Disclaimer: JK Rowling & Warner Media own the rights to Harry Potter I'm just a fan.
Authors Note: Thanks to everyone so far who has supported my story by reading, reviewing, favouriting and following it.
A special thanks to the following people who are the latest people to follow, favourite and review the story: sfhkm, juliantoto, Dragonstar125, Anduriel Black, Something-PJO-Idk, Ryan Fausnaugh, Anonymous502296, lawrence3830.
Sorry about leaving you all hanging so long with the story, been a crazy few months. Hope you enjoy this chapter though and thanks again for the support.
Chapter Sixty Eight:
"Ah, there is nothing like a nice hot cup of tea on a quiet Sunday afternoon", Albus Dumbledore sighed in contentment as he dipped a custard cream into his china cup and quickly ate it.
A loud knock at the door interrupted the Headmasters peaceful alone time. Professor McGonagall was outside and from the feelings he could sense radiating from her it was clear that something big was going on which would require his attention. He sighed again, this time in disappointment and called out, "please come in Minerva".
The doors to Dumbledore's Office swung open to admit a flustered looking Deputy Head. Albus noted that Minerva's usually smart green robes looked ever so slightly ruffled and he raised an eyebrow at the unexpected sight. It was most unlike her to appear in such a fashion.
"Apologies for appearing so ruffled Albus", Professor McGonagall moved to stand in front of the desk.
Albus gestured to one of the visitors chairs. "Please sit down Minerva, you look exhausted".
Professor McGonagall sank gratefully down into a chair directly in front of Albus and muttered, "I feel it".
"Lemon drop?", Albus asked politely. His Deputy fixed him with a withering glare, "no thank you Albus, the situation is far too serious for lemon drops".
"How so?", asked Albus as he unwrapped his favourite sweet and popped it into his mouth, savouring the delicious lemony treat as he did so.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and said in a serious tone, "we have captured Bellatrix Lestrange".
Albus was so surprised at her words that he involuntarily swallowed the lemon drop whole and was forced to cough it back up to avoid choking. He dropped the sweet into the waste paper basket next to his chair and said in a hoarse voice. "Bellatrix Lestrange? how did she get in to the castle?".
Minerva looked furious. "She Imperiused your brother...".
Albus swallowed hard. "Aberforth", he breathed, "please tell me he is not hurt".
Minerva smiled. "Not to worry Albus. She tied him up and tortured him but he only suffered a broken nose, some cuts and one bout under the Cruciatus. Soon he broke free of the ropes once she had fled the scene and he sent a Patronus to warn me. It was how we knew she was entering the castle".
Albus breathed a sigh of relief at the news that his brother had not been hurt. "Where is she and where is Aberforth?".
"Aberforth is in the Hospital Wing being treated by Poppy, she estimates that he will be able to leave within a few days. As to that...that woman, she is being held in a disused dungeon room sealed with every holding spell possible. The room has been checked for secret passages to make sure it is secure".
Albus nodded in satisfaction. "I assume she is also under guard".
"By Kingsley, Remus and Sirius", she informed him.
Albus stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I'm not at all sure that Sirius is the best person to be guarding his cousin, much as I genuinely respect and trust him".
"I had a feeling that you would be concerned. It was the reason I immediately felt the need to speak to you. She was taunting him the last time I saw her but to his credit he was holding up", Minerva explained.
Albus stood up from his chair. "I will come at once to interrogate her. We must find out why she was here, it is after all unlikely that one of Voldemort's top Death Eaters would infiltrate this castle without a specific mission".
Albus and Minerva, quickly exited the office making for the spiral staircase that would, today, take them down to the Fifth Floor of the castle to thence continue the lengthy journey to the dungeons and their high profile prisoner. Their footwear caused an echo on the stone flooring as they hurried along. Soon, the pair reached the spiral staircase and stood on it as it took them down to their destination.
As the staircase moved Albus' mind was awhirl with thoughts, none of them good and all of them grim. Something in his gut told him that Bellatrix Lestrange was here for a special reason linked with Voldemort. He was only glad that the witch had been apprehended before any true damage could be caused.
"I said shut up!", Sirius snapped. His Cousin Bellatrix merely smirked at him. Sirius knew that was the response she had wanted from him but he just couldn't help it. Her snide remarks and sick jokes about Lily and James and threats towards Harry pushed him past breaking point.
Remus put a hand on his shoulder and whispered. "She's not worth it Padfoot, you know that".
Sirius blew out a breath and ran a hand through his curly hair in frustration, "yeah I know Moony. I just...I couldn't help it, not with her threats and remarks about the people I love".
Remus nodded in understanding. "Best to pretend it doesn't bother you for the time being. Get upset when we're out of here, don't give her the satisfaction", he advised.
Sirius considered this and then shrugged. "Fair enough, but maybe best if I guard the other end of the corridor instead". Remus smiled at this suggestion but just as Sirius was about to stride off two sets of footsteps caused the best friends to turn and stare at the figures of Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall as they appeared in view.
"Sirius, Remus. I'm sorry you've been landed this unpleasant duty", Dumbledore greeted them apologetically, "unfortunately all of our other Aurors aside from yourselves and Kingsley are patrolling Hogsmeade and the castle grounds".
Sirius and Remus waved away the apology. "Can't be helped. Glad you've arrived though", Sirius said to him. He gestured into the improvised cell at his cousin and said sarcastically "I've just had about enough of dear Cousin Bella's company".
Dumbledore nodded, patted his and Remus' shoulders and strode into the room as Professor McGonagall greeted them warmly, seeming just as ill at ease with their prisoner as Remus and Sirius were.
"Where is she?!", a voice yelled. Sirius, Remus and Minerva all turned to find Neville Longbottom standing in front of them, red faced and with a wild look in his brown eyes.
"Now then Neville...".
Neville shrugged off the arm that Remus had placed on his shoulder and yelled again, "where is that bitch?!".
"Mr Longbottom!", Professor McGonagall snapped, "mind your language!".
Neville ignored her and glared at Remus and Sirius. "She's in the room behind us", Sirius told him as he gestured a thumb at the warded doorway.
Without so much as a word Neville made to push past them and into the room. "Safest to stay out here Neville", Sirius warned.
Neville, using force none of them knew he possessed, whipped out his wand and used a spell to move them aside. He stormed into the room just as Dumbledore said, "enough of the sick jokes and smart remarks Bellatrix, why are you here?".
"Never mind why she's here, it's time for her to pay!", Neville roared. Quick as a flash he aimed his wand at Bellatrix.
Bellatrix cackled contemptuously and with some humour. "Aw ickle baby Longbottom wants to play!".
"Crucio!", Neville screamed in fury as he released seventeen years of pent up anger and sadness in one flick of his wand.
Bellatrix thrashed and panted in her chair, she even screamed at one point. Dumbledore pulled Neville back releasing the spell. "Mr Longbottom...Neville, I know why you want to punish Bellatrix and rest assured that she will be...dealt with", Dumbledore told the anguished young man, "but unfortunately we need her alive right now".
Neville sneered at the panting witch. "What possible reason could you have for keeping this...this vile thing alive?".
Dumbledore sighed and just as Sirius, Remus and Professor McGonagall entered the room he explained his reason. "Bellatrix Lestrange had a very specific reason for coming into this castle and we need to find out what that reason is before we deal with her".
Neville glared at Dumbledore and then at Bellatrix. He lowered his wand causing the witch to cackle and jeer, "ickle baby Longbottom hasn't got the guts!".
"Keep trying me you evil bitch and I'll forget to follow Dumbledore's orders!", Neville shouted as he used a spell to break her nose and then stormed from the room without speaking to anyone.
"Well that went well", Kingsley commented sarcastically once Neville had gone.
Dumbledore turned to the others. "Sirius please fetch Horace and ask his to bring a vial of Veritaserum with him if he would be so kind". Sirius nodded, stared daggers at Bellatrix and left the room not trusting himself to speak.
"And now we wait", Dumbledore said as he sat down in a chair. Kingsley and Remus chatted while keeping both eyes on Bellatrix. Minerva had her wand out ready for any funny business from the captive Death Eater.
A short time later, Sirius returned with a rather out of breath Professor Slughorn. "He ran here with me all the way when I told him how important it was", Sirius explained as the larger wizard with him paused in the doorway to get his breath back.
"Thank you for coming Horace", Dumbledore smiled at his friend and fellow professor once the large wizard had rested up.
Slughorn waved off his pleasantries. "Yes, well let us be done with this Albus". The man cast a concerned look over at Bellatrix Lestrange who was smirking at him. "I'd rather not be in same room as her for long", no one needed to ask who he meant.
Dumbledore nodded and gestured to Slughorn to step forward with the vial he clutched in his hands. Remus and Kingsley strode forward to stand behind Bellatrix as a precaution should she break free of her magical restraints. "Open her mouth please", Slughorn instructed.
The two wizards complied.
"She bit me!", Kingsley complained as he shook his hand about.
"Take the Veritaserum now, or you die", Remus growled at Bellatrix.
Despite Remus' threat it was still a struggle for the two men to pry her mouth open and keep it open long enough for Slughorn to administer the three drops needed to get the serum working correctly.
"You may begin questioning", Slughorn informed them. The large wizard then exited and room telling them, "I shall be outside if you need me further".
"We appreciate your help Horace", Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
The old wizard turned to face Bellatrix Lestrange and the twinkle in his blue eyes was gone, replaced with a solemn and business like expression that belied his anger and disappointment in her and her life choices. "Now then Bellatrix, I think it time that you tell why you entered this castle today. "What was the exact mission given to you by Lord Voldemort".
The witch tried to fight the serum but soon succumbed to it's overpowering effects and began to tell all in a hollow voice and with a glazed look in her usually hateful eyes. "I was tasked to infiltrate this castle and enter the room known as the Room of Requirement on the Seventh Floor. The Dark Lord, my Master, wishes me to find and retrieve the Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw".
Sirius snorted. "What a load of crap. The Diadem has been lost for hundreds of years".
"That is true", Dumbledore agreed. He fixed a penetrating stare at Bellatrix and demanded, "is the Diadem really lost?".
"According to the Dark Lord the Diadem of Ravenclaw was stolen by Rowena's daughter Helena the ghost of Ravenclaw Tower. She took it as she craved it for her own. Later, she met my Master and he persuaded her to hand over the Diadem to create a Horcrux with sealing a piece of his soul within".
Minerva gasped in horror. "To desecrate such an item...what foul magic!". The others nodded solemnly.
Bellatrix continued. "My Master then hid the Diadem within the Room of Requirement planning to retrieve it when it was safe to do so".
"But it never was", Dumbledore breathed. He turned to Remus and Kingsley. "Keep her secured here, let no one enter, not even if they look like us. We cannot afford for such an important lieutenant of Voldemort to escape". Both men nodded.
"What will you do now?", Remus asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "Minerva must return to her duties as Head of House and Deputy Head but myself and Sirius shall search this Room of Requirement and find the Diadem. We must find it, must know if it truly is a Horcrux. If it is then we shall destroy it and erase yet another piece of Voldemort from this earth forever".
"Good luck", Kingsley and Remus both wished them as Sirius and Dumbledore exited the room close behind Minerva.
"It's been so long since I used the Room of Requirement I've forgotten where it actually is", Sirius remarked as he and Dumbledore reached the Seventh Floor.
Albus smiled at his companion and murmured, "not to worry Sirius. I remember the precise location well enough".
"Glad someone does", Sirius quipped causing Albus to laugh.
After much walking and numerous twists and turns the pair of wizards found themselves facing a wall at the very back of the Seventh Floor, away from any rooms. "Ah, here we are if I am not mistaken", Albus commented.
"We must walk back and forth three times stating each time what we wish the room to be before the door shall appear", Albus declared.
Sirius snorted. "I do remember that much Albus", he replied. Albus' eyes twinkled in mischief, he had been unable to resist joking with the younger wizard.
The pair walked back and forth three times reciting their need for the place of hidden things. After the third pass, a large black door shimmered into view in the stonework.
Albus strode over to the door and tried the handle. It turned without effort. He pushed the door open and peered inside. He smiled at the sight that met his eyes, for within the room lay piles and piles of junk and lost or hidden items.
"We have found the Room of Hidden things Sirius", Albus chuckled. "The Diadem should be in here somewhere, provided it has not been moved since Voldemort placed it here".
Sirius peered past the older wizard and grimaced at the piles of forgotten and unwanted items that lay within. "I had forgotten how cluttered it really was in here", he said and added, "but then...I only ever used it once". He didn't elaborate on what he had used it for and it wasn't Albus business to pry.
"I think we have our work cut out for us. Perhaps best if we split up", Albus gestured to the left and suggested, "if you try over there and I check over here to the right then we should make some progress".
"Hopefully before we die of old age", Sirius quipped and strode off to the left leaving Albus standing in front of a large pile of furniture and other assorted objects so high in stature that it towered far above him, tall as he was.
"My Lord I bring urgent news", Severus Snape said as he bowed before Voldemort who was seated upon his throne, one hand clasped around his wand while the other stroked an arm rest.
Voldemort fixed his subordinate with a baleful stare through unlidded red eyes that seemed to pierce Severus' very soul. "It had better not be bad news Severus, you know I hate bad news".
Severus just barely managed to keep his emotions in check as he informed the dark wizard, "Bellatrix has been captured my Lord".
"Captured?", Voldemort asked in a deadly quiet voice. Severus nodded and waited for the inevitably furious response.
The wand was aimed at him. Severus braced for the impact and still only just avoided crying out in pain as Voldemort shouted, "Crucio!".
Severus twitched about on the marble floor as the spell tore through him turning him into a convulsing mess.
Severus had no idea how much time had passed. It might have been seconds or even minutes when Voldemort released the spell and allowed Severus to recover.
Severus lay on the ground panting and gasping as a guard thrust a goblet of water at him on Voldemort's instruction. Severus drank it greedily as Voldemort bid "rise Severus. Tell me what you know".
Severus shook himself, stood up and made his report to Voldemort wanting nothing more than to kill the evil wizard. "Bellatrix tied up and Imperiused Dumbledore's brother Aberforth into revealing a secret passage from Hogsmeade, more specifically in the cellar under Honeydukes. After she had left to enter through the passage Aberforth broke free of the binds which were too weak to hold and he sent a Patronus up to the castle to inform the professors of her planned infiltration".
Voldemort aimed his wand at a vase and yelled, "Bombarda!". The vase shattered into pieces while Severus shielded himself. "The fool!", Voldemort thundered in rage, "I set her the most important task possible and she fails at the first hurdle!". The evil wizard shook his head, "no matter. When we take the castle I shall punish her for her failure and she will be made to redeem herself".
Under other circumstances, Severus would have felt sorry for the person in Voldemort's crosshairs but given the fact Bellatrix Lestrange was that individual he could not muster up any sympathy. If anyone deserved punishment it was her, the evil cow.
"Severus, send the word. All my forces are to assemble outside the entrance to Hogwarts Castle. I shall meet you there as soon as I have conducted one final piece of business and I shall end Harry Potter and seize the castle that is mine by right as the last living descendent as Salazar Slytherin".
Severus bowed and left the room. He would give the order as instructed, but he would also find some way to warn the residents of Hogwarts in order for them to assemble their forces as well. He knew that if Voldemort found out it would mean his life but given how horrendous his life had become since June the previous year he felt that if he could do one last service for the light then he would be able to die happy.
He grinned briefly as he recalled what Gregorovitch had revealed of the Elder Wand and the other Deathly Hallows. Potter, he knew, had one of them in the form of the Cloak of Invisibility and surely by now had received or was about to receive the Resurrection Stone from Dumbledore. Severus thought on Dumbledore and realised that he missed the old man terribly despite all his meddling.
"At last!", Sirius cried out in triumph. Working from an old sketch of the Diadem, Sirius and Dumbledore had been searching through the piles of junk and lost items for several hours, so long in fact that Sirius thought it must be night time.
Sirius was starting to become despondent when, checking inside a rusty old cauldron he spotted a gleaming silver object containing colours of blue and bronze. "I think I've found it!", Sirius shouted over towards Dumbledore.
The old wizard emerged from a pile of objects next to a ratty sofa. He was covered in dust as he hurried over to where Sirius was perched on top of an old oak cabinet.
"Levitate it down and I shall examine it", Dumbledore instructed. Sirius duly did so and Dumbledore's face lit up as he examined the ornate metalwork and complex colours meshed with it. The old wizards face lit up in delight as he exclaimed, "well done my boy. Well done indeed, you have found the lost Diadem of Ravenclaw!".
"Yes!", Sirius pumped a fist into the air unable contain his jubilation.
Dumbledore extracted a large swathe of cloth from his robe pocket and, using his wand, carefully wrapped the item within it. "To keep it from causing trouble. The cloth had ward magic on it meaning I can carry it and avoid the effects of the Horcrux".
Sirius and Dumbledore hurried towards the doors of the Room of Requirement as Sirius asked him, "what now Albus?".
"There is not a moment to lose Sirius", Dumbledore told him. "We must take the Diadem up to my office and utilise the Basilisk fang to destroy the Horcrux and another piece of Voldemort's soul".
Sirius thought for a moment and then pondered aloud. "How many will we have destroyed once the Diadem is dealt with?".
Dumbledore ran the numbers through his head. "Five. We still need to retrieve the Cup of Hufflepuff from Gringott's and to eliminate Nagini, Voldemort's familiar".
"He turned his snake into a bloody Horcrux?", Sirius swore in disbelief.
Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed so. Life means nothing to Voldemort, only his quest for immortality is important to him.
As Sirius and Dumbledore reached the stone gargoyle that guarded the spiral staircase leading to the Headmasters Office, Sirius noticed that his Godson Harry was looking in both directions impatiently.
When Sirius and Dumbledore approached him Harry said, "at last, you're here!".
"Harry why are you waiting here?", Sirius asked his godson in confusion.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Pretty obvious Uncle Sirius, I was told by Remus and Kingsley that you were both looking for Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem and that it is apparently a Horcrux".
"They were supposed to keep it quiet", Sirius muttered.
Harry looked offended. "No offense Harry, just they should know better". His godson rolled his eyes.
"I assume that you wish to be present when we deal with the next Horcrux Harry?", Dumbledore said as more of a statement than a question.
Harry's eyes grew wide in amazement. "You mean to say you actually found it?".
Sirius grinned and patted his shoulder. "Sure did. Took a hell of a lot of searching mind you, that Room of Hidden Things is a veritable scrapyard".
"Harry would you please send a Patronus to Miss Lovegood, I believe she is friendly with the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw", Dumbledore requested of Harry. Harry gave the old wizard an odd look but did as he requested and soon his large stag Patronus was galloping past them off into the distance bearing the message to find Helena Ravenclaw and bring her up to the Headmasters Office at once for an important meeting.
Dumbledore gave the password and the gargoyle sprang aside as Harry, Dumbledore and Sirius stepped on to the moving staircase ascending up to the floor on which were situated Dumbledore's living quarters. The three men wasted no time in heading to the Headmasters Office.
Once inside the office Dumbledore placed a hand into his pocket, extracted the cloth wrapped Diadem and levitated it with great care over to his desk. "We must be ready for anything", he warned his two companions as he unwrapped the Diadem leaving it lying on it's cloth bed.
"To think that we've found something thought lost for nearly a thousand years", Sirius whispered in reverence which was equally shared by both Dumbledore and Harry who also gazed at the Diadem in amazement.
As Sirius continued to stare at the Diadem he felt drawn to it more and more, as if a voice inside his head were whispering "touch the Diadem. Touch it". Unbidden, his feet moved forwards as the warning voices of both Harry and Dumbledore were drowned out and Harry's shout of "stay back Sirius!", came from far away.
Sirius reached out a hand and touched the Diadem. The touch sent a jolt of shock through his arm and caused him to lurch backwards as his mind reeled from the horrifying images that assaulted it. Images the likes of his fights with his brother and harsh words to him. The violent arguments with his parents. Finding Lily and James dead at the house in Godric's Hollow. The death of his girlfriend Marlene McKinnon...
"Sirius!".
Sirius was pulled back to the present by Harry's shout of alarm. He shook his head. He felt disoriented. Felt confused. He remembered that he was in Dumbledore's Office for something important.
"We've all made the mistake Sirius", Dumbledore's kind voice assured him as Sirius ran a hand through his curly hair and shook his head.
"It was like nothing I've ever felt before", Sirius murmured, "the malevolence, the hatred...", his voice tailed off as Harry patted his arm.
At that moment the doors to the office sprang open to reveal Harry's friend Luna Lovegood standing in the doorway. Standing, or rather floating, alongside her was who Sirius assumed to be the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady.
"I managed to find Helena as requested Professor Dumbledore", Luna said with a smile, "she was hesitant but agreed to come with me when I explained about your plan to cleanse the Diadem of evil".
Dumbledore bowed in respect. Sirius and Harry followed suit. "Thank you for coming Lady Helena, please join us near the desk", Dumbledore said.
Luna and Helena moved over to where the three men were standing.
Helena gazed towards the desk and stared at the Diadem which had been the cause of her suffering. She said nothing.
"Sirius I think you should be the one to deal with this Horcrux", Dumbledore stated as he walked over to his desk, opened a draw and pulled out a large tooth. "This is a Basilisk fang", Dumbledore told him as he handed it over.
Sirius took the fang, stared at it for a few moments and then stared at the Diadem hesitantly. After his previous experience with the Horcrux he wasn't at all sure he had the nerve to eliminate the piece of Voldemort's soul. A hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned his head to find Harry smiling at him. "You've got this Sirius, no question about it. Just think about how much you want to destroy Voldemort and don't allow the Horcrux to trick you".
Sirius nodded, gulped, patted Harry's hand gratefully and then strode purposefully over to the desk to destroy the Horcrux.
As he reached the desk the voice in his head telling him he was unworthy. Telling him he wasn't a true Black. Telling him he'd failed Harry. Failed Lily and James. Failed Remus and Marlene. The voices were so intense he raised the fang ready to strike at the Horcrux and then faltered.
"Do it now Sirius!", three voices urged.
Sirius looked back at Harry, Dumbledore and Luna, their faces were full of encouragement and hope. Even the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw looked hopeful and encouraging. The four of them were counting on him on Sirius Black to bring the Wizarding World one step closer to ending the threat of Voldemort once and for all. He couldn't fail them now!.
Steeling himself against his nerves and against the negative voices being produced by the Horcrux, Sirius turned, raised the Basilisk fang high and in the air and yelled "take this Moldy Shorts!" as he thrust the fang down and into the Diadem.
A loud, ear piercing scream filled the air. Black smoke poured from the Diadem and soon disappeared into nothingness. It was over. Sirius had fought the voices and had fought his nerves and won.
Feeling exhausted, Sirius dropped the Basilisk fang onto the desk next to the smoke blackened Diadem and stumbled over to a chair in which he promptly sank down to rest as Harry, Dumbledore and Luna congratulated him.
"You have my unending gratitude Sirius Black", Helena stated before her ghost floated off out of the office looking quite content at last after so many centuries of despondency and guilt.
Sirius, Dumbledore and Harry relaxed in several comfortable armchairs as Luna followed Helena out of the office.
"With the Diadem dealt with that just leaves...the Cup which is still in Gringott's and Nagini...doesn't it?", Harry said.
"It does", confirmed Dumbledore with a smile. He added, "and once both of these Horcruxes are destroyed Voldemort will be mortal once again and vulnerable to being killed".
"We still need to retrieve and destroy the Cup of Hufflepuff", Sirius pointed out.
Harry blew out a breath. "And then...then it's all up to me".
Sirius patted his godson's arm reassuringly. "We'll all be with you at the final battle".
"How can you be so sure of that?", Harry asked him, "the battle could take place anywhere".
Their conversation was interrupted by an urgent, almost frantic knocking on the office door. The doors were pushed open and Harry's Uncle Jacob stepped into the room, his face deadly serious.
Jacob Potter strode over to the three men and eyed each one in turn before breaking news which struck to the very core of Harry's heart. "He's about to attack Hogwarts. Voldemort has ordered Severus Snape to send word to his Death Eaters, Vampires, Werewolves and other magical beings loyal or friendly towards him to assemble".
"How many days do we have?", Dumbledore asked seriously.
Jacob's face was drawn as he answered, "we have until the day after exams end which is next Friday. Two weeks time".
Sirius swore. Harry swallowed hard and Dumbledore looked grave as each of them took in the implication of this. In just two weeks Hogwarts would become a battleground between light and dark.
Dumbledore looked at each man in turn as he stated, "we must make haste in retrieving the Cup of Hufflepuff. Only once it and Nagini are destroyed will Harry be able to face Voldemort and finish this once and for all".