Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! But this story line is mine.
A/N: Second last chapter. Oh, my God! It's been fun.
Live Today Die Tomorrow.
Chapter 29: Gone Today Free Tomorrow
The shot was lined up perfectly. He drew his hand back and threw the Stone.
Ron watched on as the Stone sailed through the air towards Riddle. 12 metres. 10 metres. 5 metres. 2 metres. Harvey. HARVEY?! What is this prick up to now? I'm trying to save the world here and he comes along and catches the stone single handed like he's some sort of seeker in the quidditch world cup. That's it. I'm taking him out once and for all whether I've got powers or not.
(Moments before)
Kurt Harvey was having a fistfight with Yollander when he saw it. A red glimmer caught his eye as it flew through the air. Harvey's shirt was caught in Yollander's hands preventing him from moving.
Harvey knew what would happen if that stone hit Riddle. But did Weasley know? He couldn't let that happen. Not after all he and the wench had done to ensure his son's safety. He couldn't let Weasley take the fall for him. Or could he?
In a split second Harvey decided. Harvey quickly grabbed Yollander by the head and slammed his fist forward into his opponent's skull. He rammed his fist upwards until it made contact with Yollander's nose which ruptured with the collision. Harvey's fist was so forceful that it broke the cartilage in the bridge of the nose, sending it directly into Yollander's brain. Yollander fell limply to the floor as his nose continued to bleed.
Harvey didn't waste any time. He was running for the stone before Yollander even hit the ground. The Stone was travelling through the air like a torpedo set on its target. Harvey sped up.
Harvey jumped up on a small stone platform and lunged himself towards the hurtling red rock. He stretched out his right hand and closed his eyes. As soon as he felt the smoothness of the rock brush against his palm he clamped his fingers shut. Harvey brought the Stone to his chest and fell to the hard stone floor only metres away from Riddle.
Harvey turned slightly so his back was facing Riddle. He kept the stone hidden under his hands and kept still to keep Riddle from noticing his presence. Riddle was too distracted by Harry to even notice Harvey lying awkwardly behind him.
Harry was stumbling over broken stone features as Riddle charged for him. Riddle was physically stronger than Harry and knew it so he proceeded to toy with him. Riddle would use his wand to send large stone formations out of the ground before Harry's feet.
Harry, getting wearier the closer Riddle came to him, kept tripping over the newly formed stone features. His legs started to fail him. Although his brain yelled 'go' his feet cried 'no'.
Ron limped forward. He puffed out his chest to make himself more intimidating. He looked more like a beaten turkey, hobbling haphazardly towards Harvey who was now sprawled upon the ground heaving heavily as he clutched the Stone to his chest.
Harvey opened his eyes to see a wrathful Ron looming over him. Harvey grinned out of fear before being taken by the collar of his shirt.
"What is it with people and this shirt?!" Harvey groused as he was hoisted above the ground. His feet were daggling below him. "This is my favourite shirt and it's been through hell the last couple of months." Harvey lamented as he tried to remain calm. He even had the guts to reach out and straighten Ron's collar and smooth out the creases. "Much better. What would you do without me?" Harvey chuckled softly.
"First of all, I wouldn't have to listen to your annoying voice and pathetic excuses!" Ron sneered venomously as he brought Harvey down hard.
"Ow, not nice!" Harvey yelped as he crashed into the stone floor again.
"Secondly, I would be free to live my life!" Ron spat as he took hold of Harvey again and smashed him into the rubble behind him.
"And lastly. I WOULD'VE KILLED RIDDLE!" Ron yelled harshly as he punched Harvey and took the Stone from his hands.
"My face! My beautiful face! Why did you do that?!" Harvey implored while clutching his face. He staggered to his feet in time to see Ron take aim once again. "Will you stop that?!" Harvey cried as he leapt onto Ron's back. His arms came around Ron's front and he flung his legs around Ron's waist.
Ron swivelled around with his arms outstretched. He was spinning fast to try and shake himself free from Harvey's close embrace. After a couple of seconds Ron ceased spinning to stop himself from tipping over. Harvey was still on Ron's back and he wasn't going to budge.
"Stop spinning! I'm going to throw up!" Harvey yelled very loudly, very close to Ron's ear. Ron grabbed Harvey's arms, held on tight and fell backwards, crushing Harvey beneath him.
Ron stood quickly. However as soon as he'd regained his footing he was knocked over as Harvey swiped his feet from out beneath him. Ron hit the ground hard and came face to face with Harvey. Harvey leant over and grabbed the Stone from Ron. "I got it!" He cried with glee as he held the Stone above his head.
Harvey got to his feet in an instant and began to run towards Riddle with the Stone in his hand. Ron took longer to get to his feet because of the gash across his knee. Once he was up he began to hop towards Harvey.
Harvey got as close as he could before he suddenly felt extremely tired. He looked at the stone in his hand then back to Riddle who was still tormenting Harry. "Stop moving." Harvey said to himself. "I need you to stop moving."
As if on cue a very lanky brown puppy dog with long floppy ears came bumbling onto the scene. The puppy looked familiar to Harvey but he couldn't understand why. How did a puppy get in here anyhow?
The lanky puppy stumbled over its own ears before coming to a stop at Riddle's feet. Riddle paused his actions to look down at the random dog. The dog stuck its tongue out and panted a couple of times before raising its hind leg to urinate on the hem of Riddle's dark cloak.
Riddle was infuriated. He raised his foot at the same time that Harvey raised his hand. Ron was closing in and Riddle was about to kick a random stray puppy. Now was the time to act. Harvey didn't waste any time. He threw the stone and watched it spiral through the air.
The stone hit Riddle in the head. Upon impact Riddle's skull caved in on itself. The whole thing happened so quickly. Riddle's body shone with light like a bright red pulsating sun, his eyes melted within their sockets and his fingers shrivelled backwards.
The cave radiated with a magnificent deep red glow. Everyone paused what they were currently doing and turned their attention to the dying man in the centre of the cave. Riddle grew to double his size and for a split second Harvey thought he had made a mistake. It wasn't until Riddle's skin dried out and cracked that he realised that this was the end.
Ron was only three metres from Harvey when Riddle started to disintegrate. Ron was staring in disbelief and awe at the scene before him. A deep red light from within Riddle's body beamed through the cracks of his skin.
Amidst agonising and harrowing screams Riddle's body burst apart violently, his remains sprinkling down upon the others like a rain of bloody confetti.
Ron's gaze shifted from the red blood dripping down the cave walls to the man in front of him who was responsible for the human massacre. Ron's face broke into a lop-sided grin as realisation dawned on him. Riddle was finally defeated. For good. Dead.
Ron hopped unsteadily towards Harvey, still wary of his intentions. Harvey on the other hand began to burn up. The fever came upon him so strongly that it caused Harvey's stomach to churn violently. Harvey locked eyes with Ron. He saw Ron's crooked smirk before bending over to empty the contents of his stomach onto the ground.
Ron's smirked vanished the moment he saw Harvey throw up. Something wasn't right. Ron broke into a fast hobble. The pain in his leg was forgotten as he neared the man that had saved their lives.
Harvey took hold of Ron's bicep, his grip was strong and his hands were shaking. The shaking rapidly spread throughout the rest of his body and soon he was in an uncontrollable fit. Froth had begun to bubble around Harvey's mouth and his eyes were starting to roll into the back of his head. Harvey's body began to fall. Ron steadied Harvey and gently rested him on the cool stone floor.
"Harvey? Harvey?!" Ron yelled as Harry came to his aid. "What's happening, Harry?"
"I don't know." Harry responded softly.
"Harvey! Your son! Come on, Harvey. Your son needs you!" Ron shouted. For a moment Harvey's eyes came to focus back on Ron.
"Riddle's…Son." Harvey choked.
"What?" Harry spoke loudly as he came to kneel beside Ron.
"Sheth…Riddle's son…Left for dead…Abandoned."
"Are you saying that you're not even Sheth's real father?!" Ron asked with more venom than he'd intended. Harvey just nodded, his lips were cracking and the veins on his forehead were visibly pulsing.
"The Stone…blood…loyal to Riddle…" Harvey spluttered.
"The Stone is loyal to Riddle only." Ron translated. "That means whoever casts the Stone will also be killed. Wait. You knew this and you stopped me from throwing the Stone?"
"I couldn't let you… take all the glory…" Harvey smirked. Harvey's body gleamed a violent shade of red as he continued to choke on his own spit.
"Uh-oh. That's not good." Ron said as Harvey's body continued to glow brighter. "We need to get out of here."
"What about Harvey?" Harry queried.
"Harvey's the one that's going to explode!" Harry nodded and bent down to help Ron to his feet. Ron used Harry as a cane as they departed from Harvey's deteriorating body. As soon as they were shielded behind a small stone carving, a second fierce explosion went off.
The explosion resonated around the cave sending more body parts flying across the room. After the explosion had subsided a strong rumble could be heard from deep below the cave's surface.
"What the bloody hell was that?!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry looked around, "This things gonna blow."
"We should get the others out of here." Ron said, "You find Hermione, get her out. I'll find Sheth." Ron started to hobble away. "Hey, Harry," Harry turned to face his friend, "I'll see you on the other side."
Disclaimer: Well, many wizards were harmed in the making of this chapter. Riddle and Harvey were not only harmed but they also suffered painful deaths. If you know of someone who has intentions of making a stone that makes you live forever, do not throw the stone at them! Contact your nearest mental ward or review this chapter for support.
A/N: The next chapter also includes an epilogue set two years later, so it's a bit of a long one.
