The Legend of the Serpent's Tongue

Legend of the Serpent's Tongue

Chapter 29

Never Wake A Sleeping Dragon

Once the Portkey had activated and the small rescue party vanished Dumbledore reached over to a small glowing cylindrical orb on his desk. It was glowing with bright bluish gray light shot with orange sparks. The whirling smoke inside was spinning furiously with indeterminate speed. He called it his Locus Rescisco, or Location Discoverer, for lack of a better term. It was a rare device that he'd invented in his youth aided by an old sorcerer experimenting in time displacement. A Portkey moved people through time and space appearing at a desired location without the need to apparate or floo and it was based on this principle. Unfortunately, it could not penetrate wards or pass through a destination that was unplottable. Therefore, the Ministry while run by Fudge had not widely used it in the first war. This device would help them to follow Harry and the others before they passed through the wards of Voldemort's headquarters. Dumbledore hoped that the wards did not extend too far out as it would take time to dismantle them and every moment was precious to their survival.

"Albus, how does that object work?" Remus asked unable to disguise his interest despite the critical situation.

"I am able to lock its magical properties with those of the Portkey. It will follow the magical signature until it passes through the wards. After that, we will be on our own since we have no idea how far Voldemort has extended his wards.

"Damn, that could be for miles!" Sirius swore.

"Perhaps, but I don't think so. Voldemort would not want anyone to stumble onto them accidentally," Dumbledore stated as he continued to observe the action within the cylinder. "I have it!" he crowed triumphantly. "The Portkey signature has vanished about forty miles due south of Hogwarts."

Dumbledore immediately notified the other members of the Order and the Aurors as Remus and Sirius ran from the office. They would apparate to the location then go by broom after deactivating the wards to avoid detection as long as possible. It was up to the others to get the wards down surrounding the Dark Lord's actual location so they would be allowed to enter. Dumbledore knew the area where they were going. It was rural farmland with little more than a few meager Muggle villages and sheep fields. The Dark Lord would not wish to be seen unless he decreed his presence necessary. Grabbing his broom with speed amazing for a man of his age Dumbledore headed for the castle gates and disapparated with the others...

The group of Deatheaters spotted the hostages and drew their wands. All parties stood transfixed in the narrow hallway. Lucius Malfoy's lips curled into wicked smile, gray eyes the color of steel. Taking in the situation a brief look of confusion flashed across his face when he spotted Harry near the back of the group. He knew he had left her upstairs with the Dark Lord. 'Didn't I just hear her scream?' he considered. Resting his measured gaze on her features realization dawned.

"Harry Potter...it seems you have tried to deceive the Master into believing he has you captive. No matter though. He will be delighted when I deliver you to him personally. Tell me, who is the young lady upstairs with him now?"

"My twin sister maybe?" She grinned boldly. "As for delivering me to him...well...I don't think you have a prayer in hell of doing so."

"You really aren't arrogant enough to believe you will get out of this hallway let alone this house are you? Your backs are against the wall and the only door leads back the way you came."

"Then we'll just have to use the front door," James Potter smirked. "Sorry we won't be able to stay for tea but we have other plans."

"James Potter, you're as over confident as ever," Lucius remarked acidly. "It will be fun to watch you suffer when your brat of a daughter meets her death." The group of Deatheaters chuckled around him. "I told her years ago that she would meet the same sticky fate as you and your wife. As for the rest of you..." he glanced around looking at the small group facing him, "I shall personally see to it that you do not escape your fates; especially my blood traitor of a son and his godfather." Lucius looked pointedly at Draco and Severus.

"It will be a pity to disappoint you, Lucius, since I know how good your hospitality is to your guests," Severus sneered, "but I believe we will be unable to attend your little soirée. According to young Miss Potter you have another appointment with death."

"It is not I who shall be meeting death, Severus," Lucius exploded, "but..." He was interrupted by another shrill scream from upstairs, glancing up with a callous smile.

"Stupefy," James yelled taking advantage of the situation. Lucius was knocked backwards into Dolohov, tumbling to the floor.

The others sprang into action, each group of wizards shouting hexes and curses at one another in all directions. Harry and Draco leaped forward.

"Expelliarmus!" they shouted in unison disarming two of the Deatheaters as Lucius regained his footing.

"Avadra Kedavra!" Lucius directed the curse at his son. Draco ducked in time as Hermione knocked Ron to the floor. The killing curse flew over their heads dissipating on the wall.

"I will see you rot in Hell, father," Draco screamed.

"Draco, look out!" Lily yelled, pulling him to the side as a cutting curse grazed his arm. "Confundo!" Lily directed her wand in the direction of one of the Deatheaters who had been trying to edge up the hall. He fell back in confusion looking about with dismay.

"Relashio!" Dolohov's wand sent a jet of boiling water streaming from his wand. Lily countered with a freezing charm. The boiling water turned to solid ice as the group moved slowly forward.

"Mione, what's happening?" Ron whispered as she dragged him slowly forward.

"I feel so useless."

"We're beating them down, Ron, but slowly," she replied as Ginny let out a long mournful scream from above. "I wonder why Voldemort hasn't come to see what is happening."

"Avadra Kedavra, Avadra Kedavra, "an unknown Deatheater yelled swinging his arm in a wide arc taking aim at the couple. The green light shot towards them at incredible speed.

"Ron, Hermione, get down!" Justinian called swinging round to pull them down. He had just pushed Ron to the floor beside Hermione when the curse hit him full in the back. Eyes growing wide in shock he slumped to the ground.

"Justinian...No!" Circe screamed moving to kneel beside her dead husband. Her features crumbled as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Circe, there is nothing you can do," Severus yelled. "Take Phaedra and get the hell out of here."

"Mummy...Mummy...I'm scared. What's the matter with daddy?" the child cried in panic clinging to her mother.

"Circe, go now!" Tiberius yelled over his shoulder as he shot a group of arrows from his wand, killing one Deatheater and hitting another in the leg. The man fell screaming to the floor.

"Protego!" James yelled setting up a shield around the distraught woman as Lily helped her up, steering her towards the door.

"Go... get out. I'll keep the last of them busy," Harry called over the din of curses as they reached the end of the hall. She placed herself between the few remaining Deatheaters and the door. "Tiberius get the wards down...hurry."

"Colloportus," Lucius directed his wand at the door sealing it shut. "Did you all really think you would escape?" he laughed.

"Reducto!" Severus blasted a whole in the wall. Harry could see the house surrounded by a pulsing green light. The wards had them surrounded...

Dumbledore and the others materialized on a frozen moor the wind whipping their robes. Gray clouds scuttled across the sky. Bill Weasley and Mad Eye Moody hurried towards them as Kingsley organized the Aurors. Two other pops announced the arrival of Molly and Arthur Weasley who followed in their wake.

"Molly, Arthur, you need not be here. You should be at the hospital with George," Dumbledore admonished.

"George regained consciousness an hour ago, Albus. Fred is sitting with him," Molly explained hurriedly. "I have four other children to think of right now and they will need me. I refuse to sacrifice anymore to that monster. The Weasley family will stop at nothing to get them out safely!" She faced Dumbledore with an air of determination, hands on her hips, as she stood beside Arthur and Bill.

Dumbledore knew she was referring not just to her own offspring but to Hermione and Harry as well. The old man nodded, his eyes giving a brief twinkle. He knew better than to argue with Molly when her mind was set. She was a mother lion protecting her cubs and no one would get in her way.

"Your help will be appreciated," Dumbledore acknowledged. He then raised his wand and muttered a long incantation. A series of pulsating green walls sprang up in front of them interspersed with bisecting red and blue lines. "Difficult but not impossible," Dumbledore stated matter of factly studying the intricate weave before them.

"Let's see how deadly they are," Bill said. Picking up a rock, he hurled it into the wards hitting them with a splash. Emitting a fiery display of white sparks the rock was flung back towards them. It landed smoking and black at their feet. A partially melted mass was oozing from one side where it had hit the wards. "It seems to be a series of burning and cutting curses interspersed with a complex entrail expelling curse as well as the usual blocks."

"There is also a suffocation curse," Remus interjected quietly studying the wall. "I can sense the pulses as they squeeze together," he explained at their curious looks.

"Bill, you and Alastor work on the wards from the left. Remus and I will start on the right. We'll work towards one another. They should collapse when we reach the center," Dumbledore instructed.

"What about me, Albus? I can't just sit and do nothing." Sirius paced nervously.

"I want you to transform and use your animal senses to track our progress. Remus can use his as well." Sirius did as Dumbledore directed and ran the length of the wards while Dumbledore turned his attention in the direction of the Aurors. "Kingsley, instruct the Aurors to be ready to go as soon as the wards come down. This could take a while and we still don't know the exact location of Voldemort's headquarters."

"I'm on it, Albus," the big black man called. He turned and began barking out orders.

"Molly I want you and Arthur to go around and help keep the morale up. I suspect many of our team will be anxious about the battle."

"We'll do what we can, Albus," Arthur agreed. He and Molly went over to the group of Aurors and began the task assigned. It helped to hearten them that the Minister himself and his wife were there and willing to stand beside them during the crisis at hand.

"Gentlemen, let us begin." The old man pointed his wand at the barrier along with the others and began the laborious task of disassembling the wards...

Tiberius vigorously attacked the wards casting spells and waving his wand. As each incantation hit the pulsating mass, it gave off a low hum accompanied by a shower of sparks. James and Lily had taken up positions and were deflecting the curses from the remaining Deatheaters. Circe and Hermione were doing their best to protect Phaedra and Ron. Phaedra was trying not to cry, while Ron was screaming at Hermione to give him Justinian's wand.

"Hermione, I may be blind but I can still hear. All I need to do is point the wand in the direction of their voices! I'll give those bastards what they deserve," he cried, red faced with anger as Ginny screamed again.

"No, Ron, you might hit one of us by accident!"

"Don't argue with me, Hermione, just do it!" he commanded forcefully. "If nothing else it will keep the wand away from them."

Hermione reluctantly did as he asked while firing off a jelly legs jinx at Lucius Malfoy. He blocked the curse easily and fired back with an impediment jinx, which Hermione blocked in the nick of time.

"Here," she said placing the wand in Ron's hand, "get up a shield and hold onto Phaedra." She grabbed the little girl and handed her off to Ron. Keeping his arms around her, he put up a protection shield around them both. He winced as he heard Ginny scream again.

Harry was working herself up beside Draco, easily blocking the curses flung at her by the Deatheaters. She had thought of a way to stop Lucius but also had to get to Ginny. Draco could help to provide the distraction she needed. "Draco, listen," she whispered, "try to break Lucius neck. It will paralyze him. His soul still needs a functional nervous system in order to operate. He won't die but he won't be able to move either."

"Incarcerous!" Ropes flew from Draco's wand neatly catching another Deatheater and binding him securely. "I'll try to get an opening to stop Lucius. Just get up those stairs!"

"Draco, watch yourself," Harry called as they both put up shields to block a flurry of new curses.

"Never mind about me, Potter. We have to get upstairs. Ginny can't hold up much longer from the sound of it." Even as he spoke another series of shrill screams erupted from above. This was followed by an ominous silence.

"Cover me! I will go for the stairs." Harry plunged forward amid a volley of curses, Draco deftly helping to clear her path as he circled around towards where the others were working to create an escape route. She was grateful for her quick reflexes due to seven years of Quidditch. Gaining the stairs Harry was half way up when she was flung backwards by a loud explosion. Twisting her body to avoid falling back down she hit the wall, sliding to her knees. Shaking her head to clear the ringing in her ears she was just in time to see the others escaping from the house. Tiberius and Sev had blasted through the wards and her parents were blocking the path of the few remaining Deatheaters allowing them time to escape.

"Harry, come on, we have to get out of here!" Lily screamed.

"No! I am going after Ginny." Harry didn't wait for her mum to reply. Dashing back up the stairs, she stunned a Deatheater at the top of the stairs who was coming to join the battle. Her instincts told her to be careful. It was too quiet. Harry knew there had to be more Deatheaters either in the house or outside. She was sure Voldemort would summon more of his followers now that his hostages had escaped. Harry wasn't foolish enough to believe that he didn't know what was going on.

The hallway was dark and Harry took a minute to allow her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Three doors lined the hall. A dim light shone from underneath the one at the end. She stood for a moment listening but there was no sound. 'Why do I know that this is some kind of trap,' she mused with a wry smile. 'If nothing else Tom does have a flair for the dramatic.' Even as this thought flashed through her mind, the door was ominously swinging open on silent hinges...

"It won't be much longer now," Kingsley shouted to the group of waiting Aurors and Order members. "The wards are beginning to weaken!"

Even as he spoke and excited shout went up within the group as Remus and Bill succeeded in taking down a complex cutting curse. The wards vibrated with an odd glow as Padfoot suddenly let out a howl at the same time as Remus. When the cutting curse had been disabled, the wards automatically shifted. They were now emitting a high decibel-deafening curse inaudible to human ears. Professor Sprout recognized the pain that passed through her ears as one similar to a particular species of plant. She immediately started conjuring earmuffs, passing them out to the others. Fawkes appeared on Dumbledore's shoulder and began to sing. The magnificent bird was helping to counteract the curse as Dumbledore stepped forward and muttered a complex series of Latin spells directing his wand at the center of the wards. Remus dropped to the ground as Padfoot transformed with a scream when a loud explosion burst forth. Dumbledore has been able to counter the spell but not before both the animagus and the werewolf had suffered a good deal of pain. Professor McGonagall had been similarly affected. It took a few minutes for them to recover and Molly knew enough healing spells to repair their damaged eardrums. The work on the wards continued in earnest.

"We're almost through, Moony," Sirius remarked worriedly. "I hope Harry is doing as well."

"She has James and Lily with her, Padfoot. That combination alone should give Voldemort a good case of heartburn." The werewolf smiled trying to make his voice sound light but Sirius noted that his smile was forced and his eyes reflected the worry he actually felt.

"Right, let's get to it then. We can't let them have all the fun." He transformed back to Padfoot and began barking. Running over to Bill, he leaped up knocking the curse breaker to the ground as a bolt of purple light shot over their heads splintering a dead tree.

"Thanks, I should have seen that coming," Bill said petting Padfoot as he regained his feet.

"Nasty hex, that one," Moody grunted. "I haven't seen that combination used since the first war; combination of the Entrail Expelling Curse and the Cruciatus. Makes you feel the pain as each organ is pulled from your body."

"Alastor, Bill!" Dumbledore shouted. "Remus and I have reached the center. We need to direct all of our wands now!"

The two wizards did not have to be told twice. Joining Dumbledore and Remus, they all fired directly into the center of the wards with a prolonged burst of red light. The wall in front of them bulged and sucked like some kind of giant pulsing heart fighting for life. Time seemed to stand still as the others watched wide-eyed.

"It's not working, Albus, it's too strong," Arthur cried.

"Kingsley, Sirius, add your wands to ours," Dumbledore commanded, blue eyes glinting steel. The two men took up positions on either end directing the full force of their magic into the force before them. The wards gave one last shudder and then imploded in on itself with a loud boom, emitting a shower of harmless sparks.

"Aurors, mount your brooms! We have a Dark Lord to deal with," Kingsley shouted to his team. He grabbed his broom from the ground and rose into the air with Dumbledore and the Protectors.

"Everyone spread out and watch for any sign of a dwelling that appears abandoned," Dumbledore directed. Sirius and Remus were beside him helping to lead the assault. "Let us hope that they have gotten the wards down on their end too," Dumbledore told the two men. Fawkes had been flying beside them when the bird suddenly let out a shrill squawk vanishing in a puff of fire.

"Albus, what is going on?"

"I believe he senses that he is needed by Harry and the others. They are in trouble..."

Harry watched the door swing open. She was surprisingly calm. 'Well, Tom, it is kind of you to grant me an audience,' she considered. 'You must be awfully sure of yourself to have stayed upstairs all this time.' For some odd reason she couldn't fathom she was actually amused. If it weren't for her concern about Ginny, she would have simply made an obscene remark and left, making him come to her. Glancing around to make sure there were no other Deatheaters lurking in the shadows she slowly made her way up the hall stopping at the other doors to check the rooms. They were devoid of life with no evidence of anyone having been there for a long time. She stopped at the threshold of the open door remaining in the shadows for a moment. 'Okay, Tom, this is it. I will either vanquish you back to the bowels of Hell or die trying. One way or another it will all end today,' Harry reflected with an odd detachment. A final thought flashed through her mind as she waited in the dark. It was a Muggle prayer she had read somewhere or other a while ago. 'God grant me the ability to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.' This was something she could change. Harry stepped across the threshold and into the light...

"Uncle we are outnumbered," Severus shouted at Tiberius. The group was running for their lives. "There is no sign of the Aurors." He glanced skyward, firing off a curse stunning another Deatheater."

"They will be here. I felt the wards fall a few minutes ago. We need to buy them time to find us." Tiberius dodged another curse before firing off one of his own.

The Dark Lord had sent for reinforcements while they had battled in the hall. Once out of the house a host of his minions had greeted them. The small group was now pinned up inside of a small copse of trees behind a rocky wall.

"We need to get back to Harry," James said taking aim at another Death eater as a curse few over his head. "She's still in there with Voldemort!"

"There is nothing we can do right now, Potter. Harry has faced the Dark Lord many times as you well know. Only she can stop him. Trust in your daughter's ability to do so now!" Severus answered. "Your presence will only serve to distract her from what she has to do."

"Severus is right, James. If Harry sees us now she will not want to do the spell. We have to let her do this thing and you know it."

"I know, Lils, I only want to see that she gets out of this alive. Much as we've missed her I don't want her to join us in the afterlife just yet. We owe her more than the life she's had to endure."

"Mr. Potter, Harry will do the right thing. She always has." Hermione looked at James, love and pride for her friend evident on her face. "She won't leave without making sure Ginny is safe and Voldemort is stopped."

"Hermione is right, Sir. Hurt and angry as she was she still didn't abandon us when we were in trouble. I only wish I could do more. I feel so useless."

"You can, Son," James remarked with a wicked gleam. "Lie down on your stomach. There is a narrow space between these rocks. If you fire off a few curses it may just hit some of them. They won't expect to be attacked from below." James Potter helped Ron to get into a safe position, placing the wand in his hand. "Now let them have it!" Were it not for the seriousness of the situation they were in James expression could almost be described as gleeful.

"Mummy, I want to go home. Where is Miss Harry? Why doesn't she come?" Phaedra choked trying hard not to cry.

"Phaedra, listen to me. Miss Harry is with the evil wizard. No matter what happens she will make sure you are safe. She loves you very much and won't let him hurt you," Circe told her daughter. She hoped she sounding convincing. Phaedra nodded at her mother and curled up behind her. Circe noticed she had started to suck on her thumb, fear evident in her large brown eyes. 'Come on Harry, you have to save my baby. She will need you. Somehow I don't think I will make it out of here alive.' This passed through her mind in an instant before she was once again distracted by the battle.

"Arrrggghhh!" One of the Deatheaters screamed in agony as Ron hit him with a cutting hex.

"What happened? Did I get one of them?"

"I'll say you did," James couldn't suppress a laugh, "and in a rather delicate area. Suffice it to say he will be singing soprano from now on."

"Cool." Ron blushed with a grin before firing off another volley. He found that lying near the ground he could hear thumping noises and assumed they were footfalls so he directed his shots towards them.

"Look!" Lily exclaimed pointing towards the sky while the air turned noticeably colder. She was unable to hide the look of consternation on her beautiful face.

"Great, that isn't what I think it is," Draco muttered. "Is it?"

"What is it? Is it the Order?" Ron asked hopefully.

"No, Mr. Weasley," Severus replied soberly. "The Dark Lord has summoned the Dementors..."

Voldemort was lazily leaning up against the hearth when Harry stepped into the room. Ginny was lying on the floor, eyes closed, curled into a tight knot, breath coming in short gasps. A masked Deatheater was standing over her unconscious form, wand drawn. Harry could tell it was a woman by the contours of her body beneath her black robes. She took all this in with a single glance.

"Welcome, Harry," the Dark Lord leered. "I have been expecting you."

"I'll bet. Who's your new whore?" She waved one hand in the woman's direction, green eyes locked with Voldemort's red ones. The woman sucked in an angry breath but didn't move. "I guess you got bored with Bellatrix?"

"Bella was simply too far into the madness from Azkaban. I simply put her out of her misery."

"I would hardly call murder and dismemberment putting one out of their misery."

"She failed to please me with her actions. I needed to make an example of her."

"Yeah, right, and how long before you do the same to the foolishly deluded woman over there?"

"My new foolishly deluded whore as you so crassly put it has my complete support. Her loyalty has been greatly appreciated. Perhaps you would like to make her acquaintance?"

"Since when do I get a choice?" Harry glared. She needed to stall for time. She could hear shouts and screams coming from outside and knew her comrades were in trouble but would have a better chance if Voldemort were in here with her. 'Where in hell is the bloody Order with the Aurors?' she wondered.

Voldemort laughed. "Dumbledore will not arrive in time to save any of you. I have no need to use Legilimency to know you are trying to stall. I will be joining my Deatheaters shortly. First though I felt I should greet you personally."

"Oh, how gracious of you, My Lord," Harry sneered sarcastically, wand gripped tightly in her hand.

"DO NOT MOCK ME, POTTER!"

"Why, Tom, I would never think of begrudging the hospitality of such a powerful wizard as you." His red eyes glared through narrow slits and Harry knew she had struck a nerve. "Wake the imposter!" he directed the witch. "We shall see how much Harry Potter enjoys watching Miss Weasley suffer." Voldemort smiled evilly at Harry's brief look of consternation. "Yes, Harry, you see I knew all along it was Ginny Weasley. I too have my spies," Voldemort looked at the witch with pleasure.

"Enervate!" she pointed her wand at Ginny with one hand while lifting her mask with the other. Harry's jaw dropped in shock as Arsinoe Darkmoon smiled back at her...

"Albus...ahead of us...Dementors!" Sirius gasped, visibly paling. He gripped his broom tighter.

"Voldemort must have summoned them." The old man grit his teeth. "They are about five miles ahead of us."

"We'll need everyone who can do a Patronus up front," Remus shouted over to Kingsley. The Auror nodded and swung his broom towards his team while shouting orders to be prepared and organizing his troops.

"This may be a good sign," Moody's gravelly voice called in the wind. "It could be that things are not going well for the Dark Lord."

"I agree, Alastor," Dumbledore stated, blue eyes gleaming. "We need to go faster. It will be difficult for Harry and the others to fend them off; I count at least fifty from here." He leaned forward on his broom pressing it forward at maximum speed.

"Sirius, will you be okay?" Remus questioned his friend anxiously. He knew that the twelve years in Azkaban had taken their toll.

"Don't worry, Moony. It will take more than a few Dementors to keep me from getting to Harry. If I have to I'll transform when we hit the ground." Sirius jaw was set with determination as he watched the dark mass looming ahead of them...

"Good evening, Harry." Arsinoe's bell like voice was dripping ice. "I do not appreciate your insult by calling me the Master's whore."

"I knew I should have trusted my first instincts about you," Harry said recovering her composure.

"Aren't you even curious as to why I have joined the Dark Lord?"

"All right, I'll bite. Why did you?"

"It was your fault really. I couldn't have you usurp my position among the League of the Feathered Serpent. I am a high priestess among my people and have spent my life studying to attain the knowledge of the ancients. However, you come along and my grandfather stated you would be the chosen one. I deserve the power to deliver my people from the suppression they have endured since the Conquistadors not some stupid little white girl who can speak the language of the snake! The Master has promised that I shall be worshiped by his side. I will be the queen of my people."

"If you really believe that then you are seriously deluded. Voldemort has no love for anyone but himself. Once you have served your purpose, he will kill you without batting an eye. Just as he did to Bellatrix. I pity you, Arsinoe."

"Bitch," she screamed pointing her wand at Harry while Voldemort chuckled in amusement. "You will suffer for your pertinence. I will have you on your knees."

Harry had her shield up before the knee reversal curse was out of Arsinoe's mouth and she flicked her wand casually hitting the other witch square on with a powerful blasting curse. Arsinoe was pitched backwards into the window shattering the glass. Before Harry could react, the witch fell through the sash with a shrill scream. Harry was sickened by the sound of a loud crack as she hit the ground smashing her skull.

"Well done, Harry," Voldemort praised. "You have saved me the trouble of disposing of her myself."

"You're sick," Ginny spoke up weakly. Pulling herself up to a sitting position on the floor, she shivered from the after effects of the Cruciatus.

"Ah, Miss Weasley, I see the Polyjuice has begun to wear off. However, you too have outlived your usefulness. I am afraid I will have to kill you now!"

"No!" Harry screamed stepping between Ginny and Voldemort. "I'm the one you want. Let her go!"

"Unfortunately, that is not an option, Harry," he gloated. "You see, I have a rather unpleasant death planned for you. Just be grateful that I will allow Miss Weasley and easy death. Expelliarmus!" Voldemort flicked his wrist in an attempt to disarm Harry but she had put a sticking charm on her hand. "Very clever, Harry, but it will not save either one of you." Voldemort advanced on the two girls furiously. "Avadra Kedavra!"

Harry dodged the curse and knocked Ginny away. Ginny was rolled to the side as the curse hit the floor barely missing her as Fawkes appeared in a burst of flames. He dove down towards Ginny and she grabbed his tail as Voldemort directed another killing curse towards them. Harry held her breath but the bird had disappeared and the curse simply hit the wooden floor.

"You really aren't having a good day, are you Tom?" Harry taunted. "It's just you and me again just like the Prophecy said. Are you ready to die yet, Tom? Or should I say be vanquished since I already killed you once."

"Not today, Harry. It seems Dumbledore will be arriving shortly. It would be rude of me not to greet him personally. It seems I must bid you adieu," he smiled evilly.

"You really don't think I am going to let you out of here do you?"

"Ah...brave to the end. Don't worry though. The old fool and your parents will all have the pleasure of watching your death. Good bye, Harry Potter."

Harry had her wand pointed at Voldemort but was unprepared when he failed to fire. Instead, he left his wand pointed at the floor. His smile sent a chill up Harry's spine and tuned her stomach into a tight knot. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She could sense evil in its purist form as the house burst into flames around her and the floor collapsed beneath her feet. Voldemort's cold laughter was the last thing she heard as she plunged two floors down through the fire to the basement...

"Albus, we're gaining on the Dementors!"

"I am aware of that, Remus, but we still have a distance before we catch up to them and I fear some of them are starting to land."

"Remus, do you smell what I do?" Sirius questioned flying closer to his friend. Sirius eyes were wide with unbridled anxiety as he peered ahead in the fading light.

"If you mean the scent of fire, yes." The werewolf frowned. "I picked it up in the wind a minute ago."

"Look there, up ahead!" Moody growled. "I can just make out a dim light!"

"That is no light," Dumbledore squinted, blue eyes the color of ice, "it is a building on fire."

"Shit! We're going to be too late!" Sirius swore, unable to keep the agony from his voice.

Suddenly there was a burst of flames to their left, and Fawkes appeared carrying Ginny Weasley. Bill immediately pulled his broom up along side of the Phoenix and helped his sister to climb on behind him.

"Miss Weasley, are you unhurt?" Dumbledore asked as Fawkes disappeared again.

"He used the Cruciatus on me. Headmaster, Arsinoe...she...she was Voldemort's spy! He knew we were coming and everything."

Dumbledore nodded grimly. "I was worried that Voldemort knew too much but I assumed he had gotten into Harry's mind without her knowing. I will deal with Arsinoe accordingly."

"You can't. I think she's dead. There was a fight and Harry hit her with a blasting curse. She was hurled through the window." Ginny shuddered. "After that Harry...she...she was facing off with Riddle. He tried to kill us. Harry saved my life."

"She's alive then?" Sirius looked at Ginny, eyes burning with hope.

"Sirius...I don't know. Fawkes came and took me. Harry had no time to grab onto him too." Ginny was shaking visibly. The shock of her ordeal was starting to take its toll.

"Miss Weasley, I am going to have Fawkes take you back to Hogwarts. You need to be in the hospital wing."

"Headmaster, I want to help!" she protested.

"You already have, Child. Now do as I say. Have Madam Pomfrey get ready to receive the injured," Dumbledore told her kindly but in a manner that brooked no argument.

"Yes, Sir," she answered sullenly. Fawkes flew over and she grabbed onto his tail then vanished in a ball of flames.

"Albus, I believe we are close enough to send out some Patronus spells. It will affect at least some of the Dementors," Remus stated glaring into the dark sky.

"My thoughts exactly," Dumbledore agreed. "Kingsley have your team ready at my command!"

Kingsley motioned for the Aurors who were able to perform the strongest Patronus to move into firing range. "We're all set, Albus."

"Then fire on the count of three. One...two...three..Expecto Patronus!" Dumbledore's silver Patronus flowed from his wand followed by at least twenty others. The sky was full of glowing silver animals all racing after the tails of the Dementors as the glow from the fire grew closer. It could now be seen as a farmhouse and there were flashes emanating on the ground, which could only be wand fire...

"Here come the first wave of Dementors!" Tiberius shouted as he felt the intense cold. He conjured a picture of Phaedra laughing at Christmas in his mind and fired. A long silver serpent leaped forward. Beside him, Severus weaker Patronus darted forward, the teddy bear attacking with a ferocity, which would have been amusing, were it not for the dire situation.

"Expecto Patronus!" James Potter shouted as he crouched behind a large rock. His Patronus was his animagus form and identical to that of his daughter's.

Draco had moved over to help Circe cover Phaedra and Lily noted that his Patronus was weak but seemed to take the form of a ferret. She helped by sending out one of her own, a fox. This was followed by an angry lioness from Circe's wand along with Hermione's otter. Ron was still firing on the Deatheaters who were drawing back when a woman's scream came from the farmhouse and a body came hurtling from the second story window.

"It's not Harry or Ginny is it?" Hermione questioned in an attempt to see what was happening.

"I do not believe so. The pitch of the voice was too high," Snape answered as he continued to concentrate on the battle.

"I think it may have been the Dark Lord's new consort. I do not know who she is but he took her after he rid himself of Bellatrix," Tiberius added. "I was never able to discover her identity." He glanced around turning his back abruptly. "Stupefy!" Watch behind you! The Deatheaters are beginning to circle behind us through the trees," he warned.

"We're not going to get out of here alive, are we?" Hermione questioned fearfully. The horrors of the past few hours had begun to catch up with her.

"Harry will come, Mione. She won't leave us here!" Ron blindly reached his hand out to her.

"Oh my God!" Lily Potter screamed. "James, the house!"

"What is it? What's happening?" Ron demanded.

"The farm house has just burst into flames," James whispered hoarsely. "No...This...can't be...happening," he choked.

"Shit!" Draco swore shaking with terror. "The Dark Lord has...he...he's alive. He escaped the house. I don't...see...Ginny...or...Harry." The words died in his throat as the tall black robed figured glided forward.

"NO, NOT MY HARRY! PLEASE...NOT HARRY...I'LL DO ANYTHING!" Lily Potter's anguished voice screamed at the advancing figure.

Hermione just stared in shock. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was glad Ron could not see the evil smile on Voldemort's face as she said a silent prayer for her lost family and friends.

Severus Snape glared in anger as Voldemort moved ever closer. He was not afraid to die. He had been prepared to do so ever since the first war. His anger came from the fact that he was unable to see Harry one last time. 'I promise you, Harry, that your death will not be in vain," he thought. 'If it is the last thing I ever do I will take as many of them with me as I can. You loved and trusted in me no matter how miserable I made you feel. You loved us all and we failed you...'

Harry could feel the flames licking at her clothes as the inferno raged around her. It felt like it took forever to fall. The world was moving in slow motion. The entire building was coming down with her. Splinters of wood were cutting into her, tearing her skin as the fire caused the exposed flesh on her arms and hands to blister with the searing heat as she tried to cover her face. Harry tried to breath but the intense heat seared her lungs. Her eyes watered against the thick acrid smoke as tears of pain and anger stung her raw cheeks. She struck the earthen floor of the cellar prison hard. One leg was twisted wildly behind her, the bone jutting out from beneath her burned clothing. It hurt to breathe and knew she had cracked some ribs. Harry was dizzy from the pain and smoke. 'I'm dying...Voldemort has won...' she cried out in her mind as the darkness closed in around her and she began to grow cold despite the heat from the burning rafters over head.

"Harry...Harry Potter!" A man's voice called from everywhere and nowhere. "Wake up!"

She didn't want to move. The oblivion the darkness gave to her was safe. There was no pain here. There was simply nothing. She wanted to just stay there enveloped in its protective shroud until the end came.

"I said WAKE UP!" The voice bellowed bouncing off the walls.

Harry could feel the chill seeping into her bones. 'I must be getting delirious,' she mused. "Go away and let me die in peace. I'm nothing but a failure anyway," she mumbled trying to curl into a ball but a wave of pain shot through her chest.

"You will be a failure if you don't wake up, NOW!"

Harry's eyes jerked open. She found the voice familiar. The icy cold of the grave swept down her spine. A figure was looming over her just below where she had broken through the ceiling. She stared, gritting her teeth in anger. It was a ghost. There was a deep gash where his throat should have been. That was where Sirius had torn it out during the battle at Hogwarts.

"You! You murdered them! I should have let them kill you in the shack!"

"You probably should have, but you have your mother's kind heart, Harry. That is why I'm here now," Peter Pettigrew replied, his beady eyes studying her. "I died before I could pay back the life debt I owe. I am too afraid to go on so I am doomed to be a ghost to pay for my sins. I have come to pay you what I owe."

"It's a little late for that," she answered choking on the smoke and wincing in pain as she tried to sit.

"No, it isn't. Listen to the sounds from outside and feel the power within yourself. Only you can stop him now. Only you have the power. Listen to the sounds and feel from within your soul," Peter said sadly. "Don't give in to the weakness like I did. They need you...She needs you...Listen..." Peter vanished, his ethereal voice hanging in the air.

Harry sat gaping at the fire burning above her and tried to take a deep breath. The air in the cellar was cool. She must have been having a nightmare...and yet...she could still hear Peter's words ringing in her ears. Off in the distance as if from underwater she could hear shouts and screams. That's when she heard the voice. Her voice. She was yelling frantically. Yelling almost the same identical words, the ones she had screamed the night she had died. "Not My Harry..." Suddenly it was as if a bell went off in Harry's mind as the memory of two almost identical omens came back to her. 'In fire you will find darkness...and in darkness you will find salvation.' Peter...he was her salvation. He made sure she heard the one thing that would stir her back to reality and life. Her mother pleading once again for her child's life. She knew what she had to do. This was the reason she had been born. "It's time to save the world," she muttered.

Harry looked down and still had her wand clasped into her hand with the sticking spell. She knew the ceiling would come down on her at any moment. Her leg throbbed painfully as she pulled it out from beneath her and did a quick healing spell but had no time to worry about the burns on her exposed skin or broken ribs. She knew Madam Pomfrey would not be pleased but she needed to be able to move. Closing her eyes, she thought to herself, 'I am the soul of the Phoenix with the cunning of the serpent. I have been given a rare gift of power. I will use it wisely.' She then slowly began the sequence of spells she had learned when she first became an animagus. Only this time she pictured a dragon...a feathered dragon...

"I can see them!" Sirius shouted. "There, over by the trees!

"Yes..."Dumbledore agreed squinting.

"Oh, Merlin, is that Lord Voldemort coming towards them?" Shaklebolt hissed.

"I don't see Harry..." Remus voice faded as he scanned the scene. His werewolf senses were on full alert.

"We can't worry about that now," Moody roared into the wind. "There are others down there that need our help. Potter can take care of herself. If she's alive, she'll be there somewhere. She's a resourceful lass."

"Kingsley, bring some of the Aurors around to circle the trees. The Deatheaters are surrounding them. We can come in behind and catch them in between our people. I will hold off Tom," Dumbledore directed as he edged his broom down towards the foray on the ground.

"I'm on it, Albus, they won't get away," he replied ordering the Aurors to split off into three groups. One would come from behind; the next would keep the remaining Dementors at bay. Albus would lead the third group to the ground. All looked grim, jaws set into firm lines, as the battle was about to commence...

Voldemort held up his hand and the Deatheaters dropped back awaiting his orders to kill the hostages. The Dark Lord was smiling at the Potters.

"Foolish idiots, you thought you could stop me? Your daughter is dead. Even now, what is left of her will be burning shortly. I have the pleasure of seeing your failure and knowing you will never join her again."

"Where's my sister?!" Ron screamed defiantly.

"Unfortunately the little brat escaped me, but she will be returned in due time. Perhaps I will keep her for a plaything once I am done with the child." Voldemort's red eyes slid over to Phaedra. She was staring at him with unbridled fear.

"Master," Lucius Malfoy stepped forward with a bow, "forgive my interruption but there is a large group of Aurors approaching."

"I am aware of that, Lucius. Our guests will also have the pleasure of watching me bring that old fool Dumbledore down before they die." His smile widened. "Bind them!"

The Deatheaters sprang into action, but the little group was not going down without a fight. Shields went up around them as they fired back, much to the Dark Lord's amusement. He was intent on the skirmish but not unaware of the Aurors beginning to land. He turned to approach Dumbledore.

"Good evening, Tom," Dumbledore addressed him as if they were sitting down to afternoon tea.

"Where is Harry?" Sirius angry voice came from behind Dumbledore as he landed and fired off a curse at one of the Deatheaters simultaneously.

"Potter is dead," Voldemort answered calmly. His eyes locked on Dumbledore.

"She's in there." He flicked his wrist to indicate the farmhouse now fully engulfed in flames. The structure was near to collapse. "You will all be joining her shortly."

"You bloody..." Sirius charged forward but was struck to the ground by Dumbledore before Voldemort's killing curse could hit him.

"Sirius, over here," Remus called from where he had landed. "James and Lily need our help.

Sirius transformed, the big black dog bolting forward with all the strength he could muster. He leaped sideways to avoid a cutting curse from Lucius who had been slowly working his way towards Draco.

"James...tell me Harry is with you and that she isn't dead." Sirius pleaded.

His friend could not meet his eyes and Lily was crying even as she continued to fight. She had planted herself over by Circe and Phaedra doing her best to protect the mother and child.

"I...I haven't seen...Harry," James managed to choke. "She didn't come out from the house."

"I refuse to believe your daughter is dead," Severus steely voice commented as he fired off a series of curses directed towards Dolohov.

"Never mind that now, we have to get moving," Tiberius commanded. "Voldemort is dueling with Dumbledore. Get Phaedra and Circe and make an emergency Portkey."

Severus moved swiftly towards his sister and Lily but was cut off by Lucius.

"Going somewhere, blood traitor?"

"Stand aside, Lucius, or be prepared to fight."

"You can't kill me again, Severus. Nevertheless, I am going to kill you."

"I don't think so, father," Draco's cold voice interrupted. His wand pointing at his father's back. Lucius swung around, kicking his leg out and toppling his son while Severus jumped over to his sister.

"Lily get over and help the others. We need to get out of here." Lily handed Phaedra over to Circe just as the battle grew more intense. She was halfway back to her husband when she was distracted by Voldemort's gleeful shout.

"Behold, I am the Lord of all Wizardry. The great Dumbledore has been brought to his knees." All eyes turned as Deatheaters and Aurors alike froze. Voldemort had his wand trained on Dumbledore who was sprawled out in front of him, coughing blood, having lost his wand. Dumbledore showed no sign of fear as he met the Dark Lord's intent gaze.

"You may have won the battle, Tom, but you have yet to win the war." Dumbledore's voice was barely above a whisper. Nevertheless, it carried across the expanse of the field so that all could hear.

"Stupid old fool. It is so like you not to beg for mercy. Therefore, you shall have none. Say your prayers old..." He never finished the sentence. Voldemort was suddenly thrown backwards off his feet by a huge explosion from the farmhouse.

"Look there! It's a dragon!" One of the younger Deatheaters screeched fearfully.

"That's no dragon," James Potter's excitement was evident in his voice, "it's Harry! She has transformed." A loud cheer rose from Order members and Aurors alike as the magnificent beast emerged from the flames rising majestically into the air.

"You'll never get away," Lucius spat firing towards Severus and Circe. "I will see you both suffer first though!" He flicked his wrist and yelled, "Avadra Kedavra!" A jet of green light went streaking towards Phaedra.

"NOT MY BABY!" Circe screamed throwing herself on top of her child while Severus made a frantic grab for her ankle to pull them both to safety...

Harry could feel the power coursing through her body. She felt like a thousand electrical charges were flowing through her veins. Her body elongated and feathers appeared on her neck and wings. Her head took the form of a snake but had the face and beak of a large bird. Finally, her legs shortened into those of a dragon enhanced by formidable talons. It was time to face her nemesis; time to restore balance to the world and force down the darkness. Time to say goodbye to her loved ones and restore peace.

She looked up at the ceiling, testing her wings, and lifted off. The fire raged, but she did not feel the heat. The house began to crumble and still she flew upwards. She could see the night sky as the power of her wings brought what was left of the ceiling down around her. With a shower of sparks, she emerged into the cold night air hovering in the glow above the wreckage of the old farmhouse.

Harry surveyed the scene below with the knowledge that this scene had been repeated many times throughout history. Cultures had been born and died since time began and still the carnage persisted. The darkness would always be there waiting to take hold but the light would provide a beacon of hope. A reluctant hero to show the way back, vanquishing the dark to keep the world safe, giving the people a choice. This was why she had been born. If she failed today all that she knew and held dear would disappear. The wizarding world would perish under the weight and oppression of the Dark Lord.

Harry could see them all staring up at her from the ground. Dumbledore was on his knees, injured and bleeding, smiling up at her as he summoned his wand back into his hands. Voldemort had been flung backwards to the ground by the sheer force of her emergence from the whirling inferno. He was rising slowly, red gaze intent on the hovering serpent above. Fury was written into those red eyes, face etched into grim lines. However, Harry directed her attention to another scene by the wail of a child.

"Muuummmmyyyy...please wake up...Please don't be dead."

Harry had been too late to stop the death curse from hitting Circe. Severus was cradling his niece protectively even as he pulled his sister from on top of her. Circe had died protecting Phaedra just as Harry's own mother had done to save her. Harry could see Lily running over to help as her father and the others cheered for their savior. 'I'm sorry, Circe. I wasn't quick enough,' Harry thought even as she strove to control the anger welling up inside of her. 'I promise you that Phaedra will not grow up alone or unhappy like I did. My mum and dad will be with you and Justinian soon and when it's time we will all be together again.' Harry let out a loud hissing noise and plunged towards the Dark Lord. No more innocents would suffer at his hands.

Voldemort watched her dive towards him and fired his wand at Dumbledore. The old man still had some spunk though and rolled out of the path of the killing curse. Fawkes appeared out of the darkness and he grabbed the bird's tail to reappear next to Harry's mother. The mighty bird knew that this was no longer Albus' fight. It was up to Harry to stop the madness.

Lucius Malfoy moved to support his master, followed by Draco, a look of pure malevolence on the younger Malfoy's features. Harry could hear Draco shouting.

"No father, you will not be helping that piece of shit. This one is for Ginny!" He took aim and brought his arm around in a giant arc, slicing the back of his father's neck, severing Lucius spine. Lucius fell to the ground paralyzed. His gray eyes were furious but he was unable to move. Harry had been right. He could not die but he still needed his nervous system to manipulate his body. She winked at Draco as she landed.

Knocking Lucius limp body away from Voldemort with her tail before he could try to heal it she faced off with Voldemort. The Dark Lord smiled coldly, transforming. The giant cobra faced off with the Feathered Serpent, hissing and spitting. Each circled the other as Deatheaters, Order members, and Aurors stood transfixed. There was no wind. The earth hung silent as the battle began.

Only Phaedra could understand what they were saying. The little girl, still in shock, mumbled the translations. Dumbledore, Remus, and Sirius looked on in surprise as Severus nodded. Only the rescue team had learned that she was a Parselmouth. Dumbledore took the frightened child into his arms in an effort to comfort her while she repeated what the two combatants were saying.

"So...you still think you can challenge me and win?"

"You've lost already. You just don't see it."

"Heh, Heh, Heh," the Dark Lord laughed.

"Arrogant to the end, just like your parents," he sneered weaving his head. "See even now, the Dementors are returning." Voldemort hissed as a group of dark figures appeared hovering near the crumbling building.

"They will not come, Tom. They are here to make sure I do what I am supposed to. Even Dementors have rules. They understand the power I have and will not interfere unless I fail."

"Fool!" he spat attempting to strike. Harry dodged his fangs with a flip of her wings.

"I pity you, Tom. You really are a brilliant wizard. If you hadn't gone dark we could have been friends. You could have taught us so much but instead you choose to loose yourself in self pity and anger."

"You don't know what you're talking about. Prepare to die, Potter, for I have no more patience. There is no way you can stop me." The giant snake suddenly began to enlarge. Harry flew upwards diving and dodging his poisonous fangs. She looked down sadly at what could have been the greatest wizard of the age.

"You have forgotten about the spell, Tom. I know it by heart and Arsinoe carried the tablets back to her people."

"No they weren't you stupid girl. She gave them to me."

"Did she? I had an idea you would try to get hold of them so I made copies. It was quite easy actually. I used an old stone and a simple spell. I left out all the key words. Even Dumbledore didn't know. I happen to know that the originals are hidden at Hogwarts. The fakes are what she was carrying back to Mexico with her. I will return the originals to her grandfather when this is all over. I'm sure Severus would say that my subterfuge was worthy of any Slytherin. Don't you agree?"

"You lie!"

"No, Tom, it's the truth. I hope you finally find the peace which has eluded you, Tom...goodbye." Harry hovered just out of Voldemort's reach. A large tear fell to the ground as she gave on last look at her parents and nodded her farewell. She knew Phaedra would translate as she watched her father and mother sit down with their arms around each other. They smiled at her one last time in understanding. Sirius and Remus sat on either side of them, tears running down their faces. Her father motioned for Severus to stand with them. Harry began the spell to return their souls even as Voldemort attempted to Portkey away unsuccessfully. There were forces at work beyond his control now and they could not be stopped.

"Hail to this Tom Riddle

Hail to this Lucius Malfoy

Hail to this James and Lily Potter

May you all lie down and sleep.

May your astral souls be purified.

May your psyche be purified.

May your life force be purified.

May you come to your mothers.

May you come to the mother goddess of the sky

In the great Region of Unification

Where she will purify you.

This is Tom Riddle

This is Lucius Malfoy

This is James and Lily Potter.

Behold, you are spiritual.

Hail to this Tom Riddle

Hail to this Lucius Malfoy

Hail to this James and Lily Potter.

May your astral souls be purified and judged worthy

To dwell with the spirits or returned to the abyss.

May your psyche be purified and dwell with the gods

Lest they be banished to the darkness.

Hail to this Tom Riddle.

Hail to this Lucius Malfoy.

Hail to this James and Lily Potter.

May your limbs and your bones,

Your organs and your head

Come before the god of the Earth.

May he keep iniquity away from you.

Hail Tom Riddle

Hail Lucius Malfoy

Hail James and Lily Potter

May you reside for all time

With the gods of creation

Who have judged the worthiness of your souls.

Harry landed and transformed. The remaining Deatheaters were trying to escape having seen their master defeated. The Aurors had sprung into action and were rounding them up. Harry looked down at the body of Tom Riddle. His features were contorted in agony. She determined there would be no more resurrections of his evil soul. She raised her wand.

"Incendio," she murmured softly. She looked over at Dumbledore who nodded his approval. She then walked over to where Lucius lay. His pale gray eyes were open and staring. He bore an expression of obstinate loathing. Even in death, he would not repent his sins.

"Incendio," Draco said from behind her igniting his father's remains. "It is my right. He was my father." The young man scowled. "Where's Ginny? The Dark Lord said she escaped." Harry could hear the worry in his voice.

"Fawkes saved her. If she's not here I would assume she was brought to Hogwarts." Draco smiled and turned his attention to where Ron and Hermione were sitting embraced. "I'll go and tell the Weasel."

Harry limped over to where the bodies of her parents were propped against the trees still in each other's arms. Sirius, Remus, and Severus waited patiently. Beginning to feel her injuries again Harry dismissed the pain. She was not yet done. She looked at the pained expressions on the faces of her Protectors and silently kissed each one of the three men on the cheek. Only then did she look at her parents faces. Her father had a quirky little smile on his lips. Had she not known better Harry would have believed him to be asleep. Her mother had an expression of rapture and reminded Harry of how much she had loved her husband and child. They were at peace. Gently laying them down she covered their bodies with her cloak. The cold air felt good on her burned and raw skin.

Harry was beginning to get dizzy as she tried to suppress her physical pain along with her emotions. It was not yet time for her to give in to her grief. She walked over to Dumbledore and embraced him. She then took Phaedra from his arms without a word and led her over to where Circe's body lay. Someone had covered her over. Harry assumed it was Severus. She gently exposed Circe's face grateful that her eyes were closed. She bore a look of satisfaction and was beautiful even in death. She sensed someone along side of them and looked up to see Tiberius watching. She then hugged Phaedra.

"Look at her, Phaedra, and never forget how much she loved you. She died for you. She died so you could live just like my mum."

"Who will take care of me now?" the little girl questioned.

"We will. You still have your uncles, Sirius, Remus, and me. We all love you and you will never be sad again if we can help it."

"But I miss my mummy and my daddy is gone again too," she sobbed.

"I know. I miss Circe too as well as my mum and dad. Nevertheless, I do know she wouldn't want you to cry. She's watching you know. I'll bet that right now she is with your dad and my parents and telling them how brave you are. She's saying that you're a Snape and will hold your head up with dignity and pride."

"She told me you would come and you did."

"I'm only sorry I was not fast enough to spare you from losing her."

"It's not your fault, Harry," Tiberius remarked quietly. "You saved as many as you could. It was her time."

"Miss Harry, you're hurt." Phaedra could see the burns on her body and the odd twist to her leg as Harry swayed dizzily. "You won't leave me too, will you?"

"No, Phaedra, I won't leave you. I just need time to heal. I might pass out though so I don't want you to get scared, okay?"

"Okay," she answered nervously.

"Now go with your uncle. I still have one more thing to do." Harry handed Phaedra off to Tiberius and pointed her wand towards the smoldering ruins of the farmhouse. "Accio goblet." It took a minute but the goblet found its way to her. It was blackened and tarnished but intact. Muttering a spell, she cooled it off and cleaned it before going over to Ron and Hermione.

"Harry! I'm so sorry," Hermione sobbed. "This whole thing was my entire fault."

"No, Hermione, it was nobody's fault. I'm sorry about your parents. I'm sorry I couldn't get there in time. Are you all right?"

"I haven't really had time to process everything," she admitted, "and now Ron is blind. He's saying he can't marry me. He says he wouldn't be any kind of a husband who could take care of his family properly now that he can't see."

"Is this true, Ronald Weasley?" Harry asked sharply. "I seem to recall you were fighting along with the rest of us despite not being able to see what you were doing."

"I didn't want anything to happen to Hermione," he protested.

"Do you love Hermione?"

"Of course I do but that isn't the point. How can I support a family if I can't see?"

"Lots of men do, Ron. You are just being your usual stubborn chauvinistic self! Now knock it off!" Harry blasted him.

"But I deserve to be blind. This is my punishment. I betrayed you and used the goblet for Voldemort!"

"Did you do so willingly? I happen to know you were under an Imperious curse at the time. You are not responsible."

"That doesn't matter. You're my best mate and I should have seen that he would do something like that!"

"Really, Weasley..." Draco drawled. "The Dark Lord has used all of us. You should be grateful that we are all alive and not feeling sorry for yourself."

"Draco is right, Ron," Hermione admonished tearfully. "I didn't fall in love with you because you could see. I fell in love with what is inside. I would love you even if you couldn't talk or walk."

"Hmm...might be an improvement," Draco sneered.

"That's enough, Draco," Harry remarked quietly. "So will you marry Hermione or not?"

"Yes, we'll work it out."

"In that case...Headmaster, could you come over here?" Harry called to Dumbledore who had been standing off to the side with the others watching.

"I assume you would like me to perform the ceremony before young Mr. Weasley has time to change his mind?"

"Yes, so long as they're both willing?"

"We are," Hermione answered for them both.

"Where are my Mum and Dad?" Ron asked.

"They're coming," Dumbledore answered, waving them over.

He quickly explained the situation and the Weasleys both smiled. Bill had come up to watch too. Once word spread, a whole crowd had gathered around. Harry grinned with amusement knowing how embarrassed Ron would be if he could see how many people were witnessing this. Harry swayed on her feet and felt someone at her arm. She looked up and saw Sirius giving her a wicked grin, which didn't quite reach his eyes.

"James and Lily would be proud to see this." He hugged her gently and frowned when she winced in pain.

"Shh...I think we all need a little happiness amidst all the pain," she answered leaning on him for support. Her side was throbbing and her leg was going numb. The burns were stinging painfully but inside she was beginning to feel a happy warmth. "Could you do me a favor and get my dad's glasses?"

"I've already brought them," Remus answered. He had moved up beside Sirius as Dumbledore started the ceremony. "I have a feeling I know why you want them," he winked with understanding eyeing the goblet.

The ceremony wasn't long. When it came time for a ring Molly gave Hermione hers. The couple kissed and everybody who had been watching cheered. Ron turned beet red.

"Who else is here?" he asked astonished.

"Only the entire Order and most of the Aurors who aren't taking in prisoners," Bill laughed. "Congratulations, you two, now all you have to do is give Mum those grandchildren she's been looking for forever." Everybody laughed and Hermione and Ron hugged one another as the crowd dispersed.

"Come on Son, I'll help you get back to Hogwarts," Mr. Weasley said fondly.

"Mr. Weasley, could you wait just one minute. I have a wedding present for them," Harry remarked with a snicker.

"A wedding present? What on earth could you give us here, Harry?" Hermione wondered.

"You'll see. Remus, I may need your help when this is done. I am very tired."

"I understand, Princess. You need to get to the infirmary soon."

"Harry, are you hurt?" Ron questioned. "Whatever it is can wait."

"No, Ron. It can't. I want you to have this now. Just stay still and be patient. You may feel a little discomfort and I will get balled out later by the Headmaster but some things are worth his getting pissed off," Harry remarked glancing at Dumbledore who was eyeing her shrewdly.

"What's going on?" Ron asked dismayed by her remark.

"Dumbledore will explain later," Harry stated, voice shaking as she lit the goblet with a wave of her wand.

She knew what she was going to do was borderline dark magic but didn't care. Remus and Dumbledore stood steady though. Both understood that her motives were good even if they weren't entirely happy with her actions. She removed her glasses. Placing one of Ron's hands on the goblet she covered it with one of her own. Harry softly uttered a long and involved incantation waving her wand over the goblet with her free hand A beam of blue light shot out from the goblet into both of their eyes. Ron cried out in pain but Harry held him steady. The fire then went out. Harry blinked once and put her glasses back on. Ron looked up blinking the tears from his eyes.

"Harry? Is that you?" he asked squinting. "I think I can see but everything is all fuzzy and blurred," he cried excitedly.

"Welcome to the land of the nearsighted, Ron. I have just given you my eyesight."

"Harry are you blind now?" he questioned frantically.

"No, Ron, she's fine," Remus replied. "I think you would do well to try these on though." The werewolf gently placed James Potter's eyeglasses on Ron.

"I...I...can see! Harry, mate, how did you do that?"

"Never mind, Ron. It was the least I could do for my best friend. Take good care of those glasses though. They were my dad's. I think he would want you to have them. Use them well." Harry turned to face Dumbledore who shrugged and sighed. "I love you too, Albus," she chuckled.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Albus blue eyes were twinkling but his face was stern.

"Ah...yeah...could someone catch me? I'm going to pass out..." Harry managed to say as the world spun into nothingness.

She never felt Remus and Sirius grab her at the same time. Nor did she hear Phaedra cry out in fear. Tiberius reassured her that Harry had merely passed out from her injuries before Severus apparated her back to Hogwarts accompanied by Sirius and Remus.

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