It was finally done. Voldemort was gone for good, and all it took was one brassed off Mr. Harry Potter.
* * *
Voldemort came up with the most brilliant idea of attacking Harry point blank at his aunt and uncle's home on Privet Drive, three days into summer holiday after Harry's fifth year. The plan was exceedingly simple. Voldemort, Wormtail, the elder Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, and a few other Death Eaters would surround the house at 7:00 am on Monday morning, a few days after Harry's return from Hogwarts. Carefully concealing themselves, they would wait for Vernon Dursley to leave for whatever pointless task he did during the week. As soon as he left, Lucius Malfoy would follow him and capture him, holding him until Vernon was expected back. Prior to his return to the house he would be put under the Imperious Curse and instructed to take a small device into the house. Once Vernon activated it, under Voldemort's command, it would effectively dispel the wards surrounding the Dursley home, allowing Voldemort and company full access to one Harry Potter. By the time the alarms sounded and Dumbledore appeared, Potter would be dead.
A brilliantly simple plan that went off without a hitch, that is, until Voldemort decided to allow Harry to watch as he tortured each of the Dursleys.
* * *
Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape were enjoying a spot of tea and a game of wizards chess at 7:50 Monday evening. As usual, Snape was losing spectacularly to Dumbledore. They were inside Dumbledore's office, sitting in the large, plush chairs in front of the fireplace, Fawkes hacking up feathers behind them. He was not far off from his change, and he was looking rather pitiful.
"I swear that you are cheating, Albus. No one can possibly be this good at chess." Snape glared at the Headmaster as another one of his pieces was smashed to hell by the older wizard's knight.
"Oh come now, Severus. You know that I would never do such a thing," Dumbledore replied, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Snape smiled wryly. "I know no such thing. You know I-"
At that moment invisible sirens started ringing all over the Headmaster's office and the school grounds.
"Harry!" Dumbledore yelled, flying out of the office with remarkable speed, Snape running to keep up.
"What's wrong, Albus?" Severus yelled as they ran down the hall, other teachers joining them as they ran toward the front door of the school.
"The wards around the Dursley home have been breached. Voldemort has found a way to get to Harry! We must hurry!" Dumbledore and the teachers ran faster.
* * *
Reading in his room, Harry's head shot up as heard the doors slam open downstairs and his scar started to burn. He fought the pain and quickly opened the door to Hedwig's cage, telling her to go find help. He grabbed his wand out from under his pillow and hid it up the long sleeve of his shirt as three Death Eaters stormed into his room. He struggled in vain as they carried him downstairs and drug him into the Dursley's living room to stand before Voldemort.
"Well, well, at last, Mr. Potter. I always knew Dumbledore would not keep you from my grasp."
"Okay, Voldemort, you have me! Leave them alone!" Harry screamed, looking at his uncle, aunt and cousin cowering before the other Death Eaters. "It's me you want! Let them live!"
"Well, since you value their lives...I think not. Crucio!" Voldemort aimed his wand at Dudley, and Harry watched in horror as Dudley writhed on the ground, screaming in pain and terror.
Voldemort nodded, and Crabbe and Goyle placed the Cruciatus curse upon Harry's aunt and uncle. Voldemort looked at Harry and grinned. "I fear it is time to go. Others will be here soon, and we do not wish to be disturbed." Voldemort walked out of the house, the Death Eaters following behind, dragging Harry with them. As soon as they were clear, Voldemort uttered a spell and Harry screamed, horrified, as the house that had been the only home he had known for ten years was completely incinerated, his only remaining family left to burn to death. Harry fought not to throw up as he heard their final screams, and something inside him snapped.
Harry glared at Voldemort, mustering up all the pain and anger and hatred he had ever felt, concentrating it all on the thing that stood before him. The emotions double and tripled as he watched Voldemort laugh at the destruction of his family. In a moment of brute strength that amazed Harry later, he ripped himself away from Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eater who was holding him. He pulled his wand and aimed it at Voldemort, screaming one simple word: "DIE!"
The explosion of power that came from Harry's wand blew the surrounding Death Eaters 20 feet away, effectively knocking them all unconscious. The stream of magic hit Voldemort with the force of a cannon, piercing into him, straight through the heart, incinerating what was left of his soul. Harry watched as Voldemort's body exploded, the small pieces of flesh turning to ash as they dropped to the ground.
Tears welled up in Harry's eyes as he looked back at the house he had hated for so many years, and sobs wracked his body as he thought of the family who would never enjoy another day eating together, watching television together. The tears streamed as the guilt engulfed him, the shame that he could not save them. He had despised them for so long, he would have enjoyed the irony that it took his love for them to destroy the one he truly hated, the one he was destined to destroy. He would have laughed at the absurdity of the situation if he weren't so damn near hysterical.
* * * *
Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Madame Pomfrey, Professors Sprout, Hooch, and Flitwick, among others, apparated to Privet Drive, while Hagrid took a portkey to the Ministry of Magic to get help. They all started towards house number 4 and halted mid-stride, their eyes going wide. They watched as Harry wrenched himself from the grasp of his attackers, watched as Harry raised his wand and screamed "DIE!", watched as the Death Eaters flew back, Lucius Malfoy landing in a crumpled heap at Snape's feet. They watched as Voldemort was utterly and completely destroyed. And they watched as Harry looked upon his lost home with utter despair, crumpling to the ground, lost in his sorrow and pain.
Each of the teachers took charge of the Death Eaters, two keeping a very close eye on Wormtail, who could clear the name of Sirius Black, as Snape and Dumbledore went to see to Harry.