Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter and pretty much this whole scene i am writing. Most of the dialogue towards the end is taken from Deathly Hallow chapter 35.
Authors Note: SO here is the final battle. I am so sorry it took so long. These past 2 weeks were difficult. Also i had no idea where to start. Again i am not very good at writing action scenes so please bear with me. I hope you like. R&R if you can.
Chapter 15: Battle of Hogwarts
I found myself in an empty corridor, which was quite odd since there was a war going on. The walls were occasionally shaking and dust was flying everywhere, the houselves really have a lot in store for them if we ever win this war. Wait what am I thinking? Of course we will win this war! Suddenly a boy screaming cute my thoughts off. I ran down the hall trying to help whoever I could.
"Thank merlin I found someone!" A voice yelled.
"Colin?" I asked as I saw the figure come into view. It was Colin! He looked battleworn. He was bleeding a bit and his face was dirty.
"Hey we need to get out of here quick" He yelled. When I looked behind him about 2 death eaters were attacking him. Spells were flying everywhere and by the looks of it they were not expelliarmus.
would have been a perfect shot if it hadn't been blocked. Soon Colin and I were next to each other taking cover, both covered in sweat from all the movement.
"Thanks for helping," He said as we both attacked with every spell we knew, but the death eaters simply were stronger. We both kept running trying to get away from the spell fire.
"Don't thank me yet. We need to take them down first" I said as the death eaters rounded the corner, "they just don't give up." I hissed.
"We need a better view of them" He said as a green light sailed past him. Suddenly Colin jumped out of cover and shot a stupefy spell at one. Suprisingly it hit one of the death eaters right in the chest, but not before he shot a green light back. Colin just stood there surprised at actually hitting someone with a look of pride on his face.
"No! Colin move you idiot!" I yelled angrily when I noticed he had not ducked yet. He turned back to the death eaters just as the spell hit him. A burst of anger explode within me as I watched Colin fall to the floor lifeless. Before I could even think about what I was doing I yelled, "Reducto!" at the remaining death eater. He placed a shield up, but my reducto was too strong. It broke the shield and the death eater was thrown back into a wall unconscious.
"Colin wake up!" I yelled. I didn't want to cry, I needed to be strong. i shook him, hoping that the curse was not the one i thought it was.
"Ginny!" a voice in the distance yelled yet I payed no attention to it. All I could think of was my friend who was now lying on the ground before me. Suddenly I was being shook.
"Ginny! Its not safe over here!" The voice of Hannah Abbott yelled. She pulled onto me forcing me to stand up, "Ginny snap out of it! You need to be strong. Mourn him later!" Hannah said. I guess she had never seen me like this before. I shook my head, making the small headache I had stronger.
"Sorry," I apologized shamefully. None of the DA has ever seen me like this.
"Its okay." She said. She looked like she had been in battle for hours. Her hair was in a tight, messy ponytail. Her face was covered in smudges of different things that I couldn't quite tell what they were, "Come on!" she yelled as she pulled onto my hand. We were running, where to I had no idea. Spells were flying everywhere, bodies were strewn all over the floor, and debris were flying. Hannah and I ran trying to help anybody that we could. Suddenly Hannah stopped and pushed us behind a tall pile of what used to be a wall. A death eater was nearby. We watched as he kicked the body of a guy on the floor.
"Is that Michael?" She asked shakily. The guy cried out in pain and spit out what looked to be blood. My fists tightened, there is no way I would let any of my other fellow DA members down.
"On the count of 3 shoot a stupefy," I said confidently. Hannah nodded, she looked close to tears.
"One" I said grabbing onto my wand.
"Two" I pointed my wand.
"Three!" I yelled just as the death eater rose his wand. Hannah and I both cried Stupefy. Our red lights hit him, one in the chest and one in the face. The impact was so strong that the man flew into the wall with a sickening crunch. Hannah ran to Michael and immediately started to heal him. He was half conscious and was not really talking , unless to groan.
"Ginny, Hannah are you hurt?" Neville asked frantically. We both shook our heads. Michael was bleeding badly.
"His ribs are broken and he looks like he's been under crucio," Hannah said. He looked like he had been tortured. I hope my family is okay I thought as I stared at my beaten friend. They have more experience with fighting, they will be okay, i told myself.
Suddenly a loud voice filled the halls as a cold chill swept the area. Everyone around us stopped moving and all noise ceased.
"You have fought," said the high, cold voice, "valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery.
"Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste.
"Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. "You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured. "I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."
"We need to go to the great hall" I said,
"We can't leave him here." Hannah cried. She bent over and using some of the healing spells we learned over the school year healed some of his smaller wounds.
"Then lets bring him." Neville replied as he helped Michael up.
"Ahh!" Michael screamed. Neville placed him back down softly.
"Just leave me here. I'll be fine for now. Have someone go get me." Michael said in between gasps of air. His face was red and his voice was breaking.
"I'll stay with him" Hannah said. Neville looked torn between staying and helping out, but she gave him a small smile that must have said something to him because soon he was pulling me towards the great hall.
As we neared the great hall many people were carrying in bodies. That's when I remembered, "Colin" I mumbled, "I have to go get Colin" I said.
"I'm sure Colin knows his way here" Neville assured me, placing a hand on my shoulder. Angrily I jerked away and stared at him.
"No he won't." I hissed angrily, "We were dueling two death eaters in some corridor when he was hit by-He- he's dead" I could barely get it out. Understanding etched onto Neville's face.
"Oh" he looked heartbroken, "You go to your family. I will find him." He added after staring into the open doors of the great hall.
"But-"
"Go" he ordered without looking inside. Neville is never forceful unless he truly has to be so I nodded and walked away from him. As soon as I stared into the great hall I could see why Neville didn't want to go in. It was like walking into a nightmare. Injured people were in one area with madam Pomfrey and Padma tending to the wounded. There were so many that needed help and part of me was tempted to help, but the other part of me yearned to see my family and Harry. There was a line of bodies that were laid going from one side of the room all the way to the other.
That's when it hit me. Where's my family? I walked past many people I recognized until I laid my eyes on a certain couple.
"Tonks" I cried out as I rushed to her body. Remus lay next to her his eyes closed. Tears threatened to escape and an incredible sort of sadness coursed through me. They didn't look as battleworn as the others. What about Teddy? How could they leave him? I looked over, unable to stare at them any longer when I noticed mum and dad walk into the hall. Dad was holding onto her as she sobbed loudly. What's going-? From behind her walked Bill and Percy, who were carrying a lifeless body. It was when I noticed the red hair attached to that body, that I froze. Percy had tears rolling down his cheeks and Bill's eyes were red. Oh no. Then George walked in after slowly behind them. He looked confused and…alone. Where's Ron and Fred? Percy and Bill placed the body next to Lupin and Tonks. Part of me was afraid to look, but I knew I needed to. I turned slowly towards what turned out to be the lifeless body of Fred.
He would die with a smile on his face, I said without laughing. Part of me figured, He's laughing, so maybe he's kidding, maybe this was all just a joke he was playing. George leaned over and hugged Fred, small sobs escaped and that's when it hit me. Fred is dead. No! I yelled in my head. He can't be! Fred, the one who understood me, the one who I spent most of my time with this Easter, he can't be dead! My brother can't be dead! Tears started to slide down my face as the realization that my closest brother was now laying lifeless in front of me. My whole resolve slowly fell and tears poured out of my eyes. my headache was slowly getting worse. Finally Staring at Fred became too much so I watched my family. Mum was nearly on top of Fred sobbing loudly. George was still holding onto Fred, but looked so lost, Fleur was comforting Percy and Bill. Where was Ron, Hermione, and Harry?
Before i could even bother to look for them Hermione pulled me into a hug, which I accepted gratefully. Although I wished it were Harry, it was better than nothing. Where was Harry?
"Hermione where's Harry?" I asked as I broke the hug. Ron was standing nearby with Percy, Bill and Fleur.
"I dunno" she answered looking around frantically, "he was just with us." She mumbled wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I'm going to go help out. Take care of him," I told her as I noticed Ron staring at Fred. Percy's arm was hung around Ron's shoulder. Everyone looked so defeated. I wanted, no needed to be alone to gather my thoughts. The corridors all looked…broken. The beauty of Hogwarts was no longer as appealing as before. I walked outside and passed the bodies that still hadn't been moved to the great hall. I walked slowly with intent on seeing if my favorite tree was still around or if it had been another casualty in this war. I wish I could help like Oliver and Neville who walked by carrying Colin's body, but I honestly don't think I could handle seeing anymore of my friends and family added to that line.
A strangled cry interrupted me from my thoughts. I looked around quickly to see a young girl on the floor. She was wearing torn robes of what looked to be of the Hufflepuff house. Slowly I walked towards her not caring about my needs anymore. I just wanted to help her.
She was lying on the floor in a twisted position next to a large rock. I could barely look at her mangled body without twitching, but i could not leave her. I leaned over her so she could see my face.
"Please help me, I want my mum" She cried as soon as she caught sight of my face. Her face was covered with smudges of dirt and blood. It looked like she had fallen and hit her head on the rock after being tortured.
"It's all right," I reassured her, "It's okay. We're going to get you inside."
"But I want to go home," she whispered. "I don't want to fight anymore!" My heart broke for her, but oddly I felt this comforting presence. It's that feeling you have when someone is watching you.
"I know," I said. None of us want to fight anymore, "It's going to be all right." I finished failing to keep my voice neutral. How could I? I just lost Fred, Tonks, Remus, and Colin! Now I'm losing this little girl! I grabbed her hand hoping to comfort her. Small tears threatened to fall from my eyes as the girl's heartbeat slowed. I heard a noise and turned immediately. That's odd, I thought, No one is here. I could have sworn I felt the presence of…Ha-, never mind that. Now I'm going mad! I turned back to the girl who's eyes were now closed. Her skin looked pale and her hand was getting colder. I wanted to carry her into the great hall, but i doubt i would have been able to without dropping her. Instead I slowly stood up and walked back into the castle in hopes of finding someone to help.
"Ginny! There you are." Hermione said in a panic as she nearly collided into me, "No one could find you!" she said as Ron stood behind her with a weary look.
"She's fine" he said with a tired voice. His face was red as if he's just been crying. Something was missing, wait no someone was missing.
"Where's Harry?" I asked yearning to see him and know he was okay.
"uh That's who we were looking for before we found you." Hermione said a bit ashamed.
"you lost him?" I asked panicking a bit. Harry wouldn't give himself in…right? Wait this is Harry we are talking about! "We need to find him before he does something rash!" I exclaimed. My heart was racing as I thought of all the places he could be. After every place I listed all I could think of was Voldemort. It's almost like my heart knew that was where he was. Just as i turned to go look for him that familiar loud voice boomed off the walls causing more dust to fall
"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." A voice said echoeing throughout the hall. Hermione, Ron, and I stared at each other for a second before the voice continued, "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. Anybody 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." Mum and dad raced out to us along with many of the Great Hall. Both had a panicked look on their faces as they noticed Harry was not with us. Everyone rushed out to the entrance hall all wearing worried looks.
"is it true?" Neville asked as he found us, "Where is he?" Neville asked frantically.
"He's not with us" I whispered, "But he couldn't have. Harry would never run away" I said angrily.
"I saw him. Now that I think of it, I was probably the last one to see him. I had just finished carrying Colin's body and-" Neville said in a worried tone. I tried to comfort him but he broke away from my grip, "and he stopped me. He told me to kill a snake, Voldemort's snake." Neville said angrily, "I let him walk away! I can't believe i didn't stop him"
"There's nothing you could have done! We don't even know if he went to Voldemort for sure!" I said angrily making Hermione jump.
"Ginny what does your heart tell you." neville asked
"I don't know! It's still broken from the fact that my brother is dead along with many of my friends!" I snapped. Neville backed away slowly.
Everything soon became dead silent as we all awaited news. Professor McGonagall was the first to leave the open doorway and not too soon after gasped loudly.
"No!" Professor Mcgonagall screamed. I don't think anyone has ever heard her scream like that. What would make her snap like that? My heart was beating faster as I searched the crowd for Harry. Neville was one of the first to react. He ran to the open doorway.
"Is that…Hagrid?" Neville asked loudly. Ron, Hermione, and I joined him, following him onto the stairs. It was Hagrid! He was holding something, but I couldn't tell what. I was too focused on the sight of Voldemort, who was standing directly in front of Hagrid with a snake residing on his shoulders. Bellatrix looked way too proud of herself and was laughing. Professor Mcgonagall looked like she had tears falling. More people joined us including my parents.
Hermione tensed next to me, along with Ron. I finally looked closer at the body, it looked like...Harry. I shook my head violently.
"No!" Hermione screamed so loud scaring half the people surrounding us. "No!" Hermione cried again this time not as loud. She was openly crying now. That can't be. Then i saw the glasses ad the outline of the scar. Oh my god!
"Harry!" Ron cried loudly just as i yelled, "HARRY!" freeing all my emotions. He can't be dead! My heart completely was falling apart and I could feel my legs giving out. Bill who was standing behind me grabbed onto me, but that did not help. I felt so many different emotions. I didn't want to cry, I wanted to kill. I wanted to wipe that smirk off of Voldemort's face, I wanted t smack that smile off of Bellatrix, I wanted to cause pain to every death eater as they have caused us pain. Everyone around me was soon screaming at the death eaters. Mum was sobbing into dad's shoulder as tears slid down his cheeks. Neville was- wait where did Neville go?
"SILENCE!" cried Voldemort, He raised his hand and a bright light washed over us. Everything then grew silent "It's over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"
Hagrid followed and slowly placed Harry on the floor.
"You see?" said Voldemort, as he lowered his wand and used it to push Harry back and forth. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you under- stand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!" My heart was still screaming no. Harry can't be! This wasn't how it all was supposed to end. Anger roared through every part of me. Harry was not a coward! He was special! I wanted to curse all of the death eaters but Bill's grip was too strong.
"He beat you!" yelled Ron, and the charm broke, and everyone was shouting and screaming again until we heard a second, more powerful bang.
"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," said Voldemort with this satisfaction, "killed while trying to save himself—"
Before he could finish a figure charged at Voldemort, to no avail.
"No Neville" Hermione whispered. Wait what's she on about? Neville was never that rash. Sadly, however, I was mistaken, Neville was easily disarmed and fell to the floor, his wand now in Voldemort's hand.
"And who is this?" he said in his soft snake's hiss. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"
Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh.
"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Car- rows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?" she said gleefully.
"Ah, yes, I remember," said Voldemort, looking down at Neville, who was struggling back to his feet, unarmed and unprotected, standing in between the survivors and the Death Eaters. "But you are a pure- blood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Voldemort asked Neville, who stood facing him, his empty hands curled into fists.
"So what if I am?" said Neville loudly.
"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."
"I'll join you when hell freezes over," said Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted causing me along with many others to cheer loudly.
"Very well," said Voldemort with this creepy low voice. "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head," he said quietly, "be it."
Voldemort waved his wand. Seconds later, out of one of the castle's shattered windows, something that looked like a bird flew through the half light and landed in Voldemort's hand. He shook the object by its end and it dangled. It was the sorting hat.
"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," said Voldemort. "There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colors of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?"
He pointed his wand at Neville, who grew rigid and still, then forced the hat onto Neville's head, so that it slipped down below his eyes. Anger flared through my body! I along with many others tried to help Neville, but the death eaters pointed their wands at us attempting to force us to watch our friend's fate.
"Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," said Voldemort, and with a flick of his wand, the Sorting Hat burst into flames.
My eyes widened along with Hermione and Ron. Both looked ready to kill Voldemort. I could not stand there and watch my friend burn to death. Before any of us could even do anything large shouts were heard getting louder as they headed toward the castle. Grawp then came out of the side of the castle yelling, "HAGGER!" This caused all of Voldemorts giants to attack. Then all of a sudden arrows were hitting death eaters, surprising almost everyone. The centaurs used this to their advantage and attacked all the startled death eaters. I turned to Neville who should have been burning, to try and help when I noticed he had broken free of the body-bind curse. The hat was now on the floor and he was clutching the Sword of Gryffindor. No one had even noticed due to the noise caused by the giants and the battle that had now just started. With one stroke, Neville cut off the head of the snake, which was exactly what Harry had told him to do. Thestrals were now in the sky working together with grawp to take down the giants. It was pretty gruesome to watch. Chaos was the only word for what had just happened. Everything was in chaos. Hagrid's screams broke Hermione, Ron and I out of our reverie. I had no idea what he was screaming about and could not focus on figuring it out because the death eaters were charging at us, forcing us back into the castle. Hermione held onto me as we approached the now raging battle. So many things were going on. Charlie had just ran to join the fight, Ron and Neville were teamed together fighting Greyback, and even the house elves were a part of the action.
"Is that...Kreacher?" i asked half amused as Hermione stared wide-eyed, "Luna!" I cried happily as she approached us.
"Ah what do we have here" The voice of Bellatrix laughed, "A Weasley, a mudblood and a traitor. This shall be fun" She said as she aimed a curse at us. All three of us scattered before the curse could hit us and soon were a part of the fight. Hermione was glaring at Bellatrix in such anger that I never knew Hermione possessed. Luna was even staring at Bellatrix angrily. I knew we all hated her, but there must be something they are not telling me. Bellatrix through what looked to be a cruciatus at us and we easily dodged it.
"Stupefy" I shouted, but her shield easily blocked it. Bellatrix was yelling taunts at us and laughing as she practically toyed with us. Hermione angrily yelled, "Diffindo!" Bellatrix was not expecting it and barely had time to shield herself. Hermione's spell did not really do much damage except it cut a bit of Bellatrix's face and hair. The look Bellatrix gave us sent chills down my spine. Soon we were dodging and sending out curses of our own. Suddenly just as I had finished throwing a reducto at her, a green light sailed right by me, missing by an inch. I watched it go by frozen in place. Bellatrix really isn't playing around anymore is she?
"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" was heard from far startling not only me, but Hermione and Luna. We all stopped to see my mum running in full speed towards us with her wand pointed a Bellatrix. Mum had this fire in her eyes that would have scared half of Hogwarts even Dumbledore. Then again, Bellatrix was a bit…off in the head so instead she laughed unable to take mum serious.
"OUT OF MY WAY!" mum shouted to us pushing past us. With a swipe of her wand she began to duel. We all watched, wide eyed at mum, who seemed to be an equal match for Bellatrix. Mum was just as quick and her wand moved in a speed I had never seen it move before. Even Bellatrix Lestrange's smile faltered and became a snarl. Jets of light flew from both wands and the floor around their feet became hot and cracked; both women were fighting to kill.
"No!" mum cried as a few students ran forward, trying to help her. I honestly don't know why they did, she was holding her own pretty well, "Get back! Get back! She is mine!"
Hermione, Luna and I joined most of the survivors against the wall to watch the two biggest fights; Voldemort fighting his three opponents, Professor McGonagall, Slughorn and Kingsley and then Bellatrix and mum.
"What will happen to your children when I've killed you?" taunted Bellatrix, "When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"
"You—will—never—touch—our—children—again!" screamed mum. She sounded so determined and so protective that I knew what would happen. Bellatrix laughed just as mum curse hit her squarely in the chest, directly over her heart. She toppled backwards and her smile was finally gone from her face. I along with everyone else screamed so loud, feeling a large sense of pride for mum. She defended us, she defended me and even killed for me. Then Professor Mcgonagall, Kingsley, and Slughorn all went flying through the air and Voldemort's wand was turned on mum. No! I screamed in my head. Before the spell could hit her, a familiar voice shouted, "Protego" causing the spell to hit the shield. Voldemort looked completely shocked and watched in horror as none other than Harry Potter appeared right before his eyes. Everyone watched in shock. My heart was now pounding and overwhelming happiness filled it. Tears were sliding down my cheeks as I took in the alive form of my ex-boyfriend. Hermione grabbed my hand and we both smiled as our hope on the outcome of this battle grew. People were screaming, "Harry!" while others kept pointing out the fact that he was alive. Harry and Voldemort were staring at each other as if ready to duel. The hall then grew completely silent.
"I don't want anyone else to try to help." Harry said loudly, and in the total silence his voice carried like a trumpet call. "It's got to be like this. It's got to be me."
Voldemort hissed.
"Potter doesn't mean that," he said, his red eyes wide. "That isn't how he works, is it? Who are you going to use as a shield today, Potter?"
"Nobody," said Harry simply. "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?" jeered Voldemort. "You think it will be you, do you, the boy who has survived by accident, and because Dumbledore was pulling the strings?"
"Accident, was it, when my mother died to save me?" asked Harry. They were still moving sideways, both of them, in that perfect circle, maintaining the same distance from 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?"
So he did give himself in. That boy- i am going to hurt him when this is all over!
"Accidents!" screamed Voldemort. "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," said Harry as they circled, and stared into each other's eyes, green into red. "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 it did. 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?"
"You dare—"
"Yes, I dare," said Harry. "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?"
"Is it love again?" said Voldemort after a little while. "Dumbledore's favorite solution, love, which he claimed conquered death, though love did not stop him falling from the tower and breaking like an old waxwork? Love, which did not prevent me stamping out your Mudblood mother like a cock- roach, Potter—and nobody seems to love you enough to run forward this time and take my curse. So what will stop you from dying now when I strike?"
"Just one thing," said Harry, and still they circled each other, wrapped in each other, held apart by nothing but the last secret.
"If it is not love that will save you this time," said Voldemort, "you must believe that you have magic that I do not, or else a weapon more powerful than mine?"
"I believe both," said Harry. Voldemort was shocked at first and then began to laugh, and the sound was more frightening than his screams; humorless and insane, it echoed around the silent Hall.
"You think you know more magic than I do?" he said. "Than I, than Lord Voldemort, who has performed magic that Dumbledore himself never dreamed of?"
"Oh, he dreamed of it," said Harry, "but he knew more than you, knew enough not to do what you've done."
"You mean he was weak!" screamed Voldemort. "Too weak to dare, too weak to take what might have been his, what will be mine!" "No, he was cleverer than you," said Harry, "a better wizard, a better man." "I brought about the death of Albus Dumbledore!" "You thought you did," said Harry, "but you were wrong."
For the first time, the watching crowd stirred as the hundreds of people around the walls drew breath as one. "Dumbledore is dead!" Voldemort hurled the words at Harry as though they would cause him unendurable pain. "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's dead," said Harry calmly, "but you didn't have him killed. 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?" said Voldemort, but still he did not strike, and his red eyes did not waver from Harry's.
"Severus Snape wasn't yours," said Harry. "Snape was Dumbledore's. Dumbledore's from the moment you started 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?"
"What did he say about Snape?" Ron asked Hermione. He somehow had managed to walk over to us, "Has Harry lost it?"
Voldemort did not answer. They continued to circle each other, like wolves about to tear each other apart.
"Snape's Patronus was a doe," said Harry,"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 said as he saw Voldemort's nostrils flare, "he asked you to spare her life, didn't he?"
"He desired her, that was all," sneered Voldemort, "but when she had gone, he agreed that there were other women, and of purer blood, worthier of him—"
"Of course he told you that," said Harry, "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!"
"It matters not!" shrieked Voldemort, who had followed every word with rapt attention, but now let out a cackle of mad laughter. "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! 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," said Harry. "You're right. But before you try to kill me, I'd advise you to think about what you've done. . . .Think, and try for some remorse, Riddle. . . ."
"What is this?"
"It's your one last chance," said Harry, "it's all you've got left. . . . I've seen what you'll be otherwise... Be a man ...try ...Try for some remorse..."
"You dare—?" said Voldemort again.
"Yes, I dare," said Harry, "because Dumbledore's last plan hasn't backfired on me at all. It's backfired on you, Riddle."
Voldemort's hand was trembling on the Elder Wand, and Harry gripped Draco's very tightly.
"That wand still isn't working properly for you because you murdered the wrong person. Severus Snape was never the true master of the Elder Wand. He never defeated Dumbledore."
"He killed—"
"Aren't you listening? Snape never beat Dumbledore! 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!" Hermione gasped and stared wide-eyed at Harry. She had this odd smile on her lips, while Ron and i stared in confusion.
"But then, Potter, Dumbledore as good as gave me the wand!" Voldemort's voice shook with malicious pleasure. "I stole the wand from its last master's tomb! I removed it against its last master's wishes! It's power is mine!"
"You still don't get it, Riddle, do you? Possessing the wand isn't enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. Didn't you listen to Olli- vander? 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. . . ." Voldemort's chest rose and fell rapidly.
"The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy." Blank shock showed in Voldemort's face for a moment, but then it was gone. Hermione was now practically bouncing and then whispered something in Ron's ear. His eyes widened and he stared back at Harry with a small smile.
"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. . . ."
"But you're too late," said Harry. "You've missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took this wand from him."
I stared at the wand in his hand. That's true Harry's wand is from a Phoenix feather.
"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it?" whispered Harry. "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."
A red-gold glow burst suddenly across the enchanted sky above them as an edge of dazzling sun appeared over the sill of the nearest window. The light hit both of their faces at the same time, so that Voldemort's was suddenly a flaming blur. Harry heard the high voice shriek as he too yelled his best hope to the heavens, pointing Draco's wand:
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The bang was like a cannon blast, and the golden flames that erupted between them, at the dead center of the circle they had been treading, marked the point where the spells collided. Voldemort's green jet meet Harry's spell. The Elder Wand then fly high, dark against the sunrise, spinning across the enchanted ceiling, spinning through the air toward Harry, who caught the wand in his free hand as Voldemort fell backward, arms splayed, the slit pupils of the scar- let eyes rolling upward. Tom Riddle hit the floor with a mundane finality, his body feeble and shrunken, the white hands empty, the snakelike face vacant and unknowing. Voldemort was dead, killed by his own rebounding curse, and Harry stood with two wands in his hands, staring down at his enemy's shell. At first everyone was quiet, just staring at the lifeless body of the man we all feared for years. Then one person was cheering, followed by another until we were all cheering. Tears were falling freely down my face as I watched Hermione and Ron run towards Harry and crush him with hugs. He was smiling and still staring at Voldemort's body with relief. Luna, Neville and I ran towards him smiling and cheering. Soon my whole family, our teachers and our friends were all cheering and surrounding Harry. Mum had tears rolling down her cheeks and was staring at Harry with deep pride.
Authors Note: Again sorry i took so long. I hope you liked it. I will have the epilogue out by later today or tomorrow. This was really hard to write because so much was going on.