So, several months later, here it is. The first fanfic this lazy writer actually FINISHED! Ever!! Even if I did take a 2 month break cause I got bored with it…. Oh well, as the saying goes, better late than never. The final chapter is quite mushy, feel free to let me know if you feel it gets tied up too neatly.

Chapter 21: Voldemort's Heir

After Sath'rah left, I exhaled deeply and wiped the sweat off my brow. I was covered in blood and vomit and my body ached all over, but at least I was alive. I had never felt so exhausted in my life, but I couldn't afford to rest. With Nagisa's death, the Imperius Curse seemed to have lifted from Gabbe and Coyle, but the others were still bound and wandless. Once again, it fell to me to rescue them.

I refused to go anywhere near Nagisa's body, so I borrowed a wand from a stunned and confused Gabbe. Next, I scanned Nagisa's book of Dark Magick for a way to reverse the gagging spell. It appeared to be a variation of the Silencing Charm; fortunately, it had the same countercurse. I waved Gabbe's wand and muttered "loquentium."

To my intense relief, my charm worked on the first try. Noise filled the air as a room full of people coughed, yawned, and retched simultaneously.

"Quiet!" I shouted.

Silence descended in an instant. I couldn't help feeling a bit impressed with myself.

"What spell do I use to untie you?" I asked the group at large.

"I'd use a Severing Charm," Lily answered.

I reached behind her, untied her, and handed her Gabbe's wand.

"You'd better do it," I said. "You know how bad I am with charms, I might cut their hands off by accident."

Lily took the wand, smiling a bit. "You don't do yourself justice, Tom."

I couldn't believe my ears. Had Lily Potter given me a compliment? Smiling even wider at the look on my face, Lily turned back to the group and performed the Severing Charm. The freed Gryffindors winced in pain and rubbed their sore wrists. I felt it was time to make my exit. But no sooner had I begun to head for the door than I tripped over something. I bent down to pick it up and found myself holding Nagisa's severed arm. Dropping the appendage like a hot coal, I swayed on the spot and promptly lost what remained of my dinner. Straightening up, I noticed that a certain silver bracelet had caught on my sleeve.

As I stared at the bracelet I had given Nagisa just this morning, the memories of our time together came rushing back like a flood breaking through a dam. I saw Nagisa standing in the forest glade, carrying the parasol I made for her, Nagisa fast asleep with her head on my lap, Nagisa snogging me in the hallway of the boy's dormitory as Ted looked on. I remembered, and I was seized by a powerful rush of longing for what could never be. I put my head in my hands and sobbed like a baby. Lily came up behind me and gently touched my back. "Tom-"

"Don't," I whispered, wiping away my tears. "I know she was evil. I understand that. But still, I wish I could have saved her, somehow. I wish-"

Lily wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder.

"You can't save everyone, Tom," she said. "But, you saved us."

I was stunned. I was dirty, and disgusting, and must smell horrible, yet here was Lily Potter, hugging me and comforting me. I was more grateful that I could say… but I couldn't shake the doubts at the back of my mind.

"Why are you being so nice?" I asked suspiciously.

Lily withdrew her arms and poked me hard in the ribs. I yelped.

"What was that for?!"

"You idiot! You just saved my life!"

"Er- yeah, right," I said, rubbing the back of my head sheepishly. Everyone laughed, including Lily.

"Sorry to break up you two lovebirds, but what should we do with him?" James asked, jerking his head towards Malfoy. Scorpius lay propped up on the wall near the corner of the room, right where Nagisa had left him after performing the Petrification spell.

"Lily could…" my voice failed me. "Could you fetch me my wand?"

Lily silently retrieved my wand from Nagisa's corpse and handed it to me.

It appeared as though Nagisa hadn't done the spell properly, for Malfoy's eyes widened as I advanced on him with my wand drawn. I'm sure he thought I was going to kill him. I looked him straight in the eye as I performed the countercurse.

"It's all right," I said, offering him my hand. "She tricked the both of us."

Malfoy took my hand and attempted to pull me to the ground. I stumbled and cursed as my knees hit the hard stone floor.

"Stay away from me, you filthy little blood traitor. I don't need your pity." Malfoy sneered.

James pulled out his wand. "You little git-"

I held up my hand, gritting my teeth against the pain. "It's all right, James, I'll get him back later. For now, I just want to get out of here."

James returned his wand to his pocket. " 'Course, mate. Whatever you say."

Was I hallucinating or had James Potter called me his mate?

I blinked at him in surprise and gingerly got to my feet.

"Let's get out of here," I said, limping toward the exit.

Everyone followed, save a short kid with brown hair and large blue eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere with him," he said, pointing a trembling finger at me. "He's Voldemort's son, he said it himself."

I slumped against the wall. I no longer possessed the energy or the inclination to contradict this rumor.

"It could be true," I admitted with a sad smile.

"So what?" Ted said. Everyone stared at him, including myself. "I'm the bloody son of a werewolf."

The kid's eyes swelled to the size of crystal balls. "But the prophecy says-"

"It doesn't matter," Ted snapped. "Even if Tom is Voldemort's Heir, he'll still be my roommate, and," he looked straight at me, "he'll still be my friend."

I met his gaze. "You don't really mean that" I said quietly.

"Yes, Tom, I do." His voice was firm and determined.

"And so do I," said Lily.

"And I," said Trevor.

"And I," said James.

There was a general murmur of assent from the Gryffindors.

"So bugger off" said James.

"I didn't mean… I mean you were all thinking it!" the bug-eyed boy finished defensively.

"All right, Tom?" Ted asked.

I couldn't speak. After 16 years of regrets and recriminations, I finally felt as though I found a place where I belonged.

"Now that that's settled, let's get out of here" said James. "I think we've had more than enough fun for one evening, don't you?"

I laughed. "If you consider mortal peril fun, I've had enough 'fun' for a lifetime."

So, that's all she wrote! Or, at least all this "she" is writing. Please, please, please review. This chapter, and your overall impressions for the story. If I get 100 reviews or more, I'll write a sequel. Promise =).