Title: Elementals of Magic: Prophecy of Lies

Author name and e-mail: mistykasumi at SeducerofFantasy@hotmail.com

Pairing:  Harry/Draco

Summary: A 7th year contest causes Harry and Draco to bond, setting off a prophecy long ago stopped by the interference of Sirius Black. A prophecy that told of Voldemort's destruction.

Rating: PG-13

Category: Action/Adventure/Romance

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters and objects. They belong to J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros, and anyone else with copyrights. I, however, do own the plot of this, and any original items, characters, spells, and other objects do belong to me.

Dedication: IcyEyes202, for being a dear!

Homepage:

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Chapter 32

The Final Battle

When Victoria entered, she immediately took charge of sleeping arrangements.

"Remus, there's five bedrooms in here, right?"

"Yes."

                She thought for a moment.

                "Harry and Draco, the two of you can have one.  Remus and Severus," here, she glared at them pointedly, "you two can share one.  That leaves three.  Narcissa, Flora, Albus, the each of you can have one."

                "And what about you?" Narcissa asked.

                "Me?" Victoria said, and she laughed mirthlessly.  "Do I look like I need sleep, Narcissa?  All of you, you are free until I call for you.  I suggest that you go to your rooms and put things in order."  With that, she left the house, leaving the seven lesser Elementals standing inside.

                "Well, what are we waiting for?" Dumbledore asked jovially.  "Why not do as Victoria says and set our things in order?"  His eyes twinkled towards Severus and Remus especially.

                The seven split for their rooms.

***

                Severus and Remus entered Remus's old room uneasily, each avoiding the other's gaze.  Remus set a small bag on his dresser while Severus sat on the bed awkwardly.

                "So…We're supposed to share this room," Remus began uncomfortably.

                "Yes, we are," Severus replied, looking Remus straight in the eyes, and he realized once again how beautiful they were, hazel with flecks of amber within them.

                "And there's only one bed in here," Remus continued, eyes averted.

                "And you're suggesting what, Remus?" Severus asked roughly, and Remus was startled because Severus had not called him by his first name since that night.

                "We…would have to share the bed because neither of us is going to sleep on the floor," Remus finished, raising his eyes to meet Severus's.

                "And why could neither of us sleep on the floor?" asked Severus coolly, his eyes still on Remus's face.

                "Severus, it would be very awkward for either one of us to sleep on the floor, and you know it.  I promise that I won't invade your side."  Severus noticed a tired look to Remus's face, and he knew that he was part of the cause.

                "Remus, I…" Severus started, and then he choked.

                Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

                "Come in," Remus said, and Draco's head appeared.

                "I don't know if this is a bad time or not, but Victoria is ready."

                "We'll be right there, Draco."

                The blonde nodded and closed the door.

                "Let's go, Remus," Severus said, and he stood up.  Remus followed him, wondering what he could have wanted to say.

                They found Victoria in the field in front of the house, and the grass was sprinkled with blood in another design.

                "Form a circle around the design, but do not smear it in anyway," Victoria said, and they obeyed her.  Victoria took her place at the head of the circle.

                She started chanting in Chinese, and all eight signets started to glow gold.  Then, a stream of golden light shot from each signet to a point above the symbol of blood, and the ball of gold started to grow bigger with each passing second as Victoria chanted.

                Then, there was only gold in front of their eyes, and when the gold subsided, a white book lay on the ground in the center of the symbol.  Though it seemed ordinary, it held an aura of extreme power.

                "That's it.  Thank you."

                "That's it?" asked Draco a bit disbelievingly.  "And what will you do with the book?"

                "This book is the book of Ethereal Magic, and it can only be accessed in one way.  The Chinese symbol for sky must be drawn in the Elemental Dragon's blood, and all the Elementals must be assembled around the symbol for the summoning to work.  What will I do with it?  I already have a spell in mind, and I only need to look it up."

                "So this is all we do?" Severus asked.

                Victoria nodded.  "Yes.  But without any of you, the summoning cannot be completed, so do not think that you didn't play a major role in this.  Thank you, and I suggest that all of you keep away from the battle."

                She picked up the book and then left for the house, and the other seven followed her in.

***

                "You are telling me that they escaped?" Voldemort asked coldly.

                "Yes, Master," the Death Eater said, groveling at his feet.

                "And you let them."

                "Sir, we could not break through the shields they had on.  But I saw them riding away on a flying snake-shaped creature with a really large mane-filled head."

                A flying snake with a really large mane-filled head.  How pathetic the fool is with descriptions.  He can't even tell a dragon when he sees one, especially the noblest and most powerful of them all—a Firewind Dragon.  Any competent Wizard would be able to feel the energy radiating off the creature.

                Voldemort gestured to Wormtail.

                "Crucio!" the rat squeaked, and the Death Eater screamed in pain.

                "Curse him until he passes out," Voldemort said, and he left the chamber.

                He had underestimated Victoria, not knowing that she was the Dragon Elemental, which would explain why she had won their Founders' Pride.  And that meant that his sister was also here and waiting for him to arrive.

                Voldemort turned into his chamber, and he felt Tom struggling.

                Why now?  You know you cannot win.

                The struggle subsided, and Voldemort laughed coldly.  "Face it, Tom, this is my body now."

                He entered and picked up a book bound by what appeared to be black leather but was actually the skin of a basilisk coated with dragon oil.  He opened the book and flipped through the pages, then a long white finger shot out and landed on a page.

                This should be just fine for my purposes.

                Please don't hurt her, please.

                Too late for that, Tom.  She's involved with my sister, and I cannot forgive her for that.

                And just what did your sister do?

                She betrayed me.

***

                "Severus, what did you want to say to me?" Remus asked as soon as he shut the door.  He turned to look at Severus, who was once again sitting on the bed.  He had his face turned away from Remus.

                "Severus?" Remus asked uncertainly, and he took a step forward.  Severus remained silent.  "If you won't talk, then at least listen to me.  I have something to say to you."

                Severus turned his head towards Remus.

                "I'm sorry."

                And Severus stared at Remus, shocked, for a very long time, which made Remus extremely uncomfortable.  Then, he said, "No, I'm sorry."

                Remus could not believe what he was hearing.  Severus was apologizing to him.  "It was my fault, Severus.  I should have trusted you enough to tell you what I am instead of having you find out at the risk of your life.  I betrayed your trust."

                "You may blame yourself, Remus, but I'm also guilty.  I betrayed your trust as well.  I should have listened to your explanation, but I didn't.  I left you because I was so hurt and angry about you not telling me the truth, and then…"

                "Because of me, you accepted Lucius's offer to join the Death Eaters.  And all of this," Remus gestured to their surroundings, "is my fault.  If I had trusted you, you wouldn't have been caught, much less be there in the first place."

                "I probably would have joined as a spy anyway, Remus."

                "Why are you telling me this, Severus?" Remus whispered.

                "I could ask you the same thing, Remus.  But while I was in there, I realized that I needed to make it up to you because I made life hard for you, especially four years ago.  So I promised myself that I would apologize to you if I survived," Severus replied quietly.

                "Is that the only reason?" asked Remus.

                "No," Severus murmured.  "I…I still love you, after all these years, and I couldn't have you hate me for the rest of both of our lives."

                "I…I love you too, Severus.  I never stopped loving you, even after you left me.  Four years ago was so hard on me…To be so near you but not able to touch you or caress you or kiss you.  And when you found me with Sirius at the Shrieking Shack…I thought that everything was truly doomed because it looked as if I was with Sirius, as if I was over you.  This year, he tried so hard to seduce me, but he never succeeded because I love only you and will always love only you."

                "Does this mean that we can try again?"

                "I'm willing if you are, Severus."

                And then Severus had his lips on his and his hands in his hair, and he pulled them onto the bed.  When they broke up, Remus looked at Severus.

                "That means yes, right?"

                And Severus responded by meeting Remus's lips with his.

***

                "So they are back together."

                Which means that all the conditions have truly been met.  My brother will come now.

***

                Surprisingly, Voldemort did not attack during the night.  Three occupants received a good night's rest, and four occupants received an extremely well night's rest.  The other did not sleep at all.

                The next morning was beautiful, white clouds lazily drifting about a pale blue sky.  A light breeze ruffled the grass, but a sense of foreboding hung heavily in the air.

                Victoria stood at one end of the field, eyes busily scanning for any sign of Voldemort.  The others were scattered around her, intent on watching the battle and helping if necessary.

                All of a sudden, without warning, Voldemort appeared.  He cast a look at the field, and his scarlet eyes narrowed.  He then looked to the opposite end, where Victoria stood.

                "Your signet was extremely helpful, and I trust that you wanted me to find you."

                Victoria did not reply, but slowly, a ball of gold energy appeared above her heart.

                Voldemort's eyes narrowed, and a ball of green energy appeared in front of him, and it was growing faster than Victoria's ball of energy.

                "You can't win, Victoria.  I've been practicing Apocalypse Magic longer than you've been practicing Ethereal Magic."

                Tom could see that Victoria was losing, and he struggled against Voldemort, though he could feel Voldemort pushing down on him, suppressing him, suffocating him, and he knew that if he fought now, he would lose.

                Tom stopped struggling, and Voldemort seemed satisfied.  He concentrated on collecting the energy for the spell, and Tom could feel strength draining out of Voldemort and himself gaining strength slowly.  And right as the spell was to be completed, Tom gathered all his strength and will and burst up against Voldemort.  He could feel Voldemort lose control for a second before he was once again pushed down, but it was enough.  The ball of golden energy shot towards them, and the next second, Tom was in control.

                Victoria ran towards him and pulled him away, and he saw the others staring at him.

                "What is it?" he asked.

                "He's gone now.  You have your old body again," she said.  And then she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face against his robes.  "I missed you."

                "I missed you, too."

                Meanwhile, two others were standing on the field.  "I cast a spell that would let Dragon Goddess and Dragon Soul take their own forms so they can battle it out themselves."

                Dragon Goddess stood tall and proud, black hair cascading down her back and brown eyes sharp and kind, though they also held betrayal, pain, and anguish within them.  She was dressed in a rough robe made of what appeared to be the pelt of a werewolf.

                Dragon Soul stood opposite her, black hair neatly framing his weary face and brown eyes also filled with betrayal, but more than that, something akin to madness.  He was also dressed in a robe made from the pelt of a werewolf.

                "Hello, brother."

                "Sister, how good to see you again."

                And the next thing they knew, Dragon Goddess had shot a beam of white light from her heart to his.

                "Congratulations on your magic, sister.  You're stronger than last I remembered."

                "When you left, I had not even started learning magic yet."

                "Ah, but your time in her body…"

                "She won by herself, brother."

                And then, Dragon Soul stumbled back and clutched his heart.  He looked at his sister, who had tears rolling out of her eyes.

                "How…how could you still love me after all that I've put you through?" he whispered.

                "How?" she replied through her tears.  "No matter how much you hurt me, I still remembered the beginning, before you left.  And that gave me hope and belief and strengthened my love for you until I could no longer dampen my feelings.  I love you, no matter what."

                Dragon Soul clutched his heart harder, and he fell onto his knees.  When he raised his head, tears shone in his eyes.

                "Stop this, please," he replied, anguished.  "Don't' let me feel all this, don't."

                "No, I have to," Dragon Goddess answered painfully.  "I have to let you feel what I felt, all the pain, grief, but most importantly, my fatal love."

                Dragon Soul bowed his head, and they stood like that for several hours.  Dumbledore's eyes were devoid of their usual twinkle; Harry and Draco had their arms around each other, Draco's head against Harry's shoulder; Severus and Remus's hands were intertwined as they silently supported each other; and Tom and Dragon Star, her head against his chest, arms around each other, and heads turned to watch Dragon Soul and Dragon Goddess battle.

                Finally, Dragon Soul raised his head, and twin rivers ran down his face and onto the grass.  "Don't anymore, Dragon Goddess.  I…I still love you.  Please stop the spell, you're breaking my heart all over again."  He then turned to look at them.  "Tom, I'm sorry for taking over your body and manipulating and controlling you.  Dragon Star, I apologize for robbing you of your life and your family.  I know the mark of an oath when I see one.  Harry," he paused, then plunged on, "I'm sorry for killing your parents and making you an orphan.  Draco, I'm sorry for tearing your family apart, and the same thing to you, Narcissa.  Severus, I'm sorry for hurting you almost beyond repair."  He turned to look at Dragon Goddess again.  "And sister, I apologize for being so foolish and not believing you."

                The beam of white light disappeared, and Dragon Goddess rushed over to her brother.  They wrapped their arms around each other, and she kissed his tears away.

                "It's over now, it's finally over," Dragon Star whispered.  "She cast a soul bond with Ethereal and Soul Magic so that he could feel what she felt, feel all the anguish and betrayal and pain that he put her through.  She flooded his stone heart with so many emotions that they overwhelmed him and cracked the stone shield he put around his heart to expose his true heart.  And by making him feel, she saved him."

                The two stood up, and they faced the onlookers.

                "It's over.  You've won," Dragon Goddess told them, and then, they turned to each other.

                "We've done it.  We're back together again, and we can finally catch up," she whispered to him, and then, she buried her face in his robe.

                He pulled her close and looked up at the sky.  "She's come to honor your passing, sister.  Your test was to save me, wasn't it?"

                A huge shape loomed over them, and then, a Firewind Dragon landed, bigger than any they had yet seen.  Her sheer size covered half the field, more than twice the size of any other Firewind Dragon, and she radiated power and wisdom.

                "The First," Dragon Star whispered, and she, Dragon Goddess, and Dragon Soul immediately knelt in deference.

                "Congratulations, granddaughter," the First spoke, though Draco understood it all.  "You have finally accomplished what was prophesized all those years ago, and none of it was easy on your spirit.  Had you not believe, your soul would have been broken long ago."

                "Yes, grandmother," Dragon Goddess replied reverently.

                "Grandson, you recognize your wrong?" she asked sternly.

                "Yes, grandmother.  I should never have doubted her…I never should have put power above my own sister, the one person that I ever truly loved," he replied quietly.

                "Good.  You finally realize what you should have done, what you lost by doing what you did.  She never gave up on you, and she did save you in the end."

                "I know, even though I hurt her so much.  I owe her so much.  I owe her her life, her happiness, everything.  I caused all of this, with my distrusting and suspicious heart."

                "I am glad that you recognize your wrong, and you can reunite with your sister now.  Dragon Star," she continued, and Dragon Star bowed her head even more, "you have finally finished your terms of the oath."

                "I know, Mother," she whispered.

                "You know what is to come."

                "I embrace it.  Life means nothing to me anymore, even though Tom is back.  I have no place in this world at this time."

                "I am glad you are willing.  And Dragon Heart," here, she turned to look at Draco, who promptly imitated the others and dropped to his knees, "ah, you know a bit about the rituals.  Congratulations on a job well done with the Initial's child.  The two of you are truly well-matched, though I never did realize how far the Primary's child would take things, but she is a bright one, and Dragon Heart, obey your second mother well."

                "Yes, Mother," he murmured.

                The First turned back towards the other three.

                "It is almost time.  Do your last things, and then, you know what will happen."

                Dragon Star stood up and then went to Tom.

                "You see our son?  He has grown up to be a fine man, Tom.  Take care of him, will you?"  And then she leaned in and kissed him gently before walking away and back towards the other two, who had not moved.

                Suddenly, a bright golden light filled everyone's vision, and when the light subsided, four Firewind Dragons stood in front of them.  Two of them immediately intertwined with each other, and one went up to Tom and nuzzled him, then said, "Remember that I always loved you, and I always will."

                She then turned to Draco.  "Good luck, and I suggest that you look up eternal soul bounds for you and Harry."

                She flew towards the other three waiting dragons, and they were out of sight within minutes.  The sun shone brighter than ever, the sky was clearer than ever, and the war was over.

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Thanks to:

Unintentional Nightmare – Sad-D?  Me, too, usually, but this one came out…not too angsty.

Valerie – Typed your name Victoria, for some reason…This fic must be getting to my head.  I couldn't kill Sevvy, I like him too much!  hehe

And all readers!