DISCLAIMER: My story is not called Deathly Hallows. So read it now. No need to hunt in the Amazon forest! ;-)
-Chapter Thirty-
A Prophecy Tested
"Whoa! This is so cool!" Ron exclaimed, as he and Harry stepped inside the Room of Requirement. The room had transformed itself to resemble a hall with five doors at the back all of them leading to new passageways. In the hall itself were some shelves lined by strange-looking potions.
"What do you think they are?" He asked excitedly, pointing at them.
"Hermione will know, I guess. But they must have some use if they are here." Harry replied. The place reminded him uncomfortably of the Ministry of Magic where he had last faced Voldemort. He went out through the front door to wait for Hermione.
She came up a minute later, looking worried.
"What happened, Hermione?" Harry asked, "Didn't Hagrid listen to you?"
"Oh no, he did. I convinced him that McGonagall wanted him to wait for her at the Headquarters, and I also got the keys from him. I have left the front-gates open. That's not what I am worried about. Harry, it's them!" she turned back.
Neville, Ginny and Luna were standing at the head of the stairs.
"He is at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, my Lord. He is gone there with his friends, and I know most of the Hogwarts teachers are away for a meeting with the school governors and the ministry." Draco replied, his heart hammering against his ribs. Now was the final test of his occlumency lessons with Aunt Bellatrix. If he could pass today, perhaps there would never be a need to lie to him again.
"And why is he at Hogwarts, Draco?" asked the cold voice.
"My Lord, I told you McGonagall is trying to reopen the school. She is trying to gather the students' support for it, and Potter and his friends, especially that mudblood Granger, are her favourite students. They have gone there to give their suggestions on the security of the castle. I think I heard Potter say they would examine the vanishing cupboard at the Room of Requirement to see if it has been repaired properly."
"But I was told they had visited the castle yesterday for the same reason! Was my source wrong, or are you bringing me old, useless information?" The voice was barely audible now, almost a whisper, a dangerous, deadly whisper.
"No, no, Master! They had been to Hogwarts yesterday, but Potter was not feeling well, so he stayed back. Besides, nearly all the teachers were present at school yesterday, but today they are unprotected, unless you count that oaf, Hagrid." His snigger sounded very hollow to his own ear but the Dark Lord was pleased.
"Very well." he hissed, "Today will be the end of both Potter and of that old fool Dumbledore's dreams. You will be rewarded later, Draco, if your information is correct."
"I thank you, my Lord." Draco murmured, and knelt down to kiss the hem of his robe. As he knelt, his eyes caught another pair of eyes, a little above the floor, and as cold as the eyes of her master. The eyes were looking straight at Draco.
"Ginny, Luna, Neville, you can't stay here." Harry said forcefully.
"It's as much my war as it is yours. You have no right to keep me out." Neville replied calmly, but his voice was determined.
"And if Ron can stay here, so can I." Declared Ginny. "I am a lot more useful than him anyway, I don't scream myself silly at little spiders."
"That's hardly the point here. " Ron said angrily, but Ginny merely gave him a disdainful glance and turned away to observe a cupboard full of glass bottles carrying silver-coloured potions.
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked helplessly at each other.
"How on earth did you people find out?" asked Hermione.
"Pity you should ask, Hermione." Ginny replied triumphantly, pulling out a shining box from her pocket and holding it open before her."
"Beetles?" Hermione asked in an astounded tone.
"Chameleon beetles. Magical mini-recorders in the shape of beetles that can blend with the background; Fred and George's latest discovery, not out in the market yet. You are not the only ones setting them orders, Hermione."
"You have been bugging us?" Hermione looked crest-fallen.
Harry could guess how she was feeling. She had been twice subjected to the same trick.
"Yeah, Rita Skeeter has been of use, I think." Ginny replied happily, "You three and Neville and Draco. I couldn't understand how much you were all into it, though I found out later that Neville was at the same position as me and Luna."
"How long have you been bugging us?" asked Ron.
"Not for long. I asked Fred for help after you screamed that day in the library, and I got them two days back. And then you guys were so guarded in your talk even in your own room. Its only from the talk you three had with Draco in his room that we came to know your plans."
"Wait a minute," said Harry slowly, "this means you know about the horcruxes?"
"We couldn't find out anything about them in any book," said Neville, "but we understand they have to be destroyed for you to kill You-Know-Who."
"You are some dangerous friends to have." Said Harry resignedly.
Neville looked at him unhappily. "Well," he said, "if you want to call us dangerous because we want to help you, we would rather be dangerous."
"But-"
"Come on, Harry, don't tell us to go." Said Luna suddenly, who had so far seemed to busy painting in the air and had pretended not to hear the conversation that was going on, "If You-Know-Who lives, he will kill all the Bolbodding Bees just to collect their poison, and make them extinct."
"I am sure that would be a great loss." Said Ron dryly.
"They will not go, Harry." Hermione spoke, half smiling, half sighing, "Let it be."
At that moment, a coin in Harry's pocket glowed hot and he tensed up visibly. But nobody asked him why, because everybody had his or her own coins. All of them knew what was coming. He took out an old piece of parchment from his pocket and pointed his wand after unfolding it: "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Lines began to appear in that blank sheet, running in every direction, and showing the arrival of a new group of people inside the castle grounds.
"For the last time, " said Harry, "I am asking all of you to think. Voldemort wants only me. You have stood with me so far; you need not come between us now. You can take a portkey from here and get away. I think Hermione has learnt the portus charm. Haven't you?" He asked her.
Hermione nodded.
"We will be here with you." Said Neville simply.
The rest of them stood there quietly, looking determined. Ron's face was white, but he clenched his wand tightly in his fist. Ginny was looking fiery. Hermione was biting her lips, but her wand-arm was steady. Luna was peering over Harry's shoulder into the map with a mildly curious expression.
"Right." Harry said. "Till we get the second signal from Draco, we will try to stay hidden. This room has arranged itself nicely for us. Get into hiding. And try to stick together."
"And what will you do, Harry?" Ginny asked anxiously.
"I? I will try to hide till Draco has killed Nagini, and then, I will come out to meet Voldemort. But I must let him know that I am here, somehow, or he will go back and catch Draco."
"I will stay with you Harry." Hermione said in a shaky voice, "When…when they come, we will smash these silver potion bottles and…run away."
"Then I am staying here too." Ron declared resolutely.
"No, Ron." Harry said, "If you stay, Ginny, Neville and Luna will never budge from here. You lead them to hiding, and Hermione and I will try to block Voldemort and then join you. Take the third door from the left. Hurry up. They are on this floor. Go!"
The third door at the back of the room closed behind them, and Harry and Hermione were left alone. Hermione was bent over the map with her face white and wand out.
"Are you sure the potions will work, Hermione?" Harry heard himself saying.
Hermione straightened up, looking alert, but there was no need to reply. Harry heard a faint creaking sound at the door, the next moment Hermione was shouting "Reducto", waving her wand, then a group of hooded people entered the room, and at the same time, a potion cupboard smashed onto the floor, and a wall of fire sprang up from the spilled liquid. Harry was nearly blinded by the smoke, but he felt Hermione tugging at his elbow and calling: "Harry, run."
Draco watched the Dark Lord leave with twenty of his faithful servants. He had hidden behind a pillar in the main hall of the old castle wearing Harry's invisibility cloak while pretending to go back to Grimauld Place. Now he cautiously stepped out of his hiding place. He did not remove the cloak, for some deatheaters were still standing guard here and there. Wishing that he had the feet of a cat, he made his way as swiftly as he could through the twisting passages with their dark stone walls lit up by flickering torches. After a few minutes that seemed like long never-ending hours, he finally arrived at the door of the room from where he had left just a while back. The door was closed, but not locked. Pushing it as quietly as he could, Draco Malfoy stepped inside. There was a man inside, but his back was turned towards the door. He was kneeling on the floor and feeding the snake. Draco recognized him as Gordon, Pettigrew's replacement as Nagini's caretaker. Keeping his eyes and wand fixed on him; Draco pushed the door shut again. The man perhaps heard the sound of the door, and he tried to turn back, but Draco had stunned him before he could lift his head. But next second, his wand flew out of his hand.
"Draco, Draco, dear Draco, perhaps my old friend's son forgot to tell you that his cloak didn't work on animals, nor on animagis!"
Draco removed the hood of his cloak. "You!" he replied, "You are back?"
Pettigrew laughed softly, and as he laughed, Draco saw his large front tooth sticking out of his lips. It looked quite ugly and sickening.
"Yes, I am back." He replied, "All thanks to you, dear boy. I didn't realize your affection for me would force me to be back in the country so soon, for you see, I had planned a long vacation."
"I don't have time for your nonsense, Pettigrew." Draco snapped. He was beginning to panic. Harry and the others were already facing Voldemort, and he hadn't managed to kill the snake. "Give me my wand."
"I don't think so." Pettigrew replied, as he twisted his fingers round the long piece of wood. "I think the Dark Lord will be interested to know why his servant was stunned with your wand. It will make my report of your betrayal more convincing. In fact, I think I will kill this fellow, to make my case stronger."
Before Draco had realized anything, a green jet of light had shot out of his own wand and had hit the unconscious Gordon. Nagini lifted her head and hissed, but Pettigrew scooped up a dead ferret from her plate and held it before her mouth. The serpent hesitated, but her old caretaker began making strange cooing sounds in his throat, which sounded ghastly to Draco's ears, and the monster accepted the food, and curled back again to the floor.
"There," said Pettigrew, "I have made poor Gordon to give up his life for a great cause, in service to the Dark Lord."
"I am impressed, Wormtail." Draco said calmly, carefully keeping the disgust and the fear out of his voice, "After all, it takes great courage to kill a stunned man, and that too with another's wand."
"Don't bother about the courage, Malfoy." Pettigrew replied, "It doesn't take much courage or effort to kill an unarmed boy like you either, but however, I don't intend to do that. I would love to see the Dark Lord kill you."
"What makes you think he will let you go, Pettigrew? You had left him without permission, remember? And I can tell him how desperate you were for a long vacation out of the country. Why don't you just give me my wand back and let me do my work? By getting me caught, you will be ruining both of us. Live and let live, I say. "
"I gave you a chance for that." Pettigrew hissed, "I would have let you go on aiding Harry Potter without saying anything to the Dark Lord. All I wanted was a safe life out of this hell! But you cheated me! You gave me fake money. You almost got me arrested. Briggins, the tour-operator almost was about to hand me over to the Ministry. He, however, did not know how good I was escaping nets." As he said this, he laughed again, and his rat-like front tooth bulged out prominently.
"I would have given you the money, Peter." Draco replied smoothly, "But I told you it was difficult withdrawing money from Gringotts these days, especially for a wanted deatheater like me. You were not ready to listen. You kept on pressurizing me, threatening to expose me to the Dark Lord. I panicked, and tried to get rid of you quickly."
"Don't think you can fool me with a honeyed tongue, Malfoy. You have inherited your father's talent of eloquent speech in tight situations, but you must realize that you lack what Lucius has always had in abundance, gold. If you had given me the gold, there would have been no problem. Lucius would have paid me the money in your situation."
"Paid you? You had done nothing to earn the money, Pettigrew. Not only that, but you are the one who is supposed to pay back. You are indebted to Harry for stopping Black and Lupin from killing you. You owe your life to him, and therefore to his cause." Draco's tension was mounting with every passing moment, and he was beginning to lose his temper. There was no point even pretending to be nice to this piece of vermin, he would fight him muggle-fashion if he had to to get his wand back.
"Ah, Draco, you are getting angry." Pettigrew squeaked unpleasantly, "You shouldn't get angry, you know. The Dark Lord may not like high tempers in his servants."
"You slimy…" Draco lunged forward to grab at his throat, but Pettigrew was ready. After a small scuffle, he had him pinned to the wall, with the wand just inches from his throat.
"I am shocked, Draco. This is most un-Malfoy like behaviour. What will poor Narcissa think?"
Draco felt his blood boiling, but he tried to keep his voice calm.
"Why don't you understand, Peter?" he tried to sound reasonable, "What purpose of yours will be served by exposing me? Don't you understand that whatever happens to me, he will also kill you for disobeying him?"
"I don't think so, Draco." Pettigrew replied without moving, "I think I am going to tell him that I found you out, and you had imprisoned me to keep me from reporting to the Dark Lord. But I had managed to escape, and had seen you kill Gordon. Your wand will prove my report true. And then, he will kill you, and I will become an important deatheater, like your father and aunt had been when they were used to kicking me around. It will be nice to take their place, while they themselves rot in Azkaban."
As he spoke, his eyes became wild and he his attention wavered. Draco took the chance and kicked him back to free himself. As Pettigrew fell, a shower of sparks was emitted from the wand he was holding, from Draco's wand, and they bounced off the ceiling and fell scattered into the room. Nagini rose and hissed again, and this time it was both loud and angry. A fresh wave of panic washed over Draco. He hoped Harry wouldn't think he was betraying him.
"Your plan is an excellent one, Wormtail, with one minor flaw. I am surprised you missed it, seeing that you had been feeding Nagini for so long. Nagini saw who killed Gordon, Wormtail, and she is going to say the truth to the Dark Lord. She is not going to lie to her master to save you, even if she accepted your pet calls when you fed her. I think what will happen is I shall tell him that I caught you, and brought you here, and then you overpowered me and snatched my wand, and killed Gordon. And Nagini shall testify for me."
Pettigrew did not reply. Draco could see he was taken aback. He hadn't thought of this.
"Poor Peter Pettigrew!" Draco sniggered, "You should have never tried to leave the Dark Lord. Honestly, what made you think you could survive alone? Hadn't you always needed powerful people to protect you, coward and weakling that you were!"
Pettigrew's eyes flashed and he leered evilly.
"Poor Draco, " he said, "You shouldn't have laid out your plans to me like that. You see, it has helped me to amend my own, and to frame you even more elaborately. I think the Dark Lord will be pleased to know that you killed his favourite pet. And it will save me from a job I have hated so long." He started laughing. "You should have never tried to leave the Dark Lord, Draco. No powerful friend will come to protect you here." He was laughing hysterically now.
He raised his wand, and Nagini raised her head, while Draco waited with baited breath.
"Avada kedavra!" Nagini moved her head away. The spell hit the throne-like chair where the Dark Lord sat that stood behind and it was instantly in flames. But the next moment, she lifted her head again; hissing angrily, ready to strike at Pettigrew. The next jet of green light came and hit her squarely into the eyes. She was dead.
"Move away, Peter!" Draco yelled, "Move away from the snake."
Pettigrew was still laughing. "Make this dead snake testify, Draco, if you…"
The fire from Voldemort's throne reached the carcass of his pet, and then, suddenly, the flame leapt towards Pettigrew who was now bending with laughter and engulfed him.
Draco heard his laughter change into shrieks as he stood against the wall, tying to back away as far as he could. In a second, the fire was gone. The chair was lying scorched and broken, and Gordon, Pettigrew and Nagini were lying dead on the floor. Shaking, Draco walked up towards his dead enemy and knelt down. He hadn't perhaps meant this. But there was nothing he could do. And Pettigrew perhaps had finally paid his debt to the son of his friend. He picked up his wand. Even the wand had been burnt. It was useless. He searched into Pettigrew's pockets for his wand with which he had disarmed him, but it was in no better condition. He was completely defenseless. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he quickly straightened up and covered his face with the hood again. As far as he knew, no other deatheater here was an animagi. Nobody else would be able to see him.
The door opened and four deatheaters rushed in with their wands all ready. At another time, Draco would have enjoyed watching their shocked and utterly bewildered expressions, but now he had no time for it. He merely knocked over Giddens, the man standing closest to him and snatched his wand. Before the others had time to realize what was going on, he had apparated.
Harry's plan was not going well. They had managed to escape from the deatheaters in the hall, and had taken the right door at the back, but as soon as they had come in, they found they were in a maze. There was no way they could find the others without shouting out their names, but that would be revealing all of them to the enemy. After all, how long could a wall of fire hold a wizard like Voldemort?
"We just have to hide on our own, Harry." Hermione said, voicing his thought.
"Let's take this way, then." He replied, pointing to a narrow passage.
"Bad idea, Harry. If it is a closed way and if they find us out we will have no chance of escape. Let's choose a broader passage. This one."
Harry followed her silently, realizing she was right, but he knew that if Voldemort would find them, they would have little chance of escaping, even if they were in open ground.
They had barely run ten steps when they heard voices.
"Check every passage." He heard a cold voice saying, "I saw them coming through this door."
Harry's heart sank. Their first plan had failed. The smoke had not prevented Voldemort from seeing them. Draco had not killed the snake yet, what was he to do now? He didn't even know where his friends were. With baited breath, he waited there with Hermione, hoping that he would blend with the wall, and wishing he had his invisibility cloak, or indeed, a cloak each for all his friends. He wondered if the cloak would work with Voldemort. The waiting was getting worse and worse. In his mind's eye, Harry saw the deatheaters running in and out of the maze that they were in, shouting curses, calling out his name. He could not bear the suspense any more. It would be better to face them off, and whatever had to happen would happen. Twice, he made a movement, as if about to rush forwards, and twice, Hermione pulled him back.
"Wait for Draco, Harry." She whispered the second time, "It is no use otherwise."
Where was Draco? What was he doing? How long could it take to kill a snake with a killing curse? Was he all right? Did he get caught? Or was he too injured himself after killing Nagini to inform them? In that case, how was he, Harry, ever supposed to know what had happened there?
"Do you think I made a bad plan, Hermione?" he whispered.
"We had no better option." She whispered back. "Be quiet."
Every second seemed like an hour to Harry. He kept putting his hand inside his pocket to feel the fake galleon. It was still cold. The footsteps moved away, deeper into the maze, leaving the two of them to suffer in silence. It was suddenly broken by a piercing scream, Ginny's! This time, Hermione did not stop Harry. They both rushed out in panic, but the passageway was empty. They looked at each other.
"I think the sound came from that side." Hermione said shakily, pointing further away from the Room of Requirement.
Harry started running without replying and heard Hermione hurrying behind him. This should not have happened. Ginny should not have been here. Dumbledore had mentioned Ron and Hermione only. Harry should not have ever allowed her to leave The Burrow and come to stay at Headquarters. He suddenly remembered their conversation at Dumbledore's funeral last year.
"Think how I would have felt if this was your funeral." He had told her. He hadn't run a full minute, but he was already feeling breathless.
"Harry, stop." Hermione caught up with him, "They should be somewhere around here."
There was no need to prove her words, because at that moment, a tall man with a white face and scarlet eyes emerged out of a passage on the left. Harry heard Hermione gasp beside him, but he did not turn to look. He felt his hand automatically reach his pocket. The coin was still cold.
"Harry Potter." Voldemort said softly, "We meet again. How very nice of you to come here."
"Where is Ginny?" Harry asked defiantly.
Voldemort laughed.
"Well, I was wondering if your half-blood girlfriend's cry would draw you out of your hole. So I waited for you here, rather than pursue that little kitten. I can take all your friends at leisure once I have finished with you."
"You mean, you haven't got her?" asked Hermione. "Why did she scream then?"
Voldemort's eyes glinted dangerously.
"You must be the famous mudblood bookworm, girl." He said.
"Famous?" Hermione replied, "I must be, if you have heard of me."
Voldemort laughed. "You will be famous, mudblood, when Lord Voldemort has killed you."
"You know what, Tom Riddle," said Harry, "I don't know what story you feed your pureblood servants with, but you really shouldn't call others by that word."
"I am Lord Voldemort." He hissed angrily, "Nobody teaches me what to do and say, Potter. I don't know why I am wasting my time with you," he raised his wand, "Ava-"
A silent spell by Hermione had almost knocked Voldemort off his feet, and he only just managed to keep his balance. It was a simple spell, but effective, at least for the time being.
Voldemort let out a wave of fury and Harry pulled Hermione down just in time as the green jet of light missed her by inches. The next curse came. Once again, they barely managed to miss it, as they rolled over the floor.
Voldemort laughed harshly.
"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Potter."
"No need to remind me." Harry replied through gritted teeth, as he shot a silent disarming spell, which Voldemort blocked lazily.
The other deatheaters were content merely watching this unequal battle, laughing from the sidelines. He and Hermione were completely trapped.
"One or more of you can take the mudblood," Voldemort said carelessly, "and do what you want with her. I will see what Dumbledore's pet boy can do without his help."
"He will help us, Voldemort, whether you believe it or not." Harry replied boldly.
There was laughter from the deatheaters, while their Master curled his lipless mouth into a smile.
"Will he, Potter?" he said softly, "We shall see. Take the mudblood, I say." He commanded.
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled at the first deatheater who moved to take Hermione, and he fell, followed by another stunned by Hermione.
Then there was a suddenly a flurry of spells from behind hitting some of the deatheaters and mostly missing them as Ron, Neville, Luna and Ginny with a bleeding nose came running towards them. All of a sudden, a combined duel had broken out, but it was still immensely unequal. Ginny was furiously ducking curses sent towards her by a large, burly deatheater, and two of the spells almost grazed her cheek, but Harry could not reach her. There was Voldemort in between, and other deatheaters. His other friends were trying to keep Voldemort busy; to stop him from taking Harry, and this was making them prey to the other deatheaters' spells. Harry was trying his best to block them all, but it was a momentous task. He could not take on twenty people on his own. He blocked a spell aimed at Neville, but missed the next one. Ron fell, and Harry could not know if he was alive. He did not even have the time to realize the aching pain that had begun inside him. He saw Ron fall, but he saw the others who were still fighting. He heard Hermione let out a scream, but she kept firing hexes nevertheless.
'Draco, where are you?' Harry thought in despair. This could not go on. His friends were not defending themselves to defend him. He had to stop this, somehow. There was nothing to assure him that they would be safe if they had to fight only with the deatheaters, but it would give them more of a chance.
"Voldemort!" He yelled above the din. "Come and get me, Voldemort." He ran like he had never run in his life. He did not care about Nagini anymore. All he wanted was to lead Voldemort out of here. Spells rushed passed him and hit the walls. He observed all these with a third person's eye, as if it was somebody else who was running. He reached the Room of Requirement and hurled a shelf full of potion bottles right at the door to the maze. He didn't look back to see what had happened but almost flew out through the other door, which was magically open for him, as he had required.
"Expecto Patronum!" He yelled out in the corridor while continuing to run. "We need help at Hogwarts." He shouted at the silver stag, which disappeared bowing. He should have perhaps informed the Order, told them about Nagini, he should have asked them, at least some of them, to come and wait here with him for Nagini to be killed.
Voldemort was soon following him again, but once out into the castle, it was easier for Harry to escape him. He did not even have to think which way to go, his feet led him by instinct through hidden doors and tapestries. He had six years' worth experience to guide him. For Voldemort, on the other hand, his seven years at school belonged to a past long gone, and he could not follow Harry quick enough, yet, he too had once known the school well, so he never lost his pursued for long.
They were soon out into the grounds. The chase became close again as they were out in the open. Harry had to duck, jump, and roll over the ground to avoid the curses. From behind him came Voldemort's high cold laughter and taunts. Harry was running blindly now, without caring where he was going. Suddenly he crashed against something hard, and high. His wand flew out of his hand.
"Well, well, Potter. See where you have brought me. Well, I didn't know you were so loyal to that old fool as to die at his grave."
Harry stood up and looked around. They had indeed reached the white tomb, Dumbledore's tomb. His wand was lying a few feet from him, he was alone and defenseless, but he suddenly a felt a surge of new courage rushing through his blood. He was with Dumbledore. If he had to die, he would die bravely, living up to Dumbledore's faith in his death.
"See, Harry, how useless all your running has been. You will now die, and the world will know that Lord Voldemort is the greatest wizard of all times."
"Never." Harry said defiantly. "You are not the greatest wizard of the world. You never were. You are nothing more than a clever sorcerer, good with spells. You know nothing about true greatness."
"I don't have time for your rubbish, Potter." Voldemort hissed, "You have wasted enough of my time. Avada Kedavra."
As if in a trance, Harry saw the green light rushing towards him, and then, suddenly, a flame erupted before his eyes. The red and scarlet flame engulfed him, and he shut his eyes, but he wasn't hurt, feeling only a gentle warmth outside and within his body. When he opened his eyes again, he was lying a little away from where he had been standing, with his wand beside him. There was music in the air. Fawkes had arrived. All these had happened in one instant. Lying on the ground, he saw the green jet of light hit the white tomb. Only a thin slab of marble slid off, the tomb remaining otherwise intact. Now was his chance. Before Voldemort had managed to turn at him, Harry sprang on his feet with his wand, and yelled: "Expelliarmus!"
A long thin slender piece of wood came flying to him and he caught it with his left arm. He had disarmed Voldemort! Fawkes, who was hovering over his head, let out a soft, low note.
"You won't be able to kill me, Potter, you fool." Voldemort shouted in rage. "I can still kill you without my wand. This is the last of our meetings, I am sure you will be happy to know it, although perhaps I shall miss playing with you." He laughed.
Something burnt hot inside Harry's pocket and he looked straight into the eyes of the ruin of a man before him.
"You mistake, Voldemort. The pleasure's all mine in meeting you this time. I was waiting for you here. And it's your turn to die today."
Voldemort laughed again. "Before I kill you, Potter, I want to know how futile your efforts have been. No one can kill Lord Voldemort. I am immortal."
"You were." Harry replied calmly, "You are no longer immortal, Voldemort, I have taken care of that."
For the first time, he saw the shadow of fear cross Voldemort's face.
"What do you mean, Potter?" he hissed.
"I mean, Voldemort, that all your horcruxes are gone. You know how your first one, the diary was destroyed. The ring was destroyed by Dumbledore, the locket was stolen and hidden by Regulus Black, and I want you to know that me and my friends have found and destroyed all of them, the locket, the goblet, the coat of mail; and now, Draco Malfoy has killed Nagini. You are a mortal man, Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Voldemort let out a roar of rage and suddenly flew towards him. Almost by instinct, Harry knew what was coming. He was aware of pain, terrible pain. He was fused with Voldemort.
"You shall die, Potter." Voldemort said through Harry's mouth. And Harry felt the pain would kill him.
But Harry couldn't die. He couldn't die, leaving Voldemort alive to kill others. He couldn't die here while his friends needed help. He couldn't die before he had seen Ron again.
"There is no magic greater or more powerful than love, Harry." He heard Dumbledore telling him. And Harry knew he was right. He would not die. He could not succumb to the pain and let down Dumbledore's hope, his parents' love, Sirius's faith in him. He could not let down his friends who were risking their lives for him. He suddenly screamed, and though he knew he was in agony, he also knew it wasn't him who was screaming. Then, suddenly, all pain stopped. The world darkened.
Author's Note: There will be one more short chapter, with an epilogue. I certainly tried my best to make this close to the real thing, but I am aware there are many shortcomings. I have written many too-short chapters, I have avoided the ministry-interference angle completely, I have not paid much attention to details and have often rushed through the action, I have not explored the romance angles at all, I have taken a lot of liberties with ideas such as Veroudostoffy and so on, and the story has often been told from Draco's, even Neville's point of view rather than Harry's. In spite of all this, I am glad of the support I received. Perhaps I did not always get as many reviews as I hoped for, & the huge disparity between the number of hits & number of reviews sometimes frustrated me, but at the end of it all, I am highly grateful to those reviewers who remained loyal and those readers who regularly read my chapters, even if they could not always review.
This being almost the last chapter, I wrote a comparatively long A/N. Kindly do not report me for it. If you have objections, please PM me, & I shall remove it.