DISCLAIMER – I do not own Harry Potter. I am content to worship at the altar.
Author's Note: I have made just a few corrections to this chapter to clarify some questions raised by the reviewers. I explain these changes at the end.
Chapter Nine – The Final Battle
Harry knew that it was Halloween because one of the Aurors had thoughtfully decorated the training room with pumpkins and candles. Harry appreciated the attempt to bring a little bit of holiday cheer into the room. Morosely, he thought about the Halloween celebration that would be occurring at Hogwarts. He knew that Ron and Hermione had gone back to school since there was nothing further they could do to help in the battle against Voldemort for the time being. Harry thought of Ginny and couldn't help but wonder jealously whether she would be attending the feast with anyone special. He knew that it was unfair for him to want her to remain faithful to him, since he didn't know how long they would be separated. But, if he were honest with himself, he knew that he hoped that she was pining for him.
Suddenly, the door of the training room flung open and hit the other side of the wall with a bang. Harry and the Auror training him immediately assumed fighting positions. However, they lowered their wands when they saw it was Scrimgeour, followed by two other Aurors.
Scrimgeour was pale and hard-eyed. He jaw was clenched and he stared fiercely at Harry. Before Harry could ask what had happened, Scrimgeour said, "You Know Who's going to attack Hogwarts today. We have inside information that he's going to try to take over the school."
Harry felt his world turn upside down. Ginny! Ron and Hermione! Hagrid! All his friends and teachers!
"No!" Harry said. "We've got to stop him!"
"That's exactly what we plan to do, Harry. But, our informant has told us that You Know Who has weakened the wards protecting the school. If that's true, there is almost no way we can prevent him from entering the school. We can only hope to move the students into one area of the school and hold him off from there."
"Who told you this?" asked Harry. "How could Voldemort have weakened the wards?"
Scrimgeour looked at Harry seriously for a moment and then, coming to a decision, said, "Severus Snape told us, Harry."
Harry took a step backward in shock. "Snape! And you believe that traitor!"
"Yes, Harry, I do. I haven't told you this but for the last number of months Snape has been feeding us information about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. When he first approached us, we didn't believe him, of course, and we were prepared to throw him in Azkaban. But, you know Dumbledore trusted him and Snape produced a letter written by Dumbledore explaining how he had bound Snape to him in an Unbreakable Vow, forcing Snape to kill him rather than allow Draco Malfoy or another Death Eater to do it if Dumbledore were cornered. In this way, Snape was able to remain a spy within You Know Who's camp."
Harry shook his head in disbelief. "I don't believe it! He forged the letter!"
Scrimgeour said impatiently, "Harry, don't you think we thought of that! We tested the letter of course. Snape also submitted to Veritaserum."
"Veritaserum can be tricked!"
"That may be so. But, Snape has been incredibly helpful in this war. He has told us You Know Who's plans and has prevented many deaths. I think he can be trusted. And, right now, we have no choice but to act on this information. Would you prefer we assume that You Know Who is not going to attack Hogwarts?"
Harry shook his head and said nothing. "We have Aurors surrounding the school. Most will arrive at Hogsmeade and approach the school from that direction; we'll arrive directly inside the school." Without further discussion, Scrimgeour left the room, with Harry and the Aurors trailing behind. They quickly went to Scrimgeour's office where they used the fireplace to travel to Headmistress McGonagall's office.
No one was in the office, but the portraits on the wall were wide awake. Harry eyes automatically sought out Dumbledore's portrait and, without consciously meaning to do so, he found himself standing beneath the portrait. Dumbledore smiled kindly down upon Harry, but his eyes were serious. "Good luck, Harry. I believe that tonight is the end of the long battle between you and Voldemort. There was a lot of noise in the school before and I believe that Voldemort and his followers have already attacked, and perhaps taken over the school." Harry heard Scrimgeour swear in the background. "I have confidence in you, Harry. You will rid this world of the Darkness which seeks to gain control. Be strong, Harry."
Harry gave a small nod. He couldn't speak over the lump in his throat.
Scrimgeour, the three Aurors, and Harry descended the spiral staircase from McGonagall's office to the hallway. The silence was eerie. No one was in the hallways. Slowly, they approached the Great Hall. At their approach, the door opened and they saw a ghost waiting for them in the middle of the hall. It was the Bloody Baron. They approached the Baron slowly.
"I've been asked to give you a message," said the Baron. His gloomy voice and bloody appearance caused Harry's nerves to stretch even further. "The Dark Lord is now in command of this school. All students and teachers have been brought to the Quidditch stadium for the games to begin. The Dark Lord will kill all mudbloods and blood traitors at the stroke of midnight. However, before he begins, he wishes to take care of unfinished business."
At this, Harry heard "Expelliarmus" coming from behind him and his wand flew out of his hand. While he, Scrimgeour and the others had been listening to the Bloody Baron, Death Eaters had silently entered the room. At least thirty Death Eaters surrounded them. They were vastly out numbered. Delighted laughter filled the room, as Harry and the others were put into body binds.
Bellatrix Lestrange crossed the room and looked Harry in the eyes. "Stupid boy! We knew you had entered the castle the moment you stepped into the hall leading from the headmaster's office. Did you think that you could sneak up on the Dark Lord? He knows all! Are you ready to meet your death, Potter? You are the unfinished business that the Dark Lord intends to take care of tonight. All the world will see that you are a mere child, and the Dark Lord will reign supreme!"
Harry couldn't respond. He was completely powerless. He was furious with himself. "So much for all my training!" he thought. He hadn't been in Hogwarts ten minutes before being caught. It was no consolation to know that Scrimgeour and the Aurors had been captured as well.
In a triumphant procession, the Death Eaters led Harry, Scrimgeour and the three Aurors to the stadium. Harry wondered whether the other Aurors that Scrimgeour said were coming to protect the school would be able to arrive in time. Almost as if she had read his mind, Bellatrix purred, "You don't need to worry about anyone else crashing this party, Potter. The Dark Lord has reinforced the wards around the school now that you have arrived. No one else can enter."
Harry was pushed into the center of the stadium and the body bind released. He fell to his knees but quickly scrambled to stand up. He looked around and saw that the stands were filled with students and teachers. Many were crying or clinging to each other. Fearful eyes stared at him. Off in one corner, Harry noticed what looked like a large cage. Inside, he saw about fifty students. "Harry!" Clinging to the bars of the cage were Hermione, Ron and Ginny.
Standing behind them, looking a bit battered, Harry was shocked to see Snape and Draco in the cage as well. Blood was dripping from Snape's mouth and his ever-present sneer was not quite up to its usual level of nastiness. Both Snape and Draco gazed defiantly at Harry, as if daring him to question their presence. Ever since he had been captured by the Death Eaters, Harry had been wondering whether Snape had set a trap to lure Scrimgeour, Harry and the others to Hogwarts. Obviously, that was not the case. After all the years of distrusting him, it was hard to finally accept that Snape really was working against Voldemort.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. Welcome!" Because he had been staring at the cage, Harry had not noticed that Voldemort was sitting at one end of the stadium in a large, throne-like chair. Harry could see Nagini curled up at its base. A number of Death Eaters flanked the chair.Gracefully, Voldemort stood up and approached Harry. With a careless wave of his hand, he indicated the cage and said, in a silky voice, "Do you see your friends, Harry? I thought to have you watch them die. But, I find that I am impatient to kill you. It is pleasing enough to watch you die with the knowledge that your friends will follow shortly after."
Harry felt fury rise inside him like a huge wave. There was no room for fear. As before, when he battled with Voldemort in the cemetery after Voldemort's rebirth, Harry's fury gave him strength. "Bold words, Tom," he goaded. "But, you haven't been able to kill me yet. I was born to kill you and, tonight, I've had enough of you!"
Anger blazed through Voldemort's eyes. He raised his wand and yelled, "Crucio!" Harry screamed and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Voldemort raised his wand and Harry shakily rose to his feet. Dimly, in the background, he could hear screams from people in the stands and in the cage.
Voldemort smiled. "Harry, Harry. When will you ever learn?"
Turning slightly, Voldemort noticed Scrimgeour. "Ah, Minister. Are you proud of your protégé? I am aware that you have been training Mr. Potter, here, in the fine art of war. I do believe that your lessons have not had much of an effect."
Laughing his high, cold laugh, Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse at the Minister. Scrimgeour fell to the ground, yelling and twitching.
Harry yelled, "Leave him alone! Your fight is with me. You are just trying to delay the moment when you and I face each other again. Coward!"
Gasps from the crowd. A number of the Death Eaters took a step toward Harry, obviously planning to punish him but stopped when they remembered that Voldemort wished to deal with Harry personally.
Voldemort lifted the Cruciatus Curse on Scrimgeour and slowly turned back to face Harry. His eyes, red and glittering, held an almost shocked expression. Behind him, Scrimgeour stood up again and one of the many Death Eaters pulled him to stand off to the side of the stadium.
"You dare?" Voldemort hissed. Turning to Bellatrix, he spat, "Give him back his wand."
Bellatrix approached and, with a look of hate on her face, pushed the wand into Harry's hand. He clutched it tightly. He knew what would follow.
"You remember, Harry. We've dueled before. But, now there is no mother to save you. No portkey to whisk you away. Tonight, everyone will see how easily I will defeat you." Many of the Death Eaters cheered and called for Voldemort to torture Harry first.
Harry burst out. "You're brave with all of your Death Eaters behind you, Tom. Even if I beat you, they'll kill me."
Voldemort considered. "I'll tell you what, Harry. To show you that this is a fair fight, I'll cast a spell that binds my Death Eaters in the event that I am defeated." He murmured some words as he drew his wand in the air. He laughed derisively to show how ridiculous it would be to imagine that Harry could ever win. "And, to show how little I fear you, I will let you cast the first curse. See?" Voldemort smirked as he drew his wand upwards to point to the sky.
Harry's eyes narrowed. But he didn't hesitate. Taking advantage of Voldemort's offer, he quickly lowered his own wand and, pointing it directly at the object of his magic, he yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" Simultaneously, Voldemort apparated a few feet from where he had been standing. The curse, had it been directed at Voldemort, would have missed him entirely. However, Harry had not cast the curse at the Dark Lord. Surprised, Voldemort turned, looking to see where Harry had cast his spell.
"No!" Voldemort howled. Nagini lay dead. Wild-eyed, Voldemort turned to Harry. "Why! Why!"
Harry smiled, since he knew it would annoy Voldemort. "That's six, Tom! I've got them all!"
Voldemort whispered, with a hint of fear coloring his voice for the first time. "What do you mean?"
"I know all about your horcruxes, Tom. And, I've destroyed all of them!"
Voldemort's shock was apparent. He stared at Harry for a moment without speaking. Then, slowly, he said, "I can always make more, Harry. In fact, I'll use your death to start again. But, maybe I've been too hasty."
He moved a few steps closer to Harry. His voice took on a cajoling note. "Join me, Harry. Together, there is nothing we couldn't do. We will rule the world!"
Harry heard gasps of disbelief from the crowd. The Death Eaters were equally stunned. Bellatrix burst out, "Master!"
Voldemort waved a dismissive hand in her direction. "Hush, Bellatrix." He did not even look at her, but continued to stare intently at Harry. "Mr. Potter has shown himself to be a worthy adversary. I believe that I can take advantage of that. I could use a disciple. No one would be closer to me than you, Harry. Join me!"
Harry smirked. "I know why you're making the offer. You're scared, Tom. Because this time when I kill you, you'll stay dead! When people say You Know Who, it'll be because they've forgotten your name!"
Finally, his words struck a nerve and Harry had successfully goaded Voldemort to action. Voldemort roared with anger and, hesitating no longer, yelled "Avada Kedavra!" pointing his wand at Harry. A beam of green light flew toward the teenager.
Before Voldemort had completed the curse, however, Harry had shouted "Consagrato!" The beam of green light from Voldemort's wand met the purple mist surrounding Harry.
For a minute, the mist turned bright white and Harry felt as if he were being squeezed tightly. Suddenly, the mist disappeared and Harry fell to the ground as his legs were too shaky to support him. He watched as the beam of green light flew backward toward Voldemort hitting him directly in the chest. A look utter surprise on his face, he fell backward. Dead.
With Voldemort's death, the spell he had cast to bind the Death Eaters took effect. Harry breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He hadn't known whether Voldemort had actually cast the spell as he had promised. But, Voldemort had been so sure that he would win, he had indeed cast the spell placing the Death Eaters in body binds upon his defeat.
There was silence in the stadium as everyone watched in amazement at the scene playing out in front of their eyes. Slowly, Harry pushed himself up and stumbled over to Voldemort's body. Voldemort's eyes gazed unseeingly up into the sky. Harry bent down to scoop up Voldemort's wand which was lying on the ground close to the fallen wizard.
Lifting his eyes to the people in the stand, the students, teachers, stunned Death Eaters, Scrimgeour and the Aurors with him, Harry turned slowly around holding the wand high. Without a word, he raised his other hand and, above his head so that all could see clearly, broke the wand in half.
As if the snap of the wand was a cue, shouts of delight rang from the stand. "He's dead! He's dead! Potter killed him!"
No longer bound by the Death Eaters, who were still unable to move, Scrimgeour approached the dead body. He stared down at the fallen Voldemort and then raised his eyes, swimming with tears, to Harry. The Minister smiled but did not seem capable of saying a word.
"Harry, Harry!" Harry turned to see his friends running to him. The cage had sprung open with Voldemort's death and Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sprinting to reach him. Harry grabbed Ginny when she slammed into him and kissed her. Around him, he could feel Ron and Hermione pounding on his back. "You did it! You did it!"
The wards that Voldemort had put around the school had fallen, and Aurors began pouring into the stadium. Harry was vaguely aware that they were rounding up the Death Eaters. It was over! Hugging Ginny tightly to him, he said, "Can we go home, now?"
She nodded. Harry lifted his head and said to Ron and Hermione. "I'll see you at the Burrow, later." Turning to Scrimgeour, Harry saw that the Minister was watching him. Scrimgeour's eyes burned with a fierce light and Harry acknowledged the unspoken message he saw there with an inclination of his head. Then, Harry said dryly, "I guess I'll be seeing you around. But, I think I'm done with training." Scrimgeour smiled slightly and nodded. With this, Harry felt a strange tingling sensation as the Obedius Charm lifted. It felt a bit strange not to feel the effects of the charm which had been his constant companion for the last three months.
The noise from the crowd became louder and louder. Fireworks lit the night sky. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry was sure that he saw Rita Skeeter making her way toward him. She certainly knew how to find a story! He knew that he would have to face the joy of the wizarding world soon. He was, after all, The-Boy-Who-Lived, the Chosen One, and now the Boy-Who-Defeated-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. What a mouthful, he thought with an inward grin.
For now, though, he wanted to find a quiet spot and enjoy some time alone with the girl he loved. He deserved it. Holding Ginny tightly, the two apparated away.
The End –
Author's Note: If you read the previous version of this chapter, you will notice that I clarified that the Obedius Charm was lifted once Scrimgeour confirms that Harry's training is over. Also, as telly1 correctly pointed out (thank you!), a protego charm would not have stopped the Avada Kedavra. Can't believe I missed that! I made a simple change to how Voldemort would have otherwise escaped that spell, if Harry had cast it against him. In case anyone is wondering why Voldemort can apparate within the grounds, remember that he had lifted all the wards protecting the school. While he had reinstated them to prevent the Aurors from entering, I think Voldemort would make sure that he would continue to have free access in and out of the grounds.
Hope that answers most questions. Thank you again to everyone who has read this story, and especially to all the reviewers.
