Harry Potter and the Loss of Innocence

Chapter Thirty-Nine:
The End of the Beginning

When you are with me
I'm free... I'm careless... I believe...
Above all others we will fly.
This brings tears to my eyes.
My sacrifice.
~Creed: My Sacrifice

Let me fall if I must fall.
Though the Phoenix may

Or may not rise.

~Josh Groban: Let Me Fall

Harry woke for the sixth time that night, screaming. He closed his mouth and climbed out of his bed. He glanced at his roommates' beds, but no one else had awoken. Harry smiled, thankful that he hadn't woken anyone up again. He poured a glass of water and took a look out the window. The rising sun tinted the Forbidden Forest a soft yellow color. Harry sighed longingly; it looked so peaceful.

Suddenly a horse-like creature burst from the sea created by the tree-tops. Harry gritted his teeth; the thestral reminded him why he was awake in the first place. He turned away from the window and looked at the curtains shut around his roommates' beds. Harry hoped fervently that they would never have to suffer from the type of nightmares he did.

He had watched several deaths this night: his parents, Cedric, Sirius, Hestia Jones and her family, Fudge, Draco's innocent victim, Dean's whole family, Cho's aunt, Blaise's parents, Justin's mother and siblings, and the muggle victims from the countless Revelries; just to name a few.

It was the dream about those unknown muggles that had last haunted his sleep. Every Revelry he had ever seen had melted into one long horrifying nightmare. He hadn't realized how many people he had watched die since September. A couple of hundred Muggles had died since then, and hundreds more would until he fought Voldemort. Harry didn't really think he'd win, but he was the best chance the Wizarding and Muggle worlds had.

Harry felt the tight bundle of nerves tighten even more with that thought. Though the bundle was always there because the Prophecy was never far from his mind, whenever he thought about the details, the bundle only got tighter. He felt close to vomiting at the moment, but he couldn't turn his thoughts away. How could anyone put their faith in him? He was a sixteen, almost seventeen-year-old boy. He didn't stand a chance! Voldemort had more power, knowledge, and experience than he did. It would never be possible.

Harry walked over to the desk he shared with Ron and sat down. His eyes traveled across the clutter until he caught sight of a half hidden box. He moved some papers out of the way and stared at the ring box Remus had given him for his birthday. Opening it up, Harry pulled out his dad's ring and examined it. Hadn't Remus told him to start wearing it? He couldn't remember for sure, but Harry pocketed the ring. He would ask Ginny what she thought about it later.

Looking at the ring reminded Harry about his mum's gift. He looked over at his school trunk, where the wrapped gift was located. Harry almost stood to retrieve it, when Ron let out a loud snore. He shook his head and sat back down. Harry would open it after he got back from the Hogsmeade trip; nothing was going to ruin this day for him and Ginny. He didn't want to be distracted by whatever was in the package.

Glancing back at the desk, Harry noticed a half covered photograph. Removing the papers he had just moved to uncover the ring box, Harry saw a photo taken on Christmas Day this year. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were in the middle with their eldest two sons on either side. Bill had an arm around his girlfriend Melissa. Fred and George were on her other side. Fred had two fingers sticking out of the top of Melissa's head, giving her bunny ears. Melissa was completely oblivious to the fact, but Tonks had caught on to George's trick. At the moment, Tonks was swatting George across the head, with Remus watching her lovingly. Ron was at the end, with one arm curled around Hermione.

The person next to Charlie was Thia. She was standing next to the Grangers. Mrs. Granger was smiling politely, looking completely comfortable. Mr. Granger, though, was shooting glares at Ron, who at the moment was whispering something in Hermione's ear, causing her to giggle.

Harry felt his breath catch as his eyes reached the next girl. Ginny was breathtakingly beautiful. She had her arm wrapped around his waist and she watched the others with a huge smile on her face. She looked so perfect with her family, so at home. Harry watched his photogenic self pull her closer so that he could kiss her ear and tell her something. Harry smiled fondly, remembering that he had done the same thing while waiting for the picture to be taken. He now noticed that the Weasley brothers were watching them kiss, but none were scowling. Harry hoped that the brothers would all forgive him. Ginny looked straight out from the picture, her face glowing with the happiness she felt.

He had to find a way to survive this damn Prophecy! He wanted to take hundreds of pictures just like this one over the coming years, decades even. And he wanted Ginny in every one at his side. He had to survive for Ginny!

...and Ron and Hermione too...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Good morning, sunshine," Harry told a grumpy Ginny the next morning. She scowled at him, sat next to him, and grabbed a piece of toast. "I don't even get a 'Good morning, git,' from you." Ginny did smile at that, and Harry slipped a hand around her smaller one. They ate the rest of breakfast rather quickly so that they could get an early start on the day.

They walked side by side, holding hands. Harry kept glancing at her. She wore jeans and an old shirt that had belonged to Ron at some point. He only knew that because it was a bright orange Chudley Cannons shirt and was just a little too small for Ginny. He smiled down at his girlfriend, thankful that he'd be able to spend the day with her.

They strolled through Hogsmeade slowly making their way to the twins' shop. They were in no hurry; they had more than enough time until they had to meet Ron and Hermione at The Three Broomsticks. Ginny stopped to gaze in a store window. There were stuffed animals of all sizes in there and Harry remembered his promise to buy her one.

"Let's go in," he suggested to Ginny. She looked up at him, surprised. "I think you deserve a gift for surviving O.W.L.'s without freaking out."

"No, luv, I don't need anything," she argued, not wanting to spend Harry's money.

"Of course you don't need it," Harry responded. "That's why it's called a gift." He led her into the store and up the first aisle. "Pick out one, which ever you want, and I'll buy it." Harry followed her as she looked at each animal. Finally, she stopped and picked one up. It was a stag.

"I want this one," Ginny told Harry, handing it to him. Harry smiled at her and looked at the animal closer. It was filled with beans and was rather floppy. It was large enough to cuddle with if Ginny wanted to. Harry hoped she'd never have to cuddle with the toy. He wanted to be at her side if she needed support. I'll probably be in the hospital wing if she cuddles with him, he thought sarcastically to himself.

Harry went to the front of the store and bought it. Ginny took it out of the bag and hugged it. "Thanks, luv." She grabbed his hand and they continued on their way to the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Harry was glad she loved it so much.

They turned down a side road and spotted the bright red building. They entered the store and were assaulted by the sound. Loud voices and laughter filled the crowded shop. Ginny and Harry pushed through the crowd, hoping to spot at least one twin. They saw one, talking to a young witch with long blonde hair. As they got closer, Harry remembered whom she was.

"That's the President of their fan club," Harry whispered to Ginny. She laughed and walked over to the two.

"Hey, George, how are you?" Ginny told him, giving her brother a huge hug.

"This isn't George," the girl said affronted by Ginny's behaviour. "This is Fred."

"I think I can tell my own brothers apart, thank you very much," Ginny replied. Throughout this whole episode, George (Harry was going to believe Ginny) was turning paler and paler. "Now, George, how do you greet a sister who's been worried sick for you?"

"I'm going to beat you into a pulp," George whispered to her, leading the two into the back room. They left a very stunned fan club president behind. "Oy, Fred! Company!" Fred hurried over and the four entered the office.

"Hey, Fred," Ginny said launching herself at her other brother.

"Hey, Ginny," Fred replied. "What's got George so worked up?"

"That thing we call a sister, just told the Prez that I'm me and not you!" George answered angrily.

"That a girl," Fred said, smiling at his sister fondly.

"How are you both?" Ginny asked. "You look alright."

"We're fine," Fred replied after a moment. It seemed that George didn't feel like having a conversation with Ginny. "They could have let us out even earlier than they did. They wanted to keep us until tomorrow, but we twisted their arms and they let us out yesterday."

"How'd business do without you?" Harry asked with a smile.

"It was booming as normal," George said, willing to talk to Harry. "I guess Lee came up with a promotion with us in it. Haven't gotten the details out of anyone yet though. Not sure if I want to."

"And Remus finally took the job we've been offering him," Fred informed them. "He wanted to make sure that our new product line would be released on time, so he took over. He's a genius! The improvements he made..." he stopped speechless from his awe.

"How are you two?" George asked the couple. Both blushed. "So you got yourself a Monsieur Prongs?" Harry looked at the stuffed animal with surprise. How had he missed that? "I take it that Harry hadn't realized that it was Prongs."

Fred burst out laughing. George was now suffering from one of Ginny's bat-bogey hex. He had bats flying out of his nose, dripping bogies from their own noses. Each bogey-dripping bat was now circling George, dripping more bogies onto him. Harry looked over at his girlfriend; she had her wand pointing at George menacingly. Harry couldn't hold it in any longer and so he broke down laughing as well.

Ginny smiled innocently at her afflicted brother. "If you apologize, I might just remove the hex."

"I'm sorry," he answered dutifully. "But what did I do wrong in the first place?"

"Ginerva Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley's angry voice came from the door. "Take that hex off your brother instantly!" Ginny obeyed her mother and looked at her sheepishly. "I'm sure he deserved it--"

"Mother!" George replied, slightly insulted. "How dare you just assume that I deserved that! I did nothing wrong, it was all her!"

"I'm sure that's the truth, George," Mrs. Weasley said in a tone they all saw through. "Ginny, your brothers were just released from St. Mungo's. You can't be hexing them like that."

"Sorry, mum," Ginny mumbled. She went over and hugged her mother. "What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see Fred and George," she replied fondly. "And maybe to see a few of you kids."

"Is dad here?" Fred asked her. She shook her head.

"No, he had to work," she replied tiredly. "He took off so much time when you were first in St. Mungo's that he feels obligated to work every day but Sunday for almost twelve hours a day. He's going to work himself to death." George walked over to his mother and gave her a reassuring hug.

"He'll be fine, mum," he told her. "You'll see, he'll be fine."

"Have you guys seen Tonks and Remus lately?" Ginny asked suddenly.

"Why?" Harry replied. "I saw them last weekend."

"Because I just watched Remus pass the door with Tonks," Ginny replied worriedly. "And they were sneaking away."

"Let them sneak," George told his little sister. "I don't want to follow them. Don't want to see something I'll later regret."

"Remus was looking at a ring," Ginny informed them. "They wouldn't go and elope on us would they?" Harry thought about it for one brief moment and then hurled his way out of the office.

"Remus!" he yelled above the din in the store. He caught sight of Tonks bright pink hair and hurried towards them. "Tonks! Wait up!" The couple stopped and turned around slowly, looks of surprise on both of their faces. As Harry got nearer, he saw the slight look of guilt on Remus's face.

"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks said brightly. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, it's a Hogsmeade weekend and Gin and I were visiting the twins," Harry answered. "Why didn't you stop in and say hi?"

"We didn't know you were here," Remus said evasively.

"Ginny saw you walking out," Harry told them casually. "She said you had a ring in your hand." Remus and Tonks both gulped visibly.

"You wouldn't elope on us, would you?" Fred asked, coming up behind Harry.

"After all we've done for you?" George asked.

"We're hurt," Fred continued.

"Mortally wounded," George said, stumbling back a few steps, as if he had just been stabbed.

"You stabbed us in the back, and now you expect us to forgive you," Fred said in pretend hysterics.

"I'm insulted. No, we're insulted," George said, striking what was supposed to be a threatening pose.

"I have no idea why," Tonks replied changing her hair to its normal black. "It's not like we did anything to insult you."

"But were you planning on it?" Fred asked. Remus and Tonks exchanged a look and then Remus nodded. "See!" Fred yelled in triumph. "We take you off the street, feed you, clothe you, give you a job, and this is what we get!" George opened his mouth to say something, but Ginny shot him a look.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ginny asked Tonks in a tone that was meant to make them feel guilty.

"We just wanted to elope and get this over with," Remus answered. "We're sick of waiting and neither of us really wants to plan it."

"So, we decided the easiest way is to just elope and make everyone happy," Tonks finished.

"I'm not sure about the rest, but I really wanted to be at the wedding," Harry told them. "And going behind our backs like that, it kinda hurts."

"Does Thia know about this?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Remus shook his head. "There's the number one reason why you shouldn't. My youngest sister eloped, never told my parents who she married, had the guy's kids, and then died. The Death Eaters left a note saying that it was her husband's fault that she and her kids were dead. Tore the family apart."

"Anyways," Harry said, changing the topic of conversation. "Have you guys talked to Shacklebolt lately?"

"Yeah," Tonks said, grateful for the change of topic. "He was really impressed that you beat him at the sword. And stalemated him with the daggers. Nice job." Harry blushed.

"That's not what I meant," he stammered. "I just want to know what Bryant thinks. And why was Shacklebolt so willing to help?"

"I'm not sure what Bryant thinks, you'll have to talk to Thia about that," Remus answered. "But Shacklebolt enjoys non-magical weaponry, and Bryant's been talking you up at meetings and what not. Hope you don't mind."

"He's been talking me up?" Harry repeated, not believing what he had heard. "Bryant complimenting me?"

"Why's that so hard to believe?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly.

"Bryant doesn't give compliments," Harry explained, still stunned. "And he's told me a number of times that I'm the worst student he's ever had."

"His bark is worse than his bite," Thia said, stepping from around the next aisle. "Were you really going to elope on me?" she asked her brother. Remus nodded. "I'm disappointed in you! I mean, we all know what kind of problems that caused Sam. And, you made Sirius and me promise not to elope and in return you promised not to. Of course, none of us really expected you to find a girl willing to put up with your mood swings on top of your form changes."

Remus broke out laughing. "I forgot about that. All right, you got me there, sister mine." He turned to Tonks and gave her a quick kiss. "Sorry, my dear, looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer." Harry sighed on the inside. They had gotten so much ready for their wedding later this summer.

"Luv," Ginny said, grabbing Harry's hand. "We need to be going. Especially if we're to meet Ron and Hermione later." Harry nodded and they said goodbye.

"Let's get a quick lunch," Harry suggested. Ginny nodded and they headed to the Hog's Head. Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother, was the bartender. He nodded to the couple and waited for them to sit down. They ordered some fish and chips to share and waited for their food.

"That was close," Ginny told him softly. "I thought they had made it out of the store."

"I figured they'd still go out and elope, until Thia showed up," Harry replied. "I wonder who Sam is?"

"My aunt's name was Samantha, but I guess everyone called her Sam," Ginny answered. "That's the aunt who eloped, like my mum said, and she died before I was born."

"I wonder if they're the same person?" Harry mused out loud. At that moment, Aberforth brought their meal and left. They ate in silence for a bit, each with their own thoughts. Harry's mind led him down a path he hadn't followed in a long while.

'Tell him that Sam sends her love.' The 'him' was Snape and Harry's mother had told him to pass that message along when he had almost died at Christmas. They couldn't be the same Sam could they? The Sam who was best friends with his mum, Ginny's aunt, and the Sam that wanted Snape to know that she loved him.

"What are you thinking about, luv?" Ginny asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Nothing much," he lied. "What about you, Gin?"

"How cute you look," she answered causing him to blush. "You're even cuter when you blush."

"Thanks," he replied dryly, causing Ginny to laugh. Harry realized that the food was gone. "Ready?" She nodded and Harry went to pay the bill. They left and walked toward the Quidditch supply store. "What did you need here?" he asked her for the hundredth time.

"I'm hoping they have a chaser book Katie was telling me about," Ginny told him. "And to look around."

"Not going to argue with that." They entered the store and the two browsed the shelves with interest. They walked down the book section and Harry helped Ginny find the book she wanted.

"How to Chase When You Don't Want To, why do you need this, Gin?" Harry asked, reading the summary on the inside front cover.

"It's really a good book," Ginny answered. "I've borrowed Katie's copy several times through out the year. But she's not going to be here next year, so I needed my own copy." They wandered through the rest of the store stopping to admire the new Nimbus 2005. It wasn't better than Harry's Firebolt, but it was better than Ginny's current broom. "I'd love that broom."

Harry smiled at her and then they walked down the last aisle. At the very end was a display of snitches. "Don't you want your own snitch?" Ginny asked him. Harry nodded, watching the snitches glitter in the light. "I'll get you one. Mum, gave me some money for the book and I have extra. Pick one out," she told him and waited for him to hand her one of the boxed snitches. Ginny walked to the checkout and bought both items.

They walked outside and decided just to walk around Hogsmeade for the next two hours. The walked to the end of Main Street and Harry found himself looking at the fence where he, Ron, and Hermione had met "Snuffles" the black mutt more commonly known as Sirius. He hopped the fence and led Ginny up the slope. After some time, they entered the cave where Sirius and Buckbeak had lived during his fourth year.

"Where are we?" Ginny asked looking around the cave. Harry's eyes fell on the small bones littering the sides of the cave. Sirius ate rats for me! Harry told her where they where. Then he sat on one of the larger rocks, wrapping his arms around his legs and resting his head on his knees. Ginny set her stuff down and walked over to him. She kneeled in front of him, trying to see his eyes. "Are you alright, luv?" she asked knowing the answer was no.

"I miss them," was all Harry could say. Ginny pulled his arms from around his legs and then sat on his lap. She threw her arms around him and held him close to her.

Harry leaned his head on top of hers and let the few tears fall. Harry was glad she was his girlfriend. No one else would have known what he needed exactly. Hermione would have tried to argue the tears away with logic. Ron would have gotten embarrassed and left. But Ginny knew he just needed to be held, no words were necessary.

Soon the tears were gone, and Harry hugged Ginny tighter and kissed her. They were busy with that for a long while, until Harry thought about their meeting with Ron and Hermione. "Sorry, Gin," he croaked. "But we need to go to the Three Broomsticks."

"Bugger," Ginny mumbled, putting her hair back up. Harry grabbed her bag, Ginny her stag, and they walked side by side, down the mountainside. It was almost three o'clock by the time they reached the Three Broomsticks.

"What took you guys so long?" Ron asked right away.

"You don't want to know, Ron," Ginny replied to her brother icily. "Trust me, you don't want to know." Ron pretended to dry heave and Harry laughed. Ron and Harry left to get the food and drinks. A little later, they came back and set everything down at the table.

"We saw Tonks and Remus earlier," Harry told the two.

"Yeah, we know," Hermione interrupted. "We stopped by the shop before coming here. Thia was still giving Remus a hard time about almost eloping."

"I'm glad they didn't," Ginny said thankfully. "We've been planning the wedding for months now! They couldn't just elope on us!"

"We have the dress," Hermione said listing several things off, "the location, the date, the invitations are made, and now Remus has the ring, so nothing major should need to be done until the twenty-eighth." Harry nodded in agreement.

"Have we figured out how to get them there?" Harry asked the group. Everyone shook their heads.

"Bill and Shacklebolt were going to figure out how to do it," Ron finally said.

"Let's make a promise," Harry said after taking a gulp of butterbeer. Everyone nodded. "No matter what happens, those two get married. They've been waiting a long time now, and it's not fair to them if it's delayed because something happened to someone else."

"Promise," Ginny said, squeezing his left hand in her right.

"Sounds like a plan to me, mate," Ron agreed. Hermione was biting her bottom lip, but then her face broke into a smile.

"Of course we'll make sure that they get married," she replied. Everyone smiled and then continued eating in silence. Harry finished first and took out the snitch. He was playing with it, just as his father had all those years ago, as Ginny started talking.

"So what did you guys do?" she asked Hermione.

"We went up to the Shrieking Shack," Hermione started before Ron interrupted her.

"We scared the crap out of some third year Gryffindors," Ron said with a smile. "We saw them heading up to the house, so we took the other way and sneaked into the building without them knowing. When they were right next to a boarded up window we both screamed bloody murder." Ron stopped trying not to laugh at Ginny, who had just snorted butterbeer out of her nose.

"They ran like they were chased by Voldemort himself," Ron finished, still laughing. Ginny had her face cleaned and was working on drying off her shirt. "Hey, when did I give you that shirt?" Ron asked angrily.

"Last summer when I asked for it," Ginny replied.

"Did you have to get butterbeer all over it?" he asked, almost whining.

"Yes, I did, Ron," Ginny answered patiently. "That's all I ever do, try to destroy your Cannons stuff."

"My stuff...." Ron muttered softly. "It's all gone this time." Fred and George had stepped up last September and saved all of Ron's Cannon's stuff from destruction. But no one knew that the Death Eaters were attacking at the end of March. "It's all gone."

"It's alright, Ron," Hermione said, giving the boy a hug. Harry patted his shoulder in understanding, but Ginny just laughed.

"I think we got lucky, just losing our stuff," Ginny said. "We still have our brothers, our friends, our parents, who cares if we lost some stuff."

"I've spent years of allowance buying all that stuff," Ron said, smiling reminiscently. "And years of birthday gifts and Christmas gifts. I guess it's just the shock of never seeing it again."

"I'm sure you'll get more, Ron," Harry told his best friend, reaching across the table as the snitch almost got away. "We all know how much you love them, and it's the easiest gift to buy you. No one really needs to think about it." Ron smiled.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he finally said. "What are you doing at the D.A. meeting this week?"

"I'm going to hang you by your toes and have people shoot hexes at you," Harry answered with a laugh as Ron's face fell. "I'm joking, Ron."

"I knew that!" he said overly loud.

"Sure you did," Ginny said sarcastically. "So what are we doing?" She smiled up at him and Harry felt his resolve melt away.

"I was planning to have a party," Harry answered. "And now that you know, you can help plan it. Just remember, Thia's going to be there, and she hates drunk teens."

"So, no firewhiskey," Ron said with a smile. Hermione hit him across the head. "I was just kidding. We could do some bungee jumping off the cliff," he finally said.

"Where did you learn about bungee jumping?" Harry asked curiously.

"I saw some muggles jumping from a bridge with rope tied to their ankles," Ron said with a shrug. "Asked Hermione about it one time, and I've always wanted to try it. I'm sure there'd be lot's of people who'd want to give it a try."

"There's going to be some dancing, right?" Ginny asked Harry tentatively.

"Of course," Harry responded quickly. "Wouldn't want to miss a chance to dance with the prettiest girl in the world, would I?"

"Stop trying to steal my girl, Potter," Ron threatened. "You don't have to hit on her with me around." Harry smiled.

"I wasn't hitting on your girl, Weasley," Harry responded. "I was hitting on your sister who happens to be my girl."

"We are no one's girl," Hermione told the boys angrily.

"Speak for yourself, Hermione," Ginny said laughing. "I can be Harry's girl any day." Harry hugged her. At that moment, he felt something cold naw at his insides. "Just as long as I can say he's my guy."

"Of course," Harry said, without realizing that he was talking. Softly the screams from his nightmares had started to fill his mind. He kissed Ginny's cheek softly. "I'll be right back. I need to find the loo." Ginny nodded and Harry left, pocketing the snitch. He walked past the bathroom and out the back entrance. He hurried around the pub and looked around Hogsmeade frantically.

The dementors had to be coming. That's the only reason Harry could think of for the coldness and the screams. Only dementors. And he had so many horrors in his short life that he could sense them coming miles away. No one around him was affected yet, but Harry knew they were coming. He should go back into the pub and tell Ginny to go to Hogwarts and get help. He just wanted her to get help. He wasn't trying to protect her.

The air went pitch black and icy cold. Harry lit his wand tip and saw the first dementor. And then he saw the first Patronus. It was a swan and it flew right into the creature from Cho's wand. A second Patronus joined the fray; it belonged to Blaise and was a huge serpent. Harry tried to think of a happy memory. He just needed one.

More dementors swarmed into Hogsmeade. Harry felt his knees collapse as more painful memories shot through his mind. Cedric falling, Sirius falling, limbs falling, sparks falling, Fudge falling. All falling. Then the screams came and hit him hard. His mother's last words. Sephra's parents' sobs and screams. The screams of countless Muggles, terrified beyond reason. Hestia's children's last cries. Sirius's final laugh. The merciless laughter of Death Eaters as they tortured and killed.

He felt his face hit stone. He was laying face first in the street. He needed to think of a happy memory.

Just one. That's all it takes, he thought to himself.

He mentally pushed away the memories that threatened to sweep him away.

Just one happy memory.

He felt rather then saw a dementor approach him.

Just one memory.

Half rotten hands reached around his body, turning him over.

Only one!

The hands tilted his head back, giving the creature better access to his soul.

Come on, Potter, just one memory.

Harry closed his mouth, biting the inside of his lips so that the creature couldn't kiss him.

What's the matter with you, Potter? You only need one!

The fingers pried open Harry's mouth. Harry closed his eyes.

All you need is one damn memory!

Harry felt the putrid breath of the creature on his face.

Need to think of one memory....

Harry opened his eyes.

For Ginny.... Ginny! Memories flooded Harry's mind. Ginny giving him his birthday gift last year. Waking Ginny up and giving her her birthday gift. The train ride to school. Quidditch tryouts. Their first kiss. Their first date. All their dates. Flying with her. Shopping with her. Waking up in the hospital wing with her at his bedside. Christmas break at the Burrow. Losing control. The Journal. Her help through those months without Ron. Helping her through the twins' stay in St. Mungo's. Playing Quidditch with her. Studying for her O.W.L.'s. Making out with her up on the mountain. Finding her in the Chamber of Secrets, all but dead. The younger Ginny, with the elbow in the butter.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed. Prongs shot from his wand and straight through the dementor, which was centimeters from closing onto his mouth. Harry stood on shaky knees processing what he saw quickly. Ron and Hermione were protecting a group of third years. Ginny was helping Cho protect some fourth years. Blaise, Sephra, and Edlyn were fighting to protect a cluster of innocent shoppers. Harry saw Thia fighting a dementor next to several terrified third years. A young boy, no more than eight, lay near Harry, his soulless eyes staring out at the world accusingly.

Then he saw Snape, fighting to produce a Patronus. Snape had seen as many horrors as he, Harry, had, if not more. Harry sent Prongs after the dementor attacking Snape. There were so many dementors; they didn't stand a chance unless help arrived. Prongs rescued Snape and then went after the nearest dementor. Snape gave Harry a quick nod and then finally produced a Patronus. A large silvery butterfly shot from Snape's wand and attacked a nearby dementor.

Suddenly, the dementors fled the village, allowing the sun to rise. What Harry saw made him wish that it were dark again. Across from Harry was Voldemort. He held Ginny by her hair in his left hand. Next to him was Bellatrix, and she had a firm grip on Hermione's hair. On Voldemort's other side was Wormtail, and he held both girls' wands in one of his hands, the silver one.

Harry felt rather than heard movement behind him. "We're right behind you, Harry," Thia told him reassuringly.

"Who's we?" Harry asked never taking his eyes from Ginny.

"Remus, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Severus, Minerva, Dedalus, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Fred, George, Charlie, Melissa," Thia listed for him, until he interrupted her.

"Just say 'your guard' and I'll understand," Harry barked at her. He had just noticed Ron at Voldemort's feet. Ron wasn't moving and from the distance, Harry couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. "What do you want, Tom?" Harry yelled at his archenemy.

Voldemort laughed. "Do you think you are in the same position as last time, my dear Potter?" Voldemort asked mockingly. He shook Ginny by the hair and Harry could hear her groan of pain even at that distance.

"No, I don't think we are," Harry acknowledged. "That's why I asked what you wanted instead of shooting my mouth off!"

"What I want is quite simple," Voldemort said, raising Ginny a few feet off the ground. "I want you to die slowly, painfully, and soon. But before that, I want you to watch those you love die slow, painful deaths." Harry felt his rage start to boil. He couldn't watch Voldemort kill Ginny, Hermione, and Ron right in front of him.

"Don't you dare," Harry said in a cold measured voice, controlling the rage.

"What shouldn't I dare?" Voldemort asked running his wand along Ginny's throat. "Should I, let's say, take off a hand or an arm even?"

"No," Harry said quickly. It was too quick and the Death Eaters all laughed. "Don't do that," Harry commanded, not begging the man.

"And why shouldn't I, boy?" Voldemort asked, levitating Ginny's right hand closer to his face. Harry felt his concern for her start to overwhelm his other thoughts. Harry could tell by the look in Voldemort's eyes that he was deadly serious. Voldemort would kill Ginny, then Hermione, and then Ron. It would be a slow death, a painful death. And he was the cause. He was the reason.

His friends were his lease on life. When things got hard and the going got tough, Harry turned to these three friends. A person couldn't ask for better ones. Harry wouldn't ask for better, because there weren't any better. They had helped him through the last six years, each in their own way. Hermione kept him out of the majority of the trouble he should have been in. Whether it was with her quick thinking and lying, or keeping him from doing something stupid to begin with, Harry had definitely served fewer detentions because of her. Ron was always right where he was needed, next to Harry's side. Harry knew it rubbed Ron wrong at times, always being the sidekick, but it was Harry with the Prophecy, and he needed the sidekick to him get through it all. And then there was Ginny. What could he say? She was his life.

The group of wizards and witches that surrounded Harry, good and bad alike, took a step or two back. He was radiating pure power. Tonks recognized it from right after Christmas. The only three people who didn't move were Voldemort, Ginny, who didn't have a choice, and the unconscious Ron.

"Let them go, Tom," Harry commanded.

"And why should I, Potter?" Voldemort asked mockingly. "There is nothing you can do."

"You don't need them," Harry told him in a cold voice. All Harry wanted was one clear opening and then BAM! Voldemort wouldn't know what hit him.

"True, and that's why I'm going to kill this brat!" Voldemort raised his wand and his lips began to form the words of the most unforgivable of curses.

"Wait!" Harry yelled. The light faded away from around Harry and Voldemort laughed at his panic. "How about a trade? Something you want for something I want?"

"Name your terms, Potter," Voldemort replied, curious despite himself.

"You want me, I want Ginny, Ron, and Hermione to survive this without any more scratches," Harry informed him and the crowd. Harry felt his guard stir to life.

"They won't let it happen," Voldemort pointed to the adults behind Harry.

"They'll do whatever I tell them," Harry said confidently. "You give them to my guard, and I'll go with you to wherever you want for as long as you can keep me there."

"How do I know you aren't lying?" Voldemort asked. "That you won't disappear the moment I release this filth you call friends."

"Because I give you my word as a Gryffindor," Harry promised. "I'll follow my end of the bargain as long as you follow yours."

"Harry, don't you dare!" Thia commanded the boy. Harry turned around, knowing that his guard would protect him.

"I have to, Thia, so don't argue with me," Harry told her calmly. "One life for three. I think I'm getting the better end of that bargain."

"Potter, you're going to hurt my little sister," Bill warned him. Harry felt a huge stone fall into the pit of his stomach.

"But at least she's alive to feel that pain," Harry answered. A few others opened their mouths to try to dissuade him, but Snape cut them all off.

"You do know what you're getting into," he mused out loud. "As long as you don't get yourself killed, go, before He changes His mind." Harry nodded and turned around.

"Agreed?" Harry asked. "You'll give them to my guard without any more scratches and I'll go with you."

"Agreed," Voldemort replied. He carelessly levitated Ginny and Ron toward the guard and Bellatrix did the same with Hermione.

"Are they hurt from that?" Harry asked almost hopefully. Thia shook her head in a disappointed no. "Well, see you guys later."

"Harry, don't you dare," Ginny croaked out. Harry turned to look at her and felt his heart break.

"Just keep Prongs close, luv," Harry replied. "I'll be home soon enough." Harry took one last look at his friends and those he called family, before turning his back to them and walking toward Voldemort.

A few feet from Voldemort, the wizard shouted, "Crucio!" Harry felt his nerves burn and knew that he had condemned himself for a boat load of suffering in the coming days, weeks, and maybe even months. But that knowledge only lasted for a brief second, until the pain swept all lucid thought from his mind.

The pain stopped, Voldemort grabbed Harry's arm, and soon Harry felt the familiar pull behind the navel take him away.