Return of the Lion

"At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked."

John 5:9

Chapter 13: Start of the Battle of Parselrock

In London, surrounding the mighty fortress of Parselrock was the single largest gathering of dark forces in all of Europe. The tension there was quite high; recent successes of the resistance fighters had prevented the dark forces from extending their territory out of Europe, all spurred by the "Return of the Lion" as people had dubbed Harry Potter's return.

In an attempt to crush the heart of the resistance, Voldemort had sent his Killer Elite to destroy Hogwarts a full week and a half previously, but the lack of news had made some Death Eaters nervous. Amongst those was Icicle, who's sister Flame was a member of the Killer Elite and had therefore gone to Hogwarts. She hadn't heard from them in quite some time.

"Where are they?" yelled Icicle, clearly frustrated. She was pacing back and forth in front of her tent, in a clearing not too far from the Thames River. "They left a week and a half ago! We should've had some news by now!"

"Patience, Icicle," said Lucius Malfoy, relaxing in a luxurious seat right next to his tent, "There is no way the Killer Elite could've been defeated. We will be celebrating our victory soon."

"I suppose so," said Icicle, calming down a little. "Slave!" she yelled. Two shackled people came forward, ragged and dirty. They were Susan Thomas and John Seymour. "Get me my tea," ordered Icicle.

Seymour tried to lunge at Icicle, but Susan held him back. "John, don't do anything stupid," she pleaded.

Seymour looked like an erupted Volcano. He completely ignored Susan's pleas and tried to attack Icicle.

"Crucio." Seymour hollered in extreme pain as the Cruciatus Curse ripped through his body. Susan looked terrified as Icicle walked up to him grinning like a madwoman.

"Stop it! You're going to kill him!" shouted Susan. Icicle however, had no intention of taking off the curse as she walked up to the writhing Seymour.

"Let that be a lesson for insubordination, muggle," sneered Icicle.

Suddenly, a huge explosion rattled the camp of the Death Eaters! "What?!" Icicle and Lucius looked up to see a horrifying sight.

The Resistance was attacking the Death Eater stronghold in London! Thousands of fighters of both magical and muggle resistances were storming the Death Eaters and overpowering them.

"The Killer Elite have failed?" hissed Icicle. "That's not possible! There must be some other explanation!"

"Really? Why don't you think about it logically?" said a very familiar voice. Everybody present whirled around in surprise to see who the voice had come from. "That attack on Hogwarts was a gamble wasn't it? It was an attempt to wipe out the resistance once and for all wasn't it? So how can the resistance be attacking you now? Why, logic dictates that your Killer Resistance lost, pure and simple as that."

The voice had come from a very familiar young girl with bushy golden brown hair and cinnamon brown eyes. She had a look of pure determination on her threat and she actually looked quite threatening, despite the fact that she had approached them on a wheelchair. Her thighs were covered by a red and white, checkered quilt.

"Hermione?" asked Susan looking very confused.

"Granger?" spat Seymour, though he too looked quite confused.

"Why, my little mudblood," smirked Icicle. "Young Draco has missed you very much. I am glad to have this opportunity to deliver you to him."

"If I were you, I would preparing myself for a duel," said Hermione, glaring defiantly at Icicle.

Icicle started laugh. "Oh really, mudblood?" she said between laughs. "Now tell me, what can a legless freak do against the likes of me?"

Hermione simply said, "Don't take things at face value." Icicle simply grinned and fired an explosive curse at Hermione, which flung her out of her wheelchair into the air. Hermione however, simply twirled around in the air and landed gently behind Icicle on her feet...her feet?! Everybody present stared at Hermione in shock while Hermione looked smug.

Yes, Hermione was balancing on the tiptoes of a right foot, a left foot slightly raised above the ground! She was wearing white pointed end shoes that went well with her satin white travel robes that simply glowed in the darkness of the night and flames from the nearby battle. She looked like an angel, beautiful and frightening. She was now, in fact a full inch taller than previously at five foot seven.

"H-how is this possible?" spluttered Susan from the corner she was hiding in. "I amputated your legs myself, Hermione." Icicle and Lucius were glaring at her, the exact same question in their eyes.

Hermione smiled sweetly and said, "Harry. He used the regeneration powers that Battle Wizards use to raise the dead to regenerate my legs. The difference is that since it was only part of a body that was regenerated, rather than a full body, these legs are permanent."

Icicle smirked. "Oh, is that so mudblood. Well, be happy then, since you will lose them again if you continue fighting against us!"

"Want to bet?" asked Hermione with a grin.

Icicle glared at Hermione who seemed to be filled to the brink with confidence. Suddenly, she shouted, "Crucio!" twice and fired two curses at her.

At the last moment, Hermione whipped a long staff and deflected the two unforgivables with an advanced shield charm! Icicle was caught off guard. She managed to barely dodge the first curse but the second one grazed her arm and she hollered in pain. "H-how did you do that," she hissed.

Hermione twirled the staff around. It was five feet long, and had a golden disk on the end while the staff itself was navy blue. "Five feet, cherry, and a single tail feather of a phoenix. An Ollivanders speciality staff made specifically for me," said Hermione.

"That deflection had nothing to do with the staff," hissed Icicle. "Magical wands and staff only channel the wizard or witch's magic. That shield you just used came from you yourself!"

Hermione grinned and pointed her staff at Icicle. "Lets just say that you're facing the one witch who as the top of her class every single year of her Hogwarts education."

Icicle hollered in anger and fired another curse at Hermione. Hermione simply deflected it with another shield charm. She swung her staff upward at Icicle and Icicle was flung twenty feet away by a magical force. She tried to fire another curse at Hermione but Hermione simply swung her staff again and Icicle was flung away.

Lucius tried help Icicle but he abruptly stopped when he realized that a wand was being pointed at the back of his head. "Don't even think about it, Malfoy," hissed a masculine voice Lucius hadn't heard in nearly twenty years. He fearfully turned around to see James Potter pointing a wand at him, with Lily Potter standing next to him, her hand on her wand as well.

"P-Potter?" stuttered Lucius in disbelief. Lily and James grinned maliciously.

Icicle fired another curse at Hermione but was once again flung away. "How is this possible?" she demanded, painfully dragging herself back onto her feet. "You were not this powerful back at Malfoy Manor."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Don't you read books?" she asked. "Its general knowledge that a wizard or witch can channel his or her full power only when their full body is in tact. Since I didn't have my legs before, I could only access half of my powers. But now that my legs are back, not to mention that I have a staff specifically made..."

"I get the idea!" yelled Icicle, looking annoyed. Hermione realized that she had gotten carried away and turned a little red, clearly embarrassed. "But I am still not letting myself be beat by a mudblood!"

Icicle raised her wand and started to say, "Avada Kedav..." but Hermione was faster when she shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Icicle's wand flew out of her hand into Hermione's who promptly snapped it. Icicle charged at Hermione in a physical assault but Hermione landed a powerful kick, with her newly regenerated right leg, onto Icicle's chin and knocked her out. "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd use a physical attack on an opponent," she said to herself.

Lucius tried to attack Hermione but James tackled him and pinned him to the ground. Lily walked up to him and hissed, "Don't Malfoy."

Lucius growled. He suddenly used a burst of magic to blast James and Lily away from him. Before he could escape however, a large black dog bounded forward and pinned him to the ground once again. Lily whipped out her wand and shouted, "Stupefy!" Lucius slumped unconcisous.

"Thanks Padfoot," said James. Lily also smiled at the dog.

Sirius transformed into his human form and said, "My pleasure," with a grin.

Hermione walked up to Susan and Seymour. "All right witch! Do your worst!" yelled Seymour looking threatening.

Hermione stared at him sadly. Wordlessly, she raised her staff at them and their shackles fell off. Susan looked at Hermione in surprise while Seymour looked outright shocked. "What new trick is this, witch?" he demanded.

Hermione sighed sadly and said; "I guess it's going to be 'obliviate' for you later, John. I'm sorry for your prejudices you just can't drop." Seymour spluttered angrily but remained quiet. Hermione turned to Susan and said, "Susan, I'm so sorry for keeping secrets from you. I should've told you that I was a witch from the first time we met. But I was afraid of being prejudged in a similar way many wizards have prejudged me because I'm a muggle-born. Susan, I just wanted to that I'm so sorr..." Hermione had tears glistening in her eyes when Susan abruptly stopped her.

"Hermione, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I considered you a friend, and yet I immediately assumed that you betrayed us when I found out you were a witch. I'm also sorry for what I did to your legs."

Hermione smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. As you can see, that's been completely taken care of." She visibly tapped her left foot on the ground to emphasize her point. Susan smiled and pulled the younger girl into a strong hug.

"This place is too dangerous for you," said Hermione. "Take John and follow that dog," she pointed at Sirius, who had just turned back into his animagus form. "You can trust him with your life. He will take you back to the area controlled by the resistance." She nodded at Sirius who nodded back.

Susan smiled at Hermione before she dragged Seymour away after Sirius. Hermione turned around to see Lily facing her.

"Hermione," she said, "Harry is about to storm Parselrock. I want you to go after him."

Hermione looked surprised. "Shouldn't you been the one who should be going with Harry? I mean, you are his mother..."

Lily shook her head. "James and I will be gone again after this war is over. Harry shouldn't live in the past, he should be heading into a bright future with you."

Hermione stared at Lily for a moment. She and Lily pulled each other into a strong hug before Hermione ran off to catch up with Harry.

* * * * * * * * * *

While the battle raged around him, Harry Potter was standing in front of the main entrance of the fortress known as Parselrock, Ron right next to him looking apprehensive yet determined.

Harry pulled his hat lower and said, "OK, let's go." Ron nodded and the two started to walk toward the doors.

"Wait!" Harry and Ron spun around to see Hermione run up to them. "I'm coming with you!"

Harry did not look too pleased. "Hermione, its too dangerous. I don't think..."

"Don't get all chivalrous on me, Harry James Potter!" hissed Hermione. Ron cowered away in fear as Hermione continued, "I am more than capable of defending myself. And nothing you say or do is going to change my mind! I am coming with you!"

Harry looked a little angry, but he could see Hermione's determination and knew it was no use to argue. "Fine, you can come," he said, looking defeated. Hermione nodded.

With that, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned around, and walked toward the doors of Parselrock.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

Matthew 6:14

Chapter 14: End of a Rivalry

Harry, Hermione, and Ron tore through the corridors of Parselrock as fast as they could. Although most of the dark forces were outside fighting the battle, there were still a good many Death Eaters inside of the fortress. Each floor had a large ominous corridor, which was held up by Greek style pillars that ended in a magnificent staircase that led to the floor above. The trio climbed each staircase as fast as they could, since Voldemort's chamber was on the top floor.

Each floor was defended by some of the most power Death Eaters in Europe. Fortunately, these were absolutely no match against Harry, and could only offer a minor challenge to Hermione. Ron often felt a little small next to his powerful best friends, but he had his moments with his share of powerful curses he sent toward random Death Eaters. Finally, after fighting off at least some 142 Death Eaters, the trio made it to the sixth floor of the fortress tower.

"How much more do we have?" asked Ron warily. He was very exhausted from running through sixth levels of the fortress. "If we don't get to the top soon, I just might as well turn myself in to You-know-who since I won't be able to fight him because of exhaustion."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come on, Ron. You can't be THAT exhausted." For her part however, Hermione was amazed hat she had absolutely no weariness at all. She realized that it was because her new legs granted her so much more running power than before. "Anyway, we should be there soon."

After saying that, Hermione walked through the corridor. However, when she came in sight of the staircase to the next floor, she abruptly stopped. Her eyes widened in fear and her body started to shake uncontrollably. She also seemed to have lost her ability to speak, as she just stood there, paralyzed with fear.

"Hermione what's wrong?" asked Harry coming up behind her, concern written in his green eyes. He soon saw what was wrong, and his teeth gritted in anger.

Standing in front of the staircase, wearing elegant silver and green robes, with the image of a snake on the torso, was none other than Draco Malfoy. Harry could understand Hermione's fear since he knew how much pain Malfoy had brought on her. Harry reassuringly squeezed Hermione's shoulder. Hermione clutched Harry's hand on her shoulder as if it were a lifeline.

"Malfoy?" spat Ron. "What are you doing here?"

Draco made his trademark sneer. "Well, what do you expect, Weasley? I'm here kill you, fight off Potter, and make sure Granger carries my child."

Hermione started trembling fiercely. Harry gently circled his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her. Ron started swearing loudly and was about to go fight Draco when Harry said, "Ron, no! Leave him to me."

Harry gently passed Hermione to Ron. Hermione seemed reluctant to let go of Harry, but Harry gave her strong assurances, which finally convinced her to let go of Harry and stand by Ron. "I'll conquer your fear for you," whispered Harry. Hermione nodded and weakly smiled.

Harry slowly made his way toward Draco who was still smirking. "So it comes to this, doesn't it, Potter."

"If you say so, Malfoy."

"This duel didn't just start here, Potter. Nor did it start when you took the mudblood from Malfoy Manor. No Potter, this is the climax of everything that has happened between us. Ever since we first met in the Hogwarts Express all those years ago."

"Pity," said Harry in a mocking sad voice. "I'm going to miss our little rivalry."

"Enough chit chat, Potter," hissed Draco. "If you're not going to make the first move, I will!"

Before anyone could move a muscle, Draco dashed passed Harry with inhuman speed and fired a series of curses at Harry's back. Harry just barely managed to turn around in time to block the curses. Before Harry could attack, Draco once again dashed behind Harry and fired curses at him from behind. This time, Harry rolled away and dodged them.

When Harry finally regained his balance, his former look of confidence had been replaced with a look of shock, disbelief, and even a little fear. "H-how is this possible?" whispered Harry. "You couldn't possibly have that much speed unless..."

"That is correct, Potter," said Draco with a tone of triumph. "I too am a Battle Wizard!"

"What?!" yelled Ron in disbelief. Hermione started shaking again.

Harry appeared to be the most shocked of all. He simply stared at Draco, shock and fear all over his eyes.

Draco sneered at Harry. "Common knowledge is that only a Battle Wizard can defeat a Battle Wizard," he said. "The only way I can fight Potter on my own terms, is if I become a Battle Wizard myself." Draco suddenly pointed his hands at Harry and shouted, "Maximus Reducto!"

Hermione screamed as the highly advanced reductor curse slammed into Harry, ending in a huge explosion of debris. Ron ducked, expecting a tremendous explosion like the one in Hogsmeade. Fortunately, no such thing happened.

"Don't be so frightened, Weasley," sneered Draco. "This fortress was built to withstand the power of Battle Wizards. It won't be destroyed by one advanced reductor, though I can't say the same for Potter." He started laughing.

Draco stopped laughing however, when Harry got up with out a scratch. He brushed of his robes and glared at Draco with a new look of determination.

"You know, Malfoy," said Harry. "I never expected that I would fight against you with equal terms. But I guess there is a first time for everything, and a last time." Harry suddenly pulled out something from underneath his cloak. Ron and Hermione gasped when they saw that it was the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

Harry passed his wand into his left hand took up his sword in his right hand. "Lets get a little more serious," he said. Harry suddenly rocketed forward and swung his sword down at Draco, the blade giving off a dazzling white light in the form of an even larger sword. Panicking, Draco cast a powerful shield charm over himself. The dazzling blade struck the shield with flash of sparks, and both the shield and the blade disappeared with a crack. Draco leapt back and dodged Harry's sword as it came flashing down.

Draco yelled "Multiplicus Diffendo!" A legion of magical energy blades were conjured up that went flying toward Harry. Harry swung his sword around and deflected all of the blades.

Harry then shouted, "Maximus Reducto!" Draco was completely caught in the explosion, he shield charm barely holding.

As soon as the explosion subsided, Draco shouted, "Crucio!" just as Harry shouted, "Multiplicus Diffendo!" Harry was caught by the Cruciatus Curse and started writhing in pain, but Draco was forced to take off the curse so that he could dodge Harry's energy blades.

Harry started wheezing a little but he still had a clear head. He yelled, "Stupefius Expelliarmus!" and fired a combination stunner and disarmer. Draco dodged the spell with a quick roll to the side. He was also panting and beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

Suddenly, Draco started coughing violently, and Harry was shocked when he saw blood coming up with the coughs.

"Draco, what..."

"Don't pity me, Potter!" yelled Draco. "I still have enough power to finally beat you."

Draco suddenly yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" Hermione screamed as the green light closed in on Harry. However, Harry suddenly disappeared!

"Wha..." Draco glanced up to see Harry high up in the air. Harry once again gathered energy onto his sword and formed the dazzling large blade. Harry swung the blade downward as he fell toward Draco. There was a large explosion as the blade hit the ground. Draco had rolled out of the way.

Draco suddenly pointed his wand forward and shouted, "Draco Incendio!" Harry was shocked when a powerful flame in the form of a mighty dragon erupted from Draco's wand with a mighty roar. Harry barely managed to dodge the fire dragon and was singed.

"What the?" he muttered.

Draco glared at Harry and said, "The dragon flame spell is my own creation, Potter. A spell that can only be used by me and me alone: it's my greatest spell in my arsenal and itfs the spell that will mean your doom!"

Draco suddenly started coughing up blood again. Harry had a look of concern on his face but dropped it when Draco glared at him.

"Is that so?" said Harry. "Well, to tell you the truth I also have a spell that I alone can use: the stellar patronus."

Draco and Hermione stared at Harry in shock and disbelief. Ron looked confused. "The stellar patronus? What's that?"

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Hermione couldn't help rolling her eyes and said, "Ron, didn't you ever pay attention in History of Magic?"

"Hermione, it was Binns teaching that class. No one paid attention in that class, except you."

Hermione went into her lecture mode: "The stellar patronus is essentially a more advanced form of the patronus charm. It is basically a dark magic cleanser and anybody whom is hit by has all dark magic in his body expelled. It takes on the shape of the zodiac sign of the caster." At this point she stopped and glanced at Harry in confusion before she continued, "But in all history, only one person was ever known to have been able to use the stellar patronus: its creator, Godric Gryffindor."

"Yes," said Harry. "But what a lot of people don't know is that Gryffindor hid the secret of the stellar patronus somewhere in Hogwarts after Salazar Slytherin's betrayal." Harry pulled his hat down lower. Hermione gasped in understanding.

"The Sorting Hat," she said.

"That's right," said Harry. "This hat on my head is the secret to my abilities as a Battle Wizard. So long as I have this hat on, I am the sole possessor of the stellar patronus."

"Is that all you have to say?" hissed Draco. He coughed up more blood but continued: "If you've quite finished, why don't we finish what we've started, Potter!" He straitened up and yelled, "Draco Incendio!" Once again, the fire dragon flew toward Harry with a mighty roar.

Harry stood his ground. He started to move his wand and sword around into the form of the constellation Leo and said, "Astra Patronum Leo!"

A mighty, golden Lion burst forward, with shining stars within the body that correlated with the constellation Leo. The lion sped through the fire dragon, causing it to disappear with a scream. Draco stared in disbelief as the lion engulfed his body. He started screaming as a powerful surge of energy sped through his body. A shadowy vapor started to seep out of his body. Soon, the light of the lion disappeared, all of the vapor left Draco, and Draco Malfoy collapsed to the ground, panting and wheezing.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron gathered around Draco. "There isn't a single trace of dark magic in your body anymore," said Harry. He kneeled down in front of Draco and examined the blood Draco had coughed up.

"I should've known," said Harry. "You used the Battle grant spell, didn't you Draco?"

"The what?" asked Ron.

"The Battle grant spell," said Harry. "It grants you the powers of a Battle Wizard, but at a price." He turned back to Draco and said, "Why Draco? You should know that that spell was fatal."

Draco now had tears rolling down his face. "I wanted to win. All my life I've always wanted beat you, Potter. But it never happened. Just once, I wanted to beat you, and yet even this last gamble failed."

Harry stared at Draco in disbelief. "At the cost of your life?"

"That wouldn't have mattered since Hermione was supposed to carry my child. I was going to take her after I beat you and at least have the Malfoy blood line live on."

Rage started to build up in Ron as he spat, "Malfoy you sick ba..."

"Let me finish!" yelled Draco as he coughed up more blood. He was fully crying when he said. "Hermione, I'm so sorry."

Hermione stared at Draco in disbelief. "What?"

"I'm so sorry," whispered Draco, tears streaming down his eyes. "When the Dark Lord chose me to bare his heir it was also decided that a muggle or a muggle-born would be the mother. He read my thoughts and found the feelings I had for you. So they decided to use you."

Hermione gasped. Draco continued.

"I never wanted to have to rape you, but I could not go against the Dark Lord. I wanted you to at least accept willingly, but you refused and gave me no choice. I'm so sorry. All I ask before I die, is that you have it in your heart to forgive me."

Hermione stared at Draco for a while. Finally, a look of sorrow came over her face and she whispered, "I forgive you Draco Malfoy."

Draco smiled but another coughing fit of blood took hold of him. He started cough up more and more blood until finally, he collapsed. Slowly, he closed his eyes, his breathing stopped, and Draco Malfoy was dead.