Life Begins Anew

JK owns the Harry Potter world. I make no money from this story

Chapter 51 Confrontation At Hogwarts

Thursday brought a tension that both the faculty and the students sensed but could not put an explanation to. After all, Friday would be the end of term and they would be departing the castle the following day to begin the holiday break.

The Potions professor discretely watched the Gryffindor table as he ate his lunch. He watched the Golden Trio, Miss. Weasley, and Mr. Longbottom taking more than a passing interest in Draco Malfoy. He also caught Miss. Lovegood discretely watching the Slytherin table as well. The same group that fought Lucius Malfoy and Belletrix LeStrange in the Department of Mysteries. His eyes narrowed, deep in thought.

Hermione looked to her husband a moment as he locked eyes to her. His eyes were unreadable as he glared down at her. He had distanced himself away from her and she understood his actions and did not fault him for it. She knew that it was necessary for him to complete the vow that was forced upon him. If only their bond was there to sooth her. She quickly turned away as Harry addressed her addressed her.

“Hermione, what are you doing for the holidays?” He asked her, not noticing her attention towards the Potions Professor.

“I’m not sure Harry. I cannot go back to my parent’s house as I am sure I would be in danger there. I have a solicitor handling the sale of the house and dental practice, so I suppose once she gets the papers drawn up, I will have to go to her office. Hogwarts will be safest place to stay at for the moment as I have no other living relatives. I plan on talking to the Headmaster about it.” She wiped away a tear.

Ron looked to her, sadness in his eyes at the mention of her parent’s death. “You could always come to the Burrow Hermione. Mum would love to have you.”

Hermione looked at Ron with and grabbed his hand. “Perhaps I will after I get everything settled. I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

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Sara sat in her chambers with her two wizards reflecting about her classes.

“Sara, review was the only option for them. You know that you have placed the tools in their hands. It is up to them if they use them or not.” Bootstray told her.

“True Bootstray.” She growled at them. “You understand what we must do?”

They looked to her as Slightly replied quietly. “We do, and our knives are yours.” They knelt and kissed her hand and left her chambers.

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Dinner at the Great Hall

“Hermione, Ron!” Harry whispered. “Whatever is going to happen with Draco will be tonight. Voldemort is satisfied.” He watched the Headmaster at the Head Table. “Also, the Headmaster has cancelled our normal meeting that we have.”

“I bet you Dumbledore knows what’s going on.” Ron stated. Why else would the aged wizard cancel the meeting with Harry that had been going on ever since start of term?

Harry clenched his hands in frustration. He knew that something terrible was in the works as he felt Voldemort’s excitement increase throughout the day. He closed his eyes deep in thought and suddenly looked up. “Come on; let’s go somewhere where we can talk without all this noise.” Harry caught the eyes of Neville and Ginny and looked pointedly at the door to the Hall.

They stood up to leave, Hermione glancing up to the Head table noticing that her husband had already departed.

Luna watched the Gryffindors start to leave the Hall and quietly got up from her seat and followed them out the door.

Harry motioned his friends into an unused classroom and then went back into the hall to make sure that no one was in the area. Seeing the hallway empty in both directions, he re-entered the classroom and quietly closed the door, looking to his friends. “I have a plan to catch Draco before he does whatever Voldemort has commanded of him.”

The group gathered closer to Harry as he began outlining his plan. “Do you understand what needs to be done?” They all murmured in agreement. “Okay, go to your post and I will join you later. I’m going to see if I can find Draco.”

They all left the classroom with Hermione being the last one out. She paused for a moment. Was that sandalwood and spice she smelled? She looked around the empty room and shook her head. She needed to focus on her part of the plan and not think about her husband.

A pair of black obsidian eyes followed her departure from the classroom.

Harry sighed in frustration as he made his way to the Room of Requirement to check on his friends. He had not been able to locate Malfoy at all. Suddenly his way was blocked by Crabbe and Goyle.

“Potter!” Crabbe spat out.

Harry shouted “Expelliarmus ” Noticing their wands pointed directly at him.

The Slytherins laughed at him as the spell bounced off of them.

“Petrificus Totalus!” Goyle coldly stated and watched Potter fall to the floor. He turned to Crabbe. “And to think Draco told us to be careful.” He grabbed Potter’s feet and dragged him into a broom closet.

“Well, that’s done. We better get back to Slytherin before curfew.”

Harry heard them laugh as they walked away. Damn! What was he going to do?

A few minutes later the door opened and Harry felt the spell release. He stepped out of the closet and looked into the cold eyes of his Defense professor.

Sara looked to him with disapproval. “It seems that you have learned nothing in my class Mr. Potter. It is close to curfew, I suggest you make your way to Gryffindor.” She left the student without a backward glance.

Harry muttered to himself as he cast Protego and dug out his invisibility cloak and wrapped it around him as he hurried towards the Room of Requirement worried about his friends.

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Severus finished his fire whiskey and looked about his chambers. All was complete. He walked to his desk and pulled out the only picture he had of Lily. “I promised to protect your son Lily, because of the love that I had for you.” He watched as the beautiful girl in the picture waved happily at him. “I will continue to protect him Lily, but no longer for you. I will protect him because of her.”

He walked over to the fireplace and tossed the photo into the fire, watching the photo turn to ash. Pulling out his time piece, he noticed the time. Sighing, he placed his time piece back into his robes and grabbed his wand as he left his chambers and walked into the hallway.

Hermione and Ginny froze as they noticed the Potions professor suddenly in front of them, his wand pointed at them. They tried to get to their wands and were unsuccessful as he sent out a spell rendering them unconscious.

Severus knelt down next to his wife for a moment and held her hand as he placed a letter into the folds of her robes. Standing, he tapped his wand to his head and disillusioned himself and made his way to the hall where the Room of Requirement was located.

He arrived at his destination and observed Neville, Luna, and Ron watching the Room of Requirement intently. He moved slowly toward them and suddenly stopped as Luna dreamily spoke. “Do you smell spice Neville?”

Neville looked at her as she spoke again. “It’s okay. You have to do what you need to do.” Sometimes he wondered if the Ravenclaw was sane. He started to reply back when he felt himself lose consciousness.

Severus looked down at the unconscious wizards for a moment, wondering at the perceptiveness of Luna Lovegood. Was she an empath? He turned around and made his way up to the Astronomy tower. After all he had a date with Fate.

Albus was at the tower and handing envelopes one at a time to the many owls that were lined up. He heard the door open and saw no one there. He nodded solemnly to the door and handed a letter to the last owl.

“Dobby!”

The house elf appeared with a loud crack and looked expectantly toward the Headmaster.

“Dobby, take these packages to the same place as last time. And remember, no one needs to know how they got there.”

Dobby took the packages and disappeared without a word.

Just as Harry arrived to the Room of Requirement a group of Death Eaters appeared, led by Bellatrix LeStrange. Harry pushed himself against the wall as the group passed, with Draco at the rear. He quickly fell in behind him and followed him.

Suddenly Peeves appeared and shouted out “Deatheaters in the castle! Warn everyone!” He zoomed down the hallway repeating his words at the top of his voice. They came to a juncture in the hallway and found themselves suddenly at battle with the Order of the Phoenix.

Harry watched Draco sneak away from the battle and followed him to the Astronomy tower.

Draco slowly walked up the stairs in dread. He knew that his life was forfeit as he did not think he had it in him to kill the old man. He opened the door and pointed his wand to the Headmaster and shouted “Expelliarmus !” Watching the wand leave the Headmaster’s hand, falling to the ground far below.

Harry felt himself frozen as he watched the confrontation. He realized that the professor silently frozen him as he addressed the blonde wizard.

“Draco…” Albus addressed him. “You must do what has been ordered of you.” Watching the shaking hand of the young wizard.

Suddenly Bellatrix followed by three masked Deatheaters fall in behind the blonde wizard.

Bellatrix’s insane cackle was heard. “Draco, do what the Dark Lord has commanded of you!”

Draco froze. He could not do it.

Suddenly Snape appeared and looked to the group.

Bellatrix looked to the dark wizard. “He cannot do what is commanded of him.” She raised her wand and pointed it to the Headmaster.

“No!” Snape harshly commanded the crazed witch.

“Severus…..” Begged the Headmaster.

Snape looked into the old wizards eyes and saw the Headmaster’s desire. “Avada Kadevera!” green light shooting from his wand and striking the Headmaster, sending his body to the grounds below. He grabbed Draco and pushed him to the door. “It is finished!”

The group left the tower as Harry was suddenly freed from the spell that Headmaster had placed upon him. He picked up his wand from the floor and proceeded to run after the Deatheaters.

Suddenly, they were in the middle of a battle between the Order and the forces of Voldemort. Harry heard Snape shout out the command to leave, calling out hexes as he continued to drag Draco along by the collar of his robes.

Snape called out to his colleagues as they exited the castle. “Go! I will defend your escape!”

The Deatheaters began to sprint towards the castle gates.

“Snape!” Harry shouted. “How could you have killed him?!” Sending out a spell to stop the murderer.

They continued to send spells out to one another until Harry shouted “Coward! Stop and face me!”

Snape stopped and pushed Draco to the ground. “I am not a coward Potter!” He spat out as he sent a spell to Harry, making its way through the wizard’s shield and throwing the boy twenty feet back.

Harry tried to get up but could not as he watched the form of Severus Snape loom over him.

“Do not talk about what you do not know of boy!”

Snape grabbed the wand from the fallen wizard, tossing it aside. He turned around and grabbed Draco and continued his escape. They made it only a few yards before he and Draco was suddenly frozen to their spot unable to move their legs. They felt something brush against them.

Hermione and Ron ran up to Harry and knelt down beside him.

“He’s alive.” Ron shouted, tears falling from his eyes.

Hermione pointed her wand out and released the spell from her best friend. She watched as Harry shakily stood up and walked over to where his wand had been tossed.

He walked back to his friends. “Snape murdered the Headmaster!” He shouted out angrily. “I saw it! And the Headmaster begged for his life!”

Hermione looked to Harry with sadness in her eyes. Fate was a bitch.

Suddenly Voldemort, LeStrange, and Lord Malfoy appeared before the Trio.

They heard the cackle of Bellatrix as she summoned Hermione and Ron’s wand to her.

Voldemort looked to his nemisis. “You could save them you know.”

Harry spat out “How?” Pointing his wand to Voldemort.

“By merely dying. You want to save them don’t you?” Voldemort red eyes looked to him.

Harry froze. The scenario from his defense class was happening right now. And he walked away from it successful.

Harry lowered his wand. “My death will protect them all!”

Voldemort looked to him for a moment before sending the killing curse his way and Harry Potter fell down dead.

“Come!” Voldemort commanded to his minnions walking away.

Voldemort approached Draco and Snape and released the spell that was holding them in place.

The wizards immediately fell and kissed the hems of the Dark Lord’s robes. There was a deep feminine laugh as they suddenly noticed that the Dark Lord had transformed into the forms of Sara, Bootstray, and Slightly.

“Please! Stand up, quit groveling, and watch!” Sara coldly told them.

&&&&&&&

Harry felt himself floating in a white nothingness. Soon things became focused and he noticed himself in front of a gate leading to a house. He opened up the gate and noticed a shriveled form in the garden moaning in pain.

The door to the house opened up beckoning him to enter. Harry walked past the sad form, compelled to enter. He entered the house and walked down the hall, noticing no one. He turned and entered the kitchen, noticing his Mum, Dad, and the Headmaster sitting at the table and sipping tea.

Lily rose and hugged her son. “We are so proud of you Harry!

James Potter joined his wife and son. “It takes courage to stand and let someone kill you son.” He touseled his son’s head as he joined them in a big hug.

Harry pulled away from them, feeling a joy that he had never felt before. “So, am I really dead?”

Albus arose from the kitchen table, holding his mug of tea. “Harry, you are at a crossroads. You were a horcrux that Voldemort accidentially created when he murdered your parents.”

Harry looked to the Headmaster. “Snape killed you!” He snarled out.

“Yes Harry he did.” Albus quietly replied with tears in his eyes.

His mum handed Harry a mug of tea and they all sat silently watching one another.

“What was in the garden? It sounded so pitiful.” Harry asked as he sipped his tea.

“Something that cannot be helped Harry.” His mother told him.

They sat in silence a while sipping their tea.

“Can I stay with you?” Harry looked to his mum, eyes brimming with tears. He felt at peace here, something that he had never expirienced in his short life.

“Yes Harry, the decision is yours.” Lily replied. “But if you go back and join your friends, there is a chance that you can save thousands of lives.”

James looked to his son with sadness in his eyes. “You will have to place your trust in those that have never given you a reason to trust them. They are looking out for you and will become important at the end.”

Albus stood up. “Look Harry, to the possible future without you.” Waving his hand at the wall.

Harry looked to the wall and saw a world oppressed, death and destruction present. He sank down onto his knees shaking.

Harry stood up. “Headmaster! You have manipulated me. You knew I was a Horcrux!”

Albus looked to him sadly. “I did what needed to be done Harry. There is only one horcrux that remains. Destroy the snake that Voldemort holds dear to him and you have a chance to free the Wizarding world.

Lily waved her arm to the wall and Harry saw Hermione and Ron holding his dead body and crying, tears splashing on him. He felt a love that he had never experienced before.

It was all too much. He had to go back.

His mum took him into her arms. “You are a fine son Harry. So much love and compassion in you. That will help you out in the end.”

Harry suddenly found himself in the arms of Hermione as Ron knelt next to them, silently crying.

“Hey stop that!” Harry weakly replied. He felt the joy of his friends as they hugged him tightly.

Sara lifted the spell from her brother and Draco. “Go and do what you must do.”

Severus and Draco immediately left the grounds.

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The Golden Trio made their way up to the castle to the location where the Headmaster had fallen, noticing Professor McGonnagal and Hagrid sobbing while looking at the body.

Harry walked to them. “I saw it all. Severus Snape killed the Headmaster.” He then explained the events of the night.

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Minerva McGonnagal addressed the students in the hall at breakfast. “Last night, there was an attack by Deatheaters on Hogwart’s and the Headmaster has been killed. The funeral will be day after tomarrow. Please take a moment of silence to remember Headmaster Dumbledore, one of the finest Headmasters to grace this hall.”

The room was silent as the Deputy Headmistress wept at the podium for the loss of her wizard as Filius moved her away. Ponoma Sprout took the podium. “Classes are dismissed for the day.”

Harry looked up to the Headmaster’s table, glaring at his Defense professor. She met his gaze without turning away.

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Hundreds of witches and wizards arrived to bury the Headmaster. Sara looked over the hundreds of chairs as they began to fill. The Headmaster had certainly been popular. Alastor Moody had made such a scene at the funeral of her presence that she finally walked away to allow the Headmaster have a proper funeral.

Sara stood at the edge of the woods watching the proceeding and saw the ghostly form of the Headmaster.

“You have a choice Headmaster.” She told him as DEATH appeared. “Do you truly want to die, or would you like to see this madness through?”