Author's Note
Here it is, mates. The final chapter. I've grown and changed a lot since beginning this story, and it's helped me through the rough times in the past year. Thank you to Laura and Taylor for being editors for me, and to Jordan and Kayla for putting up with me while I complained about writer's block. Last but not least, I want to thank all of you, my readers. Without your kind words and criticism, this story would not be as great as it is. For all of you who have stayed with this story to the end--thank you. I love you all. And now, without further delay, I give you the finale of Deluded Fairy Tale.
The great hall fell silent as Draco and I entered. Looks of amazement followed me as I made my way to the platform where the head table once stood. Draco gave my hand a tight squeeze before he let go, smiling proudly up at me as I stood before the crowd.
"Tonight is a night that will go down in history," I said, looking around at them all. "It is the night that house rivalries ended." I watched as Ron patted Draco on the back. "It is the night that the world banded together, and it will soon be the night when Voldemort's tyranny ended!" Cheers went up around the room—just as the Death Eaters made their explosive entrance.
Spells and screams filled the hall, bringing back the fierce sense of battle that had possessed us all before. I watched as Lucias Malfoy made straight for his son. I stepped forward, pulling out my wand with every intention of helping Draco. A chilling voice stopped me in my tracks.
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you, Potter?" Voldemort hissed.
"The best of us are…Tom," I replied, turning to face him full on. He sneered.
"I quite enjoyed killing you the first time. I expect I'll enjoy it all the more now!"
Our battle began, and it was as if my mind went on auto pilot. Over the years I had battled this man so many times that it no longer required conscious thought. It was routine, second nature. I wondered desperately how Draco was fairing against his father. I felt the familiar push of Voldemort's mind against mine, searching for access. I called up the lessons Draco had given me over the past few months, and with my new found strength in occlumency I managed to push him back, denying him entry to my thoughts.
"You've finally learned to guard your mind," he hissed. "We will see if you have learned to guard your body."
"Oh, but I've learned much more than that!" I replied, and with a flick of my wand, part of the ceiling started to fall, the heavy stones creating a wall between us. This bought me a moment or two to find Draco in the crowd. He and Lucias had fought their way to the side of the room. I watched as Draco advanced, firing off spell after spell in quick succession. I saw his face full of determination as he set his eyes on his father.
The sound of moving rubble drew my attention and I turned to find Voldemort advancing on me once more. I returned to my fight, mentally wishing Draco the best of luck and praying I would see him again when this fight was over at last.
I lost track of time after that. Voldemort came at me faster and harder than he had before. It did finally occur to me that the room around us had grown quiet, and I knew that they were watching us—whoever they were.
As of yet, I didn't know which side had prevailed thus far. When Voldemort fell, as I was determined would be the end result of this battle, I didn't know if I would turn to the crowd to be greeted with praise or to a hundred wands aimed at my chest. At the moment, I didn't much care. Either outcome would favor me. I would either live the remaining years of my life with Draco in a war-free world, or I would die within moments of my triumph and spend eternity with the man I loved.
Flashes of light when off around us as we threw curse after curse at each other. I was beginning to wear out, but thankfully, so was Voldemort. Neither of us moved as quickly as we had before.
"Enough play," Voldemort hissed. "Avada Kedavra!"
"Expellilarmus!" I shouted. Our spells connected with a force almost blinding. We struggled against each other, each wishing his spell to over power the other. I thought of Draco, and the time we'd shared. My old determination returned. If he was watching, I could not let him see me fail. I gathered up my last remaining strength, willing it through to my spell. I could feel the power growing and multiplying within me, building up until it seemed it would consume all of me.
For a moment time seemed to slow. The blinding light of our connected spells faded till it was nearly gone, and in the blink of an eye it burst out blindingly, enveloping us both in its light. A moment later it was gone, and I stood on the platform alone with Voldemort dead at my feet.
The room was quiet as I turned to the crowd, ready to learn my fate. My friends looked up at me from the sea of astonished faces. Applause rippled forward, filling the room with joyous noise. Voldemort was gone, our world was free.
I watched as Draco pushed his way to the front of the crowd, stepping up onto the platform with me. He reached out a hand, stroking my cheek fondly as his other rested lightly on my waist. He smiled in relief before pulling me tight against him and sealing his lips over mine. At that moment, I didn't care that everyone was watching us, or that a gasp of shock was going up around us. I was alive, and so was Draco. We were in love—and nothing in the world could separate us. For the moment, I was content.
The End
