The Final Cut

The Golden Trio had graduated in the year 1998. It was now three years later and the war was going strong. Casualties on both sides had forced them to limit who was sent into battle. Hermione and Ginny were livid at the thought of being left behind, but Harry and Dumbledore believed it to be for the best. Again, the boys were leaving.

They disembarked in 45,

and no one spoke and no one smiled.

There were too many spaces in the line

"Harry, I can't bare to watch you leave. Say goodbye to me now." Ginny breathed the words into his ear as they lay together in the bed they shared. The raven-haired man pulled his new bride close to him and held her tightly.

"Gin, I'll be back. You know that, right." He tried to reassure her, though it wasn't working too well on himself. Many battles have passed and with each he had a slight curl of dread in his stomach. This time was different. This was the final battle and Harry Potter could feel it. He needed her there. He needed to see her as he left. He pleaded, "Please, Gin. Please come with Hermione and see me off."

Ginevra Weasley-Potter kissed her husband, she could feel his fears. She sighed and said, "I'll go. Only if you promise me that you will return."

Harry buried his face in her thick red hair, breathing in her scent. "Thank you."

Gathered at the cenotaph

All agreed with hand on heart

To sheath the sacrificial knifes

Dumbledore spoke to the boys and men that had gathered in the gray afternoon. "I am so incredibly proud of you. This is the battle that could bring this war to an end." He walked thru the soldiers of the light and looked at them with the loving face of a father. The twinkle in his eyes had diminished.

He walked up to Harry. "Dear boy, this is your moment."

Harry pulled the older man into his arms and hugged him. "Take good care of her. I'll know," he whispered into the aging Headmaster's ear.

Dumbledore smiled weakly and nodded. He then turned back toward the row thestral drawn carriages and climbed inside with the recently injured Snape. "Severus, I fear the worst, but I know that it will only bring about the best."

"Yes, Headmaster, I too feel it," said the Potions Master, as he lowered his head. A light rain had begun to fall.

Harry looked for her, scanning the carriages to spot the shock of red to match that of the man standing next to him. "There she is Ron. Gin is in that carriage with 'Mione." He raised his hand to wave her goodbye before turning his back on her and disapparating into the night.

But now,

She stands upon Southampton dock

with her handkerchief and her summer frock clings to her wet body in the rain

"There he is," Ginny said, excitedly. Her wet hair hanging onto her face in dark red tendrils. She pointed so that Hermione could see their boys. They both stood up inside the open carriage and waved at Harry and Ron until they both disappeared. Her heart was beating so hard, she wanted to jump out and run to him. Force him to stay.

In quiet desperation knuckles white upon the slippery reins

She bravely waves the boys goodbye again

The battle raged. Harry and Neville were barricaded behind a wall of stone that had once been part of a beautiful castle. "This is it Neville. Ron and his group have spotted Voldemort over on the other side of the glen and we are going to flank it and come up from behind."

Neville nodded and motioned for the others that were crouched down with them to follow.

They were quiet as shadows as they encircled the Death Eaters camp. They could hear the pompous bastards laughing about the tortures that had happened the night before at the nearest Muggle town. Harry's stomach turned. No matter how much death he had seen, the thought of innocents dying still made him sick.

They spotted Ron's group, Harry nodded and the battle began. Harry had struck two Death Eaters and watched desperately as Justin Finch-Fletchly went down. They all fought hard and Harry managed to destroy Lestrange in his final act of revenge for Sirius.

He finally made it into the inner circle and found his goal. Voldemort was hiding with his damned snake inside a small barn that they were using as a stronghold for the evil bastard. He looked sad and weak and Harry felt no compassion. He had watched too many die, lost too many that he loved to feel anything for this sad man. "This is it you son of a bitch." He raised his wand for the final blow. "Avada Kada...argh!" The pain that ripped thru his back was horrible. Lucius Malfoy had snuck up behind Harry and had cut him across his back with a large dagger.

Harry spun around and yelled, "Avada Kadavra!" Malfoy fell in a sudden glow of green light. Turning back to his adversary he said, "That was pathetic. Now it's your turn. Avada Kadavra!"

The light from his wand glowed green. Voldemort didn't even fight back. It was as if he had also resigned himself for the final blow and he was gone. Harry was free.

And still the dark stain spreads between his shoulder blades

A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves

Harry stumbled out into the battle. When Voldemort had died, the link he had with his minions had broken and they stood in shock. Aurors had begun to collect them to take them off to Azkaban.

Harry found Ron, holding a battered Draco. "Will he be okay?" Harry asked.

Ron nodded and smiled. "It's really over 'Arry. We can finally live." His pale freckled face was smiling and tears where streaming down. Then suddenly his eyes got wide as Harry fell face first onto Draco.

Ron saw the blood on his back and quickly ripped open his shirt. The cut wasn't deep, but the blood loss was terrible. "Damn you Potter. You can't go now. Ginny needs you, I need you." He rolled his best friend over and looked into his already pale face. Harry was gone.

~*~

Ron returned home to find Hermione and Ginny sitting in the Burrow with his mother. He entered the room and the three women rushed him, hugging and kissing him relentless.

"We heard the news. It's over," yelled Hermione, with excitement. She hugged Ron and kissed him. "I love you so much. I thought I had lost you." She pulled away, noticing that something was amiss. "What is it?"

Ginny whispered, "He's dead." Ron nodded and Hermione cried and Ginny fainted.

And when the fight was over

We spent what they had made

But in the bottom of our hearts

We felt the final cut

The parties went on into the early morning hours. The Boy-Who-Lived had done it again. But he no longer lived. They mourned him and celebrated him. But in the end, did they truly appreciate him.

A few did, one woman in particular. His wife.