A/N: I wished I owned Harry Potter. Alas, I do not. Ms. Rowling, I'd be happy to take it off your hands

A/N: I debated calling this chapter Endgame, but unfortunately, Marvel stole that. So credit to Mark Twain instead.

I will also readily acknowledge that for a story primarily about friendship and romance, there has been an awful lot of fighting recently. This is the last chapter with a ton of fighting.

Chapter 67: The Day You Find Out Why

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." – Mark Twain.

June 24th, 1995

Harry had come up with the idea back in May. He did not have the requisite power to pull it off, but he knew that he was not at full strength. He knew in his heart of hearts that he, and he alone, could not end Voldemort. He might be able to temporarily defeat him, but Harry wanted to be done once and for all. That meant that he had to defeat Voldemort in such a way that his magic was either severed from the Horcruxes, or that his magic was destroyed. And for that, he needed the power of the divine dragon in the form of Ares.

However, Harry had no intention of letting the power take over his body again. He had seen every action Ares had taken during the fight with Bellatrix, and it made him feel mad. The power that belonged to a god, and he couldn't control it. What's more, his consciousness was simply overloaded by the interloper, and he felt helpless. He would not do that again, but he needed the power. To that end, Harry spent a few weeks trying to come up with a solution. Eventually, he realized Ares needed to be on the physical plane to bring his swordsmanship skills into play. That meant somehow, Ares needed a body. Perhaps, with enough power, Harry could create one rather than being possessed by the fraction of a god's power manifested in a personality.

Sure, it was possible that with the Horcrux removed, Ares might not be as violent. In fact, he was counting on it. He couldn't fight side by side with someone living off unnecessary pain. Still, Harry had no interest in being possessed. He would retain his mind, but he had talked a few times to Ares during deep meditations. They had a plan that should end it all. It required Ares to stay focused and not lose his focus, but hopefully the thought of total victory would keep the red-eyed version of himself focused.

His internal monologue vanished, replaced by a giant lake, ripples slowly going on the surface. Harry's eyes tightened and he let his magic flow freely around him. Then with a deep breath Harry took off, jumping high into the sky, pooling concentrated magic into his foot that contacted with Voldemort's shield, shattering the aura but forcing Harry back as the backlash splashed across the graveyard. Harry saw Ares jumping through the magical blast, his sword raised, only to be hit squarely by a dark beam from Voldemort. His body double rolled as he hit the ground, flashing a grin at Harry.

"This is more like it!" Ares cried over the sound of battle.

"Happy you are enjoying this," Harry said through gritted teeth. "Just please remember the plan." Ares bellowed a war cry and leapt at Voldemort, his sword flashing wildly. "Great, he's lost it." Harry readied his wand and dived in behind Ares, trying his best to deflect spells coming from the now erratic Voldemort. Spells flew between Harry and Voldemort, allowing Ares to continually gain ground, even if it was three steps forward, two steps back. Slowly but surely, he was forcing his way into the aura.

Harry was entirely focused on his spellcasting. He was circling to Voldemort's left, trying to stay in a blind spot. It forced the dark lord to keep his passive focus on Harry, allowing Ares threaten from the opposite side. There was a pattern, even if it took time to emerge. A pattern he could exploit while his doppelganger drew most of the active attacks.

One spell would be absorbed and turned into fuel for Tom. Two spells would be redirected, and only some of energy would be concerted. Three spells all hitting the same spot would simply be stopped. But four powerful spells, hitting the same spot on the pulsing aura within milliseconds of each other… The fourth spell punched through, and Tom turned in surprise, forced to actively shield against the spell that had broken through his aura.

Unfortunately, as Tom was forced to fall back, Ares's sword cleaved through the space the dark lord had previously been occupying. Harry and Ares glared at each other. It was all well and good to agree to a plan, but they couldn't work in sync. Ares was all about attack, and Harry's mindset wasn't much different. With space, Tom sent a scythe a magic out at the clones. Ares leapt beyond it, and Harry threw himself to the ground, coming up with some vicious curses spilling from his wand. Tom's wand flicked out and sent them all harmlessly over his head.

"Quite an interesting spell," Voldemort said casually, firing two bone breakers at Ares, who shielded with his sword. "Perhaps if you share the secret with me, I might just let that girl of yours live."

"My girl?" Harry smirked.

"My agent at Hogwarts has given me reports. The French girl. Pretty little thing. It would be a shame if I had to break her after I finish with you here." Harry gave Voldemort a blank stare. "I believe her name is Fleur."

"Fleur?" Harry started laughing, and Voldemort's eyes widened. "You think Fleur is my girl?" Harry tried to stop laughing, but he couldn't keep control of himself and was soon bent over in laughter. The fight on the other side of the graveyard with the staff and death eaters had come to a halt as well, as everyone's eyes were on Harry, in the midst of a hysterical breakdown.

"You think my threat is funny?" Voldemort growled.

"No, I'm sure you are serious," Harry said, finally catching his breath and wiping away a tear from laughter. He looked his enemy over critically. "You weren't very popular, were you?"

"I'll amasses followers by the thousands!" Voldemort spit out.

"Ah, I meant you weren't very popular with girls," Harry corrected. "I really like Fleur. If everyone promises not to share it with her at the moment, I'd go so far as to say I am madly, completely and totally in love with Fleur." Harry heard a chuckle from his side. "Shut up Akira."

"Sorry."

"But my feelings for her doesn't mean she belongs to me," Harry continued. "At the moment, I believe she returns my affections. But it's my job to be someone that deserves that affection, day after day. Be the person she thinks I am…" Harry shook his head a little. "Yeah." He straightened a little. "Thanks for that, Tom."

"What?" Voldemort spat.

"There has been so much going on in my mind, all these possibilities, how to make sure this is the last fight we ever have, what I do after this." Harry gave an easy smile. "But that has never been my strength. I always say to myself I'll get better at planning for the future. I never really get better at it, not more than 5 minutes, anyways. So that's what I'll do." Harry flexed and magic began rippling off him. "I'll give it my all for 5 minutes." Ares appeared at his side. "How does that sound, Ares?"

"5 minutes, and then you'll release me?" Ares asked.

"5 minutes." Harry agreed.

"Very well." Power began pouring out of Ares as well. Akira turned in surprise. The power out of Harry's clone was distinctively different that the power of his brother. "Let's begin." The red-eyed clone smashed into Voldemort's aura, Harry disappearing in a burst of speed. The sword smashed into the dark aura over and over, and Tom strained against the increased force of the blows. Almost all his strength was devoted to keeping Ares back, but he kept enough awareness to sense Harry above him.

"You can't dodge," Harry cried as his triangle spell impacted Voldemort. He completed his leap over Tom and yanked his wand harshly as he landed. Voldemort yelled in surprise as a stone column smashed into him from behind, sending him flying. Ares was right beside him, smashing him down into the ground with a fierce blow. Voldemort managed to hit the sword, sending it spinning away, but in the moment it took to blow away Ares's weapon, Harry closed the distance and landed a blistering flurry of magically enhanced blows.

Voldemort's aura was splintering under the force of Harry's blows, but when Harry finally connected, his own magic was exhausted, and he was only able to send Voldemort stumbling. The dark lord rolled to his feet and Harry frowned. He was more than strong enough that even without magical enhancement, Voldemort should have been down. Apparently, the resurrection had given his opponent enhanced physical abilities.

Voldemort eyes lit on the fight going on across the graveyard. The death eaters in the graveyard were not his strongest, as they were in Azkaban. Death eaters like Bellatrix, her husband, or Dolohov would have been a match for McGonagall or the mysterious Asian wizard, and only he could attempt to match the headmaster, his masterful transfiguration driving his death eaters back. But Harry was motionless and the red-eyed sword wielding clone was circling around him. Right as Dumbledore began a transfiguration, Voldemort leveled his wand at the Asian wizard and a green spell spat from his wand.

His eyes widened as Harry appeared in front of the spell. There was no attempt at transfiguration to protect him from the spell, but when the spell was within feet, Harry blurred, and in his place was the clone, his sword deflecting the spell right back at him. Voldemort snarled as he fired birds from his wand, one taking the curse and falling. With a hard swish of his wand, he transfigured razor sharp beaks and sent them flying towards Flitwick, who had two of his death eaters on the ropes.

He then turned his attention back to Harry, but the boy was gone. There wasn't even a magical signature indicating speedy movement, but he heard a sound behind him and whirled. He saw Harry was drawing something in the dirt. The totally odd behavior froze Voldemort. Then Harry stood, and robes flew from his wand at the dark wizard.

Harry saw Voldemort fire a spell at the ropes and smiled. Voldemort had probably not faced a simple binding spell in multiple years. It was why he hadn't recognized the wand movement from Harry as anything other than the simple rope binding spell. When the ropes split, launch themselves all over the graveyard, Voldemort smiled and aimed his wand at Harry.

"You know I was half lying," Harry said, aiming his wand to the left of Voldemort. "I am rubbish at long term planning. But in the five minutes, I've been told I have quite the imagination. Harry saw the six robes hit all six runes he had sketched in the ground. With a flick of his wand, he activated the seventh at his feet. "Magical number of 7. You should know all about that. Harry reached into the small void before him, withdrawing the ruined diary and tossed it to Voldemort. The final shock of seeing one of his Horcruxes destroyed allowed the runes to fully activate, and chains emerged from them, smashing through Voldemort's aura and dragging the wizard to the ground.

As Voldemort fell, he felt the magic pulse from behind him and managed to turn, seeing the sword wielding clone lunging at him, his sword extended straight out. Green light pulsed on his wand and he dug deep into his magic. He would hit the man and break the chains. He didn't know the spell, or how Harry had created a clone. But the effect of killing him might very well hurt Harry, and then he'd dispel the chains and end this farce of a fight.

Ares had to marvel as Voldemort aimed his wand at him. Since Harry had declared the 5 minute fight, 4 minutes and 51 seconds had elapsed. His magic collected in his sword as he dived at the dark wizard. Harry's flashing ability would put him in the path of the killing spell, and as Ares drove his sword through Harry's magical core, the increased power would sever Voldemort's connection from the horcruxes and kill the dark wizard. Harry would be forced to flash to give Ares the necessary power, and also allow him to travel the last few feet before the killing spell hit. He would also fulfill the prophecy, as Ares technically was Harry at that moment. All he had to do was make the "right choice" that his true form had spoken of, and Harry would die as well. It was a perfect situation for Ares, who had hated being stuck in the boy's body for so long. Despite his begrudging respect, Ares would be reunited with his true self, and Harry and Voldemort would be dead.

But then Ares felt a spell impact on his stomach. The green burst had just left Voldemort's wand, and it was almost in slow motion that Ares saw Harry grin with would only be called devilish intent.

-O-O-O-O-O-O-O—O-O-O—O-O-O—O-O-O-

August, 1994

"Harry, are you in here?" Akira asked, striding into the room. He saw his brother slide a book behind him. "Ah, reading something you shouldn't again?" Harry gave him a sheepish grin. "I give my promise as a brother I won't tell anyone, but you should really show someone."

"You mean like you?" Akira gave him a pointed look.

"Some of the books here and really dangerous."

"Fine, fine" Harry conceded. "Please don't get mad." Akira just sighed and nodded at the request. Harry slowly picked up the book and slid it over.

"What is this?" Akira angrily demanded as he read the cover. "Spells for the self-sacrificing?" He opened the book and flipped to a random spell. "Meganite? Harry, you know this spell consumes your life force!"

"I know," Harry snapped. "But you know better than most how often my life is put in jeopardy. Last year was the first time it wasn't just my life on the line, and if I had known one of these spells, Sirius and Hermione might have survived, even without the time turner. Besides, some of these spells don't have life altering consequences!"

"Harry, I should burn this book-"

"That's the real act of a brother." Acid was dripping off Harry's tongue. Akira just stared at him and after a pause, flung the book back at him. His eyes betrayed a deep hurt and he stormed out of the room. Harry sighed as he picked up the book. That had really been a nasty thing to say, and he would have to apologize, at least more than once. And he did, later in the day and for the rest of the week. But he did not stop reading.

Akira had picked a spell at random, not the spell Harry had been reading.. In fact, after a quick browse, he had only been looking at one spell. He had the book for a specific purpose. Hayashi-San had drilled many lessons into him over the summer. Prominent among those lessons was that all dangerous magic had a cost. It certainty applied to why he would not teach anyone the unforgivable curses, dragging your soul down.

Harry was unsure how Voldemort survived all these years in spirit form. But the diary had been beyond bizarre, and clearly Voldemort had used some obscure magic to avoid death. If Trelawny's prophecy had actually been true and it seemed like it was, then he was certain to have to face Voldemort in the near future. This time, he would finish the battle, would make sure to end the dark lord who robbed him of his family for sure.

His master had given him the diary of a wizard from the 12th century. Many believed him to be insane in his time, but Nambung had declared him a genius beyond compare, and had Harry use the book as a way to creatively think through challenges he gave him, like completing extremely difficult trials with only the simplest spells.

One of the last pages had discussed how he had created a spell that would pull the power of the gods into his body. The man was without a doubt, insane. But he had claimed that without the power of the gods, one would not be able to harness his ultimate spell: something that could sever all magic from a wizard. Without the power of god, the diary suspected that life would be the cost of the spell.

"Power of a god," Harry had muttered, stowing the diary. "What a crock." But the spell had rattled around in his head for a few days, and at night he had snuck into the library and emerged with the book that not even his master knew he was reading. To his surprise, he had found the spell. Apparently the conditions required a strong grounding in runes, which Harry was just starting to understand from Remus over the summer.

"Lightbringer," Harry said to himself. "Vanquish evil, huh?" The spell was not actually an impact spell. Apparently, a human couldn't hold the power of a god, so after summoning the god, a suitable weapon would be needed to store the power. Otherwise the moment the power was released, it would mean instant death. Still, death in exchange for Voldemort's magic might be a necessary trade.

-O-O-O-O-O-O-O—O-O-O—O-O-O—O-O-O-

June 24th, 1995

The magic crackled over Ares's body, and he realized Harry had hit him with the custom shield breaker. The boy yanked his wand forward, and Ares's body flew through the killing curse, his short emerging from Voldemort's back. His body destroyed, Ares's spirit exploded from the mortal plain. The shockwave of Voldemort's magic being severed combined with the explosion of the body that had held godlike power and the lightbringer spell imbued in the god's blade sent every-body tumbling back.

On the edge of the graveyard, just beyond the range of the primary shockwave a woman grinned. She suspected the spell the boy had just used was lightbringer. He truly had somehow summoned the power of a god. He had exceeded all expectations, and somehow was still alive, and seemed relatively unharmed. He slowly got to his feet and the woman frowned. She would need to put him down, just in case. As she took a step forward she felt two overwhelming presences behind her and she was driven to her knees by the raw power.

"So, the brotherhood was indeed involved," Nambung drawled, his eyes boring into the back of the head. "Despite your organizations connections and power, an adolescent Nundu all to get Harry here? I might have been in a spot of bother without help."

"Thank you admitting it," Rebecca told him. Nambung just shot her a look. "Hey, credit where credit is due.

"I think I'll have you tell me all about it." Nambung ran a hand ominously over her shoulder. "Then we'll decide on punishment."

"I have to say, your apprentice is far from all talk," Rebecca commented. "That spell was lightbringer, wasn't it?"

"Seemed like it," Nambung concurred.

"Isn't that supposed to be impossible without the death of the caster or the power of a god?"

"Supposedly," Nambung replied with a nod. "But we stopped catching him up on theory earlier this year. Harry has always been a doer, and theory is important for knowing what not to do. But I've seen him do things that magical theory says should be impossible for someone his age and with such limited experience. We've always known magic is more about intent than anything else. My apprentice is one of those lucky ones whose intent can overpower anything else." Rebecca nodded.

"Hell of a fight," Rebecca murmured again. "You've got a good one. Not nearly strong enough to inherit the wolves, but with a full summer of training, he might have a shot if you could garner enough support and if you can appoint an interim head instead of a full new one."

"I know," Nambung said with a small grin. "He's my apprentice, after all. A simple dark lord shouldn't give him too much trouble." Nambung shoved the woman forward. "Let's get moving. You try and run, and your interrogation will be much, much worse." The woman allowed herself to be shoved further and further towards the center of the graveyard. Nambung couldn't care less as he heard the cracks of the stupid mask wearing ideas apparating away. He was mildly relieved to see Akira looking over Akira, an older woman by his side.

"Nambung!" Akira exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Had to track down our mystery culprit for that stunt back in the arena," Nambung said. He grabbed the woman and tossed her to the dirt in front of her. "I figured I'd have her tell us a little bit about what the overall plan was here." The woman started laughing. "Looks like she is ready to talk."

"Our plans are beyond your understanding!" The woman crowed. "It is all complete now. Your doom-" The woman's voice was cut off as Nambung backhanded her into the ground.

"Shut up," the Lord of Lightning intoned, his voice threatening. "You will talk, but after I inspect my heir." He gave Rebecca a look.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Rebecca said mildly. "After all, I need to learn who the girl I am to take on as a student is."

"Her name is Astoria." Harry slowly got to his feet. "Thank you for arriving, Ms. Eagle. It seems your presence was quite fortuitous."

"Hey get me a fight alongside Nambung against a Nundu every week, and I'll come every time," The commonly acknowledged most powerful woman in the world said cheerfully. "So why should I accept her as my student?"

"Besides the fact she can actively access and mold the magic of others?" Harry said, stumbling a little. Akira caught him and gave him a concerned look. "I'm fine, Akira. Just tired, a little drained, and hungry enough to eat a whole hippogriff."

"You are serious?" Dumbledore asked, his face ashen. Harry nodded tiredly. "Lord Peverell, you should have come to me with this." Dumbledore did not need to be prompted to use Harry's formal title. After seeing the fight against Voldemort, there was no doubt in his mind he more than earned it. While Dumbledore had won the fight against Harry with some power to spare, he did not doubt that a second round after Harry recovered would end with him as the loser.

"I didn't want it spreading. Astoria needs serious tutelage and protection, and Ms. Eagle is best suited to it, due to their magic's similarity."

"It's specialty magic?" Rebecca asked. "How young is she?"

"It's latent talent," Harry replied and Rebecca smiled a little. "Turned 12 this year."

"Remarkable," Rebecca said. "I'll take a look."

"That's all I can ask," Harry said, though he could tell from the look on the woman's face that her mind was 95% made up. "Astoria Greengrass. Once we figure out what the plan was, we'll go back to school and I'll introduce you, as well as her parents. I assume you don't want to spend too much time here."

"If she can truly do what you say and she isn't too unpleasant, I'll take her for the summer at least. We'll leave tomorrow," Rebecca told him.

"You are actually ok?" Harry nodded at his master's question. "Ok, then let's get some answers." He shook the woman awake.

"Ah, it has almost begun," the woman muttered.

"What was the plan?" Nambung asked.

"It is almost time!" The woman cried. Suddenly Voldemort's body jerked. "It is coming!" Every wand was on the dead man, and cries of shock rang out as the body folded in on itself a dark hole appearing.

"Good god," Rebecca muttered. "Is that what I think it is?"

"A rift to the beyond!" The woman exclaimed in excitement. "It is complete! Those that were banished in eons past will return and cleanse the world of the unworthy!."

"How is this possible," Nambung couldn't believe his eyes.

"When the boy survived the bane, we knew he was special. Nothing can save the soul once infected. Unless another soul existed in his body. We had long suspected the dark lord used nefarious purposes to survive. It did not take long to find a horcrux and confirm our suspicions. But how had the boy survived?" The woman taunted.

"Even with two souls, the bane should have taken the dominant one, leaving him with a blackened soul. "But he emerged pure. Only the assistance of a divine being could have made the trade, transferring the bane to his other soul. And with the assistance of the divine, and knowledge of the horcrux, it was all too easy to know the boy, if faced with his true foe, would summon the power of the gods and use lightbringer to end the dark lord."

"It was a simple potion, and even simpler spell!" The woman revealed. "Yes, he has perished, which I care not for. But once his body was consumed by the power, the spell took the excess power and used the power of the divine to rip open the barrier holding the enemies that the gods and monsters of old banished. That is our brotherhood's mission."

"What is this?" Dumbledore asked.

"I had thought it a rumor," Akira confessed. "Headmaster, there are rumors and stories that when gods walked the earth, some of them tried to incite a rebellion, to kill all their creations, destroy the planet, and start again. A giant war between gods, monsters, and truly great beings ensured, and those who sought destruction were banished."

"Well, the existence of this damn thing suggests it is not rumors anymore," Rebecca said. "Unbelievable. Even if there are no gods beyond this veil, the power of the rift will consume, much like a black hole. It is already unstable in this realm." Indeed, sparks and jolts of power were pouring off the hole. "I need to get John."

"It's unnecessary," Harry said, staring at the hole. "The hole is created by magic, right? Well, lucky for us, we happen to have someone who can short circuit magic with some lightning, don't we?" Nambung stared at his apprentice. "You always said that you need to think creatively about how to use magic. This is the chance to do that, right master?"

"You can do that?" Rebecca asked. Nambung nodded cautiously. She stepped up against the hole, and the next bolt of magic jumping off the hole was absorbed into her hand. "I'll handle the excess energy. You power up and hit that thing with everything you got." Another bolt of magic was subsumed into her body. "But hurry," she panted. "The power pouring off this is toxic and crazy powerful. I can't hold it for long."

"Even with the power of the Lord of Lightning, the hole cannot be closed, not now that it has been stabilized," the Vengeful Brotherhood member proclaimed.

"Harry's right," Nambung disagreed. "It's a magical reaction. I can short circuit anything if I hit it with enough power."

"The hole has stabilized now," the woman shouted. "Only if the hole is stopped from both sides can it be closed. You have already lost."

"Dumbledore, if you could have Fawkes bring Hermione, Neville and Fleur," Harry said tiredly. He reached into a space in front of him and pulled out a black potion. He chugged it in one motion and gagged. It was truly disgusting.

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked, and Akira gasped.

"Harry you can't!" Akira exclaimed.

"Just do it," Harry commanded, and Dumbledore allowed his phoenix to flash away. "I might not have Nambung's power, but I should have enough to close the hole from the other side, the unstable side."

"No, Harry!" Akira cried. "There is no way you would survive, let alone come back."

"Everyone is put on this earth for a reason," Harry said with a smile. "For so long, I thought mine was to end Voldemort. But it turns out I was dead wrong. He was just a step in my journey. I'm here in this exact moment, with just enough power and knowledge to hit the unstable side of the rift with enough lightning to break it."

"Harry, I'll do it," Nambung pleaded, now fully realizing what his heir was proposing. "You can stay here."

"No, for a whole host of reasons," Harry told his master. "For one, the power needed to destroy the rift on the side it was formed is beyond me. But you can do it. Besides, the world needed you far more than it needs me. I'm here to do one thing. Voldemort and all the consequences from him are my responsibility."

"Harry, angry and vengeful monsters and gods may very well be beyond that hole. It is an entirely different universe. There is no way to know what you may face," Akira interjected. Nambung's head whipped up.

"Rebecca, you better be damn ready to hold that portal a little while," Nambung shouted. The woman just grunted, and everyone felt her power increase. Nambung tilted his head to the sky and howled with incredible volume. Everyone was shaken by the action. It took only a few moments before people began to start popping into the graveyard. The wolves had been summoned by the pack leader.

"Good lord," a man said, staring at the hole. The Russian accent was unmistakable, and Akira recognized the man as Yuri Oslorsky, the third ranking member of the wolves. "What is that?"

"No time for speedy explanations," Nambung growled and Yuri nodded. "We need three members from the true mastery committee here now. Drag them from their homes, and bring them here now!" The soon to be magical premier of Korea barked. "Yuri, take Anko and Simon. Simeon, you are with Ike and Aimi. Min, with Aiesling and Mi-sook. Move now!" The members of the wolves vanished without a sound.

"What are you planning?" Nambung whirled to see Takashi standing there, a curious look on his face. "Don't look at me like that. I heard the call of the wolf. I wager every wizard on the continent worth a damn did. What are you up to?"

"Akira noted that this damn portal that his stupid brother intends to go through is an entirely different universe," Nambung explained. "Assuming he is right, there is a way we can make sure Harry has a chance to get back, and maybe divert him to a safer alternate universe."

"The true mastery test," Takashi breathed. Dumbledore almost jumped at that. "Harry is nowhere near ready."

"It's the only chance he has," Nambung said.

"What in the world is the true mastery test?" McGonagall asked Akira.

"I don't know for sure," Akira confessed. "No one truly knows. It is a trial of magic. No one is allowed to discuss what happens in their test. Those who survive are bestowed a crest of mastery, which, when activated, can give them incredible powers. Nambung and Rebecca both have one. But almost everyone who takes the test perish. There are only 21 crest holders right now, and the success rate is stunningly low. Nambung took it when he was 27, much stronger than what Harry is now. He said it was the hardest thing he had ever done, and he has done some hard stuff."

"But it gives me a fighting chance," Harry said. The flash of fire indicated the return of Fleur, Hermione, and Neville as requested. "Excuse me." He disengaged from Akira's supporting arm and moved to the new arrivals.

"Harry, what is that?" Hermione shrieked, staring in horror at the expanding black hole. "It looks like a black hole."

"It is, in a way," Harry said. "But don't worry, my master and I are going to take care of it. But I might be gone for a while. So I need to speak to you all." Harry sighed, and put his hands on Neville's shoulder. "Nev, I'll need you to look after Britain for me. Train hard with Akira over the summer, and you can come close to the potential I've always seen in you. Learn from your grandmother, and live up to the Longbottom name. Britain is my home, and it will need new leaders if it is to survive the coming trials, and if anyone can do it, you can."

"You are Harry Potter!" Neville exclaimed. "If anyone was going to lead England forward, its you. I know you hate the idea, but Potter and Longbottom always stand together." Harry just patted Neville on the shoulder.

"It has to you, Neville. I'm sure Cedric, Daphne, and Susan will help. But I asked you here, not them."

"Harry, you are talking like you are never coming back." Harry just smiled and turned to the two girls. Then he made a decision that would have been impossible even 5 months earlier. "Fleur, is ok if I speak to Hermione alone. I'd like to speak to you last." Fleur's eyes shined at that, and she nodded. Harry noticed out of the corner of his eye that Fleur moved to talk to Nambung. Harry put a hand on Hermione and gently guided her away.

"Harry, what in the world is going on?"

"You see that black hole?" Hermione nodded. "It's a literal rift in the universe. There are crazy dangerous things on it. My master and I can short circuit the magic and close the hole. The problem is that far more power is needed on this side, more than I could provide even if I was at full strength. I took a slightly dangerous potion that should give me enough power to close the breach on the other side."

"What does that mean?" Hermione asked, tears falling from her eyes. "How will you get back here?"

"My master came up with a way to ground me to the universe. I think I will be sent to an alternate universe and complete some form of task, but if I do that, I will be able to come back. It will be dangerous, but I think I can do it."

"Harry!" Hermione hugged him fiercely. "That sounds crazy."

"Hey, you are best friend of Harry Potter!" Harry replied with a laugh. "You should know that crazy is my middle name. I'm the guy that beat Voldemort 4 times, fought a basilisk with a sword, and won the tri-wizard tournament at 14. If it isn't crazy or dangerous, it isn't even worth doing."

"4 times?" Hermione asked. "I know as a baby, 1st year…"

"Oh yeah, I faced him in the chamber second year." Hermione gasped at that revelation, as Harry had always been a little evasive about the events of the chamber. "Long story. And then he was resurrected tonight. I got him good though." Harry smiled. "That reminds me, when you go back to Hogwarts, tell Dumbledore to check Snape's death eater mark. It should be good for gone."

"Snape's a death eater?"

"Dumbledore says he was, but I don't know if I believe that," Harry admitted. "Actually, his death might be one of the best things for the pureblood movement…" He trailed off. "Stay close to Neville for a little while, ok? You better be safe when I get back." Hermione gave him another bone breaking hug. "I'll miss you like crazy."

"You promise you'll come back?"

"It might take a little while, but of course," Harry lied. "This world is far too much fun." He slowly eased of her hug. "I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun new spells for me to learn when we get back." Tears were streaming from his best friends face, and he saw Fleur was still talking to Nambung. A glance at the hole saw sweat streaming down Rebecca's face. He gave Hermione one more quick hug. "I love you, Hermione."

Fleur watched Harry walk off with Hermione and headed over to the man who seemed to be running everything. He was talking hurriedly with two men, and then the two both seemed to summon giant metal pillars and start driving them into the ground. Fleur tapped Harry's master on the shoulder.

"Ms. Delacour?" Nambung gave her a glance. "Give me one second." He drew his wand and Fleur watched in detached horror and Nambung bound the woman in front of him and drove a stake through her legs. "Don't want her screwing this up, if we actually manage to pull this off."

"I understand." And Fleur did understand. This man loved Harry, and it seemed like her was attempting something of intense danger. When he spoke to Neville, he seemed to be resigned to not coming back. "Can I ask what is going on?" Nambung looked hesitant. "Please, I just want to understand why my boyfriend seems intent on throwing his life away while all his friends and I spent an entire year trying to make him value his own life and make him understand we all need him."

"Fine, I guess," Nambung finally replied reluctantly. "See that hole?" Fleur nodded. "Harry needs to go to the other side so this world isn't consumed by raw magical energy and angry gods." That honestly seemed par for the course for his crazy life. Sometimes, Fleur didn't know how Hermione put up with him. "Normally, he wouldn't have a chance to come back."

"But you will create a way back?"

"I certainly hope so. It will be dangerous, but if he gets lucky, Harry can do it. I've never met anyone with his mental strength" Three people appeared without a sound, holding a man in a bathrobe. Right behind them another group appeared, and Fleur recognized the woman who had visited earlier in the year holding another old man. "Looks like Harry is ready to talk to you." Fleur nodded and slipped her hand into Harry's and wandered a few feet away.

"Hey flower," Harry said with a sad smile. "I'm going to have to go away for a while. Saving the world and all that stuff."

"I know," Fleur replied, the same sad smile on her face. "It's a real shame. I had great plans for this summer, and I was awfully excited to be training with Remus this summer." Harry's confusion was clear so see. "Oh, do you not understand?"

"Understand what? Fleur, you should still train with Remus. I'll do my best to come back, but I think you know that it isn't likely."

"And that is why you won't say those three words? Because you plan to say something stupid and unnecessary, like not to wait for you, and to live a happy life?" The guilty look on Harry's face was the only answer she needed. "You are going to a different dimension, yes? If you think I am letting you out of my sight so some random skank from another dimension can sink her claws into you, you've got another thing coming, Mr. Potter. I've put far too much work into you to let you go now. I'm coming with you."

"Absolutely not!" Harry yelled. Fleur just stood there steadfastly. "Fleur, even if they manage to set up the test, you can't accompany me. Its might very well be a one-way trip. I have no idea what will be there. We might not even be able to use magic." Fleur just shrugged. "Darling, you are being unreasonable."

The final group appeared in front of Nambung. He knew his wolves would come through. Stealing three members of the true mastery committee from their homes at night with no warning was an impossible task. But his wolves were the best of the best, and yet again they had proved in and came through in a huge way. He felt a surge of pride at them, and another surge of sorrow when he realized this was the last thing they would do together. But they had done their part, and now it was up to him.

"This is highly irregular, even for you," the oldest man said. "You know we must go through extensive preparations before opening up a task. A true master must vouch for him."

"Nambung is a true master," Takashi reminded the old man. "He can vouch for the boy."

"Yes, of course," the man quickly replied. "But it takes days of preparation for a reason. The grounding pillars to tether the participant to this reality-"

"Are already in the ground," Nambung said. He rose his hand to cut off whatever the next complaint would be. "Look, I know this is irregular, but I'm more than prepared to give compensation." He reached into the bag at his hip and withdrew his final three tokens. Two of the three members looked at them hungrily, while the third who had raised the first few objections looked apprehensive. "One token for each of you, and the location of a time keeper."

"That is a princely gift," the man without avarice in his eyes said.

"Chung-hee, just accept it," the bathrobe man snapped.

"Even if I wanted to, we do not have the raw power to alter a hole like that without preparation."

"You could use this." Takashi held up a sword. Nambung recognized the sword that had killed the dark lord what felt like an eternity ago. It was radiating insane power. Apparently, Harry had somehow managed to get a divine weapon into this reality. He really was ridiculous.

"That would work," the third man who had not spoken yet. "Chung-hee, if you do not do this, we will get someone else."

"Fine," Chung-hee snapped. "Let us begin." The three men each moved to one of the pillars in the ground and began chanting.

"Master, could you please explain to Fleur that she cannot join me in this endeavor?" Harry said with exasperated look on his face.

"She is willing to go with you?" Nambung had a shocked look on his face. He had told Harry to give up on the girl. Maybe he had misjudged her.

"I will go wherever my love goes," Fleur stated.

"Well, only one person can be tied to test," Nambung stated, and Harry smirked. "But there is no reason she can't go with you and assist. I don't think anyone has been crazy enough to go with someone. Might not be a bad idea."

"Master!" Harry protested.

"You are embarrassing yourself love," Fleur said simply. She looked over at Takashi, who examined her curious. "Hayashi-san-"

"Takashi, please."

"Takashi then," Fleur said, ignoring the request her father had made of her all those years ago. "Please explain to my mother and father. My mother will explain it to my sister, but do apologize to her. But my present and future is with this foolish man, even if he doesn't accept it."

"Fleur, love, you cannot do this." Harry pleaded. Fleur leaned in and gave him a deep kiss, and Harry responded with fervent intensity. "I must go where you cannot follow." As he drew back the men stopped chanting and the blade in the center of the triangle they stood in began to glow. Harry saw a glow of a similar color begin to emanate from the hole.

"It is time," the men said in one voice. "Send forward the one who will undertake the task." Harry ignored Fleur who followed him, and pressed his hand to the pommel of the sword. He felt a searing pain in chest. "He has accepted the brand. Go forth, challenger."

"Time to go my love," Fleur said simply. "Let's get this done so we can look at that wound." Harry just sighed and strode towards the black hole, now glowing an indescribable color.

"Are you really ready for this?" Harry asked one final time, and Fleur gave a tense nod "But I am not." Harry gave Fleur a hard shove, sending her skidding back. "Be safe, my love."

He started to jump through the hole, and with a strength that she didn't know she had, Fleur threw herself at Harry's back, wrapping an arm around Harry's leg. Harry tried to stop himself, but the pull of the hole was too strong, and he and a smiling Fleur were dragged in.

"Gods above," Minerva breathed in shock at the actions of the woman who truly loved her grandson.

"Close that damn hole!" Rebecca howled as the glow disappeared and the power of the hole grew.

"Get clear!" Nambung yelled. He pulled every inch of power into himself and put his hands in front of him. The kick back from the huge blast of lightning sent him skidding back, and he crashed into a tombstone. But every eye was on the hole as the lightning crackled, and with a huge beam shooting up into the sky, the hole closed.

"No!" The bound woman cried. "What have you done!"

"First to deal with you." Nambung walking towards her, his face impassive. "And you will pay for that." It was over too quick as he snapped her neck. "We will have funeral with full honors, and tell no one what happened here!" Nambung demanded. "Harry is gone, and we will honor his sacrifice. Takashi, you will explain it to Fleur's parents, and then block them from speaking on it." Nambung staked off angrily.

As he walked off, he couldn't hide a small smile and his body straightened. "Well, Ms. Delacour, that was beyond impressive." The twinkle in the man's eye would have put Dumbledore's to shame. "I don't think I have ever been so wrong about someone." He even chuckled a little. "I look forward to seeing you both again, so I can apologize in person.

"Powers above, watch over him," Minerva said, sinking to her knees in prayer. "Watch over my flesh and blood, keep him safe." Akira helped her to his feet, his eyes wet with tears. "I'll wait for your return with baited breath."

"Minerva,"

'You don't know him like I do," Minerva snapped. "He is Harry Potter, my flesh and blood. He will return." She walked off, and Akira was left alone staring at the space Harry had vanished into.

"I truly hope so."

Ending OF FINAL ARC: June 24th