Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us

Chapter 6: The Final Battle

Hermione had been living with Harry for over a year. She was nearly healed -- her physical injuries were healed. She was still suffering some of the traumatic emotional side effects of the abuse.

It was in these times when Harry really had to support her. He tried on numerous occasions to get her to go to a support group with other women who had been abused and raped. She went ballistic when he suggested it.

He carefully avoided that topic from that point on.

* * *

Christmas was approaching. They had received a letter from Hermione's parents inviting them for the holiday. Harry had a special gift for Hermione this Christmas.

He had bought an engagement ring. He had got Ginny to help him pick it out. Harry just hoped her father would allow him to ask her to marry him.

The week before Christmas Eve they caught a bus from London to Little Whinging. Hermione's parents picked them up at the bus depot. They drove out into the Surrey countryside.

They drove to the small community of Little Hangleton. "You've never been to my parents before have you Harry?"

"No." All of a sudden Harry clasped a hand over his scar.

"What's wrong?"

"Voldemort's somewhere nearby."

"How do you know?"

"My scar -- I felt a twinge in my scar." Harry looked out the window and saw the graveyard. "That's the graveyard I was in after the last task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament in Fourth Year!

Voldemort's very close by. I can feel it in my very heart and soul."

"You're not going to worry about that now are you?"

"No. I'm here to get to know your parents better."

* * *

Meanwhile in the old Riddle House Voldemort felt Harry's presence. "Potter's close Wormtail. I can feel him. He's within twenty miles. I can feel it."

"Should I get the Death Eaters together My Lord?"

"No. Potter's still moving. Don't get them excited yet. The final battle starts soon. When Potter stops moving we will attack."

* * *

The Grangers pulled into the drive of a large house. "Come on Harry. Let me show you around." She picked up Elizabeth and grabbed Harry's hand.

Hermione gave Harry the grand tour. By that time Hermione's father had assembled Hermione's old crib in her room. Hermione then went and put Elizabeth in it for a nap.

After half an hour Harry grew worried about her. She hadn't come back down. He went up to Hermione's room. He saw a piece of parchment pinned to her pillow.

He tore the parchment from her pillow. Written on it was a note to Harry. It read: "

Harry James Potter:

I have your girlfriend. If you ever want to see her again you will come to the Greater Hangleton Cemetary at midnight. Look for the grave of Tom Marvolo Riddle Sr.

You will find an old cloak there. Put it on and say 'Transportum'. You will then be transported to the far side of the cemetary.

You will see a large house. Go to it. Use the brass knocker with the serpent's head and knock three times.

The door will open. Go inside. Further instructions will be provided once inside.

You must come alone. If I see anyone else with you, the girl dies. No -- what do the Muggles call them -- police men or she dies."

Harry ran downstairs. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger."

"What is it Harry?" asked Mrs. Granger from the kitchen.

"Hermione has been kidnapped."

"What?"

"By who?" called Mr. Granger coming out of the living room.

"By the evil wizard that killed my parents. He wants me. He kidnapped her because of her closeness to me."

"I'm phoning the police," said Hermione's father.

"No!" shouted Harry, "Sorry. No police. If he sees police, Hermione's dead. And besides that, police would be ineffective. He's a powerful wizard, but also a Dark Angel Lord. I have to go after him.

By the way that cemetary we passed, is that the Greater Hangleton Cemetary?"

"Yes."

"I have to go there tonight for midnight."

"Why?"

"It says so in the note."

* * *

Harry spent the evening comforting the Grangers; reassuring them he'd bring Hermione home.

At 11:30 he put on his Muggle parka, mitts, scarf, and winter boots. With one last reassurance, Harry walked out the door. He trudged down the road.

After walking for 10 minutes Harry came to the wrought iron front gates of the cemetary. They were locked tight. Harry apparated to the other side.

After a fifteen minute search he found the grave of Tom Marvolo Riddle Sr. Hanging on an old knarled tree close by he saw the cloak.

He put it on and put the hood up. "Transportum," he said. The cemetary flew by as Harry was transported to the far side of it.

Harry saw the large house sitting at the top of a hill. He trudged through the knee-deep snow towards the house. By the time he got there he was tired and panting.

He reached for the brass serpent-head knocker. He knocked three times. He pulled his hand away just in time -- the knocker came to life and lashed out at him.

The door swung inwards. Harry entered and the door shut behind him. "All right Voldemort. I am here! Where is Hermione?!" Harry demanded.

"Just follow the arrows Potter. They will lead you to her," Voldemort's voice echoed around the room.

Harry heard Hermione in his head. She said, "Harry, don't listen to him. The arrows will lead you to my likeness, but it won't be me. It's Bellatrix Lestrange under the effects of the Polyjuice Potion."

"Hermione, where are you?"

"I don't know. All I do know is that I'm on an upper level."

"Don't worry, I'll find you." Harry turned away from the arrows and searched for a staircase to the next floor. He soon found the grand staircase.

Up on the next level, three Death Eaters charged at him. They all had their wands out. "Stupefy! " they shouted together. Harry watched as the jets of red light reflected away from him.

"The spells must not be able to penetrate my aura," thought Harry. He pulled out his wand. "Gros Stupefy!" he shouted. A jet of red light hit each Death Eater.

Harry then searched every room on this level. There was no sign of Hermione. "Hurry Harry. I'm freezing," Hermione called to him telepathically.

Harry saw the latch for the stairs to the attic. He reached up and pulled the stairs down. An icy blast of wind made Harry shiver.

He climbed up the stairs into the dark attic. "Lumos," he muttered so the tip of his wand lit up.

"Harry is that you?!" called Hermione vocally.

"Yes," Harry replied, "Where are you?"

"I can see the.....mmmppppfff."

"Hermione!"

"Come and get her Potter," called another voice, "Ow!" Harry knew the voice, but had a hard time placing it.

"Harry, it's Malf...mmppff." She then used her telepathic link. "It's Malfoy."

Harry rounded a corner and came face to mask with Draco. He was holding her with his wand pressed to her neck. "Let her go Malfoy! Magic doesn't work on Angels. Their auras reflect the spell." Harry demanded.

"You don't give the orders around here Potter. Besides, magic does work on Angels, if the wand is placed right up against them.

As you can see, my wand is right against her throat. Now drop your wand!"

"Don't do it Harry!"

"Avada..."

"Okay. Okay. You win." Harry Placed his wand on the ground.

Behind his mask, Draco was smiling. "I always knew you were weak where Granger was concerned," said Malfoy, "That's why I suggested to Voldemort that he kidnap her instead of going after you directly. Accio..."

Malfoy never finished. An arm of Harry's aura pulled Hermione from Draco's clutches. At the same time, an attack spike cut through the cord and chain of an old chandalier hanging directly over Malfoy's head.

Crash! The chandalier fell right on Malfoy's head. Harry picked up his wand. "Come on let's go."

"Okay. I'm ready to go home."

"I didn't mean go home. I meant let's go find Voldemort."

"Why? You've already rescued me."

"The prophecy. This is it -- the final battle. One of us will leave here tonight, the other will die."

"Harry, I just want to go home."

"But if we leave now, he'll come back after you -- after me.

And remember what Dumbledore said -- when melded, we're stronger than when we're apart.

Together, we can defeat him. I know it."

"Okay, I'll go with you." They left the attic and headed for the basement.

When they stepped off the final step into the basement, a couple of Death Eaters grabbed Hermione from beind. They then disapparated back into the graveyard.

Several more surrounded Harry. Harry heard several random spells being said, including the Unforgiveable Curses. He saw a variety of colors bounce off his aura.

After a few minutes he had stunned the Death Eaters.

He hadn't noticed before then that Hermione had been taken again. Once the Death Eaters were stunned, he noticed that she was missing. "Hermione! Where are you?!" he screamed.

No answer. He tried telepathy. "Hermione where are you?!" he thought.

"I don't know. They have me blindfolded. I feel the freezing cold winter air, but I can also feel warmth -- probably from a fire."

"Great! That means you're outside somewhere. You could be anywhere."

"I told you I wanted to go home."

"I will find you. Can you hear anything?"

"Voldemort."

"What's he saying?"

"Start the incantation. Start adding the ingredients. Remember, add the blood must be fresh. Slit the girl's throat last!

Harry, they're going to sacrifice me! Help me please!"

"Draco must know where they have you! I'll talk to him!" Harry broke contact and ran up to the attic. He grabbed Draco's throat and pointed his pressed his wand to his chest. "Enervate!"

"Where are they doing the ritual?"

"Where is Voldemort sacrificing Hermione?!"

"I'll not betray my master!" Harry pressed his wand against harder against Draco's chest.

"Where are they?!"

"I will not betray Voldemort!"

"Where are they!?"

"I'll never tell you Potter!"

"Immobulus!" Harry dragged Draco to the window. "Reducto!" Harry blew the window out. Harry held Draco out the window. "Are you prepared to die for Voldemort?!"

"The graveyard. They're in the graveyard -- Voldemort's Muggle father's grave."

"I knew that if I threatened you with death, you'd squeal." He pulled Draco back in the window then tossed Draco across the attic.

He then apparated back to the graveyard. He apparated far enough away where he wouldn't be seen or heard. He sneaked up on them.

While he was sneaking up on the Death Eaters, a couple of them sneaked up on him. They grabbed him and dragged him into the middle of the circle. "My Lord, we found him prowling around the outside of the group," said the one that dragged Harry into the circle.

"My loyal Death Eaters, you can deal with Mr. Potter here. Do not kill him, I want that honor myself -- after the girl's blood is added to the potion."

Just then a streak knocked several Death Eaters flying. As he watched, he saw that it was actually Malfoy. "Go get Hermione, Potter. She needs you."

Harry looked and saw Voldemort running towards a boiling cauldron of liquid. Hermione was tied to a gravestone next to it. "Go Potter. All the potion needs now is Hermione's blood. He's not just going to prick her arm, he'll slice her throat."

Harry saw Voldemort cut the ropes with a long curved dagger. He saw Voldemort drag Hermione towards the cauldron. "No!" shouted Harry.

He saw Voldemort force Hermione to her knees. He saw him place the dagger to her neck. Harry launched an attack spike from his aura. It penetrated Voldemort's wrist that was holding the dagger.

The dagger fell into the cauldron. Voldemort threw Hermione backwards, away from the cauldron.

Voldemort launched attack spikes at Harry. Harry felt himself being knocked out of the way. He looked and saw Voldemort's attack spikes pierce Draco's side.

Draco crashed to the ground in a crumpled heap. Harry ran to his side. Harry rolled Draco onto his back.

"It's too late for me Potter, just save Hermione. But before you do, can you forgive me for everything I ever did to you, Ron and Hermione? Can you ever forgive my evil ways?"

"Hear me! I am the Great Forgiver! I forgive this angel all his wrongs.

Draco, I promise you, from this day on you will be an Angel of Light."

When Harry finished speaking, his hands started to glow a bright white. At the same time, the same type of glow surrounded Draco. A beam of light connected the glow of Harry's hands to the glow of Draco's body.

Draco's body rose into the air. His demonic wings unfurled and crumbled into dust. New feathered wings grew in their place. These wings weren't gleaming white like Harry's or Hermione's. They were a very light gray in color.

Draco's eyes opened. "Thank you Great Forgiver," he said. His body then disappeared. The glow around Harry's hands vanished.

Harry saw Voldemort advancing on him. He set up his defensive aura. Voldemort launched an attack spike at Harry. It hit Harry's aura and shattered. Harry watched as Voldemort and all his loyal Death Eaters dropped to their knees.

Voldemort forced himself up. He launched a second and third attack spike. Both shattered on contact with Harry's aura. Voldemort screamed in agony. "Why can't I destroy you?"

He launched a fourth, fifth and sixth attack spike. Again all three shattered on contact with Harry's aura. Voldemort and his Death Eaters were writhing on the ground in agony.

Again Voldemort forced himself up. This time he launched four attack spikes. They all shattered against Harry's aura.

"Give it up Voldemort. Your aura is extremely weak. I can the holes in it!" shouted Harry.

"Never!" He launched more attack spikes at Harry. They shattered when they hit Harry's aura.

Voldemort's aura was then depleted completely. "Now will you ask me to forgive you?" asked Harry.

"I will never beg for forgiveness. Finish it Potter. Finish me off."

"I want to forgive you. I cannot forgive unless you ask."

"No!" He drew his wand and approached Hermione. He pulled her to her feet and pressed his wand to her back. "I'll kill her! Avada..."

"No!" Before Harry knew what was happening three attack spikes launched from his aura. Without a defense, Voldemort was no match.

Harry's attack spikes penetrated Voldemort's shoulders and stomach. It was just lucky none of them hit Hermione.

"Thank you," moaned Voldemort in his dying breath. After Voldemort died all of the Death Eaters grabbed their arms where they had the Dark Mark burnt onto their skin.

For those Death Eaters who joined Voldemort willingly, the Dark Mark burnt and stayed. For those under the Imperius curse, it burnt for a while then faded away.

When Voldemort died, the pain in Harry's scar was unbearable. He dropped to his knees, both hands clasped to his scar. He passed out.