The Battle was afoot when Harry aperated into Hogwarts grounds, death eaters swarmed the castle, casting aside students like ragdolls. In the distance, he could already see that the Order had arrived and was assisting McGonagall and the teachers. Harry vaguely realised that Dumbledore had yet to show. He knew he was a coward but to not even assist in a battle for the school that he once called home was low.
Harry walked across the rubble of the ancient castle and sighed. Voldemort had timed the invasion well. Most of the faculty and students were at home for the holidays which meant fewer causalities and less resistance. It was also easier to take the castle in a surprise siege. After all, once you got to the children you got to the adults too.
Harry knew he was lucky to know about the invasion at all, if it wasn't for his spy he would not have known until the battle was over.
Still, it seemed all kind of mute now for he had yet to see Voldemort enter the castle, the one person Harry really needed. Yet the castle still needed protecting so Harry fires curse after curse, practically thrown death eaters past the school wards. If anyone recognised him, they didn't say anything. They just let him past as death eaters crumbled around him. He looked for anybody that he knew and his heart sank when he recognised one of the two people he didn't want to see. Petunia Evans. She was wearing a magical medallion around her neck which protected her from stray curses whilst she and a bunch of house-elves walked up to death eaters and attacked them with pans and other kitchen utensils. Next to her stood Remus who laughed, dodging a stray curse himself.
Harry skillfully avoided them but cursed Remus all the same, who brought a muggle to a wand fight. Instead of focusing on that, however, Harry stalked into the castle, trying to still his heart as a school girl flew past him and into the wall, a sickening snap of her neck ending her life. Harry could feel the bile rise in his throat as his magic blasted the girl's attacker into thin air. He ran towards her, feeling for a pulse and sighed when he found none. He gently picked her up and laid her neatly on the floor, trying to ignore the blasts of magic as he crossed the young girl's arms in an act of dignity. Then with a heavy heart, he left her behind in search of his arch-enemy.
Whilst Harry was fighting Ginny was sat across from her twin brothers. She clutched the letter Harry had given Goerge, searching for any hint of a joke.
"So, you're telling me Harry has to die?" she asked. The twins nodded
"You're also telling me that whilst we're sat here Hogwarts is being attacked and it's where Harry is hoping to be killed?" George nodded whilst Fred winced at the coldness in her voice.
"Yeah... the call came through whilst we were out. Sirius ordered me to bring you here and not let out" he admitted. Ginny could feel herself becoming increasingly frustrated but did not reply to him. It's not his fault that he followed Sirius like a sheep. Instead, she looked down at the thin envelope in her hands and contemplated what to do. After a moment she ripped it open and began to read it.
My Dearest Ginny,
I probably sound like an old man calling you that but, in all likelihood, I won't make it past sixteen so please give me a break. If you are reading then it means I was right. I have to die. I promise I didn't want to be like this, I know I may never have acted like it but do want you. I wanted to grow old together and get married and maybe one day have lots of little us running around. Scary thought considering all the stuff we get up to.
I know I never said it but I am so incredibly and undeniably in love with you and it terrifies me. I'm scared because I have seen such an ugly side to intimacy and love. I know when we started dating that I said I didn't want to kiss you but in the passing weeks it is all I have wanted to do. To kiss you and hide and run away, to let the world defend itself instead of using me as a pawn. Yet I know despite what you say that would never make you happy. You love so wholly and openly and knowing that I could save the world but didn't would make you resent me.
When we broke up, I knew it was the right thing, at the time of writing this it has only been a day since we ended but I am glad we did. You make me want to live and I can't have that. What I am about to write might explain everything.
I am a Horcrux.
That night when Voldemort tried to kill me something went wrong and my mother love made Voldemort's soul separate and it latched on to the only thing it could find which was me. That's why I can hear and feel him, that's why I could find the Horcruxes so easily. Yet the only way to save the world is to make Voldemort human. I have destroyed most of the Horcruxes apart from two. Nagini and I. If you are reading then I have succeeded with the snake and the last Horcrux will be me.
Voldemort needs to kill me and I need to be willing to die to protect the light. It is the only way that we will win. I need to recreate the magic enchantment my mum invertedly made. Yet to do that I need to be willing to die and if I knew we were together I wouldn't have the strength to do what needed to be done. You would have asked me to stay, you would not have let me go. I would not have left you if you have asked because, for all that I am, I am weak. If you asked for the sun and the moon, I would have found a way to give them to you. I love you, Ginny.
I am sorry that I have hurt you, you have given me your world when I could only give you part of mine.
I will always love you and I hope one day you can forgive me.
Yours forever Harry.
