Chapter 29
Tom Riddle
Harry watched as Dementors began pouring into the town. His mother's screams were now audible and he could hear every word she screamed to Voldemort the night she died.
Harry turned around and looked at the group in front of him. They had defiantly grabbed their wands from their robe pockets and held them in front of themselves. He smiled. They were there for him and with their combined power they could win.
As the Dementors came closer, a stampeding sound came rumbling down the streets of Hogsmeade.
The children watched closely as Death Eaters came down the streets after apparating there. They were sending spells quickly catching the kids off guard but none were hit immediately.
Harry took a deep breathe and sent a stunning spell at one death eater who dodged it easily. A whisk of blue light came out of the other person's wand and flew towards Harry who rolled out of the line of fire. The man was cackling and was unaware as Harry sent a final stunning curse towards him. He fell to the ground stiff and unconscious. He tied him up and used the anti-apparation spell he had learned from Dumbledore on him. Harry looked up.
The death eaters were swarming. Taking one last look Harry ran into the battle ready for whatever came after him.
Ginny was nervously stunning and binding as many death eaters as she could. She was close to crying when one person had fallen and hit a rock. They began to bleed heavily and Ginny didn't know what to do. She left the body there in shock and went to fight anyone else who came between her and the way out.
As she passed Neville who was bravely fighting a chuckling, squeaky voiced woman, Ginny noticed some of their friend's bodies on the ground as well. She was running when she tripped. She turned over on her back and put her hand over her mouth so she wouldn't scream.
Dean was lying lifelessly on the ground; blood was coming out of his side. He seemed to be holding on by a limb and Ginny crawled to him.
"Don't worry Dean," she whispered shakily into his ear, "it's going to be okay. I'm here and I'll save you."
Ginny stealthily made herself blend into the environment along with Dean and she dragged him as fast as she could into an alley way. She took the charm off of herself and Dean and felt his side. It was covered with blood and she cringed.
Racking her mind, Ginny thought back to what Madame Pomfrey was telling her about how to heal slasher charms. It took her a moment to remember but she smiled as she said the correct charm. Dean's bleeding stopped and she conjured up a blanket that she disillusioned. She covered Dean up and ran out of the alley way.
Harry was desperately trying to drive out the sounds in his mind. His mother's voice was shrill and Harry could just imagine her holding him as a baby protectively to her chest. He could just imagine her thoughts of his father dying; her dying; herself leaving Harry all alone for the rest of his life.
He took a deep breathe.
"Don't think about it now Harry," he told himself, "there will be time later to worry but now is not the time. You have to save your friends and everyone else. Do it for Ron and Hermione; do it for Ginny."
Harry smiled slightly as he thought of Ginny and she brought him strength. She was what he needed to be strong. Taking one last look at the unconscious bodies, Harry turned and began dueling again.
Ron was frustrated. He had fought two death eaters and already he had been stunned and gotten cut on the arm.
Although the cut was superficial it was bleeding and the blood was running down Ron's left arm. He was dueling with one arm while the other hung limply at his side.
He had successfully put down Narcissa Malfoy and another male death eater. Ron was watching around him though. He was noticing the people falling; some D.A. members others Death Eaters.
He was also keeping a close eye on Hermione who was fantastically fighting death eaters and stunning them. Ron had to smile as she whooped when she cut down another and tied him up.
"Boy," someone yelled to him. Ron turned quickly but came face to face with another death eater. He moved backwards and held his wand in front of him.
"STUPEFY!" Ron yelled. The death eater jumped out of the way and quickly yelled:
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Ron had no time to think. The spell was coming towards him along with death.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled. The disarming spell worked and Harry caught the death eater's wand easily.
Knocking him out, Harry ran around the crowd trying to find his closest friends.
He could see Ginny fighting off a short death eater. Hermione was shooting spells at random hitting each of her targets but Harry couldn't seem to find Ron.
Suddenly, he heard a yell of 'Avada Kedavra' and Harry saw the color green flashing.
He looked for its target and sure enough it was Ron. Harry was close to him; close enough to move him out of the way.
Harry ran off in a sprint. He couldn't help but notice the fear in Ron's eyes as he came close. Harry yelled as he jumped forward and pushed Ron out of the way in the knick of time.
Harry however felt the spell. It skimmed his shoulder leaving a large burn mark. He felt woozy. The spell had caused him to feel dizzy and sick and weak all at the same time. Ron was on the ground looking at Harry in amazement. Harry was now standing wobbling about. He just couldn't stand straight.
"Harry, you saved my life," Ron whispered standing up. He pulled Harry into a real hug this time and Harry felt himself drifting. His vision was blurring even with his glasses.
Almost as soon as Harry felt faint, he heard someone screaming and a high shrill laugh coming into the air.
He knew both sounds.
Ginny was fighting for her life now. The death eaters weren't using law-abiding curses. They were sending the three unforgivable curses including the killing curse. She had been shot at almost four times now and she was shaking from head to toe.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Thinking it was a D.A. member she let out a sigh of relief. She turned around and couldn't help but scream.
Behind her was a snake like man. He face was white as a ghost and his beady red eyes stuck out. His face was thin and looked somewhat scaly. So this was what Voldemort looks like.
He let out a laugh; it was high-pitched and cynical.
"You must be Ginny Weasley," he said quietly to her. He was smiling.
She didn't answer.
"Oh I know who you are of course. You are what Harry Potter cares most about so I think I'll need you," he said pulling her arm. She was in shock.
She kept thinking the same thing. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die.
Harry ran as fast as he could. He was still wobbly and now though, he was shaking madly from both the effects of the curse and fear. Ginny screamed. Something was wrong.
He was shocked when Voldemort met him in the middle of the battle. He was holding a shaking and pale Ginny.
"Well Harry Potter, we meet again," he said evilly to the young man. Harry looked at him disgustedly.
"Hello Tom. Fancy meeting you here." Voldemort looked infuriated at the use of his real name.
"Don't use that name," he spat, "Now, I have something you love dearly. If I am correct, which I always am, you will do anything for her to come back. Potter, if you don't want me to kill your little girl friend, you will take this portkey and come with me."
Harry stared at him. It was Ginny or death. He loved Ginny with all his heart and knew he would not be able to live without her and knowing her death was on his shoulders.
He looked at Ginny who was shaking and crying now. She was shaking her head telling Harry no continually. He mouthed "I love you" to her and turned back to Voldemort.
"Give me the portkey."
Voldemort smiled and threw Ginny forward. She yelled as she hit the ground hard. Harry gritted his teeth and moved forward. As he was walking, he heard a series of pops. The Order and Auror's were here. They were here too late.
Everyone seemed to stop around Harry and Voldemort. They watched as Harry walked up to him. He pulled up Ginny and kissed her on the cheek.
Harry could hear people yelling for him. He felt like he was having De Ja Vu all over again from the end of fifth year.
He was standing face to face with the snake-like man now. Voldemort smiled and activated the portkey; he handed it to Harry.
Everything began to fade away but the last thing that Harry saw in Hogsmeade was Ginny looking at him in horror. He could see her tears begin to fall and he saw her try to catch him before he was gone. Harry saw the images of people start to fade and he felt the pull behind his navel.
