I was by the Great Hall when I saw them bring in the dead. I saw bright red hair lying on a stretcher. I looked at the Weasleys in floods of tears. A hand came fell on my shoulder. It was Lee.

“Fred. He’s – he’s gone” tears were pouring down his swollen bloodied face. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Uncle…Fred… in the doorway lay two other figures of Tonks and Lupin. I started backing away, and almost crashed into Oliver Wood.

“sorry Oliver, sorry, I…I,” I was lost for words. Most people were. It’s not until you realise, really understand that there may me casualties even fatalities that it can dawn on you what is actually going on. I wish this hadn’t have happened at all. Wish this had all been a dream but it wasn’t. I looked as the Death Eaters retreated but I went to Arber, to my tree. He would be the only being that understood.

I walked around the lake, dazed, incomplete. Passed Hagrid’s hut. The Dementors were chilling. I felt them as though I had never felt them before. But I got to Arber and it was the place that my father had chosen to stand. Why did it have to be there? I looked at him, looked at the Death Eaters and didn’t go close. It showed in my face that I knew what had happened, what he had done, and I was hating him for it.

Behind me stood Harry. Unseen and yet I would have no idea. Not until they were so deep into the forest did Harry reveal himself did, he decide to die. I did not go with them. I stood, embraced by branches. I could have fallen into them but I didn’t know what to do. Somewhere in the distance I heard a thud. Cries, cheers and laughter. There was no laughter for me, none at all, just the glassed front as I watched them pass, Hagrid carried a limp body of Harry. J. Potter through the forest and back towards the castle. My father smiled and the Death Eaters followed. Arber seemed to wrap me closer and closer in his branches so that I was not seen.

Finally, I stood in the forest, close to where they had all been gathered. Close to the place that Harry had died. I stood there, all alone for a minute or two. I saw the centaurs, but I also saw a stone. A small stone that I recognised. One that was in my great grandfather’s ring. I wanted to use it to bring everyone back. But I knew, they would never be happy here, they were not of this world.

The voice was calm, but it penetrated your ears. “HARRY POTTER IS DEAD. THE BATTLE IS WON. ANYONE WHO CONTINUES TO RESIST WILL BE SLAUGHTERED. JOIN ME IN THE NEW WORLD WE SHALL BUILD TOGETHER!”