The first thing he did was to hold Lucy in his arms. Silently. For a long time.

"Edmund... what happened before you left for the past?" Susan asked in a soft voice.

Ed let his sister go, and sat on the stairs.

"It was... it was my fault. When we were at the Malfoy's manor, one of the death eaters got inside my brain, and he saw Lucy in my thought. And he thought he could use her as a leverage against me. So when he saw her in the school's corridors, he..."

He didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to. There was a moment of silence, and then he felt Lucy's hand gently squeezing his.

"It's okay, Ed. I'm okay, now."

"I should have saved you. Not Fred. I should have protected you. The wizard who... he was the one who sent Harry to Voldemort. He first tried during the quidditch world cup, and then he tried again at the end of the Tournament. He was caught, and he... he received what they call the dementor's kiss. That's when a creature takes your soul out of your body. I watched him receive that. And I felt... happy."

"By saving this young man's life, you did the right thing, Edmund." Susan said. "And then you made sure this future never happened. You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I don't want you to suffer because of me..." he said in a whisper. "And I know the battle is not over yet..."

He stopped talking, not daring to finish his sentence. Caspian got up.

"I think what Edmund is trying to tell us, is that it's time for us to go back home."

Edmund sent him grateful look, and nodded.

"What?!" Peter reacted. "No way, we're not leaving you alone!"

"But why would you want us to leave?" Susan asked.

"I could never forgive myself if I was to lose any of you. And I can't be efficient in battle if I'm constantly worried about you. Peter, I'm sure you understand."

The high king looked down.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Lucy asked in a serious tone.

"Yes."

"All right, then..."

She got up as well, imitated by her brother and sister.

"Aslan, bring us home, please."

The four Narnians took each other's hand, and on a roar that filled Edmund's heart with hope, they disappeared. He kept his eyes on the place where they had stood for a moment, and then focused on what was about to come. He barely had time to come back to his mind before Voldemort's amplified voice called for all students and professor to gather in the courtyard. He hence joined Hermione and the Weasleys, and they all went out. In front of them, coming from the forest, he saw the death eater's army marching to them, Lord Voldemort himself leading the march. Behind them, chained up, was Hagrid.

"Dad..." He heard Ginny say. "What's in Hagrid's arms?"

Edmund thought the world was collapsing around him. In the arms of the giant was Harry's dead body.

"Harry Potter is DEAD!" Voldemort victoriously shouted.

"NO!" Ginny screamed.

"Silence, little fool! Harry Potter is dead. You fought for nothing. Your friends died for nothing. But you fought with great courage. Join me. Or pay the price of your puny rebellion. Well? Who shall come first?"

With no surprise for anyone (except for Edmund who didn't know he was with them), and under his parent's pressure, Draco walked to the Dark Lord. The second one to step out was Neville.

"Traitor!" Dean exclaimed.

Neville didn't even grant him a look.

"Neville Longbottom!" Voldemort reacted, causing his troops to laugh. "Well, well, I have to say, I was expecting something a little bit... better. But I'm sure we can find a use for you..."

"I'd like to say something." The young man interrupted.

A flash of irritation passed in the Lord's eyes, but he invited him to talk anyway.

"Harry Potter is gone." Neville started. "And there's no point in denying it. Yes, Harry lost, just like Dumbledore. But they will never be gone for real! Harry will never be really dead! As long as there is someone to believe in him! And to fight for his cause! And I will be one of them!"

That's the moment Harry chose to reveal he was still alive. He rolled out of Hagrid's arms, got back on his feet, and the battle started again. Edmund, who had stayed focused, went back in battle with all his heart. Just like Ron, Neville and Hermione, for some time, he tried to kill Voldemort's snake. The very last horcrux. But he was distracted in his task when, with a flash of bright light and a ripping sound, the one being that was haunting his dreams for the last six years appeared in front of him. Jadis, the white witch.

"Edmund..." she said in a caressing voice.

The young king stepped back, shaking his head.

"No!" He said. "You're not real. I saw you die."

The witch let out a laugh, and Edmund felt his blood freezing in his veins.

"Did you really think I could be killed so easily, son of Adam? I will always be with you."

Edmund suddenly came back to his senses.

"I've killed you twice, before. I can do it again."

As he said this, he saw something shining on the ground. It seemed to come from an old hat. Edmund noticed it was a sword. With a lion head for the pommel. Gryffindor's sword. He picked it up, and the witch took her stance. They started fighting, but Jadis rapidly took the lead. Edmund was forced to go backward, until he stumbled against the stairs. His attention was distracted when he saw Hermione, Ginny and Luna battling up against Bellatrix Lestrange. The three young women seemed to have difficulties fighting her, even though the spells seemed to avoid Luna.

"Edmund, watch out!" Hermione called out just before she nearly avoided a curse.

The young man rolled to dodge the hit his enemy was sending him, and then, still on the ground, sent a jab to her belly. The sword got through, and the witch gasped. When he took his sword back, Jadis vanished in a plume of dark smoke. He had vanquished. He suddenly heard a series of explosions, and a concert of angry hisses. He got on his fit, and turned his eyes to the source of the noise. Neville was fighting the snake.

"Neville, catch!"

And he threw the sword to him. The wizard caught it on the fly, and with a cut, he chopped the snake's head off. Edmund then decided to help Luna — and Hermione — fight against Bellatrix. But the mad witch was now facing Molly Weasley, who managed to paralyse her, and then made her explode. Soon, a heavy silence fell on the castle, followed by the sudden cries of despair coming from the death eaters. Lord Voldemort had fallen, and so had his most faithful servants. The others judged it was wiser to surrender.