A/N: This story follows canon up to the point in Deathly Hallows when Harry entered the Forbidden Forest. Either Harry chose to go "on" with Dumbledore, OR he returned and Voldemort chose anyone besides Narcissa to see if he was alive and subsequently killed Harry again (you choose). In any event, Harry did not come out of the forest alive and our story picks up from that point.

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May 1998

You have one hour… if you have not come to me… Harry Potter, I shall find you. One hour.

Voldemort's voice echoed through Ginny's head as clearly as if he was standing next to her, uttering the same words over and over again. As she walked across the grounds toward the castle, she kept her eyes peeled for any bodies that she may have missed.

One hour.

"Any more out there?" Neville asked her once she reached the stone steps that led into Hogwarts.

Ginny shook her head. "No, I think we've got them all," she said, her voice weary.

"So, I guess all we can do now is wait," Neville said, turning away from the wreckage that was scattered over the lawn of Hogwarts to look at Ginny. "Everyone went into the Great Hall to rest. "

"Have you seen Harry?" she asked, praying he was inside waiting for her.

"Erm… sort of," Neville replied in an uneasy voice. "I met him on the grounds not too long ago. He was under his Invisibility Cloak, so I didn't actually see him. "

"Did he say where he was going?"

"No, I was worried he was going into the forest to meet You-Know-Who—but he said he wasn't!" Neville added hastily, in response to the horrified look on Ginny's face. "Don't worry, Ginny. I'm sure he's just keeping a low profile until he finds whatever it was that he came here looking for. "

As Ginny made her way to the Great Hall, she couldn't stop the nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Going to Voldemort is exactly the type of thing Harry would do. He would sacrifice himself if it meant saving the ones he loved.

She knew the hour was almost up and then Voldemort would return to the castle with his army. Who would be the next to die, she wondered, as her eyes swept the Great Hall, taking in the line of bodies and the many injured, exhausted survivors.

"I was worried about you!" her mother said, pulling her into a hug when she reached her family. "I didn't know where you had gone. "

"Just helping bring people in from outside," she said quietly. She walked over to George and wrapped her arm around him. He leaned into her, his head resting on top of hers.

Ron stood on her other side and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Is Harry with you?"

"No," she replied, her nausea increasing. "I had hoped you knew were he was. "She met Hermione's terrified eyes and the other girl shook her head.

"You don't think he went—" Hermione started.

"No," Ron interjected. "He wouldn't do that. "

Ginny started to argue that it's exactly the kind of thing Harry would do, but she was cut off by the sound of Voldemort's voice filling the Great Hall.

"Harry Potter is dead," the cold voice rang out, echoing around the Great Hall. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. "

"No," Ginny whispered in disbelief, turning toward the doorway, as if he would be standing there. Ron grabbed her arm to prevent her from running outside.

"The battle is won," Voldemort continued. "You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together. "

"It can't be true," Professor McGonagall murmured as she strode past them and headed out of the Great Hall.

Ginny pulled her arm out of Ron's grip and ignored her family's pleas to stay with them. She raced behind McGonagall outside onto the steps. In front of them stood Voldemort, with his army of Death Eaters lined up behind him, ready to resume the battle. Beyond the Death Eaters stood numerous supporters, far outnumbering the survivors left in the castle. Then Ginny's eyes were drawn to the strangest part of the scene: Hagrid was standing amongst the Death Eaters, and in his arms was—

"NO!"The scream came from Professor McGonagall just as Ginny realized what she was seeing.

"Harry!" Ginny cried out. "HARRY!"

She started to run toward him, but someone grabbed her and held her back. All around her, the crowd of fighters from the Great Hall appeared to see what was happening. An uproar sounded out, as comprehension dawned on them at the sight of Harry Potter's body laying limply in Hagrid's huge arms.

"SILENCE!"

Voldemort raised his wand and Ginny felt a silencing spell gag her.

"It is over!" Voldemort said, cruel triumph resonating in his voice. "Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!" Ginny watched as Hagrid, sobbing wildly, lowered Harry gently to the ground in front of Voldemort. "You see? Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

"He beat you!" yelled Ron, as the silencing charm wore off. Realizing that they had regained use of their voices, the crowd started shouting again, until Voldemort placed the silencing charm on them once more.

"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds, killed while trying to save himself—"

Voldemort broke off as someone from behind Ginny ran down the steps toward him. She gasped when she saw it was Neville.

"And who is this?" Voldemort laughed, as he effortlessly struck Neville down and disarmed him. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

Behind him, Bellatrix Lestrange laughed gleefully. "It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"

"Ah, yes, I remember. "

Neville pushed himself back up to his feet and faced Voldemort, completely unarmed. Ginny tried to move forward to go help him but was once again restrained. She looked behind her and Bill had her in a tight hold, both of his arms wrapped around her body. She caught his eyes and he shook his head at her. She turned her gaze to the others standing in front of the castle. They were all armed; why wasn't anyone helping Neville?

"You are a Pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort was asking Neville. "You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom. "

"I'll join you when hell freezes over," Neville shouted at him. "Dumbledore's Army!"

Ginny joined the crowd cheering in response.

"Very well," said Voldemort calmly, not at all deterred by the voices of opposition. "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head, be it. "

Ginny watched nervously as the dark wizard waved his wand and, moments later, something flew towards him. Once Voldemort had it in his hand, she was surprised to see it was the Sorting Hat.

"There will be no more sorting at Hogwarts," Voldemort called out to the crowd. "There will be no more houses. The emblem, shield and colours of my noble ancestor Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they Neville Longbottom?"

Neville said nothing as he stood face-to-face with Voldemort. Then, Ginny watched as Neville's body went rigid. Voldemort shoved the hat onto Neville's head, and it fell down over his eyes.

"No," Ginny whispered. She wasn't sure what was about to happen, but she knew it wouldn't be good.

Around her, the others seemed to sense the same danger. Many pulled out their wands, while others started forward. Across from them, the Death Eaters raised their wands and the Survivors who were advancing toward Voldemort were suddenly thrown backwards as though an invisible barrier had been erected in front of them.

"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," explained Voldemort. He flicked his wand and the Sorting Hat burst into flames.

Neville began screaming louder than Ginny had ever heard someone scream. Again, she tried to get to him and, this time, she was able to effectively slip out of Bill's grasp. She only made it a few steps, however, before she hit the barricade at the bottom of the steps.

The remaining Survivors were forced to stand there, watching in horror as Neville slowly burnt to death. Just as Neville's body fell to the ground, Hagrid's brother, Grawp, came around the castle. He saw Hagrid standing among the Death Eaters and shouted out to him.

"HAGGER!"

Voldemort's giants retaliated, rushing at Grawp and causing the ground to shake. An elbow from one of the giants hit a nearby tree causing it to fall to the ground. Some of Voldemort's army had to move quickly out of the way to avoid bring crushed.

Then, adding to the chaos, a heard of centaurs rushed out of the forest, shooting arrows at the Death Eaters. They scattered in surprise, and their enchanted barrier disappeared allowing the Survivors to rush forward.

The Death Eaters split up, some taking on the centaurs, who went down quickly by the barrage of deadly curses, which were no match for their bows and arrows. The other Death Eaters began dueling the Survivors, while trying to maneuver around the massive footfalls of the giants. In order to avoid getting stepped on, fighters on both sides fell back towards the castle.

Ginny was shooting jinxes at any Death Eater she could. She managed to stun one, but in doing so, almost was hit by a Killing Curse sent by his comrade. As she pushed her way into the Great Hall, Ginny saw Voldemort in the middle of the room, fighting alongside his Death Eaters. It was as mesmerizing as it was terrifying to watch. She had never seen such raw power before; Voldemort effortlessly took down anyone who was near him. No one could match his skill or the speed with which he threw curses. Edging closer, Ginny saw that Voldemort was now dueling McGonagall, Slughorn and Kingsley all at once. Not one of the three were able to get a clear shot at him.

Bellatrix was next to him taking on Hermione, who was doing everything she could to block the older witch's spells and unable to cast anything in retaliation. Luna suddenly ran forward to help and Ginny followed suit, making it three on one against Bellatrix. A shot of green light passed so close to Ginny that she could feel the heat from it along her cheek.

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!OUT OF MY WAY!"

Ginny was pushed back as her mother jumped in front of her to face Bellatrix. The fight between the two women was intense (Ginny had never imagined that her mother could duel like that!). Raising her wand to help, Ginny hesitated, wondering if she could get a clear shot at Bellatrix without hurting her mother in the process.

"No!" Molly called to her. "Get back! She is mine!"

Around them, the fighting seemed to cease, all watching the combat between Molly Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange, and Voldemort and his three opponents.

"What will happen to your children when I've killed you?" taunted Bellatrix madly, ducking to avoid the oncoming spells that Molly sent her way. "When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"

"You will never touch our children again!" screamed Ginny's mother, green light erupting from the tip of her wand.

Bellatrix laughed for a moment, then froze. Ginny watched the spell hit Bellatrix directly in the chest and the witch fell over, dead. Realizing what had happened, Voldemort let out an angry scream and his three challengers were blasted backwards, falling to the ground, unmoving.

Turning, Voldemort raised his wand and, before Ginny could even shout out a warning to her mother, Molly Weasley fell to the ground. Ginny stared into her mother's vacant eyes and screamed.