Chapter 29:
War's End
Ginny and several others rushed over to Harry as he fell to the ground. Ginny bent down over him as Dumbledore stepped up beside her. Dumbledore asked, "Is he alive?"
Ginny nodded as she felt for a pulse, "Yes, but his pulse is very weak. We have to get him to St. Mungos."
Dumbledore nodded as he tapped a rock and said, "Portus. Here take this and get Harry to St. Mungos. Warn them that they are going to have a lot of wounded shortly. We will transport the rest."
Ginny replied, "I will." Then, she took the Portkey and her and Harry disappeared. They reappeared in the waiting room of St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. One of the Healers asked immediately, "What is wrong?"
Ginny said, "This is Harry Potter. He fell like this after he killed Voldemort. He needs help, and there will be a lot more wounded on the way. The battle was fierce."
Everyone in the room flinched at the sound of the Dark Lord's name until one wizard in the waiting room had the sense to ask, "Did you just say that Harry Potter killed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
Ginny affirmed impatiently, "Yes, Voldemort is dead. Now, will someone please help me."
The Healers sprang into action as the wizard that asked the question sprang into the air, "Praise be to Harry Potter. The Dark Lord is dead." Then, he raced out of the hospital and Apparated directly into the Leaky Cauldron. Once he arrived, he shouted, "You Know Who is dead. Harry Potter has killed him."
Several of the occupants turned to look at him curiously. One of them asked, "What?"
The wizard replied, "Harry Potter has triumphed over the Dark Lord. We have won."
Another witch asked, "Are you serious?"
The wizard nodded, "I was waiting at St. Mungos when they brought him in with the news. Praise be to Harry Potter."
Tom, the innkeeper asked, "Why were they bringing Mr. Potter to St. Mungos?"
The wizard responded gravely, "The slip of a girl that brought him in said that after he vanquished the Dark Lord that he fell down straightaway. He must have been wounded greatly."
A babble of voices broke out at this news, and suddenly people were Apparating all over the country to spread the news. This quandary was nothing compared to the outright catastrophe that was occurring at St. Mungos at the moment. The wounded among the students and adults during the battle at Hogwarts mounted over a hundred with at least thirty dead. The Healers worked for almost twenty four hours before everything was sorted out, and everyone had received treatment and been sent home, or had been admitted for longer term care.
Harry had a room to himself, where Ginny sat by his side without leaving for fear that he might awake while she was gone. In the very late hours of the next night following the battle, Algwyn Filch and Albus Dumbledore walked into the room. Algwyn examined him carefully and then sighed, "I don't understand it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with him, but he still remains unconscious."
Dumbledore shrugged, "I think that he exhausted every bit of magical energy that he had within himself to destroy Voldemort. I'm sure that he will awake when he is ready. In the meantime, I think that it would be better to have him taken to Hogwarts. He will be much safer there than he would be here. There are still Death Eaters out there that would like nothing better than to take revenge for their Master's death."
Algwyn nodded, "We will have him transported in the morning then."
Ginny looked up from where she had been sitting half asleep by Harry's side, "Did you say that we would be moving in the morning?"
Dumbledore replied, "Yes, Ginny, we are going to take Harry back to Hogwarts until he wakes up."
Ginny smiled slightly, "I'll try to get some rest, then. I want to be awake when we go." Ginny crawled into the bed that had been magically enlarged for two people and curled up beside her beloved fiancé. Dumbledore glanced over at the nightstand to see that day's copy of The Daily Prophet.
He smiled, "I see that you are saving The Daily Prophet for Harry when he awakes."
Ginny nodded, "Yes, I'm sure that he will hate the article, but he needs to read it anyway." She yawned.
Dumbledore reached out and patted her head in a grandfatherly way, "Get some sleep, Ginny. I'm sure Harry will wake up soon."
Ginny murmured as she drifted off to sleep, "He better."
Once Dumbledore was sure that she had fallen asleep, he stepped over to read the article in the paper one more time. It read.
Boy Who Lived Defeats He Who Must Not Be Named
In a surprise attack on Hogwarts yesterday, You Know Who attempted to wipe out that final bastion of knowledge in England. He also sought to dispose of his greatest rival, Harry Potter. Young Potter however, managed to yet again save the world by disposing of the Dark Lord. Potter is rumored to have been wounded in the confrontation and is currently being held at St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. All inquiries into Mr. Potter's condition have been met with strong rebuffs of no comment from both the Ministry and St. Mungos' staff. Yesterday was a triumphant day for the Light, but it was not without its cost. Noted dead among the defenders of Hogwarts include ex-Auror Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, Lieutenant Auror Raymond Adams, numerous other Aurors, several Order of the Phoenix members including Sturgis Podmore, Dedalus Diggle, and Hestia Jones. There is rumored to have been several casualties among the student body, but reports of this have yet to be confirmed at this time. The confirmed number of dead in the confrontation is known to be thirty-two. Further reports will be posted as we have them.
Dumbledore muttered, "Add three students to the list and you have them all. A great victory, and a great tragedy all in one. I am getting too old for this." He glanced over to the unconscious Harry and sleeping Ginny and said to himself, "It is time for another generation to take the lead."
Harry was moved to Hogwarts the next morning. He showed no improvement over the next several days. Then, the night before the farewell feast came. Ginny was lying on the bed with Harry, while Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna sat around the bed in the hospital ward. Dumbledore walked into the room with McGonagall. Ginny looked up and smiled wanly, "Hello, Headmaster."
Dumbledore smiled back at her, "Good evening, Ginny. I take it that there is no change."
Ginny shook her head as the others looked on somberly. Dumbledore sighed, "Well, the leaving feast is tomorrow evening. I will understand if none of you wish to attend. However, the business of the school must continue. Minerva has your N.E.W.T. results, and Neville, I need to speak with you about taking over for Professor Sprout next year as well. She still wishes to retire, and has recommended you to be her successor."
Neville smiled, "I would be honored to join the staff here, Professor Dumbledore."
Albus chuckled lightly, "That is another thing that will be changing. I am retiring. Minerva will be taking over as Headmistress of the school. I would like for you to consider being her Deputy Headmaster."
Neville shook his head, "I would be honored to accept such a position, but I must respectfully decline. That will be Harry's job next year when he takes the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
Albus beamed, "That is exactly the response that I expected from you. I agree with you as well. Harry will be Headmaster of Hogwarts one day."
Minerva shivered, "I fear for the student body on that day. A full fledged Marauder as Headmaster of Hogwarts is a scary concept." She handed Neville, Hermione, and Ron their N.E.W.T. envelopes. Then, she handed Harry's to Ginny. "Under the circumstances, I think that Harry would like for you to open his scores with the others, Ginny."
Ginny nodded and the four students opened their score packages. This is what they found.
Neville Franklin Longbottom
N.E.W.T. scores
Defense Against the Dark Arts O
Ancient Runes E
Care of Magical Creatures E
Charms E
Herbology O
Hermione Jane Granger
N.E.W.T. scores
Defense Against the Dark Arts E
Charms O
Transfiguration O
Potions O
Arithmancy E
Ronald Bilius Weasley
N.E.W.T. scores
Defense Against the Dark Arts O
Charms E
Care of Magical Creatures E
Herbology E
Harry James Potter
N.E.W.T. scores
Defense Against the Darks Arts O
Charms O
Transfiguration O
Potions O
Herbology O
Ginny smiled as she showed the others Harry's scores, and then they began to compare among themselves.
The next evening all of them decided to go to the feast except for Ginny. She still refused to leave Harry's side. After everyone was seated in the Great Hall, Dumbledore rose from his seat at the center of the Head Table, and said, "We have completed yet another year at Hogwarts. I know that this year has been a trying time for all of you. The battle here a few days ago was the most horrific thing that has ever come to Hogwarts. I would like for everyone to raise their glasses in toast to all of the fallen warriors who chose the right path over the easy one. I want all of you to remember this day. I want you all to remember the cost of turning to evil. I also want you all to remember that the Light will always triumph."
With a pop, Harry and Ginny appeared directly behind Dumbledore as he finished this sentence. Harry stepped forward and said, "Damn right."
Everyone in the hall gasped in surprise at Harry's appearance, as Dumbledore sat down completely flabbergasted. He spluttered, "Harry, you have awakened."
Harry smiled, "I just had to recharge. It took a lot to destroy Voldemort."
Dumbledore stood back up, "I would also like everyone to raise their glasses to Harry Potter. For without him none of this would have been possible. All armies need a leader and Harry has been an excellent one. Now, let us eat."
After the celebration, Harry and his friends went to Dumbledore's office with Albus, Minerva, Lupin, and Tonks. Harry asked, "Who died?"
Dumbledore replied gravely, "There were a lot of deaths, Harry."
Harry nodded, "I know. I want to know who?"
Dumbledore sighed, "Very well. The students that died were Ernie MacMillan, Blaise Zabini, and Anthony Goldstein." Dumbledore continued to list all of the dead.
Once he was through, Ginny said, "There was someone else that died, Harry."
Harry asked, "Who?"
Ginny replied, "Peter Pettigrew."
Harry snorted, "And I'm supposed to care."
Ginny said quietly, "You should. He saved my life."
"What?"
Ginny continued, "He jumped in front of a Cruciatus Curse for me. Then, he told me to tell you that he considered his debt to you paid. Then, he said that he was going to pay his debt to your parents and Sirius. He took out a knife and stabbed himself in the throat."
Harry shook his head, "A coward to the end. At least he did something positive before he died." The group of witches and wizards continued talking well into the night. The next morning, Harry, Neville, Ron, and Hermione departed Hogwarts for the last time as students. Although, Neville and Harry would both be returning the next year as Professors.
A/N: Okay, people the bickering over Ginny's real name is getting ridiculous. Rowling has said that ginny's real name is Ginerva. That settles it. However, I had already used Ginny's name as Virginia on several occasions before I discovered this. So, I finished the story still using her name as Virginia, simply because I do not want to go back through and hunt for every occasion that I used it to change them all. That should be the end of the argument over Ginny's name. Thanks goes out to all my readers and reviewers.
Aalikane: No sequel. Just short stories for now.
Phred doesn't like you: just some short stories. You can expect to see Harry and Ginny's wedding.
Penguin: Did you miss the class on medieval culture? They spend most of their time in a castle. They talk about the rich families living in Manor houses. Those are all medieval things. Did you read Chamber of Secrets? Harry used a sword to kill the basilisk. So, I didn't make them up, I just gave them more of a focus. And here is another little clue. If you don't like my story, stop reading it, because nobody appreciates your comments, since you insulted my readers just as much as you did me.
Magik: The wedding is going to be in a short story.
Dafalcon: I have enjoyed reading your comments as you have progressed through the story. As to Hermione's parents, I didn't really think they were important to the story, so I just allowed everyone to assume that Hermione visited them at some point in the summer.