Author's Note: Second to last chapter and I'm keeping this one short. I hope you all enjoy as mcuh as I enjoyed writing it, and I thank you all for reading and writing reviews. As I can't think of anything else, oh, besides that there will be an epilogue as well, let the story continue.

Ginny wheezed. His hand was too tight on her neck, his fingernails on her wrist drawing blood. She didn't understand what this was about. Draco Malfoy had no reason to attack her.

"What do you mean, who's Hermione Granger?" His voice cracked at her like a whip.

She struggled. "I don't know what you mean. Let me go! I haven't done anything to you to deserve this."

"You don't deserve this?" She squirmed under his grip, but his wand was raised first.

"Imperio." She found she couldn't look away. "You will tell me exactly where Hermione Granger is."

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Crucio. You will obey me." She screamed, falling to her knees hopelessly. She writhed under the weight of an invisible attacker, as the world became dark around her.

She only remembered momentary relief before her defenses fell.

----

He wouldn't watch his best student and loyal teacher go down without a fight.

"Expecto Patronus!" The silver phoenix burst from the want in silver flame, illuminating the air with its essence. It shrieked, sending a cry to ward off the evil it faced. The shrouded dementors blew back, repelled by the beams of light.

"You fool!" The red flash shot violently through the air, but ricocheting off the rays emitted by the radiant phoenix. Dumbledore held the shield in the back of his mind.

"I believe you are mistaken, Lucius. There is more to power than destruction for one's desire. The fate of the community lies in this girl, and I'm not about to let go!"

"This Mudblood! A good for nothing whore! Are you blind?" He shot a deadly curse, and the silver flickered, penetrated for a second. Dumbledore fumbled.

"So you aren't immortal." He hissed softly. "Imagine that."

Across the grass, a figure emerged through the night. "Lucius, you attempt to take on the greatest man of all time?" The voice sneered. The owner of it let his hood drop. Red eyes pierced the night. "We will see who the greatest man is. Step aside or you too shall fall." Lucius fell to his knees in a bow. Shoving him aside, Voldemort lifted his hand. Death Eaters emerged from the Whomping Willow.

"I see." Dumbledore circled. He looked for a weakness, a falter in Voldemort's thoughts.

"Don't try your tricks with me, old man." It was there, a flicker of fear. He threw a curse, and Voldemort barely blocked it.

"I see that you learned nothing from Occlumency." He struck again. Voldemort reflected it back. In the corner of his eye, a death eater fell. The source smiled triumphantly.

"He does not stand alone."

----

"Avada Kedavra." The voices rang at the same time, meeting each other in challenge. A green beam stretched from wand to wand, connecting them.

It was as if the mystery Dumbledore had struggled with for years was suddenly answered. In the far end of the castle, Fawkes breathed a final breath and burst into flame. The core of both wands exploded in a shimmer of gold light. The shield protecting Snape and Hermione fell.

To Harry, the answer was sudden and immediate. One must die by the hand of the other. "Accio sword." He drew it forward, facing Voldemort. A death eater threw Voldemort a conjured one, and it began.

"Aren't you going to bow this time?" Harry mocked. Voldemort was eerily weak without his magic. Harry's years of Quidditch took over. He ducked a strike, another bludger. He dodged the oncoming blade, and aimed.

"You fool." The words were gasped in pain. "Whose blood was it that brought me to life? You brought your own death upon you." Voldemort fell, the blade in his chest.

Harry stumbled, exhausted. The hands that caught him were firm.

"It may be your blood that flowed in his veins, but it's your mother's that keep you alive."