DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, AND I AM NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.

Chapter 11

It was almost dawn, and Lord Voldemort was on the ground; mirroring the broken sprawl of his mortal enemy. His most trusted, Bellatrix Lestrange, was hovering over him. Her face was swimming in and out of focus.

'My Lord? Are you okay? Do you need help?' she asked nervously.

This was quite possibly the only time in her life that her voice had shown concern, but Voldemort did not need or want any help. He rose to his feet, pushing her away. He stood and appraised the dead boy lying a few metres away. There was no movement from Harry Potter. His body had been twisted and thrown through the air by the curse.

'You, check if he's dead,' said Voldemort, gesturing to Narcissa Malfoy. She hesitated, and reluctantly left her husband's grip. Lucius had grabbed her when the Dark Lord had sent his curse at the boy. Narcissa stepped forward, the dark twigs crunching like rat skeletons under her advancing feet. Reaching the boy she knelt down next him. She placed her hand on his neck, looking for a pulse.

Truly, she had not expected to find one. Narcissa stifled any sign of surprise, as her questing fingers felt the strong pulse of blood coursing through Harry Potter's veins. Pressing her hand to his chest she felt his heart beat. Moving it in front of his mouth, she felt the warmth of his shallow breaths. Narcissa had been about to declare the boy alive, but then a thought struck her. Voldemort would never let her enter the castle and find her son if Potter was still alive.

'Is he alive? Is Draco alive?' she asked in a hurried undertone, hoping that Voldemort wouldn't hear her. Ever so slowly, Harry's eyes slitted open for a brief moment. He breathed,

"Yes."

She gulped and turned around.

'He is dead!' she declared to the watching Death Eaters and Voldemort.

Cheers erupted from them, and sparks were shot into the air. Voldemort laughed his high cold laugh and levitated the boy.

'Come, we will go to the castle and we will show them what has become of their Chosen One.'

He marched through the Forest, not caring if Harry was struck by branches along the way. Within five minutes they neared the edge of the Forest and Hogwarts loomed in the distance. Voldemort strode across the grounds, through the shadows being thrown of the destroyed castle because of the steadily rising sun.

Voldemort got to the front doors and he magically amplified his voice like he had done so many times in the past few hours.

'It is I, Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter is dead. He came to me in the Forest, begging and pleading with me not to kill anymore of you. And I, being a merciful Lord, granted his wish. No more of you will die if you join me. It is a new dawn for the wizarding world, and any who decide to stand in my way, will die. Just like your saviour. Come to me now,' Voldemort's voice faded and his Death Eaters stood still, awaiting the arrival of their enemies.

The first person to round the corner and stand in the entrance hall was Hermione. She skidded to a halt; staring at Voldemort and the dead boy hovering in front of him. Bringing her hand to her mouth, she burst into tears. The brunette was quickly joined by the others. Neville arrived, then Ron, Luna, Ginny, George, Dean, Seamus, Professors McGonagall, Slughorn, Flitwick and Sprout.

'See? He is dead. Harry Potter was no match for me!' shouted Voldemort. The group of teenagers and professors advanced to stand in the massive doorway. 'So what is your decision? Will you join me? Or will you be foolish, and stand and fight?'

The answer was apparent. Everyone raised their wands, Neville holding the sword too.

'Fine, you will all perish then. Attack!' Voldemort roared and his Death Eaters and the great snake surged forward.

The group standing against Voldemort began firing off curses and hexes, aiming at Voldemort. One came so close to him that he had to deflect it, and Harry fell to the ground. He reacted as soon as he came into contact with the cold ground. He pulled the cloak from his coat and slung it over himself. The spells that rushed past him provided cover, and nobody noticed that he had disappeared. Harry saw Neville sprint forward as the snake slithered towards Hermione, hissing menacingly. She backed away, retreating into the Great Hall, and as the snake was trained on Hermione, Neville swung the sword.

It struck Nagini and cleaved her in half. Harry heard the cry of rage from Voldemort, as the last Horcrux was destroyed. He was being buffeted into the Great Hall, stuck in the tide of wizards and witches fighting for their lives. Harry started to fire off curses all around him. He hit two Death Eaters and saw them crumple to the floor. Hermione was nowhere to be seen, and Harry would have to remove the cloak to crane his neck over everyone. He didn't want to reveal himself just yet, even though his desire to find Hermione was overwhelming.

Entering the Great Hall, Harry saw Kingsley duelling three Death Eaters, his wand flying as he fought them off. Mr and Mrs. Weasley were attacking two more, each watching the others back. Ron had taken one down, and was now smashing his fists into him, the Death Eater only quivering. Dean, Seamus, Ginny and Luna fought Yaxley. Professor Sprout and Slughorn were duelling the Carrows, whilst Voldemort had entered the fray.

He had swept into the Hall and now battled with Flitwick and McGonagall. Surprisingly they were holding their own, and Voldemort was being forced to use all of his power and expertise. When Harry registered who everyone was fighting, there was only one that he hadn't seen.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

At that precise moment he realised just who Hermione was fighting, an ear-splitting scream fractured the air. That scream took his breath away – even more than when he had first heard his mother's scream when Dementors ware around. He turned towards the deathly shout and saw Hermione flying through the air. She had been blasted from the Entrance Hall into the Great Hall, and she crashed to the stone floor, hitting it with enough force to knock someone with lesser willpower out. Harry saw Bellatrix standing in the Entrance Hall. He could hear her evil cackle, and this was worse than when she had killed Sirius. She advanced on Hermione, who was on all fours and struggling to stand, like a hunter stalking her prey. Even from this distance he could see the dark glimmer in her eyes, as Hermione started to stand. Hermione raised her wand and Bellatrix quickly disarmed her.

'NO!'

Harry roared and he shed his cloak, sending it to the floor. There were gasps all around as people turned to see who had shouted so loudly. Harry was already running towards Hermione and Bellatrix. He stretched out his hand as Bellatrix fired a curse that he didn't recognise at Hermione. He was getting closer, and he felt something surge through his hand. A red shield enveloped Hermione.

But not in time to deflect the curse. She was hit and thrown to the floor. The shield still wrapped around her, Hermione did not move again. Harry let out another roar as he raced past Hermione.

'SOMEONE HELP HER!' he bellowed as he jumped into combat with Bellatrix. She had been smiling, but that began to falter with the ferocity of Harry's attack. He shot spells off at an alarming rate, using his wand and hand. Harry was ignoring every other battle going on around him. He didn't dare look away from Bellatrix to see if McGonagall and Flitwick were still holding Voldemort at bay. He didn't stray too far from the unmoving body of Hermione either. He wanted to make sure she was still protected, even though the shield had cast was still around her where she lay on the floor.

The Hall seemed to be getting quieter. When he had pushed Bellatrix back with a blocked, but still powerful reducto, he chanced a glance behind him. Voldemort was still standing and Kingsley had joined the fight with McGonagall and Flitwick. The others were standing in awe, watching the two duels.

'Will someone please check Hermione!' Harry cried out again. He was caught off guard by Bellatrix and had to dodge a killing curse.

'Harry! We tried, we can't get past the shield!' someone called out from behind him. There were other shouts of agreement as well, and Harry knew that he'd have to finish this with Bellatrix soon. She shot a curse at him, which he sidestepped. Then he shot one straight back, but he anticipated where she would move to. With his free hand he cast a non-verbal petrificus totalus and Bellatrix was frozen where she stood. Her wand fell out of her hand and Harry summoned it. He promptly snapped it.

As he walked over to Bellatrix, summoning the knife that had marred Hermione's arm from the holster at her waist. He caught it by the ivory handle and smiled viciously as Bellatrix's eyes widened in horror. He raised the knife and slashed her in the neck, jerking back from the spray of blood. Releasing the petrificus totalus, Bellatrix fell to the ground, blood pooling around her.

Harry bent down and, his voice full of venom, 'You should never have harmed my Hermione.' He stood, and walked back into the Hall. People were staring at Harry, his right arm covered in Bellatrix's blood. 'Leave her,' he commanded imperiously. No one moved, and Harry glanced at Hermione, his shield still covering her. He saw her chest rise and fall lightly. He continued his march forward. The crowd parting to reveal Lord Voldemort just as he overpowered McGonagall, Flitwick and Kingsley. They were thrown backwards as Voldemort let loose some sort of forcefield designed to throw everyone it came into contact with to the ground. Harry felt it as it passed him, and heard the people all around the Hall landing on the floor.

'You have killed Bellatrix, Potter,' spat Voldemort, 'And you are still standing, even though I killed you again, and my forcefield should have put you down.'

'Yes Tom, I am still standing. And after today it will be you that's dead, not me.' Voldemort laughed at Harry's words. The rest of the Hall was in an enraptured silence and it rung, high and cold through the room.

'No, Harry Potter. It will be you that dies. Not me. Your petty power of love will not save you today.'

'But today I'm not acting out of love. I was, until Bellatrix decided to attack Hermione. Now there is only hatred and anger. And isn't that what drives you, Tom? Isn't that what's made you so powerful over the years? Because if it is, you should be worried.'

Harry stared straight into Voldemort's red eyes and saw a flicker of fear.

'But I can not die! I have safeguards in place, they-'

'Not anymore. There gone, I destroyed them. No more Horcruxes Tom.' said Harry, a ghost of a smile appearing on his face. Voldemort looked scared now, he didn't want to believe what he was hearing.

'No, nobody knew. It can't be-'

'The Diary, the Ring, the Locket, the Cup, the Diadem and Nagini. All gone Tom. There are no more. Apart from the one you didn't know about.'

'What?'

'The night you came to my house and murdered my parents, part of your soul latched onto the only living thing left. Me. I became the Horcrux you didn't know about. And tonight, when you hit with the killing curse again, you destroyed that piece of your soul that had been living inside me for so long. You brought about you own downfall Tom.'

And Voldemort fired the first spell. Harry immediately adapted to the pace and scale of the battle, equalling Voldemort's power. He didn't know where it was coming from, but he was battling for his life and everyone else's as well, for the fallen too. Harry wouldn't let them die in vain.

Voldemort cast a fiery whip and tried to wrap around Harry, but the teenager had turned it into water using wandless magic, and engulfed Voldemort in a giant fire ball with his wand. Voldemort used the same trick as Harry, turning the fire to water, and then vanishing it. He fell to the floor and Harry charged forward and, but Voldemort had turned to smoke, reappearing behind Harry.

Harry spun around and continued his assault. He was pushing Voldemort back towards the Entrance Hall; the rate of his spell casting unmatchable. Voldemort was blocking Harry's barrage of spells, and he kept backing away, down the length of the Great Hall. But Harry didn't realise that they were getting closer to Hermione. The shield had vanished by now and Voldemort yelled,

'ENOUGH!'

Harry stopped as Voldemort pointed his wand at Hermione. She was still unconscious, and Harry knew she wouldn't wake before Voldemort killed her.

'Move again, and the girl dies,' said Voldemort. Harry knew that he'd have to act quickly. His hand and wand were still raised. He cast the shield around Hermione again and shot a stunning spell at Voldemort.

He was caught off guard and he froze. Harry quickly sent him flying into the Entrance Hall, where he landed near Bellatrix. Harry sprinted through the doors of the Great Hall, and stood before Voldemort. The spell was wearing off and his wand lay on the floor next to him. Harry destroyed it like he'd destroyed so many other wands that night.

It crumbled to dust on the floor, and Voldemort's eyes darted from where the wand had been back to Harry.

'How? When did you get so powerful?'

'I think it started when I realised who I loved,' said Harry simply.

He levelled his wand at Voldemort's body.

For the first time in his life, Harry uttered the deadly words.

'Avada Kedavra.'

The jet of green light shot from the tip of his wand and struck Voldemort. His head had been raised, but it lulled backwards, totally devoid of life. Harry stared at Voldemort for a second, then he turned, sprinting back into the Hall.

He rushed over to Hermione, dropped his wand and bent down to check on her. No one in the Hall dared move, let alone make a sound. They had just seen Harry Potter defeat Voldemort and his deputy, no one wanted to get on his bad side.

Harry was able to penetrate the shield he had conjured and cradled Hermione's head in his hand. He felt a pulse at her neck and then her wrist. He could feel her warm breath on his face. He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. 'Come on Mione. Wake up. Please wake up baby,' he begged her. She didn't respond. Harry stared at her, 'Please Mione. I left you, but I came back. Come back to me Mione.'

Hermione opened her eyes.

Harry started crying as he clutched Hermione to his chest. He felt her arms wrap weakly around him and he sat down, pulling her into a sitting position too.

'I thought you wouldn't wake up, I asked you to wake up. But you wouldn't and-' Harry cried but he was silenced when Hermione kissed him. They sat in the middle of the demolished Great Hall, everyone standing around them, and kissed for a full minute. A flash went off, and they broke apart.

'I could hear you, Harry. I was trying to wake up,' said Hermione softly.

They held each other on the floor for a little while longer, before someone started clapping. Harry looked around for the source of the noise, and saw Ron standing side by side with his family. Gradually everyone began to join in, and instead of Voldemort's laugh ringing throughout the Hall, it was the applause of Harry's friends and professors.

They applause turned to cheering, and Professor McGonagall approached Harry and Hermione as he was helping his girlfriend to her feet.

'That was outstanding Potter. Absolutely magnificent.' Lowering her voice, she continued. 'You should make your way to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey will want to check you over and you should be able to get some peace and quiet there.'

Harry nodded, and his arm around Hermione's shoulders they left the Great Hall. They passed the place where Voldemort's body had been, but it was now no more than a pile of ash. Hermione caught sight of Bellatrix, the knife still lodged in her neck, and a pool of blood around her.

'What happened to Bellatrix?' she asked Harry quietly.

'She tried to kill you. So I kind of froze her, summoned her knife, then stabbed her in the neck' Harry said. 'I was so angry. She hurt you, and I just lost it. I feel bad, even though she's scum,' he added. Harry was looking down as they moved.

'Oh,' Hermione said, leaning further into Harry as they walked. She didn't mind that Bellatrix was dead, but Hermione noted that she'd have to make sure Harry wasn't turning dark, because it looked like a particularly vicious murder. But he did look rather upset and obviously wasn't happy about what he'd done.

A/N: Sorry this is short, the next one is 7000 words long though, so makes up for it. What did you think? Harry too dark? I'm posting this early, because i'm distraught, i hope having this to focus on my will make me feel better. Thanks for reading, i love you all, :/