A/N: This is the final chapter in this story arc. Yippee!
Story Arc 5, Chapter 11
Sirius received an owl Saturday morning with a cryptic message. It just said, Ministry of Magic, Level 9, 10:00. Bring Potter. Sirius was about to throw the message out until he realized what was on level 9 – the Department of Mysteries. He figured the Unspeakables must know something about what was going on and there was something he and Harry weren't aware of. But when the spirit of James Potter showed up, he had his answer. A prophesy about Harry! What else hadn't Dumbledore told them? Even James didn't know the full contents of it; just that it's what prompted the Potters to go into hiding.
After going through Security, Sirius led Harry to the golden lifts and pressed the button for level 9. Once they turned into the hallway to the Department of Mysteries, a cloaked person (you couldn't tell if they were male or female with their robes and voice alterations) stepped beside them and led them deeper into the department. They finally ended up in the Hall of Prophecies at the end of Row 97.
"Mr. Potter, a prophecy was given before you were born that affects yourself and the Dark Lord. Before you complete the task you have planned for this evening, I think you need to hear it in case it affects your plans."
Sirius said, "You know about his soul anchors?"
"We suspected he had done at least one ritual, probably more, to extend his life. One of our members, Augustus Rookwood, was one of his inner circle. We questioned him thoroughly before he was sent to Azkaban about the information he'd provided the Dark Lord. Of course, he doesn't remember what he told us, but that's part of becoming an Unspeakable. I'd first like Mr. Potter, or should I say Lord Slytherin Peverell Gryffindor Potter, to take the prophesy orb and listen to it, then we can discuss further the events you have planned.
Harry looked on the row and saw a tag that said: SPT to APWBD Dark Lord and (?) Harry Potter.
"Just take the orb and we'll go to a place to listen to it," said the Unspeakable.
They were led to a nondescript office nearby. Once in and with the door closed, the Unspeakable removed his hood.
"I'm Saul Croaker, the Head Unspeakable. Thank you both for coming today. We want to make sure that Voldemort stays dead this time. We were afraid that any plans you had might be counter to the prophecy, hence the urgency. Now if you'll just tap the orb with your wand, Mr. Potter, we can listen to it.
Harry did and an ethereal form rose from the orb and started speaking. Harry was laughing so hard; he couldn't tell what she was saying.
"What's so funny, pup?" asked Sirius.
"Trelawny! That fraud! She predicted my death in almost every class. Although she did make a prophecy about Wormtail that later came true partially."
"Let's listen to this one before we talk about the other one, pup."
Harry tapped the orb once again and Trelawny began speaking:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...(OP37)
The three sat there for a few minutes taking in what they'd heard. Harry was the first one to speak, "So either I have to kill him or he kills me. And I can't really live my life until he's gone? I knew there was something Dumbledore was hiding from me. I asked him several times why Voldemort kept coming after me, but he would never tell me."
Croaker said, "But you don't have to physically battle him to vanquish him, Mr. Potter."
"I don't?" asked Harry.
"No. While it does say that either must die at the hand of the other, it doesn't necessarily mean your physical hand. You could delegate that to someone else, perhaps a goblin conducting a ritual. While it says you have the power to vanquish the dark lord, that power could be delegating the actual death to a third party."
Harry was relieved. He'd already faced Riddle enough and wasn't looking forward to another battle.
"Now, let's talk about Voldemort's soul anchors. All I know is that the goblins have acquired several Founders' artifacts. We think we can assist you in finally vanquishing this Dark Lord. Can you tell me what they are?"
Sirius and Harry told him about the ones they'd collected as well as the diary Harry had destroyed in his second year. Harry hesitated before telling him about the one that had been behind his scar.
"That wasn't a true horcrux. If it had been one, it would have possessed you as the diary tried to possess your friend. While it sounds like it was definitely a soul shard, Voldemort must have only completed the first part of the ritual – the part where he cleaves off a portion of his soul, then cast the killing curse at you, planning to use your death to complete it – where he entombs the soul shard into an object. Regardless, you have destroyed over a quarter of his original soul by yourself. Both were by your hand when you stabbed them with a basilisk fang. Now, the remaining parts can be done in several ways. Do you know how to destroy a horcrux besides basilisk venom?"
Sirius replied, "It has to be destroyed beyond magical repair, so there's only a couple of things that can do it. Basilisk venom and fiendfyre are the only things I know."
"You are correct, Lord Black. The other option is to send the objects through the Veil of Death here in the Department of Mysteries. It is one of the methods available to the Ministry for executions. It is much more humane than having a dementor suck out your soul. While it would be a shame to lose these valuable artifacts, it is an option available to you. I believe the Gaunt ring is actually the Peverell Lord's ring, which is yours by heritage, Mr. Potter."
Sirius said, "The goblins mentioned moving the soul shards into other objects before destroying them, so I think they plan to return the artifacts."
"That would be a coup for you to return those objects to Hogwarts. I would ask that you consider having Mr. Potter toss those other objects through the Veil so that we can be sure that Voldemort is vanquished by his hand."
Sirius said, "I will discuss it with the goblins when we get there tonight. If they are agreeable, how do we get in touch with you?"
Croaker handed them a chain, "This is a portkey directly into the Department of Mysteries. It will land you in the rotating room with many doors. I will be here and waiting for you and will escort you, and any goblin witnesses, to the Veil. Just hold the chain and tap it with your wand. The activation word is 'Peace.'"
"And if the goblins want to destroy the objects themselves?" asked Sirius.
"Then send the chain back."
They all agreed on the plan forward. Croaker escorted them back to the hallway, so they could return home.
- Scene Break -
Saturday night found Sirius, Harry, Remus, and Bill deep in the bowels of Gringotts. There were seven goblins present for the ritual in addition to the three humans as well as Griphook. The four strongboxes with the horcruxes in them were also in the room. The goblin ritual would transfer the horcrux in each into a crystal. There had been a meeting with Ragnok to discuss the final destruction. Ragnok was satisfied with the method the Department of Mysteries suggested, but he would send three observers along with Sirius, Harry, Remus, and Bill. This would satisfy their remit from the ICW.
The ritual leader, Grimsmoke, explained the process, "First we will take one item out of their protective box, beginning with the one with the smallest portion of soul. Our ritual will transfer it to another object; in this case, a crystal. It's similar to the final step in the creation of the horcrux. Once it has been transferred, we will return it to its box, for it is still dangerous. We expect to have the hardest time with the ring as it was the first one created. We will do it last and will ask the humans to leave. If the soul puts up a fight, we don't want it to try to possess one of you. It would find a goblin soul an anathema to it. If you can agree to those terms, you may remain."
They readily agreed.
Grimsmoke removed the diadem from its box and placed it in the center of the ritual circle. It held 1/32 portion of Voldemort's soul. It took about fifteen minutes of the goblin's chanting for the soul fragment to break free of the diadem. Grimsmoke easily guided into a crystal, then returned it to its box. The next item was the cup, containing 1/16 of Voldemort's soul. While it took a little longer to remove, it still came willingly and was captured into a crystal. The locket held 1/8 of a portion of soul. It took even longer, but finally gave up the fight. At this point, the four humans were asked to leave. The ring contained a full half of Voldemort's soul and was probably more sentient than the other pieces. It took over an hour for the ritual to transfer the ring's horcrux into its crystal.
Once the door reopened, the four humans were each presented with a box. The other items would go through a further cleansing, then placed in the main Potter vault for them to remove at their convenience.
Before they could leave, a young goblin rushed up to them with a message. The team in Albania had returned and they had brought 'guests' back with them. They were led to the prison area of Gringotts. Griphook had a long conversation with another goblin before explaining the situation to them.
"Our team in Albania sprang their trap before we began the process of extracting the horcruxes. The first thing they did was kill the snake as it went out on a hunt. As soon as that was done, they were able to stun both Pettigrew and the construct currently housing Voldemort. We have them both in separate cells. What do you suggest we do with them?"
Sirius replied, "We need Madam Bones. She can meet us at the Department of Mysteries. We can send Moldyshorts on to his final reward and she can take Wormtail and put him on trial. May I use my wand to send her a Patronus message?"
With Griphook's nod, Sirius conjured his grim-shaped Patronus and said, "Go to Madam Bones. Tell her we need her to meet us at the Department of Mysteries in fifteen minutes. Priority Merlin Red." The silvery dog leaped away on its mission.
Grimsmoke, Griphook, and another goblin, Axemaker, were escorted with their group to the portkey room with their 'presents'. They quickly found themselves in the spinning room of the Department of Mysteries. One door opened, and Croaker appeared. Seeing the additional visitors, he was surprised and pleased.
"I take it that's the remaining piece of Voldemort's soul?" he asked, pointing to the ugly baby-like creature.
Sirius said, "Yep! And that other creature is Peter Pettigrew. Madam Bones should be joining us any minute."
As if on cue, a chime rang. Croaker went over to one of the doors and escorted Amelia in. She took one look at the assembled group and shook her head.
"Making more work for me, Black?"
"Yes and no. That thing over there is Peter Pettigrew. He's all yours to interrogate. You might want to ask him what he's been doing the last month. I think you'll find it quite enlightening."
"And that other thing?"
Harry spat, "Voldemort."
They gave her a brief rundown of everything they had been doing to get rid of Voldemort and his soul pieces. They also told her about the prophecy and Harry's part in it.
"I take it you don't want to have Voldemort tried in the Wizengamot?"
Everyone said together, "NO!"
She reached down and placed a metal disc on Wormtail, touched her wand to it, and sent him to the holding cells in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
"Well, let's get this over with. It's late and you've just given me another pile of dragon dung to shovel."
Croaker led them through several various roundabout ways to end up in a large stone room. There were stone seats set up like an arena. At the bottom was a platform with a stone archway with a black curtain that seemed to move as if the wind was blowing lightly.
They had a short discussion about whether or not to awaken Voldemort. They searched him thoroughly for any wands or other magical items. Amelia placed magic inhibiting cuffs on him and then tied him up in ropes. Axemaker touched his knife to the deformed baby and uttered something in his native tongue.
Riddle shook his head and looked around, "Harry Potter. I see you've come to face me at last. I will kill you once and for all. And look, you even brought a party to witness your death. Pretty pathetic party at that. Goblins, a werewolf, a blood traitor, and a half-blood. Well, they'll just get to see you die."
Harry smirked, "No, you're the one who is going to die, Tom. Tonight, you are going on your final journey."
"You just think so. I have taken steps to immortality that you can't even dream of."
"Oh, you mean your horcruxes?" said Harry.
"What do you know about them? Tell me or I will strike you down now!"
"Well, you gave Lucius your diary. He thought it was a good thing to send it to a school full of children and let a basilisk roam around. I slayed the basilisk and drove a fang through your diary."
"Impossible! It only obeys me as I'm the Heir of Slytherin!"
"Well, Tommy Boy, you aren't anymore." Harry held his hand out and willed the Slytherin ring to show, "I'm LORD Slytherin and I have no heirs – yet."
Voldemort was working himself into a lather, "Well, that's just one."
Sirius said, "I found Slytherin's locket in my ancestral home. Regulus went back to the cave and got it. He gave it to my elf and told him to destroy it. He couldn't, but we can."
Remus said, "Helga Hufflepuff's cup was in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. Sirius annulled her marriage and reclaimed her vault before kicking her out of the family."
Bill said, "We found Ravenclaw's diadem in the Room of Hidden Things at Hogwarts."
Griphook said, "Gringotts sent a team to the Gaunt residence and retrieved the ring, then set fire to the remains."
Harry summed it up, "And you know the one you were going to make when you killed me? Well, it tried to latch onto me anyway. I took care of it last month. So, Tom, we have all of your soul pieces and you are going to watch me as I send them through the Veil. Then I'm sending you afterward."
Riddle was in a right state, "But you can't! I'm the greatest wizard there ever was! I'm immortal!"
Ready to get this show on the road, Croaker asked, "Is there a preferred order you wish to send these off in?"
Axemaker grunted, "Largest first."
Griphook was holding the box with the shard from the ring. He opened it up and Harry removed the crystal. He almost dropped it on the floor, it felt so evil. Croaker led him to a place about two feet in front of the Veil and told him to give it his best shot. Harry cocked his arm back and hurled the crystal as hard as he could through the Veil. It passed right through the curtain in front of it. Next was the locket, then the cup, then the diadem. Once all four were gone, they all felt better. Harry made sure Riddle knew which item was going through. Finally, it was his turn.
"Well, it's your turn now. Do these words sound familiar to you? 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...' But you didn't hear the whole thing. If you had, you wouldn't have come after me. So, I'm going to tell you the rest of the story, 'and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies'. You marked me as your equal when you gave me that scar on my forehead. But I have a power you don't and never will. I have friends who care about me. I have a godfather and goduncle who love me. I have friends in the Goblin Nation who are willing to help and friends in the Ministry who also want to help. And guess what? They're all here to help me get rid of you for good. So, any last words, Tom Marvolo Riddle?"
Riddle was stunned by how well they had unraveled his plans. He had no minions to order around. He realized that he truly had nothing left. But he was going to make one last threat, "My Death Eaters are loyal. They will hunt you down and make you beg for death."
The humans in the room all laughed. Sirius said, "Your Death Eaters are too happy to sit around and do nothing. And who says we're going to tell them anyway? OK, Harry. It's getting late and I'm tired of listening to this idiot. How about shooting that quaffle through the center ring and let's go home?"
Harry was trying to figure out how he was going to pick up that baby thing and throw it through the Veil. He placed the Babymort about a foot from the Veil, then took his wand and gathered his magic. Pointing his wand at the baby thing, he said, Depulso!" If he had been a striker on Dean's favorite team, West Ham, he would have scored the winning goal.
- Scene Break -
When the group reached the entrance to the Department of Mysteries, the goblins were the first to leave, as they had to report their success to Ragnok. Amelia looked at the group and said, "Thank you for bringing me in on this, even if it was at the last minute. I will be making a copy of my memory and storing it in a very safe place. I'm going to make sure Pettigrew is as uncomfortable as possible, then go home and have a drink!"
Remus said, "Just remember he's a rat animagus."
"Amelia replied, "I do. We've warded all of our cells against animagus transformations. The Auror in charge of the booking desk will have put magic suppression cuffs on him. If I need more information, I'll contact you later in the day. Would you please warn me before you do something else on the scale as this?"
Sirius rubbed the back of his neck and said, "You might want to check the prisoners in Azkaban. The goblins aren't sure whether this will squib the Death Eaters."
Croaker spoke, "It will. We had a chance to study Rookwood's dark mark. It's definitely a slave bond that is tied to the master's soul and magic. With Voldemort's soul still on this plane of existence, the mark remained visible. With Voldemort and all of his anchors gone, it's like giving an elf clothes. It breaks the bond abruptly. You might warn St. Mungo's too."
Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose, "I guess I'm going to have to take a raincheck on that drink."
Sirius said, "When you're ready for it, let me know. We'll celebrate with you."
While Amelia went to her office to try to get a handle on things, Sirius, Remus, and Harry went back to Alphard's Place and had a long and restful sleep.