Prologue...
Just at the moment this thought ran across Harry's mind; He heard a horrible plea for help...
Chapter 1: The Price of Victory.
"HARR…!" A swish of a cloak. A painful cry. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
A flash of green.
The Icy Blanket of death.
Then silence.
"RON!" Harry choked on his breath, too astonished to move.
His Best Mate. His first REAL friend… Ron…
Was… Dead.
Harry finally looked up to the face of the killer only to see… nothing. The horrible vermin had vanished.
Vanished, as quickly as the life was ripped from Ron's body. With nothing left, but a soulless corpse as its victim, Harry dropped down on his knees and picked up the hand of his best friend. Suppressing his tears, Harry bade a silent farewell to his fearless Gryffindor brother. Now there was only one thing left to do.
Harry had to avenge Ron's Death. For his family... for Hermione… for himself.
Only one problem. Who was to die?
An easy question, that Harry answered in only a matter of seconds. Every single piece of scum that had a brand on his arm. Every living thing on this battlefield that was living with the knowledge that they were in the service of evil. Voldemort and his Death Eaters would not be on this earth much longer. Harry decided on that.
Standing up, from the place where his best mate lay in the dust, Harry shook the sweat out of his eyes and blinked into the setting sun, his breath ragged and deep. With one last look, he raised his wand and shot sparks into the sky, so he could find the body again. He could not live with himself, if he didn't bring the now widowed Hermione her husband's body. He stepped over Ron, and turned into the shadows. He walked into the battle with revived strength and a new reason to survive this battle.
For everyone's sake.
"Mummy, when is daddy coming home?" James asked his mother, Ginny. "Why is he not back yet?"
Ginny picked up the little boy in her arms, and smoothed his hair out. "Honey, I really don't know. I wish Daddy would come back too." Ginny wiped her tears away, careful not to let her son see them. "James, can you go over there and play for a bit with Becca? Aunt 'Mione and I have to talk." James got up and walked over to where his cousin, Becca was playing. She had come here with the rest of her family just a month ago. Her daddy, Uncle George, had been killed by the Death Eaters just before they moved in. He had stood by Harry and had died in the face of battle, trying as best he could to make sure that his daughter grew up safe. Becca now only had the rest of the Weasleys and her mother left.
"Gin… what's going on?" Hermione glanced over at where Ginny was crouched in the corner. "You seem troubled." Ginny closed her eyes and leaned her head against the cold brick wall of the basement. She mumbled something, so low that Hermione had to lean in to hear what she said. "I-I'm…worried."
"About what?"
"Everything…"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, there is a chance that very few of us will live to see the end of this battle. Harry has the greatest chance of dying." Here she broke, and tears started spilling over on her pale cheeks. I-I just couldn't stand it if he died. I would never forgive myself…"
"Ginerva Molly Weasley Potter! I NEVER want to hear you say that. Or anything like that. If Harry died in this battle, it would not be your fault. Nor would it be his. It would be that arse of a wizard who is trying to do him in!"
Hermione stood and glowered at Ginny. "It wouldn't be yours, or Harry's, or anyone else on this stinking planet except Voldemort!" Hermione was livid. She stared wringing her hands, and tears started leaking out of the corners of her eyes.
"'Mione…"
"No."
"What?" Ginny's eyes had popped open and looked pained. She bit her lip and tried to think of something to say.
"No. Don't you try to take it back. Ginny, don't you see that I am worried too? That my husband is standing beside yours in this battle? Your husband, who just so happens to be my best friend?
"I-I never meant…" Ginny had lowered her eyes to the cold dingy floor of the basement. "I was trying to say that I don't know what I'm going to do, if Harry doesn't live through this battle. I mean… I never told him…"
She cut off and left an anxious silence in the cold air.
Hermione's eyes softened. Just a little. She dropped down to her knees and grasped Ginny's pale cold hand.
"Gin… what was it that you were going to tell him?"
"T-Th… That I'm pregnant."
TBC