Chapter 6 The fall of the Lord….The rise of the Master
He tapped his finger on the rubble before him, waiting patiently for those who he had invited to Godric's Hollow to appear. He was an hour early, being the loner to stand in the center of a pile of rumble. He heaved in a deep sigh. This was it, the moment where he will conquer or be conquered. The idea of battling the two most powerful wizards in one go and then emerging victorious was quite dim and more then likely impossible. Still it proved a worthy challenge and he was quite confident that he could defeat them both, even if his enemies decide for the time being to form a truce and then an alliance against him.
That would have been wise, but he knew that it wasn't going to happen, as neither the Dark nor the Light would swallow their pride and accept defeat and admit to the other that the only way to survive was if they had banded together. Foolish talk was what Dumbledore said, nothing that came out of the man was practical and of use. Voldemort had his talks, but never in any life time would he lower his status to that of a person who makes mistakes. He'll keep going, even though he knew that he was heading straight off a cliff. Neither men would accept their wrongs and bother to correct them. That was why, Harry was sure that he could conquer the world. With Dumbledore and Voldemort gone, he would be the ruler as no one else could stand against him in strength.
Suddenly he heard it, loud pops which announced to him that his visitors were here. Pulling his hood tighter, he made sure that his face was covered completely so that only he could see them, and they could not see him. The cloak hung around him, exposing no skin. It was getting late, and he was sure that this would last well into the night. He didn't want his other form, other side exposed to anyone but himself.
"Albus, I refuse going. You'll need someone else to lead the group you've assigned me. I refuse to go" Alastor objected using his loud voice to make a point.
The Order was gather at the headmaster's office at Hogwarts as they prepared to leave and head towards Godric's Hollow.
"It's more then fishy. No one knows what happened to HIM. For all we know, HE might be dead. HE did jump off that window." He pointed at the window. "That was where he was last seen."
"No one found his body…" McGonagall whispered.
Moody ignored this. "Voldemort might be using Hedwig. Voldemort might have written that letter! It's not at all out of the possibilities!"
Dumbledore rubbed his beard. Mad-Eye was correct, there was no proof that Harry was behind it all.
"I trust Harry…." Albus said softly, as slowly as ever, hinting its opposite meaning.
"Look how that has got you..You nearly DIED! Albus! Are you going to risk your life again for someone who so clearly wanted you dead?" Mad-Eye roared.
The blue eyes behind the half moon spectacles darkened and flashed as the incident was brought up.
"Besides…." Tonks added with reason, as she supported Alastor, as everyone else did, but didn't have what it took to voice to it. "The massage is black and white. In times like these everyone knows not to be that specific for there is always the possibility of interferences. HE would have known that. If HE did wish to speak with you about something so important, it would not be in a letter. For all we care, HE might as well pop up here and say so himself. Makes no difference then having you meet HIM somewhere else…."
"So you are also against it." Dumbledore said in a tone that sounded more like a statement then question.
Tonks nodded.
"Actually we all believe that we should not be visiting Godric's Hollow." Arthur spoke up. "Alastor is correct."
Dumbledore looked from one member to another finally sighing in defeat. None of the previous Order task had been so disapproved by its members.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I see. Due to last minute persuasion, we will not be going. I still strongly suggest that we do. However, I cannot go without the support of the Order."
He stared at Lord Voldemort who stood proudly, head high, feet flat on the floor, before the 200 Death Eaters who surrounded them in tight circles, though large enough so that Harry and Voldemort stood at least 50 feet away from each other.
Harry touched the rumble next to him.
"Do you know where we stand? The Potter's House stood proudly on this very land, nearly 18 years ago. Today, it is rumble. A generation ago, the Potter's were proud supporters of the Light, people who defied Evil. A generation later, within the very ashes of this place shall raise a new Evil, unmatched by anything before."
Potter… Voldemort hissed.
Harry frowned slightly, he would change how the man before him addressed him soon enough.
Voldemort… came the sneer like hiss. Voldemort smirked, after confirming the identity of the loner.
"So you have finally decided to crawl out of that ant hole you've dug yourself into." There was scattered laughter among the Death Eaters who stood the closes. Harry didn't say anything as he knew that no one would be laughing once he was finish with them.
"So where is the Catch, hand it over." Voldemort squinted his eyes just to make sure they were really alone.
"You'll have it once I receive your end"
"Hmm…. slippery aren't we, very well, have it your way…"
"My faithful Death Eaters!" Voldemort's raised his voice and let it boom over the desolated place. "You are here tonight to witness the greatest alliance ever!" Harry smiled. He knew it would be a shock once Voldemort completed his saying. This was going to be easy, way too easy.
"Harry James Potter, my greatest adversary has finally decided to join our ranks. Let us welcome him."
Harry's smile immediately vanished. This wasn't supposed to go this way. The Death Eaters were cheering and jabbering, talking loudly, celebrating at their victory over The-Boy-Who-Lived. Harry groaned. He should not have trusted Voldemort and his slick mouth to announce it.
Raising his wand he fired a loud harmless spell into the air, then pointed it directly at Voldemort, who had been so self confident that he was defenseless.
"Stepping out of line so quickly, are we not, Lord Voldemort" Harry said softly though loud enough for all to hear and clearly enough for all to understand. "You do know the consequences…"
Voldemort did not reply as he cocked his head to the side, wondering what Harry had up his sleeve.
"My faithful Death Eaters! You are here tonight to witness the greatest reunite of all time!" Harry took in a deep breath. "You shall beer witness to the reunion of the Dark Lord with his Master."
"Master…." Voldemort repeated laughing; however it was silenced as Harry lifted his wand above his head and cast six words, which had letters that constantly rearranged themselves every 10 minutes.
The first was Tom Marvolo Riddle that changed to I am Lord Voldemort. That wasn't a surprise. The name next to it caused complete silence and an uneasy shift. The name Harry James Potter was rearranged to form Master Hary J Poter. The two names lit up the night sky, though Master outshined the Lord.
"You see, I was meant to be the Master. Your parents named you to become a Lord. My parents named me a Master. You do not keep the name which your parents named you. However I do. Even with Master instead of James, I am still Hary J Poter, pronounced the same, and literally spelled the same. It is a part of me that cannot be erased."
Voldemort stared blankly at the words, not knowing what to do but laugh. When the laughter died down, he spoke again.
"Then it is destined that our paths will never cross. We were meant to live parallel lives. The prophecy holds true. Neither can live while the other survives!!!"
"KILL HIM!!!" Voldemort bellowed.
This talk was ridicules, full of bullshit. He currently had a small group, less then 1 fraction of his entire army present that could easily crush the mere thought of him bowing to the other to smithereens. He would make the other think twice before ever thinking of challenging him, who had already had half of the world at his fingertips, and was still growing.
Instantaneously, as if snapped out of a deep slumber, 200 or so deadly curses were fired at Harry. On the inside, Harry marveled at the obedience of the puppets to orders and its capabilities to sufficiency take out task as a unit. He had longed to have an army just like that, and he knew that after this battle what use to belong to Voldemort would belong to him. On the outside he remained emotionless and indifferent, scowling at the group, making it seem as though they were nothing, not even worth his attention.
Dodging 200 curses at once was impossible as was trying to put a shield charm. There was nowhere to run, no place to hide. Voldemort had a triumph smile plastered on his face. He watched as the deadly spells zoomed towards his enemy, searching the others face to find a small smile playing on his outer lips.
In the split second that followed, a figure zoomed out of the Death Eaters. A small, stuttering voice spoke up.
"I…I…fo…foll…follow in the path of my best friends….the pat…path…of the Ma…Ma…Marauders…."
Voldemort cocked his head to the side at Wormtail's bold words. Voldemort didn't understand the sudden change or the meaning of the words, but it did not mean anything to him. Wormtail was useless. However, Harry did, he had been waiting for this coward's appearance, though not expecting it. It was magic at its deepest; Wormtail still owed him a life debt.
The spells met in the middle, causing a huge explosion, from the debris of the rumble surrounding Harry. There was a synchronized scream of agony coming from the middle. Voldemort laughed triumphantly, but abruptly fell silent as the debris lifted.
There were bodies of dead Death Eaters lying sprawled on the floor. Looking closely Voldemort noticed a mist spreading from where Harry had been to the outer rims of the group of people. From the center, he could faintly make out a shape, a shadowy figure of a Rat, where he was sure Wormtail and Harry had previously been. As it spread it thickened so that the furthest that anyone could see was five feet in diameter away from themselves.
The Dark Lord threw curses around him, as he realized the mist could not be lifted. Around him, were screams, shouts and then sound of someone falling dead. It was chaotic. More then once had Voldemort nearly been hit by an Avada Kedavra, as he didn't notice the curse until it came so close to him, and barely avoided it.
"STOP THE CURSES!!!" The Dark Lord bellowed, realizing that if this continued, they would end up accidentally killing each other then the enemy. The curses stop as quick as they had begun. Voldemort strained his ears and eyes to pinpoint any unusual movement. The mist did not help as it only thickened and made it more difficult.
If he had not been that powerful and alert, he would not have noticed the soft mutter of "Avada Kedavra."
Voldemort shivered. It was Harry's voice, but that was not what caused the body reaction from him. From the sound of it, the two of them were standing only 10 feet away from each other without him knowing it. The Dark Lord thanked himself for having quick reflexes and responses.
The Dark Lord hissed loudly. "AVADA KEDAVRA"
The two spells met in mid air, and connected with a silvery, clear thin thread.
"From this night forth," Harry began as a web of silver light surrounded the two, as they were forced into the air, the mist disappearing. It was then that Voldemort noticed Wormtail below Harry, his Animagus, shadowy form was enlarged as if protecting Harry. He didn't bother to wonder how the two could have survived as it didn't matter.
Voldemort picked up the sentence.
"We break all ties…"
The two switched off.
"Which link us to the other…"
"Faithful wand, be true to your Master"
"Destroy its brother!"
There was a gigantic rumble in the Earth, as the land cracked under the Death Eaters.
Harry paused. "You've always wanted to hear the prophecy…well here it is!!"
Voldemort unconsciously recited the first half.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied HIM, born as the seventh month dies…"
"and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives….The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month die….
Wormtail never told you the other half for he is a true Maraduer……" Harry lied, praising the Rat slightly for his bold Gryffindor courage that he demonstrated earlier and because he could feel the Rat's protection around him, a new protection which he knew then that Wormtail truly meant to keep his word of honor.
There was loud thunder overlap by another rumble that came from the very core of the earth, as the land shook uncontrollably; splitting what was left of the rumble in Godric's Hollow into shattered pieces.
The Order was still gathered in the Headmaster's Office. It had been nearly two hours since they were suppose to have arrived at Godric's Hollow. No one spoke, acting as though they were waiting for something, but they did not what.
Fawkes suddenly gave a shrill painful cry as it burst into flames. Everyone seemed startled. The bird wasn't old nor was it sick. Fire just erupted and it dissolved into thin air. The only thing that was left was a single feather, which was broken into two.
Dumbledore studded it, before giving an explanation.
"It has begun. They have defied brotherhood to fulfill the prophecy. Now that Fawkes is gone, so is the connection that links the two wands. They can freely kill the other. Either must die at the hands of the other for neither can live without the other…." Dumbledore recited. To prove that he was correct, the Earth shook violently underneath them as rumble after rumble of protest came from within.
They all stared out the window, towards Godric's Hollow, the place which they knew history was being written.
"Tonight a great reckoning will occur."
No one noticed the birth of a snake from the ashes of the phoenix.
"Either must die at the hand of the other" Harry echoed that line
"For neither can live while the other survives….." Voldemort repeated, quite aware that it was repeated among the group of Death Eaters. He was about to speak when something unexpected happened.
The silvery thread vanished, as did the web.
"What goes up must come down…" Harry spoke smugly, as gravity pulled him towards the floor. Voldemort who had tried to keep himself afloat after the thread vanished, realized his mistake. He watched as one of the killing cures barley whizzed passed Harry's head. The other headed straight towards him. He knew that it was too late. He was at least a head taller then Harry, which proved now to be a disadvantage. He could not fly up higher, or fall down faster. Being in midair, he wasn't able to do a thing.
Harry landed safely softly on the floor, his eyes fixed on Voldemort. He watched in slow motion, the way he had watch Sirius fall through the veil. Voldemort's eyes widened in shock, before filling with fear. The Dark Lord's body arched forward, giving a final jerk and fell backwards as the spell hit him flat on his chest. The red eyes fought for life, only to lose to it. Voldemort's body fell towards the earth, taking its time, as though it was a feather.
Harry bent over and stared unblinkingly at the wide eyes on the dead body before him. It was finally over. He had won.
You were this close to winning. A worthy opponent indeed. You tend to forget the simple things. I can Apperate as easily as you can. As for Wormtail's sudden betrayal…that is something you will never understand…so I will not bother explaining it.
Having said that, Harry stood up, flung Voldemort over his shoulders and stared coldly at the Death Eaters, who still surrounded him with a disbelievingly look under the mask, that Harry had actually won. Some even looked relived, while others were completely lost and didn't know what to do.
Harry took a step forward and the crowd backs away. Finally a clear path was formed ahead of him.
"Wormtail…" he spoke suddenly. Wormtail scurried forward. "The Master will reward you. You have done well to prove yourself. You will be the first to join my ranks against the Good, the Light, Dumbledore.."
He pointed his wand forward.
"Your arm…."
Wormtail raised his mechanical one.
"The other…."
Hesitantly he did so. He rolled up the man's sleeve, muttering some incoherent words, and the Dark Mark disappeared. "You are free to go." He raised his voice. "You are all free to leave….." No one moved, and silence followed.
"Please...Po…Po…Ma…Master…." Bellatrix stepped forward. "We wish to serve you."
"Bella, you killed Sirius. Do you think, do you think, I will accept you?" Harry growled.
Bellatrix pointed a hand at Wormtail.
"He's the weakest amongst us. He'll betray you the first moment he's got to save his own skin. The way he did Ma….the Dark Lord."
"He may be the weakest, but his loyalty will never waiver against me. I trust a Gryffindor more then a Slytherin…."
Bella was going to argue, but Harry laughed.
"However, I do need as many as possible. You will all be accepted, however I warn you now, if you did not like Voldemort, you will loath me."
Still no one moved. Harry sighed.
"Wormtail…arm…."
The Rat held it out again. Flicking his wand, a jet of light issued out of his wand. There was no pain, when Harry was done, he told them to look down at their own arms.
It was a mark, unlike that of Voldemort's. This was the Mark of the Master, of the Half-Blood Prince.
Severus grasped his arm painfully. Blood was gushing out of where the Dark Mark was. Madame Promfrey was busily trying to attend to the wound. Dumbledore held onto the man's right hand, trying to ease the pain.
The Dark Mark was bright and stood out against the pale skin of the Potion Master.
Suddenly the pain stopped, and the blood dried on its own. In fact, the Mark disappeared. Snape looked at his arm, wondering what it meant, looking up at Dumbledore for an explanation. He didn't need it spoken to understand.
Burning on the spot where the Dark Mark had previously been, was something else.
On the outside, going clockwise in a half circle was Master Hary J Poter. The Half-Blood Prince continued the circle completing it, so that Prince connected to Master. The words glowed a deadly green. In the center was a snake, yellow belly with a black overcoat. Like a wizard picture, it slithered around, though it stayed within the center of the words.
"The Dark Lord has fallen, only to be replaced by the Master."