I certainly have no rights to Harry Potter, but this won't stop me writing this story. However, you probably already know this. As it is my specialty, and as in my other big stories, this shows how things go if something went different right at the beginning. Please note that I'm not a fan of bashing and also don't expect the two main pairings to differ from canon. However, the path to them certainly will be quite different. I also want to try and subvert certain plots and things that became common in the fandom over the years.
Please note that due to the constant technical troubles of the site, the story is now also being published at AO3. The story will update every second Saturday until the story is done.
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Chapter 86: Heavy Losses
"Crap!" That was the first thing leaving Dora's mouth when only seconds after they had entered the area, she already knew this was a trap.
"That scum... I knew taking precautions was well-placed," Moody growled when seeing what was awaiting them. "A smaller group than our current one would have gotten slaughtered."
It had all started routine enough. This was supposed to be a somewhat bigger thing, which was reflected that the group from the Order was quite sizable as well. Moody was leading the group personally and Dora was acting as his second-in-command; an arrangement everyone agreed with due to their experience. Besides them, Harry, Ron, George and Fred were also part of the group together with a number of others.
The whole thing also demanded more mobility, thus why shortly after arrival everyone had mounted the brooms they had brought along. There had been a few concerns from MI-X, them saying that the information that was unearthed was a bit too good and specific and that they wanted to put an insurance in place. Surprisingly, Moody, despite being his normal paranoid self, had agreed fully with them.
Yes, the revelation of how part of the Order had secretly worked with MI-X for some time already had not been greeted with with universal enthusiasm. Some members of the Order said it felt that them being left in the dark looked like a sign of lacking trust in them. That was unfortunate, but sadly little could be done about that.
Right now however such considerations were not relevant, since they were in trouble.
"I count fifteen of them, all mounted on brooms, and they are closing in," Ron said after a quick look. "No chance we can prevail against that many on our own. Let's run away?"
"No, they most certainly can catch up with us," Moody growled, then looked to Dora. "That's a Code Red."
Dora knew what that meant and used the headset to inform MI-X that they had entered a trap and that they needed help. Seh looked up after a moment. "Help is on the way, but it will take a few minutes."
"I hope that's enough, since I know dead sure they will call him as soon as they spot me, if they haven't already done so," Harry said while drawing his wand, everyone else doing the same. "Let's hope all the Quidditch training now pays off..."
"Wouldn't have thought that that would come into play in a war," Ron snorted while keeping an eye on the enemy.
Not wanting to be sitting ducks, they knew going into the offensive was the best defense.
It took only a short time before the whole thing resembled WW I aerial dogfighting. Broom riders zipped by at high speeds while throwing spells at each other, hoping that their opponent would make a critical mistake which would result in getting nailed with a nasty - very likely lethal - spell. All of this happened really fast as well, and to an outside observe it would look like a highly confusing aerial dancing number.
They were at a stalemate for the time being, their opponents not being pushovers. Both sides had suffered a few losses and they tried not to think of the fatalities. As sick as it felt to them, there also was relief that no one they knew by name had died on their side - they really hoped the war would soon be over, considering how it was altering their behaviors.
However, things were about to get from bad to worse.
"Three new contacts!" Ron shouted when spotting them.
They saw them and one was clearly not riding a broom at all. Moody cursed when remembering the report of the evacuation of Little Whinging. "Get ready! Voldemort himself is here! And it looks like he got two heavy hitters with him! Expect the worst!"
Indeed, it was Voldemort who was approaching.
As soon as he had gotten the signal that Harry had been spotted, he had quickly called the two most powerful helpers at hand - in this case Bellatrix and Dolohov - and then made haste to travel to the place in question. By this point wanting to kill Harry had become a personal obsession to him and he thought that he could make up for all the recent setbacks by finally achieving that goal.
"Potter is mine alone. For their sake I hope they understand that fact," Voldemort hissed while they closed in.
"They know they'll feel your wrath should they disregard your direct order, my Lord," Bellatrix said, then spotted someone. "And there is someone I'm most eager to meet."
The arrival of those three threw everything into chaos. Harry suddenly was confronted with the fact that Voldemort was after him and he really didn't want to try his luck on again being bailed out by his wand. Dora meanwhile realized that Bellatrix clearly wanted to prune the Black family tree by outright murdering her. Dolohov meanwhile still had a score to settle with Moody, since that man was responsible for his capture all those years ago.
"You can try to run, Harry, but you can't escape me!" Voldemort called after Harry while chasing him through the sky.
How the hell is he so fast without a broom? Harry wondered while making a sharp turn to avoid getting hit. "Doesn't trying to murder me get old?!"
"I'll hunt you until you are dead! I can not allow you to live and sabotage me again!" It seemed Voldemort was not in any mood for the usual banter.
Harry had little time to ponder about this, though he did notice that Voldemort was not trying to directly him him with any spells, making him wonder what the man was up to now. Ever since their last duel - one that could actually be called that - Harry knew it had been pure luck he had survived due to his wand still recognizing Voldemort.
Harry knew he could not hope on that happening again.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Dora meanwhile cursed when realizing that Bellatrix was now doing her best to murder her.
"You can run, but you can't hide!" Bellatrix declared loudly. "Breeding with that animal! You really sullied the Blacks and there is only one punishment for that."
"Really?!" Dora knew she would regret it, but she just had to say it. "Then what's with you fucking snakeface? If there's someone raising her leg to piss against the family tree, it's you!"
She knew right away that had been a mistake when seeing Bellatrix' face go almost purple with rage. Dora also knew she probably would have died this very moment, if not for someone almost blasting Bellatrix off her broom.
"Hey, old hag!" Fred called.
"Remember us?!" George added, both of them zooming around.
Bellatrix did remember them and her expression was murderous. Dora used the chance to get some distance to Bellatrix, praying the twins wouldn't regret directing Bellatrix' anger towards themselves. Guys, I'm moved you risk your lives for me, but think about yourselves as well!
Moody meanwhile cursed that he no longer was as sharp as he used to be in his younger years. Especially in such a high-speed battle where even a fraction of a second was important, he had realized to be at a disadvantage. It was a weakness which that scum Dolohov was exploiting mercilessly and it was only thanks to his magical eye that he had not been hit yet.
"You have become weak, old man," Dolohov gloated.
What annoyed Moody the most was the fact, that it was not a lie. "Perhaps, but it still is more than enough to do you in..."
"No, you won't..."
Moody was expecting another spell attack, but to his great surprise, Dolohov instead made a direct beeline for him, looking ready to crash into him. Such a completely suicidal tactic caught Moody by surprise for a second, which was a second too long. Dolohov held onto his broom with his legs, while his other hand suddenly pulled out a big folding switchblade.
"Aarrghhll!" Moody gasped when the blade suddenly was rammed deeply into his guts. Dolohov didn't pause and repeated the process several time.
"Surprise. You are dead, your body is just slow to understand that," Dolohov gloated while twisting the blade in Moody's guts.
That bastard... Moody thought in pain.
Moody however also knew that it was true; there was little hope for him. However, if he were to bite the dust, he would do it on his own terms and take this scum with him. "Glk... Perhaps, lad. But you forgot one thing..."
"And what would that be?" Dolohov mocked Moody.
"My motto..." With that said, Moody's magical eye gave Dolohov a frightening stare. "Constant Vigilance..."
-BAAAOOOOOMMM- That said, Moody did cast a massive explosion spell directly into the narrow space between them. Dolohov barely had the time to look in horror, before both of them were ripped into several pieces, which then rained down to the ground.
"OH SHIT!" Ron cursed loudly when seeing the most experienced member of their group dying like that. It also hit because over the years he had been around Moody quite often.
"Oh crap!" George gasped when seeing what had happened.
"Bad move!" Bellatrix laughed while shooting a severing charm towards the distracted George.
"NO!" George suddenly was pushed out of the way, barely managing to hold himself on his broom. But to his horror, it had been his brother Fred who had pushed him out of the way, and instead got the severing charm into the side. "Aaaaarrgghhh!"
"Fred!" George screamed in terror while watching his twin spiraling towards the ground, a trail of blood marking his path.
"Don't care about him. Better care about yourself," Bellatrix said coldly, already preparing herself to finish off him as well. But then on instinct she barely avoided a nasty spell and saw that Dora had returned. "You are more important than him!"
"Catch me, if you can!" Dora challenged her.
The chase was on and quickly went to near ground level, Bellatrix constantly staying on Dora's tail. Bushes, leafless trees and fences zipped by, but both women expertly avoided them. Bellatrix also was getting frustrated, since Dora was doing a really good job at moving enough so that she couldn't aim properly at her.
"Keep still and face death properly, you little freak!" Bellatrix shouted.
"Why should I do that for Voldemort's bitch? No way I respect someone who bends over and wiggles her naked ass for snakeface!" Dora shot back.
The words enraged Bellatrix so much that she got incredible tunnel vision... exactly as Dora had planned. "I'll skin you alive and use that as a tapestry to show anyone what happens to traitors in the Black family!"
"Like the psycho you are, eh?" Dora however knew that Bellatrix was capable of doing so, and how pale her hair had become did reveal her true feelings of how afraid she was.
Dora then looked ahead. There, like I saw from above. Now let's hope that all my practicing on a broom pays off and it overrides my clumsy nature.
Bellatrix honestly was no longer looking when suddenly Dora made a really sharp turn and all of a sudden there was a metal wall in front of her. "Gaaahhhh!" Bellatrix tried hard to make the turn as well, but she didn't make it. Her broom splintered, absorbing a good part of the kinetic energy, but she still was smashed hard against the wall.
Dazed and feeling at least a few broken bones, Bellatrix wondered what this was, when a hatch above her fell open and she was doused in proof that this was a farm's manure silo, where the manure would be stored for next spring.
"Shit, shit, SHIT!" she howled while trying to get out from this sudden crap shower.
Dora didn't want to be around and made a quick exit.
While this was going on, Voldemort was still chasing Harry, slowly coming closer. The chase now was taking place close to the ground, Harry hoping he could cause Voldemort to crash into something. Alas, Voldemort without a broom proved to be quite good at navigating around obstacles.
I just can't get rid of him! Harry was by now wondering if he even could so so.
Then suddenly... "Oof!" A branch out of nowhere caused him to fall off his broom and lose her wand.
"Accio wand!"
Harry rolled a few meters before coming to a stop. Jumping to his feet, he saw that his broom only was a few meters away, but sadly Voldemort also was there, having landed and holding Harry's wand in his other hand while pointing his own wand at Harry.
"Harry, Harry, Harry. Never underestimate the power of non-verbal casting," Voldemort said with a dark laugh. "Too bad for you that you now are entirely helpless. And this time I will not make a big spectacle of killing you. One spell and you are dead."
Harry knew he now was in a very dangerous situation with a Voldemort who now simply wanted to murder him instead of making a spectacle of it. His panic growing, he saw a flash of something white and suddenly again had hope. "Well, I might be wandless, but I'm not helpless."
"You are ignoring the facts, Harry." Voldemort nonetheless wondered what this was about.
"No, I just know something which you don't," Harry said matter-of-fact.
Voldemort wondered what Harry was talking about, when suddenly... "Kchchcch!" "Arrrrgh!" Voldemort screamed in pain when all of a sudden something white attacked his face, sharp claws digging into his skin, drawing blood.
Harry wasted not a single moment to run to his broom and quickly take off while Voldemort was busy with this sudden attacker. As quick as it had happened, it was over when whatever had attacked him flew away, leaving Voldemort with an injured and bloody face, though it already was healing. Looking around, he saw that Harry was gone.
"Just wait..." he hissed, preparing to take off again.
Up in the air, Harry saw Hedwig join him. "Man, girl, I'm so glad you decided to come along with me on missions," he told his loyal owl.
It had happened right after the whole affair at Gringotts. Somehow Hedwig had learned of what Harry had been involved in and now she would not take a 'no' when it came to her perching on his shoulder to be taken along on missions. Harry didn't know if it was some kind of sixth sense his owl had, but today she had saved him from certain death. Hedwig for her part seemed incredibly happy she had taken the role of the hero this time.
-tobobobobobo- That sound started to fill the air and Harry then saw four helicopters arrive, which had to be the reinforcements from MI-X. He also could see that those machines were armed and the side doors were open to reveal men at machine guns.
The Death Eaters clearly were surprised at this turn of events, but that surprise quickly turned into horror. -bladadamdam- The machine cannon on one helicopter blasted one Death Eater apart, her body exploding into bloody chunks which then rained down as a red rain. Confronted with something they had little experience with, the Death Eaters panicked.
Voldemort watched this from the ground, growling when seeing this turn of events. "Even more proof of how Dumbledore is working together with Muggles. How low he has sunk..." However, he also understood the danger, especially after that little demonstration, and knew when to cut his losses. Thus he quickly sent a signal to his followers through their marks to retreat.
Still, I finally have Potter's wand. Now killing him is only a matter of the correct means, he thought, remembering the project he had put aside for the time being, before he apparated away.
While MI-X forces were securing the area, Harry just landed to witness a heartbreaking scene.
"Shit, Fred, you can't leave me like that!" George pleaded with his twin, who now looked ready to die at any moment, sporting a serious hole in his side.
"Sorry... but I think... I don't have a choice in the matter," Fred got out, seemingly having accepted that this was the end for him.
"Don't talk like that." Despite the differences Ron had had with Fred over the years, he never had wished something like that on him.
"Ronnie... sometimes the universe... plays a horrible joke on us. I regret... didn't show enough... how much I care for you," Fred admitted to Ron, then looked to his twin. "George... take good care... of yourself."
Fred's eyes then closed and moments later his breathing and other movements stopped.
"Fred? FRED!" George looked in horror at his now very dead twin. "No..." George had nothing but tears left to shed.
...at the cemetery, December 29th...
Generations of Weasleys were buried on this specific cemetery, basically a whole section of it being dedicated to them. It however also was a place no one wanted to visit, since coming here in general meant that another Weasley had died, and that always was a sad event. This time it was even worse, since the Weasley in question barely had been an adult at the time of his death.
The sick thing was, that due to the location of the cemetery being well known to the enemy, the whole thing right at the moment resembled more a fortress than anything else. There easily was more security than people in the funeral party. At least security was keeping a respectful distance to the part of the cemetery where the funeral was taking place.
Due to the financial situation of the Weasleys as well as the pressure the war put upon everyone, it was not a big affair, and Fred most likely wouldn't have wanted it to be one. That also was the reason why the funeral was already taking place just two days after Fred's death. Just like in the previous war, things like that were done under a time crunch.
It simply was too risky to have the extended Weasley family attend, especially since many of them were in hiding as well, but all of Fred's immediate family was present, including their significant others, regardless if married or not. Also present were close friends and some who wanted to pay their respect to the deceased.
That meant his immediate family was of course being present. Fleur was at Bill's side, as war Margaret with Charlie, though little Elsa had stayed at home with a caretaker, since this would be nothing for her. Penelope stood next to Percy while Angelina was doing her best to support George, who had fallen apart emotionally. Hermione stood next to Ron and Harry stood next to Ginny. Luna and Neville stood behind the immediate family, joined by people like Lee Jordan, Sirius, McGonagall and some others.
No one said anything during the funeral outside of the official parts. However, while everyone was marked by what had happened, it was a close contest who was worse off: George or Molly.
George was staring at nothing with unfocused eyes and barely seemed to notice his surroundings, being led around by Angelina. It was painful to see him having shut down like that. Molly meanwhile was an emotional wreck. After numerous close calls over the years, war had claimed another loved one. All of the old pain over the death of her brothers came back while she was crying for the son she had lost.
Finally, the official part was over and the gave closed and things dissolved into smaller groups.
"How... how is George doing?" Neville asked Angelina carefully after having watched the entire time.
Angelina gave George a concerned look. "It is horrible. It's like he has entirely shut down and become apathetic to the outside world. Without me taking care of him, I fear he would starve to death."
"How long do you think he will be that way?" Luna was highly disturbed by George's current apathy, since it hit way too close to home for some of her own issues.
"I honestly don't know..." Angelina held George close, but he gave little sign of actually registering what was going on around him. "Fred had always been there for him for as long as he could remember. And now he's suddenly gone..."
As horrible as George's current condition was, the reason why he had shut down like this was very understandable.
Ginny meanwhile gave concerned looks to her mother, who had to be supported by Arthur. "It's terrible to see Mum being this... broken. Was that how she felt when her brothers got murdered?"
"Only Dad could truly answer you that question. I was way too young to notice, same as Charlie," Bill told his only sister. "But Dad did let some things slip over the years and it's not too far off from back then, I guess."
"I hate seeing her like that..." As much as Ginny herself was shocked by the sudden death that had come to the family, the worry of how badly her mother was taking this overshadowed her own grief.
"I know. She always was strong for your sake, but losing one of us sapped that strength. It's sobering to be reminded that everyone of us is vulnerable," Bill said, never before having seen his mother like that.
"I've grown to really hate this war," Ginny said, really meaning it.
Ron meanwhile had to sit down onto a nearby bench.
"I was there... I was there and couldn't do anything to prevent it..." he told Hermione, feeling like he'd been utterly useless. "Why couldn't I do anything?"
Hermione knew that Ron was suffering from some form of survivor's guilt, wondering why Fred and not him. It was irrational, but when being in grief people tended to be irrational. "I fear you won't like my answer... Sometimes there simply are things we can't do anything about."
"I was not in denial about the war... But what happened to Fred... It drove home that anyone could die." Ron looked pained at that harsh lesson.
Hermione took his hand. "You are not alone feeling like that."
Ron said nothing more, but it seemed Hermione being close to him made him feel a bit better.
A bit apart from everyone else, McGonagall and Sirius were talking.
"I've already seen enough funerals during the first war... What about Moody?" Sirius asked McGonagall, grimacing at the death of the retired Auror. "Did he leave any instructions concerning himself?"
"Fitting for him being prepared for all eventualities, yes, he left instructions and those were followed after... gathering his remains." McGonagall was a little hesitant at that, because Moody had been blown into multiple pieces and gathering those had been reported to be a nasty task. "He asked to be cremated and his urn to be buried in the family grave next to his parents and siblings. No ceremony at all."
"That fits with his personality. Mad-Eye always hated big ceremonies," Sirius thought aloud. "At least he went out on his own terms and like he lived, doing in one final piece of scum with Dolohov."
"I honestly wish he had not went out at all. That day was one of the worst for our side so far in this war." McGonagall looked to where Fred Weasley's fresh grave was. "I feel my years when seeing someone I instructed just a few years ago now has landed in an early grave."
Sirius had no answer to that, because knew she did have a point.
...December 31st, office of the Headmaster...
It was two days after Fred's funeral and on the final day of the year 1997 when Harry entered the office of Albus Dumbledore at Hogwarts. He honestly had no idea what was so important that the Headmaster had asked for him, especially since everyone was still reeling from what had happened to Fred and Moody. It also made him wonder, since his relationship with the Headmaster was not how it used to be after the revelation of Snape's role in his parents' death.
Makes me wonder what he even needs me for, especially since I have my own problems right now, Harry thought when feeling the replacement wand he was carrying around.
After the loss of of his wand to Voldemort, Harry could not do magic, making him feel incredibly vulnerable. It would take some time to make an appointment with Ollivander, who was in hiding at the moment, for a replacement wand.
That unacceptable situation forced him to use a wand that the Weasleys had found in Charlie's old things. The wand was not in good condition and also not a good fit, but it had to do for the time being. Harry honestly had asked Charlie what the hell he'd done to the wand that it was chipped in places and part of the unicorn hair of the core was almost sticking out - though at least it still functioned normally. Charlie had been hesitant to answer and once he did, Harry honestly wondered why some people did such dumb crap with such an important item.
Entering the office, he saw that only two other people were being present: the Headmaster and McGonagall. "Honestly, I'm a bit confused why you are asking for me," Harry said, not beating around the bush.
"That's understandable. After all, our dealings recently have been rather small. Harry, I asked for you being present for two reasons. The first is to act as a witness, the second is due to you being crucial for a plan of mine to go smoothly, though it does not mean you getting into any danger. And before you ask why for the first point; this is because I honestly believe you have earned it."
Harry was surprised how open Dumbledore was with his intentions, which was refreshing. He looked to McGonagall. "You have any idea what exactly this is about?"
"For the first point, yes Mr. Potter. But I'm just as much in the dark as you are about the second point," McGonagall admitted.
"I have asked for you, Harry, because I want you as a witness to my final act as the Headmaster of Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained.
Now Harry understood. "You are stepping down right now."
"A good observation. I have fulfilled the role for many years, but for leading Hogwarts into the times that are coming, someone new is required. To all headmasters past, an announcement is being made." That caused all of the portraits, even that of Phineas Nigellus Black, to be attentive.
"This is witnessed by Harry James Potter, Minerva McGonagall and all past headmasters of Hogwarts. As my final act as Headmaster of Hogwarts, I declare that I step down from the position effective immediately. I declare my Deputy, Minerva McGonagall, to succeed me and become the next Headmistress of Hogwarts. I ask the magic of Hogwarts itself to give its blessing to this change in the position."
All three of them felt it when the magic of the school shifted. Dumbledore felt his connection to the school start to dim and soon t would be gone entirely, while McGonagall felt something entirely new enter her senses. From Harry's perspective, Dumbledore looked like a burden had been taken off his shoulders.
"You are leaving a big void for me to fill, Albus," McGonagall said humbly, then saw an empty picture frame appear next to the portrait of Dippet. "Does that mean...?"
"Yes, the transfer of the position is done. Though, since I am still alive, there is no portrait yet. It will appear once I've spent my final breath." Dumbledore then sighed. "Though, that sadly might me sooner than many might imagine."
"Sir, what are you implying?" Harry honestly didn't like the sound of that.
"I have analyzed the situation concerning the final two Horcruxes very carefully. First there is the ring. There is no way it can be destroyed without directly confronting Tom," Dumbledore started to explain.
"But, you make it sound like you won't be the one to confront him," Harry realized.
"Sadly, as much as it pains me, with the way things have moved, the prophecy of the Chosen Six has become firmly entrenched. Only the Chosen Six, led by you, Harry, can defeat Tom once and for all, which includes destroying the ring," Dumbledore explained to Harry.
McGonagall thought about it. "That leaves the snake, but it always is around Voldemort..." She then realized the implications. "Albus, please don't tell me..."
Dumbledore sighed. "As much as it pains me to say it, but after months of trying to find any other way to reach Nagini, only one plan has a good chance of success. Sadly, it also will be a mission with no return," Dumbledore admitted, though he looked surprisingly calm about that fact.
"No, there has been way too much death recently! Not you as well!" Harry was shaken by the idea.
Dumbledore could see a young man who already had witnessed too much death in his short life. "It is a bitter irony that I am telling you this so shortly after you witnessed death on our side that hurt you deeply. As much as I dislike it, time is running out, and I see little other choice. It has to be me, no other person will even manage to come close to Tom."
"Albus, I..." McGonagall was trying to find words.
"Minerva, you remember how Grindelwald excused his atrocities being 'for the greater good'? That was an obvious excuse and little more. I came to the conclusion that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... or the one. This does not mean to sacrifice others, no, it means if you make such a decision, it's yourself who has to carry the consequences," Dumbledore explained.
Hearing that made Harry realize there was nothing he could say to convince the man otherwise. "That means... after today we'll never... This is the final time we see each other."
"I know, for someone as young as you, that is a disturbing revelation," Dumbledore admitted.
"Now that I know that, it makes me feel dumb I'm still angry at you," Harry admitted.
"Oh no, your anger at me is well-deserved. It was my need for secrecy which stopped that crucial fact from being known, though it would have been better for me to be more honest. Sadly, we all know better after the fact." Dumbledore was truthfully regretting that past decision.
A sad sound interrupted him. It was Fawkes who seemed depressed by what he was hearing.
Dumbledore stepped close to the phoenix. "I know, old friend. We both knew this moment would come one day, though I had not imagined it happening on my terms. You have been a good and faithful companion for many years."
"Albus, you said you need Mr. Potter for something." McGonagall had to fight not to let her emotions get the better of her, since Dumbledore was literally a man just about to walk into his death.
"Yes... Harry, I need your help with something for one final time. It is a task I feel and know I can only entrust you with," Dumbledore said, while still giving Fawkes lots of attention.
"Yes, there is one final act to do, before I can leave." Dumbledore turned his attention back to Harry. "Harry, I did learn that Tom stole your wand. Did he disarm you with magic?"
"No, he just arranged that I flew into a tree branch and lost my wand. He then called it into his hand with magic. Why?" Harry wondered.
"It is very important. You see, there is a thing called wand allegiance. If you managed to overpower your opponent with magic or steal theirs with it, the gained wand is much easier to use, though it will never desert its original owner. As far as your wand is concerned, you only lost is without a defeat," Dumbledore explained.
While Harry was relieved that his wand had not become loyal to Voldemort, he wondered what this was about. "However, I don't see how this would be important now."
"I've told you and your friends about my special wand," Dumbledore explained, pulling out the Elder Wand. "I can not allow it to fall into Tom's hands, since he would use it for untold evil, even without winning its allegiance." He then saw McGonagall's questioning look. "It's a long story and Harry can explain later as well, Minerva."
"My request is simple. Defeat me - a simple disarming spell is enough - and thus the wand stays out of Tom's hands and you gain a powerful tool. You after all will need every advantage," Dumbledore explained to Harry.
Harry still felt down that Dumbledore was going onto a suicide mission, but knew now that there was no stopping him. Knowing it had to be done, Harry drew his replacement wand. "Expelliarmus!"
The Elder Wand flew out of Dumbledore's hand and into Harry's. "Well done, Harry. I can already feel my connection to it starting to break. You are the wand's new master now and I'm sure you are going to do the right thing, once you no longer have a need of it." Dumbledore then pulled another wand out of his robes. "The wand I've had since entering Hogwards as a student. It will accompany me on my last mission."
"Albus, I... I'm sorry." McGonagall now no longer held back her tears.
"It is understandable, Minerva." Dumbledore then looked to Fawkes. "Goodbye, old friend. Sadly, we will not see each other again." Fawkes looked down, the finality of those words hitting him hard.
Finally, Dumbledore looked to Harry. "Harry, I know you and your friends will prevail in the conflict ahead. I wish you and those around you a long and prosperous life. Maybe one day our paths will intersect again on the other side."
With those final words, Dumbledore left, leaving behind two people and a phoenix who knew they would never see him alive again.
...a short time later, the Riddle House...
There was lots of activity inside the Riddle House, its inhabitants having been pulled out of their normal activities due to the two recent arrivals. As soon as the news had reached Voldemort's ears, he had ordered that both of them to be moved by portkey to his HQ - so that the secret would stay safe - since Voldemort couldn't wait for something he had long waited for and which for once was great news.
The great news in question was the capture of Albus Dumbledore.
Granted, according to Snape his role in the Order had grown smaller ever since the truth of Snape's involvement in the death of the Potters had come to light, but he still was very important and influential. Also, considering that and other factors, Voldemort had declared right away that he would eliminate Dumbledore personally and no one else.
Sitting on his throne, Nagini by his side, he was waiting, being a bit impatient.
Finally, the doors opened and what he saw was what he had wanted to see. Flanked by his inner circle, there was Albus Dumbledore in magically enhanced chains. Next to him stood his captor, Severus Snape. Dumbledore looked rather calm despite his capture while Snape was harder to read, though Voldemort could see a hint of satisfaction.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here," Voldemort said mockingly before looking to Snape. "Severus, how did this happen?"
"A fruitful long-term effect of you revealing the facts to Potter, my Lord," Snape told Voldemort, now actually looking satisfied. "The old man's position being weakened was something he felt difficult to deal with and thus he trusted me even more. Too bad for him he did put his trust into the wrong person. Today he wanted to take me to some kind of overgrown hovel to check on something. He did let his guard down and I seized the moment."
Voldemort made his own conclusions that Dumbledore was trying to get the ring, but never told Snape what this was about. "Well done, Severus!" He was honestly pleased.
Voldemort had no idea that the whole thing was staged and that Snape very much was involved in the plan Dumbledore had made, though he of course did not know all of the details and reasons, which he knew was for his own protection. Snape went along with the plan due to Dumbledore telling him he knew exactly how Voldemort would behave, but nonetheless Snape knew he was helping Dumbledore to go onto a suicide mission.
"Here is his wand." Snape then gave Voldemort Dumbledore's wand - his original wand, though Voldemort of course didn't know that.
"Excellent..." Voldemort held the wand like a trophy. "Severus, you have truly proven yourself. You've waited for the right moment to strike and thus the enemy has suffered a severe blow. You have proven your loyalty and worth to Lord Voldemort beyond any doubt. For that, I will make you part of my inner circle. Come closer."
Snape did as ordered and then knelt before Voldemort, knowing that it was expected. Voldemort then whispered something into his ear and Snape's eyes widened when being told that secret. "I had not expected that... in such plain sight."
"A stroke of genius from me. I know you can't spread the secret, but nonetheless keep quiet about it," Voldemort then reminded Snape.
"I will take that to my grave, my Lord," Snape told him, though he knew already that that probably wouldn't be far away anyway. Snape knew that up until now everything had gone according to plan,.
"Severus, go back and make sure you've got an alibi. Everyone else, leave me alone with my guest..." Voldemort then ordered.
It took only moments, but then the doors closed, leaving Dumbledore alone with Voldemort and Nagini.
"You must feel very pleased with yourself, Tom, that you now have me at your mercy," Dumbledore said calmly.
Voldemort hated that name, but he decided to not get bothered by it this time. "You are surprisingly calm, old man. Could it be that you are not truly aware of the fate waiting for you?"
Part of Dumbledore found it a bit rich that Voldemort called him an old man, when he himself also already was also already over 70 years old. "Oh, I'm not delusional about that, Tom. I know you'll do horrible things to me before murdering me in a most brutal fashion."
"Good. I know you have discovered my biggest secret ever since you talked with that old Muggle man. Was is due to that moron Lucius that you figured it out?" Voldemort questioned him.
Dumbledore played along so that Voldemort wouldn't be even tempted to use Legilimency. "Indeed. The properties of that diary were a key stone to the questions I was asking myself."
"And today you wanted to find the ring which I did hide in the shack. Too bad for you that I anticipated that move," Voldemort gloated, presenting the ring on his finger. "All your efforts in the end have proven to be fruitless."
"There is a question I really have to ask you: was mutilating your soul really worth it?" Dumbledore asked.
Voldemort snorted. "What use is being the ruler if I can't take that with me? I have defeated the ultimate enemy - as I've proven beyond any doubt. Oh yes, it very much was worth it. I could have waited until you are dust, but that would have robbed me of the pleasure of rubbing it under your nose. A victory is only complete with the satisfaction of having made those who didn't believe in you look like fools."
"Ah, I see..." Dumbledore had guessed correctly that Tom Riddle had not changed at all. "How did you convince Nagini to join your ranks? The Nagini I've known would have never joined you willingly."
"Ah, an interesting question..." Voldemort then looked to Nagini, who slithered to them. "Of course I know of your history with her. Let's say losing her human body, my dear Nagini had a change of heart."
"I honestly can't believe all of those scruples I've had when I still had my true form. I've long since moved past those," Nagini hissed and Voldemort gave a mocking translation.
Dumbledore looked disheartened at that answer. "So the woman who once refused Grindelwald is truly no more."
"My eyes were opened and I finally understand," Nagini hissed back and again Voldemort translated.
"Look me into the eyes and repeat that," Dumbledore requested.
Nagini was so big, it was easy for her head to be at Dumbledore's eye level with the proper positioning of her long body. She repeated her statement and Voldemort again translated it with a gloating grin. "All right. That means, I only have one final thing to say..."
-slpooosh!- All of a sudden a spray of a dark liquid blasted out of Dumbledore's mouth, spraying Nagini's head! "AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!" Nagini screamed. while recoiling. Whatever it was what she had been sprayed with, it burned like fire. "It burns! It burns! I'm blind!"
"Nagini! NO!" Voldemort screamed in horror when seeing whatever that liquid was start to eat into her scales and eyes, bypassing the fact that she should be invulnerable without any problem.
"Yaahhhhrrghhh-h-h..." -splotch- -kriiiieeeeeek!- Nagini's screams stopped when her head exploded in a shower of black gunk and an unearthly scream when the part of Voldemort's dark soul put into her was destroyed utterly.
Voldemort looked in disbelief at the now very dead Nagini and then a towering rage grew within him. "YOU! You knew that I had made her..."
His shouts stopped when seeing that Dumbledore was dead as well, black lines streaking all over his face while his mouth had been mostly eaten away by something. Voldemort honestly could not understand others willing sacrificing themselves to accomplish a truly important goal. A fake tooth lying next to his heavily destroyed face on the floor did reveal how he had smuggled in what he quickly realized was basilisk venom.
He knew where Dumbledore must have gotten the venom from - the basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets - which only helped to enrage Voldemort even more when thinking of that loss.
That moment the door was thrown open and his inner circle stormed in with drawn wands. They then took in the sight of a dead Nagini and a dead Dumbledore. "Master, we feared the worst..." Barty tried to explain.
"No, you did the right thing." Even as enraged as he was, he knew not to lash out. "Even in defeat Dumbledore found one final way to spite me. I never would have believed that the old goat would have a suicide capsule ready. And he killed Nagini out of pure spite..."
"My Lord...?" Armycus asked carefully.
"Take that away!" Voldemort commanded harshly, pointing at Dumbledore's corpse. "Dump it next to Hogwarts so that our enemies see what happened to the great Dumbledore!"
No one dared to say anything when seeing that Voldemort was close to losing it. They quickly took away Dumbledore's corpse and left. That left Voldemort looking at Nagini's corpse, feeling loss despite his personality. Also, surprisingly, he felt not a small amount of panic, considering one of his insurances had been destroyed right in front of him. In retrospect, using Nagini had been so obvious, even Dumbledore had made the connection.
No, he couldn't have known of the others beside the ring! He must have thought that final act of his would reduce me down to just the ring. Still, to finally get rid of Potter, I need more power, he thought with not a small amount of tenseness while telling himself that things still were not dangerous to him personally.
"I need more power... Enough power to finally destroy Potter and ban the danger," he said to himself.
He had put off doing it, but now he really needed to get the ultimate wand - the Elder Wand. He had learned as much as possible about it and found out that the last known owner was the wandmaker Gregorovitch. That meant he would have to leave for several days to go to continental Europe and follow the trail there. That hopefully shouldn't take too long should he put all his energy into it.
He needed that power now more than ever.
...Godric's Hollow churchyard, January 1st 1998...
Considering how important of a man Albus Dumbledore had been, his funeral was a downright humble affair. Dumbledore himself had written down that his funeral - should his body be recovered at all - was to be a small affair without any pomp. He had a grave site and a tombstone already prepared for decades. His final resting place was to be next to the graves of his mother Kendra and sister Ariana. Sadly, the body of his father had never been returned from Azkaban.
The was lots of police keeping people out, since word of this being a funeral for a wizard - and an important one at that - had spread like wildfire. Security also was high due to fear how the Death Eaters could see this as a juicy target. Anything below a full-scale attack would be suicide.
The mood on the churchyard itself was low.
The people being present were an interesting mix. There were some of Dumbledore's old friends of course. Then there was his brother - who felt that staying away despite the difficult relationship with his brother would be a dick move. McGonagall was present, as were Sirius and Remus. Surprisingly, the Six were all present as well, though many would have thought them to stay away.
Despite the differences between them and Dumbledore when the man had been alive, the Six also felt it would disrespectful to not be present, especially considering how Dumbledore had gone out.
"It feels like we are spending too much time on funerals..." No one could blame Ginny for her for feeling like that after what had happened to Fred.
"During the first war we had to attend many funerals. Though, I didn't think I would attend the last journey of Albus..." McGonagall had known that Dumbledore would not return alive, but this was still hard for her. "Pray this doesn't become a routine."
Harry watched the coffin being lowered into the grave. "I was there. He literally told us he would go onto a suicide mission, and there was nothing I could do to convince him otherwise."
"I was there as well, Mr. Potter. I had known Albus way longer than you did, but even I felt unable to stop him. Once he had his mind set onto something, there was no stopping him." McGonagall knew how very true that had been.
Meanwhile, Aberforth Dumbledore was watching the coffin containing the body of his brother being lowered into the grave.
To be honest, he was somewhat at a loss how he was supposed to feel. On one hand, his relationship with his brother had always been difficult and he had never stopped blaming him for bringing Grindelwald into their lives, causing Ariana's death in the end. On the other hand, his brother was dead now, having gone out on a suicide mission that he'd known he would not come back from alive.
Damn it, Albus! What am I now supposed to think of you? Aberforth wondered, being at a loss there.
-woooshhhh- As soon as the coffin had reached the bottom, there was a fireball and then Dumbledore's phoenix Fawkes appeared, perching on the tombstone. He looked down into the grave and then started to sing a sad lament. Everyone listened, finding the lament strangely beautiful. No one said anything while listening to it.
When Fawkes was done, he looked up and they saw that the phoenix was crying, making no secret of his own pain.
Harry took a step forward. "You... you knew he wouldn't return, yet it doesn't make it any less painful?"
Fawkes nodded slowly.
"What... What do you do now?" Harry asked, knowing that with Dumbledore dead, there was little keeping Fawkes to stay around.
Fawkes first looked at the sky, before reaching with his beak to his tail and then pulling out one of its feathers, presenting it to Harry.
Harry took the offered gift. "A tail feather? But for what?" Harry stopped when seeing Fawkes give him a look which he tried to interpret. "I should keep it on me for... protection?"
Fawkes nodded again, then pointed first at Harry's pocket watch, and then at Ginny, or better, her mid-section.
Harry needed a moment before he understood, then blushed a little. "Eh... once I no longer need it, it goes into a wand... for Ginny's and mine firstborn?" He didn't hear the faint gasp of surprise coming from Ginny. Fawkes nodded again. "Thank you, Fawkes. Good luck wherever you are going."
Fawkes let out one final sound of goodbye, before he took off and everyone watched him leave, until he had vanished into the sky.
The grave shortly later was being closed. While that was happening, two men stood before the grave of James and Lily Potter.
Remus looked to the final resting place of their friends. "Hard to believe it's been over sixteen years since we put them to rest here."
"Even after all the time, the pain is still fresh," Sirius added, remembering that day all too well. "It'll never fully heal as long as Voldemort is still being around."
"Yes, it feels like they have not been avenged," Remus agreed, then looked over to where the Six were talking. "You think they would be happy to learn about Harry?"
"Of course they would be. Just look how far he has come," Sirius said. "I do understand however why he won't approach the grave. I think he also only wants to do that once this is all over and he can tell them the good news."
"Also understandable," Remus said. "I guess part of Harry doesn't want to approach them now, until Voldemort is gone and they are truly avenged. I hope that won't take too long, since prolonging that won't be good for his mind."
They honestly hoped the war would not go on for much longer now.
o
While the funeral was still going no, someone else was busy with final preparations.
All the answers in one single bottle, Snape thought while making sure that the stopper was properly secured, since the content of the bottle was of immense value.
Seeing that everything was in order, he put the bottle next to the pensive which he had borrowed from Dumbledore shortly before his sacrifice. "Well, it is all done. All the pieces are together and soon it will all be over."
He looked around the small potions lab which had become his second home inside the castle; the place where he had made a number of discoveries. He knew that he probably would never see it again once he would leave for his task in a few days. He had no illusions about the fact that that what he was planning was pretty much a suicide mission.
Funny thing was, with Dumbledore being dead, the magic binding him to his promise or keeping silent about it had dissipated. That however had not changed his priorities. Instead, what was binding him was the knowledge that he was a terrible person and there was only one way to truly wash all the blood off his hands.
"I wish you could see me now, Albus," Snape said to no one at all while looking at the various bottles on the shelves. "Would you congratulate me on doing the right thing even though I know to price for doing so?"
There of course was no answer.
"Well, it is bound to have dire consequences for me, but I honestly am at peace with that. I'm not suicidal, but living has become a chore. The guilt is still heavy on my shoulders and my life has in less than a year gone down the drain again, all thanks to my horrible, old decisions."
Snape then sighed. "What will you think of me, Lily, once I'm standing in front of you? How will you judge me? I can't imagine you liked my bad decisions."
Snape knew he had made many bad decisions before that fateful night where he got confronted by Dumbledore. So many old regrets and it being way too late to undo any of the damage caused by his actions. There was no excuse for his actions, regardless how shitty his life before Hogwarts and parts of his time at school had been.
It had been too tempting to dump all the responsibility at the feet of Potter and his friends, Snape thought.
For a long time he had tried to deny it, but while James Potter and his friends had not been the best people at school - they had been rather shitty people instead, though he himself had not been much better either - Snape had not wanted to accept that they could change (though of course he excluded Pettigrew from that). But those three had changed while he himself... hadn't - at least not until his life had crashed down around him in the wake of that damn prophecy.
Snape knew it was too late for regrets, but it was never too late to do the right things. Dumbledore had told him so many times. And in a few days, he would give the ultimate example.
Part of him saw the irony how Gryffindor that was.
...Nurmengard, January 3rd...
For Gellert Grindelwald, his days did have a routine which had not changed in decades. By this point he had internalized his schedule so much, that he didn't even need a clock to know exactly what would come next. The familiarity of this routine had helped him to keep his mind in one piece. This morning however, everything was difficult when he was woken up by screams and the unmistakable sound of battle.
Sitting up on his cot, Grindelwald knew he would be getting nowhere, considering he still was locked up in his cell. However, his curiosity roused, he waited patiently. It took only several minutes, but finally the sound ebbed away. That it didn't take long was little wonder, considering that his guard detail had become smaller over the years, reflecting his decreasing danger level due to age and ill health.
Da will mich wohl jemand wirklich ganz dringend sehen, [Someone must want to see me really badly] he thought, speculating who it could be.
Finally, the cell door opened and he was greeted with the sight of a man whose face openly reflected the loss of his humanity. Said man gave Grindelwald a look of scorn. "Gellert Grindelwald, how far you have sunk. Once you ruled over almost all of magical Europe, and now look at yourself."
Grindelwald however was not intimidated at all. "Tom Marvolo Riddle. Yes, I know who you are. The guards allowed me to watch the announcement what's going on in your country."
"You will address me as Lord Voldemort!" Voldemort commanded.
Grindelwald however snorted. "What, and threaten to kill me? Death doesn't scare me. No, I'll call you by who you are. Compared to me at my most powerful and worst, I find you lacking. You most certainly are no lord."
"Silence!" Voldemort hissed.
"No, you don't scare me." Grindelwald was frighteningly calm. "I know your type, you only seek power for its own sake. For all how I now regret all of my terrible deeds, I still know I entered history books, even if for the entirely wrong reasons. How will they remember you? That small-name terrorist who caused the Statue of Secrecy to collapse? Not a place of honor or even great dishonor."
For Voldemort this was a new situation. He was not used to someone not showing him any respect at all, or not being afraid of him. Grindelwald, in the contrary, seemed to get stronger with each moment of the confrontation. To him, Grindelwald always had been more of a historical figure, but now he was confronted with a man who even at his lowest did not given him an inch.
"You will pay for that insolence..." Voldemort found his only refuge in more threats. "But first, talk! What happened with the Elder Wand?! I have already forced out of Gregorovitch that you stole it from him many years ago!"
"Ah, so that's what you are after. You, like many others before, have fallen for the lure of having the ultimate power in your hand. Again, power for its own sake," Grindelwald said, looking at Voldemort as if seeing a petty thief. "Yes, I did steal it from Gregorovitch. However, I will not tell you where it is now."
"You won't talk? All right..." Voldemort's red eyes stared into his.
Grindelwald chuckled when seeing Voldemort looking perplexed. "I might have lost most of my power in this prison, but I still have my mind and lots of time. Over the decades I honed it to be my fortress. Use as much Legilimency as you want, you won't get in."
Grindelwald brushing him off like that frustrated Voldemort. Worse, with Grindelwald not saying a thing, there was no way for him to get hold of the Elder Wand. Anger rose in him. "You have forfeit your life..."
Again, the threat didn't faze Grindelwald. "And that is supposed to scare me? I'm perfectly content with my life being ended. Unlike you..."
"Speak now!" Voldemort hissed, taken aback by what Grindelwald was implying.
"Even from my prison, I was able to put the puzzle together. Albus visiting me years ago gave me what I was missing and one look at you confirmed it to me. You cut your soul into multiple pieces in a mad quest for immortality." Now Grindelwald looked at him with pity. "Mad fool..."
"No one talks to me like that!" Voldemort was disturbed how easily Grindelwald had figured that out.
"Well, I do. What do you want to do about that?" Grindelwald said with no fear at all. "I have seen through you and found what really is behind that outer layer of the strong Dark Lord."
"Don't you dare..." Voldemort was close to losing it.
Grindelwald however continued. "You are a frightened little brat who is scared at the very idea of his own mortality! That you can't take all your ill-gotten gains with you once your time comes! That's who you are!"
"Avada Kedava!"
... ... ...
... ... ...
The last thing Grindelwald remembered was Voldemort's face being twisted in rage and then... green light.
Strangely enough, he felt like Voldemort murdering him in a rage had taken a burden off his shoulders. Even more strange, he felt like he was lying on something that felt like brick pavement while there was an utter silence surrounding him. He also felt like he no longer was wearing his shabby prison clothes. All of those facts created the urgent question of where he was.
Opening his eyes, he saw a strange spectacle of mist just finishing with forming his surroundings. Carefully getting to his feet, he realized that he felt none of the aliments which had plagued him for many years. Looking down at himself, he saw that he was wearing the same style of clothes he had worn when being a guest in the Dumbledore house so many years ago.
He then looked up and was left with more questions than answers. Warum bin ich in einem Bahnhof? [Why am I in a train station?] he wondered.
Indeed, it looked like a grand and spectacular strain station, bright and warm daylight shining in through the glss in the ceiling. Yet, there were no trains and no other people. The whole place looked very real and yet strangely more than that.
"RAAAHHRGH!"
That scream brutally pulled Grindelwald out of his thoughts. He looked to where the scream had come from further down the platform and stopped when seeing... "Nagini?"
"Grindelwald?! No, don't look at me!" the human woman screamed in hysterics, trying to hide herself.
Nonetheless, he had seen that the woman, whom he had recognized as an old enemy of his, was terribly disfigured. Terrible scars ran all over her face as well as over what he could see of her arms and legs. Her hair looked sickly and pale while her dress looked like rags. Even worse was what he spotted at her feet; namely five... things which looked like grotesquely malformed babies which had been flayed alive. Those things were moving and whimpering as well.
"Großer Gott..." [Great Lord...] Grindelwald gasped when seeing the shocking sight.
"Yes, not a nice thing to look at. So much is true."
Grindelwald knew that voice. Looking to his right, he saw Dumbledore standing there, looking with pity at the terrible sight. "Albus?"
"Yes, Gellert, it's me. I've been waiting for you," Dumbledore told him, sounding like he was greeting a friend.
"Wait. Since I was hit with the Killing Curse and you are here..." Grindelwald finally realized what was going on. "Oh, Albus..."
"It had to happen sooner or later. It happens to all of us. At least, I went out on my terms." Dumbledore was strangely calm, considering they both were dead. "But see it this way; here you have proof that death does not mean the end. It makes Tom's whole motivation look even more foolish now."
Grindelwald looked to Nagini, who was still trying to hide herself. "Then you are connected to her being here. Why is she looking like that?"
"If you mean why she is human instead of a snake, that's because her soul will always be a human one." Dumbledore then noticed the look Grindelwald was giving him. "But you speak of how disfigured she is. Here in this place, all the fractures you caused to your own soul through your actions take form. She is marked for all the horrible things she has done without any remorse."
That explanation made a disturbing amount of sense. "But wait. What about...?"
Dumbledore held up a hand. "I know what you want to ask, but some patience. The answer will come soon enough."
Grindelwald wondered what it could be, since he had done horrible things, yet didn't feel disfigured in any way. "All right. Though... what are those things?" he asked, not bothering to hide his disgust.
"That... is what happens if you create Horcruxes. Those are the soul fragments that Tom used in their creation, waiting for thier original owner. Not a pleasant sight and Tom will not look much better, even after being re-united with them. The damage is long done," Dumbledore explained.
"Suddenly I'm really happy I was so disgusted at the mere idea..." Grindelwald didn't even want to imagine what Voldemort himself looked like in this place.
-screeeetchhh- Grindelwald saw a train arrive out of nowhere, stopping at their platform.
The door of one carriage opened moments later and Grindelwald recognized the teenage girl stepping out of it. "No, it can't be..." Grindelwald gasped.
While he had done countless crimes, what happened to Ariana Dumbledore was the one that he always remembered. The death of that innocent girl had utterly shattered his friendship with Albus and it was a sheer wonder that things between them had healed to the point where they were now. Suddenly being confronted with the teenage girl, looking exactly like she did on the day of her death, made the guilt come back.
"I see you do remember me." There was no anger in her voice. It sounded more like she was greeting him. She then hugged her brother. "Albus, I hope you didn't have to wait for too long!"
"After all those years, what is waiting for a bit? Especially since I already knew you have forgiven me for the foolishness of my youth." He looked very happy to see her, but not surprised in the slightest.
"I... I don't understand." Grindelwald wondered what was going on.
"Grindelwald, the answer is that you expected eternal damnation and normally you would be right, considering the sheer scale and darkness of your deeds," Ariana said, giving him an intense look. "However, the one who punished you the most was yourself. You went through decades of accepting your guilt and even wanting to be punished for your deeds."
"Gellert, don't you see? Even though your deeds can not be undone, all the remorse you showed healed the scars on your soul," Dumbledore reminded Grindelwald.
Grindelwald again looked to Nagini and how disfigured she was. "But, what does that mean for me?" he wondered.
"We on the other side argued about that. Then we understood that no punishment could be worse than the one you have given yourself - the one that you are still giving yourself. The guilt you feel over what you have done will never fade," Ariana explained gently. "We came to agree that you have paid your dues."
"What happens now, Albus?" Grindelwald wondered.
"Now Gellert, it's time to move on, time to retire. Everyone is already waiting for us on the other side," Dumbledore told him.
"Don't be afraid, this is just the start of a great adventure," Ariana added.
Seeing how excited the teenage girl was, Grindelwald gave her a warm smile. "Now you have made me curious." He then gave one last look to Nagini. "And what about her?"
"She is waiting for two more people and they will take... a different train," Dumbledore said and Grindelwald understood the deeper meaning behind those words. They then all turned their backs on her.
Nagini watched in horror when those three boarded the train. "No, you can't leave me here!" However, her wails were in vain when the train started to leave. "Don't leave me here! Nooooooo!"
But the train left the station to whatever was beyond.
to be continued...
Next Episode:
"The Longest Day, Part I - Dawn"
Notes:
Here the notes.
Oh boy, now you know why I titled this chapter like that, since there indeed are havy losses on both sides. The remaining chapters, especially when you look at the title of the next one, will have lots of named characters bite the dust. To make it easier to keep overview, I'll list who died in each chapter.
Dead in this chapter: Alastor Moody, Antonin Dolohov, Fred Weasley, Nagini, Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald.
The ambush is a harsh reminder that things will NOT be smooth sailing and that there will be a lot more death (not only named characters but in general) before this whole mess is over. Sadly, Fred did not escape his canon fate. Moody at least instead of being backstabbed went out on his own terms. Bad for Harry that Voldemort stole his wand as well (but the allegiance is still intact).
Btw., that Bellatrix pulls a Biff Tannen is fully intentional.
The whole thing with Dumbledore is sad, but he is not entirely wrong, especially when quoting Spock about the needs of the many. The scene between Dumbledore, Voldemort and Nagini does shine light on a number of things and I was inspired on how Nagini is taken out by how Duke Leto tries to kill Baron Harkonnen in Dune 1984.
And of course Voldemort arrives to question Grindelwald, which gave me a great opportunity to show how much Grindelwald has changed. And then... I really felt Dumbledore and Grindelwald needed a proper send-off. Some part of the scene was inspired by the end of the Real Ghostbusters episode "The Long, Long, Long, Etc. Goodbye".
Now that I think of it, this chapter is full with shout-outs...