Harry Potter and the Curse of V'Ardian
Chapter 38
Of Expectations and Endings
Standard Disclaimers Apply
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! A few things before this chapter…Firstly, I hope this battle scene is up to expectations. I don't tend to write them because I personally think they're a bit boring, but maybe that's just because I haven't come across a good one. As requested, I will have a summary (see below) of what has happened up to this point. I have the same problem of forgetting details in long stories if they're posted slowly, and I actually forgot some of the details while I was writing this :) Secondly, due to the popular opinion that there are few good female Harry Potter stories, I have decided to take up the challenge and write one! I sincerely believe I can make a decent go of it, so make sure to drop by and have a read! And Zed of Vesper…I did consider female Harry/Draco, but have since ruled it out. It will be female Harry/OC :)
oOoOo
So…straight into it!
Chapter One saw Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore meeting in a muggle café to discuss something of great importance. The topic of discussion happened to be a prophecy, the second one made by Hogwarts' resident Divination professor, Sybil Trelawney. The prophecy in question described a person who would be of 'V'Ardian,' who would return Voldemort to his power. I wonder who it could be. Snape receives a visit from Bellatrix and Narcissa and pledges to protect Draco and fulfil his quest should he fail.
In Chapter Two we met Harry James Potter, who took a walk to the park. A vampire decided he looked good and decided to take a bite. Chapter Three saw Dumbledore arrive at Privet Drive to take Harry to Grimmauld Place. Harry discovers that the Dursleys only kept him in exchange for a memory charm when he left. He is very sad. They return to Grimmauld Place where Dumbledore explains what happened, and tells Harry that he bound his powers. Harry discovers the mark of V'Ardian on his arm. In Chapter Four, Harry finds an empty journal owned by Sirius and Regulus Black, and meets Katherine Winter. In Chapter five, Harry sees Draco Malfoy in Borgin and Burkes, and sees Lucius Malfoy talking to Katherine.
In Chapter Six, Harry marks Malfoy with wandless magic and realises he can see through glamour charms. Hagrid is murdered by Death Eaters. Harry discovers that Snape is investigating Lord V'Ardian. Snape is DADA teacher. In Chapter Seven, not much happens In Chapter Eight, Harry reads his letter addressed to Lord V'Ardian. He decides to start the DA again. In Chapter Nine, Harry buys a magical book and there is an attack on Hogsmeade. Tonks is acting oddly. Harry begins to feel sick and weak.
Harry starts using glamours to mask his appearance. At a DA meeting, Harry meets a Slytherin transfer student named Caydon Augustus, who seems familiar. Harry hears the prophecy about V'Ardian, and comes to the conclusion that it is himself. Harry forms a truce of sorts with Malfoy.
In Chapter ElevenThirteen, Bellatrix murders the Dursleys, and Harry confronts her. She dies. Harry dreams about green eyes.
Harry joins the Order. In Chapter Fifteen, Harry receives the Staff of the Immortals, and Katherine figures out his secret. In Chapter Sixteen, Harry finds out that it was Snape who told the prophecy to Voldemort. When he confronts him, Snape discovers Harry's secret. In Chapter Eighteen, Ginny, Neville and Katherine go missing. In Chapter Nineteen, Harry visits the vampires and gains their alliance. In Chapter Twenty, Harry goes to save Ginny, Neville and Katherine. He is captured in the process. Arthur Weasley becomes Minister for Magic. In Chapter Twenty-One, Harry tells Voldemort the prophecy. In Chapter Twenty-Two, Harry escapes. In Chapter Twenty-Three, Harry meets his sister. In Chapter 25, Harry makes Dumbledore better. In Chapter Twenty-Five, Harry discovers that Malfoy has a mission to kill Dumbledore. In Chapter Twenty-Seven, Harry has a chat with Snape and Malfoy. Malfoy skewers Harry with his broomstick and they have a heart-to-heart. By Chapter Thirty, Malfoy has found a way for Voldemort to get into Hogwarts, and Harry has set in motion a plan to fulfil the prophecy. Harry kills Dumbledore and finds the note from RAB. Harry destroys the first Horcrux. Harry removes part of Voldemort's soul from Caydon Augustus. Voldemort gains control of the Ministry.
In Chapter Thirty-Five, Harry has to leave Hogwarts and he goes to visit Snape. He asked Snape to kill him after he kills Voldemort. In Chapter Thirty-Seven, Harry returns to Hogwarts to prepare for the attack on Hogwarts.
And so the battle begins…
oOoOo
Harry tried to banish the lump in his throat, but it refused to move. He hadn't thought that saying goodbye would be so hard, but now that the time was here, no words were forthcoming. What did you say to the people you loved when you were preparing for what could be your last day on earth?
It was even harder, knowing the expectations that had been placed upon him. There was the ever-present expectation that he would defeat Voldemort, but underneath that there was the expectation that he would come back alive. He truly couldn't decide whether he would be able to fulfil that expectation.
None of them could really find the words to say goodbye, so they didn't speak at all. Harry hugged Hermione and kissed her cheek, smiling sadly as she began to cry. He hugged Ron and clasped his hand firmly between his, and pulled Draco into a firm hug as well. Emily cried as well, as he folded her into his embrace, and he felt a pang of regret. He had just found a family…Emily had just found a family, and now they might be torn apart again. Harry squeezed her tighter. He turned to Katherine and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She wasn't crying, and he knew she wouldn't until she was alone, but her eyes were sad. He prayed that she wouldn't see him die. He prayed that she wouldn't see who did it.
He pulled her close and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before pulling away. He stared into her eyes for a moment and then stepped back. His eyes travelled around the rest of them and then he turned, and a moment later, he was gone. As he descended the stairs into the Entrance Hall, Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the halls, urging students to move immediately to their common rooms. Harry looked around and saw that everyone must already be there; no one else moved in the stark stillness of the grey hall. He looked down the corridor that led to the dungeons and thought of Snape.
Outside, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly, reflecting off of the ripples in the lake. The giant squid basked in the shallow waters, and the scene appeared to Harry to be quite the wrong on in which a battle should be fought. Nonetheless, he felt the impending battle approaching, nervousness welling up inside him. Excitement that was not his coursed through his veins. The hair on the back of his neck prickled, and the cold wind that whipped around him gave him goose bumps. The thrill of the imminent battle pounded in his chest in time with his heart, his being thrumming with tension. Harry stood watching the gates of Hogwarts. Had the enemy been anyone else, Harry would have been watching the whole perimeter of Hogwarts for some sign of invaders, but he knew that Voldemort thought himself above such subterfuge. Voldemort would march though the gates of Hogwarts as though he owned the place, and Harry expected nothing less.
He turned his gaze to the Forbidden Forest, where he knew the Elves waited. King Variel had been true to his word, and had assembled a massive army in preparation for their resistance. Isautier, too, had upheld his end of the deal, and a contingent of vampires stood by, ready and waiting. It was not long before Harry was joined on the steps by the Order. Professor McGonagall sealed the doors of the castle and took her place next to Harry.
"Well, Mr Potter," she said stiffly. Harry thought that things would never be the same between them again. "I suppose now all we can do is wait."
"He's coming, Professor. It won't be long now."
Harry looked down at her, suddenly realising that he was taller than the stern woman. She had always seemed so strong to him, but now he found himself considering himself superior to her. He forced the thought away, praying that it was not his own. Professor McGonagall's skin was pale, her lips pressed thinly together. She looked scared, but Harry could see the determination glinting in her eyes. Harry peered through the other members of the Order his eyes coming to rest on Remus. Remus' eyes met his, and he nodded slightly. He wondered if Remus knew what he had done. He smiled slightly and looked away. If he got the chance, he would talk to Remus later.
Harry felt a sudden stab of excitement roll through him and he shivered. The Dark Mark on his arm began to itch and he scratched it nervously. Professor McGonagall noticed his restlessness and looked up at him.
"He's coming?"
Harry nodded.
"Any minute now," he said. "We should spread out."
Professor McGonagall nodded and gave the command for the Order to move out. Harry remained beside her as everyone began moving about them. He wondered vaguely if Voldemort had guessed his identity yet. It wouldn't have taken him long to recognise the mark of V'Ardian, though Harry doubted that Voldemort would believe him to be the one who had killed Dumbledore.
A chilling shriek rolled up over the grass and echoed off of the castle, and people looked around in fear. In the distance, Harry saw the sky darkening as black clouds built up. They rolled forward towards Hogwarts, lightning flashing and thunder rolling. Shrieks and screams echoed from within the darkness and Harry thought that he could see odd demonic shapes swooping though the clouds. He looked closer, but they appeared to be nothing more than smoke themselves.
"Dog Soldiers," murmured professor McGonagall, a quiver in her voice. Harry looked at her sharply.
"I thought they were a legend!" he exclaimed.
"As did I," she replied drawing her wand.
"Do you know how to fight them?" asked Harry, staring up at the swooping figures with a hint of trepidation.
"I think, despite their appearance," said Professor McGonagall, "that they are harmless. I think they are merely…here for atmosphere."
"Ah," replied Harry.
This is more like it, then.
It took only a moment before someone let out a cry of surprise and pointed into the distance. Harry looked out over the grass and saw Voldemort's army.
"Good luck, Professor," said Harry sincerely. Without waiting for a reply, Harry moved down the steps and onto the grass, coming to the front of the assembled witches and wizards. He drew his wand, trembling slightly. He wouldn't pretend that he wasn't scared. Slowly the shapes in the distance sharpened into distinguishable figures, and Harry finally saw the strength of Voldemort's army. The order paled in comparison, and Harry felt infinitely relieved that they had the aid of the Elves and the vampires.
The approaching army drew to a halt, and Harry saw that Voldemort had far more Death Eaters than even Snape had said there were. Some no longer wore their masks, preferring to openly declare their allegiance to Voldemort. Beside them stood a group of men and women whom Harry identified as werewolves, and he sighed in disappointment. Their's would be lives needlessly lost. Beside the Death Eaters stood a number of creatures that Harry had only read about, and he thought with a pang of anger and nostalgia that Hagrid would have known how to defend against them.
But Hagrid was dead, killed by Voldemort, and Harry stood straighter, focussing on what needed to be done. Voldemort himself was nowhere to be seen, but Harry could feel his presence.
It was a moment before Harry realised that the ground was trembling, and another one before he understood that Voldemort must have found the giants, for it was only them that could make the ground shake as fiercely as it did now.
A few seconds later, Harry saw the first one, its head swaying high above the tree line. More and more appeared, lumbering slowly towards the castle, and Harry heard the Order members shuffling nervously behind him. Harry counted thirteen giants, and prayed that there were no more. As soon as they were within range, Professor McGonagall began issuing orders.
"Stunners, all together!" she shouted. "One, two, three!"
Fifty beams of red light shot towards various giants and the closest fell to the ground with a massive thud. Another one staggered to its knees with a roar, but it stood again and stumbled forwards even faster. Seeing the futileness of the Stunners, Harry pointed his wand at the ground and yelled, "Tropico!"
A thick green vine sprang from his wand and sped across the ground, growing with phenomenal speed. As the closest giant fell to the ground in unconsciousness, the vine crawled over its body and bound it in place, sending roots deep into the ground. Stems shot upwards, tendrils reaching up for the giants. Oblivious, they battled onwards, pushing through the spreading vine, and two more were dragged to their knees. They let out roars of rage, thrashing their arms, but the vine pulled them into submission. As more and more giants began to get trapped, the others began to back away, pulling out of the grip of the cloying green vine. A bright green beam sped past his head and Harry jumped, realising that the Death Eaters were attacking.
He ended the spell and dodged another colourful beam, running forwards with purpose. The creatures that the Death Eaters had been restraining lurched forward, fangs snapping and slavering. A Bludgeoning Curse from Harry took one out, but his momentary distraction cost him. What must have been Cutting Curse hit him, piercing his side and spattering blood across his side. He grunted in pain and sent a spell back at the Death Eater, disabling them. To his left, Harry saw a member of thee order locked in a duel with a Death Eater, and a moment later the witch fell to the ground, screaming under the Cruciatus Curse. The Death Eater stood over her, gloating with a malicious smile on his face, and Harry disarmed him and Stunned him.
He heard a snarl to his right and spun back around, a second before a giant snarling creature jumped upon him and pinned him to the ground. He hit the ground, winded, and winced as the creature's claws dug into his shoulders. Gasping for breath as a glob of drool slid down the creature's chin and onto his chest, Harry angled his wand upwards and cast a silent bludgeoning curse. The beast gave an odd yelping sound and lurched to his feet. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw a Death Eater yell out, and dodged the curse that flew his way. His movement sent him closer to the creature and he stunned it before it could attack him again. Holding a hand to his shoulder, Harry turned to face the Death Eater.
"Potter," he growled. Harry recognised him immediately.
"Lestrange," he responded coldly. He raised his wand and Lestrange smiled cruelly.
"Not one to waste time with words, are you boy?" he asked.
"Stupefy!" murmured Harry, but Lestrange was no stranger to duelling. He fired off a volley of curses that left Harry panting with exertion as he tried to dodge them.
"Afraid to use anything dangerous, are you?" Lestrange taunted. "Afraid of hurting me?"
"That's what makes us different, Lestrange," sneered Harry. "Although I didn't mind offing old Bella.'
Lestrange's face grew hateful.
"Crucio!" he yelled, but Harry was already moving.
"Where's your master, then?" he shouted. "Doesn't he want me for himself?"
"He'll come when he's ready, brat," sneered Lestrange.
As he was talking, Harry wordlessly summoned a rock from behind Lestrange and it soared into the Death Eater's head, rendering him unconscious. Sparing no time to feel victorious, Harry turned to survey the battle. The Elves had joined the fighting, their long range weapons effectively taking out the Dark Lord's creatures.
"Where are you?" Harry muttered, staring around. Already, the grounds were unrecognisable. Harry ran further from the castle, moving deeper into the battle. His shoulders ached from where the beast's claws had pierced the skin, and he worried that they had contained some kind of poison. Looking ahead, Harry felt a stab of horror as he saw Remus fall to the ground and he ran forwards.
"Remus!" he yelled. The Death Eater who had felled Remus turned, grimacing. A long gash across his chest attested to the fact that Remus had not fallen easily.
"Conveo!" yelled Harry, catching the Death Eater off guard. The Death Eater went spinning backwards, hitting the ground with a thump. Harry started towards Remus, his heart pounding fearfully in his chest, but before he could get there, a vague sense of satisfaction washed over him and he halted. With a regretful last look at Remus, Harry began running, stumbling slightly on the writhing vine as he clambered around the body of a giant. As he ran, something hot and burning hit him in the back, but he rounded the body of the giant and his pursuer did not follow. Instead, Harry focussed on the wizard ahead of him.
oOoOo
Snape had never dreamed that one day he might, in his service to the Dark Lord, be required to attack Hogwarts. He supposed it had always been a possibility, but he had always thought that he would withdraw before things got that bad. Recently, though, things had gotten bad very quickly, and Snape's feet had been swept out from under him. He'd been carried along by a force stronger than himself and things had happened on their own and here he was, wand raised against a member of the Order.
Curse to kill, the Dark Lord had said, but leave Potter for me. But Snape didn't like killing, and he didn't like spying. He didn't like being betrayed and he didn't like not being able to see his daughter. He didn't like being a Death Eater who skulked in the shadows and did terrible things, and he hated Voledmort.
Snape shielded himself from an attack and cast a weak stunner at Emmeline Vance. She fell to the ground, but he was confident that she would awake within a few minutes. Snape moved into the shadow of a giant's body and disillusioned himself, eyes darting about the battle field. There were bodies, many of them already, lying scattered about, and Snape saw that many of them were Order members. He didn't take the time to see if they were dead, however; he was looking for Potter.
Unable to see the boy from his current vantage point, he glided around the base of the giant, kicking away the rampant vines that reached out snaking tendrils for him. It took a while before he finally found the person for whom he was looking, but when he did he was grateful that it hadn't taken him any longer.
The Dark Lord appeared to have gotten there before him, and… Merlin, but that boy could duel! Even when he'd duelled Snape in Defence he had not seemed so graceful. He made it look so easy. Voldemort, too, was a sight to behold, spinning and whirling in a swirl of dark colours. Even from this distance, Snape could see that both were injured. Voldemort's movements were becoming slower, jerkier, and he appeared exhausted. Snape suspected that as much of their battle was mental as it was physical. All around them, Death Eaters and Order members alike were struggling in vain, distracted and disarmed in their attempt to watch the boy and the Dark Lord.
Snape gripped his wand tighter and prayed that Harry Potter really was the Chosen One.
oOoOo
It hurt so much. Harry wanted nothing more than to stop, but that was not an option. If he stopped now, he would die. If he died, Voldemort would be victorious. If Voldemort was victorious, others would die.
Harry felt Voldemort's rage and hate far more at this moment than he ever had in his life, and he found himself continuously reminding himself who his enemy was. Nagini lay on the ground between the two of them, dead. Voldemort had killed her when he realised that she was no longer a Horcrux. The additional piece of soul within Harry was larger than he had expected it to be, and he found himself fighting desperately to keep control of his own body.
Harry was so focussed on Voldemort that he blocked everything out.
Slowly their curses began to grow further and further apart, and suddenly they stopped completely. Neither was willing to waste their energy on vain attempts at disabling their opponent. Harry took the moment to focus his attention inwards and restrain Voldemort's soul.
Voldemort grinned maniacally, though Harry saw (or felt, he wasn't sure) a glint of worry in his eyes.
"Losing the battle, Potter?" he whispered.
"No," spat Harry.
"But you will," hissed Voldemort. "You know I'm stronger than you."
And suddenly Harry began to believe him. He began to doubt that he could do this. Voldemort's voice became curious.
"Tell me how many Horcruxes you have destroyed," he demanded.
"Does it matter?" Harry asked with a glare.
"As a matter of fact, Potter, it matters a lot. Tell me how you did it. Tell me how you managed to transfer my soul into your body. Such a thing should not have been possible."
Voldemort's eyes gleamed in anticipation of Harry's answer; he was genuinely curious.
"You made six, didn't you?" Harry questioned, but Voldemort didn't answer so Harry went on. "But you don't know where, or even what the sixth one is, do you?"
Voldemort's eyes widened fractionally, and Harry gave a cold smile.
"Well, I do," he said, and Voldemort fidgeted. Harry took a step forward. "And guess what I also know," he prompted.
Voldemort looked like he dearly wanted to ask, "What?"
"I'm sure you recognised the mark I gave you," he said.
"The mark of V'Ardian," said Voldemort, and then a breath later, "You know who he is."
"I am him," spat Harry. Voldemort's red eyes flew wide in surprise, but then he laughed.
"You jest, surely, Potter. You would never have done any thing to help me."
"I can assure you that it's the truth," said Harry, preparing again to duel. Voldemort laughed again.
"Oh, the irony!" he hissed. "The saviour of the wizarding world is not as pure as everyone thought him to be. I'll ask you again, Harry, but this will be the last time – join me!"
Harry closed his eyes instead of replying and thrust out his magic. He heard Voldemort's body fall to the ground as Harry's magic rammed into him, and Harry plunged forward before he had the chance to do anything. He forced himself into Voldemort's body, and his scar burned in response. The Dark Mark boiled on his arm and he knew the scar on Voldemort's face would be doing the same.
Thrice marked, thrice linked, thrice bound.
Harry tried to act against Voldemort's magic, but the part of him that was Voldemort fought against this action, and harry found he could no more destroy Voldemort like this than he could destroy himself. Harry flew back into himself to see Voldemort lying on the ground before him. He felt immensely drained, and cursed himself for not concentrating when a Death Eater fired a curse at him. The Cruciatus Curse struck him and he fell to his knees with a cry. Through the haze of pain, Harry saw Voldeort sitting up and reaching for his wand…Harry raised his own and drew a deep breath…
oOoOo
People had told him often enough that eyes were windows to the soul, but Snape had always dismissed it as rubbish. Now, though, he was forced to re-evaluate that belief, in response to the pure evil that was pouring out of Harry Potter's eyes. The Dark Lord's body was sprawled on the ground, clearly dead. The moment the words of the Killing Curse had left Potter's mouth, something had happened, something that Snape had never seen before.
The Curse had struck the Dark Lord and he'd fallen, but Snape was quite sure he hadn't died. His eyes had flashed red for a moment and then Potter's had flashed red. Now Potter bent to the ground to pick up the wand that had fallen from his hand the moment it had happened. He twitched slightly, as though he couldn't quite decided what to do. He didn't look at the body on the ground before him. Potter had held the wand up to his face as though to scrutinise it, and he'd given a strange smile. When he'd turned, Snape had known that the time had come.
When Potter saw him, his eyes were green, but there was such a malignant presence behind them that Snape knew that more than one soul inhabited the body. His eyes had flashed red for a second, and a cruel smile twisted his face as his gaze landed on Snape.
A flicker of pain passed across Potter's face and then the eyes were green again, and they stared calmly into Snape's own. Snape felt strangely afraid. He saw Potter twitch slightly, and it was the only outward sign of the fierce battle that must have been going on within his mind (or his soul, or whatever, Snape thought).
"Now, Snape," Harry said suddenly, and Snape raised his wand.
His hand wavered ever so slightly and he cleared his throat that suddenly seemed tight. He reminded himself that he held no love for this boy.
"Avada Kedavra."
oOoOo
A/N: I did intend for this to be the last chapter, but I had to leave it there, I couldn't help it. I was somewhat disappointed at this chapter but I/m getting a bit sick of writing this story. It's just gone on too long. Thanks for everyone who's stuck with this story, and thanks for the reviews – Wujjawoo
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Epilogue