Disclaimer: I own nothing dealing with Harry Potter and you all should know that by now, if you don't already.

A/N: I am sorry for the delay but I do hope that you will forgive me and continue reading. I would like to thank all those who have reviewed, including Quill of Minerva, Intelligent Witch, Hogwarts Duo, and all the rest.

A score of death eaters appeared and flew around the room, followed closely by Lucius Malfoy. His wand was raised in the air, ready to throw a spell in Albus' direction. Just as the words were ready to escape his mouth, Minerva, who had quickly transfigured her gown into her usual robes, hit him first, causing his wand to jerk from his hand. He growled at her and, dodging another one of her spells, quickly regained his wand and continued their duel.

Harry headed for the ground and gracefully landed on the ground, almost instantly forgetting about his broom. He had originally headed for Voldemort, but was continually being blocked by the death eaters, each attacking him one after another. Luckily, the past seven years at Hogwarts had readily prepared him for such an occasion, so he was able to beat each challenge. It wasn't easy, for he was kept very busy.

It was for this reason that Albus, after first moving a severely injured Severus out of harms way, decided to seek out Voldemort himself. He caught sight of the maniacal prat making a bee line for Minerva, who was keeping Lucius at bay.

"Oh, no you don't," he muttered. Quickly heading him off, Albus held his wand to Voldemort's throat.

"You are to duel me, not her," he grumbled, his voice dangerously low. If it had been any other, their fear would have showed clearly on their face. But Voldemort was not about to let Albus see his fear so readily. Instead, he kept as cool as he possibly could and began to laugh. It was the kind of laugh that could be heard deep in one's throat.

"You poor old man," he muttered. "You still think you can beat me. But shouldn't we do it in a more..... secluded spot?" Albus was confused, but didn't have time to question what his opponent had meant. For in an instant, he felt himself being pulled away from the dining room and then landed in a completely different place.

"Ah, this is better, don't you think, Albus?" inquired Voldemort. Albus looked around, shocked. They were standing in a vast wheat field. At least, it was a wheat field at one point. But now, there was just dirt. And so it had been, ever since Albus had last laid eyes upon it. This was the exact same spot he had defeated Grindlewald in. He glared at Voldemort.

"Yes, Voldemort," he answered. "I do believe this will do just fine." He pulled out his wand.

"Wait!" Both Albus and Voldemort turned to see Harry, who now stepped out from behind Albus. "Let me fight him." Albus instantly went pale. Yes, he knew that Harry had to be the one to finally defeat Voldemort, but somehow he wasn't ready. Yes, Harry was ready, be he Albus Dumbledore, was not ready to let this boy take such a great risk. 'No,' Albus reminded himself. 'He is no longer a boy, but a man. I must let him.'

"Alright, Harry," he answered solemnly, nodding slowly and replacing his wand back in his robes. "It is time for you to fulfill the prophecy." Harry nodded and shook Albus' hand.

"Thank you, sir," he said. With a small smile and quick bow of the head, Albus sadly stepped aside, but not too far away. He wanted to be close, just in case Harry needed his help. So he stood ten feet away from the two opponents. Both looked at each other, pulled their wands up in front of their faces, brought them down quickly, turned, and walked a good twenty paces away from each other. Turning around quickly, each of them called out a spell.

"Farciento!"

"Quis'ienth!" The two spells met at the halfway mark and collided, causing confetti to appear and then explode. Harry went to cast another spell, but Voldemort was able to call his spell out faster, barely leaving Harry time to try and dodge it. Unfortunately, he was not fast enough and unable to escape it entirely. Instead, it skimmed his arm, leaving him bleeding.

"Hastiendo Regime!" he called. Voldemort jumped to his left, but the type of spell Harry had used was one that followed the intended target until it hit it. So Voldemort was hit in the shoulder, leaving it almost completely numb.

Such is what had happened for quite some time until...

"Stintingo!" shouted Voldemort. It hit Harry right in the chest, causing him to fall flat on his back. Both were panting from the severity of the fight. And as Voldemort rushed to Harry, he looked triumphantly down at him. Harry was obviously in pain, as it was apparent in his eyes.

"My, how I shall enjoy finishing you off," he smirked.

"Voldemort, leave him alone," commanded Albus, now pushing him away from Harry.

"Mind your own business, won't you?" he grumbled.

"I said that was enough," shot Albus.

"What makes you think I'll listen to you?" Pulling his wand back, he went to strike when suddenly...

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" shouted Harry from the ground. It had taken every bit of strength he had left, but he had managed to grab his wand from where it had fallen beside him and shout the killing curse at the man who had made his life miserable from the time he was a baby.

The sight that came next was one of fascination. The most evil wizard of the time flew into the air and, after spinning several times, exploded into nothing but black dust, which proceeded to fall around the two remaining figures. The wand, which had been used to take so many lives, fell right next to Harry, who then proceeded to pick it up and smile.

Albus knelt down beside the seventeen year old boy and smiled at him. After casting as many spell as he could to help him, but then decided it was a task for Madam Pomphrey or the healers of St. Mungo's. But he was able to get Harry to his feet, though it did not help much. He walked like a drunk and it was certain that his rib cage was broken in numerous spots.

"Do you think you can survive a trip back to the castle?" he teased.

"I think I can survive anything after that," Harry replied with a small smile. "I tell you, even Malfoy couldn't bother me now." At the same time, they both gasped, eyes wide. Riddle Manor.... The others..... They were all still fighting. Without another thought, Albus apperated both himself and Harry back to Malfoy Manor.

The sight that greeted them was one of wonder. All the death eaters had disappeared, the rest of the Order was there, and Lucius was sitting in a chair, bound and gagged. He held his head high, as if he had done nothing wrong and that he, himself, was just an innocent victim of circumstance. There were also many ministry officials present. One of them turned and walked over to Albus when they heard the pop.

"Ah, Albus," he smiled. "So good to see that you have not been harmed. What happened to Voldemort?" By this time, the rest of the Order had gathered around them, all curious at what had happened. But one face was missing.

"Where's Minerva?" Albus inquired.

"She was took Severus to see Poppy," answered Molly. "She also wanted to tell the other what had happened. She was really worried about you and Harry, though." Her eyes then fell upon Harry. "Oh, goodness, Harry, what happened?" Albus then proceeded to tell them what had happened at the battle field and of Harry's glorious defeat over the Dark Lord. Everyone cheered and, after congratulating him on his victory, thanked him for his courage.

"Well," sighed the ministry official who had first approached Albus. "I guess it is time to take this man," turning to Lucius, "to Azkaban to await trial. No doubt the most he'll get away with is a life sentence in Azkaban. He'll be lucky if they sentence him to receive the dementors kiss for what he's been up to." He waved to some other officials, and then they all apperated to Azkaban. Albus smiled and shook his head.

"Albus?" He turned and looked at Molly.

"Yes, Molly?" he asked.

"I'll take care of Harry and make sure he gets to Madam Pomphrey alright. I think it's best that you go find her." Albus nodded and helped Harry to lean on Arthur Weasly.

"At a boy, Harry," he said. Then, quick as a flash, Albus was gone and on his way to Hogwarts. He was finally going to speak with Minerva..... For the first time as himself since that fateful night when she was taken from him. No longer would they be separated and no longer would they be hurting.

A/N2: There you go. I hope you liked that chapter. Only one more chapter and then I'm done. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed reading it. I think I might go now and work on the final chapter. Well, of coarse after I spend some time on the net and do some other things. But hopefully I'll finish this story by the end of Sunday. I'll definitely try. That is, if my muse is up to it. Looks inquiringly at McGonagall. What do you think, Professor? Always Hopeful