CHAPTER 45
A/N: Dear all, I'm so sorry about the delay (stomach upset, work and uni)…and that this chapter is short…but I do hope that in this case, brevity is the soul of wit ;-) Thank you for being so patient :-)
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The green jet of light flew towards Harry, who met it fearlessly with his wand – which simply absorbed the spell. A few seconds passed. Nothing happened. Voldemort's mouth opened in astonishment. Then a crackling sound followed; the wand-tip began to glow green. A ray of light sprang out of it, racing towards the sky. Another ray, a red one, leapt out in another direction. They crackled ominously like fireworks and vanished. Another pause followed before an enormous fan of light burst out of Harry's wand, enveloping Harry in sheets of blinding colours, from beautiful obsidian black, like Severus's eyes and hair, to blinding silvery-white. Severus turned his eyes away, raising his arm as the glow intensified. Harry's hand had reached out and gripped his, pulling him into the fan of light. The Death Eaters were shrieking, clutching at their forearms. Severus, however, could not feel anything. Suddenly, the whole thing rocketed from Harry's wand, as if it had been spat forth. Harry cried out as the wood became red-hot, burning his palm. He let go, and the faithful wand exploded in a shower of little holly fragments. Severus instinctively flung his arms around Harry's waist in a protective gesture and gasped as the structure of light took on the shape of a phoenix; it hurtled towards Voldemort and embraced him with lethal magical flames. Harry moaned loudly as his scar erupted with pain. Severus held him tightly, brushing back his fringe and placing his cool palm over the throbbing scar. A high scream of rage pierced the graveyard of Little Hangleton. It grew louder in volume, reaching a frenzied pitch, and then, just as quickly, faded into a sighing groan which petered away into deep silence. A pile of ashes was smouldering where Voldemort had been standing a minute ago. Severus slowly lowered his hand from Harry's forehead. Harry blinked and reached up to touch his scar, which had suddenly stopped hurting. All the Death Eaters, with the exception of Severus, were lying on the ground, their left forearms scorched. Many had fainted; those who were conscious and had witnessed the demise of their master were whimpering and cursing with pain and shock. The Aurors and Order members were standing in the graveyard; they had managed to dismantle the wards just before Voldemort had met his fiery death. They snapped out of their stupefaction and went to work quickly, binding the Death Eaters with ropes which poured out of their wand tips. Others turned to battle the Dementors, who, unimpressed by the whole scene, were still drawing nearer, attracted by the scent of turbulent emotions. Severus whipped out his wand, yelling out the Patronus charm. A huge silver lion, its untidy mane reminiscent of Harry's tousled hair, bounded towards the Dementors. Other Patronuses joined them – Harry recognised Hermione's otter and Ron's Jack Russell terrier among them with a soaring heart. He shook off the feeling of incredulity engulfing him and tore his eyes away from the ashes. He dropped to his knees and tried to gather the remains of his faithful wand, but they crumbled in his hand like charcoal. He was too absorbed to notice someone Apparate behind him.
"Harry, Severus, my dear boys," Dumbledore's warm voice spoke. Harry swivelled around. Tears gathered in his eyes.
"Headmaster…Voldemort…" He pointed at the ashes. Dumbledore smiled, and a tear rolled down his cheek and dripped into his beard. It was a smile full of pride and sorrow. His robes were singed, and he was limping a little. He gazed at the little heap.
"Tom Riddle…You, too, were a child once…" Even as he spoke, a strong breeze rushed through the graveyard, scattering the ashes. Harry, overcome with exhaustion, turned to Severus, who, exhausted himself, held the youth firmly in his aching arms.
"Harry," he breathed, suddenly becoming aware of the screams of triumph and nearly demented dances of joy in the background. The allies were starting to celebrate. Harry raised his head slowly. He caught sight of Marius Rivers dancing around with Minerva McGonagall, Remus crying into his hands, Ron and Hermione kissing madly, Bellatrix Lestrange firmly tied up with ropes…
"Hospital wing and bed," Dumbledore said, patting both Severus and Harry fondly on their cheeks, "and mere words are woefully inadequate," here his chest heaved and another tear escaped, "to tell you how proud I am of you both. Of all of you." His blue eyes travelled over the revellers before he pressed a Portkey into Severus's hand. A few seconds later, they landed on the edge of Hogwarts, a cold fresh wind blowing around their faces. They stared into each other's eyes.
"Sev…" Harry began. Severus seized him in his arms with such force that they toppled over and ended up in the grass, where they kissed each other wildly, savagely, triumphantly.
"Sev," Harry gasped, "I…Oh, Merlin, I can't believe it…And you're here…with me…Oh God, I was so scared of losing you, I was so-"
"Harry James Potter," Severus said gravely. There was a smudge of grass on his cheek and a smear of mud on his hooked nose. He still managed to look utterly dignified even in his rumpled state and horizontal position.
"Will you marry me?"
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