Author's Note

These scenes contain the changes I made to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We are also going to completely disregard the epilogue from both the film and the book. Everything else from the books will be canon, unless I make a notation otherwise.

Numbers in [brackets] denote footnotes, which you can find at the bottom of the chapter. Nothing from the wizarding world of Harry Potter is mine. The fact that this story is on this site obviously implies that I am a fan writing fanfiction. Because if I did own them, then I would be on my own private yacht in the Mediterranean sipping sangria from a goblet made of diamonds.

~ Refictionista

§ Prologue §

November 5, 1997
Somewhere near Malham Cove, North Yorkshire

The main sound Harry Potter could hear as he walked around the camp came from the radio inside the tent. One of his two best friends, Hermione Granger, was in there and listening to the music playing over the Wizard Wireless Network. He knew that she was actually waiting for Potterwatch to begin and with it any word on their friends. Unfortunately, the pirate radio program only provided information sporadically; they might not hear anything for days. It was a depressing thought, one that the power of the Horcrux managed to intensify. Their quest was a difficult one, as dark thoughts became even darker in its presence.

The sun glowed orange at the horizon, casting flickering shadows over the snowy white limestone cliffs surrounding their campground. These jagged rocks were like the age-tinted walls of a prodigious castle, yet they made the landscape only seem more barren. Winter was coming, and the air was chilly. Harry shivered, not having remembered to put on a jumper before he had gone outside to scout for anything suspicious. He thought that the faint scratching noises he heard were caused by animals rather than people, yet he kept his wand held tight at the ready. After one final perimeter check, he returned to the camp.

Throwing the flap aside, Harry Potter walked into Perkin's tent, which had already been charmed with an Undetectable Extension Charm long before they had borrowed it. He made his way over to the sitting area and wearily sat down in a folding camp chair. He looked over to his best friend, and what he saw broke his heart.

On the opposite side near the radio, Hermione quietly sat with her arms wrapped around her knees. She was listening to the music with the saddest look on her face, a single tear sliding down her cheek, grieving over how Ron Weasley, his other best friend, abandoned them.

A song rang out from the radio, playing Nick Cave's baritone of heartache.

ԓ O children ԓ
ԓ Lift up your voice, lift up your voice ԓ
ԓ Children ԓ
ԓ Rejoice, rejoice ԓ

Harry couldn't take it anymore. He had to cheer her up. He stood up and walked over to Hermione, holding out his hand.

It took a moment, but Hermione sighed and took his hand. He pulled her up and removed Salazar Slytherin's locket from around her neck. Hermione relaxed, as if relieved after releasing a great burden from her shoulders. At the physical contact, Harry felt the negative influence of the Horcrux, so he tossed it away, discarding it on a nearby bunk.

Harry pulled Hermione forward and began moving her arms up and down, like a puppeteer, in an attempt to get her to dance. Hermione smiled and then followed Harry's lead, stepping with him to the beat of the music. He twirled her around and she laughed, and Harry smiled, satisfied that he had helped her.

The song ended and they swayed in place, their arms still wrapped around each other. Hermione reluctantly leaned back, inches from Harry's face, but didn't move any further. They stared at each other. Even with her tear stained face, she was beautiful. The Horcrux had taken so much from them, but in return their friendship had grown in strength.

Slowly, Harry leaned back towards Hermione. She made no move to push him off... instead, she closed her eyes. Harry closed his. Their lips met. It was a sweet, gentle kiss that lasted a few seconds.

They pulled away mutually, both with kind smiles and sad eyes.

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then, Harry said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."

"Don't be," said Hermione. "This is an impossible situation. Quite frankly, we both needed that. It was... okay. Almost nice."

"Hermione," said Harry with hesitation. "I love you, but I don't like you like you like that."

"I know," she replied. "Like I said, it's okay. Honestly, I feel the same way. Sometimes... it's just nice for someone to hold you to make everything feel alright."

Harry nodded. "You're right." He smiled. "You always are." He walked over to the other bunk, away from the Horcrux. Harry climbed on the bed and scooted over. With no romantic intentions implied by either of them, Hermione crawled in after him, snuggling next to Harry and put an arm over his chest.

Harry pulled her into a hug. "I miss Ginny," he whispered.

Strangely, Hermione didn't feel the need to say the same about Ron.

May 1, 1998
Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts Castle

Hermione reached out, taking the basilisk fang out of Ron's loose grip. Her hand trembling, she steadied herself. Then she raised her arm above her head, took another a deep breath, and slammed it down with all the force she could physically muster.

Even this far underground, they could hear the crack of thunder as they felt ground shaking.

With the fang impaled on its side, Helga Hufflepuff's cup tumbled into the water below, sizzling as it made contact. A wave of water spewed forth, as Voldemort's tortured and writhing soul hung tremulously in the air as it clung to the crest of the surf. The screams of this oncoming terror were horrifying to Hermione and Ron. Then suddenly, it exploded, raining over them. They stood, shocked and utterly still, as the water ran off their bodies and pooled at their feet. For a moment, they stood like this, frozen and unmoving, as if amazed to be alive. Then, their eyes shifted, finding each other. They didn't blink, but then finally Hermione nodded, almost imperceptibly.

Ron blinked and managed to nod his head back at her. He started shaking the water from his arms, a grin slowly grew across his face, and then he said, "That was bloody brilliant!"

Hermione smiled, grabbed his hand, and turned to run back down the corridor. They had to get back to Harry. Ron released her grip to mount his broom. Once in the air, he reached out, pulling Hermione to him by her waist. They flew towards the exit, almost crashing when they reached the stairwell.

Together, they raced up the stairs. When they climbed out of the secret entrance, a curious Moaning Myrtle floated out of her cubicle. She took one look at their drenched clothing and smirked.

"Hang on a moment!" said Ron sharply. "We've forgotten someone!"

"Who?" asked Hermione.

"The house-elves, they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"

"You want to get them fighting?" asked Hermione incredulously.

"No," said Ron seriously, "I mean we should tell them to get out. We don't want any more Dobbies, do we? We can't order them to die for us…"

There was a clatter as the basilisk fang cascaded out of Hermione's hand. She felt like she was in a dream. Disregarding the doubts that had grown after he had abandoned them, she remembered the years prior when she thought of nothing but Ron, his crooked smile and what his lips would feel like against hers. Spearmint toothpaste. That single thought from sixth year consumed her. Hermione ran to him, flinging her arms around his neck as she kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.

"Here? In my bathroom? Is this the moment?" Myrtle asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, she raised her voice. "Oi! There's a war going on up there!"

Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.

"I know," said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit on the back of the head with a Bludger, "so it's now or never, isn't it?"

"You know," said Moaning Myrtle said with a giggle. "If either of you die out there, then you're welcome to share my toilet."

"Yeah... right... thanks," said Ron with a nervous laugh, and he and Hermione set about gathering up the fang and broomstick, both pink in the face.

May 2, 1998
Viaduct Courtyard, Hogwarts Castle

"Harry Potter is dead. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. Anyone who continues to resist will be slaughtered. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your will join me in the new world we shall build together."

There was silence in the grounds and from the castle. Voldemort was so close to him that Harry did not dare open his eyes again.

"Come," said Voldemort, and Harry heard him move ahead, and Hagrid was forced to follow as he carried the "body" of Harry Potter. Opening his eyes a fraction, Harry then saw Voldemort striding in front of them, his bare grey feet gliding across the rubble strewn all over the viaduct. They would be at the castle, very soon.

Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't know how he could possibly fight Voldemort, especially now that the Dark Lord held the Elder Wand. Harry was wandless. Narcissa Malfoy had taken her son's wand back from Harry earlier, when she had lied to the Death Eaters by claiming Harry was dead.

What was he to do without a wand? How could he possibly defeat Voldemort now?

"Harry," sobbed Hagrid quietly. "Oh, Harry... Harry..."

Harry felt one of Hagrid's tears fall on his face, and he shut his eyes tight again. He knew that they were approaching the castle and strained his ears to distinguish, above the gleeful voices of the Death Eaters and their tramping footsteps across the bridge, signs of life from those within. Hagrid lurched forward awkwardly, clutching Harry to his chest. The procession stopped after entering the courtyard.

On the other side of the cloister, Neville Longbottom had limped forward down from the steps, with Ginny Wesley following immediately behind him. The battle weary boy stopped suddenly, causing his ginger-haired companion to grab his arm.

"Who's that?" she asked.

Neville turned to Ginny, tried, but then he faltered... unable to speak. His eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. "Ginny..."

Ginny let go of Neville and her hands began shaking. "Neville, who is Hagrid carrying? Who is..." She gasped and began rushing forward, but Neville caught her. She struggled, but he kept her from going to Harry. Her anguished cries were soon cut short by someone else.

"NO!"

The scream was the more terrible because Harry had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound. He heard another woman laughing nearby, and knew that Bellatrix Lestrange gloried in McGonagall's despair. He squinted again for a single second and saw the colonnade outside of the open doorway filling with people, as the survivors of the battle then came out onto the front steps to face their vanquishers and see the truth of Harry's death for themselves. He closed his eyes again.

"No!"

"No!"

"Harry! HARRY!"

Ron's, Hermione's, and Ginny's voices were worse than McGonagall's; Harry wanted nothing more than to call back, yet he made himself lay silent, and their cries acted like a trigger; the crowd of survivors took up the cause, screaming and yelling abuse at the Death Eaters, until...

"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort as he pointed his wand to the sky. There was a bang and a flash of bright light, and silence was forced upon them all.

"You see?" said Voldemort, and Harry felt him striding backward and forward right beside the place where Hagrid cradled Harry in his arms. "Dead, the Boy-Who-Lived is dead! Now is the time to declare yourselves." Harry was unsure if the crowd was silent in defiance or if the Silencing Charms still held.

During the lull, Lucius Malfoy stepped forward hesitantly. His Death Eater robes were tattered and unkempt. "Draco," he said nervously. Then, more forcefully, he called out to his son again. "Draco!"

There was a nervous murmur amongst the crowd of survivors. Draco Malfoy looked up to see his father summon him forth with a nod, but the blond boy, who looked so much like his father, didn't move.

Lucius scowled. "Draco, don't be stupid!"

Narcissa stepped in front of her husband, reaching out a hand. "Come, Draco," she said. Her tone was quiet, but absolute. Draco looked into his mother's eyes, and the young man hung his head in shame. He began treading his way forward, avoiding the baleful glances directed at him as he crossed the gulf between the factions.

"He saved your life," Ron muttered poisonously as he passed. Draco faltered briefly, stung, but kept going. His father reached out as he arrived at the other side, but Draco shook Lucius's hand off his shoulder with contempt. He joined his mother, who handed him his wand. It was the same wand she had taken from Harry earlier. Draco stared down at it in his hand bleakly, and then looked from it to over at Harry.

Caught unaware, Harry stifled a gasp as the two of them made eye contact. For a fraction of a second, Draco's eyes widened in amazement as he realized that Harry Potter was alive. Harry was about to make a move, when Draco turned his head and stared at the ground. Somehow, for reasons unknown even to himself, Harry knew that Draco wouldn't do anything. And, just like that, he didn't. Like Narcissa Malfoy earlier, Draco Malfoy hadn't told Voldemort that Harry Potter was actually alive.

But why?

Harry heard a scuffle and a shout, then another bang, a flash of light, and a grunt of pain; he opened his eyes an infinitesimal amount. Someone had broken free of the crowd and had charged at Voldemort. Harry saw the figure hit the ground, disarmed. Voldemort threw the challenger's wand aside and laughed.

"And who is this?" he said in his soft snake's hiss. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh.

"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who gave the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"

"Ah, yes, I remember," said Voldemort, looking down at Neville, who was struggling back to his feet, unarmed and limping, in the no-man's-land between the survivors and the Death Eaters. "But you are a pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort asked Neville, who stood facing him, his empty hands curled into fists.

"So what if I am?" said Neville loudly.

"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."

"Someone has to do the washing," Bellatrix sneered. The Death Eaters behind her roared in laughter.

"I'll join you when hell freezes over," Neville spat at them. Still battle weary, he straightened to his full height and turned to the survivors gathered behind him. "It doesn't matter that Harry is dead. People die every day." Neville swung around furiously to glare at the snake-eyed Voldemort again. "He didn't die in vain, but you will. Because you're wrong! Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's Silencing Charms seemed unable to hold.

"Very well," said Voldemort as if mildly disappointed. Still watching through his lashes, Harry saw Voldemort wave his wand. Seconds later, out of one of the castle's shattered windows, something that looked like a misshapen bird flew through the half-light and landed in Voldemort's hand. He shook the mildewed object by its pointed end and it dangled, empty and ragged: the Sorting Hat.

"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," said Voldemort. "There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colors of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?"

He pointed his wand at Neville, who grew rigid and still, then forced the hat onto Neville's head, so that it slipped down below his eyes. There were movements from the watching crowd in front of the castle, and as one, the Death Eaters raised their wands, holding the fighters of Hogwarts at bay.

"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," said Voldemort, and with a flick of his wand, he caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames.

Though, Neville somehow seemed prepared for this. As he screamed out in pain from the heat of the fire, he calmly reached up into the Sorting Hat and pulled forth... the Sword of Gryffindor.

Voldemort fired his wand, but Neville parried with the blade and the curse rebounded, taking out four Death Eaters flanking Bellatrix. She was the only one quick enough to deflect the curse.

And then... well... then the most peculiar thing occurred.

Draco began running away from his parents, sprinting with the speed of a Seeker across the no man's land.[1]

"Potter!" he cried out.

Harry turned and watched in surprise as Draco raised his wand. Harry was about to duck away from whatever spell Draco was about to cast, but then he shockingly realized that Draco had thrown his wand to Harry.

Draco raced past Harry to stand with the crowd on the steps.

"Well done, Malfoy!" shouted Ron. "Can't believe I said that," he then muttered to himself.

Harry caught the wand. Then, in one smooth continuous motion, he fired on Voldemort...

§

[1] This scene was actually filmed for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. You can find a link to the video on my tumblr page. Such a shame. J. K. Rowling might not agree, but I feel that Draco's redemption was the one main thing missing from her story. We have this epilogue where Harry and Draco give each the guy nod, but why? There was nothing really in the book that showed remorse, or a conscience of Draco. Narcissa's moment in the woods with Voldemort doesn't cut it. We needed Draco to do something that showed his true allegiance or morality. Throughout the books, Draco went from a Brat, to a Bully, to a Racist, to a servant of the Devil. He had no redeeming qualities and then somehow in the epilogue Harry and Draco seem to be fine. I was never okay with that. I think that deleted scene would have created a truly uplifting moment and freed Draco from his one dimensional character.