Chapter One - The End
After viewing Snape's memory Harry was in shock. He left the headmaster's office in a daze and his feet took him slowly to the entrance of the castle. The people who saw his progression were scared to confront him. Voldemort's challenge to Harry fresh in their minds, everyone was questioning what he would do. Everyone remained silent as he passed. He would not have heard them even if they had tried to talk to him, for he was lost in his own world. He did not even know where he was going.
His friends knew exactly what he would do. He would sacrifice himself to save everyone else. Ron and Hermione were waiting by the entrance doors for Harry to get there. Whispering fiercely between themselves while they waited, trying to decide how to stop Harry from going into the forest.
As Harry approached the doors Ron and Hermione blocked his way. Harry looked up and saw his two friends standing before him and realized for the first time since leaving the headmasters office where he was and what he was going to do. Looking into their eyes Harry started to cry. He knew he had to go and die, he was a horcrux, and Voldemort could not be defeated while any horcruxes remained. He did not want to die, he had never really known love. There had been that brief time with Ginny before Dumbledore died, which he knew could have become love without everything that hung over his life, but he could not give it that time, and now there was no more time.
Ron and Hermione had never seen him weep openly before. He always hid his emotions when others were around. They knew that whatever he had seen in Snape's memories must have been to horrible to even contemplate. As he approached them, he caught his breath and looked them in the eye.
"I am a horcrux" he whispered so only they could hear. "He has to kill me to destroy the horcrux. Kill Nagini and he will be as mortal as anyone else, and he should be weak for a short time when Nagini dies. Take advantage of that opportunity to finish this. Tell everyone I had to do this, there was no other way."
Ron and Hermione's tears began to flow down their faces as well. The only way to end the war was for their best friend to die. Both enveloped Harry in a hug that they knew would be the last they saw of their friend. As Harry regained his composure, he knew he had to go, but he had to know something before he left. He had noticed that Ron and Hermione were holding hands as he told them what had happened.
Looking at them with the beginnings of a smile, he asked "Did you two finally figure it out?" gesturing at their hands. Hermione started to blush an almost Weasley red but Ron looked straight at Harry and said "Yes, we did." Harry started to laugh despite everything else love was blossoming in the most unusual places. "It takes all out war for you two to finally admit it then. Love each other and make each other happy. You deserve it after everything we have been through. I wish I could be at your wedding." At this Ron started blushing as well and could no longer speak. Hermione just stared at him in shock.
As Harry looked around he realized that the reprieve in the fighting that Voldemort had given was almost up and he needed to go if he was going to save everyone. Before he could leave he wanted a Basilisk fang in case he had the opportunity to kill Nagini and make Voldemort mortal when he died. Ron gave him one from the pouch he was carrying, they had taken several from the carcass down in the chamber just in case. Taking the fang and tucking it away, he started to leave, but before he could there was one last thing he needed to say. He took Ron in a hug and whispered in his ear "Tell Ginny I could have loved her."
At this he turned and started walking down the stairs and out across the grounds toward the forest. Ron stared after him in shock. How could he tell Ginny this after he was dead? It would break her heart, but it was Harry's last request. How could he not tell her? Ron and Hermione watched Harry start towards the forest, but there was much planning to do so they headed to the great hall to prepare everyone for what must be done.
While walking across the grounds he could sense people around him. Some were injured, others were tending to the injured and bringing them into the castle. He knew some were dead, he just hoped that everyone he knew survived this day. Most of all he hoped Ginny survived. He found himself thinking about her more and more as he walked on. He knew he could love her if he had let himself, but did he already love her? He was starting to believe he did, though it was too late for him to do anything about it.
Ginny had gone out onto the grounds to see if she could help anyone who was still alive while she had the chance. As she checked the bodies, she was surprised that more were Death Eaters than not. They were fighting well, this gave her hope that they could survive the day and maybe find a way to finish Voldemort another day. If they dealt him enough of a blow, maybe both sides would need time to recover and they could take the ministry back while he tried to rebuild his army.
As these thoughts gave her hope, she felt something. What it was she was not sure, but as she turned she saw a shadow heading down the hill towards Hagrid's hut and the forest beyond. Somehow she felt that it was Harry. He couldn't be going to face Voldemort all alone she thought, but deep down she knew he would to save his friends and her family. Her mind made up, she started to follow him. Her love for him, and yes she had to admit to herself that it was love, would not let her do anything else. If he was going to fight for them, she would stand by his side and fight with him, whether he wanted her to or not.
As she followed behind, she started to question how she knew he was there. They had only seen each other briefly when he first returned to the castle and for a few brief moments during the battle. Before that they had not spoken since he left almost a year ago. Even then things had been tense ever since he had broken up with her to keep her safe. She knew she still considered him her boyfriend since he really did not want to break up with her, but it was hard not seeing him for so long. Now he was walking to face Voldemort all alone and she knew she had to be with him.
But still, how had she known he was there? Thinking about it, she had not seen anything, she was facing the other way. Had she heard something? No, all she could remember having heard was the cries of the injured and the crackling of the fires burning all around the school. No, she just knew he was there, like she knew that the sun would rise in the morning. Like she knew that she loved him.
As they got closer to the forest, she saw Harry stop. At first she wanted to go to him and drag him back to the castle. She knew he wouldn't go, he needed to end this now. If he saw her he would send her back to the castle, so she waited and watched. While she waited in the shadows she saw him pull something out of his pocket and look at it closely. To her amazement she saw people start to appear. She recognized Sirius, and another looked alot like Harry and must have been his father. The woman with him must have been his mother. It looked like they were talking to him. After a short time they disappeared, but his gait seemed stronger as he headed into the forest. She had no idea what they said, but it seemed to have helped him.
As Harry walked into the forest he could feel that he was being followed. That was no surprise to him though. Voldemort must have left a couple of guards to follow him from the edge of the forest and herd him to Voldemort. Thinking about what he needed to do his nerve started to waver. His parents' words in his mind gave him courage and he continued deeper into the forest.
Ahead he saw flames and heard voices. He must have been getting close to Voldemort's encampment. He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and prepare himself for what was to come. He had to let Voldemort kill him, that was the only way for this to end. He just hoped someone could kill Nagini and then Voldemort so this war could end today. He trusted Ron and Hermione to find a way to make it happen.
It was time. He walked into the clearing where he had come to die. He still felt the presence behind him, but disregarded it. The Death Eaters were not important. They would crumble without their leader. When he was truly dead, they would run. Of this he was sure.
Ginny had followed Harry into the forest and saw him enter the clearing with Voldemort and the Death Eaters. She knew if she revealed herself too early Harry would try to send her back to the castle, so she waited behind a bush at the edge of the clearing. She couldn't hear what Harry was saying over the taunts of the Death Eaters. Voldemort's remaining inner circle was all here. She saw Voldemort wave them back and he confronted Harry.
Suddenly Voldemort turned to look towards her and raised his wand and she was pulled out of her hiding place to stand next to Harry. She saw the look of devastation on Harry's face and thought she had made a mistake. But, she knew Harry needed her here even if he did not know it. He needed her strength if he was going to be able to win this fight. He also needed her love, she had heard him say that Dumbledore thought that love was "the power that Voldemort knows not," and she loved Harry.
Harry realized what he felt since he entered the forest was not Death Eaters, but Ginny. She had followed him, not knowing what he had to do. She had come to help him fight, but he had to die without a fight. Maybe if he got a chance to kill Nagini before Voldemort killed him, Ginny could kill Voldemort while he was incapacitated. If Ginny could kill Voldemort, the Death Eaters would not be able to harm her afterwards. How could he protect her and kill Nagini before Voldemort killed him? He was not sure he could, but he had to try. He sent a severing charm towards Nagini, but Voldemort just blocked it and started to taunt Harry. "Is that the best you can do? How could you survive so long when you are nothing but a weak child?"
Suddenly Harry could tell that Voldemort was going to change tactics and he needed to protect Ginny. Maybe his connection to Voldemort would do some good after all. As he edged closer to Ginny he saw Voldemort's eyes glance at her. Everything seemed to go silent as he saw Voldemort cast a curse at Ginny. Almost in slow motion he saw the green light start towards Ginny. Only one curse looked like that. No shield would help. There was only one thing to do. Harry stepped in front of where Ginny stood and the killing curse struck him in the center of the chest.
He felt nothing.
As his senses returned, he was lying on his back wondering if this is what it felt like to be dead. It was not so bad, at least it did not hurt. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes to find himself in what looked like a large, clean and empty train station. The first thing he saw when he looked around was Dumbledore walking towards him. A wave of anger washed over him as he thought of everything that he was not told. How could Dumbledore have kept all this from him if he knew he had to die? But before he could speak he saw the sadness in his old professor's eyes. Harry knew that Dumbledore had hoped it would not come to this, but deep down he knew it would.
Harry looked around a bit more closely and saw a small, twisted, almost human figure lying in a corner that was writhing in pain. His first instinct was to go help the creature, but he felt Dumbledore's hand on his shoulder turn him away. "That is the piece of Voldemort's soul that he just killed. It lived inside you since that fateful Halloween night all those years ago. You must let it die now, it is why he had to kill you. It was the only way to kill the horcrux that was within you and allow you the chance to live." Harry was in shock at this statement and noticed that the twinkle had returned to Dumbledore's eyes.
"Yes, you can live if you so choose. Voldemort is not dead yet, but he is almost mortal, if you can kill Nagini he will be vulnerable. You have a little time to make your decision, but don't wait too long after that piece of Voldemort dies or you won't have a choice left. To go back and live you must consciously make that choice."
Harry knew he had no choice, he could not leave Ginny alone to face Voldemort. She was strong, and he knew she would fight, but would she be able to kill them both by herself? He doubted she could, but together, he could see a chance. Whatever happened he would be by her side for it. He could not leave her alone, for he loved her.
"I need to go back. I have to help Ginny, she is all alone with Voldemort and his most trusted servants. I also need to help my friends. They have stood by me this entire time, I can't leave them now."
Ginny could not believe Harry had placed himself in front of her as she saw the green light of the killing curse come towards her. Her love fell at her feet. Dead. She felt herself collapse on top of Harry and saw Voldemort falling to the ground as she fell.
As she lay on Harry, she could feel that he was not dead. He was not alive, but he was not dead. She did not know how she knew, but she felt it. If he was not dead, then there was hope. If she was right, she had to give him time to return to her. While the Death Eaters were focused on helping Voldemort back to his feet, she grabbed the basilisk fang from Harry's hand. A fang from the same creature had destroyed Tom Riddle's diary in her first year, maybe this one could destroy Voldemort.
She also knew that she had to convince Voldemort that Harry was dead to get him to let his guard down. As she took the fang, she saw Harry start to open his eyes. As she saw the green of his eyes alight in the gloom of the forest, her heart swelled with the possibility that they might be able to survive this fight and have a life together.
She could feel Voldemort come up behind her, she started to wail that Harry was dead. She hoped Voldemort could become overconfident and come closer so she could stab him with the fang and end Voldemort's reign of terror forever.
Voldemort and Nagini came closer as Harry surreptitiously took the Basilisk fang back from Ginny while he kept everything else still. Ginny's body was between Voldemort and Harry's actions so he had no idea that Harry was still alive. Why would he think Harry could survive the killing curse again. Ginny did not know that Nagini needed to die first. This would take timing from him and nerve from Ginny, but he knew she was up to it.
Nagini started to climb over Ginny to see into Harry's dead eyes and show them to his master. He waited as long as possible, so he could be sure to kill Nagini with one strike, Ginny just needed to remain still for a few more seconds. He gently squeezed her side to give her the encouragement to keep up her performance, and to let her know he was ready to act.
As Nagini's head slid over Ginny's shoulder Harry brought the fang up through the underside of the snakes head and up into its brain. As the snake shuddered and died, the now familiar black mist poured out of the wound. Harry braced for the pain in his scar he had felt every time a horcrux had been destroyed, but it did not come. Realizing he was free of Voldemort now, he smiled up at Ginny.
Looking over, he saw Voldemort on the ground. He was surrounded by his Death Eaters who remained. There were fewer left than one would have thought, he must have sent most of them to fight at the castle and these are all that had returned. He and Ginny climbed to their feet to the shock of the few Death Eaters who were looking that way. Taking advantage of the moment, Harry pulled Ginny into a hug and whispered in her ear "I love you, Ginny." He saw her eyes widen in shock as a smile begins to erupt across her face. Even in this desperate place her smile warmed his heart.
As Voldemort is helped to his feet, several Death Eaters start to point their wands at Harry and Ginny. As Harry wondered how to duel all the Death Eaters he heard Voldemort call them off.
"No, he is mine. I will kill him."
Harry held Ginny's hand tight in his as he faced Voldemort with his wand in his hand and could feel her love for him flowing through their clasped hands. A warmth and power like he had never felt before flowed into him. He turned his head to look at Ginny in wonder, and as he turned back to Voldemort his heart skipped a beat as he heard "Avada Kedavra" and the green light was once more flying through the air towards them.
When the curse was half across the distance between them, a golden light surrounded Harry and Ginny. The curse struck the light around Harry and Ginny and ricocheted off. It flew back across the space towards Voldemort. He raised a shield to protect himself, but the curse flew through his shield, just as it had everyone else who tried to stop it. As it struck Voldemort in the chest he fell to the ground. There was no cry of pain, there was no movement, just a pile of robes with a dead body lying on the ground. Voldemort's death was just like so many other victims of the killing curse. It was quick, quiet and final. Just as Voldemort's death started to register on his followers, they all grabbed their arms which held his mark and
collapsed onto the ground unconscious.
The shock of the curse rebounding and striking Voldemort was almost too much for Harry and Ginny as they fell to their knees and hugged each other in relief. As they looked around at the Death Eaters, they saw them breathing, but they were all laid still on the ground. They realized that Voldemort's death had somehow incapacitated them, but not knowing how long they would stay unconscious, Harry needed to call help to bind and prepare the Death Eaters for transport to Azkaban.
Doing the first thing that came to mind, he raised his wand in the air and let out a column of red sparks, as he had been instructed to do back in his fourth year if he needed to be rescued from the maze. He knew Professor McGonagall would remember the signal and bring others to help. After that he just collapsed into Ginny's arms and they held each other until others came.
When reinforcements reached the clearing, Harry and Ginny stood and started to walk back to the castle. They had too many questions to ask at the moment, so they smiled at the headmistress and Harry's look silently let her know that they would talk later back at the castle. Harry and Ginny walked out of the forest holding hands, still surrounded by the soft golden glow. Though they did not notice it, everyone who saw them did.