The area had gone dead quiet as those watching from the stands or right outside the barrier could only watch as Harry Potter stood before his parents' murderer, the dark lord Voldemort, and was ready to actually fight him.
"Albus, he doesn't stand a chance. He's only in his fourth year!" Minerva shook Albus's arm vigorously.
"Minerva, I'm aware, but I can't break through. None of us can…" Albus said.
"Harry…" Draco whispered as he and his friends looked on with worry.
"Baubillious!" Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry.
"Protego!" Harry blocked the attack.
This went back and forth for fifteen minutes and Harry, somehow, managed to either protect himself, or get a hit in.
"He's getting tired," Remus stated. "He's just a boy…"
"He can do this. He's James and Lily's son, Remus…Trust me. He's strong enough." Sirius reminded.
"Sirius…James and Lily were adults who graduated Hogwarts with all their magic training. Harry is just a fourth year…" Severus remarked. "He doesn't have the knowledge or stamina to take on a fully grown dark wizard."
"Why do you fight me, Harry?" Voldemort asked.
"You killed my parents…" Harry coughed.
"I can bring them back, all you have to do is join me…" Voldemort offered.
"You offered me that in first year too…My answer hasn't changed. I'll never join you." Harry replied.
"I swear I will. I'll even make the unbreakable vow…Join me and I'll return your parents to you." Voldemort said.
"Will you?" Harry looked at him.
"Harry! Don't believe a word he says, I know you're smarter than that." Sirius yelled.
Harry lowered his wand and walked up to Voldemort now. "Just join you, that's all it takes? You'll stop trying to kill me and bring my parents back?"
"That's all it takes, my boy…Together, we can reshape this world. Get back at those who've hurt you…All you have to do is bow and swear your loyalty to me, Harry." Voldemort stated. Harry looked at the man intensely and then lowered himself to one knee. "That's it, child…"
"I like what you're offering, Voldemort…There's just one little problem." Harry looked up at him as Voldemort glanced down. "You're the reason I suffered!" Harry shot up and punched Voldemort square in the face. "You killed my parents." Harry elbowed him in the gut and then dropped lower to sweep Voldemort's feet out from under him. As Voldemort was going down, Harry whipped around and kicked him far away. "I'll never join you."
"You insolent brat!" Voldemort glared.
"Shut it, and fight…" Harry warned. "I told you I was in a bad mood. So either give up, or I'm kicking your ass and believe me…This time…You won't come back."
"Big words for a small kid." Voldemort scoffed. "I'm going to make you wish you didn't become the boy who lived. Mummy dearest isn't here to protect you this time."
"Weak threat coming from the greatest dark wizard who couldn't even kill a baby!" Harry countered. Voldemort's eye twitched. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Put your magic where your mouth is and fight…" Harry raised his wand. "Leave my parents out of this. Your battle is with me, Riddle…"
"That's my boy…" Sirius grinned. "Every bit of James…Destroy him, Harry!"
"Look at you trying to protect them…You can barely stand, Harry Potter." Voldemort taunted. "I may have killed your parents, but it was your beloved headmaster who left you with your magic-hating relatives. The abuse you took was because of him not letting you go with your godfather." Harry stared at him now.
"You suffered those years before Hogwarts because of him! I, at least, owned up to my crimes. He told you it was for your own protection." Voldemort continued. "And those people behind you…I know all about how you were abandoned for getting into the tournament. It was one of my followers who entered you, just for the sake of getting you to me so I could be revived."
"Bloody called it!" Harry turned his head to glance back at those behind him.
"You're a smart boy, Harry…Don't let them douse your flame. Get back at those who've hurt you…They are the ones I want to purge from this world. The liars, the traitors…They're unworthy of your sympathy in every way…" Voldemort went on as Harry slightly lowered his wand. "Destroy them, Harry…You know they deserve to face your wrath. They all do. Destroy them!"
Harry stared at Voldemort, then to those behind him as if he were seriously considering it. Harry finally looked back at the dark lord. "You're wrong about them."
"What?" Voldemort asked.
"You are right in the things they've done…But you're wrong about them needing to be purged. I don't need everyone to bow before me like you do. I don't want absolute power. I don't want fame, glory…Nothing. Everything I've suffered has come from you. The only one who needs to be destroyed is you, so you can't hurt anyone else…" Harry informed.
"Lies!" Voldemort sent a spell to send Harry's wand from his hand. Voldemort darted at Harry, bits of rocks and whatever else rose with him. Harry stayed firm and a shield rose in front of him, destroying what struck first. Harry put out his hand and it forced Voldemort back hard.
"No!" Harry refused to let him get closer.
Voldemort sent a blast at Harry, who easily blocked it with a wave of his hand. "They do not deserve your protection!" He sent another attack, but Harry stepped to the side as it took out the barrier.
"It's not about deserve," Harry told him, walking forward calmly.
"I'll destroy you!" Voldemort raised his wand.
"Good luck, you've only failed at that three times so far…" Harry reminded.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled.
Harry threw out his hand, a red blast emitting from it and their attacks met in the middle and tried to push one another back. It stayed like that for a few minutes before Harry's began to push back and overpower Voldemort's. Harry eventually added a second hand to give more power into the beam he had control over and a blue aura took over Harry's body. Finally, Harry's blast struck Voldemort's wand and their connection broke and the man stared in shock.
"I've had enough of you today…" Harry crossed his arms over his chest and shot them out with a white blast that hit Voldemort right in his chest, sending him flying back against a statue and then a small explosion. When the light died down, Harry kept his hands at his sides as Voldemort struggled to get up and raise his wand. Harry summoned his own back to his hand without saying a word, then Harry raised his wand again. "You've lost." Harry informed. "I know you're about to make a getaway, and I'm not gonna stop you. We'll battle again, and when we do…I want you at full power, so I can kill you at your strongest."
Voldemort didn't say anything as he disappeared from sight and Harry lowered his wand to his side before turning to face the crowd that formed. Albus went to speak and Harry put his hand up. "Not a word." Harry informed. "I don't want to talk. I don't want explanations. I don't want anyone to ask if I'm okay. I'm going to my dorm to sleep the rest of the day away so this school year can finally be done."
"Harry…" Albus tried.
"What is so hard for you to understand about back off? I did my part, Headmaster. I took part in a tournament I didn't want to be in and just battled the guy who killed my parents and has tried to kill me three times. I think I've more than earned my right to rest." Harry remarked. "I fought him because he was gonna kill everyone…But I never said he was wrong with what he told me. You are the reason I got abused by the Dursley's, and everyone here did abandon me after I was told I had to compete even though I said it was obviously a trap set by Voldemort. Low and bloody behold…" He started walking away. "Now, if nobody minds…" Before Harry could take another step, he went unconscious and hit the ground, wand still in hand.
"Harry!" Hermione screeched.
"Pup," Sirius tried to wake his godson and Remus was trying to help too.
Severus attempted to cast the regaining consciousness charm and it did nothing. Severus pulled his wand and held it over Harry's unconscious form and ran the wand over his figure.
"What is it, Severus?" Albus inquired.
"His magical core is nearly depleted, Headmaster…" Severus informed.
"H-How low?" Minerva asked.
"I'd say he's used 95% of his magic. One more spell against Voldemort and it would be gone." Severus reported. "Summon Poppy. We should get him to the hospital wing to recover. I'll bring her more potions to work at getting his energy back up."
"That is very severe…" Albus sighed. "Poppy!" He called out.
The medi-witch made her way through and worked with Severus to get Harry on a stretcher and levitate him to the hospital wing.
"So…Potter won the Tri-Wizard Tournament?" Ron asked.
"Ronald!" Hermione smacked his arm. "Harry could have died today!" She scolded.
"He touched the cup before I did. He won," Cedric nodded.
"Let's clear away…It's been an eventful day." Albus sighed. "Severus, Harry's arm was bleeding. Ensure he's alright?"
"Yes, Headmaster." Severus turned and left.
Draco said goodbye to his parents, then left with his friends and the rest of Slytherin right behind Severus to go make sure Harry was okay. Everyone else was still in shock of the battle that took place; Harry actually took on Voldemort, in the flesh, and beat him. Harry even let him get away and promised to kill him when the dark lord was at full strength.
It was very obvious Harry was mad at everyone, and wanted to be left alone for a while. Though, right now; the battle alone nearly killed Harry's magical core and everyone knew that if you used everything; you'd basically be a squib. The only things left to happen were the rest of today, then tomorrow's packing and end of the year feast; school was over.
. . .
Harry spent the night in the hospital wing with Poppy and Severus working together to get Harry's magical core recovering. Oddly, it seemed to be doing it on its own as when Poppy checked the level once they got to the hospital; it was already at 25% recovered. After getting some recovery potions into Harry, Severus only saw a deep cut on the boy's arm and took the necessary steps to heal the wound and wrap it up. Harry stayed unconscious until the next morning, where his magic had been restored to 55% and Poppy released him from the hospital.
Harry returned to Slytherin common room, instantly greeted by his housemates, who were grateful he was alright. Draco was first to sock Harry in the arm and scold him for almost depleting his magical core. Harry spent the rest of the day taking it easy and packing to go home on the 26th. Harry did learn that Alastor Moody was actually Barty Crouch Junior using Polyjuice Potion to impersonate the man, and he'd done it on Voldemort's orders.
He was the one who submitted Harry's name into the goblet of fire. The man now had been taken to Azkaban and given the Dementor's Kiss. The real Alastor Moody was found in a trunk in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom; he's thus been let out and gone back to being an Auror for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Harry was angry; he'd been right the entire time that Voldemort put him in the tournament. Everyone heard the truth and Harry was honestly waiting for an apology, but nothing. Of course, Harry didn't blame the Slytherins; they'd been there for him throughout the tournament after the first task.
Today was the 26th, and Harry's magic wasn't entirely back to full force yet. At the moment, Harry was laying in his bed, but packed fully and just waiting to leave the school; he was ready to maybe enjoy his summer away before next year and also pray that it was a calm one. With Voldemort back in the flesh now, it wasn't looking promising.
"Come on, Harry…" Draco said gently. "It's time for the end of year feast."
"I'm not hungry." Harry informed.
"You need to eat Harry…You didn't eat anything yesterday." Blaise mentioned.
"I just want to sleep…" Harry told the males.
"You can sleep on the train ride, my friend." Draco smiled.
Harry groaned as he finally sat up. Fighting Voldemort took so much out of him; Harry remembered falling right to sleep after lunch the day of the battle. "You need to get your energy back up and everyone's wondering if you're still alive." Vincent chuckled. "No one's seen you since the 24th."
"And it hasn't killed them to not see me. Not like anyone but you guys cared…" Harry pulled on his shoes and grabbed his outer robe, then set his tie properly. "Fine, let's go…" Harry sighed.
When they reached the great hall, things went quiet as Harry was finally seen since the tournament end when he actually kicked Voldemort's but in a duel and physically. Harry ignored the looks and followed his friends to the Slytherin table and took his seat between Draco and Pansy.
"Potter," Severus strolled by Harry now and stopped.
"Professor," Harry replied.
"How is your arm?" Severus inquired.
"Still sore, but closing and probably gonna leave a nice scar." Harry replied.
"Here," Severus gave him a small jar of pain salve. "It takes care of pain and promotes healing, prevents infection."
"Thank you, sir," Harry accepted the jar and lifted his robe sleeve to apply the salve and then use the wrapping spell to cover his arm again. Harry covered the jar and shrunk it down to put into his pocket. Severus nodded and went on to the head table.
"Where did you get that anyway?" Blaise wondered.
"Tell you on the train." Harry said. Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur approached Harry and were holding the Tri-Wizard Trophy out to him. "What's this?" Harry asked.
"It's rightfully yours, Harry," Viktor stated.
"You left it behind two days ago." Fleur added.
"It was still a portkey and the last thing I wanted was to return to that graveyard…" Harry stated.
"Take it, Harry. You touched it first, you won the Tri-Wizard Tournament." Cedric smiled.
"And I told you that we could split the win, Cedric." Harry reminded.
"If you would have kept running when we raced for it, instead of coming back for me, you'd have won without that small deal you offered me that we both take it." Cedric informed. "Take it. It's your win…Doubled by the fact you kicked Voldemort's arse. Like seriously, bloody good dueling." He mentioned.
"I meant what I said, Cedric. The whole tournament was a huge trap to me; it was built to get me to the cup first to be taken out by portkey. That alone makes it an unfair win if I take it for myself. It was supposed to be one champion from each of the three competing schools. It was you, Fleur, and Viktor. We all know me being in the tournament was Voldemort's doing and if not for him, it would have been you three. So pretend I wasn't really there and take the cup. You earned it." Harry stated calmly. "I never wanted to be in the tournament and I certainly didn't want to win because the dark lord is obsessed with killing a teenager. Take it. You are the Hogwarts champion, Cedric. I don't need or want any of that fame or glory."
Cedric was given the cup fully by Fleur and Viktor, both of them smiling and bowing their heads slightly to Cedric before going to join their other classmates. "No. That's not what we agreed on." Cedric used his wand to duplicate the cup and shrink them both smaller. Cedric's had his name on it and then the other one, Cedric gave to Harry, had his name on it. "We're both winners representing Hogwarts then." He smiled. "And I'm still splitting the winnings with you, Harry. You saved my life twice two days ago. In the maze, and from Voldemort's spell. I won't take no for an answer." Cedric smiled.
"If that is your desire. It doesn't matter to me…I don't need the money." Harry informed.
"I'm giving you half, Harry. I'll make sure Gringotts sends your part to your vault when it comes through." Cedric stated and held out his hand to Harry. "You're still considered the Tri-Wizard Tournament winner, though. It was voted on, I can't change that you'll still be viewed as the winner to the wizarding world. Thank you for saving my life."
"Don't mention it." Harry nodded and shook Cedric's hand.
Cedric walked off to the Hufflepuff table and sat down with his housemates. It was Cedric's last year at Hogwarts, Harry wouldn't see him again unless they met out there beyond Hogwarts.
"And now…I think it's time to announce the winners of the house cup!" Albus stood to address everyone. "Congratulations to…Slytherin!" Albus smiled. "With their total score of six-hundred and seventy-three points." The banners hanging in the hall changed to the Slytherin ones as Slytherin was up and cheering for their victory. Of course, even Snape had an approving look while clapping. "Let the feast begin!" He motioned with his hands as the food appeared.
Everyone began to eat and chat amongst themselves. Harry, despite the joy circulating his house's table, just wanted to go home. The hour for dinner ticked away, and then all the time it took to get people to Hogsmead station and board the train. Harry passed people while walking to the Slytherin compartment, it seemed most now weren't giving him dirty looks, but ones of thanks and guilt. Harry hadn't forgiven them yet and probably wouldn't until he saw proof people weren't gonna just turn on him for things he didn't even do. Harry finally reached the compartment and sat down with his friends.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Pansy asked gently.
"Better, ready to relax with the school year over." Harry replied.
"Hopefully next year will be less stressful." Blaise stated.
"I'm not betting on it. Normal doesn't seem to exist in my life," Harry remarked. "It's whatever, I'm getting used to that fact."
"Hey, you'll be with us." Theodore reminded.
"We got your back," Gregory nodded.
"And front," Vincent added.
"We got you, Harry." Draco promised. "Always."
"You guys and girl," Harry said, not wanting Pansy to feel out of place by being referred to as a guy. "Are the best." He finally finished the sentence and sat back to relax.
"Now, tell us about that mark on your arm." Blaise asked.
"Fine, fine…" Harry smiled.
So Harry began the tale of how things went after he got transported away with the tournament trophy. The train pulled away from the station at 11:00 am and Harry was glad to be going home; he was sure he'd keep in contact and see his friends over the summer. But all Harry looked forward to was relaxing and that's exactly what he was gonna do after the hellish year he just dealt with.