I find it very frustrating when a 'Guest' comments with questions-How could so and so do this, why did that happen? , but does not allow replies. If I cannot reply to your question because you don't have that facility available, please do not ask questions. Okay, rant over, on with the story...

As soon as she started down the tunnel, Hannah regretted not saying anything to Neville. They'd gotten closer ever since he'd broken up with Daphne. She'd always thought he was a nice boy; polite, well-mannered. He didn't tease the girls, or talk smutty like some of the boys. After the attack on Diagon Alley, he'd fire-called her to see if she was okay, and to thank her for helping get people out through the Leaky Cauldron. He was so sweet and had grown so handsome. When he had broken up with Daphne, Hannah had stepped up to let him know she was there for him. The more she got to know him, the more she liked.

Hannah wasn't naïve about the Death Eaters. She heard a lot in the Leaky Cauldron, from Aurors on their break and general talk from the wizarding public. Neville trusted her and Luna enough to tell them what he could too. Hannah knew there was a good chance Harry, Neville and some of the other students might not make it out alive, including herself. She wished she had one more moment, so she could tell Neville just how much he had come to mean to him, but Daphne had taken the initiative and stolen her moment. Damnit, she wanted that moment back.

They made it through to the Three Broomsticks and Madame Rosmerta was waiting for them. She asked them to wait till the pub was closed, as word had got out there was fighting going in the castle. In the meantime, they were to wait in the basement, where she had provided food and drinks.

Hannah decided she needed to see Neville. If anything should happen to him, she would regret never telling him how she felt. "I'm going back. I can help with the fighting, or getting more students out. Michael, Luna, protect the others."

Daphne, Astoria and Mandy looked at her like she was crazy. "You're going back. You can't. We should stay together,"said Tori. She started to get worked up, worried about Draco. Michael tried to calm her down.

Hannah turned to go. "Good luck, Hannah, "said Daphne, and the two exchanged looks.

"Thanks," said Hannah, and she headed back to Hogwarts.

It seemed to take forever to get back. She cautiously opened the portrait of the fruit, peering out. There were yells and cries, and people rushing by, but no-one close to her. She crept out, keeping her wand out. She carefully made her way up the stairs, making it to the third floor when she saw Harry coming down the stairs.

"Harry, have you seen Neville?" she asked.

Harry moved like an man on a mission, shaking his head. "No."

Hannah was worried about him. She grabbed his arm. "Where's Ginny?" she asked.

"Gone. Through the Room of Requirement to the Hog's Head," said Harry his face expressionless. "I'll never see her again." He walked away from her, heading for the courtyard.

Hannah didn't know that Voldemort was waiting there for Harry, but she was alarmed at Harry's mood. 'I've got to get Ginny for Harry. He needs her,' she thought. She decided to go to the Room of Requirement.

Neville's heart stopped beating when he saw Hannah Abbott creeping up from the sixth floor to the seventh. She had a cut on her cheek and her hair was tousled. She had never looked more beautiful to him.

"Hannah!" he called. There was no-one around so he ran over to her, grabbing her arm. "What are you doing here. You should be away from here, safe in the Three Broomsticks."

"I had to come back. I just had to," said Hannah. Now that she was facing him, she lost a bit of courage. Even hexing a Death Eater on her way up was easier than facing Neville right now.

"You need to get back. Please Hannah, if anything happened to you..." Neville wiped his sweaty brow.

Hannah's heart leaped, and she decided to take her moment. "I had to come back. When Daphne flung her arms around you and kissed you, I was so jealous. As we were running towards Hogsmeade, I realised I never got to tell you how important you are to me, Neville Longbottom."

Neville looked at her for seconds. Hannah's face grew red. Had she misjudged everything? Had she just made a fool of herself?

"Hannah," began Neville, then stopped. Hannah's heart sank. "You need to get out the castle. I need you to be safe. Do you know why?"

Hannah had dropped her head and tears fell. She shook her head at his question. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face up so she could look him in the eye. "I would like you to come to my house on Christmas Day and meet my Gran. I've been meaning to ask you for ages. She wants to meet my girlfriend," said wiped away her tears.

Hannah gasped, but closed her eyes as Neville's lips gently closed over hers. He pulled her closer, and the kiss deepened for several seconds. Reluctantly they pulled away.

"I guess now really isn't the time," said Neville, gazing into her eyes. Hannah giggled.

"Harry needs me. Voldemort has called him out. I don't know where Ginny or Sirius are, but he shouldn't face him alone," said Neville.

"I just saw Harry. He was on his way down. He said Ginny was gone, taking some students through to the Hog's Head. I was going to find her, so she could come back," said Hannah. "I thought he'd need her."

"He does, as much as I need you to stay at the Hog's Head. Come on, let's get you to the Room of Requirement," said Neville. He took her hand and saw her inside.

He showed her where she had to go to open the tunnel, before drawing her close again. "Promise me you'll stay there. I'll come and get you as soon as I can." He brushed some hair off her face and behind her ear. His fingers ran over the cut on her cheek in a gentle caress. "Promise me," he whispered.

His gaze was hypnotic. "I will, but you promise me you'll come back to me," she said. He smiled and kissed her, then led her to the door. They shared a loving gaze before she headed back towards Hogsmeade. It was only as Ginny left to hurry back to Harry that Hannah realised Neville had never promised her he'd come back.

Ginny hurried back, thankful to Hannah for turning up just as they were about half way along. She didn't know how long she'd be able to put up with Romilda, who had decided she was claustrophobic in the tunnel. She pondered Hannah's words as she ran back as fast as she could. Harry needed her; she didn't know how, but he did, and she wouldn't let Harry down.

Molly Weasley was growing impatient. There was fighting going on in the school, and she was here, in the Hospital wing with Andromeda and Poppy. Nearly all her family were out there, and there wasn't much going on in here. She wanted to find her family, reassure herself that they were all okay. She needed to find Ginny and say, well, she wasn't sure. She hoped the words would come to her when she found her.

"I'm going out there. I'm not needed here yet. Fred and George said nearly all the students have got out, as well as the house elves. I need to check on my family," she asserted.

Poppy and Andromeda nodded in understanding. "Please keep a lookout for Remus,"said Andromeda. Molly nodded, dropped the shields and went out. She heard the shields reactivate as she left. She had to find her family; they had to be all right.

Arthur was desperate. George had come so close to losing his ear; thankfully the curse had just grazed it and Molly was able to fix it as best she could. Still it brought to home just what he was risking here. His wife had already lost her brothers in the last war. Only her young children had helped her through that terrible time. Now, years later, here they were again, facing the same foe. This time their children were fighting.

Arthur had heard Voldemort call out for Harry. Arthur had been close to Sirius and Remus when he announced it, and saw the look of anguish on Sirius' face when he heard it. He knew how he felt; it was a father's anguish. Arthur had always liked Harry; found him to be polite and friendly. He'd seen how the boy had grown into a fine young man, just the sort of man he'd want for his daughter. He felt ashamed of their actions towards both Ginny and Harry.

So now, it came down to this. Not much fighting was going on. Bellatrix had disappeared, which was worrying enough. Macnair and Amycus Carrow had been captured, and the Aurors notified to come and get them. Sirius and Remus hadn't been seen, nor Emmeline Vance. Moody swore he saw them, but not recently.

Where were his children? Fred and George refused to stay in the hospital wing, and as soon as George was patched up, they were off again. Moody had assured Arthur that Ron was with him; that he'd sent him to check the seventh floor. Arthur didn't think Bill and Fleur had even arrived yet, but the one he really wanted to see was Ginny. However, Neville had told him that Ginny was overseeing several students from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. He prayed she'd stay there, away from the fighting, away from any chance she could be hurt, or worse.

The deaths had been minimal, thanks to the fact that most of the students had gone home for Christmas. Filch, the caretaker had died; having no fighting ability and no magical ability to be of any protection. Arthur heard Sturgis Podmore had perished in a fire, trying to save one of the students. Most of the professors had withstood the initial fighting, until the Order arrived. Some still fought, while others, like Horace Slughorn, bunkered down in their office. He wondered if anyone had checked on Trelawney, high up in the North Tower.

Arthur stalked along the third floor, avoiding the hospital wing in case Molly asked after their children. He had nothing to tell her. Once he'd checked the third floor, he'd make his way to the fourth, then so on. He had to find his sons and re-group.

Molly stalked along the fourth floor. Alecto Carrow and Rebastan Lestrange were there, blasting away. With the lack of opponents to duel, the Death Eaters seemed most intent on causing as much damage to the school as they could. She hated to see the castle in such disarray, and knew it would probably get worse before the night was through.

Ginny came hurrying down from the seventh floor. She had one goal, and one goal only. Find Harry. She had to help him, something inside her told her that. He needed her to defeat Tom. She looked around in dismay at the damage to the castle.

She went down to the sixth floor. Remus and Moody were fighting Rockwood and Mulciber. Ginny joined them, shooting trip jinxes on them, causing them to fall. This allowed Moody to bind them with Petrificas Totalis. Moody hurried off while Ginny caught up with Remus. He leaned heavily against the wall, trying to get his breath back. He'd been hit with a stinging hex, and had cuts and bruises over his face and chest. An open wound oozed blood down his neck.

"Have you seen Harry?" she asked him urgently.

Remus puffed. "Haven't seen him...Voldemort called him out...Sirius...going to find him."

"What about Emmy or Tonks?" she asked, helping him to stand. She put an arm around his waist and helped him along.

"Emmy...with Sirius...Tonks...home...she's...pregnant...mad at me," grinned Remus.

"She's pregnant? Remus that's, wow, that's brilliant,"said Ginny. She hugged him hard. "Wait, why is she mad at you."

"I wouldn't let her come...I...know she's an Auror, but...baby...more important," sighed Remus, smiling.

"Wow, she actually listened to you and stayed home?" asked Ginny, surprised.

"Probably...snuck in...somewhere...better not be...fighting. My son...needs his Mum...and his godparents." Remus looked at her meaningfully.

Ginny was gobsmacked. "Me? Me and Harry, godparents?"

Remus nodded, and just had time to get his breath back when Ginny jumped in his arms. "That's bloody brilliant. Harry will be so happy for you."

Remus hugged her back. Ginny then pulled away, smacking his upper arms. "What are you doing here? You should be home with your wife. Go, go home."

Remus shook his head. "I'm staying. Sirius and Harry need me. Tonks knows that."

Ginny wanted to weep. She wanted to see Harry so much right now. She took Remus' hand. "Come on. We need to get to Harry."

They went to the fifth floor, but found no-one, so they continued down. Ginny saw Ron, bent over as he checked out a body lying on the ground. She went to hurry over to him, to see if he needed help. She failed to see Alecto Carrow and Rebastan Lestrange coming out of a classroom. Molly, coming from one direction saw her two youngest children and hurried toward them. Remus, coming from the other end of the hall, saw the two Death Eaters before he saw Ron and Molly.

"Diffindo," yelled Amycus, aiming at Ron. The cutting spell got him across his neck.

"Protego," yelled Remus, aiming at Ginny. He started to run toward her grabbing her and pulling her away.

"Confringo, yelled Rebastan, also aiming at Ginny. The blasting spell hit Remus' shield and bounced off it, hitting a wall.

"Everte Statum," yelled Molly, running towards Ron, who stumbled to the ground, clutching his neck.

Rebastan and Amycus flew in the air, hitting the wall just as the blasting spell hit it.

"No," yelled Ginny, as Remus pulled her away from the falling wall. He covered her, even as she struggled to get away from him.

The wall collapsed. Rebastan put his hand up, but his wand had fallen. He barely had time to register the wall falling on him when he was completely covered. Alecto fared slightly better, breaking her neck against the wall before she fell.

Molly saw Remus pull Ginny to safety, so she focused all her attention on Ron. He was clutching his neck; in reality he was already dead. He never would have made it to the hospital wing before bleeding out. But Molly didn't know that, and she threw her body over his to protect him as the wall came tumbling down. The last thing she heard was her daughter's anguished cry.

Arthur heard a woman cry out. "No!" and a cry. He hurried to the fourth floor, passing Fred and George. "Dad, what is it?" they called, running after him.

They found that a wall had collapsed, making it impossible to pass down the corridor. Dust filled the air, and it was hard to breathe. "Dad, what happened?" asked Fred.

"Is that Ginny?" asked George, peering through the dust.

Remus held Ginny, who had half collapsed in tears. "Mum! Ron!" she yelled, struggling to get free from Remus.

"Molly?" said a stunned Arthur. "M-Molly? Ron?"

"Mum. No! Ron!" cried the twins, in shock. They both started digging through the rubble. Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle came up and joined them, using magic to move some of the wall away.

"We've found a wand," they called, after several minutes. They Accio'd it, and held it up. Arthur's heart broke again. "It's Molly's," he said, faintly.

Fred and George caught him as he passed out. With tears, they lay him down, sitting next to his unconscious body, almost in shock.

Hestia and Dedalus backed away to give the family some privacy. On the other side of the rubble, Ginny cried in Remus' arms, sobbing, "No, no, Mum, Ron," over and over.

Sirius left Remus and hurried down. There was no way he'd let Harry face that bastard alone. He had stopped everyone he saw along the way, Mcgonagall, Neville, Arthur, but all to no avail. No one had seen Harry. He was pleased to hear that Ginny was out of the castle, heading to Hogsmeade. He knew that would ease Harry's worry. Now he just needed to find him.

Voldemort's voice rang out again.

"BRING ME HARRY POTTER!"

Ginny sobbed, pushing herself away from Remus and running downstairs. Sirius raced down, not even hearing Emmy's cry of concern. Sirius and Ginny almost ran in to each other, grabbing on to each other as they ran downstairs again.

Harry nearly made it down to where Voldemort was waiting. He bypassed the Griffin door that led to the headmaster's office. Hesitating only momentarily, he said, "Sugar Snaps," and it opened. He headed upstairs.

He found Dumbledore sitting at his desk. Looking back later, Harry would wonder why he never noticed it then. How still Dumbledore was.

"I've got things I need to say to you, before-before I go and face him."

Harry took a breath. "I told Ginny I've forgiven you for leaving me at the Dursley's all those years, and I really thought I meant it. While I can understand the whole 'blood protection' thing, I can't understand how you could let me stay with them, when there were other options. You must have known how they treated me. Mrs Weasley would have taken me in in a heartbeat. I could have grown up part of caring family. I know things with the Weasleys got off track later, but still, it was one option."

"Leaving Sirius to rot in Azkaban is something I'll never understand, either. Why did he not get a trial? You're on the Wizenmagot, you knew how much he loved my parents. How could you even think he would betray them? He loved me enough to nearly starve, just so he could escape Azkaban and come to Hogwarts to protect me, not hurt me. He's my godfather, and I should have grown up with him at Grimmauld Place."

"You used me. Manipulated me. Kept me from Sirius, my only family. I heard what you told Ron and Hermione. I was placed in Gryffindor solely so they could befriend me. What if I was meant to be a Slytherin, like Ginny, or a Ravenclaw like Luna, huh? The Sorting Hat told me I could be in any of the Houses." He wandered over to Fawkes' perch, wondering where the phoenix was.

"I was so happy when I found out I was a wizard. Finally, I had somewhere I belonged. Hogwarts always felt like home to me. You gave me that, but then it was you who took it away from me. Well, I did just fine on my own. I was finally happy, with Sirius and Ginny and Remus, but again, you took that away too."

"You used my friends against me. Ron and Hermione were everything to me. When I found out they were spying on me for you, it was such a kick in the guts. It still hurts. But the blame is on you more than them. Why wouldn't they believe what an older, much cleverer wizard says? No, the fault is with you."

"I know what you've done. All these years, even last summer. Teaching me, training me. It was all to get me ready to face him. For what? To die! I'm sixteen and I have to fucking die, before I've even really lived. I wanted a home of my own, a family of my own. How dare you let me even dream of those things. I almost hate you for that."

Harry swiped tears away, determined that he show Voldemort no weakness when he finally faced him. "I'm going now, down to face him. I won't fight him, won't make it hard. You just better be there to make sure you kill whatever's left of him when I'm gone. This is our only chance to rid our world of him. If you fuck it up, so help me, I'll come back and haunt you."

Harry tossed his head back and laughed mockingly. "So now, after all that, I have a favour. Please, please don't let Sirius and Ginny get hurt. Whatever happens to me, it doesn't matter, I'll be dead. You owe me. You get them out of all this safely, you hear me."

Harry wiped another tear away and walked to the door. Dumbledore hadn't moved since he'd started talking. "Everyone says you're the most powerful wizard since Merlin himself. A wise witch once told me there's more to magic than cleverness and, I guess, knowledge. It's what you do with that knowledge. Love is the most powerful force in the world. Love from family, friends. Did you ever have that, really? Your brother and sister? Gridelwald? I am loved, and that's why I can do this, can go face him. I'm doing it for them."

Harry walked to the door and looked around. This would be the last time he was in Dumbledore's office. "Goodbye," he said, with solemn finality. He walked out and shut the door.

Dumbledore didn't move. The curse from the Slytherin ring that had been slowly moving up his arm had finally come to his heart. Dumbledore had hoped to make it through the battle, to help Harry, but it was just too late. Apparating him and Harry away from the Astronomy Tower had taken too much of his energy. Snape had warned him he didn't have much time left. Dumbledore had sat at his desk, intending to leave a note.

He was not afforded even that much time. The curse struck his heart, killing him instantly. He remained frozen in place, even when Harry entered his office only minutes later.

Harry went downstairs. All his affairs were in order. He'd spoken his piece to Dumbledore, told Ginny he loved her. Sirius was married, and both he and Remus were settled. His will was updated, thanks to his trip to Diagon Alley earlier, and his plot in the Godric's Hollow graveyard secured. All that was left to do was to die.

Harry walked strongly through the Front Entrance and down the steps to the Courtyard. Voldemort, alone, looked surprised to see him.

"The Boy-Who-Lived has come to die." He grinned his evil grin. Harry ignored him, coming closer.

"Just do it." Harry dropped his wand, and held out his hands in a surrendering position.

Ginny and Sirius burst through the opened door.

"Aveda Kedavra!" said Voldemort, in a booming voice.

The green light rushed towards him, and Harry closed his eyes.

He knew no more.