Chapter 29
The night before the trap was tense to say the least. Harry and Hermione were sitting with Luna and Neville. No one was saying anything because everyone was aware of what was at stake. Finally after a while Neville broke the silence.
"So anyone got plans for the weekend?" He asked casually. Everyone smiled at Neville's optimism.
"Hogsmeade I'd imagine" Harry replied. This got Hermione's attention.
"Harry! NEWT's are only a few months more you have to revise!" She pointed out. Harry chuckled.
"My considering what we are going to do tomorrow I'm more than positive we can give ourselves one weekend off" He said kissing her hand.
They all carried on in their light conversation until they were the last ones up.
"Well I'm going to bed, goodnight everyone" Luna said as she headed to her dormitory.
Neville shortly followed. Harry and Hermione went into their common room. Hermione was about to go to her room when Harry called her back.
"Hermione?"
She turned. "What's the matter Harry?" She asked
"What would you say if I asked you to stay here tomorrow?" He asked. Hermione walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"That you are a prat if you believe for half a second that I would even begin to consider such a request. You are not doing this by yourself." She said sternly. Harry closed his eyes.
"I don't want to lose you as well" He whispered.
"Harry look at me" She said. Harry slowly lifted his head to face her.
"Do you remember what I said to you when we first got together?" She asked.
Harry nodded. "I'm not going anywhere I promise" he heard her say in his mind.
"That applies to this scenario as well. Don't worry Harry this will work we planned this meticulously. It will work" She whispered.
"Will you sleep with me tonight... Not like that I mean will you just stay with me tonight so we don't have to spend this night alone?" he asked. Hermione smiled at him.
"You don't have to ask my love" She said before the two of them went to Harry's bed. They both got into their night wear and got into bed holding each other. Harry was thinking. Tomorrow has to succeed just so he could hold Hermione again in his arms.
The following morning and Harry and Hermione were in the Professor McGonagall's office. Neville and Luna as well as the headmistress were also with them. Neville shook Harry's hand whilst Luna hugged Hermione.
"Good luck Harry" He said. Harry smiled before Luna hugged Harry and Hermione hugged Neville.
"When in doubt Harry just remember happiness always prevails" Luna whispered into his ear. Harry thanked her before releasing her hug. The two turned and face Professor McGonagall.
"I probably shouldn't tell you this but you two were always my favourite. I have had the privilege of watching the two of you grow from young cubs into the valiant lions that I see before me. Be safe in your quest and make sure you return to us" She said as she placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"The privilege was ours professor" Harry replied. Before both of them entered the floo together.
"Ministry Atrium"
When they arrived Harry noticed that the atrium seemed to be empty but he knew that they weren't alone. He also was thankful that Hermione's disillusionment charm had kicked in.
"Here we go" He said before starting his walk to the elevator. He had made it to the elevator when he noticed that Director Bones was waiting for him.
"Ah Mr. Potter welcome back to the ministry, sorry for it being so quiet we are currently in the middle of a fumigation" She said as she shook his hand.
"Not at all Madame Bones I like the peace and quiet" He replied giving a quick wink.
The two of them walked back out into the atrium when they heard him.
"Harry Potter, we meet again" The hiss of Voldemort shrilled out.
Harry gave a smug look. "You know I'm always reminded of old muggle movies with the cheesy villain every time you say that Tom" Harry replied.
"How dare you be so insolent child!" Voldemort roared.
"This coming from the coward who won't even show his face but hide from the shadows!" Harry yelled back. Voldemort's laugh was cringe worthy.
"Fine Potter I shall face you head on as you die!" With that Harry noticed Voldemort appear in a wave of black fog. He couldn't help but notice that he was being flanked by two other death eaters. Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy.
"Has ickle baby Potter grown a back bone at last?" Bellatrix sneered.
"Oh you'd be amazed by what's happened since the last time we meet Bellatrix" Harry replied.
Harry and Voldemort were circling each other.
"Ready to die Potter?" He asked.
"You know what Tom as fun as that would be I have a date this weekend and trust me my girlfriend would kill me if I didn't turn up" Harry joked.
"Oh let me guess Potter, the Weasley girl. The one that looks so like your mudblood mother" He sneered. Harry would have started cursing but he was distracted by the sounds of laughter. Hermione cancelled her disillusionment charm.
"Well at least we can now say for sure that Tommy boy here proved Freud's Oedipus complex" She said laughing.
"The mudblood granger" Bellatrix hissed.
"The inbred Bellatrix Lestrange" Hermione mockingly hissed back.
"How dare you insult a pureblood of such stature you are not worthy to even be in our presence!" Lucius roared. Hermione faked yawned.
"You know the last person who said that to me ended up with a broken nose... Shall we see if history repeats itself?" Hermione asked. Harry held his hand up.
"Now, now my love the games haven't even begun. So Tom tell me, where are the rest of your merry little gang? Hiding in the shadows as well?" He asked. Voldemort smiled.
"Considering you shall die soon it makes no difference. My army is currently attacking Hogwarts"
Harry and Hermione smiled.
*Flashback*
"Neville, I need you to lead a frontal defence on the castle. With Dumbledork gone and me at the ministry he will most likely send his army here. I need you to use the DA and liaison with the professor's. Between you all I'm certain you can keep out his army" Harry said as he and Neville walked to the Gryffindor common rom. Neville looked at him in shock.
"You want me to lead it?" He asked shocked. Harry smiled.
"Don't sell yourself short my friend I have every faith that you can do this, besides I'm going to be leaving behind a bag of party tricks to help you" Harry said as he smiled.
*End Flasback*
It was at this point that Director Bones stepped in.
"You are under arrest surrender your wands or face the consequences" She said with confidence. Lucius and Bellatrix laughed.
"You and what army?" Lucius asked. Director Bones smiled.
"This one!" She yelled. At that 50 auror's including Remus and Tonks appeared out of nowhere. Lucius and Bellatrix looked horrified but Voldemort was not deterred. He and Harry were still circling each other. Hermione had gone to join Tonks and Remus.
"Bellatrix is mine" She whispered. Bellatrix cackled.
"Oh the little mudblood is coming to get me!" She said in mock terror.
Hermione smiled. "That's right bitch and before you even think of running away you should be let in on a little secret... The ministry has gone into lock down, all modes of transport including port key and apparition have been blocked. There's nowhere to go now" She replied smugly.
Meanwhile Harry and Voldemort were still locked onto each other.
"Looks like you've got nowhere to run to now Tom" Harry said now holding onto his wand.
"It matters not Potter, for your phoenix wand will not save you now. I know about our wand cores being linked in together so I have created a new wand for myself. You will have to battle me on skill alone. Even that won't save you anymore Potter" Voldemort shot back revealing his new wand. It looked exactly like his old wand but was jet black.
"I'll tell you what Tom I'm going to give you a chance to show some kind of remorse. Think for a minute how many have you killed just to further your goals. How many have died just because they stood in your way? Think Tom try showing some kind of remorse" Harry said knowing full well that it wouldn't work.
"I will kill everyone if it means my goals are achieved Potter! I am immortal!" He yelled. Harry laughed.
"No Tom you are not immortal" He replied noticing Voldemort start to raise his wand.
"You meddle in things you don't understand boy!"
"Oh I understand a lot more than what you thinks Tom. I suppose on the face of things it was a good plan. Your mothers ring, the lost diadem of Ravenclaw, the cup of Hufflepuff the Slytherin Locket and Nagini who I'm certain you have entrusted to the other death eaters so she can have a hearty meal." Harry replied. Voldemort for the first time showed a flicker of fear.
"How did you find out?" He asked, Curious of how such as feat could possibly be discovered by some pathetic student.
"Simple Tom, I was one. You never understood what happened the night you killed my parents. The curse you fired at me rebounded because of my mother's sacrifice, in a desperate bid of survival a piece of yourself latched itself onto the only living thing it could find. Me, that's what my scar was you idiot. That's why we had the connection. Haven't you even bothered to wonder why the connection between the two of us was gone?" Harry mocked.
Voldemort had enough he raised his wand and fired the killing curse, Harry with lightning reflexes had a counter curse ready. The two were locked in another duel similar to that of the graveyard.
Harry noticed Voldemort was struggling. His power levels were indeed significantly lower. Harry's red spell pushed the killing curse back. Voldemort carried on pouring more and more power into his spell.
Meanwhile Lucius was locked in a duel with 2 auror's and Remus. Hermione was duelling Bellatrix with Tonks helping her.
"You actually believe you can win?" Bellatrix cackled. Hermione was shooting spell after spell but Bellatrix blocked everyone sending her own curses back. Tonks tried sending a body bind but Bellatrix rebounded it hitting Tonks, her entire body locked up and she fell to the ground.
"Just you and I now Mudblood!" She cackled.
Hermione's effort now doubled but she knew all the time she had no element of surprise Bellatrix would block her attacks she needed a plan and she needed one fast.
"Promise me you'll keep it with you always" she heard in her mind. That's it!
Hermione slowed her spells pretending that she was tiring. Bellatrix quickly took advantage and disarmed her throwing Hermione off her feet. She walked over to her cackling.
"You stupid little mudblood. Did you honestly believe that you would defeat me?" She laughed as she stood over Hermione.
"Actually I do believe that" Hermione quicker than the human eye had Lily's wand in hand.
"Impedimenta!" The spell his Bellatrix who was thrown off her feet.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione yelled disarming Bellatrix. A quick body bind and Bellatrix was out of the fight. It was then that she heard Lucius who had managed to stun the two auror's quickly fire a curse at Hermione.
"Sectumsempra!" The curse hit Hermione in the back before she realised what had happened she fell to the floor gashes opening all over her body.
Harry and Voldemort were still duelling Harry waiting for Voldemort to use all of his powers. He turned was putting equal power into his spell but his reserves were now much higher than Voldemort. It was then that he heard Lucius' spell he turned and his entire world stopped. He saw Hermione fall to the floor.
"NO!" He roared. Harry turned his face back to Voldemort Harry pushed his entire magical core into his spell. Voldemort realised what was happening and tried to push more power into his spell but didn't have enough left. Harry's spell overcame Voldemort. Harry noticed that Voldemort seemed to be decomposing as if ash. Cancelling the spell he saw the entire body of Tom Riddle turn to nothing more than ash.
Voldemort was dead.
Within 10 seconds he was by Hermione's side. Lucius finally managed to incapacitate Lucius and was at Harry's side. Hermione was in a pool of her own blood. Her breathing slowing by the second.
"CANCEL THE LOCKDOWN SHE NEEDS TO GET TO HOSPITAL NOW!" Harry yelled at Madame Bones who flicker her wand took down all wards preventing transport.
"Come on Hermione stay with me your going to be ok" he said picking Hermione up. She opened her eyes and whispered weakly.
"I love you" With that she slipped into unconsciousness.
"NO Hermione!" Harry yelled. Harry placed her back down again and starting pushing his magic at Hermione. The magical gashes slowly began to slow themselves.
"I am not losing you as well. Come on Hermione you promised you wouldn't leave me! Come on come back to me please!" He yelled. As more and more magic was pushed towards Hermione the wounds closed. When all of the wounds had finally closed he looked at Remus.
"Save her" With that Harry himself dropped collapsed and passed out.
AN: And the battle is done, next chapter we'll see if our heroes survive and how the Hogwarts defence went!. I know I said that I wouldn't use Hogwarts at the battle ground but I couldn't resist.
SPOILER ALERT!- The next chapter will see the death of a character in the story. *Play dramatic music*
Review guys!1