Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of JK's other characters. This oneshot contains Half Blood Prince spoilers, so please do not continue if you have not finished the book, unless you want to be spoiled.

Summary: This oneshot describes Harry dealing with the aftermath of book 6 and what he must soon face.

Harry sat on a small rocky ledge by the sea. The warmth of the summer air was broken by the cold spray stinging his face. The light of a full moon cast a ghostly shadow across his features. The salty water on his face was mingled with tears.

It was just over a month ago that Harry had last stood on this very spot. Dumbledore had been with him then. Life had been simple then; compared to how it looked now. In his hand was a small locket. It was a reminder of all that had happened on that night. His world had come crashing down around him in one sharp blow. He had his friends for comfort, but what he needed was a parent.

Harry looked up into the sky and saw a bright star gleaming there. "Sirius," he said in a soft whisper. The star twinkled in response. He sat for hours telling the star about all that had happened in the last year, about all that there was to come. He would have given anything to hear Sirius' voice respond to all his worries, to tell him that they could deal with that. But, alas, the only response he got was more twinkling from the star high above him.

The wind blew, ruffling his already untidy hair, as still more tears slid down his cheeks. After only a month he had come to realize just how truly powerful Voldemort was and just how little knowledge 6 years of schooling could bring. Last year it had seemed like a great adventure; to hunt Voldemort's Horcruxes, side by side with Albus Dumbledore. It was a daring feat that Sirius would loved to have undertaken.

A year ago, Harry could not see how he could continue to live his life without Sirius there to guide him, to laugh with him, to comfort him. A month ago, Harry could not see how the world could go on with the greatest wizard the world had ever known lying broken at the foot of a tower. Now, he knew both. His life went on without Sirius; it was a hole in his heart that seemed to grow larger everyday. The world went on without Dumbledore, spinning into chaos every second.

The words came back to him, "You think the dead we loved every truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?" They seemed truer than ever now. His father was with him always as his patronus, which had saved his life so many times. Sirius was the shining star in the sky, the star that gave him comfort in the night; that made the shadows shrink to nothing. Dumbledore, would be with him, everywhere he went.

He clutched the locket tighter in his hand. Not only did it stand for what that night had cost and for what was left to be done, but it had become inextricably linked in his mind to Dumbledore. As far as Harry was concerned, Dumbledore had given his life for this locket.

A chill crept down the back of his neck making him shiver. Everywhere Harry

went he was surrounded by fog; the fog that made him feel as if the dementors were following him. Here there was no fog, only the mist of the sea splashing up on the rock. Even so, Harry found no comfort here. Here was just as depressing as anywhere else.

He looked up into the sky and saw several falling stars. The heavens were crying for Dumbledore; crying for the world. One month had passed, news of more deaths came almost hourly, dementor attacks daily, and among it all, the armies of inferi were destroying towns one by one. No one knew who to trust, nor who to turn to, and so they turned to him; knowing it or not. He was their only hope, and his hope was failing him.

Who was he to fight the most powerful Dark Lord to ever walk the face of the earth? Who was he to stand in his way? After all he had lost, when he thought he could lose no more, Voldemort would take something else away; would take until he had Harry's last breath of life.

Harry looked once more up at the Dog Star, then at the moon, and smiled. "Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs," he said. The moon gleamed as bright as ever, and Sirius twinkled once more. He could feel his father's spirit within him, and he knew what he must do.

He knew now, as he had done in the graveyard the night that Cedric died, that he must fight. He would not die a coward, writhing hopelessly on the ground at Voldemort's feet. He would die fighting, trying to defend himself and the world, even if no defense was possible. He would die like his father, trying to give the world a chance to run. He would die like his godfather, laughing in the face of his enemy.

Harry stood and looked down at the locket in his hand, and placed it in his pocket. When he withdrew his hand, he held in it a large gold ring with a cracked black stone. It had been found in Dumbledore's office and given to him. He stared at the ring for a moment before raising his arm and casting it out into the sea. Let the heirlooms of Slytherin rest in a watery grave; let the heir of Slytherin fall.

With one last look at the still weeping sky, Harry turned on his heel and was gone in a swish of his robes. There was one chance for the world, one chance for life, and it could not be taken if he was sitting here watching starry tears fall into the sea.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please review and let me know what you think. I'm always looking for ideas to write about and this one came to me on a whim. I would love to hear your thoughts on it. It is particularly hard for me to read as I remain one of the avid "Sirius is not dead" theory supporters, and always will no matter what evidence to the contrary I am shown. I hope you liked it.