He sits in his office, the ring sitting on his desk, the old battered diary in his lap. The missing piece has finally slotted into place. He finally has all information he needs to give hope to the Wizarding World and now, now he knows where one more of the hidden horcruxes is located. He looks around his office, knowing that he won't see dawn, knowing that his time is coming to an end. His death approaches, if not at the hands of the Malfoy boy then by the hands of the man that has served him so faithfully and so well through the year. Severus, who for so long has carried the pain and guilt of Lily's death, the man who has played the role of Death Eater to perfection. He wonders if this may be asking too much of him, he wonders if by asking him to commit this act whether he risks destroying the mind of this amazing man.
His thoughts of Snape meld almost seamlessly into thoughts of Harry, the boy who He is about to ask to take on the most daunting of tasks, the boy who will have to become the man He knows he can be sooner than He'd have like. He can't imagine what Harry is about to encounter in the coming months, all He can do is hope that the plans He has set in motion will allow Harry to fulfil his task.
Pangs of guilt fill his weary body; he wishes there were some other way for all of this to play out. But deep down inside he is aware that there is no other way. He has to die, Severus will have to kill him, Severus will have to play his role so well in the coming days and months, Harry must be the one to find and destroy the horcruxes, Harry must be the one to end the suffering of the Wizarding World, but in order to do so, and Harry must die. He has known this for some time, been aware of Voldemort's greatest mistake. He's not even sure that Voldemort knows the full extent of the connection He and Harry share. There's a piece of that dark, evil soul hidden within The Boy Who Lived. The boy who must now die, die to save the world He has grown to love, to save those he cares about so dearly. Dumbledore closes his eyes, hoping and wishing that his theory will be proven, hoping that for Harry death will not be the end. There is a knock on his office door. He knows who is behind the door, he knows that the night will set in motion horrors that even he dare not think about, he opens his eyes, his silent wish still strong in his mind as he speaks the words that begin it all.
"Come in Harry." He states clearly, "Come in my dear boy." He whispers as a single tear falls down his cheek. Destiny awaits and he hopes they are both brave enough to see what is about to begin through to the bitter end.