Ginny's Story

Chapter 39 Devastating Elation

Chapter 39 Devastating Elation

“Avada Kedavra!”

“Expelliarmus!”

There was a bang like an explosion as the two spells hit. I stood on my toes anxiously, willing Harry’s red jet of light to stay strong, just like I had been doing with him for so many months.

Isn’t it amazing how after such a long time of stressing and fighting, something small ends it all? That small thing was just that single stream of red light coming from Harry’s trained wand.

The red stream of the disarming spell signified so much for everyone. It was the strength that we all had throughout the last tough months; it was the fight we had all put up today; and it was a symbol of hope for us. Hope that everything would turn out okay in the end.

Voldemort’s face contorted with the power of both spells, the killing curse and the disarming spell, until finally his wand flew out of his hand and Harry, with his incredible Seeker reflexes, reached out and caught it.

Voldemort fell backwards with his evil eyes going blank, and his head thrown backwards. His body crumbled onto the ground, limp and unmoving.

It took me a few minutes to actually realise what had happened, but when I finally did realise, my eyes bulged with shock and excitement. Voldemort had been killed! Killed by his own rebounding curse!

I screamed, unable to contain my happiness. I grabbed Mum and we hugged, celebrating the end of our terrible suffering. But of course, it wasn’t the end of our suffering. How could it be when we lost so many people dear to us?

I fought my way through everyone who had flooded around the room from the sidelines, until I saw Harry. He was standing with Ron and Hermione beside him, staring at the feeble body of Voldemort. He had a look of utter shock on his face.

I ran up to Harry just as everyone else reached him too. I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a hug, but it must have been impossible for him tell who was who, since there were so many people surrounding him and trying to get a good look at The Boy Who Lived.

I decided that since I couldn’t actually talk to Harry or even hug him without everyone around, I would save our catching up for a later time.

I stood by one of the shattered windows in the Great Hall, watching the blazing sun. I had forgotten just how beautiful and bright it really was.

Despite the celebratory feeling, there was also the underlying grief, just waiting for an opening to sneak out and bring everyone down. If you thought about it, feelings and grief could be nearly as evil as Voldemort, just trying to bring you down without a second thought. I tried so hard to ignore the feeling of sadness, but it was impossible. How could anyone ignore the losses we had all undergone?

I turned my back to the window and saw the rows of bodies, still and pale. I decided I would pay my last respects to them all, while everyone else was rejoicing the end of a bloody war.

I passed plenty of students I had been in class with, but never cared enough to talk to separately. I regretted that now that they were gone and I would never get that chance. Never get the chance to get to know some people who I was sure were kind-hearted.

I passed the body of Colin Creevey, who was even more star struck with Harry than I had been. I laughed, remembering Colin coming to me once when he overheard something Ron said - something about a ‘Harry Potter fan club’. I had been so embarrassed then, and had run away from Colin in anger that he would suggest something like that to me.

I passed the bodies of Remus and Tonks. They were side by side, and their hands were touching ever so slightly. That was when I truly began to feel the pain. Remus - my old teacher and Harry’s mentor. Tonks - my friend and my mentor. Both new parents of a boy who would grow up hearing stories about how wonderful his parents were. I brushed away the tears and smiled over some memories shared between me, Tonks and Remus before I started walking again.

Finally, I stopped at the body of Fred. My brother. It was so hard to believe he was gone for good… that I would never see him again, nor hear his loud and contagious laugh. I could only imagine the pain George would be feeling. I knew it would be a long time before any of us felt raw happiness again, and no other emotion. There would always be that grief sneaking just below the surface.

I shook my head and turned away from Fred’s body for the last time. I had to say goodbye for it to feel real, and for me to heal, I had to realise he wasn’t coming back.

I went to sit with Mum, who was sitting on one of the house tables McGonagall had replaced in the Hall. She had a blank expression on her face. I took her icy hand, and squeezed it tightly, knowing words wouldn’t help at all, but the comfort in knowing someone was there sharing your feelings was enough for the time being.

It was a strange feeling we were all experiencing. None of us really knew how to react. The elation that Voldemort was finally gone, was an emotion that was clear in everyone, but the other main emotion was the devastation for all the losses.

I wanted to make this part of the last chapter, but I’m a sucker for making my stories a good amount of chapters, and I prefer the number 40 to 39 haha! So this is just short and probably a bit boring :)

I don't think I'll have an epilogue on Ginny's Story (please don't hurt me!), so... THERE'S ONLY 1 MORE CHAPTER TO GO!!!!! Wow, what will I do with myself when it's over?!?! Oh I know! Write another fan-fic!!! Hahaha :)

Okay, this is the end of my usless babbling!!!

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