Disclaimer: Nothings mine, its all Rowling's.
Chapter 1 – Ginny
Ginny Potter stood on the front steps of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry looking out across the war torn grounds. The field was burned and pot marked, portions of the Forbidden Forest no longer stood and Hagrid's cabin was a charred ruin. As she gazed across the landscape's features memories of that fateful day flooded her mind. She stopped as she looked toward the lake, a memory coming to the surface.
"Ginny! Run!" Harry said grabbing her hand.
A loud boom shook the surrounding area causing Harry and Ginny to stumble and fall. He heaved his wife back to her feet and shoved her forward. "Keep going!" he yelled though the noise of the battle.
Ginny did as she was told and was happy when she felt Harry's presence at her side a moment later. Out of nowhere a group of Death Eaters appeared in front of them and attacked. Ginny raised a shield while Harry began launching blasting hexes at the seven masked figures.
One of the Death Eaters yelled out the killing curse and the familiar sickly green light sped towards Ginny only to crash into a wall of granite Harry had conjured. Sensing an opportunity Ginny quickly summoned the remaining death eaters putting as much power as she could into the spell. With a sickening crunch the group impacted Harry's wall and was no more. A moment later, Harry and Ginny were once again running towards the castle.
Ginny's face remained stoic as the memory passed and she started walking down the steps. As she began her trek across the grounds she passed by the splintered stump of a fallen oak tree and another memory entered her mind.
"Harry!" Ginny cried grabbing the arm of the man next to her.
At her cry and touch Harry looked up to find her staring in horror towards the quidditch pitch. Following her gaze he immediately felt a rush of anger and launched himself into motion.
Running towards the fray Harry and Ginny began launching curses into a group of Death Eaters who had Charlie Weasley pinned behind an oak tree. As the Death Eaters began dropping some of the group turned towards the new threat. Charlie took the opportunity to fire several curses from behind the tree. He ducked back as a rush of curses were returned and was about to fire some more when there was a sickening crunch.
As Harry and Ginny fought the tide was beginning to turn with the group of Death Eaters they were facing. Charlie was now able to fight back thanks to their help. It all changed in a moment when a giant with a massive club ran into the fight and with a mighty swing broke the tree trunk in two throwing Charlie back against the castle. He slid down the wall and never moved again.
Wiping a tear from her eye she continued across the field. The memories continued to come as she passed holes left from explosions, damage from fires and places so spoiled by dark magic that even the hardiest scrub grass would no longer grow. She passed by a large section of burned forest and a slight grin appeared on her face as she remembered starting the blaze.
"Damnit! How many are there?" Ginny asked in frustration.
"I don't know Gin, how are you doing? You ok?"
"I'm fine Harry." Ginny paused for a moment as a feeling of dread slipped over her. "Is it getting colder?"
Harry nodded in realization. "Dementors."
As they looked towards the forest they could see hundreds of nightmare inducing figures in ratty black cloaks gliding silently through the trees towards the battle.
"We have to do something." Ginny cried.
Harry nodded looking around. There was no one about who could help them. "Cast your Patronus. Keep them bunched up within the forest."
Together the pair yelled out, "Expecto Patronum!"
Several large golden forms leapt from each of their wands and began corralling the dark creatures. Harry and Ginny had been training together since Voldemort had returned. In secret they had even gone as far as to perform several light rituals unlocking latent abilities and magnifying their magic by many times. They had both become incredibly powerful.
Harry gave control of his Patroni to Ginny and conjured a ball of flame with his wand before placing it in its holster. He ran forward until he was a safe distance from his wife and stopped. Concentrating on the ball of flame he slammed his hands together. Fire erupted all around him burning brighter and hotter than anyone watching would have thought possible. With a mighty wrench he hurled the massive ball of flame towards the Dementors. The entire area of wood caught fire and was reduced to ashes in seconds. Nothing remained of their enemy.
Ginny quickly ran forward to give an exhausted Harry a vial of restorative to replenish his magical reserves. The recipe they used was something they kept to themselves because it contained several illegal ingredients and worked in combination with one of the rituals they had undergone. The pain they had experienced during the ritual had been profound but the results were undeniable. Harry could feel the rush of his magic and energy returning far quicker than any normal method would allow and after a couple minutes he was once again standing by Ginny's side. Dropping the empty vial he drew his wand and shared a grin with his wife.
Her smile passed as she continued on her way, the ghosts of that day continuing to haunt her thoughts as she walked along. Images of fallen comrades and friends scattered about, bloodied weapons, bodies of all manner of dark creatures and dead Death Eaters. She remembered the sounds of spells and screams, of clashing swords and wooden clubs, of death. The air no longer seemed to carry the sweet smells of the forest and castle but instead the stench of decay and the recently deceased.
Ginny's mind wandered again as she passed by the remains of Hagrid's cabin.
Harry and Ginny watched from a distance as Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick fought against overwhelming odds. They had encountered a large group of Death Eaters and Trolls emerging from the Forbidden Forest on the far side of the grounds and had moved to defend the school.
The enemy's numbers continued to increase as more bodies emerged from the woods. The skill the teachers fought with was amazing but they were being pushed back, overwhelmed by numbers. Eventually they found themselves backed up against Hagrid's hut.
McGonagall transfigured everything in sight with a speed and skill that was unimaginable. Her army of objects was proving to be truly deadly to her enemy. Flitwick was just as deadly. The small gnome bounced and weaved casting all manner of deadly curses his wand moving with a speed that made it appear to be invisible except for the flashes of light that left its tip.
As Harry and Ginny finished off the third and final giant they had been fighting they were happy to see that the outcome of the battle was turning in favor of the two professors. That was when he arrived.
A flash of pain suddenly ripped across Harry's scar blurring his vision and sending him to his knees until he was able to raise his Occulmency shields to block the pain. As the pain receded and his vision cleared he looked across the field to see Voldemort stepping out of the forest.
An evil grin appeared on the Dark Lord's face as he watched McGonagall and Flitwick fighting the last members of the large group they had engaged. Harry and Ginny gasped in shock and fear as Voldemort raised his wand towards the teachers and began to chant in Parsletonge. The words of the spell seemed to echo across the air currents. As they reached Harry and Ginny's ears they both recognized the spell and knew that they were to far away to be of any help. A sickly ball of red light tinged with green left Voldemort's wand slamming into the professors and the cabin. There was an enormous explosion sending debris from the cabin raining down upon the battle field striking friend and foe alike. When the smoke cleared Hagrid's cabin was reduced to rubble and the professors were gone.
Ginny slowly let out a deep breath. She couldn't believe how sad this place had become. She could still remember the dreams and hopes these grounds had once held for a small red headed girl. An innocent girl who she now realized had known nothing of life. Ginny remembered the lush green lawns and trees and the shimmering crystal clear water of the lake. The castle and grounds had seemed much bigger then in that time gone past and she longed for those days to return. She was sad to note that the images were no longer as clear as they once had been. It was even sadder she thought that the dreams were fading as well.
Tears were rolling down Ginny's cheeks and sobs escaped from deep within her chest as she fell to her knees on the edge of an enormous crater. This was where it had happened. This was where her life had ended. This was why she was leaving the castle. Her crying intensified as she relived the moment.
Rage previously unknown coursed through Harry's veins as he watched Voldemort murder two of his professors. Two of the people he loved and considered his family.
Harry charged towards his nemesis intent on ending the suffering the man, no monster was inflicting upon the world. Enemy after enemy appeared in his path only to be blown away with hardly any effort or thought. Ginny ran behind him following her love to his destiny when a large group of Death Eater's ran towards the pair and they were separated. She called out but was not heard over the noise of the battle. Albus Dumbledore appeared at her side a moment later and together the two of them quickly disposed of the Death Eaters that Harry had not destroyed.
Across the field Harry and Voldemort were locked in a fierce battle. Curses showered down on each of them like raindrops and were brushed off just as quickly. Explosions sounded and debris was thrown in every direction. Harry managed to summon a lightning bolt which hit its target throwing the Dark Lord to the ground. Without pausing Harry moved his wand to his off hand and drew the sword of Gryffindor from its scabbard on his back as he lunged at the fallen Lord. The silver steel of his blade was met with obsidian and the duel moved up another notch as swords came into play.
Ginny and Albus fought their way forward trying to reach Harry to help him in his fight but the enemies were many and the going was slow. A shout of triumph echoed across the battle field and Ginny raised her eyes to see Harry on his knees his sword lying several meters away and blood gushing from a wound across his chest.
Voldemort's evil smile as he pointed his wand at her love is something she would never forget. "Goodbye Harry Potter!" he yelled.
The same ball of red and green he had used against Professors McGonagall and Flitwick was hurled towards Harry. A moment before it hit Ginny saw Harry explode with light and fire. Everyone within a hundred meters was killed instantly by the blast. The shock wave from the explosion knocked everyone else from their feet, even the giants. The ground shook with tremors so strong that the very foundations of Hogwarts Castle were cracked. It was only by pouring their combined power into a shield at the last possible instant that Ginny and Albus survived.
Ginny was the first to recover her mind slowly beginning to clear. The pain of the shockwaves impact was passing quickly and the bells had almost stopped ringing in her ears once again thanks to one of her and Harry's rituals. Albus managed to stand and shake off the after effects of the blast and the pair started making their way towards where Harry had last been seen.
It was several minutes before the haze from the blast cleared enough to be able to see and the sight that greeted Ginny and Albus eyes both humbled and terrified them. They were standing on the edge of a crater that was thirty or forty meters across and another ten or so deep. As they scanned the sight that held their attention they spied a single body lying on the ground in the center of the great hole. With a quick wind spell from Albus the air cleared further and they could see that the body was that of Harry Potter, and he wasn't moving.
Without warning, a curse struck Ginny in the chest throwing her back from the edge of the crater. She climbed to her feet disregarding the pain from the broken ribs she knew she had and ran forward intent on getting to Harry's side. Albus grabbed hold of her arm holding her back from the edge with a surprising strength.
"Let me go!" she screamed, "I have to help him! He needs me!"
"No, it's to late child, he's gone." he said sadly.
"No. He's not. I know he's not. He promised!" Ginny yelled as she fought to get loose from the Headmaster's grip.
A moment later what little remained of Voldemort's army disappeared. With their departure Albus released his hold on Ginny who immediately ran back to the edge of the crater. She dropped to her knees and cried out in uncontrolled anguish at the sight that greeted her. Harry Potter was gone.
Eventually Ginny ran out of tears and stood. As she did so she realized she had been kneeling at the same spot where she had collapsed at the end of the battle when she discovered he was missing. Wiping away her tears, the tears she had cried for her lost love, she continued on towards the gates to the grounds. As she left the battle field behind her thoughts turned to the conversations of the last several days.
It had only been three days since the battle had occurred but it seemed everyone had a thought or opinion or words of consolation for her. For the most part she had disregarded them because they were wrong, all of them. They told her she needed to mourn. They told her she needed to talk and work past her grief and loss. They told her she needed to move on. But they were all wrong.
As she grew closer to the gates she thought about the conversation she'd had with Albus earlier this morning in his office.
"Ginny, it's good to see you. Please have a seat." the old man said as he gestured to a squishy arm chair in front of his desk. "What can I do for you child?"
Ginny looked up at the man trying to decide what to feel. Albus looked older than she had ever seen him look before and the characteristic twinkle he always had in his eyes was completely missing. It had been lost at the battle of Hogwarts and she wondered if it would ever be found again.
She reached in her robes without saying a word, withdrew a roll of parchment bound with a red ribbon and silently laid it on his desk. Albus didn't unroll the parchment; he didn't need to read it for he already knew what it said. She had been accepted as an apprentice to the professor of ancient runes upon graduation. For two years now she had filled the roll admirably performing her duties with a great enthusiasm and now she was quitting. She was leaving Hogwarts.
"Please reconsider. You don't need to do this. We need you here." Albus pleaded.
Ginny shook her head. "He's out there and I have to find him."
"He's not Ginny, I'm sorry, but he's not. He died that day on the battle field. He died trying to protect the world from evil, from Voldemort. He died trying to protect us all."
Ginny shook her head no as the tears began to fall.
Albus sighed and motioned to a silver apparatus sitting on a small table by his fireplace. "That artifact is set to Harry's magical signature. I've used it to watch him from afar since he was one year old. It went silent that day and hasn't moved since. I'm sorry, but he's gone. We need you here Ginny. You're power probably equals my own and we'll need you when he decides to attack again. Please."
Ginny stood her grief turning to anger. "No! Harry's not gone! I know it. I know it in my heart. I can feel it in my soul. He's not gone and I will not abandon him to what remains of Voldemort's Death Eaters."
"Ginny, Voldemort is still alive and he's out there reorganizing his forces. He was surely injured but he will heal and return. That's why his body was not there in the crater with Harry. He knew he was beat that day so he left to heal and regroup."
"No, you've got it wrong, backwards. Voldemort's gone because Harry killed him. There's no body because Harry didn't want anything left for the Death Eater's to be able to use to bring him back. Harry lived that day. He still lives, I know it."
"Ginny, the artifact." pleaded Albus.
In the blink of an eye Ginny drew her wand and blasted the silver contraption to bits, "To hell with your stupid artifact! It's wrong!"
Albus slumped in his chair he so badly wanted to believe but he couldn't. For the sake of the wizarding world he had to look at the facts and the facts said Voldemort had fulfilled the prophecy.
Ginny turned to leave the office. As she neared the door she heard Albus call her name and stopped. A moment later she felt his hand on her shoulder and turned around to look in his eyes.
"Take these with you." he said softly as he handed her the sword of Gryffindor and a fine gold chain with a red phoenix pendant attached. She placed the pendant around her neck and fastened the short chain. "It's invisible and undetectable to all except you and me and can only be removed by you of your own free will. If you have need of me all you have to do is call."
Her eyes filled with tears and she shared a hug with the man she had long since come to consider part of her family. Stepping back from the hug she placed a hand on his cheek for a second before turning and walking towards the staircase.
"Ginny," she heard and turned around a final time to see the Headmaster standing in the doorway of his office. "I hope you find what you're looking for."
As she turned and continued down the steps she realized though it had only been the tiniest amount the twinkle had returned to his eyes.
As she passed through the gates she stopped and turned to look back at the castle one last time. Scanning the many walls and towers etching the view into her memory she could just make out two figures in separate windows looking back at her. Though they were to far away to discern any kind of detail she knew who they were.
The one in the window in the tall tower positioned in the center of the castle was the man she had just been thinking about, Albus Dumbledore. The other was standing in a window of the Great Hall. It was her best friend and confidant, Hermione Granger.
As she turned back towards the road to Hogsmede and continued to walk she thought of the conversation they had shared before she left the castle.
Ginny was getting dressed when she heard a knock on her door.
"Come in." she yelled from her bedroom.
She heard the door to her private quarters open and close. A few seconds later Hermione entered the bedroom. Undeterred by her presence Ginny continued to suit up.
"Battle robes?" Hermione asked though it was more of a statement than a question.
"I'm leaving." she said simply as she continued to dress.
"I know."
Ginny stopped momentarily to look at her friend. "You're not going to try to talk me out of this?"
"Would it do any good?" Hermione asked in reply. She watched sadly as Ginny shook her head no. "I didn't think so."
Hermione looked around the room as Ginny continued strapping on her armor and weapons. There was so much of Harry in this place. Pictures sitting on shelves and tables, clothes strewn about where he'd dropped them days earlier his FireBolt even sat in the corner.
She left the bedroom to wait in the living room for Ginny to finish. The walls were lined with book shelves which held all manner of rare and fascinating titles but they held no interest for her today. Instead she looked at the pictures. There were pictures of when they were students and had their whole lives ahead of them to look forward to. Frames that held memories of youth lost and times past. All manner of emotions were scattered around the room sitting on shelves and held to the walls with sticking charms.
Stepping up to a set of shelves she picked up a picture feeling a wave of sadness flow over her as she gazed at its contents. It was a picture of Harry with his arm slung around her they were both laughing and enjoying themselves. She closed her eyes as she remembered the warm, sunny day. She was never quite sure how but Harry had talked her into skipping class and going outside to enjoy the beautiful day by the lake. She laughed at the absurdity of it, Hermione Granger skipping class? Only Harry she thought.
Feeling Ginny's presence in the room she opened her eyes wiping away a stray tear as she turned around to face her friend.
"You should keep that one." Ginny said softly.
Hermione smiled though it didn't reach her eyes. "That's ok, I already have a copy." she said as she sat down the picture.
She had sworn to herself when she came here that she was not going to try to talk Ginny out of this, she knew it would be a futile attempt anyway but as she watched Ginny strap Harry's sword on her back she found she couldn't help herself. "Please don't go Ginny. Please don't leave us." she begged.
"I have too."
"No you don't." Tears began to leak from her eyes flowing down her cheeks in little streams that she didn't care to wipe away. "He's gone Ginny. It's time to grieve and to mourn but you need to accept it."
Ginny's chest hitched at her words but she also felt the same anger welling up that she had felt in Albus office. "You're wrong. Why can't anyone understand that? Why can't anyone understand me?" she cried. "He's out there, I know he is and he needs my help. Do you think for even one second he wouldn't risk everything to come for me if he was the one here, if I was the one missing?"
Hermione shook her head unable to speak.
"Then how could you possibly think I wouldn't do the same for him?"
The two girls held each other tightly crying in each others arms for a long while before Ginny turned and walked towards the door.
Ginny felt herself pass through the wards and stopped.
Voldemort had spent several years raising his army finally attacking two years after her graduation. Most if his army had been destroyed and the attack had been repelled but the price paid for the days victory was higher than she would have ever dared imagine.
Removing her wand she cast the spell to apperate her last words to Hermione heavy on her mind as she disappeared.
"Hermione, what if it was Ron? What would you do?"
-
AN: This is just something I've been messing with on the side and really like the way it's coming out. Though the potential is there for this to be more, it's only going to be a short fic, four or five chapter's total.
Don't worry; I'm still working on my other stuff.
