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The race for Excalibur was on. Hermione knew that both Voldemort and Dumbledore were running to gather the sword for themselves. After Trelawney's unexpected prophecy spoken in the middle of the battle that spoke of the "Harbinger of the Future" becoming the King of Britain by taking the sword out of its pedestal from "The Secret Chamber under the Ancient Castle", the two wizards fired curses at each other while running out of the Great Hall. Both had ambitions of owning the magical sword and becoming the new ruler of Britain.
Unfortunately for them, Hermione and Harry were ready to do anything to stop either of them from gaining possession of Excalibur. Dark Lord Voldemort and Light Lord Dumbledore both had plans to shape the future of Britain after their image and ideology and to make Muggles their slaves. This, the two teenagers did not agree with.
"Harry, we have to go now before they find Excalibur! If they get it out of its pedestal, they'll become the new King of Britain and have unlimited power to do anything they want!" she fretted as she blocked a curse from a Death Eater.
"I know!" Harry said while cursing a member of the Order of the Phoenix. "and I know a faster way than Myrtle's bathroom. Legion, after me!" he ordered. The Legion was once known as Dumbledore's Army but was rebranded by its leader after Dumbledore's plots and schemes came to light.
Harry and Hermione ran to an unvisited corner of the castle with ten other Legionaries - which included Ginny, Neville and Luna. As they arrived at a dead end, Hermione was about to ask where the hell they were going when Harry spoke in Parseltongue. The wall in front of them rose with a loud grunt, revealing a massive pipe. Without another word, Harry jumped down and, trusting him, Hermione and the Legionaries followed.
It took nearly three minutes of continuous sliding before they shot out of the pipe and crashed on the ground. With a shouted "Come on!", Harry ran through the strange tunnel they were now in and Hermione and their friends followed. They quickly reached a small stone door and, with another hiss of Parseltongue, said door sank into the ground, allowing them inside the Chamber proper.
The door they entered from was located right next to the giant bust of Salazar Slytherin. When they walked around the pool, it was to see the bust already open.
"Are they already there?" Neville asked.
"I don't know." Harry shrugged. "It might have been left open from when I saved Ginny. Neither Riddle nor I closed that entrance after the Basilisk came out." he explained.
"I guess there's only one way to find out." Hermione said nervously. Harry nodded and walked inside.
After walking down a set of stone stairs, they entered a massive cave. On each side were small waterfalls that fed water to two small channels located each side of the room. And, the room was light by natural light that seem to come from two or three car-sized holes in the stone. And, at the very end of the room was their target subtilty glinting in the natural light.
Excalibur.
As they silently walked through the room, Hermione observed the sword with great interest. The shiny silver-coloured blade was rather long for a sword and many strange-looking runes were engraved in the blade. The crossguard and the pommel looked like they had been forged out of gold and, while the crossguard had three small green gems stuck in it, the pommel had a massive blue gem in it. The grip connecting both looked like the finest piece of wood she ever looked at.
"That's Excalibur?" one of the Legionaries whispered in awe.
"I can't believe we found the sword." said Ginny.
"Now we just have to ensure neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort get their hands on it." Harry spoke with determination.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." suddenly spoke a hated voice. So in awe of the sword they had been that none of them noticed the arrival of Voldemort and his group of Death Eaters. Before they could react, a massive explosion detonated at their feet, sending the Legion flying in all corners of the room. Hermione landed painfully on the edge of a channel, her ears ringing painfully. When she tried to stand back up, she felt the tip of a wand stab her in the neck. "Don't move, mudblood." a Death Eater hissed.
Hermione looked up just to find the other Legionaries being held at wand point by the Death Eaters, daring them to stand back up. The only exception was Harry, who had crashed right next to the pedestal.
"It seems I underestimated you, Harry." Voldemort spoke softly as he made his way across the room. "I thought only that old fool would make his way to this chamber in time to try to stop me. But you arrived before I even did."
Harry sent an angry glare at Voldemort before looking away from him. Following his gaze, Hermione was horrified to see Harry's wand lying down a good five meters away from him. He was disarmed while Voldemort was prowling toward him.
Still, that didn't stop Harry's determination. Despite his injuries from the explosion and fall, he still had the courage to push himself back to his feet and stand between the Dark Lord and Excalibur.
"I won't let you become the King of Britain." he panted, looking furiously at Voldemort. "Not on my watch."
Voldemort let out a laugh that unsettled the Legionaries. "You stand in front of me without a weapon. Do you really think you can oppose me, the most powerful wizard in the world?"
"Try me." Harry hissed, his eyes narrowing.
"Crucio!" Voldemort shouted. Harry collapsed on the ground, yelling in pain.
"No! Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, heartbroken to see her best friend and lover held under the Cruciatus Curse. She tried to stand up, to do anything she could to help Harry. But she was suddenly slapped across the face hard, forcing her back on the ground.
"Silent, mudblood!" hissed her captor.
It took more than a minute before Voldemort released the curse on Harry, leaving the boy trembling and panting. "This is what happen to people who dare oppose the future King of Britain! And today, said new King will make history!"
"The Sword will not choose you, Tom." suddenly came Dumbledore's voice. Voldemort hissed in frustration and turned around.
"You!" he exclaimed, enraged. "How did you make your way here? You are no Parselmouth!"
Dumbledore chuckled, looking at Tom with his irritating twinkle in the eyes. "Now Tom, do you really believe I am to share a few of my secrets with you?"
For a moment, Voldemort looked like he wanted nothing more than walk up to the old man and punch him in the face. As much as she loathed to admit it, Hermione couldn't blame him. Dumbledore was just that annoying.
After a frustrated exhale, he said "No matter. I wanted to face you with Excalibur in my hand and finally put you down like the irritating goat you are. But I will show I do not need that damn sword to kill you."
"Who are you trying to convince, Tom? Me, or yourself?" the old man taunted.
Voldemort's wand rose, a Killing Curse on the tip of the tongue. But, before the curse escaped him, there was a bright flash of golden light that came straight from Excalibur.
Everyone froze and turned to look at the sword - even Voldemort. Hermione was shocked to find Harry stand in front of a now glowing sword. "Harry?" she whispered. She saw him reach for the sword and put his hands around the grip.
"Stop him!" Voldemort suddenly shouted. Two dozen curses that came from both the Death Eaters and the Order suddenly shot toward Harry and, for a moment, Hermione believed her love's fate was sealed. But, miraculously, just before the spells hit him, a bright golden dome formed around him and the pedestal. Everyone was shocked when the dome absorbed every curse without faltering, including the Unforgiveables.
There was a moment of silence as everyone contemplated what was happening. And, Harry started pulling up.
At first, Excalibur did not move. But, just as Hermione believed the sword was about to reject him, Excalibur suddenly snapped a few inches up, exposing more of its blade. Another flash of gold was seen. Despite being spoken quietly, everyone heard Neville's exclamation.
"Holy shit!"
Hermione held her breath as another few inches snapped up once more and, once more, a flash of gold was seen. She heard Harry panting as he forced the legendary blade yet another few inches. Then, he groaned and gave one last pull.
A metallic sound was heard and the brightest flash of gold was seen. So bright was it that it blinded everyone. When Hermione finally blinked the light away and saw Harry, she gasped.
Harry was standing over the pedestal, raising Excalibur toward the sky as the blade shone in its golden light. Then, he spun, swinging the sword with him and pointing it straight at Voldemort, a smirk on his face.
Magical Britain had its new King.