Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

The months flew by quickly. Gryffindor continued to teach Harry the art of dueling, while Hufflepuff taught him the knowledge that had been kept in her family for centuries. Harry was making progress. He kept his grades up enough to make no one suspicious, but his thoughts were constantly on the task that lay before him. He tried to keep doubt out of his mind but he couldn't always contain the fear he felt. Defending the wizarding world against a dark wizard gone mad suddenly seemed a lot easier.

It was so hard reading the Daily Prophet every morning, reading about the deaths of innocent wizards and muggles. Shouldn't he be doing something? Shouldn't he be rescuing these people?

Hufflepuff had told him that he would know when the time was right. He wished that it would come soon. He didn't know how much more waiting he could take.

Worse was the guilt he felt for keeping this from his friends. He wanted to tell them so badly. At least he wouldn't feel so alone. There were times when he felt the words on his lips, but he held them back. He couldn't do that to his friends. He couldn't make them bear a burden that wasn't theirs. And so Harry continued training, thinking only of a time when he would have no more battles to fight.

There had been no visions of Tom Riddle in his dreams as of late. Harry wasn't sure what this meant. They still hadn't figured out why he had been receiving the visions in the first place. And Harry couldn't help but wondered what had happened to the soul of Tom Riddle. Had his soul been destroyed when Harry destroyed his body so many years ago?

And so these thoughts and questions plagued Harry until they came to a head in the middle of December. Harry was in the middle of Potions (Dumbledore had made Snape accept students who had received an E on the O.W.L.) when suddenly his head burst with pain and he dropped to his knees.

"Harry!" Hermione cried as she raced to his side, Ron right behind her. Harry cradled his head in his hands, trying to control the pain.

Snape leisurely strode over to where Harry was trying to stand. But right before he reached them he hissed and grabbed his left forearm. He quickly controlled himself and stepped towards the trio.

"Miss Granger," he addressed Hermione without taking his eyes off of Harry, "If you would be so kind as to escort Mister Potter to the infirmary, seeing as he can't stay in class without being a nuisance. Mister Weasly, go with them as well." Ron was quick to wrap Harry's arm around his shoulder and help him to the door.

"As for the rest of you," Snape said with a sneer to the remaining class, "I'm tired of your idiocy, class dismissed!" The students didn't wait for him to change his mind and rushed out the door.

The trio had made it out of the dungeons when Harry stopped them. The pain in his head had subsided and he could think more clearly now.

"You two go back to the common room," Harry told his friends. "I'll be alright on my own."

"But Harry, Professor Snape said-"

"Hermione, look out that window at the quidditch field."

Hermione walked to the window and gasped, "Death Eaters!" Ron ran over and surveyed the scene with a curse.

"The Order should already be here," said Harry.

"Yes I see them!" Hermione cried.

"So like I said," Harry said firmly, "You two have to go back to the common room. Make sure everyone is there and defend it if need be."

"What about you Harry?" Hermione asked, already afraid of what the answer would be.

Harry turned away from them, "I'm tired of doing nothing. My war with Voldemort is going to end today, one way or another." And before the other two could say a word, he ran off to the battle.

Hermione and Ron stood for a moment, shocked. But fear was soon replaced with determination.

"We can't let him face this alone," Ron said, drawing his wand.

"This is our war too, and our home to defend," Hermione gave her boyfriend a peck on the cheek. "Let's go."

The normally peaceful field surrounding Hogwarts was thick with chaos. The smelled of burnt flesh filled the air and the grass was crimson with spilt blood. Screams and hexes could be heard. The growl of dark creatures were also audible amidst the mayhem. The soul freezing chill in the air signified the presence of dementors.

Harry rushed through the battlefield, dodging hexes and curses. He avoiding getting caught in a duel with any Death Eaters or stopping to help any comrades. There was only one person he wanted to face. But where was he?

His got his answer when he heard a chuckle from behind him. Harry spun around and looked into demonic red eyes.

"Silly boy," Voldemort, no, the Beast King hissed, "This is a dangerous place for one so young and weak." He took a few steps towards Harry. "But I've tired of you interfering with my plans, so prepare to die, Harry Potter." He raised his wand towards Harry.

"I have a question first," Harry called. The Beast King paused and smirked.

"Go ahead."

"Are you planning to resurrect the Hell King?"

The Beast King's eyes widened with shock. Then a low growl came from his throat.

"If you know so much boy, I absolutely can not let you live." He raised his wand once again, but Harry had already summoned his weapon.

It was the Sword of Sealing, the weapon that Hufflepuff's ancestor had wielded so many centuries before. Harry held it confidently, the silver blade was a comfort to him. The Beast King hadn't forgotten the blade, the moment he glimpsed it he lifted his head into a bloodcurdling howl. And then, before Harry's eyes, his form began to change. The snakelike face that was there twisted and shifted into the demon one that Harry had seen in his vision. Skin became fur, and his fingers extended into razor claws. He grew in height until he towered over his adversary and his muscles developed drastically. Cries of shock could be heard from around him, but Harry's entire attention was focused on the demon lord before him.

The Beast King lunged at him. Harry dodged, but was too slow. He felt claws tear across his chest and he gritted his teeth in pain. He took a couple steps away from the demon. Warm blood dried soaked his shirt.

"Afraid little boy?" The demon lord was quivering with bloodlust. "I'm going to rip you to shreds." He bared his fangs and his muscles tensed as he prepared to strike again. But when his legs refused to cooperate, he glanced down, only to see the sealing runes glowing beneath his feet. Surprise and fury welled within him.

"No," he growled, struggling futilely against the ancient spell, "I won't be sealed again!"

Harry watched the scene with grim satisfaction. Ignoring his wound, he lifted his sword again.

"You'll be sealed, but this time it's for eternity!" Harry charged and thrust his blade through the chest of the Beast King. The enchanted metal ran through the demon lord and a cry of fury rang through the battle field. Magic seals that flickered like unearthly flames lit up the air around the Demon as the sealing spell peaked. Harry's eyes widened as he saw the demon lord appear to rip apart. The Beast King lurched forward as another body fell backwards. Harry didn't stop to watch as he called out the final words of the incantation.

"NOO!" the Beast King gave a final death cry before bright crystal shards shot from the ground and converged together. The Beast King was imprisoned once more.

Harry stood still for a moment. Was it over? He raised a hand towards his bleeding chest, but the hand didn't make it half way. Harry gave a brief smile for his victory and then dropped to the ground.

Gryffindor ran back into the portrait. "Harry did it! He resealed the Beast King!" He laughed and twirled Hufflepuff around. "I heard it from the Fat Lady who heard it from Peeves who heard it from one of the Order members."

Hufflepuff smiled brightly. "I just knew he could do it. I knew he was something special from the very start." Her smile turned mischievous, "He did get in here after all."

Slytherin looked at her suspiciously. "So you do know how that brat got in here."

She laughed lightly. "You never believed me when I said that the castle was alive. Hogwarts knew that he needed to come here, so it got him here."

"Oh enough of this," Gryffindor cried, "There's a victory party in upstairs. Let's go!" And with that he tugged his friends upstairs to join in the festivities.

Once the death eaters learned of their master's defeat, the battle had finished quickly. The light emerged victorious and relatively unscathed. Celebrations erupted throughout the country and in any country where Voldemort had been a threat. Once more Harry Potter's name was praised and sung. But for some people, there were still problems to be resolved.

"Albus, what are we going to do with him?" McGonagall's voice was shaky. "Surely we can't keep him here!"

Dumbledore stroked his beard and look contemplatively at the figure lying unconscious on the bed. "It would appear that Harry may know something that we don't. We shouldn't take any measures until he wakes up." His voice was sure.

"But to keep Voldemort here! In Hogwarts!"

The Headmaster's thoughts wandered back to Harry. He had seen the battle, though he had not been sure what to make of it. Dumbledore frowned slightly, he had no idea who the figure in the crystal was, or why it had split into two.

His frown deepened. What had Harry been keeping from him?

Battles are really hard to write. Hopefully this battle scene wasn't too bad. Anyway, read and review as usual.

And look! Tom's there! Kinda. The next chapter's written, and I assure you Tom is there (awake too!).