A/N: I don't own any of it.
Harry stares up at Hogwarts from the school grounds. It really is a beautiful castle, he muses. The stone walls, the looming towers, the flying buttresses all add to its appeal.
A wave of sadness washes over Harry as he remembers why he is here. He is here to say goodbye. He is leaving the only home he has ever known. The place where he met his best friends, came to know his family, and fell in love.
But the world has changed since his first year. No longer can he run around, breaking school rules and acting like a normal boy. No. He has responsibilities now. Responsibilities that he alone can do.
"Are you ready, Harry?" Hermione asks, walking to his side.
"I have to be," he replies.
"No," Ron says, stepping to his other side. "You don't have to be."
Harry wishes this was true. But the truth is, it's his job to be ready. Harry thinks to tell Ron this, but instead he just sighs.
"I just wanted to say," Hermione burst out after a few contemplative minutes have passed, "that coming to Hogwarts was the best thing that ever happened to me. You two…" she starts, tears welling up in her eyes, "you two mean the world to me, and…" But she can't finish.
She doesn't need to. Harry knows what she means. He turns to her and takes her hand. Ron takes her other one. She loves them. And they love her. They've always known, but somehow, right here, right now, it means more to them than anything.
Harry tries to hide it, but he knows his eyes have misted. His view of Hogwarts castle has become blurry, but he is not ashamed. This is the last chance he gets to mourn his loss. In ten minutes he must fight all pain and all sorrow. In ten minutes he must go from a boy to a man. But for these ten minutes he embraces his youth. After this, there is no turning back.
"We're really going," Ron says, after a moment has passed.
"Yes," Harry answers somberly.
They turn back to the castle one more time. They remember everything. The Sorcerer's Stone. The Chamber of Secrets. Meeting Sirius Black. The Triwizard Tournament. The Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore. All of it led them here.
Together they turn, side by side, and walk away. Hermione turns back before they leave the grounds and whispers "We'll be back."
Harry, however, cannot shake the feeling that this may be the last time he is alive to see Hogwarts.
