36 | ARISE FROM THE ASHES
̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ・ ༓ ・ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶̶
A blinding whiteness painted Hermione's surroundings. She wasn't sure where she was- perhaps the afterlife? Though, to be honest, she would've expected more people.
"Hermione!"
The young witch whirled around in the blank space, meeting a familiar face.
"James?" Hermione tilted her head in confusion. "Why are you here? Did you die?" A horrified expression fell upon her face.
The wizard standing opposite her merely chuckled, clutching his chest in mock hurt. "Wow, it's been less than a year, and I'm already second fiddle?"
Hermione froze, taking the time to really look over the man in front of her. Same messy hair. Same defined jaw. Same glasses. But different eyes.
"Harry?" Hermione choked out.
"Hi," he smiled sheepishly, giving her a small wave.
Hermione flew into his arms, clutching on to him with a desperate hold as though he might disappear at any moment. "I missed you so much! I've been so scared!"
"I've been with you this whole time," his voice soothed as he rubbed circles into her back. When Hermione merely clung on with no sign of releasing him, Harry tilted his head back jokingly. "'Mione, I love you, but if you keep doing that, you're going to choke me with your hair."
She pulled back with a small laugh, shoving him in the chest. "We're both already dead, genius."
"Are we?" He asked, his eyes twinkling in a manner that reminded her Dumbledore.
"Where are we anyway?"
"You know," Harry said with a laughable seriousness. "I was going to ask you that. Though I reckon it looks a bit like King's Cross."
Hermione looked around blandly. "Sure- I mean if you remove the trains, and the paint, and the brick, and the stairs, definitely!"
Harry rolled her eyes at Hermione, pulling her to one of the nearby benches.
"What do you intend to do?" He asked her curiously.
"You mean, I have a choice? I thought I was dead?"
"Not quite, but you could be if you choose," Harry said nonchalantly.
"Is Voldemort's horcrux still in my body?" She asked urgently. The others wouldn't know to dispose of it properly because she'd never told them! And bloody hell- Voldemort was still alive!
"I knew you'd figure it out," Harry's eyes gleamed proudly. "And no- luckily, it's not. When you died by Voldemort's wand and his magic, the curse targeted his piece of the soul within you and not you."
"Oh, thank Merlin, it's gone!"
"Sorry you got stuck with that, by the way," Harry apologized sheepishly. "I didn't realize trying to give you my magic would give you a little piece of me and him. Then again, I had no idea I had a piece of that maniac's soul either," he trailed off grumpily.
"It's not your fault," Hermione said softly. "I'd be dead if you hadn't done that. It's nothing less than what you would've had to do if you'd lived," she realized with a morbidly sinking sensation.
"Yeah," Harry echoed meekly. "Do you reckon Dumbledore knew? That I had a horcrux in me?"
"I think that man knew a lot more than he ever let on."
Harry studied his hands with a look of consternation. He didn't want to think badly of the professor he'd come to admire so much. But if their year on the run had taught him anything, it was that they were still kids running around fighting an adult's war. They didn't have all the tools they needed- merely broken bits of an incomplete puzzle. For what? Dumbledore could've told him the truth of things. They could've had help. Things could've been different.
The wise wizard's only saving grace seemed that he was willing to accommodate Hermione's advice back in the '80s instead of continuing with his own master chess game.
"I'm glad you lived," Harry stated firmly.
"I'm glad I did too," she returned softly. "At least I got to make sure you and the others turned out okay. Even baby Draco turned out okay!"
"You know, you can still go back," Harry told her. There was evident fondness in her eyes as she spoke of the children she'd come to adore. Harry didn't know if he'd have been able to return to the land of the living if he had to die by Voldemort's hand once again, but Hermione's unique circumstances guaranteed she'd live one way or another.
Hermione paused, searching the sincere green gaze of her best friend. For so long, she'd felt like a witch not only out of time but haunted with a future that would never exist. It took her a long time and a lot of effort before she began to feel like she truly belonged among the people in the past.
"But could I stay?" The words tumbled out her mouth before she could stop them.
Harry's brows scrunched in concern as he pondered her question. "If you chose not to go back, you'll simply move on. I'm not sure what comes after this, but there's always something next."
"You and Ron wouldn't be there? My parents?" Hermione's voice rose an octave, already fearing the answer.
"'Mione, all the people you love are back in the world of the living. Ron and I are almost 2. Your parents are raising their baby girl." When Hermione's face fell in disappointment, Harry reached out and grasped her hand. "You did it! You saved everyone. You gave us the second chance we never got."
Part of her mourned all over again, hearing that there was no remnant of the people she grew up with. How many times would she have to suffer their deaths over and over again?
"What about you?" Hermione asked Harry. "You remember me- you remember our years at Hogwarts together. Are you real? Or are you just in my head?"
"Of course, I'm in your head!" Harry laughed at her. "But why on earth would that mean it's not real?"
A distant, reverberating voice interrupted them. It whistled just barely out of reach, dancing in and out of her hearing range.
'Hermione!' the familiar voice echoed, coming from seemingly nowhere and everywhere all at once. 'Hermione, come back to me! I can't lose you!'
"Sirius!" Hermione gasped, jerking to her feet.
"Yeah," Harry butted in dryly with an amused smirk. "You and my godfather? Really 'Mione? Did you have the hots for Sirius when we were little? Like that crush you had on Professor Lupin?"
Like a honed instinct developed over years of hanging around Harry on Ron, her arm whipped out, smacking him soundly across the shoulder. Harry shrieked indignantly, clutching his upper arm as he glared at her.
"How can this still hurt?" He cried in annoyance. "I know for a fact that I'm already dead. Seems unfair to be subject to pain after bloody dying!"
"Is Sirius okay?" Hermione asked worriedly. "We're bonded, and I don't know how that killing curse would've affected him."
"You completed the bond, didn't you?" Harry shrugged.
"We did," Hermione sighed in relief. "I knew it was the right call."
The completed bond would mean none of their life forces would be automatically forfeit for the sake of the other- at least not in hopeless cases like the killing curse. Sirius was safe- at least unless he tried something reckless like diving into the world between the living and dead to summon her back.
"Yeah right," Harry rolled his eyes. "You just wanted to get freaky with my godfather. Don't forget that I'm in your head, will you? Maybe you should take a page out of McGonagall's book and devote the rest of your life to academia. You love to research, don't you?"
When Hermione raised her hand again, Harry shuffled back as he chuckled nervously. "Just kidding! Obviously."
"Hermione," Sirius's desperate pleas came ringing back to them. "Please don't leave me..."
Hermione sighed, glancing longingly at Harry.
"Neither can die while the other survives," he reminded her with a soft smile. "Go take care of my godfather, 'Mione," Harry told her. "I don't think he'll cope without you."
"All the horcruxes are gone," she said tiredly.
"They are now," Harry confirmed.
"But Voldemort is still alive."
"He is," Harry agreed.
"There's still a war to be fought," Hermione sighed grimly.
"You're not fighting it alone," Harry pointed out encouragingly.
Hermione caught hold of Harry's hands desperately. Seeing him again had been a soothing balm to her tired and exhausted soul. Being able to talk to someone who already knew everything about her- from the most minute details to the most significant milestones, was one of the greatest gifts she could've received. She wasn't ready to say goodbye yet. But then again, there wouldn't ever come a time when she'd be prepared.
"Will you stay with me?" Hermione asked, hopefully. "Will I still be able to feel you like before?"
His emerald green eyes flickered with excitement.
"Always."
̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ・ ༓ ・ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶
- HEADQUARTERS OF THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
Fabian was having an off day- to say the least.
First, his brother decided he'd break up their lifetime of partnering together so he could assist search and rescue of all bloody things. Then again, knowing his speedily growing affections for the McKinnon witch, Fabian could understand his choices.
Partnering with Snape had been a last-minute thing, and the choice set his teeth on edge. Granted, he thought he could trust Snape. The last time they fought side by side, Snape had been instrumental in getting them all out of the ambush meant for the McKinnons. What he hadn't counted on was the unreadable bastard unintentionally taking a curse meant for him.
There they were- fighting side by side. It was still early in the battle, so Gideon and his team had yet to join the primary fight. Snape's dueling was decidedly different from the brash methods of his twin. Where Gideon had the raw power of a battering ram, he lacked the finesse and subtlety that seemed to come so easily to Snape. The two wizards worked surprisingly well together, Fabian's agility and Snape's precision allowing them to cut through the crowds efficiently.
The moment that felled them was etched into Fabian's mind as permanently as the twin tattoos he and Gideon had gotten upon their graduation.
Fabian noticed a nearly fallen Death Eater aiming for Snape from his blind spot. He barely realized he was yelling out in warning as he blocked the oncoming curse. Snape turned in surprise as the inky green curse dispelled along the unflinching blue shield Fabian had thrown up in front of him. He turned quickly to his partner, intending to give him a quick nod of thanks. But instead, his wand raised in a barely prepared move as his eyes widened in realization, quickly forcing Fabian back a few strides. The Auror watched in helpless dismay as a blinding hex passed by him- scarcely missing him- as it struck the unprepared ex-Death Eater squarely in the sternum.
The next few seconds passed in a haze for Fabian. He rushed to Snape, numbly remembering to cast a stasis charm on the blooming wound that seemed to be hemorrhaging blood. He remembered triggering Snape's portkey as he held on to his paling body. He remembered a young witch- one of the healers- rushing up to him in urgency. Wisps of her red hair fell around her face, clinging to her sweating temples. She spoke to him, but he couldn't make out the words. Everything was a buzz.
He remembered her soft hands trying to pry his off Snape. Right. The healer probably needed to assess him.
Fabian sat limply beside Snape's body on the floor as the healer worked over him with stable and determined hands.
"You did well, Fabian," she assured him offhandedly. "That stasis charm probably saved him weeks of recovery time."
The pool of blood surrounding them didn't corroborate her assurances, but he'd take them anyway.
"Mary," Snape finally rasped, reaching up with a bloody hand.
"You're going to be fine," she assured in a clinically determined manner.
"Better choices hurt," he groaned as his head lulled to the side.
Fabian could swear he saw the healer's lips quirk up ever so slightly in amusement. Mary, had he called her?
"He'll be fine- probably within a day. He just needs a blood replenishing potion and enough time for it to kick in. But I'm afraid you're out a partner for the time being," she told Fabian.
"He took the hex for me," Fabian admitted softly. "Don't think he really meant to, but it's how it turned out."
Mary smiled half-heartedly, pride blending with sorrow. "It's an honorable exit."
Mary managed to finish patching up Snape, cleaning the spilled blood until the only remaining trace of his injuries were the bandaged wound, abnormally pale complexion, and the labored breaths of the unconscious wizard.
She and Fabian barely rose, leaving Snape to rest on a low cot, when the next entourage swept into headquarters.
"Hermione," a desperate voice cried out. "Come back to me. I can't lose you."
Fabian and Mary exchanged a worried glance as Remus and James stepped back from Sirius, who was still clutching on to a worryingly still Hermione Granger. They rushed over to the group as Lily tried to get a better look at the still witch.
Sirius held Hermione tight, her head tucked into his neck, but her arms splayed lifelessly. Sirius's eyes were glazed and unfocused as he whispered pleas into the shell of her ear.
"What happened?" Lily asked James urgently. Perhaps they could still fix this?
James merely swallowed painfully, unable to speak the words.
"Killing curse," Remus filled in defeatedly.
Lily flinched as though someone had just struck her. All too suddenly, watching Sirius breaking down over Hermione's body became heartbreaking for each and every one of them to witness. James and Remus could already feel the moment haunting them. Sirius had come to help them out mid-battle while Hermione had turned to help Professor Dumbledore. Sirius had already been lunging to reach Hermione when Voldemort's curse blindsided her. He'd reached her only in time to catch her body from hitting the marble floors, the pain etched into his face. He probably would've stayed there from the shock of it if Remus and James hadn't dragged them out from under Voldemort's nose while Dumbledore kept him occupied.
"Hermione," Sirius pleaded quietly. "Please don't leave me."
Sirius's strong, swaggering persona collapsed like a house of cards, leaving the desperation of a man who hadn't even realized how much he could lose.
"I don't understand," Mary spoke up, her voice raspy from teeming emotion. "I thought he was bonded to her. How is Sirius still alive?"
Fabian turned to her in abject confusion, whereas Lily, James, and Remus looked up puzzled.
"They completed the bond," Lily told her.
James' eyes widened as he turned back to Hermione in realization. "They completed the bond," he repeated numbly.
"Mate, you were there," Remus said. "You were the one who bonded them."
"No! They completed the bond, so she shouldn't be dead, to begin with!" James cried in growing excitement. "Neither can die while the other survives!"
"What bond are you lot talking about?" Fabian asked cautiously.
"It's better if you don't know," Lily said frankly. "She was dying, and it was the only way to save her at the time."
Fabian opened his mouth, ready to argue, but then thought better of it. The point was moot as Hermione was already dead. If they thought it was better he be left in the dark, then whatever happened was probably slightly if not downright illegal.
"But she should be alive!" James repeated heatedly.
"Even against the killing curse?" Lily said dubiously.
Sirius remained oblivious to their conversation, every inch of his being focused on reigniting the connection he felt to Hermione. The moment she'd died, he felt like his leg had been cut off. A branch of his mind, which had been teeming with life, trust, and affection, suddenly went dark, the death creeping up those connections until he felt himself recoiling from them.
Sirius gathered Hermione into his arms, feeling even more helpless when there was no lingering pulse at her neck. It was his panic that made him dive back into his mind as he tried to claw his way back to her. The presence of her was still scorched into his very being, and the lack of life to those branches was disconcerting, to say the least. But again, he wandered aimlessly in his own mind, calling out for her. She hadn't disappeared into nothingness. Yet, he couldn't find any trace of her in the vast expanse of ruins and burnt remains of their memories, links, and promises.
But if there's one fault Sirius always lived up to, it's that he never took orders well. He didn't care if it was impossible- he'd go up against death itself to drag Hermione back to the world of the living if he had to.
"There's a reason why completed bonds were so rare," James told the others. "Because the protection of a completed bond can guard against almost all known forms of magic. Including the unforgivables."
"So how is she dead-"
A deep synchronous gasp quieted them all, snapping their attention to the couple on the floor. Hermione's eyes were still closed, as was Sirius's- but they could see the way their chests expanded simultaneously with a deep inhale.
Sirius could feel the moment Hermione returned from wherever she had gone- the very soul of her barreling back over from the great abyss he couldn't quite reach, smothering the burnt wasteland of their scorched bond like a great cooling flood coursing over a forest fire. Her very essence sunk into petrified portions of their links to each other, healing the singed connections until they were whole once again.
"Hermione," Sirius gasped, his hands sinking into her mess of curls as he held her close.
"Sirius." Hermione's eyes fluttered open, her hands raising to grasp his wrists.
Their audience watched in awe. James was relieved his suspicions proved correct, knowing at that moment as his best mate held on to Hermione for dear life that he had finally found his own Lily. Lily and Remus were jarred with dumfounded surprise. Despite being entrenched in the world of magic, they weren't raised with the same old pureblood teachings and methods that Sirius and even James had been privy to. But clearly, even the laws of magic could be bent under the right circumstances. Mary didn't know if she fully understood, but she didn't care. What mattered was that Hermione was alive. Fabian realized with an undeniable certainty what kind of bond they would have to be talking about to bring Hermione back from a killing curse, and even despite that knowledge, he knew he'd never betray that information to anyone who could use it against them.
Sirius drew back from Hermione in angered frustration. "We're supposed to be partners! We were supposed to do this together!"
"I know," she whispered softly, her thumb rubbing soft circles into his wrists.
"Don't ever do that again," he warned her, the command in his voice laced with the abject panic that'd only just begun fading.
Hermione nodded resolutely, meeting his eyes in confirmation. After all, if her hunch was right, what comes next was not something she could do alone. "Is the battle still happening?"
"Yeah," Fabian said. "I was just about to go back."
"Not without a partner, you won't," Mary spoke up firmly.
"We're coming too," Hermione said firmly.
"Hermione," Sirius warned lowly.
"You just died!" Lily cried.
"Trust me," Hermione told Sirius, meeting his bright grey eyes with the determined ones of her own. "We'll do it together this time."
Sirius squeezed her hand slightly before his lips quirked in a worried but reluctant grin. When she felt her own magic rising to meet his, she also felt the hint of something more—a warmth deep in her soul— like dragonfire— Harry.
Sirius pulled her up, and they turned to the others with a resoluteness that was undeniable. Whatever happens, they would finish this fight tonight.
"Together," Sirius echoed.
̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ・ ༓ ・ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶
- MALFOY MANOR
The battle raged on, and there was not a single moment to process the catastrophe that'd hit them seconds ago.
Moody and McGonagall could tell Dumbledore was struggling to keep Voldemort in check. They had been steadily making their way to the end of the room so they could help. The battle had been well in hand- the flood of skilled Aurors sweeping through the room relentlessly.
However, the entire room seemed to freeze in surprise when a ring of bodies around Black and Granger dropped to the floor- Death Eaters and Aurors alike. The confounded pair hastily sent the unconscious Aurors back to headquarters, activating all their portkeys before other Death Eaters took advantage of their vulnerable states.
But then Snape had been hit, and Fabian Prewett had to evacuate him.
They were short on numbers- a quarter of their ground forces felled and another quarter unconscious or sent back for triage.
Moody glanced at McGonagall, who steadily fought at his back. She too glanced wearily towards Voldemort and Dumbledore but nonetheless casting spells with an unhesitating quickness in her actions.
"Old man needs help," Moody grunted, stumbling back a step from a particularly strong hex.
"We're doomed," McGonagall blurted in a matter-of-fact tone. "Dumbledore was our only hope for taking down that monster."
"Don't roll over just yet, Minnie," Moody scoffed. "We fight to the last wizard."
Their gazes connected ever so briefly amid the mayhem surrounding them. With a grim yet respectful touch of acceptance, they nodded to each other. To the very last wizard.
The next few moments progressed impossibly against their favor. Dumbledore was nearly attacked by Voldemort's giant serpent. Hermione cursed the snake's head clean off its body. Voldemort's curse engulfed her, and she dropped like a stone. Dumbledore regained his composure, distracting Voldemort while Potter, Lupin, and Black ferried Hermione's corpse away.
And for one terrifying moment, everything was falling apart.
"Moody!" A voice reached them.
Gideon came jogging up to the Auror and the Professor with Marlene at his heels as they weaved through the pods of remaining duelists.
"Prewett," Moody exhaled on a near-silent sigh of relief.
"What happened?"
"What happened is we're one man away from losing," Moody frowned.
"What do we do?" Marlene asked briskly.
"Prewett, you know our methods. Get reinforcement from the reserve groups. I want this room locked down tighter than the Department of Mysteries. Not a single Death Eater out alive, you hear?"
"Yes, sir." Gideon nodded gruffly before turning and rushing off.
The senior Order members took the small reprieve from the additional help to finally get to Dumbledore.
"ENOUGH." Riddle bellowed, driving Dumbledore back the few steps he'd gained just as Moody and McGonagall came to flank him.
"This only ends one way, Tom," Dumbledore said with a calmness that bellied his labored breaths.
"Yes, exactly. With you dead."
"There are more of us, and we're prepared to do whatever it takes." Moody spit out.
"Then you may fight," Voldemort shrugged benevolently before his features twisted into something more sinister. "But you shall all die."
The next moments passed in a blur. Where Voldemort surged, Dumbledore smoothly parried. Moody sent a discrete yet deadly hex, which Voldemort deflected with a sneer. A flash of red that Minerva smoothly blocked. A blinding blue surging from Dumbledore's ornate wand. The dance of jabs and blocks continued- whether it be for seconds or minutes, they had no idea.
It was finally when Dumbledore attempted to drown Riddle in a giant floating ball of water that the Dark Lord eventually lost his patience. Breaking free of the magic, he lashed out at them with a loud bellow, sending them flying back.
He glared at them, more annoyed than injured.
"Alastor," Dumbledore said shakily. "I need you to evacuate our people."
"We can't give up now!" Moody insisted.
"We won't," Dumbledore breathed in resignation. "I need you to cast barries on the perimeter once you have everyone out."
"And then what, Albus?" McGonagall asked fearfully.
"And then I end this."
"No," McGonagall shook her head erratically. "NO, there has to be another way! You're going to go down with the sinking ship to spare the rest of us?"
"It's the only way."
Moody and McGonagall shared a devastated glance. Was it the only way? Perhaps they might win if they stayed and fought. They could certainly get the Death Eaters under helm. But Voldemort himself proved to be a resilient and undying cockroach. Could they live with the risk of trying to save everyone and then failing to save anyone in the case they lost? Dumbledore certainly seemed prepared to pay the price to ensure that it didn't happen.
"Alastor, please," Dumbledore beseeched, echoing their fears. "We cannot risk Voldemort escaping once again."
Moody sighed in reluctant acceptance, hand tightening on his wand. He didn't know how he'd live with this afterward- but they had to do whatever it took.
"Need some backup?" A voice drawled out to them.
The senior-most members of the Orders turned, watching the youngest cohort of their ranks walking to them. And by nothing short of a miracle, Hermione stood at their head, flanked by Sirius and Fabian on one side and James and Remus on the other.
"Hermione?" Minerva squeaked out in a disbelieving voice.
"You died." Moody blurted out.
"That I did," Hermione shuddered. "Ever so unpleasant. Fortunately, not permanent."
The leaders of the Order had no words, all three of them- even Dumbledore- staring at her, mouths open, in dumbfounded shock.
"We have a plan," Sirius told them, connecting eyes with Moody.
"Will it work?" Dumbledore implored.
"It's the best chance we have," Hermione confirmed steadily.
"What do we do?" Moody asked, not bothering to question them.
"You with me?" Hermione whispered to Sirius, her hand brushing along the back of his.
"'Till the end." He intertwined their fingers.
With a nod, Hermione released him, stepping past them all to keep Voldemort busy.
"Hermione and I can take Voldemort," Sirius told the elders. "But the fallout is going to be heavy. We need everyone else prepared."
Moody frowned suddenly. "What?" He asked unamused.
"We need all the Order members to form a shield around us. Otherwise, we risk everyone in this room." Sirius continued.
"What makes you think you two can take him?" Moody demanded. "Hermione may be the most gifted student I've had in ages, but you two are still young and inexperienced. Might I remind you that Dumbledore, McGonagall, and myself all attempted to fight him at once and still failed?"
Sirius grimaced, glancing at his friends. "We can cast in tandem, and it makes it more powerful."
"Tandem casting may amplify spells," McGonagall informed them cautiously. "But it alone is nowhere near enough to take down a Dark Lord."
Fabian sighed, glancing pointedly at Sirius. "We don't have time for this!"
"It's enough because we're bonded," Sirius told them quietly.
All three senior members froze. They weren't even sure what specific bond the young wizard may be talking about, but regardless, bonds that strong were not common in the magical world.
"We've seen it!" James spoke up. "Remember when everyone fell unconscious around them? It's because they cast a mild stunner in tandem."
"Merlin..." Moody whispered.
"All right," Dumbledore agreed quickly. "We can ask questions later- we only have one shot at getting this right."
Sirius gave the others a brisk nod before going to join Hermione. They only had one shot- and perhaps they would both die from such a ridiculous endeavor. But as long as they did it together, Sirius had no qualms. He'd been an Auror long before Hermione literally dropped into his life. The reality and necessity of a strategic sacrifice was ingrained in him. He only asked that if there's a price to be paid, Hermione not pay it alone.
・ ༓ ・
"Impossible."
Tom Riddle had been accused of being a great many things- many of which he was absolutely guilty. Cruel- in unapologetic heaps! Cunning- he was born to it. Genius- absolutely. But crazy? No. Fashioning himself as Lord Voldemort may have been ambitious, but his rise to power had been very carefully planned and crafted. He was not delusional or out of his mind as many who opposed him believed.
And yet, there she was—the same girl who he'd killed that very same day striding towards him with an unbending spine.
"Even you should know death is not always the end, Riddle," Hermione shrugged calmly. She just needed to keep his attention occupied until the Order was ready. She merely hoped the mystery of her survival would be too curious for him to attempt to kill her again too quickly.
"No one survives the killing curse," Riddle said in disbelief, more to himself than anyone else.
"It is possible," Hermione denied. "I'm proof."
"No matter," Riddle sneered. "That can be easily remedied. Surviving a killing curse once is nothing short of a miracle? Twice? Do you believe yourself to be so lucky?"
Hermione's lips twitched as she felt Sirius walk up behind her. A quick glance around the room showed the Order silently waiting for their orders as they surrounded the entire ballroom.
"Haven't you figured out who I am?" Hermione asked serenely.
"You said you were a Dumbledore," Riddle frowned.
"Reducto on 3?" Sirius murmured so quietly that Hermione barely heard it, much less Voldemort. Her hand found his, squeezing in confirmation.
"No," Hermione shook her head, something hard filling her features- the pain of everyone she'd lost, the loss of her entire childhood, the ache of being the last to remember. "I was your future. The failure of your future."
Riddle's expression twisted in rage, his eyes flashing dangerously. Hermione could see his wand rising, as could every occupant in the room- subdued or otherwise.
"Wands to the ground!" Fabian yelled loudly.
Voldemort's arm rose, the ivory wand in his hand exploding with the unforgettable green of a killing curse.
Sirius and Hermione responded, equally prepared.
"REDUCTO!"
Fabian watched as the beams of light shot towards each other. He and Gideon aimed their wands into the hard marble floors.
"PROTEGO!"
Following suit, Remus and James cast their shields into the floor on the other side of the ballroom. "Protego!"
All their remaining Aurors and professors followed suit, surrounding every inch of the perimeter. Their shields cracked through the marble flooring in bright blue jagged breaks, everyone's magic merging as they formed an impenetrable barrier between them and the blast to come. The remaining Order members on the balcony directed their spells inwards, completing the dome-like magical barrier just as Voldemort's green met Hermione and Sirius's red.
There was a split moment when the spells clashed in the middle before a blinding flash robbed everyone of their sight. Within seconds, the energy within the barriers pulsed, pushing against the protective measure. Fabian gritted his teeth as he began to feel the magic from within begin to overwhelm his strength- it was too strong. Order members left and right groaned, falling to their knees with the effort to keep the shield up.
Just when they believed the magic had reached a plateau, one final surge shattered the barrier like glass, pushing everyone back, causing many to fall to the floor.
When the light faded, and the dust settled, the entire room squinted to see who was left standing.
Ironically all three were still standing.
Yet, the overconfident Lord Voldemort watched in breathless shock as his wand clattered noisily down the stairs amid the deafening silence after the blast. He looked down at his own corporeal form just as he began to disintegrate into dust and ash.
His eyes desperately flew back to the mysterious witch who'd started this all.
In all the futures he'd prepared for, never had he anticipated this. With all his precautions to leave pieces of his soul among objects tethered to the physical world, Lord Voldemort never once foresaw the day the last of his existence would be wiped from the world without a trace- not even a body remaining to commemorate him.
Yet, witness by his own fallen forces and the avenging Order of the Phoenix surrounding him, he simply withered away to dust. Like a horrible nightmare.
̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶«̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ・ ༓ ・ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ ̶ ̶̶̶̶
Sorry for the delay. I had half of it written within a few days but then got stuck. Action scenes are kind of a drudge for me to get through.
This isn't the last chapter! I know this isn't nearly enough closure!