Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Seven

The Final Battle

The Final Battle at Hogwarts was the worst day of his life.

Knowing where the Horcrux was, was a good thing, however, that didn't help him as much as he hoped it would. He already knew that Hogwarts was in bad shape when Ginny had joined them and explained all the horrors that went on there, but when they were staying at Bill's they learned that it had gotten so much worse. It had virtually become a strong hold for Death Eaters, and worse so had Hogsmeade. There was no way in or out of the castle that wasn't either the front door or blocked by horrible curses. However, it didn't matter, Harry had to go to Hogwarts. It was the only way to end this all and he knew the sooner the better because Voldemort was checking on his other Horcruxes first and wasn't at Hogwarts right now.

So, Harry sounded the alarm, knowing that they couldn't get through this without the help of … well … an army. Luckily someone had given a stone to Aberforth Dumbledore, because he had a way into the castle that no one knew about and by Apparating into his pub, The Hog's Head, they could avoid the Caterwauling charm. Still there was no doubt that going inside the school was not only dangerous for them but also for all the students that would be there, not to mention there was the fact that Harry had no idea what he was looking for or where to find it.

So, once they got to Hogwarts they divided up into smaller groups, Harry going with Luna, who thought the last Horcrux (not that she knew what he was looking for) was Ravenclaw's lost Diadem, were going to the Ravenclaws' common room. Ron, who had the brilliant idea of getting some of the basilisk's fangs, went to the Chamber of Secret with Ginny, who said it was time she faced her fears. While they were down there, Ron would destroy the cup they got from Gringotts. Percy, who had turned his back on his family in Harry and Ron's fifth year, had turned spy for the order (starting over a year ago) after realizing what a mistake he had made. He went to find McGonagall and the other Professors they knew they could trust in hopes that they could gain control of the castle and if they were lucky get the students out of danger. The others were going to wait an hour for them to return or for any signs of attack.

This worked out pretty well, everyone had accomplished their mission without causing attention to themselves, at least they thought they did. By the time that Harry and Luna had met back up with Ron and Ginny, Harry already had a good idea what the Horcrux was (having a rather informative conversation with the Grey Lady). However, seconds later there was a crash at the front gate and then Voldemort's voice came through giving them a warning. It seemed that Percy had gotten to McGonagall in time for them to put up the wards, at least.

Then seemingly out of nowhere Snape was there, and Harry was firing on him with all the anger he could muster and the others quickly covered him. However, Snape wasn't fighting back, in fact it seemed like he was trying to surrender or something. "I've been looking for you, Potter," Snape's voice sounded like a sneer. "I need to give you something."

"Like what, a killing curse like you gave Dumbledore," Harry spat beyond angry now, but he could still see that Snape had flinched at that.

"No, a way to defeat the Dark Lord," Snape said his voice even as he hid behind a suit of arms.

"And why would you do that … your Dark Lord didn't give you all that you wanted," Harry snapped shocked beyond belief of what he was hearing (as were the others). "I'm not going to believe anything you have to say."

"How about this," Snape said and then he threw his wand down and walked out slowly with a vile in his hand. Harry immediately bonded Snape with ropes (and used 'accio wand' to make sure he didn't still have one on him somewhere), as the vile that was in his hand was now floating in the air. Ron had charmed it, fearing what might be in the vile, seeing as Snape was a potion master. "In there is the last clue you need to defeat the Dark Lord."

Harry picked up the vile once he recognized it as being a memory (most likely Snape's) and that it was impossible to fake it (unless you do it in a way that makes it completely obvious). "Why are you doing this?" he asked staring straight into Snape's eyes but finding no answers there, Snape was looking at him the same way as he always did. "You killed Dumbledore, why the hell would you want to stop Voldemort now!" he shouted, glaring at the man, but still Snape said nothing.

"Harry, you're not going to trust him, are you?" Ron snapped. "Trust that that stupid thing can help you in any way!"

"You can't fake a memory Ron," Harry frowned. "And if there is any chance this can help …."

"Harry, he's a Death Eater and he wants you dead!" Ron shouted. "You can't trust anything he tells you!"

"I'm not so sure," Ginny sighed, the last thing she wanted to do was defend Snape but there were a few things last year about him that bothered her. "He didn't punish us like the other Death Eaters did, not even as bad as he did when he was just a Professor (Ron huffed at this point but no one paid any attention to him). And stealing the sword was a lot easier than it should have been. I mean, when do plans ever work the way you want them to?"

"Look," Harry said pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have to see what this is … if there is any chance."

"Fine," Ron glared, looking like he wanted to argue more but stopped himself (Harry had made up his mind), so they headed towards Dumbledore's office, bringing the bonded Snape with them.

However, at that moment another big crash happened and some of the gargoyles fell, Harry was reminded of something that happened two years ago and he just knew where the last Horcrux was.

"It was in the hidden Room that Ginny and I had found two years ago!" Harry continued to head to the seventh floor but stopped and looked towards Dumbledore's office.

"Time is of the essence," Ron groaned as he pushed Harry towards Dumbledore's office. "Luna, Gin and I will deal with the Horcrux … you and Neville, take Snape and watch your precious memory."

Harry was feeling sick by the time he was done watching the memories, he never would have guessed that Snape had liked his mum (it was kind of a creepy thought really and yet it was amazing what that man had gone through because of the way he felt about Harry's mum). However, that wasn't what was making him feel sick; it was the fact that he had a piece of Voldemort's soul in him. That he has been living seventeen years with that in him. And then the realization that he couldn't make it … that he couldn't even put up a fight … that he had to die in order to end this … that he was going to have to sacrifice himself. He walked down the stairs feeling numb as he ran into Neville and Snape.

"Harry what …?" Neville started to ask.

Harry couldn't speak yet, he was looking into Snape's eyes, and though they were as black and vacant as ever he could see understanding there, Snape knew what Harry had to do. Harry released him and then started to walk down the hall.

"Harry what are you doing?" Neville grabbed his arm. "Are you sure he's safe?"

"Yes," Harry said in a hollow voice (he tried harder to sound normal the next time he spoke). "He's on our side … Dumbledore was already dying …" he turned to go face his fate, glad that he didn't have to say goodbye to Ron, and even more Ginny, or he wouldn't have the strength to do what he had to do. "Nev …" he turned around knowing he had one loose end to deal with before he was done. "If you run into Voldemort's snake … kill it … it's important that snake dies."

"Harry, what are you doing?" Neville asked and he knew it wasn't anything good.

"What I must," Harry said with a sad smile and then continued down the hallway, convinced that he was doing the right thing (so people like Neville could go on and live their lives), but at the same time really wishing someone would stop him.

It was then that he heard Voldemort's booming voice asking for his immediate surrender. Well, this was good news, he knew where to go, the bad thing was he would likely have to pass the people he loved to get there. And he did (after he had put on his invisibility cloak) he passed everyone that he still cared about … at least the ones that were still alive. There was Remus and Tonks, Remus arm was limp, and he probably couldn't use it anymore but at least he was still breathing. Then he passed the Weasleys (except for Ron and Ginny), and Bill was sitting away from them, as Fleur whispered words of comfort to him (Charlie had just jumped in front of a killing curse that saved him). Percy seemed to be telling them about Fred to an already distraught Mrs. Weasley and an almost comatose George.

As Harry passed them, he closed his eyes, knowing he was going to hurt them more, the family that had taken him in was going to grieve for his death, but he didn't have another choice, so he carried on. He really should have known what was coming this time, they knew him so well, so of course they would try to stop him from doing this. Harry sighed as he watched his best mate and the love of his life guard the door he needed to use to get out, this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought (or hoped) it would be.

"Guys something's not right with Harry," Neville said panting hard (and coming from the direction of the Room of Requirements, he must have run there first). "After he saw that memory, he looked … weird … and then he told me to kill Voldemort's snake."

He saw Ron and Ginny give each other a pointed look; both even more worried than they were a second ago. They moved closer together (moving away from the door) and Harry took his chance to escape. "Harry!" he heard Ginny shout after him, but he couldn't let her stop him … this was the only way to end this.

So, Harry ran as fast as he could to where Voldemort was waiting for him, and when he got closer, he ripped off his invisibility cloak and stuffed it in his robes, not even bothering to take his wand out. Unfortunately, he could hear footsteps behind him and knew that they were following him, and more than just Ginny, Ron, Neville and Luna, but everyone.

"That's far enough," Voldemort said as he flicked his wand and Harry heard the sound of someone running into something solid. "Well Harry, I'm pleased to see you answered by summons so quickly," he said smugly but his red eyes were hard and burning into Harry's. "But it doesn't seem like your friends agree with your decision."

"Just leave them out of this," Harry said as confidently as he could. "This is between you and me."

"Don't worry Harry, I have no problems with your blood traitor friends," Voldemort said looking coldly into Harry's eyes. "As long as they realize that they lost, they we'll be free to go."

Harry knew that that was never going to happened, but at least after his death, Voldemort would be one step closer to being a mortal again, being able to die again. "What are you waiting for?" Harry said, holding out his arms to brace himself. And as he watched the green curse fly towards him, he regretted not being able to have the family that he and Ginny had talked about, that his life had to end so soon.

O

"No!" Ginny shouted as she watched the door open and knew that Harry was making a break for it. It seemed like it was one hit after another this last hour, after they had gotten the Horcrux (which seemed like it had taken forever but must have been only half an hour) they made Luna stab it, Ron saying it was nice to give everyone a turn. It was only minutes after that when they met up with Fred and Percy and seconds later that her brother, the one that always made her laugh no matter how crappy she felt, was killed by the wall crashing down on him.

She didn't even have time to think about what had just happened when Voldemort's message came through.

"He's going to do it," Ron muttered looking at Fred's body with tearful eyes, his voice, more than anything else, is what snapped Ginny out of her reverie and made her get up. "He's going to give himself up … we … I can't lose … we have to stop him," he continued, and she knew just what he meant.

"Right … let's go," Luna said taking both the Weasleys' hands, seeing as neither one made a move to go. She led them to the front door where they all knew that Harry was heading to.

When Neville came, she was so worried about her worse fears being confirmed that she took a step away from the door and allowed Harry to escape. "Harry!" she yelled after him, as she ran towards the clearing she knew Harry would be heading, Ron matching her pace. She suspected that Neville and Luna had informed everyone else of what was happening because everyone was now following closely behind her. When she (and Ron) had hit the barrier, she knew that it was all lost … that she would never see Harry again.

Ron picked her up then, she could feel him shaking in rage and depression as he held her closely to his chest. She knew in that moment, no words needed be said, that he understood what she was going through, and he was feeling it too (the hug was both to support her and comfort himself), both their eyes stared towards Harry as they watched the green light hit him squarely in the chest.

"Nooooo!" she screamed in pure pain as she turned into her brother's chest crying. That was the first second … the next she was heading straight for the Death Eater not caring who she faced but knowing that she wasn't going to let them get away with this. She wasn't the only one with this sentiment it seemed … it looked like just about everyone was charging them (no one seemed to realize that Voldemort had fallen too).

That was how she found herself face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the most dangerous Death Eaters out there, seeming to be fighting for her life. But what did it matter anymore, Harry was gone and so was the future she had planned with him. All she cared about at the moment was killing the bitch that had killed Sirius.

But she was no match for Bellatrix and as she watched the curse fly towards her, her heart sank at the same time it beat for joy. Because, in that second, she had seen Harry, he was alive and trying to save her like always, and the next thing she knew was excruciating pain before she passed out.