Final Victory
It had been one month and five days since they had destroyed the Dementors, and in Miyu's opinion, that was one month and four days too long to wait to get to the last one. While she was having to wait for her human (or almost-human) friends to recuperate, there was still a dangerous Shinma out there somewhere doing horrible things. Lava tried to assure her that the Shinma was laying low for the time being, until he could figure out what exactly had killed his Deatheaters. That apparently had made the Shinma worry some, a someone with the power to throw back the Death Curse. But that didn't help Miyu much. She was ready for this mission to be finished.
That day she found Pansy curled up in one of the chairs in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was a Saturday, so most everyone else was out and about in the castle or outside. Pansy had to be careful, and when it was possible she was much happier to just sit in the Common Room, because she didn't have to worry about wearing her big cloak to completely cover her skin so that the sunlight wouldn't hurt her. Good afternoon, Pansy, Miyu greeted in her usual emotionless voice.
Pansy looked up from the book she was reading and grinned broadly. I never even heard you coming, Miyu. You're just like a ghost.
She sat down in the chair next to Pansy and glanced over to see what Pansy was reading. It was called Stories of the Most Dangerous Death Curses Survived. Where is Harry? He's usually with you, or is he with his other two friends who do not like us?
Pansy gave a short, almost sarcastic laugh. That's fine that they don't like us, I don't care for them much, either. Especially Granger... But anyway, no. He's with Dumbledore learning some special spells and such for... well... whatever you and he are going to have us do. He told me to read this book for some ideas, since he said I won't really have to be worried about being struck by one myself.
Miyu nodded and said, It is about time to face the final enemy. It will be very difficult, but I think that you are ready.
Pansy grinned and one of her fangs flashed in the light as she said, I'm glad you think so. But I must admit, even though I'm not exactly alive and have little to worry about, the thought of having to face You-Know-Who scares me to death.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
I'm glad to see all three of you doing better. Now please sit down, we have a lot to discuss.
Miyu, Harry, and Pansy sat in front of Dumbledore's desk as they were told to. Harry was being very quiet, but not even in his usual polite way. It was almost an ominous silence, a quiet before a storm. The shadow that usually hung around him seemed much stronger. Miyu had to not worry about it for the time being though. Dumbledore was beginning to speak.
It is finally time for you to defeat Voldemort, he began, but that will be close to impossible as long as his Deatheaters are always around. He will be hard enough to defeat alone, and if he has all of his followers also there protecting him, it will be impossible.
But they're always around him, Pansy interrupted. We'll never be able to get him alone.
That's where Miyu's friend Lava comes in, Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. As I told you before, he has been working in their group to gather information. He has told me that they are going to be alone in their hideout in the forest tomorrow evening while Voldemort goes away, though he couldn't tell me where. No one probably knows. Anyhow, you must defeat them. I would... prefer that you not kill unless absolutely necessary. Use a sleeping charm until I can send other wizards to take them away to Azkaban.
Tomorrow evening? Harry asked, feeling his stomach turn. That's terribly soon...
Trust me, Harry, you're as ready as you'll ever be. At least the Deatheaters will be a good warmup.
Pansy said with a grin, if he lives through that much.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The Deatheater hideout was deep in the Forbidden Forest. Dumbledore told them how to get there, for he was not going to accompany them. Someone had to stay at the school... just in case something went wrong. Harry dreaded it, but Pansy's excitement eased his mind a bit. She cared for him too much to let anything happen to him as long as she could help it, and he knew it. But he also wanted to be able to protect her. Miyu was as silent as always. This wasn't really her battle, he supposed. There were no Shinma in the Deatheaters, just a lot of very evil wizards.
The longer they walked towards it, the more the battle laying ahead of them weighed on Harry's mind. The more it weighed on his mind, the deeper a certain shadow buried itself in his soul...
Miyu stopped and turned quickly around, one arm out and the other cupped as she does whenever she is preparing to make a flame in the midst of a battle. Everything around them was still.
Pansy giggled. You're paranoid, Miyu! I've never seen you so jumpy! Nothing's here! The place Dumbledore told us to go is still a good hour's walk.
I know I sensed something, she answered, her sharp eyes inspecting the blackness behind the trees until they finally came to rest on the only other person there besides herself and Pansy.
Harry had his hand to his forehead. I don't know why this headache is coming on so... It only seems to do this whenever Voldemort is either looking at me or feeling particularly hateful towards me.
Miyu stared silently for a moment before asking, Tell me, Harry. Do you hate him too?
Hate him? I've... never really hated him before... but now... He stopped speaking and sighed. Yes, I do hate him.
A shadow passed over Miyu's face, but she turned quickly away and continued walking towards the Deatheater hideout. Pansy watched them both, not really understanding what just went on. She only knew that she was ready to put all this Voldemort business behind her.
The hideout was marked by only a black rock that rose straight out of the ground. Dumbledore had explained to them from the information Lava had given him that they met underground, directly below that rock. To enter, they had to tap the rock on certain discolored spots in a certain order, then lay their hands flat in the center of the spots and they could enter. Miyu was the first to do it, and everything worked fine. Then Pansy did it, with the same success. But as soon as Harry laid his hand flat against the stone to be sent down, he felt it burn, burn with the same fire that had been in his head all day. The pain did not make him pull away however. Instead, it only made him more determined to kill every single Deatheater he faced. He hated them all.
They dropped into a large cavern. An eerie red light surrounded them, though none could tell exactly where it was coming from. They walked carefully down a narrow passage where the light seemed to be brightest, Miyu leading the way and Harry taking up the rear.
They found what they were looking for. Every Deatheater was there, as were dead bodies of past victims. The Deatheaters seemed to be worked up after enjoying themselves after some killing frenzy or another. And Harry hated them all the more.
Miyu turned to Harry and Pansy and whispered, They will be very strong, and it may take a few hits of your sleeping charms to make it work, so--
But Harry could wait no longer. He charged from their hiding place, shouting a curse at each Deatheater, and replacing the red light with a green. The Deatheaters were too shocked to retaliate. They were all dead in less than thirty seconds.
He fell to his knees trembling and almost choking with hate while Miyu and Pansy carefully neared him. Pansy said timidly.
Stay back! I... I don't know what's wrong with me, but don't come any closer Pansy... I don't want to hurt you...
Harry, you would never hurt me!
She ran towards him but he stood up quickly and whirled around, pushing her to the ground.
A cruel laugh filled the cavern. So my curse is finally catching up with you, is it, Potter?
Voldemort stood before them, more snake-like than ever. His slitted eyes glared at them, and he even appeared to have fangs hidden beneath his tight-lipped smirk.
Miyu wasted no time. she commanded, then threw it towards him. Into the darkness, Shinma!
He laughed again, merely holding up a hand to successfully ward off her attack. It will take much more than that to defeat me and this magic, Princess. Now let us see how you take my attacks. Avada kedavra!
The green light streaked towards Miyu, but Pansy blocked it and threw it back. It had no effect on him.
I will take care of you now, little vampire. You've annoyed me enough already. Solaris incendi!
Light as hot and bright as the sun's fire rushed towards her much more quickly than Pansy could avoid. It struck her and she fell, her skin smoldering and turning grey on the surface where it had hit her on her left side. It wasn't quite enough to turn her to ashes, but plenty to make her wish it had.
Harry cried, but she couldn't move. She was in too much pain. He turned and glared at Voldemort, strangling his wand in his hand.
And then he threw it to the ground.
Voldemort grinned and hissed, That was very clever of you. Give up now!
Our wands are brothers, Harry said, his own voice almost a hiss as well. We would be fighting forever. Now come out of that body, Shinma coward, and face me as you really are.
Voldemort's eyes narrowed, and a forked tongue flickered out from between his lips. Asssss you wisssssssssshh.......
It was like a snake striking. A moment so sudden that they hardly realized he had separated himself. A giant cobra hissed before Harry, coiled around a body. The body was of a boy who couldn't have been older than ten. His skin was pale, and his dark hair hung limp around his closed eyes rimmed with red. It was the body of Tom Riddle.
Miyu threw the flame once again, but it only seemed to make the Shinma grow larger.
He laughed. Harry, don't you sssssee now that even Miyu, the mossssst powerful Guardian and a vampire princsssesssssss, can not go againssssst my power? And that sssssame power isssss within you... Ussssse it... join me....
He turned, amazed and relieved at what he saw. Pansy was sitting up, calling to him...
Harry, don't give in to him! She paused, her scratchy voice giving out on her slowly. Lava was at her side with his scythe, and Harry trembled as a flash of the Grim Reeper eager to take his victim entered his mind. He used his own people to set us up, who's to say he won't turn against you as well...?
Miyu said softly, and he will get what's coming to him....
The Shinma hissed and lunged at Pansy, but Lava blocked him, leaving a deep cut beneath the snake's chin.
Harry ran over to Pansy. He was afraid she would not last much longer. Out of the three that were to defeat Voldemort, he believed most that she would not be the one killed. He loved her too much to let her die... He had sworn to protect her....
Harry... no.... don't be sad for me... she said with a weak laugh. I'm not dead yet... and I may not...
Pansy... you can't die.... As he spoke to her all hatred vanished from his thoughts and from his soul. His scar burned worse than ever, trying to invoke hatred, but even the pain could not draw his thoughts away from Pansy. You saved my life before, and I can't even save yours... What do I do, Pansy?
She gasped. His scar seemed to be boiling up, and moving. Yet the intensity in his eyes never left her face. It was as if he did not notice.
He did not even notice when the scar took the form of a snake, and slithered off of his head and down his arm, heading for the Shinma cobra.
The Shinma narrowed its eyes at the small approaching snake. He had created that small snake nearly fifteen years ago, knowing that even though its venom did not kill the child right away, one day it would continue to grow and eventually poison the soul of the boy who lived. It was never meant to come alive...
The small snake hissed at its Father, then slithered up onto the cobra's body.
And bit him.
The Shinma cobra hissed in agonizing pain. To think that the bite of such a small creature--his own creation--could defeat him.
Miyu summoned another flame into her hand, watching the Shinma as he lashed out in agony. He was too weak to withstand any attack now. You have strayed too long, and must return. Into the darkness, Shinma.
The fire swirled around both snakes, and with one last screeching hiss, they disappeared.
Harry cradled Pansy in his arms. She was now unconscious, but not lifeless. Lava put a hand on his shoulder as Miyu came over. Harry, I can take her with me. I know people who can help her. It may take months, even years in your time, but she will return some day.
Harry nodded and gave Pansy one last kiss. I will wait for you, he whispered, then watched as Lava lifted her limp body into his arms and disappeared like mist.
Is that all? Harry asked. Is it really over?
Miyu shook her head and stepped aside. Behind her Harry could see the huddled body of the young Tom Riddle. Perhaps you should leave now, Harry. You've done all you can do. Only I can help this victim.
What... what are you going to do...?
She smiled peacefully. Send him somewhere where he can find eternal happiness.
Miyu walked towards the boy after Harry had gone and knelt in front of him. His face was buried in his hands and he was sobbing. I... I never meant to hurt anyone... I was lonely... and weak... and a failure... He promised to make me great... I didn't know he was going to hurt people... How could I ever apologize for everything I've done...? My mother... my wonderful, beautiful, innocent mother... what would she say...?
Miyu cradled his face in her hand, and he looked into her deep golden eyes. Would you like to be with your mother? There are no more problems where she is now. What you have done matters not to her, because she loves you so much.
Please... I want to see her...
Miyu took his blood and his life, but in death he found happiness that he never before could have imagined.