Harry ran. He ran down the corridors, wincing as he heard an explosion off in the distance. He turned the corner and nearly ran into a crowd of confused students.

"What's going on?" One of them shouted as he ran past.

"Death Eaters are attacking the school!" Harry shouted back "Get back to your dorms and stick together."

He started to run off again before being knocked to the floor by an explosion. He quickly rolled to his feet and pointed his wand at the crumbling hole in the wall. Three Death Eaters stormed through the hole, firing binding and stunning curses down at the helpless students.

Harry growled and dropped into a dueling stance, quickly tossing out a disarming hex followed with a blasting curse at one of the Death Eaters.

The Death Eater in question flew against the wall and smacked into it with a sickening crunch. Their mask fell off to reveal the familiar face of Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix's husband. He slowly rose to his feet, raising his wand to counterattack.

One of the other Death Eater's threw off their masks, revealing themselves to be Bellatrix. She hissed:

"Take care of the students, I have ickle Potter."

She laughed and fired a bone-shattering curse at Harry. He dodged to the side, letting it impact the castle wall behind him. Harry felt a familiar anger and power course through his body.

Harry roared as he summoned a wall of fire, drawing from the torches around them and scorching where Bellatrix stood. She laughed maniacally and rolled out of the way, sending a slicing curse into Harry's side before banishing him across the room. Harry grunted as he felt himself impact against one of the pillars. He tasted blood as he shambled back to his feet.

"Young Potter has grown powerful." Bellatrix snickered "But power isn't everything boy!"

She spun with elegance and grace that Harry found hard to keep up with. He quickly realized the problem with his duels with Merlin. Merlin always challenged him to make him move. Bellatrix was always moving.

Harry felt a slicing curse cut across his shoulder before he murmured an incantation and black smoke rolled across the floor towards Bellatrix. She cackled and brushed her wand to the side, summoning a wind from the hole to disperse the fog. He glanced to the side to see Rabastan and Rodolphus fighting some of the students. Many were on the floor, unmoving.

Harry fell on his backfoot, trying to think up a strategy as Bellatrix started to send curse after curse at him. Harry found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the barrage of thin slicing curses and powerful banishing hexes. Harry winced as he felt a curse cut across his arm. He growled and summoned another fire, skirting it across the floor towards Bellatrix. He quickly cut it off and as she prepared to counter it, he threw a slicing curse at her neck.

She dodged to the side but it cut her ear, slicing it nearly halfway off. She yelped and glared at Harry before starting on another barrage. This time the tempo seemed to increase and she threw a blasting curse at the floor, causing Harry to be knocked to the floor. As he struggled to get to his feet, Bellatrix started to tear him apart. A gash across his leg, a slice across his chest. Harry managed to stumble to his feet and gritted his teeth. He roared and a large shield suddenly enveloped the space between her and him. Bellatrix was thrown back as one of her curses bounced back and hit her instead.

She rose to her feet coughing, blood pooling around her chest. She glared at him before grinning and starting to laugh.

"Potter still has a few tricks left!" Her expression suddenly darkened. "Now it's time for Potty to d-"

She was cut off as she suddenly was thrown against the wall. Harry dropped his shield and looked to find the Slytherin who was spying on him before in the library. The teenager glanced over at him before throwing a curse at Bellatrix. She easily parried it aside and started laughing again.

"Awweee. An ickle student trying to protect the Chosen One? How sweet." She grinned and quickly disarmed the Slytherin, throwing him against the wall and sending a killing curse at him.

Harry banished a piece of stone, intercepting the killing curse. He growled and stood his ground, summoning fire once again. This time it twisted into three strands and dived for her. Not waiting for Bellatrix's response, he threw a cutting curse at her hand, narrowly cutting the tips of her fingers. She cried out and banished two strands of the fire before the last one whirled around her, chaining her feet to the floor.

Harry threw a splintering curse at her wand, causing cracks to appear up and down it before she managed to dispel it. She glared at him as she tried to banish the chains, crying out in surprise as she tumbled to the floor.

Harry looked over to the side briefly to see the Slytherin on his feet again, his wand pointed at her. She rounded on him but Harry used the distraction to send another slicing curse, cutting off her wand hand.

Bellatrix Lestrange fell to the floor, her wand dropping to her side. She cried out and looked at him as he approached. The firelight still flickered around her, singeing her robes.

"I could kill you." Harry said coldly. He picked up her wand and regarded her for a few moments before snapping it and leaving it on the floor. "But that would be a kindness."

He summoned a small amount of fire again and pressed it against her arm. She screamed as he cauterized her wounds. He tossed her against the wall with a flick of his wand before looking over at the Slytherin.

The man in question lowered his wand, looking a little nervous. "M-my name's Clark."

Harry nodded once and looked back to see Rodolphus and Rabastan advancing on them. "Are you fit for dueling Clark?"

Clark nodded and got to his feet, a determination in his eyes. Rodolphus fired the first curse, aimed for Clark. Clark sidestepped and banished a chunk of rock which Rabastan promptly transfigured into a small arrow and fired it back at Clark, catching him in the side.

Harry stepped to the side to meet Rabastan. "Let's see if you put up more of a fight than your wife." Harry spat. He reached out for the deep well of power that lay inside of him, channeling some of the ancient magic from Kilgharrah before releasing it in the form of a lightning bolt.

It slammed into Rabastan's half-formed shield, breaking through it and sending him flying. Harry grinned and advanced on his quarry. He glanced over at Rodolphus, sending a quick stinging curse to aid Clark before returning his attention to Rabastan.

Rabastan climbed to his feet, looking furious. "I will make you pay Potter!"

Harry smiled, watching as Clark disarmed Rodolphus out of the corner of his eyes. He suddenly struck, banishing one of the stones at Rabastan before following it up with a cutting curse. It struck the man's neck and he stumbled back, looking surprised.

A lightning bolt forced Rabastan to his knees before Harry advanced and pressed his wand against Rabastan's temple.

"Pity." Harry said coldly as a lightning bolt shot from his wand, instantly killing the man. Clark looked over at him in shock, Rodolphus stunned against the wall.

"Potter!" Clark exclaimed. Harry turned and narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, Clark?"

"N-nothing"

Harry nodded and snapped both Rabastan and Rodolphus's wands as well. He looked around at the students who were getting up from the ground. Some of them weren't moving.

"Clark, take care of them and bring them to safety."

Clark nodded and started helping some of the students to their feet. He hesitated for a moment and asked. "Lightning?"

Harry smirked and shrugged. "Why not show off a bit of power?"

Clark stared back at him warily before heading to help the students off the floor. Most of the students seemed to just be bruised, but a few seemed either unconscious or dead.

Harry surveyed the scene one last time before starting to walk down the hall. As he did, he lifted his wand and repaired the large hole in the wall. The stones slowly rose off the ground and perfectly slid into place. It seemed as if the wall was never blasted apart.

Harry strode down the corridor, determination coursing through his veins before he stopped and slowly turned around, looking back down the corridor. He felt some of the ice melt away and guilt started gnawing at the back of his mind.

"Where did I learn to do that?" Harry murmured to himself, looking back at the wall. Doubt started to creep in and a curtain felt like it was lifted from his mind as he remembered exactly what he had just done.

He fell to his knees in horror as the image of Rodolphus pleading face haunted him. "W-what did I just do?" He whispered. He felt panicked and started to shake a little, his mind filling with a million doubts. He suddenly felt a peace and calm spread from his chest.

This is not the time Young Wizard. The creature that lives in your mind feeds off of your anger. Your hatred. It grows and so does the corrupted forest that comes with it.

Harry got to his feet, tears still in his eyes. He wiped them away and started to head down the corridor. "So, fighting makes it stronger?"

No Young Wizard. Hatred and the burn for vengeance. You must take care when you fight these next battles, lest you give in to the creature and become it.

Harry shivered a little and nodded, opening the great hall to find it blown apart and two of the greatest wizards fighting amongst corpses.

~0o0~

As the battle started to rage on around him, Merlin made his way to the Astronomy tower. He felt trepidation and coldness flow through his body with every step. A heavyweight permeated the air and he shivered a little. Finally, he reached the final step and opened the door.

A man waited for him on the other side, looking out over the castle. He turned and smiled at Merlin. He was tall with short dark brown hair. His beard was small but well kept. He wore a complex robe, black but with an infinite number of runes and symbols scribbled across them. Underneath a simple silver waistcoat complemented a gold chain that held his robes together.

"Merlin." The man said simply, taking another step towards him.

"Myrddin," Merlin replied, closing the door behind him.

Myrddin chuckled and took another step closer. He stared at Merlin and tilted his head a little. "You know that many see us as the same person. Both as a paragon of magic and a mastery over death. But we both know that's not true Merlin. You have control over death as much as I have over magic."

"A little then." Merlin replied, watching his counterpart closely. "I haven't died yet, even if I should have long ago. The Old Religion sees to that."

"The Old Religion?" Myrddin scoffed. "Is that the story you keep with after all these years? You know as well as I do that you are the Old Religion. I am the embodiment of Death as much as you are the embodiment of Magic. We control our respective avenues, Merlin."

Merlin stayed quiet for a few moments. "Why are you here? Why are you helping Voldemort and Mordred?"

Myrddin smiled again, this time looking sad. "You thought that locking me in that tomb would stop it didn't you?"

He shook his head. "Mordred and Voldemort, they are part of the play. Your 'Old Religion' aids you in completing your tasks. And my fates aid me in mine."

"And that is?" Merlin asked.

"Why, everyone needs to die of course." Myrddin said. "When their time is up. And yours has been up for sometime Merlin. You've been skating around it for so long now. Pretending that the Old Religion keeps you alive, but we both know that's not the truth now is it Merlin?"

"I am waiting," Merlin said simply.

"For Arthur? For the Master of Magic? Is that it?" Myrddin shook his head. "Arthur is dead Merlin. He has been for a thousand years if anyone knows. I do."

Merlin's breath hitched and he shook his head. "That's not true. The Old Religion keeps me alive for a -"

"THE OLD RELIGION IS YOU!" Myrddin shouted. "Stop pretending! Stop lying to yourself. You make prophecies about yourself Merlin so you don't have to face your greatest fear."

Myrddin summoned a scythe, slamming it against the ground.

"Death."

~0o0~

As Harry stepped into the Great Hall, he had to duck as a large swath of fire narrowly slammed into the wall above him. He watched as Voldemort and Dumbledore clashed, spells and forces of power blasting across the room.

Voldemort summoned every fragment of broken stone and shattered them, throwing the thin pieces at Dumbledore. Dumbledore summoned a titanous wall of water that slowed the pieces down, before freezing it and throwing the shards of ice back. Voldemort conjured a huge shield of fire, melting the ice before flinging a massive surge of dark energy at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore winced as he held the surge back, a large shield holding the power at bay. Harry used this opportunity to attack, firing a simple cutting curse at Voldemort who promptly deflected it.

"Potter." The Dark Lord hissed. Harry noticed that Voldemort's features had changed. The snake-like face had morphed into a handsome man in his fifties. Harry shivered as he felt an intense focus from Voldemort that he hadn't before. As if his insanity had been contained.

Voldemort threw both him and Dumbledore back with a massive explosion. As he started to get up, Voldemort pulled all of the fire left from the explosion into his hand, throwing it like a lance at Harry.

Harry attempted to deflect the fire but found himself thrown into the wall, the fiery spear firmly stuck in his shoulder. He cried out in pain and Dumbledore glanced over at him, waving his wand and forcing the spear out.

"Go, Harry!" Dumbledore shouted as he animated the smashed remains of the tables, sending them after Voldemort. Harry growled and got to his feet. He summoned a large dark fog, throwing it at the ceiling. It curled across the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall, lightning dancing across it. Voldemort laughed and fired a curse. It twisted towards Harry, dripping with Dark Magic. Harry swiftly ducked aside, twirling his wand in his hand and forcing the fog down on Voldemort.

It caressed around the Dark Lord, binding his hands and his feet. The Electricity jumped around Voldemort's frame, burning him. The man roared in pain before banishing the fog. He glared at Harry.

"Time to die, Harry Potter." He said as he fired the killing curse at his opponent. Harry ducked out of the way as Dumbledore directed a line of animated armor at Voldemort. They bashed and hit the Dark Lord who growled and sent a wave of force, destroying them. Dumbledore retaliated by summoning a broken section of the wall into Voldemort's back, sending him to the ground.

Harry, not letting up, fired another lightning bolt at Voldemort who deflected it at Dumbledore. Dumbledore was thrown against the wall, his robes smoking from the unexpected attack.

Harry suddenly found himself defending from the brunt of Voldemort's attacks. He howled in pain as a dark curse struck his arm. It burrowed into him, causing his one arm to go limp. He summoned a fire within himself and burned the curse out, regaining control over his arm. He felt himself tiring however and soon found himself trapped against the wall. Voldemort smirked and fired a blasting curse at the ceiling.

A pillar fell on Harry, causing him to scream in pain as his wand arm was crushed and trapped. Dumbledore got to his feet and threw a massive wall of fire at Voldemort. It twisted in the shape of a Phoenix. But it was too late, as the green bolt of a killing curse hurtled towards Harry.

The world seemed to slow for a moment and Harry felt a well of determination spring from within himself. He looked at the green burst of magical destruction.

"Scildan" he said, and he felt a rush of magic as suddenly a golden shield appeared in front of him. The killing curse clashed into the shield with a massive BOOM before dissipating.

Voldemort's eyes widened but he was forced to retreat as Dumbledore's fire burned him. He yelled in pain as Dumbledore lifted him off the ground, the Fiendfyre wrapping around his body. Harry panted and looked over to see Dumbledore with a fierce expression on his face as the fire slowly crushed Voldemort.

The Dark Lord struggled, firing a killing curse at Dumbledore but Harry stretched out his hand and roared:

"SCILDAN!"

The golden shield appeared in front of Dumbledore, absorbing the killing curse. The man looked over at Harry and nodded once before returning his focus on Voldemort. The Dark Lord screamed in defiance and the whole room started to shake. His skin was starting to smolder and the air smelled of burnt flesh.

For a single moment, Voldemort looked into Harry's eyes and he felt a presence push into his mind.

"Your end will come soon, Harry Potter. I will tear away all your allies until there's no-one left to save you."

With that, Voldemort twisted and disapperated from Dumbledore's fire. Dumbledore lowered his wand and his shoulders drooped a little. He looked over at Harry, exhaustion written across his face. He flicked his wand and the pillar flew off of Harry. A thin line of silver energy encircled Harry's hand, healing it.

Harry sighed in relief as he felt feeling come back to his destroyed hand. He slowly got to his feet, wincing as his wounds caught up to him.

"Merlin has taught you well." Dumbledore said.

Harry smiled and nodded, collapsing back against the wall. The world slowly span and he gave into the encroaching darkness.

~0o0~

Merlin acted first, throwing Myrddin out of the Astronomy tower. The entire top of the tower crumbled and Merlin reached out, stopping it from falling. He took the debris and slammed them into Myrddin as he fell.

Merlin whirlwhinded down to the grounds next to Myrddins form. The man got to his feet, dusting off his jacket.

"Now really Merlin. You know you can't -"

Merlin threw Myrddin into a nearby tree. The bark encircled the embodiment of death and Merlin ripped several trees from the forest, plunging them into Myrddin.

The man summoned his scythe and cut the trees in half as they plunged towards him. He glared at Merlin and slowly advanced.

"You can't run from Death, Merlin. It's a necessity. It is a cycle of the world. Without Death, there is nothing new. Just the same ideas and leaders at the helm of the world. You have influenced this world for too long Merlin. It's time to step aside."

Merlin's eyes narrowed as Myrddin threw his scythe. Merlin raised his hand to deflect it but the Scythe ignored his magic, plunging into his chest. Merlin gasped and fell to the ground, blood pouring from his mouth. Myrddin suddenly appeared next to Merlin, holding the scythe and pressing it deeper.

He looked down at Merlin sadly. "I know you're not ready to die Merlin. But we all must. What better time than now?"

Myrddin looked up at the castle. "Your pupil and his puppet master have defeated the Wraith. You have taught him enough to survive, your destiny can be complete."

Merlin groaned, blood pouring out of his wound. "M-mordred."

Myrddin shook his head. "All must die Merlin. It's his time too, if you go with me."

Merlin looked up at the man and nodded, his face wracked with exhaustion.

"I am proud of you Merlin. I know this is hard for you but -"

Merlin threw Myrddin into a nearby tree and groaned as he ripped the Scythe out of his chest. He roared in pain as he sealed his wound with an ancient healing rite. Fire spread from his fingers, slowly closing his wounds.

He got to his feet and held the Scythe in his hand. He slowly advanced on Myrddin and grabbed onto his coat, teleporting them both away.

~0o0~

They appeared at the edge of a Volcano, the heat searing them both as Merlin let the man go. Myrddin got to his feet and looked down at the sizzling pit of lava.

"A volcano Merlin?" Myrddin laughed. "You know that can't harm us. Only I can, and we both know it's my destiny to end you."

"I thought you didn't believe in prophecy?" Merlin mocked, before unceremoniously tossing the scythe into the burning pit of lava below them. Myrddin dispassionately watched it fall into the lava before holding out his hand to summon it back. Merlin waited a few seconds and smirked as nothing happened.

"There are many sites that are sacred to the Old Religion, Myrddin. The Cauldron for one, a place of sacred healing. And the Caldera, a place of absolute destruction."

Myrddin glanced down at the Caldera before glaring at Merlin.

"You know your time is up Merlin, yet you fight it still."

"You believe that my time is up." Merlin replied, taking a few steps closer. "You always believe that you know when someone's time is up, as I believe that the Old Religion is what keeps me alive. But we both know the truth."

Merlin stopped a few paces away from Myrddin. "You judge those who are ready for death. I find your judgment unworthy, and your methods chaotic. I bound you before for that reason Myrddin. I can't be so reckless this time."

Merlin reached out with his magic to throw Myrddin into the lake of lava. Myrddin however, simply disappeared. Leaving Merlin alone on the side of the Volcano. Merlin whirled around in surprise, looking for his quarry. He was under the impression that Myrddin relied on his scythe for his powers, as he relied on the Old Religion for his.

Merlin swore and swiftly teleported back to Hogwarts, landing in the Great Hall to find it in ruins. There was blood splattered across the floor but no bodies. Merlin twisted and whirlwinded into the Infirmary, only to be shoved aside as he found it full of people.

"Scuse me!" One of the nurses said as they pushed him aside. He looked around the crowd and found Harry laying in a bed, unconscious. Dumbledore was sitting next to him. Merlin walked over, ignoring one of the nurses who attempted to drag him into a bed.

"Sir you have blood all over your -"

"How is he?" Merlin asked, sitting on the other side of the bed from Dumbledore.

"He stopped a killing curse."

Merlin nodded. "I felt it. I felt, in a very long time, the Old Religion obey someone new."

Dumbledore looked weary and rested against the chair before looking back at Merlin. "He suffered. His hand was crushed and he fought several Death Eaters. Bellatrix Lestrange was found with her hand cut off, and Rabastan was found dead."

Merlin nodded. "I am sure it was hard on him but -"

"He was killed at point-blank, a wand pressed against his forehead. Harry killed him with a lightning bolt, frying his brain while he was defenseless."

Merlin stopped and gaped. "W-what?"

Dumbledore regarded Merlin with a small measure of contempt. "I am grateful for your aid Merlin. But I wonder what affects your training has had on him."

He stood and nodded to one of the nurses before swiftly leaving the room. Merlin looked down at the unconscious form of Harry, concerned.

~0o0~

Harry woke to silence. He blearily looked up at the night sky, the moon and stars twinkling above him. He yawned and looked to the side before shooting up in surprise.

He was lying in a field of grass. Flowers lightly swayed in the breeze and he heard the faint trickle of water. He climbed to his feet and quickly realized that he was inside his mindscape. He turned towards the familiar forest of his thoughts only to recoil in horror.

The normally welcoming forest was dark, and a shadowy figure stood near the tree line. It looked different from the first time he had entered the dark portion of his mind. Its form was less concrete but almost seemed bigger.

"Do you approve?" It asked. Harry took a few steps back in horror. "What are you?"

The figure tilted its head before shaking it. It looked over to a familiar pedestal and gestured. "You have found another."

Harry slowly approached the stone pedestal, finding two of the crystals glowing instead of one. The third remained inert.

"What is this?"

"Our destiny."

Harry narrowed his eyes and lightly growled. "You are not part of me."

The creature merely grinned and stretched its arms out, indicating the dark forest behind it. Harry pulled his wand.

"You need me."

Harry paused and tilted his head. "Need you?"

The creature chuckled and held out its hand, blowing on it. Shards of dark magic hit Harry and memories flickered across his eyes. Knowledge of magic, knowledge of technique long forgotten. Knowledge that Voldemort had gained through his life.

Harry stumbled back and fell to his knees. He looked up to find the creature above him. "You are weak."

"I helped drive The Dark Lo- Voldemort away" Harry said. His mind felt like it was turning on its side as he consciously processed the memories of someone else's knowledge.

"Without Dumbledore, you would have lost." The Creature replied. Its shadowy features twisted into an expression of amusement. "You need me. I am the remnant of The Dark Lords' knowledge. Left in you after his soul was ripped from your mind."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "His soul?!"

The Creature grinned and held out its hand. "You need me. You need his knowledge to survive this war."

Harry stared back at the Creature, his mind spinning with thoughts. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He felt tired and worn. He felt his hand aching still, which was strange in his mindscape. He felt the scars of all his adventures across his body. He felt the weight of always being a step behind. And he opened his eyes.

He reached out and grasped the Creature's hand. It grinned and pulled him back to his feet. Harry felt a strength grip his body as new knowledge slowly poured into him. He closed his eyes and basked in the sunlight above him. The source of his magic. He felt his mindscape shift and change around him as it dissolved into a new web of memories and experiences.

He felt the trembling power of Kilgharrah under him. Lingering deep within. Like a layer right under his skin. He felt the dragons disapproval as he accepted the Creature's knowledge and power. He ignored it. This was a war, and he needed to be faster and stronger. He couldn't rely on someone to always be there to save him.

He needed to be able to save himself. He needed to save the future. Even if it meant damning his own.

A/N

Well here it is, the chapter that I've been working towards since I started this story five years ago. It's both more and less epic than I had imagined. This chapter contains a lot of elements that I've been hinting at and seeding through the story. So for those who are confused, here is a brief recap:

-The Shadowy Figure was encountered by Harry when he was forming his mental scape and learning Occlumency. It was the embodiment of the Horcrux that was inside his scar.

-The Horcrux and all the other Horcruxes mysteriously all simultaneously seemed to vanish, leaving Harry without his scar. This figure is the remnants of some of the knowledge left behind. The reason for this happening hasn't been explained yet. But more clever readers could probably piece it together after this chapter.

-Myrdinn was what Mordred and Voldemort were looking for and what was inside the Tomb that they found.

-The Pedestal was last encountered by Harry when he was trudging through his mind, trying to find his animagus form. It had only one crystal instead of two lit up last time. Again, those who are good at connecting dots probably could figure out what it represents in Harry's mind.

And I think that's everything! At least all the big plot points that you might need to have refreshed. One more thing, I recently posted a new fanfic called The Diverging Path. Its a Critical Role AU centered around Percival de Rolo. Its a bit of a darker story and therefore is M rated. If that sounds interesting to you, head on over and leave a Review! If not, Ill see you in the next chapter. (Im going to try and post once a month, but you all know how I am with timeline promises.)

Be seeing you.