Chapter 14: Beyond Redemption

It was only a matter of time before He emerged.

Gwen sat, semi-comfortably, in one of Madame Pomfrey's visiting chairs. The world has truly gone to hell, then, she thought. To hell with it all.

You cannot win, if you fight.

Why fight, then?

Beyondredemptionbeyondredemption…

The voices screamed louder, more insistently. Don't fight! Don't fight! All of Gwen's voices, so fond of arguing, had one sentiment. For Merlin's sake, reverse everything while you can.

If he has no shell, he has no return.

No shell, no return.

Redemption?

Ron was the first to notice Gwen had her wand pointed toward her own body, muttering beneath her breath.

"This is my redemption," She whispered, her eyes glazed over. "My only hope of it. Only hope…"

As he ran toward her, her stomach began to convulse. Gwen's eyes rolled into themselves, and her hand shook in time to the explosions.

Bloody hell, has Elvis left the building, Hermione thought as she saw Ron speeding toward Gwen as fast as he could, too slow. Has Elvis ever left the building…

In that moment Gwen herself completely disappeared. Her wand, so ready for the inevitable Avada Kevadra, clattered to the floor. Her body…

Shit.

Where Gwen had lain, the Dark Lord was. Perfectly still, he was as a corpse.

"Avada Kedavra!" Came the shouts of six wands, disregarding the fact the shots were aimed at what was once Gwen. "Avada Kedavra!"

His eyes shot open. Smiling, he got to his feet and dusted off the robes he wore.

"Bloody infirmary," He sneered, outdistancing Malfoy by about a hundred times. "So dirty. Never liked it myself."

"Avada Kedavra!" Ginny shouted, driven by hatred and memory.

As the green shot of light hit and bounced off harmlessly, he began to laugh.

"You're killing her," he said. "Not doing me a bit of harm, no, but Gwen…despite my protection, she's dying pretty fast. Pity, I thought having my blood would make some difference."

"She's…related to you?" Harry squeaked. "Gwen Wood? That would mean Oliver was-"

"Not Gwen Wood," Voldemort seemed irritated. "Gwen Riddle, whose parents were unfortunately murdered some time ago. Even Ron had known that, for Merlin's sake."

"Dumbledore said that you were the last heir of Slytherin!" Hermione was nearly whining. "You're lying, you're ly-"

"Shut-the-fuck-up," He threw a Silencing spell at her. "Dumbledore doesn't know anything, the prat. The dead prat, I might add. And do you know who did it? Not yours truly, no, but my little niece."

"An Avadra Kedavra wouldn't ever kill our Headmaster!" Ginny's voice was high pitched.

"Yes, we tried." Voldemort rested on the bed. "Oh well. It seems that he has every protection known to wizards. Funny, however, how effective a simple knife is."

"You possessed her," Ron stepped toward him. "You fucking possessed her, you bastard."

"No," he smiled. "Just told her what to do. She's a rather good listener, you know."

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Voldemort thought as the Avadra Kedavras hit him.

I'm listening to His thoughts, she thought as a rack of pain worse than any Crucios had. Bloody hell, I can think logically. That's a surprise.

Isn't that AMAZING? He was gleeful. Should we finish them off quickly or leave them squirming?

I'm not going to answer that.

Afraid of getting involved? It is a little late for that now, you know. You're quite the little murderess by now, pet.

I-

Yes, you are. A soon-to-be-dead murderess, though, judging by the spells being thrown at you. Funny, I've never seen anybody live this long.

Is it some sadistic contest? She asked him, fuming. No longer caring if he cared.

I'm dying, anyway, and I don't think he can torture me once that happens.

I hope.

"She's a traitor," Harry muttered to himself. "A traitor."

"We have no choice," Hermione joined him. "Dumbledore's been killed."

Ginny nodded. "It's not her. He's killed her already, can't you see that? She's nowhere to be seen."

"You'd kill her?" Voldemort chuckled. "You hear that, Gwen? They know more death spells will finish you off, and they don't care!"

"Gwen's not there, you bastard!" Malfoy screamed, rushing toward the Dark Lord.

"Avada Kedavra," He drawled lazily, not even bothering to aim his wand at Draco.

His face froze, forever stopped in this instant as the flash of green hit him. Wordlessly he dropped to the ground, involuntarily writhing.

Surprise, surprise. He too is taking too long to die. Should I kill him?

No, it's more fun this way, he responded without waiting for her answer.

"You know, you're getting repetitive."

He and Gwen both were shocked. Had she just issued a statement coming from His mouth? For the first time Harry had seen Voldemort, a look of pure terror flashed across his face.

"I don't care anymore, you bastard, I don't care. You think you are superior because you can scream two words and cause death. But anybody can do that. You have no friends, just people who are afraid of you."

Gwen, the voice was choking. I will kill you.

"Fuck…you…"

In that moment, she concentrated all her willpower, all of her spirit into one fine focus. All her memories, all her hate, all her suffering at His hands were brought into this moment. She felt her soul cry,

A green light shone from him, and then they were separate.

Gwen took only a moment to acclimate to her dizziness before turning on him.

"Avada Kedavra!" She screamed at him, pointing her wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

She didn't stop when he finally fell to the ground, nor did she stop when he died. They pried her off him in the end, still whispering the death spell in his direction.