The Last Battle

The Execution

As they slipped through the front door, Harry kept half an eye on the map. All the teachers were still in the side room, and the Death Eaters hadn't moved from their positions. Once they had shut the doors quietly, he motioned the others to gather round him once again.

Harry studied the map again, as Ron and Hermione leaned over his shoulders. So far, so good, he thought. None of the Death Eaters had moved, so Harry assumed that they hadn't noticed the doors opening and shutting.

"Right, so we're going to the front gates," he muttered, the others leaning in close to hear him properly. "Just keep moving, and don't cast anything until you have to. The longer we can keep unnoticed, the better."

Harry moved off quietly, trying to make as little noise as possible. Here goes nothing he thought. The others followed his lead, but he had only gone a step before some of them closed in front of him.

"No point in losing you straight off," Ernie explained with a shrug. "It's better that we get taken out."

Ernie's comment brought it home to Harry. This was a battle, very likely the final one, and people were going to get killed. Still, he thought as they tiptoed onwards, we haven't been seen yet. He shivered slightly. Although it was early summer, it was a cold night and it had started to drizzle with rain.

They made it halfway to the gates before Harry regretted his earlier thought.

"Well, if it isn't the little Potter," a voice sneered at him.

"Stupefy!" Harry hissed towards the voice.

"You'll have to do better than that," the voice came again. "But of course, I forgot, you're not capable the unforgivables, are you boy? I, on the other hand, am. Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light shot from the shadows, hitting the person directly in front of Harry. Ernie dropped to his knees next to the body. He felt for a pulse as the others held their breath.

"It's Luna, Harry, she's gone."

"Come out and show yourself!" Harry said angrily, not bothering to keep the volume down. He kept his wand trained on the spot from which the voice had come, trying to keep his emotions from letting his hand waver. Luna Lovegood was gone. Dead. Because she tried to protect him. But Harry knew he couldn't allow himself the luxury of grieving for her. He had to stay strong.

"Why, certainly." A figure stepped forwards from the shadow of the tree.

"Lestrange," Harry breathed in recognition. He was suddenly elbowed out of the way by another student.

"Sorry, Harry, but I have to do this"

Harry could only look on as the student, who he couldn't recognise in the dim light, raised his wand. It was over in a second.

"Avada Kedavra!" the student shouted. A bright green light erupted from his wand and hit Bellatrix straight in the chest. She crumpled to the ground silently.

But the shouted curse had attracted more cloaked figures. One bent down and examined Lestrange.

"She's dead. Killed by the Longbottom boy."

Harry looked up in amazement. Sure enough, it was Neville who had cast the spell...Neville who usually wouldn't hurt a fly, had killed a Death Eater.

"So, you have taken one of ours? No matter, we will have fun with you." Harry recognised the death eater who had spoken as Lucius Malfoy. He supposed that Draco would be lurking somewhere nearby, a smug grin on his pointed face.

"Crucio!"

Neville's face contorted, he tensed up then fell to the ground, writhing in obvious agony. Harry started forward to help him, but Ron pulled him back.

"Don't forget what you have to do," Hermione said. "We have to carry on."

"We can't leave him!" Harry tugged at Ron's arm, trying to get to Neville.

"Harry, this is more important. We have to go!" A slight waver in Hermione's voice gave away the emotion she was obviously feeling.

Reluctantly, Harry moved back again. Casting a final glance at Neville, he turned and with Hermione and the two Weasleys with him, he sprinted for the gate, closely followed by half a dozen others, the rest remaining behind to fight the death eaters.

Hold in there, Neville, hold in there, he thought, as their feet pounded down the driveway, no longer worrying about silence.

Once they reached the gates, Harry stepped outside and leant his head against the wall to catch his breath. He had told the others to stay within the school bounds, as there was extra protection from various spells that the Professors had placed around the school. However, he heard footsteps behind him, and turned to see Ron, Hermione and Ginny close behind him.

"You're going to be alright, Harry," Ginny said, looking as if she didn't quite believe it.

"Harry, you're worth a thousand of Voldemort," Hermione contributed

"Kick his ass, mate..."

"Ron!" Hermione glared disapprovingly at him.

"What?" Ron looked indignant. Harry laughed. It was good to know that, even in times of war, some things never changed.

"Nothing. Harry, good luck."

"Yeah. Good luck, Harry."

Suddenly, without any warning, the four of them came together in a hug. As he stood with his friends, Harry felt like he never had before, complete. The gap that had always been there since he lost his family was now filled, and he realised something. These three were his family now, and he knew that if by dying tonight, he could stop Voldemort getting to them, he'd do it.

Stepping back, he looked at the rocky ground, unable to see the emotion in his friends' eyes. With a loud crack, he disapparated.

***

Harry looked around. The room seemed empty, apart from the archway and the fluttering veil. But the atmosphere was tense. Harry didn't know if that was from his own nerves, or from something else. He turned his attention back to the veil. He felt strangely drawn to it, like he had been two years ago. Gripping his wand even more tightly, he started towards the veil, but was suddenly blocked by someone appearing in front of him.

"Harry Potter," said Lord Voldemort in silky tones. "I knew you'd come."

Harry looked up at the monster in front of him.

"I don't care what you do to me, just call your Death Eaters off the school," he said, hoping he sounded braver than he felt.

"How noble of you, Harry Potter," Voldemort sneered. "You are willing to die for another, how very Gryffindor. Just like your father, your mother, your godfather..."

Harry stiffened. It was two years ago, almost to the day, that Sirius had died fighting in this very room.

"Yes, boy, that's right, Sirius Black died for you. That's why you're here tonight. Fitting that you should die in the same place, no? Black was a foolish man." Voldemort almost looked thoughtful. "He could have joined me, you know, I gave him the chance years ago."

"Sirius would never join you," Harry spat, "And neither will I!"

"Did I even say I wanted you to?" Voldemort asked, twirling his wand in his long thin fingers. "No, Potter, you have caused me too much trouble over the years. The only thing that will satisfy me now is your death."

On his last word, Voldemort raised his wand quickly and pointed it directly at Harry.

"Avada Kedavra!" he hissed, without missing a beat.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, hoping against hope that the spells would create the same effect as they had last time they faced each other. With bated breath, both Harry and Voldemort watched the two jets of light speed towards each other, and then join in a burst of golden light. The beam connecting the two wands seemed brighter than Harry remembered, and it pained his eyes to look at it.

As a golden cage began to form, there was a loud crack to Harry's left. Keeping all his mental strength focussed on the beam, he nonetheless allowed himself a quick glance.

"Did you think we'd let you come alone?" Ron Weasley shouted, sounding a million miles away.

"Ron, get back!" Harry yelled, just as Ron shouted "Harry!"

He saw his friend stagger back off the dais to the front row of seats, where he was pushed back as if fighting an invisible force. Harry forced his attention back to Voldemort and the beam. Ron would be ok for a minute.

Expecting the same battle of wills as had happened in the graveyard three years ago, Harry pushed all his mental energy into the beads of light. To his surprise, they began to move without resistance. He looked up at Voldemort, who was staring straight at him.

So that's your game, Harry thought, as he felt cold fingers begin to probe his mind. He instinctively relaxed his mental barriers, somehow knowing that occlumency would not help him now. As the fingers probed further into his mind, images swam before Harry's eyes. Cedric, dead. Sirius, dead. Dumbledore, dead.

Despite the images of death and destruction that floated before him, Harry felt like laughing. Voldemort's plan was as clear to him as if the Dark Lord had written it on a piece of parchment. Voldemort knew that he had to destroy Harry, and he was going to do it by first destroying his mind. Closing his eyes tight, Harry fought to think of happy memories, ones he had used in the past to summon his patronus.

The dark images swirled, and were slowly replaced by happier ones. His first broom ride, winning the house cup, Christmas with Sirius. But the images of death did not disappear completely.

"You cannot fight me, Harry Potter," Voldemort's voice hissed inside his brain.

Yes, Harry thought, I can. He remembered Hermione, Ron and Ginny looking at him just before he disapparated.

"You're going to be alright, Harry"

"Harry, you're worth a thousand of Voldemort."

"Kick his ass, mate..."

"Ron!"

"What?"

"Nothing. Harry, good luck."

"Yeah. Good luck, Harry."

And then the image of the four of them clasped in the tight hug flashed clearly into the front of Harry's mind, easily scattering the visions that Voldemort was creating. Instantly, he felt a release on his brain as, with a yell, Voldemort was thrown out of his mind. Harry snapped his eyes open to see the other wizard stagger backwards, pulling the golden beam, and Harry, with him. Time seemed to slow down as Voldemort staggered back more and more, towards the archway. Harry's eyes widened as he realised where Voldemort was headed, and Voldemort noticed his opponent's new expression. Still trying to catch his balance, he turned and looked over his shoulder.

But it was too late. With one last angry shriek, Voldemort fell backwards through the archway and disappeared.

But the golden beam that had previously linked the two wands had not disappeared with him. Instead, it was now linking Harry to the veil, and was pulling him in more than ever.

"Harry!"

Harry felt someone grab him around his waist and pull against the beam.

"Break...the ...connection!" Ron hissed from between his teeth, using all his strength to prevent Harry from disappearing. With a great wrench, Harry pulled his wand up. The golden beam detached from the veil and flew back into Harry's wand, the force slamming him and Ron against the seats around the dais.

"Sweet Merlin, what was that?" Ron half-asked, struggling out from under Harry.

Harry opened up his wand hand and the two boys watched in shock as a small pile of dust fell to the floor.

"How on earth..." Ron began, but was interrupted as Harry fell to his knees.

Harry thought that his head would explode. He had only felt pain like this once before in his life, when Voldemort had possessed him two years ago. That time, Voldemort had used him to speak and move, but this time there was nothing. Just pain.

"What is it, Harry?"

Harry struggled to see Ron through the haze of pain that swam before his eyes. Somehow, by focussing on his friend, he was able to think reasonably clearly.

"It's Voldemort, Ron. Somehow, when that light destroyed my wand, it transferred his soul into me."

Ron looked terrified, unsure whether to help his friend or back away.

"He...he's possessing you?"

"Sort of." Harry clenched his fists so tight that his fingernails dug into the palms of his hands and made them bleed.

"So can't you fight him out? Like you did last time?"

"No," Harry said, with terrible realisation. "There's nowhere for him to go."

"So what now?" Ron relaxed slightly, expecting Harry to tell him it would be ok.

"I've got to follow him. I have to go through the arch."

"NO!" Ron shouted in protest. "You can't, you'll die!"

"Don't you think I don't know that?" in his anger, Harry felt Voldemort try to take control. He took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself.

"He's going to break through, sooner or later, and then it won't matter that he's lost his body. He'll have mine. Don't you see Ron, if I die, he dies with me and the world is safe. If I live, then Hogwarts and the entire world, wizarding and muggle, is doomed. Neither can live while the other survives. He's surviving, I can't live. He doesn't need to live properly to cause havoc."

Ron just looked at Harry. Come on, mate, Harry pleaded silently.

"Then," Ron said, his voice shaking ever so slightly "You know what you've got to do."

Harry took a step forward and in one swift movement, he embraced Ron. His friend hugged him back tightly, and as Harry felt himself overwhelmed with love, the agony intensified. Voldemort was close to taking over. The boys separated reluctantly.

"Go, Ron, before I do," Harry said, wincing with pain. "Tell Hermione and Ginny... and everyone, that I'm sorry. And tell McGonagall it's over."

"I can't leave you like this!" protested Ron, his eyes burning with a mixture of fear and love.

"Yes, you can," Harry said, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "Go!"

Ron straightened up, but before he left, he looked Harry straight in the eye.

"We'll never forget you, mate."

A loud crack rent the air, and Ron was gone.

With no-one to see him now, Harry turned to the archway. The tattered curtain still fluttered in an invisible breeze, and as he concentrated, he could hear the whispering voices.

And then, gritting his teeth against the pain in his head, Harry Potter walked through the arch and beyond the veil.