Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe is not mine! I'm just playing in JK Rowling's sandbox and hopefully not wrecking it too badly.

It had been a week since the attack on Buckingham Palace and it seemed that the entire country had fallen into a deep depression, Hogwarts had been hit the hardest, especially the Lions of Gryffindor.

Flashback

The students of Hogwarts had been called to the Great Hall by the Headmaster. Hermione, Ron, Neville and the other members of the Gryffindor chapter of the PA sat down at the Gryffindor table, all with one thing on their minds, 'What did the Headmaster want?'

"Good afternoon students," Dumbledore said. Instantly Hermione could tell that something was wrong, Dumbledore looked older than she had ever seen him. There were rings around the man's eyes, and his normally sky blue eyes were tinged red. "I have just received some most dire news and I believe that it is best that you hear it now rather than in the sensualized way that the Daily Prophet will no doubt report it tomorrow morning. Earlier today, the forces of darkness led by Lord Voldemort attacked Buckingham Palace."

Gasps echoed up and down the Great Hall at the news.

"Fear not, Her Majesty was able to escape the attack," Dumbledore said. "However, there were casualties both in the brave men and women who guarded the Queen but also one of our own."

Whispers began filling the Great Hall.

"It seems that one of our own was granted an audience earlier today with Her Majesty and was unfortunately killed in the attack," Dumbledore said.

"Who?" a first year Hufflepuff asked.

"Harry Potter."

"NO!" Hermione screamed.

Bedlam erupted around the Great Hall, cries of disbelief and shock echoed up and down the venerable stone hall.

"Silence!" Dumbledore roared, setting off several Noisemaker Charms from his wand. "I know that many of you wish this were untrue and it pains me to say so otherwise, but it is true. Harry Potter was killed by Lord Voldemort while defending the Queen. He fought with honor and by himself decimated the Dark Lord's forces, either defeating or capturing nearly twenty Death Eaters in an attempt to defend the Queen, and he succeeded magnificently. So let us not mourn his passing, but honor his sacrifice and let us see it as a shining example of choosing to do what is right over what is easy."

Dumbledore clapped his hands and black drapes fell from the ceiling as the Hall gave a moment of silence. The only sounds were the choked sobs coming from the Gryffindor table, particularly one bushy haired sixth year.

"Mr. Potter's body was unable to recovered due to damage inflicted by the Dark Forces, however we will be holding a memorial service in his honor at the end of the week," Dumbledore said. "You are all invited to attend."

End Flashback

"Come on Hermione, it's time," a soft voice slipped through the closed door to the sixth year Gryffindor girls' dormitory. "You can't just hole yourself up here for the rest of your life." The door swung open to revel a pale redhead wearing black formal robes. "This wouldn't be what Harry would have wanted you to do," Ginny said.

"Be quiet!" Hermione snapped, her head whirling around and her long brown hair whipping like snakes. "You wouldn't know a thing about what Harry would have wanted. All you cared about was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, not Harry Potter, the lost and lonely little boy who had the world shoved onto his shoulders without a second glance."

"Hermione, I know that you are hurting but you are not the only person who cared for Harry," Ginny said. Hermione snarled at Ginny before turning back to face the window, the short redhead saw her friend's shoulders begin to hitch. Slowly, Ginny made her way over to Hermione's side and pulled her into a gentle hug. Hermione latched onto the front of Ginny's robes and broke down.

"He can't be dead, he just can't be," Hermione sobbed. "I don't believe it."

"I don't want to either Hermione but you heard Dumbledore," Ginny said.

"I don't trust Dumbledore farther than Buckbeak could toss Malfoy," Hermione snarled. "He's just as much to blame for Harry's death, if he is dead, as Voldemort."

"How do you figure that?"

"Dumbledore knew about that prophecy that we saw at the Ministry last year, he was there when it was given, and yet he never told Harry until just after Sirius had been killed," Hermione hiccupped. "If he knew about it, why didn't he tell Harry before hand or help Harry train if he knew that Voldemort would come after Harry?"

"I don't know Hermione," Ginny said. "Who knows what goes on in that man's head but now isn't the time for that, come on. I know you don't want to come but you have to realize that Harry is dead, Dumbledore wouldn't lie about that…"

"Then why is Hedwig still in the Owlery?" Hermione snapped. "If Harry was dead, wouldn't she have flown off? And why hasn't Voldemort had his move yet? You think that after killing," Hermione's voice hitched, "Harry he would have made a big deal about it. Announced it to the masses but he hasn't. There haven't been any attacks since…" Hermione couldn't complete her sentence before collapsing into sobs once more.

"Harry took out a lot of the main Death Eaters that were with You-Know-Who, so he's probably trying to lick his wounds and wait," Ginny said.

"Come on Ginny, Harry possibly gave his life and you still can't even say the bastard's made up name," Hermione scolded.

"Hermione, you didn't grow up in the magical world," Ginny said. "Growing up in the magical world, you quickly learn that you can't say his name. It's like the woogey man or whatever muggles call…"

"You mean the boogey man, Ginny," Hermione corrected. "Still, it's not even his real name, you know that all to well Ginny. If you can't stand to say Voldemort, just call him Riddle."

"I'll try Hermione," Ginny said. "Look, Hermione, if you are not going to come down to the funeral then you need to let me go. I'm going I want to honor Harry's sacrifice."

"They aren't honoring Harry's sacrifice, they are just trying to make themselves feel better for not doing anything to help Harry," Hermione snarled. "None of them believed Harry's claim that Riddle had returned after fourth year, and then when it was shown that Harry was telling the truth, they all came rushing back, saying that they really did believe him but couldn't show it. They're cowards and hypocrites, the lot of them."

"Hermione, you know that's not true," Ginny said. "Not everyone thought Harry was lying, look at all the people who joined the DA last year."

"I think at least some of those who joined, only joined to learn how to pass their OWLs," Hermione said.

"Look Hermione, the service is about to start, if you aren't going to go fine," Ginny said. "But don't forget about my brother, he lost his best friend as well."

Ginny slipped out of Hermione's grip and left the dorm, Hermione turned back to look out the window by her bed. She could see the train of people walking up from the front gates toward the edge of the Black Lake, where Dumbledore had erected a memorial stone for Harry. Hermione's eyes narrowed at the audaciousness of the Headmaster, he had said that Harry would have wanted it this way. But Hermione knew that if Harry was indeed dead, he wouldn't want some grand spectacle, he would just want something small and simple. He also would have demanded that this memorial stone not have his name, but the names of those who had been killed during the First and Second Wars.

Dumbledore thought he knew Harry, but he didn't. Hermione thought that she had known Harry but she didn't know the black haired boy who had stolen her heart that Halloween night six years ago when he had saved her from a mountain troll. When they had returned to Hogwarts, Harry had changed from a scared and angry child who had just gone through something that no one should ever have too, to a man with a presence. Someone who was willing to fight for what they believed in, who wasn't afraid to make the messy decision, the one that would cost lives. Dumbledore wasn't willing to do that; he would never make the tough decision, the one that might cost lives even though Dumbledore always spoke of the Greater Good.

Ginny's last comment popped into Hermione's head. How was Ron taking this? As Hermione's thoughts turned to her other best friend, and ex-boyfriend. While Ron was deemed innocent of the necklace incident, Hermione in the back of her head didn't know for sure if her feelings were truly her own. She knew that Ron was attractive in the tall, lanky, boyish sort of way. But Hermione knew that he wasn't the one for her, she and Ron were too opposite in terms of personality. She was forceful, assertive and always wanting to change the world around her. Ron was unmotivated, would rather spend the day playing chess or Quidditch instead of studying.

"Harry, you can't be dead, I know that you are still out there but what are you doing? Why haven't you come back to us, to me?" Hermione asked.

"Miss Granger," a familiar voice asked from outside the dormitory. "Are you in there?"

"Yes Professor," Hermione said thickly, mopping at her eyes with her sleeve. The door slid open to revel Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Granger, what are you doing? Why haven't you gotten dressed?" she asked.

"Whatever for? I'm not going to that glorified pity party," Hermione growled. "You know that Harry would have hated for something like this. He wouldn't want this, and Dumbledore is just making up a show. He wants to make people think that he knew Harry but the Headmaster never tried to get to know Harry, Merlin, I never truly tried to and I am his best friend."

"Miss Granger, Hermione, Mr. Potter is dead," McGonagall said softly. "Albus confirmed it himself."

"I don't care what Albus bloody Dumbledore says! Harry is not dead," Hermione screamed.

"Miss Granger!" McGonagall gasped, scandalized. "I understand that you are upset but that is no reason for you to use such language."

"I'm not just upset, I'm bloody pissed," Hermione snapped. "You all keep saying that Harry is dead but I have yet to see a body and why hasn't Riddle made a move to take over if Harry is truly dead."

"Miss Granger, Albus said that Mr Potter's body was too badly damaged to be recovered," McGonagall said. "And who is this Riddle that you spoke of?"

"Surely Professor you know who Thomas Riddle is?" Hermione asked. McGonagall shook her head. "Thomas Riddle is the true name of Lord Voldemort." McGonagall flinched at the sound of the name. "Oh come now Professor, you surely can't be afraid of a fake moniker that means 'Flight of Death' in French."

"Miss Granger, you had no idea what it was like living during the First War," McGonagall said. "It was indescribable the fear that gripped the entire country. If you even said You-Know-Who's name, even once, you were most likely to end up dead."

"So everyone just rolled over on their backs for Riddle," Hermione snapped. "That's a great way to fight for what you believe in, just roll over and give up. Your oh-so brilliant leader Albus Dumbledore had a perfect chance to stop this War from even starting if he had just allowed the Ministry to fight back. I know the history of the First War Professor, I know that the Ministry attempted to enact stricter measures against the Death Eaters well before the Emergency Acts of 1979 but Dumbledore shot them down each and every time. Why, the War could have ended much sooner if the Ministry's Aurors had been allowed to fight back against the Death Eaters. I know that you were part of the First Order of the Phoenix, and that it was active nearly from the beginning of the War, so why wouldn't Dumbledore let the Ministry help? Did he just want to take all the credit like after defeating Grindelwald?"

McGonagall looked like she had been slapped. Never had a student spoken to her in such a manner, at least not before this year. "Miss Granger, I will excuse your words because of the situation but I will not have you slander a great man such as Albus Dumbledore again."

"Merlin, what is wrong with you all, always thinking that whatever Dumbledore says is the Gospel truth," Hermione shouted. "He is a man, and just like any other man, Dumbledore makes mistakes. However, his mistakes are made worse because he doesn't think he can make a mistake. You know that he placed Harry with those horrid people, you were there that night, and even though he had to know that Sirius was Harry's godfather and couldn't betray Harry or the Potters. He continuously sent Harry back to those vile people even though he knew how Harry was treated. And don't bother defending Dumbledore, Harry told me that Dumbledore admitted it to Harry after the Ministry incident last year. Dumbledore knew how Harry was being treated, Harry's first Hogwarts letter was addressed to 'Cupboard Under the Stairs', how is it that no one knew? Or is it that no one cared?"

McGonagall swelled. "Now see here lass, I cared for that boy more than you could possibly know," the Scottish professor snarled. "I knew as soon as I saw those vile people that Albus was forcing Harry to live with. I argued with the man for…"

"But you still left Harry there," Hermione interrupted her. "You say that James and Lily were two of your favorite pupils and yet you abandon their only son on just the word of Dumbledore. I'm sure they can't wait to hear your reasons when you meet them again."

McGonagall's head dropped as he face flushed in shame. What Hermione had said was true; she had abandoned Harry at the Dursleys all because Dumbledore said so. She had seen how the Dursleys were but didn't do anything more than just argue half-heartedly.

"Professor, you just trusted the wrong person," Hermione said. "You can make up for your misguided trust by doing what is right from now on. Dumbledore has been in power for to long, and has become corrupted by that power. There is a quote, 'Who guards against the guards' it talks about those who have no one to answer too. Dumbledore is the most powerful man in the country, politically and magically, and everyone seems to just go with whatever he says. He has no one that he must answer too, even though we are all British citizens and should answer to the Queen."

"Hermione, I know that I have made many mistakes regarding Harry," McGonagall said. "Too many to count and I don't believe I'll ever make up for them. I do not look forward for when I see James and Lily once more, I know that they will not be pleased with how I abused their trust regarding Harry but there isn't anything we can do about that now. All we can do is move forward and continue battling the Darkness that Harry gave his life for. Now I know that Harry wouldn't have wanted you to waste away in some tower mourning his passing, he would have wanted to be strong, stronger than all of us and finish the journey that Harry set for us all."

"It's too hard," Hermione whimpered. "I just can't believe he's gone, no I refuse to believe it. I just know that Harry's alive."

"Hermione child, I know what you are going through," McGonagall said.

"HOW IN MERLIN'S NAME DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH?" Hermione screamed.

"I have also lost the man I loved," McGonagall said softly, robbing Hermione of any pretense of to keep shouting. "I didn't want to believe it either, I holed up in our home for weeks, never leaving our bedroom because I refused to believe that he was gone. I even missed his funeral because I just 'knew' that he wasn't in that coffin. And now looking back, I don't think there is anything I could have done to dishonor what George stood for than what I did. Now you have a choice child, you can be strong for Harry and soldier on, or you can stay here and waste away?"

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"We are gathered here today to remember and honor one of the bravest, kindest and most selfless young men that I have had the privilege of ever knowing," Dumbledore said. "Harry Potter was a young man who was considered a hero or a villain depending on the week. He constantly faced the adoration of his fans or the venom and scorn of his enemies, and yet he never faltered. Harry was a shining example of what we should all strive to become. He was murdered by the same monster that so callously killed his parents all those years ago. For an entire year, Harry stood tall as the lone light of truth, proclaiming the return of Lord Voldemort, and yet only a handful believed him." Many of the mourners lowered their heads in shame. "Now is not the time for self-loathing and questioning past decisions, now is the time for action. Dark Forces have cast a long shadow over our lands and the time has come to make a choice; to do what is right or what is easy. Harry Potter gave his life in the pursuit of ending this nonsensical War, can any of us afford to do anything less?"

Dumbledore stepped down from the altar and turned to the ornate casket. He bowed his head and after a moment placed a hand on it. "Forgive me Harry," Hermione heard the Headmaster whisper. Slowly, the rows of people rose from their seats and began walking up to the casket. Some laid flowers upon its face while others could only place a hand on it.

Hermione turned to see Ron standing next to her. He had placed an arm around her waist when the pair rose from their seats. Hermione leaned her head against Ron's shoulder, her arms snaking their way around his waist. As the pair approached the enclosed tomb, Hermione felt a flash of anger course through her. As she had told both Ginny and Professor McGonagall, Harry would have hated this fanfare. He wouldn't have wanted all this adoration, Harry craved anonymity and peace but it seemed that Dumbledore didn't care for what Harry wanted even in death. Hermione realized that Dumbledore never had cared for what Harry wanted, only what Dumbledore wanted of Harry. The Headmaster never listened to Harry's pleas about the Dursleys; he never stepped in when Hogwarts or the world at large was signaling Harry out. Ron stopped in front of the casket, and gently nudged Hermione. The brown-haired girl looked up at her long-time friend and saw that tears were glistening in his blue eyes.

"Why Hermione, why did Harry have to die?" Ron asked, his voice so thick that it was barely understandable.

Harry did what he wanted," Hermione said slowly. "He was the best of us, always willing to sacrifice his own happiness for others. And we must be willing to do the same Ron, for if we don't, then we dishonor all that Harry has done for us, all the people that he lost; his parents, Cedric, Sirius. How can we expect to do anything less than to give our all when Harry would do the same for any one of us in a heartbeat?"

Ron and the Potter's Marauders nearby nodded at Hermione's words.

"A rousing speech Miss Granger," a voice hissed from behind the procession. Whirling around, even as her heart fell away, Hermione saw the snake-like visage of Thomas Riddle. Screams filled the air as guests and students alike began trying to run away, trampling over chair and body alike to get away from the Dark Lord.

"Tom!" Dumbledore thundered. "Why have you come?"

"Oh come now Headmaster, did you really think I would miss this," Voldemort chuckled. "It was truly a moving ceremony, though I do believe that you are missing some key points when it came to you hero, Harry Potter. Potter ran from me when we met a week ago, he was a coward, trying to save his own skin, fleeing from the very sight of me."

"Lies!" Ron shouted. "Harry would have never run from anything, let alone you Riddle. We all know that he managed to kill pretty much all of those Death Eaters that you brought with you."

Voldemort's face twisted into a scowl. "So this is the side kick, Ronald Weasley," he said. "Too bad that such a noble pureblood would lower himself to follow a half-blood and to lust after a Mudblood."

"Don't call her that you bastard!" Ron snarled. "She's a much better witch or wizard than you could ever dream of being, and a much better person. She doesn't hide the fact that she is muggleborn, unlike you Riddle. Harry told us about your parents, Squib mother and Muggle father. Not quite the pureblood heir of Slytherin that you claim to be."

"Crucio!" Voldemort screamed. The curse flashed across the room and struck Ron before anyone could move. Ron's screams shattered the silence as he fell to the ground, writhing.

"Ron!" Hermione cried. She whipped out her wand and sent a Blasting Curse at the robed mass. The curse was lazily knocked aside.

"You'll have to do better than that Mudblood," Voldemort sneered. "Only Potter and that old fool of a Headmaster have a chance of even matching me." Ron's screams rent the air as the Cruciatus was intensified, causing Hermione's heart to clench. "What will you do Mudblood? I estimate that your blood traitor boyfriend won't last much longer. So will you try and foolishly fight me and let your boyfriend succumb to insanity or will you lower you wand and bow before me, letting your boyfriend survive."

"I choose…neither, NOW!" Hermione shouted. A barrage of hexes and curses flew through the air toward Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Hermione flicked her wand and a wall of rock rose from the ground, and cut off the Cruciatus. Hermione knelt down next to Ron and brushed aside some of the hair that was blocking Ron's eyes.

"Ron, how are you?" she asked, cradling the redhead in her lap.

"Okay," Ron said, gritting his teeth as a wave of pain rocked his body. "Damn that smarts, I don't know how Harry was able to even move fourth year, I can't feel my arms or legs."

"We need to get you out of here," Hermione said. "You are no use to anyone right now."

"You two aren't going anywhere," sneered a voice that both Ron and Hermione hated almost as much as Harry had.

"Snape!" Hermione snarled. "So instead of having the decency to roll over and die like the rat you are, you went scurrying back to your master."

Snape's eye twitched but he kept his wand leveled at Ron and Hermione. "Your words won't mean much when you two are dead and gutted Mudblood," the ex-Potions professor sneered. "Don't worry though, you two will be meeting dear Potter soon enough. Now who will be first; the blood traitor best friend or the Mudblood love? Funny how history repeats, the brilliant witch falls for the arrogant bastard with the name of Potter. I will have the pleasure of taking the two women that Potter loved more than anything else from him. So then Granger, are you ready to meet your beloved Potter?"

Hermione snarled at the man and sent a silent Disarming Hex at him but it was easily blocked aside.

"Come now Granger, I know that Potter gave you some private lessons," Snape cackled. "Surely you can show me what he taught you, they were dueling lessons, weren't they?"

Hermione's wand flashed as she sent a barrage of spells toward the man. Snape's mouth thinned as he blocked the spells.

"Reducto!" Ron called out. A bright blue bolt of magic spat from Ron's wand and slammed into Snape's side. The spell blew out Snape's side just above his left hip. Snape howled in pain as he clutched his wound. He spun around, eyes flashing.

"You!" Snape roared. "You'll get yours blood traitor soon enough but first." Snape spun back to Hermione and slashed his wand through the air. An arc of purple fire sped toward Hermione, who froze at the sight of the curse that very nearly claimed her life the previous summer.

"No!" Ron cried. Suddenly a sharp CRACK rent the air. Ron appeared in front of Hermione, just as the purple curse approached.

"Ron, NO!" Hermione screamed as the purple curse slammed into Ron's chest. Blood spurted from a horrendous slash across Ron's chest, the wound tracing from Ron's right shoulder to his left hip. Hermione fell to her knees at Ron's side, her hands pressing against his chest. Blood seeped through Hermione's fingers as she desperately tried to stem the bleeding.

"No Ron! Why? Why did you…" Hermione cried, tears blurring her vision.

"Oh the poor little Mudblood bitch is crying over the pathetic blood traitor," Snape laughed. "But don't worry Mudblood, you'll soon be joining the blood traitor Weasley and that bastard Potter. This will be brilliant, I will have finally gotten my revenge on Potter by killing him, his son and the bitch his mongrel son loved. Goodbye Granger." Snape raised his wand; his pale and pallid face alit with undisguised glee and malice.

Hermione looked down at the barely breathing Ron, blood slowly pooling behind the redhead. "I'm sorry Ron, I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough," she whispered.

"It's all right Hermione, we both knew that this was a possibility," Ron coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. "Before we die, there's something I need to tell you Hermione."

"Oh spare me," Snape sneered.

"Oh sod off Snivellus," Hermione snarled.

"Hermione, I just want you to know that I did truly love you, not as a brother or only as a friend," Ron said. "I know that you loved Harry as well, much more than you loved me, I can see that now. And I also know that I made too much of a mess of things to ever repair what we once had, and I'm sorry."

"You're wrong about that old friend," a solemn yet powerful voice said from behind Snape. Hermione's heart leapt into her throat.

"Potter!" Snape snarled as he spun around. "ARGH!" he screamed as his wand arm fell to the ground with a wet slap.

"Harry," Hermione whispered as she saw the tall frame of her best friend.

"Hey Hermione…Ron," Harry's voice caught as he stumbled over Ron's name.

"Hey mate, what took you so long?" Ron asked before he coughed up more blood. Tears streamed down Harry's face.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner Ron, maybe if I had…"

"Don't think like that Harry," Ron said. "You can't play the what if game, it will only drive you insane. We all knew that there was a chance that some of us might not make it, I never was any good at dueling, at least as good as you two. Harry, just promise me one thing."

"Name it."

"Keep Hermione safe, do what I could not."

"No Ron, you did keep me…"

"Hermione, how many times did I make you cry and hell, I nearly got you killed before we even became friends," Ron said. "You know I never apologized for that. "I'm…" Ronald Weasley's voice tapered off as his eyes dimmed and chest stilled.

"No RON!" Hermione screamed. "You can't be…"

"Finally, I though that the blood traitor would never shut up," Snape shouted. "Pity though, he suffered the same fate as that mongrel James Potter, he died because he fell in love with a Mudblood."

Harry whirled around, fury etched in every pore of his being.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Snape's face slackened as a green bolt of magic struck his chest, flinging him back. Harry turned to see Hermione on her feet, her wand still outstretched, a green glow still emanating from its tip.

"Hermione," Harry whispered.

"Harry, just finish this," she snarled. "Kill every last one of the bastards, leave none alive."

"As my lady commands," Harry answered. Raising his wand above his head, Harry sent a large ball of light high into the sky above the battle; a large lion's head appeared. The lion opened its mouth and roared. The battle fell silent as the lion's roar shook the very foundations of the millennium old castle.

"Potter!" Riddle screamed as the Dark Lord spotted Harry standing tall in the middle of the battle. "How do you still live? I smote you down myself."

"Funny about that Thomas," Harry said as he slowly walked toward Riddle, the battle parting before him like nothing. Hermione shivered when she caught sight of Harry's eyes, while his voice and body language said he was calm, his eyes told a totally different story. They were such dark green that they looked black. She knew that if she looked in a mirror, her appearance would be much the same. Walking alongside Harry, Hermione's hair was crackling with suppressed rage and uncontrollable magic. "Seems that you spilt off more than you could chew when you tried to kill me 16 years ago. Perhaps your body wasn't the only thing that splintered that night."

Voldemort's eyes widened as realization struck him like a lightning bolt. "Oh and just in case you are wondering, I did some soul searching this past week, and found quite a few valuable trinkets while doing so," Harry said casually. "By the way Tom, where is Nagini? It wouldn't be a reunion without her. She was the last, wasn't she?"

Voldemort howled like a wounded animal before launching a massive beam of magic toward Harry. Harry slashed his wand upward in an arc. A beam of his own magic shot from his wand, it collided with Voldemort's spell. The two wizard's magic fought against the others, battling for dominance. For a moment it looked like both were evenly match, but then Harry's beam tightened and sliced through Riddle's. Voldemort watched in disbelief as Harry's spell cut through his own and deflected it into the sky where the two powerful magics exploded, causing the sky to brighten almost painfully.

"Where are you going bitch!" Hermione snarled as she caught Bellatrix trying to circle around to Harry's back.

"Oh so the little bitt…" Bellatrix had to dive aside as Hermione sent another Killing Curse toward the insane witch. Bellatrix shot to her feet, no longer looking crazed. "So the Mudblood knows how to play then? Fine then, let's play." She sent a barrage of curses toward Hermione, all in the span of a second.

"Your little Mudblood is going to die Potter," Riddle hissed. "Along with everyone you ever loved. I, Lord Voldemort, will wipe the very stain that is the Potter from existence."

"You shall try," Harry growled.

All around the two duels, Death Eaters were battling Hogwarts students, professors and guests alike. The Order was also there: Remus and Tonks were battling Dolohov and Rookwood, Kingsley and Moody were dueling the Carrow twins. A group of eight Death Eaters had surrounded Dumbledore, who despite his advanced age was still a premier duelist. Neville, Luna and Ginny led the Potter's Marauders into the thick of it. Each team wasn't wasting time on Stunners, Disarmers or Body-Binds, no, Piercing, Blasting and Cutting curses were the spells of the day.

Suddenly an unnatural chill fell over the battle. A host of Dementors appeared over the tops of the Forbidden Forest like the wraiths they were. Several of the Auror guards attempted to conjure Patronii but failed.

Howls of pain filled the air as a massive stag and otter leapt into the sky. The stag surged forward and skewered several Dementors on its ethereal horns. A bear, wolf and fox soon joined the stag and otter. The smaller animals herded the Dementors toward the waiting horns, claws and jaws of the stag, bear and wolf. Within minutes the entire Dementor horde had been turned to ash.

Voldemort turned to see Harry, hands on his knees panting with exertion, and smile viscously. He shot off a Cannon Blast Charm into the air, and in the distance thunder echoed around the valley. Out of the west end of the Forest, a host of giants, thirty strong, came storming out of the trees. Voldemort cackled as he saw the terror in the defenders' faces.

"Now Colonel," Harry said, holding a hand to his ear.

A sharp crackle of thunder snapped across the valley. The lead giant slowed, his fellows following suit, before the massive creature toppled over, a large hole gaping from the back of his head.

"What magic is this?" Voldemort screamed.

"It's not magic Thomas, just good old-fashioned firepower," Harry laughed as three more giants fell. The remaining giants looked around in confusion, they were now leaderless and now just massive targets for the detachment of SAS snipes hidden in the valley. "Look at that Tom, magical creatures being killed by muggles, oh the irony."

"You shall pay for this Potter!" Voldemort screamed. "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry waved his wand and a three-foot thick slab of stone rose in front of him. The Killing Curse shattered the slab. A quick Banishing Charm sent the shards of rock soaring toward Voldemort. Voldemort easily Transfigured the shards into daggers and sent them back at Harry. Harry Vanished the daggers and sent a tightly wound Piercing Curse at the Dark Lord. Voldemort casually batted the Curse aside.

"Surely Potter, you can do better than that," Voldemort taunted. Harry didn't respond, he just sent another volley of curses toward Riddle.

Hermione ducked under a Killing Curse. "Avis! Oppugno!" she cried, conjuring a dozen falcons before sending them at Bellatrix.

"Pathetic Mudblood, I thought you were supposed to be good at this," she taunted. "But I guess you spent too much time mooning over that Blood Traitor brat or the Mudblood spawn Potter."

Hermione shrieked in anger and charged at Bellatrix, sending a barrage of various hexes and curses at the killer of Sirius Black.

Bellatrix just laughed manically as she easily swatted aside Hermione's badly aimed curses. "Please Mudblood, you can't hope to touch…"

THWACK! CRACK!

Hermione's clench fist impacted with Bellatrix's nose with a loud crack. Blood gushed from the now broken nose, pouring down the crazed witch's face.

"You BITCH! How dare you! How dare you strike me like a common Muggle!" Bellatrix screamed.

"Eat this you sadistic mad bitch!" Hermione snarled. "Avada Kedavra!" Hermione's second Killing Curse struck Bellatrix square in the chest. The crazed witch only had time for her eyes to widen before she slumped to the ground, lifeless.

"NO!" Voldemort roared. A massive wave of magic exploded from the Dark Lord, leveling anything and everyone in close proximity. Eyes flashing, Voldemort turned his wand at the stunned Hermione.

"NO!" Now it was Harry's turn to shout as he reached out for Hermione. She flew through the air, a green streak flashing through the empty space where she had just occupied, right into the back of Ginny Weasley. The redhead gave a slight sound of surprise before collapsing to the ground.

"Ginny!" Molly and Arthur's wails pierced Harry's heart as he caught Hermione. Putting the stunned girl down, Harry turned to his nemesis.

"Enough of this Tom, let's finish this," Harry shouted. "No more interference, no more interruptions. You wanted to kill me yourself, well here's your chance."

"Very well Potter," Riddle snarled. "We shall duel, just the two of us. And at the end of it, the world shall know that none can stand before the might of Lord Voldemort. And the world shall also know that Harry Potter was nothing more than a coward who begged for death at the end."

"We shall wee who's begging at the end," Harry growled.

The two wizards began circling each other, looking like wolves. Voldemort's wand flashed and a screaming bolt of dark blue magic was sent speeding toward Harry. Harry dove sideways to avoid the curse; he rolled to his knees and sent a barrage of spells at Voldemort. The Dark Lord blocked the spells easily.

"Pathetic Potter," Voldemort sneered. "When I defeat you, I'm not going to kill you, at least not right away. First I'm going to make you watch as I punish your Mudblood for killing my Bella. You will leave this world hearing the anguished screams of the Mudblood as I have my men sample the bitch."

Harry snarled as he slashed his wand through the air. A blue bolt of magic spat from Harry's wand and screamed toward Voldemort. Riddle sneeringly batted aside the aside. With a sharp CRACK, Harry vanished from sight. Voldemort narrowed his eyes, scanning the area for his foe. A blood red spell shot toward Voldemort.

"Come now Potter, surely you can do better than this," Voldemort sneered. "Is this all you are good at? Hiding behind the legs of better witches and wizards, never having the courage to face me."

"Oh really, that's rich coming from you Thomas," Harry's voice barked. "Talking about courage, coming from the man who tried to kill a baby and failed!" he laughed. "I'm not the pathetic one Thomas, we've fought each other five times and you've failed to kill me each and every time. What does that say about your greatness?"

Voldemort roared in anger as he sent another massive wave of magic at Harry. Harry created a shield in front of him, splitting the magic and cutting a swath through the attack. Voldemort whirled around and sent a Killing Curse speeding toward Harry. Harry quickly Transfigured some loose stone into a wall that blocked the curse. However, Voldemort had been expecting this and sent a Dark red curse spiraling through the rubble. Harry twisted to avoid the spell but he was too slow. The spell clipped Harry's side, opening a slight gash in Harry's clothing.

"What magic is that? That spell should have gutted you like a fish!" Voldemort gaped.

"Kevlar, soldiers use it as body armor in the non-magical world," Harry said. "Surely your now-dead spy told you how it can even stop a Killing Curse."

"Impossible! That curse is unblockable!"

"It's unblockable by magic yes, but this isn't magic," Harry said. A lightning quick Piercing Hex snapped off from Harry's wand. The spell crossed the distance between the two combatants in an instant. Voldemort howled in pain as the curse in its shadow struck and blew out his left knee. Dropping to a knee, Riddle slashed his wand through the air and sent his own spell at harry. Harry twisted out of the way and the battle was on once more.

All around the duel, the Light was rounding up the Death Eaters. Death Eaters, for the most part, were cowards only attacking when they had the element of surprise and overwhelming numbers. But when face with a determined opponent, ones willing to fight back, the Death Eaters quickly learned that they weren't all that powerful. And the Order was actually fighting back, aiming to wound, maim or kill rather than Stun, Disarm or Bind.

Harry ducked under a Killing Curse and then rolled to avoid a Cruciatus before firing off several spells at Riddle. The Dark Lord twisted around and vanished with a near-silent 'pop'. Harry slowly got to his feet, his eyes darting back and forth, searching for Riddle.

A dark red curse struck Harry's arm from behind. Harry hissed and dove into a forward roll, avoiding the follow up spells.

"So that armor of yours only protects your chest, interesting," Voldemort mused as he floated above the battle. "That means your head, arms and legs are vulnerable. Good, that means I can take my time…" Riddle suddenly clutched at his chest as he felt his insides begin to burn. "Potter, what have you done!"

"Nothing Tom," Harry growled as he too felt his insides burn. "That spell was a Blood Boiling Curse, wasn't it? Don't you remember whose blood you used in that ritual two years ago? It looks like any blood magic you cast on me affects you as well. Isn't that too bad for you. Now unless you lift the curse, we both die. I'm not afraid of Death, how about you?"

"You're bluffing Potter," Voldemort gasped as he felt the burning intensify.

"I can't bluff to save my life," Harry wheezed. "My buddies from base can tell you that I have no poker face.

The burning slowly began to spread up through Voldemort's arm, and into his chest. The Dark Lord saw Harry fall to a knee, clutching his own chest.

"Fine Potter!" Voldemort spat. He sent the counter curse at Harry who allowed the curse to hit him. Almost instantly, both duelers felt the effects of the Blood Boiling Curse fade away. Voldemort floated back down to the ground, Harry slowly got to his feet. Both duelers were panting heavily, Harry had sweat pouring off his face and arms; Voldemort's own skin was glistening more than usual.

"Come now Thomas, surely you can do more," Harry taunted. "You're not tired yet, are you?"

"Foolish boy," Voldemort sneered. "I am the greatest wizard of all time! Do you really think you can hope to stand up to me?"

Harry sighed. "You know what, I'm sick of hearing your voice," he said. BANG! Voldemort howled in pain as the hollow point bullet from Harry's sidearm tore through his stomach. Voldemort fell to his knees as he tried to stem the black tar-like blood pouring from the wound.

"What have you done to me Potter?" Voldemort screamed.

"I shot you," Harry said simply. "You see instead of having wands to kill people, non-magicals have these wonderful little devices called guns. Now while not as clean as a Killing Curse, it still causes pretty much instant death for those who are shot. Now I had hoped it wouldn't resort to this, as I don't really like killing but for you Thomas and your minions, I've made an exception." Harry holstered his weapon, and raised his wand. He slowly began chanting in Greek. Voldemort shivered as he felt a blanket of power settle over him and Potter.

"Potter what are you doing!" he shouted as he tried to grab his wand but found that he was frozen. The burning sensation that he had felt after hitting Potter with a Blood Boiling Curse was nothing more than a pinch compared to the fire that filled his very veins now.

"I'm reclaiming what was stolen from me Tom," Harry growled as sweat beaded on Harry's forehead from the strain of the ritual. "I know where you found that ritual that brought you back, it was in an old book in my godfather's family's library. I studied that ritual to find out how to cancel it, then burned it and all the books like it to ash. And I found this counter-ritual in my family's own library, this spell is from that library."

"AHHH!" Voldemort screamed as he felt his very body begin to tear itself apart from the inside out. "Potter, stop please. I beg of you, I'll give you anything, anything you desire! Just spare me!"

"You'll give me anything?" Harry asked, his face blank as he looked down at Riddle.

"Yes, anything!"

"Give me back my parents and godfather you pathetic worm!" Harry roared. A bright white light emanated from Harry's wand and engulfed Voldemort. The Dark Lord screamed in pain as his body was hid from view by the light. Everyone around the duel shielded their eyes for the light was too bright for anyone to look directly at.

Just as suddenly as the light appeared, it dissipated into nothing. And what the grounds saw stunned them. Nothing was left of Voldemort aside from his black robes and a bone-white wand. Harry, panting heavily and looking as if he was about to fall over, stepped forward and picked up the wand. A frown etched itself onto Harry's face as he looked down at the wand that had taken so many lives, including his parents and Cedric. A look of revulsion and fury came over Harry's face as he gripped the wand in both hands and snapped it with one twist of his wrist. Dropping the pieces of the wand onto the robes, Harry stepped back and cast the strongest flame spell that he knew, Fiendfyre, the white hot flames quickly consumed the robe and wand fragments of Voldemort and turned them instantly to ash. Another flick of Harry's wand caused a slight breeze to scatter the ashes to the winds. Turning to Hermione who was staring at Harry in amazement and pride, Harry managed enough strength to mutter two words, "It's over," before collapsing to the ground.

A/N: Well there you have it, the ninth and possibly final chapter of 'Is it Vengeance or Justice'. I'm thinking of posting an epilogue though I do want to see what kind of response I would get for this chapter first. If the way Harry defeats Voldemort seems familiar, well I'm sure that someone has come up with this method before, I can't for the life of me remember the author whose story I read that had it in it. If anyone knows, I'll put the name in as a shout out. If the author who came up with the idea reads this chapter and wishes for me to change it because he/she doesn't like me borrowing the idea, that's fine. Contact me through PM and I will go back and fix it. But there you go, it has been a wild ride and I am hugely thankful for all the reviews, favorites and follows that you, the readers, have 'given' me. I'm going to post a poll on my profile whether or not to write an epilogue, I'll have that poll open until Friday September 20, after that I'll take it down and we'll see where it goes from there. Again thank you for following along

S.R.W.M.O