Author's Note: I do not own any of the characters within, all intellectual property blah blah blah. Positive reviews will be appreciated, constructive criticism will be thanked. This is my first HP fanfic. It includes some moderately graphic scenes of smut and battles. Questions, comments, and concerns will be directed to the appropriate place.
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Chapter 11
With a quick look around, Ginny gathered her wand and took Neville's hand. "I must go. I'll be back here as soon as I can." She leaned in and kissed Longbottom warmly. "I'll try and send a patronus when I get ready to come back."
"Where are you going?" Hermione and Neville asked.
"Home," she replied. "I think there may yet be hope for him."
Harry and Hermione wished her well, then turned to see the sun creeping up over the horizon. Bone weary and barely able to stand, Harry, Neville, and Hermione turned to the arduous task of cleaning up the battlefield. Hours later, they were finally able to drag themselves back to the mansion and collapse for rest. Neville slept in Ginny's room, amusingly cuddled up to her pillow. Harry and Hermione showered and lay down in their bed, talking quietly and tiredly.
"Death, where's Ron now?" Harry asked.
"At the home of his family." Harry had finally become accustomed to Death's chill in the air, and after the earlier battle he didn't even notice the charnel house reek that usually accompanied Death.
"Oh bugger," Harry grumbled. "Are they fighting? Do we need to go over there?"
"No, Master. There is no battle going on, aside from a spirited discussion."
"Well I guess we can be thankful for that," he mumbled, drifting off to sleep.
They awoke late that same day and checked in on Neville, who was still curled up with Ginny's pillow. Harry and Hermione slipped into the study and sent Headmistress McGonagall a letter. They felt that she should be kept abreast of events, and it gave them the chance to consider the more significant points of the battle. Afterword, they asked Blinky for a light meal and woke Neville. They were eating sandwiches and sipping tea, discussing their different view on the battle when Ginny arrived through the floo.
She embraced Neville warmly and without any embarrassment, then sat down at the table. "Well it's been an interesting day," she told them wearily, taking a sandwich. "Could we move to the sitting room or the study or somewhere more comfortable? I've been hunched around a kitchen table all day."
They adjourned to the study and relaxed. The fireplace crackled and cast orange-yellow light across the room while everyone settled onto comfortable couches. Hermione and Harry curled up close together while Ginny lay on the couch, resting her head in Neville's lap.
They caught Ginny up on the retelling of the battle. Harry explained the curved shield, and the truth behind the Deathly Hallows. Ginny told them that Ron had apparated to the Burrow, confused beyond belief. "I don't know what's going to happen now, but all day, it was almost like the old Ron was trying to come out.I think he may step down from the Minister post." She fished in her pocket and pulled something out, levitating it to Hermione. "He also told me to give you this. He skulked around his room for a good hour until he found it." Hermione laughed slowly, then shook her head.
"What is it?" Neville asked.
"A feather," she replied, her eyes distant.
"Brilliant," he continued. "But what's it mean?"
Hermione laughed again. "It's the feather from one of our first lessons at Hogwarts. The feather that we learned to levitate?" She scowled at the blank looks on her friends faces. "Oh honestly, don't any of you remember? Wingardium Leviosa? Professor Flitwick had us levitate feathers for our first bit of magic. I was able to do it before Ron; he got so angry about it."
"Well now it makes perfect sense," Neville rolled his eyes sarcastically.
Ginny laughed at his comment. "Nev, Ron kept it all that time because it was significant, it was important in his relationship with Hermione. Giving it to her… Has great significance."
The four were quiet for some time, watching the fire dance and savoring the restful peace. Finally Ginny spoke up. "So what now?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. I suppose it's too much to hope that it's over, but I dearly wish that it were."
Hermione was twirling the feather, her eyes twinkling as she looked at her husband. "Life goes on; the story doesn't really ever end. We can hope that this chapter has ended, though. Let it end not with a bang, but a quiet turning of the page."
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Fin.
Author's final notes: (1) I broke the last chapter into two pieces, with this (tiny) chapter as the ending, because I really wanted the previous chapter to end with the battle. This chapter serves as the story's ending, even though we don't see a final resolution. I rather like that it's up in the air, but Your Mileage May Vary. (2) I know the story had flaws- it's literally my first attempt at writing anything fictional, so go easy on me. If you can offer constructive criticism and tips, I'd love to hear them. I have other ideas for stories, but I plan on approaching the writing process differently than I did for this story; hopefully that will help avoid the problems (major or minor, depending on your opinion) that occurred in Red Rising. (3) If you made it this far, then thanks for reading! It was fun writing, and I hope it was fun reading.
D.