Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related. It all belongs to JK Rowling.

Author's Note: Just a thought.

Fait Accompli

Harry Potter stood at the brink of his life, his wand clutched readily at his hand. Behind him, his two best friends stood looking onward at Harry, expressions unwavering.

In front of Harry, a tattered black veil waved slightly.

"So this is it," Harry said quietly, clutching his wand even tighter. "This is…"

"Oh Harry!" Hermione cried, stumbling forward to grasp her friend's robe. "Don't, don't, please, just don't!"

Harry looked at her sadly, and then glanced over her shoulder. Ron approached them and gently took Hermione's hand. She backed away from Harry, her shoulders wracked with sobs. Ron put his arm around her and said nothing.

Harry allowed himself a small smile. Who would have thought his two best friends would end up together? After all the bickering they'd done in their school years, it was hard to see them getting along, much less actually together…

But they were good for each other, Harry decided. And they'd both always been there for him, and each other. Now they'd always have each other. Harry was happy for his friends, truly, but he couldn't help the twinge of regret that circuited through his body when he thought of them living happily-ever-after. He'd never get that.

"I'm…sorry…I p-promised myself I wouldn't cry," Hermione said, crying softly in Ron's arms. "But if only…we had found another—another way."

Harry shook his head solemnly. "There was no other way, Hermione," he said, turning back to face the veil. "You know that."

It was his zero hour. His point of no return.

He swallowed. "Ron, tell your mum…tell her I'm going to make Voldemort pay for what he did to your family. Tell Remus…I'm gonna see Sirius real soon. And tell everyone thank you. And tell Ginny—" his voice cracked on her name. He sucked in breath. "Tell her…"

"Tell me what?"

Harry turned around. All the breath whooshed out of him as he came face-to-face with a red-haired, brown-eyed beauty. She stood just behind Ron and Hermione, her eyes focused on Harry. "Gin…"

"Tell me what?" she repeated, her doe eyes probing him as she came forward.

Ron and Hermione backed off a little, sensing that the two needed a private moment.

"That I wanted to see you one last time," Harry answered. They were close now, not inches away from each other. It had been weeks since they'd seen each other last, and Harry's whole body ached to see her so close suddenly. Close enough to count the freckles that dusted her nose, or the eyelashes that fluttered prettily before him.

"I'm right here, Harry," she said softly, and Harry felt as if his heart had leapt out of his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her tiny form to his. He willed himself not to cry.

"You came," he said into her shoulder.

"I didn't want you to have any regrets," Ginny told him simply, pulling away slightly.

He stared down at her. "I regret not telling you I love you."

"I knew that already, Harry," she replied, looking up at him sadly. She held his face tenderly in her hands and kissed him. Then, without another word, she stepped away from him.

Ron and Hermione came up to them and encircled Harry in their own embrace. When they broke apart, Harry turned back to the veil.

"I'm ready now," he said peacefully. He stepped through the veil with his two best friends and the girl he loved looking on. His mind was blank and he had nothing to regret.

Like I said, just a thought. Why Harry is going into the veil is a mystery to me. What Voldemort did to Ron's family is completely unknown. I just wanted to see what Harry's parting words to the world would be. And, more importantly, his parting words to the people who love him. Because yes, I do think Harry will die in the final book. I hope he doesn't, but I think he will.