THORNS TO A ROSE

Review answers:

Holy Swordsman- thank you very much in becoming my very first reviewer. Thank you also for liking my fic so much, I reviewed your story but my review did not come out (uhhh) anyway, thanks a lot and I'll keep you posted! Thanks for being one of my constant reviewers!

Toxiclove- hey there! Glad you love it, don't worry, I'll try to make it better. The 18th chapter is a bit hard to type since things might sound too "unrealistic". I want things to be as realistic as possible. Thanks again!

Bon- thanks! :)

EmmeralCho- glad you like it! Thanks a lot!

TheLightningBoltScar- glad you like it and thanks for the nice review!!

Anali- thanks a lot; I tried my best to stick to their characters!

I Love Cho- ha, ha, thanks a lot! I'm so happy you guys like it! Thanks also for being one of my constant reviewers!

Diezel- thanks! *blush* that hit me a lot!! He, he! :)

Tylah- thanks! :)

YamiLeena- glad you love the fic and thanks for being one of my constant reviewers! I'll update soon! Me, a god? More like a goddess (he, he) I'm a girl, is it obvious? Lol! Thanks a lot and glad you love the story!! :)

Panuru4u- thanks a lot! *blush again*

Potter Wizz- thanks a lot! Glad you like it! thanks for being one of my constant reviewers!

Lily- I guess it was a bit drastic but I had to do something to make them go to detention at the same time to let the story work. I'll make it better next time! Thanks!

Devotion408- happy ending...? Uhhh... I don't know *evil grin*

Writer007- thanks! Loved your story too! :)

Ghetx2o- (Eunjee, right?) thanks a lot that you love the story! And also, for being one of my constant reviewers!

XXdOmOnXx- uh, what did that mean? (Laughs) its okay, I can tell (I think) what your reaction is... (I don't want to assume anyway...) thanks anyway!

Boo88- glad you like it and thanks so much for the nice reviews, thanks also for being one of my constant reviewers! I'll make it better! :)

I-Luv-Cheese- your from Britain? Great! I'm having an English reviewer! Ha, ha! I'm Asian (Chinese) that's why I am so happy to hear from other people (like Eunjee!) I'll try to email you and I hope we become friends (like Eunjee... again). Thanks a lot and I hope you are pleased with the ending I have in mind!

pAnDoRa- thanks a lot! Glad you like it!

PeZ-yUaN- yeah... I'm evil... read the message I wrote to toxiclove to be clarified about chap. 18. A little delay might be the result but I'm almost done with it, just revising. :) Thanks a lot!

Hippyman69- thanks a lot dude that hit me! Hehe! Yeah, I'll be continuing the story you like, Crossing Lines? Yea... so wait for it! Thanks again! :)

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Okay, that was really great! I am so happy everyone likes the story! I thought I would get very little reviews... but hey, my hard working mind paid off!! :)

It also looks like everyone wants a happy ending, (pouts) ha, ha! Just kidding! I hate sad ending stories also, I feel so empty so I try my best to let Harry and Cho survive their obstacles and still stay together.

Just so you guys know, the ending is like one of the books, CLIFFHANGERS. But not totally. Since Harry is in sixth year, it is impossible for him to defeat Voldemort, and then there wouldn't be a Book Seven, right...?

Well, here it is, the climax of the story and the battle...

Chapter Eighteen~ Thorns to a Rose

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Harry was speechless. He was frozen. He then shook his head slowly. "No... no... it can't be." Harry muttered. Bellatrix nodded. "Oh yes... black is death, right Potter? Do you remember the dream? The dream Lord Voldemort gave you?" Bellatrix asked.

"Gave me?" Harry asked. Bellatrix lifted an eyebrow. "'She is beautiful... like a rose...' familiar Potter?" Bellatrix asked, her wand down. Harry was in a state of shock. "L-Legilimancy..." Harry muttered.

"Oh, I underestimated you! You ARE smart! I never knew!" Bellatrix said sarcastically. She then clapped a few times. "Bravo! Bravo! Oh, and once I rid this flower of its petals, Cho here..." she said as she eyes Cho. "Will expire." She said.

"NO!!!" Harry shouted "EXPELLIARMUS!!!" Harry shouted again quickly within a split second. Bellatrix had shouted "Protego" to protect herself. Bellatrix then laughed. "Stupid is what you are Potter, first, your godfather, Sirius Black, my pitiful cousin, and now... Cho here. Aren't you already selfish enough Potter? Letting her die just like this?" she asked.

Cho had stood up and Harry felt her clutch his arm tightly. "No, I do not regret I am here Harry! I said I would never leave you." Cho said. Harry looked at her. "Cho..." he said. Cho smiled. "I love you Harry... don't let this... this evil witch separate us!" she said.

"Oh, thank you! That was actually a compliment. Crucio!!" Bellatrix shouted. Cho screamed in pain and fell on the ground. Harry looked at Bellatrix and shouted "Incarcerous!" Bellatrix screamed and was wrapped in ropes.

Harry rushed to Cho and picked up her head. "Are you okay Cho?" he asked. Cho smiled weakly. "Don't let her... tear off the petals of the rose... don't AHHH!!" Cho screamed. Harry looked at Bellatrix. She was holding up a petal.

"Too late Chang." She said.

"Bella, enough." Voldemort's eerie voice came. Bellatrix turned around. Harry still held Cho in his arms as he stared over to where the voice came from. "My Lord!" Bellatrix whined as she threw herself on the floor. "Stand up Bella, no formalities here." Voldemort said.

Bellatrix stood up. "The rose my Lord..." "You are in charge if that. Potter is mine." Voldemort said. Harry laid Cho gently on the ground. "Hey Tom." Harry said casually. Bellatrix gasped.

Voldemort raised his hand to silence Bellatrix. "Potter. We meet again." Voldemort said. Hermione was stirring. Harry saw her. "Hermione!!" he shouted. Hermione saw Harry. "Harry!! Cho!!" Hermione gave a frightened gasp. "V-Voldemort!!"

"Shut up wretched girl!!" Bellatrix shouted and put the Disarming Spell on Hermione. Hermione screamed. "STOP IT!!" Harry shouted. Hermione tried to stand up. She then went to Cho. "Don't harm them! Do everything you can to me!!" Harry said.

"Harry no!!" Cho shouted. "No Cho, I have made up my mind. This is a fight to the death! Hermione, protect Cho for me." Harry then turned around.

"I love you Cho," he said with a smile. Cho's eyes filled with tears. "Harry! No! NO!!" she screamed as Hermione held her back. Harry walked towards Voldemort. "Remove the spell on Cho. Remove the spell on the rose." Harry said.

"Do it Bella." Voldemort said. "But..." "DO IT!" Voldemort shouted. Bellatrix removed the spell from the rose. Harry saw Bellatrix's wand did not really move much and he heard Cho grunt a bit. He did not look back. He knew what he had to do. To kill or be killed... that was it.

Voldemort smiled, making his face all twisted. "Well, is this it? No Dumbledore to back you up? No Order? Gallantry is what you probably call it Potter, but I call it stupidity. Expelliarmus!" Voldemort shouted.

Harry was thrown back. Cho screamed out his name and her crying was worse. Harry stood up and wiped blood from his lip. "Is that all? I expected more from you, Voldemort." Harry said. Voldemort looked passive. "Ah, I like it. Stubbornness. Nice. Crucio!"

Harry felt his body stiffen up. Harry was shouting in pain. Cho was crying... she was screaming his name as she struggled against Hermione's hold. "No Cho, Harry has decided. He loves you and he wants to protect you." "If he loves me by leaving me then let me die!! I don't want to lose you Harry!!" Cho shouted as she cried.

"Harry!! NO!!" Cho screamed and then broke into more tears. The curse was done... Harry was on the ground. Voldemort let out a sinister laugh. "Potter, sacrificing for love. Just like your mother."

Harry had stood up but still shaken. "Crucio!" Harry shouted. Voldemort winced. But it was gone. Harry's eyes went big. "Did not work Potter? Pity... enough child play... Avada Kedav..."

"NO!!!" Cho shouted. She shouted a spell making Voldemort's wand fly from his hand. Voldemort stared in surprise. Bellatrix was stunned too. "DON'T KILL HIM!!" Cho shouted. "Do not interfere!!" Bellatrix screamed and shouted "Stupefy," to Cho. Cho screamed.

"Cho! Don't!" Harry shouted. "Harry..." Hermione muttered. Harry chanted a charm not even familiar to Hermione. He became invisible. "Where is he? My WAND!! Bella! MY WAND!" Voldemort shouted.

"Imperceptio... the basic invisibility spell... where did Harry..." Hermione finally determined the spell. The dome was quiet. Voldemort shouted, "Revasio!!" Nothing. "Protected... Harry protected himself from the revealing spell. The spell did not penetrate him." Hermione said as if reading a book. Cho eyed her.

"Expelliarmus!! Expelliarmus!!" Voldemort shot beams everywhere barely hitting Cho and Hermione. "Crucio!!" Harry's voice shouted. Voldemort was shot perfectly. Harry did it. He performed an Unforgivable Curse. Harry then revealed himself. He was directly behind Voldemort.

Voldemort shouted in pain. Harry stopped. "Miss me?" he asked as Bellatrix helped Voldemort up. "Let go of me!!" Voldemort was shaken and brought himself up. "Clever... very clever." Voldemort said. Harry smiled. "Thank you." He said sarcastically.

Just then, Cho screamed. Harry whirled around. Cho was screaming in pain again. "Cho...?" Harry turned back to Voldemort. "What are you doing to her?" Harry demanded. Voldemort laughed. "You think I would let her off the spell that easily? No Potter. The spell is still on her." Voldemort said.

Harry looked at Bellatrix. She had the rose in her hand. Two petals were plucked out. Harry then looked at Cho. Cho was still screaming. Harry ran to her. Hermione handed Cho to him. Harry held her as she screamed.

"Cho... fight it... it's only a spell... come on Cho..." Harry said as he felt a tear fall from his eye. He hated to see Cho in pain. Cho then stopped screaming but she was breathing harshly. "H-Harry..." Cho said softly. Harry hushed her. "Cho..."

"You're wasting my time Potter! I can simply have all the petals of this rose plucked out but I am feeling merciful." Voldemort shouted. Harry stood up, handing Cho to Hermione again.

"Don't you dare kill her..." Harry said. Voldemort laughed. "DON'T KILL HER!!" Harry shouted, gold and red sparkles with light came from him. Wind blew hard, making Harry's bang's reveal a shining red scar.

Harry's eyes grew brighter. Light illuminated from him... he looked deadly. Harry felt strength... greater strength... strength of unbelievable amount... Harry wanted to kill Voldemort.

"M-My Lord... is that..." Bellatrix whined. Voldemort remained still. He was staring at Harry in both amazement and determination. "Finally... the true power of the heir of Gryffindor!!" Voldemort shouted. "Shall we start?" he asked as he positioned himself with his wand.

Harry's eyes shined sinisterly. It was a very bright green and Harry felt a rush of warmth in him. Harry positioned himself and his wand glowed both red and gold. Voldemort smiled. "Yes..."

"Imperio!!" Harry shouted. "Crucio!" Voldemort shouted also. The beams flew from the ends of their wands. It met in the middle, trying to outdo the other.

Harry's wand was shaking; the vibration of the spell was very strong. Voldemort's wand was shaking also. The brother wands were of same strength... unless... one exerted more strength.

Harry, in one swift move, removed the link and whirled to the side evading the Cruciatus curse. It hit a tree, making it fall hard on the ground. Voldemort relaxed. He wasn't smiling.

Everyone was quiet. Cho was staring at Harry in both amazement and fear. Hermione was watching intently both surprised and nervous. Harry's true power was uncovered but it wasn't all of it. Hermione then fell into a smile. Harry was determined to protect Cho.

"Release Cho from the spell!" Harry shouted, red and gold aura both surrounding him. Voldemort did not react. "I am not scared to use the killing curse on you." Harry warned.

"Harry!" Cho called out. Harry turned to her. Cho was smiling while she was crying. "Thank you..." Cho said. Harry eyed her. He then smiled sweetly to her. "Anything for you, Cho." he said.

Voldemort lowered his wand. He waved his wand and he disappeared. "Harry!!" Hermione shouted. Harry turned to her. "Imperceptio! Do it!!" she shouted. Harry nodded and waved his wand also and disappeared.

The dome was quiet. Bellatrix was looking everywhere for movement. Hermione saw Bellatrix not paying any attention to the rose. Hermione took out her wand and muttered, "Accio rose..." the rose floated up in the air and flew slowly to Hermione.

Bellatrix, still not paying attention to the rose, took out her wand. When the rose was about a few feet away form an eager Hermione, a hand clasped on it. Hermione screamed. "Voldemort!!" Harry's voice echoed. Voldemort took the rose in his hand.

"Smart Granger. Bella!!" Voldemort said and Bellatrix turned about. "Stupid infidel!! You almost lost the rose!!" Voldemort scolded. Bellatrix looked nervous. "I'm sorry..." "No matter..." Voldemort said as he took a chunk of petals out of the rose. Cho screamed loudly and continuously.

"NO!! DON'T!!" Harry shouted, running to Voldemort as he reappeared. The rose had only two petals on it. Hermione was staring at Cho. She was gasping for air, perspiring. "Harry! She's dying! Cho's dying!!" Hermione screamed.

"Expelliarmus!" Voldemort shouted, throwing Harry back but he only stumbled a bit. Voldemort gasped. "What..."

Harry looked so angry, his running was fast, breathing hard and his eyes shone sinisterly. "DO NOT KILL HER!!!" Harry shouted and shouted the Cruciatus curse to Voldemort.

It worked, longer than Harry had expected. He was thinking of the enjoyment of seeing Voldemort suffer to make the spell work. Voldemort dropped the rose and Hermione snatched it. Harry quickly shouted the Imperius curse to Voldemort and Voldemort shouted in pain.

"Bastard... I'll let you taste hell..." Harry muttered softly. Voldemort's wand fell from his hand. Harry caught sight of it. Brother wands...we are brother wands... maybe I can...use it? Harry thought and snatched Voldemort's wand.

"Crucio!" Harry shouted to Bellatrix, who was almost near him. Bellatrix shouted in agony also. The wands vibrated in Harry's hold but he was still able to control it. Cho was crying. It seems like the pain was still with her. The chunk that was taken out might be equal to several minutes of pain.

Cho was growing paler. "Cho... fight it... c'mon, you can do it!" Hermione said. She then laid her eyes on Snape. He was still unconscious. Harry let loose of both Voldemort and Bellatrix from the spell. Harry was panting hard and ran to Cho while the two tried to regain strength.

Harry knelt beside Cho, who was breathing hard, her eyes closed. "Cho... no, don't leave me..." Harry said as he hugged her tightly and tears fell form his eyes. "The rose is with me." Hermione said. Harry looked up at her and smiled. "Great." He said. Hermione went to Cho also and brushed hair from her face. Cho was gasping for air.

"S-So this is... how it feels... this is how it feels to... be close to... death..." Cho panted as she smiled. Harry frowned as he felt a tear stream down his cheek. "No Cho... don't say that, you are still alive. See?" Harry held her hand and kissed it. "You can feel that, right?" Harry asked but he seemed not convinced by himself.

Cho smiled wider. "Not really to be honest, Harry... but I can still see you... I can... still feel your warmth..." Cho muttered. Harry's eyes filled with tears but he did not sob. "Cho... Cho I love you..." Harry said softly. He then planted a small kiss on her lips, "POTTER!!!" Voldemort's voice shouted.

Harry handed Cho to Hermione again. He stood up with both wands in his hands. He faced Voldemort. "She's dying... she's not going to make it! It's useless to protect her any longer!!" Voldemort shouted.

Harry tossed the wand of Voldemort to him. "This is it. It's now or never. Are you ready?" Harry asked sternly. Voldemort picked up his wand. "I'll kill you once and for all Potter." Voldemort said.

Harry positioned himself in duel stance. "Ready when you are." Harry said. Voldemort gave a sarcastic laugh. "Still feeling it? The power of Godric Gryffindor? No wonder you are very confident." Voldemort said.

"Confident? Maybe. Determined to make you suffer just like you do to other people? Oh yes..." Harry said. Voldemort smiled. "Well. A smart mouth does not mean that you are smart enough to save everyone here. You are just a child Potter!!" Voldemort shouted.

"I do not need the prophecy to defeat you! I can kill you now!! AVADA KEDAVRA!!!" Voldemort shouted. Harry bent over and shut his eyes as if to save himself from dying. He saw green light flash through his eyelids and heard someone scream... a very familiar voice... but the thing was, the green light was slightly overcome by a white one...

"HARRY!!!!!" Hermione shouted. Harry's tousled hair was all over his face and he looked up. Harry stared in shock and a tear fell from his eye...

Cho was on the ground...

Voldemort was gone and so was Bellatrix. "Harry!!" Tonks shouted. Harry did not move. He stared at the body of Cho. "Ch-Cho...?" Harry's shaking voice said. He was frozen.

Tonks and Dumbledore walked towards Harry and Harry heard Hermione being assisted by the Order, maybe they were assisting Snape also, he did not know... nor did he care... Cho is... dead...?

"Cho...?" Harry said again, walking stiffly towards the girl's body. Harry fell on his knees and dropped his wand. Harry lifted Cho's head and stared at her face. Harry's eyes filled with tears... "Cho... why...? Not you... no, not you... don't..." Harry said quietly.

Tonks turned to Dumbledore. "Shall we tell him?" she asked. "When we arrive in Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. "Do you think he will be pleased?" Tonks asked with a little smile. Dumbledore eyed her and smiled back. "At first, maybe he wouldn't but he will be." He replied.

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~Okay, don't hate me! Just take note of the descriptions when Voldemort threw the curse at Harry and Tonks' and Dumbledore's words. Kinda lame you know... but I want a tragic kind of happy ending... do you get it? Ah, well...

~Sorry if the chapter was a bit hard to believe, like I said, I want it to be as realistic as possible (I said it in one of my replies to my reviewers). But the ideas just kept flowing making me delete, type, delete and type. Please be honest if this chapter is crap... chapter nineteen is kind crappy (I think) now that I am in the process of typing...

~Ah! Revisions galore! I can't take it anymore! The story is almost done and tell me if you want a sequel, I have ideas in mind. I'll also continue my other stories so check for it! Thanks! :) ~