Disclaimer: Yada, yada, yada. JKR is the owner, I just hotwired the whole thing for a joyride.

Chapter 20

Odds and Ends

Godric's Hollow
The Sweat Lodge
The Next Day

Harry sat in the sweat lodge across the fire from Sirius. He was physically exhausted and looking for some advice. He had hoped to have Sirius act as a go-between with Dumbledore, but in this he was disappointed. Not only was Dumbledore not in the same plane as Sirius, but Snape had been found not guilty by the Judges of the Spirit World and the Maker. The Maker had declared that the killing curse could not have killed Dumbledore since there was not the required hatred behind the spell. Still, no one knew what had happened to Albus Dumbledore.

"You cannot believe how insufferable Snivelus has become, not that he wasn't already." Sirius stated. "I have not heard the phrase, 'I told you so' said in so many different ways. And the worst part is that he doesn't even look the same. He has a mental image of himself as some sort of normal person, and that is what shows through. He also wears his robes with short sleeves so that his forearms show. That is because the Dark Mark is gone. This is Paradise and all, but having him here almost makes me want to come back."

Harry laughed. "To be honest with you, Snape is the last person that I would have expected to end up there. But all of that still does not explain what happened to Dumbledore."

"Has anyone looked in the tomb?" Sirius asked. "I would be interested about whether he is even still in there."

"Don't think that I haven't considered it. The problem is though is that the tomb is impregnable. It was really built to last. There is some really heavy duty magic involved in the construction."

"So, have you decided when you are going to challenge Voldemort?"

"I have been letting him stew in his own juices for a while. He went spare when he found Nagini gone and the Riddle Manor burned to the ground. He ought to be just about ready to try to put me away by now. Everyone says they're ready, we've trained until we can go through it in our sleep."

"If I could make a suggestion…. Halloween is in three days. What better time for justice to be delivered than on the day that he killed your parents?"

"You know, that may not be a bad idea. The only thing that I'm worried about is the giants. I don't know where they are right now. A couple of weeks ago they were in Scotland, but they've had enough time to be just about anywhere by now. Hagrid found traces of them in the Forbidden Forest, and the centaurs have been keeping a loose watch on then, but I haven't heard anything in a few days." Harry explained. "That is why I need Dumbledore. He would probably know something that would give us an edge."

The two talked for a short while longer, then Sirius returned to the Spirit World and Harry went out to join his guards.

HARRY POTTER CHALLENGES RIDDLE!
Time to Lay Down on the Ashheap of History says Boy-Who-Lived

Exclusive to the Daily Prophet
Merle Ashforth, Staff Writer

In an exclusive interview, Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, has declared that it is time that the death sentence levied against Tom Riddle, the self styled Lord Voldemort, be carried out.

"Since the Ministry of Magic has placed an open warrant on the head of Riddle and his Death Eaters, I have decided to step forward and collect. Riddle has been hiding in fear of the good people of Britain. This is no surprise since he is a coward and a bully. He has been the leader of a criminal gang who does his bidding since he doesn't have the courage to fight against anyone but small children and their mothers."

When this reporter asked why Harry Potter was coming forward at this time to make the challenge, Mr. Potter replied, "My whole life has been spent either fighting Riddle or preparing to fight him. I whipped him when I was but a one year old child, I beat him as a first and second year student. He tried and failed to kill me in the Triwizard Tournament. He and his thugs have killed or injured most of the people whom I care for. It is far past time that he and his gang lay down and die on the ash heap of history and failure."

"Riddle, although he tries to play on Pureblood sympathies, is himself a mongrel. He had to resort to hiding in the ruined home of his muggle father, a man who was seduced by a love potion in order to create the bastard that we call Voldemort. It is only fitting that another half-blood be the one to erase this stain upon the Wizarding world. He will be receiving my formal challenge tomorrow. If he does not answer, the entire Wizarding world will see what a coward and complete waste of genetic material he really is."

So there you have it, readers. One way or another, there will be a final showdown between He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Mentioned and the Once-Boy-Now-Man-Who-Lived. Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort was not available for comment.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Room of Requirement
October 30

Harry had been busy since his interview with the Daily Prophet. He had gone over the plan once again with all of the other team members. They were encouraged by the fact that Hagrid had not only received reports from the centaurs that the giants were in the Forbidden Forest, but had also seen some of them. This would put them out of the way when the showdown came at Godric's Hollow. It was now time to put the final preparation in place. With Lupin by his side, he sent out his thoughts across time and space.

"Hey there Tall, Dark and Ugly.. I know you can hear me… It's time for you to die…"

"Where are you, Potter?" Voldemort hissed.

"Oh, just relaxing with my new pet snake. She's a lot more relaxed now that you're out of the picture. I think that I'll keep her around for quite a while. Anyway, Tom, how do you like the remodeling job on your house? I put a lot of thought into it. And did you happen to see the Daily Prophet today?"

"You little bastard! Before I'm finished with you, you will be begging me to kill you! You and your friends. I killed off your last living relatives, it's time to finish you also."

"Ah… At least we're on the same page. We have been fighting since I was a baby and I'm getting pretty tired of it. You can't get to me anymore, and as you pointed out, I have no more family to protect. You've also lost everything, lost your chance at immortality, you have nothing left to lose but your life. As far as my friends, I tried to keep them out of this, but it is their decision to fight. They're doing it for their own reasons and I have nothing to offer them but my admiration. One way or another, we need to end this now."

"Agreed. Potter, you could have had it all. I would have made you my closest follower. I offered it to your father, but the fool rejected me. Idiocy must run in your family. I had to kill him, and you will meet the same fate. I will rule the world while you are decomposing in a forgotten grave. So come to me now and we will settle this."

"Actually, Tom, you and your gang can come to me. I'm going to have a nice meal and a good rest, and I suggest that you do the same. After all, you should be well rested for your execution. I'll contact you in the morning with the location." Harry sent Voldemort a picture of the exorcism of Nagini, then broke contact.

Leaving the Room of Requirement, Harry and Lupin went down to the Great Hall to meet with the others. Since there were no students at Hogwarts, the Hall did not have all of the House tables set up, but rather one large, 5 sided table set in the middle. Taking their places on one side, Harry and Lupin joined the other human inhabitants of Hogwarts. Harry poured a large pumpkin juice and took a roast beef sandwich from an eager house-elf.

"It's all set. We'll go ahead to Grimmauld Place when we finish here. Minerva, have you prepared the castle?"

"As well as possible. The house-elves refused to leave, even though I had plenty of places for them to stay until it's over. I am assured that the castle can hold off any assault though. What about you? Do you think that V-Voldemort will be able to access your memories to get details of the plan?"

"The last time he tried, he got quite a shock. What I am doing is running a continuous loop of 'special' memories just for him. He can watch himself being destroyed when I was one, he can also watch every time that he has been handed a defeat. It doesn't take much of that before he takes off. Now I have gotten to the point that it takes no effort to hold that shield. He won't be getting anything from my mind."

"Very well. I do have one bit of good news that I've been waiting to share until everyone was here. Hagrid, will please come here?" Hagrid got up and joined McGonagall. "Hagrid, everyone here knows that a great injustice was done to you when Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets and blamed you. I have petitioned the Ministry along with Mr. Potter and I just received the answer back today. They have overturned their original decision and have not only cleared your record, they have also reinstated your rights as a wizard. I contacted Olivander's wand shop with the specifications of your original wand and purchased a replacement." McGonagall handed Hagrid a long, thin box with a bright red ribbon tied around it. "Welcome back, Professor Hagrid!"

Hagrid opened the box and pulled out the wand. He waved it and lights and flowers spewed from the end. "I don't know what teh say…" He broke down in tears. Everyone crowded around him, slapping him on the back and congratulating him.

After having a celebratory toast, McGonagall created a portkey for them to travel to Grimmauld Place. With the assault group gathered around, they touched the serving platter and disappeared, leaving only McGonagall and Hagrid behind in the castle.

"Professor, I'm going to go out and check the grounds. If there is a problem I'll let yeh know." With that, Hagrid got up. He didn't immediately leave however. He grabbed Minerva McGonagall by the waist, swung her around and gave a whoop of pure joy, sounding more like the young wizard he once was. Releasing her, he very seriously went to one knee and looked her in the eye. "Minerva, when Dumbledore died, I thought that I would die of a broken heart. Don't get me wrong, I still miss him terrible. But I know that Hogwarts is in the hands of a witch who is every bit as great as Dumbledore was. Thank you for giving me back my life."

Minerva blushed. "Hagrid, it was a pleasure. I just wish that it had not taken so long. And Hagrid…"

"Yes?"

With a twinkle in her eye reminiscent of Dumbledore, she said, "Let's not have any of that when the students get back." With that, Minerva McGonagall leaned forward and planted a kiss on Hagrid's forehead.