Defend

Chapter Fifty She Always Does

 I sit between Draco and my best friend, Ginny Weasley. My mum sits behind me, holding hands with my dad. I feel a glimmer of happiness, and glance at Ginny, who's smiling blissfully as she rests her head against her mum's shoulder. I squeeze Draco's hand, and wipe away tears dripping down my face with the other. I believe they're happy tears.

As Neville beheaded Nagini, the last horcrux, the battle was furiously restarted. Ginny, Luna, Hermione, and I got into a duel with Bellatrix, who I was determined to defeat after she tortured me at the Ministry, Malfoy Manor, and for how she treated Neville's parents.

She almost hit Ginny with the killing curse, which launched Harry, who revealed himself to be alive, and I into a fit. Before either of us could do anything, Mrs. Weasley stepped in and defeated her with her powerful motherly love. Voldemort and Harry duelled spectacularly, and with a large burst of light and a crack, Voldemort's killing curse and Harry's classic Expelliarmus met. Voldemort was defeated, turning back into Tom Riddle, dead.

Everyone had been silent, we couldn't process that the second Wizarding War had come to an end. When the realisation did come, we all leapt into the air for joy. Draco gave me a kiss I won't soon forget, and I rushed to hug Harry with Ginny, who gave each other a kiss that rivalled any kiss Draco and I have ever given each other.

And now here I sat, joyous it was all over. I'm not terribly happy, as I still feel the heaviness in my heart at the dead, but I'm also glad it's finished. I learned that Snape died as well, and I couldn't fathom the amount of losses. The war is over, Voldemort is finally defeated, and most of the people I love are here. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the photos I rescued from the room of requirement, infinitely glad I grabbed them before the room of requirement was burned. Moving pictures of Cedric and I, Hermione, Ginny and I during the holidays at the Burrow, even one of Draco and I in Hogsmeade he paid for in third year.

"It's nice to meet you, young man," My smile stretches my face as Ginny nudges me. We watch my dad shake hands with Draco, who finally gets to meet my parents. My mum asks him a question, and the three settle into conversation, causing me to be impossibly happy. The celebrations for the end of the war have been going on for hours, and at first I was adrenaline filled, I'm now incredibly sleepy. It seems impossible that mere hours ago I was hiding in the room of requirement.

"Your boyfriends beckoning," Ginny nudges me again and I see Draco nodding at me. "Go on." She laughs, and I throw my arms around her in an embrace before following him.

"Your turn to meet my mother." He slides his hand into mine and guides me across the Great Hall.

"She's not terribly frightening is she?" I ask, half joking.

"Mum? Absolutely not. She's been begging to meet you, I just know she'll adore you, Eliza."

"Even though I'm a..." I raise my sleeve to reveal the thin white lines that are scars from his aunt, writing 'blood traitor'.

Draco pauses and clasps my upper arms, his grey eyes piercing mine. "She doesn't care. None of that matters anymore. We can leave that all behind us now." He smiles, a smile that isn't forced and I've grown to treasure. "Besides," he smirks, and interlaces his fingers with mine as we continue to his mum. "You'll be sharing our last name soon anyways, and she'll be related to you whether she likes it or not."

~~~~

"Harry, your godson is adorable." I smile, lifting Teddy Lupin into the air and swinging him around. He smiles widely and laughs, an adorable, pure laugh.

"Thanks Eliza." Harry replies, and I'm overjoyed he's alive. Everyone who survived I've become even more grateful for. I don't feel I've recovered from Fred, Remus, Tonks, or any of the other deaths. I still sometimes feel I'm not over Cedric's death, and I know a little piece of me will never be the same after losing my loved ones.