Guilty Love: Year 7
Chapter Three:
A/N: IMPORTANT: This will probably be the last chapter (depending on length, it may be broken up into two chapters). I am going to fast forward a bit and move onto the final battle and aftermath, right away. I've decided that I might never get around to finishing the entire year like I did in Year 6, and I've had a lot of requests for the end of the story. If you like, please take the time to look over my other fics.
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Perhaps, the thing that worried Harry the most these days was his utter lack of worry. The year was nearing its end, and there had been little fuss with Voldemort. Few nightmares, no disappearances, no tingling of the scar.
Harry never voiced it, for fear of jinxing his luck, but he felt normal. Like a normal wizard about to graduate from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Outside, the sun was hot and Harry, Ron and Hermione sought shade underneath a large beech tree at the bank of the lake, studying for their last N.E.W.T.: Charms.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione muttered, practicing the first spell they had learned.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry teased, "Surely you know that one by now."
"You can never practice too much! We can't slack just because this is the last exam!" Hermione scowled, causing Harry and Ron to laugh.
Despite herself, Hermione smiled too.
Harry jumped to his feet. "I think I'm going to go see Dumbledore," he announced.
Hermione and Ron looked at him, surprised. "Why?"
"I just want to ask him something. I'll be back before the charms exam."
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"Professor?"
"Ah, Harry. I'd been wondering when you'd pop in."
"You had?"
"Indeed. I assumed that you would want to discuss why Voldemort has been so quiet as of late."
"Er, right."
"Right, well have a seat. I have some news that may surprise, worry, and/or scare you."
"Oh…"
"No matter, Harry. We all knew this was coming. I'm afraid the your quiet days are drawing to a close. An insider has told me…" Dumbledore began.
"You mean Snape," Harry interjected.
"Professor Snape, Harry. And yes."
Harry shifted uncomfortably, he still didn't trust Snape. Dumbledore seemed not to notice, and went on. "Professor Snape told me that the Dark Lord is nearly ready to begin what he is calling 'The Final Attack' on, well, you, Harry."
Harry sighed; a small part of him had been hoping that Voldemort might just drop dead on his own. No such luck.
"What do I have to do to be ready, sir?" Harry asked quietly.
Dumbledore stood swiftly from his desk and moved around to crouch in front of Harry. Leaning in, his piercing blue eyes sparkled as the stared hard into Harry's emerald ones. "You are ready, Harry. You can do this."
Harry tore his gaze away. "I'm scared," he said quietly. "In fact, I'm terrified."
Dumbledore smiled, "I would expect nothing less."
And that's where it began.
Sudden darkness clouded the sky, and screams were heard throughout the castle. Harry's eyes met Dumbledore's for a second, before he stood up and bolted from the office, one word echoing through his mind. 'Hermione!'
Outside, it was pitch black. "Lumos," Harry muttered, casting wandlight on the ground as headed for the beech tree.
"Hermione? Ron?"
"Potter!" Harry looked up and saw a red haze hovering near the gates to the school.
Abandoning his search, Harry gripped his wand tightly and headed for the gates. "What's the matter, Riddle, can't get in the school?" Harry taunted in a voice he hadn't known he had.
"Quit playing, Potter, and come save your little girlfriend."
"Hermione!" Harry shouted, and Voldemort stepped aside to reveal Hermione and Ron struggling in the grasps of two Death Eaters.
There were at least twenty Death Eaters, and Harry was sure there were more he couldn't see. He heard thunderous steps behind him and turned to see Dumbledore, members of the Order, members of the D.A. and several teachers running up to him.
"You're not alone, Harry," Dumbledore told him as they neared him.
The gates swung open and the battle began.
Harry knew whom he had to go for first: Sirius Riddle.
Summoning every ounce of strength in him, Harry pointed his wand at the likeness of his godfather. "Avada Kedavra!" Harry shouted before Sirius could even open his mouth to curse Harry.
Spells flew all around him, Death Eaters and the Order fell left and around, crying aloud. None of their cries matched Harry's as he was forced, once more, to watch his Godfather die. For a moment, as the spell hit his chest, Sirius Riddle's eyes locked on Harry's, filled with pain and sorrow. Then they turned red and he let out a maniacal laugh.
"Potter!" Voldemort shouted, his eyes raging with fury. He turned his wand on Hermione. "CRUICO!" he bellowed vindictively.
Time stopped as Harry saw Hermione's figure shake and writhe under Voldemort's powerful curse. "STOP IT!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at Voldemort. Suddenly, he wanted Tom Riddle to feel as much pain as he did. "CRUCIO!" he shouted. For a moment Voldemort's eyes flickered in pain, but it didn't last.
"Nice try, Potter. Surely you can do better than that."
"This is between you and I, Riddle."
Voldemort's eyes turned to colder, despite their red blaze, he slowly aimed his wand at Harry, preparing to end it.
Harry aimed his wand at Voldemort, his eyes narrowing with pure hatred.
Neither of the noticed, but all around them, battle ceased. Those remaining were staring, open mouthed, at what was surely to be the final blow of the battle.
In his mind, Harry heard Hermione's voice, speaking words of encouragement and love to him. "Harry, you can do this. I love you. Make this suffering end. Save us all, Harry. I love you…"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
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The room was huge, filled with Harry's friends and family. Ron had just finished giving his speech, and every eye in the room was wet with tears. Where there had been soft chatter a moment before, there was now silence, every eye turning to face Hermione who now stood at the front of the room, ready to speak.
"I'll never forget the day I met Harry James Potter. His glasses broken and his shirt was six sizes too big for him. I'd read his name in books, and knew who he was immediately. We didn't get along at first, but he and Ron saved my life. The three of us soon became inseparable.
"Over the next seven years, we worked together to save each other from countless things. We were best friends, and then we were in love. Harry was the world to me, and without knowing him I wouldn't be who I am today," Hermione said, reaching down and taking Harry's hand in hers.
Filled with emotion, Harry stood up and kissed her on the lips. Everyone applauded, chiming their knives against their glasses of champagne. "I love you so much," she murmured to him.
Hermione smiled, her cheeks faintly red. "I love you, too," he answered, a crooked smile stretching across his face. "Mrs. Potter," he added.
The music began, and Harry took Hermione's hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Quietly the swayed to the music, their eyes locked together. Shortly, Hermione leaned in and kissed her husband gently, enjoying the feel of him against her.
With a smile, Harry broke apart and waved his friends to come dance with him. "The wedding was beautiful," Hermione said with a smile. "I can't believe we're finally married."
Harry smiled too, "I was afraid this might never happen."
Hermione hugged him tightly, "I think we all were."
Next to them, Ron was dancing with Luna. "Lovely wedding, Hermione," Luna said, "You're lucky no Kingpattered Hornbees tried to wreck it for you. My aunt had a nasty run-in with them at her wedding a few years ago."
"Er, right…Thanks, Luna," Hermione said, fighting to keep her laughter in.
Ron grinned at them and kept dancing. Harry chuckled slightly, watching Luna wince as Ron stepped on her foot.
Harry looked back and found Hermione watching him intently. She looked beautiful. Unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed her again. His wife.
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A/N: There you have it, the end of my story. I know it's not as er, steamy as some of you requested, but if I have time I might do a short honeymoon piece. Like I said, if you liked this, please go read some of my other fics, and I love to hear reviews! You can find me on AIM as TimeTurner182.