Disclaimer: I still do not own a thing of Harry Potter, or anything in the Harry Potter world.
Harry reaches the forests edge. Within, further on, he can see dementors drifting within the trees. Harry starts to enter, then pauses, reaches into his pocket and removes the snitch. Eyes the words etched upon it: "I open at the close."
Harry frowns, then closes his eyes, brings the metal orb to his lips. His fingers tremble, then lowers his hand, watching as the metal shell falls away to reveal….the resurrection stone. A jagged crack runs down its center, along the line representing the elder wand. The triangle and circle representing the cloak and stone are faintly visible. Harry stares at it, then closes his eyes and begins to roll the stone over in his hand.
Murmuring, "Once, Twice, Thrice…."
Harry stands for a moment and then, slowly, opens his eyes. Reacts. Four people stand within the forest: James potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Lily potter. Lily eyes him lovingly and beckons him forth. As if in a dream, harry drifts through the trees, stops before her.
"You've been so brave, sweetheart" Lily says as her eyes fill with tears that blur her eyes so much like the ones staring back at her.
"Why are you here? All of you?"
"We never left, dear." Lily says.
"Does it hurt? Dying?"
"Quicker than falling asleep." Sirius says while his silver eyes begin to sadden at the thought of a bot that was so full of life having to ask that question, the one that so obviously hurt Sirius more than anything.
"And he will want it to be quick." Remus says trying to reassure everyone there much like he did when they were younger and the first war was upon them.
"You're nearly there, son." James says looking at his best friend's padfoot and moony and saw how deeply this was affecting them, he saw how much they both love Harry and that made sad that he wasn't able to be in a bigger part of Harry's life.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want any of you to die for me. And Remus, your son…" Harry tries to say when he can't find anything else to the ones that he loves, the ones he will see when he goes to face Voldemort for the last time.
"Others will tell him what his mother and father died for. Someday he'll understand…." Remus says to give Harry a break from blaming himself for everything wrong in the wizarding world.
A chill breeze shakes the trees and Harry looks ahead.
"You'll stay with me?" Harry asks, voice hitching.
"Until the end." His father answers for everyone there, knowing that they all would stay for this boy that had deeply affected everyone in the proximity.
"He won't be able to see you?"
Sirius shakes his head, gestures to Harry's heart.
"No. Were here, you see."
Harry turns to his mother
"Stay close to me."
"Always…"