Hey, it's me! This story is getting close to its close. Keep reading and reviewing, my faithful fans!
Chapter 87
Finally… the truth. Harry breathed hard as he laid on the floor. He thought that he had been leaning the secret to victory. So, after all this, after all the adventures, after all the brushes with death, all the battles… he was simply supposed to walk into Death's open arms, while destroying each of Voldemort's links to life in the process, so that, when he faced him, Voldemort would become mortal once more. Neither would live, neither could survive. But, Dumbledore had underestimated him. The snake remained. Voldemort still had one remaining link to life after he was gone. Harry shook a little as he stood up.
And… who was left? That thought chilled Harry. Ron and Hermione were gone, dead, just like his parents, Sirius, and so many others. And Gohan… was he even still alive? Cell's words rang in his head.
"Today, both you and the saiyan have thrust others in front of you. At least Gohan had the honor to face me one on one. You are even worse…"
Did this mean that Gohan was dead? Another brave friend, lost to the madness? There was still Pan, though. Now that he thought about it, she and Snape were alike in many ways. Harry's heart beat rapidly against his chest, snapping him out of his thoughts. How odd that now, when death seemed closest, his heart beat traitorously, giving him life. Harry let out a soft sigh as he headed for the exit to the Headmaster's office and yanked out the invisibility cloak, drawing it over his shoulders as he descended down the stairs. For the first time in his life, his path was clear.
And now, our other hero…
"Gnnh!" Gohan cursed as he struggled with one of the bonds.
"Oh, try if you will. But, I assure you, those bonds are quite unbreakable." Gohan whirled to see Morgana Riddle standing in the center of the tent looking at him quite curiously, like a scientist to his specimen.
"So, we meet again, Morgana." Gohan said coldly.
"For the last time, I hope." She said.
"How can you live with yourself? After everything you've done?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same." She said softly.
"Your father murdered your mother when you were six. Pan's told me all about you. You never had a chance, did you? He brainwashed you from the moment you were born. I bet he told you that he wanted a son, didn't he?" Gohan smirked.
"Shut up." She snarled.
"He never respected you. He treated you like garbage. Nothing you did ever pleased him. That's why you had Tyranus kill him, isn't it? You wanted him to respect you. You should at least have given him the honor of killing him yourself." Gohan frowned.
"SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Morgana roared as she turned and gritted her teeth, clenching her fists with rage.
"You are… quite different than your children." She said softly.
"Pan takes after her mother. And… Bardock is what I could have become if I had chosen a different path." Gohan frowned.
"Well, look where this path got you. You'll be dead in the morning. And you killed Tartarus, one of my oldest allies." Then, Morgana whipped out her wand and pointed it directly between Gohan's eyes.
"Give me a reason." She hissed.
"He killed my friends. Friends I've known my whole time at Hogwarts. He fought well, I will admit that." Gohan said. Morgana snarled as she lowered her wand.
"Enjoy the last few hours of your life. And… I do admit, you have fought fabulously. So… I'll give you one last reward." Morgana smiled as she walked up to Gohan. Then, she leaned in and her lips met with his. Gohan gritted his teeth, fighting the warm tingling feeling. A minute later, Morgana separated from Gohan.
"Enjoy that. Your son certainly used to." She smirked as she turned and headed to the exit.
"Hold on a second!" Gohan roared, causing Morgana to pause and looked back at him with a look of annoyance.
"What now?" she asked.
"If I'm going to die in the morning, then at least tell me who your mother is!" Gohan snarled. Morgana stared at him, frowning at him curiously.
"Who is it? Was it Hermione? Or was it Kiara? Or, was it a faithful Death Eater like Bellatrix?" Gohan asked.
"You don't know anything." Morgana snarled.
"At least tell me if I know her! Come on, if I'm going to die, at least let me die with a clear mind!" Gohan frowned. Morgana frowned for a minute, before giggling, making Gohan sweat drop. Then, Morgana burst into laughter.
"Wow… you really are the most brilliant wizard of this age. Very well, Mr. Son, I'll tell you. I guess that you've earned that right. Yes, you do know my mother." Morgana smiled. Gohan frowned.
"You don't see it?" Morgana giggled as she twirled around. Gohan frowned.
"Sigh… vous êtes vraiment stupide que." She said, making Gohan gape.
"Fleur?" Gohan sputtered.
"You finally got it." She smirked. (Surprised?)
"Fleur… Voldemort… gah! But that means that Pan and Bardock are your cousins!" Gohan sputtered.
"Don't be so rash! I'm not that disgusting." Morgana frowned.
"But…" Gohan frowned. Morgana sighed.
"Since you're about to die, I'll tell you the story. Fleur got captured during an order mission, so they never got married. Instead of killing her, my father had bigger plans for her. You can see what my father saw. A beautiful veela and pureblood. The perfect combination to produce an heir for him. Sometimes, I wonder if he really wanted a son, given the nature of Veelas." Morgana frowned.
"But… Pan told me that…" Then, a look of understanding went over his face.
"Fleur wasn't killed when you were six, was she?" Gohan frowned. Morgana chuckled.
"No, she wasn't. Personally, she hated me from the second I was born. She was disgusted with me. She never once held me or ever showed me any kind of love… which I'm starting to think is what my father wanted. I was nothing but a reminder of her captivity. Then, when I was six, she finally escaped and fled to the rebels during a raid. I don't know if she ever revealed our relationship. I had the pleasure of killing her myself when I was 17. Not even as she was dying did she admit that she loved me… she said that I was no daughter of hers. Stayed single and sad her whole life. She deserved it." Morgana spat.
"So, your power is from a veela. But, it's." Gohan began to say.
"Different? Thank Emperor Cell. He found some spells that I used on myself to boost my power a thousandfold!" Morgana smiled.
"I feel sorry for you." Gohan frowned.
"Save it. I don't need your pity." Morgana spat before whirling and leaving the tent, leaving Gohan alone. Gohan snarled as he pulled at one of the chains one last time before groaning and going limp. He sighed as his head slumped down, a feeling of hopelessness around him.
"So… this is my end. There's so much I didn't do." He said softly. Right now, he was filled with regret. All this was his fault. He had dragged all of his friends and family into this hell. Harry had followed him into a trap that had been for him! He wouldn't see Goten become a man or go to Hogwarts. And Victoria… his heart stung a bit at the thought of the infant. He'd never hear her first words, or see her first steps. Or, see her go to Hogwarts and meet boys (which he would try to prevent.) Gohan smirked at the thought. Then, his thoughts strayed to Ginny. Her hair, her smile…
"Reclaimer!" Gohan's eyes snapped open to see a floating orb in front of him, which seemed to have just appeared in a flash of yellow light.
"Are you… Camus Raxan?" Gohan asked, remembering what he had seen in the crystal ball.
"Of course, Reclaimer! I'm pleased that you are well. I am programmed to aid all descendents of King Baxba." The orb said.
"How'd you find me?" Gohan frowned.
"I am programmed to track powerful energy. Once Bardock gave me the order to find you, I simply locked onto your specific energy and teleported myself here." The robot answered.
"That sounds like Instant Transmission… how?" Gohan frowned.
"It's a simple process, actually. During their time here, my ancestors installed a grid in every location that they claimed. I am able to teleport myself anywhere on the grid to maintain saiyan facilities." The machine answered.
"Interesting… wait a minute, can you break these bonds?" Gohan asked curiously as he nodded his head in the direction of the bonds.
"Of course!" Then, a glowing orange beam shot out of the orb into Gohan's left bond, causing it to snap open. The orb did the same with the other three bonds. Gohan fell to the floor with a look of surprise on his face.
"Alright! Thank you! I guess me and gramps are even now." Gohan smirked as he pumped his fist.
"You are quite welcome. It is my programming to aid all saiyans." The machine said. Then, a ruslting made Gohan whirl.
"Raxan! Hide!" Gohan hissed. A minute later, a Death Eater walked in with a tray of food.
"Chow time, saiyan! Emperor Cell wants you to be full when you…" the Death Eater trailed off when he saw the empty restraints. Then, he gasped and collapsed onto the ground.
"That was well done, saiyan." Raxan commented as Gohan lowered his fist. Gohan frowned as he removed the Death Eater's mask.
"Yaxley…" Gohan frowned as he recognized the Death Eater on the ground. Then, he looked back at Raxan.
"I appreciate all you've done. Now, can you get some help?" Gohan asked.
"Help?" the machine asked curiously.
"Send out an SOS. Tell anyone possible to give these wand wavers hell. That make sense?" Gohan asked.
"Ah, of course. I understand completely." The machine chuckled, giving Gohan an odd feeling that he pushed aside.
"Okay, go back to gramps." Gohan ordered. The machine gave what seemed to be a nod before vanishing in a flash of light.
"Okay… I think I've got an idea." Gohan smiled as he pulled out a vial.
Hogwarts…
Harry slowly walked down a corridor, a feeling of dread on wanted to be stopped, to be dragged back, to be sent back home... But he was home. Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known. He and Voldemort and Snape, the abandoned boys, had all found home here...
"I don't want to fight anymore…" Harry's heart leapt slightly. Kiara was kneeling next to a girl and talking to her. The girl had a gash in her shoulder, and was sobbing.
"I know." Kiara said softly.
"I want my mother… I want to go home…" the girl moaned. Kiara simply sighed. For a moment, Harry wanted to stop, to reach out, to touch her, to tell her that it was all right. Then, he gritted his teeth and kept walking. Kiara looked up and looked around , staring right at Harry for a second, before talking with the girl once more. Then, Harry walked past Pan, who was leaning against the wall and not talking to anybody. Pan was just like him, in many ways, kinda like Snape. But, Harry walked past her as well. Seeing Pan made his thoughts stray to Tyranus. It was ironic how similar to Tyranus Harry was. If Harry had let his hate boil inside him and not moved on with his life, he would have been consumed by darkness, exactly like Voldemort as well. Harry walked through the broken door and through the courtyard. As he walked towards the remains of the Forbidden Forest, he passed Hagrid's cabin. Memories filled him of Norbert, Hagrid's rock cakes, all the times that they had sat back and laughed… and yet now, the cabin was dark, and no barking could be heard. He passed Hagrid's cabin and continued into the gloom, coughing a little at the smog in the air. He remembered all the romps that he had gone though in the Forbidden Forest, meeting Firenze, training with Gohan… and now, Harry looked at the stumps left behind, no trees in sight. He could feel the chill from Dementors already, which seemed like it was sapping the last of his strength. Not even his new power seemed to help. Desperate for warmth, he plunged his hands into his pockets, and got a surprise when he felt a small round object. He pulled his hand out to see the golden snitch.
"What? I dropped it in New York when I was captured!" Harry gasped as he looked at the ball. Then, a feeling of understanding went over him.
"Gohan must have slipped it into my pocket!" he said softly, remembering when Gohan had patted him on the back. Slowly, he raised the Snitch to his mouth. Understanding seemed to be coming to him in a flow. This was the close.
"I am about to die." He whispered softly. The Snitch broke open, revealing…
"The Resurrection Stone." Harry said softly. The stone was cracked down the middle, covering the line that represented the Elder Wand, but the triangle representing the Cloak of Invisibility and the circle representing the stone were still visible. Harry held the stone in his hands and turned it three times while his eyes were closed. It wasn't about calling them back, for her was about to join them. He knew without opening his eyes that it had worked, for he could feel the sound of shifting feet. He opened his eyes and let out a soft gasp. Around him was Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Ron, and Hermione. They were like the Riddle from the diary, less than living but more than ghosts. James was the same height as Harry, and looked the same as when he had died. His hair was messed up, his glasses a little lopsided, and a smile on his face. Sirius looked younger and more full of life than Harry had ever known him in life. Lupin looked happy to be back in the place of so many adolescent wanderings. Lily had the widest smile of all, pulling her hair back just to look at him for every second that she could. Ron chuckled as he crossed his arms. His hair was a vibrant red and a smirk on his face, just like all the times that he and Harry had spent together. Hermione's smile was second only to Lily's. She seemed very happy to back together with her old friends. She was dressed in Hogwarts robes, and looked as if she hadn't died in a violent battle, but if it just another casual day at Hogwarts.
"You've been so brave." Lily spoke first.
"You're nearly there. Very close. We are...so proud of you." James smiled.
"Does it hurt?" The question slipped from Harry's lips, feeling silly.
"Dying? Not at all. Quicker and easier than falling asleep." Sirius smirked.
"Hey, I'm pretty sure that varies!" Ron frowned.
"Ronald, please!" Hermione glared at him, causing Harry to let a smile dance across his face, letting the memories of his past flow through him.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant any of you to die for me." Harry said softly.
"Don't be ridiculous, Harry! We made our own choices. We chose to do what we did. You can't blame yourself for any of this!" Hermione protested.
"Remus, your son… I'm so sorry." Harry said softly as he looked at the werewolf.
"I'm sorry as well. Sorry I will never know him... but he will know why I died and I hope he will understand I was trying to make a world in which he could live a happier life. One day, he'll understand." Remus smiled.
"Ron… your family. First it was you, and now Fred…" Harry said as a tear ran down his face.
"I know, mate. But, like Hermione, I made my own choice. We all did. Me, Fred, George, Charlie…" Ron frowned.
"Percy came back. He apologized to your family, he repented." Harry said.
"Hah! I would have loved to see that! About time that git got some sense!" Ron smirked.
"Hermione…" Harry said softly, but Hermione raised her hand, causing Harry to stop.
"Don't even start, Harry! I knew exactly what I was doing. Besides, my parents will be alright. They still don't remember anything." Hermione smiled weakly.
"You'll stay with me?" Harry asked.
"Until the end." James smiled.
"No one can see you?" Harry asked as he looked around.
"Of course not!" Hermione frowned.
"We're part of you." Sirius smiled. With a nod, Harry draped the cloak back over himself and walked into the mist with Sirius, James, Remus, Lily, Ron, and Hermione. The smog and the Dementors didn't bother him anymore. They acted like patronuses, keeping him warm. Then, the sound of a crack made him turn to see two Death Eaters step out of the fog.
"You hear that?" one of the Death Eaters, Dolhov, asked.
"Hear what? That headcase Hagrid used to keep all kinds of weird creatures around here. And watch your tone, soldier." The other one commented, pulling back the hood to reveal the face of Irena Malfoy. Harry didn't know how he knew. But, this girl had the hair and look of Draco, but the smirk of Pansy.
"I'm sorry, ma'am." The soldier gulped nervously. Irena whirled on him.
"You will not address me like that. I am your superior officer, and will be addressed to as sir, regardless of gender. This applies to everyone, including Lady Morgana. Do you undersand?" Irena hissed , making the terrified man gulp.
"SIR YES SIR!" he yelled. Then, Irena slapped him over the head.
"Keep your voice down, you idiot! You want to tell the whole damn army we're here? Come on, let's return to camp. The emperor is not going to be happy about this." Irena sighed as she turned around and headed back, the other soldier behind her. Harry looked at his friends and family, getting nods in response. Malfoy would lead him straight to Voldemort. Harry began walking once more, keeping the Death Eaters within eyesight.
Our other hero…
Gohan smirked as he clicked the last bond in place, and chuckled as he stood back to admire his work. Now, the unconscious Death Eater was in his armor, and restrained to the ki bonds, while Gohan had switched to the Death Eaters robes.
"Ron was right. This is uncomfortable." Gohan muttered. Then, a groan made him snap back to the Death Eater. Gohan didn't recognize this one.
"Imperio!" Gohan hissed as he pointed his wand at the Death Eater, feeling a warm feeling go through his arm like back at Gringotts. The Death Eater didn't make another sound. Then, Gohan pulled out two vials.
"Good thing I kept onto this stuff. I had a feeling that I'd need this stuff again." Gohan pulled out one vial and winched as he yanked out some of his hair, which he dropped into the vial, causing it to bubble. Then, he reached over and yanked a tuft of hair off the Death Eater's head.
"Open." Gohan commanded mentally. The Death Eater did. Then, Gohan poured the mixture down the Death Eater's throat. As he sputtered, Gohan dropped the Death Eater's hair into his flask, which began to bubble as well.
"Well… bottoms up." Then, Gohan let out a small groan before gulping the vial down. Then, he groaned as he staggered back, felt his face changing, his tail retracting. A minute later, he turned back to stare into his own face.. he smirked and looked into a nearby mirror to see the Death Eater looking back at him.
"You will act like me. You will not inform anyone of this switch, in any form, shape, or any kind of communication whatsoever, do you understand?" Gohan asked, feeling the warm feeling in his hand again.
"Yes." The Death Eater said softly. Gohan smirked as he put the Death Eater's mask on.
"Bah, it is stuffy in here." Gohan frowned as he exited the tent. He looked around nervously at first, but relaxed when he saw that no one was staring at him. Rather, several backed away the second that Gohan got near them. Gohan then looked around. The camp was virtually silent. Several flags were flying in the air, which Gohan recognized as the British, Korean, and Cuban flags. There were tents everywhere, and the only light came from a small fire at the center of the camp. Gohan could make out lines of tanks and starships, giving off a menacing feeling. Gohan frowned as he looked around. Morbius was standing alone, smirking at the wands that he was checking. Gohan smirked at the sight of the Death Eaters being treated for wounds, some of them quite severe. The Brutes were in large groups looking around, seemingly confused at the death of their leader. Cell stood in front of the fire, twirling the Elder Wand between his fingers, with a frown on his face. Voldemort stood next to him, a neutral expression on his face. Morgana stood to Cell's left, looking neutral as well. Then, Gohan let out a soft gasp at Hagrid, who was chained up and restrained by several of Frieza's henchmen. Then, Gohan's eyes widened as Irena Malfoy and another Death Eater walked into the camp, getting Cell's attention.
"What did you find?" Cell frowned.
"Nothing, my Emperor. No sign of Potter or anyone else." She bowed, getting an angry look from Voldemort and a sigh from Cell. Morgana looked between her father and Cell, curious at what would occur next.
"I honestly thought that he would come. It seems that the boy was wrong. I was wrong." Cell frowned.
"You weren't." a voice said made Gohan gape. Harry breathed as he pulled the cloak off himself and stepped into the light. Morgana gaped at Harry before whirling to look at Voldemort. Cell frowned, before a smile went over the android's face. Harry ignored them all as he looked at the Dark Lord. For a minute, it was just him and Voldemort, staring at each other. Then, all hell broke loose. Men shouted in languages that Harry didn't recognize, the Brutes roared, the Death Eaters yelled out, Frieza roared with laughter, and Morgana flashed him a wicked smile. Then, Cell raised a hand, making the entire crowd go silent. Then…
"HARRY! NO! NO! NO! HARRY, WHAT'RE YEH-? Hagrid roared as he struggled against the ropes.
"QUIET!" Irena roared as she flicked her wand, making the half-giant go silent. Voldemort looked at Harry curiously, as if seeing what he was going to do. Gohan watched in horror as Voldemort slowly raised his wand. Cell made no movement whatsoever to impede Voldemort. Gohan's fist tightened around Yaxley's wand and gritted his teeth in rage. What could he do? The second he fired a spell, his cover would be blown and fifty more would hit him. Harry wouldn't even stand a chance. Harry made no movement whatsoever. He knew that if he tried to attack Nagini, he wouldn't last a second.
"Harry Potter… the boy who lived… come to die." Voldemort said softly. Morgana softly petted Nagini's head as the large snake slid past her. A wicked smile crossed over Cell's face. Harry breathed softly as he closed his eyes. He thought of Kiara, her long black hair, her smile, the flowery smell of her perfume, the softness of her lips… then, Voldemort mouth moved, a flash of green light, and everything was gone.
Wow. What's next? Review?