chapter 4 Completion of the Prophecy

I ran to Dumbledore's office, recited "Chocolate Frog," and dashed up the revolving staircase. (I was entrusted with the password because I was Head Girl.)

Dumbledore was seated at his claw-footed desk, deep in conversation with the portrait of Armando Dippet.

"Headmaster, Harry and Draco have gone to rescue McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape, however, I do not know where," I fearfully informed.

His usual serene blue eyes flickered with worry. "Follow me," he instructed quickly. He went to his fireplace, tossed in Floo Powder, and cried, "Underground: beneath the Hog's Head."

The moment he disappeared I imitated his actions and after the spinning sensation of traveling through the Floo Network ceased I popped up in a grate in a dark, dank corridor where Dumbledore was waiting for me.

He motioned for me to follow and we noiselessly treaded towards a crack of light streaming through an open door in the otherwise empty corridor.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand and I nearly screamed.

"It's me," whispered Draco.

I hugged him hard. I had not known if I would ever be able to hold him in my embrace again.

"Albus," I heard McGonagall say softly to Dumbledore. "All of us were freed from our prison-like cells thanks to Potter and Malfoy. Tonks and Moody are here too, but through that door at the end of the hallway are Voldemort and almost all of his Death Eaters."

Tonk's voice volunteered, "There aren't enough of us to defeat them all now."

"I think we should fight them," came Lupin's pleasant suggestion.

"Why, Remus?" inquired Dumbledore curiously.

Snape muttered maliciously, "Animal instinct?"

"Actually, no," Lupin answered mildly. "I think we should because bold, young Harry has almost reached the door, and I would rather not let him go into there unaided." None of us needed more coercing. We caught up to Harry as quietly as possible and entered a large room that was empty of everything save Dark Wizards and Witches.

"Hmm, what do we have here?" said Bellatrix Lestrange in her baby voice. "Do widdle Harry and his pals wanna play?"

There was a moment of silence when practitioners of the Dark Arts and members of the Order of the Phoenix stared each other down and I could hardly breathe, for the air was so tense. Then, all at once, chaos erupted: curses and countercurses were soaring in every direction, there was screaming, there was swearing, and on and on.

I do not know how long it lasted. Perhaps minutes? Perhaps hours? All I know is that all of a sudden it ceased. I looked away from the duel I had been having with Macnair and gaped at Harry and Voldemort, as did all other occuppants of the room. Harry had hexed Voldemort so that the Dark Lord was actually bleeding near his temple. I was aware, of course, that Voldemort had regained his body, but until that moment I had still thought of him as a spirit somehow. Humans can be killed! I realized. But humans can also kill others...

Lord Voldemort glared at Harry with his piercing red orbs. "Potter, you have no idea," came Voldemort's bone-chillingly cold tone. "How good it shall feel for me to finally rob you of your young life. Avada Kedavra!"

"NO!" roared Dumbledore. Just as the curse of ultimate evil had left Voldemort's lips Dumbledore leapt in front of Harry and was hit with a blast of green light. Dumbledore's lifeless body was strewn oddly on the floor from his jumped and his long silver hair fell about him.

I felt a cold sweat of shock upon my own face. I would have rather done anything than admit that Dumbledore was really gone forever.

Voldemort was laughing a horrifyingly mirthless laugh. While he did so Harry's mouth moved and though he spoke too quietly for me to hear I knew what he said, for green light shot out of Harry's wand and hit Voldemort squarely against the chest. The Dark Lord had literally died laughing.

The Death Eaters all gasped in astonishment and dismay and before they could do a thing Moody mumbled a spell that rendered them unconscious and immobile.

Harry fell to his knees, put his face in his hands, and wept. It was the first time in all of the years that I had known him that I witnessed him sobbing.

Lupin rushed to Harry and held him tightly. "Everything is all right," he assured.

Harry murmured, "But I killed someone."

"It had to be done," replied Lupin calmly. "You know what the prophecy proclaimed; one of you had to murder the other."

"Well, Dumbledore didn't have to die, too," said Harry, the volume rising in his voice. "My parents, my godfather, and my headmaster all died for me and IT'S NOT FAIR! Everyone shouldn't suffer for my sake! It would have been better if I was never born at all."

Lupin shook his head. "No, Harry, if the world would be a better place without you then so many would not have sacrificed themselves for you, and you need to make certain that they did not die in vain by being the absolute best and happiest individual you can be. They all loved you, and would not want you to live in despair."

I had always respected Professor Lupin, however, nothing compared to the admiration I felt towards him at that moment.

My childhood comrade merely inclined his head resolutely when he should have been rejoicing. "I guess. May we go back to Hogwarts?" requested Harry wearily.

"Yes, Harry. You have earned yourself a steaming mug of tea and a long rest," Lupin kindly commented.

We all trailed after Harry and Lupin as they took the grate back to the school. Ministry officials apprehended the Death Eaters later.

Upon returning to Hogwarts, Draco and I took one last stroll around the lake; the Hogwarts Express would take us home tomorrow.

I gazed at the magnificent castle. "I am going to miss Hogwarts so much." When I thought of how Dumbledore no longer resided in that palace a few tears sprang into my eyes, but I blinked them back.

"As will I," responded Draco nonchalantly. "Yet leaving means getting on with our futures: becoming employed, purchasing houses, getting married-"

"Married?" I breathed. I stopped in midstep and looked directly at him. I knew that the subject would come up. In fact, I hoped it would, though I never suspected it would be this soon.

Draco nodded with a solemn expression that I scarcely saw on his face. He positioned himself on one knee and held out a velvet box that contained a glittering diamond ring. "Hermione, will you make me the gladdest man on earth and be my wife?" he requested.

My eyes became misty again, though for joy this time. "I love you; of course I shall," I answered and kissed him more passionately than I ever had before.

Minerva's Note: Did anyone cry when Dumbledore died? I would inevitably weep if he or Lupin died. I love Remus Lupin! Anyway, that was the end, but I might write a seqeul. Please review! In fact, if you do not review you get lashed with my famous wet noodle! Have you seen my website yet!