So here is the last chapter. Once again, thank you all for your encouraging reviews. A big thank you to everyone who took the time to read or put this story on their alerts or favourites lists as well!
I hope you like it!
Disclaimer : I don't own HP
Robards looked resentfully at Lyra. They were in Little Hangleton where Voldemort was buried. Lyra stood in front of Voldemort's grave, the Horcruxes arranged in a circle around it. There was a gap for Harry Potter. Tied to a nearby gravestone was Ginny, clutching James. The two Hallows they had acquired were at the head of the grave. Nott hadn't returned yet. As much as Robards disliked the young man, he hoped he was still alive.
Robards was having second thoughts about Lyra. While she had seemed all-powerful and respectable to Robards, she now appeared just cruel. She didn't mind killing people to serve her purpose. Robards remembered how much he had struggled to survive and hence, he held a respect for life. True, he had participated in the arson and torture earlier, but that had been necessary for their secrecy. He never believed in killing when there was an alternative and now, Lyra's methods repulsed him.
He was realizing that Draco Malfoy had been right. Lyra would dispose of her servants as soon as they were no longer useful. She cared nothing for him. She had tortured him after the museum heist had gone wrong and refused to admit that she had been as responsible as he was for losing the ring that day. Yet, he'd been punished.
His resentful thoughts were interrupted by four loud pops. He was knocked over by Ron Weasley's spell while Harry Potter had started towards Lyra.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. Finally," said the evil woman calmly. She deflected Harry's spell and conjured up a thin stream of black fire which coiled around him. Harry's shout of surprise was joined by Ron and Hermione's as they too were bound by the fiery rope. Harry was pulled to the empty spot in the Horcruxes' circle as Ginny shouted his name and one of Lyra's other cronies took the Invisibility Cloak from Harry's pocket. Ron and Hermione were tied against headstones beside Ginny.
"Ginny," Harry said softly, spotting his wife. "I'm sorry."
Silent tears ran down Ginny's cheeks as Harry was bound to his spot in the circle and Lyra laid the Cloak – the last Hallow – on the grave.
She turned to Draco who was still free. "Well done, Theo. You brought them all here right on time."
Draco froze as the captives looked up suddenly. "She doesn't realize it's the real me! She thinks I'm still Nott under the Polyjuice Potion," he thought. He decided to play along and wait for the right moment to attack. He shrugged. "It wasn't hard once I told Potter his favourite blood-traitor was here," Draco said doing his best to smirk darkly at Ginny.
"I thought as much," mused Lyra. "It's amusing how love can make people so weak."
"You have me now, Lestrange. Let my family and friends go!" said Harry, struggling against the charm Lyra had used to keep him rooted to the spot.
She laughed coldly. "I am doing all this to prove that I am far better than my useless mother. She couldn't even deliver a simple prophecy to the Dark Lord. Imagine how pleased the Dark Lord will be when he is welcomed back to the sight of not just you, but all your little friends who helped thwart him. And he will be happier to see that you are all bound and powerless – at his mercy."
She turned to the east, glanced at her watch and then turned to her twenty-five followers who were standing to the right of the grave. "It is time to begin!" she declared.
The twenty-five people cheered for a moment and then began an eerie chant. Lyra closed her eyes, chanting along while waving her wand in complex patterns over the grave.
Draco checked his watch. There were exactly fourteen minutes to sunrise – fourteen minutes till the Dark Lord came back. A jet of dark purple light shot from Nagini's skin – the first of the Horcrux remains – to the centre of the grave. Draco looked around, the Auror in him assessing the situation. Robards had Ron, Ginny and Hermione's wands. Even if he managed to set them all free, they couldn't fight against twenty-seven people skilled in the Dark Arts.
He took a tentative step towards the Horcrux circle but immediately stepped back when he felt a mild jolt of electricity run through him. The circle was surrounded by a protective charm invoked by the Horcruxes themselves. Unless one of the Horcruxes was moved, thus breaking the circle, he couldn't get into the circle. But, the shield was around the circle which made it suicidal to get to the Horcruxes.
Suddenly, Harry gasped as a jet of purple light shot out of his scar and hit the grave. Draco knew he had to do something fast.
Meanwhile, Robards was surveying the scene, his eyes wide with fear. He could sense that something Dark was about to happen. His eyes widened further when a third jet of light from the diadem joined the other two at the grave. Robards had expected Dark Magic of course. But, he hadn't expected it to be so terrifying; so obviously malevolent and wrong.
Malfoy's words floated back into his mind. "Joining the Dark side all sounds grand and powerful until you experience it. Then, you realize it's all wrong. Dark Magic is powerful, but it will turn on you the minute you show weakness. Voldemort would have murdered me and my family and anyone who displeased him without a second thought. The only people who flourished under his rule were liars, cowards and crooks. He would have killed me the moment I became expendable. He won't show any mercy to you either. Think about it, Robards. Do you want to live as a good man in a kind world where there are opportunities for the reformed, even though they may be a little slow in coming to you at first, or in an era of constant fear and temporary luxury?"
As the fourth jet of purple light shout out from the Hufflepuff cup; as Lyra's chanting grew more frenzied; as the eastern sky became lighter; Robards knew what he had to do.
X-X-X
At the same time that Robards was introspecting, Harry was having a strange, but familiar experience. The graveyards disappeared and he was at King's Cross again, just like the time he'd gone to limbo during the war. But this time, the place wasn't empty. Trains were moving silently and the creature under the bench was looking stronger and glowing purple.
"I had hoped you would be at least as old as me before I saw you again, Harry," said a voice. Harry turned around to find Dumbledore striding towards him again, smiling sadly.
"Professor, what's going on?" Harry asked.
"It's unfortunate the trouble tends to follow you, my boy," Dumbledore sighed. He waved at the scene. "All the trains, all this activity is because Voldemort is being pulled to Earth again. It is disturbing the balance between Death and Life."
"I don't want to fight him again. We've worked too hard to lead a peaceful life. I won't let that be ruined again," said Harry.
Dumbledore nodded. "It would be easier to prevent him from coming back than facing him once again."
"How do I do that?" Harry asked desperately.
A swirling black hole appeared over the creature stuffed under the bench. It seemed to be sucking in the creature, transporting it to another dimension.
"The fifth Horcrux has been invoked. The gate has opened for Voldemort's return. He won't be able to step through until the exact time that he died. That gives you five extra minutes after all the Horcruxes have been invoked to stop him. The only way to stop him, is to break the Horcrux circle but for someone to do that is too dangerous," said Dumbledore.
"I brushed over the ring with a potent mixture of Basilisk venom and concentrated sulphuric acid. I broke into the museum earlier, making sure no one saw me. I thought it was a good idea in case Lyra managed to steal the ring. It should disintegrate soon. We have to hold him off until then," said Harry, remembering his cloaked trip to the museum.
"That was a good idea! You have to slow him down until the ring breaks up. The only way is to love, Harry. Only love will keep Voldemort from rising," replied Dumbledore.
A train pulled into the station and Dumbledore sighed. "It's sad," he said, getting distant as Harry's vision blurred. "One more person has to die trying to save everyone from Voldemort."
X-X-X
Harry opened his eyes. The sixth Horcrux was just beginning to glow purple. Draco's eyes were darting between Hermione and Lyra; between love and hatred.
"Love," thought Harry. He looked at Ginny and James, the little boy had buried his face in his mother's neck, silently crying, frightened. Harry locked eyes with his wife as he let happy memories and thoughts fill his mind – thoughts of how much he loved Ginny. Lyra frowned as the light from Harry began to flicker, weakening in intensity. She paused chanting, walking towards Harry instead.
Two things happened simultaneously.
Draco took advantage of Lyra's distraction to grab his friends' wands from the gravestone where Robards had left them.
At the same time, Robards lunged at the circle.
"No!" Hermione yelled at Robards, knowing that the circle would be protected.
The minute the old Auror touched a Horcrux, he was thrown back, purple sparks running along his body as he yelled in pain. "No," he whispered, "Dark magic is wrong."
"Fool!" screeched Lyra. "Do you think you can disrupt the ceremony? You are a liability if you have cold feet now! Avada Kedavra!" Robards hit the floor, dead.
"Expelliarmus!"
Lyra dodged just in time, missing the red light that shot towards her from Draco's wand. She spun around to find him, Ron, Hermione and Ginny pointing their wands at her. "So," she sneered, "you managed to escape, Draco. But you are all too late. The Dark Lord will rise again!"
Indeed, the seventh jet of light from the Horcrux hit the grave. Immediately, a black hole appeared in thin air above the headstone and Harry could see Voldemort's pale face getting closer through the hole.
Draco shot a Stunning spell at Lyra. She dodged and her followers rushed to her aid. "We're hopelessly outnumbered!" cried Ron.
Just then, twenty people –an assortment of Aurors and Auxilium members – Apparated on the scene.
"Get to Lyra!" Neville yelled as the new arrivals engaged Lyra's followers in fierce duels.
Ron, Hermione and Draco threw spell after spell at Lyra. She countered them, her face twisted in fear and concentration as she backed away. She threw two quick spells at Ron and Draco and a sudden Trip Jinx at Hermione. The boys put up Shield charms. Ron was knocked backwards while Draco managed to stay upright.
Hermione was too slow. She stumbled as the jinx hit her and Lyra pounced immediately.
"Sectumsempra!" Lyra shouted.
Hermione regained balance just in time to see Lyra cast the spell. She knew she couldn't shield herself in time. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting excruciating pain. But it never came.
Draco jumped in front of her.
Hermione screamed as large, deep gashes appeared on his body and he fell to the ground, "NO!" she screamed, dropping to her knees beside him
"Hermione!" Ron yelled, dragging her away as Lyra's next spell nearly hit her. He pulled her towards a large gravestone so she could be shielded from the battle as he returned to fight Lyra.
The top of the sun appeared over the horizon.
Harry yelled in pain as his scar started burning again, the purple light from the Horcruxes suddenly growing stronger.
"Harry Potter…" The familiar, high, cold laughter reverberated through the air as Voldemort's head emerged from the black hole. In a few minutes, he would be able to completely step out of the inter-dimensional hole, reborn.
"Love, Harry. The only way to defeat him and all evil is to love…" Harry remembered Dumbledore's words. He looked at Ron who was battling Lyra, both of them very near the Horcrux circle. He saw Hermione struggling against the Shield charm Ron had placed around her, trying to get to Draco, while her wand lay useless next to a barely alive Draco. Neville, Luna and George and so many people whom he loved were holding Lyra's followers back with their spells.
Near Hermione, encased in a sphere much like the one Nagini had been in seven years ago, was his son, James. The baby was crying, his sobs reaching Harry clearly. Right in front of the boy stood Ginny, fighting off anyone who came too close to her child. All the people he loved were fighting for him; for the happy life they had led for seven peaceful years. Harry remembered everyone who died fighting in the previous war, fighting to make the world a better place. Now, they were all fighting again…to defend their world.
Voldemort was clawing his way out.
"I love them," Harry whispered, his whole body filling up with warmth as he saw his friends; as he saw Ginny and James. "I love them so much."
Ginny suddenly looked up, as though reading his thoughts. "I love you, Ginny," Harry said softly.
Suddenly the pain in his scar reduced dramatically. The purple light radiating from his scar changed to pure gold. Voldemort's red eyes narrowed as he was suddenly pushed back into the hole by some unseen force. This seemed to encourage everyone fighting for the good side.
Hermione yelled at Ron to let her out of the Shield charm, her expression determined. She picked up her wand and joined him. The two of them dueled Lyra, pushing her closer and closer to the circle. The sun was rising fast now, and Harry was on the point of collapsing, unsure of how much longer he could hold off Voldemort.
Then, finally, the corrosive liquids he had coated the ring with took effect. With a sharp hiss, the surface of the ring bubbled as the acids ate through it. It quickly disintegrated. The purple lights disappeared the minute the ring was completely destroyed.
Voldemort's angry, fearful scream pierced the air as the black void began sucking him back in. The closes objects were also being sucked into the vacuum. Ginny ran to Harry since the circle was now broken and pulled him away from the hole. Ron backed off but Hermione gave a terrified Lyra a loathsome glare.
"You can join your master and rot in Hell!" Hermione screamed. "Expelliarmus!"
Lyra's wand flew out of her hand and the force of the spell knocked her off her feet and straight in to the void. Her last scream responded through the dawn as the hole closed up and disappeared completely.
The battle ceased immediately as Lyra's followers surrendered. Harry and Ron hugged Ginny and James but Hermione rushed to Draco.
"Hermione," he whispered. His eyes were half-closed and he was paler than ever, his deep wounds still bleeding copiously.
"Draco, just hang in there. I can heal you, love," Hermione said, running her wand over his gashes. The counter curse wasn't working fast enough and she was too tired to put more power into the spell. Harry, Ron and Ginny gathered around her, unable to help – none of them knew the spell.
Draco clutched Hermione's wrist, stopping her wand. "It's too late," he murmured, "I've lost too much blood. You…you can have a happy life with Weasley…"
"Don't say that! I can do this. I can heal you!" Hermione sobbed. She kissed his forehead. "I love you. I won't let you go."
A little object, glowing blue, floated over to her. Frowning, she reached out and touched it, recognizing it to be the Resurrection Stone.
The ghostly form of a handsome young man emerged from the Stone. He looked at Hermione. "I am Cadmus Peverell. Your love for this man is remarkable. I can help you save him."
"How?" Hermione demanded. Draco was just barely awake now.
"I sense that you love another man," said Cadmus, his eyes coming to rest on Ron. "I can help you convert that love into energy that you can use for the spell. But, you will never be able to love Ron Weasley romantically again. He will be no more than a friend. Choose wisely, but quickly. You only have three minutes before Draco Malfoy is lost to you forever."
Hermione looked shocked. She would never love Ron again if she accepted Cadmus' terms, but he would still love her. Did she have the right to do that to him? Could she completely take away any hope Ron might have of them being able to resolve their issues? Was she prepared to be with Draco knowing that he'd run away from her once before and could do it again? Ron had done so much for her, but so had Draco.
She looked down at the dying man. He was in that state because he had tried to protect her. Ron had taken her to safety. He had done what Harry would have done. She looked at the Draco's hand, entwined in her own and she knew she could never love Ron as anything more than a friend. As she looked up into Ron's blue eyes, she knew he too could see how she felt about him.
Ron looked heartbroken, but he nodded. "Save him, Hermione," he said, his voice choked.
"I don't want to hurt you, Ron."
"You would hurt me more by being unhappy. I just want you to smile every day and…if Draco is the person you want to laugh with, I cannot deny you that joy. I love you too much to see you sad. I love you…enough to let you go," said Ron.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she turned to Cadmus. "Help me save Draco," she said resolutely.
"Heal him," said Cadmus.
Once again, she performed the healing spell. This time, her whole body glowed blue as energy filled her and Draco's wounds closed. The colour returned to his face and he breathed deeply. When Hermione healed the last wound, Cadmus smiled at her. "I hope you have a long, happy life together." He disappeared and the Stone fell to the ground.
Draco was unconscious now. Harry and Ginny hugged Hermione as Luna and Neville walked over, carrying James. Hermione looked at Ron. She still had all of her memories of them being together, but there were no longer any feelings in those memories. She no longer felt the butterflies in her stomach when she looked at Ron.
"Hermione."
Now that voice sent pleasant shivers up her spine. She turned around and hugged Draco. "You made it," she said gently,
He nodded against her neck. "All thanks to you."
Harry helped him up grinning. The others welcomed him back but Draco walked up to Ron who was standing apart, looking resentful.
"Thank you," said Draco holding out his hand.
Ron looked surprised. "I thought you were unconscious through the healing."
"I was, but I was also aware of everything somehow." He looked Ron directly in the eye. "I love Hermione. I love her so much, I would have done what you did for me just now if you had been the one dying."
Ron's face softened though he still looked pained. "Take care of her…Draco." The two men shook hands, glad that everything was over. Everything was peaceful again.
Six months later…
"Why are we in such an expensive restaurant?"
"Nothing but the best for the love of my life," Draco said.
Hermione chuckled but smiled contently.
Draco was fidgeting in his seat. He was usually never nervous on a date.
"How's Ron?" she asked, wondering why Draco looked so nervous. She hadn't been around Ron much at his own request. He had said he needed to get used to the idea of not having her around all the time. Whenever they met, however, Ron was nothing short of the perfect best friend.
Draco grinned at the question. "Oh, he's fine. He's also on a date tonight. Actually, I think this is the seventh date he's going to this week."
"With the same girl?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Yeah. I set him up with an acquaintance of mine last week. They 've really taken to each other."
Hermione spotted the slightly mischievous look in his eyes. "Who's the lucky girl?"
"Astoria Greengrass."
Hermione gaped at Draco. "Ron is going out with an ex-Slytherin? Ron?"
"Well," Draco said, drawing out the word, "he doesn't really know her last name. It slipped my mind when I introduced them."
Hermione laughed. "That is just like you."
Draco shrugged. "They're getting along just fine."
Hermione eyed him twisting his napkin in his fingers. "Why are you so nervous?" she asked.
"Why are you so nervous about me being nervous?" he countered.
She hesitated. "The last time we were in this restaurant, you were just as nervous. That was the night you ran away to Bulgaria." She looked slightly scared, as if she were expecting him to run away again.
He took her hand across the table. "Last time, I was actually going to say something else, but I didn't get the chance." He took a deep breath. "Consider this a redo of that night. This is what I'd originally planned today."
He stood up and walked around the table, still holding her hand until he was right in front of her. "I'm not running away. I'm never going to leave you again. I can't live without you and I don't want to live without you. I've made plenty of mistakes but the biggest tone was that I tried to stay away from you. Now, I know that I could never do that. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He went down on one knew, pulling a little velvet box out of his pocket. "Hermione Jean Granger, I love you and I want to be with you forever. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
The whole restaurant was watching, completely silent. Hermione looked frozen for a moment and then she breathed happily, "Yes! Of course I will!"
The crowd burst into cheers and applause as Draco slid the ring onto her finger and the happy couple kissed. Draco and Hermione knew they wouldn't turn back now. The world was safe, their friends were happy and they had each other. They were done with saving the world. They had finally reached their happily ever after.
I really didn't like the ending much, but it's the best I can do for now. I may rewrite it later but I won't make drastic changes...
I hope you all enjoyed this story! Thank you all so much for your reviews all through the story. It's my first Dramione and I'm really happy that it got so much positive feedback.
So, one last time, please review! Can I get at least five reviews? :)