'He's dead. He's really…' Ron choked back the word in disbelief as he looked down at his friend's body. Dumbledore nodded gravely, grief clouding his lined face.

'He died so others could live, or so I would like to think. I believe the heady power Voldemort felt as Harry gave in to his demands blinded him from the morsel of free will left in Harry's soul.'

Ron looked bemused. 'I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand. What did Harry give in to?'

Hermione straightened from her kneeling position beside the body and looked askance at Dumbledore.

'If you knew what was happening, why didn't you do anything? Why didn't you get here sooner.' A slight tremble in her voice betrayed her anger at the old wizard.

But Dumbledore only sighed and shook his head sadly. He gestured to the two young people to follow him as he led the way out of the main chamber, into which they had portkeyed, and down a short corridor, stopping before a door guarded by two dark clothed Aurors. With a nod they stepped aside, and the door swung open. Dumbledore paused on the threshold.

'Inside are the remnants of the band once known as the Death Eaters. The rest have all either fled or committed a mass suicide by leaping into a pit of sharpened bamboo stakes, a premeditated preparation for such circumstances as this one, I imagine. These men told us what we needed to know to understand the final moments of Harry's life. They will be brought to trial before the Wizengamot, and I don't doubt, unfortunate as it may be, that the death penalty will be reinstated once again.' Dumbledore motioned the pair forward into the gloom, and their eyes fell upon the huddle of six people or so in the corner of the room.

The men cowered away from Ron and Hermione, obviously sick with fear. Ron turned away in revulsion, and made for the comparatively bright light of the corridor, stopping in front of Dumbledore.

'You still have not answered my question, sir. What did Harry give in to? What were they making him do?'

Dumbledore waited for Hermione to join them before speaking once more.

'Voldemort wanted his absolute love before he made Harry kill himself. I'm sure he felt it would be an ironic twist. Unfortunately he disallowed himself from remembering the intense tie between them from the spell cast seventeen years ago; the one that reduced Voldemort into little more than a shadow. He also managed to forget that he had strengthened this tie by planting a part of his magic inside Harry's mind.'

Ron shifted uneasily. Harry had known that it would come to this. Damn it, he had known, and did nothing to prevent it. Dumbledore gazed at Ron's face sadly.

'In the end, it was all that anyone could do. There was no other way, by no other means would he have died.' The old wizard stepped back from the fragile looking couple. 'Remember the dead, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, remember them. They live among us as long as their memories prevail.' He left them at the door to the prisoners' cell.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other.

'We-'

'I-'

They paused, blushing.

'You first.' said Ron.

'I was going to say, we must live our lives to the fullest, and to the longest. And make sure no one forgets him.'

Ron chuckled. 'Snap. I was going to say exactly the same.'

They looked about them, each avoiding the other's eyes in sudden shyness. Hermione took a deep breath, remembering her words of a second before, reached out, and took Ron's hand in her own.

'Let's go back. Together. People need to know, and we can tell them. Together.' And she fixed him with her steadiest gaze.

Ron nodded slowly. Harry had died so that thousands of people could live, so that they could live. He pulled her closer to his body, there was no use protesting against it any longer.


Dumbledore watched the young pair from the shadows. There was a little more love in the world, the strongest magic of all.


--End--

A/N: Blegh sorry for the horrendously soppy ending, but it just would not leave me alone until I got it down, so I guess its meant to be. Also sorry for the horrendously long wait for this to go up… I went to Thailand for two weeks and procrastinated a bit once I got back.

Well, that's it folks. Its finished. But I have got another fic on the way, the sequel to The Darkest Riddle so watch this space (and go read TDR).

Thank yous (last lot sob)

Kelly: Here you go Miss Loyal! Thanks!

Kybo: Well, he didn't know exactly, but I think he was aware towards the end. Thanks!

Taurus07: Sorry! I know! But it had to happen! Honestly there was no other way. Glad you liked it. There will be more coming your way soon I promise.

Caroline: thanks!

inuyashaswench: Thank you! Hope you didn't go too mad from waiting…..

Circe la Fay: indeed, do so. Mwahahahaha. And yes, he is really dead.

Sesshoumaru is my fluffy: thank you!

Lukeferris: yup, here's the 'more to come'.

Rosiegirl: thank you!

Honey Nut Loop: in the code Hermione specifies to change the last two letters round. Glad you read so carefully…thank you all the same!

Julie Long: uh thanks (I think!)

Savannah142: not evil no. just been tortured beyond belief and is seriously messed up. And dead.