「 WE WON 」

content warning: violence, gore (ya know, the usual fanfiction charm)

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THEO VENTURED NERVOUSLY TOWARD THE Great Hall where the majority of the people were congregated.

Shouts of horror and mourning rose into the air as well as cries of relief as they were given the opportunity to reconnect with people they had lost contact with in the midst of the battle. He hovered at the threshold, taking in the sight of bodies laid out in the middle of the Great Hall, with friends and family gathered around them. His heart leapt through his throat but he forced himself to enter.

His eyes grazed the people milling around, searching for Daphne, Luna, Seamus, anyone familiar. He saw Ginny Weasley along with her entire family gathered around a body, grief-stricken. His heart clenched painfully inside his chest as he looked away. Neville was nearby, forcing a spoonful of some potion or other into a girl's mouth with the help of Luna.

Luna.

Theo took a step forward to go to her but stopped. She was busy helping others - he would only be a nuisance if he tried to talk to her. So he turned in another direction and began walking, hoping to find Seamus or Daphne.

He spotted Oliver Wood and Angelina Johnson, the famous Gryffindor Quidditch players who have graduated a few years ago. The former was cradling what looked like a broken arm, wrapped in a sling. The latter helped a few younger students with their wounds.

And then he finally found Seamus. He was over at the corner, looking utterly exhausted with his sandy hair darkened with dirt and grit. He seemed to have just finished bandaging the wound of a student and was about to leave. Theo hurried over, feeling immense relief crash through him.

Seamus's face lit up but darkened immediately. He silently came over and put his arms around Theo. "Thank God," he whispered. "I was so worried about you. I couldn't find you anywhere."

"I was feeling the same about you."

Seamus held him tighter. "I'm sorry, Theo."

"For what?"

Seamus pulled back, looking at him with an odd expression. "Oh. You don't know."

Theo felt a cold fist close over his heart. "Know what?"

Seamus pursed his lips. "Come with me." He took Theo's hand and led him away.

The more steps they took, the more his chest tightened and the less Theo wanted to move. Where was Seamus taking him? Theo didn't want to know.

They reached the less crowded area of the Great Hall. Seamus was taking him to a body lying on the floor, draped in a blanket.

No.

Theo didn't want to go any further. He wanted to dig his heels into the ground and stop Seamus. He wanted to turn away and ignore whoever it was Seamus was taking him to. He didn't need to know. He didn't want to know.

Theo closed his eyes as they drew nearer, feeling his breaths coming in rapidly. Seamus stopped and so did he but he didn't open his eyes. He didn't want to see. Seamus put an arm around his waist. "It's okay, Theo. I'm here."

Theo let his eyes open. A shaky gasp forced itself out of his mouth when he saw Daphne lying under the blanket. Her hair was spread under her head. Large and deep gashes ran over her cheeks and jaws, grazing one corner of her left eye. From the dried blood on her face, Theo could tell she had bled heavily but someone had wiped away the blood afterwards. Her head was tilted at an odd angle.

Even though her eyes were closed, the look of pain and fear was prominent in her face. It was clear that her last emotion was terror.

His knees gave away and Theo sank to the ground. He crawled toward Daphne, taking her hand. He held his hand over her nose to check for any sign of breathing but he knew as well as anyone that there wouldn't be any. She was well and truly gone.

He turned desperately to Seamus whose eyes were downcast, fingers twisted in front of him. "What happened to her?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.

Someone else answered his question. "She was protecting me." It was Lavender Brown. She had been sitting next to Daphne but Theo hadn't noticed her until now. She had the same scars on her face but not as deep. They were coated in a thin layer of a potion. Tear stains ran down her dirt-caked face. "I was attacked by - by Fenrir Greyback." A sob racked through her and she took her time to compose herself before she continued. "Daphne saw and she ran over to help me. She knocked Greyback away from me and he attacked her. She - she couldn't - she barely had time to defend herself. He snapped her neck."

A strong vacuum grew in his chest. Daphne's hand in his was cold, so cold. He rubbed it between his palms in an attempt to warm it up, hoping for the tiniest hint of life. But it remained cold - and lifeless.

"You didn't try to help her?" He couldn't keep the accusatory tone out of his voice. Seamus pressed his arm but didn't try to reprimand him.

Lavender didn't seem offended by the question. "I couldn't. It all happened so fast." She covered her face with her hands and began to sob. Theo saw blood on her sleeves, though whether it belonged to her or Daphne, he couldn't tell.

"She was hurt, Theo," Seamus said softly beside him. "She couldn't have -

"I know. I'm sorry." Theo wrenched himself away from Seamus and stood. "Thank you for staying with her," he told Lavender.

He turned his back on them. He knew he should stay with Daphne but he couldn't. He remembered that night he was being tortured by the Carrows. The pain he had felt was nothing compared to the growing hollowness inside him. The pain then had been limited to certain parts of his body. Now, it was all over.

He could barely think, he could barely breathe, and he let his shaky legs carry him to the room where Blaise and Colin were.

Blaise was sitting in the same position he had left him in. Colin, on the other hand, was asleep with his head on Blaise's lap. He looked up as Theo entered. "He just flopped down - Theo, what's wrong?"

Theo stumbled and dropped to his knees, burying his face into Blaise's chest. His arms instantly came around him as Theo gripped the collar of his shirt and began to weep.

Blaise held him tightly, moving his hands comfortingly over his back but there was no comforting Theo. It was his fault Daphne was dead. He shouldn't have left her; he should have been with her.

He nuzzled his nose into Blaise's neck, relishing in the characteristic smell of Blaise, willing it to distract him from the unbearable pain that threatened to make him collapse into a pile of goo on the floor. He felt a scream building inside him, gathering in his vocal cord but his mouth refused to cooperate and it remained there, filling him up, his blood vessels, his organs. He was going to explode and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

"Daphne, it's Daphne -" he blurted out and then the sobs came freely. He clutched Blaise around the neck and cried.

Theo didn't know how much time passed. He didn't think he could ever stop crying. But he did. His eyes dried as if he had run out of more tears to shed and his insides seemed like they have been scooped out with a spatula, leaving nothing but a hollow shell of what he once was. He felt a pair of small hands hug him from behind.

"I'm sorry," Colin said quietly.

Theo slowly pulled away from Blaise and was instantly startled at the brightness. The sun had risen sometime during his breakdown. Pale light flooded into the room, initiating a new day that made the events of the last few hours seem like nothing more than a nightmare.

But it wasn't. Unfortunately so.

Blaise and Colin held him on either side, making Theo wonder what he has ever done to deserve such affection. After spending his life without receiving any hugs, the sudden onslaught of physical reassurance was overwhelming.

But he wasn't going to complain.

Neither Blaise nor Colin spoke, nor asked about Daphne, for which Theo was immensely grateful. He knew he had to go to her soon but for now, he needed to be alone with his thoughts.

For the third time, You-Know-Who's voice assaulted them, this time bearing bad news.

"Harry Potter is dead."

Colin stiffened beside him. "No," he whispered.

"Colin -"

"No, no. He can't be dead." He stumbled to his feet, clutching his hair between his fingers. He looked absolutely feral. "He can't be dead!" he screamed. "We fought for him. He cannot - he cannot -"

Blaise was on his feet as well. He took Colin's arms and shook him. "Deep breaths, Colin. It's going to be okay."

"It won't! He's dead. We're going to be turned into slaves."

Blaise was shaking his head. "No one is going to be turned into slaves."

"I have to go." Colin made to leave but Blaise held on firmly.

"No, it's too dangerous. We're coming with you." He hesitated as he looked at Theo.

Theo stood slowly, nodding. "We're coming." His voice sounded lifeless and impassive.

They, along with the rest of Hogwarts gathered at the courtyard, Colin still clutched in Blaise's hands. Tears streamed down his face and he shook with each breath. Theo rested a comforting hand over his back, trying to keep images of Daphne's scarred face out of his mind.

In the pale light of the dawn, Theo saw the Dark Lord with his Death Eaters on the other side of the courtyard. Next to him was Hagrid with the limp body of the Chosen One in his arms. Hagrid was sobbing.

Theo swallowed a lump in his throat and moved closer to Blaise. His knees felt wobbly and he thought he might fall over any time.

You-Know-Who was saying something but Theo barely heard him. He couldn't stop thinking about Daphne, about the terror in her face. What had she been thinking during her last moments? Did death come suddenly to her? Theo hoped it did. He couldn't imagine the pain she must have had to endure if it took ger gradually.

Neville was speaking now. No, not speaking. Shouting. He had stepped away from the crowd and limped forward to stand right in the middle of the two sides. Theo realised he was challenging You-Know-Who.

He tuned away the voices and sounds coming from around him. All he heard was an incessant buzz. But that didn't keep him from witnessing what was happening to Neville.

You-Know-Who summoned the Sorting Hat, placing it on top of Neville's head. He must have been immobilised, for he remained frozen as the hat burst into flames on top of his head. Too many things happened at once, far too many for Theo's nonfunctioning brain to catch up with. But the courtyard suddenly blew up into a furore as both sides rushed toward each other, screaming battle cries.

Theo was alert at once, wand in his hand. Colin stumbled as the crowd pushed past them but Theo helped him remain on his feet with a hand still around his shoulders. Blaise was swept away from them by the crowd and Theo experienced a moment of insane panic thinking that he had lost him too. But Blaise emerged, duelling a Death Eater in a mask.

Theo, paired with Colin, faced another Death Eater who rained them with a hundred spells a minute. Theo was suddenly, astutely aware of his surroundings, of the small separate battles raging around them, of the young students who didn't back away from the older, more experienced wizards who had murder in their every move. Colin fought valiantly and even in the midst of a battle, Theo was deeply impressed.

They took down the Death Eater in front of them and Theo was allowed a few seconds to look around. All the fights were happening in the courtyard, with You-Know-Who right in the middle of it. It seemed like Hogwarts had the upper hand, with Death Eaters toppling left and right - some had even been tied up and left unconscious on the ground. The noise of spells whooshing through the air began to lessen and Theo knew it was going to end very soon.

He flitted his eyes around, hoping to find Fenrir Greyback, hoping to fight him even though he wasn't sure he would win. Theo had never seen him before but from the descriptions he had heard of him, Theo was sure he would recognise him instantly.

Something heavy slammed into him from behind and he toppled face-first into the ground. He somehow managed to keep the wand in his hand and he whirled around to face his attacker.

"Don't lose attention in a war, Theo," his father drawled from above him, a vexatious smirk plastered on his face.

His rage toward his father overcame the pain that bubbled under his skin, all over his body. Theo jumped to his feet and screamed a spell but it was deflected easily. He forced himself to move forward, shouting one spell after another as Tristan Nott, much to his delight staggered back, his expression crumbling from hatred and giving way to fear.

Theo felt his grief and rage concentrating into one strong, overwhelming emotion that boiled into a small point in the middle of his chest. He was no longer afraid and he would no longer let his father belittle him. Not caring about the consequences he would have to face, he continued pressing toward his father, uttering every spell he could think of.

Theo paused for just a second to catch his breath and Tristan Nott took the opportunity to raise his wand and shout, "Avada -"

He was cut off mid-spell as a figure darted out of nowhere and hurled himself at him. Theo's hands shook and he lowered his arm. Tristan Nott was, once again, on the floor but this time his attacker was Blaise who kicked his wand out of his hand and sat straddling his waist. Then he punched Tristan Nott, right on his jaw. And then he punched him again. And again.

And again.

Theo dropped to the floor, hugging himself to keep from shaking. Blood spouted out of Tristan Nott's mouth and nose. He protested weakly, pushing his hands upward to push Blaise off him but Blaise was relentless and within a minute, his arms fell limply to his sides. Colin rushed over and helped Blaise restrain him. His face was grotesque - broken and painted in blood but he looked helpless all the same with ropes around his joints.

Theo couldn't take his eyes away from his father even as Blaise came to sit next to him. "He was going to use the Killing Curse," Theo whispered. "He was going to kill me."

Blaise pulled Theo into his chest.

Theo closed his eyes but it didn't shut the horrors around him. He saw Daphne's lifeless body on the floor, the hatred in his father's face when he began to utter the Killing Curse, the Sorting Hat bursting into flames on Neville's head, Seamus struggling to keep himself together as he gave and gave and received nothing in return.

The commotion suddenly died around them. Colin, who had been sitting beside them, whispered. "Harry. It's Harry. He's alive!"

This, of all things, managed to distract Theo from his thoughts. He pulled away from Blaise and sure enough, there he was in the middle of the courtyard facing You-Know-Who.

There were cries of shock and delight. A few people moved to help him but Harry Potter cast a protective dome around himself and his opposition that kept everyone else away. They began to circle, not attacking but ... talking.

"This is it," whispered Blaise beside him.

Colin was shaking, though out of delight or fear, Theo couldn't tell. Blaise placed a hand around Colin's shoulders and spoke to him soothingly. Theo closed his eyes again, then he stood. "I'm going to Daphne," he said vacantly. "Let me know when it's over."

Without waiting for a response, he let his feet carry him away from the fight and toward the Great Hall.

The bodies lay in a line where the house tables used to be. Theo walked by them, gazing into each face. He had been afraid to look when he had first come into the Great Hall but now he made himself see every face, thinking of how many of them were alone, their families hundreds of kilometres away, not yet aware of their passing. He saw the bodies of Remus Lupin and Fred Weasley, of older wizards and witches in Ministry robes, of younger ones who weren't supposed to be here in the first place. Some of them were scarred while most had no sign of injury.

Theo reached Daphne and sat beside her. He took her hands.

"I'm sorry," he said to her. "I should have been with you."

When he had cried earlier on Blaise, it had felt like he had no more tears left. But seeing Daphne, experiencing the shock of her death all over again - this time in broad daylight - brought a fresh wave of guilt and mourning surging through him. Tears spilt out of his eyes once more.

He didn't need Blaise to tell him when the battle was over. From the triumphant shouts and the Hogwarts residents swarming into the Great Hall, hugging and kissing each other, the outcome was quite clear. Theo cradled Daphne's head on his lap and leaned forward so his mouth was near her ear. "We won, Daphne. We did it."

But the happiness died out far too soon. People crowded around the bodies on the floor, holding the hands of their loved ones, shedding more tears as the realisation that they wouldn't get to see the victory hit them. Some of the bodies had no visitors but a few kindhearted people went to them too, holding their hands even though they had probably never met before.

Flower bouquets and wreaths were conjured and placed at their feet. Theo didn't know how to conjure flowers so he didn't. He was joined by Lavender Brown, who once again sat by Daphne and stared dejectedly into her face. She waved her wand and a small bouquet with yellow flowers and deep green leaves appeared which she placed on Daphne's chest. Then she laid Daphne's hands over the bouquet to make it look like she was holding it.

Neville came by too, burn marks prominent in his face. He sat by her head silently for a minute, then leaned in to speak to her. Theo looked away, feeling like he was intruding in an intimate moment. He had never got the chance to nag Daphne for more details about her friendship with Neville. He didn't know how close they were, whether they had spoken as regularly to each other as he and Seamus did. He didn't know so many things and yet he had never asked her or spoken to her about them.

Draco stopped next to them and dropped to his knees. He stared disbelievingly at Daphne.

There was no more celebration in the Great Hall. Instead, there was a respectful silence while a few people, including Madam Pomfrey and Seamus, moved around to help with wounds.

"Could you tell Astoria?" Theo asked in a whisper. Draco looked blankly at him. "I don't think she knows yet."

"Sure." Draco paused, biting his lips. "Crabbe is dead too."

"Oh."

"It was his own fucking fault. He drowned in a fire he created himself." Despite the anger in his voice, Draco looked mournful.

"I'm sorry."

Blaise was sitting a small distance away from them, but close enough for Theo to call for him if needed. Colin was next to him, leaning over his knee. His eyes drooped - Theo had the feeling he would fall asleep any second.

"You should go and find Corben," he said once he'd gone over to them.

Blaise looked up at him worriedly. "Will you be okay?"

"Yes. I'll see if I can help Seamus."

"Okay. I'll meet you here with Corben." Blaise got to his feet with Colin who blinked rapidly.

"Can I come with you?" asked Colin. "I have to find my brother too."

Blaise gave Theo a brief hug and then they went on their way.

Seamus, as it turned out, didn't need any help. Everyone was more or less taken care of. The house-elves have come out of the kitchen to distribute food and drinks to them. Seamus pulled Theo to one of the benches that had been pushed up against the walls of the Great Hall and handed him a sandwich. They ate in silence.

Dean Thomas, who had been helping Luna give out blankets, came over to them. Theo felt a bit awkward when Seamus introduced them as, despite never having met Dean before, he knew more than enough about him from Seamus's stories. Dean shook his hand. "I'm sorry about your friend." He paused, glancing at Seamus, and gave Theo a warm smile. "Thank you for looking after him while I was away."

An awful, ear-splitting cry tore through the air. Even without knowing the context, Theo's heart broke at the sound and he turned to find Astoria rushing through the Great Hall, distraught, tears streaming down her face. Draco followed a few steps behind her.

Theo jumped to his feet and said goodbye to Seamus, who asked, "Can I see you again? After everything's settled down?"

Theo promised him and hurried out of the Great Hall, not wishing to see Astoria's grief as she fell to the floor beside Daphne, crying hysterically. He stumbled a few times on his way out, nearly bumping into two people as his eyes blurred, until Blaise arrived and took him in his arms. Theo clung to him desperately.

"I want to go home. Please get me away from here."

Blaise nodded into his neck. "Okay. Let's go home."

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:)