A/N: Well there you go people. The Last chapter as promised. With this we wrap around all the loose end (or atleast those that I can find). Really thankful to all those people who took time out to read the story. You people made the story better than it was. Now I'll get out of your way before you start thinking of murdering me...
"What the heck was that?" Sirius kicked the sofa, next moment he was hopping in the room, cursing and sweating against the ministry.
Harry watched Sirius hobble, sitting in a sofa right across from him. They were in a rented home in the residential area of Hogsmeade. Sirius had been transferred there from his cell after the trial. Harry had apparated right into the house since Remus was the only one allowed to visit Sirius. Good thing the guards were more concerned with keeping people in than keeping them out.
Harry couldn't bring himself to calm Sirius down. The trial had gone haywire. Sirius was still technically a prisoner though Wormtail had been punished. For Fudge to come up with such a thing was mind boggling.
Though what he gained from that? Harry had no idea. Wizengamot had already called for emergency session and the rumour was that minister would be deposed with the election held on New Year.
His mind was still stuck on what had happened in the court room. They were outfoxed, Harry had to admit but the question remained, what did that person, whoever he was, had to gain from confining Sirius.
Finally, Sirius sat down after half an hour of ranting. He looked at Harry and asked.
"How's the contract?"
"At least that's going our way." Harry sighed. "Susan Bones is running after Draco Malfoy now."
Ginny snickered. "I had to say that's one fitting match."
Harry made a painful face. "One that I don't want to see."
"Well since Amelia can't force her into marriage against her will, that matter is settled. As a non-signatory of the contract, she won't be affected in any way. All she has to do is show her refusal to marry Harry and the contract would be permanently broken.
"Which love potion did you give her?" Sirius asked.
"Amortentia." Harry replied. "She won't be seeing anything but Draco for a month. Dobby already had two more doses for next two months just to be on the safe side."
"Things you can go when you have an obsessively loyal elf." Ginny commented. "Not that I am not happy." She snuggled closer to him.
"Ahem!" Sirius cleared his throat, visibly distraught by their intimacy. "So what will we do about my situation?"
"Make a politician out of you."
Sirius blinked. "What?"
"Not a politician per se." Harry frowned. "I guess puppeteer would be a better word."
"What are you talking about?" Sirius demanded.
"What do you think about bribing people to get your way?"
"Well I used to hate it." Sirius had a thoughtful look on his face. "But if it could have kept me out of Azkaban,I wouldn't be up bribing a few people."
"That's the spirit!" Harry clapped. "Now you're going to convince Remus like that."
"Wait What?" Sirius eyes went as wide as saucers. "I am not putting my head in that dragon's mouth."
Harry nodded vigorously. "Yes you are. Bribery is going to be the extreme you know. We are just going to sway people into the right path by laying out the truth in front of them in a way that it seems beneficial to them. If that doesn't work, then maybe open their eyes with a bit of clinking gold."
"That's devious Harry."
"I almost went into Slytherin you know." Harry smirked. "Of course I have a few evil genes?"
Sirius kept up the questioning. "So how's your plan going to help us." Sirius asked.
"Who are the likely front runners in the elections?"
"It's still early but Rufus Scrimgeour and Amelia Bones."
"Yup." Harry nodded. "Rufus can be easily influenced. He'll help us in signing a document of your release."
"But through Remus, is that alright?" Sirius asked with concern. "There aren't many supporters of werewolves."
"They are politicians Sirius." Harry rolled his eyes. "They'll fuck a goat in public if it means it'll further their ambitions a bit."
"Ew." Ginny made a disgusting face. "Now I can't get that picture out of my head."
"Don't worry." Harry leaned close and whispered. "I'll make sure to put it out of your head once we return to Hogwarts."
Harry had whispered but not low enough for Sirius. He groaned. "Where's Mooney?"
Harry snickered. "Probably trying to do the same thing we are."
"But with whom?"
"We better get going now." Harry stood up helping Ginny on her feet. "It's getting late and we have to go to Hogsmeade too."
"Don't forget you have to buy me robes." Ginny added stretching her hands.
Harry feigned innocence. "What robes?"
"Oh no." She poked his chest with her fingers. "You are getting me new robes whether you like it or not."
"But why?" Harry mock whined.
"Yule ball, duh." Ginny glared at him. "For which you have the privilege of taking me as your date."
"Really?" Harry gave her a crest fallen look. "I was thinking of taking Fleur."
Ginny widened her eyes. "Ooh, I guess someone else can show me a good time." She winked. "I am sure there are many who would like to have a go at me." She couldn't be more suggestive.
"Like hell will I let anyone else touch you." Harry growled grabbing her and pulling her closer.
Ginny gave him a playful smile. "Possessive aren't we?"
"Fuck yes!" Harry moved to claim her cherry red lips but Ginny placed a finger on his lips.
"My robes?"
"Delivered and waiting for you on your bed."
"Good!" Ginny gave him a hungry look. "Let's get out of here."
Instantly Harry apparated them away. In their zeal they hadn't even noticed Sirius had walked up to a wall and started banging his head against it.
The problem with Sirius was about solved. Main purpose was to clear Sirius' name which had been completed. Now, he could focus completely on eliminating Voldemort. He hadn't done shit in this matter. Even the horcrux in Hogwarts was lying somewhere hidden.
He had eight years and then some to figure out what could it be. Ravenclaw's diadem. He just could never enter Hogwarts and on the few occasion he did, he never had the time to search the gigantic castle like now.
Still, he had decided to forgo the hunt of horcruxes for now. Even Slytherin's locket, that he knew to be in Kreacher's possession, wasn't destroyed. He'll start the horcrux hunt in earnest after the new year. Till then, he would prepare to procure the Ring from Gaunt's house and remove the soul fragment from his scar.
Removing the fragment was the easier of the two tasks. It wasn't technically a horcrux so he didn't need to bathe himself in basilisk venom or set himself on fiendfyre. Besides, he and Ginny had found a potion to forcibly exorcise poltergeists that had worked perfectly for him before.
But before all that he had a more dreaded task. A task in front of which he would gladly choose duelling Voldemort to death. Yule ball.
Why hadn't this many girls asked him before? Harry had wondered. It would have certainly made his life easier in the previous life. From Seventh Year to the first year even, scores of girls had asked him out, despite there being rumours that he was going out with Ginny or Fleur.
When he had spilled his worries in front of the two girls, Ginny had started giggling while Fleur had explained to him slowly like she was talking to a child.
"It's your aloof attitude Harry." Fleur had said. "Girls love that. And it doesn't hurt that you have grown so much."
She had gone glassy eyed.
"Really?" Harry quirked an eyebrow. "I don't think I have grown any taller." He gave himself a once over but nothing seemed out of ordinary. He had noticed that Ginny had shot up a couple of inches and her curves had filled out nicely. But nothing such about himself.
Looking closer though, he could definitely see some improvements. Not really a body of Greek God but better than what he had when he was fourteen.
"Didn't notice that."
"That's because you were too busy staring somewhere else." Her fingers were pointing towards her chest area which had shown the most marked improvement in Harry's opinion. They were beginning to rival Susan Bones'. Just the thought made his mouth water.
"And rightly so." He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth while trying to look sagely. "One always looks at the scenery more attractive."
"Pervert." Ginny muttered.
"But mine are bigger than hers." Fleur cupped her chest and stared enviously at Ginny. "You don't look at mine."
And that's when Harry had tuned out the conversation.
It was still an enigma to him how he had warmed up to Fleur in no time. She was a part of those who stabbed him in the back. Maybe, it was because how different she had behaved around him, or maybe because he didn't know her as well as Ron and Hermione or Molly and Arthur or Fred and George. Those hurt, Fleur not so much. Maybe, he could accept Bill and Charlie too. It's not like he didn't understand why they did it. They were just protecting their family. He knew Ginny would be relieved to hear that.
A few days after operation "Puppet minister", as dubbed by Sirius, had started, Remus had thrown his weight around along with money, funded by Harry and Sirius, and had gotten the permission of ministry to do an interview with Daily Prophet.
But before that, they had made sure that Prophet would publish whatever they were told. A few well-placed coins and threat of Aurors looking into the shady business of Daily Prophet, made more potent by an Auror delivering it, had ensure that. The matter that Aurors didn't have any kind of jurisdiction in investigating corrupt journalist was negligible.
Tonks enjoyed her role policing the media, so much so that sometimes Remus had to step in to ward off some of the more imaginative threats.
Sirius' interview came out and Amelia Bones political career went under. Sirius had given a full account of what Amelia had concocted in regards to the Pettigrew trial. The reporter publishing the stories was also apprehended and confessed to coercion and receiving money to publish such stories. The links were weak but they could definitely be traced back to Amelia. The coins they paid ensured that the case wasn't just left behind and forgotten.
Mildly put, Ministry of Magic had reached a state of crisis. In the span of few days, two of their highest ranking officials had been convicted of corruption and abuse of power. Everything was going according to plan.
Rufus Scrimgeour had been contacted and an agreement reached to help watch each other's backs. Harry would help to make him minister and he would lift Sirius' house arrest as a sign of goodwill.
Such political manoeuvring would have disgusted him once but now he only felt indifference. Truly, War changes people.
The love potion he had given Susan Bones had an unintended effect. When asked for her view on a marriage between her and the Boy-Who-Lived, she had replied that she only loved Draco Malfoy and would never dream of anyone else.
"That one was close." Ginny gave a sigh of relief after reading Susan's interview. "It's a miracle no one saw the effects of Love Potion."
"Amortentia isn't just any Love Potion." Harry explained. "First off, its banned and no one sells it in Britain, not even the fabled Knockturn Alley. Second off, it's really hard to brew. I'd wager only Slughorn and Snape can make it. Third, it's the potion which induces the feeling closest to actual love so it's impossible to detect.
"If it's so hard to make then how did you get it? Your potion skills aren't that good." Ginny asked. "And Snape would certainly not make it for you even under the Imperius Curse."
"My Potion skills maybe are terrible." Harry conceded. "But my Apparation skills are good enough for apparating to another country. After that it's just the matter of plucking the right flower and having contacts."
"Well and good." Ginny nodded. "But what happens when the potion wears off?"
"We'll be done long before that." Harry answered. "And even if she tells someone they won't believe it."
A very enlightening conversation for Ginny came to an abrupt halt when Fleur decided to barge in with a face like she had seen something disgusting.
"Boys never stop, those idiots." Fleur muttered but it was clear that it was something they were meant to hear.
"What happened?" Ginny asked sympathetically.
"Some guy names Rozer asked me to go to the Yule ball with him." Fleur huffed. "Like I'll ever go with that snot nosed kid."
"Rozer?"
"I think she means Roger Davies." Ginny corrected and turned her attention back to Fleur. "Who do you want to go with?"
She gave Harry a look and then looked down. "You know who and you are taking him as your date."
"Excuse me!" Harry said incredulously. "She's taking me? She wouldn't be allowed if it wasn't for me taking her.
"Hush Harry grownups are talking."
Harry's mouth moved but no sound came out of it.
"Now Fleur." She began sympathetically. "You know Harry can't have two date?" What began as consolation ended in a question mark which sent alarm bells ringing in his head.
Harry shook his head fervently but Ginny already had that devilish look.
"I think I have the perfect solution for our problem."
Mortification. Certainly not the feeling that he thought he would experience attending the Yule Ball, especially when he had mastered the basics of dancing. But he could understand Ginny's sort of prank who was keeping a straight face admirably while chatting with Fleur as they waited for the hall to open.
She looked stunning in the white gown she wore. It set off her red hair in an admirable way and hugged her curves in the right place.
While Ginny looked stunning, Fleur was regal. There was an air of importance around her like she was royalty. Her light golden dress that went to her and flew out also looked gorgeous.
He had thought Professor McGonagal would come to him demanding why had two girls on his am but she had only pursed her lips and returned to her work.
It seemed like an eternity before the doors to the Great Hall were opened. The Champions were inducted amidst thunderous applause but when it came to their turn the clapping slowly died out and everyone started staring at them. But the silence only lasted for a moment and then the hall broke out in whistles and catcalls. If clapping was thunderous before it was positively ear deafening at that moment.
It was a shame that Champions had to open the dance, hence the first dance was for Harry and Fleur. Just as the song was dying, other people joined them and Fleur left Harry to take a drink, meanwhile Ginny joined him in his arms.
"Enjoying yourself?" There was a twinkle in her eyes.
"Now, yeah." Harry placed his head against her shoulder and sighed. He didn't like dancing but if there was someone who made it bearable it was Ginny.
But that wasn't the reason he had sighed or placed his head on the only shoulder he had vowed to trust. Everything that he has been doing and everything that he will do, hunting Voldemort, freeing Sirius and deceiving everyone, it felt like such a weight on his shoulders suddenly and for once the proud selfless Harry Potter couldn't bear it alone.
He blamed the light atmosphere, the romantic aura that surrounded them and the feeling of light heartedness that emanated from people around him. He wanted to throw away his shackles, every single worry that he has been carrying, and just scream, scream till his throat was raw and his heart light as a feather.
He felt the cool hands of Ginny slowly pat his head and the headache that was building was replaced by a soothing feeling, one that only she could induce.
"I will always be by your side. You only need to look."
Harry closed his eyes and let those whispered words wash over himself. These were the same words she had said when he had lost everything.
They slowly rocked to the rhythm of the music, gliding around like a cloud was carrying them. Even after Harry had lifted his head, all he could see was the deep brown colour of Ginny's eyes, the love of his life.
Wherever they danced, People had an irresistible urge to move out of their way. They stopped their own dancing, their attention riveted on the loveable couple moving through the dance floor. To their eyes, they were glowing. Their movement was regal and they looked larger than life.
Only once the dance had ended did harry and Ginny noticed the hush around them. Their faces were flushed with emotions as they looked around trying to figure out why they were alone on the dance floor.
Slowly, the stupor was broken by the sound of clapping. It started out slow and then panned out engulfing the whole dance floor.
They looked at each other, shrugged and bowed before the approving crowd. People once again came on the floor.
"May I borrow your date for this dance?" Fleur gave him a dazzling smile and whisked Ginny away from his arms.
He keenly felt her loss in his arms but a part of him was glad that he hadn't had to dance again. His throat was parched.
That's how they spent the night, alternating between each other. Ginny danced with her brothers and Fleur danced with some of her admirers and friends. Many girls also tried to ask him out and much to Harry's chagrin even some guys, though he made it clear in no uncertain terms that he was straight and hated dancing.
After an hour or two, Ginny sat down beside him. He offered her a punch which she took gratefully.
"How was Michael Corner?" Harry asked offhandedly. Ginny had just danced with him.
"Oh really amazing." Ginny said starry eyed. "Especially his hands roaming all over my…"
"Don't." Harry growled pulling her in by her arm. "Finish that sentence."
"Or what?" Her breath was warm as it tickled his ear.
He gave her a smouldering look. "You want to find out."
Ginny gulped and nodded. Harry grabbed her hand. "let's get out of here."
They found a nice secluded spot and cast a few privacy charms against nosey singles still obsessing over dead people.
After spending an hour doing things that no teenager their age should do but keep on doing because they can't control their hormones, they lay side by side breathing heavily. It was a clear night and uncountable stars were simmering overhead looking ever so lovely.
"Why?" Harry asked suddenly.
Ginny turned towards him. "Hm?"
"Why are you so comfortable with Fleur's crush on me? Aren't you Jealous."
Ginny turned around and laid down on her stomach. Her eyes were fixed on the handsome face of her boyfriend who was staring straight into the starry sky.
She traced his cheek with her finger. "Actually no." She admitted. "I know you have eyes only for me and the way you told her that, like it was the most obvious fact to you, really drove the point home."
"She knows that." Ginny continued. "But she's enjoying her time with you. Maybe she will fall for Bill again, who knows."
"Maybe she will." Harry reasoned, though it didn't look like a likely outcome to him.
After snogging a bit more, they cleaned up and returned to the hall. The ball was in last stages and people were starting to leave.
They danced a bit more and then retired to their beds, bidding each other farewell with hugs and kisses.
Though Harry didn't have that much of smooth sailing. Returning to his dormitory, he found all the Weasley brothers whom he hadn't talked much with this term, sitting on his bed, wearing scowls that would make Severus Snape proud.
As it was, it only made Harry irritated. "That's my bed." He pointed out unnecessarily. "Get off I'm really tired."
"We will dear Harry dear boy."
"But first we have something to discuss."
"Indeed brother mine. We cannot help but notice that you took our little sister."
His patience runt out, he drew out his wand, petrified all three of them in an instant and threw them out of the dorm, including Ron.
Changing into his nightclothes, he finally fell on his soft bed and sighed. The next moment he was sound asleep.
There was still a week or so left, till the next term started, some students had chosen to return home and others mingled with delegation that had arrived from the two schools.
The hot topic, now that the yule ball had passed was the election of the new minister. Now that Amelia Bones was being investigated on the charges of Abuse of Authority, Rufus Scrimgeour was in clear lead with many prominent leaders already allying with the minister to be.
Sirius had also given a couple more interviews to turn the sympathy of People towards Rufus. The previous articles had done a lot of damage. But a favourable verdict and these interview, shining light on the true events had gone a long way in dispelling these notions, thought he wouldn't be running for minister anytime soon.
As a former convict, wronged by the people in power, his opinion held a lot of weight anf they used it to turn tides in the favour of Scrimgeour by subtly dropping hints in his favour. Not subtle enough that an average man reading the article won't get the meaning.
"Our purpose is to control the ministry from the shadows like Lucius does." Harry had said in a full meeting which included Remus and Tonks. "Just stopping Voldemort's return won't do much good if people carrying his ideology are still in power."
On the note of dealing with Voldemort, Harry had completed his preparation to retrieve the ring. He didn't want to take Ginny but she wouldn't listen hto him and in the end he had to bring her.
He was utterly exhausted dismantling the infinite number of wards around the shack. Ginny found some creative ways to disable some of the more stubborn wards.
After dismantling the wards, he double checked to make sure everything was safe. It never hurt to be paranoid when dealing with paranoid people.
The shack was run down, cobwebs littered the ceiling and there was a layer of dust inches deep. The wooden floor creaked under their weight and at some places even broke down.
"Disgusting." Ginny scrunched up her nose at the smell that was wafting through the room.
"We'll be out of here soon." Harry consoled her. "The ring. Let's see it should be somewhere around here."
He tapped the wooden floor boards underneath which the ring was supposed to be present.
"Better be careful." Harry placed a hand on the floor board. "There's poison gas inside it."
Unexpectedly, the floorboard gave way under his weight and he stumbled. If it wasn't for Ginny's quick interruption he would been dead by now.
"Better be careful." Ginny imitated his voice after cancelling the bubble head charm once all the poison had left through the window. "Why don't you tell that to yourself."
"Sorry!" Harry grinned and turning his attention to the velvety cushion on which the ring lay. He embraced himself for the pull, to fight against the temptation of using the resurrection stone.
Nothing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hand reaching out to grab the ring.
"Ginny no." he reflexively pushed his hand away. "The ring is cursed."
"Huh?" Her eyes were glazed over before she snapped back to reality.
Harry immediately threw a piece of cloth over the ring and picked it up, pocketing the ring afterwards.
"let's get out of here."
"Yeah." She looked unsettled by her reaction to the ring.
The ring was acquired and tucked away safely under heavy warding. He planned on destroying the horcruxes at the same time so as not to alert Voldemort.
The name of Regulus Black was enough to mellow down the old house elf. Giving the ring to him for protection had also gone a long way earning his trust and he had enthusiastically taken to protecting the ring.
At the end of term, election was held for the new minister. As expected Rufus Scrimgeour came out on top.
The very next day, paper for Sirius release were signed. Rufus even went on public claiming that he thought it wrong that an innocent man was paying the price for the wrongs of previous ministry. He asserted that his rule would be different.
With Sirius' freedom, one obstacle was out of Harry's way. They could now even reach Bellatrix' Vault with Sirius claim as her cousin since she was in prison for life time. The Goblin showed quite a bit of resistance but in the end had to relent and allowed him access to the Lestrange Vault.
With three out seven horcruxes in his possession, Harry thought it about time to destroy the unwitting one in his head.
The one who would perform the spell, rather a ritual, was Ginny.
"It's alright." Harry assured the nervous looking girl. She was standing inside an intricately carved circle. Its runes were already glowing blue, perhaps reacting to the concentrated amount of magic in the Room of Requirement.
Ginny nodded slightly. Her knuckles were white from gripping the wand too tightly. If anything would go wrong, No, she shook her head, she didn't have time to be entertaining such thoughts.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Her sweat glands were in overdrive and she looked like she had just taken a bath.
"Just tell me when you are ready." Harry's voice echoed in the silent room.
Ginny took another deep breath and raised her wand with determination. "I am ready."
Harry nodded looking at her and braced himself.
She had memories of performing the spell and knew it won't be easy. She exhaled and momentarily closed her eyes.
She twisted her wrist clockwise and the first word of the long spell escaped her lips. She flourished her wand and spoke the second word. As soon as the word was spoken, one of the four large runes written at the four sides of the circle erupted in green fire.
She brought her wand back and repeated the motion till all four runes were on fire. Once the fires had been lit, Ginny twirled around the fire in front of her, blue in colour, followed her, then came green, then red and finally yellow, they crisscrossed and then arranged themselves in a halo around Ginny.
It was a beautiful scene. Ginny's melodious voice was chanting slowly and the fire changed its tempo with the pitch. It would flare brightly when she will speak harshly and would to mere sparks when she whispered.
As Ginny came near the end, the fires merged into one, dancing in tune in the form of one singular orb. It changed its colour from Red, green, blue, yellow and the cycle repeated itself. But as it went, its speed increased till the colour change was only a blur and it had merged into one.
In that instant, Ginny snapped her eyes open and bashed her wand forward. The orb flew at lightning speed and collided with his scar.
Harry bit his tongue to keep himself from screaming. The pain was cruciatus curse amplified a thousand times. It was like someone tearing the skin glued together forcibly. Like someone pulling at flesh that wouldn't let go of the bone.
He writhed in agony, trying to control himself. After an eternity, the pain started subsiding till it was only a dull throbbing ache.
That's when Harry noticed the warm really comfy pillow he was lying on. Opening his eyes, he saw Ginny giving him a watery smile.
"I hope you don't have to go through something like that again." She whispered through her tears and leaned down to kiss him with all her passion.
He could feel her love flowing into him through their connected lips. It made him feel comfortable and warm.
Once they had been dislodged from each other's faces. Harry gave her an impish smile. "If it means receiving something like that, I'll gladly go through it again."
Ginny punched him in the shoulder and huffed. "Prat."
The only one that remained out of his grasp was Nagini and Ravenclaw's diadem.
"It's here in Hogwarts." Harry was pacing around the room. "But I have no idea where."
"Relax!" Ginny said soothingly. "We still have sometime before Voldemort makes a move."
"Which is good." Harry answered. "But I want to take care of this headache before I take care of those traitors."
There was a moment's silence. "What are you going to do to them?"
Harry shrugged. "I'll figure something out."
"I have an idea. "Ginny suddenly sat up. "Why don't you ask Remus? He might be of some help. He and Sirius made the Marauder's Map. They might know a bit about the Castle."
"Huh. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you are an idiot."
"What?" Harry was indignant.
"Anyways." Ginny completely ignored him. "How are you going to tackle the second task?"
"Gillyweed. Worked last time."
"Where are you ordering it from?"
"Order?" Harry looked at her like she was mad. "Why would I order it?"
Ginny's eyes widened. "Oh no. Not that."
"Uhuh." Harry smirked. "Why would I order it when I have acces to it right here."
Ginny clapped her hand excitedly. "That's going to be awesome. Let's add a few more details to it and by that I mean some pranks." She winked at him.
"You are devious." Harry grinned.
And just like that time flew. They didn't have much to do except study and prepare for the Second Task which wasn't much hence they the free time to help Fleur who might have some probles with the Grindylows in the lake. It also helped to foster their friendship with the French girl.
By the time one week remained in the task they decided to put their plans in action.
They had determined that Snape kept the Valuable ingredients in his quarters which also served as a part-time storage room. It was going to be harder infiltrating the Teacher's Quarters but anything was possibly with Invisibilty Cloak and the Marauder's Map.
They chose a day when Snape had gone out of the castle on an errand and wouldn't return till the next day.
In the dead of night when the only one prowling the many corridors of Hogwarts was Mr. Filch, his cat and some students looking for a tryst, they set out from their Common Room. Using the Marauder's Map as their guide they successfully evaded the threats and reached Snape's quarters. As the head of house, his room was just a bit away from the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeon, placed in such a way that it would invisible unless you were specifically looking for it.
Harry knew Snape to be an accomplished wizard and also a man who had a lot to hide. So he cast the most complex detection charm. To his surprise the door glowed only once, indicating there was only one spell cast on it. But it was a peculiar colour.
"Had to be one of his personal inventions." Ginny whispered.
Harry nodded distractedly, concentrating on his next spell. It was a bit more advanced and specific. This time, the door showed many runes and crisscrossing lines.
The spell Harry had cast was used to detect the fundamentals of wards. Something necessary to disable or modify it.
He set to work, twisting his wand here and there. It wasn't easy. The ward was an alarm cum trigger. It would trigger some nasty spell knowing Snape and send a silent alarm probably to him.
"Is it done?" Ginny whispered anxiously, staring at the map. "Filch's coming here."
Sweat was running from his brow. He shook his head but increased his speed.
"He is in the next corridor." Ginny supplied. Her eyes were glued to the map.
Harry concentrated, the ward was just too complex.
"He's about to round the corner." Warned Ginny.
"Done." Harry spoke as the door briefly glowed. "Let's go." He grabbed the knob and turned it, half expecting a trap that somehow escaped him. Thankfully nothing happened and they entered the room just as Filch came into sight.
"Wow." Ginny whistled as she took in the room. "Didn't know Hogwarts gave this good of a service."
The room was lavishly furnished and decked in a light green colour, Certainly Snape liked his comfort.
There was a large cauldron on one side behind a glass wall. There was a fire going on underneath it meaning some potion s brewing in it. There was large mahogany desk on one side with a black leather bound chair that looked really comfy.
There were a few sofas decked in the same shiny black colour that adorned the chair. On the die was an empty mug and a book.
Harry scanned the room and his eyes fell on a wooden cupboard right alongside the glass wall.
Ginny was busy checking out the various things in the room, so Harry left her to her own musing and approached the cupboard.
It seemed to be made of highest quality wood and had a gloss to it that only newly crafted furniture had.
He opened the cupboard to reveal several glass jars with numerous animals stuffed in them.
There were stuffed bats, stuffed toads, he thought some of them might just be alive. In the top shelf though were leaves and some stems. Searching through them Harry found a jar containing a bit of gillyweed.
He was about to put some in his pocket after taking it out in a bottle when Ginny called out to him.
"Harry!"
She was holding a jar and staring transfixed straight ahead at something. Following her eyesight, he saw a door which wasn't there before.
"A secret rom? Harry quirked an eyebrow. "Doesn't surprise me at all."
"Check it out?" Ginny said mischievously.
"Are you kidding me?' Exclaimed Harry. "Of course let's check it out."
"What are we waiting for then?"
Harry cast a few charms to make sure there weren't any taps. Surprisingly there were none.
Harry heaved a large breath, placed his hand on the door knob and said:
"Let's go."
The door opened to reveal a similar room, though it was parted by curtains in the middle.
Curiosity got the better of them and they lifted the curtains. What lay beyond was a bed with black silk covers and right in the middle of the large bed lay a woman wearing a red gown.
The red hair formed a halo around her face which seemed to be glistening with some cream. She didn't seem to be breathing, remaining still as a rock.
Harry crept closer to take a better look. Almost instantly he felt he shouldn't. He stumbled backwards.
"Harry!" Ginny was beside him her hand on his back supporting him.
His face had gone white, his breath was coming in short gasps, his chest felt like it could explode at any moment.
Ginny was beset by curiosity. Who could it be that would make Harry react like that?" She got up and turned around.
Fucking Merlin.
It was Lily Potter.
Shock, Paralysis, Numbness, nothing could define her state of mind at that moment. She felt like the sky had fallen on her or the Earth had opened up and she was falling in an infinite abyss.
She winked, rubbed her eyes, slapped herself. Anything to make the vision go away but she was still there, looking very much alive but dead.
She turned to look at Harry who was still on the floor shaking slightly.
Get a grip Ginny.
She shook off the shock with sheer force of will. She and Harry, they needed answers and they won't be getting them in here.
She took a deep breath and thought of her happiest memory. It was her first time casting a patronus but she had to succeed.
It was strange. They say traumatic events alter your Patronus. She had gone through many with Harry but her Patronus hadn't changed.
She watched as a dense white light erupted from the tip of her wand and condensed to form the same beautiful horse.
The horse bowed his head.
She entrusted it with a message to come to Hogwarts as soon as he could and that it was an emergency. The horse neighed and disappeared.
With that she turned her attention towards Harry.
"Come on Harry, let's get out here."
Harry nodded slowly and got up. His movement was a bit mechanical.
Ginny tried to levitate the body of Lily Potter but Harry stopped her.
"No." His voice was hollow. "I'll do it."
Harry levitated the body of his mother slowly, almost as if he was afraid he would damage it.
Their progress was gradual, Harry was extremely careful, taking one step at a time. Ginny was behind him, watching him like a hawk ready to help him at a moment's notice.
Right outside the door, they encountered Filch who seemed to be prowling around the corner.
"Aha." He said gleefully, not noticing the levitating corpse. "Students at mischief. That too in Teacher's quarter. You are getting expelled."
Harry gave him a powerful glare. "Move!"
Filch began to reply but next moment he had slammed into a wall. His eyes bugged out, his legs and arms flailed wildly.
"Harry No!" Ginny shook him. "He had nothing to do with this. We must hurry."
Without breaking his gaze from the body, Harry nodded and lowered his outstretched arm cancelling the spell on Filch. He fell down and took a lung full of air. Mrs. Norris was nowhere in sight.
Ginny saw the old caretaker cowering in fear as they passed him by, continuing their journey forward.
It took them half an hour to reach the gate. Sirius was already there, pacing briskly outside the gate. Sensing the urgency, the doors opened on their own.
Sirius had noticed their approached and was already looking at the floating body. His eyes showed dread as they came near.
A few feet from him, Harry slowly lowered the body. Sirius rushed forwards and then stopped in his track, falling on his knees.
"Lily!" he looked at them with shock and disbelief. "Why's she here?"
Seeing as how Harry was incapable of answer, Ginny replied. "We found her in a secret room in Snape's quarters."
The shock turned to anger and a very real growl emanated from his throat. "Snivellus. I'll fucking kill that bastard. What was he doing with her body?
"Sirius focus." Ginny's tone brooked no argument. "You must get her back to your place." She hesitated. "Call Tonks, I have a bad feeling about this."
"Damn hell I am calling her." Sirius barked. "That bastard's going down for desecrating her like that."
"What's going on here." Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore had come to the entrance. "Mr. Filch told us you attacked him."
They turned around and in doing so revealed the corpse.
Professor McGonagall gave a loud gasp.
"What's the meaning of this? How did her body reach here?"
We found her." Ginny's tone was cold. "In Professor Snape's room." She spat his name out.
"Oh my!" Dumbledore muttered, there was no twinkling. "You must hand over the body, this is a serious matter.
"NO!" Harry was silent till now but now his voice rocked the whole castle.
His wand was in his hand emitting sparks. "No one will touch her.'
"Harry, you must…"
The sentence was cut off as Dumbledore barely dodged a powerful looking spell.
"Sirius take her and go!"
Sirius nodded and gently picked up the body. Stepping out of the boundary, he immediately disappeared.
"Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore voiced his disapproval. "That is highly wrong of you."
"What? Reclaiming my mother's body?" Harry taunted him. "Let me tell you what's wrong." He slowly made his way towards Dumbledore. "The fact that one of your teacher dug up a fucking grave, took out a body and has been keeping it in the castle for merlin knows how long and you had no idea it was happening right under that fucking crooked nose of yours." He had gotten nose to nose with the greatest wizard of his age, staring him dead in the eye. "And tell that Snivellus if I ever saw him again, I'll fucking murder him."
He sidestepped a shocked looking Dumbledore and gave a glance towards Professor McGonagall.
"Come on Ginny let's go.
Ginny nodded and followed Harry barely sparing a glance towards the petrified Professor.
The scandal would have been huge, but Dumbledore kept the matter out of paper. Harry was sorely tempted to tarnish the old man's reputation but he couldn't do that to his dead mother.
Snape was put on probation and removed from the castle. What galled him though was that he couldn't be arrested. There was simply no law against grave digging or stealing a body or anything pertaining to the dead.
Tonks had contacted a healer, who would examine the body to see what had been done. It would take more than a week for the full examination and in that time he had the second task.
Fleur had asked them what happened repeatedly, but Harry refused to tell her anything. Finally, Ginny had confided in her. Understandably, she was angered beyond belief.
By the time of second task, he had calmed down considerably and started talking normally with Ginny and Fleur. But if you weren't those two, Merlin forbid if you came near him.
In the chilly morning, which was foggy too, since it was still February they were standing at the shore of Black Lake which looked more frozen than water.
"WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! TO THE SECOND TASK OF TR-WIZARD TOURNAMENT." Ludo Bagman's magically enhanced voice boomed through the sands set up around the lake.
But it was likely that no one was paying him any attention. In addition to noise level that would be considered hazardous, half of the spectators were busy ogling Victor Krum and the other half had their eyes glued to the French Veela. They were taking full advantage of Swimming gear. And in the middle of them stood the two Hogwarts Champions pitifully ignored in favour of fulfilment of carnal desires.
Krum wasn't a mass of muscle, that would be counterproductive of a seeker, but it would be more appropriate to say he was athletic, neither too big, not too small.
The loudest cheers though, were reserved for Fleur. Harry had a hard time deciphering whether it was a swimming suit or a Bikini, the two parts connected by flimsiest of strings possible. He pale blue colour really accentuated her glossy skin. So many wonderful ideas.
Tearing his eyes away from Fleur, Harry put the gillyweed in his mouth as the horn blew and jumped into freezing cold water.
After cursing the tournament organizers, Harry deftly made his way towards the center of lake where Ginny should be present. It was quite easy for him since he had scanned the lake many times before and knew which areas to avoid while rapidly moving towards the hostages.
Soon he could hear the merpeople sing the song that was in the egg. He had opened underwater just to be on the safe side. The task hadn't changed. They still had to rescue a hostage from merpeople.
He reached the village soon and spied Fleur coming from another direction. The gillyweed would be wearing off soon, he didn't have time to dawdle. He moved towards the hostages. It pained him to see Ginny in such a state, It reminded him of seeing her dead body. Trying not to dwell on such thoughts, Harry brought out a knife and cut off her binding.
Cradling her in his arms Harry pushed for the surface just as he felt the herb wearing of. He had seen Fleur reach her sister and was cutting her ropes. A few meters below the surface he felt the gill disappearing. With one last push he managed to break the surface.
Moments after, Fleur followed. They were the only ones who had finished within twenty minutes. The next champion didn't appear till half an hour late and it Cedric. He was followed shortly after by Krum who came last.
Somehow though, Fleur was first and him second.
Perverted Bastards.
Not that he cared, the tournament was of little importance to him and as long as he managed to destroy Voldemort along with his remaining two horcruxes, it was alright. Just one less title to worry about.
Remus had written back saying that he couldn't come up with any place that could be used to hide the horcrux for so long. If they had seen something as amazing as Ravenclaw's diadem they surely would have remembered.
Though the matter had taken somewhat of a backseat in recent days, what with the discovery of Lily's body and all that. The forensic results of which were due in any day.
Remus and Sirius were sitting in the kitchen pouring over books and newspaper in search of Ravenclaw's horcrux, drinking tea made by a cheerful Kreacher. Sirius still couldn't believe the change that had come over the old elf. He would sniff everything he mad, like somehow he could detect any nefarious item by the change in its smell.
They heard someone crash and Sirius groaned. He was getting sick of hearing this noise and other noises that came after which Remus and Tonks would never admit to.
"Stupid stand." Tonks muttered holding her foot as she came hopping in. "Change that bloody thing Sirius. Hey Remus."
Sirius certainly didn't miss the over exuberant greeting thrown towards his old time friend nor did he ignore the slight blush that came over his face.
"So dear cousin what lame excuse do you have for visiting 'us' today?" Sirius made imaginary commas around the word with his hand.
"Do I need a reason to visit now?"
"Certainly not Nymphadora" Seeing the threatening look on her face he immediately changed his stance. "I mean Tonks. Slip of tongue cuz, nothing else. There's no need for blood shed."
"Quite a slippery tongue you have Sirius."
"Now, Now, is that any way to speak to your Cousin once removed." Sirius said patronizingly. "Speaking of which how's Andi?"
"Mum says and I quote 'Screw you'."
"What did I ever do that woman?" Sirius exclaimed.
"You really should be asking what you didn't do to her." Remus answered.
"Come on." Sirius threw his hands up. "That was out of my brotherly affection for her."
"No sister sees ruining her first kiss a dozen times as brotherly affection, Sirius." Remus retorted.
"I was protecting her hounor like every righteous cousin brother should do." Sirius shrugged before his gaze turned suspicious. "Wait a minute I didn't tell you that. Have you been meeting her behind my back?"
"Err…" Remus wilted under Sirius' accusatory glare.
"How could I forget?" Tonks suddenly sat upright fom the chair she comfortably ensconced herself in. "The reason I came."
"What?" Sirius glared.
"The forensic results are in."
"What?" Sirius repeated himself. "What did that healer say?"
"Nothing." Tonks shook her head. He looked extremely pale and said he wanted to meet with you but an emergency cam so he had to write a letter.
"Letter?" Sirius and Remus shared a glance. "What could it be that he couldn't tell you?"
"I don't know but I don't like it." Tonks answered seriously. "That's why I rushed over." She took out the letter and placed it on top of table. "I haven't opened it yet."
Sirius let out his breath and picked up the letter. It felt heavy somehow like it was carrying a great burden.
He tore open the envelope and took out the page inside. The writing was an utter mess like someone had scrawled in haste.
His eyes scanned the page, about midway through, his eyes widened and blood drained from his face.
His hands were shivering so badly he couldn't hold the piece of parchment and it floated to the table.
"Sirius?" Remus prodded, worry lining his face. "What happened?"
Hearing no answer, Remus picked up the letter, Tonks too hesitantly drew nearer and peered over Remus shoulder.
He read the letter rapidly till his eyes fell on one word.
Necrophilia.
It was like a thunder bolt had fallen on him. His ears were ringing; he couldn't focus on what was in front of him. His vision swam.
Remus bolted from his chair and leaned against the sink. He vomited violently.
Tonks had sunk down where she stood, her mouth covered by her hand, tears were prickling her violet eyes.
"Merlin!" Sirius whispered. His voice was as broken as he looked. How am I going to tell Harry that?"
"Tell me what?" And there he was standing in the doorway, Ginny just behind, eyeing them suspiciously.
It was then that he saw the letter where Remus had dropped it who was still standing by the sink looking like he might be sick again.
He picked it up, shooting a glance at each of the three people looking nauseous. He started reading it.
His reaction was anything but pretty when he finished it. His face had contorted in disgust, his eyes were blood red and there was no doubt that he was boiling in anger. What was surprising though was that there were no bursts of accidental magic.
He fell down on a chair, Ginny on the one next to it looking as angry as Harry.
"Fucking Snivellus." Harry growled. "I am going to murder that Son of a Bitch. I knew he was doing something bad when we discovered Mum but this? I never thought even he could be this low.
"So what now?"
"Now?" Harry repeated angrily. "I'll track down that fucker, drag him back by his hair. Gouge out his eyes, then skin him alive and finally give him a bath of salt and pepper everyday till eternity.
"That's….Sadistic." Sirius commented.
"I wish we could have thrown that greasy bastard in Azkaban. How can something as horrendous as this be legal."
"An oversight." Remarked Tonks in answer to Remus. "The old coots never thought something like could ever happen. It never crossed their minds."
"That's more pathetic. No wonder the ministry is corrupted. It might as well fall on its face."
"What now?"
"Dumbledore has hidden him somewhere. He knows I won't let this go, but he's going to get what's coming for him."
The news just kept coming in. A few days after the horrible revelation, the whole castle rocked from a powerful explosion. It took teachers better half of a day to track the place where the explosion had originated. It was in one of the secluded corners of Hogwarts. The teachers found a room charred black. Everything inside had disintegrated. As soon as the teachers entered they felt sick. It was dark magic of highest calibre.
Only after Dumbledore had taken special precautions, were they allowed to enter again. Inside in the midst of ashes they found a skeleton turned black.
It was so brittle that they couldn't touch it lest it turned to dust. Carefully was it levitated and sent to St. Mungo's for examination.
A roll call of the students revealed that only person was missing. Hermione Granger. Indeed, soon the magical hospital confirmed that it was the muggleborns mitch.
A Eulogy was held for her in Hogwarts and the funeral day after which students were allowed to go to.
Harry didn't want to go but he found himself in the graveyard with a select few people. There were the Weasleys, Hermione's parents and few students that he knew. Other than that everyone else was a stranger to him. There was a sombre mood around. No one knew what had happened except for a few. An investigation had been launched but it was likely that it would yield nothing. The spell was so obscure and its effects even more so. Her wand had disintegrated with everything else and there was virtually nothing left inside the room. No clues to work with. The investigation had hit a dead end before it began.
Hermione's parents were still in shock and it was evident from their faces. They didn't interact much with anyone, hardly nodding their heads when people approached them to offer their consolation. Someone else, probably a close relative of theirs, was managing the funeral.
"It seems like she's destined for a messy end." Harry remarked as he saw Ginny make her way towatds him. She was with her family since the funeral began. Mrs. Weasley was shooting him glances and was the main reason Ginny hadn't come to him yet. She kept badgering her daughter with questions.
"What happened to her?"
There were rumours that after defecting towards the death eaters, Voldemort gave her to his minions to be used as they desired. She was essentially their sex slave. She died within a year like a dog. I doubt they even buried her."
"That's bad." Ginny shuddered.
"And once again she was a tool of death eaters. Used by them and then dying in their service. I guess some things can never be changed."
"You never told me why you let Hermione go that night?" Ginny asked with curiosity.
"I recognized the book she was holding." Harry answered. "Vilest of vile dark magic. She never could have controlled it. I have only seen Voldemort wield that spell with precision. If she had been successful I never would have stood a chance, but she never had the skill nor the temperament to last. I know this was going to happen and figured why stand in the way.
Ginny sighed. "That's cold Harry."
"Maybe." He shrugged. "But I don't care."
"I better go now." Harry stood up seeing that the Weasleys were making their way towards him. "Sirius and Remus are waiting for me. Enjoy your time with your family."
He started walking briskly but his escape wasn't successful. He found his way cut by the twins.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley made their way towards him.
"Hello Harry." Their greeting was guarded and their eyes scrutinized him carefully.
Harry closed his eyes. He didn't want to meet these people.
Good Grief.
Next moment he had apparated out of the funeral. He knew he shouldn't have done that but right now staying with the Weasleys would have been harder.
"Did he just apparate?" Mr. Weasley blinked.
"I knew Sirius Black was a bad influence on him." Mrs. Weasley screeched. "Look what he is teaching him, apparating illegally. Letting a convict near young children? What is Dumbledore thinking."
"Molly he couldn't…" Arthus tried to reason with Molly but Ginny cut him off.
"More importantly. I told you that you shouldn't meet him. He's going through a lot and is not yet ready to meet you.
"That's preposterous, Ginny dear!" Molly exclaimed. "That's exactly why we need to meet him. There's nothing some good food cannot cure. Poor Harry, he is not even talking to Ron and his best friend just died. I can't believe Dumbledore's making him participate in the competition in this state, let alone in the first place."
Ginny resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. She had just told her mother it was unlikely that Harry would be getting back with his previous best friend after something that had happened at the start of the year. She also said that it would be better if they stayed away from him for now.
"Arrogant prick." Ron muttered.
"Shut up Ron."
"No fighting you two." Molly admonished her two youngest. "And Ron, Watch your language."
In answer, Ron just stomped his feet and walked away.
"He'll be alright Molly." Arthur assured his worried looking wife. "He's just in that age."
Harry had apparated straight to Grimmauld place which had become their headquarters of sorts. For all his hatred, Sirius didn't look like moving anytime soon. Harry would drop by every other weekend or whenever he had time. Assignment didn't do themselves. Quite annoying actually. At least the was doing better this time around.
What was more annoying was the fact that Ravenclaw's horcrux was still as elusive as ever. He knew it was at Hogwarts but in the humongous castle, it was like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Where in Hogwarts could it be?" Harry moaned, his head in his hands.
"If I may Master Harry Potter?" Kreacher said hesitatingly, placing tea before them. "The Elves at Hogwarts say there's a Come and Go room where things could be hidden for as long as you want."
"Wait." Sirius looked at the elf surprised. "You have been inquiring about it from Elves."
The elf nodded demurely.
"A place to hide things?" Harry frowned and then his eyes sparkled. "I know that place I have been there." Once again his features turned frowning. "But it's just such a mess. There are thousands of things there, No NO." harry shook his head. "I think I have seen it there."
"You have?" Sirius exclaimed.
Harry nodded with excitement.
"Then what are you still doing here?"
"Right." Harry nodded and disapparated from the house. After reaching Hogwarts, he made his way straight to the Room of Requirement. Soon he was standing in the cluttered mess where he had left the potion book.
He made his way through the mess, trying to figure out where he had left the potion book. It was in the drawer of a desk but where the desk in this mess? That was the hard part. It had been eight years since he left the book and thinking about it wasn't kind of a priority to him.
It took him two hours but he finally reached the place where he thought he had left the book. On the table, like he had remembered stood a bust on which was the Ravenclaw's diadem rusted and faded with time. Still there was an uncanny glitter to it.
He fished out a cloth from his pocket and draped it over the horcrux. You never know what ill affects one might carry. He picked it up carefuly and pocketed it. He looked around before hurrying towards the entrance.
On his way back, he stopped at the chamber and the Gryffindor Tower and picked up Ginny. It was only when they returned to Grimmauld place did he bear the full brunt of Weasley wrath.
"Hogging all the achievement for yourself while leaving me to attend a boring funeral?" Ginny gave him an accusatory glare. "Couldn't you have waited till I was free? The horcrux wasn't running somewhere nor the venom would have evaporated in a few hours."
Harry grinned sheepishly. "Sorry I got a little bit excited."
"A little bit?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "He was jumping all over the place like a kid with too much sugar."
"I so was not." Harry exclaimed.
"Anyway. "Ginny steered the conversation back into the right direction. "Where's the horcrux?"
He put his hand in the pocket and brought out the diadem covered in cloth. He set it down on the table and removed the cloth.
"Doesn't look as good as I thought it would be." Ginny scrunched up her face.
"Well it's a thousand years old." Harry motioned to Kreacher to remove the horcrux. "Now All that's left is destroying them."
"Voldemort can feel when one of the horcrux is destroyed." Harry continued. "So we'll destroy it as close to the end of third task as we could so Voldemort has no time to alter his plans."
"That's the plan." Sirius nodded.
"One more thing." Ginny interjected. "I have been thinking about it and I don't think something as elaborate as the plan cooked by Hermione and Draco could be done by the two of them. They won't even walk in the same corridor if they had any say in it.
Harry nodded. "I know and I have my own suspicions. Hermione and Malfoy working together? Never could have happened on its own."
"I don't like it." She whispered. "Maybe she did deserve it in the other lifetime but the way she died was horrible."
Harry let out a sigh and smiled at her. "His end won't be better than her."
The next two months passed in a flurry and he found himself standing at the start of the maze. This was that one task where he didn't have the advantage of knowing what he was facing beforehand. The chances of him taking the same routs again were practically zero. All he had to rely on was his superior magical experience and the rough idea where the centre of maze was.
Outrunning monsters, outfoxing the traps and defeating the acromantula that seemed to be guarding the cup he reached the centre. In the distance he could hear Krum screaming and then red sparks shot up in the sky. At least Fleur knew what was happening this time. Too bad she was no match for him.
He braced himself and touched the cup.
The walls around him collapsed and thunderous applause broke through the stadium.
"AND WE HACE OUR WINNER." Ludo Bagman screamed "THE ONE THAT NONE OF US FAVE A CHANCE IN THE BEGINNING BUT THE ONE WHO SHOWED US HIS RESILIENCE BY DOMINATING ALL THREE OF THE TRIALS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU THE WINNER OF TRI-WIZARD TOURNAMENT. HARRY JAMES POTTER!"
The crowd went even wilder when his name was spoken madly banging their hands, cheering and walloping.
The judges approached him and gave him congratulations, though Madame Maxime and Karkaroff looked a bit contrite.
Harry returned their smile and offered the cup to Dumbledore. He nodded his head and reached out to grab the cup.
Harry held his breath, Dumbledore's fingers inching ever closer to the cup. It felt like an eternity and then he grabbed the handle. The next moment he felt a tug at his navel and they were deposited in the graveyard.
As soon as they fell, two red coloured spells came at them. Harry was ready for this and immediately blocked it.
Dumbledore too seemed ready for this and moved out of the trajectory of the spell. Unfortunately, that put him right in front of Harry.
He never saw it coming. How could h? He never thought Harry would do something like this. A simple cutting curse and his head was rolling around on the ground.
It felt a bit anti-climactic for the greatest wizard of his age but nothing was more humiliating for such a great wizard than to die by a simple hex that even a fourth year could block.
Harry kicked his head away in disgust and looked around.
"Come out Lucius, I know you are there."
His voice echoed in the empty graveyard. No voice came except for owls hooting.
"Dammit Lucius, I am going to blow this whole graveyard up. I just killed Dumbledore. At least you can show me the courtesy of coming in front of me."
He looked around and waited. Still there was no movemet in the darkness.
If it wasn't for his sixth sense, he would have been mincemeat by now. He moved just in the nick of time and escaped the large jaws of a snake.
"Nagini." Harry stared at the snake slithering around, coiling for another attack.
Just then there was an inhuman scream and Nagini received a shock. The scream instead of dying just kept increasing in pitch.
The horcruxes had been destroyed.
Nagini rushed towards where the scream had come but Harry wasn't going to let it off that easy.
"Reducto!" A simple spell and the snake was reduced to bits. Once again a scream rose though this was much weaker.
The screams also had the unintended consequence of giving away Voldemort's position.
He pointed his wand and muttered. "Lumos Maxima!"
A bright orb of light shot out and hung in the air, illuminating the whole graveyard.
He spied black robes flying towards one direction. But he wasn't going to let it get away so easily.
He charged behind it, firing spells after spells but obviously he was quite skilled, countering and deflecting each and every one of his spells.
But how long? Finally, his concentration wavered and he fell down. A small bundle escaped from his grips and rolled away a few feet.
"Finally caught you." Harry regained his breath for a moment before walking towards the man who was finally standing up.
He side stepped a spell that the black cloacked man threw at him, replying with a binding spell. Topes appeared around him, slamming him into the ground once again.
With his foot, Harry rolled over the man. He was wearing a mask but from it greasy black hair, shining in the light could be easily seen.
The smile on Harry's face disappeared, replaced by a thundering look. He raised his leg and kicked Snape in the gut.
"YOU SNIVELLING CUNT!" He roared raising his leg once again and kicking him in the stomach. "HOW YOU FUCKING DARE DEFILY HER. YOU SON OF A WHORE!" He kicked him again. Snape was crying out in pain, his voice muffled by the mask that he was wearing.
Harry tore of his mask and grabbed him by his hair. Snape screamed once again, his hair were pulled so hard that Harry actually ripped out a fistful. Snape fell on the ground whining.
"FUCK, FUCK FUCK." Snape was rolling on the ground banging his head against the Earth from which blood was now pouring out.
But Harry didn't care he grabbed him by his hair again and threw against a tombstone.
"Wait here you worm." Harry spat. "I'll deal with you later."
Even if he wanted to he couldn't move. The force was so strong that he had momentarily blacked out.
Now Harry turned towards the blight of his life. He was crawling on the ground, emitting strange gurgling noises, trying so pathetically to cling to life. There was no arrogance, no grandeur, no larger than life presence of Lord Voldemort, terror of the World. What was there though was an abhorrent creature running away from death.
It made him disgusted. That he had to deal the last blow to such a low life. Even killing a cockroach barehanded would be less revolting than putting an end to this abomination.
"Incendio!"
Flames erupted from his wand and engulfed the disfigured creature. It howled, raising his tiny head up. It thrashed here and there trying ever so desperately to prolong his life for a moment.
But even fate had abandoned this freak. His body wouldn't catch fire, instead warts would appear on his body swelled with puss grey in colour. It would remain there for a minute or so before erupting, covering it in slime that was corrosive. Each time a wart would erupt, the messed up creature would scream in utter agony. The slime was slowly burning away the grey skin but even on his rotten flesh, the warts continued to appear.
This was what happened to those who defy nature. You can twist it, try to bend it to your own will but in the end Nature will win.
It was a scene he couldn't watch but even then he did. His eyes, remained glued there till all that was left was a puddle of slime and puss.
He turned around to face Severus who had a look of shock and fear on his face. Harry's eyes turned cold and he started walking rapidly towards him.
"Potter!" Even now he couldn't keep the disgust from his voice. "Coming to kill me. Come on then try it, like your father did."
"Don't say his name you snivelling coward." Harry roared.
"Love your parents much?" Snape taunted and then his eyes glazed over. "You and your stupid father, you are the reason I don't have Lily. YOU ARE THE REASON SHE'S DEAD. You are the reason she's dead. SHE BELONGED TO ME. Me. Me. Me. Me." He kept on chanting. "And just when she finally came to me. WHEN WE WERE HAPPY. You stupid thing came. WE HAD SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES. Give her back to me. GIVE HER BACK."
Harry looked at him with shock but soon anger returned. He tilted his head sideways, a cruel smile on his face. "You had memories? Accio." Dumbledore's wand came sailing to him.
Snape gave him a crazed look. "What are you thinking?"
But Harry advanced on him slowly giving him a maniacal smile. Snape tried to break his bonds but to no avail they were too strong.
"NO." He writhed on the floor. "DON'T DO THAT. DON'T TAKE AWAY MY BELOVED LILY."
"You have no right to ever remember her. Someone as nice as her. You defiled her." Harry whispered raising his wand. "Obliviate."
But one time wasn't enough, he cast it again and again till Snape's mind was a mess, his eyes turned white and blood was coming out of every single one of his orifice.
He turned around and staggered. His battle was complete. Now it was time to return home.
The aftermath was easy to deal with. His statement that he had passed out as soon as he arrived was accepted without blinking. Snape was carted off to Azkaban completely incoherent. And the Minister of Magic was happy to have his biggest political rival removed. Maybe that was the reason he wasn't subject to much scrutiny.
The year ended and with it everything bad. His chapter of nine years of struggle was finally closed and he had triumphed with a little bit of outside help.
"So what now?" Ginny had brought him out of his slumber. Sitting alone in a compartment without any worries for once and returning to a true home just like a true student.
Harry gave her a small smile. "Before Voldemort's death, I was sure I wanted revenge, something horrible for what they did to me. But now I am just tired, tired of fighting, tired of hating everyone. I guess I'll be happy if I never see their face again.
"That's a start." Ginny whispered to herself.
"What?"
Ginny gave him a dazzling smile and jumped in his lap. "Nothing. Now aren't you going to take advantage of sitting alone with a pretty girl?"
"As my lady commands."