I ran up the corridor leading to the great hall, wand in my right hand and the sword of Gryffindor in my left, with but one thought running through my head. Kill Voldemort. It had gone on for long enough. It was time to kill the fucker once and for all. I got to the doors of the hall and I stopped. The scene before me was one of utter pandemonium. Voldemort and some of the best death eaters were fighting up the hall towards the staff dais. Lucius was engaged with Sirius whilst not 3 feet away Bellatrix was duelling with Flitwick. Mcnair was fighting Fred and Crabbe Sr was locked with Ludo Bagman.

Voldemort himself was fighting Madame Maxine, Fleur and Cedric but it was very one sided. We were being pushed back and we were running out of fighters.

"RIDDLE!" I screamed across the hall. He turned at my call. And the three he was fighting moved off to help the others. Hermione ran past me and headed to help Sirius.

"We end this now you bastard" I said as he reached me. I placed the sword on the ground next to me and glared at him.

"Certainly Harry. People will always remember this as the day that the world realised that darkness is inevitable" We circled each other until I was now facing the door I had just come in from.

"Not so fast Tom. We may be down but we are far from out" I said as his wand raised in his hand to point at me. My wand-arm mirrored his action.

"Stop!" He called. At that all the death eaters broke off their respective fights and pulled back behind me.

"Just us now Harry. No friends to help you"

"And no arse-wipers to take the bullet for you" This caused a growl to rise from the assembled Death Eaters.

"I will end you Harry Potter"

"You're welcome to try" I responded and raised my wand in a salute that he copied.

"I will" our wands lowered into positions and our eyes locked.

"Stupefy!"

"Avada Kadavra"

My red spell hit his green one and there was a golden blast that momentarily blinded me. When I looked again I could see our two wands connected in a bright golden hub of energy. As I pushed my spell harder a golden beam shot out of the top of the ball and encircled us in a shield.

"What the fuck?" was my genius reaction.

"This will not save you Potter" All the mock civility had gone from Voldemorts voice. Now there was just naked fury.

I was about to answer when I saw something that took my breath away. Out of the coalescence of energy 4 wisps formed and drifted out. They floated around our heads for a second, before forming themselves into four people. Or at least the forms of four people, it was as if their spirits had been called forth.

James and Lily Potter, my mum and dad were standing to my left, hand in hand, whilst to my right were Remus and Tonks again holding hands.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter Harry" said James and he took a step forwards.

"When you let go we can stay for a moment to give you some time but only for a moment. Do you understand?" I just nodded woodenly.

"Your strong sweetheart, break the connection" said Lily.

I looked to my right and Remus and Tonks smiled at me.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean for you to die for me"

"I know Harry" Remus replied.

"Its fine Harry just let go" Tonks chipped in.

I closed my eyes for a second and stopped the power flow to the hub from my spell. Voldemorts spell shot towards me but was absorbed by the ghost of my loved ones. They floated forwards and enveloped Voldemort in a glowing grey cocoon. I grabbed the sword of the floor and ran towards the trapped form. As I reached him the cocoon seemed to open just for me and could see into it. There was a black shape inside who seemed to be fighting invisible hands. I pulled back and thrust the sword as deep as I could. As I did I heard a dark chuckle and a cry of pain. The grey mist parted and I saw the result.

The form on the floor in front of me was defiantly dead but there was something wrong. I rolled the body over with my toe. It was Bellatrix not Voldemort. My eyes shot up to look at the assembled wizards on my side. I couldn't see Hermione. My eyes searched for a second before I saw her.

Voldemort had her by the throat with a knife pressed against her neck. She looked imploringly at me but I couldn't move. I looked at Voldemorts face. He locked his eyes with mine and his mouth parted into a slight smile. I looked at Hermione again. Her eyes were red with tears.

"I love you" she mouthed at me and I nodded.

"I love you too" I responded.

Voldemorts hand twitched and then in a fluid motion that I didn't completely catch his hands were gone from Hermione and she was flying through the air towards me. She landed on me and the impact forced me to the floor. I lay there stunned for a second before I registered what had happened.

I raised my hand to pull Hermione off me but I felt something. Her shirt was soaked with some sort of liquid. I pulled my hand away and looked at it. My hand came away red. As soon as saw this I jumped up and Hermione went flying and landed a few feet in front of me on her front. I stood for a second then fell to my knees. I could feel the tears falling down my cheek. I crawled forwards to where she lay. I turned her over to see the deep red slash across her throat that was seeping blood. Her eyes were open but sightless. I gathered he up in my arms and cradled her to my chest. I had failed. She was gone.

I could hear some noise in the background that sounded as if the battle had started again. But I didn't pay any attention to it. All I cared about was the curly haired woman that I had fallen in love with and who I had failed to protect. The woman who had helped my learn to dance and taught me all of those useful spells I had been using over the last four years. The woman I had lost my virginity to. The one who I would never see again. I closed my eyes and hugged her body closer to me. I just sat there rocking slightly back and forth while the world went to hell around me.