Usual Disclaimer: Unfortunately this world and its wonderful inhabitants do not belong to me, they belong to J. K. Rowling, I'm just borrowing them. I am making no money from this it is purely for the enjoyment of those few who choose to read it. Thanks J. K. for lending me your ready made world of magic.
Extra Disclaimer: The Song Lyrics below do not belong to me, they belong to The All American Rejects.
A/N: A HUGE Thank You to all who reviewed the last chapter and an extra special thanks to those who continue to read this story after the horrendous wait for an update. I can do no better than apologise profusely and hope I am forgiven.
Also in order to get this posted quickly, it has not been subjected to the rigorous beta-ing that my other chapters have so once again I beg forgiveness for any errors.
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"A weight is lifted, On this evening
I give the final blow
When darkness turns to light
It ends tonight, It ends tonight"
All American Rejects
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Hermione and Ron followed him out of the Great Hall and to Dumbledore's office.
Once in Dumbledore's office Harry sat and rubbed his chest which now felt as if it was on fire and showed no signs of letting up. He feared for Draco and the pain of that alone threatened to make him pass out but he pulled together all his strength and mentally went through all that he would have to do. It was sooner than he expected, but this would be the final battle. Soon it would all be over. He took a deep breath and realised that Ron and Hermione were trying to talk to him.
"Snape has taken him to Voldemort. Dumbledore let him. We're both in grave danger and it's his fault. I have to go now. I have to fight again. For the last time." Harry told them.
"Do you know how to... how to kill Him?"
"Yes. But I have to save Draco first. I cant do this without him. I can't fight with half a soul."
"Harry you can't just run after him straight into the trap. Snape wouldn't have taken him if it wasn't safe. Dumbledore wouldn't let him."
"Miss Granger is right. I did not let Professor Snape take Mr Malfoy, and by the time I had figured out they were gone you were standing in front of me."
Harry turned to face the Headmaster. "I have to go."
"Professor Snape will not let Mr Malfoy come to any harm."
"Don't you think he has already done that? You cannot separate soul-mates! It's a form of torture! We're in agony! I have to go now!"
"Harry, the spell I spoke of..."
"Two steps ahead of you old man. I have studied and practised it in depth."
"I know I have been watching."
"And I have adapted it."
"Adapted?"
"It will work but not if I don't save Draco." It took great effort to stay calm. Especially since they seemed to be getting nowhere and were wasting valuable time. Dumbledore looked worried.
"I need you to gather the Order, what's left of it, and send them after me. But they must only deal with the Deatheaters. They must not intervene with our battle. Draco must stay with me if they try to take him or me away, we all die."
"Harry I would rather train you first and you cannot venture out alone!"
"We'll go with him." Ron and Hermione jumped in, in unison.
"No and don't even think about using the passageways, I'll block them all if I have to. The castle stays on lock-down, no-one in or out. It is the only fort that has not previously been breached. Only the true Order must follow."
"No way Harry. We're part of the Order too. We have to help fight."
"I can't focus on protecting you as well as fighting Him I need you to stay here so I at least know you're safe." Harry started made for the door, pausing only to answer one question.
"Slow down Harry, what is it you intend to do?" Dumbledore demanded.
"You don't need to know that now, we're just wasting time. All you need to know is that if I return it will be with Draco and it will all be over, and if I don't you're all doomed and they should blame you." Harry fixed the Headmaster with a piercing gaze and left his office.
I have to save the world. He thought.
But I have to save Draco first.
Outside of the castle gates Harry took a deep breath and steeled himself. He cast a simple tracking spell which, combined with the innate magic of his and Draco's bond, pointed him in the right direction. "Accio firebolt." After a moment, he heard the familiar sound of his trusty broom speeding through the air.
It had been hours since he had left the castle and it was now the dead of night as he pushed his firebolt on. His fingers were numb and his chest throbbed painfully but he kept going. He would not stop until he reached his mate.
As morning dawned, Harry knew he was nearing his destination. As the distance between him and Draco had reduced, so had the physical pain in his chest although it was replaced by a surge of feelings. Harry could feel Draco's emotions and pain as strongly as he could feel his own and he tried to concentrate on his mate. 'I'm on my way love.' He tried to send a mental message.
He soon reached his destination and recognised it as the entrance to Voldemort's underground lair that he and Draco had crawled out from the last time when they had escaped. He kicked up the leaves on the ground and searched for the hatch. He found it quickly and after placing his firebolt against a tree where the Order would see it, wasted no time in climbing down into the stone passageways.
Keeping an ear out for any noises, Harry crept along the passageways, wand aloft, listening at doorways and checking empty stone cells. He could feel the bond pulling him in the direction of his mate and he followed it as quickly and quietly as he could. He had to duck into and empty room as he heard voices, presumably of Deatheaters, passing nearby. Once they had gone he crept out once more. Draco was close. He could feel it.
'All these passages look the same!' Harry thought despairingly as he seemed to be getting nowhere. He stopped and took another deep breath and stayed silent and still, concentrating on sensing where Draco was. With newfound confidence, he set off again.
"Dray!" Harry opened the door to a cell to find his mate pacing around it. He rushed forward and enveloped him in a tight hug. They kissed desperately, their chests seeming to heal at their touch.
"I thought the pain was going to kill me." Draco whispered.
"We need to fight. I need your help to kill Him once and for all. I have a plan and I was going to tell you but then he took you."
"Who took me?"
"Snape." Harry looked confused. "Didn't he?"
"I don't know. I was drugged, I think."
"Give me your hand." Draco laid his hand out flat and Harry touched it with the tip of his wand.
"Ow!" Draco withdrew his hand as his palm began to bleed and Harry put his wand to his own palm. Once both hands were bleeding Harry put his wand away and took Draco's hand in his, entwining their fingers and pressing their cuts together. He closed his eyes and began chanting, Draco watching him intently.
Draco gasped for breath as he felt something enter his body, travelling through his hand and all through him, getting more and more powerful.
Harry kept chanting until the power he transferred built to such a force that pushed Draco away and against the wall of the cell where he stood breathing heavily, feeling like he had just run a marathon.
"What did you do?"
"I transferred some of my power to you so that together we can be more powerful than I can be on my own."
"I've never felt anything like it. I tingle all over. I feel different..." He looked at Harry in wonderment. He was far more powerful than he had ever let on. Draco could see the determination in his eyes and he radiated power."
"The Order are on their way with instructions to deal only with the Deatheaters. We have to finish it Dray. Do you still have your wand?"
Draco felt inside his cloak. "Yes its still there."
Before they could say anything else they heard a voice echo loudly through the passageways. "Bring them to me!"
Harry took Draco's hands and said in a hurried voice "Listen, when I tell you, I need you to take my hand and point your wand into the same stream as mine and concentrate on pushing all my power through your wand and into my spell. Understand?"
"I think so."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Well well, if it isn't the two little lovebirds." The door to the cell was pushed open and half a dozen cloaked Deatheaters stood out side.
Harry narrowed his eyes and walked forward. "Shall we get this over with?" A Deatheater Grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room. Draco was similarly treated behind him.
They soon entered a vast chamber, far larger than the one in which Harry had last faced Voldemort. Once again Voldemort, in all his hideousness, was sitting in his ill-deserved throne, Lucius at his side bearing a stony expression on his face.
Draco looked at his father and felt nothing but pure unadulterated hatred . This man could not be counted as a father after the way he had treated his son. The world would be better off without him.
Harry felt a surge of hatred radiating from his mate, a hatred that matched his own for the men they stood in front of.
"Mr Potter." Voldemort addressed him. "You have picked up quite a habit of walking straight into my traps. You're almost making it too easy."
"Almost." Harry agreed. "But I've walked away unscathed every time. Does that not tell you something?"
"It tells me I have been far too easy on you."
"Sounds familiar. Don't you say that every time?"
"This time you die!" Voldemort growled, beginning to anger. He tired of this banter with the Potter boy. He must end it once and for all, but not before he tortured him with the loss of his soul mate. "Malfoy," He addressed Lucius "Show your former son the error of his ways." He commanded and Lucius began to draw his wand and move towards Draco. But Draco was faster.
"Avada Kedavra!" This time he had no problems performing an unforgivable.
As his father lay lifeless on the floor of the stone room Draco felt nothing. He felt no loss. He didn't care about the dead man on the floor.
Deatheaters began to close in on them and Harry stunned the few that came too close to them almost without though. His heart went out to his mate who was staring at Lucius with empty eyes.
"Oh come on now that was a bit abrupt. I mean where's the 'here's-how-I'm-going-to-kill-you-and-all-the-people-you-love speech?'" Harry turned back to Voldemort. He needed to buy more time, he needed a clear shot at Voldemort. He couldn't perform the spell whilst fighting the Deatheaters. And he certainly didn't want to shift his focus from the disgusting creature in his throne - he wouldn't let him get away this time.
"Keep back!" Voldemort hissed at his followers who had amassed behind them, blocking every exit Harry noticed. They were far more numerous than Harry had counted on. Seemed like everybody had turned up for fight night. Maybe Voldie too had this in mind as the last battle. "It is nice to know you enjoy our little encounters so, because this will be the last thing you ever do."
"Well I hate to be the one to break it to you but it seems as though your plan has already gone awry." Harry indicated briefly towards the lifeless body on the floor and then at the few stunned Deatheaters. Voldemort's hideous red eyes glowed angrily.
"You think that bothers me?" He hissed. "It is less than a dent in my army. You on the other hand seem rather small in comparison." He turned his attention to Draco. "You may not have bowed to your father but you will bow to me. Impedimenta!"
Draco's spine arched slightly but he fought against the curse he was no stranger to. He would not bow to this monster. Harry willed him to fight, keeping his wand pointed in Voldemort's direction.
"Insolent brat, you should learn to respect those more powerful than you! Crucio!"
Draco bit his lip as pain wracked his body, he shook and fell to the ground as he fought against pain that seemed to drill right to the core of him. At least his father had taught him one thing - he would not scream. Harry gasped as Draco was hit with a full force Cruciatus curse and he felt Draco's pain searing through his chest. He dropped to his knees and took Draco by the hand, concentrating on pushing Voldemort's magic from their bodies.
"New tricks I see." Voldemort laughed as the curse was repelled. "How easy it will be to torture you." He focused once again on Harry.
"Wrong again. How easy it will be for us to kill you once and for all."
"You can't kill me Potter. I'll just keep coming back. Though it has become rather tiring so I don't think you'll be walking away this time."
"No I'll be skipping and jumping for joy at being rid of you at last." Voldemort just laughed. "Crucio!"
Harry raised a hand and the unforgivable bounced right off his palm. He could hear Deatheaters muttering behind him and felt Draco's eyes on him. He smiled. Thank Merlin that had worked. Although it was slightly different to practising on himself. "New tricks indeed Tommie boy. This time I'm ready for all you got."
"And what about blondie, you can't protect him all the time. I know as well do you that if I get to him, I break you too."
"Not going to happen." Harry sidestepped in front of Draco.
Suddenly Voldemort hissed and looked beyond his two targets. Harry immediately heard stunning spells and the unmistakeable sound of the Order rushing in at the back of the hall. A few seconds was all it took before the whole chamber was in chaos, curses flying back and forth everywhere. Harry and Draco were soon engulfed in a mass of fighting Deatheaters, Aurors and Order members.
"Son of a bitch!" Harry exclaimed as he scanned the room for Voldemort who had disappeared in the commotion. He quickly surveyed the exits as best he could before making a snap decision based on instinct. "You okay?" He asked Draco who nodded slowly. He looked slightly dazed but gripped Harry's hand firmly. "Stun whoever gets in our way." Harry took the lead and began steering through the battling bodies shooting stunning spells wherever he could.
"This is getting us nowhere!" He exclaimed exasperatedly as their way was blocked yet again. Closing his eyes and concentrating on pooling his and Draco's magic, he pushed forward through his chest and the resulting blast cleared the way for them in the same way in which a grenade would have. Draco was amazed at the power radiating from his mate but there was no time to ask questions.
Finally the pair reached an unlit tunnel and held their lit wands aloft ahead of them as they ran along the stone passage way.
"Bloody coward!" Harry muttered, his emerald eyes glowing fiercely. They reached a fork in the tunnel and once again it was instinct which guided Harry.
"Hey! Creep!" Harry yelled as they gained on the retreating figure that was Voldemort.
Voldemort, uttered a spell and shot it back at them but Harry once again just held up a hand and pushed it away. As they closed the distance between themselves and Voldemort, he blasted away what seemed like sheer rock and light flooded into the tunnel making them squint to see what was happening. They followed Voldemort out into the afternoon sunlight and found themselves teetering on the ledge of a cliff where the sea bounced off the glistening jagged rocks below. Above them Voldemort was climbing the rock face up onto the ledge above.
Adrenaline coursed through Harry as he and Draco began the climb to the top of the cliff where Voldemort had just disappeared over the edge.
Draco followed his mate, letting him lead. Merely helping him to fulfil his destiny. Thoughts of them being able to live a free life when it was all over being what was keeping him going. Every inch if him felt raw and exhausted after the effects of the unforgivables and he was sure he was still shaking as he tried to erase the image which seemed to hover in his mind - the image of the still body of the man who had supposedly been his father. He felt numb as he followed Harry with blind faith that his mate would get them through this. One way or another.
Before he knew it, Harrys strong hands were pulling him over the edge and onto the flat solid earth above. A few meters away the land disappeared into dense woodland and he and Harry headed straight for it, their joint hands seeming to feed him newfound energy.
"We have to find him." Harry kept muttering, more to himself than to Draco.
Draco squeezed Harry's hand reassuringly as the entered the woods where spots of sunlight filtered through the dense branches of the trees, giving them just enough light to see without tell-tale wand-light.
As they moved deeper into the trees Harry stopped abruptly and stood in complete silence, listening. From a distance they could hear something moving. Hoping it was what they were looking for, they made a beeline in the direction they had heard the noise. They moved as quickly as they could whilst trying to stay silent. They spotted Voldemort at the same time he spotted them. He shot a spell at them and began to run once again. Harry repelled the spell with seeming ease and they took off after the retreating figure. The woods began to get darker as they ran further into them. The ground also took a sharp turn downwards and they half ran, half skidded downhill after Voldemort, using nearby trees to steady themselves. When the ground evened out again Harry grasped Draco's hand once more and, summoning as much energy as he could, pointed his wand at Voldemorts back. "Lethario!" He yelled and his voice resonated through the trees.
Voldemorts actions slowed and he gradually ground to a halt. Harry continued moving towards him. Draco followed slightly behind, feeling physically exhausted but still able and still determined. His blood still tingled from the spell Harry had cast earlier as he came to a stop next to his mate.
The spell on Voldemort began to wear off and he found himself facing Harry and Draco who were turning out to be a formidable team. Both stood in front of him, wands held out.
"This is it." Harry stated. "It ends tonight."
