Bitter Sweet Victory

Paris's eyes met with Harry's "Thank you." He replied simply.

       Harry felt a hand on his arm. He looked up into the face of Ron. "We're coming too."

       Harry shook his head.

       "It's our fight Harry" Ginny quietly said.

       "It's been our fight since Ron and I entered that trap door with you seven years ago" Hermione looked at him. Unable to speak he nodded.

       "Let's disapparate then!" Ron said too enthusiastically. Hermione rolled her eyes.

       "Ron how many time do I have to tell you? You can't disapparate or apparate into the Hogwarts grounds!" She rolled her eyes. "Read…"

       "Yeah, yeah I know, read Hogwarts a History!" Ron finished for her. "So where do we go?"

       "Hogsmede" Harry replied. "We can use the Marauders map just like I did when I couldn't go to Hogsmede!" Hermione smiled. Then her smile faded.

       "Harry what about Dumbledore?" Hermione asked tentatively.  Harry didn't reply. Hermione nodded and let the matter drop. She wasn't sure that was really sensible but she knew Harry would go anyway and she'd rather be with him to protect him. "I do solemnly swear I am up to no good".

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 As they apparated into the dungeon Hermione felt the feeling of panic grow within her. She did not like the fact that Dumbledore did not know where they were. Of course they had been in messes like this alone before but Dumbledore always knew something this time Harry had not confided in him or sought his advice, the fact that they did not have his protection made Hermione feel more uneasy than ever. Her grip on her wand tightened as she scanned the room with the thin beam of light for any unexpected intruders. She was fully alert. This had been too easy. Although Paris knew where to come they should of met resistance, there should have been spells on the room unless of course it was… a …trap. Her ears pricked up at a sound and she spun around as Harry raced towards Persephone to release her.

       She saw the light hit the tip of a wand. The green light left the wand as she began to race towards Harry; her legs seemed to be going too slow, her whole world slowed down into a dream like haze as she yelled the disarming spell. It hit the concealed body and she heard a thud but still the green light travelled towards him. "HARRY!" she yelled. She saw him turn as he removed Persephone's gag. She heard the girls scream of horror as she saw the beam. Her voice echoed around her as she flung herself into the green blast of light. It struck her body and she fell towards the floor. She heard the screams around her as the pain ripped through her, I love you Harry, and in her last moment she felt his arms catch her broken body, always her hero.

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"Hermione" Ron screamed as he saw her lie there. His head reeled as he watched the girl he loved lay there in Harry's arms, cold, unmoving, dead. He swayed on his feet. His world went black with shock for a single moment until he felt his legs moved, no thought passed through his brain, hatred filled every part of him.

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Harry saw Ron lunge at Bellatrix. He knocked her to the ground; his fists met her body in a barrage of sickening thuds. His eyes shone with tears, his fury seemed to come from deep with in hi. Harry rushed towards him and pulled Ron of her. "Accio wand" he called and he felt his hand close around her wand. She looked up at him; cold, unforgiving, uncaring that she had just taken one of the people he loved the most. He felt cold hatred cling at his heart; his mind was numb as he spoke. "You once told me I could not kill you because I didn't hate you enough" he spat at her "today I prove you wrong." His voice seemed a million miles away as he called out, from his wand came the same force that had killed his best friend, and just like his world it ripped her apart.

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A cold laugh which Harry recognised immediately as Voldemort broke the silence accompanied by cruel meticulous clapping. It faded as he began to speak.

       "Congratulations Harry Potter, you always seem to have someone willing to die to save you. We can add Miss Granger to the list. It's a shame for a mudblood she was quite s fine witch." He sneered. Harry gripped Ron's robes to hold him back. Harry felt his own blood boil with hate. He held his wand firmly in Voldemort's direction.

       "They wouldn't die if you didn't exist."

       Voldemort drew his own wand and stroked the tip gently. "On the contrary Harry, they wouldn't die if they didn't love you."

       He lunged at Voldemort and knocked his wand from his grasp. He hit Voldemort furiously, until his whole body recoiled with pain, so excruciating he clasped his scar and retched on the ground. Voldemort stood over him. "The time has come Harry for you to die. But not yet not until you hear your friends scream with pain "Crucio" he called out and swung around sending Ron to the floor. Harry watched in horror as Ron writhed in agony. Pushing himself up he flung himself into Voldemort breaking the spell. Ginny and Paris hauled Ron to his feet. "Get out of here" Harry screamed. They tried but Voldemort soon recovered enough to bind them to the room. Furiously he turned on Harry and called out "Crucio". Harry screamed but no one seemed to hear him. His screams tore around his soul, pulling him apart. He writhed and squeezed his eyes shut trying desperately to block out the pain, he wished for death, pleaded in his own mind for it. Suddenly out of the haze in his mind materialised a face, a face that smiled and whispered in his ear to fight, to live, to love. Hermione. His best friend, his hero, his martyr. Love Harry. He reached out to touch her, the face changed into Persephone; she smiled at him and kissed his palm. Somewhere within him, he felt a surge of peace, for a moment he thought he was dead until he opened his eyes. He saw Voldemort, the murderer looking completely appalled as Harry called for his wand.

       "It's time for you to scream" Harry said coldly. "Crucio". He heard Voldemort scream, but he felt no remorse, he knew this is how Voldemort must of felt as he watched his numerous victims die, why should he spare pity for the person who could never possess any?

       "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Harry slumped to the ground as Voldemort fell. He placed his hands on his knees and buried his head into them sobbing. He felt arms wrap around him from behind and he felt shuddering whether it was himself or Persephone he didn't know.

       "I'm so sorry" she whispered. He turned around and looked up at her. She recoiled at the sight. He was broken. Harry Potter was broken. "She's gone, your safe." She nodded slowly. She pulled away as he crawled into her arms. There he cried, his heart breaking for the loss of his innocence, for the part of him that hated and for his best friend. He watched Ron rock the lifeless body back and forth and a fresh wave of grief overpowered him as he wept bitterly for her lost life.