The story on how the world ended begins on the outskirts of the small village in England called Little Hangleton.
There lived a man, called Frank Bryce who was born in the village and spent all of his live serving the Riddle family. Riddles were good people, both for him and for the town he was well paid for his service. The sudden death of the family and kidnappings that followed quickly made town go back to its roots before Riddles built their manor. However, Frank even after the death of them wasn't forgotten by them in their will and managed to inherit comfortable sum for rest of his life.
Only the feeling of debt towards the good family had kept him here, and nowadays his daily routine was a simple one. He started the day by reading the newspaper, mostly to satisfy the urge to read anything, because he had no opportunity to buy any new books, after spending quite a fortune on the garden and he already all the books in the library before house was declared to be unsafe to walk around in. After finishing his daily reading and his cup of coffee he took a walk around the garden and made sure that everything there was well taken care of. At the evening, his frail old body tired from all the walking and hard work, he liked to drink some tea while sitting on one of the benches in the garden and stare at the sky. His very simple daily routine was not interrupted often, however unluckily for him, sometimes the local kids decided to use the manor as a fun dare and so he had to force himself to walk towards the house and kick them out. Today was one of those unlucky days and this is why he was slowly forcing himself to walk because he saw the lights in the second floor of the building.
But tonight, something worse than local kids had inhabited the manor, and that is how a simple man met the most feared dark lord in the history. This is how old man Frank Bryce became unwilling participant of the story that ended the world.
Meanwhile Voldemort took a while to recover. Using mind magic even on muggle required a lot of effort, and the killing curse took the rest of the energy that this cursed body had. He didn't regret it though, because what he found in the muggle's mind was quite interesting. After a while he started speaking, slowly.
"Wormtail "poor creature jumped after hearing his master.
"Yes, master? "He inquired, ready to serve. As much as a rat can serve that is.
"I need you to find this man's cottage and bring me the newspaper of those muggles.
"Master?" Wormtail looked at him, not quite sure if he had heard right.
"Bring it for me, and then we can talk. "
"Yes, master" Wormtail quickly nodded and just as quickly ran out of the manor. Using rat's mobility and speed, he found the cottage in no time, he summoned the newspaper and without even looking at the headline, he went back to his master. He was very impatient man.
"Now… Read me the headline of front page"
Only now Wormtail could take a look at the paper without a need to worry about being slow.
"WHO declares the epidemic that ravaged Western Africa is now over. The disease was finally contained after a long month, and the amount of people dead is over hundred thousand."
"This is it, rat. Don't you see?" Voldemort asked "When I saw this thing in headlines… It reminded me of the muggle war. We must pursue this new avenue of opportunity. "
"Yes, master."
"Tell me, rat. How much do you know about diseases that exist in our world? Magical and mundane alike. "
"Not a lot, master." Wormtail shook his head and was already bracing for punishment that didn't come.
He found out how terrifying and inhumane they could be. Acts done that could rival even the darkest deeds of his master. He unwillingly started to admire muggles; they had invented so many ways to kill a person. Biological, Chemical weapons, not to mention Nuclear atom that some wizards were so afraid of.
It was interesting, finding out that muggles aren't as backwards as he thought. They would be crushed if there was all-war, of course, but still… They were original for beings with no magic.
With shudder he forced his thoughts on such things away and continued to focus on important part of his mission. Muggle diseases.
He focused mostly on the viruses, because it was simple to alter, to mold however he wants it to. And it had so much potential, and he had so many ideas already.
Week later, he presented his findings to his master who was in better mood than ever.
"You did well, rat. "Voldemort spoke and he smiled "This muggle disease has great potential, continue your work."
"Yes, master. "Wormtail nodded and left the room
The Plan was in full force. After month of research, he thought of a way to use virus and the end result was something amazing.
This disease created with the hard work, and dozens of rituals was his life's Magnum Opus. This thing is what he will be known the most and will make him part of the highest-ranking Death Eater's members.
He outdid even his wildest dreams. Plague created by combining mundane virus and the magical energy in a way that hasn't been done before, a genius idea that will save the world from Dumbledore. Deadly and unstoppable, it will be clean the way for those who are worthy. Virus infiltrating hosts body and using own magic not only to replicate inside but also to spread the Plague. Virus merging with the magic allowed it to spread with every use of simple magic, it will make using any kind of magic similar to coughing. And when the person gets infected… Virus will slowly infect the cells in the human body, disguised by magic and even helped by it, the deadly virus will spread in the host body and will lie there dormant, held by the thing that helped him – magic. His work will spread the virus unknowingly to anybody, hidden by the invisibility cloak of magic inside the human and in places where nobody would look… Until it was too late.
And in the end, when the deadly virus reveals itself. It will attack everything and the magic that helped it to infiltrate the very same cells will be forced to kill itself, and hosts body at the same time. One interesting thing that he noted during his research is that magic sometimes can act as self-defense mechanism about outside threats, and when the whole-body attacks it… It will be forced to kill.
A person infected when virus gets activated will die in no time, and there was no way to save him. A perfection, a terrifying weapon that nobody could control and it was about to be released into wild.
Wormtail made sure that the virus will be kept hidden by the magic, and the short burst of it will let it free. One year from now, that was the plan.
But Wormtail didn't know a lot of things, he researched everything there is about virus, but he didn't' do the same with magic. He had no way of knowing that the mutation of virus will overwhelm the magic before the end of the year.
Tick tock.
"Is it ready? "Voldemort asked the next morning after the injections were prepared.
"Yes, master. The Plague is ready to be injected and Vaccine for both of us is done."
"Peter…Peter you did something great past these months, you did unthinkable. You're going to be responsible for thousands of deaths. How does it make you feel?"
"It makes me feel great to serve you, master."
"Good answer, my loyal rat. Dementors are ready, it's time to meet with our long-lost friends"
The vaccine was sitting in the cupboard, but by the next week, it's going to be rendered obsolete. The virus linked together by the ritual will be able to learn as one, mutate as one, infect as one and kill as one. Wormtail thought that he could control uncontrollable.
Bellatrix was always the most loyal servant of The Dark Lord. She served him faithfully until the very end, and she was repaid with more than she could imagine. He was back, right before her. She ignored the state of his current body, the only thing she felt was gratitude for somebody or something giving her a second chance to serve her master. She won't disappoint him this time.
So, when the Dark Lord told the Azkaban escapees what was expected of them, told them what the mission is going to cost, she was the first to volunteer.
"You were always my most precious and my most loyal, Bella" He whispered and she could only beam in a response, before bowing.
"Always, Master. Yours to command. Anywhere you tell me, I will go." She responded and she felt more happy than ever.
"And the rest of you? Will you follow me to the very end?" Voldemort turned to others, looked at each other in the eyes, but there was no doubt. Every single person in the group was loyal to Voldemort. They were prepared to do anything for the master, even to die.
"We are yours to command, my lord. "Everybody answered, one by one. Six of them and she smiled at all of them. Together to the end.
"I am glad to hear that, I am – really. "Voldemort started his small speech. "The journey you will embark tomorrow will change everything. We will burn the world, and together, we will rise from the ashes as it's overlords. Now kneel before me and prepare to receive your weapons."
The weapon was injection into their body, by Wormtail. She was last one to receive it and looked at rat-human preparing it for her. Before all of this, she didn't think much of him, but now… He was the one taking care of the master while he was at his weakest, he was the one who brought them together. She felt gratitude towards him. He brought her master back.
She felt the needle and it was quick. She knew that now she was carrying part of his legacy. And looked at him with devotion visible in her eyes. He was raising toast and looked at each of them.
"For the better tomorrow, after we cleanse the land of unworthy."
"For you,my lord." They bowed and apparated away.
"My lord? I have a question." Wormtail asked quietly
"Go ahead, Peter. You deserve at least that and even more for what you did. "Voldemort answered while petting his Nagini.
"Why them? You could choose… "
"I could choose any random wizard and he will infect everybody by the end of the year, that is true. But what is there to gain?"
"Master?
"When the world starts burning, it's going to need a savior. What kind of savior I am going to be with Death Eaters behind me? No… That life is over."
"So, the thing that you told them about… About rising together from ashes?"
"Do you think bringing people from their death is possible? I spent my life trying to find a way to escape it and all I found were things which I paid for dearly and never again. No, Bella and everybody else will die and will stay dead. What's couple more compared to thousand that we're going to kill?
But Voldemort yet again underestimated his servant. And by the time this was all over, there wasn't going to be anyone to rule over.
She walked out of atrium portkey hallway slowly. Surprisingly she wasn't noticed by anybody yet, people were so in hurry, that they had no time to stop and look at what's important. And today the important part was her. She closed her eyes and imagined him inside her for one last time.
She raised her wand and pointed it at random location
"I love you "She whispered and casted the spell. "Bombardo Maxima!"
And the chaos took the reign in the Atrium.
And the clock started ticking.
Tick-Tock, the world is ending but not single one of you have any idea
Severus Snape entered the office of headmaster and took a seat in front of him. Recent attacks made the world chaotic place and he came hoping his old friend already had the answers.
"The seventh one died today." Dumbledore only told him and raised the Daily Prophet and drank the cup with firewhisky. "Attack in Scandinavia now. Ten people died, but there could've been a lot more."
"Should've been more. All the casualties came from the first spell, just like all the other six. All other spells after that were non-lethal."
"That is true "Dumbledore replied and said nothing more.
"What I don't get is why?
"A last stand? Revenge for the fall of their master? I don't know Severus, but it doesn't matter. Their motivation is utterly irrelevant, they were insane and we shouldn't look deep into their actions, but rather why there were orders to execute those attacks. "
"Please don't tell me that you think this Dark Lord behind it. Impossible. "
"Why?" Now it was Dumbledore's turn to ask, while waiting for reply he filled the cup with firewhisky again and offered it to Severus. He quickly drank it and relaxed. He didn't realize he was that tense last days.
"The dark mark…" He was about to say but Dumbledore waved him away.
"A man doesn't need to be alive, to not be death. Voldemort is a proof of that. And you know better than to doubt that he is alive, do I need to remind you of first year?"
Snape paled and quickly shook his head.
"Let's assume that he was behind the order."
"There can't be no assumptions in this, my old friend. He would be the only one they would go so far for"
"Then why? Why sacrifice his most loyal? If he is planning to return, won't he need them? "
"And that is the question which concerned me for the past days. The sacrifice wasn't unexcepted, not really. For all his life, Tom Riddle looked at and used others like they were pawns in his game. And this is what scares me the most. There was a move made by him that I missed. The purpose unknown, and I fear that if I wrongly calculate my next move wrongly, I will be checkmated. And with me, the world. "
"But you will need to make a move. We can't stand here and do nothing."
Dumbledore sighed unhappily "Sometimes I feel like doing nothing would benefit us the most. Because with every move we somehow make the world worse place to be in. "
"What will you do?" Snape asked, he knew the old wizard well.
"Let's collect our old comrades. There is new gambit on the board, and I need all help I can get to analyze it."
Snape nodded and took the drink, this time straight from the bottle.
"I will contact them."
Everybody that were in the ministry during the attack became infected and brought plague back home.
The Plan was full in motion now, and there was no stopping it.
Virus slowly evolved, like a small child, interacted with magic in a way that was seemingly impossible. A long con, it will learn, and it was already something different than a virus.
A muggle who lived right near the wards that kept Diagon Alley invisible to him got infected when the wizards taking care of the wards apparated away. During the commute to work, he infected everybody else.
A muggle infected by commuter had a flight next day and so the Plague reached muggle population in mainland Europe.
A magical disease spreading through the Muggle world. A muggle disease spreading through Magical one. It learned, and it learned how to work in-between the worlds.
The very next day Voldemort coughed once, Dumbledore twice during opening ceremony while announcing Triwizard tournament. The Plague was trying out its limits slowly, little by little, it learnt what magic will allow it to do.
Slowly the clock was ticking, but the end was nearing just the same
A nice day to learn, thought Ron Weasley never. He was walking together with his best friends towards the great hall.
"So, what do you think? "Ron asked them and took a quick glance.
"About what? "Harry was the one to reply first.
"The tournament, of course! Imagine… Eternal glory, people talking about you years from now. Money doesn't hurt too. "
"It doesn't really matter, though, does it? We're not of age."
"But don't you imagine what would happen if you were?" Ron pressed
"I think I've enough fame from my parents' death, and there is not a single thing enjoyable about it."
"Way to kill a mood, mate."
"Sorry."
"Honestly, Ron! "Hermione finally managed to enter the conversation. "Let's not even talk about lack of tact, but why would you ever want to enter the tournament? Do you know how many people actually died during it?"
"You alright, Nev? "He asked while taking a seat right beside him, taking out his homework.
"Why do you ask? "Neville asked harshly, but had a grace to apologize for his short outburst "Sorry, it's just… I'm okay, just wondering, that's all."
"I won't ask if it's private stuff, mate. It's okay "He replied, but still cast worrying glance.
"It's Bellatrix."
"Oh…"
"You know, I fantasized about how I am to kill her. Does that make me a bad person?"
Harry quickly shook his head "It doesn't, Nev."
"But it should. My fantasies were quite dark. But they were just fantasies… That is until she escaped, and for few moments I thought I will finally get a chance for my revenge. And then it ended just like that."
"Do you think killing her would've made you happier?"
"No. But I still wanted to do it. You know, our thoughts are one interesting thing. Sometimes things come up there, and we learn about what we actually are without a mask in front of public"
Durmstrang unsurprisingly sat with Slytherin, Beauxbatons with Ravenclaw.
The feast that was prepared was amazing, with whole variety of foods from all around the world. People socialized, they laughed together, they bickered together. Having no idea that they were carrying deadly disease inside them and the clock was ticking. Tick Tock, The Death is coming.
Durmstrang sat at Slytherin table unsurprisingly, Beauxbaton girls at Ravenclaw.
The feast that was prepared was amazing. With variety of food choices from all around the world.
People socialized with friends they haven't seen in the summer, they laughed together with those that they had, and bickered with those that they didn't get along with.
All of these people had no idea.
Tick Tock, it's already inside you. Are you prepared to die?
I don't want to.
Well… Too bad because the Grim Reaper is nearing. His scythe prepared.
Dumbledore's coughs were getting worse, Minerva noticed.
"You should really check those coughs out, Albus." She looked at him with worry, to which he casually shrugged away.
"It's probably because I am so old, Minerva. Besides a med-wizard already checked me out and found nothing wrong with me besides the old wizard stuff. "
"But the cough…"
"Everything will be fine, Minerva. "He said confidently and she wanted to believe him. She cast one last worried look and left the office to prepare for her lesson tomorrow.
Dumbledore didn't tell her that he was dying and removed the glamour from his hand. It was getting worse.
"It was quite stupid of you to go alone, Albus. "Snape told him week later after meeting with Minerva
"I couldn't risk anybody else; you know that. Especially when I had no idea what I was about to walk into."
"This is precisely why you should've asked for a help. You're not alone, my friend. And now your mistake will kill you."
"Not my first mistake, and not my last, Severus. I got what I wanted from the house. A theory confirmed, and a way to stop The Dark Lord from ever returning."
"How many? "Snape asked.
"I can't be quite sure. "Snape knew the old man knew the precise number but was dodging the question for some reason. He didn't press.
"You said before leaving that there were two theories. Was the second one confirmed too?"
"I hope not, my friend. When the time comes, I will do what is necessary if I found out about that both of my theories were correct. Until such time comes, let me live in ignorance for a while." He coughed and looked at Severus who was inspecting him.
They were both so focused on trying to prevent one curse from killing him, neither of them noticed the upcoming signs of another one.
You're dying old man, your body being attacked from both fronts and you have no idea. if you would just focus, you could sense Grim Reaper already.
"My name is Harry Potter "He introduced himself to the girl he met in the owlery. A girl on whose shoulder Hedwig was currently sitting.
She smiled, and he was taken away by her beauty that he just now noticed for a short time.
"I know "She replied and he felt dumb for a moment. Of course, she knew who he was. "I'd rather you tell me what the name of this beauty is. "She looked at Hedwig who hooted happily.
"Hedwig" He replied while trying to look anywhere but at her eyes, or her smile.
"A fitting name for a magnificent creature "She softly petted her and let owl fly away towards her spot in owlery. "Beautiful, isn't she?"
"She is." He agreed with the stranger woman in front of her. Hagrid's choice that summer was really a great one.
"What about me, Harry Potter? Am I beautiful?" She asked suddenly after short silence and he answered quickly
"Of course, you are. "He blushed but she only sighed.
"You haven't even looked at me properly, please do. "She asked and he did.
Just now he noticed how beautiful she looked, and also how tall she was. Her deep blue eyes were alluring to look at, and her blond hair was falling behind her, almost to the waist. She looked at him expectantly and after recovering he repeated what he said before.
"You're more than beautiful"
"Good answer." She smiled and left him alone in the owlery without even saying goodbye
She found him in the hallway next day and pushed him into abandoned classroom somehow without anybody noticing it.
"Do you know what Yule Ball is? "
Confused, he just shook his head, trying to grasp what just happened.
"it's a Christmas celebration, with different name because wizards couldn't live with the thought of sharing the same name for their holy celebrations. Quite stupid if you ask me, but that's not important right now."
"And… uh, what is important?"
"Did you know that Champions need to bring dates to Yule Ball? A dancing date, stop blushing because of implication, I haven't asked you yet."
"Now I do… "Harry replied. He really was struggling to find words while speaking to this beauty in front of him
She smiled at him. "Great. I didn't expect for Yule Ball to be enjoyable before coming here, I don't really like dancing that very much, and dancing in Balls… Bothersome experience I would never like to repeat. Besides this time of course."
"Why?" He asked
"Because of who I am of course. I am a very beautiful woman which, believe me, really doesn't help when dancing because people seem to prefer to stare at you whole night instead of actually trying to dance, and so your toes really hurt you at the end."
"I see. "
"You don't, not really. But that's okay, you could work."
"What? "He asked, even more confused than before when he somehow ended up in abandoned classroom together with the girl before him.
"Go together with me to Yule Ball "
Really, Harry expected this day to be like any other one, lessons and time with friends. But being asked out by a beautiful Beuxbaton girl to a date wasn't on his schedule, not at all.
"You said… Something about being champion? You are not champion yet." Why didn't he say yes yet?
"I will be. "She replied confidently.
"I don't know how to dance. "Harry, mate. What are you doing? Say yes, right now.
"You will learn. You better, you don't want to disappoint a girl, do you?"
"I haven't said yes yet." Why?
"You will." She replied just as confidently when she told him she will become champion.
"Why me? "He asked. One last question, before he would give in and answer yes.
"A beautiful girl asks you out, and you wonder why? "She laughed, and her laugh would've made him feel good at any different time. "You're something else, Harry Potter. My answer to your weird question would be… Why not?"
"I accept."
"Of course you do." And with that she left, and the classroom suddenly became a sadder place without her presence
"Hermione, do you know how to dance? "He asked her in the middle of history lesson. Less eyes on them at this time when everybody except her were napping.
"Eh, what? "She looked at him questioningly
"I need to learn how to dance." He said quietly, blush creeping in.
"Why?" Harry Potter wanting to learn something, now that is rarity.
"Never mind. "He replied and turned away to focus on the lesson… About goblin wars. Of course, he talked about Goblin Wars.
"Is it because of a girl?"
"What?" He quickly turned away and stared at her.
"A… Boy?" She asked unsure.
"What?"
"Never mind" Now she was the one blushing.
Few minutes later, after learning even more new things he didn't expect about goblin wars, he asked Hermione again.
"By any chance, you know any books about dancing?"
For some reason, she started laughing and any groans that came from people being awoken by It were interrupted by class ending.
"I don't know any books, but I know somebody who can teach you. "She replied after she stopped laughing.
He met her again in the empty corridor next week.
"Hello?" He said unsure, how is it that they meet in the empty hallways, classrooms with nobody around?
"Hello, Harry Potter. "She smiled at him and it made him feel better. "I've heard some interesting and really hard to believe rumors about you "
Now he stared at her gravely. "I wouldn't believe those if I were you"
"So, does that mean you can't cast Patronus Charm?
"Who told you about…"
"I did some digging; you appear to be more interesting than I even predicted. So… Is my source correct? Can you, do it?"
He nodded in response.
"Show me" She said and it wasn't request. He complied and raised his wand.
And he did show her. And she smiled. He wasn't sure what made him happier, her being satisfied with him or Patronus.
Next day, they were racing each other on brooms late at night. He won at the last second, but it wasn't because he lacked ability compared to her. He very much enjoyed flying behind her.
"Did you enjoy the view? "She asked him after they landed on the pitch.
"What? "He started blushing and she just laughed it off.
"It's okay, I would've been more worried if you didn't"
"Let's duel "She told him and there was no room to argue.
"Okay" He replied, and stood up, with wand in his hand.
She beat him handily. And they fought again, and again.
She was dominating him.
"Well, at least we know that you could just fly away when the fight begins"
He wasn't really sure how he felt after that.
"Magic is a fickle thing. "Dumbledore said after his fit of coughs. "It can create amazing things, but it can also destroy them. "He coughed again, this time, it was with blood. Snape looked at his friend worried, but didn't say anything "It can create amazing things, but it can also destroy them the next"
They were both looking at the remains of Ravenclaw's diadem. An invention by one of the founders, a historical piece gone just like that.
"My potions aren't working on you. At this rate of decay, you don't have more than couple of months."
"I have already accepted my fate, Severus. I just hope that I have enough strength in me to finish what I started."
"Will you share your second theory with me?" And the old man didn't respond for a while, his breathing getting harder.
"Soon, Severus. Soon."
The only thing that will happen soon is world dying Old Man, and you will bring your secrets down together. You won't tell him the truth and you know it.
"Tell me about yourself, Harry Potter" They were again in the abandoned classroom. It became the secret spot for them to meet that nobody knew about.
"I like flying."
"You also like getting in a trouble, don't you?"
"I don't, it's just that often the trouble finds me."
She laughed and they dueled again, this time the fight was closer, but she still beat him without a lot of effort.
"What would you say if I told you that this year I'm the trouble that found you?
"You learn about Severing Charm in second year, you will learn how to cast it this year. Don't you find it weird?" The girl asked him this time.
"Find what weird? "He was relaxing after another duel.
"That we give our children ability to maim, to kill when they are not ready yet."
"When you do you think they should learn that?"
"Never. Wizards don't mature enough to be able to handle the responsibility of such power. No Human does"
Voldemort was gone, just like that. It started with simple coughs, but it got worse every day. His fragile body couldn't handle the strain and today Voldemort left the world again.
Wormtail was sitting in the corner, his face pale. He knew what killed his master, he cast detection spells and it was right there, The Plague multiplying inside of the body and he wasn't dumb enough to miss the implication.
Vaccine failed, he hoped that it failed only for his master, he tried to delay casting the spell on him as long as possible. Maybe it would've been better just to die without knowing?
He coughed and paled even further. This is it; it was end of the journey for him. He wondered how both of them got infected, but the answer quickly came. Apparition… Magical energy released by it was enough to infect anybody close, and if Vaccine failed… They were dead men at that point.
He finally managed to force himself to cast the detection spells that he himself invented just for the disease. Results shocked him, there was nothing left of the Virus that he created. It was a different entity now roaming around his body hijacking everything slowly.
It mutated enough to be unrecognizable, enough to be undetected by the protections that he created.
In a way he was proud of himself. He created something amazing, it will kill him sure, he was not doubting that the death will come, but his invention will live on. It will move on after killing humans, slowly but steady.
And so, he started to laugh uncontrollably. Peter Pettigrew will kill more people than Dark Lord during his reign. He was proud. And he started writing a letter.
Tick Tock
Muggles are dying, but nobody in magical world is noticing it.
Why would they? Muggles are irrelevant.
Maybe, just maybe if they had joined the forces, the crisis could've been averted.
"And the Hogwarts champion is… Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore shouted and the thunderous applause sound filled the hall, everyone cheering for their school champion.
"Fleur Delacour"
"Yes? "She looked at him, raising her eyebrow.
"It's a nice name. "He shrugged, just now realizing that he didn't know her name before the ceremony.
"Thank you, now I'm going to teach you how can you blow something up with simple magic trick"
"It's weird, you know. You knew my name all the time, and it didn't even occur for me to ask what's yours."
"Names are irrelevant, Harry Potter. More important is what is behind it."
"And what is behind yours? You haven't talked about yourself at all during our meetings."
"Because I am not important. "
"And I am?"
"No, but you're interesting." She looked at the table in front of them and pointed the wand at it "Bombarda"
The table was gone.
"Hermione, can you help me out with potion's homework? Pretty please? "Ron asked her next day.
"Honestly, Ron! Will you ask for my help when you find a job too? Hermione, can you catch this criminal for me!" She shook her head, but still went over to help him.
"It's not my fault that I'm too young for the tournament. Imagine, if I would win it, I wouldn't ever have to work. No homework and no lessons this year is just a bonus. Cedric is living the dream"
"I am sure Cedric himself doesn't think that." Hermione scoffed "He probably knows more about Triwizard Tournament and how dangerous it is"
"Exactly! And he is also Hufflepuff" Seamus added "He's probably living scared shitless instead"
And everybody laughed
"How are your dance lessons coming along?"
"Good"
"I expect more than good in the Yule Ball."
"I will give you more than good "
"I know"
"Dragons. Well, that is one hell of a first task "Ron gasped when he saw three of them "You know what? I am glad I wasn't' able to enter now. "
Harry was barely listening, his mind focused more on how Fleur will fare. These past 2 months were something else and he enjoyed it a lot. Meeting Fleur turned the world around for him and he was struggling thinking about anybody but her, and today he was worried for her.
After the task he barely managed to stop himself from breaking into medical tent, but instead waited for the next day.
"Are you alright? "He asked her the very next morning, they were currently sitting on the floor, facing each other.
"I'll live "She answered softly "Thank you for caring" She smiled and stood up, already raising her wand.
"Already?" He raised the eyebrow, but still stood up.
"Yes."
She won again, but it didn't matter. He enjoyed fighting, sure, but he more enjoyed the talks after the duel.
"You know, at first when I met you…I didn't think much of you. Really, I only invited you because you got lucky enough to be immune to my allure." She told him after the duel.
"Allure? "He asked and that made her laugh.
"I keep forgetting your upbringing, sorry. It's a part of me, that I wish wouldn't exist, but it does and I've to just live on with it. "
"And now?"
"I think a lot of you, Harry Potter. "
We're not going to duel today. We're going to have a talk" She said when he entered the classroom.
"Okay" He replied, trying to hide disappointment he felt from his voice.
"Let me tell you how I feel every morning. "
"I am listening" He replied and he was. He always was listening; it doesn't matter what she talked about.
"Of course, you are" She smiled, but this time smile didn't reach her eyes. "Every morning I feel abnormal"
"Abnormal?"
"Yes, because there is something inside of me that doesn't belong there. It never did."
"Are you talking about your allure?"
"In part "She nodded "Allure is a side of effect. I was talking about magic."
"… Magic?"
"Let's talk about evolution, Harry Potter. "She said quietly, first time in their conversations, her confidence was gone. She wasn't sure she could continue, but she did. "It's a simple thing, right? You evolve depending on the circumstances. To give you the best chance of survival in this cruel world. Want to hear a terrible fact that is hidden by everybody? The rate of squibs increases every generation. Doesn't make much sense, does it? Evolution shouldn't work that way."
"But evolution changes wouldn't be visible… It's a slow change, isn't it?" He replied and she smiled
"Here is another fact for you. Every human on earth has a little bit of magic inside them. That means every muggle is technically a squib. So, the question arises… Why did everybody lose their magic? We can talk about muggleborns, but even then… There are a lot less of them than before. Our numbers are dwindling. Did you know that the reason that purebloods are marrying each other? Because marriage with muggles and half-bloods lead to squibs down the line. They noticed that, they did experiments and the conclusion was damning. So, the solution was that they will marry only other purebloods. It really didn't matter at that point, because… Well, it was too late. Marrying half-bloods was giving them squibs, marrying other purebloods was given them genetical diseases, and this is where we are right now. So, in the end, my question for you, why do wizards lose magic with each generation?"
"I am really out of depth here, Fleur… You should ask Hermione or something, she might discuss this with you better."
"I don't care about your friend's opinion! I only want to hear yours. Tell me, what do you think?"
"Maybe it's because magic is dying?" He was trying to guess, really feeling dumb right now.
"Magic isn't dying, it's flourishing. Wizards are the ones who are dying off. Think what I said about evolution."
"What is your point Fleur? That we're evolving to be without magic… Because it is better for us?"
"Better for us? No, I don't think so. But we need to lose magic to survive, this is where our evolution of species leads to. Magic is the most beautiful thing in the world, but we humans don't deserve it. Every morning I wake up feeling wrong, because I am wrong. I wonder every time I wake up whether humans getting magic was a freak accident that should never had happened. Current situation is just world trying to fix its biggest mistake by removing our magic slowly. "
"Fleur…"
"Or maybe it was just the wrong step made somewhere? A wrong move, like rotating potion counter-clockwise instead of clockwise. "
"Do you think us and muggles are so different? "
"No."
"I agree. People can pretend, live in ignorance, but we're the same species. We just somehow lucked out and I fear that our luck will soon run out. I live in fear because I know what kind of people muggles can be and I know that wizards can be the same. The difference between us? Is that we have easier means to destroy everything. We've a control of something more powerful than we can ever grasp, and I am scared to think of what humans can create with it. "
The first day of the winter started with rain pouring outside. Harry, Hermione and Ron walked to the great hall together talking about soon to be irrelevant stuff.
After he entered the great hall, he took a quick glance towards Ravenclaw table where Fleur was already sitting, surrounded by her friends. She caught his glance and smiled, he smiled back and turned away.
He was eating breakfast when the letters came, nothing for him but Hermione got something.
"Hermione?" Harry raised his head, noticing the tone in Ron's voice. He looked at Hermione who was currently crumbling the pieces of bread that she was about to eat before reading the letter that she had, and her face was still and pale. "Hermione?" Ron quickly rose from his seat and came over to her. She didn't reply, but gave letter to Ron. Ron's face became just as still when he finished reading.
"I am sorry" Ron whispered so nobody could hear except people closest to them who already noticed what is currently happening. There was still no reply, just surprising tight hug and feeling of tears on his shoulder.
"What happened?" He asked and Ron was about to explain, before Hermione shushed him and brought both of them away from great hall.
They stopped at hallway and Hermione and she brought three of them together, hugging them both, she needed their support.
"My parents died "She told him, and started sobbing again. "Please don't say sorry, I don't really need that right now. Can we just stay like that? For a while. Please?"
And they stood there, three of them together for a while.
"Is she alright?" Fleur asked him the next day after their duel which was more intense than ever
"No" He replied simply and took a seat
"Losing family suddenly like that, with no way to say goodbye… I know the feeling, and I wouldn't wish that on even my worst enemy."
"Yeah…"
"Sorry, I didn't' want to remind you of your… You know."
"It's alright. You said, you know the feeling?" He asked her.
"Hm?"
"Did you lose somebody close too?"
"I lost everyone that was important, Harry Potter. But my family are still in this world."
"You don't sound happy about that."
"I am not."
"Did they… Hurt you?"
"Physically? They wouldn't be able to. They hurt me emotionally, not directly, no. Their actions against others were enough and this is all I will say regarding the matter."
Three of them were sitting in the common room. Silence filling the room.
"I didn't talk with them enough. "Hermione broke the silence first "With my parents. How many letters did I send them? I could count them on one hand… in 4 years. And every summer, the only thing I talked about with them was how great the school is, how great the magic is. I didn't give them enough time."
"It's not your fault, Hermione "Ron responded and Hermione tried to smile.
"That they're dead? Of course, it's not my fault. But it is my fault that I didn't spend enough time with them, that I didn't give them time with their only daughter. And now they're dead."
Their conversation was interrupted surprisingly by Colin Creevey
"Did you also get the letter? "he asked, voice barely a whisper, trying not to look them in their eyes.
"Letter? "They asked
"Yeah, from your family, Hermione"
"Colin…"
"Almost every muggleborn I know received the letter. Their parents died from some kind of sickness, is that what happened to yours too?"
Meanwhile Hermione who was about to shoo Colin away stopped, thoughts racing in her head.
"How many?"
"Five of them. Me and Denis haven't received anything though… But something is happening in the muggle world, isn't it? For some reason, all I can think of is that outbreak in Africa."
Hermione jumped up so fast, and ran away equally so, that Harry and Ron had no chance to follow her, their focus still on Colin. He brought the map and followed where Hermione was heading.
"She's going to Dumbledore"
Her timing was on point, because when she came to stand near the Gargoyle statue, it opened and she met McGonagall who was leaving headmaster's office.
"I need to talk with headmaster. "Hermione told her with determination
"I am not sure this is the best moment…" Professor McGonagall replied but Hermione didn't stand down.
"Please… I need to "She was about to beg, but it wasn't needed because professor just sighed slowly and let her in.
Nobody could prepare her for the sight, she knew the headmaster was sick since his absence in the Great Hall, but he looked more than sick, he looked like he was about to die.
"What can I do for you, Miss Granger? "Dumbledore smiled but Hermione was struggling to speak "I am sorry for the look by the way, I forgot to put on my glamour charm "He sighed and cast the spell, and now old wizard before her switched appearance and looked like a man she met during summer.
"Are you alright?"
"No, Miss Granger. I am afraid that old age is catching up with me. "
"Is it the muggle thing?"
"Muggle thing, Miss Granger?"
"Are you sick with the same thing that Muggles are getting sick now?" She kept her distance.
"No, Miss Granger… It's just a result of a simple curse, but what kind of Muggle sickness you're talking about?" Dumbledore inquired, looking at her curiously.
"You don't know? A lot of muggleborns received the letter today. Their parents' dead from unknown disease. How can you not know? Do you even keep up with what's happening in the muggle world?"
"Miss Granger…"
"You called? "
"Yes, Severus. I need you to investigate the recent deaths of muggleborn parents."
"You think this is his work"
"I don't know, that's why I need you to investigate. Horace will stand in for you for a while"
"It's not him" Snape reported to Dumbledore.
"How can, you be sure? "Dumbledore asked
"Because not only muggleborn parents are dying. Everybody is."
"How can you be sure, Severus? This might've been the move that I missed."
"What do you want us to do? There's no way Minister will allow us to intervene and help Muggles. Not with ICW declaring full separation from the muggle world"
"We ignore the rules, just like Order always did. And we help those who can be helped"
"The world is going crazy, Harry Potter."
"Tell me about it. "He replied thinking about the recent crazy news. About magical world declaring quarantine and ordering every wizard to stay away from muggle world. A total separation.
"Is this a way of God proving me wrong? Muggles dying off, is this him trying to tell that I was wrong and Wizards aren't the mistake of evolution, but muggles are? That the reason we survived is because we're the stronger out of species and everybody else are weak, and this is why they lost their magic?"
"I don't know, Fleur. "
"You know, even with what's happening outside… Yule Ball is still on, and I'm afraid even a pandemic won't help you escape from our dance, so you better not skip your practices." She smiled and touched his hand.
"I won't" he smiled back
That night in the bed, Harry coughed once.
Tick Tock
Knock Knock
Who is There?
My name is Reaper and I'm here to take you away.
Why?
Because your species fucked up and it is you who will pay the price.
Pettigrew was walking through deserted streets of London, enjoying the weather and enjoying the fruits of his hard work. It went better than he could expect it, muggles almost extinct – just like that, it went so much better that he was responsible for killing human species. The wizards were still standing, sure. But for how long? Wormtail thought and laughed. His master… If he was alive would be really proud, he thought. But he didn't need his master anymore. He was better than him. He played with lives of everyone and got crushed, but that didn't matter for him.
The only thing that he felt disappointment about is that he won't be in history books. Because there won't be anybody left to write them by the end of the month. He couldn't stand people not knowing what he did, so that's why currently the owl was flying towards Hogwarts. It was carrying the final truth and he laughed imagining the expression on old wizard's face.
He continued his walk and started whistling.
"Yesterday I told you that God might've proven me wrong, didn't I?" Fleur asked him and he just nodded. "Well, it was naïve of me to think that. Long time ago, or at least it feels like long time ago. Your Headmaster coughed during his speech, and then he coughed more during the next weeks. He looked worse each day and then disappeared from the public. Everyone knew he was sick and didn't get better."
"Fleur"? He looked at her worried, she didn't look any worse than before.
"This morning, I coughed. I wasn't the only one "She told him
"It could be coincidence" He replied and she just laughed.
"I don't believe in coincidences, Harry."
"Well, I do. I have to because otherwise… Well, I coughed yesterday too."
She looked at him sadly "Oh, Harry…"
Dumbledore died. Just like that. Snape found him on his chair and started crying. He knew the day was going to come, but still. Severus Snape just lost his only and oldest friend.
Situation was getting worse. Wizards finally realized that the plague killing off muggles had already breached the wizarding world. The older wizards started dying first, their body not being able to withstand the attacks by the Plague. Quarantine locations were set up, ministries closed, people ordered stay in home but it was too late. People still tried though; humans never give up. A common threat united everybody and they put all their best efforts in stopping it.
The Plague was not stopping though. It had only one task and it will finish it.
"I don't think we'll dance at the Yule, Harry. "She whispered and had a fit of coughs.
"Let's dance right now. "He looked at her and she looked at him.
"Here? In this dusty classroom? "
"We could do it in Great Hall if you want. Pretend for a moment that everything is fine, and dance like there's tomorrow to come."
"I think I would like that. "She nodded and stood up slowly.
They walked out of together, hands intertwined ignoring the only few surprised looks. If this would have happened couple of weeks earlier… People would be buzzing, gaping at them like they both grown two heads or something, but now… The focus was on the Plague that was killing them all slowly.
They entered the Great Hall and walked to the center of it.
"Don't you think we need music?" She asked while smiling.
"All we need is each other"
And they started slowly. They were joined up by other couples later and even friends.
There was no music, but it wasn't needed.
It was the last dance of humanity. Each other's comfort was everything they needed right now.
"You know, I've never kissed the girl before "
"Not very smooth, but month ago, and you would've blushed just thinking about asking to kiss me. I call that progress"
"That is true… But I guess spending time with you had some kind of effect."
"Effect?"
"I feel more confident now "They were both looking each other into eyes and they were both standing close to each other, feeling each other's breath.
"If that was true, you would've kissed me already. "
And he kissed each other for a long time and stopped only for short breaks.
"Thank you, Harry Potter. For everything"
"I haven't bought you any present, but I think just me staying alive and being here is enough, no?"
"Not funny, Fleur."
"No, I think it's quite funny. You know, I could let you have my virginity as Christmas present "
"What? "
"Just kidding, I am not a virgin. But we can do it if you promise not to cough blood during it."
"What?"
"And I promise not to die in the middle of it. Good deal if you ask me"
"How is Fleur, Harry?" Hermione asked him and this was first time he had conversation with Hermione in a while. He spent all of his day with Fleur until she got worse. Now she's very close to dying.
"She's dying, Hermione. How do you think she is? "he didn't want to be so harsh to his best friend, but he really couldn't control himself.
"I am sorry, Harry. But we are all dying."
"Well, she is dying a little bit faster than us so that's how she is. Is this what you wanted to hear? "
"We finally did it" Fleur whispered, putting all her effort in trying to speak.
"Did what?" he asked while holding her close and not letting go.
"We finally managed to kill ourselves. That is disappointing. I thought I would have more time to spend with you and had tiny hope that the next generation would be the ones to do it instead"
"I love you, Fleur."
She didn't reply.
Albus Dumbledore. It is a pleasure. I wanted to talk with you so much, but alas there was no possibility for me to do so without risking my hide, so this letter will have to do. Together with the owl I bring you good and news. I will start with good news because I am sure that will make you happy. Going to make it even more satisfying to crush your mood with the bad news.
Well, Dark Lord is dead. He died month ago, actually. So, you were probably wondering why things happen and thought that he was responsible for everything that happened so far. You most likely tried to guess his motives and what logic is there behind his actions. Let me tell you, there wasn't much logic left in his head. Horcruxes really messed up his mind, you see. His plan was to burn the world and raise it from the ashes with him as a savior. Interesting plan, he must've liked phoenixes a lot.
The part about horcruxes messing up his mind? Well, that's probably why he trusted the most important part of the job to me! To me, what kind of idiot would give someone like me such an important mission?
Well, I accepted that, there was no choice, because I was the only one that came. Everybody else left him or got captured. One day, an idea about a disease came up and I was given a chance to redeem myself. And I did. I created something amazing, a beautiful thing. But he, of course underestimated me again. He shouldn't have, because I outdone myself again, and again. He asked for a plague that will kill the planet. And I gave him one. He probably thought that I would fail or something, or maybe his idea was to kill only half the planet. He didn't' tell me that. His brain must've forgotten to specify what exactly he wanted to do. There was a lot of contradictions in his words. Kill the world, save the world. Well, I got confused alright? And so, I did what he asked me, and I created it. My perfection, a peak of biology weaponry. An invisible weapon, I love it. I hope you're proud of your pupil, Dumbledore.
You probably gathered that by now, but my bad news is that everybody is infected. And everybody is dying slow death. Well, actually not so slow anymore because my baby became something else, something more and I am proud of it. Because it managed to escape the boundaries that I had given it and is ravishing the world right now.
I write you this letter because I want you to know who was responsible for all of this. IT wasn't dark lord, no… It was me; do you remember me? Of course, you do, I was also responsible for killing your two best loyal wizards. I write you this letter because I want you to know that Peter Pettigrew killed the world, and I want you to tell the world that I was the one who killed it. Not Dark Lord, not a random chance, a random mutation but me.
I wish you well,
Peter Pettigrew.
The letter was laying on the desk of headmaster. Unopened, the owl hooting and sitting on the edge of the opened window waiting for somebody to take the letter until she can leave.
Hogwarts was silent.