Chapter 10

It isn't until a week later that Harry receives a message from Sirius saying that the last Horcrux is destroyed, leaving only Voldemort's snake, Nagini.

In the letter Sirius explains that while they managed to find the location where it had been hidden the very same day they went to see the Grey Lady, who turned out to be none other than Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena's daughter, the sheer amount of stuff hidden in the room meant that it took them an entire week to find the Horcrux.

Although relieved, Harry also realizes that the day of the last task, and therefore the day that will hopefully see the end of Tom Riddle aka Voldemort, is rapidly approaching.

Luckily, he has his friends, his new family and, most importantly, Ginny to stand by him, to help him, and so he finds himself filled with hope and determination with only a touch of nervousness.

Finally, the last days of June have arrived and the day before the final task sees Harry, Ginny, his friends, and family gathered in a large classroom waiting for the final briefing of the plan.

'I still don't like the idea of you participating in that sick ritual. Why can't we just swoop in, capture Wormtail and kill Tom before he regains a body?'

As most of the people in the room nod their agreement, Harry hugs Ginny tighter, having wondered the same thing many times in the last few weeks.

'Believe me, Miss Weasley, I don't like the idea either, but we have to make sure that Tom is gone for good and the only way to do that is by defeating him when he has fully returned to a body. Unfortunately, even with the destruction of all his Horcruxes, we have no clear idea what will happen if we take him down before he has regained his body. I will admit that it will also help us a great deal if we can apprehend those we suspect of being Death Eaters red-handed.'

Everybody looks up as Amelia Bones walks into the room followed by Sirius and Kingsley.

Ginny gives her an angry glare as she snuggles in closer to Harry.

'Easy for you to say! You're not the one who has to do it! What if they torture him? What if they kill him before we can do anything?'

'Ginny!'

Molly tries to scold her daughter, but it is clear to everybody that her heart isn't in it and that she, in fact, agrees with her.

Shifting a little on her feet and not able to look her in the eyes, Amelia Bones looks at the ground before speaking softly.

'Miss Weasley, we are convinced that Tom will not kill Harry. He.. He will most probably want to.. play with him first. I know that this isn't exactly a comforting thought, but I promise you, both as the Head of the DMLE as well as the Interim Minister of Magic, that we will do anything humanly possible to make sure that Harry will survive so that he can spend the rest of his, long, life with you.'

Seeing that she is still not convinced, Harry buries his nose in her hair and whispers something in her ear, causing her to give a resigned nod.

Giving him an apologetic look, Amelia takes a seat and looks around at those gathered here. Taking a deep breath, she sits up straight, once more taking on the persona of the no nonsense, strict but fair Head of the DMLE.

'I don't need to tell you that tomorrow is the big day. The day that will finally see an end to Tom Riddle, the self-styled Lord Voldemort, and hopefully also an end to all this purebloods are better nonsense.

Through various means, we have learned that the ritual to restore him back to a body once more will take place in the graveyard where his father is buried. We have already started to infiltrate members of the DMLE, Aurors and Hit-Wizards, as well as members of the Order of the Phoenix. They will form a permitter around the site and start preparing the trap for Tom and his Death Eaters.

The next stage in the plan is neutralizing Crouch Jr. As soon as he has placed the Cup in the maze, and we have confirmed that it is a portkey, we will apprehend him and he will be replaced by the real Alastor Moody, who has made an almost complete recovery thanks to Madam Pomfrey. I'll admit that this is the stage which worries us the most, for while we are positive that there are no other spies at Hogwarts, we can't be absolutely certain. We just have to keep an eye out.

The next stage will be the actual task itself. All four Champions will enter the maze, however as soon as they are out of sight, Mr Diggory, Mr Krum, and Miss Delacour will use the portkey they have been given to transport out of the maze. I have been informed that all three of them insisted that they would be sent to the graveyard to help Harry.'

At this she gives the three of them a smile and a nod before continuing.

'Once they have left, Harry will make his way through the maze, which will be free of obstacles, and after having waited an appropriate amount of time, will take the cup after which he will be transported to the graveyard. As soon as that happens, the rest of the Task Force will either apparate or use a portkey to get to the graveyard and take up position and await the signal to strike.

We will wait until Tom has been restored and those of his followers who answered his call have returned before we strike.'

'And what if Tom decides to spend the time waiting for them to appear to torture Harry? What if he simply kills him?'

Seeing the look of concern in the young witch her eyes, a look which is mirrored in the faces of those standing around the young wizard, Amelia tries to give them a reassuring smile.

'As I have stated previously, we don't believe that he will kill him. Certainly not before his followers have arrived. However, we will be taking precautions. Harry will be given an emergency portkey that we can activate if things take a turn for the worse. Rest assured that Harry's safety is our top priority.'

Looking around the room, she sees that most of the faces still show concern, something she can relate with as she has the same concerns. The one exception is strangely enough Harry himself. When she looks at him, he looks her straight in the eyes, a mixture of nervousness and determination visible in his emerald eyes.

They spend the next two hours discussing the plan and answering questions and suggestions, finally calling a halt to the proceedings when the bell sounds midnight.

As everybody gets up to leave, Professor McGonagall and Mrs Weasley beckon for Harry and Ginny to join them, Mrs Weasley looking a little nervous.

Once they are alone, Professor McGonagall smiles down at the two teens.

'Harry, Ginny, considering the circumstances, we have decided to allow you to use the room of the Head Boy for tonight under the premise that you behave yourselves.'

For a moment, Harry and Ginny look at her confused, then seeing her mother fidgeting a little, realization dawns on Ginny and she starts to blush. Harry, who is his usual clueless self, doesn't notice and tries to figure it out.

'Eh, why would we need the Head Boy room?'

Raising her head from where it's buried in his side, Ginny looks up at him, still blushing.

'Harry, the rooms of the Head Boy and Head Girl have only one bed. One king sized bed.'

At first Harry just stares at her then, like Ginny before him, he realizes what she is saying, and he too begins to blush.

'You mean… You mean.. we will be…'

Blushing even more furiously now, Ginny nods.

'We will be sharing a bed, yes.'

Seeing the two blushing teens, a still fidgeting Molly Weasley takes a step forward, opening her mouth to speak but quickly closing it again. Even though it was her own suggestion to let them share a room, she still finds it difficult to tell her daughter, her thirteen year old daughter, that she has permission to share a bed with her fourteen year old boyfriend, but as she looks down on the two and calls forth the images of the two of them together over the last few months, she takes a deep breath to calm herself before addressing them.

'Ginny, Harry, in lieu of what will be happening tomorrow, I.. I have decided that it would do the both of you good to spend the night together. All I ask is that you won't do anything rash or rushed. And remember, I love you both.'

The last is said with a little tremor in her voice as she does her best to stay her tears. For a moment, the two teens just stare at her, then, without saying a word, a still blushing Harry rushes up to her and hugs her tight before holding out his hand to an equally blushing Ginny and leaving the room, Ginny mouthing a silent thank you to her mother as they leave.

As soon as the door has closed behind them, Molly breaks down and starts to sob. Startled, McGonagall quickly puts her arms around the sobbing mother, trying her best to console her.

'There, there, Molly. They will be alright. They are good kids.'

'I k—know. That's not it. W-what if he.. he doesn't s—survive? It will destroy Ginny. It w—will destroy m—me. They.. they have grown so close t—together in s—such a short time. Why does that y—young man h—have to shoulder such.. such burdens. Damn Albus Dumbledore! Damn that man!'

Tears now flowing freely from her eyes, Molly Weasley buries her head in Minerva's shoulder as the older witch tries her best to console her, her own eyes wet as she shares the same fears and sentiments.

Seeing his distraught wife, Arthur, who waited for them, flinches as he thinks about what he is about to do but knowing the strength of his daughter and the strength of the love between her and Harry, he sighs and quickly follows the teens.

Luckily, he manages to catch them while they are still alone. Calling his daughter, he embraces her tightly and whispers something in her ear, causing her eyes to go wide and stare at her father, who gives her small smile and a nod. Giving him a big smile in return, she hugs him back before steeling her face once more less Harry get suspicious.

Giving her shoulder a final squeeze, Arthur now embraces Harry, wishing him luck for tomorrow before turning around and heading back to his wife, hoping that she will not kill him if she found out what he did.

Early the next morning, Harry and Ginny are some of the first students in the Great Hall for breakfast. Blushing and smiling at one another, they sit down at the Gryffindor table and fill each other's plates.

They are soon joined by Viktor, Fleur, who gives them both a hug, and Cedric, who is joined by Cho Chang, and Susan, who also gives the two of them a hug.

As more students come down for breakfast a remarkable thing happens as students from the other Houses, including some from Slytherin, join the small group at the Gryffindor table. The Twins, looking uncharacteristically serious, take a seat either side of Harry and Ginny, not even trying to prank anyone.

The last to arrive are Ron and Hermione, bickering as usual, something which hasn't changed even after they finally got together.

Taking the seats left open opposite of Harry and Ginny, they finally notice the crowd of students sitting at the Gryffindor and the almost empty tables of the other Houses.

Blinking, a bewildered Ron turns to Harry.

'Eh, what is everybody doing at the Gryffindor table?'

'Well, dear little Ronnikins.'

'They have all decided.'

'That our table is far more..'

'Attractive? Desirable?'

'Hm, I was going for comfortable myself, Oh Brother Mine. But attractive and desirable work as well.'

'Of course, they do, Dear Brother of Mine, but let us go with comfortable.'

'Righty-oh, my handsome twin. Now, where was I?'

'You were explaining to our little brother why our table was so full this lovely morning, Oh Wise One.'

'Ah, yes, thank you, Brother Mine.'

At this point, Ron has started banging his head on the table.

'Why did I ask you two? Mione, help me out here.'

Hermione gives him an annoyed look at the use of the nickname, before turning her attention back to Harry and Ginny, who seem to be in a world of their own.

'Where were you two last night?'

She has to clear her throat before she finally gets their attention and can ask the question again.

'Where we were? Professor McGonagall let us use the Head Boy room last night.'

Blinking and thinking that she is missing something, Hermione turns to Ginny.

'Why would you need to use the Head Boy and Head Girl room?'

'We didn't use the Head Girl room, we stayed in the Head Boy room.'

With a confused look in her eyes, Hermione turns from Ginny to Harry and back.

'But.. but there is only one bed in either room. Where did you sleep?'

'We slept in the bed of course.'

Hermione now looks stunned as her mouth fall open. Closing it quickly again, she shakes her head, deciding that Ginny is making fun of her.

'Come on, Ginny, are you telling me that Professor McGonagall allowed the two of you to share a bed?'

Ginny merely nods as she smiles at Harry as he places some sausages on her plate.

Ron, who heard the last thing she said, now looks from Hermione to Harry and Ginny, his stuffed mouth open.

'Please, Ron, haven't you ever heard of swallowing your food. That's disgusting.'

'Yes, Ronnikins, there really is no need to show us how much food you can put in your mouth at one time.'

'Although, I must admit, Brother Mine, that the amount is quite impressive.'

'Impressive and disgusting, My Brother.'

Ron quickly closes his mouth and glares at Fred and George, however before he can say anything, he is hit over the head by Hermione.

'Ouch! What did you do that for, Mione?'

'Honestly, Ron, how many times do I have to tell you to swallow your food and to eat with your mouth closed?'

'Come off it, Mione, don't you think it's more important that my baby sister slept in the same bed as my best friend? Mum is going to go mental!'

'It was Mum who suggested it. And she is not your 'baby' sister.'

Surprised, Ron turns to see Bill giving Fleur a kiss before taking a seat next to Hermione.

'W—what?! Mum suggested that my baby sister sleep with my best mate? But.. But she can't! She is just my baby sister and he is my best friend! It's simply not allowed. What if they.. they do.. stuff? What? Why are you looking at me like that?'

Seeing all the annoyed looks around him, Ron blanches and tries to move back only for him to fall of his seat.

As he gets back up, he gulps as he sees his sister pointing her wand at him.

'First of all, Ronald, I'm not your 'baby' sister! Second, have you forgotten what these mean?' She holds out her hand, showing him her promise ring. 'This means that Harry and I are going to marry someday. Did you think that it was just a passing thing? That it was just a phase we were going through? As for the stuff, as you so elegantly called it, while we didn't do anything last night, we will do that 'stuff' in the future and there is nothing you can do about it!'

As she sits down in a huff, Bill shakes his head at his younger brother.

'Really, Ron, it's time for you to grow up. You can't stay a child for ever. Merlin's sake, Ron, you are fifteen, but you tend to act like a ten year old. Now, sit down and be quiet.'

Taken aback by his brother's words, a morose looking Ron sits back down and focusses on his food, ignoring everything else.

Shaking his head, Bill casts a quick privacy charm around the small group before giving Harry and Ginny the news.

'Alright, so far things are going according to plan. Last night, Crouch Jr placed the Cup in the centre of the maze and turned it into a portkey. As soon as he returned to the castle, the real Mad-eye apprehended him, and none to gently I may add. So far there haven't been any other signs of possible accomplishes, so that's good. Now, here is some news that will lighten up your day. On orders of Amelia Bones, Kingsley and Tonks arrested Snape this morning.'

As expected, this bit of news is met by a stunned silence which last a long minute before George finds his voice again.

'Are you serious?'

Bill opens his mouth to reply but quickly closes it again and shakes his head, although there is an amused look on his face.

'Yes, I am. Dumbledore protested of course, saying that he trusted Snape and that he turned away from Voldemort before the end of the war. Minister Bones replied that Snape only got off because Dumbledore vouched for him but seeing as there wasn't any actual evidence that he wasn't a Death Eater anymore, combined with the fact that she had multiple testimonies saying what a lousy teacher he is, and a bully to boot, she decided that there was no good reason to not arrest him.'

He shakes his head in mirth as he thinks back to that morning.

'You should have seen both their faces! I thought Snape was going to explode and start hexing people. As for Dumbledore, he just sat in his chair completely stumped and when he tried to intervene, Amelia said that she wouldn't have any problem arresting him as well, especially seeing as he had no problem condemning a man known to hate the Dark Arts to Azkaban while at the same time defending a known Death Eater purely on his word that he has renounced those very same arts.'

Their mood considerably lightened by this news, and with Harry and Ginny having been excused from classes, they, Bill and Fleur spend an enjoyable day walking and talking around the castle, joined after lunch by Arthur and Molly, who quietly explains that Sirius already went to Little Hangleton.

At last, the time for the Final Task has arrived and Harry, feeling strangely calm, is standing with Viktor, Cedric, and Fleur at the entrance of the maze, waiting as the students fill up the stands. He has just kissed Ginny for good luck and is now being hugged by Molly, whilst next to him Bill and Fleur are having a moment together and Arthur is watching with an encouraging smile.

When a whistle sounds signalling that the task is about to start, Molly gives him a final hug and a kiss and Bill shakes his hand before quietly making his way back to the castle from where he will take a portkey to Little Hangleton.

Nobody notices Arthur stepping behind his daughter just as they reach the stands or that Ginny has apparently disappears a moment later.

When everybody is ready, and the introductory speech has been given everything falls silent as they wait for the starting signal.

In the reigning silence the sound of the whistle is like a cannon blast, startling both the Champions and the audience. Pulling themselves together, Harry and Fleur look at each other and with a nod and a smile, set off running for the entrance to the maze, cheered on by the crowds.

However as soon as they are in the maze and out of sight from those watching, they both stop with Fleur hugging Harry tightly.

'You be careful, mon brave petit frère, Oui?'

'I will do my best, ma grande soeur.'

Fleur leans back in surprise at his use of French and gives him a big smile and a kiss.

'You learned French! How wonderful, mon frère!'

'Just a little bit, Fleur. I thought it only right to learn the language of my big sister. Now, you be careful as well, understand? I want years and years of experiencing having a big sister.'

'Oui, mon frère, I will do my best the same as you.'

The two are interrupted by the sound of the whistle, signalling that Cedric has started on the task.

They don't have to wait long for Cedric to reach them, grinning at them as he arrives and turning around as the whistle sounds once more. They are quickly joined by a surly looking Viktor, who gives Harry a lob-sided grin and a nod.

As Harry is talking to Cedric and Viktor, he doesn't notice a frown appearing on Fleur's face as she looks around, only to be replaced by a smile as she nods while looking at something behind Harry.

Turning back to Harry, she quickly hugs him again.

'Good luck, mon frère. We will see you there.'

Returning the hug, he takes a step back and watches as the trio activate the portkeys they were wearing beneath their robes and disappear.

Sighing, he turns to the centre of the maze and with a look of determination, he sets of for the cup.

He doesn't hear the soft rustling or the soft footsteps which follow him.

Walking at a casual pace, he soon reaches the centre of the maze, grateful that any obstacles had been removed. Looking at his watch, he sees that it still quite early and he decided to meditate for a couple of minutes, something he has picked up from Luna and found to be very beneficial.

After about fifteen minutes, he decided that enough time has passed by and steeling himself, he gets up and walks to the cup and with a final deep breath grabs hold of it.

As he is whisked away by the cup turned portkey, he could have sworn that he saw another hand touching the cup at the same time that he did, but he doesn't have much time to think about it as he slams into the ground, having reached the portkey's intended destination.

Cursing his luck, he quickly gets up into a crouching position, wand held out, and scans the area immediately around him.

Seeing nothing but knowing that someone is bound to arrive soon, he takes closer look at the headstones, grimacing when he spots the one bearing the name of Tom's father.

Hearing something moving, he turns his attention back to his surroundings and soon spots a short, hooded figure approaching, carrying something in its arms.

Wishing nothing more than to blast the figure, Harry clenches his fists in an effort to control himself as he tries to come across as confused and unsure of what's happening.

Stopping a couple of meters in front of him, the figure, who Harry now recognizes as Peter Pettigrew, puts down the bundle he was carrying and suddenly pulls out a wand, shooting a stunner at Harry.

Having expected it, Harry dodges the red beam but falls down as if hit, quickly hiding his wand up his sleeve.

Ah he hears the wheezing breath of the man who betrayed his parents, he waits patiently, or as patiently as he can, for the rat's next move. And he doesn't have to wait long as Wormtail levitates him of the ground and slams him into one of the headstones, causing Harry to almost bite his tongue in an effort not to cry out.

As Wormtail proceeds to tie him up, Harry is amazed at the stupidity of the man for not even taken the effort to search him for a weapon.

As soon as he has secured Harry, Wormtail moves back in the direction that he came from, giving Harry the time to take another look at the bundle on the ground.

Seeing it move, he guesses that the bundle contains Tom's current form. Looking further around, he can't help but smirk as he sees a large snake circling around the area.

Suddenly he stiffens as the wind changes a little and he gets a whiff of a familiar sent.

Throwing a quick glance to where Wormtail went, he sees the man returning, his attention on something large and obviously heavy. Knowing that he is unobserved for now, he once again looks around the area, getting a stronger whiff of the very familiar scent but seeing nothing.

For a moment he puzzles how it is that he can smell that particular scent when his eyes widen before a smile appears on his face.

'She stole my Invisibility cloak! That little minx. Merlin, she is amazing!'

Seeing Wormtail turn around, he quickly steels his face as a feeling of warmth and determination fills him, knowing that she is close by.

After having made a perfunctorily check of his bindings, Wormtail returns to the large cauldron he brought and starts to tend to the fire he has started.

Watching in interest despite of himself, Harry moves his wand so that the tip is barely showing and quietly begins to cut his, admittedly loose, bindings.

That job shortly finished, he takes a quick glance at where he knows that Ginny is standing, feeling a soft touch in return, before focussing his attention back on Wormtail, who, having apparently decided that the cauldron is ready, picks up the bundle and drops it into its vast belly.

Although not really interested in whatever ritual the foul rat is performing, he tries to pay attention.

He watches with disinterest as Wormtail levitates some dust and dirt from the tomb of Tom Sr, he flinches with a look of disgust as Wormtail cuts off his own hand, and as the whimpering rat-like man approaches him, he has a good idea what the next part is going to be.

'B—Blood of the E—enemy forcibly t—taken.'

Harry doesn't hear the rest as, unnoticed by the whimpering figure in front of him, his eyebrows shoot up, flinching only a little as Wormtail cuts him with a knife.

'Forcibly taken? Hm, interesting. I mean, he is not really taking it by force, is he? I'm allowing him to take it. I wonder if that is enough and what it will mean for Tom.'

He is brought back to the present just in time to see Wormtail drop a few drops of his blood into the boiling cauldron.

He doesn't have to wait long for a shadowy shape to appear in the clouds of vapor given off by the cauldron.

When the smoke has disappeared and the newly risen Tom becomes visible, Harry has to refrain from shaking his head as he takes in the thing that he has become and from just behind him he can hear a stifled gasp coming from Ginny as she, to, sees the monster before her.

Harry watches as Tom presses the Dark Mark on Wormtail's arm and he can't help but feeling anxious as after several minutes, multiple dark cloaked and masked wizards appear, noticing that there appear to be close to thirty Death Eaters now standing in the graveyard, more than he had expected.

As Tom begins to hold a monologue, using the Cruciatus on one Death Eater or another at random as he walks around them, Harry takes a deep, calming breath and quietly lets the ropes that were holding him fall to the ground.

As he looks around the graveyard, he feels a reassuring squeeze as Ginny takes his hand before moving to his side. Even though he fears her getting hurt, the simple fact that she is here with him calms him even further and steels his nerves.

Just as Tom finishes his longwinded speech, Harry spots a small flickering of light as someone lights their wand and quickly douses it again, the pre-arranged signal to tell him that all the wards are up.