An End and A Beginning
The motley crew walked through the front gate of the castle escorting a floating, immobilized Death Eater. Needless to say, they were quite a sight as they came through the entrance hall.
A patrolling prefect had stopped to stare, and Lupin smiled at her. "Rosa!"
The freckly faced Hufflepuff girl was wide eyed. "Sir?"
"Escort Weasley to the hospital wing please!"
"Sir!"
Lupin led the strange procession directly to the gargoyle that guarded the stairwell to the headmaster's office. He spoke the password ("Tongue Teaser Lolly") and guided Pettigrew's body up the winding steps. He ignored the brass knocker and used Pettigrew's head instead.
"Enter!"
Lupin opened the door and walked in.
"Headmaster," he said. "There have been some rather startling developments... Behold Peter Pettigrew."
He waved his wand and the traitor's body dropped heavily to the floor.
Dumbledore stood up slowly, his eyes wide. He stepped closer, and recognition dawned on his face. He looked at Lupin, who motioned to the others. They entered the office as well.
"Hello, Professor," Black rasped.
"Sirius!" Dumbledore looked ready to fall over.
"Yes."
"How?"
"It's a long story. There will time for it later. Summon the dementors! Peter Pettigrew must die!"
"Sirius, it can't be just like that."
"It was for me," Black spat with disgust. "My wand was snapped, and I was carted off to Azkaban without so much as a formal charge."
"Disgraceful!" said Sadie, shaking her purple head.
"I must inform the Ministry of this development," said Dumbledore.
Black snarled at the headmaster, but Dumbledore was unpeturbed. He kept that calm, wise look directed at the ragged man, and eventually Black threw himself in a chair in the corner.
"Make your calls."
Fawkes had been sleeping on his perch. His great, glorious plumage was sparkling, casting its own light from the shadowed enclave. As the chair thumped the wall, the bird peeked his head out from under his wing. His eyes settled on Sirius.
The phoenix threw back his head and sang out a single note, pure and beautiful, deep and joyous. He leaped off the perch, fluttered his wings, and landed solidly on Black's outstretched leg. Fawkes opened his beak and sang again, different notes, and the light from his plumage seemed to grow brighter.
Harry felt his spirits rise.
"Aw… wish I could sing like that," said Sadie, listening in rapture.
"Wish my Gabriel could hear it," said Olkka with a smile.
The effect of phoenix song on Black was unmistakable. His haunted look was gone. Tears welled up in his eyes and trickled down the wan skin of his face.
"Hello, Fawkes."
Fawkes trilled at him and jumped up to his shoulder. He sat there, perfectly content, and he continued to sing quietly.
"I'd say that about proves it, Professor," Lupin said, speaking at last. "All things considered. Fawkes would be repulsed by evil. By a true follower of Voldemort. You don't need reminding that phoenix song only strikes fear into the impure."
"Quite right," Dumbledore agreed. He threw a pinch of powder into the fireplace and knelt down to stick his head into the flames. "Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Em El Eey," came a woman's voice through the Floo.
"This is Dumbledore. Let me speak with Director Bones."
"One moment."
Harry would have sworn he heard elevator music playing through the crackling flames.
"Dumbledore?"
"Amelia, good. What I am about to tell you may sound rather strange."
"As opposed to any of the other things you've said that are perfectly normal, Professor?" There was a laugh rippling below the surface of her words.
"Believe me, Amelia, I am in most sincere earnest. I need you to listen to all I have to say before you begin reacting."
"Go ahead."
"Sirius Black just walked into my office."
"What!"
"Amelia!"
"Sorry."
"He was accompanied by Professor Lupin, who has just caught Peter Pettigrew."
"Pettigrew!"
"He is alive and restrained. It would appear that he has been living the life of a fugitive. I believe it most likely that he is a Death Eater."
Director Bones was silent for a moment. "This is a mess, Dumbledore. I'd better come myself."
"I shall see you shortly, then."
Dumbledore extricated himself from the fireplace and stood up. "Never fear, Sirius. We'll straighten this all out. I give you my word."
Lost in phoenix song, Black didn't answer.
"Now then, would someone please tell me what happened tonight?"
Harry spoke first. He summarized the tale, glossing certain bits over, such as how he'd obtained the map that had revealed the truth, and heaping praise on Sadie and Olkka for accompanying him, and on Lupin for coming to the rescue.
"Very well, Harry. That will do for now. Remus? Perhaps you would care to elaborate?"
Professor Lupin cleared his throat. "I was watching the sky, thinking about how much I hate and fear the moon, when I chanced to look down toward the grounds where I saw a giant dog attacking Ron and Harry. I recognized Sirius immediately and ran for the gate.
There came a knock on the door.
"Enter!"
The door opened to admit a tall witch wearing grey robes. Her red hair was cut to jaw-length, and she had a stern look to her. She took in the whole room with a single gaze. Her hard and piercing eyes settled on Black, and Harry was reminded very much of Professor McGonagall. The effect was aided by her thick eyebrows and imposing monocle.
Then she noticed the phoenix perched on his shoulder and how Black had his head tipped back in seeming bliss. Director Bones suddenly didn't look so sure of herself. She glanced down to study Wormtail.
"Yes, that's Pettigrew. Dumbledore, do I dare ask what Harry Potter is doing here?"
"You can ask," Harry answered for himself, giving the director an insolent stare.
"Very well. Mister Potter, what are you doing here?"
"Making sure that the wizard who betrayed my parents to Voldemort," and she flinched slightly at the name, "doesn't escape justice."
"Pettigrew was working for You-Know-Who?"
"Yes. He was the secret Secret Keeper when my parents went into hiding. Sirius Black was a decoy."
"Pettigrew was a spy," Black spoke up. Years and horrors seemed to have dropped from his face. Even his voice sounded more normal. "He sold James and Lily to Voldemort. I went after him, and I was going to kill him, but he blew up the street, killing the Muggles, and faked his own demise."
"Hold up," the director said, pulling out a scroll of parchment and a quill from her pocket. "Dumbledore- ah, thank you." She dipped the quill in the proffered ink and scribbled something briefly. "Tell me the story as it happened."
Together, in bits and pieces and with many questions, Lupin and Black filled Director Bones in on the whole story. Voldemort had targeted the Potters. They went into hiding under the Fidelius Charm. Black had been the decoy; Pettigrew had been the true Secret Keeper, but he had already turned traitor, acting as a spy for Voldemort - both Lupin and Black used his name - and had betrayed the Potters instantly.
"When I heard the news, my clever little scheme tasted like ashes." Black was stroking Fawkes as he spoke, the phoenix preening under the attention. "I got on my, motorbike, and headed for Godric's Hollow. I got there just as Hagrid was coming out of the ruins of the house with Harry in his arms. 'Give Harry to me, Hagrid. I'm his godfather. I'll look after him. It was what James and Lily wanted.'
"He said he had orders from Professor Dumbledore and that Harry was to go live with Lily's sister Petunia. I didn't have time to argue with him about it, and I knew Harry would be safe with Hagrid until I tracked down Peter. So I gave him my bike and Apparated to one of Peter's usual dives.
"I found him." Black's voice was heavy, "but before I could do anything, he framed me and blew up the street. When the Aurors came to take me away, I was laughing at how very stupid I had been."
"The rest, I think we know," Professor Dumbledore said. "Amelia? Have you heard enough?"
Director Bones shook her head in amazement. "I thought I knew some good thrillers before," she murmured. "Very well, Black. On my authority as Head of Magical Law Enforcement, I declare you innocent of all criminal charges."
"This is wonderful!" said Sadie, clapping her little hands together.
"Yes. You have a godfather now, Harry," said Chip.
Yes, Harry had a godfather. The next best thing to having a father.
Black gave another great sigh. "Thank you, Director."
Bones looked at Black. "Mister Black, the word of your innocence will be disseminated to the corners of the world by dawn." She waved her wand and lifted the immobilised Pettigrew into the air with magic and left the office.
The rest of them followed. Outside Dumbledore's tower, Black crouched down to be on Harry's level. "I've got to go with Moony right now, Harry. That's also a long story, and I promise to tell you all about it."
"Ah, Harry knows love already, Sirius," said Lupin. "Isn't it obvious?"
Sirius glanced from Sadie to Harry. "I suppose it is. I'll have to show both of you my properties as soon as I can. I'm the sole inheritor and my mother disowned me for being a Gryffindor, but never bothered to disinherit me legally. There's a place in London… I'm not too fond of it though. And a much better one in the Bahamas. You and your charming girlfriend should definitely see that one. Your mother and sister too."
"Thank you Mr Black. I'd be delighted."
"Mr Black, are you sure you don't need healing help … um… after all you've been through?" said Sadie. "Azkaban, then being on the run? My mum's one of Britain's best Healers…"
Sirius waved the notion away. "It's Sirius, not Mr Black. Or it could be Padfoot if you preferred. Come on Moony, let's go and get wild."
Sirius and Lupin headed off.
"What a weird series of events," said Olkka. "You wanted to see me about another matter, girl? Not just that funny map?"
Sadie nodded. "This is not such a … happy subject if I'm right about it. Harry, it's appropriate that your mum knows all about this too."
They proceeded to Cora's quarters. Goldie was asleep in her cot, but Cora looked up as they came in, her blue eyes wide.
"Heyy, Cora! This is Olkka."
"Well, hello, Ma'am," said Cora, stepping up to curtsey awkwardly.
"No need to bow," said Olkka sardonically. "Although night-hags are a hag aristocracy of sorts." She smirked.
"Um – right…" said Cora. "You must be hungry."
"Just get me some beetles," said Olkka.
While Olkka munched on the beetles, Cora looked anxious. "Harry, Sadie… What's been happening? I can tell you're all excited."
"A lot," said Sadie. "It turns out that Sirius Black is innocent of all his supposed crimes and that a Death Eater named Peter Pettigrew framed him. Sirius has had his name cleared. The Ministry has taken Pettigrew away. They're gonna take the Dementors away too. They'd better…"
"Wow… This is … a lot…" said Cora.
"It gets better," said Harry. "Sirius is actually my godfather, so he's like family to us Mum."
Cora grinned. "That's wonderful."
Olkka set the empty beetle jar down. "There's something else Sadie's worried about."
"Um… yes…" Sadie shifted uncomfortably. "Olkka, we need help that may be beyond a human witch. We need you to look in Harry's eyes."
"Mm. You need me to use my powers to give him a check up? Because his mum can't."
"I know it's just night-hags who are psychic," said Sadie.
"And I don't need to be reminded of what I can't do," said Cora tersely.
"Hags have a separate magic system? One which has rules?" enquired Chip.
"Yeah. Totally different from ours," said Sadie. "House elves have another system of magic. Goblins yet another. Ours is probably the only one that works completely at random with what it can and can't do."
"Look at me then, boy," said Olkka. She cupped Harry's face in her green hands. He gazed into her eyes. "Hmm."
Olga released him. "That was easy. There is a parasitic growth in him."
"What!" Cora gave a little start. She glared at Olkka. "What do you mean? Don't give me riddles."
"Not a riddle," said Olkka, curling her lip. "It's quite simple. There's a shard of some evil being lodged in Harry's head. A tiny fragment of a being so evil that I shudder to think as to what the master piece is like."
"The master piece is You Know Who," whispered Sadie. "He established maybe five Horcruxes on purpose. That would make his essence very unstable. Then he must have done this to Harry by accident that night he lost his powers."
"This is horrible. Absolutely horrible!" squeaked Chip.
"Does Dumbledore know?" Whispered Sadie, more to herself than anyone else. "Of course he must do. A wizard like him would have worked it out."
Harry felt a chill to his stomach. He touched a hand to his forehead. "That's why it hurt my head when Voldemort was here? The fragment was trying to get out?" He felt like he was carrying some deadly germ. Some horrible taint. He felt his head spinning, but his mother's strong arms were around him.
"This – this isn't true," said Cora, her voice trembling. "A piece of that vile creature in my son… Impossible."
"It's sealed off," said Olkka. "Like there's a callous around it. It's dormant. Of course, that could change."
"We've got to remove it," said Sadie. "But how…" She put a green hand to her forehead. "OK, there might be a way to cure Harry. Mum would help. And I've gotta test Professor Snape first and see what he really knows. That'll give me an idea of what Dumbledore knows…" She was breathing through her nose. "If either of them are lying to us and keeping secrets then Darkness help me…"
"Might want to sleep on whatever notion it is you're having," said Olkka. "If Snape or Dumbledore is lying, it's not really up to you to punish them."
"Indeed. You wouldn't be able to punish Dumbledore, Mummy," squeaked Chip. "Not even if he has deliberately withheld things that Harry has a right to know."
Sadie sighed and shook her head, her purple hair rippling and bouncing. "I know. I guess I'm overexcited."
Cora put her other arm around Sadie. "Sleep here tonight, both of you. I'll take care of you."
Olkka stood up. "Well that's that." She waved towards Sadie. "Til we meet again, follower of the night."
00O00
The next day, Harry felt better. Even if there was a shard of Voldemort in his head, his mother and Sadie would take care of him. He felt in good hands with them both looking out for him.
Harry's mood was improved at breakfast by the headlines he saw on Heather Sommernacht's Daily Prophet – she was showing it to her sister from Gryffindor.
You Know Who's Secret Agent Revealed – The Spy, Peter Pettigrew!
How Peter Pettigrew betrayed the Potters and Sirius Black.
Peter Pettigrew to stand Trial!
Outcome of Trial a foregone conclusion based on Veritaserum evidence!
"How are you feeling, Harry?" asked Sadie, gazing up at him through the eyeholes in her mask.
"Have a piece of toast," squeaked Chip, clumsily pouring treacle on a slice of toast.
"Thanks, Chip, you're so considerate," said Harry. "Treacle makes toast go down easier."
An owl from Sirius arrived at that moment. It was from Sirius and Lupin. Lupin was coming to collect them so they could see Sirius at the Three Broomsticks.
Lupin escorted them down to Hogsmeade. Harry's mood was lifted still further now the Dementors were removed. They arrived at the Three Broomsticks.
"Harry!" Sirius Black said, his voice delighted, if still rusty. "And Sadie," he curtseyed to her and she smiled with the lips of her mask. "And little Chip."
"It's a pleasure to meet you again," squeaked Chip.
Sirius' ragged hair had been neatly trimmed, and his skin had regained some colour. It appeared he'd also eaten a square meal and was dressed in smart robes. Lupin was very bright and animated. He was dressed in new robes too.
"Good to see you're both looking so well," said Sadie happily.
"Sirius," Harry greeted his godfather with a nod. He wasn't sure how demonstrative he should be.
Sirius opened the door of the tavern and stepped inside. In an instant, all conversation ground to a halt. Every eye stared at the man who had so recently been the most feared wizard in Britain. He handled it well. His expression mild, he met every eye. He sauntered up to the bar to the wide-eyed Madam Rosmerta.
"Hello, Rosie. Get us butterbeer, will you, love?"
Hesitantly, Madam Rosmerta pulled four bottles from under the bar. With practised ease, she removed the caps and passed the beverages over. Sirius dropped a few coins on the bar, winked at her, and handed Harry one of the bottles.
"To your health, good people," Sirius said loudly, raising his bottle in salute to the crowd. He tipped it up, and Harry watched his Adam's apple moving up and down as he chugged the butterbeer down. He slammed the empty bottle down on the bar with a thump.
Sirius reached into the pocket of his robes and drew out a wand.
"Brand new," Sirius said proudly. "Twelve inches, cedar, with a hair from the mane of a unicorn as the core."
"That's nice," said Sadie.
"The mane?" Harry vaguely remembered Ollivander the wand maker mentioning that he used tail hairs.
"Yes, highly unusual, Ollivander said. He was determined I should have it, though. The wand chooses the wizard, you know."
"So he said."
"Yes."
"So as I mentioned, I've got a house," Sirius said, not sounding pleased with it. "It's the family home, actually, but it's not the nicest place. I may as well show you right away. It might not be exactly proper for babies yet though. A magical house left to decay you know… Best to clean out the place first, before your baby sister sees it."
"Fully agree," said Sadie nodding.
"So - You're an Animagus," said Harry. "Did you have to register?"
"Yes. When the Director of Magical Law Enforcement knows you're not on the list, she tends to disapprove. That's one of my little secrets that's out, now. Part of clearing my name required that I detail precisely how I escaped from Azkaban," Sirius said. "I was an illegal Animagus, as were your father and Peter, Wormtail. The Dementors didn't affect me nearly so much when I was in my other form. That and knowing with absolute certainty that I was innocent allowed me to keep my sanity when screams echoed around me."
Harry shuddered. "Azkaban must have been horrible."
"Beyond description," said Sirius.
Sadie scowled. "I bet it was. I wish we could do something … stop the rotten Ministry employing Dementors and practicing torture."
"Well, your girlfriend has lofty ambitions," said Sirius. "I approve."
Harry was curious about the Animagus topic. "My dad was one too? When did you figure it out? And why?"
"We figured it out so we could keep Moony company during his transformations. His curse doesn't affect animals, so we studied in secret and worked in private until Prongs and I got it at last in fifth year. After that, we were always with him."
"Aw, you stayed with him in that old house? So sweet. You and James were such kind boys," said Sadie. She did not suspect that the Marauders would ever have gone out of the Shrieking Shack and endangered the public.
00O00
Dumbledore came with . Flamel accompanied him. The place was dusty and had the fusty reek of an old cellar. Sadie rubbed her hands together. "Great place you've got here, Sirius."
"Do you really think so?" said Sirius, raising his eyebrows.
"It looks like the sort of place Mummy likes," squeaked Chip.
Sadie sniffed the air. "Well just smell that magical fermentation."
An old house-elf appeared with a crack. "Master?" The elf peered at Sirius. Its voice was like an old bullfrog's. "Master was an ungrateful beast who broke his mother's heart…"
"Mother didn't have a heart, Kreacher," said Sirius. "She kept herself alive out of pure spite."
"Sirius, my boy…" said Dumbledore reprovingly.
A pair of curtains on the wall flew open revealing the portrait of an old (or prematurely aged) lady with old fashioned dress including a cap. Her eyes were wide and crazy and she screamed at Sirius. "Youuuu! Shame of my flesh, disgrace to your household."
"Darkness!" Sadie's eyes were wide through the eye holes in her mask.
Dumbledore waved his wand and the curtains slid shut, covering the portrait again. "Now we must be mindful… there will be a lot of dark objects hidden around here. Nicolas may have to advise us if we encounter any great difficulty."
"Excellent!" said Sadie. "Let's get started."
The work of cleaning, breaking curses under Dumbledore's supervision, and clearing up dangerous rubbish. Grim work. It was just Sadie who seemed to enjoy it. She was wearing her own purple gloves, instead of the dragonhide ones that Dumbledore had offered. The rubbish in the house included an instrument like a many legged pair of tweezers that scuttled towards Harry, snapping threateningly until Sadie blasted it with her wand.
"Good shot!" said Sirius.
"A lot of cute things here," said Sadie giggling. "Hang on…" She grimaced and grabbed a golden locket. "I think we've found our horrible locket. Who would have thought it would end up here?"
"I think you are right, Miss McIntyre," said Dumbledore, taking it from her.
"No! Kreacher is keeping that safe!" protested the house elf.
"What do you know about it Kreacher?" demanded Sirius. "I order you to tell me."
"Master Regulus stole that from the Dark Lord. He ordered Kreacher to destroy it," whispered Kreacher. "Kreacher has failed Master Regulus."
"No! You have succeeded," said Dumbledore. "Tell him Sirius."
"What Dumbledore said," said Sirius shrugging. "Since that is Voldemort's locket, I suppose you will destroy it?"
"Definitely!" said Dumbledore. "I understand that Nicolas has found and destroyed the Ring already without including any of us."
"The evil spells You Know Who placed on that ring only compounded the evils of the Resurrection Stone," said Flamel.
"Resurrection Stone?" said Sadie.
"Not truly a Resurrection Stone. Rather something that creates cruel illusions that lead to death. You know the magical folk tale."
"I do…" said Sadie.
"Fiendfyre took care of it. And Tom Riddle's … effect," said Flamel.
So, another Horcrux was down. The locket was the very last one.
Sirius and Dumbledore went upstairs. Sadie smiled at Flamel with the lips of her mask. "Mr Flamel. Great-Grandaddy… can I please call you that?"
"You may, little babe," said Flamel.
"Please help with these cute spiders." Sadie beckoned. "They're the size of dinner plates."
Sadie led them into the dining room. "Right." She said. She waved her wand. It glowed purple and the door slammed shut. She muttered a strange sounding word.
"You are trying out a stealth charm, child?" said Flamel. "You really don't want to be overheard?"
"I do not want to be overheard," said Sadie.
Flamel waved his wand. "There. Now it actually is soundproof. Your effort would not stop young Dumbledore listening in."
"Thank you," said Sadie. "Great-Grandaddy… You must have suspected You Know Who's five Horcruxes would make the monster a lot more unstable than he was without them… I wanna know, do you think anything strange or terrible could have happened because he's so unstable? Something like a bit of him breaking off and attaching itself to an innocent bystander?"
"I can guess what you are worried about," said Flamel. "You want to ask, could a splinter of Tom Riddle have embedded itself in little Harry here? I'm afraid the answer is yes, it is very likely."
"Uh huh," said Sadie. "Well a fragment of Tom Riddle did embed itself like you say. I wanna know how it can be un-embedded. I've got ideas, but I'm just fourteen, and you've got eons of experience. I'm not afraid to ask any truly wise person for help. I know my own limits."
"I have," said Flamel. "A solution of basilisk venom and then phoenix tears applied immediately afterwards."
Harry felt hope flare within him.
"Hm. I thought of that first. And what are the risks?" said Sadie.
"We really do need to know the risks," said Chip.
"The most likely risk is the shard of Tom Riddle putting up a fight," said Nicolas Flamel. "But I believe it is dormant and sealed off. The less likely risk is accidental poisoning from the basilisk venom. The venom of a basilisk is dangerous, there's no question."
"Uh huh. You have a procedure in mind, right? What's your plan, please, Great-Grandaddy?" said Sadie.
"I do have a procedure in mind," said Flamel. "Little Albus doesn't know yet, but we will need the help of his trusty phoenix."
"That's not the only help we'll need," said Sadie.
00O00
The locket of Slytherin had been destroyed with Fiendfyre. Sadie and Cora took Harry to Dumbledore's office. Madame Pomfrey was babysitting Goldie.
"The potion I gave you in the apple shaped bottle was to stop death," said Sadie. "I've improved it since." She held up a dainty hand. A tiny ring was on her index finger. The ring had a tiny purple stone. Sadie removed it. "Please put this in your mouth. If anything goes wrong with the Phoenix tears, this will keep you alive."
Harry put the stone in his mouth and grimaced – it tasted of really sour plums. He swallowed, but the taste wouldn't go away.
"I really, really hope this is a success," said Cora unhappily.
"Mummy's magic will definitely work," squeaked Chip. "I am proof that it does."
In Dumbledore's office, Harry sat on a couch, Chip sitting beside him. Cora, Sadie and Olkka stood opposite him, their green faces turned towards him, their gazes unblinking. Sadie and Cora really did look anxious. Fawkes perched on the chair beside Harry.
Dumbledore sat at his desk, his face impassive. Flamel was sitting on a chair nearby. Snape stood by a spindly table with the necessary potions. "Now, Severus, my bright boy," said Flamel.
Snape pricked Harry's scar with the needle tainted with basilisk venom. Harry felt white hot pain in his forehead… The green faced females were chanting, a weird discordant sound. Their voices were so mismatched. It felt like their chant was permeating Harry's very being. His head was spinning. He was loosing consicousness. Everythinmg was going black…
Flamel's echoing voice: "Now, Phoenix tears…"
Harry felt droplets splashing onto his face. When they touched him, he felt a warm glow. His forehead was drenched with a sparkling sensation. The sensation suffused his forehead. His head wasn't spinning so badly and he could hear the crazy chanting of the green faced ones. He could see the office again although his vision was blurred, but now everything was coming into focus…
Fawkes the phoenix was crying, pearly white tears falling from his eyes onto Harry's face. The phoenix gave a warm, trilling sound and Harry felt his confidence surge. A weight had been removed from his mind, that he hadn't even known was there!
Harry sat up. "Did it work?"
Meanwhile…
Sunrise. Wormtail was under sentence of death. For their failures, the Dementors had been denied the satisfaction of Kissing him. Wormtail would be executed in the arena of death, in the Department of Mysteries. Certain members of the Wizengamot sat on the spectator stands and awaited the condemned Death Eater.
Walden Macnair, the executioner, prodded Wormtail towards the archway with the veil between life and death. Wormtail was bound with enchantments against disapparation, performing magic and transforming into a rat, and his hands were manacled together. Macnair prodded him again. "Be a man…"
Wormtail's legs gave way. Macnair picked him up and hurled him through the veil…
Meanwhile…
Voldemort had been in hiding in the Albanian forest for nearly two years, sustaining himself by consuming rats and snakes. His dark spirit had been earth-bound, but now it was not. The evil one sensed that his anchors to Earth were gone and that it was all over. The former Dark Lord sank into the nothingness that awaited him…
00O00
Snape pulled up his left sleeve and gazed at his forearm. He smiled and looked up. "Our long nightmare is over. The Dark Lord is truly defeated."
"To think … I dared not hope that I would live to see this day," said Dumbledore.
"It sure is a great relief," said Chip.
Sadie leapt into the air with joy, clapping her little hands together.
Olkka smiled. "We have done well today."
"The procedure was a success," said Flamel.
"Potter is the picture of health," said Snape.
Cora plumped herself down on the couch and took Harry in her arms. "My sweet little boy… You're yourself again. All yourself."
Sadie kneeled on the couch, putting her green face very close to Harry's. Her blue eyes were bright with her tears. "My love…" Her tears of joy splashed onto his face. "This is not the end of our story, it is only the beginning."
"And what a beginning it has been," said Harry.
