I was given a choice.

In that white space, the nowhere I created. The King's Cross that would have led me to go "on", as Dumbledore said. I was given a choice, finally.

God, it was so hard. After all this, what should I do? For so long, I did what was "right" or what I was told to. By a teacher, a god father, a prophecy. Yes, that was it. My whole life, I've been paying for what that old bat of a teacher said one night in bar. And I really have paid for it, haven't I? I grew up in a goddam cupboard, then escaped, only to find myself in the middle of some crazy power struggle with this sadistic snake guy who killed my parents a decade ago. Great. Lovely, really.

And when I finally meet someone who can kind of be close to a parent, he gets pushed into a veil and dies. A veil, for god's sake! Come on, why even introduce us, then? I knew him for two years. That's all I got. And then, it's over. Thanks for the memories. This was all my fault by the way.

Even after all this, after Dumbledore dies, I'm ever the good little Boy Who Lived. I search for the horcruxes, hallows, whatever the hell they came up with. And where does it land me?

Dead.

And now, Dumbledore comes out, spits out his life story, and tell me I can go "on".

Thanks, man. Good to know if I ever need attention all I have to do is die.

I could end all this now. Wherever I go now, I won't have to worry about Voldemort ever again. Or about horcruxes, or anything else for that matter. I won't have to fight anymore or worry about Dark Magic or exams. I'll be with Mom and Dad and Sirius.

And I won't have to see all those dead bodies at Hogwarts after the fight is finished. The fight they started so that I can find the diadem, actually...the fight that bought all of Hogwarts. How McGonagal is giving it all she has, like Luna and Tonks and Lupin and everyone else. And I guess, I won't be the God father to Lupin's son, will I? Maybe Ron could do it...

Ron. Who I knew would never have wanted me to this alone. Who never, in fact, let me be alone when I didn't want to be, not since the day we meet.

Oh, God. He and Hermione better be happy together after all this. When they defeat Voldemort, when it all ends...

And I won't see how it all ends.

I won't see them ever again.

They never let me fight alone and now I'm abandoning them to Voldemort. Would they?

No. Never.

I have to stick this out.

I won't let them all down. They fought, and even now, they resisted, in the face of cold terror. I would not let them down.

And then, I understood. I had to go back and finish this. If I went on, I'd always regret it.

Still, I knew. I was given the choice. To walk away, finally free myself. I didn't though. I know what's right. That's what let me come back. I knew I didn't have to do this alone, ever.

Knowing the darkness that lay ahead and willfully choosing to face it, I became strong. For one last time, I opened my eyes and faced the dark road ahead.