Sirius stared in disbelief as he watched Hermione drop her hood and step forward while Harry stood stone still.
"Explain yourself; witch, before I take your miserable life." Voldemort ordered.
"It's quite simple, I did this to this worthless pile of flesh; he' s a disgusting and loathsome pig," she replied matter-of-factly, and added, "I have taken his soul and disposed of it. And before you try anything, I simply want to warn you that my husband is a powerful and vengeful wizard."
"It isn't everyday I have the chance to meet someone with the backbone to stand up to me on their own. Yes, Malfoy served his purpose but he had become too much of a lap dog."
"Which is why having us as your allies might prove beneficial; we are both speakers of the old way."
"Tell me of this trap." He pointed to the second guard, "You may leave us."
Harry, at that point, dropped his hood too, "Sire, would you miss the opportunity to meet my husband?" Hermione asked.
Harry stepped forward to her side, putting an arm behind her back, "I alone can stop this rebellion, but there will be a price to pay," he said.
"Such insolence; such disrespect; such self-centered greed; how refreshing. How can you stop this rebellion?"
"I have been in contact with certain leaders of the rebellion and they have taken us into their confidence. I can convince them to do my bidding with a word. As we speak, they are preparing to strike here. I can stop the attack, if I wish."
"Can you draw them into a planned ambush as well?" Lord Voldemort asked.
"Certainly, if I had reason," Harry replied.
"Would sparing your lives be reason enough?" Voldemort sneered as he gripped his wand.
"I think you may find that more difficult then you would think." Hermione said as she raised her hand mimicking Harry's motions, and Voldemort's wand was stripped from his hand without a word. His wand flew into her hand, and she held it as if examining it.
"Phoenix feather, isn't it? I've heard one existed," she commented as if in casual conversation as she twirled the Dark Lord' s wand in her fingers, gently stroking the shaft gliding her fingers down the length and paused at the tip. She knew her every move was being watched.
"So, she has the ability for wandless magic, impressive, but not in and of itself a unique skill." He pointed to the wand in her hand and summoned it. It quivered in her hand momentarily before she released it back to him.
She smiled as he slipped the wand into his belt before he motioned them both forward. The deception had worked better then anticipated.
"So, you can call off this attack with a word?"
"Yes, I have a dog waiting to deliver my message. Go, it's over." He shouted to the windowless wall, and in Sirius' general direction.
Sirius, still not believing what he heard, slipped out carefully still hidden under the cloak. All he had to do was get to the Atrium and he would be able to escape. With the disturbances created by the others tripping wards, security guards and Aurors scrambled from one level to another, trying to isolate the attacks. All he had to do was wait for the lift to stop at the correct level, and leave. He would be outside in moments, warning the others of the deceptions by Harry and Hermione, they now obviously had joined forces with the Dark Lord, ready to reveal the underground network.
He stayed out of sight; he needed to confirm his fears before leaving.
"So," Voldemort said, "Send your message and let's discuss how we can assist each other."
"It has been sent, I ordered the attacks to be terminated," Harry replied.
"It also seems we have not been properly introduced. You both well know who I am, but I have no idea who you two are, and it seems one of you is quite capable of blocking my mind from both of yours."
"My name is Harriet, and this is my husband Herman Gratter. We have watched your rise with interest, although your management of the natural resources of this planet has been less then efficient."
"Tell me Gratter, do you let her do all your talking? Has she emasculated you to that level?"
"Do you lead every one of your battles, or do you delegate probing attacks to a strong second?" Hermione replied before Harry answered.
"Interesting; you have an interesting strategy, let the little woman do your dirty work and watch for a weakness."
She smiled at the remark, but bit the end of her tongue to keep from snapping. 'How much longer, this is torture, Harry,' she thought to herself.
'A little longer, we need to know his weaknesses, besides pride,' he thought back into her mind.
"So, you have a reason to offer your services? And what is your plan for crushing the rebellion?" Voldemort asked. He had begun to consider these two as allies, and as possible replacements for the lackeys he had surrounded himself with in recent years, if they proved useful. They were refreshing and strong. "What of Malfoy? His son will want revenge?"
"He is of no consequence; I shall deal with him when the time comes." Harry replied as a matter of fact.
"So tell me, what 'powers' do you both possess?"
"We both have powers unique to each other, but complementary. He has a power that even you do not possess." Hermione replied quickly.
"We know who the rebel leaders are, and there may be an uprising soon," Harry began his planned speech. His monologue consisted of enough detail to be believed, and long enough for her to do her part.
'Sire, I need to speak with you alone, send him away.' She thought.
'No need for that, are you the one blocking your thoughts?'
'Yes. He really isn't that strong, I let him believe he is. I know your weakness of the years and I can help. You are naturally so much stronger then he is, I find that… arousing.' She thought.
'Go on, I will let him drone on about this rebel plot that I am already well aware of.'
'I have the ability to draw one's soul from one's body; Malfoy is an example of that. I can also draw the life force from a body and transfer it where I want. You have a problem with stamina, I know of your dependence on your rituals and your constant trips between the Manor, the Ministry and Little Hangleton.'
'And what of him?'
'It was a marriage of convenience; I was bonded to this other wizard by my father, that fool was weak. I convinced Herman to kill him for me and release me from that bond. Do this and I will be yours, and I will use my skill to return your lost stamina.'
'How do I know you won't turn on me, bitch?'
'Simple, there isn't anyone stronger then you is there? I want to mate with the strongest wizard possible, and I will bear you a strong son.'
Voldemort mulled her proposal in his mind for a few moments while Harry continued to detail possible but ridiculous strategies for defeating the Rebel alliances.
"Enough of your dribbling, Gratter. You have yet to tell me anything new," Voldemort said stopping Harry's speech.
"But, Sire, I am on the inside of two main factions," Harry continued his pleading. 'Love, did it work?'
'Yes, but be careful.'
"Leave us, I wish to speak to your wife, alone," Voldemort said as he dismissed Harry. "Come, you lovely creature, you deserve better then him."
"Stop. She is my wife. We came here together, and I won't leave without her."
"Yes, but she is the only one I require to stay, if you wish to keep your life, leave now." He held a weathered hand to Hermione, and she took a couple steps closer to the Dark Lord.
"No, I won't leave without her," Harry demanded.
"So be it, fool." He pulled his wand and pointed it at Harry, who stood there and raised his hands as if he were trying to block the inevitable spell with his bare hands.
Hermione had slipped her wand from its hiding place and also had another wand in her other hand.
"AVADA KEDAVRA" the dark wizard shouted, but instead of the green killing beam, from his wand, nothing happened.
Harry's hands began to glow; he began his incantation from before. "CONTEGOOPERIRE …"
Before he finished, a hand streaked from Voldemort's side, but she failed to block the impact of his closed fist with her jaw. Harry's concentration had been broken at the sudden physical attack.
"No, Hermione!" He shouted, and tried to cushion her fall, but missed. She flew down the steps of the raised dais where the throne sat, to the stone floor from the impact. The blow was enough to send her sliding into the wall. Her chin stung sharply and blood filled her mouth. Her head struck a protruding corner and she went limp. Stunned at the sudden changes, both adversaries watched her fall, as if it were a slow motion film. Harry's hands still had the bluish glow, but it started to fade as he saw the tell-tell trickle of blood down the side of her face.
"So this was the trap, you both are fools." Voldemort sneered as she took a single step to retrieve his wand where she dropped it. "So you are as weak as she said, I'l l finish her first, so you can watch." He pointed his wand at her throat, "Diffin …"
"Expelliarmus ," he yelled, and the Dark Lord' s wand again flew from his hands before the spell was finished. "Leave her alone," he shouted as he took the wand and twisted it in both hands, bending and ready to snap.
"You fool, I don't need a wand to finish the likes of you," he hissed and turned to face Harry. Hermione' s limp body still lay between the two, but Harry was too far from her to help. Voldemort, on the other hand, was only a few inches from her and to drive the point of Harry's weakness, buried his boot sharply into her side, the distinct snap reported ribs breaking.
The fresh pain woke her, but the new sensations had her doubled over on the floor, retching blood.
Fully enraged, Harry raised his hand at their foe, a red crackle began to snap from his fingertips and a concentrated bolt of lightning struck Voldemort in the chest, flinging him across the room and into the same wall Hermione had struck. The smell of cindered flesh wafted through the room, as the Dark Lord tried to lift himself to his knees.
Hermione laid there, bile and blood mixed in her throat, she managed to roll over and free herself from the bile, just as Harry crossed to her side. Voldemort was still too close to allow him a second chance to hurt Hermione, Harry raised his hand again and shouted "Stupefy" , causing Voldemort to stumble back from his knees.
"Weak, Gratter, try something stronger next time." He raised his wand and held it over Hermione' s body, pointing it at Harry. "Now, you will die," he sneered.
The green hue began at the tip of his wand, evident of his weakened state. He was having difficulty summoning the power he needed to kill. Harry raised his hand again, and the same blue hue engulfed his hand.
Hermione was closer to Voldemort, she managed to open an eye, blood stung the other shut; she could see his wand and arm over her and could feel his weakened state. She knew she was hurt, and bleeding. She watched Harry hesitate his blow, 'Because of me,' she thought and reached out to Voldemort.
Her hands glowed with the same golden hue as before, and she grabbed the outstretched arm. She felt his life begin to drain from his body into hers; she felt his evil soul reach out to her like an infection.
She resisted.
She pulled as much of his life from his body as she could in that brief moment, leaving him weaker, but left his soul inside and intact. He was dying, but not dead. She fell back, briefly revived, and rolled out of the way.
Harry watched the dark wizard fall motionless. His body began to shrink, and a haze engulfed him. Harry took the chance and raised his hands to complete his spell. The same blue sphere of energy engulfed Voldemort's body. The haze dissipated around the sphere.
He began to collapse the energy sphere, to destroy the body once again but before it disappeared completely he heard Hermione cough. He stopped the destruction of Voldemort, leaving a small apple sized orb hovering near her body. He rushed to her side knowing she was hurt. The injuries were not severe, but they were still painful, her ribs had begun knitting back together on their own although her scalp did not stop bleeding. He gently lifted her head into his lap and stroked her hair.
"You' re safe now, love. He' s gone." He pressed his hand to the wound in her scalp, causing her to wince at the sharp pain.
"Harry, I could see his soul," she began, her eyes wild in fright. "Harry, it's not over. It wasn't all there." She franticly grabbed at his arms.
"Mione, it's ok, I got him. He' s gone."
"No, before you hit him I could tell, his soul wasn't intact," she insisted again.
He thought the possibilities and watched the blue orb. It contained whatever was left of the Dark Lord. He stood, leaving her to hold her head and control the bleeding, reached out and grabbed the small sphere and squeezed it. It continued to shrink, but it wouldn't disappear. He focused and concentrated on the single spot of pure energy, and willed it away, it shrank again, but still remained.
"I can't finish it; it's as if there' s something stopping me."
"Can you encase it? Maybe you need to rest first," she offered.
He picked up Voldemort's wand, and having the least bit of self doubt, created a small box to hold the sphere safely. The box was lined with an energy force, to match the sphere. He slipped it into the box and sealed the box.
She sat up now, still holding the back of her head and looked at the box. She slipped a hand inside his cloak and removed a single object. She held the vial with Malfoy's soul and he held the remains of Voldemort in the other.
"You did it!" they heard from the opening of the chamber. Sirius appeared from under the cloak. "I couldn't believe you two turned traitors. I had to wait and find out,"
Harry grinned and Hermione winced, she was still sore and still had some bleeding. Sirius tore a patch of his shirttail off and folded it as a bandage for her head. It soaked through quickly.
"We need to get her to a healer quickly, Harry. I think enough damage has been done here."
"No, I' ll be fine. I need to rest a bit," she said. She looked to Harry, and they shared a thought. "No, Harry not you, it would kill you, you' ve used too much to get him."
"What does she need, Harry?" Sirius asked bewildered.
"Energy of sorts. She needs to draw on natural energy to heal."
"But Harry's too weak, if I can rest a while …" she continued.
"It's not safe here; there will be others here soon. Can you use me?" he offered.
"Sirius, it might kill you, look what happened to Voldemort."
"Look, kids, I don't care, take what you need. Please."
"Mione, what about that." Harry pointed to the Malfoy shell. It had been hit by a stray spell and one arm was gone. She nodded reluctantly, and he motioned for it to come closer.
She held a hand out to the body, and they both were engulfed in a golden glow, lasting only a few moments. The shell stiffened and after the glow faded, it slumped to the floor. Not completely dead, but not alive either.
Her scalp wound finally closed, her ribs completely healed and the bruises on her side and chin also faded. Her strength began to return quickly.
"She used him like a bloody battery," Sirius commented.
"Yes, and I can do the opposite but I've never done this before," she hesitated and looked away. "I--I can't kill."
"I know. It's a good thing to be able to stop. Now, love, we need to get the others and get out." They left the throne room, a still quivering Malfoy shell remained on the floor.
"Sirius," Harry began grabbing his godfather' s arm, "It's important one of us gets out to make certain this won't continue. First chance you get, you need to get out."
"Yes sir, General Potter," he said with an exaggerated salute.
"I' m serious, here, take this box, it must be destroyed somehow. I know I can do it, but I didn't seem to have the strength earlier."
"So keep this safe, and you will finish the task she started?" Sirius asked as they entered the staircase.
"She started?" Harry stopped and looked at Sirius.
"Yes, you couldn't see it, but she nearly killed him, you only trapped him."
"Harry," she pulled him face to face, "that last line … 'Their kin will complete what the witch lost began' now it makes sense, mum and James must be the ones to destroy what's left in this world, since you never existed here you couldn't be the one to kill him."
A moment of revelation streaked through the Potters, and Harry simply nodded to the potential outcome, yet to occur. He pulled out his rucksack and sat on the steps while he fumbled inside it for a moment.
"Harry, what are you doing? We don't have the time," she said to hurry him along.
"Just a moment, I need to write this down." He scribbled on a sheet of parchment, and handed it to Sirius. "It's the spell needed to destroy the orb, give it to James. He' s the one, I' m certain."
Sirius took the sheet, and tucked it into his pocket. He still held the box and knew the job that lay ahead. "You two aren't going to make it back, are you?"
"Don't be daft, of course. The lifts are on the other side of this corridor, we should be able to get out from here, there' s enough confusion."
They stood at the door to the stair landing for the ninth level, and carefully opened it a crack. The hall seemed empty and clear, leaving an unobstructed path to the other end. Sirius slipped out first, and waited in an alcove just before the lifts, for the others to cross over.
Harry took a deep breath, grabbed her hand and kissed the back of her hand lightly." Ready?" he asked.
She nodded and they caught each other' s eyes for a split second, and each still could see that spark meant only for the other. They both grinned and he squeezed her hand as he pushed the door open. They started for the same alcove Sirius hid in, when from the corner of his eye, Harry noticed the chain around the Hall of Prophecies' door was not only removed, but still moving. As they came to the door of the Death Chamber, the door to the hall of Prophecies swung open. A group of wizards in uniformed cloaks appeared, the two opposing forces froze, staring at each other, Hermione thought fast and pushed Harry through the first available door.
The door to the Death Chamber exploded seconds after they passed into the room, the only available cover was the stone arch.
"Sirius GET OUT!" Harry shouted and he and Hermione crouched behind the stone benches on the steps. The first wizard through the door was greeted by a bolt of lightning, the same as he hit Voldemort. When he fell, the hood slipped off and they could tell it was Victor Crabbe. Hermione hit the next with a stunner and he dropped.
The bench next to them exploded sending shards of stone screaming at them, one large chunk hit Harry in the shoulder with a thud. It knocked him off balance and sent him falling away from the cover of the benches. She managed a more aggressive series of spells, aimed to create confusion in the attacking group.
"Hermione, behind you!" Harry could see a wizard had worked his way around, and was about to strike her down, he fired a blaster off, hitting the wizard square in the chest. His blood spurted out as he fell dead, neatly bisected.
She rolled around to him, the door was clear and a series of spells and explosions erupted in the hall, Sirius was creating a diversion for them, but the door was now blocked.
The sudden silence from the hall means either they caught him or he escaped as Harry instructed. Harry held Hermione' s hand tightly, as they strained to hear any movement. She surveyed the carnage in the aptly named Death Chamber, at least one was surely dead, one possibly dead and another stunned. Hermione stood to try and help the two near the doorway, but he held her back. The shouting resumed from outside.
The sound of shouts and obvious sounds of movement was good news, they were searching for Sirius. He must have slipped out in the confusion.
Harry held her hand, pulling her into an embrace. "We have one chance, we have to let the people here finish this fight, I' m certain they will win, with Voldemort and Malfoy gone."
"You still have that vial?" she asked. "We shouldn't leave it, in case they …"
He reached into his pocket, for the vial, and in that last blast that shattered the stone bench, the vial broke. "It's empty, does that mean--?"
"I think so, his soul needed a vessel, and he wasn't able to become a spirit, there wasn't any life force left, he' s truly gone," she let the last statement roll from her lips; she had caused his death. Even though she didn't intend to kill him, he was dead because of her direct action.
"He deserved it, Mione, it wasn't your fault." He kissed her forehead to keep her from dwelling on Lucius Malfoy's demise. "We have to leave."
He stood and kept her hand tight in his, afraid to let go. He looked to the arch and back to her, she nodded and she still held Harry's hand as this time they turned to the arch together and stepped through, still holding hands.