When Harry opened his eyes they were stood in the astronomy tower, he felt a shiver run down his spine at standing in the spot where Albus had died but he pushed that all aside. He heard shouting behind him, and pulling Ginny against his body, he pulled his wand from his pocket. Holding it up he readied himself to attack, but it was to find Tonks running at them.
"They ambushed us when the wards feel," she yelled and he realised she was running from someone.
"Down Tonks," he yelled and cast a spell wordlessly knocking the Death Eater flying across the walkway.
Tonks looked up as the Death Eater went flying, a smile tugging at her lips, "thanks Harry I couldn't shake him," she bent over breathing deeply trying to get her breath back.
"Where's Remus," Harry said panic rising in his throat, was he already too late.
"He's fine, went off with Shaklebolt to chase down a group that had gotten away from us," she said rising up and smiling at Harry.
In the sudden lull he couldn't contain his happiness at seeing her, detangling himself from Ginny he reached out and hugged her.
"It's good to see you to Harry," she laughed and Ginny couldn't help but see the tips of her hair turn pink.
When Harry pulled away Ginny could see the tears in his eyes but she didn't say anything, she too hugged Tonks, breathing her in. It was strange, she had held Teddy more times than she could count, and as she hugged Tonks she realised he smelled like his mother.
"Alright you two there is a battle going on you know," she laughed, but her face was serious.
"I know Tonks, that's why I'm here. I know you were asked to guard up here, but I need you to come down to the main hall. I need you where you can be of most use," Harry paused searching for the words to convince her without giving anything away, "I need people I can trust down there Tonks, the war will break through the doors and they will try to overrun the castle, I need you there where we can defend it best."
Tonks looked at him for a moment, and Harry was worried she wouldn't believe him, but then she smiled at him again.
"Of course Harry, let's go," Harry smiled, pulling Ginny against his body once more and taking Tonk's hand the three of them disapperated.
They reappeared in the main hallway, McGonagall giving a yell in fright.
"Potter are you trying to give me a heart attack!" she yelled clutching at her chest.
"I'm sorry professor," he said stepping up to them.
She looked puzzled for a moment, her eyes scanning over Tonks as she searched for any danger, and then over Ginny still tucked against Harry's side.
"How did you manage that," McGonagall had felt the protective wards come down but the one stopped Apperation was still in place, otherwise they would have been overrun with Death Eaters by now.
"No time to explain professor, but the Hogwarts warriors are about to fall, we need to get everyone to a fortification point and fight from there. We are to spread out and it's going to be our undoing."
McGonagall starred at Harry for a moment, yes it had been nearly a year since she had seen the boy last but there was something more about him, something she couldn't put her fingers on but it made her nervous. With a nod she pulled out her wand and holding into the air shot sparks up. Harry watched as some of the sparks shot off down the corridors obviously some kind of signal for the others.
Nodding Harry turned his attention to Tonks, "I know you're not going to like it Tonks, but I need you safe," he could tell she was about to say something but he halted her, "think of Teddy growing up without his parents. I couldn't live with myself knowing I had stolen another child's innocence," he said and she shut her mouth.
"Alright Harry, I'll stay here, but I'm not going to hide. I will help people if I need to."
Harry nodded not expecting any less from her, "please Tonks take extra care," he said and she could do nothing but nod in reply.
Harry watched as she rushed off into the great hall and prayed that by moving her he had managed to save her, only time would tell. Unfortunately he had too much to do to worry completely about one person. He turned his attention to Ginny and caught her bright gaze.
"I know what you're going to say Harry and I can't let you go in there alone," she had been dreading this moment; she knew he was going to put her on the spot.
"Gin, you know I have to do this bit alone," he felt a shiver of power and knew Voldemort was trying to touch his mind but he easily kept him at bay, "you know what part comes now, but I will be back, I will always come back for you."
Ginny looked down, her stomach churning suddenly, but he wouldn't let her hide. He slipped his hand under her chin and tilted her head up so she couldn't avoid his gaze.
"Gin please baby, I need you here, and I trust you and only you to protect everyone. For Tonks, Remus, and of course for Fred."
Ginny felt that hit her like a slap and she stepped away from Harry, "how could I leave you, how can I stay here and feel what's going to happen?" she accused her voice straining with pain.
Harry looked at the people that had suddenly gathered around the main entrance, all of them watching the scene that was unfolding.
"You know how this will end Gin, you know what will happen when this night is over," he reached out taking her hand in his, "I will be back again, I will stand here and hold you again, please Ginny don't fight me on this. I can't do what is needed if I have you to worry about as well."
Ginny looked at him feeling her heart twist with the worst pain she had ever felt. When she closed her eyes she could see Harry's body as Hagrid carried him, could feel that moment where she had believed him dead. It had been the worst moment of her life, and all too fast he wanted her to relive it.
Her eyes still closed she felt Harry's hand press against her cheek, felt his warmth seeping into her cool skin.
"It won't be the same this time Gin," she felt him whisper in her ear, "this time you will feel me. You will know that I'm alright, please Gin I know you can keep everyone we love safe, you have the same power that I have. You have the same potential, we share everything."
Ginny could feel the tears streaming down her face, but she didn't say anything. She knew Harry was right that she needed to be here to make sure that everyone was safe, but she wanted nothing more than to be by his side.
Suddenly she felt warmth spread through her body, and on the wave of heat came power. She knew then what Harry was doing; he had opened their connection and pushed power through her. She looked up at his face again to see his eyes blazing as if they were lit from the inside. As she looked up at him she knew her eyes would be the same, the power reflected there would be what she saw in Harry.
"Alright Harry, for you and everyone I'll be here. Please be careful alright I know what you have to do, I do honestly, but I still feel sick thinking about it."
He sighed and pulled Ginny against him crushing her smaller frame against his and not caring who else was watching he kissed her, one of his all consuming kisses that stole all rational thought from her mind. When they broke apart she had trouble catching her breath.
He leant his forehead against hers then, letting the feel of her sink into his body. He didn't want to go, didn't want to do this again; it had been hard enough the first time around. But when they had arrived, the moment his awareness had snapped back in he had felt it, the darkness crawling beneath his skin. He had felt it before but been less aware then, now with his full powers he knew what it was. He knew the shard of Voldemort's soul had been passed to him when his younger self had been displaced from the world and he had no idea why. Maybe it was because it was what was needed to happen, the piece of soul had to be destroyed and it had to be destroyed now.
Taking a breath he stepped away from Ginny, knowing this could very well be the last time he saw her. This had been part of his sacrifice for saving the people he loved, he knew this moment was going to come, and he had hidden it from Ginny. He pushed the guilt away knowing it wouldn't do him any good. A miracle had happened the first time round, he had survived to kill Voldemort, this time round he didn't know if it was going to play out the same. A part of him felt like he had used up his miracles saving everyone he loved, and he would gladly give his life for theirs, but when he looked at Ginny he ached. He wanted the life with her he had seen the moment she had shared her body with him.
He turned away from her then, unable to look at her anymore, unable to see the warmth in her face and not stay with her. He walked past McGonagall who just starred as he passed her mouth working but nothing coming out. He wanted to say a thousand things to her, a woman who stood by him year after year at school, and then after Dumbledore took the place of a mentor he desperately needed, but no words would come. So instead he lowered his eyes and walked right passed unable to meet her stare.
When he reached the doors, he looked up at the heavy wooden bolts holding the doors in place. Placing his hands against the doors he sighed and melted into the magic of the school disappearing in front of everyone.
There were gasps as Ginny watched Harry disappear but she didn't say a word, she just starred at where he had been the after image of his face etched across her eyelids. She wanted to reach out to him, she knew she could, she could touch his mind and be with him in an instant but she fought back every impulse screaming inside her body to go to him and turned away from the door. She felt her heart scream but she pushed it down swallowing it, and carefully she let out the breath she had been holding.
"Miss Weasley," professor McGonagall said drawing Ginny's attention.
She turned slightly to look at the woman, without looking at the doors. She could see the worry there, the millions of questions she was holding back but she couldn't say anything about it.
"We need to get everyone ready," Ginny closed her eyes and through her connection to Harry she could feel the castle around them, "they'll be here any second," she said opening her eyes again and walking away.
For a moment no one said anything, no one moved, and then it was as if someone had flicked a switch and everyone jumped into action. McGonagall watched Ginny leave and frowned, something more was going on here but she didn't have time to wonder. Turning back to the door she looked over the wards and was happy to see that they were still holding strong at least they had a little time left.