CHAPTER FOUR
THE DEFEAT OF FATE
Harry, Ron, and Luna were sitting on the couch by the massive fireplace that was the prominent feature of the common room's northern wall. The graduation party was still in full swing with everyone toasting with bottles of butterbeer and singing congratulatory songs to the rest of their class. Hermione had left for the library to re-read one of the books on Auror training so she could better formulate questions for Moody and the others. Poor Colin Creevey was still in the hospital wing after tripping on the carpet and spraining his wrist when he hit the stone floor. Unfortunately, his camera hadn't been damaged like Harry had hoped.
Harry was surprised at how Luna had filled out in the two years he'd known her. She was no longer the smallish girl with a perpetually surprised look on her face. She'd blossomed into a rather attractive young woman with correctly proportioned eyes, her hair had finally been tamed and she no longer wore the strange combinations of clothes she did when they had met her.
Looking from his best friend's girlfriend to his best friend, Harry couldn't help but recognize the immense changes that Ron Weasley had gone through since he'd realized he liked Luna in a romantic fashion. He had been convinced that he was afraid of her, but it seemed it was his own emotions he was afraid of confronting. Luna had been the catalyst that brought Ron from his adolescence into a more mature man and Harry was thankful for that. At least he didn't worry about Ron picking fights with Hermione much anymore. That all stopped when Ron realized that his schoolboy crush on their joint best friend was nothing more than that, a crush. With that realization, he stopped picking fights and began to show more respect and self control when it came to their know-it-all companion.
Reflecting on the changes in his friends, Harry soon turned his reminiscing upon himself. He was surprised in the changes that overtook him since his godfather had died. After returning to the Dursleys', he'd gone into severe depression and relegated himself to his dark, small room for the majority of the summer. He didn't want to do anything but after the fourth day of not eating, Aunt Petunia had done something she had never done before, she asked him what was wrong. Harry didn't know if it was the fear of having to deal with his wizarding friends or if she was truly worried about him but before he knew what was happening, he'd started talking and told her about everything that had happened since that fateful night in the shack on that small island in the ocean.
Aunt Petunia had surprised him even more when she hugged him but it wasn't the same kind of motherly embrace that Mrs. Weasley would have given him. Still, it was a start and even though he was grateful that she tried to comfort him his mood didn't change. He would eat and sleep and exist but beyond that there was nothing else. Harry was an emotional black hole with such a lack for life that Aunt Petunia had become worried for his health.
Without warning, his bedroom door had opened two weeks after Sirius had died. Aunt Petunia was standing in the doorway and after a moment, she had ushered his best friend into the room. Hermione gasped when his aunt had whispered something to her and the older woman left the room before she shut the door leaving the two of them alone.
Harry couldn't quite remember the next two weeks of visits from Hermione but he did remember that she would be in his room like clockwork from ten until six every day. The first few days were quiet and she would just sit on the edge of his bed and stroke his hair quietly. Eventually, she started whispering words of encouragement and that things would get better.
He remembered ignoring her the first few days she talked, but eventually he'd watch her and listen. Harry had gotten to memorize her face, her expressions, and began to realize why everyone had put up such a fuss over the past two years concerning his and Hermione's relationship. Why he didn't see it before, he didn't quite understand. Harry realized that he knew her better than he knew himself. He knew what she was going to say, what she was thinking, and how to gage what she'd do next based on the slight indications in her body language.
Harry had found that after two weeks had passed, he was out of his depression and held a new outlook on life. Looking back on that time, he realized that he'd fallen for his best friend of five years. The only problem was, even with his ability to know what she was thinking or what she was about to do, he couldn't figure out her more base emotions. He didn't know how she felt about him outside of the friendship they both shared. If he wasn't afraid of the possible rejection he would have told her by know how much he cared for her but he never built up the courage to tell her.
"Harry, why are you still up?"
Harry snapped out of his mental journal and looked up at his best friend. "Hi, Hermione, did you find what you ..." Something wasn't quite right with Hermione, he could tell. "Are you ok? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Hermione looked away quickly. "Of course I've seen a ghost, Hogwarts is crawling with them." She said quietly and seemed to be distracted.
"You know what I mean, Hermione." Harry said with concern. He stood and put an arm around her shoulders to lead her to a more private corner of the room but she flinched and backed away. "What?" He said with confusion.
"Please, Harry, I-I really don't feel too well." She said quickly. "Y-you should get some sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow ..." She trailed off then looked to Ron and then back to Harry. "Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow morning." With that she turned to the girl's dormitory and hurried away.
"Hermione?" Harry called after her curiously and with worry. What was that about? She's never flinched from me before ... Harry thought as his heart began to break. He looked over to Ron and Luna. "Did you say anything to her?"
Ron had the same look on his face that Harry did. "No, mate, I haven't told her a thing." Ron admitted. "She looked pretty spooked though, I wonder what happened."
Harry knew his friend was telling the truth and he looked at the stairs that led to Hermione's room and sighed. "I guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out." Harry said heavily. "I guess I'll just go to bed then." He turned and walked slowly to his room. After a few moments of concentration, Harry fell into a restless sleep. He woke up from time to time and could hear the graduation party still going on. The noise was loud enough to even penetrate the snores that were issuing from Ron.
Harry found himself thinking about the training they were getting ready to start in a few hours. The threat that Voldemort posed wasn't over and he and his friends were going to use the time to learn some new and specialized skills that they could use against the Dark Lord. Even though the weight of that particular battle rested on his mind, he couldn't get Hermione's reaction out of his head. What's wrong with her? He kept thinking over and over to himself.
He eventually drifted off into sleep again and was shaken awake by Ron a few hours later.
"Harry, come on, it's time to get up, mate." Ron was saying quietly so he wouldn't wake the others who had just fallen asleep.
Harry groaned in protest but reached for his glasses and sat up with a yawn. "What time is it?"
"It's early, Harry, four. It's so early that it's still dark out." Ron said with a frown. "It's bloody unnatural to be up early even when the sun is up!"
"But I thought we were supposed to be leaving at nine? Why the change?" Harry asked as he got dressed.
"I don't know." Ron admitted. "Hermione woke me up and told me."
Harry looked at his friend quickly. "Hermione was here?"
"Yeah." Ron said. "She was still acting kind of strange. She had me wake you instead."
Harry looked to the floor and sighed. "What if she found out somehow and she's avoiding me now?" He could feel his heart starting to break all over again.
"Harry, I don't think she knows." Ron put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "I've seen the way she's looked at you, mate. She hasn't said anything, but you can tell that she wouldn't be upset that you've fallen for her."
Harry looked up. "You'd think so, wouldn't you?"
Ron smiled slightly. "Well, we'll corner her when we get the chance. Let's get some breakfast before we meet Albus in his office, we've got another half hour at least."
Harry smiled nervously. "It still seems strange to hear us call him Albus."
"Tell me about it!" Ron said with a laugh. "Come on, there's some sausage and eggs with my name on it. Maybe we can talk to Hermione then ..." Ron trailed off at that and turned to the door with Harry close behind him.
The two friends made their way to the Great Hall and found it empty. Harry sighed and the two of them walked to their traditional seats and after the food appeared, they filled their plates and ate in silence. Harry glanced more than once at the door and the empty seat that was beside him.
"You'll get your chance to talk to her, Harry." Ron said with a comforting smile. "I'm sure you're just reading her reaction wrong."
Minerva McGonagall walked from the entrance to the two young men quickly. "Come on, you two." She said briskly. "You're going to be heading to the Ministry a little earlier than we planned."
Harry looked up at his mentor who quickly brought her attention to the table. "I thought we were leaving at five, Minerva?" He asked quietly.
Without looking at Harry, Minerva replied softly. "There have been some new concerns and it was thought best to move out as soon as possible."
Harry and Ron stuffed a few more bites into their mouths and stood to leave. They were soon ushered into their headmaster's office to take the portkey to the Ministry of Magic. Hermione was already in the room and when her friends entered she looked up at them with a slight smile. When she met Harry's eyes, she glanced away and stood to get ready for the trip.
Harry looked to the ground feeling defeated. It's got to be it. He thought glumly. She doesn't feel the same way I do and now she's feeling awkward around me ...
After each had grasped the discarded television aerial, Harry and his friends were whisked through a familiar swirl of wind and color and found themselves standing in the very room that Harry had been in at the beginning of fifth year. Moody, Tonks, Lupin, and the rest of the Order were waiting patiently for their arrival.
"Wotcha, Harry?" Tonks said quietly with a smile. She crossed the room and gave him a quick hug that was almost comforting.
"Alright, Tonks?" Harry asked with a slight smile after returning the hug.
Moody grunted his greeting and Remus extended his hand in greeting.
"How're you feeling, Harry?" Remus asked quietly.
"Ok, I guess." Harry said with a shrug and took the offered hand.
"You sure? You don't sound too good."
Harry nodded slightly. "It's nothing that can't be worked through." Harry admitted as he glanced at Hermione. She glanced away when they made eye contact and hugged Tonks in greeting.
After they all greeted one another, they were soon on their way to the special section of the magical complex that was used specifically for the training of the wizarding world's enforcement service.
Harry had, more than once, glanced at Hermione from the corner of his eye to catch her turn her head from him quickly. He, however, did not whenever she happened to look his way. He couldn't get over the fact that he felt so strongly for another person but still couldn't summon the courage to talk to her about it.
I just wish I knew if she felt the same about me ... He thought with a sigh.
He was interrupted from his thoughts when they entered the Ministry proper. Moody had reached into his robes and pulled out a small mirror. He looked at Hermione with a gruff smile before putting it back into his robes.
"What was that?" Harry asked curiously.
"That's one of the tools that you'll be learning to use." Moody explained. "It's a portable Foe-Glass. I think you've already seen one."
Harry nodded. "After the Tri-Wizard Tournament when Crouch Jr. was masquerading as you."
"That's right." Moody smiled.
"Were you expecting trouble?" Harry asked quickly.
Remus and Moody glanced at one another then to Harry. "Not really, we are in the Ministry and we've changed our plans and mode of travel several times. Since we've left well before we intended originally, we figure there wasn't enough time for anyone to inform our enemies." Moody explained matter-of-factly.
"Ah, I guess it goes with the 'CONSTANT VIGILANCE!' that you so often speak of." Harry said with a wry smile.
"You're learning, kid." Moody laughed gruffly. "In any case, we have to cross through the main lobby to the portal that will take us to the training grounds." He informed the three friends. "Once we get there ..."
Their new mentor was interrupted by an explosion at the front of the building. He whipped out the Foe-Glass and when he looked into it, his face paled.
"Blast it! This is too soon!" He shouted. "How'd they find out?!"
Harry caught a glimpse of what had caused such a disconcerting reaction with Moody and paled instantly.
"What is it?" Hermione asked concernedly from his left.
"Voldemort." Harry said simply as he felt the familiar burning sensation enter his skull from his scar. His hand went to it immediately and he pressed against it in a vain attempt to push the pain away but it kept getting worse. He was vaguely aware that he was on his knees and then suddenly jolted to his feet as Lupin and Tonks grabbed his shoulders and dragged him back to the lifts.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked quietly as he struggled to erect the barrier that his Occlumency training afforded him. Breathe deeply. Clear my mind. Retreat to the dark recesses of quiet and rational thought.
"She and Ron are with Moody!" Tonks said hurriedly.
The commotion in the main lobby escalated as Aurors apparated on the scene, dropping what they were doing from their various tasks. Because Hermione had shared the techniques she developed for the D.A. and their magical galleons it only took one of a dozen coins to be activated and a sizable force could be called into action. The new program proved to be very successful today.
Harry and his two companions had finally made it to the lift and the crushing pain in Harry's skull had subsided dramatically. Lupin hit the emergency call button and a scant, few, agonizing seconds later, the car appeared before them.
"Get in, Harry!" Lupin ordered. Harry felt the force of his surrogate godfather's push. There was an explosion and the trio was assaulted by what could only be called a meteor shower. There was a much more powerful jolt as Lupin's entire body slammed into him. Tonks landed face-first on the floor beside them and Harry had to struggle to turn and see what had happened.
He wasn't prepared for the horror that the next few seconds brought him. Lupin's eyes were closed and there was blood dripping from the back of his head. Harry struggled to move but his friend's limp body kept him pinned to the floor. Harry fought desperately to control his emotions as he rolled the unmoving werewolf from off of him and scrambled for the controls to the car. He fumbled with the many buttons and in a fit of desperate frustration slammed one randomly. The car doors closed and he sunk to the floor as it made its way to the floor he had chosen.
Harry looked sadly at the limp body of Remus Lupin and with a tremendous force of will reached down and felt the artery at the side of his neck. "He's still alive." Harry sighed in relief as he turned and checked on Tonks. She was breathing but still unconscious. Harry pulled his wand and performed the necessary healing charms to stop the blood loss from his friend as the car came to a sudden stop at his chosen destination. With determination, he stepped into the Department of Mysteries after sending the car to a new floor that was away from the fighting.
He didn't have much time to decide on a direction and just as he chose a door, he heard the bell to the car of the second lift chime the new arrival, without looking back, Harry ripped open a door and ran through it in a desperate attempt to escape whoever was emerging from the opening doors of the elevator.
"YOU CAN'T HIDE, POTTER!" Harry heard Voldemort scream with fury from a mere two rooms behind him.
Harry hadn't been in this section of the Department before and he didn't recognize the archway that stood before him. Instead of a dark alcove, a doorway, or even a door, there was a white, billowing mist that was cascading from the top in a seemingly endless waterfall of clouds. He approached it tentatively and the mist slowly formed into a crystal clear scene. It was a scene that Harry had only seen in his nightmares.
There were footsteps rounding the bend behind him and without a second thought, Harry stepped into the walled, overgrown garden of what used to be his parents' house in Godric's Hollow. He could have sworn that he heard his arch-nemesis curse when Harry disappeared and he didn't have much time to think.
"DISILLUSION!" Harry said as he tapped his wand on his head and within moments he was virtually invisible to anyone who might look his way. The chameleon effect the spell produced seemed to work the best in a natural setting and Harry settled himself between two bushes that had grown well beyond anything that was tamable. He had barely controlled his breathing when the tall, black-robed presence of Voldemort made itself known.
"I know you're here, Potter!" He spat in his peculiar, high-pitched voice. "It's interesting that you fled to the very same place that I destroyed your family." He chuckled softly to himself. "Today, you join your dearly departed parents, Harry. Today we're going to end this once and for all."
Voldemort scanned the garden slowly and seemed to look right past his prey. Harry couldn't let the opportunity pass when his enemy looked away.
"CRUCIO!" Harry shouted with all the hate, anger, loss, fear, love, and what seemed to be a million other emotions that had been pent up in his heart and soul for the past seventeen years. Voldemort contorted into a satisfying heap on the ground. Every appendage on the Dark Lord's body bent and twisted in ways that were completely foreign to a Human's normal form and function. The howls of pain and agony spurred Harry into a frenzy of repeated castings of the cruciatus curse.
"Each one, Voldemort, each and every one is for the hurt and pain you've placed upon my friends, family, and me!" Harry said through gritted teeth. "Today is the day that I finally get to live my life without this damn prophecy molding me into fate's puppet!"
Harry sneered in derision when Voldemort looked at him with fear in his pleading eyes. "Mercy, Harry, grant me mercy, I beg of you! You're better than I am!" He cried with an outstretched hand to The-Boy-Who-Lived.
Harry glared incredulously at the creature panting for breath on the ground. "MERCY?! YOU ASK ME FOR MERCY?" Harry cursed him again. "YOU?! YOU WHO KILL WITHOUT IT! YOU WHO TOOK MY PARENTS, MY LIFE, MY FRIENDS?!"
"H-Harry, please." Voldemort panted desperately. "I-It wasn't me! It was the powers of the dark arts! They consume you with thoughts ..." He paused as he gasped for breath. "The ways of the dark arts overwhelmed me and I couldn't stop their evil ..."
Harry looked with disgust at the thing panting on the ground. What if it was the dark arts and not Riddle? A familiar voice said in his head. What if Riddle is innocent and just a pawn of the evil energies?
"SHUT UP!" Harry howled as he grabbed the sides of his head. He spied the wretched form of Voldemort sneaking closer and closer to his fallen wand. Harry quickly came to himself and summoned the instrument through which this most hated enemy had used on countless occasions to spread sorrow and misery. The core-mate to his wand flew through the air to him before the sickening figure could wrap his disgusting fingers around it again. In one deft move Harry caught, snapped the wand in two and then set the pieces aflame in a magical incineration.
He glared at the now kneeling Dark Lord. "If I show you mercy, Riddle, it'll be the day that I die!" Harry seethed with hatred and lifted his wand one final time.
Voldemort moved so fast it was a blur, he wrapped his arms around Harry and pinned the young man's own to his sides. He brought his legs up and wrapped them around Harry's waist. Voldemort then began to constrict the last Potter like a boa constrictor and smiled evilly.
"You know ssssomething?" He hissed in Harry's ear as if he were indeed reptilian and not a man at all. "Thissss issss the ssssame way that your dear old da went." He laughed with a hiss. The pressure that Voldemort was exerting on Harry began to show its effect.
Harry struggled in vain to break the vice-like grip and howled in bestial pain when he felt his ribs start to break, one by one.
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy thissss." Voldemort whispered dangerously close to Harry's ear.
Harry's legs gave out as he struggled for breath. He screamed in mortal agony as he felt his spine start to collapse under the immense pressure.
"Ahh, now issss the time." The one who was once Tom Riddle cried in terrifying ecstacy. "After thissss, I can't wait to ssssee what your young friend Hermione will be like in my armssssssss."
Harry's head snapped up. "Y-you'll not ... touch ... her!" Harry wheezed desperately.
Voldemort laughed his high-pitched inhuman laugh as he felt Harry go limp in his arms. "Oh, and You'll sssstop me?" He hissed in mirth.
"Yes, He will! PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Hermione shouted from behind the entwined pair. Voldemort's look of surprise was frozen in place as his arms and legs snapped to his sides and he fell to his side, inadvertently releasing The-Boy-Who-Lived.
Harry looked at his friend as she helped him to his feet. "Hermione? H-How did you know I was here?" He grimaced in pain and the color started to drain from his face.
"I'll tell you after you finish this, Harry." She said shakily. "You're not looking too well."
Harry smiled gently at her as he felt a wave of dizziness rush over him. He straightened himself as best he could and lifted his wand above his head. "This is goodbye, Riddle, enjoy your time in hell. AVADA KEDAVRA!" He shouted with all his strength and the familiar green light and rush of wind issued forth from his wand.
There was a look of abject terror in Voldemort's eyes just before the killing curse struck him in the chest then there was no further sign of life left. Harry leveled his wand and incinerated the Dark Lord as he had with the tyrant's wand.
"H-Hermione, I-I don't feel so good." Harry said with a slur. "I think I'm loosing t-too m-much blood." His knees buckled and Hermione tried to hold him up with everything she could.
"Harry, hold on!" She cried as she hoisted him up. "I need you to help me apparate you to St. Mungo's!"
Harry looked up at her and smiled weakly. "I-I'll try but it's h-hard."
Harry summoned forth all the courage he had and looked into his best friend's eyes. He marveled at how chocolately brown they were. At the little gold flecks that twinkled back. He looked at her soft, pink lips and the flush in her cheeks. Returning his gaze to her eyes he smiled softly. She needs to know before I die. He thought quietly to himself.
"I love you, Hermione." He said tenderly before the whip crack sound that accompanied apparition filled the air and he remembered nothing but darkness afterwards.