Disclaimer: I own only the plot; the characters belong to JKR.

Means to an end

::Parseltongue::

Chapter 5

Into the fire

Harry had studied away from the prying eyes into Slytherin's chambers and later room of requirement for a number of years. He had known this day will come soon in the future ever since his first year in the Hogwarts. Voldemort was the necessary evil in his life he had to face and conquer or die trying. He had always been alone in this and he would always be alone. There was no Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione or Sirius here. He was the only one who had to do this.

He glanced at his watch. There were only a few minutes left. He was under his invisibility cloak. The alley had filled up with more people with time; the majority of the wizengamot included. 'Ungrateful bastards, the lot of them. Let's see how they like tomorrow's headlines 'Boy Who Lived killed at the hands of You Know Who' or Boy Who Lived killed You Know Who and blasted the ministry'. He grinned manically. 'The last hour of my freedom is gone.' It was time.

He took off his cloak and stuffed it into his pocket. He walked down into the center of the open arena as cracks echoed all over the alley. His heart lurched. Dumbledore was here with most of the order on his side. Voldemort was here with many of his death-eaters on the other side. He glanced at Dumbledore and saw the resignation on those eyes. He knew then that this day was going down in history. Lives were going to be changed with blood and sacrifices. He took a deep breath and stared at his arch nemesis. There was a manic grin on his face now. There was nothing more to lose.

:: "Harry Potter." :: Voldemort hissed coldly, "finally."

:: "Tom Marvolo Riddle, finally." :: Harry hissed back. He eyed the new wand in Voldemort's hand. :: "New toy, Riddle." ::

It was enough to incite Voldemort, who threw the opening salvo. "Lacero."

Harry ducked and rolled. :: "So impatient, Tom," :: he mocked. :: "Always looking to cut and maim. Would it please you to cut me and make me bleed? :: "He added in a purr.

Voldemort faltered a second. However it was enough for Harry, "Niger nex." He yelled. The violently purple curse sneaked past Voldemort's defenses and hit his left shoulder. 'Gotcha.' He grinned. It was a special hex he had learned from the books nicked from the Black library. It couldn't be countered with a Protégo but a special block.

"Crucio," Voldemort screamed.

Harry threw himself to the side and rolled again. :: "You told me before that we are quite alike. I am curious." :: Harry continued his taunting as adrenalin rushed through his veins with the Dark curse. It gave him a head rush. :: "This is fun. I could die today and won't regret it. Would you regret your death if you die." ::

:: " I am not going to die today you foolish boy." ::

"Extraho niger ignis," he whispered. A jet of Black fire erupted from his wand. The scorching heat raised the temperature of the entire alley as the flames took the form of a Black dragon and issued a jet of fire in Voldemort direction. The death eaters behind him scattered taking cover. The snake face man's eyes widened. He whispered a spell which froze the dragon breath. Huge chunks of ice fell through the alley. Quick as a flash Harry banished the falling chunks towards Voldemort.

"Protégé maxima." Voldemort raised an impressive shield. 'Impressing the crowds huh!' Harry smirked.

"Caedo." Wordlessly he flicked his wand. His curse was rebounded by the shield but that wasn't what he was looking for. Voldemort's surprised scream satisfied him. This curse he had found in the room of requirement. It was an old killing curse. It could be stopped by the magical shields but the shield raiser got a sharp jolt nonetheless, the stronger the shield the shaper the jolt; which was the reason he had used it.

:: "You would find yourself outmatched today Tom." ::He smirked.

"Crucio." His taunting had left his side exposed. He had rolled but the curse had touched him briefly giving him another rush as it sped though his body. He felt his nipples harden and his face flush with the heady feeling. He stood and glared at Tom with a smile tugging at his lips.

:: "It was almost erotic foreplay Tom." :: He purred seductively. :: "Is your deformed little Tom up for it?" ::

Voldemort stared at the siren standing before him. The boy was innocent of the wiles he had seen in many of his death eaters. Yet he was taunting him, seducing him in front of so many witnesses who were oblivious. He did not want to kill Harry Potter; he did not need to any more. No, he wanted Harry bloody Potter; this enchanting vision standing before him. 'Was there a way to end this before one of them died?' he wondered.

"Expelliarmus." Harry screamed. Ah! the old faithful curse. Voldemort ducked and weaved this time. So far the little imp had demonstrated immense power. Well he had better control than show emotion into the battle field.

"Erigo abyssus golluma", he intoned. A huge pit opened between them and fiery gollums began to rise from the very depths of earth's core.

Harry raised his brows. Earth demons were supposed to scare an average wizard, not him who banished them every day in his hidden practice with his power levels. Of course Voldemort wouldn't know that. The people behind his side gasped and begun to scream and run like headless chickens though.

"Unda caga extreama banisho," Harry replied with almost casual drawl and Tom's gollums were banished towards their creator. Voldemort ducked with and raised another Dark shield. Harry added a wordless Caedo. Another scream and he grinned.

"Incidere, Morsus", Voldemort ground out. Now he was playing for the keeps. He wanted the tiny bugger with him and by Merlin he was going to get him.

Harry whispered, "Lumos maxima" and threw himself forward. The spells combined and exploded together in an incandescent flash. In the brilliant Light that followed everybody was blinded for a few seconds. Harry's arms found purchase on Voldemort's robe.

Tom snaked his arms around the younger wizard and cast a silent wandless spell which kept up the blinding Light. :: "You know that Dumbledore set this up don't you. He was trying to get you killed undoubtedly."::

Harry grinned. :: "I have known since my third year when he refused to help Sirius."::

:: "Cheeky imp! I want you." ::

:: "You killed my parents years ago. I killed Bellatrix and Lucius a few minutes back."::

:: Voldemort growled," What?"::

:: "You weren't thinking that I hung around pathetically waiting for you to show up did you?" :: Harry's smile turned feral. :: "I didn't hurt them, much before I killed them. Hurts doesn't it? To lose someone you want. Portus." :: He whispered. They disappeared from the Diagon alley.

black death- niger nex

erigo abyssus - raise from hell

caedo – kill

Incidere- cut

Morsus- kill

Unda caga extreama - big water cage

Banish- banish

Extraho niger ignis- black dragon fire