Disclaimer: All intellectual & physical property of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling & Warner Bros. Also, the song "If I Die Young" is not mine, but I'm not sure which record label she's signed with.

The Words of a Love Song

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Harry closed his eyes as he stepped toward Voldemort, preparing to take the curse he knew would end his life. Odd, how long his life had felt, when it had really been quite short. He supposed that was because he had endured so much more than anyone else his age. He had resigned himself already – he was no longer terrified of the act of dying. He believed Sirius when he'd said it didn't hurt. Sirius wouldn't lie to him. No, now he was afraid for the others – those he would leave behind. Those who weren't ready for him to die: Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, so many who would be torn apart by his death. He hoped that he wouldn't have to see them suffer, in whatever afterlife he was destined for – he didn't think he could bear to see any of them cry. He hoped they would eventually forgive him for what he was doing; they didn't know he had no other choice, but somehow, even if he had been able to tell them, he didn't think it would have made the situation any easier. He opened his eyes, determined to stare down the shell of a man who had destroyed his life. He saw the wand rise, the lips move, and the jet of green light advance on him, as if in slow motion. His last thought was a vague abstraction regarding what he hoped would happen to his body after he was gone.

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

Fred watched with regret as his brothers, Harry, and Hermione hovered over his now lifeless body. He feared for them as curses and hexes still flew around them, but he felt stirrings of gratitude as they dragged his body off to protect it. It was even harder when others came to move him into the Great Hall. He thought his heart would break from the pain he saw on his mother's and father's faces. Then he remembered his heart beat no more. He tried to reach them – to comfort them. He tried to let them know he was all right, especially George. He didn't want them to suffer because he was gone. He'd had such a wonderful time while he was alive – filled with fun and laughter and joy. He'd lived every moment to the fullest – how could he be sad that it was over, before he had to endure real heartache and loss? He hoped his wishes for them would one day be fulfilled, that they would know he was safe and happy and knew he had been loved. He could tarry no longer, however, and he drifted off to the beyond.

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

Lily held Harry close. Afraid, she was so afraid for her son. James was already dead – the hole in her heart tore with agony. But she couldn't lose Harry, too. She would rather die. Barely over twenty, but she was ready to give up her life. All the things she had yet to do, all the goals she had yet to accomplish, wishes yet to be made, life yet to live – none of these things entered her head at this moment. She had to save her son – and if she could do that, well, then that would be achievement enough for her.

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger, I've
Never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a
Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well,
I've had, just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls

Tonks and Remus gazed down at their son. They exchanged a glance of longing, sorrow for the truth that they would not be there for him. They had fought through so much – a strained courtship, forbidden romance, but ended with the promises of forever. Perhaps forever is relative, they thought. But they had done well – produced a miraculous beauty of a child, helped rid the world of an evil monster, and ensured the safety of generations to come. Even though it hadn't seemed like much before their deaths, they realized that they had done all they would have ever been able to do.

What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I've been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

Albus saw the stars in the inky blackness of the sky as he sailed over the parapet. Oh, how he wished things had been different. There weren't enough time turners in the world to fix things now, however. Perhaps he had played things too close to the vest? Perhaps he ought to have told more people of things over time? He wondered who would be the first to dissect him brutally now that he was gone – Fudge? Skeeter, maybe? People would clamor for it – too bad he couldn't set up some way to collect posthumously. It was of no consequence. He hoped the things he'd said, done, and taught those for the good of their world would outweigh the poor choices he'd made over time. He conceded that those who thought so would continue to and those who didn't wouldn't change. It wasn't as if his death was simply going to make people suddenly listen to that which they did not choose to hear. He was dead before he hit the ground.

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Sirius saw Harry's face from the other side of the veil. He was falling, falling, reaching for Harry, but he couldn't get to him. He saw the anguish, the pain, the anger on the boy's face. It hurt to see. He wanted to call out to Harry – hold him and whisper apologies in his ear for failing him. Sorry, sorry, so sorry. How could he leave him, too? James and Lily were already gone; he was all who was left to care about Harry. He had vowed to never desert him. It would have been better to have died with Lily and James – died in his youth before he could have loved Harry and cared for him so. This was more unfairness to the boy, who had done nothing wrong, yet endured so much punishment. He tried, tried so hard to claw his way out, back to his godson whom he loved more than life itself. He tried, but he was being pulled away, away from Harry, and soon the tear-streaked, grief-stricken, beautiful face was gone behind a haze from which he would never again emerge.

The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had, just enough time

Severus Snape smirked at the infant in the crib. Sentimental Potter, giving his second son 'Severus' for a middle name. He'd watched his own funeral – sparsely attended, and those present did not shed tears, not even any feigned in decency. He was not offended. He'd made his peace, given Potter the memories. He'd absolved himself of the guilt he'd lived with nearly all of his much-too-long life, even if it was short by most standards. He knew there were many more real sorrows to be had in their lives, they needn't waste their grief on Severus Snape. He'd thought Potter's drive to exonerate his name and mount his portrait in the Headmaster's office were done out of a sense of obligated duty, rather than anything else. But seeing the infant waving his arms about, gurgling incoherently up at the broomstick mobile, Severus knew he'd been wrong. Potter had forgiven him; Harry truly understood. And that alone was enough for Severus Snape to realize that he'd done as much as he'd needed to do during his brief time on Earth.

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls