Disclaimer- Jo's characters of course


“Stay here!�

It was a command said in the sharpest of tones by a man who was trying to protect the entire world. Yet, who did he think he was fooling? When had I ever listened to an order?

“No,� I said, standing up taller, my face threatening to turn as crimson as my hair in anger. Was he that shortsighted that he could not understand that I would follow him everywhere?

“I will not have your life risked!� he hissed in anger, or what other people would see as anger. I knew him better than that. It was his fear that drove him to take that tone of voice. Fear and helplessness in the face of a battle that he knew would end in more lives extinguished.

For a fleeting second I shared his terror, the cold embrace squeezing my heart, making me feel as though I could not draw another breath. As soon as it had come, it was gone though, but not without leaving a bitter taste behind.

“You cannot protect me,� I told him calmly though my eyes flashed. I was tired of being protected. Ever since I was little people were always there to help me up when I fell, correcting mistakes that I had made. For once I just wanted that scraped knee and the sweet victory of building up the strength to climb to your own feet without a helping hand, despite the throbbing pain. How could I explain this to him though?

“Perhaps you’re right,� he said harshly, changing his tactic, “But having you there will distract me! What if I see you fall and let my own guard down? What happens then, Ginny? Do you really want me to be killed?�

For anyone else, this strategy might have worked. Who would possibly want to bear the guilt of his death on their shoulders? It was also extremely unfair of him to do this to me, but my mind had already been set.

“Then you let me fall,� I said tonelessly, as if the mere thought of my own death did not trouble me in the slightest.

His face fell, a mixture of anguish and fear. It twisted my heart to see him like this.

“Harry,� I said softly, love laced through my voice. He flinched upon hearing it, causing a sigh to emit from me. Well, it wasn’t like I had to be there for the first part of the battle.

“I’ll stay,� I said, schooling my voice into one of despair and stubborn anger. It’s how I think I would sound if I ever did back down. He was taken aback at first, peering at me through suspicious green eyes. I held my own against his scrutiny, looking for all the world like a torn lover. Perhaps I wasn’t acting there.

He nodded and shuffled his feet hesitantly. I glanced up into his handsome, worn face and watched the emotions swirl through it as if I was watching a film. Oh my poor Harry.

And suddenly the tension evaporated, as I was suddenly surrounded by his strong arms. My face pressed into his chest and I could smell the sweet smell that was him. Oh how I loved that smell.

“I’m sorry, Ginny,� he murmured into my hair while his hand stroked the flaming strands soothingly. I could have cried then at the desperation in his voice. He still loved me, he still wanted me, but he was being held back. I never hated Voldemort more. He should be mine!

We parted and he headed for the door, determinedly staring ahead and not daring to look back. Could I really just let him leave like that? What if this really was the last time I would ever see him? The terror returned and I struggled against its icy grip. I needed comfort. I needed reassurance. I needed him.

“Harry!� I called out in agony, even as I ran towards him. He stopped and turned towards me, worry clearly evident on his face. And then I could no longer see his face as my body collided into his, to be wrapped in his comfort, and whether he wanted to admit it or not, his love.

My arms wrapped around his neck as I pulled him down for a kiss, unwilling to honor his need for space any longer. His lips touched mine without hesitancy and I poured into him all my fear, grief, anger, and most importantly, love. He took all my passion and gave me his in return. It’s funny how you can taste emotions if they are strong enough, and taste them I did. His own stomach-churning fear and heart-wrenching helplessness lay bitter on my lips and tongue, even as his overwhelming love sweetened it.

He broke away abruptly, fleeing the house and apparating before either had the chance to really breathe—to think. I mourned the contact so quickly, I almost fell to my knees, wondering how I had ever properly lived without it. But I’m not the only Weasley girl for nothing, and I collected myself fast enough to run out the door and apparate within seconds of Harry.

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Chaos. That was the first thing that clearly registered in my mind when I arrived at the site. Seriously, if Harry really didn’t want me to come, he wouldn’t have told me where he was going, right?

I pulled the hood of my robe up and grabbed my wand in one sweeping motion. No sooner had I done this, then someone threw a curse my way. I dodged it and sent one of my own into the face of the smirking Death Eater. The Death Eater no longer smirked as he had to block the curse thrown his way. I couldn’t help but smile cheekily at him, before sending a stunning spell his way.

I was unable to watch and see if it hit its mark as a pair locked in battle separated us. I forced myself not to look at who was fighting, finding it better if I knew less. I kept my face up, purposely ignoring the bodies that lay scattered on the ground as I climbed over them, trying not to feel how boneless and cold they were. I had made the mistake of looking at them once before and never again. The images of blank eyes will forever be burned into my memory.

I searched desperately for a head of messy black hair. My search could only take me so far as an explosion rocked the field, sending most everyone to the ground.

I felt myself start to go down. Putting my hands out quickly, I fell half atop something. I concentrated on getting myself up and trying to force down the bile that rose in my throat every time my hands came in contact with something soft and mushy. I bit my lip to keep from crying out when I saw something red out of the corner of my eye. For the first time in my life, I prayed that it was blood.

I looked up at the gray sky, unwilling to see the destruction around me. The jets of light streamed by me, and I felt them brush against my robe without flinching. And then the dulcet tones of Harry’s voice reached my ear through the high-pitched ringing that had reverberated in them. My hood slipped off slowly as I lowered my head with a smile that instantly froze.

He was locked in a fierce battle with Voldemort, both of them dancing about each other gracefully, neither gaining the upper hand. I spared a few minutes that I didn’t have to watch their bodies move about each other like liquid. They seemed to flow together seamlessly, and it was awe inspiring, even though it was so deadly.

Another explosion shifted the world, as I pitched forward. Voldemort and Harry merely stumbled. I was up and running towards them within minutes, cursing any of the enemy that got in my way without a second thought. From the corner of my eye, I could see another doing the same as me, though the people who went down under her wand were my friends.

I snarled angrily as she reached the pair before me and made a slashing movement with my wand that sent two death eaters to the ground in front of me with a cry.

I raced to reach the trio. My lungs burned and my legs protested. I no longer cursed anybody in my way, choosing to run them down instead. Spells barely missed me as I continued my race against time. The only thing that kept me going was the image of Voldemort and Bellatrix’s wands pointed at Harry.

“Checkmate, Potter.� I heard her snide comment even as I pointed my own wand at her chest with a triumphant grin.

“I believe that would be a check,� I said calmly, flashing a smile full of teeth at her. I ignored Harry’s look of anger that was thrown at me, instead focusing on the relief that was almost hidden beneath it.

“Insolent girl!� Bellatrix snarled, keeping her wand pointed steadily at Harry.

“I could say the same for you!� I shot back, my own wand held straight without a tremor.

Voldemort seemed to consider Harry and Bellatrix for a moment, before his venomous gaze pierced me. I stood tall under his onslaught of scrutiny, hiding the shiver that ran up my spine well. Fear gripped me in its iron hand as I struggled to keep myself calm. I could feel myself starting to break into a sweat as my breathing became shallower. I was almost dizzy with the dread that filled me.

His wand moved lazily from Harry to me, causing Harry’s to rise to point at him with vicious certainty. I stared into his fathomless eyes, summoning together my last threads of courage. I was aware of the square we had become. All it needed was one person to set it off, and yet, nobody seemed to be willing to do it. The threat of being killed weighed heavy on each of their minds. And yet, Voldemort could easily turn his wand back to Harry, and with both Bellatrix and him aimed at Harry, he would not be able to survive. They could easily finish her off after that. Well, at least one of them could.

And that was the answer to it. Neither Voldemort nor Bellatrix was willing to give up their lives so that the other might live. What a life to live that they could not love enough to be willing to lay down their life for the other. And yet, what was I doing? I could easily do the same thing and here I was with my wand pointed at Bellatrix. But I couldn’t kill Voldemort before he killed me. I was sure he had faster reflexes. Yet, if he was forced to kill me, it’d leave him an open target for Harry to kill…

I knew what I had to do in that moment and oddly, I felt no fear or alarm. My being was filled with only acceptance and a calm I had often strived for, but never achieved. Even as my wand lifted slightly to start the motion, I could see Voldmort’s eyes widen in anger—anger that I could do this for Harry, but Bellatrix couldn’t for him. I hoped in that instant that Voldemort realized love always wins.

The next few moments were a blur as I started an eruption of spells. After the haze around my eyes had cleared and I had come to my senses, I felt the stabbing pain tear through me. I couldn’t help but cry out. I should have known not to shove it in Voldemort’s face. He was not so merciful as to let me die quickly and painlessly.

I heard a movement beside me and groaned. Had I alerted a potential enemy to the fact that I still lived? Why did I care? They could let me free from this torn body faster. I turned my head carefully to see a body sprawled out near me. Green eyes sought out mine and I clung to them like a lifeline.

“Ginny!� he called my name through a half sob. I realized he was bleeding also. Bellatrix must have been quicker than I thought. A deep sorrow had filled me. I hadn’t been quick enough and now both of us would die. I didn’t let this guilt dig deep enough though. If these were our last minutes of life together, I would make sure they would be the best ones.

I wondered what it would feel like to have your last action on earth be killing somebody and I realized with a jolt that I didn’t have to wonder.

Tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t want to go like this. And why should I? I could hear the footsteps racing to reach us, but I ignored them. They would be too late anyway.

With a deep breath, I pulled myself into a sitting position, not able to contain the shriek of pain.

“Ginny!� I heard him call my name in anguish. He didn’t want me to die. He wanted me to lie back down and wait for help. Wait for somebody to fix my wounds quickly before I was too far gone. When had I ever listened to an order?

I rolled myself over onto my knees, biting my lip so hard that it started to bleed. I took shallow breaths, trying to think of anything but the pain that battered my body that fought to keep me down. I battled it with all my strength, tears dropping down my face to blend with the dirt. I would not give in.

I raised one leg in a slow movement so that my foot was planted firmly on the ground. Where was the helping hand now? Who was going to pick me up and dust me off, hold me as I cried? I smiled to myself, an eerie thing to cross my face through the pain that contorted it. Here at the end, I could finally pick myself off the ground.

My eyes searched desperately for Harry’s face. There it was, pain etched into his features as if it had been there for his whole life. Perhaps it had. He was my goal. If I could reach him, together we could get rid of our pain. My last action would not be in taking a life.

It was these thoughts that gave me the added surge of energy I needed. I let go of everything as my hands lost contact with the ground and I gave myself up to love. Not even the pain could touch me as I staggered those few paces to where my boy lay, gazing at me in admiration. I barely noticed the lifeless bodies next to us that confirmed our victory as my eyes locked with his.

His eyes shone with love and I suddenly felt myself breathless for a whole different reason.

“Harry,� my lips formed the sweet word without my awareness. I started to collapse and the newly found contact with the ground ripped a scream from my throat as my eyes shut in the agony that I felt through my body.

“Ginny!� His voice was so close. I struggled to open my eyes, to look at him one last time. I could feel his hand at my cheeks, wiping away the tears that trickled down them.

“My Ginny,� he croaked through a throat constricted in pain. My eyes flew open at last to see him next to me. He moved himself the few spaces that kept us apart and I saw the suffering in his eyes. And then his arms closed around me and his lips were at my forehead.

I smiled as more tears leaked from my eyes. My last action would be one of love. I found his cracked lips and traced them with a weak finger. And then I replaced it with my own mouth.

A heavenly bliss surrounded me as we let ourselves go… together—as it should be.

After all, he should have known I’d follow him anywhere.