A Death For The World

"It's time, Harry."

Ron's voice echoed throughout the empty classroom. Harry turned to see the distinct mass of red hair, the band of freckles across nose and cheeks, the blue eyes of his best friend staring back at him. He wasn't the same Ronald Weasley whom he had met on the train first year. There was an almost haunted look about him now. A look that made him seem ten years older than he really was. Unconsciously, his eyes trailed down to the exposed forearm and the bright pink scar that ran from the inside of his wrist to the indent of elbow and he had to look away.

Even now, six months later, it was still a painful reminder of how dangerous he was to his friends. Not matter what he did, no matter how much he tried to help, all he managed to do was put those he loved in harms way. A none knew more about that than Ron.

If he hadn't of fallen for him, put all his trust in the one person everyone told him not to trust, maybe Hermione would still be alive. Maybe Lily--sweet, innocent, beautiful little Lily--would be standing here, eyes bright with laughter. Maybe Ron would still have his wife and child with him. But he didn't and it was all his fault.

"Dumbledore's waiting."

Harry nodded and followed Ron down the dark hallway to the entrance hall. A small group of people stood in the shadows, quietly whispering. He could see tears running silently down Angelina Johnson's face, her eyes gazing at the ring Fred Weasley had given her when he had proposed. Moody and Tonks were there, as well as Lupin, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Neville Longbottom, and Terry Boot. Dean Thomas and Ginny Weasley had their arms wrapped around each other, Ginny's sobs muffled against Dean's chest. Crabbe and Goyle stood in one corner talking intently. Both were worried about the prospect of having to face their fathers after such a betrayal.

"It is time."

Dumbledore stood at the head of the crowd, his once sparkling blue eyes now dull and weary.

"I know you are all afraid. Though I can't promise that none of you will come to harm, just remember this: We are at the end of an age, of a great battle that has been raging for years. Some of you have lost loved ones and classmates. You will more than likely encounter others out there. Do not hesitate to strike first. They will not spare you. They are ruthless. They follow Voldemort and will do so to the very end. They have pledged themselves to him, to killing those who have done no wrong. Strike fast and strike hard. To all of you who have been students here at Hogwarts, know that I will always be with you no matter what. It was a privilege to watch over you for those years." He paused for a minute, eyes raking over the crowd before him. "It is time."

Harry watched as Dumbledore threw open the massive wooden doors and walked out onto the grounds. The others followed tentatively. Harry chanced a last glance at Ron and their eyes connected. For Hermione, Lily and Fred, they silently said and turned away.

Hooded figures began emerging from the forest, the white masks of the Death Eaters gleaming in the moonlight. Voldemort walked ahead of them just as Dumbledore was doing. They stopped when they reached the center of the field and waited until each sides' ranks were in formation.

"Tom..."

"Dumbledore..."

Both stood, wands at the ready, waiting...for what, Harry did not know. It was all too surreal. He didn't want to be here, wanted to wake up and find out it had all been a terrible, horrible dream. Was he here? Which one was he? His mind ran over the possibility that they had all been wrong, that Malfoy wasn't responsible for Hermione and Lily's death, that Ron hadn't really seen him, hadn't fought him that night. A desperate plea that was shattered when a silent breeze ran though the mass on the field.

The hood of the Death Eater in front of him blew back revealing the silver-blond hair and glittering grey eyes distinctly Malfoy and Harry's heart sank. The ache that had taken over him the day he woke up to a cold, empty bed was now replaced with seething hatred for the pale man before him. Before he could think, the words had left his mouth.

"You bastard."

"Well, well. If it isn't Saint Potter. Don't look so shocked, Potter. You knew from day one how much I hated mudbloods and that Granger girl. Too bad I didn't have the chance to take Weasley down too. Would have been a much sweeter victory. Where is he anyway? I would have thought he'd be here to revenge his beloved's death." That evil, sadistic smirk that Harry had once found attractive crossed Draco's lips.

"Fuck you, Malfoy!" Ron raised his wand and pointed it at Draco but Malfoy was too fast. He had already seen Ron approaching and was ready for him.

"Crucio!"

Ron crumpled inwards, a look of utter horror and pain across his face.

"Expelliarmus!"

Ron's wand flew out of his hand and landed on the grass directly in front of Draco. Harry watched horrified as his best friend writhed in pain at the hands of his former lover. Before he could react, Draco had uttered the disarming spell again and his wand flew out of his hand directly into Draco's.

"It's seems as if I'm about to get my wish, doesn't it Potter? Ready to join your filthy wife and child, Weasley?" Harry looked around for someone, anyone who could help them but to no avail. Dumbledore's army was outmatched two to one. He did the only thing he could think of and ran at Malfoy full speed just as he spoke those two words: "Avada Kedavra."

Harry collided with Draco but it was too late. The jet of light hit Ron square in the chest and he collapsed instantly, all life drained from him.

"You son of a bitch!" Harry managed to knock Draco's wand from his hand and began punching him with as much force as he could muster. "You selfish, bastard. After everything I've done for you. I loved you! I! LOVED! YOU! And not only do you kill Hermione and Lily but you have to take Ron away from me too? I'm going to kill you!"

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his wand lying a few feet away. "Accio wand!" he shouted and it flew into his hands with no difficultly. "Tell me! Tell me why I shouldn't kill you! Tell me why, you don't deserve to die right here, right now," he managed to spit out through gritted teeth.

"Because they all deserved it."

Harry stared down into those cold, grey eyes and felt sick. How could he have ever loved anyone like that?

He pushed Malfoy away and stood up, wand still trained on him. Then without hesitation said the only spell that came to mind.

"Avada Kedavra."

Malfoy's eyes widened, then froze as he fell back into the dirt.

For a moment Harry stared numbly at the pale, lifeless figure before him. Then he turned his back and headed over to where Dumbledore and Voldemort still dueled, both sweaty and drenched in blood. This ends now, he thought just as Dumbledore's body fell to the ground.

He felt nothing as he watched his former mentor, nor when his former classmate and friend Dean Thomas collapsed by his side. He couldn't hear anything but the pounding of his heart and the voice inside his head that said, "This is it." He only saw the back of the cloaked figure a few feet in front of him.

"Voldemort."

His voice was calm as if he were calling Ron across the common room to play a game of Wizard Chess.

Voldemort turned and stared at the young man in front of him. "Famous Harry Potter. It's time to do what I should have done years ago."

"Then do it. I'm tired of playing your games, Tom."

"You are either very brave of very foolish to use my name so freely, Harry."

"I'm not afraid of you. I never was, you mudblood."

Both raised their wands.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Two voices yelled at the same time and both men stared at each other, nothing but silence enveloping them. Eyes widened in shock and then realization at what had just happened. And Harry smiled. It was finally over. After nine years, the battle was over. He had killed Voldemort once and for all. He was going to see his mother and father and Sirius again. He would be with his loved ones. His smile widened. Then the two bodies dropped to the ground simultaneously, The Boy Who Lived and The Dark Lord defeated.