Standard disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Warner Brothers. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended. This is merely for entertainment purposes.
The Final….Closing Scene…Book 7.
Rated PG-13
Part II, Ron's POV
Ron Weasley was out of breath when he finally reached the 7th year boys' dormitory in Gryffindor Tower.
"Where is it? Where is it?" he muttered as he tore apart his trunk. "Ah, here it is!"
He brandished the latest edition of Inside Quidditch! magazine in front of Seamus Finnegan.
"Let me see!" Seamus demanded.
"Oh, it's priceless," Ron said as he riffled through the pages. "This is a great photo-shoot. Just check out how the wind keeps whipping up her robes. I keep hoping that it'll change and you'll get to see just a little more."
Seamus was mesmerized at the sight. "Why'd Delphina agree to do this? I mean, the way she's sitting on that broomstick…"
Ron snorted, "She found her fiancé, Barton Killingsley, in bed with a set of blonde twins."
"Ooooh, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes," Seamus said looking sideways at the picture, "Delphina is one of the best Beaters in the league, and the Canons are playing against the Harpies this weekend."
"Yeah," Ron chuckled, "I doubt that he'll be able to do anything, but try and dodge the hail of Bludgers she'll be sending his way."
Ron and Seamus stared for what seemed like an hour at the beautiful young witch that was looking defiantly at the camera and wearing a special Quidditch robe with nothing on underneath it. They were watching how the silk fabric flapped around her curves, occasionally showing large flashes of skin. They became lost in their reverie and were totally unaware of the chaos that was happening in the castle, so they were surprised when the door to their dormitory opened and an ashen-faced Neville Longbottom entered.
"Neville, what's wrong?" Ron asked.
He tried to speak at first but no words came out. Then he swallowed and said, "Death Eaters…downstairs. They're in the process of taking over the castle."
A chill ran through Ron's body. "How many?"
"I dunno. There's only two downstairs now, but they've taken everybody's wands as they enter the Common Room. I think by nightfall, they plan on having complete control and holding us all as hostages."
"Why'd they let you come upstairs?" Seamus asked.
"They didn't want to be outnumbered. Even if we weren't armed, there would be too many people that might attack them. So they're trying to round everyone up and then keep us trapped in our dormitory rooms, while they work to secure the perimeter. I overheard them say that the Owlery was secured as well."
Seamus grabbed his wand and started toward the door, Ron saw this and blocked his way. "No, Seamus, we have to think. They don't know we're upstairs. We left dinner early because of this stupid magazine picture, so we've still got our wands, but…"
"Come on, Ron," Seamus pleaded, "we've got the element of surprise on our side. And, we're evenly matched, there are two of us and two of them."
Ron gave him a scathing look. "You have no idea what you are talking about. They'd kill us in a heartbeat, and then any chance of beating them might be lost. Neville, do you have any idea where Harry or Hermione are?"
Neville scratched his head. "I think Harry was going to the library to look something up."
"Harry?" Ron asked. "Sure that wasn't Hermione?"
"No. She went off with Snape to do something."
"Snape," repeated Ron tonelessly. "I wonder if he's part of this or not. Is he with us or against us? Harry and Hermione are out there, and we don't know what's going on with them."
Neville shook his head.
Ron sat down dejectedly on his bed, and put his head in his hands. "Wait, we'll just have to wait."
Time seemed to crawl, while the anxiety inside Ron began to build. A few screams in the distance were heard and he had to hold himself in check to not move from his hiding place. He had been relatively certain that the Death Eaters wouldn't want to try and enter the dormitories, the threat of being ambushed was too great. Instead, he figured they'd be content waiting downstairs and controlling the portrait hole exit. He just didn't know how long he'd be able to be patient and wait to act.
Seamus meanwhile was busy rigging a booby-trap for the door should anyone try to enter, he didn't care if Dean or Harry got blasted if they tried to enter their room, because Seamus could always perform the counter-charm.
Neville sat stone-faced on his bed and didn't say a word.
Ron began re-packing his trunk in the hopes that it would keep his mind occupied while he waited, when Fawkes flew through the walls and fluttered down at his feet. He was shocked to see the phoenix, but he quickly grabbed the letter that was held in the bird's beak.
Ron,
This is an emergency! Get my father's cloak and map and go to the Hogshead Inn and tell Aberforth that you need a bezoar. Use my Firebolt, and then bring the stone to me at the chapel behind the cemetery.
Hermione's life is at stake, there is no time to waste.
Harry
Ron unlocked Harry's trunk and found the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map that was carefully hidden on the bottom, and then grabbed the broomstick. Ron tapped his wand and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," and watched as the lines spread over the map showing the interior of Hogwarts castle and its grounds.
"What's that?" Seamus asked peering over Ron's shoulder.
"A map," he said scanning it and seeing for the first time dozens of names of people who weren't students at the school.
"How come you didn't bring that out earlier?" Seamus asked.
Ron gave him a withering look. "It's Harry's stuff, and lately he's kept these things in his book bag, so…I didn't think about it." He went back to surveying the map, "Damn. Where is the chapel and the cemetery?"
"Over there," Neville said as he pointed on the map.
"Thanks," Ron said as he swallowed hard. He saw Harry and Hermione's names inside the building, as well as four Death Eaters who appeared to be posted outside. He grabbed a handful of dungbombs and put them into his pants pocket, and thrust the map inside his robe pocket. He then mounted the broomstick, threw the Invisibility Cloak over his head and opened the window.
"Wish me luck," Ron called out.
"Where are you going?" Seamus asked.
"To try and save us all," he replied as he zoomed out on the fastest broomstick on earth.
Ron had always enjoyed flying on Harry's broom, but now he felt no pleasure, only a sense of impending doom. He willed it to go faster, and faster, as he held securely onto the Invisibility Cloak. He flew around the Quidditch Pitch rather than a direct route around the castle, because he wanted to avoid any potential entanglements with Voldemort's minions. He flew over and past the Whomping Willow and through a bit of the Forbidden Forest until he had a chance to fly in a circuitous route to Hogsmeade. He figured that the Death Eaters might have already cast enchantments on the gates of Hogwarts, but he doubted they'd have gotten to the more dodgy areas of the castle grounds.
Hogsmeade wasn't the bustling town that Ron remembered from the weekend outings. It seemed almost deserted. That suited him, because he didn't want to have to deal with anyone. He was on a mission, and couldn't allow for any delays. He opened the door to the Hog's Head Inn and walked directly behind the bar and stuck the handle of the broomstick in the small of the bartender's back.
"Aberforth," Ron hissed in his ear, "I'm here on business for the Order. Take me to your backroom."
The old man nodded, and grunted to a waiter, "Hey Oscar, watch the bar for a minute, I gotta get something from the stockroom."
Aberforth opened a door that had blended in with the wall, and torches magically became lit as they entered a cramped supply room crammed with dusty bottles, wine casks and a small goat pen in the corner.
"Show yourself," he commanded as the door behind them closed.
Ron took off the cloak, "I'm Ron Weasley, and I need a bezoar."
"A bezoar?" he said scratching his beard. "What makes you think I've got one of them?"
"Look, my best friend's life is in danger, she must have been poisoned, Death Eaters have taken over Hogwarts and I don't have time to argue with you. Harry Potter seemed to think you had one, or could get me one, so please help me."
"Why didn't you say so?" Aberforth said as he reached onto a top shelf and grabbed the dustiest bottle and tapped his wand on it. The bottle changed into a small leather pouch, and it was handed to Ron. "Inside you'll find your bezoar. Here, go out the back way, and I'll send word to your father. You'll soon have some help."
The barkeeper then tapped his wand in quick succession over a few bricks and a small doorway opened to the outside. Ron became invisible again and was quickly flying with the strings of the pouch tightly wound around his wrists.
As he flew near the chapel, he saw the four sentries still posted outside the entrance. He grabbed the dungbombs and hurled them in four different directions hoping that they'd each try to identify the source of the smoke. As soon as the momentary coast was clear, he opened the door of the church, looking out of breath and frantic.
Harry Potter ran to his friend and took the stone from him. Ron was staring at the front of the church at Hermione, as tears began to fall down his cheeks. He had avoided thinking of what might have befallen her, but now as he saw her lifeless body, his fear took hold of him.
"She's not…" he began.
"I don't know," said Harry as he hurriedly went back to her side.
Harry touched her cold face and pried her jaw open to place the small stone under her tongue.
Ron didn't know what had happened to Hermione, he just hoped that Harry was right and that the bezoar would save her. He didn't want to think of losing her forever.
Ron came forward, knelt, and bowed his head in front of Hermione. He began to fervently pray to God that she not die, that she be saved.
"Don't leave me," Harry pleaded. "I need you, Hermione. You've always been by my side. I can't make it without you. I love you, Hermione," he said as he gently kissed her cold, lifeless lips.
Ron looked up startled. "Since when did Harry start loving her," he wondered. "I've loved her for years, and now he's…" Ron stopped himself mid-thought, knowing that feeling jealous wouldn't help bring Hermione back to life. They both needed to pray for her.
Harry continued to kiss Hermione, and then there were signs of life. Ron felt his heart jump when he saw her looking up at Harry.
"She's alive!" Ron thought with great relief.
"Harry," she said grasping his hand.
"You're alive," he croaked as he helped her sit up. "Be careful, there's a stone in your mouth," he warned as he helped her remove it.
She looked at him and appeared groggy at first, but quickly recovered as tears welled in her eyes.
"I couldn't move at all, but I heard everything. I heard everything you said," Hermione whispered. "I love you, Harry. I've always loved you."
Ron felt as if a knife had pierced his heart, because he realized that Hermione had lied to him. He had asked her to be his girlfriend a few months before, but she turned him down and said that she didn't have time for romance, because she had to concentrate on their upcoming N.E.W.T.s and employment applications. She led him to believe that once they finished Hogwarts, they might be able to date at that time. He now knew that she never had any romantic thoughts about him, because he wasn't Harry. Ron began to fume, he should have known. She had always been obsessed about Harry. Harry, she loved Harry. It was always Harry. He was the one with the fame, the money, who got all the attention, and now he got the girl, a girl that Harry had never shown any romantic interest in at all. Harry never had to work for anything, anything.
Harry crushed Hermione in his arms and clung to her. Tears were running down both of their faces. Ron could see the love and devotion that they had for one another. Ron then felt pangs of guilt and shame. His two best friends were in love with each other, and here he was feeling sorry for himself. He then reminded himself that Harry's fame and attention was all because he had somehow survived a murder attempt when he was a baby, that Harry didn't have his parents, and had to grow up with nasty, horrible Muggle relatives, and had spent the last few years dodging a psychopathic murderer. Ron felt miserable for thinking such thoughts against his best friends. He loved them both, and could see their strong bond of love for each other. How could he stand in their way?
Harry then looked at the hourglass, and saw that there were only a few minutes left. He kissed Hermione on the forehead and held her at arms length with his hands on her shoulders, "I couldn't have lived with myself, if you had died. I didn't know what I was going to do, but now that both you and Ron are here, I know the course I must take."
Harry looked Ron squarely in the eye. "Voldemort knows that he and I share a magical bond between us. If I die, he dies. That's why he wants me alive, but I will never serve him." Harry then cradled Hermione's face in his hands, "I'd love to try and start a new life with you somewhere far away like Barbados, and try to forget everything and everyone we left behind, but it wouldn't work. We couldn't be happy knowing that people here were being tortured and killed so that we could try to live `normal lives.' I couldn't bear it if Ron, Ginny or the twins or anyone else were harmed. And if I don't do this, he will kill you and I couldn't bear for that to happen."
"What are you going to do?" asked Hermione fearfully.
"The only thing that I can do. I have to say goodbye to this life, for everyone's sake."
"No, Harry, you can't kill yourself," Hermione said forcefully.
"You're right," he said kissing her cheek. "I can't do that."
Harry then turned and placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "I need your help. When he returns, I need for you to do the biggest favour anyone could ever ask. You were willing to die for me in our first year, in order to stop him. Now I need you to do what I can't, you must stop him by killing me."
Ron had a look of terror in his eyes. "Harry, please, no…"
"It's the only way," Harry insisted. "Use the Severing Charm on me, only do it clean. I don't want to end up like Sir Nick."
"Harry - I-" protested Ron.
"You must give me your word," said Harry firmly. Ron looked resolute and nodded.
Hermione embraced Harry and sobbed on his shoulder. He calmly stroked her hair.
"Take care of her for me," said Harry to Ron. "I know you love her as much as I do."
Ron nodded again as he tried to blink back his tears.
As the last emeralds fell through the hourglass, the doors opened and Snape and Voldemort entered the chapel.
Ron had never seen Voldemort in person before, and he felt his body involuntarily shudder at the sight of that gray, snake-like face. Pure evil emanated from his body, and it caused Ron's blood to turn ice-cold.
"Well, well, it seems that Snape didn't kill the little Mudblood after all," Voldemort said. "You surprised me and you know how I dislike surprises. I didn't realize that you had a soft spot for young love, Severus. That is a weakness that I shall deal with later. But it does allow for a greater dilemma for you, Harry Potter. Now I can see exactly how much she means to you. It would be a pity for you to lose her twice Harry, but if you don't join me, I will kill her myself with you as a witness."
Ron felt a surge of anger well inside of him. He did not want to follow through on Harry's request, but knew that it was the only way. He gripped the wand that was hidden in his pocket and was simply waiting for the sign.
Harry then gave Hermione one last kiss, walked over to the table and nodded to Ron who lifted his wand and uttered the Severing Charm.
As Voldemort began to comprehend what was happening he yelled, "NOOOOOOO!!!!!"
It was too late. No amount of wand work from the most evil sorcerer of all time could stop the decapitation of Harry Potter, nor of the parallel decapitation of Voldemort. Blood spilled forth like twin fountains from the two bodies, one young and red, one old and black. The blood mixed in the air and on the floor.
Ron was overcome with emotion, and began to weep. He had voluntarily killed his best friend. The boy he had shared so much with, the boy he had befriended so long ago on their first train ride to school. He would now be known as The Man Who Killed The Boy Who Lived. Ron hated himself.
Hermione was covered in Harry's blood and sank to her knees and prayed. "You can't leave me Harry, you can't leave me, I love you, you can't leave me, I won't let you," she said fervently.
A rush of wind blew the doors to the chapel open and a swirl of leaves encircled the altar. As it moved around the room, an ethereal glow emanated from it. Ron looked up in surprise to see Harry's dead body rise up and his head re-attach itself in mid-air.
Harry was gently lowered to the ground and was smiling at Hermione when she opened her eyes.
"I think you found a way to unlock that special door that Dumbledore told me about," he said.
She laughed and cried as she kissed him. Harry held her close to him, and then whispered, "Thank you for saving my life."
"Sure, anytime. Thank you for saving mine."
Ron was having a hard time understanding how Harry was now standing before him, alive and smiling.
"Wh-what happened?" Ron asked. "You - you were dead, and now…"
"Voldemort was defeated by a power that he's never known. Your love for me, helped give me the strength and courage to do the right thing, but Hermione's love was strong enough to resurrect me to life. What saved me was the Power of Love."
Hermione gave Harry a knowing smile and then said, "It's strong and it's sudden. It can be cruel sometimes…"
Harry started to laugh and joined in with her singing, "But it might just saaave your liiiife."
Ron frowned at them, he figured it must be some Muggle cultural thing, "You two are mental."
"Yeah, well, it's been one of those days," Harry admitted. "Thank goodness I'm done with school...I'd hate to think that next year in June I could face anything worse."
Snape walked over to them, and wore a genuine smile on his face.
"You did well, Harry," he said. "You passed the test with flying colours. No one can claim that your defeat of the Dark Lord this time was by sheer luck. It was due to your stout heart. And look," he said rolling up his left sleeve. "The Dark Mark is gone. His followers will be abandoning their posts knowing that their Master has been defeated. A new day has dawned, and now there is a brighter future. Thanks to you and your friends."
Ron and Harry exchanged a look; Snape had just complimented all of them. That was something that no one, not even Trelawney would have predicted. Ron gave a low smile; he could never stay mad at Harry. They had shared so much together over the years; he couldn't think of anyone that he felt closer to than Harry Potter.
"Harry," Hermione said touching his forehead, "your scar. It's gone."
"Is it?" he said sounding surprised and happy. He looked at the body of the dead wizard on the floor. "Good. That means that I'm finally freed of him and that wretched prophecy."
Hermione slid her arm behind Harry's back as they walked out of the chapel into the rays of the setting sun. Ron walked behind them, and began to wonder just what the future had in store for them now that they were not only done with school, but also that the ever present fear of Voldemort was over.
Ron felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders as well. He no longer had to worry about his best friend's life being in constant danger, and he now knew exactly where he stood with Hermione. He still cared deeply for her, but he was now free to seek love with someone else. Someone who would hopefully be as fiercely devoted to him as Hermione was for Harry.
Tonight was a night to celebrate, and Ron was ready for that. The trio of friends had been through so much together, ever since that fateful night when they worked together to knock out a mountain troll. And tonight, they worked together to destroy the most evil wizard of all time, and in the process saved each others lives again. It had been a rough day, and Ron was ready to celebrate life, and that he was truly alive. This celebration would be more than a simple party after a win in a Quidditch match, this would be celebrating Life, and their future.
Tomorrow would be a new day, and for the first time in several years there was hope for peace. Ron even dared to hope that Harry might be able to live his dream of having a "normal life" as a wizard. Sure, Harry would still be known as "The Boy Who Lived" and now "The Young Man Who Vanquished Voldemort," but he wouldn't be as quite as recognizable in public now that he no longer bore that accursed scar.
***
Author's notes: I wanted to especially thank Dome 36 for urging me to write this piece from Ron and Hermione's perspectives. I have never done that before, but it was an interesting exercise which allowed me to expand some of the surrounding plot points that set up this scene.
I'd also like to thank those who reviewed my previous installment of this fic:
C.K. Talons, Gal-Texter, Goldgrin, HarryHerm84, Heaven, Hermione Granger, JF, Joogie, Lahdidah, LilLamb, Magical Me, Marie Granger, Miss Moral, Musique, NAPPA, Obsessedharryfan, Padfoot, Puck_NC, Red_Gold_Phoenix, Romulus Lupin, Shayna4H/Hr,
JF had wanted me to try and do a songfic with Bonnie Tyler's song, "Holding Out for a Hero." Sorry, but songfics just aren't my thing. I'll work in a line or two, but that's just about it. My muse doesn't do FILKs either.
Romulus Lupin (Gil) had asked me to try and write the last few chapters and not just the last scene. Hopefully, by expanding this scene from three perspectives it'll help to satisfy his request. If not, oh well.
I'll post Hermione's POV, once I'm satisfied that I'm done wordsmithing it.
10
-->