AN: Ok, I guess I got really emotional about the story ending and couldn't really stop writing these past two days. I know that the battle scenes are not great, I have been working on many scenes written in here from the very beginning of this story and yet they don't seem quite good. But It's how I could write it and how I felt is would end, in my universe. So please please please be kind!
A Sirius Home is over. My first ever fanfic! I want to thank you all, who read and followed and reviewed this story. It is such a great feeling seeing people enjoying something you create –especially when it has so big disadvantages, like the language mistakes. So thank you all once again for all the great moments you so generously gave me!
Enjoy the chapter and be sure to check the second AN at the end of the chapter!
Oh! And R & R!
None was prepared for the feeling of it. None was expecting its intensity. As the attack started from everywhere, the castle was shaking, as if trying itself to fight back and protect its defenders. Charms were falling everywhere, lighting the sky with colorful flares. At first it was like they were fighting the air. All the forces were aiming for the protective spells around the castle as the professors tried to restore them. It was a matter of time, though before the first hole was made. And as soon as it did, flying black adorned figures darted through it flying full force towards the castle. In a matter of seconds everyone in the great hall started battling the intruders. The tactic was known and well-practiced, but as the number of deatheaters increased, the difficulty of staying united and keep their battling order got harder.
Sirius was fighting full force, his face a mask of concentrated fury. All his protective instincts over his children were materialized in spells so powerful that, whoever stood in his way, lasted seconds before being completely immobilized or blown away. Green flares whistled all around him and Harry could feel his heart ready to burst from the agony as he watched his godfather and everyone else around him endangered for him.
He himself, casted spells as he had never before, their intensity and effectiveness startled even himself. He could see whenever he got the chance, that the battle was raging in the grounds too, where the professors, Dumbledore and the huge figure of Hagrid were practicing magic unknown to him till now. Fires were erupting everywhere and soon the people around him scattered, chasing and being chased all over the castle. As he casted a last minute shield that saved Allan from a spell that someone behind him fired he got a glimpse that made his stomach churn with agony. Bellatrix Lestrange sped in the great hall her wand extended, right when his sister's figure emerged from the chaos wand in hand and ready to battle. His heart stopped as he could see her defensive charm steadily overpowered by the witch's avada kedavra. And then in a split second the woman's body fell on the ground motionless and still. Harry turned to his right where, both Draco and Eric had just fired the unforgivable to Voldemort's faithful servant.
With no more time to distract himself Harry turned his attention back to his position and attackers and the battle continued. Soon he saw what he feared, Ginny had joined the battle too and was fighting with all her might, while everyone around him started changing places in order to protect her and his sister. Matters changed inevitably and soon the ordered defense transformed to a brutal melee.
Remus was fighting back to back with Dora and Mr. and Mrs. Weaseley along with Fred or George were covering Ginny. Making sure that Allan and Sirius had his sister's back, Harry rushed towards the large staircase, where Fred or George was chased by a tall deatheater. As he turned to the first corner he made to shoot a burning curse to the man causing him to miss his target to the Weaseley twin by mere inches. With terror Harry saw the redhead's head covered in blood.
"Move on, it's just my ear!" George screamed as he darted towards another pair of deatheaters that were chasing an auror to the next floor. When Harry returned to the great hall, firing curses to every deatheater he could aim on, he saw with fright that many bodies were lying on the stone floor, not only of the enemy, but a few of the Order's too. Trying his hardest not to think of the worst he continued fighting with his heart thumbing and his brain numb.
And then as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. The deatheaters started retreating while the blood chilling voice of Voldemort echoed throughout the castle.
"Hogwarts Defenders! You have fought bravely. I will give you half an hour. Treat yout injured. Mourn your deceased. I do not wish for any more magical blood to spill tonight. Harry Potter! I am now talking directly to you. Come to the forbidden forest and none else will be hurt. Come to find me and I will spare the lives of those who fought for you. If you are not in the forest, in half an hour, I shall destroy this castle and everyone in it. "
Harry glanced around him and before he knew it he was crushed in his godfather's arms.
Before he could utter a single word, Sirius told him with voice so hoarse that Harry almost didn't recognize, "Don't even think about it."
"Sirius… I can't. We've already lost so many fighters. We are outnumbered. Outside there are giants, and dementors and werewolves. It has to end…" Harry's voice cracked but he couldn't care less. As the man stood him in arm's length the boy glanced around him frantically searching for his loved ones faces. Upon seeing Dora laying on the stone floor his tears got hot and he didn't care to stop them. "Dora…! What the hell? Dora!"
"No! No! Harry calm down, she is just stunned. We've checked her over, Madame Pomfrey is going to treat her in a few seconds. She is alive. We've lost valuable members, but we are still here. You are not going to give yourself to him. Or their sacrifice is vain!" Sirius told him adamantly.
As Harry saw Dora's body starting moving under the healer's experienced touch and Remus, pale as a ghost, holding her hand he shook his head. "No. We know what the Hocrux is. Even if he kills me, you will kill the snake and then him. Dumbledore can do it!"
"No! You are not going, I am not letting you!" Sirius said and his desperate grip to the boy's shoulders became painful.
"Ses!" Harry whispered then. "And Gin! Where are they? Are they alright?"
Sirius nodded his eyes darkening and he motioned with his head to a corner where the girls were sitting pale faced and exhausted. "They are fine. The whole order made sure they were always covered."
"Sirius!"
As the man turned to see who called him he failed to notice Harry stepping away.
Snape came to the man telling him curtly, "We've arranged for the injured to be transferred to the infirmary, we need to regroup and plan our defense order anew."
Sirius turned to see Harry and almost got a heart attack upon not seeing him. Then he got his breath back, when he saw him hugging Sesylia and Ginny and talking to them. "I'll be right with you, just let me find someone, to make sure Harry won't sneak away to the forest."
Snape nodded and turned to meet with Dumbledore and Kingsley in the far end of the hall.
Harry looked around him and realized it was now or never. Dumbledore talked with Snape while Sirius had his back to him and headed towards Remus. Everyone was occupied with reordering and Sesylia with Ginny were fighting with Mrs Weaseley for staying on the second round. With one swift motion the boy covered himself with his invisibility cloak, which he had underneath his sweater all along and dashed for the exit. Right upon stepping on the grass he heard Sirius screaming his name. Ignoring the tears his heartbreaking call caused, Harry run even faster towards the woods till he couldn't breathe and soon heard absolutely nothing. Stopping for just a minute to catch his breath he leaned on a tree and let his hot tears fall.
He brought to his mind everyone's faces. Every tiny part of his whole life flashed upon his eyes. He let the love he felt for his family and friends overcome the fear and the trembling in his knees and took a few deep breaths. Then he made the only thought that could make him take the first step towards his fate. His parents. Yes. Even if he died, they would wait for him. And his family would live and move one, without the fear of Voldemort hanging upon their head anymore. The whole wizardring world, free of the fear and despair. Nodding to himself and stifling his silent sobs, Harry stood to his full height and removed his cloak. Then he started walking slowly following the clear traces on the forest's ground that led him to a large glade. There, in the middle of a circle formed by his deatheaters, stood Voldemort smiling icily to him.
"Harry Potter! I thought you'd never come!"
"No you didn't." Harry answered flatly. "You made a promise. I am here. You can kill me. You won't harm anyone else though. You'll leave them alone."
"I keep my promises Potter." The icy voice hissed as he traced a wand across his thin lips. Tilting his head to the side he spoke again, whispering his name, "Harry Potter!"
Harry didn't hear anything else. A flash of green light was all he saw before darkness swallowed him.
A thin white fog was covering everything as Harry opened his eyes. He brought his hands to his head which throbbed like it never had before. He tried to open his eyes and sit up, when two figures started to close up on him through the fog. He narrowed his eyes trying hard to recognize them and then he inhaled –how could he inhale, wasn't he dead?- sharply upon realizing who they were. "Mom, Dad?" his confused and hoarse voice whispered.
James and Lily Potter smiled at him broadly. As his mother opened her arms, Harry couldn't believe where he found the strength to dart to her arms.
"My beloved boy! My brave, brave boy!" Lily whispered her voice sweet and light like a spring breeze.
Harry felt her arms around him and he knew that if there ever was a heaven, then this was it. As his father's arm circled around him he glanced up dazzled. "Are you really here? Is this another dream?" He asked lowly.
"This is what you want it to be, Harry," said his father, with a voice that resembled Harry so much of his own.
"You have brought us here, love," his mother added smiling at him fondly.
"Where is here? Is this heaven or the other side or whatever?"
"No, Harry. This is none of what you listed. See, son, you are not dead."
"That's impossible, dad! Voldemort just hit me with the Avada Kedavra. Of course I am dead."
"Well, we all know, he has hit you with that curse and merely scarred you before." His mother noted pointedly.
"Then why am I seeing you?" The boy asked again.
"That's quite obvious, Harry. Because you needed to see us, before you go to fight so bravely again."
"So it isn't over…" His whisper was almost disappointed.
"Don't sound sad about it, Harry. You are far too young to wish for anything to be over. You are so brave, love. Your whole life, you have fought so bravely never giving up. It's not the time to do it now."
"You've been watching me, then?"6
"Of course we have, Harry. You and your siblings. We've been watching you your whole lives. And we are so proud of all of you."
His father's words made his heart race with joy. "Proud of us?"
Lily nodded. "So proud…"
James talked next. "You need to fight Harry, with all your might. Allan and Sesylia need you. Sirius needs you. Ginny needs you. And so many people love you. You need to go back, love. I know how hard it is, but you deserve it. You deserve to live the rest of your life without fear."
Lily nodded smiling. "And we'll be right beside you. The whole time."
Harry nodded. "I love you. I love you so much…" he whispered to them.
"We love you too, Harry." Lily said hugging him again.
"And we want to see you grow and thrive. So go back there and make sure you send that creature back to hell, where he chose to belong." James added and hugged him tightly too. Then with one last smile to their son, they gently pushed him and watched him to lie back down to the ground.
Whispers. Movements. Wet earth. A light breeze. Harry didn't dare to open his eyes. He moved his little finger digging it slightly to the earth, mainly to make sure he really was alive. He was. Worried whispers were echoing.
"Is he alright?"
"Master! Master!"
Harry dared to open his eyes slightly and was stunned to see that Voldemort was laying on the ground unconscious too, with his deatheaters gathered around him worried.
Upon noticing his archenemy's body stirring slightly he closed his eyes and made sure he didn't even move his chest, as he breathed the tinniest amount of air possible.
"Stop touching me!" the furious voice was heard. Fumbling sounds and steps were heard, as the deatheaters cleared away from their dark lord. "Check him!" came the next order.
Harry's heart stopped. What now? As he layed there using all his strength to be completely immobile and not tremble, he waited for the inevitable.
He felt someone lowering over him. Soft hair tickled his face. He had the feeling he was dealing with a woman. Then he heard her whisper, a whisper so light he was not sure if he really heard it.
"Is Draco alive?"
Narcissa Malfoy, thought Harry. She probably never believed her son's death. Harry only slightly moved his lips without a sound forming a yes. Then he waited with his heart pounding so hard, he feared Voldemort would hear it.
"He is dead." Narcissa called evenly.
Voldemort's triumphant laughter echoed through the forest followed by his follower's cheers and screams.
"Levitate him! Let's go and show those pitiful excuses of wizards what remained of their hero!" The icy voice called.
Harry felt his body move on its own accord as he was lifted in the air. Remaining completely limb he managed not to make a sound as whoever had levitated him started shaking him violently in the air, causing laughter from everyone.
"Move!" Came Voldemort's next order.
Harry felt the air rush against him as the company behind him started walking out of the forest. Branches was hitting him and cutting him across his face and arms and legs, wherever his clothes were torn during the battle. He couldn't tell how quickly they were walking, soon though the branches stopped hitting him and he persumed they must have left the forest. After what felt like hours and seconds at the same time he came to a halt. A few nerve racking seconds later Voldemort's volumized voice was heard.
"Come outside, defenders of Hogwarts. We have your hero! Come see what is left of him!"
Harry's eyes remained firmly closed as he struggled to hear the steps of people who hesitantly walked out of the castle. But the real struggle was to keep his composure when his godfather's scream of "No!" slashed through the air, along with his sister's and Ginny's.
Voldemort and his deatheaters laughed hard making Harry's blood boil with fury.
"Here is what you've been fighting for!" Voldemort's voice again. "Crucio!" He screamed triumphantly and Harry's limp body started spasming from the curse.
Harry could not believe how he contained his scream, as the cruel pain overcame his whole being, as Voldemort and his followers cheered the desecration of his supposed to be dead body.
"NO!" The beraged scream that was heard from the crowd made Voldemort stop the curse.
"Who was that?" He asked sick humor evident in his voice.
"Longbottom! Nevil Longbottom! Stop, you soulless beast, and at least give us his body!" Came Neville's trembling with rage answer.
Voldemort's cold laughter echoed next. "Come in the front, brave Longbottom! I happen to admire courage when I see it. And here in front of everyone, I invite you to join me and my followers. We need strong, brave men like you to build the new powerful wizardring world!"
"Not before the hell freeze!" Nevil spat with so much disgust that Voldemort's low laughter halted.
After a short pause the dark Lord spoke again. "Well then, I believe you will be useful to us, in a rather different way!" The cold threat that was hidden behind his words, made Harry's stomach churn. He felt his body fall hard on the ground. "With Harry Potter on my feet, right where he belongs, I announce you the elimination, of Hogwarts' houses. From now on the school will have as an emblem the one of our noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin."
Then after a short pause Harry heard a rush in the air. He dared to open his eyes slightly and saw the sorting hat flying from a window of the castle and softly landing on Neville's head. Then it caught fire, while Neville's body got bound with a paralyzing curse. Before Harry could decide whether he should act or keep playing dead, Dumbledore's raging voice made his blood chill as a huge magic force hit Voldemort making him fly high in the air and land on the ground several feet away. Neville's body came to life again and with one fluent motion he took the hat off and dragged from its depths a big silver sword. Then raising it high in the air, Neville beheaded Nagini, leaving her body writhing on the ground. Voldemort's furious scream covered the Order's cheer and Harry decided it was now or never, as Dumbledore walked towards Voldemort ready to attack, Harry leapt from the ground and charged full force to the evil wizard, making everyone behind him scream with disbelief and joy.
Voldemort's face became a mask of terror and fury, upon realizing that not only he was not invincible anymore, but the one person that could kill him was alive.
"Failed again didn't you Tom?" Harry asked loud and clear feeling a courage unknown to him before filling his body. He felt the deatheaters around him move ready to attack him but their lord's yell made them stop.
"No! He's mine!" Voldemort said spitefully, his face a pure mask of hate.
"Am I now? What do you plan, Tom? Avada Kedavra again? Come on! I survived it twice, I can survive it again!" Harry taunted him again as he felt his own magical energy flare around him. The two of them started walking in a circle, always facing each other, while the two armies gathered around them ready to step in if needed.
Voldemort's furious "Avada Kedavra!" was disarmed with a mere movement of Harry's wand that made the evil wizard's eyes flare with furious disbelief.
"Wanna try again, Tom?"
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT! I AM LORD VOLDEMORT!"
"You are nothing!" Harry spat. "And now, that all your little toys are dead, what are you gonna do Tom? Now that the worthless Harry Potter, whom you so triumphantly presented as dead, is alive and facing you, what are you going to do?"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" came Voldemort's attempt again. And this time Harry did not try to disarm him like before instead he screamed "EXPELLIARMUS!" and watched the two flares his red and Voldemort's green one collide and sending hard vibrations to both their wands. Harry pushed harder and harder putting all his power into that defensive spell, pouring into it all his love for everyone he ever cared about, taking courage by his family's stunned faces that regarded them breathless and silently praying. And then it happened. The red flare exploded and with it Voldemort's red eyes stilled as his own killing curse backfired to him killing him instantly.
A thick silence covered everything in the few seconds it took the dark lord's body to fall on the ground with a muffled thud, arms wide open, red eyes still in their shock and terror. And he layed there. Still. Dead.
Harry felt his whole body tremble as a million feelings overwhelmed him. As he struggled to believe the nightmare was really over. He felt his knees betray him but he never made it to the ground as the hands of Dumbledore who was by his side this whole time, ready to help him grabbed him and steadied him.
"My brave boy…" The old wizard whispered as tears fell down his aged face and the blue eyes looked at the slim young man with pure admiration and gratitude.
Then Everything became a fuzz. Arms hugging him, tears and laughter, sorrow and happiness, mourns for those who never made it and triumph for the end of the darkness. Family and friends, people he didn't even know. Everything a blur that he didn't even try to comprehend. One thing was for sure. His family was safe. Those who survived, would not be threatened again. That thought being the last he could manage, Harry closed his eyes and fell in a black numbness so liberating that he couldn't help but smile as it swallowed him.
When Harry came to his senses, he was laying comfortably in a bed at the infirmary. He glanced around him but realized his glasses were not on his face. Propping himself up to his elbows he groaned at the sudden migraine that attacked him. Reaching to the bedside table he grabbed his glasses and put them on before glancing around him a second time. Sirius was sleeping in an armchair on his right, while Ginny was asleep on the bed next to his. Hoping she was not injured but just visiting him, Harry glanced to the corridor from where he heard someone approaching. Sure enough Madame Pomfrey appeared and smiled a huge smile at the boy.
"How are you feeling, Harry?"
"Ok I guess… I have this huge migraine, though…" Harry said, his voice hoarse, as he threw his head back on the pillows.
"It's from all the pressure and hardships your body and soul suffered, my dear boy. I will bring you a potion, but what will really do the trick is relaxing and let go of the pressure, so that's what I want you to concentrate on!" The healer informed him as she checked his pulse, temperature and pupil movement.
"How is Dora? And the baby?" Harry asked.
Madame Pomfrey shook her head disapprovingly as she answered. "They are both fine. Dora was so thoughtless; she should never come out to fight, not in her condition… But thank Merlin they are safe and sound, no complications whatsoever. Only poor Remus almost suffered a heart attack upon seeing her faint."
Their short discussion was cut by Sirius' voice. "Harry?"
Harry turned his head to him and smiled as his godfather rushed to hug him. "God Harry… You are alive. You have no idea… I thought I lost you!"
Harry felt his eyes burn with tears when he realized his godfather was sobbing hard with agony and relief at the same time. "I thought I lost you too, Siri. But we're here."
Sirius broke the hug and regarded him with eyes full of pride, "I am so proud of you. You were so strong, so strong! You made it Harry! You made it!"
Harry shook his head at that. "No, Sirius. WE made it. We all did. Those who are still here and those who lost the battle."
Sirius nodded smiling sadly. "We buried everyone yesterday in a big ceremony."
Harry looked at his godfather confused at that. "Wait, yesterday? What are you talking about? It all happened today…"
"You've been senseless for almost 24 hours, Harry. We wanted you to be at the ceremony but the bodies needed burial and the families of the deceased were arriving to Hogwarts in large groups, so we decided it was for the best not to delay it. But now that you are awake we can arrange the feast."
"Feast?" Harry asked confused. After all that happened he just could not bring himself to think of anything but the last day's events.
"Yes, a celebrating feast. After all that happened, it's what we all need. After the mourning of our lost ones, it's time to celebrate life. It's the only way to get on with it." His godfather told him smiling sadly.
Harry merely nodded. Then he saw his godfather rising. "I will give you two a minute and come back with your siblings and friends in a while." The man said and motioned for Harry to look at the other side of his bed, where Ginny had waken and looked at him teary eyed and longingly.
As soon as Sirius left the room, Ginny threw herself in Harry's arms crying violently as he tried to calm her and kissed her hair soothingly.
"I thought you died…" The girl said through her sobs and she clung on him for dear life.
"I thought I died too, love. Sssh! I am here now, Gin. I am right here, holding you. Calm down, love, please…"
Harry kept stroking her hair and humming reassuring words to her until her sobs finally subsided. Harry gently pulled her slightly away from him and dried her face with his sleeve, as she kissed his palm and wrist every chance she got. "Thank God you are safe." Harry said mostly to himself as he caressed her face tenderly. "You and Ses scared me so damn much when I saw you jumping in the battle…"
"I know, we scared you all and I know how we caused problems, but we couldn't bear it Harry. Not when all of you were risking your lives in there. When Nymphadora blew up the door we just followed her without a second thought."
"Dora blew the door up?" Harry asked confused. "Wait was she with the two of you? I thought she'd fight."
"Remus made her join us, because of the pregnancy but when the battle started and all the chaos erupted she couldn't bear stay inside. And neither could we."
"Oh, Gin…" Harry said at a loss. He could more than understand her feelings. After all he himself trusted his instincts and ignored the orders he got at the battle, but he could not help but feel angry at how dangerously Ginny and Ses had acted. Before he managed to say anything else though, Sesylia and Allan ran to his bed hugging him tightly and checking him all over, closely followed by Ron, Hermione, Neville, Draco and Eric.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione said through her tears. Allan was quick to hug her and try to calm her down while Draco stroked Sesylia's back who was in quite the same state with Hermione.
"Come on guys…" Harry said holding his sister's hand tightly. "Enough with the tears. It's over. We need to move on."
At their nods the boy added, "Thank you so much, all of you. For being here this whole time. By my side. It would never come to this if I didn't have you with me."
As his friends smiled at him broadly Harry glanced at Sirius, who was watching them from the door. His godfather nodded proudly and remained watching the young heroes trying to cope with the fact that life should go on. That life would go on. Liberated from the dark shadow of death. Liberated from the darkness.
The End
AN: I did not include in the story some scenes I have already written and you might want to see after reading this chapter. They just didn't feel right to include them here. BUT I am going to post some of them in one-shots. For example, you will soon get an one-shot of Draco and Sesylia and their coping with the battle and their relationship. Also I have written –but not completed yet- a few one shots of the life later, scenes of the families of this story in the future so keep an eye for them too, I believe you'll enjoy them!
Last but not least if there is a scene that you'd like to see and believe is missing from the story, feel free to tell me in a PM or review and if I don't have it already written I might write it if it inspires me enough! Please take a little time to review!