Arya lands outside the wards of the Burrow and walks through them. She can see Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen and Arya almost bolts to her. She just wants to be in a warm house and feel the love of a mother again.
Arya knocks on the door and Mrs. Weasley opens the door with her wand pointed at Arya.
"Why did your vacation end early?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Because vampires killed my relatives and wanted to kill me," Arya says.
Mrs. Weasley drops her wand and pulls Arya into a hug. She melts into the hug and just lets herself be held by her pseudo-mother.
"It's been a while, my dear," Mrs. Weasley says as she cups Arya's face and looks up at her with the love for a child.
"I'm sorry, but I've had to hunt the horcruxes down and evade a vampire. I'm sorry I had to miss Bill's wedding. I'm sure it was lovely," Arya says.
"Why do you do this alone? Why not ask for help?"
"I don't need my friends to be in danger because I have a vampire after me."
Mrs. Weasley pulls her into the kitchen and sets a plate in front of Arya. She digs in and starts explaining her hunt so far. A knock sounds again and Mrs. Weasley goes to the door again. She hears Mrs. Weasley questioning the person, and then the door opening wider.
Arya continues eating before she continues eating, but stops when she sees the person that walks in behind Mrs. Weasley. Remus stands there and Arya drops her fork. She rushes over to him and wraps him in a hug. Remus squeezes her tighter before they let go of each other.
"Arya Dahlia Potter, where have you been? I have been worried sick about you," Remus scolds.
Arya just hangs her head before she answers him.
"Well, I went to Italy with the Dursleys and we went on a tour of a castle, but it turns out there are vampires residing there. They killed the Dursleys and I got out in the nick of time," Arya explains.
"And how did you get out?" Remus asks.
"I might have created an illegal portkey and then bought the first plane ticket here, and now I have a vampire on my tail. So I went on the horcrux hunt to defeat Voldemort," Arya says.
Mrs. Weasley lets out a gasp.
"You can't say his name," she says.
"Why?"
"He's put a taboo on it and snatchers will come."
Arya's eyes widen as she looks at Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm sorry, I need to get out of here," Arya says as she runs out of the Burrow with Mrs. Weasley and Remus running after her.
She gets out of the warding line and then the snatchers appear. Arya fights them with vigor, and now knows she'll be able to last. She fights to kill because she's done with saving.
"Give up, Potter, you're no match," one of the snatchers calls out.
Arya snarls and launches a sectumpsempra at him. She can smell the blood before she shoots a killing curse at another. She can feel the crucio overtake her body and she falls to the ground, writhing in pain. Then she fights through the pain and shoots a killing curse at the last snatcher.
Arya falls back onto the ground because of the pain, then she feels a pair of arms scoop her up and the familiar pull of apparation. She passes out when they arrive at the new location.
Arya wakes up in a warm bed, so much different than the stiff cot she's been using. She jerks awake, not used to the feeling of the bed. She grabs her wand and surveys her location. She's never been here, but she can see how homely it is.
Arya gets out of the bed and walks to where she thinks the dining room is. She can hear laughter and slowly lowers her wand. She creeps around the corner and sees Remus and Tonks with a baby.
"Arya, this is what I actually came to Mrs. Weasley for," Remus says.
"When did this happen?" Arya asks.
"He's only a month old," Tonks says.
"What's his name?"
"Teddy."
Arya walks over to them and Teddy's eyes latch onto this new person.
"We want you to be his godmother. In case something happens to us, we want to know he'll be safe," Tonks says.
"I accept," Arya says as Teddy is given to her.
His features immediately shift to match her own. She can feel the tears welling up and she lets a smile grace her features. She lets herself hold Teddy before she hands him back to Tonks. She steels herself for what she is about to do next.
"I can't stay here, I need to continue fighting. Thank you for taking me here, but I need to leave," Arya says.
Remus gets out of his seat and grips Arya's shoulders.
"Promise me you'll be safe," he says.
"I promise," Arya says.
Remus brings her into a hug before letting her leave. Arya leaves the house with her stuff and she can feel Magic pulling her to a place and she apparates there, letting Magic guide her. Magic takes her to Hogwarts and Arya puts on her invisibility cloak. Magic is guiding her towards the Room of Requirement.
She paces before the tapestry and when the door appears, she goes in. She looks around the room and can see piles of junk. To make it easier for herself, she brings the horcrux to her instead of searching for it.
"Accio horcrux," Arya says.
Something flies off of a bookshelf and into Arya's hand. Ravenclaw's Diadem is sitting in her hand, looking innocent, but Arya knows better. She can feel the evil radiating off of it. She sets the diadem on the ground and brings out the Sword of Gryffindor. She stabs the diadem and it lets out a god awful screech as Voldemort's soul leaves the diadem.
Arya slumps down onto the ground. She hopes this is the last horcrux that she has to destroy. But now she has to defeat Voldemort.
Demetri follows Arya's scent to a house that looks like it could fall over at any moment. But then the scent disappears and leads him on a wild goose chase. He follows it to a quaint house where he can see two people and a baby. He can smell the werewolf in there, but doesn't let his instincts take over.
Finally he follows her scent to a school. He senses no more movement from her scent and knows she is still here. He keeps to the shadows and follows her scent. It drives him wild and when he makes it to a corridor, he can smell it so strongly here.
He can see a door open, but no one walks out, which confuses him because he can smell her. She is the most delicious thing he has wanted to taste.
Arya's hair stands up on the back of her neck and she knows she isn't alone anymore. She turns and can see red eyes in the darkness. The vampire has finally found her. She calms her breaths, he isn't the worst thing she's had to deal with.
Then she hears an explosion and feels the castle shake. Arya doesn't think about the vampire anymore and goes to the source of the explosion. She can see Voldemort and his army advancing on the school. She runs back to the Gryffindor common room and knocks on the portrait. Someone opens it for her, but doesn't see anything.
Arya slips in and can see her friends and it pains her to see them after almost a year. Arya finally takes off the invisibilty cloak and reveals herself to the Gryffindors.
"Arya!" Hermione shouts before launching herself at the girl.
Arya wraps her arms around Hermione.
"Why are you here?" Hermione asks.
"Destroying a horcrux. I don't know how many are left, but the majority have been destroyed," Arya explains.
"And you did this on your own?" Hermione scolds.
"I also have a vampire hunting me, and I didn't want to put you in danger."
"What happened last summer?"
"The Dursleys took me with them to Italy and we went on a tour of Volterra. Turns out vampires live there and feed off of tourists. I barely escaped with a portkey, and now a vampire is hunting me."
"Oh Arya."
"But that is not important right now. Voldemort is marching towards Hogwarts with his army and I need everyone under year six out of here. You handle the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws and I will deal with the Slytherins. When you have everyone that wants to fight, gather in the Great Hall."
"Okay, but don't do anything too stupid."
Arya turns around to look at Hermione.
"Don't worry, stupid will find me."
Arya walks out of the common room and down to the dungeons. She can see the harm of Hogwarts and it breaks her heart. On her way down she comes across the Carrows. She shoots a killing spell at one of them and a sectumsempra at the other.
Any more death eater "teachers" she comes across ends up dead. She isn't looking to save anymore. She's done enough of that.
Arya finally gets to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Open," Arya says in parselmouth.
It opens instantly for her and she can see eyes looking at her. She can see hate and confusion in their eyes.
"Potter?" Malfoy asks.
"Yes, and I come here to ask for your help against Voldemort. I know many of your family members fight with him and I'd be asking you to fight them. If you don't, get out of the castle. But the fight will eventually start and I'd like to see you out there. If you want to fight gather in the Great Hall. But I also need you to get anyone under sixth year out of here. They don't need to fight in this war," Arya tells Malfoy.
"I'll see what I can do."
Arya just nods before she leaves the common room. It went better than expected. Then she casts her patronous. She is shocked that her animal has changed from a stag to a lioness.
"Tell Kingsley Shaklebolt that he is here. Gather the Order and come to Hogwarts to fight," Arya tells the patronous before it darts off.
Arya stalks towards the Great Hall and can see students there along with teachers. She can see Snape at the top of the dias and rage overtakes her. She stalks towards the dias and everyone gets out of her way.
Before she can fire off a spell, McGonagall is in front of her and blocking her view.
"Get out of my way, Professor. He doesn't deserve to live. He is a vile man who killed Dumbledore and bullies his students," Arya snarls.
"I can't let you do that, Potter," McGonagall says.
"He went to Voldemort and begged for my mother's life. He's a sick man. You never deserved her!" Arya shouts at Snape. "You don't deserve to stand where he stood!"
"Potter!" McGonagall scolds.
Arya finally looks at McGonagall and she can see the love in her eyes that is directed at Arya. She can see a mother's love.
"Let me handle him. You handle the students," she says softly.
"Yes, Minnie," Arya smirks.
Arya lets McGonagall deal with Snape and sees her easily defeat him. He runs out of the room and out of the school. Arya turns towards the students that have joined the Great Hall. She can see Slytherin House there as well.
"I know I am asking a lot for asking you to fight with me, but this is our school. I will not let it stand to be ruined. I thank you for joining me," Arya says.
She can still feel eyes on her and directs her eyes towards a pair of red eyes. She should be running in fear, but not right now. She is done running, she is going to protect her school. The doors burst open and Arya directs her wand towards them, until she sees the Order. She lowers her wand and lets a smile overtake her face.
"Glad you could join us," Arya says.
Another explosion rocks the castle. Arya rushes out of the room and towards the courtyard. She can see the army advancing towards the castle. Arya's face morphs into a snarl as she watches the army. Then her hair stands on end.
She glances to the side and the vampire finally shows his face.
"A temporary truce. I help defeat this army, and afterwards, you come with me," he speaks.
"I think I can deal with that," Arya says.
They shake hands. Arya turns around and sees students, teachers, and the Order behind the two of them. She can see Slytherin robes mixed in. She sees McGonagall do a spell and suddenly the suits of armors and statues are coming alive and going around the school.
Arya directs her attention to the students.
"No matter what, you protect this school and your self and friends. Seamus, I need you to take down the bridge, do what you do best," Arya says.
"Yes!" Seamus shouts in glee as he runs off to the bridge.
"The rest of you will be fighting them."
Arya turns back around and launches into the fight. She shoots curse after curse, cutting and killing. Arya moves around the school, killing any death eaters in her way.
She gets to the seventh floor and sees Percy and Fred dueling death eaters. She joins the fray and helps them defeat the scum.
"Hey minister! I'm resigning!" Percy shouts and Fred lets out a laugh.
"Who knew you could be funny, Perce," Fred says.
One of the death eaters shoot a spell at the wall and Arya makes the split second decision. She tackles Fred away from the wall and thankfully on get hit with a couple brinks.
"Thanks, Arry," Fred breathes out as he helps her up.
"No problem. It's kinda my thing," Arya smirks at him before she goes down the stairs.
She is merciless with her spells and even though many on her side are fighting to injure and not kill, she doesn't follow those rules.
She gets to the first level of Hogwarts and then there are five death eaters dueling her. All at once a crucio, diffindo, and impedimenta are shot at her and Arya has to bring up a quick shield, but the crucio gets through her shield and she drops to her knee, struggling to fight through the pain. She looks up at the wizards with fury in her eyes.
The first spell she shoots is aimed at the death eater on her left and he bursts into flames before he can think to counteract the spell. Another steps forward and they shoot spell for spell, a diffindo, confringo, bombarda, and expulso. Then Arya finally defeats him with a diffindo, severing his head from his body.
The next two step forward. She looks at the wizards in front of her and casts two conjuctivitus curses in quick secession, closing the eyes of her opponnets before shooting two ebublio at the two, watching as they expand and turn into bubbles.
"The savior, not so much anymore. Doesn't even try to save the other side," one snarks.
"I'm done trying to save people," Arya snarls.
He shoots the tell tale red of the cruciatous curse, and Arya dodges it with ease. She smirks at him, and in return shoots a disarming spell at him. The death eater dodges and when he sees the fury in her eyes, his eyes widen. Arya uses every spell in her arsenal to defeat him, he dodges most of them, but he does not avoid her impedimenta and he is thrown into the wall. She can hear a crack and he slowly gets up.
"So that's how the Savior wants to play," he snarls at her.
His spells get deadlier and once or twice he shoots a killing curse at her. She dodges each spell before she feels the need to retaliate.
"Oh, I'm just getting started," Arya taunts the death eater, wanting to get him off his game.
She sends a depulso at him and sends him into another wall. She doesn't let him get back up as she places a leg lock curse on him. Arya stalks forward as a predator would it's prey. He tries to shoot spells at her, but with a quick shield, they are absorbed.
She goes to cast her final spell, ending his life, but is hit with the cruciatous once more. She grits her teeth as she tries to keep the pain at bay. She tries her damned hardest not to scream, and is mostly successful. She falls to her knees before she finally ends the death eater with a sectumsempra.
Arya gets off the floor and looks around the hall. There is so much destruction that has been done. She can hardly see the floor with how much blood has been spilled.
Arya stalks through the halls, bringing down death eaters with a flick of her wrist before she gets to the courtyard. She can see Voldemort dueling two wizards and she almost joins the fray if Bellatrix hadn't stepped in front of her.
"Itty bitty baby. Here to play, are you?" Bellatrix taunts.
"I have to say, I really took your advice to heart," Arya snarls before sending a cruciatous at the witch.
She barely dodges it and there is an evil smirk painting her lips. Bellatrix looks behind her at someone.
"It looks like you won't see the new day because of the vampire," Bellatrix laughs.
"Oh no, he's with me," Arya says before stepping to the side and letting the vampire take Bellatrix on.
Arya moves away from the battle as she stalks towards Voldemort.
Demetri has to admit, he wasn't expecting this much fight from the little witch. She is certainly a force to be reckon with as he follows the destruction she leaves behind. He has many battles of his own and feeds numerous times. He's had to avoid fire spells shot at him, but otherwise, his battles have been fairly easy. He quickly takes care of this witch and then he sees the other side retreating. He wants to chase after them, but he doesn't.
Arya helps round up their wounded and dead. Arya sees Tonks and Remus on cots, but they are only injured, along with Fred Weasley. She lets out a sigh of relief, Teddy won't have to grow up without his parents.
"Arya Potter! You have one hour to come to me, or else everyone you hold dear will die," Voldemorts voice resounds through the castle.
Arya leaves the Great Hall with ease and puts on her invisibility cloak, but she can still feel the vampire behind her. She just rolls her eyes before walking into the forest. She quickly finds her way to Voldemort. She stands there just observing. Hagrid is restrained and she can see him struggling to get out of his bonds.
They are taking in their injuries while also laughing at how many they killed. Anger courses through Arya as she steps behind a tree and rips off her cloak. She puts it in her moleskin before stepping out into the open.
"I'm here, just like you wanted me," Arya says.
Voldemort turns around with a sick look on his face.
"Arya Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived, come to die," he says before pointing his wand at her.
The killing curse comes out and hits Arya directly in the chest. Her body falls backwards and her mind is sent to a station.
Arya looks around the station trying to find someone, but can't.
"What is this place?" Arya asks.
"It's limbo, my dear," a feminine voice says.
Lily Potter stands there. She looks just like she did when she died.
"Why am I not in the after-life?"
"Because there is one more soul to kill."
"Impossible, I destroyed all of the horcruxes."
"But not yourself."
Arya looks at her mother incredulously.
"Are you saying I'm a horcrux?"
"Yes, dear. You have a second chance to go back, and if you take that chance, the soul will be destroyed."
"But it should already be destroyed because I've died."
"That is also true, but there is someone that needs you out there. We don't need you here just yet."
Arya looks at her mother for a moment, soaking it all in. She knows she'll most likely never see her mother ever again. She then makes her decision.
"I'm going back."
Lily just nods before she gives Arya a hug and turns around and leaves. Arya's eyes close and when she comes to, she is on the dirt floor.
"Check to see if Potter is dead," one death eater says.
Someone comes over to Arya. She is keeping her breath shallow as she opens her eyes just a bit. The woman leans down and obscures her vision with the brown and white blonde of her hair and whispers in her ear.
"Is Draco alive?" Narcissa asks.
"Yes," Arya breaths out.
Narcissa stands up and looks to the Death Eaters.
"Potter is dead," Narcissa says.
Hagrid lets out a cry before dropping to his knees. They force him up and then make him carry Arya's body. She can hear his sobs and feel the tears hit her body. She wants to show Hagrid that she is still alive, but she knows she can't. She has to continue the guise of being dead. They walk back to Hogwarts and she can hear the jeers and laughter of the death eaters.