Ride the lighting

Part 16

Harry walked through the grounds slowly but with determination. He could do this, he had too!

He walked passed the spot where Hagrid's cabin had burnt down the year before, and into the tree line.

He walked and walked, tripping over stray twigs and vines as he went, not bothering to light his wand or even look where he was going.

He knew where Voldermort was, he could feel him. Harry supposed the Horcrux inside him recognised the presence of its counterpart, especially as with every step his scar hurt more.

After at least ten minutes Harry stopped. He felt the presence of another person and turned, holding his wand out. He didn't care if it was a death eater, they wouldn't kill him, he knew Voldermort wanted him for himself, but if any of his friends had followed him, trying to get him to stop, he wanted to be ready to deal with them, most probably with a full body bind.

He looked around but he couldn't see or hear anyone so he continued on, only stopping again when a twig broke behind him. He cast a quick 'Lumos' but still nothing so he put his wand down and took a breath.

He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the Golden Snitch that Dumbledore had left him. He hadn't looked at in months. Working out the riddle seemed less important once Hermione told him she was pregnant and he had to not only look for Horcruxes but look for food and safety for his unborn child.

The baby. His child was the reason he was doing this. He held the Snitch up to his mouth and whispered "I am ready to die," watching in awe as the snitch opened and revealed stone from the Gaunt family ring. Dumbledore had bequeathed the Resurrection Stone to him.

He closed his eyes and clenched his fist around the stone. He felt the air around him change. It went cold but not the cold of an approaching dementor, just cooler. He opened his eyes and in front of him were his parents and godfather.

"Mum. Dad. I... I have to. I never wanted you to sacrifice yourselves for me, especially as it seems I am meant to die, I'm sorry."

Lily put her hand on his shoulder and he was certain he could almost feel it, even if she was a ghost. "We would sacrifice ourselves everyday for eternity for you my angel. Just as you are for your child."

"You know?" Harry questioned.

"We're always by your side Harry, we know," Sirius chimed in.

"We'll stay by your side son, right to the end," James spoke up.

Harry nodded and gave a weak smile to his family, then opened his hand and let the stone fall to the floor.

He gathered the last of his strength and began to walk again closing in on Voldermort and his army.

...

Neville stood at the door to the Great Hall with his wand in his hand. He had just helped levitate another fallen wizard, one he didn't know, and lay him with the other bodies.

He couldn't stand the scene in front of him. What was the point? Why did all these people die if Harry was just going to give up and Voldermort was going to win anyway?

Neville couldn't let it happen. He turned and went to make his way to the door and into the ground when he tripped over some rubble.

He pulled himself up and found what had caught his foot. The Sorting Hat was wrapped around his shoe.

Neville picked it up and made his way into the grounds.

...

Voldermort stood impatiently waiting, keeping Nagini beside him in a cage protected by magic. He expected the foolish Order to try and mount some last ditch attempt at stopping him, especially as they had not produced Harry Potter within the time he had given them.