As Long As You're Mine

Chapter 20: Battle Scars

"Charlie? Is that you?" came a weak voice, muffled by his shirt. Alicia stirred feebly in his arms.

"Alicia?" he whispered, gazing down at her, barely able to believe his eyes, hardly daring to believe that she was really there, talking to him, looking at him.

"Charlie, what happened?" she whispered faintly. "I don't remember….I….where is everyone? Where's Harry? What's happened?"

But Charlie could not speak. His throat was choked up and he felt the uncontrollable tears pricking his eyelids. He did not reply but just cradled her face in his hands, his blue eyes desperately roaming her face, memorising every detail, simply thanking Merlin that she was alive.

"Charlie?" she repeated, her eyes concerned.

"I thought I'd lost you," he whispered, his voice cracked and faint.

Alicia gave him a weak smile. "You didn't think I'd give up on you that easily, did you?" she whispered gently, smiling up at him tenderly.

"I thought you were dead," he repeated, his face still full of pain and grief.

"Hey," she said softly, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "I'm not, am I? Besides, I could hardly go anywhere, not with you bawling in my ear."

He laughed briefly through his tears, stroking her hair and cradling her in his arms. "I love you so much," he whispered.

"The feeling's mutual," she grinned. "Now kiss me for goodness' sake! Honestly, you're no good at this "almost deathbed" thing, are you?"

He laughed again, this time properly. She sat up slowly and he took her face gently in his hands.

"I honestly don't know what I would do without you," he whispered.

"Oh shut up and kiss me, Charlie Weasley," she grinned. He shook his head in almost disbelief; only Alicia could make jokes after being so near death. But he obliged all the same.

"Alicia! Oh thank Merlin you're alive!" Angelina flung her arms around Alicia's neck as soon as she entered the Hall, leaning heavily on Charlie. He had tried to insist that he carry her, but she point-blank refused when she saw the state of his leg.

"What's going on?" Alicia asked fearfully, glancing round at the remaining survivors, refusing to look at the bodies laid out in the centre. "Where's Harry?"

"He was here just a moment ago, but he seems to have disappeared. But don't worry; he'll be fine," Angelina was saying reassuringly. Alicia barely heard what she was saying, her head was throbbing painfully and she began to feel very faint.

"You need to lie down, come on," Angelina said firmly, as Alicia swayed on the spot. She marched her over to Madam Pomfrey, who took one look at her and hurried off to fetch bandages and potions.

"So what's going to happen now?" Alicia asked. "Why's everyone stopped fighting?"

Angelina and Charlie exchanged glances. Alicia hadn't heard Voldemort's speech; she'd been unconscious.

"He spoke to Harry, said that he has one hour to come to him. After that, the battle restarts."

"What?" Alicia looked horrified. She made to get to her feet but the other two pushed her down firmly. "But I have to go and find him!" she exclaimed.

"Don't be ridiculous, Alicia," Charlie said, hissing with pain as Cho Chang dabbed some potion on one of the cuts on his leg.

"But you do know what this means, don't you?" Alicia said, looking seriously at the others.

"What?" Angelina asked.

"Well, he's obviously going to give himself up. You know Harry; he's going to walk right to him and everything will be over. We have to stop him."

"Alicia, you need to rest, you can't-" Charlie began, but Alicia paid him no attention. She jumped to her feet and dashed from the Hall before anyone could stop her.

Near the entrance to the Great Hall, she caught sight of Ron and Hermione, his arms around her. She barely allowed herself the time to smile as she saw them, for there was a single thought on her mind.

"Where's Harry?" she demanded immediately.

The two of them exchanged glances. "We don't…." Hermione began.

"WHERE IS HE?" shouted Alicia, her voice broken and desperate. "He's gone, I just know he has, he's…I can't believe him…" She broke off, feeling the tears start to roll down her cheeks, a mixture of grief and anger.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other fearfully. "But how could he have left? Without saying goodbye?"

"He would have thought that was best, wouldn't he?" whispered Alicia. Then she seemed to steel herself. "No. I'm not going to let him do this. If I can stop him…."

And she tore from the Great Hall, nearly colliding with Neville Longbottom as she did so.

"Neville!" she exclaimed breathlessly.

"Alicia!" he said, his face joyful. "I'm so relieved that you're alright! Charlie was so worrie-"

"Yes I know!" she interrupted impatiently. "Have you seen Harry?"

"Yes, he was just heading down towards Hagrid's a moment ago," Neville said, then he frowned. "Why? What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Alicia yelled back, for she was already sprinting off across the lawn. "Don't worry!"

She sprinted towards the Forest, ignoring the screaming protest of pain in her head. It was getting dark now and a light rain had begun to fall, casting a misty haze. She stopped suddenly as she reached the edge of the Forest, frowning as she felt something. It was almost as if there was someone there….

"Harry, I know you're there." Her voice was quiet and solemn.

There was a pause and then Harry emerged out of the darkness, pulling the Cloak off him.

"What are you doing here, Alicia?" he said wearily. He would not look at her but she could see the look of pure despair and utter desolation on his face.

"Where are you going?" she said softly, though she already knew the answer.

"I'm sorry," he said, his face suddenly calm and devoid of sentiment. "I have to." His voice was emotionless.

"But you can't. We need you."

His face softened for a moment. "I'll miss you Al," he said, with a sad smile. Then he kissed her on the cheek and left her standing in the rain, her last hopes extinguished.

Alicia sat in the Great Hall with the others, huddled together in a group. No one spoke. No one could find the words to console each other, tell each other that it was going to be alright. And though they all knew it was over, secretly in their hearts, they prayed desperately that somehow Harry would make it out of this alive, somehow, like he always had in the past.

Suddenly Voldemort's voice, magically magnified, echoed around the castle once more. And at his words, the spirits of the survivors all but finally broke.

"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you laid down your lives for him…"

Alicia was sobbing quietly into Charlie's chest, feeling the complete despair overwhelming her , but at the sound of Voldemort's words, a small swell of anger and defiance began grow in her chest. How dare he slander Harry's name, after the cruel, cold-blooded murder he had just committed, against someone who had willingly and bravely given himself up for them?

"We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. The Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle, now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live, and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."

Everyone in the Great Hall was silent and still. Nobody moved a muscle.

"Come," Voldemort repeated, his voice still echoing terrifyingly throughout the castle and the grounds, deafeningly loud.

Uncertainly, people began to get to their feet, cautiously moving towards the open doors leading out onto the great lawn. In silence, they began to stream out. Alicia, clutching Charlie's hand so tightly her knuckles were white, was caught up in the middle of the crowd.

Suddenly, from the front, she heard a terrible scream.

"NO!"

Everyone behind craned their necks to see who it was, what was happening. But Alicia knew. And what made it more terrible to hear was that she had never dreamed that McGonagall would ever make such a sound, a sound of terrible despair and lost hope. She could hear Bellatrix laughing hysterically as the crowd slowly shifted forward.

Finally all the survivors emerged onto the front steps. Alicia stood, her hand still in Charlie's, squinting into the bright reddish glow that illuminated the grounds. She didn't want to look, didn't want to see the broken body. She heard the cries of Ron, Hermione and Ginny, and she closed her eyes in pain and grief. Their cries seemed to trigger the rest of the crowd, because suddenly she found herself screaming too, along with the rest of them, yelling insults towards the Death Eaters until Voldemort silenced them.

"It is over!" Voldemort shouted. "Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"

Alicia gritted her teeth, her anger and fury seething through her, coursing through her veins like a drug.

"You see?" Voldemort said, his terrible voice full of glee and triumph. "Harry Potter is dead! He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

"He beat you!" someone shouted from the front of the crowd, and Alicia saw, with great sorrow, the tall red-headed gangly figure of Ron, standing right at the front. At his words, the charm seemed to break, and suddenly there was another roar of shouts and screams until Voldemort silenced them once more.

"Silence!" he shouted, his eyes flashing with anger. "He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds, killed while trying to save himself-"

"You liar!" screamed Alicia suddenly, unable to control herself. "You filthy lying murderer!"

The anger was so great now that she could not seem to stop herself. At that moment, the crowd seemed to part and suddenly she could see the terrible white face of Voldemort leering up at her.

"And who is this?" he sneered, his voice snake-like.

"Alicia, no!" hissed Charlie, desperately trying to pull her back, but she was too angry to care now. It was all over anyway. What was the use of prolonging it?

"Alicia Spinnet!" she spat at him. "And I'm a Muggleborn."

"A Muggleborn?" Voldemort's voice was surprised. "You show spirit, my girl. What a shame that your blood is muddied and sullied by Muggle filth," he hissed.

Alicia's face darkened with fury and she launched herself towards him, breaking free from the crowd. Voldemort flicked his wand carelessly and Alicia felt herself thrown to the ground at Voldemort's feet, her wand spinning out of her hand.

"I am about to show you what happens to those who oppose me, particularly Mudblood scum," Voldemort said softly, relish in his voice. Alicia lay face down on the ground, the wind knocked out of her, sure that her ribs were broken. Her heart pounded with fear but she no longer cared. What did it matter now?

Voldemort raised his wand slowly. Charlie launched himself forward towards her, but someone else got there first.

"Don't touch her!"

There was a bang and Neville Longbottom sprawled to the floor beside Alicia, who slowly got to her feet.

"Ah yes, Neville Longbottom, isn't it?" said Voldemort, with a cruel laugh. "The son of the Aurors. You're a pure blood, aren't you, boy?"

"So what if I am?" Neville retorted loudly, struggling to his feet.

"You would make a valuable Death Eater," Voldemort said slowly.

"I'll join you when hell freezes over!" Neville said bravely. And then he let out a yell: "Dumbledore's Army!"

There was a resounding answering cheer from the crowd and Alicia joined them.

"Very well," said Voldemort, his voice dangerously silky. Suddenly there was an enormous crash and moments later, one of the castle windows shattered and something came sailing through the air into Voldemort's hand.

It was the Sorting Hat.

"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts," said Voldemort slowly. "There will be no more houses. The emblem, shield and colours of my noble ancestor, Slytherin, will suffice for everyone, won't they, Neville Longbottom?"

He pointed his wand at Neville whose body suddenly became rigid. Then slowly, he placed the Hat on his head.

"Neville here is going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," Voldemort said, his eyes sweeping over the crowd triumphantly. His eyes caught Alicia, standing a few yards away. "Oh and why not the Mudblood girl too?" he added, his voice careless and cruel. He motioned to one of the Death Eaters, who dragged her forward into the centre of the lawn by her hair. Everyone in the crowd watched silently, horrified.

Alicia felt herself forced to her knees.

"Bellatrix, you can do the honours," Voldemort said silkily. With a manic gleeful smile on her face, Bellatrix stepped forward, her wand raised.

"Crucio!"

Unbearable pain jolted through Alicia's body, ripping at her insides, but she could not move, her body was rigid. Bellatrix flicked her wand again, and once more the red-hot pain burned her insides.

Alicia could hear the cries and shouts of the crowd, but she could not see anymore. Her eyes blurred with the pain and the sounds dulled in her ears.

Suddenly she heard great screams split the air and her eyes flew open to see Neville, rooted to the spot, unable to move. The Sorting Hat on his head had burst into flames.

In that moment, several things happened at once. There was a distant roar and suddenly the enormous figure of Grawp came blundering towards the crowd from the forest, shouting "HAGGER!" The crowd dispersed quickly, running for cover from the giant's enormous feet. At the same time, came hooves and the twangs of bows, arrows sailed through the air, as the centaurs swarmed towards the scene, felling Death Eaters here and there.

Suddenly Neville, in one quick movement, broke free of the body-bind and the flaming Hat fell off his head and he pulled something silver and glittering from it; a long sword.

Alicia, now free of her body-bind, leapt to her feet to get out of the way of the spells, flames, arrows, curses and the stampede of centaurs, Death Eaters and giants alike.

Suddenly there was an almighty shout that rose above the chaos.

"WHERE'S HARRY?" Hagrid shouted.

But in that moment, everyone began to flee towards the castle, escaping the stampede of centaurs and the stamping of the giants' feet. Alicia felt herself swept up in the crowd towards the Entrance Hall. She gripped her wand tightly, sending curse after curse after the Death Eaters, casting Shield Charms, left, right and centre.

And as she fought, she saw everyone. Everyone was there, fighting to the last. Her friends, teachers, centaurs, giants, even house-elves, swarming in, armed with carving knives and cleavers. Everywhere she looked, she saw people locked in battle, fighting for their lives.

Suddenly, a cry rose above all the others. "HARRY! HE'S ALIVE!"

But at that moment, everyone fell silent, terrified. The crowd quickly thinned and Alicia saw Voldemort and Harry circling each other. Her heart leapt with a mixture of joy, shock and relief. He was alive.

"I don't want anyone else to try to help," Harry was saying loudly. "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."

Voldemort's face twisted into a nasty sneer. "Potter doesn't mean that," he hissed. "That's not how he operates, is it? Who are you going to use as your shield today, Potter?"

"Nobody," said Harry loudly and calmly. "There are no more Horcruxes, just you and me. Neither can live while the other survives, and one of us is about to leave for good…."

"One of us?" Voldemort's voice was jeering, incredulous.

Alicia watched with bated breath, her eyes wide, heart pounding. This was it. The moment.

The two continued to circle each other, a battle of wits this time, not of spells. Harry's voice was calm and clear as he spoke; of Dumbledore, and of Snape. Alicia could see Voldemort's confidence weakening as Harry explained to him everything.

And suddenly, before she knew it, the high voice shrieked: "Avada Kedavra!" and at the same time, Harry yelled: "Expelliarmus!" raising his wand high.

There was an almighty bang and a burst of golden flames erupted between the two of them. Voldemort's curse met Harry's in mid-air, the spells colliding, and suddenly the Elder Wand flew high into the air, spiralling through the darkness of the enchanted ceiling. Harry raised his hand and caught it neatly, as Voldemort flew backwards, his eyes rolling up towards the starry sky. He hit the floor, his body withered and frail, his inhumane face twisted with hatred and fury.

He was dead.

There was a second of silence, then suddenly the Hall erupted into screams, shouts and cheers of joy and jubilation. Suddenly Harry was overwhelmed as the crowd surged towards him, arms wrapped around him, hugging him, shouting and cheering.

Alicia stood still, her heart still pounding, letting the feeling of complete joy and relief wash over her. This was the end.

People were hugging and kissing each other, in joy and elation. Everywhere was utter chaos.

Alicia did not move. Her eyes scoured the crowd for Charlie, her heart pounding, praying that he was somehow there, alive, unhurt.

And then she saw him. Standing at the edge of the crowd, one arm cradled in the other, a great bloody gash across his chest. He stood there, just looking at her, his dark blue eyes smouldering. And from then on, she saw nothing but him. She tore across the room and flung herself into his arms, clinging desperately to him, never wanting to let him go. After a moment, she did release him and looked up at him, her arms still tight around his neck. He looked almost as though he was going to say something. But he didn't. He just bent down and kissed her.

As he did so, Alicia felt tears slip down her cheeks, a tumult of emotions – relief, euphoria, sorrow and joy, a rush of feeling she couldn't contain. And she couldn't help but laugh against his lips as she kissed him, as all around them echoed the sounds of relief, euphoria and laughter.

It was all over at last. And yet now, it was just the beginning.

A/N. I can't believe this is the end! It seems like just yesterday I first came up with the idea of writing this couple! Thank you so much to all of you who have stuck with this story – all your comments, advice and enthusiasm have meant so much to me and have really made this story worth writing!

I really hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you'll stick with me to read my next projects! I'm very excited about my current projects and I'm doing my best to write as quickly as possible! I'll be back soon! THANK YOU. Love you all.