Chapter 17 - - - Questions Finally Answered

The group stood and sat gathered around Albus Dumbledore's desk. Michelle and Harry sat in chairs opposite the headmaster. Tonks and Remus stood next to Harry. Michelle lazily stroked Aria's head. Fawkes sat on his perch surveying everything. There was a flash of light from the fireplace. Moody, Tobias, and Aberforth stepped out of the flames.

"Well now the Ministry has Voldemort's body," Moody said as he sat on Albus's right.

Aberforth sat next to his niece and Tobias sat in between his two brothers. Albus looked around the room at those who gathered here. His eyes rested on Harry. He was so young to have faced so much. No one his age should have ever had to face what he did. Albus then looked at Michelle. She looked so much older, but young at the same time. Hopefully now she would be able to have a normal life.

"I think now is as good a time as any to get some answers," Albus began.

"Daddy," Michelle interrupted. "I went to meet Voldemort per his request and he tricked me. I accidentally blew the door in and knocked Harry out. Next thing I know I'm on fire, literally!"

"Sweetie calm down," Tobias said. "Albus, what happened?"

"As near as I can figure," Albus said adjusting his glasses. "Somehow Aria merged with Michelle's body all of those years ago. I don't know how or why though. That's why she is so strong and seemingly invincible."

"Now that Aria's is out of me, will I be able to die?" Michelle asked looking up at her father.

"I believe you will grow old and eventually die. In fact, since you started to age about five years ago. I think Aria knew what was going to happen and she was slowly preparing to leave your body."

"What about her illness?" Aberforth asked concerned for his niece.

"She's obviously cured," Moody stated. "Now about young Potter's side of it. Tell us what happened boy."

Harry looked up. Until now he had been forgotten, left out of the spotlight. He hated having to relive his latest worst moments with everyone. He had to revisit the pain of losing Sirius last time. Now he had to relate to them how he killed someone. Evil? Yes. Accidentally? Yes. But kill someone he did.

"Well, uh," Harry stammered.

"Take your time," Remus spoke up.

"Well, I was walking through the halls and I heard a voice. I followed it towards the forest and then everything went blank. Next thing I knew I was locked in a room. Voldemort was taunting me, by bringing me to the very spot where he killed," Harry paused to take a deep breath. "Where he killed my parents."

"Funny he should meet his end in that place," Moody commented.

"What happened next, Harry?" Tobias asked the student.

"Well I was brought into a room. Wormtail was unsure of what to do with me. Voldemort told him to stick to the plan and he locked me back in my room. Then the door blasted open and I was knocked out."

"I'm sorry Harry. Voldemort tricked me."

"It's not your fault," Harry placed him hand over Michelle's to reassure her. "Then when I woke up, a phoenix was crying over me. Michelle was unconscious on the floor and Voldemort was hovering by the door with a frightened look in his eyes. I looked back at Michelle and she had Godric Gryffindor's sword in her robes. I took it. Michelle was awake and told me to end there and not to let Voldemort leave. So I confronted him."

Harry stopped. He did not know if he could continue. Michelle squeezed his hand. He looked at his audience. They were waiting for him to finish his story.

"It was an accident," Harry said.

"A good accident," Moody commented.

"He was leaving. Then he turned to say something as I stepped forward. The sword went through him and I killed him. I killed Voldemort."

It felt good to get it off his chest. He felt somehow relieved by telling them.

"This is going to make a lot of people happy. You did good Harry," Tonks remarked from where she was standing behind him.

"You know what this means?" Albus asked the group. "It's over."

"Funny though it should end where it began. The prophecy was true after all," Moody remarked.

"Michelle will have to be revealed to the rest of the wizarding world now. She can't be kept a secret in this. Harry and her are heroes," Tobias told them.

"They always were," Aberforth said.

"They must be tired. Remus, Tonks, take them to Madam Pomfrey. You two will sleep there tonight. Tomorrow we will tell everything to the school, but for you will sleep," Albus told them.

AN: Sorry I know you waited a long time for a short chapter. But it's practically done. And I've been really busy. I have a huge project due this week and it's gonna be horrible. So I'm sorry. Don't hate me. Please review and tell what you think. Only the epilogue left.

Love,

KoKo Belle