Disclaimer: You know already

Disclaimer: You know already . . . must I repeat myself? This is such a waste of time.

A/N: Sorry for the depressing title – but it will all turn out well.

Chapter Twelve The Invincible Lord Voldemort

"Malfoy, tell us everything you know about the Brother Amulets," Harry ordered.

Draco raised an eyebrow, but kept his expression unreadable. "Honestly, Potter, do you really reckon that –"

"Just tell us," Harry snapped.

A little surprised at his outburst, Draco sighed and pretended to be agitated. "My father tells me that when dark and light is joined, it will release a power great enough to obliterate practically everything on the planet."

"But you told me that it could make a man invincible," Ginny interrupted.

When he looked at her, she quickly averted her eyes. She looked so cold, nearly swimming in the robes Ron had put on her, that her lips had a bluish tinge. Also, she was very pale, but he wasn't sure if it was because she'd nearly drained her life out trying to save Harry or because of the temperature of her body. For a minute, he actually considered hugging her and trying to warm her up. He quickly shook the image from his mind and answered her question.

"It could do anything," he finally replied. "It's very powerful."

"What do you mean by dark and light?" Harry inquired. He was holding both amulets in each hand and wasn't even looking at Draco.

"I thought it meant good and evil," Draco said, still sounding annoyed. "But now that I've seen them in probably means the color of them. The gold with the diamonds is the light, and the silver with the black stones is dark."

"Well, he's joining them," Ron said, looking over Harry's shoulder as he attempted to do what Ginny had on the plane – press the amulets together. "And nothing's happening."

"Exactly," Draco said lazily. "Voldemort obviously had both of them in his possession – you think he'd use them as Portkeys if he could get the power out of them by just simply pressing them together?"

"So . . . what's the use of them?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"Either the story about them is just a myth," Draco told her, "or two different people have to join them. Not just one."

"Someone dark and someone light," Ginny whispered.

They all stared at her for a moment. Then Harry said, "You mean someone evil and someone good?"

"In that case, we've got that pair right here," Ron declared, sounding overly bright. "Malfoy would make a perfect candidate for the dark amulet."

Draco pretended not to have heard and was about to say something else on the subject of the amulets when Ginny interrupted him.

"Maybe not good and evil," she said, her dark brown eyes wide with excitement as she began to piece it together. "Like Dra – Malfoy said: color. Maybe it means someone with dark coloring and someone with light coloring."

Draco thought about this. It was possible. But how could they be sure? "Why don't you tell us your plan first, Potter," he said.

"The amulets are probably what will destroy Voldemort," he blurted quickly. His eyes, like Ginny's, were also a little too bright for the situation they were in. "When we join them, the power will probably kill –"

"Don't be stupid, Potter," Draco snapped instantly. "If they would, why do you think he would've given them up? He would be guarding them with his life right now."

"Maybe he doesn't know," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"The man is one of the most smartest – and cleverest – in the world," Draco continued venomously. "And anyway – in case you haven't noticed, Potter, he left you half-alive for a reason. He's not stupid enough to leave one of his victims alive. Even if he thought you were dead by torturing you, he would've used the Killing Curse just to be sure."

"And how would you know all this, Malfoy?" Ron snarled, looking as if he would jump on Draco at any second if Hermione hadn't had her arm laced through his.

He chose not to answer. "If the amulets could kill him, he wouldn't have let us get our hands on them. And even if he had, he would've gotten them back. He knows we still have them."

"It's a worth a try, isn't it?" Hermione said quietly. "I mean, we could at least try to join the amulets –"

"The only thing you have to lose is your lives," Draco interrupted. "If that's something you're ready to give up, then go ahead. I'm not going to stop you."

"We can't do it without you, Malfoy," Harry said, rather reluctantly. "If Ginny's right, then we need someone light. You are the only one who has light enough hair and light enough eyes to hold the gold amulet."

It was true. Ron and Ginny had red hair and dark eyes, Hermione had brown hair and brownish-bluish eyes, and Harry had black hair and green eyes.

"Who would do the silver one?" Hermione whispered.

The answer was obvious. Harry, of course. Not only did he have the darkest hair, but also he was the most tan of them all. Hermione looked paler then the Weasleys because she didn't have freckles. The Weasleys were very pale, not to mention they had somewhat light hair.

Everyone was quiet a long time. Draco wasn't sure that they were even thinking along the right track. What they were saying made sense, but it seemed very far-fetched from the information he told them.

"We need you, Malfoy, if we're going to do this," Harry repeated.

Draco frowned. Dark and light . . . it could mean many things. How could they be so sure it meant dark and light colors? What if it meant evil and good? Draco wasn't sure he'd go as far as to call himself evil, but even if he did, he'd have to hold the dark amulet. Not the light one. And who knew if those rumors about the power the amulets had was even true?

"What do you think we'll gain from doing this, Potter?" he asked at last.

"Like I said before – it should kill Voldemort," answered Harry.

"But we can't be sure," Draco pointed out. "So let's say we go with this plan – we burst in there and press the amulets together. There is a strong possibility it won't even do anything. And then even if it does, Voldemort will have been able to kill us in less than a second before any power starts to accumulate."

"He's probably right," Ron said, looking as though agreeing with Draco was the last thing in the world he had wanted to do. "It's too risky, Harry. I say we just leave – we have the Invisibility Cloak –"

"I'm tired of running," Harry cut in. "For the past seven years of my life, I've had to worry about someone who works for Voldemort or Voldemort himself popping up and killing me. Now we actually have a way to defeat him once and for all. And you want me to run some more? Once I'm out of Hogwarts, I'll always be looking over my shoulder since Dumbledore won't be around. Not to mention I hate not being able to go somewhere on my own. Even at Hogsmeade I know people are always watching me. It's uncomfortable and I'm tired of it."

There was a long silence. Then Hermione said quietly, "Harry, we all understand where you're coming from, but he could kill you easily. You're only seventeen."

Harry stared at the wall for what seemed like the longest time. Finally, he turned to Draco and spoke. "Are you going to help me or not?"

Draco took just as long to reply. There was a small chance this wild plan could work. And if he helped Harry finish Voldemort, no longer would he hear how great the famous Potter was. He would be just as popular and respected. But for some reason, that thought didn't really convince him as much as he thought it should.

Instead, it was the look in Harry's eyes. His expression was hard to read, but his eyes were pleading with Draco. And for some reason, he actually agreed. "I want to be buried in a red and blue striped coffin," he said slowly, and smirked.

Harry looked confused for a moment, then realized he was agreeing to help him. He grinned broadly and looked as though he could've actually touched him. Draco was glad he contained himself.

"Why red and blue stripes?" Hermione wondered.

"Because I don't think anyone as ever been buried in a coffin like that before," Draco answered smoothly.

"So what do we do?" Ron asked, his hands on his hips. "Should we go back to Hogwarts and send help?"

"That'll take too long," Harry answered. "I need you three to keep the Death Eaters out of our way. Somehow, we're going to have to get Voldemort alone."

"Where is he now?" Ginny demanded.

"He's probably in my father's room," Draco replied. "All the Death Eaters should be downstairs. Knowing my father, he's probably with Voldemort."

"We'll have to draw him out," Harry said, and they quickly formulated a plan.

Five minutes later, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were all crowded under the Invisibility Cloak. If Ginny had thought three people had been cramped, she was very mistaken. Once more they were hunched over, Ginny pressed against Ron's back. Beside her, Hermione's elbow was digging into her ribs. She didn't complain even though it hurt a lot.

"I wish I could see what you all looked like," Draco said, smirking with amusement.

"You sure you can't see anything? No feet or heads or anything?" Harry asked.

"I can't see a thing," Draco replied, and started to lead them out of the room.

It was hard walking. Ginny was constantly stepping on the back of Ron's shoes. By the time they reached their destination, Ron's shoes were nearly all the way off his feet.

"Wait right here," Draco said quietly, gesturing to the wall next to the doorway.

He disappeared into the room, shutting the door behind him. Ginny strained her ears to hear what was being said, but the walls were really thick. She couldn't even hear muffled voices.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry all had their wands out and pointed at the door. Ginny's back began to ache and she desperately wished she could stand up and stretch. But she remained still and waited.

Finally, Draco came out, followed by Lucius. His father looked very annoyed, shutting the door behind him and then turning his backs to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. He blocked their view of Draco, which was exactly what they'd been hoping for.

"How many times have I told you not to interrupt me?" Lucius demanded harshly. "Do you know how stupid I looked in there when you kept nagging me –"

"Now!" Harry hissed.

The three of them that had wands all said as loudly as they could without shouting, "Stupefy!" Lucius was thrown to the side, hitting the wall hard, and then fell to the floor with a sickening thump.

They pulled the Invisibility Cloak off of them and Ginny straightened. Harry pulled out the dark amulet he had under his shirt, and Draco already held the gold one.

"Make sure no one gets in here," Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione. Ginny wasn't to do anything, since she didn't have her wand.

Ron handed Harry the cloak, and he draped it over him and Draco. They disappeared from view. The door opened and shut, letting Ron, Hermione, and Ginny know that they were inside the room with Voldemort.

Ginny was worried to death. She thought she would just be worried for Harry, but she was just as concerned for Draco. For some reason, she couldn't be angry with him anymore. He had rescued them and had sort of helped them save Harry's life. And now he was going to help try and defeat the Dark Lord. No matter what anyone else thought, Ginny knew that Draco had a heart – a big one – but he just didn't have any reason to show it.

Oh, please let them come out alive, she pleaded, closing her eyes tightly. They can't die . . .

Ginny wasn't sure what she'd do if they did.

Voldemort looked up as the door opened and Draco and Harry, invisible, came in. He was sitting at Lucius' desk and shifting through some parchments. When the door shut, he didn't look the least bit confused. He merely looked back down as if doors opened themselves all the time.

For the first time in his life, Draco was afraid. He could feel Harry shaking beside him – and he knew he himself wasn't that scared. But he began to think. Did he really want to die? Not really . . . he wanted to grow up and become a famous Quidditch player. Make his own money and never speak to his family again. Never get married but have a lot of gorgeous, young girlfriends and perhaps adopt some kids – ten-year-olds; kids who could take care of themselves without needing his help all the time.

It was a plan he'd actually been looking forward to. And the prospect of it not happening had never occurred to him. He'd never thought he'd die until he was a fat old man.

There was now a strong possibility he'd die a lean young man. The thought sort of shook him up.

"Take that ridiculous cloak off, Harry," Voldemort said calmly, jolting Draco out of his reverie. "Your father used to use it all the time – you think I cannot see you?"

Slowly, Harry took the cloak off them. Draco silently cursed himself. Their first mistake – assuming that Voldemort couldn't see through Invisibility Cloaks.

Voldemort looked up at them and smiled. It was a smile that contained no humor and actually made Draco feel even more afraid. He really hoped no one could tell what he was feeling.

"Are you wondering why I've let you live this far?" he asked Harry, almost pleasantly, ignoring Draco completely.

Harry did not answer.

"The truth is," Voldemort said, standing up gracefully (he suddenly seemed a lot taller), "is that I couldn't kill you. I need you."

Did I miss something? Draco thought, stunned. Voldemort needs Harry Potter? So what . . . he hasn't really been trying to kill Harry for the past seven years?

"Oh, at first I tried to kill you," Voldemort continued, noticing the shocked looks on both of their faces. "Until recently when I realized you're the only one who can help me be even more powerful than I am now." He flicked his red eyes at Draco. "You, too, young Malfoy. I need you both."

"We won't help you do anything," Harry snapped. For someone who was shaking so hard he sure had a strong voice.

Lord Voldemort made a noise that sounded a little like a laugh. "I expected you wouldn't," he said. "You are too much like your father." He glanced at Draco again. "You, on the other hand, are not enough like your father."

Draco stared right back without giving away anything in his expression. Finally, Voldemort returned his stare to Harry.

"I suppose Dumbledore never told you why I needed to kill your father, did he?" he asked menacingly. When he got no answer, he continued. "Your mother didn't need to die – she just got in the way. I suppose it never occurred to you that you are the reason she's dead?"

This time, Draco got a feeling that Harry's shaking was more from anger than fright.

"The truth is that I hoped to have your father dead before he could reproduce," Voldemort said. "But I didn't know who he was at the time. I always knew that there would be someone who would be able to defeat me – but I had never been able to find out whom. The fool, Dumbledore, always knew. He told James Potter that he was the only one who could kill me. That's why they needed a Secret-Keeper – I suppose Dumbledore never told you that, either? Fortunately, I was able to get the information from their Secret-Keeper. I killed James and then I tried to kill you. If you lived you would also be able to destroy me. I had not seen that your idiot mother would've put a spell on you that protected you. But," he added somewhat brightly, "everything comes out perfectly, because now you are alive and you will help me become the most powerful person in the world."

You already are, Draco thought. And another thought bothered him – Voldemort was acting so confident. He should know that they hadn't come in there to help him. They were there to kill him. He said that Harry was the other person who could defeat him. So why was he so comfortable with everything?

Now nervousness was mixed in with fear. Voldemort knew something they didn't.

"How do you reckon we will help you?" Harry demanded.

"You will." The confidence and smoothness only added to Draco's suspicion.

Harry met Draco's eyes. Draco knew that he wanted them to join the amulets now. For some reason, something inside him was telling him not to. Something was very wrong.

Just do it, he told himself. It's worth a try – who knows, maybe Potter is actually right once in his life. After all, Voldemort told us he is the one who can defeat him. Maybe he wasn't suspecting the amulets to be here.

They each counted to three in their heads. Then, in one fluid movement, they both reached and slapped the amulets together – the smooth side without the stones – high above their heads. Instantly they began to glow. Draco dropped his hand and took a step back. They were floating in the air.

It worked! Draco thought.

The amulets' chains wrapped together, floating higher into the air. It gave off a bright white light and after a moment, it hurt Draco's eyes to look at it. Instead, he turned his eyes towards Voldemort.

Voldemort didn't look frightened at all. Instead, he looked rather ecstatic. Draco's excitement level dropped down to none. Voldemort was happy that they'd joined the amulets together!

As he watched, the light from the amulets began to move towards the Dark Lord. The amulets themselves remained, but the light floated towards him. It hit him smack in the chest. Unable to think, Draco watched as the light glowed from deep within Voldemort, making him seem almost like a yellow ghost.

And he was laughing.

Draco knew instantly they had made a huge mistake.

"I told you that you would help me!" he cackled. "Did your father not tell you anything, Draco? The powers from the amulets make me invincible! I'm now the most powerful being in the Universe!"

Draco felt slightly sick. They'd helped Voldemort – now nothing could stop him. He could do whatever he pleased and nothing, not even Dumbledore, could make him quit.

"I don't need a wand anymore," Voldemort said gleefully. With a wave of his arms, five wide stone pillars erupted from the ground. It didn't even make a mark in the floor.

Voldemort merely flicked both his hands and it felt as though something gigantic had picked Draco up by the waist. He was thrown hard against one of the pillars. His head snapped back and he was dazed for a moment, actually seeing bright dots in his vision, but vaguely felt thick leather cords wrap around him and bind him to the pillar. The cords covered him from his chest down to his ankles.

On the pillar beside him, the same thing had happened to Harry.

"Why not invite your friends in?" Voldemort asked.

He gestured wildly with his arms and the door burst open. Some unseen force brought Hermione, Ron, and Ginny in. He had them tied to the three remaining pillars like Draco and Harry were.

"Since you helped me," Voldemort said to Harry, sounding disgustingly happy, "then I will give you the chance to live. You have the choice to join me as a Death Eater."

Everyone in the room looked at Harry. Draco expected him to say no instantly, but he didn't. Instead, he was staring hard at the light that was glowing from Voldemort's chest.

"I am not going to wait very long," Voldemort said lazily. "You have until the count of five – after that, you are dead."

Harry didn't even look like he'd heard him. Draco wondered why he was staring so hard. What was he trying to do?

Across from Draco, Ginny was squirming and trying to get out of the cords. Ron and Hermione were staring at Harry helplessly, but looking just as confused as Draco.

"One," Voldemort began counting.

Harry finally tore his gaze from him to look at Draco. They stared at each other for the longest time. Draco got the impression he was trying to tell him something with his eyes.

"Two."

I'm not a mind reader, you idiot! Draco thought. How am I supposed to know what you're trying to tell me?

But Harry kept his eyes on Draco, expectantly, as if he was waiting for him to catch on any second.

"Three."

You're dead in two seconds! I don't know what you want me to do.

And suddenly, it clicked. Draco instantly understood what Harry was trying to tell him. The only way to defeat Voldemort was to kill him with the power that made him invincible.

Draco fixed his eyes on Voldemort and started concentrating. He wanted the amulets' powers to destroy him. That's what Harry had tried to do before – tried to make the powers kill the Dark Lord. But he couldn't do it himself. He needed help.

Draco imagined the power killing Voldemort once and for all. The only way to kill him was to direct the powers – it can be used to make a man invincible or destroy the whole world. Why can't it destroy the man who's invincible?

"Four." Voldemort's voice sounded far off, but Draco was sure it wavered a little.

The light glowing in Voldemort began to get brighter. He never made it to five. Soon, the light engulfed the whole room in a flash of white. Draco squeezed his eyes shut since it was too bright, even though the light seeped into his eyelids.

It got windy. The air tore at Draco's hair and whistled by his ears. It sounded as if they were in the middle of a tornado. The commotion went on for nearly two minutes (which is a long time when you're not doing anything). Finally, the light disappeared and Draco felt the pressure of the leather cords loosen.

When he opened his eyes, the pillars were gone. The room was perfectly in order. The only people who now in the whole house were Draco, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Lucius Malfoy.

A/N: This isn't the end yet. There's one more chapter. And I'm thinking of making a sequel – I'll tell you the title next chapter. Keep reviewing and tell me what you think of Voldemort's end! (Or is he really gone?)