A Flaw in the Plan

Harry finds himself on his stomach, where he landed after Voldemort killed him. He stays very still, listening and learning. Voldemort asks his Death Eaters if Harry is dead. Narcissa responds but shocks Harry by asking him quietly whether Draco is still alive and at Hogwarts. Harry breaths back a barely audible “yes” before Narcissa proclaims that Harry is, indeed, dead.

Voldemort then does the Cruciatus Curse on Harry’s body, but Harry does not feel any pain. Soon, Hagrid is made to pick up Harry’s body and carry him to Hogwarts Castle.

As Voldemort and the Death Eaters, along with Harry and Hagrid, approach the castle, Voldemort lies to everyone by saying that Harry was killed while running away. As Voldemort and his cronies approach the crowd of Dumbledore’s Army as well as the other defenders of Hogwarts, Voldemort proclaims Harry a coward who did not care about his friends.

Neville defends Harry, and Voldemort decides to kill Neville as a result. With a wave of his wand, Voldemort retrieves the Sorting Hat from the castle, sets it on fire, and declares that there will be “no more Sorting at Hogwarts School.” All students will be in Slytherin.

Suddenly, all at Hogwarts, as well as many other creatures, attack Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Harry gets up and covers himself with the Invisibility Cloak. Neville’s bravery allows him to pull the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat. Neville promptly takes the sword and kills Nagini. With all of the Horcruxes gone, it is now Voldemort alone who must be killed.

The battle rages on with the Giants, the House Elves, and other Hogwarts alumni joining in the fight. However, no matter who or how many fight Voldemort, no one can kill him. After Bellatrix Lestrange threatens Ginny Weasley, Mrs. Weasley comes to the rescue and kills Bellatrix.

Harry finally pulls off the Invisibility Cloak and faces Voldemort. During their verbal confrontation, Harry reveals the truth to the defenders of Hogwarts: that Snape was intensely loyal and that Harry actually is the rightful master of the Elder Wand. As Harry and Voldemort cast their final spells at each other, Voldemort’s “Avada Kedavra” curse rebounds and kills him completely.

Everyone celebrates. Kingsley Shacklebolt is made Minister of Magic. However, all Harry, Ron, and Hermione want to do is slide under the Invisibility Cloak once again and get to Dumbledore’s office. There, the portraits all applaud Harry in approval, but Harry seeks out one portrait alone: that of Albus Dumbledore, who gives his full approval as well.

Harry considers what to do with the Deathly Hallows. The Resurrection Stone has been dropped among many other stones in the Forbidden Forest. The Invisibility Cloak Harry will keep as his father willed it to him. Harry only wants to do one thing with the Elder Wand: mend his old wand, which was supposedly beyond repair. After this is done, Harry promises to return the Elder Wand to Dumbledore’s grave and never use it again, thereby not allowing anyone else to become its master as long as Harry dies of old age.