The Sacking of Severus Snape

Harry knows that Voldemort is approaching the Ravenclaw Common Room very quickly. Luna uses her wand and stuns the Death Eater who summoned Voldemort. Harry and Luna hide under the Invisibility Cloak to avoid any other Death Eater entanglements.

More Death Eaters are trying to enter the Common Room as Professor McGonagall appears and tries to keep them away. With Harry hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, the Death Eaters worry about Voldemort appearing with no Harry Potter to hand over. They decide to lie to Voldemort, telling him that the Ravenclaw students forced the Death Eater to summon Voldemort and then used a spell.

When Professor McGonagall and the Death Eaters face off, Harry is unable to contain his revulsion about McGonagall getting insulted. Harry appears from under the Invisibility Cloak and successfully inflicts the Cruciatus Curse for the first time. Professor McGonagall begs Harry and Luna to escape, but Harry is intent upon finding the lost diadem. The confrontation with Voldemort is unavoidable.

Professor McGonagall vows to help Harry and enlists the help of the other Hogwarts teachers. They join together to defend Hogwarts by casting spells to protect the castle so that Harry can complete his mission. Unfortunately, Snape appears and prepares to duel with McGonagall. Snape cowers, however, when other Hogwarts teachers enthusiastically join Professor McGonagall. Snape escapes out the window.

Harry knows that Voldemort is now at the spot where the locket Horcrux was hidden. As soon as he realizes the Horcrux is gone, he will depart immediately for Hogwarts to find Harry and kill him. With Snape out of the picture, the Hogwarts professors continue their enchantments to protect the castle while Dumbledore’s Army prepares to fight alongside the Order of the Phoenix.

Even Percy Weasley joins the fight. He finally has realized the error of his ways as well as the corruption within the Ministry of Magic. The Weasley family is finally on the same side at last. Although united, the family feels that Ginny Weasley is too young to fight and should stay in the Room of Requirement. Although quite insulted, Ginny agrees to her family’s demands.

Harry is just at the point of wondering where Ron and Hermione are when he feels the presence of Voldemort outside of Hogwarts.