Chapter twenty five
Destiny
Hermione swallowed hard as a wave of fear washed over her while the Dementors closed in around her and Ginny.
"Use your umbrella thingy" Ginny ordered as Hermione fumbled with the umbrella and pulled it close. Pointing it towards the closest Dementor she whimpered when nothing happen and she threw it after several more attempts to make it do something.
"Hermione your meant to have a bright idea when you throw away our only means of defensive" Ginny scolded as Hermione shot her a look and glared.
"SORRY" Hermione snapped before she stumbled back and hit the ground out. Ginny attempted to pick her friend up only to have a wave of depression and failure wash over her and images spill through her head of the moments when her mother screamed at her and when her brother Charlie was nearly killed.
"Hermione" Ginny croaked as Hermione was being ambushed with similar feelings and images from her own past. The women whimpered as the Dementors closed in on them drawing out more life from them.
As darkness stole their visions a loud screech filled the hall and the Dementors were driven back when a fiery bird dove at them.
Hermione and Ginny gasped for breath as they sat up watching Fawkes diving again and again the Dementors driving them back until the Dementors all howled in pain and seemed to pop out of existence with their howls echoing around the room.
Groaning as the dark feelings fled from them Hermione couldn't help but smile brightly at Fawkes when he landed by her and rubbed his head against her cheek.
"You are getting so many treats when we get out of here" Hermione promised as she kissed the birds head and Ginny actually smiled at the bird.
Scrambling to her feet Hermione lunched her self towards the door leaving Ginny and Fawkes to hurry after her.
"I can't hear anything" Hermione declared after pressing her ear against the door and straining hard to hear what was happening.
Fawkes trilled up at her making Hermione blinked before looking at him.
"Really" she questioned as Ginny looked between the two then sighing impatiently.
"WHAT" Ginny demanded before Hermione raced towards the pink umbrella and grabbed it. Racing back she looked cautiously at the tip then at Fawkes.
"This won't work" Hermione ordered as the bird trilled up at her again more forcefully before Hermione nodded and went to raise the umbrella tip to her throat but Ginny grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing" Ginny questioned holding Hermione's arm in place as the other woman stared at her.
"He says I can make my voice louder; I can tell them that they have to use the bond their parents left them to defeat Voldermort" Hermione explained as Ginny raised her eyebrows with an incredulous look.
"Look just trust me Ginny" Hermione pleaded before Ginny swallowed hard then reluctantly let Hermione's arm raise the umbrella.
Smiling at her Hermione nodded before looking at the door and offering up a pray, she pressed the tip against her throat.
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Inside the four heroes all prepared themselves for Voldermort's next attacked; each dodging a curse sent their way only to jump back to the spot beneath their personal founder.
Hissing Voldermort gave them each a twisted smile before looking pointedly at the wandless Luna and Cedric.
"Your weak and now defenceless, your defeat will be easy" Voldermort drawled as Harry and Draco glanced at each other and were about to charge at Voldermort when they heard someone clearing their throats.
"YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR BOND" Hermione's voice echoed around the hall forcing Voldermort to spin and glare at the doors.
"Your parents gave you a power more powerful then magic; more powerful then Voldermort" Hermione declared as each the heroes frowned and glanced at the doors.
"Your parents gave you the bond of love... of strength... of courage... your parents gave their lives for you. Love is stronger then hate; it's brighter then the dark powers Voldermort has" Hermione ordered slightly hysterically as Voldermort hissed and each of the heroes turned to look at him.
"DAMMIT IT'S THE ONLY THING VOLDERMORT CAN'T UNDERSTAND" Hermione growled before Voldermort threw a curse at the door making the wall shake and the door to splinter slightly but still remain wedged shut.
"Our parents" Harry started as he felt a force spin around him and feelings of overwhelming love swell up in him at knowing that his parents had loved him so much they had died for him.
Glancing at the others he saw them understanding this too.
"My parents gave me their love" Harry growled lifting his hand while Draco followed his actions.
"My mother gave me her courage" Draco declared as Voldermort spun between the pair of them while Luna and Cedric raised their hands too.
"My parents gave me their strength" Luna declared as Voldermort snapped around to face her.
"My parents gave me their determination to stand against evil" Cedric declared as Voldermort growled at them spinning around pointing his wand at each of them in turn.
"AVADA KADVA" The four heroes screamed before four bursts of green lights shot from their hands and hit Voldermort.
With a scream Voldermort grew bright blinding the heroes before a large shock wave shot out from the middle of the room and sent the heroes flying backwards.
The castle shook again and threatened to collapse while the doors groaned and threw themselves open allowing the dust and rubble to be swept up in a storm.
Hermione and Ginny waited ten minutes before they dare venture in with Fawkes trailing behind them.
Glancing around Hermione almost cried when she saw Harry and Draco both laying on the floor each sporting cuts and blood.
Racing towards them Ginny chewed her lip before seeing Luna and Cedric and she quickly raced over to them.
"HARRY" Hermione yelled as she tumbled to her knees beside her friend and quickly checked for his pulse, crying she couldn't help but smile brightly at finding one before she turned and crawled to Draco.
Upon finding both men alive Hermione dropped her head to Draco's chest and actually give out a loud sob of happiness at finding them alive.
"THEIR ALRIGHT OVER HERE" Ginny declared as she knelt between Luna and Cedric who laid in the same condition as Harry and Draco.
Wiping away the tears Hermione watched as Fawkes hopped over to Harry and bent his head to his chest. Blinking to make sure she was really seeing it Hermione was shocked as Fawkes let one tear roll from his eye on to Harry chest and for Harry to start glowing brightly.
Hermione jerked back when Harry sat up chocking and coughing before looking around him with wide eyes in fear of an attack. Fawkes quickly moved over to Draco and repeated the process before Draco sat up clutching his chest and panting hard.
Hermione watched as Fawkes repeated it two more times and soon the four heroes were staring at each other trying to regain their breath.
"Hermione" Harry breathed before Hermione flung her self at him and hugged him tightly causing Harry to choke again.
"Hermione" Harry wheezed before Hermione drew back and planted a quick kiss to his lips before jumping up and doing the same with Draco leaving him dazed as she raced over to Luna and hugged her tightly but re-farmed from kissing her.
Ginny rolled her eyes but quickly helped Luna to her feet and then rushed over to Harry and Draco and helped them both up.
"That's it we're dead and gone to heaven" Cedric declared after Hermione kissed him and helped him to his feet while Draco coughed and glared at him.
"If this was heaven Granger wouldn't be anywhere near you" Draco growled before coughing again and Hermione helped Luna towards the others.
"Shut up your not dead" Hermione snapped as Ginny nodded while she held Harry up.
"So is that it did we destroy Voldermort" Harry questioned as he drew the others gaze towards the spot Voldermort had once stood on.
"For now" A voice boomed causing the group to snap their heads up to find Dumbledore smiling at them all with a glint to his eyes.
"I'm glad you have fulfilled your destiny" Dumbledore declared as he came towards the group patting Cedric's shoulder and smiling fondly at the others.
"Why didn't you tell us love was the way to stop Voldermort" Luna questioned as Hermione shifted her weight so she could look at Dumbledore who simply smiled with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I couldn't. Voldermort believed he had power by knowing what was written in the prophecy and for the most part he knew some of what was written" Dumbledore admitted before Draco gaped at him.
"What do you mean some" Draco questioned as Dumbledore stared at him.
"For he who will not be named can only be destroyed by a force more stronger then magic and time themselves; love" Dumbledore explained as the heroes raised their eyebrows at him.
"Your parents all knew this the moment they gave their lives to protect you; they knew that in leaving you alive they would be giving you the strongest bond then if they had lived. Love is invisible, it weaves it self around each of us but it can not be forced nor taken. Voldermort only craved power and could not understand that loving someone else could bring him the greatest power of all" Dumbledore admitted as the younger people around him all ducked their heads in understanding.
"Wait how did you know that oh sexy one" Cedric asked as they all looked at Hermione who stared dumbly at them for a moment before looking down at Fawkes who was leaning against her legs.
"Fawkes told me" Hermione admitted before looking up to surprised faces.
"She's talking to birds now" Ginny declared as Harry chuckled and shook his head.
"Not the strangest thing she ever did" Harry offered as Hermione gave him a bemused look while Dumbledore stared at Fawkes who trilled up at him.
"I believe Fawkes has chosen a new master" Dumbledore admitted lightly before bowing his head to the bird who returned the gesture before rubbing his head against Hermione's legs.
"What is it with you and magical things Hermione" Ginny declared in mock outrage while the rest laughed.
After several seconds Harry glanced at Dumbledore who was watching him with a fond smile and twinkle to his eyes.
"Dumb question but what happens now" Harry asked as everyone looked to Dumbledore who thought for several moments before looking around the hall.
"We finish what we started and round up Voldermort's followers; it won't be easy as many have hidden from us for years. Then we rebuild this world, the veil will go up again" Dumbledore admitted before he smirked at the heroes and gave them all a thoughtful look.
"Of course many will say your place is here now; as you have the founders powers it will be your place to restore peace to our world" Dumbledore admitted but his knowing smile made each of the heroes to glance at each other.
"Will we be able to come back to the muggle world" Draco asked before Harry tightened his hold on Ginny.
"Not for the time being no; we have much work ahead of us and we can not afford to have muggle's discovering us" Dumbledore admitted as Harry stood straighter and looked Dumbledore in the eyes.
"There is still evil in the world, I can't turn my back on the people who raised me and accepted me as one of their own" Harry admitted as Dumbledore tilted his head towards him in agreement before he looked at Draco who glanced at Hermione who was staring at him.
"As much as I hated my father there is still a lot of people depending on what his business offered; with him gone I can't turn my back on them either" Draco admitted looking at Dumbledore firmly.
"Besides without me Harry might get himself killed or worse nagged to tears by Hermione" Draco declared gaining a glare from Hermione.
"Of course" Dumbledore agreed before he glanced at Luna and Cedric who both were looking at the ground.
"And you two; where do you belong" Dumbledore questioned as Luna raised her head and avoided Dumbledore's gaze.
"I will go where I'm needed" Luna admitted as Dumbledore nodded and looked at Cedric who nodded his head sullenly.
"Ditto" he declared as Dumbledore nodded and thought for a few moments before smiling brightly at them all.
"Then why are you wasting time standing here; you must rest and prepare your selves to fight evil" Dumbledore ordered as Luna and Cedric snapped their heads towards him.
"Do you mean" "My dear Luna, the four of you were born to be a team. What good can come of separating you" Dumbledore questioned as Luna and Cedric broke out into large smiles which Dumbledore returned.
"Now go; there is magic to be done and heroes to honour" Dumbledore ordered as he turned and began to wards the other end of the great hall as the six other people began to make their way to the exit with Fawkes trilling behind them hopping over rocks.
"WAIT" Harry called as he turned and looked at Dumbledore who turned to smile at the younger man.
"Will we ever see you again" Harry questioned as the others turned waiting for Dumbledore's answer.
"My dear boy I'm very much like a lemon drop; always there when you least expect it" Dumbledore declared before he winked at them and turned around heading through a door.
With a smile the fours heroes and two women all staggered out of the Great Hall under the presence of the founders watchful eyes and smiles.
two more chapters to go and it's done. A Sequel may follow this.