Chapter 5

Gary flew quickly forward, knowing there was no time to waste. He had only one chance and he had to make it good, yet he must be sure not to give himself away. Voldemort had vainly and foolishly arrived at Hogwarts alone yet again and for the moment, his attention was focused solely on Harry Potter. Gary summoned all of his couraged and aimed himself in Voldemort's direction.

Thwack!

Gary had hurtled himself against Voldemort's head with as much force as he could muster. The powerful wizard dropped to the floor in a crumpled pile of robes as Gary, exhausted and in pain, dropped beside him. Voldemort was alive, but unconscious, a small trickle of blood flowing from a cut on his forehead.

Harry had been released when Voldemort fell and for a moment he just gaped at the sight before him. The most powerful dark wizard of the age had been taken down by a flagstone. Then the young man came to his senses and remembered what he had to do. By this time, a crowd was forming in the entrance hall. The Hogwarts teachers and some of the members of the DA were pushing their way toward the front of the gathered masses, while Sybill Trelawney predicted doom in a loud voice from somewhere near the grand staircase.

Suddenly, Harry felt a hand on his shoulder. "You know what you must do, Harry. Best to do it quickly; Gary has done you a great favor." It was Professor Dumbledore.

Harry nodded, rolled up his sleeves and cast the fatal curse. "Avada Kedavra."

From his place on the floor, Gary had heard the exchange. Now, he saw the flash of green light, the slight motion of Voldemort's body. Then there was quiet and stillness. For what seemed an eternity, no one moved. Then suddenly there was chaos. Gary, still somewhat groggy from his fall and his impact with Voldemort's head, felt himself being lifted. He was too tired to fight. Then he could see Mary, someone was taking him to her wall. Kind hands placed Gary gently against Mary.

"Mary!"

"Gary!"

"It's over, love. He's gone."

"I saw the whole thing. I was so scared, but you were so brave. I'm so proud of you, dearest." Mary began to cry.

"Don't cry, darling," Gary said, alarmed.

"I'm crying because I'm happy," she explained, laughing through her tears.
Gary smiled and kissed her passionately. Then the two stones heard applause from behind them. Gary turned sideways and saw that everyone was congratulating Harry Potter, who had his arm around a pretty girl with red hair. She too was crying, like Mary. Everyone looked happy, people all over the hall were hugging and kissing one another. Even Professor Dumbledore was holding the hand of Professor McGonagall and looking at her with love. Gary smiled, his heart filled to bursting with happiness for everyone, and turned back to Mary.

6 months later

After it was all over, Professor Dumbledore had moved Gary and Mary to his family home in the country. He found a lovely spot for them in the garden walk, where the wall joined the path. They could enjoy both sunshine and rain and no one ever walked on them again, except the occasional kindly animal. Already, they had two tiny cobblestones named Harry and Lily, after the boy who defeated Voldemort and Gary's sister whom he never knew, and Mary was expecting again. It was a perfect life.

The End