The earth seems to have been turned upside down like a fence that has been overturned. It is in disarray. previously, the wilted bushes and pine trees that had been recovered by the azure light are once again withering under the onslaught of thunder and black mist. The air is clearing, but there is an evil force of anger and power that has not subsided, still simmering and waiting to be unleashed.
The Death Eaters were on edge, shivering as they recalled how terrifying the Dark Lord's wrath had been, and expecting him to be sentimental at this moment was just wishful thinking.
No one dared to press for details, and the exact nature of that altar was something only the Dark Lord himself seemed to understand.
"Any conspiracy or deception is useless against the power of Voldemort."
Voldemort spoke in a whisper, clearly intending not to explain, but covering up by saying so anyway, and then, he finally looked at Harry.
The final moment had come, and Harry knew it well. He breathed a sigh of relief, and with Voldemort's gaze upon him, there was no chance for Snape to take him away, which was for the best.
Harry slowly bent down, picked up the wand that had fallen to the ground earlier, and stared at Voldemort with his hate-filled green eyes.
"It seems you're well prepared, Potter?"
Voldemort walked slowly closer, smiled softly at his Death Eaters, and said,
"I believe you've seen how foolish it is to think this boy is stronger than me. Now, I must finally set the record straight. Harry Potter's escape from my hand was nothing more than a stroke of luck. This will be the last act of my resurrection ceremony. I will kill him and prove my power right here, right now, in front of all of you."
Here, there's no Dumbledore and Bran to protect you, nor is there a mother willing to make a sacrifice for you, Potter. I see you have your wand. Come on, let the Death Eaters see, let them see your body so they won't doubt who is truly more powerful."
A drop of sweat fell from Lucius Malfoy's temple, and his heart tightened within.
If Harry Potter had died here, would the young and barely experienced Brian really have the confidence to stand and fight against Voldemort alongside the aging and fragile Dumbledore?
Looking at the pale boy holding a wand walking down from the ruins, Lucius had to admit that Harry Potter's bravery was worthy of admiration. As a boy who had not yet reached adulthood, his calm attitude towards death was undoubtedly very moving.
Lucius knew a little more about Harry Potter than anyone else. He had always been asking his son about Harry's status in school. He was well aware that Harry was just an impulsive boy without much brainpower. Now, he genuinely hoped that Harry would show a bit of magic.
A heavy solemnity pressed on everyone's hearts. Harry's steps were a little unsteady as he approached the body that had been moved to the gravestone by Barty Crouch Jr. He stood beside Ron and Hermione, who were lying on the ground together. After a final glance at his two friends whose eyes had lost their spark, he took a deep breath and then fixed his resolute gaze on Voldemort.
The Death Eaters had formed a large circle, surrounding Voldemort and Harry, waiting for the outcome of this comical and solemn duel.
"Have you ever studied dueling, Harry Potter?"
Voldemort's red eyes glowed in the darkness.
Harry heard this and remembered Professor Brian. He had studied dueling with this remarkable wizard for over a year, knew how much he had progressed, and was bold enough to say that he could now defeat any opponent who had never learned the art before ten to one. However, it was no use.
Professor Brian could hold off a spell from Dumbledore in fifth year, but he couldn't match Voldemort at this age.
"Let us bow to each other, Harry."
Voldemort bent his knees, but his serpentine face remained fixed on Harry.
"Come on, Harry, we must follow the protocol. Dumbledore and Brian would certainly want you to show good manners. Bow to Death, Harry."
Harry didn't move. His emerald eyes were flaming with anger. He could die, but he wouldn't accept to be toyed with.
"I said, bow."
Voldemort calmly raised his wand - Harry felt his spine bend as the oppressive gravity that had flowed through Hermione and Ron before they died surged back, leaving him no room for resistance or even seeing where the attack was coming from.
Harry was determined to at least cast a spell - for his parents who had sacrificed themselves to save his life, for Ron and Hermione who had accompanied him all the way, for Professor Brian who had carefully taught him, for Sirius's twelve years of imprisonment, for Remus's years of turmoil, for Hagrid, and for Dumbledore.
"Very good," Voldemort whispered, raised his wand, and the pressure on Harry's back vanished. "Now - we duel."
Harry could see that, aside from his deep magic powers, Voldemort was also a master of dueling skills.
The moment Voldemort's voice landed, Harry caught a glimpse of the afterimage of Voldemort's wand.
He wouldn't kill himself so easily. He would torture himself first, watching as he revealed pain, proving how weak he was in front of Voldemort - predicting the opponent's attack intentions!
Harry thrust his wand out sharply, just as his protective charm formed it shattered in a burst of air, sweeping over him with unstoppable force and flinging him through the air. His back slammed into a log
It was strange; the force was almost like being struck by a speeding car and slamming into a wall. Normally, fainting would have been light, and severe injury with blood spilling would have been quite normal. But this heavy blow didn't cause him any pain at all; it was just—
A faint hint of scarlet appeared on his lips. This wasn't from his throat, but rather from biting his tongue.
"Oh, it looks like you've picked up a few tricks, haven't you? This can add a bit of fun to the game."
When the smoke cleared, Voldemort watched as Harry, who had coughed up a mouthful of blood and was dusty from the ground, coughed and struggled to get up. The shadow of anger crossed his red eyes after the attack failed.
"Do you need a rest, Harry? Or would you like to try again?"
Harry didn't answer. His head was dizzy. This wasn't from the impact, but rather from Voldemort's violent destruction of his magic, causing a fierce fluctuation of magic within him.
"Do you want to try again?" Voldemort spoke softly. "Answer me, Legilimens!"
Harry's instinctive move was to dodge, but his blurred vision caused him to misjudge, and he suddenly froze in place. He had experienced this feeling many times in class - the Killing Curse! He had been hit!
Fear and anger seemed to have gone away. A sense of happiness overshadowed Harry's thoughts, as if he was in a dream, knowing it was a dream, but the wonderful dream was too beautiful to let go.
Say "No."
A dreamlike voice convinced him
"I won't say," said a voice deep in his mind. "I won't answer."
Say "No."
Say "No, don't answer."
Say "No."
"I won't say!"
The words burst out of Harry's mouth, echoing in the air above the cemetery. The dreamy state suddenly vanished, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
"Don't you speak?"
Voldemort whispered,
"You refuse to say 'No'? Harry, I'll teach you the beauty of obedience again. Perhaps, you need a little more pain?"
Harry's consciousness cleared, and just before Voldemort's wand struck and caused an explosion, Harry dove behind a marble tombstone.
"We're not playing hide and seek, Harry,"
Voldemort smiled coldly,
"You know you can't escape me, Harry. Does that mean you're tired of our duel? If so, I can end it, just as you wish."
Harry knew that Voldemort could put him in a position where he couldn't move at all, and if he did, he wouldn't be able to cast a single counter-spell. He certainly didn't want to die without ever releasing an attack!
"Avada Kedavra!"
As Harry stepped out from behind the tombstone, Voldemort brought his wand down from above, and a barrier of dazzling green light rushed towards Harry like lightning. Before being struck by the deadly magic, Harry stood his ground, his emerald eyes flashing with a bright, fearless light.
Harry thought, Let everything end now.
"Expelliarmus!"
The red bolt of lightning surged towards the green light, colliding with it.
(Chapter End)
