Chapter 26.
On her way there, she almost bumped into a tall figure. She was glad she had the cloak on as she wouldn't have wanted to see just what they would have done if they knew she was giving up.
Neville sat on the grass, watching as the sun started to rise. He held the sorting hat in his hand, its old material looking even more worse for the wear than it did normally.
Across his cheek was a long gash causing blood to pour down his face. He had various other cuts and bruises on him but that definitely stood out the most.
Her lips involuntary formed into a lopsided smile as she stared at his jumped for what would be the last time ever. Neville had always been there for her, and it was a shame she was only just realising that without him, nothing would have been possible over the last few years. He was the one who stayed and fought. He was the one who kept everyone spirits up and now he would never know just how grateful Alex really had been. Maybe because she hadn't been able to say, someone else could try to tell him even if they too didn't believe it. Alex could only hope her death wound my change him too much. She sighed, broke her gaze on the boy and headed forward.
Alex walked into the forest, ignoring the pleas of the creatures she passed. They didn't understand. No one did. How could they though? They don't know what she was doing and it was partially for their welfare too. Voldemort promised that the fights would stop once she handed her self over so that's what she was going to do. Maybe she was being harsh, about no-one understanding, but no one really did.
Sure, Harry had lost his parents but he hadn't known them as long as Alex had. Alex had known her father for fifteen years when he just decided the dark side was always better for him and for her brothers.
Alex could vaguely remember her mother. She remembered her shiny brown hair and her glistening brown eyed. Teresa Russo, who was with her family one day but gone the next. Alex was never sure what happened to her mother, she didn't remember a funeral but she did remember a ceremony. She remembered them placing a picture of her mother in the snow and her dad dropping a lit match on to the photograph, the paper burning and smoke rising around them.
She still didn't understand what had happened to her mother but she knew it was probably the reason she had lasted this long. How she had managed to conquer death so many times it was possible to assume she was immortal. Alex knew different though, she wouldn't be seen as immortal for much longer now.
This was inevitable. It was a fixed point now, or no one could live. Alex knew they would have won any battle following but she wasn't prepared to live while her allies and friends fell all around her. No, she was doing this. She wandered into the dense trees, looking for an indication of where the Death Eaters would be. Maybe they would have parties looking for her, or she would just have to go with her instincts. She continued walking.
Crunch.
Alex looked down, there was what almost looked like a ruby under her foot. She bent down and picked up the stone, turning it over in her hand a couple of times. She jumped as figures appeared around her. Four outlines.
She recognised them clearly, after all how could she forgot the people who meant the most to her.
Tonks and Remus were holding hands and smiling warmly at her, Sirius doing the same.
She was confused. They were dead, but if it showed the dead then where was Fred or her mum or Dumbledore? She presumed they could read her mind as they answered.
"You're mum and Dumbledote weren't available to talk to you. However, Fred is a different case and maybe one day you will understand." She didn't bother asking them to explain. She would have time for that once she was dead.
"Does dying hurt?" The question escaped her lips sounding more childish than she originally planned.
They shook their heads. "Quicker than falling asleep." Alex nodded. She didn't say goodbye. She dropped the stone and somehow she knew exactly where Voldemort was.
She reached a clearing and stood on the edges as she saw a glimpse of the pale tall figure and his followers.
"My majesty, it appears the girl hasn't came." She could hear Voldemort sigh. He groaned.
"More must die." She heard him moving but couldn't bear the thought of another of her family and friends dying. The Weasleys couldn't lose anymore and she didn't think anyone would take much more.
She burst through the trees and everyone turned to face her.
Voldemort grinned, he had been planning this day. He raised his wand slightly and cackled. She was shoved to her knees by Lucious who scoffed at her.
She felt her heart stop. So this was how it ended, it was for sure now.
Voldemort smirked and circled her. All of his followers cackled and laughed at her standing with no plan or escape.
"Give me your wands." She handed them over and he forced Hagrid who had been silenced and tied to a tree to hold them.
He laughed maliciously and paused in front her.
"Alex Russo. All these years of fighting and you've finally seen the light and given up. You and I both know that the only way everyone can defeat me is if you are alive."
Alex scoffed in her head. 'Wrong.'
He stepped a few paces away before lifting his wand. He contemplated for a second before finally speaking.
"Tell you what, ill let you have one last wish before you die."
Alex didn't even have to think. She knew what to ask for, there wasn't much else she could say.
"Have a nice death." Voldemort laughed and shook his head.
"Oh I'm not the one dying." He raised his wand, yelled the words and with a flash of green light, Alex Russo fell to the ground.
She was truly dead this time.