𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐶𝑋𝐼𝑉.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚-𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙-𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THE NIGHT TURNED into early morning before Caroline could move again. She was angry, so beyond angry. Because Harry had gone to die, leaving her all alone. She didn't believe she was strong enough to kill Voldemort, but Harry knew she was. He took off his bracelet that was connected to her ring as well as his medallion bracelet, placing them safely in his pockets. He couldn't be distracted.

"He said you would feel it, Carol. When he died." Hermione said tearfully in Ron's arms, Caroline pacing angrily in the Great Hall, with everyone else who was still alive.

"I don't know what that means!" Caroline shouted without meaning to. She didn't want to be angry, but she couldn't help it. Once Harry died, she would be all alone. She couldn't follow him, because then she would die with him. Maybe that was better than living without him.

Caroline didn't know it, but the ghosts of everyone she had ever loved were surrounding her in the Great Hall, watching her before they left to be with Harry. Hector and Delilah were there, with Andy and Jacob. Lily and James were there too. They loved her like a daughter. Sirius stood with Remus and Tonks, and Dobby was with him. They were with her, but it wasn't her time to die yet.

They were living in her heart, so they moved to be with Harry, staying close to him, always.

The early morning sun had risen when Caroline felt it. She collapsed to the ground, hand pulling at the skin protecting her heart. She screamed, and her friends rushed over to her, Professor Mcgonagall and Madam Pomfrey with them. They asked her what was wrong, but she couldn't answer. Caroline had never been in this much pain. It felt like her heart and soul were being ripped in half, one essential piece missing.

As she screamed, Caroline heard a voice in her head. She silenced, unnerving everyone around her even more. She wanted to listen. It was three words, over and over. I love you. She knew who it was. Harry was calling to her as he died. She knew he was gone, but she would never say the words out loud until she saw his body, held him in her arms.

In the train station, Harry had a choice. To go on, to be free, to be done, or turn and run back home to Caroline. It took him a mere minute to know what he would choose. In every lifetime, no matter what, Harry Potter would always choose Caroline Taylor-Jones.

Caroline was still on the ground, heaving, a hand on her heart. Harry couldn't be dead. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears escaping. If he was gone, she really would have no one. But an army was approaching the grounds, so Caroline stood up with Ron's help, stumbling outside with the rest of the school, climbing over the rubble.

Neville picked up the sorting hat, and Caroline wiped her tears, swiping blood and dirt from her face. The Death Eaters were coming. If Harry was truly dead, it would be up to Caroline to kill Voldemort. Caroline didn't want to believe that Harry was gone, but it felt more real as Hagrid was dragged into the grounds, carrying a body. Voldemort and his stupid snake led the way, facing the remaining heroes.

Caroline stood between Ginny and Mr. Weasley, gripping the redhead's hand with Neville on Ginny's other side. "Who is that? Hagrid's carrying? Carol, who is it?" Ginny asked quickly, breathing heavily.

She saw the jacket. She recognized the jacket. No, no, no, no, no, Caroline whispered to herself. "Harry Potter..." Voldemort began. No, no, no, no, no, Caroline yelled in her head. "...is dead!"