CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── "I knew you would be, you're a tough one, you are."
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─── Y/N POV ───
The silence was overwhelming. It was as if the world itself had stopped. Everyone who was dead, dying, or too badly injured to fight had been taken away. The survivors had become Healers, tending to the wounded with trembling hands and broken hearts. As for Neville and me, we were stationed at the front entrance of the castle, waiting.
Waiting for a sign.
Waiting for Harry.
I kicked a piece of rubble with my shoe, my gaze lost in the remnants of what was once Hogwarts. The grand castle, so full of life and laughter years ago, now stood as a skeleton of itself. Entire sections of the school were gone, destroyed by explosions and fire. The place felt dead. Quiet. Yet in my mind, I could still hear the war — the shouts, the screams, the desperate cries for mercy. But as I looked out over the debris, all I saw was emptiness.
"Do you think he did it?" Neville asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think he's really gone?"
I turned to face him. "I don't know, Neville. We'll just have to wait and see—"
I was cut off by the sudden movement beside me. Neville shot to his feet, eyes wide, staring across the bridge.
"What is it?" I asked, my voice tinged with panic as I followed his gaze.
At first, I saw nothing. But then, I noticed hundreds of figures moving in unison. As they drew closer, I could make them out clearly. Death Eaters.
"Quick! Get the others!" I called to Neville, my voice shaking.
The boy didn't hesitate. In an instant, he darted toward the castle. A few moments later, students and teachers began emerging from the entrance.
The Death Eaters were getting closer. I took a step back, heart pounding. And then another, too fast, too sudden. My back collided with something solid.
A pair of arms wrapped around me, pulling me back against a familiar chest.
"I'm so glad you're okay, love." Draco said, turning me around to face him. "I knew you would be, you're a tough one, you are."
I smiled weakly, my hands moving around his neck, holding him close.
"Who's that Hagrid's carrying?" Ginny's voice called out as she passed us, hurrying to Neville's side. "Neville, who is it?"
