Disclaimer: do not own Harry Potter. Or Hogwarts. Though I wish I did. Stop rubbing it in...
A few moments before Harry leaves Hogwarts at the end of 6th year.
Sitting on the top of the Astronomy Tower, Harry looked at the surrounding grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He would be leaving, yes, that was for sure now; in fact, he always knew he would have to leave, as long as He was out there, alive in the furthest sense of the word, breathing, killing - Harry would have to leave. In order to save everyone, he would have to leave his home behind; his loved ones, his future, even.
He breathed the air in deeply, closing his eyes as he inhaled. It would be worth it. Sacrifice - the ultimate form of love - like his mother before him, he would follow the deed and see it through.
If it had not been for his mother he would never have felt any pain, or hurt or sadness, or seen his godfather die, and Cedric would probably still be holding hands with Cho. But then he wouldn't have met Ron, or have Hermione give him that exasperated look when he hadn't finished homework. He wouldn't be at all.
But his mother - his kind, brave, loving mother - had given her life in exchange for his.
He clutched the empty locket in his hand, the object of much strife and a crushing death - but perhaps Dumbledore would've wanted it this way; he would've wanted Harry to go on by himself, to go where Dumbledore could not. Reality encircled Harry now, crushing him, and yet he was free; free in a way inexplicable, as if he was unlimited and weightless, in this one, precious moment and he exhaled.
He was leaving, yes; and whatever man he had been before, as he slipped the locket back into his pocket and descended the stairs of the tower to find his friends, he was different now; changed, because he would never, ever regret his mother's sacrifice, and the hardships that lay ahead because of her great act of love.
Review?