A/N ~ The title says it :,)

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Regulus Black had been a necessarily determined individual his whole life. He was always sure of his emotions and was barely hesitant. Perhaps that was why he was a Slytherin.

But the moment he ran into his brother in the halls of the burning castle, after eighteen years, thousands of emotions rushed through him.

Sirius' face was blank at first- he did not recognize the man before him if he was a friend or foe.

Regulus knew immediately, though. He used to look up to his brother, how bold he was with their parents.

How he always stood up for himself and what was right. Those eyes were similar to his own and the rest of their family.

Regulus could see the exact moment when the realization struck Sirius in the face. He raised his wand.

"Riddikulus!" He exclaimed, pointing his wand at Regulus. Nothing happened.

"Rude," Regulus muttered, aware of his heart beating rapidly in his chest. "Despite the glow of godfatherhood, brother, I'd say you look ridiculous, too."

Sirius froze, his hands suddenly cold and clammy at the same time. He stared into his brother's face, taking in his presence, wondering why he suddenly felt warm inside.

"Reggie," Sirius whispered, his face plastered with utter bewilderment.

"How many times do I have to tell you- it's Regulus," Regulus huffed. "or Reg if you must,"

Sirius' chest heaved visibly, and he looked stunned for a moment, but his face quickly bounced back to his usual calm and slightly smug resting face.

"You idiot brother," He chuckled hollowly. "Don't expect a warm welcome back. So sorry to break it to you, but I'm ready to fight anyone who would cause my godson any harm,"

"Funny, because I just saved his girlfriend's life, an hour ago," said Regulus. "Not to mention it was I who started the potential defeat of the Dark Lord."

"And why would you do that?" Sirius huffed. His voice shook mildly and contained no spite, but simply wariness. "You're one of them. Reggie Black, Mum and Dad's favourite Death Eater son."

"Have you ever considered, Sirius, that I never wanted to be Mum and Dad's favourite child?" Regulus whispered. "That I, unlike you, was a coward and was not brave enough to stand against them, even if it was the only thing I wanted to do?"

An explosion landed outside the hall where they stood, followed by several screams and blasts.

The brothers turned around, wands raised cautiously.

"Even so," Sirius grumbled, side-eyeing his brother. "You were an idiotic child- a reckless boy. You joined the Death Eaters."

"Because I thought- maybe then, I could be some use," Regulus said quietly, as they heard footsteps thundering from above. "to someone."

"Well, maybe you should've considered being there for your wayward brother when he needed you," Sirius said bitterly.

Regulus looked at him and laughed. Sirius winced from the familiarity of it.

"You haven't changed a bit," Regulus sighed deeply. "I would've been there for you, Sirius. I would've if you had let me. But it seemed to never cross your mind that I was even there."

A muscle in Sirius' jaw twitched, though he remained silent.

"While you had your friends, I had no one," said Regulus. "While you were busy ignoring me, I was wishing I were you. You never considered me as your brother."

Sirius remained quiet, his expression was hard to read. He wasn't even looking at Regulus.

At that exact moment, shouts echoed down the hall. The two Blacks became aware there was a war going on around them.

Two masked Death Eaters entered the hall and leading them was none other than their good cousin, as wicked as Regulus remembered her- Bellatrix Lestrange.

She let out a startled gasp and came to a sudden halt as her dark eyes met the two of them.

She merely glanced at Sirius but stared at Regulus with an open mouth. She seemed to be paralyzed by shock and realization all at once.

Regulus took this opportunity to stun one of the Death Eaters behind her. The man fell to the ground immediately.

"NO!' Bellatrix shrieked, realizing she'd been distracted.

She brought up her wand with her skeletal-looking fingers and cast a green jet of light at Regulus.

Regulus jumped away effortlessly, and with a flick of his wrist, sent a Stunning Spell back at her. It missed by an inch.

"Sirius, behind you!" Regulus roared, glancing to his left.

The remaining Death Eater had run forwards and threw a curse at Sirius. Receiving his brother's warning, Sirius blocked it just in time.

"YOU-! TRAITOR-" Bellatrix's face filled with rage as she threw Killing Curse after Killing Curse after Regulus. "ANOTHER DISGRACE TO THE BLACK FAMILY!"

Regulus' breath picked up as he jumped away from her curses and tried to stun her at the same time. He didn't remember the last time he dueled, with magic or without.

In fact, he never was gifted in dueling at all.

Luckily for him, Bellatrix was practically blinded by her eagerness for revenge. Her curses missed Regulus entirely, and her hand shook with rage.

At last, as though some miracle had occurred, both Sirius and Regulus were able to stun the Death Eater and Bellatrix at the exact same moment.

Their two bodies thudded to the ground and they moved no more.

Sirius cursed under his breath and wiped the sweat from his brow.

Regulus was bent double, clutching his chest as he painted.

His eyes were wide from the bafflement of his luck, seeing that his life had flashed before his eyes just moments ago.

He was so relieved that he started laughing.

"We- we did it- Merlin's beard, I- I thought I was going to die, ha-ha," his body shook from exhaustion, but he was beaming.

Sirius shook his head, disbelieved by his brother's laugh, disbelieved that he was alive, disbelieved by how much he'd missed him.

Regulus continued on muttering to himself, spinning around breathlessly. He was busy celebrating his luck, that he didn't realize Bellatrix slowly fighting free from his spell.

He did not see her fingers twitch. He didn't see her hand reaching for the silver dagger at her hip. But Sirius did.

"I mean, seriously- I don't think I've ever even won in a duel at all, actually-"

"REGULUS, BEHIND YOU!"

Regulus didn't know what was happening when he saw Sirius dive in front of him, his face pale and terrified, and his arms outstretched.

All Regulus knew was that his brother had stopped something from hitting him and had caught it with his own.

There was a moment of confused silence, then next moment, Sirius' body crumpled, and he fell back into his brother's arms.

"Sirius?" Regulus breathed, his voice breaking in his throat. "Sirius! Sirius, what-"

Then he saw the blade in his brother's chest and his blood-soaked shirt.

Regulus let out a sound of shock, a gasp mixed with a cry, and fumbled around, slowly lowering Sirius to the ground.

He ignored Bellatrix's wicked laugh and didn't care that she was running away. All that mattered was Sirius' life.

Sirius choked and gasped.

Regulus's vision blurred, as he looked down at his brother helplessly. He knew nothing of wounds and knew nothing of healing spells.

"No, no, please..." he whispered. There was so much blood. "Don't go, Sirius, don't go..."

"You- y-you're wrong..." Sirius rasped, his eyes meeting Regulus'. "I was the coward, Reg... and you are my brother. A p-pain in the arse, but still my brother. Always h-have been..."

Regulus nodded so that Sirius could see that he knew, that he understood. He could feel his eyes water and his hands tremble.

"Tell Harry- I'm incredibly proud of him..." Sirius looked into his brother's eyes how he should've, all those years ago.

"I will," Regulus whispered, his body trembling, as tears fell from the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry, Sirius, I'm sorry... and I forgive you,"

Sirius nodded, as though he was pleased, at last. He understood. It comforted him that in his last moments, his brother, who he'd thought was dead all along, was with him.

Regulus held him and made sure he knew he was loved by his brother until the very last moment when Sirius' breath ceased.

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Harry remained kneeling at Snape's side, simply staring down at him until a high, cold voice spoke so close to them that Harry jumped on his feet.

Y/N flinched as Voldemort's voice echoed in her brain.

"You have fought," said the high, cold voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Lord Voldemort is merciful. You have one hour to dispose of your dead with dignity."

A cold chill of fear washed down on Y/N's body. There were enough bodies for Voldemort to call for a retreat.

She had not seen Rolf or Luna since the Room of Requirements- or Sirius, or Tonks, or Remus.

"I speak now, Harry Potter," Voldemort rasped. "I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. Your girl will be with me. I shall find you, and I shall punish every being who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

Both Ron and Hermione shook their heads frantically, and Y/N put a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Don't listen to him," said Ron, looking at Harry.

"It'll be all right," said Hermione wildly. "Let's- let's get back to the castle, if he's gone to the forest we'll need to think of a new plan-"

"'Your girl will be with me,'" piped up Harry.

Ron and Hermione swapped confused looks. Y/N felt her stomach twitch suddenly.

"How can he be sure-" said Harry, looking down at Y/N in alarm.

Y/N's face went cold as her friends stared right at her. They all knew what that meant.

Voldemort was coming for her.

All night, Y/N had worried so much about losing people around her that she hadn't considered...

"Y/N- Y/N, hey, look at me-" Harry was the most serious Y/N has ever seen him, so much so, that he needn't persuade her with anything other than his voice. She looked into his eyes. "You're going to be just fine. I'll make sure of it. I'm sorry I scared you."

"I know," Y/N replied stiffly, giving him an understanding nod. "Don't worry about it. C'mon, let's get back to the castle first."

She glanced down at Snape's body, then hurried back to the tunnel entrance.

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The castle was unnaturally silent. There were no flashes of light now, no bangs or screams or shouts.

The flagstones of the entrance hallway were stained with blood.

"Where is everyone?" whispered Hermione.

Ron led the way to the Great Hall, Hermione following him closely.

Harry stopped in the doorway, his hand falling from Y/N's. Y/N looked back and saw the look of pure grief on his face.

She didn't go back to get him and continued into the Great Hall.

The House tables were gone and the room was crowded.

The survivors stood in groups, their arms around each other's necks.

Relief warmed Y/N's inside as she saw some familiar faces as she walked by.

The injured were being treated upon the raised platform by Madam Pomfrey and a group of undergraduate healers.

The dead lay in a row in the middle of the Hall. All of them were once roses, too- their beauty undeserved of the cruel world they once lived in.

Y/N could not see Fred's body, because his family surrounded him.

George was kneeling at his head, Y/N could not see his face. Mrs Weasley was lying across Fred's chest, her body shaking.

Mr Weasley was stroking his wife's hair while tears rolled down his cheeks.

Y/N could see Ron and Hermione approaching them with tears of their own.

Pansy was holding Ginny, whose face was swollen and blotchy.

Y/N joined Bill and Fleur and hugged them each tightly, wordlessly.

As she pulled away, she could make out faint sobs from every direction. People mourning their friends, lovers, siblings...

Parvati and Professor Trelawny sobbed as they pulled a white sheet over Lavender's body.

Y/N covered her mouth when she saw Regulus kneeling beside Sirius' body. His face was tear-stained and blank.

Then she heard a sob she was familiar with but hadn't heard in a long time... since they were kids when they fought over who was to pet Grandfather Newt's bowtruckle first.

Y/N saw them a few paces away from Fred's body.

Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the enchanted ceiling, their hands only a few inches apart.

Rolf was kneeling before them, clutching Remus' hand as tears rolled down his face.

Not realizing his sister was watching, Rolf was crying as his heart desired. Unlike how he had to contain his grief in front of Y/N when their mother passed.

Luna stood behind slightly, her face grim and tear-stained as well. She was rubbing his back soothingly.

Y/N didn't know how long it took for her to reach them, but she dropped on her knees beside Tonks. Her face was beautiful still.

Tears stung Y/N's eyes as she put a hand on Tonks' cold shoulder and shook her gently.

"Tonks," Y/N whispered, as though she was merely attempting to nudge her awake. "Tonks- Tonks, please... please come back to me. Please..." Y/N bent down and hugged her desperately, sobbing into her leather robes. "I need you,"

For long minutes, which could've been hours, she held onto Tonk's shoulder and cried, mourning for the loss of her godparents.

It was naive of her to have thought, at the very least, they would be there for her in the end. Her godparents.

She had thought that maybe... just maybe fate will have mercy on such innocent people.

She'd been firm that even if she grew to be forty and married, she'd still find time to win a game of chess with Tonks or bake a batch of cookies with Remus.

"It's time to let go, Rolf," Y/N's voice came out as calm as an undisturbed pond. She and Luna were at each of his shoulders.

Y/N felt it was her turn to be the stronger one. Her brother needed her.

Rolf shook his head, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Could you help him aside? Both of you should have some rest," Y/N whispered to Luna.

The blonde gave a solemn nod and helped Rolf to his feet, firmly but carefully, then steered him to one of the long benches.

Y/N looked down at Remus' still face and let out another sob, as she crouched down on the floor, feeling weak and miserable.

Remus' scarred face was still and calm. Y/N wanted to seize his robes and shake him desperately until he'd wake up.

All she managed to do was cry silently beside his still body.

"You were an amazing father, Moony," Y/N whispered. Remus would've smiled. "You promised you'd introduce me to Teddy... remember? But it's OK... I forgive you, Remus,"

His hand was cold as she took it in hers. Fresh tears formed once again as she gave him a kiss of goodbye on his forehead.

She closed her eyes tightly, tears rushing down her cheeks, wishing to every star upon the enchanted ceiling that this was all a horrifying nightmare.

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Y/N was alone in the cold and empty courtyard, that was barely even a courtyard anymore.

She couldn't bear being amidst all the bodies, dead or alive.

Remus, Tonks, Fred, Sirius, Colin, Lavender, all gone forever.

She had cried so much that her eyes hurt. The pain of loss was greater than any physical pain she'd endured her whole life.

She wanted the starry sky to swallow her whole. She wanted to fall and never get up again right then and there.

"What are you doing, out here alone?" asked a voice Y/N hadn't heard in a long time.

She whirled around, startled, just to see Oliver Wood standing before her, his face stretched with concern.

He had grown to be a beautiful man, his brown hair cut short and his face set finely.

"Merlin, Oli, you scared me," Y/N breathed, sighing heavily.

She didn't bother wiping away her tears or strengthening her frail voice.

"You're not safe out here, Y/N," said Oliver seriously. "You should come inside,"

"I already have," Y/N shook her head. "It's no good for me, in there. I- if it's OK, I just want to be alone for now,"

"Are you sure?" Oliver asked gently. "I don't mean to press on, Y/N, but here, there's nothing stopping them from capturing you."

"I'm sure, I think I just need time to..." Y/N's voice trailed away in her throat.

Her face had gone completely cold. Slowly, she drew her gaze up from the stone floor to Oliver.

Then she suddenly remembered that she just saw Oliver Wood inside the Great Hall- he had a fresh deep cut across his cheek.

The Oliver in front of her didn't.

"How did you know they're trying to capture me?" She asked quietly, fear suddenly forming around her. "No one outside of the Order knows about the prophecy-"

Then the world went black.

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Y/N's mind was blank for a long time. She could feel the sense that she'd missed out an hour worth of consciousness.

Her surroundings were fuzzy and unstable at first, the forest floor merely a blur of moss green.

The ringing was back in her ears, screeching into her brain.

She could also hear low whispers around her and the sound of a crackling fire.

She also heard the violent jingles of a creature struggling chains and realized quickly- she was no different.

Her upper body was chained extremely tightly to the trunk of a tree.

That was when she jumped back into consciousness with a gasp.

In front of her was a clearing, in which a crackling fire burned in the middle, the flickering light illuminating the crowd of watchful Death Eaters, some masked, some exposed.

Y/N could recognize some of them- Fenrir, Rowle, Lucius Malfoy, who looked defeated and terrified, and Narcissa, whose eyes were full of apprehension.

They were all facing their backs at her.

Every eye was fixed upon Voldemort, who stood with his head bowed, and his white hands folded over the Elder Wand.

"Y/N, yer awake!" Gasped a quiet voice. It was big and gruff, but beyond familiar to Y/N's ears.

With realization, Y/N turned to the direction where she'd heard the struggling chains.

Hagrid was bound and trussed, tied between two trees to Y/N's left. His massive body shook the branches overhead.

"Hagrid!" Y/N rasped.

His eyes were wide if Y/N wasn't mistaken. His face was stained with the filth of battle and he was shaking his head.

"How- how did they get me?" Asked Y/N, her head feeling heavier than her whole body. The last thing she remembered was being alone in the empty courtyard and...

"One o' them took Polyjuice an' transformed into Oliver Wood," Hagrid explained hurriedly. "Plucked ou' a strand o' his hair while they were duelin' him."

Y/N closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. She could've been more careful. She should've stayed in the hall with everyone else.

"Yer not s'posed to be here," Hagrid murmured apprehensively. "I'm sorry they gotcha, Y/N. But we'll get outta here, alright? We'll get outta here and you'll be jus' fine-"

"The girl's awake!" cried a high-pitched voice that pierced through Y/N's ears like nails on a chalkboard.

No surprise, Bellatrix Lestrange was pointing one of her long bony fingers at Y/N's face.

The murmurs among the Death Eaters grew. Most sneered and cheered, some laughed, and some looked uneasy.

"Don' hurt her, alright!" Hagrid said pleadingly. "Don' hurt Y/N! Yeh can take me instead, she's just a girl, she don' deserve this-"

"QUIET!" shouted Rowle, and with a flick of his wand, Hagrid was silenced.

Voldemort tutted mockingly, shaking his head, and Bellatrix chortled pleasantly as usual.

That was when Y/N saw Nagini the snake slithering at Voldemort's ankle, her tongue flashing like a flag in the wind.

"Why the long face, Miss Scamander?" Voldemort crooned, his scarlet eyes glistening. "We should get you cleaned up so you're nice and shiny for the arrival of Mr Potter,"

He flicked his wand, and Y/N felt a blow of wind rush through her face.

Her hair that was damp with mist and sweat dried and smoothed, and her face felt lighter without all the access of dirt, blood, and grime.

"You wish," Y/N spat. Voldemort looked as though he'd expected that answer. "He'll never come to you!"

"Then I have overestimated your knowledge of him," Voldemort snarled, his non-existent lips curling into a sneer.

"I know him more than you ever will," said Y/N, almost scoffing.

"Then you should know his greatest weakness," Voldemort stalked towards her. His movements were rapid and ghost-like. "His one great flaw?"

As if it were some trivia, Y/N found herself eager to answer. To prove Voldemort she did, in fact, know Harry better than anyone. But it would also prove Voldemort's point.

"He hates watching others struck down around him, knowing that it is for him," said Voldemort. "Especially when... ah... you have disappeared- he will want to stop it at any cost. He will come."

He would try, Y/N thought to herself. But Hermione and Ron wouldn't let him- no one in the castle would... right?

She had to get out of there and get Hagrid out of there too. She'd succeeded countless times, hasn't she?

But she wasn't in an empty cellar. She wasn't alone. She didn't have a helping hand. Instead, she was surrounded by dozens of armed Death Eaters and Voldemort, himself.

She still had one last weapon none of the Death Eaters possessed.

"Smart girl," Voldemort laughed in amusement. Y/N jumped out of her skin. "But not smart enough. Those powers running through your veins are contained by your former Potions Master's very own Containment Potion."

Instead of glaring at him or attempting to break free from the chains around her torso, Y/N found herself scoffing with amusement.

"What's so funny?" Bellatrix shrieked, as though humor was some sort of curse.

"Aren't you embarrassed," Y/N laughed, shaking her head, as she forced herself to stare straight into Voldemort's eyes.

Voldemort glided forwards towards her, eager and furious to know what she was on about.

"I mean, I knew you were ruthless- yes, I can see that," said Y/N. "But I thought you'd have some pride in yourself..."

"Shut up, girl!" Bellatrix whipped out her wand, but Voldemort silenced her with a hand.

"Getting a seventeen-year-old to kill for you by chaining her up to a tree and forcing some potion down her throat just so you can fulfill some prophecy from a crystal ball? Not very Lord-like of you, Riddle. It's cowardly."

Y/N could hear faint gasps from all around her but didn't break eye contact with Voldemort.

She was mentally shaking in her boots, but the look on Voldemort's face was worth it.

For a moment, Y/N was sure she was going to get struck across the face, but, with much struggle, Voldemort was able to contain his fury.

His glare switched to a sharp smile, and he nodded slowly.

"Don't think for a second, just because I'm not killing you now, that I will not kill you after I'm done using you,"

And as if he knew Y/N could respond with a witty answer, he spun around away from her, avoiding another word from her mouth.

With Voldemort's back to her, Y/N was able to finally drop her poker face with a sigh.

She prayed Harry would be smart enough to not turn himself in. She prayed that he'd remember how valuable his life was to the world... how valuable his life was to her.

She thought of his cheeky, somewhat innocent grin, his blazing green eyes that seemed to fuel the world.

His soft hands that held onto hers whenever he sensed her worry and the gentle press of the stone ring she'd given him.

She thought of the way he tucked her hair, the way he cupped her in an embrace, and his soft laughter.

She could not lose that. She could not lose him.

For another ten minutes, Y/N stood tied to the tree, bound in her own anxiety and panic.

"I thought he would come," said Voldemort in his high, clear voice, his eyes on the leaping flames. "I expected him to come."

Nobody spoke. They seemed as scared as Y/N, whose heart was now throwing itself against her ribs.

"I was, it seems... mistaken," said Voldemort.

For the first time, she hoped with all her might that Voldemort was right.

"You weren't."

Harry's voice was loud and clear to everyone in the clearing. He did not sound afraid.

Y/N's heart plummeted like a heavy stone, which hit the surface of a lake and sunk rapidly to the bottom. She felt so shocked- so betrayed- that not a word slipped from her mouth.

Death Eaters rose together, and there were many cries, gasps, even laughter.

Voldemort had frozen where he stood, and he stared as Harry moved toward him, with nothing but the fire between them.

"HARRY! NO!" Hagrid cried, as he struggled in his chains, desperate. "NO! NO! HARRY, WHAT'RE YEH-?"

"QUIET!" shouted Rowle, and with a flick of his wand, Hagrid was silenced.

Y/N stared at Harry in disbelief. She shook her head in denial. She wanted to shout at him- LEAVE, HARRY. RUN THE OTHER WAY.

Harry's face lacked any emotion. He looked at Y/N's betrayed face- they'd fixed her hair, cleaned her face. He could see her clearly through the wall of Death Eaters.

He tried to communicate with her through his eyes.

It's OK, Niff... he wanted to hug her, to soothe her, to tell her it'd all be over in seconds. I'll be fine. Neville'll kill the snake, and all will be well.

Bellatrix had leapt to her feet and was looking eagerly from Voldemort to Harry, her chest heaving.

The only things that moved were the flames and the snake, coiling and uncoiling at Voldemort's feet.

"Unchain the girl," Voldemort uttered.

"NO!" Y/N finally found her voice.

With all her might, she struggled- she might've ripped a muscle or two, but she didn't care.

She kicked and tossed, panic suffocating her, as Rowle came forwards to release her from her chains.

"PLEASE-" Y/N looked around- surely, one of them wouldn't let it happen. But their faces were cold and sneering. Someone- anyone- just anyone...

Voldemort let out a high-pitched laugh and pointed his wand at her writhing body.

"Imperio,"

A strange sensation took over Y/N's body... Her limbs became soft and disconnected in a way... she stopped struggling and her vision became fogged.

She was unaware of the Death Eater's faces... unaware of the muffle of Hagrid's desperate voice... unaware of everything but him. Harry.

I don't want to do this, don't make me do this, I don't want to hurt him...

It was pain that death could never beat, as Harry watched Y/N's eyes turn milky from the Imperius Curse.

He could see her struggle with the curse, her eyes focusing and unfocusing. She was in there. A tear of sorrow rolled down her cheek, Harry could see it shine from the flickering fire.

Don't cry, Y/N, Don't... we'll meet again someday.

Y/N had no control over her body.

Unwillingly, she drained down the bottle of potion Rowle thrust into her hand that made her powers break loose, rushing through her scalp, arms, and to the tip of her fingers.

Her eyes did not leave Harry for a moment.

You promised me, she screamed accusingly. Though no words slipped from her mouth. You promised me, Harry.

Harry shook his head ever so slightly.

If this was the end, the boy was glad he had loved, because it was the most speechlessly beautiful sensation.

After all those years, lord knows how and why, the boy knew he'd been designed to love her since the very beginning.

He would love every single part of her until his last breath- the part that loved him back, the part that made him laugh- even the part that crushed his heart into uncountable pieces.

"I love you," Harry whispered out loud. No one heard him, but he could tell Y/N knew.

He closed his eyes and breathed out his last breath. He hated himself for leaving her. But he'd never forgive himself for staying.

"Harry Potter," Voldemort said very softly. His voice might have been part of the spitting fire. "The Boy Who Lived... has come to die."

Harry had closed his eyes, so Y/N's mind was now blank. There was nothing to remind her of herself. She could no longer grasp her own control.

'Kill,' echoed a voice in her head.

Y/N felt like her whole body was burning and her eyes were on fire.

She felt helpless under the Imperius Curse, with no ledge to hang on, no hand to pull her up.

She knew that she had done it the moment it was done.

Harry's body seized as if he'd been punched in the stomach- like how anyone's body would freeze for a split second after being hit by a Body-Bind Curse.

With no life left in him and no soul behind his emerald eyes, with sand instead of a heart, he collapsed to the forest ground.

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Y/N was no longer under the Imperius Curse.

She was free to jump to her feet and run away, and perhaps she'd even succeed in escaping.

Instead, she was on the cold hard ground, with no strength left in her bones.

Her eyes stung her vision, her breaths were either rapid or nonexistent, and all she could see was her hands, clutching the ground for support.

She didn't know if she was screaming with terror, crying from grief and guilt, or if she hadn't let out a single sound.

Nothing mattered anymore, for the last rose she'd loved, cherished, and looked after her whole life was gone. And she was the one who ripped out its petals.

The feeling of his heart tightening, ceasing, then crushed into grains of sand would haunt her forever.

She had loved him more than she ever thought she was capable of, and now he was gone.

She could not look up at him, or anyone. Not at Hagrid, who was probably crying too.

No one seemed to care that she was sobbing her heart out, they didn't seem to even notice her at all.

"My Lord... my Lord..."

It was Bellatrix's voice, and she spoke as if to a lover. Y/N didn't dare even glancing up.

"My Lord..."

"That will do," said Voldemort's voice. He seemed to be getting to his feet.

Various Death Eaters were hurrying away from him. Bellatrix alone remained behind, kneeling beside Voldemort.

"My Lord, let me-"

"I do not require assistance," said Voldemort coldly, "The boy... Is he dead?"

There was complete silence in the clearing. Nobody approached Harry, but Y/N knew the answer.

Perhaps, if it were a Killing Curse, the remains of Lily's protection would've saved him... but Y/N had felt his heart in her grasp.

"You," said Voldemort, and there was a bang and a small shriek of pain. Narcissa Malfoy was pushed towards the body. "Examine him. Tell me whether he is dead."

Y/N remained at the lowest part of the forest. Her body shook with grief and her fingers dug into the ground.

"He is dead!" Narcissa Malfoy called to the watchers.

And now they shouted, now they yelled in triumph and stamped their feet, and Y/N could hear bursts of light shoot into the air in celebration.

"You see?" screeched Voldemort over the tumult. "Harry Potter is dead by his own lover's hand! Good old love, that he praised so dearly! No man alive can threaten me now! Watch! Crucio!"

That was when Y/N's gaze shot up. Harry's body was lifted. He was thrown once, twice, three times into the air, his body limp.

His glasses flew off and his wand slid from his jacket.

"Leave him alone!" Y/N shouted, her voice raw and rough as if she'd been shouting for decades. "STOP IT!"

Y/N had no strength left in her to protest any further.

No one listened, and they continued to echo with jeers and shrieks of laughter.

"Now," said Voldemort, "we go to the castle and show them what has become of their hero. Who shall drag the body? No- wait- you carry him,"

He was sneering at Hagrid.

"Pick up your little friend, Hagrid. And the glasses- put on the glasses- he must be recognizable."

Bellatrix slammed Harry's glasses back onto his face with deliberate force, and Hagrid was free from chains.

Hagrid trembled with the force of his heaving sobs as he scooped Harry up into his arms.

"Get the girl," Voldemort said to Bellatrix. "She has proved she's a useful weapon."

Y/N didn't even struggle when Bellatrix seized her arms and dug her nails into her skin, pulling her to her feet.

"Move," said Voldemort, and Hagrid stumbled forward, forcing his way through the close-growing trees, back through the forest.

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By the time they reached the courtyard, Y/N's face was glazed with tears.

She had muttered 'I'm sorry,' and 'I love you,' to Harry's lifeless body all the way through the forest and up the grounds.

Y/N didn't flinch or wince from Bellatrix's merciless grip. She had no reason to resist pain.

She was grieving, as well as aching. Her future was impossible without Harry in it.

"NO!" The scream was terrible because Y/N had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound.

Bellatrix laughed behind Y/N's head, gloried in McGonagall's despair.

The open doorway was filling with people, as the survivors of the battle came out onto the front steps to face their vanquishers.

Y/N could see their faces, one by one, realizing the truth of Harry's Death.

Voldemort was standing a little in front of everyone, stroking Nagini's head with a single white finger.

He closed his eyes pleasantly, as though the cries and screams were music to his ears.

"No!"

"No!"

"Harry! HARRY!"

Ron's and Hermione's voices were worse than McGonagall's.

Their eyes traveled to Y/N and the tears and grief on her face, then to Hagrid and Harry, and they knew it was true.

The crowd of survivors took up the cause, screaming and yelling abuse at the Death Eaters.

Y/N could see the shock in Regulus' pale face, the tears on Ginny's face, the terror in Pansy's eyes-

"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort, and there was a bang, and silence was forced upon them all. "It is over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"

Hagrid had no choice but to obey.

"You see?" said Voldemort, walking forwards. "Harry Potter is dead! He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on love, not knowing it was the very thing that'd kill him!"

He gestured towards Y/N, who felt fresh tears prick her eyes.

She'd expected disbelief and betrayed looks amongst the faces of the survivors, but they wore nothing but grief on their faces.

"He was sneaking out of the castle grounds," said Voldemort, and there was relish in his voice for the lie. "killed while trying to save himself."

"He beat you!" yelled Ron, and the charm broke, and the defenders of Hogwarts were shouting and screaming again.

There was a scuffle and a shout, then Neville broke free of the crowd and charged at Voldemort.

He was limping, bleeding, and clutching the Sorting Hat in his hand.

At once, he was disarmed by Voldemort, who threw his wand aside, laughing.

"And who is this?" he said in his soft snake's hiss. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh.

"It is Neville Longbottom, My Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"

"Ah, yes, I remember," said Voldemort, sneering. "You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."

"I'll join you when hell freezes over," said Neville, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Y/N loved with the remains of her heart.

Voldemort merely laughed.

"It doesn't matter Harry's gone." Neville said boldly, "People die every day, friends, family... yeah, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us... in here," he gestured to his heart. "So's Fred, Sirius, Remus, Tonks... all of them."

"Very well," said Voldemort, "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. Be it."

"No!" Neville bellowed, "They didn't die in vain! But you will! Because you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us! For all of us! It's not over-!"

In one swift, fluid motion, Neville reached into the Sorting Hat and, to everyone's surprise, pulled out a great shining sword. The sword of Gryffindor.

The slash of the silver seemed to draw every eye.

With a single stroke, Neville sliced off Nagini's head, which spun high into the air, and the snake's body thudded to the ground at Voldemort's feet.

After that, many things happened at the same time.

Voldemort's mouth was open in a scream of fury, but his voice was drowned by a greater sound.

Grawp the giant came lumbering around the side of the castle and yelled, "HAGGER!"

His cry was answered by roars from Voldemort's giants. They ran at Grawp like bull elephants, making the earth quake.

Death Eaters broke ranks, shouting their surprise.

"HARRY!" Hagrid shouted. "HARRY- WHERE'S HARRY?"

Indeed, Harry's body was no longer lying on the ground. Chaos reigned.

Students, Teachers, Death Eaters, spiders, centaurs, and many more clashed in the middle of the courtyard.

The house-elves of Hogwarts swarmed into the entrance hall, screaming and waving knives over their heads.

Leading them were Dobby, fully clothed and yelling furiously, and Kreacher, with Regulus' locket bouncing on his chest, his bullfrog's voice audible.

"Fight! Fight! Fight for my Master, defender of house-elves! Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"

Y/N could see Regulus' utterly baffled expression in the middle of the crowd before he was forced to duck out of the way of a jet of red light.

Bellatrix had left Y/N amidst the chaos, so she dashed right into the Great Hall to join the fight.

Y/N saw Ron and Neville bringing down Fenrir Greyback, Aberforth Stunning Rowle, Arthur and Percy dueling Thicknesse, and Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy running through the crowd, not even attempting to fight, screaming for their son.

Voldemort was now dueling McGonagall, Slughorn, and Kingsley all at once.

Hermione, Ginny, and Luna, all battling their hardest, but Bellatrix was equal to them.

"OH, NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" Mrs Weasley threw off her cloak as she ran, shouting to the three girls, "OUT OF MY WAY!"

With a simple swipe of her wand, the mother started a duel.

"There's the girl! SEIZE HER!" yelled a tall broad-shouldered Death Eater. Y/N knew who he was from the way he ran towards her.

"YOU!" Y/N bellowed, fury flashing before her eyes.

The Death Eater halted in confusion.

"YOU KILLED HIM!" Y/N's throat seared, but she didn't care. She didn't care that she was lacking her wand.

She had seen the very Death Eater flee after he'd set the bomb that took Fred Weasley's life.

She yelled in fury as she lunged at him, shoving him to the ground with no mercy.

The Death Eater groaned, his wand rolling from his hand. Y/N grabbed it and pinned him down with the threat of his own wand.

The Death Eater's chest heaved, his eyes wide in horror.

"You wouldn't dare!" He cried.

"You dared!" Y/N screamed, digging the tip of the wand into the Death Eater's chest. "You killed him. I'll kill you,"

"No! Please! I'll do anything-!"

"You didn't leave Fred any time to beg," Y/N said through gritted teeth, anger rising in her chest.

Because of him, George will grow old without his twin brother. Because of him, the Weasley siblings' children will not have an Uncle Fred.

The spell was at the tip of Y/N's tongue, but at that moment, a Shield Charm expanded in the middle of the Hall.

Everyone ceased their fighting and stared around for the source. The charm was radiant and powerful, shining like a wall of energy.

Then, right in front of Voldemort, Harry yanked off the Invisibility Cloak, revealing himself to everyone in the room.

Y/N's shock shot a Stunning Spell at the Death Eater beneath her, and he fell still in his spot.

She relinquished herself from the body and got to her feet. She must be dreaming. Or perhaps she was hallucinating.

But by the shouts and yells around her, Y/N knew she wasn't the only one seeing him, alive and whole, his eyes blazing and his wand raised.

The crowd was afraid, and silence fell abruptly as Voldemort and Harry looked at each other, and began to circle each other.

"I don't want anyone else to help," Harry said loudly. "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."

"Potter doesn't mean that," Voldemort hissed, his red eyes wide. "This isn't how he works, is it? Who are you going to use as a shield today, Potter?"

"Nobody," said Harry simply. "There are no more Horcruxes. It's just you and me. Only one can survive-"

"And it would be me!" said Voldemort. "I'll kill you, and then your girl, and everybody else in this room!"

"Oh, you won't be killing these people," said Harry as they circled. "Don't you get it? I was ready to die to stop you from hurting these people. I've done what my mother did. They're protected from you. You don't learn from your mistakes, Riddle, do you?"

"You dare-"

"Yes, I dare," said Harry. "I know things you don't know, Tom Riddle. Want to hear some?"

"Is it love again?" said Voldemort, his snake's face jeering. "Harry Potter, The Boy Who Loved? Or do you believe that you have a weapon more powerful than mine?"

"I believe both," said Harry. "Because the weapon in your hand isn't even yours."

"What childish dream is this!" Voldemort laughed.

"The Elder Wand belongs to the person that has defeated its old master," Harry said calmly. "You didn't kill Dumbledore, Severus Snape did."

"I killed Snape three hours ago!" said Voldemort, "So yes, the Wand of Destiny is truly mine, Harry Potter!"

"Severus Snape never defeated Dumbledore," Harry said plainly.

"He killed-"

"Aren't you listening?" Harry roared. "Snape never beat Dumbledore! Dumbledore's death was planned between them! That night, Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore against his will! He is the true master of the Elder Wand!"

Blank shock showed in Voldemort's face for a moment, but then it was gone.

"But what does it matter?" he said softly. "Even if you are right, Potter, it makes no difference to you and me. You no longer have the phoenix wand. We duel on skill alone."

"But you're too late," said Harry. "You've missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took his wand from him... I am the true master of the Elder Wand."

A red glow burst suddenly across the enchanted sky above them as an edge of the dazzling sun appeared over the sill of the nearest window.

The light hit both of their faces at the same time so that Voldemort's was suddenly a flaming blur. Harry heard the high voice shriek as he too yelled his best hope to the heavens.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Y/N saw Voldemort's green jet of light meet Harry's Disarming Spell, saw the two lights clash like two enormous waves.

At the moment that followed, Y/N didn't know what took over her. She didn't know if Harry, alone, could've defeated Voldemort in that fight... she left no room to wonder.

Minutes ago, she had thought she lost Harry forever. She wasn't going to risk losing him again.

The raw grief inside her chest blossomed, amplifying and pushing forwards her eager powers.

There was pain- lots of it- blinding her eyes, eating up her brain. It was the most power she'd ever held.

A great wind formed around her, rushing at her loud and fast. Her hair rose around her head and her robes flickered amidst the wind.

With all the burning energy-fueled power left in her, Y/N sent it forwards, striking Voldemort's face of terror.

The red and green lights vanished, and Voldemort's wand flew into the air. Harry caught it in his hand and stumbled back in surprise and confusion.

In the middle of the room, Voldemort seemed to have gone rigid. There was shock and rage in his face as his body slowly crumpled, his pale skin flaking into dust.

Harry stood with two wands in his hand, staring as the ashes of his enemy drifted away and faded into the morning sunlight.

Lord Voldemort was dead.

One shivering second of silence, the shock of the moment suspended. And then the screams and the cheers and the roars of the watchers rent the air.

Y/N swayed in her spot. She had done it. Harry wasn't dying. She was grinning for a split second before her vision switched to black.

Harry ran forwards and caught her in his arms before she could hit the ground. Her body was limp and still.

Panic ran through Harry for a moment, but Y/N awoke at once, for the eruption of cheers around her was too loud to ignore.

She stared up at him and blinked in confusion. Harry's face bloomed with a wide grin.

"We made it, Y/N," he whispered, hugging her tight, rocking her in his embrace.

"Proud of you, Harry," Y/N smiled weakly, patting the back of his head.

"I love you, you know that?" Harry breathed. There was still the stain of sadness in his voice from all the loss, but he was beyond relieved.

The first of the crowd to reach them were Ron and Hermione, and it was their arms that were wrapped around the two of them.

Then Pansy, Ginny, Neville, Rolf, and Luna were there, and then all the Weasleys and Hagrid, and Kingsley, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout.

Hundreds of them were pressing in, all of them determined to touch the Boy Who Loved and the girl whom his love was for.

The sun rose steadily over Hogwarts, and the Great Hall blazed with life and light.

That morning, they stayed for each other's company all the way through the afternoon.

McGonagall had replaced the House tables, but not nobody was sitting according to House anymore.

All were jumbled together, teachers and pupils, ghosts and parents, centaurs and house-elves.

They laid the bodies of Fred, Tonks, Lupin, Sirius, Colin Creevey, and fifty others in a chamber off the hall.

Grawp peered in through a smashed window, and people were throwing food into his laughing mouth.

Y/N and Harry sat on a bench, people-watching for as long as they remembered.

Regulus was reunited with his house-elf, Kreacher, who took a whole hour to comprehend his dead Master's presence.

The three Malfoys were huddled together as though unsure whether or not they were supposed to be there, but nobody seemed to care.

Dean, Seamus, and Aberforth were having hot chocolate and laughing.

Mrs Weasley was sitting between Ginny and Pansy and draped her arms around the two girls, comforting them, as one slept soundly and the other stared at the floor in the grief of her brother.

Rolf and Luna sat side by side, heads on each other's shoulders as they stared at a mini firework display in Rolf's palm.

Y/N felt exhausted and drained.

Happiness would come, she thought, but at the moment it was muffled by exhaustion, and the pain of losing Fred, Tonks, Remus, and Sirius pierced her like a physical wound.

"You want some sleep?" Harry asked quietly, giving her a swift kiss on the head. "You deserve it."

"I don't think I'd be able to," replied Y/N. She grabbed for his hand and sandwiched it with both of hers. "I'd scold you for faking your death and scaring the living shit out of me, but- I'm too glad you're here with me."

"I know," said Harry, breathing out a slow and steady breath. "I made a promise, didn't I? So I kept it."

Y/N gave him her best smile. He returned it with his own.

"I'd want some alone time if I were you," She said.

"I'd love some," said Harry. "If it means you'd be there too."

"Always," Y/N nodded and gave his hand a squeeze.

They both stood up, staggering slightly, before disappearing under the Invisibility Cloak when no one was watching.

Everywhere they looked, they saw families reunited, and finally, they saw the two whose company they craved most.

"It's me," Harry muttered, crouching down between them.

"And me," Y/N whispered.

"Will you come with us?"

They stood up at once, and together Harry, Y/N, Ron, and Hermione left the Great Hall.

Great chunks were missing from the marble staircase, and rubble and bloodstains occurred every few steps as they climbed.

The gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's study had been knocked aside, lopsided.

Harry wondered whether it would be able to distinguish passwords anymore.

"Can we go up?" he asked the gargoyle.

"Feel free," groaned the statue.

They clambered onto the spiral stone staircase that moved slowly upward like an escalator.

Harry pushed open the door at the top.

The room erupted with applause. All around the walls, the headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts waved their hats and in some cases their wigs, cheering for the Quartet.

Ron grinned around in awe and Hermione and Y/N gave each other a 'for us?' look.

Harry had eyes only for the man who stood in the largest portrait directly behind the headmaster's chair.

Tears were sliding down from behind Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles into his long silver beard.

"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," Harry began, "I dropped it in the forest. I don't know exactly where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again. Do you agree?"

"My dear boy, I do," said Dumbledore, while his fellow pictures looked confused and curious.

"I'm going to keep the youngest brother's present, though," said Harry.

"But of course, Harry, it is yours forever, until you pass it on!" Dumbledore beamed.

"And then there's this." Harry held up the Elder Wand, and Ron and Hermione looked at it as if it were holy. "I don't want it."

"What?" said Ron loudly. "Are you mental?"

"I know it's powerful," said Harry wearily. "But I was happier with mine. So..."

He rummaged in the pouch hung around his neck, and pulled out the two halves of his broken phoenix feather wand.

He laid the broken wand upon the headmaster's desk, touched it with the very tip of the Elder Wand, and said, "Reparo."

His wand resealed, red sparks flying out of its end.

"Ten points to Gryffindor for rare intelligence," Y/N smiled. Harry and Dumbledore chuckled.

"Thanks," said Harry. "And I'm putting the Elder Wand back where it came from. It can stay there."

Dumbledore nodded. They smiled at each other.

"Are you sure?" said Ron.

"I think Harry's right," said Hermione quietly.

"That wand's more trouble than it's worth," said Harry. "And quite honestly," he turned to his three best friends with a concluding smile. "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

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A/N ~ My heart ached a little more than I'd expected there. That's the end, everyone :)

The epilogue will be up next week, so hang around if you want a glimpse of Y/N and Harry's future.

Thank you to all my readers for being the sweetest, most supportive people ever. This has been fun, to say the least.

Love u all so much x

-ScribblingQuills.