Appointment With Death ((Plot People))

[Harry Potter]

Harry buttoned up the buttons on the front of his black jacket, his body still facing the full length mirror. This would be the first time he would be out in public. After this night, Harry would have to return into hiding. He didn't want Voldemort or any Death Eater tracking him down and being out in public was a risky move. Harry had done a lot of thinking while he had been in hiding. He even answered some of his questions, and came up with a good theory about him and Voldemort. Hermione had to hear it that was the main reason why he was going to the New Years party that night. Buttoning up the end of the cuffs of the white dress shirt, he pulled the ends of the jacket over it. Picking up the pair of black, shinny dress shoes, he sat down tugging the shoes onto his feet. Tying the shoelaces, Harry took his wand, spun it between his index finger and thumb before tucking inside of his jacket. It was suppose to be a formal party. Luckily, Harry still owned some nice dress robes. With a loud pop, his body vanished reappearing in an old study at the castle.

The sound of music and laughter was dim from within the room, but soon got louder as he headed toward the noise. Stopping by the doors, he scanned the crowds for someone. Not even seeing that person, Harry made his way around the room hoping to get a better view. Running his hands through his messy hair, Harry finally spotted the familiar sight of bushy brown hair. Walking toward the girl her stood behind the two. “Hermione…” he said hoping that his friend would turn around. Hermione had been talking to Ginny, but turned around to see Harry. The two girls smiled at him. “Harry!” Hermione exclaimed before getting all serious again. “Why are you out? It isn’t safe.” Before Harry could get a word in Ginny but in. “You can’t expect him to hide the rest of his life Hermione. I’m going to go get some punch.” Harry said goodbye to Ginny, waiting until she was out of sight. “Hermione I have something to tell you,” he said quietly walking to a less crowded place.

“What is it Harry?” she asked looking around to make sure no one was in ear distance. Harry sighed as he ran his fingers through his black hair tiredly again. It was already messy, what was the point of making it even more untidy? “I finally figured it out. Voldemort might have put a piece of himself inside of me. Voldemort would never be mortal again until I die,” he whispered watching the shock reaction spread across her face. There was silence between the two, but Harry knew that Hermione was thinking everything over. Her mouth opened, but shut instantly. Harry wondered why she didn't say anything until he heard another familar voice.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

Neville Longbottom, Hogwarts former Gryffindor geek, was chatting it up with a willowy brunette girl at the bar when the unexpected happened. Harry Potter, savior of the wizarding world, walked in. Missing for several months, Harry had been incommunicado. When Ron and Hermione had been grilled by D.A. members, they had only shrugged their shoulders. Harry hadn't even told his best friends where he was going. "Excuse me, Violette. I need to talk to someone," Neville left the girl with a surprised look on her face. She had captivated his attention, that was true, but the sudden appearance of Harry was more important. Why had he come out of hiding? What was he doing here after avoiding everyone that he held dear for months? Walking over to Harry and Hermione, Neville heard the two conversing in low tones. Not really wanting to interrupt the private conversation, he stood back. Unfortunately, he heard Harry say words that he dreaded. ' Until I die."

"Harry." Neville said his name then put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. " What is going on? You seem so...so...," words suddenly failed him. Neville had something important to say, but he couldn't get it out since a huge lump had now formed in his throat. Neville had only seen that look in Harry's eyes once before, and it was right before they had gone to the Department of Mysteries in their fifth year. He was there prepared to fight, and Neville had an inkling with who it was. "It's time. It's time, isn't it, Harry?" Neville stuttered over his words like when he was a teenager at Hogwarts. Neville's new found confidence was suddenly lost, and he could feel that old awkwardness take over. "It ends here tonight, doesn't it?"

[Harry Potter]

Harry looked over his shoulder to see Neville Longbottom standing directly behind him. He listened to his friend's words and just as Neville finished there was silence. The word 'end' echoed in Harry's mind. Harry sighed as he shook his head, the echoing sounds dying down. "I don't know, Neville. If I knew the answer then I wouldn't be here tonight," he spoke looking back at Hermione who just stood there silent. Harry knew she was thinking this all over, but Hermione always had something to say or a well thought out plan. "I don't think the Death Eaters have tracked me yet, but I needed to know Hermione's advice." Harry looked back toward his friend, a faint smile on his lips. Hermione just sighed and shook her head. "I think your right Harry, about a piece of him being inside of you," she spoke, bringing her hand up to her curly hair. "We shouldn't be discussing this here. Let’s go find Ron," Harry suggested looking at the crowd for flaming red hair. He spotted Mrs. Weasley with her two sons Charlie and Bill talking to Professor McGonagall, but still no sign of Ron.

He abruptly stopped his searching upon hearing loud shrieks fill the hall. Noticing Hermione fall forward limb, he caught his friend setting her down up against the wall. Harry quickly took out his wand standing up as fast as he could. The hall was echoing with the screams of people trying to cover. There were at least a dozen or so death eaters firing spells all over the place. One by one, like flies, people slumped over on the ground, knocked out. Harry only hoped they were just knocked out. "Neville watch Hermione!" he yelled above the screams holding his wand out in front of him. Quickly heading into the massacre, Harry saw the rest of the order with their wands in ready. "Expelliarmus!" he called, a green light hitting toward one of the death eaters with a pointed wand at him. They quickly disarmed the spell, nothing happening. "Florikus!" he called again hoping that the blast of air would knock the death eater down. It worked leaving Harry time to head over toward the other side of the room.

Harry completely stopped in his spot, his body frozen. His green eyes fell upon 'him' and Neville’s words once again echoed in his head. "It ends here tonight, doesn't it?" He had arrived.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

Neville gulped. The two men looked each other in the eye sharing a bond that no one else would be able to understand. They shared a prophecy. A prophecy that could of been about either one of them. Unfortunately, it seemed that Harry had to share the brunt of this cursed gift. Neville couldn't help but let his eyes linger to the scar on Harry's forehead. That scar had marked Harry as the one who would have to eventually face Voldemort in the final battle. When that battle would come, no one had knew. Unfortunately for Harry and his close knit group of friends, it seemed that the dreaded end had come. "It's okay, Harry. We are all with you. If this is it, you won't face him alone."

"Aaaaahhhh!," Neville Longbottom looked over and saw Cassandra Blackfire, surprisingly standing beside a Slytherin, scream and point to the door. Not knowing her to be afraid of anything, he turned quickly to look at the door. More screams erupted as he saw spells begin to come through opening that lead to the dance hall. Death Eaters began to flood the room. Pulling out his wand, his saw Hermione crumple to the ground out of the corner of his eye. Neville was having a hard time taking it all in. Suddenly, Harry screamed, "Neville, watch Hermione!" Harry put his fear aside and ran into the fray while Neville watched with his mouth open.

What should he do? Should he stay here and protect Hermione, or should he go and confront the Death Eaters? He was petrified, but he could also feel his inner Lion roaring in his chest. Hermione groaned and this zapped Neville out of his thoughts. " Hermione...Hermione!" Neville knelt down and shook his friend on the shoulder. Hermione wasn't waking up. Looking up, people were falling left and right from the Death Eater's curses. The Order of the Phoenix was stepping into action. To his left, Bill Weasley was dueling a black haired death eater he didn't recognize. Neville had finally made his decision. Making sure that Hermione was out of harm's way, Neville stood up. Biting his lip, he stepped into the fight.

[voldemort]

Tonight was the night. The night everything would fall into his favour, into his power. He was ready. He could feel everything he believed in and everything that would soon be his coursing through his veins. He had been waiting so long for this moment, for the moment when everything that should have been his 17 years ago was finally going to become his. Lord Voldemort pulled the hood over his head and tucked his wand in his cloak. He had strength, more than he had years ago. It had taken a long time for him to get to where he was at this moment, and even through all the frustration that surfaced during that time… Voldemort was most definitely anxious and pleased to be able to move about and do the things he had been planning for years. Tonight was the night that Harry Potter would die and the night when Lord Voldemort would return to full power of the wizarding world.

“Master…” Great. Voldemort turned to see Wormtail cowering by the doorway. “We’re ready.” He whimpered. Voldemort scowled and strode over to the whimpering man, “I’ll say when we are ready.” He spat down at Wormtail before shoving past him into the adjoining room where his best Death Eaters were gathered in waiting. Without a word, Voldemort apparated out of the room, knowing they would follow suit. In moments, Voldemort reappeared at Lyme Hall. Soon there were a lot of other pops behind him and Voldemort continued toward the hall without speaking. They were quiet, knowing that everyone would be too busy to care about anything but their good time. Their good time that was about to be ruined. With his band of Death Eaters, Voldemort entered the hall quietly with three Death Eaters in front of him and the rest behind him. He wouldn’t deal with any attacks until Potter delivered his pathetic attempt.

“Go.” He told the Death Eater diagonally to his right just as they entered the main party room. There was a flash and a girl, Voldemort recognized her as Granger, fell to the ground. The whole place broke out in chaos. The rest of the Death Eaters started attacking and soon it was just him standing in the door way. Voldemort took his first step forward as Potter moved his little friend out of harm’s way. Then they were face to face separated by ten feet of ground. Voldemort held malice in his eyes as he stared Potter down. He ignored the shrieks and screams of pain from all around him and raised his wand, pointed perfectly at Potter.

There was silence and Voldemort finally spoke, “You silly boy,” his eyes flickered with slight amusement but amusement that was sadistic, “do you really think you can defeat me? This is a new age, a new dawn of time. Soon the wizarding world will be mine once more and you? You are just a blockade on the road to victory. A blockade that is easily destroyed.” Voldemort smirked as a bright flash of green burst to his right. Avada Kedavra, he thought, will be your end Potter.

[Harry Potter]

Harry stood frozen in his spot, his wand pointing at the same length of Voldemort's. There were even more shrieks as people recognized who had paid them a little visit. Luckily, the mobs of people escaping were not going anywhere near the two. Harry listened to Voldemort little take over the wizarding world speech. He kept calm on the outside, but the inside he was just as afraid as he was during his other encounters. Once Voldemort was finished, Harry’s green eyes flickered with anger. “You don’t scare me anymore Voldemort,” he began, his wand still pointing at the dark lord. “I will not let another dark age haunt the wizarding world, leaving it in fear because one man wants revenge.” Harry knew more than he had since the beginning of the year about the dark lord. Ever since he had been hiding, trying to find the pieces of Voldemort, he had learned a lot. “Your name might still make some cringe in fear, but not me. All people have to do is remember the ones that have been killed in any of your massacres and they’ll find the strength to not be afraid,” Harry spoke, blocking out all the shrieks around him. In his own little world, it just was just him and Voldemort, no one else around, just Harry and his enemy.

“For eighteen years you have been stopped. At least you came here tonight to try to kill me personally then have one of your death eaters finish the job for you.” Harry wanted to get this over with. End the fear to all witches and wizards that still lurked in their mind. There shouldn’t be anymore lives at stake. “This ends here tonight, Voldemort. All the lives that you took, my parents especially, Sirus, will be revenged.” Harry quickly flicked his wand yelling out a spell. “Chaleur baton!”

[voldemort]

Voldemort’s wand was still positioned perfectly, the tip pointed at Harry. He listened to Harry go on about the world and how it was better off without him. None of it registered in Voldemort’s mind. The world would be his. With or without Potter in it, preferably without. His wand was at the ready and he was in a calm stance, instead of most usual dueling stances. The only thing his mind was on was Potter’s death, and how terrifying it was going to be for the boy. His eyes remained on Potter, watching his mouth move. It went up and down, spilling useless words from his vile mouth. Finally, Voldemort saw the all too familiar flicker of anxiety in Potter’s eyes. At the same time the boy casted chaleu baton, Voldemort cast expelliarmus. Potter’s wand flew from his hand and Voldemort let out an evil laugh. He flicked his own wand and immediately Potter’s wand flew to his hand. Gripping the wood in his left hand, he smirked at the foolish boy in front of him.

He advanced toward Potter, both wands pointed toward him. “Foolish, ignorant, child. You can not defeat me. Your precious mother isn’t here to save you now. Tonight, you will get what you had coming to you that fateful day.” Voldemort stopped when he was four feet away from him. “Tonight, you will be begging for mercy.” Taking another step forward and swinging in a semi circle over his right shoulder so his left leg was now in front of his right. Potter’s wand was positioned straight in front of him and his wand was positioned over his head. “Crucio!” Blasts of colour flew from both wands at the same time and flew into Potter. Immediately a scream erupted from his lips. Voldemort watched with a sadistic glint in his eyes as the coloured beams bore themselves into the boy. Potter writhed in the air and then fell to the ground when Voldemort dropped his wand. Enough playing around.

The Dark Lord stood over Potter, his wand pointed at him and Potter’s at his side; “Tell me, how does it feel to know that your whole life was doomed from the beginning?” he whispered with a smirk. And with a careless flick of his wrist, and the fateful words of “Avada Kedavra!” Harry Potter, the boy who lived, was no longer living. Voldemort stared down at Potter’s lifeless body and then he felt the energy that had coming in abundance only moments before was slowly draining from him. Potter’s wand fell to the ground and rolled into the chaos and the Dark Lord sank to the ground beside the boy’s body.

That was when the most unexpected happened.

[Professor Neville Longbottom]

It all happened in slow motion. The Death Eater that Neville was fighting fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. He wasn't dead, but Neville's last jinx had packed a wallop even he didn't know he had in him. In front of him, he saw Voldemort and Harry facing each other. With all the chaos around them, no one else noticed the two sworn enemies. Everyone was in engaged in some sort of a battle or another. Bill, with his pregnant wife close by, were each fighting a Death Eater. Most of the D.A. and Order of the Phoenix were doing the same. Neville watched as good and evil came together in what seemed to be a final epic battle. No one held back. Everyone knew they were fighting over the fate of the wizarding world, and neither good nor evil had any attention of losing.

For a moment, Neville's view was blocked of Harry and Voldemort as another Death Eater decided he wanted to take on Neville. Neville defeated him quickly. As his opponent fell, Neville's stomach turned at what he saw. Not only did Voldemort have his wand trained on Harry, but Harry's wand was floating ominously above the snake like man's head. " Harry!" cried Neville as he began to advance on the two duelists. Suddenly, identical curses flew out of both wands. Harry crumpled to the ground. Neville's feet couldn't move fast enough as he saw Voldemort deal the killing blow to Harry. " Harry, No!" screamed Neville. Pushing forward, he then saw the most unusual thing happen.

Voldemort fell to the ground next to Harry. As Neville approached with tears streaming down his face, something took over Neville. That familiar lion that sometimes roared in his chest surfaced as he stood over The Boy who Lived, and his killer, Lord Voldemort. Voldemort weakly looked up at Neville. With his wand in hand, Neville stood over Voldemort. " I never thought it would come to this," he said out loud. No one had noticed that Harry and Voldemort had fallen. No one saw that Lord Voldemort was now at the mercy of Neville Longbottom. Overcome with pure emotion, Neville spoke. "This is for my friends, for my parents, and for Harry." He looked Voldemort straight in his slitted eyes. "Avada Kedavra!" A surge of green light forced its way out of his wand and hit Voldemort.

After a few seconds, the green light that had blinded Neville's eyes dissipated. Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter lay dead at Neville Longbottom's feet. Neville's thoughts cleared for a moment and the sudden realization of what he just did hit him. "Oh Merlin," Neville gulped,"I killed Voldemort." Neville's eyes fluttered, and he fell to the ground as he lost consciousness.

[Headmaster Dumbledore]

Dumbledore knew the night was doomed before it even started. He had been informed by a man on the inside of the Dark Lord’s forces that they were planning to attack on New Year. They couldn’t even give the people that one special night to spend. He hadn’t originally thought of going to the Bash, though he knew he would enjoy it enough. Now, he had to go though, because now he had to protect his students and the people who were attending. He just hoped he wouldn’t be too late. He had tried as hard as he could to convince people at the ministry that the attack was going to happen, but no matter how much proof Albus gave them, they didn’t believe him. It wasn’t until a quarter until midnight that they finally agreed to go to the Hall and check things out. They arrived a minute to midnight and the moment they gained their feet from apparating, it was like fireworks burst into the night sky. Accompanied by screams.

An Auror chuckled, “Happy New Year, men.” There were some replies but Albus glared at them. “You fools! Those aren’t screams of joy! Those are screams of anguish!” It was then that they seemed to catch on, and they hurried inside the hall. Albus reached the entrance to the mayhem first. There were screams and flashes of colour everywhere. Immediately the Aurors went into action, arresting and disarming most of the Death Eaters. Albus had other thoughts on his mind. There in the center of the floor, completely ignored, were three bodies. Three bodies of which pained and excited Albus to see. They were all past students of his, two of them good and one of them as evil as it could get. Albus made his way, shoving past all the people to get to the center of the room. Neville Longbottom was still breathing, though unconscious. Harry Potter had a look of hatred and anger on his face and Voldemort looked like he was wilting. Albus didn’t have to find a pulse to know they were dead.

Albus spent the next half hour defending the bodies from Death Eaters. Soon, most of them were rounded up with exception of a few who had disappeared. The Aurors apparated their prisoners to Azkaban and Albus breathed in, watching the wounded students groan in pain. “Oh, dear!” He heard from behind him. Pomfrey immediately went to work. Fudge walked up to Dumbledore and looked down at the bodies. “Are- are they all…?” Albus shook his head, “Just two…” Fudge looked down, “Surely not…” Albus nodded this time, “Harry and Tom are both dead, Neville is the only to have survived. I would assume that Tom killed Harry and Neville killed Tom.” Fudge stared in disbelief. He sighed, “We better get this place cleaned up, shall we notify the Dursleys?” Albus looked down at Harry, his scar showing through his black hair. “I will, let’s get this under control first.”

It was so sad to see such a talented man die at such a young age.