Chapter 46

Voldemort seemed to stumble slightly upon hearing the unexpected voice. He slowly turned, but his attention never left James. "How?" he said, in a less sure voice than was normal.

"You thought I would just allow you to kill me without defending myself?" Sirius replied lightly, as he drew himself up to use his full height.

"I killed you!" Voldemort exclaimed, his glaze flicking between James and Sirius.

"No, you didn't," Sirius replied, his voice calm and even. He watched James slowly stand, his wand pointed at Voldemort. He flicked his head slightly. He watched James nod, and briefly turn his glaze to the corridor. Sirius nodded. It had been done. The snake was dead. "You didn't kill me, you killed part of your soul."

Voldemort's face fell into a state of confusion. "I don't know what you are talking about! But you will beg for death just like your brother did."

Sirius closed his eyes and looked away for a moment, as he thought of his brother. But this was not the time for it. Voldemort may now be mortal, but he was still one of the most powerful and dangerous wizards the world had ever seen. "No Reggie didn't beg for death, but, yes, he turned his back on you and told me your secret."

"My secret?" Voldemort tilting his head to one side, his wand still held lazily in one hand.

"Horcruxes," Sirius replied, staring back at Voldemort. If it was possible Voldemort seemed to pale, more than his white, waxy skin. His red eyes flashed briefly. "We know what you created."

"I don't know what you are talking about, blood traitor," Voldemort spat back, but his voice was now unsure.

"Your Hogwarts letter, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, Ravenclaw's diadem, Gaunt's ring and your snake," Sirius reeled off, still staring at Voldemort. For some reason he felt a sense of calm, but he could not explain why.

"You're lying," Voldemort snapped back, fear evident in his voice.

"Am I?" Sirius replied, with raised an eyebrow, as he took a step forward. "Are you really sure about that?"

"Yes, I am," Voldemort growled, raising his wand.

"Tom, why did I allow myself to be killed by you? I walked in there and stood in front of you. I didn't raise my wand, I just stood there," Sirius said calculatingly. "Ask yourself why?"

"I was too fast for you. I am far superior to you!"

"Perhaps you were. Perhaps you still are. But I walked into that room unarmed. I'm not a child, I'm the head of the Aurors. Why would I walk unarmed into a room where I knew you were there?" Sirius challenged. He watched his enemy. He watched the shoulders slightly drop. The unease flashed across the glowing red eyes. "Because when you tried to kill me all those years ago, your soul was so unstable from creating the Horcruxes, that when you cursed me, it rebounded. You, of course, didn't die. You couldn't because of the horcruxes. But your soul was so unstable, when the curse destroyed your body, the final remaining part of your soul latched onto the nearest living being. Me."

"What?" Voldemort managed.

"Why do you think I walked in there unarmed? I needed you to kill your soul. You can't escape death forever Tom, you're mortal," Sirius replied calmly, taking another step forward. He ignored the pain. The feeling that he had got into a fight with Hagrid then tramped on by a herd of hippogriffs. He hoped the potion and killing curse had no long term effect on him, but this was not the time nor the place.

"No, I am not. I am Lord Voldemort," Voldemort snapped back.

"No, you are not. You are Tom Marvolo Riddle, a half blood. This is your father's house, a muggle. Not an ounce of magical blood in his body."

"I'll kill you! I will kill all the muggle-borns," Voldemort screamed.

"Tom, I'm giving you a chance. Hand yourself over and I ensure you have a fair trial," Sirius reasoned calmly, his cool grey eyes never leaving Voldemort.

"Never!" Voldemort snarled. He raised his wand.

James' eyes continued to move between Voldemort and his friend. His wand was raised. He was ready but he waited. He could see what Sirius was trying to do and it took guts. How Voldemort would get a fair trial, he did not know. But at least Sirius was trying. As far as he was concerned, Voldemort was guilty as sin, but even the most sadist wizard their world had ever seen, deserved a trial. He also thought it would bring closure to many of Voldemort's victims. He took his eye off Voldemort for a moment and watched his friend. Sirius had changed. He could place how, but he had changed. The way he was standing. Standing there, using full height. His shoulders back. His head up. His cool grey eyes staring defiantly into Voldemort's glowing, red snake like eyes. The way he questioned him. There was no hesitation in his voice. The only person he could ever remember as defiant towards Voldemort as Sirius was right now, was Dumbledore. He watched Voldemort raise his wand at Sirius and mirrored the action.

Voldemort raised his wand. "Avada Kedavra," he yelled.

Sirius dropped to the ground, dodging the incoming curse. He pulled the gun he had Mundungus Fletcher obtain all those months ago and fired it.

James watched as though his world seemed to go into slow motion. He watched a blinding green light and heard an explosion. He watched two figures fall to the ground. "Sirius!" he yelled, as he staggered towards the two bodies. He stood over Voldemort. His shaking hand pointed his wand directly at Voldemort. "Sirius, talk to me mate. Please, Merlin talk to me!"

"I'm okay James," Sirius replied, as he slowly stood next to his best friend.

A thousand questions when through his mind, but it wasn't the time for those questions. "What do you need to me to do?" James settled on.

"Use your wand to check if he's alive," Sirius asked, his attention not leaving Voldemort.

"Of course," James replied, without hesitation. He muttered an incarnation. He let out and the breath he didn't realise he was holding. "He's dead."

Sirius nodded. "Can you cover me?"

"Sure." James watched Sirius bend down and hold his fingers against Voldemort's throat and waited. He watched his friend nod, before standing. He careful moved Voldemort's head with his foot and grimaced at the damage. "I'm not an expert in healing but I am pretty such you need the back of your head to be alive."

"I tried James. I wanted to bring him in. I wanted him to stand trial," Sirius said quietly, looking out towards the window.

"I know mate," James said, patting his friend's shoulder. "I know you did everything you could, but you didn't have a choice in the end. It was self-defence."

"Yeah, but if I'd done something different, then his victims would have justice."

"They have justice mate, they do," James reassured.

"I guess," Sirius replied quietly.

"What was that thing anyway?" James asked.

"A gun. It's a muggle weapon. I, I just didn't trust my wand on Voldemort after last time," Sirius explained. He closed his eyes for a moment and rubbed his face. He took a breath. "The wands connected, I just couldn't risk that happening again."

James nodded again. "Merlin, I just, I just can't believe it's over."

Sirius shook his head. "It's not, not yet." He suddenly stopped, and the covered his mouth and sprinted to the corner of the room, before vomiting.

"Sirius!" James yelled, running over to his friend.

"I'm fine James," Sirius replied, in-between wrenching.

"Are you sure?! You don't look it," James replied nervously, his mind jumping from theory to theory. Was it the horcruxes? The potion? Or a delayed reaction to the killing curse?

"I'm fine James, I promise," Sirius finally managed, his straightened up and wiped his mouth with the back his hand. "It's just a stress reaction, I have them from time to time."

"Well," James started slowly, patting his friend's back. "Well, I guess this could be considered a stressful situation. Are you sure it's that? Not anything else, like a reaction to the potion or something?"

"Mate, I'm not a healer, so I can't be sure. But it feels like when I have a stress reaction to things," Sirius replied, closing his eyes for a moment. "It's nearly over. I just, I just, I never thought I would see you on the other side. It's-"

"Fucking amazing," James finished, broadly grinning.

"Yeah, yeah it is," Sirius replied, returning the smile.

"What's next?"

"We need to summon the Aurors," Sirius replied quietly. "I know what Moony said, but it could get messy."

James nodded. "I'll deal with it. What's the plan? Are you going to round up the other Death Eaters?"

"Yeah," Sirius replied, as he looked away for a moment, pulling his jacket a bit closer.

"Mate, you need to take a few days. Seriously-" James stopped as he watched Sirius giggle, and smiled back, glad for a lighter moment. "I'm not going to say anything, as it will only encourage your childish behaviour."

"Prongs, we have been doing this for how long?! You walked straight into it!"

James rolled his eyes. "Padfoot, with the last few months, hell, the last 24 hours you need to have some rest before you take on some Death Eaters."

"If I had that luxury, I would, but we don't. I cannot let what happened to the Longbottom's happen again," Sirius replied strongly. "I need to finish this."

"I-"

"James, you can't be anywhere near this."

James sighed and ran a hand over his tired face. "Mate, I know. But are you in the right state to do this?"

"What?"

"You died, what fifteen minutes ago! We destroyed a horcrux less than 24 hours ago. Mate, I'm not doubting you, I'm just saying, well that what you have been through in the last 24 hours is a hell of a lot, no more than that," James tried to reason.

"Mate, I won't make the actual arrests, I can't."

"Why?" James asked, frowning.

"Family," Sirius replied simply.

"Padfoot, I just don't think it's safe for you to be involved. Frankly, I'm not sure how you are even standing," James said, looking his friend up and down. The too lean frame. The pale face. How he was holding himself. But more than anything was the sheer exhaustion that showed on this face.

"I'll be alright, I'll have my team with me," Sirius said, adding a small smile for good measure.

"Okay," James replied, not liking the situation in any way. "What do you want me to do?"

"Stay here, I won't be too long," Sirius said, as he patted James on the shoulder, before walking slowly but purposefully towards the door. He closed his eyes for a moment, as he leaned back on the closed door. Was it finally over? He had been fighting against Voldemort since he was sixteen, and now over twenty years later, it was finally over. Well, almost, he thought dryly. He paused for a moment before he sent out his Patronus charm. He wondered what kind of reception he would receive from his colleagues. But what choice did he have? He couldn't very well just dump Voldemort's body in a lake, or something.

"Expecto Patronum," he said clearly, watching the silver dog dance down the path, before allowing his attention to wander for a moment. He looked to the east, to see dawn just breaking over the hills. How poetic he thought dryly. The familiar popping sound of several people appariting nearby pulled him out of his thoughts. So, this is it, he thought to himself. Will I be friend or foe?

Kingsley Shacklebolt was the first to step out into the Riddle Manor grounds. He had received Sirius Black's patronus and had assembled a group of his most trusted Aurors. His wand was out as he looked his boss up and down. He looked like he had been to hell and back. Considering who he was looking at, it was probably only half the truth. "What is the picture I have on my desk?" he demanded, his wand pressing into Sirius' throat.

Sirius racked his mind. His thoughts were sluggish. "When I last saw your desk, it was a picture of you, Bella and Josh, at his first quidditch game," he finally managed, hoping he was right. Feeling the pressure being released, he watched Kingsley for a moment before raising his wand and returning the favour. "What picture do I have hanging in my office?"

"One of you, James and Remus," Kingsley replied effortlessly.

Sirius nodded. "Thanks for coming."

"Good to see you boss. You look like hell by the way," Kingsley replied with a slight smile.

"You're not going to arrest me?" Sirius playfully challenged.

"The warrants weren't drawn by your department, nor did the hit wizards draw them up. It was an illegal warrant issued by our dear Minister."

Sirius nodded, the corners of his mouth slightly twitching. "I thought as much."

"You said you had a development?" Kingsley questioned.

"Yeah, follow me," Sirius replied, as turned towards the manor. "James it's me," he called out as he strode into the manor. He walked into the room and stopped, waiting for the reactions. Hoping someone had an idea of what to do next.

"Merlin," Kingsley exclaimed, the first to react. "Is that, is that you-know-who?"

"Yeah," Sirius replied dryly. "It's Voldemort."

Kingsley winced slightly at the mention of the former sadist wizard's name. "So, you managed to destroy all of the horcruxes?" He watched his boss nod. "James," he said, acknowledging the other man for the first time.

"Kingsley," James replied quietly, as he watched the group's reactions.

"Well, I guess it'd have to be a closed casket," Dawlish said, speaking up for the first time. "You made a bit of a mess boss."

Sirius found a small laugh, despite the situation. "We need to get him somewhere secure. Somewhere we can try and attract his loyal followers."

"The Ministry. We can put him in the Department of Mysteries. Secure the routes to the department," Kingsley suggested.

Sirius nodded, thankful for the suggestions. His mind was too confused. Too overworked to think properly. "And the entrance?" he questioned.

"It's just gone four thirty in the morning, footfall will be minimal, if at all. We can control it," Kingsley reassured.

"When the arrests happen, I can't be around. I don't want them to get off on a technically."

"I understand. You don't need to be here, you can head home if you want. You look like hell Sirius," Kingsley said, concerned evident in his voice.

"No, I have to finish this. I need to see this through to the end." Sirius yawned and rubbed his tired face. "Mate, you can't-"

"I know," James cut in. "But I am going back to the Ministry with you. I'll out of the way, at my desk. And when it is all over, you can come and get me. Then we are heading home." He exchanged looks with his friend.

"Okay," Sirius replied tiredly, wondering how much longer he could go on for. He knew he would never win the argument with James over that. He knew his friend would just bring reinforcements. It was easier just to agree. And in any case, the thought of a warm bed and sleep brought a small smile to his tired face. "Right, lets head back to the Ministry."