Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It makes me sad…

-R-U-B-Y-

Chapter 20: Ashes to Ashes

-R-

Before Harry stood a 7ft mountain troll. Ok then, thought Harry, I going to fight a mountain troll. He looked around to see if there was anything he could use to knock the troll unconscious. Realising there was nothing in there that could help him, Harry ran up the stairs and could hear the troll following him. The troll crashed and smashed its way upstairs leaving little in its path and Harry did not want to get crushed to death by a troll of all things. He looked around the room he had just entered. He hurriedly searched it in a desperate attempt to find something to use against the troll and then he spotted it. His escape.

A small vent like shape that he could fit through to get out of the mansion or at least he hoped it lead out of the mansion. He propped it open and begin to crawl through it as anywhere was better then being with that mountain troll. It was filled with spiderwebs that clung to Harry as he crawled through the space. He could hear the troll behind him roaring with anger at his lost prey. Harry sighed in relief as the tunnel started to get lighter he could see the outside world starting to come in to focus.

He came out of the tunnel to a badly maintained garden. He fell out of the tunnel straight into a rose bush that cut him in multiple places. He got up cursing as he went and clambered out of the garden to a side road. He quickly apparated from the Pettigrew Manor to Riddle Manor and what he found there was that the manor was on fire. Then he heard a scream.

-U-

Ginny was starting to get to hot. The basement was starting to get crowded and she could smell smoke from somewhere which was worrying. Peter had gone off somewhere after he had managed to capture the whole army that was sent to stop him. Bloody Typical. The group did not look good, they had been beaten and bruised and generally looked like they could pass out at any moment.

"So, Who's grand Idea was this rescue?" Ginny asked to fill the silence that hung in the air. The group all turned to look at her with shame over their faces.

"Look we obviously didn't think this through." Lupin spoke.

"No you obviously didn't." Ginny replied the room started to grow hotter and Ginny could smell smoke which could only mean one thing. A fire had been started. She needed to think of a way out and to get everyone in the room out as well. This was going to be difficult. If only she had her wand but Peter had taken it. She sighed as she looked around the room and spotted a nail sticking out of the wall to the left of Hermione. She scotched over to her, there was a gap between them, and once she had gotten there she fumbled around before finding the nail and began to cut the rope around her hands.

"Ginny what are you doing?" Hermione asked while she looked at Ginny like she was weird. Ginny just smiled at her and continued to cut the rope. Finally once she was free she untied her feet and started to untie Hermione as well because two heads were better then one when it came to getting out of here. Hermione nodded her thanks and went about untying everyone else whilst Ginny walked over to the basements window. The window was small and would be easy for her to get out of as well as the other 5 members.

"Hey Lupin & Ron can you guys give me a boost up?" Ginny asked the two begrudgingly came over and did as she asked. She managed to get the window open and climbed through it. The first thing she saw was a garden. It was beautiful and then she took a deep breath of fresh air before turning round and helping the other get out of the burning manor. As Ginny looked up at the manor all she saw was orange and yellow burning bright flames.

-B-

Once everyone was out of the burning manor Hermione could finally get a grasp as to what had just happened. They all wore relived faces after escaping and impromptu fiery death. Before anyone could speak Tonks began to scream she was looking at something around the side of the mansion. They all hurried over to see what it was and the sight that greeted them was terrifying. What lay before them was a death eater, a dead one, that had signs of torture all over his body. This was not the worst part however as the body had words craved into it spelling something.

Hearing a cry of "Harry!" behind her Hermione turned to see Ginny in Harry's embrace. Her face was buried in his chest but Harry was looking at the body. Finally after a long sombre moment Ron asked "What does it say?". Lupin answered him, his face had a look of horror on it.

"It says ONE LAST BATTLE"

"What does that mean?" Neville asked he was paled and was obviously freaked out about the whole thing.

"It means" Harry spoke, his voice was filled with anger "Peter wants the next fight to be either his or my last." Most of the group looked at him in shock but the ones who knew the meaning looked at Harry with pity. Hermione wanted to be sick this man wanted to kill someone over something that happened over 17 years ago. However she could see the look of determination in Harry's eyes it would not be him who would fall and somehow Hermione knew that Peter was right there would be one last battle and it had already started.

-Y-

AN: Well … Hello there… It's been a while.

See I have been busy. I have had UNI and work so less time to write but anyway here it is.

Remember when I said this would be the last chapter well actually hopefully the next chapter will be.

But who knows?

Anywho here you go and please:

Review, Favourite and Follow.

Cheerio 3,

Ruby

P.S Hopefully the next chapter wont take so long.