It was two weeks after the wedding when an owl appeared upstairs, delivering a letter from the Ministry. As Harry read the lines, he looked at Hermione and then started reading out loud.
Dear Mr. Potter:
We are pleased to advise you that you have been selected to interview for the position of Auror with the Ministry of Magic. There are several steps in the selection process, including an interview and tests of your skills and aptitude.
Please present yourself at the Ministry on Monday, July 4th at two o'clock.
Yours in magic
Griselda Marchbanks Auror Selection Committee
There was a small, scribbled note on the bottom, obviously added personally.
Congratualions to you and Hermione. I hope you are very happy together.
Hermione walked over to him, hugging him and smiling. "It's what you always wanted, Harry. Now you're on your way."
Harry sat down, thinking about everything in his life. He knew the fight was still out there, and he would actually like to get that over. It was a dark cloud that followed him everywhere. He was not afraid, not any more. He just wanted to get on with his life. He wanted to be free of the obligation. He wanted to love his wife without any reservation or concern. He wanted to see her parents again, to sit around the table and laugh, to watch their television. After almost 18 years, he wanted to be normal! Hermione interrupted his thought.
"We need to get you some robes: something to make you presentable for an interview," she said quietly.
"Hermione, I have robes."
"Harry, I know what's in your closet. You could go looking like a muggle, or you could impersonate a Hogwarts student. Those are your only two options." Harry paused and thought…she was right. He had dress robes, from the wedding. But that seemed a little too much for an interview. Otherwise, all his robes were from school.
"I'll go tomorrow, in the morning. That way I'm only out in the open for one day."
"WE'LL GO, you mean! I want my husband to look good for his first job interview, and I know his tastes are limited to the kitchen, except where I am concerned." Harry wanted to respond, but knew she was right. He also recognized that she wanted to get out as much as he did. It was ironic, he thought, that he was trapped, waiting for Voldemort to do him a favor. Monday would be their first venture out, and he started thinking about how to make it memorable.
About nine, Hermione called to him, and Harry came downstairs, ready to leave. They were both dressed casually, but he had decided to wear a school robe, having removed the Hogwarts crest, the Gryffindor symbol, and his old Head Boy emblem. They met at the bottom of the stairs, and kissed briefly.
"Beat you there," he said, and apparated immediately, appearing in the back room of the Leaky Cauldren. Hermione immediately appeared beside him,
"You cheated," she said.
"So, punish me."
"Don't worry, I will! Later! Tonight!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Tonight won't work. I will be much too tired from the interview."
"You wish. If you're tired, then I will punish you even more."
"Have you forgotten your sentence from the Head Boy. You don't get to be in charge any more."
"He's not the Head Boy anymore. He's just another power-hungry wizard, and Merlin knows we've already got plenty of them."
Harry just grinned and ignored her, walking to the wall and touching the bricks to activate the doorway to Diagon Alley. They walked through together, holding hands, madly in love.
Rather than turning towards Madam Malkins, Harry headed towards Fred and George's shop, never visiting the alley without stopping to see them. George was behind the counter when they came in, and Bill was there, taking a break from his job at Gringott's.
"Well, what brings the newly-weds to our fine emporium of mayhem?" George asked. Bill just smiled, and reached out his hand as they walked up. Hermione shoved his hand aside and gave him a big hug.
"We couldn't come to the Alley without checking on my investment. After all, I do own the controlling interest in this place.""
Bill laughed. "No one controls this place…it just happens." George made to protest, but then laughed with them..
"Actually," Hermione said, "Harry needs some new robes for a job interview."
George choked. "Harry? A job? Never happen. He's going to be like Lockhart, plying his fame into buckets of galleons."
"No," Hermione protested. "After two weeks of doing nothing, I told him he had to find something to do with his life."
"You've been married for two weeks, and you've done nothing? Harry, are you sick? You live with a really foxy witch and you can't find anything to do?"
Hermione reached across the counter and slapped at George while Harry and Bill just laughed. Boy was it great to get out and see other people, Harry thought. Suddenly, there was noise out in the street. As they all stepped towards the door, there were several screams, and people were running. Harry stepped outside, followed by Bill. Looking towards the end of the street, they saw people streaming out of Gringott's. Bill started to run, but Harry caught up with him and held him back.
"Bill, it might be serious. It might be…Voldemort." Bill stopped and looked at Harry, deferring to his skills.
"What do you want to do?"
Harry reached into his robe and pulled out a small vial, quickly drinking it and turning to Hermione.
"This might be it. I'm sorry, but you must stay here." He stopped and softened his voice for a moment. "Never forget, Hermione. Never forget!" Her eyes were filling as he kissed her, perhaps longer than he intended, and then turned to Bill. "Can you get me in back some way? The front door is too open." Bill nodded, and they went off, both holding their wands in front, ready to use.
Bill circled around to the side of the building, and pushed up a window in a back office. There was no one there, but the door was closed and they could not see into the lobby. Slowly, Harry walked across the room and eased open the door. There were bodies lying all over the floor, both wizard and goblin. Some were moving, but many, too many, were still. Harry still couldn't see anything, and advanced into the lobby, coming out behind the counter. He could see wizards, witches, and goblins hiding behind the counters and desks in the main lobby, waiting for something to happen. Bill came out behind him, keeping low, using the counter as protection.
Harry reached center of the floor, holding his finger to his lips, telling everyone to remain quiet. They did. Then there was noise from an office at the end of the room, and the door opened. Harry turned to see Ragnok coming out, followed by a wizard pointing his wand at him. A second wizard came out of the office behind them. He turned, saw Harry, and raised his wand. Harry dodged to his right.
As Ragnok reached the center of the lobby floor, he yelled. "DON'T GIVE IT TOO THEM…DON'T LET THEM GET IT!" Ragnok tried to run, but the first wizard raised his wand and whipped it, screaming.
"AVADA KEDAVRA."
Ragnok fell to the floor as the green jet drove through him. He was dead.
"STUPIFY!" A jet of red light went by Harry's head, striking behind him.
He turned to look. Bill was stunned, lying between two desks. Harry turned around again, disappearing from sight. As the Death Eaters looked for him, Harry reappeared behind them.
"DISUNION INCARCIO," he yelled, and one of the Death Eaters fell, bound in an Anti-Disapparation Jinx. The other ran back into the office where he had been before. Harry followed, using the desks and counters as cover, dodging left and right until he reached the open door. Looking low around the doorframe, he could see 3 people talking, and then they saw him.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS," he yelled, dropping one of them to the floor. Before a return spell could reach him, he disappeared again, reappearing within the room.
"DISUNION INCARCIO," he yelled again, and another wizard hit the floor, struggling against the body bind that stopped both movement and apparation. The third wizard looked at his friends and headed out the door to the vault tunnels. Harry looked down to find the stunned wizard reaching for his wand again, the curse wearing off.
"Expelliarmus!" The wand flew across the room and Harry looked around, seeking something. He raised his wand and a large file cabinet duck-walked across the room, falling on top of the disarmed wizard, pinning him to the floor. Then Harry looked up and saw Fred peeking around the door. "Keep him here!" Harry ordered, and ran off to chase the remaining intruder. As he entered the tunnel complex, he saw him, trying to get a cart moving on the tracks that led to the catacombs. Harry shot a spell at him but missed, and the cart sped off, entering the tunnel. There was another cart waiting, and Harry jumped in. He had no idea where they were going, and he vaguely remembered Hagrid saying the tunnels went for miles below London.
He was gathering speed, and as they passed torches from time to time, he could see the cart ahead. He wasn't losing ground, but he wasn't gaining either. This could go on forever, he thought. What more could he do? He tried a spell, but missed and hit a torch, exploding it in a shower of sparks. The wizard in front sent spell after spell back at him, but the cart was too unstable, and he could not aim at all. The spells hit the walls and ceiling, causing rockfall and cave-ins. One hit the track behind him, and a large section collapsed into the canyon below.
"REDUCTO!" Harry yelled, trying to damage the cart since it was a bigger target, but he missed, and a section of wall broke loose and fell into the chasm beneath the cart. His own cart staggered as it tried to keep going over the track covered with debris from the rockfall he'd caused. They continued through curves, switches, and sidings, past hundreds of vaults, with no material change in the situation. Finally, Harry sensed that the track was going back up, and he could see the torches from the lobby station up ahead. As he arrived, the Death Eater was running back into the lobby and Harry heard a scream. He ran to catch up.
When he cleared he door, he saw Remus Lupin, lying on the floor, stunned. Standing over him, wand in hand, was Wormtail – Peter Pettygrew! Standing next to him was Bellatrix Lestrange. She looked up and smiled, remembering her last encounter with Harry.
"Why, it's wee baby Potter," she said, and changed to her baby-talk voice again. "Did the widdle baby wanna to come an pway?" Harry was in no mood to deal with her games and struck quickly, without warning.
"DISUNION INCARCIO," he yelled, catching her by surprise. She was just raising her wand when the body bind drove her to the floor and her wand went spinning across the floor. Harry advanced slowly and Wormtail looked up, stepping back in fear.
"Hello, Peter. What brings you here today? Still doing the bidding of others?" Wormtail looked scared, and started to back away, stopping when he backed into the counter. "You know, Peter, I'm starting to be real sorry I saved your life. You have really disappointed me." Wormtail didn't answer, but looked even more fearful. "I guess it's up to me to finish what Sirius was going to do." Wormtail dropped his wand hand down, surrendering to the inevitable. As Harry was deciding what to do, his scar suddenly exploded, and he heard a rushing noise further down the lobby. Voldemort had arrived.
"Disunion Incarcio," he said, and Peter, bound by the jinx, fell to the floor. Harry wasn't sure if it would stop him from transforming, but he was more concerned about Voldemort right now. He would have to take his chances that Wormtail could free himself Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw the door to the room with Fred close. He was alone, with Voldemort. The time had come!
A black jet flowed from Voldemort's wand, and Harry dodged, watching a scale on the counter explode, sending gold everywhere.
"Hello, Harry. We meet again. This will have to be the last time. Sorry, I really will miss you." I was just like the storeroom at Hogwarts except the lights were on, and somehow Harry felt at home. Voldemort shot another spell but Harry dis-apparated and it missed, shattering a window and letting in some screams from the street outside. Harry reappeared behind the counter.
"Unterfission!" he cried, and Voldemort staggered slightly.
"Well done, Harry. All those years at Hogwarts taught you something after all." Odd, Harry thought…Voldemort didn't seem to realize the type of spell he used. Did he not notice the effect of the stripping, or did he not know what had happened? Harry waved his wand, and a small wagon of gold came running at Voldemort, who turned and disappeared, reappearing at the end of the lobby, near the door to the tunnels.
"What do you want here, Tom? You have nothing on deposit." Voldemort was moving slowly towards the tunnels, and Harry didn't want to try fighting there again. He HAD to keep Voldemort in the lobby!
"Not that it's any of your business, but there's a potion stored here that I would like to have back. It's mine, but Barty Crouch stored it for me. Did me a favor," he said, "though he didn't know it." Voldemort started laughing, that same piercing laugh Harry had heard before. But now Harry had another tool to use…Voldemort had a specific mission! Harry turned his wand to the wall and spoke quietly. The door to the vaults closed and the lock clicked loudly. A nearby desk crashed in front of it, blocking easy access. Voldemort just laughed.
"Interfering with my plans again, are you, Harry? You have become very tiresome."
"Yep. I guess it's kind of my job. At least, that's what the prophecy said. Oops, I forgot. You never got to hear it, did you, Tom? But it wasn't really about you…the label said Harry Potter and the Dark Lord, not Tom Riddle."
Voldemort sent another spell, but Harry dodged to his left and it missed, continuing to the far lobby wall. As he moved left, Harry swung his wand, and inkwells from the counter flew towards Voldemort, breaking and coating him with ink. Harry stopped and stood next to a marble statue of a goblin.
"Here, I'll help you with that mess, Tom. Scourgify." Voldemort moved and the spell missed.
"CRUCIO!" Harry dodged right this time, and the statue fell from the force of the spell, spewing pieces everywhere.
"Gee, Tom, I was just trying to help."
"CRUCIO!"
Harry dodged again, just fast enough to miss getting hit. He knew it wouldn't matter, but he was saving the surprise for the right moment.
"It's time to finish this, Harry."
"Well, Tom…if you think you're up to it. I mean, you've had several tries now and I'm still here."
"Maybe a little pain will teach you some respect before you go.
"CRUCIO!"
"PROTEGO!" Harry stood still and blocked the spell, and it went flying off, bouncing into a table lamp and sending shards into the air. He still had his secret weapon, and it was about time to reveal it.
"CRUCIO!"
Although he could see it coming again, this time Harry decided to reveal the potion. He stood his ground and the spell didn't bother him at all.
"Lost your touch, Tom? Maybe you've forgotten how it's done. UNTERDOCILE!" Voldemort was caught staring as the Stripping Spell hit him squarely, spinning him around and knocking him to his knees.
"Felt that one, did you? Didn't like it much, did you, Tom?" Voldemort rose, staring at Harry, the red in his eyes glowing like the fires of Hades.
"I am done with you, Potter. We are done playing."
"Oh, was this a game? I rather enjoy the excitement…it's been so boring since I'm out of school and there's no more Quidditch." Behind Voldemort, Harry saw a door open slightly, and George stuck his head out, shooting a rocket into the room.
"GEORGE, NO!" Harry cried, and Voldemort sent a spell at the door that blew it apart. The rocket zoomed around the room and Voldemort blew it apart with his wand.
Voldemort turned back, but Harry had moved to the other side of the room. "Now, where were we, Harry? Ah, yes, you were about to say good bye. I see you've learned to move…that's very nice. To bad you won't need that skill where you're going."
"I've got no plans to leave, Tom. I think we should stay here and settle this…please don't run away like last time at the Ministry…people will start to think you're scared of me."
"Enough!" Then movement distracted both Harry and Voldemort. It was Bill, trying to sit up. Voldemort turned his wand.
"NO!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bill rolled over, not moving again. Harry fought the tears as another innocent life was wasted.
"NO MORE, TOM! UNTERLEASOR!" Voldemort screamed and was driven to the floor by the pain of the spell, which stripped even more of his protection away. He raised his wand at Harry, while remaining down.
"My mom screamed too, Tom. But you knew that…you were there. "You didn't like that, did you, Tom? Did your muggle father scream?" Voldemort rose to his knees, trying to look fearsome.
"It's time for you to join your muggle mother, Harry." Voldemort raised his wand, and paused as Harry dropped his wand to his side...smiling as if he wanted this more than anything.
"Give it your best shot, Tom. I'll just stand right here."
"AVADA KEDAVRA! Voldemort screamed as loud as he could. Harry just watched the spell, as if in slow motion. The green jet traveled from the tip of the wand straight to Harry, enveloping him completely in a green cloud. He seemed to disappear. Then the cloud cleared, and Harry was still standing, smiling, actually grinning.
Voldemort gasped.
"Kinda' like the first time, huh? Just didn't seem to work right. That was courtesy of Severus and my wife, Tom. She's muggle born. Did you know? Now, it really is time for you to go." Voldemort's eyes grew even larger in disbelief. Harry slowly raised his wand, wanting to enjoy the moment, even though he was about to kill.
"Welcome to hell, Tom. AVADA KEDAVRA!" The green jet flew from Harry's wand, and Voldemort shrieked, crumpling to the floor.
Harry just stood and looked…it was finally over. He leaned against the counter, the adrenaline bleeding off, leaving him shaking and very tired. In the quiet, he could hear small noises now. There were people outside still yelling, but for some reason, the ticking of the big wall clock seem deafening. He slumped to the floor, to tired to do anything more. His eyes began to tear as he saw Bill's lifeless body, reminding him of his encounter in the graveyard when Cedric was slain. Would it ever really be over?
The front door opened, and Dumbledore entered. He was followed by a whole crowd of wizards and witches, some of whom Harry recognized. Tonks and Mad Eye were there, along with Kingsley and other Aurors. Since it had started, the news had spread, and Diagon Alley was packed with everyone who could fit. Dumbledore stopped short of Harry and looked around.
"Kingsley, would you please close the door and allow no more people in for now. Nymphadora, please go and find Hermione and bring her here. Tell her that Harry is unhurt. Alastor, please find the Weasleys. Do not tell them anything yet…I will speak with them personally." Then he stopped and knelt down next to Harry, placing his arm around his shoulders.
"I'm an old man, Harry. There were many times when I feared that I would never see this come to pass. But seven years ago, I found new hope when you showed me what you could do when challenged. The wizarding world, indeed the muggle world, will never be able repay you for what you have done here today. I have never been more proud of any student I taught." He paused, trying to find the words he wanted, but his silence was interrupted by Hermione's arrival.
She was walking very slowly and quietly, trying to comprehend the destruction she saw. She hoped that she could somehow, some day, understand what Harry had just gone through. She paused to help Remus get to his feet, and then walked even slower towards Harry. She wanted to comfort him, but wasn't certain what was the right thing to do. Dumbledore moved aside. Harry looked up and started crying as she approached, holding out his arms for her. She knelt beside him and he hugged her, rocking slowly back and forth. Neither of them spoke, and everyone else moved away, giving them space and time.
Dumbledore went over and picked up Voldemort's wand, calling to Olivander. When he came forward, Dumbledore gave it to him. "Please see that this is properly destroyed."
A few of the goblins had returned, staring aghast at the destruction. A reporter for the Daily Prophet was talking to Remus, who had witnessed the confrontation. Dumbledore advised there would be no pictures taken until Harry was gone…and there would be no pictures of Harry. The reporter started to object, but then thought better of it and continued talking with Remus.
Finally, Cornelius Fudge walked in. He was his usual sputtering self, demanding to see Harry and speak with him immediately. Dumbledore intervened.
"Cornelius, you may speak with Harry later. There is nothing that he can tell you that requires immediate attention. There were five Death Eaters here, along with Voldemort. All of them have been captured, and Voldemort is dead. Arthur Weasley's son Bill is also dead, along with many others. Many goblins were also killed, including Ragnok." Fudge shook as he began to comprehend what had happened.
"Still, I must talk to Harry. I want to know what happened…why were they here?"
"Harry is to be left alone. No one at the Ministry is to bother him now. In due time, the Wizengamot can convene to hear his story." Fudge started to object, but then thought better of it. "There are two things that you can do, however." Fudge didn't like being told what to do by Dumbledore, and he started to object. Dumbledore just continued, as if instructing a class of children.
"You will immediately award the Order of Merlin, First Class, With Crossed Wands and Quills. If anyone has ever earned it, Harry has." Fudge nodded. This time he agreed, considering that he thought Harry had just saved his job in addition to everything else. "You will also advise Griselda Marchbanks that Harry has passed all qualifications for becoming an Auror. She will not disagree." Fudge started to object. "Name one person who was ever better qualified!" Fudge walked away, never realizing what had really happened.
Harry finally felt strong enough to get up off the floor. He walked over to the Weasleys, gathered around Bill. "I'm sorry," he said. "I just wasn't fast enough." Arthur looked up, trying to smile through his tears.
"Harry, you need never apologize to us. We know what you have done, and we know you did everything you could; more than anyone could expect." Arthur rose and put his arm around Harry. "You, too, are a part of our family. We may have lost a son, but we have also gained one." He looked at Hermione, and added, "and another daughter." Hermione was crying softly, standing next to Harry and feeling her own pain, and Arthur placed his other arm around her.
Harry turned as Arthur went back to comforting Molly, and Fred stood up, walking around to Harry. He wrapped his arms around him.
"Harry, no one else could have done what you did. We know that. We saw you. You couldn't save everyone here, but you saved everyone out there," he said, motioning to the world outside of the lobby. Tonight, we're going to set off that pile of fireworks. I'm kinda thinking of a park next to Grimauld Place…what do you think?"
Harry didn't know how to respond. Maybe he was just tired…maybe he just didn't care…maybe he had other things on I mind. Fred backed off a little, and Hermione started steering Harry towards the door. They walked slowly, pausing as he looked at everything, remembering each little step. Remus stopped his interview and walked over to them.
"Harry, your parents are very proud today…not because of what you've done, but because of the man you've become. I know Sirius would say the same thing. I am very proud to know both of you." He wrapped his arms around Harry and Hermione, squeezing them tight. When he released them, Harry grinned.
"See you around, Mooney." Remus grinned too, probably broader than either Harry or Hermione had ever seen.
When they reached the front door, Hermione stopped him. "Do you want to go out there? We could apparate from here."
"No, it's important to everyone that they see me. I know that. It goes with the boy-who-lived thing. I can't hide this time." He took her hand and walked slowly out into the daylight. As they got out onto the steps, the crowd went silent. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to speak; he didn't really have anything he wanted to say. Looking out, however, there seemed to be an expectation. Harry stopped, and smiled as best he could.
"He's dead…this time he's really dead." The crowd uttered a collective gasp and then waited for more. "I'm sorry, but I'm really tired and I'm going to go home with my wife." As they started to walk down the steps, the cheers and yells began to build. Everyone stood aside to let them pass; there was no pushing or shoving. Everyone seemed to respect his wishes, and they watched as the two of them walked up the alley, holding hands. When they cleared the edge of the crowd, they spoke for a minute and they both disappeared. The noise continued.
Hermione pulled Harry into the drawing room, lighting the fire and dropping the curtains to darken the room. She pulled him over to their spot on the floor and summoned pillows from upstairs. Then she pulled him into her arms and finally spoke.
"I didn't forget, Harry"