Chapter 15: The battle to end all battles
The dew gathered on the grass, making the grass sparkle under the morning sun. The small park looked beautiful, untouched in the quiet morning. It was full of green. Green grass, green trees. No one could explain it, but things seemed to prosper in this park. It was cramped in between other houses, built tall to account for the rising population. A small slice of paradise in the chaos of everyday life.
People had tried to build on it, many times. The first house to be built had burnt down in a mysterious fire which no one could explain. The second's roof was swept off the top, on a day with no breeze. The third had had a tree fall on it, roots and all. The forth had simply fallen to rubble, even though there was no reason why it should have.
It was then that people decided; there was no building on that lot.
The house to have lasted the longest was that of those called the Potters. Back when it had been Godric's Hollow. But one night their house became a pile of rubble, and they were never seen again. The only clue that could have possible lead to any explanation of the Potter's disappearance was the mysterious Green Flashes of light. But those who had seen it claim to have gone mad, and most believed that this was true.
So in the end, the people of the neighbourhood had decided it was safer to stop building on it, and made it into a park instead. It was slightly out of place cramped in between the rising buildings, but it was nice to see a small space that hadn't been covered by man.
All the people of the neighbourhood were asleep, and so know one saw the person clad in black appear in the park, turning the delicate dew droplets into a liquid mess with his boots. He would have looked out of place in the small neighbourhood, where the business people walked to their cars in crisp suits and children ran off to school in uniforms. But there was a reason why he was here, at this time before anyone awoke. He had a job to do.
If any body had walked past, perhaps taking a morning walk, they would have seen a strange figure covered in black take out what appeared to be a polished stick. The neighbourhood did not have any strange people in it. It was renowned for being a typical normal neighbourhood. But the man brandishing a stick and waving it around, chanting unknown words, could really change that overview.
If anyone had been watching, as nosy neighbours often do, they would have seen a mysterious aura of blue sweep across the park. And then, the park looked normal once again, except the eccentric man with the stick had disappeared.
Only to the muggle eye though.
The man was still there, inside the park. Though no one of the neighbourhood would see inside the park today. In fact if they tried to walk through it; they would remember that they needed to feed their dog, or had a paper to evaluate. This was what the man had intended. No muggles could come into the park on this day. If they did, they would see something they would not believe; and would really think that they were going crazy.
No one would know that in between the business of everyday life there was the greatest battle of the wizarding world going on. The battle that would shape the future for not only the wizarding world; but for the Muggles as well.
The battle to end all battles.
When Harry appeared; he had many feelings sweeping through his mind.
Godric's Hollow was different to the last time he had seen it, when he had returned to see his parents' grave. It was dark, and mist hung in the air. The trees looked black, and the grass was dark. Nothing was beautiful, or bright. It reminded him of the place where he had battled Voldemort in fourth year. The Riddle estate. Except Godric's Hollow was different. It was not the resting place of Voldemort's family; it was the resting place of his.
He looked out onto the Muggle street. It was strange that inside here it could be so dark, but outside it was sunny. Harry knew it was for the best, but wished that Voldemort had not made it so dark in here. He supposed that was what happened when you told Voldemort where you were to battle.
Harry looked out around the park. It was deserted. He wondered where Voldemort was. Was he hiding? Was he going to cheat? Harry didn't know.
He turned as behind him Hermione, Ginny and Ron appeared. They walked up beside him, and Ginny took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. After them students started to appear, in lines. Harry had only wanted the members of the DA, but more students had wanted to come. He had given in after much nagging. He was afraid for their lives though. They came into battle with him, when they had a whole life to live ahead of them. He wondered if any of them had said goodbye to the ones they loved. How many of them had told their parents that they loved them? He knew that many of them would not return, and that was why he wished that they would have stayed away from the battle, so that he was not the cause of so many deaths. But still in his heart he knew that it was their own choice, and he could not have told them they weren't to come.
He looked upon their faces; some of them were first years, with not much knowledge of spells. How were they to protect themselves against dark wizards? They all looked frightened. Even if they were trying to hide it, it was still evident in their eyes. He felt scared for them. All 50 of them, every single one.
He looked around the park once more. Voldemort had still not turned up. He realised that they were slightly early; they had 10 minutes until the allocated time of 9 'o' clock. Harry turned back to students, knowing he needed to do something to ease their nerves, though he didn't know if it would work.
Clearing his throat nervously, he began to talk to them, voice loud and clear.
'I know that most of you followed us here willingly, well all of you in fact. I want to thank you for it, even though I know that it would have been better for you to have stayed behind.
'We are about to go into a battle. I know that scares you all, because it scares me too. I know you think you are going into battle behind me, but that's not what I think. You are going in beside me. I know I'm the one who has to kill him in the end, fight the biggest battle of them all, but I can't do it without you all. It's not a one man battle, it's all of us.'
It was then that behind the group of students a number of people apparated. Harry grabbed for his wand, but then realised who it was.
It was a number of adult wizards, though they were not dressed in black. In amongst them were some he recognised. Some were teachers at Hogwarts, Professor Flitwick, various other wizards. The Weasleys, Amos Diggory, Alastor Moody, Tonks, Lupin and other members of the Order. In front of the group was Professor McGonagall, who smiled at him reassuringly and raised her wand, in a symbol of giving. Harry was shocked but nodded to her.
'I don't know what's going to happen today, whether the outcome will be good or bad, but what ever it is, I know that you will all be strong, and fight for what you know is right, whatever that may be. If I never see some of you again, I will be able to take heart in knowing that you fought bravely. I know I will be able to.'
There was clapping heard behind Harry, and he turned. Out of the air appeared a man dressed in black, with a skull white skin, a snake nose and red eyes. Behind him figures in complete black appeared, about 70 of them. The man in front grinned at Harry and his army.
'Well well, Harry, I see you've learnt from your mistakes. Brought some back-up this time. Very good. A shame though, so many braves hearts, but not many with skill to match the opposition.' Voldemort said, placing his hands together. He looked around their army, and saw the older wizards at the back. 'Ahh, there we go. Brought some grown ups as well. Very good. I thought you maybe have just brought along students. That would have been most unwise.'
Harry was silent, glaring at Voldemort. He didn't notice, as his eyes had come to rest upon Ginny.
'Miss Weasley. You managed to save Mr. Potter last time, but this time, there are going to be no surprises.'
'I don't know about that.' Ginny muttered.
Voldemort smirked.
'You may not, but I do,' Voldemort looked at Harry. 'I think we can set up one rule; we are not to be disturbed. There will be no interfering with the battle that goes on between the two of us. After all, what would be the point? Were the only ones who can destroy each other. It is our battle to fight.'
Harry thought about it for a moment and then nodded.
'Wonderful!' Voldemort exclaimed, sounding as if Harry had just agreed to come to dinner. 'Now, shall we begin then?'
Harry frowned slightly, but then nodded.
'Alright. Step over Harry, as soon as we begin, the battle will.'
Harry was about to take a step, when he felt a tap on his arm. He turned and saw a first year, Ellen. She looked terrified.
'Harry, good luck. No matter what happens, you'll always be a hero to me.' She whispered. Harry smiled weakly at her.
'Thankyou.' Was all he could manage. He turned again and Ginny hugged him.
'I love you.' She whispered in his ear.
'I love you too.' He said back. She let him go and he took a deep breath and took a step towards Voldemort. And another. Voldemort walked over to him as well, until they were in between the two armies, about 3 metres apart from each other.
Voldemort smirked at Harry.
'Well we might as well do this with some form of manners, hey Harry?' He said, bowing to him as he pulled out his wand. He straightened up again. 'Bow, Harry. This time to your real death.'
Harry bowed slightly as he pulled his wand out also.
'No, to yours.' He said. Voldemort grimaced then raised his wand.
'Expelliarmus'
Voldemort was thrown backwards. Though it did not disarm him it had at least done something. Harry watched Voldemort carefully, and then saw the Death Eaters surge forward and heard a cry as his army ran forward to meet them. They ran into death without fear. Ahead of the group was Ginny, Ron, Hermione and a second year Gryffindor called Lysandra. The groups met somewhere in the middle with a flurry of shouts and spells being thrown.
The battle had begun.
Voldemort got up from where he had been thrown and brushed himself off. He looked at Harry and laughed, though it wasn't pleasant.
'Well done, Harry. I certainly wasn't expecting that. Though it is a shame you used such a harmless spell. It would all have been over if you had used the unforgivable curse,' He raised an eyebrow. 'But probably not. It's hard to kill someone who's immortal. Crucio!'
Harry was thrown back by the force, and once again he felt the horrible pain like hot knifes digging into him from every angle. He could feel himself writhing on the ground, but he would not scream. His head hit something cold and hard and suddenly the pain stopped. He lay on the ground for one moment before hastily getting up, pulling himself up with the cold stone object. He turned to see what it was, and then realised.
Engraved in the stone was a memorial that he had read before. Above the writing was a dusty old mirror, with a golden frame. The writing read:
Here lies Lily and James Potter;
Who were killed when their house collapsed and was destroyed
Not much is known about their deaths, nor the people they were
This mirror was all that was left in the wreckage
We hope they Rest in Peace
In this park that is left in memory of them
Harry smiled slightly. His parents were here, and this gave him strength. He turned and found Voldemort grinning at him.
'I was curious, Harry, as to why you chose the very place that I killed your parents. I assume it is so that when I kill you, you will rest where your parents do, along with those too weak to see power.'
Harry looked silently around the park, then at Voldemort.
'I picked Godric's Hollow because this is the place where you first made me your enemy, and so when I kill you, your evil will be undone from the place it started from.'
Voldemort chuckled.
'Such courage. But you will never be able to kill me.'
Harry looked at him.
'That's where you're wrong. I know how to destroy you.'
Voldemort laughed loudly.
'Ahh yes, love. Dumbledore always seemed to believe in the power of it. But it didn't save him, did it boy? He trusted, and the one he had trusted was the one who killed him. Love is not strong. It is weak in the face of darkness.'
'You're blind. You're blind, Tom.' Harry said, watching Voldemort's reaction.
Voldemort twitched slightly.
'Do not call me by that name, Potter. I am not that person.'
'You are! You may not like it, but deep inside you are a normal person! You can die just like everyone else!' Harry screamed at him.
'Your wrong, Harry. You see, I am not a normal person. That is why I do not use a normal name. I can't be killed, and the only one who is leaving here tonight will be me. Power will triumph, not love. Love will be left in the dark, because it is weak. All those who follow it are weak. That was why I could kill your parents. That was why Dumbledore was killed. And it will be why you will be killed. Why you could not save the Wizarding world. Why you will rest here forever along with your pathetic parents.'
'Then how do you explain how I survived when you tried to kill me here 17 years ago? My mother's love, it kept me from you!'
'But it didn't save your mother, did it? She screamed when she died. She screamed loudly. Love made her weak. Do you know why Dumbledore pleaded with Severus? Because he was weak. Your father may have thought he could hold me off because of his strength of love towards you, but it didn't save him. Tell me Harry, if love did anything, why didn't it save them?'
'It will destroy you,' Harry said, gritting his teeth. 'When the time comes, it will destroy you.'
'But you see, it can't destroy me if I'm ahead of it.' Voldemort said, smirking.
Harry was silent for a few moments, the sounds of battle making up for it.
'I know how to destroy you.'
Voldemort scoffed.
'You know nothing.'
Harry smirked.
'I know where the last one is.'
Harry knew Voldemort was trying to keep a straight face, but his eyes flickered for a moment, and Harry knew he had won.
'The last one of what?' Voldemort spat, trying to cover it up.
'You know very well what. After all, it is a part of you.' Harry said, watching him.
'You don't know where the last one is, you lie. No one knows, and no one will know. It's the one thing that is keeping you from destroying me.'
'Oh what a shame that is because, I'm not bluffing,' Harry stated. 'He himself, ring of heir, book of words, chain of the snake, cup of founder, slave of his, Their all destroyed. I thought the last one was the sword of Gryffindor. But now I know I was wrong. And the last, not what he would expect, for his own blood, shared with killer''
Voldemort looked at him, as if sizing him up. He then took a deep intake of breath.
'But the question is; will you do it? How will you make that sacrifice? The human mind is selfish, Harry. There is a reason why I did it. Because I knew you would not be able to bring yourself to do it, because you are human. Humans feel fear, humans are selfish. In the end we want what we want, not what others do. Who will you do it for, Harry?'
Harry looked at him, then out over the park. He saw Ron, fighting hard despite fear that obviously gripped him. He saw Hermione, chanting spells that could match any of the death eaters in skill. He saw all the people who had come to fight with him, some lying on the ground in eternal peace, some wounded, and some fighting harder than ever. Then he saw Ginny. She fought with fury. She was fighting for him. He loved her so much.
He turned back to Voldemort, with determination in his eyes.
'I'm doing it for everyone. Everyone here who will lead a better life with you destroyed. How can I do it? Love. Love for everyone here, and everyone who will benefit, makes me strong enough to do this.'
Harry raised his wand at the monument. He knew what he had to do.
Voldemort was frowning, and looking wary. Harry looked at Ginny once again, then smirked at Voldemort.
'Goodbye, Tom Riddle. Avada Kedavra!''
Everyone in the park stopped as they heard the unforgivable curse called out. Every head turned to the two near the monument. Green light spat out of Harry's wand at the monument, and as soon as it had he turned it toward Lord Voldemort.
'Avada Kedavra!'
No sooner had he cried it out did the spell bounce off the mirror attached to the monument. It shot off and hit Harry Potter in the chest. A millisecond later, the spell that Harry had cast hit Voldemort square in the chest.
Two fell instantly. One screaming, the other strangely silent. One fell to the ground in a heap, the other fell onto the monument, sliding down motionless.
The battle to end all battles was over.
And neither had survived.
A/N: eeeep don't kill me!