Harry Potter stood on the top of a hill millions of miles from civilization, trembling and hardly believing his eyes. With the sword of Godric Gryffindor in one hand and his wand in the other, Harry had just singly handily defeated the most powerful dark wizard on the face of the Earth. Voldemort.
It had all happened so fast. A flurry of lights, Voldemort laughing, Harry falling to the ground thinking he was going to die. But Hermione flashed before his eyes and with unknown strength, Harry pushed himself off the ground and drove the sword right through Voldemort's black heart. Writhing in agony, Voldemort crumpled and died. The Second War was officially over.
Exhaustion finally setting in, Harry slowly kneeled in the dirt, dropping the bloody sword. He breathed in softly, the lack of fresh air starting to give him a headache. He was dirty, hurt, and tired, but he had won. He had saved the Wizarding World. The first signs of a smile started to grow on his face, he was so glad it was over. So many had died in order for this day to happen but now so many more would keep on living.
Harry glanced up at the darkening sky and sighed. He had been waiting for this moment to come for so long that it was hard for him to believe that it was actually over. His destiny had been fulfilled, it was the strangest feeling in the world. But then a new feeling filled him, one of total joy.
I can finally go home to Hermione! he thought.
This simple statement excited him beyond belief. It had been so long since he had left her and Harry missed her deeply. To not have Hermione there, fighting beside him and just being with him, had been one of the greatest pains Harry had ever gone through. She was his constant support and then she wasn't there for the biggest thing to ever happen in his life.
But had he really wanted her there? If Hermione had been there for the battle, her life would only have been in danger and Harry knew he wouldn't have been able to protect her in the way he wanted to. Leaving her behind had been the best decision but it also hadn't been.
Harry's greatest fear was that once he returned to Hogwarts, his feelings for Hermione would not be shared anymore. Could she have given up on him? Did she maybe think he would break his promise and that she shouldn't wait around for him? Had she moved on?
No! Harry thought angrily to himself. Don't think like that, Potter! You know Hermione, you know she loves you, she said so herself. And you haven't been gone that long, how could she have moved on already? You know she's waiting for you.
Harry desperately tried to reassure himself but he couldn't help the doubts that filled his mind. He knew he shouldn't doubt though, he should trust Hermione, he had for this long.
Harry shook his head, breaking away from his thoughts. He stood up again, swaying slightly. Grabbing the sword once more and tucking his wand into his pocket, Harry slowly made his way down the barren hill. He somehow found his cloak in the dirt and performed a quick cleaning spell before throwing it over his shoulders to block out the slight chill in the wind. Harry turned his gaze toward the setting sun, watching the rays of gold turn to pink and red. It was a beautiful sight.
"I can't believe I survived," he whispered, finally letting the reality sink in.
But Harry had survived only for one reason. As the battle with Voldemort had raged on and grown more and more difficult, only one name was going through his head. Hermione. The promise he had made to her had stayed with him and he had to win the fight because of it, he had never broken a promise to Hermione before.
The promise wasn't the only thing though. There was something that Voldemort would never understand, the thing that Harry possessed that Voldemort did not. Love. That had been the key. The strong surge of love running through him for Hermione had saved him. Though he had loved Hermione for years, knowing she loved him in return had been the extra amount to make Harry more powerful then Voldemort. Hearing her say the words to him had made the Dark Lord's demise possible.
Harry owed Hermione so much. She was the reason behind everything he did. She was the reason why every year he kept fighting and trying to be the hero. She was the reason that he didn't collapse and just give up. She was reason he always kept going. Hermione was his reason.
Harry sighed and watched as the sun disappeared from view. It was now time to return home. He wanted to so badly but it was a strange sensation to know that his work was finally over. Well, maybe not completely over, the task of finishing up and putting away the last of the Death Eaters was still ahead of him. But that job could wait for a while.
Harry started searching the ground for something he could change into a portkey. He finally found an old bottle and tapped it with his wand, muttering "Portus." The bottle glowed blue before going still.
So this was it. He was finally going back to Hogwarts, back to his friends, back to Hermione. Now was his chance to finally be with Hermione, his feelings didn't need to be hidden anymore. The destruction of Voldemort had reduced the threat of danger. Now Harry could finally be free to love, no more holding back.
"I'm coming, Hermione," he said softly as he reached down for the bottle.
Harry straightened and smiled. It was time.
She was the reason he survived. She was the reason he was coming home.
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Author's Note: Ok, I am really sorry for this incredibly short chapter and I know I said this
would be the last one but it didn't work out that way. I felt I needed to throw in one more chapter about Harry,
though it is a short one. Just a few more of his feelings before the official LAST CHAPTER. Again, terribly sorry about
the shortness of this chapter, I absolutely promise to try and get the last one up tomorrow! So, don't get mad at
me for this, I'll have the end soon! Thank you so much for supporting this little fic of mine, I love all the
reviews! Please review this chapter too!
Much Love,
PhoenixFirebolt