The execution

The scene that met them looked like something from a nightmare. Hermione, still crying, but quiet, was tied to a stake on the top of the hill, chained down like an animal on all fours. The Death Eaters were standing around her. They were all looking towards them, quietly waiting, anticipating. Scorpius started what felt like a very long walk up the hill, sword in hand. Albus quietly joined the rank of Death Eaters behind him. They all walked behind Scorpius in an ever-tightening circle.

Scorpius walked slowly, hoping, begging, that the Ministry had gotten the message and would put an end to this.

As he reached the top of the hill, he held up the sword with both hands. All the Death Eaters cheered, but the look he saw in Hermione's eyes nearly had him fleeing in the other direction. The anger and hate he saw in her eyes was terrifying. She was not broken, she was angry. And he was the current target of her anger.

"Now, Malfoy. The time has come. It is time for the ultimate test. Do this, and all the honour and power in the world is in your future," Voldemort told him, in a quiet voice that carried easily in the dead quiet around them.

"At least let me die standing," Hermione pleaded. "With some dignity." She tried to collect herself, but even she couldn't hold back the tears now. Her anger seemed to have been taken over by fear at last.

"Dignity?" Voldemort said mockingly. "There is no dignity here. You'll die like the animal you are, Mudblood. Kneeling before your betters. Do it, Malfoy."

Scorpius moved the sword down, holding it to her exposed neck. His hands trembled slightly. Where were the Aurors? Hadn't they got the message? Had they not understood it? He couldn't do this. What could he do?

Albus suddenly felt someone grabbing him from behind. He was about to scream when someone put a hand over his mouth. It was his father!

Suddenly, there were Aurors everywhere. It was as if they popped up from the grass. Many Death Eaters were quickly Stunned, but some Disapparated before they were cornered. Most of them Apparated back again, further down the hill, and started attacking the Aurors from behind. But more Hit wizards appeared on brooms, attacking from the air.

Voldemort himself was simply standing there, right before Hermione, seemingly unperturbed. A protective shield surrounded him and Hermione that no spells seemed to be able to pass. He made a knife appear, preparing to kill Hermione himself. In the chaos that ensued, Albus, freed from his mask and hood, somehow found his way behind Voldemort, passing through the shield as if it wasn't there. He grabbed him and pulled him down, where no one else could see them.

"This time, my Lord, I'll be sure to stab the heart," Albus said. "That is the best way to kill someone with a knife, I've heard." He proceeded to stab the knife Voldemort had given him a few days earlier deep into his chest. A brief moment of surprise was visible in Voldemort's eyes, then they went blank. He was dead. Albus fell down on his knees over the corpse, suddenly feeling exhausted. The shining shield vanished.

Meanwhile, Scorpius, having quickly lowered the sword in the confusion, tried to hide behind the stake that Hermione was tied to. He didn't want to be in the line of sight of any side. As the shield vanished, he touched Hermione's shoulder, and raised the sword again, to try to free some of her bonds. At that precise moment however, Ron appeared as if out of nowhere. He grabbed Hermione's other arm, and Disapparated with her. Scorpius, still holding the shoulder, was pulled along with them.

When the smoke cleared, it was evident that the Ministry had won. Some of the Death Eaters had managed to get away, but most lay dead or Stunned on the ground.

"Albus! Albus, where are you?" Ginny shouted through the smoke. She ran over to where Albus was still on his knees. She saw the corpse on the ground, with the knife in the heart, and understood what must have happened. She gave him a long hug and led him away from the corpse.

"It's okay Albus. It is over now," she whispered, while holding him tight.

"I'm sorry Mum. I'm sorry! I couldn't help her. I just stood there!"

"Shh. It's okay. It's okay"

"No! Rose! We need to go get her! Where is Scorpius?"

Harry came up and joined them. "Thank you for the note," he said to Albus. "That was cleverly done."

"Dad! Dad! Rose!"

"Where is Rose?"

"She is still there! She is still at Malfoy Manor."