Chapter 77: The Dawn's Light
Albus wiped the happy tears from his eyes once more, knowing that there was still more that needed to be done. Once he had calmed himself, he closed his eyes once more to see what was going on. Harry was still alive, but so was Tom… as soon as the Killing Curse had struck, both of them entering at the very border of death and only now were they starting to awaken.
Harry remained where he was, pretending to be dead, knowing what would happen if they knew otherwise. However… what were they going to do now? They would soon realize that he was still breathing…?
Albus bit his lower lip, not sure what could be done.
He looked back to Tom as Bellatrix was at his side and was whispering lovingly, "My Lord… my Lord…"
"That will do," Tom snapped, opening his eyes and on his feet in a flash. His servants all shied away in terror as he was breathing hard, staring around with a wild look in those red eyes. Fear…
Albus knew it was because he did not realize what happened and experienced a piece of what the fate it was that was awaiting him.
"My Lord, let me -" Bellatrix whispered, wanting to help him. But Albus also knew better than to think that Tom would ever want or accept her help.
"I do not require assistance," said Voldemort coldly, as Bellatrix drew her hand away before he looked to where Harry continued to lay. "The boy… is he dead?"
No one dared to say a word, too scared to even move until Tom turned to one of them, and spotted Narcissa's petrified face in the crowd.
"You," he barked, raising his wand and casting a hex to cause her be knocked away from her husband and to the ground in front of him. "Examine him. Tell me whether he is dead."
Lucius looked like he was about to come running out to help his wife, yet he stopped dead when Tom glared at him, holding up his wand in warning. Whimpering a little, Narcissa stumbled upright and made her way over to Harry. But Albus was feeling hope rising up inside him at the sight of it all… for this couldn't have worked out better for them. It was clear to him that Narcissa cared not for Tom or any of his plans any longer, right now all she cared about was whether or not her son was still alive.
She bent over Harry's still form and pressed her hand over his chest and he saw her freeze, knowing that she could feel his heart still beating. Albus bent down at her side, softly whispering words of comfort to her, trying to get her to see that she had to stay quiet about the truth.
Narcissa's face was torn, but then she bent her head lower, pretending to check for breath as her hair had fallen over to create a kind of curtain to hide her face from the others as she whispered into Harry's ear, "Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?"
"Yes," Harry breathed back. Albus saw how her hand was clenched tightly on his chest, knowing that she now had to make a decision of what to do. She knew that her son was alive now, and inside the castle. She could tell them the truth and Tom would try again to kill Harry… but there was another choice. If she loved her son even half as much as Albus thought, then she would see that this was not the life she wanted for him. She would want this war to end and for Draco to be free from the fate of a servant of Voldemort.
She raised her head and he could see a determination shining in her eyes as she spun around on her knees and shouted out, "He is dead!"
That was all they needed to hear to think that they won.
"You see?" screeched Voldemort over the tumult, his face contorted with the wild joy Albus had seen on his face when he was only eleven years old at the orphanage and he first learned he was a wizard. "Harry Potter is dead by my hand, and no man alive can threaten me now! Watch! Crucio!"
The wand though… whom knew its true allegiance, it would not bring the unbearable pain that the spell usually brought. Still, Harry was forced to keep still and silent as his body was tossed around like a ragdoll while the Death Eaters all laughed. Tom, meanwhile, could not help but revel in the thought that he had finally defeated his foe, now wanting to show his enemy their hero's body. He then released Hagrid so that he could carry him back to the castle.
Poor Hagrid…
Albus watched sadly as Hagrid trembled so badly that it was a wonder that he could even stand up. Still, he managed to make his way over to where Harry lay before he picked him up gently in his arms, cradling his body like how he had done once before so many years ago when they had left the infant on a doorstep. He wished that there was some way that he could reassure him that it would be alright, yet it was crucial that Tom continue to believe that Harry was dead.
Tom commanded them to move forward, his entire army behind him as he allowed Nagini out of her protective sphere, carrying her upon his shoulders as they paraded through the forest. The giants that survived the first fight were crashing through the trees behind them as the jeers of the Death Eaters were already celebrating their victory… believing that with Harry gone, the fight will be knocked out of their enemies once and for all.
Hagrid did not say a word until they passed by the centaur herd, who were watching with disgust from a distance as with these murderers went matching through their forest home.
As soon as he saw him, Hagrid suddenly bellowed out, "BANE!"
Bane looked down at him, his expression not changing at all—like he knew how this was going to happen all along.
"Happy now, are yeh, that yeh didn't fight, yeh cowardly bunch o' nags? Are yeh happy Harry Potter's - d-dead…?" Hagrid demanded, his voice cracking apart at that last word as he broke down completely.
"Hagrid," Albus sighed gently, his heart aching at the sight of Hagrid's own heart-broken state. He knew that he was not the only one who had come to care for Harry like family… the only comfort that he could think of to calm himself was reminding him of the expression that Hagrid was sure to have once he found out the truth. Oh, he could not wait to see that look…
Once they exited the forest, Tom commanded that they stop before he raised the wand and caused his voice to magnify so that he could deliver the news to everyone.
"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him.We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."
Albus shook his head. This was not going to stop anyone… there were countless people who loved and knew Harry, and this will only serve to spark their anger. They will not stand for this… Tom may have just dug his own grave…
"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."
Onwards they continued on, heading closer to the castle as dawn was fast approaching, where the people inside have heard the announcement and there was fear and disbelief on their faces. Albus only watched as they reached the front doors and others came running to see what was going on. The one out front was Minerva and as soon as she saw the sight of Hagrid carrying Harry in his arms…
"NO!" she screamed out in horror, the terror and grief in her tone felt like a knife dug into him. It must be even worse for Harry, force to continue to remain still. Despair crept up into Minerva's face as tears began to fall—and Bellatrix laughing at the sight of it all.
Tom only smiled evilly, savoring their anguish, as he stroked Nagini's head with a single long finger. More people came running… there was shock and grief on each on their faces at the sight that awaited them… but by far the worst ones were of Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
Ron and Hermione were both screaming out, unwilling to believe what they were seeing, as Ginny was yelling out Harry's name, actually halfway to running out to him before others grabbed her to hold her back. At the sound of his friends voices Albus noticed Harry's hand twitched ever so slightly, like he was fighting the urge to run to them and let them know he was alright.
"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort, before he sent a bright light up into the sky and forcing them all to stop speaking and watch. "It is over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"
With no other choice, Hagrid carefully lowered Harry onto the grass at Voldemort's feet.
"You see? said Voldemort, as he began to stride up and down in front of Harry. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"
Ron refused to stay silent at those words as he screamed out, "He beat you!"
And at that, the defenders of Hogwarts were all screaming and shouting in agreement, fury starting to rise up in each of their faces. Tom looked mildly annoyed, but not concerned as he created another powerful bang to get their attention.
"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," he lied and Albus shook his head, knowing that the people here would never believe that. "Killed while trying to save himself - "
In fact, at the sound of the lie, Neville bravely charged forward from the safety of his allies, heading straight for Tom without a fear in the world. Tom barely batted an eye as he swept the wand through the air and sent Neville flying back onto the ground, losing his wand in the process.
"And who is this?" he asked with a hiss no different than a snake's, "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"
"It is far from over, Tom," Albus answered calmly. "The battle is only beginning."
Bellatrix shrieked with laughter at the sight of it all and informed her master who he was, and Tom looked back to Neville with new interest. Neville fought back to his feet, with no wand, no way to defend or fight, but glaring back at Tom fearlessly—far from giving up now.
"Ah, yes, I remember," said Tom silkily, "But you are a pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?"
"So what if I am?" Neville demanded, his hands curling up into fists, like he was longing to tear Tom apart for what he had done.
"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom," Tom offered and Neville's face grew red with fury that he would even offer him such a deal. And Neville let them know what he thought of that.
"I'll join you when hell freezes over," he shouted out before turning back to the crowd behind him and punching the air as he screamed out, "Dumbledore's Army!"
Albus smiled proudly, knowing that Neville would never join… he would rather be tortured than to join someone like him. Frank and Alice would be proud to see what a brave man their son grew up to be.
The people there all became to cheer with him, rebellion rising up with every second and Albus noticed Tom's face. He did not like those who stood against him and he saw those red eyes narrowing in anger. His assumption of the people being broken and giving up now that he thought that Harry was gone was wrong and he was not liking it.
"Very well," he whispered softly, in a tone that made him more dangerous than when he was shouting. "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head be it."
Albus knew that he would not be able to hurt him though. For it was the same reason why his spells weren't lasting long against them. Tom summoned to him the school's Sorting Hat from his old office and looked at with a smirk.
"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," he said to them all. "There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colors of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?"
Albus shook his head. Hogwarts needed all four pillars of the Houses to stand. Without them, without all four to stand united, then of course it would fall. Tom's ideas of rule, were meant to sink into darkness… why could he not see that his way was doomed to failure?
He watched as Tom forced Neville to stand still as he approached him and forced the hat onto his head so that it slipped down below his eyes. Frightened by whatever he was planning, some of the crowd meant to run in to help, at least until the Death Eaters behind them raised their own wands, silently warning them not to take another step.
"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," said Tom before he raised the wand, causing the hat to burst into flames. Soon, Neville's whole form was burning and there were screams coming from all over. At that moment reinforcements of the friends and family of Hogwarts had arrived… hundreds of people stampeding over the destroyed wards of the castle and charging towards Tom's distracted army.
Grawp, meanwhile, had come lumbering out from the side of the castle, and as soon as he saw Hagrid there, he went charging in as well, with the two giants turning to face him. The merepeople of the lake had just burst out of the water and became to sing their war song, throwing spears and knives at all those they could reach, even grabbing those closest to the water and pulling the Death Eaters down below the surface. Even the centaurs came stampeding out of the forest with their bows drawn and arrows flying through the air, with all those who fell, they would trample across. Hogwarts was their home and they were not going to just stand by and allow Tom to have his way with it anymore… at last, all races were starting to come together to stand against their common foe.
With all the chaos and confusion, no one else noticed how Harry had pulled his Cloak out from inside his robes and over himself so that he could vanished from view. Almost at the same time did Neville break free of Tom's curse and pulled the hat off him… while at the same time pulling something long and silver with a glittering handle with rubies.
The Sword of Gryffindor… and like he, himself, had said to Harry nearly six years ago, only a true Gryffindor could pull that from the hat. Neville's courage and loyalty to his friends was more than proof of that as he went charging ahead at Tom. But instead of going straight for him, he went for the snake that still remained on Tom's shoulders… fulfilling his promise to Harry from before.
And with a single stroke with the blade, he slashed at Nagini… causing her head to spin off and was flung across the sky. At the sight of his Horcrux finally destroyed, Tom let out a scream of fury, murder in his eyes… however no one could hear him with the sounds of the battle going on around them and the body of the snake falling with a lifeless thud at his feet.
He did it… Neville had helped to finish what those three set out to do. The last Horcrux was destroyed and now here was the only chance to finish the war once and for all.
"Well done, Neville," Albus said proudly as the defenders of Hogwarts were filled with a new life. He could hear Hagrid's voice above the dim, searching for Harry in fear of him being trampled. But Harry was already gone and rejoining the fight as well as the reinforcements joining the fray. Thestrals and even Buckbeak the hippogriff also joined came swooping out of nowhere and were flying overhead as they began scratching at the giant's eyes with Grawp punching them to the ground despite his smaller size.
Everyone was being driven into the castle, with jinxes and curses flying in all directions, while some were just attacking Death Eaters with sheer brute force as they fell in droves. Tom was sending curses at all who came near him, even as he screamed instructions to his followers. However, most of his army was crumbling at the onslaught of their enemies joying hands for the common goal to see him finished.
Tom was now dueling Minerva, Kingsley, and Slughorn—who was still in his pajamas—all at once. There was hatred in his face as the three of them fought furiously; and Albus could see the fury in Minerva's face. Knowing that she would want to be the one who finished him off for what he had done to Harry, no doubt.
Meanwhile the shopkeepers and people of Hogsmeade came bolting inside with the centaurs bursting behind them, continuing to rain arrows down. At that moment, the door that led to the kitchens was blasted apart and the Hogwarts House-Elves had just joined in the battle as well. In fact, out in front, with the locket bouncing on his chest, Kreacher was leading them all as they waved pans and knives around furiously.
"Fight! Fight! Fight for my Master, defender of house-elves!" Kreacher roared over the noise, "Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"
They went barreling ahead, stabbing and cutting at every Death Eater they could find with their tiny faces full of spite. This had suddenly turned into a one-sided battle with the Death Eaters falling all over, completely outnumbered and unable to escape or even save themselves. George Weasley and Lee Jordan had just slammed Yaxley to the floor when Filius caused Dolohov to fall from where he was climbing the stairs in a desperate attempt to flee. With a roar of rage, Hagrid had flung Macnair across the room before he hit the wall and slid to the ground right where Ron and Neville had brought Greyback down. Aberforth had finished stunning Rookwood as Arthur and Percy Weasley fought against Thicknesse… with countless other faces blurring around him as more fell until there were just two battles left going on in the hall.
Tom's battle and Bellatrix, who was fighting against Hermione, Ginny, and Luna all at once. Despite how deadly she was, the three girls were fighting fiercely and bravely against her… but when she shot a Killing Curse at Ginny—just barely missing her—was when he heard a voice screaming out, one filled with rage.
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
It had been Molly, charging out of nowhere and throwing her cloak off from her shoulders as she stood against Bellatrix. At the sight of her, Bellatrix roared with laughter as Molly shouted to the girls to get out of the way.
Doing what they told, the girls backed away, leaving the two witches to fight one on one. Bellatrix had no idea what she was messing with… for Molly had once been known throughout Hogwarts as being quite the dueler while she was still here.
When Bellatrix realized that she wasn't up against a novice in dueling and soon her laughter turned into snarling as they fought, tearing up the floor around them as they fought to kill. Others came running in to try and help, but Molly wasn't having any of it as she screamed, "No! Get back! Get back! She is mine!"
Everyone watched the two battles going on as the duelers fought with their lives on the line. Bellatrix, was growing angrier by the moment, yet was still confident as she began to taunt Molly, "What will happen to your children when I've killed you? When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"
She just signed her own death warrant for those words… he would have thought she learned from her Master's mistake in that there was nothing in this world more dangerous than a mother protecting her children.
Fury filled up Molly's eyes as she came to resemble a saber-tooth tiger as she screamed out, "You - will - never - touch - our - children - again!"
At the sound of that declaration, Bellatrix threw her head back and gave an exhilarated laugh that he had seen before… the same kind of wild laugh before Sirius fell through the veil at the Ministry. In her confidence, she left herself wide open and Molly took it. She shot one last curse… hitting her right in the chest and striking her heart.
Bellatrix's smile froze as her eyes bulged out, realizing too late what happened as she toppled and fell. A gruesome act, yet a necessary one… for never again shall that dangerous woman hurt another innocent soul.
The crowd around them roared in approval at Molly's victory. Yet as soon as Tom realized what happened, he let out a shriek as he blasted his own opponents away from him before he turned his wand on Molly. But before he could utter a single curse, Albus heard a familiar voice screaming out a Shield Charm, starling Tom for a fraction of a minute before Harry finally pulled his Cloak off and showed himself.
At the sight of him there, the surrounding crowd let out cries of shock, cries of happiness this time. In fact, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny looked ready to run out and hug Harry as soon as they saw him. Yet those were stifled at once as Harry strolled out to face Tom. Every single person had turned their attention to the two of them standing in the center of the Great Hall, with a wide circle around them, giving them plenty of room.
The two looked at each other before, at the same moment, began to circle the other.
Harry did not take his eyes off Tom before he called over the silent crowd, "I don't want anyone else to help. It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."
Yes, it has to be. This started with the two of them, and now it will end with the two of them. Maybe it was always meant to happen this way. Tom, however, was hissing at his words.
"Potter doesn't mean that," he said, his red eyes wide. "This isn't how he works, is it? Who are you going to use as a shield today, Potter?"
Ah, but Harry never once used anyone as a shield. Never once did he ask someone else to die for him. He was only protected by those who loved him… and he knew that if Harry had had it his way, he would have been the one doing the protecting all along.
"Nobody," said Harry simply and calmly before he informed him, "There are no more Horcruxes. It's just you and me. Neither can live while the other survives, and one of us is about to leave for good…"
"One of us?" Tom jeered, but Albus could see the alarm in those red eyes when he was informed that all of his Horcruxes are now gone. He was mortal once again, with no way of coming back… there was no way out of this, though perhaps it was easier for him to believe that Harry was lying. "You think it will be you, do you, the boy who has survived by accident, and because Dumbledore was pulling the strings?"
It wasn't an accident that Lily saved him. It was free choice for he knew that she would have laid down her life a thousand times if it meant protecting her son. While it was true that Albus had planned things out, it was Harry who ended up making the choices in the end, not him. He merely planned out what he knew of Harry's spirit and guessed what he would do. Harry was his own person, and he made his choices… which was proof of the kind of man he truly was.
"Accident, was it, when my mother died to save me?" asked Harry, still circling each other. "Accident, when I decided to fight in that graveyard? Accident, that I didn't defend myself tonight, and still survived, and returned to fight again?"
"Accidents!" Tom screamed at him, still refusing to believe in anything else. The crowd still watched in terror, no one daring to even move as they watched the two of them. "Accident and chance and the fact that you crouched and sniveled behind the skirts of greater men and women, and permitted me to kill them for you!"
"You won't be killing anyone else tonight," Harry shot back firmly, "You won't be able to kill any of them ever again. Don't you get it? I was ready to die to stop you from hurting these people - "
"But you did not!"
" - I meant to, and that's what did it," Harry shouted back and Albus smiled. "I've done what my mother did. They're protected from you. Haven't you noticed how none of the spells you put on them are binding? You can't torture them. You can't touch them. You don't learn from your mistakes, Riddle, do you?"
Albus felt his eyes shine at that while Tom's eyes shone with anger as he snarled, "You dare -"
"Yes, I dare," Harry retorted. "I know things you don't know, Tom Riddle. I know lots of important things that you don't. Want to hear some, before you make another big mistake?"
Albus knew that the only reason that Tom had not tried to attack him back was because he was listening very carefully to what Harry was saying—too afraid to do anything else in fear that Harry might know something that he needed to know.
Just then, Tom's eyes narrowed as he jeered, "Is it love again? Dumbledore favorite solution, love, which he claimed conquered death, though love did not stop him falling from the tower and breaking like and old waxwork?"
It's so sad that after all these years, Tom could not see it, could not understand. He truly was born without the ability to love… a monster from the start, perhaps?
For love, in its true and purest form is something that can never be broken. Whether that love be for your soulmate, your friends or family… it is the act of caring for the safety and happiness of another more than your own. There is so much more to it than simple words. Whether it's when a mother protects her son, causing a normally talkative person to become shy, or going to the ends of the earth and back again to save someone's life… it can only mean that you love them. What other reason would one risk so much for another?
"Love, which did not prevent me stamping out your Mudblood mother like a cockroach, Potter – and nobody seems to love you enough to run forward this time and take my curse," Tom yelled. "So what will stop you dying now when I strike?"
Did he forget that no one stood in the way to protect Harry the last time? Harry faced him in the forest without anyone there to take the curse for him, and he returned to face him one last time.
"Just one thing," Harry answered as if he didn't have a fear in the world, as if they were discussing the matter over drinks.
"If it is not love that will save you this time," Tom asked, "you must believe that you have magic that I do not, or else a weapon more powerful than mine?"
Both would be the right answer in this case.
"I believe both," Harry said and Albus was once again struck by how the same thing seemed to be getting repeated. He looked back to Tom's shocked face before he began to laugh—a humorless and insane laugh that was showing how close he was to losing it completely. He is so frightened by Harry, that he was driven to the brink of madness.
"You think you know more magic than I do?" he asked. "Than I, than Lord Voldemort, who has performed magic that Dumbledore himself never dreamed of?"
"Oh he dreamed of it," said Harry with a shrug, "but he knew more than you, knew enough not to do what you've done."
"You mean he was weak!" Tom shrieked. "Too weak to dare, too weak to take what might have been his, what will be mine!"
"Weak? Yes," Albus sighed. "But I know better… it took the greatest tragedy of my life to teach me those painful lessons."
"No, he was cleverer than you," said Harry suddenly, "a better wizard, a better man."
Albus turned to stare at him before he turned away with a sigh as he whispered, "You are too kind, Harry. That is more than I deserve."
"I brought about the death of Albus Dumbledore!"
"You thought you did," Harry informed him, "but you were wrong."
Maybe he should have worded it better, for hundreds of people let out gasps as they drew in one breath all at once. While he agreed that a part of him will forever be a part of Hogwarts, he also knew that Albus Dumbledore was no longer of this world.
"Dumbledore is dead!" Tom hurled out violently. "His body decays in the marble tomb in the grounds of this castle, I have seen it, Potter, and he will not return!"
"Yes, Dumbledore is dead but you didn't have him killed," Harry answered calmly, "He chose his own manner of dying, chose it months before he died, arranged the whole thing with the man you thought was your servant."
"What childish dream is this?" Tom demanded as they continued to circle like two wolves about to attack; and that was when Harry told him the truth.
"Severus Snape wasn't yours," he informed him. "Snape was Dumbledore's. Dumbledore's from the moment you starting hunting down my mother. And you never realized it because of the thing you can't understand. You never saw Snape cast a Patronus, did you, Riddle?"
When Tom paused for just the briefest of moments, Harry explained, "Snape's Patronus was a doe, the same as my mother's, because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from the time when they were children. You should have realized he asked you to spare her life, didn't he?"
"He desired her, that was all," Tom sneered, "but when she had gone, he agreed that there were other women, and of purer blood, worthier of him - "
Oh, that had to be more painful than having a hot poker shoved down Severus's throat to have said those words.
"Of course he told you that," said Harry, actually rolling his eyes, "but he was Dumbledore's spy from the moment you threatened her, and he's been working against you ever since! Dumbledore was already dying when Snape finished him!"
Tom suddenly let out a cackle of that same insane laughter before he shrieked, "It matters not! It matters not whether Snape was mine or Dumbledore's, or what petty obstacles they tried to put in my path! I crushed them as I crushed your mother, Snape's supposed great love! Oh, but it all makes sense, Potter, and in ways that you do not understand!"
He then brandish the wand with a flourish as he added, "Dumbledore was trying to keep the Elder Wand from me! He intended that Snape should be the true master of the wand! But I got there ahead of you, little boy - I reached the wand before you could get your hands on it, I understood the truth before you caught up. I killed Severus Snape three hours ago, and the Elder Wand, the Deathstick, the Wand of Destiny is truly mine! Dumbledore's last plan went wrong, Harry Potter!"
"Yeah, it did. You're right. But before you try to kill me, I'd advise you think what you've done..." Harry offered, "Think, and try for some remorse, Riddle…"
Albus looked long and hard at Harry's exhausted and haunted eyes…
"What is this?"
Of all the things that Harry had said to him, beyond any revelation or taunt, nothing had shocked Tom like this and his pupils contracted to thin slits as he glared at him.
"It's your one last chance," Harry told him simply and honestly, "it's all you've got left… I've seen what you'll be otherwise… Be a man… try… Try for some remorse…"
Remorse… he was giving him a chance to remorse over his sins even though he didn't deserve. But he knew that Harry did not want to become someone like Tom, or even how Severus who was unable to let go of his hatred for James. He guessed that Harry wanted to give him a chance even though he must know that Tom would never take it.
So Harry was able to do so in the end…
It's never easy to set aside personal animosity towards those who have wrong us. By showing mercy to our enemies and able to forgive is infinitely more difficult than continuously hating someone. To fully defeat Tom, Harry had to set aside his anger and hatred for the monster who had caused so much suffering in his young life. Tom is a tyrant who ruled through fear and even those loyal to him, he saw no more than servants. This fatal flaw of being unable to care for another will prove to be his downfall… for while Harry does not have the magical skills to beat Tom in a direct combat, he has things that Tom will never have. Such as loyal friends and the love of those who are like family to him. He has the courage to sacrifice his life for those he loves and even the strength to forgive those who have hurt him before.
These are weapons, but not the kind to cause pain or hurt others… rather they are the weapons that break fear and fill others with hope.
"You dare -?" Tom yelled out.
"Yes, I dare," Harry shot back, "because Dumbledore's last plan hasn't backfired on me at all. It's backfired on you, Riddle."
Albus smiled again when he saw how Tom's own hand was trembling as he held the Elder Wand. Though he was doing an amazing job of hiding it, Albus knew that the fact that Harry was alive—had returned from the 'dead' and seemed to know all that what was truly happening was frightening him more than anything else.
"That wand still isn't working properly for you because you murdered the wrong person," Harry explained to him and Tom's face twitched a little, silently confirming that thought. "Severus Snape was never the true master of the Elder Wand. He never defeated Dumbledore."
"He killed -" Tom shrieked but Harry interrupted him.
"Aren't you listening? Snape never beat Dumbledore!" Harry yelled back. "Dumbledore's death was planned between them! Dumbledore intended to die, undefeated, the wand's last true master! If all had gone as planned, the wand's power would have died with him, because it had never been won from him!"
"But then, Potter, Dumbledore as good as gave me the wand!" Tom's voice shook with the thought that he still won as he held the wand up. "I stole the wand from its last master's tomb! I removed it against the last master's wishes! Its power is mine!"
He just never learns. Albus shook his head, having thought that what Ollivander told him before about wands would have been enough for him to realize that it doesn't matter.
"You still don't get it, Riddle, do you?" Harry sighed, almost sounding disappointed in him as he explained, "Possessing the wand isn't enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. Didn't you listen to Ollivander? The wand chooses the wizard… The Elder Wand recognized a new master before Dumbledore died, someone who never even laid a hand on it. The new master removed the wand from Dumbledore against his will, never realizing exactly what he had done, or that the world's most dangerous wand had given him its allegiance…"
Yes, that was the one part of his plan that did not go as he had hoped. But maybe… no, he could see it now that it was better this way. A way for the fighting to end without Harry having to resort to murder.
He looked between them, already guessing what curses they were planning on using. Their wands still pointing at each other, neither one even daring to blink.
"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy," Harry confessed to them all as shock clearly shone from Tom's face. But since Harry had already overpowered Draco weeks ago, it was too late for Tom to do anything about it.
Albus looked back at the crowd in time to see that young Draco had found his parents and was clinging tightly to them as he stared at the scene with his eyes as wide as dinner plates—full of fear and confusion. And those feelings only grew when Tom spoke again.
"But what does it matter?" he said softly. "Even if you are right, Potter, it makes no difference to you and me. You no longer have the phoenix wand: We duel on skill alone… and after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy…"
It really doesn't matter to him does it? It doesn't matter if he has to kill another person to get what he wants, no matter who it hurts in the end. He watched as Narcissa hugged Draco closer to her, already looking around for an escape route with terror on her face. But she need not worry, for he knew that Tom would never get the chance to hurt Draco.
"But you're too late," Harry informed him. "You've missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took his wand from him."
And he held up Draco's wand, and every single person was watching it with silence, as if afraid to make a sound.
"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" whispered Harry, speaking directly to Tom, not caring if anyone else was listening or not. "Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does… I am the true master of the Elder Wand."
Tom stared at him, and Albus knew that he was horrified to hear this news. But it was far too late for anything to be done. The sun was rising over the horizon and the light was spreading across the enchanted ceiling, casting a golden glow across the battlefield like a spell. It was just the two of them right here and now… a showdown that had been destined to play out for years now…
This was, without a doubt in his mind, the last battle that the two of them would ever play out. Now was the time to see which would emerge the victor. The light hit both of their faces at the same time as they both raised their wands, crying out the same spells that they used against the other the last time they dueled…
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The two spells collided against the other, golden flames erupting between them like phoenix fire at the very center of the circle that they had been treading. Yet, through the blinding light, Albus saw the Elder Wand flying high, spinning across the air towards it's true master—who caught with the natural talent of a Seeker. The wand, whom had betrayed Tom in the end, slowly fell backwards, his arms splayed and his eyes rolling into the back of his head before he hit the floor…
Lord Voldemort… Tom Riddle… at long last… was finally dead.
And Harry was still standing on his feet with the two wands in his hands… having finally put an end to this ridiculous war once and for all… without resorting to becoming a murderer himself. His soul still whole and intact…
There was only a single moment of shocked silence around them as the realization that Voldemort and his army were finally finished. And that was when screams of joy and cheers of jubilation were erupted around them. With the sun from the new dawn shining brightly through the windows, the crowd went running towards Harry. With Hermione and Ron reaching him first, the three of them had their arms wrapped around each other as his other friends and teachers, even complete strangers, jumped at him. They were crying with happiness, trying to hug some part of him for putting an end to the fighting.
It continued on throughout the day as the people celebrated the end of the war and the joys of being alive. Harry was pulled right into the middle, with everyone looking to him for their guide as they named Kingsley Shacklebolt a temporary Minister of Magic. A finer person to choose for their leader, Albus could not think of. He knew that Kingsley would get everything that needed to be done and that they could start to rebuild their government into a fair and honorable one with him in charge. Already he was given orders of releasing all the innocent of Azkaban and to start rounding up any Death Eater and sympathizer that remained—whom were fleeing or being captured even as he had given the order.
They moved Tom's body into a chamber, away from the bodies of their friends and family who had sacrificed their lives fighting him. What they would do with the corpse, Albus did not know but most likely they would burn it to ashes… to make sure that he would be gone for good this time.
But the destroyed soul that had resided in that form was long gone, there was no need to worry.
The House Tables had been replaced, however it no longer mattered what House they were, or even if they were human or not. Everyone was sitting together from teachers and their students, ghosts as well as the centaurs and house-elves… even Grawp was looking through a smashed window while he was laughing happily.
Albus stuck close to Harry the whole time, and as the day went on, he could see the exhaustion was quickly taking its toll on him. Having not slept for two whole days and going through the war, of course he would be longing for sleep.
Something that Miss Luna Lovegood had noticed as well. She took a seat next to him and he heard her say to him kindly, "I'd want some peace and quiet, if it were me."
"I'd love some," he replied, his bloodshot eyes barely able to remain open. Luna smiled and told him to use his cloak as she distracted everyone. And she did so for she stood up and pointed to the window, calling that she spotted a Blibbering Humdinger. As they all looked, Harry pulled his Cloak up and over himself to vanish from view.
Albus chuckled, already guessing where he was going as he looked fondly around at all the people. Beaming at the sight of seeing all the families and friends reunited and together full of happiness. There would be time to mourn, of course, time to grief for all that they had lost…
Everyone here in this room had lost something. Whether it was someone they loved, their homes, or even their innocence… but the future was given back to them and they were free from Tom's rule once and for all. There will be a lot to do, but he was sure that they could handle it all, given enough time.
"It's me," he heard Harry mutter once he found Ron and Hermione. "Will you come with me?"
Without needing an explanation, the two stood up and the three of them left the Great Hall and were heading through the mostly destroyed castle. All the while, he heard Peeves singing happily as he went zooming through the corridors.
"We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the one, and Voldy's gone moldy, so now let's have fun!"
"Really gives a feeling for the scope and tragedy of the thing, doesn't it?" he heard Ron say tiredly as they continued upwards. Once they were out of sights of the Great Hall, Harry pulled the Cloak off himself as he started to tell them more about what happened. Wearily, he told them everything that he saw from Severus's memories in the Pensieve to what happened in the forest, and even to their meeting after he was struck with the Killing Curse.
"Did you… really go to the other side?" Ron gasped as Hermione stared open-mouth at him.
"Not sure," Harry confessed, running a weary hand through his hair. "I… think it was a sort of… in-between somewhere."
Albus supposed that was really the best that he could describe it. For, to be honest, he wasn't completely sure just what the world he was in was either. But it does not matter. He was grateful for this last chance to speak with him… at least for a long time.
They reached the gargoyle which stood guard of his old office… and Albus had a guess as to why they were here.
After the damage it took from the battle, the gargoyle looked tiredly up at them as Harry asked if they could go up.
"Feel free," it groaned as they stepped over the statue's crumbling form. He knew that it would be alright… they would rebuild the castle… who knows, maybe they could make it even better than it was before.
They entered his old office to where the Pensieve was still sitting upon the desk where Harry had last left it, when the portraits who had been partying, all screamed out in joy at the sight of them. All three of them jumped, spinning around wildly like they thought that they were going to be attacked—which he could not blame them for—before realizing what it was.
They relaxed as they walked into the center of the room with the portraits all cheering and waving at them joyfully. As they all celebrated around them, Harry turned his gaze to the portrait directly behind the desk, where his own face was looking down at with tears of pride and gratitude falling from his painted eyes… mirroring just how he felt. Soon, Harry held up his hands to silently ask them to stop and they did so without any complaint.
Harry stepped up to look at his portrait self and he asked him for some advice… the last advice he would ask from him.
"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," he began slowly, "I dropped it in the forest. I don't exactly know where, but I'm not going to go looking for it again. Do you agree?"
"My dear boy, I do," his portrait self said almost at the same time that he whispered it, while the other portraits were looking a little confused by what he was saying. "A wise and courageous decision, but no less than I would have expected of you. Does anyone know else know where it fell?"
"No one," said Harry, and both Dumbledore's nodded their heads. Albus wondered if anyone will ever find it… though he suspected that if they did, it will be many, many years into the future. Long after these three have joined him in this next world.
"I'm going to keep Ignotus's present, though," Harry added and Albus chuckled.
His portrait self then added, "But of course, Harry, it is yours forever, until you pass it on!"
"And then there's this," Harry finished, and he held up the Elder Wand, with his friends looking at it in wonder. He seemed to realize this and added, "I don't want it."
"What?" Ron gasped out. "Are you mental?"
Albus chuckled as he said, "You never learn, Ronald. That's why we have Miss Granger here to remind you."
"I know it's powerful," said Harry wearily as he rummaged around in the pouch around his neck. "But I was happier with mine. So…"
And he watched as Harry set his broken wand on the table in front of him before he touched the tip of the Elder Wand with the broken one. He and Harry both smiled when the wand was repaired, with scarlet sparks flying out the end and he picked it up. That was very clever… normally, it would be impossible to repair through any other means. But the wand is now as good as new… and though he knew that it was a little childish… he was glad that a piece of him will be here to look after Harry. For the feather in the wand belonged to Fawkes…
So he liked to think that maybe a little bit of him will remain behind to help keep him safe. Harry then looked up at his portrait self as he explained that he was putting the Elder Wand back where it came from and it will stay there. If he dies a natural death then the power will be broken and that will finally be the end of it all.
He nodded in agreement, beaming as widely as his portrait self was before Ron sighed.
"Are you sure?" he asked, looking at it with a longing that Albus recognized.
"It's better this way, Ron," Albus said calmly. "That wand is nothing but trouble."
"I think Harry's right," said Hermione quietly as she thought it over before nodding her head.
"That wand's more trouble than it's worth," Harry said as Albus chuckled at how they seemed to keep repeating words, before he watched the young man turn around, draping an arm over both of his friend's shoulders as he added, "And quite honestly. I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."
"Maybe, but trouble-making is in your blood, Harry," Albus reminded him with a chuckle. The three of them wearily made their way from the office, heading back to the familiar common room, clearly aching for some much-needed sleep. Harry walked with his friends on either side of him, their minds so in tune with each other that they did not need words to say what they wanted to say. They knew each other's minds maybe better then they knew their own…
But that's ok… this was just them.
Albus walked with them all the way back to the damaged Gryffindor Tower, were the Fat Lady's portrait had fallen over during the battle, but he knew that she was off celebrating with her friend Violet in one of the many paintings in the castle. With no need to give a password, they stepped through the portrait hole where they headed through the room. While the windows were shattered and most of the furniture was lying broken on the floor, they stepped over the mess as they all headed towards the dormitory's that were waiting for them.
Hermione followed them up to the boy's side and up to a room where they dropped onto the beds, not bothering to try and change or clean off the dirt or blood… asleep before their heads even hit the pillows.
Albus smiled a little bit as he drew to the bed where Harry was sleeping and sat down at his side as he watched over him.
"It's all finally over," he said softly to him, though he knew that he could not hear him. "I knew you could do it. You were the only one who ever could. But know that this time, Tom is gone and he will never return. You are free to go and do whatever you want now. It is my hope that you will live the rest of your life in peace and that you will know the true happiness you should have had all along."
He glanced up at the window where warm sunlight shone through and he smiled at it.
"The future is already looking brighter," he added. "And not just for you, but for everyone. It may take some time, but it is my hope that one day this war will seem like a bad memory. The people who died will never be forgotten… of course. However, I believe that this peace you brought to everyone will be felt for generations."
He looked at the dancing sunbeams for a moment before he added, "And it's not just the living you saved." He hesitated for a moment as he tried to find the words.
"You were… a foolish, old man's… one saving grace," he said softly. "The one thing that, I believe, redeemed me, even a little. Now, I can rest in peace knowing that you're going to be alright." He looked ahead for a moment before he went on, liking to think that Harry could hear his words. "This is your world now, and I believe that you can do a lot more good here than I ever could. This is only the beginning… the first step to the rest of your life. But I know that you will pull through, you always do. And you don't need to worry about going it alone."
He looked back down to Harry's sleeping face and saw the peaceful expression there and silently hoped that he would be able to sleep without any nightmares plaguing his mind. He reached out and placed his hand over Harry's head.
Did Harry sense his presence there? Or was it his imagination at how he seem to lean a little bit into the touch? Albus did not know… but that's ok.
He smiled as he withdrew his hand as he whispered one last thing to him.
"I think… I learned how to keep going," he told him softly. "Thank you… for everything… and take care."
He stood up and looked down for a long moment.
"I did not say this before," he said honestly, "But allow me to say it now. You mean a lot to me… as dear to me as though you were my own grandson. I'm sorry for all the pain that I put you through in your life, but I hope that you will understand that everything that I did… I did because I wanted to give you a chance." He smiled as he everything faded around him, but not before he said the one last thing he wanted to say…
"I love you… always have… and I always will."
He was gone… just as Harry gave a great sigh in his sleep, as if something had brought a sense of release to his very spirit.
*The Mists*
It was all over… at long last, it was over. There was still a lot of work to be done to repair all the damage done to the world because of Tom—with many scars that will never fully heal—but the dawn's light was shining from the horizon and the long night was finally over… and he knew that the future couldn't be in safer hands.
There was no need for him to stay any longer. He had opened his eyes to return to the mists once more… however, his familiar office-like space was gone and he was standing underneath a great domed glass roof glittered high above him in sunlight, almost like a palace with its wide-open space. But he looked down to see that there was a set of train tracks heading off in just one direction and he understood at once. Maybe he was thinking of boarding a train and that was why he had come…
He smiled, knowing that he was ready at last and he could not wait…
However…
There was just one last thing left to do before he finally moved on… and so, he approached the huddled creature, now stuffed underneath a set of seats, whimpering and gasping for breath. Albus sighed grimly before he crouched down at the creature's side and spoke to it.
"Tom?" he asked and the destroyed eyes opened up where he could see that they looked cracked and covered with a strange film… he was blind.
"That voice…" Tom hissed out. "You…"
"It has been some time, Tom," Albus sighed. "And you are right. It is I, Albus Dumbledore."
"That's impossible…" Tom hissed out, and Albus saw him thrash for a moment before he became still, just that moment of movement too much for him in this state. "You are dead! I saw your corpse from… from your grave! Who… are you?!"
"I think you know that I speak the truth," Albus answered calmly. "Do you not remember what happened? Can you not see that, at last, the world is free from your cruelty and have a chance to rebuild itself?"
Albus sighed and shook his head miserably as he asked, "Oh, Tom… what happened to you? You were such a brilliant student. One of the brightest and most talented that Hogwarts had ever seen. You could have gone on to do great things… but now you will forever be remembered as a monster. And you are now trapped here."
"Here? Where is here?" Tom demanded, once more trying to move, speaking seemingly painful for him. "Damn you… old man! What have you… done to me?!"
"I didn't do anything," Albus sighed. "Though perhaps I could have done more to help you, Tom. Done something to have prevented you from treading down this path."
"Don't speak that name!"
"You have always been Tom Riddle," Albus answered him calmly. "Whether it be under the guise of Lord Voldemort or not. Changing your name does not change you into something else. Remember… remember that the wand you had stolen did not belong to you. It would not kill its true master. You never did learn from your mistakes, Tom. And that has now cost you everything. You had destroyed your own soul and doomed yourself to this state. There is nothing that I can do to help you now."
"I don't ask for help! I don't need anyone! And I refuse… refuse to believe you! I am still speaking… I am still breathing… I am not dead!" Tom spat.
"Then how am I here with you otherwise?" Albus asked patiently. "You were killed by the very thing that you had always believed to be worthless."
Tom was silent for a moment as he gasped for breath, letting those words sink in.
"You believe… that love stopped me?!" Tom demanded, spitting out the world 'love' as if it were something disgusting. "I have never seen your claim that love is more powerful than I could ever be!"
"You have been shown that again and again, yet you refuse to believe what was right in front of you all that time," Albus answered. "It has always been the same with you Tom, you try to wrap your mind around things that you already know… to afraid that there is a greater power that you cannot understand."
"There is no power beyond me!" Tom spat, spit now dripping down his chin. "I am Lord Voldemort! The most powerful… powerful…"
"And yet here you are, unable to even move," Albus sighed as he shook his head. "Was it all worth it, Tom? All the harm you had done, all the innocent lives you ruined because of your own fear of death?"
"If this is death, then I was right… there is nothing but darkness! But I could not have died… I am immortal! I am eternal!" Tom hissed, his fragile body trying to get up, but unable to do so, instead huddling in a ball and shivering as if freezing. Albus sighed as he pulled his own cloak from his shoulders and gently placed it over Tom's quaking form.
"You are right about one thing," he informed him, "The world will never forget you… no matter how much they wish it. Nor will they mourn you. The people are celebrating your defeat, like the innocent always do when a tyrant has been bested. You have no one but yourself to blame for what you have become. But now, those people have a chance to live the lives that they have always deserved. And maybe Harry will finally find some measure of peace."
"The boy…" Tom whispered as if hearing Harry's name lit that spark of hatred inside him. "The boy is dead…"
"No, he is not," Albus informed him, smiling slightly. "He is alive. Though damaged, I believe that he will overcome anything else that lays ahead of him. At last, his life is his to choose… and he will have a life that he has always deserved. He is free from you forever, Tom. You cannot harm him anymore."
"But I killed him… in the forest… the boy foolishly came to me, as I knew he would," Tom whispered softly. "I knew that all I had to do was threaten him… with the lives of his pitiful friends and he would come. The boy who had always… cowered behind the lives of others…"
"That young man did what you could never do," Albus countered. "He faced you on his terms, not yours. He went to you even though he knew what it would mean. He stood against you, face-to-face, knowing he would probably die but he did it anyway. That is proof that his is a bigger man than you will ever be… than we will ever be."
Tom was panting hard now, and Albus knew it was because he was still refusing to believe what he was saying, refusing to believe that he was dead and that Harry was alive and he shook his head.
"Tom… was it worth it?" he asked again. "To orphan a child who was guilty of nothing more than being born? To sacrifice his parents? His childhood? Force him to suffer for years on end? Can you not see what you have done? Do you not feel remorse for destroying, not only his happiness, but countless others?"
"They were all worthless… why should I care if those flies should drop down?" Tom demanded. "Their lives… are worth nothing to mine! Love… dreams… friendship… hope… none of those things mean anything! There is nothing of that garbage in the world! There are the strong and the weak!"
"Maybe in the animal world," Albus shrugged, "Though even they are capable of caring for another. Proving you to be a greater beast than any. Have you never once thought that maybe your way was never the right one? No… you have not… your arrogance has proven to be your downfall."
"And you truly believe some boy knows more than I? I, Lord Voldemort, do?!" Tom shouted out, though his voice was so weak that it was hardly a shout.
"That young man, whom you have brought nothing but anguish and misery upon did something that you do not deserve," Albus reminded him, not bothering to hide the pride in his voice. "He had forgiven you."
"Forgiven?" Tom jeered. "For what?"
"For taking so much from him," Albus answered. "That act alone must have felt that he was being stabbed in the heart. I have no doubt that he will have to do it again however. He will have to forgive you every day for the rest of his life… again and again he will have to let go of his anger and his hatred of you. But he will at last be able to move on. And I believe he will be able to do so."
"How… how could…?" Tom said and for the first time he sounded truly confused by this.
"You both came here before, did you not?" Albus reminded him softly. "In a world that was cold and dark? But you went back. Just as Harry was able to do so. Your Horcuxes are destroyed… in your rush to mutilate your own soul, you never once stopped to think about what it would mean. You failed to see the power that all souls have."
"What power?" Tom demanded. "What is it that you did to me!? Answer me now!"
Albus shook his head, knowing that it would do him no good to try and explain. Tom was just unable to learn.
"You are blind and cold because that is what you expect death to be," Albus answered. "And it is here you shall stay."
Tom tried to get up once more, to throw the cloak that was covering him like a blanket off, but instead, he just seemed to huddle into a tighter ball, clutching at the cloak and Albus shut his eyes sadly to see such a pitiful state.
"This very well may be the last time that we will ever speak," Albus said. "As you have always wanted, I shall leave you alone. I stayed simply because I wished to see this war through to the end. But now that it is over with your defeat, there is no reason to remain. The dead… have no right to remain behind."
"Where am I…?" Tom demanded once more. "What is this place?"
"A limbo between the lands of the living and the dead, I suppose," Albus answered. "Like a bridge that we all must take before we are able to reach the next stage. But without a soul that is whole and complete, you cannot be allowed to pass on. I will leave you here alone… for that is what you always wished and now you shall have it." He shook his head once more before he said, "Tom… I am so sorry…"
"You coward!" Tom snarled. "You weak coward!"
Albus sighed as he reached out and gently touched Tom's shoulder, knowing that this may be the last time that he will ever come in contact with another being again. The only reason that he was able to see Tom right now was because he wanted to… but none who pass through here will ever wish to see him… so he will remain here alone and in the dark for all of eternity. And that had to be the saddest, most tragic fate that he could ever imagine.
"You are right," he confessed. "I, too, am a coward. I always have been, and mayhap I always will remain so. Still… I know the difference of what is right and wrong, Tom."
He did not know how long he knelt there, offering the damaged soul the last bit of comfort that it would likely ever receive before he sighed once more and withdrew his hand.
"The time has finally come, Tom," he said as he stood up. "Goodbye… though I know that it will not mean much, but I will always remember you as the young boy from the orphanage who was looking for his place in the world. It just saddens me greatly to see that you have turned it into something so ugly."
"Where are you going?" Tom demanded through a series of curses, still gasping for breath.
"On," he answered simply as he turned and took a few steps away. "At long last, I am free. I have done a lot of things in life that I regret… and now it is finally time for me to face them all. I will offer them my most sincere apologizes and hope that they will find it in their hearts to forgive me. Whether they do or not, I will leave to them. But in either case, it is time for me to go on… to the next adventure."
"There is nothing here!" Tom spat out as loud as his voice could go without breaking up and causing him terrible pain. "What is there to go on to? How do I go back?!"
"Because that is what you expect, Tom," Albus repeated, not looking back, though he was frowning sadly as he shut his eyes. "And we cannot go back. We can only go forward… though it may not be possible now… maybe your time spent here will give you time to think it all over… see what it was that you have done wrong. Maybe… maybe someday you can also be saved."
"Saved… what do you mean, old man…" Tom said, and here, he could hear the bafflement in his voice.
"I pray that you will understand in time, Tom," Albus answered, still walking away. "At least, I hope so. Know that I will be praying that you will one day find peace. But it comforts me to know end to know that all those who survive your war will rebuild the damaged wizarding world. It will take time, but nothing that they are beyond of reaching. Goodbye… Tom Riddle."
And so he finally walked out of sight and sound of Tom's shattered soul… leaving him behind once and for all. He meant what he said in that he hoped that he would one day find a measure of peace as well… maybe once he does, he could somehow repair his soul through his regret… though he doubted that ever likely.
But there was nothing that could be done for him anymore.
As for himself… Albus was finally ready to leave with his last personal mission complete, he was free to leave whenever he wanted.
"You leaving?" asked a cheery voice from next to him and he looked up ahead to smile at Fred Weasley, who was sitting on some seats, his feet kicked up next to him as he stretched out comfortably.
Albus smiled back as he offered, "You are more than welcome to come with me. Travel is always better with a friend along."
But Fred shook his head as he folded his hands up behind his head and reclined back. "Nah," he said in an easy-going voice. "I'll wait here for George. It may take a while, but let's face it, I got nothing but time here. I'll keep myself entertained."
Albus chuckled.
"I see," he smiled.
"He'll be fine," Fred said knowingly. "I know him, funnily enough. I think that he'll do alright. Though between you and me, I always wore the pants in the family." His eyes saddened a little as he thought of his family before he added, "It'll be hard, but they'll survive without me, somehow. After all, how do you think we managed to escape McGonagall for seven years?"
"Yes, I have no doubt," Albus nodded. "Know that you two are a pair. Not even death will keep you truly separated."
"I'll keep an eye on him and everyone else for you," Fred added brightly. "I don't mind waiting here. I hope that he stays alive for as long as possible just so that he can come up with some new material next time I see him. I mean… holey? Really?"
Albus laughed, though panged at the thought of how the world was robbed of another bright and cheerful person. Still, he was sure that his brother and his family will be just fine. There wasn't another family like the Weasleys, that much he knew.
"Just say hi to everyone for me," Fred said, swinging his feet to the floor so he could stand up.
"I shall do so quite happily," Albus said with a bow to him. "I look forward to when we meet up again. Until then, take care, and I leave watching over everyone in your capable hands."
He then turned around, and he wasn't at all surprised to find that there was a rumble along the tracks. He stood back from the edge, waiting as he heard the screeching of the wheels as the train came into his sights. He patiently waited until it slowly came to a stop in front of him, and a pair of doors opening noiselessly.
Albus turned to look back one last time, glad to see that Fred was here to wave him off… and if he looked over his head into the distance... he could see another pair of eyes whom he knew once belonged to a young man who shared a dream of power in his youth. He gave a single nod before he stepped smartly into the train and found himself the nearest compartment he could find. He did not know if there were others riding the training, yet he did not worry for that.
He only laughed when he saw Fred pull out a handkerchief and began to wave dramatically from behind. And he gave him a friendly wave before he settled back into his seat comfortably as he allowed the train to carry him off.
He seemed to stray off into a state was that somewhere between waking and dreaming… unable to tell which was which anymore. Yet he watched as light flooded into the compartment and listened to what might be the sounds of wind and waves outside. He shut his eyes and let the warmth wash over him, almost like he was floating through the clouds.
He thought back on his life when he was still just a young child… hardly more than eight years old and he was happy with his family. It was before they had been torn apart… and he thought about his mother's warm smile and his father's bright eyes as he scooped him up into his arms in a hug as his younger brother and sister were laughing with him.
Had it been a memory? Or maybe the long years have turned a dream into something he thought to be a memory? It no longer mattered though… he thought more about when he first heard of what happened to Ariana and how father had gone after those muggle boys in vengeance for their crime. When Father was taken from the house… it was the last time he ever saw him…
Before he left, he told him and his brother to take care of their mother and sister for him since he would no longer be able to do so. Albus sighed mournfully…
He had failed miserably, hadn't he? He did his best to do so when he was a child… but once he went to Hogwarts and was able to start learning and his natural talents were really started to come out… underneath all the praise and amazement somewhere his duty to his family got buried. He couldn't pinpoint exactly where or when it happened… only that it did and he grew distant from them as the years went on.
He grew up, wanting to learn everything the magical world had to offer before he went on to do great things. To change the world for the better and for him to go down in history as one of the greatest men who ever lived. And he was about to take the first step to realizing that dream… at least until his mother had died through an accidental outburst of Ariana's uncontrollable power.
He returned home, determined to at least take care of things for a short time. Aberforth only had a little time left at Hogwarts before he finished schooling. Albus had reasoned with himself that he could take care of Ariana and everything else until he finished. He would then go on to do great things, eventually earning money and then send it home for them.
But then he meet his 'equal'. They plotted together, planned to rule the world… it seemed innocent enough at first, however that quickly grew out of hand and it took what little family he had left from him to see what he had done. With his sister gone and his brother hating him, Albus fell into a state of depression… one so deep that he did not think that he could ever climb out of.
His salvation came to him when he heard of an opening at Hogwarts for a new teacher. Frightened of himself, of the idea of having too much power turning him into a monster, he went to the school that was like a second home to him and asked for that job. He was safe there… others were safe from him… and he had grown to realize that he truly loved teaching. He spent decades in that sunny Transfiguration classroom teaching young minds, eager to learn. He remembered every student he ever had… every paper and bit of homework they turned in as well as every mistake that was made and he actually laughed out loud when he remembered of one particularly wild day when one of his students accidently turned his best friend into a porcupine.
The years when by and he came face to face with the man whom he once called his best friend once again during another war. They fought… he won the wand and decided to keep the truth of what it was hidden from the world. He put his old wand away and took up the Elder Wand… seeing it a form of self-punishment to become the caretaker of an object that he once obsessed over. Years went by… and then one day he went to a small muggle orphanage where he met a young boy with a lust for power.
He had kept a close watch over that boy over the years… though not nearly close enough he now could see. For that young boy grew into a monster—the kind of monster whom Albus had always feared he would become should he be given too much power.
He had refused the offer to become Minister of Magic several times, always reminding himself that it wasn't safe… no matter how tempted he was to take the job. He was nervous enough when he had been offered the position of Headmaster after Professor Dippet finally retired. But he took it in the end, knowing that someone had to take the roll when he was starting to recognize the shades of darkness starting to brew around them.
The war happened and he remembered those dark days as well as such bright students like James Potter and Lily Evans. He smiled a little as he thought of how often those two butted heads while they were children… really just like Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger… the last two people whom you would ever expect to fall in love… yet you weren't surprised to hear when it finally happened.
Then came Voldemort's downfall… those years of fragile peace… all the meanwhile, knowing that he was still out there… like the darkness at the edge of a forest… hidden out of sight yet always watching. And then there was when young Harry started school and those six chaotic years. How a boy who's happiness became his chief concern—and a prophecy damned in his opinion.
He already admitted that he had come to care for Harry like a parent… but like with all parents, he realized that he tried to make all the decisions for his wellbeing only to see it did not turn out like he had hoped. Yes, it all went bad for he tried too hard to keep him young. It was too late by the time that he saw that Harry had been old enough to know the truth of the prophecy and had been for a long time. By finally understanding that he had to let Harry grow up, he told him everything that he knew…
Albus didn't want to see himself as a bad man… but he wasn't a good one either…
He didn't see himself as evil, he had the best of intensions, but he went about them in the wrong way. He knew that he is a deadly tactician… he knew that he was a brilliant chess player and was able to plan out the movements and choices of others. What went wrong with his plan is that he had come to care about Harry too much… as person… as a son or grandson… some may see that as a weakness.
Yet, he also understood the horrors of war and that there truly is a greater good and that sometimes there are things that must be done… that there were people who were involved no matter what the circumstances were… Harry's life most of all. He knew what Voldemort did not… that Harry was the best and only chance they had to free the world of Tom's shadow and so he had to guess and plan to get Harry to the necessary choices that he needed to make. All he could do after that was just hope that he would made the right ones. He had to do what he could to guide him down the road that he knew Harry would have to take… but at the same time to allow that young man to decide if this was the right way or not.
When they met here, he was sure that Harry would hate him… would never forgive him for his part in all of this… but when he reached out and took his hand like that… that small gesture meant more to him than he could say. He confessed everything to him, telling him everything that he had never told to another soul… he begged for his forgiveness and confessed all of his regrets and how selfish he was when he was younger. In fact, he was astonished that Harry was even defending him against his own words.
Albus confessed over how he despised himself for his mistakes and Harry reached out for the first time to comfort him. Harry is the true master of the Hallows because he did the one thing he hoped that he would and that he succeed where he had failed before. He had hoped that the lessons he had taught him throughout his years at Hogwarts would be enough for him to see with eyes unclouded.
Meanwhile, Albus also learned some very important lessons from that young man throughout the years as well… that a parent must allow their children to grow up and move forward on their own.
He knew that he would meet with Harry Potter again one day, though he hoped that it won't be for a long, long time… with many happy years in between. When he was ready to take this next great adventure.
In any case, Harry did not need anyone there to hold his hand… he has his friends and they will be there to support him from here on out.
Albus opened his eyes, and it was as if a veil had been pulled back from his eyes and bright sunlight was blazing through the window and he could hear the sounds of laughter in the air as he caught a whiff of flowers on the soft wind from the open window. He looked out to see that the train was still going forward, yet there was a station coming up. He pressed himself to the warm glad to try and get a better look at it… realizing that there were people standing there…
And that was when he recognized who they were.
He quickly jumped to his feet and walked out of his compartment, heading straight towards the doors and waited… more frightened than he could remember feeling in a lot time. He had been waiting for years for this moment, yet now that it was here, terror washed through him like waves from the ocean.
But as soon as the train slowed down and the doors opened up, as if by magic, a young girl with a long main of blond hair and sweet blue eyes came barreling from the platform and flung her arms around his waist, burying her face in his beard and the front of his robes.
"Mama! Daddy!" she cried out happily, her voice muffled a little from where she had her face pressed against him. "He's here! Al's here!"
Albus had not been sure what was going to happen… he had planned out of slowly approaching her and telling her how sorry he had been for being so selfish and beg for her forgiveness… but all that went out the window at that moment.
He merely dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around his dear little sister, hugging her as tightly as he could as he buried his face into her floral-smelling hair… tears falling hard and fast into her locks.
"I love you," he whispered to Ariana, his heart so full of love at that moment that he thought that it would burst.
(Ah… at long last… Albus moved on and the war is over. This story is, at last, over… well, almost. There will be an epilogue which will be coming out sometime next month. An end to a story for a new year might be a good way to start things off… oh, but it's going to be a little sad to see it finally over. Anyway, I hope that you will all be looking forward to the very last chapter. It will be short, but it will hopefully wrap everything up so I hope that you will all be happy with what I have planned for the last chapter.)
