Authors Notes: Hope you all liked Chapter 11, it really was a very important chapter. The next few chapters are going to be very action packed and some very sad. I will give a point away now, some people will die. I will not say whom, but I am letting you know now that some very important characters do die. You can even throw in a few guesses at to whom you think it could be in your reviews. Please R & R though; it really helps this story role along so nicely! Now, to Chapter 12!!

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Chapter 12: Voldemort's Final Gift

            It happened so fast…

            The pain was unimaginable; it felt like his head would crack open on the spot. His energy failed him as Harry hit the ground, his hand grasping his scar. He winced and cried out, the throbbing pain intensifying. His body convulsed and he retched, unable to hold it in any longer. Ron stood by him, dazed as his friend was now on the ground.

            "What happened Harry?"

            "Voldemort is getting stronger, I haven't felt pain that bad in my scar since the day he arose form that huge cauldron out near his father's grave. Something has happened. Something horrible."

            His mind could only think of one thing, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. He would not face it, for he knew he could still change it.

Love can make anything possible…

            "Ron, we can't mess up this time. This all depends on us now; we have to save Hermione, Hogwarts, everyone! It's all on us Ron. You understand what I am saying?"

            Ron shook his head, "I understand Harry, I just can't fathom it. It really is a lot, you know. I am afraid I will fail you, you and Hermione. Everyone really…"

            He looked like a wounded animal as he walked back towards the castle. They had been coming back from Hagrid's hut, discussing tomorrow which was Halloween, when Harry had his attack.

            "Ron, you are not alone in this. I am here. Hermione will be too, once we find her. Think of her Ron. Think of your family. You are finally going to do something that no one else in your family has ever done."

            He shrugged, "What, make a complete fool of myself, die at the hands of You-Know-Who? What?"

            Harry eyes connected with Ron's. "Help save the world." Ron looked shocked, shocked at what Harry had just said, yet it was all too true. He would help save the world; it really did all depend on them. If Voldemort destroyed the prophecy, in no time the entire world would be affected. It all finally sank in. His courage was returning as he nodded and smiled at Harry. They headed to Dumbledore's office, to prepare for the hardest battle of their lives.

She never ceased to amaze him…

            He watched as she tortured another death eater that had brought some very interesting news. She enjoyed torturing this particular death eater, he guessed because of their history together, though he was sure he had wiped all her memories of her past.

 I guess memories of enemies are harder to erase…

            "And you let them catch our best spy? You are a fool Draco!" she hissed, watching him spasm and convulse on the floor. Voldemort always tested the loyalty of all his death eaters, including the woman that stood before him. He tested them everyday they were under his eye. Every since he returned to his body and they had all betrayed him in one way or another, he always reminded them that their loyalty would always be tested, until he thought they were completely loyal. His test for the Lady Illusia was to punish Malfoy for allowing Neville Longbottom to be found and caught. She did not hesitate in her duty, which he found so appealing. Imagine that the woman before him was once the proclaimed defender of good, the heir of Ravenclaw. Well, he was very pleased with himself indeed on creating such a wonderful and sadistic mate.

            "What is your excuse for letting them find him out Malfoy? Jealousy? Wishing you had been the one to carry out our lord's plan? Remember Malfoy; you had fumbled your last mission so badly that it would have been insane to trust you again. You are a blundering idiot, and will never be of any real use to our lord except for the occasional news of Potter. I am surprised that he actually lets you live."

            She released her curse and his body relaxed, still jerking slightly. She turned and looked up at Voldemort, eyes sparkling with malice. "What of our spy now? They know of him my lord. What do you wish to do? I will help every way I can."

            Perfect, she was absolutely perfect.

            He stood. "My lady, you have proven to me without a doubt, that you are capable of anything. But to prove your complete loyalty to me, you will be sent on a mission. One of my enemies, once a friend of yours, is of no more use to me. When the time comes I want you to kill him. He will come to us, I am sure of that. When he does, you will destroy him. Only then will I know you are loyal. Once a wizard takes another wizard's life, there is no turning back."

            She smiled and went to her lord, bowing gracefully before him. "Who must I kill? The spy? The spy at Hogwarts?"

            "No, I will deal with him. No, when the time comes, you will kill Harry Potter."

            The name did not faze her. He waited for her to flinch but she leaned up and kissed him hard on the lips, making his body ache for her. She released him and looked in his eyes, her eyes flashing dangerously.

            "It will be my pleasure…."

            The room was lit dimly as Harry and Ron entered Dumbledore's circular room. They looked around to find that Dumbledore was in the other room, standing near a large open cabinet. They walked into the room and noticed a long parchment hanging in mid air and a golden quill scribbling frantically across it, the writing shining bright gold. Albus was pacing around the scroll, stopping for a moment as if thinking. Each time he did so, the quill stopped, as if listening to his thoughts, then it scribbled a few more lines as fast as it could. Harry had a feeling that this was a lot like the Quick-Quotes Quill that had been owned by Rita Skeeter back in his fourth year. He watched as Dumbledore turned and waved them in. He already knew they were there.

            "I am finished. Albus Dumbledore," he said to the quill. It scribbled one last thing before returning itself to a shelf in the cabinet nearby. The parchment rolled up and inserted itself into a long black tube, closed with a black lid. Dumbledore took the container and put it in a large chest that was open on another shelf, revealing an even smaller box inside. He picked up this box and turned to them.

            "Now, the time has come. Tomorrow is Halloween and we must be prepared. In this box contains the amulets of the Order of the Phoenix. The three most powerful amulets of our time, worn by the Great Ones who founded this very school. I now bestow these upon you, the heirs of the prophecy. May you guard and use them well."

            He opened the box and pulled forth two golden chains, each with a jewel encrusted amulet of a Phoenix holding a shield, one for Hufflepuff and one for Gryffindor. He took the Gryffindor amulet and held the chain open.

            "I bestow to you Harry, heir of Gryffindor, the Phoenix of Gryffindor, "he placed the chain around his neck, "May it protect you and give you the courage and strength needed of you."

            As he released the chain and moved to place the other onto Ron, Harry felt a surge of white-hot energy flood through him. He felt light headed at its very power coursed through him. He felt his feet lift off the ground as a rush of…of…

He couldn't explain it. It was so intense, the feelings overcoming his body that no words could explain it. He felt his body lifting into the air, the power coursing through him. He felt as if his body was light at a feather but heavy all at the same time. Finally, his body was completely overwhelmed and he passed out, yet still remained floating in the air.

            Dumbledore watched as both Harry and Ron were now floating in mid-air. Both had passed out into a deep slumber from the surges the amulets had caused and both were now surround by a cocoon of intense pure gold energy. It grew brighter and brighter as they remained in the air. Their bodies no longer visible beneath the golden cocoons, Albus left the room. McGonagall was waiting for him in the study, looking red eyed and very weary. "Has it begun? Did you give them the amulets?"

            Dumbledore smiled weakly. "Yes, and the transformation has begun. While they sleep all the power of the past, all the knowledge, secrets and magic will be poured into them. They will probably not awake until tomorrow evening."

            Minerva looked horrified. "But, will it be too late? Tomorrow is the night, and they haven't even had a chance to test out their new abilities. How will they know what to do and what they can tolerate? How will they know how to save Hermione?"

            Albus took Minerva into his arms, holding her close. "They will know Minerva. I have faith in them. They will know. They have always known…"

            Tears fell from her eyes. "Oh, Albus. Will they succeed?"

            He held her closer, his voice cracking a little under his own emotions.

            "Time will tell Minerva. T…. time will tell…."

            It was near midnight the night before Halloween when a thick vapor entered the infirmary. The nurse was not aware of the sudden change of temperature, nor of the large object that materialized from the vapor that had glided into the room. But she became aware suddenly as she heard a loud thump of something hitting the floor. Coming out of her sleepy stupor, she saw a tall figure in black near the window by Neville Longbottom's bed. But before she could react, it pointed its wand at her and spoke, "Stupefy!"

            She fell to the floor unconscious as the figure moved toward Neville's bed. It looked down at the immobile boy and pointed its wand, "Ennervate!"

            Neville opened his eyes and saw those of Lord Voldemort. He then saw his wand moved to point at his chest. "I always keep my word to my death eaters Neville. You have proved yourself well, but you are no longer of use to me."

            "You promised I would be with my parents!" he spoke out, watching the wand so dangerously near his chest. Voldemort smiled.

            "And you will be with your parents, forever in oblivion! CRUCIO INFINITE!"

            Neville's screams filled the air, bone chilling screams that echoed through the halls of the entire school. His body convulsed and shook the bed violently. Then, as if something had snapped, his body went completely still, his cries ceased. Voldemort looked into the empty eyes of Neville that stared blankly up at him. Like his parents, his mind had snapped, forever lost. Voldemort leaned forward and whispered into Neville's ear. "My final gift to you my servant. I always keep my word Neville. Always…"

            And in a wisp of vapor, he was gone…..

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A little shorter than my other chapters, but I feel it needs to break here in order to have a good transition. Now, the next chapter will contain a lot, especially a lot of action. It will be up as soon as I can, but it may not be until Monday. We shall see. Post your reviews and any guesses if you want on all who dies! Hope to hear from you!!!

Fnxmoon