Harry was panting like crazy when he finally made it to Dumbledore's office. 1 minute ago, Harry was spending time with Cho in their hideout, and the next, Harry had received the green light from Dumbledore for Operation Angel, their attempt at keeping the Prophecy out of Voldemort's hands. With his Invisibility Cloak already by his side, Harry gave Cho a goodbye kiss before dashing straight to Dumbledore's office.
"Enter," Dumbledore's voice rang through the office.
Taking a step into the familiar office, Harry saw Dumbledore standing beside his table, ready to leave.
"Professor," Harry greeted, still catching his breath.
"My apologies for the late announcement, but it's time for us to make our move," Dumbledore said, "firstly however, we will be making our way to Grimmauld Place to gather the Order."
"Understood Professor, how will we be making our way there?"
"Through appartating Harry."
"I thought that you can't do that in Hogwarts?"
"Being the Headmaster gives me some privileges," Dumbledore chuckled, "take my hand Harry."
Grabbing onto Dumbledore's hand, Harry was transported straight to Grimmauld Place. Shaking off the odd experience, Harry looked around the group to see nearly the entire Order of Phoenix in front of him. Of the people gathered, there was Sirius, Lupin, Mad-eye, Tonks, Kingsley, Mr Weasley, Bill, Emmeline Vance, Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle.
"We do not have much time," Dumbledore said, "our window to get in without a fight is closing by the second, expect fierce combat with Voldemort himself likely to show up during the fight, defend Harry at all cost."
The group nodded firmly, all looking focused.
"Sirius and Remus, stick with Harry, we are going in."
Gathering around the Portkey on the table, everyone placed their hand on it, transporting them into the Ministry, specifically, outside the Department of Mystery.
"Get ready for combat," Dumbledore said, leading the group in. Harry himself was positioned in the middle of the group, alongside Sirius and Lupin. Making their way deeper into the Department, Harry tried to use his Ancient Magic to sense the presence of other wizards, however, being surrounded by such powerful artefacts, it was proving harder than usual.
"Over here Harry," Dumbledore suddenly said. Moving forward, he saw a Prophecy with both Voldemort and his name on it.
"Grab it, faster," Dumbledore said urgently. Reaching out, he grabbed the Prophecy, observing it curiously. At that moment, his battle sense started tingling, he could sense new presences.
"Professor, they are here," Harry said, turning to look at Dumbledore who clearly sensed it as well.
"Get ready for combat, the Death Eaters are here," Dumbledore commanded leading to everyone in the group shifting nervously, tensing up for a fight.
"Stand down you idiots, you are hopelessly outnumbered," a voice said.
Turning to look at where it came from, Harry saw multiple masked Death Eaters standing in front of them, he could also sense that they were surrounded.
"Lucius," Dumbledore said calmly, "rejoined Voldemort's side have you."
"I never wavered," Malfoy said.
"We always knew Lucius, we knew, ah Bellatrix, finally by your Dark Lord's side again are you?"
A nerve-wracking laugh came from the group, with the woman who was apparently Bellatrix Lestrange stepping forward and speaking.
"Indeed old man, we are here to end you and your Order."
"Alas, I do not think that today is the day that that happens," Dumbledore replied calmly.
"Surrender Dumbledore, you are surrounded and outnumbered, you would not survive this fight," Malfoy sneered.
"I highly doubt so, the Aurors will be on their way soon enough."
"We will finish you all before that happens."
"I would like to test that theory out myself," Dumbledore said, before sending a quick barrage of spells at the group.
Almost immediately, spells began flying all around the room, Harry quickly casted a huge Shield Charm, attempting to defend the group.
"We have to break out of here!" Sirius said, focusing his efforts on one end of the encirclement, something that Harry and Lupin did as well.
Sending a rapid barrage of stunners and Blasting Curses at one of the Death Eaters, he soon got blasted back, overwhelmed by the unexpected fire, turning his focus to the Death Eater beside him, Harry conjured up a huge rock and threw it at him, diverting his attention as Lupin snuck a stunner through his shield, stunning him.
"Let's go Harry!" Sirius shouted, pulling Harry as they dashed out of the encirclement, casting Shield Charms behind themselves to protect their backs from the incoming fire. Making their way around the Department, they took many twists and turns, attempting to find the exit. As they continued to run, they met 3 Death Eaters in their path. One immediately sent a Killing Curse at them, something that Harry blocked by conjuring up a rock to absorb the spell.
"Anulus Ignis!" Harry shouted, summoning a ring of fireballs around himself, something that clearly took the Death Eaters by surprise. Sending all 5 of them in a quick barrage at the nearest Death Eater, he barely managed to dodge and block them, taking this distraction however, Harry quickly fired a Severing Hex at his wand hand, hitting his fingers and cutting into his flesh resulting in him dropping his wand.
"Confringo!" Harry shouted, firing the curse straight at the Death Eater's face, sending him flying with his mask now broken and on fire. The other 2 Death Eaters however, were too busy fighting Lupin and Sirius to realise that one of their comrades was down.
"TURBINE AEOLI!" Harry shouted, casting a powerful Ancient Magic which summoned a powerful whirlwind which flew in between both of the Death Eaters, sucking them into it, using all his concentration to hold them in, as he felt the spell reached its limit, Harry finished the spell combination.
"EXPULSO!" Harry shouted, casting his Expulso Curse straight into the whirlwind, blowing apart the whirlwind and sending the Death Eaters straight into the walls at rapid speeds, hitting the walls with sickening cracks.
"Fucking hell Harry," Sirius said in amazement, "let's get going."
Running through the Department which has quickly become a battlefield, Harry saw flashes of green, red, orange and blue all around the place, with yells of pain and determination being heard throughout the place.
"Avada Kedarva!" a voice shouted from behind them, already sensing this spell coming, Harry immediately pushed Lupin aside, saving him from the Killing Curse. Turning around, Harry found 4 Death Eaters facing them.
"Hand over the Prophecy Potter!" a Death Eater who Harry assumed was Lucius Malfoy snarled.
"Over my dead body!" Harry shouted, before throwing a deadly bone-cracking spell at Malfoy who barely blocked it.
"Stupefy!" Malfoy shouted, firing a stunner which Harry redirected straight back at him.
"Impressive Potter, but not impressive enough!" Malfoy sneered, before sending a Blasting Curse at him which was redirected once again, this time at another Death Eater which took him by surprise, blasting him into the wall.
"We shall see Malfoy," Harry growled, throwing a rapid barrages of stunners, Blasting Curses and Disarming Charms which Malfoy surprisingly handled well.
"Acidi Gagates!" Harry shouted, sending a jet of acid at Malfoy, who blocked it with his Shield Charm which quickly disintegrated, resulting in acid burning some of his robes and skin.
"You imbecile," Malfoy snarled, throwing a purple spell at him, something that Harry recognised as a Withering Curse.
"Flatus Glandis!" Harry yelled, sending a powerful Bullet Curse at Malfoy, grazing his shoulder and throwing him off balance as he yelled in agony, seizing the opportunity, Harry yelled.
"Vincula Ab Inferno!"
Powerful and burning chains erupted from the ground and latched onto Malfoy pulling him down. Malfoy however, reacted surprisingly well sending a few Severing Spells at his chains, freeing himself immediately despite suffering burns from it. Getting up, he immediately sent another barrage of dangerous and dark spells at Harry, something Harry defended well from.
"Lux Helios!" Harry shouted as bright blinding light shot out of the end of his wand, disorientating and blinding all the Death Eaters.
"FULMEN ZEI!" Harry shouted, making a complicated wand movement before dragging his wand down, summoning a powerful lightning bolt from the sky, with a loud crack, it struck Malfoy clean, knocking him unconscious, his body smokey.
During his fight, Sirius had managed to take down another Death Eater by firing a powerful Severing Curse at the Death Eater's neck, slicing it and leading to the Death Eater falling onto the floor, grasping his neck as blood was gushing out of it.
"Fervens Vapor!" Harry shouted at the next Death Eater, firing burning hot steam straight at the Death Eater. To his surprise, the Death Eater dealt with this well, controlling the steam and firing it back at the group, something that Lupin quickly took care of by conjuring up a large rock to absorb the heat, before throwing it at the Death Eater who blasted it apart. This, however, was perfect for Harry. Controlling the pieces of rock flying all around the Death Eater, he slammed them back onto him, leading to huge cracks being heard and the Death Eater wailing in pain as the rocks burnt through his cloak. Putting him out of his misery, Harry threw a quick stunner at the Death Eater.
Facing the final Death Eater, he stood 0 chance, with a quick barrage of spells from all 3 of them, the Death Eater got peppered up with Stinging Hexes, stunners, Bludgeoning Hexes and a Blasting Curse which sent him flying, armour cracked and burning as well.
Continuing their escape, they soon realised that they were going the wrong way, entering deeper and deeper into the Department.
"It's Potter!" Harry heard a Death Eater yell, quickly locating him magically, Harry sent a Bullet Curse at him, hitting him square in the face, cracking his face mask and knocking him unconscious. Knowing that it was a direct hit, the spell definitely penetrated his mask and his skin, meaning that he was badly hurt.
Another flurry of curses flew their way, with Lupin being unexpectedly hit by one, flying back and hitting the wall hard, being knocked unconscious. 4 Death Eaters soon surrounded him, though 2 of them looked badly hurt already.
"The Prophecy Potter!" one of them spat, to which Harry responded with a Blasting Curse, shattering the weak shield that he had thrown up, sending him back a little.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry yelled, hitting that Death Eater with a Body-Binding Curse and taking him out of the fight. His Death Eater friend however, tried to perform the counter-curse, giving Harry the perfect opportunity to take him down as well.
"Trahere! Flipendo!" Harry shouted, pulling that Death Eater towards himself violently before blasting him straight back, with the Death Eater smacking straight into a shelf of artefacts which fell on him, leading to him screaming in agony.
"Crucio!" one of the Death Eaters yelled, throwing the curse at him which Harry dodged.
"Compresso!" Harry shouted back, sending a Compressing Hex at the Death Eater who blocked it.
"Confringo!" the Death Eater shouted but missed Harry completely.
"Glacius!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at the floor which led to the Death Eater slipping.
"Vincula Ab Inferno!" Harry shouted, using the Chains from Hell Curse again, this time however, the chains fully latched onto the Death Eater, pulling him down onto the burning floor with burning chains. The Death Eater screamed in agony as his skin was burnt, his face on the floor, with his mask knocked off, looking at his face, Harry realised that this was Nott Senior, Nott's father.
"Stupefy!" Sirius yelled, hitting his opposing Death Eater straight in the chest and sending him flying and onto the ground.
"Lupin!" Harry shouted, running towards Lupin before being pulled back.
"We have to run Harry," Sirius said to him, "Remus is fine, we have to go, now!"
Reluctantly, Harry left Lupin's side, running together with Sirius.
"Running away so fast cousin?" Bellatrix said, stepping out from behind a shelf, her creepy and menacing grin plastered on her face.
"From you? Dream on," Sirius said, before pulling out his wand, "go the other way Harry, I will hold her back."
"But-"
"No buts, you know Dumbledore's orders, leave now!" Sirius said as spells began flying back and forth between Bellatrix and Sirius. Taking Sirius words, Harry dashed down the hallway nearby, hoping to find the exit, Prophecy still in his hands.
As he took the turn into the Ministry Atrium, Harry was greeted by the flashes of light from the greatest duel he had ever witnessed. Dumbledore and Voldemort were going back and forth, sending immensely powerful spells at each other, Dumbledore however, looked like he was on the backfoot, Voldemort pushing him more and more as his magic overwhelmed Dumbledore. At that moment, both Voldemort and Dumbledore noticed Harry's arrival.
"Harry! Run!" Dumbledore shouted, attempting to push Voldemort back.
"It's too late old man, AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort shouted, a jet of green blasting out of his wand.
Time seemingly slowed for Harry, he watched as the jet of green flew towards him rapidly, too fast for him to do anything, too fast for him to conjure something to protect himself, too fast for him to dodge it with his Ancient Magic. Somehow, Voldemort's magic flew faster than anything Harry had seen before, Harry also could not predict his actions beforehand, only realising that he was going to fire his Killing Curse when it left his wand. Slowly watching the spell fly closer to him, Harry's life flashed before his eyes, his memories flying past rapidly. Memories of meeting Ron and befriending Hermione, memories of seeing magic for the first time, seeing Hogwarts for the first time, memories of his first win and first catch. Most importantly however, he saw his memory of the Yule Ball, with Cho dancing by his side, smiling as brightly as she always does. He thought about the future he had once imagined with her, their wedding, moving in together and what their 2 or 3 kids would look like. That however, is the life that he knew he would never get to live, a life for another timeline, a life that would not be his to live but another lucky man's. Closing his eyes, he felt a rush of gratitude and love inside him, grateful that he got to live these 5 years of his life, grateful that he met people who love him, grateful that he got to live. Then everything went black.
Opening his eyes, Harry found himself standing in front of 2 large doors. Looking around curiously, the entire place was glistering white, almost like a fantasy palace.
Is this heaven? He thought to himself.
Looking down at his body, he was surprised to find himself wearing a simple dress robe, as if he was preparing for a dance. At that moment, the door slowly opened, walking inside, Harry was greeted by a room which he could only describe as an ice palace. Then it struck him, this is the Yule Ball…
Walking around and observing the room, Harry found a stunted infant-like form on the floor, withering around in pain, Harry reached in to try and help it when he was stopped by a voice.
"He can't be saved Harry, he is too far gone."
Looking up, he saw 2 people standing in front of him, one of them looking exactly like him just that he had Hazel eyes, and the other, looked like one of the most beautiful women in the color, with emerald green eyes like his.
"Mum? Dad?" Harry asked confusedly.
"It's good to see you again Harry," his mum replied.
Without hesitation, Harry dashed straight at them, giving them a huge hug.
"What- What, how are you here? Am I dead?" Harry asked confusedly.
"Yes and no," his mum replied, rustling his hair, "come on, let's that a seat."
Sitting at the nearest bench, Harry sat between his parents, leaning on his mum.
"So, what is this place?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," his father replied, "whyn't you tell me what it looks like to you?"
"It looks like the Yule Ball."
"Blimey," his father responded, "Dumbledore really spent the budget on this didn't he."
"James, it is made from the Room of Requirement you doughnut," his mum said, staring at him hopelessly, "Harry, we are currently in the limbo, the place between life and death."
"What?"
"Harry," his mum said, "you are not dead, yet at least."
"What do you mean? Voldemort hit me with the Killing Curse didn't he?"
"He did."
"Then how? There is no protection saving me like the last time, I should be dead shouldn't I?" Harry asked confusedly.
"You should, just that you had a few circumstances that went in your favour," his father replied, "remember what happened in the Graveyard last year?"
"Yeah, Voldemort came back."
"He did, do you remember what he took from you when he did his ritual?" his mum asked.
"My blood," Harry replied, "he did it so that he can bypass your protection."
"He did and it worked, just that it had unforeseen consequences which allowed you to survive this Killing Curse," his mum said, "to put it simply, by taking my blood, he inadvertently grounded you to life as long as he himself is alive."
"What?" Harry asked, trying to absorb this information.
"It is very complicated Harry," his mum replied, "magic is an unusual thing, but what you have to know is that Voldemort cannot kill you as long as he himself is still alive."
"But I can kill him can't I?" Harry asked.
"Once again yes and no, do you know what a Horcrux is?" his father replied, to which Harry shook his head.
"Dumbledore will explain more about it when you return, but Voldemort has these Horcuxes which grounds him to life as long as they are not destroyed, that's why he didn't die when his curse rebounded and hit him instead, matter-of-fact, that there is a Horcrux, one that was living in you," his father said, pointing at the infant like body on the floor.
"Wait, so I was grounding him to life as well?"
"You were, but now that the second Killing Curse hit you, Voldemort himself destroyed that Horcrux within you, Voldemort still have other Horcruxes, what they are, we have no clue."
"Then why did you say that I was not dead yet?" Harry asked his parents.
"That is because Harry, you have a choice, whether to go back to the living world or follow us to the afterlife," his mum explained, "however, I do expect you to go back to the living world, even though we would accept you if you choose to pass on, I would be very disappointed with your choice, you have a life to live and a girl to go back to."
Harry then remembered his memories with Cho at this very Ball, looking onto the dance floor, he could not help but smile as he remembered their first dance together, how terrified he was to dance.
"You know, this is where I had my first unofficial date with her?" Harry said, looking at his parents.
"We do Harry," his mum replied, "we have been watching you for your whole life, watching you become a stronger wizard and a good man, you can't believe how proud we are of you."
"That is right Harry," his father added, "you do not know how happy your mum was when you decided to stand up to Quirell and Voldemort in your first year and willingly fought them as a first-year, the same goes for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and especially the 5th year, we have watched you grow into yourself, a powerful wizard who stands up for what is right."
"It isn't really that impressive, I still should have died today if not for some lucky coincidence," Harry shrugged.
"Always so modest," his mum beamed, "no Harry, you have accomplished more than most wizards would do in their lifetime, you are the student who changed the inter-house dynamics for the better, the changes you and Daphne brought to Slytherin are so immense, I was so proud of you when you stood up to Severus and changed him for the better."
"I did not expect him to change myself," Harry admitted, "honestly I was surprised when he started treating everyone so well."
"Severus is a good man at heart Harry, he just had many unfortunates during his life and made many mistakes, which he still regrets till this day," his mum replied, her expression softening.
"While I'm still not the biggest fan of him," his father continued, scowling a little, "I cannot lie, seeing him change for the better has impressed me."
"Hopefully he can forgive himself one day," his mum muttered, to which his father nodded in agreement.
"So Harry, the Yule Ball huh?" his father suddenly spoke in a more lively tone, "very interesting place indeed."
"Yeah, no idea why it showed up honestly," Harry admitted.
"It's because Harry, the limbo shows one the place that changed their life the most," his father explained, "for example, a muggle-born would see Hogwarts or Platform 9, I would have expected you to see that seeing as you were essentially a muggle-born as well, but instead, you see the Yule Ball, care to explain why?"
"Because this is where my first unofficial date with Cho was," Harry replied.
"Very much so," his father said, "Cho is a very brilliant witch Harry, I'm surprised that you managed to bag a chick like her."
"Shut up James," his mum replied, smacking him on the shoulder, "but yes Harry, Cho is a wonderful girl."
"She truly is," Harry nodded, "she brought so much happiness to my life, happiness which no one else can give me, someone who truly loves me."
"For that, she earns my love and gratitude," his mum said, "I'm sorry that we weren't there for you in the first 11 years of your life, I'm sorry for everything that Petunia did-"
"You don't need to apologise mum," Harry cut her off, embracing her, "I do not blame anyone but them 3 for that, they chose to treat me like vermin and that is not your fault, it is not your fault that your sister does not treat me well, it is not mum, at least I have Sirius as a godfather, Mrs Weasley as my mother figure and Cho as my girlfriend, them 3 helped me to get over all the damage that the Dursleys did, I feel loved mum, I am loved."
"That is good to hear Harry," his mum beamed at him, her eyes misty, "I can't believe how well you have done son, how well you have grown, I am so proud of you."
Their conversation however was interrupted as music began playing in the room.
"Come on Harry, let's dance, let me experience this for once in my life," his mum said, standing up and leading Harry to the dance floor. Together, they did a slow and beautiful dance, something that pained his heart for every second of it knowing he never had the ability to experience a dance with his mum and never will again. Savouring every second of it, Harry chatted with his parents some more, talking about his life and how proud they were of him, something that Harry did not know that he needed.
Suddenly, the music started speeding up and the doors reopened, looking at his parents confusedly, they both gave him a sad look.
"This is the end of our time together Harry," his mum said, stopping the dance.
"But-"
"Harry, this is the end for now, we will meet again someday, hopefully over a hundred years later," his mum comforted him, "you have a choice to make now Harry, you can either follow us to the afterlife or stay on the dance floor where you would eventually be taken back to your body where the fight is still going on, make your choice wisely son."
Harry however, already had his decision made up a long time ago.
"I have a girl waiting for me back in the world, I have a girl to marry and children to raise in the future, I'm staying," Harry said firmly.
"That's what we hoped son," his father said, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder and pulling him in for a hug.
"Don't worry Harry, we will always be here," his mum said as she hugged him, before pointing at his chest, "here, we are always here with you."
"I love you mum, dad," Harry said emotionally, eyes turning more and more misty with every word.
"We too Harry, stay strong," his mum said, before turning away, grabbing his father's hand and walking out of the Ball. The music continued to play faster and faster, with the room turning brighter and brighter.
His eyes fluttered open as he groaned silently. His entire body was in pain and looking down at his shirt, there was a massive cut in it.
"You have lost old man," Voldemort said, Harry turned and saw that Voldemort and Dumbledore were behind him, the duel still going on. Dumbledore was getting pushed closer and closer to the wall. Harry watched as he barely dodged a Killing Curse, his eyes misty as he kept fighting.
"Harry Potter is dead Dumbledore," Voldemort snarled, "your star boy is dead!"
"I do not think so."
Voldemort turned in surprise as Harry was back on his feet, without hesitation, Harry casted the strongest spell that he had in his arsenal.
"PONDUS MUNDI IN ATLAS!"
Harry watched as Voldemort's knees buckled as the weight of the world was placed onto his back, dark and menacing purple surrounded Voldemort, pushing him down. Mustering the last bit of energy in his body, Harry pushed him even more down, attempting to subdue him.
"FLAMMA PHOENIX!" Dumbledore yelled as a huge fire phoenix erupted from the end of Dumbledore's wand, flying down with a loud shriek at Voldemort.
Harry heard the most terrible yell he had ever heard in his life and Voldemort used all his power to push up against Harry's spell which Harry barely held down. His muscles were now aching, feeling like it was burning off his skin, his vision blurred and his head felt like it was splitting open. Dumbledore's fire phoenix however, made contact with Voldemort. Harry watched as Voldemort screamed in agony, the phoenix burning off his flesh, turning his white skin into black ash. The resistance against Harry's curse soon vanished as Harry used everything he had to give a final push, something that the burned body succumbed to, the charred body being squashed into ash. From that pile of ash, a spirit flew out of it, quickly rising and disappearing away.
And everything went black once again.