Chapter 7 – Thou Shalt Commit No Murder

A/N I'm sorry, I've only just realised that while I type breaks into Word, doesn't appear to recognise them.

Also, it seems I have been away from for so long the general etiquette of leaving comments or criticisms has entirely gone out of the window. I sort of miss it, but at least I know exactly how many of you are reading now with 's spiffy stats page.

Also, also, it looks so much more in Word than it does on a webpage. As usual, please enjoy.

"We are confident that we have removed any potentially murderous tendencies."

That has to be my favourite phrase from the interview that I had with Minister Fudge on Monday. Mr Fudge was commenting on the recent peace talks with You Know Who, and he is confident that You Know Who will not try and kill anyone else in the near future.

Personally I agree with Mr Potter that this whole idea is a total waste of time, the part where I disagree with Mr Potter, is where he said that You know Who should just be locked up in Azkaban, or some other high security prison. I believe that Mr Potter will use some powerful magic on You Know Who, and we will be totally rid of him.

However Mr Potter and You Know Who claim to have agreed that neither will kill the other. That is about the only thing that they will agree on however. I chatted with Sybill Trelawney the other day and discovered a prophecy that she made 18 years ago.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those that have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"

It is not that hard to figure out for yourself.

R. Skeeter, writing for The Daily Prophet (Wednesday 1st July)

The morning after Dumbledore's funeral as Harry got dressed he realised that Fawkes had been missing from his perch in the Headmaster's office, although he just put it down to Snape not wanting the bird to annoy him and assumed that Fawkes was in the Professor's private rooms that had not been disturbed since his death. Harry shrugged it off and checked around to make sure that Draco would not be able to catch him in the act of concealing Gryffindor's sword on his person. After it was hidden back in his snitch socks he breathed a sigh of relief, he knew what he had to accomplish today and yet he felt no nerves. He had known since he joined the wizarding world that this was his destiny and while he had wavered a bit on several occasions he was finally ready. He and Dumbledore had already disposed of, and or destroyed the horcruxes that they could. The only one left was Harry himself and Dumbledore hadn't been sure what would happen or how they could remove that part of Voldemort's soul from within him. The physical objects had been easy enough to burn with basilisk venom after they had been located and Voldemort's puzzles solved to reach them. Harry had been amazed that he had managed to accompany the Professor at nights and weekends as well as keeping up his schoolwork – Hermione too had been impressed at his enthusiasm for studying these past two years, although she secretly thought that Harry thrived on solving the puzzles and adventuring. Then the final one had been the snake Nagini, which Neville had killed in the greenhouse one evening. They can only assume that the snake was sent as a spy, and was hiding in the greenhouse until it was dark, but Neville found him and feed him to the giant rat eating plant he had been studying, the plant had been quite happy as Nagini was digested for the next fortnight.

Harry and Voldemort had both attended Ministry sponsored peacetalks, which were as useful as a chocolate teapot in Divination. Yet the Ministry still insisted on terrible press releases claiming that they had both promised not to kill the other. His only journalistic ally had turned out to be Rita Skeeter who had talked to Trelawney about the prophecy and knew that it had to be Harry, and had started a campaign backing him. It had turned into a secret little club that was gaining momentum, much as the DA and the Order had, although it was more casual and didn't involve any active fighting.

Harry had a feeling that the Ministry was going to be changing very soon, once he killed Voldemort they would not be able to stick to their story, the Death Eaters would have to be sent to Azkaban to join those already there and people would have to learn to adapt to life in peacetime. Which so many people had wanted for such a long time, and no doubt would speak their minds more freely and turn against Fudge for being the useless cretin he is, Harry imagined that had he still be alive the Professor would have been asked to be Minister again. He would also have turned it down again.

Draco sat quietly in the kitchen as he read the Daily Prophet, more rubbish about the peacetalks had been printed and while Harry never spoke of what happened at the meetings he knew that the paper was entirely wrong. He drank his third cup of coffee to get him started and began to wonder what was taking Harry so long to join him. "Harry?" He called, "Are you coming? Breakfast tends to stop being breakfast after about half ten."

"Yes, I'm here. It's not like we particularly have anything to get up for now is it. No school – ever again. No jobs, no nothing." Harry said cheerfully.

"I'm an early riser."

"That doesn't mean you need to poke me awake as well though." Harry pouted as he peered at two croissants to decide which he fancied.

"No fun being awake on my own. I need constant stimulation." Harry snorted at this, "I'm not like Pans, I just can't read muggle detective novels to amuse myself, I can barely read magical fiction. I need real interactions." Draco squeezed his hand and stared intently at Harry.

"Well I'm afraid I have to leave you alone today, more talks with Voldemort. He mentioned Lucius last time, he was actually happy we sent him back to Azkaban. Apparently he spent most of the last 20 years being a useless servant. Voldemort said that even Pettigrew was more reliable. Funny how people act in different situations." Harry chomped on his croissant; bits of pastry fell in a snow like pattern on his jumper.

"Hmm." Draco said non-committally, Harry knew that Draco had never really connected with his father, but had only gone along with him through blinkered pride and safety. Only being able to escape and be his true self after he was at school and saw what things were happening in the world with his own eyes and formed his own opinions, it probably also didn't help that he fancied Harry most of the way through school and so was slightly biased towards the side of the light.

Harry flooed to the stately home that they were using for the peacetalks as usual, although this time when he was forced to shake Voldemorts hand before they started he slipped him a note in the way that men slip waiters money to be seated quicker.

Let's end this today.

Leave as normal but meet me in the graveyard.

They got down to the usual business of the back and forth and non-agreement with Fudge sat almost cheerfully at the head of the table. Harry had to keep the look of disgust off his face whenever he looked at Fudge and was only too pleased when time was called on another non-starter of a session.

Voldemort apparated into the graveyard minutes after Harry, clearly there hadn't been any Death Eater's that had put up a fight to their lord going on a lone trip.

The air bristled with Harry's magic as it escaped his body in lightning-esque crackles. He had never felt like this before and he saw that Voldemort was stood back shocked, Voldemort had known Harry was powerful, but had never imagined this.

Harry held the sword calmly in his wand hand as though he were a knight in perfect tune with his instrument, when he held the sword he instinctively knew how to wield it. He also knew that this battle would not be one of magic, it would be as if they were muggles, the way they had been brought up.

"I see you chose the site of the Diggory boy's demise for this. I assume you have a reason?"

"Yes, I thought it would be fitting for your final resting place to be in the family plot as it were." Harry smirked, he knew that Voldemort would hate it. "After all, you're family, and you'll all have been murdered."

Voldemort repressed any feelings about the choice, his family and that look on Harry's face. "I've been waiting for this for 18 years, since I heard the snippet of that prophecy. I suppose that it was out of misguided belief that I was unstoppable that I went to your parents that night. Had I not taken precautions that could have been my end that night. I spent so long waiting in that half-life I thought I would never be as strong as I had been."

"We're similar you and I Harry, and I should have seen it. I became stronger when I killed my parents, and you are who you are because I killed yours. We grew up alone, different and bullied until magic came into our lives, and we suddenly understood who we really were when we went to Hogwarts. And what our life's purpose was. I felt drawn to mine, and you have always been groomed for it. My role is over now. It is your turn to fulfil yours. I willingly submit to you Harry. I can sense from your wild magic that you are stronger than anyone knows. Although I daresay Dumbledore had an idea, if he didn't train you. Even if I wanted to I could not beat you now. There is no point. Do however give Skeeter a good story, the public will want gore and excitement and fear. Not a gentle conversation and a stabbing."

"I won't need to make anything up for Skeeter, she does it perfectly well herself." Harry retorted as he lifted the sword and stepped towards Voldemort. He also withdrew a gold lion figurine from his left pocket which contained a healthy dose of basilisk venom.

Voldemort withdrew an envelope from his robes that he leant against the Riddle gravestone, "This is for once I'm gone." Then he nodded slowly as Harry came to within a blades length.

Harry took a breath and as he exhaled he thrust the sword forward into Voldemort's chest, straight through his heart. Voldemort crumbled to the ground, his eyes flickered before they clouded over, as the last breath left his body Harry recognised the last little piece of soul leaving much as it does when a Dementor kisses. Harry captured it in the lion using a non-verbal spell that Dumbledore had taught him. The lion became a new horcrux temporarily as the soul entered it; however the levels of venom soon destroyed it, leaving only the piece within Harry that was now rendered useless. Harry used his wand to withdraw this piece from his scar and deposit it into the lion also.

Harry picked up the sword and the letter and put both inside his outer robes. He used his wand to send a patronus to the Order, calling them to this spot, then finally he apparated home.

"Draco, I'm home." Harry said as he came into the lounge and placed the lion at the centre of the mantelpiece. He also put the sword on the table just as the doorbell rang. "Do not answer that Draco." Harry said forcefully.

"Why?" Draco asked as he diverted into the lounge.

"It's someone from the Order no doubt. I blocked the floo, and no one can apparate inside except us."

"Yes, but why do they want to talk to you, and is that a sword?"

"Oh. I killed Voldemort."