Chapter Ten – The Final Battle and The Beginning of Life

"Who?" Ron said bewildered

"Voldemort." Harry responded

"Oh…" Ron replied, "Wait a minute…WHAT!"

"He's here, Ron." Hermione whispered shocked

"That's what Dumbledore meant by 'it's time'." Harry said

"What are we waiting for? Let's go." Ron jumped up and exited the common room heading strait for the Chamber of Secrets more courageous than he felt, Harry and Hermione trailing behind him.

When they entered the chamber they saw Voldemort casually leaning against one of the giant stone pillars.

"Tom, this ends now!" Harry bellowed

Voldemort cringed at the sound of his real name, "This will not end the same way that it ended so many years ago, Potter."

At this point Hermione lunged at Voldemort with her three-pronged weapon Voldemort casually parried her attack. Now it was Harry who started to fight trying to find an opening but Voldemort blocked the attacks with incredible speed. Harry knew then that it was going to be harder than he thought to beat Voldemort. Then on the blade of Harry's sword flames erupted off the sleek metal. Voldemort was shocked but only for a moment because the blade of his sword also burst into flames. The only difference was the color of the flames Harry's was normal fire color but Voldemort's was black. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione's weapons noticing that Ron's glowed yellow and Hermione's glowed blue. The flaming swords met in midair the fires licking the smooth metal of the blades. Harry then took a stab at Voldemort's left arm but he blocked it sending sparks into the air. Ron jumped in and slashed down creating a huge cut down Voldemort's arm. It caused him to gasp at the painful shock that radiated from the gash in his arm. Harry, Ron, and Hermione started to throw blows here and there slowly overpowering Voldemort. Suddenly Voldemort threw Harry's sword out of his hand, it landed some 20 feet away, and Harry fell back from the force that pushed it out of his grasp then the tip of Voldemort's blade was pointed at his throat the black flames licking his chin. All of a sudden Voldemort yelled out in pain because Hermione flung her weapon at Voldemort's leg and it was now protruding out of his calve, In doing this Voldemort was distracted by the pain in his leg giving Harry enough time to whip out his dagger and throw it at Voldemort's heart. Then all you could see in the darkness of the chamber was a flash of white flames as the dagger stuck out of the dead body of the Dark Lord lying in a puddle of his own blood. It was then that Ron vomited.

They entered Dumbledore's office and Dumbledore said: "Congratulations! As you are well aware news travels fast here at Hogwarts so everyone knows of the fight in the chamber."

Over the next few weeks Harry, Ron, and Hermione were bombarded with questions about the fight and marriage proposals from their fans...well most of them were for Harry. Fortunately for them they were aloud to stay in the common room for classes to avoid the stares and questions. The last Hogsmeade trip of the year they decided to go on only to be greeted by complete strangers who wanted to shake their hands. Luckily Harry had his invisibility cloak and occasionally they would hide from the waiting public. They came back with a load of things to do while they sat in the empty common room.

After about four weeks the castle seemed to have cooled down but outside the castle it seemed like it would never calm down.

In two days it would be time to get back on the train to go home. Harry sent the Dursleys a letter telling them that he was going to be spending the summer at the Weasley's house.

To Harry, Ron, and Hermione's surprise they each got a package one morning. Each of their packages were dropped on the table with a hard thump. As they opened their packages they found a hefty amount of gold in it but Ron had a Firebolt, Hermione's had the book 'Hogwarts: A History' Deluxe Edition, and Harry's held a red velvet box with his parent's wedding rings in it. Once Ron read the letter from the Ministry of Magic he fainted.

"WE EACH GOT AN ORDER OF MERLIN, FIRST CLASS!" Hermione squealed

Ron sat up, "We must be the youngest in…in…well ever to receive this award." He then promptly fainted again.

When Harry and Ron arrived at the Burrow Ron showed his mum and dad the mountain of gold. When Ron himself looked at the gold again he fainted (again) but he wasn't the only one. Mrs. Weasley fainted as well and Harry smirked as he thought to himself:

'Like mother like son.' He chuckled

Ron picked himself off from the floor and poured water over his mum's face saying:

"Harry, Hermione, and I got an Order of Merlin, First Class, Mum."

"Oh, Ronnekins I'm so proud of you." She said enveloping him and Harry in a bone-crushing hug.

"Thanks, Mrs.Weasley." Harry choked out

"No problem, Harry." She smiled, "Now don't you think your not getting grounded for risking your life, Ronald Bilius Weasley!"

Ron cringed at the use of his full name, "Aww, Mum."

The End