Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potterish… except the books… so I most certainly don't own the Harry Potter.

Chapter Seventeen: Downfall

Elated Harry trudged up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. Prongs had returned stronger and more powerful than before.

He was whistling a merry tune when he entered the common room and the portrait of the Fat Lady slid shut.

In the corner Hermione jumped and Harry smiled. She was alone in the common room and she seemed to be curled up by her position near the fire for serious thinking. Hogwarts – A History was sitting on the floor, opened to the very beginning. Her eyes were searching Harry as if he could give her the answers she was seeking.

Harry rolled his shoulders with a sigh and lounged on the nearest chair. Hermione's eyes never left him.

"Well," Harry asked throwing his hands up in mock surrender, "Are you going to ask?"

Hermione started for a moment, her chin made little up and down movements. "You're mentioned in Hogwarts a History…"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Even I know that!"

Hermione shot Harry a dirty look and picked the book up gently as if was a delicate baby animal of some sort. Harry's smile that had been creeping onto his lips began to fade as Hermione said, "You're mentioned in the medieval history of Hogwarts."

"Oh?" Harry was only curious but not devastated by this news. How could it hurt him?

"Upon leaving Hogwarts Salazar Slytherin taught many talented apprentices. Many of whom he trained exclusively. Some names that are known are the mysterious Harrolde, who is said to have vanished into the future... Salazar Slytherin was unwilling to comment on the whereabouts of his student, under the firm belief the less information written about him the safer and happier he would be...Despite this manuscripts written in the founder's hand about his apprentice has been found, although they are extremely limited in their information."

Harry looked at Hermione blankly. "Oh don't you see it?" she cried pitifully with a curse.

Harry smiled up at his friend blankly. Hermione slapped her forehead with her palm. "BOYS! Argh!"

"What?" Harry asked all too innocently, "I don't is the big drastic news, Hermione."

Hermione shook her head sadly and stood and ran her fingers through her long bushy hair. Harry heard her long rattling sigh before she turned her face away from him.

"You said Draco told you his father had been doing research in ancient magics and that Salazar Slytherin killed Mr. Malfoy in medieval times."

Harry nodded his head; this was all true and common knowledge amongst the students of the Fifth House. Hermione wrung her hands tightly. "What was Lucius Malfoy doing in medieval times and how did he get there?" she stopped and baulked, "How did you get there?"

Harry shrugged uselessly in reply. "I dunno… Slytherin and Hufflepuff explained the magic but truthfully I didn't really understand."

Hermione let out another shuddering sigh. "Harry it's a bit of coincidence that Malfoy just turns up in medieval times they same time as you. I bit of coincidence that Voldemort also knows some ancient magics, don't you think?"

Because he couldn't think of any other way of reacting to Hermione's theory Harry simple shrugged his shoulders listlessly. "Some things are not meant to be understood, 'Mione."

Hermione tearfully wrapped her arms around her waist and turned away once more so that Harry couldn't see the crystal tears sliding down her flushed rosy cheeks.

"He knows Harry… I can feel it… He knows." Hermione looked back her own helpless written all over her face. "I'm afraid Harry…so very afraid…"

Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione in reply. "So am I… so am I…"

Over the quivering shoulder of Hermione, Harry saw the yellow pages of Hogwarts – A History, flutter open to page of an intricate medieval illumination. Harry squinted through his glasses.

The picture was of a great white stag, a long green serpent wound around its legs. It looked comical as if the snake was whispering secrets in the stag's ear. The stag held his head back, his eyes rolled back and his mouth frothed.

At the same time Harry felt the gentle burning of his amulet…

Harry felt as if every muscle in his body was going to fall off as he lifted his aching body up from the chair. He looked down at his hands which instinctively supported his weight, he baulked when he saw dried, wrinkling puffy fingers.

He glanced around and looked at the fire which was burning. It had been a cold winter; even now winter had not released its chilly grasp from the early spring mornings.

Breathing heavily Harry made his way over to a little wooden table; his breath came in wispy little clouds. On the table their was a red and green book. His gnarled fingers fingered their way through the pages, but his eyes did not see what was written on the pages…

It was with a tremendous effort that he closed he book and clenched his fist. "I was a fool to every have written a true account," he rasped rebuking himself.

The book firmly shut, he picked up and brought it to the fireplace.

With a slight 'Oh' he released his work into the flames. The fire took very little time winding up the leather. He watched with something akin to disgust and regret as his secrets were destroyed. But they were not just his secrets. He had no right to commit his life to page… or the truth to paper in that fact.

Yellow pages started to curl, the paper smoked and his work was no more.

Turning with a sigh, he went to the small wooden desk and pulled out a fresh piece of parchment. 'Everybody has the right to feel safe. To feel loved and know the security of family ties…'

He would start another account of his life, but some of his secrets were too dangerous to be committed to paper. This other account although truthful will not include much information about Harry, who he was, where he came from or where he disappeared to… It will only acknowledge his apprentice existed…

Harry opened his eyes with a sigh of relief and looked down at his hands which were young and smooth. The amulet of the Serpent's Eye was in his hands. It was burning as if the metal was itself was feverish…

In the blink of an eye he saw a home, wrapped in large flicking tongues of fire. Voldemort stood in the midst, his red eyes gazing hungrily around him at his Death Eaters. He stretched his long white fingers and indicated to two slouched bodies on the floor. "Burn them…"

Harry blinked his eyes and clutched his hands over his mouth, thinking he was going to be physically sick… realising what he had just witnessed.

"What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked but she seemed far away.

Harry semi turned towards her and nodded and found his voice although it sounded foreign to his own ears, "The time has come…"

'Fifth House… Room of Requirement…'

Harry managed the barest of a smile. The training the founders, Earven and Rhodderyk had made the communication process easier.

Harry and Hermione where the last to reach the Room of Requirement; as the door closed shut the cascade of questions bombarded Harry.

Harry held up his hand for silence and immediately the chattering and shouting stopped. Everyone was eager to hear was needed to be said.

For the briefest of moments Harry looked apologetically to Ron and Ginny before he started. "Voldemort's next attack has been revealed to me."

Chattering started immediately like a mob of curious bees. Harry whirled around as the door to the Room of Requirement opened and Salazar Slytherin entered blithely. Harry tried to smile at his mentor but found he could not use the correct muscles.

"Where….?"

The answer could not be delayed any longer.

"The Burrow…" Harry heard himself choke.

Ron's face visibly paled at his news, Ginny clutched onto her brother's arm. Harry managed a sad nod in the direction before continuing, "Slytherins I want you to secure the perimeters at the Burrow … Ravenclaws you will secure the perimeters around Hogwarts. Hufflepuffs you will ready the castle for an attack…"

Harry held up his hand to stop the outrage coming from the Hufflepuffs. "I need you here, if I fail. You'll be our last hope…"

The Hufflepuffs still looked disgruntled but did not make any further protestations.

"Those Gryffindors who are willing come with me…or stay here and help with preparations…"

"We're with you Harry!" Ginny cried furiously.

Harry smiled sadly. "I know…"

Harry moved away from the portkey and watched as the Slytherin's slipped off one by one to secure the perimeter of what would probably be his last battle.

The Burrow was oddly quiet. It stood uncharred in the darkness, like a hulking bird of prey. Inside he knew Mr and Mrs Weasley were sleeping.

Like shadows, the Gryffindors who accompanied Harry skulked closer to the house. They hid themselves in the garden to wait for Voldemort and his Death Eaters to appear.

They did not have to wait long before they heard the distinctive apparting pops nearby. Next to him, Harry felt Hermione shiver…

'Wait for them to pass you… surprise them… strike fast and hard…'

'Don't let them into my house!' Ron added to Harry's indigently.
Harry chuckled and stilled himself as he caught the sound of a cloak swishing.

The Death Eaters were not fussed about moving silently. Harry could the clank, clank, clank of boots before he even could see the figure gliding towards them. The first Death Eater past them.

'Steady Ginny… wait…' Harry could feel the anger bubbling from Ginny from the other side of the path. He couldn't see her face so he had no idea how she took this comment.

A few more Death Eaters past, there eyes glued on their target and not spying the ambush of a few young Hogwarts students.

And last of all he came…

Harry felt anger and fury build inside of him and had to push it away. For the next few moments, minutes maybe hours he had to remain focused. 'To kill or be killed…' he thought wearily, 'I choose life…'

Voldemort was about fifteen paces away before Harry gave his assent for the trap to spring shut. The students slithered almost silently from the bushes the Death Eaters barely had time to turn when curses upon curses filled the night time air… The last battle had begun…

"Expellirumus…"

"Stupfy!"

"Impedimenta!"

"Petrificus Totalus…."

Voldemort turned on his heel and too Harry it was in slow motion. For a moment their eyes locked. Voldemort's fiery crimson pits and Harry's determined emerald gaze.

Voldemort lips pulled back into a sneer… Harry knew which curse was coming his way. Without thinking he jumped clear as the serykah curse hit the garden paver he had been standing on. The rock cracked with a loud bag – splintered right in the centre.

Upstairs a light flickered on…

Harry lifted his shield that Slytherin had taught him and glanced around at the others. They were holding up well against the Death Eaters. Ginny had downed three; Ron and Hermione where working brilliantly as a team and Neville had Bella Lestrange on her knees…

Harry gestured slightly and the remain Death Eaters were frozen in their spots. Harry waved again and a great wind picked them up and they dangled helplessly in midair. Their legs kicking comically, as if this movement could release them.

Harry looked bravely to Voldemort and stood very slowly, his wand in hand. Raising an eyebrow elegantly…

Foes beware….The Slytherin's Heir is here…

Harry raised his wand in mock salute and he cast… 'Expecto Patronum...!'