Skirmish at the Great Hall

### Result

Order of the Phoenix reinforcements arrive at the school, and the Battle proceeds at the Great Hall. The Order of the Phoenix defeats the Death Eater forces once and for all.

Commanders| * Minerva McGonagall
* Kingsley Shacklebolt
* Horace Slughorn
* Bellatrix Lestrange

Combatants| * Harry Potter
* Seamus Finnigan
* Hannah Abbott
* Charlie Weasley
* George Weasley
* Ronald Weasley
* Arthur Weasley
* Bill Weasley
* Percy Weasley
* Molly Weasley
* Lee Jordan
* Filius Flitwick
* Rubeus Hagrid
* Neville Longbottom
* Aberforth Dumbledore
* Hermione Granger
* Ginevra Weasley
* Luna Lovegood
* Michael Corner
* Dean Thomas
* Bane
* Ronan
* Magorian
* Kreacher
* Poppy Pomfrey
* Unidentified grey haired man during the Battle of Hogwarts
* Hogwarts students
* Families and friends of Hogwarts students
* Hogsmeade shopkeeps and homeowners
* Hogwarts Centaur herd
* Hogwarts house-elves
* Giant allies
* Antonin Dolohov
* Walden Macnair
* Fenrir Greyback
* Augustus Rookwood
* Pius Thicknesse
* Giants (2)
* Unidentified female Death Eater at the Battle of Hogwarts
* Squat, wheezy man
* Unidentified Death Eater during Battle of Hogwarts that was set on fire
* Unidentified male Death Eater killed by a grey haired wizard
* More Death Eaters

Casualties|  | * Bellatrix Lestrange
* Unidentified Death Eater during Battle of Hogwarts that was set on fire
* Unidentified male Death Eater killed by a grey haired wizard
* Antonin Dolohov (possibly)
* Augustus Rookwood (possibly)

> "*Voldemort was in the centre of the battle, and he was striking and smiting all 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.*"
> ― Description[source]
>
>

This **skirmish** took place during the Battle of Hogwarts on 2 May 1998. After the hour-long halt during the Battle of Hogwarts, the defenders of Hogwarts were joined by Order of the Phoenix reinforcements who arrived at the Castle, thus recommencing the battle into the Entrance Hall and the Great Hall.

The last major conflict of the Battle, this skirmish saw the defeat of much of the Death Eater forces, while Bellatrix Lestrange duelled against Molly Weasley and Lord Voldemort against Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Horace Slughorn. After Bellatrix's death Voldemort, filled with rage, turned on Molly Weasley but Harry Potter revealed himself, thus setting the stage for the conflict that ended the War by casting a shield charm to protect Molly.

## History

### Background

> "*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 castle 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.*"
> ― Description[source]
>
>

After the hour-long armistice during the Battle of Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters took Harry Potter's "dead body" to the Castle to announce their victory. However, the arrival of the Hogwarts centaur herd, Grawp, and the families and friends of the Hogwarts students that had stayed to fight as well as the shopkeeps and homeowners of Hogsmeade made the battle restart as the fighters ran into the Entrance Hall to avoid Grawp that started fighting with Voldemort's giants. Neville Longbottom, beheaded Nagini, Voldemort's last Horcrux, thus rendering him mortal once again. Harry Potter discreetely took his Invisibility Cloak and joined the fight while concealed.

As the wizards stampeded through the Entrance Hall backing toward the Great Hall, Lord Voldemort sent curses flying left and right and yelled instructions to his followers. As more and more fighters stormed through the front steps, the Hogwarts house-elves, led by Kreacher, swarmed into the hall hacking and stabbing at the ankles of Death Eaters.

The battle already flourished when Harry Potter, still hidden under his Invisibility Cloak, arrived at the Great Hall.

### The skirmish

> "*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.*"
> ― Voldemort and Bellatrix are the only Death Eaters left standing[source]
>
>

Everyone who could still walk forced their way into the Great Hall. Lord Voldemort stood in the centre of the battle, striking all within reach. At this point, most of the Death Eaters were defeated: Yaxley was brought to the floor by George Weasley and Lee Jordan; Antonin Dolohov fell with a scream at Filius Flitwick's hands; Walden Macnair was thrown across the room by Rubeus Hagrid; Fenrir Greyback was defeated by Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom; Aberforth Dumbledore Stunned Augustus Rookwood; Pius Thicknesse was floored by Percy and Arthur Weasley. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy ran through the crowd, not fighting but looking for their son.

Voldemort started duelling with Minerva McGonagall, Horace Slughorn and Kingsley Shacklebolt all at once, cold hatred in his face. Molly Weasley started a duel with Bellatrix Lestrange, the last Death Eater standing. Hundreds of people lined the walls, watching the two duels in awe.

When Bellatrix was killed, Voldemort turned on Mrs Weasley but Harry Potter revealed himself starting the last duel of the War, which was won by Harry Potter.