True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)

Chapter XXXVIII {Man Up!}

we emerge, dripping, from the Pensieve and stare at each other. Harry, face red from crying, looks pained. i, just plain shocked. 

the castle is eerily quiet as Harry speed walks, me running at his heels. the portraits around us empty. as we reach the end of the corridor, he turns and stops. in the shadows of the alcove, Hermione whispers to Ron, their faces close. for a long moment, Harry simply watches them. then as if sensing his presence, Hermione turns. instantly she runs to us, Ron follows.

"where've you two been?" Hermione asks

"we'd thought you'd gone to the forest, we thought you might be-" Ron begins

"I'm going there now." Harry interrupts

"Harry, no!" i say

"its...meant to be." he says

"rubbish! you can't just give yourself up to him-" Ron says

"what is it, Harry? Vanessa? what do you two know?" Hermione asks

"there's a reason i can hear them--the Horcruxes." Harry says

Hermione begins to shake her head, not wanting to believe. Harry simply nods, touching the center of his chest.

"i think i've known for a while." Harry says "i think you've known too."

"i'll go with you. i'll-" i offer

i begin to cry before i even realize it. 

"Harry please-" i beg

Harry looks into my eyes and grabs my hands, holding them in his.

"kill the snake. kill the snake and then its just him. then it will be over." he says to me soothingly

i let out a loud sob and pull him to me. i wrap my arms around him. what would i do without him? he's one of my best friends. what am i gonna do without him? 

he releases me and then turns, leaving us. we stand silently, watching every step he takes until he reaches the end...and is gone.

and then suddenly...i don't know what to do. my head begins spinning and the world around me gets blurry. the tears had attacked my eyes. my knees become weak and i feel myself begin falling. i don't resist or try to fight it. i just fall. but before i hit the ground strong arms wrap around me and pull me up again. 

i blink and see Draco, holding me closely. i let out an extremely loud sob that sends Hermione into hysterics. 

"shh. shh" Draco says running his fingers through my hair

"Draco..he..he's gone." i say through the sobs

he doesn't say anything, he just kisses a tear away and holds me tighter. 

hours. hours i have been sitting here. on the steps that lead out into the courtyard, with hope he may come back. with hope that he will come back and say he won. 

Draco sits next to me, holding me closely. 

for hours i have been miserable. 

"who's that?" Ginny says

i didn't even know she was out here. i turn around and see everyone. everyone that was fighting standing with her.

"who's that Hagrid's carrying?" Ginny repeats

i look out and see a mob of people, Death Eaters. Hagrid, who distinctively stands out, is carrying a limp body. 

"i can't look." i say turning into Draco. he wraps an arm around me as i nuzzle into his chest.