Thanks to all the people who reviewed the close chapter. Your various permutations of the general `` What the F*** ! ? ! Update now ! '' Were most appreciated. I feel kind of bad for jumping a twist like that on you after 40 chapters. Kind of deceitful. unspoilt to know the absolute majority of people appreciated it.



"Harry ?"Padma said quietly, standing at the end of the infirmary bed. Harry seemed to be sleeping, his chest insurrection and falling weakly. His eyes were red, like he'd been crying. Perhaps the botheration was worse than he let on. She felt bad for needing to ignite him."Harry wake up."She reached out and tapped his leg. He jerked fitfully, but his oculus flickered subject. He didn't speak though, didn't acknowledge her. He just stared off into space. What had Dumbledore said to him ?

"Harry I ‘ ve been talking to the healers. They ‘ ve run some more tests."She licked her sassing."facial expression, it looks like a few months was actually optimistic. There ‘ s damage deep down, sight of damage. You need to let them help you now or ... or you ‘ ll die. In a few weeks."

Harry said nil, he didn't even seem to take in heard her.

"You won ‘ t be able to fight Voldemort."Padma tried a different tack."I ‘ m not saying you ‘ ll have weeks like you ‘ ve been going all yr. You ‘ ll have weeks in this infirmary bed, not able to be active, eventually you won ‘ t even be capable to utter. You won ‘ t be capable to kill Voldemort. You won ‘ t be capable to be the Chosen one."

Harry flinched, pain in the ass running across his wear down face.

"You see Harry, you ‘ ve got to let them assist you."Padma stepped up to put her hand on Harry's."Please ?"

"You do what you have to do."Harry pulled his hired hand away. He still hadn't looked at her.

"You ‘ ll let them assist you ?"Padma tried not to be put off."You ‘ ll take off the evilness eye and let them work on you ?"

"Yes, why not."Harry rolled over so he was facing away from her. His breathing stuttered, he sounded like he was holding back tears. Padma backed away, she had got what she came for. The therapist would fix Harry's torso. What had happened to his judgement ? That might take a little longer.

What had Dumbledore said to him ...
*


The boy who was once called Harry faded in his mind as the healer entered his room. Bustling around and speaking comforting, empty-bellied words. They cleaned him up, washing his blazonry and chest. They asked him to remove the bracer. He did, letting it fall to the floor with a brassy clatter. The healer shied away from the chump on his arm. Fearful. Why should he care.

They did something that was supposed to numb him. He couldn't tell the dispute. Everything was dulled already. He watched, ineffectual and unwilling to care, as they cut his skin overt. His blood seeped out, quickly staunched by a healer. He wished they wouldn't bother.

A inhuman gel was swabbed onto his destroy helping hand. Ruined for what ? For the sake of what ? All useless. He wished they wouldn't bother.
*


Dragon slapped the sore pelt of his arm to try and remain awake. It had been burnt in the struggle, but it was fine now. Just enough residual rubor and pain to help him quell alert. He swung his weary eyes around the waiting room, all of the marauders were here. Most of them had finally succumbed to sleep, Dragon didn't blame them. It was hard to imagine that the mortal midnight assault on the creature ship had been just last nighttime. They had been worn out, worn down. Draco pinched his arm again. He wondered if there was anywhere he could find some tea. The tea shop was closed but surely the healers had a staff room or something. Maybe he could ask one.

Or maybe he could just fall asleep.

Draco shook his head. Some of them had to be awake when the healers finally stopped working on Harry. He shuddered, they had already been at it for hours. How many ... additions .... had Harry made ? He glanced around the room again. Everyone seemed to be departed. Even Ginny, who seemed to have nodded off in the act of pinching herself. They had all been there all night, no one had collected them. He supposed it was only a topic of time before a instructor or an social club phallus came to brawl them up and drag them back to Hogwarts, where they would no doubt outride. Chained to posts like dogs so they couldn't run off again.

Draco got wearily to his feet, maybe he could walk some of his tiredness off. He stepped carefully around the prone piranha and stepped up to the door to the ward. Harry's bed was obscured by curtains but the shadow of the therapist were still moving against the surface. As he watched one of them detached and stepped towards the door. Dragon stepped away to let him out, Hope and apprehension rise in his stomach.

"Is there any intelligence ?"Draco asked.

"Yes, there is."The therapist looked around the elbow room."Is his sept here ?"

"Yes."Draco said definitely, looking over the marauders."waiting a moment ... HEY !"The marauders jerked to life, hands flying to wands before they realized where they were. Draco turned back to the therapist."They ‘ re up. What is the newsworthiness ?"

"Well we ... we removed several items from the soundbox of your friend."The poor healer swallowed nervously."We found a drop-gem embedded in his sternum. There was also something in the wall of his stomach. We think it may give been designed to negate poisonous substance but it seems to have had the paired effect. It was the source of his malady. We also found-"

"What about his eye ?"Draco broke in."Have you fixed his eye ?"

"His ... his eye."The therapist paused."His eye had been removed too long ago, there is a great raft of scarring. Unfortunately we were unable to restore it. We are currently looking into whether the installation he has is gamy quality enough to allow there."

"installation ..."Dragon stared at the man coldly."You ‘ re talking about his eye."

"Yes, I know."The therapist shook his brain and turned back towards the door."We ‘ ll try to keep you informed."He pushed back through the door and hurried back towards the curtain bed.

Draco looked back over the vulture. Through their sand-filled, droopy eyes he could see their sadness. Harry had fought so hard and got nothing in paying back but accusations of slaying and a permanent disfigurement. And a dark mark, they could not forget that.

"Harry might say it was worth it."Padma said softly."For driving Voldemort to ground."

"Of trend he ‘ d say that. Doesn ‘ t make it true."Ron pulled his knee joint up to his chest."I mean you heard him in there. He ‘ d think death was worth it."

"Is he wrong ?"Draco muttered darkly. Perhaps they didn't hear him. Perhaps it was just as well. They were all startled as another door was pushed open, revealing Professor McGonagall. She didn't need to say anything, they knew why she was there. They were going back. And they might never leave.
*


"Are you sure ?"Natalie asked ? Her interpreter admirably free of shaking."You could get a bracer like Harry ‘ s. Or perhaps there are less invasive substance of removal."

"There are not, it was not made to be removed."Snape tightened the strap around his arm."And I would choose to not be dependent on an item of illegal jewellery. Just please do it, it is already beginning to burn."

Thankfully she did not argue, but instead bent down and touched her wand to the pelt on Snape's arm. The slicing pain was aloof, dulled by potions. There were bottle by his arm, some empty, some waiting to mature the skin back after the Saint Mark was gone. He was in his flat at Hogwarts, the only place he could have gained those potions without interrogative was from his own supplies. The searing began and Snape looked away, watching his own arm butchered was not what disturbed him, not after everything he'd seen. But it reminded him of what Harry was going through. Of the iniquity lord as well. What would he do next ? What would his succeeding motility be ...

"He may go into hiding."Natalie answered his unanswered question, still intent on his arm."Like he did fifteen years ago."

"He will not."Snape shook his head."He was forced to hide then, he had no world power. Now he does, it is lessened certainly, but he still has some."

"Bellatrix, Rookwood and Forneus."She traced easily around the sharpness of the skull."That is who he has left. What would he do with them ?"

"It will be savage, I am certain of that."Snape felt the cutting arrest and watched as Natalie picked the little pother of peel up and calmly incinerated it. It was done, he was free. Strange that he should experience so little. Perhaps because he knew he was not truly free until Voldemort was deadened. Perhaps because he knew that, without the ability to spy, he was succeeding to useless.

"Don ‘ t think that."Natalie's centre flickered up to his as she daubed his arm with a potion soaked bandage.

"But I am."Snape shook his head."Perhaps not useless but ... if I had not acted on instinct we would now know exactly what Voldemort was planning. We would be able to counter him instead of stumbling around in the darkness."

"You had to."Was all she said.

"Perhaps."Snape let his question drop back, perhaps.

"You know them unspoilt than anyone."Natalie continued."You can work out what he will do next."

"I have been trying."Snape replied tetchily."But I can not retrieve of anything he would wish to do that he has the manpower to execute. Unless he has some plan I am unaware of. Which he almost certainly has. I always got the sense that he had something brewing."

"The ministry ? The department of secret ? The Prophecy ?"

"He covets that no question. But I can see no way he could receive it with three death eaters."

"Four."Natalie corrected."Barty Crouch is still out there somewhere."

"And if he is not dead then he is doing pigeon hawk knows what."Snape shook his head."It could be anything."

"Severus,"Natalie took his face in her hand and tilted it up to foregather her eyes."Not so low now. We won today. It may not sense like it, but we won a victory. victory have been few and far between this past year, we need to treasure them, not worry about what will happen next."Snape was once again amazed by the way she could break through to him, whatever his mood. He smiled,

"I believe I have some wine."
*


The boy who carried the figure Harry felt himself enter the fellow dream. He felt floorboards under his back, scratchy through the slender hospital gown. He knew where he would be when he opened his eyes. And finally, he even knew why.

He pushed himself off the floor, leaning his tired frame against the paries. The wall painted with bears and fink over a pale blue devil sky full of fluffy clouds. Harry felt like spitting but he couldn't muster the energy. He ignored the crib in the heart of the room, it's shiny mobile spinning idly in the dream-wind. He shoved the threshold capable and descended the stairs. The revulsion he always felt was still there, but he could barely bestow himself to care. He knew what this billet was now.

No one-year-old remembers their house. No one-year-old could think of every photo, or the practice on the wallpaper. This spot was a lie, a parasitic memory that had been burnt into his head. The creeping illness in his pelt was his mind's way of telling him that it wasn't real, that it didn't belong.

He stepped up to the nominal head door and stepped outside. There were street signs in the memory. No one-year-old would recall street signs, they couldn't even read them. He should suffer known, should have realized somehow.

He couldn't feel the orchard nearby. God knows what that represented. Some metaphor for rubber his mind was projecting out maybe. Who knew. The river ? Some other component part of his head ... it didn't thing. Harry let himself fall to the primer coat on the Grass, it was all pointless. It wasn't worth fighting this anymore, it was burnt onto the rear of his scull. He could never escape.

His eyes flickered open in the infirmary Mrs. Humphrey Ward. He could palpate the sore new increase in his hand. It was pink, new skin, and smaller than the other. Harry dropped it back onto the blankets. Other parts of his torso hurt too, little scars and injuries. They had fixed him up. He wished they hadn't bothered.

The dream was still swirling in his head, biting at him. It was too tough. He saw his things piled neatly against the wall, even his dress. Suddenly he knew he had to result. This lieu ... he just had to pull up stakes. He quietly pushed out of bed, ignoring the creaking in every muscle and drew his bag over. He dressed quickly and disillusioned himself before slipping out the door.

The predator were sleeping there, lying across work bench or curled up on the floor. He didn't wake them. He didn't want to verbalize to anyone right now. Couldn't talk, he had no estimate how he would even start. He hurried away and down the stair. He didn't stop until he was out of the building and a few streets away. A small street, not busy. Breathing hard he shoved his sceptre out into the street. He found that he could barely keep his arm up for the few seconds it took for the knight bus to blur out of nowhere and screech to a stop in front end of him.

"Ere are you Harry ceramicist ?"The pimply music director squinted at him, his articulation fully of amazement.

"No."The password was hollow in his chest.

"right hand, right, incognito."The man tapped his nose."I never believed any of that hooey about ya. Hero that ‘ s what I say."

"Right."Italian sandwich ... that cut to the CORE like a knife."Take me to Godrics Hollow."He had no idea where the idea had come from, but as soon as he said it he knew he needed to go. It was as secure a need to go to it as there had been to exit in the dream.

"Godrics Hollow ?"The pimpled guy swallowed."right, I see."

The bus moved off and the nameless boy sagged down in a death chair. Why was he doing this ? Did he even have a grounds ? He didn't seem to have grounds's anymore. He remembered being to the full of attack and need, burning passion for the fighting. But now he just felt hollow, like he'd been scooped out. He didn't want anything anymore. Except perhaps to die. Why was he going to Godrics Hollow ? Why not. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to go.

The bus screeched to a halt and he got out without speaking. The bus disappeared with a whoosh, a purple blur in the air. Harry looked up and down the street, it looked like any former village. It was empty this fourth dimension of day, like a ghost Town. Suited his mood perfectly. He looked forward, an derelict house, burnt and with the top floor blown off.

But he knew what had stood there. He had seen it in his dreams. This was where it had happened. It just hadn't happened to him.

He stepped forward his hand stretched out, then shied away. This house was just more than prevarication. The opinion in his head, grief, loss, fearfulness. They weren't his, they weren't his personnel casualty. solely strangers had died here, two strangers. People who had nothing to do with him. The sorrow was another trick, just another layer of lie.

He spun away and stalked down the street, not looking back. He had never lived there, it meant nothing to him. Or should signify nothing. His animal foot brought him to the foursquare and he lent tiredly on the war commemoration. He should never have come here, it was not what he needed. He raked his hand through his hair.

Not his hand.

Not his hair.

He spun and punched the Harlan Fisk Stone, hissing out madness through his teeth. The lie poisoned everything. Even his real memories were tainted. He didn't even look like this for Christ's sake ! His whole soundbox was a masquerade !

The Harlan Fiske Stone shifted under his finger's breadth. He looked up just as the monument seemed to melt down, morphing into, a statue underneath. Harry stumbled back. No ... no no no. Under the memorial there were two anatomy, a man and a char. The fair sex cradled something in her hand. The man ... the man looked just like him.

No he doesn't. I don't even look like me. The boy trembled with cult as he looked on the happy Potter family. The testament in Harlan F. Stone to the life he had never really had. His digit went to his wand.

"Reducto !"The wand flickered out, even through the rage the spell flew rightful. It struck the head of the father statue, shattering it into splinters. Some of them cut the boy's pulp. He didn't care.

"Reducto ! !"Lilly ceramist's head snapped off and crunched onto the macadam. Rolling to a blockage in a violent storm drain.

"Reducto ! !"The last snap was the strongest, striking out in a blinding bolt of ignitor, obliterating the bundled infant. Blowing the piffling boy-who-lived to smithereens. Flames flickered across the statue before they died out. Flickered across the ruined stumps of head teacher and died to nothing.

The unnamed boy stepped back, breathing like he'd run a Marathon. His apparel wet with swither. He dropped his scepter back into his pocket and turned his backbone on the statue, his hint still coming in raging volley. He couldn't think, couldn't breath. He walked off down the street, not trusting himself to look on the statue again. It made it all too real.

His eyes found a memorial park. Both eyes, real and magical. He shuddered, he'd got used to the shining overlay over his sight, the x-ray view of the world. Now it was just a constant admonisher. A reminder of what he'd sacrificed for the lie. He pushed the memorial park gate open and let the eye roam, in a mo it had angled in on the thrower grave. He walked hesitantly to it, his wand safely away in his sac. He pushed a piece of ivy off the stone and read the inscription.
The last foe that shall be destroyed is demise


Well that was ball. Being absolutely meant you had at least one other enemy left, namely the one that killed you. His eye whirled in it's socket, looking straight down. The two coffins, side to side in the ground, stared back at him. But ... there was a shadow. Like a vacant domain. He drew his wand and muttered a revealing spell. deliquium whiffs of illusion drew out of the ground to meet him. He waved his sceptre again, cutting the misty waifs away. He worked ... he didn't know how long. Probably minutes, maybe 60 minutes. At some point the Thomas Gray sky gave way to rain and the graveyard grass turned sleek. Harry ignored it, concentrating on the charm. It was near. It was a teaser, breaking the thaumaturgy. It stopped him from thinking.

Finally he was done. Nothing different showed on the surface, but down underground ... Harry stood and stepped back, his tenderness pound in his chest. There was a third gear casket on top of the other two, arranged like a pyramid. Inside ... inside was a smaller organic structure, a child. It's tiny subdivision crossed over it's chest.

The nameless boy fell to his stifle. There it was, the final proof. The final incontrovertible check. That poor wasted trunk in there was Harry Potter. He could even see a tiny kale on the bone of his scull, above his eye, in the cast of a lightning thunderbolt. The existent scar had cut all the way to the bone, his was barely more than make-up. That was all he was in fact ... makeup for a puppet. A god-damn doll.

He raised his wand to the stone, but said nothing. The anger in him was gone. He had seen the dead body of the real number ceramicist, lying together. It was hard to feel anger, but he wished he did. The anger at least filled him up, filled the vacancy with flaming. But now the flak was gone and he felt even vacuous for it. He found himself resting the point of his wand against the harsh, wet stone.

It wasn't even his baton. He stared at it, persuasion skittering over the benumb center of his nous. It was a wand gained from killing, killing and fighting in a war he was never supposed to be part of. This wand was his killing sceptre. He had done atrocious things for the saki of this war ... to others ... to himself. He found himself pressing down harder on the Ellen Price Wood. He had pickled his soul in stock and what had it got him ? He added his other arm and pushed harder. He had fought, and he'd been broken. The verge splintered with a loud cracking, the springy Grant Wood bending almost double before it twisted into ribbon. A little red fluff was visible through the rupture. It had had a phoenix feather core, he never knew.

"fountainhead that makes thinks easier."

The phonation had come from behind him. He turned slowly but his conjuring trick eye had already whizzed around to happen the intruder. The black robes told him everything he needed to know. Harry knew he should feel panic, or apprehensiveness, fear perhaps, at least surprisal. But he was damned if he felt anything.

"You would be Rookwood."His voice sounded deadened in his ears.

"Yes I am Aug Rookwood."The man sketched a sarcastic bow, his wand in his hand."Thank pigeon hawk I still have a watch on the underage conjuration detector. You ‘ ve come a long way just to slide now. A hanker recollective way ..."

"Felt like further."The empty boy dropped the remains of his wand onto the Potter grave. Perhaps some fool wizard would find it and pull in up some story about it. He turned back to the expiry feeder and asked,"Are you going to kill me ?"He was surprised that his vox did not go eager.

"Eventually Mr thrower, no doubt."Rookwood held out his wand."But maiden you ‘ re going to stop up something for me."

"What ?"

"The dark Almighty ‘ s undying favor."Rookwood tilted his head up arrogantly."I will be raised above the others, above even that bastard Crouch."Rookwood paused, obviously expecting the weary figure before him to say something. `` Well ? Nothing to add ? No witticisms ? ``

"No."The boy who had been Harry stepped forward."Do whatever you like to me. I don ‘ t care anymore."

"Is this some form of trick ?"Rookwood raised his wand threateningly."You are alone here I know that ... well, to be sure. Stubefy !"

He closed his eyes before the tour hit. The darkness was welcome.
*


A crashing noise woke him. Flashing light burned through his eyelid as he groaned. The noise went on and on, familiar ... very fellow. His retention twinged, his real ones.

"I ‘ m in the underground."His eyes flickered open just as the tube-shaped structure train flashed out of sight, leaving the burrow in darkness. He felt the corduroys binding his hands together, his fingerbreadth danced along them trying to find a burl. There was none. They were tight though, biting into his skin, magical no doubt. He didn't have to feel to screw that his ramification were similarly bound. He didn't trouble to try to stand.

"You are indeed Mr Potter."Rookwood stood over him, his scepter outstretched."The British capital Underground."

The unnamed boy twisted and looked around him, one of the wall was been broken through and a dark, earthy tunnel stretched away. Now that the train was gone he could hear something in the shadow all around, a scratching slinking sound.

"We ‘ re not alone."Harry breathed.

"Oh, so you noticed."Rookwood held up his wand and lit it, smiling. The dark rolled back, but not far. A grey wall stopped the light, a writhing mass of material and rot.

"What ... what are they ?"He looked on the wickedness hooded figures. As he watched one of them turned its shrouded head towards him. It let out a destruction rattle.

"Those are Dementors."Rookwood smiled."Had you forgotten that they too served the shadow lord ? Slipped your mind ?"

"Dementors ..."The boy looked into the swirling mass. Wasn't he supposed to be feeling some sorting of coldness, despair ? Wasn't that what Dementors were supposed to do when you were close to them ? He shook his head, they couldn't touch him, a person could only feel so much despair and he was already at his demarcation line. And as for making him relive his mop up memories ? Ha ! His darkest minute was still fresh in his mind.

"The dementors like it down here."Rookwood continued."They ‘ ve been breeding down here ilk flies. There are hundreds of them."

"Dementors don ‘ t dig."Harry glanced back at the tunnel."What else do you have down there ? I thought I killed everyone you had."

"You did."Rookwood sneered."But that doesn ‘ t thing. In fact, none of that topic. Now be quiet."Rookwood flicked his sceptre, making a hush up charm. A irregular flick levitated him off the floor. Rookwood reached into his pocket and pulled out a tenacious silvery length of cloth, easily recognizable. An invisibility cloak. He just hung there in the air as the cloak was thrown over him. He really couldn't have done anything else. Rookwood turned and walked up the burrow, his black shoes slipping on the wet dirt.

The one who used to be Harry was dragged along afterwards, floating in the air. He couldn't move ... speak ... he was a ghost. Right now his billet fit him like a mitt. He hung weakly as Rookwood moved further towards the scrape, digging sound. The dementors followed after, filling the burrow with cold. Up ahead there was a turn. As Rookwood walked calmly around the bend figures came into sentiment. One dark cloaked figure standing tall, the ease ragged and torn and scrabbling at the scandal mindlessly. No, it wasn't just their clothes that were ragged. It was their flesh.

Inferi, or zombies. Who could tell the difference ? The design in front man of them turned as Rookwood approached. dark long hair spun out as Bellatrix stepped towards Rookwood.

"You are of late Augustus."The distaff last eater was not as pretty as she had been. It seemed like a blade toed boot with the force of a falling teenager behind it did more scathe than expected. The left side of her face was crushed in, a mass of scars and bulging pelt. When she spoke she slurred, only the right side of her oral cavity moving. Her eye was a raw socket, nil left.

She had lost her eye. How wonderful. How very poignant. Under the cloak the invisible prisoner felt his void filled with a tiny flicker of satisfaction.

"Hello Bella."Rookwood stopped, his hand flickering to his wand."Shouldn ‘ t you be in your own tunnel ? That was the plan was it not ? Forneus in one, myself-"

"I know the plan."Bellatrix snapped."Do you Augustus ? It seems to me that you are the one who doesn't know the program. I came here to see why you were late. Why were you late ?"

"I was delayed momentarily, nix to concern you."Rookwood waved his hired man away."You should go to your own tunnel. Without somebody there the wrangle them the dementors may be getting restless."

"I want the truth of this."Bellatrix held out an accusing finger.

"You will not get it."Rookwood dropped his laconic deportment and snapped at her."Get to your own tunnel. We take down the ministry tonight, there can be no mistakes because one of us is trying to separate themselves out from the crowd."

"There is no gang anymore."Bellatrix sneered through her ruined face."There are three of us. There will be more than decent glory to go around."Bellatrix turned and dissaperated into slim air.

"lying bitch."Rookwood grated."We all want to be the dark Almighty ‘ s right hand. Stop excavation you freaks !"He directed the last one to the animal burrowing in the dirt. They stopped moving and stood, their vacant centre rotting in their skulls. Rookwood raised his scepter and the grunge began flying away faster. In a short moment the crap became a brick paries, old and faded. The wall of the ministry.

"Are you ready Mr thrower ?"Rookwood grinned up at the invisible prisoner hanging above him."Here we go."He turned to the wall and raised his scepter. There was a shattering blast and the wall caved in. Behind it a man at a desk jumped to his feet his helping hand tangling in his robe. A unripened flash of light struck him in the psyche, he dropped onto the desk, scattering papers.

"Go."Rookwood pointed. The dememtors flew past him, the inferi lumbering along between them. There were a few moments of silence, then the thigh-slapper started.
*


"Dumbledore !"Helen Newington Wills yelled as he thumped down the corridor at Hogwarts, moving his old bones as fast as they could."Dumbledore get your senile arse down here !"

"Helen Wills ?"Albus appeared around the corner, his face a mask of business organization."You were on guard duty tariff. What are you doing here ?"

"Didn ‘ t you listen to me ?"Moody threw his hand back the way he'd seminal fluid."The ministry ‘ s falling ! decent dementors to paint the sky black !"

"Why didn ‘ t you send a patronus ?"

"Didn ‘ t you hear what I just said ! Every inch of that shoes is full of the soul sucking demons ! No patronus could cut through that !"

"My god, we must assist them !"

"Oh really ? You think so ?"Dwight Lyman Moody saw his spit fly.

"We must go now."Dumbledore pushed past him, dashing to the door."We can take back the ministry, all of us can."

"But there could be a trap !"Helen Wills tried to keep up, his breath catching in his thorax."You can ‘ t go in there blind you can ‘ t just ... we don ‘ t even get laid where Voldemort is !"Dumbledore was speeding away."We need a plan ! Do you give birth a program you old bast-"But Dumbledore was gone, already around the turning point. Moody doubled over, he was old, too old. But gods he wasn't done yet, he wasn't ... done. What the infernal region was Dumbledore mentation ? He could get them all killed ! The full ordering. The entire bloody Order in one fell swoop, and what the Scheol could he do to give up it ? He felt so old ...

But not yet done.

He straightened and staggered down the hall. Faster. Faster. He found the doorway he wanted and threw it open.

"Severus !"Helen Wills shouted towards the startled prof."The ordination needs your assistance !"

"The rules of order ?"Snape stood, his hands flat on the table. Zhao was beside him in a moment."I am not a member of the order any-"

"The ministry is compromised !"Helen Wills saw his words cut Snape."Dementors in Sir Thomas More numbers than ever before."

"And you want all the help you can get ?"Snape sneered."The guild had done me no party favor lately."

"Severus,"Natalie Zhao spoke calmly, despite the place."Look at him, something else is going on."

"smarting girl."Moody shook his head."Dumbledore is heading for the ministry, by now he ‘ s trailing half the purchase order. He ‘ s going in without any eyes, without anything. It is a trap, or could be. Even if it ‘ s not he ‘ s still going to turn a loss half the rescript. He ‘ s ... he ‘ s reckless. He ‘ s stuck in the old war. He ‘ s everything you said he was. But if we let this happen ..."

"I know."Snape's eyes flickered with panic."We need to help them. We need to assist the order."

"That ‘ s why I ‘ m here Snape."Helen Wills Moody was gritting his teeth. Every here and now was wasted."But I don ‘ t know what ... there are only three of us."

"Four."Snape muttered under his breath."There are four of us. Natalie, would you get Michelson. meet us at the ministry back entrance."

"Even four can ‘ t cover this."Moody growled as the unspeakable dashed from the room."You know that."

"I know. I know well ..."Snape pulled a robe off the back of a chair."We need an army."

"Do you get it on where to find one ?"

"I do."Snape closed his eyes,"I do."
*


Rookwood stepped over a body. It's eyes were still undecided, it's mouth moving vacantly. The dementor's candy kiss, it left them living, but they were bodies nonetheless. Rookwood paid them no mind.

"Welcome Mr ceramicist, to the section of Mysteries."Rookwood pulled the cloak off his floating prisoner. Harry ceramicist. His prisoner was just hanging there dumbly. Well ... he couldn't really do any unlike. Rookwood let Harry down to the trading floor and canceled the silencing charm."wellspring Mr ceramicist ? You have anything to say ?"

"What are you doing with me ?"ceramist's voice was a little horse from the long silence."You ‘ re trying to earn breaker point with your lord, isn ‘ t capturing me enough ?"

"More than enough Harry. more than than enough."Rookwood tweaked his verge and the Bond on Harry's legs snapped off. Another click and Harry stumbled forward."But I am after the icing on the bar. If I am to surpass Crouch in price of merit to the lord ... I must look for the icing."

"That ‘ s the stunned thing I ‘ ve ever heard."Harry said dully.

"Well I didn ‘ t ask you."Rookwood hurried forward through the ministry, he had to slow down a moment later though as Harry shuffled along behind him."hurriedness up !"

"My foot are asleep. Your rope were too tight."

"Just move."Rookwood walked back and grabbed Harry by the presence of his shirt. The dementors were still swirling by the cap, looking for victims. There were still a few left. Not enough to hassle over though. He stepped into out into the computer memory office, pulling his strangely compliant charge past the armoured combat vehicle of Einstein. He stopped by the door to the last chamber, there was the auditory sensation of piece from within, someone holding out perhaps. He pushed the door open in time to see a thaumaturge scrambling away from an inferi head trip and fall. The corpse-warrior grabbed the blubbering unspeakable in it's bulletproof grip and threw him away with insensate strength. Screaming as he flew across the room, his scream was cut off as he fell through the archway in the center. The curtains ruffled for a moment, then went still again.

Rookwood hid a shudder, he was never entirely well-heeled with the execution hepatic portal vein. Harry watched from his side with muted eyes. What was wrong with the boy ? Never mind. Rookwood picked his way around the edge of the room, giving the inferi a extensive birth, and pushed unfold the door at the other side.

"fountainhead Potter here we are."Rookwood gestured impressively at the bank building of ledge in front of them, each one with words upon rows of tiny spheres."This is the hall of prophecy."

"These are prophecies ?"Harry sniffed disbelievingly as Rookwood dragged him along the line of shelves."They look like snow-globes."

"They are track record of prophecies, and they are the cause we are here."Rookwood glanced down at the boy he was dragging along."Did you know there was a vaticination made about you ?"

Harry didn't result, but he sniffed again, his lip twisting into a sneer.

"I assume that was a yes."Rookwood glanced up at the number on the ledge, yes this was it."The prophecy concerned you and the dark overlord, you know that too ?"

Once again the boy stayed silent. Rookwood poked him in the back to set him walking up to where the divination was held.

"The dark overlord is very eager to get his hands on the prophecy. That prophecy."Rookwood pointed at the finical orb."And I will be the one to give it to him. My frosting, you could say."

"What do you require me for ?"Potter was staring at the orb with barely contained hatred. What was going on ? ... Never judgement, it wasn't important.

"Shall I tell you something about the prophecies of the department of mysteries ? They are keyed, protected. Only certain people can pinch them from where they lie. Namely the the great unwashed they have been made about. So the entirely people who can take this vaticination are the sour Godhead, and you. ``

ceramicist stared at the orb for a moment longer, the password sinking into him. Then he threw his head back and laughed, laughed so hard his eyes ran with tears. It was a reaction Rookwood had not expected. laugh, but not in jest, not in joy. This was a bitterly gag, full of iniquity. What was going on ?

'' So that 's it is it ? '' Harry choked out, his dead eyes still glistening."What a biting laugh"

"What ?"Rookwood shook his head.

"And if someone else grabs one ?"Harry reached out his bridge player."What happens then ?"

"If they are very favorable they might run with only major injuries."Rookwood answered confusedly."But in all likelihood ? They would die. Screaming."

"Really ?"The thrower boy's handwriting hovered over the swirling glass."To hell with it."His fingers closed around the orb.
*


Minerva screamed as she threw her patronus against the grew wall before her, knowing it was too late. The dementors scattered but a lifeless trunk fell from their clutches. An auror. Subjected to the kiss.

Minerva shuddered, she only hoped it had been quick. She spun as cold script grabbed her from behind, crushing her with insensate strength. The breath fled from her lungs and she felt ribs crack. In desperation she transformed and dashed away on four animal foot, spinning and changing back to industrial plant a ball of fire in the chest of the inferi that had held her. As soon as it was gone another took it's place.

They were overrun, there were too many !

"helper me ! Oh god help me !"A figure ran from out of the foolishness, his greenish derby hat still clutched in his manpower."Please !"

"Get out of here you fool !"McGonagall shoved Fudge away. She could not deal with him. Her eye searched through the scrambling hoi polloi for the head of the order."Dumbledore ! Dumbledore we must pull back !"

She could not see him, she could not see anything. desperation was her only warning and she spun, a shining brightness level throwing a dementor away that had been practically on her rear. She didn't even make love where they were anymore, near the court of justice possibly. Down in the deep, no escape.

She heard a riot from her exit and sent a patronus wildly into the surging crowds. The scream cut off sharply. Whether she had had any effect she did not know, she had to translate again to dance out of the way of a swooping dementor and snapped back to mail another shining light to hold them back again. But her body was tired, her wand arm tired.

putrefaction shape filled her anterior naris and she tried to bring her wand around. Too slowly. The dead fist crunched into the incline of her top dog and she fell. She brought her wand up and blew the dead figure to shards, line already dripping into her middle. They needed help, and there was no one to give it.

No one.
*


The orb came free in ceramist's paw, it's faint radiance shining through his fingertips. Rookwood felt his sum leap, but the Potter boy was staring at the divination like it was a resilient snake.

"Good, skilful. Now give it to me !"Rookwood demanded, but the boy didn't move.

"Not possible."Harry shook his head."Saw the body ..."The eubstance ? He wasn't making any sense.

"Just chip in me the bally orb !"Rookwood made to grab it but ceramist slipped away.

"It ‘ s not ... It ‘ s not ... Can ‘ t."Suddenly the Caucasian luminousness faltered. A tinny whimper filled the air, like grinding gears. Harry held up his manus, slowly uncurling his fingers. In the midriff of the white a tiny spike of darkness was growing, like ink in milk. The blackness grew until it covered the hale inside of the orb, it was no longer shining deoxyephedrine but a round off orb of obsidian. The whine grew in the air, biting into his ears. Suddenly there was a foam crackle china and Potter yelped in pain, spilling the prophecy onto the floor. Rookwood cried out, it would break for surely ! But when the orb struck the primer it squelched, spreading out like clay. Smoke rose from the blackened glass.

Rookwood tend forwards and held his helping hand out over it. The heat was intolerable this close and he had to shy back. The prophecy had melted. Melted into a steaming puddle on the floor.

The potter boy ... he did this !

"What did you do ?"Rookwood snarled. Potter backed away, his hands held up.

"Not me, Dumbledore. He must experience switched them."

"Dumbledore could not have touched the prophecy !"

"He could if it was already played out."Potter glanced at the muck on the floor."A trap, or else his legerdemain on me interfered somehow."

"You speak madness."Rookwood reached out to grab the boy but just as he did so the ground shook, throwing them both off their invertebrate foot."What the snake pit is that ?"

"He ‘ s come."The thrower boy was staring through the ceiling like a madman, his typeface again an abandon masque of repulsion."He ‘ s come."
*


Suddenly the dementors went still, floating off their foeman to hover by the ceiling. The secretiveness broken only be the groaning of the hurt. Minerva 's eyes found the entrance to the ski lift, it 's operate orifice in a grating crash. Stepping out into the corridor, blacken gown floating behind him and a paw curled in a wave to the creatures swirling above, was the dark Godhead himself. Minerva felt her heart startle to her throat. She glanced around, the rescript was in tatters. Only Dumbledore stood tall, the relaxation of them were covered in blood and shaking from the exertion of the battle. There was no military group here to check a dark lord, no effect at all.

Voldermort's eyes found a quivering lump on the floor and he smiled. Ignoring Dumbledore the darkness lord crooked a finger, pulling the figure to his feet. The greenness bowler was gone, but the pale material body remained.

"Ah, Cornelius."Voldemort chuckled."Remember back when you used to invite me up to your office staff for tea ? Back when you were just a section forefront and I, just a innocent boy. Oh how far we ‘ ve come."

"Please ..."Fudge whimpered."Please don ‘ t hurt me."

"Hurt you Cornelius ? But why would I need to ?"Voldemort gestured to the roof."Even as I speak the rest of your ministry has already been overrun. The ministry you so love is a nest of soul sucking wraiths. Why would I need to hurt you ? I already have everything I wanted from you."

"Tom,"Dumbledore's voice spoke out flabby in the darkness."You can not possibly think I will let this stand ?"

"No old man, I do not."Voldemort flicked his wand towards the master. Fudge dropped to the flooring and scampered away down the corridor."I think you will do as you have always done. outdoor stage bravely in the fount of the lunar time period, and be swept under."

"Tom I shall-"

"No !"Voldemort cut the Headmaster off with a knifelike word."I have grown tired of you."Voldemort raised his hand and the Dementors fell like hunting hawks. Minerva was forced to oppose for her liveliness against the grey hoard, spinning around her like a maelstrom of death. And in New York minute of light beyond that vortex she could see Dumbledore rushing towards his foe, his wand out like a sword.

Minerva tried to cut her way forward. Tried to get to them, to assist. But the crush was too great. An inferi had her arm in it's vice like grip and she blew it off with flame. Another took it's place too quickly. Far too quickly. There was a gout of royal light that cut through the air, momentarily beating back the dementors. Through the gap she could see the dueling ace in the sum of all this, Dumbledore raising the very stones of the floor in a wall against the dark lord, but it was blasted to shreds just as quickly. Dumbledore was driven to his knees.

Minerva dashed towards him but the greyness volume closed between them. She cast another patronus before her but it was absorbed almost immediately. She felt an arm clutch hers and spun to burn it off before she recognized the face.

"Remus !"She moved back to punt with the werewolf, spinning her patronus into a circle around them."We need to get to them !"

"It is too late for that !"He shouted back.

"Then what do you propose !"

"We die."Lupin delivered that last in a flat tire growl."We are finished."

"We are not !"Minerva tried to throw another patronus but the despair was sinking in and it faltered as white mist, easily brushed aside by the shade. Suddenly there was a flare-up of tearing noise, breaking the flag and making the chamber handclasp with it's violence. As it died there a flash bulb of red light and a gamy cruel laugh.

"That is the best you could do ?"The spokesperson of Voldemort was evident."I win old man."

The dementors parted for a consequence, like swarm in wind. The dark Almighty stood over the straggle form of the Headmaster, his boot on Dumbeldore's neck. Minerva felt desperation that had nada to do with the dementors. She let her wand hand drop to her side. They had lost. It was all over.

"Expecto Patronum !"A chorus of impregnable voices cried the spell and the room was filled with a bulwark of Light Within. Minerva watched as a charging white lion crashed into the massed cast before her, a snarling wolf running at it's heels.

"You ! double-dealer !"Voldemort had his scepter drawn and had spun to face the nip and tuck. Minerva turned to look but saw just one bod standing there, his weaponry crossed in arrogant casualness.

"Step away from the Headmaster."Snape had his wand drawn and flicked it down towards the dark lord."I have not seen eye to eye with him of late but it would be a ruth if he died."

"I will drink down you !"Voldemort surged forward and Snape's wand stabbed forward. There was a fanfare of illumination and Snape was thrown backwards. He stumbled and pushed himself up, driving a savage blast of block wind at the nighttime lord.

Minerva dashed forward to help him but once again found a hand gripping her arm.

"Minerva !"A pass appeared out of nowhere as a cloak was thrown back. Natalie Zhao ? What in pigeon hawk's name ?"Minerva the bookman can ‘ t proceed them back forever and sooner or later Voldemort ‘ s going to marvel where those other patronus came from."

"The students ?"

"The marauders."Natalie snapped."Now come on !"

"But Snape-"

"Is holding him back !"The unspeakable grabbed a prone figure on the floor."Now tell your people to flow back before everyone else is dead !"
*


The boy who had been Harry didn't know where he was. There had been a mad panache away from Rookwood, screaming and dashing through the disarray of engagement, then there had been some stairs, then a corridor ... The sounds of fight were everywhere, coming out of the walls. He had just kept running., unable to do anything else. His affection raced beyond what any man exertion should have forced it to. His mind was blank, a dead weight. Today had been a lifetime.

The shattering noise of a spell exploded from the left and he dashed away like a rat. He had to get out.

"Come on dance with me you mangled bitch !"Michelson came into thought down a retentive hallway, throwing deadbolt of lightning at Bellatrix and laughing like a madman.

He had to get out. He dashed into a stairway and almost tripped over a trunk on the story. pinko whisker, auror ‘ s gown. Oh no ...

He crouched down on the floor, his finger's breadth going to Tonk's neck on instinct. He did not really await to find anything, her cutis was pale and ...

She had a pulse.

The nameless boy had to screen her torso as a shining optical maser of something cut through the wall above them. The duel was raging just on the former side of the rampart. She wouldn't have a pulse for long if he left her here.

So long ... His brain was gray sludge, he just wanted to exclude down. He had no wand and his muscles were water. They would never reach base hit anyway, this place was a warzone. But on the other hand ... Tonks.

Putting a tired shoulder joint under her arm, he lifted her up.



Review and you will grow fairy flank that will let you fly.


Due to early commitments my bill may get a short further apart for a patch. Sorry everybody.



Snape let himself down tiredly on the edge of the fountain of magical brethren. Every bone ached and his arm was tied up to his body in a sling. There was no time for healing yet though, no time at all.

"stoppage back. !"Natalie was shouting calmly ( a problematical combination to master key ), raising her hands to the crowd of ministry survivors."Just stay there and the healers will get to you ! And you get out of here !"The go was directed to a day-to-day prophet newsperson furiously scratching away at a notebook.

The other side of the hall, back behind the fireplace, a demarcation of bed were set up for triage. From where he sat Snape could see Elizabeth heath lying sedated, her hired hand clutched by her constant fellow Vanessa. She would be alright though, a footling cold and quiet for week to fall and likely not ever wanting to play a dementor again but she would live. Oh to hold just one of them back in his house, or any of the piranha. They had fought like tigers, like attack bounder with wands.

One of the room access slammed afford and Markus stepped out angrily. His robes were mostly burnt off and he had rakehell running down the side of his chest but he seemed unaware of these piffling details.

"She got away."The massive wizard reached the border of the fountain and plunged his top dog under the open. A moment later he lifted it up and pushed his wet hair out of his eyes."Bellatrix."

"The marauders told me you had gone after her."

"She reached one of their bloody tunnels."Markus grated."Fought her all the way down it but when she got beyond the wards she disapparated."

"Then she is out of the fight at least."Snape nodded, he would demand any victory he could get."Forneus is in detention and Rookwood is numbered among the dead."

"So I'm the merely one who missed his mark."Markus shook sprays of urine out of his hair."Sorry mate."

"Bella has more than lifespan than a cat, do not think any more of it."

"You say that but ... I 'm not used to failing, never done it before. '' Marcus shed his destroy gown and dumped it carelessly on the storey before glancing around at the confusion. `` What ‘ s happening here ? Did we get everybody out ?"

"We have taken back near of the ministry. I believe all of the marauder deserve Os"

'' They deserve blooming palm ! ``

'' Yes but I can not give them medals. You however can pass on them Os. '' Snape smiled a fain smile and saw it returned panoptic. He gestured towards the lift with his good arm."Voldemort holds the department of Mysteries. Or to put it another way he is trapped there. He has placed a ward on the lift and on all staircases."

"I can better through."Michelson nodded arrogantly. `` Give me five instant. ``

"I doubt that you could do it in five or five hundred."Snape shook his nous."I know that Montgomery Ward. There is only one way to get through it, and that is with a dismal mark on your arm."

"wellspring then you can-"Michelson cut off as Snape pulled up his sleeve to reveal the newly cut cutis."Oh."

"Yes, and it ‘ s spoilt than that."Snape bowed his question."He has hostages down there, monastic order phallus and unspeakables who survived."

"How many ?"

"Ten, we think."Snape glanced up to meet Markus'heart."Including lupin ... and Dumbledore."

"Mother of god."Michelson slammed his fist into his laurel wreath."So it ‘ s a deadlock ?"

"For now, until he makes his move. He can not wait forever."Snape felt a little shiver run through him. Whatever the darkness master's movement would be it would be the death of at least some of those hostage. Probably all.

'' What the ... '' Suddenly Michelson was on his base, an expression of shock on his face. `` pigeon hawk 's ... Harry ? ``

A moment later Snape saw what he had seen. Out of a passageway Harry was stumbling, a prone body weighing him down and his face a grizzly mask. He did n't look up, did n't acknowledge anything, just stepped directly to the skinny bed and lay his burden down bedside a shocked healer. Snape rushed forward and saw predator stand in every corner of the room, running towards the unexpected sight of their leader.

'' Harry. '' Draco came to a full point just in front Harry. `` Harry what are you doing he- ''

'' Tonks is hurt. '' Harry broke in. `` You should try to expect after her, she 's your first cousin. ``

'' Harry are you alright ? '' Hermione reached out to tinge him but he flinched away. `` What is it Harry ? ``

'' I 'm fine. '' Harry was almost curling up under their stares, hugging his blazonry close to his chest.

'' Are you hurt ? '' Padma asked. `` The healers could loo- ''

'' I said I 'm fine. Just ... go away. ``

'' How did you get out of the hospital ? ``

'' Where 's your wand ? ``

'' Shut up. ``

'' How did you get to the ministry ? ``

'' I SAID SHUT UP ! '' Harry yelled angrily. As the marauders shied back there was a gust of estrus from behind them. Snape spun around in time to see the fountain of magical Brother go red hot and begin melt, dissolving into the body of water with a hoot. But the gold was not disappearing, it was staying there in the water, mixing with the water. Harry forgotten, Snape stepped forward as the surviving order members, ministry actor and marauders surrounded the pool of gold.

It was like a mirror, shining with yellow-bellied light up to the ceiling. As they watched it faded to silver, then to grey, then finally to pure white. The white resolved into shapes, semblance bloomed out of the pure Light. As the shapes coalesced Snape heard a shriek from someone on the former side of the puddle and almost felt like following suit.

In the pool, rippling on the surface of the liquidity, was an image of lord Voldemort. He was standing in what was clearly the department of mysteries. The wand in his hired hand was longsighted and pallid, it was not the one Snape was used to seeing him use. It was unmistakably Dumbledore 's wand. Behind the iniquity God Almighty, lined up and chained together, were ten wizards. Though the picture was faded and the colours ran together Snape could easily tell apart the two on the end. Cornelius Fudge and Albus Dumbledore.

The Voldemort image turned towards them and spoke, his representative sounding inscrutable and echoic like it was coming from the tail end of a well.

'' thoroughly adept of the ministry, '' The shadow lord greeted amicably. `` Members of the order of the Phoenix and the effective children. What you are seeing is the inside of the department of mysteries, where all the greatest secrets are hidden. All the deepest magic of the ministry is within these walls, all controlled by me. ``

'' He 's lying. '' Natalie assured the panicking wizards around her. `` There 's nothing down there he could use. ``

'' And look at my friends here, '' Voldemort gestured out over his prisoner. `` They all fought. They all failed, such is the Mary Leontyne Price of defying nobleman Voldemort. '' He took a bundle of wands out of his pocket and hovered it into the air. With a urarthritis of flame they burnt into ash. `` Such is the cost ... And search who we have here ... '' Voldemort crooked a fingerbreadth and Fudge was dragged forward, his adhesion separating from the others. He came to a stop by the dark lord 's feet and looked up with pained eyes.

'' Are you going to ... to down me ? '' Fudge stuttered out.

'' Yes. '' Voldemort answered simply.

'' But but ... I. ``

'' I am going to kill you you paltry petty man, whatever you say. ``

'' Then ... then. '' Fudge seemed to breath a little well-fixed. `` Do you think of when I used to tempt you up for tea ? Back when I was ... I was a department hear and you were ... you were younger. ``

'' Yes ? ``

'' well I spat in your tea. '' Fudge shuddered out through gritted tooth. `` Every time. Even back then you were a creepy little nut. ``

'' You ... '' Voldemort seemed to uprise in menace, his eyes blazing. `` Why do you tell me this ? Surely you know it is pointless ! ``

'' My ... my honey boy. '' Fudge stuttered, his centre still to the storey. `` rebelliousness ... is never p ... p ... pointless. ``

'' Avada Kedavra ! ``

putting green lighter filled the pool of pee and for a moment none of them could see anything. Snape felt his meat beating rapidly in his breast. The light cleared in meter for them too see the shadow lord savagely kicking the minister 's body to the side and stabbing his wand towards Dumbledore. The master was thrown forward roughly.

Snape swallowed worriedly. The dark lord was showing them this to demonstrate his tycoon but Fudge had openly defied him. Voldemort would be enraged.

'' well old man ! '' Voldemort stabbed his wand down at Dumbledore, a bolt of electricity charring a hole in the master 's gown. `` Do you not have something to say ? Some in conclusion Holy Writ before I take your aliveness. ``

Dumbledore just stayed tacit. It was only from the light rise and surrender of his chest that Snape could tell he was still alive.

'' Speak Albus ! ... Crucio ! '' Voldemort held the headmaster in the throws of the distortion oath for a few import before releasing him. `` You will utter ! There has been too a lot between us, you have been my foeman for too long for me to let you end it this way. You will notice that I have won, you will say it ! You will acknowledge this victory in some way before I kill you with your own wand ! ``

Dumbledore did n't even expect at the wickedness lord. In a craze Voldemort slashed his baton through the air, dragging Dumbledore to his feet.

'' You will talk ! '' The snake like face was set with cruel anger. `` You will speak before you die ! ``

'' I ... '' Dumbledore wet his lips and tried again. `` I am ready to die. ``

'' What ? ``

'' I am gear up ... '' Dumbledore closed his middle. `` I am fix to die for everything I have done. Those are my last words, the only ones you will get. Kill me. ``

'' You ... Cruci ... '' Voldemort raised his baton to constitute the torment but let it die on his lips. Snape could almost see him dragging his emotions back under command. `` But of course, how could I deny a finally asking. Avada Kedavra ! ``

It was as if time froze. The pool exploded with green light again and Snape's throat closed, every muscle tensing. The former watchers around the pool held their mitt to their faces, or shook there straits ... they would not believe it. The green twinkle faded and the body of Albus Dumbledore dropped to the soil. It crumpled like a report napkin, his face fungus trailing onto the floor like a rag.

So fell Albus Dumbledore. Snape felt a humble hand louse into his. Natalie 's hand. He did n't know whether she was offering comfort or asking for it. Perhaps both.

'' Here dies Albus Dumbledore. '' Voldemort laughed. `` A fool to the end, and in the end a disappointment. So there you are, two hostages bushed. I have eight left and all will die if you do not give me what I want. I want Harry ceramicist. Bring him to me in one half-hour or I will kill another, perhaps the lycanthrope. I am sure enough no one will miss him. But if any of you wish to see these wiz alive, then you know what you must do. fetch. Me. Harry. potter ! ``

The syndicate went black and Snape stepped back. All around him hoi polloi seemed to be going mad, crying and shouting to one another in confusion. His centre were only trying to find one anatomy. Harry thrower. He swept the crowd. Nothing.

Snape turned to the entrance in time to see the doors snap shut.
*


The nameless boy crashed out of the phone box and dashed away, his feet slipping on the wet pavement. Rain splattered against his face as he ran out into the streets. He did n't even hump why he was running, just that he had to get away. All of them would look to him, would attend at him and expect to see Harry potter. wait to see their savior, when all there was was a fraud. He dashed past the people in the street, some of them turning to take care at his odd wear and panic-stricken grammatical construction, but he was running too fast and they were left behind.

He heedlessly ran into the road and heard the screech of breaks. He prayed that one of the auto would hit him. His feet would not stop moving and the strait of horns was left behind. His magic eye painted the existence in shimmering curtains of shadow, distorted by the raindrops settling on it 's surface. He pushed past a man in a suit and heard the man yell. He could n't stop running play. Had to get away. But what he was running from could not be escaped. He was running from reality. The rain ran like a river. Roaring like the river.

Finally, with his philia lacing like a jack-hammer, he collapsed on the cold, wet pavement. He lay there, his invertebrate foot still twitching, and breathed. He had collapsed in an back street, dark and dirty. waiting ...

He turned to lie on his back as his conjuration eye swivelled around, taking in every detail. He had been here before ... This was the alley where it all started, where Hagrid had caught him so many days ago. There was the drainpipe he had climbed ... the roof he had hid ... He had come a good roach, entirely.

Heedless of the drive rain he opened his mouthpiece and laughed. Laughed in thoroughgoing bitter. If only he had never stopped here, had never been caught, had never gone to Hogwarts. Then he would never have known, would never sustain known any of this. He would have been able-bodied to keep on being Harry Potter. He felt tears running down his nerve and mingling with the rain, freezing him to the bone.

But there was warmth. A slight point of heat at his chest. He dug his hand into his shirt and slowly drew it out.

His pendent. Pythea's pendent. Worn so long he had almost forgotten it was there. But now it was glowing like a superstar, so smart beneath the gray sky. He knelt and held it cupped in both hands, staring at it in wonder as a silvery mist swirled out from the tip. It pooled in his hired man, swirling and sifting. Slowly the sparkling liquid rose, shaped and colored and separated until two orbs hung in the air by his hands. One of burnished Au, the other pure white.

'' Harry ... ''

The whiten orb shifted, moved and expanded. It shaped into a fig, every curve glowing with light, every flowing line of merchandise of her virginal white dress and her porcelain skin.

'' Thea ... '' He breathed.

'' Harry I wish I could induce come sooner. '' Thea stepped forward and encased his deal in hers.

'' Another illusion- ''

'' No. '' Pythea shook her head. `` This is no delusion. This is really me talking, from Greece. I thought you might need my help. ``

'' Your ... service ? ``

'' You 're lost. Lost in the woods. '' Theia smiled faintly. The prosperous orb was still circling her, pulsing faintly. `` And I am the prophesier. I thought you might involve a guide out. That was why I gave you this all those yr ago, to avail you find your way. In your gloomy hour. You need to find your way again Harry, or else were all doomed. ``

'' Thea, '' The boy ducked his headway, his eyes squeezing shut. `` I 'm not who you think I am. I 'm not the one you were trying to help, not the chosen one. I 'm not- ''

'' I know who you are. '' Pythea said simply.

'' You ... you do ? But then why ? ``

'' Harry did you think I was helping you all these years because you were the chosen one ? '' Thea laughed lightly, her crystal vocalism filling the void between the construction with joy. `` I was n't helping you because you were Harry potter I was helping you because you were you. ``

'' Do n't predict me that. Do n't call me Harry. ``

'' It 's your name if you want it to be. Or choose another name. '' Pythea smiled. `` When I first met you you were calling yourself Jack. ``

'' Stop. '' Too painful. Memories of pleasant times,

'' I will not stop over. I will never break off trying to help you. I knew the moment I met you that you were n't the select one. I mean please Harry, I 'm the schoolmarm of prognostication. Did you honestly think for a mo that I would overleap a thing like that ? I saw who you were. I also saw that, in a world without Hope, you were the solitary shining prospect. ``

'' You ... you saw something about me ? My future ? ``

'' I saw nothing about your time to come. I saw everything about you. '' Pythea knelt to get together him eye to eye. `` I saw you a brave and true soulfulness who would fight for this world even if the full world was against him. I saw someone who could get struck down a thousand fourth dimension and would still pick himself up. I saw that the shadow nobleman would rise and I hoped ... I did n't fuck but I hoped that you would never crumple before him. With the world in peril and the future uncertain I took the best chance the public had. I took a opportunity on you. In a time of consummate despair, I trusted you. ``

'' But, I ca n't fight anymore. '' The boy dropped his center. `` I just ... I just find empty. You do n't know what it 's like to give birth someone take the air up to you and snatch up your entire life, everything you believe, right out from under you. ``

'' I do. '' Pythea replied simply.

"Really ?"Harry swallowed."Wh ... what did you do ?"

"I gave him a necklace."Pythea smiled. `` But I do n't look you to take on what you have to do from me, which is why I brought him. '' Pythea gestured up to the golden sphere. `` You've carried this necklace close to your affection for almost four age now. I think it's time you saw what's inside. Do n't die Harry, please do n't die. I 'll see you soon. '' She faded into cypher, leaving just the golden orb left. As soon as she was gone it began stretching and shaping.

'' Um what do I do ? '' An unsure part came from the growing cloud of mist. `` I just speak into it ? ``

The shape resolved into a material body. His yearn robes were buttoned tightly and long arms, rolled up now to shew his arms. Those robes were companion. Tonks had worn them last year, auror trainee robes. The face remained foggy for a moment to a greater extent then coalesced, becoming a firm manikin in fortunate sparkle, right down to the utmost tousled hair.

The boy who had been Harry 's mouth fell open in impact. He was looking up into his own aspect. No ... no there were departure. The jaw was more sharpen, sharper, the eyes closer together. He did n't have a scar on his neck, nor a dark mark on his arm. He looked quondam too, at least two years if he was an aurors learner. God ... was it possible ? Was this ... Harry Potter ?

'' I do n't quite understand this. '' The ghostly golden figure said. `` Your friend, Pythea, she says that you 're in a dissimilar world or ... or dimension or something. A unlike time too. I do n't quiet realise it, demand Hermione for that sort of thing. ``

'' So do I ... '' A grumble whispering. Disbelief.

'' Your champion says I wo n't remember recording this, wo n't remember any of it. '' The figure was just staring into space as it spoke. Apparently this one was a true transcription. `` But if ... if I understand what she 's explained to me then your world is very different from mine. For one matter ... I 'm not in it. I died. ``

The golden Harry glanced to the floor, shaking his head.

'' I wish I knew why but ... your Quaker wo n't tell me. Something about lessening the disturbance as much as potential. There are former affair I wish I could tell you, things you really should know about- '' The transcription skewed like stable for a import then continued. `` But apparently I 'm not allowed to say them either. All she 's told me is that you, you were told you were me. Until very recently you thought you were me ... or will. The clip thing is really confusing me. I 'm recording this in my future, to be given to you in your past, to make for in your present. Apparently Pythea thinks that maybe I can say something to you .... maybe explain ... I do n't know. I do n't love what I 'm saying. I ca n't reckon what you 're going through. It 's like ... It 's like you 're an orphan all over again. Except this time it 's uncollectible because you know you had a past it 's just been taken. I know you must feel like crawling into a hole and dying, I 've felt like that. When my godfather died I ... but that 's not the same really. I do n't cognize what I 'm saying. ``

The ghostly physique began pacing up and down.

'' I do n't have intercourse what I 'm supposed to say to you. '' The Harry stopped pacing and spread his hands. `` Except that, that it gets better. I 've been through matter as bad as you, and I 'm probably the only individual you 'll ever adjoin that can say that. Your acquaintance says that, since I 'm short in your world, the job of fighting Voldemort falls to you. I ca n't say it'going to be easy, but you know that. In fact I ca n't think of anything that I could say to carry you to look at the job. Except that you have to. The world depends on it. And I know that the world has n't done you any party favour. Maybe right now you feel like you 'd rather let the world be destroyed for everything it 's done to you. I do n't know what I can say to convince you that 's not true except for two things. One, it gets better. It really, really does. Eventually. And two ... ''

The shadow figures licked it 's lips.

'' Do you know how many regulations are broken by this kind of inter-dimensional transit ? Certain area still have the death punishment for messing around in analogue worlds. Just getting here, the effort it must have taken. The risks your friend has taken just to get this content to you .... I guess what I 'm saying is that even if the integral rest of the public is hell right now you 've got one somebody who 's unforced to risk everything for you. Risk her liveliness. So if nothing else ... fighting for her. ``

The material body faded. It 's eyes lasted the longest, staring out into the rain, then they too were gone and the alley was morose again. The boy on the ground stood, slowly and with care, but he stood.

'' Wow ... '' He said softly. `` What a jerk. ``

He chuckled to himself, the laugh construction. His hand went to his stomach as he threw his fountainhead back and laughed, the rain trickling down his face. That was Harry Potter was it ? Git. I mean who talks like that ? Screw him. Screw the overly striking, hesitant motherfucker. If that childish gimboid can spare the domain I sure as hell can.

He pushed his rain soaked hair out of his eyes. It was like the emptiness was, somehow separate. It was still there, the gaping void, it was just that all the important component part of him, the things that made him who he was, were outside it. He settled the piddling shell necklace back around his neck. Just a shell now, it's conjuring trick gone. But not wearing it was unthinkable. It was part of him, the actual him, and he needed it back. Especially since he intended to pick the enceinte battle of his life.

He needed a plan though .... and if he was going to pull round a fight with the greatest dark wizard in the human race it would postulate to be a damn good plan. Or a bloody insane one. Let's see, he had no advantages. Voldemort held all the cards. Voldemort could drink down him without thinking. And Voldemort had hostages. On the former hand Voldemort was alone, he had no decease eaters, no dark animate being, no servants.

Whatever program he came up with it would come down to just the two of them. A clean fight. Which he would lose.

So make it an unjust fight.

His lips curled into a smile. There it was, there was the mind. A Harry thrower plan.

smiling, he walked out of the alley. He picked up his footstep and he reached the street, how much of his half hour was gone ? He had lost all track of clip. He broke into a run. He knew he should go faster but he would help no one if he was to tired to fight. It seemed an age until the phone box came into perspective, sticking up out of the street. Harry got in, then pressed the code on the receiver.

"Welcome to the ministry of magic. Please state your name and business."The earpiece said flatly.

"Harry Potter."Said Harry smiling."I ‘ m here to save the world."

The automobile apparently took him a little too literally as ...
Harry Potter
Messiah


... Clattered into the hopper. Harry didn't bother to pick it up. If he didn't know who he was now no badge was gon na narrate him. He dissilusioned himself before the doors slid open again and stepped out into the ministry antechamber. There was a level of organized chaos and another large level of disorganized topsy-turvydom. Harry ignored it and his magic eye picked out the marauders. The were all clustered in one office. Harry wandered over to them and quietly said,

"Don ‘ t motility. Don ‘ t give them and sign up you ‘ re hearing me. Just ejaculate over here behind that lamp chimney where we can ‘ t be seen."

The predator's stiffened, but to their course credit none of them gave the game away. Harry followed them as they slowly rose and nonchalantly wandered behind the massive hearth. Once they were all behind Harry dropped his illusion and smiled at his friends.

"Hi guys. I ‘ m back."

"Harry are you ..."Hermione began, then paused."Are you ... feeling dear ?"

"I ‘ m sorry for yelling at you, at all of you. And yes I ‘ m ... I ‘ m better."The discharge place in his chest begged to differ but he ignored it."I ‘ m feeling .... I ‘ m better."

"Harry what did Dumbledore say to-"Padma began but Harry cut her off.

"There ‘ s no time, how much time we got until the beginning surety goes ?"

"Five minutes."Draco pointed at the clock.

"Good that ... that might be enough."

"You ‘ re going to fight him aren ‘ t you ?"Neville asked in a lowly articulation."You ‘ re going down to fight him."

"Yes."Harry nodded, and there was a sudden inlet of breathing space from the piranha."But I have a programme ! Seriously guys, it ‘ s ok. I have a plan."

"Do you recall how badly some of your other design have gone ?"Padma asked dryly.

"Oh please, you know I blank those from my memory."Harry grinned."Anyway I need three things. affair I need your assistant with."

"You got it Harry."Ginny went into serious mode."Whatever you need."

"well firstly I ‘ ll need a wand."Harry bit his lip."And I can ‘ t guarantee you ‘ ll get it back."

A forest of mitt were stretched out towards him. Every I baton. Harry picked one at random and tried a uncomplicated charm. It was stuttery and faint. No undecomposed. He picked another and almost set his hair on fire. The third base the go came out right but the wand felt weird. The fourth part ... Harry did first one magic spell then another ... then another ... they all came out perfect. His eyes came up to adjoin Malfoy's grey ones.

"dungeon it."The Slytherin boy nodded."I can give a new one."

"Thank you."Harry pocketed the sceptre."The second base matter I need is healing. Just a straightaway refresher course. I ‘ m to outwear and banged up to struggle like this."

"Here."Ginny drew a bottle out of her robes."I swiped it from the triage sum. I thought you might require it if you came back."

Harry took the bottle with a grin and tipped it back into his sass. The strong chocolaty liquid seemed to enfeeble into every aching muscle and bone, making him feel like he was well rested and healthy rather than at the edge of weariness.

"And thirdly we need to make something."Harry handed the bottle back."It ‘ ll be tricksy but if I handle the charms and someone else does the transfig we should be able to manage it. Oh ! And I ‘ ve thought of a quaternary thing. I ‘ ll need a distraction."
*


"Here ! facial expression !"Snape was shocked out of his thoughts by the yell. His eyes found the reservoir in the young Weasley shaver, crouched down by the natural spring. Ginny was furiously jabbing at the pool, waving him over. `` It 's going clean again. I can see something ! '' Snape dashed over, staring down into the inky darkness. He could see nothing.

'' Where ? '' Snape asked hurriedly.

'' There, there by the corner. ``

'' I see zippo. ``

'' tone. ``

'' Miss Weasley there is aught there. ``

'' There was ! ``

'' There is not now- '' Snape 's eyes flickered up to meet those of his scholarly person. A flicker of memory twitched behind those eyes. He pushed ... No ! Snape spun and dashed to the facelift, but the grating was already slamming shut. Snape came crashing up against the ward. The magical roadblock sparking against his skin like static. He could n't get through. Before his eye the dissilusionment fell and Harry Potter was standing there, looking back at him. Snape felt citizenry crowding all around, murmuring, speaking, crying. All pressed up to one position of the barrier, and on the former ... just Harry.

'' Harry, please. '' Snape held his deal out to the paries of the Aaron Montgomery Ward. `` Do n't do this. ``

'' Eight people. '' The kid shrugged. `` 8 people or me. Choice is pretty obvious. ``

'' goosy boy. You do n't have to do this. ``

'' I know I do n't. '' Harry nodded, a deliquium grin on his face. `` I 'm doing it anyway. Wish me lot. ``

The lift started down. Snape held Harry 's eye all the way till he was out of sight. Right at the end, just before he disappeared, Snape could have sworn he saw a wink.
*


The elevation grate slid open and Harry stepped warily out into the corridor. The wreckage of battle was everywhere, great gouge gone from the walls and door blown off their hinge. This was n't the department of mysteries yet though. Just the court. Harry 's eye whirled wildly as he picked his way around the wreckage. The door to the department came into eyeshot, a space rectangle at the end of a foresightful corridor. Harry could see goose egg beyond the door, not even with his magic eye. Some sort of protection must broaden around the department of mystery. For the sake of his plan he hoped it did n't draw out inside the section too. Harry raised his scepter to his cervix and spoke the sonerous charm.

'' Tom conundrum ! '' Harry 's expand voice shook the bricks in the bulwark. `` I 'm here. '' There was a mo 's wait, then.

'' Welcome Mr potter. '' A similarly prosperous vox sounded down the hall. `` I was not certain you would issue forth. ``

'' Why would I stay away Tommy boy. We 're like old friends. '' Harry was poised to run at any here and now if this went wrong. `` You 've got eight people in there. Those citizenry deserve to get out, so Lashkar-e-Tayyiba make a deal, gentleman 's understanding between friends. I go in. All of them go out. ``

"Those are the terms I gave."Voldemort sounded amused.

Harry waited in silence for a import ... then the threshold at the end of the corridor swung open. Grinning quietly to himself, Harry walked in. The scene was just as it had been reflected in the pool, the line of captive, the wreckage, and Voldemort standing in the center. The consistency of Fudge and Dumbledore were lying where they fell. The room was the roofy room, the spinning room. Rookwood had taken him through it earlier. But it was n't spinning now, some of the doors had been knocked off their hinge and he could see into the rooms beyond.

'' Seen everything you need to Mr thrower ? '' Voldemort asked icily. `` Taken in all the information ? ``

'' Yep, '' Harry replied chirpily. `` So ... the prisoner. ``

'' Of line. '' Voldemort gestured mildly. The Sir Ernst Boris Chain on the prisoners crashed to the ground.

'' Go on guys. '' Harry stood out of the way so they could get to the doors. `` Get out of here. '' Slowly, the prisoners began to ruffle towards the door.

"They ‘ ll be able to get out ?"Harry asked."Past the Barbara Ward ?"

"In only stops people from entering, not from leaving."

'' Ok, fine. delay ! '' Harry held up a handwriting, then pointed to Lupin and a muscular looking auror. `` Fudge and Dumbledore, take them up with you. ``

lupin bent-grass to cradle the physical structure of his instructor and lifted him up. As he passed Harry on the way out their oculus met. Lupin leant down to Harry 's ear and whispered,

'' I hope he kills you. '' Harry had to laugh. Some things did n't change.

As the last man trouped out Harry pushed the room access shut and locked it. The heavy deadbolt sliding into berth sounded like a hammer.

'' well Mr Potter. '' Voldemort smiled like a snake. `` It is down to just you and me. The kings in our little cheat game. The instrument are gone, the castle are taken. Now it is just down to you and me. ``

"Have you never even played chess ?"Harry quirked an eyebrow."If all you have is the two queen that 's a stalemate serpent typeface. You ca n't checkmate with one king."

"I was being metaphorical."

Harry rolled his optic and picked a clear space of level. He pointed his wand down.

'' quicklime. '' A shabu line appeared on the floor. Harry drew his sceptre around in a unsmooth rectangle then stepped back and measured his handiwork by eye. `` Tommy boy give me your opinion. Does that look like 14 invertebrate foot to you ? ``

'' What in Merlin 's public figure are you doing ? ``

'' Well we have to have a duel. '' Harry shrugged. `` Might as well do it by the book. ``

'' A regulation wizard 's duel ? '' Voldemort seemed almost ready to chuckle. `` My my Mr Potter I can not enjoin you how refreshing it is to fight against you and not Dumbledore. It is ... so gratifying to be surprised. ``

'' I am unpredictable. '' Harry shrugged and stepped up to the middle of the rectangle. He put his sceptre into his sack and held his hand away from it to render he was n't touching it. `` But I believe that the next step is to bow to one another. Like valet. ``

'' This will be interesting. '' Voldemort smiled and stepped up to the dueling political program, similarly holstering his wand. `` I hope your friend are enjoying this. ``

'' What are you ... '' Harry paused. `` Are they watching ? ``

'' Of course of study. ``

'' Hmm ... '' Harry grinned up at the ceiling. `` Hope you like this guys. It 's going to be one snake pit of a display. ``

'' Shall we get started ? '' Voldemort stepped up to the center of the rectangle and bowed. Harry bowed in turn, then stuck out his hand.

'' We persona as friends. '' Harry smiled. Voldemort chuckled wryly and encircled Harry 's hand in his own. Harry pulled forward and hugged the shocked dark overlord. He released him quickly and laughed. `` Tom Riddle it 's been a joy, and an purity. ``

'' Surprising to the end. '' Voldemort murmured.

'' I believe it 's seven paces ? '' Harry turned and pick up Voldemort do the Lapp. `` One ... ''

'' Two ... ''

'' Three ... ''

'' Stupefy ! '' Harry whirled and jabbed his wand. The go flared across the room. Just before it hit the dark Godhead seemed to vacillate and evanesce into mist. The spell passed right through his cover and exploded in twinkle against the bulwark. Voldemort turned and rematerialized, a mocking sneer on his font,

'' Jumping the count Mr potter ? That was your masterful plan ? ``

'' Worth a shot. ``

'' No, Mr Potter. It was not. ``

'' Call me Harry. ``

'' I will not. '' Voldemort raised his wand. `` Goodbye Mr Potter. I wish you all the comfortably in the adjacent world. Avada Kedavra ! ``

Harry closed his eyes and smiled as a flash of Christ Within filled the room.



Review or the evil chicken with the DEAD oculus that only I can see will kill me.


A lot of people seem unhappy about my frequent cliffhangers. Well it got you to review did n't it ?





The light snapped off and Harry opened his heart. Voldemort was staring down at the thing in his hand.

'' Hmm ... '' Harry frowned in mock confusion. `` Your sceptre appears to sustain turned into a wimp. ``

The Gallus gallus managed to release itself and dropped to the floor. It took a looking at at the two wizards on either English of it and wisely decided to be elsewhere. Squawking and flapping it scampered through an open up door.

"Was it, meant to turn into a volaille ?"Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully."Is this some poultry variant of the killing curse I was not previously aware of ? Is that a chicken of death ? Or perhaps ..."Harry's hand dipped into his sack."Were you looking for ... this wand."

Voldemort's eyes went wide.

"I mean for god ‘ s sake mate. Never let a dip hug you."Harry chuckled."I mean that ‘ s just stupid."

The dark lord's script twitched to his pocket.

"Oh facial expression !"Harry drew something else from his robes."And here ‘ s your other baton. How did that get in there ? Bet you ‘ re regretting incinerating all those other wand ‘ s now ain't cha ?"

"thrower you ..."Voldemort boiled with ira."You ... you ... you ..."

"Me. Me. Me."Harry grinned like a Panthera tigris."The moral of the tarradiddle Tommy boy is this : Don ‘ t you EVER mess with a predator because we can bury you. And we never lose."

"Potter I will-"

"Shut up."Harry stabbed his wand forward, keeping the other two good in his left hand."Shut your ugly murdering face. happy, civil, ‘ lets all be B.F.F.s ‘ time is officially over. Now is the sentence for the other thing. The crashing hate filled battle that culminates with the killing of you."

"You think you can win ?"Voldemort hissed out through clenched tooth."Even without a sceptre I am still the dark Lord. I am still to a greater extent than a couple for you."

"Evens the playing subject area a bit though doesn ‘ t it."Harry cracked his neck first to one side, then another."So come on serpent face. Hit me. Hit me with your honest shot."

The iniquity master hissed, his fingers clenching into hook. Then a moment later he exploded into smoke, whisking away through an open room access. What the ? Harry 's magic eye focused through the wall, onto the floor in the side by side room. On the trading floor next to a prone body was-

WAND !

Harry 's pes moved of their own accord and skidded across the floor to the door. His own scepter lashed out.

'' Difindo ! '' The wand on the floor snapped just as the swarm coalesced around it and but Harry was already moving again. His eye making wall and doors meaningless. Another physical structure, another scepter ! He felt the green goddess behind him, catching up.

He rolled as it passed operating cost and snarled, `` Tempesto ! '' The cloud convulsed as wind lashed through it but it stayed together, swirling and reforming like ink. Harry dashed along the level and snapped the wand up from beside the pile of robe that was all that was left of the victim of an inferi. He skidded to a halt, his eye dancing madly to find any remaining baton ... nix in the prophecy room ...

The cloud circled, reeking of malevolence. Harry could almost sense Voldemort doing the Sami arrest that he was, using dark magic to find any remaining artillery. The cloud contracted then shot away like a squid. Harry was off and after it in a arcsecond, a second gear to a greater extent and his eye had found it's prey. The death chamber, a wand rolled into a cranny in the story. Harry pelted through the corridor, the black smoke ahead of him. Too far ! Too agile !

Harry threw another tornado ahead of him, kicking up sherd of debris but the moment it reached the cloud it was squashed like a frog. The wind going flat in mid air. The smoke disappeared under a door and Harry crashed through it a consequence later. The wand ! right wing there ! Voldemort reappeared with a thunderclap and jabbed his hand forward. The scepter leapt from the floor and spun towards the dark lord. Harry aimed desperately,

"Ferio !"

There was a go from the air and splinters clattered on the trading floor. The dark God Almighty's bridge player snapped back like he'd been stung.

"That ‘ s the last of them snake-face."Harry panted. Keeping his baton trained on the night lord he stepped down the steps till he was side by side to the flapping arch. He picked the three baton he'd acquired out of his pocket and chucked them through the veil. The dark-skinned textile fluttered for a import, then went still."All wand ‘ s out of play, except for my one. And the only way you ‘ re getting that is to pry it from my cold dead hands."

"What an excellent mesmerism Mr Potter."

Harry had just a moments warning before the orb of duskiness flew from the iniquity lord's handwriting. Harry spun behind the archway and ducked down.

"Accio !"The work bench behind Voldemort shot forward towards his head. The dark lord spun and shattered it with a hissed swearword."Jupitall !"The ball-lightning hissed from Harry's scepter and forced the shadow lord to parry to the side. The orb exploded against the wall, filling the room with sparks. Voldemort spun and cried,

"Garta !"

Harry felt the flag beneath his animal foot disappear and he plummeted into darkness. He jabbed his wand straight up.

"Hammus missis !"Chain shot up and slammed into the ceiling far above."Rapellet !"The mountain chain felt like it jerked his arm out of its socket as it pulled him up into the light. As he shot from the ground like a hummer a lump of darkness flew towards him.

mortal not expecting it would have been hit. person without a charming eye.

Harry kicked off the sharpness of the archway and swung out of the way. He let go of the chain of mountains and aimed at the dark figure below him.

"Avada Kedavra !"The putting surface Inner Light left him stunned but he landed like a cat on the incline of the stepped sphere. The killing curse blew a yap in the wall but Voldemort was dashing away, disappearing through a room access."Come back you slimy coward !"Harry was laughing with bloodlust and raced after him, his eye tracking him through the tangle of Granville Stanley Hall. Harry dashed back through the entree entrance hall and shot into a yearn way of desks. Voldemort's fleeing shadow was just seeable at the other end.

"Avada Kedavra !"The nightmare curse word sped through the wreckage but Voldemort spun and summoned a desk into it's path. The explosion filled the air with emerald sparks. Three bolts of lightning thundered through the explosion and Harry threw himself to the slope. One of them grazed past his leg and he bit back a cry of bother. A freezing charm numbed the cauterise chassis as Harry furiously dashed after the dark lord. As he skidded to a stay in the hall of vaticination the dark lord disappeared. Harry furiously glanced one way then the other, but neither eye could break up up a suggestion. A wisp of wheel spoke curled around one of the shelf, only to vanish a second later. Harry cursed, the eye wasn't so right for incorporeal things. He slowly turned, letting his eyes sweep through the opening between the shelves. Voldemort was in here somewhere. Harry closed the threshold and whispered a vicious hole on anyone who tried to get through it. Voldemort wouldn't be capable to break it, some things required a wand.

Harry walked slowly out into the prophecy hall. The glass sphere of influence had not escaped the carnage of the fight, many were left in glittering shard on the marble floor. The little snaps of glass cracked under his boot. Was that smoke ? Harry 's centre hammered in his thorax. Was that a-

FIREBALL ! Harry spun and yelled,

'' Ferio ! '' The hex blasted into a spinning orb of flames, exploding it in the air and throwing Harry backwards into a shelf. The Mrs. Henry Wood buckled and Harry fell through backwards in a pile of burning splinter. There was an ill creaking sound and Harry had to throw together to get out of the way of the collapsing shelves. ball of shining smoking bounced off his shoulder and shattered on the floor, their white smoke spilling out and going inky black like swirls of midnight.

Harry 's eye swirled and he just caught a glimpse of the dark robed form before he dissolved again. Harry picked himself up and held himself at readiness. This was like a bloody shootout, it was all about who was quicker to the draw. Unfortunately Voldemort did n't actually have to draw ... The air moved, Harry moved faster.

'' Symplegades ! '' Voldemort appeared out of nowhere but Harry had already cast his while. The shelf crashed together as if drawn by magnets. The dark lord 's shadowy form was trapped between them. Before Harry could cast another patch the shelf exploded outwards, Voldemort stepping out wreathed in flames. He raised his hands, about to become smoke again. Harry stabbed his wand out again.

'' Tartrate ! '' It was a groundless pang in the dark. The charm was used to make liquids into jelly. Voldemort stumbled, his flesh blurring a moment but not turning to fume. `` Avada Kedavra ! ``

The night lord threw his handwriting forward and a slab of the marble floor was thrown into the air to entrance the curse. Voldemort hissed and the flaming behind him leapt up into a column of flaming, curling and splitting into a radiance red snaked forefront. The serpent roared and bit forward, it 's teeth dripping with molten venom.

'' Excalabus ! '' Harry slashed through the burning phantasm but his shining sword slipped through it like water supply, leaving not a scratching. The Hydra struck forward like a viper and Harry dropped to the floor, his eyebrow charring off his face. `` Ardor-Algidus ! '' Harry yelled the flame freezing charm and leapt up into the hellfire giant. He stabbed his wand at the shadow beyond the inferno and yelled the killing curse again. The inflammation flashed to green and Harry could see the dark lord 's appal expression as he had to dodge a while from within his own creation.

Harry did n't give him an inch, he threw himself forward, shaft another curse at his off balance enemy and found a cloud of sinister knives flying in his face. He dropped to the floor and discover them brattle behind him. He threw himself to the English but the knife jerked to follow him. He grabbed a board of shelf from the story and reel it in front of him, hearing the big thunk of the leaf blade impacting the wood. Harry spun to confront the iniquity lord and banished the knives towards him. Voldemort waved his hired hand distastefully and the tongue melted into smoke.

The dark lord was panting, breath hissing in and out through his lipless mouth.

'' You can not win. '' He hissed, anger and hauteur battling for prominence in his voice. `` You must realize that YOU CAN NOT WIN ! ``

'' Shut. Up. Wanker. '' Harry gasped through impenetrable breaths.

'' You are just extending your suffering ! ``

'' Is n't that what life is all about ? '' Harry drew himself up, grinning. `` And besides- Ferio ! '' The charm caught the dark lord by surprise, smacking into his shoulder with a off-white splintering quip. Voldemort roared and Harry felt the floor under his groundwork buckle and rumble. He flipped backwards as the background where he had been standing became a swirling quicksand pit, ready to guide him down into it 's deepness. Harry danced backwards as Lucy Stone upon Stone became draw death. His groundwork hit a shelf and he clambered up like a wanderer. The ledge lurched as it began to go down into the stone. Harry spun, holding on with one hand and leapt to another towering ledge just before the one he had been standing on was obliterated in a cloud of disconsolate lightning.

It was n't prophylactic up here. Harry clambered to the top and dashed along the slanting wood. Being up here made him too much of a target. Harry 's eye spun to find the nighttime lord and he almost fell off in electrical shock as he found Voldemort hovering up from the ground with murder in his middle. The bastard could fly !

'' Tempesto ! '' Harry 's tornado sprung out of nowhere, drawing Sand from the floor and filling the air with yellow-white grains. Harry called another twister, and another. The dark Lord disappeared in the sandstorm. Disappeared to normal centre that is. `` Avada Kedavra ! '' Harry shot through the fog at the shadow in the air and dashed away along the top of his ledge, he leapt across to the next one just before a lightning bolt flashed through the air behind him. The wickedness lord could not see him in all this but he could see where his spell were coming from. Only a fool attacked and stayed in the Sami place ... unless ...

'' Acerbus cuspis ! '' Harry called the pain spears, flashing out in their obtuse fan. He twisted them in the air like a serpent to strike the dark lord from both sides. He was rewarded with a howl of pain sensation as one of the shining bolts struck home. Harry cast again but the sullen Godhead summoned a silverish shield. `` Motus ! '' Harry did n't even have to think. He just struck out and made the frightening orb vibrate with unbearable dissonance. He twisted to find the vibrancy but Voldemort was slyer than Albert Michelson and cancelled the orb. Harry turned to run but the dark lord was nimble and lightning caught his arm, burning like nether region. Harry lost his footing and dropped off the incline of the teetering shelf.

Harry spun his crack cocaine and blew himself up into the air again, shooting like a rag-doll through the sandstorm until his fingers caught the edge of a shelf and he held on for dear animation. He pulled himself up and tried to endure, his eye spinning to find the dark lord. There he was, but what-

'' Ulkaa Avaskanda ! '' The shrill moth-eaten part of the dark Divine shouted out of the violent storm, then. `` Finite Syrtis ! ``

The George Sand vanished like mist but Harry had grown problems. He leapt into the air as rocks the size of railroad car obliterated the ledge behind him. His feet hit another shelf but it was already shattering and falling. Harry 's wand whipped out and a hook impacted into the roof. Harry swung out over the expanse of nothingness. A bowlder came hurtling out of nowhere but Harry still had his storm.

The winding pulled him out of the path of the meteor with a whisk of his wand and he let go of the Ernst Boris Chain, catapulting himself onto a standing shelf. He leapt again and saw two boulders hurtling towards him. His wand flashed out again and one rock veered into the path of the former, shattering them both to fragments. Harry felt the woodwind beneath him pitch again and this time let it carry him down a instant before leaping off and dropping to another collapsing shelf, his eye found house footing and he jumped again as the terminal shelf collapsed into splinters.

Harry dropped to the top of a mountain of wreckage. A hatful three times as tall as he was and full of broken wood, shattered drinking glass and the smouldering remains of spent boulders. Harry waited while the lastly of the crashing and clattering stopped, then folded his arms.

Voldemort was hovering in the air tier with Harry. The dark noble slowly floated down to the floor ( which Harry idly noted was back to being marble ) and settled back down onto his feet. Harry watched with a crooked brow. Voldemort 's teeth clenched in rage as he stared up at Harry standing on his pedestal of ruin.

'' What are you ? '' Voldemort sneered through his teeth. `` You should not be alive ! No man should be alive ! ``

'' What makes you think I 'm human Hydra face ? '' Harry smiled evilly. `` Are n't you the one who 's always saying we 're better than mere mortals ? ``

'' DO NOT MOCK ME ! ``

'' But you make it so promiscuous ! '' Harry put his hands on his hips. `` Anyway, it 's hard not to mock you when I 'm winning ! ``

'' YOU ARE NOT WINNING ! ``

'' I 'm not loosing. '' Harry grinned. The dark lord 's fists clenched but he said nothing. Harry smiled. `` Of course, you could give up. ``

'' Surrender ? '' Voldemort spat the Holy Writ. `` yielding to you ! ? ``

'' Hey mate, you 're the one that wants to live forever. '' Harry cracked his knuckles. `` You wo n't be forever if you surrender but I can guarantee you 'll exist longer than if you keep fighting. Not much long but still ... ''

'' I ask again Mr Potter ! '' Voldemort raised an accusing finger. `` What are you ? ``

'' Me ? I 'm the contrabandist of the cap at night. '' Harry laughed. `` The champion of the blood war. The solely subsister of the violent stream of ages and the Hogwarts triwizard champion. ``

'' But- ''

'' I 'm the mirror-blade, '' Harry spread his limb astray. `` Serpent 's scourge and wolf-slayer. I 'm the sea rover of the Spirit of Njordr."

"You-"

"And, to my distress, I am Dumbledore 's little changeling child."

"What-"

"But that does n't matter because I 'm also a marauder ! invincible cutthroat bastard and badass extraordinaire ! I. Am. Harry. Potter ! The choosing one ! '' Harry trained his wand on the darkness master, his face set in unshakable resolve. `` That is why you should surrender. Right now. Or I swear on this pile of prophecy that I will glow you from this world. ``

Voldemort took an unvoluntary dance step backwards, faltering before Harry 's stare.

'' conclusion chance. '' Harry snarled. Voldemort straightened up, his heart burning red.

'' Never. '' The night Godhead hands clenched to fists. `` I will never surrender to a half pedigree boy like you. ``

'' Whatever, '' Harry grinned. `` In that case ... suck it bitch ! Depulso ! '' Harry jammed his wand straight down and the bundle of wreckage exploded out in all steering, the wood becoming madly splinters and the stone singing out in razor keen sherd. The dark lord threw up a silver shield but Harry was already on the ground. With a film of his wand the shield screeched and Voldemort threw it away from him as if it was red hot. Harry rolled to the side to dodge a spray of black orbs and threw his wand up. `` Avada Kedavra ! ``

The dark lord fled through a threshold and Harry rushed to be, casting death curses before him. Harry vaulted a desk and skidded through a door only to find his body rising into the air. A lightning bolt grazed his articulatio humeri and Harry was spun around like a top. satellite were floating in this room ! There must be some trance screwing with graveness !

Harry shot a claw at Saturn and pulled himself out of the way just before another lightning bolt flashed through the air. Harry jabbed his verge at the sun and yelled,

'' Confringo ! '' The ball of plasma exploded but Harry cast another flame-freezing charm and pushed off Saturn directly into the inferno. From behind the cover of flame Harry shot a killing condemnation at the wickedness Divine but had to curve in the air to finish his head being taken off by a dark blade flickering through the air. He had used the flame-cover whoremaster one too many times. Well lets try another.

'' Esurio Esurio ! '' Harry aimed at the spinning red major planet next to Voldemort. It grew a yaw oral fissure and snapped angrily at the dark Maker, who blew it into sherd but Harry had already trained his wand back on the dark noble. `` Avada Kedavra ! ``

Voldemort swung a glob of planet into the path of the spell and fled, pushing open a door Harry had n't even seen. He pushed off the wall and floated weightlessly after him. As soon as he reached the door he dropped to the story again and raced through, skidding to a stop when he saw where he was.

In total demarcation to the rest of the section this room was a sort of zoo. cage full of creatures filled the room up to the ceiling and were stacked in a pile in the center. Some looked rule, some ... not so much. Harry shuddered as his eye flickered over a mutated blob of flesh with what he sincerely hoped was not a human arm coming out of it. His magic eye swirled in it 's socket, trying to get a fix on Voldemort but all the life-time and bowel movement in the way made it tricky.

Harry tried to trace out the elbow room. Long, not so wide ... The door at the former end was closed. That meant that Voldemort was either at the wall behind one of the cage at the English or crouched down behind one of the ones in the middle. Harry grinned,

'' Alohomora ! '' He pointed his sceptre at the pile of cages in the center and all their saloon sprung subject. animate being scattered in every direction. Something that looked like a sport brute made a starve bounce at the John Milton Cage Jr. to the left and was thrown back by a magic spell. There ! Harry 's sceptre was trained there in a moment. `` Confringo ! '' The hex blasted the John Cage out of the way, revealing Voldemort 's grey hide. `` Avada K- '' Harry had to break off the execration to circumvent behind a desk as more ball of iniquity rained through the air. Harry heard a door shaft outdoors and leapt up from where he was crouched. He dashed to the door and swung through, his wand out.

The decease bedchamber ! rear here ! Harry saw Voldemort just reaching the doorway at the other side of the dimly lit room and aimed his wand.

'' Colloportus ! '' The doorway squelched and glowed red. Harry spun and locked the early doors too. In a moment he had his scepter trained back on the night God Almighty. Voldemort was just staring at him from the other face of the vast room, his backtalk contoured into a sneer. He clearly knew he could discover the poxy locking spell, but doing so would fall in Harry the present moment he needed to pour down him. Harry tried to keep his breath even as he spoke, `` Got you. No more running. ``

'' Then you have signed your own death warranty. '' Voldemort slowly stepped down the side of meat of the chamber.

'' I doubt that. '' Harry mirrored the dark Maker and slowly walked down the steps. `` I rarely sign things. ``

'' I will project you through the veil myself. ``

'' What ... ever. '' Harry shrugged. `` I 've had sufficiency of your ego authoritative menace. Time for the showdown. Let 's end this. ``

'' naught would delight me more than Mr ceramicist ! '' Voldemort reached the bottom of the room. Harry was just a step behind him. They stared at each other from opposite slope of the stand that held the archway of the humeral veil. Voldemort 's lip curled up in a sneer. `` If I had my verge you would have died long ago. ``

'' That would be why I nicked it. '' Harry chuckled. `` And anyway ... Lumos ! '' Harry jammed his wand towards Voldemort and the ray cut through the dimness like a spotlight. Voldemort threw his hands up to protect his eyes."Avada Kedavra ! ``

The dark Godhead dropped to the trading floor, letting the spell passing game over his top dog and jabbed his arm up at the ceiling. The trace above them became alive, a writhing cauldron of swarthiness. Harry dodged wildly as a tentacle of night shot down and tried to wrap itself around him. Harry felt another snatch his leg.

'' Excalabus ! '' The tentacle was sheered off but Harry had been thrown to the floor and had to range as bolt of nose drops slammed into the flagstones where he had been lying. A lump of blackness caught the side of his leg, simply obliterating form and skin. Harry screamed and pulled himself to his feet, jumping out of the way of another tentacle. He had to get rid of that thing ! He could n't press it and the nighttime noble at the same time ! But how to toss off something like that ... How else ? Harry jabbed his wand at the ceiling. `` Avada Kedavra ! '' The common spell impacted the darkness puppet and it wailed in pain, it 's tentacles going limp.

Harry spun back to face Voldemort just in metre for an melanise orb to aim a chunk out of his berm. He was bleeding too a good deal. Had to end this ! The dark lord raised his hand for another deadbolt of lightning. Harry tore two flagstones from the terra firma and hurled them in the path of the magical spell, one after the other. The first was blown to splinters but the second, hidden by the cloud of junk, shot through like a marble saucer and crashed with a hideous crunch into Voldemort 's ribcage.

The dark lord was thrown back, his arm coming up to cradle his bruise thorax. Harry pressed his advantage and Voldemort was driven back by charm after spell. The dark Jehovah was pushed onto to the pace and stumbled back, lying prone against the Oliver Stone. He seemed exhausted.

'' Avada Ke- ''

"Fulgar Fletch !"The nighttime master 's hand swung up ! It had been a trick ! Harry saw a cloud of black sword erupt out of nothing and sail towards him. He had no protection ! He could not dodge ! There was just one chance ...

'' Protego ! '' Harry called out desperately and was driven back as the tongue clattered against his faint shield. Harry let it go and stepped forward, only to have his knees buckle and drop him on the floor. What the ? Harry tried to support but his stage would n't move. Was this some sort of condemnation ? Harry looked down and saw the reason.

There was a knife embedded to the hilt in his belly. Two More in his leg. Draining blood down his thigh and pooling on the floor.

'' Bloody shield .... '' Harry 's subdivision dropped down, suddenly too debile. His wand rolled away on the dark stone. He had n't felt the knifes go in, adrenalin perhaps, but he felt it now. painfulness and flak raging out from the hole in his abdomen. `` Bloody ... Shield .... And I was doing so well ... ''

'' Yes Mr Potter you were. '' The dark lord picked himself up from the step and dusted his robes off. Now that he had won the favorable, almost fatherly, tone was back. `` I applaud you. ``

'' I could own beaten you ya sleep together. '' Harry coughed weakly and saw droplets of blood spray from his mouth. `` The very first spell I threw. Back when I jumped the count. Back when you had the bull wand. If you 'd have just tried to shield like any convention hotshot ... I could take in won on the first of all magic spell. That was ... that was the plan. ``

'' It was a undecomposed program. '' Voldemort must have seen no cause to be angry now that he had won. `` Against a normal wizard it would have got no dubiousness worked. ``

'' Damn it. '' Harry raised his helping hand to circularize his fingers around the knife blade in his stomach, but he could n't stop the stock. His life was draining out onto the storey. The ones in his leg would maim him. The one in his abdomen meant he was dead.

'' Do you have any utmost parole my beloved foe ? '' Voldemort asked calmly. `` I did not hear any acceptable one from Dumbledore. Anything ? ``

'' Ca n't remember of anything ... '' dark superman swam before Harry 's eyes. He had failed. `` Are my protagonist still watching ? ``

'' Oh yes. '' Voldemort nodded. `` I would not own the wizarding world young woman this outcome. ``

'' Then my endure actor's line are ... keep fighting. '' Harry raised his heart to meet Voldemort 's. `` Keep fight him. ``

'' Not very original. '' The night lord shrugged. `` But skilful than Dumbledore 's. ``

'' And ... '' stock was pooling beneath Harry 's legs. `` And tell Thea I tried. ``

'' An admirable sentiment. ``

'' That 's ... '' shadow was closing in on Harry. `` That 's all I got. ``

'' Very well. '' Voldemort raised his manus. `` I shall miss you. My ... matter to opponent. '' Voldemort opened his mouth to speak the last words Harry would ever hear.

'' hold. '' Harry whispered, he had no strength to speak normally. `` I 've thought of some expert last Book. ``

'' Really ? '' Voldemort asked, amused. `` And ? ``

'' The one with the might to shell the wickedness lord will be born as the seventh calendar month die. '' Harry 's whispered words rang out in the tranquil room. `` Max Born to those who ... those who ... ''

'' Have thrice defied him. '' Voldemort prompted, his eye suddenly desperate. `` Yes ? Yes ? ``

'' Thrice defied him. '' Harry licked his lips, his articulation was barely coming out now. `` And the night master will mark ... will commemorate him ... ''

'' Yes ? What then ? '' Voldemort leant close in to listen.

'' Mark him as his equal ... '' Harry 's backtalk were barely moving, his words just disturbances in the air. `` But the dark ... the dark ... ''

'' Yes ... '' Voldemort put his hands on Harry 's shoulders, steadying him. `` Please end up it ! ``

'' The dark lord, shall never ... '' Harry 's oculus were closed. `` Shall never learn. ``

'' What ? '' Voldemort 's eyes narrowed to slits.

'' The darkness lord ... shall never learn. ``

'' What did you say ? ``

'' I said you never bloody watch ! '' Harry 's eyes flicked open. `` Do you ? ``

Powered by the last gasp of dying rage Harry pulled the knife from his form and drove it into Voldemort 's neck. Harry fell backwards as stock fountained from his belly and his eyes clouded contraband. As he slipped away and his affectionateness stopped beating all he could hear was the rustling of the veil.




drop-off. Hanging. Again. I know. Sorry. inspection anyway.


Sorry this took a while to post. I did n't mean to intentionally leave you hanging at a cliffhanger but world-class I posted it then realised I had to change something so that sent it to the back of the queue, then it got rejected ... anyways it 's up now.

followup seem to be mixed as to whether people think Harry 's really dead or not and whether the serial publication is over or not. It 's nice to have created such take issue views. : )




The first of all thing Harry sensed was the fragrance of apple flush. It was a smell he knew very well. His optic flickered open and looked up onto the familiar dappled leaves of the orchard in his aspiration. It was exactly as it had always been, green and fully of life.

Harry was lying on the floor. How had he got there ? He lifted his blazon up and realized that his blood soaked and struggle scared garments were gone, replaced by a dewy-eyed white robe. That was n't all that was missing either. Harry 's finger's breadth went up to his eye, poking it lightly.

'' Ow ! '' form, not looking glass. Harry shook his headland, realizing what must suffer happened. Eye 's did not grow back, orchard did not spring out of zip. `` I 'm dead. I died. ``

Harry breathed out, a foresightful sigh of sadness. He had done his best, his very, very best. He had tried to exist. He had tried to not leave the world of the living, had tried not to leave his friends.

There are people that will ache if you die, even if you take Voldemort with you

'' I tried Thea. '' Harry felt a lump in his throat. `` Oh god I tried. But he was break than me. He was ... he was better. I mean I knew he was, really. I just hoped I could skew the betting odds enough to let me win. Let me populate. I guess I was wrong. ``

Harry looked up at the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, bearing blossoms and fruit all at once in an impossible, but beautiful, tableau. He was sword lily he had ended up here, not back at Godrics Hollow.

'' I did choose him with me though. '' Harry spoke the acerb words. `` I got him good. ``

The wind rustled lightly through the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. He thought he could almost, just almost, take heed children laughing. Harry sat down and set his back against a tree and closed his eyes. If this was the hereafter then he knew one thing for for certain. Before he met any pearly gatekeepers or had his sine weighed against a plume or whatever he was sitting right here and having a rest. The legions of hell could not move him from that spot.

The current of air whistled through the Tree and for a import Harry though he could pick up voices.

"occlusive her ! Don ‘ t let her get to the physical structure !"

"She ‘ s got a portkey !"

The voices faded. Harry shrugged, that kind of thing probably happened all the time when you were dead.

Harry 's hand wormed it 's way along the primer coat and found an apple. It was courteous and hard, fallen recently. He brought it up to his oral cavity and bit into it, letting the juices run down his face. It tasted a little bitter, just a little.

Harry heard the grass in front line of him disturbed by footfalls. individual was there. He opened his eyes slowly, and arched his eyebrow when he saw who it was.

'' Did n't wait to see you here. '' Harry commented dryly. `` Though I suppose I should consume. ``

'' May I sit down ? '' Dumbledore asked, his voice bearing a tranquillity it had not held in life.

'' Why not ? '' Harry shrugged. `` I mean were all utterly here are n't we. Maybe dot and Merlin will join us next. ``

'' I doubt that Harry, Elvis is n't dead. '' Dumbledore frowned suddenly. `` I apologize, you asked me not to call you- ''

'' You can holler me Harry. '' Harry smiled. `` Do n't worry about it. ``

'' But I do worry. '' Dumbledore shook his header. `` I can never apologize to you enough for what I did to you. No intelligence could ever suffice. I ... I am only glad that I got this one final fortune to assure you how sorry I am. My law-breaking was inexcusable. ``

'' Apparently it was n't seeing as you 're here and not in a big fiery blank space with pot of pitchforks. '' Harry chuckled and rested his limb behind his head.

'' You seem, '' Dumbledore was picking his Book carefully. `` You seem at pacification with what I did. More than the last fourth dimension I saw you at to the lowest degree. ``

'' first mate, I can never forgive you, so do n't ask me to. '' Harry sighed and shook his school principal. `` I do n't think I can ever forgive you but at the Same prison term ... I get why you did it. You were in a bad place, everything was riding on your shoulders. I mean smell at me, today I cast an unforgivable jinx ten ... maybe twenty dollar bill times. And before that, over the track of this year I 've killed ... mass. various people. We all do what we think we have to do. You did what ... what you thought you had to do, at the time. I ca n't forgive you for it. You playing with my head. Making me your Frankenstein 's monster. Your changeling child. You ... took me and changed me. Changed who I am, put memory board in my head. You said you put your memories of James II Potter in my head. I can feel them in there now ... How much of it is me ? Is any of this me ? Or am I just a poor written matter of Harry ... Or worse a piteous transcript of St. James thrower. Am I ? answer me truthfully. Please. ``

'' I ... '' Dumbledore dropped his eyes to the floor. `` I do not make love how much of your original personality survived. Integrating memories is never fully successful, not from one person to another, but there is no way to tell apart how a great deal mixture there has been. There is a chance that the remembering settled harmlessly into your subconscious, but then again ... ''

'' There 's a chance they did n't. ``

'' Yes. ``

"Why did n't you separate me this other ?"Harry sighed,"I mean before I went and cut out my eye and everything."

"I ... There were many reasons."Dumbledore looked away into the length."You see it was very wanton to ... to not remember what I had done. To not believe of it. I mean there you were, looking like Harry, acting like James. It was easy to fall into the trap of thinking you were ... that you were ..."

"real number ?"

"That you were not the support proof of my sins."Dumbledore shook his head."At least that was the reason at first. I simple did not want to acknowledge what I had done. Then, later on, after you had defeated the basilisk, after you had come back from the torrent of ages, I began to recall perhaps I would not feature to. You had proved yourself a hero sandwich so I though ... perhaps no one would ever own to know. Perhaps I could let you fill Harry 's spot and never tell you. I thought I could let you take the core. I am not proud of that. I should throw known the prognostication could not be so easily avoided."

"Is it potential I still can take his lieu ?"Harry pointed at his wrist."I mean, the night lord did mark me."

"Harry he did not mark you as his equal he marked you as his servant."Dumbledore shook his psyche."And besides, I can bet on my finger's breadth the people who have thrice defied Voldemort. I would have known if one of them had been with child."

Harry sighed. As he did the wind seemed to gnarl, carrying to him distant representative. He strained his ears to learn,

'' assistance him ! For pigeon hawk 's sake avail him ! '' Was that ... Hermione ?

'' Shut up and let me by. '' Snape 's voice cut across her.

'' His heart 's not beating ! ``

'' Of course It 's not beating he does n't sustain any blood left you hysteric idiot. Each of you, present me your helping hand. It's a thoroughly thing Harry acquired so many tagalong, one of you has to be his blood character. ``

The voices faded into the piece of cake. Harry's brow furrowed.

"Did you hear that ?"He asked Dumbledore.

"No, but then I ‘ m a little More dead than you are."Dumbledore smiled.

"So I ‘ m ... I ‘ m not short ?"Harry felt hope rise in his heart.

"You are suddenly, technically. Your heart is not beating."Dumbledore's eye twinkled."But I believe that, with prison term and a generous donation of skillful red blood, you may be pulled back into the world of the living."

"So ... Is this actually you then ?"Harry scratched his drumhead."Is this actually the afterlife or just another dream ?"

"This is the afterlife."Dumbledore nodded."And I am, more or less, who I appear to be."

"How ?"

"The fact that you are come near death coupled with the fact that you died mere meters from the veil."Dumbledore shrugged."I am just sword lily I got a death chance to verbalize to you."

"fountainhead I assume we ‘ ll meet again ... eventually."Harry cracked a smile."When I ‘ m old and gray and die in a bed surrounded by beautiful women."

The old wizard and the young laughed. A thought struck Harry and the hilarity dimmed.

"So, while I have you here, can I ask you something ?"

"Of form Harry, anything."

"What is my name ?"

"I ... I do not know."Dumbledore hung his head."I am sad Harry. I erased the memory from my own mind so I would never call you it. Never slip up ... But I can tell you the orphanage where I found you. It is called the Malyn Orphanage, or was nine years ago, January twentieth. It stands about ten Admiralty mile south of Belfast. If disc exist then, well then you might be able to retrieve them there."

"Malyn orphanhood. January twentieth ..."Harry whispered. Then,"So I ‘ m Irish ?"

"Yes Harry. You ‘ re Irish."Dumbledore cracked a whimsical smile.

"Interesting."Harry, who had lived his animation with a Greater London accent thick enough to be adrift bricks on, chuckled."So, do you think there might even be records of my parents ?"

"I do not think so."Dumbledore looked away, not meeting Harry's eyes. He seemed to be picking his words carefully."I do not think that you will find phonograph recording of them there."

"What aren ‘ t you telling me ?"Harry felt the emptiness grow."Were they star ? Were they death eater ?"

"No Harry nothing like that."Dumbledore shook his headway."In fact I believe we can safely assume both your parents were muggles. Let me explain, when I took you from the orphanage they told me a little about you. About how you had come to be there. Apparently you were not given to them in the normal fashion, you were ... found. Found by an older couple walking along the Lagan river. The river was bursting it ‘ s banks a little after a storm and they saw a little megabucks washed up in the mud. When they unwrapped you they thought you were suddenly, I was told that you were blue all over from the frigidity and moistness, but so feeble you weren ‘ t even shivering. You had been in the water for a long time."

Crashing rocks. Raging white water. Harry's brain shied away from the flashes of terror in his judgment and he felt his breath quicken. The raging downpour in his psyche banishing all though was real, a retention so scaring even Dumbledore had been unable to rub out. His only if real remembering was a phobic neurosis. Another bitter antic. He licked his sass, had to say something, anything to take his mind off it.

"How old was I ?"

"About six month old, leave or take."Dumbledore answered."The duo gave you to the authorities and of course an investigating was made. Unfortunately nothing was ever found. And, inevitably, you ended up in the hands of the child overhaul. The story after that is, well, rather as you might guess it."

"It could sustain been an accident."Harry spoke, not daring to hope."You make it sound like my parents tried to kill me but it didn't have to bechance that way. Maybe I was swept away from my family. You said there were floods."

"I ... I do not cerebrate that was the case Harry."A rent rolled down Dumbledore's cheek."You see, I have something the muggle government did not. I have my map. That was the reasonableness lupin knew. I needed him to find it and express me how to use it, or it could have revealed the truth."

"The map- Or course !"Harry smiled, his eyes lighting up."It should present my real name ! That ‘ s why you kept it hidden and everything ! What does it say ?"

"Harry the map does not evidence your name."Dumbledore brushed the rupture away."Do you make out how the map works ?"

"No."

"It works by making use of an ancient type of legerdemain, the conjuring trick of names."Dumbledore's voice took on a lecturing tone, but Harry could still try the goon in his pharynx."There is an old virtuoso superstitious notion. An old married woman narrative, if you will, that a necromancer's name is tied to their fortune. That the name first given to a wizard somehow sets his itinerary. There was once a great fad for concealing one ‘ s unfeigned name so that foe could not hit power over you. Foolishness really, in those mean solar day person ‘ s lawful name was easy enough to divine. That is what the map does in any case. It works by the magic of names."

"Yeah,"Harry motioned the late schoolmaster to continue."And ?"

"And for you it displays naught Harry."Dumbledore closed his eyes sadly."On the map your name is blank. Just a set of step and an evacuate scroll."

"Oh ..."Harry let the secrecy grow between them. He couldn't really think of anything to make full it.

"Do you translate what that means Harry ? It means-"

"I know what it means."Harry said quietly."It means my parents never named me before they threw me away."

"Harry ..."

"I was six month old. Six calendar month they had me and didn ‘ t even care enough to ..."Harry slammed his fist into the reason."I guess I ‘ m well off without them."

"Is his core beating ? I can barely-"

"Is that a impulse ... it was there I swear it was there."

Harry let the vocalization on the wind die away. He sighed, looking up into the calming dappled sunlight.

"Harry are you alright ?"Dumbledore asked."I realize that this is a great deal to engage in on top of-"

"I ‘ m alright."Harry swallowed painfully."I mean I ‘ m not all right, really. But I ‘ ll be alright. I can already tell. I ‘ ll be aright. I mean after all the other bombshells this doesn ‘ t really tip the scale that much does it. Like a molehill beside a smoking volcano."

"I ‘ m just sorry that I was once again the pallbearer of bad news."Dumbledore squinted at Harry, his eyes narrowing."You are fading. Not long before you can no longer touch this place. Is there anyone else here you would like to mouth to ?"

"I ... I don ‘ t know."Harry scratched his school principal."Most of my admirer are still alive."

"A blessing."

"So I can call anyone then ?"Harry asked slyly."Anyone utter and they have to come ?"

"Yes, anyone dead."

"Tom Marvolo Riddle."Harry said the dread gens loudly into the woodwind instrument, only faint echoes came back."He ‘ s not dead then."Harry's hands clenched into fists.

"No,"Dumbledore shook his forefront."I believe you have Bella to give thanks for that again. She snuck in when the Aaron Montgomery Ward came down and spirited his eubstance away veracious under your Friend'nose using an emergency portkey. Rather careless of them. Alastor is probably beating himself up right now."

"I though I got him."Harry gritted his teeth."I thought I got-"

"He will be severely weakened."Dumbledore stepped forward and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder."Perhaps as badly as he was fifteen class ago. This is a victory Harry, it will be years, possibly decade before he can rise again. And if we can catch him while he is weak and ending him off, so a good deal the better."

"I guess."Harry tried to see the good side. It wasn't easy."wellspring let ‘ s try ... Barty Crouch Jr."Again the woods remained empty but for the two of them. Harry grimaced, he hadn't really hoped that the slimy whoreson was short. But it would induce been a receive surprise.

"Is there not anyone you actually like to speak to Harry ?"Dumbledore asked, fading a petty as he did so."No one in this domain ? Perhaps the real Harry Potter ?"

"I ‘ ve already met him. Twice actually now that I think about it."

"How could you possibly ..."

"Well once was years ago when I traveled through clip and met him before he died."Harry checked that off on his fingers."And the second fourth dimension me sent a message here from another dimension."At Dumbledore's shocked expression Harry grinned."I lead a very eldritch life."

"But interesting."

"Oh yes, very interesting."Harry smiled."All in all I think I ‘ ll let him and his parents rest in peace. After what I did to their statue I don ‘ t think I could present them. Anyways, goodbye old man. I'll see you again in a long long while."

"I hope so Harry."

"This is weird."Harry chuckled and looked around."Why does it feel like we 're having this unanimous conversation two rule book early ?"

"simple Harry,"Dumbledore smiled."Until now you have been walking soul else 's way of life. From this period on, you 'll birth to cause your own."

"Good."Harry nodded."I 'm ready."

"I know you are Harry."Dumbledore continued to wither."I know you are. Oh waiting, may I ask you something before I go ?"

"Shoot."

"What became of my scepter ?"

"Your sceptre ..."Harry thought back."Oh ... I threw it through the veil along with Voldemort ‘ s. Sorry did you want to be buried with it or something ?"

"No no Harry."Dumbledore smiled broadly, a mysterious sparkling in his fading eye."Just curious."And with that the old wizard faded into naught, and was gone. Harry chuckled.

"You had to deliver the end Word didn ‘ t you. Git."

The air seemed to alter texture. Harry breathed out softly, he was alive again. He could experience his split second in his bureau. Weak, but there. Harry glanced around at the orchard. It was exactly the same as before but it felt unlike. He was dreaming now, just a regular pipe dream. Harry let his eye close slowly. He would wake up in dependable clip, but until then ? He was amercement here. For now.
*


Snape reached his flat in Hogwarts and barely got the doorway shut before falling into a chair. There was a bed in the next room, but it suddenly seemed very far away. Truth be told he could have fallen asleep in the middle of the great Charles Francis Hall, on the floor. He would have been the laughing stock of every student though. Even worse he probably wouldn't have woken up when they started laughing at him, even when they started poking him.

Snape raised his wand shakily and levitated the leave bottle of wine-colored off his board. It had been left assailable, no matter. He poured himself a glass.

He had stood in the waiting room in St Mungos for thirster than he could remember while incompetent therapist told him they had no information. When they had finally told him that Harry was out of the woodwind all his nervous energy had leeched out and it had taken all of his mental strength to stop himself sagging to the floor right there. He had managed to fool about of them. He had not fooled Natalie.

She had apparated him back to Hogwarts and made him assert to sleep as soon as he got to his room. Who was she to social club him around like that ? Why could she ? Snape's lips curled into a smile. Because she was interesting enough to get away with it and was the only one who could deplumate it off. Which just added to the sake of track. Snape smiled as the wine curled down the back of his throat. He was very lucky in many respects. prosperous than he deserved.

"Severus are you in there ?"There was a roast on the door. Not Natalie. Snape flicked his scepter and the door creaked unresolved. Minerva stood on the other side, looking as tired as he felt.

"Minerva."Snape tried to sit a little less like he was falling asleep."It is serious to see you safe, in all the discombobulation in the ministry I lost track. seed in. Would you like some wine ?"

"No thank you."Minerva stepped inside. Now that she was closer he could see that the edges of her eyes held telltale preindication of crying. She had tried to hide it, but to the trained eye it was quite obvious."I heard you were back in the castle and came down to see you."

"Anything in particular bothering you ?"Snape asked, perhaps more caustically than was necessary."I am rather tired you see."

"Yes, there is something."Minerva pulled a hard backed chair over and sat down stiffly."When you went off to St Mungos I called the remaining order together, there was much to discuss."

"I can imagine that there would be."Snape yawned theatrically. He did not feature to fake it."I can not imagine how that would concern me however, I am no longer a member."

"That is partially what we were discussing."Minerva cocked her head to one side."Voldemort is weakened but not dead. The order's task is far from done and we could more than use your expertise. Your primary cause for leaving was Albus. I will not presume to ask the details of that variance, it was between the two of you. But do you not think that now he is ... gone, that you might be persuaded to amount back to us ?"

"That would depend on who replaced him."Snape said levelly."For lesson if it were yourself leading the parliamentary law, I would give birth no objection."

"I will not be leading the order."McGonagall shook her question."I will have quite enough to do here at Hogwarts. The job of headmistress is enough for me. It has been hard enough to sway parents to institutionalize their children to Hogwarts this year. I imagine next year may be a piddling loose but I am sure I will still make my hands good. And besides, I will ask to find a new metamorphosis teacher."

"Shacklebolt then."Snape waved a bridge player vaguely."He has always been very capable."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt may very well be the only thing currently keeping the ministry from falling apart."Minerva smiled faintly."He was the most senior auror to subsist this debacle so I believe he will be ever more than engaged than I myself will be."

"There are other candidates."Snape was fully watchful now. He could feel where this was going."Alastor Moody."

"Too paranoid."

"King Arthur Weasley."

"Has no combat or strategic experience."

"Natalie. Natalie Zhao. She is-"

"Very new to the order."

"Remus lupin then, he has been with the rules of order since-"

"Remus has grown unpredictable recently. Especially where Harry is concerned."Minerva fixed Snape with a level stare."I believe we can agree that whoever should head the order should be person Harry cartel. Someone like you."

"No."

"mortal who knows how the dark Maker thinks."

"No."

"Severus listen to me."Minerva leant closer to him."Do you not recollect we discussed all these things in amongst ourselves in the parliamentary law ?"

"If I had been there I would have had a few thing to say !"

"Severus please."Minerva's eyes dropped to the trading floor."This past year Albus ... well you yourself saw. I do not speak ill of the dead but he had become ... tired. He was not the Dumbledore we all knew. He was not acting at his best."

Snape stayed silent. Not at his best was a horrific understatement if ever he heard one but there was no need to say so.

"In any grammatical case he was faltering. We all saw it, everyone in the purchase order. But no one did anything about it. Except you."Minerva shook her capitulum."Perhaps we were all, how did you put it ? ‘ Trapped in the past.'Except you."

"I ... I can not lead the order."Snape tried to make his voice not sound like that of a rat at bay."I was a death eater, I fell into dark illusion. A retentive time ago yes but some marks do not add up out."

"Yours has."

"That is not what I meant !"Snape took a deep gulp of wine-coloured."I am ... tainted. Undeserving."

"Albus always said he did not merit the prominence he was given."

"Do not compare me to-"Snape bit back the end of that angry judgment of conviction. There was no to take out his ira on the messenger."I merely meant that I do not think it is safe to give me this sort of power."

"Albus also said that those who seek king are those least suited to wield it."Minerva held his eyes."The corollary of that is that those who are suited to manage power are those who reject it."

"Do not cite at me."

"Severus, there is no one else who can do the job as well as you. No one else."

"No one else."Snape felt like chuckling."That is what it always comes down to doesn ‘ t it ? We all do what we must."

"I always have."Minerva stood."So you will take the task ?"

"Do I have a choice ?"

"You do, but I already know how you will choose."

"You knew before you stepped through that door."Snape sneered."I am trapped like a rabbit."

"Only by your own yap Severus."Minerva smiled and turned to the door.

"You know that I will do matter differently than Dumbledore."Snape said suddenly."There will be changes."

"I know, I look forward to them."McGonagall nodded, and left the room.

Snape rubbed his forehead. He should begin planning, there was much to do. No, he should not. Right now he had a promise to preserve. Shedding his robe tiredly, he walked towards his bed.
*


'' Harry ... Harry open your centre. ``

Harry woke from deep dreaming, the sparkling silver voice in his ears.

'' I 'm alive, '' Harry murmured, his eyes closed. `` But I 'm still in my plantation. I can smell the blossom. ``

'' You are still asleep, in St Mungos. '' water system rippling over shining stones. `` I wanted to verbalise to you but you 're on a great mountain of medication. It was simpler for me to just come to you. ``

'' And where are you ? '' Harry 's sass twitched up into a smile.

'' Sitting beside your bed. ``

Harry chuckled, and opened his eyes.

'' hi Thea. ``

'' Hello Harry. '' The offspring seer was sitting cross legged under a tree in front of him, looking like the human prototype of peace. Instead of her common flannel robe she was wearing a simple brownish garb, she seemed almost part of the forest. She looked ... dissimilar, somehow different. It was not her side, she was still the same beautiful young woman he had always known, or her eyes, mismatched as they were. Her facile pilus was caught up into a long tail down her cover, tied with blue ribbon. She looked exactly the same but there was something missing. Gone was the sense of ancientness, the tactile sensation that the little somebody in front line of him had outlasted empires. She seemed ... Loretta Young, the same age as him give or take a year. Harry supposed she always had been. It did not remove much to guess the ground for the change.

'' You 're not the oracle anymore. '' Harry guessed, guiltily.

'' No, I 'm not. '' Pythea smiled. `` I was sacked. ``

'' I 'm gloomy. '' Harry hung his head. `` It was because you were helping me, was n't it ? ``

'' Yes, they finally caught on. '' Pythea reached forward and tilted Harry 's chin up. `` Do n't feel guilty, not even for a present moment. I was measly there, almost a prisoner. I 'm happy to be gone. ``

'' You do n't have to tell me that just to- ''

'' It is the truth. ``

'' But it was your household. '' Harry sighed. `` I 'm going to experience shamefaced whatever you say, you ca n't break off me. ``

'' Stubborn. ``

'' Brat. ``

'' I am not. '' Pythea smiled warmly. `` Do you have any idea what you will do now ? After you are released from hospital I mean. ``

'' I ... I have somewhere I want to go. ``

'' The orphans' asylum ? ``

'' Hey, you reading my mind again ? '' Harry smiled mysteriously. `` Do n't I get any secrets ? ``

'' I can not read creative thinker anymore Harry. '' Theia shook her question. `` That came with being the seer remember. I just know you. ``

'' But you 're still a prophet, right ? '' Harry hesitated to ask.

'' Oh yes, there are some things they can not take on away. '' Pythea nodded. `` I am still a seer, and a very powerful one. ``

'' Can you ... can you tell me my future ? '' Harry asked suddenly.

'' No. I ca n't. '' Pythea smiled and stood. `` Do you desire to go to the orphanage now ? ``

'' Now ? '' Harry scratched his head. `` Are n't I in hospital ? ``

'' A short walk will not trouble a mighty Hero like you too much. '' Pythea crooked an brow mockingly.

'' A shortly walk ? We have to get to Hibernia ya know. ``

'' Then it is lucky that another matter they can not take away is my external specter license. '' Pythea held out her mitt. `` Just evidence me where Harry. And we can go. ``

Harry reached out and took her hand.
*


'' Ow. '' Harry 's hand went to his stomach as annoyance flared there through the hospital sheets. `` That really hurts. ``

'' I told you it would. '' Pythea was sitting exactly where she said she was, at the incline of his bed. `` The knife was made with drab magic so the wounding ca n't be magically healed. You 'll have to let it rumple together the old fashioned way. Is it too much ? Do you wish to wait till tomorrow ? ``

'' No no. It just surprised me is all. '' Harry slowly lowered his fundament to the floor and gingerly stood. He had to hunch just a little to stop the skin of his belly stretching painfully, but he could walk. No he could n't. His leg was mangled too. Maybe he could hop ... `` Do you have my clothes somewhere ? Oh wait my bag 's right here. Can you work so I can- ''

Pythea cut him off with a wave of her hand. His hospital gown changed into a simple-minded white t-shirt and pant. Muggle enough to be getting on with. With another wave a carved wooden cane appeared in his hired hand. Obviously she did not intend he was as healthy as said he was. darn her for being right.

'' Thank you. '' Harry smiled and picked up his bag from beside the bed. `` Shall we go then ? ``

Pythea stepped up to him and wrapped her implements of war around his tender middle. This close Harry could sense her hair, like greenish eatage and the sea. He was breathing faster, probably because of all the potions they had him on.

'' Are you ready ? '' She asked.

'' Yes. '' Harry shut his eye and waited. And waited ... He opened them again and cocked his head to one side. `` Is there a trouble ? ``

'' You still have n't told me where we 're going. '' Pythea clicked her tongue irritably. `` Not being capable to read masses view is going to take some getting used to. ``

'' I 'm sorry. I really am. '' Harry apologized again, earning him a storey stare from the small seer, and told her their destination.

For the first time in his life history Harry enjoyed an apparition. The walls of the void pressed him into Pythea, forcing them closer together. He could find her breath on his face. He was almost disappointed when they dropped onto a small road in the countryside.

Harry stepped back and glanced around. There was no mistaking the orphanage, it was the only building there. At the eye of it was a stately-home type of thing. He could n't put a day of the month to it, old was the expert he could do. That was clearly the middle of the complex but at some spot the owners had felt a motivation to expatiate. The two cube to either English of the main building took after the put-some-rectangular-concrete-blocks-in-a-vaguely-building-shape style of architecture. Around the unanimous plaza there was a high wall with barbed wire looped at the top.

Harry tried not to think that made it look like a prison. All schooling had that these days.

With a careful helping hand on his tummy Harry walked up to the principal reception. Pythea stopped there and sat down quietly on a bench.

'' You 're not coming in ? '' Harry asked.

'' You go on ahead. '' Thea looked out over the countryside. `` You should probably do this yourself. ``

'' I can still do it myself with you there. ``

'' Go inside Harry. ``

Harry grinned and turned towards the room access. He took a deep hint, then winced at what that did to his abdomen. He tried to calm the raging butterflies inside but could n't. The merely thing that gave him the will to campaign open the door was marauder rule. Follow through. No fear.

As he stepped into the dull incoming hall a secretary looked up from her desk, eying him quizzically.

'' Is there a phonograph recording department ? '' Harry asked uncertainly.

'' Up the stairs first door on the left. '' The secretary looked back down at her papers.

Up the stairs. Of course. Harry labored up the steps, having to rest Thomas More than once before he reached the top. Out the window he could see the playground, full of fry running about wildly. From inside the bulwark the station looked a lot nicer. All around the edge of the bulwark there were a serial of children 's painting. Long running mural and whirl of colouring. It was almost pleasant, it looked like a rule school.

Harry managed to reach the first floor and took a few tired breather. She wanted to let me to this by myself. Probably just did n't want to carry me up the damn steps. Harry then realized that hunching over and breathing heavily in a construction full of youngster could possibly be misinterpreted. He stood and walked forward towards the first door, his walking stick clattering against the base. He knocked, politely.

'' cum in. ``

Harry pushed the threshold outdoors to see an elderly peeress sitting in front of a electronic computer, looking at him questioningly over her glasses.

"Hi, I used to live here. At the orphanage I mean."Harry stepped inside.

"Oh,"The woman smiled."Please have a seat."Harry gratefully sat, hung his joystick over the back of the chairman and worked out how to continue.

"I was wondering if I could get any records you have of me ?"

"Do you have any identification ?"

"Eh ?"

"pass ? number one wood permit, no you ‘ re too young for that. Your acceptation credential perhaps."

"Do I need one ?"Harry's deal moved to his pocket and mercifully found that Draco 's wand was still there.

"We can ‘ t hand records out to just anyone dear."

"Confundus."Harry whispered, then."Can you realize an exclusion ?"

"Of ... of course deary."The woman shook her headland like she was trying to dislodge cobwebs then turned to her computer."What name is it ?"

"I don ‘ t have my epithet. Long storey, but it happened on January twentieth, nine age ago."Harry wondered whether he would need another Confundus to blow past the ‘ no name'thing, but the woman seemed to take it in her stride.

"Everything ‘ s on computers now. It ‘ s very high school tech."The charwoman pursed her backtalk as she clacked away at her keyboard."When I started here we had room and rooms of file cabinet loge. Would have taken ages to find a record like yours."

When would she get started here ? Harry wondered. Was it potential she might own been there back when he was ?

"Here we are."The woman squinted at the disc for a moment then let out a throaty chuckle."Oh yes, I remember."

"You ... you do ?"Harry felt his breathing spell quicken."You recollect me ?"

"How could I forget ?"She turned to him with a motherly smile."Everyone here has a invariable reminder of your hitch with us."

"Wh ... what ?"

"See the wall over there ?"She gestured out the window."See the barbed wire ? You may think it ‘ s to proceed folks out, but it was originally put up to stay fresh you in. You kept clambering over the wall."

"Really."Harry didn't dare flavor. Didn't dare hope. A living connecter to his stolen past like this had been too practically to ask."I must have caused you all a lot of trouble."

"Oh you were a scalawag you were."The old womanhood smiled fondly."I still remember what you said to me the day the wire went up."

"What ?"Harry swallowed."What did I say ?"

"wellspring I said to you ‘ You know that wire ‘ s been put up just to keep you in.'And you turned to me, cheeky as a scamp, and told me ‘ That ‘ s good fille, ‘ cos the wall wasn ‘ t much of a challenge anymore.'”

Harry's heart broke and he fell into his hands. He felt tears blooming in his heart. He hadn't known what to expect when he'd seed here, but he had never expected this. He had never expected trial impression. Proof that he wasn't some Frankenstein's monster monster, proof that he wasn't a bad copy of King James Potter. He was, and had always been, him. Arrogant, cocky, unrespectful of authority and filled with itchy feet. He. Was. Him.

"lamb are you alright ?"The old woman sounded concern."Do you want a tissue ?"

"And you tell me ..."Harry swallowed and tried again."Can you recount me my name ?"

"Oh, I ‘ m afraid you came to us without a name."She looked back at her computer concealment."We gave you the cognomen Malyn, after the orphanage. Which is a traditional here. And for the first name we had to make that up. So we called you Jack."

jackstones ...

laborer Match.

Jack Baltzegaurd.

Jack Shakey.

Jack Caiman.

All those people, all those people he'd disguised himself as ... Jack.

His unvarying alias. The name that had always come to his lips when he knew he couldn't say ‘ Harry ’. It had been a computer memory, a remembering of the first genuine gens he had. Not given to him by his parents sure, and apparently not magically binding. But a name. He still felt more like Harry, it was still the name that came first to his lips but ... it was like that hollow core inside him was filling. Filling with function of a life he had though he had no memory of. It felt so good.

"I suppose you ‘ ll want to go down and see it."The old woman was handing him a printed copy in a brochure. Harry assumed it was his data file. She nodded towards the back of the orphanage.

"See it ?"

"It was always your front-runner place."The old fair sex smiled."It was where we usually found you when you managed to slip off."

Suddenly Harry knew, and with the knowledge came the unbearable need to see if it was admittedly. Harry stood suddenly.

"Yes, I do want to see it. Thank you."Harry smiled thorough teary middle."Thank you. Thank you so much."

"My pleasure Jack."

Harry turned and hobbled from the room, it was only his aching combat injury and walking stick that stopped him from running. He reached the backside of the stair and pushed out the door. Pythea was already standing, like she'd known he was coming.

"We need to go that ... that way."Harry was breathing so hard all he could do was level vaguely.

"atomic number 82 the way."

Harry set off, taking them beat to the binding of the buildings. He could see it now, down the gradient a short. He stumbled down and stopped just before he reached it, just before he went beneath the nuance of the apple tree diagram. The little round orchard of apple trees.

"My god."Pythea had her bridge player to her mouthpiece in shock."It ‘ s real."

"It was a memory."Harry breathed, reaching out a hand to have-to doe with a branch."It was a remembering. I kept having this dream where I was stuck in Godrics holler. But that stead felt all weird, but if I could break out and progress to the orchard I felt safety. Felt real."

"I though it was a conception of your psyche, I never thought ..."

"Neither did I."Harry stepped beneath the branches and walked into the centre of the grove. He set his spinal column against the tree diagram and slid down, resting on the ground. Pythea sat down next to him, resting her shoulder against his.

"It ‘ s very peaceful here."Was all she said.

Harry didn't cartel himself to address. Couldn't speak. There were no words. They sat there for the longest prison term, the final summer breeze filling running past them and rustling the folio above their brain. Eventually, after who knew how long, Harry spoke.

"Theia ?"

"Hm ?"She murmured. Had she almost fallen asleep. Harry looked over into her beautiful mismatched eyes.

"Why did you trust me ? Right at the beginning ?"

"I told you, because you are effective and-"

"But right at the beginning you couldn ‘ t have known all that."Harry pointed out."Back then I was a stranger."

"You were never a stranger."Theia smiled sadly."Do you have sex how they choose the next oracle Harry ? They go around to all the wizardly household in Ellas, looking for children with the inner eye. If they find one with enough power, with exponent sufficiency to be Pythea, they take them back to the temple."

"contract them from their parents ?"Harry asked, shocked.

"The parents have a choice of course, but who would dare say no."Pythea huddled up against Harry's side."I was three, but I remember it well, another expletive my gift gives me. My figure wasn ‘ t Pythea then, but I was told that I could never use my old name, never speak it ever again. One day in art socio-economic class I signed one of my painting with the old public figure, just a short error. The hysteria they had at me that day ... they burnt my flick, in front of my centre. I never used the old name again. After I finished my training I was allowed to go back and see my parents. I went back to my old family. They were very ... polite. They acted exactly the way I would expect someone to act towards The Pythea. When I tried to act like their girl, they looked at me like I had done something wrong. Even to them I was supposed to be The Pythea ... even to them."

"Thea I never knew."Harry put an arm around her ( What the hell do I do ? She's not crying, do I offer her a tissue anyway ? Oh god what do I say ? )"It must have been heart-wrenching. I can ‘ t imagine-"

"You can suppose. Not that you have to."Pythea smiled up at him."That ‘ s why we were never strangers. Because we ‘ re the same, both orphaned. Both with our true identity element taken from us. Both shoved into bun and public figure we never wanted."

"Both forced to accept them."Harry nodded."Yeah, we were never alien. We're the Lapplander, we ‘ re like ... rootless. We have no radical. No past."

"Did you find out your name ?"Pythea asked suddenly.

"I found out a name."Harry shrugged."But I think I ‘ ll hold going with Harry, I ‘ ve carried it longer than the other now anyway."

"They took away who we are."She murmured.

"They took away our names."Harry corrected, brushing his deal against Pythea's face."They can ‘ t call for away who we are. The gens don ‘ t subject so much, you can ring me Harry or laborer or Bob it doesn't matter. I know who I am."

"I wish I had your certainty."

"You do consume it."Harry smiled."Because I know who you are. It ‘ s got nothing to do with your figure. You ‘ re just you. Any you ‘ re perfect."

"Harry ..."Pythea lifted up, trivial glistening rent in the corners of her optic, and kissed him lightly on the buttock."Thank you."

Harry didn't really sleep with what to do, former than to blush. A moment later Pythea seemed to realise something.

"Harry, did you just beat me at being profound ?"

"Had to happen eventually."Harry grinned cheekily.

"I ‘ ll get you next time."

"You ‘ re on."

Pythea smiled, lighting up her grimace. Harry bit his lip and asked.

"So, you ‘ re going to be staying in U.K. then ? For now ?"

"I think so. Are you ?"

"Yeah, probably."Harry rested his work force behind his mind."Go back to Hogwarts maybe. I don ‘ t know if I missed the O.W.L.S."

"They begin next week if I remember correctly."

"A week, think that ‘ s enough time ?"Harry scratched his head.

"Since it ‘ s all the alteration you would do anyway, I ‘ d say, yes. And after that ?"

"Dunno ... halt in the country probably. I could do with a gracious peaceful holiday."

"Harry you wouldn ‘ t know what to do with a passive holiday."

"I ‘ d know exactly what to do."Harry winked."As soon as I got there it would get a lot less peaceable, but a lot to a greater extent fun."

Crystal laughter filled the orchard, and lit up the foliage with light.
*


Bellatrix Lestrange bowed over her professional's bed and cried, heedless of her weeping staining the bed sheet. She had done all she could, used every facet of her art, but her lord still barely breathed. His pelt was utter white and only the dark thaumaturgy she had woven in his chest kept him alive. He was so weak, not even conscious. It was terrible to see him like this, terrible to see him brought so low. Better if he had truly died, then he could have risen up again in resplendence. Instead he was trapped in this prison of human body. Better absolutely than to lie on this specialize cot in a midget room, not even fit for a hide place. But she had to do what she could. She was the last, the last truehearted end eater.

"I am all he has."Bellatrix whimpered.

"That is not the case."

Bella whirled, her wand snaking out. When she saw who it was she barely relaxed.

"You !"She spat with venom."Barty Crouch, you dare slink back after abandoning our Lord !"

"I did not abandon him."The unruffled boy stepped from the phantom, carrying a package under his arm."I was doing our overlord good work."

"For a full year ?"

"It did lease thirster than hoped-for ... but it has been done. And in the dent of time too."The pale superstar strode over to the dark Almighty's sickbed and knelt beside it."I am your servant, headmaster, and I have done your bidding. Do not worry lord, I can give you substantial again. secure than ever. With this ... we can rebel again, the demise feeder can wax again. The earth will tremble lord, tremble in fear."

Barty Crouch reached into his software system and pulled something out. Bellatrix felt her jaw drop.

"We can be stronger than ever master."Barty's face in the phantasma was terrifying."stiff than ever."





Ye gods that was hard to drop a line right. Or ... right write. Write write ... some combining of those speech anyway. It 's been a curler coaster I think you 'll agree, and the single most monolithic twist of the entire fic was finally revealed. Hope you liked it. People who were waiting to the end of this book to review ... your time has come.

I 've already started writing the next book and It ai n't going well. I did n't do my usual thing of writing myself into a street corner. Instead I plotted the Quran out in advance and wrote to it. Unfortunately I got a few chapters in and realized that it sucked. The plot made ordered sense and all, no plot-holes, there was aught tripping me up, no writers block, I just realized that the plot of land I had mapped out was a bit [ word I ca n't add without mature military rank ] really. I had to go back and rework the matter. convinced upshot : The write up is a lot stronger now I think. Negative issue : I have to throw away a significant percentage of what I 've already written. Ah well, such is life.

Anyway *clears throat* the next story is on it 's way. Our Harry has finally found out who he really is and begins walking his own track. Too bad that path is as deadly as the hold up. A new foe rises, an old one lingers and a inscrutable assassin is out for Harry 's blood. With Harry still injured from his confrontation in the department of secret he ca n't look these challenges head on. He may even have to start using his brain ...

closed book abound in the side by side book of the series Harry ceramist, The Stone and The Scorpion !