J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and the Harry Potter universe. The plot is
mine, so please ask before posting to any other website. Thanks, enjoy,
and please review.
***
Paying Tribute
Chapter 4: The Pain of Letting Go
Harry, Ron and Hermione were barely managing to hold their own against Voldemort. They got a lucky break when the dark lord signaled his Death Eater servant to Apparate away, but Voldemort was stopping everything they threw at him.
Voldemort stood still, unmovable, casting spell after spell, while the three of them shifted around in what felt like a cramped hallway. At times, they kept Voldemort on his heels, able only to defend. When he was able to attack, they had to cast defensive spells and dodge curses.
For several minutes, the battle swung back and forth. Harry, racking his brain while trying to slip past Voldemort's defenses, realized that something would have to change, or Voldemort would overcome them before help arrived.
He surprised himself by figuring out how to do it. If he could muster the power to Apparate, then the Habita Duonem spell might do the trick.
It took another minute to realize that his plan would require him to sacrifice his life.
Harry had long felt that, in the end, he would be the one to face down Voldemort. Now that Voldemort had return to power, Harry knew that a sacrifice would, once again, be necessary. He would have to do it soon, before regrets, sadness or nerves stayed his hand.
"Guys, when he drops his wand, take him out."
Hermione was absorbed in holding up a shield spell, but she managed to convey her puzzlement through her clenched jaw. "What do you mean, Harry, when he drops his wand?"
Ron was a disbeliever as well. "He isn't going to drop his wand!"
"Yes he will, Hermione, you and Ron just keep watching, it'll happen."
The conversation came to a sudden end, as Voldemort caught Ron with the Cruciatus curse. Ron dropped to the floor, screaming in agony.
"Noooooo!" Hermione cried out, crossing over to protect Ron.
With Voldemort's attention elsewhere, this was Harry's moment.
Voldemort released the Cruciatus curse once he realized that Harry had Apparated. He summoned in his energies to try and detect Harry's presence, and was stunned to feel Harry standing right behind him. Too late, he only managed to turn part of the way around before Harry, with a swish and flick of his wand, whispered, "Habita Duonem."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harry Potter stood against darkness and won."
Sirius Black was leaning on the podium, using it to support his tall and wiry frame.
"Harry's mother and father were two of my best friends. I was there on that wonderful day when Harry was born. Lily and James Potter, knowing what kind of evil any child of theirs would have to face, went ahead and did it. Some thought they were crazy; why put an infant in such danger? I even raised the question with James while Lily was pregnant.
"James told me, 'What it comes down to is love. I don't know if evil can ever be completely vanquished. But I do know that love is the strongest thing there is. It grants happiness, where power only gives satisfaction. Lily and I are going to pour all our love into this baby. No matter what happens, we're doing the right thing.'"
Sirius paused, observing the impact of the weight of his words on those present.
"Of course, I still feel cheated. As many of you know, since my release from Azkaban, I've spent most of my time guarding Harry. I would have given up my life to save him. And it's not just because he's my godson. That boy had a way of winning over people.
"Harry is proof that James Potter had it right. Love is the strongest thing there is..."
He paused, hearing a sob from somewhere in the front row, from Ginny Weasley. She had held her tears back for too long, and Sirius' words seemed to push her over the edge.
"We all owe much to Harry Potter. Not only did he and his friends save us, he showed us the way to live."
With a wave of his left hand, Sirius conjured a white carnation into his right. He placed it upon Harry's coffin, and walked back down to his seat, head down.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ron, free of the Cruciatus curse, and was coming around. When he saw Voldemort was still standing there, he scrambled to his feet.
"Where's Harry?"
Hermione, gasping in shock, looked at Voldemort. It seemed unlikely that Voldemort could finish off Harry without making any noise, but Harry wasn't anywhere to be seen. Anger and rage washed over her face as she stood and faced him. "You killed Harry!"
Ron and Hermione were quickly back to dodging spells and casting shields, trying to stay alive. As they backed away from Voldemort, Ron asked Hermione, "What happened to Harry?"
Hermione had to duck under a Cruciatus spell before she could respond. "I don't know, one moment I was looking down at you, and the next moment he was gone."
Voldemort chose that moment to yell, "So, the all powerful Voldemort is afraid of an eighteen-year old boy?" Ron and Hermione stole a glance at each other, wondering why Voldemort was talking like that.
"Hermione, let's have a go at him from both directions. We've got to capture him once and for all, he's killed Harry." As Hermione gave Ron's plan a nod of approval, Voldemort stumbled, crying out, "Stop goading me, boy, or else your friends are going to suffer an eternity of torture." Voldemort stopped, his wand arm raised, but a look of utter bewilderment on his face.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other once again, baffled. "I figure he's lost it, Hermione. Maybe we can bind his body, or petrify him."
As they turned back to Voldemort, he straightened up, appearing to be back to his normal self. He pointed his wand toward Hermione and spoke. "Crucio."
Ron ran over to Hermione as she fell to the floor in agony. It wasn't until he was bending down to protect her that he heard Voldemort's screams. As he jerked his head up, he saw Voldemort, doubled over in agony and clutching his hands to his forehead, where a lightning-bolt shaped scar similar to Harry's was throbbing.
It took Ron a few seconds to realize that Voldemort had also dropped his wand. Standing up, without hesitation, he waved his wand at Voldemort, and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The green ray of light that leapt out of Ron's wand struck Voldemort in the chest, knocking him backwards and onto the floor. Mesmerized by what he had done, Ron began to shuffle over to where Voldemort lay.
Getting closer, he saw Voldemort's skin begin to turn gray and crumble away. As Voldemort's body vanished, something else remained, a body lay buried under a dark cloak. Using the toe of his shoe, Ron gingerly nudged the body over to get a look at its face.
Harry Potter looked back up at Ron, his face contorted in terrible pain.
"Harry? Harry, what happened?" Ron sat down and held Harry's head in his lap.
Harry's voice was frail. "You did it, Ron. You killed Voldemort. He's dead. You." Harry broke into a fit of rattled coughing.
"Harry, what's the matter? What's wrong?"
After a few more seconds, Harry could speak again. "Don't blame yourself Ron, you did a good thing. It was inevitable: once we shared the same body, Voldemort's fate would be my own."
Ron gasped, tears began to pour down his face, as he realized what he had done. "Harry, no, this can't be happening! I hit you with the Avada Kedavra curse? No, it can't be, Harry, please tell me it isn't true."
"It makes sense, Ron." Hermione, strong enough to stand up and walk over, was standing behind Ron, looking down at Harry. "You used the Habita Duonem spell, didn't you, Harry?"
"Standard Book of Spells, Book Seven. It was the only way to disarm him." Harry's voice was weakening. "You guys, I think I have to go now."
Ron was beginning to panic. "No, Harry, wait! Hold on, Dumbledore will be here any second, and we can take you up to the infirmary!"
"Ron, Hermione. Please remember that this isn't your fault. I made this choice, not you. I'll miss you both." Harry's eyes fluttered for a few moments before closing for good.
Ron's body tensed up as he stared into Harry's lifeless face for a few moments. Soon he was sobbing, his forehead resting against Harry's scar, with Hermione's arms wrapped him.
***
Paying Tribute
Chapter 4: The Pain of Letting Go
Harry, Ron and Hermione were barely managing to hold their own against Voldemort. They got a lucky break when the dark lord signaled his Death Eater servant to Apparate away, but Voldemort was stopping everything they threw at him.
Voldemort stood still, unmovable, casting spell after spell, while the three of them shifted around in what felt like a cramped hallway. At times, they kept Voldemort on his heels, able only to defend. When he was able to attack, they had to cast defensive spells and dodge curses.
For several minutes, the battle swung back and forth. Harry, racking his brain while trying to slip past Voldemort's defenses, realized that something would have to change, or Voldemort would overcome them before help arrived.
He surprised himself by figuring out how to do it. If he could muster the power to Apparate, then the Habita Duonem spell might do the trick.
It took another minute to realize that his plan would require him to sacrifice his life.
Harry had long felt that, in the end, he would be the one to face down Voldemort. Now that Voldemort had return to power, Harry knew that a sacrifice would, once again, be necessary. He would have to do it soon, before regrets, sadness or nerves stayed his hand.
"Guys, when he drops his wand, take him out."
Hermione was absorbed in holding up a shield spell, but she managed to convey her puzzlement through her clenched jaw. "What do you mean, Harry, when he drops his wand?"
Ron was a disbeliever as well. "He isn't going to drop his wand!"
"Yes he will, Hermione, you and Ron just keep watching, it'll happen."
The conversation came to a sudden end, as Voldemort caught Ron with the Cruciatus curse. Ron dropped to the floor, screaming in agony.
"Noooooo!" Hermione cried out, crossing over to protect Ron.
With Voldemort's attention elsewhere, this was Harry's moment.
Voldemort released the Cruciatus curse once he realized that Harry had Apparated. He summoned in his energies to try and detect Harry's presence, and was stunned to feel Harry standing right behind him. Too late, he only managed to turn part of the way around before Harry, with a swish and flick of his wand, whispered, "Habita Duonem."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harry Potter stood against darkness and won."
Sirius Black was leaning on the podium, using it to support his tall and wiry frame.
"Harry's mother and father were two of my best friends. I was there on that wonderful day when Harry was born. Lily and James Potter, knowing what kind of evil any child of theirs would have to face, went ahead and did it. Some thought they were crazy; why put an infant in such danger? I even raised the question with James while Lily was pregnant.
"James told me, 'What it comes down to is love. I don't know if evil can ever be completely vanquished. But I do know that love is the strongest thing there is. It grants happiness, where power only gives satisfaction. Lily and I are going to pour all our love into this baby. No matter what happens, we're doing the right thing.'"
Sirius paused, observing the impact of the weight of his words on those present.
"Of course, I still feel cheated. As many of you know, since my release from Azkaban, I've spent most of my time guarding Harry. I would have given up my life to save him. And it's not just because he's my godson. That boy had a way of winning over people.
"Harry is proof that James Potter had it right. Love is the strongest thing there is..."
He paused, hearing a sob from somewhere in the front row, from Ginny Weasley. She had held her tears back for too long, and Sirius' words seemed to push her over the edge.
"We all owe much to Harry Potter. Not only did he and his friends save us, he showed us the way to live."
With a wave of his left hand, Sirius conjured a white carnation into his right. He placed it upon Harry's coffin, and walked back down to his seat, head down.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ron, free of the Cruciatus curse, and was coming around. When he saw Voldemort was still standing there, he scrambled to his feet.
"Where's Harry?"
Hermione, gasping in shock, looked at Voldemort. It seemed unlikely that Voldemort could finish off Harry without making any noise, but Harry wasn't anywhere to be seen. Anger and rage washed over her face as she stood and faced him. "You killed Harry!"
Ron and Hermione were quickly back to dodging spells and casting shields, trying to stay alive. As they backed away from Voldemort, Ron asked Hermione, "What happened to Harry?"
Hermione had to duck under a Cruciatus spell before she could respond. "I don't know, one moment I was looking down at you, and the next moment he was gone."
Voldemort chose that moment to yell, "So, the all powerful Voldemort is afraid of an eighteen-year old boy?" Ron and Hermione stole a glance at each other, wondering why Voldemort was talking like that.
"Hermione, let's have a go at him from both directions. We've got to capture him once and for all, he's killed Harry." As Hermione gave Ron's plan a nod of approval, Voldemort stumbled, crying out, "Stop goading me, boy, or else your friends are going to suffer an eternity of torture." Voldemort stopped, his wand arm raised, but a look of utter bewilderment on his face.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other once again, baffled. "I figure he's lost it, Hermione. Maybe we can bind his body, or petrify him."
As they turned back to Voldemort, he straightened up, appearing to be back to his normal self. He pointed his wand toward Hermione and spoke. "Crucio."
Ron ran over to Hermione as she fell to the floor in agony. It wasn't until he was bending down to protect her that he heard Voldemort's screams. As he jerked his head up, he saw Voldemort, doubled over in agony and clutching his hands to his forehead, where a lightning-bolt shaped scar similar to Harry's was throbbing.
It took Ron a few seconds to realize that Voldemort had also dropped his wand. Standing up, without hesitation, he waved his wand at Voldemort, and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The green ray of light that leapt out of Ron's wand struck Voldemort in the chest, knocking him backwards and onto the floor. Mesmerized by what he had done, Ron began to shuffle over to where Voldemort lay.
Getting closer, he saw Voldemort's skin begin to turn gray and crumble away. As Voldemort's body vanished, something else remained, a body lay buried under a dark cloak. Using the toe of his shoe, Ron gingerly nudged the body over to get a look at its face.
Harry Potter looked back up at Ron, his face contorted in terrible pain.
"Harry? Harry, what happened?" Ron sat down and held Harry's head in his lap.
Harry's voice was frail. "You did it, Ron. You killed Voldemort. He's dead. You." Harry broke into a fit of rattled coughing.
"Harry, what's the matter? What's wrong?"
After a few more seconds, Harry could speak again. "Don't blame yourself Ron, you did a good thing. It was inevitable: once we shared the same body, Voldemort's fate would be my own."
Ron gasped, tears began to pour down his face, as he realized what he had done. "Harry, no, this can't be happening! I hit you with the Avada Kedavra curse? No, it can't be, Harry, please tell me it isn't true."
"It makes sense, Ron." Hermione, strong enough to stand up and walk over, was standing behind Ron, looking down at Harry. "You used the Habita Duonem spell, didn't you, Harry?"
"Standard Book of Spells, Book Seven. It was the only way to disarm him." Harry's voice was weakening. "You guys, I think I have to go now."
Ron was beginning to panic. "No, Harry, wait! Hold on, Dumbledore will be here any second, and we can take you up to the infirmary!"
"Ron, Hermione. Please remember that this isn't your fault. I made this choice, not you. I'll miss you both." Harry's eyes fluttered for a few moments before closing for good.
Ron's body tensed up as he stared into Harry's lifeless face for a few moments. Soon he was sobbing, his forehead resting against Harry's scar, with Hermione's arms wrapped him.