Chapter Nine- The Power He Knew Not
Notes- Well, it's been quite the ride. July 28th to when I update the epilogue, which I'm going to make January 28th so I've been on this for six months. As I said last chapter, this is the end. I'm not going to put up the other ending just to make this all happy- because in reality there are no happy endings. So here we go- here's the end to the story.
Summary- A potions accident leaves Harry with his greatest desire—James and Lily, as they were before the fateful night of their death. However, he learns in time that this accident will be reversed in one week; so he has only a short time to get to know—and let go of—those he has once loved and will again.
***
~It does not do well do dwell on dreams, and forget to live.
~Do you think the ones we love ever truly leave us?
~Albus Dumbledore
***
Ginny smiled. "And I thought I'd made it clear that I'd follow you to the death."
A sudden snap from the woods behind them, and the six were bound in ropes. With horror, Harry look ed up to see Bellatrix grinning from a tree in the corner.
"And so you will, Ms. Weasley. You'll just be getting that death you keep bringing up."
***
"So this is the end."
The Dark Lord backed away from Lily Evans, smiling.
"If you three will excuse me, I have an appointment with destiny."
James slammed forward, his bonds sustaining him easily. The older man laughed, and walked from the room.
Each footstep he took, more darkness filled the world outside. The storm raged. People died. And he, Voldemort, was a step closer to the end of the war he would win.
Soon.
Entering the throne room, he looked about at the sight that greeted him- hundreds of Death Eaters all lined the room, along with what had to be thousands of dementors. Add those to the numbers around the world...
And in the front was his most loyal, his mistress, his Bellatrix Black-Lestrange.
Holding Potter.
A wicked grin streamed across his face. Hundreds shuddered at the sight; imagining themselves in the place of the boy before them.
Harry raised his head slowly, petrified by the sight that surrounded him. There was no escape for him, or his parents, or his friends—this was the end of the war. And Voldemort knew it.
Bellatrix let him go, and he stumbled forward to the Dark Lord. Silence reigned in the room. Only the steps of the Dark Lord, walking towards him, could be heard. He stood, ready to face death as his father had.
He rose his eyes to meet those that would condemn him.
"So here we are, at the end of all things," Voldemort whispered. But even the whisper echoed through the room. "...at the end of this war, at the end of this time, at the end of your life. But then again, they are all connected now, aren't they?"
He paused to look deep into Harry's eyes and chuckle.
"What did the prophecy say, that Dumbledore felt it so necessary to protect you so long? That this world has lost so many to protect you? That everything revolved around in this war?"
Harry gathered his energy to speak. "What's the point? This is the end, what's the point of giving you the satisfaction of knowing?"
The Dark Lord's grin faded a bit, and he backed off. "I've waited over fifty years to rule. The ideal I hold has waited thousands of years. What's a few extra moments if it will satisfy me?" He raised his wand. Harry braced himself and Voldemort laughed again.
"I'm not a fool, Potter. I know no pain to you will be your downfall. And I know it won't hurt you as much as what I have in mind."
He turned, and faced Neville, held by Rodolphus Lestrange.
***
"So this is it, hm?" Lily asked softly, not really caring which lover answered her. Or if she got an answer. She just wanted to talk, to pass the time, until the end happened.
James reached over and took her hand in his own, pulling her over to him in the process. He didn't speak.
"He's going to kill Harry and then us, I don't care what he says; he won't risk keeping us alive."
James pulled her so that she leaned on him. She closed her eyes gently.
"And we'll all be together in Heaven, won't we? All of us; and we'll have a giant party. The world won't matter anymore. We'll be happy then, after everything ends."
Severus looked away from the two and through the bars. "It must be nice to have something, someone to look forward to seeing."
James glanced to his former enemy. "Severus, everyone knows what you've done now. I'm sure that everyone will welcome you with open arms. Forget about the sins you've committed. If it weren't for you, we would never have gotten half as far as we did."
He smiled weakly and looked away once more.
James looked down to Lily in his arms, and smiled. "You know, Lils, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. And this is probably the most opportune time we're going to get."
Lily sat up and faced him, holding his hand. "What?"
"I know that you always wanted to have this a magical moment, but if this is all we get then I want to make it the best it can be. And even is our future is only a few moments, I want to share it when I'm promised to you."
Lily looked into his eyes; tears running down her cheeks.
"You know James, you've got the worst timing in the world."
He chuckled, tears brimming his own eyes. "I know, Lily. I know. But still..."
She nodded. "James, if you're trying to ask me to marry you, then just ask."
"Lily Evans, will you do me the honor of living the rest of your life promised to me?"
She didn't speak, simply rested her head on his shoulder. "Hold me until the end, James. Just hold me and make all of this go away."
Snape walked over to them slowly, and moved his hands under his cloak. He finally brought out a band, the same band that he had offered Lily that day long ago. "It would be my honor if you two would use this ring as a symbol of your promise."
James took it, and placed it on Lily's left hand.
***
"Crucio," Voldemort whispered, and Neville fell onto the ground screaming. Harry leapt forward and tried to hold Neville, but it didn't seem to matter. No matter what he did, it was only more pain for Neville. Finally he gave up, and fell next to his broken friend with a sob. The Dark Lord broke the curse.
Neville lay there blubbering, and Harry only moved his arms to hold his friend. "Neville... I'll tell him, I'm sorry..."
Neville choked. "No, Harry, don't give him that satisfaction... this will happen to us either way..." The Dark Lord laughed as Harry nodded. "Just... fight him, okay? Give him hell for us, Harry." He whispered with a soft snicker, imitating Fred and George.
"Perhaps another will change your mind then, Potter," he purred, and gestured carelessly to the group of Death Eaters.
Malfoy stood, holding Ginny.
Harry stumbled backwards as Ginny tried to fight her captor in vain. "Harry, listen to me, don't tell him!"
"Your choice, Potter," Voldemort whispered in his ear, raising his wand to her. "Just tell me the prophecy and end this all for all of you."
Harry looked, terrified, behind Ginny to see the others all there, bound, fear falling with each tear. "Ginny," he croaked, moving to her. "Ginny... I told you not to come, that if you loved me this would happen..."
Her eyes, glowing with tears, somehow smiled. "And I told you I would suffer a thousand lifetimes of hell to love you, Harry."
Voldemort's mouth opened, and he spoke the incantation.
Harry held Ginny as she screamed.
The curse lifted, and Harry spoke softly; looking into the horrified eyes of the one he loved.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."
The world stopped.
Harry smiled weakly, and nodded to Ginny. "It isn't worth it, Gin. I don't have to deny it anymore now."
"What?" She replied, frozen by the revelation.
"I love you."
***
"It's quiet..."
James looked down to Lily, who he'd thought was sleeping in his arms. "Yeah, it is."
"Is it over?"
Neither answered.
***
Every student in Hogwarts was gathered in the Great Hall, awaiting news- news that would change their lives, either way.
Even the ceiling of the Great Hall was dark. People clung to one another, not talking, only praying for the news that would never come.
***
The Ministry workers hadn't had a chance to escape.
They all huddled in the lobby, watching the fireplace, not knowing what would come out next.
They waited for anything, even death.
***
The patients of St. Mungo's all waited in their rooms, allowing death to overtake them.
They had all been preparing for death since they had entered.
***
Led by candlelight and a smaller man, Dumbledore found his way down the empty corridor and to the only occupied cell.
The three occupants glanced up for death, and were greeted with life.
***
"Don't you think that he was a bit foolish to leave no one guarding our cell?" Snape asked his mentor.
Dumbeldore sighed. "He has them all gathered upstairs to bear
witness to the end of the war if they aren't out in the world right now. Trust me, no one is planning on leaving on a
rescue mission with the state of the world right now."
"It's that bad?" Dumbledore nodded.
Peter Pettigrew looked away. "He has the world now. And when the killing curse lands on your son..."
James stood slowly and glared at his friend. "Why should we trust you?"
Dumbledore placed an arm on the small man cowering before him. "He suffered so much, Severus. And he is only risking by bringing me here." James and Lily looked away. They had forgiven him in their minds, and he knew it.
"You four should go. Get upstairs, and wait in their rooms. It will be the safest place for you all until the end."
James shook his head. "Where are you going, Albus?"
"Upstairs. Harry will die if I do not go."
"And you think that we aren't coming?" Lily asked gently. "If he loses, then won't the world? He needs the help he can get. We're going with you." Severus and James nodded. Peter looked sick to his stomach.
Dumbledore turned to hide the tears in his eyes.
"There are no people I would rather go to the end with besides you four, my friends."
***
"So that's the big secret. That we will bring one another's death." He laughed. "Cliché, Potter."
He stood slowly, letting go of Ginny's hand. "Not my choice."
Voldemort raised his wand. "You should thank me, Potter. If you won, then you'd be immortal. You would never be able to spend eternity with the ones you claim to love."
Harry moved in front of Ginny, shielding her. He closed his eyes. "Let it end. The fight is over. Just let it be quick for everyone."
"As much as it pains me to admit it, I admire you, Potter. And I will grant you as much."
And he spoke the words that would bring the end.
***
The door flung open, and the four people froze at the sight of Harry being engulfed in green before them.
Lily screamed and fell to her knees as James let out a deep breath. Pettigrew turned and threw up as Dumbledore took only a single step back.
Harry looked up, as the breath escaped his lips. Looked from his parents to his friends to Ginny...
He opened his mouth but nothing came out. No air was entering. He was falling.
But I'm not dead.
Through the window he saw the darkness roar, and dive; felt the world dying beneath him.
Voldemort let out a triumphant yell, and the dementors surged forward to him.
But I'm not dead.
He moved slightly in his mind, but his body didn't obey his command.
But I'm not dead.
But I'm not dead.
"But I'm not dead."
***
"Expecto Patronum," Harry whispered, not even holding his wand. "Expecto Patronum..."
Harry couldn't see. All he could make out was a glowing white shape, thrusting itself all around, fighting back the crowd of dementors and Death Eaters.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him up. "Here," Dumbledore's voice said harshly. "Your glasses."
Harry put them on, and looked before him.
Thousands of figures; Death Eaters, dementors, giants... all fleeing from the center of the room. In the center was his patronus.
A dog.
Sirius.
He turned to see his friends all against the wall with shock, and his parents with Snape and Pettigrew. Repressing the urge to lash out at the smaller man, Harry faced the headmaster. "How am I alive?"
Dumbledore looked up to him. "I don't know, Harry. I'm assuming that it has to do with the 'power he knew not' from the prophecy, but I'm not sure..."
Although terrified of the answer, Harry asked. "What do I do now Professor?"
"We end this." Voldemort said from the center of the room.
He stood there, wand in hand, Sirius' form at his feet. The patronus was dead. And Voldemort was angry, facing Harry with malice and hatred.
His men formed a circle around the group and the wall that they occupied. They were trapped.
Harry moved forward, fighting against his fears and the whispers of the people behind him.
Voldemort watched as Harry met him in the center of the room. "Winner takes everything, Potter."
Harry nodded. "Winner takes this world."
A soft glow covered him, and Harry felt comforted. He felt the warmth he'd felt only in his dreams when his family held him.
He felt love cover him, protecting him from any spell that Voldemort could throw at him.
Voldemort went straight for the kill, and Harry simply raised a hand to deflect the green light that surrounded him. He froze, and yelled out something before apperating with a bang.
His minions did not move. They remained there, watching, afraid of what would happen if they took his life in their hands or even tried. Harry turned.
"What now?" He yelled, and Dumbledore smiled.
"End it."
Harry closed his eyes. "Take me to him," he whispered under his breath. "Take me to the end."
The dead obeyed, and lifted him to Godric's Hollow, where the end awaited.
***
The darkness stopped, and people began to flood from their sanctuaries. The streets lined with people watching the sky, waiting for word on the destiny of the world.
***
"I know you're here, Voldemort." Harry spoke softly. "Let's end this."
Voldemort came out from behind a tree, and into the clearing where Harry's house once stood.
"So this is what it comes down to. What the future of everything comes down to."
"What do you mean?"
The older man laughed. "Can't you see? Can't you understand why you're alive?" Harry looked at him, and he laughed again. "You survived when you were a child because of what you and your friends call 'love'. The killing curse lingers on you. And tonight proved it. You are covered in the curse, and it is trying to complete still, Potter. Once the prophecy is fulfilled, the power will fade away because it won't be needed any longer.
"Once the prophecy is fulfilled, the love saving you will go away. And the curse that it saved you from will be free to take you."
Harry remained silent. Because, all along, he knew it.
"Will you kill me, Harry Potter? Will you give up on life, to be immortal? As long as our battle rages, you will live with those you love. That's what you want, isn't it?"
***
Ginny led the crowd of people I love down the hill.
I looked up to them and smiled.
I blew a quick kiss to her, but she already knew.
She knew all along.
This wasn't the end, but the beginning.
***
Notes- I wish for you all to read the notes at the bottom of the epilogue as to why this ended the way it did and why I only put this ending up. Basically, my uncle fell ill with cancer when I started this. As it progressed, so did this story. And this story will end this week. Unfortunately, so will my uncle's life. It made me realize that sometimes, happiness will not be evident. And you will find a new beginning 'in every darkness' as Marnie (Wolfmoon, author of In Every Darkness) would say.
So here's the end. And the beginning. Epilogue will follow.
Who knows what tomorrow holds
Laying in my bed tonight
Who knows what doors will open
When the eyes of life loose sight