Chapter 31: Fight to the Death
I HELD a jewel in my fingers
And went to sleep.
The day was warm, and winds were prosy;
I said: "'T will keep."
I woke and chid my honest fingers,—
The gem was gone;
And now an amethyst remembrance
Is all I own.
-Emily Dickinson
The group landed with a jolt just outside the Ministry of Magic. Neville was so unstable that he
actually fell over; Hermione helped him up, apologizing for the portkey.
"I tried so hard to make it accurate that it wasn't quite as comfortable of a landing as they usually
are-"
Harry didn't even hear the conversation. He was so angry he was seeing red. He couldn't believe that
Rachel had come. Out of everyone at Hogwart's, it had to be HER! SHE had to be the one to find out where
we were meeting! He glared at her, but she refused to make eye contact with him.
"Let's go, we don't want to attract attention," Padma Patil said quietly, and the group moved over
towards the telephone box.
"Are we all going to fit inside?" Parvati asked, examining the small room.
"Of course," Hermione said, shuffling the people ahead of her into the lift. "It expands." She gave
Harry a meaningful look. "Come on, let's go," she said gently. Angrily he squeezed in along with
everyone else and found, to his dismay, that he was squashed up against Rachel. Ron looked at the
blonde girl in surprise.
"How did she get here?" he asked, dialing 62446 on the phone.
"How did she find out, that's the real question," Harry growled.
"No one told me, for your information," she answered sharply. "I overheard Hannah talking to Lavendar
about it, and I figured it out from there. I don't know why you didn't want me here, Harry, but I
don't want to hear the 'you'll get hurt' excuse. And I know you're not here for Sirius. You lied
to me!" The other occupants of the lift were looking quite uncomfortable at being so close together
in the middle of this argument.
"Visitors, welcome to the Ministry of Magic," said a pleasant-sounding female voice. "Please state
your name and the purpose of your visit." No one said anything; the silence was deafening.
"Harry Potter, to fulfill a prophecy," he muttered. The others followed suit.
"Hermione Granger, to protect Harry Potter," she said proudly.
"Ron Weasley, to defeat V-v-voldemort." He swallowed uncomfortably.
"Ginevra Weasley, to save the world."
"Neville Longbottom, to get rid of evil."
"Seamus Finnigan, to do what's right."
"Parvati Patil, to defeat the Dark Lord."
"Padma Patil, to help everyone else."
"Terry Boot, to support Harry Potter."
"Lavendar Brown, to stand up against Voldemort."
"Dean Thomas, to save my friends and family."
"Luna Lovegood, to promote world peace."
"Hannah Abbott, to prove the world wrong."
"Rachel Wheaton Marvolo, to confront Harry Potter." She frowned at him.
"So I see you're using his name now," Harry spat bitterly. The lift moved downwards with a shaky motion,
causing a few of the girls to gasp and Neville to close his eyes tightly.
"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."
"It's my name as well. Why shouldn't I use it?" she demanded.
"YOUR FATHER IS A DEATH EATER, RACHEL!" Harry's face was red and angry.
"No he isn't!" she screamed back.
"Well, we'll find that out tonight, won't we," he retorted as the lift shuddered once more before the doors opened.
"Now keep your voices low. If they're already here, we don't want them to know we're early."
"Harry, what-" Rachel began, looking confused.
"I don't have time to explain," he said harshly. The group moved into the atrium and gathered near the Fountain
of Magical Brethren. "We should have someone stay out here and act as a look-out in case they aren't here
yet," Harry said logically.
"Any volunteers?" Hermione asked.
"Why don't we stay?" Terry said, turning to Padma. "Would you mind?" She shook her head.
"It's fine with me," she responded. "How will we let you know if there are intruders?"
"By using these leftover coins from the DA," Hermione answered immediately. "Harry can keep one, and you
two can have the other. Just change the numbers on the bottom to the exact time you saw people enter, and
that way we'll know what's going on."
"What if it isn't Death Eaters who are coming in? What if it's someone else, should we still change it?" Terry
asked. Hermione pondered this point for a moment.
"How about this: if it's someone dangerous, change the numbers to 6, then the time. So if it's 12:15 when they
get here, make it 6 12:15. If it's someone who isn't dangerous, make it 5 instead." Terry and Padma nodded and
took the coin; Harry slipped the other one into the pocket of his robes.
"All right, pair off everyone," Harry ordered, and the group split into their given partners. Rachel stood alone. Harry
sighed. "I guess you're my partner," he said angrily, walking towards the lifts as the group followed behind him.
Again, they all crammed inside. "Level Nine, please," Harry said.
"Level Nine, the Department of Mysteries," the cool female voice said. The doors slid open to reveal a hallway with
a single door at the end.
"Here we go," Ron said with a deep breath. Harry strode ahead and opened the door's handle, which was surprisingly
unlocked. The rest of the group filed into the circular room, which was surrounded by doors. Hermione pulled out her
wand and muttered a quick spell, and a red "X" appeared on the door they had just entered from.
"Good thinking," Harry said appreciatively. The people who had not been in the Department of Mysteries during Harry's
fifth year were looking around in confusion.
"How do we know what door to go through?" Lavendar asked.
"We don't, really," Harry confessed. "You just have to guess." The room began to spin and Harry waited until it stopped.
He then picked the door just to the left of where he was facing. "Let's try this one." He opened the door to reveal a room
which they had not been in before: it looked as though it was actually outside, complete with trees, grass, a blue sky,
and even a few clouds. It reminded Harry of Firenze's classroom. He closed the door.
"Flagrate," Hermione said before the room spun again. This time, Harry picked a door from the other side of the room.
Peering inside, he saw a huge tank filled with green liquid.
"Ugh, not the brains again," Ron said, shuddering. "Try a different one, Harry."
"They're all connected, aren't they?" Neville asked, as the group waited for the wall to stop spinning. "I mean, if we try one
room and wander around a little bit, we're bound to run into what we're looking for... Right?"
"I think that's a brilliant idea," Luna said in a far-away voice.
"I don't," Hermione argued, her face stern. Harry was staring at the wall, trying to decide which door to pick. He walked
up to one of them and pulled the handle open to show another room that he didn't remember ever seeing; it was filled
with beautiful sparkling jewels that covered all the walls and the ceiling.
"Oooh," Lavendar whispered.
"It's so pretty!" Parvati squealed.
"It's not the right door," Hermione grumbled. Harry felt something burning in his pocket and pulled it out without thinking. It
was the old DA coin. He stared at it and gulped.
"Hermione... was 6 bad or good?" he asked slowly.
"BAD!" she shrieked, running over to look at it. "They just got here... it'll take them a couple minutes to get in..."
"Let's just go in here, hurry!" Ginny pleaded. The group rushed in together.
"Now what?" Ron asked in an anxious voice, as the entire group stood in the jeweled room.
"Well, we'll just do what Neville suggested," Harry said, trying to stay calm. "Pick doors until we find the right one. That's
basically what we were doing anyway." He walked up to one of the many doors at the end of the long room and pulled it
open to expose a room filled with clocks and other odd devices.
"We've been in here before!" Ron said with a sigh of relief.
"Now what?" Seamus asked in a low voice.
"You'd better pick fast, Harry," Hermione whispered. Harry looked around the room.
"Er... well..." A door slammed open at the back of the room and everyone whipped around to see what had caused the noise.
A figure shrouded in black robes was in the doorway. One of the girls gasped as the group quickly realized the danger that
they were in.
"In here!" the man yelled in a deep voice. Harry turned to see Hermione and Rachel looking at him with expressions of intense
fear.
"RUN!" he yelled, grabbing Rachel's hand. He pulled her with him across the room and into one of the doorways, following Lavendar
and Dean.
"Dear Merlin..." Dean muttered as the door closed behind them. The room reminded Harry of the waiting room at a muggle dentist's
office - except for the fact that everything was upside down. The four of them were virtually standing on the ceiling, where the plush
chairs, carpeting, and low table were placed as well.
"Oh... I feel sick," Rachel groaned, crouching low.
"C'mon," Harry mumbled, pulling her upwards and towards a different door. "Let's get out of here." A door to the left of them sprang
open and two Death Eaters entered, wands drawn.
"Get out of here, Harry!" Dean barked, pulling his own wand out.
"Keep going, we've got these two!" Lavendar said confidently, dodging a curse the second Death Eater had sent at her. Harry, with
Rachel close behind him, managed to walk upside down across the floor to the closest door. He quickly closed it, only to find that
it was the room full of planets that they had seen during their fifth year. Harry and Rachel left quickly and found themselves in a
room filled to the ceiling with filing cabinets. Rachel looked up at them curiously.
"I wonder what's in these?" she asked.
"I still can't believe you did that," Harry muttered angrily. She glared at him.
"Did what?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Came here!" he spat angrily.
"Well I can't believe you didn't tell me the truth!" she retorted.
"I couldn't tell you the truth," he hissed, stalking off towards one end of the room. "Now come on, there isn't time for this!" The door
immediately in front of them sprang open and Harry pulled out his wand reflexively. He lowered it when he saw his two best friends,
panting heavily, enter the room.
"They're coming this way," Ron informed them, holding his side. "Have you seen anyone else?"
"Just Lavendar and Dean... in this upside down room," Harry told them. Hermione nodded.
"We ended up with Seamus and Parvati," she said, walking towards another door. "They ran a different way when the Death Eaters
found us, though."
"Should we all stay together?" Rachel asked in a pleading voice.
"No," Hermione said firmly. "It's better if we're all split up. There's less of a chance of them finding Harry." She grabbed Ron's hand and
dragged him off through one of the doors. Harry picked a door as well and found himself back outside in the circular room with the spinning
wall. The few X's that they had managed to put on the doors had since disappeared. Feeling less than brave, Harry pushed one open. His
eyes widened as he recognized it as the Death Chamber. "Rachel, this is it," he whispered, walking inside. The room was cold and their
footsteps echoed off the walls.
"I don't like this," she whispered, looking around. She gasped as she saw the veil in the middle of the room. "What - I mean, is that-"
"Yes," Harry answered simply.
"So what, you're going to try to kill him with that?" Rachel asked, her face full of concern.
"Yes," he answered again. She closed her eyes as if in pain. "Rachel, you know I have to," he said harshly. She swallowed difficultly.
"I know. But why did you have to lie to me? Why did it have to be like this? I was worried enough about you coming in here for Sirius,
before I even knew..." She trailed off. "How did they know you would be here, anyway?" she asked.
"Oh, we have you to thank for that, my dear," a cold voice said from the other side of the room. Harry and Rachel turned rapidly to see
several black-robed figures laughing in the corner. Rachel's lip trembled.
"D-d-dad?" she stuttered. One of the figures pulled off his mask, exposing bleach-blonde hair and piercing light green eyes.
"Yes, angel. I'm so sorry you had to find out this way," he said sarcastically, his eyes cold and mocking.
"But what do you mean me... I didn't tell you anything!" she protested. The group laughed again.
"Nothing you remember telling me, love. Veritaserum is such a convenient potion." He grinned.
"But-" Rachel paused, looking horrified. Harry could practically see her think, and he knew it wouldn't be too long before she put two
and two together. "You mean, you got the date and location from me, except... it wasn't for... it was... I mean, Sirius..." She spun
around to face Harry. "You knew, didn't you?" she asked sadly. "You knew all along they were doing this to me." Harry's heart nearly
broke at the expression on her face.
"Rach, I couldn't tell you, they would have killed you!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, how dramatic! How heartbreaking! How horribly tragic!" Mr. Marvolo cried in a mocking voice, flinging his arm across his face in a
theatrical movement.
"SHUT UP! HOW COULD YOU-" Rachel began to scream. One of the figures behind Mr. Marvolo waved his wand slightly.
"Silencio," he said with a laugh and her voice was instantly gone. She glared at him.
"Good work, Audric," Harry heard the older man say before an intense pain ripped through his forehead. He fell to the ground, clutching
his scar. When he opened his eyes moments later, he heard laughter ringing around him and saw the concerned face of Rachel above
him. 'Are you okay?' she mouthed. He nodded, struggling to get up. He wondered dully why no one else had wandered into this room.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. We meet again. And, may I say, that I wish this to be our last meeting." The chilling voice of Lord Voldemort
rang through the enormous room. Rachel's hands covered her mouth and she backed shakily against the wall.
"I most certainly agree," Harry said, his temper rising. Voldemort's thin lips stretched into a bizarre smile.
"Now, with all the... help... you brought along tonight, I am led to believe that our information was not completely accurate. Perhaps you
thought that you would be able to defeat me with the assistance of several schoolchildren, but I believe you are mistaken." The Death
Eaters behind them snickered. "However, as we found out only two years ago, Sirius Black does mean something to you, does he not?
He was almost like a father to you. The parent you never had." He smirked.
"Thanks to you," Harry growled, gritting his teeth.
"What would you give to have him back, Harry?" Voldemort asked softly.
"It doesn't matter, he's gone," Harry answered bitterly.
"Ah, but you are wrong, boy. Through ancient magic, you can exchange one person for another through the veil. If you swear your life to
me, Potter, I will volunteer one of my servants to complete this task. You see, I am willing to lose one of my followers for you!" He looked
at Harry expectantly.
"Never," Harry said angrily, his eyes furious.
"Perhaps my choice of Death Eater will change your mind... Malfoy, get up here!" he barked. A shorter, shaking figure made its way up
to the front of the group. Harry's stomach did a flip-flop. He's not talking about Lucius - that's Draco! he thought anxiously. Voldemort
wrapped a claw-like hand around the young man's shoulder. "Your bitter enemy, Potter. He dies, Black is saved, and you sign your life over
to me." He grinned again. "How does that sound?"
"It sounds like it's not going to work," Harry said flatly. "I don't kill innocent people and I know about the veil. I researched it. There is no way
to bring someone back." Voldemort's expression faltered.
"You've become too smart for your own good," he hissed. "However, I have another plan. One that involves you killing innocent people." The
smile returned to his face. "Wormtail, get the girl!" he ordered, pointing at Rachel.
"NO!" Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the now-advancing Wormtail. "Don't touch her," he threatened. Peter Pettigrew whimpered, but Voldemort
laughed softly.
"Let's see, Potter, there's... oh... twelve of us? And one of you?" He smirked. "I don't think there's much you can do about it." By this time,
Wormtail had managed to drag Rachel across the room. Harry approached the group cautiously as Voldemort pulled a something shiny out
of his pocket. Harry's breath caught in his throat as he realized it was a ring. Not just any ring, he thought as his heart sank. It's Dulcinea Rosalind
Garcia's ring. The cursed ring. The soul-binding ring. If she puts that on, I can't kill Voldemort without killing her too! One of the Death Eaters was
struggling to hold Rachel down; another hit her with a spell that made her sink to the ground. Voldemort held up her limp hand and made to
put the ring on her finger.
"No!" Harry shouted, raising his wand. But before he could even yell out a curse, something amazing happened.
"Reducto!" a weak voice called out. Harry stared in awe as one of the Death Eaters shot the spell at the ring and it broke into tiny
pieces, falling into dust on the floor. Voldemort's eyes narrowed and his face wrinkled in disgust.
"Wormtail," he hissed, his voice full of hatred. "How dare you betray me! How dare you destroy my plans! HOW DARE YOU!"
"M-m-master, I had to," he stuttered, taking off his mask. "The Potter boy saved my life four years ago. I had to do something that would
save his life to make up for it."
"The Dark Lord takes no excuses! CRUCIO!" he screamed, pointing his wand at the now-writhing body of Peter Pettigrew.
Screams filled the air and Harry covered his ears in horror. Voldemort removed the spell and kicked Wormtail in the side. He let out
a long groan. "I do not allow traitors in my presence," he hissed, pointing his wand at Pettigrew's body. The man struggled to sit up.
"You are no longer worthy to live. Avada Kedavra!" The green bolt hit Peter Pettigrew and his body went rigid, his eyes opened in horror,
and time seemed to freeze. A second later, Harry heard his body hit the cement floor with a sickening thump. He swallowed with difficulty.
"Now... Expelliarmus!" Voldemort commanded, and Harry's wand flew out of his hand. Voldemort grinned wickedly. "You won't
be needing that, boy. As we've already seen, our wands don't work very well against one another. I'm just going to have to kill you the
old-fashioned way." He pulled a emerald-encrusted sword from behind his back.
Harry, having regained his sense of where he was, began to slowly back towards the veil. As he expected, Voldemort followed.
"This isn't just any old sword, Potter," Voldemort told him, his face twisting into a grin again. "Oh no. This is the Sword of Slytherin,
one of the most powerful weapons in all of history." The gleaming green jewels in the handle reminded Harry of a sword that had been
owned by a different founder of Hogwart's. Maybe, if I just concentrate enough, it will come to me, he thought desperately,
backing closer to the veil. He screwed up his face in intense concentration, but precious seconds later nothing had happened. A
feeling of despair washed over him. This is it. I'm going to die.
A loud clanking noise behind them made Harry and Voldemort turn around. Harry saw one of the doors magically burst open and
an enormous red bird enter the room, an ancient sword clasped in his talons.
"Fawkes," Harry whispered joyously, his heart soaring. The bird dropped the weapon at his feet and Harry raised it despite its
extreme weight. Voldemort looked frightened at first, but the expression soon drifted off his face.
"What are you going to do boy, have a sword fight with me?" he asked mockingly.
"If that's what it takes," Harry grunted, swinging the sword at Voldemort. He could feel the rubies in the handle - they seemed to
be warming up, getting hotter and hotter every second. Voldemort sneered at him, swinging back. Harry dodged the shot and turned
his weapon sideways, hitting Voldemort with the flat edge of the sword. His aim was perfect. Harry watched, as if in slow motion, as
the Dark Lord realized what was about to happen. His eyes widened and he put his hands down to catch himself, but it was too late.
The twisted, demonic body of Lord Voldemort fell back through the howling wind into the abyss of the black veil.
The world seemed to have stopped. Harry was still clutching Godric Gryffindor's sword and Salazar Slytherin's weapon lay abandoned
on the ground in front of him.
"My Lord," one of the Death Eaters cried, dropping to his knees.
"My master!" wailed a female in the group.
"Nooo," cried another. Harry realized that the coin in his pocket had been warm for quite some time; he reached in unthinkingly and looked
at it. It read 5 12:30. Five means someone good, his barely-thinking brain was able to comprehend. He glanced at his watch and saw that
it was now 12:23. Three minutes ago.
A sort of sudden music filled the room and Harry felt as though his breath had been taken away. He looked around for the source, and
discovered it was Fawkes.
"So beautiful," he whispered, sitting down in awe. "So beautiful." The song reminded him of all that he had gone through to get here;
all of the pain, the suffering, the deaths. Lily and James Potter. Sirius Black. Rachel's aunt and cousin. Countless relatives of Hogwart's
students. Order members. Even Peter Pettigrew. "Now it's all over," he mumbled to himself, feeling sick.
"Harry? Harry!" Voices were calling out to him from all over the room. In a state of shock, he collapsed onto the cold stone floor beneath him.
When he awoke, he looked around with bleary eyes and realized he was just outside the Ministry of Magic. He struggled to sit up.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried, kneeling next to him. "Are you okay? How do you feel? What-"
"Give him some room," a female voice said. Harry looked up to see Tonks, currently sporting shoulder-length purple hair.
"What happened?" he asked weakly.
"Ron and I came in right as you and Voldemort started fighting with the swords," Hermione began. Memories began rushing back to
Harry, and he groaned.
"He's gone," he mumbled. Hermione smiled.
"Yes, he is. After he fell through the veil, you fainted. Right then, Tonks, Professor Lupin, and Kingsley Shaklebolt came running
through the door. Tonks and Kingsley rounded up all of the Death Eaters that were still there, and Professor Lupin managed to
find everyone and get them out here."
"Is everyone okay?" Harry asked, looking around. It seemed as though everyone was there, but not in the greatest of shape. Neville
was clutching his arm, Ron had a trickle of blood running down his face, Parvati was lying on the sidewalk with a pained expression
on her face, and Seamus' robes were ripped and torn.
"I think you'll all live," Tonks said grimly. "Remus went to get help from St. Mungo's, so they should be here in a few moments.
Kingsley should be back soon too, he had to take the Death Eaters in." Harry nodded. Remus apparated soon after, followed by
several Healers and Kingsley. A sudden thought occured to Harry.
"Why was it only you three?" he asked slowly. "I mean, where's the rest of the Order?" Tonks, Remus, and Kingsley exchanged
a significant look. "What?" he asked.
"Well," Kingsley said in a slow drawl. "I contacted headquarters but there was no one there." Ron looked up with an expression of
horror.
"There was no one at headquarters?" he whispered fearfully. Kingsley was staring at the ground.
"So then he contacted us, since we're both pretty easy to get a hold of," Tonks said. She saw Ron's face and added, "We don't
know anything for sure yet, so don't get worried already."
"Right," Ron said dully, sitting down as one of the Healers fussed over the cut on his forehead.
"We're going to need to take them all back to St. Mungo's for a full evaluation," the Healer who appeared to be in charge said. He
held out a small circular stone with the St. Mungo's emblem carved into it: a wand and a bone, crossed. "You don't have to touch
it directly, but at least touch someone who's touching the portkey," he ordered. The group did as he said and soon found
themselves inside the magical hospital.
MEANWHILE, AT HOGWART'S
A group of red-headed people was watching an enormous bed apprehensively. An old man lay in the bed, twisting and turning
as he muttered nonsense words. Molly Weasley pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at the tears in her eyes.
"Oh dear," she said, breaking the silence in the room. She motioned towards the nurse, who had just finished applying some
sort of instrument to the man's arm. "How... how much longer do you think, Golda?" The woman shook her head.
"Not much, I'm afraid," she said with pursed lips. She strolled quickly out of the room and Mrs. Weasley's sobs began again.
The man in the bed continued to move in a state of sleep. He was becoming more and more agitated.
"No!" he yelled audibly. Mrs. Weasley hurried to his side.
"Albus, dear, it's just a dream," she said soothingly, trying to fight back her tears.
"No," he said again, this time hoarsely. A slow smile began to spread across his face and his body stopped moving. Fred
Weasley moved closer to the bed.
"Is he...." he began, but trailed off. The old man's eyes opened slowly and the people inside the room gasped.
"It is over," he said happily, his eyes twinkling brighter than anyone had seen them before. "It's over Molly. No more worrying
for you." He smiled again. His eyes closed again. "Goodbye to this world, hello to the next," he whispered before becoming
completely still. The nurse walked back into the room and picked up his arm to feel for his pulse. She shook her head and
placed his hand back on the bed.
"He's gone," she announced. Molly Weasley let out another sob. The nurse grabbed a nearby clipboard.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," she muttered out loud, writing down the name. "Time of death: 12:30 AM, April 27."
After a brief check-up at St. Mungo's, the Healers had decided that no one was so badly hurt that they couldn't be cared for
by Madam Pomfrey. The group was transported to Hogwart's. Harry was surprisingly the least injured. He wandered through
the halls of Hogwart's as if in a daze, accompanied by Ron, whose head was covered in bandages, and Hermione, who had
sustained a small burn to her leg. Ron's head perked up as he heard voices in the corridor ahead of them.
"Oh... simply dreadful," a woman was saying, her voice pained. "It's just so sad, Arthur."
"It was his time, Molly," a man's voice responded.
"Mum? DAD?" Ron screamed, running down the hallway.
"Ron!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, looking at her youngest son. "What happened to your head? Are you all right?" Ron grinned
at Harry.
"Tell her, mate," he said in a low voice.
"Mrs. Weasley... I, er... I defeated Voldemort," Harry said finally. Molly Weasley screamed before fainting. Arthur Weasley
managed to catch her and lowered her slowly to the ground.
"It's just been too much for her," he said quietly, pulling a small bottle out of his robes. He looked up at the trio. "Headmaster
Dumbledore died tonight," he told them. Hermione gasped, Ron looked shocked, but Harry just nodded.
"What... what time was that at," Harry asked with difficulty. Mr. Weasley looked up.
"Why, I believe it was just around 12:30. He said it was over, and told Molly not to worry." He poured a drop of the potion in
the bottle into Mrs. Weasley's mouth and she stirred. Harry smiled.
"He knew," he mumbled, a grin on his face. "He knew I won."
The following days were a blur for Harry. School was over for the seventh years, but they were allowed to stay in the castle
until their graduation in a week. Harry had spent several days visiting his injured comrades in the infirmary - especially Rachel.
She had been hurt worst; the curse that had caused her to pass out could not be identified, and thus it took much longer for
Madam Pomfrey to find a cure. Harry still visited her every day, even though she was unconscious. One day when he walked
into the Hospital Wing, her bed was empty. He whirled around to face Madam Pomfrey.
"Where - what happened to Rachel Wheaton?" he demanded. Madam Pomfrey smiled.
"We found a cure late last night, and by this morning she was awake and feeling much better. She's up in the Hufflepuff
dormitories resting right now." Harry sighed in relief and headed back to his own dormitory.
When he got to his bed, he collapsed into it. He had spent the last few days in interviews with reporters from all over the world.
His story had been printed in magazines, newspapers, and probably books by now, but he hadn't read any of it. He didn't want
to. Hermione was keeping up on the media front and had told him that all his press coverage seemed fairly accurate. Harry sighed;
he was glad for that at least, after that nasty Rita Skeeter woman.
An owl tapped its beak against Harry's window and he got up slowly to open it. He quickened his pace when he realized the
brown owl was Rachel's. He pulled the letter off its leg and began to read the neat handwriting.
Dearest Harry,
I'm finally feeling better and out of the Hospital Wing, as you
may already know. Madam Pomfrey said you came to visit
me every day. Thank you.
I don't know how to write this, it's just so hard. I feel like we've
been through so much together - maybe too much. You lied
to me and used me, but I was too naive to see what was really
happening. We were both too desperate - me to have a family,
you to kill Voldemort. I feel like something that happened there
was irreversible. It's like everything is changed and we can
never go back. It's so different now, Harry. We aren't who we
used to be. I think it would be in our best interests to go our
separate ways. I'm sorry to break up with you through a letter,
but I wanted you to know as soon as possible.
Best of luck,
R
Harry wiped away a tear. I may have conquered the Dark Lord, but I will never understand women.
Harry was quiet and sullen the next morning at breakfast. Hermione seemed on edge, and kept looking up
at the enchanted ceiling. Ron noticed this, as did Harry.
"What are you waiting for, rain?" Ron joked as he ate his porridge.
"No," Hermione answered, frowning. "For your information, the acceptance letters for university and all
post-graduate studies come today. I'm waiting to see if I got in." Harry's stomach fell a bit at this news.
"That's... today?" he asked, blanching. A huge flock of owls entered the Great Hall and Harry held his
breath. An owl flew to each of them with their N.E.W.T. results and Harry hurriedly tore his open. He
sighed in relief as he realized he had gotten everything he needed. Now... I just need to know if I got in...
More owls were flying in every second, filling the room. An official-looking barn owl dropped a letter for Hermione.
She opened it, squealing with happiness.
"I made it! I made it! And I got all my N.E.W.T.s!" she cried, doing a little dance. Another owl flew down to Ron,
who received a letter with the Chudley Cannons emblem on the envelope.
"Bloody hell..." he muttered, staring at a slip of paper with his eyes opened wide. Harry's stomach began to
sink. Maybe he hadn't gotten in, after all. Suddenly, a huge envelope fell in front of his face. He saw that it
was from the Ministry of Magic and immediately tore it open. A grin flitted across his face.
"I'm going to be an Auror!"
The former seventh year students at Hogwart's sat quietly as they waited their turn for their names to be called
during the graduation ceremony. Harry had never been to one before, but he was realizing he hadn't really missed
anything; it was intensely boring.
"Brocklehurst, Amanda."
We're only to B, he thought miserably, looking around the room. He had never seen this many people in
the Great Hall before. Parents, students, teachers, friends... he smiled as he spotted the members of the Order
of the Phoenix sitting together to one side.
"Bullstrode, Millicent."
An ugly black-haired Slytherin girl ambled up to the front of the room to receive her diploma. Harry glanced behind
him and saw Ron playing with a piece of parchment.
"What is that?" he whispered, twisting around in his chair. Ron looked up and grinned.
"More money than I've ever seen in my life," he whispered back. "It's my sign-on bonus from the Cannons..." Harry
smiled.
"Congratulations, Ron."
"Congratulations to you too, Harry."
"Goldstein, Anthony."
The list continued and Harry's mind began to drift. It was called back when he heard the beginning of the P's.
"Parkinson, Pansy."
"Patil, Padma."
"Patil, Parvati."
"Potter, Harry." A few people in the audience began clapping enthusiastically, and the noise grew. By the time Harry
had gotten to the front of the room, the sound was deafening. Professor McGonagall handed him his diploma with
tears in her eyes.
"Congratulations, Mr. Potter," she said, shaking his hand.
"Ron? Are you almost ready?" Hermione's voice called from the hallway. Ron was rushing around, trying to find his
nice shoes.
"Come on in, Mione," he said breathelssly, looking under his bed. She entered the room, wearing deep purple dress
robes with her hair sleeked up into a french twist.
"Harry's ready, but you're still getting dressed? Honestly, Ron," she sighed, shaking her head. Harry smiled. He really
hadn't wanted to go to the feast and the ball that took place after graduation, but Ron had spent nearly an hour convincing
him. He supposed he would just eat dinner, mingle a little, then head back for an early night.
When Ron had finally found his shoes, the trio headed downstairs. Harry felt a little awkward as he entered the Great Hall,
which was now decorated with tiny falling stars and sparks of gold and silver raining down from above. The night was clear,
and through the enchanted ceiling they could see the stars and the moon. Harry sighed as he looked around. Everyone
seemed to have a date. Everyone but the Boy Who Defeated the Dark Lord.
The trio sat down at a long table, along with the rest of the Weasley family and a few professors. The feast was joyous
and full of laughter. Harry couldn't help but smile as he noticed that people seemed to be enjoying themselves more than
they had in years. After dinner was finished, the tables disappeared and some musicians took their place at the front of
the room. The lead singer stood in front.
"Good evening, everyone," he said, his voice magically louder. "In the spirit of celebration, and in order to show the bond
between muggleborns and purebloods, we have decided to play some muggle songs in addition to our usual repertoire."
The audience clapped politely. "Tonight, we'll start out with a wizarding favorite, 'The Cauldron's Boiling'." A fast-paced
tune began and several people got up to dance. Harry watched as Ron and Hermione went out to the dance floor and had
to laugh as he saw Ron repeatedly step on his girlfriend's feet. He spent some time talking to the Weasleys before wandering
off in search of some fellow graduates.
"Hello, Harry Potter," said a dreamy voice behind him. Harry grinned.
"Hello, Luna. How are you?" He noticed she was still wearing her badge from the Ministry of Magic, which read ILuna Lovegood,
Visitor, Promoter of World Peace/I.
"I'm wonderful, thanks for asking. Father's selling so many more copies of the Quibbler now that your story has been printed.
Either that, or it's the article on blood-sucking bugbears..." She looked thoughtful.
"Er, of course," Harry said politely. He had spotted Rachel across the hall, chatting with Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan.
He had lost track of Ron and Hermione; he supposed they had gone outside for some fresh air.
"Would you excuse me, Luna?"
"Oh yes, Harry Potter. Have a good evening." She drifted away. Harry walked cautiously towards Rachel, trying to think of
something to say to her.
"Er - hi, Rachel," he said dumbly as she turned to look at him. Hannah gave him a wink and dragged Ernie away with her, giving
an excuse about going to get punch. Rachel glared after them. Harry took a deep breath. "Look, Rach, I'm really sorry. I just - I
don't know what else I can do."
"I'm sorry too," she said softly. A new song started and she smiled. "This is my favorite song."
"Did you, er, want to dance?" Harry asked awkwardly. She nodded. The couple moved out onto the dance floor.
If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way
"Harry, I wish none of this had happened. I wish I could take it back. I just want to start over," she said sadly. He pulled her closer.
And I will always love you
"I know how you feel," he whispered. "I just want to start from the beginning. Do you think we could, Rachel?" She pulled back
to look at him.
"We could try." He smiled.
"Okay then. Let's try."
OUTSIDE
"Sorry Hermione, it was just getting too hot in there for me. Too many people," Ron said, grimacing as he pulled at the neck of
his dress robes. They sat down on a bench just outside the door.
"Now what, Ron?" Hermione asked, sighing. He looked at her cautiously; her words seemed to carry a lot of weight.
"What exactly do you mean?" he asked slowly.
"I just mean... Well, you're going to be off playing Quidditch, and I'll be in school, and we'll hardly ever see each other." She smiled
at him sadly.
"We'll be fine. I'll come and visit you all the time. Besides, you'll only be in school for a couple of years." He squeezed her hand and
she smiled back with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Ron, you're so sweet," she said, hugging him. Ron took a deep breath.
"Hermione," he said quietly, standing up from the bench and kneeling on the ground. Hermione's breath caught in her throat as she
watched him fumble around in his pocket for a second before pulling out a small black box.
"Oh..." she mumbled, covering her mouth in shock.
"Hermione Jane Granger," Ron said. "Will you marry me?" She nodded, tears falling down her face.
"Of course," she whispered, hugging him. "Oh Ron, this ring is beautiful. How did you afford something like this?" She took the glittering
gem and placed it on her finger.
"Don't worry about it," he said, smiling as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
The trip back to London on the Hogwart's Express the next morning was a sad affair. As he stared out at the disappearing castle behind him,
Harry felt as though he was losing the only place he had ever called home. But at the same time, he knew there was something better
awaiting him. There were still dark wizards, there was still evil magic - and Harry James Potter was ready for the fight.
A/N:
Ta da! That's the end. This could have been several chapters, but I decided just to post it all together instead
of splitting it up. Hope you enjoyed it!!
I will be writing another story that takes place after this one, but it will not focus on the trio; rather, it will
be a Remus/Tonks romance. So, if that sounds interesting to you, watch for "An Unlikely Pair". It should
be up sometime soon!
Everyone who has read this story has been great. I love reading your reviews, and I appreciate your
faithfulness in always reading my story! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!