Disclaimer: You know the drill, I obviously didn't create Harry Potter or his world. Other than the plot, very few things belong to me. They belong to the Great J.K. Rowling. All Hail J.K. Rowling!!

A/N: Bum, bum, bum.... The BIG chapter! This is the most important chapter of them all! Please read and tell me what you think. There will be one more chapter after this. Yea, I'm almost done!

Chapter 12: The Battle


Harry woke and found himself in a stone circular room. Torch light glowed along the walls and there was a damp, musty lingering smell. When he opened his eyes a flood of pain coursed through his forehead. Harry could not remember what had happened or why J.D. had attacked him. He thought the room looked familiar, but at the same time he was sure he had never been there before.

Carefully moving his hands to get blood flowing again, Harry realized that he had been tied up. Straining his neck in an uncomfortable position, Harry looked at his surroundings; it did not look promising. He tried to size up his situation, but the throbbing pain in his forehead was distracting. Harry realized that J.D. hadn't attacked him, Voldemort , or one of his supporters had.

Harry cursed himself for being so foolish. He had walked headlong into a trap and he hadn't suspected a thing. As Harry was busy scolding himself, he walked in.

* * *

"Okay now that we're in, we have to find Harry," J.D. whispered.

"Why don't we split up?" Hermione suggested.

"Herm, what are you thinking? We can't split up! There's only one invisibility cloak, and we have no idea where we are!" Ron exclaimed.

"Ron, shh! Hermione's right, it's the only chance we'll have to find Harry. You two take the cloak and I'll take my chances. Worst comes to worst if I get caught I'll pretend I want to join up. Now go!"

J.D. watched as her two friends pulled the invisibility cloak over themselves and went down one passageway. She took the other and set off at a quiet jog. Carefully turning the corners, she shivered. The place gave her the creeps. She ran into a wall and fell. Rubbing her nose, she sighed, shuddered and turned. She went back until she found another fork in the hall.

'I hope we can find Harry and Crystal. This place is a maze!' She kept running.

* * *

Voldemort was just as frightening as he had remembered. The pale, flat face with those hideous red eyes, made Harry shake. Wormtail was hiding behind the Dark Lord, as though too petrified to approach Harry.

"Harry Potter, so good of you to wake and join us. I wanted to welcome you personally to my, shall we say, home?"

That cold high voice caused Harry to shiver, though it was quite close in the room. Voldemort was blocking the only exit and Harry's hands were tied. Was this how he was going to die? After everything else, was he just going to die so quickly?

"I have decided, Harry, not to kill you yet. Unfortunately, I do not have the time. I will leave you locked in this room until my return. But, since we are such good friends, I could not leave with out a parting gift. Crucio!"

Harry instantly felt as if someone were sticking a thousand knives into his body. Eventually the pain stopped and the world came back into focus. Harry found that Voldemort had left and locked the door behind him. The only thing he could do now was rest and hope that someone knew where he was.

* * *

J.D. was hopelessly lost. She had no idea where she was going and she felt as though she were running in circles. It was hopeless! Out of breath, J.D. stopped in front of another room. Just to be sure, she peeked inside. It was Harry! It really was; she had finally found him. The only problem was the large door in front of her. Pulling out her wand she tried the unlocking spell.

"Alohomora!"

It didn't work. J.D. hadn't really expected it to, but she thought it was worth a try. Stupid door! This wasn't fair; she could see him and she couldn't get to him. All of her frustration and pent up anger started to fill her. It filled her until she was so angry, that she–

BOOM! The door shook and opened revealing Harry looking haggard and tired. J.D. was startled, she had no idea what had just happened, except that the door was wide open. She hurried in and closed the door behind her. Looking around the room, J.D. realized that this was her vision, this was what she was here for. The weight of that realization caused J.D. to lose focus for a minute. When she regained it, she ran over to Harry and put her hand on his shoulder. He stirred and looked up at her.

"You came for me!" Harry said when he saw her, reminding J.D. of the dreams she had had so long ago, "But you must go or he'll kill you!"

"Nonsense, I'm not leaving without you. Hermione and Ron are around here someplace too. They're looking for you in some other part of the fort. Now let me untie your hands." She worked feverishly as Harry tried feebly to get her out of the room.

"J.D. I hear someone coming, you have to leave."

"No. Here take this." She thrust the star into his hands.

Temporarily distracted, Harry looked at her as if she were batty. "The star? J.D. we don't know how it works! What am I supposed to do with it?"

"I don't know Harry, but it was in my vision so it's important. Just take it. Now let's go!"

There were footsteps coming quickly down the hall.

"J.D. hurry into that wardrobe over there!"

"Harry, I'm not abandoning you–"

"J.D. please, do this for me. Get in there, now."

J.D. stumbled over to the wardrobe and got in just in time. Voldemort entered the room again and was closely followed by Wormtail and Vladimir Krum. Voldemort stood in front of Harry looking down at him. He motioned for Wormtail.

"I told you I would come back Harry. I always keep my word. Untie him Wormtail."

Wormtail bent over and made the motion only to discover Harry was already untied.

"Master? The boy is already untied!"

Voldemort smiled. "Indeed? Practicing to become an escape artist, Potter?"

"Master, perhaps der is anodder person in dis room who has helped him," Krum ventured.

J.D. swallowed. If they checked the wardrobe, then she would have no hope.

Voldemort continued to smile and glanced towards the wardrobe. "Nonsense. I'm sure Harry here was clever enough to do it himself. Now I hope you are ready to die?"

For some strange reason, Harry had the desire to laugh. He felt a strange wish to be nonchalant in the face of danger.

"Don't I get a death wish?" He asked flippantly.

Voldemort thought. "I suppose. What shall it be?"

"If I have to die, I wish to die standing straight and proud."

"Interesting wish. Very well. You know, Harry, many of my followers have questioned my plan for your demise. They wondered if your death was necessary at all. After all, I have your mother's protection, you are no longer a threat to me. However, I take things such as my near demise very personally, so you must die. Rise."

But as Harry rose he pulled the Star of Hope from his robes and cradled it in one hand.

"The Star. That Krum, is what you were supposed to retrieve from Hogwarts. Thank you for bringing it to me Harry, I always knew that you would make a good servant; too bad you have to die," he said as he rose his wand.

'I hope J.D. is right' Harry thought feverishly. He put both hands around the star, and watched in amazement as it started to glow. The light grew, brighter and brighter until the room was flooded in bright white light.

Voldemort let out a cry, and shrank away from the light as if it were painful. In fact, it probably was painful. Harry was very much aware of how the star was draining him of energy, but he continued to hold on. He held the star even higher, aware of how it was negatively affecting Voldemort, when he was struck from behind and the star clattered to the floor. J.D. had to cover her mouth to keep herself from crying out.

"Well done, Krum. It seems you are of some use after all. Now what, or perhaps I should say who, do we have here?"

* * *

Ron and Hermione were also lost. They had wandered in circles and were beginning to think the whole endeavor was pointless.

"I hope J.D.'s having better luck than we are," Ron said glumly.

"Let's just check this room and then we'll take a break," Hermione suggested.

They peeked in the window of the door. The sight inside was one they never thought that they would see.

"Oh, my Lord! Ron, it's Professor Lupin, I mean, Remus!"

"We have to get him out of there."

They tried every spell they knew on the door, but it refused to budge. Ron was about to suggest that they try to break it down when the door opened on it's own. Professor Lupin stood in the doorway looking at them with a bemused expression.

"How did you–?" Hermione asked, confused.

Professor Lupin seemed to understand the question. "The door can be opened from the inside. To prevent escaping there is a force field in the doorway. I can't step through it unless it's turned off. See, anyone can walk in. We simply can't leave again until it is shut down. What are you two doing here anyway?"

"There will be time for that later. Do you know what shuts the force field off?" Ron asked.

"It's an incantation. You have to say, 'Tromedlov drolmai'"

"Tromedlov drolmai" Hermione repeated. The force field came down and the two rushed into the room.

"Oh, Remus! Are you alright? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.

"It's alright Hermione. I am not hurt. Let me explain my presence here. I am, unfortunately, a Dark creature and consequently very valuable to Voldemort. I was doing some reconnaissance work and was caught by a couple of Death Eaters. Voldemort can smell a Dark creature a kilometer away, so he imprisoned me in here in hopes that I would join his side."

"It's not a full moon, is it?" Ron asked cautiously.

"No, at least we have that to be thankful for. Now, what are you two doing here?"

Ron and Hermione explained the entire situation. Remus' face fell at the news that Harry was missing.

"This is not good. I believe Harry is somewhere in the fort. My guards were discussing a new 'guest'."

"Well, then let's go find him!" Ron exclaimed.

The three of them set off down the corridor.


* * *

J.D. nearly passed out at the sight she saw through a crack in the wardrobe. Crystal was standing in the doorway and next to her, looking even paler than usual, stood Draco Malfoy.

"Young master Malfoy, this is somewhat of a surprise. And who have you brought with you? Some fresh blood to join our cause?"

But when the next voice sounded out, it was Crystal, not Malfoy, who spoke.

"My name is Crystal Miller, Lord Voldemort, and I am not here to join your cause, but rather to destroy it."

Voldemort laughed, the laugh that sent chills running down J.D.'s spine. "Quite a sense of humor you have. Tell me, how is a young witch with no extraordinary powers to speak of, going to defeat the most powerful wizard of all time?"

Without responding, Crystal simply raised her left hand. She showed no physical change and did not say a word. Every person in the room watched in amazement as the Star of Hope raised off of the floor and zoomed into her outstretched hand.

She clasped the Star in both hands and J.D. stood in the closet, struck dumb by the sight. The moment Crystal placed her hands around the Star bright, strong cords of purple light shot out of her fingertips and buried themselves in Voldemort's body. Unable to control herself any longer, J.D. jumped out of the wardrobe.

"Crystal, no! Stop!"

Crystal was not listening. At the very moment that Crystal had summoned the orb, Malfoy had made his move towards Harry, only to find his way blocked by Wormtail. When J.D. leapt out of the wardrobe she came face to face with Vladimir Krum. Harry was still unconscious on the floor.

The battle that ensued might have fascinated an impartial viewer, but the six people were battling for their lives. Malfoy was holding his own quite well, however he was unable to get in a strong hex. J.D. said the first spell that came to mind when she began fighting against Krum; it happened to be the spell she performed on Neville. It bought her a few moments, for Krum had no idea why he was suddenly deaf, but soon he was slinging curses at her faster than she would have thought possible. The most interesting combat was between Crystal and Voldemort, however. The Dark Lord seemed to have no way to protect himself from Crystal's onslaught; he was not going to hold on much longer. She, too, seemed to be wilting under the tremendous power she was releasing.

Malfoy managed to stun Wormtail and ran over to help J.D. She could feel the rage building up inside of her and she was about to send a strong curse at Krum when he fell over at her feet. Standing behind him was Draco Malfoy holding a smoking wand. The ground began to shake beneath them and light from the Star of Hope grew stronger and stronger, until the bodies of Crystal and Voldemort were barely visible.

J.D. was struggling to get to her sister, but Malfoy was holding her arm in a surprisingly tight grip. Crystal made no move to turn away. When Voldemort let out an ear-piercing cry, Crystal turned towards J.D. and Malfoy.

"J.D. never forget that I love you. I will always love you. We're sisters, and that bond is stronger than life itself. Draco, get them out of here." She turned her gaze to Draco. "You promised."

Those were the last words J.D. ever heard her sister speak. J.D. cried and screamed, struggling to get to her sister. Malfoy pulled on her arm and dragged her to where Harry was just starting to come around.

"Come on Potter, we have to get out of here. Let's go now!"

Harry stood up in a daze. Malfoy grabbed his arm and started pulling him and J.D. towards the door. J.D. was fighting hysterically to get to Crystal, but Malfoy was stronger. She managed to hook her fingers around the door frame in time to see her last glimpse of Crystal. Voldemort let out a sort of deep hiss and shrank to a pile of robes. J.D.'s last image before Malfoy pulled her away was Crystal, who turned and smiled at her sister before collapsing to the ground. The Star of Hope fell to the floor and shattered into a million pieces.

J.D. screamed, it wasn't a scared sort of scream, but more of an agonized one. It shocked Harry out of his trance in time for him to see Malfoy struggling with an irrational, overwrought, J.D.

"She's your friend, Potter, can't you control her?" Malfoy asked nastily.

"Oh, right, what am I supposed to say, Malfoy? J.D. please calm down while we run away to save our own bums and leave your sister to die. I'm sure that would go over really well!"

"Fine, we'll just have to go with the simplest solution." Malfoy pulled out his wand and stunned her.

"Was that really necessary?" Harry asked.

"It was if you want to get out of here alive. Now hurry up and follow me." He continued down the hallway with J.D. slung over his shoulder.

"What about Ron and Hermione?"

Malfoy sighed. "We'll look for them, I suppose, but if they're caught wandering around here, they have no hope."

"That's an uplifting attitude. Malfoy?"

"What Potter?"

"Thanks."

Malfoy turned causing Harry to bump into him.

"Let's get this straight now, Potter. I did not do any of this for you or for Miller. I only did this for her. Understood?"

Harry nodded and continued walking. He couldn't stop himself from speaking again though.

"Did you love her?"

"None of your business Potter."

"Come on, Malfoy. For once in your life stop hiding behind your tough boy exterior. You can't possibly be unmoved by what just happened. I was unconscious for most of the time and I feel like weeping."

"That's the difference between you and me, Potter. I love her, yes. But I made a promise and Malfoys always keep their promises."

"Fine." Harry would have said more, but he was ambushed suddenly and wrapped into a tight hug.

"Harry! Oh, I'm so glad you're safe! What happened to J.D.? What are you doing here Malfoy?"

"Hermione?" Harry managed to gasp.

"Harry, there you are! We have been looking all over for you! What's he doing here, and why is he carrying J.D.?" Ron asked indicating Malfoy, who still had J.D. slung over his shoulder.

"Never mind. I'll explain later. We have to get out of here."

"Professor Lupin just Apparated to find Professor Dumbledore. They should be here soon," Hermione said.

"What's Professor Lupin doing here?" Harry asked.

"I hate to interrupt this touching reunion," Malfoy interjected, "but have you all gone batty? We're wandering around the Dark Lord's personal fortress, and the only reason that we haven't been caught by a hoard of Death Eaters, that I can see, is that they are probably busy because their leader has been vanquished. That won't last long, so let's hurry."

Startled by Malfoy's brusque and business-like tone, Ron, Harry, and Hermione threw the cloak over themselves and followed him as he led them out of the fort. If he was to be stopped, all he would have to do would be to identify himself and he would be released. They continued down a corridor and were nearly to the entrance when they were stopped by a familiar Death Eater.

"Father!" Malfoy exclaimed in surprise.

"Draco, what on Earth are you doing here? I suppose you've heard the news."

"The news? Oh, yes, of course. Is it really true?" Draco stumbled over his words.

"I am not sure. Why don't you go on home. There's no reason for you to be here and those daft, muggle-loving fools will be here shortly. Who is it that you're carrying, Draco?"

Luckily Malfoy had been taught to think quickly on his feet. "This? Oh, this is a friend of mine Father. She was hurt and I was about to take her to Malfoy Manor."

Lucius Malfoy smiled. "Always a ladies man, eh, Draco?"

Knowing that J.D.'s real friends were standing only a foot away caused Malfoy to cringe before answering. "Of course Father."

"Now be on your way. I have pressing matters to attend to."

Sighing with relief, Malfoy walked passed his father in to open air and freedom. He led the others into the nearby forest from which J.D., Ron, and Hermione had emerged. Harry, Ron, and Hermione took off the invisibility cloak and all three of them gave Malfoy a look.

"A ladies man, Malfoy? Certainly not with that lady. She'd rather beat you up than go out with you," Ron said.

He would have elaborated, but they were joined by Professors Lupin and Dumbledore. Professor Lupin also brought Sirius, who rushed straight over to Harry. Dumbledore came rushing over to the group with a hardened look in his eyes.

"What happened? Where is he?"

"Professor Dumbledore, the last time we saw Voldemort he was in the fortress," Harry paused even though J.D. was still unconscious, "battling with J.D.'s sister Crystal." Dumbledore's eyes opened a little wider at this statement, but he said nothing for a moment.

"I see. I think it would be best if we take the children back to school. I know that there are some very worried professors wondering where their students have gone. These things can be discussed back at Hogwarts. Remus, Sirius, I hope I can trust you to escort them back to school while I check things out around here?"

Both adults nodded their consent and the group headed off into the wood where they met up with Steve Montalvo, who had gone searching for them when he heard the commotion.

"Oh, good, you are all safe. Now we must go back to Hogwarts."

Sirius set a up a portable fireplace that was connected to the Floo network. Each child stepped through, with Steve Montalvo carrying J.D. who was still comatose. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped into the fire, and immediately regretted it when he thought of the girl who would not be going back.


A/N: Hey, Brownie points and a hug for anyone who can tell me what 'Tromedlov drolmai' means. Include it in your review!