I opened my eyes slightly, my entire body aching. I was lying on the ground, my head still bleeding and a new cut on my underarm.

"Narcissa," said Voldemort. "Go check if they are alive."

Narcissa Malfoy walked to me and Harry and kneeled between us, putting two fingers on my neck.

"Are my children alive?" she whispered, so quiet I could barely hear her.

"Yes," I whispered, my lips barely moving.

She breathed a light sigh in relief. "They're dead."

Then group let out cheers of victory and Hagrid sobbed.

"Get the big oaf to carry them to the grounds," someone demanded.

One of the Death Eaters picked me up and took me and Harry to Hagrid. He carried us, sobbing heavily.

The group marched through the forest, Hagrid, Voldemort, and Bellatrix in front. Harry and I didn't dare move at all.

We entered the courtyard, where the bodies of dead wizards were scattered and a few remaining people stood around.

"Harry and Y/n Potter... are dead!" Voldemort yelled. Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Draco walked out of the castle.

Many gasps echoed throughout the silence. Ginny started running toward Voldemort, but Ron held her back.

"The Potter Twins are dead!" he yelled again. "Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, join me, and you will be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we'll build together."

Silence.

"Come." Voldemort moved ahead, forcing Hagrid to follow. "Stop."

The Death Eaters came to a halt, spreading out in a line facing the group of fighters as more spilled from the castle.

"Come, join me, I ask again!" Voldemort said. "Join your parents here, Slytherins!"

"Draco!" hissed Lucius Malfoy.

I opened my eyes a fraction of a millimetre, peaking through my lashes. Draco's face looked torn between his parents and his friends.

"Draco!" Lucius repeated.

His normally straight blond hair was wrinkled and covered in dirt. Tears swam in his eyes, staring at my limp figure.

"Draco!" Lucius hissed angrily.

Draco took a step forward, looked back at me, put his head down, and walked toward his parents. I saw him wipe his face with his sleeve before closing my eyes again.

"It is over!" cried Voldemort. "Set them down, Hagrid, at my feet, where they belong!"

We were lowered into the grass.

"You see? The Potter twins are dead! Do you understand now? They were nothing but twins who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for them!"

"They beat you!" yelled Ron.

"They were killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," lied Voldemort, "killed for trying to save themselves—"

I heard a scuffle and a bang, and a grunt of pain led me to open my eyes for a second. A figure lay on the ground, Disarmed.

"Who is this?" asked Voldemort. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh. "It's Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble!"

"Yes, I remember," said Voldemort, looking down at Neville, who was struggling to get back on his feet. "You're a pureblood, aren't you?"

Neville stood up, facing him, his empty hands balled into fists. "So what if I am?"

"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a valuable Death Eater. We need your kind."

"I'll join you when hell freezes over. Dumbledore's Army!"

There was an answering cheer from the crowd.

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

Voldemort waved his wand and a window shattered in Hogwarts. Something like a misshapen bird flew from it, landing in Voldemort's open palm. The Sorting Hat.

"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School. There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Longbottom?"

Voldemort forced the Hat onto Neville's head so that it went over his eyes.

"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," said Voldemort, and with a flick of his wand, caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames.

Screams split the dawn, and Neville was aflame, unable to move, and I couldn't bear it, I had to do something.

I was given the chance immediately.

A loud uproar explained that defenders were bursting from the doors of Hogwarts, letting out war cries.

At the same time, a twenty-foot giant came lumbering toward us, yelling, "HAGGER!"

Voldemort's giants charged at him, shaking the ground with every stomp. Arrows came flying down around us as the centaurs helped battle Voldemort's giants, and the Death Eaters ran.

Harry threw the Invisibility Cloak over us and we got up, moving away from Voldemort. Neville also moved, throwing the hat from him onto the ground. Something silver was removed from it in Neville's grasp: The Sword of Gryffindor.

Neville ran to the snake, Nagini, slithering around, looking for victims. And in one swift motion, Neville removed its head.

Voldemort growled, aiming his wand for Neville. I quickly cast a Protection spell between the two.

"HARRY!" Hagrid screamed. "Y/N! WHERE ARE THEY?"

Chaos reigned. The charging centaurs were scattering the Death Eaters, everyone fled the giants' stomping feet, and reinforcements got nearer. Thestrals and Buckbeak the Hippogriff flew around the head's of the giants, scratching and clawing at eyes.

Now the defenders of Hogwarts were being forced back into the castle. Harry and I shot jinxes at any Death Eaters we could. Their bodies crumbled, not knowing what had hit them.

Still beneath the Invisibility Cloak, we went into the Great Hall, searching for Voldemort. We cast more shield charms and his would-be victims, Hannah Abbott and Seamus Finnegan, darted right back to fighting.

A few centaurs ran into the hall, hooves clattering loudly. The kitchen door burst open and house-elves ran through it, screaming and brandishing knives. At the front, Kreacher stood, yelling, "Fight! Fight for my Master! Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"

They were hacking at the ankles of the Death Eaters, their faces filled with malice. We watched as Death Eaters crumbled from a bite, stab, or slash.

Voldemort stood in the middle of battle, shooting spells at random Hogwarts defenders. George Weasley and Lee Jordan took down Yaxley while Ron and Neville fought Greyback, Aberforth Stunning Rookwood, Dolohov falling to Flitwick's hands.

I turned to see Bellatrix fighting Hermione, Luna, and Ginny. A Killing Curse missed Ginny by an inch.

"Not my daughter, you b*tch!" screamed Mrs Weasley, shoving in front of the three girls.

Bellatrix shrieked with laughter at the sight of her new challenger. Mrs Weasley's spell hit her directly in the chest and Bellatrix died.

Voldemort yelled, his best follower and lieutenant dead. He raised his wand at Mrs Weasley, but before he could fire anything, Harry yelled, "Protego!"

Voldemort looked at us and we immediately began circling each other.

"I don't want anyone else to try to help," I said.

"It's got to be us," Harry added.

Voldemort hissed. "The Potters don't mean that. That isn't how they work, is it? Who are you two going to use as a shield today?"

"Nobody," said Harry simply. "There are no more Horcruxes."

"I have the Elder Wand!"

"The Elder Wand doesn't belong to you! The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy," said Harry. "Now, it belongs to Y/n!"

"Do you really think you can stand up and win against me? I am the greatest wizard of all time!"

"Light will always overcome darkness," I said.

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!" Harry and I yelled.

Voldemort fell back, the Elder Wand flying from his grasp. I caught it as Voldemort collapsed to the floor, dead.

"Bloody hell, Harry," I said quietly, tightly hugging my brother. "We killed Voldemort!"

The crowd, overcome with joy, cheered. We had done it.