Chapter 1: On the Hogwarts Grounds

Voldemort let out a piercing laugh, sending his chilly breath into the air of the warm summer Hogwarts grounds. “Oh Harry!� Voldemort called out, “I forgot to ask you; isn’t it your birthday today?� He laughed. “How’s death for a birthday present?�

Harry and Voldemort were feet away facing each other right near the Whomping Willow. Ron. Ginny, and Neville, that had gotten a lot braver and stronger throughout their sixth and seventh years, were busy fighting Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. The adult Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix were fighting within the Dark Forest, but had been missing for about an hour now. Just like there was a DA, Malfoy thought up and created a DEA; Death Eater’s Army, which consisted mostly of Slytherin students at Hogwarts. In the distance, Luna Lovegood was spotted dueling against Millicent Bullstrode. To Harry’s left, he could see Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbot fighting against a few Slytherin students Harry recognized from the Slytherin Quidditch Team. He felt braver seeing all of his fellow DA friends fighting with him, they had all gotten extremely good, and from what he could see out of the corner of his eyes, the DA was doing a lot better than the DEA.

“Actually Tom, tomorrow’s my birthday. Thanks for remembering, though. And the only time I expect death to be a present for me is when it’s my rightful time to go. I’d say, 90 years old sounds good doesn’t it?� Harry responded lightly. He and Voldemort had been standing there for quite some time, speaking—rudely, yet still speaking as if they had been old time competitors; which in a way…they were.

“Tom? How dare you…who do you think you are calling me by my filthy muggle father’s name? And as I see it, you’re taking this very lightly. Why?�

“Well, Tom—oops, sorry, Voldemort, it’s just you standing here. Your Death Eaters aren’t here to help you. And, uh, as you can see, your little followers aren’t doing that great of a job.� As he said this, Goyle was thrown 30 feet across where Voldemort and Harry had been speaking. Harry let out a chortle. “Honestly, I’ve seen you so many times in my life. The point of the story is always the same…you want to kill me. We both know why, and let’s face it, as much as you want to kill me, we both know for some odd reason you can’t.� Harry said this with somewhat of a bored voice, however he knew very well why Voldemort failed to kill him. According to the prophecy Dumbledore had told Harry about, Voldemort and Harry would either both have to live…or both have to die. Harry gulped at the thought, and remembering Dumbledore at St. Mungo’s, gulped again. ‘Dumbledore is still the greatest wizard alive. It’s just his old age that’s getting to him. But the Healers said he would get better.’ Harry reassured himself.

“It’s true, young Potter. For some reason you have always escaped my wrath. I think you know why, too.� Voldemort spoke softly, but the next moment, Harry felt a sharp blinding pain inside his head. He knew immediately what was happening; Voldemort was trying to get inside Harry’s head. However, after Sirius’s death, Harry had made it his deepest responsibility to not only learn Occlumency, but to perfect it. Voldemort did not know of this, and when Harry turned back the spell and hit Voldemort with a hard force, and broke inside his head, Voldemort actually stumbled back a few feet. The next few images were short, yet Harry locked them in his memory. It was of the Order; they were captured and locked up with magical chains in the back of the dark forest. Harry could see the Death Eaters standing around laughing, and heard Lucius Malfoy’s voice amongst them. “Let’s head back in a few minutes shall we? The Dark Lord must be annoyed standing around there with all those pests.�

“POTTER! That was a wrong move…� Voldemort was obviously angry at Harry’s attempt to break into his mind. Harry on the other hand, ignoring the blinding pains, could hear his heart beating faster. Was the Order in serious trouble? If the adult Death Eaters joined in, the DA seriously wouldn’t stand a chance…and with Dumbledore in St. Mungo’s…

“Expelliarmus!� Voldemort’s voice boomed. Harry immediately snapped out of his thoughts as he felt his wand being released from his hand. It flew a few feet to his right, just as Hermione stumbled back a few feet and fell on her back from one of Malfoy’s spells. Malfoy laughed as Harry picked up his wand and ran to Hermione’s side.

“She won’t wake right away, Potter. That’s the fifth Stunner Spell that I hit her with straight in the chest. Quite proud of myself, actually. For a mudblood, she was quite a difficult dueler.� Malfoy smirked and then turned respectfully towards Voldemort. “My most powerful Lord, would you like me to take over with this filthy excuse of a wizard?� Harry felt his anger rise.

Voldemort chuckled. “Why, go ahead Draco. I’ve wasted enough time on this pathetic soul. I’m quite impressed—I might add. I shall let your father know of your accomplishment.� With a turn of his black cloak, Voldemort disappeared. Harry knew he couldn’t have apparated…nobody can apparate on Hogwarts grounds. But where did he go?

Chapter 2: Not Yet Beaten

“So, Potter. I’ve beaten the mudblood. That means I can definitely beat you!�

“You haven’t been anyone yet Malfoy. And call her a mudblood one more time…�

“Ha! I know I pushed a button with the Weasel when I called his dear girlfriend a mudblood. But you too? This much? Can it be? Does the Potty have a crush on the mudblood too?�

“Draco…I’m warning you!� Harry clenched his wand so tight.

“Oh please, Pottyhead, I’m not scared of you. Or the mudbloo-“ But Draco never got to finish his sentence.

“Expelliarmus!� Malfoy’s wand was thrown. Harry didn’t stop there. “Engorgio!� Draco’s nose and cheeks started to swell to the size of baby tree trunks. He started screaming as he held his face and ran to find his wand in the bushes.

“Ron! Ron, Hermione’s hurt!� Harry screamed as he saw Ron hit Crabbe with a Furnunculus spell that gave off huge boils and sent Crabbe crying and running. Ron saw Hermione’s body on the floor next to Harry and sprinted by their side.

“What happened, Harry?�

“Malfoy. He hit her with five stunning spells to the chest. She hasn’t yet recovered.�

“Oh no. I can still feel breathing but she feels cold.� Ron ripped off his cloak and laid it on top of Hermione.

“Try to revive her. I’ll run and check if the others are okay.� Harry heard Ron in the distance urgently chanting “Ennervate!� to bring back Hermione. He prayed she’d be okay. Ginny and Luna ran up to him.

“Harry! Most of the DEA are down. We saw Malfoy and Crabbe run away in the distance, but the rest of them are stunned and tied. They won’t wake for at least another hour. We’ve put a sleeping charm on them.� Ginny spoke.

“Good. Are any of the DA members down?�

“Well…� said Luna somewhat nervous yet still dreamily, “Dean Thomas was hit with the Silencio charm and lost his voice, and he came up to me from the back, wanting to ask for help I guess—but I thought it was someone from the DEA so I hit him back with a Petrificus Totalus jinx. He’s fine…just kind of bonded down. I was just headed to Hermione to ask her for the counterjinx, I forgot what it is—“

“Umm…actually, Hermione’s not doing so well.� Harry spoke seriously. “Malfoy got her really bad with a few Stunning Spells…she’s completely out of it. Ron’s trying to revive her.�

“Oh no…I hope she’ll be okay. Well then I’m gonna go find Hannah Abbot. She might know it. Be right back Harry. Let’s go Ginny.� Luna and Ginny ran off. Harry could see members of the DA across the Hogwarts grounds running to each other and speaking to each other urgently. Then he heard a loud shriek—

“ARRRRGGHH!� Harry turned to see Ron give a loud yelp as he was hit with a stunning spell from Voldemort. Voldemort edged closer and closer to Hermione as she opened her eyes slightly and gave a painful groan. Harry heard him say, “Aww…now I couldn’t have that now could I? That stupid boy was sooo close to bringing you back. He doesn’t understand though…you’re just a mudblood. You don’t deserve it.� Voldemort sighed as Harry ran closer, feeling nervous. “CRUCIO!� Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs as she twitched on the floor. Voldemort laughed.

Chapter 3: Fighting Against the Curse

“VOLDEMORT! GET AWAY FROM HER!� Harry screamed as he sprinted closer.

“Potter! Come to watch this little show? Maybe you can join in…CRUCIO!� Harry stumbled at Voldemort’s words and fell on his face. He turned to see if any of his fellow DA members would hear his screaming, but to his horror, the adult Death Eaters had returned from the forest and had captured all of them. Harry tried hard to break through the curse, when a hooded Death Eater appeared and also hit Harry with the Cruciatus curse. Harry could barely breathe as he tried to inch closer and closer to Hermione’s twitching body. He barely heard her screaming anymore, as Voldemort let go of the curse. Harry was still being hit by a Death Eater, but Hermione just laid there, tears silently streaming through the sides of her eyes. Harry kept crawling closer, not giving up—he was only a foot or so away from her; he couldn’t give up.

“And now, both of you will meet your ends. You first mudblood. Any last words?�

Hermione caught her breath slowly as she stuttered. “Y-Y-You’ll n-never be the greatest w-wizard alive. Dumbled-dore is. Y-You filthy c-coward!�

“I’m not even going to respond to that, mudblood. You’ll be dead in a few moments. And you Potter? Any last words?� With all the strength Harry had, he got up and spit in Voldemort’s face. He immediately fell back down; too weak to actually stand on both his feet. “Avery…� Voldemort spoke to his Death Eater, “Lift Potter off the ground…NOW.�

“Immediately, my most gracious Lord.� muttered Avery, as he roughly lifted Potter up by the scruff of his robes, and took away his wand.

“Get your filthy hands off of me!� Harry squirmed; pure hatred filling every word that came out of his mouth.

“You just NEVER cease Potter. You will watch your mudblood friend being tortured. Then maybe you will really tell me what that prophecy said! CRUCIO!�

Hermione screamed once more, and then just lay there.

“H-H-Hermione?� Harry mumbled. “HERMIONE!�

“Aww…did the mudblood die just from the Cruciatus Curse? Tisk tisk…Draco was right. She isn’t quite as tough as she makes herself out to be.� Voldemort spoke, as all the Death Eaters around him laughed and circled in closer.

“SHE’S NOT! SHE’S NOT DEAD!� Roared Harry. He released himself from Avery, and shot straight for Voldemort. Harry jumped on top of Voldemort and grabbed hold of his neck. He felt the scaly ness within his skin as he dug his fingers inside of Voldemort’s face and squeezed on to his neck tightly. The next moment, he was lifted off the ground by Avery and another hooded Death Eater, and Voldemort was risen from the ground, and more furious than ever. “SHE IS NOT DEAD! SHE’S NOT! SHE’S NOT!�

“THAT DOES IT! I don’t know WHY I’ve waited for so long…this concludes the end of you--Harry….Potter.� Voldemort drew back his wand. Harry could hear his DA members yelling and crying in the background. “AVADA…KEDAVRA!� Voldemort yelled as a sharp green light projected from his wand and shot straight at Harry.

It all seemed to happen in slow motion; first Harry saw Voldemort pull back his wand, then he heard him say the incantation, and he saw the green light coming straight for him as he shut his eyes but held his head high. The next moment, however, Harry was still standing there, and he heard a girl’s shriek. Even louder screams were coming from the DA as Harry peered open his eyes to see what had happened.

Chapter 4: Revenge With Love

“Now she’s dead.� Voldemort said with a smile.

Hermione was standing in front of Harry; then she dropped to the floor. Hermione had jumped up with all her last energy and had taken the spell straight in the heart for Harry. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!� screamed Harry. Suddenly, the Death Eaters released Harry and started screaming. Their hands were burning. Gray clouds came from all sides, and lightning started to strike. Voldemort had been laughing, but then stopped at the scene in amazement. Harry had tears streaming from his eyes, and he felt a hard dread in his chest as never before. He dropped to his knees and held Hermione’s head in his arms. “Hermione please…please wake up.� He stroked her hair; stroked her cheek, but he knew the answer. He felt her cold face against his, and her chest wasn’t moving. Harry sat there, crying. “NOOOOOOO!!!!!�

Ron had awoken from the stunner spell in time to see Hermione drop. He ran over to Harry and dropped to his knees. Harry dreaded to look up at his best friend’s eyes, but he did so. “H-Harry…� Ron’s voice broke, “i-i-is sh-she…� Ron couldn’t finish his sentence; all he did was shake his head no from side to side as he broke down to tears and hugged Hermione close to him. They both sat there, hugging each other; hugging Hermione’s limp body. They looked into each other’s eyes, and fierce determination immediately took over. They stood up, and as Harry turned around, Voldemort yelled “AVADA KEDAVRA!� The spell hit Harry, but bounced off. His scar was bleeding profusely.

“How is that possible my Lord!?� The Death Eaters around were asking in a worried tone. Voldemort himself seemed very thunderstruck. “Hush!� He called to his Death Eaters as he stood there, obviously pondering what to do next. Harry had a clue.

“You see Voldemort, the first time this happened, my mother died to save me. She covered me with love. Then you found a way around that…but once again…I-I-I’ve been saved by the love of another.� Harry’s voice broke but stood out in the fierce wind loudly. He felt Ron at his side as they looked at each other momentarily. Before anyone else could move, a loud *BOOM* came from the forest.

The Order of the Phoenix had appeared with Snape in the lead. “I should have known that you would know how to eventually break out of the chains, Severus.� Voldemort spoke to him. “But you will not win this time, I’m afraid. As you can see, “he said, pointing at Hermione’s body, “one mudblood down, and the party’s just started.�

As soon as the Order saw Hermione’s body, all hell broke loose. There were spells and stunners being shot from all over. All the DA members and Hermione’s body were taken by Mrs. Weasley and put under a protective charm where they couldn’t be touched. “Harry! Ron! Come here, now!� Mrs. Weasley yelled as the protective charm was about to shut. Ron and Harry did not listen however; they ran the opposite way.

“I’m going to get my revenge on Voldemort if it’s the last thing I do!� Ron said. Harry nodded as they ran around looking for Voldemort. The Order of the Phoenix was fighting very violently now.

“Ron, listen to me. There’s a prophecy I haven’t told you about.� Harry told Ron about the prophecy and about him and Voldemort either both having to live, or both having to die. Ron seemed shocked.

“What? No…no I refuse to lose another one of my b-best friends!�

“No, Ron, but listen. I-I’m being protected by Hermione’s love…I think if we hit him with the spell together soon, it will work against him…and…and I won’t be harmed. It’s worth the chance, Ron.� Ron first seemed reluctant, but then nodded in agreement.

Now all the Death Eaters were down, and the Order stood around Voldemort. Voldemort laughed, “Who are you kidding? Dumbledore’s not here. I’m not scared of a bunch of wizards.�

“Oh, but you’re wrong, Tom. I am here.� Dumbledore appeared right in front of Voldemort, looking a little pale, but his eyes were as fierce as a dragon’s. The whole surrounding of wizards’ spirits from the Order seemed lifted.