Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: I told you guys that I would get this story posted soon. I have absolutely nothing to do today, so I figured I'd get some chapters posted. Enjoy!

Four chapters left…


Chapter 16: The Prophecy, Part II

Ron shifted impatiently from foot to foot. "Well, are we gonna go?" he asked Harry. Harry shook his head.

"Not you," he told Ron. The red head opened his mouth in surprise. "YOU need to go to the Hospital Wing."

"He's right, Weasley," Draco said. "You just escaped from the Dark Lord, where I know you were hurt worse than you let on. Go to the nurse."

"What do you care, Malfoy?" Ron snapped. "Get lost."

Draco took a step back, looking offended. "Is that any way to treat a person who just risked his neck to save you?" he said indignantly.

"Yeah, considering the fact that we didn't need saving," Ron retorted.

"He's got a point," Harry said to Draco, who ignored him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco demanded, rather stupidly.

"It means you're a stupid git," Ron shot back.

"Maybe so, but I'm not expected to be smart," Draco smirked. "I'm not a bloody perfect Gryffindor."

"He's got a point," Harry said to Ron, who ignored him.

"Take that back!" Ron shouted at Draco.

"Make me!" Draco screamed back.

Ron dove at Draco, tackling him to the ground. Unfortunately for Ron, he had spent many months without proper eating habits, so Draco easily overpowered him. Both seemed to have forgotten they were wizards, as their wands lay forgotten on the forest floor. Harry leaped at Draco, who was now attempting to strangle Ron, and dragged him backwards.

"Guys, get a grip!" Harry yelled. "You're on the same side, you're not supposed to be fighting each other! Save it for the Death Eaters!"

"He's got a point," Ron told Draco, who scowled and began trying to free himself from Harry so he could hit Ron again.

Suddenly, a jet of red light flew past them, just barely missing draco's chest. Draco stopped struggling and Harry let go. The shouts of the two boys when they had been fighting had attracted the attention of the Death Eaters nearby. Now at least thirty were crowded around Harry, Ron, and Draco, sneering at the students. One of them stepped forward.

"Ohh, wittle baby Hawwy can't control his fwiends?" she said in a mocking baby voice, and Harry's fists clenched.

"Bellatrix," he snarled. The Death Eater laughed and removed her hood, revealing the smirking face of Bellatrix Lestrang.

"That's right, Potter," she said. "Miss me?"

"In your dreams," Harry growled, sending a stunning spell at her. She dodged it and laughed coldly.

"Ah, yes, I remember that one," she said, smiling as if remembering a long-lost fond memory. "That's the one that sent my pathetic excuse for a Black cousin through the pretty little veil, isn't it, Harry?"

"Don't talk about him like that," Harry said quietly. Bellatrix grinned.

"Do you want a piece of me, Harry?" she asked. "Come on, come get it."

As they stared each other down, Draco and Ron felt helpless. Though only Ron knew what hat happened between Harry and Bellatrix, both he and Draco knew that this was a personal battle and needed to stay out of it. The other Death Eaters stood by quietly, awaiting the order to attack that would be given by Bellatrix. She was their leader, after all, and if she decided she needed help, she would ask for it.

Bellatrix grinned. "Scared, Potter?" she taunted.

"You wish," Harry sneered, not moving. He wanted Bellatrix to make the first move. He was reluctant to attack, seeing as how there were thirty-some odd Death Eaters backing her up, and he had only Ron and Draco. True, they were both excellent wizards, but they were too outnumbered to do any good.

"You're just as pig-headed and arrogant as your pathetic little godfather," Bellatrix mocked. Harry felt the anger surge through him. He tried to calm himself down. He knew she was only trying to provoke him into attacking. "Weak, good for nothing mutt, wasn't he? You miss him, don't you little Harry? Too bad you couldn't save him, huh?"

"SHUT UP!" Harry screamed. The magic exploded out of him, bursting in a gold light out through his fingertips. The beam hit its target, blasting every last Death Eater ten feet into the air. The light faded, leaving Harry standing in the middle of the now charred clearing, breathing hard.

"Blimey, Harry," Ron muttered weakly. Harry turned to find both Ron and Draco staring at him, jaws dropped.

"I didn't mean to do that," Harry said quietly. "I just…lost control."

"That was brilliant!" Draco exclaimed, voice and eyes filled with awe and respect. "That was probably the strongest display of magic I've ever seen!"

"Er…thanks," Harry said, feeling a bit embarrassed at the praise. "We really need to—" He was cut off as his scar exploded in pain.

He dropped his wand as his hands flew to his forehead. Draco and Ron, knowing what was happening, supported him from both sides. The pain subsided to a dull throb, and Harry lowered his hands, picking up his wand and glancing around for the appearance he knew would be made.

"Potter," a cold voice said. Harry calmly met Voldemort's gaze.

"Tom," he said simply, clearing his mind in the process. All of Snape's Occlumency lessons were coming back to him.

"We must stop meeting like this," Voldemort mused.

"We will," Harry agreed. "After I kill you."

"So eager for violence, young Harry," Voldemort said.

"You're one to talk," Harry snarled, beginning to lose his temper. He just wanted to get this over with and get on with his life.

"Want to kill me, Harry?" Voldemort asked. "Come on, then. I dare you."

"Harry, don't," Ron muttered. "He's setting you up for a trap. Don't do it."

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, only slightly listening to Ron. He resisted the urge to use the killing curse and instead attempted to disarm the older wizard. He was very thankful of his decision as, to his complete and utter amazement and horr, his own wand flew into the hand of Voldemort. Voldemort laughed.

"Like it?" he asked. "It's a handy little spell I came up with in my spare time. Turns your own magic against you. Good thing you didn't try to kill me, eh? And now you are defenseless."

Hands grabbed Harry's shoulders and roughly pulled him back. Draco and Ron positioned themselves in front of him, their wands raised.

"If you want to get to Harry, you're going to have to go through us," Draco declared.

Voldemort rolled his eyes. With a casual, almost lazy flick of his wand, Draco and Ron flew apart and slammed into a tree on either side of the clearing. They struggled to move, but found that they were pinned by an invisible force. Voldemort slowly approached Ron.

"You, my boy, are a rather slippery, stubborn fellow, aren't you?" he hissed at Ron. "You were supposed to stay put. You could have ruined my whole plan. Believe me, you will pay. Crucio."

Ron began shaking, fighting the urge to scream. This one was ten times more painful than the ones back in the dungeons when he was a prisoner. He couldn't hold back anymore and let out a howl of pain that tore Harry's heart apart.

Something inside Harry snapped. Without even thinking his feet carried him towards his enemy. He slammed into Voldemort, knocking him to the ground. Harry quickly rolled over and sprang to his feet. Voldemort rose slowly.

"You have defied me for the last time, Potter. Say good-bye."

Before Harry had time to react, Voldemort had raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!"


A/N: Dun, dun, dun! I'm getting good at cliffies, aren't I? LOL! Never fear, the next chapter will be up quickly. In the meantime, review!