Chapter Seven
Harry turned and saw Nagini next to Voldemort's wrapped body. She was around 20 feet long and she was staring straight at Harry.
"Yes, Nagini, I killed him before he could kill me. You are free from him now. You no longer have a master," Harry told her in Parseltongue.
"You are a speaker like my master, but I should kill you for killing my master."
"Are you sure you want to attempt that, Nagini? Since I am powerful enough to easily defeat your master, don't you think your effort will be wasted in the attempt? Killing you will not make me happy. Unlike your master, you've never wronged me. He killed my parents when I was just a baby and others I care about. I couldn't let him live."
"And now you will not live. My master would want me to kill you," she said as she made up her mind, moved quickly, and came at Harry.
She had seen that he didn't have his wand out and knew that she was fast enough to take him down before he could get it out and cast a spell. She then struck at him, moving her huge body faster than one would think she could. However, she wasn't quite fast enough.
Harry's hand came up and a cutting spell took her head off. The head went right and the body went left missing Harry completely. With a wave of his hand both parts disappeared from existence.
Dobby returned a little after that with another elf.
"Dobby only found another elf. No one else is in the manor or outside the manor, Harry Potter, sir."
"Excellent! Then I guess we should go."
"D-d-d-did young master kill the d-dark lord?" the new elf asked.
"This is Toby, Harry Potter, sir."
"Yes I did, Toby, and we'll be taking his body with us. I also killed his snake. I've already disposed of her."
"Your new master is definitely the greatest wizard ever," he said to Dobby.
Dobby just nodded smiling while Harry just shook his head before continuing.
"I suspect, Toby, that if you know where Mrs. Malfoy is currently staying, you can go tell her something from me. Tell her that the new head of the Black family has cleansed her manor of the dark lord, should she wish to live here again."
"Toby will pass on the message," he said excitedly.
"Thank you, Toby."
"Now, I wonder if I should go back to the train or to Hogwarts?" Harry asked himself out loud.
"The Great Harry Potter should go back to Hogwarts," Dobby insisted. "The headmaster has already sent your friends there."
"Hogwarts it is then! Can you take me and the stiff there at the same time?" Harry asked him.
"Dobby will have no problem, Harry Potter, sir."
"Let's go straight to the front of the Great Hall in front of the professor's table then."
oOo
At Hogwarts, all the students were being kept in the Great Hall until they had everything settled. The sorting had not yet begun, nor had they eaten yet. The first years were brought in and told to just sit at the end of the four house tables for now.
The professors were still busy with the train incident along with the aurors who were also trying to figure out where Harry Potter went. The professors were giving it some thought too.
Harry's friends were worried because they didn't know what happened to him. Cassie was not doing well at all, even though she felt her magic assuring her he was fine. Being comforted by her magic wasn't enough though. She wanted to see him and touch him. She wanted to kiss him and hug him. She loved him. She realized that now. She was in love with Harry Potter.
Fate and magic had brought them together and no one better try and separate them because Cassie was not putting up with that.
If he didn't show up soon, she was going to have a break down. She knew it. She had to see him now!
CRACK!
Suddenly there was a loud noise of apparition at the front of the Great Hall. They all looked and there stood Harry with that elf named Dobby. That elf sure got around, Cassie was thinking. At their feet was a white sheet wrapped around something. It looked like a body.
Pandemonium broke out.
A cannon blast was heard at the front so everyone stopped talking and looked toward the headmaster who still had his wand raised.
"Please be seated and stay quiet so I can talk to Mr. Potter," he told them.
You could have heard a pin drop because everyone wanted to hear what Harry Potter had to say.
"Harry, my dear boy, I am so relieved you are okay and back at Hogwarts."
"Me too. It's good to be back, sir."
"Can you tell us who or what is in that sheet?"
"Just a moment, sir." Harry turned to his elf and spoke quietly. "Dobby, you can go for now, but I need a favor first, please. Go to the Hogwarts Express and to the expanded cabin I was using. Collect my rune stones from the four corners on the floor. I'll call later to get them back or if I need you."
"Yes sir, Harry Potter, sir," he said then popped away as Harry turned half the way toward Dumbledore.
"Inside this sheet," he said loud enough for all to hear, "are the remains of Voldemort, also known as Tom Riddle."
The quietness left the building as everyone erupted in noise of celebration. Draco Malfoy checked his left arm and discovered that his new tattoo was completely gone. Snape checked his arm and saw the same. Eleven Death Eaters in Azkaban had noticed it disappearing earlier too.
Dumbledore turned and sent a patronus out of his wand. He notified Madam Bones that Harry Potter was at Hogwarts now and he brought a dead Voldemort with him. Aurors were needed to take the body back to the Ministry.
It took a while but eventually the noise started tapering off. Someone spoke up and asked if they could see the body.
"I don't think the younger years and even some of the older ones need to see that," Harry answered.
"I've notified the aurors to come get the body," Dumbledore informed all of them. "They will take care of it after they arrive, verify everything, and we'll be able to get on with Hogwarts business."
The kids started murmuring amongst themselves.
"But how, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"I figured out my power," he answered smiling.
Dumbledore's eyebrows raised in surprise at that.
"I'm sure it will be a thrilling tale, Harry. Perhaps, later?"
"You can count on it."
Harry saw Cassie sitting with the first years at the Gryffindor table waiting to be sorted, so he went over to her. She stood up and met him half way. They hugged each other tight when they came together, relieved they were back in each other's arms again. All the tension Cassie had been feeling just left her as she hugged the one she loved.
They then stared into each other's eyes and said at the exact same time, "I love you."
The kiss that followed was one for the ages. They didn't care who was watching them. They just kissed with everything they had. When they stopped kissing finally they just held each other close.
The students were all staring in wonder at Harry Potter and the new girl no one seemed to know. The professors were staring too. Some of the girls were fantasizing about being kissed like that while some of the boys were wishing they could be the one kissing such a beautiful girl.
It was while Harry and Cassie were hugging and whispering back and forth about how much they loved each other, that the aurors showed up.
Dumbledore had a quiet conversation with Madam Bones and then two of the aurors looked under the sheet but did it so only they and the other aurors, plus Dumbledore and some of the professors, could see Tom's face. They all nodded then one of the auror's dropped what looked like a medallion on top of the body and it disappeared via portkey.
Madam Bones turned to Harry as she spoke.
"We'll need Mr. Potter to come with us back to the Ministry to make a statement."
Harry nodded to let them know he understood but then said, "But not until I've witnessed my girlfriend being sorted though."
"I think we can accommodate you, Mr. Potter," Madam Bones told him with a smile.
Professor McGonagall came over with the stool and the hat.
"Why don't we sort Miss Taylor first then handle the first years after that?" she asked. "That will allow you and the aurors to be on your way, Mr. Potter."
"Excellent idea as always, Minerva," Dumbledore said standing up at his podium. "Let's do this right, shall we?"
Then he began like everything was normal, even though Harry and Cassie were standing up entwined in each other's arms in front of everyone and several aurors, including Madam Bones, were still standing in front of the teacher's table.
"We have a transfer student all the way from the United States joining us this year," he continued. "She is entering her sixth year. Her name is Cassie Taylor but she is also the heir to the Davenport family. Come right up and be sorted, Miss Taylor."
Cassie reluctantly left Harry's arms and went up to the stool and sat down while the students were all wondering how Harry Potter met a beautiful American girl and got cozy with her. McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Well, well, well. I rarely get to sort someone older than 11, Miss Taylor-Davenport. You have an interesting mind too. I've sorted many of your family members for hundreds of years, but not lately. For several years actually."
"Only Gryffindor for me, please. It's not a difficult decision," she thought back.
"So you wish to pick your own house? Oh, hang on! What did Mr. Potter say?"
The hat started chuckling out loud so everyone could hear it. They were all wondering what was going on.
"Oh, no you don't, Mr. Potter!" he said to Harry, causing more confusion in the Great Hall.
Harry just chuckled realizing that the hat found out what he said on the train.
"He better not encourage that overgrown bird to do anything to me!" he said so only Cassie could hear. "Oh well. It doesn't really matter. You're a perfect candidate for that house anyway. Better be GRYFFINDOR!" he yelled the house name out loud.
She removed the hat and handed it to McGonagall before heading back to Harry smiling.
"Shall we leave now, Mr. Potter?" asked Madam Bones. "That way they can get on with the rest of the sorting."
"Certainly, Madam Bones."
"Harry, can I come with you?" Cassie asked him quietly after she was back in front of him. "I can't be apart from you again so soon."
"I don't see why not. Give me just a second." Harry looked up at Dumbledore. "Cassie is going to come with me to the Ministry. Can you provide us a portkey back to the castle after Madam Bones has what she needs from me?"
Dumbledore started to ask why Miss Taylor needed to accompany him but figured it was personal and Harry would need to come back anyway, so he acquiesced. He knew they could also take the floo, but once again, it wasn't worth questioning.
"Give me just a second, Harry."
Dumbledore picked up a clean spoon and cast Portus on it as Harry walked up to in front of the podium so he could get it.
"This will take you onto the castle grounds. Tap it with your wand and say 'activate' to trigger it. Be sure and let us know once you two are back in the castle," he told him handing over the spoon.
"Thanks!" he said putting the spoon in his pocket. "We're ready when you are Madam Bones," he said turning to the stern-faced DMLE director.
With that Madam Bones, the aurors, along with Harry and Cassie, who were holding hands, walked out of the Great Hall.
"Could I have all the first years gather up in front of me so we can sort you finally?" asked Professor McGonagall.
Everyone watched as the youngest ones got up from their seats and congregated in a group in front of the professor.
The professor opened her list and was about to call out the first name, when she was interrupted.
"Wait!" she heard. "The hat hasn't sung its song yet!" Then she heard several people agreeing.
McGonagall turned toward the hat which was sitting on top of the stool.
"Well, you're on Hat," she told it.
The hat seemed to look around at everyone, moving itself back and forth on the stool then settled down with a sigh.
It opened its crease, but it didn't sing this time. It made a statement instead.
"Oh, I prepared a song for tonight. I certainly did. I was even looking forward to singing it. However, Mr. Potter changed everything, so my song no longer applies. If I were to sing it now it would take away from the strong message we have already received from Mr. Potter. If you are unsure and wondering what that strong message was then let me share with you this one fact.
"Today, Mr. Potter faced and killed the strongest dark wizard since anyone can remember and rid our world of most of his followers. Ruminate on that for a bit. I'm sure you'll come to several right conclusions.
"For now, let us just be thankful for what Mr. Potter has done and get on with the sorting."
"Well said, Hat," Dumbledore told it.
oOo
It was fairly late by the time Harry and Cassie arrived back on the grounds. They landed about halfway between the gates and the castle. Madam Bones was able to get the information she needed and her report filed.
Tomorrow the magical world was going to explode in celebratory fashion when the news breaks. She had to prepare the DMLE and sub-departments, such as the obliviators, so they would be on alert in case anyone got out of hand.
Harry and Cassie had something else to do. They took their time walking up to the castle.
"Harry, you said on the train that you may have figured out what was causing us to have such a hard time being apart, but wanted to talk about it later. Can we talk about it now?"
Harry stopped their walking and turned to Cassie.
"Yes. I believe that magic is causing this. Since we are both magical, and now we are aware that we both love each other, it makes even more sense."
"Are you saying it's some sort of bond? Bonds aren't real, Harry. They only happen in romance and fantasy novels. The magical world studied this years ago and they determined real bonds don't exist."
"No, I know bonds aren't real. However, I'm quite certain that I'm magic's bitch or chew toy or whatever label you want to put on it. My life has been constantly dictated by magic even before I was born. You've just been caught up in it, I'm afraid."
"Can you explain that please?" she asked confused.
"There was a prophecy given before I was even alive that told of a child that would be born at the end of July who would have to fight the dark lord. The child would be marked as his equal," he said lifting his hair so the scar was revealed. "But the child would have power the dark lord knows not and one would have to kill the other in the end.
"That prophecy caused the dark lord to come after me as a fifteen month old baby. He killed my parents and tried to kill me. That set in motion the events that led up to today.
"I was treated as a slave by my relatives growing up. A child with no rights, no love. Since I reentered the magical world at age 11, I've been forced to face Voldemort over and over again from my first year on.
"In my first year, I had to face a fully grown mountain troll, a giant three-headed Cerberus dog, and a Voldemort possessed professor. In my second year, I had to face giant Acromantula spiders, and a giant basilisk over 60 feet long with only a sword. In my third year, I faced a werewolf and a whole hoard of dementors. In my fourth, I was illegally entered into a tournament meant for adults by an agent of Voldemort. I faced a dragon, magical creatures in the black lake, including trident wielding merman, a sphinx, another giant spider, and a whole host of magical creatures before having to fight Voldemort once again.
"He even used me and my blood at the end of that year to regain himself a body.
"He had my godfather killed and tried to possess me last June in a fight at the Ministry. I ended his life today because I discovered what my power is. I also discovered what motivates me. Before, it was surviving and that even if I can't beat him I would give him a fight he would not soon forget. But then I met you this summer and everything changed.
"I had to beat him. I couldn't give up being with you. It made me work even harder to prepare. It gave me a better purpose.
"Professor Dumbledore once told me that he believed that the power he knows not in the prophecy was love. He explained that Voldemort has no capacity for it. He was so evil, it was completely foreign to him. Dumbledore then told me I had a tremendous capacity for love. I didn't understand that then, since I couldn't remember ever feeling loved or loving someone else.
"I killed those remaining 13 Death Eaters we fought using my wandless magic. I pretty much killed them all at the same time. That made me realize how far I'd come with my ability and I thought for sure that was my unknown power. I even used it to kill Voldemort, so I figured Dumbledore was wrong. My wandless ability is the special power, I was thinking.
"But when I told Voldemort that I came to him because I loved you, my perspective on the power changed. I realized that I only got better because I was motivated by you. I couldn't give you up, because I truly love you.
"Love gave me peace. Love gave me purpose. Love gave me what my life was missing. Love made it all happen.
"Maybe Dumbledore was right after all."
"Then are you disappointed that magic forced you and me together?" she asked worriedly.
"Are you kidding? That's the other thing I figured out. Magic has been treating me like a baby treats a diaper all my life. When it brought you into my life, it was showing me everything I went through was all worth it. That I had endured and now I get my reward.
"That's also how I was more confident facing down Voldemort. I knew the end was near and it was time to really enjoy my gift from magic. I just had to remove him from my life first."
"Gift from magic?" she asked.
"Yes. You are my gift and it's the best gift I've ever been given. Would you like to share your life with me, Cassie?"
All confusion left her face as she stared and smiled at the one she loved.
"As a matter of fact, I would love to do that, Harry," she said, her eyes misty. "Now kiss me."
He did just that…
…and he made it count.
The End