The Final Battle

Another Destiny Fulfilled

Harry arrived at Dumbledore's side ashen faced. There was Lord Voldemort. He had changed his body since the end of fifth year. It was almost human now, and no longer the twisted shape it had been...

The unofficial council, all bar Ron, Hermione, and Madame Pomfrey, were gathered in a circle around Voldemort. Their eyes were filled with hatred as they stared at the creature that they had feared for so long. They all had their wands gripped tightly in their hands, waiting for an excuse to use them.

The Dark Lord himself stood there with malice radiating off him. His glowing red eyes darted all around him, searching for a way to escape. Finding none, he focused his gaze on Dumbledore.

"So," he hissed. "This is it. Are you going to kill me, old man? Do you have the power left to kill? You did once...yes...but that was a long time ago. The years take their toll on everyone, Dumbledore. Even one so mighty as you."

Dumbledore sighed and looked upon his former student with a look of sadness. "It is true that time will take its toll. But I am still as strong as I ever was. While time can weaken, it can also give great strength and power. However, I am not going to kill you. You are right, I cannot. There is only one person who can."

Neville stepped forward and handed Harry Voldemort's wand. It was slightly longer than Harry's, and made of a different kind of wood, but Harry could still fell the same electric sensation in his fingers and through his arm when he touched this wand as when he had first touched his own. There was no denying the connection between the two wands, just as there was no denying the connection between their owners, and if the two wands were to work together, there would be no denying the power that was to be had.

For a second, Harry remembered the promise made to him way back in his first year. 'Together, we can bring them back.' With his eyes staring straight into the Dark Lord's, Harry calmly broke the wand in half.

"This is it, Voldemort. This is my destiny. This is the reason my parents are dead. This is the reason I was even born."

With that, Harry raised his own wand and summoned all the power that flowed through him. The Dark Lord's eyes were wide with something Harry had never seen in them ever before. Fear.

"Avada Kedavra."

.............................................................................................

And so, Lord Voldemort was finally defeated by Harry Potter. The great prophecy had at last been completed. And the many witches and wizards who had fought and died that day were honored by the whole magical world. Those who had lived were praised even more.

The world was once again at peace. Draco Malfoy inherited his father's assets when Lucius was found dead in the rubble of Hogwarts, and he gave the mansion to Professor Dumbledore, to be turned into a new school. The following spring, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger were married, an event that was attended by nearly a thousand people.

And then, life went on. The heroes grew old and died. Old men sat by fires and told children of when they were young and the story of people they once knew. Those children in turn told their own children and the story slowly became a legend, taking its place alongside the stories of David and Goliath and Merlin and King Arthur. Many names were forgotten, many details were lost. The story was changed and adapted to suit each of its many storytellers. But inside every legend there is a thread of truth, and the story of Harry Potter will never be forgotten.