A/N: Sorry this one took so long! My computer went all maniacal and it took FOREVER to fix. Next chapter shouldn't take so long. (hopefully!) Sorry to keep you all waiting:)

Fred, George, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were still talking about the events of the night before when Mr. and Mrs.Wealey came in. Ginny gave a small squeak as she grabbed a blanket from the couch and flung it over herself.

"Good morning everyone!" Mr.Weasley said cheerfully.

"Did you have a nice birthday, Harry?" Mrs.Weasley asked when she had settled herself on the couch. She looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow. "Um...any particular reason you're sitting here in your underwear?"

Harry looked down and blushed. "Oh...right. No reason really." He grinned sheepishly.

Later, as Harry and Ginny were helping to clear the table after lunch, Hermione came into the kitchen. "Hey, does anyone want to go into Diagon Alley? It's really nice out."

"Sure! I could use a new pair of shoes..." Ginny said happily. She turned to Harry, "You want to come too?"

Harry smiled. "Yeah, why not?"

Ginny hurried upstairs to get her purse, and Hermione grabbed a can off the counter. "Portus," she muttered, tapping her wand to the can. Ginny walked back into the room dragging a protesting Ron.

"But I don't want to go shopping!" he cried.

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, Ron. It's not the bad! There's always Fortescue's place for some ice cream..."

Ron grinned and rushed over to the portkey. "What are we waiting for?"

Once they got to Diagon Alley, Ron took Hermione's hand and started pulling her down the street.

"Hurry up, Hermione! I want ice cream!"

Hermione looked at Harry and Ginny who were laughing. "Well I'm going to go get him some ice cream...you two go have--" she called after them, but was cut short as she disappeared into Fortescue's behind Ron.

Harry bent over and kissed the top of Ginny's head. "Looks like it's just you and me now, Gin."

Ginny wrapped her arm around Harry's waist. "Yup...so why are we wasting our time in the middle of the street? Let's go somewhere better." She took Harry's hand and pulled him into a small alley between two shops.

Harry opened his mouth to ask Ginny why she had brought him there, but was silenced as Ginny forced her lips to Harry's. Harry was taken by surprise, but soon relaxed and returned Ginny's kiss.

They stayed there in the alley for what seemed like days, but they were eventually brought back to earth when a voice came from the end of the alley.

"Hey, that's my sister you're eating!"

Harry's head snapped up and he saw Ron and Hermione standing a few feet away from them. Hermione was grinning, but Ron looked very disturbed.

"Looks like you two didn't get much shopping done..." Hermione said, amused.

"Well, we were going to but...we got a little--er--sidetracked..." Ginny replied sheepishly. "Obviously." Ron mumbled. Hermione slapped him on the arm and looked back at Harry and Ginny. "Anyways, we were about ready to leave but we wanted to see what you two thought so--"

But Hermione never got to finish. She was interrupted by a loud explosion above their heads, showering them all with bricks.

Harry looked around to see what was going on. Then he heard a familiar voice.

"Well well well...has Hawwy come to pway wif wittle me? How nice..."

They all looked up and saw Bellatrix Lestrange silhouetted against the dust and debris from the explosion. She apparated to where they were standing and strode over to Harry, standing right next to him.

She kept her eyes directed at Harry the entire time. When she looked up and saw the others, she put on a surprised expression as if she had only just noticed them. "Oh!" She grinned maliciously and tightened her grip on her wand.

"Hawwy even bwought some fwiends wif him!" She raised her wand. "Well, the more the merrier! CRUC--" she began, but Harry was quicker. He whipped out he wand and threw a powerful Sectumsempra! at her.

Bellatrix screamed in pain as blood soaked her robes and stumbled backwards, dropping her wand. Harry quickly turned to his friends. "Go get help...hurry!" he yelled frantically. Ginny took his hands. "But Harry--"

Harry glanced over his shoulder and saw Bellatrix back on her feet, painfully charging towards them. "GO!" he said furiously, waving them away. Ginny, Hermione, and Ron had barely made it around the corner as Bellatrix fired a Killing Curse at them.

She swore loudly and rounded on Harry. "Looks like it's just you and me again, Potter..." she hissed at him. She raised her wand again. "CRUCIO!"

Harry tried to dodge it, but was too late. He fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in agony.

Bellatrix walked up to him and looked down at him, a grim look on her face. "Having fun yet?" Harry answered her with a scream that resounded through Diagon Alley, and she grinned in satisfaction.

Ten minutes later she finally lifted the curse. Harry lay on his side; panting heavily, tears streaming down his face. When he rolled onto his back, Bellatrix stomped her foot onto Harry's abdomen. He groaned but was too exhausted to struggle with her.

"Did that hurt, Potter?"

Harry groaned again. Her mouth curled into an evil smirk. "Good. I would have just killed you myself, but my Lord wants to do it himself."

Harry's eyes widened. "Your Lord? I thought I killed him years ago!"

Bella's nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed. "Of course you did, you imbecile. But did you think once you were rid of Voldemort, it would all be over? Did you think that no one else would step up and take my master's place?"

Harry just lay there, staring at her. He winced in pain as she pressed her foot harder, sliding it down slightly. "You thought wrong, Potter! My new master says he knew you personally. I'm sure he'd be pleased to finish you off..."

Harry turned his head to the side, his brow furrowed, as he thought of all the people he knew that would love to see him dead.

"I'm sure you'd like to meet him."

Harry glared back up at Bellatrix. "No, not really."

He let out a loud gasp as Bella's heel slid down the rest of the way and dug into Harry. Bellatrix growled at him. "IT WASN'T A QUESTION!" she bellowed. There was a loud bang from the opposite end of the alley, and Harry heard footsteps approaching.

Harry shut his eyes tightly, knowing that this was the beginning of what he'd finished only three years earlier.

The footsteps stopped and he heard a low voice. "I hope you've made his wait for me...comfortable..."

Harry snorted, his eyes still shut. Bellatrix let out a roar and sent the Cruciatus Curse at him again. "Open your eyes and show some respect for our guest, you little bitch!"

Almost as soon as the curse had been put upon him, it was lifted. "Now, now, Bella. Let me handle him." the voice muttered.

Harry sighed in relief as he felt Bella's foot being removed. He slowly opened his eyes and was faced with a tall hooded figure. "So you're the new Dark Lord then?" he growled at the figure. It turned towards Harry and laughed.

Two long, thin hands reached up to the cloak and carefully pulled it off. Harry stared in shock as a sleek, blonde head emerged from the cloak. "Hello, Potter."