Chapter Eight ~ Voldemort's Vengeance
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All too soon, Halloween was upon them. Unfortunately it was a possibility that if Voldemort actually did turn up tonight then Harry might not be alive tomorrow. Dumbledore, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione, Narcissa and Lucius met in Harry and Draco's apartment. They were all seated around the room in a rough circle listening to Dumbledore talk about security arrangements for the other students. They were all in their house common rooms, restricted to the dorms and common rooms until further notice. The Halloween feast would be served in there that night. All the teachers were in one of the four common rooms and Filtch was in his office so the rest of the castle was empty.
Finally Harry said the one thing that had been bothering him all this time.
"I'm going in there alone," he said firmly, referring to the Great Hall.
"No! Harry you can't," they all began protesting. Harry stood up and started pacing around the room.
"I mean it. I am going to face Voldemort on my own and finish this one way or the other tonight. I will not allow any of you to put your lives at risk for me. I'm the one he's coming here to kill. Well, apart from the Malfoy's, which makes it even more important for you to stay here. Everyone in this room means so much to me and I won't let you put yourselves at risk." Harry finally sat down in the corner of the room in one of two armchairs.
One by one, they went over to Harry to talk to him, valiantly trying to pretend that this wasn't goodbye but all of them feeling the need to tell him certain things just in case.
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Lucius came over and sat down opposite Harry. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Lucius spoke.
"I'm sorry for encouraging you to learn about the dark arts, Harry. I should have known better."
"If you hadn't have taught me those things, I would have found someone else who would."
"You make Draco very happy. I want to thank you for that. He hasn't had a very happy life, but he is happy now, thanks to you." He shook Harry's hand and went back to sit next to his wife.
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Narcissa patted her husband's hand and walked over to Harry. She pulled him up into a hug. Harry hugged her back, imagining for a moment that it was his mother, not Draco's, who was hugging him so tightly. Narcissa pulled away and cupped Harry's face in her hands. He noticed a few tears trickling down her face.
"Be careful, Harry. My son adores you and I don't know what he'd do if anything were to happen to you. Not only that, but we all need you," Narcissa kissed his cheek and returned to her seat by her husband.
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Dumbledore was next. He sat down on the armchair and waited patiently for Harry to return to his seat.
"How do you feel?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes sombre for once.
"About as ready as I'll ever be," Harry replied, "I just wish it were over with – one way or the other."
"You, know, Voldemort did you a favour, getting someone to plant that book the way he did. If it wasn't for you trying your hand at dark magic, your true potential might not have surfaced for years." Harry stared at Dumbledore in surprise. Did he know before this happened that Harry was more powerful than the ordinary wizard?
Dumbledore's eyes regained that trademark twinkle for a moment and then became serious again.
"You have all the tools you need to defeat Voldemort once and for all, Harry. This will be the deciding battle. Believe in yourself. I know you can do it," Dumbledore said encouragingly.
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Remus took Dumbledore's place as the headmaster moved off to talk to Sirius.
"You are so much like your father," Remus said with a sad smile. "He would have done the same thing. In fact, he did do the same thing, to protect the ones he loved. I just hope you are more successful than he was."
"Me too," Harry replied with an ironic smile. They both smiled at each other. There really wasn't much else to say. They both stood up and Remus hugged Harry tightly.
"Be careful. You mean a lot to us," Remus said quietly in Harry's ear.
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Sirius was feeling helpless as he faced his godson. He tried to think of what James would want him to do and came up blank. This was a situation none of them had ever envisioned. He sat down with Harry and sighed heavily.
"Harry. Your parent's would be very proud of you. I'm very proud of you," Sirius stopped, feeling choked with emotion. He wished Lily and James were here to help him with this moment. He'd never expected that he'd be playing both mother and father to his godson as he went off to battle. Actually, it was like he was playing father and Remus was playing mother to Harry. Weird idea, analyse it later, he thought.
"You know, you don't have to do this alone. You have a room full of people ready to help you."
"I know and I appreciate it," Harry said quietly, "but I need to do this on my own. I don't want to endanger anyone else. Too many people have already died because of me. Besides, I'm not entirely unselfish. If you were all there, I'd be too worried about you to do anything."
"Okay, just don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it," Sirius said as he hugged Harry.
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Hermione walked over to Harry and he stood up to hug her. He brushed a tear from her cheek.
"Don't cry Hermione. Nothing has happened yet," he joked.
"It's just…it's always been the three of us, and even Ron and me getting together-"
"Ron and I," Harry gently corrected, unable to resist this chance to correct Hermione's grammar.
"Okay, okay," Hermione smiled, "Even when Ron and I got together and you and Draco got together, it didn't break the friendship we three have. If anything, it made us stronger. We need you, Harry, just as much as anyone else in this room."
"I need you guys too. You know, I would never have made it this far if it wasn't for you two," They both stood quietly for a minute, remembering all their adventures.
"Hermione, while you're here, would you mind doing a favour for me?"
"Of course, Harry, anything," Hermione agreed. Harry pulled an envelope from his pocket.
"If anything happens to me, will you give this to Draco?" Harry asked, his eyes glassy as they filled with tears. Hermione nodded and sniffed as she took the envelope and put it in her pocket. She pulled Harry into her arms as she started crying.
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Ron sat down opposite the young man who had been his best friend for seven years.
"Harry, I know that I've sometimes acted like a real git, being jealous of you and stuff and I'm sorry about that. It's times like these when I'm glad I'm not you, well now and when you're with Malf-Draco," Ron grimaced when he realised how callous that sounded. "What I mean is, I'm sorry for the times I blamed you for being the great Harry Potter. I know that probably doesn't make sense-"
"It's okay, Ron," Harry interrupted him, "I know what you mean and I'm sorry I wasn't more understanding. Listen Ron, I have something I want you to look after."
Harry fished around in his pocket and passed a tiny golden key to Ron. Ron gasped and refused to take it. Harry placed it on the small table between them.
"What? No! Harry! I'm not taking it," he said decisively.
"Just look after it for me, Ron," Harry pleaded. He knew how Ron felt about charity and he was walking a fine line by trying to give Ron the key to the Potter family vault, but Ron was the only person who needed it. Draco had more than enough money, Hermione was fairly well off and Sirius and Remus both had enough of their own money.
"If I'm still here tomorrow you can just give it back to me. If not, then it's up to you what you do with it," Harry said just as decisively. The two boys stood up and hugged each other.
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Draco was staring out the window down at the Quidditch pitch. Oh, how he wished they could go back to the carefree days of Quidditch, lessons and homework. He was trying desperately not to think about what could happen that night. Harry was his soul mate, Draco just knew it, he could feel it, deep inside himself.
Harry noticed that Draco was the only one he hadn't really spoken to yet. He looked around the room, green eyes searching for his love. His eyes lit up as he saw Draco standing by the window with his arms crossed. He quickly crossed the room wrapped his arms around the blond man under Draco's crossed arms.
Draco sighed happily and leaned back against his lover.
"I-"
"Don't say goodbye, Harry," Draco warned resolutely, "I couldn't take it. Just kiss me like you're going to bed early and pretend that we will wake up together tomorrow. I just can't bear to think that you might not be here tomorrow morning."
Harry's arms tightened around Draco. Harry kissed his hair, then his ear and neck.
"I'll be okay," Harry whispered in his ear. At this, Draco spun around, his eyes flashing angrily.
"Don't make promises you can't keep!" he shouted irately and then instantly calmed. "I'm sorry. I don't want to fight with you now. Just don't say that." Draco reached up and pulled Harry's head closer to his and kissed him. Harry's arms pulled Draco closer as Draco's arms wound around Harry's neck. Eventually, due to lack of oxygen, they pulled apart slightly and rested their foreheads together. Their bond had grown stronger in the weeks they had been living together and they didn't need to say the words to communicate their love for each other anymore.
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Harry had started pacing again. He stopped suddenly and brought his hand up to his scar. Draco knew what that meant and he stood up and walked to Harry's side.
"I won't let you go through this alone," he said decisively.
"And I won't let you come with me. Remember the dream? I'm not going to let him kill you," Harry's hand caressed Draco's cheek, "I love you so much. If anything happened to you I'd…I don't know what I'd do."
"That's how I feel about you, Harry. I love you and I don't want to lose you," Draco could see the determination in his lover's green eyes and sighed.
"So you go in there by yourself. What if you get hurt and there's no one there to help you? Isn't there some way we can know what's going on in there?" Draco was getting a little desperate by now.
Dumbledore stood up and walked over to the pair.
"With your permission Harry, I can perform a spell that will allow us to hear what you are thinking." Harry looked into Draco's fear-filled eyes and nodded.
Dumbledore pointed his wand at Harry and muttered the incantation. Suddenly Harry's thoughts could be heard by everyone in the room.
ove him so much…….wow, that's loud……..this could get embarrassing……..just stop thinking…
Draco grinned and kissed Harry.
mmmmm.…..he is so good at this……mmmhmm…
Gentle laughter filled the room as Harry turned bright red.
"I think I'd better go now," Harry said.
Not that it's going to matter if I'm in the room or not, they can still hear me..…just forget about it…….
Harry pulled Draco into his arms and held him tightly.
You mean everything to me….remember that no matter what happens…
"I love you Harry," Draco pressed a fervent kiss to Harry's lips, "remember that."
With a brave smile at everyone in the rest of the room and another kiss from Draco, Harry left the room. He in front of the door and ran his hand along the wood.
Everyone I love is in there…….please, god, don't let anything happen to them…
He stood outside in the corridor for a second and then steeling himself for what was about to happen, he started walking towards the Great Hall.
It's so quiet…eerily quiet….I'd better make myself invisible…..thank you Dumbledore for that handy little skill…
Harry muttered an incantation and slowly disappeared from view.
When this is all over, I'm going to teach you how to do that Ron…Fred and George won't know what hit them…
Harry stood apprehensively at the door to the Great Hall.
Here I go…
Harry pushed open the door, hoping that Voldemort wasn't there yet. He silently stepped into the room and shut the door. He glanced around the room and found it empty.
No one's here….unless they are invisible too…
Harry wandered around the room and rubbed his scar absently. The pain was getting steadily worse but was not as bad as it had been at other times he had faced Voldemort. He was standing down the back when Voldemort swept grandly into the room.
Oh fuck he's here…..sorry…..he's glaring around the room….I think we've spoilt his grand entrance because there's no one here to see it…
"I know you're here Harry," Voldemort said shrewdly. "I don't know how you knew I was coming, but I know you're here. I'm going to take great pleasure killing you tonight. You are not going to get away from me this time."
Don't count on it bastard…"But I will give you a choice. I have something extremely important to you. You give me what I want, and I will give you what you want." Voldemort sounded confident that he could make Harry give him what he wanted.
He has something I want….what could it be?….and he says I have something he wants…..my life?……he wants to make a deal……this is strange…
"What is it you want, Voldemort?" Harry asked quietly. Voldemort swung around in the direction of Harry's voice.
"Oh come on now Harry. Show yourself. This is childish, hiding like this. Show yourself and I will tell you all you need to know."
He wants me to show myself then he will tell me what he wants…Harry muttered the reverse incantation and gently came into view. Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he stared at Harry.
"There, you can see me now. What do I have that you want?" Harry demanded.
"The Malfoy's," Voldemort announced cruelly. "You have the three Malfoy's hidden away somewhere here. I know it. Give them to me and I will give you your heart's desire." Harry gasped.
He wants Draco, Narcissa and Lucius……never……I would rather die than give you Draco…"And what are you going to give me?" Harry asked coldly.
"You have a lot of things Harry – money, fame, friends, love. What is the one thing you've never had but wanted the most all your life, Harry Potter?" Voldemort asked maliciously.
Something I've wanted all my life but never had………a family? But that's not possible, they're dead, so what could it be?…
"I can't think of anything that I don't already have," Harry replied. Voldemort opened the door near him with a wave of his hand and in walked a man with messy dark hair and a red headed woman, both of whom looked very familiar. They smiled at him with tears running down their faces. Wormtail followed, keeping his wand trained on them, keeping them at the front of the room with him and away from Harry.
Wormtail, that bastard…"Your parent's Harry. In exchange for the Malfoy's." Voldemort said calmly. Harry fell to his knees.
Mum and Dad….Oh my god….how…? how did they…?…..this isn't happening….it can't be….they're dead…..no no no no no no no…….I can't…..my parents for Draco and his parents……this is a nightmare…
I will kill them this time, if you don't cooperate. I'll kill you too. Give me the three Malfoy's and I'll let you three live. Three lives for three lives."
It can't be real…..can it?…..but what if I call his bluff and they are real? They'll be dead because of me……..but I saw them come out of Voldemort's wand at the Graveyard……..unless he has a way of bringing back the dead……but that's not possible is it?……three lives for three lives he said. …me and my parents or Draco and his parents…….I'd rather die than let anything happen to Draco…
"No deal." Harry replied firmly, standing up and pointing his wand at Voldemort. "Leave everyone else out of it. This is between you and me."
Voldemort walked towards Harry.
"You have just made a very big mistake. You cannot defeat me unless you use dark magic and I've heard that you had a bad experience with that. Hurt your little boyfriend. That's too bad," Voldemort said mockingly.
How does he know I hurt Draco with dark magic? How does he know Draco's my boyfriend?
Harry's face hardened into a look of intense determination.
"Insulting me is one thing, but insulting my boyfriend? That's going too far." Harry shouted, "Expelliarmus." But the spell rebounded off the invisible barrier in front of Voldemort and Harry had to duck to miss the rebounding spell.
Dammit……he's got the barrier up……how the fuck am I supposed to get past that?…….think…think……he has to take down the barrier to try to curse me, so if I can send one to him at the exact same time then I should be able to get it through before the barrier comes back up…
Voldemort raised his wand and Harry raised his, aiming a little to the right of Voldemort's wand.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort cried, just as Harry cried "Avada Kedavra." The two spells passed each other by mere inches apart. Voldemort's eyes widened in surprise as the killing curse hit him in the chest. He fell backwards onto the floor.
Dead.
Killing curse headed for me…….duck, run, something……help!
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~to be continued~