Chapter 4: When One Journey Ends, Another Begins
A few weeks later, Harry felt that Voldemort would attack at any moment. Unfortunately, he was right. On the Easter Holidays, students ran into the Great Hall screaming like mad. Harry knew that this would be the last time he saw Riddle. That was the night that either Harry or Voldemort, would cease to exist. Mostly everyone hoped for the latter, although there were a select few that didn't.
Voldemort was nowhere to be seen. Harry said goodbye to a weeping Hermione, and a teary Ron. They told him that it wasn't goodbye, it was `I'll see you tomorrow'. Harry left the two to fight off the Death Eaters.
Harry walked down to the grounds. His instincts were right. Standing there by the lake was Tom Marvolo Riddle himself.
"Well, well Potter, I thought I'd have to go in there after you," Voldemort sneered.
"As always Riddle, you thought wrong," Harry yelled.
"Shall we get this over with Harry? I'm pretty sure that it will be painless. As I told you before, I cannot tell you what it feels like."
"We end this now Riddle," said Harry with a set face.
The duel was long. Harry fought endlessly, his legs, however were becoming tired. After dodging another killing curse, Harry took the Gryffindor Sword and drove it through Voldemort's `heart'.
Voldemort screamed. His face showed all the pain that coursed through his body. At long last, a black sort of fog came out of Voldemort's snake like mouth, and he fell over. His lifeless body was lying on the ground.
Harry had never been happier. It's over! It's over! It's finally over! He left the body there and headed back to the castle. His happiness didn't end. He saw that the students and teachers had defeated the Death Eaters. He was happy to see that no one from the DA had died, just injured. Then he saw her. Harry ran towards Hermione.
He picked her up and swung her around. Ron came running over. They stood there hugging each other.
"I can't believe it guys, it's done, it's finished, I'm free!" Harry exclaimed.
They all cried together, but they were tears of joy. Harry then felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and came face to face with Albus Dumbledore.
"Professor, it's over. He's dead," Harry said.
"Congratulations Harry, I am very proud of you. I say this almost every year but I'll say it again; you have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I believe Madam Pomfrey would like to see you all in the Hospital Wing. Oh and Harry?" asked Dumbledore. Harry turned to look at him.
"Yes Professor?"
"Please, call me Albus. I daresay we've been through enough for you to call me by my first name" he said with the usual twinkle in his eye. Harry smiled and walked away with his best friend, and the love of his life.
~
Weeks had gone by since the defeat of Voldemort. Daily Prophet reporters were snooping around to get a chance to interview Harry. N.E.W.T.S came and went, and Harry thought that he did pretty well.
A week before the end of term, they got their results. It turned out, that Harry was the top student right below Hermione.
Then the day came: Graduation Day. Hermione was their year's Valedictorian.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to welcome to the stage, the smartest witch to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione Granger!" said Albus Dumbledore at the ceremony.
" Hey everyone. I want to say that these have been the best seven years of my life. I met lots of wonderful people like Harry and the Weasleys, and lots of other people here as well like the teachers and most of the students. Thank you all for being so kind to me even if I was and remain to this day a Muggle-born. All of you are wonderful, and you all have a special place in my heart. Congratulations Class of 1998, we did it!"
Everyone clapped. Hermione's parents were crying, along with Mrs. Wealsey. Most of the seventh year girls were crying also. Hermione ran down to her boys. She hugged Ron first, and then kissed Harry full on the lips.
It was another one of their tears of joy moments. But they were sad that they wouldn't be able to see each other at every waking moment of the day. After promising Mrs. Weasley that they would visit The Burrow at least once a week, Harry pulled Hermione off to `their spot by the lake'.
"Can you believe it `Mione? We are fully fledged adults witches and wizards now!" Harry exclaimed.
"Yeah. The only bad thing is I might not be able to see you everyday," Hermione sobbed.
Yeah…that's what she thinks.
Harry dropped to his right knee and took her hand in his. He pulled out a box and opened it. It was the most beautiful ring Hermione had ever seen. It had a diamond in the middle that was surrounded by small ruby and sapphire gems, their birthstones.
"Hermione Granger, after seven years, I know you might be starting to get sick of me. But will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Harry asked with a sheepish smile.
"What do you think?" Hermione asked him. His smile faded and his face turned a very unhealthy shade of white. "Of course I'll marry you!" she exclaimed.
Harry placed the ring on her finger, and pulled her behind the old oak tree.
Somewhere in Heaven, Lily and James Potter were looking down on their son and his new fiancé. James put his arm around Lily's waist. The two adults smiled down at the young couple.
"They're just like us, aren't they sweetie?" James asked his wife.
"They sure are, James. Exactly like us."
~*~*~END~*~*~
A/N: Hey guys. That's the end of my first fic. I know it wasn't the best, but hey, I tried! I have a few ideas that have been on my mind for a bit now, so don't think you've seen the last of me! :D ;)
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