DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summer on Privet Drive was much the same as last year, very hot and muggy, but the for the past 4 days, it had rained non stop. Most welcomed the rain, but it did little to repress the heat. Sitting on a rickety bed, in the smallest bedroom of #4, Harry Potter was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling. He had been in this position since he returned from Hogwarts. The events of the previous year kept replaying in his mind, especially the last two weeks. The rain outside reflected his mood perfectly. There was burning in his chest that wouldn't leave, and with every memory it would pulse. Thoughts of Sirius falling thru the veil made it burn the worse. Although no one actually said anything, just being at Hogwarts around people who cared, even a little, had helped him from brooding, but here it was different. His relatives wanted nothing more than to be rid of him. He could feel their hatred and resentment for him, so he stayed in his room avoiding them all together, which seemed to suit them fine. The only peep from them came yesterday when his uncle knocked on the door and asked if he had sent the message yet. Yes was Harry's only reply. The first thing he did when he got back was write about 15 messages, each slightly different, but basically the same, 'I'm fine. Muggles are being good. I'll write again in 3 days.' He marveled at Hedwig, she was the smartest owl ever, and he told her so often. She had grabbed the note and flew out the window without Harry having to tell her, and he knew she would take the next in 2 days without prompting. She was his only lifeline right now. She would sit beside him on the bed, nipping his ear affectionately. She loved him and that helped to fight some of the hatred from his relatives. The prophecy played out in his mind again.
'I just want this all to end,' he said aloud. He setup painfully, muscles protesting from lack of use. An idea began to form in his mind. He eyed the unread letters from his friends laying about the floor, he didn't have time for that right now. Sitting as his desk, he grabbed a stack of parchment and looked for his ink. He just realized he didn't have enough ink for what he wanted to do. Pondering this dilemma, he stood and strode down stairs. His cousin was in the living room watching television and his uncle was at work. Aunt Petunia was reading a magazine in the kitchen, not even acknowledging his presence till he cleared his throat.
'Aunt Petunia, I ran out of ink, and need something so I can write my messages, you know…' but she cut him off.
'There are some pens in that drawer, wouldn't want them to think we aren't treating you well.'
Harry simply opened the drawer and took several pens, then went back to his room muttering a thank you as he left. Sorting his thoughts, he began to write, words and sentences coming slowly at first, but then slowly it all started to flow from him. He wrote into the night, page after page falling to the side in a stack. Hedwig watched and began to hoot.
'I will have something for you girl, but not this mess. This will be hand delivered.' Harry scratched her and told her to go hunting, as he wouldn't be sending anything tonight. He continued to write through the night. When Hedwig returned just before dawn, he motioned her over, 'Hey girl, I have this message to go, as quick as you can ok?'
She hooted her acceptance and took the message in her claw as she swooped out the window. Harry was sure now that she could either read, or just magically knew who his letters were intended for. Either way he was sure she was headed to Rita Skitter, and that Rita's face would be lit up like a Christmas tree. This would surely be the story of a lifetime. His letters for his friends, no more his adopted family lay ready as well. But they wouldn't be sent for a few days. He needed to prepare his plan, and they would stop him if they got the letters too soon. He packed them away in his trunk, the only letter he kept out was the one to Gringotts. He would have half of his vault transferred to two vaults. One would be a new vault for the Granger's and the other half to the Weasley's. He decided to go take a shower and wait for Hedwig's return. Afterwards, he grabbed some toast and water for breakfast, then headed back to his room to keep away from his Aunt. When Hedwig returned he gave her the Gringotts letter, then headed to the park to see if Rita agreed. Twice he was sure he heard someone following him, most likely the order under an invisibility cloak. He found a nice tree and set leaning against it, just watching the children play. Some mothers gave him odd glances, his relatives stories about their hoodlum nephew no doubt. About an hour later he saw her, she was in beetle form and had crawled right up too him.
'Let's get somewhere more private,' he said as he picked her up and placed her in his pocket. He made his way back home and into his room where he let her transform to human again.
'Hello Rita. As I said in the letter, this will be the greatest story ever, but I have a couple of requests first.' She sneered but nodded her head so he continued. 'One, the story must be printed in 3 days exactly, that's this Sunday. And they must print Voldemort's name, none of this you-know-who nonsense.' He ignored her shudders at the dark lords name, 'I think its high time everyone got over that fear. The last request is that you have some letters delivered for me, but not till Sunday.' With that he retrieved the stack of parchment and handed it too her. She sat at the desk and began to read. At first she didn't look interested, but the more she read, the more he could see the spark in her eyes, she was hooked and would help him with his task. 'I know I'm not a writer, so I need you to make this more presentable, and to interview me with things I might not have thought to put in there.' She nodded in understanding but never stopped reading. She read the entire story, gasping in some places, especially the end.
She looked up finally at Harry, 'I'm sorry for the things…. well for the trouble I have caused you. I had no idea. I.. I…'
Seeing that she seemed distracted Harry prompted her, 'Well where would you like to begin the interview?' Rita snapped out of it and retrieved a quill and parchment from her bag.
'Ok Harry, lets see,' as she shuffled back thru the parchment, 'this accident when you were 5. Did you Uncle break your arm on purpose?' And so the rest of the morning was spent with Rita questioning him about his life story. Yes this would be the story of the century.
The next two days were fairly uneventful, except the one vision which confirmed that his plan was underway, and that Voldemort would play his part. Harry had prepared all his things, and retrieved Rita from the park, in beetle form, to let her take his last minute letters and requests. She brought him the new clothes he asked her to purchase, as well as a new silk cloak, and some new trainers. He ate dinner, which he cooked, drawing some odd glances from his relatives, but they said nothing and ate quietly. He went to bed that night with butterflies in his stomach, not sure how things would turn out, but knowing that this was what he had to do. He slept peacefully, no dreams, no visions, just blissful sleep.
Sunday morning came almost too fast. Harry first went down and cooked breakfast. His relatives had noticed his odd behavior the past 3 days, but today shook them. Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he reached out and hugged his Aunt, 'I wanted to thank you. I know you never wanted me, but you took me in and gave me shelter. I'm sorry I have been such trouble over the years.'
With that he went upstairs to shower and get dressed. He didn't see the shocked faces of his relatives as they stared at him. He dressed in his new clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. Dark black jeans and trainers, with a gryffindor red shirt. His new cloak was gryffindor gold to finish his outfit. He put the last of his things in his trunk and secured the latch, then grabbed his wand and cast a shrinking charm on it till it was the size of a deck of cards. He new that an owl from the ministry would be there soon, so he had to act quickly. Running down stairs he entered the kitchen, summoning the bin of flour, then he headed for the front door. He ignored the shrieks from his Aunt because he did magic and burst from the door. He heard a gasp from his left and guessed that's where his guard was, so with a flick of the bin, flour was sent flying towards the sound. The flour stuck to the invisibility cloak and Harry didn't waste a second, sending a stunner at the order member. He then used the mobilus spell to bring the stunned body inside, removing the cloak, he found Bill Weasley. Sighing he put Bill in a full body bind and revived him.
'Harry!!! What the bloody hell do you think your doin? Take this spell off right now!!!'
Harry quickly silenced him, taking a deep breath he began, 'Look Bill, the body bind should wear off in about 10 minutes. This is my trunk, it has all my stuff and I have sent letters to everyone explaining what I am doing, and why. Take my trunk to headquarters and tell Dumbledore I am headed to the park. The Quibbler has the full story in this mornings edition. I don't have time to explain further, I am almost late as it is. Tell your mum… well tell her I love her.' And with that Harry ran out, headed towards the park.
He felt an odd burning sensation in his stomach, sure his nerves were starting to get to him. Taking deep breaths, he slowed his pace but still was almost running. He hoped everyone would understand, slowly going over the letters Rita would have sent this morning. Especially the letter he had Hedwig deliver to Hermione…..
'Here girl, I have a letter for Hermione, but I also have one for Rita. I need you to go to Rita first, then stay with her till she says its safe to go to Hermione's. OK girl? Thank you girl, I know you can make both tonight, but I just want to be sure that your safe. I need you to take care of Hermione for me, things are happening and she will need a friend, someone to watch over her. Can you do that for me?'
Hedwig's only response was to nuzzle her head to his, and nip affectionately on his fingers as he stroked her soft feathers. She truly was the smarted owl in the world…. He felt the burning sensation churn with his emotions. Was this love? He wasn't sure what love was, he had been without it for so much of his life, he couldn't be sure what he was feeling. But this only deepened his reserve, he had to do this for all those he loved. This had to end, and if the prophecy was to believed, then he was the only one to end it. He passed a few kids playing, and though he hated to do it, he screamed at them to scare them away, they didn't need to be near here this morning. His scar was tingling like mad now, so he was not surprised to see the dark lord standing in the middle of the park, but being surrounded by over a dozen death eaters was a surprise. Had they escaped already, or was he recruiting more than the order had realized. Pulling his courage around him for support, and thinking of his love for his family, both old and new, to use as a shield to his emotions, he marched purposefully into the midst of evil.
'Hello Tom, I am so glad you accepted my challenge to duel me!'
There were gasps from several masked individuals and one scream, 'WHAT!!!! You dare think you can duel my master!!' Bellatrix wasn't worried about wearing a mask, she boldly stepped forward was you screamed at Harry.
'Now now Bella, Potter did challenge me, and I have accepted.'
More gasps, Harry began to laugh as a huge smile broke his face, 'You didn't tell them that's why they are here? You didn't let them know they were coming to see us duel, and to see you die!!!' Harry could see that this had various effects, some death eaters were visibly shaking, while others seemed to be hopping around in anticipation.
He continued in a sing song voice to mock them, he could feel Voldemort was getting angrier with every use of his muggle name, 'Now now Tom, we must get a move along, Time is a wasting.' With that Harry did a flourish with his wand ending in a deep bow, much like he remembered Lockhart doing in second year, but he felt the dark lords anger growing. As he raised from his bow, he noticed Voldemort still staring at him, so he added the final insult.
'Come now Tom, the niceties must be observed, Dumbledore surely taught you manners when you were at school. Now bow to death Tom!!!' The effect of this was almost comical. Bella of course exploded in fury, the others seemed almost as scared of Harry as they were of Tom, and well Tom, he just shook. Harry could feel his rage building, but also something else, was that fear. Harry decided to try one last thing.
'Is that fear I see and feel coming from you Tom?' And with that Harry laughed, a deep heart filled laugh. Again he bowed, and waited, he knew this was his last stand, but he also knew that he had a chance to take Voldemort with him. He watched for his chance, and then when Tom finally did bowed, well sortof a mocking half bow, Harry struck. All the rage, fear, loneliness, all emotions he associatelty with Tom flowed out of his wand, the words no one ever dreamt of Harry saying flowed easily from his lips, 'AVADA KEDAVRA!!'
The green light flew faster than the assembly could believe, Tom's eyes barely having time to enlarge as the light hit him. Everyone held their breath, but Tom didn't fall, although Harry did notice him wince when he began raising his wand. Hagrid's words from years ago ringing in the back of his mind, there wasn't much human left in Voldemort now. Harry decided that one killing curse wasn't enough. So before anyone could begin to laugh, or scream, or anything else, another curse followed the first. But Voldemort decided not to stand there for it, but he couldn't avoid the next, which was right behind it. Seeing their lord struck with a killing curse and still standing shocked them into inaction, but as the killing curses started flowing from the young gryffindor, a few reacted. Harry felt a few curses hit him, but he ignored the pain, he could feel blood starting to flow down his back and cheek, but his purpose was clear, he had to destroy the evil that was Tom.
A death eater jumped in front of one killing curse, then another. Harry decided that he could spare a couple of curses, so he sent blasting curses left and right of the dark lord, the explosions were heard from blocks away as earth, trees and oh yes, death eaters went flying. Tom was rocked back and forth from the concussion of both spells, but he couldn't avoid the new killing curses headed his way. He tried spinning but only the first curse missed, the second hitting his shoulder which increased his spin, like a top, and the next one hit dead center throwing him backwards. Harry could see and feel through his link, Tom's fear was growing, and he was weakening with each spell that found its mark. To the muggles that were near enough to see, it looked and sounded like the greatest fireworks display they had ever seen. To a witch or wizard though, it was the most horrific thing imaginable, the two fated enemies, one dark, one light, facing each other in what would decide the fate of the world.
Bella still had not reacted, she seemed mesmerized, the fact that this mere child, although right now he seemed to be possessed, a demon in human form, could challenge her lord. But the thing that hurt her the most was that her lord was showing weakness, he looked to be hurt by this child, and not for the first time did she wonder if her choices had been wrong.
'NO!!!!' she screamed as she began flinging curses at Potter, but the very air around him seemed to be filled with magic, and her curses slid off him. She could see that the curses were hurting him, but not actually affecting him the way they were meant. Fear began to cloud her vision. She feared this boy as much as she feared the dark lord, she tried to deny it, but the shaking of her limbs told her the truth. As she looked to her fellow death eaters, she could see the same fear in their eyes and actions, they too didn't know what to do. They needed her to direct them, so with one last resolve she screamed her orders, 'EVERYONE ATTACK POTTER NOW!!!!'
Harry tried to dodge the curses coming from the death eaters, but only when he knew he could and still get off the killing curses at Tom. He had Tom on the defensive, watching as he would summon things to block the curses, or conjuring shields and items to stop them. But Harry was now sending the curses with what seemed only a flick of his wrist, his mind chanting 'Avada Kedavra' over and over, but not actually saying the curse. He watched as Tom would jump, spin and duck one after another, but the spells were coming so fast that he still would get hit with at least one out of three. Harry was getting weaker, but he could feel the same from Tom. He knew that if he could just get him with a few more killing curses, that this would finally be over. Their spells locked, and the phoenix song began, the gold threads shooting out in the beautiful spider web. Harry broke the link as fast as possible, he didn't have time for this. Again he began throwing his curses. Tom had sent his own killing curses as well, but Harry was quicker, he easily dodged them then sent his back.
'Why won't you DIE!!!!' Harry's anger boiled, seemingly strengthening his spells. Harry didn't notice the sounds of appartion, as aurors and the order began to arrive. He began to scream over and over, 'DIE, DIE, DIE!!! Just DIE damn you!!!!'
Sunday morning dawned like any other, but for Remus Lupin, it felt like another cold day. Inside he was dying, he had lost everything so long ago, then to have Sirius returned to him. Now he was gone again, and Remus wasn't sure he could live through it again. Outside, he was strong and calm, what everyone needed him to be. He knew he should be strong for them, especially Harry, he would need Remus now more than ever. Yes, it was for Harry that he would be strong, continue to remain calm, the voice of reason when everyone else was feeling down. So he got up, put on a cheerful face and went down stairs. Everyone but Hermione was here, the Grangers were leaving for a vacation tomorrow, and the order were going to shadow them along with a select few aurors to make sure they were protected. The delicious smell of Molly's cooking had everyone in the kitchen. It was a normal morning till not one, but two owls arrived. One of course was the normal prophet delivery owl, but then another owl arrived, with a quibbler, but it looked thicker than normal. Since Luna was Ginny's friend everyone just thought that it was for Ginny. When her glass crashed on the floor, a gasp escaping her lips, everyone jumped to see what was so shocking in the paper. More gasps followed, there in bold print, My Life: An Interview with Harry Potter, by Rita Skeeter.
How did this get pass them, surely she didn't actually talk to Harry. Then owl after owl started arriving, delivering letters to everyone here, all addressed in the same recognizable hand writing, they were all from Harry. Dread started filling Remus as he shakily opened his.
Dear Remus,
I am so sorry…..
He couldn't read anymore, this didn't sound good. The looks on the others faces let him know that he was right, suddenly the fireplace flared, a quick message from an friend at the ministry, Harry was detected doing magic at Privet Drive. Remus ran, although you could apparate anywhere inside headquarters, you couldn't apparate outside, or from outside to within, the wards prevented it. He reached the door and flung it open, stepping outside he apparated to Privet Drive. He burst thru the door, finding Bill frozen on the floor.
'Remus, Harry used a full body bind on me, he's gone to the park, something is not right, hurry!!!' Remus quickly uttered the countercurse, then they both apparated to the park, what they found was beyond belief. There was Harry, surrounded by death eaters, and he was dueling Voldemort himself. There were about five or six death eaters lying, in various places, his werewolf senses told him that a few were dead, the rest didn't sound very good though. About nine others were circling the two duelers. Harry was dressed in red and gold, but his clothes were covered in blood, torn and ripped, burned in places where spells had hit or grazed. There was blood pouring down his right cheek from a deep cut, and the left side of his head had been burnt by another spell. His left arm looked to be broke, and another deep gash on his left thigh spurted blood when he jumped.
Remus and Bill were frozen watching, although Harry wasn't saying incantations, spells were leaving his wand repeatedly, and faster than they had ever seen. Harry was screaming over and over, 'Just Die!'
The green light leaving his wand was easily recognized as the killing curse. He couldn't believe that Harry was using an unforgivable. Also unbelievable was that Voldemort wasn't dying, being pulverized by the spells yes, but not dying. The death eaters were trying to banish or summon things to block Harry's spells, sometimes working, sometimes blocking Voldemort's return spells instead. It was complete anarchy. They both reacted at the same time, sending stunners at the nearest death eaters, tackling some of the obstacles on their path to Harry. This can't be happening, not now, not to Harry. He had just lost Sirius, he couldn't loose Harry as well. They heard phoenix song every so often, it was preceded by a brief gold glow, it seemed that sometimes Harry and Voldemort's spells would collide and a gold explosion would happen, followed by the song, the song that empowered them both, and sent fear into the ranks of the opponents.
By the time they finally reached Harry, he heard the rest of the order, and some ministry officials arriving, joining the fray. Harry and Voldemort both were down now, neither moving, his heart beating so fast he wasn't sure if he was dying himself. The death eaters began retreating, Bellatrix taking her master with her. They must have made portkeys in case they needed to leave in a hurry. He dropped beside Harry and felt for a pulse, it was weak, but it was there. As if the heavens understood his pain, it began to rain. The tears falling from his eyes mixed with the rain. The thunder joined his cries. He screamed to the heavens not to take Harry. He lost consciousness falling into the darkness that was creeping up on him, crying over the body of the last thing he had to live for.
A/N: I am not sure how long the next couple of chapters will be since I hope for each to deal with a different character and their reaction to Harry's letter and the news of the duel.
