Chapter Thirty-Five: Welcome to the End Part 2

As Harry flew through the air he was momentarily blind and deaf.

There was just that bright light everywhere that made his eyes sting and a deafening ringing sound in his ears that only faded gradually.

Slowly he got to his hands and knees and shook his head.

The world stopped spinning and shaking and Harry climbed to his feet.

He looked around.

Everything was covered in a thick blanket of dust from the explosion and chunks of rock lay everywhere.

Harry was grateful that none of them hat hit him or his friends.

But his moment of gratefulness was short lived when the turned around and saw what had happened.

The passage that had let them into the chamber was destroyed. A gaping hole in the wall was all that was left.

Overhead many of the glowing stones flickered and stopped glowing or their light dimmed down.

Next to him Daphne and Fleur had gotten up as well. They too were covered in dust and coughing heavily but seemed unhurt otherwise.

Aftershocks traveled though the rock around them.

Harry squeezed Daphne's hand questioningly as he helped her find her balance.

She nodded, assuring him she was fine.

Harry thought far away in the earth he could still hear the resonance of the explosion travel further and further.

Mr. Lovegoods tall figure appeared form behind a stack of crates. One arm was wrapped protectively around Luna.

Rashid was behind them.

He had a thin line of blood tickle down his temple but it didn't appear too serious.

Thomas was suddenly behind Daphne and Fleur, putting a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Are you alright?" he asked concerned.

They all nodded.

"Where are the others?" Rashid asked and then coughed loudly.

Harry's head snapped around, search for the others.

He didn't have to look long.

He gasped in horror and everyone turned to where he stared.

Wands found their way into their master's hands but not a single spell left their lips.

There, in the gloom of the chamber stood four figures.

They were dressed all in black with cloaks and tall boots, leathery gauntlets and had knifes stuck in their belts. They seemed to blend into the shadows and the low light only underlined it.

The scariest about them though were the silver skull masks on their faces. They glinted in the remaining light and played tricks on the eyes and gave them and inhuman appearance.

They were wearing their hoods up, covering the rest of their head. The eyes behind the holes in the masks were glinting with hatred, smugness and cold blooded anger.

Mouths were twisted in sneers or fierce scowls.

All four were males, different in statue but all very intimidating looking.

And each had one of their missing team members at knifepoint and a wand in their other hand.

A strange cold feeling of familiarity seeped into Harry's bones.

He'd never met any of them. They had been gone and hunted down before he was able to speak.

But he had heard of them.

Death Eaters.

For a whole minute there was absolute silence.

"Well well well." drawled the man holding Eric.

The Rune Master was struggling but the man just pressed the blade deeper into his neck, drawing blood.

Eric halted his movements, a scowl on his face.

With a jolt Harry recognized the voice.

It was the raspy voice he'd heard in his dreams a few times. He could make out a couple of scars on his chin and his breath hitched in his throat.

That was Fenrir Greyback, no doubt.

Harrys gaze jumped towards Bill and he saw the stiff posture of his friend and knew that Bill was only scarcely holding it together.

He was torn from his thoughts when the werewolf continued speaking.

"What do we have here? The Curse-Breaker scum!"

He spat on the ground. It made a disgusting wet sound.

"I never liked you people. You think you're all high and mighty, the good Samaritans that save us from dangerous things…"

He sneered.

His companions made agreeing noises.

"But alas, that's not why we're here." the man holding Alice said.

"Who are you?" Rashid demanded.

"The whole point of the mask is so you don't know." growled the tall man holding Bill.

His eyes were icy blue but cold and unforgiving. He was the tallest of them all.

"You are walking on sacred ground! You have no right to be here!" the Guardian growled.

He flicked his wrists and all the weapons in the chamber suddenly rose into the air, pointing at the four men and their hostages.

"Leave now and I will spare your lives!" he growled.

"Make one move and we kill them." growled Greyback.

"This is outrageous!" the Guardian growled.

"I don't care old man." said the man holding Alice in a bored voice.

"You're Death Eaters." Thomas spat out.

"Give the man a prize." drawled the tall man.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Atticus asked challengingly.

"Get of your high horses, we were here before you. We have been here for months!" the tall man growled.

"So you are the intruders." The Guardian growled.

"Indeed. We've been trying to get in here long before Gringotts got a whim of what was going on here." Greyback growled.

"How did you find out about this place?" Mr. Lovegood asked harshly.

Harry was surprised for a second. Never had he heard the gentle man talk with such loathing in his voice.

"You have your sources, we have ours. When our spy told us you were coming here we weren't too pleased. But that changed when you actually managed to get in. From there on it was a child's play to follow you."

"So what do you want?" Alice asked seething.

"We need something that is here. For our cause." the tall man hissed.

"You're cause is lost, over! The Dark Lord is dead." Bill hissed back.

The man pressed the knife harder against Bills skin.

Harry felt cold anger rushing through his vein and his fingers itched to let go a nasty curse. If only they could use magic!

"That's what you think." growled Bill's attacker.

A cold shiver went down Harry's spine.

It couldn't be.

"You are lying." he hissed.

But was he?

Voldemort had been back twice already. More or less at least.

The tall man's eyes found him and an ugly sneer appeared on his face.

"Harry Potter, in the flesh!" he growled. "You know I didn't believe it at first when our spy told me you were actually here. If it were me I would slit your throat and be down with it."

Harry swallowed hard.

"You lay one finger on him I swear I will rip you apart." Bill shouted.

His captor simply rammed his knee into his back and Bill hissed with pain. Then he turned back to Harry.

"But apparently people think you're still worth something and are needed."

It was obviously that he didn't share that sentiment.

"We outmatch you." Rashid said calmly. "You'll never get what you want."

"Oh really?" growled Greyback. "As I see it we have four of your finest at our mercy. And I don't worry much about the rest of you. Three children, a fool, a dumb dirty half-blood and a blood-traitor and a healer. I'll take my chances."

Harry raised his wand but of course it was useless. They could slit the other's throats the second they would try anything.

"You can't do magic! None of us can!" he growled.

"Oh we know. But we came prepared." laughed Greyback.

"What do you want?" Fleur asked. Her eyes were alight with fury and Harry could have sworn he saw actual flames dancing across her hands.

The tall man smirked. "Why, I thought that was obvious" then his face grew hard "We want the Philosopher's Stone of course!"

Harry clenched his free hand into a fist.

No. They couldn't allow that.

If Death Eaters got hold of this powerful stone they could plunge the whole world into chaos!

"Never." he said almost instantly.

"Never!" agreed the Guardian.

"Then we will kill your friends here." said the fourth man that was holding Atticus. He hadn't said a word so far.

"You'll kill us no matter what." Harry shot back.

"True but we wanted to give you a chance."

"How considerate of you." Harry drawled.

"Shut your smartass mouth Potter." the man replied.

He reached into one of his pockets and threw a dirty piece of cloth at Harry.

Harry caught it instinctively.

"It's simple Potter. Go and wrap the cloth around the stone. I would advise against touching it. Wrap it up all nice and good, then give it back to me and we will let your friends here go." jeered the man holding Alice.

Harry could see strands of dirty, greasy dark hair under the hood.

"And if I don't?" Harry asked coolly.

As an answer Greyback lifted his dagger swiftly and jammed it into Eric's shoulder and twisted it.

Eric howled with pain and thrashed.

Blood spilled out of the wound and seeped into Eric's green shirt, turning it black.

Harry flinched violently, his heart skipping a beat.

All around him his friends shouted out in outrage.

"QUIET!" screamed the tall man holding Bill.

The only sounds in the whole chamber were Eric's panted breaths and painful moans.

"Does that answer your question?" the man holding Atticus asked.

To conceal his trembling hands Harry grabbed the piece of cloth so tight, he almost tore a hole in it.

"So what will it be Potter?" sneered Greyback. "I can do this all day."

He raised the dagger again.

In his grip, Eric flinched and Harry hated feeling so helpless.

"Harry, don't do it! Don't give it to them." Bill said through gritted teeth.

"And let them kill you?" Harry retorted.

"Harry, don't do it that is an order!" Atticus said sternly.

"They are right. The stone can not fall into their hands." The Guardian agreed.

Harry looked at Daphne and his own anguish was reflected in her eyes.

He knew he'd never be able to live with himself if he let his friends die. It would be his own death sentence as well.

But if he did what they wanted, then maybe they had a chance.

Daphne nodded ever so slightly.

I'm with you, her eyes said.

Harry turned around and walked towards the platform.

"Harry, no!" Thomas shouted but before he could make a step the man holding Alice dug his knife against her throat.

"If you try to stop him I slit her throat right now!" he growled.

"Harry you know what will happen if you give it to them!" shouted Alice.

"We're not worth it! Nothing is!" Eric panted.

Harry didn't look at them as he continued walking but he said loud enough: "You're my friends. That is worth everything to me."

They were stunned into silence but the Guardian was not.

He vanished and appeared again in front of Harry.

"I can't let you do this! I thought that you knew better."

Half the weapons he had raised now turned to face Harry but Harry didn't care.

"You chose me, remember." he told the guardian. "Because you know that I will do the right thing" and then in a silent whisper he added "Trust me to do the right thing right now too!"

The Guardian didn't look happy but he nodded and moved aside. The weapons turned away from Harry.

He climbed the few steps up to the pedestal where the stone hovered in the air, slowing turning in circles.

He held the piece of cloth with both hands and slowly reached out for the stone.

Slowly the stone began to float upwards and then towards him and then slowly it settle down in the cloth.

Even through the thin barrier of cloth between his hands and the stone he could feel the vibrations going through his and the murmur of voices he had heard earlier already grew stronger.

His eyes were glued to the stone and he had the immense desire to touch it, to feel the energy coursing through it.

With herculean effort he managed to wrap the cloth over the stone, cutting off his view.

Immediately the pull subsided slightly.

Harry wrapped the cloth tightly around the stone.

He felt awfully reminded of his first trip to Gringotts when Hagrid and he had stopped at vault 713 and Hagrid had retrieved a similar looking object.

He turned around and slowly approached the waiting Death Eaters and his team.

As he stepped down the last step of the platform a strange tingling sensation traveled through his whole body.

He tried to keep his face neutral but he knew his magic had returned.

And judging by the stiff posture of the others they had not yet felt the change in the air yet.

He made his way towards the towering from of the Death Eater, well aware of the fact that every eye in the room was on him.

As he passed Daphne he tried to make her understand that their magic worked again.

He looked her in the eyes then down at his own wand and then at her wand and back at her.

She made a very subtle wave with her wand, as if performing a spell.

He nodded slightly.

As he passed her he could see that she was nudging her uncle.

Harry hoped she could pass the message on to him and maybe the others as well.

Because they had no time to lose.

He stopped a few steps before Atticus and his captor.

"Harry, don't. Please." Atticus said silently.

"It'll be alright." Harry said confidently before looking at the man behind Atticus.

He stared directly into the dark eyes behind the skull-mask.

He held the wrapped stone up.

"Let them go and it's yours."

The man laughed condescendingly.

"You really think you are in a position to make demands? I think not. Give it to me."

He held out one hand while his other still pressed a knife firmly against Atticus throat.

"Harry please!" Alice whispered next to Atticus. "You can't do this."

"Shut up!" growled her captor.

Harry slowly lifted his hand…

…and whispered: "Catch." before hurling the stone over their heads.

For a few precious seconds the Death Eaters were too stunned to move.

But not Harry.

His curse hit Atticus captor in the face, propelling him backwards into a huge pile of golden coins, burrowing him underneath.

Harry had admit it to Atticus that he didn't even flinch, just simply swirled around and blasted the man that was holding Alice in the back with a bludgeoning curse.

Greyback recovered first and pushed Eric hard to the ground, drawing his wand. He sent an angry red curse at Harry but Alice tackled him to the ground. Greyback was about to curse them again when suddenly Bill was there and the werewolf was hit in the side by a nasty cutting curse.

It drew blood but Greyback shook it off quickly.

One of his curses toppled over a stack of crates and Fleur and Luna jumped away in the nick of time.

The man that had held Bill rose from the ruins of what once has been a pyramid of gold bullions.

He took aim at Bills back but Harry's wand was faster and a shield expanded just in time over Bill.

Atticus attacker managed to surface from underneath the golden coins. What Harry could see of his face was twisted in anger and his dark eyes promised Harry a slow death.

He advanced on Harry and Harry felt panic rise within him.

But suddenly Eric was there.

The Rune Master was bloody and on the verge of collapsing but his wand painted a quick rune in the air. His fist closed around it and his whole body started to glow.

With a sound like an exploding cannon a dozen black orbs exploded from Eric's body, flying directly at the Death Eater.

Most of them hit and stuck to him, a strange black goo starting to cover him.

It steamed and smelled awful but it only slowed the man down a little bit.

Harry dragged Eric down, not having the time to raise a shield and the older man fell onto him.

Harry had his breath punched out of him and he lay there few a few moments, gasping for air.

A shadow appeared above him and he rolled to the left, pushing Eric with a kick to the right.

In the space between them where they had been laying seconds before was now a smoldering black scorch mark.

Blindly Harry threw a curse and with grim satisfaction he heard the Death Eater yelp.

He got to his feet, taking in the situation.

Dread pooled into his stomach.

Despite being only four the Deatheaters were holding their own fairly well.

The tall one was engaging Atticus Bill and Thomas in a duel.

He was good. Scarily good.

A bit off to his right Luna was shielded by her father who was dueling Greyback with Alice's help.

Rashid was fending off the third man while Daphne pulled Fleur off the floor, dragging her behind a stack of shields to take cover.

Harry looked down at Eric who looked close to passing out and then back at his own attacker.

The Deatheater was getting back onto his feet and this time Eric wouldn't jump between them in time; that Harry knew for certain.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry chanted and to his surprise the wand went flying from the man's hand.

But his joy was short lived when the man picked up one of the swords that the Guardian had conjured.

"What? Did you really thing the fight was over just because I have no wand anymore? Foolish little boy. So much to learn and only so little time left. Let me teach you one thing before you die" he took a swing at Harry and Harry just managed to dodge or the sword would have take off his head "Life is too short for honor. Only those willing to do what needs to be done will come out on top" he swung the sword again and this time Harry lost his footing as his moved aside and fell hard onto the ground, jarring his shoulder "And that includes fighting dirty. Be prepared for everything. Anticipate your opponents every possible move and have a counter-move for every eventuality. Of course stupid bold Gryffindors wouldn't know anything about strategic warfare like that. You just run in head first." the Deatheater sneered.

Harry who was on his back tried to crawl backwards but he bumped into one of the many columns. He raised his wand to cast a spell but the man kicked against his wrist and Harry's wand went flying off into a pile of jewelry.

This was it.

He would die.

The Death Eater stood above him, sword raised high.

Harrys hands searched frantically for anything that could help him.

His hands caught something big and smooth.

"Goodbye Harry Potter. Your death will be worth the punishment I will receive." the monster of a man promised.

The sword came down and Harry grabbed the smooth object and yanked it upwards.

There was a loud 'CLANG' as the sword connected with Harry's improvised shield.

Harry, acting purely on instinct lashed out with his legs and kicked the man's left leg away, making him stumble and fall.

Harry crawled aside to where his wand had fallen.

He scanned the mountain of jewelry.

"Damn it. Wand…wand where are you? Wand!"

He didn't expect anything to happen but his wand suddenly came flying towards him from under a heavy golden crown.

Harry caught it mid-flight, swirled around and just in time blasted the Death Eater away.

The man went flying backwards and actually crashed through two columns on his way.

Harry looked around.

Daphne and Fleur had joined Rashid in his duel.

Greyback was retreating.

The other man too was slowly backing away.

They were actually winning!

Harry grinned.

And then the floor shook and he landed hard on his back.

He wasn't the only one.

All his friends went to the ground.

For the second time in less than five minutes Harry had his breath knocked out of his lungs.

What had happened now?

He sat up, looking around.

His blood seemed to freeze in his veins.

There was the Deatheater Harry had dueled with moments before.

He stood next to his three companions.

In one hand he had his wand.

But what was worse was the cloth wrapped package in his other hand.

And the fact that Greyback was holding Alice, his barred teeth only inches away from her exposed throat.

All movement ceased.

"Well as much fun as this has been I think we'll take our leave now." drawled the tall Death Eater.

Harry's opponent turned to face the Guardian who had reappeared again.

"You will tell us how to get out of here or else…."

The Guardian looked at him coolly.

"You will never get away." he said angrily.

"The way out, now!" the Deatheater growled.

The Guardian looked at Harry.

And suddenly his voice resonated within Harrys head.

'I can't let them escape.'

'NO! Please!' Harry yelled back at him in his head.

'What is one live compared to thousands?' the Guardian asked.

'There is another way.' Harry pleaded.

'I need to do what is for the good of the world.'

Harry got angry.

'You will not! I forbid it!' he thought vehemently. 'The stone is my responsibility now, not yours anymore! I command you to tell them!'

The Guardian looked disappointed but complied nonetheless.

Facing the Deatheaters he waved his hand and a passage opened in the rock.

"This will take you back to the surface." he said simply.

The Deatheater eyed it critically.

"No tricks! You won't like it!" he growled.

Then he nodded at his companions.

The other two entered the passage first and then Greyback started dragging Alice with him.

"Let her go, you got what you wanted!" Harry shouted angrily.

"Let's just say the little Missy here is our insurance that this path will actually lead to the surface and not into a death-trap." Greyback growled.

Then he too disappeared in the passage.

The last Deatheater pointed one finger at Harry threateningly.

"You better watch your back Potter. Peace is over!"

He stepped into the passage, waved his wand and the wall crumbled, sealing the entrance to the tunnel.

Once the rumbling had subsided, silence reigned.

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AN: Thanks for the lovely reviews and for keeping up with the story. The next chapter will follow shortly.