Chapter 123
Beginning of the End
Note from J.M. Jackson: And so we reach the final year of the story, with so many twists and turns ahead. At this stage, Canon is out of the window for the most part, some parts you might recognise, others you won't as the story has taken a very different turn, which will include some ancient wizarding secrets, as well as a lot of current secrets being revealed. We both hope you enjoy this final year of the story!
Being back at the Burrow felt strange for Lily, knowing that this could be the last time she visited, if things went poorly. She shook that feeling off; she knew she would win. She had to win, there was no other option.
As she sat on the new balcony of her room, something she didn't know had been added – not that she knew she had her own room added either – she took a sip of her drink, looking up at the stars. She was enjoying her hot chocolate, just watching the stars twinkling.
It was almost her birthday, and a day later would be Sirius and Remus's wedding. Lily was excited about that, more than she could explain. They both deserved the happiness and joy, and she was glad she'd be there to watch them tie the knot.
There was so much going on in the Weasley house, but there were plenty of friends there to help them. Even Scrimgeour had been visiting, and chipping in around the house, as well as making sure the security arrangements remained strong.
If there was happiness left in the world, Lily knew she had to fight to make sure it would always remain in the world. Voldemort wanted to rule the world with fear and darkness but love and light would always conquer.
How did he even think he could rule the wizarding world? Once everyone knew the truth, they'd rise up against him, and soon the world would be against him. Or was he planning to isolate each country until everyone was serving him? Lily didn't know what the plan was, but she knew she'd stop him.
"Five galleons says you're thinking about how to stop Voldemort," Ginny's voice cut through her thoughts.
"You know, reading my mind is kinda cheating," Lily chided teasingly, as Ginny moved and sat on her lap.
"I wasn't, I just know how your mind works, my love," Ginny smiled, before taking Lily's mug and placing it on the small table next to the chair. "It's why, when Mum said she was designing your room, I suggested it have a balcony."
"Good idea," Lily replied, grinning. "I just… I know I've been working really hard over the last couple of weeks."
"No kidding. You've been overworking yourself. I know there's a war on, but you deserve a break yourself," Ginny said. Lily nodded.
"I know love, I do. I feel so much going on, and I've got to make sure all the good, all the love and joy, we keep it, no matter what," Lily insisted.
"You're not wrong, but if you keep yourself shut off from the world, you'll forget why you're fighting," Ginny chided.
"How can I do that with you by my side?" Lily asked.
"I love you Lily, but you're not just fighting for me. There's Ron, Lavender, Hermione, Fleur, Neville, Parvati, Padma, Cormac, Draco, Pansy, Mum, Sirius, Remus, and no, they're not in order of importance, just randomly as I thought of the names," Ginny said. Lily chuckled.
"Yes, well, I know I can't keep any secrets from you, Ginny," Lily smiled softly. "And I would never want to. You managed to get my heart, my soul, my everything."
"As you did mine. You know, the first year I was at Hogwarts, I was so terrified, but my second year, you were there helping me when I needed it, and I have to admit, Luna was advising me as well, telling me how I had to stop thinking I wasn't good enough for you," Ginny admitted.
"Remind me to thank her for that, because she was right. You are more than good enough. Sometimes, I feel like I don't deserve you, but I'm always thankful that you're here, because my life is so much better with you loving me," Lily said. Ginny blushed softly, her hair gently blowing in the wind as she pulled out her wand, casting a spell the two of them had learnt from Snape's book, the Muffliato charm.
"I don't want anyone to listen in on us tonight," Ginny said, her voice soft. "I want tonight to be just us. Just kissing and holding each other."
"I like that idea," Lily smiled at Ginny. "I know we don't have many nights of certainty left, especially since we'll be leaving just after the wedding on the first."
"Why did they choose the first?" Ginny asked.
"Some sort of ancient wizarding holiday. The muggles call it Lughnasa, and it marks the beginning of the harvest season, but for our kind, it marks the end of an ancient war, and the start of hope and light," Lily replied.
"Do many people celebrate it?" Ginny asked.
"Some do, not many in our world, but Uncle Remus's family is descended from those who fought in the final battle for the side of light, so Sirius wanted to do something special for him," Lily replied.
"That's so sweet," Ginny commented smiling. "And when we get married, what holiday will it be on?"
"Well, we can choose whatever day we defeat Voldemort on, or maybe the day we first met?" Lily suggested.
"You mean a few days before your birthday, when you and Sirius arrived at the Burrow, and I squeaked and ran back to my room?" Ginny laughed. Lily loved the sound of her laugh; it was the most beautiful sound in the world to her.
"Yeah, I remember that. I thought I'd upset you or something," Lily said, with a small smile. "But I'm glad we met, and I'm glad we're here now."
"There's so much I want to do, Lily, so much I want to share with you," Ginny said.
"I know, and we'll have all the time in the world," Lily promised. "We'll win this war, and after, we'll travel, and we'll be together forever."
"What if forever isn't long enough?" Ginny asked, as she gently placed her knees on either side of Lily's, straddling her as she held Lily's face.
"Well, forever isn't good enough for me, but it's a start," Lily grinned, before leaning forward and pressing her lips to Ginny's, enjoying her scent, the taste of her lips, and the feel of her hands. That would always be enough for Lily to be in paradise, just being with Ginny, and feeling safe and secure.
If there was one good thing to having a new body, it was that Voldemort was feeling stronger than before. One difference was that now, she was calling herself a dark witch, though it did leave her with a question – why did she now demand others call her 'My Lady' instead of 'My Lord'?
Of course, her original body was there as well; they were living in Malfoy Manor, now it had been hidden from everyone, including the wizarding world, aside from their followers. But the original had refused to call Potter by her new name and pronoun, and whilst she had the same soul as the original, as the new Voldemort, she had her own memories now, and her own experiences to make. She was made from a part of the soul that was taken years earlier, before the fall of the original, so she wasn't as… twisted? Was that the right word?
As a Dark Queen, she was satisfied to call Potter by her new name and gender – it cost her nothing to do so, and she did respect Potter as an adversary. All of her victories showed that Potter was someone to respect.
As she sat at one head of the table in Malfoy Manor, she looked at her death eaters. "I know this is still confusing for many of you, but my powers have not diminished. If anything, I am stronger now because I have a core that was not brought back magically," she said. "My goal remains the same; we will purify this world and make it better for us. Muggles, and Mudbloods, will be in their rightful place – beneath our heels. Any who oppose us will die."
"As for Hogwarts, as you can see, we have a visitor here with us," Voldemort – the original – spoke up. "Blaise, you won't recognise her," he added, looking at Blaise Zabini, who was sitting next to Snape. "But you will, Severus."
"Yes, Charity Burbage, she has been, until now, obviously, the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts," Severus said calmly. "I could never stand her ideals."
"I completely understand, my old friend," Voldemort said, smiling at him. "She wants us to intermingle with… muggles, and Mudbloods."
"Disgusting," another wizard, Yaxley, scoffed.
"My Lord… please… let me kill her," a feminine voice spoke up from behind Lord Voldemort.
"Bellatrix," Lady Voldemort recognised the voice. "I thought you weren't invited to this meeting?"
"I… I just…" Bellatrix stammered, looking at the cold face of Lady Voldemort.
"It's okay, Bellatrix. For now, I will allow you here, so you can see how to begin redeeming yourself in our eyes. You failed, but you were helpful to Severus when he killed that Muggle Loving fool, Dumbledore," Lord Voldemort said.
Lady Voldemort smiled at Snape. "Yes, that was excellently done. I imagine Potter and her friends were shocked when you revealed your true loyalty."
"She was," Severus confirmed. "I believe her shock allowed me the time needed to escape."
"Good. You will always be by my side, Severus," Lord Voldemort said. "We have a lot to do in the coming days."
"I have good news there, my Lord, and Lady," Yaxley spoke up. "I have managed to put the Imperius curse on Pius Thicknesse."
There were claps and cheers around the table. It was difficult to infiltrate the ministry after the attack a year earlier, when the world knew Voldemort had returned.
"Well done, Yaxley," Lady Voldemort said. She stood now, showing she was wearing similar clothing to Lord Voldemort, but with black lipstick, and dark eyeliner. She was finding herself enjoying wearing the makeup – it gave her a darker look, and she looked more human than her counterpart, and was pure, so didn't need to be purified like the half-blood Voldemort.
She had considered ending him, and ruling alone, but for now, she needed him. She was confident that she would be the one in charge. She was pure of blood now, with a stronger core, not one made pure by magic.
"With Thicknesse now on our side, we are another step closer to taking the Ministry. How much does Scrimgeour trust Thicknesse?" Lord Voldemort asked.
"I believe they are close friends, which was why I made the effort, my Lord, my Lady. I knew it was worth it," Yaxley said.
"It was," Lady Voldemort confirmed. "I believe with a few more people on our side, we should be ready to launch our takeover."
"Might I make a suggestion?" Pettigrew asked, from the middle of the table. He was still a loyal subject, though both Voldemort's were cautious around him.
"You may," Lord Voldemort said. Lady Voldemort knew it was Pettigrew who had returned the original to his body that he had. It was something that Lady Voldemort respected Pettigrew for; despite his fear, he still did right by them.
"What… what about getting a few… Mudbloods… and half-bloods? Scrimgeour would never suspect that," Pettigrew suggested. Both Voldemort's looked contemplative at the suggestion.
"An excellent suggestion, Peter," Lady Voldemort complimented. "Yaxley, can you handle that?"
"I can. Does it matter who?" Yaxley asked.
"No," Lord Voldemort replied. "They are expendable pawns, so as long as they help us on the day, it matters not what happens to them."
"When we have taken the ministry, I trust, Goyle, that you, Crabbe, and the older Zabini have finished your task?" Lady Voldemort asked.
"We have," Elias Zabini replied. "Upon your command, either of you, the rest of the wizarding world will be unable to enter the country. Muggles will be able to, but not muggle borns."
"Excellent," Lord Voldemort said, before smiling at Lady Voldemort. It had been her plan, after all. "Then we are set. Now, we have a few more issues to deal with. Mostly, this disgusting traitor," he added, looking at Burbage.
"Severus… please," Burbage pleaded, looking at him as she hovered over the table.
"Last week, you wrote an article in the Daily Prophet that we should embrace Mudbloods and muggles, to grow our society?" Lord Voldemort scoffed.
"We… we'll die out," Charity whimpered.
"No, we won't. We have ways of purifying our blood, and ensuring that only pure bloods remain, and conquering the world. You think too little of us, and too much of muggles," Lord Voldemort scorned.
"Snape, you remain loyal to us, don't you?" Lady Voldemort asked.
"I do," Snape replied, looking at her, and then Lord Voldemort.
"Then you may have the pleasure of killing this one," Lord Voldemort said, immediately knowing what Lady Voldemort was thinking.
She had considered whether killing Dumbledore was something that the muggle loving fool had considered himself, to ensure Snape remained in her, and Lord Voldemort's, good graces.
"Thank you, my Lord, my Lady," Snape stood up, pulling out his wand.
"Severus… no… please," Burbage pleaded. Snape met her gaze, but there was no hint of sorrow, or mercy, in them, just resolve.
"Avada Kedavra," Snape called out, a green light shooting from his wand, and striking Charity. Her body fell to the table with a crash, and Nagini slid onto the table, hissing happily.
"Dinner, Nagini," Lord Voldemort said, looking at Snape approvingly. Even Lady Voldemort was smiling; Snape was either the world's best undercover operative, or truly a loyal subject, and no one who worked for Dumbledore would kill an innocent on command, no matter how deep they were, which was something both Voldemort's believed.
Snape knew what they were thinking, and he knew they were both wrong. Their error would prove to be their undoing, though he hoped it would come before his own fall.
