A/N: Sorry for the delay, but I hit writers block. Please go back and reread Chapter 24, I reworked alot of it. It is different! Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 25: The Fall of an Angel

Hogwarts Castle

Twelve Hours Later

As soon as Harry and the others returned from the Forest of Dean, Harry locked himself in the Room of Requirement. He needed time to go over what he learned with Fawkes.

Ginny went to the lab where Tony and the goblins were forging the new armor to help however she could along with Sabertooth. Bill went to check in with Albus and Nicholas while Sirius went to look for his daughter. Hermione said that she needed to talk to him when he got back.

Sirius found Hermione in his suite looking through one of the photo albums he had recovered from his school things in his old house before all hell went broke loose fifteen years ago.

"Hey pumpkin, what's up?" Sirius said.

"I wanted to spend some time with you. With everything happening, I haven't spent much time with you." Hermione said.

"That is so sweet Hermione. So tell me, what is really going on?" Sirius asked.

Hermione sighed. "Ron and I had a fight."

Sirius nodded, knowing where this talk was going. "Tell me about this fight." Sirius said, sitting down and pouring himself a descent sized drink.

Meanwhile Ginny was watching the goblins as they began to fire the metal scraps they had recovered from the old Archangel and Pixie armor that had been destroyed as well as other metals including what the Great Coven had given Harry and Ginny.

Watching the metal change into a liquid state as it was heated up was so surreal to Ginny. She had thought that the armor was impenetrable, impervious, and indestructible. Now seeing the metal now, she knew better. The armor was strong, yes, but it could still be defeated. She still had the acid burns on her arms to prove it.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice said behind her.

"Mr. Xanatos." Ginny said.

"David, please." Xanatos said.

"David, what are you doing here?" Ginny asked.

"Admiring the artisans at work" David said, pointing to the goblins beneath them in the pit forging the new armor.

"Why?"

"I see Harry has told you about me." Xanatos moved to a chair and sat down. "Tell me Miss Weasley, do you consider me a monster?"

"I did at one time."

"And you would be right. I tried to make slaves out of Goliath and the Clan for god sake! It was not one of my finest moments. I ran my business the same way. It wasn't until I met and fell in love with Fox that I saw what I had become. She refused to marry me until I changed. That happened to be when I met James and Orion Black."

"What did they do?"

"I thought Orion outbid one of my companies in an endeavor. When I went to speak to him, I was an ass and Orion put me in my place. Then this young punk kid, no older than 13 turns around and not only kicks my ass, but informs me that he, not his father, bought up all of my outstanding debt. He owned Xanatos Incorporated and I was left on the outside.

"I went home and found Fox there, waiting for me. I told her what happened. To this day I do not know what she said to Harry, but three days later, I was made an offer I couldn't refuse. Harry gave me back my company and I made a vow to help him however I could. I even made up with the Clan.

"Since then, I have been restructuring Xanatos Incorporated and making it a much better company for people. Along the way, I have helped Harry a few times as well."

"And married Fox" Ginny said.

"And married Fox. And of course she gave me my precious son Alexander."

"But that does not explain why you are here." Ginny said.

"Ginny, when you have a child, you will learn that there is nothing that you will not do to protect them from the world; Fox went up against Oberon, Lord of the Faire Realm to protect Alexander, and I stood before him and Fox's mother, determined not to let anyone harm my family. They wanted Alexander to return with them or to be killed.

"Alexander and Fox are the reason I am here. I want to make sure that my son grows up in a world where he will not be hunted or persecuted because of who or what he is. I want him to become a doctor, or a lawyer, or whatever he wants to be and not limited because of small minded idiots like his father once was." Xanatos said.

"Good." Ginny said "Because I have a feeling that we are going to need you before the end." She turned back to look at the goblins at work. It then that she saw something that she would always remember till the end of time, above the forge the spirit echoes of all those people whose armor went into the new armor.

As the goblins forged each piece, one of the forms would slip into the forge and into the armor. The last forms Ginny saw were of a man and a woman and two birds. The woman looked like a fierce warrior with her sword and shield in her hands. She nodded at Ginny as she began to drop into the forge, the man, whom Ginny knew was Godric of Gryffindor, bowed to Ginny before joining the woman. Ginny knew who the two birds were, they were hers and Harry's animagus forms. As the spirits of the birds flew into the forge, magic began to sink into the cooling metal, making it even stronger than ever.

"Ron told me that he is leaving for Germany tomorrow." Hermione said.

"Why?"

"The Ancient House of Windsor has been challenged to a duel of honor. From what I found out from Percy Weasley, the Ancient House of Grimaldi, which is the ruling house of Monaco, has a long standing blood feud with the Ancient House of Windsor. The feud can only be settled by the magical caveats of the families." Hermione said almost hysterical now.

"And since Harry and Ginny are the Scions of the Ancient Houses of Windsor and Tudor and are unavailable—"

"It falls to the Champion of the Ancient House of Windsor." Hermione finished.

Sirius thought for a moment then made up his mind. "Hermione, you are the Shield Maiden of the Ancient House of Windsor. You are charged with the health and wellbeing with the House Champion. To that end, you need to go to Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black Family, and grab the champion's battle robes that are there. Ask one of the house elves to show you where they are. Since I assume that using Griffin would be cheating and we do not want anyone to know who Griffin is.

"While you're there, I'll go see Aunt Liz and get some of the Tudor & Windsor gear; as well as more information on this duel."

"Thank you daddy" Hermione said while hugging her dad.

"You're welcome. Now get going, I need to see Amelia and Aunt Liz." Sirius said as he and his daughter left the room.

"Fawkes, what in the hell do you really expect me to do?" Harry asked.

"To be you Harry" Fawkes said. "You are the Archangel, you have been raised to protect others, it is a part of you."

Harry, knowing that Fawkes was right, finally relented. "Ok Fawkes, you're right. It's just too much some days."

"I understand Harry." Fawkes said.

Harry felt the castle suddenly go into a heightened state of emergency. Harry, using the connection he had with her felt his godfather running towards his location. Harry threw open the door and waited for Sirius to get there and speak.

"What's wrong?"

"Many years ago the Ancient House of Grimaldi, which is ruling house of Monaco, was offended by the Ancient House of Windsor. Now that there is a magical branch of the Windsor family, the House of Grimaldi demands satisfaction of this duel. Because of your position in the government, you and Ginny are released from fighting."

"RON!" Harry screamed, knowing that Ron was good, but the members of the Ancient House of Grimaldi had trained since they were in diapers in magical combat. Harry grabbed Sirius and flamed to the Minister of Magic's office.

"Please tell me you know where Ron is." Harry said as he appeared in the Minister's Office.

"Minister! Her Majesty has requested your presence immediately." Percy said as he burst into the room at the same time Harry and Sirius arrived.

"Here, take my hands." Harry said as he flamed the four of them to the Queen's Private Chambers at Buckingham Palace.

"Aunt Liz, please tell me you know where this damn blood feud is at?" Harry said.

"Harry, it is at the Nurmengard." The Queen said.

"Damnit. That is where Grindelwald is! I need to go." Harry left in flames, leaving a shocked Sirius and Amelia in his wake.

"This is so not good." Sirius said.

"No shit Sirius." Amelia said.

"Why?" Liz asked.

"Because the only person imprisoned at the Nurmengard is Gellert Grindelwald, the power behind Hitler in the 1930s and 40s. Albus Dumbledore sealed him in there, almost killing himself in the process. The only way to defeat the wards and enchantments is to overpower them by a single person. It would take more power than a wizard could normally generate or handle." Sirius said.

"Ron is very strong magically, and Hermione is even more powerful because she is a natural spell crafter. If Voldemort could steal their magic—" Percy said.

"He could spring the terror behind the Third Reich." Amelia finished.

Harry appeared in the War Room and began barking orders. "I need the Nurmengard on screen and need Albus, Nick, Ginny and the others. Hermione and Ron are walking into a trap."

Five minutes later everyone was there. "Tom is making his move. He wants Grindelwald's power!" Harry said.

"Are you sure he doesn't want Grindelwald himself?" Ginny asked.

"No. He doesn't want any competition; he'll kill Grindelwald and absorb his magic." Harry said.

"Archangel and Pixie are not ready yet. They need at least another four hours." Sabertooth said.

"Gin, stay here with them." Harry said as he summoned an older set of battle robes and his swords.

"No. I'm coming with you!"

"No Ginny you aren't. The Nurmengard has magic around it that is very strong. Tom wanted Hermione and Ron because of their magical strength. If he can steal their magic and feed it into himself, then he can open a hole in the wards. Once there is a hole, Tom can get to Grindelwald and kill him by stealing his magic, making himself unbeatable. No matter how strong Hermione and Ron are, Gellert is stronger and if Tom gets that much power, then it is game over. If we can get Hermione and Ron out safely, then Tom has lost because he can't open the wards by himself. There are not too many Death Eaters left, and he is still weak from fighting me. He'll have to retreat."

Ginny nodded, understanding "Albus, you Nick, Perenelle, Bill Weasley and anyone else good with Wards need to erect the strongest wards you can when we get there." Harry said to the group. "Try to make it as hard as possible for Tom to get out and to contain the magic that fighting him is going to cause."

"I understand Harry." Albus said.

"Everyone else, the prize is Ron and Hermione. Get to them and get them out of there. Once they are clear, retreat to the wards." Harry turned to Ginny one more time "Ginny, as soon as the armor is ready, flame to me and then we'll end this once and for all."

"Then we can get married?" Ginny asked.

"Yes." Harry kissed Ginny before flaming away, leaving Ginny alone as Harry somehow flamed all of the fighters away at once.

"Goddamn kid!" Someone shouted from outside the War Room. Ginny moved to the door in time to see Tony Stark laying on the floor in his Iron Man Suit completely frozen; Pepper and David Xanatos standing over him, trying to help.

"He wants us all out of the fight." Ginny said.

"His ass is mine when he gets back." Tony grumbled as Ginny used magic and pulled Tony from the suit.

"But first…" Xanatos said as he pulled out a cell phone. "…Fox, it's me. It's time…No Archangel is not ready yet. I doubt Pixie will work, Stark's suit is out too…Can you get the Clan…Your mother? Ok…yes the Nurmengard. No see if Puck can help Harry. If he loses, Puck's job will be infinitely more dangerous…I love you too."

David turned to the others in the hallway "Tatiana is using her magic to send the Manhattan Clan to the Nurmengard. Oberon is sending a contingent of faire folk as well. Ginny, if Iron Man is not working, and Harry did not summon Griffin, then I would assume that Pixie will not work either." Xanatos said. "It is what I would do."

"Me too" Tony said.

"Tony, you don't get to hurt Harry first, that is my job." Ginny said.

Harry and the others arrived as close as Harry could get them to Nurmengard Castle. Albus Dumbledore, at the end of the Second World War, had sealed the Dark Wizard within the Castle using magics that had not been seen in eons. It included wards, spells, enchantments, and for twenty years a full contingent of Goblins and Aurors.

When it had been proven that Gellert could not escape and that no one alive was powerful enough to breech the wards, the Guards were removed. Over the years, only the House Elves that had been in Nurmengard Castle could enter and exit, and they were forbidden to transport anything but food, drink and clothing from a location that protected by a Fidelius Charm by the Master of Nurmengard Castle, Albus Dumbledore.

Albus himself had not been to Nurmengard since he finished casting the spells that almost took his life thanks to magical exhaustion. In fact if it hadn't been for the fact he was named Headmaster of Hogwarts during the war and had her magic to fall back on, Albus Dumbledore would have died. As it was he spent a month in the Hospital Wing upon his return.

Harry immediately made his way towards where he knew Ron and Hermione would be, when Albus cast the spells on the Castle, he used an ancient alter that had been here since before Roman Times. It had been the sight of many rituals and sacrifices, the perfect spot for Tom. As soon as Harry crossed into the courtyard that the alter laid, powerful wards sprang up. Harry knew immediately that this was a setup. He was the target, Ron and Hermione were the bait.

Pulling out his sword and wand, Harry made his way towards where he heard Hermione screaming. Sure enough Tom had Hermione and Ron tied to the alter and was etching runes into Hermione's stomach. Even from the distance he was, Harry could see that the runes were to transfer power. Harry was running out of time. Harry split his sword into the Gryffindor and Slytherin Swords activating an ancient spell on the Gryffindor Sword, then and sent a silent prayer to whichever god listened before he threw the Gryffindor Sword towards Ron and Hermione. The blade sliced through the ropes holding Ron's hands while Harry went on the offensive.

Thanks to the goblins and the previous battles with Harry, Voldemort only had a few followers which Harry began to cut through with the Slytherin Sword.

As soon as Ron as free, he grabbed the sword and lunged at Voldemort, stabbing him in the shoulder. Voldemort threw him back, right into Hermione. As soon as Ron touched Hermione, they both disappeared in flames. The magic Harry activated in the sword would protect the Gryffindor bloodline from harm by returning them to Hogwarts by portkey. The Weasley Family was a descendant of Gryffindor and Hermione was the magical Heir of Gryffindor thanks to the family bond she had with Harry. Seeing them leave, Harry knew his plan had worked and that his god-sister was now safe and continued to fight towards Tom Riddle.

Ron and Hermione reappeared in the Infirmary at Hogwarts together where Madam Pomfrey went to work on them healing the cuts Voldemort made on them both. This included stopping their magic from spilling out of them like a river.

Meanwhile Harry had made it Voldemort, who had an ace up his sleeve. Come to find out Voldemort was an elemental wizard.

"Harry Potter, we meet at last. It is time for you to die. With your death, I shall reach Gellert Grindelwald and strip him of his power, making me the Most Powerful Mage ever to walk the Earth!" Voldemort yelled before banishing fire and lava right at Harry, engulfing him in a lava ball. Harry had no time to react and was soon swimming in the molten rock, burning his battle robes and his own skin. Harry, for the first time in many, many years screamed in agony as his robes and skin began to melt.

"And too think Harry, some of my followers thought you were the Archangel!" Voldemort laughed at hearing Harry in pain. "Now, I will use you to breech the wards around Nurmengard Castle, as was my plan all long. Once that is done, I shall rip the magic from the old fool Grindelwald and then rule supreme!"

Dumbledore and the others who flamed in with Harry continued to try and breech the wards Voldemort put up. Nicholas, Perenelle, and Sirius were calling upon very old, very dark magic, trying to breech the wards by fighting fire with fire per say. The entire group felt the magical explosions as Harry's body, encased in lava, was thrown through against the wards of Nurmengard Castle again and again, causing the wards to strain and finally crack. The impact of the lava ball he was encased in cracked the wards and the lava ball. Sensing the crack, Harry's own magic, in a desperate attempt to save him grabbed a hold of the wards, causing them to rip away from the warding stones, dropping the wards.

Seeing the wards cascade and fail, Tom Riddle threw Harry over his shoulder, as if he was trash and walked through collapsing wards. Harry had served his purpose to the Dark Lord.

"HARRY!" Sirius screamed as he finally breeched the wards that Voldemort erected. Truth be told, Voldemort stopped powering them when he crossed into the Castle.

Nicholas, Perenelle, Dumbledore and the others followed Sirius to where the remains of the lava ball stopped. Sirius blew the ball apart more, trying to get to Harry inside. When he reached Harry, he vomited. Harry had over half his face missing down to the bone and burns over every inch of his body.

"Oh Harry." Sirius said, dropping to his knees.

"Sirius…" Perenelle said.

"No Perenelle, he will not die laying here on the cold ground like an animal. I'll hold him." Sirius said as he cried over his godson.

Nicholas, who was holding his wife turned to face Albus. The man's face held a stone cold focus. "Albus, I need you with me. Tom Riddle has killed my Grandson, it is time he faced what he is due."

"Nicholas, only Harry could defeat Tom—"

"Defeat yes, not kill. Harry defeated Tom in his quest for immortality, but I will kill him."

Albus nodded. "And I will end Gellert. He is too dangerous to live. I should have done it years ago."

Together the two men turned and headed towards the dark castle where two of the Darkest Dark Lords currently resided, praying that someone would take care of Harry.

Harry had known pain before, but this was something well and beyond anything he had ever felt before.

"It is time to embrace your true potential Harry." Someone said from somewhere far away from him.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"You are a phoenix. You must die, and then reborn into a stronger form." The voice said.

"Fawkes?"Harry asked.

"Yes youngling and you must hurry. Albus and Nicholas have entered Nurmengard Castle to avenge you." Fawkes said.

"Where are you?" Harry asked.

"I am here in the Phoenix Realm, waiting to guide you back. When you crossover, all your ties to the mortal realm will be broken, including those to Hogwarts and your Ginny. Once you crossover, you must wait seven days before you can return to the mortal realm. If you try to return early, you will be a chick and no use in the final battle. While you are away, your bonded, your mate, will inherit all that is yours including the wards of Hogwarts and the position of Archangel of the Angel Corps. She will make you proud of her."

"What about Voldemort? If he gets to Grindelwald, then it's all over." Harry said.

"Do not fear. Albus and Nicholas are stronger than you give them credit for." Fawkes said.

"Will it hurt?" Harry asked, thinking about death.

"Probably" Fawkes said.

"Oh well. What do I need to do?"

"Let go and embrace the fire within you." Fawkes said. "I will see you soon."

Knowing what he had to do, Lord Harry James Potter, Knight and Head of the Order of Magic, Lord of the Ancient Houses of Peverell & Flamel, Regent of the Ancient Houses of Windsor & Tudor, Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble Houses Potter, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, High Lord of Hogwarts, Ambassador at Large from Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and Scion of the Crown of England took his last breath while in arms of his godfather Sirius Orion Black.

As he took his last breath, over a thousand miles away in Hogwarts Castle, Ginny Weasley felt Harry's death and he leave the mortal plane. The stress of the magic settling in her overwhelmed her, causing her to lapse into a magical coma while checking on her brother and his fiancée. She was discovered by Madam Pomfrey who openly wept for the life that had been extinguished, knowing that Harry was dead.

Nicholas and Albus entered the Castle at the same time that Harry took his last breath. Nick stopped as he felt Harry die and doubled his effort to make Voldemort pay. As they began to climb the stairs, they came upon an elf. This faerie elf was of average height, wore chainmail armor and carried two swords on his back.

"Lord Flamel, Lord Dumbledore, I am Relulais Highshine, I have been sent by Lord Oberon to help stop the killer of the Archangel."

"I take it Lord Oberon knows of Lord Gryffindor's demise." Nicholas said.

"Yes. All the realms feel his passing and will mourn for seven days after this night. But for now, we must take our vengeance from this monster." Highshine said.

"What is our plan?" Albus asked.

"You kill Gellert, Albus. We'll handle Tom Riddle." Nicholas stated in a matter of fact voice that brokered no argument.

All three men nodded and made their way to Grindelwald's cell. It was at the top of the highest tower. When they arrived, Tom Riddle had already prepared Gellert for the ritual. There were runes all over his body and an emerald embedded in his chest.

"TOM RIDDLE YOU ARE MINE!" Nicholas yelled as he withdrew his sword and engaged the Dark Lord with Highshine next to him. Dumbledore turned to Gellert and saw that he was smiling.

"Albus, it has been too long my old friend. Do you see what you have done?" Gellert asked half crazed in his speech patterns. He could not move because Tom Riddle had removed his arms and legs.

"Hello Gellert, I see that you are a murderer and you have no remorse for what you have done." Albus said firmly.

"Oh but I do Albus. I have had many years to think over what I had done, and I realize that I was wrong. But I cannot atone for my sins; only god almighty can do that. Albus, I am ready to die. My apprentice has already tied himself to my magic and is already draining me. He is growing stronger by the second, but he is venerable. Strike me down; the magical backlash will destroy him and the cell. This is the only chance you will have. Now do what you should have done fifty years ago and take your vengeance on me." Gellert begged to his old enemy.

"Gellert…I am sorry." Albus said as he raised his wand at the man.

"No Albus, I am. Tell Aberforth I am sorry. For everything."

"Avada Kedavra." Dumbledore whispered as the green light of the Killing Curse left his wand.

"DUMBLEDORE! NO!" Voldemort screamed as he saw the Killing Curse impact Grindelwald's body, killing him.

The magical backlash began to destroy the cell almost the instant the Killing Curse hit the body. Highshine saw what was happening and opened a portal behind Nicholas and pushed him through it while summoning Dumbledore. At the same time the House elves of Castle Nurmengard appeared and popped the Order members away before the backlash destroyed the castle and grounds around it for miles. When they popped Sirius away, Harry's body remained. Many elves returned to claim his body and return it to Sirius, but they could not. Dobby popped to the castle and watch Harry's body was consumed in flames and then fell into the molten lava that was destroying everything around. Just as Dobby and the elves popped away, Dobby saw a firebird rise from the exact spot that Harry Potter had died.