It's over. I can't believe it, but it's over. I can't believe- anything- that it happened- that I'm alive- that suddenly there's no You- no Voldemort- and everything is normal again, except in the sense that nothing is normal at all.

We spent most of the year trying to figure out where he could've hidden his horcruxes- and finally we decided to just look. I wish we'd done that ages ago and maybe we could've prepared more for other things- but there's no going back to change it now.

We went back to the Chamber of Secrets first. It was closest, and even though Harry didn't think there could possibly be anything hidden in there, we went. It looked just the same when we were down there, but like it happened in a different life- the cave-in still blocked the path and the hole Harry and Ginny came though seemed tiny. Harry thought about it, too- I could see it on his face. How were we ever small enough for that, and how did we get to this point- where we weren't just rushing in to save the day, where we realised the seriousness of everything we were doing. We combed over everything, and, in the end, we did find something. It wasn't pleasant- I didn't feel right for two weeks after it was done- and it was scary because I realised I was the expendable one- I wasn't Hermione with her brain like a library and I definitely wasn't Harry with his prophecy- I was just me, just loyal- just in a bad position- but they needed me and they knew it and I knew it-

That worked out, so we started going everywhere Harry could think of- and we found the other at the orphange where he grew up before Hogwarts- we got rid of them, and it was a relief. But it was also not- we were just getting closer to something we didn't have a clue about, actually getting rid of him.

Finally there was just his pet snake- thing. We were sure he kept it with him, so we decided to set a trap, in a way. We found out where he was staying, and we decided that Harry and Hermione would lure him out- and I'd go in to kill the snake. It was risky- it was too risky, I think. I didn't think I would find it- and I was running and panicking and my brain was going a million kilometres a second, trying to figure out what would happen if I killed the snake but he killed them and it was just us- and realising I was going to die, and I should've written letters to my mum and Parvati or something instead of just running off to die without saying anything. And then I found it, and it hadn't occured to me that the snake might kill me until that moment. But I did it- and I ran back out to find them.

I was still pretty far away when it happened- there was a huge flash of light and a rushing sound. I fell over- I don't know why, it felt like something hit me. I got up and it was silent- I couldn't hear anything. I couldn't even hear myself running, but I could feel my pulse beating in my ears.

They were both dead when I got there.

Harry was already grey and cold, and I felt that I would be sick looking at him. Voldemort was dead, too, lying very close to Harry. I wanted to kick him- to mangle him- to do anything, but I couldn't. I just stood there looking down at him, thinking about how ridiculous it was that I was standing frozen near my dead best friend and Lord Voldemort and I was perfectly fine-

I remembered Hermione then. I started screaming her name, and I ran into the woods- I was sure she must be alive- she must have gone for help- I'd catch up.

She was still alive when I found her. I don't know what he did to her, but she looked- awful. I told her Voldemort was dead; I lied and said Harry was alive and waiting, but I think she knew it was a lie. I picked her up and hurried back so we could apparate, but she got heavier and heavier and then she was gone, too.

That's- that's all I have to say. My best friends are dead, and I'm alive. We owe them everything- I owe them-

Is it wrong to think, in a way, that it's better that both of them are gone? Nothing was the same when it was just two of us- and they wanted so much to be together. Now they are, wherever they are.

I'm not handling things, and I don't know who is, but someone should tell them to comb down his fringe- he always hated that scar.

*looks down at the bit of parchment in his hand and reads the title over again*

*leaves the library*

*wanders in after Quidditch practise to get some dinner*

*organises his notes and starts placing them in his bag*

*turns the page of her Defense text*

Remus you there?

*walks away from the library*

Harry?

*prods his eggs disdainfully with his fork*

Bridge collapse kills dozens of Muggles near Wales

By Brinsley Schwartz, Daily Prophet reporter

LONDON, 23 March -- A bridge over the Severn River collapsed suddenly during morning rush hour, sending dozens of Muggles to their deaths as their automobiles plunged into the icy waters.

According to Muggle news services, at noon today the Muggle Prime Minister confirmed that the Brockdale Bridge had, indeed, collapsed, despite being built less that ten years ago.

"Brockdale was one of the best-constructed bridges in the United Kingdom," the Prime Minister told the press. "It seems impossible that such a thing could happen to a newer structure like this. My sympathies, and those of the entire Parliament, go to the survivors and, of course, to the families of the many victims. The government will launch an investigation very soon to find out what caused this calamity."

The Daily Prophet has learned that the Minister of Magic contacted the Prime Minister privately. While the Minister of Magic has refused to comment publicly on the news, it is rumoured that he suggested that foul play was involved and that He Who Must Not Be Named's henchmen might be responsible.

*hops down the stairs*

*enters*

Hellooooooooooo!!!!!!!

*heads down from the girls' dorms and into the Common Room with her potions text and some parchment*

*takes a seat and begins taking notes from her text*

*strolls in and looks around*

MISSING

Mysterious things have been occuring in Diagon Alley as of late. Mr Ollivander, a highly respected maker of wands, has not shown up at his shop for several days. The shop is empty, though there does not appear to be any signs of a struggle.

Also missing is Florean Fortescue, owner of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. The condition of the parlor suggests that Mr Fortescue was attacked and seized from his shop, but whether he is alive is unknown.

Igor Karkaroff, headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, was reported missing last night. He was expected to return to the school Sunday evening from a trip to Russia for a personal matter. No one has received word that his stay would last longer, giving reason to suspect foul play.



DEMENTORS

The Ministry has received many letters regarding dementor sightings across the country. There have also been many instances of mist appearing in ususual places, suggesting that the dementors are breeding. The Ministry urges the public to take care in avoiding dark, damp areas, which are prefered living conditions for dementors.