A/N: The quote comes from one of my greatest friends. I think it applies a great deal to the chapter ahead.
I know the information about Hermione's age came out, but that only cements my notions of H/Hr. Harry is obviously into older girls, i.e. Cho. I really can't stand R/Hr, because I can't stand Ron, but I may do something with it in my next story, or the rather the continuation of this. But however it will be onesided. Ron will still be pining after Hermione, yet she won't want to have anything to do with him.
[A picture of the swallow, http://csd.varlew.net/cc/ccmerch/sergefig.jpg ]
Chapter 20:
End of Time
Hope is one of the grandest things, if not the grandest, for within her lies the answers to tomorrow's questions and the solutions to today's problems. Michael Joseph Kwiatkowski
Harry looked down the hall as he holstered his gun once more. The undead were not as slow as the DADA teachers often accredited them. They charged him, wands pointed at him. Harry felt the spells grazed his hair as he stood his ground. He readied his hand on his revolver as he waited for them. As they came within two yards or so, Harry drew the gun and fired off six quick shots before holstering it once more. He had to make them count since he had no time to reload the gun.
The undead stopped as the shots splattered the head of the first six into the others. The bullets must have passed through before Harry could see a large pile of them in the front now being climbed over. A warning came from his otter as he turned to the left to see the undead coming just as quickly. "Crap," he whispered as he swung his katana, slicing them in half. The arc continued once more as Harry swung toward the center hallway. The arc this time began to cut through the stone as it flew horizontally. Screams filled the air, but as with his Quidditch games he began to block them out as the time slowed around him. He flinched slightly, but began to focus.
Tick, tock… tick... tock…
Time began to move at a fraction of what it was. He knew he could only keep up at this pace for a certain amount of time; five minutes seemed to be his maximum. However as he had time to watch his damage, he found a fault. The more he killed the more came after him as the halls began to fill, slowly, with them. Knowing there had to be an enormously strong necromancer at the end as he could make out skeletons as well; Harry began to fight his way through the throng of rotting limbs and bodies.
There he was. A strange glow, a combination of dull greens and ebony blacks enveloped the man. The man looked almost dead himself, paler in the dying light that surrounded the place. A Death Eater Mask covered his face. His clothes were black, ragged and torn like he had been there for a long time, placing charms and defensive Harry could see the undead rising from the mass graves around the necromancer as he waved his hands.
No more. Harry sent another arc through the air, allowing his body to slow down slightly, stepping in time with the rest of the world. His lightning arc torn through the undead, causing most of them to sliced into more than two as he quickly sent another one after it. The arcs caught up and formed a cross of sorts as they were directed toward the necromancer.
The screams grew louder and louder as resistance was met from the necromancer as a ward was activated. It was puce green with a bright yellow outline to it. The image was that of the dark mark, and Harry felt the evil emitting from the ward. He caught the diseased smirk on the necromancer's face as he drew a bastard sword. The ward and arcs dissipated as Harry recognized the attack pattern from something Serge attacked him with one day. A swarm tactic used when there was a massive outnumbering. There was just one problem with that tactic. Harry could spend almost a minute with time frozen and that was more than enough for him. The undead proved to be no obstacle; however the necromancer would create a problem. Even as Harry sped his body up to the point of freezing time, so to speak, the necromancer was not exactly slowing down either. He was not as fast as Harry was, but enough that it proved a challenge.
"Nooot assss fassstt assss youuu thouuughhht Poooottteerrrr," the necromancer slurred. Harry smirked and sidestepped the Killing Curse sent in his direction. His otter was still scouting the surrounding areas and found something for him to know. Harry shook his head and took out his gun and a single bullet from his stash. Placing it in the chamber, Harry spun the cartridge and pointed it toward the necromancer. "Thiiiiinnnnkkk oonnnnnnee buuuullllet is going to stop me." Harry slowed down his body as the undead remained motionless around them.
"Try a shit load," Serge said, firing off a shot gun into the Necromancer's back. Harry closed his eyes as the blood spattered forward as well. In a sweeping motion, he finished what Serge had started. The zombies, skeletons and ghouls all remained motionless as his blade extended to the length of the room. He turned around, keeping his blade at about waist high. He met with no resistance as he did so, filling the room with split dead bodies.
"How can you stand that smell?" Malfoy said, walking up behind Serge with his wand drawn.
"Harry, catch," Serge said tossing Harry a small bag. Looking at it then at his left arm, he opened the bag and poured the powder onto the cut, letting it heal. "Well now you just look like shit." Harry smirked and looked at the door Serge and them came through. It looked pretty much intact, but there were body parts strung across the floor as well as embedded within the walls. "You'd be surprised what those two girls know." Serge said as he made his way to a large pile of bodies. "The smell is nothing kid. If this place is as desecrated as I think, then we are in for a hell of a lot worse."
Harry looked at the pile as well. Think for a moment he raised his katana, pointing it at the center of the pile. Reducto. He had found out a while back that his magical skills had reached the point of nonverbal execution. Everyone flinched as the mound was blown to the walls, the musty smell of death even more noticeable as a new hallway appeared. Harry looked them and began to reload his gun, walking down the darken hallway. He could not see the bottom, but he honestly did not care. The pain in his scar was growing.
It had begun as a dull ache as he entered the decaying castle, but now……now it was more. Still as subtle, like a snake crawling through the dark, Harry felt the growth of the pain. This was the path to Voldemort. It matter not how many me he had to kill, how many men and women had to die to reach the mad man. This was war, and war is hell. He planned to end this all, end the pain, end the war, end his pain, end his war. Voldemort had started things, Harry planned on finishing them.
"Well, which way?" Malfoy asked once they reach the end of the tunnel. In the dim light, Harry could make out three more tunnels each splitting off and going deeper into the ground.
"Welcome home, son," a voice drawled from one of the tunnels. "You've brought friends with you, good, now come to me my son."
"No," Malfoy said, shaking. Ginny and Luna took hold of his arms as he held his head. Harry and Serge looked each other before looking down the tunnel where the voice came from. Serge removed his right glove, illuminating the small hall around them.
"If you come now son, your punishment will be less," the voice said once more. The aristocratic drawl grew more prominent.
"Malfoy, blow yourself," Serge said, firing two shots down the tunnel.
"Ah, the rapist," Lucius Malfoy laughed.
"I am no rapist," Serge said. The light grew stronger. This time, a light beam was sent down the tunnel and the room around them shuddered. Small rocks and dirt was shaken loose from the ceiling as Ginny and Luna helped to keep Malfoy standing. Harry stuck his blade into the wall, or what he thought was the wall. A scream echoed down the tunnels and they all turned to where the blade as the katana pierced something then stuck into the wall.
Blood trickled down the air as the blade appeared then disappeared. Smirking, allowed Serge to throw a punch at the invisible man. The cloak shifted and Serge grabbed it, tearing a large hole in it from the blade still embedded within Lucius's forearm.
"I see you decided to drop in on the party," Serge said, taking the katana out of Harry's hands.
"You fools, you are sure to die now," Lucius laughed at them as Malfoy stood up.
"Release your son," Serge said, twisting the katana. Harry could hear bones breaking as Lucius screamed in agony.
"Never," Lucius gritted through his teeth. "If I die, he'll die. The Dark Lord will revive us both, making me his general in his new world order. He'll-" Harry held the gun to Lucius's forehead, forcing the Death Eater to stop talking. "Ah the Boy-Who-Lived. Nothing to live for now."
One. Harry held up his left hand, counting down from five.
"Release your son, and I promise you, you're death will be humane," Serge said as Malfoy cringed once more in pain. Lucius only laughed; the man must have been used to high levels of pain as Lucius neither screamed nor scringed at Serge's twisting of the katana again.
Two. Harry pressed the barrel of the gun against Lucius's head harder.
"Did the Mudblood scream? Pettigrew was told to make them suffer when they died," Lucius said, staring at Harry directly.
Three. Harry pulled the trigger back slightly. His anger was rising. He knew Malfoy could see it in his eyes, and that was what he expected. The father knew worse things than Harry, but that would change. He began to look at the older Malfoy. He had built his entire façade around being the strongest and most aristocratic, stuck up person in the world. He had made his decision; Lucius Malfoy would not die by Harry's hands, though he may wish that was what he had done.
"Release your son," Serge said, removing the katana. This invoked a scream, but it was short and followed by laughter, horrible laughter that echoed even more up the halls and down the tunnels.
"My son will bow down before the Dark Lord after destroying each and everyone speck of life in your worthless souls," Lucius said, spitting at Serge's feet. Harry grabbed the man by his hair and pulled him up. He placed the gun against Malfoy's head once more.
Four. He pulled the trigger back even more, cocking the revolver. Lucius Malfoy sneered at it. Before anyone could do anything. Harry lowered the barrel. Five.
The gunshot echoed through the halls as Harry let Lucius fell to the ground, in a fetal position. The other occupants of the room stood quiet as Harry turned and began to walk down one of the tunnels. His dull ache grew into a persistent headache as walked downward. He felt himself being tackled and thrown to the ground with a primal roar.
"You bastard," Malfoy said as he threw a punch. Harry felt the pain slam through his jaw twice more before Malfoy was taken off of him.
"That was a bit cruel Harry," Serge said. Harry glared at them for a moment. "Then again, so is taking your best friends from you."
"Why didn't you kill him? He deserves to die," Malfoy screamed as Serge held him back. Harry looked at Malfoy for a moment then at Ginny and Luna, both had shock written across their faces, yet there was a hint of anger in Ginny's. He walked over to Malfoy and stood inches from him.
"No one else but Voldemort will die by my hands," Harry said in a low tone. His voice was now almost harsh. "You've father does not deserve death. Maybe life as a eunuch will change that." He smirked as Malfoy struggled in Serge's grip. He turned around and began to survey the surround walls.
They were cleaner and not as dark. Ahead in the tunnel there were lanterns along the walls, giving them minimal light. Low chants were evident from the tunnel. Harry knelt and listened carefully. He looked to see his otter next to him. Petting her gently, he smiled slightly at the thought of Hermione's Patronus. The otter scurried down the hall and Harry allowed half of his sight to be dominated by the otter's vision.
At the bottom of tunnel, he saw an altar and Voldemort stood behind it, dressed in similar robes to the necromancer, with the exception that the robes were cleaner and more extravagant. Around the room, Death Eaters were about, standing with hunched shoulders and frightened stances. The otter crawled closer, and he spotted the woman who made his veins turn to ice: Bellatrix Lestrange. In a spontaneous burst of control, Harry prevented himself from running head first into the chamber below him.
The otter ran back up the tunnel and Harry turned to see Serge still holding back Malfoy as Ginny and Luna stared at him. "They're down there, aren't they?" Ginny asked. The fear was evident in her voice, but Harry nodded nonetheless. "What are we going to do?"
"We're going down there and finishing this," Serge said, releasing Malfoy. "You're going to hurt us or join us. I've got no qualms with making you like your father up the way." Serge pointed at the tunnel entrance. "Now, Harry, you going in there first?" Harry nodded, looking back down the tunnel. The end of it all was ahead of him, at the light at the end of the tunnel. He smirked at the romantic irony.
"You two, I want you both to make sure that no one leaves from this entrance," Serge pointed at Malfoy and Ginny. "Luna, I'll need your help to keep me fully healed, and covered, when we get down there. Most of us can't move as fast as Harry." Harry did not look back; rather he removed the pocket watch and opened it.
Staring into the content photograph, Harry relished in the chance to end all of his pain. He knew that this would be the end of it all today, whether he survived or not. If he survived, he might get a chance to meet up with Hermione again in Another World. But from Serge's world, the travel was deadly. If not, he'd meet her in heaven when her time was over. Or he'd be tortured by her happiness in heaven while he was in hell. Anyway he looked at it, he was going to get a chance to see her again. A win/win situation if he was asked.
Serge's arm changed to a color of darkness, leaving the only light from what was at the bottom of the tunnel, the chamber. Harry looked over at the eerie form, smirking.
"Fight fire with fire," Serge said softly.
Harry reached back into his pouch, fingering the orb he had removed from his pouch. It was the largest out of all of his, reminding him of a Time Turner. He knew his father was within the smaller of the two and it had been almost three months since he had talked with him. Sirius was within the red one, so maybe his mother was within the other white one. Granted he still had no clue as to how they worked, but it gave him confidence nevertheless. He remembered Guile words about how an army of angels would assist him. He prayed for them as he slid the orb back into the slot within his katana. He had removed it long ago, and now a new strength flowed through him…
"Into the lion's den," Serge said as he moved behind Harry. "Fighting a group of lions with a Gryffindor, should be interesting…" Harry smirked as well, holding his finger to his lips. Serge nodded and looked behind him. Luna must be there, but Harry could not see her.
Harry moved forward as Serge pointed his arm toward lanterns. One by one, in a puff of black smoke they were put out. The sound of commotion below forced Harry to block out the sounds once more. He saw the outline of Serge nod as the last of the lanterns were put out. A commotion was heard from the chamber, but Harry took no notice. He sprinted down the tunnel-ready to take on the hordes of Death Eaters he had seen only moments before.
A quiet surrounded him, and eerie quiet, and this scared him. Harry stood in the center of the room, right before the altar, pivoting to look at everything. A bizarre green light lit the torches along the walls. Bellatrix stood next to a young man with dark hair, a man Harry had only seen twice before. But the eyes were the same, those damn eyes.
"Riddle," Harry muttered with hate. He did not know how or why, but there was no mistaking the man before him to be the Dark Lord, Thomas Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort. It was the same man from the Chamber of Secrets, the man that tried to kill Ginny. The ache in his forehead was almost unbearable, almost. So much pain filled this room, so much hate, and distrust and… "You killed them all, didn't you?"
"Right in one Potter," he said, staring down at Harry from above the altar. "It was necessary mind you, but nevertheless some of it does seem to be a waste…"
"Bastard." Harry said.
"I'll second that," Serge said, appearing behind Harry. He looked at Serge for a moment, not spotting Luna. She must be hanging back. "I always thought that vanity was a woman's prerogative." Riddle snarled at him before focusing his attention on Harry.
"It appears you've brought help with you. Though I suspect he'll be going as well." The altar was lowered to the ground and Harry could see a knife point out of the chest of a rat of a man. "I've got your message, though I'm hurt by your lies. There is no hell with you. Only an accused rapist and three children, two of them girls." A shrill laughter filled the air. Wormtail was impaled upon the table, shock and pain filling his eyes. It was not a swift death, nor an easy one.
"What have you done?" Serge asked, holding his swallow, the double-bladed sword with a large shaft between the blades.
"I'm a changed man, a better man," Riddle said stepping down from the altar. Bellatrix remained up there, and sat down, staring at them seductively. She drew circles in the blood pooled around Wormtail as she now stared at Riddle. He walked closer to Harry, studying him. "You've grown, Potter. Though you hide your abilities. Fascinating…"
"What the hell do you want?" Harry looked back at Bellatrix for a moment as she licked the blood off her hand.
"To raise Lavos of course." Riddle said with a cruel laugh.
"NO!" Luna ran into the room. Harry caught her, shielding her from him. Wrapping his free arm around her, he kept his eyes on Riddle as the man turned to watch them. "You can't!"
"I can, and I will," Riddle said. He raised his hand and threw them down quickly, filling the room with light. As it cleared, Harry could make the outline of a glowing pentagram on the floor, with the altar in the center.
Harry looked at Luna for a moment as Riddle turned his back to them. "Lavos is a creature buried at the center of the earth. It's from there that we get all of the heat, beyond the sun. He's been drawing off the world's mystical energies for the last couple billion years. He was called the Red Star, a translation from the language of the Lizards who ruled during that time. His crash into our planet sent the world into an ice age, killing off that civilization and allowed ours to thrive. But now after so long..." Her voice trailed off in fear as she paled.
"He'll be unstoppable," Riddle said turning back to the altar. "And he'll be mine to control!" He began to laugh again, but the room grew dark.
"You're wrong," Guile said, stepping in from a large shadow. "You will fail; there is no doubt upon that. The Black wind howls."
"Be gone, you fools are no longer a concern of mine," Riddle said, turning his back to them once more. "Bella?" She looked up from licking another finger covered in blood. "Dispose of these nuisances." Bellatrix did a flip in the air, separating Harry and Luna from Serge and Guile.
"He's a full necromancer now," Serge said, dodging a spell that Lestrange sent his way. "He must have given her some of his powers!" The room grew dark for a moment, the only light the pentagram, and now a circle that surrounded it.
"You have to stop him," Guile said, floating above the ground. Undead were rising from their places on the floor and began to attack him. Bellatrix looked paler than when Harry had last met her, as well as her skin seemed to be sinking in. "Harry! Its up to you!" He nodded and jumped over an advancing attack onto the altar.
"Trying to stop me?" Riddle asked him with a sneer. Harry smirked, but lost it as a large blade made of bone appeared in Riddle's hands, attempting to cut Harry in two. With his katana, he managed to block it, and rolled off the now cleaned altar. Wormtail's body had joined the masses only moments before he landed. "You know you'll never win."
Harry smirked before sending a bolt of lightning the man's way, causing him to jump back. Riddle jumped back, his body convulsing from the shocks. Touching the angel's orb on his katana, he felt a calmness go through him. He did not know who this Lavos was, or what he was, but knew that Guile, a man who showed no fear, had spoke out against the resurrection of such a creature. Besides, anything Riddle thought to be good was bad, no discussion there.
"Cute," Riddle sneered once he gained control of his body once more. "Mine's worse. Crucio!" Harry had nowhere to dodge to and was forced to take the blunt of the curse. He tried to fight it off, and did so for a moment before he felt it double in intensity. With what little vision that was no spotted, he saw Bellatrix pointing her wand at him.
"Feel the pain child," Riddle said as Harry gave up attempting to block it. His body began to convulse even worse Riddle's had.
"Harry. No, get up." Hermione's voice filled his mind as his managed to get to his pocket watch. Touching it slightly, he felt the pain subside, enough to grasp onto his katana.
"What?" Lestrange said, stopping her spell. Harry stood up and turned to face her. He felt Riddle's spell increasing in pain, as did his scar. It felt like it was about to spilt open and he knew a string of red sweat was rolling down his face. He felt the electricity rolling this his body, adding to the pain and torment that the Cruitatus curse caused.
"You took Sirius from me," Harry spoke. His voice was hard and raspy; it was hardly audible as he could see the confused look on the murder's face. "You took away Padfoot!" Harry screamed his throat on fire.
"Master?" Bellatrix sounded confused and frightened. Harry stared at her with complete detest as she looked between him and Riddle. The Dark Lord attempted to increase the pain, but Harry was beyond that point of feeling.
"Luminare!" Harry cried. He felt the lightning in his chest burst forward as he floated above the ground. His hair stood on ends and the world around him began to crinkle from the static. Spreading his arms outward, he stared at the ceiling, silently screaming. The lightning in his chest, in his heart, began to expand outward. He closed his eyes as he felt the energy inside of his subside-yet the pain did not.
Tick, tock…
Tick, tock…
Harry opened his eyes to the world around him, frozen. Everything was covered in a dome of lightning, originating from him. He could not move, could not do anything as he felt his energy fade completely and the world around him moving.
Bellatrix was no more. What she was, what was left of her was a pile of ashes upon the ground. As the same for the undead that surrounded them. Harry could not lift up his arms, let alone his sword, turning to see Voldemort still standing. There was no Riddle left. Harry had killed him. Whatever compassion remained in the man was no more.
Before Harry stood a man who he knew to be the epitome of evil. There was no other word to describe it. The man looked the same, but the power behind the now glowing red eyes was horrible. Harry choked on his own blood as he attempted to breathe, coughing it up.
"The great Potter is no more," the voice was shrill, high almost. It sounded insane-there was no doubt of that, and the power behind those eyes made the man even more insane. He turned back to the altar, and Harry couldn't make out the words, or rather the language. It was Latin; that was all he knew.
"No," Guile said, coming forward. His body floated in the air. "I made the same mistake once; I won't let you do so." A bolt of red threw Guile to the side of the room. Harry vaguely saw Luna rush to his side. Serge had done as he'd promised. He had protected her, now it was time for him to what he had promise. He'd stop Voldemort.
"Harry," Serge rolled a vile of something toward him. "Drink it." Serge looked like he was ready to collapse as well. Harry did his best to wrap his fingers around the small potion and brought it too his lips. A cool liquid made its way down his throat as he felt his energy returning to him. Not as much as he had at the start of the day, but enough to do what he planned on doing.
"Riddle," Harry said, standing up swaying slightly.
"My name is Lord Voldemort," he said, turning around. The man's eyes were ablaze as he stared down Harry.
"Okay Lord Monkey-butt," Harry said with a smirk. Today was the most he had talked in about a month, and it felt good, almost. A snarl came from the man's lips as he lunged for Harry. He dodged, but did not tap into his lightning abilities; if he was right, there was only enough for one shot, and he needed to make it count.
"You fool, I could kill you with a thought," Voldemort was on the opposite side of the room. Harry had noticed the small portal beginning to form at the center of the pentagram as the man dove at him. Harry smirked, going back to his silent mode. He like it better, allowed him not to be seen as much. It did not help a great deal at the moment because Voldemort was staring directly at him.
Harry shrugged as Voldemort lunged again, this time firing a blast from his eyes, similar to the one that took down Guile. He dodged and the blast took apart the wall, causing the room to shudder. The portal was growing and Harry now was facing the entrance, he could see Ginny and Malfoy both standing there in shock of what was happening. The portal had grown to the size of a door and Harry felt it was closing in on him. Rolling to his left, the portal took his place against the wall.
Harry stared deep into it. A water substance filled it, black and blue though it never mixed. It was easily distinguishable as they shifted around within the portal. At the bottom, or what he thought was the bottom, Harry could see a large turtle like creature.
"Lavos beckons," Voldemort said. The turtle was growing bigger and bigger.
Now or never. Harry used the last of his energy to increase his speed. Tick… tick… tick… Time came to a halt as Voldemort froze in midlaugh. Tightening his hold on his katana, Harry ran forward, with considering how fast he was moving at the moment anyway… Grabbing Voldemort by the waist, Harry threw him toward the portal. Tick, tock, tick, tock. Time returned to normal as Harry impaled the shocked man.
"Good show," Voldemort said, grabbing onto Harry's collar. "But I'm afraid, if I'm going down, you'll have to come with me."
"See you in hell," Harry whispered, twisting the katana. Voldemort cringed as Harry spoke his last words. "Aglignis." Several bolts flew from the tip of the katana, and connected with the man. His face contorted from the amount of energy being sent through him. Voldemort had never have been one to take pain well, yet he always gave it away like a disease.
The lightning flowed from Voldemort's body. Harry felt some of it igniting his body as well, giving him a bit more strength. He twisted the katana again and withdrew it, sending Voldemort into the void below. He did not scream as his body was overcome with convulsions from the electricity still flowing through his veins. Harry turned his back to them, feeling a small fire beginning in his pocket. The pocket where he kept the watch Hermione gave him. He reached there in an attempt to save the watch only to be overcome with pain once more.
Before he could tell what happened, the world turned dark…………
* * * * *
"There we go," Serge said. Harry felt his cheek being slapped a couple of times before opening his eyes. "He's coming back to us." Harry groggily sat up, trying to gain his bearings.
What? Harry opened his mouth but found no words would come out. He felt two arms wind their way around his neck, crying. He looked to see the blond hair covering his shoulder as Luna cried into his shoulder. Looking through a dimly lit darkness he saw Guile, Serge, Ginny, and Malfoy all looking at him strangely. His free hand went to his pocket where the explosion started, searching for the watch.
"A friend of mine took it Harry, he's repairing it as we speak," Guile said, kneeling next to him. Harry gave him a questioning look. "We are at the end of time, Harry." Harry gave him another questioning look as Luna let go and allowed him to stand.
The world around him was filled with stars off in the distance. He was currently standing on a cobbled platform, something taken from London circa 1880s or so. A fence enclosed a single lamppost. There were two paths, each in opposite directions. A bucket was in one corner of this fenced off area and where they currently stood. A door way was in front of him, but it did not appear to have much behind it.
"The magic overloaded in you pocket watch, and in combination with the portal, brought us here," Guile said, motioning to the world around him. "It's about time that we go back though." Harry nodded and they all followed Guile to the path at the left. Harry looked down the one at the right, surprised to see it ending abruptly, with the cobble looking like it was hanging in mid-air. Half of his body would have like to stay and study this place, whereas part of him was ready to go and find Hermione and Ron. He felt the pull of finding them more as he walked to where his friends were waiting.
There were two pillars of light, one each side of the small platform. A man in a bowler cap and something like a tuxedo stood there, explaining something. The hat was pulled down to hide the man's eyes. He looked to be older than Serge was, but not as old as Dumbledore was Harry caught the tail end of the conversation as he walked up.
"-to the right is the one that will lead you back to Hogwarts, right by the lake there in fact," the man said in a quiet, drowsy voice. It appeared as though he may have slept a great deal. "Step one by one through it." He motioned toward Ginny to go first. "Don't be scared child; it'll be similar to your portkeys." Harry looked around the room as Ginny stepped into the pillar.
The room was similar to the previous on, however with the only distinction being the pillars of light, and the lamppost. Harry turned back to see Ginny disappear into the pillar of light. Luna shrieked slightly and turned into his arms. Nothing he thought could scare him after seeing that monster within the void. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her.
"Mister Malfoy, I believe you are next," the man said. He nodded, though looked at him suspiciously. Malfoy stepped into the portal and disappeared. "Serge is you'd be so kind, make sure they're not getting into any trouble." A small smirk appeared on both of their faces as Serge stepped forward.
"Harry, if I don't see you again, good luck," Serge said with a knowing smirk. He went through immediately before Harry could say anything.
"Young lady, I believe it is time to say goodbye," the old man said.
"What are you talking about?" Luna asked, pulling out of Harry's chest. He gave both Guile and the old man a questioning look. What goodbye? He'd see her in a few moments.
"Harry will not be returning with you," the old man said. "I believe this is yours." He held out his hand, showing the pocket watch. Harry greedily took it, looking it over to make sure everything was in its place. Tears came to his eyes as he looked at the picture of him and Hermione. He looked at the old man, thanks in his eyes. "You're welcome."
"Where is Harry going?" Luna asked, looking at Guile this time.
"Where he is needed. Where he wishes to be." Guile said.
"Magus, please escort this young lady back as I have a discussion with young Mister Potter here about two of his friends," the old man said. Harry's face felt like it was going to explode. He felt like he was going to explode. There was a chance that he would be seeing Hermione and Ron again. This man was going to help him.
"You mean…" Luna's voice trailed off for a moment. "I'm going with you."
"What? Impossible, inconceivable," the old man said.
"She has lost her loved one too," Guile said, looking at Luna. She blushed under his gaze. "Even if he is a bit dimwitted at times." Luna glared at him, while Harry gave a silent laugh. "If Harry promises to teach her where they're going…" His voice fell off as Harry nodded. "Very well, I shall check up on you two from time to time. Maybe bring letters and such, more books." He smiled and gave them both a short hug. "Good luck Harry." He smiled at them, a rarity, and stepped into the pillar.
"Very well," the old man said. "You two stand at the End of Time and my name is Gaspar."
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