Chapter 7: The Loses Begin…

Harry knew he didn't have much time. He wanted to be long gone from Hogwarts, or at least away from the Headmaster's Office before the Death Eaters would show up. With the loves of his life, his best friends, mentors, family and Hogwarts gone, the Headmaster's portrait was his last link to the past. He had to no time to left… He had to converse with he portrait to plan out the next phase of their offensive. HE was so close, and now everything was going to be thrown away… He knew Albus had at least two other frames still in existence, but the stubborn old fool would never leave Hogwarts, not even for the "Greater Good".

'How hypocritical, when he was alive he'd do anything, including subjecting a child to 16 years of abuse, for the 'Greater Good'. Now he can't even bring himself to leave the castle in order to protect himself… I can't afford to lose him again… not yet…' Harry's thought darkly as he raced to the Headmaster's Office.

He was one of the few who could Apparate through the residual wards around Hogwarts and the ONLY person who could either Apparate or port-key directly to the Headmaster's Office. That didn't mean the Death Eaters couldn't trace and Apparation or Port-key to where he went… While Voldemort knew of Dumbledore's existence, he generally left the old man alone to wallow in self-pity knowing that he had failed to protect his beloved school miserably. He doubted Voldemort's 'mercy' would last too long if he knew that for the past twelve years he had be consulting with the bloody portrait in order to defeat the Dark Tosser.

As he raced through the castle, the memories of the 1st Battle of Hogwarts were still fresh in his mind. He had been as desperate that night as he was this very morning. While the Defense of the Founders had done its job and saved hundred of lives, while repelling the Death Eater/Giant attack, it did little to nothing against Voldemort. He was just too powerful, despite his struggle with Harry earlier that day, and both Harry Potter and Hermione Granger using their own magic to power the castle's inert defenses. As he sensed Neville go down to Voldemort's Cruciatus Curse, he could feel Ron's desperation and worry for his friend. No amount of tactics could save the brave Gryffindor that everyone had gravely underestimated. It wasn't until Hermione's silent plea for Harry to help, through their connection to the castle did Harry take the necessary action to save Neville Longbottom and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was being beaten by Bellatrix Lestrange for yet a third time.

FLASHBACK

Neville had barely time to acknowledge Voldemort's wand being drawn and trained right on him. His movements were so quick Neville could barely follow them. It wasn't until he heard the dreaded words did he realize he made a big mistake and underestimated the Dark Lord. "CRUCIO," Neville was on the ground convulsing in pain before he even realized he was being cursed.

Kingsley Shacklebolt wasn't faring much better. Bellatrix was much more powerful than him and just as skilled. Added to the fact that the wand in his hand wasn't even his, he was fighting an uphill battle. The last thing he needed was a handicap while facing the person who was likely the most powerful witch in the world. He dodged and countered to no avail. She was simply better than he was. What was making his defeat even more embarrassing was the fact she had just dueled two people AND had used two wands simultaneously which was unorthodox and not usually done as it was quite taxing on someone's magical core. 'Then again,' Kingsley thought to himself, 'she does have her proper wand.' While it may or may not be tuned as specifically to her magical core as the wand Kingsley destroyed had been, it was still custom made for the insane, bloodthirsty witch.

Neville was close to passing out from the pain. He was on his hands and knees, gasping for air. "So Longbottom, are you ready to beg and plead for you life, so that I may mercifully end it? Or do I have to do to you what Bella did to your bloodtraitor parents?"

The question enraged Neville. As adrenaline pumped through his veins he ignored the pain coming from his entire body. He grabbed his wand and pointed it at the Dark Lord. "REDUCTO," Neville shouted, at the same moment Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse at him, yet again. Neville's yellow bludgeoning curse met Voldemort's blue torture curse directly between the two of them. The Cruciatus Curse seemed to slice through the other curse and continued on its path directly to Neville. Neville was convulsing in mind numbing pain for a third time that day.

"Did you possible think a simple school boy could possibly match the power of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin himself?" Voldemort taunted Neville after lifting the Cruciatus Curse from the Head Boy.

After a few short minutes of dueling, Bellatrix had beaten the Senior Auror. She had just lifted the Cruciatus Curse off of him when she heard the Longbottom boy's cries of pain. She couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation. She had tortured Frank Longbottom personally while Barty Crouch Jr., and Rabastian and Randolphus (her husband) Lestrange had raped Alice Longbottom, while her husband watched. She gleefully remembered Alice's tears after she had been violated and defiled in every way, while she was force to watch as Frank had also been raped by Bellatrix. Bellatrix mused that she was probably the only woman in the world to have an orgasm from a man under the Cruciatus Curse. It was all great fun, too bad she had been unable to gain information on the Dark Lord that night. Even worse, she had been captured by that fool Moody along with her husband, brother-in-law, and Death Eater Trainee. The kid still hadn't even taken the Dark Mark yet, but since he had been at the wrong place at the wrong time, he had been apprehended as well. By then it had been too late, the husband and wife Auror Team had been unresponsive to the curses and various other tortures they had been put through.

END FLASHBACK

Harry found himself once again at the Headmaster's office. "Dumbledore, he knows I'm here!" Harry hastily explained. "You need to leave here immediately."

"I'm sorry Harry, but I can not. Hogwarts was my charge to protect and I failed to do so… Just like I failed you when I finally told you of the prophecy…"

"Your duty as Headmaster, and leader of the Light ended with your death, and your responsibility for protecting the innocents of the world fell to me the moment I faced Voldemort my first year." Harry said to the aging portrait. "I still need you sir… Voldemort thinks I came here to hide from him. I can't have you just hanging around here waiting for him to blow-up what's left of your portrait."

"I assure you Harry, that I accept my fate, and my portrait is ready to join the Next Great Adventure," said Dumbledore's portrait calmly.

"You may be ready to go, but I'm not ready for you to be gone, not just yet…" Harry said, "You're all that's left…"

FLASHBACK

Neville was writhing on the ground in pain. His clothes seemed to be smoking from the curse that was just placed upon him. Voldemort lazily walked towards the Longbottom heir. "Pathetic." Voldemort said in disgust. "With Dumbledore gone, there is none left to challenge me! Even Potter had fled before my power!"

Despite the horrendous pain he was in, Neville couldn't help but laugh. The laughing was strained and made the pain worse. "Harry will never back down from you," Neville said, trying to bring himself to his knees. "Who do you think is animating all of the statues, the armor and various castle defenses that have even your best followers fleeing from battle?" Neville had a determined look on his face. "Harry Potter, the only wizard you EVER feared. People used to believe it was Dumbledore, I used to be one of them…" His breathing has heavily labored with his efforts of trying to get in some position to defend himself while his body was still suffering from the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. "But no matter how hard he tried, he never beat you! Sure a few times he came close, but you were always able to flee, never having to face true defeat… Until that Halloween night EXACTLY sixteen years ago, the night you attacked the Potters. You were not only defeated, but nearly killed by a defenseless baby!" Neville was surprised at his boldness. His confidence was growing, and he could see that the Dark Lord was becoming more and more angry.

Voldemort raised his wand again at Neville and Neville prepared himself for another bout of pain that never came. "CRU-" He looked up at the Dark Lord to see him and Bellatrix flying through the air. He collapsed from the pain and exhaustion, knowing, without realizing, who it was that had come to save him…

Kingsley Shacklebolt, Senior Auror of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Member and Second-in-Command of the Order of the Phoenix, expert duelist, and one of the strongest wizards on the planet had been beaten, for a third time by Bellatrix Lestrange. It appeared that her fourteen year stint in Azkaban Prison had done next to nothing in lessening her power or dueling skills. It was easily apparent to him exactly why she was considered to be the most powerful witch in the world, not to mention one of the most sadistic and ruthless. He remembered his days in the Auror Academy, his marks rivaled, if not surpassed those of Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the man who originally captured Bellatrix after she and others had tortured Frank and Alice Longbottom. He was the best of the best, the finest the light had to offer, and yet there he lay, battered and beaten.

It was bad enough Voldemort was out there. With Dumbledore gone he was easily the greatest sorcerer on the planet. That he knew of, only three people who had ever faced Voldemort directly were still living. Moody had lost his leg for his troubles in the first war, and would have died if Dumbledore hadn't stepped in. Potter had amazing luck. He had faced Voldemort more than any INCLUDING Dumbledore and stepped away with more victories, no matter how small, than Dumbledore had ever hoped to win. The third person, the Longbottom boy, wasn't going to last much longer. He stood valiantly against the darkness, but had barely been able to fire off a single spell. From what he saw of Potter's memories, James Potter had fired at least three spells before he was defeated, and Harry Potter himself had fired off two AFTER completing the final task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, the second resulting in Priori Incantatum.

He looked at the woman who had defeated him. She had a murderous, sadistic glint in her eye. Despite her years in Azkaban she was still quite beautiful. With her sparkling blue eyes and shining black hair, anyone would be hard pressed not to fall in love with her had she not chosen the path of darkness. The beautiful woman before him was nothing more than an evil seductress of pain.

"How the mighty have fallen!" taunted Bellatrix, "Widdle baby Potty isn't here to save you this time… And Widdle Wongbottom is about to meet the same fate as his disgraceful father and whore mother!" A purple beam of light sprung from her wand and pierced Kingsley's left shoulder. "This is the best the Aurors have to offer!" she laughed sadistically. "You're all weak and pathetic," another purple beam shot from her wand, this time piercing his right leg. "I actually expected a bigger challenge from the "Legendary Shack"! You've made a name for yourself among the prisoners at Azkaban, but I can see now how pathetic they were as well to be brought down by on as weak as you!" A pink curse shot from her wand and Kingsley shouted out in pain. His left knee had been struck with a bone shattering curse.

He tried to reach for the wand he dropped when she struck him with the Cruciatus Curse. He refused to go down without a fight. Suddenly a wave of immense pain struck his entire body and he couldn't help but convulse and curl up in pain. She had used the torture curse yet again. He could barely hear her maniacal laugh over his own screams of pain. She was slowly torturing the bald Auror and enjoying every minute of it. "I simply LOVE it when you scream like that… I would have loved to have my way with you as your mind is slowly tortured into madness…CRUCIO!" She ran her left hand up and down her body and squeezed her left breast as she applied the Cruciatus Curse on him. "Mmmmmm… You simply know how to drive a girl crazy... SECTUM SEMPRA!" She made a slashing movement with her wand and there was a slash mark made the entire length of his right arm. He yelled out in pain once more. He tried moving his arm but it was useless now. Bellatrix's wand was now lit up with a sickening green light at the tip. Kingsley could barely keep his eyes open. The blood loss was slowly overtaking him. If the lack of blood didn't kill him, it was certain Bellatrix's next spell would. Time seemed to slow as Bellatrix began to say the two little words that would end his life. "Avada…" As he began to lose consciousness he saw Bellatrix suddenly being flung through the air.

END FLASHBACK

"Albus, we started this together, we have to end it together," reasoned Harry, "You have much more insight to Riddle than I do and certainly much, much more than the yanks. There is nothing more you can do here at Hogwarts… She was as much my home as yours… Perhaps more so… The rest of the world, whatever is left of it, needs you… We are all that's left…"

"Very well, Harry… We shall meet at my frame in the Hall of Portraits at the Ministry of Magic. From there, I will help you and General Caraway devise a plan to bring Tom out into the open. Then, I will return to Hogwarts as long as Tom or any of his followers have not destroyed the frame here in this office."

"That is acceptable, also, before I go… The war has stepped up to a whole new level. Since the ambush that you and R… That was planned last week… The American Government has decided to authorize the use of the Unforgivable Curses… They're saying that Rules of Engagement have changed now that a traitor is suspected amongst our ranks."

Albus Dumbledore's face fell with deep sadness, "I can not bring myself to condone the use of such dark curses, and however, I do see the logic behind their thinking even if I do not agree with it. Don't let them consume you… You remember what happened last time…"

Harry's eyes flashed briefly. "Do you think I would insult Gabrielle's memory like that Albus? I promised Gabby when she died in my arms that I would not go back to the way I was, that I would live on and defeat the Dark Tosser by any means possible, even if I have to advocate the use of the Unforgivables!" Harry started to glow a faint green color. "It's been too long… I'll end this anyway I have to… I've already lost too much; I can't let anyone else lose what I have."

FLASHBACK

Kingsley Shacklebolt had been rendered unconscious, whether by blood lose or the pain he could not tell. From the looks of things it was probably the blood loss. Remembering the healing charm that Snape had used on Malfoy he concentrated his magic on Shacklebolt's wounds. He had found it in his potions book just in case the greasy git was to use Sectum Sempra on one of his friends.

Neville Longbottom wasn't faring much better. He was barely conscious, how he'd never know. Neville obviously had more heart and determination than anyone had given him credit for, except for maybe Luna. She seemed to be even more observant than Hermione, which was quite scary, yet sometimes strangely comforting all at once. While he had taken almost no physical damage, he had definitely taken as much spell damage as the human body could take. Neville's body, he noticed, seemed to be almost smoldering.

After healing Kingsley he moved towards Neville. Voldemort saw him and shot a curse at him. He seemed to phase out as the curse reached him and it passed right through him. Pulling a vial of potion out of his robes, he reached down and undid the stopper, putting the vial to his friend's lips. "You did well, but this is my fight…" As he said this, he stood up and his aura flared. It was a brilliant mix of Gryffindor red and gold and the magical power seemed to roll off of his body. Where Voldemort's presence seemed to bring fear and dread to his enemies, Harry's seemed to bring confidence and hope to his allies.

Voldemort was startled at the appearance of Harry's aura. Harry had a tight grip on his wand, but did not raise it against Voldemort. "Round and Round we go Potter. You have grown quite powerful… The two of us would have made a great team."

"I am stronger than you are, much more powerful. You'd have killed me years ago, whether I was in your service, completely devoted to you or not, all because of one thing: fear. You fear what I am and what I can become." Harry and Voldemort began to circle each other. Harry raised his wand defensively.

"You seem to have lost your wits Potter… You of all people know your wand is useless against me," Voldemort laughed.

Harry's eyes narrowed towards Voldemort, "Yours is equally useless." Harry smirked a moment, then his face turned to a grimace. Voldemort was trying to probe Harry's mind to see what Harry was planning. His mental shields were rapidly crumbling, without thinking he raised his wand, "Protego!" he shouted trying to block out Voldemort's Legilimency.

Voldemort reacted instantly. He pointing his wand at Harry and shouted the first thing that came to mind, "Avada Kedavra!" Everyone on the battlefield froze as they watched Harry Potter attempting to block Voldemort's Killing Curse with a standard shield charm. Time seemed to slow down as the sickening green curse made its way to the glowing silver shield. The Order Members, Aurors, Professors and Students watched in horror, while the Death Eaters waited in anticipation. Each side was wondering if the Light would truly fall on this day, or if they'd see a replay of the event of sixteen years ago.

The unexpected had happened. The Inner Circle saw a replay of what had happened only three years ago. The sickly, green "unblockable" curse connected with the silver shield and there was an explosion of golden light. The magic became a golden beam of pure magic that connected the wands together. The golden dome appeared around Harry Potter, "The Boy Who Lived", and Tom Marvolo Riddle, "Lord Voldemort". The glowing white point between the two wands was nearly at the tip of Harry's wand. With little effort, Voldemort pushed the magic towards Harry and the shades of spells started spewing from Harry's wand.

"Priori Incantatum!" Professor Flitwick said in a gobsmacked voice. "Never in all my years…"

Many around him all silently agreed. Harry was trying to fight back with no success. 'No…' He thought as he realized what, or who, he was about to see. To shock everyone even more, the visage of Draco Malfoy appeared from Harry's wand.

"Damn… Even in death there is no escape from you is there Potter? Too bad I didn't get to experience your bloodtraitor whore before the Dark Lord killed her," he taunted Harry. With a roar of defiance Harry pushed the magic out of his wand and the connection moved quickly towards the center. "You're pathetic Potter! You couldn't beat the Dark Lord then, and you're not going to do so now! The Mudblood and Weasel will die just as your precious Weaselette did!" His taunting only fueled Harry's rage further and the link pushed closer to Voldemort's wand.

"Fool, what are you doing?" Voldemort spat at the Malfoy shade. The expression on his face showed only fear.

Draco smirked, "I died for your cause for nothing! You abandoned me to be tortured and torn apart piece by piece. I've seen the true depth of his power, he will defeat you!" Everyone was astonished by Draco's statement, even Harry. The connection finally touched the tip of Voldemort's wand. First to come out of his wand was a very frightened 6th Year that Harry didn't recognize.

"Harry! I'm sorry I failed you, Professor… Just hold on, she'll be coming soon!" Harry nearly faltered at those words. She was the last person he wanted to see, especially now that he and Daphne… He never finished his thoughts as the spells Voldemort used on Neville flew out of the wand until he was greeted by a smiling red head. She was followed shortly by a scowling greasy haired man with a large nose.

"Harry, you can do this… You have the power… Destroy him," said Ginny.

"Gin… I… I'm sorry…" Harry said, tears forming in his eyes.

"It wasn't your fault Harry!" the shade of Ginny snapped at him, her features softened and she looked at him with all of the love in her heart, "You did your best… I love you and I know you loved me just as much, but I'm gone now…" her eyes looked like they had moistened and tears appeared to be running down her cheeks, smiling weakly she continued, "Live your life, don't let my memory hold you back from your own happiness, just remember what we had… I love you." The last part was almost a whisper.

"I know…" Harry's will was faltering and he was having trouble holding his wand. "I loved you too."

"Potter, concentrate on the task at hand! If you're going to do anything soon, you're going to have to break the connection. Or is you're mind to feeble to comprehend the importance of what you must do!" Snape barked at Harry. Harry only glared at him with absolute hatred.

"He's right Potter! If you or the Dark Lord has any hopes of finishing this, the connection must be broken," said Draco. Harry looked at Ginny uncertainly, his heart in his eyes.

"Do it Harry, and when it's all over show her how much you love her," said Ginny, "I will always be with you," as she said this she placed her hand over his heart, "but this belongs to her now, love her with everything you have and have no regrets," Harry weakly nodded. Harry broke the connection and the effects of Priori Incantatum began to disappear. Both wizards fell to their knees with exhaustion. Ginny placed one last kiss on Harry's lips as she began to fade away, while Harry mutter a breathless, "Good bye…"

END FLASHBACK

Harry began to run out of the Headmaster's Office and make his way out of the ruins of what was once a beloved school. He would wait until he was closer to the entrance of the ruin before apparating out, that way the Death Eaters would assume he had only been in the Chamber and, hopefully, think he wasn't visiting Dumbledore.

His luck seemed to be running out however as he heard voices all around him when he was nearly to his chosen apparation point. There wear over a dozen Death Eaters in the ruins, including the two foreign Hitwizards hired by Voldemort. Theses were the same two who had ambushed and killed Ron nearly weak ago. Rage filled his entire being. He had to maintain his concentration to keep his aura from showing and alerting the other Death Eaters to his location and keep his magic signature in check so to not alert the Hitwizards, as they could sense Magic Auras as well, though unlike him, they required a spell to do so. The only other people, who could do such a thing naturally, besides himself, had been Albus Dumbledore and Bill Weasley, though neither of their talents was nearly as refined as Harry's. They were standing in his way between himself and the apparation point.

One was an old man with long white hair, and a thick white mustache. He wore a black hat on his head and yellow and orange battle robes. The other, a beautiful girl with sapphire eyes and long obsidian colored hair. She had donned grey and blue battle robes of a similar style to the old man's. Her gaze was fierce, the old man's determined. This was not a pair to be trifled with, but Harry didn't see how he had a choice.

Closing his eyes, he concentrated on what he'd have to do. He slowed his breathing, waiting to strike. He flipped over the wall he'd been hiding behind and fired off hexes at the two hit wizards. They separated and attempted to attack Harry from both sides. He was faster and better than both of them one on one, but their duo strategy was without equal. 'Not even Nev and Shack worked this well together,' thought Harry as he dodged yet another curse. So far the had only sent low level spells that Harry's aura could have easily overpowered with ease, but he didn't want to risk the off chance of taking everything the had to give and be caught by surprise by an Unforgivable.

The wall behind him blew up as he ducked under a Reductor Curse. 'Shit… The others will be here quickly if I don't end this soon…' Harry jumped high in the air, his Green and Golden aura glowing brightly and sent a Killing Curse at closer attacker. While he knew neither could kill him, as powerful as the two were, they'd eventually be able to injure him if he got complacent. Plus, just the fact that they had defeated Ron when it was just the two of them gave him reason enough to be cautious. Although it took both of them, AND they had got the drop on Ron to begin with, their magic levels were nothing to take for granted and Harry was almost sure they were holding back, at least a little.

Harry did a back flip and a wandless banishing charm to throw himself into the air to keep both of them in front of him. He landed on a crumbling piece of wall, and used a shield charm to protect himself against the barrage of spells that were sent after him.

"Crucio!" shouted a voice behind him. He was knocked off balance, and the momentary distraction allowed the older one to keep up his barrage while the beautiful girl charged at Harry faster than he could have anticipated. She lunged at him and he side stepped, maintaining the shield with his wand. She went flying past him, but twisted in midair and threw a concealed dagger at him. This surprised Harry, and he had no chance of dodging as the dagger embedded itself into his abdomen. He could feel the poison seeping into his body.

The only fortunate thing Harry had going for him at this point was his unnaturally high resistance to poisons and his natural regeneration ability. Of course with years of having people who cared for him and actually wanted to keep him healthy, Harry had all but forgotten his amazingly fast regeneration until after the Hogwarts Massacre and the fall of the Ministry when healers had been hard to come by. It was also during this time when Harry, Charlie, and Ron had gotten split up from the remnants of the DA and the Order of the Phoenix, that he had been subjected to a highly effective potion known as the Draught of the Damned. It was one of the fastest acting and most deadly poisons in the world and he should have died within an hour it being introduced into his system, but he managed to fight it off after seven and a half hours of excruciating misery. Neither Charlie nor Ron were even average at potion making so all they could do was watch hopelessly as Harry writhed in pain.

Hermione had been shocked that Harry lasted as long as he did, let alone survived the poison in the first place. The fact that it had been Voldemort who had stabbed him with the dagger coated in the poison gave her the impression that Harry's trials in the Chamber of Secrets and being cured of Basilisk poison had given him a high tolerance for poisons unseen for many centuries. After many hours of testing, mixing Harry's blood with various poisons, they found out that Harry not only could resist powerful poisons, but neutralize many of the weaker ones. Cho had theorized that Harry's regenerative magic was able to tell the difference between potions that could harm and help him and supplemented the restorative potions to a quicker recovery.

Hermione, Luna and Cho had done their best of the boy's injuries but to no avail. While they had studied the subject thoroughly, and Cho actually had an internship at St. Mungo's before it was destroyed, their combined skills were far from Madam Pomphrey's and were substandard at best. Ron only sustained minor injures and would be fine. The two who were worse for the wear were Harry and Charlie. Charlie never regained full use of his left leg, but somehow Harry's magic allowed him to make a full recovery.

He pulled the dagger from his abdomen, the blade coated with the crimson liquid, his blood, his life force. "CRUCIO!" shouted the old man.

'Now they're stepping up their game,' thought Harry grimly. "Avada Kedavra!" shouted Harry. The blue and green curses met half way. The two spells seemed to resist each other for a moment and then the Killing Curse over powered the Torture Curse and traveled all the way to the old man's wand arm. His wand exploded and the magical backlash sent him reeling. He landed on his back, his eyes cold and lifeless. His soul had been ripped from his body.

"Mordecai!" shouted the beautiful girl. Her aura began to shine. The pain of loss augmenting and fueling her powers, but even though she was pushing her power beyond its normal limits, her sapphire aura was barely visible. A few Death Eaters had now joined her. She was by far the most powerful one, the most dangerous one… The others were almost of no consequence, but Harry knew that with sheer numbers they still had a chance to take him down. "Y-You… Bastard!"

"What will you have me do? You attacked me, the both of you…" Harry said with only a trace of malice in his voice, "Your willingness to do the Dark Lord's bidding caused this… Blame yourself, or whatever God you pray to…"

"Insolent fool!" she raised her wand, pointing it straight at Harry, her arm shaking with rage. Sapphire met emerald neither giving an inch. Tears stung at her eyes, but she held them back. His were lifeless, and she could see the pain and torment in them. He felt no remorse, no guilt taking the life of her master, yet there was sorrow. Her master had killed his friend and she had helped him, and neither had gave it a second thought, it was merely a job for them. The look in his eyes told her that even though he loathed the both of them, even though they had taken the life of his last friend, he had not wanted to end either of their lives, but would do so if he had to and he would not hesitate to do so.

"It's not too late… It doesn't have to end this way…" Harry tried to appeal to their more sensible sides, but the young girl was unperturbed.

"We've made our choices and chosen our sides," she said calmly, "There is no other option and you know it… We're no longer the naïve children we once were. Convince yourself first before making the plea to us!" she said the last part with a sharp tone, her rage and grief boiling to the surface, threatening to consume her and take over her thoughts and actions.

Harry sighed. He wished he could be done with it all, but it was no use. Death would continue to surround him everywhere he went. Her cold touch reaching out to everyone around him; friend or foe, and he watched as she carried them off to the next great adventure… Leaving him alone each time she visited.

He closed his eyes and felt the magic around him. He sensed the Death Eaters and the hit wizard. He could feel their magic… Almost taste it in the air… even though his eyes were closed he could still "see". The Death Eaters fanned out, trying to surround him. Time slowed as he focused on nothing but their movements and his surroundings. His right arm shot out and the Killing Curse's incantation rolled off his tongue. The Death Eater fell. Harry was moving before his enemy even knew he was dead. He spun around Snape's slashing curse came next and tore right through a second Death Eater's torso.

A third Death Eater apparated behind him, but Harry was quicker to respond and shot out a quick cutting curse. The curse hit the man square in the throat, and he made a gurgling sound as he died from lack of oxygen. Harry was certainly glad he had his eyes closed. It was one thing to know how his enemy died; it was another to actually see it with his own eyes. He repressed the image of his best friend, the woman who he came to love as his older sister, and how she had died in a similar fashion in the arms of him and his other best friend, the man she had been married to for only a few years.

He used a banishing charm when he pointed his wand at the ground and sent himself flying through the air as the hit wizard fired a Reducto at his feet. He retaliated with a Bone Breaker Curse and a Bat Bogey Hex, but neither hit their intended opponents. His eyes were still closed and he reached out with his magic. He "saw" waves of colors surrounding him. The residual magic from the old wards and the battles fought long ago could still be seen after all these years. He saw a barrage of colors that melded together where Voldemort had tortured Neville, he saw the cloudy aura left be the spells that brought down Gryffindor Tower, the hazy residue from the Death Eater ambush set up by himself, Ron, Hermione, Bill, Remus, Arthur, and Moody, and the dome where he set up the wards to the Headmaster's old office. He saw bright dots of various colors appear across the ruin. Several spells shot up at him at varying speeds. Harry welled up his magic in side of him, noticing his bright glow through his mage sight. With a quick, but powerful burst of magic, all the spells were reflected back at their casters, amplified significantly. Many of the Death Eaters were caught off guard, especially those who had cast the Avada Kedavra. Unfortunately enough for Harry not all of them were taken out… The beautiful hit wizard was among the ones still uninjured and her need for vengeance overrode her fear of the most powerful wizard in the entire world.

"Diffindo!" she cast in desperation, she was actually shocked as the curse shot right through his shoulder.

Harry grimaced in pain. This was one of the down falls of using his "Magic Shockwave". It took immense power to create, even for Harry. He doubted the even Voldemort could manage it, and even if he could the hexes, charms, and curses would merely be reflected back… He highly doubted that the amplifying property of this last resort attack could be duplicated by any other wizard, no matter how strong they thought they were. So for a few moments, as Harry began to free fall back to the ground, he was without magic. He only hoped his magic would return in time for him to cast a few cushioning charms. The last thing he needed was to end up in a refugee hospital, or worse, captured by Death Eaters.

As he fell, he concentrated every bit of magical power he could into his wand. The tip started to glow a light blue. Try as he might, he still could not send out the charm. The woman started sending more curses at him. He was pierced by cutting curses in his left leg, right bicep and one hit the lower, left side of his abdomen. He was only a couple feet from the ground when a light blue wave left is wand and struck the ground below… but it was weak. Two more waves came from his wand, each still very weak, but progressively stronger than its predecessor, was emitted from his wand in pulses.

He landed on the ground hard. Despite the weak Cushioning Charms hard still landed in a heap, but as soon as he hit the ground he rolled out from where he was. He was sent sprawling by an explosion. He was crouched on the ground and waved his wand in a spherical motion. The beautiful woman shot a powerful yellow beam from her wand as Harry erected an advanced silver shield, which shattered on impact knocking Harry on his back. He immediately reacted, years of Quidditch and Combat training kicking in. He jabbed his wand forward and the blue tinted shield flared to life as another powerful hex slammed into it. This shattered as well and the force was enough to send him flying through the air, slamming him against a wall.

The hit wizard threw another spell at Harry that resembled a large yellow disk. It didn't take a lot of imagination about what this one did. He ducked as the spell sliced through the wall. He charged his would be assassin and set a barrage of stunning spells at her which were all deflected at ease. His magic was returning much too slowly.

A black light lit up from his wand, it was surging with forbidden power. The spell was one of the Darkest Arts. It fused his magic with that of a spirit creature from the underworld. With his reserves so low the only problem with the spell was he'd have absolutely no control over it, not that this spell was really all that controllable before. The only true advantage of the spell was that it didn't use up the casters magic, but was fed from the ambient magic of the environment surrounding them to call forth the deepest darkest creatures from the pits of hell.

"Draconis Nocturnis Enflamari!" shouted Harry as black flames in the form of a Dragon erupted from his wand. The beautiful hit wizard's eyes widened in recognition of the spell type Harry used. It was a Dark Magic that was classified as Forbidden Art. She quickly activated her Portkey and vanished as the Black Flame Dragon incinerated the area she was standing.

The Dragon was not pleased it had lost its sacrifice and thus sought out others that it could deem worthy. It was all Harry could do to keep it from taking him instead. The Dragon ravaged the broken walls and Harry could hear the agonizing screams of the Dragon's victims as they were slowly incinerated. As the Dragon became satisfied he broke the connection and let it fade. While the Dragon doesn't use any of the caster's magic power, it does take A LOT of concentration for the tiniest bit of control. Harry dropped to his knees. He was bleeding profusely from a couple wounds, and magical and physical fatigue set in. The Dragon of the Darkness Flame spell also stretched his mental capacities to the limit. In short he was exhausted and even though they were mere medium to high level Death Eaters, he still felt as if he had dueled Voldemort himself. He was no longer in any condition to apparate, so he activated his emergency portkey, and was gone.

A/N: Yes I am totally aware that I totally ripped of the "Dragon of the Darkness Flame" from YuYu Hakisho… What can I say? Hiei has always been one of my favorite characters! I hope you enjoyed this Chapter… it was a long time in the making, and I surely do hope the wait was worth it…