The Boy Who Lived

The Sword

Harry wasn't sure what time it was when he finally tumbled into bed the next day. He wasn't sure how long he'd been awake or how much he'd slept in the four days since Minnie had gone missing. All he knew was that he was glad it was all over.

Of course, it wasn't straight forward and even when he managed to push the poison back into the amulet and they were able to remove it from around Minnie's neck; it still had a hold on her. And there was still a risk that the curse would come back.

'I don't understand,' said Theo.

Harry did. It was too similar to a Horcrux. He understood that the amulet itself needed to be destroyed.

'Are we certain that there are no more curses on the amulet?' he asked.

'100%,' said Bill, and Theo confirmed it.

'Do we need the amulet to get rid of the remains of the Gormlaith Curse?'

'No, well, I don't think so,' said Theo. 'Not now you found that hidden layer. If we'd missed it, then it would mean going back over the amulet and re-establishing the curse and dismantling it again.'

'Will you check it again, Theo. Make sure...'

Theo nodded and took the amulet away to the far side of the room. Work slowly and silently until he was absolutely certain he could detect no more layers.

'Get the sword,' Harry rasped, ready to collapse from the exertion it had taken to hold the curse at bay.

It was Bill who went and retrieved it. It was still on the mantlepiece where Harry had placed it earlier.

It was also Bill who drove the point of the blade straight through the moonstone at the heart of the design. It fell apart like dust.

Minnie's face relaxed and Harry realised the stress she'd been holding, despite being unconscious. She still slept but the amulet no longer possessed her.

'What does it mean?' asked Poppy quietly.

'The sword imbibes substances which strengthen it. So, when I killed the basilisk with it, it became imbued with basilisk venom, which meant it could destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. When the coven performed their magic to protect Minnie, they used the sword to create a shield of love and protection around her. It imbibed the strength of thirteen witches' love. I used my love for Minnie to expel the curse from her body but the final act was to destroy the amulet using the love and the shield saturating in the sword. It was the final act of freeing her but also protecting her from the curse, should it try to return.'

Harry still refused to leave though people were waiting in the main hall for news. Ron and Filius had arrived once the feast was finished and the students were settled. Kingsley too, with Gawain. Both wanting a debrief from the raid on Malfoy Manor but also an update on the Headmistress.

The problem was that the effect of the Gormlaith Curse had left Minerva in a deep enchanted slumber.

Poppy was unwilling to administer Draco's potion until she was certain that any side-effects from the poison were gone and she had the strength for the next fight.

'At least while she sleeps, her body is recovering.'

'I know,' Harry sighed. 'Sleep is the best medicine and all that.'

He still refused to leave her side.

It was Draco who went and updated everyone and the sun was starting to rise when people finally made their way to bed.

Harry vaguely slept in the armchair besides Minnie's bed and Diana had appeared and curled up by Minnie's feet.

Come morning, Poppy threw him out. 'I want to care for her, and I don't approve of using a Scourify on my patients, so, OUT! Go and shower and freshen up. And get some breakfast. You'll be no use to anyone if your wear yourself out into an early grave.'