Short author's note: I don't own anything. I'm not going to rehash the entire final battle. I think I'm feeling maybe two more chapters then an epilogue. Please review and let me know what you think.
Ginny looked down at Harry and Hermione's clasped hands and felt her heart drop into her stomach. She understood that Harry had broken up with her before leaving to find a way to defeat Voldemort, but she was holding onto the hope that they would reunite once he was back.
One look at them and anyone could see how smitten they were with each other. She felt tears well up in her eyes. Turning, she noticed her brother not looking too shocked to see this.
"This is why you came back, isn't it?" Ginny whispered in his ear as she brushed past him.
"You knew they were together? You left them alone together, and they turned away from us! I hope you're happy now." she stormed off to the back of the room.
Ron's face had turned red, but he walked forward to greet his hopefully still best friends.
"So, you must be making progress if you've come back, huh?"
"Yeah, we have another horcrux, and we believe there's another hidden here at Hogwarts." Everyone around the room looked on with no clue as to what Harry was talking about.
Cho was near the front and wanted to make up for past mistakes, so she spoke up first. "What are you looking for Harry?"
Harry looked at Hermione for guidance. She squeezed his hand briefly before letting go and nudging him forward.
"We think it's something of Rowena Ravenclaw's. It'll be small. Something easily hidden." Harry paused, thinking of how better to describe a horcrux.
Luna stepped forward. "That sounds likes Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem."
"That's why it's called the lost diadem, Luna. No one alive has ever seen it." Cho chimed in.
"No one alive, but The Gray Lady might know where it is. You could try asking her." Luna suggested.
"Harry, why don't you go with Luna to find the Gray Lady, and Ron and I can head down to the Chamber of Secrets to get a Basilik fang. We could use it to destroy the cup." Hermione squeezed Harry's had briefly in reassurance.
"All right, we have a plan. Everyone else get ready to fight. It's happening tonight." Harry leaned over and gave Hermione a light kiss on the lips.
"Promise me you will be careful." Harry whispered worriedly.
Hermione nodded solemnly. "You too. Don't be too brave."
"Here, take the map. After you've destroyed the cup, come find me. Hopefully I'll have the diadem and we can destroy it too. Then all that is left is the snake." Harry handed the map to Hermione and kissed her briefly once again.
Suddenly the room was a bustle of movement. Harry and Luna took off to find the Gray Lady, Ron and Hermione ran for the Chamber of Secrets, and the other students were preparing for battle. Neville seemed to take charge and had some of the older students guide the younger students to safety.
Hermione stabbed the Basilisk fang into the cup, and a deafening gurgle sound was heard. She and Ron backed up as the water in the chamber seemed to rise. The embraced each other as a tidal wave of water with the face of Voldemort crashed down on them.
When they realized they were safe, they both pulled back and looked in the other's eye. Ron slowly leaned in as if to kiss Hermione. Seeing this, Hermione quickly jerked back.
"Ron, you know I'm with Harry." Hermione maintained eye contact to make sure he got the point, but kept her distance.
"I know. I'm sorry. I just hate that I lost my chance with you, and it's all my fault. I shouldn't have forced you to choose between leaving with me, and staying with Harry!" Ron hung his head.
"That wouldn't have mattered Ron. It' always been Harry. I just didn't see it before. I didn't think he could possibly love insufferable know-it-all Hermione Granger."
"Don't sell yourself short. You're amazing, and Harry's the luckiest guy in the Wizarding world to have you."
Hermione reached over and gave Ron a brief hug, and patted his back. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"Come on Ron. Let's go find Harry. It looks like he's in the Room of Requirement."
Just as Ron and Hermione reached the hallway leading to the Room of Requirement, Luna, Harry, and Draco Malfoy of all people came tumbling out on burning broomsticks.
"Harry!" Hermione quickly tossed the Basilik fang to Harry. He stabbed the diadem and kicked it into the flames that were consuming the room. The explosion from the destroyed horcrux blasted the students back and slammed the doors closed.
Painful images began flashing through Harry's mind. He fell to the floor pressing his hand to his scar. It was burning. Harry was thrashing on the floor. Voldemort was fuming. He was now aware that his precious horcruxes were being destroyed.
"Harry! Are you all right?" Hermione ran to help Harry up from the floor.
"Hermione! I'm all right." Harry pulled Hermione into his arms. They separated after a brief moment. Malfoy was looking at the floor hoping no one would notice him.
"I know where Voldemort is. He's with Snape in the boat house. We need to move." Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and began running out of the castle with Ron following. Malfoy took the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
The trio slowed as they came up to the side of the boat house. Crouching low they made their way to the open doorway to better hear what was going on inside. It sounded like Voldemort was questioning Snape about why the Elder wand wouldn't answer to him.
Suddenly Nagini lashed out at Snape on Voldemort's orders. Harry, Ron, and Hermione ducked back in fear. The made their way inside once Voldemort had vacated the boat house. Snape was slumped against the wall bleeding from multiple snake bites.
Harry moved closer to see if there was anything they could do. Snape had silent tears running down his cheeks, and gestured to them.
"Take them. Please. You need to know." Snape said as he fought for breath.
Hermione pulled a test tube from her beaded bag and handed it to Harry. He placed it against Snape's cheek allowing a few tears to fill it.
"You have your mother's eyes." Snape said his final words as his eyes closed and he slumped further down the wall.
"Come on. We can use the pensieve in Dumbledore's office." Harry stated as he stood and began making his way out of the boat house.
Harry lifted his head out of the pensieve uncertain about what he just witnessed. He couldn't believe that Dumbledore would keep this information from him, and that Snape was the one that cared and advocated for him.
He knew what he needed to do. Voldemort had given them one hour to gather their dead and treat the wounded. That time was nearly up. It was going to be hard for him to get by Hermione. She would never let him go without her.
He made his way down the stairs towards the entrance. He noticed Hermione and Ron sitting on the bottom step. Hermione had her head on Ron's shoulder and he was gently rubbing her back.
Hermione lifted her head as she noticed Harry coming down the stairs.
"What did you learn from the pensieve?" Hermione moved over and intertwined her fingers with Harry's.
"Snape loved my mother and has been protecting me this whole time. It's weird to think about. I've been suspicious of him all these years." Harry just shook his head.
"I have to go face Voldemort. I'm the only one that can defeat him. Dumbledore said so himself. I can't allow anyone else to die if I can end this."
"No Harry! It's too dangerous. We'll take him on together. It's always been us together." Hermione became panicked and felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
Harry pulled Hermione into his arms and whispered into her ear.
"I have to do this. You need to stay here. I couldn't stand if anything ever happened to you."
"And you think I could stand for something to happen to you. I love you, you idiot!" Hermione tightened her grip on him.
"I love you too, and I'm asking you to do this for me. I'm confident I can end this. I'll be back as soon as he's vanquished."
Hermione pulled back to look into his eyes. She saw the confidence shining from his eyes.
"You come back to me Harry Potter." She leaned in and gave him a light kiss that he turned a little more passionate by applying more pressure to her lips and nipping her bottom lip.
"Ron, please keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble." Harry said as he clapped Ron on the back.
"No problem mate. Although, I don't think she really needs anyone to look out for her." Ron clapped Harry on the back as well in a brotherly manner.
With one last look over his shoulder, Harry headed out to the Forbidden Forrest.
Harry stood in a secluded spot in the Forbidden Forrest trying to mentally prepare himself for what was to come. He closed his eyes and swirled the Resurrection Stone in his fingers. When he opened his eyes he was surrounded by his deceased loved ones…both of his parents, Sirius, and Lupin.
Harry felt better after being given love and reassurances from everyone. He dropped the Resurrection Stone to the ground, and took the first step towards his death. He knew he was the last horcrux and had to die in order to defeat Voldemort. He had to do this to save everyone else. He had flashes of the life he would never have. Marriage and a family with Hermione. Growing old with her.
She was strong and he knew she would eventually move on. Maybe she would move on with Ron. They could console each other and fill the gap they would both feel with him gone.
He entered the clearing and saw Voldemort standing there surrounded by his minions. Belletrix noticed him first and cackled in triumph gaining Voldemort's attention.
"Ah, Harry Potter. The boy who lived has come to die." All the death eaters began hooting and howling in joy.
"Any last words boy?" Voldemort starred him down, waiting for him to say something. The longer he just stood there, the angrier Voldemort got.
"Avada Kedavra!" He shouted wanting to just end it. A green blast slammed into Harry throwing him back and landing hard on the ground. A reverberating blast also sent Voldemort flying backwards.
Belletrix rushed forward to make sure her master was alright.
"I'm fine! Someone check the boy. Is he dead?" Voldemort allowed Belletrix to assist him to his feet.
Narcissa Malfoy moved forward to check that Harry was actually dead. She leaned over his prone body and noticed he was still breathing slightly.
"My son, Draco, does he live?" she asked in a whisper as to not be overheard by Voldemort or the other death eaters.
Harry gave a barely perceptible nod of his head. Narcissa sighed a breath of relief.
"Dead!" She shouted as she slowly rose from her crouched position over Harry's body.
Voldemort and the death eaters shouted in victory as Hagrid bound in ropes let out an anguished scream.
"You giant….pick him up. Let's head back to the castle to show everyone their precious Harry Potter is dead." Voldemort bellowed as he and the death eaters began the trek back to the castle to declare their victory.
