Field of innocence
Summary:don't want to spoil it for you, but basically Harry's final confrontation with the Dark Lord.
A/N:Short story. Contains violence, mildly graphic, character death, suggested sex (not graphic). I've tried to keep to the characters personalities as much as possible, of course their 'adventures' and time would change them a bit!
Disclaimer:I do not own Harry Potter.
Gryffindor's sword glittered red in Harry's hand. At his feet lay the dead body of Voldemort's snake, Nagini. Exhausted and blood splattered, Harry gathered broken branches from the surrounding woodlands and piled them around the snake, he then used his wand to ignite them and watched the sixth Horcrux burn into nothing.
When the fire died out he apparated out of the woodlands to London. Since turning seventeen and deciding to go on his journey he had lived at 12 Grimmauld Place, with the assurance of Hermione and Lupin that it was still protected by the Fidelius
charm, as with the death of Dumbledore the secret had perished with him. He had of course made several changes to the décor, with the help of Hermione. But it still remained dank and depressing.
He was alone in the house. Ron and Hermione were probably at The Burrow celebrating. Before Harry had told them they were to find Nagini that night they had sprung it upon him that they were engaged! Harry of course, congratulated them and insisted they go to tell their families. He did not want to ruin what was one of few happy days for them. Since Arthur Weasleys murder shortly after Harry started his journey, Ron had become very depressed. So Harry went alone, he would tell the others what he had done in a few days time.
The empty house gave him time to think, he climbed into a hot shower and washed the drying blood from his body. He would soon be nineteen, in two years he had tracked Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, Ravenclaw's staff and Voldemort's Snake Nagini. The Ring and Diary already destroyed, Harry new his next confrontation would be the last, whether he lived or died it would be over.
He had thought his journey would be longer, but with the help of Ron and Hermione, and even close members of the Order Of The Phoenix he had managed to track down the Horcruxes and destroy them, though not without injury. He looked at his scarred knee, amidst a battle his only option was to break the staff on his knee as his opponent had disarmed him. The sudden shock of energy and magic had thrown his enemy across the room and knocked him out, giving time for help to arrive. However Harry had spent a month in hospital re-growing a large amount of his knee.
Harry climbed out of the shower and shook of his wet hair, grabbing a towel he quickly dried his body and dressed into muggle clothing. Using a charm he dried his hair and headed for the kitchen, pausing when he heard a clank coming from the room. He drew his wand and invisibility cloak and sneaked into the kitchen.
He smiled as he saw the familiar red head look around.
"Harry? I know your there!"
"Hi Ginny, I didn't know you were here" said Harry as he pulled of the cloak. "You shouldn't sneak into people's houses, what if I had jinxed you?"
"I notice you say house, not home" she replied with a knowing look in her eyes. The Weasley's had often insisted Harry live with them, but feeling like a danger Harry kept himself away from the closest thing to a family he had.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Harry asked the question somewhat accusingly and blushed. They had never become a couple again, but Harry couldn't deny the feeling's he had for Ginny, and he knew she felt them back.
"Mum sent me, she wants you to join the celebrations!" Ginny was no longer looking Harry in the eye, she was examining his body, Harry looked down and with a start realised his shirt was turning crimson. He didn't realise he was injured. Ginny ran over and lifted his shirt, Harry blushed again as he felt her hands run over the cuts.
"It's not deep, just bleeding a lot… what did you do?"
Harry laughed as he pulled his shirt back down at the suspicious look on Ginny's face.
"I didn't even realise… probably thinking about… other things" he said to himself as much as her. The frown on her face increased in intensity and Harry's smile faded.
"I…Nagini's dead. That means-"
"There's just Voldemort left"
The silence between them felt like a mix of emotions, understanding, shock, fear, anticipation. They both knew what this meant, Ginny was one of the few Harry confided in. He felt she deserved to know after the death of her father, he had felt responsible. It was well known the Weasleys were close to Harry, he was haunted by the thought he may be the reason Mr Weasley was killed.
"When… do Ron and Hermione know?"
"No"
"So… he'll know by now, that they're gone, the Horcruxes. Will he come after you?"
"I don't know" Harry considered this, would he rather be hunted down or find Voldemort himself. "If he knows, he may try and make more, but he should be weakening…"
"You'll have more of an advantage then" Ginny said this in almost a whisper.
Thinking of nothing else to say Harry left to change, he quickly healed his wounds, not as well as they could be healed but they stopped bleeding, and put on his robes. Ginny was still waiting for him in the Kitchen. As he entered she jumped up.
"Harry, I know what you said, about me and you. But surely after all this time… I'm a member of the order now… couldn't we…"
She trailed off, obviously embarrassed.
"I'm sorry", she said scratching at her head "I didn't really plan that well"
"Gin"
"Just listen to me ok. Harry… I love you. You know this and I think you love me too. I know what's at risk but I think… I think it's worth it, to be with someone you really care about is a rare thing, especially now and-"
Ginny didn't manage to finish. Harry had walked the short space to her and embraced her in a deep kiss before she knew what was happening. They stood like this for seconds…minutes… neither wanting to let go. Harry pulled away first.
"I'm sorry" He whispered, still holding her to him.
"For what?" she whispered back.
Harry thought for a moment, for what? Failing to protect her father? Wasting the time they had, too scared to be with her? For knowing that he may not be there for her in the future, be it days, weeks or months?
"I…don't know"
"It doesn't matter" she said, kissing him again. This time was more passionate; forgetting everything, the party at the burrow, the Horcruxes, the impending battles, Harry led Ginny upstairs. In his room she unclasped his robes as he lay her down. And for one blissful night Harry Potter lay in the arms of the woman he loved. Feeling almost normal.
When the sun rose everything changed. Ginny woke peacefully, blinking in the light. Harry woke screaming and clutching his scar.
"Harry, HARRY!"
He fell from the bed twisting in the sheets.
Bodies covered the floor, blood and fire surrounded him. Above a castle tower was the green and menacing Dark Mark. Behind him he heard the familiar laugh of the monster that had destroyed everything Harry loved. Voldemort and his army advanced on the castle… and all went black.
Harry vomited. He lifted his shaking body from the ground and looked into the eyes of a terrified Ginny.
"Hogwarts…" He panted. "He's attacking Hogwarts"
