DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything concerning Harry Potter, or other Characters/Events mentioned through out the series up to HBP.

Prologue: Failure and Confrontation
Harry's head was reeling as he looked around at the carnage. For the first time in his life he felt that he failed. He knew he had failed. Failed to protect the ones he loved, the people he had cared about the most for the last seven years. Now HE had her!

Voldemort, in realizing what Harry had been doing, sent out his Death Eaters and their allies on a night of death and destruction in retaliation for the destruction of his Horcruxes.

It was time. Time to face all of his fears and finally confront HIM one last time! He had to save her one last time, before it was too late. Great damage had been done to the Burrow, and the Death Eaters were successful. Although no one was apparently hurt too badly, Voldemort had sent Harry a message that was loud and clear, and now Ginerva Weasley was in the hands of his worst enemy, the Dark Lord, Voldemort. He had to save her. He would do this alone, because only he had the power to do so. Only he knew where they had taken Ginny, only he had been there. Without even saying goodbye, or even telling anyone he was leaving he apparated.

The fog was thick and heavy and Harry was filled with the familiar feeling of dread from that last time he had visited this place. It was the place of his first actual confrontation with the Dark Lord, during the Tri-Wizard Tournament when Cedric died.

"Harry Potter," said a familiar voice, almost hissing. There was hate and malice in the voice. "We end this tonight."

Harry's fear and sense of dread were replaced by rage, he drew is wand and pointed it at Voldemort. "Where is she?"

"Why not ask 'the Half-Blood Prince'?" asked Voldemort, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. Just to the Dark Lord's right emerged Serverus Snape, holding fast to Ginny, his wand pointed at her head.

Much to Harry's surprise, he held his ground. Instead of falling into despair at the helplessness of their situation, he felt is anger rising.

'How dare they!' he though to himself.

"Drop the wand Potter," Snape ordered him, "Unless you wish to see certain 'unpleasantries' befall your beloved."

"Coward…" Harry said gritting is teeth. Even if they hadn't had Ginny as their hostage, there was no way he could win. Both Snape and Voldemort had gotten the better of him in each of their last encounters; he knew he was no match for the both of them.

Then another form materialized to Harry's right, wand drawn and pointed at Harry.

"Wormtail, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be with the others!" barked Snape.

"Can't you sense it Severus? He's doing it! Calling on it!" said Wormtail. "Kill him now, quit toying with him!"

"Doing what? I sense nothing!" Snape said obviously annoyed by Peter Pettigrew's intrusion. "There is nothing he is capable of that I know nothing about! Having been his teacher for so many years I know his every strength and weakness!"

'Idiot!' Harry thought to himself, 'I broke up with her to protect her, not even realizing that Snape could have realized my relationship with Ginny and how much she really means to me!'

"My lord, he has the power to undo everything!" said Wormtail pleadingly.

"Humph. Do you really think a mere child can defeat me?" asked Voldemort, "Leave at once Wormtail and I may spare your life for such blasphemy!"

"My lord, he possesses it, and its stronger now than before!" warned Pettigrew. "He has the power the Dark Lord knows not!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Snape, Harry knew exactly what Wormtail was talking about.