This is the last chapter folks But I'll add an epilogue to this as the last last chapter so wait for it. Thanks for reading me all this time. I'm gonna start another fic soon so I hope you read it too. Read and review.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT

Harry stood on the living room of number four, Privet Drive. He looked around and realized the house was now still nicely kept. He ran towards the kitchen and saw Petunia slicing carrots.

"Aunt Petunia, you need to get out for a while." blurted out Harry.

"Harry!" shrieked Petunia. "Why on earth do we need to?"

"Remember Voldemort? He's coming here!"

"What..."

"Just listen to me!" said Harry frantically, knowing he cannot endanger the lives of others in his fight. "Get Uncle Vernon and Dudley and get out for a while."

"Dudley doesn't live here anymore."

"Faster. You have to trust me on this one. You have to!"

Harry and Petunia stared at each other for a moment. Petunia was looking at Harry, thinking of the time that has passed. She tried to remember the time when Harry lived with her and her family, trying to think of the many ways she made him miserable. The times when she and her husband belittled him, gave him rubbish for gifts, insulted him, looked down on his parents, and showed him a distaste that could very well shake someone so bad that it would affect him his whole life. She could not recall a time when she showed any affection for Harry. Why on earth would Harry be concerned with her and her family's safety? Looking in her nephew's alarmed eyes, she realized that maybe those bad things she has done to her nephew were nothing to someone innately good. She now knew that Harry was not joking. She had to get out.

"Fine" snapped Petunia. "I will. Vernon is at work so i guess he is safe for now. And well, I'm not sure how to say this but a... Just be careful."

Harry was taken aback by this act of concern from his aunt. He was caught off guard.

"Thanks." said Harry awkwardly. "I... I will."

The next second, Petunia was striding passed the living room. Just when she reached the door, Voldemort arrived, still clutching the book which Hermione turned into a portkey.

"What are you doing here? Where am I?" hissed Voldemort when she saw Petunia by the door.

Petunia looked back and was terrified with Voldemort's snake like face. She hurriedly opened the door and ran.

"Rictusempra!" screamed Harry as he emerged from the kitchen pointing his wand at Voldemort. Beams of light emerged from his wand tip and struck Voldemort.

"Ah! Potter!" hissed Voldemort as he rubbed his chest, which was where Harry's spell hit. "You escaped. But you will still die!"

Voldemort immediately cast a spell on Harry, who missed it by an inch. Harry dove at the back of the couch and ducked his head as more and more spells were cast towards him. Within seconds, the couch was reduced to cinders. Harry ran towards the kitchen as he cast a stunning spell upon Voldemort. Voldemort dodged it and went after Harry.

Harry was now in the kitchen but soon, he realized that this was a big mistake. In the kitchen, there were no doors out besides the way in from the living room and Voldemort was blocking this path. He was cornered in the kitchen.

Voldemort was now approaching Harry with his wand raised. Harry knew he had to collect himself if he is to survive this.

"Ah, the great Harry Potter is now trapped. It's not going to be long until you join your mother and father." said Voldemort.

Harry just grasped his wand tight, gathering strength for a duel with Voldemort.

"Avada Kedavra!" hissed Voldemort as a green light came from his wand.

Harry immediately flicked his wand and said "Crucio!" A beam came from his wand as well and connected with Voldemort's spell. The dual has begun.

Light was being cast on the whole kitchen. Harry kept his wand hand steady as his spell was pushing Voldemort's. He was holding on to his wand, half expecting that his parent's would pop out of Voldemort's wand like when he was fourteen. He knew that was probably not going to happen so he held on more tightly.

"You cannot win against me!" said Voldemort as he increased his effort on letting his spell overpower Harry's Cruciatus Curse.

Harry felt the push of Voldemort's spell increase as his wand began to shake. He then used both hands to try and steady his wand. He cannot let Voldemort's curse overpower his spell.

Soon, he saw Voldemort's wand shake as well. They were both getting exhausted by this duel. Their beams were still connected as both tried hard to steady their wands and to maintain the connection of their spells. Voldemort started to push harder. Harry began to feel his wand grow hot. His hands were burning with the heat but he knew he must grab hold hard. His knees were protesting from the pressure being put on them. His wand was shaking like crazy now. Harry was beginning to feel that he couldn't last longer.

Suddenly, a cry was heard in the house. It was a soothing, familiar cry. When Harry looked up, he saw a red shape zoom into the kitchen. It dove hard on Voldemort, causing him to break the connection. With the link broken, Harry's Cruciatus Curse hit Voldemort, causing him pain.

Harry soon realized that the red shape that hit Voldemort was Fawkes. The phoenix, on the next moment, flew out of the kitchen and went outside the window into the sky.

Voldemort stood up now, shaken from Harry's spell. Harry knew this was now his chance to run. He immediately moved his legs and stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room. Voldemort soon went after him. They were both in the living room now as Harry ducked under a table for Voldemort sent the chandelier to fall on him.

The chandelier was left broken on the floor and Harry stepped out of table. He sent stunning spells at Voldemort but missed.

"Stop running! Fight you coward. Stand up still and face me like what your parents did." hissed Voldemort.

Harry stopped running. He knew Voldemort was right. His parents stood up against Voldemort. They were brave. He had to do the same. He knew his parents died not to save a coward, but a brave son.

Harry faced Voldemort with his wand tight by his right hand. He eyed Voldemort as he stood still.

"So," said Voldemort. "Potter has finally grown up and learned to face me. Don't worry. I'll make your death as painful as possible!"

With a flick of Voldemort's wand, red thick ropes started to erupt from the floor and twist around Harry's body, holding him in place. The ropes were full of prickly thorns that sunk under his skin. His body was bleeding slowly. He knew he won't last long but he also knew he won't run. He will face death bravely, like his mother and father.

"Pain. Doesn't that feel awfully wonderful?" said Voldemort.

Harry kept silent and still as the spines on the ropes dug deeper in his skin. He bit his mouth due to the pain.

"Is it painful?" asked Voldemort.

Harry gave no reply.

"Is it painful? Answer me!" screamed Voldemort.

Still, Harry didn't answer. He was not about to give Voldemort the satisfaction of hearing that the pain was unbearable.

"Speak!" screamed Voldemort! He twisted his hand and the ropes that held Harry grew tighter.

Harry squirmed with pain as the thorns and spines dug deeper still into his flesh. He bit his mouth harder so he won't scream. His body was covered in blood and his shirt was tattered. His only consolation was seeing his mum and dad again when he finally dies.

Voldemort yet again twisted his arm to command the ropes to tighten still. Now, the stream of blood grew wider as the spines dug again under Harry's skin. He was squirming continuously now. He felt as if he was being stabbed with a thousand knives at the same time. His whole body was throbbing. He couldn't take it much longer. He finally screamed in pain, making Voldemort laugh.

"Scream now, Harry. Death is coming next."

Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry and waved it, saying "Avada..."

Voldemort was unable to finish the sentence. He was startled as the room brightened. Flashes of light were surrounding the room. It grew brighter and brighter. It gave Harry a comfort he last felt when he was very young.

Suddenly, two figures came out of the light. It was Harry's mother and father. They walked with grace, as if carried by the wind, along the flashes of light. They enveloped Voldemort and held both his arms. Voldemort tried to break free from the grasp of Lily and James but was unable to.

Without warning, the ropes that held Harry weakened and fell, sending him to the floor, trying to recover from the pain of the many wounds of his body.

"Harry!" said voices from behind Harry.

He turned and saw the entire Order of the Phoenix, including Snape, running to him.

"Harry" asked McGonagall. "Are you all right? You know what must be done. You must kill Voldemort."

"Yes Harry" added Hermione. "You're the only one to challenge the Dark Lord. It's in the prophecy. You are the chosen one. It is time to fulfill it."

Ron and Arthur Weasley helped Harry get up. Voldemort was still unable to break free from Harry's parents. Lily and James looked at their son. James started to talk. "Finish him son. It is you who can do it."

"Harry, dear." said Lily. "You can do it. You can because you are my son."

Harry was filled with an energy that he never felt before. He had just spoken with his parents for real this time, not just on the mirror of Erised. The pain in his body was replaced with a strength so unlike any other. He looked at his friends and saw in them a faith that was more valuable than gold. They showed love.

Harry finally understood. Love, trust, and friendship were the powers that Voldemort knew not. The room that was locked in the Department of Mysteries, this house, was full of it as the blood of his mother, through Petunia, resided in it. His parents were kept alive within him here when he used to live here years ago.

Harry grabbed his wand tight and approached Voldemort. He pointed his wand and said "This is for every evil you have done." and with that, Harry cast the Avada Kedavra spell and ended Voldemort's life.

Harry stared at his friends, who were now walking closer so him to hug him. He was enveloped with arms squeezing him from all around. He stuck his head out and amidst the hugging, saw his dad mouth "See you later, son." His mother mouthed "I love you" as he smiled. They finally vanished but he knew his parents were never really gone.

"So Harry, what happened in your fight with Voldemort." asked Ron as they were eating dinner the next day. Everyone seemed to be able to say the Dark Lord's name without any bad reactions.

Harry told him and Hermione everything that happened in Grimmauld place and number four Privet Drive. They looked amazed and stunned at the same time.

"Wait, how did Fawkes know you were in trouble?" asked Hermione.

"Dumbledore, I think" said Harry.

"But he is dead."

"Well, if there is something I learned, it's that when people die, they never really leave their loved ones."

Hermione just smiled. Ron looked puzzled but didn't speak. Harry just looked at them, feeling lucky to have friends like them.

The next day, Harry called the Dursley's. He wanted to apologize about the damages done on their house.

"Hello?" answered a male voice Harry hasn't heard in years.

"Uncle Vernon?" said Harry. "This is about the damages in your house."

"YOU... YOU DESTROYED MY HOUSE!"

"But..."

"Hello Harry?" said Petunia after pulling the phone from Vernon.

"Aunt Petunia, its Harry"

"About the damages, don't worry about it. I know it was inevitable that the final battle would be here at my place. Dumbledore explained to me everything when you were a baby."

"Oh, thanks."

"Wait, Harry, I know things haven't been good between the both of us. Why don't you have a vacation here so we could say… start over?"

Harry was stunned. This act of friendship was unlikely coming from the Dursleys but he still accepted Petunia's invitation.

Teaching at Hogwarts will commence in a week so Harry still had time to stay at the Dursley's. He told this to Ron and Hermione, leaving them bewildered by this kindness from Petunia.

"You're actually going to stay with them?" questioned Ron.

"Yeah. I mean they are still family. I mean families should stay together ya know." answered Harry.

"Good." said Hermione. "I mean it was family that saved Harry's neck from Voldemort. We should all try and get along. All of us"

"That's what I thought, too. That's why I accepted my aunt's invitation." answered Harry, who knew his stay at Privet Drive will be better than what Ron thought.

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT. EPILOGUE FOR NEXT UPDATE.