The Death of a Hero
Part Four

'How the hell did he do that' was the collective thought of everyone that watched Harry's miraculous escape. The only thing that broke them out of their stupor was the loud scream coming from the main hall. The Hogwarts staff quickly ran to the main hall to see Harry drop to his knees. The strange thing about it was the death eaters were just standing there, not doing anything. It was as if they were too afraid to face the man kneeling on the ground next to the decapitated body of their leader.

Ron, Snape, and Dumbledore quickly stupefied the death eaters who were too shocked to put up much of a fight. After all of the death eaters were bound they carefully approached Harry.

"What happened, Harry?" Dumbledore asked as he approached Harry making sure not to startle him.

"I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. It is now time for you to fulfill yours," Harry said as he stood up and faced Weasley and Snape.

'Potter can't die yet," Fudge thought. 'I need him to re-establish my control of Britain,' he thought desperately.

"You're innocent Harry, we can't kill you," Ron said as he finally realized what he had to do.

"You gave me a wizard's oath that you would kill me after Voldermort was defeated no matter how it ended. I expect you to keep your oath."

"I am afraid I can not allow that Potter," Fudge said as he finally figured out a way to keep Harry alive.

"You are obviously unstable, and will go to St. Mungus hospital until you are feeling better," he said smiling.

"I think that would be best for you Harry," Dumbledore agreed. "Azkaban has clearly taken its toll on you."

"The decision is not yours to make."

"Actually it is Potter," Fudge said smirking. "A wizard's oath is not valid if they are unstable. I herby nullify your wizard's oath."

"It was all a mistake Harry. In time you will come to realize that," Dumbledore said condescendingly. "Besides you are still needed to help restore the wizarding world."

"You are a fool if you think that I will help you spread more evil to the world."

"What are you talking about Harry? We may have made some mistakes but we aren't evil," Hermione said confused.

"How many times have you altered the memories of muggles, how many times have you allowed your wars to spill into their world? Their homes? How many have died because you were too afraid to fight your own battles? You are a plague on this world, destroying anything good you come across."

"Be that as it may Potter, you will still live, and you will help restore the British ministry," Fudge said walking towards Harry.

"I invoke the Zandoha," Harry said as if explaining everything.

"What are you talking about? What is this Zandoha?"

"It is from the old code," Harry said referring to old wizards laws that were in place before the forming of ministries. "Even after all of your corruption the old code remains true and unquestionable. It states that when a witch or wizard is wronged by another, that wizard must make reparations to the injured party."

"This is preposterous. That law is clearly outdated," Fudge said grasping at straws.

"That may be, but how do you plan to become the minister of magic if you do not obey the laws?"

"This can not be. There must be a way to contest this law," Fudge said desperately.

"I have been wronged by the entire wizarding world. The law is beyond contestation."

"We will see abo-" Fudge began.

"There is more," Harry interrupted. "I want you to exchange all the money in the Potter vault to British pounds. You will then give it to the Dursley's. After that the wizarding world will never mention my name again."

"Why would you want to give anything to those muggles?" Hermionie asked confused. "They treated you like dirt your entire life."

"I give them my fortune to repay them for never hiding how they felt for me."

"What about the fame Potter? I would think that would be right up your alley, adding to the Potter legacy," Snape finished with a sneer.

"Do you know of any other Potter to bring fame to?" Harry asked with a cold laugh. "I wish to be forgotten."

"Harry, what happened to the boy that wanted nothing more than to help others?" Minerva asked sadly.

"The same thing that happens to everyone else in this world that tries to help. He was used and destroyed."

"What will happen if we do not fulfill our promise?" Snape asked, for the first time speaking to Harry with respect.

"If I live then every witch and wizard in Britain will loose their magic, the punishment for disobeying the Zandoha."

Ron sighed and moved towards Harry. As much as he didn't want to kill Harry he couldn't live without his magic.

Snape also took out his wand and walked towards the savior of the wizarding world. He had finally realized that Harry was not his father. Unfortunately it was far too late to make a difference.

Ron raised his wand and began to say the words to the killing curse, "Avada Kedavara." Just as the words left his mouth Ron began to relive everything that he had been through with Harry. He remembered the first time that they met on the train, and all the adventures that they had been through in their years at Hogwarts, but one thing stood out in his mind. It was all the times that he had betrayed Harry, all the times he simply could not measure up to the type of friend that Harry was.

This was probably the hardest thing that Snape ever had to do. On the one hand Harry was the son of the man that he hated, but on the other hand he was also the man that saved the Wizarding world from quite possible the worst dark lord it had ever seen.

He slowly raised his wand and said the words that would haunt him for the rest of his life, "Avada Kedavara."

Two flashes of green light sped towards Harry, both hitting him in the chest. He didn't scream out like most people did when they were hit, instead a look of peace crossed his face. Harry slowly closed his eyes and smiled for the first time since he was put in Azkaban. As his body fell to the ground he was finally free.

~***~

Harry slowly opened his eyes to see a white light approaching him, but he wasn't afraid. The light was warm and inviting. As he began to walk towards it he could hear voices coming from within it.

"Harry, we've waited so long for you."

"We love you so much."

Harry knew instantly that these were his parents. He remembered them from the memories that the dementors forced him to live through over and over again. It was wonderful to hear them now though. His parents were not afraid, or screaming as he last remembered them, they were happy. They were happy to see him.

The End.

Well, there it is. Stay tuned for the epilogue that's probably coming out in the next few weeks.