Chapter 31

Hermione awoke from her sleep to find that she was being watched. Her heart skipped a beat when she realised that it was Harry watching her from his own bed.

"Hey stranger" She whispered.

"Hey yourself" He smiled.

"Harry... thank you for saving my life" She whispered.

"It was without a doubt my absolute pleasure. I thought for a second that I was going to lose you" He admitted. Hermione reached out for his hand which he gladly gave.

"You're never going to lose me. Your own mum wants us together" She smiled as Harry looked on confused.

"My mum?" He asked.

"I had sort of an out of body experience your mum was there, she wanted me to tell you that she loves you and is so proud of you." She said. She couldn't help but notice that Harry had tears in his eyes.

"Did you do it?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, Voldemort is dead" Harry said with a wide smile.

"What happened here?" She asked. Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know, I asked Madame Pomphrey but she wouldn't tell me anything" Harry replied.

"That could because I asked her to let me be the ones to tell you" Neville said as he walked into the infirmary.

"What happened Neville?" Hermione asked. Harry had seen that look on Neville's face before. He had worn that look before. Neville took a deep breath.

"It all started..."

Flashback

Neville watched as Harry and Hermione left through the floo network. When they disappeared Neville turned to face professor McGonagall.

"Professor I need you to fully activate the castles defence wards. Harry thinks Voldemort is going to send his army here whilst he deals with Harry. We need to put the school into lockdown as quickly as possible" Neville replied taking a military frame of mind. Professor McGonagall was shocked at Neville's leadership but she complied. She picked up her wand and cast the sonorous charm.

"Attention all Students. Hogwarts is going into lockdown. All prefects and the head boy and head girl escort all students back to their common rooms. All common rooms will be sealed and inaccessible until further notice. All seventh year students are to convey in the great hall immediately. Additionally all existing members of the group DA to convene as well" She said confidently. The 3 of them made their way down to the great hall.

"Dobby can you hear me?" Neville called out. Dobby appeared within a second.

"What can Dobby be doing for you master Neville?" He asked.

"Dobby Harry and Hermione have gone to face Voldemort I need you to work with me here to help protect the students who are currently being put into lockdown. Could you contact the rest of the elves and ask them to provide each common room with enough food and drinks to last a few hours please. After that I need you to come and find me again" He asked the little elf.

"Dobby shall do as you ask" With that Dobby vanished. Neville, Luna and Professor McGonagall entered the great hall to find the seventh years the DA and a selection of the teaching staff. Neville stepped forward.

"Ok here's what you need to know. Harry and Hermione have gone to finish Voldemort once and for all. We believe that Voldemort is going to send his forces here to try and overthrow the school. We need to put every manner of defence possible into play and make sure above all else that the death eaters do not make it onto the school grounds" Neville said. A cocky Ravenclaw stepped forward.

"Who put you in charge Longbottom?" He sneered. Neville groaned.

"Really! You want to do this now? The whole school is in danger and you want to try and start insulting leadership now? Get some perspective for Merlin's sake!" He yelled at the student.

"Well said Neville" Hagrid said aloud. Neville smiled.

"Thanks Hagrid. Okay here's what were going to do. Teachers I need your first priority to be to the students Professor McGonagall has put them into lockdown and I have Dobby making sure that they have enough food and drinks. However on the off chance that they do breach the school we need to make sure that the students are protected. DA members, you can only assume that the Dementors will be coming so we need to remember all of our previous training with Harry and make sure that are patronus charms are as strong as ever. Seventh years. Take defensive positions around the school and send sparks as soon as you see them coming. Hagrid I need you to come with me and Professor McGonagall. We're going to the forbidden forest" Neville said as he divided the people up into groups. He then turned to Luna.

"Luna I'm not going to ask you to stay here because I know you won't I need you with the DA make sure that they are thinking of the happiest memories possible. We're going to have our hands full"

Luna nodded and as Neville turned to leave she pulled him back and gave him the most passionate kiss of his life. When she pulled back Neville was blushing furiously.

"I needed an extra happy memory" She said as she smiled and skipped off with the rest of the DA. Neville stood there for a minute before shaking his head and turning to the others.

"Right. Eh this way then" He said as he regained the ability to walk again.

As they approached the forest Hagrid went into his hut and brought out his crossbow. He may have his wand back but you can't teach half giant new tricks. As they reached the forest they saw and heard nothing. Dead silence.

"Is it just me or is it too quiet in here?" Professor McGonagall asked.

Hagrid knew his way around best so he was leading the group. When they got to a specific part Hagrid called out.

"Grawpy!" He yelled. Neville and Professor McGonagall stood in awe as Hagrid's brother turned up through the trees.

"Grawpy have you seen any bad people in the fores'?" He asked his half brother. Grawp nodded.

"Big snake too" He grumbled and pointed them in the direction they were coming.

"Snake, oh crap Hermione was right Nagini is here" He whispered to himself. It was then that an old sorting hat appeared in Neville's hand.

"What then?" He said but he didn't have time to react as they heard the death eaters trying to break through the defence wards. Sure enough a few hundred metres ahead were a large group of death eaters firing spells at the wards trying to create some kind of crack.

"It won't work the wards were specifically designed to absorb the magic of potential intruders. There curses are only feeding the wards power" McGonagall whispered.

It was then that Hagrid shouted out in pain they turned to see him battling to get a large snake off his back. Its fangs currently embedded it Hagrid's shoulder. Neville tired to fire a curse at the beast but they were deflected off the snake. It wasn't even stunned. In a blind panic Neville picked up the sorting hat again and stuck his hand in not knowing what he was doing? But to his own surprise the sword of Gryffindor appeared in his hand. Pulling the sword out he swung for the beast. Knocking it off Hagrid and watch it slither around its new target. Neville. He kept a close eye on the snake and when it made its move Neville was quicker. With a swift motion Neville decapitated the snake. Once he was certain it was dead he ran to Hagrid who was on the floor.

"Hagrid hold on we'll get you help" He said holding his hand over Hagrid's wound trying to stop the bleeding.

"Too late now, ruddy snake poisoned me. Gone too far now. I know enuf bout animals to kno that I'm gonna die." Hagrid said weakly. Neville had tears in his eyes.

"No your gonna be ok we'll get you help and your gonna be fine" Neville said as his voice cracked.

"Don't you worry bout it Neville I'm at peace. I saw Harry grow into the man I knew he'd be and I watched him have the happiness he deserves. Defend the castle Neville. That is your destiny. To be Harry's right hand man. Defend it." With that Hagrid's had dropped and his breathing ceased. Hogwarts beloved game keeper was dead. Neville wiped his eyes and stood up.

"Rebeus Hagrid did not die for nothing because now this ends." He said with a renewed sense of purpose. Neville turned to see what the death eaters were doing and was surprised to see that they were in battle with a large group of auror guards. One of them shouted out.

"Madame Bones sent us whilst Mr Potter deals with you know who!"

Neville turned on his heel and ran back to where the DA were positioned. Hagrid was right his destiny was to protect others as Harry's right hand.

End Flashback.

Hermione had moved onto Harry's bed both of whom were crying heavily for the loss of their friend.

"He died protecting the school" Neville said tears flowing down his cheeks as well Hermione motioned for Neville to come over so that she and Harry could both hug him.

After a while when they couldn't force more tears out of their eyes Neville stood again.

"His funeral is being held the day after tomorrow. Professor McGonagall is leading the procession but she asked if either of you two wanted to speak" He said drying his eyes.

"We both will" They said at the same time.

AN: Poor Hagrid! As I said before this decision was really difficult for me to make. It was a decision of Hagrid, Professor McGonagall or Luna. I went for Hagrid because Hagrid represents everything that was good about the magical community and with his death they can bring his values into the community to make it a better place. PLEASE DON'T HATE ME FOR KILLING HIM!

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