jeered Voldemort； and his wholy body was taut and his red eyes stared； a snake that was about to strike。 〃You think it will be you； do you； the boy who has survived by accident； and because Dumbledore was pulling the strings？〃
〃Accident； was it； when my mother died to save me？〃 asked Harry。 They were still moving sideways； both of them； in that perfect circle； maintaining the same distance from each other； and for Harry no face existed but Voldemort's。 〃Accident； when I decided to fight in that graveyard？ Accident； that I didn't defend myself tonight； and still survived； and returned to fight again？〃
〃iAccidents！i〃 screamed Voldemort； but still he did not strike； and the watching crowd was frozen as if Petrified； and of the hundreds in the Hall； nobody seemed to breathe but they two。 〃Accident and chance and the fact that you crouched and sniveled behind the skirts of greater men and women； and permitted me to kill them for you！〃
〃You won't be killing anyone else tonight；〃 said Harry as th