Harry Potter and the Fake Ending
by Frank Murphy

The Dark Mark shone above the Astronomy Tower. Using the broom he borrowed from Madam Rosmerta, Harry flew to the top of the tower. He stepped off the broom and as he drew his wand a voice from the shadows shouted “Expelliarmus!”

Harry’s wand flew out of his hand and out of reach. A cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows and pulled back his hood to reveal his pointed face and blond hair.

“Malfoy!” shouted Harry. “Petrificus Totalus ” said Malfoy and Harry was frozen where he stood. Thoughts raced through Harry’s mind. Certainly someone from The Order of the Phoenix or Dumbledore’s Army would run up the stairs and burst through the door to help. Instead a series of Death Eaters arrived and one by one formed a line behind Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy walked closer to Harry, his voice barely above a whisper.  “Your little Mudblood friend or that Muggle lover Weasley aren’t here to help you this time, Potter.”

Malfoy gazed for a moment at Harry and there was revulsion and hatred etched in his face. Malfoy raised his wand and pointed it directly at Harry. "Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light shot from the end of Malfoy's wand and hit Harry squarely in the chest. Harry's scream of horror never left him as he was blasted into the air. For a split second, he seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining skull, and then fell slowly backward, over the battlements and out of sight.

Voldemort will be pleased with me, Malfoy thought. Harry Potter was dead.  The terrible prophecy could not come true. The shouts of the Death Eaters snapped Malfoy's attention back to the present. They had to leave Hogwarts quickly and may still have to battle Dumbledore and his army.

(pretend to skip directly to end of book)

Malfoy had escaped, but at least two of the Death Eaters had been killed in the battle. Ron and Hermione ran from the castle stopping suddenly when they reached Harry's body. Dumbledore and Neville were already there, waiting.

Dumbledore spoke slowly and deliberately. "With Harry gone, there is now only one who can defeat Voldemort. The prophecy could have been interpreted two ways. It has become clear that the Chosen One is... Neville Longbottom!"

Meanwhile at Gryffindor Tower, Nearly Headless Nick was welcoming a new ghost to the castle. "Hello, Mr. Potter. We've been waiting for you!"

The End