Doubts and Desires

A/N: I am terribly sorry that it took so long to get this chapter finally written. I would like to thank all who are still out there reading this story. It is almost finished. There are just two more chapters left to go, and yes, I will finish it. I promise. I just hope that getting the next two chapters up don't take as long as to get this one up. Also, I would like to thank everyone for all the reviews. They are greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoy this chapter...well, as much as anyone can enjoy it. You will see what I mean as you read. :)

Chapter 22: The Third Time Is the Charm

The Headmaster’s Office was crowded with the Order members meeting for the final time before the attack on Malfoy Manor. The tension in the room was intense. Everyone knew how important these final few hours were, and they were waiting for two important people to show up as today was also the day that the potion was to be tested. It was crunch time. Potion or not, it had to be now or never.


Hermione had just offered the potion to the mice. She waited two minutes to make certain they had ingested it. “They’re ready, Severus,” she stated sadly. She hated to see the mice treated this way, but they couldn’t perform this on humans.

Severus pointed his wand at the first mouse. “Avada kedavra,” he stated coldly as the green beam of light hit the first mouse. It fell down, but miraculously, it got back on its feet. “I’ll be damned,” he stated in amazement as he looked at Hermione.

She was ecstatic. “It worked! Try it on another one,” she exclaimed much more enthusiastically than before.

He pointed his wand at the other mice. One after the other, he cast the Killing Curse on them. Every single one of them fell down but then got back up again. He then took two of them out and examined them. “They look unharmed.” Even he was astounded by the potion. “Let me try it on another one again.” He took one mouse that had already been hit once. “Avada kedavra,” he cast. The mouse fell down like before. It lay there for a few seconds, and he thought that this time they had done it. No, it twitched and got back up. “Merlin’s beard! It does work!”

She was so happy, and she hugged him. “Hit him one more time. We just have to make sure.” She crossed her fingers as he cast the curse one more time. The mouse fell over longer this time, and he looked really dead. He slowly began to come to, although he just laid there. “As long as Harry doesn’t get hit more than twice, then he should really be alright,” she figured. “We have to tell the others.”

He nodded and put the potion in a bottle. He was actually optimistic. If the Dark Lord was finally dead, then he and Hermione would have a chance to make the love between them work. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. He kissed her deeply before they left for Dumbledore’s office. As soon as they got there, he burst in. “It’s here, and it works.” He presented the potion to Dumbledore.

Albus took the potion. “Wonderful!” He sighed in relief. He gave it to Harry. “Take this and drink it before you go,” he instructed.

Harry took the potion and nodded. He glanced over to Hermione and smiled. She really was so happy, and he knew that it would work. He was ready this time. Everything was set, and it was Voldemort’s time to die.

The others were chatting around the room about the potion. Some even stated that Severus and Hermione would likely get the wizarding form of a Nobel Prize in Potions for their great achievement. Others were talking about they wished the potion had been invented sooner. Perhaps some family members and friends would still be alive then.

Albus quickly silenced them and brought them to order. “We have to focus on the task at hand. Draco is already at Malfoy Manor with his father. The other Death Eaters, including Voldemort, are to be arriving at this time.” He took out a white stone. “When this turns red, it is our time to apparate to this spot,” he said as he pointed to the enlarged map of Wiltshire, where a cluster of trees on the map was behind Malfoy Mansion. “Draco will give us a signal when he is ready from this window.” He now pointed to the window on the mock version of Malfoy Mansion that he had in front of him. “Our job is to take on the Death Eaters while Harry goes for Voldemort. It is essential that we occupy the Death Eaters at all costs. We can’t allow them to aid Voldemort. Are there any questions?”

Mundungus raised his hand as if he were back in school. “I have one. Why aren’t the rest of us getting that potion?” he asked. He wanted some too. Besides, if he saved a bit, he could sale it. It would go for a bundle. He could even be set for life.

Severus’ eyes narrowed as he looked at the crooked wizard. “We only made enough for Potter. Everyone else just has to be careful that they don’t get blown up.”

The clatter of voices rose again. Some were getting upset that there wasn’t enough potion for all of them. Some wanted to hold off on this battle now to get the potion to all their people. Then some were just arguing with the others.

Albus allowed this to go on for a moment before he had enough. “SILENCE!” he commanded, and every single person grew very still. “If you are not willing to fight today, then you may stay. We have no room for those that won’t give everything they have to stop Voldemort and the Death Eaters once and for all. The decision is yours. But, we cannot sit back and allow Voldemort and his Death Eaters gain power again. He has been halted two times. We may not be able to hold him back a third, if he regains his full strength. We have to act now.” As soon as he had said his last sentence, the stone turned bright red. “Harry, take your potion now. Those who are coming need to follow and apparate with us. Those who don’t want to come should just go back home.” He was swept from the room as almost everyone followed behind him.

Harry took the potion and slowed down enough to walk beside Hermione and Severus. “Take care, Hermione,” he said as he was worried about his friend. Ron wasn’t there though. When he had learned about his relationship with Draco, he just really couldn’t accept it.

Hermione gave Harry a brief hug. “You too, Harry. Be careful. Try not to get hit too many times with the Killing Curse. The mice survived, but it takes a lot out of them.”

He gave her a smile. “I’ll be careful.”

They all arrived at the apparition spot, and with a series of pops, they were now just outside Malfoy Mansion, awaiting the final signal for Draco to begin the attack. A bright light shone from the window just briefly before it vanished.

“That’s the signal. Let’s go,” Albus stated as he pulled out his wand and ordered the advancement of their small army. Everyone did the same as they went to the entrance of Malfoy Manor. Albus burst open the door, startling the Death Eaters that were down in the sitting room.

The battle quickly erupted. Multicolored spells shot through the air from Death Eaters and Order members alike as Harry left the rest in search for Voldemort. Hermione briefly watched as Albus was in action. She had known that the older wizard was quite capable of an array of spells, but even she was amazed at his dexterity at his age of around 160. She was suddenly pushed down though, and she noticed that a red beam of light from a spell had almost hit her.

“Pay attention!” Severus growled angrily before taking out the Death Eater who had cast the spell at his woman.

Hermione stood back up. “Thanks,” she admitted as she cast a few spells of her own into the chaos. She noticed that a few Death Eaters were retreating, and she shot out some ropes from her wand, tying them up as they collided into each other and fell in a heap on the floor.

Draco suddenly touched Hermione’s shoulder. “We have to help Harry. He’s already been hit once by the Killing Curse. Others are going up there,” he stated as he pointed to his father and Fenrir Greyback who were sneaking up the stairs to help Voldemort.

She nodded. “Let’s go. Severus, come on,” she called to him.

Draco had run on ahead of them. “Leave them be, father,” he stated coldly as he pointed his wand at his father and Fenrir.

The werewolf growled at the boy, and Lucius just laughed. “You were always a foolish child,” Lucius stated as he pointed his own wand at his son. “Avada ke—”

“Stupefy!” Draco called out, stunning his father before he could finish saying the Killing Curse on him. “May you rot in Azkaban next time, father,” he said as he took his father’s wand and was in the process of breaking it in two when Fenrir attacked him. Draco screamed out as he tried to get the werewolf off of him.

“Avada kedavra,” Severus stated as he pointed his wand at Fenrir, killing the werewolf instantly. He pushed Fenrir aside as Hermione had already tied up Lucius.

Draco got to his feet. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Severus stated.

They stopped dead in their tracks when they were close enough to overhear Voldemort and Harry’s conversation.

“What will it take to kill you, Potter! I’ve already hit you twice with the Killing Curse.”

“I don’t know, but it’s your turn to die.”

“Avada kedavra!”

“Avada kedavra!”

Draco, Hermione, and Severus looked at each other when they heard Voldemort and Harry cry out their final spell. Draco then took off running upstairs before anyone could stop him. Hermione and Severus entered a moment later. The first thing anyone saw was Voldemort’s dead body lying spread eagle on the ground.

“He’s really dead,” Hermione breathed. She turned and was shocked at what she saw.

Draco was holding Harry’s body close to his. “Come on, Harry. You can’t do this to me. You can’t.” The blonde-headed boy was close to tears. Harry’s head lulled to the side, revealing his dead green eyes.

Severus was the first to react as he went toward the boys. “Draco, he’s gone. It’s time to let go.”

“NO!” Draco refused as he clutched Harry’s dead body against him. “He spoke to me. He told me that it was over. He can’t be dead.”

Severus firmly pried Draco away from Harry, forcing him to stand up and look at him. “I’m sorry, Draco. He’s gone.”

He half-heartedly punched Severus in the chest before turning away from him and began to sob.

The others were starting to filter into the upstairs room. The battle was over. The Death Eaters there were either captured or dead. Some Order members were wounded. The word that Voldemort was finally destroyed filled the growing crowd as Ministry Officials had been called. The celebration of Voldemort’s death was short-lived though as everyone found out that Harry Potter had perished also.


A/N: Once again, I appologize for how long it took to put up this chapter. Please review as well. It's nice to get feedback.