I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a long time. But I'll explain if you want to know what's going on in my life right now because it's actually pretty exciting for me!

Six months ago after my high school graduation, my parents separated and my dad moved out to California to get a job. Five and a half months ago, I decided to move out here and live with my dad. We are living up 7400 feet in the mountains, working at camp, 40 minutes away from Squaw Valley, and about an hour and a half away from Fresno, so we're pretty secluded. But it's beautiful up here, despite the fact that I don't get cell service or good wifi. But I have met the most amazing guy, Daniel, who I've been dating for about five months now. I'm extremely happy, away from my old life in good ol' Pennsylvania, and I'm loving my job as a front desk attendant in a National Park.

So that's what has been going on for me, and I'd love to hear about what's going on with you! I hope that my subscribers or whatever they're called are still interested in this story and I am wicked excited to finish it and be able to announce the ending of Darcy Potter stories whether you like it or not! Even if you never leave reviews or anything, I would love to hear from at least one person telling me they are still reading this story because I would love to know that people are still dedicated to this piece of work I have now been working on for about three or four years now.

Thank you very much for reading and staying loyal. May I present, Chapter 37 of Come Home.

OVER.

Lupin was amazed to say the least. Every doubt he ever had about the four suddenly vanished. Every time he scolded Darcy about not being able to do everything on her own – he regretted ever saying anything of the sort to her. Because after seeing Harry leap from Hagrid's limp arms, Lupin realized that the four friends knew exactly what they were getting into. They may not have had the best, well thought out plans – in fact, they basically made up everything as they went along – but they were so incredibly close to beating Voldemort when the Order couldn't accomplish that after how many years. Lupin knew that they were the only people who were capable of defeating the Dark Lord for good.

While part of Lupin wanted desperately to follow Darcy to wherever she was going, he knew that she would have wanted him to stay and fight and give her more time to complete her task. No one knew exactly what was going to happen – every person fighting against the Death Eaters placed their trust into Harry and Darcy blindly and that weight on the sibling's shoulders was massive, but they knew what had to be done. They knew people were counting on them. Harry and Darcy were not about to let the entire school down, not after all that the students and teachers had done for them.

Throwing his arms up wildly, Lupin deflected a spell sent his way by a cloaked Death Eater. The force sent him to the ground and knocked the wind out of him and he stayed still for a few seconds. It had to be so late – or so early in the morning. He was fatigued and in pain, but yet the battle raged on and he could not quit now. He blinked and looked up to see someone offering their hand. Lupin saw the long red hair and thought for a moment that it was Darcy, but after blinking a few more times and having his vision restored to normal, he noticed it was Ginny helping him to his feet, protecting them from numerous spells being casted towards them.

"We can hold off the front!" shouted Mr. Weasley from behind Lupin. His heart was pounding as he turned to the older man who was dueling a Death Eater, winning with ease. "There's plenty of us, Remus!"

Lupin stuttered, not sure how to respond or what he meant, but Ginny grinned at him. "Go find Darcy," said Ginny. "Go!"

"I – too many people have died – I shouldn't –"

"Yes, and you'll be next if you continue to make excuses!" Mr. Weasley laughed proudly, knocking a few enemies unconscious, clearly delirious. "There are plenty of us out here!"

Staring at the Weasley family with an incredulous look, Lupin thought back to all the times they had scolded him about being with Darcy. He thought back to when Mrs. Weasley had caught them together for the first time, or when Mr. Weasley had lectured him, and then remembered Mrs. Weasley lecturing him the past year about breaking her heart. And Lupin had never felt so fondly for the Weasley family before. They were looking after him, not just the other kids. He was part of the family too and they worried and cared about him just as much as they cared about Darcy and Harry. So Lupin nodded, looking rather wild. His hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot and bags forming underneath. His breathing was ragged and uneven and he wheezed, but still, he ran into the castle, looking for Darcy one last time.

Darcy felt as if all life had been restored to her. She felt like she had been born again. The mental and physical pain was suddenly not the only thing on her mind anymore. She had been sure that Harry was dead – she had already been thinking of ways she was going to cope without her baby brother around. The soreness of her tired muscles and the aching of the curse cast on her lingered; Darcy didn't know if she was going to be able to run for much longer, but adrenaline pumped energy into her legs, causing her to keep moving.

She remembered seeing Malfoy briefly in the courtyard, and wondered where he had gotten to in the whole mess of a battle. Darcy was done questioning Harry's task; there was a reason she was supposed to find Malfoy and she was going to find him if it killed her. After all, had Lucius actually tried to keep her from being killed? After all that he had done to her… Lucius looked tired of fighting, that much she knew. But was it possible that he had heard Darcy saved Malfoy from the burning Room of Requirement? Was that why? But who would have told him? Certainly not Draco… his pride was too much to admit to being saved by a Potter – the girl Potter nonetheless.

Turning into the Great Hall, Darcy scanned the room, trying to avoid looking at the bodies of Fred and Tonks on the ground. She knew that the Great Hall was the last place she should have looked because of who and what was in there. Darcy knew there was no stopping now. They were so close to victory she could taste it. They were so close to being able to live in peace, without Voldemort following their every move, lusting for their death.

Malfoy was nowhere to be found in the Great Hall, so Darcy decided to move on and search Hogwarts one floor at a time. The common rooms and dorms for all Houses were empty, blown open by dangerous spells. The classrooms were deserted, littered with pages from books and broken glass from the windows. The Room of Requirement was burned and destroyed; Darcy didn't even try to enter that room, afraid of the raging fire that may or may not have been put out.

Battle-worn and exhausted, Darcy hiked up to the Astronomy Tower, the last place she could think of to look. Climbing the noisy stairs was awful and terribly hard, but she continued to the top, sure that Malfoy was there – there was nowhere else he could be, unless he had played the coward and run away from the battle.

The night breeze felt good on her burned and broken skin and Darcy nearly jumped when she saw someone standing at the far end of the Tower, leaning against the guard rail. She hesitated, watching Malfoy stare down at the war still raging below, his head in his hands, his wand in his pocket.

"Draco," Darcy called quietly and she held her hands up in surrender when he turned around quickly, pointing his wand at her. Malfoy held it for a moment, pointing it directly at her heart before lowering his hand to his side, still clenching his wand very tightly. "Draco – I –" She didn't know what to say to him. His eyes were puffy and watery and his bottom lip was quivering so slightly. The two just stared at each other for what seemed like a long time. "Harry – he's alive, you know."

"Alive?" Malfoy rasped.

"Yes," nodded Darcy. "And he told me to come find you."

"Doubt it," Malfoy laughed nervously, trying to compose himself. "What would he want me for? To kill me? Or try to?"

Darcy grew impatient, despite the fact she had only been up in the Tower for a few minutes. She looked around the room and then at Malfoy again. "Draco – your – your father just saved my life outside a few minutes ago. And you – back at your own home! The scars on my shoulder… you didn't tell them."

Malfoy was silent, unbelieving that his father would actually attempt to save Darcy Potter. "Why did you pull me out of the Room of Requirement?"

She paused, not knowing how to answer his question. "I wasn't going to let you die, Draco. Not like that. Not then."

"I was about to kill you," he replied.

Darcy swallowed hard. "I know," she told him. "But I don't think you would have really done it."

Another moment of silence between the two made the tension thick.

"You need to get out of here," continued Darcy. "You need to find your mother and father and go, Draco. I'm sure that's why Harry wanted me to find you because – well, you don't belong here, fighting against us." She took a few steps forward towards Malfoy, trying to get him to put his wand away, out of sight. "Come with me, Draco, and let's find your mother and father."

Darcy held out her hand, offering companionship, but he just stared at her. She pleaded with her eyes, begging silently, and finally, Malfoy nodded and took just a tiny step towards her. Malfoy refused to take her hand, but instead, led her down the staircase, back towards the battle slowly dying down. They ran as fast as they could down the many flights of moving stairs, trying to avoid being dropped off at the wrong place. Unfortunately, as Malfoy stepped down four stairs, the stairs began to rumble and move and Darcy sighed, but jumped on the stairs with him, following Malfoy wherever the stairs were taking them.

Holding onto the staircase with one arm, Malfoy looked back at Darcy. "Why are you doing this?" he asked.

Shrugging, Darcy responded. "Maybe I'm nice."

"You've never been nice in the years I've known you."

"I know who the real bad guy is now."

Before Malfoy had a chance to answer her, there was a blast and the stairs stopped moving. Darcy tumbled down the stairs, hardly able to hear due to the loud bang. She felt her wand slip from her pocket and she tried to catch it, but it fell through her fingers and she watched it drop to the ground. Malfoy looked down, noticing the stairs weren't connected to a continuing staircase. "Darcy!" he shouted, but Darcy couldn't hear him and her vision was starting to fade. "Damn…"

Leaping down to the bottom of the staircase, Malfoy grabbed Darcy's small arm, whimpering and trying to not drop her. He spotted her wand and pointed his at it, but she began to slip from his grip and her legs dangled from the staircase. Malfoy heard a cackle from his left and turned quickly, throwing up a basic defensive spell to block the curse that had been shot at Darcy.

Straightening his arm and flicking his wrist with grace, Malfoy screamed, "Stupefy!" He watched the Death Eater fly backwards out a stained glass window and he put his wand away, trying to pull the half conscious Darcy up onto the stairs again. Grunting and moaning, Malfoy heaved her up onto the first five steps and he stood watch, making sure no one saw how helpless they were at the moment. He heard another spell whiz by his ear and he spot a spell at a Death Eater who looked on greedily. The Death Eater reflected his spell and shot Malfoy's wand far behind him. He braced himself for a painful death and then –

"Draco!"

Malfoy looked down and started breathing heavily. His mother and father were standing below, wondering whose feet were dangling off the stairs. "Mother!" Malfoy looked back at Darcy, knowing he could not leave her after she had saved his life multiple times. She was blinking for longer and longer each time. "Mother, please! I – I need – we need – help us…"

"Help who, Draco? Who is up there with you?" asked Narcissa and Malfoy looked at Darcy again, helping her to sit up so his parents could see her. And when he lifted her up, he saw the back of her head drenched in blood. Darcy had hit her head falling down the stairs and Malfoy felt sick to his stomach. He laid her back down and she moaned softly. Narcissa gasped and looked at her husband.

Lucius stared on at his son, who was breathing heavily, desperate for help. "Help, please…" Malfoy begged. "Please, mother."

Lupin was searching Hogwarts, fighting off Death Eaters and anyone who stood in his way. It had been a while since he had seen Darcy and he was starting to get worried. He needed to find her before something really bad happened, which could have been any moment with all the curses and jinxes being casted about, ricocheting off the walls and stairs and floor.

"Remus! Remus!"

Lupin spun on his heels and saw Harry sprinting towards him, covered in sweat and dirt. "Harry!"

"Where's my sister?" Harry bellowed, nearly tackling Lupin to the ground. Lupin noticed he harshness in Harry's tone as he repeated his question over and over again, expecting Lupin to know the answer. "Where's my sister, Remus? Where is she?"

"I – I don't know! I'm looking for her!"

"WHERE'S MY SISTER?"

"I don't know, Harry! Please, just listen – we can find her together!"

Harry's nostrils were flared and he looked like some kind of wild animal. But he accepted Lupin's offer and they headed off towards the stairwell, where they could get up high and have a better view point. But before they even reached the first staircase, they saw three white blonde heads walking towards them, supported a limp Darcy Potter. Harry stopped in his tracks and his blood boiled, thinking of how Malfoy had stabbed her in the back after saving his life in the Room of Requirement. He knew Lupin felt the same way, his heart shattering into pieces.

"Ma lfoy!" Harry growled, his voice echoing in the castle.

Instantly, Malfoy dropped his wand and stood his ground, making Harry unsure of what was about to come. Lucius's face was hard and unfeeling, while his wife stood with a strong hand around Darcy's bicep, keeping her up. Lucius seemed to hold Darcy with such disgust and disgrace, but more than likely did it out of either his son or wife's pleading. "You're going to kill me without even asking what happened, Potter?" Malfoy spat and Harry lowered his wand, his hand shaking.

Lupin clenched his jaw, staring at Darcy. He thought about just going over and taking her from the Malfoy's, but he stood still, afraid that one of them would kill him or Darcy on the spot. "Go ahead, Draco. We're all dying to hear." Lupin's voice was venom spitting from his mouth.

"She found me, Potter. Wasn't that the plan?" Malfoy asked and Harry nodded very slowly. "She fell down the stairs." He pointed up to half a staircase that had been blown away by a spell. Malfoy reached in his pocket, which sketched Harry out, but Malfoy pulled out a mahogany looking wand that looked suspiciously like Darcy's.

"You piece of –" Harry began, but shut his mouth quickly as Malfoy dropped her wand on the ground and kicked it over to the two men standing before him.

"Take her," Malfoy hissed. "Fix her up quickly."

Lucius Malfoy, without hesitation, nearly threw Darcy at Harry and Lupin, who caught her with ease and noticed her bloody head. Their hearts were racing with fear and anticipation, wondering what to do. Lupin eyed Malfoy and he crossed his arms.

"A life for a life."

"You are like your father, Darcy Potter. I believe that some are fooled by your appearance. They expect you to be your mother in your personality, but alas, you are not. You are the same brilliant troublemaker your father was. Although, I believe Harry has received most of his mother's genes. He is kind and compassionate – you are, as well, but without you, Harry would not be as brave as he is."

"Excuse me?"

"He adores you. Worships you. He loves you. You care for him, but not in a motherly way. I wouldn't expect you to be a mother figure to him; you are Harry are only a few years apart. I think it is best you act as a – concerned older sister. As long as you pave a good path for yourself, Harry will follow."

"I try to 'pave myself a good path.' My temper just flares sometimes and I can't –"

"I know you can't help it sometimes. I know, Darcy. You are doing the best you can."

"Harry, I'm not as strong as you think. I'm scared. I'm terrified. I just never wanted you to know."

"I know this might not mean a lot to you, but I'm always here, Darcy."

"Why wouldn't that mean a lot to me?"

"I – I – sometimes you just don't make it clear that…"

"I'm sorry, Harry. I do love you and I care about you and you're the most important thing to me."

"Before Lupin?"

"Harry, I'm serious. He means a lot to me, but you're my brother. And we've got to stick together. We have Sirius and each other. That's not a lot of family."

"Darcy!"

"What?"

"DARCY!"

Darcy woke with a start, dizzy from sitting up so fast. She touched the back of her head, remembering her terrible fall, but as she looked at her fingers, realized there was no blood. Looking around quickly, she noticed she was in the empty Great Hall, with Neville shaking her violently, back and forth. Neville saw her eyes open and dropped his arms to his sides, clenching his fists.

"Darcy!"

"What, Neville?" she replied frantically. "What's wrong? Where's Harry? Where's Malfoy?" She looked over her shoulder to find no one beside her. "Where's Remus?"

"The snake, Darcy! The snake!"

"Yes! Yes! What about the snake?"

"It's dead!"

Darcy's jaw dropped and she noticed the shiny red hilt of the sword sitting on the floor behind Neville, covered in Nagini's blood. He helped Darcy to her feet and held her still as she wobbled, regaining her balance. She looked at Neville, beaten half to death, but smiling proudly as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Neville…" Darcy couldn't believe that Neville had killed the snake – Voldemort was the only thing left to kill and it made her heart beat with excitement and anxiety. She held his shoulders. "Where's Harry?"

"Last I saw him, he was out in the courtyard," Neville breathed deeply and couldn't quite wipe the grin from his face. "They're all coming this way, Darcy! Be ready!"

She patted her pants pockets, beginning to panic. Darcy couldn't find her wand anywhere. "My wand, Neville – my wand –"

Out of Neville's back pocket in his torn up jeans, he procured a wand that Darcy was ecstatic to see. She snatched it from his hand and examined it quickly, just to make sure there was no damage to it. Thankfully, her wand was still intact and she gripped it tightly, readying herself for the battle coming her way. And all at once, people flooded in, and Neville jumped to Darcy's side, willing to duel with her against any enemies, still worried for her condition.

Darcy was amazed at the people who had entered the Great Hall. Centaurs were fighting with them, house elves had volunteered to help, led by none other than Kreacher, who promised vengeance for his long forgotten master. And for the first time, the winner of this war was blatantly obvious – the Death Eaters were slowly succumbing to the Hogwarts army. Voldemort was nowhere to be found through the mass of people, and neither was Harry.

There was a shout of arrogance and Darcy was immediately drawn to it, casting a Shield Charm to block a curse headed towards her and Neville. Neville shot back with ease and confidence and knocked the Death Eater to the ground. Voldemort had been the screamer, dueling Kingsley, Slughorn, and McGonagall, who were clearly having no trouble dodging his many spells and curses.

"Ginny!"

At the sound of Neville's concern, Darcy turned around, too distracted to cast any spells. Neville took care of her, protecting her and fighting back. Bellatrix had blasted a Killing Curse so close to Ginny that it had to have singed her hair. Ginny looked surprised and terrified, but her mother pushed her out of the way and held her wand up at Bellatrix, who was eager to duel her newest victim. Darcy grinned, proud of Mrs. Weasley for being so brave and nearly cheered when she heard her snarl, "Not my daughter, you bitch!"

Darcy ran up to Mrs. Weasley, leaving Neville a few feet behind her, ready to help Mrs. Weasley. Darcy was shoved out of the way and stumbled, watching as the two women attempted to kill each other. They were crazed and Bellatrix's smile was beginning to falter, realizing that Mrs. Weasley was much more talented than she had imagined.

There was a fading laugh, one that showed more fear than anything, and Darcy watched as the curse flowed through Mrs. Weasley's arm to her wand and directly at Bellatrix's chest. The witch stood still for a moment, holding her hand to her heart before falling to her knees and then the ground, refusing to move. Darcy knew that something big was about to happen – she spun on her heels quickly, looking at Voldemort, who had seen the entire duel and let out a scream that almost made Darcy's ears bleed. He raised his wand at Mrs. Weasley and opened his mouth to cast a curse, but a Shield Charm blocked it from reaching the older woman and Darcy saw the source of the spell –

"Harry!" Darcy ran up towards him, prepared to fight Voldemort alongside her brother, but Harry shook his head.

"It's me, Darcy," he told her, everyone listening to him intently. "It's always been me. Let me do this alone."

"Harry –"

"I can do this!" Harry shouted. "I know I can do this!"

A year ago, Darcy would have argued and told him he wasn't able to do it alone. She would have screamed and probably hurled a few spells at him, waiting for him to retaliate. But now, as she recalled every single thing Harry had done just in one night, Darcy knew that Harry was going to be okay. She did not doubt his ability or skill. She knew that Harry was strong and dedicated and good at heart, something that Voldemort was not. Harry was holding his wand with such a confident stance that Darcy knew who the winner was going to be, but her heart still was racing with fear.

Voldemort and Harry circled each other and Darcy grabbed onto Neville's arm, squeezing it tightly, glad there was someone beside her. Her eyes scanned the Great Hall for Lupin, but she could not find him and she began to worry that something terrible had happened to him.

"What will stop you from dying now when I strike?" Voldemort hissed, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

"A weapon more powerful than you have ever known," Harry retorted with a smirk, still ready to cast a spell at Voldemort at any given moment.

"You believe you know more magic than I, Harry Potter? Than Dumbledore?" Voldemort let out a terrifying laugh. "Dumbledore was weak and afraid to dare. I killed Albus Dumbledore!"

Darcy closed her eyes, remembering very clearly the night that she had watched Dumbledore die. And she knew that it was not Voldemort that killed Dumbledore. She knew it very well, but Voldemort did not know they knew the whole truth. Voldemort himself did not know the whole truth. He had been deceived and lied to by someone he trusted, just as Harry and Darcy believed they had been deceived.

"You didn't kill him," Harry told him right away. "Dumbledore had chosen his death – several months in advance with someone you believed to be your servant."

Voldemort scoffed. "What childish dream is this?"

"Severus Snape was never yours," Harry called out, letting everyone know the truth. "Snape was Dumbledore's from the moment you started hunting down my mother. I was wrong to believe Snape did not care for my sister. I was wrong to believe he was evil. He was on our side – on Dumbledore's side – on Darcy's side. Snape's Patronus was a doe and he led us to the sword of Gryffindor – he helped us!"

Wherever Lupin was, Darcy hoped he could hear the conversation going on. She hoped that Lupin could find out the truth from Harry instead of her. Darcy had tears in her eyes, so proud of Harry and everything he had achieved.

"The Elder Wand was never Snape's! He never killed Dumbledore with that intent! Dumbledore had already planned it with him! The wand –" As Harry spoke, Darcy saw Voldemort's eyes reduce to nothing but slits. Neville had grabbed her hand, his hand shaking. "Is Draco Malfoy's. And I disarmed Draco Malfoy. That wand belongs to me, Tom Riddle."

Hearing this built up a rage inside of Voldemort and everyone knew what was coming. He flicked his wrist and he screamed, "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry responded quicker than normal. "Expelliarmus!"

When the spells met, the impact shook the Great Hall and made the loudest blast Darcy had ever heard. She let go of Neville, plugging her ears, wanting nothing more than to run up to Harry and help him. This was it – only one of them was going to make it out alive – a 50/50 chance that Harry was going to survive and Darcy didn't think she could live if the outcome of this duel was Voldemort's reign.

But the Elder Wand had flown high up in the air, surprising Voldemort and Darcy had never seen a look of terror on the ugly man's face. Harry caught the wand with ease and breathed out heavily, watching as Voldemort's eyes rolled back into his head and he fell to the ground so gracefully that it almost seemed unreal.

And it was quiet.

And it was over.