52 - The End Of It All
"Henrietta Potter is dead."
The outside entrance of the castle was deserted, all except for the lonely figure crouched on the top step; head in hands, broken, and void of all hope.
Draco Malfoy slowly looked up, his heart thudding in his chest. It was light now and, at the very edge of the forest, he could see a mass of black cloaked figures appear. It was the exact same spot where he had watched Etta disappear as she walked out of his life and out of his heart forever. He had not moved since.
"We bring you her body as proof that your hero is gone."
No. Draco shakily stood up. The mass drew nearer and now he could see that Voldemort was leading the procession, the great snake coiled proudly around his shoulders.
Survivors from inside had started to file out and gather around him, filling the front steps to see the truth of Etta's death for themselves.
And, as the Death Eaters drew nearer, Draco could see the unmistakable figure of the gamekeeper, Hagrid, staggering and sobbing over something in his arms. No - not something, but someone.
At the exact same moment that McGonagall let out a loud, terrible scream, Draco's whole body jolted violently in pain.
It was her; it was Etta. And she was dead.
He could not breathe, for his lungs had turned to lead. He could not see, for the white lights flashing before his eyes. He could not hear, for the roaring of blood in his ears.
She had done it. She had actually done it. And for what? It had all been for nothing. Voldemort was still standing, waiting to rule above them all.
All Draco could feel was hurt, bitterness and pain. She had never loved him. How could she when she had chosen this over him.
As the Death Eaters came to a halt, all standing in a line, facing the front door, Draco heard his father call out to him.
He did not know what to do.
It was his mother who persuaded him in the end. She was all he had left.
So, he went to her.
"She saved your life!" Ron Weasley spat poisonously in his face as he passed the angry red head.
Draco faltered, stung. But then on he continued, hanging his head in shame.
He could not bear to look at the baleful glances. He could not bear to see where she lay.
As soon as he reached his mother, he kept his eyes firmly on the ground, wishing he were dead - just like Etta.
*****
Earlier
"Does it hurt?"
The childish question fell from my lips before I could stop it.
"Dying? Not at all," Sirius said. "Quicker and easier than falling asleep."
Well, that was easy for him to say, all he did was topple through a veil.
I turned, instead, to my parents, hoping for a little more enlightenment.
"We'll be with you the whole time," my father answered unhelpfully.
Great. As if the pain I had just suffered from my broken teenage heart was not enough.
Ugh. Life sucked.
By the time I reached Voldemort, I was not in the mood for niceties, I was having too much of a shit day. So, I stuck my middle finger up at him and let him blast me with his wand.
Death wasn't too bad I suppose. I could have done without waking up stark naked in front of Dumbledore on platform nine and three quarters though.
Anyways, I decided to forgive the cunt as it turned out I didn't have to die after all. Hooray! Although it was on the condition that I one day name my child after him. Damn.
After careful deliberation, I agreed. I'm sure if we end up together, I could easily convince Draco to name his kid after the teacher he tried to murder for an entire year.
So off I popped back to life, letting Draco's mother know all was cushty with her son upon awakening.
I sensed good times ahead.
*****
Present
As Draco's heavy, tired footfalls passed me, I wanted nothing more than to open my eyes and tell him it was okay, that I was alive and that I loved him with everything I had. But instead, I forced myself to lie silently still. I had to bide my time.
And then I heard Neville. Wonderful, awesome Neville who faced Voldemort without batting a single eyelid. I knew I could count on him.
But then that fucking noseless bastard forced the Sorting Hat upon Neville's head and set it alight. I could not bear it. My heart thudding in my chest, I wondered quickly what I should do.
But so many things happened at once, and before I knew it, Neville had ripped off the hat, brandishing the Gryffindor sword, and chopped off Nagini's head!
Chaos reigned. Voldemort started screaming in fury; giants and centaurs came charging into the fray; Death Eaters broke rank, shouting their surprise as Thestrals and Hippogriffs soared down upon them.
I took the opportunity to throw on my Invisibility Cloak, unseen in all the chaos. No one had seemed to notice that I had disappeared.
Everyone forced their way back into the castle, and I followed, desperate to find Voldemort. I was not afraid of anything anymore. I had faced death. I had faced heartache. I had faced fear itself. Nothing could scare me now.
I watched, invisible, as Ron's mother slam dunked Draco's aunt into the afterlife. It was the most satisfying death I had seen to date.
But it was just about to get oh so much more satisfying.
"Protego!" I roared, conjuring a Shield Charm to protect Molly from being killed by Voldemort.
Voldemort stared around, looking utterly baffled.
This was my moment.
I pulled the Invisibility Cloak off and flashed Voldemort my biggest smirk. "Surprise motherfucker!"
Boy, was his face a picture.
"Etta!" "SHE'S ALIVE!" The whole Hall erupted into cheers and yells as the shock of my mind-blowing resurrection sunk in.
But then, as Voldemort and I started to circle one another, the crowd went quiet; anticipation crackling in the air.
"I don't want anyone else to try to help," I said loudly to my awestruck audience. "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."
Ain't no one gonna steal my thunder.
Like a lion playing with their food, I toyed with Voldemort. I took great pleasure in winding him up, calling him by his Muggle name, Tommy. It irked him something rotten.
But then he really blew a gasket when I informed him of who the true owner of the Elder Wand was.
Thanks to Draco gifting me his wand, it was me. Suck on that, bitch.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"
And then he was dead. Just like that.
*****
"You were awesome, Etta!"
Ron and Hermione came bounding over to me, respect and admiration shining across their faces as Voldemort lay dead at my feet.
"I know."
They laughed, hugging me so fiercely, I could scarcely breathe.
But I could not share their joy yet.
"Draco? Have you seen Draco?" I asked, looking around, hoping he had seen me in action.
Ron and Hermione's faces instantly fell as they exchanged awkward glances.
"What?" I asked, my breath catching in my throat. "What's happened?"
"Etta, he's gone." Hermione said quietly. "He went back over to them."
"B-But that was just because he thought I was dead," I stuttered, panic fluttering in my chest. "Surely once he realised I was alive he came back over to our side?"
Ron and Hermione exchanged yet another glance. My heart started pounding horribly against my ribs.
"Etta, most of the Death Eaters fled after it was clear you were still alive." Ron explained awkwardly as he scratched the back of his neck. "Malfoy included."
"Oh," was all I could say. I tried to smile but to my horror I felt a lump forming in my throat as tears stung behind my eyes.
What had I expected? I had told him I never loved him. I had freed him before I walked into that forest and chose death over him. Freed him from me.
And, as I looked back down at Tom Riddle's lifeless body, I knew then that it was not just the end of the war.
It was the end of it all.
***
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