THE HEIRESS

The Battle of Hogwarts, pt.5

Harry Pov

I couldn't even register Lia's fall as only a second later Voldemort stood in front me, his curse hitting me and sending me flying away. I immediately got up and countered it and we began duelling. All the other battles died down and a circle was formed around us as we duelled.

Then we both shot a curse at the same time, our magic fighting against each other - and I was winning. The curse reached Voldemort and sent the elderwand flying away. I managed to grasp it and finally, for a moment that felt like hours, I managed to hit him spot on.

Everything fell silent, even Voldemort himself, as he sunk to his knees. And ever so slowly, Lord Voldemort started dissolving. The man who had cost us everything...he was gone.

It was quiet and the only thing I could hear was my heartbeat in my own ears.

And then there were cheers louder than I had ever heard. I was tucked into multiple directions, arms stretching out for me and hugging me. I could see some black smoke here and there, the final rest of the death eaters disappearing.

I reached Ron and Hermione and when I saw their tear stained, relieved faces - I finally got it.

Voldemort was truly gone. We had made it. Everything...it was worth it.

And I started smiling brightly, celebrating along with the rest of them. I thought of Sirius, the person I wanted to celebrate with the most after I had reassured myself that Hermione and the Weasley's were fine. I started to look around for him and finally saw his back facing me. I ran up to him, still a bright smile on my face.

''Sirius!'' I breathed excitedly, putting my hand on his shoulder when I had finally reached him. When he didn't stir I furrowed my brows and stepped ahead to look into his face. He was staring straight ahead, silent tears escaping his eyes. My smile faltered and I followed his gaze.

My breath got stuck in my throat when I finally saw it.

In the middle of the bridge there sat Draco Malfoy, holding a body in his arms.

''No...'' I breathed, taking an unsteady step ahead.

''No!'' I cried loudly. Some of the cheers behind me died down as undoubtedly they followed my gazes.

I walked ahead, my feet acting on their own while I was still trying to process it.

The closer I stepped to them the more I saw. Draco was holding her upper body in his arms, a big pool of blood around them. He was crying, his stained hand holding onto her face as his thumb stroked her cheek.

When I had finally reached them I sank to my knees, my jeans getting soaked from her blood.

She was still alive...but barely so. Her eyes went to me and the corners of her lips tugged slightly upwards.

''D-did you m-make it..?'' she asked, her voice barely audible.

I could only nod, my voice gone.

She released a relieved sigh, though it sounded painful just to hear.

''Li...you-...you can't...'' I began, my hand reaching out for her hair. Draco began sobbing harder, completely focused on her as he cried and kept stroking her cheek.

''I-It's okay...'' she breathed. Draco shook his head aggressively.

''It's not! How could you do it? HOW?'' he called out desperately.

Lia's eyes began to get unfocused as she looked up to the sky instead of us.

''B-Bellatrix'...dagger..it was poisoned...I was dying anyways...'' she said. I felt sick to my stomach, realising her words. She had sacrificed herself in her last moments to save us all.

Draco sobbed harder and I did my best to hold my own tears back, pushing her hair out of her face and smiling at her.

''That was very brave of you,'' I said, trying to keep my shaking voice steady. Behind me I could hear footsteps and then feel a hand squeezing my shoulder.

''Your brother would be proud of you, Lia,'' Hermione's voice behind me said before erupting into small sobs. Lia smiled yet tears escaped the corners of her eyes.

''Cedric too,'' I whispered, my voice failing me at the end.

''I'll be with...with them again...I-I'm happy,'' she said before coughing up some blood.

It alarmed Draco and he sushed her, letting his forehead rest against hers.

For a while she was quiet and I was beginning to think that-

But then I registered her faint voice.

''C-Capt-..Captu...''

Draco moved up from her and furrowed his brows, not knowing what she meant.

''H-Hermione!'' I begged for the second time that day.

A few seconds later I had captured her tears in a vile and Lia smiled, looking up at the sky.

''I have..no regrets..'' she spoke.

Then her eyes started fluttering shut.

''Because I've been loved..so...much,''

Draco's sobs pierced through the silence as everyone held their wands up, honouring Lia Kim who had just given her life to save us all.