A Potter Secret

Facing Voldemort

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Isabella shares a hug with Mrs. Weasley, trying to comfort her. George kneels by Isabella, eyes pleading. "All will be set right," Isabella assures. "I promise you. This will not stand." George smiles and nods sadly. Isabella then turns to Ron. "Ron. I draw upon your promise now. Please keep your word."

More tears gather in Ron's eyes and he hugs Isabella. "I'll miss you, Izzy. I wish this didn't need to happen."

Isabella smiles in return. "I wish the same thing but it must. Goodbye, Ron. Tell everyone I'm sorry and I love them." With that, Isabella turns and runs out of the Great Hall.

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The castle is eerily quiet as Harry walks, the portraits he passes empty. As he reaches the end of the corridor, he turns and stops. In the shadows of an alcove, Hermione murmurs to Ron, their faces close. For a long moment, Harry simply watches them. Then, as if sensing his presence, Hermione turns. Instantly, she runs to him. Ron follows. "Where've you been?" Hermione demands.

Ron starts up next. "We thought you'd gone to the forest, we thought you might be-"

"I'm going there now," Harry decides.

"Are you mad! No!" Ron shouts.

"It's meant to be," Harry replies.

"Rubbish! You can't just give yourself up to him-" Ron yells.

Hermione squeezes Ron's arm, silencing him. "What is it, Harry? What is it you know?" Hermione asks. Ron studies her face, then looks back to Harry.

"There's a reason I can hear them, the Horcruxes," Harry replies. Hermione begins to shake her head, not wanting to believe. Harry simply nods, touches the center of his chest. "I think I've known for awhile. I think you've known too."

Hermione stands still, miserable. "I'll go with you. I'll-" Hermione can't continues as she falters hopelessly as a single tear traces her cheek. Harry reaches out, wipes it away.

"Kill the snake. Kill the snake and then it's just him. Then it will be over," Harry reminds.

He turns then, starting to run. Before he's far, Ron pulls out his wand and cries, "Stupefy." Harry falls to the ground.

"Ron, what are you doing?" Hermione demands, falling to Harry's side.

Ron sighs and tucks his wand away. "I'm- I'm keeping my promise to Isabella. She- she made me swear not to tell anyone and to keep Harry from leaving. She and Harry are connected. They share the Horcrux. She's known for years, Hermione. She's known she would die to protect Harry and all of us."

Hermione's eyes well up and she starts to sob. Ron hugs her quickly before picking Harry up. "Come on. We need to tie him up for when he wakes up."

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Neville and Oliver Wood appear in the Entrance Hall far below, carrying the body of a smallish boy, Nigel. "I'll take him from here," Oliver assures. Oliver throws Nigel over his shoulder, enters the Great Hall. Neville watches them go, looking, for a moment, very old. Then, wearily, he turns, heading back outside.

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"It's all right. We're going to get you inside," Ginny assures. Ginny crouches over the tiny Ravenclaw girl, who is crying.

"I kept calling. No one came," the young girl cries.

"Don't worry. I won't leave you. I promise," Ginny swears. Ginny strokes the sobbing girl's hair, her own face haunted by sorrow.

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Isabella reaches the Forest's edge, out of breath. Within, further on, she can see Dementors drifting within the trees. Isabella starts to enter, then pauses, reaches into her pocket and removes the Snitch she took from Harry. Eyes the words etched upon it, "I open at the close." Isabella frowns, then closes her eyes, bringing the metal orb to her lips. Her fingers tremble, then lowers her hand, watching as the metal shell falls away to reveal the resurrection stone. a jagged crack runs down its center, along the line representing the Elder Wand. The triangle and circle, representing the Cloak and Stone, are faintly visible. Isabella stares at it, then closes her eyes and begins to roll the Stone over in her hand. "Once. Twice. Thrice," Isabella mumbles.

Isabella stands for a moment and then, slowly, opens her eyes. Three people stand within the Forest. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Severus Snape. Severus eyes her lovingly and beckons her forth. As if in a dream, Isabella drifts through the trees, stops before him. "You've been so brave, sweetie," Severus assures.

"Why are you here? All of you?" Isabella asks.

"We never left, dear," Severus assures.

"Does it hurt? Dying?" Isabella asks, nerves getting to her.

"Quicker than falling asleep," Sirius assures.

"And he will want it to be quick," Remus reminds.

"You're nearly there, Sweetie," Severus smiles.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want any of you to die for me. Neither did Harry. And Remus, your son," Isabella remembers.

"Others will tell him what his mother and father died for. Someday he'll understand," Remus promises. A chill breeze shakes the trees. Isabella looks ahead.

"I'm scared," Isabella whispers. "You'll stay with me?"

"Until the end," Severus swears.

"He won't be able to see you?" Isabella checks.

Sirius shakes his head, gesturing to Isabella's heart. "No. We're here, you see," Sirius smiles.

Isabella turns to Severus. "Stay close to me," Isabella pleads.

"Always," Severus assures. Isabella glances back, toward the Forest's Edge, takes a last look at the castle in the distance, then sets off. Dozens of dementors drift amongst the smoking trees, but her guides insulate her, and they merely peel away. Isabella walks on, her legs driving him, until light splinters the trees ahead, and a clearing comes into view.

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A fire burns, its light flickering over the throng of death eaters present. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, weary with fear, sit apart. Bellatrix paces in and out of the shadows, muttering madly. And then there is Voldemort, who stands with his head bowed, his skeletal hands folded over the Elder Wand. Nagini lays in a heavy coil at his feet. Yaxley enters the clearing. "No sign of him, my Lord," Yaxley says.

Voldemort nods, unmoving. "I thought he would come. I was, it seems mistaken," Voldemort replies.

"You weren't," Isabella interrupts.

All eyes shift to Harry, standing at the clearing's edge. She lets the Resurrection Stone tumble from her fingers and Sirius, Lupin and, lastly, Severus, all vanish. Isabella steps into the firelight. "IZZY! NO! WHAT'RE YEH DOIN' 'ERE!" Hagrid demands. Hagrid is trussed to a tree. The branches shake violently as he tries to break free.

"Quiet!" Yaxley shouts.

He flicks his wand and Hagrid slumps, goes silent. "You're not Harry Potter," Voldemort snarls.

"You're right," Isabella replies. "I'm not. But you asked for Potter; you didn't realize there were two. My name is Isabella Potter and I am Harry's sister."

Voldemort pauses for a moment before smiling. "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have something better than Harry Potter. Take down his last family, we take down his hope and love."

A cackling laugh rises on the air and Isabella turns, seeing Bellatrix glancing eagerly from Isabella to Voldemort. Voldemort takes a step forward and the flickering flames wash over his pale skin. He tilts his head to the side. A smile curls on his mouth. "Isabella Potter. Come to die," Voldemort smiles. Nagini hisses behind her protective guard of Death Eaters. Isabella's gaze shifts to Nagini when Voldemort raises his wand. Scarlet flickers in his eyes. Then a bolt of green light shatters the night and all is white.

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