A/N - for all those reviewers that hate cliff hangers, you are going to so hate this chapter. You have been warned. This has been in my head so long, I think I've done it justice. Thank you for your reviews. I should get my new laptop this week so the next chapter should be on time (only 2 to go after this one). Sorry again for the cliff hanger….
Chapter 22 - The Battle for Light
Harry began to slow down as the lights from the castle no longer reached him, the area he headed for was now solely lit by the Cheshire-Cat-smile type moon that reflected on the lake's surface. Dumbledore's tomb also glowed bright in the otherwise gloom, allowing Harry to see the more than one figure standing there, waiting for him. Frowning, Harry changed his direction slightly and headed for the cover of the trees. He was more than surprised as he recognised who was confronting Voldemort, wondering how he knew where to come and why he was there. Deciding he'd like to find out, Harry hid and watched, their voices easily carrying over in the darkness.
"Young Mr Malfoy," Voldemort welcomed nonchalantly, not worried about Draco's wand pointing at him, "this is an unexpected surprise. Haven't I killed you once already?"
"It takes more than one way to kill me," Malfoy answered unwaveringly.
"So it seems," Voldemort replied, his wand held loosely at his side, "I'm sorry if I seem a little confused. You see, I was waiting for Harry Potter and here you are. How did you know where I was?"
"Potter headed off in this direction and I knew a short cut," Malfoy spat, advancing, "you are going to pay for killing my mother."
"I didn't kill your mother Draco," Voldemort almost purred, "your failure to do as you were told killed your mother. However, failure seems to run in your family - like father like son…"
Harry shielded himself behind a tree as spells began to fire back and forth. He could tell that Voldemort was just toying with Malfoy, though every now and then a look of surprise crossed the snake-like face as one of Draco's spells came just that little bit too close. Neither seemed aware of Harry's presence and he was quite happy to keep it that way.
However, when it looked like Draco was loosing the fight, Harry began to debate whether it was time to show himself. But something told him that if Voldemort knew he was there, then Malfoy would just be a distraction and killed immediately; strangely he didn't want that to happen. Part of him felt a little, tiny, sense of admiration for Draco Malfoy - he was fighting Lord Voldemort after all. He was either very brave or very stupid.
Just like myself, Harry thought with a wry smile, which died as he watched Draco be held down by the throat on top of Dumbledore's white tomb, his wand dropping from his hand.
"You fought well," Voldemort acknowledged to the choking Malfoy, "it is almost a shame to kill you. Again."
"My Lord, let the boy go."
Both Harry and Voldemort turned to the new voice, Draco falling gasping to the ground.
"Severus," Voldemort stated with a hint of a sneer, "my, you don't look that well."
Harry looked at his old professor and saw that Voldemort was right - even in the unearthly glow of the half-moon and the natural paleness of Snape, the man looked sick.
"Draco is of no consequence to you," Snape continued, "he is worthless of your time and effort…"
"The fool threatened me," Voldemort snapped, all pretence of politeness gone, "and you say that is of no consequence? You surprise me Severus."
"You're waiting for Potter, you do not want to be distracted…"
"You have the gumption to tell me what I should and should not be doing," Voldemort sneered, stepping over the still withering body of Draco, "what has gotten into you, my old friend? You know as well as I that I am not easily distracted. When Harry gets here, which I must admit should've been by now, nothing will deter me from my course."
"Then you do not need Draco."
"Draco was supposed to be dead," Voldemort carried on, getting closer to Snape, "you disposed of his body yourself…" the Dark Lord paused, a slow smile crossing his face, "Narcissa made you vow to protect her son, didn't she?" Snape didn't answer and instead just stared at his master.
All of a sudden, there was a mass of movement. Harry watched with dread as Draco reached out for his wand, pointed it to the back of Lord Voldemort and mentally said his spell. A beam of deadly green light fired towards Voldemort, who turned and reflected the curse harmlessly away. With speed that was unnatural, the Dark Lord repeated Malfoy's now useless spell and fired back. The Slytherian wasn't quick enough to deflect it and with a sickening thud, his lifeless body hit the side of the solid tomb and slid to the ground.
A strangled groan came from Snape, drawing Voldemort's attention back to the Death Eater, but Harry stared at Draco's body for a bit longer. All the years that he had known Malfoy and all the times he had wished the blond to be dead - now he was. Harry thought he should feel happy that a person that he despised so much was actually dead, but he felt nothing. Draco Malfoy didn't deserve to die that way.
"I expected more from you Severus," Voldemort said calmly, "you defied me to honour a vow that was impossible to keep. I should kill you right here for that act alone."
"I deserve no less," Snape panted, definitely looking worse for wear, "at the time of the vow, I was still a professor at Hogwarts and Draco was my student…"
"You finished what Draco couldn't because you thought it would save his life," Voldemort continued thoughtfully, "Albus's death was a side bar to your taking of a vow, not because of your devotion to me…"
"I have always served you my Lord…"
"Don't lie to me Severus!" Voldemort screamed, "crucio!"
Harry watched as Snape fell in agony, his cries echoing through the air. After a few moments, the curse stopped leaving the ex-professor withering on the ground.
"Your occlumency skills are legendary, but you can hide from me no longer," Voldemort hissed, bending and taking Snape's face firmly in his hand, locking his eyes with his own, "who is your true master Severus?"
Harry could see the struggle that was taking place within Snape's mind, already weakened by the cruciatus curse and whatever side effects of the broken Unbreakable Vow. Voldemort's vice like grip never wavered as he held Snape's face inches from his own. After what seemed like hours, the Dark Lord broke the connection, tossing Snape unceremoniously onto the ground.
"You betrayed me Severus," Voldemort spat, "your loyalty was to Albus."
"He could offer me more than you," Snape gasped.
"The old fool was dying?" Voldemort continued, unhearing, "even for all his strength and power he let a Muggle disease infect him?"
"We all have to die sometime, somehow," Snape said, getting stronger, "even you." Voldemort laughed; a hollow, evil sound.
"You jest Severus," he announced, standing tall over the fallen Potions professor, "I cannot die. Albus thought he knew all about me but he was wrong. He was old and your mind has told me he was sick, getting more feeble by the day. Even his precious Potter was unaware, protected from the horrible news. How…sweet. Where is that boy, by the way? He should be here by now!"
Harry stifled a groan as he felt the prodding in head, flashing the image of the tomb once more. He quickly turned away so Voldemort couldn't see he was close, very close. It was then a realisation struck Harry - he had to overcome the invasions in his mind. How could he fight if he was incapacitated with a thought? Frowning, Harry admitted to himself that it was too late to do anything about this now - he had never been good at occlumency. He turned back to see Voldemort once more grabbing Snape's face in his hand, forcing him to look at him.
"What I don't understand," Voldemort said, his voice tight with suppressed rage, "is you have been passing my secrets to Dumbledore yet for what purpose? He was unable to conquer me!"
"His death was a release for him, he begged me to end his life - you did not beat Albus Dumbledore. And your greatest triumphs, your Horcruxes, are destroyed," Snape hissed, "you are mortal once more because of me." Voldemort growled, pushing Snape away with disgust.
"I told you I cannot die!" he yelled, "but you can!" With a flourish, he struck Snape again with the crucio curse, making it last longer and harsher than ever before.
Harry had had enough. He hated Snape, hated Snape with a vengeance, but no-one deserve to go through what he was going through right now. Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped out from where he was hiding and strode into the cleared area by the tomb.
"Stop," he said loudly and with purpose - Voldemort looked up from his task and halted the curse.
"Harry," he said with forced pleasantry, "I almost thought you weren't going to make it."
"Let Snape go," Harry replied, his wand drawn as he approached the two figures. Snape was moving, slowly, trying to get to his feet. Voldemort ignored him totally, seemingly focused on Harry.
"Severus has done me an injustice Harry," Voldemort carried on patiently, "he has betrayed me all this time. It seems that it was Dumbledore he served and you must understand that I can not let that go unpunished."
"You have punished him enough…"
"Oh, but I haven't," Voldemort sneered, kicking the now kneeling Snape squarely in the face before continuing to talk calmly to Harry, "you see, it seems Professor Snape wasn't telling me all that he was supposed to while he told Albus as much as he could. Oh, and Dumbledore was dying, did you know? He had cancer, or some such thing, so his death came as no surprise to him. In fact, he was looking forward to it and it seems he was grooming you as his successor. Strange, considering you are about to die."
"You seem so sure," Harry countered, hiding his shock of the news that Dumbledore had had cancer, "things have changed."
"So I understand," Voldemort agreed, "my servant here tells me I am mortal once more - but don't be so sure, my young friend. I have many secrets. And so do you, it seems."
"I try."
"Yes, you are very trying," the Dark Lord spat, "and now it is time to end this charade. I feel your strength, so much more than the last time we met, but you are young and stupid. You will not win."
Harry raised his wand just that little bit higher as Voldemort pointed his wand back. Suddenly a voice sounded in Harry's brain, a voice that was sickening familiar. Snape.
Don't look at me, he instructed and it took all of Harry's resolve not to dart his eyes towards the fallen Death Eater, distract him - I will help you.
"I remember the last time we fought," Harry said out loud, advancing onto Voldemort but at the same time wondering what Snape had in mind, "our wands didn't like each other that much. I suspect that the same reaction will happen again - I haven't killed anyone, yet. However you…I think quite a few people will be joining me this time."
"So true, so true," Voldemort agreed, "but, and excuse the expression, there are more than one way to skin a cat - or kill you, as the case may be…argh!"
While Voldemort talked to Harry, Snape had managed to stand (very unsteadily) before charging onto his old 'master', nearly knocking him to the ground. Voldemort turned savagely, his wand raised, but Snape attacked first, throwing some sort of potion into his opponents face.
"What have you done to me?" Voldemort screamed, striking Snape hard across the face while wiping his own. Harry went to disarm him, but instead found himself hurtling backwards, landing heavily, the sword digging into his side.
"It was poison. You will not survive," Snape gasped, his face broken and bleeding.
"It is you who will not survive - Avada K…"
This time Harry's disarming spell struck, making Voldemort's wand fly out of his hands before the curse was completed. He turned furiously to Harry, who stood, wand still raised. Without missing a beat, Voldemort summoned his wand back and pointed it directly at Harry. Harry could see Snape was no longer moving, splayed awkwardly next to Draco.
"You have pushed me too far Harry," Voldemort spat venomously, "I have had enough of this talk, these games. This is going to end."
Harry felt the first spell come his way but he was faster, deflecting it easily. He knew that if Voldemort continued to use magic, it was only a matter of time before the wands bonding would take place. They both had to be firing spells at the same time - an attack and a defence. It really was just a matter of time.
But the reality was; he couldn't wait and find out. The panic that had hindered him on the previous encounters was almost non existent yet the possibility of him dying was still very probable. Still, Harry found himself giving as good as he got and his hand every now and then rested on the comforting hilt of the sword strapped to his waist.
They had been duelling with little success for nearly fifteen minutes when the inevitable happened - the wands locked. Harry found his arm nearly breaking from the forces of the connected magic but he kept his hold. He could see Voldemort through the eerie glow looking slightly concerned. Harry smiled.
The ghostly cage began to form around them as they raised above the ground. Voldemort was trying to break the bond but couldn't - Harry hung on too strong. The first head appeared from Voldemort's wand and it wasn't covered with black hair but glowed a brilliant white. Snape was still alive, but it was a reminder that Draco wasn't.
Other figures joined Draco, images of people Harry didn't know, but the Slytherin came to Harry, hovering by his side.
"What do you need me to do Potter," the image said, all contempt and hatred removed from his voice.
"His wand. Distract him enough so I can get his wand."
It felt strange to work with Malfoy instead of against him but the other boy didn't argue and instead went over to the other shadows that huddled confused within the cage's bars. Harry could see Voldemort was failing and the thought that it really was poison that Snape had thrown crossed his mind.
The stalemate continued for a moment longer when Malfoy looked over at Harry and nodded, telling him he could break the connection. He did so, falling heavily to the ground but without missing a beat, he stood up and saw Voldemort get swallowed up by the multitude of the dead.
"Expelliarmus! Accio wand!" Harry cried, using the rare moment of Voldemort's inattention to disarm his enemy. The long, skinny wand shot into Harry's hand and without a second thought, he broke in two.
"No!" Voldemort screamed as he fell to the earth, glaring at Harry as he stood. His stance was unsteady and he definitely looked weaker than when he first arrived at the tomb. The visions had faded away, dead once more - Harry advanced.
"Scared Tom?" Harry asked, feeling like things were actually going his way. Voldemort couldn't do magic now, his wand was destroyed - Harry had the upper hand.
"Of you?" Voldemort sneered, "oh you foolish, foolish boy. Have you ever wondered why you and I have such a strong connection? Why we are so intertwined." The Dark Lord leant back onto the tomb, no longer able to stand.
"There are many reasons," Harry answered, getting closer - his wand raised and ready.
"Yes there are," Voldemort continued, "but there is a reason that your precious Dumbledore didn't know of. A reason that makes your life and my life interchangeable. I cannot die as long as you remain alive, you see. It's all so simple."
Harry paused, not understanding what he had just been told. Was he talking about the prophecy? But that didn't make sense - the prophecy said the opposite, that one must kill the other, not that one cannot die while the other one lives. Harry frowned.
"You're wrong."
Harry's heart skipped a few beats when he heard her voice, Hermione's voice, coming from the trees. He quickly glanced to the side and saw her standing there, watching, her own wand drawn and pointing at Voldemort.
"How sweet," he said sarcastically, "you never told me you had a girlfriend Harry. Have we been introduced?" Voldemort began to walk towards Hermione, his gait unsteady but determined.
"Stay away from her," Harry growled, realising the time was here for him to do what he needed to do; but it felt wrong. This wasn't a fight, there isn't a struggle. Voldemort is unarmed and possibly already dying.
"Or you'll do what Harry?" he taunted, "kill me? Go on, give it your best shot." But before Harry could answer, all frailty and sickness disappeared from Voldemort and with a sudden dash of speed, he hurtled towards Hermione.
"Sectumsempra!" Harry yelled and instantly blood began poring out of Voldemort's body. He collapsed only meters away from an immobile Hermione, his eyes frozen on to Harry. Harry cautiously made his way to the fallen monster, his wand still drawn.
"Are you alright?" he asked Hermione, not quite ready to look at her to make sure.
"Ye…yes," she stammered.
Harry stopped. Something was happening. There was a lot of blood, he could see it staining the earth, and Voldemort's breathing was getting more and more shallow. Yet his eyes followed Harry and as a gurgling sound of blood escaped the once powerful wizards mouth, Harry knew his enemy would soon be dead. But Harry didn't feel relief and when the slightess of smiles crossed Voldemort's dying lips, Harry frowned.
He saw the light die in the red, snake-like eyes - but that was all he saw. Suddenly it felt like his head had exploded - worse than the crucio's he'd had, worse than the time at the cemetery, and even worse than when he was possessed at the Ministry. He vaguely heard Hermione screaming but it meant nothing. The pain was immeasurable and it seemed to be radiating from his forehead. From his scar.
Time seemed to stand still as he tried to work out what was happening to him, desperately wanting the agony to end but not knowing how to do it. He felt himself fall to the ground, the sword sticking into him awkwardly. Without warning, he was sick, and he knew he was bleeding but he didn't know where the blood was coming from. It was then Harry heard the voice, filling his pounding brain.
"You see Harry," the voice hissed, "as long as you're alive, so am I."
"Get…out…of…my…head," Harry panted, not sure if he was speaking or just thinking his words.
"Oh, but I can't. I'm part of you now - you belong to me!"
It was like he was watching a movie, that the onslaught of new feelings and thoughts were just the introduction of a new character, something he had no control over. The part that was Harry Potter got pushed to the side as the evilness that was Lord Voldemort came in and took control. It was overwhelming as the goodness that was inside of him disappeared.
Harry opened his eyes.
He felt power, he felt in control like he never had before. The destruction of everything and everyone that had ever stood in his way was now in his reach. He would soon rule the wizarding world, even the Muggle world, with an iron fist. No-one or nothing could now stand in his way.
He saw a girl looking at him, her fear and worry seeping out of every pore. She flinched when she saw him and quickly backed away. Harry smiled. Her face was familiar and the reason struck him - she was an enemy, a friend of Dumbledores. She needed to be destroyed.
The first thought was just to kill her, strike her down with an Unforgivable. The wand in his hand was unfamiliar but familiar at the same time. But something told him that this girl was special. Suddenly a few images crossed his mind - this girl hugging him, helping him with school work…kissing him. Harry recoiled in disgust then relaxed as he realised who she was. She was the girlfriend of the person that once was Harry Potter. This would be fun.
"Come here my sweet," he cooed, "it's only me - Harry."
"You are not Harry," she cried, "stay away from me!"
"But I want to feel you…"
Harry grinned as she screamed when she was pulled to him, secured tightly in his embrace. He marvelled at how simple that was, it took only a thought and his wand seemed unnecessary - the power within him was indeed immense. He turned his attention back to the girl in his arms, enjoying the look of fear and shock on her face. He could see that because he still appeared in the image of her love that she didn't know what to do. This would be fun.
"Please, Harry, don't do this!"
"Do what, honeybun?" Harry sneered, dragging her over to the tomb, thinking it would be quite apt to kill this girl where Albus lay, "kill you? Hurt you? Oh, but I have to. I have all this new power, you see. I have to try it out some how."
He took her wand from her hand with little resistance, breaking it into two and discarding it on the ground. He then picked her up easily and laid her on top of the white marble, binding her down so that only her head could move. He then climbed on top of the tomb himself, straddling her, sitting on her thighs.
"Harry, no!" she cried, tears seeping out of her eyes, "I know you're in there somewhere! Listen to me…"
He slapped her, hard. Her talking was annoying him - maybe he should silence her? No, he wanted to hear her scream.
"Sweetie pie, if this is to work, you need to understand," he said sweetly, grinning as she looked back at him, her lip bleeding, "things have changed. I have changed. If I'm to rule, I can't have a pathetic wench like you at my side - think about my image!"
"Harry, I love you! And…and you love me, remember?"
Harry sat back as a memory entered his mind bringing with it a feeling. Hermione. Her name was Hermione and he loved her.
No I don't! Love is weak, unnecessary! His mind screamed at him, telling him she was wrong - he hit her again.
"Shut up," he hissed, but more memories followed the first - how good she felt in his arms, how she cared for him, looked out for him, how soft her kisses were…
"You and I, we're going to spend the rest of our lives together!" she continued, ignoring the blood now covering her battered face, "we even made a promise because neither of us could live without the other! Do you remember the promise Harry? Please remember! You are the most special person on this earth to me! Come back to me! Fight him!"
Harry could feel a new emotion struggle with his anger and hate, but he didn't know what it was. It was like a fog cleared and he could remember Hermione, Ron, Hogwarts…He looked down at her in horror; her face was bruised and bleeding, her eyes filled with shock.
"Hermione?" he uttered, not sure what was happening.
"Yes, yes Harry, it's me!" she exclaimed, "we need to…" but her words died as the fog engulfed Harry's brain once more. Anger fought away the memories and the need to shut her up consumed him. Without a word, he reached down and wrapped his hand around her throat, squeezing, enjoying seeing her eyes widen in fear. She was choking, but she somehow still managed to speak.
"Lo…o…ve you…"
A force within Harry pulled him off Hermione and off the tomb, landing on his back and temporarily knocking the wind out of him, the hilt of the sword pressing into his backside. He was aware of Hermione coughing as she tried to sit up but the battle taking place inside his brain overshadowed everything else. Once more the fog lifted, allowing him to see what he was doing - and he didn't like it one bit.
"You can't fight this Harry," a voice told him, a voice that was eerily like Lord Voldemorts yet it was within him, inside his mind.
"You will not make me kill her," he seethed, not knowing if his words were spoken or not.
"You are me now, you will do as I ask…"
"No! I will not let you take over! I will not let you win!"
"It is too late Harry. I have won, can't you see? You have given me a young body, strong and powerful. Your destruction will be complete and I will continue to live within you. Us combined will be invincible, no one will be able to destroy me!"
"I will not let that happen…"
"How? By killing yourself? Do you really think I will let you do that? Minute by minute your resistance against me is weakening. Soon all that was once you will be gone and this discussion will be useless. Give in Harry. Nothing can save you now."
Harry forced himself onto his hands and knees, his head bent in pain. He can't let Voldemort win but how was he going to stop him?
"Harry?" Hermione asked tentatively, kneeling at his side.
"Get away from me," he heard himself hiss at her, his voice hard and cold - and not his. She flinched but didn't move, and instead a shaking hand reached out and stroked the side of his face.
"Harry, you can do this. You can fight him - just remember me, us," she instructed with an intensity that radiated out of her, "remember Ron and how he was your first real friend. Remember Hagrid and his bone crushing hugs. Mr and Mrs Weasley, how you are like a son to them. You can do it Harry, please."
Once more his mind cleared and he knew what had to happen. With the little remaining strength he had, he lifted his head and looked at her. Her face was bloody and swollen, her hair flying everywhere - but she still looked beautiful. Knowing he didn't have much time, he took a deep breath and spoke to her.
"He can't win Hermione."
"He won't, you can fight this…"
"No, no I can't. He's too strong. You need to destroy him…"
"Wha…what are you saying?"
"You need to kill him. Kill me."
"No!"
The pain in her voice ripped at his heart but he knew it was the right thing and the only way. Already he could feel Voldemort fighting to regain control and he knew the energy it was taking for him to tell her this would mean this would be the only chance they had. The next time Voldemort would enter his mind would be to take over.
"We haven't got much time," he pleaded, "Voldemort is coming back and he will kill you! Hermione, please. You have to do this."
Harry watched as she began to cry but could see she understood. The fight within him was getting stronger and it was only the image of her face that helped him stay him.
He collapsed onto the ground, no longer having the strength to continue his attempt to stand. This was it. This was the end. Part of him was sad that it had to end this way, that what he was asking Hermione to do would probably haunt her for the rest of her life. But he also knew that he would be starting his next great adventure now. He had done what he had to do and he could rest in peace.
He felt her draw the sword out of the sheath at his side. Rolling onto his back, he looked up at her and saw she was sobbing, the sword held loosely in her hand. He could feel the tendrils of Voldemort fighting their way through and he didn't want to see her for the last time through Voldemort's eyes.
"He's coming back Hermione," he breathed.
"I can't…"
"You have to," Harry replied sadly, "tell Ron I'm sorry."
"Harry…"
"Remember our promise Hermione," Harry closed his eyes as Voldemort's thoughts struck him briefly - when he felt he was once more under control, he looked back to Hermione, "please, he's coming back. Please, don't let him take me again."
She got to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Taking the sword in both hands, she raised it above him so its tip pointed directly at his chest.
"I love you Harry," she whispered.
Harry smiled sadly then closed his eyes, waiting. He could feel Voldemort's fear and as Harry relaxed the Dark Lord once more invaded his mind. But he didn't get a chance to do anything as a wrenching pain hit his chest. He could hear someone screaming, but it didn't matter. It was over. He could rest now, he was so tired. As the darkness came, he could hear the sound of crying and then there was this wonderful, beautiful song, enveloping him with its calmness. He had done his job, he had rid the world of Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter could now rest in peace.
A/N - don't hate me! The next chapter hopefully won't be too far away….