That laughter.
Harry would know that laugh anywhere. He turned around wearily and met the eyes of his nemesis, Voldemort. The man that had haunted him for so long was standing right in front of him, watching him with glowing red eyes.
It was odd to think that just one year ago, he had learned about the horcruxes. In that one year his whole life had changed. It wasn't exactly peaceful before, but at least then there was the semblance of normalcy. He had his two best friends, Ron and Hermione standing by his side. Every year they would have a new adventure, and they would always pull through. But with the horcruxes all that changed.
It started off with not returning to Hogwarts. When they left the Burrow for the last time, it was with excitement. They were finally creating the begging of the end. They camped in a forest not to far from London, attempting to figure out where Voldemort could possibly want to place his horcruxes. However, it was barely a week later, when Fawkes had appeared in the middle of their clearing. He brought them all to the Burrow, where Harry realized for the first time that the war was deadly. Sure, he had seen Sirius and Cedric die, but they had not been specifically targeted, merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, ……… Ginny. All dead. Harry bit back tears as he had to hold Ron back from running into the house. He realized that the place was probably teeming with Death Eaters. He was right. A minute later, the dark mark appeared above the house and all the Death Eaters apperated out. He would never forget the look of hate that was in Ron's eyes as he turned to Harry and spat out, "This is your entire fault."
After that things seemed to get better. Hermione insisted that while they were searching, they all get stronger. How right she was. They decided to set up camp in a small cave, where they created a training ground. There they had targets, mats, and everything they could ever want. (All funded by Harry's fortune of course.) It was there that Harry realized a key principle of magic. That it was not the actual wand, or words that created magic, but the intent. If you could visualize what it was that you needed, your magic was limited only by your power reserves. Harry's were stronger than average, so he quickly became proficient at using this new type of magic. He realized that the only reason there was a wand, was to channel magic. The wand had to be able to withstand the person's own breed of magic. That is why the wand chose the wizard. Everyone has a unique magical core.
However, there are many limitations to this type of magic. Though you could channel it through anything, you had to take into account what magic you were doing. For example, if you picked up a twig off the ground, you might cast an alohomora. However, if you attempted a stupefy, the magic would probably just build up and cause the twig to break.
It was for this reason that Harry also trained in wandless magic. Though it was harder without a medium, Harry found that if he focused through his arms it was fairly easy. It became harder without movement, but Harry was pretty good with it. He also trained physically. Though he has always been short and skinny, he uses it to his advantage. He trained his agility and speed and was confident in his ability to sidestep spells. He also learned how to use knives with stunning accuracy. He now constantly carried six knives strapped to his body at all time. Though he could summon them, he found that summoned knives could not carry magic, and were there at a disadvantage.
However, Harry was distraught when his friends could not perform this magic. They couldn't seem grasp that it was the will that created the magic. Thus, they were stuck using their wands and saying silly spells. It was not until a long chat with Dumbledore's portrait that Harry realized it was a very rare talent to have. In fact, the only ones that had it were Dumbledore, Voldemort, and himself.
Things continued to look up as they successfully broke into Gringotts and destroyed Helga Hufflepuff's cup using a spell that Hermione had invented. It was with the next horcrux that everything fell apart. They were going destroy the diadem of Ravenclaw, which was within Riddle's old- now deserted- orphanage. However, there was a charm on the perimeter to allow Voldemort to know if anyone breached the perimeter. As Harry, Hermione, and Ron retrieved the diadem they wondered why it was so quiet. When they finally got outside, they were faced with the sight of Voldemort himself. Harry quietly tried to apperate only to find wards all over the place.
It was then the curses started. It was complete chaos. However, they were all standing strong under a shield that Hermione was struggling to hold. He then saw everything as though in slow motion. He saw Ron stop firing curses at the death eaters, and aim his wand at Hermione. Harry thought that Ron was merely going to cast an energy charm or healing charm, but instead he saw a green light leave his want. Hermione didn't even see it coming.
All firing then ceased. Voldemort carefully watched Harry's expression as it changed from shock to anger. "Why?" He spat out from between his teeth. Ron turned to him and stated in a monotone voice, "Because it is your fault. Everything that has ever happened to me is your fault. And I will not stand for it any longer. It is because I was friends with you that my family died. It was because of you that my life is what it is."
Harry quietly said, "Your wrong. It is you who has just made your life. It is you who killed Hermione." The green light left his wand before he could think about what it was that he was doing. His first ever kill, and it was his own best friend.
Voldemort looked on happily, and Harry knew. Voldemort had never cared about Ron. The only reason was because he was Harry's best mate. He wanted to break Harry from inside. Voldemort raised his wand, but Harry couldn't take it. He only wanted to be as far away as he could. He closed his eyes and didn't even care that he could see the anti-apperation wards. He saw a web-like spell creating a dome over where they all stood. Harry took the spell and created a small hole for himself. He then apperated out. He found himself in another area of woods and fell where he stood. He lay on the ground, shaking with tears for a long while, before finally pulling himself up and finding a meager shelter within the trees. He then lay there sobbing realizing what his life had become. He had made his first kill, and it was his best mate. His other best friend was lying dead somewhere, he doubted Voldemort cared enough to give her a proper burial. It was no longer a game.
For the next few months everything was a haze to Harry. He kept hunting the horcruxes and people kept dying. Eventually Voldemort was down to one horcrux, but Harry had no idea what it could be. He no longer shot stupefy at death eaters, but rather Avada Kedavra. He kept training, and became stronger. However, he kept his abilities hidden and continued to use spells that he knew the death eaters knew. The problem was that it was not just death eaters that fell. Remus fell soon after, leaving the marauders all dead. Peter hardly counted. The list grew and grew. Mad-eye, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Tonks, Minerva, Snape, Flitwick, and the countless civilians that were completely innocent.
This battle was what it all came down to. It ironically ended where it all began- Hogwarts. Through his bond with Voldemort he had come to the knowledge that Voldemort has assembled his army and was planning to strike. And an impressive army it was. Giants, werewolves, vampires, and of course the sea of death eaters. The light's army was far less impressive. It contained only the wizards who fought for the light, Grawp, and some creatures from the forest. However, all this hardly mattered. What it really came down to was Harry and Voldemort. Without their leader, either side would easily be defeated.
And it was now that Harry turned to look at Voldemort. Red eyes met green, and Voldemort started to chuckle. Voldemort stopped abruptly and sneered, "You really think you can defeat me- boy."
Harry tapped the side of his mouth with his wand, as though in deep thought. "Well I did defeat you once before. And I was much younger at the time."
"It was not you who defeated me- but rather your mother."
"No matter. At least I never had to live on the back of someone's face."
Voldemort sneered, "You WILL pay. No matter what you do, you will die."
Harry looked at him levelly, "Then you will die with me."
With that Voldemort fired a bonebreaking curse which Harry easily side stepped. "Surely you can do better than that, Voldie. Maybe you are getting to old."
Voldemort's eyes narrowed and he quickly shot a disembowelment curse which Harry side stepped only to be hit with expelliarmus.
Voldemort laughed. "That is the best you can do, Potter? I must admit I am disappointed."
Harry smirked, "Who says it's over yet?"
He drew his 2 knives with a quick flick of his arms.
Voldemort had to admit that he was a little bit disconcerted. To be facing down the darkest wizard of all time with no wand, only muggle weapons was either insanely stupid, or Harry had a trick up his sleeve. Hiding his fear with his Slytherin mask, he stated, "What are you planning on doing with those muggle weapons? Making dinner?" He switched to parseltoungue, hoping to disconcert Harry, "A bit to late for that."
Harry merely shrugged him of and stared at him. Voldemort fired a stupefy, ready to end the battle and was shocked to see a shield come up. He surveyed the field wondering who created the shield to see that the battle had stopped. Everyone was watching the two powerful wizards- wondering who would come out on top. No one dared to interfere.
Harry laughed causing Voldemort's eyes to snap back towards him. "Surprised?"
It was then that a flurry of hexes were sent Voldemort's way. His shield could barely block them and he was forced to take several steps back. The real duel then began. They both sent curses back and forth and dodged or shielded the ones that were sent. They appeared only a blur of movement to the spectators watching. However, Harry was brought out of his trance by a pained cry. He turned around to see Hagrid fall because of a stray cutting hex to the throat. He quickly threw up a shield that could protect from all but the unforgivables. However, when his back was turned, for no matter how short- Voldemort sent a crucio towards Harry. It caught him spot on and he fell to the ground, twitching. However, he didn't scream and it irritated Voldemort. He kept fueling more and more power into the curse and yet Harry wouldn't scream. Just as Voldemort decided to torture the boy to insanity, he looked down and saw a knife in his chest. This was quickly followed by a knife in his stomach and a knife in his shoulder.
He looked up to see Harry who looked at him with cold eyes. "I threw off that curse the minute you placed it on me."
If the situation weren't so dire, Voldemort would have smirked. Out tricked by the Gryffindor. He closed his eyes and drew in one last rattling breath.
The second Voldemort's heart stopped beating, Harry fell to the ground screaming. People watched, confused. Voldemort was dead, right?
Suddenly a bright light began to surround Harry. It became blinding and everyone was forced to avert their eyes. When the light stopped everyone looked around in confusion.
Harry Potter was gone.