Chapter 23

                                        

                                              
Trigger: non-main character suicide

"Harry!" a voice pleaded, desperately. "Please come back!"
"Harry? What is happening? Why'd you call Malfoy... oh my... the Polyjuice," Hermione gasped, like she just remembered.
Harry took a painful breath and opened his eyes. He was staring at himself. "Draco?"
"Fucking hell! It worked? Harry!" he shrieked, grabbed him and pulled him into his arms. "Oh fuck, he's getting up."
Harry looked and Voldemort was getting to his feet, confused. Bellatrix was at his side, looking at the Dark Lord but not helping. The fighting had stopped, as the room watched. 
Draco pulled him to his feet. "We are taking him on together, now."
Harry didn't argue and tightened his grip on his wand. He pushed Hermione out of the way, toward Ron. Voldemort stared back at him in shock.
"How is this possible? You should be dead, boy!"
Harry smiled. He could feel the Polyjuice finally wearing off. Draco handed him his glasses, and Harry put them on, one-handed. Voldemort's eyes widened as Harry changed back into himself.
"Fooled ya... there are no more Horcruxes... no more lifelines, Tom. You are mortal, now."
Voldemort looked at Draco, in his t-shirt and trousers. Harry's Mark shining on his arm. Draco raised his head in defiance. He shrieked, "You switched... you! And why aren't you dead!?"
"Because you will never understand magic... never understand love. You miscalculated, again, Tom. And this time, it will cost you everything."
"You no longer have a Horcrux in you..." he realized. "I'll just make more!"
"Too late for you... the end is here."
Voldemort looked like he was considering fleeing, and Harry cast another powerful Anti-Apparation Charm, one that Voldemort couldn't break. He could only run to the boundary line.
"Come on, Tom... one last time."
"I will kill you, once and for all!" he spat and screamed, "Avada Kedavra."
"No!" Draco shrieked and jumped bodily in front of him. Harry aimed over his shoulder and screamed, "Expelliarmus!"
The spells collided and Draco and him were forced back, but the Killing Spell rebounded back at its caster. Voldemort crumpled to the floor, and Harry watched the Elder Wand as it soared through the air and Draco caught it.
"No!" Bellatrix shrieked as she dropped to her master's side.
The room was quiet as Bellatrix lamented over her abuser's body, and she rose, ready to attack. "You killed him!"
Harry shook his head. "I did not. His spell rebounded on him... for the second time, now. You'd think he'd learn."
"I... can't...."
"Aunt... please... he's hurt you... us... enough. Let him go," Draco pleaded.
She shook her head, turned her wand around on herself and cast, "There's nothing worth living for! Bombarda!"
She flew across the floor with a solid hole in her torso. She was gone. The remaining Death Eaters surrendered. As far as Harry could see, their side had no losses. He met Draco's eyes but was tackled by Ron and Hermione.
"Harry! You bloody idiot!" Ron cried.
"You're alive!" Hermione said, and they hugged him and made sure he was okay.
"Harry!"
"He's really here!"
"You-Know-Who is gone!"
The others gathered around him, once all the prisoners were secured. George and Bill hugged him. Seamus and Dean nearly took him to the ground. Draco had made room for the onslaught of well-wishers and seemingly was frozen at his side, but Blaise went over to him, along with Luna, and hugged him.
McGonagall shot a cat Patronus through the wall and then came over, brushing the Gryffindors away, and held his shoulders. "Harry... I-I thought I lost you forever."
"Sorry, professor. He took me captive and faked my death."
"It's wonderful to see you... Harry. I'm so proud of you," she said, with tears in her eyes, and Harry blushed under her praise. She looked at Draco, who was trembling. "Mr. Malfoy... it's good to see you as well."
"Headmistress," Draco said, with his head lowered. He looked guilty and afraid, and Harry realized that no one would understand what they had gone through and what Draco had done for him. That Harry couldn't live without him.
"The Ministry is coming, Draco. I don't think they will listen when they get here," she warned, and met Harry's eyes like she understood. "You could flee."
Harry looked at Draco, considering the offer, but Draco said, "I won't run."
"It's not going to be easy," Harry said, and it never was. He just wanted Draco to hold him, but he wouldn't even get that.
Aurors soon swarmed the place and took the Death Eaters into custody. When they tried to arrest Draco, Harry stopped them and another fight nearly broke out. Spells went flying, but McGonagall got them to stop. Draco convinced Harry to let the Aurors take him, as Hermione tried to take Harry's wand away. 
"Harry, you've been held prisoner for nine months. They need to make sure that you're okay. Please calm down," Hermione explained, trying to convince him.
He was shaking his head at her when the Aurors grabbed Draco and took him to the floor, wrapping him in bindings. 
Harry's mind exploded, and the walls trembled. "I'm not letting them take him!" he roared, and stunned the Auror holding Draco down.
But a spell hit him in the back, and he again fell unconscious.