Chapter One: The Riddle Medallion

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling

It happened over the summer. Although the war had begun during her Sixth year, Hermione Granger had not expected it to be over so soon. During the summer, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione had traveled abroad looking for the Horcrux's that Voldemort had hidden across the countryside. They had found notes in most locations, always signed R.A.B. Although they Order still did not know who had been leaving the notes, they could only hope that the person or persons had destroyed the Horcrux's. They still where looking however just in case, because the war was glooming and the more they destroyed, the closer to mortality Voldemort became. They had found the resting place for the last Horcrux, a small family crest that was hidden on the grounds of Tom Riddles parent's estate. Although the house had been empty for years, it now was secretly inhabited once again by Voldemort and his loyal followers. Voldemort had been waiting there very patiently since he had discovered that Harry and his followers had been searching for the other artifacts. It was Hermione who had discovered the location of the last Horcrux, and the entire Order decided to accompany them to the site. It was dusk by the time the Order had arrived. The sun was setting to the west, and the sky was becoming dark very rapidly. The there was a sense of quite about the town that did not seem right. No wind in the trees, no birds chirping. Hermione, Harry and Ron where walking through the east part of town, when Hermione mentioned a peculiar smell, "What is that," she questioned looking around. "Lumos" Harry muttered grimly pointing his wand into a dark, seemingly deserted side street. There beside them, about thirty bodies, obviously members of the town, lay on the ground showing the early signs of decomposition. It was obvious this crime had been committed some time ago. Hermione stumbled backwards, almost hitting Remus Lupin who was standing beside her. "I will go alert the others," Lupin muttered, but before he could take a step, a dark shadow made its way down the center of the road. The fighting suddenly erupted in the small muggle town. The Death Eaters seemed to emerge from the shadows; the town was lit by the different spells being cast across back and forth through the streets. Everyone had scattered, individual battles happening everywhere, no front line to speak of. Hermione was left, chaos engulfing her all around. She saw that Harry was struggling against Voldemort while Lupin and Ron were fighting against Snape and a small violent witch that she had never seen before. She ran over to help Harry but he shouted, "No! Try and get the last Horcrux." She began a full on sprint to the house, only taking caution not to get hit when Bellatrix Lestrange managed to strike Hermione in the jaw with her clenched fist. As blood was pouring from Hermione's mouth, Bellatrix wrestled her to the ground, finally pinning her. Hermione was in agony and unable to move, when Bellatrix moved her wand to Hermione's throat. "I usually don't take pride in killing children, however, I can always make an exception for a mudblood…" "I may be a muggle born, but I am not a child" Hermione spat in her face. " In a few moments it won't matter, all you'll be is dead. Avada…" There was a hard thud, and Bellatrix never finished her sentence. She blinked, slumped sideways and fell to the floor. Hermione, slowly released her breath, and saw Ginny standing there with some sort of stone that she had hit Bellatrix across the side of the head with. " I…. I lost my wand somewhere… Oh my god, Hermione, are you alright?" Hermione staggered to her feet, finally catching her breath and feeling her jaw tenderly, " I am now Ginny, remind me to thank you when we have a chance." "Hermione, what do I do, my wand was knocked out of my hand by Lucius Malfoy, I don't know where it went," Ginny questioned. Hermione thought for a moment, " Accio Ginny's wand!" A wand came soaring through the air. Hermione tossed Ginny her wand back, gave her a quick hug and ran off. She could only hope that she had not been to late, that Harry was still fighting, that he could hold on a moment longer. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ron screaming on the ground, in utter agony. Snape was standing over him, apparently performing the Crucio curse. Lupin appeared to be busy fighting the short witch to even notice. As fast as she could she yelled out Expelleriamus directly at Snape. He was immediately thrown back, it was enough time for Ron to get up, and take Snape's wand. Hermione had no time to help any farther, she had already continued on. She would not let anyone get in her way; it was her responsibility to save Harry. For once it was Harry who need saving, no one else, and she was going to help him, or die trying. There was one person in her way to getting the medallion. Lucius Malfoy. However as she approached she noticed he was dueling someone else. His son, Draco Malfoy. Hermione did not have time to think about this however; she was after one thing, that medallion. She screamed " Incarte Fulminado!" The medallion exploded into flames and fell into ash on the floor. The place went silent; everyone knew what had just happened. It was as if everyone had just stopped dueling and was looking straight at Hermione. Hermione screamed, " Harry, he's mortal!" Voldemort looked at Hermione in pure and utter hatred. He slowly turned back around to face Harry, but Harry was standing right next to him, looking him straight in the eye. Voldemort looked into those green eyes, and began to open his mouth. Before he could say anything, Harry had struck. Voldemort was numb; he looked down at his stomach and saw only a hilt of a sword, the very sword that Harry had defeated the Basilisk with in his Second year, the sword that displayed the name of the infamous Godric Gryffindor down the blade, the sword that had been so proudly displayed in Dumbledore's office. Voldemort looked back up in utter confusion. Harry, holding the hilt just looked at him, with cold, penetrating eyes and said, " I wont give you the pleasure of having a quick, painless death. I want you to think, as the blood spills out of your body, of all that you have done. I want you to think, as your heart beat begins to slow, of all the people you have killed, of all the crimes you have committed, and I want you to think, as the pain starts to over take you, that for the past 17 years, you have tried to kill me, and you have failed. You have failed Voldemort, all your life's work, is gone. No one again will fear your name, no one again will fear your mark. I hope you enjoyed it, your time here, because this time you wont becoming back. Harry shoved the sword in farther, Voldemort staggered… and fell to the floor and as he lay, in his own puddle of blood, Harry bent over and whispered in his ear, " You should know, that today is my 17th birthday, and my wish, has come true." Harry staggered away from the mess, holding his wand in one hand, and Voldemort's wand in the other. It was finally over and the boy who lived, continued to live on.