Chapter Thirty

The Forbidden Tomb

The sun was just breaking over the hills as Hermione and Harry sent out the last of the local newspapers, leaning on the bundle going to the main office.

"Ron, wake up, we're almost done," Harry said. "Revere should be here soon to pick up the rest. We just need to get the student copies to the Great Hall now."

"Sorry, but I'm still exhausted from last night. I'm surprised Snape didn't deduct points for serving detention after hours just to be spiteful," Ron grumbled, sitting up and dusting feathers off. "I swear he's gotten twice the equipment this year as he had last year. And every time I scrubbed the floor to a nice shine, his one-eyed basilisk would see fit to walk across it and muddy it up! It was almost as if Snape told him to do it."

"Ron, I'm not sure if this is public knowledge yet, but Snape's a Parselmouth now," Harry told him, trying to keep a straight face. "He drank the Potion we found in the Chamber of Secrets and that was one of its effects."

"Oh great! Well, that explains a lot, doesn't it," Ron said irritably.

"Come on, let's hurry so we're not late for breakfast. We're starting term reviews today, don't forget," Hermione reminded them.

"Only in Charms and Potions," Ron yawned, walking over to the stairs. "Professor Craw didn't say anything about starting reviews today."

"Well, even if we don't, I'm going to start on them anyhow," Hermione decided, following close behind him. "She's not going to catch me unawares with last minute reviews."

That afternoon Professor Craw smiled enigmatically as the students filed in, and strangely enough, her desk was completely bare, not even class books or her favorite inkwell was upon it. She sat upon it, trying to make eye contact with each person that walked into the door, but waited there quietly until they all got to their seats. It was then that Professor Snape arrived, looking as dour as ever as he nodded to Craw and strode to the front of the class, standing beside the desk. The seventh year students glanced at each other in bewilderment then back towards the front, wondering what was going on. Professor Craw smiled again.

"Well, I see I have all of your attention… for a change," Craw said, as a nervous chuckle could be heard from some of the students. "I have a few announcements to make, some good, some bad, but overall for the best. First of all, you may be relieved to know that you're not going to have to sit though two weeks of reviews as you are in your other classes. This means that after today, you won't have a scheduled class time, only a scheduled test time. So, feel free to use that time to study for your other exams, relax, or catch up on some sleep," she added, looking at Ron, who looked halfway asleep even as she said it. He blinked and sat up, noticing her eyes on him. "Instead, the Defense test will be entirely made up of a practical test that you will have to complete in under an hour. It will be styled in a Gauntlet, and if you heard stories about last year's test, it will be similar to it in some ways, but this one will be a lot more uniform in appearance, and, frankly, a good deal harder. Professor Snape and I have been spending quite a bit of our time putting the finishing touches on it, and I think every one in here will find it equally challenging," Craw said, glancing momentarily towards Harry and Hermione. "Also, you may find that you can not get all the way through it, whether a challenge has stopped you, or the time restraints, but that doesn't necessarily mean you didn't pass the test. You'll need to come check the scores on the door to be certain of that. If you want to get high marks, however, you'll need to complete it, unscathed, and in the time restraints. Professor?"

"We've come up with a test design that creates some of the challenges based on who you are, as well as the fact that each time it is run, the test takes a different shape and appearance. Attempting to inform anyone after the fact on how to beat the test will be futile, so don't bother," Snape said, squinting around the classroom. "Since it is going to take time to run each test, finals for this subject will begin this evening, and afterwards, it will follow the schedule Professor Craw is posting after class, check that to find out when your test is. We've decided the order that you test will be determined by your standings in practical defense. Therefore, the first student to be tested will be Mr. Potter, followed by Miss Granger tomorrow, Miss Bulstrode, and so forth."

"The only advice I'm going to give you is to remember to use your common sense if you don't see an immediate answer. Your biggest challenge in life is always going to be yourself," Craw said, getting up from the desk. "I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's amazing how often one can forget that when faced with something life threatening.

"I also have one other announcement I'm going to make," Craw smiled, glancing at all of them. "And since I was given the choice when to announce it by Professor Dumbledore, I decided to do it first in this class. This is the last year I will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts." Harry blinked in complete surprise, hearing a series of gasps around him. "After this year, Professor Snape will be taking over the position, someone whom of course I highly approve of. He'll also be helping me mark the tests as you run them, so don't think you've gotten away scot-free just because this is your last year," Craw winked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Snape asked flatly.

"In any case, I wanted to let you know it's been a joy and a privilege teaching this class, and I am going to miss each and every one of you. I will see you at your test time, good luck, and class dismissed," Craw said. "Harry, meet me in my office after dinner, please?" she added, smiling warmly at him. Harry nodded, and smiled weakly back before catching up with Hermione and Ron as they headed out of the classroom.

"I can't believe she's leaving," Harry said as they walked down the hall. "This doesn't make any sense at all! Professor Craw loves Hogwarts."

"Well, yes, but she's getting married soon, settling down having kids and all that. It's not all that unexpected, is it?" Ron shrugged.

"I'm sure she had her reasons," Hermione said quickly, glancing at the book and notebook in her hand. "Looks as if I have another book to shelve in my collection of old schoolbooks. To think, I'll never have to take it to class again. Rather depressing, really," Hermione decided.

"One less test we have to study for is all right with me," Ron said. "Although I have to admit, the idea of Snape designing this test doesn't exactly boost my confidence." Harry nodded at Ron emphatically. And he was the first to go through it. Tonight even! Harry sighed. "Nothing for you to worry about there, Harry, you heard what they said, you're at the top of the class, so you'll get through all right."

"I guess we're going to find out soon enough," Harry said.

Jennifer brushed her hair back from the strong wind, finally having to retie it as she looked at the clouds rolling over the hills in the darkening eastern sky. The colors of the sunset were now descending behind the rocky mountain range, and the long shadows finally disappeared into the twilight.

"I hope that storm holds back long enough for Harry to finish his test," Jennifer said as she climbed the steps onto the platform.

"Assuming he finishes," Severus said calmly from behind her. "I don't know, I should think a bit of a storm would make things much more interesting, don't you?"

"If he can't get through it, none of the others can," Jennifer said, "so if he doesn't, we really need to relax it a bit."

"Bite your tongue, we'll just mark it on a curve is all," Severus said.

"You'd be happy if no one got through it, wouldn't you?" Jennifer asked him accusingly, waving at Harry at the maze's entrance to let him know it was okay to start, glancing at her watch.

"Of course. The students need to learn the odds are always stacked against them in the real world," Severus said matter-of-factly. "They need to realize it some time, it might as well be here."

Jennifer just shook her head and didn't say anything, knowing there were some teaching philosophies they would never agree on professionally. Instead she turned her attention to Harry, who was already making a good deal of headway into the labyrinth, his natural instincts helping him keep one step ahead of everything Severus had thrown at him.

There had been no hesitation on the ghouls, werewolf, or the vampires, the double hexed reflective pool trap, or the groundboar pits, and Jennifer began to relax a bit. But then she noticed a strange look on his face that started to raise her concern her again. Something was bothering him, she realized, and she wasn't quite sure it was all about the Gauntlet.

Thunder sounded in the background as Harry leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath. How much more of this was he going to have to do, he wondered. It had been one booby trap after another since he walked in, and he was beginning to wear out. The troll, at least, had been easy enough to manage, until the two imps showed up and had fun tripping him up while the troll took shots at his head with his club. As bad as he'd imagined the test was going to be, he was learning quickly that this was far worse than he expected. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad if he didn't feel a strange weight on his head, growing steadily worse as he progressed. He had muttered the countercurse for a paranoia spell to no effect, so that wasn't it, nor did a clarity spell work either. He just couldn't help feeling that something was dreadfully wrong.

Well, time was ticking, and he needed to get going. He turned the corner to stop short, noticing a gooey liquid substance in his path. It could easily be any number of things, so he had no intention of getting into it. Casting a jumping spell on his feet he sprinted forward with the intention of jumping across, but just as he did, a pair of slime green hands leapt out and snatched him out of the air dragging him down into the liquid. Bog Wight, he remembered, trying to keep his head above the slime. Struggling, he broke his wand arm free of the sticky substance, pointing down at it. "Freeze!"

The Bog Wight, made of liquid, was highly susceptible to the cold, and as it froze it released its grip, the hands freezing just in front of him. Slowly Harry broke himself free of the ice and climbed out, lying down a moment. His head was throbbing now, and his scar was burning. He rubbed it distractedly, and suddenly got a strange vision. Surely there wasn't anything in the test that could do that! He was going to have to fight his way out, and fast, and warn someone. But what was it? The flashes he was getting were only showing darkness, and sounds, sounds of someone intoning a spell.

Harry scrambled to his feet, and hurried down the path until it opened into a glade. Lying beside a stream was a Unicorn, an arrow pierced in its leg, and it was looking up at him expectantly. Harry was immediately suspicious, remembering what Ron had done during the sparring tournament. Carefully he went around it, heading up a small knoll just beyond the glade. As he neared the top, a flash of light flickered from somewhere above, and Harry was relieved when he saw a large iron door, set into a tall wall of the Gauntlet, that was visible from the other side of the hill. He was almost there, and just in time, for the weight in his head was getting steadily worse.

Just as he was reaching the crest of the hill however, something rose above him and he recognized it at once as a beansidhe, floating above him in anger at her knoll being disturbed. Quickly Harry cast the Sonorous Shield around him, just as she opened her mouth in her powerful song. Now what was he going to do? He couldn't move forward inside the shield, for it wouldn't follow, and the furious Beansidhe wasn't about to let him cross her knoll. They were extremely territorial, and very hard to defeat. Only the sound of coral-bells, or several wizards working in unison, could possibly defeat one, and he certainly didn't have time to plant flowers. He also knew from Professor Craw that Mallus Craw was able to control them, but Mallus had an uncanny ability with sounds and was able to use them to his advantage.

Suddenly Harry looked up in surprise, gazing over the wall towards the Dark Forest, and the hills lying beyond it as lighting cracked overhead. Of course! Why hadn't he seen it before! Pointing at his head, he cast deafness his ears and launched himself towards the door. Traps and curses shot off around him and on his heels, the Beansidhe quickly caught up in them as he reached the door. It was cursed, he was sure, but had no time to mess with that now. Instead, he turned his wand back on himself, closed his eyes, and shouted, "Incorporeus!" and walked through the wall beside it. The bottom of his robe ripped as he came out the other side as the spell wore off, the robe getting caught in the hedge wall.

"What in the world was he thinking taking a chance like that?" Jennifer said in anger and surprise as she clambered down the steps.

"Well I have every intention of deducting points for it," Severus growled, pulling ahead of her trying to get to the boy first. But Harry wasn't at the exit. Instead he was running across the grounds towards the forest.

"Something must be really wrong! Where is he going?" Jennifer asked.

"I don't know, but I am certainly going to find out. Come on!" Severus said.

Ron and Hermione were just stepping out of Hagrid's when they caught sight of him, running to catch up.

"Hi, Harry! How'd the test go? Where are you going?" Hermione asked quickly as the got to the edge of the Forest.

"I know where the Tomb is. And Voldemort is there right now, I can feel it," Harry said, walking in the Forest.

"What?" Ron said, "And what, you were just going to go try and handle it alone? Without us? After all we've been through? Now that's gratitude for you."

"I don't want anyone else getting hurt," Harry snapped. "You don't understand. I have to go."

"We understand, Harry, but oughtn't we to tell someone? Maybe we ought to go get Dumbledore," Hermione suggested.

"How about Snape and Craw?" a woman's voice said from just behind them as the two Professors emerged from the mist. "You're not going in there without me, Harry. The Tomb is my responsibility, remember?" Craw snapped, frowning at him. "Where is it at, Harry, and how long have you known where it is?"

"The night the Plague spell was cast, Anna and Rosmerta found the remains of the Banshee on the hills between the Dark Forest and Hogsmeade. I think the reason she was killed wasn't that she wasn't just guarding the eastern edge of the forest; she was guarding Salazar's Tomb. Why else would a Banshee, not even native to this island, possibly have traveled here away from her own territory to take up residence here? Someone must have put her here, and the only one capable of that is someone we know was in the Tomb… Mallus Craw. Don't you see? All the poems talk about the darkest moment, the darkest place. It's always darkest before the dawn! And if you've ever seen the sunrise from the Owlery, you'll notice that the sun from Hogwarts comes up over those hills," Harry explained.

"To think all this time we were looking at it! I must have watched the sunrise from the parapet a hundred times," Jennifer said hitting herself in the head.

"Never mind that! Are you certain that Voldemort is there now?" Severus asked.

"This storm isn't normal, don't you feel it? And there's no rain, only wind and lightning," Jennifer told Severus. "Come on, we need to find a way to destroy the Tomb before he's able to use it for something even worse than he already has."

The wind howled around them as the five figures hurried through the trees. Severus had quickly taken the lead, knowing the Forest better than the rest of them, avoiding areas that would cause them delays and lairs best left undisturbed. The dark clouds were boiling overhead by the time they got to the outskirts of the hills.

"The Beansidhe seemed to stay closest to a rock quarry on the other side of the hill," Jennifer told Severus. "The entrance is probably somewhere near there, and it'll have been disguised to look like the rest of the area."

"He's near, he's still in there, I can feel it," Harry said. "I might be able to tell where the entrance is."

"All right, Potter, you lead. Wands out everyone, but don't use them until I tell you to," Severus ordered. Harry, Ron and Hermione got out their wands and stepped forward over the craggy surface, circling to where Jennifer, Sirius, and the others had been the day they met Pettigrew on the hill. So that's what he was doing up here, Jennifer thought, slightly irritated at herself. That meant it was possible that Pettigrew had been there as well, and he too may have learned the Forbidden Death spell. Jennifer sighed softly, and tried to concentrate on the moment. One thing at a time, she thought, carefully stepping down into the quarry itself.

Harry had stopped in front of a stack of four-foot blocks of stone, stacked at angles two blocks high in the back of the quarry, hidden by foliage that had begun to reemerge over the area.

"I think this is it," Harry said. Severus moved forward, muttering a spell as he touched the blocks searchingly. Finally he found a break in the stone and tapped it with his wand several times until he had mapped out a pattern. The stones rumbled as they broke apart, revealing a dark passage.

"All right," Severus said as everyone began looking at each other nervously. "I'll go in first, Craw, you bring up the rear. Jennifer, why haven't you got your wand out?"

"I returned the wand I borrowed to Dumbledore, remember?" Jennifer admitted.

"You mean you've been running around for two weeks without a wand?" Severus scowled at her. "All right, Harry, take the lead. Jennifer, you get in the middle. Let's go."

Even carrying the blue wisp lights, nothing seemed to cut through the pitch black that surrounded them. Harry kept the edges of the corridor within reach so he didn't miss any turns, but although the corridor itself wound about as it headed underground, turning sometimes in opposite directions than it was, there were no side passages to lead them astray. After what seemed to be an indeterminably long time of stumbling about in the dark, Harry stopped at an ornate archway, laboriously decorated with roman style pillars and grotesque gargoyles chiseled into the stone.

"There's something written here," Harry said, pointing by the arch, holding up the light. Severus and Jennifer stepped up to look at it.

"Beyond this arch lie the paths to darkness and death, beware lest they overtake you. Only those who have cheated death and faced their inner darkness may pass," Severus read. "That means Ron and Hermione will probably not be able to get through." Harry looked at the arch a moment before walking through it.
"Why don't you both take Ron and Hermione back? There's no reason for the rest of you getting involved," Harry said.

"Don't be ridiculous! Do you really think either of us would leave a student in this position?" Jennifer said going through the arch.

"Wait a minute… where do you think you-" Severus started, but was suddenly thrown back before he got underneath the arch. "That can't be right," he muttered, scrambling onto his feet. "That cannot possibly be right." Cautiously Ron tried to put his hand under the arch, but had it whipped back away from it. Hermione's hand did the same.

"Well, I suppose that settles it, doesn't it?" Jennifer said, looking over at Severus. "Someone has to go with Harry. I can't leave him to face this alone. Besides, I need to do this... for me. I'm the last Keeper, Severus. I need to help make sure this Tomb isn't used to do any more evil."

Severus looked at her for a long hard moment, his feelings for her evident on his face. Why did he feel as if he'd never see her again? But he knew as well as the rest of them did that they had to do this.

"At least take my wand with you," Severus said quietly, setting it down near the arch. "Can you Apparate past the arch?" Jennifer concentrated a moment before shaking her head. She knelt down and picked up his wand.

"Thank you, and don't worry. Just get those kids back and let Dumbledore know what's going on," Jennifer said.

"Just be careful, both of you," Severus said stiffly, looking back over at Jennifer. Jennifer had little doubt he would stop them if he thought he could. "I'm not sure I could live with myself if anything happened to you now."

"Wow, Snape, I didn't know you cared," Harry said, earning a quick elbow from Jennifer.

"Gryffindors," Jennifer snorted lightly. "We'll see you as soon as we can, with a story to tell, no doubt. Let's go, Harry."

"Take care, Ron, Hermione. If anything happens, let Ginny know I love her," Harry said.

"Just come back, Harry," Hermione said. Jennifer exchanged one last look with Severus before she and Harry headed into the darkness.

The cavern had stopped descending downwards, and had flattened into a straight corridor covered with stone brick. Suddenly Harry stopped, holding his wisp light up a bit. It was a side corridor leading to the right, extending into the darkness.

"Which way, Harry?" Jennifer whispered.

"I'm not quite sure. I think straight," he whispered back. "Is it just me or is the air getting heavy in here?"

"Yes, and it's getting warm," she agreed. "Come on, let's keep going," As quickly and quietly as they could, the two of them kept moving forward, further and further in. Jennifer couldn't imagine where they were in conjunction with the land above; she had quickly lost her sense of direction in the darkness. Suddenly she began to feel choked with dread, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. It was as if something in the darkness was waking something deep inside her, although she wasn't quite sure what it was. "I think we're getting close," she whispered. "We had better be careful."

"Yes, perhaps you had better," said a familiar voice out of the darkness. Harry and Jennifer quickly pointed their wands at the corridor in front of them as a figure appeared from out of a side corridor, someone that both of them recognized at once.

It was Peter Pettigrew.

Anna, Sirius, and Dumbledore had been in his study when Severus, Ron, and Hermione had come bursting in to tell them what they had found. Without a moment's hesitation, Dumbledore alerted McGonagall and hurried to Hogsmeade where several others joined them, meeting at the base of the hill. There, Dumbledore stopped and asked everyone to wait. All of them kept a constant eye on the open tunnel, but none of them went too near. Severus paced the ground nearby, kicking up the dirt, needles, and leaves that got in his way.

"We can't just stay here and watch," Sirius said, his face lined with worry. "They don't stand a chance in there alone."

"You would not be able to get in any case, Sirius," Dumbledore said.

"But Professor, I am pretty sure I can get through it," Anna said. "At least let me try to help them."

"No, Anna, although I know how you feel, for I also could pass that arch," Dumbledore said. "But going down there now we're more likely to put them in more danger than they are already in, as well as perhaps putting us in a position where we can not help them at all if we are distracted looking out after our own safety. No, it's best we wait up here just be with them in spirit." Dumbledore turned his gaze back to the entrance. He spared only a side-glance when Anna's form fell limply to the ground, then refocused his attention back on the Tomb.

"Wormtail," Harry said. "Don't come any closer!" Pettigrew lifted a hand and the corridor filled with light, momentarily blinding Harry and Jennifer as their eyes tried to readjust.

"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise! The famous Harry Potter, and the alluring Professor Craw. So you've come to seek the powers of the Tomb, have you? Too bad I've been ordered to kill you both," he said calmly, then turned to Harry. "Of course, you, Harry, seem to have escaped my notice and I failed to find you before you caught up with Voldemort, who's in the Tomb straight ahead… all alone. Pity, that." Harry squinted suspiciously.

"Go now, before I change my mind," Wormtail hissed. "You spared my life once, now I spare yours. Consider us even." Harry looked back at Jennifer, who nodded at him, her wand still aimed at Wormtail as Harry faded into the darkness. Pettigrew smiled thinly at Jennifer. "So, my dear, it seems Fate has brought us together again. I had little doubt it would."

"Back off, Pettigrew. I won't warn you again," Jennifer snapped when he took a step forward, stepping back in return.

"Or what? You'll kill me?" Pettigrew said in a mocking voice. "If you could kill me, you'd have done it by now. Tell me truthfully, Truth Seeker, can feel the call of darkness surging inside you right now? You're a Craw… surely you sense the hidden power that this Tomb has to offer. Mallus knew its power well. He learned very quickly how much it had to offer."

"Mallus went insane because of the power he found," Jennifer said, gripping her wand tighter. "The only power here is the kind that enslaves you to its own purpose. If you listen to it, it'll only consume you as well."

"The only thing I am consumed with at the moment is your presence," Pettigrew said. "Perhaps you haven't truly experienced the power of the Tomb yet. Come, I shall assist your education, Professor."

Suddenly the light went out, and Craw dove away from where she had been standing, tumbling into a roll against the far wall, hearing laughter.

"Nice try, but I see perfectly well in the dark," Pettigrew said. "Allow me to demonstrate. Crucio!"

Suddenly Jennifer found herself racked with an excruciating pain that caused her to drop the wand. It was so strong that she couldn't help crying out, lasting only handful of seconds but feeling as if it had been hours. Jennifer had experienced the spell many times before, but never had it felt like that. It had been as if several wizards had cast it instead of one.

"Now I think you're beginning to see. Dark magic has great power here, Jennifer, greater than many other places. You cannot survive any Dark spells cast upon you for long. But I am not willing to give up such a prize without giving you one last chance. You cannot win against me any more than that foolish boy who went off to try and kill Voldemort. Down here, we are the masters. Either join us or face permanent destruction." Jennifer reached in her cloak pocket and found herself holding something fairly round. Pulling it out, a bright light burst into the room and Jennifer was suddenly aware of Pettigrew standing above her. The heavy weight that had been on her mind quickly left her, and she felt free of the nagging voice that had been threatening to erupt inside her. Grabbing the wand she had dropped, Jennifer quickly turned it on him.

"Pedecrucia!" she called out, casting it at the dark wizard and scrambling out of the way as he too experienced a wave of pain, causing him to fall to the ground. Every time he tried to move, the pain would start again as the Reflex Curse kicked in.

"Jennifer! Foolish witch!" he croaked. "You have turned me away for the last time! Now, you will only face death!"

"That sounds like the preferable choice to me," Jennifer agreed calmly. "But if you'll excuse me, I have a student to find," she said, rubbing the glowing gem in her hand. At that moment, she felt quite close to her ancestors, Janus… even Mallus, stepping in corridors they once tread. Yet at the same time, she felt none of the darkness as before. Somehow the gem was helping shield the impulses that she had been getting. She stepped over Pettigrew's body and began to walk down the corridor.

"Wait!" Pettigrew's voice shouted behind her, and Jennifer cautiously looked back to see him fumbling for something in his pocket. "You will not escape me that easily, Jennifer!" Jennifer lifted the gem up just in time to see a phial crash against the wall and the cavern began to fill with a dusty cloud. Jennifer stepped back out of the cloud's reach, but was filled with dread when she realized it was Howling powder. The Reflex Curse would not be able to keep down the werewolf rising out of it. In fact, many of her wand spells would be useless on him in this form, but she wasn't about to give up yet.

"Claudere argentum mala!" Jennifer intoned quickly, pulling a tiny silver lock out of her pocket and throwing it at the beast. The lock suddenly seemed to open up as it hit him on the nose, forming a chain around its jaw several times and locking it tight. Pettigrew couldn't even bear to touch it, his eyes burning red with anger, mouth frothing through the muzzle in fury. He charged forward at an alarming pace, and even as Jennifer was pulling out a wolf bane potion he lunged at her, his front claw slashing her left hand and knocking the gem to the ground. The room became dark again and Jennifer found herself fighting something nearly three times her size. She barely had time to throw the phial in her hand before he ran his razor sharp claws deep across her abdomen.

She had felt no pain, only a warm rush, and from that she knew the wound was more serious than she would be able to sustain for long. But the potion she had thrown had also hit him, forcing Pettigrew to retreat from it. Jennifer had bought herself a moment, but only a moment. Voices out of the darkness were raging in her head, and she tasted her own blood on her lips as she tried to brush her hair away with her hand. You're not going to make it, she heard herself thinking. You haven't got a choice; it's either you or him now.

No, I can't do it, another part of her said, I can't kill, I won't!

You have to! Too many people are depending on you! The other voice said. You have to do it! She felt the claw rake against her again even as she was reached for the gem. It immediately lit up at her touch and another wave of strength went through her.

Enraged by the light, the werewolf grabbed her arm and smashed her hand against the wall so hard she heard the bones break, and she helplessly watched as both the gem and her Dragonheart Diamond hit the ground, the light dimming immediately afterwards. It was then that she realized there were some things she wasn't willing to give up, and to have them, she would need her life. Reaching in her cloak she found her dagger in her right hand, and with what little strength she had left, she pierced it through his heart.

Severus had suddenly drawn himself short of his pacing, his attention drawn to his hand. His face had become a pasty white, nearly the same shade that was now on his Dragonheart diamond. He shook his hand and looked at it again in total disbelief, a deep sweat on his brow as he noticed a faint crack in the center of the diamond.

"No… no, not here! Not now! Don't do this! You can't die now! JENNIFER!" Severus cried out as everyone turned to him in alarm in surprise. "I'll kill him for this, he's going to pay for this!" Severus snarled, launching himself at the entrance. But Sirius was a step faster than everyone else, blocking his way and wrestling him back as Dumbledore rushed over to help. Suddenly Severus Disapparated, leaving everyone looking around as if expecting to see him entering the Tomb.

"Minerva, go find him. Make sure he doesn't do anything foolish," Dumbledore snapped, before heading back to Anna's side, kneeling before her. But even though her form was resting peacefully, her spirit was not. And he was quite sure as long as she was with them, that there was still hope.

For Anna had done what she had in the past and followed Harry, acting as a shield that protected him from the effects of the darkness. And down below, a fierce battle had been raging between Harry and Voldemort as Harry attempted to stop him from gaining any further power from the Tomb. It hadn't taken long for Harry to realize that Voldemort's powers were even stronger there, heightened by the dark presence surrounding them, and even with Anna's protection he was having trouble trying to combat it. Suddenly, Anna's presence had begun to waver and Harry felt part of his protection leave. His head fogged slightly as Voldemort gathered a dark halo of mass between his hands and moved to strike again. Harry dove for cover behind the large stone sarcophagus that housed what was left of Salazar Slytherin. Voldemort, knowing better than to hit the sarcophagus with the spell, aimed instead at the pillars behind it, causing them to crumble and come crashing down on Harry. Harry dove a moment too late and felt one of the pillars land on his leg, pinning him down. He gritted his teeth, waiting for the rubble and dirt to stop falling on him from above the damaged pillars, but it didn't seem to be stopping. A cool laughter met his ears as Voldemort stood over his ancestor's grave.

"I knew that even with your mother's help, you would not survive down here. A spirit cannot stop physical pain. You are in pain, aren't you, Potter? I do hope so. You'll be feeling more of it soon," he smiled pointing the wand at him. But another figure had come to witness the battle, having crawled down the corridor from where the body of Pettigrew lay. And as weakened Jennifer she was, she hoped to have a little strength left to help.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Jennifer rasped. The pillar lifted only barely, allowing Harry to free his leg as Voldemort turned to see who was behind him. Jennifer was no longer capable of protecting herself, but she thought perhaps she could distract Voldemort long enough to let Harry do what he needed to do. Voldemort squinted at the fallen form by the door, barely able to hold onto her wand.

"Professor Craw!" Harry called out in surprise and horror.

"So it seems I get to see two of my enemies die at once. The two that dared to live," Voldemort laughed. "Both reduced to bloody rats at my feet. I think I might send your heads to Dumbledore in the Owl Post. Wouldn't that be amusing? So much for false hope and false promises," he hissed.

"No, you're wrong! It's over, Voldemort. This time you die for good!" Harry shouted as Jennifer blearily looked up to try to see the figure behind the Tomb.

"You fool! The only one to die will be you!" Voldemort said leaping on the sarcophagus and casting a spell at the boy. "Avada Kedavra!"

Just then, a magical force resembling an electric storm rose up from the sarcophagus itself and encompassed Voldemort, intensifying as the beam of the spell turned into a crackle of lightning that struck the dark wizard who had unleashed it.

Jennifer closed her eyes as a painfully bright light blinded the room and a terrible shriek worse than a Beansidhe cry filled her ears. Another flash of light flicked across Jennifer's face, and she opened her eyes to see Voldemort in flames. He raised his arm in one last vain attempt to vanquish his enemy, but the spell's beam forked again and struck the statue of Salazar. The statue began to crumble, collapsing right on top of Voldemort's burning remains.

A strange silence fell with his passing; a deep, internal silence inside the soul that had little to do with sound of the walls crumbling around them. Jennifer closed her eyes again, feeling relaxed and at peace for the first time in hours. She was barely aware that the rumbling noise was getting louder, although the feeling of rocks constantly hitting her face was decidedly annoying.

"Professor Craw! Professor Craw, please hang on!" she heard a familiar voice say, feeling herself being dragged. "Don't worry! It's alright! He's dead, he's gone for good now, everything will be all right."

"Harry? Is that you?" Jennifer murmured, opening her eyes slightly. "Harry, I'm not going to make it. You had better get out of here before the entire hill collapses."

"I'm not leaving you. You certainly wouldn't leave me here, and I'm not going to leave you here. Snape would never forgive me," Harry said, propping her up into a corner. "The ceiling's coming down any second, brace yourself!" he warned her. Taking out his wand he made a circle in the air, casting a shield spell. Dirt began to pile on top of it as the ground began to shake harder and harder. Harry leaned over Jennifer protectively as everything caved in, the shield spell miraculously managing to hold under the weight. Finally the ground settled and Harry sat up, checking to see if Jennifer was still breathing.

"Professor Craw! Can you hear me?" Harry shouted insistently. "Talk to me, please!"

"I'm here, Harry," Jennifer said, "although I can't seem to stay awake long. See if you can't reach in my robe pocket and take out a gem, it'll give you some light," she coughed, gasping for breath. "You know, I've had some close calls before but I think this one beats all," she said, almost fading out again. "Harry, maybe you had better let me go. You'll have a better chance getting out if you don't have to worry about me."

"This is totally unlike you, Professor! What ever happened to your never say die philosophy and no room for martyrs speech?" Harry snapped at her, sounding slightly angry.

"This is different. It's me this time," she chuckled weakly. "At least call me Jennifer. I really don't want to die hearing you call me Professor, thank you. Besides, you passed my course, so you're not my student now."

"Fine, I'll call you Jennifer, but you're not going to die," he insisted. He felt in her robe pocket for the gem and felt something else come out with it. As the gem lit in his hand, he saw it was her engagement ring, badly cracked in the center. Glancing at her face a moment, he put it back on her finger. "Here, you might need that soon. Don't forget, you're getting married in two weeks," he said, conjuring up some bandages.

"Poor Severus," Jennifer winced as he tried to get the bandages around her wounds. "I suppose I should have told him I loved him at the arch, but I didn't want to make a scene. He's sensitive about things like that."

"I'm sure he knows," Harry assured her. "Try to hang on. Don't forget, Severus went to get Dumbledore. If anyone can get us out of this now, it's going to be him," Harry said, privately wondering how long it would be before the shield spell gave out.

Above them, the tremors were felt by everyone nearby, tossing them around until the hill itself seemed to erupt. Clouds of dust began to shoot out of the entrance of the Tomb before it began to fall in on itself, the rest of the hill collapsing soon after. Deep depressions formed in the land surrounding where it had stood, uprooting trees and dislodging rocks, and filling the air dirt and debris.

At last, it settled. The small group of wizards who had gathered near what had been the entrance stood back up and brushed themselves off, releasing the spells they had thrown up to protect themselves from the fallout.

Sirius, still sitting with Anna's head on his lap, looked up at Dumbledore with fear in his eyes, and Dumbledore went over to her thoughtfully.

"No one could have survived that," Sirius whispered. It had been a soft whisper, but it was a whisper that everyone had heard quite clearly. Ron held Hermione tightly as she sought his shoulder, and Rosmerta appeared to be saying a soft prayer to herself. But Dumbledore's eyes turned to the sky and noticed something that had escaped everyone's attention; the storm that had been thundering over the hill had stopped, and through the dissipating clouds, Dumbledore could see a field of stars, shining through more brightly than they had for a long time. A flicker of fire drifted across those stars as Fawkes flew down, landing on his shoulder. Everyone looked up with surprise as Dumbledore pet his familiar with a smile.

"It would appear that Fawkes thinks that they're alive," Dumbledore said, glancing back down at Anna and Sirius.

"Both of them?" Sirius asked, inhaling sharply.

"Yes, and I know a way to find out for certain," Dumbledore said. He took out an ornate mirror over two hands in length out from inside his robe, and did something no one expected. He put his ear to the surface of the mirror.

"Here, Jennifer, try to take some more water. After all, you're the one that thought to pack it," Harry said, putting some to her lips. Jennifer reluctantly took a sip, instantly feeling nauseous.

"I don't think I can handle any more, Harry, thanks though," Jennifer said softly. "I didn't pack it anyhow, Severus did. He gave me the cloak."

"Remind me to thank him when we get out of here," Harry said.

"Harry," Jennifer said slowly, gathering the strength to open her eyes. "I don't think that shield spell is going to last much longer." Harry nodded gently.

"I know," Harry admitted, wiping off her brow.

"I have a polyform snake potion in the inside of my cloak. I would like you to have it," Jennifer said.

"Oh, no. I'm not going to have this argument with you again. Besides, think of everything you have to live for! In fact, I think you should take it," Harry said.

"Harry, at this point I doubt it'd stay in my stomach long enough to work," Jennifer explained, shaking her head.

"Very well, then, we'll stay together," Harry said stubbornly. Suddenly he looked around in confusion. "Do you hear that?"

"Harry, I can barely hear you," Jennifer admitted, closing her eyes again. "Hear what?"

"It almost sounded like Dumbledore, calling our names."

"Oh, I thought that was my father," Jennifer said. "But I suppose not, if you hear it too."

"Yes I hear it too! Dumbledore, where are you?" Harry said with mixed panic and relief.

"Jennifer, get out your mirror and give it to Harry if you can," said Dumbledore's voice. Jennifer winced as she slowly reached in her robe pocket and took out her folded yellow mirror, rubbing it fondly before handing it over. Harry opened it, seeing not only his reflection but the hazy, ghostlike image of Dumbledore.

"Professor Dumbledore! We're buried in the Tomb! We don't have much time left!" Harry said in surprise. "Jennifer… Professor Craw… she's dying."

"I know, Harry, please try to stay calm. I need you to do something for me. I want you, and Jennifer if she's up to it, to cast a Patronus straight up from where you are. It must be as strong a Patronus as you can muster, Harry. Let me know just before you cast it."

"Yes, Professor. Jennifer? Jennifer wake up, I've talked to Dumbledore, he needs us to make a Patronus."

"What, are we going to be invaded by Dementors? Tell him I'll pass this time around," Jennifer said weakly.

"Harry, put the mirror up to Jennifer's ear," Dumbledore said. Harry did as he was told.

"Now Jennifer, there are a lot of people up here that want to see you pull through this. Corey needs you, I need you, the whole school needs you, and Severus very desperately needs you. Harry is counting on you to pull through this, and I am counting on you too. Do you want Voldemort to have that last victory over us? Do you?" Jennifer shook her head. "Say no, of course not, Albus."

"No, of course not, Albus, sir," Jennifer said softly.

"Well, I suppose that will do. All right, Harry, whenever you're ready," Albus said. "Hang in there, Anna, we'll have them out soon," he added.

"Oh, is that who that is," Jennifer said, suddenly aware of the other presence that had been around Harry as well as herself. "I thought it was my mother."

"I know what you mean," Harry smiled, taking his wand in hand. He got out her wand, Severus' wand, rather, and put in her hand, quietly enchanting the magic sync spell. "Let's do it, Jennifer."

With the last of their strength, they pointed their wands and cast the spell, and a ray of light filled the tiny space and shot up through the dirt above. While on the surface, a spark of light pierced the darkness of a deer and a Unicorn over the line of the woods and close to town. Fawkes took off immediately to follow it, and Dumbledore rushed after, Rosmerta, Ron and Hermione close behind. Sirius gently picked Anna up and followed.

Below, Harry tried to gently shake Jennifer awake. Jennifer squinted as if the faint light of the gem was blindingly bright.

"Where am I?" she asked blearily.

"We're still in the Tomb, but don't worry, help is on the way," Harry promised her. "Any moment now."

"Thanks, Harry," Jennifer said, nodding slightly.

"For what?" Harry said.

"Being here," Jennifer smiled weakly. Suddenly they heard a noise from above, and Harry's heart sank, wondering if his shield was beginning to give at last. But then, just as he was ready to give in to his worst fears, the dirt and rock above them burst upwards, and the two of them watched in amazement as all around them the earth lifted as if gravity had no meaning and moved away to reveal a brilliant starry sky.

"Jennifer! Jennifer look! Over there, there's Dumbledore!" Harry stammered with amazement. For Dumbledore stood on the edge of the crater he had carved, and as the glowing light faded from around him, he and several others scrambled into the crater and the two found themselves surrounded by friends.

"We must get them both to the hospital wing at once," Dumbledore said, kneeling beside them, taking out a small phial and pouring it over the worst of Jennifer's wounds before getting out another for her to imbibe. "I could use your help with this, Rosmerta. Ron, Hermione, please pop back to the school let Madame Pomfrey know that we have wounded, oh, and will someone go to Severus and tell him that everything's all right?"

"Can I tell him?" A shaky voice asked from behind Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled and looked around to see Anna standing again, leaning on Sirius.

"Very well, Anna, you two take care of that. Although warn me next time you decide to take me so literally, if you don't mind," he said, looking over the frame of his glasses.

"It's a good thing I did, isn't it?" Anna asked pointedly.

"And no one can see how they could possibly be related," Dumbledore sighed, turning back to his patients.

A series of rapid sounds stirred Jennifer from her sleep, and she awoke in darkness. She suddenly started to panic before she felt hands gently press her shoulder back down on the soft surface. Candles lit up next her bed, and Jennifer was aware of someone beside her. Relief and joy swept over her as she moved towards him, but Severus firmly and gently laid her back on her bed with her hands at her side.

"Poppy said you're not to move. You're not going to make me restrain you, are you?" Severus said quietly.

"Something woke me up," Jennifer explained then noticed the bed next to hers.

Harry wasn't being forced to lie down; he was sitting up, watching something out the window. He was trying very hard not to watch the couple, looking out at the sky as bright lights flickered across his face.

"Harry, are you okay?" Jennifer asked weakly. Harry turned to her with a smile.

"Much better now, Jennifer, er…Professor Craw, I should say," Harry said, glancing at Severus.

"You can call me Jennifer, and damn anyone... the board, Dumbledore, or anyone else who tries to tell you different," Jennifer said, trying to sit up again and being firmly pushed down again. "What is going on?"

"Dumbledore and some of the other professors are sending fireworks off the castle towers. There's a great view from here," Harry said with a smile. "We were watching them when you woke up."

"I want to see," Jennifer whined, looking defiantly at Severus.

"Jennifer, it has barely been twenty four hours since you were pulled from that nightmare…"

"It's Jennifer's fireworks too, after all. I wouldn't have been able to do it if she hadn't taken on Pettigrew," Harry argued in her defense. Ignoring Severus protests, Jennifer tried to get up but fell out of bed when her feet couldn't carry her weight.

"I tried to warn you, but as usual, you have to do things your way," Severus scolded her. He then picked her up and carried her over to Harry's bed. "There, are you happy now? Madame Pomfrey will be having my head on a platter if she catches us."

"Lock the door," Harry suggested, turning to look at them with a grin.

"Harry, your scar! It's gone," Jennifer said with surprise, staring at him.

"First my forehead was popular for the scar, now it's popular because it's normal," Harry chuckled.

"Well, Harry, you're a hero now!" Jennifer said. "You won't be able to escape it ever again," she chuckled.

"Well, Jennifer, so are you," Harry said with a grin.

"Harry, I don't know what you told them but I will deny everything," Jennifer swore.

"Now haven't we already had the conversation about fame not being everything?" Severus wanted to know, looking at both of them.

"No, but love is," Jennifer decided, leaning back into Severus as she looked out the window. Harry smiled, nodding to her privately before turning his attention to the sparkling snapdragon fireworks that lit up the sky.

Around the country, Muggles stepped out of their houses to see the night filled with fantastic fireworks as they had seldom seen before, lighting up the sky as if it were New Year's Eve. There was a strange festive spirit in the air, one that had long been quieted, and, Jennifer hoped, would seldom be quieted again.