Author's Note: We're nearing the end! I hope you have all enjoyed this story, and thanks for leaving feedback. Just a few more chapters left.
I warned you all that a lot of plot twists are coming!
The phrase "Amare Dedit" means love given in Latin.
"Ron!" she screamed, as Bellatrix began to pull her away. Bellatrix slapped her cheek, digging her nails into her arm as she struggled to the floor.
"Be quiet!" she ordered, glaring at Hermione. She then looked up at her fellow Death Eaters. "Leave him. Let's get her to the Dark Lord."
She pulled Hermione back up and apparited away.
Harry spotted Voldemort near the house, and he walked up to him, thoughts of his friends and family swirling in his head. He couldn't take his mind off of one person, though.
His love for her swirled up in his body, and let out a deep breath, hoping that she was alright. He hated leaving her, and, when he saw her crying, he almost didn't leave.
"Look who it is," Voldemort said, grinning "Come to die?"
Harry closed his eyes, and he pictured her. Their wedding day, the birth of their children, sending them to Hogwarts….
They played in his head like a broken record. She was all he could focus on. Several times since they had started going out he had imagined a future with her, but now, as he inched closer to death, it was all that was on his mind.
'I love you, Hermione. Can you hear me? I love you.'
He felt the spell strike him in the chest, and everything went dark.
Bellatrix threw Hermione to the ground, and Hermione buried her face into the grass, refusing to look at the woman. Bellatrix turned to the other Death Eaters.
"Where is the Dark Lord?"
"He just killed Potter. It's all over. Kid didn't even put up a fight."
Hermione closed her eyes, more pain swelling in her chest. Bellatrix grinned and walked over to her, pulling her head up by her hair.
"Looks like you're all alone now."
"Harry will be back," she said, glaring at her.
"He's dead. He's not coming back. Poor little mudblood, all alone."
Hermione closed her eyes as she remembered the last moment she saw Harry.
"I need your answer."
She knew what he was asking for, but he needed reassurance. She nodded.
"Yes."
He wrapped his arms around her again. With her arms wrapped around his neck, she quickly whispered, "Amare Dedit", and felt a sudden warmth spread between them.
Harry didn't notice it.
The sound of apparition was heard, and Voldemort appeared, glaring down at her. Harry's body was thrown next to her, and she hid her face.
"Looks like your boyfriend wasn't quick enough."
"It's not over," Hermione said, glaring up at him.
"Do you not see him over there?" he asked, pointing at Harry. "I've won. This war is over."
"It's not over," she repeated again.
"Crucio!"
Her screams echoed in his ears. She was in pain, someone was hurting her. He tried to move, but found himself unable to. His heart was breaking at the pain emitting from her, and he growled, desperate to get to her.
'Where's Ron?' he thought. He was finally able to move his fingers, and he clutched his wand in his hand. When he felt the rest of his body come alive, he fired a spell at Voldemort. Hermione's screams immediately stopped as he stood up, Voldemort staring at him in shock. Bellatrix immediately grabbed onto Hermione.
"That's not possible!" he screamed, firing spell after spell at Harry. Harry quickly reflected them and stood definite in front of Voldemort.
'This ends tonight.'
"There's no possible way you could survive twice!"
"And yet, I did," Harry replied, holding his wand up to Voldemort. "Are you ready to finish this?"
"Bellatrix," Voldemort ordered, nodding to her. She yanked Hermione by the arm and threw her in front of Voldemort.
"Hermione!" Harry cried.
"Ah, the mudblood," Voldemort's cold voice rang out, interrupting her thoughts. He bent down beside her, lazily reflecting a spell Harry threw at him. He lifted her chin and pressed his fingers deep into her skin. She suppressed a shiver, refusing to show him any weakness. "It's a pity. You would be such a valuable asset."
'Hermione,' Harry's voice echoed in her head, 'listen to me. You need to get away from him. I can't get to him while he has you.'
"How much more will you have to lose, Harry?" Voldemort said, pulling Hermione up. "First your parents, then Cedric, Dumbledore, and now you're best friend."
"LET HER GO!" Harry screamed.
"You think I mean the mudblood? No, the blood traitor."
Harry's eyes quickly darted to Hermione, who shook her head yes.
'They killed him, Harry. They killed Ron.'
They killed Ron.
Shock and pain coursed through his body and he closed his eyes to stop himself from thinking about it. Voldemort held on to Hermione tighter, and she bit her lip to stop herself from crying out in pain.
'I'm sorry, Ron,' Harry thought, feeling guilty now. Not thinking clearly anymore, he began to fire spell after spell at Voldemort. He lazily waved them off, pressing his wand to Hermione's throat as he did so.
"Your move."
Harry stared definitely at Voldemort before dropping his wand to the ground. Voldemort smirked.
"Your true weakness. It's why you will lose, and I will win. Crucio!"
"No!" Harry screamed, as Hermione cried in pain. She fell to the ground in front of Voldemort as he lifted the spell. Harry's wand was back in his hand.
"Listening to her screams? You can stop it. I don't know how you survived, but you will not survive now! I will make sure that you end up alone."
"He's not alone!" a familiar voice said.
"Are you alright?" Neville asked, as Ginny landed on the floor. He held out his hand to her and lifted her up.
"I'm fine," she said, nodding at him.
"Not much longer," he encouraged, kissing her head.
"We've done well," she said, trying to catch her breath.
He looked around and noticed that Bellatrix had Hermione, and a sudden anger flared up inside of him.
'Not this time!'
"Come on!" he said, and she followed him.
"Molly, in here!" Mr. Weasley said, grabbing his wife's hand and pulling her into the shop. They ran up the steps and took cover behind the half-wall that was up there. A moment later, the two Death Eaters walked in, firing spells up above.
Mr. Weasley quickly stunned one of them, but Mrs. Weasley was having trouble with the second one. He quickly helped her out and stunned him before reaching over and grabbing his wife's hand.
"Does it hurt?" he asked, gently wiping the blood from the cut on her face off.
"It's fine."
"This is almost over," he said, hugging her. "After tonight, it's over."
"What's that?" she asked, fear plaguing her voice as she looked through the broken wall. He turned around, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Ron?!" she cried, running over to him. She turned Ron over and saw his lifeless eyes, and the tears flowed down her face. "MY SON!"
"Ron? Wake up!" Mr. Weasley said, shaking his body in disbelief. "Wake up, son!"
"They killed him!" she cried, moving into her husband's arms. "They killed our son!"
She laid her head on his chest, and he buried his face into her hair, as they cried and held onto Ron's limp hand together.
Hermione looked up, and Harry looked over, in shock as Sirius walked up to them, a determined look on his face. He put his hand on Harry's shoulder and stared at Voldemort.
"You've taken enough from us already!" Sirius screamed at Voldemort. Voldemort laughed.
"You need your godfather to protect you? Can't take me on alone, can you?"
"You killed Ron!" Harry screamed at him. He heard Sirius' sharp gasp behind him. "I don't need any help to take you down!"
"Did that anger you?" he asked, grabbing Hermione by her hair. Harry held his wand to him. "What would you do if I hurt the mudblood?"
"You hurt her, and you will regret it!" Sirius screamed. Bellatrix's laugh was heard from behind Voldemort.
"So, you survived," she said, moving around.
"Do you think you can take me down?" he asked, moving away from Harry.
"She's mine!" Neville said, as he and Ginny showed up.
"All yours, kid," Sirius said, stepping aside. He and Ginny started taking on the other Death Eaters surrounding him.
"Hermione," Harry said to her. She looked up. "On my cue, you need to run. I know you're hurt, but you need to get away from him."
"Everyone you care for dies, Harry. How much more will it take? Just let me end this, and this is all over for you."
"This will be your final night!" Harry said, and threw spell after spell at Voldemort. He threw Hermione to the ground. She quickly stood up and ran towards Harry, falling near his feet when she began to feel dizzy.
"You can do this," she said.
"What about the snake?" he asked quickly.
"Find it!"
She stood up, as fast as she could, and took off towards Sirius.
"Itty bitty Longbottom. How's mum and dad?" Bellatrix said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Forever in St. Mungo's, thanks to you."
He shot a spell off at her, and she quickly dodged it. He glared at her, his eyes burning with hatred.
"Are we upset?"
"You will be soon," he said, and continued to fire the spells at her.
"Help me find the snake!" Hermione said, completely out of breath. Sirius nodded, quickly disarming the Death Eater he was fighting.
"Come on," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder to steady her. They moved past the battles and looked everywhere around for the snake, Hermione beginning to lose hope when they couldn't find it.
"There!" Sirius said, as he saw the snake tail round the corner. Hermione pulled the sword out and they followed it. It quickly approached Harry from behind, and her eyes widened as it opened its mouth.
"Harry!" they cried. He turned around and moved out of the way, narrowly missing a spell from Voldemort in the process. Hermione quickly ran over to him and gave him the sword as Sirius distracted Voldemort.
Harry took the sword and slashed it down onto the snake, stepping back as it attempted to strike at him again. Voldemort cried out in pain, and Harry turned back to him.
"They're all gone," Hermione said, grabbing onto his arms. "Finish this."
Sirius stepped back, and Harry stepped forward. Voldemort stood back up, looking extremely pale and glaring at Harry as he did so.
"Time to end this!" he said, and pointed his wand at Voldemort.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The wands connected in the same beam of light that he had seen at the graveyard. Harry pushed all of his strength, all of his power into it. The beam of light began to push more towards Voldemort, and Voldemort fought back hard with a vengeance. The beam of light began to move back towards Harry.
"I love you, Harry," Hermione said. He closed his eyes, the future with her coming back into his mind. He felt her hand slip into his, and he suddenly felt like he had more power.
"Hermione?"
"You can do this!" she said quietly. She was beginning to lose consciousness, and she fell to the ground. Sirius ran up next to her.
The beam began to push towards Voldemort. Voldemort growled, placing both hands on his wand as he did so. The beam continued to push towards him, and, after another minute, it finally struck him in the chest. Harry stilled, his breath catching in his throat. Voldemort fell to the ground, his eyes wide and lifeless.
It was over. It was finally over.
The man who killed his parents was dead.
"Merlin," Sirius said, standing back up. "You did it, Harry!"
"It's over?" he asked, still in shock.
Sirius walked over to Voldemort, staring down in hatred. He lifted his wand up and said the spell, watching as the body disappeared underneath him.
"That's for Lily and James!"
"My lord!" Bellatrix screamed.
"It's over!" Neville replied. She turned to him, fury in her eyes.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Neville moved out of the way, and the spell reflected off of the wall behind him. He quickly disarmed her and took her to the ground, pressing his wand into the crook of her neck as he did so.
"Neville," Sirius said, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Don't make the same mistake I did. She'll go back to Azkaban where she belongs."
"Words of wisdom, cousin?" she asked, grinning up at him. He quickly stunned her.
"She would deserve it," he said.
"She deserves a lot, but you don't. I've made that mistake."
Neville dropped his head, and Sirius helped him up.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome."
Harry rushed down to Hermione's side, grasping her hand in his as he did so. She struggled to keep her eyes open.
"It's over," he said. She smiled at him.
"Harry," she whispered. He gently pushed her hair out of her face, "I love you."
"I love you, too," he said, pressing his lips to her head.
"I need….. you…to….move….on," she said, the grip on his hand loosening. He suddenly look frightened.
"No, Hermione, stay with me!"
"I…love…."
The last thing she heard was Harry's frightened screams for help.