Okay, first off I am so sorry for not updating in like forever. Everything has been so crazy. I started High School then got a new computer while everything was still on the old one. But here it is and please tell me what you think and if I should do an epilogue.
Also please check out my other story Secret Admirer because I'm at a loss. I' thinking of going on hiatus so I can start another story but I just don't know what to do. I'd really appreciate your help.
Thanks. XOXO
Chapter 10 : It's Over
A week passed them and still no attacks were made. Everyone lived in fear that at any moment they could be killed. Many more students had left and Hogwarts was forced to temporarily close down due to the Second War. Very few including the Golden Trio, Ginny and other members of Dumbledore's Army from fifth year still resided in the castle. Some stayed out of bravery and support. Some stayed because they had nowhere else to go. Others stayed because they simply weren't safe anywhere else. People had started to go missing. Families were being torn apart because of being muggle-born. People were afraid to leave their homes, or send owls, or make any communication with the outside world because they didn't want to be found.
Hogsmede was in ruins from the attack at Hogwarts, it had escalated beyond the school's boundaries. The War had even reached the Muggle world. Muggles were being attacked, killed and tortured. Wizards in hiding were being exposed. Goblins went underground. But yet no attempt has been made to advance on Hogwarts and its occupants were constantly living in the suspense of the rearing danger. Hermione was tired of it all. She wondered what could give any monster the right to terrorize people like this or make it think that it did. She knew just how this was affecting Harry most of all.
He wouldn't eat. He couldn't sleep because of nightmares but then again neither could she. He would hardly interact with anyone except for constantly holding Hermione and reminding her that he loved her as if he feared he would lose her and she wouldn't know so. He would wrap his arms around her while she ate – barely – spoke, and sleep. They refused to sleep alone for fear that the other wouldn't be there in the morning and they would be alone. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Dean, and other friends had abandoned their common rooms and dormitories and slept in the Room of Requirements. They 'required' it to be a series of rooms side by side with a base that contained a spacious living room, a small kitchen, book cases filled with books, and of course a bathroom. Even some first years that had stayed at Hogwarts would live there. They all wanted to be together.
Now they all compiled in the Great Hall for Breakfast. As usual Harry had his arms around Hermione's waist while she poked at her eggs. Ron and Ginny stuffed their faces while the rest poked at their food occasionally taking a bite. Ron took a look around at everyone. Hermione was leaning into Harry completely abandoning her food. "C'mon guys, we're no good in the war if we don't conserve our strength. Harry, mate, eat something. You're going to get sick if you keep this up."
Hermione looked up, "Ron's actually right." Ron's eyes narrowed at the word 'actually' but he nodded and pushed a plate of eggs in front of Harry, "I can be right sometimes, too." Hermione gave him a half-smile and Ginny looked up and snickered, "Don't get used to it." Everyone chuckled but Ron who glared at his sister who was now holding Dean's hand and leaning on him like Hermione was on Harry. Neville was talking quietly to Luna while he gradually began to eat more. Luna was the only one besides the Weasleys who ate anything and her plate was empty of any food.
The Great Hall was silent except for quiet conversations and the distant clicking of heels that was growing louder and closer. Everyone turned to see McGonagall walking towards them in haste. She seemed like she was scared and in a hurry. Everyone stood and brought out their wands on instinct. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand with his free one. Seeing that McGonagall made no reassurances that they didn't need to bring out their wands, they grew more anxious. Hermione was the first to speak once the new Head Mistress arrived. "What is it, Professor?" The elderly woman began to panic.
"Death eaters are on their way to the school! We need to get the younger students out of here quickly!" She panted. Hermione sprung into action followed by a dazed Harry. "Luna and Neville get all the younger students around the castle into the Great Hall." They both nodded and ran outside. "Ginny and Dean check the grounds for anyone." They nodded and ran. Hermione then started going to the other students in the hall and warning them. The younger children started panicking and some crying. Hermione went into motherly mode trying to reassure them all that everything was going to be ok. They heard a loud bang come from outside that made the younger students scream and cry in fear. Harry, Hermione and Ron tried to shush them.
"Don't let them know where we are!" Ron was the worst with little kids. Hermione scolded Ron before turning back to the group of 2nd year Ravenclaw students, "Try to stay calm. We don't want to be found. It'll be alright." She gathered a sobbing girl into her arms and stroked her hair trying to shush her and convince her that she would be ok.
Meanwhile Luna had just come in with an overwhelming amount of students of nearly all ages. Neville followed minutes later with a slightly smaller group. The students looked around as if searching for a safe place to hide and Harry told them to calm down and keep their wands out at all times. Ginny and Dean entered later with a very small group. Now every student was gathered and looking to Professor McGonagall for some sort of direction. The elderly and tired woman sighed, "We need to evacuate immediately. Get the 1st through 4th years out first then whoever wishes to stay to fight, may. If you are hesitant in any way I suggest you help the younger students get out safely." Every student froze and some gasped including Hermione. They may have no other hope besides Harry if McGonagall is suggesting letting the students fight Death Eaters. She had been firm about not letting any students go against the Death Eaters. This couldn't be good.
Hermione and Roger Davies gathered students and led them to a secret passage out to Hogsmede where Aurous were waiting. Harry and Hannah Abbot were gathering the rest as everyone else was determined to stay and fight. As soon as the students that would leave were evacuated Harry found Hermione in his arms and they embraced each other even more tightly than the first goodbye they shared. Hermione knew that this wasn't fair. None of this was fair to anyone. Dumbledore didn't deserve to die. Harry didn't deserve to live in constant the constant fear and torture and have to fight just to keep the few happy things he had in life safe. The Weasley's didn't deserve to be practically homeless and struggling to stay together as a family. The Muggles didn't even deserve to be jeopardized by something many just thought a fairytale and didn't know really existed. Nobody deserved what was happening to them and Hermione couldn't stand to watch as everyone fought for their lives. She kissed Harry with every bit of passion she could bring up to the surface when it was mixed with so many other emotions mainly, sorrow, resentment and fear.
They were interrupted abruptly by a loud bang sounding at the entrance of the Great Hall. Hermione could hear screams echoing as people yelled out jinxes and charms and Death Eaters cast unforgivables. She didn't even have time to register the fact that the attack had already begun before Harry had grabbed her hand and they sprinted out of the Great Hall and into the chaos. Streams of all sorts of colors from nearly every spell anyone could think of were streaking left and right and Hermione had already whipped out her wand and was battling a Death Eater to her left while Harry had already knocked down own to his right. They were throwing curses left and right and throughout the ordeal Hermione prayed with everything she had that they would make it through this.
Suddenly a flash of light hit Hermione in the shoulder and she fell. She was down. She didn't even have time to see what the spell was that hit her or who had cast it but she could feel the searing pain in her right shoulder and she looked over to see a small puddle of what she assumed to be her own blood slowly growing beside her. She looked up when an anguished cry called her name and saw Harry's agonized face starring down at her in tortured shock. Tears welled up in his eyes and Hermione could see that he blamed himself for all that happened to her. He blamed himself if she was hurt or if she even died. She reached up weakly with the hand that wasn't holding her wound. Harry rushed to her side and helped her sit up straight to inspect the wound closely.
Harry soon found Neville and flagged him down. Neville starred at Hermione in shock. Harry let one lone tear escape the corner of his eye as he took one more look at Hermione's wound that he allowed to happen, "Neville can you heal her? Please!" Neville looked at the tortured boy-who-lived and saw the lost look in his eyes. Hermione began to feel dizzy had to fight to keep her eyes open to watch the scene in front of her. She was losing too much blood.
"Neville!! PLEASE!!" Harry didn't know what he would do if Hermione died in his arms at that moment but he could feel her slipping. She was no longer able to support her own weight and had to lean heavily on Harry's shoulder. Harry laid her down but supported her head. Hermione tried to offer him a smile but it fell short when she could no longer keep her eyes open. She let her eyes fall shut. "Hermione! No! Wake up! Open your eyes!!" She could hear the distant voice but it fell on non-responsive ears. She couldn't find the right part of her body. She couldn't move. "Open your eyes, Hermione!! Neville, please, you have to help her!"
That seemed to snap Neville out of whatever trance he'd been in. He went into action and had Harry hold Hermione up straight as he placed the very tip of his wand to her wound. He said the most basic healing spell he knew to stifle the bleeding. He then muttered another and the cut was seemingly invisible. Then it was healed. But Hermione stilled showed no signs that she was going to wake up. She didn't stir. Her chest barely fluttered to take a breath. She looked near death and nothing could settle Harry's fears.
Harry stood with Hermione limp in his arms. "She's lost too much blood. She needs a nurse, Harry." Neville implored on deaf ears for Harry had already bolted for the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey was stationed. He barged into the doors and the frantic nurse rushed over to them, "Quick put her over here. Oh my dear, this is not good."
"You'll be able to help her, won't you? She'll be alright, won't she?" He couldn't bear the thought of Hermione not alright. He couldn't even think of her with a bruise let alone dead. He couldn't live without her. He wouldn't. the nurse looked to the distressed boy, into his eyes, and saw how lost, torn, and completely heartbroken he was over this young lady. She nodded to him with a just as crestfallen look, "I'll do everything I can." With that she bustled around gathering various potions and the lot as Harry gave one last fleeting glance at the pale, helpless Hermione before running back into action.
He ran out of the Hospital Wing to be met by frantic students battling Death Eaters along with many teachers and aurors – with more appearing by the minute – and then he got a flash of red. Pain shot through his head, spreading down his body like an electric shock. He fell to his knees awkwardly in pain. He looked up and in a flash the scene changed. He saw the woods, but he knew this was only a vision for the scene seemed covered by a gray, glowing filter. He saw Bellatrix dancing as the other two figures stalked the woods, seeming determined to finish their journey. He could hear Bellatrix cackle joyously as she twirled, occasionally shooting red sparks out of her wand just to add to the effect. The other two figures ignored her antics and continued knowing she'd eagerly follow at the thought of battle, pain, and blood spilled on her account.
One was a man who could have been the same age as Lucius. He also seemed eager for a fight as he followed the third figure as if he were his leader. The last figure he couldn't see for he wore a concealing black cloak that seemed to fade into a black mist as if that were what it was made of – black mist. Harry tried to look closer, to see who it was, although he had an idea. The figure looked up as if knowing he was watched, with an evil smirk. Harry's hunch was correct for he starred into the dead red eyes of Voldemort, "I'm coming, Potter. Prepare to die."
In another flash Harry was looking back at the castle. He fell down in dull pain and it turned into a blunt ache as he pushed himself up to stand. He brought out his wand and began to run for the doors and onto the grounds, helping any struggling students along the way. He made out by a large oak tree before he saw the same three figures from his vision break the border separating the school from the Forbidden Forest. Bellatrix seemed eager to kill Harry herself but ignored her instincts and ran for the castle. Harry would've stopped her but he was fixated on Voldemort. The other man stalked away and then it was only the two.
"Harry…. Potter…" Voldemort's voice came off wispy almost as if it were part of the wind whispering eerily.
"Voldemort." Harry answered shortly with a bold, steady voice that had a deep contrast to the whispering of his name. The Dark Lord hissed at his name being spat with so much 'foolish' bravery. He took a step forward and Harry raised and gripped his wand tighter.
"You seem different. Braver. Like you seem to think you'll live. Like you'll defeat me." His voice started slow, calculating, and then rose and sped as if he were making idle chat. He was starting to talk faster before he paused. He took a breath, "But, alas, you shall die. You will never defeat me." With that he raised his wand before pausing, waiting for the Harry's last words.
He glared hard, "No. I won't." He raised his wand higher, "The difference between us is that I'm loved, cared for, with a life to start with all my family, friends, and the love of my life while you'll have nothing. No family. No friends. No love. Nothing. That's why I'll win." With that heroic speech the wizards shouted spells at the same time with the glowing lines of light connecting in the middle just like they had in the graveyard.
Voldemort's green light seemed to be gaining on Harry. He didn't know what to do. Then he got a flash. But it wasn't the malicious evil Voldemort flash. It was like 5th year over again. He saw him, Ron, and Hermione laughing in second year. He saw Christmas with the Weasleys getting the annual jumpers. He saw his fellow teammates win a match against Slytherin. But what really helped him was when he saw Hermione. He saw her laughing one night in fifth year. He saw her coming down the stair at the Yule Ball looking so stunning. He saw her running the length of the Great Hall into his arms. He saw her and him dancing at the Masquerade Ball in her beautiful red dress softly singing along to what has been named as their song. He then saw what life could be like with her. Their wedding with Hermione in a beautiful white dress. The wedding night, itself. Her carrying his child and starting a family. He saw him spending the rest of his life with Hermione.
With his sudden boost his light gained on The Dark Lord's rapidly as Harry thought of all the people he loved. Ron. The Weasleys. His parents. Sirius. Lupin. Dumbledore. Hermione…
The final stroke of luck struck and suddenly it was over. With one last cry Voldemort fell to the ground. Dead. Defeated. Harry wanted to jump for joy. He couldn't. He wanted to run to Hermione and the others and tell them it was all over. He didn't. He just stood there shell shocked that he actually did it. He actually defeated the Dark Lord, the most feared powerful evil wizard in wizarding history. He took several slow numb steps to his fallen enemy and looked upon his corpse. He looked the same. Albeit, paler and frozen. He then looked into the still open eyes. They weren't the normal red that used to jolt Harry awake in cold sweat, terrified from countless nightmares. Instead, they were the dark, stone-cold, midnight blue that Harry knew to be Tom Riddle's. T
his revelation seemed to jolt Harry from his reverie.
He quickly ran into the castle once more to see the fighting still going on. He suddenly shot his wand up as red sparks shot out of it and into the air freezing everyone as he shouted, "VOLDEMORT IS DEAD!!" the Death Eaters didn't believe it but as the good side advanced on them they retreated. Nearly all the aurors chased after them. The remaining students suddenly cheered and swarmed over to him. Boys clapped his back with congratulations. Girl rested hands on his arms with tears in their eyes and thank you's. He looked through the crowd and saw his friends. He politely made his way to the crowd and was immediately met by a bone-crushing hug from Ginny.
"Congratulations mate. You've finally done it. it's finally over." Ron said. Harry grinned and nodded. He accepted congratulations from the others before coming to a realization, "Where's Hermione? Is she okay?" Ron's confident look fell. Everyone else looked awkward. Ginny sighed, "She's in the hospital wing still."
With one last look he ran for the location, tears threatening to fall at the thought of Hermione not waking up. He reached the doors and pushed them open. It was packed with people coming to see injured friends, sharing the happy news of a war's end. Harry looked around but crowds of students were blocking his view. Some kids noticed his entrance, "It's him!! It's Harry Potter!!" everyone crowded him congratulating him but Harry was still looking for Hermione.
"HERMIONE!!" He yelled while muttering excuse me before pushing through the crowd.
"HARRY! OVER HERE!" he looked to see Hermione sitting up in the same hospital bed he'd laid her in. she looked a little pale but her smile said she was more than okay. Harry smiled and began to charge for her. Her smile widened as she stood from the bed and ran over to him. They met in the middle and she threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around holding on tightly, never wanting to let her go again. "It's over." He whispered in her ear. She smiled and laughed with pure bliss, "There's something that I need to tell you."
He nodded to her, "What is it? What's wrong?" she shook her head, "Nothing's wrong. Nothing could be more right." Harry looked at her curiously before setting her down. She looked at him with an expression mixed with excitement, nervousness, and pure happiness. She took at deep breath and said too quickly for her to hear, "I'mpregnantwe'rehavingababy!" She squealed and jumped a bit. Harry looked at her confused, "Honey, you need to talk slower I didn't get a word of that."
She frowned at the thought of saying it again but quickly regained her happiness and repeated – slower this time. "Harry, I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby." She looked more nervous for Harry's reaction. At first he was shocked then he couldn't be happier. He had only dreamed of starting a family with Hermione. Of her carrying his child. It was one of the fleeting thoughts when he defeated Voldemort. He then smiled one of the widest smiles anyone's ever seen. He gave a cry, "YES!" He picked her up once more and spun her around, bursting with joy and pride. Hermione was relieved at his reaction and held on tight. He set her down and placed a hand on her stomach. His son or daughter was in there. The beginning to his family.
"I love you both so much." He looked at her with tears glistening in his eyes. She looked back at him with happy tears of her own and a watery smile. "I love you too." Then he kissed her. But this one was different; more passionate, loving, without the tone of finality they had when he left but with hope. This kiss was the beginning of their life together. Their love. Their future.
Thank you to those who stuck by me and don't hate me for not updating for forever. Again, should I do a epilogue? And tell me what you think about Secret Admirer. XOXO