Title: Harry Potter and the Great Adventure

Author: Magiquill9

Chapter 20: The Isle of Drear

Ships: Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Ron, Bill and Fleur, and Lupin and Tonks.

Chapter Synopsis: Barely alive, Harry flees the battle with the truth in hand: Amelia Bones was killed to recreate the diary horcrux. Searching for answers, Harry heads to the Isle of Drear. The only problem is, no one has ever left the island alive.

Story Summary: HBP raised as many questions as it answered. How can Harry find a horcrux? How can he destroy the horcruxes? Everything was laid out, and we were about to jump off the cliff. Here's where the cliffhanger ends and the adventure begins. Join Harry and friends as they struggle to lead the wizarding world out of despair, fight the good fight, and put an end to the evil that is Tom Riddle.

Disclaimer: Ok, sorry it's been so long, we finished off our season, regional quarter-finalists, and I was voted district MVP, so not too bad a season. We closed out 22-4-4 so it was pretty good. Really really sorry again on the delay, just it took awhile to be inspired. I apologize profusely. I'll try and wrap this up. I'm debating whether or not to write a sequel to the alternate ending or to try one more time on book seven but do a better job, like work on the relationships more and make it more detailed and realistic. I think I have learned a lot this time around, so I may do that one more time. We'll see. Let me know what you think. Now I turn my attention back to this story, and we can try and wrap this baby up. I have 1 more chapter to write. I decided to save the ending for the next story. I presented myself with a way out this chapter, and I've decided I will use it. So I'll do my best. Here for now, is chapter 20: The Isle of Drear.

"That's great, because we have to destroy it to kill Voldemort. I suppose I could use it to kill Voldemort and then just pitch it in the veil?"


"About that, I guess there's something you all need to know. Something I probably should have told you earlier but couldn't," said Harry slowly.

"You know you can tell us anything right Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, just, this is different. I can understand, if you won't want to be with me anymore." Ginny looked like she was ready to slap him. Harry glanced at their faces wearily, and then slowly lifted his sleeve. Ron began cursing colorfully, Hermione was too shocked to say anything, and Ginny gave a quiet gasp.

"This is all some twisted joke isn't it? Seriously, you almost had me," said Ron.

"No joke."

"It's ironic don't you think Harry?" ventured Hermione.

Harry gave a bitter laugh, one that didn't reach his eyes. "Sure, Harry Potter, champion of the light, with this."

"So are you planning on explaining why you have a dark mark on your forearm Harry?" The room instantly grew warmer at Ron's question.

Harry rubbed the dark mark throbbing on his arm self-consciously.

"When Voldemort kidnapped and tortured me, he forced it on me," Harry replied quietly. "He thought it was ironic too," he trailed off. Hermione wrapped him in an embrace and Ron patted his back consolingly.

"We don't care Harry, it doesn't change who you are."

"Yes it does," he argued. "I've got a stain on my soul now. I can feel the darkness just sucking it up."

"Who are you?" Ginny asked suddenly. Taken aback, Harry stared at her. He steeled himself for the worst.

Ron and Hermione stared at her, as if seeing her in a new light.

"Wha-?" Harry asked.

"I mean, what's your name?"

"Harry Potter," he said, still eyeing her strangely.

"So that still hasn't changed then has it." She said it as a statement, not a question.

"No."

"Then we aren't abandoning you Harry. You're still the same person I fell in love with, twice, and I still am in love with you. It's gonna take a whole lot more than some silly tattoo to lose us, and you should know that by now." Ron and Hermione voiced their agreement. Harry stared at his friends.

"Are you sure, because- well – I wouldn't even want to be my friend," Harry finished lamely, lowering his eyes to stare at the ground.

"Don't ever say that Harry. We're here for you, always." Harry looked up into Hermione's eyes and nodded weakly.

"We have had all the time we could ever of wanted to leave you Harry and we're still here. So don't worry mate. We'll always be with you." Harry forced a weary grin at Ron's comment.

"I didn't fight for six years to get you to just give up on you Harry. And you better not do that to me. You hear me Potter?" Harry really did smile at Ginny. He pulled her near him and planted a kiss on her lips.

"Well, I guess since I'm still stuck with you guys, that we have an island to go to huh?" They nodded. "So let's go get horcrux number seven." Harry walked out of the room and headed over to the aurors. He found Tonks and approached her. He knew he would need help on this one. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny had followed him.

"Tonks, listen," Harry began. The auror turned around with a question on her lips. "We need to go to the Isle of Drear." Tonks's expression immediately hardened.

"No you don't. No one has ever gone there and lived to tell about it."

"Well, we have to. Voldemort left something there and we need to destroy it." Harry quickly related everything he knew about the horcrux to her, knowing that this information was on a need to know basis, and Tonks needed to know.

"Oh," was all she could say.

"So we need to go there. Can you help us or no?"

"Well, there's anti-apparition wards, you can't portkey in or out, so we have to get there by boat, and leave by boat. I'll assemble a team." Tonks left and five minutes later returned with a squad of 6 more aurors. "Ten of us go. Come on. There's a boat at the entrance of Avalon." They headed off, Tonks introducing them along the way. It was Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Tonks, Crow, Grey, Bryant, Taylor, Brill, and Hoffman. Harry didn't know the other aurors, but Tonks was apparently friends with them. They loaded up in the boats, and left towards the Isle of Drear.

"So what are these Macboons and everything Hermione?" Ron asked again.

"They're Quintapeds, they have thick reddish brown hair five legs which end in clubfeet, and eat humans. They're only on the Isle of Drear, and the place is unplottable as well. So I have no idea how we will get there. I just know it's off the northernmost tip of Scotland," replied Hermione exasperatedly. They were still on the boats and Hermione was getting annoyed.

"So we destroy this horcrux and that's it right Harry?" Ron asked, quickly changing the subject before he aggravated Hermione more.

"Yeah, this is it. Destroy this one and we can go after him. Rather, I can go after him. This is my fight, once we're done with this."

"We'll be with you all the way Harry," said Ginny.

"Yeah," Harry said hesitantly.

"Do you know how you're going to- you know," Ron said.

"Regulus had said a love-based spell. I have no idea though. I've been thinking about it a lot. But I've got nothing. Hermione?" Harry asked, looking to the brightest witch of their age hopefully. She bit her lip.

"Let me think about it. I'll let you know."

"Ginny," Harry began quietly. She snuggled closer to him and listened.

"Yes Harry?"

"I want you to know, no matter what happens, I-" Why was it so hard to say those three little words?

"I know Harry. I know," she said and kissed him. They broke apart after Ron began shouting about his "virgin eyes."

"I'm sure they are Ron," Ginny replied sarcastically. Ron's ears turned red at the comment.

"We're here!" yelled Tonks. The boats beached at the edge of the island and they got out of the boats warily.

"Wands out, everyone." Harry felt a sudden flashback.


"Wands out you reckon?" Cedric asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied, glad it had been Cedric who said it. They held their wands out and looked around.

"Anyone tell you the cup was a portkey?"

"Nope. Ahhhhh!" Harry collapsed.

"Harry!"

"Kill the spare."

"Avada Kedavra!"


"Harry!" Who was that? A girl's voice? Ginny? Her face lazily swam back into his vision. Her red hair glinted in the sun. Harry slowly stood up- when did he fall?- and looked around.

"I'm fine," he answered irritably to everyone's concerned looks. He stood up, shaking the dirt off and began to walk purposefully towards the northwest side of the island. 'Just where the cup was,' he thought morosely.

"Where are you going?"

"To the horcrux."

"How do you know it's that way?" Hermione asked again.

"I- I don't know. I just know it's that way. How must do you all trust me?"

"With my life," said Ron confidently.

"Then let's go."

Harry strode confidently through the island; somehow knowing nothing would touch him. Unbidden came the memory of his trip in the cave: they would only be in danger on the return trip. Voldemort would want to know who got there and why.

"We're safe until we get to the horcrux. Trust me."

They walked in silence, Harry leading the way through a twisting trail and sometimes having to double back because they couldn't get through. Harry had the distinct feeling they were being watched; the hair on the back of his neck was standing up more than usual. Finally, they found an entrance to a cave. Harry looked around, and tried to sense the magic, like he had with Dumbledore. He pointed his wand at the cave's entrance and tried to bodily walk through it. Ginny linked her hand through his for good luck, and Harry was glad for the touch. Harry prepared himself to bounce off, but instead fell through, Ginny falling in behind him. Ron came next, but he bounced off. Realization dawned on Harry.

"Give me your hand Ron," Harry said and offered it through the barrier. Ron grabbed on and Harry pulled him through.

"You need a dark mark to pass," Harry offered as an explanation. The aurors eyes grew wide, as Harry pushed his shirtsleeve up.

"Long story," he said. "Just trust me." One by one, they all followed Harry as he pulled them through, then they entered the tunnel. Harry didn't know what the horcrux would look like, but guessed it would be protected. They walked wearily through the tunnel and approached the first obstacle.

"Never-ending fire," stated Hermione after the aguamenti charm she used failed. Harry noticed the awe in her voice. The flames crackled merrily, and Harry had no idea how to cross. So he just walked through. The flames were intense, and Harry felt like his body was on fire. He forced himself to ignore it and crossed the bridge. Once he reached the other side, he expected his body to be on fire. It wasn't. The flames hadn't been real.

"The flames aren't real!" Harry yelled across to his friends. One by one, they crossed the rickety slope. Tonks volunteered first and made it across. When Bryant went, he screamed from the flames and something came out of the ceiling and swallowed him up. Everyone else screamed as well. But nothing happened.

"Hold your screams while you cross," Harry heard Hermione say. He saw Ginny cast a silencing charm on herself and walk across. Her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. She made it across with Harry. Ron and Hermione followed after, using the charm as well. The rest of the aurors came across except for the last one.

"Just do it Taylor!" Tonks yelled. He hesitantly walked across and once he neared them, Tonks screamed. The step he was on had collapsed under him and he fell into the chasm below. Harry frowned. Voldemort normally just cared about the magical power, not the strength. That was strange. Harry felt extremely guilty now though. He had cost two aurors their lives. But he didn't have time to be guilty, they had to get the horcrux and get out.

"Come on," said Tonks, her voice wavering only slightly.

Harry continued on through the tunnel as it winded upwards. They ended up at the second hurdle.

"A wall?" Harry asked incredulously. "Is that the best you've got Tom? I'm disappointed." Harry cast a simple reductor curse and then was forced to throw himself onto the ground as his spell whizzed by him, barely missing his stomach.

Harry grunted as he picked himself up. "That's a little better. I think we have to climb it though…" he said, trailing off. Harry put his hand to pull himself up the ledge but immediately pulled it away. "It's freezing cold," Harry said, his voice sounding amazed. Tonks conjured muggle pick axes and they climbed their way up the slope as if they were mountain climbers. Harry got on top first, and everyone followed but Brill. He was near the end when the ceiling suddenly collapsed. Harry threw himself to try and catch him but his hand missed. It grazed his fingertip and Brill's scream echoed throughout. It was a long fall. They had taken ten minutes just to reach the top. Harry was tired of having people dying on him. So was Tonks; she looked furious. She had already lost three people to carelessness. They continued on and watched as the tunnel grew steadily darker. Harry cast a Lumos but the darkness seemed to swallow it whole. It was like the twins' Peruvian darkness, only Harry had no hand of glory to help him. They trekked their way through the darkness, Harry falling twice when the ground changed. Then once, Harry narrowly missed falling into a pit, but Crow and Hoffman weren't that lucky. They threw a rope down that Tonks conjured but it seemed like they hadn't survived the fall. They continued on and finally the tunnel opened up into a room. Light filtered in from somewhere, and they crossed the room slowly to the middle. Brooms were located at the entrance and they picked them up to fly up to the top, where the horcrux presumably lay. Once they were airborne, the wind went crazy. Gray got thrown into the wall, and Ginny slammed into Ron and they both tumbled back down. Tonks flew down to check on the three of them leaving Hermione and Harry alone.

"Go back down Hermione, I don't want to have to worry about you. Help Tonks. Let me finish this."

"No Harry. I'm staying with you," she managed to get out. Harry could tell she was terrified of flying, yet stayed with him. "You may need two people, like you did with Dumbledore."

Harry couldn't argue with her. Instead, he held her arm, guiding her to the top, fighting against the wind. They finally made it and got off the brooms. The wind died down instantly. There, on top of the rock lay-

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I can't believe we fell for his stupid tricks. He just said that so I wouldn't try and kill him. They all died for nothing. Ugh!" Harry kicked the makeshift table roughly and it fell away. Lying underneath the rocky table was a dagger. It had the crest of Hogwarts on it.

"It was here all along," Hermione whispered.

"What?"

"The Hogwarts dagger. It's from Hogwarts, a History. Legend has it that the founders had to unite together to destroy a Dark Lord. They combined their powers and created the dagger. It was used to kill the Dark Lord, but then disappeared from both time and legend. It's very powerful. Each of the founders put an enchantment on it. Gryffindor made it capable of healing a wounded soul with the one side and Slytherin made it able to destroy a corrupted one with the other; Hufflepuff gave it a charm that made it impossible to knock out of your hand forcefully and Ravenclaw made it indestructible to everything except, oh what was it? I don't remember. I think that part was missing from the legend. It didn't say. Only one thing could destroy it though. I know that."

"That's great, because we have to destroy it to kill Voldemort. I suppose I could use it to kill Voldemort and then just pitch it in the veil?" mused Harry.

"That could work Harry. That means the battle will be taking place then at-"

"The Department of Mysteries," finished Harry. "You're right."

"We should get back down now Harry."

Harry reached out to grab the dagger but instead it stabbed him in the chest. Hermione watched as Harry fell, gracefully, off the rock cliff.

A/N (where i apologize again) This seemed like a good place to stop on the read through. Sorry for the cliff hanger and the long wait for this chapter, which is shorter than normal. I feel very bad about all this. I will update again as soon as I can though with the final chapter. Here's the preview.

Chapter 21: A Love-based Spell

Chapter Synopsis: Harry and gang leave the Isle of Drear with the Hogwarts dagger horcrux in hand. Harry then receives a vision and heads back after Voldemort. Harry casts eo obex, the battle spell. They fight to the end, apparating through wards, crushing defenses. The battle ranges from Azkaban to Avalon, from Hogwarts to the Ministry. And just when all is lost, one man tries to save the day, and one last chance is taken.