Half-Blood Princess Book Seven

Chapter 29 - The End

Third-Person POV

2nd May 1998

Neville walks out of the hall, limping as he goes, finding the sorting hat in the rubble and dusts it off as more people come out to see the early morning sun. Neville looks ahead, sees the army of Death Eaters heading towards them and calls out to everyone left inside to come out. Narcissa holds Tilly's cold dead hand as her husband carries the girl in his arms. She couldn't help but glance and play with the ring on Tilly's finger; clearly knowing what it meant, Narcissa knew it was from her son. All she could think about was how much this would break him. Voldemort walks in front, moving anything in the way of his followers, with the Malfoy's and Tilly behind him, and then Hagrid and Harry. McGonagall and Snape walk out of the hall, looking out at the crowd. The older woman sees the boy in Hagrid's arms before anyone else and lets out a shrill scream as her heat cracks in two.

"Harry Potter...Is dead!" Voldemort cries out as the screams from Ginny and Minerva increase. "Silence, stupid girl." He backhands Ginny, causing Arthur to pull her back. "Harry Potter is dead. From this day forward, you will put your faith... in me." Voldemort tries to reason while also insulting every last one of them. Everyone watches will fear as Voldemort turns back to his army and yells out. "Harry Potter is dead!" Causing all of them to start to laugh and cry out in joy. "And now is the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us." Voldemort waits for a second, seeing no one move and continues. "Or die." His voice is light and airy, but his words are full of malice. No one moves, not even an inch, not ever Draco moves as all he can think about is Tilly, where she is, and if she's okay.

"Draco!" Bella calls out to her nephew, knowing Lucius is hidden behind people due to the girl in his arms, and Narcissa won't leave her side. "Draco, come." She calls once more, and he looks around at the people he's fought beside, people who've saved him, and he chooses to find out the truth first. Slowly he makes his way to the front, not looking at anyone knowing they are all disapproving of his move. Voldemort walks over to the approaching boy and goes to embrace him in a hug, but Draco holds out his hand, stopping the man in his tracks. The two stands between the two armies, smack back in the middle as if representing Draco's choice of which side he will go with.

"What is it, Draco?" Voldemort asks the boy, praying it's not what he believes.

"Where is she?" Draco looks into the man's red eyes before him, not wavering in courage, knowing he has to do this for Tilly. "Where is she?" He asks louder, this time gaining the attention of everyone. Voldemort lifts his hand, and in a come hither motion, Lucius makes his way through the crowd, with Narcissa next to him. Walking to their son, Voldemort shields the boy from the sight until they are only a meter away, and Lucius lays the dead girl on the ground at Draco's feet. He doesn't look down, knowing that he'll break down and fall apart the second he does.

"I'm sorry, Draco, but the Dark Lady... Tilly made the ultimate sacrifice for us tonight." Voldemort tries to comfort the boy unsuccessfully. He turns to the crowd before him. "You may have lost Harry Potter, be we've lost someone to, and we shall fight for her, as you will for him." Draco glances down at the girl at his feet before falling beside her, as tears stream down his face and piercing cries bleed from his throat. Everyone feels his pain in their hearts; no matter what side they are on, everyone feels the pain of losing someone you love.

Neville limps his way forward, keeping his head down, as everyone still focuses on Draco and Tilly. Slowly people's attention is drawn to Neville, making many of his friends close their eyes in shock while Voldemort jokes about his weaker appearance.

"And who might you be, young man?" He taunts.

"Neville Longbottom." He speaks up, causing the Death Eaters to all laugh.