"My, this is interesting," Voldemort hissed breathing heavily as he covered a long gash on his abdomen from a well placed cutting curse and circled Harry warily, "you've been practicing, I see. No matter, my power still greatly exceeds yours."
Harry smirked behind his metallic mask as he took the moment free of battle to recuperate slightly. He was bleeding and panting heavily but well off all the same.
"Your power may exceed mine," Harry said not sounding like he believed it but was humoring Voldemort anyways, "but I could beat you in armed combat any day of the week." He drawled pompously, doing an excellent impression of Percy, Ron's older brother.
"I'll have you know Potter; I am a champion in that area and have collected many trophies over the years." Voldemort snarled his eyes flashing a bright red as his anger and power threatened to explode forth.
Harry cocked an eyebrow as he chuckled to himself; he had Voldemort right where he wanted him. The other wizard's own arrogance would prove to be his downfall.
"Sure," he started cheekily, "maybe when you were younger, old man, but why don't you leave sword fighting to me. After all, I fear your age has probably slowed your reaction time. Not to mention I don't think you could even pick up a sword anymore."
Harry knew, in fact, that not only could Voldemort pick up a sword but he was actually very advanced in the art, as Jessica had told him a while ago when she had fought him in the Forbidden forest. But with all their recent training Harry was sure he was an even match for the powerful wizard.
Voldemort's power was coming off him in waves as he clenched his fists and struggled to rein it in. Tombstones shattered sending debris every which way, flowers that had been placed on the graves around them wilted and died and dark thunder clouds formed in the sky above them throwing bolts of lightning around with great force as if hurled by Zeus himself.
Harry caught himself before he took a step back. The power Voldemort was exuding was intimidating but Harry knew he had to stand firm and not show the snake-like man he was unsettled. Glancing ever so quickly to his right he was relieved to see Jessica and Draco were not harmed by the sudden display of power.
"Really Potter, you think you have any chance against an experienced fighter like me?" Voldemort sneered, with a flick of his wrist his wand lengthened and sharpened into a beautiful looking sword. Its long gleaming blade was made of silver with golden runes decorating it. Its hilt was black with two emerald snakes twisting up it, their crimson eyes glowing slightly.
'Wow,' Harry thought staring at the sword in awe, 'it's beautiful.'
As if he knew exactly what Harry was thinking, Voldemort smirked and ran a finger almost reverently along the blade. "I made her myself Potter, took me two years to fully craft her." He explained as Harry pulled his own sword. "She's killed many, but her thirst for blood is insatiable, and what she longs for most is your blood, Potter." Holding the sword in front of him he took a fighting stance, "let's not make her wait any longer then she has too."
Harry smiled grimly and deactivated his mask so that he and Voldemort could duel face to face. Harry raised his own sword and twirled it expertly once before adopting his own stance, ready for battle.
No one moved. The silence in the graveyard was so profound for a moment Harry had feared he had gone suddenly deaf. Am-hem had still not moved from his spot in the shadows and Harry was beginning to wonder if he really was there. Jessica and Draco were standing silently at the edge of the shield that surrounded him and Voldemort, offering unspoken encouragement. And he and Voldemort remained rooted to their spots each waiting for the other to attack first.
A huge rumble of thunder broke through the silence, followed instantaneously by a lightning bolt striking the ground between the two combatants.
Harry and Voldemort both leapt toward each other at once, as if the lightning had signaled the beginning of their battle.
Their blades clashed with a flurry of blows so fierce sparks flew. Each man threw everything they had at each other their muscles working overtime as they struggled against the others strength.
Harry ducked a strike aimed at his neck and retaliated with one to Voldemort's stomach. The dark wizard swung his own sword just in time to stop the blade from impaling him.
Harry dropped to the ground and somersaulted; popping up behind Voldemort he kicked him and sent him tumbling forward. Following quickly he tried to once more to pierce the dark wizard's torso but Voldemort had already recovered and expertly dodged the attack bringing the hilt of his sword down onto Harry's back as he stumbled forward.
Harry dropped to the ground with a grunt barely managing to roll to the side to avoid the swift kick aimed at his head. Pushing himself to his feet Harry once again threw himself at Voldemort; 'after all,' he thought, 'a good offence is the best defense.'
Their blades clashed again and again as their blows became more and more viscous. The two were ducking and blocking intricately as if they were dancing a beautiful, but deadly dance.
The fighting seemed to go on for hours, both opponents were tiring but neither had become sloppy, for they knew should they err it could mean their death.
Harry knew they had been dueling for only an hour when he finally managed to gain the upper hand. A particularly violent swipe and miss from Voldemort had him over extending himself causing him to stumble slightly. Harry, seeing his advantage, quickly crouched to the ground and swept the dark wizards' legs from under him, sending the snake-like man sprawling to the ground.
Standing quickly, Harry brought his foot down brutally on Voldemorts hand causing him to lose grip of his sword allowing Harry to firmly kick it away from the downed man. The dark wizard's sword retuned to its original state as his wand and remained motionless a few feet from them. Then raising his sword he placed the tip of the blade onto Voldemort's chest and pressed down slightly.
The maneuver had taken less then a few seconds and Voldemort looked slightly surprised at the turn of events as he stared at the sword pointing directly over where his heart should be, then back up to the angry fifteen year old who had bested him.
Harry was at first surprised by what had happened but quickly shook himself out of it and focused on the task at hand. Greg said it was vital to their own principles, and the policy of the Mystic Knight, to tell the dark beings they needed to kill the reason behind it, and give said dark wizard a chance to repent his sins before death. Harry seriously doubted Voldemort would be the least regretful but honored the Mystic Knight code all the same.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle, you have been found guilty of many heinous crimes including, murder and torture of other wizards and of people who had no chance in defending themselves against you, namely muggles. You are also guilty of forming an army of wizards to kill all those oppose you. Many more crimes, that I do not have time to list, have been committed by yourself and those who follow you. By the regulations of the Mystic Knights this warrants your death and I will carry out the sentence. Have you anything to say?"
Voldemort sneered angrily, although Harry detected a hint of fear in the old wizards eyes, "I regret nothing," he snapped knowing this was the time he was supposed to repent, "I was merely doing what needed to be done. This world is better off without those filthy people. Even if you kill me more wizards will rise to take my place. Trust me, Potter eventually all those filthy muggles and mudbloods will be wiped from our world."
Harry frowned lightly, he had expected this, "Your opinion of muggles is biased" Harry stated coldly, "Not all muggles are like your father Tom, nor are they all like my Uncle."
Voldemort continued to glare at Harry; he said nothing more.
Harry raised his sword and brought it back down swiftly plunging it into the mans chest. Mumbling a spell quietly Harry watched with indifference as the man screamed in pain and fear. A golden light was spreading from the blade still in Voldemorts chest and moving along his body covering the withering man in its glow.
Suddenly ghostly figures exploded from the man's wand that lay a few feet from them. Harry watched smiling lightly as all the souls of the people Voldemort had ever killed were freed from the man clutches. Dozens of voices called their thanks as they were finally able to escape their purgatory and move on.
Harry had to stifle a sob when his parents emerged. They stayed just long enough to tell him how proud they were of him and that they loved him, before they too followed the others moving towards the heavens.
Minutes later the figures stopped and Harry turned his attention back to the pale man still impaled on his sword.
Voldemort sucked in his last breath before he too exploded in a burst of black and golden light. The force of the explosion threw Harry, Jessica and Draco back several feet.
Harry groaned as he pushed himself to his knees, his back aching considerably from where he had smashed into the angel Draco and Jessica had been hiding behind earlier. He had done it, Voldemort was gone, and Harry was positive he would not return this time. Tears gathered in Harry's eyes; it was over. He had avenged his parents as well as all those that died needlessly at the cruel man's hands.
A gentle hand was place on his shoulder and he looked up to see a worried Jessica and Draco. He placed his hand over Jessica's and allowed the girl to help him to his feet.
"You did it," she whispered.
"We did it," he corrected.
Suddenly she smiled and pulled Harry into a hug laughing lightly, "I knew you could do it!"
Harry grinned against her neck as he hugged her back. Glancing at Draco he reached over and pulled the other boy into their hug. The three of them stayed that way for a few minutes each thankful that they had all made it out of the battle alive and that Voldemort's rein of terror had finally come to an end.
They only broke apart when Am-hem decided to address them.
"Nicely done, Mr. Potter,"
Harry let go of Jessica and Draco and all three turned to face the god.
"You don't seem too upset that Voldemort lost." He stated raising a curious eyebrow.
"Why would I care, he had merely called upon my services, he had his tasks and he failed the last one it is of no concern to me. There will always be others. Congratulations on your win, Mr. Potter, you fought well. Maybe we shall meet again." Then without a backwards glance the large cloaked figure turned and disappeared.
Harry and the others stared after him for a moment before Harry threw his arms over Jessica and Draco's shoulders.
"Come on," he said lightly, "we better get back to Hogwarts."
Draco nodded, "first there's one more thing we need to collect."
Harry and Jessica followed the Slytherin back to where he had left Lucius bound and stunned.
Grabbing the mans hand Harry place the mans finger to the portkey he had pulled from his pocket, waiting until Jessica and Draco had touched the old piece of parchment before he whispered the activation key.
The battle's over. And Harry has won. What did you guy's think. Please R&R. Oh, by the way, I do have an epilogue written if anyone is interested. Cheers!