Hermione and Ellie broke apart after what seemed like eternity. With their arms still snaked around each other, the lovers sighed as they rest their foreheads against each other. Ellie glanced towards the Great Hall, then back to to her girlfriend.

"I can't look at him," Ellie sniffled.

Hermione cupped Ellie's cheek, stroking away the tears that had stained them.

"We don't have to right now," Hermione cooed as she gazed into her girlfriend's eyes.

Ellie's eyes flickered back to the grieving family, making eye contact with Ron. Though their eyes shared the same sadness, Ellie tilted her head as indication for the boy to come forward. Ron walked rather quickly, diverting his eyes away from the deceased laying on the floor.

Ellie let go of Hermione gently, moving aside as she awaited for Ron. She outstretched her arms for him, and he embraced her tightly, clapping down on her back.

"I'm so sorry," Ellie croaked, and she felt Ron nod into her shoulder.

Though their bodies shook with an urge to cry, it seemed that they both ran out of tears. Ellie peered over Ron as she met her girlfriend's gaze. Hermione gave a small smile of reassurance as she watched the two break away.

Hermione took Ellie's hand, lacing them together as she began to walk. Ron stood still, unsure of whether to follow or stay behind.

"Come, Ron," Ellie invited, turning back to the red-head.

Ron nodded appreciatively, following the girls as they walked through the broken school, stepping over large pieces of rubble. They eventually stopped at an isolated area and sat at the bottom of the steps.

Ellie rested her head on her girlfriend's shoulder, their hands resting on each other's knees. Ron sat quietly as he took in the school's damage, not seeming to mind the lovers' close proximity.

After a few moments, they heard footsteps approach from behind them. The trio immediately turned around to find Harry as he descended the stairs.

"Where've you been?" Hermione asked.

"We thought you went to the forest," Ron added in hushed voice.

"I'm going there now," Harry answered flatly as he pushed past his friends.

"No, Harry. We've already lost so much," Ellie pleaded.

"Are you mad? No," Ron protested. "You can't give yourself up to him."

Harry stopped in his tracks, his back turned away from them.

"What is it, Harry?" Hermione questioned. "What is it you know?"

Harry turned around, his expression both pained and scarred.

"There's a reason I can hear them... the Horcruxes," Harry gulped, his breath wavering. "I think I've known for a while. And I think you have too."

Hermione's eyebrows turned upwards as tears started to escape her eyes. Ellie gasped softly, knowing all too well what needed to be done.

"I'll go with you," Hermione insisted, stepping forward.

"No, kill the snake," Harry ordered. "Kill the snake and then it's just him."

Hermione immediately approached Harry, throwing her arms over his shoulders as she embraced him.

Harry looked at Ellie and Ron over Hermione's shoulder with a sullen look.

Ellie hastily took off her ring as Hermione finally broke away, approaching her cousin. She held it out for him, but he didn't budge.

"Take it, Harry," Ellie urged, pushing her ring into his hand, but he closed his fist tightly. "Please, it'll keep you safe. It'll work, I promise."

"No. I can't take that. You know I can't," Harry reasoned.

Knowing that it was no use in trying to convince him, Ellie returned the ring on her finger and threw herself at him. She didn't embrace him long, but she hugged him tightly, and for the first time, he wasn't caught off guard.

Harry withdrew reluctantly, his long face reflecting itself among his friends' expressions. He didn't say a word as he left, and he turned on his heel slowly. Hermione wrapped her arm around Ellie's waist and rested her head on her collarbone. Ellie placed her palm on Ron's shoulder, squeezing it gently as they watched him walk to his death.

"It's nearly sunrise," Ron commented.

It was an untimely commentary, yet Ron figured it'd be best to fill the silence.

"Are you ready, love?" Hermione mumbled.

Ellie nodded slightly, tilting her head downwards to kiss her girlfriend's forehead. Hermione smiled to herself as she broke away, taking Ellie's hand to lead her back to the Great Hall.

They stood just outside the Great Hall, Ron standing just beside them. Ellie took a deep breath as she squeezed Hermione's hand, preparing herself for the sight. Ellie took a step forward, her heart racing as she stared at the body at the end of the room. She took another painful step, yet it seemed to grow easier the more she advanced. Within a few moments, Ellie found herself standing over Fred's body, his ever-laughing expression wiped off permanently.

George approached her silently, bringing his arm over Ellie's shoulder. Ellie looked up to him, and it pained her to see his twin. She wrapped both hands around his back and buried her face into George's clothing, shutting her eyes as she imagined it was Fred holding her. Though it seemed that her body had run out of tears, a single droplet fell from the corner of her eye, darkening the clothing it fell on. Ellie could tell George was holding back tears as his body shook with the same intensity as when she first found out. They didn't talk, but they both knew what they wanted to say to each other. Ellie only hugged him tighter as she slowly opened her eyes to peer at the body below.

Ellie broke away first, and she crouched down to Fred's body, kneeling just beside him. The Hufflepuff held Fred's cold hand, rubbing it over with her thumb as she reminisced over their shared memories. Blasting away badges over the suspension bridge. Birthday pranks. The Triwizard Tournament. Dumbledore's army. Quidditch training. Leaving school. Dancing at Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Ellie wiped away her tears that had just started to fall, sniffling as she snapped back into reality.

"Hey, Freddie," Ellie whispered as she forced a small smile on her face. "You didn't deserve this. You didn't deserve any of this. And I'm... so sorry. I wish we had more time together."

Ellie stood up slowly and turned to her girlfriend, who was already waiting with her arms outstretched. Hermione held Ellie once more, letting Ellie sink into her shoulder as she stroked the back of her head, running her fingers through her tangled waves.

"I wish it had been me," Ellie sighed helplessly. "I knew something wasn't right, but I was so blinded by what would happen to me, that I didn't stop to protect my friends."

Hermione drew back with a frown, her eyebrows furrowed disappointedly.

"Don't ever say that," Hermione told Ellie in a stern manner. "None of this was your fault, love. It isn't your job to protect everyone you love."

"But it's only fair," Ellie protested. "This ring that I possess... it lets me cheat death. It's unfair. There are so many people that deserved a second chance at life, so many people that had dreams, ambitions, importance. It's selfish for me to be able to live when I should have died a long time ago. I don't deserve what I have."

Hermione cupped her girlfriend's face, her tears ready to drop as they formed in her eyes.

"Don't say that, darling," Hermione pleaded in a soft tone. "You were brought back here for a reason. An important one, I'm sure of it. But don't ever tell me that you don't deserve to live. Because, my love, you're more important than you'll ever realize. The people you've impacted, they wouldn't be the way they are now if it weren't for you. Look, take Malfoy. Until you came along, he was a bully. He hated my friends and I and made sure to make our lives a living hell. But look how he is now. You've changed him. You've taught him how to have a heart, how to care for others. If you hadn't lived, he'd never become the person he is today. I can see him wanting to be better, because of you. It's always because of you. You need to realize that, love."

Ellie glanced at the Great Hall, taking in the dreadful atmosphere. Her eyes flickered to a couple, their fingers locked together as they laid lifeless on separate stretchers. Ellie's face dropped at the sight, recognizing the couple to be Tonks and Lupin. She remembered the kindness they had showed her, especially the growing friendship she had just began to procure with Tonks.

"They're all gone," Ellie cried out as a her eyes watered at the sight, unable to break her gaze from the overwhelming bodies that laid out in the hall. "Look around you, Hermione. They're dead. All of them. They had lives to experience, each and every single one of them. They had people to come home to: friends, family, children. Now, they'll never be able to return. If I didn't have the ring, it would've been fair. What if they died for me? Who knows if one of them unknowingly took a hex for me? What if they got caught in the crossfire when we ran through the courtyard?"

Ellie removed the ring from her finger and clutched it in her closed palm as her body trembled with a familiar shake.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," Ellie cried as she broke down in Hermione's arms, clutching onto her girlfriend desperately. "Everyone... they're gone."

Hermione held Ellie as her own tears fell onto the Hufflepuff's shoulder. Despite the shared tears, Hermione attempted to stay strong as she swallowed her cry through her tightened throat.

"Shh... It's okay, my love," Hermione reassured, her voice cracking upon speaking. "I'm here... I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

Ellie broke away sniffling as she wiped away her continuous streams. Her body hiccuped occasionally as she looked down at her hand. She opened her palm to show Hermione, holding it out.

"I can't wear it anymore," Ellie vowed, her hand trembling. "I'm too selfish."

"No, you can't do that. Keep it on, darling. At least until everything blows over," Hermione requested.

"You don't understand how guilty I feel," Ellie cried out. "This damn ring... I need to get rid of it."

"Not yet. Wear it, and then you can return it to your mother when everything's over. Please... can you do that for me?" Hermione cooed gently.

Ellie sighed as she stared at the ring. For something she had once been so proud to own, the ring only brought forth death and guilt. She wanted nothing more than to dispose of it, yet her heart protested otherwise, pleading that she listen to her girlfriend. Ellie reluctantly slid the ring over her finger, and looked up at Hermione.

"That's my girl," Hermione said softly as she smiled proudly.

Ellie pressed her lips against Hermione's, their lips tasting of tears. It only lasted for a short moment, yet the gesture had returned some happiness to their hearts.

"I don't want to lose you, darling," Ellie whispered.

"You won't," Hermione reassured as she used her thumb to wipe away Ellie's tears. "I promise."

Ellie's lips curled into a small smile as she embraced her girlfriend once more, leaning her weight on the Gryffindor. She closed her eyes in attempt to forget about the night's tragedies as Hermione rubbed her girlfriend's back lovingly.