A/N: I own nothing. Ok first off I want to thank you all for your reviews. They made me so happy, I was laughing like mad reading some of them. Again my apologies for the chapter taking so long damn school has to get in the way. Please keep the Reviews coming, they so make me happy, considering I've been having such bad weeks lately (I'm going for the guilt trip here or at least trying to) they kept me smiling even when I thought I wouldn't be able to. You guys are the best. On with the story. I'm so sorry if this is confusing, I didn't have this chapter as planned out as I normally had them, so I hope this makes sense, please bear with me.
WARNING: PLEASE READ, BEFORE YOU GO FURTHUR, THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES THAT ARE VIOLENT, AND DISTURBING (At least to me), PLEASE BEAR THAT IN MIND WHEN READING. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, SO NO FLAMES, BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO REVIEW.
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Ron held his young sister in his arms, cradling her small body to his. Her body heat changed rapidly from warm to cold within a matter of minutes. He rubbed her cheek whispering words of comfort. Ron wished Hermione would hurry up with his brothers, he felt so helpless, and he had no idea what he should be doing. "It will be alright Ginny I promise you." He spoke softly to the still young girl. "I'll bring you back to Hogwarts, and Madame Pomfrey will heal you right up." He told his sister, trying to deny the fact that she could not see or hear him, trying to deny the fact that she was really gone, and the only thing that he was holding was her lifeless corpse.
"Ron." Fred cried as he, George, and Hermione, came running towards them.
Ron did not hear his brother, he did not see his brothers, and he certainly did not feel Hermione's hand upon his shoulder. Ron was oblivious to all around him, except for his younger sister. "She'll be alright." He said softly. "I already told her Madame Pomfrey will be able to make her better. She's so cold." Ron said.
George and Fred exchanged the same awkward glance to one another, they did not have the heart to tell Ron that Ginny was never going to get better, and that she would never become warm again.
"Why don't you give her to me." George suggested. Reaching out his hands for Ron to place Ginny in.
Ron shook his head no. "She needs a cloak to keep her warm, that's all."
Fred stooped down beside Ron and his sister, trying to hold back his tears. He was failing miserably, but he could not let himself get carried away, Ron was too far gone, and he needed to be strong for all of them, he was the oldest.
"Ron, there's nothing more that can be done for her. She's in a better place now. I promise."
"No, you're wrong. There are still things that can be done for her. You're wrong." Ron said still silently, his voice monotonous. Ginny had been his baby sister, only a year apart, they had grown up together, Charlie had Bill, Fred and George had each other, which left him and Ginny. He used to fix her 'boo – boo's' when she got hurt, and she would always make him laugh whenever he got into trouble. Now he could not do the one thing he promised her when she was little, and that was to protect her. He failed, and it had costed him her life.
"Wonald, there's an evil hippogriff in my closet." The little redheaded girl of no more than two cried. She could not pronounce her 'R's' quite well, so saying her brother's name was always challenging.
A three year old came bouncing into the room, a child's toy wand clutched tightly in his hand. "I'll save you." He cried. Ron threw open the closet door and with a flick of his wand he cried out "leave." He then stepped aside for his younger sister to see into the closet. "See Ginny, no more." The young toddler pushed out his chest in triumph. "Hippogriff all gone."
"Won always save Ginny?" The young girl asked, looking up at him with her head held at an angle, her little pigtails swaying to and fro, and her brown eyes big, round, and innocent.
"Always." Ron told her, and he gave his sister a comforting hug.
"Always." Ron the now teenager said, out loud, bringing his sister closer to him, as if protecting her from anymore danger.
The other's all looked lost at what to do. Ron never was like this; they knew he and Ginny had a special bond, but they never knew that it was so strong.
"Ron." Hermione said, this time trying to be the one to break him out of his reverie. It worked. Sort of.
"Hermione," Ron said, looking up at his girlfriend with pain filled eyes. "Ginny." He said, looking back down at his sister.
Hermione sat down beside him, grief crushed her heart, "I know." She said quietly, gazing down at her young friend that used to be so full of energy.
"Hey bro, Ginny's in a better place right now." Fred said, still trying to keep up his brave façade. Everyone, including Ron did not have the heart to tell him that they saw right through that show of 'bravery'.
"Come on Ron. Let's go." George took a hold of his brother's elbow, lifting him gingerly onto his feet. "We're just going back to our apartment, where we won't be seen by anyone."
Ron did not seem to hear as he was being pushed towards Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Ginny still cradled in his arms, her head lolling to the side, her long red hair falling down over his arm.
"At least it didn't last long." Fred said, as they entered into the room, they sat Ron down on the sofa.
"She probably didn't feel any pain." George retorted trying to reassure everybody including himself.
"Say hello, to your new sister. Ginerva Gertrude Weasley. The first girl born to the Weasley clan in seven generations." Molly Weasley said happily to the group. As she came in the door with the new girl folded in her arms, a soft pink blanket covering the bundle up.
The six Weasley children approached their mother slowly. Ron still in Diapers was bouncing up and down on his tiptoes trying to fight for a better view. He was going to be an older brother. Bill and Charlie gave their congratulations to their mother and father and left the room, continuing their game of Bad Wizard vs. Good Wizard. Fred 'oohed' when he saw his sister, he was highly disappointed when Ron came out being a boy, in his opinion there was already too many in their household. George frowned when it was his turn to welcome his new sister home. He peeked at her and then turned and left, wishing in his heart that she was never born, it was enough that Bill and Charlie got all the attention because they were the oldest, and Ron because he was the youngest, now this meant that the newest intruder would take even more of his mother away from him.
That night he crept silently into Ginny's bedroom. Watching his sister sleeping, still wrapped up in her pink blanket, that his mother had made for her, before she was born. Her tiny hand folded into a tiny fist. He reached into her crib and grabbed the tiny fist into his, he then felt guilty about earlier that day. George wondered how he could have ever thought that. It was not her fault she was born. The young boy knew he had done wrong when he made that wish earlier today. Now he wished for something else. Happiness. He wanted his sister to be happy, just like he was, and he wanted her to have lots of friends that loved her, just like he did. He had Fred and he wanted her to have somebody who she could share things with as well, for someone so small George had a big heart. "I love you." He whispered. And he planted a wet sticky kiss on the baby girls forehead.
"I love you." George whispered to the girl in Ron's arms. His wish did come true Ginny had been loved by many and she had true friends in all of her brothers, he could let his sister rest knowing that she was truly loved in her lifetime.
Hermione could not take it anymore. This was not doing her or any of the Weasley's any good, with tears in her eyes she told them she would be back soon.
Ron looked at her questioningly, as if silently asking her how she could abandon him in his time of need.
Hermione smiled at him through her tear-encrusted face. "Somebody needs to let your parents know, and somebody needs to go looking for Harry."
At this Ron looked at Hermione with horrified eyes. Through his grief he had forgotten Harry and James were taken, and probably needed help, even though they had no clue where they could have gone, they wasted so much time.
"It was only a couple of minutes since we got here, and I'm sure they're ok, you know Harry, he knows how to hold his own." Hermione said as if she read Ron's mind.
She went to the fireplace, trepidation in her heart. It was this fireplace that started it all; it was this fireplace that brought them to this point in their lives. It was this fireplace that meant destruction and death. With a deep breath and a heavy heart Hermione flooed to the burrow where she knew Mrs. Weasley would be.
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Molly Weasley sat in her favourite chair in the living room. It was plump, soft, worn – in, and in one word to describe the chair, it was comfortable. She always loved that chair, it was where she would sit with her babies, if one was scared, hurt, or for no reason at all crying. When the house was empty, and there was no sound to be heard, Molly Weasley would go to that chair for comfort. She missed how the house was so quiet at times; it felt so odd, so strange. She kept reprimanding herself over and over, every time she felt she would lose control of herself. She knew one day it would happen, when all the kids were gone, and it would be just her and Arthur, alone, to live out the last of their days together. In two more years it would all be over, Ginny was the last Weasley child, and she would be the last to leave. She shook her head trying to get the depressing thoughts out. Holding the sowing needles firmly in her hands, she began the beautiful dance that could only accompany a sowing project made without magic. That was the only thing that Molly Weasley ever refused to do magic by and that was her famous Weasley jumpers. Each one had always been made by hand, nothing less for her family.
She usually started them later; usually a couple of weeks after the kids had all boarded the Hogwarts express and had settled into their classes. This year was different she had two extra's to make, so she needed as much time as she could get, to her Christmas was just around the corner. The first new one was for James Potter, she had already planned his out, a nice blue one with his initials inscribed, it would be beautiful. The second would be for Hermione. She had never made the girl one before, but she was becoming part of the family increasingly fast, Ron and Hermione's relationship was growing ever more strongly than did hers and Mr. Weasley's, and that was saying something. Right now though she was working on Ginny's a nice soft pink one with a red rose in the middle. Ginny's favourite flower. Every year she would start with Ginny's jumper and make her way up the family line. It was easier to do the smallest one first. She also knew that most of her children, especially the males would groan when they received it, always tired of the same gift, but not Ginny. Ginny had a pile of boxes in her closet that was neatly stored in the back, fifteen boxes could be found in that closet of hers, to be exact, each one for every year she was born. Molly Weasley was quite surprised when she had found the piles there, most everyone else just threw them aside, never to be worn again. The only other person that she ever saw wear one was Harry. Harry was like Ginny never could throw things away, things that she knew he treasured; she hoped right now that him and his father were getting along all right and not tormenting each other mercilessly. She glanced up at the clock to see where her children were, but once again it was stuck. But from what she could tell all of her children were still at school. These dangerous times, they all needed to be careful.
Molly Weasley nearly fell back in her chair startled when the flames turned green. She instantaneously pulled out her wand, and withdrew it back into her apron when she looked at the frizzy haired girl with the startled face.
"Hermione what are you doing here? you're supposed to be at Hogwarts." Mrs. Weasley interrogated the young girl.
"There was a change of plan." Hermione said quietly, trying to figure out what to say to the person who was like a second mother to her. Hermione did not have the heart to tell the woman standing before her about her daughter's death. She couldn't. "I think you and Mr. Weasley need to come with me to Fred and George's." Hermione was finally able to get out of her unwilling, traitorous mouth. She was never the one to not know how to do or say something, and now she found herself so lost.
"Hermione, I am not going to collect Arthur from work until you tell me what's wrong, or what you all have gotten yourselves into. Arthur is much too busy to be dealing with childish pranks right at the moment."
Hermione felt her body beginning to shudder. She could not let Mrs. Weasley know now. Yet there were still two more lives at stake. "Please Mrs Weasley. You've got to come with me. We don't have much time." Tears now streaming down her face.
"Child." Mrs. Weasley said gathering Hermione within her hands and bringing her close in a tight hug. Holding the sorrowful child in her arms. "What happened Hermione? You've got to let me know." Through her shoulders Molly Weasley heard one word that Hermione spoke. "Ginny."
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Fred was just getting everybody something to drink. It was all he could do so he would not collapse onto the floor. When he saw his mother and father coming out of his and George's fireplace grate along with Hermione.
"Where is she?" Mrs. Weasley came storming through the room, looking like a wild woman on the loose. "Where's my Ginny." She cried.
Ron, who was still holding Ginny in his arms, got up and stepped aside for his mother and father to see.
On first sight Ginny looked to Molly as if she was just sleeping. Molly ran to her and scooped her into her arms, she may have looked like she was sleeping, but she was too cold to be.
Arthur Weasley on the other hand just looked as if he was going to faint. He knew right away that his daughter's pale and waxy complexion could only mean one thing, a thing that he could not mention. He was numb, he could not move or talk, he just watched his wife cradle his baby girl. Ginny had been his whole world, a proud father he was of hers. She was such a daddy's girl. Strong headed when people were around, but he knew the real girl soft hearted and loving.
The tired thin red haired man entered into the nursery, where he found his six-month-old baby daughter holding onto the crib's bar. Her face all blotchy and red from crying, her little pink dress clashing terribly with her red hair and red face.
"I know what you want." Arthur said as he picked up his squirming daughter. The minute he held her in his hands she stopped crying, and looked up at her father, with a smile. "Faker!" He cried in mock horror. He pursed his lips in a fake pout. Ginny looked at him her brown eyes examining his face. She took one of her tiny fingers and poked him in his upturned lips. He laughed and hugged her tightly.
"Mama." She cried looking up at her father expectantly, a proud smile on her face, as if she knew she had made a major accomplishment in her life.
"Can you say Dada, Now." He asked looking at her expectantly.
"Mama." She cried again. This time laughing and throwing her small head back with glee.
"Say Dada." Arthur tried to encourage her. "Dada." He pointed his finger at his chest.
"Mama." She said again.
Arthur knew it was a losing battle. He called for Molly to come quick to hear Ginny's first words. What a magnificent day this was.
"What's the screaming all about?" Molly came running into the room, looking as if she was just harassed by a bunch of dark wizards.
"It's Ginny, she said her first word." Arthur explained excitedly.
"C'mon Ginny let me hear it." Molly said, looking at her daughter expectantly.
"DADA." She laughed again.
"Very nice dear. Mama's so proud of you." She kissed her daughters head, avoiding her soft spot, and went back downstairs muttering words about how it should have been 'mama' after all she was the one who spent nine hours delivering her.
Arthur smiled, a huge grin on his face. "That'll be our little secret." He said to his daughter, placing her gently back in her crib. Her brown eyes following her father as he made his way out the door.
Her brown eyes that once held a shine that could rival those of the night's stars, was no more.
"My beautiful daughter." He sighed as he slid to the floor.
Fred came running and lifted his father off of the floor. For once in his life, he was protecting his parents the way that they used to do for him. "How?" His father questioned. Hermione had not explained anything to them.
Fred and George filled them in on the whole event that took place in Diagon Alley.
"Oh Merlin." Molly cried. "Harry, they've got him too. Arthur we must do something. We can't lose him as well. We can't." She sobbed into her daughter's head of hair.
"We won't." Arthur said ever so quietly. Still feeling weak at the whole event that just happened. With a wave of his wand a fox shot out of it and it vanquished like a bolt of lightening. "He'll be here soon." Arthur sat down beside Molly, gathering his wife and angel in his arms.
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Dumbledore was staring straight ahead, into the eyes of the man who had let the children go so foolishly. He was hoping he would see what really happened, that morning, but Kingsley, being a trained occlumens did not give anything up.
"As much as I'm enjoying you prodding my mind, Albus, I think I'll be leaving now. Crankshaw asked if I wouldn't mind joining him in watching a game of Quidditch at the three broomsticks tonight, you know Madame Rosmerta put in new mobilvisions, it's like a picture, but live, muggles have some sort of contraption like that, they call it televisions though." Kingsley made as if to get up.
"Sit down, Shacklebolt. You will not be going anywhere tonight. Not until the children returned."
"Are you mad Albus? We'll be here like this until school starts." Kingsley looked aghast at the older man as if he just sprouted tentacles on his head.
"So you were in on the whole thing weren't you?"
"I've already told you I heard their conversation as they were leaving. Ron kept going on and on about staying with Harry, and James until September the first."
"Alright Shacklebolt you are free to go. You can go to the kitchens and the house – elves will give you some dinner. I'm sure you're famished by now."
"Thanks Albus, good night."
Kingsley was pushed aside when he got to the door when a patronus in the shape of a fox came hurdling past. It was the colour of red.
Albus quickly got up off his chair and made to move to the fireplace. "Point me to Arthur Weasley." He instructed his wand. The wand spun fast and finally it stopped, pointing in the direction of Diagon Alley. He knew the place the Weasley's would be, and once he caught up to them he would tell Arthur about the type of children he raised.
"Wait for me." Kingsley rushed to the fireplace following Albus.
"You're not coming."
"You saw the colour of the fox, it was RED Albus, that means danger, trouble. I'm an Auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, it's my job, and if somebody is in trouble I want to help. I'm not one of your students anymore, you can't boss me around."
"Let's go then. We're wasting time." Albus said, as he himself was halfway into the fireplace.
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The others were still waiting for Albus to come. Molly hoped that he would arrive soon. It was just too much to take in at once.
"What's going on?" A recognizable voice sounded from across the room. Albus was going to go on with his pleasantries when Arthur Weasley turned around to face him. Arthur's face red and raw from crying made Albus look at the occupants in the room more closely.
"There was an attack today in Diagon Alley. Harry and James Potter were taken by Remus Lupin, he killed Ginny." George said without looking up from his spot on the floor.
"Remus?" Dumbledore looked aghast. "He would not do such a thing? Are you sure you saw correctly."
"No," Hermione spoke up, "but we did." She pointed to Ron and herself.
"Albus that's not good, we have to find Harry, and Mr. Potter."
"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, did Remus let slip where he was going to take them."
They both shook their heads.
"Alright I see." For the first time in his life Albus was at a loss of what to do. He tried the 'Point Me' spell, but to no avail. He looked questioningly at Kingsley. "We need to get him back, Kingsley. He's our only hope, and right now he's probably defenceless."
"I'll gather more Aurors we'll go to Diagon Alley see if we can trace his magic. Maybe something will give." Kingsley apparated away to get some more Aurors, he returned with ten new ones. They, including Dumbledore and Hermione (to show them where the attack happened) went to the square in hopes for any clue.
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Harry looked down at his father's slumped body. He was gone, really gone. Narcissa had killed James. "Dad," Harry cried. "I'm so sorry. So sorry. All my fault." Over and over again, beside his father's prone figure.
Lucius, Narcissa and Voldemort stood and watched in glee, as the boy finally had a look of defeat on his face. The dark side had just won what looked to be a battle, and soon they would rule the wizarding world, their war.
"Enough." Voldemort shouted, coming to stand closer beside the boy who had defeated him for far too long. "I've been waiting for this day for far too long."
Harry looked up from his corner where he sat, he forgot that he was in the middle of a small war; his dead father the only thing on his mind.
"So have I." Harry hissed through clenched teeth. Hatred beyond anything he had ever felt before seizing his insides, making him feel hollow. Voldemort did not know it, but he had given Harry his strength to defeat him. First Ginny, then Remus, and then his dad, tonight would be his revenge for them and everybody else who had to die for no reason; this would be for the innocent.
With a swift movement Harry rolled to where Remus' wand was laying down on the floor, but Voldemort was fast as well. Within a second Harry found himself glued to the wall.
"I don't think so Mr. Potter." Voldemort laughed gleefully from where he stood. "I already told you that I've been waiting for this for such a long time. I'm not going to be giving it up so easily, not like the last times. Tonight I can promise you, will be fun. Lucius, grab the wand."
Lucius took Remus' wand and snapped it in two. Harry knew at this point he would be defeated there was nothing that he could do. He just wished that Voldemort would hurry up and kill him, that way he would be reunited with his family sooner, but he knew that Riddle would not do something as nice as that; he was in for a very long and horrifying ride.
"Crucio." Voldemort said.
Harry had not been prepared for that. His mind on other things, his body arched up against the wall, trying to find a more comfortable position to be in. The pain was unbearable, he tried not screaming, he tried holding it back. It did not work. His own shouts were ringing in his ears. Harry wanted to die. He was about to come to the sweet black abyss when the pain slowly receded. He opened his eyes. Harry had not even known they were closed. Green emerald eyes stared straight into red crimson one's.
"Having fun yet Potter?" Voldemort sneered at him.
Harry just adverted his gaze ignoring the man in front of him. He refused to die like this. He would keep his dignity in tack; he would not give in, especially to the monstrosity before him.
"I asked you a question, Potter. Care to respond?"
Harry still refused to answer. He would not give in, that would admit defeat and Harry was not one to do that, he would be brave, even until the bitter end.
"Not going to answer than boy?" Voldemort sneered. "Crestendellio." The snake like man waved his wand.
Harry felt as if his heart was being strangled. He could not breathe. The sensation felt so strange. He wanted to scream, but found he could not, not with his heart being so constricted as it was. He could not help it; the tears started rolling down his face. He had lost his battle and his dignity died that night.
"Now I think we're getting somewhere." Voldemort laughed sadistically, and he released Harry from that curse.
Harry wanted to shut the sound of that laughter out from his ears. He wanted this to be over with. He was ready to beg, beg to just be killed, to let this torture be over with. Something inside him stopped the words from escaping his lips. His father did not beg, Remus did not beg, Ginny did not beg, he, therefore, would not beg. Not for all the galleons in the world, would he refuse to beg.
"My Lord, may I have a try?" Lucius asked, being ever so cautious as to not offend the man who could turn the table around on him.
"Of course Lucius. One and only once, then he is mine. But don't look so down. You can watch as he dies." Again Voldemort's laughter cut through the air like a knife.
"Thank you my lord." Lucius looked to his master, and then to the boy who was pinned to the wall. "Now, now, Mr. Potter what to do with you." Lucius put his finger to his lips contemplating on what to do with the boy.
Harry swallowed nervously. He knew the man blamed him and his dad for Draco's death, yet he did not know why, but he did, and that would mean extra trouble for him. He took in a deep breath and waited for whatever was to come.
"Pastramiento." Lucius waved his wand, waiting for the affects to happen, it would not start right away, but when it did the victim would feel pain beyond anything they have ever felt before. This spell would make the cruciatus curse feel like a tickle.
Harry waited, nothing happened. He thought that maybe Malfoy did the spell wrong. He sneered at the blonde aristocrat, the only thing he could do in his position. "Is that all you've got Malfoy. It didn't seem to work. Maybe you should brush up a little on your spells." Harry spoke victoriously, but that feeling only lasted a second, when the pain hit him full force. "AAAARRRRGGGHHH." He screamed at the top of his lungs. His bones, even though they weren't, felt as if they were breaking, bit by bit. His heart felt as if it were burning and it would explode at any time now. His intestines seemed to be twisting themselves, and his stomach wanted nothing more than to retch all of its contents and insides up. His head felt as if someone had put it in a vice, and was being squeezed until it would burst. Harry had never felt pain this bad. Even his uncle seemed to show him some mercy.
"Very good Lucius, I am very impressed. Even I have forgotten that one." Voldemort acknowledged his most faithful servant.
"Thank you my Lord." Lucius said.
At that moment in time none of the three men noticed the women leave the room, for, if they did she too would have met her end that night, just like the other two men who had died just recently.
Lucius and Voldemort were brought back from their discussion, to continue watching their young prey. Apparently their prisoner could not handle his punishments, and they both decided to take it in for what it was worth, knowing it would be a highly amusing show.
With a lurch Harry ended up vomiting all over his robes. He looked down to see what kind of mess he made; he noticed that his vomit was speckled with blood. He wiped his mouth with his hand and saw a great amount of the red liquid coating his fingers. In his pain induced state he was still somewhat in his right mind to check on himself. He touched his hands to his face to see if anywhere else was bleeding. He felt something runny coming from his nose, and he realized that he was bleeding from there as well. Harry knew that blood coming from a person's mouth and nose was never good. "At least it won't be long now." He thought to himself trying to keep that tiny bit of hope up.
"That's enough Lucius. Release the boy. You're killing him, and I've been wanting to do that myself, for so long already." Voldemort looked at the dying boy hungrily. Wanting his revenge on that boy for even being born. His bane of existence would soon be gone. "Say goodbye Harry, to your life. Avada Kedavra." The wand pointed at the dying boy.
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Narcissa Malfoy had to get out of there. She could not take it anymore. She could not bear to watch that child die in such an inhumane way. Not even her cold heart could stop her from feeling pity for the boy. When she looked into those pain filled induced emerald eyes, she knew what she was doing was wrong. Her mind flitted back to her son, now dead too, by the man she used to call master, and the other she used to call husband. Never did she ever want to witness another person under so much pain again, no matter who that person was. She could not shake off the image of the boy screaming, his usually emerald eyes vacant. He was just a boy, just like her Draco. "Draco" She cried, but then stopped herself, it would do neither her nor the boy any good if she were to start getting depressed and crying now. She flicked her blonde hair back with determination anew in her mind, and she concentrated on the one person she had to find. She did not know where he was so concentrating hard and focusing in on an image; tall, large beard, sparkling blue eyes, old, and thin. This was all she could remember of Albus Dumbledore, and she hoped to the God's that her senses would lead her to him.
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Harry braced himself for the curse to hit him, in that quick instance he wondered what it would actually feel to die, sure he had a taste, but he never had the exact feeling of death. He hoped it would be kind, and be everything that he wanted it to be. The green light enveloped him. Harry felt his heart crushing for what had to be the millionth time that night, he knew he had no more than a second to live when the unforgivable actually touched him. He closed his eyes, one more second, he already felt the heat, half a second, he could already feel his heart slowing down, zero seconds, he felt as if his skull was cracking in two. Something was wrong. He opened his eyes to see, even though it was against his better judgement, considering all the pain he was in. What amazed him, the most, was that the unforgivable was not green anymore it was red, a bloody, angry red. He looked at the two men who were standing there with the same astonished face as the other. The pain in Harry's skull intensified. He felt droplets of blood running down his face. Through the pain he reached up to touch his scar, and he could feel the wetness of the blood. The next thing Harry knew an enormous amount of power pulsed out from his scar. Red light filled the air, and it slowly evaporated into thin air. Killing the man, who had been the wizarding world's biggest fear for over two decades. The man who had haunted his dreams almost every night, the man who had killed all of his loved ones, the man who had tried to kill him tonight was finally destroyed, before Harry's eyes. Voldemort was finally dead.
"Do you know what you just did Potter?" Lucius asked his voice hollow.
Harry shook his head frightened of what was to come.
Lucius' cold voice became even colder as the seconds ticked on by. "You just killed my master, which means that my son died in vain. You insolent little brat. MY SON, DIED IN VAIN. DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE, POTTER? YOU ARE A CURSE TO THE WIZARDING WORLD, BOY. YOU ARE THE CAUSE OF TROUBLE. FOR THAT YOU WILL DIE."
With Voldemort gone, so was the monsters magic, Harry slumped to the floor in a small heap. Through all the curses that were thrown at him Harry still found that he could move, he was not fast, as he knew he would have been if he had all his strength left, but he could still move. He rolled to his side and ran, trying to find an escape. He tried for the door hoping that it would be open, and of all miracles it was. That's when he knew that one of his captor's were missing. Narcissa was not there, and he realized she had not been for quite awhile already.
"Let the chase begin." Lucius Malfoy laughed the laugh of a crazy man.
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Dumbledore had just given up hope of even finding a clue as to where the boy could be. He did not care what happened to James anymore, but if Harry fell into the wrong hands, then the wizarding world was doomed.
"Professor." Hermione quietly spoke up. The minutes of silence that passed were killing her, and she could not wait any longer, the headmaster had not moved in over ten minutes, he just kept staring at the same spot with the same blank expression on his face. "I don't think we'll find anything here." Hermione stated truthfully.
Albus forgetting that he brought the girl with him, looked at her with a wary expression. "Let's go shall we, Ms. Granger. Mr. Weasley will probably be in need of your support. I have kept you here too long."
"Yes, sir." Hermione said truthfully.
The Aurors already having left awhile ago along with Kingsley, the said they needed to regroup, come up with a better strategy, than just standing there looking for something that was not there.
Albus and Hermione started the walk back to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It was a slow walk, neither had much energy to do much else than trudge the few steps to the store. A normal walk of five minutes looked like it would take ten.
The other witches and wizards just stared at the passing two. It was very rare that they would see the prestigious headmaster anywhere, but at the school. He usually never came down to Diagon Alley, much less accompanied by a student.
"Act natural Ms. Granger. We don't need the whole wizarding community finding out what happened here." He whispered quietly to the young woman beside him.
"Yes sir." Hermione retorted, apparently those were the only two words that seemed to be able to come out of her mouth.
"Is everything alright, Headmaster?" An older woman with a vulture hat on her head asked the man.
"Everything is quite alright, Mrs. Longbottom. Good day." Dumbledore said passing by Neville's grandmother in a hurry. Hermione having to hurry in order to keep up with him.
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A loud 'pop' alerted the shoppers that somebody had entered into the alleyway. A few ran for cover thinking that an attack was occurring. They were quite surprised to see Mrs. Malfoy, looking so haggard, and very worn down. This was never the way she usually looked. Her family was beyond anything less than looking presentable, they stared at her.
Narcissa took in the bodies that were eyeing her warily. Her apparition was disturbing. She turned to the one's that were staring at her and looked at them with cold blue eyes, that looked as if they had been made from ice. She smiled to herself inwardly, knowing she still got it, when the eyes adverted their attention away from her, and people went on with their business.
She had ended up in Diagon Alley, which meant that Dumbledore had to be around here, somewhere. She turned her steel gaze in every direction, turning her body around she glimpsed two figures walking hurriedly into the Weasley's joke shop. She knew who one of those figures belonged to, Albus Dumbledore, his blue luxurious robes would have given him away anywhere, she could only guess who the second person was, and by the description that Draco gave her every holiday upon his return, it was the mudblood girl, Granger.
Narcissa followed them. Walking fast to catch up. She could not lose sight of Dumbledore. When they entered into the joke shop she followed them to. She was not surprised that they would forget to lock the door, the way they were going it seemed they were in a rush. She walked quietly to where she saw a patch of blue, from the girls pants fade out of sight. She walked up the stairs, and was taken aback by the less cheerful group that met her eyes. Nobody seemed to notice there was an intruder in the midst. She knew that they would be less sombre than before, but she did not understand why when the boy was only missing. The Weasley's should have been giving their opinion, planning a strategy, making their first move. Of course she could not see fully into the room, the Granger girl was obscuring her vision.
When Granger moved to sit in the youngest boy's lap,Narcissa Malfoygasped. The young red haired girl was dead. She did not know when the werewolf kidnapped the boy and his father that there was an innocent life lost. For the first time in her life, Narcissa was able to look beyond her own life, and see into the lives of others. All the grief that she herself caused, all the hatred she had passed onto her precious son, all the wasted time, her poor family, nobody deserved to suffer. She wondered when would it end. She remembered the boy who was in her home, facing her husband and the Dark Lord, he did not have to end up like her son or the Weasley girl, she could at least save one life tonight. She prayed that she was not late.
Narcissa stepped into the silent room where all the other occupants in the room could see her. "I'm sorry." She cried, and she dropped to her knees. "You can still save him."
The others in the room just stared at the woman in front of them. Their wands drawn, eyeing the woman sceptically.
"Where is he?" Dumbledore asked the weeping woman.
"At Malfoy Manor. Lucius and the Dark Lord have him." She gasped out. "I'm so sorry, I did not know what I was doing, my Draco." Narcissa sobbed even harder. "I did it for him. I did not want his death to be in vain." She looked at the older man with the most reproachful eyes.
"What was your part in this?" Albus asked, neither accepting or in accepting her plea.
"I killed James Potter." She said truthfully. "I'm so sorry, do what you must, but at least let me help you save the boy. The manor is warded and you cannot enter into it without an invitation or with a true Malfoy.
"Take me there." Albus stated. In his true heart he would save Harry if he could.
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Harry darted into the long hallway. His muscles and head groaning in protest over all the strain that it had undergone that day? Night? Harry could not be too sure which one. Never before had he been in a house this big. The hallway was so big he could not even see where it ended. There was no stairwell in sight. He heard footsteps closing in on him, finding the main entrance would have to wait. Right now he needed to find a place to hide, until he felt safe enough to start looking for the exit. He needed a room and he knew in a manor this size it would be easy to get lost and hide somewhere. Harry figured any room would do, so he ran into a room on his left hand side. It was dark, but what he could make out was that there were shelves in which he could hide between. He berated himself for not being courageous as he should have been, he had been accepted into Gryffindor for a reason, but he was wandless here, and he just been through the worst hell in his life, he had defeated the Dark Lord, merely, on a fluke, and lived. His heavy breathing from the running slowed down as he became more relaxed in his position. He could not hear anymore footsteps, and he hoped to Merlin that Malfoy had ran past his hiding room.
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Lucius Malfoy always loved his little games of cat and mouse. He was always up for a little fun. He would not deny his new 'toy' anything else. It would be so much fun breaking the boy even more, then destroying the boy completely. "Come out come out wherever you are." Lucius called enthusiastically. That's when he saw a blur of movement, but it was too far too see where it went, but, yet, he knew he was close by to his prey.
Door after door Lucius looked in, after about fifteen minutes his 'fun' was wearing thin, he wanted this done and over with already. He held his wand in the flat of his hand and said, "Point me." The wand directed him to the door on his left hand side.
Lucius opened the door as slowly and quietly as he could, he did not want to startle the boy, or give the other a means to escape. "Harry, I know you're here. You can come out and make it easier on yourself, or you can stay hidden and it will just make it all that more painful when I do catch up to you."
Harry had been startled when he heard Malfoy's voice. He truly thought he had found a safe place. The man was taking too long in finding him that he hoped he had just given up. With all the waiting Harry's tired body was giving in to sleep, and with Harry considering the chase was over, he was only too happy to oblige to the feeling. He figured he would sleep here, and then leave tomorrow. Stupid, he knew, but his mind was on overload, that it was ready to combust.
"I see you want it the hard way again. Stand up and fight like a man, Potter. You're supposed to be all brave and courageous, I am very disappointed in you." Lucius bellowed out in the room.
"Go away, go away, for the love of Merlin, leave, I'm not here." Harry thought to himself. Hoping the man would give up on him.
"I know you're here, Potter." Lucius said as if reading Harry's thoughts.
Harry just peered out of the shelf where he was hiding to see what Malfoy was up to.
Lucius did not miss the emerald eyes peering at him. Making as if he did not notice the boy, he raised his wand high up and cursed the shelf that the boy was hiding behind.
Harry had to cover his head and roll to the side so that none of the contents would shatter on his already abused head or body. By doing this, he made his body emerge into plain view for Lucius to see.
Harry uncurled himself from off the floor, and came face to face with Lucius. He puffed his chest out and decided that he would be brave and stand his ground, just like his father did or should he say the real 'Snape', he would not run anymore like a coward.
"Very good, boy. I'm sure your father would have been proud of you, acting oh so brave and all." Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"Yes, I'm sure he would have been." Harry replied.
"Avada…" The unforgivable halfway through Lucius' lips when the door burst suddenly open revealing Narcissa and Dumbledore.
"Harry." Dumbledore yelled relief flooding into him to finding the boy still alive. Harry looked up relief flooded into his emerald green eyes. He was saved. He would have to thank Mrs. Malfoy later, he noted as soon as he was safely back at Hogwarts.
Lucius took advantage of the stillness in the room and the diverted attention of the other occupants, he took his chance, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" He said pointing the wand at Harry.
Harry had not been aware of this; he had thought that he was saved once Albus had entered the room, he did not think Lucius would go through with it, both he and Albus had let their guards down for only a second, and that second was too much. Before another thought could enter into his head, Harry's body slumped to the floor ungracefully. The hero of the wizarding world was dead.
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Lucius laughed manically in the silent room, falling to his knees and letting his wand drop. Both Narcissa and Albus had tears streaming down their faces, but Albus took up the lead and snatched Malfoy's wand away. They had both been certain it would not end like this. Dumbledore stunned the silver – eyed man. Then he delved deep into his mind. He saw all the horrors in which Harry had to endure, and even more tears were flowing than ever before, he saw Voldemort defeated, which would have been a happier occasion if not for the circumstances, than he saw how Harry was forced to come out of his hiding spot.
Dumbledore turned his attention back to the worn – down lady who had helped him today. "Narcissa if you don't mind could you please call for Kingsley Shacklebolt, and tell him to bring a Dementor with him."
She nodded plainly, knowing the Dementor would be for her and the man she now despised to call husband.
"Narcissa you will be safe, I will tell them that you were forced into your part. Don't worry, my dear." Dumbledore told her his blue eyes holding no twinkle this time. "Thank you." He whispered to the retreating back.
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Ten minutes later Kingsley Shacklebolt had arrived with a Dementor in tow. The Dementor gave the kiss to Lucius and Shaklebolt, made to take him away.
"What about Harry?" Kingsley asked quietly.
"I'll take him back to Hogwarts infirmary with me." Dumbledore looked at the still body of the boy he used and loved at the same time.
"And the Daily Prophet, should I make the announcement that Voldemort is gone?"
"Yes, but leave the deaths out of it. Tell them no comment. We will give the dead the proper burial in which they deserve. I don't want their last resting place to turn into a circus."
"Alright Sir." Kingsley said as he led the other man away.
"Oh and Kingsley, release Vernon Dursley back to his wife and son. Harry won't be gaining back his soul at least not in his physical form. You know where to find the muggle's soul, right?"
"Yes sir, I do." He said and finally left, not before looking once more at Harry and giving his small friend a very sad smile.
"If you don't mind Narcissa I appreciate everything you have done, but I would like some time alone now with Harry."
"Of course Albus." She said through her own sobs. "If you need anything I'll be waiting in the room next door."
"Thank you."
Albus turned to his young charge. Remorse worse than anything he had ever felt filled his heart and soul. He picked up the small boy, and cradled him in his arms. The unruly hair, the emerald sparkling eyes, he would never see again.
"I'm so sorry Harry. For everything you were just a child, a child." He cried the tears running down through the crevices of the older man. "Forgive me, I was just trying to do what was right for the world."
Placing the younger man gently back on the floor, Dumbledore conjured a stretcher, and he placed the young body on top of it. Next he conjured a white sheet, this was the hardest part, but he had to do it. He could not walk into Hogwarts carrying a dead body, especially that of Harry's. He did not know what to do if Hagrid or McGonagall saw or that of the rest of the teachers.
He picked up the white cotton sheet, and slowly started covering the young body, making it final. Albus started with the feet, covering them both up.
Albus placed the boy in the bassinet down gently on the doorstop. Hoping he would have somewhat of a decent life in this muggle household. The boy was sleeping not aware of Albus watching him with his blue sparkling eyes. The baby not aware of anything, Albus watched him a few seconds longer, little Harry apparently did not like having his feet covered while sleeping. He kicked at the blankets his baby face scrunched up in concentration, when he finally released his restraint he wriggled his toys and gurgled happily in his makeshift bed. Then McGonagall said they had to leave, and so he did, with a heavy heart he left the baby, knowing he would not see him for another ten and a half years.
Albus than placed the covers over the boys legs.
Albus had been looking forward to this particular start of term feast for ten years. He put on his best robe and waited like all the other teachers at the end of the table.
The first years came inside the Great Hall. He had been so happy when he saw how Harry turned out to be. In front of him was a boy, who was so blatantly enchanted by their world. He saw wonderment, excitement, and even a little bit of fear pass through the boy's famous eyes.
By the time the sorting got to Harry's name Dumbledore was overcome with anticipation. He wanted Harry put into the right house, and when it called out Gryffindor he was just as proud as if he were that boy's grandfather.
Next came Harry's stomach and arms.
Dumbledore watched as Harry tried to prove to the wizarding world that he was more than just The – Boy – Who – Lived. He watched as Harry tried to fight to be just Harry. And in the end he was able to gather those few close friends to see him that way. The Weasley's, Granger, and the select few who had got to know him in the D.A. meetings.
Albus had been amongst the lucky ones included in that small circle.
The last part that needed to be covered was Harry's head. He drew back, he was not sure if he could do that or not. That would be part of finalizing what had happened. Slowly he pulled his hands forth and drew the sheet over, covering Harry for the last time.
The boy had just messed up his office. He knew he should be the one to be blamed and not Harry for Sirius' death. Sirius' death was not Harry's fault. The heart wrenching cries that were able to escape out of Harry's mouth here and there made Albus sick. He wanted to hold the boy, tell him that everything would be fine, tell him that Sirius would not want him to be that way. But most of all he just wanted Harry to feel love. Dumbledore wanted to tell Harry how he still had James, that his father was still alive, but, yet again, he could not bring himself to do it. He knew that if James was revealed to Harry, than he would lose Harry to his father.
Albus dropped the blanket suddenly, still covering Harry's head. His thoughts reminding him of why he was acting the way he did this past month or so. He was afraid he would lose Harry. Harry was like a grandson to him, and he knew that if James got in the way Harry would no longer need him the way that he used to. That's why he set up those restrictions and tried to get Harry out of James' reach. He sat there beside the now covered body of his only family. Yes, he did consider Harry his only family, fore he himself had none. He would never see that smile, those amazing green eyes, or that spunky personality. No his Harry was dead. His 'grandson' gone forever. Apparently death was not the next great adventure as he had once thought.
"Harry, my sweet child, may you be able find your happiness, and peace at last." And with that the old man and the stretcher was gone.