Last time Hermione barely managed to escape from the room filled with poisoned books, winning her game. She found Ron and Harry looking for her. After she was rushed to St. Mungos to have her hands healed, Harry discovered and stunned the killer. On with the show!

Chapter 7: The Object of the Game

Three hours later found Harry back at The Ministry staring through a one-way mirror at the killer. He was being held in an interrogation cell where several Aurors were questioning him. All they got out of the killer was his name and a demand to speak only to Harry.

"His name is Adam Sorg," said Jessica Yeager as she checked the killer's wallet, "He runs a small apothecary in Southampton. We checked his flat in Southampton; there's enough evidence there to link him to all five murders and Hermione's abduction. No matter how he pleads, he's going to spend the rest of his life in Azkaban."

"That maybe shorter than we think," said Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was informed of Harry's successful capture of the suspect and was observing the interrogation, "Our friend Sorg there, he had a rare condition of the heart that strikes only male wizards. He'll be dead in two years, unless he receives extensive medical treatment."

"Let me guess," said Harry, "The cure for the condition is obscenely expensive, which would give Sorg the idea that he has nothing to lose."

"Actually," said Jessica Yeager, "There had been some stunning advancements in magical healing within the last few weeks. The treatment for Sorg's condition isn't as expensive as it was three months ago."

Just then Douglas Knight left the interrogation room. "It's no good," he said, "Sorg won't talk to anyone except Harry."

"Well," said Harry, "If it's only me he'll talk to, then I'd better oblige him."

Harry then entered the interrogation room and sat down opposite Sorg. He had pale yellow eyes that seem to have no essence in them. "I'm so happy you decided to hear me out, Harry Potter," said Sorg, "After all, you're the one who caught me."

"I probably wouldn't have caught you," said Harry, "If you hadn't made the mistake of hurting one of my friends. Now, I just want to know one thing…"

"You want to know why I did what I did," said Sorg.

"Yes," said Harry, "So start talking."

"I wasn't born a killer," said Sorg, "I had a decent life, a decent job, I even had a wife and children. But all that changed when Death Eaters murdered them during the first war against He-who-must-not-be-named. My family did nothing to offend you-know-who; they were just in the wrong place in the wrong time. I loved my family very much; their loss was a serious blow to my heart. But I recovered from my loss and moved on with my life. After many years of pain I fell in love again and married for the second time.

"Then history repeated itself when my second wife died in a Death Eater attack. Once again my heart was ripped out from my chest and put back in upside down. But I held on to my life and carried on. I was finally getting my life back in order when I was diagnosed with this terminal heart disease. I have less than two years to live, Harry Potter, yet for all the misery I've experience, I'm grateful to be alive.

"We're all here on this world for a short time, Harry Potter. It is our obligation; our duty as humans to live life to it's fullest. I decided to enjoy what little time I had left. Yet all around me I saw people who take life for granted. There are people who waste their time on trivial matters and destructive habits; time that should be spent enjoying what little time we have to live, it made me even sicker than I already was.

"So I decided to do something about it. I made it my mission to convince people that life should be enjoyed to it's fullest; that we should live each day as if it were our last, for nobody knows when their time will end. In order to get my message across so that people would listen, a few sacrifices had to be made."

"Sacrifices?" asked Harry, "Sacrifices!? You killed five innocent people!!"

"They were far from innocent," said Sorg, his voice not showing any sign of remorse, "First we have a wizard who has attempted suicide many times, just to get some attention from his peers. Next, we have witch whom also attempted suicide in order to be noticed. Thirdly, a man who wastes his life on pointless puzzles. Fourth, a witch that wasted her talent on pornographic pieces. Fifth, a wizard who chose to be an alcoholic. And finally, we have your friend who does almost nothing except read books."

"If you know so much about your victims," said Harry, his rage barely under control, "You should know that Hermione does much more than read books. She's all but engaged to my best friend, and you tried to murder her. How can you live with the fact that you've tormented people whose only mistake was to live the way they thought was best for them!?"

"I can live with what I have done," sad Sorg, "With the knowledge that after I'm dead, my work will be remembered for a long time. People will hear about what I've done and they'll realize that they should live life to its fullest."

"No, Mr. Sorg," said Harry, "Your legacy will be a footnote in the records of The Ministry of Magic. As for your 'work,' it'll take more than a few shocking murders to convince people to live better lives. People need to figure that out on their own. As for your death, your condition is curable; you are going to live a long time behind bars, knowing that your 'work' was all for nothing."

Two Aurors then proceeded to escort Sorg out of the interrogation room. "Answer me this, Harry Potter," said Sorg just before leaving the room, "After all the dangers you faced, after all the times He-who-must-not-be-named tried to kill you, are you grateful to be alive?"

"That's none of your business," answered Harry. Sorg was then shoved out of the room.

…The next day…

"Are you sure you're ready to get back to work?" Ron asked Hermione as they walked into the office. Hermione's hands were heavily bandaged and were still shaking a little.

"If I don't get back to work as soon as possible," said Hermione, "I never will. But thanks for the concern."

"Glad to see you back on your feet," said Harry.

"Glad to be back," said Hermione, "And congratulations on catching the killer."

"I should be congratulation the two of you," said Harry, "When's the wedding?"

"Sometime next spring," said Hermione as she tenderly pulled out a gold chain around her neck; a diamond engagement ring was on the chain, her fingers were still too sore to wear a ring, "You still haven't asked Ginny?"

"Actually I have," said Harry, "We're also getting married next spring. Maybe we'll have a double wedding."

"As long as I get to choose what I wear to the ceremonies," said Ron, "And nothing to 'traditional.'"

"That's fine with me," said Hermione.

They all laughed at this, remembering what Ron had to wear to the Yule Ball. Harry's face then got somber, as if remembering something. "What's bugging you, mate?" asked Ron.

"Just something Sorg asked me before he was hauled off to Azkaban for holding," said Harry, "He asked me if I was grateful to be alive after all that I'd been through. The answer is yes, I am grateful to be alive."

"You know what," said Hermione, "So am I; I'm grateful to be alive."

"Same here," said Ron.

The End

There, fixed and rewritten so that it fits with what happened in Deathly Hallows. Soon I shall have my other Harry Potter sequel 'Equivalent Exchange' fixed and rewritten, then I can get started on another story. Until then!!