Love Conquers All

"Department of Mysteries," said the cool female voice.

Harry practically forced the doors of the lift open as he clambered into the long corridor. There was not a moment to lose. Only one thought ran through his mind as he prepared to fire down the hall: Hermione could be under torture at that very moment, and Harry had to save her. Voldemort would pay for this horrible crime, he would make sure of it. First his parents, then Sirius, and now Hermione? How much of his family would Voldemort take? As many as it took to get to him. He cursed himself for being such a coward. If only he had taken on the Dark Lord the first time in the ministry, it could have saved so many lives. Even if Harry had been killed, Sirius might still be alive. If only...

The door at the end of the hall loomed dark and forbidding, just as it had in Harry's fifth year. This time, however, he knew what he was in for. He charged down the corridor at full speed and burst through the door without hesitation, leaving it ajar behind him.

He found himself in the black, circular room once again. The torches of blue flame still burned brightly, illuminating the numerous doors around the room. In his vision, the door on the left had opened. He braced himself for whatever might lie beyond it, opened that door, and entered.

Harry shrieked in terror.

He found himself at the top of a great pit, and at the bottom was the stone archway and...the veil, the same veil Sirius Black had fallen through five years earlier. The thin, torn fabric still swayed slightly in a nonexistent breeze. The archway was gray and forbidding, and Harry thought he could still here a faint whisper coming from within. He was stunned.

The door slammed shut behind him, causing him to jump. Several torches ignited themselves around the stone pillars, casting eerie shadows along the descending stairs. It was quiet, too quiet. He drew his wand from his pocket, even though the chamber seemed deserted.

Harry took a chance a spoke.

"Hello?"

His voice echoed throughout the walls, an effect that sent chills down his spine. No sooner had the echoes died down than Harry's scar exploded with pain more severe than ever before. It felt as though his head might erupt in a ball of flame. He screamed and fell to the ground; his palms began to sweat but he kept a firm grip on his wand. Fire burned in his skull and his entire body felt like lightning was coursing through it. Through all of this pain and suffering a distinct sound could be heard: the most horrible laugh of all time.

"Well, well, Harry Potter. We meet again, for the last time."

A pair of sickly red eyes appeared in the shadows across the pit. Harry's green ones slowly raised to meet them, sweat dripping down his face. Voldemort stepped out of the shadows, revealing his sinister white face and black-as-night robes. He clutched his wand tightly in his right hand, and Harry was unsure what torturous spells it might be preparing to conjure. The room was spinning, but he managed to pull himself up to his feet, his own wand at the ready.

"Voldemort," he breathed. "You bastard!"

"Watch your tongue, Potter," Voldemort smirked. "Unless you want to end up like that damn godfather of yours."

"Don't you dare talk about Sirius like that!" Harry shouted across the chamber. His voice reverberated off the walls.

"I shall say whatever I like, Potter," Voldemort hissed.

Harry's blood was boiling, though whether it was from pain or anger he did not know.

"Where is Hermione?" he demanded.

Voldemort's lip curled more.

"Relax, Potter. You're Mudblood girlfriend is just fine, for now."

"IF YOU LAY EVEN ONE HAND ON HER-"

"You'll do what?" Voldemort inquired sheepishly. "Are you going to kill me?"

"That was my plan," Harry replied, more confidently than he was feeling.

"Really?" Voldemort said with a laugh. "If you are so sure of yourself than why are you sweating like a pig?"

Harry glared at him and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The pain was still intense, but he ignored it. Voldemort was cackling.

"Don't be so hasty now, Potter," the Dark Lord said, slowly walking down the stone steps.

Harry did the same, the fire in his scar burning ever hotter the closer he came to this master of evil. Soon, only the stone dais separated the two wizards. Harry could still hear vague voices from through that worn material.

"I wouldn't be so willing to duel if I were you, Potter," Voldemort hissed from across the dais. "It could cost you dearly."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry snapped.

Voldemort snapped his fingers and Harry heard a door at the top of the steps open. He looked up and saw Draco Malfoy come into the chamber dragging...Hermione.

"Hermione!" Harry cried.

She was bound and gagged; all the same, Malfoy was struggling to keep her in line.

"GET YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF OF HER!" Harry roared.

Both Malfoy and Voldemort smirked, and Hermione continued to struggle.

"You're in no place to be giving orders, Potter," Voldemort hissed.

He nodded to Malfoy, who dragged Hermione over and threw her down at Voldemort's feet. There, she remained motionless, curled up as tight as she could. Voldemort pointed his wand directly at her feeble form, glaring at Harry all the while. Harry kept eye contact with him, not flinching in the slightest. He kept his face expressionless, not allowing Voldemort to see inside of him.

"Now," Voldemort said. "You have a choice, Potter. Surrender, or the girl dies."

Harry stood transfixed at these words. His eyes traveled from Voldemort, to Hermione, and back again. What was he to do? He couldn't turn himself over to Voldemort just like that! But what about Hermione? It was either surrender, or sacrifice Hermione. He could never do that. Hermione meant more to him than anything, even his own life. Harry grimaced, but there was no other way. Slowly, he spread his fingers apart and his wand clattered to the floor.

Voldemort cackled, and Harry could have sworn he saw Hermione shiver.

"Accio!" the Dark Lord hissed.

Harry's wand flew from the ground into Voldemort's long, white hand.

"You are wise to cooperate," he laughed.

He handed the wand to Malfoy who pocketed it with a sneer.

"Now," Voldemort said to Harry. "It is time to take care of some unfinished business."

He kicked Hermione out of his path and she rolled off the steps, coming to rest only a few feet from Harry. Harry was inclined to go to her, but Voldemort barked, "No!"

The skull-like face was growing more sinister as Voldemort approached Harry, wand raised toward the unarmed man. He felt the cold tip of the wand touch his forehead, and he was forced to stare intently into those horrible snake-like eyes. Harry braced himself for the end, but Voldemort held the wand there for nearly a minute, not muttering a single word. Though he was curious, Harry kept his expressionless posture.

"Then again," the Dark Lord hissed.

Voldemort lowered his wand and stepped back.

"On your knees," he ordered.

Harry did as he was told and dropped down, not daring to look at the man (if you could call him that) in front of him.

"It may benefit me not to kill you, Potter," Voldemort cackled. "You would make a great ally."

Harry glared up at him.

"Not in a million years, Voldemort."

The Dark Lord laughed.

"I'd think it over some if I were you, Potter. It's that or death."

He paused a moment before continuing.

"We're not so different, you and I," he said thoughtfully. "We both fight strong for our causes, we both speak Parseltongue, and we both have a taste for blood-"

"Lie!" Harry shrieked.

Voldemort smirked.

"A lie, is it? I would not be so sure of that, Potter. You killed Lestrange, you have tortured Malfoy here on numerous occasions, and there's no doubt how many others you have killed out of anger."

"I NEVER-"

"Don't you see, Potter?" Voldemort sneered. "You are doing it now. Tell me, Harry Potter. What length would you go to save that girl? How many of my followers would you kill? I have killed many to get to you. That's what makes us so alike. Do you not see it? Think of what we could accomplish together! We could rule this world with the greatest of ease! Join me, Potter! It is the only way you can save yourself!"

Voldemort red slits stared right into Harry's green eyes, waiting for a response. Harry was in utter shock from these words. He could not believe Voldemort didn't kill him right from the start. He actually wanted Harry to join him?

Harry pulled himself up and glared at Voldemort with malice. He spoke slowly, each word dripping with hate,

"I will never join you."

Voldemort's eyes widened in anger, and he punched Harry in the side of the head. Harry fell to the floor, a trickle of blood running down his cheek.

"SO BE IT!" cried Voldemort.

He kicked Harry over onto his back, and held his wand high above Harry's form.

Just before the curse was uttered, Harry looked ahead of him.

Hermione face was inches away from his, and she was looking at him with sorrow in her eyes. He took a large breath, and managed to smile at her. She smiled in return, and whispered, "I love you."

He whispered, "I love you too."

Voldemort, seemingly oblivious to their actions with his wand on Harry, yelled, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Harry wasn't entirely sure what happened. He could vaguely see a wisp of greenish smoke over his head, but he was not dead. Hermione's eyes were closed and a tear was sliding out of them. He was not dead.

"NOOO!" Voldemort roared. "This cannot be! How could he not die?"

Harry felt a hand grab him by the neck and force him to his feet. He turned to see that Voldemort's face was twisted with rage, and Harry had to fight a smirk.

"POTTER!" he yelled. "WHY AREN'T YOU DEAD? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

Harry' s lip curled.

"You are ignorant, Voldemort," he said. "You cannot kill me. I am protected."

"BY WHAT?" Voldemort spat.

"Love."

Voldemort stood transfixed,

"IMPOSSIBLE!" He screamed. "I am immune to that protection. I was reborn in your blood. That no longer protects you from me!"

"That was my mother's protection, Voldemort. I now have a much stronger shield. Hermione's love protects me from you."

Voldemort roared with anger and punched Harry, knocking him to the ground.

"YOU DAMN SON OF A BITCH!" Voldemort hollered.

Harry tasted blood in his mouth and his eyes were watering, but he could still make out Voldemort's fuming actions.

"YOU!" he pointed a finger at Hermione. "I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

Voldemort kicked Hermione in the side and then put his boot to her face.

"LET'S SEE HOW WELL YOU PROTECT POTTER NOW!"

He pointed his wand on her, hand shaking slightly, ready to scream the killing curse.

Harry saw this and an overpowering anger rose inside of him. It gave him strength, and the sight of Hermione's suffering doubled that strength. He stood up to his full height, put his hand out, and his wand flew out of Malfoy's pocket and into his hand. Before Voldemort knew what had happened, Harry had pointed his wand on the Dark Lord for the last time, and muttered his spell.

The silvery curse shot off like a rocket. Harry was nearly thrown backwards as the spell gained momentum. Voldemort's eyes widened with shock and he dropped his wand in a vain attempt to avoid the silver light. The curse hint him square in the chest, and a faint cry could be heard as a mess of black robes was hurled through into the air and beyond the veil. The voices suddenly became louder as Harry watched Voldemort disappear through the thin material. Voldemort was gone.

Harry was panting and could barely believe what he had just done. He had sent Voldemort through the veil, killing him once and for all. He turned to see Malfoy, gaping with shock at the veil Voldemort had just gone through. The white-haired man turned and glared at Harry with the utmost loathing.

"You foul scum!" he barked, drawing his wand. "You shall pay for this!"

He launched himself at Harry, wand pointed, but Harry was not afraid in the least.

He pointed his wand back at Malfoy, muttered a curse, and sent the scrawny Death Eater crashing against the stone steps. The impact rendered him unconscious, and Harry waved his wand again, causing ropes to appear and bind Malfoy tight.

"I hope they haven't rented out your old spot in Azkaban, Malfoy," Harry snapped before turning to Hermione.

He knelt down beside her. She was still curled up and shaking, oblivious to the activity that had been going on around her. Her hair was spread out in all directions, and her robes were stained with blood and sweat. Her small hands were chalk white, and Harry grabbed on of them to squeeze it affectionately.

"Hermione," he whispered

She relaxed a little at his touch and looked up at him with tearstained eyes.

"It's okay," he said softly. "It's over. Voldemort is gone. We can go home now."

Her eyes went wide, as though she couldn't believe it, but she allowed Harry to pick her up in his arms. He held her tight to him, utterly relieved that it was over and he could hold her in his arms once more. She clutched him to her and glanced around the room, noting Malfoy, the archway, and a thin black, object on the floor.

"Harry, what's that?" she asked, pointing to the object.

Harry raised and eyebrow, sat her down, and went over to investigate.

It was Voldemort's wand.

He picked up the long black weapon, twirling it between his fingers. Here it was, the wand that had claimed so many lives, including that of his parents, Cedric, and Sirius. Aided by his rage with the Dark Lord, he broke it in half and threw it into the veil.

"It can follow him to Hell," Harry muttered to himself.

He turned back to Hermione and gave her another hug.

"Let's get out of here," he whispered to her.

"Gladly," she whispered back. "What about Malfoy?"

Harry glanced over at the Death Eater lying unconscious on the floor with blood oozing from various cuts on his body.

"I'll send someone over later on."

They stared at each other steadily, taking in their essences and just happy to be back in one another's arms once again, with the worry of Voldemort and the weight of the world no longer upon them.

"Harry?" she whispered.

"Yes?"

"I love you. I can't thank you enough for saving me."

He smiled.

"I love you, too, Hermione. I had to save you. You are my soul mate, my whole world. If it weren't for you, I would have never have defeated Voldemort. Your love made me strong, and it pains me to think what I would have done without you."

She grinned and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"Thank you, Harry. I will always be by your side."

They exchanged smiles, intertwined their fingers, and strolled steadily up the steps, once again free from bondage.

***

When Hermione and Harry stepped out of the lift into the Atrium, three heads of red hair came rushing toward them. Ron, Ginny, and Percy Weasley were all looking white as ghosts, and they all had shadows under their eyes. Ginny appeared as though she had been crying.

"Harry! Hermione!" she exclaimed, grabbing them both in a huge hug. "You're alive! I-, it's a miracle! Dumbledore said that Harry was off to 'face his destiny', and at first I didn't know what the bloody hell that meant, but then it hit me! Harry is it true? Is You-Know-Who dead?"

Harry nodded slowly.

"Thank God in Heaven!" she hollered, tears coming to her eyes again. "It's over! All over!"

She hugged them again and then turned to hug both of her brothers, crying with joy.

"Mate," Ron said, embracing Harry once he was free from Ginny. "You don't know how glad I am to see you alive. When Dumbledore told us where you were, I just prayed that both of you would be all right. And here I see you've finally defeated that old bastard. Thanks, Harry, my friend, my brother."

A tear trickled down his face as the two smiled at each other. Hermione came forward to hug Ron and gave him a peck on the cheek as well. He blushed slightly, a common habit for him, and stepped aside to let Percy forward.

"Harry," he said calmly. "I just want you to know that I am deeply sorry for this. It was entirely my fault."

"What on earth do you mean?" Harry asked in dismay.

Percy cleared his throat.

"It was I who gave Malfoy the location of Hermione's house so that he could find her. He was threatening to kill me and I acted out of cowardice. Please, please forgive me. I will do whatever you wish."

To his surprise, Harry smiled.

"I forgive you, Percy," he said. "But believe me, Malfoy would have found her out all the same. I do not blame you for any of this. As a matter of fact, I should be thanking you. This gave me reason to finally confront Voldemort. If anyone, I was the coward for not taking him on sooner. There is no fault with you."

Percy smiled weakly, and they shook hands.

The reunion was interrupted by a sudden new voice.

"Well, Harry, considering I see Hermione here with you, can I safely assume the prophecy had been fulfilled?"

They all turned to see Dumbledore standing there, beaming at them. Harry was both surprised and relieved to see that the old man was looking much more vivacious and his face was full once more with life.

"Albus!" Harry cried, running up to the elderly man.

Dumbledore continued to smile.

"Good to see you alive, Harry," the headmaster said. "I always had faith in you."

"Thank you, sir," Harry replied, shaking hands with the elder wizard. "And you were right in what you told me."

Dumbledore chuckled.

"Yes, yes. That phrase had been passed down through many generations, and it is still true to this day. Remember it forever, Harry, for indeed, Love does conquer all."

The two old friends embraced each other.

"Now," Dumbledore said. "We'd better move along before the media gets wind of this. I'm afraid that you are going to be under a lot of pressure for a while, as if defeating Voldemort wasn't enough. Publicity is an entirely new form of evil."

Harry laughed.

"Quite so, Albus, quite so."

"If you wish," Dumbledore continued, "you and Hermione can pop over to Hogwarts and have Madam Pomfrey patch you up. I'm sure you'll be much safer from reporters there."

"Thank you, sir, I think I will," Harry said.

Dumbledore smiled one last time and disappeared.

Harry turned around to look at Hermione. She was smiling brightly as well. Even though her face was bruised and bloody and her hair was disheveled, she was still beautiful and he was ecstatic that he would now be able to enjoy his life with her in peace. Voldemort may have been gone, but this was the beginning of a whole new adventure for the both of them.