The Epitome
of Mankind
and Fulfillment of the Light Within
Harry sat down in the Headmaster's chair, it struck him that the ceiling was very dark, just as his mood… he didn't want much out of life, just a regular one, he never had wished to fight, he wanted to begin his life anew. He had seen into the pit of despair, both in death and in life, it was enough for him. If it wasn't for Hermione, he would never have made it this far, he looked at a possible future without her, it seemed dark and dank… she was the light and guide in his life. Everything up to this point… all the battles… all the pain he had felt, he only fought to keep them together, to allow them to have peace for the first time in their lives since Hogwarts. So he could lead a normal adult life, get married, have kids, a job… or, Harry smiled at the thought, start a business in something like the Weasley twins. But that wasn't appealing as much as Headmastership and becoming an Auror, although during these times it seemed slightly less appealing… especially with Fudge heading up the Ministry. Harry shivered to think of dealing with Percy… he hadn't thought of Percy in a long time… it seemed as though Percy had become a non-entity. Which he had since he had cut off all contact with everyone during the past two years, even though Harry had been cleared of everything, Percy had refused to apologize to his parents… to Harry this was sad, he wished he had parents to apologize to, but no longer could he have this. Harry began to think of how everything had started, from Hermione asking him about Trevor to thwarting Voldemort for the first time… The Chamber of Secrets… finding out Sirius was his Godfather, the Tri-wizard Tournament and the Order of the Phoenix… the death of Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore… all the Order, it made Harry extremely angry to think about… 'How dare anyone think they are so great that they can decide who lives and dies, to take over people…' Harry thought angrily. Harry felt cold… he knew this feeling… but it was impossible, he had released all the Dementors… Harry looked up his gaze penetrated the castle to the outside grounds, 'Dementors…' thought Harry, "… but that's impossible…" Harry got up and started outside, but stopped, this was very strange. Harry suddenly had an idea, just in case…
'Fawkes!' Harry called. Fire appeared just above him, 'Follow me,' Harry finished then continued outside as Fawkes burst into flames.
Harry saw the Dementors, but they were different, Harry sensed it somehow… these were not like the defeated Farrak, there was no… goodness in them, no hint of changing… they were flanking someone, whose robe's darkness was only matched by its cold nature, Harry could tell this person had no kindness in him or her, just hate and apathy. Harry also knew it was a Shadow… one of them anyway, it was hard to know which was which, he doubted this was Ahriman… Harry sighed, he knew that it was time to face them, Harry buried his hand in his cloak, ready to fight and hopefully find out what happened to and where Hermione was taken.
"What do you want?" snarled Harry angrily.
"Same thing as you… to exchange one hostage for another," replied Shadow.
"What hostage and how do I know you will hold up your end?" snapped Harry, knowing who this hostage was going to be…
"Hermione Granger," came the Shadow's predictable answer, Harry couldn't refuse this one, he had to do something… but what?
Harry saw the Dementors, but they were different, Harry sensed it somehow… these were not like the defeated Farrak, there was no… goodness in them, no hint of changing… they were flanking someone, whose robe's darkness was only matched by its cold nature, Harry could tell this person had no kindness in him or her, just hate and apathy. Harry also knew it was a Shadow… one of them anyway, it was hard to know which was which, he doubted this was Ahriman… Harry sighed, he knew that it was time to face them, Harry buried his hand in his cloak, ready to fight and hopefully find out what happened to and where Hermione was taken.
"What do you want?" snarled Harry angrily.
"Same thing as you… to exchange one hostage for another," replied Shadow.
"What hostage and how do I know you will hold up your end?" snapped Harry, knowing who this hostage was going to be…
"Hermione Granger," came the Shadow's predictable answer, Harry couldn't refuse this one, he had to do something… but what?
Something occurred to Harry, "What do you want in trade?" he asked.
"You," replied the Shadow, "Finally we will have rid ourselves of our last irritation."
"Last?" Harry asked.
"The Ancients are weakening, soon they will have been destroyed as well, but we are patient," replied the Shadow.
Harry realized something… "If you'll release Hermione… I'll come peacefully," he finally said in a defeated voice.
The Shadow gave an evil smile, Shadow covered Harry…
Shadow lifted and they were standing in front of the Riddle's house, "Why here?" asked Harry as he looked around, all the Dementors were gone, Harry wondered why .
The Shadow gave a smirk, "That is something that you wouldn't understand," he answered.
"Well then, where is she?" asked Harry.
"Around," replied Shadow.
"You're not for answering questions are you?" commented Harry.
"No, we're not," replied the Shadow, who then smirked, "But then again… think of where we come from."
"Very true," snapped Harry, "Why don't you answer my question? Perhaps you don't have the answer."
"Questions are plentiful… answers are few," answered Shadow who started for the Riddle mansion, "Now follow me."
Harry sighed as he followed, 'This is ridiculous… what do they want in the first place?' Harry mused.
Something occurred to Harry, "What do you want in trade?" he asked.
"You," replied the Shadow, "Finally, we will have rid ourselves of our last irritation."
"Last?" Harry asked.
"The Ancients are weakening, soon they will have been destroyed as well; we are patient, we will wait," replied the Shadow.
Harry realized something… "If you'll release Hermione willingly… I'll come peacefully," he finally said in a defeated voice.
The Shadow gave an evil smile, Shadow covered Harry…
Shadow lifted and they were standing in front of the Riddle's house, "Why here?" asked Harry as he looked around, all the Dementors were gone, Harry wondered why.
The Shadow gave a smirk, "That is something that you wouldn't understand," he answered.
"Well then, where is she?" asked Harry.
"Around," replied Shadow.
"You're not for answering questions, are you?" commented Harry.
"No, we're not," replied the Shadow, who then smirked, "But then again… think of where we come from."
"Very true," snapped Harry remembering they were of Michael, "Why don't you answer my question? Perhaps, you don't know the answer."
"Questions are plentiful… answers are few," answered Shadow who started for the Riddle mansion, "Now, follow me."
Harry sighed as he followed, 'This is ridiculous… what do they want in the first place?' Harry mused.
The mansion was bigger on the inside than on the outside, Harry realized the Shadows had modified it. But he wondered what their fascination with this place was; he hoped he would live long enough to find out. The Shadow led him down a very long hall with many doors, "Why can't I feel Hermione anymore?" asked Harry.
"Because, we wish it so, thus we block your connection," replied the Shadow. Harry knew he was getting closer, he was starting to penetrated the darkness, he was close to finding Hermione; he had to do it soon, if he didn't, he was in trouble. He was almost certain the Shadows wouldn't hold up their end… but if he knew where she was he had a chance to rescue her. Harry increased his efforts until his brain started hurting, still he kept searching. He was getting closer, but it was still out of his reach, but he knew as long as he kept it up he would eventually break through. Harry barely paid any attention to where they were going until they reached a circular room in which was seated a dark figure that was familiar.
"Ahriman…" Harry muttered then said in a strong voice, "YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE."
"What I have done matters not, you will never be able to touch us," sneered Ahriman, "You are a mere pain in our side, not a critical… variable in our equation."
Harry snorted, "Yeah, sure, that's why you went through all that trouble… and failed to either apprehend or kill me," he commented sarcastically. The room went darker as Ahriman looked angry, but immediately covered it.
"A mistake to trust this job to a human," Ahriman replied, "The Shadows should have taken care of it."
"So, tell me, how much of the world do you control now?" Harry asked.
"Much of it… if not all of it," replied Ahriman, "Now, I know you are so anxious to find out how your fiancé is doing…"
Harry immediately looked suspicious… why was Ahriman bring it up? This was interesting, the other Shadow wouldn't tell Harry anything… now Ahriman was actually the one to bring Hermione up.
"She'd better be okay…" Harry snarled.
"Ooh, don't worry about her, worry about you," commented Ahriman, "See, whatever we did to her will seem merciful compared to what we're going to do to you."
Harry gave a humorless laugh, "I don't care what you do to me, I'm only concerned for her welfare," he replied, "Her aside; I would have destroyed you long ago. I've had that ability for the past few months. But, because of her, I have kept it hidden."
Ahriman nodded, "Really?" he asked sounding unconcerned for the most part, "I'm sure you do. Not that it matters, you have lost, we have won."
"I still have a couple plays left…" Harry replied with a wiry smile, "But something has to happen… first."
Ahriman sneered, "Yes, I'm sure you do, but you don't have a 'checkmate'," he snapped back.
"Now… where is Hermione?" asked Harry so coldly that Ahriman backed up slightly, Harry himself was surprised… though he knew that he had been becoming very angry inside since Hermione had been kidnapped, he was surprised that he could sound so cold, merciless. It scared him a little, evil was the last thing he wanted to become. After all, everything that had happened for the past 7 years would have driven anyone to insanity; but Hermione had kept him sane and on track, she was now his sole reason for staying. Otherwise, he wasn't interested in this world; it was a lot easier to just leave. Nonetheless, he had a job to do, to protect her from the Shadows. He somehow felt within himself they were the last and total embodiment of evil, if he destroyed them, the Ministry could take care of the rest fairly easily. So, all he had to face was what was in front of him. Harry gave Ahriman a very dark look, "Now answer!" he commanded.
Ahriman backed up further as dark energy began to crackle over Harry's arms, "She is here," replied Ahriman. "WHERE?" Harry said forcefully, starting to reach into Ahriman's mind. It was dark and difficult to understand, but Harry felt both good and bad to Ahriman, a strange feeling, as though two people shared the same mind; one good, one bad. Harry suddenly knew what it was; 'Ahriman was begotten of me…' Michael had told him, that's why Michael couldn't destroy the Shadows, it would destroy him too. Harry suddenly though, 'Yeah, so what? I'm going to die too.'
Ahriman nodded at one of the other Shadows, he pointed at one of the doors, "She's in there," he replied.
"FAWKES!" Harry yelled. A beautiful screech was heard inside the door and fire appeared under it. Then a single Phoenix feather appeared in flames in front of Harry as Fudge and Aurors appeared, "You called us?" Fudge asked.
"Yes, take him into custody; make sure he's convicted," replied Ahriman, "and to be put under the guard of our Dementors."
"Yes Master," replied Fudge bowing. Harry smiled slightly… how little they knew. They thought they had him… nothing could be further from the truth… there was one weapon, the ultimate weapon, Harry had at his disposal, one that was unknown to the rest of the magical world…
Harry began to gather all his energy, all his inner strength and fortitude, just as he had learned when he had Ascended, he drew on the power in the air, water, earth and fire. He began to glow as the first time, the pain was unbearable, but Harry's reason… Hermione… kept him in control. He knew it would destroy him, but it was worth it to him. 'For you Hermione,' he thought.
"Merlin's beard!" cried Fudge as Harry began to grow brighter than the sun. Everyone closed their eyes as a blinding flash filled the room, Fudge opened his eyes just in time to see Harry totally dissipate into light, the extreme pain evident in his eyes as he felt himself torn atom from atom, energy ripped him apart, his glasses fell and shattered on the floor… it spread out in an arc; Shadow screeched and dissipated. Fudge blinked, what was going on? It was as though he had been living a dream. Fudge saw that only Harry's broken glasses were left as everything went black after all the light passed into the walls and spread across the planet, reversing all control of the Shadows had gained, reversing all death perpetuated by this war, by the Shadows. Destroying all Shadow and ghosts of the past that had escaped, Fudge stared at Harry's broken glasses in shock as a few candles relit somehow, Harry Potter was gone. A stone block fell and shattered what was left of Harry's glasses, this shocked Fudge; he quickly covered his face as the mansion collapsed around him and the Aurors.
Michael fell to his knees, he felt all Shadow fade as he weakened, he knew he would soon be destroyed and then they were about to be attacked by evil ghosts of pasts long forgotten... Without their leader the Ancients had no chance after having fought so long. Michael felt a change… one he knew was coming, he squinted in effort to create a shield that surrounded the Ancients, light grazed it, it took all of Michael's strength to keep it up, but it soon failed, the Ancients and evil ghosts were lost in light. Michael struggled and with the last of his strength stretched out his mind in a final effort to save his people, his responsibility…