AN: This chapter concludes Harry's internal journey. The end is quickly approaching, if you like the story be sure to comment and let me know. The jury is still out on whether or not I should write the sequel.

Chapter 12

Harry did not remember Voldemort addressing him so directly; this confused Harry.

"I can tell that you are wondering why this memory is different than the others. It's because this isn't a memory," leered the young Tom Riddle Jr. "We have almost broken through the spell that was cast upon us. You meet here, in the chamber of my ancestor to determine which of us will control this body. I will kill you and reassume my place as the ruler of the wizard world."

"How can you see me," asked Harry.

"I have always been a part of you, Potter. It is because of me that you can speak to snakes. It is because of me that you have such a strong grasp of "Defense Against" the Dark Arts. You gained your fame because of me and now it is time for you to return all of my favors. You cannot hope to defeat me," Riddle said as he assumed a battle stance facing Harry. "Avada Kedavra."

Harry subconsciously dodged Riddle's spell and drew his own wall. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Riddle swatted the spell away with practiced ease. "You cannot win, Harry Potter. I have been with you every battle of your pathetic life. I know you better than you know yourself."

Harry flourished his wand and cast a Reducto curse that was lazily sidestepped by his opponent. "Say what you want Voldemort, every time that you've tried to kill me you have failed!"

"Ha," laughed Voldemort. "You have never even managed to land an offensive spell on me. Each time that we have faced you have been forced to flee. Think about the past year, you are the one scurrying around like that rat Pettigrew while trying to escape the wrath of Lord Voldemort. You must know that your quest is futile. Your meager abilities and your inadequate power are not enough to conquer the greatest dark wizard of all time!"

Voldemort began with the Relámpago charm to shoot a bolt of lightning at his opponent.

Harry dodged and cast Lumos Maxima in order to blind Voldemort.

Expecting an Expelliarmus, Voldemort was taken aback by Harry's change of tactics. This caused both of his bone-breaking curses to miss and allowed Harry the time he needed to throw a Conjunctivitis Charm which further obscured Riddle's vision in his right eye.

Voldemort cast a trio of Reductos in rapid succession. Harry managed to dodge the first two but was struck by the third and blasted back. By the time that he had recovered, Voldemort was on him again. Harry only just managed a Protego spell to block a severing charm that was aimed at his neck.

Harry then cast a Stupefy which was casually deflected by Voldemort's wand.

"Give up, Harry Potter. We both know how this duel will end," stated Voldemort as he advanced toward Harry. "Crucio!"

Hermione and Luna regrouped after the blast that had come when Luna destroyed Hufflepuff's cup. After making sure that they were ok they made their way over to Harry and saw that his once unexpressive face had been covered by a grimace.

"Hang in there, Harry. I know that you can beat this curse," murmured Hermione as she took his hand and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "I love you."

"Hermione, we should destroy the other horcrux," said Luna as she placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.

Hermione nodded and the two made their way to where they had left the cup of Hufflepuff. Hermione set the diadem down as she was handed the sword of Gryffindor by Luna.

"Do it for Harry," encouraged Luna.

Remembering the time in the woods with Harry, Hermione once again raised the sword above her head and brought it down upon Ravenclaw's diadem. Unlike the other two times that she had been present when a horcrux was destroyed Hermione did not see the blast of smoke that indicated that she had been successful in her mission. Instead she was transported to a dank chamber where she saw Harry engaging in battle with a young Slytherin.

Harry had been struck by many Cruciatus curses in his life; he had even been unfortunate enough to be struck by Voldemort's Cruciatus curse several times. Usually, this would not have been a good thing however it gave Harry the presence of mind that he needed to raise his wand and shoot a Expulso curse at his tormenter.

Voldemort did not expect Harry to have the mental fortitude to cast a spell while being tortured by the Cruciatus curse and was sent flying backward. Harry shook his head to clear the cobwebs from his brain. He knew that he would not be able to take much more punishment from Voldemort and knew that if he wasn't able to win this battle soon then he would lose everything that mattered to him; he could not allow his body to be taken over by Voldemort. Harry moved forward to face Voldemort again, who had since regained his footing.

The pair pointed their wands at each other and simultaneously yelled "Avada Kedavra." The streaks of green light met in the middle of the chamber. The dome that had encompassed Harry and Voldemort in the graveyard paled in comparison to the vast dome created within the Chamber of Secrets. Harry could hear Fawkes singing and see the memories of all the good times of his life flashing on the walls of the dome.

Harry saw himself as an eleven year old receiving his letter to Hogwarts; learning that he would be able to escape the Dursleys. He saw himself as a first year, making the first friends of his life. He saw himself as a third year, learning the Patronus charm from Remus Lupin and helping Sirius escape the Dementor's Kiss. He saw himself as a fourth year, out-flying a Hungarian Horntail dragon. He saw himself as a fifth year, leading Dumbledore's Army. He saw himself as a sixth year convincing Slughorn to give him the memory that Dumbledore needed to verify just how many horcruxes Voldemort had made. He saw himself with Hermione over the past year.

Harry would not let himself lose this battle, he had told Hermione he would be her rock; he had told her that he would be there for her. Harry felt as if a damn had burst inside of him, he felt more powerful than he had ever felt in his life. It may have just been a projection on the dome created by Priori Incantatem but Harry could see Hermione as if she was in the chamber with him, encouraging him. Harry focused his new found power through his wand and directed it through their connection at Voldemort. The huge ball that erupted from the end of Harry's wand raced along the beam of light that connected the two phoenix feather wands before swallowing the bead that had symbolized the balance of power between Harry and Voldemort. The blast destroyed Voldemort's wand and body before blasting through the dome created by the Priori Incantatem.

Luna was beside herself. When Hermione had destroyed the diadem she immediately collapsed. Not knowing what to do, Luna levitated her friend's fallen body to the bed next to Harry. Each minute seemed like an hour as Luna waited on any signs of life from her unconscious friends. Luna was starting to fall asleep when she heard both of her friends gasp.

"You're all right," exclaimed the Ravenclaw as she rushed to the embrace her Gryffindor comrades.

"Harry, you were brilliant," shouted Hermione. "I'm so glad that you're ok. I was so worried about you."

"I found my power," Harry replied mysteriously while looking back and forth between Hermione and Luna. "It seems that Dumbledore was on to something when he preached about the power of love. I would do anything to protect those I love; I just had to realize that for myself."

"You faced him again, Harry," Hermione whispered. "I had suspected that the reason that you were so attuned to Voldemort's horcruxes was because he had inadvertently stored a piece of his soul when you were a baby. This verifies my suspicions, but you beat him. I'm so proud of you, Harry!"

"Thanks, Hermione. It was weird at first I was forced to relive my worst memories in a way that would have made dementors seem mild. It all changed when I got to the graveyard, I was able to act."

"That must have been when we destroyed the first horcrux," reasoned Hermione. "Your expression changed once it was destroyed."

"Then you must have destroyed the second horcrux when I was in the Chamber of Secrets. That was when I realized that I couldn't allow anyone else to suffer because of me. I cast the killing curse at Voldemort and we were locked into a Priori Incantatem. It was different from the graveyard though, instead of seeing spells emerge from Voldemort's wand I saw my memories of the best times of my life projected on the dome," Harry said while looking at Hermione. "I thought that I saw you and I knew that I couldn't allow Voldemort to use my body to hurt you or anyone else."

"That must have been when you unleashed that massive blast that tore through Voldemort and the dome," said Hermione. "Now if we can find a way to get the snake then all of the horcruxes will have been destroyed."

When the young Tom Riddle Jr. learned about horcruxes the prospect of immortality set him on the path that would be considered the First Rise. The young wizard would willingly sacrifice the lives of others to ensure his own immortality. Now someone was working to undo all that he had accomplished. Although he was not able to feel the destruction of the diary, the ring, or the locket, the combined loss of the horcruxes that Harry, Hermione, Luna, and Albus Dumbledore had destroyed hit Voldemort like an avalanche. He was not able to differentiate which horcruxes were destroyed but the sense of loss caused by such a large portion of his soul being extinguished was not something that could be ignored.

Lord Voldemort, for the first time in many years, felt uncertainty. Even when he was surviving as a wraith while possessing the snakes of Albania he had never doubted that he would eventually return to the world of the living. Monday was the first day of classes at Hogwarts and he intended to let the students know that things were going to change. Hogwarts was his and he would not tolerate dissent from the student body.

Those who oppose me have never stood a chance; it is time that they are forced to recognize this. Those who have faced my power have fallen. My power is so absolute that even the old fool that those 'Light' families rallied behind met his end at my order. There shall be no more 'Light' or 'Dark' there will be those who serve me and those who are dead. The Ministry of Magic has fallen; the newly appointed Minister of Magic himself is no more than my puppet. I will gather my army and I will take Hogwarts. These thoughts fired through Voldemort's mind as he pressed upon his Dark Mark and called his most loyal Death Eaters to him.

With each second more and more Death Eaters arrived; eventually there stood just shy of thirty men who had distinguished himself in some way from the rank-and-file Death Eaters that would make up the body of the Dark Army. Walking in a circle, Vlodemort addressed those who had responded to his call, "My loyal followers, over the past years we have accomplished much. No longer do we hide in the shadows. My power is undeniable; we cannot be defeated! It is time to let those who would attempt to resist the futility of standing against my power. Although our successes have been great, one beacon shines to those who would defy my power. The time has come to take Hogwarts." Hogwarts is my right; as is the Elder Wand. I will have both and then no one will question my power again!