Harry opened his eyes. At first, everything was too blurry too see. His vision was clouded over by a grey-white fog. a hollow feeling burned in his chest as his eyes began to clear. Memories hit him suddenly, a rush of information that set his heart pounding. They'd failed. Bellatrix had retrieved the cup from her vault before they'd even known it existsed. Nagini remained by Voldemort's side. They never even dicovered what the last horcrux could be; their only lead that was it could an unnamed artifact that might have been Ravenclaw's. Or possibly something belonging to Gryffindor. As the panic began to fade, almost as quickly as it had started, Harry took in his surroundings. His was on Platform 9 3/4. It looked like it, anyway. Everything had a sort of pearl iridescent glow to it. Harry tried not to think about the edges of this place he could only catch glimpses of through his peripherals. The fog seemed to swallow all detail near those places.
"Hello, Harry." A voice floated out of the fog. A wash of joy rushed over Harry and he found himself on his feet and jogging to its source. He could see the clear figure that was Albus Dumbledore. Harry felt that grandfatherly sense of love and peace that Albus put off in waves. A year apart suddenly felt like no time at all.
"Headmaster," Harry choked out. Albus held out his arms and Harry didnt hesitate. He ran into the arms of the man who'd been all but a grandfather to him, tears streaming down his face. Albus held him for several long minutes as he cried, letting the boy who'd held the world on his shoulders release all of his pain. Twin trails of tears flowed down hus own face.
"I'm so sorry, Harry."
"We failed. He killed me and we lost and it's over now because he's won." Harry couldn't stop himself. Albus just shook his head.
"It was wrong of me to leave that burden on you and your friends, Harry. " Albus took a step back, looking Harry in the eye, "You shouldnt have had to take on thst task alone. I let my paranoia convince me no one else could be trusted, I tasked a small group of young people with an almost impossible challenge. I had too much confidence in a plan I never discussed with anyone, and was so blinded by my belief in my infallibility, that You payed the ulitmate price. I am sorry, my boy, I failed you. Not the other way around." Harrry looked as thorough he wanted to argue, but Albus held up one hand to silence his protests.
"I'm sorry, but our time here is limited, Harry. We've no time to argue faults or would bes or what ifs. The past is set, but the future is still malleable." He pointed to a black mass steaming and hissing in a far corner Harry hasn't noticed before. It rolled and thrashed but remained still, twisting around its self like a dying snake. " That is a small fragment of Voldemort's soul. It bonded with you that night he lost his human form." Harry looked alarmed by knowledge that he was a horcrux, but Albus pressed on, "Because Voldemort broke the laws of nature itself to ensure his immortality, you now have a choice. I can take that bit of soul with me wgen i board the train to the other side, allowing you to return to the world of the living. You would be given a second chance, a chance to finish Voldemort once and for all, and save the world that has been so unkind to you." Again Harry made to speak, but Albus shook his head to prevent him. "Or, you may board the train with me instead. Your soul would pass on with mine, and Voldemort would almost certainly win the war. You'd be reunited with your loved ones. Your parents. Sirius. They will be waiting for you on the other side, regardless of your choice." Harry couldn't breathe. Part of him knew the right answer. Go back. Save the wizarding world. Force one more piece of Voldemort's soul to the other side so that the monster would be one step closer to mortal. He stood there for several long minutes, waring with himself. Many times, he opened his kouth only to shut it again when the words wouldnt come. Albus just watch, his face clear of judgement.
"I..." Harry finally managed to say, his voice breaking and small, "I want my mum and dad and Sirius," he whispered, sounding every bit the lonely, scared, and tired child he was. Albus placed one arm around his shoulders and nodded.Harry leaned into Albus's embrace, tears of relief and acceptance rolling down his cheeks. He and Albus walked to the edge of the platform and boarded the train. As it moved out of the station, the platform fell away into the void, the screams and howls of the soul shard echoing through the nothing.