Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the one I created myself. All others belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have only borrowed them for my amusement and hopefully yours as well.

Chapter 53

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Lucius Malfoy fell to the floor with a loud thud. He had been turned to stone!

Draco rushed forward and grabbing Harry by the arms said, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, see to Jolicia." Draco helped Harry over to her side and then fixed her torn robe with his wand. She grabbed Draco in a tight hug and kissed him, and then Harry in turn.

"I knew you were acting, Draco. Thank Merlin you were here. Harry, what are we going to do now? We have to have a plan. Help me up."

As she stood, she felt something curious. There was a trickle of liquid pouring down her legs. The bottom of her robe was soaking wet. Harry and Draco looked at one another, not understanding the implication. Unfortunately, Jo understood. She had been afraid to accept what was happening, hoping that if she didn't acknowledge it, it would go away.

She shook her head, "No, not now. This can't happen now!"

Draco asked, "What's wrong?"

"I've been having pains ever since the Crucio. I have been hoping that it was just false labor but my water just broke so that means it's the real thing. The babies are going to be born sometime soon."

Draco took Jo's hand and said, "Don't worry; we'll get you out of here. It's obvious what has to be done. Voldemort has to die. When he comes back, we'll wait for the right moment and one of us will get him." He made it sound so easy, as if they were planning to kill a fly.

Harry said, "No."

"What?? Do you mean we shouldn't kill him? Are you balmy?" asked Draco.

"No, he has to die, all right. It has to be me. I have to be the one to kill him."

"Harry, what are you talking about?" asked Jo.

"I have to fulfill my destiny. It was prophesied many years ago. One of us will kill the other. Hopefully, I will be the one to survive."

"Are you sure about this, Harry?" queried Draco.

"Yes, Dumbledore told me at the end of my fifth year. Voldemort was trying to steal the prophecy from the Ministry of Magic but was unsuccessful. It was during the confrontation that Sirius died, Jo. Now you understand why I couldn't really talk about it. No one is supposed to know what happened that day. Dumbledore knew what was predicted because he was there the day it was made. So you see, it has to be me."

"Harry it is then," said Jolicia. "You'll need a wand. Draco, could you get your father's wand for Harry, please?"

Draco managed to extricate the wand from his father's petrified body and handed it to Harry.

"We can't risk waking your father, Draco. We'll have to hide him for now. Move him to the back of the room and make him invisible. Can you do that? Good."

Once the elder Malfoy was safely out of the way, Jo continued, "You have to be prepared to speak to Voldemort and continue your act. Can you –ow. Damn!"

A pain caught Jo mid-sentence. She grabbed Draco's arm to steady herself. She closed her eyes and tried to ride it out the best she could. The boys could see her relax once it had subsided.

"I know what I have to do, Jo. Wait! I hear someone coming! This could be it," whispered Draco. He replaced his mask and assumed the stance of a guard. The footsteps grew closer and closer. Draco's heart was pounding so fast that he could barely hear above the sound of blood crashing in his ear. He steeled himself.

Voldemort made his appearance. Draco immediately sprang into action. He forced Jo and Harry to their knees and then joined them before the evil Lord.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed, "You are not Lucius."

"No, my Lord. I am Draco, his son. How may I serve you my Lord?"

"Where is your father, boy?"

"He left the room briefly, my Lord. I have been guarding the prisoners most carefully."

"Remove your mask." Draco complied.

"I find it unusual that your father would leave you alone," said Voldemort warily.

"Please my Lord, I begged him to leave me. I have been waiting for this moment since I was a small child. My father always speaks of how great it is to serve you my Lord. I begged him to let me have my chance to serve you today; on this day of your greatest triumph when you finally bring Potter down." Draco said Harry's name with such venom, that Jo had to remind herself that it was only an act. He was good!

"Very well. You may stay." Draco bowed in obeisance. Voldemort turned his attention to Jolicia.

"As for you my dear, I have decided your fate. It is quite an ingenious plan; one that will rid our world of three more Mudbloods, as well as punishing your husband. It had been suggested that Severus be killed outright, after a little torture, of course. What would be the use? His suffering would be all too brief. My way, it will be anything but brief; it will be everlasting!"

Jolicia stared at him, eyes wide with terror. She prayed silently to herself, "Please let our moment come soon, please let it come soon."  Pain gripped her once again; she held herself steadfast.

 "Are you curious, my dear, as to what is to be your end?" asked Voldemort gleefully. Jolicia kept silent.

He spat, "Your two half-breed children are to be cut from your body and killed before your eyes." He watched Jo's horrified reaction, obviously pleased he had instilled such revulsion and terror.

Voldemort said cruelly, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you live to see it. Once that has been done, your left hand is to be severed very slowly from your body. It will be sent, along with the bodies of your brats, to Severus. An original way to give back your wedding ring, don't you think? Ha, ha! Can you imagine the horror? He will have to live with that image for the rest of his life and with the knowledge that it was because of his treason that you died. An excellent plan, no?  Snape's mental suffering will be more excruciating than any physical torture that I could inflict upon him. It will also be a lesson to others who might think to betray me. All of this is to be witnessed by you, Potter, just as I promised."

Jolicia cried and begged, "Please my Lord, spare my children. They are about to be born. Let them live. You have me; I'll do anything you want. Kill me as you planned, let me be the punishment for Severus. They are innocent. Set them free, my Lord. Please!"

Voldemort smiled at her, but there was no warmth in it. It was a cold, evil smile, one that could send a shiver down the spine of Merlin himself.

"No, bitch! Your fates are sealed. Enough of this, the time has come." Voldemort stood and turned his attention towards the door. "Where is Lucius? He should have returned by now!" The moment had come.

Harry withdrew the wand he had been concealing, pointed it and cried, "Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort's wand flew from his hand and across the room towards Draco. The look of shock on his face was replaced by a smile. The boy would give back his wand!

Draco bent and picked it up. He walked over to Harry, looked at Voldemort and handed over the prize - to Harry. Harry tossed Lucius' wand to Jolicia. Voldemort's jaw dropped as he saw three wands pointed directly at him.

"Little fools! Do you think that a Mudblood woman and two children will be able to defeat the great Lord Voldemort? I have powers even without my wand."

The three captives cried in one voice, "Impedimenta!"

Voldemort froze, unable to move under the force of the three combined spells. It was difficult for them to hold the spell; they could feel Voldemort trying to break free. It was especially difficult for Jolicia, having been weakened by the Crucio.

She panted, "Quickly, Harry. We don't have much time. I can't hold on much longer. Do it NOW!"

Harry nodded and prepared himself. He stared into the eyes of Voldemort and for the first time saw fear. It spurred him on and gave him the extra dose of courage he needed.

"I am ready," he said to Draco and Jolicia. They would lower their wands in order not to be caught up in Harry's spell. The instant they moved, he would begin.

Draco and Jolicia looked at one another and pulled out. Voldemort would remain still only for a fleeting moment.

Harry pointed his wand at Voldemort's heart and said, "This is for everyone you've hurt; this is for everyone you've killed; this is for Cedric Diggory; THIS IS FOR MY PARENTS! AVADA KEDAVRA!"

There was a loud whooshing noise and suddenly it seemed as if the fabric of time itself had been ripped open and the universe was leaking out causing a great wind. Voldemort was enveloped in a blinding green light. His eyes grew wide and he looked towards Harry for pity. There was no pity to be found in the green orbs – within those eyes Voldemort saw only satisfaction.

Voldemort reached out towards them and cried, "NOOOooo!"

Suddenly the room went silent as the green light disappeared. Voldemort was gone – dead – destroyed. Harry had fulfilled his destiny in accordance with the prophecy. He had killed Voldemort, with Voldemort's own wand, the wand that was the twin of his own. Harry just stood there, with his arm still outstretched, not believing it was finally over.

Draco walked over to him and whispered, "Harry, you can put your wand down now, mate. It's over. He's dead." Harry just nodded and did as he had been told.

Jo sat down on the floor, no longer able to stand as another contraction began. Suddenly, a scream broke the silence; then another and another! They were screams of extreme pain and suffering. The house seemed to be alive with the howling.

"What is that?" asked Harry.

"Could it be the Death Eaters feeling Voldemort's death?" wondered Jo.

Draco ran to his father and made him visible once more. Even though he was stilled petrified, his face was contorted as if in agony. It was a gruesome sight but it confirmed Jo's theory.

Jolicia closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for Severus – please Merlin, let him be all right.

The screaming abated and was replaced by the sounds of people rustling and scrambling. Gradually, the house went quiet once again. Harry and Draco stood guard at the door fully expecting retaliation for what they had done. None came. Harry stayed with Jo while Draco ventured out into the house to see what had occurred. Harry had wanted to go as well, but Draco persuaded him that Jo should not be left alone.

"I can take care of myself, you take care of her, okay?" said Draco as he left.

Harry sat next to Jolicia and put his arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Neither one spoke, the shock of the day's events weighing heavily on them both.