His Last Horcrux (4)

Harry figured that he had done something right; Riddle was now sending him weekly letters. They usually arrived on Saturday morning and Harry spent most of his weekend composing a reply. Draco probably would have said something if he was still hanging out with Harry, but they weren't often seen together anymore. Ever since Draco had taken Pansy on a date (if a small picnic by the black lake constituted a date) they had been pretty inseparable. At times it was quite sickly to watch; Pansy had apparently fancied Draco since first year, so they had started by sucking each others faces off. If it wasn't for Tom's letters Harry might have jumped off the Astronomy Tower in the first few weeks. Since then he had become better friends with Blaise Zabini, but they didn't gel the same way they he and Draco had. Maybe he had better join Gryffindor because spending time with Ron was less awkward.

There was something to excite Harry along with the whole school. The Triwizard Tournament was going to take place – Dumbledore had tried to stop it going ahead, but the Ministry would hear none of this business about Voldemort being back. As much as Harry and the majority of the school had wanted to enter, only those who were 17 were allowed to, which Harry thought was rubbish.

"Aren't you entering?" Harry asked Fred and George.

"We can't," Fred said.

"Won't be 17 until April," George finished.

"Oh, I was going to root for you as well."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, mate," George said.

Fred pulled out a sickle. "This is where our new interest lies. Bets, merchandise…money making!"

"Why don't you go for it?" George asked.

"Me? There's no way I'll get past that age line – Dumbledore drew it himself," Harry said.

"We heard you have connections," Fred said. "Apparently Snape would whip you up a more powerful potion than we could, or You-Know-Who could even hoodwink the Goblet for you."

"What?" Harry didn't know how they knew things like that.

"Ron's not very good at hiding things, but we figure that as long as you keep us in your good books, we stand more of a chance."

"I don't want to kill anyone," Harry said.

"We weren't saying you do," George laughed, trying to lighten the tone. "But I wouldn't want to get in You-Know-Who's way if you know what I mean."

Harry nodded. He hadn't really thought about what Voldemort would do once he took over the school. Surely he wouldn't kill off students for no reason? Unless he already had one.

"Boys, Mr. Crouch made it quite clear that only those who were 17 may enter their name into the Goblet of Fire," Dumbledore said to Harry and Neville who stood in his office. He had offered them both tea, but only Neville had accepted.

"I didn't put it in," Neville pleaded. Dumbledore soon let the poor boy leave as he was working himself into quite a state.

"I didn't put my name in either," Harry said. "I would drink your tea, but after last time I'd rather not."

"I do apologise for doing that to you, Harry." Dumbledore had a look of regret on his face. "It was Severus's idea and it was a good one."

"It made me lose trust in you both. I make my own tea now." Harry didn't mention that he had actually quite enjoyed the experience.

"I'll take your word this time," Dumbledore said. "We are only trying to protect you."

"I know. I'd rather not go up against more experienced contenders." Harry turned to leave and spotted a ring on one of the tables that filled Dumbledore's office. Gold with a black stone… A familiar description. "Sir, can I ask where you got this ring?"

"It was just something that I found over the summer."

Sure it was, Harry thought. The black stone was cracked down the middle, not as it had been described to him. He picked it up and ran a finger across the stone. It had to be the one Voldemort had been talking about.

"I'd appreciate it if you returned that," Dumbledore said as Harry went to pocket the ring.

"Oh, yeah." Harry placed it back where he had found it. Still he had to tell Riddle and that was the first thing he did when he left the headmaster's office.

Riddle's reply came the next morning, sending another owl instead of Hedwig who would have been too tired.

Harry,

The ring you described is the horcrux I feared it was. It sounds as if Dumbledore has destroyed it. You need to make sure that you and Draco are keeping an eye on the room because he will begin to look for more. I am not saying that he knows how many there are, but I once told someone how many I would hypothetically like to make. I shall not discuss that here; your mail could be being tracked for all I know. Yet I fear that Severus has already let that piece of information slip. But I will say this; Draco and Severus need to think about completing their mission as soon as possible and you need to start watching your back. Dumbledore knows that you yourself are a horcrux and he will seek to destroy you too at some point. If he is still the caring old man I once knew, he will leave you alone for as long as he can manage, but the time will come eventually. I may come and retrieve you if things look bad.

All my love,

Lord Voldemort.

Harry chuckled at the signature. Here he was, saying that Harry's mail might be being tracked and he goes and signs his letter with the name everyone knew him best by and the one Harry used the least. Never had he feared being inside Hogwarts' walls, but now he did. Dumbledore wouldn't kill a student, would he? But how far would he go to destroy Voldemort?

"Well, have you got a plan?" Harry asked Draco as they sat on a window ledge on the 7th floor. Harry had found the room of requirement after some searching (Voldemort had not been very specific about where on the 7th floor it was located) and he had finally managed to prise Draco from Pansy's clutches.

"A plan for what?" Draco asked. "Do we have to sit here?"

"Yes, we do. It's nice and quiet here and it's what we're supposed to be doing."

"Supposed to?" Draco scoffed.

"Yes. Now, do you have a plan for killing Dumbledore?"

"I haven't really thought about it – I mean it's not like we have to do it right now. He said we had until the end of the year."

Harry knew that was going to be Draco's answer. "Look, he wants it done sooner and he's told me to tell you that."

"Fine, I'll have a think about it."

Harry pulled his wand out and dug it into Draco's neck. "You don't seem to understand, Draco. The Dark Lord needs this done as soon as possible and he wants you to do it. I'd suggest you hop to it, because you're in the middle of something much bigger than you think."

Harry's sudden outburst seemed to alert Draco to the situation. "You're becoming more like him. Can you just tell me what's really going on?"

"No, this is on a need to know basis. You need to know that Dumbledore needs to get going, that's all."

Draco got up. "I'm going to see Snape."

Harry continued to watch the room for quite a while more before going into it to explore the room where things were hidden. He had a feeling that this had been the shape that it had taken when Riddle had hidden the diadem.

Cedric Diggory was the talk of the school the next day, having been selected as Hogwarts champion the night before. Personally, Harry hoped it would have been a Slytherin, or at least someone that wasn't a Hufflepuff. Draco didn't care about the Triwaizard Tournament this morning; he had received a letter, delivered by the owl that usually brought Harry's mail from Voldemort. His face had turned pale as he read the letter and once he had finished reading he had pretty much run from the Great Hall.

"What was that letter about?" Harry whispered while they were in Defence Against the Dark Arts that afternoon.

"It was from him," Draco said.

"I figured. But what was it about?"

Draco gulped. "He told me what you told me, but he said that if I don't do it…he'll…" Draco mumbled something inaudible.

"Speak up a bit."

Draco looked him in the eye. "Harry, he'll kill me."

Hopefully this was just Voldemort's way of threatening people. He wouldn't really kill the son of one of his followers would he? And surely not Draco?

"Harry, you've got to help me. I can't do this on my own."

"What about Snape, isn't he helping you?"

"Yeah, but… Maybe you could ask him for me."

"We should meet up later, all three of us." Harry also had another idea up his sleeve.

When the lesson ended he approached the so called Professor Moody. "Sir, I think I could use your help."

"And what would that be with?"

"A mission," Harry said.

"Come to my office." Once they were behind closed doors, Moody-Crouch asked, "What do you need help with?"

"Has he told you about Draco's job?"

"Aye, but you're not supposed to be involved in that."

"I know, but Draco's my friend. I want to help him. Will you come and meet us later in Snape's office?" Harry asked.

"Alright. But is there anything I can do for you? Maybe some extra tuition – defensive spells, curses, hexes." The idea of defensive spells seemed to have been thrown in to make his other suggestions seem less severe.

"I guess that would be an idea," Harry said.

"Excellent, we'll start with the three unforgivable curses, after dinner tomorrow evening," Moody said and then Harry had to get off to Potions.

Over the next month, Barty Crouch Jr taught Harry many spells, but made sure he could first master his favourites which were the Imperius and Cruciatus curses. While Harry was making progress, Draco wasn't. He had hoped to poison Dumbledore with some spiked meade after the first task, but Severus had put a stop to the plan at the last moment; what if someone drunk it before Dumbledore? The plan just wasn't feasible and could kill more than necessary.

Draco's chance came a few days into December.

"Dumbledore's gone," Severus told them. He had come down to the common room; it signalled that the time had come. They followed him out, up many flights of stairs. "He has gone to find a horcrux and he's taken Neville with him."

"What's a…horcrux, did you say?" Draco asked. "And why did he take Longbottom?"

Snape ignored both questions. "We will lure them back to the Astronomy Tower and that is where you will have your chance, Draco. No one must hurt Longbottom; orders from the Dark Lord. If we succeed back up will be with us shortly – there are others staying in Hogsmeade and the surrounding area tonight."

They reached the top of the Astronomy Tower and they all took a moment to catch their breath.

"Morsmordre!" Snape pointed his wand into the sky and the boys watched as a green skull lit up the night sky, a snake protruding from its mouth. They did not have to wait long for their prey to turn up, on brooms too. Draco and Harry stepped out from the shadows as they dismounted.

"Expelliarmus!" They both yelled, one disarming Dumbledore and the other Neville.

"Petrificus totalus!" Harry froze Neville where he was and then he stepped back, allowing Draco to do what he had to.

"Draco, you are not a killer," Dumbledore said.

An exchange between the young Slytherin and headmaster followed. Draco always kept his wand raised, but he could never bring himself to say the words.

"Come on, Draco," Harry urged. They needed this done, Harry needed Draco to survive.

There was something going on downstairs, voices carrying up to them.

"It appears that members of the Order have arrived," Dumbledore said as he slid further down the wall that was supporting him. "Severus, please."

Snape stepped out for the first time and pointed his wand straight at the old wizard's chest. "Avada kedavra!"

Harry watched, for the second time in his life, as the light left someone's eyes. It did not bother him, unlike Draco who seemed distressed at the sight. Snape rolled up his sleeve and pressed the dark mark burned into his left forearm. From where they stood they could see the gates to the grounds and it burst open momentarily, people robed in black filing in. They were running towards the school and the commotion was on the stairs now, drawing nearer.

"Take the brooms," Snape said. "Find somewhere to hide."

"But what about you?" Harry asked.

"I'll be fine – they still think I'm on their side."

The boys mounted the brooms and flew out so that they were hovering above the grounds.

"Where's a good place to wait?" Draco asked.

Harry didn't hear a word that Draco said; he was already diving to the ground. His saviour had just arrived; Riddle had just walked through the gates, wearing robes instead of a suit for the first time.

"Tom!" Harry yelled in mid-air. "We did it!" He jumped off of the broom a little too quickly and landed in a pile on the ground in front of Riddle.

"You're an excited puppy today."

Harry smiled up at him. "Today's the day, isn't it?"

"Yes, tonight is what I have been planning for since I returned." He pulled Harry to his feet. Draco touched down at that moment.

"Are you going to kill them?" Harry asked.

"Some will be sacrificed for the greater good tonight, but I do not wish to spill more magical blood than necessary." He began to walk towards the school and the boys followed him.

"What happens now?" Harry asked.

"I'm about to take control, they need a new headmaster and I shall give them one. Let's say they'll be under new management. Then we move into the Ministry."

When they reached the school they found carnage inside. Students grouped together fighting Death Eaters, members of the Order taking on 2 at a time. Riddle cast a barrier around them and they walked through unharmed until they reached their destination: the Great Hall. There, Riddle put his wand to his throat and began to talk in a voice that filled the whole of Hogwarts.

"Dumbledore is dead, the school is under my control, the Ministry has fallen," Riddle said, not one hundred per cent true, but they didn't know any better at this moment. "I will give my Death Eaters orders to kill if you do not surrender and gather in the Great Hall within the next few minutes."

People began to pour into the hall, lots of students that were in their pyjamas, having just been woken up, some that had been actively fighting – clothes torn and some bleeding. Harry was sad to see that one of the twins seemed to have lost an ear. Compared to the rest, the Slytherins seemed to be in perfect order. The Death Eaters came in, wands pointing at the teachers they had just been fighting. The last to enter the hall was Sirius, followed closely by Snape. Harry didn't look at Sirius and just watched as Snape strode through the crowd to join him and Draco.

Voldemort surveyed the hall before speaking. "Where is Neville Longbottom?"

Everyone began to look round, whispers erupted. Neville didn't step forward and no one seemed to know where he was. Voldemort looked at Harry and Draco.

"Find him if he can be found in the castle still," he said. The boys left the hall and climbed the first set of stairs.

"Should we split up?" Draco asked.

"I guess – I'll start at the top." Harry started to take the stairs 2 at a time. If he was still here he would be in Gryffindor Tower surely. Wait… Was he alone? He didn't recall seeing Ron and Hermione in the hall.

Their search was fruitless. Neville seemed to have disappeared from Hogwarts somehow. Maybe there were ways out of Hogwarts that Harry didn't know about and he had got out that way. All he knew was that he had gone; the area around his bed was almost empty, as if he had grabbed everything and left for an early holiday. Hadn't anyone seen him? He had been on the Astronomy Tower not too long ago and had vanished so quickly that it seemed unlikely. He must have had more help than Harry knew.

They returned to the hall and told Voldemort what they had found. The Dark Lord did not look as disappointed as they had expected, in fact he looked positively amused.

"It would appear that Neville is more of an adversary than I'd anticipated," Riddle mused. "Makes the game a lot more interesting."

Snape was named headmaster, Defence Against the Dark Arts became just the Dark Arts and the Cruciatus curse was practised on those that misbehaved. They didn't have to suffer for long because the Christmas holidays came and nearly every student went home save for a handful, even some of the teachers disappeared home. The Triwizard Tournament had been called off and the foreign students had been sent back, free from Voldemort's grasp. Of course, Harry was about to have the best Christmas holiday because he was finally living with Riddle, although not in a close way. While Riddle was making final plans to take over the Ministry, he resided in the Chamber of Secrets. Harry found it quite weird at first, but it was actually the best place to hide. One of the pros for Harry was that he was the only other person who could get in being the only one who could speak parseltongue. He had also been the only one who had known the entrance's location, but the students had been snooping around and Moaning Myrtle was more than happy to tell someone if they happened to chance across her bathroom.

When Harry walked into the Chamber on New Year's Eve he found Riddle whispering to the basilisk.

"Soon, when they return in a week. Sleep for now."

"Killing students?" Harry asked as the basilisk slid back into its lair.

Riddle smiled. "I almost forgot about our little gift that we share. It's beautiful."

"Are you planning something?"

"Just a little purge of the school."

Harry looked down at the desk in the centre of the chamber, it was the only bit of furniture Harry could see, and saw that there was a card on it. Harry picked it up and saw that it said 'happy birthday' signed by many of the Death Eaters.

"It's your birthday?" Harry asked, reverting back to English.

"Yes, not that I care for birthdays much anymore."

"How old are you today?"

"Eighteen," Riddle said.

"No you're not – that body looks eighteen, but you're…" Harry took a moment to count. 16 years old, then 50 years between the Chamber openings and a final 2 years more… "You're 68 then!"

Riddle sighed. "You make me feel so old, so let's just say I'm 18."

"I'm sorry I didn't get you anything." Not that Harry could think what he could possibly get for someone like Voldemort.

"You don't have to get me anything," Riddle said. "You're here and that's a nice treat."

Riddle clearly did not know that if he could, Harry would be here everyday, all day. Harry stood on his toes and pushed down on Tom's shoulders so that he could give him a 'birthday' kiss. Riddle leaned forward so that Harry did not have to strain so much.

"Still short," Riddle said when they broke.

"No, you're just tall," Harry countered. Really it was a mixture of both.

Riddle conjured up a thick fur rug and laid down on it.

"Going to join me?" he asked Harry.

Harry did so and was pulled into Riddle's embrace.

"Harry the time is drawing near for us to rule the world together. Once Longbottom is out the way we will be free to leave here and do what we wish."

"Where is he?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. I have people out there looking for him. I guess we'll have to wait until he figures of the locations of the horcruxes. We will corner him here or at Gringotts, and then I shall kill him."

"Does he have to die?" Harry wasn't entirely comfortable with killing the poor boy for no reason. Unless Voldemort had one.

"Yes. I never told you about the Prophecy that was made not long after you were born. It was you or Neville; one would have the power to kill me. I have chosen Neville to be the one that I go up against, so we will fight to the death and I shall be victorious." Harry was surprised that Voldemort would trust in the word of a prophecy, but maybe wizard prophecies were more accurate than the muggle sort that Harry was thinking of. "Now, back to my birthday and your lack of present." Harry felt a hand slip under his waistband and figured that there was a present he'd be giving Riddle before he was allowed to leave the chamber.

The rest of that week was spent mainly in the Chamber with Riddle. They played Wizard's chess, Harry had his wine laced with aphrodisiac (on more then one occasion) and they spent the nights together with Harry learning that Tom conjured a bed up whenever he wished to sleep. It was Harry who usually fell asleep first, but that often meant that he woke up before Tom. It wasn't often than anyone witnessed Voldemort sleeping, unaware of the world around him. Harry liked to watch the man with a face that was neutral and unthinking (Harry wondered if Riddle ever stopped thinking when he was awake) and occasionally he lay with his head against Tom's chest, listening to him breathing and his heart beating.

"You're so cute," Tom said. Harry jumped – he thought that Tom was asleep – and moved off his chest. "What's this fascination you have with my chest while I'm asleep?"

Harry blushed. "I…erm…"

"Listening to my heart to make sure I have one?" he laughed.

Harry hid his face in his pillow. How did he always seem to know these things?

"I'm going to miss watching you all day," Tom said.

"What?" Harry was alarmed at the statement. "Where are you going?"

Riddle smiled. "I'm not going anywhere – you are! School resumes tomorrow and I expect you to be upstairs learning while I finally get my man into power at the Ministry." Harry let out a sigh of relief; at least he wasn't going away. "So, up for one more round?"

Harry giggled. "Of course, my love."

Riddle rolled on top of Harry and pinned him down. "I'm not going to go easy this time," Riddle growled.

The next few months were some of the happiest Harry would ever have. He spent as much time as he could in the company of Riddle who was not as swamped in what Harry called 'work.' Taking the Ministry down from the inside had gone smoothly which made way for an uninterrupted purge of Hogwarts. Voldemort had sent the basilisk on a rampage to kill every mudblood in the school. Once people began to realise the danger they were in they began to flee. However, they were up against Tom Riddle, once a student of the school who had discovered more of its secrets than most. Every known passage out of the school was blocked and he had placed a Death Eater to constantly watch over the Room of Requirement. Those who were muggle born were not often seen alone, they now grouped with others who had at least one magical parent and if they couldn't find one in their common room they wouldn't set foot outside the portrait hole. A select few were left unharmed; those in Slytherin walked around the school without fear – perhaps because the basilisk did not wish to harm those chosen to be in its master's house. Draco had got back with Pansy (she had dumped him when he was being difficult due to his mission) and so he did not bat an eyelid when Harry ended up spending every night down in the Chamber.

They lived in bliss until one day when Harry's happy world was turned upside down. He had gone down to the Chamber for their now nightly meeting and found Riddle sitting in his chair, staring up at the statue of Salazar Slytherin. Harry walked over and sat on the arm of the chair.

"What are you thinking about, love?" Harry asked. It wasn't often that he came in to find Riddle contemplating things in such a way – he hadn't done so for many months.

Riddle smiled, but it was strained. "The time has come, Harry." Excitement began to build. "Longbottom and his two friends infiltrated Gringotts this afternoon."

"That's what we've been waiting for, right?"

"Yes, but he got away on a dragon that was guarding the vaults."

Harry frowned. "So, what happens now?"

"We wait once more."

"But surely…I mean… He knows where to go next, right?"

"We're not with them; we have no idea what they're thinking. However, I do think that Hogwarts will be their next stop."

"Then we'll just have to be patient," Harry said, trying to be positive about the situation.

Riddle sighed. "It's not just that they got away. They took something from the vault."

"The horcrux?" Harry asked.

"Yes. After all the protection I placed around it they still managed to steal it. What if my other protection isn't good enough?"

This was the first time that Harry had heard Riddle use such a tone and show so much doubt in himself. Where was his usual confidence?

"Of course your protection is good enough – I'll admit to looking for that diadem upstairs and I haven't found it after days of searching. As for me, you'll always be there to protect me, right?"

"I can't guarantee that," Tom said. "What if they managed to kill me somehow? In the time that I am in that limbo state I won't be there."

"Tom Marvolo Riddle!" Harry said in his best impression of Snape and his fatherly tone. "I don't know when you started to doubt yourself, but after coming this far I don't expect to hear this kind of thing from you. You're the Dark Lord Voldemort after all. So what if Longbottom managed to destroy a horcrux or two? You'll still have me and the diadem. And once you've silenced the boy the horcruxes will be almost obsolete. You'll be unstoppable – no one will ever have the balls to try and kill you again! Think about how long you lasted before that night 13 years ago – you can do this, Tom. I believe in you."

Riddle got up and hugged Harry tightly. "Thanks, Harry. I'm just a bit over protective of my soul, that's all. Oh, and that was probably the most adorable thing you've ever done." Harry blushed and was glad that his face was hidden in Riddle's suit (he had reverted back to suits as he found that they were must more interesting to remove when they got together). Tonight though, Riddle wasn't in a mood to entertain Harry and for the first time in weeks Harry was sent back to his dormitory.

"Harry, come with me."

It was the following evening and for the first time since his arrival, Riddle had come out of hiding during the day, in full view of students (who ran when they saw him coming) and walked straight into the Slytherin common room. He had come for Harry it seemed, after 2 years of waiting.

"We've been infiltrated, via the Room of Requirement," Riddle said. "Quite ironic, but I'm happy to let them use it while it's taking a different form. I'm going to hide you away from the fight – stay where I put you."

"Where's that?"

"The Shrieking Shack. I won't be staying with you – in order to find Longbottom I will have to stay closer, maybe even join in."

They reached the Whomping Willow and walked down the tunnel together. Upon seeing that it was empty Riddle nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait," Harry said. Riddle turned round and Harry reached up to place a soft kiss on his lips. "In case one of us doesn't make it. I love you, Tom."

Riddle smiled. "I don't intend to die, Harry. I think you'll find that in the end it'll be me living without you, after all, you harbour a piece of me as long as you live." Then he left.

Harry sat on the old bed and wondered what was happening back at the school. Nothing much had been going on when they had left, but he was sure that a full fight must have broken out by now. What would happen if Voldemort was killed? Would he be sacrificed in order to bring him back to life? He wouldn't mind if that's how it turned out; he had accepted that fate 2 years ago. Yet he couldn't help but feel that there could be another way…

A long time passed before anything happened in the shack. Maybe it had been half an hour, but possibly an hour, or more. Someone was coming down the tunnel. He could hear their heavy breathing and footsteps. Harry jumped up and held his wand out in front of him, pointing it at the broken door.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry's wand flew out of his hand.

"Ron!" Harry cried when the red head walked in, also armed with his wand. Ron looked rough, he was thinner than before, hair longer and he was bleeding from a few cuts and grazes he had picked up.

"Harry…I'm glad I found you," Ron said without lowering his wand.

"What's going on out there?"

"There's a big battle going on up at the school. I stepped over some bodies on the way here, but I don't know if they were dead or not… The Death Eaters have been aiming to kill though."

"Where's Voldemort?" Harry asked his burning question.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him."

"Where have you been? You seemed to disappear all those months ago."

"Me, Hermione and Neville went out looking for the horcruxes," Ron began. "It's been rough, camping out in forests, but we got somewhere. Dumbledore and Neville got one that night he was killed. The locket."

"What? They found it?" Harry was shocked. Of all the horcruxes, this had been the one that Riddle had been least worried about to the point where they didn't mention it anymore. After Snape had retrieved it, Riddle had replaced the locket in the cave, deciding that it was somewhere Dumbledore would never find.

"It was in a cave he had visited when he was a kid."

"Dumbledore's a smart man," Harry said.

"We managed to destroy it after a long time of searching for something that could. Then we had to track down another one. Again it was a long time before we found it. The cup was difficult to get, but we got it. Then tonight, we came here. Ravenclaw's diadem, keeping with the tradition that You-Know-Who has of ancient objects. We found it and it was destroyed by Crabbe's fiendfyre. It was brilliant – he destroyed everything in the room of requirement! Dumbledore told us that there were six…and that you were the last one. So I'm here, for you, Harry."

He now wished that he still had his wand. Could he reach it in time? "Are you going to kill me, Ron?"

Ron's face screwed up. "Yes," he said shakily. "That's why I'm here. You need to die so that we can save the wizarding world."

The worst part was that Harry understood exactly what Ron was saying. He knew deep down that Voldemort was just like Hitler who he had learned about back in muggle school. Yet, his love for Riddle blinded him now; he couldn't bear to kill Voldemort which he would do by giving himself up. Maybe this was his time to be the hero, to listen to his head rather than his heart. And if he did get his wand, would he be able to kill Ron to save himself?

Ron watched as Harry deliberated. "What are you thinking, Harry?"

"You're right, Ron. You were always right and I've sometimes wished I was in Gryffindor so that I could have been better friends with you. But I love him, Ron. Tom, Voldemort…he understands me like no one else can. I want to save him, but I'll never be able to change his mind on certain things. But I want to save you and Hermione too. Save my dad, my god father, everyone who makes this world the wonderful place it was when I first entered it four years ago. So yeah…" Harry realised what his speech was leading up to. "I'm going to give myself up…" He paused for a moment. "Ron, I want to tell you the truth about your sister. I let her die down in the Chamber that night. I stood by as Riddle was brought back to life. I don't know how I would have stopped him, but I never tried either. So, kill me and take your vengeance."

Harry could see the tears in Ron's eyes as he raised his wand to point it at Harry's chest.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Then Ron mouthed the curse, but no sound came out.

"Ron, you can do this. I helped to murder your sister. Now say it with conviction."

Ron gritted his teeth. "A…avada…avada kedavra!" As the jet of green light shot from Ron's wand, he hid his face. He heard Harry's body fall to the floor and took a moment to prepare himself for the sight of the person that he had just killed with his own hands. He didn't want to check if Harry was dead – he looked it from afar, but he had to check. They had come so far and couldn't afford to do this part less thoroughly than everything else. He bent down and placed a hand over Harry's heart. Ron jumped as he felt a beat and slumped back against the wall. How was it possible that Harry could have survived a killing curse?

"Harry?" Ron whispered. There was no answer and Ron sat there for a few minutes, waiting for Harry to regain consciousness.

Five minutes passed before Harry's eyelids fluttered open.

"Harry!" Ron yelled in surprise.

Harry sat up slowly and looked at Ron, his face reflecting his shock.

"Ron… I just… I just met Dumbledore and my mum and James. It was weird."

"How are you alive?" Ron asked.

"You…you killed the horcrux part of me, but I'm still alive." Harry still didn't quite believe that he was still here and that he had just spoken to the people he just had. "Ron – I'm not a horcrux anymore!" It was as if saying it aloud made it more real. He felt free… Now he could begin to live for himself once more and without fear of being sacrificed for another's cause. "I need to go," Harry said. "Thanks, Ron."

Ron nodded in a daze – since when did people thank you for killing them?

Harry ran through the tunnel and back out where he could see people fighting in the grounds. Where was Voldemort though? It was as if Harry's had called out, because Voldemort responded.

His voice rang out as it once had many months ago. "Neville Longbottom, you have allowed your friends to die, but I want no more magical blood to be spilt. You have an hour to give yourself up. When you are ready, come to me in the Forbidden Forest. If you fail to the carnage will resume, for now I will recall my followers."

Harry raced across the grounds to the forest where he could see figures in black heading towards. Voldemort was not too far in and Harry reached him quickly.

"Tom! Tom!" Harry ran to him and fell into his arms. "You have to stop this!"

"What's wrong, my dear? Have you had a sudden change of heart?"

Harry took a moment to catch his breath. "They've destroyed all of the horcruxes, you're mortal once more."

Voldemort exploded in a rage, but he kept it as contained as possible. "What do you mean by that, Harry? You're still living are you not?"

"Dumbledore knew far more than we thought and Ron…he killed me. He killed the horcrux part of me – I saw people who had passed on. Then I came back and I had to warn you."

"So, did this Ron show you any evidence of the destroyed horcruxes?" Riddle asked. "Or maybe he told you how he destroyed them?"

Harry realised that Ron had not given any of this evidence. Yet he had seen other things while he had been at the dreamy King's Cross. "I saw them," Harry said.

"The horcruxes?" Riddle yelled.

"No… The remnants of your soul. As each one was destroyed they bound together to form you. What you would look like if you were the age you actually are. But you looked snake like, your eyes entirely red and your nose completely flat. It was he that told me that only you were needed to complete him."

"Have you been hallucinating?" Riddle asked.

"It was all real. And Ron has never lied to me. Why would he start now? I'll prove it to you."

"And how will you do that?"

"Remember that spell you cast to seal yourself inside me so that my scar wouldn't burn every time we were close? Undo it." Harry was aware that they were now gaining an audience as the Death Eaters gathered around their Lord, but Riddle did not seem bothered by their presence. He put his thumb on Harry's scar and traced it once before pulling Harry into the same passionate kiss they had shared when he had sealed the spell.

When he pulled away Harry looked up at him, his scar not even tingling. "Did you undo it?"

"Yes. And you feel nothing at all?"

"Not a thing," Harry assured him.

Riddle looked into his eyes and saw no trace of pain. Perhaps Harry was telling the truth and he was once again mortal. He looked over at Snape who had been watching the whole exchange.

"Severus, did you let slip more information to Dumbledore than I wished you to?"

Snape was unable to say anything, unable to lie to Voldemort and not brave enough to speak the truth.

"I am disappointed in you. Did you not think that your son would be saved if Dumbledore had continued to think that there were seven?"

"It was a slip of the tongue," Snape said.

"Don't lie to me, Severus. I know that you have never been able to forgive me since I killed Lily that night. Yet I believed that you would remain faithful for your son's sake. Clearly I was mistaken." Voldemort raised his wand and pointed it at Snape. "I regret this, but I cannot continue to put my trust in you."

Harry saw what was going to happen and placed himself between his father and Riddle. "I can't let you do this."

"Harry, please move out of the way." It wasn't often the Dark Lord was so polite.

"No. You can't kill him. I won't let you!"

Snape opened his mouth to speak, but Voldemort was quicker. "People who betray me do not get away with it; Severus knows that better than most. Now if you would step aside or I'll be forced to kill you first."

Harry was hurt at the thought that Riddle would cast his aside so lightly after all the months they spent together. "How can you say that? I thought we understood each other?"

"We do, but there are others like us. I know you thought about it. But you were special because you were mine – my horcrux. You're no longer of use to me."

For the first time in his life, Harry felt tears prick his eyes. He felt stupid. All this time he had thought that they had shared the same feelings, because they were the unwanted children, the orphans who had lost their mothers, but now he realised that it had just been a case of Riddle loving himself. It was crushing him where he stood.

"How could you?" Harry whispered.

"I'm Lord Voldemort." Riddle smirked. "One last chance, Harry – move or die. I don't really want to lose you."

That last part almost made Harry move, but he had already decided what had to be done and nothing could change his mind.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A body fell to the ground; a gasp came from every Death Eater that witnessed the scene.

Through the trees came Neville Longbottom who looked at the scene in front of him: Harry stood with his wand outstretched and Voldemort lay on the floor in front of him. The Dark Lord had been defeated for the last time.

Harry looked around and spotted Neville. "It's over," he said. "Go and tell everyone up at the school." Neville scurried away and Harry looked around at the Death Eaters. He felt as if he had inherited them. "Leave." Some of them moved away quickly, but the most loyal remained.

"What have you done?" Bellatrix screamed at him.

"I've saved us all from a life of servitude," Harry said. "The wizarding world did not need a dictator like Voldemort." He could see that some of those before him would be unable to go back to the normal life he wished they could have. Many would probably be thrown back into Azkaban.

"If you have a problem, you'll have to go through me," Snape said as he stepped forward upon seeing Bellatrix reaching for her wand.

Harry walked with Snape by his side back up to the castle. They walked into the Great Hall where everyone had gathered and were greeted with applause. Harry was called a saviour and they welcomed him like the hero he hadn't been until tonight. Ron and Hermione were there and he was glad to see them both safe. They came up to him and embraced him, thanking him.

"Harry." Hermione took his hand and led him to the side of the hall where the dead lay. Harry saw faces of those he had seen in the corridors and some who were clearly members of the Order, but there was one person who shouldn't have been there. Sirius laid there, his last laugh still etched on his face. Harry knelt down beside him and placed a hand on his face. He had never wanted to lose his god father; in fact, he had looked forward to spending time with him now that Voldemort was gone. But now that would remain a dream and Harry would forever regret that he had only ever spent a precious few hours with Sirius.

Then there was Fred. Harry felt as if he would never be able to look Ron in the eye again. He was now part of the cause of two deaths in the Weasley family. Maybe Ron should kill him once more for good measure.

Harry sat down on a bench and put his head in his hands. He had been through so much tonight. At the start of it he had been trying to save Riddle's life and by the end of it he had killed him, the one he had loved. That was a fact that would never change as much as he would regret falling into Riddle's trap. But hadn't Riddle confessed to having feelings for him too? Perhaps it really was all just a lie to get Harry on his side. Harry felt an arm around his shoulders and looked up to see Snape.

"I'm proud of you, son."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, dad." The sudden closeness triggered something in Harry and in seconds he was crying, letting out all the pain of love and loss, everything he had bottled up in the forest and everything he felt when he saw the dead. Snape pulled him close and held him while he let out all of his emotions. Harry wondered if he had changed because he no longer had a part of Voldemort's soul inside of him.

They were going home after a long night, walking through the now silent grounds of Hogwarts.

"What made you kill him?" Snape asked. "I was under the impression you two were in love."

"We were – or at least I thought we were. Until he said all of those things," Harry said. "Then I realised what I had to do. And revenge of that kind was the sweetest. I think that I had it right when I was eleven – kill Voldemort and avenge my mother and James."

Snape smiled. "I'll say it again: I'm proud. More than you know. Lily and James would be too. More of a Gryffindor like them than a Slytherin like me. It sounds like you showed a great amount of bravery when you gave yourself up to Weasley."

Harry nodded. "If I hadn't have done it then we wouldn't be in this state of peace now. I'll tell you something that Voldemort didn't know. He didn't know that I am the one that the prophecy referred to. No matter how much he wanted it to be Neville; it's been me since the night in Godric's Hollow. I didn't want to accept the fact that it was me that would have to kill him, but he pushed me. I couldn't let him kill you. I couldn't lose another parent. More importantly I couldn't let him lie to me and use me anymore."

"Let's start afresh then," Snape said. "From the moment we step through the front door."

They reached the gates and disapparated.

Life became comparatively peaceful from that night on. The summer passed and Hogwarts was reopened with McGonagall as headmistress and Snape was allowed to return (as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts to his joy). Harry returned for his final years which he spent more in the company of Ron and his friends as opposed to Draco who was still with Pansy at the end of their seventh year. Harry came to terms with his mistakes and found that people forgave him. They reasoned that if he had not taken the path that he did then it probably would have been a much longer journey to defeat Voldemort once and for all. Some days Harry did find himself reminiscing about the past and wishing that Riddle was still there to hold him when he felt most alone. But when he found himself in such a state he remembered why it was done and what Voldemort had told him at King's Cross. Even there where everyone seemed so knowledgeable, the snake-like Voldemort had insisted that what he wanted to achieve was right, but he expressed regret about the horcruxes and told Harry that the sooner the last piece of his soul left the world the better it would be.

Never in Harry's life would he find someone like Riddle again. No one would claim to understand him in such a way and Harry would never feel that same affection for an outsider. He spent the rest of his life without love, finally understanding what Tom Riddle had described to him all those years ago.

A/N: I…think that's it. XD So many things changed since its inception… And there were so many different possible endings. I just hope I picked the right one. ^^; Please review – I'd really appreciate any thoughts on this one.