Chapter 10: Dark Lord v Storm Lord - Final Combat!

Kingsley Shacklebolt appeared with a pop in the field behind Lupin's house. Bill, George, Emmeline Vance and Dean Richards appeared seconds later. Richards was dressed in army fatigues and carried a military issue Enfield L58A1 assault rifle, the others were wearing range of Muggle clothing and carried only their wands.

Kingsley signalled to George and Richards, they crept forward towards the back of the tiny ramshackle cottage. After searching the area for a few minutes, they crept back to Kingsley. "Nothing, the surrounding area is clear."

"Good, let's check the house," Kingsley decided. "Take rearguard. Bill, you've got point. Check the wards on the door before we go in."

Bill nodded, and turned towards the house, Emmeline Vance followed him, then Kingsley himself. George and Richards brought up the rear as requested.

By the time George and Richards had joined the other three at the front of the cottage, Bill had already examined the door, and the two shuttered windows on the ground floor. "All the wards are intact. Nothing too complex, a Muggle-Repelling Charm around the whole house, a Gatekeeper Charm on the door, and a Containment Charm on the doors and windows."

"Why does he have a Containment Charm on the doors and windows?" Richards asked, scanning the skyline as he spoke.

"Remus is a werewolf," Kingsley said. "I think the Containment Charm is to make sure he can't escape in werewolf form."

"Do you want me to break the wards, Kingsley?" Bill asked. Kingsley nodded. After working on the door for a few minutes, he announced in a whisper that the door was clear of wards.

"Can I ask something?"

"Sure, Richards."

Richards pointed up at the full moon with the barrel of his rifle. "Is it a great idea for us to go charging in there when a werewolf could be inside?"

"He takes the Wolfsbane Potion, Richards," Kingsley said. "Professor Snape makes it for him."

"But he's in coma. According to Terry, the Wolfsbane Potion isn't usually fully effective unless it's fresh."

"That's true," Kingsley admitted. "Emmeline, can you do the honours?"

The stately woman nodded and then transformed into her Animagus form: a slim, lithe Alsatian. She nosed open the door and went in. "Werewolves won't harm other shapeshifters unless they're attacked."

"I know."

About a minute later, Emmeline's 'all-clear' bark, came from within the house. Kingsley indicated that Bill and Richards should go in first. Bill headed straight in, but Richards shouldered his rifle and pulled out a Browning and a small pen-torch before following him.

Emmeline met them in the kitchen/living room area, "Remus is in the other room sleeping in his werewolf form. He's fine."

"Have you checked the Floo? Why won't it connect?"

"I have," Emmeline confirmed. "It looks like it's been put under a temporary Ministry seal. The Blocking Charm has Bert's seal on it."

"Perhaps Professor Lupin requested that it be turned off as a safety precaution," suggested Richards.

"That sounds like Remus," Kingsley agreed. "Bill, Emmeline, can you stay here and make sure?" Both nodded.

"I'll stay too," Richards said. "If any of Riddle's people do try anything, they'll probably send Revenants."

"You're right," agreed Kingsley. "George and I will return to Headquarters. If there are any problems contact us immediately."

"We will," Emmeline promised. She and Richards found places to sit in the small room. Kingsley and George went back outside to Apparate, Bill re-warded the door behind them then joined Richards and Emmeline in the living room.

----

When Harry returned to consciousness, he immediately realised two things: first, that he was tied up; and second, that he appeared to be hanging from something made of stone. And if the pain in his arms was anything to go by, he'd been hanging for quite a while.

"Hello again, Potter."

Harry forced his eyes open, Voldemort was standing about fifty feet away, and from his surroundings, Harry guessed they were back at the Little Hangleton graveyard. Where it all began... well, I guess our battle did really begin here. I faced him for the first time in the flesh here.

Harry then realised what he was hanging from.

A tall stone cross.

He chuckled. "You know something, Voldemort..."

"What?"

"The symbolism of this situation... really sucks."

"Well, you won't need to worry about it for long, Potter," Voldemort hissed. "Tell me the Prophecy!"

"Why?"

"Because I say so? Crucio!"

Harry grimaced, "Well, as you asked so nicely... 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 that Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives."

"Pahh! The whole Prophecy is as useless as the half I already knew. 'Mark him as my equal' indeed... 'a power the Dark Lord knows not'. Ha! NO ONE IS MY EQUAL, POTTER! THERE IS NO POWER GREATER THAN THAT OF SLYTHERIN!"

"Quite true."

"What?!"

"Salazar Slytherin was indeed the most powerful being of his age. And those who share his power are the greatest of their times."

"So you admit defeat then, Potter?!" Voldemort demanded. "You admit that my power is supreme?!"

"Slytherin's power is supreme. Take your best shot."

"Very well, Potter! Prepare to die! AVADA KEDAVRA!"

The bright green energies of the Killing Curse flowed from Voldemort's wand, directly towards Harry's heart.

"Nice try, Voldemort!" Harry growled. "Amicitia!"

The Amulet appeared on Harry's chest, glowing brightly. Dust began to twirl around, forming a column of air. The Dark Lord's Killing Curse hit the dust funnel. It glowed green and there was a bright flash of light.

----

When the light dimmed, the stone cross lay in ruins on the ground. Haimric stood upright, facing Voldemort, his katana drawn. "You are not the only one with Slytherin's power, Riddle." The hood of his cloak was drawn up, hiding his face in shadow.

"Who are you? What have you done with Potter?!"

Haimric chuckled, he looked up, allowed Voldemort to catch his eye. His lips curled into a wry smile and his eyes glowed slightly from the energy contained within. "Can you not guess?"

Haimric wouldn't have believed that Voldemort could get any paler, but it seemed he could. "No, it can't be! Salazar would never allow it..."

"On the contrary, Riddle! He was the instigator of our merging!" Haimric told him. "He was not the man you claim he was. He rejected Muggleborns because he felt them a danger, not because he thought them unworthy!"

"You lie!"

"No, I do not," Harry retorted. "But, it does not matters. Harry and I are here, you are here. The Time of Reckoning has come. The fate of the world will be decided here and now!" Haimric told him, raising his katana to a guard position. "It's time to DUEL!"

"So be it."

Haimric inclined his head slightly, and then dropped into a combat stance. "Make your move, Riddle."

"Don't call me that!" screamed Voldemort. "Crucio!"

Haimric tensed and leapt upwards, arcing towards one of the larger crosses. He landed on top of it. "Do you know what your problem is, Riddle?"

"Stop that! Reducto!"

Harry drew a series of runes in the air and yelled. "Erinys Referio!" The Reductor Curse was reflected off the energy field generated between the runes and disintegrated a tombstone several yards away. "Your problem is you rely too much on your magic... Which leaves you vulnerable to this!"

Haimric dived off the cross, somersaulting in midair, then coming down, feet first on Voldemort's chest.

The Dark Lord went flying backwards, and crashed into the side of one of the large raised coffins. He got up immediately. "Iaculari!"

A wave of white-hot flame burst from Voldemort's wand and roared towards Haimric. The immortal regarded it coolly, then drew another set of runes in the air. "Clipeus Bruma!" A funnel of frigid, snow filled air surrounded Haimric, cutting him off from the fiery onslaught.

After a few seconds, Voldemort realised that his spell wasn't working, so he cut it. Haimric's 'Artic Shield' dissipated a few seconds later. "My turn," he said with a grin. He wasn't carrying his sword anymore, instead he had two throwing stars in each hand. "Try these on for size!" With a quick wrist-arm movement so fast that it was almost imperceptible, he launched the tiny blades at Voldemort.

The Dark Lord hadn't expected another physical attack, so was barely able to get out of the way in time, and one shuriken scored a deep cut across his shoulder. "You'll pay for that, Potter!"

"I doubt that!" Haimric raised his hands to the sky, apparently in supplication. Lightning crackled in both his hands, creeping slightly down his arms and crackling across the gap between. Haimric brought his arms down, aiming them at Voldemort. "Duplus Fulguris Elideri!"

The twin streams of supercharged electricity knifed towards him. This time Voldemort was on firmer ground, and he quickly conjured a Shield. But it wasn't powerful enough and the blast broke through, delivered him quite a shock in the bargain.

"You can't win, Riddle," Haimric warned him, and leapt out of the way of a series of curses and hexes sent his way in reply. "I can anticipate your every move before you can even make it. I have powers beyond your ken. You can not win!"

"I can not lose," Voldemort countered. "Imperio!"

The Amulet glowed, and Haimric frowned or a second or two, but they were the only signs that anything had occurred. Haimric chuckled. "You are a fool, Riddle. Our bond and the souls within the Amulet protect us from such basic physic attacks. You have lost. And it is time for you to face the cold, hard reality of your situation! Bruma Adsultare!"

A blast of frigid, snow filled air blew from behind Harry, focusing into a funnel several feet wide before slamming into Voldemort, driving him back against the grave again. It took a moment for him to rise, but by this time, Harry was ready for him. Leaping forward, he punched Voldemort hard in the jaw, knocking him down again. Then he used the air currents to flip himself in mid-air and settle back down gently. "Unlike you, I do not limit myself to sorcery, but make full use of all my talents!"

"Maybe, but you are weak, Potter! You don't have it in you to finish this. I will get eventually."

"You forget who I am, Riddle. I am Harry, but am also many more," Haimric reminded him. "I will do want must be done!"

"Not if I do it first! Ava-"

"Oh no you don't!" declared Haimric. "Ensis Magicum Flammae!"

Before Voldemort could finish his deadly spell, four energy fields shaped like ancient broadswords materialised around Voldemort. The light at the end of his wand went out. "The Energy Swords will prevent you from using any magic for three minutes, Riddle. You're helpless!"

Haimric's eyes narrowed, and he grinned wolfishly. "But don't worry. I won't keep you waiting that long!" He moved so that his hands seemed to be holding a ball. Then lightning began to form between his hands, this time taking a ball-like shape. "Globare Fulguris Flammen!"

A massive beam of pure magical power surged from the lightning ball, and enveloped Voldemort. He screamed as his body disintegrated, the Energy Swords vanished.

Seconds later, the maelstrom faded. Haimric relaxed slightly, and was about to turn and find the rope Portkey that had brought him there, when a dark, rippling faceless face figure came rushing at Haimric.

"Riddle's dream self!" exclaimed Haimric. "Well, that is easily dealt with by... Dissultomens!" He threw out his right arm, fingers splayed. There was a flash of light and then Voldemort was gone.

"It is done," Haimric declared. The Amulet glowed again, and Harry returned.

After a few minutes of searching, Harry finally located the ropes that Umbridge has spelled as a Portkey. Harry felt the usual tug at his navel and then he disappeared with a pop.

He reappeared seconds later outside Potter House in Godric's Hollow. He picked himself up and was just about to look around her his friends, when Ginny's voice rang out. "Harry, run!" Unfortunately the warning came too late, and for the second time that evening, Harry was knocked unconsciousness by a Stunning Charm.

----

"Milord, Headmaster?"

"Yes, Captain?" asked Barra. "What is it?"

"Mr Shacklebolt has just reported in from Order Headquarters. Apparently Professor Lupin's lack of communication was due to the effects of the full moon on his werewolf form."

"Of course, that would explain it," Dumbledore admitted. "I had forgotten it was the full moon. Does Kingsley know why his Floo would not respond?"

"Yes Headmaster," admitted Artair. "Apparently it had been put under a temporary seal by your Ministry's Floo Regulation Panel."

"I see, that would make sense," Dumbledore paled. "And it is likely that Voldemort's servant Wormtail would be aware of this. Can you get hold of Harry?"

Artair shook his head. "I just tried, Headmaster. Neither His Lordship or Ms Jameson are responding to my signals."

"Lord Barra, could you send some of your people to Godric's Hollow and tell Harry?"

"No Headmaster, I could not. Haimric did not wish our aid in this aspect of the fight. I am bound by the terms of our alliance to obey this wish. Unless he summons us, we will remain here."

"Very well, I shall contact the Order," Dumbledore said, and went into a corner to do so.

A minute or two later, Njal entered the room carrying a long roll of parchment. "The final casualty lists, Barra."

"Thank you, Njal."

He scanned the lists, he nodded, looking relieved. "Headmaster? A moment of your time if you please?"

Dumbledore turned back to the armour-clad Ealbhari noble, and nodded. "Of course."

Barra waited until Dumbledore was at his side, then spoke. "There have been few casualties since the last report, and no further deaths. Professor McGonagall has lost a leg, our smith-mages back in King's Glade would be able to fit her with a replacement far superior to any your Healers would have access to. Other than that, it is much as it was."

"How long would such a working take?"

"A few weeks for the initial working, but according to Njal's estimate's it would be autumn before she would be back up to full health."

"The choice is of course Minerva's, but I have no objection," Dumbledore told him.

"I'll tell her, Headmaster," Njal promised and left the room.

----

"Keep that bandage on for a few days, then come back and see Madame Pomfrey or one of the medi-mages," Hermione told a blond-haired first girl, once she'd finished checking her handiwork.

"I will, (Hermione?). Can I go now?"

Hermione nodded. She glanced around, trying to find someone who could help. After a minute or two she spotted one of the younger DA members. "Malcolm!"

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Can you take Phoebe back to your common room? Make sure you, or someone else, stays with her. Her arm is going to give her some trouble for a while."

Baddock nodded, and then helped his housemate of the pallet and walked her out of the room. Hermione watched her go, then sagged against the wall. She stood silently for a minute or two, then a gentle, familiar voice interrupted her. "Hermione, are you all right?"

Hermione looked up, "I'm fine Ron, it's just... I should be able to do more. Harry's out there, maybe fighting Voldemort, and I'm stuck here patching up the wounded. Some of which won't be wounded if I'd been smarter... if I'd been better."

She distantly heard Ron ask another of the helpers to take the box of supplies he'd been carrying, then felt him come closer to her. "It's okay, Hermione. We all make mistakes, and that's fine."

"It's not fine, Ron! Roger and Susannah are dead because of me. And I should have done more to help Professor Jones and Professor Sinistra."

Ron turned her slightly so that her back was towards him and then folded his arms around her. Hermione leaned back against him, tucking her head under his chin. "You did all you could, Hermione. No one blames you for Roger dying, or for any the others. Bloody hell, he was Head Boy, he should have been able to look after himself!"

"Ron!" Hermione groaned, trying to keep her voice low.

Hermione could almost feel his smile. "I knew that would knock you out of it."

"Sometimes you are the most..." Hermione sighed. "We've got work to do."

"You'll be okay?" Ron asked, releasing her from his arms.

"Yes, Ron. I will be."

"I'm here if you need me."

"I know," Hermione told him, then walked over to the next pallet. Just when I think I have you figured out you surprise me, Ron Weasley.

I think I like that.

A/N: Hope you like this chapter. It's pretty short, but I think it's got what it needs. According to my original plan, there are only two chapters left after this one. I'm not sure if I'm going to manage to get everything into that, but I will let you know. Chapter 11 shouldn't be too long. In the meantime, please review.