Chapter 19: Another Horcrux Down

When they got ready to leave on their next search mission, they headed first to Professor McGonagall's office. Since it was a holiday still, they wore Muggle clothing to better blend in since they were going to a Muggle town where the house was located.

"Professor?"

"Yes Harry?"

"We're about to go on another search."

The woman nodded.

"You know classes resume in three days."

"Yes Professor," Harry said. "We should be back by then."

"Good," the woman said. "I'd hate to resume classes without four of the student leaders."

"I'd hate to miss classes that I know are important. And I think that it wouldn't look good if half of a class is missing."

"You're right, Harry," the woman said. "But I understand you'll get back as soon as you can."

Harry nodded.

After a few minutes, the four friends grabbed onto Fawkes and he Apparated them out to Diagon Alley and the Twins' shop, where they Apparated again, this time, under their own power.

Fawkes was a good companion, and he was flying around with them this time. After they made their arrival at the location, it was time to scout out the house and then get to their accommodations for the night.

The scouting went well, and they found no signs of anyone watching the area. Then they went to a local hotel and rented two rooms.

Harry paid for the rooms, and then handed the key to Hermione.

"I guess Gin and I are going on up," Harry said.

"Where am I staying," Ron asked.

"With me, of course," Hermione said.

"But…"

"Don't fuss, Ron," Ginny said. "You should like to share a bed with a pretty girl such as Hermione."

Hermione blushed and Ron, blushing as well, followed them down the hall to their rooms, which were next door to each other.

When he got into the room with Ginny, Harry winked, and Ginny smiled.

"Now," she said, whispering loudly in his ear. "Let's give them some ideas of what to do?"

"Of course," Harry said, kissing Ginny. "With or without the contraceptive charm?"

"Without," Ginny said, with a twinkle in her eye.

"Ok," Harry said, smiling.

Ginny smiled back and she pushed him down on the bed.

"When will those two stop!" Ron asked, throwing the pillow over his head.

"Lighten up, Ron," Hermione said, as she sat on the edge of the bed, reading a book. "They're married for crying out loud."

"But she's my baby sister!"

"Ron, it's not as if it's their first time."

"I know," Ron stammered. "That's the problem."

Hermione closed her book and marking her place.

"You know, Ron, Harry and Ginny are doing that on purpose?"

"Why?"

"Don't you want to find out what it's like to have sex?"

"Do you mean?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "I mean I am willing and ready for you to have sex with me."

Ron raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I've been waiting for months for you to start dating me, and now, you don't even want to do much more than snog."

"But…"

"Shut up and kiss me, Ron."

The next morning, they got up and ate breakfast at the inn. It was a decent breakfast, and one Ron was looking forward to. Hermione and Ginny were exchanging that look, and Harry knew what had happened last night. Ron had finally come to his senses and done what Hermione had wanted since early September.

They were all smiles as they chatted over breakfast, nothing major right now. They didn't have to talk about what they were going to do, as they already knew that.

During the walk to the place they were searching, they constantly were on the alert, looking for anything that was out of the ordinary. So far, so good.

Upon entering the house, Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He looked around and saw the magic around him.

After a moment's hesitation, he moved on, thinking it was safe to do so. As usual, they split up into pairs: Ron and Harry, and Ginny and Hermione. This time, it was Hermione and Ginny who found the horcrux. It was easier to find. But upon examining it, Harry found it would be difficult to get out of there.

He grabbed it and placed it in the same bag as before, and then he heard Apparating people.

"Shit," Harry said. "He's onto us."

"Harry!" Ginny said.

Harry looked and saw several Death Eaters flanking Voldemort, enter the area.

"We can't Apparate!" Ginny said. "And the system is locked."

"Yeah," Harry said. "We have to get out of this room."

Soon, they were fighting with the Death Eaters.

Harry and Ginny were fighting as hard as they could, and Death Eaters were falling left and right. But there were over fifty of them versus the four teens. Voldemort laughed as he caught Harry and shouted.

"Avada kedavra," he said, and the green light exited his wand.

Ginny looked on with horror and screamed when the light hit Harry. But that was all they needed, as their emergency port keys activated and they were soon gone.

Upon arriving in the common room, Ginny was sobbing as she held Harry's limp body on the floor.

Ron and Hermione were speechless, but Hermione had the sense to activate the ring to call Remus, Bill, and McGonagall.

When they arrived, there was shock in the air.

"Voldemort," Ginny said, through her sobs. "Killing…."

She couldn't say anymore as the tears and sobs came to her harder.

Harry awoke and faced a bright light. He looked around, and saw familiar faces after he stood up.

"Where am I," he asked.

"Harry," the familiar voice of Dumbledore said. "You're in the transition phase."

"Transition?"

He saw his parents.

"Am I dead?"

Lily sobbed and ran to hug her son. James and Sirius ran to join them, embracing Harry in a hug.

"But what about…"

"Harry," a new voice said.

Harry looked up to see three of the founders of Hogwarts and Merlin standing together.

"I'm dead," Harry said, his own eyes brimming with tears.

"Don't cry, Harry," Lily said. "It's ok. You're safe with us."

"But what about Ginny, and Ron, and Hermione, and….."

"They'll be ok soon," Lily said. "They'll understand."

"But…"

"But what?"

"I still haven't finished off Voldemort."

"But you have," Godric said. "You've destroyed his last horcruxes and he is mortal."

"But the diadem…"

"Will be destroyed soon. Nagini was killed in the battle, and Voldemort will be mortal. He knows it."

"I can't leave them," Harry said.

"The choice is yours," Dumbledore said. "You're only here because you have a choice to make. Continue on with us, or continue on in your life with your loved ones."

Harry looked at his parents with a lump in his throat.

"It's a hard choice."

"Yes, Harry," Lily said, looking at him. "It is. But as I told you when you went back in time to my time at Hogwarts, it's one you are more than capable of doing. You jumped in front of Ginny when Voldemort tried to hit her with the killing curse."

"So they're all alive?"

"Yes. And they're mourning you right now. If you want to go back, you must go now. Your time for a choice is slowly coming to an end."

"But…"

"We'll be here when it's time, son," James said. "I know it's going to be hard for you but you will spend all eternity with us. And your other loved ones."

Harry nodded.

He hugged his parents, Sirius, and Dumbledore.

"Grandfather?"

"I know you'll do what's right, Harry."

Harry nodded.

"I think it's time for me to go back."

"Very well," Merlin said. "Off you go…"

Harry awoke with a gasp and moaned.

Ginny saw him move and moan, and she looked at him in shock.

"H-Harry?"

"Gin?"

Ron and Hermione looked down.

"But you were…"

Ginny embraced Harry as Madam Pomfrey arrived, having been summoned to care for the injuries.

"Wait," she said. "They said you were hit by the Killing Curse."

Harry opened his eyes and looked at her. He started to stand.

"No, lie down," the mediwitch said.

After her examination, she promptly healed his cuts and his broken arm. Everything else was fine. He had a bruise on his chest where he'd been hit by the killing curse.

"But how…"

Harry looked at Bill and spoke.

"Voldemort keeps me alive. Destroy the diadem and it will be time."

"For the final battle?"

"For the final battle," Harry said. "Remus, we need to martial our forces and plan the battle. It must be on our terms because Voldemort's Army is strong."

"What about his…"

"This is the last one," Harry said, pointing to the bag.

Bill nodded and stood up right, having held onto his sister.

"Harry, how can I thank you? They said you saved my sister's life."

Harry looked at Bill.

"You don't owe me anything. It was her love for me and my love for her that made me want to do it."

Bill nodded and helped Harry up. He sat down and Dobby appeared with food.

"Ok," Ron said to Harry. "When do we fight?"

"I want to call a press conference," Harry said. "And Professor McGonagall, I think it's time we announce that the heir of Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw has arrived."

The woman nodded.

"You sure you want to announce it?"

"He'll come for me," Harry said. "I'm sure of it. He'd want to use my death to make another horcrux. He's prideful. And that pride is going to be his downfall."

"And it wouldn't hurt to make sure he's not able to use you as press since he thought he killed you."

"Right," Harry said. "Can we do it?"

"I'll call the Minister," Bill said.

"Right," Harry said. "Tell him that I'm willing to speak to the press on my terms. There will be time for questions at a later date, but I want to clarify something for them."

Bill nodded.

"I'll contact Percy to do it. He'll be more than happy."

Harry nodded.

Soon, the four sat down to rest as members of the Order started to arrive, along with senior Ministry officials.

"Harry," Scrimgeour said. "I heard you want to hold a press conference."

"Yes I do, Minister. I think it's time I go public with some information."

"I think so too," the Minister said. "What do you want to talk about?'

"I want to announce that I'm the heir of Gryffindor, Merlin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw."

"What?"

"Yes," Harry said. "I'm the heir of four of the greatest witches and wizards of all time."

Ginny was about to say something, but then she knew that Harry wanted to get Voldemort out of hiding. And this would be a good way to do it.

Later that afternoon, after clearing up and verifying what he could release with his closest friends and advisors, Harry went to a press conference set up in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

It was filled with reporters, and a lot of cameras flashed. There were shouted questions, but Harry ignored them.

"SILENCIO!" he yelled, silencing the throngs. "I'm only going to say this once. And there is no time for questions when I'm done."

"Thank you for coming," Minister Scrimgeour said. "As you know, Harry Potter has some very important and gratifying news that he'd like to announce. I am pleased he has come forward to speak to you, and to show that we have been working on destroying Voldemort. There will be no questions at the end of this press conference, and Harry and I must leave to have discussions after this. Harry?"

"Thank you, Minister," Harry said. "I want to speak to you today to tell you a little about the history of the man called Lord Voldemort."

Harry then went into Tom Riddle's history, including his parents and his half-blood status. He left out information about horcruxes, of course, but this was calculated to get Voldemort angry at Harry.

"Now that you know about the heir of Slytherin, I want to introduce to you the heir of four other famous wizards. This is in the form of one person. This person is the heir of Merlin himself, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw."

Harry paused and saw the stunned faces.

"Yes, it is myself. I found this out on my seventeenth birthday, and I want to speak to Tom Riddle. Tom, I know you want to face me in battle. Now's your chance. If you want to arrange a time and place for us to meet, now's the time to message me. You know where I'm at. I'm afraid, though, that I think it's time for your reign of terror to end for good.

"Thank you," Harry said, leaving.

Right before he got to the door, he canceled out his charm, and then touched the port key to the common room, which was guarded by Ministry aurors at the moment.

"We've got it destroyed!" Bill said.

"Great," Harry said. "Now, let's get our battle plan ready. I sent Tom a personal invitation to battle."

"Why?"

"He can't resist it," Harry said. "Not since I told him I was heir to Merlin, Gryffindor, and the others. And I've defied him more times and survived that anyone else I know."

"Now everyone will be scared to return to Hogwarts."

"That's part of my plan," Harry said. "I did it now so parents would keep their kids home. And Professor McGonagall is messaging them that school will be delayed in starting for a few more days until we know when Voldemort will respond."

"Harry!"

He saw Neville running up.

"This came for you."

Harry opened it.

"Harry, I thought I killed you. Guess not. But it is time for us to end this once and for all. We will meet at your current location at sundown today. Do bring those friends of yours. We want to make sure you have your own army."

Harry read the location: Hogwarts. Voldemort was coming now.

"He's coming," Harry said. "Now."

With that, owls went out everywhere, and Ministry aurors were Apparating into Hogsmeade and running to Hogwarts.