CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Harry revives in the forest, realizing Voldemort also fell when casting the Killing Curse. Narcissa Malfoy secretly asks Harry if Draco lives; on hearing yes, she lies that Harry is dead, enabling the Death Eaters to carry Harry’s “body” to Hogwarts. Voldemort boasts at the gates, ordering Hagrid to display Harry. He tries to break Hogwarts’ defenders and forces the flaming Sorting Hat onto Neville Longbottom.

As reinforcements surge—Grawp, centaurs, thestrals, Buckbeak, Hogsmeade allies, families, and house‑elves led by Kreacher—Harry slips beneath the Invisibility Cloak. Neville throws off his Bind, draws the Sword of Gryffindor from the Hat, and beheads Nagini, destroying the last Horcrux. Battle floods into the Great Hall: Death Eaters fall, the Malfoys search only for Draco, and Voldemort duels McGonagall, Slughorn, and Kingsley.

Bellatrix Lestrange duels Hermione, Ginny, and Luna until Molly Weasley confronts her and kills her. Voldemort turns on Molly, but Harry drops his Cloak, shields her, and demands a one‑on‑one duel. Circling, Harry reveals Snape’s true loyalty to Dumbledore, the planned death on the tower, and the Elder Wand’s allegiance passing to Draco Malfoy and then to Harry when Harry disarmed Draco.

At sunrise they cast simultaneously: Voldemort’s Avada Kedavra collides with Harry’s Expelliarmus. The Elder Wand flies to its true master; Voldemort’s curse rebounds, killing him. Celebration and mourning erupt. As order returns, Harry slips away with Ron and Hermione, explains the Pensieve revelations and the forest sacrifice, then visits the headmaster’s office where the portraits applaud.

Harry decides to abandon the Resurrection Stone, keep the Cloak, and reject the Elder Wand’s power. Using it only to repair his holly and phoenix feather wand, he resolves to return the Elder Wand to Dumbledore’s tomb so its power ends with a natural death. Exhausted but relieved, he declares he has had enough trouble for a lifetime.

In an epilogue nineteen years later, Harry and Ginny see their children off to Hogwarts alongside Ron and Hermione’s family. Harry reassures Albus Severus about House sorting, noting choice matters. Peace endures; Harry’s scar has not hurt for nineteen years—all is well.