Father's World

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not.

A/N: warning! This chapter contains cruelty to animals. If you don't like, don't read. You've been warned.

Chapter 10: Endgame

A week before Halloween and Harry was still busy with his studies. Since the tutoring with his parents and his sire over the summer, Harry was having an easier time of it with his study load.

Harry knew time was running out. He had to decide what to do about Riddle and the final horcrux. He knew he had to do something that would satisfy both his sire and grandfather.

First, he sent out a note to the Unspeakables. He informed them that he had taken care of all but one of the bloody things, and he was ready for the final showdown. If they wanted a front row seat, they would have to do as he said.

They sent back a note asking for a meeting. So, on the next Hogsmeade weekend, Harry found himself in a private room at the Hog's Head pub. He was a little nervous, since the bar was run by the headmaster's brother, but he was assured that Albus Dumbledore would not get wind of the meeting.

Aberforth Dumbledore looked a little like his brother, except for the sanctimonious aura that his brother projected. He held no love for Albus and would take great joy in 'sticking it' to him.

"So, you have destroyed all the rest of those vile things?" the Unspeakable asked as he secured the room against intruders and listening spells.

"Yes Sir," Harry affirmed calmly. He told of how he found all of them, including a trap that had been sprung by Regulus Black, and re-baited with a fake horcrux.

"The last one I took care of was in Hogwarts itself," Harry ticked off the list. "The cleansed Hufflepuff cup was given to the goblins to be held for its true owners. I gave the diadem to Professor Flitwick as it belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, and the locket I gave to Regulus' old house elf. I thought it was fitting that Kreacher have the locket after trying for so many years to fulfill his master's last command."

"Very well," the Unspeakable nodded. "What about the last one?"

"Well, there is Riddle himself, his true body perished when I was attacked as a toddler, and that soul piece is now inhabiting a homunculus. And the last is his snake, Nagini."

"What happened to the soul fragments? We would have loved to study one."

"Well, Lord Hades took it as a very personal insult that someone tried to cheat death in such a vile way. I sent all the ones I found to him. If you want to study one, good luck! Take it up with him," Harry said with a smirk. There was no way he was going to get on the wrong side of his grandfather!

The Unspeakable sighed. Harry was correct. Greek gods had a nasty reputation for cursing first,and asking questions later. "So, when and where did you plan to finish this? And who did you want to witness it?" he asked instead.

Harry grinned. In that moment, it became very apparent just who Harry's deity parent was by the sheer evilness in that grin. And it wasn't a Greek deity either. He showed the note to the Unspeakable that he was planning on sending to the Dark Tosser:

"My Lord,

I overheard the Potter brat talking about visiting his parents' graves at Godric's Hollow on Halloween night. He was telling his little friends he wanted to go alone to pay his respects to his parents.

Here is your chance, My Lord."

Harry explained that with Dobby's help, he wrote the note on Malfoy parchment with Draco's handwriting and magical signature.

Harry figured if Dobby could fake Harry's magical signature when he pulled that stunt at his relatives' home, he could do the same with Draco's signature.

The Unspeakable nodded. "We wizards tend to forget the loyalty and abilities of house elves."

0o0o0o0o0

The Unspeakable went to Madam Bones for

a short and explosive meeting. She didn't take it well.

"And why am I now finding out about all this?" She argued. "And why would you allow a fifteen year-old take on a wizard with fifty years of experience?! Where was Dumbledore?!"

"Albus Dumbledore is a fool," the hooded figure had snarled back. "There was a questionable prophecy that said the boy had to deal with Riddle. As you know, Riddle took extreme measures to stay on this plane of existence.

"Dumbledore sat on his arse and tried to make the prophecy come out his way. It cost the lives of many good people, including Potter's parents. Mr. Potter wasn't alone in this. He knows what he is doing and yes, he has a plan. You were invited. . . as a witness."

"A witness!? A WITNESS!?" She screamed.

"Do you or do you not want to see the end of this wizard's reign of terror?" the Unspeakable countered. "This is the only way. Believe me, this will work. So are you in or not?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really, Amelia. There are powers at work here that it is not wise to cross. Trust Potter. He does know what he is doing. He has been well prepared to deal with this. Those 'powers' made sure of it."

0o0o0o0o0

Lord Voldemort cackled. He had Potter now! The bald wizard with no nose and red eyes waved his clenched fist gleefully. Potter will pay!

"Lucius, your son hasss finally come through for me. He informsss me that Potter will be at Godric's Hollow tonight. I will go with you, Bellatrix and Wormtail and you shall witnessss my triumph over the brat."

"My Lord, why not let me bring a group of your trusted followers?" The blond aristocrat asked.

"Because," The Dark Lord shouted. "Potter'ssssss mine! I WILL be the one to defeat him. You and Bella are more than enough to witnessss my triumph over one underage and untrained wizard! CRUCIO!"

0o0o0o0o0o

Nagini was out hunting. With her master's obsession over some 'untrained wizard brat' she was being neglected. It just wouldn't do! She was getting ready to shed and she was hungry and itchy.

She never sensed the spell heading her way. Or the so called 'untrained wizard brat' who stepped out of the shadows.

Harry smiled. It was just as his dream had shown him. Here he would find the last horcrux.

0o0o0o0o0

'Why is it always Halloween that shite happens to me?' Harry asked himself as he walked silently to the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office.

The Halloween Feast has just ended and it was time to finish this. All Harry had to do was get the Elder Wand away from the Headmaster.

He, using his talent of disillusionment,was following the retreating headmaster to his office. His talent was an inherited trait and not a spell that could be undone. He didn't think the headmaster, or anyone in fact, knew that he was following the old goat.

Harry had used his ability to create an illusion of himself to escape from the watchful gazes of his classmates. His double cited that it was the night of his parents' death and he wanted to be alone for a while before leaving the Great Hall.

Hugging the shadows, Harry followed the headmaster up the stairs to his office. He was sure that Dumbledore would notice, but he didn't seem to. Maybe another clue that the headmaster was losing it; that he was becoming too complacent.

A silent stun spell and Albus Dumbledore slumped across his desk. 'This was too easy!'

Harry stepped out of the shadows with his invisibility cloak pulled tight about him. A quick exchange of wands and Harry was out of there. Albus Dumbledore was none the wiser. The paintings saw nothing save a wand disappear and reappear.

Harry could feel the surge of power as the wand changed its allegiance to him. After all, as Lord Hades was his grandfather, why wouldn't the wand want him as its owner?

He quickly left Hogwarts and used the port-key to where it all started – Godric's Hollow. If it all went well, it'd end tonight.

0o0o0o0o0

Godric's Hollow was quiet. The trick-or-treaters were long since gone home. Any mischief-makers had been corralled and sent on their way by watchful villagers. No one noticed the wards around the small village graveyard to keep the townsfolk away tonight.

By his parents' graves, a young man lit a small brazier. Harry Potter knew it was time to put everything to rest. All he had to do was wait for all the participants to arrive. He made a small offering to his sire and grandfather that all would go well. A large silken bag lay at his feet. He would use that to summon the main event.

The Unspeakable and Amelia Bones were hidden in the shadows not far away. The stern woman was far from happy. She wanted to bring in a team of aurors with her, but she was talked out of it. Harry argued that the Americans had the right idea when they invented the K.I.S.S. system.

"Kiss!?" she shouted at him.

"Keep It Simple Stupid," he told her. "Why go complicated when the simple plans work better?"

The Head of Magical Law Enforcement could not fault that. She sighed and disappeared into the shadows.

Harry heard a popping sound and knew that the Dark Lord was here. He smiled, remembering what his sire taught him, "Timing now was everything."

Harry had run out of time. It was now or nothing. At the sound of people apparating in. He turned to the brazier and lifted up the silken bag that held the stunned snake. He couldn't afford to kill Nagini as he didn't want the soul leech to escape.

"Lord Hades, tonight is the night," he said as he threw the bagged snake into the fire. "Accept this offering and send forth Thanatos as I wish to parley with him…."

"POTTER!" the Dark Lord snarled as he strolled into the graveyard. Harry could make out Lucius Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew with someone that he didn't quite know trailing behind the snake-like wizard. "Are you preparing to die?"

"Let me, milord," the insane witch by his side whined, stepping forward. Lucius and Peter hung back.

"Later, Bella," Lord Voldemort brushed her off. "So Potter, offering to the dead? How quaint. I will be magnanimoussss and allow you to finish your ceremony."

Harry didn't have to finish as the snake bag burned. Suddenly it exploded causing everyone to take a step back.

A tall, glowing being wearing a long hooded black cloak stepped out of the fire. Harry had never really cared for Thanatos, but the guardian of the Gates of Hell took his job very seriously. And this was serious.

He bowed low to the figure. "Lord Thanatos, I have brought you a gift - the last remaining bit of soul of Tom Marvolo Riddle, and three of his minions."

"What treachery, is thisss!? Bella! Luciusss!" Lord Voldemort screamed as he raised his wand.

Bella didn't need much encouragement as she fired off a killing curse at the hooded figure. Lucius also fired off several curses. Peter hung back in the shadows.

Harry, however, just ducked and rolled out of the way. The Unspeakable and Madam Bones started to step out of the shadows, only to be stopped by Harry's signal.

The hooded figure just held up his hand and the curses paused in mid-air as the figure grasped them in his hand and tightened his grip. The curses crumbled as if made from dust. The trio stopped in mid cast, as if they were frozen in time.

"I am pleased cousin. Riddle has long been a sore point. A blot on my ledgers. This is the last piece of his soul, which I will take gladly," Thanatos, Guardian of the Gates intoned. "I am afraid, you must deal with the trio with him as it is not their time yet."

Harry sighed. "Well, so much for that plan. . .I had hoped. . . Well no matter. Lord Thanatos. Before you go, I have one more thing to do."

"What is that, cousin?"

Harry held up a stone and a wand. "These are two of the Deathly Hallows which was how I was able to call onto you. I, being the grandson of Hades, have more than enough power. I do not need these as well. They are too powerful for this world. I would like to keep the cloak. It's a family heirloom. I don't have much from my birth parents. Please? If you don't mind?"

Thanatos chuckled darkly. "Father always said you were an interesting legacy. You, like that Percy Jackson, don't care for power. It is acceptable. I will take the pair and leave the cloak."

"Wait!" the hooded Unspeakable shouted as he stepped into the clearing. "You can't! The Deathly Hallows need to be studied! We need to know more about them than just the legend!"

Harry shook his head. "Moron!" Harry muttered under his breath. Thanatos waved his hand and the hood of the Unspeakable fell away revealing Aberforth Dumbledore. Harry groused. "I might've known! You better keep your trap shut about this!" The brother of Albus Dumbledore ignored Harry.

"The Deathly Hallows, as you quaintly call them, should never have been left in this world. They were created as a test for Lord Hades' demigod bastards. They failed, save for the youngest," Thanatos said.

"But we need to study them," Aberforth Dumbledore pleaded, only to see the two Hallows disappear into Thanatos' robes.

Ignoring the Unspeakable, Thanatos turned to Harry, "Cousin, you were wise in returning them. You have fulfilled your quest. All of Tom Riddle's soul has been returned to the Underground where it belongs. Live your life well."

A flare of light and Thanatos, with Lord Voldemort in hand, was gone. The fire in the brazier had burned down to glowing embers.

"NOOOOOO!" Bella, now freed from the Guardian's thrall, screamed in hysterics as she started to fire spell after spell at Harry. "BRING HIM BACK!"

"STUPEFY!" shouted Madam Bones and Aberforth together.

Lucius Malfoy and Bella Lestrange fell to the ground stunned.

Harry brushed off the grass stains from his knees. "Well, I don't think Malfoy will get away with the Imperious plea again, will he?"

"Not if I have anything to say," Madam Bones sputtered as she stepped over the pair and towards Harry. "Are you alright Mr. Potter?"

"I'm fine, Madam. Just relieved that it is over with," Harry said as he vanished the brazier.

"As am I," came a silky voice from the shadows.

The trio whirled around and only two had their wands out. A very tall, pale figure stepped out of the shadows. He was dressed in black fur and silk.

Harry blinked and bowed. "Wwwhat. . . ?"

"Harry, my son," Loki said with a malicious smirk. "It is over. Now you can get on with your life."

"But why are you here, Father?" Harry asked, with a deep bow.

"You did not think I would allow that Greek have all the fun, now did you?" Loki asked as he looked down at the pair of stunned Death Eaters at his feet.

"Who are you?" Madam Bones demanded.

Aberforth grabbed the head of the DMLE's wand arm and forced her arm down. "Forgive us, Lord. We did not quite brief her on all aspects of Harry's life. She doesn't know."

"Quite alright, this time. I can't stay much longer or the Allfather and his oafish son will notice I am missing from the feast. Harry, know I am pleased. Keep up with your studies as I will be watching." Loki stopped and held up a hand with a stunned rat dangling by its tail. "Mustn't forget this. . . "

"Thank you Father. Sirius will be quite pleased to finally have his name cleared."

Loki walked a few steps backwards, tossing the rat at Harry's feet. "Do try not to lose him this time?" Loki said before turning and walking back into the shadows.

"Who was that?" Madam Bones demanded. "What in Merlin's name is going on?"

"Not here." Harry said as he heard the cawing of ravens in the distance.

0o0o0o0o0

Albus woke to the shouting of the paintings in his office.

"Albus! Wake up you fool!"

"Phineas? Anything wrong? I must've fallen asleep," Albus said as he straightened in his chair.

"You were attacked, you fool," the painting of Phineas Black shouted at the headmaster. "We couldn't see who it was as they kept to the shadows. They took something from your desk and left. We couldn't see them as they were disillusioned!"

"Very puzzling. I'll look into it," Albus said as he checked the wards of the school. It could've been anyone. Probably a student trying to prank him. He hadn't been all that careful leaving the feast last night.

The castle wards were telling him that no one had entered or left the school which was more puzzling as he watched the dawn breaking from his window.

0o0o0o0

Madam Bones was very hard to convince about keeping quiet on the how and why of Lord Voldemort a.k.a Tom Riddle's demise. She wanted to make an announcement first thing in the morning.

"Whyyy?" Harry asked.

"To tell the world that You-Know-Who is dead," she said as if to a simple child.

"Whyyy?" Harry asked again.

"It's over. We can move on," she explained, as if to a child.

"No why must we announce it?" Harry asked. "How are you going to explain that I offered up Riddle to a Greek deity? Fudge would have me up on charges, or worse, locked in St. Mungos for the criminally insane. Malfoy and his ilk would still be running around to do as they pleased. No. We aren't going to. We are going to go about it as a normal day as usual. Giving you time to round up all the marked and unmarked Death Munchers. Without the 'head', the snake's 'body' will take time to realize its dead, but they still can do damage. Besides. . . "

"Besides what, Harry?" Aberforth asked.

"I'd rather not give your brother any more control of my life, or the satisfaction of knowing that Riddle's gone. He created this mess that I had to clean up. I should be able to have some fun at his expense, don't you agree?"

Neither one could fault Harry on that.

Harry picked up the stunned rat. "Do either of you know how to change an animagus back to human?"

"But it's just a rat," Madam Bones said, as Aberforth cast the spell: Homenum Revelio.

". . . My word, its Peter Pettigrew!"

Harry sighed. "Let's hope Sirius Black can get the trial he deserves."

Aberforth Dumbledore grimaced. "I can guarantee that he will. We have looked as you requested and you were correct there was no trial. The only thing found in Black's file was 'trial pending'."

Sirius will be so pleased.

0o0o0o0o0

One chapter left! The sequel is in the planning stage. GF has a very rough outline in her mind but isn't quite happy with it. We'll see.

PS: Sirius' reaction next chapter

Until next time. – GF and the Frau