Harry Potter and the Orb of Slytherin

Chapter 22: The Battle of Ages

A ring and a locket clattered to the floor. Harry had tossed Slytherin's two treasures at Lord Voldemort's feet. Voldemort glared bloody murder at Harry, but he was only met with a determined stare. Hermione and Ron both had their wands raised, but Voldemort seemed only concerned with Harry.

"How you have grown Potter!" Voldemort mocked wickedly. "You must have grown at least three inches since we last met. It would seem you are almost a man!" Voldemort snickered, but he received no response. Harry only stared at Voldemort with cold-dead eyes, his staff raised menacingly in front of him and his cloak whipping around his legs from the heated air that blew through the stadium.

"Are you so confident in yourself Potter?" Voldemort spat. "Do you honestly think the combined efforts of three school children could compare to the greatest wizard this world has ever seen? Your skills are a pittance! You only received your abilities through me the night I came for you!" Harry still said nothing. He stood still... ready... willing... able. Taunting would do Voldemort no good.

"Stupefy!" Ron shouted. A curse shot from his wand towards Voldemort. The sinister enemy's head snapped as the curse hit its mark, but Voldemort seemed little-affected by it. He quickly shot his wand back at Ron in a lightning-quick move.

"Avada Kedavra!" Green death streaked towards Ron, but he stood still. In an instant, a wall of earthen rock rose from the platform floor to intercept the spell. It exploded, but Ron remained, his wand pointed towards Voldemort. Voldemort's face grew angry, but he was hit from behind by another spell that was cast by Hermione. This time, Voldemort had to take a step from the force of it. He turned angrily and cast another killing curse, but again, a rock barrier came up to meet it and protect Hermione.

Voldemort turned angrily towards Harry; the orb on the staff was glowing, but Harry continued to show no emotion or fear... he just stared at Voldemort, ready to protect his friends.

Voldemort disappeared with a pop, but Harry, Hermione, and Ron were ready. They each Apparated as well, moving ten feet to their right. Voldemort appeared behind where Hermione was standing only moments before. Harry quickly waved his staff and sent a curse reeling towards Voldemort.

"Petra Forticulent!" Voldemort countered. Four or five hefty, medium-sized rocks shot towards Voldemort and one of them took the full blow of Harry's curse, exploding into dust. The others rotated rapidly around Voldemort, who smirked devilishly.

"Imago Petra Forticulent!" Hermione shouted. Immediately, rocks flew towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione and began rotating around them in protection as well. Voldemort raged at Hermione's brilliant copycat jinx and charged towards her; but he was suddenly knocked off his feet by a large blue beast who had charged into him at full speed. Ron had changed into his cerebrus form and come to the aid of Hermione. Voldemort Apparated before Ron could pin him with his large paws - the rocks that were revolving around him dropped to the ground. Reappearing behind Ron, Voldemort cursed him, but the dark-blue hex bounced off his magically-protected form. Ron leaped out of the way as Voldemort was struck from behind by a powerful curse from Harry. He was sent reeling to the floor near the center of the arena. Harry, Ron, and Hermione Apparated again, assuming their triangle formation around him - their own protective rocks dropping as well.

Voldemort sustained a cut across his cheek from Ron's attack, but he continued to smile, staring at Harry. "I see..." Voldemort gloated. "You have a very nice chain of attack, Potter. Weasley makes physical and magical attacks. Meanwhile, your delightful little girlfriend makes strategic counter-moves to bolster your power and improve your cohesive attack prowess. You, meanwhile, use defensive tactics to protect your two weaker friends from me. Very impressive, Potter... very impressive indeed. You've been taught well, but tell me, are you prepared for a Dark Lord who will no longer tolerate foolish games?"

Harry still refused to respond and Voldemort's manner grew dark and dangerous. "You will answer me Harry Potter. I swear to you this: when this is over, you will be begging for me to kill you, but I will have ripped your tongue from your mouth - you will remain silent, but for entirely different reasons." There was a pounding noise from somewhere beyond them and Harry quickly turned to see a dozen Death Eaters rushing towards the entrance to the arena.

"What now?' Voldemort taunted. "Can you fight them and me at the same time?"

Harry responded by raising his staff towards the ceiling. There was an ominous-sounding crack and the four of them looked up. The gigantic stalactite of rock above them was crumbling as Harry crushed its base. It dropped in a mighty rush towards Voldemort, but he quickly Apparated out of the way. It did not crash, however. Harry, using all of his power, stopped the mountain of a rock and turned it sideways. Summoning all of his strength, Harry launched it towards the entrance of the arena. It crashed through, cutting off the entrance completely. Harry then waved his staff once more. He had cast a spell around the wall, making it impossible for anyone outside to Apparate into the room.

"You've just sealed your doom!" Voldemort shouted. His wand seemed to almost catch fire as he began casting powerful curses one after another towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry's orb was capable of blocking most of what was launched at him, so Harry continued to bring rock and earth up to protect Hermione and Ron while they attacked Voldemort just as furiously.

Large explosions and poundings could be heard from behind the rock barrier that blocked the entrance and the rock spire was beginning to move inward. Once Harry saw his opportunity, he pushed the rock back with his staff and focused back on the battle.

Voldemort had finally landed a curse and Hermione fell to the ground, screaming in pain as a cloud of black haze enveloped her, but Voldemort could not celebrate for Ron had quickly transformed into a bear and knocked Voldemort clear across the platform. He landed with a crash and a yell of pain. Harry Apparated to Hermione's side and quickly removed the curse on her with a wave of his staff, helping her up. Hermione shook the curse off, and to Harry and Ron's surprise, immediately raised her wand, ready. Ron transformed back and they Apparated, surrounding Voldemort yet again in a triangle formation. The blasts from the Death Eaters against the rock blockade persisted and Harry swung his staff, pushing the rock back inward.

Voldemort raised his wand into the air and shouted, "Crux Primitus!" Ron saw his chance and charged at Voldemort. Transforming back into the blue cerebrus he favored, he leaped at Voldemort; The Dark Lord barely Apparated to the side in time.

"You!" Voldemort raged, pointing to Ron, who transformed back to his normal self. "You are really starting to annoy me! You will be the first to die!" Ron raised his wand courageously, his hand in his pocket, ready to transform. Voldemort brought two fingers up to his face and closed his eyes as he chanted something. A rumbling began to shake the foundations of the platform, but all of them stood their ground. Suddenly a great geyser of lava shot up from the volcano into the chamber through the opening around the edge of the platform. Voldemort sliced his wand down and the lava shot thunderously towards Ron.

"RON!" Harry shouted.

The lava slammed down onto Ron; everyone had to shield their eyes from the light of the scorching fire. Harry ran forward despite Voldemort's maniacal laughter, but then stopped. As the lava flow cleared and dropped back into the volcano, something stood where Ron had been standing only moments before. It was some kind of being that looked like it was made of fire and rock. Its face was grotesquely shaped and its arms and legs almost seemed to be made of lava itself. Harry turned to Voldemort in triumph. It was a fire golem - a rare mythical creature that was said to have been made of actual flame. Ron had transformed into this creature that was unaffected by lava; he roared at Voldemort, who looked speechless.

Ron thrust his liquid-like arms at the Dark Lord and fire and molten rock spewed from his hands. Voldemort Apparated out of the way, towards the door; he cast a spell at the giant rock blockade, trying to remove it, but Harry quickly countered with a spell of his own, shoving the boulder back in. Voldemort shot a curse towards Hermione, but Harry brought up a stone wall to block it. Ron had turned back into a cerebrus and rushed towards Voldemort.

"Illisor Reticulent!" Hermione shouted with a jab of her wand. The cerebrus charging towards Voldemort instantly split into three identical beasts, all of them bearing two sets of sharp teeth. Voldemort cursed one, but it disappeared in smoke. The other two leaped onto him, the real one landing a hit. Pinning Voldemort to the ground, the two heads went for Voldemort's face, who screamed as he was gnawed viciously. In seconds, the cerebrus was thrown by a curse from Voldemort. Ron transformed back, holding his side and wincing as he got up. Hermione rushed to his side as Harry charged for Voldemort. Voldemort thrust his wand and Harry was sidedecked by a curse and was forced to back away. He shook his head and stepped in between his friends and the Dark Lord, who got up himself.

He had large bleeding cuts streaked down his face, but he held his wand up as he faced Harry. Harry stood ready, but remained silent as Voldemort laughed. To Harry's dismay, the cuts on Voldemort's face were healing on their own and in seconds, Ron's attack had no mark.

"Ramses Beauregard's Trinny Charms..." Voldemort's voice echoed in the blistering-hot chamber. "They're fun toys, but such pitiful magic is no challenge to me. Now, you and your friends stand weary before me, while I have you right where I want you."

"Then why is there fear in your eyes?" Harry asked.

Voldemort sneered, before chuckling ominously once more. "Does it pain you to hear me speak of Beauregard, Harry? I admit I was looking forward to killing him myself. I'm just glad you were there to watch him die."

"You honestly think your sad tricks will work on me, Riddle?" Harry retorted with an imposing smirk. He tapped his head with his fingers. "You aren't in here anymore and you never will be again. So, please, continue with your deplorable mind tricks."

"How dare you call me by that filthy name..."

"What name? Are you referring to Tom Riddle? I'm sorry. Let me go back to calling you 'Lord Voooldemort,'" Harry taunted sardonically.

Voldemort raised his wand suddenly and shouted, "Crux Binus!"

Harry's mind raced. That is the second time he has cast a spell of no visible property. Harry was reminded strongly of Hermione's tactics in their own duel. He's planning something. Could it be...Amor Immensus?

"Harry!" Hermione shouted.

"I know!" Harry replied quickly.

Harry did not have to wait to see if Voldemort would stall. He suddenly charged at Harry, making quick movements with his wand.

"Crucio!" he shouted viciously. Harry merely blinked and Voldemort stopped, stunned that his curse seemed to do nothing. Harry smirked, once again tapping his head.

"I don't think so. Not anymore." Harry thrust his staff and Voldemort was struck powerfully and launched across the platform, hitting the rock barrier against the entrance hard. Harry kept him pinned as he moved towards him, but Voldemort waved his hand and dropped to the ground. He Apparated behind Harry and backhanded him, knocking him to the ground. Ron had leaped after him as a cerebrus, but Voldemort was able to catch him in midair with a curse, and Ron was knocked violently back; Hermione, however, caught Voldemort squarely in the chest and he flew across the platform yet again, this time bleeding from his torso.

They all struggled to get up and were breathing heavily. Harry approached Voldemort, who was closing his wound with his wand, but was sweating profusely and looked extremely worn.

"I am going... to destroy you... you cannot beat us," Harry huffed determinedly.

"You have much... to learn Potter." Voldemort wheezed, his chest rising and falling heavily. "It's too bad I won't give you the opportunity."

The blasts against the rock barrier near the entrance increased in intensity and it began moving outward more and more. Harry thrust his staff towards it, but Voldemort was quicker. He waved it in Harry's direction. Suddenly, the ground beneath Harry's feet disappeared and he fell through the floor towards the volcano mouth. His staff caught the edges of the hole and Harry hung on. He Apparated back to the platform, but Voldemort was already casting a spell to remove the rock barrier.

It was almost completely removed when out of seemingly nowhere, an enormous yellow Horntail Dragon with a long red stripe down its back flew like a rocket towards it, crashing into it with the force of a cannon, knocking it squarely back into place. The dragon turned and roared at Voldemort, who shook his fist at the transformed Ron. He had little time to protest, however, because he was tripped by an invisible force and knocked to his back. Hermione had used a lasso curse and caught his legs cleanly. She waved her wand with all she had and Voldemort was knocked across the platform floor and over the edge. In seconds, though, Voldemort appeared with a pop behind her, but she Apparated quickly to Ron's side, who had changed from a dragon back to himself.

"You find yourselves to be so clever, don't you?" Voldemort laughed evilly. Harry stood between Voldemort and his friends and raised his staff once more. "You have no idea of the power I possess."

"Get off it. We have been beating you soundly," Harry replied coldly.

"You don't understand yet, do you Potter? I have only been stalling! However, I believe the time is right..." Voldemort raised his wand and sneered sadistically at Harry. "To show you just what a situation you have gotten yourself into ... CRUX TERTIUS!" he bellowed. A beam of light shot from Voldemort's outstretched wand and split, spreading through the chamber like birds, streaking through the entirety of the room and through the walls. The orb on Harry's staff glowed a fierce red color as the shards of light that would have hit Harry were all absorbed.

Finally, it ended and Voldemort lowered his wand, a bit shaken. He looked at Harry and his eyes burrowed in annoyance.

"I should have suspected it wouldn't affect you," Voldemort sneered. Harry looked behind him and saw Ron and Hermione were on the ground, unconscious. The poundings and blasts against the rock blockade had also stopped.

"I just invoked a magic that knocks everyone out within a very large radius, Potter," Voldemort gloated. "You now have no help... no one to look to for protection... it's just you... against your superior, the Dark Lord Voldemort!" Voldemort roared in laughter that echoed in the vast arena.

"Boy, you really sell yourself," Harry quipped. Voldemort stopped laughing and glared at Harry quizzically. "Let me show you my power, Riddle!" Harry waved his staff mightily.

"Arx Occipio Ferocitas!" he shouted. He began to glow a golden hue as he stared confidently at a surprised Voldemort, who stepped back in uncertainty. The orb in Harry's possession glowed like the sun and within moments, Harry looked as if he were made of pure gold. After only a moment of pure golden brilliance, however, the light surrounding him came off him almost in strips, peeling along his body. They gathered like ribbon and shot towards Ron and Hermione, quickly engulfing them. Their bodies were soon encased in golden cocoons that levitated five or six feet in the air, shining brightly.

"What did you do?" Voldemort growled.

"You mean you don't know?" Harry replied snidely. "Well, I will tell you, just to make you feel better. I have activated the Spell of Dependency. My friends are housed in a magic that cannot be undone or broken and their safety in their cocoons depends on my courage. As long as I have a fighting spirit to defy you with all of my power, they will remain forever out of danger. I willingly take their lives into my hands and there is nothing you can do to get to them except by going through me." Harry raised his other hand and issued it forward. "So come and get me Riddle!"

The battle being waged near the base of Mount Lomboc was ending only soon after it had begun. Death Eaters far outnumbered and far outstripped in matters of courage and desperation were soon overwhelmed. Many witches and wizards lay slain on the ground, but Harry's army had soundly defeated the Death Eater forces and many of Voldemort's servants were apprehended before they could Apparate away. Mad-Eye took it upon himself to assume command of the area. He sent strong wizards to take teams and surround the volcano, making sure no parts were unchecked. (Upon Harry's request, he kept the Weasley family close and did not send them into any otherwise avoidable danger.)

"Alastor, it's time we go!" Lupin came up to him and demanded pleadingly. "We must go to Harry's aid now that we have taken control of Lord Voldemort's forces! We have left him to fend for himself for too long!" Mad-Eye's electric-blue eye swiveled rapidly in the direction of the volcano's spire. It fluttered and danced violently until Mad-Eye grunted.

"Harry is fighting the Dark Lord alone now," he grimaced. "I do not see Weasley or Granger. It is indeed time. Gather every brave and able witch or wizard available to us. We make for the spire."

"What do you honestly think you can do, Potter?" Voldemort asked icily. "You know in your heart you cannot defeat me, even with the Rune Staff of Edifice in your possession. That item you hold increases the user's power ten-fold - if you can barely hold your own against me with it, you know you have no chance."

"I have resisted completely four of the six Unforgivable Curses you have attacked me with," Harry responded, unaffected by Voldemort's words. "Avada Kedavra, Cruciatus, Imperius, and Cadarius - I am here fighting you unaffected by curses you use for evil. You have met your match, Riddle. Don't attempt to deceive yourself into thinking you have prepared yourself for me. I have defeated your five horsemen, destroyed three of your Horcruxes and now I have come for you!"

"You brag about killing my servants and now I have caught you in a lie!" Voldemort retorted angrily. "Bellatrix LeStrange died by my own hands! She was given a simple job of tracking you with a Tunari Medallion and she failed. She was made an example of - I do not suffer the opposite of my complete appeasement."

Harry reached around his neck and pulled his Snake necklace off, showing it to Voldemort.

"You mean this?" Harry tossed the medallion at Voldemort's feet.

"You - you have had it this whole time?"

"Ramses knew of your trickery and eventually discovered the ability of the Tunari Medallion. However, I had already employed a magic that renders me untraceable by any magical means. How do you think I so easily passed so many of your weak defenses? How do you think I became invincible in our battle on the Plain of the Minds? You killed Bellatrix in stupidity," Harry shouted commandingly, pointing at the stunned Voldemort, "destroying her when she had completed her task! It is simply a sign of everything, Riddle! You destroy without thinking and because of that, you lost all of your finest Death Eaters by my hand or your own!" Harry raised his fist, the orb in his staff glowing a fierce red. "You have caused your own defeat!"

"The Spell of Untraceability..." Voldemort whispered maliciously. "You found Slytherin's tome... these items you hold RIGHTFULLY BELONG TO ME!"

"I don't think so. I was personally given the orb by Salazar Slytherin himself. It would seem he has disowned his heir!" Voldemort looked absurdly at Harry, but the power he felt coming from him made his haughty expression melt away.

Voldemort knew... Harry Potter was his most dangerous foe. If he were allowed to grow up, even Dumbledore would not have been able to defeat him.

"No more talking, Potter... I am going to kill you. The world will fear me once again and there will be neither wizard nor prophesy that stands in my way."

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry suddenly shouted. A violent green spell exploded from his staff towards Voldemort. The dark enemy barely leaped out of the way. Looking up, Voldemort did not see Harry, but rather a dark being clouded in shadow. Two green pinpoints of light were all that were visible outside of the dark frame of the black-magic wizard standing before him. Voldemort had never seen a killing spell with such force... or hatred... behind it; however, he stood and laughed.

"The noble Harry Potter has finally resorted to using Unforgivable Curses! How great it is to see!"

"I have no regrets, Riddle," Harry's voice called from the darkness. "I have come here to kill you. It is my destiny... and I will accomplish what I have set out to do. My hatred will be cast out with your soul and my life will be rejuvenated."

"You cannot escape your hatred Potter... if you kill me, it will only grow stronger. It will be with you wherever you go. However, let us dispense with any thoughts that you might actually defeat me." Voldemort began to glow a furious red - an aura similar to Harry's dark shadow emanated from him and covered his frame. "I am more powerful than you can possibly imagine!"

"Avada Deficus!" Voldemort roared, striking his wand through the air. A midnight-blue curse burst from the tip of his wand.

"Dimentia Reloquias!" Harry countered. Voldemort's curse struck the darkness around Harry, but he still stood. A black portal opened behind Voldemort and he Apparated quickly, allowing his own repelled curse to strike the ground with tremendous force. The platform and the walls rattled violently. Harry ran at Voldemort and Voldemort charged at him in kind. The red and black forces struck in fury, clashing like two pure forces of energy. Lightning bolts and thundering crashes issued throughout the chamber as the two wizards fought with surging power. Curses, spell, hexes - all were conjured in lightning-quick fashion, one after another. The air grew tense and power streamed through every crevice as Harry and Voldemort rose, fighting in the air like demons.

They stopped.

Levitating twenty feet into the air, they burned in fury and then charged again towards each other. The resulting explosion burst through the wall, leaving a gaping hole in the ceiling of the chamber. Harry and Voldemort fell to the platform, knocked senseless.

Harry gasped - his soul felt like it was on fire and through his scar, he could feel Voldemort felt the same way. Get up Harry. He got on his knees and shook his head. Picking up his staff, he faced Voldemort again, who had just gotten to his feet, but looked violently ill. They were breathing heavily and were scorched and bleeding from head to foot, but Harry faced his foe in determination. The cocoons holding Ron and Hermione began to blaze brightly as Harry's spirit increased in fervor. Voldemort bellowed in anger.

"I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO DEFEAT ME!" The red aura surrounding Voldemort grew to enormous proportions and it rose above him. Winding and swirling, the aura of power finally assumed the shape of a serpent made of flame that hissed and snapped murderously at Harry. Harry responded in kind. Using all of his power, his dark aura left his body and floated above him, transforming into a large black phoenix. He had left his hate inside the bird of black fire.

The two creatures rushed towards each other while Harry and Voldemort stood in anticipation. When they clashed, their fury struck both wizards and they yelled in pain and anguish. Harry felt as if a thousand flaming arrows had pierced his body, but he refused to fall. He would not let the world down. He would not let Ron and Hermione down. They had fought with every bit of strength within them and he would return their effort in kind. He could feel Voldemort's suffering and knew it was close. The animals above them fought viciously. Clawing, snapping, biting, lashing... their spirits were dueling in pure soul and power. Harry shouted as his heart beat faster and faster. The fire... the pain...

His scar... suddenly stopped hurting.

Looking above him, Harry noticed Voldemort's snake was dissipating into the air and looking ahead, he saw Voldemort's eyes grow wide. The red aura around him disappeared and he fell, as if in a dream, to his knees.

Harry had won... his spirit had defeated Voldemort's.

The black phoenix slammed back into Harry and with it, all of Harry's hatred returned to him.

Harry remembered... he remembered who had killed his parents... who had caused him so much misery. The orb on his staff blazed a furious red that contrasted to the black aura covering Harry as he approached his fallen enemy.

His heartbeat thumped like a drum.

Every step... each motion... he came closer to victory.

Voldemort slumped on his knees, wide-eyed... defeated. Smoke issued from his body like that of burnt flesh. His skin was pale and his body was frail and writhed in pain.

Harry stood before him, looking down. His eyes narrowed. His hatred boiled within him. He lowered his staff to his enemy's chest......

Remember to love.

Harry shook his head, staring venomously at Voldemort.

Just remember to love.

"NO!" Harry shouted as Voldemort stared fearfully at Harry. His breathing was abnormal and heavy. He was weak... right where Harry wanted him.

Remember to love.

"NOOOOOOO! I WILL KILL HIM!" Harry brought Voldemort into the air using his staff. Voldemort hung in the air, unable to breathe. His head shook in panic and his eyes turned blood-red from the lack of air. Harry squeezed fiercely on his staff, burning with hatred.

Dear Harry,

Harry put a hand to his head and his eyes grew wide and fiercely afraid.

Dumbledore.

It breaks my old heart that you are reading this, because it means I am gone. I made arrangements for this to be delivered to you by Muggle mail should anything ever happen to me - that's me... always prepared for what troubles may come our way. It is one of the great things about being a genius as I was.

Harry, these are dark and difficult times and I had always feared the hatred in this world would consume you as it has done to countless others, but you have found a way to overcome all the obstacles that you have confronted in your lifetime and turned into a marvelous young wizard and, I daresay, one of the finest students I have ever had the privilege to teach. You have a great gift Harry - the gift of being able to love. You ask yourself what good it does you, but I believe that the power you have makes you strong and able. Once you have learned to fully utilize all you have available to you, Harry, there is no one who can tell you what you can or cannot do.

This notebook I set aside for you is your final lesson, in a sense. I offer you magical knowledge and know-how so that you can prepare for your destiny. Remember, Harry, that you make your own decisions. Those decisions, however, are different, because they affect so many of the people around you. Take care of them. I know you can save the world; just remember to love.

Your Man,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry shook violently, tears streaming down his face. The anger in his face started to melt away into sadness. Voldemort dropped with a crash and Harry backed away, his black aura of fury dispelling into the air.

"I'm almost done!" Harry whispered, still backing away. "I'm almost there... please give me the courage, Headmaster... please..."

Dumbledore didn't want this. He knew what you would look like...what you would be like. Your hatred consumes you...controls you...he knew...you can't kill Riddle. No more killing...no more. It must end...

"Ha, ha, ha..." a low laugh wheezed into Harry's ears.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry's staff flew out of his hand and slid across the platform floor. Voldemort stood on one knee, pointing his wand at Harry and smiling demonically.

"You lose Harry Potter... AVADA KEDAVRA!"

"Adesdum!" Harry's staff rocketed into his hands in response to his call just as the curse reached its target; Harry raised it before him.

The orb exploded. Glass shards sliced by Harry's face and neck. He was tossed violently back, landing hard, just below where the golden cocoons floated in the air. He gasped in agony, unable to move. The cocoons protecting Ron and Hermione dissipated and they floated gently down beside Harry, still unconscious. Harry could hear a laugh echo in the chamber, but he could barely see anything. The vision flashed into his memory and he knew what was happening... fate would be fulfilled.

There was a thump to his left and in the corner of his eye he spotted Worthwhile drop to the platform floor; he was bleeding from cuts across his entire body. Nagini followed suit and they hissed and slithered, snapping at each other. Nagini looked terrible as well, but to Harry's horror, Worthwhile, in a flash, was instantly swallowed whole by the much larger snake - right before his eyes. Harry raised his hand in an attempt to move, but it fell. He was so weak...

"Excellent job, my pet," Harry heard Voldemort's voice say. He could hear him limping towards them... Harry knew his death was near.

He had tried so hard.

Voldemort finally came up to Harry, wand raised. Harry felt Hermione's hand next to him take his and he squeezed it.

"So long Potter," Voldemort hissed. Harry felt Ron take his other hand.

"You might have been great one day...... Avada Kedavra!"

And then, there was nothing.

END Chapter 22