Broken Road

The redheaded figure was scared; lights were shooting around her at unthinkable speed, promising pain and death to their target. She sobbed, throwing hexes and Unforgivables every-which-way. The Final Battle was not as many had expected. The side of Light had gone into the fight believing all that needed to be done was to protect Harry Potter while he rid the world of Voldemort. How wrong they had been.

They had fought, surprised by the numbers they battled against. This was nothing like any of them had expected. This was war. Dirty and harsh, blood-thirsty and cold. Uncaring and unyielding. This was pain in its purest form. Screams for mothers and loved ones drowned out the moans of the wounded and curses from those still standing.

Then, as the noise and pain became almost too much to bear and she was ready to collapse, silence fell. Everyone froze, starring at a single spot. Two bodies were lying side-by-side, faces unmarked by pain or blood.

A scream broke the silence and it took her a moment to realize it was hers, long and horrible, it filled the air. The forms of both her lovers, at different points in time, lay together, peaceful in death. Harry James Potter and Tom Marvolo Riddle were dead. Their fight was over, with each other and others.

She stopped screaming, her throat was burning too much for that. She fell to the once lush green ground, ground that was now crimson and torn from blood and sideways hexes. The bodies of her friends and family surrounded her, but she could focus only on the two in front of her.

She remembered, remembered the laughter and warmth of Before. Remembered the hurried hugs and sloppy kisses, the dark make-out sessions and hushed tones. It had been then, before the War, that she had laughed and smiled, kissing Harry in the hallways before classes. She remembered the happiness during the double dates with Hermione and Severus. The warmth and caring. The stupid arguments and heated discussions. She almost smiled, remembering.

She went further back, though, and remembered the screams and muted cries. The pain and blissful numbness. The feeling of being loved, and the horrible cold of being controlled. The innocence of a diary. She remembered Tom's good looks and reassuring words. His eyes, bright and excited when she told him all about her classes, when he kissed her softly and told her he loved her. His warm hands and strong arms when he worshiped her, promising her the world. She almost cried.

She opened her eyes, focusing on her loved ones once more. A collective gasp rose from the crowd as the two forms began to shine, blazing in light. The white and blue light that burned separately grew brighter, growing and illuminating the entire field. She watched, mouth dry, as the lights touched and the two forms began to burn with a light blue flame. It consumed their bodies, throwing off such heat it singed her robes. They were gone within seconds, and from where their ashes fell a star rose. It shook the ground with its power, its brightness making her eyes burn. It reached towards the sky, and set itself among it's fellows.

Ten years later, two children were lying together in sleep, grinning widely. Their mother, a small woman in her late twenties, planted a small kiss on each child's forehead.

"G'night, Tomas. G'night, Harold."

Ginny Nott smiled as her husband's strong arms wrapped themselves around her. She leaned back into his chest, relishing his presence.

"You know, Gin, they're not going to disappear if you leave them," Theodore joked, hugging her closer.

"I know, love, but sometimes I wonder..." She looked up, watching his face. He only nodded, leading her out of the twins' room.

They were sitting outside, watching the stars together. They both smiled faintly at the newest blaze of light, only a decade old.

It had been named Peace by the wizards, although the Muggles still struggled to explain the phenomenon of a newly born star.

From their place in the heavens, Tom Riddle and Harry Potter both laughed, grinning at each other. Their love was at peace at last.

-End-