Note: Anything with stars (*) around it are inside people's heads, NOT spoken aloud.

Chapter Twenty - Ending the Cycle

You woke up screaming aloud / A prayer from your secret god / You feed off our fears / And hold back your tears / Give us a tantrum / And a know it all grin / Just when we need one / When the evening's thin.

Oh you're a beautiful / A beautiful fucked up man / You're setting up your / Razor wire shrine.

Cause you're working / Building a mystery / Holding on and holding it in / Yeah you're working / Building a mystery / And choosing so / Carefully.

You're building a mystery...

--"Building a Mystery" - Sarah McLachlan

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy bounded the stairs in twos. She had no idea what Dawn was getting at, but she knew that it was important. She went straight to her office and found Angel sitting at her desk.

"Buffy, what's - "

"We need to get downstairs. Now. Pull my weapon's trunk out from under my desk"

Angel did so and paused. "Uh - Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you aware that you have a note under your desk?"

Buffy just stared. "A what?"

"A note?"

Buffy took the letter from Angel and read it. "Oh my god"

"What? What is it?"

Buffy read the letter to him.

"Buffy,

I know we're not on the best of terms right now, but this is something I was asked to do. I'm getting paid highly for it, ("No surprise there," Angel quipped) and I wanted to make sure this was done right.

It has been called to my attention that you will be facing a very powerful adversary. But there is something you should know about him. While the key's power can make him stronger, it can also be his downfall. Voldemort isn't alive, not really. He doesn't have a soul to take away, but he can be killed just like everyone else.

Use this information to your advantage slayer. And tell the little bit about it. You'll thank me later.

-- Spike"

"So what do we do about this?"

Buffy paused. "We load up on weapons and kick some ass. I'll see you downstairs"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"My, my Mr. Potter. You've grown more foolish since the last time we met"

"Not foolish. Just brave"

"Ah yes, bravery. One of the more popular traits of an individual in Gryffindor. Your father had it too. But that didn't stop him from dying," Voldemort pulled out his wand, "and it won't stop you. Crucio!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The two spells met in mid-air, but things didn't go as Harry had planned. They weren't met with a phoenix song as the last time they had faced off. Rather, the spells rebounded on each other, although Harry was sure that he was in a hell of a lot more pain then Voldemort.

"Once again Harry, I tell you, you cannot win" Voldemort wasn't even using his wand when he seemed to hurl a mass of crackling power (the key's power, Harry realized) in Harry's direction. Harry was caught off-guard, and the power engulfed him, sending crackling bolts of pain through his entire body. It felt like his skin was on fire.

Harry hoped that he would live to see Hermione again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

From where she was standing, Hermione saw what happened to Harry. She heard him cry out, a look of intense pain on his face. Dawn grimaced and turned away, knowing that it was a part of her doing that to him. Willow called her over when she saw Hermione about to go after Harry.

Buffy held her back. "No Hermione! You'll just do him more harm if you go after him"

"But we need to help him!"

"And we will" Dawn said, leaning her weight on Ron's shoulder. He put his arm around her waist. She swore she was feeling better a few minutes ago...damn Voldemort. "I promise. Remember that ritual I was telling you about?"

"Yes. The one that Willow found after we told her the whole 'give him our strength' thing. But I don't understand how - "

"It connects us, all of us involved, to Harry. It connects our very souls to him. We're in this together. We'll help him in a way that not even Voldemort, (Ron cringed) will expect"

Hermione nodded, her eyes shining with tears. "What do I have to do?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Dawnie, are you sure you're up for this?"

Dawn nodded. "Just hand me the knife when you're done with it. I know what I'm doing. Spike's letter pretty much confirmed it"

Willow just looked at her.

"I promise" Dawn swore. "Just remember, I'm the anchor, okay?"

Willow nodded her head as Dawn sat down on the ground, legs crossed, and closed her eyes. She was going to need a clear head to manage what she was about to do.

Willow positioned everyone else for the spell, thinking 'Buffy is SO never going to forgive me for this...'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry had never been on so much pain in his entire life. Not the time he fell off his broom playing Quidditch Sixth Year, not the time he woke up in the Hospital Wing after the Tri-Wizard Tournament - never. He could sympathize with Dawn if this was what she was feeling when she woke up, or even while she was unconscious.

Harry yanked his mind out of the past and into the present. It was too dangerous to forget where he was and what was going on. The Death Eaters had created a circle around he and Voldemort. There was no where to run. He was trapped.

And he was alone.

Harry briefly acknowledged the fact that most of the professors - his friends - had assembled on the front lawn before he was forced to resume fighting, while zoning out that monstrous laugh at the same time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel, Buffy, Ron, and Hermione stood in a small circle in the middle of which was Dawn, sitting with the Orb of Thesula in the middle of her crossed legs. She was to be the anchor of the spell. It would ultimately be channeled through the Orb.

Or at least that's what the four of them were told.

Giles was the one chanting. Dumbledore stood watch close by.

Dawn closed her eyes and began to meditate, signaling Giles to begin.

"Xander, its time" Xander nodded at Giles. He went to each of the people in the circle and bound their wrists together with white sashes. Willow, who had to carefully work around them, drew blood from each of their palms. After their blood mingled with the earth, Willow handed the Weapon of Athena, handle-first, to Dawn, who held it on her lap.

Willow stepped away. Hermione grabbed Ron's hand and squeezed. They each grasped each other's hands tightly.

Giles began to speak in Latin which, strangely enough, they were all able to understand.

"Behold, those who protect him. These are his followers, those by whom he is loved above all else, those who stood by him before he was even known to them.

Their spirits stay with him.

Their hearts stay with him.

Their souls stay with him"

Unbeknownst to anyone but Willow and Giles, Dawn picked up the knife.

"Their loyalty is one living thing among them no matter the future, no matter the past"

Hermione squeezed Ron's hand, tears leaking steadily out of the corner of her eye.

"This is their bond. Beyond battle, beyond force, this is their greatest gift"

Angel could feel Buffy tense at the mere mention of any type of gift. He squeezed her hand assuringly.

"Know this in your soul. Even if you never see him again, his strength is with you, and your strength is with him"

The Orb of Thesula began to emit a soft, white glow. Buffy slightly opened her eyes.

"Dawn?"

Dawn had her eyes closed "Give him your strength" She whispered -

And drew the knife across her own palm.

"Dawnie, no!"

"Buffy, stay back!" Giles yelled.

Dawn's blood fell from her palm into the Orb, which only gleamed brighter. "From Manus, the hand, I give my strength" Dawn said, sealing the spell with her words and her blood -

And she fell into a trance.

Ron went to untie his wrist from Hermione's, but Willow stopped him.

"Ron, DO NOT break the circle. Stay where you are. I promise you, she knows what she's doing"

"Willow, you - "

Buffy was cut off as the Orb emit a wave of light so strong it nearly knocked Buffy off her feet. Nearly. It did, however, knock out the wall of Death Eaters surrounding Harry. Voldemort was temporarily knocked off his feet.

*Harry. *

Harry heard Dawn's voice, but it wasn't on the air, as he would expect, but in his head.

*Dawn. *

*Harry, listen to me. There's not much time, so listen. *

*I'm listening. *

Buffy, Angel, Hermione, and Ron could all hear this exchange in their own minds, but none of them could respond to Harry as Dawn could.

*The spell that we just cast, it connected us - you, Hermione, Buffy, Ron, Angel, and me. Our very souls are connected. This is how they can help you - by giving you their strength. But you have to listen to me. The spell was channeled through me. Therefore, you're at an advantage. *

*I don't understand. *

*You have the key on your side. Use the key's power. *

*I can't. *

*You can! *

*It'll kill you. *

*It won't! I swear it! Trust me. *

Harry paused.

*Harry, please. I swear to you, this won't kill me. And if it does...well...at least the world is saved. *

*Ron is never going to forgive me for this - but all right. Tell me what to do. *

*I'm willing to give you the key's power. Voldemort took it by force. You'll have it as a gift. *

*So what do I do? *

*Anything he throws at you, you can reverse, and send right back at him. You have to trust me Harry. You have to let us in. Let us help you. *

Voldemort finally recovered. "Interesting. It seems our little key is still alive. It doesn't matter now, does it? I have her power. And that's all that matters" He laughed shrilly as Harry got up off the ground.

"Still fighting? Well, we'll just have to take care of that" Voldemort sent another wave of energy at Harry. Dawn held up her hand and said, "Dispel"

And the energy shattered before it could reach Harry.

Voldemort tried again, and the same thing happened. He let out a cry of rage. Dawn smirked.

"It seems you can't use magic to fight me, Voldemort"

Voldemort cried out again, and then he laughed.

"But who said we had to use magic?" Almost out of nowhere, a sword appeared in his hands.

*Now what? *

Dawn sighed. *I don't know. This is a bit out of my league. First, get yourself a sword or something. *

*Where the hell am I going to get a sword? *

*Are you a wizard or not?! *

Suddenly, it dawned on him - Godric Gryffindor's sword. Dumbledore gave it to him as a gift during his Fifth Year. Why hadn't he thought of it before?

"Accio sword!" The sword came flying through the air and into his hands.

"Impressive Mr. Potter. Let's just hope you're as good a fighter with a sword as you are with magic"

Voldemort made the first move which Harry, uncannily, knew how to block. Every move Voldemort made, Harry was able to counter. It was almost as if he were seeing out of the slayer's eyes and reacting with Angel's mind. He couldn't explain it, and quite frankly, he could care less, as long as he stayed alive.

~*

*I feel so useless. *

*Don't you even DARE Ron Weasly! Just being here is giving Harry the strength to go on. He knows that the two people he loves most in the world are cheering him on. If that's not useful, then I don't know what is. So quit it. *

Hermione nodded. She had been thinking the same thing. That and, 'Oh god, let him come back to me.' But Dawn was right. Just being here supporting Harry was enough to help him go on.

~*

Harry was spending so much time focusing on trading blows with Voldemort that he didn't see Voldemort pull his wand out of his clothes. Dawn felt the fight shift. Something wasn't right.

Voldemort rolled out of the way and pulled out his wand. 'He won't even see this coming,' he thought as he screamed the magic words -

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

For some reason, Harry was compelled to lift his sword, shielding himself, though he knew it wouldn't do him any good. That's when he heard a single voice yell a single word, a voice he didn't think he would ever forget for the rest of his life.

"REFLECT!" Dawn screamed. Harry's sword emitted a powerful white glow. The green light from Voldemort's spell bounced off of Harry's sword -

Right back at Voldemort.

He had no time to react as the spell hit him where his heart should have been. Voldemort screeched, realizing that this was the Final Battle, but it was he who wouldn't live to see another day.

Voldemort all but crumbled beneath his own power.

Harry fell backwards with the impact. The circle broke, along with the Orb, throwing all four of them backwards. Dawn collapsed.

When all was quiet, the sky was finally fading from black to gray. The Death Eaters were still lying around, very much unconscious. Harry carefully approached what was once Lord Voldemort. The power from both his and Dawn's spells had literally destroyed him till he was nothing but ashes, which were blown away by the wind. All that was left of Voldemort now was a broken wand.

Knowing that everything was finally at peace, and that the cycle of fear and death was finally ended, Harry sank into blissful unconsciousness.