The Enemy of my Enemy

The End

Author's Note: Readers are reminded that this story was never about a pairing, nor were we promised/guaranteed a Happy Ever After.

That being said... enjoy.

"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished."

Faye heard the voice before anyone else. She glided through the empty corridors, across the Entrance Hall where others were coming from the Great Hall, and out of the Oak doors into the courtyard.

Voldemort, Avery, and their army stood on one side of destroyed courtyard. Hagrid stood with them, bound with rope, and bloodied. He was carrying Harry's limp body in his arms.

Faye felt her heart accelerate at the sight. When she had let Harry go a few hours ago, she had intended for him to come back. He had to come back. She knew that's she was more than capable of stopping Voldemort should Harry have failed, but she had hoped that he would've at least lasted a little longer.

More and more people had started to enter the courtyard now, and Voldemort's eyes glinted with amusement as he stared around at them all. He locked eyes with Faye at the very front of the crowd, and his thin non-existent lips spread wide over his face. His teeth gleamed behind it, making it look even more grotesque than normal.

Beside him, also smiling in delight, was Avery.

"Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort announced, happily. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you all lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."

He gestured toward where Hagrid stood.

Faye could've heard a pin drop in the courtyard if someone had decided to do it. No one spoke, no one dared to breathe, it seemed. The breeze rippled through both armies, ruffling up debris and throwing it around the area. Dust curled around the ankles of everyone, but no one paid it much attention.

It was like pressure cooker waiting to go off. All it would take was one spark, and the entire castle would explode.

"There will be no need for war from here on out," Voldemort continued. "Anyone who continues to resist, be they man, woman, or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family."

Faye grit her teeth. Voldemort was staring directly at her as he spoke. His message was clear - disobey me and no one will survive.

"Come kneel before me, worship me as you must, and you will be spared. Your lives will be spared. Your parents, children, brothers, and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will all join me in the new world that we shall build together."

No one moved.

Annoyed by opposition's lack of response, Voldemort's lips pulled back into a sneer and he turned swiftly to Hagrid, pointed his wand, and levitated Harry's body into the air. It rose up between the two groups, as if on a pedestal for the whole world to see.

Harry was then laid to rest on the grass.

"You see?" Voldemort asked. He started to pace back and forth where Harry's body lay. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

"He beat you!" Ron yelled, his voice rising out of the crowd like a firework and exploding in the air. Others followed his lead, their voices echoing throughout the marred courtyard.

Avery held up her hand and curled her fingers inward. Silence fell instantly, as if someone had flipped a switch and turned off the sound.

"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," Voldemort continued, and there was relish in his voice, "killed while trying to save himself -"