Chapter Text
Harry sat in silence, merely staring at the fireplace. The cackling fire was on replay in his mind at what had occurred in the last mere couple of hours.
His mind was long gone after Sirius's and his close friends' death, and the last of his family had left him. Hermione is sitting next to him, holding his hand and merely just being in his presence, so he doesn’t do something he will regret. The warmth of Hermione's hands reminding him that she was there fully and not just an illusion in his mind. The adults were in disarray at the antics of the night. The deaths of Sirius and one of Harry’s friends were heavy. Remus was enraged at Dumbledore for taking so long and also upset with how long it took them. The kids had to suffer so much in this brutal war, but why did Dumbledore insist they trust him so much? Molly was ranting about the safety of her children throughout all of this. Tonks, Alastor, and Kingsley were deathly quiet.
The visions of the prophecy lay in Harry’s mind as he realized he was merely a sacrifice. This entire time, he was being prepared to “sacrifice himself for the wizarding world”. Dumbledore always wanted trust, but never told anyone about anything. Harry realized Dumbledore had so much control over his life, which is why he never got a normal life. Dumbledore and Voldemort were the same.|
One sought to control the boy who lived, while the other sought to kill him.
Harry thought to himself, Why was he never given a chance to live a normal life? Why did he always get dragged into these things? At home, he had been tortured, starved, beaten, emotionally abused, and more. First year was Quirrell, to which he indirectly or directly killed; second year it was a Basilisk and petrification of students; third year was the entire Sirus situation and Dementors; fourth was that damned Tri Wizard Tournament and the death of Cedric in the graveyard.
This year was just as bad, with Umbridge taking hold in Hogwarts while torturing students with blood quills. The attack against him that led him to be held trial for defending himself against the Dementors.
Another thought crossed Harry’s mind, “Why?” It was a simple question he asked himself. Hermione continued to hold Harry's hand and softly squeezed it, reminding him she was there. She knew that everything had been getting to be too much for him lately, and she would always be there for him.
Harry looked directly at Hermione and thought, “She has been with me through all of it. She never left me, unlike Ron. She has been with me since the beginning, and yet, why did I never notice her? He took a minute to truly look at her, and she was beautiful. He saw the brown eyes, which were locked with his, filled with worry and concern. Hermione's wild curls, which she so often attempted to keep under control, but usually lost that battle.
Hermione had been so much to him over the years, probably the only thing making him not go insane. She was his light in the darkness of his life, where everyone merely wanted a pawn to control or be friends with the boy who lived.
Of course, not all of his friends were like that, but Hermione had always been more. He hadn’t realized till tonight how much she truly meant to him.
Harry breaks the silence between them, “You know, Hermione, you are one of the only people who I feel like actually cares about me.” His voice is quiet. Hermione looks at him, confused, but trying to think about what he is trying to say.
Harry said nothing more as he tightly held Hermione's hand. Harry lay his head against Hermione's shoulder while caressing her hand gently.
In the kitchen, the table had gone quiet. Remus was slumped in his chair, staring at the wall. Molly and Arthur had already left alongside Ginny and Ron. Kingsley, Tonks, and Alastor had to go to the ministry to see how this mess was going to be handled.
Everyone who was left said their goodbyes and condolences to Harry before slowly leaving, as it was late into the night. The house felt heavy, as if the light had completely disappeared and only darkness was present. Dumbledore pulled him off to the side, away from Hermione, to speak to him.
“Harry, my boy, I’m truly sorry for the loss of your godfather, but you must go back to your home.”
Harry responds simply, “I am at my home right now.” Defiance filled Harry’s eyes.
Dumbledore gazed at the boy in pure confusion. When had this boy defied him? When had the quiet, obedient child become someone who could look him in the eye and say no?
“Harry must I remind you ab—”
Harry cuts him off. “No. The Black House Fidelius charms are more than enough, and if Tom and his band of merry fuckers decide to show up, I will be ready.”
The air shifted. The silence in the room was deafening.
“My boy, I am disappointed. Do you know how much I have sacrificed? You should be thankful.” Dumbledore says.
Harry’s knuckles clenched as his voice jumped, raw and cracking. “I SHOULD BE THANKFUL?”
His voice echoed across the House of Black. The portraits snapped awake, ancient eyes widening, the magic in the walls stirring like a beast roused from sleep. The house focused on its last heir as if giving him the courage to finally speak.
“SHOULD I BE GRATEFUL YOU LEFT ME WITH ABUSIVE RELATIVES WHO BEAT, STARVED, and TORTURED ME???” Harry paused as the rage was making his knuckles go white, and his magic violently swirl.
“How about in the first year, when Tom tried to kill me, and I was forced to indirectly kill a man at 11 years old, or when in the second year I had to fight a fucking Basilisk, watch Hermione get petrified, and risk my life to save Ginny. I also almost died from the venom.”
Harry continued, the words spilling out like a dam breaking. “How about when I had to compete in the Triwizard Tournament and my brushes with death, which were numerous, or all my interactions with dementors in third year, and THIS YEAR. YOU HAVE NEVER TRAINED OR PREPARED ME FOR ANYTHING, YOU KEEP EVERYTHING FROM ME UNTIL IT'S TOO FUCKING LATE.”
“YOU KEEP TELLING ME TO TRUST YOU, BUT ALL YOUR TRUST GETS ME IS DEAD FAMILY AND FRIENDS, JUST LIKE HOW MY PARENTS TRUSTED YOU!” The anger in Harry’s voice was indescribable.
Harry's voice dropped low as he spoke again, “Sirius is dead, and I know you're not a fool. Don’t think for a second you're ‘innocent’ by any stretch of your ‘greater good. You got one of my friends killed, too, so don’t think you can wiggle your way out with your “grandfatherly” persona.”
Harry’s voice had started going hoarse. Hermione wanted to rush and hug him, to anchor him, but Dumbledore had forced her to stay out of it. She stood trembling, torn between fear and fury. Hermione was torn by the truths in what Harry was saying and the “kind” old man who had seemingly cared so much about them.
Hermione’s mind was already turning at the truths spoken by Harry, and the conclusion was ghastly. She realized she had indirectly been a part of Dumbledore’s plan to isolate Harry, making him more susceptible to manipulation. Her eyes watered at the thought of hurting Harry in such a way; she never realized, as Dumbledore always said, that it was for “everyone's safety”, but what about Harry's safety?
Harry's voice spoke out once more, and the magic in the room seemed to react even more violently as if this was the thing that truly snapped him.
“You know, after everything you have done to me, I would have probably gone along with your plan, because I would feel that if my sacrifice was enough, nobody else would have to die, but clearly I was wrong. You are willing to sacrifice anyone for your greater good, including my godfather.”
Harry paused again for several moments before his eyes lit with a magic fire. He stared directly at Dumbledore, knowing full well about his attempts to read his surface thoughts. Dumbledore stumbled back, slightly surprised at the block of intrusion that had always been so easily achieved.
Harry paused for several moments, the silence stretching until it felt like the whole house was standing on the edge. Something shifted in Harry’s eyes as the light seemingly turned black, and flames consumed his eyes. The magic fire, which was just a spark, lit fully. He stared directly at Dumbledore, and for the first time, the old man realized Harry wasn’t just blocking him; he was rejecting him entirely.
“The worst part about all of this,” Harry said, voice rumbling and trembling with pure rage, “is not what you’ve done to me. It’s not even what you’ve done to everyone else.”
His gaze flicked to Hermione — and stayed there.
“It’s the risk you’ve put Hermione in.”
Hermione froze, breath catching.
Harry spat pure and utter venom from his mouth, stronger than anything else he had spoken previously.
“In the first year, she was almost killed by a mountain troll that NOBODY IN THE CASTLE WAS AWARE OF, TO WHICH YOU CLAIM IS SO SAFE, DON’T YOU OLD MAN. In the second year at this nightmare of a school Hermione is petrified by a Basilisk, which, somehow, with how many eyes and ears you have in the castle you were unable to stop the attacks on several students.
“You know I visited her every single day she was petrified, hoping YOU would find a way to help her, but you never did, just told me to trust you and your plan.”
Hermione's eyes were filled with tears as Harry was ruthlessly ripping into Dumbledore for her. He said that after everything, it was Hermione’s life that mattered to him more than anything else, not even his own suffering was more important.
Harry continues, “In the third year, it was the dementors at the train, alongside your magical trust in Snape to actually help Remus with the wolfsbane potions. Hermione and I were later almost killed by Remus alongside the horde of Dementors, to which I had to SAVE MY SELF. YOU DIDN’T COME TO SAVE ME OR EVEN REALLY DO A SINGLE BLOODY THING.”
“During the fourth year, when everyone abandoned me, she was the light that stood by me. Hermione was put at risk when you decided to allow DRAGONS, and then as a hostage in the lake. You claim to always care about us, but each year you seemingly disregard our well-being as long as we survive.”
“Finally, during this year, besides Umbridge, to whom you did nothing about the blood quills and the students being tortured. In the battle at the ministry, you show up so late after basically everything has happened.”
“You know Hermione almost got hit by a curse that would probably have killed her.” Harry's voice in that sentence was less of Harry and more of a beast.
“SHE ALMOST DIED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BECAUSE OF YOU, SO DON’T THINK I WON’T GET REVENGE!”
Harry’s fury was truly unmasked as the years of everything were crashing into him. “You want to know what my thoughts were?” Harry says, almost questioning himself if he didn’t know the answer.
“All those times I was in danger,” Harry continued, “she was the one I worried about. Every single time. Even when I was bleeding, even when I thought I was going to die, even when you told me I had to face things alone… I wasn’t thinking about myself.”
He bit his lip, drawing blood as if what he wanted to finally say could finally come out from within.
“I was thinking about her.”
Hermione’s eyes widened, and her hands trembled at her side.
Harry took a step toward Hermione, staring directly into her eyes for a moment, before turning back to Dumbledore.
“Hermione is the only light in my life, and if she’s gone, there won’t be anything left in me worth saving.” The pure possession in that sentence made even Dumbledore feel a slight chill.
The words, quiet and resolute, were like a bombshell.
Hermione’s hand flew to her mouth, tears spilling from her eyes. Warmth spread across her chest as if a bond had formed.
Harry's rage was manifested as the house seemingly shook with ancient magic power. Something had changed, but the three were none the wiser for now.
Hermione had tears in her eyes, but also a warmth in her chest at the words Harry said — a warmth that felt ancient, familiar, and terrifyingly precious.
Harry, in all this time, had felt his rage boiling over and over. He had unleashed so much, yet the only thing he wanted more than Hermione was vengeance.
And as the old man looked about to speak, Harry said two words, low and lethal:
“Get out.”
Magic snapped.
Dumbledore was thrown out of the house, the wards reacting as if they were a living creature defending its master. The door slammed shut behind him, locking him and the rest of his merry band out. The Black House settled, its magic curling protectively around Harry like a cloak.
Hermione had heard him say many brave, reckless, and heartbreaking things, but this was unlike anything he had said previously. This was something else.
Hermione felt like Harry was so open at this very moment that she needed to handle him properly. Hermione's magic had been reacting to his words, and the warmth in her chest was immense, as if it were finely connected to what it should be.
Hermione thought of the words he said: “If she’s gone, there won’t be anything left in me worth saving.” These words echoed in Hermione's mind, and something broke. She knew he meant those words absolutely, and in her tear-stained eyes, something else that was seemingly buried deep burst out.
Possessiveness surged within her chest that had seemingly been quietly waiting for its chance to pour out, and Harry provided that chance. This was not something that felt unfamiliar; it was merely an acceptance of something inevitable. Harry was still gazing in the direction he had tossed Dumbledore. His knuckles were still clenched as a small trickle of blood fell down his hand and onto the floor. He seemed to be shaking violently when he started to think about what he had done. Harry knew this event would change everything, yet in some ways, he did it all for her.
Their magic reached out for one another subconsciously and seemingly intertwined. It didn’t gently connect; it brutally slammed into each other like the force of a storm. Harry's magic wrapped around Hermione, while hers wrapped around him.
It was like a dance of fire between their magic. The house seemingly agrees with this course of action and poured some of its own ancient magic into the mix. This change that occurred was welcomed as if it were meant to be. As if magic were eager for this connection.
Hermione's eyes gazed at Harry, and he gazed back. She saw the blood still dripping and the shaking to his very core. For the first moment, his choice would not be a sacrifice because he had to, but because he wants to.
Hermione slowly made her way over to Harry, holding his gaze. She didn’t care about Dumbledore or this order that seemed so willing to throw Harry away. She seemed conflicted as to whether to move forward, but Harry decided to take a step towards her. Hermione knew how much this choice cost him. He had thrown out Dumbledore, removed entry from all the Order of the Phoenix, defied Dumbledore's plans, and barred his soul aloud.
Hermione saw this and immediately spoke, “Harry.” Her voice was soft, but carried a darker tone. Harry's eyes slowly twisted as they became black, losing their green shade.
Harry looked at Hermione like she was the only thing in the world. He would give it to her; all she had to do was ask for it. Neither realized the House of Blacks' magic had slightly seeped into their magical firestorm and had connected them to the black heritage and slightly morphed them.
Hermione's hand grabbed his clenched fist and slowly intertwined her hands with his, interlocking their fingers. Hermione spoke again, “You are not alone.” Her words echoed in his mind, “You did what should have happened earlier, you chose me over the rest of them. They didn’t see Harry; all they saw was a pawn or the boy who lived. They don’t know the Harry I know.” Hermione's voice was quiet, but Harry's mind was spiraling as he listened to the words she was saying.
He was concerned she might not reciprocate or maybe even be disgusted by his choice, but she proved once again she was with him through anything. The tension in his shoulders eased, and the trembling slowed.
Hermione's eyes softened, yet they were fiery.
“They don’t get to use you in their games anymore, even if some are less guilty than others; many knew a lot and shared nothing with you. They simply follow Dumbledore like sheep as if he is an infallible man who makes no mistakes.”
The words sank into Harry's mind as, for once in his life, all the emotions he had kept in flooded outward. The rage at everyone and everything in his life, the despair he had felt over and over again, the fear and pain, the hatred, the sadness, it all came pouring out of him. He thought he had realized it all at Dumbledore, but it seems he had plenty to spare.
Hermione pulled him onto the couch and held him as all his emotions and magic poured out violently. Her magic coiled around him protectively as he finally let himself feel. The house shook at the violence of his magic being unleashed, as if the chains were shattered. Hermione simply held him, gazing at him softly while stroking his hair.
He had fallen asleep after some time in her arms as he was utterly exhausted by everything that had happened within the last day.
Hermione spoke, “Kreacher,” the elf popped in silently as if waiting for the orders.
“Yes, mistress? The elf asked respectfully, which slightly surprised Hermione, but was an unnecessary thought at the moment.
“Lock the house from all visitors and remove the current keeper of secrets from his position. Prepare the bedroom and bring me the history of the House of Black.”
“Harry is the master of this house and will not play games,” her voice firm.
Kreacher popped out instantly as Hermione took Harry to his bedroom. When she entered, the room felt different, not cold, nor oppressive, but accepting its heir and chosen. Hermione laid Harry on the bed softly. She looked at his sleeping form and kissed his forehead gently. She stayed near as Kreacher brought her history books about the house of black. She engrossed herself in the history of black.
She read page after page of the ancient origins of the House of Black, the old magic woven into every page, the bonding rite the house could solidify without a third party, the semi‑sentience of its wards, and the heir’s flame — a magic that responded to emotion and lineage. It was all very new, but important now with their current situation.
Hermione read on, but her heart immediately clutched. Fear spread through her as she shifted her eyes directly to Harry. She could feel the nightmares that he was drowning in. He was covered in sweat and violently trembling as one of his hands seemed to be reaching out to her, even in his fear.
Hermione, feeling all of this, moved swiftly over and directly next to him in bed. She pulled Harry to her chest, her fingers through his hair, and her other hand wrapped tightly around him. Hermione poured her love directly into this seemingly new avenue between them. She was filled with rage as even in his slumber, he couldn’t be gifted a moment of peace.
Hermione would give him peace if it were the last thing she ever did. As Harry’s arms locked around Hermione, his breathing slowed. The violent trembling had slowly faded out.
Hermione's magic wrapped around them both protectively as she had also been exhausted by this ordeal, and she slowly succumbed to sleep herself. Kreacher set out the candles before disappearing once more.
________________________________________
Hermione awoke to the absence of warmth and was immediately gripped in fear. A few seconds later, a feeling was sent to her filled with love. She calmed herself before waking up and getting ready. Kreacher had seemingly prepared a mix of proper and Muggle attire, which again slightly surprised her, but she picked jeans with a black blouse.
She did her morning routine of brushing her teeth and such before heading downstairs. The smell of breakfast hit her nose first, and as she opened the door, she saw Harry making food for two. She walked over to the table and sat down with a slight hum. Harry glanced at her, flashing a smile before finishing up.
Harry set the food in front of Hermione before picking her up and putting her in his lap. She giggled softly before speaking, “Harry, you didn’t have to do all this.”
Harry spoke softly, “But I wanted to do this, Mione.” Hermione's heart fluttered, which caused Harry to slightly chuckle as they began to eat. They eat in comfortable silence as the bond hummed between them. They both know a lot needed to be said, but right now, for once, they wanted to feel normal. They wanted to enjoy a peaceful time.
“You know, Mione, this just feels normal to me,” Harry said after a while. Hermione's eyes turned to face his, their faces close. “You're right, Harry, this does feel normal.” Harry's face seemingly changed as a sense of sorrow seemingly crossed through the bond to Hermione.
Hermione instantly tensed up, looked directly at Harry with sharp, focused eyes, “Harry, what’s wrong?”
FLASHBACK
Lucius voice echoes across the prophecy halls, “Don't you want to know the secret of your scar?” He asked in an almost polite tone. Harry and his friends were surrounded by Death Eaters, and he had to make a choice. The prophecy or he and his friends, although he knew they wouldn’t spare them even if he gave the prophecy.”
Harry’s scar hurt before he made a decision. “Bombarda,” an explosion at almost point blank blasts the prophecy hall. Prophecy orbs begin raining down as the shelf collapses, and the entire hall is seemingly coming down. Stupefy’s ring out as Death Eaters are tossed or dodge. Harry and his friends run through the dark and narrow halls.
Luna is ambushed as she flicks her wand. Levicorpus, as a Death Eater, is sent flying backwards. Nevile stuns another as he grabs Luna’s hand, and they keep moving forward.
Harry is locked in a duel with a Death Eater as Hermione and Ron are firing Stupefies at another; The Death Eater blocks them with ease. Harry's rage had been building over this entire situation, and he let himself go loose for once on these monsters. He used a “Confringo,” a fireball bursts out of his wand, slamming directly into the Death Eater. He lights up like a firework as black flames consume him, and his screams echo across the hall as they are slowly drowned out by the shelves falling and prophecies shattering. Harry missed the fact that it was black flames entirely as he moved quickly.
Harry turns to help Hermione and Ron. Hermione was hit by a bolt of purple, which sent her crashing into the ground, as Ron cast several spells against the Death Eater, who stuns Ron easily. “HERMIONE!!!!!’ Harry yelled as he raced over to her and pulled her directly into his arms.
Hermione’s limbs are stagnant, and her body is cold. Harry checked to see if she was breathing as his heart was shattering into pieces. He felt small, shallow breaths, which meant she was alive. Harry held firmly to his wand just as the Death Eater fired a Reducto towards Harry, who blocked it with ease before firing a Lacero back, slicing the Death Eater in half.
Harry picks up Hermione and unstuns Ron before meeting up with their friends, making a beeline for the door. The shelves are still crashing as prophecies crash on impact, and spells are still flying between Harry’s group and the Death Eaters.
The group jumps through the door, all entering a free fall. They stop right before slamming to the ground, before being dropped onto the floor. Harry is currently holding Hermione in his arms as he looks to see the veil in the center of the room before returning his gaze to Hermione.
Harry casts Ennervate on Hermione, but he pours too much magic into it. “Please, Hermione, I need you.’ Harry whispers, while clutching her tightly.
She awakens weakly as her eyes open to see Harry looking directly at her.
Ron, Luna, Neville, and Ginny rush over to make sure she is okay, and they are relieved that she is alive, but shaken at the close call.”
The landing was a bit rough for everyone, but they focused on their surroundings, while Harry was seemingly drawn to the veil in the center of the giant room.
Hermione, while still weak, saw in Harry's eyes his fascination with the veil and spoke weakly, “Harry, we need to go.” Harry listens immediately and locates an exit, but before the group can leave, they hear distant sounds approaching, and Harry says “Get behind me!” frantically as the others all pull behind him, aiming their wands upwards.
Massive shadows race down from above, sweeping over them. Harry falls to the ground, clutching the prophecy and maintaining his hold of Hermione, but he gets tossed aside by an apparition slamming into him, and Hermione leaves his grasp. Harry's heart dropped in that moment as he got up quickly, surveying his now silent surroundings.
All his friends were currently held by a Death Eater with a wand to the throat. Harry’s eyes instantly locked with Hermione's captor as a sense of rage overwhelmed him like a piece of his soul was in pain. Bellatrix caressed Hermione's cheek. But his rage flickered towards Lucius, who started speaking.
“You were bold, Harry, you know it would be a shame if Dumbledore were to find out you killed a few Death Eaters,” Lucius speaks tauntingly. “Does the precious light me so little to you, Potter?”
“Did you truly believe, or were you actually naive enough that mere children could stand against us?” Lucius spoke calmly. Bellatrix smirks as Lucius passes by Harry before turning to him, his cane tapping against the ground. “The Death Eaters killed weren’t exactly that important, considering they were in training, so it isn’t really a loss, and I doubt you could hurt, let alone kill, a Death Eater taking you seriously. Those fools got themselves killed.”
Lucius stops for a moment, adjusting his attire and hair before beginning to speak again.
“I will make this very simple for you, Potter. Hand over the prophecy now or watch as your friends suffer, and before long, they will be begging for death.” Bellatrix adds, “I can’t wait to have fun with this mudblood.”
Harry's blood boils at the situation in front of him. As he looks around the room, watching his friends. Neville shouts to Harry, “Don’t give it to him, Harry!” The Death Eater holding him smacks Neville and casts a silencing charm.
Harry slowly moves the prophecy, slightly hesitating, from his hand into Lucius's, but Lucius says, “Times up,” as he takes the prophecy from Harry and kicks him down.
“Avada Kedavra,” a bolt shoots right past Harry's head, hitting Nevile square in the chest as he falls to the floor. Harry watches as Nevile's body hits the ground.
Silence reigns across the room as the sound of Bellatrix laughters echo. “First the parents and now the boy, the family is together again!”
Ron begins fighting in a rage against the Death Eater that is restraining him. The Death Eater stuns him. Luna is still staring directly at Nevile's corpse without reaction, her eyes glassy as if fate had suddenly changed. Ginny is in tears at witnessing one of her only friends dying right in front of her.
Hermione is in tears as Bellatrix is holding on to her tightly, still laughing, but Hermione's eyes shift to Harry. He simply stood there staring at Nevile.
Harry simply stops. He stares at Nevile's lifeless body as if reality has yet to set in. Harry's magic twists and cracks as if something has irreversibly broken inside of him. His hands shook violently as the realization hit Harry.
“This is my fault,” Harry says quietly. Lucious hears him, and a wide smirk crosses his face. “If only you hadn’t hesitated, the boy would have lived.”
“This is war, boy, and you have learned what hesitation costs you. Imagine what mercy has cost you.” Lucius finishes with a snicker.
Lucius continues, “I suppose Dumbledore taught you that one.” The Death Eaters all begin chuckling. Harry’s mind is deathly quiet as if the words haven’t caught up to him, but one phrase kept his focus.
“Boy,” who else called him that? The person who claimed everything was for the greater good, the one who planned to have him die against Voldemort. The one who was nowhere to be found. The one who asked for trust and gave nothing but empty promises and bodies.
Harry realized he was at the whims of two dark lords, merely different shades.
Harry's fists clenched as he stared directly at Lucius with pure vengeance in his heart. The silence is only broken by the quiet sobs of friends and the laughs of Death Eaters.
Despair permeates the entire room as something inside Harry has changed slightly. Magic swirls around him as if a dam had been allowed to open. Harry's gaze locks onto Lucius, who gets a sudden chill.
A sound echoes behind Lucious as he turns to see Sirus looking right at him. “Get away from my godson, you snake.” A fist hits Lucious square in the nose, sending him tumbling to the ground, and the prophecy shatters on the floor.
Tonks apparition appears, tossing Death Eaters against the wall, freeing Harry's remaining friends as Mad Eye, Kingsley, and Remus join the battle. Spells start flying as Harry and Sirius duck for cover. All the members take into account Longbottom on the floor, dead. They solely focus on protecting the remaining children, at this clear failure on their part.
Spells continue flying as Protegos go up, and the battle begins. Kingsley and Mad Eye are locked in a fight against two Death Eaters, spells flying between them. Explosions against the wall as Mad Eye apprates behind, landing a locking hex on one of the Death Eaters.
Tonks is currently protecting Luna and Ginny as she is fighting off three Death Eaters. Remus moves to assist her as he sends a power Depulso into a Death Eater.
Ron is hit by a rogue jinx that sends him slamming into the wall, knocking him unconscious. Before Sirius could say a single thing to Harry, Harry used a combat apparition, directly grasping Hermione before she fell to the ground as Bellatrix dodged a spell.
Sirius rushes over, firing jinxes and curses towards Bellatrix. She blocks them and fires back as Sirius casts a Protego Maxima and Harry fires a Confrigo at Bellatrix. She moves again, targeting Tonks as they both battle, while apparating in the room surrounding the veil.
The battle begins to intensify as mistakes start appearing. A Death Eater is blasted into a wall, while Kingsley is hit with an Impedimenta and then a Dark Expluso.
Sirius and Harry begin trading spells back and forth against Lucius and another Death Eater. Spells hit walls and debris as explosions echo, and before long, the Death Eater is hit by Harry’s Bombarda as he flies towards the wall, making an indentation against the wall, and slumping over.
Sirius disarms Lucious and then hits him with a Depulso, sending him flying back. Bellatrix lands nearby and quietly casts an Avada Kedavra. Sirius gets hit as everything seemingly slows down for Harry.
Harry looks at Sirius, waiting for him to fire a counter spell or laugh it off. Sirius staggers slightly backwards, nearing the veil as he falls back right in. Sirius makes eye contact with Harry before falling into the veil. Harry watches as his godfather disappears into the veil.
Harry is frozen stiff at the weight of just happened to him. He begins trying to rush forward into the veil to retrieve him, but Remus grabs hold of him. Remus grabs Harry from behind to stop him chasing after Sirius as Harry falls to his knees, crying out in sorrow. The cracks that were appearing from Neville's death shattered when Sirius died. Harry’s magic called for blood, and he was going to answer it.
Harry's eyes were locked onto the Archway before a slight laugh reached his ears. Harry's eyes turned to lock on Bellatrix, who had a smirk on her face and was slipping away.
Harry broke out of Remus's grasp and raced after Bellatrix. All Harry could see was her retreating figure as she turned corner after corner, taunting him. Confrigo Bombarda Lacero Incarcerous Harry sent spell after spell as Bellatrix was dodging and weaving. As the halls opened and the entrance of the ministry was visible, Harry could hear Bellatrix laughing loudly, “I KILLED SIRIUS BLACK.”
Harry shouted “CRUCIO” as a red blade hit Bellatrix hard. Bellatrix's screams echoed across the empty Ministry halls. In her agony, she turned to face him as Harry held his wand, staring at her.
Harry’s left eye went entirely pitch black as if possessed by something that wasn’t Tom. Bellatrix, for a moment, actually felt fear, but as he grasped his head, she smirked, realizing he was being tempted by her lord.
Harry’s scar began to hurt as a voice beckoned him in his mind.
“You know the spell, Harry. Voldemort said enticingly.
He held his wand tightly and pointed it at the smirking Bellatrix.
“She killed your godfather, Harry.”
Harry's hand began to shake, but in his rage, he uttered the words Avada Kedavra.
Voledemort instantly moved Bellatrix out of the way and was stunned by Harry actually uttering that spell. Harry's eyes turn towards Voldemort and Bellatrix.
“The boy has finally learned to embrace the darkness,” Voldemort said triumphantly. Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared through the Floo network.
“It was a mistake for you to come here, Tom,” Dumbledore says, staring down Voldemort. “The Aurors are on their way.”
Voldemort gazed at Harry with a smirk, “It will be our little secret,” he said, smiling. He turns towards Dumbledore as his smirk vanishes. “I will be long gone, and you, you will be dead.”
Voldemort fires first, green light erupts from his wand, and Dumbledore fires back with his own red light. They collide as the two forces push against each other with intense magical power.
The magical cascade sent Harry flying into a wall. The red and green lights intensify, before Voldemort uses Fiendfyre as a giant flaming snake appears, charging towards Dumbledore and Harry.
Dumbledore, using the water from the Ministry fountain, summons a water Levithian to counter Voldemort's Fiendfyre snake. The beasts clash in fury as Harry witnesses this scene, and somehow it clicks.
The snake of fire is born for destruction, power, and chaos, while the water Leviathan is subtle in its strikes, but when it goes in it rips your control from your grasp. Sometimes you don’t even realize what you lost.
Harry feels like he is almost looking into a mirror, and in that moment, the statement he had made earlier seemed even truer. He was facing two types of dark lords. He felt deja vu for how his thoughts seemingly increased, reached the same solution as if trying to point something out to him.
The fight concludes as Voldemort uses a massive attack, sending all the shattered glass flying towards Dumbledore. He counters as the glass turns to sand and Voldemort disappears as his laughs echo across the ministry chamber. The sand began to swirl around Harry as he felt a rush of cold, and he collapsed on the ground, spasming.
Voldemort invades Harry’s mind, trying to flood it with all the darkness within his life to make him fully succumb to him. Dumbledore stands near Harry and kneels, speaking, “Harry, you must fight him; everyone is counting on you. Pain is merely temporary, but the purpose is what truly matters.” Dumbledore continues, “You must understand, Harry, trust me to do what is right even now.
Dumbledore stands up slowly while gazing at Harry. Dumbledore slowly raised his wand at Harry before putting it away hastily as his friends and order members flooded the chamber.
Harry is mentally being tortured by Voldemort, as the deaths of his mother, Sirius, and Neville play in his mind. The dementors ripping everything positive out of him, and Hermione getting hit by that spell.
Harry is screaming in agony as his mind is being torn apart by Voldemort and the “helping words” of Dumbledore. He slowly fractures, his mind becoming a playground for dark lords and his own demons. Harry sees himself in the mirror, “YOU FAILED EVERYONE YOU FREAK!” “YOU JUST LIKE THEM, YOU HYPOCRITE!” Harry’s own mind fought against him as he spiraled farther and farther into his own insanity. Harry was drowning before he thought about the few lights in his life.
The friends he has made over the years and his time at Hogwarts, but reality sets in harshly as if school and friendship were really the only reasons, he did anything.
Why should he have to carry this burden and play in this game? Why were his childhood and teenage years filled with pure torture? Why couldn’t he have a sense of normalcy? WHY WAS HE STILL REPEATING HIMSELF!! WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY?” Harry screams in his own mind. Voldemort continues laughing, trying to break Harry more and more. Dumbledore had basically told him that I will kill you for the greater good.
Dumbledore and Voldemort were clashing in his head as the roars of his own demons and his insanity threatened to consume Harry.
Harry’s will to live slowly began crumbling before he caught a glimpse of her. Hermione looked at him ever so weakly, being held up by Tonks. Hermione's eyes were pleading as she gazed at him with tears in her eyes, and Harry felt at that moment that he could feel Hermione care for him like a faint connection.
Harry's mind moves towards Hermione as his pained gaze meets her eyes. He thinks of all the times he spent with Hermione, all the times she stood by his side when nobody else did. When in his darkest moments, she was there for him. Who would fight for her if he were gone? Who would stand by her side and fight?
Harry’s mind went blank, and everything stopped. Dumbledore and Voldemort turned to Harry, who had just ripped out the throat of his own inner demons and locked his insanity in a mirror. A black tide of flames roared to life as it consumed everything in its path.
Voldemort and Dumbledore were both painfully forced out of his mind.
Harry’s mind finally cleared as he looked up to see Voldemort step towards him. Voldemort stepped out of the swirling sand and looked at Harry as the particles all seemed to freeze around him. “You will lose everything you care about, Harry, and you will die, boy.”
Aurors rushed in alongside Cornelius, and they caught a glimpse of Voldemort disappearing. Cornelius, shaking, spoke the words “he’s back.”
END FLASHBACK
Harry had been so caught up in Hermione that yesterday's events had fully caught up to him. He thought he could continue going about normal, but he couldn’t.
Hermione felt Harry shake as tears now fell freely from his eyes, who were gazing at hers. “Mione, I’m so sorry I have put you in so much danger over the years,” Harry says weakly, entirely overcome by despair instead of rage.
Hermione looks directly at his eyes as she opens her lips, “Harry James Potter, do not think for a single second you put me in danger. It has always been either Dumbledore or Voldemort. I would do everything over again.” She pauses for a moment, looking for the right words. Hermione's feelings felt so straightforward and yet so hard. She knew Harry was vulnerable at this time, and she didn’t want to take advantage of him, but her feelings were overwhelming.
The possessiveness roared in her mind as she finally got the courage to speak, even with everything that had happened, because they could both die tomorrow for all they knew.
“Harry, I love you,” Hermione says with tears in her eyes. Harry was somehow still surprised by this but realizing how dense he can be felt stupid. She had stood with him through so much, and she legitimately had to profess her love for Harry to get it. Harry mentally face-palmed at his own stupidity, and then he said those words right back to her. The bond is humming as if it were waiting for a while, and these two TOOK FOREVER.
“Hermione, I love you as well, and I have for a long time. I just never realized the feeling, because I never really got the chance to experience it myself.”
Harry holds Hermione tightly, who is still sitting in his lap, and kisses her softly for the first time. Hermione reciprocates as the new bond seemingly hums in happiness.
They kiss for a few minutes before breaking apart as the food has gone cold now. Harry decides to have a moment, “See Mione, my breakfast was so good it brought you to tears, even if you didn’t have a bite.”
Hermione playfully smacks him, “You idiot," as she captures his lips once more.