A/N: This chapter should be a long one! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through this writing process. I think it has been very beneficial to me as I've been able to talk about my own cutting and sometimes relate it through Ginny. This chapter was by far the hardest one for me to write, so I really hope you enjoy it. Keep a look out for the Epilogue, which should be out within the next few days.
Warnings For This Chapter: cutting mentioned
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
May passed to June with little incident. O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. examinations were officially over. The Hogwarts students now spent their days relaxing by the lake shore, and their weekends in Hogsmeade. Ginny had so far been successful in her efforts to quit hurting herself. Whenever she had an urge, she would write a letter to Bill or Anneliese, or talk to Nena or Harry. Things were going very well for Ginny.
On that faithful day, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Nena and Draco were sitting by their favorite oak tree. Everything was so peaceful. The birds were singing, the sun shining, and the giant squid could be seen treading water near the surface of the lake. Everything was perfect. Until the screaming began.
All six friends jumped to their feet. Students began to pour out of the castle's doors, running in all directions. It soon became apparent they were trying to get as far away from the castle as possible. Suddenly, Dumbledore's voice rang out over the grounds and the school. "THE WARDS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. ALL STUDENTS CALMLY MAKE YOUR WAY BACK TO YOUR COMMON ROOM, IF POSSIBLE. OTHERWISE, PLEASE STAY WHERE YOU ARE. HELP WILL ARRIVE SHORTLY."
"Harry!" Ginny gasped.
"It'll be okay, Ginny. It'll be alright." Harry kissed her softly before running into the throng of students.
"Harry!" Hermione yelled after him. Harry ignored her. All he could think of was ending this. Now.
Harry didn't know how he knew Voldemort was there, but he did. He could sense his presence. He had just reached the stone steps leading into the castle when Remus and Tonks appeared in front of him.
"Remus! Tonks! What's going on?" Harry exclaimed.
Remus hurried forward, placing both his hands on Harry's shoulders. "He's here."
Harry stood there in shock. The confirmation was too much for him. Now it was real. It was true. Today things would end. He felt someone tugging on his arm. Harry turned to see Ginny.
"Harry, don't do this. You don't need to save everyone." Apparently Ginny hadn't heard what Remus had said.
"It's over, Ginny. He's here. Now. Right now, I'm going to end this." Harry placed a kiss on her lips before he ran into the school. Ginny collapsed on the stairs, crying. Tonks was immediately by her side.
"Ginny, we need you to be strong. I know this is a shock, but we need you to fight. There are Death Eaters inside the castle as we speak. They aren't attacking yet, we don't know why. But when they do, it's going to be one hell of a fight. You understand me?" Tonks asked.
Ginny nodded.
"Good. Now let's go find the others. We need to get organized." Tonks grabbed Ginny by the arm and led her back towards where the others had last been seen.
H/G
Once inside the castle, Harry ran into the Great Hall. All the teachers were assembled there, conversing with Dumbledore.
"Professor!" Harry hurried over to the headmaster.
"Harry, what are you doing here? You need to be outside. The Aurors are arriving, they are organizing all who are willing to fight." Dumbledore spoke quickly.
"What about the other students? We need to get them out." Harry asked.
"We are working on that as we speak. Everyone under 15 will soon be escorted out of the school. Now, get back outside. Remus and Nymphadora are looking for you." Dumbledore instructed.
"I ran into them on the way in. Remus said . . . he said Voldemort's here. I know he is. I felt him," Harry told the headmaster.
Dumbledore nodded. "It is true. Tom is here. I advise you go find your friends. You are going to need them. Remember, Harry, your power is love. If everything goes well, this will end tonight."
Harry ran out of the building, searching the crowd for any sign of Ginny or the others. After several minutes, he found Ginny, sitting on the ground. Tonks was talking to her quietly. He could immediately tell she was in shock.
"Ginny." Harry fell to his knees beside her.
"Oh, Harry!" Ginny flung herself into his arms. "I was so worried. Never do that again."
"I'm sorry, Gin." Harry pushed her back so he could look at her. "I found Dumbledore. He told me that this is it. It's the end."
Ginny sobbed, burying her head in her hands. Harry pulled her close, whispering, "It's all right, love. It'll be all right."
"This is it. Only one of you can survive." Ginny spoke through her tears.
Harry nodded. "I'll be the last one standing at the end. And I will come back to you, I will marry you, and spend the rest of my life with you." Harry wiped her tears away. "We will be together. I will not leave you. I promise you. I will be the one who survives."
Ginny smiled weakly before she kissed him passionately. When Harry pulled back, he kissed her again. "I want you to stay safe."
"No. I have to fight." Ginny protested.
"Please. I can't do this knowing you're in danger." Harry pleaded.
"I can't do that, Harry. You know I can't. I've never been one to run and hide." Ginny shook her head.
Harry sighed. "Fine. Just promise me you won't stray far from the others. Please, promise me."
Ginny raised her hand to his cheek. "I promise."
"HARRY POTTER!" All heads turned towards Hogwarts. Voldemort was walking slowly down the steps, his eyes sweeping through the students and Aurors. The students hurried to get farther away from the fortress. Behind him came Peter Pettigrew, Bellatrix and Rodulphus Lestrange, Dolohov, Rabastan Lestrange, Mulciber, Rookwood, Travers, and Lucius Malfoy.
Remus, Tonks, Draco, Nena, Ron and Hermione moved to hide Harry and Ginny from view. Harry turned to look at Ginny. "Stay put." Harry kissed her deeply. He poured all of his love and passion into the kiss. He kissed her like it was the last time he would ever get the chance to.
Harry stood up. He pushed his way between Draco and Ron. He heard Remus call out to him from behind, but he didn't turn to look at him. Harry took three steps in front of his friends and stopped.
"What do you want, Tom?" he called out.
Voldemort sneered. "You dare call me the name of my filthy Muggle father?"
"Well, it is your name. At least it was when you were human, but you're not human are you, Tom? You lost your humanity a long time ago." Harry stood his ground as Voldemort walked closer.
"You will pay for your disrespect, boy." Voldemort raised his wand.
Fighting broke out all around them. Tonks found herself face to face with her aunt Bellatrix Lestrange, while Ginny, Ron, and Hermione battled the Lestrange brothers. Remus was firing curse after curse at his former schoolmate, Peter Pettigrew. Draco was fighting Mulciber while Nena was battling Travers.
Harry barely managed to duck a Cruciatus curse while he sent a Disarming spell of his own towards his arch-enemy. Voldemort easily threw the spell off before casting the Killing curse. Harry jumped out of the way, hoping no one was behind him.
Someone walking out of the castle caught Harry's attention. He was glad to see that it was Dumbledore. The headmaster's blue eyes were full of rage. Voldemort noticed Harry was distracted and turned around.
"Dumbledore." Voldemort scowled. Harry remembered Dumbledore was the only person Riddle was ever afraid of. He understood why.
"You should not have come here, Tom. The Aurors are on their way," Dumbledore stated calmly, though his eyes flashed dangerously.
"That does not concern me, old man. My Death Eaters are more than a match for your Aurors and Order members." Voldemort sneered. With a swift movement he sent a purple hex towards Dumbledore, who dismissed it would a wave of his hand.
"Do you really think you will win, Tom?" Dumbledore asked, returning Voldemort's hex with a curse. Voldemort repelled the curse easily.
"Of course. After all, I am the greatest sorcerer of all time," Voldemort spoke confidently.
"You're wrong!" Harry exclaimed. Voldemort turned around to face him. "Albus Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of all time."
Even though this was not the first time Harry had said this to Voldemort, the words had the same effect as before. Voldemort was furious.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled briefly at Harry's outburst, and he smiled fondly at the young man. Voldemort stepped closer to Harry.
"You foolish boy. Do you really believe that?" Voldemort asked angrily.
"Yes." Harry's voice didn't waver.
"Let's test your little theory." Voldemort spun back around and began to duel with Dumbledore. The two wizards fired hex after hex, curse after curse, at each other. They moved so fast, Harry could hardly keep up. He took the moment to turn around and see if Ginny was safe. He was stunned to see the fighting all around him had stopped. Everyone was watching Dumbledore and Voldemort as they fought. Ginny saw him and hurried to his side. Satisfied that she was okay, Harry turned back around to watch the two elder wizards. He felt Ginny's hand slip into his own. He squeezed it reassuringly.
Finally, Dumbledore got a Severing curse past Voldemort. He yelled out in pain as a deep gash appeared in his arm. He wrapped his hand around his arm briefly before glaring up at his former Transfiguration professor.
"That was not wise, Dumbledore." Voldemort sent a Cruciatus curse towards Dumbledore, who ducked out of the way.
"I may be old, Tom, but my reflexes are better than ever." Dumbledore shot a Stinging hex back at the other wizard, who cast a Shield charm just in time.
Suddenly Voldemort spun on the spot, he smiled evilly as he saw Ginny next to Harry. He yelled out "Avada Kedavra!" Harry didn't think. He pushed Ginny to the ground, covering her body with his. The curse sailed past its target and hit Delaney Anderson. Ginny gasped as she watched her dorm mate fall to the ground. Somewhere in the background, she heard someone scream in horror. Harry sprung up from the ground at the same moment that Voldemort yelled "Legilimens!"
Taken off guard, Harry felt Voldemort breach his mental defenses. All the horrible events that had taken place in Harry's young life came to the surface. The green light of the curse that killed his parents, his mother's scream, his father yelling for Lily to run. Cedric dying in the graveyard. Sirius falling through the veil. In a surge of power, Harry took control of his mind. He turned his memories to the happier moments. Meeting Ron and Hermione. Flying for the first time. Believing he would leave the Dursleys and live with Sirius. Saving Sirius and Buckbeak. The only Christmas he ever spent with his godfather. Then his thoughts turned to Ginny. Their first date. The afternoon they spent down by the river at the Burrow. Their first kiss. The first time they made love and every time after that. His proposal and her acceptance. The love he felt for her.
Screaming in agony, Voldemort withdrew from Harry's mind. He was visibly weakened, having never experienced love himself. He glared up at Harry and began to rapidly fire spells at the younger wizard. Fighting broke out again. Bellatrix was fighting both Ginny and Hermione. Ginny sent a Reducto spell towards the Death Eater, which sent her flying back. She landed heavily on the steps of the fortress. Her head hit the stone, her neck snapping as her head bounced at the impact. Bellatrix was dead.
Voldemort was distracted as his most faithful Death Eater was killed before his eyes. Harry took advantage of the opportunity and yelled "EXPELLIARMUS!" Voldemort fired back with the Killing curse just in time for the spells to hit each other. Just as had happened two years prior, the brother wands connected. After several minutes, figures began to appear out of Voldemort's wand. Delaney Anderson came first. She shouted words of encouragement to Harry. Then came several other people, including Frank Bryce and Bertha Jorkins. Finally, Lily and James Potter emerged.
"Hold on, son!" James called out.
"You can do this!" Lily reassured her son.
Harry was stunned to see his parents once more. He refused to be distracted though. Right now, it could be deadly. Thankfully, Voldemort was still weak from invading Harry's mind. Harry held his wand with both hands, which was vibrating from the connection. Harry looked up when he felt two small hands covering his. It was Ginny. She nodded at him. One by one Harry's friends came to his aide. Ron, Hermione, Nena, Draco, even Remus and Tonks. They laid their hands on Harry's shoulders and upper arms. Harry felt a surge of power and pushed the spells to Voldemort. The impact of the Disarming and Killing curse was strong. Voldemort's wand flew out of his hand. Harry caught it easily. Then the Killing curse hit Voldemort. There was an almighty blast, the earth shook. A body fell to the ground, just a heap of robes. He was dead. Voldemort had been defeated for the last time.
Completely drained of energy, Harry Potter collapsed to the ground.
H/G
"Hasthere been any improvement?" a motherly voice asked the Hogwarts nurse.
"His color is returning slowly, but other than that there has been no difference in his condition," Madam Pomfrey answered solemnly.
Ginny stifled a sob. She was curled up beside Harry on the large hospital bed. When Harry had collapsed he had wrapped his arms around Ginny. He had refused to release her, even in his unconscious state. Madam Pomfrey had decided to enlarge one of the cots, rather than try to separate the young lovers.
Ginny buried her face in Harry's chest. He still held her tight, though he had not woken for a week. Ginny was well again, and Madam Pomfrey had given her permission to leave the Hospital Wing, but Ginny refused. She only left Harry's arms to eat and use the bathroom. Whenever Ginny was away from him, Harry was restless.
After a while, Ginny fell asleep. When she woke a while later, it took a minute for her to realize what had woken her. When she looked up at Harry, she was amazed to see his eyes were opened slightly.
"Ginny?" Harry asked quietly, his voice cracking from disuse.
"Oh, Harry!" Ginny sobbed. Tears fell down her cheeks as she clung to Harry tighter.
"What happened?" Harry croaked.
"You did it. After I joined you, so did Ron, Hermione, Nena, Draco, Remus and Tonks. You must have borrowed some of our power because we were really weak afterwards, but not as weak as you. You collapsed immediately," Ginny explained.
"How long?" Harry whispered.
"A week," Ginny replied.
"And Voldemort?" Harry asked the one question he had been dying to know the answer to.
"He's gone," Ginny whispered. "You did it, Harry. Tom's gone, forever."
Harry sighed in relief. He hugged Ginny to him tighter.
"I need to go get Madam Pomfrey." Ginny moved to get up.
"No!" Harry tightened his arms around her so she couldn't move. "Stay."
Ginny nodded. She laid her head down on his chest. Several moments passed in silence.
"How are the others?" Harry finally asked.
"They're fine. Ron, Hermione, Nena and Draco were released the same day I was. By the way, did you know Tonks is pregnant?" Ginny asked.
Harry's eyes widened. "Seriously? I guess Remus will be proposing soon."
"Actually, it turns out they eloped a few months ago. She's only 2 months along. She didn't know until Madam Pomfrey looked her over after the battle," Ginny told him.
"How are Fleur and Anneliese? Were they injured?" Harry asked.
"No. Bill and Charlie insisted they stay home. And you'll never believe who came by, after everyone left."
"Who?" Harry inquired.
"Percy and Penelope. Mum, of course, accepted him back immediately, Dad too. My brothers and I have been a little less enthusiastic about his return," Ginny told him.
"Really? Well, that's good though. At least your Mum can be happy now. Her family's complete again," Harry told her.
"Not complete." Ginny smiled shyly, she laced her fingers with Harry's.
Harry smiled back, he kissed her softly. Ginny opened her mouth under his. The kiss deepened. Harry pulled back suddenly, breathing heavily.
"I'm so sorry!" Ginny exclaimed. "I forgot how weak you are. Let me go get Madam Pomfrey."
Ginny climbed out of bed before Harry could protest. She returned quickly, followed by the matron. After she had examined Harry, she sat in the chair by his bedside. Ginny curled back up next to him.
"Well, Mr. Potter, it seems you have survived yet again." Madam Pomfrey smiled. "Now, you must remain here for a while longer. At least a week. You must not use magic either. Your magic restores were drained completely. You should be completely recovered in a month."
"A month!" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes, a month," Madam Pomfrey replied sternly. "Now you must rest, Mr. Potter."
"Thank you." Harry yawned widely.
"You're very welcome. You've saved us all, Harry. Now get some well-deserved rest." Madam Pomfrey instructed.
Satisfied that, for now, all was well, Harry pulled Ginny close and allowed sleep to pull him under once more.