CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE SKULL OF GRINDELWALD
Whist Harry and his allies were interrogating Wormtail and reviving Peter Pettigrew, I'thok was in his tower, guarded by two Dread Champions.
He was immersed in the numerous magical texts of Earth, studying human spells and potions. he considered nothing too miniscule or unimportant for study; he desired to know all magic spells possible.
He knew that his usefulness to Voldemort was waning, and he needed to be able to survive in a battle, should it come to that.
It was while he was perusing a volumn on the Dark Arts when he was summoned to Voldemort's chamber by Lucius Malfoy.
Harry cast the Avada Kedavra on the silver hand, causing it to incinerate in emerald flame.
The spell was transmitted to Voldemort, though, and Harry felt it instantly. His scar glowed bright green, and a green-tinted smoke began to rise from it. Suddenly, the smoke ceased, and the scar started to glow white rather than green.
The pain ceased, but Harry had to keep his eyes closed, such was the intensity of the light from his scar. The scar then left his head, coming to a stop mid-air 2 feet in front of him, still glowing. Where it had once been, only normal skin remained.
The scar then spun thrice and disintegrated, a small cloud of dust drifting to the floor. The link between Harry, Lily, and Voldemort was broken. Harry then passed out, partly from exhaustion, but mostly from the now-gone pain.
I'thok watched Voldemort roll on the floor in agony, seeping green energy from his body. malfoy had inquired as to what could be done, and I'thok said he could do nothing. This was true; the only way to stop the Avada Kedavra was to prevent it in the first place.
I'thok did know one thing he could do, though. "Malfoy, though I cannot save this body, I can raise his spirit. All I require is a skeleton, the Tome of Gril'dok from my library, and privacy."
Malfoy immidiately moved to fulfill I'thok's needs. As Voldemort was about to finally and truly die, I'thok bent down to whisper in his ear. "Know this before you die: I have won. You will live again, but you will be my servant. And no one- not even your puppet Malfoy- will be the wiser!"
Thus, with a shout of pain and anger, Voldemort died... and subsequently evaporated.
Harry spent the mext day in the infirmary next to the only other patient: Peter Pettigrew. Madam Pomfrey was able to restore Peter's arm, but he was still recovering from the years spent as a recessed part of his own mind.
Peter spent most of the day telling Harry of the adventures he and the other Marauders used to go on: the kitchen raids, the Room of Requirement, and (the most entertaining by far, for Harry anyway) how the Marauders managed to circumvent the alarm system to the Girls' Dormitory.
It was the Marauder's 4th year at Hogwarts. They had explored every area of the castle, from Dumbledore's office to the Slytherin dungeons, except for one place: the Girls' Dormitories.
Officially (for the Marauders, anyway), this was an impediment for the Marauders' Map. Unofficially... it was an excuse to find out how to spy on the girls.
They had figured out the best way to get around the alarm was to use a disguise charm. So, they modified one to make themselves appear, at least to the alarm wards, to be female. To test whether this had worked or not, they made a replica of the Gryffindor Common Room in the Room of Requirement.
After about 20 or so failures, they finally got the charm right. They decided to test it the next night. Under cover of disguise charms and invisibility cloak, they became the first men since the Founders to walk the stairs of the Gryffindor (or any)Girls' Dormintory.
It was here that James's infatuation with Lily started, as the boys saw her get up to drink some water. He noticed her immidiately... as well as her lack of clothing. He never knew that girls slept in such... interesting nightclothes.
"Moving on" Sirius whispered angrily, tiring of looking at only one girl. Peter noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that James kept his eyes on the sleeping girl until she was no longer visible.
Harry was released that afternoon, and spent much of the day with Hermione; Ron had decided to leave the two of them alone.
Thus it was that Harry and Hermione were walking by the lake, talking and joking with each other.
"So, how do I look without the scar?" Harry asked. "You look good... but I kind of miss it."
"Well, I'm sure my hair still qualifies as unique... perhaps instead of 'scarhead', Malfoy'll call me... what?" Harry said as Hermione started laughing.
"I-if you say mophead..." she couldn't finish, such was her laughter.
"You will pay for that." Harry said mock-sinisterly. Hermione faked a look of horror. "No. Harry... Harry, get away from me... Harry!" she squealed as he began to mercilessly tickle her.
They rolled around in the grass, until both were panting for breath. Both noticed their faces scant inches from each others', but felt no shame or embarrasment; rather, they closed the distance, and kissed quite passionately.
Neither noticed that in the bark of the closest tree was carved a heart with the inscription "J L" in the center.
R&R, s'il vous plait. Sorry for the short chapter, but the next one will be longer.