Final Confrontation: Parts 4-Epilogue
The Whole Story~ Edited 2
I stood watching Harry as he slept the first sound sleep he'd had in days. He looked so peaceful, so relaxed. I wondered how he could sleep so deeply in a time of such danger.
I floated above him and tried not to think of what could happen. I didn't want him to die, not yet. He hadn't really had a chance to live. Even after all the predictions I still held out a hope that order would be restored without too much bloodshed. That Harry would meet Voldemort alone without anyone else being involved in the battle and that he would survive this battle as he had countless others.
Harry stirred and I was just wondering what had troubled his sleep when I felt the presence of dark magic in the room. It was like a cold wind on my shoulder and chilled me to the bone.
"Voldemort…" James hissed.
"Harry, wake up Voldemort…"
I never got to finish my sentence because at that moment Voldemort appeared right in front of me blocking me from Harry. Laughing manically Voldemort grabbed Harry from where he slept and Apparated away again before James or I could do or say anything.
"Where could Voldemort be taking him?" I asked no one in particular.
"Hogwarts… It's under attack!" James cried, his eyes wide and staring, as his ghostly image wavered a moment.
I suddenly felt a surge in power as the protections around the school that we were keyed to flared. I shuddered as something impacted against the magic shields breaking them down with the impact of a sledgehammer. I looked back at James and saw he looked like I felt. We Apparated to Hogwarts immediately wondering what we would find when we arrived.
Harry awoke to the muffled sounds of screams and clashing swords. The air around him was hot and heavy with smoke as if a large bonfire was burning nearby. He lay there in confusion trying to give his memory time to catch up with his body. Then he heard something, which made him sit bolt upright. It was the voice of Voldemort, demanding the surrender of Hogwarts.
"How…?" Harry willed his dazed mind into alterness, straining to catch the distant words that were being exchanged
"There's nothing to be gained by resisting me. I already have Potter and soon he will die. When that happens all hope is ended for his power shall make me invincible. Surrender now and I'll spare you the agony of a slow death. You have one hour."
Harry's heart beat in his chest then he heard a far away voice reply with defiance, "We do not need you hour to decide. We choose to fight! If you take this castle it will be because every one of us lies dead in its defense."
Harry heard the sound of lightening striking the rock walls of the castle then and an explosion.
"Then die a slow and painful death!"
Harry heard the sound of battle intensify. He needed to be out there helping them. He rose and for the first time noticed that he was in a tent of some kind. The dark material of it muffled the sounds around him. The next thing he noticed was that he still had both the sword and his wand. Not really caring if there were guards around the tent or not Harry ran outside and got a lungful of smoke. He coughed and then looked around him. It was Hogwarts all right but it was so changed that Harry barely recognized it. For a moment he thought he was still trapped in some evil, dementor-induced dream.
A good one third of the castle was nothing more then smoldering rubble making the part that still stood look grotesquely out of place and it was swarming with the army of Voldemort. Harry saw the light of wand shooting off spells through the smoke and haze that cloaked the battlefield the grounds had become. Fear assailed him again but he told it to take a long walk. He began to run toward the castle, intent on helping the defenders where he could. He saw indistinct shapes all around him but whether they were friend or foe he couldn't tell. He continued toward the castle without stopping to find out.
When he got close enough, he saw a small knot of students making a stand on the front steps of the school. Dark servants surrounded them on all sides. Harry waded into this group of enemies, charging into Voldemort's creatures with the impact of a wrecking ball. He cut his way to the group until he stood next to them. Shoulder to shoulder they fought and beat the servants back. They retreated, trampling over their dead in their haste to escape. Harry shot bolts of red and gold lightening after them as they ran off in search of easier prey.
"Harry…"
"It is you…"
Harry turned to find Ron and Hermione looking at him. Their robes were in tatters and their faces were smudged with ash but their faces now split into wide grins. Hermione burst into tears.
"We were so afraid of what he would do to you," she said through her sobs. "When he said he would kill you…"
Ron merely shrugged and slapped Harry on the back.
"I wasn't worried for a moment," he said, grinning
Hermione wiped her tears and Harry looked at the group that was now ringing him. It was a mixed group of students from all the houses, mostly seventh years.
"We've been defending the entrance," Ron said without preamble. "All the students fifth year and below who could be found are in Gryffindor Tower."
"The teachers are protecting them and McGonagall said it was the only safe place for them," said Hermione, eyeing the tower.
Harry had to agree with McGonagall's assessment. Nothing evil could enter Gryffindor Tower. The spells on it were extremely powerful and hard to break.
"When did all this start?" Harry asked quickly.
"Two days ago," Ron grimaced. "We were unprepared and nothing we've done so far seems to be stopping them."
Harry pondered this news a few seconds and was just about to say something when a new wave of dark minions attacked. They beat the attack off and it was then that Harry noticed Malfoy standing next to him. Draco stared out over the grounds turned battlefield but said nothing to Harry. There was blood dripping from a gash in his forehead but he ignored it and stood, glaring at the army before him, rage and loathing reflected in his eyes.
"What's with him?" Harry asked as he noted the strange gleam in Malfoy's eyes.
"He's gone completely mental," said Ron quietly. "Most of Slytherin went over to Voldemort's side right away but some of them, like Malfoy here fought the spell and his mind must have snapped."
"It is said that Voldemort killed his parents in a fit of rage," continued Hermione.
"He has no one left and he doesn't really care what happens to him now," added Ginny, who was standing behind Ron watching Malfoy with an unreadable look in her eyes.
Harry looked at the faces around him and saw their fear but he also saw hope. Hope because he had returned in their darkest hour. He began to form a plan, one that would maybe save Hogwarts, his friends and the world.
"We need to break this stalemate," he said. "We need to charge them now."
"Are you mad Harry? That would leave the entrance wide open…" began Hermione.
"No… wait a minute," said Ron. "It's brilliant. Voldemort would expect us to die defending the entrance. He would never think that we'd move against his forces. Instead of being on the defensive Harry's plan would put us on the offensive and the momentum of the battle would then swing to us."
Harry's eyes sparkled and he grinned at Ron.
"Exactly!" he said quietly, eyeing Draco nervously.
Slowly sense returned to his face and Malfoy flashed what passed for a grin at Harry. Malfoy nodded, one quick movement of his head. In this critical moment all animosity was forgotten between them and their respective school houses. There were only those who were willing to protect the lives of others, maybe even at the cost of their own. In that moment Harry realized that they both had more in common then he had first thought. He held out his hand and Malfoy, surprised by Harry's action, shook it briefly before turning to the enemies before them.
Voldemort's army was milling around, unable to decide what to do and that was when the combined forces of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw charged into their ranks. Harry raised Gryffindor's sword and Draco raised his wand. A shower of green and scarlet sparks flew from the ends of both and with Harry and Malfoy in the lead, they all charged. Forming a wedge, they hit the milling army and managed to split it in two. One half of the defenders followed Harry and the other Malfoy, each part surrounding a half of the invading force.
Over the sound of battle Harry could hear the students battle cries and once or twice he was sure he heard Draco singing the Slytherin house song. Harry responded with the Gryffindor house song and continued to sing it in his heart after all of his concentration was taken up by the enemies before him. The world narrowed to him and his opponents. One by one he fought them off in groups or singly until none were left to fight. He saw Ron and Hermione fighting back to back. They were holding their own and Harry saw Draco set a troll afire with a flare of green magic. He felt rather than saw an arrow wiz by his head and instinctively ducked. He turned to face a contingent of archers and sword creatures.
The smoke blocked them from his view for a moment and when it cleared he heard the Slytherin battle cry as Malfoy charged into their ranks.
"To me Malfoy! To me! Back to back!" Harry shouted over the din.
Malfoy fought his way to Harry's side and they stood back to back. They fought thus for what seemed like ages and still the enemy pressed them. They had tried to break free twice but to no avail. Grimly they fought on hoping for a miracle. Suddenly, the line in front of them collapsed completely as Ron and the others charged into it. Harry let out a cheer and continued to fight. The dark ones were being driven back and back again. The five of them fought back to back now, ringed by enemies. Step by painful step they drove the dark servants back and into the Forbidden Forest which was dim with shadows. The enemy retreated into the forest and the defenders gave a ragged cheer.
"They'll never escape the forest," said Ron, a wide grin cutting across his ash-streaked face.
Hermione and Neville high fived each other and Harry and Malfoy grinned.
"Let's get back to the castle…" began Ron.
Suddenly lightening streaked the sky, lighting the sky with a blinding flash. The sky above grew darker in a matter of seconds and the wind whipped their hair and robes. Large lightening bolts exploded on the ground around them, so close they almost struck Harry and everyone around him. A large bolt of green and silver lightening struck the space right in front of Harry. Within its light he saw a black hooded figure he recognized instantly.
"Voldemort…" Harry whispered.
A cold wind blew across the field and evil laughter filled the air around them, taunting them. Before them, spreading his darkness before him, stood Voldemort. His red eyes were glowing in his pale face and an evil grin played across his mouth.
"At last, Potter. We meet again, face to face."
Harry raised his wand, the brother to Voldemort's own, and pointed it. His bright green eyes narrowed and his face looked like it was craved of stone.
"This is between you and me, Voldemort. Leave the others out of it!" Harry's voice rang with power and the others stepped back a pace.
"A challenge…Very well. A wizard duel it shall be with the world as the prize."
Harry merely nodded in acceptance, never taking his eyes off Voldemort's own.
"And I'll be his second," came a deadly quiet and drawling voice edged with sarcasm.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed in surprise.
"Malfoy…" he hissed softly. "I would never have guessed you would have ever helped Potter willingly. You loathe each other."
"That may be true," said Malfoy cringing slightly. "But that was before you attacked us all, even those in your own house who would have come to you willingly! That was before you killed my parents who never did anything against your wishes!"
Harry turned to stare at Malfoy, who stood staring defiantly at Voldemort.
"Their usefulness had ended. They were merely a loose end…" Voldemort said as an evil smile played over his mouth.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed and Harry saw a raging fire alight within them.
He's insane with grief a detached part of Harry's mind thought.
"We will meet in one hour's time on the Quidditch pitch. One hour Potter and then you die."
With a swirling of robes Voldemort disappeared leaving Harry and his friends alone on the field. The wounded were moaning and that aroused Harry out of his stupor.
"Harry you can't…" began Hermione.
"What if you lose…" continued Ron.
"Harry don't sacrifice yourself…" said Neville.
Harry waved away their arguments with his hand.
"Don't you see, it has to be this way," he said quietly.
"But if he kills you, then what?" muttered Ron darkly.
"I want you to listen to me. Take the wounded and barricade yourselves in Gryffindor Tower. I will come to you there if I am able. Don't leave, no matter what you see or hear. If I… fall…" Harry paused for a moment his face full of emotion. "If I fall, I want you to take as many out with you as you can before you fall. Don't surrender. Do you understand me? You must never surrender to him!"
Harry… we can't let you…" began Hermione again.
"I must," he said cutting her off. "Now please take the wounded and go. I can't give my full attention to Voldemort if I have to keep an eye on all of you at the same time. Now promise me you'll not surrender to him."
They all looked into his eyes and nodded solumnly.
"You've all been the best friends in the world. I'll see you when it's all over," said Harry looking at each of them in turn.
Ron turned away for a moment unable to say anything. Finally after several minuets he turned to Harry and said in an almost steady voice, " Get on with you then. We'll see you in the Common Room. Do be careful, won't you."
Hermione burst into tears, unable to say anything and Neville mutely held out his hand for Harry to shake (which he did) surprised to be counted as one of Harry's friends. The three turned and heading in the direction of the wounded, leaving Harry and Malfoy alone on the field.
We arrived at Hogwarts and found a nightmare. The castle and grounds were wreathed in heavy black smoke. Small fires burned throughout the building and the grounds where covered with a black mass that was Voldemort's army. We floated above the pitched battle and saw no hope at all for its brave defenders. They would not, could not win. Voldemort had them completely surrounded, cutting Hogwarts off from the outside world and from any aide that the Ministry of Magic might have sent. There was no way out of the trap Voldemort had laid. He'd planned everything to the last detail. We heard him demand their surrender and shuddered at the thought of what would happen if they chose to surrender.
Even worse then that was knowing somewhere down below us Harry was very likely fighting for his life. Tears of silver ran down my face and the terrible scene below blurred as I tried desperately to stop my crying. I felt James' arms around me then and I cried unrestrainedly into his shoulder, unable to contain my emotions any longer. He smoothed my hair and muttered words of comfort that I did not hear in my anguish. Suddenly James stiffened and I looked up at him. There was a slight smile on his face.
"He's done it, Lily! Look!" he said, pointing excitedly at the field below.
Looking down, I saw through the gloom the faint glimmer of a silver sword, red and gold sparks flying from it. My spirit soared. Harry had somehow escaped Voldemort's clutches again and was rallying the castle's defenders. He led them in a charge that opened a hole in the ring of enemies surrounding Hogwarts. A cheers went up from the defenders below as Voldemort's army was driven back all around the castle. We saw several try to flee into the Forbidden Forest. Not a single creature of Voldemort's who entered any part of the forest returned to their master. The guardians of the forest can be a vindictive lot if you've harmed any creature of the forest.
Our hearts were lighter and out spirits were lifting when lightening split the sky. All the defenders looked up at the arriving storm and began to run for the cover of what remained of the castle. A large bolt hit the ground in front of Harry and Voldemort appeared. We heard Harry challenge him to a wizard duel and Voldemort's acceptance. One hour was granted to prepare. A single hour... Harry stood pale but resolute with, of all people, Malfoy at his side. We floated nearby and wondered what the outcome of this duel would be. With fear in our hearts, we kept a silent vigil with Harry. One hour.
The hour went by quickly, much to quickly for Harry's peace of mind. All the advice he had ever heard about wizard dueling was flinting through his mind and he wondered if it would be of any use to him at all. He really knew nothing of how Voldemort would fight, though he suspected treachery. For once he was glad for Malfoy's presence because he suddenly realized that he actually knew very little about Voldemort beyond rumor and hearsay, despite having faced him countless time before. He realized that having Malfoy as his second might give him a distinct advantage in the coming duel. Malfoy was preparing for treachery, he had said as much in the last hour when Harry had question him on what the best tactics might be.
"Keep your eyes on his at all times," Malfoy had told him. "The eyes give away moves sometimes. Concentrate on Voldemort alone, Potter. I'll keep an eye on his second. If you fall I will finish Voldemort and not surrender to him. I would rather die.
Looking into Draco's eyes, Harry could see the rage reflected in them. For one moment they looked at each other and nodded in understanding. They were both doing this, in part, to avenge their dead parents.
He and Malfoy made their way to the Quidditch pitch, each wrapped in their own thoughts and as silent as two cats. They arrived there fifteen minuets early and Harry walked across the field, setting himself up at what had been the Gryffindor end in the last Quidditch match of the season. Gryffindor's sword was invisible in his belt and his wand was in his hand. He knew that wands were the only weapons allowed on the field of honor but he was not so naïve as to believe that Voldemort would obey the code of honor. After a few moments hesitation Malfoy joined him at Gryffindor's end of the field.
Had it really only been a few short weeks since he and Harry had faced each other across this very field? So many things had changed in that time and Draco had begun to understand, in a small way, what Harry had lived with all of his life. Ever since the death of his parents, or to put it more bluntly, the murder of his parents he had begun to question his loyalty to Voldemort's cause. He had begun to suspect that his loyalty had been horribly misplaced. The Malfoy's had always been involved in the Dark Arts and Draco had never questioned it, at least not until that horrible night two weeks ago. That night he had been called into McGonagall's office to be told his parents had been killed by Voldemort. He supposed he was still in shock from the news even now but he didn't care. Though there was no love lost between Harry and himself, at the moment he trusted Harry more then he had ever trusted Voldemort.
"At least Harry can be trusted to honor his word and I will do what I can to protect him."
Harry, meanwhile, was prowling the Gryffindor end of the stadium restlessly. He looked up at the three golden goal posts high above them. A smile flinted briefly across his features, remember that last match, then he frowned slightly and rubbed his scar. A snapping noise made him look up suddenly but it was only the flags blowing in the strong wind. The four house flags seemed to be living things seeking escape from the prison of their poles. He was watching the red and gold flag of Gryffindor with the lion emblazoned upon it and pondering the coming battle, when he caught a moment out of the corner of his eye. He whipped around but again it was not Voldemort. It was only the house banners, which were suspended from the upper tiers of the seating area. They listed all the years each house had won the Quidditch Cup and were magically updated every year to reflect the current victor. Harry knew without looking that the Gryffindor banner had been updated to reflect the recent victory that won them the cup. His spirit soared for a moment but then fell as rapidly as it had risen.
"I don't even know if anyone on the team still lives or if I will survive this next encounter. Was it really just a few weeks ago that we were all together?" Harry sighed heavily and resumed his pacing, his mind full of dark thoughts.
A greenish haze and a resounding boom heralded the arrival of Voldemort and his second, a pale faced, dark haired Slytherin that neither of them knew. The four strode to the center of the field and bowed then backed away a few paces. Malfoy and Voldemort's second moved farther back and with a flash of sparks the duel began.
Hours passed and still neither one of the combatants showed signs of relenting. Much to Malfoy's surprise (and probably Voldemort's too) Harry had a counter for everything Voldemort threw at him and had even managed to launch a few attacks of his own. Harry was growing weary though, Malfoy could see it in his slowed movements, while Voldemort still seemed unwinded. Unless Harry made a move and made it soon, Voldemort would overwhelm him. Malfoy continued to watch Voldemort's second who appeared to be waiting for something.
Harry was as tired as he had ever been in his life and his magic was rapidly draining away. It had taken some very powerful counter spells to deflect Voldemort's attacks and if he hadn't been at full power before this duel began he would have never survived this long. He was surprised by the amount of power Voldemort had. Where and when had he acquired such power? Harry kept his eyes fixed on Voldemort's own. Malfoy had been right, most of the time he could read what was going to happen next in them. There was only one thing that puzzled Harry. Every once in a while Voldemort would glance over at his second. What did it mean?
"Treachery perhaps. Better concentrate on Voldemort and let Malfoy handle it."
Harry's eyes narrowed as he saw Voldemort's eyes dart once more toward his second. Harry's bright green eyes bore into Voldemort's dead red ones. His plot discovered, Voldemort in anger launched a barrage of magic at Harry and then lunged at Malfoy drawing another weapon.
"Malfoy, he's got a sword!" Harry shouted as he countered the spells and pulled his own sword out of hiding.
Harry ran forward to defend Malfoy and felt a burning pain in his shoulder and stomach. He looked down stupidly to see two knives buried up to the hilts in his body. His scar burned in his head and he staggered for a moment as Malfoy dodged Voldemort's sword swing. Malfoy jumped Voldmort's second, wrenching the remaining knives from his grasp, not knowing it was already to late. Voldemort turned to face Harry, his ebony black sword upraised and glistening evilly.
"You lose, Potter," he hissed. Those knives are poisoned. You will die slowly as it eats you from within. It could take days. A fitting punishment for one who has been so meddlesome," Voldemort laughed as Harry fell to his knees, overcome by the pain for a moment.
Voldemort strode closer and lifted Harry's chin so that he was forced to look up at him.
"There is yet one way you could be saved. Join with me now and I will heal you. I am the only one who knows the antidote to the poison and can give to you in time," he smiled. "Join with me and we shall rule this world together."
The world round Harry was revolving crazily and it felt like fire was running through his veins but he looked calmly at Voldemort, defiance in his green-eyed gaze. He spoke just a single word but the stadium magnified the word so that everyone, even those in Gryffindor Tower, heard it.
"NEVER!"
As he said this he brought up Gryffindor's sword, which glowed with a red-gold light and swung it with all his remaining strength. It sank into Voldemort's body up to the hilts and a terrible scream rent the air. Voldemort's mouth was open in surprise and, as Harry watched, his face melted and his body dissolved into a cloud of green smoke leaving nothing behind but an acidic smell and smoldering black robes. Harry closed his eyes and sank back to his knees. He was feeling extremely heavy now and the field was fading in and out. Though Voldemort was gone his scar still burned in his head causing darkness to cloud his vision. His body burned with more pain then he had ever known before. He felt himself slipping away and for a moment thought he saw his parents' ghosts again. His mother was crying and his father was beckoning. Then the world spun crazily and he felt himself fall forward.
"It is over," he thought as the darkness rose to claim him.
"No… it can't be…" my heart cried.
James floated above the unconscious form of our son, shaking his head. He said nothing to me for there was anything he could say. It seemed likely that Harry would die in a few short hours unless the antidote could be discovered. I put my face in my hands and began to sob again. I couldn't stop for my grief was as great as if I was living, maybe more so.
"It is not his time, James. Not now…"
He looked back at me with all the sorrow I felt reflected in his eyes. He hugged me to him, tears standing in his eyes.
"That is not for us to decide, Lily. A higher power then us must make that choice. All we can do is wait and pray. Come."
He led me away from the Quidditch pitch, back toward Hogwarts and I prayed for a miracle.
Malfoy looked up from his fight with Voldemort's second to see Harry fall forward. Forgetting about the second who was unconscious and so could do no more harm, he ran to Harry's side.
"Harry…" he called quietly. "Harry… Please… don't be dead… Wake up… It's over… We won… Harry…"
But Harry remained where he had fallen, unmoving and as still as death. Malfoy turned him over and noticed for the first time that Harry had been wounded. The poisoned blades had now been driven farther into his body.
"No…" Draco said with disbelief. "Not him too, not now that we've won."
Tears began to form, blurring his vision. He pounded ground in anguish unable to contain his sorrow any longer. He was still crying when two things happened. He felt Harry beginning to struggle to rise and, as he lifted his head, he saw two shadows detach themselves from the nearby stands. The shadows moved rapidly toward them and resolved into Ron and Hermione. Draco was just about to tell them off for disobeying the orders they had been given when Harry's eyes fluttered opened and a hiss of pain escaped from him. Draco and the others looked down at them.
He tried to rise but didn't seem to have the strength to. He looked from one face to another and tried to speak but no words would come. Pain greater then any he had known before was coming in wave after excruciating wave but he had to tell them. He might not live long enough to get another chance. His time was short and he knew it. He could feel himself slipping away again and it was only by a force of will that he stayed conscious at all. He moistened his dry lips and tried to speak again, forming the words carefully.
"My friends… My good friends…" he said in a raspy voice.
"Don't try to talk now, Harry. Just let us get you inside…" began Hermione, who was holding back tears.
"No… time. Listen… there's something… I want you… to do for me…"
Hermione began to cry again while Ron looked down at Harry, his face so pale that all his freckles stood out.
Another wave of pain rolled over Harry and he moaned softly before continuing.
"Promise me… that you three… will continue the fight… Voldemort was not alone in this. Someone will rise to take his place even as Voldemort took the place of another.
Promise me…" Harry held out his trembling hand to them and they took it.
"We three promise to fight whatever darkness rises," they intoned solemnly through their tears.
Harry's hand slide from their grasp and he looked around frantically as if searching for something. Finally his hands brushed against first his wand and then Gryffindor's sword. Looking at the three of them, he beckoned them closer so that they were all kneeling down next to him. For a moment Harry closed his eyes trying to still the anguish in his heart. Very soon he might be leaving them forever and the thought saddened him. When he opened his eyes again they reflected none of the pain and grief he felt.
"Ron… I name you my heir… since I'll have none… in token of this… I leave Gryffindor's sword to you… use it well. I also… leave to you… the key to my vault… I'll have no need of money… now."
Ron took the ruby and silver sword and the small silver key solemnly. He looked down at Harry with disbelief in his eyes.
"Harry… You can't… Don't leave…" he began, tears pooling in his eyes.
"Don't grieve… too long… my friend," Harry paused and tried to comfort Ron who was sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hermione… to you I leave… my father's invisibility cloak… I know you will… keep it safe… use it wisely…"
Hermione managed to smile through her tears and said, "I will Harry. I promise."
Harry turned then to Malfoy who was looking extremely pale, more so then he usually did. Draco's eyes were full of sorrow for he had been to late to save Harry's life.
"Yes… Malfoy… Draco…" Harry began when he suddenly broke out into a fit of coughing.
Harry coughed fro several minutes, unable to stop. When he took his hand away from his mouth it was bright red with blood.
"This is not a good sign," muttered Ron in a low voice so that Harry wouldn't hear.
Hermione nodded and leapt up, already running at full speed toward the castle to get help. Harry's coughing subsided at last.
"Draco… to you I leave… the most important… magic item I… own. I give you my wand…"
Malfoy shook his head violently wanting to refuse the gift while Ron looked at Harry in surprise.
"You are… the one… it has chosen… It is very old… very powerful… guard it well..."
Another spasm of pain passed over his features and for a moment he was almost carried away by it. He reached out blindly to the two at his side, trying to draw strength from their presence.
"Bury me on the rise by the lake."
His voice grew stronger for a moment. "I want to be close to Hogwarts so that I might watch over it."
"You… cannot… die… too…" Ron said. "There have been too many…"
" I'm sorry to leave you but… it is not… given to us… to chose when… that is… for another…" Harry's voice trailed off as he slipped back into unconsciousness.
For one moment both Ron and Malfoy thought Harry had died but then, with relief they noticed he was still breathing. Ron and Malfoy looked at Harry and then each other, each seeming to know what the other was thinking. Without a word being passed between them all animosity between them fell away and something else took it place. It wasn't friendship yet but if they gave it a chance it might grow to be. At the moment it was just a feeling of trust. Ron held out a trembling hand across Harry's body in token of peace and Malfoy surprised himself by clasping it. For a moment they smiled but that smile failed to light their grief filled eyes. Malfoy looked down at Harry again, guilt in his heart.
"Maybe we should…" Ron paused, hearing the sound of running feet.
Malfoy looked up from Harry's pale face to see Hermione followed by Professor Lupin and Sirius Black. Though he was surprised to see them together, he merely watched as they knelt next to Harry and began to examine him. They felt his forehead and looked at the wounds that were still bleeding sluggishly around the blades that pierced his body. Lupin studied the wounds for a while before looking gravely up at Black. Sirius' face paled and he shook his head, one sharp movement. Harry began to shiver as if he were chilled yet they could see he was burning with fever. Lupin, having made a decision, conjured a stretcher. Black, meanwhile, was running the nearest of the house flags down its pole. He took the flag and draped it over Harry who lay pale and unmoving on the stretcher. For a moment they all looked down at him, his breathing barely noticeable under the folds of the scarlet flag. Then slowly and silently they walked out of the stadium with the flag draped stretcher floating amid them toward Hogwarts. Each tried to shake the feeling of dread they had about this solemn march.
Finally they made their way up the marble front steps and entered the deserted, rubble strewn entrance hall. They paused for a moment and Sirius turned to the others.
"Where is everyone?" he asked quietly, eyeing the three of them.
"Harry told everyone to barricade themselves in Gryffindor Tower until he returned," said Hermione in a trembling voice.
Sirius nodded and led the way while the others followed, each wrapped in their own thoughts. After many twists and secret passages they arrived at a heavily guarded corridor that ended with a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. A shout went up when the defenders saw who was coming toward them.
"Remus, Sirius… Malfoy…" McGonagall began as several seventh years crowded around the group.
It is over, Minerva. Voldemort's power is broken forever…" began Lupin soberly but he was interrupted by a loud cheer that went up from the crowd at his pronouncement.
Professor McGonagall, sensing there was more to the story, waved for silence and after a few minutes the chattering crowd quieted. They looked expectantly at the five before them, trying to see what lay beyond them in the darkened corridor. Ron, Hermione and Draco stood quietly, tears pouring down their faces rendering them unable to speak. Black hung his head, unable to say anything because if he did he would break down right there.
"Harry turned the tide. He defeated Voldemort in single combat but…" Lupin couldn't continue. He couldn't make himself say the words so he mutely gestured to the stretcher behind them.
"No…" McGonagall cried softly. "Please say it isn't true."
She looked from Lupin to Black and received only solemn, grief filled looks in return. Tears began to form in her eyes and the students around them stood in shocked silence. No one knew what to do or say. They looked at Harry's flag draped form and couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was inconceivable. Finally, Justin Finch-Fletchley moved to stand over Harry and noticed that he still was breathing.
"Professor, he's not dead yet. See, he still breathes."
McGonagall looked closer at Harry and saw that it was true. She reached out to touch his face and drew it back as if Harry's face had burned her. She peered at his face and noticed that it was very pale and flushed looking. His scar was standing out lividly in his paper white face.
"What is wrong with him?" she asked to no one in particular. "He's burning with fever."
"He's been poisoned," said Malfoy in a barely audible voice. "Heard Voldemort say it. He said it would eat him up from the inside.
"Bring him inside the common room quick and we'll see what can be done for him."
The crowd parted to let them pass and soon they climbed through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room. Another lifetime ago Malfoy would have giving anything to have learned the location of Gryffindor's common room but he was a different person now and he was to worried and tired to care.
They laid Harry carefully on a bed before the fireplace and McGongall examined the wounds. The room was cloaked in a silence so deep that you could have heard a pin drop while McGonagall pulled the knives out to better see the wounds. They looked as if they had been left untreated for weeks instead of barely an hour. Evil green lines were radiating from the wounds and a smell like something rotting came from them. Harry was literally burning up with a fever so hot that heat from it could be felt by anyone standing near him. McGonagall looked at Remus and Sirius, her eyes wide. They shook their head gravely, with tears standing in their eyes. Her bottom lip trembled and she began to cry softly.
She turned her tear-stained face to the waiting group and said in a voice full of emotion, "There is nothing we can do to save him."
A muffled sobbing broke out around the room then and Harry moaned as if in response.
Malfoy stared at the wounds and pondered. Something was familiar about them. He saw someone move to his side and looking up he found it to be Hermione who was also pondering Harry's wounds. Draco cast about in his mind for the memory triggered by the sight of them and he was sure she was doing the same. It was in something they'd studied recently, something about powerful poisons and their antidotes. He turned away from Harry and wiped the blood from his eyes, deep in thought. Suddenly a light went off in his head. Hermione grabbed his arm at that moment and murmured "potions book". He nodded and she ran off at once toward her dormitory. Draco wanted to tell McGonagall about what they were thinking but he didn't want to give anyone else a sense of false hope. With so many already dead it was the last thing they all needed.
Soon Hermione returned with her potions book in her hand. She motioned for him to join her in a secluded corner.
"I don't think we should say anything to anyone about this. If we don't find anything to help him then we won't have raised anyone's hopes," she said gravely.
"No one's but our own anyway," he noted with sadness edging his voice.
But Draco nodded and gestured to Ron to join them. He came over but Hermione looked up at him and noticed something in his eyes.
"Ron, maybe you should go lay down. You look dreadful. Take Ginny with you, she's not doing well." Ron nodded dully and left them looking as if he had just lost everything of importance to him.
"What's wrong with him? He looks dreadful," Malfoy asked, surprised that he even cared.
Hermione gave Draco a grief stricken look and said, "Ron received an owl after the battle was over. Almost all of his family is dead. Fred and George are still missing."
Draco nodded in understanding as he watched Ron and Ginny leave the common room together. He understood what they must have been feeling and he hoped with all his heart that Fred and George would be all right.
"Please let them be okay," he thought.
After a few moments he and Hermione bent over her potions book, searching for the poison that was slowly killing Harry. Near the back they found the description they were looking for. The poison was called "Death's Hunger" and Harry had all the symptoms. They read the description of what happened to the victim and their faces paled. It was a truly horrible way to die. They read farther and found that though the antidote was simple enough to brew it required several days to prepare and Harry didn't have that kind of time. Not only that, but the antidote was not even in this book. It was in Moste Potent Potions and the only copy of that rare book was currently under the tons of rubble that was the Hogwarts library. Sadly Hermione closed her book and looked up at Malfoy whose eyes had filled with tears. This was one time when all their knowledge failed them. Barring a miracle, Harry would die.
Draco felt like he had let Harry down again, first on the field of honor and now here.
"Always to late to help," he muttered.
"At least we can make a potion that will ease his pain somewhat," said Hermione quietly.
Malfoy said nothing, looking instead at where Harry lay. He laid thrashing about wildly, shouting out disjointed words. A new resolve filled Draco's heart and he nodded to Hermione and the two of them went off to mix the pain-killing potion.
==============================================================
We floated above Harry's body, wishing there was something we could do. He was lost in fevered dreams and no longer heard anyone, though we tried to call him. He was trying to fight off the poison but he was fighting a losing battle. We knew it now and so did everyone in Gryffindor Tower. Draco and Hermione gave Harry their potion but it was only a matter of time before Harry would die. While to be reunited with our son would normally have been cause for rejoicing both James and I grieved. The choice had been made and there was no turning back. We knew that and yet… He had barely known life and now he was leaving it behind. We knew this was the result of the choices we made sixteen years ago. Yet if we had known then what we knew now, still the choices would have been the same. There was no other choice we could have made to save his life except to have joined Voldemort and that would have been no choice at all. And so we grieved for lost hopes and dreams and for the line that was about to be forever severed with our son's death.
I floated down to where Harry lay and put my hand over his. I wished I could take some of the pain from him but knew it was not possible. I looked up and saw James standing at Harry's other side with tears standing in his eyes. The only thing left to us was to make sure that Harry knew we were there waiting.
"We are here. Don't be afraid. We will help you when the time comes," we whispered to him.
Harry's world was spinning out of control. His body burned, it felt as if he was being slowly eaten alive. Nothing he did would stop the pain that had become such a part of him. No matter which way he moved it was still there, following him everywhere he went. Bits of conversation drifted around him but he couldn't concentrate on anything for long, the pain was just too great. Rationally he knew he was dying but he couldn't help fighting it even now. He didn't want to die, not now. There was still too much left unfinished in his life. Then he felt a soothing coolness in his mouth that spread over his entire body and drove the pain before it. He felt cool hands on his and soft voices beckoned to him. He saw a bright white light and reached out toward it. He opened his eyes and saw his parents standing next to him, one on either side.
"Mum… Dad… Is it time?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
They nodded with tears in their eyes. Harry found he was crying too. He was so happy to be reunited with his parent and yet…
"Just a few moments more. There's something I need to finish or Draco will never be able to forgive himself."
They nodded.
For three nights a vigil had been held at Harry's bedside. The hero of what was being called the "Battle of Hogwarts" was dying. In all that time Harry had never once returned to consciousness nor did anyone expect that he would. Malfoy was sitting at his bedside, looking like a lost soul. Terrible grief and guilt warred within him, for he felt responsible for Harry's condition.
"I know you probably can't hear me but… I need to say this… or I'll never be able to forgive myself. I'm… sorry… for everything. For the things I said and did… I said things I never should have… that I now realize I never meant to say. I failed to understand the situation… your situation…"
"You're… forgiven…"
Draco's head jerked up and, through eyes red from crying, he saw Harry watching him with pain filled eyes.
"Now… I want your…word… that you will… fight the coming darkness… in my place."
Malfoy nodded, though secretly he doubted that anyone would be able to take the place of Harry Potter, least of all him.
"You may not think you can take my place but you will," he said quietly but firmly.
"But Ron and Hermione…" Malfoy began.
"I named Ron as the heir to Gryffindor's powers and sword because he is of my house. I gifted Hermione with my cloak because of her wisdom and cunning. To you I left my most important and powerful gift. My wand and all its powers are now yours."
Harry looked at the wand hungrily for a moment then looked back up into Draco's eyes holding them with his of brightest green made brighter still by the fever that had taken hold of him and the tears that stood unshed in his eyes.
"The wand is very old and extremely powerful," he continued in an even stronger voice. "Even I haven't learned all of its powers, though in time I might have. I was once told that the wand chooses the wizard and my wand has chosen you to be its bearer now. A greater Evil then Voldemort is coming, the Greatest Evil. I can see it and you must be ready to fight it. The weapons I have passed to the three of you will aid in that coming battle and therefore they must be guarded. I chose you as guardians for this reason. Now take the wand and learn what you can of it. Fight the coming Darkness…"
Harry's voice dropped away as a new wave of pain worse then all the others hit him. He closed his eyes and his face became a mask of agony. Soon the wave passed and he opened his eyes again. He looked up at Malfoy with pain and sorrow reflected in his eyes.
"Promise…" he said weakly, reaching out toward the wand Malfoy still held until his hand was just touching it.
"I promise to fight this new evil with all my heart and soul. I also promise to guard this wand with my life and never surrender it to anyone."
Harry's wand began to glow with a soft red light, which faded slowly from its length, sparks shooting from the end of it. Harry's hand slipped from it and drawing a last ragged breath the "Boy Who Lived" died.
Malfoy looked down at his body and began to sob, the tears blurring everything around him. He felt someone put an arm around him and looked up to find Ron's tear stained face looking back at him. He heard a sob on his other side and saw Hermione standing there, holding one of Harry's limp hands in hers. All his grief came pouring out of him then and the three of them embraced trying to comfort one another. The next day the whole school learned of the death of Harry Potter. All of Hogwarts and the wizarding world mourned the death of a hero.
Our duty done we left the world behind us carrying the spirit of Harry with us to our final rest. He had chosen to stay on earth a while longer as a ghost. There was much still unfinished in his "life" and he knew that his help was still needed. A Darkness was coming, greater and more evil then Voldemort had ever been. Harry intended to be there to help fight it.
"Just because I don't live anymore doesn't mean I don't still care about what happens to my friends or the world I've left behind," he'd said with a grin.
With joy in our hearts we left him to his task and traveled to our rest. Who knows, maybe someday we'll even return when the time is right but for now all we desire is rest.
Epilogue:
Be thee well
May the Lord who watches all watch over thee
May God's heaven be your blanket as you softly sleep
The Proposal/ The Night was Alive
From the musical Titanic
By Peter Stone and Maury Yeston.
Still we are, have always been, will ever be as one.
Friends Never Say Goodbye
From The Road to El Dorado
By Elton John and Tim Rice
The funeral of Harry Potter and dedication of the monument to those slain in the "Battle of Hogwarts was attended by thousands. Hogwarts castle was still undergoing repairs and the grounds were a mess but the mourners ignored it all in the face of such deep and lasting grief and sorrow. Harry's flag draped casket was carried by eight bearers in house colors to a small rise in view of both the lake and castle. One by one each of the mourners passed by his casket in solemn parade, leaving gifts for him to carry with him to the grave. When the procession of mourners had passed Draco Malfoy rose from his seat and stepped to the podium. Over the last few days he had felt a change within him. He was beginning to feel things more then before and he renounced the Dark Arts forever He looked out over the sea of faces and tears glistened for a moment in his eyes. He bowed his head in an effort to control his grief, the deepness of which surprised him. He had felt for some days that he should be the one who spoke the eulogy and so he had volunteered to speak first. Tears were threatening to overwhelm his voice and his spirit. He raised his head, cleared his throat and looked at the faces below him once more.
"Harry Potter…" he began with a slight tremble in his voice. "Harry Potter was the bravest and best of all of us. His love for life knew no bounds. Because of the love of his parents and their ultimate sacrifice he became "The Boy Who Lived". Fame was granted him; fame for something he couldn't even remember. But fame was not what Harry desired nor did he feel it was his due. In his inmost heart he merely wanted to be known for himself not for the things he did. "The Boy Who Lived" is no more but let us remember him not just for the lives he has saved through his sacrifice but for who he was as a person: a friend, a companion, a rival, an encourager, a classmate and least of all a hero. Bravery, Loyality and Love were the virtues he claimed. These were the qualities that he held dear. Harry's spirit lives on wherever loyalty, bravery and love dwell. As long as each one of us carries these ideals in our hearts Harry's spirit will continue to flourish. May we all be led by his example. May our lives be a testament to his memory. Remember him today not only for his heroic deeds but for the person he was. May his spirit shine though each of us that the world may know how many lives he touched.
Malfoy sat down, tears streaming down his face while others took his place telling what they knew of Harry's life their emotions echoing their voices. Looking heavenward Draco wondered what would happen now. Where would he go and do now that his life had been changed forever, now that he felt his life leading him down a new, unexplored road. What about this new dark lord Harry spoke of on the night he died?
All too soon the coffin was lowered and a final prayer was given for one whose spirit would be greatly missed. Slowly the other mourners left the gravesite until only three of them remained. Draco, Ron and Hermione stood over the grave with their hands over it chanting the protective spell that would seal it forever. Tears trickled down their faces to splash on the ground and they looked at one another. There were still tears in their eyes that ran down their faces. Quietly, almost reverently, the three of them clasped right hands over the grave and swore this oath, tears still falling from their eyes:
"In Harry's memory, we three pledge to defend this world, giving our lives if asked, against the rising tide of Darkness. We will use the weapons he left to us to aid us in the coming battle and guard them with our lives. This we swear to do in memory of the one who has been laid to rest in this grave. In his memory, we will do this and by his memory we swear this."
They unclasped their hands and turned from the unmarked grave, heading back to Hogwarts to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and, for one, to build a better life then the one he had just left
Unknown to them there was a fourth hand clasped above their three living ones and the oath Harry swore had been quite different:
"I will guard, guide and aid you three in the quest I've left to you. I shall do all in my power to prepare you for the rise of this new and yet ancient evil. I do this because of the loyalty and love you have shown me."
The spirit who was Harry Potter watched as his two best friends and his former enemy walked back to Hogwarts. Wondering what the future might hold for them all, he followed them back to the castle, hoping against hope that they would be given enough time to prepare, for if they weren't there would be no stopping the rise of Seth-Ra.
Well, there it is Final Confrontation all in one place and revised. I'll be taking the individual parts down soon so please do Read and Review. Thank You. I should also have the next part of In His Memory and a Sirius Black songfic sometime this week or next. Watch for them. Enjoy reading this again if you want.
WeasleyTwin2