Disclaimer: As much fun as I've had writing this, I'm not doing it for money.

Chapter 35

"Everyone, stay back," Harry called. "Don't try to help- it has to be me, and me alone."

Voldemort laughed, a bone-chilling noise that nearly made Hermione's hair stand on end. "Potter doesn't mean that," he hissed, "He survives by using others as his shield. Who will die in your stead today, little Potter?"

Harry shook his head and- to Hermione's great surprise- he was smiling, as though he had not a care in the world. "No one," he replied calmly. "It's just you and me- no help, and no horcruxes." Voldemort's head cocked slightly in confusion, though he quickly masked it. "Did you truly think," Harry asked sadly, "that we had not discovered the last three?"

Three? Hermione thought hard. They had only established six definitive ones- was this what Snape had been hiding from her for much of the past couple of weeks? Had they discovered another horcrux?

"What fairy tale is this, Potter?"

"Your snake is dead at the hand of your once-faithful servant," he inclined his head sharply in acknowledgement of Malfoy. "And the goblet of Helga Hufflepuff is destroyed in the very vault in which you endeavored to keep it safe- with the help of that same servant's wife.

"And the third horcrux," he continued quietly, "was destroyed by your own hand."

"Preposterous!" Voldemort spat. "There was no seventh!" Hermione found it to be a sign of Voldemort's nervousness that he would so openly verify what Harry was saying.

"There was," Harry contested quietly. "Did you never wonder why I could speak to snakes? Why the Sorting Hat so clearly saw some of Slytherin in me? When you tried to kill me sixteen years ago, Riddle, you did more than deprive yourself of a body- you fractured your soul once more beyond repair- and that last part, blasted apart from the whole, attached itself to me. And you destroyed that part of yourself tonight when you sought to kill me."

"But clearly," Voldemort hissed, "you are not dead." The expression on his face clearly indicated his desire for the opposite to be true. "Your Order is just full of tricks, and this seems to be the latest; I can only regret I did not see it in time. The many-faced Snape would have met a slow and painful end." Hermione looked up at Snape- they stood together on the outskirts of the crowd, watching the confrontation with bated breath. "Can't you see, Potter," he whispered, "that it matters not?"

"And why is that?" Harry asked mildly.

Voldemort held up his wand. "I have the Elder Wand, Potter! The Deathstick- it is the most powerful wand known to wizard kind!"

Harry smiled broadly. "So it is," he agreed. "But only in the hands of its true master." Voldemort was expressionless, but Hermione could see the wheels turning in his head. "Though you may physically possess the Elder wand, Riddle- I am the master of death; not you."

There was absolute stillness in the Great Hall at this pronouncement. Death eaters stood amongst members of the Order and vice-versa- all knew that the outcome hinged on this confrontation unfolding before them, and that it was pointless to cause more pain and bloodshed at this point. Voldemort laughed again, mirthlessly.

"Harry Potter, master of death," he mocked. "No, Potter- I have spent decades delving into the deepest secrets of this world; I have undergone changes fearsome to behold to learn the meaning of immortality. And you? You were saved by a mere trick of fate and then several lucky encounters; you are an annoyance, a little boy with no special magical talent. And today you will meet your end, as you should have sixteen years ago!"

Harry looked on sadly. "But those decades discovering immortality did nothing for you, did they?" he asked quietly. "We have won on that front already and now- now you are left clinging to a fairy tale hope."

"This wand I stole from Grindelwald himself! I killed him, I did what Dumbledore was never able and, in doing so, I have made myself more powerful than you can imagine, horcruxes or no!"

"You are a fool," Harry stated bluntly.

"You dare--!"

"Yes," Harry said harshly, "I dare. For in all of your time spent learning the secrets of death, you never once encountered those of life. Never learnt the power of children's tales, nor the power of love--"

"Always love with you and Dumbledore," Voldemort sneered.

"Yes. Love is what stayed Dumbledore's hand when it could have taken Grindelwald's life. Love is what tricked you into the overconfidence you are here displaying- the Elder Wand does not answer to you- it never has."

"You idiot boy…"

"Don't you get it?" Harry exploded. "Grindelwald tricked you. In honor of a friendship of a lifetime ago, he tricked you into thinking you could master the wand- to help Dumbledore, the true master of the wand when you took it from Grindelwald… and to help me. So that when I faced you, I would be facing a wand which, not only does not acknowledge you as its true master, but acknowledges my ally as such."

"Indeed," Voldemort hissed. "And where is the old fool now?"

"Dying," Harry said simply, and many in the hall let out gasps. "The quest to destroy your soul has greatly weakened him, it has been for many months. But he is not the master of the Elder Wand, not anymore. I am. For you see, one wizard here did manage to disarm Dumbledore tonight, against his will- call it a miscommunication- and I in turn took it from him."

And Hermione realized- when she had run into the courtyard with Harry and Ron, and Malfoy had insulted her… Harry had disarmed Malfoy, confused at finding two wands in his hand.

Voldemort smiled triumphantly, a cruel and evil smile that contorted his already twisted features to a remarkable degree.

"Then you are truly a fool, Harry Potter. You came into the forest, and I overpowered you. If death is not a requisite factor in being master of the Wand, than I am its master."

"Don't you learn?" Harry asked incredulously. "I chose to go to my own death, not knowing that the Elder Wand owed me its allegiance, not yet. You gave my mother a choice, Riddle, and the power of her sacrifice protected me from you through my childhood. I had the same choice, and I chose death- and now you cannot touch any of these people. Your spells are non-binding- you cannot hurt them." Harry paused. "Why do you think you were able to cast cruciatus curse after curse upon me and Draco without our feeling it?

"You could have learned- for there is more truth in children's stories than you could possibly know. Had you looked beyond the false promise of power given by the Elder Wand, you could have learned the rest of the tale- that the wand leads to death and misery. You could have learned the value and folly of the power to resurrect the dead," here, Harry held out a small stone; Hermione saw a flash of confused recognition in Voldemort's eyes. "Yes," Harry nodded, "the Resurrection Stone, bearing the Peverell crest- the sign of the Deathly Hallows. You possessed it for a time- in fact, ironically, you used its ring as a horcrux. Had you researched the Peverells, from whom you are descended, you might have discovered that the youngest and wisest son, Ignotus, knew the secret of death; and that secret was to not fear it. Ignotus's contribution to the Hallows was a Cloak of Invisibility- it allowed him to avoid the confrontations brought on by the Elder Wand, saved him the grief caused by the Resurrection Stone- but still it protected him in this life until he was ready to advance to the next. And he met Death as an equal… and then he passed on his cloak… generation through generation… until it came to my father- and now to me."

Harry held up the Invisibility Cloak.

"So you see?" he asked quietly. "I am the rightful inheritor of the means to be equal with Death- I have come into the possession of the means to reverse Death- and the means to cause it? That now answers to me as well. I am the true master of death.

"That is why you could not kill me tonight- turning a wand on its own master does funny things- and all you succeeded in doing was killing the fragment of your own soul left in my body."

Looking at Harry, awed, Hermione saw a radiance of power and confidence that she had only ever associated before with Dumbledore. It seemed that Voldemort might have seen the same thing, because he looked suddenly frightened.

"You should try for some remorse," Harry told him softly. "It is your only remaining chance."

With a snarl of fury, Voldemort brought his wand to bear on Harry- Hermione gasped, and Snape, standing behind her, grabbed her upper arms and pulled her close. Harry raised his wand simultaneously…

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The green and red lights sped towards one another, collided in midair, and both rebounded upon Voldemort. The Elder Wand flew high, arcing across the room- Harry reached up and grabbed it at the same moment that Voldemort fell dead to the floor.

There was silence- and then the room exploded with cries of joy and celebration. Recognizing their defeat, death eaters began removing their masks and holding out their wands for the aurors to collect as they rounded them up. Students, teachers, and members of the Order of the Phoenix laughed, cried, and hugged each other; Hermione slumped exhaustedly against Snape and he put his arms around her- neither seemed quite sure what to say to the other.

Draco approached them, still looking pale but relieved. "Professor Dumbledore is in the hospital wing," he told them quietly. "My father saw him not long ago, but he says he looked in a bad way."

"I'll get Harry," Hermione murmured, pulling out of Snape's grasp and delving into the crowd which had engulfed the victorious boy-who-lived. Many people stood aside for her, however, and she wasn't sure if it was because they acknowledged her as Harry's friend or for some other reason.

When he saw her, Harry dashed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. She took that opportunity to whisper into his ear. "Dumbledore's upstairs in the hospital wing. Apparently he's not doing too well." But then she recalled what Harry had said to Voldemort. "Wait, how did you know he was dying?" Harry pulled away and smiled sadly.

"Stories for another time," he replied, grasping her hand and pulling her through the crowd. "Have you seen Ron?" He looked around, craning to see over the heads of other, taller people. "For that matter, have you seen any of the Weasleys?"

Hermione realized with a start that she hadn't, and an awful feeling of foreboding came over her.

They rejoined Snape and slipped out of the Great Hall; Draco returned to talk alone with his parents. Hermione was reasonably certain that Harry would soon be missed, but there was too much going on at the moment for anyone to notice him leaving.

They approached the hospital wing and Hermione could hear many voices at once… they walked in the doors, and it was a sea of redheads. She hurried over to the beds where they were crowded and her heart leapt in her throat.

In one bed lay Mr. Weasley, head heavily-bandaged. He was conscious, however, and smiled at Hermione and Harry as they approached. "Harry," he said, "I'm sorry I could not be down to witness that; from what I heard though, it was a sight to behold." His voice was shaky, however, and the Weasleys as a whole looked rather forlorn.

That's when Hermione noticed the next bed- a sheet was pulled over the face of whoever had been treated there.

"Wha-?" she couldn't formulate a proper question, and instead, turned and began to frantically take inventory of the Weasley family. She could find no one missing, however,

"It's Mad-Eye," Bill said somberly. Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. "He saved dad's life."

New footsteps could be heard running down the hall, and then Tonks came tearing into the infirmary, eyes wild.

"Tonks…" Bill said, standing up and blocking her path.

"No!" she cried. "I heard- Mad-Eye- is it true?" No one said anything, but she could read the truth on their faces. She slumped sobbing against Bill, who held her up awkwardly for several seconds before Lupin came limping into the room, favoring his right leg. He too looked devastated by the sight of the covered body. He put his arms around Tonks and pulled her away from Bill, leading her to an unoccupied bed.

"Shh, Dora," he murmured, holding her close and rocking back and forth gently. He continued to hold her while she cried, and Hermione turned away, feeling as though she were interrupting something very personal and private.

Harry was conversing in low tones with Ron outside a bed with curtains drawn at the far end of the wing. Snape was nowhere in sight, and Hermione suspected he was inside the curtains, speaking with Dumbledore. She walked over and joined them.

"Bloody wicked mate," Ron said. "Scared me for a while though. I think you scared all of us." He looked uncertainly at Hermione. She looked away, beginning to register how reckless she had been by marching out to meet the death eaters alone.

"Yeah," Harry grinned, "bring some back up next time, will you, Hermione? I thought I was going to have to jump the gun a bit early on that one- I suspect Draco did as well."

"Glad you find it amusing," she bit back. "I just- I thought you were dead," she shrugged. "Somehow, everything else just didn't matter so much anymore."

Harry's response was to pull them both into a tight, long hug. They stayed that way, arms wrapped around one another, until Snape's low voice brought them back. "Potter- he wants to speak with you." Harry disappeared through the curtain to speak privately with Dumbledore. Snape sat heavily on a chair near the bed and closed his eyes. "He's in quite good spirits," he informed Hermione and Ron. "He's just rather weak; he is out of immediate danger, but seems to feel that his time will be limited."

"What happened?" Ron asked. "Did Narcissa Malfoy…?"

"No," Snape said sharply, "no. She upheld her end of the bargain. She is not a death eater, however much she may support their ideas. No, Albus has been weakening since he sought the ring on his own, all those months ago. He's hid it well, but today's trials proved too much. There were many protections on the goblet, and he was hard-pressed to get past them to destroy it.

"She quite possibly saved all of our lives in the forest today."

Hermione looked up. "How so?" she asked quietly.

He sighed. "She chose to return, when she was under no obligation. She told the Dark Lord that she'd escaped but been unable to find Draco. He was displeased, so, when the casting of the killing curse on Potter went wrong, he made her feel to see if he still lived. He thought it to be a punishment, but had he chosen someone else… her timing could not have been better, she appeared just as the Dark Lord began to fear he had failed."

"How did it go wrong?" Hermione asked.

"They both passed out, apparently. Just momentarily, and I have yet to find out exactly what happened to Potter- in truth, I thought he would die, but when they both fainted, I did not know what to think. Narcissa managed to inform me before we marched out of the woods that he did, in fact, live. I of course, assured her the same of Draco. But we did not understand their immunity from the cruciatus curse… which, I suspect, is what drove you to believe I truly had betrayed you?" He turned his focus to Hermione, who flushed deeply. "It's alright," he murmured. "I deceived you, and the events were unexpected and disturbing."

"Can you forgive me?" she whispered, and Ron looked confused, sensing he'd been left behind somewhere in the conversation.

Snape almost smiled. "It is I who should be asking forgiveness," he told her. "But if it is what you desire- then yes, for there is nothing to forgive."

She burst out into tears hearing it and Ron and Snape looked quite alarmed. Snape stood quickly and hesitantly reached out a hand to her arm… and then she was hugging him and sobbing into his robes. He pulled her down into the chair and wrapped her in his arms, rubbing her back gently. After a few seconds, he looked up at the bewildered Ron.

"A moment, Weasley?" he asked in his deadly quiet voice.

"Er- right." Ron practically dashed back over to his family.

Ginny looked up. "Alright there, Ron?"

"Erm… Hermione and Snape are hugging, and she's crying all over him…"

"Old news," Fred and George pronounced.

"Yeah," Lupin concurred from where he still held a somewhat calmed Tonks, "catch up on the times, Ron."

He looked from them and back over to where Snape and Hermione still sat, shook his head, and collapsed in an empty bed. "Wake me up next month."

"My boy," Dumbledore smiled broadly, "you cannot fathom how proud I am."

Harry smiled and then asked uncertainly, "Sir? Are you aware- I mean, was it really you with Grindelwald when I was…well, unconscious?"

"Yes, Harry," his eyes twinkled. "Like you, I was hovering in a state of near-death- the retrieval of the goblet nearly cost me my life. And I must confess, I was so grieved at the thought that I had quite possibly sent you off to your death, that perhaps I was less inclined to fight for life; though my hopes were restored somewhat when I suspected you had won the allegiance of the Elder Wand."

"What happened, sir?"

"Harry," he said, "I'm an old man; my reflexes are not what they once were. I told you several weeks ago that the quest to find the ring in the Gaunt's old shack had taxed my skills- in truth, it very nearly cost my life. Can you not guess why that might be?"

"I don't…" Harry paused, remembering all that he had learnt that night. "The Resurrection Stone. You'd been seeking it."

"In a past life, Harry. But yes, upon seeing it once more, a sort of trance came over me- I touched the ring, though it was heavily cursed, and was hard pressed to repair the damage I had done; and even then, I was never wholly better again."

"And tonight?"

"Tonight, the necessity for hurry, my already weakened and worried state, and the powerful protections placed upon the Black vault as well as on the goblet itself proved too much- I was finally able to reach it, but was too weak to proceed to destroy it. Narcissa did. And I understand that Lucius killed Nagini?"

"Yes, sir. Sir, what will happen to the Malfoys now?"

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid I do not know. Lucius got away once claiming the Imperius curse; they won't believe it again. And he has been present at many of the death eaters' activities, though I am unaware to what extent he participated. His actions tonight might perhaps be enough to forgive his crimes, except…"

"Hermione."

"Indeed. He has injured her grievously- and in truth, probably others. Time will tell, however. Much depends on the view of the aurors and the Wizengamot, when they decide who to try and how. As for Narcissa, I think there is no danger. While her ideas may be outdated, one may not be persecuted for their beliefs; at least not when the Ministry is restored to its better self. Her sister was the more radical one of that family."

"And about the Hallows, sir…"

"Fire away."

"Quite frankly, I don't want the Elder Wand. I'm happy with my old one. And the Resurrection Stone, while it served me well tonight, is a false hope and temptation which I do not wish to carry around."

Dumbledore beamed. "Then you are a better man than I, Harry. At your age…" he sighed wistfully. "It is a mature decision. Have you thought of what to do with them?"

"I-," he hesitated. "I thought to bury them in the cemetery in Godric's Hollow. Not in Ignotus Peverell's grave, that would be too easy if someone else went looking for them- but near my parents' graves, perhaps."

"I think that is a wise choice, Harry," Dumbledore said soberly. "Many people in that graveyard were affected by the Hallows, either directly or indirectly. It would be an honor to their memory, I think."

"But I'd like to keep the cloak," Harry said unsurely.

"Of course! You were meant to have it, Harry. And one day, it will pass to one of your children. And now that Voldemort is defeated, perhaps you can begin to give some thought to starting a family…"

Harry grinned. "It's awfully soon, but I'll think about it, sir." His gaze flickered involuntarily towards the sound of voices coming from the Weasleys' side of the room. One in particular rang out in soft laughter.

Kingsley Shacklebolt entered the infirmary with Minerva McGonagall. They went briefly to check on Arthur and give condolences for Moody; McGonagall circled the wing and checked in with the other injured- Hannah Abbott still lay there, and Neville Longbottom had rejoined her following Voldemort's death; Seamus too was injured, but he was sitting up and chatting with Ernie MacMillan and Terry Boot. From what Hermione understood, injured aurors were being moved to St. Mungo's instead now that the battle was over, to lessen the workload for Madam Pomfrey and her helpers.

Kingsley approached Snape and Hermione, who sat leaning against him, his arm around her shoulders.

"Sorry- Severus? Can I have a word?"

They exited to the hallway.

"News reached the Ministry that Voldemort was dead," Kingsley began. "Some people recovered from the Imperius curse, others turned themselves in, and there was essentially a coup against anyone who didn't. Scrimgeour, in an effort to appear to have any real control over his aurors, came to the school to help handle the death eaters."

Snape groaned.

"Things have gone relatively smoothly- most have given up with very little fight. But quite frankly, I don't know what to do with Lucius Malfoy."

"Scrimgeour wants him, I presume?" Snape asked.

"He's being arrested today, regardless. But a determination from you- one way or the other- could greatly alter how he is treated until he stands trial."

Snape thought quickly. "Recommend house arrest; to throw him in Azkaban with the rest of them would probably be a threat to his life- he did accomplish the final step to making the Dark Lord mortal again, after all. And I don't think you have to worry about him trying anything; he's had a severe awakening today regarding family matters. I think he'll have enough to work out on that front for a while."

Kingsley nodded and turned to leave, but hesitated. "I almost forgot- he asked me to tell you thank you- for saving his son's life."

Snape blinked once and then nodded. "If you see him again, will you tell him I said thank you as well?- He'll know what for."

A/N: Alright- penultimate chapter ;-) Only one more to go… and the best part? I've already started on it!

Thanks once more for all of the fantastic reviews- they are quite encouraging and keep me writing!

Expect the last chapter soon… keep your eyes peeled. :-)

Cheers!