The Wheasley’s didn’t know about Bill and Fleur. Lucius Malfoy started fighting professor McGonagall. He said, ‘Finally, I get the opportunity to do what I always wanted. Killing you.’
‘That’s ambitious of you.’ spat professor McGonagall. They were fighting with all their strength. then, professor McGonagall used a very complex spell on Lucius which transformed him into a glass bottle. She then took the bottle in her hand and broke it. it started bleeding. Lucius was dead. Then when Harry was in the middle of the great hall, he saw Voldemort flying down.
Everyone froze. People stopped fighting. He stopped in the middle of the great hall. Harry and Voldemort were face to face, again. Harry looked at him. Voldemort said, ‘finally, Harry. You come to meet your end.’
‘Speak for yourselt, tom.’
‘How dare you!’
‘Shut up. You think you are the most powerful wizard of all time? Well think again. You are mortal and weak. Even if you do kill me, the people here wouldn’t let you live. You are just an ordinary wizard tom, an ordinary wizard.’ said Harry.
‘Avda ke davra’ shouted Voldemort, ‘expelliarmus’ shouted Harry. Their powers collided. It was just like it was on the night when Voldemort returned. Harry was fighting with one hand. With the other he was searching his pocket. He was looking for the bottle of sand. And he found it. He opened it inside his pocket and took it out. He sprinkled it all over himself. As soon as the sand touched him, his body became golden. It started to glow. His wand hand became much firm. And Harry saw that Voldemort’s hand started to shake. Very soon the power coming from Harry’s wand turned golden. Voldemort’s was lost control on his wand and his wand flew away. Voldemort fell. Harry went closer to him and shouted, ‘Voldemort CORZAIO’
Pure white light came from Harry’s wand and hit Voldemort on his chest. He screamed. Black smoke came out from his body. His body started to shake vigorously and soon it stopped. Harry knew Voldemort had died.
For a minute time seemed to have stopped. There was pin-drop silence everywhere and then, a roar of triumph burst out. People were laughing, hugging each other. The battle was won. The remaining death eaters were either captured or they had escaped. But all tat didn’t matter now. Voldemort was gone. Gone for good.
But Harry didn’t know what to feel. He was happy that they won, but what he had lost in order to get this was too much a price to pay for this victory. His parents, Sirius, Dumbledore, Bill, Fleur… it was too painful to remember about them all… he left the celebrations-cum-moaning and went to his common room. He needed to be alone. He can’t bear seeing the dead bodies anymore. Ron and Hermione were sitting next to Bill and Fleur’s bodies, sobbing. Once the initial happiness of winning was over, people saw the loss this war had caused. The loss of friends, of families was now making them realize the price they have to pay. They all decided that the graves of all these people will be in Hogwarts. There will be a special area for these brave soldiers of the war. Two days later, there was a grand funeral for all these people. People from all over the world had come there to pay their tributes.
Harry was now feeling relieved. It felt as if a very big burden was off his shoulders. He also decided that he will complete his studies next year. Ron and Hermione said they’ll follow. Harry was looking forward to a year at Hogwarts that won’t be full of mortal danger.
The End…
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Chapter 33: The Battle of Hogwarts
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick started doing incantations all over the school. The armors started to move looked ready to fight. Professor sprout and her students took plants and started putting them in various places. These were plants that secreted poisonous gases. So when the death eaters walked the grounds, they’ll faint. A special antidote for this plant was given to all students. Some of the students were distributing potions to drink to every student. This was the Felix felicus that Profesor Slughorn had made before dying. People from outside Hogwarts had started coming from the various secret passageways. Crookshanks was standing under the womping willow keeping her feet at the right place so that others could get into Hogwarts while the tree stood still. The whole of the Wheasley Family was there. Neville’s grandmother and other relatives were there. Luna’s father had come with some of his friends. He looked just like Luna. He and his friends were as eccentrically dressed as one could imagine for this occasion. With florescent green cloaks that glowed like bulbs, there were easily noticeable even in the crowd of hundreds of people. ‘It bring supernatural powers to you’ said Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna’s Father. On which, ‘But you’re a wizard, you already have supernatural powers’ was the reply of Neville’s grandmother.
Harry was quiet surprised to see Aunt Petunia and Dudley there. ‘What are you doing here?’ asked Harry. ‘You can’t even do magic’
‘yeah!’ said Dudley, ‘But we can use guns. Got many of them. And hand grenades also. Those death eaters wouldn’t be expecting them. And besides, I have to take revenge of my father’s death. don’t I?’
‘I am proud of you, Dudley’ said Aunt Petunia.
People have started to hide in corners so that when the death eaters came, they can take them by surprise. And they started waiting. Harry, Ron and Hermione were behind the great hall entrance. Within one hour, Harry heard the same high pitched voice he loathed, Voldemort’s voice. ‘People of Hogwarts. I have nothing against any of you. If you give me Harry potter and his two friends, I shall spare your life. I –’
Before he could finish, Professor McGonagall spoke, ‘You are not getting anyone from here. Take them by fighting us Tom, if you can.’
‘The you shall all die’ said Voldemort in a bitterly cold voice. He was shocked to hear professor McGonagall take his real name like that. She sounded so much like Dumbledore. Harry felt proud of his Transfiguration teacher at that point. The main door of Hogwarts opened. This time the school allowed them to enter. Hogwarts knew that there was a battle going on inside it. As the death eaters started coming, the plants put by the students started releasing poisonous gases. Some death fainted but almost all had no effect of it. They had already taken precautions. There were hundreds of death eaters, along with almost that many dementors, twelve giants, and some other dark creatures lik werewolves etc.
And the Dudley threw a hand-grenade at the approaching group of death eaters. The death eaters did not see it coming and as it fell, it created a loud explosion. Many death eaters were thrown due to the explosion. Some were injured, and four died. For the first time in his life, Harry felt like hugging Dudley. This catalyzed the death eaters. They started firing curses at the castle. But the protective enchantments deflected the curses. As the death eaters were approaching the castle, there was an unexpected help that came. From inside the forbidden forests, centaurs attacked the death eaters, from inside the great lake, the merepeople started to throw arrows at the death eaters. At this point, people from inside the castle came out and started to fight. Within no time, a huge battle broke out. The whole Hogwarts was bright with the light of the curses. It was a complete chaos. Harry started looking for Voldemort. He knew it was now or never. The day had arrived where one will survive and the other would die. But Voldemort was not there. Neville were fighting so well that Harry felt weather Voldemort had made a mistake by not taking Neville as his possible enemy. Luna and Ginny were fighting with all their might. The Dumbledore’s army had turned out to be a very good army. They were jinxing people left right and centre. The fight was going on but there was no sign of Voldemort anywhere. Harry saw Malfoy fighting with his father. His father was saying things like, ‘Join us. You still have time. You must understand.’ But Malfoy did not consider any of his father’s saying. He kept jinxing his father. He raised his wand and said, ‘Stupify’. Lucius fell backwards. Then from behind, Bellatrix came. ‘You ungrateful bloke. How dare you hit your father. I’m gonna kill you. Avda ke Davra’
It happened in a moment. The spell had hit Malfoy directly on his face and he fell on the ground. Harry saw it happen. It took him a moment to realize what was happening. He ran towards Malfoy. Another death eater started fighting Harry. Harry saw Lucius Malfoy. He was expressionless, still as stone-faced as he had always been. The death of his son did not mean much to him. Harry couldn’t realize how a father could be like that, but then, Lucius was a death eater before a father.
Harry fought the death eater and then again started looking for Voldemort. There he saw that the aurors had also joined the forces. Mad-eye-moody, Kingsly Shacklebolt were fighting with all their might. They were fighting three-three death eaters at a time. The Wheasey family was also fighting bravely. Mr. Wheasley was fighting two men at a time. Bill and Charlie were throwing spells all over. Fred and George were using their joke shop products on the death eaters. the students were also doing a great job.
Harry still couldn’t find Voldemort. He ran out of the castle. While he was in the entrance, he saw Bellatrix. She was fighting Luna and Neville at once. Neville’s was filled with loathing. It was as if all the sadness he had in him because of his parent’s condition had been magically transformed into hatred. It was then that Harry remembered what Voldemort had told Harry that day at the ministry, the day when Sirius had died. You need to feel the hatred for the person in order to cast an unforgivable curse. Harry knew that it is the best moment for Neville to take revenge. He shouted ‘Neville, use the killing curse.’
Neville wasn’t distracted by what he said but Bellatrix heard it. ‘Telling your week friend how to fight Potter?’ she shouted.
Neville became even more red and shouted, ‘Crusio’. Bellatrix howled and moaned in pain. Harry could see the satisfaction on neville’s face, seeing her in utter pain. But Luna was looking uncomfortable. She said, ‘Stop it Neville.’
‘No I won’t’ said Neville. ‘you don’t know what she did to my parents.’
‘I know. But if you do the same, what does it makes you?’ said Luna. And Neville stopped. He looked at Luna and said, ‘this is a war. We have to kill them.’
‘I know. But we don’t kill for pleasure. We kill to end evil. That’s what separates us from them.’
Neville thought for a moment, looking at the almost unconscious Bellatrix on the floor. he pointed his wand at her and shouted ‘Sectumsempra’
She started screaming again. Blood was coming out of her body. She was developing cuts after cuts. And then she died. Neville and Luna ran to look for other death eaters to fight.
Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy had started fighting Bill. They were fighting near Dumbledore’s office. Bill was fighting very bravely when he heard a scream. It was Fleur’s scream. He looked back and at Lucius used that moment to use the killing curse on Bill. Bill died instantly. The last thing he saw was Fleur running towards him, wandless, a deather eater chasing him. She frooze seeing Bill die. She looked at Lucius. He gave her a dark smile and pointed his wand at her. He shouted, ‘Avada Ke Davra’
Fleur fell on top of Bill.
Harry was quiet surprised to see Aunt Petunia and Dudley there. ‘What are you doing here?’ asked Harry. ‘You can’t even do magic’
‘yeah!’ said Dudley, ‘But we can use guns. Got many of them. And hand grenades also. Those death eaters wouldn’t be expecting them. And besides, I have to take revenge of my father’s death. don’t I?’
‘I am proud of you, Dudley’ said Aunt Petunia.
People have started to hide in corners so that when the death eaters came, they can take them by surprise. And they started waiting. Harry, Ron and Hermione were behind the great hall entrance. Within one hour, Harry heard the same high pitched voice he loathed, Voldemort’s voice. ‘People of Hogwarts. I have nothing against any of you. If you give me Harry potter and his two friends, I shall spare your life. I –’
Before he could finish, Professor McGonagall spoke, ‘You are not getting anyone from here. Take them by fighting us Tom, if you can.’
‘The you shall all die’ said Voldemort in a bitterly cold voice. He was shocked to hear professor McGonagall take his real name like that. She sounded so much like Dumbledore. Harry felt proud of his Transfiguration teacher at that point. The main door of Hogwarts opened. This time the school allowed them to enter. Hogwarts knew that there was a battle going on inside it. As the death eaters started coming, the plants put by the students started releasing poisonous gases. Some death fainted but almost all had no effect of it. They had already taken precautions. There were hundreds of death eaters, along with almost that many dementors, twelve giants, and some other dark creatures lik werewolves etc.
And the Dudley threw a hand-grenade at the approaching group of death eaters. The death eaters did not see it coming and as it fell, it created a loud explosion. Many death eaters were thrown due to the explosion. Some were injured, and four died. For the first time in his life, Harry felt like hugging Dudley. This catalyzed the death eaters. They started firing curses at the castle. But the protective enchantments deflected the curses. As the death eaters were approaching the castle, there was an unexpected help that came. From inside the forbidden forests, centaurs attacked the death eaters, from inside the great lake, the merepeople started to throw arrows at the death eaters. At this point, people from inside the castle came out and started to fight. Within no time, a huge battle broke out. The whole Hogwarts was bright with the light of the curses. It was a complete chaos. Harry started looking for Voldemort. He knew it was now or never. The day had arrived where one will survive and the other would die. But Voldemort was not there. Neville were fighting so well that Harry felt weather Voldemort had made a mistake by not taking Neville as his possible enemy. Luna and Ginny were fighting with all their might. The Dumbledore’s army had turned out to be a very good army. They were jinxing people left right and centre. The fight was going on but there was no sign of Voldemort anywhere. Harry saw Malfoy fighting with his father. His father was saying things like, ‘Join us. You still have time. You must understand.’ But Malfoy did not consider any of his father’s saying. He kept jinxing his father. He raised his wand and said, ‘Stupify’. Lucius fell backwards. Then from behind, Bellatrix came. ‘You ungrateful bloke. How dare you hit your father. I’m gonna kill you. Avda ke Davra’
It happened in a moment. The spell had hit Malfoy directly on his face and he fell on the ground. Harry saw it happen. It took him a moment to realize what was happening. He ran towards Malfoy. Another death eater started fighting Harry. Harry saw Lucius Malfoy. He was expressionless, still as stone-faced as he had always been. The death of his son did not mean much to him. Harry couldn’t realize how a father could be like that, but then, Lucius was a death eater before a father.
Harry fought the death eater and then again started looking for Voldemort. There he saw that the aurors had also joined the forces. Mad-eye-moody, Kingsly Shacklebolt were fighting with all their might. They were fighting three-three death eaters at a time. The Wheasey family was also fighting bravely. Mr. Wheasley was fighting two men at a time. Bill and Charlie were throwing spells all over. Fred and George were using their joke shop products on the death eaters. the students were also doing a great job.
Harry still couldn’t find Voldemort. He ran out of the castle. While he was in the entrance, he saw Bellatrix. She was fighting Luna and Neville at once. Neville’s was filled with loathing. It was as if all the sadness he had in him because of his parent’s condition had been magically transformed into hatred. It was then that Harry remembered what Voldemort had told Harry that day at the ministry, the day when Sirius had died. You need to feel the hatred for the person in order to cast an unforgivable curse. Harry knew that it is the best moment for Neville to take revenge. He shouted ‘Neville, use the killing curse.’
Neville wasn’t distracted by what he said but Bellatrix heard it. ‘Telling your week friend how to fight Potter?’ she shouted.
Neville became even more red and shouted, ‘Crusio’. Bellatrix howled and moaned in pain. Harry could see the satisfaction on neville’s face, seeing her in utter pain. But Luna was looking uncomfortable. She said, ‘Stop it Neville.’
‘No I won’t’ said Neville. ‘you don’t know what she did to my parents.’
‘I know. But if you do the same, what does it makes you?’ said Luna. And Neville stopped. He looked at Luna and said, ‘this is a war. We have to kill them.’
‘I know. But we don’t kill for pleasure. We kill to end evil. That’s what separates us from them.’
Neville thought for a moment, looking at the almost unconscious Bellatrix on the floor. he pointed his wand at her and shouted ‘Sectumsempra’
She started screaming again. Blood was coming out of her body. She was developing cuts after cuts. And then she died. Neville and Luna ran to look for other death eaters to fight.
Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy had started fighting Bill. They were fighting near Dumbledore’s office. Bill was fighting very bravely when he heard a scream. It was Fleur’s scream. He looked back and at Lucius used that moment to use the killing curse on Bill. Bill died instantly. The last thing he saw was Fleur running towards him, wandless, a deather eater chasing him. She frooze seeing Bill die. She looked at Lucius. He gave her a dark smile and pointed his wand at her. He shouted, ‘Avada Ke Davra’
Fleur fell on top of Bill.
Chapter 32: Lily’s Grave
Next day was Professor Slughorn’s funeral. Everyone was unsure how he died. He was so full of life, why would he drink poison? Only Harry and Hermione knew. And they Had decided to go to Godric’s hollow again that night. They had told Ron that there is a sand that can protect them in fight Voldemort. Ron was quiet cheerful now. He was thinking that they had finished all horcruxes and now had quiet good chances of defeating Voldemort. That night the got under the cloak again and went outside the school boundaries. From there they apparated to godric’s hollow. They reached the graveyard directly. This was the first time Ron and Hermione were seeing this place. Harry had been here before. He knew the grave. He went directly towards the grave. Ron and Hermione followed. Harry bent closer to his mother’s grave. he touch the tombstone. He said ‘I here mother. And I need you help. I am in trouble. Help me mother, help me.’
But nothing happened. Then Hermione tried, ‘I need help. My love is infected. Please help us. Please.’ Still nothing happened.
‘What are you saying? Who is infected?’ asked Ron.
‘You are’ said a cold high pitched voice. They all looked back. Voldemort was standing there. ‘You, Wheasley are a horcrux. My horcrux. Can you believe it? I, the dark lord chooses such a negligible body like you to safeguard his soul?’
Ron was frozen. So was Harry and Hermione. Voldemort continued, ‘but I had to. After all the prophecy said so. I had to turn friends into foes. So I did. Now a part of me is in you. and to kill me, Harry will have to kill you.’
‘no’ shrieked Hermione. The sand will help us. It will.’
‘Oh really!’ he said, ‘But you are at the wrong place, mudblood. The sand is in the department of mysteries. Lily was not a witch of that caliber. She was an ordinary mudblood.’
‘Don’t call her that’ shouted Harry.
‘We shall se then. Today, in front of her, I will torture her son to death. And she will not be able to do anything.’
He then raised his wand and shouted, ‘crusio’
The spell hit Harry before he could protect himself. He shouted screaming. The pain was unbearable. It was like burning. And the when he thought he could take no more of it, Lily’s grave busted. And pure silver sand filled the whole graveyard. As soon as the sand touched Harry, he felt cool, the pain was not there anymore. And he could see, as the sand touched Ron, he was lifted in air. He had been engulfed by a silver flame. And then from that flame, a cry came. A cry of agony. But it was not Ron’s voice. It was the soul of Voldemort that had died inside Ron. Then slowly Ron fell on the ground. He was unconscious. But Harry knew that Ron was fine.
In front of Harry, Voldemort was experiencing immense pain. As if his curse had rebounded. he shouted, ‘This is not the end. You cannot kill me. I am immortal.’
But Harry shouted, ‘No you’re not. We’ve finished all you horcruxes. All six of them.’
Voldemort froze. He looked at Harry and then, dissapparated. As he went the sand faded too. Harry looked back at the grave. it was just like before. As if nothing had happened. But there was some sand on the top of the grave. Harry took it in a bottle and kept it with him.
Harry looked at Hermione. She was holding Ron and looking very angry. She shouted at Harry, ‘we need to go back now. Why did you tell him about the horcruxes? Now he will come and fight. With all his army. We need to go back to Hogwarts and prepare to fight.’
They dissapparated and went back to Hogwarts, where they told everyone everything. Professor McGonagall said, ‘Let’s get ready. He must be coming. Hogwarts is going on a war.’
But nothing happened. Then Hermione tried, ‘I need help. My love is infected. Please help us. Please.’ Still nothing happened.
‘What are you saying? Who is infected?’ asked Ron.
‘You are’ said a cold high pitched voice. They all looked back. Voldemort was standing there. ‘You, Wheasley are a horcrux. My horcrux. Can you believe it? I, the dark lord chooses such a negligible body like you to safeguard his soul?’
Ron was frozen. So was Harry and Hermione. Voldemort continued, ‘but I had to. After all the prophecy said so. I had to turn friends into foes. So I did. Now a part of me is in you. and to kill me, Harry will have to kill you.’
‘no’ shrieked Hermione. The sand will help us. It will.’
‘Oh really!’ he said, ‘But you are at the wrong place, mudblood. The sand is in the department of mysteries. Lily was not a witch of that caliber. She was an ordinary mudblood.’
‘Don’t call her that’ shouted Harry.
‘We shall se then. Today, in front of her, I will torture her son to death. And she will not be able to do anything.’
He then raised his wand and shouted, ‘crusio’
The spell hit Harry before he could protect himself. He shouted screaming. The pain was unbearable. It was like burning. And the when he thought he could take no more of it, Lily’s grave busted. And pure silver sand filled the whole graveyard. As soon as the sand touched Harry, he felt cool, the pain was not there anymore. And he could see, as the sand touched Ron, he was lifted in air. He had been engulfed by a silver flame. And then from that flame, a cry came. A cry of agony. But it was not Ron’s voice. It was the soul of Voldemort that had died inside Ron. Then slowly Ron fell on the ground. He was unconscious. But Harry knew that Ron was fine.
In front of Harry, Voldemort was experiencing immense pain. As if his curse had rebounded. he shouted, ‘This is not the end. You cannot kill me. I am immortal.’
But Harry shouted, ‘No you’re not. We’ve finished all you horcruxes. All six of them.’
Voldemort froze. He looked at Harry and then, dissapparated. As he went the sand faded too. Harry looked back at the grave. it was just like before. As if nothing had happened. But there was some sand on the top of the grave. Harry took it in a bottle and kept it with him.
Harry looked at Hermione. She was holding Ron and looking very angry. She shouted at Harry, ‘we need to go back now. Why did you tell him about the horcruxes? Now he will come and fight. With all his army. We need to go back to Hogwarts and prepare to fight.’
They dissapparated and went back to Hogwarts, where they told everyone everything. Professor McGonagall said, ‘Let’s get ready. He must be coming. Hogwarts is going on a war.’
Chapter 31: The Seventh Secret
‘Many years ago,’ began professor Slughorn, ‘there was a witch. A very talented and beautiful witch. You all know her by the name of Helga Hufflepuff. She was a very loving and caring woman, very motherly. She believed that every person in this earh is special. She brought children from outside the wizarding families and made them into great wizards and witches. But what people don’t know about her is that she was also a great lover. She loved a man so majestic and great, that any wizard till now is nothing in front him. He Harry, was one of your ancestor, Godric Gryffindor. Yes, he was your ancestor Harry. Ever wondered why your parent’s lived in Godric’s hollow? I’ll come to it.’
‘So Helga loved Godric. Together, they took magic so far as no one had ever taken. Rowena Ravenclaw also helped them in taking magic further away. But together they also brought muggle children and taught them magic. This offended Salazar. He tried to talk Rowena into stopping the entry of muggle children, but even she did not mind them. She said that anyone with the talent for magic must be given an opportunity. Hence, as you know, Salazar made his secret chamber and left Hogwarts forever.’
‘But he did not forget or forgive Helga and Godric. He tried to take revenge for ruining Hogwarts. It was the time when Helga and Godric had gotten married. Helga was pregnant. Salazar returned. He said he was back to wish the couple, but the truth was something else. Salazar wanted to finish off Godric and Helga, before they could increase their family. So one night, he casted a sleeping spell on Godric and kidnapped Helga. He took her to a place no one had seen before. It was what we now call Godric’s hollow. When Godric woke up, he became furious and started looking for Helga.
‘Meanwhile, that night Helga had her labor pains. And she delivered the baby there. it was baby girl. A very beautiful girl. But Salazar wanted to kill her. But Helga came between him and the baby. She gave her life to protect the baby. By this time, Gryffindor came. Seen his wife dead, he started dueling with Salazar. It was the greatest battle that ever took place. And finally, Salazar lost. And he died.’
Godric made his home in the place where Helga had died. But he could never live there. He died within a year of all this. Rowena took the baby with her. But she had to manage Hogwarts and so she gave the baby to a muggle to take care of. But that girl never became a witch. She lived her whole life as a muggle. Never had any powers. She married a muggle, had muggle children, muggle grandchildren and so on. Until one day, one of their predecessors gave birth to a beautiful and supremely talented witch called Lily Evans. And I daresay history was repeated.’
‘But professor, how will this help us in saving Ron?’ asked Hermione.
‘Well, When Helga died, she was buried in the ministry of magic. In the department of mysteries. Because her death was a mystery to all. No one except Rowena knew. And she did not tell anyone, Godric had forbidden her to tell anyone. But there are some, very few magical families, who know this secret. So soon after she was put in the department of mysteries, the room in which she rested got locked, by itself. And since then it opened very few times. Only when someone desperately needed help and love was there in the desire for help. Her body became sand. And whenever you put that sand on someone with love, it heals that person. Any curse can be treated, except for the killing curse. So if you put that sand on Ron, the soul of Voldemort in him would die, as it is evil. And Ron will come, unscratched. And above all, it will help you Harry. It will protect you from anything. You know your cloak, why it always protects you? because it is made from the same sand. When your great-grandfather needed help and he happened to be in the department, the door opened and this cloak came. Since then it has been in your family. That is why Dumbledore had borrowed it from your father that day. And it was Dumbledore who told me this story, about the four founders and the very secret sand.’
‘But how are we supposed to go inside the ministry again? The security there must be really high.’ said Harry.
‘Then,’ said professor Slughorn, ‘you go to a place where the security is not there.’
‘Where?’ said Hermione.
‘Lily’s grave. she and Helga both died the same death. even her body has transformed into that sand. Harry, you are her son, you just have to tell her, with love to save your friend. She’s your mother. And this is a magical bond beyond and other magic. She’ll help you. do this as fast as possible. And now, excuse me, oh and it was nice to meet you people at this stage of my life.’
And Professor Slughorn took out a small bottle from his pocket and drank it. He said, ‘To the Dark Lord’s Defeat.’
He died. Almost instantly. Harry and Hermione called everybody. They did not cry because they knew he had died a like a fighter. They wanted to honor his death. they had decided that next evening, they after the funeral, they are going to Godric’s Hollow, again.’
‘So Helga loved Godric. Together, they took magic so far as no one had ever taken. Rowena Ravenclaw also helped them in taking magic further away. But together they also brought muggle children and taught them magic. This offended Salazar. He tried to talk Rowena into stopping the entry of muggle children, but even she did not mind them. She said that anyone with the talent for magic must be given an opportunity. Hence, as you know, Salazar made his secret chamber and left Hogwarts forever.’
‘But he did not forget or forgive Helga and Godric. He tried to take revenge for ruining Hogwarts. It was the time when Helga and Godric had gotten married. Helga was pregnant. Salazar returned. He said he was back to wish the couple, but the truth was something else. Salazar wanted to finish off Godric and Helga, before they could increase their family. So one night, he casted a sleeping spell on Godric and kidnapped Helga. He took her to a place no one had seen before. It was what we now call Godric’s hollow. When Godric woke up, he became furious and started looking for Helga.
‘Meanwhile, that night Helga had her labor pains. And she delivered the baby there. it was baby girl. A very beautiful girl. But Salazar wanted to kill her. But Helga came between him and the baby. She gave her life to protect the baby. By this time, Gryffindor came. Seen his wife dead, he started dueling with Salazar. It was the greatest battle that ever took place. And finally, Salazar lost. And he died.’
Godric made his home in the place where Helga had died. But he could never live there. He died within a year of all this. Rowena took the baby with her. But she had to manage Hogwarts and so she gave the baby to a muggle to take care of. But that girl never became a witch. She lived her whole life as a muggle. Never had any powers. She married a muggle, had muggle children, muggle grandchildren and so on. Until one day, one of their predecessors gave birth to a beautiful and supremely talented witch called Lily Evans. And I daresay history was repeated.’
‘But professor, how will this help us in saving Ron?’ asked Hermione.
‘Well, When Helga died, she was buried in the ministry of magic. In the department of mysteries. Because her death was a mystery to all. No one except Rowena knew. And she did not tell anyone, Godric had forbidden her to tell anyone. But there are some, very few magical families, who know this secret. So soon after she was put in the department of mysteries, the room in which she rested got locked, by itself. And since then it opened very few times. Only when someone desperately needed help and love was there in the desire for help. Her body became sand. And whenever you put that sand on someone with love, it heals that person. Any curse can be treated, except for the killing curse. So if you put that sand on Ron, the soul of Voldemort in him would die, as it is evil. And Ron will come, unscratched. And above all, it will help you Harry. It will protect you from anything. You know your cloak, why it always protects you? because it is made from the same sand. When your great-grandfather needed help and he happened to be in the department, the door opened and this cloak came. Since then it has been in your family. That is why Dumbledore had borrowed it from your father that day. And it was Dumbledore who told me this story, about the four founders and the very secret sand.’
‘But how are we supposed to go inside the ministry again? The security there must be really high.’ said Harry.
‘Then,’ said professor Slughorn, ‘you go to a place where the security is not there.’
‘Where?’ said Hermione.
‘Lily’s grave. she and Helga both died the same death. even her body has transformed into that sand. Harry, you are her son, you just have to tell her, with love to save your friend. She’s your mother. And this is a magical bond beyond and other magic. She’ll help you. do this as fast as possible. And now, excuse me, oh and it was nice to meet you people at this stage of my life.’
And Professor Slughorn took out a small bottle from his pocket and drank it. He said, ‘To the Dark Lord’s Defeat.’
He died. Almost instantly. Harry and Hermione called everybody. They did not cry because they knew he had died a like a fighter. They wanted to honor his death. they had decided that next evening, they after the funeral, they are going to Godric’s Hollow, again.’
Chapter 30: The Last Redemption
Once they reached the shore, the look no time in apparating back to hogsmede. There, they ran towards the Hogwarts gate. Ron was now back to normal. He did not realize what had just happened. He remembered being possessed by Voldemort but nothing that happened after that. Back in Hogwarts their friends were waiting for them. Hogwarts was celebrating Christmas. They were doing it in a very simple way as there have been many deaths in the near past. Once they reached Ron joined their friends in the celebrations. But Harry and Hermione were there just to avoid too many questions from their friends.
Soon, Hermione took Harry to a corner and asked, ‘Harry, when Dumbledore spoke to you about fighting Voldemort, what did he say? What will help us the most?’
‘Love’ replied Harry. ‘although I don’t know how it will help us but that’s what he said will help us, love. Because according to him love was something that Voldemort could never understand. He even said there is a room in the department of mysteries, the one that never opens, which is dedicated to love. We’ve been inside it.’
‘Yeah,’ she said, ‘the day Voldemort dueled Ron. It was that day, when we thought he was trying to kill Ron, when he poured a part of his soul into him. I still can’t believe that Ron’s a horcrux.’
‘I hope Ron will survive.’ Said Harry fearfully.
‘I don’t know. And there’s the redemption also. Harry, if there’s no other way, then you have to let me kill myself as the sacrifice. And the you have to kill Ron.’
‘hermione, are you out of your bloody mind?’
‘Harry, try and understand.’
‘no I won’t.’ said Harry fiercely. ‘and that’s final.’
‘well, okay. There must be another way. but the redemption?’
‘I’ll do it.’ Harry looked back. Professor Slughorn was standing behind them.
‘sir’, said Harry. ‘you heard us.’
‘No you can’t do it sir, we’ll find a way’ said Hermione.
‘No, No, No. you need to understand. I am old now. I don’t have much strength to fight anymore. And this is the time when we need young people like you who can fight. I have lived my life. And now it’s time for you to do so. I have been quiet a coward in my life. But now let me die a death of pride. But before I redeem Ron, I need to tell you something. It’s a story. A story that took place long before any of us were born. A story of love.’
Soon, Hermione took Harry to a corner and asked, ‘Harry, when Dumbledore spoke to you about fighting Voldemort, what did he say? What will help us the most?’
‘Love’ replied Harry. ‘although I don’t know how it will help us but that’s what he said will help us, love. Because according to him love was something that Voldemort could never understand. He even said there is a room in the department of mysteries, the one that never opens, which is dedicated to love. We’ve been inside it.’
‘Yeah,’ she said, ‘the day Voldemort dueled Ron. It was that day, when we thought he was trying to kill Ron, when he poured a part of his soul into him. I still can’t believe that Ron’s a horcrux.’
‘I hope Ron will survive.’ Said Harry fearfully.
‘I don’t know. And there’s the redemption also. Harry, if there’s no other way, then you have to let me kill myself as the sacrifice. And the you have to kill Ron.’
‘hermione, are you out of your bloody mind?’
‘Harry, try and understand.’
‘no I won’t.’ said Harry fiercely. ‘and that’s final.’
‘well, okay. There must be another way. but the redemption?’
‘I’ll do it.’ Harry looked back. Professor Slughorn was standing behind them.
‘sir’, said Harry. ‘you heard us.’
‘No you can’t do it sir, we’ll find a way’ said Hermione.
‘No, No, No. you need to understand. I am old now. I don’t have much strength to fight anymore. And this is the time when we need young people like you who can fight. I have lived my life. And now it’s time for you to do so. I have been quiet a coward in my life. But now let me die a death of pride. But before I redeem Ron, I need to tell you something. It’s a story. A story that took place long before any of us were born. A story of love.’
Chapter 30: The Last Redemption
Once they reached the shore, the look no time in apparating back to hogsmede. There, they ran towards the Hogwarts gate. Ron was now back to normal. He did not realize what had just happened. He remembered being possessed by Voldemort but nothing that happened after that. Back in Hogwarts their friends were waiting for them. Hogwarts was celebrating Christmas. They were doing it in a very simple way as there have been many deaths in the near past. Once they reached Ron joined their friends in the celebrations. But Harry and Hermione were there just to avoid too many questions from their friends.
Soon, Hermione took Harry to a corner and asked, ‘Harry, when Dumbledore spoke to you about fighting Voldemort, what did he say? What will help us the most?’
‘Love’ replied Harry. ‘although I don’t know how it will help us but that’s what he said will help us, love. Because according to him love was something that Voldemort could never understand. He even said there is a room in the department of mysteries, the one that never opens, which is dedicated to love. We’ve been inside it.’
‘Yeah,’ she said, ‘the day Voldemort dueled Ron. It was that day, when we thought he was trying to kill Ron, when he poured a part of his soul into him. I still can’t believe that Ron’s a horcrux.’
‘I hope Ron will survive.’ Said Harry fearfully.
‘I don’t know. And there’s the redemption also. Harry, if there’s no other way, then you have to let me kill myself as the sacrifice. And the you have to kill Ron.’
‘hermione, are you out of your bloody mind?’
‘Harry, try and understand.’
‘no I won’t.’ said Harry fiercely. ‘and that’s final.’
‘well, okay. There must be another way. but the redemption?’
‘I’ll do it.’ Harry looked back. Professor Slughorn was standing behind them.
‘sir’, said Harry. ‘you heard us.’
‘No you can’t do it sir, we’ll find a way’ said Hermione.
‘No, No, No. you need to understand. I am old now. I don’t have much strength to fight anymore. And this is the time when we need young people like you who can fight. I have lived my life. And now it’s time for you to do so. I have been quiet a coward in my life. But now let me die a death of pride. But before I redeem Ron, I need to tell you something. It’s a story. A story that took place long before any of us were born. A story of love.’
Soon, Hermione took Harry to a corner and asked, ‘Harry, when Dumbledore spoke to you about fighting Voldemort, what did he say? What will help us the most?’
‘Love’ replied Harry. ‘although I don’t know how it will help us but that’s what he said will help us, love. Because according to him love was something that Voldemort could never understand. He even said there is a room in the department of mysteries, the one that never opens, which is dedicated to love. We’ve been inside it.’
‘Yeah,’ she said, ‘the day Voldemort dueled Ron. It was that day, when we thought he was trying to kill Ron, when he poured a part of his soul into him. I still can’t believe that Ron’s a horcrux.’
‘I hope Ron will survive.’ Said Harry fearfully.
‘I don’t know. And there’s the redemption also. Harry, if there’s no other way, then you have to let me kill myself as the sacrifice. And the you have to kill Ron.’
‘hermione, are you out of your bloody mind?’
‘Harry, try and understand.’
‘no I won’t.’ said Harry fiercely. ‘and that’s final.’
‘well, okay. There must be another way. but the redemption?’
‘I’ll do it.’ Harry looked back. Professor Slughorn was standing behind them.
‘sir’, said Harry. ‘you heard us.’
‘No you can’t do it sir, we’ll find a way’ said Hermione.
‘No, No, No. you need to understand. I am old now. I don’t have much strength to fight anymore. And this is the time when we need young people like you who can fight. I have lived my life. And now it’s time for you to do so. I have been quiet a coward in my life. But now let me die a death of pride. But before I redeem Ron, I need to tell you something. It’s a story. A story that took place long before any of us were born. A story of love.’
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Chapter 29: The Sixth Secret: The Dementor’s Kiss
They had looked for almost four hours without any luck when Hermione remembered something. ‘Of course, how could I be so stupid?’ she said.
‘well what happened?’ asked Ron.
‘If I were Voldemort and I had to keep my soul somewhere, I would do it in Slytherine’s room. Not in these filthy places. Let’s go, we need to go down.’
And they ran downwards. There was no elevator so they had to go through the slippery, congested stairs which hadn’t been cleaned for years. There were trolley’s like gringotts, but they knew they’ll be caught if they use them. So they reached the bottommost floor. it was locked. There were no dementors there. haryy had also noticed that there was no death eater in Azkaban. The dementors were so efficient for Voldemort that he did not need any more security. They tried penetrating the door to Slyhterine’s room but failed. Even snuid could not help here.
‘what do we do now?’ asked Ron.
‘Break it, I guess’ said Harry.
‘No we can’t.’ said Hermione. ‘because it will tell the dementors that there are imposters in the jail and secondly, the door is magically protected so it can’t be broken.’
‘then what do we do?’ said Harry.
‘You do Harry. Use parseltongue.’ She said.
‘Oh yeah! Said Harry. But before he could say anything, Ron hissed something. and the door opened. Harry was shocked. When did Ron learn parseltongue? He thought, but Hermione was scandalized. It was as though she was counting the last minutes of her life.
Ron looked back and said, ‘what? Harry always makes this noise when he asks something to open up in parseltongue. I just imitated him.’
Harry relaxed, even took a sigh of relief. For a moment Harry had thought that Ron was Voldemort in disguise. They went inside the room. It was totally different from the other parts of Azkaban. It was not chilly, but Harry could sense pure evil in there. He was getting evil vibes from there. It was a big room which was brightly lit by fire torches. The room had a lot of cupboards which had things that looked like dark magic. In the middle of the room was a huge bed. But there was nothing special in the room. Nothing that could be a horcrux. And then Harry looked at the corner of the room. There was a fire place which had fire burning. Inside the fire was something shiny. He pointed it to Ron and Hermione. They decided to go there. Harry had just taken one step, when he was thrown back.
‘What do we do now?’ Hermione asked.
Harry knew what was now to be done. Sacrifice. He rubbed his hand with the sharp edge of the wall. It started to bleed. He dropped the blood on the floor and took another step. I worked. Ron Hermione also had to cut their hands and drop some blood on it. Then they walked inside. They walked near the fireplace, and saw what was inside it, it was a bone, a very old bone. Harry said, ‘Accio Bone’ but instead of the bone coming out, the whole room was engulfed in the fire for a second. The fire, Harry felt, was not hot, but ice cold indeed. Hermione had also felt the same thing. She tried to touch it with the tip of her finger.
‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH’ she screamed. The portion of her finger that had touched the fire had been cut completely.
‘Hermione’, said Harry ‘are you okay?’
‘no I’m not.’ She said, ‘but this can wait. We need to find out a way to take the bone out. Try parseltongue, Harry’
Harry tried, but nothing happened. What is it, he thought that can stop this kind of a fire? He tried to think hard and then he remembered… he had seen the speel before but never tried it. Grindelwald had used it on Dumbledore. Harry thought of giving it a try. He pointed his want at himself and shouted, ‘aqualter’ nothing happened. He tried again, this time, he felt his other hand had become liquid. He looked at his hand, it was water. He put his water hand in the fire. He felt a deep burning sensation inside him. The evil fire was penetrating him, it was unbearable. He took his hand out. It was not working. He then tried another spell, the one Dumbledore had used. He somehow felt he knew how to use this spell, he thought of his mother and father and of all the people who had died for him. He then pointed his wand at himself and shouted, ‘Blazio Patronum’ he felt the transformation, even though he could not figure out what he was but he knew the spell had worked. He was fire. He then mixed himself with the fire where the bone was kept. He could now move freely inside the fire. He held the bone and took it out.
He came out of the fire. He was still transformed into fire when Hermione was saying, ‘wow Harry, you did it.’
Harry looked at Ron and saw pure loathing on his face. And then Ron spoke, in a voice that Harry hated the most, in voldemort’s voice , ‘very good potter, but too bad your plan failed. I am coming there potter, and till then, my servants will take care of you.’
Harry was scandalized on what he heard. Just then the door opened and dementors entered. The caught Ron and Hermione but couldn’t come near Harry as he was still all fire. Then, Ron came back to his senses and started shouting for help. Somehow the dementors were not harming Ron, but they were moving closer to Hermione, and Harry knew that they were about to give her the dementor’s kiss.
Just when one of the dementor was about to do it and the distance between Hermione’s lips and it’s mouth was very less, Harry got the idea, he ran and put the bone between the mouth and her lips. The dementors mouth touched the bone and a loud cry erupted from the bone. Harry knew that dementors suck the soul and the bone had voldemort’s soul which was now destroyed by the kiss.
The dementors seemed to have realized what they had done and so they were backing off. Hermione got her wand and produced a patronus. The dementors left the room. Hermione said, ‘we need to get out fast. Harry, hold Ron. We can’t leave him here.’
Harry realized that he was now in his normal form. He and Hermione helped Ron in walking because he was extremely tired after being possessed by Voldemort. The snuid was still working, as they could move through the doors. Soon they were in the sea. Hermione found the boat through magic and soon they left, before Voldemort could come. Inside the boat, when Hermione saw Ron sleeping, she told Harry, ‘Harry, he’s it, Ron’s it… Ron is a horcrux.’
‘well what happened?’ asked Ron.
‘If I were Voldemort and I had to keep my soul somewhere, I would do it in Slytherine’s room. Not in these filthy places. Let’s go, we need to go down.’
And they ran downwards. There was no elevator so they had to go through the slippery, congested stairs which hadn’t been cleaned for years. There were trolley’s like gringotts, but they knew they’ll be caught if they use them. So they reached the bottommost floor. it was locked. There were no dementors there. haryy had also noticed that there was no death eater in Azkaban. The dementors were so efficient for Voldemort that he did not need any more security. They tried penetrating the door to Slyhterine’s room but failed. Even snuid could not help here.
‘what do we do now?’ asked Ron.
‘Break it, I guess’ said Harry.
‘No we can’t.’ said Hermione. ‘because it will tell the dementors that there are imposters in the jail and secondly, the door is magically protected so it can’t be broken.’
‘then what do we do?’ said Harry.
‘You do Harry. Use parseltongue.’ She said.
‘Oh yeah! Said Harry. But before he could say anything, Ron hissed something. and the door opened. Harry was shocked. When did Ron learn parseltongue? He thought, but Hermione was scandalized. It was as though she was counting the last minutes of her life.
Ron looked back and said, ‘what? Harry always makes this noise when he asks something to open up in parseltongue. I just imitated him.’
Harry relaxed, even took a sigh of relief. For a moment Harry had thought that Ron was Voldemort in disguise. They went inside the room. It was totally different from the other parts of Azkaban. It was not chilly, but Harry could sense pure evil in there. He was getting evil vibes from there. It was a big room which was brightly lit by fire torches. The room had a lot of cupboards which had things that looked like dark magic. In the middle of the room was a huge bed. But there was nothing special in the room. Nothing that could be a horcrux. And then Harry looked at the corner of the room. There was a fire place which had fire burning. Inside the fire was something shiny. He pointed it to Ron and Hermione. They decided to go there. Harry had just taken one step, when he was thrown back.
‘What do we do now?’ Hermione asked.
Harry knew what was now to be done. Sacrifice. He rubbed his hand with the sharp edge of the wall. It started to bleed. He dropped the blood on the floor and took another step. I worked. Ron Hermione also had to cut their hands and drop some blood on it. Then they walked inside. They walked near the fireplace, and saw what was inside it, it was a bone, a very old bone. Harry said, ‘Accio Bone’ but instead of the bone coming out, the whole room was engulfed in the fire for a second. The fire, Harry felt, was not hot, but ice cold indeed. Hermione had also felt the same thing. She tried to touch it with the tip of her finger.
‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH’ she screamed. The portion of her finger that had touched the fire had been cut completely.
‘Hermione’, said Harry ‘are you okay?’
‘no I’m not.’ She said, ‘but this can wait. We need to find out a way to take the bone out. Try parseltongue, Harry’
Harry tried, but nothing happened. What is it, he thought that can stop this kind of a fire? He tried to think hard and then he remembered… he had seen the speel before but never tried it. Grindelwald had used it on Dumbledore. Harry thought of giving it a try. He pointed his want at himself and shouted, ‘aqualter’ nothing happened. He tried again, this time, he felt his other hand had become liquid. He looked at his hand, it was water. He put his water hand in the fire. He felt a deep burning sensation inside him. The evil fire was penetrating him, it was unbearable. He took his hand out. It was not working. He then tried another spell, the one Dumbledore had used. He somehow felt he knew how to use this spell, he thought of his mother and father and of all the people who had died for him. He then pointed his wand at himself and shouted, ‘Blazio Patronum’ he felt the transformation, even though he could not figure out what he was but he knew the spell had worked. He was fire. He then mixed himself with the fire where the bone was kept. He could now move freely inside the fire. He held the bone and took it out.
He came out of the fire. He was still transformed into fire when Hermione was saying, ‘wow Harry, you did it.’
Harry looked at Ron and saw pure loathing on his face. And then Ron spoke, in a voice that Harry hated the most, in voldemort’s voice , ‘very good potter, but too bad your plan failed. I am coming there potter, and till then, my servants will take care of you.’
Harry was scandalized on what he heard. Just then the door opened and dementors entered. The caught Ron and Hermione but couldn’t come near Harry as he was still all fire. Then, Ron came back to his senses and started shouting for help. Somehow the dementors were not harming Ron, but they were moving closer to Hermione, and Harry knew that they were about to give her the dementor’s kiss.
Just when one of the dementor was about to do it and the distance between Hermione’s lips and it’s mouth was very less, Harry got the idea, he ran and put the bone between the mouth and her lips. The dementors mouth touched the bone and a loud cry erupted from the bone. Harry knew that dementors suck the soul and the bone had voldemort’s soul which was now destroyed by the kiss.
The dementors seemed to have realized what they had done and so they were backing off. Hermione got her wand and produced a patronus. The dementors left the room. Hermione said, ‘we need to get out fast. Harry, hold Ron. We can’t leave him here.’
Harry realized that he was now in his normal form. He and Hermione helped Ron in walking because he was extremely tired after being possessed by Voldemort. The snuid was still working, as they could move through the doors. Soon they were in the sea. Hermione found the boat through magic and soon they left, before Voldemort could come. Inside the boat, when Hermione saw Ron sleeping, she told Harry, ‘Harry, he’s it, Ron’s it… Ron is a horcrux.’
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