Chapter 24

Harry was trying to listen to Flitwick's lecture in Charms class. He was sitting next to Ron, who was actually trying to take notes. Hermione sat in front of them, busily scratching away at notes she would most likely share with her two friends later on, probably after a long tirade about how they should pay more attention in class.

Harry smiled to himself when he imagined it. She could be very predictable. But she could also surprise him.

Take this morning for instance. He and Ron were coming down to meet her for breakfast, as they usually did during the week, and she was there as always, but she wasn't alone. Neville was with her, and they were holding hands.

The two of them just stood together, not speaking, each with a strange blissful sort of smile. It was actually kind of sweet to witness.

Neither Harry or Ron could believe what they were seeing, however. Harry wanted to ask about it, but he kept his mouth shut for the time being. He knew Hermione well enough to know she would explain it all in her own time.

Ron had also remained mum on the topic, though Harry guessed it was because he was so caught off guard, his mind couldn't process it. Thankfully, Ron had been working hard at not just blurting things out. It was one of the really good things that had happened during his and Hermione's relationship.

During breakfast, Neville and Hermione had shared looks. It wasn't helped when Tracey and Daphne joined them, and seemed to be in on the situation. Harry tried ask Daphne about it, but she had deflected the questions, and skipped off to Transfiguration before he could press the matter.

So Harry was left with a minor mystery. Yet, he could never remember Hermione looking so…serene. Or Neville looking so proud. The normally bashful boy had walked about that morning standing a bit taller, his chest puffed out a little more as he escorted Hermione about the castle.

Another strange thing that seem to be happening was Tracey flirting so freely with Ron, who seemed a bit lost by it all. Tracey was very forward, and seem to like touching him, especially on his leg or his shoulder. She always gave an evil little grin to everyone before doing something to freak Ron out. But the red head never complained. Not a single utterance of displeasure.

Harry stifled a laugh as he remembered his red head friend nearly choking when Tracey had given his leg a playful squeeze. Harry doubted he would have acted any differently, as she had touched him rather higher on his leg than Harry guessed Ron had ever been touched.

Harry was broken from his musings when the classroom door opened and Professor McGonagall poked her head inside. He could see she wasn't alone either. Behind her was Daphne and Tracey and someone he'd not see in several months.

"Professor Flitwick, I'm very sorry to interrupt, but I need to see Weasley, Granger and Potter right away."

"Of course." Flitwick smiled as he waved to the three students to accompany the Transfiguration teacher. "Remember your homework for next time." he called after them.

"Wotcher, you three. Been awhile hasn't it?" Nymphodora Tonks smiled keenly as Hermione, Ron and Harry joined the group. She was sporting her favorite bubblegum pink air and looked happier than the last time he'd seen her. "Harry you never once mentioned your girlfriend was so stunningly beautiful. You a right bugger, you know that?"

"As you may recall, when we last saw each other, I didn't have a girlfriend." Harry tried. Tonks waved his remark away.

Details. Remus told me all about your situation. I gotta tell you, you could have done a lot worse." Tonks grinned.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, tiring of the playful banter, and a little upset about being pulled out of class.

"Here is not the place." McGonagall intervened. Everyone became quite serious as they all realized what this was about.

Professor McGonagall led the troop down the corridor and into the dungeons and an unoccupied class where Professor Snape was waiting. He stood before a large desk, looking like a stiff breeze might knock him over. There were dark rings under his eyes and his skin looked paler. Harry wondered if he'd been punished by Voldemort recently.

"Nymphadora, you're the one who the old fool got to carry out his dirty work?" Snape asked a little overwhelmed at the sight of the smiling young Auror.

"Was no problem." Tonks shrugged. "Dumbledore's note told me exactly what to do, and we were able to get it, and the goblins got themselves quite a bit of gold for their help."

"What are you guys talking about?" Ron asked more than a bit confused.

"This." Tonks smile as she pulled a cloth wrapped item from her bag, which they had only now noticed. She handed it quickly to Snape who unwrapped it carefully and set it upon the desk before him. Harry began to feel fear in his belly as he stared at the cup.

"It's ok, it's just trying to save itself. You can beat this." Harry began repeating to himself. Daphne noticing the look of apprehensive focus on her boyfriend's face took his hand, hoping he might feel some sort of comfort from her touch.

The goblet was pulsing with dark magic, and everyone felt tainted just looking at the atrocious object.

"Is that what I think it is? Tracey asked. She had only heard of the Horcruxes, and had up till now never seen one in person.

"Where was it?" Hermione asked, knowing what it was immediately.

"In the LeStrange Vault in Gringotts." Tonks answered. "Dumbledore sent me a letter yesterday asking me to get it for you all. Told me exactly what to say and to who. I don't mind telling you I'm glad to be rid of it. Felt all nasty the whole time I had it. Can I ask why it's so important?"

"It's going to help destroy Voldemort at last." Ron said a small smile breaking out on his face.

"I don't follow." Tonks said, looking at all the others, and scratching her head.

"We haven't the time to fill you in, I'm afraid. Perhaps after we rid the world of this foul abomination.' McGonagall was watching the goblet as if it might strike out at them any minute.

"Let's get on with it." Snape agreed, pulling the Sword of Gryffindor from within his robes and looking to Harry, who was still staring intently at the cup. "Potter, I think you need to be the one to end this."

Harry tore his gaze from the cup to look at Snape, who was holding the sword out towards him. Harry could feel the Cup's desperation mounting, and he knew he had to end it as quickly as possible.

"Is that…" Tonks began.

"Sword of Gryffindor, yeah." Ron helped her. Harry didn't seem to hear them. He grasped the sword tightly and approached the cup. He didn't hesitate, or falter. Harry focused all his anger and resentment on that cup and all it represented. The loss of his parents, Sirius dying, years of torment at the hands of the Dursleys, Dumbledore's maneuvering, and the one responsible for it all, Lord Voldemort. Harry felt his very blood boil as he picture the serpent like countenance of his foe. Harry sucked in a lungful of air as he hefted the blade above his head.

"Wait, that's a rare cup, It belonged to Hufflepuff. You can't…" but Tonks concerns were never heard as Harry cried out with fury swinging the sword with all his might, splitting the cup in two with his strike.

There was a loud metallic clang followed by the anguished scream of a tortured soul being released from it's prison. The room was filled instantaneously by choking black smoke, and everyone was knocked to the ground by the concussive force of the escaping soul fragment.

When they all got to their feet again, and the smoke cleared away at last, with help from the two professors and a bushy haired Gryffindor, they all converged on the desk to see the cup cleanly split in two. Harry felt a strange sense of relief seeing the broken cup, at the same time, a weight settled on his stomach. He knew there was only one thing left to do, perhaps the last thing he would ever do.

"I think it's safe to say that it is gone.' Snape sighed heavily as he found a chair to sit in.

"Ok, I think someone needs to tell me what's going on." Tonks demanded. "What the hell just happened here?"

"It was a Horcrux. A piece of Voldemort's soul trapped in an object anchoring him to this plane." Daphne filled in. "So long as one of those things existed, he could never die."

"Did you just say his name?" Harry looked amazed. Daphne tore her eyes away from the still smoldering cup and gave a shy smile.

"I guess I did."

"I love you." Harry grinned, taking Daphne into his arms and kissing her soundly.

"Wait a tick, are you saying You-Know-Who can't die because he's got these Hor-whatsits? How many of them are there?"

"That was hopefully the last one." Ron said, giving a look to Harry as he sat down in the closets chair. Tracey sat next to him, giving a soft smile which caused him the blush slightly.

"How did you get it anyway?" Harry looked at Tonks.

"Wasn't hard really. Dumbledore sent me a letter yesterday and told me I needed to get Madam Bones to secure the LeStrange Vault. He told me what I needed to tell her, and that he needed that cup, and that anything else should go to the DMLE, but above all he needed that cup. Gave me a great description of it and everything."

"How'd you convince the goblins to allow you admittance?" Snape queried.

"Don't know the specifics. Madam Bones handled the negotiation. I only suggested we give them the gold within, like Dumbledore suggested. I'm going to guess they got a little more as well. We went in, confiscated a bunch of contraband, and I was able to get my little hands on the cup and tuck it in my bag."

"That manipulative old bastard." Snape said to himself. "I'm going to assume he promised them something extravagant. The goblins wouldn't have allowed the ministry access so easily otherwise."

"So what happens now?" Hermione asked, looking terrified, as she already knew the answer.

"Two things must happen now." McGonagall said firmly. "And they must happen as fast as we can make them happen. The first is to get Harry to the Department of Mysteries. When it is finished, I think it prudent to get him as far away as we can manage. Second we must plan a way to destroy the Dark Lord once and for all."

"How?" Ron asked, looking at the three adults in turn.

"We haven't perfected it as of yet, but we are going to allow false information to leak to the Dark Lord. Something to make him believe he must face Potter without anyone else around. Someone will be disguised as Potter, and we will have people in hiding. When the Dark Lord appears, it will be finished." Snape told them.

"Who's going to be playing me?" Harry wondered.

"It isn't your concern, Potter." Snape snapped.

"It is if someone dies." Harry countered angrily.

"Harry." Daphne said gently, taking his hand in hers. "It's almost over now. Your fight is almost over. You don't have to worry about this anymore."

"Don't you understand?" He shouted. "Don't any of you understand? I don't want anyone else dying for me."

"Are you so conceited?" Snape glowered. "Do you truly think we're doing all this solely for you? What about everyone else, do you really think they don't also wish to be free?"

Harry felt suddenly ashamed. He'd known it wasn't all about him, but he didn't like the thought of someone posing as him and getting killed.

"Why does Harry need to go to the Department of Mysteries?" Tonks wondered aloud.

"Tonks, thank you for your assistance, but we can't tell you anymore at the moment. For Harry's safety." McGonagall said as she shook the Auror's hand in gratitude.

"Right then." Tonks smiled suspiciously. "Guess I'll be going then. You lot stay out of trouble."

With a few hugs, and some goodbyes, Tonks left them.

"So when are we going to do this?" Harry asked with a sigh.

"It would be best if we could coordinate the two events." Snape said simply. Give us some time to get our plans together, and then we will see this through. You did well, Harry."

Harry nodded, accepting the rare praise from his most hated teacher.

"You should all return to classes. We must keep up appearances." McGonagall said by way of dismissal, and the five students made their way back up to the Great Hall where lunch was no under way.

"I shall call for a meeting tonight, and we can go over our plans with the rest of the Order." McGonagall said after the door closed.

"Minerva, We need to keep all the details about Harry away from Dumbledore."

"Surely you don't think he would go against us, do you?"

"He believes so vehemently that his way is the only way. There is no telling what he might do. We must protect the boy until it is all over."

McGonagall nodded, understanding in her eyes. With a slight nod, the Transfiguration teacher left the classroom, laving Snape to ponder their predicament.

Thursday night found Hermione, Tracey and Daphne sequestered in the Room of Requirement once again. They were sitting around the table, books piled all about them, but not a single tome was opened. They had spent nearly every moment in the Room trying to find anything they could to back Hermione's theory about the Veil, and time was running out. Plans had been made for Harry to go to the Department of Mysteries on Saturday evening.

Finally Tracey broke the silence. Clearing her throat she looked to Daphne.

"We've all agreed that love is going to anchor him, right?"

Both Daphne and Hermione nodded. Tracey paused a moment to collect her thoughts.

"Then maybe you need to show him how much you love him. Give him a reason to fight, or whatever he'll have to do."

"What do you mean?" Hermione looked puzzled.

"You're going to be married anyway, so if you were to take that step early, it wouldn't matter really." Tracey tried to explain.

"Get married now?" Daphne raised an eyebrow.

"Merlin you can be thick. Tomorrow night, seduce him. Make him a man, rock his world, show him what love really means…" Tracey smiled lightly. Daphne still look confused.

"Do I need to spell it out?" Tracey asked. "Fine…"

"Oh my god, you can't be serious?" Hermione cut in, stopping Tracey from what she knew would be a very crude tirade."

"Yes. I am. I can't think of any other way to show their love for one another, while giving Harry a real solid anchor. He's a male, after all, and they really are simple creatures. Make love to him before he goes through the veil, and he'll have every reason to get through it."

Daphne's face was a mask of horror and shock. She stared at her best friend as if Tracey had just said she was going to start showering with Hagrid.

"You can't be serious." She said after a few moments.

"Can you think of another way to show him you really love him?" Tracey cocked her head.

"It does sense in a strange sort of way. A show of physical love does send a powerful message. And like she said, you're going to be married anyway." Hermione said after mulling it over.

"I…I don't know if we're ready for that." Daphne stammered. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"Daphne, you're my best friend, and I would never push you into something you're not ready for, but you can't tell me you haven't thought about it."

"Of course I've thought about it. I'm sixteen for crying out loud. I have a boyfriend, who I love, and who's very fetching. Yes, I've thought about what it would be like, but I just thought it would happen when we were ready, in the future."

"You mean after you were married?" Tracey smiled lightly. Daphne nodded slowly, her face falling into sadness.

"You guys have come a long way in a very short period of time. You understand each other better than most couples. I've seen how you are together, and I could never have imagined you caring more for someone than you do for him. Are you willing to give it all up? Or are you going to fight to keep him?"

"Do you really think it will work?" Daphne asked, her face turning a bit pink as she envisioned trying to seduce Harry and making love to him for the first time.

"We've looked in every book we could find." Tracey motioned about the room to the stacks of books piled in various piles. "We've talked until we were blue in the face, and the only thing we have all come up with is that it is going to be our love to anchor him to this world. But only you can show him how much you love him. Well, Hermione could, but that might be awkward." Tracey chuckled at her little joke. Both Hermione and Daphne glared daggers at the auburn haired girl.

"The point is, This is more than just words. This is an act that shows him that you truly love him. You're giving yourself to him. If that ain't love, than I'm clueless on the subject."

"Have you ever…." Hermione tried to ask, but Tracey shook her head.

"I know what people say about me, but I've never felt that strongly about a guy. I've done things that come close, but I've never gone all the way with anyone."

Hermione looked at Daphne, who gave a slight shrug. Daphne knew Tracey was a little freer with her body, but she always shared the tales of her conquests, and never had Tracey spoken of making love to anyone.

"So the question is, do you think Harry Potter is worth it?" Tracey gave a serious look to Daphne who sighed, then after thinking about hw she felt for the green eyed boy, and how he made her feel, began to nod her head slowly.

"Good. Now we have something to do tonight, other than read musty old books."

"What do you mean?" Daphne looked up, suddenly frightened.

"We are going to prepare you for the night of your life." Tracey grinned. She looked at the two other girls, who wore identical masks of terror.

"Thanks for letting me fly with you guys." Neville aid, still breathing hard as he and Harry and Ron set down on the pitch.

"Anytime." Ron said, patting Neville's shoulder. "Why didn't you try out for Quidditch? You'd have made a bloody great chaser with as fast as you can fly."

Neville shrugged. "I don't know. To embarrassed I guess. Besides, there were a lot of good people already trying out, I didn't think I'd have much chance."

"If you flew even close to what you did up there today, I would have put you on the team without question." Harry smiled.

"We should get a few others and just have a game for grins." Ron said. "Maybe a girls vs. boys kind of thing."

"That could be fun." Neville nodded.

"So, Nev," Ron said, giving Harry a significant look. "You and Hermione, what's going on there?"

Instantly, Neville's face burned bright red. "I was wondering when you guys were going to get around to asking about that."

"We've been waiting for Hermione to tell us about it, but she's been really busy." Harry said sympathetically.

"Don't take this wrong, we're not angry, or anything like that." Ron said reassuringly. "We were just taken by surprise, is all."

"So was I." Neville gave a small smile. "I've liked her for ages. She's so smart, and she's always been real nice to me. She was the first person I met on the train. I thought we might become friends, but you three kind of bonded, and there didn't seem to be any room for anymore people in your group."

"Our group?" Harry asked stunned.

"You guys were always real close to each other. Anyway, I don't know exactly what it was, or when it happened, by sometime in third year, I started seeing her different. She was becoming really beautiful, and I just started crushing on her. Every year, it got worse. I even tried to ask her to the Yule ball, but she had already said yes to Krum."

"So how did you finally pluck up the nerve and ask her out?" Harry asked, very interested in Neville's story.

"She asked me actually. I was studying in the common room last Sunday, when she walked up to me and asked if she could talk to me. We went for a walk in the castle, and she told me that someone had told her that I liked her. I was pretty much cornered, so I admitted it. I expected her to let me down easy or something, but she didn't. She just hugged me."

"Hugged you?" Ron looked perplexed.

"Yeah. Then she started crying." Neville gave them a shrug. "I was so confused. I didn't know what to do."

"Crying girls do that to a guy." Harry shook his head remembering his date with Cho Chang.

"I got her to calm down a bit and she just started talking really fast. She told me that the reason she and Ron didn't work was because you weren't right for each other, and that it was safe, and some other nonsense."

"It's true." Ron admitted, a bit sadly. "We were to afraid to meet other people and try to find happiness. She was safe, and I knew she wouldn't hurt me."

"Then she went on to tell me that she really fancied Harry, but you were with Daphne, and she felt alone, and lost, and then she told me again how someone had told her I fancied her. She told me that I wasn't second place or something, but she had some things to work out, but she wanted to start to get to know me. Then she kissed me."

"Wow." Harry said, amazed by the story.

"We're going to take things real slow, and get to know each other. Like she said, there's no hurry, and I like my chances if we keep things simple right now. I know there's a lot going on with you guys, and I'm not going to ask about it. I just want to be there for her when she needs me."

"You're a good man, Nev." Ron smiled, offering his hand. Neville grasped it firmly and they shook hands. Harry smiled and patted the round faced boy's shoulder.

"I know you guys are tight, and I feel like I should tell you that I will never hurt her." Neville gave a slight smile, and the other two boys looked at each other, awkwardly.

"Nev, we're not worried about it." Harry smiled. "Hermione would never have chosen you if she thought it was even a remote possibility."

"Yeah, I know, but I just felt I had to say it." Neville smiled. Harry noticed how he smiled easier since he and Hermione were….well whatever they were. His whole demeanor had changed. He spoke up more, and seemed to becoming a bit more confident. Which was why Harry wasn't surprised by Neville's next question.

"So what's going on with you and Tracey Davis, Ron?"

Harry chuckled as Ron did a double take.

At lunch the next day, Daphne sat next to Harry at the Gryffindor table. She had been rather anxious all morning, Harry had noticed, but he figured it was for the same reason he felt tense. Tomorrow evening would be the end of his war.

Professors Snape and McGonagall had sat him down the previous night and gone over the plan with him so he understood what was going to happen. Harry was happy that his friends would be accompanying him, as well as Remus Lupin. It would be good to get one last moment with them in case things did not go according to plan.

Still, Daphne was rather more fidgety than normal. She kept shooting worried looks to Tracey across the table. Harry had tried to ask her what was bothering her during Transfiguration, but she had hushed him, and refused to look at him the rest of class. When class ended. She apologized and ran off to Herbology, while he, Ron and Hermione had gone off to Charms.

Harry was just about to ask again, when she tugged his arm and began guiding him out of the Great Hall. They walked in silence until there were outside in the warm spring weather.

"Do you love me, Harry?" Daphne asked quite nervously.

"Yeah. Of course I do." he said, puzzled by her question.

"Do you really love me? I mean, really love me?"

"Yes, What's this about?"

"Ok. This is going to sound really strange, but Tracey, Hermione think we've come up with a way to help you tomorrow night. To give you something to hold onto." Daphne said, her face reddening as she stammered.

"Great." Harry smiled.

"Yeah, it is great, but I don't know if …that is to say…Oh bloody hell." Daphne grimaced. "Look, just meet me in the Room of Requirement tonight at nine. Everything we'll be clear then, ok?"

"Absolutely." Harry nodded, promising he would be there.

"Ok, I've got to go. I love you, Harry." She said, kissing him passionately before running back into the castle, leaving a very confused Gryffindor in her wake.

Harry couldn't stop thinking about her request. During their potions lesson, he tried to ask Hermione what was going on, but the bookworm feigned deafness. Daphne was not present at dinner, nor was Tracey or Hermione.

Harry asked if either Ron or Neville knew what was going on, but clearly the other boys had been left out of the loop. So, Harry had to try and be patient. Whatever it was had Daphne very nervous. He'd never seen his girlfriend so unsure, or unable to stop fidgeting.

He only hoped that whatever it was worked. Harry had been hiding his growing fear well, but now that his hour of reckoning was nearing, Harry was becoming overcome with fear. He'd hardly slept in the past week, and his attention continually waned, even with Daphne.

He tried to comfort himself by thinking that he would finally see his parents again, and that once it was all over, those he was leaving behind would be safe, and able to find happiness in their own lives.

But at the same time, he knew he wasn't ready to leave this world. He and Daphne had talked a lot about their future together, and Harry wanted it to become real. He wanted to marry her, and raise a family with her. To find a home somewhere far away and live out the rest of his days in peace. He wanted to have the life he knew he'd earned.

All that was left to do now was to wait, and hope that his girls hadn't failed.

"Ahh, Miss Granger, thank you for coming to see me. I t you've got thing ell in hand for tomorrow evening?"

"I'm not supposed to talk about it, sir." Hermione said apologetically to the Headmaster, who looked nonplussed over her answer.

"Indeed. I just wanted to know that things were going smoothly, and offer you any assistance you might need."

"Assistance? Now you want to help? You told me that my idea was never going to work, and now you want to help me? I can't believe you." Hermione said bitterly. "you should have been trying to help Harry all along. You never should have put him with his foul relatives. You should have tried harder to free Sirius. You should have done more to keep him out of that tournament, and the things you allowed to happen while Umbridge was here is inexcusable."

"Miss Granger, I have apologized for it all. I can do no more. I only wish to know, before I leave this world, that the war is over." Dumbledore said calmly, while Hermione stood up swiftly, glaring hard at the old man.

"We're taking care of it. We don't need you anymore, Professor."

With that, Hermione turned on her heel and stomped out of the infirmary, leaving the man she had admired for so long to die alone, hopefully soon. She couldn't believe the nerve of than, who should have protected Harry better, instead of preparing him for slaughter.

She needed to find Neville, he would help her calm down. She couldn't let her anger control her now. She needed to be calm, and focused. Harry was counting on her.

She allowed herself a little smile as she thought of her best friend. He would be okay, she knew it. She could feel it in her very soul. Harry was going to be fine, and it was because of her, and Ron, and Tracey, and Remus, and most especially, the girl who Hermione regarded with fondness. She and Daphne had really become close over the past month. Hermione knew that Daphne's love for Harry was just as strong, if not stronger than her own. And that's why she knew that Harry was going to be okay.

Albus Dumbledore waited until the door shut before allowing himself to smile. He had chosen correctly in Granger. Weasley would of course have known, but his mind was a jumble, and it would have been difficult to gleam what he needed from that mind.

But Hermione Granger was organized, and logical. He had also judged correctly in thinking that by angering her, she would be unaware of his intrusion into her mind. So focused was she on unloading her anger, that she was completely blind to his use of Legillemency.

He had what he needed now. He was going to see this war ended once and for all. All he had left to do was to pass on what he knew. He reached to his bedside table and took a bit of parchment and a quill and wrote down everything he had learned in detail. He could afford no misunderstandings now, not if his plan was to succeed.

With a few final scratches of the quill, he re-read his letter to make sure it was clear, and concise. Then he called out, "Thatcher?"

With a pop a skinny house elf with bright blue eyes, and a rather bulbous nose appeared and bowed low.

"How may I serve the head of Hogwarts?" the elf said in a surprising baritone voice.

"Please take this letter to the owlery. It must be delivered this night, so choose the fastest owl we have." Dumbledore ordered. The elf bowed again, took the letter and with another "pop" disappeared.

Dumbledore settled back into his pillows and closed his eyes. Tomorrow evening, it would all be over, and he could at last, rest.

Harry entered the Room of Requirement precisely at nine p.m., just as he'd been asked to. It was dark, with a small fire being the only light. He closed the door behind him and called out for Daphne.

In answer, the room lit up a bit more, and Harry lost his breath.

There were candles everywhere, even on the floor, that had lit up as if on command. In the center was the biggest, softest looking bed Harry had ever seen, and standing in front of it, was Daphne.

Harry blinked several times to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

She was wearing a petite emerald green satin nightie. It had very thing straps, and fell to just the tops of her thighs. He hair was loose, and thrown over one shoulder, and her eyes were bright, and rather nervous looking. Both her hands were fidgeting with the hem of her delicate looking nightie, like she was trying to pull it down farther.

"Wow." was all he could say.

"Thanks." She muttered in response. She then took a hesitant step towards him. "I told you we had thought of a way to help you." She stammered nervously.

"Uh-huh." Harry responded lamely, memorizing every curve of her body.

She stepped forward and took his hand. "I've thought a lot about this, and I know that I love you with every fiber of my being. I'm not an idiot, I know there's the possibility that you'll walk into that thing tomorrow and not come out the other side. So, I want you to know exactly how much I truly love you, and how much you mean to me."

At that, Daphne reached up and kissed him softly. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Daphne opened her mouth and deepened the kiss, pressing her body closer to his.

Harry pulled back, breaking the kiss, and staring into her eyes. "I love you, too. But we don't have to do this. Not if you're not ready."

Daphne smiled, remembering what Hermione said about Harry being noble.

"What if this is the last night we have together, Harry? I told you I've thought about this a lot. I'm ready. I want to be with you, mind, body and soul. I know we haven't had the ceremony, or have rings, or anything like that, but for just for tonight, let's forget all that, and let's be husband and wife."

Harry stared into her eyes, and found he had no more arguments for her, or himself. He loved her, pure and simple. He would have done anything she had asked, and he was prepared to die for her. If this was what she wanted, to be with him on this night, then he would. Because he loved her and he desired her just as much as she did him.

He nodded, and she smiled softly, leading him to the bed. She turned and began kissing him again. Harry ran his hands across her bare shoulders, delighting in the feel of her smooth soft skin.

Daphne shivered at his touch. The butterflies in her stomach began to dance as he began to kiss her neck, and rubbing her arms. She reached out and untucked his shirt, nearly tearing it off as her own excitement began to build.

She let out soft moans as he devoured her flesh. She pulled his hair, and removed his mouth from her neck so she could kiss him again. Her own hands began exploring his chest, marveling at how solid his chest was built, yet how smooth his skin was.

Harry began pushing Daphne back on the bed, and crawled on top of her. He bent low and began kissing her harder than he ever had before. He smiled to himself when he heard her whisper his name, and groan as he began moving his hands along the smooth fabric of her negligee. His hands found her breasts, and he couldn't help but notice the hard buds of her nipples.

Daphne arched her back at his touch, and had to bite her lip to keep from screaming out. They had touched each other before many times, but this was different. This was passionate. This was something stronger. Harry had touched her chest a few times, but it had always been over her clothing, he'd never been so close to touching her supple flesh before, and now, it was all she wanted him to do.

Daphne rolled him onto his back, and quickly grabbed the hem of the green satin nightie and pulled it over her head, exposing her naked torso to him.

Harry gulped as he finally beheld Daphne in her nudity. Her breast were more beautiful than he'd ever imagined them, and he gently cupped them both. He pulled himself up to her, and she wrapped her arms tightly around him as they kissed again, exploring each other's mouths with their tongues.

It didn't take long before Harry began moving his lips down Daphne's body. Her breathing became more ragged as he nuzzled her. She thought she might have fainted dead away when his mouth closed around her nipple. The sensations were like electricity running up and down her spine. Daphne didn't hold back this time, and let loose a guttural moan of pleasure. Harry pulled back, thinking he'd hurt her, only to be order to not stop. With a small grin, Harry returned to his ministrations while Daphne writhed in pleasure.

Harry had to arch his own back when Daphne ran her fingernails down his spine. He picked her up, and lay her back on the bed properly, before he quickly removed his pants and shoes. He climbed into the bed next to her, and Daphne pulled him towards her, reveling in the feel of his warm skin on hers.

They explored each other more intently now, their fire building inside of them both. Harry ran his hands down to the warm spot between her legs, and began to rub gently. Daphne gasped in his ear as she felt her body respond to his touch.

She was fearful of what was about to happen, but she couldn't understand why anymore. How could anything that felt this good be bad?

Daphne let her own hands slide down his body until she felt his manhood. She had rubbed him a few times through his trousers, so she had an idea of it's shape, but it didn't compare to being able to actually hold it in her hand. His breathing deepened as she glided her hand slowly along his length.

"Harry." She whispered heavily. "I need you. I want you to take me, now."

Harry kissed her gently as she guided him to her entrance. He could feel her heat as he began to enter her womanhood slowly. Her hands reached around him, grasping his rear, she began pushing him further inside of her. There was a moment where he felt something and then Daphne gave a small cry of pain. He looked at her suddenly, and she just stared back, a small tear falling from her eye, yet she kept pushing him inside of her.

They began slowly moving. She wrapped her legs around him, trying to keep him as close as possible to her, filling her. But slowly she began to move against him. With each roll of her hips, sensations of pleasure washed over her. He kissed her softly, moving his own hips with hers. Each thrust was met with equal passion.

Their pleasure built with every stroke. Daphne began to moan and call out for him. Harry met her with his own groans of pleasure. Again and again he felt her finger nails slide down his spine, driving him further into her.

Daphne began to feel something. It began in her stomach and began to grow with every thrust. Her skin began to tingle, and she was having difficulty catching her breath, but she wasn't frightened. She was losing herself to the sensations, and all at once, and without warning, her body exploded in bliss. Her toes curled, and every muscle seized up as the feeling shot up her spine. Daphne growled in ecstasy as her orgasm took her.

Harry had deepened his strokes and quickened is pace. Hearing Daphne urging him on had made him want to pleasure her further. He began to feel himself grow closer to his own climax, just as Daphne's body seized up, and she held him in a death grip, panting and groaning. He kept up his rhythm for only a few moments longer when his own orgasm made him cry out.

They lay together, sweaty, breathing hard, lightly kissing each other. She watched his face as he stared back at her. Slowly her sense returned to her, and she began to giggle.

"What?" He asked, breathlessly.

"We could have been doing that this whole time?" She asked, still laughing.

Harry grinned and kissed her deeply. Her laughter melted away as she gave herself to his kiss. She held him close to her as they broke their kiss.

"I want you to remember this." She said softly. "I want you to know how deeply I love you, Harry Potter. You come back to me, or I'll come after you."

Harry kissed Daphne's lips gently, then looked her deep in the eye. "I will not stop fighting until I'm back in your arms, my love."

Lord Voldemort crumpled the letter in his skeletal hands and screamed with rage. He'd been deceived. He'd been lied to. He had a spy in his midst, and he was going to make that person pay.

He was going to end this farce once and for all, tomorrow evening. He knew where Potter was going to be, and he knew when. He also knew that he had to destroy Potter himself, face to face, with no one helping him. It was how Potter had been able to escape so many times before. But not this time. He would go himself and bring Potter's body back himself. Then there would be no more questions. No more whispers. No more doubts.

Tomorrow night, Lord Voldemort would go to the Ministry of magic and he would kill Harry Potter once and for all, then he would deal with that treacherous snake, Severus Snape.