Of the Battles Fought

2nd May, 2018.

That night, a battle was fought. A battle to determine the outcome of the entire world. A battle to wage war, or to find peace, within the wizarding world.

A battle where precious lives went out for the greater good.

Harry glanced around the Great Hall. He saw families wail, friends grief-stricken, couples torn apart. This was all his fault. 

Still, he couldn't look away, as if punishing himself to look at the horror that he alone had caused.

He saw the Weasleys huddled together, around Fred's.....— he couldn't come around to admit it. Bill's arms were around Fleur, stifling her sobs, but barely preventing his own tears. Mrs Weasley sobbed, hugging Fred close to her chest, and Mr Weasley looked drawn and stricken, with tears staining his face. Charlie, not any better himself, comforted Ginny, whose face was red and puffy, and who was shaking like a leaf. The group was joined by Ron and Hermione, tears streaking down their dirty faces, holding hands, drawing comfort from each other's touch. 

Clutching Fred's right hand was Percy, probably regretting every day he had been away from his family, feeling guilt, horror, shock and misery pounding through him. On his left was George, shell-shocked, but calmly, lovingly, with trembling hands, closed Fred's glazed eyes, and whispered, 'Rest in peace. I'll find you one day, brother.' 

His heart squeezed seeing how much the Weasleys loved each other, Harry looked away, wishing to join them, but not being able to, being the cause of it all. He, not for the first time, wished for a tight-knit family of his own.

His gaze turned to the lifeless bodies of another pair close to his heart, Remus Lupin, and his wife, Nymphadora, well, Tonks, together even in death .

They had limited family, but loved by all. Hogwarts teachers cried out for the short life of their students; students, for the best DADA teacher in years. Every Order member for close friends; Ron and Hermione for brilliant mentors; and Harry let his tears flow another lost link to his parents, and the life that used to be.

Thinking about his parents, Harry was reminded of the man who, although hated him, had still saved his life over and over again, just out of love. This brave man, was dead, alone in an abandoned shack, a double agent, hated by all.

Severus Snape has loved Harry's mother, and bound to that, had risked everything, just to save her child. Harry had visited his memories, and now cried for him, and everything he had done and gone through without recognition. He finally saw the meaning of his words, and why he did what he did.

'Always.' 

Harry glanced around the Great Hall. He saw families wail, friends grief-stricken, couples torn apart. This was all his fault.

But he knew, that those who he loved had left for a reason. They didn't risk their lives to watch him mope and mourn. They did it for the ones they loved. To protect them. For the greater good. Harry vowed to always avenge them, Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Sirius, Snape, his parents.

That night, a great battle was fought in the grounds of a greater school. And that night, Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort.