AN: Well, this it is. 3 years in the making and here's the last chapter. Finally. Although if you're all good muffins and review, I may consider writing an epilogue. Just remember that when you reach the end. I suppose I'll take this time to thank every one of you for stopping by and giving my story a chance to keep you entertained. Sorry when the updates were few and far between but we made and I hope you enjoy the last chapter of the Snake's Veil.

Harry Potter and the Snake's Veil

Chapter 16 The Black Parade

Harry sat numb, staring at the intricate patterns on the wooden desk. He was barely registering what was being said. He couldn't believe what he had done. What had he allowed himself to fall into?

"I have scheduled a meeting at the Ministry to determine what course should be taken. I fear this has gotten out of my hands."

"The Ministry? They'll toss him into Azkaban as soon as they see the Dark Mark on him. Scrimgeour is about as obsessed with catching Death Eaters as Crouch was."

"What is your plan then Sirius? He attacked a fellow student…"

"And killed that filthy rat." A pause. "I'll take him; we'll leave Great Britain, start a new life."

"The Ministry will track him down; the student is from a prominent wizard family. He gravely injured the boy."

Harry tore his eyes from the desk. He looked at Dumbledore, "How is Neville?"

"He was transferred to St. Mungo's this morning. I believe they are setting him up a bed besides his parents."

The coldness clenched Harry, chilling him down to his very core. Tears crept into his eyes, "I – I didn't mean to – I…" He was losing himself.

"What's done is done."

Sirius sprang up. "Could you be any more of a cruel bastard as you are now? Maybe since last June you've changed or maybe I've never noticed it being shut up in Grimmauld but don't you dare blame any of this on Harry. All of this draws back to you. You who have kept Harry in the dark since Lily and James died. Harry deserved more than what you gave him: riddles and half-truths. Maybe if you had stopped protecting the body and focused more on the person, then you could have succeeded in your mentor role." He turned from the stunned headmaster. "C'mon Harry, we're leaving."

Harry shook his head. "No."

"Harry, let's go; you don't have to be under the thumb…"

"I said 'No!'" Harry exclaimed standing up. A few trinkets on the wall exploded.

Sirius stumbled back, light headed from the seizure of his magic aura. "Harry…"

Harry held his head down. His hands were shaking. "Don't you see what I've become? I'm dangerous to anyone and everyone. I'll turn myself into the Ministry." He looked up into Sirius' eyes.

Sirius searched the serpentine eyes, looking into the endless windows. He sighed, "If that is what you want Harry, then I'll go along with it."

Harry sat back down in the chair, messaging his temples. "When do were leave Headmaster?"

It Dumbledore a bit to react after the sudden change in events. "Harry, as I told you last year, it was my concern for you that prevented me from telling you all I knew about Voldemort."

Harry flinched. "Professor, what's done is done," he repeated. "I asked when we are leaving."

"Tomorrow morning," the headmaster finally responded. "You'll stay with Professor Snape until then. He's outside now." Harry stood up again, visibly tired, ready to leave. "One more thing Harry, before you leave." Dumbledore rose from his chair, taking out his wand. He spun it, a crack resounded through the air, and Harry recoiled. Harry looked at Dumbledore in disbelief, while Sirius was giving him a look of disdain. "Professor Snape will be able to monitor your magic use. You are expected not to use any before we leave. Is that understood?"

Harry nodded. His senses were going hay-wire, adjusting to the sudden influx of his magic returning. Since he left Voldemort's mansion, Harry finally felt awake.

Dumbledore opened the study door with another flick of his wand. "You are dismissed. I will come for you tomorrow."

"What's going to happen to me sir?"

Snape brushed his hair out of his eyes as he looked up from the parchment he was reading. He twirled the grading quill between his fingers. "I'm sure the Headmaster will have to answer many questions about where you were and why it was never reported to the Ministry immediately after it occurred. I'm sure you'll get off on some Confundus Charm plea; it almost worked the first time." He placed the quill down. "And then you'll return to the loving home of your godfather with all of your friends by your side in some warped cellulose ending."

Harry edged closer to the fire, pulling a blanket tighter. "Please, sir, I'm not an idiot. You honestly think the Dark Lord didn't teach me how to detect liars?" Harry cast his yellow eyes toward the spy.

"I'd rather you not address him as such Potter, especially when you go to visit the Ministry tomorrow." Snape carefully folded his hands together, a gesture, Harry noted, he'd seen Dumbledore do before. He studied the teen before him and knew that Harry was not going to relent in the questioning. "Listen Potter, the Ministry could swing either way depending on how Scrimgeour is feeling. He is the former head of the Auror Office. At the very least, you could get off fronting the Confundus Charm or even the Imperious Curse and will have to report to St. Mungo's for treatment." Snape paused, momentarily catching Harry's gaze. "But the new Minister's ratings haven't been as great as he wants them to be. He hasn't made much more headway than Fudge in the war. The people may be more aware of the danger but he just hasn't been pulling in the arrests that were occurring in the last war. We – the Death Eaters are more cunning this time around. The Dark Lord is smarter." Harry waited for Snape to deliver the worse. "So if Scrimgeour is feeling vindictive, a sentence in Azkaban."

Harry turned to the fire, trying to keep up his façade. "I deserve whatever punishment I receive." He felt Snape's eyes on him.

'The only thing we deserve is the return back to our master. You are the second in command of the Death Eaters. That fool gave you back your magic; use it, kill the traitor, leave this filthy school.'

"Shut up," Harry growled.

"Excuse me Potter?"

"Not you sir." Harry jerked his head toward the door, listening intently, "Someone's coming but," he inhaled before continuing, "I don't know who it is."

Snape quirked an eyebrow. He was about to retort that Harry was overly stressed out when someone knocked on the wood of his door. Harry was already in the side storage room and had shut the door before Snape opened the front one.

After five minutes, Harry noted that Snape wasn't going to get out of the conversation soon and wrapped the blanket around himself. He sat down on the stone floor, leaned up against the shelves and fell asleep.

He was running down a blue lit corridor, the doors swinging open before he even reached them. Harry continued to run through the Department of Mysteries, knowing he was looking for someone. He passed the Hall of Prophecies, the Brain Room, and the Planetarium. Finally he entered the Death Chamber and began to slowly walk down the stone steps to the raised dais. A lone figure waited for him beside the veil.

"My lord," Harry murmured, kneeling. "How…?"

"Rise my son for we do not have much time together. You will meet me here tomorrow, and return to your family," Voldemort ordered.

"Yes my lord," Harry answered pulling himself up.

"You have suffered much from being away from me, from our home; I can see it Harry."

Harry nodded, "I've tried…"

"I know Harry." Voldemort approached the teen, cupping Harry's cheek in his hand. "Meet me here my son, I will take you back."

Harry nodded, looking into the red eyes when it reclicked. "No. I won't." He began to distantly hear his name. He jerked away from the hand, his own began to throb.

Voldemort smiled, walking back a few steps, "You can't resist Harry. Now wake up."

"Wake up!"

Harry's eyes opened and he spent a few seconds trying to figure out what had happened. The potion storage room rematerialized before his eyes. He could still feel Voldemort's hand on his face.

"Potter are you alright?"

Harry turned to the hand that was hurting and discovered the reason for the pain. He carefully extracted his hand from the cracked jar of ingredients. Using his magic, Harry pulled out the glasses and repaired the jar. Harry rotated his hand, watching the blood roll down his wrist.

"Potter, you're not supposed to do magic. Give me that hand and I'll – " Snape watched as the cut was meticulously sealed together without a trace of a scar. Returning to original inquest, Snape continued, "Was it a premonition? Was it the Dark Lord?"

Harry pulled his eyes away from the blood still congealing on his arm and looked into the stoic black ones. "No. It was just an ordinary bad dream sir." The blood dried and flaked off, evaporating before it hit the ground.

The potions master held the gaze, searching for a weak point. Finding none, he helped Harry up and led him back to the main room. "Get some rest Potter, Merlin knows you need some. I will wake you up tomorrow. Do not use anymore magic." Harry nodded as he curled up in the chair by the fire once more. Snape collected up the last of the scrolls to be graded. Before he disappeared into his room, he turned back, "Good night – Harry."

"Good night sir." The lights dimmed and now only the fire lit the room. Looking up at the ceiling, Harry found it hard to just drift back off to sleep; his mind was simply reeling. Harry knew one thing: tomorrow would be a day of reckoning.

Two steps behind, Harry kept his head down as he followed Dumbledore through the Atrium. The Ministry workers paused to stare as the two made their way toward the elevators. Dumbledore presented Harry's wand at the check-in and Harry glanced at it longingly; it had been so long since he had felt the wood beneath his fingers. Dumbledore pocketed it and Harry resumed his pace. He felt their eyes on him as he passed through the golden gates after affixing the name badge to his black cloak.

Fudge met them at the elevators. "Good morning Dumbledore and, what a pleasure, young Harry Potter – ah." The ex-minister jumped as Harry looked up. "I – erm – the Minister is waiting for you both, follow me." They all entered the lift and Fudge moved into the opposite corner as Harry. He tapped his wand on the mainframe and a small box appeared. Clearing his throat Fudge said, "Cornelius Fudge, assistant to Minister Scrimgeour." The box opened and Fudge pressed a button labeled "Minister's Office." The ride was uncomfortably quiet.

Harry kept his head down, away from the looks Fudge kept shooting his way. It was obviously how kept out of the loop the former official was now. Finally, the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Fudge bowed them out first.

Dumbledore led the way and used the brass knocker on the great wooden door which swung open.

"Ah Dumbledore come in, come in. Hope everything's well," Scrimgeour greeted, walking out from behind his desk. He didn't wait for a response before continuing, "And Harry Potter, how long I've…" Harry met his gaze, stopping him mid-sentence. His eyes hardened, and Harry saw the transformation from politician to Auror. "Dumbledore, please explain just what has been happening at that school of yours."

Instead, Harry stepped closer to the Minister, rolling up his sleeve. "Over the past five months I have become immersed in the Dark Arts as the Dark Lord's second in command. I am a Death Eater," he proclaimed, showing the Minister the Dark Mark, "and I have killed for the cause." Harry turned away from the stunned Scrimgeour to the equally shocked Dumbledore. "And I refuse to play along with you anymore; I am not some tool for you to use to fight your battles." Backing up toward the door, Harry made one final comment, "I return now to my master." Using his magic, Harry slammed the large desk into the Minister, simultaneously stunning Dumbledore and Fudge. He summoned his wand before running to the elevator. Harry slammed the number nine and waited as the elevator descended once more. As soon as the doors opened, Harry sprinted to the lone door to the Department of Mysteries. He followed the now familiar path to the circular room. A door already lay open.

Harry entered and began his way down the steps, wand tucked up his sleeve. At last, Harry stepped onto the raised dais and faced Lord Voldemort. The veil rippled slightly.

"Harry, my son, I knew you'd come back to me."

Harry bowed and stared into the eyes of the ruthless murderer. A smile crept onto his lips. "If you honestly think, milord, that I would for one second go back to you then you're even stupider than I thought." He pulled out his wand. "I am no son of yours."

Voldemort extracted his own wand. "Well then, Potter, I believe there is only one solution to our predicament." His own cruel smile appeared, "Bow before your lord, and hope he grants you mercy today."

At once the duel began. Harry was hit with a nonverbal Cruciatus Curse, driving him to the ground in pain. He rebounded, shaking it off, and threw back a complicated curse attempting to freeze the dark lord.

All around Harry, he heard the whispers emanate from the veil.

Voldemort blasted a fire spell back, melting the frost. He threw out his arms like a music conductor, activating several loose stones from the benches, and sent them flying toward Harry. Harry narrowly missed two and blew up a third. The fragments continued on their course, scratching Harry.

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches …'

Harry whipped his wand around and vines grew up around Voldemort, attempting to bind him tight. A large scimitar appeared slicing easily through the plants. He lunged at Harry, swinging it downward. Harry quickly materialized his own blade to deflect the blow. He staggered back from the impact leaving him open for another attack.

'Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ...'

Harry reeled back again as it felt like a blunt object had whacked him across the face. Blood poured from his nose and along the large cut across his face. Harry brandished his wand like a whip, forcing Voldemort to create a barrier. But Harry broke through and managed to catch Voldemort's arm and throw him off the dais.

In a flash of flame, Voldemort returned to the dais and swept his wand hand up.

'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ...'

Harry leaped off the dais as the stone floor beneath his feet attempted to swallow him. He rolled to the ground, wiping blood from his face that was impairing his senses. He slowly stood up, facing the serpent that coming in for a kill. Then it hit Harry.

'And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ...'

He sent a quick banishment charm toward Voldemort, tossing him to the foot of the veil.

Voldemort's high cruel laugh echoed off the walls. "Come now Potter," Voldemort jeered, picking himself up, "A pathetic banishment spell? I expected more from you. After all that training you went through," The red eyes followed the teen as he climbed back on the dais, "and you're still too weak to use an unforgivable." The Dark Lord scoffed. "You would never have lasted as a Death Eater."

"No, I would not have," Harry responded as the prophecy's prediction swirled around him. He charged at the Dark Lord, tackling him and taking both of them through the archway. Beyond the veil.

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ...'

Harry kicked out, pushing Voldemort away as they fell through clouds. The large wound on Harry's face was gone. The drop seemed endless until at last a bottom was seen. Harry inhaled quickly before he was plunged underneath a black liquid.

Harry broke the surface gasping as he spat out the oil. He tried to keep afloat in the oil finding the substance oppressive and weighing him down. He spun around looking for Voldemort who finally appeared, laughing.

"This was your plan Potter? This is Sytherin's veil. You think this will stop me Potter? Death is not an obstacle for me." All around the two rose skeletal bodies with their hands outreaching. They clung to the pair, trying to drag them under. "What is this? Get off of me! Do you know who I am?" The rest was drowned out as Voldemort was pulled under.

Harry felt them begin to pull him down as well. The weary teen didn't resist and awaited his fate in the underworld. The oil was so thick and cold as it pressed in around him. He couldn't breathe.

Then warmth began to fill him. The boney hands recoiled as two new pairs of hands begin to pull him up, away from the darkness. He was flying.

"Harry, open your eyes dear."

He followed the instructions and found himself lying on a moving cloud. He turned and whispered, "Mum? Dad?" Tear immediately filled his eyes. "I'm – "

James spoke, "Harry, you never need to apologize to us. We will always love you."

"But Harry, it is not your time yet," Lily continued stroking Harry's hair. "This is not your end –"

"- just as it wasn't Padfoot's," James finished.

Lily handed Harry a jar, "Now you won't have to live a half-life anymore. You can choose how you want it to continue."

Harry opened the jar and felt the part of his soul that was stolen returned. "But what about…"

"Voldemort will no longer be a threat. He will face his judgment here. But there is one more thing you must do."

Harry nodded, understanding, but he paused, "Why can't I just stay with you both?"

Tears ran down Lily's face, "In time my son, we will be reunited once more Harry, but it's not now." They were fast approaching the archway and the veil. "Just know we are always watching you. We're always with you."

"And we're proud of who our son is."

Harry stood up and embraced his father and then his mother. "I miss both of you so much. I love you Mum, Dad."

Lily hugged him once more, kissing his cheek, and James pulled him close. "We love you too."

"Now go," Lily cried, pushing Harry away and gripping James' hand tight. "Don't look back."

Harry approached the veil; he felt the coldness leave him and knew when he looked into a mirror, two green eyes would be looking back. He paused at the archway, fighting every urge to run back to his parents.

But as the veil fluttered before him, Harry reflected that he felt as if he carried a part of them with him wherever he went.

Harry stumbled back onto the stone dais. He picked up the two wands that were discarded beside the arch and stood still as fifty trained Aurors' wands pointed his way. Harry could see Dumbledore among the crowd.

"The Dark Lord is dead," Harry announced, tossing the wand to the ground. He paused, waiting for a flurry of spells. When none occurred, Harry grinned and said, "See you all in another life," before Disapparating from the room.

The End

-Anaticulapraecantrix

2007