Broken

It's Over

Chapter 8

Harry, along with Ron, Snape, and Dumbledore, Apparated into the graveyard near Little Hangleton. Harry took a deep breath. He couldn't help having flashbacks of this place. His eyes quickly found the spot where Cedric Diggory's lifeless body hit the ground. Harry squeezed his eyes shut. Now is not the time, Potter. Get yourself together.

Harry's thoughts were broken by Snape's voice. "He's here. I can feel him. Albus, you need to get out of sight. Where are the others?"

Dumbledore stood tall behind Snape. "Severus, I will fight. I may be an old man, but I think I can handle myself. The others are awaiting my signal." Dumbledore reached into his robes and pulled out his loyal phoenix, who perched himself on his master's shoulder."

Snape sighed. "Albus, I am fully aware of the fact that you can handle yourself. However, you've already had your fight. This is ours. Please, if something were to happen to you, old man, I - "

Dumbledore put up his hand. "I understand, Severus. However, I'm not going anywhere."

Harry was listening to the banter between the older men until he heard something. Noticing the halted voices of the other two, he knew they heard it as well. Harry looked all around him until he spotted it on the ground. Without making a sound, he pointed to the rat scampering up the walk toward the Riddle house. He looked at Snape, who mouthed, "Wormtail." Harry nodded, and Dumbledore sent Fawkes with the signal.

Before they could make a move, they heard small pops all around them. They were surrounded. Harry looked all around him. He looked at Snape and whispered, "I guess your cover's blown."

Snape smirked. "It's about time."

They stood back to back, with their wands raised, but nobody made a move, not even the Death Eaters. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Voldemort appeared in front of Harry.

"Well, well, well. It looks like you found me, Potter. It was nice of you to drop by. Oh, and you brought your little red-headed friend, I see." Voldemort gestured toward Ron. "How is your little sister?" Ron's face burned red with anger, but he didn't speak. Voldemort turned his attention back to Harry. "I was actually on my way to see you. It seems like we've left some things... unsaid."

Moving to Harry's right, Dumbledore held his wand at the ready. When Voldemort saw Dumbledore for the first time, he had the slightest intake of breath. Then, noticing Snape, he hissed, "I see you have decided to fight against me, Severus."

Snape glared back, but didn't answer. Before Voldemort could say another word, the members of the Order appeared, surrounding the Death Eaters. It was Bellatrix Lestrange who started the battle. She fired the first shot at Dumbledore, who effortlessly deflected it. While the battle was raging behind them, Harry and Voldemort simply stared at one another.

It wasn't long before Dumbledore had conjured ropes to secure most of the Death Eaters. The remaining Death Eaters were dead, including Wormtail. There was one that was missing: Lucius Malfoy.

Remnants of spells filled the air, and Harry and Voldemort raised their wands. "Harry," Voldemort started. "You know you can't kill me."

"Sure I can, Tom. And I'm going to kill you. I'm just surprised you let all your mates get caught or killed."

Anger rose up Voldemort's spine at the use of his given name. "It's no matter. I would rather get this over with without the distraction. If they let themselves get caught or killed, that's their problem. After I do away with you, I'll take care of the rest."

"I don't think so, Tommy," said Harry. "You know all those little pet Horcruxes of yours?"

Voldemort's eyes widened. Apparently, he didn't know that Harry knew anything about them.

Harry smiled. "You do remember those, don't you? You shouldn't have neglected them for so long. Don't worry, my friends and I have been playing with them. You know what that means, don't you?" When Voldemort's eyes started to dart around furiously, Harry added, "We got your slithery little friend yesterday. I must say, she was hard to get. It took us some time finding her, but we have our ways. I'll give Snape the credit for that one."

Without taking his eyes off Voldemort, Snape smiled wickedly. "It was my pleasure, Potter. I never liked that snake."

Voldemort laughed maniacally. "Do you really think you can beat me, boy? You are no match for Lord Voldemort. I will have two new Horcruxes when we are finished here. And once I get Dumbledore, I shall have yet another. You think you are all powerful because you have my traitor with you? I'm not alone, Potter. My only loyal servant is here. I've kept him safe until now."

Harry and Snape exchanged furtive looks. Snape eyed Voldemort. "Your little rat is dead. He tried to run - poor thing - but he didn't make it."

Voldemort laughed again. "Do you think I give a damn about that little piece of vermin? Lucius, you can come out now. Come and join our friends."

Lucius Malfoy pulled off an Invisibility Cloak and walked toward the group with his wand drawn. He looked thin and pale. His eyes had dark circles under them. "Hello, Severus," he sneered.

White, hot anger rose within Snape, but he quickly buried it. "Lucius, how nice of you to join us from your hiding place. We've been wondering what happened to you. Have you been living under a rock?"

Harry couldn't believe his eyes. He wanted to get this over with, but he wanted to deal with Lucius personally. Though he didn't know the depth of injury that Lucius had caused, he knew Hermione was viciously attacked, and that was enough. Turning his attention back to Voldemort, he smiled again. "Good of you to bring another guest, Tommy. I'd think it rather unfair for this to be two against one."

"Oh, I'm not going to fight you, Potter," Lucius said. He turned to Snape and for the first time, Snape caught a glimpse of the man Lucius used to be. "I'm not going to fight you either, Severus, my friend."

Voldemort turned red eyes toward Lucius. "What are you talking about, you fool? You will kill the traitor. Potter... is... mine."

Lucius, whose wand was pointing at Snape, turned it toward Voldemort instead. "You bastard... You have turned me into a monster. You have destroyed me, and everything that has mattered to me. I may not be able to kill you, but I will take pleasure in watching Potter do it. This boy, who has thwarted you over and over again, will finally get rid of you."

Voldemort hissed. "Lucius, don't be a fool. Kill the traitor."

Lucius raised his wand and shouted, "Incarcerous." Long, thin ropes flew around Voldemort, knocking his wand out of his hand. Harry and Snape were stunned.

Lucius yelled at Harry. "Kill him, Potter. Do it now."

Harry raised his wand and then he froze. Lucius gaped at him. "What is wrong with you, boy? Kill him, and be done with it." But Snape knew what the problem was. One of the reasons Potter wasn't a Slytherin was because he was too noble. He pointed his wand at Voldemort. Harry shook his head, but Snape just said, "I'm not going to kill him." Then, turning back to Voldemort, he whispered, "Finite."

When the bonds fell, Voldemort was ready. He Accio'd his wand in a flash. After throwing the Sectumsempra curse at Snape, he turned his wand on Harry, and hit him with the same. Harry hit his knees. Voldemort stood over him with his wand raised.

Meanwhile, Lucius had ended the curse put on Snape and cast a healing charm on him. He then cast the Finite on Harry. But before he could stop Voldemort from finishing Harry off, they heard singing from above. They all stopped and looked up. It was Fawkes. He was clutching something in his talons.

When he reached Harry, he dropped a dagger onto the ground next to Harry's knee. Voldemort didn't see the dagger because he was too focused on the bird. Voldemort hissed. "Really, Potter, you should get better friends."

But Lucius saw it. The moment Fawkes dropped it, Lucius said, barely above a whisper, "Dumbledore's bird."

Voldemort turned his attention toward Lucius and said, "What?"

Although Harry was weak from blood loss, he still had his wits about him. While Voldemort had his attention turned toward Lucius, Harry grabbed the dagger. The moment his hands touched the dagger, it turned into Godric Gryffindor's sword.

Harry looked up at Voldemort and grinned. "Let's dance." Voldemort turned back to Harry, who was still on his knees. "What did you say, Potter?"

Without wasting another second, Harry drove the blade through Voldemort's heart and said weakly, "Amo Subvertio Pravus."

Voldemort screamed and hit the ground. He was dead.

Harry was still sitting on his knees, panting. He grabbed his fallen wand and pointed it at Voldemort, just in case. Steam rose from Voldemort's body. Harry knew he was dead because in all the times he thought he'd killed Voldemort, there had never been a body.

Harry looked around him. Snape was trying to stand. Lucius walked over to Harry and performed a healing spell on him. "Potter, all I can do is heal the open wounds. You've lost a lot of blood." Harry looked up at Lucius, unable to focus, and he said, "I don't understand. Why? Why did you do it?"

Lucius didn't answer him. He turned to look down at Snape. Snape didn't have the strength to speak. Lucius gave Snape a small smile. "I have to kill the traitor." Without another word, Lucius Disapparated.

Snape crawled over to Harry. "Potter, can you stand? We have to get out of here. This place will be crawling with Ministry officials as soon as that bird of Dumbledore's gets the message out."

Harry noticed Dumbledore and Ron walking toward them. He knew they had been just beyond the perimeters, holding the captured Death Eaters.

"I think I can stand." Harry made to get up, but his head started swimming, and his eyes became unfocused. A moment later, Harry collapsed.