August 27th. Albion's Hearth. Several hours after the death of Voldemort and Death Eaters.

After victories, comes a time when one wishes to celebrate and relax a little bit after the decisive confrontation. Henry was no different, as he wanted to relax and maybe open up a bottle to celebrate finally putting an end to Voldemort and his Death Eaters. He had avenged his grandparents, Charlus and Dorea Potter, not to mention had ended all of his following minions in one swift and decisive manner. He may've also completely eradicated or brought to the brink of extinction many Noble Houses, as a matter of affect, Harry didn't even care about it.

In fact, he was glad he had done so to a certain degree, as he had once more demonstrated the lengths to which House Le Fay will go to secure themselves and defeat their enemies. Amelia Bones may be mad at him for acting like he did, but even she couldn't argue with the results, and the results were most astounding. The Magical World may view the very act of what had happened as genocidal at first, but after all the gathered proof of these families and its members were up to was out, those that will try to paint House Le Fay in evil light will have to shut up. Now all that remained was to finally find Dumbledore and finish him off for good.

That was what Henry and the rest of his allies were going to get, but their plans were unfortunately foiled the very next morning.

The Dark Elves of Malekith had launched a full scale assault on lands of House Le Fay, besieging and attacking many prominent Noble Houses and locations, swiftly and viciously. Having been alerted of the impending attack, Henry's vassals had mobilized all of their forces and put them on high alert, expecting trouble to come their way sooner than later. A sizable contingent of all forces was also placed in Albion's Hearth, as it was obvious that Malekith would launch an attack against Henry Le Fay, so as to dismantle the command and destroy House Le Fay. However, after Irene had effectively destroyed Azkaban and Death Eaters, everyone had thought that not even Malekith would be as foolish as to launch a strike agaisnt House Le Fay, and yet he did in the morrow of the very day Voldemort died.

Henry, having confirmed information about the locations and forces attacking his land, had sent out orders and soldiers to deal with the enemies, along with sending Irene to deal with the most dangerous pockets of Dark Elves. He himself, along with Rose, Rias, Regulus, Arcturus, Cassiopeia, Bellatrix and Tonks family, were all in Albion's Hearth, awaiting the responses from the battlefields and Henry's vassals. The amount of the attacks had forced Harry to even send out some of the forces that guarded the very castle he was in to deal with the enemy. Fortunately enough, Cornelia with her son were with Regulus' family in Black Family Mansion in Kent, with the non-magical population unaware of the happening battles, as Dark Elves knew the consequences of revealing themselves through breaking the Statute of Secrecy.

As they were assembled in the meeting room, Regulus couldn't help but speak out.

"How the hell did those Elves manage to sneak into your territories undetected? Wouldn't all other Elven races, not to mention Elementals and your personal Devil, would easily sense a breach in the detection grid or something like that?" Regulus asked of Henry, but it was Rias that answered that question.

"Clearly you know little about the Dark Elves, or otherwise you wouldn't be asking such a question." Rias simply noted out, not caring for the glare that Regulus was giving her. "The Dark Elves magic is different from most magical arts and ways, and they are extremely careful about not revealing their secrets. What I do know is that they are most adapt in sneaking in, alone or with entire armies, places that are guarded better than Gringotts Bank. It was a common occurrence for Dark Elves to raid our lands like this in my time, but they were never bold or foolish enough as to launch such an attack, especially on so many locations. Something is not right in this one."

"Yeah, I can't help but agree with Rias on this one." Rose was with Rias on this one occasion. "This whole attack, right after Voldemort's death and Death Eaters gone… Dark Elves, if what I learned is true, are never ones to fulfill any wishes of the dead companions, so why would they stick to the deal they've signed with a dead man?"

"They may've signed up another deal, one that Voldemort may've known nothing about." Arcturus brought up another theory, with everyone looking at him with interest. "Not only Voldemort knew about Dark Elves and had employed them, but there was also Gellert Grindelwald. And even if he is imprisoned, that doesn't mean that someone very close to him could've had an access to Malekith." The look Arcturus gave to Cassiopeia and Henry said it all for the most in the room, though Ted and Andromeda seemed a bit oblivious about the things.

"You mean that some old supporter of Grindelwald has decided to take a stab at Henry and us like this?" Ted asked the questions, with Henry answering it.

"Yeah, and his name is Albus Dumbledore." Henry let out an irritated sigh. "Every time when I think that the old man is out of cards, he still manages to pull an ace out… Dumbledore wasn't always the hero he was once remembered as, and he had played a key part in the coming of Grindelwald to power, if what I've read in my great grandfather's journals is to be believed. He switched sides somewhere in the early 20th century and after defeating Gellert had made sure to cover everything up. Nobody knows when really did Dark Elves decide to help out Gellert Grindelwald, but I'll bet a galleon that it was still in the times when Dumbledore was on his side."

"Is there any way Ministry can help us out? Send a few Aurors or something like that?" Ted asked again, with Regulus shaking his head at that one.

"No, not with the way they are overloaded with work after the dismantling the Order, plus there are still those that have gone into a hiding. Even if Amelia was able to get us even a few Aurors, it wouldn't make much of a difference, not agaisnt the numbers that Malekith is throwing against Henry and his forces." Regulus stated, looking at Henry. "Still, even though we know that the Dark Elves are a dangerous foe and one not to be trifled with, something in this entire thing doesn't add up."

"What do you mean, Regulus?" Andromeda asked, with Bellatrix also curious to that as well.

"Attacking us all like that, striking at our vassals and allies, but not us directly, plus the attack in general." Rose voiced the thoughts of Regulus, with Henry, Arcturus, Rias and Cassiopeia beginning to see that there what they meant. "Strategically, such an attack, despite the element of surprise, is effectively a suicide, a waste of life with literally zero chances. I don't know what resources Malekith commands, but I highly doubt that it is even remotely comparable with what Henry can call upon. And let's not forget that we have a literal Devil on our side."

"When you put it like that…" Cassiopeia spoke, before her eyes widened, along with Henry and Rias also realizing something important. "The attack is a ruse."

"They've spread our forces and forced us to weaken the defenses of the castle, allowing for them to…" Before Rias could finish what she had to say, an entire castle shook violently and nearly forced everyone onto their knees.

The quake had been so violent and powerful that they thought for a second that it was some kind of a natural catastrophe, until both Henry and Rias stilled and paled at the same time. They've exchanged the looks with each other, silently confirming that they've felt the same very thing and nodded to each other, disappearing from the room the very next moment, followed by Rose. The trio appeared on the rooftop of one of the adjacent to castle towers, witnessing something they hadn't expected to see.

They saw a large group of Dark Elven sorcerers and sorceresses and a large group of human slaves, performing some kind of blood ritual. The sorceresses cut open throats of at least 30 slaves, probably captured wizards and witches, letting the blood flow, as the male sorcerers chanted in their own language. Henry, Rias and Rose didn't understand a word of what they were chanting, but one thing they did recognize was the fact that it was something they didn't want them completing, so they resolved to put a stop to whatever they were doing here.

Henry was the first to go, drawing up the powers of his own land and conjuring lighting in his very hands, before sending it at the intruders, striking at five sorcerers and sorceresses. The chanting was stopped after that attack, and the invaders turned to face off against the rulers of this castle and the land they were upon. Spells of dark nature and curses were hurled from the Dark Elves, only to be stopped by Rias' demonic magic, which literally devoured it all, before she focused her unleashed might and sent it at the Elves, claiming lives of nearly half the group. Rose's magic took form of fire, which she sent towards her targets, burning them and charring them up upon contact and explosion, while Henry continued to send his bolts of lightning.

The Dark Elves put up as much fight as they could, but were ultimately simply overpowered by the trio, and before any of them could escape, a hail of bullets and Avada Kedavra curses had put an end to that. A contingent of High Elves and the rest of the group arrived to help, but unfortunately they weren't able to prevent what the Dark Elves were doing here. The spilled blood formed into a magical circle with writings and rules, before a crimson red light shut out of it and was went into the skies. The brightness of that ray was more than enough to blind them all, before it had died down, and all could look up and widen their eyes.

Right there, where the pillar of bloody light had touched the skies, was now a large circular vortex, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality itself. It was slowly expanding, and the very skies around it turned crimson red. Harry and the others stared at it, realizing just what those Dark Elves were doing here.

"Dear God… Th-they've…" Even Henry was at a loss of words, when looking at the creation of the dark creatures.

"They've torn open the border between your world and mine." Irene's voice was like a crack of the lightning, as she materialized before everyone. "The blood of magically gifted people, coupled with the souls and lives of the Dark Elves you've just taken… This must have been Malekith's plan all along: to open a breach between my world and yours, letting Demons and Devils into this world. And if it isn't closed up right now and allowed to grow, it will be impossible to close it ever." Without hearing anyone speak up, Irene moved to the place where the bloody circle was and stood upon it.

With an inhuman roar, she slammed her staff in the middle of the circle and poured out her Demonic power. She had reconfigured the circle and once a crimson light had shut from it, reaching for the breach and grasping it. The moment it did so, the shifting vortex stopped expanding and seemingly stabilized and stopped expanding outwards. The group let out a sigh of relief, before noticing that the breach wasn't closing and simply remained as it were.

"Why isn't it closing?" Andromeda asked out loud.

"Because it's not something even Irene can deal with in a matter of seconds." Henry assumed before stepping closer to Irene, holding her staff and pouring out her power in the glowing circle, making sure that they wouldn't be heard. "Irene, how long will it take you to…"

"I don't know, this is not something I have ever dealt with, nor have any of your predecessors." Irene said to him with clear uncertainty in her voice. "I… I'll try and close the breach, but I need to be completely focuses upon it. If I am not, then the breach will expand and it will be all over for us all."

"Harry, the Dark Elves are appearing all over the place!" Rose pointed to the castle, with Henry and the rest, safe for Irene, coming to the edge of the roof to take a look.

It was now clear, that the attacks launched before were nothing more than a diversion, just as they've guessed. The real attack began now, as dark swirling portals opened up on the battlements, in courtyards and just everywhere, and from there came pale forms of Dark Elves, dressed in black clothes and armors. They surged out of a dozen portals, striking at the garrison and warriors, trying to overwhelm and break the defenses. But the defenders knew that this may happen, and even though the numbers of attackers were enough to intimidate at first, a quick fright gave way to discipline, anger and will. Jotanns, Werewolves, Dryads, Elementals and Elves of Sun and Night stood their ground and yielded none to the attackers.

A couple of the portals opened upon on the tower, and Dark Elves surged at the defenders, armed with swords, spears, magic and more. A scuffle followed immediately, as the High Elven guards began to fire bullets from their weapons or drew out their own swords and went at the enemy, while Wizards and Witches employed their magic. This was not a glorious and a chivalrous fight, not one that was the stuff of songs and tales.

No, it was a brutal, merciless and bloody slugfest, one in which Bellatrix, Arcturus and Regulus didn't shy away from the curses that would make Avada Kedavra seem humane and merciful. Ted and Andromeda stood side by side, casting the Killing Curse and Disarming Charms, yet also stepping back so as to make up a distance away from the fight.

Cassiopeia and Rose joined their efforts in the fight, as the older Black Witch conjured a whip of demonic flame, Rose summoned gusts of wind to enlarge and empower the mighty spell. It had claimed a plentiful harvest, as did Rias and Henry, having forgone the casting of spells and curses, and focused completely on unleashing the devastating energies of magic. Furious, angry and determined, Prince and Princess Le Fay seemed like a force of very nature in this storm of madness, as the dark crimson waves of destruction went through the Dark Elves and into the portals, destroying the once that appeared first and after. The shortness of the fight didn't prevent it from being a brutal and gory, with lives of High Elven guards lost and with nearly all assailants killed.

As the group was finishing up the last of the invaders, none had noticed a quick portal opening up from behind Irene, with a Dark Elven assassin stepping out of there. He was practically savoring his victory over the mighty Devil, until he was disarmed of his long dagger by a spell. A quick glance revealed that it was Andromeda Tonks, having broken off from the fight, to have thrown that spell. Before she could get another one out, the assassin decided to make this witch pay for his failure, as he reached to one of his pouches and threw a knife at Andromeda. The witch was able to redirect it… But not the second one that followed right behind that one.

"ANDROMEDA!" Ted scream was more than enough to draw everyone's attention, to the scene where a curved and edgy blade had pierced Andromeda Tonks' skull and embedded itself in her brain.

A moment of silence was broken by the scream of a banshee, as Bellatrix unleashed all of her fury and rage upon the Dark Elf, sending at him such a powerful curse that it literally shattered him into dust. After it was done, however, there was nothing that could be done for the woman that now laid upon the cold floor of the tower. Bellatrix and Ted went to Andromeda's body, removing the knife, crying tears at the sight of her, with Rose averting her own teary eyes away, while Regulus, Arcturus and Cassiopeia had to steel themselves at the sight. Henry's face seemed gaunt and pale at the sight before him, and his mind race back to the moment where he had lost Nymphadora, his beloved. And now again, he had lost one more person most important to him: Andromeda, a woman that had become a mother to him…

"Henry, Henry!" Rias's voice came to him, shaking him out of the stupor and forcing him to get back into the reality. "Henry, I know how much she meant to you, and I am sorry, but we need to act now and you are the Prince Le Fay, so give orders and command us!" And like a charm, Harry's mind regained its coldness and he drew up a plan.

"We… We need to protect Irene at all costs, without her closing the damn breach, we will be fighting agaisnt not just Dark Elves, but also an endless horde of Demons and their Devil masters." Henry's voice reached out to everyone, drawing them away from their loss and grief. "Regulus, Arcturus, Cassiopeia- I want you three to go down to the laboratory and put up a bounded field around the castle. With it in place we can stop worrying about the portals. Bellatrix, Ted- take Andromeda's body out of her and place her somewhere away from the fight. Once done, help with the bounded field."

"I will stay here and protect my mother." Rias stated to him, with Henry agreeing to it. "You and Rose are to better go down into the throne room and connect with the throne. Through it, you'll be able to get us the reinforcements."

"Right, we'll send you help as soon as we can." Harry stated to her, with him and Rose disappearing from the rooftop.

Throne Room.

Brother and sister had appeared in the throne room immediately after they've teleported, and found it already overrun with Dark Elves, all of whom had prepared to fight the duo. As the enemies were setting their weapons upon them, and curses were being sent towards them, Harry and Rose hadn't stood idle and grabbed each other's hand, combining their powers and enhancing their might. The two unleashed a tidal wave of dark red energy, which swept through the assailants, disintegrating and completely removing them from the existence. Just as Irene and Rias had told them, the two of them together could very well take on Rias in a fight and win, and this show of power clearly pointed out to the validity of that claim.

As the room was finally cleared, the two let out a tired sigh, before Rose nodded to Harry and pointed him towards the throne. Harry knew that he had to hurry and sit upon it, if he were to be able to call upon the Le Fay magic and communicate with his vassals. Since the throne stood right on top of the source of Le Fay's magic, it served as a conduit for the ruler of Le Fay lands to use and spread his will throughout the lands he owned. It was also one of the most effective tools to convey his commands to his subjects. And right now he had to take his seat and call upon his vassals and allies.

Just as he and Rose were ascending the steps, they had heard a clapping sound, which grew louder and louder, as it was coming closer and closer to them. The two had stopped in their tracks, and both turned at the same time to see who it was, and at that moment both had to widen their eyes and stop themselves from rushing at the intruder. From the front gates and stepping boldly and seemingly without any care in the world stepped a tall and handsome man, dressed in red and golden colors. He had long wavy red hair, with striking blue eyes, which possessed a certain glitter and twinkle in them, one that the siblings were all too familiar with. On his shoulder sat a familiar looking phoenix, one that could only belong to one wizard that they knew. And in his hand was a wand, one made of Eldar and which reeked with death.

Both Rose and Harry immediately recognized the man before them and said his name at the same time.

"Dumbledore." The man flashed a smile to them, as the phoenix took off from his shoulder, as he spoke up.

"Yes, my dear students. I am glad that despite my reinvigorated appearance, you are able to see me as your good and dear Headmaster." Dumbledore spoke in a youthful voice, seemingly oblivious to all that was happening and what had happened before. "It truly warms my heart to see you at such a great pique of your abilities and power, despite the circumstances surrounding our reunion being less than pleasant."

"How… How the hell is he this young a-and… Harry, he is not just stronger than before, but his magic… It's the same as…" Rose spoke up, before Harry interrupted her.

"The same one as that of House Potter, our magic!" Harry growled out, with Dumbledore's face showing a glorified pleasure at the fact that they've sensed it. "You… You've somehow managed to steal magic from James and William and made it your own?!"

"Ah, Harry, my dear boy, you disappoint me." Dumbledore clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Do you really think that I would even care for those two weaklings with their miserable powers? Come now, you have always been a smart and clever boy, think about it some more. Who would I deem worthy of sharing his power with me?"

Henry's anger had to settle and give way to his calculating mind and open up all of his archives as to see, just how and from whom Dumbledore stole magic of House of Potter. Such magic could only ever be taken from a living member of House of Potter, one that possessed it, and he had to be a member of it and not exiled from it. Along with that, he would've had to take all of magic at once, and Henry knew only of a few rituals that could let him do so, and one particular ritual that allowed the thief to not just incorporate the magic of a different House and Bloodline, but to use it its fullest. The details were obscured over the ages, and the information Henry had was not complete, but what he knew pointed out that it required a soul of the stealer to transfer into the living breathing body of the one whose magic he was going to use. After the ritual, the dominating soul incorporated the magic, skills, memories and even the subjected soul into itself, basically becoming one with the victim.

And when Henry recalled it all, he finally had pieced it together, and his eyes widened out of shock. There was but one Potter of whom he could think of, the single member of his House that could've been used for this ritual and not thought of at first. It all came to Henry, as he spoke the name of the victim.

"Michael… You've used Michael Potter as a vessel for your soul." Henry growled out, as Rose's face contorted in shock and disbelief, while Dumbledore flashed him another smile. "Michael Potter was known as one of the strongest Wizards of his generation, leagues above James and the likes, and it was no secret that had he desired so, he could've even surpassed you in might and power. The product of both Potter and Black Bloodlines uniting and creating one of the strongest wizards, and you knew it full well."

"Yes, ever since he was but a young boy and a student at Hogwarts, Michael was showing the signs of greatness and power. In many ways, I saw both myself in him and later you, Harry. You would be surprised just how much you looked and even behaved as Michael. Had I not known, I would've thought him to be your real father." Dumbledore admitted him. "And much like you, my dear boy, I already viewed him even from then as a successor to me."

"Successor to your withering old body, more like!" Harry growled out in fury, with Dumbledore not even denying it.

"Well, it was done with the best of intentions in mind and heart. For the Greater Good." He said his signature excuse.

"But… But Michael Potter is dead, his body was buried in the crypts and…" Rose was finally coming out of the shock and tried to rationalize it all.

"His body was never found and his has no tomb of his own in the crypts. The last Potter that was buried there and has a tomb there is Gabriel Potter." Harry told her and himself. "You've planned it all for decades, probably ever since you saw just how powerful Michael was going to be. You couldn't stand it, the fact of you not being the strongest and most powerful wizard, with your damn body deteriorating and losing its might. That was the real reason why you ordered Snape to kill Isabella and their children, and that's why you took Michael. Had Charlus and Dorea knew…"

"Oh, and they were far too close to finding out the secret." Dumbledore had told him suddenly. "Dorea and Charlus both suspected that the death of their eldest was not as clear as it seemed, and though I know naught how they've figured it out, but they did learn that Michael was still alive. This was the reason why I've had James reveal their and your location to Tom." Harry's form shook from fury and anger, with only Rose seemingly keeping him away from pouncing on Dumbledore and striking him.

"Bastard… You've ruined my and Rose's lives, took lives of our grandparents, my love and everyone else… All because you couldn't finally fucking die?!" Henry's rage was in full display, with Albus not wavering.

"All swearing aside, you are essentially right, because for the prosperity of others and bright future for Britain, there must always be someone who knows what true Light is, and one who understands the Greater Good. And that for it is to thrive, all sacrifices are acceptable, and yours will also be needed." Dumbledore suddenly said to Harry, point his Elder Wand at him. "You may've disrupted my plans and preparations, Harry, but your value had also increased tremendously. I fear that I can't just allow you to remain as you, but I also can't simply be rid of you, for I would be letting go of the most powerful wizard since Gellert in his prime." Harry and Rose now understood why Dumbledore was here.

"You won't take his body like you did with Michael." Rose stated him, as she descended the steps and took a position between Albus and Harry, drawing upon her own power and magic. "Harry, get to the throne and summon the forces. I'll hold him off."

"Rose…"

"Go, NOW!" Rose literally commanded her brother to do what she told him.

Harry hesitated for a second, before agreeing and making a run for the throne, followed by him dodging stunners from Dumbledore. Rose didn't waste time and immediately erected her most powerful barrier between her and the throne, but she wasn't fast enough to stop Fawkes from slipping into it and going straight for Harry. He saw the bird coming towards him, and right before it could flash, he had use apparition to escape it, and he had reappeared outside of the barrier, as he wasn't able to manage the distance with better care.

The second he reappeared, Dumbledore had sent a stunner towards him, and the might of Elder Wand, blood of Michael Potter and power of Dumbledore combined were enough to knock out the partial Devil out. Rose's eyes widened at the sight, but instead of fear, it was anger and utter determination taking a grip over her.

As Fawkes was making his way to Harry through the collapsed barrier, it wasn't able to get away from dark crimson magical wave, which enclosed it and didn't let him go. Rose's eyes flashed with magic, as she saw her prey caught and took a look at Dumbledore, seeing a genuine concern and care for that pet. It would've surprised and made Rose feel pity for the man, had he not been the catalyst for nearly all catastrophes of their lives. Without any mercy or care, she forced the magical bubble to shrink, not allowing the bird to escape, as its cries filled the room. Deciding not to waste any time, Rose crushed the bird into nothingness, imploding the bubble and taking everything it had into nether existence, finally ridding Dumbledore of his most trusted companion.

"Fawkes… You damn little bitch, do you know what you have done?!" For the first time in many years, Dumbledore had finally showed his corrupted and true self, as he roared at Rose, who flashed him her triumphant smile. "I may not kill Harry, but I will take pleasure in making you suffer for taking Fawkes away from me, you damn spawn of Potters!" He unleashed his power upon Rose, with her answering in the earnest to him with her own might.

Rose had never been able to measure up and compare to her older brother, and even after escaping their hell, she still felt inferior to him. It was only after she had experienced the power of Morgana, did Rose had finally felt her own power surge and gain a massive boost. She felt invigorated, strengthened and empowered, and even though she was not in the league as her brother, she was none the less a force of reckoning and fear. She was able to finally combine the knowledge of Dark Arts, Curses and Black Magic, all acquired from her time and studying with Cassiopeia Black, with her new power. She may not hold a candle to Albus Percival Wulfrick Brian Dumbledore in terms of experience and knowledge, but she was more than enough of a threat in sheer power now.

Dumbledore had forgone his usual trifles and went straight for the curses and spells meant to maim and injure Rose, his rage in full display over losing not just his most loyal companion, but also a symbol of his and Gellert's past and happiness. Fawkes was their pet, the one whom they've found and raised together, and it had remained the last thing that reminded Dumbledore of the times together with his most loved one. To lose Fawkes… It was not something he was ever going to let go of or forget, and so he aimed to kill and destroy the girl that had taken away from him what he held most dear.

The magic clash, as hexes, curses and spells hit upon each other and wards put up by both Dumbledore and Rose. The fight had seemed equal for both for an outside view, and it was clear for the both of them, that unless something was to be done with it, they would be fighting for ages like this. Rose had tried to use her destructive magic to enclose and destroy Dumbledore, but his own spells protected him and dissipated her magical waves. His newly empowered body and a far greater pool of power and energy had allowed him to keep up with Rose with no problem, and as much as he liked this little exchange a of magical slugs, he grew bored of it.

Focusing it up his magic in the Elder Wand, he casted his most powerful Stupefy out of it, sending it towards Rose, who put up her most powerful defense. However, she had underestimated the vast power that Dumbledore now seemed to wield, as her Protego, empowered by her demonic magic, first cracked, and then fully crushed. She was sent flying onto the ground, hitting it hard and groaning from pain, but before she could move, ropes bound her limbs and body, sent from Dumbledore's wand. As he had incapacitated her, he once more pointed up his wand at her and smiled a malicious smile.

"I wish I could make you suffer, Rose, but I am on time table. I shall be merciful with you, as is befitting of Leader of Light. Avada Kedavra." The green light shot right out of his wand, moving right towards Rose.

Time seemed to slow down for the entire world, as the green light traveled towards the defeated form of Rose. There was fear in her eyes, despair and regret, but not surrender, anything but surrender. No, she wasn't going to give pleasure for Albus. Instead giving way to her panic, she drew her breath and closed her eyes, coming in terms with what neither Dumbledore nor Tom Riddle could: she made peace with life and death. She was ready to accept it and let her brother finish this fight. She knew that he would be broken, devastated and shattered, but he would have people around him, his family and loved ones to fill the hole left by her.

"Forgive me, Harry…" Were her last words…

…Until her ears caught the sound of the dark curse hitting her target, and her eyes opened. The next second, they've widened, as all she saw was a strong back of Harry, his hands stretched apart, his entire form standing as a barrier between her and Dumbledore.

A barrier that took the Killing Curse intended for Rose. Albus' eyes and face contorted in a show of shock and rage, as the seemingly indomitable form of Harry Potter fell down upon the floor, breathless.

Light had left his eyes, as they closed.

Harry Potter…

The Brother…

The Protector…

The Betrayed…

…Was gone.

My deepest apologies for what I had done, and for my another long absence. My reasons are those that I've been forced to prepare for my exams and also completing them, and they had left me in a bit of an exhausted state, which I fear had affected this chapter. However, now that I have time, I plan on finally finishing it, and hopefully this very week.

Next time: Final goodbyes and final battle.