Story that I had on my second account. :) I will slowly but surely get all 3 up today, and I'll end with the newest chapter. Hope newcomers enjoy!

Prologue

I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.

-Edgar Allen Poe

Pit.

Pat.

Pit.

Pat.

Pitter Pitter.

Pat.

Great big raindrops fell from the sky, splashing on all surfaces and creating a song the physically young, but mentally old wizard couldn't help but reminisce and close his eyes to. It reminded him of late nights with his friends in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione would nag about how they shouldn't have procrastinated, but all three of them knew it was no good. Both he and Ron would wait till the last minute no matter what their 'Mione would say.

A silent tear fell down his pale, dirty face. He made no move to wipe it away however. He found no shame or want to erase a sign of his loss. Every step, every thought, every tear, was given and made for those he had failed to save. It was the very least that they deserved.

Thick leather boots made no sound as they padded down the crumbling hallways of Hogwarts. Even after the Battle, the powerful magic within the great castle managed to keep it upright, if not a bit worse for wear. The portraits had all long since been destroyed or the inhabitants had moved to wherever portraits go when they find their frame unsafe. Seeing that the many staircases were still all mostly unstable, Harry wandlessly levitated himself up, a ghost of a smile lighting his youthful features as pleasant memories of better times washed over him.

As he passed the third floor corridor he thought of his first adventure with both Ron and Hermione. That Cerebus truly had been a frightening creature at the time. I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed. Even after nearly two decades Hermione's words never failed to force a chuckle out of him.

Soon enough he finally made it to the seventh floor, but not without a few more laughs over the old days with Ron and Hermione. The now ripped tapestry was touched lovingly by thin, scarred fingers, but memories would not stop him once he was so close to his goal. With a clear image of what he wanted sent to his old friend Hogwarts, a tall, thick dark wooden door appeared and opened without a single touch. Harry silently walked in, unaware of eyes trailing after him.

A clear blue sky appeared from above, not a cloud in sight. No animals or trees could be seen in any direction, and the room was completely, blissfully, silent. Bright green grass was as far as any eye had the ability to see, and lily flowers could be found scattered amongst the green. A single white flower floated into Harry's hand, and he relished in the calm and peace he had been gifted in that moment.

This was what he needed today. This was what he wanted forever.

He gently pocketed the flower and slowly strode up the only hill within the room. Sweet spring air tingled all his senses and he honestly couldn't remember the last time he felt so at peace. So unafraid. Finally, he made it to the object he had been seeking. An object his brilliant mentor had warned him of so long ago.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.

He lightly caressed the old mirror's golden edge with his fingertips, Dumbledore's warning ringing clearly in his mind. But what if all we have left are dreams my old friend? What do we do when reality overshadows the greatest of nightmares with it's own horrors?

It was times like these that Harry wished he still had someone he could ask advice from. Even now, after so many years of being on his own, he was no more wise or intelligent than he was when he had first met Dumbledore by that sinful mirror.

And...what if I want to forget, or have already forgotten? What then you omniscient fool?

Indecision coursed through his veins, but deep down he had known, and still knew what he wanted to do. He had fought much longer and harder than all his friends and loved ones. It had not happened all at once of course, but over the course of his thirty years he had lost them all. And now all he wanted was to see them again. To rest.

All he wanted was to race up and down the Quidditch pitch on his Firebolt while Oliver screamed techniques at him and the other players. All he wanted was to sit in the library while Hermione whispered her numerous study plans and tips while he and Ron joked and talked. He would even take Hermione nagging him to eat more in the Great Hall while his messy ginger friend stuffed his face and hollow stomach.

But most of all, he just wanted to see their smiling faces one more time. Not the war-hardened or fearful ones that overcame his Occlumency shields late at night when not even a cricket dared make a sound. Not the betrayed and sorrow-filled ones that were beginning to shadow the happier ones he treasured the most. In the midst of his inner conflict, his body ceased shaking he didn't even realize had started to begin with and silent tears quit showering his thin face.

An honest smile breached pale chapped lips, one that hadn't shone on his face since his two closest friends had passed, when he had finally made his decision.

He was going to see them again. Finally. Just as he moved to stand in front of the old, powerful mirror, a voice he had heard too many times echoed through the room.

"Hello Harry Potter."

Avada Kedavra eyes dilated slightly, but no other sign was made of his fear or surprise as he turned around.

"Lord Voldemort. What a pleasant surprise." Crimson eyes glinted maliciously, but no other change overcame the Dark Lord's face.

"Yes. Pleasant surprise indeed." Bone white hands gently caressed an equally white wand while a snake-like head tilted to the side.

"Why are you here Boy-Who-Lived? I thought you and your second in command- Penelope Clearwater was it?- would be gathering your forces to protect France." Harry's eyebrows furrowed in slight alarm, but dismissed it immediately. His allies were smart enough to evade Voldemort's Death Eater's on their way to France. No doubt Clearwater figured that the Dark Lord would work out out their plan soon.

"I have no doubts that Ms. Clearwater has led the way to France quickly and efficiently without my presence." Red eyes gleamed with something Harry couldn't quite identify at his response. Like a snake, Voldemort's hand snatched his jaw and the tips of too-long fingers pressed down on his chin as if his nails were fangs. Harry couldn't even remember when the Dark Lord got that close.

Ruby red eyes gazed down into bright green emeralds that hadn't had glasses covering them for over fifteen years. A single finger slowly stroked over his Adam's apple. It didn't move.

"How curious. Has the Golden Boy finally given up on his useless friends? Has little Harry finally surrendered to the big bad Dark Lord?" Green eyes darkened with rage and furious magic filled the air around them. Cracks appeared in the once perfect blue sky and the light green grass became yellow and dry.

"I will never surrender to you Voldemort. Not now, and not ever."

All around them the once perfect world cracked and splintered, revealing the cold and dark underneath. The sky turned a dark reddish purple, black clouds littered the skies. The grass beneath them sputtered and died in a matter of seconds. White lightning pierced the black sea above in zigzagged lines. Dead lily petals fell from the sky like the light drizzle right before a heavy storm. Moments before they reached the heads of both men they turned black like the clouds they fell from and delicately broke apart, similar to ashes in a breeze.

The Dark Lord's eyes couldn't help but widen in surprise and pleasure at the darkness and ferocity in his favorite toy's soul. Oh how he would love to break this wonderful boy's spirit even further, to test the limits of the powerful green-eyed savior's sanity. Pain, rage, and the need to kill burned in the wizard's eyes. Voldemort licked his thin lips greedily. This was what he wanted. A challenge.

Suddenly, those sinful eyes widened at the devastation around them. The Dark Lord allowed himself to be pushed away and watched in rapt attention as his greatest enemy and entertainment tried to calm himself down. Just before Harry managed to make the last lily turn a lush white instead of decaying black, an unexpected strike of lightning fell down from the skies and hit the only inanimate object in the room.

The old mirror.

A split second before the blast swallowed them whole, red and green met in one final look, and all both saw was a blinding golden light.