Chapter 10: The Phoenix Rising

Trunks only saw it at the corner of his eye, but it had unmistakably been a crow. He lost his train of thought when their fellow Phoenix Fighters suddenly reappeared as though materializing through an invisible forcefield.

'Oh no! What happened?' It was Chibi Moon who had cried out.

Trunks squinted against the late morning sun at the others and noted their dishevelled appearances. Chibi Moon dashed over to them. He saw that Harry inspected the body of a large, robed man he hadn't seen before. He then saw that Hermione knelt over an unconscious Ron. Not giving it another thought, he dashed over to them. He reached into his pocket, into his pouch and handed Hermione a Senzu bean. Hermione pressed the bean between Ron's lips, and forced him to swallow. Ron's eyes tightened and then opened. He recognised their faces and smiled weakly. Trunks felt incredibly relieved.

But their relief was short-lived, shattered by Tomoyo's strangled scream.

Trunks looked over to see Syaoran hunched over on the ground, Sakura lying in his lap as a crimson puddle like a wax seal, pooled around them.

He slowly rose to a stand, his heart hammered with unease. Everything was so, so red. He had one more Senzu bean but something told him it wouldn't be enough...

Cars on the road started to slow down. Some veered to the side with a screech. Doors opened, exposing a myriad of frightened gazes. Some had their mobile phones pressed to their faces.

'Someone call an ambulance!' a man called.

A woman who was on her phone, nodded affirmably. 'Don't worry, they'll be here soon!'

Hermione looked around them blearily. She realised that they had somehow been transported back to where they had started where they had faced off with the Dementors. She could see beyond the pavement where they all were, traffic streaming past them like tetris blocks. There were innocent, unsuspecting people among them now. Muggles.

How had they gotten back? She wondered. That's when it finally occurred to her. They had never left. Perhaps the idea that they had gone to the Kotou Takinou had all been a part of the Illusion.

Syaoran's eyes rounded, his pupils retracting into small dots as he hollered at the sky, 'Sakura is….SAKURA IS DEAD!'

The air rended with the sorrowful cries of the others. Hermione was too shocked to react, for she heard the words but they just hadn't registered. She glanced upwards at Trunks who remained stoic behind his tears, as did Harry further off. Although they too were saddened they had all faced death first-hand. But the look in their eyes told the truth; it never did get easier.

'Hermione…'

Hermione glanced downwards, noticing the hint of despair in Ron's pale blue eyes. His lips were downturned with grief. For a moment she felt a painful tug in her chest as she studied his fair and freckled face. It was beautiful. His voice was beautiful. She couldn't imagine losing him. Even after all they had been through, their bickering and arguing, the accusations, their disagreements and fooling around, Ron meant everything. He was her all.

'Oh, Ron…' she sniffed, now feeling tears leak from her own eyes and soak his front. She watched as he turned his head weakly, and she followed his gaze.

Syaoran.

She could only imagine the pain he was enduring in this moment. She felt her sadness and guilt mixed into one. How could she feel happy at all about Ron when Sakura was...

Suddenly Syaoran's body grew hazy, like a diluted watercolour painting. A deep power vibrated through him. The hair on his head billowed as electricity started to pulse from his chest and ran down his limbs.

More cars stalled onto the side of the road, amassing a tide of observers, their faces aglow with cellphone lights and camera flashes. Hermione felt a tide of unease. Too many Muggles were present. This was bad news. She glimpsed back at Syaoran, hoping he wouldn't do anything rash.

Syaoran slowly reached down for his sword, standing on shaking feet.

'This...this is my fault!' He looked down at the blade in his hands, its entire length gleaming with red, reflecting the electricity that continued to grow around him like a bramble bush. 'I...I killed her!' The sword was slippery in his hands as he turned the point towards his heart. He shut his eyes.

Gasps emanated throughout the crowd.

In a flash, Trunks held Syaoran's wrists like manacles, making the trembling boy drop his blade. Trunks cringed, determined to keep Syaoran's hands at his sides. Syaoran hollered and the electricity ripped from his body in hot white ribbons, striking the ground like a thousand whips.

Trunks growled, 'Syaoran! Stop! Don't be stupid—there are people watching us! You need stop for a moment and think!''

Syaoran continued to yell, the electricity becoming more and more luminous.

Others, his friends, strained against the electrical outbursts, their voices strangled, their faces shining with tears. Hermione stumbled and managed to approach within five metres of Syaoran.

'Syaoran, he's right! You need to stop. It is not your fault!'

Syaoran opened his eyes and saw Hermione. His face became an indecipherable mask. Trunks gently relaxed his grip, still holding onto Syaoran's wrists as Syaoran turned slightly and looked around him. He nodded slowly and wrestled out of Trunks' hold as he roared, 'You're right...IT'S MALFOY'S FAULT!'

Syaoran glared at Draco's quivering kneeled form. He dashed towards him, but Trunks leapt in front of Syaoran with splayed arms, barring him.

Draco's silvery gaze was still trained on Sakura's lifeless body.

Seeming to share Syaoran's sentiment, Hermione looked ready to cast a hex in Draco's direction when Harry stomped forward.

'Already ahead of you!' Harry yelled. Pointing menacingly at Draco, he cast a binding charm.

Draco didn't even seem to notice, his eyes full of only Sakura. But his lips moved soundlessly, as though he mouthed, 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry', over and over to her.

'Syaoran, enough already!' Trunks cried and curled his arm around the boy's waist as he still marched onward with intent.

Syaoran growled, turned and punched Trunks in the jaw, making his head snap back. 'LET ME GO!'

Trunks slowly straightened his face and stared impassively at Syaoran.

He then slapped Syaoran across the face.

Syaoran stared, stunned by Trunks' action. Syaoran felt the stinging ghost of the slap, seeing stars as the electricity that had possessed his body immediately fizzled out. The anger was quickly replaced with his grief, his entire body shaking as tears streaked across his cheeks. He collapsed to the ground at Trunks feet and howled, distraught, broken.

Hermione cautiously stepped towards them and brought her arms around Syaoran's shoulders. He cried louder.

Robin, the mysterious witch hunter, lowered her gaze and turned to leave.

Meiling was the only one who noticed in her sorrow, and bounded over to her. 'You're leaving?'

Robin regarded the shorter girl, her face a careful mask. 'The truth is, Miss Li, I was sent to capture the Card Mistress, not save her. STN-J merely captures dangerous witches, after all, and they saw her to be a threat. Now the threat has been terminated, I am no longer needed.'

Meiling shook her head, incredulous through her tears. 'Surely you don't believe that?!'

Robin glanced at Sakura's fallen form. 'With great power, comes the never-ending danger of those who want to contain or possess it. My only advice to you all is to always be on guard.'

Meiling snapped, 'But you're a witch as well! How could you…'

A single tear slid down Robin's face as she turned away. 'I'm sorry. My condolences.'

The blonde-haired figure disappeared in an increasing tide of witnesses.

The wail of sirens, the rush of traffic, and the utterances of Muggles suddenly quietened. The Phoenix Fighters gazed all around and saw that the Muggle witnesses were all frozen, as though time had been paused, the atmosphere slightly dim.

A magic circle suddenly appeared in front of Sakura, an intricate pattern of moons, stars and suns that spun in a brilliant array of colours. In the centre of the circle materialised a tall, regal woman in a flowing black kimono, her black hair pulled back in a ponytail, set behind an ornate, tasselled headdress. Her face was alabaster-white, framed by chin-length hair and a blunt fringe. She gazed with heavy-lidded red eyes, feline in nature, her red lips set in a grim frown.

Syaoran glared. Another hero, yet, their enemy was gone as was Sakura.

Ron squinted as he lifted himself to his feet. 'Are you a hero sent to help?'

'WHOEVER YOU ARE — YOU'RE TOO LATE!' Syaoran wailed hysterically.

The woman inclined her head and her voice resonated around them as she spoke. 'I am no "hero", but it was I who sent heroes to you in times of strife.'

The Phoenix Fighters looked at her in confusion. Sensing their uncertainty, she flourished a slender-fingered hand.

'I go by Yuuko. They also call me "the Dimension Witch".'

'The Dimension Witch…' murmured Hermione, eyes wide with realisation. 'You're the one? The one who provided the clue of black feathers?'

'What do you want?' Chibi Moon asked contemptuously, seeming too distraught to appreciate Yuuko's "overdue" appearance, as she wiped tears from her face. 'Why are you here?'

Yuuko's crimson gaze glided over them smoothly. They could sense the deep chalice of power within her, and carefully folded away.

'I have been involved in this mission since the beginning. I promised Clow Reed, long ago, that I would aid the Card Mistress. I have also known of Lady Karasu's intent.' Yuuko folded her long arms. 'She is a distant relative of mine, much like how Syaoran Li is a distant relative to Clow Reed. The power of any witch or wizard with the ability to control time-space is not only exceedingly rare, but severely frowned upon.' She stepped out of her magic circle and gently kneeled to regard Sakura sadly. 'Clow had this ability. Sakura Kinomoto also did, to an extent, with her cards.'

Syaoran watched her gentle gaze on Sakura, and the tears flowed anew. 'You're lying!' he snapped. He tried to fight against Trunks and Hermione's hold, but he was weakened by sorrow. 'How do you know my name? And how can you know Clow? Clow's been gone since forever and yet you look so young?'

Yuuko nodded, the tassels on her headdress swinging with the movement. 'This youthful appearance is a side effect of the ability to manipulate time-space; this domain has no baring on my age. Karasu, however, had lesser power...until she merged with the so-called Dark Lord. Her appearance has been altered by Dark Magic.'

Syaoran suddenly felt the drop of her aura, and sensed, strangely enough some level of familiarity. He wondered for a moment, was it possible they had met before?

As though reading his thoughts, she smiled knowingly. A gold glean rolled over her irises. She lifted a finger and pointed to her throat.

Syaoran mimicked the gesture and touched his jade wolf necklace. 'You're the woman from Hogsmeade.'

Syaoran had recalled being drawn to an unusual shop in Hogsmeade with a sign marked in Chinese, "hope"—希望. It was there he bought the necklace he had given Sakura at the Yule ball. She had also given him a similar one.

'The necklaces you and Sakura exchanged and your attraction to my shop were of no accident. These necklaces have the power to bring the girl you love back to life. The only question that remains, is how much of a price you are willing to pay.'

Syaoran's eyes widened as he stared down at Sakura and the amethyst star necklace around her neck along with the Star key. His eyes didn't leave her as he intoned, 'I would give anything.'

'You must know that the price is very high. I do not grant wishes for nothing. Something must be given in return,' Yuuko noted.

Syaoran sniffed as Hermione and Trunks let him go.

'Syaoran, think about this,' Hermione cautioned. 'You don't know what will happen.'

Tomoyo, Harry, Chibi Moon, Trunks and Meiling watched on in uneasy silence. Draco appeared mortified.

'Syaoran,' Draco murmured.

Syaoran didn't look at any of them as he stepped over to meet Yuuko, his shoulders square, his eyes dry.

'I understand,' he said quietly and nodded. 'Anything.'

Meiling stumbled forward, shaking her head frantically. She pleaded tearfully, unthinkingly in Chinese. 'No, Xiao Lang! It might be a trick!'

Yuuko raised her arms and her magic circle shifted over, extending under Sakura and Syaoran. A magical column raised around them, pink and translucent as a wind tunnel formed as an outer circle.

The necklace at Syaoran's and Sakura's throats glowed like twin stars.

Syaoran's eyes did not leave Sakura's face.

Yuuko regarded them both, stating tonelessly, 'I hope you are prepared to lose it all…everything.'

'XIAO LANG!' Meiling shrieked as she advanced, but was knocked back by a magical force, slamming into Hermione and Trunks.

They watched helplessly as the magical column and wind funnel rose, piercing the heavens and sending waves of raw power rippling through the air.

And then everything was still.

They saw Yuuko with her head bowed. Before her Syaoran stood, his gaze vacant as he stared into the distance. The light of his and Sakura's necklaces faded to a gentle glow.

Sakura gasped a deep breath, as though awakening from a bad dream, and sat upright. She regarded Syaoran hazily and then registered him. Oblivious to the blood that coated her and the ground, she sprang to her feet and grabbed Syaoran tightly around the middle.

Tomoyo cried out in joy from behind them.

'Syaoran! Thank goodness!' Sakura exclaimed. She held him for a moment and drew back. She peered confusedly at his face. He stared blankly back. 'Syaoran…?'

'He has paid the ultimate price,' Yuuko said softly. 'He has paid for your life, exchanging his source of power, his magical essence, his spirit, to resurrect yours.'

Sakura's eyes brimmed with tears. 'Syaoran...no...'

Syaoran stared emotionlessly back at her, as though she were a stranger. He gently slipped away from her hold, continuing to stare at her.

'Xiao-Lang!' Meiling cried and bounded towards him. She threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest. Syaoran's eyes moved from Sakura, down to Meiling, and then back to Sakura again. The movements were eerily mechanical, like his body was piloted by artificial intelligence.

'Why?' Meiling sobbed. 'Why does it have to be like this?'

Sakura shook her head weakly, stepping away from them. A tear slipped down her cheek, cutting a clean channel through the grime on her face. 'Why...how could he have done such a thing...for me?'

'Love,' Yuuko said, her eyebrows turned downward. 'It seems that love will make people do the craziest things.'

The words echoed in her mind as she continued to meet Syaoran's empty eyes, her reflection clear in them, but not recognising her. It sounded as though Yuuko spoke of herself and someone else.

'For the sake of love, people will forgive the most unforgivable,' Yuuko finished.

'Syaoran…' Sakura whispered and clenched her jaw, her eyes overflowing.

Yuuko bowed her head and gestured to the right. 'It's time.'

They watched, flabbergasted as Albus Dumbledore and Eriol Hiiragizawa stepped out from amongst the frozen Muggle crowd, wearing solemn expressions.

'Thank you, Draco,' Dumbledore said, his light blue eyes glimmering like glass beads as they regarded the boy.

He waved his hand and Harry's Binding Charm was dismissed.

Draco sprawled onto his hands and knees. He looked up tearfully. 'I'm sorry, Professor, it's my fault. Because of me, Sakura….and now Syaoran…'

'What the bloody heck is happening?' Ron exclaimed.

'Yeah, where have you been all this time?' Harry snapped, all notions of politeness and reverence lost. 'We thought you might be dead, or severely hurt. For months, we heard nothing.'

'Young Draco and I have been corresponding for some time,' Dumbledore replied, his pale gaze drifting from Draco, to Ron, and to Harry, and rested there. 'It was I who sent him to Miss Kinomoto and Miss Daidouji's residence to assist you. It is I who placed him among your ranks, to subtlety guide you on your mission.'

'How could you send this two-faced, cowardly backstabber to us?!' Harry shouted. 'When you know about his father—'

'Dear Harry, none have a choice in selecting their natural fathers,' Dumbledore stated wisely and adjusted his spectacles. They saw that his right hand had become blackened and shrivelled. 'I must admit that I have not been forthcoming. Allow me to rectify the situation, so that my own short-givings do not colour your opinion of Draco.' He cleared his throat and began to tell them of a time that occurred nearly a year in the past.

Dumbledore's light blue eyes glimmered like jewels. They fell upon Draco, and remained there, as though peering straight through to his core. Draco knew he looked a wreck: dark rings had formed around his eyes and his face was unshaven.

'Mr. Malfoy,' Dumbledore spoke calmly, as though his presence had been expected. 'What brings you to me?'

Draco looked down at his feet, suddenly unnerved. He knew why he had come but was still unprepared. He felt like he was begging, like he had sunken to his lowest. But he had to do it. He knew he must. This man, this particular man was the last person he wanted to deal with but his trusted confidant and educator, Severus Snape, had insisted on it.

'I can't join the Death Eaters,' he whimpered, sweat drenching his pale skin. 'I just can't do it.'

Dumbledore looked stern at his words, still and unmoving. 'But you must, if I am not mistaken?'

Without thinking Draco stumbled forwards, clasping his hands together pleadingly 'But you know what happened years ago. I fought the Dark Lord alongside Harry Potter! He is going to kill me! They are going to kill me! I know it! And my parents...what will happen to them?!'

The elderly headmaster approached him, carefully placing a hand on Draco's shoulder as he fell helplessly to his knees. The tears came as Draco reached forward, grasping desperately at the ends of Dumbledore's robes.

'Please! You have to help me! You're the only one who can!'

'Draco…' Dumbledore patted the boy's head, his ash-blond tresses slick and matted as though neglected care for days. Dumbledore sighed pityingly, 'Please stand.'

Like a soldier, Draco stumbled upwards on command.

'Draco, you must go to Japan, as your father wishes. As Voldemort has requested.'

Draco's eyes bulged, gawking and sputtering frantically at the aged wizard. 'N-No—b-but—'

Dumbledore held out his hand, silencing him.

'Now if you please, Mr. Malfoy, listen carefully as your time is coming short.' Draco calmed slightly. Dumbledore then took Draco by the shoulders. 'If you refuse Voldemort, the repercussions will be great. Therefore, you must go to Japan as intended. However, I have a plan that will not only save your life, but others as well. You must agree Mr. Malfoy, to do exactly as I say. And you must promise—you must vow—you will keep this mission a most guarded secret.'

Draco nodded slowly, gulping heavily. He knew at that moment he would do anything.

'You see,' Dumbledore continued sagely, 'Draco's badge "Secrecy" was bestowed upon him for a reason. But not for the reason that you may have believed.' He turned to regard the others. 'Draco is, in essence, my secret-keeper. This secret protected your house, as your combined powers alone could not shield against Karasu's potential strength.'

Harry groped his hands, disbelieving. 'But...But he was just so…'

'Draco never wished to join Karasu,' Dumbledore said, a steely look in his gaze. 'He was compelled to by love for his family. He knew that if he didn't, his family would be punished. And even when he was sent on the mission to bait Sakura and Harry, he knew that Voldemort was punishing him for working against him in the past. Draco has been funneling half-truths to Karasu this entire time. He has been my double-agent. He's protected you, Harry.'

Harry looked dazedly at Dumbledore, then a gobsmacked Ron, and then at Draco, his face stained with dried tears, his grey gaze caught on Syaoran's emotionless face. Trunks ambled over and knelt beside Draco, offering something to him. Draco tore his eyes away from Syaoran to take the Senzu bean from Trunks. He didn't do anything with it; rather, he held it between his fingers indecisively.

'I hope that in time, you will come to see the sacrifices young Draco has made, for the sake of his family and his peers.' Dumbledore lowered his head, appearing exhausted. 'I am running out of time. There is one more thing I have come to inform you, my Phoenix Fighters.'

He lifted his right hand, the one they had noticed was blackened and shrivelled. On his index finger glimmered a ring. 'Over the years, Voldemort split his soul across many different vessels, in order to prevent his ultimate death. These vessels are known as Horcruxes, a deeply forbidden art. This ring was one such item.' He sighed and looked at them sadly. 'Alas, I was unable to contact you all for much of this time, due to this mission of mine. I only had occasion to contact Draco, my eyes and ears.'

They pondered over his words.

'I identified that there were nine Horcruxes overall. One was Tom Riddle's diary. Yes, the one you destroyed, Harry.' He nodded at Harry's expression of recognition. 'The fragments of the soul become dependent on the wearer, latching on like a leech for power. They are not easily destroyed — cannot be simply crushed or smashed. They must be damaged beyond magical repair.' He turned his shrivelled hand, peering down at it thoughtfully.

'It must have been exceedingly lonely, this mission,' Sakura murmured, clutching a hand to her heart. She regarded Dumbledore and Draco. 'You must have felt so alone.'

Meiling drew away from Syaoran and peered down at Draco.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. 'Draco's task was the hardest of all.' He nodded and continued, 'Three Horcruxes remain. Two, I am certain of. The other, I am not so sure.'

'The skull,' Draco said, finally seeming alert. 'The skull Karasu carries.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'Ah, indeed. Quite possible. It would be how she came into contact with Voldemort. The last two, however…' He met Harry's eyes. 'I believe, exist within Karasu herself, and...'

It was like being hit by a bulldozer. Harry clenched his jaw. But it was the only explanation, wasn't it? Why he sometimes had prophetic dreams, why he felt moments of unjustifiable anger, when his scar would inexplicably sting like it were freshly cut open.

Harry looked across his friends and finally at Tomoyo. They didn't need to know. She didn't need to know.

Eriol grinned. 'Ah, and now it is my turn.' He glanced around brightly, as though admiring the foliage of the many blossoming trees of Spring. 'As you see, all that has happened around you, there are no accidents, no coincidences. Everything has been for a purpose, if not a mere consequence of an intended act. For example, all of you and your meeting here in Tomoeda. Or Sakura...your meeting Syaoran at Hogwarts.'

They watched him in a curious daze as he reached under his black and blue robes. He pulled out a slim card. He inched over to Sakura, and pressed it firmly into the palm of her hand.

Sakura blinked, confused as she stared down, recognising the etching of stars and moons in pink as her own. 'A Sakura Card?' she said in surprise, turning it over in her hand. It read in bold letters "HOPE". Sakura regarded Eriol in alarm. 'But this can't be mine! There are only 52 cards, aren't there? I never captured anything like this.'

Eriol brought his arms back to his sides. 'This is indeed your card, Sakura. It was formed four years ago at Hogwarts, when the Love and Void spirits joined together. This occurred when you and Syaoran fully realised your feelings for each other.'

It was a long time ago, and Sakura didn't remember much, only that she herself had become an empty shell when she had succumbed to the effects of the Void. She had lost all feelings, all reason to carry on. It was when Syaoran told her he loved her for the first time that she at last was able to...

Wait.

Maybe that was it!

The same thing that had happened to her then happened to Syaoran now. This card contained Love, the card born out of her strongest, most treasured feelings. She regarded Syaoran who hovered nearby like an automaton, impassively watching the scene unfold.

Hope.

Meiling stepped away to stand beside Chibi Moon, her eyes shimmering with tears.

'Syaoran,' Sakura said gently and held out the Hope to him.

Syaoran's brown eyes peered down at the card as it floated from Sakura's hand and levitated before him.

'Everything I have, everything I am, is yours,' Sakura continued and smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'Please take it.'

The Hope Card spun on the spot and glowed pink. In its place appeared a girl with streaming grey hair, with a long blue dress and two sets of pearlescent wings. In her arms nestled a pink winged heart, emitting a warm glow. The girl smiled at Syaoran and held the heart out to him.

Syaoran stretched out his arms and received the heart. He was suddenly consumed by a bright light. The light faded and revealed Syaoran, his left hand clasping the Hope Card. He raised his head and saw Sakura, as though for the first time.

'Sakura,' he said, and his eyes glazed with tears. 'My most precious person.'

'Syaoran!' Sakura cried and dashed into his arms.

Syaoran hesitated and stiffened, as though recalling that moments earlier, his sword had pierced through her stomach. He gingerly moved his right hand up and down her back, and, finding no wound, buried his face in her hair.

'I'm sorry, Sakura! I'm so sorry!'

'It's okay, Syaoran. It wasn't you, it was the Curse. I understand.'

'This is what we offer you,' Yuuko said.

The Phoenix Fighters turned to regard them.

'We must leave now,' Dumbledore said, 'for our mission is not yet over.'

'The Muggles here will not remember a thing. The photos they've taken are erased,' Eriol assured them. He summoned his long golden staff and made a gentle swish. The Muggles became reanimated and slowly trudged back into their vehicles and drove away.

Yuuko, Dumbledore and Eriol bowed their heads in unison, like the Three Wise Men bearing gifts, and in a whirl of lights and robes, they disapparated.

'Well, blimey. I don't know what to say,' mumbled Ron, averting his gaze to the ground, 'this is a lot to digest.'

'I guess you could start by issuing an apology,' Draco grumbled, swallowing the Senzu bean he had initially neglected and getting to his feet.

They all turned to look at him, stunned by his sudden returned confidence as he stood tall with shoulders straight and folded arms.

'Now just you wait one minute!' Hermione snapped, waggling a finger. 'We had every... every justifiable reason to not trust you, and—and—'

'Hermy, now wait,' Ron interjected, tugging gently at her arm. 'Even though he is a total git, a complete and utter arse, he's right.'

Harry gaped between them all. It was surreal. It was unreal. Harry had to blink several times just to verify that the words were coming from the correct bodies. He looked towards Trunks who had the most satisfied grin plastered on his face while Meiling still looked uncertain, idly rubbing at her arm and staring at her shoes.

Ron continued, 'Sorry to call you a rat, mate. Though I reckon I was right about your being legitimately two-faced.'

Draco glared. 'Idiot! You call that an apology? You know that's not what you're supposed to be apologising for. In fact, you should be thanking me, right? So go on. Try again!'

Ron gave his usual lopsided grin. 'Fair enough. Thank-you for being a lousy, piss-poor Death Eater and I'm sorry about what I said about your aunt. You're still a bastard, though.'

Draco narrowed his eyes. 'And you're still a freckly-arsed twat, Weasley. And speaking of "piss-poor"...'

Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. 'Oh, brother.' Though her tone betrayed a hint of a grin.

Chibi Moon sighed. 'Well, I guess they're making up, in their own weird way. Looks like we misjudged Draco.'

'Yeah. Misjudging people happens a fair bit,' Trunks said airily.

Chibi Moon's face showed a margin of redness, perhaps embarrassed, not realising who she had spoken offhandedly to. Trunks had been the one to defend Draco most of all aside from Sakura. It also went without saying that Trunks too had faced a lot of "judging" in their first month.

Sakura turned to the others and bowed deeply. 'I'm so sorry for hurting you all!'

'It's alright, Sakura,' Ron said.

'It was not you,' Hermione agreed. 'We're just happy you're safe.'

'One thing though,' began Ron pointing a finger into the air much like Takashi. 'Why? Why do you always attack me with the Thunder card when you're possessed? Do you know how bloody awful that thing is?'

'Ronald, please,' Hermione mumbled as Sakura giggled nervously in response.

'But it's true, innit?' moaned Ron. 'Lightning isn't supposed to strike the same place twice!'

'I wonder what happened when they left? We missed a lot,' Trunks muttered.

Chibi Moon responded with a weak nod.

'Well, now that we're all getting along,' Syaoran said, his arms over Sakura's shoulders, 'we need to discuss next steps.'

Hermione nodded. 'Those Horcruxes. Well, we know that there's the skull, and Lady Karasu. But there's a remaining one.'

'An advantage of our team is our numbers,' Sakura said. 'Together, we can win.'

'Draco, you can show us to the lair?' Trunks asked, recalling their original mission.

'The real lair this time,' Hermione said, somewhat critically.

Draco rolled his eyes and turned to Sakura. 'Right. Well, I suppose if we've had enough banter, follow me.'

Tomoyo tittered, and Chibi Moon looked at her inquiringly. 'This whole time, I've been wearing a hidden camera. I've captured everything.'

Chibi Moon grimaced. 'Oh, Tomoyo…'

'For evidence...and research, obviously,' Tomoyo said convincingly.

Sakura used the Bubble Card, and Hermione used cleaning charms to quickly clean their soiled clothes and dirt-smeared faces. Then they began a slow, cautious march.

Tomoyo regarded Sakura with a sad smile, her tone shifting to a demure one. 'Sakura, you've been to this lair before, right?'

Sakura nodded, also seeming uneasy. 'Mmhm.'

Tomoyo returned her focus forward and said softly. 'What did it feel like? Being kidnapped?'

Sakura looked taken aback. 'Tomoyo, is that what you thought? I wasn't kidnapped, I went on my own.'

Tomoyo looked back suddenly. 'What?'

Suddenly the whirr of the others' conversation interrupted theirs.

'One thing we never figured out. Why did Renona Karasuhoshi become Lady Karasu?' Meiling asked loudly.

'What do you mean "why"? 'Cause she's barking mad and evil, like all Death Eaters are,' Ron responded. He passed an eye over Draco and added in a low voice, 'Nothing personal, mate.'

Draco scoffed. 'Offense taken.'

'I'm serious!' Meiling argued. 'There is always a reason. People don't just do such things for the sake of it. And the way I see it, Renona had everything going for her.'

'It doesn't matter anyway. She's dead, isn't she? That Robin person got rid of her,' Harry muttered.

'Don't be daft,' Draco hissed, giving him a deprecating scowl. 'She probably turned into that thing and just flew off somewhere.'

'WHAT?!' the others exclaimed.

'Haven't you figured it out?' Draco balked. 'She's an Animagus. A crow.'

Sakura bit her lip. 'It's true.'

Draco didn't look at her as he said, 'It's how she lured you, isn't it?'

Sakura nodded weakly. 'I followed, hoping to find you. I didn't want to put anyone in danger, so I went on my own. I thought I'd be safe in my Animagus form, but I wasn't. I didn't realise at first that the crow was an Animagus. So I followed her into a trap.'

'The crow,' Trunks breathed. 'No way, that bird was her?'

'Oh my, of course...of course!' Hermione gasped. '"Follow the black feathers; figure out how the heart itself becomes blackened…" This clue about feathers was literal. Sakura! You figured it out!'

'But Karasu's heart? Maybe that holds some importance,' Chibi Moon noted, stroking her chin. 'Figuring out her connection to him might be the key to defeating her...or them.'

Hermione nodded. 'So perhaps You-Know-Who's dark magic has clouded her judgement and consumed her "heart"?'

Trunks stared into the sky, sighing as he propped his arms behind his head. 'Or what if...what if this isn't about Karasu or magic at all, but about love itself? The crazed kind of love that can turn someone into a monster by corrupting them? What if it's a cautionary tale or something?'

Hermione and Chibi Moon gaped at him, along with the others, clearly not expecting such words from Trunks. He then cleared his throat dismissively. 'I mean, well, maybe? Just a guess.'

'That was brilliant,' breathed Ron, who looked impressed.

Sakura felt Syaoran's arm brush along her shoulder. She glimpsed at him, and it was as though the pieces of the puzzle had finally come together.

Syaoran peered back at her, and read the look on her face. 'What is it?'

'Before you awoke again, Yuuko said something about how people will do insane things, because of their love for another,' Sakura puzzled to Syaoran. 'I think she was talking about Lady Karasu.'

'Karasu loved You-Know-Who?' Chibi Moon gasped, overhearing and sounding sad. 'Beautiful...but tragic. Maybe she did all of this to please him.'

'That witch, capable of love?' Draco spat. 'When my aunt professed her love for Voldemort, she was mocked, tortured and killed.' He suddenly looked afraid. 'I mean, I don't know.'

'From old documents we found, it is possible they were together once,' Tomoyo said and exchanged a knowing look with Hermione. 'At Hogwarts, they were Head Boy and Head Girl.'

'That's just freaky and wrong,' Ron said. 'To think people like that could have gone to our school.'

'Then I think I have an idea,' Sakura said, clutching the Hope to her chest.

The group fell silent as they came to the border of Kotou Takinou, the real one. Harry turned to regard Meiling and Tomoyo, a grave look in his eyes as he cleared his throat to speak.

'You two…'

'I understand,' answered Meiling, surprising him with her swift answer. 'Go on without us, and be safe.'

Tomoyo seemed hesitant at first, but her eyes met with Sakura's and then Harry's and she managed a small but reassuring smile.

Finally, they knew. They knew it all. And they all had been given the tools from three great wizards—rebirth, renewal, truth.

Suddenly they felt a resurgence of hope and a sense of purpose, direction. They knew exactly what had to be done. It was now their time, their time to rise. Their time to shine.

Together.

As they approached Karasu's lair, they repeated the plan in their minds, muttering it under their breaths. Expecting a powerful assault from the Death Eaters, they would need to pass them in order to gain access to the skull and Karasu, who guarded it in her throne room. Ron, Hermione and Syaoran would lead the charge at the front in order to break a gap in the Death Eater's defence, with Draco leading Trunks, who was delegated to destroy the skull. From there, Sakura and Chibi Moon would attack Voldemort's dark magic with light. Sakura insisted on attempting to reach Karasu's human side with the Hope card, the side that remembered what love was. They decided that once they had followed through on all other steps, that would be the last and final task.

Even if they had months to prepare for this final battle, they could not prepare themselves when they approached the lair. Kotou Takinou's old, rustic charm with its Edo-style row houses and century-old landscaping was more evident against the early afternoon's sunrays. The lair was no different. It was hidden away in a cloud of mist, but when exposed, stood at many stories high, like a modern interpretation of a daimyo's palace, its roof black and sleek like the feathers of a raven, its edges lined with gold and silver. Karasu had clearly wanted to make an impression, perhaps to entice other villains to join her cause.

Standing at the large ebony double-doors, they all looked at each other, preserving the memory of youth, confidence and camaraderie before spelling open the doors quietly.

They weren't several paces into the dark expanse when Death Eaters apparated all around them in a swirling black fog, laughing like hyenas during a feeding frenzy. The Phoenix Fighters and Death Eaters entered an onslaught of attack spells, parrying, dodging and dancing in a chaotic waltz.

Trunks was about to shoot off through the tide of black cloaks when he saw that there were only seven Phoenix Fighters among them.

'WHERE'S HARRY?' he exclaimed over the surging blasts of light from wands.

The others frantically looked about them between attacks; Harry was indeed missing.

'That blasted Potter!' Draco spat venomously, casting a limb-locking charm on a tall male Death Eater. 'That pig-headed glory-hound is going to get himself killed! After all I've done!'

'We have to find him. Karasu was after him as much as me!' Sakura cried and summoned Windy, who whipped the Death Eaters like black confetti into a wind funnel and sent them flipping out into the dark.

'Hermione and me will go after him,' Ron said, using the temporary silence as a means to evade the onslaught.

'Don't worry, we'll find him!' Hermione gasped.

Harry cringed against the stabbing pain in his forehead, concentrating past the point of his wand light as he ran down a wide corridor. He used the pain like a compass, guessing that because it grew worse with each step, he came closer to his target.

Harry knew what he had to do: it had been clear as day on Dumbledore's face: he had to die.

He couldn't let them know, otherwise they'd insist on finding another way. But if they managed to destroy the skull, and if he were dead, then that would leave them just Karasu, the vessel for the final fragment of Voldemort's soul, to destroy.

'So, the prey stalks the predator,' Karasu's voice cackled, seemingly in his mind. 'How ironic.'

A deep burning seared across Harry's forehead and he cried out. He was suddenly lifted off his feet and thrown like a ragdoll against a solid wall. His vision exploded with fireworks, his back aching as he spilled onto his stomach. He tightened the grip on his wand and cast 'Stupefy!' before him.

Through his dizziness he saw the light of the spell illuminate a wide corridor, the walls lined with unlit lanterns, red in colour. The spell must have completely missed, because he heard her laugh derisively.

'A basic Stunning Spell? My, Harry. I never expected you to be this foolish. But I suppose glasses don't make you smart,' Karasu chuckled darkly.

Harry felt unadulterated terror rise in his stomach. He didn't want to die. He was reminded of how helpless he felt when he had watched Tomoyo die;the shock of seeing Trunks take Bellatrix' hit time and time again; the grief of Sakura's fragile bleeding body, and the agony of all around her. Now it was his time to go. He pushed off cold floors and rocked to his feet.

Karasu sneered at his stance. 'Brave until the very end, are we?' she derided. 'Very well. I will make sure you are left standing when I take your life.'

'HARRY!' Ron's voice yelled in the distance.

'CONFRINGO!'

Karasu was blasted back.

Ron and Hermione came to stand on either side of Harry, their wands raised.

'Come on, mate! Did your brain get rattled in the last battle?' Ron roared angrily.

Harry looked blearily at both of them and cursed inwardly. 'You — you're meant to be getting to the skull!'

'The others will sort it out,' Hermione said cooly, her eyes narrowing as Karasu reemerged from the darkness, her pale face drawn back in a carnivorous snarl.

The five teenagers skillfully immobilized a score of Death Eaters, coordinating an attack from the front and shielding from the back until they arrived at last to the throne room. In contrast to the regal exterior of the castle, the room was crude in style. It opened into a wide, circular ceiling, its walls hewn from dark stone running with lines of white granite, like naturally eroded cave walls. If not for the chandelier fashioned from thigh bones suspended above them, it would have been pitch black.

They spied a yellowed round object seated atop the throne arm, an eerie green light flickering from two openings. The skull! They bounded towards it. Trunks lashed out his arms and drew ki to his fists while the others trailed guardedly behind.

There was a yell of indignation as a rogue Death Eater slipped from behind Karasu's crudely carved throne, their harlequin mask a deep, demonic frown. The Death Eater unsheathed a wand that was hidden in a silver serpent-headed walking cane, and cast a curse at them.

Draco didn't miss a beat as he thrust his wand forward, disarming the Death Eater. He followed with 'Petrificus Totalus!' and sent the Death Eater slumping into the throne beside the skull, whose light seemed to glow brighter.

Draco's steps were measured and purposeful as he climbed the few steps to the throne and dragged the mask off the Death Eater's face. The mask revealed a pale, pointed face set with grey eyes and framed with white hair, so like Draco's own, yet so much colder. The man known as Lucius Malfoy gazed at his son, seeming mortified.

'How could you…' Lucius uttered, raising his hands only slightly in surrender as Draco relaxed the effects of the Body-Bind, though kept his wand pointed threateningly.

'I ask you the same,' Draco hissed, his stare unwavering but his arm rattling slightly. 'You tortured me into providing answers. How could you do that to me! Your only son?'

'I was under the Imperius Curse! You know I would never hurt my own,' Lucius groused defensively.

Draco didn't seem to hear as he retorted, sounding on the verge of tears. 'How can you serve them? They don't even care about any of us!'

Lucius snarled, 'Damn it, Draco! What is the matter with you? Don't you know we are on a mission? We are fighting for the greater good! How dare you question the motives of our master?'

Draco didn't respond immediately, though he seemed to struggle with some internal conflict for he frowned aggressively and his lips puckered and contorted strangely. Lucius' mouth pulled into an tepid grin reminiscent of a used car salesman.

'It's not too late, Draco. There is still room for second chances. I ask you to think wisely…and beg Lady Karasu and the Dark Lord for forgiveness.'

'No, Father,' Draco said. 'If you are asking me to follow the same path as the others, I can't.'

'Now, now,' his father insisted, his eyes wide and hands beckoning. 'I know it's been difficult for you. But think about what you stand to lose.'

By now, it was certain from the faintest reflection of light that tears had fallen down Draco's cheek. He sniffed and replied hoarsely, 'I accept the consequences of my decision. I am nobody's servant. From now on, I am my own master.'

The tension in the room was heavy. Lucius' eyes seemed to regard Draco with utmost confusion, but then that confusion morphed into heartbreak marred with blind rage. He scrambled suddenly, scampering along the cold ground, making a mad dash for his wand.

'Accio wand!' Draco hollered, allowing his father's wand to glide past his father's horrified face and into his hand before stowing it into his pocket. Lucius whirled his body towards his son and glared with contempt. Draco sneered back in kind. He pointed his wand to Lucius' throat with one hand, and gestured to Trunks with the other.

'You have made a grievous error, boy. The Dark Lord will rise, and you will be one of the many to fall,' Lucius intoned, his eyes flicking to Trunks, who examined the skull. He then looked back at Draco and spat with disgust, 'You are no son of mine!'

There was a short silence, ended by Draco's dark laughter. He leaned his weight into the wand, digging it into Lucius' neck. He met Lucius' silver eyes, identical to his own, and enunciated clearly: 'And you are no father to me.'

Harry, Hermione and Ron watched, like witnessing a horror movie, as Karasu emerged from the darkness. Her slanted eyes glowed a sinister violet, crowning a manic, white grin. She thrust her wand like a conductor, fire blasting towards them.

Hermione cast a shield spell, making the attack ricochet around them, lightning up the lanterns along the walls with flames.

Karasu cackled with mirth. A cat playing with three blind mice.

Hermione looked from Ron and Harry, seeming suddenly enlightened. She cleared her throat and yelled, 'Karasu! Why are you doing this? For the love of... Voldemort, for err, Tom Riddle?' She winced at Harry and Ron's horrified expressions and continued. 'But this? This isn't really love! If Tom loved you he wouldn't put you into such a dangerous position. He wouldn't have the need to control you.'

Karasu's eyes opened wide. 'Shut up, you foolish girl! Your meagre Mudblood mind cannot begin to grasp, cannot begin to comprehend, Tom's love for me!' She raised her arms, the sleeves of of robes billowing as she proclaimed in a resonating voice, 'Youth. Beauty. Power. This is what I truly love! And none shall surpass me! Ever!' She threw her head back and laughed madly. 'I am the greatest! The smartest! Love is pain!' She sneered at them. 'And soon you will learn, love will be the source of yours.'

'No, you idiot!' Ron snapped, irate in spite of himself. 'That's not love! If he loved you, he wouldn't make you—'

'Make me? I chose this and he loves my power. As long as I am powerful, I will be loved! What more could I wish for, but to fulfil his every desire. I, together, we will rule all!'

Trunks held his palms out as he summoned his ki into a measurable orb, ready to destroy the skull. The others watched the entrance for enemies while Draco guarded his father.

The skull's eye sockets suddenly flashed brightly and like a hologram, cast the projection of the Dark Lord before them, the skull positioned perfectly in line with the apparition's face. His form was the manifestation of snake turned man: his skin was a sallow greenish white and sinewy, his head bald, eyes red and nostrils slitted. He inhaled deeply of the air and in rush of smoke, disapparated from the room.

They stared in terror, disbelieving what they had just seen. And yet, when they had turned to look once more at the lone Death Eater in their midst, they heard a loud poof.

Lucius Malfoy was gone.

Harry saw that Karasu was poised to attack, her wand raised, its tip shimmering green. He mentally apologised to his friends and leapt forward, his arms outstretched in surrender.

Karasu's lips pulled back in a maniacal grin.

'Diffindo!'

Harry felt pain lance his side. He pressed a hand to his side and stared down at his own blood which dripped through his fingers, onto the ground.

'It's over, Harry Potter. You are the only one who stands in the way!'

Karasu made to strike again, but then came to a sudden halt. She gaped in shock over their heads.

Harry turned to see what she observed. It was an apparition of Lord Voldemort, not quite solid, pale, pointed and reptilian. He slithered by them and encircled Karasu like a serpent, a clawed hand stroking her face tenderly.

'My Lord,' she whispered, her eyes hooded, her lips smiling with crazed adoration.

''My dear,' he drawled in a raspy voice. 'What it is that we had agreed? That it is only I who may have the boy!' His impartial hand stabbed straight into her chest and twisted.

Karasu gasped and choked, her hands wrenching at Voldemort's impartial one. He withdrew his hand from her chest, dragging along with it her pulsing heart. Blood spattered onto the ground, luridly crimson like red paint.

Hermione screamed, gripping onto Ron's arm as he wheezed loudly beside Harry. He turned his head shakily, cheeks puffing, looking about ready to vomit as Hermione buried her face into his shoulder to shield her eyes.

'You dare upstage me? Yet the girl is still alive,' Voldemort hissed. Karasu shook her head frantically, denying it with all her worth. Voldemort glared. 'You've failed, Dark Raven.'

Voldemort clenched his teeth and squeezed her heart. Karasu bent down and grabbed at her chest, trying to stop the bleeding to no avail. She looked up at him, begging, imploring. Her eyes widened when he finally tightened his grip, a loud gushing noise stabbing their ears as remnants landed on the ground in clumps. Karasu screamed softly, a ghost of a siren. She lay dead, her hair splayed on either side of her like raven wings.

Voldemort's form became more substantial, as though the piece of himself he had placed in Karasu had rejoined with his own. He stared emotionlessly at Karasu's body.

'She was useful for a time. What a waste,' he said in a slippery, slithering voice. His red eyes rose to meet Harry's green ones. 'But only I may destroy you, Harry.' He cackled as he withdrew a wand from his robe sleeve and waved it in a circular motion.

The blood that had fallen from Harry' side merged into a glistening red orb, like a large ruby, and spun into Voldemort's open palm. He used his wand to slice open his own wrist and drove the blood into the open wound. He roared. His form was instantly solid and scarily real.

Ron hollered something indecipherable as Hermione screamed again.

Harry gasped. It was dark. He felt around. Hermione and Ron were no longer standing beside him. He swivelled feverishly and hit a wall. He fell back. His scar was suddenly alight with deep, searing pain. He whimpered and clutched his face, clawed at his face, willing it to stop.

'AVADA KEDAVRA!'

A cold green light surrounded him. It was like plunging into a deep and icy river.

He saw Tomoyo's gentle smile.

And then everything went dark.

Harry opened his eyes. It was unnaturally bright, like staring directly into the sun. He blinked back tears and his eyes adjusted. He brought a hand to his face and found he was not wearing glasses. Ponderously he looked around, and found himself seated on a white lounge in a living room. This was…

'Godric's Hollow, Harry, or what you remember of it,' a gentle feminine voice said beside him.

He glanced up and saw his mother and his father, Lily and James Potter, as young and as beautiful as their photos, and the faces he had glimpsed in the Mirror of Erised.

'Mum? Dad?' Harry whispered and reached to touch Lily's face. Her skin was soft. He felt the muscle in her cheek move as she smiled at him, her eyes a luminous green. He looked over at his dad, whose smile broadened under a shock of unruly black hair.

'Yes, son,' James said. He and Lily wrapped their arms around Harry. 'We are so proud of you.'

Overwhelmed, Harry leaned into their firm embrace and scrunched his eyes shut. He opened them, tears falling freely.

'I always dreamed of meeting you. I have so many questions,' he whispered joyfully.

He looked around them, at the subtle etchings of paintings hanging on the wall, a window framed by curtains that danced with a slight breeze. Yet outside the window was pure whiteness. 'Am I dead?'

'Yes and no,' Lily said as she drew away and smiled at him.

'In order to destroy a piece of Voldemort,' James explained, 'you knew you had to sacrifice your life.'

'My love shielded you back then. Now, you are given a choice, Harry,' Lily murmured. 'You can stay, always. We will always be together. A family.'

All his life Harry had yearned for a family, a true home. Now he had the opportunity. Here, wherever here was, at last he would be happy, finally knowing his true mother and father. Finally knowing everything he had missed.

Lily inclined her head and smiled warmly as James lay an arm around her shoulders.

Harry felt himself nearly return the smile. But suddenly he remembered.

Hermione. Ron. Sirius.

Tomoyo.

Harry sighed sadly. 'I want nothing more than to stay with you,' he said earnestly, hot tears rising in his eyes. 'But my friends — my family — are in danger. I've got to go back.'

Lily nodded gently and cupped a hand to his face. 'It is not over,' she said calmly. 'We will always be with you. We will be waiting.'

Harry sobbed and threw his arms around them. It was like embracing warm, pure light.

He opened his eyes, suddenly overwhelmed by the darkness and the pain. He craned his neck and stared into the stern black gaze of Severus Snape. Their former Potions professor bent over Harry, one arm pillowing Harry's head, while the other tipped a vial close to his mouth.

Harry spluttered and scrambled into a sitting position, staring. 'S-Snape?!'

'Always the articulate one, Potter,' Snape drawled and slipped the vial away. Harry gaped at it in a daze. A million questions swarmed in his head at once. What was Snape doing here? Where was everyone else? What had he given him to drink just then? Harry looked at Snape's garb and realised instantly that he was dressed similarly to the Death Eaters.

The thought hit instantly.

'T-That is…' Harry stammered, feeling for his wand. 'You're one of them!' He felt suddenly sick with dread. Somehow he had survived the attack. So now... was he being poisoned?

Snape stared back expressionlessly at him. 'If you're looking for your wand, it is in my possession.' He then proceeded to use his wand to dangle Harry's before him in midair. 'Given your impulsive history, I thought it best to keep this as far from you as possible.'

'GIVE IT BACK!'

Before Harry could jerk forwards he felt a jolt of pain course through his body, and his back slam hard against the ground. He opened his mouth to shout once more, but strangely, no words came. Snape had double-jinxed him!

'It would do you well to listen, and listen well, Potter.' Snape's drawling tone came from the distance, and Harry's eyes darted to see as Snape's shadow loomed over him with every advancing step. 'I am here on Dumbledore's orders. The Killing Curse, notwithstanding, you were bleeding rather profusely. That elixir I have given you saved your life. It contains one of the most potent magical ingredients in existence: Phoenix tears.'

Harry thought hard. He recalled Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, the bird that resided humbly in his office. The bird had saved him once in the Chamber of Secrets. Its tears indeed were powerful, possessing the ability to purge poisons and rescue someone nearing their end. By now Snape was directly above Harry, his dark eyes boring back into his green. Still, something was not right. Had Snape rescued him, then? How had he found him? How did he get past Voldemort? Harry was certain Snape was dressed fully as a Death Eater and had the malevolence to match.

Snape did not smile and he answered as though reading Harry's mind.

'I admit, you are correct to wonder. Indeed, I was among the Death Eaters you've been facing. However, you are wrong in your conclusions. I share a role not unlike Draco Malfoy; a role that brings me nothing but displeasure, but a role I must commit to, nonetheless.'

Harry watched as Snape raised his wand and pointed it at him, swishing it once. Harry suddenly felt his jaw relax.

'You're a double-agent?' Harry heard himself say out loud. He blinked in surprise, realising at that moment he could speak again, though his body still couldn't move.

Snape sneered. 'We haven't time to go into further details, Potter. Your friends are in trouble.'

'Voldemort! Where is he?' Harry breathed, realising in spite of himself that Snape had a point.

'I will only tell you this once, Potter. This is not the time for you to act rashly.'

'DON'T TALK TO BE LIKE I'M A CHILD!' Harry roared. 'My mother and father died because of him! I saw them—spoke to them—but I never will again as long as I live!'

Suddenly, Snape's gaze softened, and it seemed for a brief moment he had relaxed his grip on his wand as well.

Harry blinked back the tears as he rambled, 'Time and time again, we have suffered. There have been too many close calls to even count. I have a duty to them—to everyone. I have to stop Voldemort. My parents couldn't have died in vain! My mother—'

'I know that! Don't you think I know it already?!' Snape barked, startling Harry. Harry was stunned by the shakiness, the roughness of his tone as he said it. After an awkward, extended silence, Snape exhaled, then returned to his usual calm, composed manner. 'I will return your wand, but I insist that you think about your mother's sacrifice before you go off and do something foolish. Listen for once!'

Harry felt the weight that had pressed against his body lighten, and he could feel his fingers, arms and legs surge with energy, restored to life. He could move again. He sat up shakily, and sure enough as promised, Snape handed Harry's wand back to him. Harry stared back at his own wand, wondering if he should try using it against Snape as revenge and take off to find the others. But for some reason he couldn't do it. He wanted to trust this man. Somehow. He had to.

Snape's eyes rested on him. 'There is something you must know about the Dark Lord.'

Harry and Snape hurtled to the throne room and saw that the others were tossed in a pile at the centre of a large translucent prism, light fractaling around them. Harry desperately ran to the prism wall and saw that they were injured, their clothes tattered and bodies covered with grazes, but alive.

'Harry! Thank Merlin's burps that you're alive, mate!' Ron exclaimed and cringed with the effort. He moved as though he were being compressed by an unseen force. 'We can't move — we're being crushed!'

'Harry, you have to leave, now! The building is going to erupt!' Hermione gasped beside Ron, her eyes shimmering with tears. 'Please, save yourself!'

'NOT LONG NOW, CHILDREN,' Voldemort's voice boomed shrilly around them, making the surface of the magical prism rattle like glass. 'SOON YOU WILL JOIN HARRY POTTER IN HIS DEMISE!'

Harry looked desperately from his friends to Snape's scrutinising expression.

'We don't have time,' Harry said hurriedly. 'Can you take me to him?'

Snape nodded obligingly and clapped a hand onto Harry's shoulder.

Harry took a last fleeting look at the Phoenix Fighters. He felt an odd sensation, much like clothes being tossed in a washing machine and was upended onto the ground outside. A gale picked up around them and whistled over the parapets of Karasu's lair. Harry shuddered with the cold and stood tall. He followed Snape's vision and saw Voldemort standing several feet away, his wand to his throat as he projected his voice inside the castle.

'You've not long now. The prism will slowly crush your bodies until you break like brittle kindling. Go on, scream! Just like the so-called "Boy-Who-Lived" did in his final moments...'

Harry gulped thickly and projected his own voice. 'Hey, baldie! From what I recall, the Killing Curse doesn't elicit a scream. And from what I can tell, I am very much alive!'

Voldemort's joyous leer shifted into a surprised scowl as he turned to regard Harry and a nonplussed Snape.

'Impossible...Severus...how dare you betray your Lord!' Voldemort roared and flicked his wand savagely, summoning a wip of fiery flames towards them.

Snape cast a counter-curse, dismantling the rope of fire to sear a scattered semi-circle on the ground beside him.

Voldemort continued to summon more and more lengths of fire until the effect resembled a cat o'nine whips lashing all around Snape, who parried with deflecting spells, taking one staggering step forward at a time.

Perhaps realising the process was ineffective, Voldemort growled and raised his wand, the tip a luminous green. He swished his wand down.

Snape reared his wand to cast the Shield Charm. But Harry dashed ahead of Snape and yelled, 'EXPELLIARMUS!'

The force of Voldemort's green jet met at the centre with Harry's own spell.

'You dare?' Voldemort's voice reverberated around them, in spite of the roaring energy, like steam engines firing in the distance.

'Yes, I dare,' Harry said simply, both hands wrapped tightly around the wand base as he continued to channel power into the spell. He could feel the resistance of Voldemort's own attack, but he knew better. 'You're done, Voldemort.'

'What is it, then?' Voldemort cackled. 'Oh, please tell me it isn't "love"?'

Harry smirked. 'I know things you don't know, Tom Riddle.'

Voldemort's eyes flickered malevolently.

'I know lots of things you don't. Want to hear some, before you make a mistake?' Harry chided.

Voldemort did not speak, but prowled around in a circle, the length of his spell following like the arms of a clock. 'Is it love again?' he said, his snake face jeering. 'Was it love that prevented me from stamping out your Mudblood mother like a cockroach, Potter?'

Harry narrowed his gaze. 'You've no more Horcruxes. It's just you and me.'

His magic chimed like bells in his ears, rising higher and higher in an ascending pitch, a final crescendo.

'AVADA KEDAVRA!' Voldemort shrieked, recasting the killing curse.

'EXPELLIARMUS!' Harry cried, meeting his spell once more.

Green once more met red in a cataclysm of raw energy.

'When you cast that spell on me, I chose to die willingly, for the sake of my family and friends. I embraced death, and killed that part of you along with it,' Harry explained, his eyes tearing from the brightness of the magic that roared around them. 'However, you choose to only live for yourself. You fear death more than anything. It is this selfishness that will cause your demise.'

Voldemort did not respond, only shrieked gutturally. The bang was like a cannon-blast and the golden flames that erupted around them, at the dead centre of the circle they had been treading, marked the point where their spells collided. Voldemort hit the ground with mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken, the white hands nobbly like deadwood, the reptilian face vacant. He was dead, killed by his own rebounding curse.

Voldemort's body started to deteriorate as though made of sand, his frail form blown away in a scatter of dust and shredded cloth, his wand split down the middle, like lightning striking a tree.

One shivering shock of silence, the shock of the moment suspended, and the unease broke around Harry. He lowered his wand hand and peered around blearily. All was still.

Snape groaned behind him, too shocked to speak.

Harry listened to the steady pulse in his ears, and watched the double-doored entrance. His friends eventually spilled out around him, cheering.

It was finally over.

Once the prism had lifted, they realised that the feeling of being crushed wasn't real, but all in their heads. Voldemort had managed a powerful spell of hypnosis. As they got to their feet, Sakura stumbled out first. She found Karasu's discarded body on the ground in the corridor, resembling a butterfly pinned to paper. But Karasu was barely recognizable, her skin wrinkled and hair lined with streaks of grey. At her core there was a hole where her heart once dwelled. Feeling saddened, Sakura summoned the Hope card, who held the winged heart over Karasu's lifeless form.

Renona Karasuhoshi's spirit, her harsh features smoothed by a peaceful and calm demeanor, elevated from her body. She stared down at her old physical form and then regarded Sakura with a peaceful smile.

'Thank you, child,' Renona spoke, not unlike a girl that could have once been a student attending Hogwarts. Her dark hair glided around her, and her purple eyes shone. 'I became so consumed by my obsessions, that I lost sight of myself. Now, I am free…' She closed her eyes and her spirit exploded in a shower of raven feathers.

Sakura felt Renona's presence leave the room, onto another place.

She was finally at peace, and Sakura was genuinely glad of it.

The Phoenix Fighters scrambled out into the open and took in the scene: in the glaring light of the rising sun Harry stood, his back slightly bent over, the earth around him scorched with several perfect circles like someone had drawn planet orbits around him with fire. Snape stood farther behind clutching his wand feebly, his face an irritable mask as he seemed to absorb what had just transpired. Draco ran over to see if Snape was well. Ron and Hermione limped over to embrace Harry, and Chibi Moon and Trunks moved beside each other to observe remnants of the battle that had occurred moments ago.

Just as Sakura made to rush towards Harry, Syaoran grabbed her wrist and swung her around. She turned to look at him with shock, apparently still giddy with the knowledge that it was all over.

Meeting her eyes, Syaoran reached into his pocket and retrieved a velvet box. He dropped heavily on one knee before her. He opened the box to reveal an intricate silver ring set with a round, pink stone, it's simple cut capturing the morning light. He held it up to her, his hands quaking.

'Sakura,' he said, his voice throbbing with emotion, 'will you marry me?'

As the words left his mouth, the others erupted into loud cheers, squeals and clapping.

Sakura clasped her hands to her face. A mix between a sob and a giggle escaped from her lips as she nodded frantically. She kneeled down and allowed him to clumsily slip the ring onto her finger. They glanced down at the ring and then back at each other.

'I love you,' she said. She looped her hands around his neck and pulled his face to hers.

Syaoran's response was muffled by her lips. Overzealous, he leaned too far forward and sent Sakura sprawling onto her back. She laughed tearfully and pulled him down with her. They kissed passionately on the ground, their bodies encompassing each other like Yin and Yang, as though they were the only two there.

Author Note: Brace yourselves! The last chapter, the one chapter to end it all...is coming!