A/N ~ Short chapter, but it's the last of sixth year... here we go.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The Slytherin locket- the supposedly Horcrux- was unnoticed until the morning after the battle.

The Quartet had a rough night- Y/N didn't think she even slept at all.

They met in the common room in the morning and walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast, the realization of yesterday's events slowly surging back into reality.

The Great Hall was filled with students, all murmuring and whispering.

The Quartet tried to ignore everyone's pointing fingers as they walked to the Gryffindor table.

There, they sat and ate in silence, as the whispers and buzzes from other tables swallowed them whole.

After breakfast, Harry found himself walking up to the Astronomy Tower without any thought, and his friends followed his lead, without questioning it.

They arrived at the very top of the tower, squinting their eyes through the soft orange sunshine, and looked down at the rest of the castle- at the glistening lake, the many birds, the smoking chimneys.

The weather seemed to be mocking them.

Harry stepped forwards to the railing and placed his two hands on its cold metal.

He closed his eyes and let the fresh wind collide with him, blowing softly at his hair, face, and flannel.

Y/N walked to his side and lay one of her hands on one of his, clutching it firmly to wordlessly tell him everything will be OK.

Ron and Hermione also stepped forwards, glancing at each other, but still lingered behind in Harry and Y/N's shadows

"So?" said Ron in a very low voice. "Did you find one? Did you get it? A- a Horcrux?"

"No," said Harry. "Someone had already taken it and left a fake in its place."

"Already taken-?"

Wordlessly, Harry pulled the fake locket from his pocket, opened it, and passed it to Ron. The full story could wait.

Y/N and Hermione gathered by Ron's side and he took out a very small folded piece of parchment. It read...

'To the Dark Lord,

I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B.'

"R.A.B.," whispered Ron, "but who was that?"

"Dunno," said Harry. "but whoever they are, they have the real Horcrux."

Ron nodded understandingly and folded the letter back into the locket and handed it back to Harry.

They all stepped forwards so they were side-by-side, and placed their hands on the railing. The four held onto each other's hands without really realizing it.

They simply stood and stared out into the morning, having no clue what in the world would happen to them in months to come.

"I'm not coming back," Harry said quietly, breaking the peaceful silence. Y/N turned to him and frowned. Hermione and Ron swapped glances. "I have to finish whatever Dumbledore started."

Y/N had a feeling he'd say this but still was hoping he wouldn't.

"Where will you go?" She asked him patiently, looking into his eyes. Harry tried to avoid her gaze.

"I don't know where it'll lead me," Harry confessed, staring down at Y/N's hand that lay on top of his. "but I'll let you all know where I am... if I can."

To his much surprise, Y/N slowly grinned. So did Ron and Hermione.

They sent knowing looks around and Hermione even sniggered.

"What?" Harry asked them.

"I've always admired your courage, Harry," Hermione chuckled. "but sometimes you could be really thick."

"We'll get you out from your aunt and uncle's house, Harry," said Ron, smiling. "And then we'll go with you- wherever you're going."

"No you're not," said Harry quickly.

He had not counted on this, he had meant them to understand that he was undertaking this most dangerous journey alone.

"We're in this together, Harry," said Hermione, smiling. "always, until we succeed, or fail- until the world ends."

"You don't know how dangerous this is," said Harry in exasperation.

Y/N sighed and reached out to cup the side of his face so he would have no choice but to look into her eyes.

"You don't really think you'll be able to find all those Horcruxes by yourself, do you?" she said with a slight laugh. "You'll need us, Harry."

As she stood on the tip of her toes and kissed his forehead, Harry knew she was right. He really needed them.

Somewhere ahead of them, Fawkes the phoenix was singing in a way they had never heard before.

The four looked up at the Phoenix and absorbed the stricken lament of terrible beauty.

The phoenix swooped past them, its song echoing the air.

How long they all stood there, listening, they did not know, nor why it seemed to ease their pain a little to listen to the sound of their mourning.

And as Fawkes flew far out towards the lake and past it, into the wild, Y/N knew it would never return.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

All lessons were suspended, all examinations postponed.

Some students were hurried away from Hogwarts by their parents as soon as the next morning and over the next couple of days.

Daphne and Astoria's parents had burst into the Grea Hall to take their children home and Zacharias Smith was escorted from the castle by his haughty-looking father.

Seamus Finnigan, on the other hand, refused to accompany his mother home.

They had a shouting match in the Entrance Hall which was resolved when she agreed that he could remain behind for the funeral while she waited in Hogsmeade.

Seamus told Harry and Y/N that wizards and witches were pouring into the village, preparing to pay their last respects to Dumbledore.

The Ministry had sent out Aurors to look for Snape, but there was no sign of him, or Malfoy, or any other Death Eater.

The beautiful weather did not fit the castle's atmosphere, as the last days of school flowed by.

Y/N, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were spending all of their remaining time together.

They didn't speak of the Horcrux Harry had retrieved from the cave again, for Y/N, Ron, and Hermione knew Harry was suffering from the thought of his and Dumbledore's wasteful adventure.

They visited the hospital wing twice a day- Neville had been discharged, but Bill remained under Madam Pomfrey's care.

His scars were as bad as ever, making him vaguely resemble Mad-Eye Moody though with both eyes and legs. 

Luckily, his behaviour hasn't changed and he was basically still the same person.

All that appeared to have changed was that he now had a great liking for very rare steaks.

"It's lucky he is marrying me," said Fleur happily, plumping up Bill's pillows, "because the British overcook their meat, I have always said this."

"So they're really getting married," sighed Ron, as the Quartet left the hospital wing that day. "not that it's a bad thing... it's just so..."

"Contrasting to everything that's going on right now?" Y/N suggested.

"Yeah..."

"I still can't believe it," said Y/N. "I still remember the first time Fleur met Bill at the final Triwizard task. Who would've thought?"

"I remember how Bill blushed over that letter Fleur sent him one summer," Ron huffed. "That's when we all knew she was special. See, Bill never blushes- so that was saying a lot..."

"Well if blushing says a lot," Y/N cleared her throat, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder. "I'll hand you a mirror the next time Hermione pecks you on the cheek."

Both Ron and Hermione flushed and looked away from each other. Harry secretly gave Y/N a high-five.

"Hey, Y/N," Hermione said loudly, "you know how, before you got into the team, you used to blank out at every Quidditch match?"

"Yeah, well my attention span isn't the Nile River," Y/N shrugged. "it doesn't last long."

"Oh come off it," Hermione huffed, grinning, "it's not your attention span, it's how you drool over Harry and his Firebolt."

"Is that so?" Harry raised his eyebrows, turning to Y/N.

"No," Y/N said swiftly, staring daggers at Hermione. "she's lying-"

"Am not," said Hermione, smirking. "You'd always fall back into your seat, all flustered, whenever he runs his hand-"

"Finish that sentence and you'll have no hands," Y/N said bitterly.

"-through his hair," Hermione finished triumphantly. "I remember, once, asking you what the score was and you replied with 'did you see Harry do that thing with his hair?'"

"It wasn't my fault you missed it!" said Y/N, then quickly realized what she'd said. "I didn't mean-"

Harry burst into laughter and Ron exclaimed a long and loud 'ohhh', clapping Y/N on the back.

Hermione grinned slyly and continued to walk broadly, ignoring Y/N's scowl.

Harry slipped his arm around Y/N's waist and gave it a little teasing tug.

"That explains it then-" He smirked. "Explains why your hands always go there whenever we-"

"Woah, mate," Ron raised his eyebrows. "We don't need to know..."

"I was going to say kiss," Harry shot.

Hermione giggled and watched in entertainment as Harry's cheeks flushed.

They finally arrived back at their empty common room a few minutes later, feeling slightly better with their day.

Hermione kissed Ron's cheek (he did, in fact, blush), waved goodnight at the other two, and departed for the girls' dormitories.

Ron yawned wildly and said that he had to go up and pack since they were leaving tomorrow, and left for the stairs as well.

"I should go pack, too," said Y/N, turning back to Harry, who was still holding her by the waist.

"Oh, right- well, I've already packed," said Harry, letting go of her waist. "Actually, I've packed since the day Dumbledore..." he trailed away, unable to finish his sentence. "I'll just go to sleep early, then."

"Right... see you tomorrow?" Y/N tried to give him one of her comforting smiles to cheer him up.

"Mhm, good night... and don't fret, I'll make sure to bring my hair and Firebolt with me tomorrow," Harry smirked.

Y/N's comforting smile was wiped off her face and she scoffed, rolling her eyes, though she was half grinning.

"Hey, eyes on the game, Scamander," Harry said teasingly, bracketing her face with his hands.

"No, no, you don't get to sneer, Potter," Y/N laughed, pulling away from him.

"Why not?" Harry said playfully.

Y/N simpered and tilted her head, staring calculatingly into his emerald eyes.

Harry gazed back at her cheekily as she studied him like a textbook.

Then, a sly and triumphant smirk slipped onto her face and she took a step closer to him.

"Because," she said calmly. "it's a little hypocritical..."

Harry stood rigid at his spot, confused.

Without breaking eye contact, Y/N reached out for his shirt collar, tugging it, drawing him close.

Their lips met before Harry's mind could process anything.

He felt his knees go weak as he let everything sink in- her gentle yet passionate kiss, her hand that pressed against his chest, the slight roughness of her grip.

She held him firmly for a few seconds, enjoying his bewilderment, before pulling away and letting go of his shirt.

Harry was left speechless, flustered. He knew he probably looked stupid, standing there with his face all red and his lips parted.

"Good night to you too," Y/N said plainly and gave him a dominant smile.

The corner of Harry's lips jerked upwards as he watched her step away from him and turn towards the stairs, leaving him in the middle of the common room, alone.

Despite the madness and the misery Harry had been drowning in for the past three days, he found that Y/N never failed to give him that spark of hope.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The Hogwarts Express would be leaving in an hour, they would all be leaving after the funeral.

Harry and Y/N (who had Caz the Pygmy Puff seated on her shoulder) arrived at the Great Hall at a little past ten.

Everyone was in there, having their last breakfast of the school year.

Y/N and Harry strode past the whispering students and made their way to the Gryffindor table, where Ron and Hermione seemed to be having a pleasant conversation.

The four friends traded smiles between themselves and muttered to each other a good morning.

They ate what they could and talked casually in low voices, trying to make the day seem normal and not miserable.

Though, as they looked around, the mood in the Great Hall was clearly subdued, and whatever they did could not deny the fact that there was less positive energy in the air.

Everybody was either wearing their uniform or dress robes and no one seemed very hungry.

Y/N looked around and scanned each and every element of the room.

Professor McGonagall had left Dumbledore's thronelike chair in the middle of the staff table empty.

Hagrid's chair was deserted too- Y/N's heart shrank as she thought it was perhaps he had not been able to face breakfast at all.

Snape's place, on the other hand, had been unceremoniously filled by Rufus Scrimgeour, the Minister of Magic.

Over at the Slytherin table, Crabbe and Goyle were muttering together.

Pansy and Blaise were sitting with Ginny, all of them looking grim as they spoke to each other quietly.

Rolf was gripping Luna's hand firmly under the Ravenclaw table as they both ate breakfast.

Y/N watched her brother and his Ravenclaw "friend" eat, amused by how they always smiled whenever they caught each other's gaze.

She had completely forgotten it was her brother's last day at Hogwarts... but then again, it was hers as well, as far as she knew.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle nudge from Harry.

Professor McGonagall had risen to her feet and the mournful hum in the Hall died away at once.

"It is nearly time," she said. "Please follow your Heads of House out into the grounds. Gryffindors, after me."

They filed out from behind their benches in near silence and left the Great Hall, Slughorn leading the Slytherins instead of Snape.

It was the most beautiful summer's day outside.

Caz jumped up and down on Y/N's shoulder excitedly, as they came in contact with the rare sunlight.

The warmth of the sun caressed Y/N's face as they followed Professor McGonagall in silence to the farthest side of the Black Lake.

To a beautiful meadow, filled with tiny sprouting flowers and soft grass that was cut short for the ceremony. A big apple tree stood at the land's end. It was their meadow.

Y/N quickly looked over at Harry and knew that he, too, recognized the place, despite the hundreds of chairs that had been set out in rows.

An aisle ran down the center of them, and a marble table stood at the front.

An extraordinary assortment of people had already settled into half of the chairs.

Most Y/N did not recognize, but there were a few that she did, including members of the Order of the Phoenix- Kingsley, Moody, Tonks, and Remus.

Mr and Mrs Weasley, Bill supported by Fleur, followed by Fred and George, who were wearing jackets of black dragonskin.

Then there was Madame Maxime, Tom from The Leaky Cauldron, the bass player from the Weird Sisters, Madam Malkin of the robe shop in Diagon Alley, Aberforth, and Sebastian.

"Hey Sebastian," Y/N greeted him, as he and his grandfather walked into the ceremony.

Sebastian looked pale and peaky, his skin contrasting drastically with his soft brown curls.

"Hello Y/N, hello Harry," Sebastian croaked, giving them the best smile he could manage. It was weird seeing him so unlike his usual bubbly self.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Y/N said sadly, to both Sebastian and Aberforth.

"It isn't a personal loss," said Aberforth with a huff, "I, personally, didn't know my brother that well. Never got along."

Without another word, the grey-haired wizard left to take a seat at one of the white chairs in the very back row.

"He's still coping," Sebastian explained, sighing solemnly.

"I understand," Y/N said in a low voice. "How are you?"

"I dunno," Sebastian shrugged, and his face fell. "My grandpa's right- we weren't that close to Albus. But he was so... he gave the world so much hope and- and safety, you know?"

At this, Harry nodded. Losing Dumbledore was like losing his sense of feeling safe.

Sebastian gave them another weak smile and followed Aberforth to the back row.

Y/N, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Pansy also filed into seats at the end of the middle row beside the lake.

Y/N saw Neville being helped into a seat by Luna and Rolf a few rows ahead of them.

They, alone, of all the DA, had responded to Hermione's summons the night that Dumbledore died, and she knew why.

They were the ones who had missed the DA most... probably the ones who had checked their coins regularly in the hope that there would be another meeting.

People were whispering to each other now, and the crowd continued to swell.

Cornelius Fudge walked past them towards the front rows, his expression miserable, twirling his green bowler hat as usual.

Y/N recognized more people as they entered- Rita Skeeter, Dolores Umbridge, the centaur Firenze, a few Aurors her mother had worked with, and some Ministry workers.

Even the castle ghosts were there, though they were barely visible in the bright sunlight.

Then, she heard music- strange, whimsical music.

She was not the only one- many heads were turning, searching, a little alarmed. Caz gave a small cat-like hiss and looked around, startled.

"In there," whispered Harry in Y/N's ear.

And she saw them in the clear green sunlit water of the lake, inches below the surface.

A group of merpeople were singing in a strange language she didn't understand, their faces rippling, their purplish hair flowing all around them.

The music spoke very clearly of loss and of despair.

As she looked down into their wild faces, she had the feeling that they, too, were sorry for Dumbledore's passing.

Then, she looked back around to see Hagrid walking slowly up the aisle between the chairs.

She nudged Harry's arm and he also turned.

Hagrid was crying quite silently, his face gleaming with tears, and in his arms, wrapped in purple velvet, was what Y/N knew was Dumbledore's body.

Harry looked like wanted to look away. Ron looked white and shocked. Tears were falling thick and fast into Hermione's lap. Ginny and Pansy glanced at each other sadly.

Even Casserole seemed to have sensed the mood around her and backed against Y/N's neck.

As Harry looked to his side to see Sebastian, who now had tears dropping from his chin, he realized how much Dumbledore hadn't told him.

About the Horcruxes, yes, but also his personal life.

He knew very little of Dumbledore, for someone who's been taking personal lessons with him for the past year.

Or maybe it was simply because Harry had never asked him- there was so much he should have said...

And then, without warning, the dreadful truth swept over him, more undeniably than it had until now. Dumbledore was gone.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

Leaving Hogwarts had been unexpectedly emotional for Y/N.

She found her throat tightening as her carriage slowly dragged her away from the castle, as it got smaller and smaller.

She couldn't imagine how Rolf was feeling right now, for the seventh years had to take the first year boats back across the lake on their last day of school, as tradition.

She knew Harry, Ron, and Hermione felt it too- the sense of hollowness- even as they got onto the Hogwarts Express.

On their way back, all the Quartet did was talk. Mainly recalling the memories they'd had at school from the past six years.

The mountain troll that almost got Hermione in their first year...

The snow days where they'd play in the grounds until their throats were dry...

Trading Christmas presents by the fireplace in the common room...

Hagrid's dangerous pets and lessons...

The nights they snuck out just to fill in their naive curiosities...

Racing each other down to Hagrid's hut, falling over, scraping their knees, getting hurt, laughing about it...

The nostalgia didn't help Y/N's unstable emotions at all.

Finally, the Hogwarts Express slowly came to a stop at platform nine and three-quarters.

Y/N sighed and picked up her owl cage, Pygmy Puff cage, and the rest of her belongings, before exiting the compartment.

For the last time, together, Y/N, Harry, Hermione, and Ron stepped off the scarlet train and into the people-packed platform.

They looked at one another, trading sad smiles, for they knew they wouldn't be back for the next term.

Y/N turned to face the many people in front of her.

Children, clueless of their future, were laughing and smiling again, saying goodbye to their friends and jumping into their mother and father's arms.

"We'll be there, Harry," said Ron.

"What?" Harry said blankly.

"We're with you whatever happens," said Ron. "But you're going to have to come round my mum and dad's house before we do anything else."

"Why?"

"Bill and Fleur's wedding, remember?"

Harry looked at him, startled- the idea that anything as normal as a wedding could still exist seemed incredible and yet wonderful.

"Yeah, we shouldn't miss that," he said finally, grinning.

They all chuckled and moved through the crowd.

Hermione spotted her parents at the back and said goodbye to her friends, giving all of them a hug, each.

"Keep in touch," she said, as she pulled away from Y/N. "though, we'll see each other soon enough."

Then, Y/N saw her give Ron a little personal smile before turning on her heel and disappearing into the crowd.

Y/N, Harry, and Ron (who was grinning from Hermione's extra affection) continued through the crowd and finally spotted the beaming Mrs Weasley, Tonks (whose hair was vibrant pink again), and Remus.

"Hello Mrs Weasley," Harry greeted the red-haired mother. "Tonks, Remus,"

He gave Tonks a nod and smiled nervously at Remus, who gave him what looked like a scarce wince in return.

"Hello, dears," Mrs Weasley gave her son a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then embraced Y/N and Harry.

And though Y/N just saw them in the morning, she went in and gave Tonks and Remus a hug, too. Now, like a proper family.

"What's she doing here?" Ron cried dramatically behind her.

Y/N turned around to see who he was talking about and saw Ginny and Pansy approaching Mrs Weasley with their trunks and animal cages.

To her surprise, Pansy- loud, feisty Pansy- seemed unusually shy and even slightly nervous, her knuckles practically white from gripping her trolley.

"Ron, don't be rude," Mrs Weasley scolded, throwing Ron a look. "Ginny wrote to me about Pansy's situation- she'll be staying with us this summer."

Y/N remembered now, how Pansy ran away from her parents, back in December.

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley," Pansy said, looking stiff and hesitant.

"Don't worry about it, dear," Mrs Weasley gave her a small smile. "You'll tuck in just fine."

Ginny smirked satisfyingly at Ron's agape mouth.

"We'll be heading back, then," Mrs Weasley sighed, helping Ron and Ginny with some of their luggage.

She waved goodbye to Remus, Tonks, Y/N, and Harry and led her family, plus a nervous Pansy, through the platform barrier, back into the muggle world.

Y/N sighed and turned back to Harry.

He had spotted the Dursleys at the back of the station, looking terrified and uncomfortable as always.

He was annoyed by the fact that he had to go back to Privet Drive, but it would be the last time.

When he turned seventeen, he'd move in with Sirius.

"I better go," Harry said to Y/N, jerking his head in the Dusleys' direction.

"You better," Y/N smiled.

Then, Harry did something Y/N least expected he would do in front of all the people including Tonks, and Remus.

He grinned and stepped forwards, his bag rocking Y/N's shoulder back slightly, then leaned in and kissed her.

It was firm though brief, but Y/N immediately pulled away, her eyes wide.

"Harry!" she scolded, feeling her face burn.

She quickly turned back to see that Tonks was grinning and wiggling her eyebrows, and Remus looked murderous.

"I better run now," Harry said swiftly, grinning, "see you, Niff, love you so much."

He didn't risk another glance at his girlfriend's godfather and whirled around, clutching the strap of his bag, and strode quickly away from them.

"We have to talk when we get back home," Remus said bitterly, when Y/N turned back to face him.

"Yes, about the fact that you're getting married," Y/N smiled, nudging her godfather in the arm playfully.

Before Remus could say another word, Rolf and Luna appeared from the chattering crowd in front of them- though they seemed to not have noticed them at all.

"I'll be at yours in a week," Y/N heard Rolf say to her.

"Oh yes, you'll be moving into your old house?" Luna said excitedly.

"Yeah, not for long though," Rolf said with a shrug. "I'll buy my own new place as soon as I can. And when you graduate, you can-"

He paused, stopping himself, and blushed. Luna smiled understandingly.

"I'll be there," she said delightedly.

Then, the tiny blonde Ravenclaw placed a hand on Rolf's cheek, stood on her tiptoes, and their lips connected.

They stayed like that for a while, Rolf holding Luna's back as she kissed him as gently as pollen landing on a flower petal.

Y/N smiled and watched as Luna finally pulled away, smiling, her cheeks tinted pink.

The young Lovegood gave Rolf a little wave, before disappearing back into the crowd, dragging what looked like a decorated oak chest with wheels after her.

Rolf was scratching the back of his neck, blushing, as he walked over to his family with his trunk and owl cage.

"Wotcher, Rolfie," Tonks smirked, as the tall dirty-blonde approached them dreamily.

"I see you've got a... girl, huh?" Remus nudged him on the shoulder teasingly. Rolf rolled his eyes, though he was still grinning like an idiot.

"Hello?" Y/N said loudly, as though demanding answers from her brother.

"Hey," Rolf said casually, ruffling her hair.

"Hey?" Y/N exclaimed, raising her eyebrows. "Are you feeling alright? Luna Lovegood just kissed you!"

"I know," said Rolf sheepishly, shrugging, "it wasn't the first time..."

"OH." Y/N half laughed half scoffed, looking wonderfully baffled.

"You two got lots of explaining to do, once we get back home," Tonks crowed, cocking her eyebrows.

"Says you," Y/N and Rolf chorused, both pointing at Tonks' ring.

As the family of four set off from the platform, already interrogating and nagging each other, it seemed as though there was nothing ahead of them to worry about.

Together, it was as if they were living in another reality where there was nothing but laughter and love.

Of course, they were all oblivious that eventually, perhaps tomorrow, or the day after, or maybe weeks later- soon enough- fate would get ahold of them, one by one.

We'll be together, whatever happens... Y/N thought, as she caught Remus' contagious smile... I'll make sure of it. If I can... Tonks and Rolf's laughter filled the air... I'll make sure we stick together- until the world ends...

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ I don't know how to feel. Only one year of TBWL to go.

Thank you all, truly, for everything. Can't wait for all of you to experience the tHiNgs I've planned for seventh year (it's not as scary as it seems) (I think).

Also, I'll be answering some FAQs on my next author's note, so ask me some questions here (:

See you in a few days!!

-ScribblingQuills