Chapter 13 - Obliviate

"My Lord, we can't hold them any more, you must leave for your own safety. Harry barely registered Snape as he entered the room. "Sweet Merlin what's happened to you? Quick, my Lord, apparate to Malfoy Manor, Narcissa will take care of you. I'll stay and finish off Potter."

"Thank you, Severus. You alone are my most trusted servant."

Harry heard a swish and then silence, followed by Snape calling, "Finite incantatem, Enervate. Potter, get up."

Harry reluctantly opened his eyes and staggered over to Ginny, he pulled his wand out and weakly cast "Enervate," but nothing happened. He couldn't take it any more, his only reason for living was now gone, and he was the only reason Voldemort was still living. He collapsed on top of Ginny's body screaming until he blacked out.

When Harry came round it was in a dark, dank, smelly dungeon. It took him a few seconds to recognise that he was actually in the potions dungeon at Hogwarts. Snape was stood a few yards away, huddled over a cauldron stirring away while counting under his breath. "Five, six, seven and once anti-clockwise. One, two, three …"

Harry could see a strange purple mist rising from the potion as he struggled to his feet to get a closer look. It was then that the memories of what had happened in the Riddle House returned and he collapsed back on the floor and started weeping for Ginny.

After a couple of minutes Snape came over. "Get up, Potter," he said in a kinder voice than normal, but his eyes were still boring through Harry as usual. After staring at him for a few uncomfortable seconds, Snape added, "You've been practicing Occlumency?"

Harry nodded as Snape continued as if not expecting an answer. "I need you to let me see a memory. I can't get through your shields without hurting..."

"Never," replied Harry but things were starting to go black again, with the effort of keeping Snape out of his mind. The next time he opened his eyes he saw that his former teacher had fetched a pensieve; Harry's own pensieve.

"How did you get that?" asked Harry weakly.

"There's no fidelius charm on here or Grimmauld Place anymore. Now I need to see the memory of when Voldemort attacked you as a baby."

Harry opened his mouth to protest, "Why? Just kill me now, then go and get Voldemort."

"I need to see that memory. Just put it in the pensieve, you don't have to watch it."

Harry gave up, and drew the silver memory strand from his head and placed it, swirling into his pensieve. He looked apprehensively over the edge, but Snape had already gone in, so he joined him. Harry saw for the first time, what he had heard every time a Dementor came near him. He saw his mother stand up to Voldemort, then he saw her die. Voldemort turned to baby Harry and drew the sorting hat from his robes.

"Isn't that the Hogwart's...?" said the Death Eater next to him.

"Yes Wormtail. The death of Harry Potter will create my seventh and most magically powerful Horcrux. You see, not only is this hat Godric Gryffindor's, but this baby is his last remaining descendant too. These facts combined, will make this Horcrux almost indestructible. Also this will break that infernal prophecy, and will corrupt every student that goes to Hogwarts from now on."

"My Lord, I'm in awe of your cunning. Such a masterful plan, but tell me, how did you get it out from under that meddling Dumbledore's nose?"

"The Muggle loving fool does not realise that access to his own office is granted to direct descendants of the castles founders. I, the heir of Salazar Slytherin, walked in earlier while he was in Hogsmeade with his goat breeding brother. Now stand back, Wormtail." Voldemort raised his wand pointed it at his heart and shouted, "Secovita". Then he turned pointed it at Harry's head and called "Avada Kedavra"

Harry watched as the jet of green light rebounded off his baby self and hit Voldemort. A fine black mist rose from Voldemort, and travelled back down the path of the killing curse and entered baby Harry's head.

Wormtail jumped in shock and called out to Voldemort frantically, "Master, Master … What has happened to you?"

There was a distant roar that Harry recognised as Sirius's motorcycle. As the roar got louder it was evident that Wormtail recognised it as well, because he grabbed the sorting hat and disapparated. Harry felt faint and was grateful when Snape pulled him back out of the memory and into the present.

"Do you know the processes involved in the creation of a Horcrux or do I have to go to the hospital wing and ask Miss Granger?"

Harry nodded weakly, "Bill saw it in Egypt. He explained it to me. First you split your soul, then you murder someone, this links your soul to the death, then you place your soul in the object. So Voldemort only managed half the spell, he divided his soul, but didn't cast the spell to put it in the Sorting Hat."

"Correct; 10 points to Gryffindor. As the spell was incomplete, the Horcrux found its own receptacle, you."

"But ... I didn't die, so how could a Horcrux have been created?"

"Think Potter, Voldemort's body was killed, his soul was forced from it. He created a Horcrux using his own death."

"So what! The fact remains I'm a Horcrux, and in order to kill him, I need to die."

"If he had used Lily or your Father's death then yes, but as he used his own, I believe he created a very weak Horcrux. It was his seventh split, so he could only have placed a very small part of his soul in your body. Despite being a mediocre wizard Potter, you do not show the Dark Lord's evil tendencies and, in fact are less inclined to Dark magic than your father was."

Although he still wanted to hex him, Harry felt this was as close to a compliment that Snape would ever grant him. "Before the Ministry had Azkaban, offenders were given this potion," Snape waved his arm at the purple concoction which was still bubbling in the cauldron. "It removes all magic from the drinker and purifies the soul, clean of all evil. The wizard was then cast out of the magical society to live out his life as a Muggle. As much as it pains me to admit it, your soul is relatively pure whereas Voldemort's Horcrux is deeply evil, and was created using very advanced magic. So I think this might just work."

"Great, my choice is to die or live like a squib, like Filch? Life's just not fair, why me?"

"Life isn't fair Potter, but at least you will have a life. That is something I can never have. I am, after all, the cold-blooded murderer of Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard that ever lived. You on the other hand will be famous for defeating the most evil wizard that ever lived."

"I don't want fame, I want Ginny..."

Snape didn't say anything, but instead bent over the cauldron and filled a large glass beaker. He turned and as he handed it over, Harry could see tears were running down his face. "Bloody stuff gets in your eyes," said Snape not very convincingly as he pulled out a hanky.

Harry turned away from Snape and looked at the stores cupboard. As he held the beaker to his lips, he thought about what he was sacrificing for the world. It had to be done so Ron and Hermione, Neville and Luna, the twins and all the others like them could live without the fear of Voldemort in their lives. Harry briefly thought about the consequences, he would never cast a spell again, ride a broom, play quidditch or even see a magical building such as Hogwarts. Did he really want to live like that? No, he didn't. He caught sight of his reflection in the glass front of the cupboard and an idea formed in his mind. Harry dug deep in the pockets of his robes searching for the things he had picked up in Muggle East London, when he felt his hands close on the fake passport he shut his eyes, concentrated very hard, and then drank the potion.

At first nothing happened then Harry felt as if his head was splitting in two. He couldn't breathe he opened his mouth and screamed, a dull, distant ear-splitting scream that came from Voldemort's soul. Harry dropped the beaker and fell to his knees as a black mist was expelled from his mouth. He opened his eyes and although he didn't want to, he forced himself to look at his reflection in the cabinet's glass front. A devastated looking Joseph Rattyear looked back at him. Harry got to his feet and turned to look at Snape who was standing in shock, "Mr Joseph Rattyear, pleased to meet you," Harry extended his hand and showed Snape the passport. "I am ...was a Metamorphmagus."

Snape was silent for a second. "Very clever Potter, why you weren't sorted into Slytherin I will never know."

"The hat wanted to, I asked it not to," replied Harry. He concentrated on his appearance for a second willing himself to change back into Harry, but nothing happened. Harry raised his wand, thought hard about Ginny and cried "Expecto Patronum", nothing. He looked around to try something simpler and spotting the broken beaker called out desperately, "reparo." Again nothing at all happened. His own wand, once so comfortable, felt foreign to touch. He turned away from Snape and with tears running down his cheeks, searched in his robes once again, this time bringing out Dudley's sun-glasses, which he used to cover the last trace of Harry Potter, his mother's eyes.

Suddenly Snape jumped and clutched his right arm, "He's summoning me, he must have felt the Horcrux die. We have to be quick. Put this on." Snape threw the invisibility cloak over Harry, and dragged him out of Hogwarts. Once clear of the gates, Snape side-apparated Harry to Malfoy Manor and knocked on the door.

Harry was surprised that Narcissa Malfoy opened it herself. "Severus, the Dark lord awaits you. You killed the Potter brat then?"

Snape nodded and as she turned to lead the way he cast in quick succession, "Silencio, Sectumsempra." Narcissa Malfoy fell to the ground, blood streaming from deep open cuts, her mouth open in a silent scream. Snape spat on her as he led Harry into the house.

"Severus, my loyal servant, well done for ridding me of the boy. My soul, it felt him die."

Snape nodded and prostrated himself in front of Voldemort. "My Lord and most esteemed master I will serve you forever."

"You lie, you … you traitor." screamed Voldemort, his voice much higher and harsher. Snape looked up in surprise. "Do you think I'm stupid, I know Narcissa is this minute dieing by the door, I felt two of you apparate through the wards. The boy is here, how did you do it? Crucio!"

Snape's whole body shook in pain, but he defiantly stared back at Voldemort who changed tack, "Legilimens ..."

A battle of will ensued with Voldemort alternatively casting the cruciatus curse and using legilimancy to try and wear Snape down. In turn Snape remained bowed in front of Voldemort, shaking in pain, but staying resolutely silent. Eventually Voldemort broke through Snape's shields and gave a hollow laugh, "My, my, Thiefsbane potion, who would have thought."

Snape smiled up at Voldemort, "Just so you know, Tom, I am Dumbledore's man through and through. Expelliarmus!" Voldemort just managed to keep hold of his wand, as it started slipping through his fingers. By the time he had regained a good enough grip on it, Snape had clambered back on to his feet, and was stood in the traditional duelling position with his wand drawn.

Time and time again Snape anticipated the spell as Voldemort cast it, each time taking avoiding action. Harry stood rooted to the spot in fascination, but in his squib state there was little he could have done. What Snape lacked in duelling skills, was more than made up by his ability to read Voldemort's mind and pre-empt any spells which were fired his way. As Harry watched Voldemort become increasingly more frustrated by his former allies actions, an idea formed in his mind. Slowly, so as not to attract any attention, Harry reached under his robes but was distracted by a shout and thump. He looked up to see that Voldemort was standing over Snape holding both wands.

"I believe this was one of your favourite spells, Severus, Sectumsempra."

Snape screamed, as deep cuts appeared stretching the whole length of his body from head to toe. As Harry watched Snape's robes turned from bottle green to red, awash with blood.

"I know you're here Harry Potter. I may not be able to see you, but I can sense you under that cloak. How does it feel to be helpless now, like a dirty Muggle? This time there is no-one left to save your pathetic Muggle skin. My followers have killed them all from that muggle-loving fool to the disgusting flee-bitten mongrel. There is nothing you can do to stop me now. Accio Cloak"

Harry felt his invisibility cloak fly from his body and into Voldemort's outstretched hand. Voldemort looked at Harry in surprise for a couple of seconds, trying to figure out why he looked like a Muggle biker. Before he had chance to recover and cast a spell, Lord Voldemort staggered backwards, as blood started dripping from a small round hole in the middle of his abnormally large-forehead. Harry fired the revolver a second and then a third time causing two more holes to appear, this time in his chest.

"Noooooooo," Voldemort screamed as he fell backwards, one hand clutching his head, the other his heart. This desperate act couldn't stop the, now familiar, black mist from escaping out of the bullet hole and between his bloodied fingers. The final part of Voldemort's soul had been destroyed.

"Well done, Pot-ter", Harry turned to Snape, who was gasping for breath.

"Hold on Professor, I'll get help, I'll take you to St Mungo's. Harry grabbed his wand, and then looked at it usefully as he realised he could no longer use it.

"No, I'm a killer, a wanted man. I want to die here, not in Az-zkaban. I've made my peace with this world. H-H-Harr-y, give me your wand."

Harry passed Snape his own wand and watched as his former Professor struggled to his knees and crawled towards Voldemorts body. When he was next to Riddle, he turned to Harry.

"I vowed to Dumbledore that I would pro-tect you. This is the best protection I can of-ffer you now. I'm too much of a coward." Snape raised Harry's wand into the air and screamed, "INCENDIO!" As a huge orange fireball engulfed both him and Riddles body, Snape threw the wand clear. Harry could only look on, without magic he was powerless to do anything. But for the first time in his life he felt respect for Severus Snape. Instinctively he bent down and picked up his wand, and watched as the bodies of two very powerful and very different wizards were burned to ashes.

Before long Harry heard the unmistakable pops of apparating wizards behind him and he smoothed his long, dirty-blonde hair down to hide his scar, as he turned to face them, a look of fake surprise etched on his face.

Harry looked across the room at the auror and began to explain what had happened. "I was walking by when I heard the noise and saw the flashes and went to investigate see, worried someone was breaking in, such a fine house an all. I saw it all through the window. At first I thought it was an illusion like that David Copperfield bloke on television.

The boy, this Harry Potter you say, was swearing at the other guy. He kept calling him an 'ass hole' then he waved his stick thingy and objects would fly from everywhere and appear right in front of him. The old bloke was shouting 'Abra kadabra' and green flashes were coming from his err stick whatsit and hitting the objects the boy was moving causing 'em to explode.

The boy weren't giving up though, he kept moving closer and closer to the old guy and finally this massive fireball thing appeared. I'd never seen nothing like it in all of my born days. Well there was no way either of 'em could have survived, burned to a crisp they was."

"You saw them die then, Mr Ratty-ear?" asked the auror.

"Yes and its Ratt-year thank you. They was burned to a cinder they was, horrible smell, burning flesh is, right disgusting it were to. I ran in the house, t' see if I could help, I did. There's a dead woman by the door did you know? Reckon they was fighting over her I do. Anyway I did find the boy's stick thing it was thrown clear when they exploded in flames. I've got it here in my pocket." Having made his decision Harry handed over his wand.

Harry knew they would obliviate his memory of the last few days before they let him go, but it didn't worry him too much, they were memories he didn't really want to relive again. As it was he knew he would never be able to sleep again, the memory of Ginny's death was so firmly etched on his mind. How could life be so cruel? He'd saved the wizarding world, done everything that was ever asked of him. In return all he wanted was a simple life and a family of his own. But that, it seemed, was too much to ask for and instead he'd lost everything he ever wanted in his life. Perhaps Snape had had the right idea and he should have ended it then and there.

Harry wasn't even too worried about turning his back on the wizarding community. After all he could seek out his closest friends and let them know the truth about his Muggle identity. He wouldn't want them to suffer too much. Then given time, when things had died down he would re-integrate himself back into the magical community.

It had to be better than the alternative, being Harry Potter, 'The-boy-who-killed-he-who-must-not-be-named.' It had been bad enough being 'the-boy-who-lived' but things would be worse now. He would be mobbed everywhere he went, they would erect statues and memorials to him. There would probably even celebrate a Harry Bloody Potter day on his birthday. Numerous biographies would be written about him, with reporters following his every move. It had started already, even some bloody Muggle called J K Rowling was writing about him. No he wanted people to like him for being plain Harry, or maybe that should be Joseph, and not for what he'd done.

"Thank you for your help Mr Ratt-year. The hospital will release you tomorrow and then you'll be able to go home." With this the Auror walked out of the door, closing it behind him. He shook his head, he never liked these sort of jobs; interviewing and obliviating Muggles, it never seemed right really. Never mind, it could be worse, he thought, as he waited for his colleague to finish in the next room. "How did it go? Has she come round yet? He asked as another auror appeared.

His colleague, who looked very pale almost on the verge of being physically sick, nodded his head slowly as if too afraid to open his mouth while he fought to keep the contents of his stomach under control.

"Did you find out how she survived?"

"Yeah, poor girl. She was pregnant you know? The curse hit her in the belly, directly in the womb and the poor mite took the full force of it. The healers think that when the baby died her body shut down as a sort of survival instinct."

"Merlin! No way."

"There's more, she was Harry Potter's girl friend, and she dived in front of the curse meant for him."

"Great Godric! Will she survive?"

"The healers say she will, although it's unlikely that she'll be able to have any children. I have my doubts though. I don't think she's got the will power to pull through, and she doesn't even know what happened yet. I hadn't got the heart to tell her that Harry Potter had died anyway despite her sacrifice. Come on let's go to the Leaky Cauldron. After this I need a firewhiskey or six, and you can tell me how You-know-who was finally killed."

Harry woke as the auror appeared in his room early the following morning looking a little worse for wear. "What are you doing?" asked Harry keeping up a pretence, as the auror prepared to cast a memory charm.

"We're just going to erase your memory of wizardkind," he replied.

"Wizardkind?" queried Harry pretending to be baffled.

"Yes this spell will wipe your memory of every interaction you've ever had with a wizard and replace it with normal Muggle … err human memories."

"Every interaction with a wizard?" asked Harry suddenly panicking "But you can't … NO! STOP! DON…"

"OBLIVIATE" shouted the auror. In casting this one simple spell, the auror achieved in a second what Lord Voldemort had failed to do in eighteen years. He wiped Harry James Potter from the face of the wizarding world.