I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter Thirty-One: Finale

As Delilah and Draco reached the end of the stairwell, they both immediately stopped and clutched their ears, taken off guard at the sudden horrible, cruel voice ringing throughout the castle.

"You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet," Voldemort's voice rang through the castle, "You have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured.

"I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then the battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

Delilah racked her head with her hands, trying her best to shake off the headache she received every time she heard that voice.

"Dispose of the dead? Where would we," Delilah started, before gripping Draco's hand and pulling him down the corridor towards the stairs.

Death Eaters were taking off left and right, and students were gathering the dead and injured around them or simply hurrying off to find their friends or family.

"Delilah, where are we going?" Draco asked. "The Great Hall; it's the only place in the castle that's big enough for everyone fighting tonight. I need to make sure my family is okay." She called over her shoulder, pulling him down the last stairwell leading towards the doors.

As they finally reached the hall, they saw all the house tables were gone, and the room was crowded with people. The survivors stood in groups near the doors and along the walls, while the injured were all on raised platforms at the end of the hall, being treated by Madam Pomfrey and a number of helpers. The dead lay in the middle of the hall in a long row. Delilah didn't see her parents or brother amongst the dead, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Draco scanned the dead as well, looking to see if any of the Slytherins had chosen to stay and fight as well. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a large group in the middle of the dead, all of them with bright red hair and one with blonde.

"Delilah," Draco whispered. She turned to look at him and he pointed towards the Weasley's. She gulped, "I-I want to go pay my respects." She told him and he nodded, following a few feet behind her as they walked between the bodies towards Fred.

George was kneeling at Fred's head, his head in his hands and his shoulders shaking. Mrs. Weasley was lying across Fred's chest and Mr. Weasley was stroking her hair while he cried as well.

Delilah took in a shaky breath as she bowed her head, coming up behind Ginny and Percy. Ginny quickly spun around and hugged Delilah, "We were so worried!" she whispered, her voice cracking as she wiped her eyes.

"Percy didn't see where you had gone, neither had Ron or Hermione and," Ginny stopped, her eyes falling on Draco standing behind Delilah, an uncomfortable look on his face. She gave him a solemn look before looking towards Delilah, "I hope you know what you're doing." She whispered.

Delilah nodded, "I-I'm so sorry about F-Fred," Delilah muttered, unable to meet Ginny's eyes. She shook her head, giving Delilah one last hug, "He d-died laughing. I couldn't imagine him dying any other way." Ginny chuckled slightly, newly developed tears streaming down her face.

Percy patted Ginny's shoulders and the two girls said their goodbyes, and Delilah turned back to Draco. "Let's go sit," She said, wiping her eyes and nodding towards a few empty benches near the wall.

They moved through the bodies, Draco receiving a number of strange looks and glares from students as they past.

Just when they were going to sit down they heard a scream. "DELILAH!"

The two of them spun around and they saw her parents running up to them, Oliver a few paces behind. Her parents were both covered in bruises and cuts, but other than that they seemed fine. Oliver looked all healed up, which Delilah expected since he'd been a Healer for a good eight years.

"What do you think you're doing here? Where's Mirielle?" Her father demanded, looking around for his other daughter. "W-We, sort of, s-swapped places." Delilah mumbled nervously, staring at her hands.

"You did what?" Oliver asked, finally making his way up to them. He looked towards Draco and gawked, "And you're with him? With this…this Death Eater?" he nearly shouted. Delilah's eyes widened and she shushed her brother, "He's switched sides Oliver!"

"Oh please," Oliver rolled his eyes, looking up towards the ceiling. "We told you to stay home." Her mother said.

Delilah groaned, "Mum, you can't expect me to just stay home on probably the most important day of Magical history! I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to fight!"

"When this is over and we're all back home you are in serious trouble, young lady." Her father cut in.

Draco stepped forward, "Can I say something?" he asked attentively. Delilah gave him a curious look and her parents and brother all gawked at him. "Yes, please, we'd love to hear what the Death Eater has to say about my sister's punishment." Oliver said sarcastically.

Draco tried not to gulp, avoiding her brother's eyes and looking towards her parents, "I saw her fighting tonight and she did a wonderful job. She and Fred Weasley were able to hit a Death Eater with a number of stunning charms, and I saw her heal all the wounds she received when a ceiling and wall exploded near us. She witnessed Fred's death and just nearly lived through her absolute worst fear and, after she calmed down, she wanted to charge back into battle and continue fighting. She's a fantastic fighter and you all should be proud of all that she's accomplished tonight." He explained.

Delilah beamed at him, while her family kept their solemn looks. After a few moments, her mother sighed, "Just…sit down. We don't have that much longer until the battle resumes."

Her father nodded, "Oliver, you should get back to Madam Pomfrey." Oliver gave one last hard look at Draco, before nodding his head and hurrying back towards the end of the hall. Her parents left too, going to help retrieve the dead and Delilah and Draco were left alone to sit on the bench.

"You're family really hates me, huh?" Draco asked after a moment. Delilah rolled her eyes, "Oliver has gained a new hatred for any Dark Wizard since Amanda died. She was killed by Snatchers, but I suppose it does make sense to have a newfound hatred for V-Voldemort and Death Eaters too." She explained, reaching to take Draco's hand but suddenly cupping them both in her lap. She had completely forgotten they were at school. She knew there was a war going on around them and that Draco Malfoy holding hands with her wouldn't be that big of a deal, but she supposed old habits have a hard time giving out.

Draco heaved out a large sigh, his hands shaking slightly as he looked around the hall. Slowly, he reached over and pulled Delilah's hands apart, taking one in his and leaning back against the wall, an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion creeping over him. He hadn't realized he'd been up a good twenty-four hours without sleep.

Delilah was surprised that Draco made the first move but smiled and they sat their silently, both of their eyes drooping closed as sleep slowly washed over them when suddenly they were both jerked awake, Voldemort's voice ringing in their ears.

"Harry Potter is dead."

Delilah covered her mouth, muffling her auditable gasp with her free hand at the words. She didn't realize it, but she had also squeezed Draco's hand much tighter.

"He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. This battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters out number you and the Boy Who Lived in 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, injured and uninjured, seemed to stand up and rush towards the doors. Delilah pulled Draco along, her parents and brother standing a ways behind them as they all crowded outside the doors into the courtyard.

Standing before them were the Death Eaters, Hagrid in chains at the front, sobbing profusely as he stood next to Voldemort and a limp body in Hagrid's arms, Delilah and Draco only guessed was Harry.

There was yells of anger and agony from the students and adults, and jeers from all the Death Eaters as they laughed. "SILENCE!" Voldemort cried, and there was a bang of bright red light and a silence was forced upon all of them. "It is over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"

Hagrid let out another cry, and slowly and carefully placed Harry down in front of Voldemort.

"You see?" Voldemort called. "He is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

"He beat you!" Ron Weasley yelled, and the charm broke, and the defenders of Hogwarts were screaming again until another loud bang extinguished their voices once more.

"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds, killed while trying to save himself – "

Suddenly, out of the corner of Delilah's eye, she saw someone run out of the crowd; wand raised and let out a very loud shout. Voldemort flicked his wand at Neville, and he fell to the ground and grunted in pain, while Voldemort grabbed his wand and threw it to the side.

"And who is this?" Voldemort asked.

"Neville Longbottom, my lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?" Bellatrix said, giving a delightful laugh. Voldemort nodded, "Ah, yes, I remember but you are a pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort asked as Neville struggled back to his feet.

"So what if I am?"

"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater." Voldemort said.

"I'll join you when hell freezes over, Dumbledore's Army!" He shouted, and the Silencing Charms Voldemort had placed around them seemed unable to hold the loud roar of the crowd as they cheered and shouted.

Voldemort appeared angry, and he flicked his wand and the sound of a window breaking came from above them all. Seconds later the ratty old Sorting hat flew into Voldemort's hand and Neville's body went rigid.

"There will be no more sorting at this school. The house of Salazar Slytherin should suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom? Neville will now demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," Voldemort announced throughout the crowd and levitated the hat onto Neville's head.

Everyone in the crowd began to move, but the Death Eaters were on top of it, their wands raised, ready to hold the fighters off.

Suddenly, the sorting hat burst into flames and a loud scream came through the crowd. Delilah quickly looked away, and Draco grabbed her shoulders to keep her steady, his eyes glued to the scene happening with Neville.

Only, a dozen different things began to happen. A Giant came from around the castle, screaming for something while other Giants followed after him, dozens of centaurs stormed out of the forest with arrows shooting out of their bows towards the Death Eaters. Harry's body suddenly disappeared and Neville was able to resist the Body-Bind Curse and tore the hat off his head, pulling a great, shining sword out from the inside of it and ran the blade through Voldemort's snake, it's head flying into the air and thudding to the ground at Voldemort's feet.

Chaos began.

The defenders of Hogwarts ran at the Death Eaters, and the whole battle moved into the school and into the Great Hall.

Delilah and Draco gripped each other's hand as they ran, but Delilah quickly stopped, hearing two voices screaming over the loud crowd.

"DRACO?" "DRACO WHERE ARE YOU?"

She spun around and saw his parents, rushing through the crowd, searching desperately for their son. Draco didn't appear to hear them though, and was desperately trying to pull Delilah out of the line of fire. "Delilah, come on!" he screamed.

She pulled him behind a half broken statue, making sure they were well hidden from the oncoming Death Eaters. "Go to your parents." She said.

He stared at her shocked, "What?"

"They're coming this way! You don't have a wand, remember? You need to be safe and they're looking for you, they aren't fighting at all. They're worried, I could tell. Go to them."

"But you-"

"I'll be fine!" she said quickly, kissing him on the cheek. She let go of his hand and quickly ran into the Great Hall, leaving Draco behind. He paused for a moment, before he saw his parents making their way into the Great Hall.

"Mother, father!" He shouted, coming out of his hiding place. They turned on their heels and his mother threw herself on him, her eyes teary and she kissed him all over the face. Lucius hugged his wife and son, and quickly motioning them back outside towards the path to the Gates.

"We have to leave," he said, hurrying them along.

Draco looked over his shoulder desperately at the school, listening to the screams and the sound of battle behind him. Suddenly, he pushed away from his parents grip and began running back towards the school.

"Draco!" his mother called desperately, "Draco, come back!"

Inside, Delilah had run straight towards Ginny and Luna, battling off a number of Death Eaters. Hermione ran over and joined them as well, joining them as they they stunned the Death Eaters after them, when Bellatrix cackled behind them and a jet of red light flew just past Luna's ear. The four girls spun around and began sending an array of spells towards the insane woman, all of which she blocked, laughing.

Bellatrix pointed her wand towards Ginny and they all knew it was the Killing Curse that was being shot. It missed her by inches.

Just as Bellatrix took aim again, Mrs. Weasley jumped in, throwing off her cloak and pointing a shaky hand at Bellatrix, "Not my daughter, you bitch!" she screamed.

Bellatrix laughed, and the four girls quickly moved out of Mrs. Weasley's way as the two of them began to duel.

"What will happen to your children when I've killed you? When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?" Bellatrix taunted. "You – will – never – touch – our – children – again!" Mrs. Weasley screamed, and she jabbed her wand in the air and a spell flew straight at Bellatrix, square in her chest over her heart. She froze, her evil smile gone and her eyes wide. And finally, she toppled over onto the floor, and the watching crowd cheered.

Voldemort sent off a blast that threw McGonagall, Kingsley and Slughorn across the hall and moved his wand towards Mrs. Weasley, but someone had casted a Shield Charm across the whole room. Voldemort spun around and there stood Harry, his wand raise and looking towards Voldemort.

Everyone cheered, and Delilah gripped Luna's arm and jumped up and down happily, "He's alive! He's alive!" she screamed happily, stopping her jumping to hug Luna.

Suddenly, someone gripped her shoulder and she was pulled away from Luna, only to be thrust into Draco's arms.

"W-What are you doing here?!" she asked, shocked, pulling away. He shook his head, not noticing his parents that were staggering through the crowded hall looking for him, "I couldn't leave knowing you were still here." He said simply.

She grinned, but suddenly all the noise in the crowd had died and it was just Harry and Voldemort now, standing in the center of the room.

"I don't want anyone to help me! It's got to be me." Harry called into the silent crowd. Voldemort glared at him, "Potter doesn't mean that, it's not how he works? Tell me, who will you use as a shield today?"

"Nobody, there are no more Horcruxes so now it's just you and me and one of us will leave this fight for good…"

You'd think Voldemort would have struck by now, but he was intrigued on what Harry was saying. He was explaining everything that had happened to Voldemort, everything that Voldemort had seemed to do wrong, including how he acquired his wand, the Elder Wand.

"I stole the wand from its last master's tomb! I removed it against its last master's wishes! Its power is mine!" Voldemort said angrily.

Harry shook his head, "You still don't get it, Riddle, do you? Possessing the wand isn't enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. Didn't you listen to Ollivander? The wand chooses the wizard…the Elder Wand recognized a new master before Dumbledore died, someone who never even laid a hand on it. The new master removed the wand from Dumbledore against his will, never realizing exactly what he hand done, or that the world's most dangerous wand had given him its allegiance…" Harry paused, before giving Voldemort one stern look, "The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy!"

Shock filled Voldemort's face and a few people standing around Delilah and Draco turned to look at him, shocked.

"Even if you are right, Potter," Voldemort started, "it makes no difference to you and me. You no longer have the phoenix wand: We duel on skill alone…and after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy…"

Delilah gripped Draco's hand and, without thinking, took a step in front of him, a glare set on Voldemort. "Over my dead body," She muttered angrily. Draco used his free hand to grip her shoulder and pull her back, and turned to look at his parents, who had also stepped in front of him at Voldemort's words.

Harry shook his head, though. "But you're too late," he said, "You've missed your chance. I disarmed Draco weeks ago and took this wand from him." He said, twitching Draco's wand in his hand, "Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does…I am the true master of the Elder Wand."

Voldemort had seemed to have had enough. He jabbed his wand in the air, screaming out, "Avada Kedavra!" But Harry was on top of it, shouting out, "Expelliarmus!"

The spells hit one another and seemed to collide. Suddenly, the Elder Wand flew high into the air and towards Harry, while Voldemort, a look of horror on his face, fell backwards, arms stretched outward and his scarlet eyes rolling to the back of his head.

It was silent in the hall for a moment, everyone staring shocked at the fallen Dark Lord and Harry, holding two wands and staring down at the body.

And suddenly, the whole room was filled with cheers. Harry's friends all ran towards him, hugging him and congratulating him. Delilah, however, stayed by Draco's side, jumping up and down happily and screaming for joy.

Draco grinned at her, highly amused at the sight, but a slight uncomforting feeling washing over him and his parents. They didn't quite know what to do with all the cheering people, and stood rather unnoticed by many of them.

Delilah's family ran over to her and the four of them all hugged, all of them jumping, crying, and laughing. Oliver even picked Delilah up and swung her around in the air, "He's gone, he's gone, he's gone!" he cheered happily, not even bothering to wipe his watering eyes.

He finally placed Delilah down and she turned and hugged Draco, "Come on, smile, be happy!" she said sweetly, gripping his shoulders.

He still had a very uneasy feeling in his stomach, and gave her a very weak smile. She quirked an eyebrow at him, before she gripped the back of his head and pulled him towards her lips, locking him in a kiss.

His eyes widened, but wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tighter towards him, his lips finally breaking into a real smile.

They pulled apart, and the first person they turned to was Draco's parents, who were both looking at the two of them shocked. Delilah was about to explain when Draco stepped in,

"Honestly, I've been in love with her for a good three years. And I'm ashamed I haven't told you two, but I'll telling you now. I hope you can forgive me for being so secretive and," he turned to look at Delilah, "I hope you can forgive me as well."

She grinned, nodding her head, while Narcissa seemed to let out a small huff, "Well, it isn't as if we can control who you fall in love with, darling." She said simply.

Lucius nodded, "I suppose that is true,"

Draco and Delilah both grinned and turned towards her family, but her mother held up her hands. "For one, Delilah told us about you two ages ago, and," She paused, sighing, "Considering the two of you, it would be idiotic to disapprove of your relationship."

The two teens beamed but before Draco could say a word of thanks, Delilah took his hand and pulled him through the large crowd of people.

"Where are we going?" Draco asked. "To get your wand back! I can't defend you forever." She chuckled, giving him a playful wink as she walked up towards Luna and Ginny, looking around curiously for Harry.

"Where's Harry?" Delilah called over the cheer. Ginny shrugged, "Dunno, but I saw Ron and Hermione leave a few minutes ago."

"And Harry might be hiding under his invisibility cloak to get away from all the people coming up to him." Luna said serenely, staring innocently at the ceiling. Delilah gave Luna a half smile before Draco pulled her along and out of the noisy Great Hall towards the ruined courtyard.

They walked amongst the fallen stones, climbing up on the rubble and taking in the damage around the school.

"Do you suppose all this will be fixed by the start of term?" Delilah asked curiously. "I'd like to finish my schooling, and Kingston begins here in a few months as well,"

Draco shrugged, "Well, I'm sure they'll use magic to get it all back to normal. You're really coming back?" he asked. She nodded, "Of course, Draco. What I am supposed to do with my life if I don't even have a proper education?" She asked, sliding down a few of the large rocks.

Draco shrugged, "I don't know; housewife?" he questioned. She laughed, rolling her eyes, "Very funny, Draco."

He chuckled and fell in line beside her, "Well, I suppose if you're coming back, I'll come back too."

"You suppose?" she questioned, quirking her eyebrow.

Draco nodded, "I don't want to be alone all year while you're off at school. I did that this past year and it was torture. No, I think I'll come back next year too."

She grinned, placing a kiss on his cheek, "At least next year we won't be secretive."

Draco laughed, "After that kiss in the Great Hall, you'd have full permission to break up with me if I still wanted us to be a secret."

Draco leaned down to kiss her, deeply, passionately, with as much love as he could muster as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

He hadn't taken the time to learn her name; she didn't care. He had called her a Mudblood; she didn't care. He had denied their friendship, kept their relationship a secret, and most of all, was a Death Eater. And it never ceased to amaze him that, above all of that, she didn't care and she still stuck by him, patiently and lovingly.

He couldn't even fathom why she had picked him, why she had chosen to give all her love to someone as terrible as him, but now it just gave him a new reason to change. Because he knew he'd never be good enough to be with her, but he refused to stay so low. He'd try, for the rest of his life if he had to, to get better and prove that he was indeed good enough for her love. He was smart enough to realize he had caught her, and he was smart enough to do everything he could to keep her.

The End.

A/N

It's the end and I'm sad :(

but...don't worry! BECAUSE THE SEQUEL IS POSTED.

It is called "For Grins, Laughs, and The Inbetween" (long title, I know..but I really like it because that's really what the story is about. The many ups that happen in the future of Draco and Delilah, along with the many, many downs. I'm sure by the time you're reading this, the story will already be posted and waiting :) so if you are interested in reading the sequel and the it's on my page!)

I just wanted to say a very huge thanks to everyone who has read this story, who has been reading since day 1 and who have reviewed, favorited and alerted this story. It has all meant so much to me and I am happy I worked up the nerve to post that first chapter so long ago otherwise I would have never gotten to write this story. It's been a wonderful experiance and you've all been so wonderful through it all. I hope to see you at the sequel's review box and alert/favorites list! And, again, thank you so much for sticking with this story. I love you guys :)

Bye, you've all been wonderful! ~ Taylor