Him - A Harry Potter Love Story

Chapter Sixty-Eight

I found myself become restless after a little while with the twins. I convinced Mum to let me leave, despite the exhaustion that had taken over my entire body. I walked to the Great Hall, trying to prepare myself to see the bodies.

I immediately saw the Weasleys. I ran to them, finding Hermione hugging Ron. They pulled away from each other, Ron quickly wiping his face and tearing his eyes away from Fred's body.

"How are the babies?" Hermione asked, sniffling a little.

"They're...they're great," I told her, smiling weakly. Ron frowned, reaching out and rubbing my arm.

"What is it?" he asked, seeming to suddenly forget everything else.

"What?"

"Your eyes..." Hermione whispered. "They're not the same. Where's...where's Harry?"

I took a shaky breath, running a hand through my hair. I immediately wanted to cry again, but I somehow stopped myself in this moment, despite the fact that it got easier and easier for the tears to start falling each time something like this did come to my mind.

"He went to the forest."

"What?!" both of them exclaimed.

"He was a horcrux," I explained softly. "He...he had to...to die..."

Hermione pulled my into her arms as I broke apart once again. I felt Ron's embrace a moment later, his arms around both of us.

I suddenly heard yelling from outside. I pulled away from them both and ran.

I burst out of the castle, letting out a scream when I saw him.

It was bad to think of it. It was worse to see it.

"Harry!" I screamed, running towards him. He was held by Hagrid, his head facing away from us all. I felt someone grab me and pull me back, and I gasped as Voldemort himself stepped towards me.

"What, Cassandra?" he chuckled, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Is it too much to see your precious Harry like this? Dead?"

I didn't answer, glaring at him.

"Back up, Cassandra," the person who had pulled my back whispered in my ear. I turned, seeing McGonagall standing there, her eyes hard as she stared at her student.

I did as she said.

"And she retreats," Voldemort laughed. "Now, everyone, hear this! Harry Potter is dead!"

The entire army behind him burst into cheers, while those of Hogwarts warily stared back at them. When everyone had died down, he continued, his eyes on me he entire time.

"Does anyone want to step forward and join us now?"

There was silence. After a moment, a death eater stepped forward; Lucius.

"Draco," he muttered. "Come here."

Malfoy hesitantly walked from the crowd, to his parents. Voldemort smiled as he did so, watching the boy with pride.

"Who else?" he asked us. I heard footsteps, uneven and slow. I turned my head and took a sharp breath in.

"Neville, no," I murmured as he limped towards them, the sorting hat in his hand.

"And...what is your name?" Voldemort asked, amused at his appearance.

"Neville Longbottom."

The crowd erupted in laughter, but Voldemort silenced them.

"Well, Neville, I'm sure we can-"

"I want to say something," he interrupted. I could see Voldemort's eyes narrow a little, but he nodded.