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Deanna and Harry went out of the Headmaster's office and down the stairs in silence, letting themselves mull over what just happened. Various thoughts ran through their head, but the two of them were still holding each other's hands. It let them know they had each other to lean on no matter what. But the two of them stopped in their tracks when they saw the familiar figures of Ron and Hermione sitting at the stairs. Well, it seemed like Harry had no escape now.

"Come on, it's Ron and Hermione... It's okay." Deanna whispered to him comfortingly and once Harry nodded, the two of them continued on their way. The sound of their footsteps let their two friends know of their presence.

Hermione stood up immediately and looked at Deanna worriedly. "Where've you been?"

"We thought you two went to the forest." Ron commented with concern.

"I'm going there now." Harry walked past his friends, knowing they would try to stop him. And he was right.

"Are you mad? No. You can't give yourself up to him." Ron said, thinking what Harry just said was absurd. He glanced at Deanna who was only staring at Harry's back. "Why aren't you telling him to stop? You were together just a few moments ago. Why aren't you saying anything?"

Deanna only kept her silence, knowing what was going to happen. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place for Hermione at the silence of Deanna.

"What is it, Harry?" asked Hermione, coming closer to her best friend who had his back turned to them. "What is it you and Deanna know?"

Harry finally turned around at that, glancing at Deanna who gave him an encouraging nod before he answered her question. "There's a reason I can hear them, the Horcruxes. I am one of them... I am a Horcrux."

Ron was in disbelief. He may be an idiot, but this time, he understood clearly what Harry was saying. Deanna only smiled at Harry. She already told him everything she needed to say and everything he needed to hear.

Hermione couldn't stop the sob that escaped her lips, understanding immediately what he meant. "I'll go with you."

"No, kill the snake." Harry smiled slightly at them, trying to convince them he was alright. "Kill the snake and then it's just him."

Hermione did not waste another moment and rushed forward to hug Harry tight, letting herself cry for her best friend who suffered and had to suffer more. But she knew nothing would change his mind once he had made his decision. So, she could only cry and hug Harry to try and tell him he was so brave, that everything will be alright. It hurt her of course to let Harry go to his death, but this was the only thing she could do for him. To give him a tight hug and let him know everything would be alright.

Ron joined the hug, silently letting his tears fall while patting Harry on the back. Harry, his friend – no, his brother was going to sacrifice himself. It pained Ron to know that he had to lose another brother today. He let Harry know how much he loved him with that simple pat on the back, and Harry patted him back, saying he loved him back just as much.

Deanna was right, Harry thought. It was better to go with no regrets. He got to talk with the three people in his life who he trusted and cared for deeply. The three people who had his back no matter what. The three people who were there for him until the very end. The only regret he would have while leaving this world was that he didn't get to tell his Knight how much he loved him.

Hermione and Ron let go of their best friend, their trio was now down to two, and it hurt both of their hearts. Harry smiled at them before turning to Deanna who gave him one last hug.

'I'll see you on the other side.'

Each of them thought before finally letting go with sad smiles on their faces. Harry then smiled at each of them from Ron to Hermione to Deanna before he finally turned around, walking away from the three who watched his back.

Deanna moved closer to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her. The crying Hermione hugged Deanna back and buried her face into the Hufflepuff's hair while Ron came on Deanna's other side and wrapped an arm around the two of them. The three stood there, watching Harry walk away from them while feeling sorrowful for the loss of their friend. They stood there together even if Harry long disappeared from sight.

Soon, the cries of Hermione calmed down and she turned to Deanna with a serious look on her face. "You... Don't you dare do anything like that. Don't go to Voldemort to sacrifice yourself."

Deanna smiled at her and nodded. She had no plans of going to Voldemort to sacrifice herself anyways. She was planning on getting Voldemort to come to her to sacrifice herself. So, in a way she didn't lie to Hermione. But it didn't stop her from feeling pain once more at the reminder that she would later die.

"Good." Hermione smiled weakly and motioned to the stairs. "Let's go. Ginny still hasn't let go of... Jemina. She might need someone with her."

Deanna and Ron nodded before they started on the way back down in silence. Their group of four was now three. It felt empty to be walking together without Harry. Soon, they reached the Great Hall and Hermione entered first, beelining to Ginny while Deanna and Ron stayed outside.

"Ron?"

"Dee?"

"I'm sorry about Fred."

"Thank you." Ron smiled slightly at her. He was still hurting but because of everything he had gone through in the past few words, he learned to live with the pain. He learned to be able to smile even if he was dying inside. "You know, we could have lost the twins today... but Jemina Nightingale. That girl saved George. I'll be grateful to her forever for what she had done. Though I don't know how Ginny's going to be okay now that Jemina's dead. I mean I don't know what I'd do if I lost Eleanor. I'd probably go crazy."

The two of them glanced inside the Great Hall where they could see Ginny still holding onto Jemina's body while Hermione, Neville, Luna, Eleanor and Noah were trying to comfort her. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt in her at those words. Would Hermione be like that when she...

"Don't die, Dee." Ron suddenly held Deanna's hand, making her turn to him. She saw a gentle smile on the redhead's bruised and dirty face. "I know you. You'd throw yourself in the middle of danger if it meant saving at least one life. Don't do that. Live long and happy with Hermione and with us. It's not yet time for you to meet our grandparents and great-uncles and great-aunts. Stay with us, yeah?"

Deanna suppressed the urge to cry right then. How could she promise something she could not do? So, Deanna only gave Ron a hug. It was a hug telling him she was sorry for she could not do what he was asking of her. However, Ron took it as a hug of agreement and smiled, hugging Deanna back. Deanna wanted to stay with them until she grew old with Hermione, but she couldn't.

She then pulled back and patted Ron on the shoulder. "I'll be alright here. Go on to El, she needs someone with her."

"Yeah, thank you, Dee." Ron sent her one last smile, and Deanna watched him go to Eleanor and hug the crying girl tight. She smiled at the sight before she leaned on the wall and looked blankly at the debris around her. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes. Well, Ron was wrong about that. She was going to be reunited with her old friends sooner than expected...

Right then, Deanna felt her head in pain much intense than she had ever felt before. She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep herself silent and slid down the wall. Her surroundings changed in an instant, her eyes widening to see herself in the Forbidden Forest.

There was Harry who stood all by himself, facing off against the many Death Eaters. He had a brave look on his face while Voldemort grinned at him. "Harry Potter... The Boy Who Lived... Come to die."

Harry closed his eyes, thinking of Noah. His smile... His brown eyes... How he would bare his heart only to Harry despite how timid and reserved he was... How he kissed Harry... How soft his hand felt... And how much he loved Harry... Harry thought of only Noah Knight in his final moments.

"Avada Kedavra!" The green light hit Harry straight in the chest and Deanna pressed her hand onto her mouth harder, her tears falling immediately. Harry was gone. Her head was throbbing hard but her heart was hurting even harder as she found herself back in Hogwarts with Noah standing over her with a concerned look on his face.

"Deanna? Are you alright? I was going to help recover the bodies when I saw you... Are you alright?" Noah asked her worriedly then bent down to look at her. "Why are you crying?"

"Noah..." Deanna felt her heart break at the thought that she would have to be the one to tell him this, but a promise was a promise. Harry died, and it was time for her to keep the promise she made. She swallowed the lump in her throat and gently held Noah's hand in hers, confusing the boy. "Noah... Harry wanted me to tell you something when... when something happens. And it's time."

"Yeah?" Noah asked in confusion. "What is it?"

Deanna wiped away her tears and smiled at her fellow badger. "Harry... He wanted me to tell you he's sorry. He loves you deeply with everything he has. He loved you so deeply he felt like dying every time he had to hurt you. And he's sorry to hurt you once more. He wanted to tell you that he will be with you no matter what happens... e-even if he's gone. He will be with you. Always."

Finally finishing the difficult deed, the Dumbledore looked at Noah who looked back at her blankly. He wasn't stupid to not know what Deanna was talking about. So, he did go to the Forbidden Forest... Harry Potter, the idiot who he loved too much although Harry hurt him too many times. He was gone? Noah didn't want to believe it though.

So, he smiled at Deanna and covered the hands that were holding his with his other hand. "Tell him to tell me that himself. I'll be checking if there are any other bodies at the entrance."

With that, Noah let go of Deanna's hands and walked towards the entrance of Hogwarts but not to check if there are bodies... he went there to wait for his lover's return. Despite what Deanna just said, he had a strong feeling. He had a strong feeling Harry was coming back.

Deanna could only watch him go before closing her eyes once more and holding her head in her hands. Harry... She would see him soon on the other side. She knew Voldemort was coming for her next.

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Meanwhile... In a clean and white version of King's Cross...

"Professor... I didn't die. I'll be coming back, right?" Harry suddenly said, looking at Albus Dumbledore with hope. "How about Deanna? Will she be able to come back like me?"

Albus looked down with a sad smile, extinguishing the little hope that Harry had. "Deanna... Deanna isn't like you, Harry. Voldemort killed the Horcrux in you. However, my little phoenix is the only one who could end this war. After all Horcruxes are destroyed and you've dealt the final blow on Voldemort, she will have to burn and die. She knows that and despite everything, she still accepted her destiny. Deanna is our salvation. No matter how much it hurts me to say this, she would have to die... My daughter..."

"I feel so sorry for Deanna. She doesn't deserve this." Harry shook his head and closed his eyes. He felt sorry for the Dumbledores who had gone through too much. "I'm so sorry, Professor."

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living. And, above all, all those who live without love." Albus spoke wisely and smiled, but he too was sorry and in pain. Sorry for what his daughter had to go through for the greater good they fought for. Pained for the suffering he caused her in all her years... but there was nothing they could do. Deanna's fate was sealed years ago when the prophecy was made, and it was time for her to face her destiny.

"Deanna lived, giving all the love she could muster and receiving love from each and everyone of you. She's burned bright, my little phoenix. Despite how cruel fate was to her, she still retained her kindness. I could not be any prouder to call her my daughter. Thanks to all of you and of course, Miss Granger, Deanna has accepted what she needed to do. It was because you loved her and she loved you. That's why she's decided to sacrifice herself. So do not pity any of us, Harry, for we've lived with love. Love is enough for us."

Harry went silent for a few moments, knowing Dumbledore was right before he spoke once more. "Do you have something you want me to tell her, Sir?"

"This old man is fine, Harry." Dumbledore smiled reassuringly. "Everything I need to say... I will say to her."

"Professor? Is this all real? Or is it just happening inside my head?" Harry suddenly asked.

"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean that it's not real?"

Harry smiled and nodded before boarding the train that would take him... on. He was ready to go back and help Deanna finish this once and for all. There was one thought that stuck to mind as he went. Even if everyone else chose Deanna over the world, they had no doubt... Deanna would still choose the world over herself.

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"Deanna? Are you okay?"

Deanna's eyes fluttered open, and she saw Hermione crouching over her with a worried look in her eyes. "Mione..."

Hermione saw Deanna groan and hold a hand to her head once more. She knew her head was hurting bad again. She leaned Deanna's head on her shoulder and started caressing her hair, trying to give Deanna a little comfort although she knew the pain was still there.

"Don't worry. I got you, love."

Love. That word suddenly struck a chord in Deanna whose eyes widened. She realized something. How stupid of her... She didn't say those three words to Hermione yet. Hermione told her those words countless times but not even once did she say them back. And she lifted her head off Hermione's shoulder, staring at Hermione's brown eyes with her own blue ones... Enough hesitation, enough waiting. It was time for her to say it now.

"Hermione, I – "

"NO!" The cry of Noah cut Deanna off. She felt a little disappointed her confession got cut off. Nevertheless, she got up with the help of Hermione and along with the others, they ran out to the entrance. Some started crying, some shouted in anger while some were in shock. Deanna stood there though with a blank face though she felt like she was dying inside.

Because there was Harry Potter being carried in Hagrid's arms, dead. Harry did come back. He just came back, dead.

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