My only claim on Harry Potter is the set of books I have at home.

Based on Merlin's (Broomstick Flyer) challenge 'Hermione's offer'.

The challenge is to contain Hermione's offer to have Harry's baby just before he faces Voldemort. She has to end up pregnant and happy about it because it is Harry's baby she is carrying. Where it goes from there doesn't really matter, though a happy ending would be much more preferable to any other.

Harry Potter was sitting quietly in the common room. It was their first night back at Hogwarts since they had started the hunt for Voldemort's pieces of soul. Tomorrow was to be the day. Harry knew it in his bones. Tomorrow he would have to finally face Voldemort for the last time. He could not put it off; this war needed to end because there had been far too many lives lost already. He knew there was little chance of him surviving the encounter, that's the only reason he had never told Hermione how he felt about her.

Resigned to the facts as he saw them Harry looked around the room, thinking he was alone he began very quietly talking out loud. "Mum, Dad, I don't know if you can hear me, I don't think it will be much longer before we are together, maybe tomorrow or the day after at the latest. Voldemort is coming to try and kill me, I'm sorry that the Potter line will end dad. I'll be the last one. I hope you can forgive me for that, but I'll be taking him with me when I die, I promise you that." Harry then fell silent as he stared into the fire and wondered if his dead parents could hear him. Then he heard a slight rustling from behind him, turning around he saw his best friend Hermione sit up in the armchair behind his. She stood up and walked around to him with a rather sad smile on her face. She knew as well as he did that he had little chance of surviving.

Standing right in front of him Hermione leaned forward and took his face in her hands, as she cupped his cheeks he could not believe what she said.

"Harry, I couldn't help over hearing what you said to your mum and dad, I'd like to help keep the Potter line alive for you if you'll have me. If I can't have you, if I can't be with you… if you… if you don't survive… I would be honored to have your child. I'll have a baby for you Harry if you think you could like me enough to make me pregnant. I'm about at my most fertile right about now; I can also get a male fertility potion to make sure we have a boy, I'll get it from Madam Pomfrey. So tonight would be a good night to get me pregnant and we have all night to make sure it works." Hermione held on to him looking directly into his eyes letting him know she meant every word she said, "Please Harry, make love to me, make me pregnant, let me have your child and fulfill at least one of my dreams, please."

Harry stared at his best friend in the world absolutely gobsmacked. His mouth opened and closed several times before he was finally able to make a sound. "I, you, you, I, but what about Ron?"

Hermione flushed, "At one point, maybe but after the last few months not a chance. I thought I could fancy him, because I thought you would never be interested in me and he was the only other one to pay me any attention."

"Are you sure you really want to do this, Hermione? You know what the likely outcome of tomorrow will be. I wouldn't want to leave you like that." Harry was still looking at her with a mix of shock and disbelief.

Leaning down she pressed her lips to his. "More than anything."

"Okay, only if you swear you won't have any regrets if things go don't go well tomorrow or if by some miracle they do, you'd be stuck with me forever."

Hermione grinned, "Well, then I'll have the chance to fulfill two of my dreams. You go upstairs and shower while I go visit Madam Pomfrey. I'll meet you in your bed when I'm ready."

Harry nodded his head dumbly as Hermione bounced out of the common room. After the door closed, the raven haired wizard slowly stood and made his way back to his dorm. Part of him wanted to scream for joy at the thought of being with Hermione but that was held in place by the rest of him that was still in shock that she wanted to be with him like he wanted her.

Hermione reached the infirmary unnoticed by any other living being and slowly opened the doors to the ward she had visited so often in the last seven years. As the door clicked shut behind her, she heard the resident healer stirring behind the door to her private office. "What is it child, it's the middle of the night?"

"I'm sorry to wake you, Madam Pomfrey, butIneedafertilitypotion," the young witch blurted out.

"You need a what?"

"A male fertility potion," Hermione replied with a blush. "And a female one if you have one."

"Why in heaven would you need that, at this hour?" The matron demanded.

Looking down at her feet Hermione slowly told the story she had overheard in the common room, and her offer to Harry.

"Certainly a noble cause, but most pure bloods won't let a bastard child inherit the family name." Hermione paled at hearing this. Her whole plan was ruined if it was true.

"Come, sit in my office and we'll talk while we brew. There may be a way if you both are set on this." The kindly witch replied. "I've seen Harry in here enough, and James before him. I don't know what I'd do without another generation of Potters to keep me busy," she said, a small smile on her face.

"Now then," Poppy said as she pulled out a pair of cauldrons, "you'll be wanting to make sure it's a boy then?" Hermione nodded. "Good, good. All three versions of the potion are the same except one ingredient." Several bottles were pulled from a shelf.

"Three?" Hermione asked, as she excepted a small stack of boxes from the healer.

"One for the woman to take and two for the man, depending on the desired sex of the baby," the mediwitch explained as she prepared the cauldrons with a standard potion base. "Won't take but a few minutes to prepare, dear. You're sure you want to go through with this?" she confirmed.

"Yes ma'am," Hermione nodded, hair flying around her head.

"Very well, you'll have to commit to each other before you start though. It isn't an official marrage, but it will make the baby's claim legitimate."

"Like the druidic hand fasting?"

"Something like that, but you don't have to have a priest, or other official to perform the binding."

As the potions were prepared, Madam Pomfrey explained the vows that would join the couple together for a year and a day.

"Not that I'm ungrateful but how do you know all this?" Hermione asked as Poppy finished her explanation.

With a gentile smile she replied, "When you've been around as long as I have, you learn a thing or two."

The entire brewing process took no longer than fifteen minutes and the pair of potions were packaged in to marked vials for the trip back to the Gryffindor dormitory.

As they two witches retreated to the main room of the hospital, the healer looked at her companion and sighed. "It is really going to be tomorrow isn't it?"

Hermione nodded, "Harry feels like it will be, and he is rarely wrong when it comes to You-Know-Who."

Poppy looked distraught, "Well then, I best give you some things to give him any advantage he can get tomorrow." She turned and picked up a small box from a shelf and made her way to the potions cabinet. Opening the doors she started pulling vials down, seemingly at random and placing them in the box. Returning to the stuned younger witch, she held it open and explained what she had packed.

"I had a few of these field boxes from the last war and loaded this one up for Mr. Potter. Here are blood replenishers, Pepper-Up, pain relief, healing and strengthening potions. I pray that he won't need any of it, but it is best to be prepared. And here is a mild pain potion for you for tonight if you need it." The matron closed the box and handed it and the smaller vial over. "Go now, and I expect to see you in six weeks for a checkup. Don't keep him up to late, it sounds like he'll need his strength tomorrow," she said as she shooed the younger witch out of the ward.

Making her way back to Gryffindor Tower undetected, Hermione placed the healing kit in her pouch that had been a constant companion and life saver for the last year before taking a shower herself. Quietly gathering the three potions for tonight she made her way up to the seventh year boy's dorm.

Entering the room she made her way over to Harry's bed, to find him sitting nervously with the curtains closed. He sighed in relief as Hermione crawled on to his bed though it did nothing to calm his nerves. The witch looked at him with a raised eyebrow as she drew her wand and cast a series of privacy spells around the bed. "I wasn't sure if you were coming. I thought it was all a dream."

She leaned over and placed a hand on Harry's knee. "I wish I had found the courage six months ago, when we were alone in the tent. It would have made things much more comfortable."

His green eyes went wide at her confession before he looked down at his own hands, "That makes two of us." He was glad for the dim light, where she would not see his blush.

It was Hermione's turn to become flustered, "You, fancy me?"

Harry nodded, "Since fourth year. I wanted to ask you to the ball after I realized Cho was with Cedric but I figured Ron was going to ask you. Then you said that you were already going..."

"I was hoping you would ask me," she admitted. "I turned Krum down a few times before I finally said yes. I wanted to go and hoped we could at least dance a few times."

Harry laughed, "It's probably better for you we didn't. I was a right menace on the dance floor. Probably still am, actually."

There was a minute of uncomfortable silence between the two close friends before Harry gathered up the courage to press on. "So, how do we do this?" he asked, voice shaking slightly.

"Um, oh, right." She picked up the three potions and looked at the labels. "Here is yours," she said handing him a vial. "But, ummm first..."

"First?" Harry prompted after almost a minute of quiet.

"Madam Pomfrey said that most pure bloods wouldn't recognize a illegitimate child as the head of the family. She taught me a bonding right that is similar to the druids' hand fasting. We would basically be married for a year and a day, then we could go our separate ways, or formally get married." Harry nodded his acceptance and understanding.

Hermione picked her wand up, and motioned for Harry to do the same. Reaching over she clasped his left hand in hers and recited the vow that Poppy had given her earlier. "I, Hermione Jane Granger, give myself mind, body, soul and magic to Harry James Potter for a year and a day if he will have me."

"I will," Harry said before repeating the vow. "I, Harry James Potter, give myself mind, body, soul and magic to Hermione Jane Granger for a year and a day if she will have me."

"I will," the young witch said with a grin.

The newly bonded couple watched as a faint green light wove itself around their hands, leaving a small pale green band on the finger traditionally reserved for a wedding ring.

"I guess that's official," Harry said in a low voice as he leaned forward to kiss his new wife.

"Guess so," Hermione confirmed as she too leaned in.

They spent more than a few minutes kissing passionately, making up for over three years they could have been together in some form of relationship, before they broke apart gasping for breath. Hermione took the initiative, reaching down toward Harry's waist and tugging gently on his shirt. Realizing what she was attempting, he moved to help her. Once the garment was clear of his head, she carelessly tossed it to the side before running her hands down his chest. He took the opportunity to caress her sides, then at her nod, drew her shirt up and off. As he was placing it next to his own discarded garment, she had unhooked her bra and added it to the growing pile of clothing. Turning her attention back to Harry, she grew nervous as she saw his mouth hanging open as he looked at her. Suddenly growing shy, she moved to cover her chest. "I know I'm not much to look at."

Her words shook him out of his stupor, "No! No, you're beautiful, Hermione." His words were spoken with such sincerity she had no choice but to believe him. "Absolutely gorgeous."

It was her turn to blush in the darkness but pressed on. She was relieved to find he was wearing pajama pants instead of regular jeans, she wasn't sure if her trembling fingers could have handled anything more difficult. Sliding them down over his hips, he took over and worked them the rest of the way off his legs. "Oh my," she gasped as she saw his very obvious reaction to her partly nude form.

Harry inched closer to the half naked witch in his bed and ran his hands across her breasts drawing a soft moan from her lips. Kissing her gently he trailed his hands down across her stomach to the waistband of her pants. Drawing back to look at her face he asked, "Last chance to back out, you are sure you want to do this?" Hermione let out a low growl and grabbed his wrists, pushing her pants down to the bed. Carefully she lay back on the bed and allowed him to pull her pants the rest of the way off her legs.

Sitting back on his knees, he looked over at her, "Ummm, what next? I mean I know the basics, but how do you want to do this?"

Hermione sat up slowly, nibbling her lower lip as she thought. "I guess, it's best if I just lay back and you get on top."

Harry nodded. "I know it's not supposed to be pleasant for you the first time, but you'll have to tell me what to do. I don't want to hurt you."

The brown haired witch smiled, "I know you don't, Harry. And Madam Pomfrey gave me a pain potion, just in case. Right potions!" She scramled to find the three vials that had gotten lost in the tangle of clothes. Finding them and both wands she placed the as of yet unneeded potion and two wands under the pillows and handed Harry his vial.

"Cheers," they said together, clinking the vials like they would a drink and downed the potion at the same time.

Hermione laid down, resting her head on one of the pillows and pulled her new husband down with her. Harry stopped himself on his hands and knees over her naked body and leaned down to kiss her with every bit of emotion he felt for her. "I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Harry," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down to press against her. "I'm ready," she whispered in his ear.

Lowering himself, they both gasped at the feeling of the other's body pressed against their own. Harry marveled in the soft perfection of her skin while Hermione felt his firm muscles. Slowly he positioned himself near where he felt an extra warmth between her legs. Reaching down she gently guided his hardness in to her. Both of the young lovers cried out in pleasure as the two bodies became one for the first time.

Harry was embarrassed when he spilled himself only a minute after they began, but Hermione quickly reassured him that it was normal for a mans first time and the subsequent orgasms would come much more slowly. Holding him tightly against her body, she slowly began rocking her hips, enjoying teen aged stamina. He was quickly ready to go again. Having recovered from the small amount of pain, she quietly guided him to a more comfortable position for her and helped him learn to please her.

It was a thoroughly exhausted and sweaty yet happy couple that finally curled up in each others arms and succumbed to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. The goal of extending the Potter line temporarily forgotten as they explored and shared their new love.

The dorm room was silent when the lovers awoke mid morning. The spells Hermione cast the night before had kept anyone from disturbing them. This was to be the day but neither wanted to leave the warmth of their shared bed. With a grin, Hermione rolled herself on top of her still groggy husband and took advantage of his morning arousal. Kissing him gently as she slid herself up and down on him, he quickly woke. After another wonderful round of love making the couple reluctantly agreed they needed to prepare for the day, not knowing when Voldemort would strike.

While in her shower Hermione couldn't help imagine what she would look like in nine months. What would her parents think, assuming she would be able to find them. Even if she had to go to Australia alone, she would do it. And with their help, she could do anything else. Her only wish at that point was that she was able to introduce Harry to her mum and dad, and they would all be together for the birth.

Cleaned and refreshed they met up in the common room before heading down to join the rest of the school for lunch. There was a nervous excitement in the Great Hall. Harry Potter had come back to Hogwarts. There was a stunned silence then a great commotion as Harry and Hermione walked through the doors in to the Great Hall together. The couple hadn't been seen in public since the disaster that Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding had become. Their one time companion, Ron Weasley, had returned to Hogwarts after the Christmas Holidays and refused to discuss where they had been and anything that had happened.

It took Headmistress McGongall several minutes to get everyone calmed down enough to explain what was happening. "Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger came to Hogwarts with my blessing last night to find and eliminate the final piece of the puzzle that is Tom Riddle. We don't know when Lord Voldemort and his followers will attack, but we suspect it will be soon. As such, all communication in and out of the castle has been halted until further notice. Everyone will remain here in the Great Hall or your dormitories until we feel it is safe to return to a normal schedule." The stern witch returned to her seat and the hall erupted in noise again.

It was a mix of accusatory and curious stares that followed Harry's progress from his seat to the head table where he spoke briefly to the Headmistress. Hermione from her seat could hear some of the conversations that took place around her. Most of the students were curious why they had come back, but a few were worried that people would be hurt because You-Know-Who was going to attack Hogwarts because Potter was there. Harry stopped and had a whispered conversation with Neville on his way back to his seat.

"Do I want to know?" Hermione asked with a slightly worried look.

"Just organizing some Associates," he replied with a grin.

The bushy haired witch looked confused for a second before she understood exactly whom he was referring to. "They're still active?"

Harry nodded, "I told Neville last year that we might not make it back and he should gather anyone he could and learn as much as possible. So we are going to make some plans after lunch with the Headmistress and Neville."

Hermione nodded, the plan made sense. Riddle was sure to bring his minions.

Neville rose from his seat and waited for Ginny to join him. With a short nod to Professor McGongall the pair made their way to where Harry and Hermione were sitting. "Ready Harry?"

"As I'll ever be, mate," the black haired wizard replied. He rose from his seat then helped Hermione stand and they followed Neville and Ginny to the doors of the Great Hall.

Just before they reached the huge doors Neville stopped and turned so he was facing the students. In a voice Harry had never heard his former roommate use, Neville barked out, "Macmillan, Goldstein and Boot on the door. Creeveys and Bones at the front." Suddenly the six students named were moving in to positions. "If anyone moves, take them down. If they draw a wand, terminate with extreme prejudice."

"Yes, sir!" the six cried together. From their posture and attitude Harry could tell they wouldn't hesitate to follow their orders.

Turning back to the doors Neville opened them and Ginny stepped through, scanning the entry hall before moving any farther out. Harry and Hermione followed and Neville pulled the door closed behind them.

"Have there been a lot of problems this year?" Hermione asked as they started toward the Headmistress' office.

"Quite a few, but we've stopped more than have been reported. Mostly Death Nibblers picking on the younger students. Unfortunately there have been a couple assaults we didn't find out about until it was to late." Neville filled them in as they walked.

Ginny shuddered as she remembered some of the things that had happened. "We were able to get most of them, unofficially of course."

Neville chuckled, "Amazing how clumsy some of the Snakes are around the stairs."

Hermione looked horrified and was about to argue their methods before Ginny cut her off. "I know you don't approve, Hermione, but it's been bad this year. No one feels safe, and the teachers won't do anything even if the students do report it. I know it wasn't what the DA was originally formed for, but it is what we needed to do."

Harry nodded, "When we started back then, it was more for fighting Riddle and his cronies but the end result is the same. Protect the students." Hermione frowned but nodded. She couldn't argue that, it was her idea.

The quartet arrived at the guardian to the Headmistress' Office and Neville whispered the password causing the gargoyle to slide to the side. Harry's face fell remembering the last time he was here, as he watched the others step on to the moving staircase.

Reaching the top, Hermione immediately took hold of his hand. "Are you okay?"

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Harry started to nod, then shook his head. "Last time I was here, was the night..."

Hermione gasped and wrapped her arms around her husband. "It all ends tonight Harry, then we won't have to worry any more."

He took several deep slow breaths before he nodded slowly. "I know, just, I didn't expect it to be so hard. I love you."

"I love you too," she said.

The door opened again and Ginny stuck her head out from the office, "You two coming?"

Entering the office they took seats around McGonagall's desk. "Sorry, it's just all catching up with me suddenly," Harry admitted with a blush.

"I understand, Mr. Potter. We've been here for most of the last year, this is your first time back," Minerva said.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, how wonderful to see you again. I trust your year has been productive?" Came a voice from behind the Headmistress.

Harry's eyes were suddenly shining and his throat painfully tight so he simply nodded his head. Hermione spoke for the pair, "Yes sir. We have one more, and Riddle himself."

Their former headmaster spoke, the twinkle in his eye evident even in his portrait. "I'm more proud of you two than I can possibly say." The couple flushed under the praise.

"Thank you sir, I still wish you were here with us." Harry managed to choke out.

"You and me both, my boy. But it wasn't to be."

Harry nodded again. "Hermione is right, it will end tonight. I just need Neville and his Association here to keep everyone else safe while I deal with Tom."

"Right," Neville nodded, "we've got several scenarios we've worked out. The most obvious is to storm the gates and charge the castle. Though we have plans for giants and dementors."

"Sounds like you've been busy," Harry said, very impressed.

"You have no idea," Ginny grumbled.

They spent the next several hours hashing out plans and trying to determine Voldemort's most likely plan of attack.

Suddenly the castle shook. "Looks like giants at least." Neville said with a wry grin, drawing his wand he fired off several spells before standing. "We'll get in to position, Professor and I'll keep you posted."

Neville lead the way from Headmistress' office to the ramparts as the floor shook several more times. On arrival they saw several other pairs of students taking positions atop the castle.

They saw several giants hurling boulders from the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The impacts they were feeling were the boulders bouncing in to the wall. They didn't appear to be doing any damage, as they were not striking the the wall with much force because of the distance they were traveling. Walking over to stand between two of the duos, Neville called out, "Let's throw some boulders back!"

One of the students in each duo pulled out a Muggle slingshot and placed a handful of small stones on the wall. Loading and drawing back in unison they released simultaneously. The second member of the duo sent a spell after the pebbles.

"Holy..." Harry gasped as he watched giant boulders appear in mid air flying at high speed towards Voldemort's camp. The boulders landed just feet from the giants, causing the Death Eaters to scramble. The giants weren't so lucky, having their legs taken out by the incoming projectiles. "That is brilliant!"

"What spell is that?" Hermione asked as the students reloaded for another volley.

Ginny grinned. "A little something the twins came up with. Enchanted pebbles that respond to a wide area, customized Engorgio."

"I knew funding them was a good idea." Harry grinned.

All three of them gaped. Ginny spoke first, "You're the one that gave them the money to start the shop?"

Harry nodded, "It was the tri-wizard winnings. I didn't need it, and the Diggorys wouldn't take it. I figured we would all need a laugh by the end of it."

No one could disagree.

"Let's get them moving," Neville said as he called to more groups of rock throwers over. Soon four boulders at a time were bouncing through the Death Eater's forces. The head of the DA was hit by a Patronus messenger and relayed orders to his people on the roof, informing them that the enemy was moving.

Answering the unanswered question, Ginny grinned, "Disillusioned flyers patrolling."

Harry was in awe, "You guys really have been busy this year."

They watched as the Death Eaters herded the giants closer to the castle. Luckily the giants didn't have much ammunition left as they moved. There were a few boulders that struck the castle with enough force to break windows but not penetrate the ancient stone walls.

Harry smirked and cased a Sonorus on himself. "To the minions of the former half blood known as Tom Riddle. I give you this chance to surrender yourself and avoid the fate that awaits your master. If you assault this castle, you will die!" He stepped back and canceled the voice amplification charm.

The other students on the ramparts stared at him in disbelief as he smiled, "Think that got his attention?"

"Potter!" Voldemort responded. "Surrender yourself now and I will let your pathetic friends live for now."

Recasting the voice charm on himself Harry taunted, "I wouldn't call my friends pathetic, Tom. At least my friends know my story. Have you ever told your slaves how you murdered your Muggle father and his family."

"You know you can't defeat me, Potter. I am immortal. I have become God!"

'I wish I knew if we had killed his snake,' Harry thought to himself. Canceling the charm on himself he sighed, "Nev, get the DA disillusioned along the sides of the Great Hall and everyone else out. I'll get all of the Death Eaters in to the Hall. As soon as you get my signal give them hell. Oh, and kill that ruddy snake if you see it. "

"Harry, you can't do this. He'll kill you." Hermione cried.

"I have to, love. I'm the last piece." He said tapping his forehead.

"Noooooo!" she wailed, throwing herself at him. "What about us?" she sobbed.

He held her in his arms and said quietly, "I'm sorry. I wish there was another way, but it has to be Riddle. Dumbledore and I talked about this. That's why you heard what you did last night. I love you and have every reason to come back but there is always a chance things don't go as planned. Watch your ring." He kissed her with everything he had.

Ginny opened her mouth to say something, her face turning red but no sound came out. Neville looked upset, "What are you doing, Harry? I don't understand."

"I'll explain when it's done, or Hermione can if I don't make it. I'm proud of what you've done Neville, you are a great wizard and a better friend. Ginny, I'm sorry things didn't work out between us. I've realized you are the sister I never had. I'll see you guys on the other side. Go, get in to place." He ordered and turned back out to the field in front of the castle.

He cast the Sonorus charm on himself again. "You're right, Tom. I can't defeat you yet. Come in to the Great Hall and we'll end this today. I'm tired of fighting you." Canceling the charm on himself and walked down to the Great Hall where the DA was waiting. He prayed this would work. If it hadn't been for Hermione and, now, their baby he would not have worried at all.

Sitting down in the large chair the Headmistress normally used, Harry addressed the seemingly empty hall, "I want you all to know, no matter what happens here today, I'm proud of all of you. The work you've done in the last few years has been amazing. I hope you all continue to improve yourselves and the wizarding world. I hope we don't have to fight anyone like Tom in a very, very long time. Let's end this today."

Seconds after Harry finished his impromptu speech the front doors of the castle burst open allowing the handful of remaining Death Eaters to spill in. A couple took positions on either side of the entry hall while the remaining followers charged though the open doors and into the Great Hall. The Dark Lord strode in behind his minions, robes billowing dramatically behind him. 'So that's where Snape gets it,' Harry thought with a wry grin. "Hello Tom," the dark haired wizard called out, not bothering to stand.

"Potter," Riddle sneered, "are you ready to die?"

"My soul is prepared. Is yours?"

"You can not defeat me, boy."

"You keep saying that, Tom. Did you ever hear the full prophecy? No? 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not, and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.' So, you see Tom, you made me. Gave me a bit of your power, and a boost to my own. So, what do you say we finish this and call it a day?"

From his seat he saw the great snake Nagini laying beside her master, tongue flickering wildly as she took in all of the smells of the Great Hall. With a grin, he lifted his wand and called out 'Confringo' at the last minute flicking his wand away from the shield that sprung up around Riddle and towards the snake on the floor.

As chunks of reptile gore covered those standing nearest to where Nagini used to exist, Voldemort screamed, "What have you done Potter? You will pay! Avada Kedavra!"

Harry grinned as the spell's impact threw him violently back into the chair and pushed them both to wall of the Great Hall with a resounding crack. Several cries were heard from the invisible DA members, alerting the Death Eaters for the first time they were not alone. As the black robed wizards turned to find the source of the voices several spells erupted from the walls, followed almost instantly by dozens more. The Final Battle had begun in earnest. The opening wave of spells took over half of the Death Eaters out of the fight as they were caught completely unprepared. A few of the standing followers of the Dark Lord threw down their wands as they realized they were outnumbered almost four to one.

Turning his attention back to his minions Lord Voldemort yelled, "Kill them you fools, no mere child will stand in our way." Seeing one of his followers cowering under a table he held the witless man under the Cruciatus curse until Tom Riddle's head ceased to exist. Anyone watching where Harry's body sat in the throne like chair against the wall would have seen the young man who had been hit with he killing curse for a second time take several potions from a box in his pocket, stand and silently cast 'Reducto' at the back of the head of the most feared wizard in the last 50 years. The true fighting of the Final Battle had taken less than ten minutes.

"Silence!" the supposedly dead Harry Potter's voice called out through the Great Hall, instantly getting everyone's attention. Several spells fizzled in the middle of being cast as their casters turned to the head of the room to see Harry standing on the leading edge of the teacher's riser. "I Harry James Potter claim Right of Conquest on Tom Morvolo Riddle." A few of the older pure blood wizards on both sides of the fighting gasped while many others cringed.

A couple of the remaining Death Eaters attempted to curse the young wizard, only to fall to the ground screaming in agony. "Anyone bearing the dark mark will drop their wands and cooperate with the DMLE and Auror squad. You will stand trial and be punished for your crimes. So I command, so you will obey."

"What have you done, Mr. Potter?" Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice rang through the hall.

Harry sat down wearily on the edge of the platform he had been standing on. "By claiming Right of Conquest, all possessions, debts and vows have been transferred to me," he explained.

"Bloody hell!" was heard from more than one person.

Hermione jumped up on one of the house tables and ran toward Harry from where she had been recovering from her fight with Antonin Dolohov. "You're alive but how?"

"How indeed, Mr. Potter?" came the ragged voice of Minerva McGonagall.

"I think that is a discussion best left for somewhere a little more private. Perhaps your office, Professor?"

The stern headmistress nodded. "Are you able to make it there, or do you need medical attention?"

"I'm fine, Professor. Nothing a little Pepper-Up couldn't take care of," he said with a wink. "How are both of you? I still have most of the kit Madam Pomfrey put together last night." He pulled the kit from his pocket.

"I've got a few scratches, but I'm fine," Hermione stated. "A far cry from last time I faced that bastard."

Minerva nodded, her Scottish accent thick, "A bit winded, but unharmed. I'm not as young as I once was." She admitted with a faint smile.

Walking over to Kingsley, Harry asked, "Have a few minutes? We were going to fill Professor McGonagall in on everything that happened and figured you might want to hear."

"Headmistress office?" the tall dark skinned man asked. "I'll be there once I get this lot started." He turned to issue orders to the aurors and MLE officers.

Approaching the school's healer who was busy treating several severely wounded combatants, he handed the field kit over and reluctantly agreed to visit her in the hospital wing as soon as things had calmed down.

Silently the Headmistress lead the two former students to her office. Reaching the office they all took seats around the large desk. "It is done?" Dumbledore's voice broke the silence, as McGonagall conjured a tea setting for four.

"Yes, sir. It is. Our plan worked perfectly."

Albus' eyes grew moist. "I'm sorry it had to come to that, but I'm glad it worked."

The shocked Headmistress lost her composure. "Plan! You planed to take the Killing Curse?" She demanded. "Albus, if you were in this office I would kill you myself!"

"It was the only way we could be sure," the former headmaster tried to explain, but was interrupted as Kingsley entered the office. "Perhaps we should start from the beginning," his eyes returned to their previous twinkle.

"That would be a novel idea," she agreed.

Over the next several hours Albus explained how he had come to learn of Riddle's horcruxes, then Harry explained the events of his sixth year leading up to the night of Dumbledore's death. The evening was wrapped up with Harry and Hermione detailing their experiences of the last year and concluded by Harry explaining the events of the fight. "We figured Riddle had come to my parents house and intended to use my death to create his final horcrux. When his spell backfired one part of his soul ended up as my scar, the other was cast out of his body. When he used his blood to resurrect himself, he was able to bypass my mothers blood protection but gave us an unexpected benefit."

"You can't use the killing curse on yourself," Shacklebolt said causing the two women to gasp.

"Exactly, magic could not differentiate between us because we share the same blood. The flesh and bone may be different, but the blood is the same. His curse could not kill me but it could kill his soul fragment that was living inside me," Harry concluded.

"How do you feel now, my boy?" the portrait of Dumbledore asked.

"Happier, cleaner, lighter, but also a bit lost. I've spent so much time worrying about Riddle that I haven't decided what to do with the rest of my life. I never expected to have a rest of my life." He admitted sadly.

Hermione laid a comforting hand on his. "You have me. Well, us I suspect," she said laying her other hand on her stomach. Dumbledore smiled from his place on the wall, Kingsley was politely quiet but the Headmistress had yet another shock.

"Us? You didn't!" she said scandalized.

The two teenagers had shy, but silly grins on their faces. Hermione explained, "Last night I heard Harry worrying about being the last Potter, and after we finally admitted to each other how we felt, I offered to carry on the line should he not survive the battle. Prat didn't tell me he planned to get hit with the killing curse."

"Um, sorry?" he said quietly.

"I went to Madam Pomfrey and she gave me a couple fertility potions so Harry could have an heir to the Potter line," Hermione said with a blush.

"But you aren't married," one of the portraits interjected.

Harry help up his left hand and said, "We hand fasted for a year and a day. It is legitimate for what we needed, and I fully plan on extending our vows in a year." Hermione's face lit up in a smile and she squeezed his hand.

"We'll need to figure out what to do about our NEWTs and jobs and everything, but that can wait until tomorrow. I'm knackered," Hermione said covering her mouth as she yawned.

The group stood and Kingsley bid them all goodbye and would inform them if the Aurors needed anything from them. Minerva stopped the couple before they could follow, "I have never been more proud of any of my students than I am of the two of you. The things you have been through since you started here seven years ago and even more in the last year. You both are truly extraordinary.

"If you two wish to return to formally complete your seventh year, you are more than welcome. I'm sure there are still a few special areas and old rules for married couples with little ones." She said with a rare smile causing both teens to blush.

"Thank you, ma'am, we'll let you know what we decide," Harry answered, then they too left the Headmistress' office.

"We should probably stop and see Madam Pomfrey before we turn in," Hermione said as they reached the bottom of the hallway. The dark haired wizard sighed, but agreed.

Entering the hospital wing found the healer finishing a round of checking on the patients that were well enough to not need treatment at St. Mungo's. "About time you two turned up," she admonished, ushering them in to her office. Once the door was closed she immediately scanned Harry, "All clean. How you can be hit with a killing curse and be healthier than you started is beyond me Mr. Potter.

"And you, Ms. Granger, or should I say Mrs. Potter?" she asked with a knowing grin as she waved her wand over the younger witch. "Any problems?"

"No, no problems," Hermione answered.

"Well, it looks like you are fine, and your potions last night were successful," she said, turning to a cabinet behind her desk.

Hermione's eyes suddenly welled with tears and she collapsed in to a near by chair startling Harry. "Hermione, are you okay?" he asked in a panic causing the healer to rush to the where the brown haired witch was sitting. Seeing her tears Harry thought she was upset, "If you don't want to, you know, continue."

She cut him off in a shaking voice, "No, it's just a shock. I knew what we were doing. Just hearing it said out loud like that is a bit much. I want to do this Harry, more than anything. Like I told you last night I've loved you for a long time."

Poppy picked up the book she had set on the edge of her desk and held it out toward the couple. "You both need to read this, it will tell you most of what you need to know. Magical babies aren't much different than non-magical other than the occasional bout of accidental magic, but I'm sure you haven't had much experience with them either. Now off to bed with you both, and take it easy for a few days. You've both been under a lot of strain today."

"Before we go, I have to know. How bad was it?" Harry asked, worried about the potential result.

The healer sighed, "No losses among the students, the Aurors and MLE lost a few each. Over half of the Death Eaters were killed or severely wounded."

Harry was in shock for a few seconds, no losses among the DA. Once he recovered, couldn't help but hug the matron, "Thank you. Thank you, for everything you've done for me, for us, since we've been here."

"You're quite welcome Mr. Potter. Now shoo both of you, before I put you in your bed out there," she nodded her head toward 'his' bed in the care ward.

"Yes ma'am," he said and hurried to the door, holding it open for the mother of his child.

Hand in hand the couple made their way back to the seventh year boys dorm where they curled up together in Harry's bed, staying up late in to the night discussing plans for their future.