money from it, so please Mrs. Rowling if you read this
don’t sue me. A comment or two would be welcome
though.
Please, if you read, take two minutes to review.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in the hospital wing again, about ready to leave.
“Give me a minute, and I’ll catch up,” Harry said to Ron and Hermione.
“Ok then, we’ll wait outside for you,” they replied together.
Ginny was awake again and had stepped close to the archway.
One more step and I’ll be through, she thought to herself. Ginny moved forward another half a step. The mist swirled in front of her again, glowing, shimmering. Ginny stepped back. The image intensified.
“I want to come with you,” Ginny said softly. The mist blew away. Ginny sat down crying. “I’m lonely,” she whispered desperately.
Harry placed his hand on the side of Ginny’s face and leaned down close to her ear again. “Come back, be strong today Ginny,” he whispered to her.
Ginny’s head jerked up.
“Harry?...where are you?” she yelled. Her words echoed back to her. “How do I get out of here? Harry….Ron….anyone?” her voice faded to a whisper.
“ANSWER ME!” Ginny screamed, and then collapsed to the floor when no response came. “Answer me.” Her voice became lost as tears ran down her face and she drifted into sleep.
Harry was surrounded by members of the DA. The trial was to get past their shield spells and silently kill their wands before the referee allowed them to attack. He had succeeded the last time. But this trial, he was not going to get as much time. Some of them were also trying to kill his wand.
It had been two weeks since Hermione had hit both he and Ron with the Crutacious curse. The battle that had followed had taught the three of them to truly fight while listening and tasking the different voices in their heads with different objectives.
All three of them were capable of defending against as many as ten to twelve members of the DA at the same time. Right now, Harry had set up two defenses. He had his third voice maintaining a shield spell. His second was continually recasting the Recognize charm on his wand. No one had yet found a spell to counter it, but if enough people worked on it at the same time, they might get through. Harry knew, because his wand was still warm in his hand, that he was ok.
The first voice and Harry himself were probing the others, looking for weaknesses. He was nervous, last time through, knowing he was not being attacked, he had been able to concentrate all of his efforts to his own attack. This time, he had to spend half his energies on defense before the battle even began. Harry had a plan to adjust for this.
After moving from the Room of Requirement to the Apparation training room, Apparation training had become one of the main focuses for the DA that year. This room was used to train students for their Apparation liscense. You could not Apparate into, or out of it. But inside it you could practice for your test. The Weasley twins, along with the few 7th years in the DA, had been trying to teach the younger DA members all year. Harry, along with his fellow 6th years had also been getting instruction in Apparating during their regular school classes. Harry had seen both Dumbledore and Voldemort use the ability during their fight at the Ministry last year. He was going to try it now too.
“Go!” yelled the referee.
Bang!
Harry was gone. Ten stunning spells hit where he had been.
“He Apparated,” Ron yelled, to the group. “Move, so were not in the same spot when he reappears.”
Bang!
Bang!
Ron heard the two bangs of Fred and George Dissapparating behind him.
Us too! the voices yelled at him.
Bang! Ron was gone.
Harry reappeared behind a suit of armor. It wasn’t so much that he had to tell the voices what their job was. Each was part of him and just reacted. Doing what one of the others wasn’t. He hit the twins with binding spells. Ever since Hermione had hit Harry and Ron with the Crutacious curse. The three of them were banned from using stunning spells unless it was at each other, or Hagrid.
“Accio!” Harry got Fred’s wand but not George’s.
The rules they had set up said once you lost your wand you were out of the fight.
Where are Ron and Hermione? Harry demanded silently.
Bang!
Bang!
“Protégo!” Harry yelled. He staggered under the blow of the two stunning spells that hit him. His shield spell held and Harry fired back with stunning blasts of his own. Not waiting to see if he hit Ron or Hermione, he Disapparated again.
Ron had Apparated behind Lee Jordan and Cho. He grabbed them.
“With me, when Harry leaves where he is now. We Apparate to that spot,” he said. They nodded at him.
“Hermione, stay there, don’t Apparate again,” Ron yelled to her.
“Ok!”
Ron was playing Chess. He didn’t know where Harry would go, but when he reappeared, he knew the first three targets Harry would look for would be himself, Hermione, and Hagrid. He was leaving Hermione where Harry knew she had been. Then moving to the place Harry left with three strong pieces. He hoped to hit Harry with three blasts at once. Four if Harry made the mistake of just assuming Hermione would move again. Ron looked around at the people involved in the battle.
Bloody Hell! Looks like Harry got Hagrid before we started, he thought.
There, Harry just disaparated again, the second voice said.
“Now!” Ron commanded to Lee and Cho. The three of them disappeared in a loud succession of pops and reappeared where Harry had been.
Harry reappeared. The first voice, before they could react, found and hit the Creevey brother’s. He then summoned their wands.
Three down, seven left, the third voice said. George had almost freed himself from the binding spell. Harry hit him with the binding spell again.
“Accio!” Still, he couldn’t get the wand. Harry continued looking for Hermione and Ron.
“Protégo!” His shield spell was barley up when the blast came from Hermione, knocking him forward.
Didn’t expect her to still be there, he thought returning the spell. But she had dissaparated again. Harry was hit again, this time by Luna and Bridgette. His shield was up completely and being maintained none-stop. He returned fire at them overwhelming their shields.
“Accio!” Two wands flew out of their hands.
Wham!
Harry was hit by Ron, Lee, and Cho. It took the combined efforts of all three voices to maintain his shield. He had to move again.
Bang!
Hermione reappeared just in time to see Harry dissaparate again. She shot a releasing spell at George.
“Thanks!” he yelled and then ran to the other side of the room. Hermione saw Ron, Lee, and Cho behind the suit of armor. They were down to five.
Time to try something different, she thought to herself. Hermione used the second voice to levitate Ron, Lee and Cho high into the air in the middle of the room. The first voice cast her shield spell and then she waited. She had herself left to stun Harry, if she could maintain it.
“What?....” Ron yelped as he was lifted into the air.
“Yes, aerial bombardment!” Lee yelled. “Get ready.”
Harry reappeared in the middle of the room. His shield spell was up. And the first person he saw was Hermione. Her stunning spell was already coming. He returned fire, getting knocked back a step by her blast. And then he was hit with three blasts from above, and one from behind.
“ACCIO WAND!” Ron roared from above. Harry’s shield had weakened from the simultaneous blasts. And the power of Ron’s summoning charm overwhelmed him before he could regroup. His wand was ripped from his hand, an instant later he was knocked out by another stun spell from George.
Harry sat up and gingerly rubbed his forehead. He hadn’t managed to fall on a pillow and had hit his head rather hard.
“Sorry about that little bro,” George said. “I had already sent the spell when you lost your wand.”
“Oy come of it George. You’re not sorry about it at all,” Fred ribbed him. George smiled.
“Well not really, But I figured I would at least pretend.”
“Thanks a lot,” Harry said. “Between you and Hermione, I’m beginning to think I should look for a different family,” he added with a smile.
“That was really good you guys,” Hermione broke in.
“Yeah, why don’t we quit with the battle practice for tonight and spend some time with the Phoenix charm,” Harry said. “Only six of you have mastered it, and it may be the most important spell for you to know. If you can’t do it here, it will be very difficult to do it when your life depends on it. Don’t forget you can also throw an object into the path of the curse to deflect it. Either way you won’t get a second chance.” The others nodded in agreement.
“One other thing before we split apart here. George what did you do so I couldn’t get your wand?” Harry asked. “I should have had it twice easy.”
“Semi permanent sticking charm,” George replied. “Here go ahead and try again.” He held out his wand in his hand, but didn’t close his fingers around it.
“Accio Wand!” Harry pointed his wand at George’s hand. The wand didn’t budge.
“Only way to get it off is to release the spell. Got the idea from the picture of Sirius’s mum,” George said.
“At least the old bat was good for something,” Ron said.
Harry Ron and Hermione were in the hospital again. Tomorrow would be four weeks to the day from the accident. Cho had been in a little earlier to see Ginny, but had left when they showed up.
“I’m worried about her,” Hermione said.
“She seems to be doing ok to me,” Ron answered.
“Neville told me she is still crying everyday. She swears she is never going to play quidditch again,” Hermione replied. Ron was shocked.
“It wasn’t her fault. No one blames her. She knows that,” Harry said.
“She knows that. But she is still blaming herself. She figures if she never plays again, she won’t accidentally injure someone again,” Hermione told them.
“He’s back. They’re back.” Ginny looked up. It was her voice. Not one of the voices that lived in her head, but her voice nonetheless calling to her. It sounded like it was coming from outside the chamber.
“Wake up Ginny,” she could hear her voice coming from somewhere outside of the chamber.
“Wake up Ginny.”
“I’m trying. Help me!” Ginny yelled into the darkness. She brushed away another spider web. “Ugh what is that?” she snarled.
“Wake up Ginny,” her voice called again.
“Wait for me outside?” Harry asked. Ron and Hermione nodded.
Harry bent down and brushed the hair from her face again. It just wouldn’t stay.
“I miss you, Gin. Come back, be strong today,” he whispered into her ear and then kissed her forehead before hurrying to catch up with Ron and Hermione.
As the three of them walked back to the Gryffindor tower Harry felt the pain surge in his scar.
“Arrrggh!!” Harry dropped to his knees, as his hand shot to his forehead.
CLOSE IT! the voices thundered at him. Harry forced the conduit shut. His stomach retched, and he had to force himself not to throw up.
“Harry!” Ron and Hermione dropped down to help him. Harry held on to Ron’s arm to steady himself.
“Was it Voldemort?” Hermione asked.
“Yes.”
“But I thought you were able to keep him out of your head,” Ron said.
“I can, I was able to throw him out after a few seconds.”
“Harry, we should tell Dumbledore,” Hermione said.
“Don’t need to. He already knows about it,” Harry mumbled, shaking his head.
“How can he know? It just happened,” Hermione hissed at him.
“Trust me Hermione. I won’t tell you how. But Dumbledore knows.” Hermione bit her lip in frustration.
Why is he so stubborn? she asked herself. How can Dumbledore….
THE CHOCOLATE FROG CARDS! the second voice exploded in her head in excitement.
“Can you get up, Harry?” Ron asked.
“Yeah, I think so. Give me a hand.” Ron and Hermione pulled Harry to his feet.
“Harry, what if he tries again?” Ron asked, concern etched on his face.
“He won’t,” Harry answered. “That hurt him as much as it did me. I could feel it.”
“Why did he do it then?” Hermione asked.
“He wanted to get my attention, Hermione. He’s waiting for something, and wants me to know.”
“You’re sure we don’t need to talk to Dumbledore?” Ron asked.
“It’s ok Ronald, he already knows,” Hermione answered. Ron just looked at her for a second before giving the password to the fat lady and helping Harry into the common room.
“I’ll take him up to our room. Wait up for me?” Ron asked Hermione.
“I’ll be here, Ronald.”
Harry fell into his bed fully clothed. Ron pulled the covers over him and closed the curtains. He then walked over to Neville’s bed.
“Get up, Neville,” Ron shook him.
“What?...Ron, cripes you scared me.”
“I need you to stay up and watch Harry. He’s sleeping now, so just make sure nothing happens to him. I’ll explain when I get back. I won’t be gone long,” Ron said walking to the door. “And wake the other guys up too.”
“Is he ok?” Hermione asked when Ron came back.
“He’s sleeping now. Barley hit the bed and was out. Neville is keeping an eye on him. I still have to go tell him why. Are you sure we don’t need to talk to Dumbledore?” Hermione reached into Ron’s shirt pocket and pulled out the chocolate frog card of Albus Dumbledore.
“You mean?” Hermione put her hand over Ron’s mouth.
“I just figured it out. Don’t tell anyone.” Ron nodded his head
“This can’t be good Hermione. It’s been too quiet all year. Yeah there have been loads of attacks, but he has left Harry alone too long, something bad is going to happen….Soon.” Hermione looked at Ron her lip beginning to tremble.
“I can’t lose him. Not on top of Ginny,” she whispered.
“You won’t, Mione,” Ron replied stepping close to her.
“Just hold me, Ronald.” Ron put his arms around Hermione and held her tightly against his chest.
“I never want to be without you, Ronald,” Hermione said, into his chest. “If you go in this battle I’m going with you.”
“Be quiet, Hermione. No one is going anywhere because Harry will win.”
Ron walked into the dorm and pulled a chair over to Neville’s bed. After explaining, what had happened to his roommates, he and the others decided to watch Harry in shifts. Ron drew the second. Hoping to get a little sleep before he had to get up again, he crashed down onto his bed. Lying on his bed, Ron pulled the card with Dumbledore’s picture on it out of his pocket.
“You might be watching him already. But that doesn’t mean I can’t too,” he said to under his breath.
Harry woke the next morning to find Neville sitting up in his bed studying.
“Hey Neville, kind of early on a Sunday for that, isn’t it?”
“Couldn’t sleep, so I figured I might as well get it done. I’ll have the rest of the day free now. Hungry, Harry?”
“Yeah let’s clean up and go eat.” Neville waited until Harry had gone to shower, and then kicked Ron’s bed.
“What? Neville?” Ron sat up quickly, and looked over to Harry’s bed. “Where is he?”
“In the shower, we’re going to breakfast. Thought you would want to come,” Neville replied.
“Yeah, I’ll be in, in a minute.
Harry, Ron, and Neville sat down at the table in the great hall. Hermione was already there. She looked questioningly at Ron. He shook his head.
“Later,” he whispered. They were just finishing eating when they were joined by Luna, and Cho.
“So what should we do today?” Cho asked, while taking a seat next Neville.
“How about taking our books and going down to the lake for the morning before we go see Ginny?” Hermione asked looking around at the group. The others nodded in agreement. Just then the post arrived. The owls dropped their letters, mail, and Hermione’s copy of the Daily Prophet on the table.
“Read it at the lake Hermione,” Ron said, as she picked it up. Hermione stuffed the paper in her bag and hurried to catch up with the others.
Hermione sat down and pulled the paper out of her bag. The people who knew about last night were avoiding talking to Harry about it. Dreading what she might find Hermione started to read.
MINISTRY CAPTURES DEATH EATER IN BATTLE AT MUGGLE HOUSE.
Last night in a battle at #4 Privet Drive, the Ministry of Magic made a stunning capture of one Death Eater (Peter Pettigrew) as he attempted to escape with other comrades after blowing up the Muggle House of a Mr. Vernon and Petunia Dursley.
The capture of Pettigrew is noteworthy because he was believed to have been killed by Sirius Black sixteen years ago. Black, was imprisoned for the supposed murder and for having given the location of James and Lilly Potter, the parents of Harry Potter, to You-Know-Who.
In a stunning development, Black’s claim of innocence has been revealed to be true. It was instead, Pettigrew, who had been entrusted as the Potter’s secret keeper, and gave their location to You-Know-Who. He later faked his death in a battle with Sirius Black, biting off his own finger to leave behind as evidence that he was dead. In fact, Pettigrew, who is an unregistered animagus had turned himself into a rat to make his escape from Black.
The battle last night began when Ministry officials received a tip that an attack on the Dursley’s was being planed. Officials arrived to find the house on fire, and Death Eaters leaving the scene. Pettigrew was captured in the ensuing battle. No evidence could be found as to what became of the Dursley’s, who have a teenage Muggle son. When questioned, neighbors said they thought that the family had gone on holiday and were not home when the attack began. Muggle papers are reporting that the home was destroyed in a gas explosion after officials from the Ministry of Magic spent the night modifying the memories of Muggle witnesses.
A second development from the attack last night brings great hope to the Wizarding community. Ministry officials are claiming to have developed a counter spell to Avada Kadavera, and will begin sending Aurors and Unspeakables to teaching seminars…
Hermione stopped reading she didn’t need to know anymore. Chewing her lip, she watched Harry as he skipped stones across the lake for the giant squid to chase. Ron was sitting with Cho, he had her under the Imperius Curse. Cho had progressed to the point that it took Ron, Ginny, Harry, or herself to control her. It didn’t look like she was having much luck against Ron today, as he had her doing jumping jacks. Hermione got up and walked over to them.
“Let her go, Ronald.” Ron looked up. Hermione held the paper out to him. “Read it.” She pointed to the article. Ron released Cho and took the paper.
“Did I do it? Oh….sorry….what’s going on?” Cho asked noticing Hermione, then walked over and read the article over Ron’s shoulder.
“Dumbledore has to already have put last night, and this,” Ron said indicating the paper, “together.”
“I agree,” Hermione replied.
“I don’t get it? I mean….yes….the attacks a big deal, and it’s good to see them finally announce the Phoenix charm. But why are you two so upset?” Cho asked.
“Because, the Dursley’s are the family that raised Harry and last night, Voldemort sent Harry a message,” Ron answered.
“A message?” Cho asked.
“Yeah, through his scar, the whole connected thing. Look, the point is, the Dursley’s are not on vacation. I think Voldemort has them, and he let Harry know it last night.”
“So….Harry already knows that Voldemort has them?” Cho was still confused.
“No Cho, Voldemort wanted to let Harry know he was planning something. He did it, so when Harry saw the paper, he would know that the Dursley’s were not on vacation,” Hermione said.
“It’s a set up!” Cho said in realization. “Voldemort wants Harry to come after them.” Hermione nodded at her.
“We can’t not tell him, but I don’t think he is ready to fight Voldemort yet. He is getting closer. But….” Ron said, watching Harry nervously.
“No, but I can make him react with restraint. It’s the prophecy Ronald. We have to make him think about how to help them. Not just run off without a plan.”
“If he decides to run off after them like he did Sirius last year. I’m not letting him go alone,” Cho said defiantly. “I swore I would fight with him and I’m going too.”
“You two tell Neville and Luna, I’ll tell Harry.” Hermione walked away headed towards Harry.
“Come on, Cho,” Ron said.
Harry’s eyes clouded in anger.
Why didn’t I think to protect them? he asked himself.
We have to go help them, the first voice said.
They may be rotten, but they don’t deserve this, the third voice added.
I’m starting to get real tired of this. Weather it’s someone we know or not. I think it’s about time we lived out the prophecy, him or us, the second said. Harry listened to the debate, it all occurred in seconds.
We’ll go find them. If we can get them out of there without fighting Voldemort we will. If not, then it is time to see if we are ready, Harry finished the discussion. Harry looked up. The others were gathered, watching him.
“Where are they, Harry? How do we find them?” Ron asked.
“We know you’re going. But we won’t let you go alone,” Hermione said. Harry had had this argument before and lost.
“Just because you’re the one that the prophecy says is equal to Voldemort, doesn’t mean that we can’t take out a Death Eater or two,” Neville said. “I have as much right to be there as you do Harry,” he added.
Harry remembered the day he first found out about Neville’s parents. The look on Neville’s face then, compared to now.
He’s not even the same person we saw in the hospital that day anymore, the first voice said.
“Ok. I won’t stop any of you from coming.”
“That just leaves where, and how,” Ron said to him. Harry closed his eyes, and focused his mind. And then, he let the conduit between himself and Voldemort open wide. The pain surged in his scar, worse than the night before. He could feel Voldemort trying to throw him out, becoming ill himself at Harry’s invasion.
"You have to show me where they are if you want me to come get them," Harry thought. Harry's vision cleared and he could see a graveyard. It was familiar to him.
This is where Cedric died, he thought to himself. And there tied to a tombstone were his aunt, uncle and cousin. Nagini, Voldemort’s snake lay coiled in the grass in front of them. Harry kept the conduit open longer. Looking round, he saw a large manor house. And there down in the back, the caretaker’s quarters. There was light coming from the manor. Slowly, as Harry fought to keep the conduit open, Voldemort forced it shut. As it closed, Harry’s stomach retched. This time he could not stop himself from Vomiting. His friends jumped to help him as he sank to his knees.
“I’m ok.” He pushed them away and wiped his mouth. “He’s holding them at the Riddle House, the place he killed Cedric.” Harry saw Cho clench her wand, fire danced in her eyes.
“How do we get there?” Ron asked. “He knows were coming. He might even expect to see Dumbledore show up.”
“The real question is, how does he expect Harry to get there? We need to get there in a way he doesn’t expect,” Hermione said.
“Harry, what can you tell me about the area around the graveyard?” Ron asked.
“There’s a big manor house, up on a small hill, about two hundred meters from the graveyard. There was light coming from it. And there is a small caretaker’s house down the hill about halfway between the graveyard and the manor.”
“Why is he using this place again?” Neville asked. “I would think after killing Cedric there that it would not be secret enough for his headquarters.”
“He’s not using it for his base. He just needed to use someplace Harry knows, otherwise Harry couldn’t get there,” Luna answered simply. The plan in Ron’s head was coming into focus.
“Do you think, after the Ministry figured out Harry was telling the truth about Voldemort being back and how Cedric died, that they may have gone to the place to look for some kind of clues?” The others looked at him.
“Why do you want to know that, Ronald?” Hermione asked
“Well, loads of people would have needed to get there. And not all of them would have their Apparation license. So, they would have gone by portkey….”
“Or floo powder,” Harry finished.
“Do you think the Ministry might have left it connected to the floo network?” Ron asked.
“Even if they did, we can’t slide out into the middle of the manor living room. It will be crawling with Death Eaters,” Harry replied.
“Not the manor fireplace, Harry. The caretaker’s house,” Ron said. “Was there any light coming from there?”
“No….It could be a trap though,” Harry replied.
“Look, he knows we can’t Apparate from the school. And even if we left the grounds, none of us has tried it over that distance. We haven’t learned the Portkey spell yet. We should have been doing it in the DA meetings. That was dumb on our part.
“That leaves us with the floo network. Voldemort probably assumes the place was on the network. He would expect the Ministry to have disconnected it if they were not going to use it right then. It would actually be a mistake by the Ministry if it still were connected, but considering that Fudge was still in charge until mid summer, it might have been over looked. I don’t think he expects you to use the floo network though. I think he expects you to fly. Like you did to the Ministry last year,” Ron finished. Harry and the others looked at him skeptically.
“It’s the best option we have. And we can check it first,” Ron said.
“How?” Harry asked.
“Just like when you talked to Sirius in the fire last year. That will tell us if it’s connected., and if there is anyone in the caretaker’s house.”
“So all we need now is a fireplace on our end,” Harry said.
“It will need to be somewhere private. We could try to sneak into one of the Professors’ offices,” Neville offered.
“Or….“ Hermione said, “we could use Hagrid’s. We’ll have to tell him everything, and he’ll want to come with.”
His head in the fireplace, Hagrid knelt on the floor in his hut. It had taken a lot, but they finally convinced him that if Voldemort saw anyone but Harry. He would kill the Dursley’s right away. Harry had also told him by the time he got to Dumbledore and back that they would be gone, so he might as well help them. Hagrid had relented. However, he insisted he would be the one to check the floo network connection and if the caretaker’s house was empty.
Hagrid looked into the dark kitchen of the caretaker’s house. He fully expected to have his head chopped off or something worse. He looked for a long time; waiting making sure it was deserted.
“Well?” Harry asked when Hagrid pulled his head out of the fireplace.
“Ron’s right, it’s empty,” Hagrid said.
“All right, this is our plan then,” Ron started. “When we all get there, we’re going to follow Harry. Remember the snake might be there. If it is, Me, Hermione, and Harry will kill it with the death curse. Then Harry and I will get them untied. Hermione, before you help us with that, I want you to use the spell Dumbledore gave you that lets Muggles travel by floo powder. The rest of you stand guard with your backs to us. As soon as we have them loose, Harry will call for Hagrid.
“Hagrid, I want you to carry them back to the caretaker’s house and bring them back here. They might try to fight or run, you can’t let them. Get them to the fireplace and tell them if you want to live, to yell, Hagrid’s Hut, and then throw the floo powder. The rest of us will guard your back,” Ron finished.
“And if they catch us?” Cho asked.
“Then we fight,” Harry replied, “just like we have trained to all year. They will taunt and tease us about falling into their trap. Ignore it. It will give us time to kill their wands. Wait for mine or Ron’s signal to take their wands and hit them with stunning spells. When you get a wand, break it. I know this will work on all of them except Voldemort.
“If Voldemort is there, then we do the best we can. I promise you, I won’t leave anyone behind. If one of you is hit, I’ll fight until we can get you out,” Harry said. They looked at each other. Ron walked over to the fireplace, took a hand full of floo powder and stepped into the fire.
“Last chance to stay behind,” he said. And then he called out, “the Riddle House, Caretaker’s Quarters.” He threw the floo powder into the fire and was gone. One by one they followed him.
Harry peered out the window looking for Death Eaters. He then tried to verify that the Dursleys were in fact in the graveyard. And, that he had not been tricked by Voldemort again. It was too far for the proximity detection spell, but he was able to verify that no one was within the caretaker’s house except for him and his friends.
If we can’t see them, were getting everyone out of here, the first voice said.
I see them. That fat lump has to be Duddly, said the second voice.
I just saw someone move on the roof of the manor, the third voice said. Harry smiled.
“Ok,” Harry whispered to the others, “I see them; they’re tied to the largest headstone. I can’t tell if the snake is down there. It looks like Ron was right about them expecting us to fly, because someone is on the roof of the manor. So, we sneak along the trees to the graveyard, and then go straight to them. Everyone knows what to do?” Harry asked. They all nodded. “Let’s go then.” He started to move.
“Wait….” Hermione grabbed him. She then knocked him on the head with her wand. Harry felt himself diffuse. It was the same spell the Order used on him, when they flew him from his aunt and uncle’s to Sirius’s house before the start of 5th year.
“Tonks taught it to me. Not as good as being invisible, but it can’t hurt,” Hermione said.
“Good idea. Get the others, and yourself,” Harry told her. He waited for her to finish, watching as his friends went fuzzy. He could still see them, but instead off being solid forms, they appeared to be almost see through.
“Ok Harry lets go,” Hermione whispered.
Heading down along the tree line, trying to keep as far from the manor as he could, Harry led the way. When they got close to the graveyard he whispered for Hermione and Ron to come up next to him.
“Hermione, do you think you can do your silencing spell without talking? I don’t want them to scream when we show up.” It was quiet for a few minutes.
“Done,” Hermione said.
“Are you sure it worked?” Harry asked.
“No,” Hermione replied. Harry saw the shape that was Ron bend down and pick up a small rock. He threw it at the tied up forms of Harry’s aunt, uncle and cousin. Harry saw it smack Duddly in the arm.
“Well, if I was tied up like that, possibly with a giant snake at my feet, I would have yelped if I got hit in the arm out of nowhere. I’d say it worked. Brilliant, Hermione,” Ron said to her.
“Thanks, Ronald….Any sign of the snake?” she asked.
“No. When we get close Hermione, I’ll tell you to take the spell off so they can see us three and Hagrid. Let’s go.” Harry led off.
They crept silently forward. Harry kept his eyes on the ground looking for Nagini. About thirty feet away from his relatives, he stopped. Nagini was coiled on the ground at their feet, her head had just come up and she was looking in their direction. Nagini’s head moved back and forth searching for what it sensed was approaching, but was unable to see. Her tongue flicked in and out tasting the air as she tried to find what she felt was near her.
“Killing it will give us away,” Ron whispered.
“We’ll have to move fast once we do. Try to gently test the ropes from here, see if we can figure out how to release them,” Harry said.
“I can do it. It shouldn’t be too hard,” Hermione whispered at them. Harry kept his eyes locked on the snake.
“I think I got them loose, Harry,” Hermione whispered a few minutes later.
“Ok, when I say go we kill the snake. Hermione, you drop the diffuser on us and Hagrid. Hagrid, you be ready to grab them and run as soon as we get them loose. Hermione, when I tell you, you will have to let them talk again,” Harry whispered the last second instructions.
“Ready?” he hissed loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Do it, Harry,” Neville whispered back.
“Wands up. On three, one….two…three!” Harry hissed.
“Avada Kadvera!” three voices whispered forcefully into the quiet that surrounded them. Three bolts of green light jumped from their wands. Nagini’s head dropped to the ground, dead. Hermione revealed herself, Harry, Ron, and Hagrid. She then trained her wand on the ropes holding Harry’s relatives to the headstone.
Harry, Ron, and Hagrid ran forward to work on the loosening bonds with their hands. Harry could see the terror on the Dursley’s faces turn to recognition, and a flicker of hope came into their eyes. They were trying to talk.
“You can’t talk we put a spell on you so you wouldn’t scream,” Harry said, working on the ropes. The Dursley’s ignored him and continued to try and speak.
“Look at me!” Harry snapped at them. Harry’s aunt, uncle, and cousin turned their eyes on him. If you want to live, you have to promise me that you won’t talk until Hagrid tells you to.” Harry’s aunt looked into his eyes. He could see she was terrified, but she shook her head yes, his uncle and cousin followed her lead.
“Hermione, you can release them now,” Harry told her, as she ran up. “Take them Hagrid we’ll be right behind you.” They had only taken a few steps before it started to fall apart.
Bang!
Harry heard the unmistakable sound of numerous people Apparating around them.
“Hagrid! Keep going, get them out of here. Everyone else cover them!” Harry roared. He hadn’t even spoken the words before the rest of the DA members formed up on him with their backs to each other. They had been caught in the open and had instinctively moved into the defensive position they had been training on all year.
Hagrid, able to cover ground much faster, had gotten ahead of them. He turned around at the door of the small house.
Harry and his friends had been surrounded.
Harry looked to see if Hagrid had gotten away.
“GO!” He thundered. Hagrid didn’t dare stay Harry looked the way he did when Hermione had used the Crutacious curse on him and Ron. Ron and Hermione were in close to the same state.
Hagrid pulled the Dursleys to the fire place.
“Grab a handful,” he said shoving the floo powder at them. Mr. Dursley started to say something. “If ya want ter live, step in the fire, yell Hagrids Hut, and throw the powder inter the fire!” Hagrid roared at him
“But!” Mr. Dursley protested.
“Live or die Dursley!” Hagrid growled, as he shoved Dudley into the fireplace. Dudley looked at his mother.
“Do what he says!” she commanded.
“Hagrids Hut!” Dudley threw the powder and in a flash was gone. His mother followed.
“After you Dursley,” Hagrid said pointing. Harry’s uncle stepped into the fire and was gone, an instant later Hagrid followed him.
“Let them go Bella!” Lucius Malfoy roared. “The Master only cares about Potter. I have no desire to anger him.”
“It seems you are trapped once again Potter,” Lucius sneered at him. Harry counted.
Thirteen against six hardly seems fair, does it? the third voice said.
There is only one I’m worried about, the second said.
Quit talking and fight, two and three shield us all just in case. One help me with their wands, Harry growled.
Ron and Hermione had gone through the same process as Harry, dividing their different selves between defense and attack. Luna, Neville, and Cho, not having the gift, had simply started their silent attack the second they had formed into a defensive circle. By the time Harry responded to Lucius, three Death Eaters hadn’t noticed their wands go cold in their hands.
“The last time I was trapped, you and your friends ended up in jail,” Harry retorted.
“Dumbledore will not be coming to save you this time,” Bella snarled at him.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Hagrid is probably talking to him right now.” Harry saw the Death Eaters shift uncomfortably at his words. “Either way, we won’t need him to come save us. It has been a year since we last met. I think you’ll find were a little more formidable than last time,” Harry taunted her. It surprised him that Lucius seemed to enjoy the needling that Harry directed at Bella.
“I will not stand here and be insulted by these insects!” she screeched.
Just a little more time and we should have them all, Harry’s first said.
“By the way Bella….did you ever ask Voldemort about his parents?” Harry continued to taunt her. Bella raised her wand at Harry. She had not noticed it had gone cold.
“Bella he must be alive!” Lucius roared. “The master will punish us all.”
“He dares to use the Master’s name!” she shrieked, her eyes wild with rage.
“The Master will see that he pays for his insolence. He may even allow you the pleasure of the final blow,” Lucius said forcefully.
“I don’t know about the rest of you. But I’m getting a little bored with this whole thing,” Ron broke into the discussion.
“I would agree….Harry?” Hermione asked, as she raised her wand. The other DA members followed suit. The Death Eaters started to laugh.
“Now!” Harry commanded.
“ACCIO WANDS!” seven voices roared into the dim light. Thirteen voices tried to respond with shield spells.
“Protégo!” Not one shield was erected. Thirteen wands flew into the hands of the seven DA members. A moment later all the Death Eaters were unconscious on the ground.
“Break their wands!” Harry ordered, and then with the full force of their ability, he and Ron quickly stunned each Death Eater a second time. Harry felt the pain in his scar surging.
“MOVE!” he roared. “He’s coming!”
With Harry in the lead, the DA members ran towards the caretaker’s house. Ron and Hermione brought up the rear.
Almost there! Harry’s second yelled.
“Protégo!” Just as Voldemort materialized in front of them, his first and third brought up Harry’s shield. The other DA members were only just able to stop before running into him. Cho and Luna screamed in terror at the appearance of the Dark Lord, his snakelike face and blood red eyes.
“Leaving already?” Voldemort laughed at them.
“It’s me you want. Let my friends go,” Harry replied, grimacing at the pain in his head from being so close to the Dark Lord.
“Certainly, I’ll only hunt them down one by one after I kill you, Harry,” Voldemort said with an evil hiss. Again, Harry was reminded that he even sounded like a snake.
“Not a chance Harry. If you die here tonight, then I’m going with you,” Ron snarled at him. The other members of the DA stepped closer to him.
“Your friends lack common sense, Harry. If they wish to die tonight, I will be happy to grant that wish.”
“Unlike yours, my friends happen to still be standing,” Harry shot back at him. Harry had managed to close out the pain he felt from being so close to Voldemort.
Voldemort looked curiously at his wand.
“ACCIO WAND!” Ron roared.
“Protégo!” Still staring at his wand, Voldemort blocked Ron’s spell. “I see now, how you were so easily able to defeat my Death Eaters. I however, you will find do not need this to perform magic. Perhaps since I cannot use it, I will make you do it for me.
“Imperio!” Ron felt the familiar sensation of joy that went with the curse, wash over him.
“Come to me my servant,” Voldemort commanded. Ron walked towards the Dark Lord.
“Ronald!” Hermione screamed lunging at him. Harry grabbed her around the waist and held her. Voldemort held his wand out to Ron.
“You will kill them all,” he hissed at him. Ron took the wand, turned on his friends and walked straight to Harry and Hermione. Harry forced Hermione to his side and stood there in front of Ron as he leveled Voldemort’s wand at his chest. Hermione raised her wand and pointed it at Ron, ready to defend Harry. The other DA members all followed her lead, all of them except Harry.
“Maybe your friends’ minds are not as worthless as yours. You will not defend yourself in the face of death, Harry?” Voldemort laughed insanely at him. Harry watched Ron’s face contorting as he struggled to fight against the curse. He could feel Hermione crying next to him.
“I’m so sorry Ronald. I love you,” she said softly. Ron blinked and smiled at Harry and the others.
“Ready?” he mouthed.
“NOW!” Hermione yelled, her voice thundering into the still air, as Ron snapped Voldemort’s wand in half. Six stunning blasts ripped into the growing darkness towards Voldemort. The Dark Lord was knocked backwards by the combined force of the bolts of red light as they ricocheted off his shield into the dark.
“Insolent fools, you dare to attack me. Enough of this game, Avada Kadavra!” Voldemort screamed into the night as he threw his hand towards Harry and his friends. Cho, at the first utterance of the death curse, jumped in front of Harry, screaming the counter spell he had created.
“Phoenix!” five other voices joined hers. The spell erupted from their wands meeting the green bolt that flew from Voldemort’s hand and absorbed it. Three flaming phoenix birds remained burning in the air between Cho and Voldemort. Harry expanded the spell to six, one for each of the DA, using his third self to do it.
“IMPOSSIBLE!” Voldemort screeched in anger.
And then, he was nowhere….and everywhere.
Harry got his shield up in time to protect himself and the others from the first stunning blasts and then the battle raged.
Harry found himself detached, almost watching himself and the others fight the Dark Lord. He began to adjust to the speed and the power of the spells he was fighting against. Growing during the fight, adapting to the dark curses coming at him.
Ron caught on quickly, it was just like chess. In the Muggle world he would be the equivalent of a Grand Master. He was catching Voldemort, hitting his shield on a regular basis, but unable to break past it.
Voldemort was strained. Without a wand, he was unable to use complex spells against the six DA members. Instead he was forced to use simple yet brutal tactics, and with the growth in power of Harry, Ron and Hermione over the last year, he had to reach to the depths of his own power to fight the battle.
Those three, Harry, the redheaded boy, and the girl with the brown hair, fight them last, a voice said to the others.
Harry saw Luna fall, her shield overcome by the power of Voldemort’s stunning spell. Voldemort tried to kill her but the phoenix Harry was maintaing in front of her streaked to intercept the curse flamed out into smoke and burst into fire again. Voldmort sent a second stunning spell at her making sure she was out of the battle.
We can kill her after they are all unconscious, a second said.
“Accio Luna!” Harry pulled Luna close enough that his shield would protect her from more hits. Trusting that he could protect himself and Luna with one, now that she was so close, his third voice let one of the flaming phoenixes it was holding go.
Ron and Neville hit Voldemort with stunning spells at the same time. It was enough for Hermione to get through his shield, sealing his mouth shut, further weakening his spells. Trying to break through the shield once more, Ron and Harry hit him at the same time again.
Despite having put all of his selves into his shield, Voldemort was dazed by the combined power of the spells from Harry and Ron. Recklessly dropping his defense entirely, he lashed out with his hand at Neville and Cho. Their shields took most of the spell, but the power behind it still knocked them backwards into a gravestone, both of their heads hitting it with a sickeningly dull thud.
Harry tried to pull them into the protection of his shield before Voldemort could hit them again. He was to slow, both of them getting hit as they flew through the air towards him. Voldemort dissaparated again, Ron spun anticipating the next move in the chess game.
50/50 chance, his second said. He was wrong. His shield spell saved him from the full force of the blast. But unprepared for it, he was thrown forward. Ron hit the ground and rolled left. This time he guessed correctly, the follow up spell hitting to his right.
Enough standing in one place, Ron’s third said. We can Apparate too. Ron disappeared, a second later he reappeared high in the tree behind Voldemort. His spells found their mark, but couldn’t get through.
We can’t maintain the shield and phoenix if we want to hurt him. If we want to do that, we’re all going to have to focus on attacking, the voices said to him.
Not yet, we can at least hold our own for now, he told them. Just as the tree he was in began to crash to the ground, Ron dissaparated again.
Harry was worried. Voldemort had taken out the three weakest of the DA. It looked like they might be able to fight to a stand still with the current odds, but if one of the Death Eaters woke up, he Ron, and Hermione would be in trouble.
The girl next, she is the most clever of the three, but the weakest. And the other two might make a mistake if they try to protect her too much, the voices snarled in Voldemorts head.
Hermione found the attack intensifying. She didn’t know who was maintaining it, having devoted both the voices in her head to her shield and attacking with the self that was always conscious, but there was a phoenix always with her.
How is he able to generate so much power without a wand or his voice, she silently screamed at the voices.
Who cares? Figure out something else. We can’t keep this up much longer, the voices yelled back at her.
Hermione took aim again, levitating the water from the ditch behind Voldemort, encasing him in it and putting a shield around it to hold him in. Voldemort was struggling to throw off, Hermione’s attack. Without his wand, unable to speak, it was much more difficult than when Dumbledore had done it to him. Finally he Disapparated, and the water crashed to the ground. Hermione waited.
Is he gone? the voices asked.
Harry had seen this before. How she came up with it he didn’t know. He saw Hermione begin to relax just a little.
“HERMIONE!” he yelled.
Voldemort reappeared behind Hermione, his stun spell slamming into her overcoming her shield. She collapsed to the ground an instant later.
“ACCIO HERMIONE!” Ron thundered, pulling her to him.
“NO!” Harry screamed.
Ron dropped his entire defense and began pouring everything he had into Voldemort, driving him back, the blasts from his wand like bolts of lightning.
Harry saw Ron throwing spells at Voldemort, the power behind them more than anything seen that night. His own rage equaled Ron’s and he added his spells to those that Ron sent over and over at Voldemort. They were wining.
Voldemort was frightened; throwing off Hermione’s attack had taken a lot of magical energy. And hurting the girl had enraged both Harry and the other boy. He couldn’t stand and take the combined power of their spells, but diverting his attention from defense for an instant to dissApparate would weaken his shield to the point that the next hit would break it.
Banging into a headstone, as he staggered back, he quickly ducked behind it. The headstone, disintegrated after the first hit, but it gave him the time to dissApparate again. He reappeared almost immediately to Ron’s right, levitating another headstone and throwing it at his head.
Ron didn’t see it coming. He was struck on the temple and fell to the ground in a heap.
Accio Wand! Voldemort thought. Ron’s wand flew to his hand.
Harry was devastated. A second ago they had Voldemort down, they were going to win. Now, as he looked around, all he could see were his fallen friends. And Voldemort had a wand now; Harry forgot that it would be useless to him with the Recognize charm on it.
We couldn’t beat him when we had help. How can we beat him now? the second voice cried in despair.
We have to keep fighting, Hagrid will bring help, the first screamed back.
We have to fight differently! the third demanded.
Voldemort looked at the wand in his hand. It didn’t work. He had forgotten about the protection spell, not thinking that they would have used it to protect their wands from falling into the wrong hands.
They think, and fight like Dumbledore, a voice remarked.
It is no matter. It is just the Potter boy left. Knock him out so we can finish this, the other voices snarled back at it.
Harry closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the love he had for his friends, Neville, Cho, Luna, his parents, Sirius, Ron, and Hermione. Ron and Hermione, he loved them the most. The conduit opened. Voldemort raised his hand towards Harry.
Why are his eyes closed?….Why is he smiling? Voldemort asked himself. An instant later he crashed to his knees in agony. Every ounce of the love Harry had for his friends, especially Hermione and Ron was flowing into his hate filled body. Voldemort screamed in anguish, trying to fight, find some weakness in this new attack.
A bolt of red light streamed from Harry to Voldemort. Harry concentrated, thinking desperately of his friends. It didn’t matter, that she had told him no. He would fight to his death for her to live and be happy with Ron. Voledmort caught it.
"She didn’t love you. You should hate her. You should hate both of them,” he forced the thought back to Harry. A green bolt of light started to force its way back against the red light from Harry.
The thought from Voldemort hit Harry harder than any spell that night. More painful than when Hermione used the Cruciatus curse on him, as painful as the brief moment last year when Voldemort had possessed him.
“She does love me. She is my sister. I love Ron. They love me,” Harry focused on sending the thought back to Voldemort. Voldemort was feeding off every doubt that Harry ever had about his friends.
“Where are they now, your friends? All hurt, unable to help you, and when I kill you, I’ll kill them too. There is no one who loves you, no one who loves me. There is only yourself.”
“I just have to hold you. Others will come to help us,” Harry shot back. But he was weakening. The green light from Voldemort was more than halfway to him. Harry, was not yet, Voldemort’s equal.
Where are Hagrid, and Dumbledore? Why aren’t they here yet? Harry was fighting himself now too.
They will come! the voices screamed at him.
Harry was able to slow the progress of the light coming from Voldemort. But it was slowly, steadily eating its way towards him.
Ginny stood at the stone archway. The mist was swirling again and she could see the woman take shape. There was the slightest hint of green around her eyes.
“It’s you, isn’t it, Lily?” Ginny asked. The green around the eyes flared briefly. Ginny looked up. She heard her voice coming from outside the chamber again.
“Ginny, you must wake up. Tom has them Ginny. They’re hurt, all of them; Luna, Neville, Cho, Hermione, Ron. Harry is the only one left Ginny. He is in trouble. Please Ginny, you must wake up. Tom has them,” Ginny’s voice was pleading, begging her to wake up.
Ginny was frantic.
“I have to get out of here!” she screamed, tears rolling down her face. “Someone help me!” she yelled as she looked around desperately. Ginny stopped and turned to the archway. “He needs me Lily, help me,” she pleaded with the woman in the mist.
The green flared in the woman’s eyes. A shaft of light fell on the floor at Ginny’s feet. She turned, at the top of the chamber, a door was open wide but slowly closing. Ginny ran, faster than she had ever run before, across the floor and up the stairs. She wasn’t going to make it. Ginny shoved her hand into the crack as the door slamed closed crushing her hand instead. ignoring the pain, she yanked the door back open, and as she did her eyes opened.
She sat up in her bed and looked around the room.
We’re in the hospital wing, her first said.
“Ginny, Tom has them,” Ginny’s head snapped around to the voice. She grabbed the chocolate frog card of Dumbledore off the stand next to her bed and turned it over. Her wand was there too.
“Reveal!” she barked, waving her wand over the card. The picture of herself that she had stuck on the back of the card appeared.
“Where are they?” she demanded.
“Tom Riddle’s parents’ house, the place he killed Cedric,” her photo answered.
The door to the hospital wing flew open. Dumbledore stormed in, followed by Hagrid, a man, woman, and boy she did not know.
“You are ready?” Dumbledore asked Ginny. Madam Pomphrey burst out of her office.
“What is going on here? Oh my goodness, Ginny,” she shrieked upon seeing her standing. “What are you doing, get back in bed!” Ginny ignored her.
“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” she stormed at Dumbledore, already she was in a rage, beyond any she had been in, in her life. Madam Pomphrey shrank away from her.
“Albus you must….“ Madam Pomphrey began to protest.
“Help these people if they need it and are not too foolish to let you, Poppy,” Dumbledore interrupted her. “Prepare your beds. I will be returning with more injured students. NOW!” he commanded when she hesitated. Dumbledore grabbed a water pitcher.
“Portus!” he said pointing his wand at it. Dumbledore held the portkey out.
“Hagrid, Ginny,” he said. They touched it and were gone.
They appeared in front of the caretaker’s house a moment later.
“Go Ginny! help him,” Dumbeldore said. Ginny, still in her hospital gown and barefooted, flew to Harry. Hagrid started to move forward.
“Wait, Hagrid!” Professor Dumbledore said.
“But Professor, sir!” Hagrid stammered, pointing at Voldemort, looking very confused.
“I will save them, if I must. For now we wait.”
Voldemort had managed to get to his feet. He was winning, only a few moments more and he would finally be able to kill Harry. Harry had sunk to his hands and knees; his eyes were closed as he strained to hold on for just a little longer. Voldemort saw the girl running to Harry.
“What are you doing!?....Get away from him girl!” he screamed at her. The distraction was enough for Harry to push back a little. He opened his eyes, as Ginny fell to her knees in front of him.
“Ginny!” Harry gasped. “Get the others! Leave, I can hold him for a little longer. The light between Harry and Voldemort stabilized again.
Forget about the girl, the third snarled at the others. Voldemort refocused his hatred. Slower, but still moving, he began to force his green light towards Harry again.
“Hurry Ginny! I can’t fight much longer,” Harry gasped, as Voldemort’s hatred hit him with renewed strength. Ginny reached out to lift Harry’s chin.
“Please Ginny,” Harry pleaded looking into her eyes. She smiled at him.
“Be strong enough for today, Harry James.”
Ron slowly lifted his head. Shaking it to clear the cobwebs; he pushed himself to his knees.
“Where’s my wand?” he said to himself. As he looked around for it, his eyes fell on Harry and…
Ginny! the voices screamed. And then he saw the red and green stream of light between Harry and Voldemort.
Voldemort’s winning! I have to help! he thought desperately. Ron raised his hand, trying to send a spell, any spell without his wand. His head was still too confused from being hit by the headstone to focus enough to do it. Ron looked back to Harry and Ginny, the green light was almost touching Harry now. He staggered to his feet and started running, launching his body into the air, intending to throw himself between Harry and Voldemort.
Just as he was about to break the beam of light between Harry and Voldemort, a blinding white light flashed all around him. As he crashed to the ground, Ron saw the trees around the graveyard bend violently away from him, many of them were ripped, roots and all, from the ground. Strangely, he felt nothing and then it was silent.
Terrified at what he would find, Ron turned to see what had happened. He could see what he thought was Voldemort’s body. It looked like the blast had tossed him against a tree, knocking him unconscious or perhaps better. Ginny, was kneeling, unharmed it appeared, over Harry’s fallen body.
“Hagrid, gather the students who are unconscious by the portkey,” Dumbledore commanded. He then moved quickly, between Harry, Ginny and Voldemort.
Ginny’s fingers tentatively touched Harry’s face, she couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not and there was no response from her trembling touch.
“No,” she breathed. Ron stumbled next to Professor Dumbledore, carrying Hermione with him.
“Is he ok, sir?”
“Harry is not dead yet, Ronald. Weather he lives or not, is up to him.”
“Give her ter me, Ron,” Hagrid said, attempting to take Hermione from him. Ron tried to fight him.
“She will be ok Ronald, let Hagrid have her,” Dumbledore said quietly when he resisted.
“NO!” Ginny screamed. The agony in her voice was enough to break through Ron’s protests and let Hagrid take Hermione from him. He walked over to Ginny and dropped down next to her, reaching to put his arm around her, to comfort her.
The simple act of touching Ginny caused a release of energy that threw Ron ten feet through the air.
“NOOO! I WON’T LET HIM BE DEAD!” she thundered, her voice echoing into the night, as she scrambled to her feet. Searching the area, Ginny found what she was seeking, Voldemort’s body lying next to the tree. She raised her wand.
Ron groaned as he pushed himself to his knees, he had seen Ginny like this before. It had been terrifying; it paled in comparison to what he saw now. The air around them was rushing towards her, as if she was sucking the energy out of everything around them. Lightning flashed in the sky striking the ground all around her, thunder ripped through the air, the concussion pummeling his body painfully. Dumbledore stood in her way power radiating off of him in waves, a wall of flaming phoenixes leaping into existence between himself and Ginny.
“You cannot kill him, Ginevra.”
“HE KILLED HARRY!” she thundered. “I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO HIM!”
“Only Harry is capable of killing him, Ginevra.” The bolt of red light shot from her wand. Dumbledore deflected the spell with his shield. The blast ricocheted off to a huge oak tree, splitting the trunk clean through, carrying past it and smashing a hole through the stone wall of the caretaker’s caretaker’s house large enough to walk through.
Ron watched in awe, unable to react as the tree began to fall to the ground. Dumbledore was forced to catch it with a levitation spell and throw it across the cemetery so it did not land on Hagrid and the others.
A second crushing spell, this one less powerful than the first, erupted from Ginny’s wand hit Dumbledore’s shield and deflected into a headstone disintegrating it. A third spell left her wand, was deflected by Dumbledore and barely scathed the headstone it hit.
Ginny screamed again. The sound, like some unearthly demon was literally tearing her heart out of her chest. Tears streaming down her face, her wand fell from her hand as she turned back to Harry. She sank down next to him taking his hand. Her rage not spent; she began to vent it at him.
“I CAME BACK FOR YOU!” she screamed slamming her fist to his chest. Ron moved to stop her. Dumbledore sent a binding spell at him.
“Let her go, Ronald,” he said. Ron continued to fight, but Dumbledore wouldn’t release the spell. Ginny, having nearly exhausted her magical reserves with the power of the first two spells she unleashed, could only sustain her rage for so long. She finally collapsed on top of Harry.
“I came back for you, Harry,” she sobbed. “I came back for you.” Her voice faded to a whisper, growing weaker with each passing moment.