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The last chapter! Well, not quite, there's just the epilogue after this and then it will be done. I hope you all have enjoyed it, and will like the end. Thank you!

My Heart Burns

Chapter XII: Awake and Alive

SsSsS

Hell, covering all with its gloomy vapors, has cast shadows on even the holiest eyes.

SsSsS

Harry lay panting on the floor of Lord Voldemort's private lounge. The effects on the Cruciatus Curse still lingering, pain racking his body. Even though Harry had been given a minor punishment for such a major dishonor upon the Dark Lord, he still found himself sore and throat hoarse from screaming nonstop.

Three rounds of the torture curse had been more than enough for Harry to learn his lesson. Voldemort had promised Harry that the next time he was bad, he would truly understand the meaning of "fallen angel." Harry was certain there would not be a next time.

Harry had no time now to even get his breath back, as he was expected downstairs for a "presentation."

Dear Lord, what now?

sSsSs

Severus all but ran through the corridors. Dumbledore would still be in his office, not yet having gone to bed, but the head of Slytherin had to hurry as fast as he dared.

One of his Slytherins was missing. Seeing as that student happened to be Harry Potter, it could only mean one thing. Someone was in serious danger.

Possibly, the whole wizarding world was in danger.

Severus knew Potter could be anywhere, out killing or with the Dark Lord. Or the brat could be hurt somewhere, or worse, already dead. The potions master dreaded to find out, not knowing which scenario was really the worst.

Fortunately he was correct about Albus, as the headmaster was sitting serenely at his desk, sipping a short glass of amber ale.

"Severus, what is the matter?"

Snape had come bounding in, out of breath from running the halls. What could possibly have the Slytherin so worked up?

"We have a slight problem, Headmaster. Potter's gone. Nowhere to be found."

This was a problem. Dumbledore hadn't heard anymore from the escaped Sirius Black, but knew he'd never left the grounds of the school. Had the man contacted young Harry? Maybe taken him away? Or, was it so much worse?

"I'll contact the Weasley family and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix. Severus, would you please wake Minerva? It seems sleep will not be a luxury to take tonight."

sSsSs

He lied.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Why was this happening? Harry had come when Voldemort called. He came like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs, begging for forgiveness. Harry had taken the punishment, had done everything right since he'd come back to Little Hangelton.

So, why? Why had Sirius been captured? Why was Harry being forced to watch as the only person he'd ever felt love for was mercilessly tortured and beaten?

You knew your dark king was a liar, and yet you blinded yourself on purpose. This is your fault.

Harry was filled to the brim with guilt, it was eating him from the inside out, but all he could do was stand and watch. He was helpless, just as helpless as Sirius with each curse, each horrible new injury.

It really was all his fault. Harry had caused this, and now, he had no way to make his pain go away.

Harry steadied himself as Bellatrix cackled. He may be hurting, but thanks to Narcissa, Harry knew he could still save Sirius. Just as long as Sirius survived this.

Stay strong, Sirius. Just a little while longer. Just give me one more chance. I will make it up to you. All of it…

"Harry."

Oh, no. Had Harry said that thought aloud? Had Sirius heard him? Had Bellatrix? Did the Death Eaters just heard him promise to save their newest captive?

"Harry, don't worry about me." Bellatrix cut Sirius off with a high-pitched shriek as she cast another terrifying curse, sending Harry's godfather to the floor.

Harry waited, silently begging Sirius to still live. Finally, after an eternity, the man moved to look Harry in the eye, a direct connection was made and Harry felt his breath come back.

"Harry, just get out. Find someway to get out and get Dumbledore, the Order…"

"Ha! Little Harry won't do that, dear cousin."

Bellatrix was crazy with furious glee, practically spitting in Sirius' face. Harry wanted nothing more than to break her.

"Ha…" Sirius gave a weak laugh, blood dripping with every sound, every breath he took. Harry tried to look away, but something inside would not let him look away, something was making him face this head on. Harry was almost grateful.

"You're so wrong, Bella dear. I know Harry. I've seen his Gryffindor side, and I taught him the best I could."

"Shut up! Crucio!"

Harry's anger and fear was growing stronger with each passing second. Sirius was purposely riling Bellatrix into torturing him. Why? Was he that stupid, that broken from Azkaban? Harry felt so helpless, so alone…

So alone, because there were no other Death Eaters in this dungeon room. Sirius was making sure to keep Bellatrix focused on him, so focused that she turned her back on Harry, completely ignoring him in favor of shutting Sirius up. It was now or never, there could be no hesitation. Harry felt no regret or fear as he raised his wand.

"Avada Kedavra."

Bellatrix fell, as if time had slowed, and hit the stone floor with a soft thud. Sirius looked as shocked as Harry felt. He hadn't been sure the curse would work for him. Harry hadn't been sure his anger would have been enough. Either he was in such a rage that his mind was clear, or his hatred had fueled the Killing Curse. Harry knew he had plenty of hatred to go around.

"Well, I guess I forgot about you being a Slytherin. Didn't teach you as well as I thought."

Sirius struggled to get up, but Harry was at the man's side in an instant. There wasn't much he could do for Sirius' pain, but there was one gift he could give him, before he ended this.

"Sirius, listen to me. You have to go get Dumbledore, the Aurors, whoever you can. Tell them Voldemort is in a large, abandoned mansion just outside of Little Hangelton."

Sirius grunted, but stood up.

"And how am I going to do that? Besides, I won't leave without you. At least you could sneak your way out. I would slow you down-"

Harry pulled something out of his cloak, shoving it into Sirius' hand.

"A flower? Harry what-"

"Sirius, shut up. This was a gift. It's a portkey, specially designed to leave these wards. Oh, and be careful with it, it's poisonous."

Sirius looked at the white trumpet bloom, confused as to who could have given it to Harry. He decided quickly that it didn't matter, that he would give his life so that Harry would be safely away from this place.

"No, Harry."

"Sirius, I've said all I needed to say. You're leaving now, but I will be right behind you. I have to do this, Sirius, I have to make sure Voldemort can't come after you. This was all my fault, and I intend to mend my mistakes."

"No, I won't let you stay here!"

Sirius was angry, but Harry didn't care. He couldn't. Sirius meant too much to him, and he was not going to let the man die.

"It doesn't matter what you want, Sirius. That decision was just taken away from you. I know what I have to do, but I can't do it if you're in the way… Oh, and Sirius?"

Sirius hadn't known what Harry was about to say. He thought he might hear one last confession, one last "I love you." What he heard was the last thing he wanted to hear, something from his own past.

When Harry utter the Black family motto, "Toujours Pur," Sirius only had one last second to look upon his godson, James and Lily's son, Lupin and Bellatrix's killer, before he was swept up by the datura portkey and thrown on the cold, soggy ground of Hogsmead.

Damn you, Narcissa. Damn you, and thank you.

sSsSs

Harry easily made it through the dungeons and up the stairs. He'd run into a few Death Eaters on his way, but they were no problem. After all, Harry was their master's angel, he could be trusted, he'd learned his place. They each had been dead before they even hit the floor.

Harry was creeping through one long corridor, towards a specific room. The room that Voldemort would guard with his life, the room Harry knew Voldemort was occupying at that very moment.

It was the room that held Tom Riddle's diary.

Harry was determined, more determined than he'd ever been before, but his nerves were going insane, his mind screaming at him to get out of the house and far away. He steeled himself, his destination in sight as the heat from downstairs soaked through the soles of his shoes.

All of Harry's rage and hate and pain was burning brilliantly right beneath him. He had to make sure no one got out of this mansion tonight, had to make sure he killed this god of darkness.

Harry's love for Sirius and hatred for himself made a beautiful sight as he turned it into the deadly Fiendfyre curse and loosed it upon the Riddle Manor.

Harry calmly stepped through the door, coming face-to-face with his Dark Lord.

"Harry, my angel. I hope you enjoyed the surprise I left with Bellatrix for you?"

Oh we enjoyed it, alright.

"Not at all, my lord. I hope you enjoy my surprise for you too."

A loud crash below sounded as if on cue, and Voldemort knew then that Harry had left him.

"What have you done, Angel?"

The room was already starting to heat up. Harry needed to hurry if he wanted to try to get out alive.

"I would say in about, oh, two minutes, you will see exactly what I've done."

Voldemort was angry, very angry, as he pointed his wand at Harry, the Killing Curse just on the tip of his tongue. This boy would not be shown mercy, would not be forgiven for whatever crime against the Dark Lord he had committed this time. Voldemort would kill his own angel, then fix the mess he made of the mansion.

Harry laughed, actually laughed, at Voldemort's anger, laughed right in his face.

"Have you still not understood this, Voldemort? You are going to die here today, and if I have to die along with you, then that's just fine. I will not let you hurt anyone else."

"You insolent little brat! How dare you threaten me! You can't kill me, and you're a fool to ever think you could!"

Harry smiled, a real smile, full of genuine malice for the man before him, for this fake god. Harry had learned the truth at last, finally woke up. Harry was alive in this moment, and he had never felt such pure happiness.

"You're the fool, Voldemort. You see, if you were meant to live, God wouldn't have created me."

The green curse flew from the Dark Lord's wand instantly, but it never hit its mark. The Killing Curse, the "Avada Kedavra" from Voldemort's mouth was swallowed by a giant flaming dragon, having crashed up through the floor the two wizards had just been standing on. The bright fire ate everything it touched, engulfing every life, every object it saw.

Harry fell. Voldemort fell. Together, they were plunged into the depths of fiery corruption, created by an angel of destruction.