Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.


- - - Book 4 — Part 8: Mage's Wrath

Godric Hollow - 10:45 am

The fiendfyre erupted from Voldemort's wand and rushed at him without any pause.

There was nothing he could do as he felt the unrestrained heat enclose around him, felt the snow in his hair and on his clothes evaporate instantly. He needed to get out of there! He needed to go some place safe! He attempted to weave the flames around him, using his knowledge gained from Voldemort's memories, but the Makra resisted, twisting by its own will.

And then it happened.

He felt power, immense energy that could not, would not, be denied.

Flames filled his vision, the howl of the merciless blaze roaring in his ears as he felt an even hotter sensation run across his skin, surging from his center.

He was consumed.

O o O

The sound of wind brushing through trees came to his ears as a hush of something above alerted him to the fact he was not alone.

"'Arry? 'Arry can yuh hear me?"

"Hagrid?" Harry asked, slowly opening his eyes.

Hagrid was kneeling beside him, looking very relieved, and hovering all around him were . . . Pixies.

"Oh, thank Merlin," he continued before helping Harry sit up.

"Where are we?" Harry asked.

"In the Forbidden Forest, Harry Potter," a voice answered to his right.

Harry turned. "Firenze?"

The centaur nodded. "I was led here by a few pixies roughly an hour ago. After draping my cloak over you, I immediately left for Hagrid."

Harry looked down at himself, finding himself covered in ashes, as well as, thankfully, the centaur's cloak. The fire had obviously claimed everything he had had on him in Godric's Hollow, even his shoes.

"What happened?" Harry asked in confusion, the question referring to more than simply how he had ended up there.

"You arrived here as ashes and flames!" a pixie shouted, landing on Hagrid's shoulder. "And then you just . . . you were just here!"

"The Phoenix Makra," Harry breathed, now taking a closer look at his hands. They looked smaller. Not too small, but he could definitely tell they were not as big as they were the last time he had seen them. What had happened to him?

"I also took the liberty of telling Hagrid to bring a package of items and cloths for you," Firenze added.

Hagrid handed him a short stack of folded cloths, an old pair of shoes roughly Harry's size, as well as a Custosae kit. Harry recognized it as Hagrid's kit.

"I didn't have time tuh tell the others what was goin' on. The moment Firenze came to my house, I grabbed what I could and followed 'im over here. 'Arry, what happened? Dumbledore's been lookin' fer yuh. He's at the Ministry right now gettin' the Aurors to start searchin'."

"I was taken to Godric's Hollow," Harry said, before quickly telling him what had happened there.

"Blimey, Harry. What should we do now?" Hagrid asked.

"What time is it?" Harry asked.

"About noon," Hagrid answered, looking at his watch.

"Voldemort's not going to stop now that he believes he's killed me. Knowing him, he's going to want to gloat," Harry said, patting the ashes around him and hoping to find his wand. "Blast. The fire must have destroyed my wand too."

"Are you sure you still need it?" another small pixie voice asked knowingly, this one from above him.

Harry looked up and found a royal looking pixie.

"I am very old, young wizard, and I know true power when I feel it. And yours, mage, is one that has no need for magical sticks of wood."

Harry paused, before looking to Hagrid.

"Try s'methin' 'Arry. The chief pixie could be right," Hagrid prompted.

Harry waved his hands over the old pair of shoes and whispered the proper renewal charm. He felt his Makra respond without any resistance, without any struggle whatsoever. His Makra was now even more responsive than how his magic had been in his first and second year at Hogwarts.

Smiling broadly, he stared at the shoes, which were now as good as new.

"Good show, Harry!" Hagrid said, clapping.

"Wow," Harry said, about to say something more when Hagrid gave a start and pulled out his Custosae coin.

"'Arry," he said, a little alarmed, handing him the coin.

It was the image of the Ministry, and down at the corner was Albus' name, telling them he had been the one to activate the distress call. A moment later, the coin heated up again, once again showing the Ministry, but with Madam Bones' name.

"I need to get over there," Harry stated before immediately putting on the shirt from the pile Hagrid had given him after casting a quick scourgify on himself. He couldn't explain it, but he knew he couldn't waste much time. "Tell the Custosae I'm alright and spread the word to the Amici. Mage is going to deal with Voldemort."

"Are yeh sure you're ready, Harry? Yuh just woke," Hagrid questioned, holding up the cloak for Harry so he could get dressed the rest of the way. Harry wasn't too concerned with modesty at the moment, but appreciated Hagrid's assistance nonetheless.

"The moment I found myself in Godric's Hollow this morning, I knew today was going to be the day when it would either be me or him. Trust me, Hagrid, I think I have a way to finally end all of this. Completely," Harry answered, now putting on the shoes with practiced ease before handing back Firenze's cloak.

"What else should I tell 'em?" Hagrid asked. "Anythin' we should do?"

"Keep the school protected, but tell the Amici who can to head for the Ministry. If I can do what I'm planning, I want them to evacuate everyone they can from the place, just to be safe."

"What are yuh plannin', Harry?" Hagrid asked suspiciously and worriedly.

"The only thing I think will really work," Harry said, securing the kit to himself and taking out a polyjuice-glamour pill. Charming his clothes, he then took the pill, morphing into Mage. Casting the last bit of the disguise with his hands, he looked to Hagrid. "How do I look?"

"Like Mage."

Harry gave a short nod. "Thanks, Hagrid," he said, his thanks expressing much more than simple gratitude. He was thanking him for everything he had ever done for him.

"Wait, how yuh gettin' to the Ministry?" Hagrid asked, not allowing himself to get choked up.

"If I'm right, I should be able to flame there, like how Fawkes can. I'm going to target Albus. Shouldn't be too different from popping."

Hagrid nodded in understanding. "Alright then. Good luck, 'Arry."

Harry stepped back, the pixies all staring at him. Firenze was behind Hagrid. "Thanks for getting Firenze. And Firenze, thanks for getting Hagrid," Harry respectively thanked.

"You're welcome, Potter," Firenze answered, the pixies beaming from the thanks.

With that, Harry rotated on his heel, flames instantaneously erupting all over him, but strangely, they didn't burn. They were much like the fire in floo travel, only they were red and gold. Harry's form, now totally engulfed, suddenly vanished, the blaze collapsing into a fine point as it released a very crisp boom.

It was 12:12.

O o O o O

Hogwarts – 12:05

Hermione, Neville, and Greg were in the infirmary with Draco. They had managed to convince Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall to allow them to stay.

Draco was still out of it, but at least he was no longer outright unconscious. He had woken up ten minutes prior.

"You think Harry's alright?" Neville asked.

"I don't know," Hermione answered honestly.

The three of them were sitting beside Draco's bed.

"Oh!" Hermione gasped, feeling her mirror alert her to someone contacting her.

Checking to make sure Madam Pomfrey was still busy in her office, Hermione went to the far end of the infirmary, Greg and Neville casting the necessary wards around her in case Pomfrey returned. She then took a polyjuice-glamour pill before she pulled out the mirror to find a very distraught Ron on the other end.

"Ron, what's wrong?" Hermione asked. The others watched on in concern.

"I-it's Harry. Voldemort just sent an orb to the Great Hall and it projected a message from him. It showed — oh, Merlin, Hermione, it. . . ."

Hermione's eyes widened. Ron was really upset. She could see that he was in the corner of the Great Hall, likely under some quickly placed wards just as she was at the moment. "What, Ron, what? Was it about Harry?"

"He's dead, Hermione. Fiendfyre."

"No — it must be a trick. He can't be —"

"Voldemort's going for the Minister now. He's wanting an unconditional surrender," Ron managed, despite the tears in his eyes.

"Well, he sure as hell isn't going to get it," Hermione gritted through her teeth. "Whether or not what you all saw is true, we're not going to give up."

Ron nodded stiffly. "What should we do? We can't just do nothing."

"You're right. I'll get back with you once I contact Sirius and the others. We might be stuck in Hogwarts, but our influence is not."

"Understood."

O o O o O

Ministry – 12:09

Dumbledore hurried down the hall that led to the Minister's office, but a magical disturbance caused him to redirect his course to the Wizengamot's meeting chamber. Entering the hall, Dumbledore found the doors to the Wizengamot were wide open, and damaged, which immediately told him things were not well, but then he heard laughter.

High pitched, cruel, laughter.

Now slowly approaching the doors, he was able to make out voices.

"You all really do like to make things difficult for yourselves," a voice, who could only be Voldemort's, said.

"We will not cave to the likes of you!" a female voice shouted.

Madam Bones?

Voldemort laughed. "You are pathetic. Almost as pathetic as the Potter boy, though, I'll admit I found his death quite satisfying, which is more than I can say what I will feel for yours. Avada Kedavra!"

Dumbledore dashed into the chamber as Bones threw out a spell that caused all of the chairs to rocket between her and Voldemort who was below. The killing curse stuck one of the old wooden governor chairs and exploded it. Kingsley, who was beside the Minister, threw up a shield, protecting them from the splintery mess.

"RIDDLE!"

Voldemort turned, unfazed by Dumbledore's uncharacteristic roar. A handful of death eaters were standing smugly on either side of him. Dumbledore's eyes briefly fell to a charred wand hanging from a black chain around Voldemort's neck. A wand he knew was Harry's.

"Ah, I had not expected to run into you so soon, but no matter," Voldemort said.

The Minister and a number of other officials were in the room as well, above them where officials would normally sit during meetings. It was clear to Dumbledore that Bones and Kingsley had hoped to seal the meeting chamber off and lock Voldemort and his death eaters out, thus protecting the leaders of the Wizarding World. Their plan had unfortunately gone awry.

"You look utterly devastated, Dumbledore. Did you hear of the demise of your precious golden boy?" Voldemort taunted, standing at the center of the chamber.

Dumbledore lifted his wand slightly.

"He did put up something of a fight, I'll give him that, but he was really no match for me," Voldemort continued. "He was much like his parents in that regard. Brave and all of that. Such foolishness . . . thinking he could escape from his fate. Escape death. Escape me."

"You flatter yourself," Dumbledore stated.

Voldemort sneered at him, weaving his wand about.

Bones and Kingsley ushered the Minister and the others behind the Chief Warlock's bench for protection as Dumbledore leapt onto the half wall that encircled the floor below, curving the curse Voldemort had just fired out into the hall.

"Agile in your old age," Voldemort commented. "If only Harry could have been as agile. He might have been able to dodge my flames!" He laughed, his death eaters now turning their sights to those taking cover.

Curses were suddenly being exchanged without any restraint, until Voldemort turned angrily to his death eater lieutenant. "The Minister is mine! Kill the others!"

The death eaters adjusted their tactics accordingly, weaving around benches and chairs, but Bones and Kingsley were giving them a run for their money, as were, surprisingly, the Ministry officials!

"Ahh!" a death eater gasped, taking a curse to his face, his mask cracking as he collapsed.

"Good one, Madam!" Kingsley shouted to Griselda Marchbanks.

The elderly lady ducked back behind a chair, Fudge casting a slightly unstable protego beyond her as another death eater came about.

Dumbledore glared at Voldemort, giving back as good as he got, if not more so. The chairs beside him sprang to life and charged Voldemort. Voldemort disintegrated them before throwing more spells at Dumbledore.

Shouts and other sounds rained in from the hall. Evidently, there was more fighting going on elsewhere within the Ministry. Dumbledore hoped the Custosae would arrive with reinforcements soon.

Running out of patience, and clearly wanting to get on with the rest of his plans, Voldemort increased his attack, upping the ferocity of his spells.

Countering one after another, Dumbledore wove his way around the chamber, deflecting a plethora of spells without a moment's pause. He was in his element, magic weaving around him, his eyes unwavering as he advanced.

Voldemort didn't seem to be worried, if anything, he was amused. "So much rage, so much hate, so much pain," he said, grinning.

He didn't even bat an eye when another one of his death eaters flew down from his left and collided into the unforgiving floor.

"Don't worry, Dumbledore. You'll be joining the boy soon," he continued, now weaving his wand about with precise twists.

Dumbledore knew it was coming before Voldemort had even finished.

Fiendfyre.

Dumbledore's eyes widened. Voldemort truly was insane, casting that in such a confined place. Sure, the chamber was large, but certainly not large enough to allow enough control to be properly wielded, with or without the doors open.

WHOOOOSSSHHH.

Fire erupted, but not from where Dumbledore had anticipated.

It was beside him.

But before he could fully take in that fact, another source of fire sprang out. From Voldemort's wand.

Out of the corner of Dumbledore's eye, a flaming form appeared and immediately twisted about, moving in front of him and into the incoming fiendfyre.

Dumbledore was pushed back by an unknown force, making him crash into the divider behind him. Somehow maintaining some amount of balance, Dumbledore could only watch as Voldemort began to struggle to maintain control. Dumbledore stared, finding the newcomer's hands were wrapped in an even more furious inferno, actually grabbing onto the large tongues of flame surging from Voldemort's wand.

Another death eater fell, though this one met a horrific end. His body didn't even hit the floor of the Wizengamot, the flames consuming him in a blink of an eye. His ashes scattered as the fiery form stiffened his arms, fighting for control before finally breaking it away from Voldemort's hold completely.

The flames vanished instantly, the floor and dividing wall near the man was charred and cracked, but the man was unharmed. Not even his clothes held any sign of the blaze he had just endured, but he wavered.

Dumbledore swallowed.

Mage had arrived.

"So we meet again," Voldemort stated, lifting his chin slightly.

"So we do," Mage answered, taking a step back and leaning against the wooden banister for support. He appeared a little weakened from taking on the flames.

Voldemort smirked. "I assume you hope to prevent me from doing what I've set out to do today."

"I have come to make a deal with you," Mage stated.

That surprised Voldemort, as well as those still conscious in the chamber.

"Oh?"

"Yes. I propose a wizard's oath, between you and I, concerning whatever the result of a duel between the two of us turns out to be."

"An interesting proposal," Voldemort said, taking in Mage's almost hidden heavy breathing and his slightly flushed cheeks. "I'm listening."

"A wizard's duel, right here — just the two of us. If you win, the Custosae will not interfere with your plans anymore, the Ministry will surrender unconditionally, and Dumbledore and his Order will admit defeat. However, if I win, your death eaters and allies, wherever they are, will surrender and turn themselves in without a fight." Mage ignored the horrified and outraged gasps of those above them and continued. "I understand the dark mark acts as a bond between you and your death eaters, so what you swear they swear as well. The same goes for those under me in the Custosae. They gave an oath and it acts the same way, as we are a unit."

"And this duel is to the death, I assume?" Voldemort asked, a hint of elation surfacing in his eyes.

"Of course. There is nothing worse than death, after all," Mage said with a hint of sarcasm, his back still to Dumbledore. "There will be no interference from anyone during this duel. I will place a ward on this room ensuring that. I will swear this ward will do nothing in assisting my fight against you."

"Hmm," Voldemort deliberated, continuing to take in Mage's appearance and weighing his options.

This certainly would make things easier for him, and as he had just killed the one who had been prophesied to have the ability to vanquish him. . . .

"Mage, you can't do this!" Minister Fudge cried.

"I accept," Voldemort interrupted, moving forward and holding out his arm to seal the oath.

"Mage, what are you doing?" Dumbledore asked, coming up just behind Mage and whispering in his ear as he took hold of his upper arm.

Mage turned his eyes and met Dumbledore's.

Performing gentle Legilimency, Mage hit Dumbledore's shields before pushing out two words at him.

Trust me.

"Don't try to talk him out of it, Dumbledore. Mage has made his decision. Now, take the Minister and the others outside. Mage and I have an oath to take. Bellatrix will seal it," Voldemort said, before turning his eyes back to Mage. "If that is acceptable."

It wasn't really a question, but Mage treated it as such.

"No, Dumbledore will be the Bonder. I believe we both, at the very least, trust and know Dumbledore will be honorable and seal it correctly with the oath we have agreed to."

Voldemort narrowed his eyes, but of course could not fault Mage for that. If their positions were reversed, he would not want Bellatrix to seal the oath either.

"Very well," Voldemort hissed, before looking to Bellatrix and glancing at the few other death eaters still alive. "Leave us. I will call you when it's over."

They all gave him a short bow, before vanishing in a puff of black smoke and shadow.

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose slightly. Shadow magic?

Bones and Kingsley then shuffled the Minister and the others out of the room, passing Mage and Dumbledore without a backwards glance.

"Shall we then?" Voldemort questioned with a sinister smile. Like Mage had said, he knew Dumbledore was too honorable to try anything now. Voldemort would have this promised duel.

Dumbledore cautiously approached, until he was near the center of the now empty room. Mage came as well, stopping two feet from Voldemort, whose hand was still held out for him to take.

Dumbledore lifted his wand, indicating he was ready.

Mage grabbed Voldemort's wrist, allowing Voldemort to grab his. Dumbledore placed the tip of his wand on the back of Mage's hand.

"Mage and Voldemort, do you swear to all you both just agreed to concerning the duel between the two of you, including your side surrendering unconditionally should you lose your life during it?" Dumbledore asked.

"I do," they swore together.

Magic wove out of Dumbledore's wand, wrapping around their wrists tightly before disappearing. With that, Voldemort and Mage both let go and stepped back.

"Now go, Dumbledore," Voldemort said.

Dumbledore hesitated, looking to Mage. He wanted to say so much, but didn't know how, so he turned and headed out of the room.

"Albus," Mage said, not looking at Dumbledore, but down while bringing up his right index finger up to touch his left thumb. Dumbledore paused just beyond the doors. "Wait for my mirror."

Before Dumbledore could respond, the doors closed and a drop of blood from Mage's thumb fell. Mage then stepped on the drop, forcing his Makra down and activating the Golden Ward.

"Well, Voldemort, it is just you and me now," Mage said, backing up further.

"Yes," he agreed, giving a short bow which Mage returned, starting the duel.

O o O o O

Diagon Alley - 12:15

The Goblins locked down Gringotts and were now assembled in front of it. Inferi, snakes, and death eaters had just entered Diagon Alley, and they were now storming the shops.

-Crack-Crack-Crack-

Three people appeared in the middle of the alley. Amici. Sirius, Joseph D. Moy, and Alastor Moody. They had received word from Hermit their help was needed in the alley.

The goblins behind them suddenly charged, surging forward as they began exchanging spells with the invading dark unit. People were running and screaming, terrified, but, Moody and the others quickly noticed, many were not simply running for cover.

A witch, well beyond fifty, shouted a simple fire spell at one of the incoming inferi, but overpowered it on purpose as she shuffled her grandson to get behind her.

A man, small and meek looking, was suddenly looking outraged as a death eater attempted to crucio a fellow beside him. He sent out a series of childish firework spells out to distract the death eater.

A teenage couple hurried into a shop, but not before magicking the piles of cages and stacked chairs out into the street to obscure the path for the inferi.

O o O o O

Hogsmeade – 12:15

Stephanie Somac, Snape, Bill Weasley, and Arthur Weasley arrived, immediately finding the shops were under attack by death eaters. The death eaters were calling for surrender, yelling at shop owners and shoppers to stop their petty resistance. For it was over. Harry Potter was dead and Voldemort was at the Ministry.

Snape and the others quickly jumped into the fray, all of them impressed with the fact that most everyone was actually combating the death eaters, despite their lack of dueling skill.

Perhaps Voldemort's message was not as demoralizing as he had hoped?

O o O o O

Hogwarts – 12:15

Looking out beyond the gates of Hogwarts, McGonagall saw the arrival of several giants, via portkey, and a half a dozen death eaters. They had catapults and were now loading them. Not liking where that was going, she headed off to the infirmary, hoping the wards of Hogwarts would hold long enough for her plan to be carried out.

O o O

Hermit, now orchestrating several Amici units, looked up to find McGonagall talking adamantly with Draco.

Deciding to make her presence known and hoping her excuse for herself (Hermione) was good enough should she be asked, she dropped the wards.

"Professor McGonagall," Hermit stated.

McGonagall gave a start, quickly turning to her. "Hermit, how did yo — never mind. We have a serious problem. There are giants at the gates and they're loading catapults as I speak."

"How many?"

"I saw at least ten. The wards of Hogwarts are good, but they're not that good."

"I understand," Hermit said with a frown. "Charlie," she whispered before refocusing. "I have an idea. Carry out what you were planning. I believe it had something to do with Salandra?"

McGonagall nodded, Draco now sitting up.

"I can go talk with Salandra," Neville said as Hermit stepped away and called someone over the mirror.

Pomfrey then entered, quickly noticing Hermit and McGonagall. "What is going on here?"

O o O o O

Ministry – 12:15

Dumbledore could only stare as the familiar looking Golden Ward encased the door and sealed off the room. Bones and Kingsley were on either side of the Minister and the other officials as they took notice of a commotion coming in from at the end of the hall. Two people were running backwards toward them, waving their wands at where they had just come.

BOOM!

The end of the hall caved in on itself and then glowed blue for a moment. A sealing ward.

"Albus! Albus, there're Inferi entering from the west wing!" Augusta shouted, Amos Diggery by her side. "Hermit told us to try to help seal off the halls that lead to the other offices. Do you know of anywhere else we should seal?"

KUHKUNG!

The door into the Wizengamot rattled.

"What's in there?" Amos asked in alarm.

"Mage and Voldemort," Dumbledore answered solemnly.

O o O o O

Wizengamot Chamber – 12:15

"So, no wand, Mage?" Voldemort asked, noticing Mage had yet to retrieve his wand.

"I'll get it when I want it," Mage stated, side stepping a curse before weaving out some of his own power. Mage let himself become immersed in it, every cell of his being saturated in his Makra, waiting to be released.

Voldemort moved, his form now giving off strands of shadow. Mage shifted his stance, his hands now poised in front of him.

"Hah!" Voldemort shouted, vanishing and appearing on the platform above him, shooting down a ray of dark energy.

This was new magic, magic Voldemort had not known when he had killed Harry's parents and had tried to kill him. This was an unknown for Harry. Raising a shield, Mage still got out of the way but wanted to know what it would do to the erected defense. The dark barrage totally pulverized it.

"I see you don't know much about Shadow Magic," Voldemort commented. "It's been a new interest of mine. I had to go to many countries to learn its secrets, and many secrets it has."

Voldemort vanished again to appear at the center floor, his right hand now armed with a dark knife, shaded mist whirling around its blade. His left hand held his wand.

Twisting about, the shadows in the room trembled, before surging down to his feet. Raising his arm, he aimed at Mage. The shadows rose up into the air, taking on a translucent and dangerous look, before rocketing toward Mage like enraged fire.

Mage clenched his jaw, and then leapt forward, his hands covered in an odd glow.

KUHKUNG!

The shadows met his hands and were suddenly flung at the doors where they hit and exploded into a gray mist. But Mage was not done.

Still advancing, Mage threw his hands out at Voldemort, rearing up a bit of his own power. Compacting his Makra, Mage suddenly released it in a solid pulse.

Voldemort was thrown back, hard, colliding into the stand under the main seat. With a growl, Voldemort retaliated, throwing crucios, Inferi curses, and other nasty spells, before he vanished once more.

Mage waited, knowing Voldemort was waiting for what he thought was the right moment to reappear.

Whoosh.

Mage rolled, Voldemort appearing behind him and casting a spell that transformed two unbroken chairs into five large rabid dogs. He then fired out three large serpents from his wand.

:Kill him!:

:Don't! Kill the dogs!: Mage shouted, Voldemort's eyes revealing utter surprise.

He hadn't known Mage was a parseltongue, otherwise he would have cast a different serpent spell.

The three mambas turned, hissing at the dogs. Two managed to get a bite in before the dogs chomped down on their slender bodies and threw them to the side, paying no mind to any bites.

Enraged, Voldemort vanished the serpents, the dogs now charging Mage.

Mage turned his sights to the floor, quickly transfiguring a section of it and making it thrust up into three of the dogs, it had barely missed the forth. The struck dogs collapsed before turning into a crushed chair as the other two dogs ran around Mage and tried to bite his left arm and leg.

Rotating about, Mage barely managed to fire a powerful banishing spell at them as he saw Voldemort vanish at the corner of his eye and shadow appear right at his side a split second later.

He felt something cold and hard slice through his robes and easily pierce into his side.

"You stabbed my familiar; I've stabbed you," Voldemort hissed into his ear.

Mage shoved him back, the knife swiftly sliding out. Mage gasped, feeling a dark essence saturating his wound, but not before he felt his Makra respond. Placing his right hand on the wound, he felt what he was certain to be the Basilisk Makra repel the dark energy. Mage forced himself to remain on his feet as his side burned.

"I don't expect you to live much longer now. That blade was cursed and poisoned. I'm actually surprised you are still standing. I am elated that you have proved to be a capable and strong opponent, though. When the Wizarding World learns I have also killed you, they will not be able to claim I am not a worthy leader. They will be forced to accept I have won."

"I'm not dead yet," Mage stated, his voice thick with power.

"Ah, you still have some fight in you yet. I'm glad."

Voldemort vanished again, before appearing beside the main seat where the Head of the Wizengamot sits.

He fired down several more spells, but Mage countered and blocked each without even moving from where he stood. He could feel the Makra overpowering the curse and eliminating the poison, though he could also feel blood seeping down his pant leg.

"Shouldn't be much longer now," Voldemort practically chanted, moving around the chamber and approaching Mage again.

"No, it shouldn't," Mage replied, before swiftly turning and vanishing in a pillar of flame.

Voldemort cursed, but before he could even guess where Mage would appear, he found himself face-to-face with him.

"Turn about is fair play," Mage stated, before slamming his hands, full force, directly against Voldemort's chest, pouring as much energy as he could into him and thrusting him up. Letting himself focus on all those he was protecting in doing this, he poured more of his emotions in to call up even more power, releasing his wrath into Voldemort.

Voldemort was propelled back so hard he went through the dividers along the platforms and rammed into the Golden Ward. Mage was certain he heard something like a bone snap.

Voldemort collapsed, his right hand clutching the front of his robes over his heart as he tried to catch his breath.

"Wha-what did you do?" Voldemort managed, his eyes revealing the pain he was in.

"I'm sorry to say I placed one of your favorite curses on you," Mage answered, now where Voldemort had been, near the bottom rim of the meeting stands.

Voldemort's eyes widened, before he waved his wand over himself. His breathing eased.

"Nice try," he said, looking down at Mage before swiftly getting up, shadows weaving around him. Once again looking confident, he went to vanish again, but he suddenly stumbled — however, he still vanished.

Crash.

He reappeared on the floor, just a dozen feet from Mage. He now had to lean on a damaged divider to stay on his feet.

"You think you've won, but you haven't," he hissed boldly.

He couldn't flee, the oath prevented him. The duel had to end.

"What makes you so sure?" Mage asked, moving forward, blood still flowing from his side.

"You're going to die soon. Both the poison and the curse cannot be fought back by your magic for long. Besides, you can't kill me."

"Can't I?" Mage questioned, not impressed.

"No. Prophecy magic cannot be denied. You can't kill me. Only Harry Potter can, and I killed him earlier today," Voldemort said, gazing up at Mage in prideful defiance as his strength continued to drain from him.

"You're right. The magic of prophecies cannot be denied, but then, I am not defying the prophecy . . . but fulfilling it." Mage let his makra flow over his skin, canceling the polyjuice-glamour pill and revealing his true self, bloody clothes and all. "I am Harry Potter," he stated, holding out an open hand and calling his charred wand to himself. "And this is your end."

"NO!" Voldemort snarled, slashing his wand out. "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry felt his Makra rush out from his center and across his skin. Not knowing what else to do, he once again thrust his hands in front of him.

The green light came, but then suddenly rebounded off his hands to return right into Voldemort's face.

Harry felt himself pushed back, but not too hard; however, he still found himself on the opposite side of the Wizengamot floor, resting against the crumbled half wall. He could see Voldemort's crumpled form several yards away. Harry knew he was dead.

With a shaky hand, Harry fumbled for the mirror in his inner vest pocket. He was getting light headed and knew he needed help right away, but his arm failed him as he tried to hold it up. His arm fell to his side, the mirror barely still within his hand.

So with a whispered word he willed the mirror to active.

"Albus."

O o O o O

Hogwarts – 12:25

Hagrid hurried up the stairs, heading to the Great Hall. He had given Harry his mirror, so could not communicate that way. Not having missed the giants now pelting the wards of Hogwarts with large stones, his goal was to find either McGonagall or Ron first for them to do something about it. Lucky for him, Hermit already had it handled.

"Ron!" he shouted, making everyone in the hall jump as he entered the Great Hall, throwing the doors open, seemingly unfazed by the fact the doors had been magically sealed. Perhaps Hogwarts herself had helped him out there.

"Yes?"

"Send word to Hermit that there are giants at the gates, and Har—"

"Hermit already knows. She's sent for Charlie to bring your dragon, he might already be here, and Neville has already gotten Salandra," Ron interrupted, the commotion in the hall having blocked the end of Hagrid's words.

"Good, yuh can also put the Centaurs an' the Pixie Clan on tha' list of defense. The Pixies came back with me an' are at my hut," Hagrid said, the whole hall now silent, wanting to learn more.

Hagrid paused, looking around at those in the Hall. A lot of people were quietly weeping. What was going on?

"Wha's wrong?" Hagrid asked.

"Oh, Hagrid, you weren't here, were you?" Ginny asked, her face falling, becoming even sadder. "It's Harry. Voldemort sent this orb. Harry's dead. Voldemort . . . he . . ."

"What? Tha' can't be right. I was just with 'im," Hagrid stated. "He sent me here tuh let yeh all know he was alright an' that Mage is goin' to deal with Voldemort."

Ron's eyes grew wide, just as everyone else's. "When, Hagrid, when?" he asked earnestly, too afraid to believe his ears but desperately wanting it to be true.

"Almost fifteen minutes ago. I hurried 'ere as fast as I could," Hagrid answered.

Ron caved into a hysterical and grateful laugh, the hall also surrendering to thankful emotions.

All was not lost.

O o O o O

Outside Hogwarts – 12:24

Charlie, flying on Norberta and leading three others on brooms, swooped over the grounds of Hogwarts and toward her gates.

Giving the signal, he and the other Dragon Trainers directed their sights to the giants.

Fire rained down from the sky, saturated the ground beyond the boundary of Hogwarts, and whirled around and across the giants and catapults.

The wards would hold.

O o O o O

Hogsmeade – 12:25

Fighting furiously, Snape and the others advanced against the death eaters, having taken out the inferi, but then something utterly bizarre made them pause.

"Ahhhh!" the death eaters screamed, holding their left arms and dropping their wands.

Snape hissed, holding his arm as well, but his pain did not linger like theirs.

"We-we surrender!" they cried, feeling the compulsive magic, oath magic that would not be resisted, course through their fading dark marks.

Elsewhere, all other death eaters were immediately falling to their knees and surrendering, to the dismay of all around.

O o O o O

Outside Wizengamot Chamber – 12:25

Dumbledore felt the mirror he had been holding in his hand for the past ten minutes activate and heard his whispered name come from the mirror. Quickly holding it up for him to see, and paying no mind to the worried people around him, he found a scene he would never forget.

He could tell the mirror was on the floor, perhaps being propped up by a hand, showing a view of the Wizengamot at a slanted angle, but the floor was still in view.

Peering closely at the mirror, he was able to make out a dark shape directly below where he sat during meetings, but that was not what had his devout attention. He saw something moving, slowly creeping along the floor at the bottom of where the mirror was propped.

Blood. Blood was pooling on the floor.

"Albus," the voice whispered again.

Dumbledore did not recognize it as Mage's, but knew it was him anyway. Looking at the still sealed door, he frowned.

"The room is still sealed!" he shouted.

"Apparate," Mage answered weakly. "I've keyed you."

Dumbledore didn't need to hear anymore. He vanished with a crack.

O o O o O


A/N: Well, there it is. Hope it was enjoyable and hopefully it was easy enough to follow. There were a lot of things happening at once, after all.

Next Part: ? Haven't titled it yet.