Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
Thank you for the reviews!
Lady Penwrath: no, Ginny and Draco are NOT together! Explanations in this chapter!
Ezmerelda: hmm, any foreshadowing? Thinking of it, maybe one or two hints, but unless you took residence in my head, I don't think one could have guessed it...
SlytherinQueen87: I'm dealing fine with my obsession for centaurs :) As for the number of remaining chapters... I would say at least three more after this one, but maybe a little more. Last time I did an evaluation of this fic, it was supposed to be finished in 22 chapters... :)
The spell had a curious effect. A trembling white line joined Harry's wand with Voldemort and it seemed that there were tendrils going everywhere, reaching for only they knew what. Then the light intensified, enveloping the fallen wizard, and Voldemort stopped twisting and writhing on the ground, almost stunned by the strength of the spell.
"Obliviate?" shrieked Ron, running toward his friend. "This monster killed countless people, your parents and Cedric among them, he tried to kill Ginny and Hermione and all you can do to him is a blasted Obliviate?"
Severus saw the opportunity Hermione had told him of and he turned his head to look at her as she was still holding Draco's body in her arms. She looked up at him and returned his gaze coldly, as if wondering what he was waiting for. He worked his wrist free from Harry's grip and hurried to Voldemort's side. Glassy eyes looked up at him. He knelt by him and supported his head.
"Drink this. It tastes foul and will hurt at the beginning, but you should feel better afterwards."
He uncorked the little vial with his teeth and pressed the opening of the bottle against Voldemort's lips. The dark wizard who had once been the terror of the whole wizard world drank dutifully, like a child, even when he grimaced at the taste. He started again to writhe on the ground, clenching his teeth for not screaming, and, during all the time, Severus looked down at him, his face stony. The shape of the wizard on the floor changed slowly into a young man of about sixteen with jet-black hair as the trashing slowly came to a stop. Black eyes peered up at the Potions Master.
"Hello, Severus."
"Hello, Tom," he replied calmly, wondering what memories exactly Harry had erased.
"Help me to stand up, will you?"
Silently, Severus lent him a hand and prevented him to fall down again when he staggered to remain on his feet.
"Ow!" he murmured. "I have a blasted pounding headache!"
"I'll fetch you a headache reliever in a moment."
"Thank you, Severus," said the young wizard, smiling up at him.
Severus was getting more and more puzzled.
"Tom?" said a new voice. "Tom, is it really you?"
The smile breaking on Tom's face was like someone had lit a light in total darkness.
"Ginny!"
Two strides forward and Tom closed his arms around the young witch.
"Ginny, love, are you alright?" he asked anxiously. "I don't remember what just happened but it seems as if there was a fight of some sort…"
She gave him a luminous smile.
"Everything's fine, now that you're back. I missed you so much."
He tightened his arms around her.
"I will never leave you again, I promise."
Severus surreptitiously pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He wasn't. Words pronounced almost two months before came back to his memory:
"Hell, I'd even look for dark spells to make him become Tom Riddle again so you could have him and leave me alone!"
He looked at Hermione in horror. Had she dabbled in Dark Arts? She was currently laying Draco's head on the cold ground and trying to leave inconspicuously, oddly followed by Firene, who hadn't his regal stance anymore. In fact, the lord of the unicorns seemed ashamed and discouraged. He slipped out of the Great Hall without anyone noticing, the gazes being on Tom Marvolo Riddle, who had his arms wrapped around Ginny Weasley.
Severus went to Harry, who still hadn't moved, as if stunned by the repercussion of his own spell, and tapped on his shoulder.
"What on earth did you use to replace his memories?"
"Ask Hermione. She knows more about them than me. After all, she created them herself."
Severus risked a glance toward Hermione. She was standing near the doors, alone, and she was looking at Tom and Ginny with the satisfaction of someone having successfully completed a hard task.
"I thought you liked Miss Weasley yourself, Potter," he said gruffly.
"Like a sister, sir. I can't understand for the life of me why she loves Vol… Tom, but if it can make her happy, so be it."
The wistful tone of Harry, the evident joy of Tom and Ginny and a strange longing he couldn't name brought a pang of loneliness in Severus's heart. He looked again at Hermione; this time, she was looking at him. He clenched his fists when he noticed the expressionless gaze. Then she turned away and left the Great Hall. Voldemort was no more and she had just left, silently, as if nothing had happened.
While Voldemort had been suffering of the effects of the narwhal tusk – now lying uselessly on the ground, next to Draco – the members of the Order who were present – like Minerva, Remus, Tonks, the Weasley family – had gathered the wands of the Death Eaters and kept them under close watch. More than one looked dumbfounded by the outcome of the confrontation. Nagini had been stunned and was hidden behind a rank of centaurs.
"I guess it means Hermione is the true Heir?" ventured Viktor quietly.
Severus shrugged, staring at the centaurs. Several people were imitating him, as if they only realised who had come to their help. Albus cleared his throat.
"Magorian, ah… I would like to thank–"
"There is no need, human," interrupted the proud centaur. "We came as a favour to Firene, lord of the unicorns, not for any of you, except the two who are Firene's children."
Severus sighed inwardly.
"Firene's daughter just left, Magorian. She thanked you earlier. Well, you and Bane. I am the other one."
"You are Firene's daughter's soul mate?" asked Bane with a snort. "How can it be? You were once one of them" – indicating the Death Eaters – "and you reek of darkness. Why would Firene's daughter choose you?"
"That's what everybody would like to know," muttered Viktor, half-jokingly, half-bitterly.
"We are bound for centuries past and centuries to come."
Magorian nodded in understanding before looking around.
"Our task is done. We will not stay here any longer."
The centaurs began to leave the Great Hall, Bane sighing in relief. Terry stepped forward as Magorian was turning to leave also.
"Wait! We owe you for today. If ever you need anything from us, do come. We will be glad to answer your call."
Bane turned around, his eyes filled with contempt.
"You are humans!" he spat out. "What would we ever need from you?"
Terry didn't lose his calm.
"Sometimes, even the greatest need someone smaller."
A red-haired centaur came by Bane's side.
"He speaks the truth," he said with a deep sorrowful voice. "Who are you, human?"
"I am Firene's daughter's brother."
Bane snorted again.
"Come, Ronan. We spent already too long here."
Magorian looked at Terry for a long time.
"I will remember your offer, human," he said finally. "And my herd will remember it also. I hope for you that you know how to keep your word."
Terry didn't even deign to notice the insult and silence reigned as the centaurs exited the Great Hall.
"You are wise, Terry Boot," said the calm voice of Firenze.
As they looked around, they noticed that the centaurs had taken Nagini with them.
"Let's hope Hermione erased all memories of Nagini from Tom's mind," murmured Albus concernedly.
Hagrid winked at Harry, who had heard Albus's comment.
"Don' yeh worry. They will leave it at my door, yeh'll see."
Harry looked dumbfounded and nodded weakly. Severus walked to Terry and grabbed him by the elbow. The Ravenclaw turned his head to look at him, distrust in his brown eyes.
"Go after Hermione," he instructed quietly. "Keep an eye on her, will you?"
Terry's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, sir," he mumbled before leaving the room in a hurry.
"Admirable," whispered Viktor in Severus's ear. "I never thought I would see the day you would send young Terry after Hermione."
Severus shrugged, a scowl on his face.
"Sometimes, one needs to swallow one's pride. Hermione's safety is all that counts now."
Slowly they moved toward Albus, but Ginny stood in front of them, her hand safely tucked in Tom's.
"Thank you, Harry, for Tom," she said, her heart in her eyes.
He frowned slightly and shook his head.
"You need to thank Hermione, she did it all," he replied curtly.
"And you, Professor Snape–"
"Thank Hermione," Severus replied with the same tone as Harry's.
Tom eyed him curiously.
"I don't know what this Hermione did for me, but you will have to explain it to me someday, Severus."
Severus looked in the dark eyes of the youth who only minutes ago had been the most feared wizard of the world.
"Remember not to use my given name when we are not alone, Tom."
The young wizard grinned unrepentantly.
"Sorry, cousin. I just have a hard time calling you Professor Snape, but I promise I'll try my best. Come, Ginny."
As Tom and Ginny were leaving the Great Hall, Severus sighed audibly.
"I wish I knew what Hermione did exactly to his memories."
"So do I," murmured Harry, still looking puzzled.
Albus came to them. Quickly, Severus explained the nature of the potion – Harry's eyes darkened when he said that the base of the potion was Hermione's blood – and its effects. Though he knew it should have restored Voldemort to the wizard he was before beginning to dose himself of unicorn blood and Nagini's venom, he was still quite surprised by the fact that the person he had reverted to was the same one as the one trapped in the diary – if he were to believe Harry's word.
"Hermione," muttered Harry. "Remember what she said to Ginny?"
Actually, Severus remembered perfectly well, since he had thought of the same time only minutes earlier.
"I'm surprised you remember this, Potter," he drawled. "You usually need her to remind you of something."
Harry smirked.
"Hearing Hermione speak of turning to Dark Arts is something I will remember for a long time."
"And what about your Obliviate spell? I thought the prophecies, no matter how much I hate the thing, said you were to kill him."
"Hmm, I think I can explain some things," intervened Albus. "If I'm not mistaken, it rather says 'defeat' and that the two of them can't live together in the same world. I would say the prophecies are fulfilled. It seems that Harry's spell truly erased any memory of Voldemort from Tom's mind."
Harry nodded.
"If I understood correctly Hermione, Tom has no idea of pure-blood domination and has never heard about the name Voldemort. I think that in fact, during the spell, it tapped into the Headmaster's memories of Tom Riddle as a student, into yours, Professor Snape, of Voldemort and into Ginny's of the young man who had talked to her through the diary. She combined the three of them in the short time my spell was connected to Voldemort and she modified his personality completely, probably setting also the basis for your reversing potion."
Severus was speechless and could only admire the thorough thinking behind a seemingly basic spell. Viktor looked stunned as well and Albus seemed only thoughtful.
"The Child with the four bloods will bring the world to a new dawn and Salazar's Heir will rise in the light, taking his rightful place, and defeat the Fraud. Well, Severus, it seems our Hermione did force you to step into the light."
Severus shook his head.
"She did all the work. Potter and I only had to follow her instructions."
"Don't belittle your work. You thought of taking some of her blood, you managed to get some of Nagini's venom, you created the potion and you speared Voldemort with the narwhal tusk. Each of you did what you had to do and you did it well. Now, Severus, you will have to stop hiding in the darkness."
Severus sighed and rubbed the ridge of his nose wearily.
"And I will have to think of a new life to lead."
By his side, Viktor started slightly, the same idea probably propping into his head. Albus shook his head sadly as Harry was peering at the two wizards with curiosity.
Both Viktor and Severus were saved from giving any explanation as Terry entered the Great Hall, alone. Severus frowned immediately.
"Where is she?"
"Asleep in her dormitory. I cast a charm on her so she would rest. She should awake on her own, feeling a little calmer."
He glanced quickly in Severus's direction.
"I think we need to do something before she takes drastic measures. She seems to believe that her role here is over."
Severus scowled and Harry looked worried. Albus nodded.
"I was afraid of this. Our Hermione, despite her qualities, had never really felt like she belongs here and now that she is the Founders' Heir, she is even more powerful… thus even more alone."
Severus snorted indignantly and Albus smiled slightly.
"Or so she thinks," he amended. "Now, how did you know about restraining Miss Weasley?" he asked, directing his question to Terry.
The young Ravenclaw looked surprised.
"Hermione told me, naturally. She knew Ginny cared for Tom, so she assumed that she would do something if she saw Voldemort in pain. This whole thing between Tom and Voldemort is confusing," he added, furrowing his brow.
Ron came to them, frowning.
"I think you should explain to everybody what happened," he said. "Obviously, there are people who don't know the relation between You-Know-Who and Tom Riddle. They don't understand what happened and they are beginning to wonder what to do with the Death Eaters. Especially Malfoy."
Albus glanced at Lucius, whose eyes were still staring at Draco's body lying on the floor.
"Losing one's only son can do that sometimes," he said softly.
He discreetly made his way to the Head Table and waited patiently as the conversations carried on. He heard about the centaurs and their insolent arrogance – Firenze was looking definitely ill at ease, though he seemed to find really amusing that they didn't realise that he, as a centaur, was listening to them – and also the reason why they had come to their help when it was obvious that they despised humans. Almost everybody had been surprised by the entrance of Firene and none understood too well what it was about between Hermione and the unicorn. Albus had not seen fit to share the news with the Order and he sighed when thinking of all the explanations he was due. He frowned slightly; this could wait until the Death Eaters were dealt with.
Speaking of them, the defenders were wondering what to do with Voldemort's followers. They hadn't realised yet that Voldemort was no more. He was just a memory and yet, even not in the mind of he who had created the dark wizard. He chuckled in his beard.
"Oh Tom," he murmured almost affectionately. "You were always so obsessed with having a name wizards would fear to speak and now, you don't even remember this very name! It's almost as if Voldemort never existed, except for the memories of your tortures…"
He cleared his throat and the discussions died around while everybody looked at him expectedly.
"My dear friends, I have some good news. As the prophecies have foretold it, Lord Voldemort has finally been defeated under the efforts of Harry Potter, Severus Snape and Hermione Granger."
A perfect silence welcomed those words, as if they had been used for so long to the war that they couldn't believe it was finally over.
"Nevertheless, as there is no body to display to prove it, I expect some people to doubt my word, the same way some doubted it twenty years ago when I said that he wasn't dead. Yet I repeat, Lord Voldemort is nothing more than a memory," he said, inwardly smiling at the private joke.
Only Viktor, Severus, Harry and, strangely, Terry – Albus was beginning to wonder what exactly the young Ravenclaw knew – reacted to his last words, a single glance they exchanged. The others would maybe come to realise what it meant when they would understand exactly what spell Harry had used.
"At the same time, the defeat of Lord Voldemort brought a dear friend back into our ranks. I'm speaking naturally of Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Minerva's lips tightened. Hagrid shuffled his feet, looking down and mumbling about Tom, none of it sounding nice, but after all, Tom had framed Hagrid and it was unlikely that the half-giant had forgotten it.
"For those of you wondering who is Tom Riddle, he's a distant cousin of Severus and, if I'm to believe what I saw earlier, the fiancé of Miss Ginevra Weasley."
It was Neville's turn to look down and shuffle his feet. Even though he had known that Ginny had never meant to stay with him, it hurt to be dismissed so casually. She hadn't said a word to him, not even that they were through; she had just run unto Tom's arms. For the first time ever maybe, Severus felt sorry for the young wizard. He knew that Ginny had treated him callously even when Neville had only shown kindness to her.
Slowly, everybody realised what Albus's words meant and they burst into cheers and celebration. Hermione never came back to participate.