15. Conflict

"I'm staying with you." Daphne's heart was beating wildly, but she folded her arms and met his angry stare with a calm gaze.

"It's much too dangerous!"

"You're here, aren't you?" Daphne retorted. "Sirius is here…why not me?"

Harry stared at her, remembering the timid firstie who was scared of her own shadow.

She read his expression. "I've changed. Guess it comes from being sorted into Gryffindor, and meeting you. I'm not leaving!"

"But…" he stared at her helplessly, recognizing that she would not be moved. "You could be killed!"

"So could you."

"No, I…I have a plan. I know what I'm doing."

"Well, you'll just have to do whatever it is with me by your side."

One last time he tried reasoning with her. "You know how scared you get."

Daphne met his eyes. "Know what scares me most? Losing you!"

Sirius started to laugh. "Give it up, Harry. She's not about to change her mind."

Harry sighed in resignation. "Okay, but stay close, and call Kreacher at the first sign of trouble."

Daphne had no intention of doing that, but didn't utter any objections.


Harry scanned the shelves. "This looks like it." He picked up the round glass globe.

"I'll take that now," drawled a familiar voice.

Lights came up to show the trio facing a semi-circle of Death Eaters, with the dark repellant figure of Lord Voldemort poised in front.

Daphne's heart was pounding so hard she felt it might beat right out of her chest, but she stood her ground.

"Whatever you say," Harry returned. "Catch!" Then he flung the globe straight at Voldemort.

Bellatrix Lestrange stepped toward them and, with one smooth motion of her wand, put a protective bubble around the prophecy. It floated beside her, rendered impenetrable by her power.

Voldemort laughed, and the rest of the Death Eaters joined in. "Really, Harry? That bit of childishness is going to cost you dearly! I was planning to be quick, and merciful. But now…"

The Cruciatus curse flashed towards Harry, but both Sirius and Daphne jumped in front of him, collided, and collapsed onto the floor.

Harry dodged the spell, which hit the shelf behind him.

"Well, well. It seems you still have enough adherents who will leap forward to take my curse and spare you!" Voldemort's crimson eyes flared. "It will never be enough."

To Harry's horror, Voldemort seized Daphne's arm, and positioned her in front of him. "Bella?"

The mad witch cackled gleefully, and cast the torturous curse on the blonde girl.

Daphne's screams galvanized Harry.

He'd waited, trying to get a clear view so that he could use the rituals. But he realized he couldn't allow Daphne to be subjected to the pain a moment longer.

He displaced the agony, and Bellatrix Lestrange went down screaming. The Death Eaters gaped in astonishment at the sight.

Sirius seized the opportunity to reach up and yank Daphne away from Voldemort. Harry sensed motion near them, and saw Nagini raising her head to strike.

He immediately displaced the soul fragments into Voldemort, the sensation causing the snake to falter and Voldemort to cry out.

Sirus' cutting spell bisected the snake, while the Dark Lord was still shuddering from the impact of his horcruxes reuniting.

Harry could wait no longer…tired as he was, he used the Ritual of Destruction, overpowering it to compensate for his exhaustion.

Voldemort, along with his fabled Inner Circle, vanished.

And Harry collapsed.


He regained consciousness slowly…his eyes opened to find himself in his room at Grimmauld Place.

"Harry?" Daphne leaned over him anxiously. "How do you feel?"

"Like a dozen lorries ran over me," he croaked.

"I'm not surprised," said Sirius grimly. "You realize you single-handedly got rid of Voldemort plus his Inner Circle? Well-done, kiddo!"

Harry managed a smile at that. "How long have I been out?"

"Four days." Daphne was pale and weary, but the smile she gave him was joyous. "You used so much magic that you needed to sleep and recuperate. Do you want a pain potion?"

But he was feeling better with each minute that passed. "No, but what became of the prophecy?"

"Gone. It disappeared with them."

"Just as well," Harry shrugged.

The door opened, admitting Kreacher with a tea tray.

"Oh, good!" Harry exclaimed. "I'm starving!"

He sat up, grinning at them.

They returned his smile.

"So what happens now?" Daphne asked softly.

"Now?" Harry's eyes brightened.

"Now…we decide the future!"