Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Harry Potter or any characters or places in this story, they belong to JK Rowling. I am making no money from this story.
Author's Note: Last show of my gratitude here. Thanks to paintingAmystery, next, Rachael, and Xkristy101 for your reviews. Without further ado, the ending.
Chapter 6: Prophecy Fulfilled
In the days to come many tales would be told. Some about the tragic loss of a beloved teacher and friend, or the overwhelming mass of Dark Forces and the bravery of the defenders. Many would tell of the different clashes that occurred on the grounds of Hogwarts. Even a few about a group of students who came to the rescue of their professors. But few of those witnesses would ever be able to find words worthy of describing the scene of terror that unfolded last, or understand the great melancholy that one person felt on the battlefield before the end.
The group of students gathered meters apart from their fallen friend wept openly now. Hermione turned to Ron and buried her head into his embrace as he stood shaking. Ginny had cast herself onto the ground trembling in despair. Even Draco Malfoy shed tears for what had just occurred. But none of them dared to look up from their grief at the person who was now wailing a few meters away.
On the ground before the Dark Lord he crouched holding his fallen friend. The tears burned as they streamed unchecked down his face. Here was another person taken from him at the hands of Voldemort. So much had he lost in the two wars against evil that he could no longer contain his sorrow. Now it all flashed through his mind. For years he had allowed himself only small amounts of mourning before he closed it up and moved on. James and Lily, and Sirius were gone now. He felt heartache for the Longbottoms, as he knew of their suffering. Even Wormtail was taken by the Dark Lord, although he was a traitor, he still felt pity for the man. Then there was Dumbledore who had placed a great trust in him as a young man. And now he had lost yet another for whom he had a great love, though he had never told him. The love that had always been a part of him was now brimming to the surface. He loved all of these people at some level. Remembering their sacrifices for him, the thoughts of the marauders and the closeness they had shared, and Sirius dancing around at Christmas, the sparkle that was ever present in Dumbledore's eyes, and the tales he had heard of his parents' love, all stripped away from him by Voldemort.
Harry cradled Remus' head to his chest. The sword still stuck out of his side at an odd angle. His own head was on fire, swirling with the emotion that poured from his soul. "Nooo!" he cried aloud, as if at his command the deed would be undone. At the last moment Remus had dove between Harry and Voldemort, receiving the stroke of the blade in Harry' stead. The air about him began to stir in a great torrent causing all things laying about to whip in circles around him. The earth trembled again that day. Voldemort was brought to his knees by the energy that abounded. And in that moment the key to Voldemort's defeat became apparent.
Stifling his tears Harry got to his feet. He concentrated on the love that he felt for all of his friends and family and poured it into his connection with his enemy. The scar on his forehead burned and split open at the force of the emotion, letting more blood trickle down his face. Still he did not relent. Voldemort could not resist the power of this new attack. He screamed in torment unable to defend his own mind or block out the emotion that overwhelmed him. He fell into the mud writhing in pain. The angrier he got the more it hurt until finally he broke. Only then did Harry release the connection, allowing himself to focus on his appointed task. There was no longer any reluctance over choosing between murderer and victim. Harry would do what was required of him.
With a wave of his wand he forced Voldemort to stand. He began to fall again but Harry bound him with the spell so that he could not crawl to the safety of the earth. His strength was renewed by his newfound power. "Tom Marvolo Riddle! You will now face me and bear the fruit of your hatred. For all that you have taken, the lives you have destroyed, the malice which you have spread, you will beg for the mercy before I am finished with you. Expelliarmus!" The force of the jinx tossed Voldemort several meters and forced his wand from his hand. Harry did not bother to catch the wand that had murdered and tortured hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people. Striding forward he raised his wand again and cast a wide golden red beam at his enemy. As he cast his final spell he reopened the bond between them, and pushed all of the love he felt through the connection. For a little more than a minute Harry held Voldemort under the curse, eventually causing his foe to lose all sanity.
Tom Riddle became the same frightened child he had been in a muggle orphanage so many years ago. Tears of blood seeped from his eyes and he wailed. "No! Stop! I can't stand anymore," he pleaded. "I'll do anything you want," but Harry knew his words were hollow, and that Voldemort was only concerned for his own life. If Harry were to let up Voldemort would somehow manage to come back again even more powerful. So Harry continued his assault. By forcing his emotions into Voldemort's mind he completely destroyed the man that occupied that body, leaving behind a mere shell of it's former self. Finally he withdrew the curse.
The scorched form of Voldemort fell finally to the ground quivering in shock. Steam rose from the body as the rain pelted it. It was true that the body itself could not be killed, at least not while Voldemort occupied it, but when Harry finished he had removed any part of the Dark Lord that had resided there. Now the shell was easily disposed of. With one final wave of his wand flames engulfed the empty snake like figure that had been Voldemort. Gold and Silver embers scattered into the air. Finally the storm was relenting. What had previously been a pounding rain now mimicked Harry's own responses. Slowly the beating torrents turned to a gentle drizzle even as new found tears slid down Harry's cheeks.
All eyes were now fixed upon him as the battle across the field had ended with the surrender of the few remaining Death Eaters before Harry had finished with Voldemort. An astounding silence had crept across the grounds. Harry turned to face his friends who had yet to fully grasp his victory. His eyes met each of theirs and held them steadily for a moment. A somber grin played upon his lips even he continued to weep. In the end they had lost so much, but they had found peace.
The group of students ran to meet him and tackled Harry in an embrace. At this sign all inside the castle and the defenders strewn across the field rose up in cheers of joy. Harry had never felt so much love at one time in his life before. He knew that it was the source of his greatest strength and so he reveled in it. He now had a chance for a normal life, or at least a life that he chose.
Harry looked at the ground where his friend and former professor lay. The sword was still sticking in his side. The joy that had filled Harry paused for a moment and then, Lupin breathed.
THE END
Author's Note: Last show of my gratitude here. Thanks to paintingAmystery, next, Rachael, and Xkristy101 for your reviews. Without further ado, the ending.
Chapter 6: Prophecy Fulfilled
In the days to come many tales would be told. Some about the tragic loss of a beloved teacher and friend, or the overwhelming mass of Dark Forces and the bravery of the defenders. Many would tell of the different clashes that occurred on the grounds of Hogwarts. Even a few about a group of students who came to the rescue of their professors. But few of those witnesses would ever be able to find words worthy of describing the scene of terror that unfolded last, or understand the great melancholy that one person felt on the battlefield before the end.
The group of students gathered meters apart from their fallen friend wept openly now. Hermione turned to Ron and buried her head into his embrace as he stood shaking. Ginny had cast herself onto the ground trembling in despair. Even Draco Malfoy shed tears for what had just occurred. But none of them dared to look up from their grief at the person who was now wailing a few meters away.
On the ground before the Dark Lord he crouched holding his fallen friend. The tears burned as they streamed unchecked down his face. Here was another person taken from him at the hands of Voldemort. So much had he lost in the two wars against evil that he could no longer contain his sorrow. Now it all flashed through his mind. For years he had allowed himself only small amounts of mourning before he closed it up and moved on. James and Lily, and Sirius were gone now. He felt heartache for the Longbottoms, as he knew of their suffering. Even Wormtail was taken by the Dark Lord, although he was a traitor, he still felt pity for the man. Then there was Dumbledore who had placed a great trust in him as a young man. And now he had lost yet another for whom he had a great love, though he had never told him. The love that had always been a part of him was now brimming to the surface. He loved all of these people at some level. Remembering their sacrifices for him, the thoughts of the marauders and the closeness they had shared, and Sirius dancing around at Christmas, the sparkle that was ever present in Dumbledore's eyes, and the tales he had heard of his parents' love, all stripped away from him by Voldemort.
Harry cradled Remus' head to his chest. The sword still stuck out of his side at an odd angle. His own head was on fire, swirling with the emotion that poured from his soul. "Nooo!" he cried aloud, as if at his command the deed would be undone. At the last moment Remus had dove between Harry and Voldemort, receiving the stroke of the blade in Harry' stead. The air about him began to stir in a great torrent causing all things laying about to whip in circles around him. The earth trembled again that day. Voldemort was brought to his knees by the energy that abounded. And in that moment the key to Voldemort's defeat became apparent.
Stifling his tears Harry got to his feet. He concentrated on the love that he felt for all of his friends and family and poured it into his connection with his enemy. The scar on his forehead burned and split open at the force of the emotion, letting more blood trickle down his face. Still he did not relent. Voldemort could not resist the power of this new attack. He screamed in torment unable to defend his own mind or block out the emotion that overwhelmed him. He fell into the mud writhing in pain. The angrier he got the more it hurt until finally he broke. Only then did Harry release the connection, allowing himself to focus on his appointed task. There was no longer any reluctance over choosing between murderer and victim. Harry would do what was required of him.
With a wave of his wand he forced Voldemort to stand. He began to fall again but Harry bound him with the spell so that he could not crawl to the safety of the earth. His strength was renewed by his newfound power. "Tom Marvolo Riddle! You will now face me and bear the fruit of your hatred. For all that you have taken, the lives you have destroyed, the malice which you have spread, you will beg for the mercy before I am finished with you. Expelliarmus!" The force of the jinx tossed Voldemort several meters and forced his wand from his hand. Harry did not bother to catch the wand that had murdered and tortured hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people. Striding forward he raised his wand again and cast a wide golden red beam at his enemy. As he cast his final spell he reopened the bond between them, and pushed all of the love he felt through the connection. For a little more than a minute Harry held Voldemort under the curse, eventually causing his foe to lose all sanity.
Tom Riddle became the same frightened child he had been in a muggle orphanage so many years ago. Tears of blood seeped from his eyes and he wailed. "No! Stop! I can't stand anymore," he pleaded. "I'll do anything you want," but Harry knew his words were hollow, and that Voldemort was only concerned for his own life. If Harry were to let up Voldemort would somehow manage to come back again even more powerful. So Harry continued his assault. By forcing his emotions into Voldemort's mind he completely destroyed the man that occupied that body, leaving behind a mere shell of it's former self. Finally he withdrew the curse.
The scorched form of Voldemort fell finally to the ground quivering in shock. Steam rose from the body as the rain pelted it. It was true that the body itself could not be killed, at least not while Voldemort occupied it, but when Harry finished he had removed any part of the Dark Lord that had resided there. Now the shell was easily disposed of. With one final wave of his wand flames engulfed the empty snake like figure that had been Voldemort. Gold and Silver embers scattered into the air. Finally the storm was relenting. What had previously been a pounding rain now mimicked Harry's own responses. Slowly the beating torrents turned to a gentle drizzle even as new found tears slid down Harry's cheeks.
All eyes were now fixed upon him as the battle across the field had ended with the surrender of the few remaining Death Eaters before Harry had finished with Voldemort. An astounding silence had crept across the grounds. Harry turned to face his friends who had yet to fully grasp his victory. His eyes met each of theirs and held them steadily for a moment. A somber grin played upon his lips even he continued to weep. In the end they had lost so much, but they had found peace.
The group of students ran to meet him and tackled Harry in an embrace. At this sign all inside the castle and the defenders strewn across the field rose up in cheers of joy. Harry had never felt so much love at one time in his life before. He knew that it was the source of his greatest strength and so he reveled in it. He now had a chance for a normal life, or at least a life that he chose.
Harry looked at the ground where his friend and former professor lay. The sword was still sticking in his side. The joy that had filled Harry paused for a moment and then, Lupin breathed.
THE END