Chapter 30 The Reign of Darkness

"Game over Dumbledore, I win." Many gasps came from the remaining players. They were helpless. They couldn't help the headmaster now. Thomas waived his hand and the chessboard disappeared though the cemetery remained. He took a step towards his right and took his Animagus form.

Showing his poisonous fangs and opening his deadly eyes, the snake slithered towards the headmaster. The remaining Light members wanted to help but they were blocked by the other animals.

Albus Dumbledore watched Thomas charge at him. For the first time in his life, he felt fear, and dread, which was reflected by his wand hand which was shaking. Though he knew the snake came at top speed, it felt like eternity before it reached him. Glancing from side to side, he watched painfully as the remaining Order members and students fought for their lives. One by one they fell before him, giving him a painful pleading look before life escaped them.

At last, Dumbledore was the only remaining enemy of the VPMWPV still standing within the room. Thomas had stopped before him, circling in ovals, weaving in an out of his older guardians, who now created a never-ending circle.

The headmaster stared from one former pupil to the next starting from Voldemort, and then moving clockwise to end with Prongs, whom his gaze held the longest. He flicked his gaze back to Padfoot. The Grim didn't blink, holding his position, ready to pounce if the order was given.

Raising his wand, for the last time, he screamed the Avada Kedava curse at Black. The curse had gone half way when Thomas finally bit him. Black jumped lightly and avoided the curse.

Thomas held his fangs on Dumbledore's wand hand, biting deeper and deeper. The headmaster's wand dropped, and he slumped to the floor. Staring painfully, he reverted his eyes back at Prongs.

"Why? Why? You….you….were the Heir of Gryffindor….and in my heart you remain so…… James….please forgive me…." The pain started to overwhelm the headmaster. Prongs changed to his human form. James' eyes were closed. "I…I….please….please…."

"You are the last Heir of Gryffindor for I will never be, even if it ruins in my blood." James spoke softly. "You let the chance slip away a long time ago."

"Made a mistake…mistakes were made." Dumbledore said painfully. "I….I…I…made a mistake…."

"Pleading won't work. I will kill you."

"James…listen to me….please….."

"You turned your back on me and now I do the same…."

"James…" The headmaster continued to plead.

"Thomas I'll finish him off." Curious all the at the change, Thomas withdrew, letting James take charge.

James approached the man slowly. He pulled his wand out. "You disowned me when I was a child, gave me to the Potters…."

"It was for the better….so…..so--…."

"You will never be my Father!" Hushed silence followed. "I will never be a Dumbledore. I will never walk in your footsteps!"

"You have been tinted by evil, all of you…." The headmaster looked from one to another admitting that his last pleas would go unheard. "Consumed by darkness and greed."

"Wrong Albus." James took another step closer.

"We are all victims.Victims of this world. We were different from everyone else. We were special. Raised in a world unsuitable for us. We did not choose to be bitten, famous, genius nor did we choose to be orphans, disowned or abused. We were innocent, and helpless. The world never gave us a hand. It sat back and relaxed. From the very start, we were labeled as dangerous and hazardous to the world. This world did not understand us, let alone help us."

There were nods from the creatures.

"As time goes by, anger builds. Each of us, at some point in life swore one day to inflict the pain and sufferings back to the world. When the final straw breaks, this is the result" James gestured at them.

"This world is not made for us. It does not want us. It fears us, and our specialties. You ask us Albus, you dare ask us Why? Well I'll tell you! It's because of you and people like you! Why don't you look inside yourself? The answer is right in front of you!"

"Tom, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Severus, James, Harry, Cho I owe you all an apology." The headmaster used his left hand, ripped off a sleeve and fumbled with it, as he tried to stop the blood from leaking, and the poison from moving upwards.

"I speak on behalf of the people who have harmed you. I ask your forgiveness."

"Not accepted."

"I thought so" Dumbledore paused and sighed.

"I know my time is up. However tell me… answer…me…answer me this James. Hate generates more hate. Even if I die, there will be someone to replace me…."

"That is why we shall eliminate the Light, once and for all. We will crush all rebellions before it begins."

"There will be…" he replied with certainty.

"We will not make the mistakes that we once have. The VPMWPV has been through harsh wind, rain and sand. We've suffered from grieve, and overjoyed in happiness. We have treaded down a long path to get here. I assure we won't be crushed easily. With each obstacle we overcome, we become stronger and tighter. It is something you will never understand and that is why you have failed and have fallen."

Dumbledore watched as James conjured a clock and levitated before the headmaster. It read 11:55 pm.

"In 5 minutes, precisely at midnight, you will die." A pause. "The poison will kill you…slowly and painfully…."

That was what Albus had figured out. He hadn't screamed yet, but it felt like thousands of insects biting within him. He felt hot and cold. He knew at anytime he could burst and die. Breathing was becoming heavy and his vision was blurring.

"Though you are our enemy….you will receive a proper burial. There are not many men out there, like you. We will not ruin your pride, nor will we harm you any further….in any form."

James conjured a tombstone. Albus strained his eyes, to read it.

Albus Dumbledore

The Light Lord.

Head of the Order of the Phoenix and Life Feeders.

Headmaster of Hogwarts.

There were smaller words underneath, but the headmaster's eyes dropped and life escaped him. James waited a minute or so, before checking to make sure that he had died.

"What did you write?" Thomas spoke at last, coming closer. He bent down to look at the small writing.

Raised and protected the VPMWPV as children. Never forgiven, never forgotten.

On the very bottom, was signed with the VPMWPV crest.

"Now that that is finished. Let the Reign of Darkness begin."

This is the end of the edited and revised edition of The Reign of Darkness. I sincerely wish to thank everyone who has read/reviewed and stayed throughout from when it was first published till now. A huge thanks top everyone for your support. As for prequl/sequel I have started the fromer The VPMWPV and as for sequel it will depend on how the prequel goes. Once again thank you to everyone.