Disclaimer: I own nothing!

The occupants of the safehouse were sitting around eating dinner when the call came in.

Hearing a POP! outside, Remus gave a confused look to Tonks, who was holding their one-month old baby Teddy, named for Tonks's fallen father. The werewolf jumped up and walked outside, wand ready for whatever, or whomever, might be invading the circle of safety the group had resigned themselves to over the last few months.

Once he stepped out, he knew what was happening. Mad-Eye looked him in the eye and said, "Harry's back at Hogwarts," before disappearing again. Running his fingers through his messy hair, Remus ran back in, wondering how he was going to keep Dora at bay.

"Who was it, Remus?" Maria looked worried, knowing that very few people had access to the wards around their temporary home.

Remus looked around the table at the concerned inhabitants. "That was Moody. All he said was that Harry has returned to Hogwarts."

Tonks's eyes widened. "Love, you know what this means, right?"

Amy gulped. "It's time, isn't it? Harry's ready to face…him? Already?"

A choking sound came from Maria as she stood. "I want to go."

Rachel paled and pulled on Maria's arm before Remus or Tonks could get a word out. "Ria, do you really think you'd help Harry by being there? I imagine he's happier with you being here, safe, than at Hogwarts, virtually weaponless and very much exposed. As much as I'd like to go help, I'm thinking clearly enough to know that there is no way I could help."

Amy nodded. "Same here. I miss those three, but they need to be focused on killing that mania, not worrying about us. We, and they, are safer if we remain here."

"Exactly. However, I'm going. Dean?" Remus looked at the teenager. Dean nodded solemnly and stood. He turned to his mother."

"Mum, I'll be back, and I'm bringing Hermione with me. I won't leave without her." Dean bent down to hug the woman who had taken care of him for seventeen years. "Love you, Mum."

"Love you too. I'll see you when you get back. Take care, love." Pamela Thomas looked at her son with pride.

Remus kissed Tonks and Teddy, looking his wife in the eye. "Dora, you stay here. Please, don't follow me. We'll take care of it all."

Tonks narrowed her eyes. "Just because I had a baby doesn't make me useless, Remus."

"I know, love. I just don't…I don't want Teddy to grow up like Harry had to."

"He's not. He'll have not only his mum, but his daddy here. Don't you go dying on me, Remus Lupin."

"I'll do my best, love. See you in a bit." Remus gave her one last kiss and walked outside with Dean. The two apparated, leaving only a faint POP! in their wake.

The household seemed frozen, except for Maria. With another strangled cry, she escaped to her room, praying to someone to keep Harry safe, for she knew that if anyone would willingly die for anyone, Harry Potter would be that man.

"Harry Potter," she gritted out to a blank wall, "you'd better come home to me. Don't you go dying on me."

Amy stood outside their door, silent tears falling as she thought of what the two girls had to lose. Easing the door open, she went inside to comfort the only sister she'd ever known.

Harry was sweating under the invisibility cloak. He had snuck out of the castle without anyone but Neville seeing him. Hermione and Ron knew to look for the snake, no matter what happened to Harry. They had found the diadem, destroyed it during a dangerous battle concerning Fiendfyre with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who had been released from the ministry as soon as Voldemort had taken over.

Harry couldn't believe that Dumbledore had kept the fact that he, Harry James Potter, was the final horcrux from the boy. No, Dumbledore never told him; he'd had to find out after watching Snape be killed by Voldemort himself. Snape…the bloody idiot! All along, the potions professor had been protecting Harry. All because of Lily…Harry's mother.

As the boy walked, he thought back over the last couple of years, the ones filled with a hazel-eyed, dark-skinned beauty who, he prayed, was still at the safehouse with her mother, Amy, Amy's parents, and Dean's mom. Maria was the reason he was walking out here, but she was also the reason he had thought about apparating out, deserting all of his friends. However, he wanted Maria to see magic for what it really was: magic, not a tool of control. He wanted her to see magic the way he did.

He'd hoped Tonks would stay behind with the baby, but she'd flown out of the Room of Requirement like a bat out of hell, looking for Remus. The werewolf was already a hero; he'd taken out many of Voldemort's werewolves, including Greyback, the one who'd turned Remus himself. Don't you two go get yourselves killed; that baby needs you.

Tears run down Harry's face as he reached the Forbidden Forest. With a sigh, he started into the woods, the snitch from his first Quidditch enclosed in his hand. Finally, he understood what the riddle, "I open at the close," meant. He eased the tiny, golden ball up to his mouth and whispered that damning sentence, the one that sentenced him to a forever without Maria.

"I am about to die."

Maria was on pins and needles, her need to see Harry suffocating her. Amy had left, needing to go out and breathe. Maria sat by her open window, feeling the air wash over her.

Suddenly, just as quickly as the breeze blew through her hair, a whisper floated around her, surrounding her and chilling her to the bone.

I am about to die.

Rachel Howard walked into her daughter's bedroom to find the girl on her bed, curled up in Harry's jersey, the only thing he had left behind for her, sobbing. Rushing to her side, she pushed back Maria's hair.

"Love, what is it? Amy said you were better."

"I heard him, Mum."

"Who, Ria? Who did you hear?"

"Harry. Just a few minutes ago. I was sitting by the window, and from out of nowhere, I heard the words, "I am about to die." It was Harry! I'd know his voice anywhere!" Sobs overtook the teenager again, threatening to choke her with intensity.

Rachel was confused. "You think he'd walk into a deathtrap willingly?"

Maria nodded. "If he thought it would save others, yeah. Harry went into this expecting to die; he never really thought he had a chance. He just promised me a wedding to make me feel better."

The girl's mother grabbed her daughter's shoulders. "Maria Gabrielle Howard, you listen here. I don't care what you heard; Harry's coming back to you. I know that as well as I know my name."

"How do you know, Mum?" A glimmer of hope peeked through, lighting up the green in the girl's hazel eyes.

"He's Sirius Black's godson. It'll take more than one snake-eyed bastard to kill him."

As it turns out, Rachel was right. After talking with his parents and Sirius through the Resurrection Stone he'd found in the snitch, Harry sought out Voldemort in the forest. He didn't fight back, but offered himself to the dark wizard, just like he knew he had to.

Talking to Dumbledore was hard at Harry's 'crossing point,' a replica of King's Cross Station, especially after knowing what the man kept from him all of those years. However, Dumbledore told Harry that because Voldemort had destroyed the horcrux inside of Harry, the boy now had the choice to 'continue on to the next great adventure' (die) or go back and finish off Tom Riddle once and for all.

Elated about his choice, Harry was sent back to the forest, where he pretended to be dead. A very merciful act of Narcissa Malfoy sent Harry back to the castle in Hagrid's strong arms. Harry hated feeling the tears Hagrid shed over him, wanting to tell the half-giant that he was alive, but he knew the big man would know soon enough.

Watching Neville kill Nagini was possibly the most amazing thing Harry had seen that night. He was still under the cloak, hiding from everyone until the right time. Damn, Neville has really stepped up his game. Must be Ginny's influence. With a slight smile, Harry entered the school and found his target: Voldemort. The man, because he was as human as a wizard could possibly be at the moment, seemed lose even more life as he watched Bellatrix Lestrange fall, thanks to one Dean Thomas.

Killing Tom Riddle had been fairly easy, especially since the Elder Wand didn't belong to him in the first place. All Harry had to do was send out his trusty Expelliarmus spell, normally meant to disarm his opponent, but in this case, it deflected Voldemort's killing curse and killed the man immediately. His body was left where it fell because suddenly, shouts rang out from everywhere. Surviving Death Eaters were rounded up quickly, and Harry found himself in the Headmistress's office with Hermione and Ron.

"Mate, you did it." Ron patted Harry on the back.

Harry shook his head. "No, we did it. And not just us; look at the DA members fighting tonight. Look at Fred and Collin; they were much braver than I ever could be. They…"

"Harry James Potter! Braver? Sure, they," Hermione began, looking over at the still grieving Ron, "fought hard until the end, but Harry, so did you! Hell, you died, Harry. You walked into that forest knowing you weren't meant to come out alive, yet you did it anyway. I'm not taking away from anyone who fought tonight; we all played a part, but Harry, without you, we'd still be living in fear of Voldemort." Hermione grabbed her best friend and hugged him tightly. "You're the reason most of us are still alive."

A knock came at the door. "Guys, there are some people who want to see you." Dean grinned and held his hand out to Hermione, pulling her up. "I don't think I can hold them back much longer."

The four teens walked downstairs to the entrance. Harry noticed her before she did him, and he began jogging to her, wanting to touch her one more time.

"Ria!" he cried as he grabbed her. The girl in his arms gripped him so tightly that even Hermione would have been jealous of her hold on him. "God, I didn't think I'd ever see you again!"

Maria pulled back and smiled. "Of course, you would have to see me again. We have a wedding to plan."

Harry kissed his fiancée, sighing in contentment. "I thought I told you to have that planned already."

Kissing him again, Maria smiled. "I didn't know exactly how long you'd be. Can't wait on an already-planned wedding indefinitely. Plus, I want your input as well."

"Well, I have my bride. I think I'm set."

"You're missing one thing, love."

Harry's head cocked to the right. "What's that?"

"You've got to take a hot bath before I marry you. Love, tent life doesn't agree with your hygiene. I thought it was sexy last time I saw you; now you just stink."

Harry laughed as he spun Maria around. "I can't wait to marry you."

"Well then, let's find you a bathroom!"

Maria wondered if she should tell Harry about her knowing he had walked into a trap, knowing he was going to die. She decided that honesty was best.

The two were lying on Harry's bed in Gryffindor tower, or what was left of the tower. Thankfully, most of the dorms were still intact, allowing the three 'heroes' (Harry hated the title already) to stay together. The other housemates had visited to check on everyone, and McGonagall insisted that everyone stay at the school for at least one night.

Ron was still with his family, but now he had Amy beside him as well. Ron had grabbed the girl and kissed her, apologizing profusely about the trouble he had caused her, and she did the same, claiming that she didn't know that Ron would 'go off the deep end' when he'd heard about her family.

"Harry…?"

"Yeah, love?"

"Last night, when you went to face him..."

Harry sat up and looked at Maria. "Yeah?"

Deep breath. "Did you utter the sentence, "I am about to die," before you walked in?"

"How did you know? You have some sort of Seer abilities?"

Maria shook her head. "None that I know of." She told him about hearing his words just before he walked to his death. Harry was amazed.

"This has never happened before?"

"Never." Maria would have known this.

"You know," Harry began, "I've learned throughout my seven years in this world, magic needs no explanation. Apparently, you were meant to hear me in that moment, which just happened to be my weakest. I had just thought about deserting, coming back to you instead. However, I couldn't do that to my friends and all of the others fighting. I'm a Gryffindor, for Merlin's sake! Plus…"

Maria rubbed his hand. "What is it?"

"Maybe the only reason I didn't come back to you was because I had no idea where you were. Remus was smart not to tell me, or Voldemort would probably still be alive. I knew, though, when I uttered that phrase, that once I did this, Voldemort was as good as dead. I had to make sure you'd be okay, Ria."

"And you did this by dying, how?"

"As long as Voldemort is dead, you're safe, whether I'm here or not. Letting him kill me also killed a part of himself, making it, after Neville killed Nagini, possible to kill Tom Riddle himself."

Maria buried her head in his chest as he lay back down. She thought about what all had happened, according to Harry, Hermione, and Dean. She couldn't believe that Fred Weasley was gone. She wondered if George would ever truly smile again… Also, seeing Harry after almost four months of no contact made Maria realize that this man was the one she wanted. Absence had not affected their feelings toward each other, and Maria vowed to get this wedding planned as quickly as she possibly could

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" he whispered into her hair.

"I love you."

"I love you, and Ria?"

"Yeah?"

"We're taking that long honeymoon I promised. You plan the wedding, and I'll worry about our trip, okay, love?"

Settling into Harry's chest, which finally smelled clean, she sighed before dozing off. "I can't wait."

The next morning, after a very restful night's sleep, Harry, Maria, Dean, and Hermione made their way down to breakfast, which was not as extravagant as usual, but it satisfied the hunger of the ones still at the damaged school.

The four found Ron and Amy already eating. Sitting by her best friend, Maria reached around and patted Ron on the shoulder. "How are you, Ron?"

Ron's blue eyes, solemn, but dry, sought out Maria's. "I'll live, but it's so hard, Maria. Poor George is taking it harder than anyone. Dad's staying around him as much as possible, afraid of what he might do alone."

This description of George saddened the group even more. Amy laid her head on Ron's shoulder, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. He smiled a bit and kissed her head.

"I'll go see them in a bit. Are Tonks and Mooney still around?" This came from Harry.

Amy nodded. "Remus is here. Tonks went to get Teddy."

Hermione smiled. "So they named him Teddy?"

"Teddy Remus Lupin. He'll be six weeks old tomorrow." Dean grinned at this. Everyone living in the house had taken to the baby, each volunteering a shift to watch Teddy. Tonks would miss all of her nannies when she and Remus returned home.

Harry smiled. "Damn. I have a godson."

"Who needs to be changed. Want to volunteer, Harry?" Harry turned to see Tonks grinning at him with a bundle clutched to her chest. The boy jumped up, with Hermione not far behind, to see the baby.

"Teddy," he breathed. He was perfect. He couldn't wait to spoil this child rotten. In fact,… "Ria, we're going shopping as soon as possible. This boy needs some things that only Uncle Harry can give!"

The table laughed as Tonks passed the bundle to Harry. "I wasn't joking about him needing a changing. I've grown used to having other people around to watch him. I'll miss it…I mean, all of you!"

Hermione, taking Teddy from Harry, laughed. "Sure, Tonks. Whatever you say."

The four spent the rest of the day visiting the Weasleys for a bit, helping with the cleanup that had already begun, and giving Maria a tour of the school. The thing that impressed her the most had to be the Sorting Hat, which Harry showed her to explain how each house was separated.

"Which house do you think I'd be in, Harry?" Maria and Harry had managed to lose Hermione and Dean around the third floor, where they had found an empty room "to talk."

"You? Gryffindor, of course! You're too brave to be in any other house!"

"Brave? Now what brave act of mine suggests that I'd be a Gryffindor?"

Harry laughed. "Agreeing to marry my sorry ass!"

Maria swatted him before kissing him square on the mouth. "So, when do you want to do this?"

Harry was confused. "What?"

"Get married."

"We need some time, so, end of June? The 25th okay with you?"

"Amazing with me, Harry. A wedding on my birthday! I can't wait!"