Ashes
WARNING: See Chapter 1. Additional: Angst, Lots of angst. And ONE more character death, sort-of, (GASP!) but I guess you kind of already expected that anyway. Never fear though, there will be tears of joy as well. But get your tissues ready, just to be safe. There is also a certain twisting of canon regarding Horcruxes that I thought would have been more logical.
DISCLAIMER: See Chapter 1.
A/N: SURPRISE! It's an UPDATE! And it's a LONG chapter too (5K= words!)So, Happy or Tragic? Here is the FINAL CHAPTER, aptly titled The End: We see Severus' attempts to save Draco. Harry's purpose is revealed. A dramatic conclusion awaits as our heroes race against time. The clock is ticking… HOLD YOUR BREATH. Again, thank you for putting up with my faults, bad formatting and typos… I hope you enjoy my take on how things should end. Feedback is still appreciated. –C.
P.S. Anonymous reviews have been disabled. I can take constructive criticism and even pure rants about my work. Just don't do it ANONYMOUSLY. PLEASE. I hate cowards more than I hate trolls. If you have something to say to me, say it to my face. If you'd rather not be broadcast as someone rude and obnoxiously stupid, PM me –all the better.
LEGEND:
"Dialogue/ speech" 'Thoughts'Notes/ flashback
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Ashes
By: C.M. Oliver
©2013
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Chapter 10: The End
Severus did not know which was heavier: the heart pounding against his ribcage, or his boot-clad feet as he ran all the way up to the Astronomy Tower.
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"I'm sorry, sir. Mr. Malfoy is dead."
'Not as sorry as I am,' the onyx-eyed man thought ruefully as he slumped down the foot of Draco's bed in the Restoration Ward. The darkest magic… he had attempted to bind his husband's soul to him, to this realm, and he had failed miserably. He had looked on as the equally dejected healers removed all their monitoring charms and covered the slightly mussed up and charred body with a plain white sheet.
'Why?'
Severus Snape had never cried openly. But at that moment, it was as if his sobs and shakes were turned on by an invisible switch. People who saw this could not help but get teary-eyes as well. Here was a seemingly jaded and detached man, mourning his dead husband. Of course, no one knew which of the two he was actually pouring his heart out for.
'Harry…' The quiet whisper came on as the room emptied. Was there really a right way to feel when you lose someone twice? Severus closed his eyes. Was there no end to this pain?
"He is waiting," an ethereal voice said. The Potions Master immediately opened his eyes. An almost inaudible gasp escaped his lips as he saw who stood before him.
"Death?"
The figure nodded.
"We haven't been formally introduced, but your Harry has told me so much about you." Death moved to stand next to the occupied hospital bed. It laid its bony hand to rest atop the unmoving body covered there. "He is waiting for you," it said.
"Ha –Harry?" Severus' eyes widened as he straightened himself up. "But –but Draco is dead –How –how could Harry be still alive?"
"But he is," countered Death. A tiny ray of hope blossomed forth within Severus, but as soon as it did, it was squashed down by his guilt."Harry –he's alive –his revenge is not yet completed, is it?"
Death looked at the dark wizard with interest but made no sound. Severus clutched his chest in disbelief. He looked at the specter before him with questioning eyes.
"Is Harry –is he out to kill me too? Is my death his purpose?"
"Do you honestly believe that?" Death asked him in return. The Potions Master looked ashamed.
"No. I –I don't know. I wish I knew –"
"Ask him then," said Death, finally removing its hand from Draco's dead body. A ball of red flames came away with it –it promptly disappeared as soon as it left the unmoving remains. Severus did not know whether to marvel at what he saw or what he had heard. Death solved his dilemma for him.
"Right now, I have a cursed soul to ferry to the underworld. You, on the other hand, have a wrong to right." It then turned to leave for the shadows. Severus called out to it.
"Wait! Where –where do I find him?"
Death halted in his steps.
"The beginning of the end," it said cryptically. Then, it was gone without a trace and Severus Snape was running for his life. As soon as he began though, a whisper sounded in his ear:
"You have until midnight."
And the onyx-eyed man ran faster than he had ever run before in his entire life.
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It was quarter to midnight. The door to the topmost of the Astronomy Tower was ajar. Severus was almost out of breath when he reached it. He pushed it open.
The beginning of the end.
"You've made it," a voice from the shadows said –a painfully familiar voice. Severus held his breath in anticipation. A couple of foot steps sounded against the cold stone floor. His eyes were then captured by the moonlit window. The apparition stood before him, bathed with silver light and gold dust. The ethereal face looked as it did the last time he saw it. The hair was an icy blonde but still messy, and the eyes were most definitely the wrong color, but the way he was drawn to this specter –this man, there was no question. Severus took a tentative step forward, careful not to disturb the vision, had it been one… then another… and another… He stopped at arm's reach. Was this real? An unsure hand gently reached for the pale, glowing face and caressed a cheek. A pitiful sob escaped the Potions Master's lips as soon as he had made contact.
"Oh Harry…" At the utterance of that prayer, Severus felt his body tremble and his resolve crumble completely. He fell to his knees.
"Harry…"
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"I got your note," Harry said as he flew in from the window of the Astronomy Tower and dismounted his Firebolt. He approached a man who was sitting in the shadows. "I've made it."
"So it would seem," the man let a small smile breach his harsh features. "It all ends tomorrow." The man then stood up and met Harry halfway. "I needed to see for myself that you are healthy and whole after your ordeal at Malfoy Manor."
Harry shook his head before launching himself at the man. "I missed you too, Severus." He pulled back with a grin. "Or should I say, Headmaster Snape?"
Severus frowned. "Brat, you are not exactly officially enrolled here, so no. And besides, I do not want that title –I never deserved it. It just reminds me of all my failures." He gave his secret lover a once-over. "How are you, really? I heard Miss Granger was subjected to Bellatrix' wand –"
"We lost Dobby," Harry sighed, a shaky sob on the verge of escaping his lips. "Malfoy –Draco, that is –helped us escape, no matter how grudgingly. I think there is still hope for him –" He frowned slightly. "He said –he told me he did not want to fail you, that's why he helped us. I wonder what that meant –"
"I failed a lot of people," Severus breathed dejectedly, leading the two of them to a nearby bench. His eyes suddenly mirrored all of his difficult 37 years. "You have no idea how hard it is for me to keep going on –"
"Hey," Harry admonished his lover. "You're doing great. All of those children would be long dead had you not been here." He then sighed wistfully. "It is the only thought that makes being away from you bearable –we have parts to play in this war. You're a hero as much as everyone else, Severus Snape. Never forget that."
"Sentimental brat," Severus found himself genuinely smiling despite everything, suddenly remembering why he had fallen in love with this young man in front of him, of all people, in the first place. It began as a guilty pleasure he dared not speak of, but the Gryffindor's persistence and unwavering trust in him and his abilities made Severus consider a future with the Chosen One. But still…
"Your brat," quipped Harry, giving the man a light peck on the cheek.
"Mine," agreed Severus, returning the kiss on his young lover's lips.
"So you wanted to see me?" Harry asked as soon as they had both recovered from the kiss. "I assume it entails more than snogging," he joked. "Exchanging battle strategies perhaps? I have to admit right now, all I have in my arsenal is: Don't get killed, Potter."
Severus raised an eyebrow before sighing. If things had been different, he would have been showing the young man his memories of his conversation with Albus, regarding the necessity of Harry dying in the hands of Voldemort to rid the world of the horcrux that had lodged itself in the famous lightning-shaped scar. But the Gryffindor Golden Trio, under Severus' direction had prevailed yet again, to defy logic –or more specifically, a certain Miss Hermione Granger did. Horcruxes were destroyed by three things: Fiendfyre, Basilisk venom and Goblin-forged Weaponry. Further research by the teens (commandeered by Granger) proved that since a twelve-year old Harry Potter had been already subjected to the venom via the fang that punctured his arm, it had already destroyed the piece of dark soul in the boy then. The visions he was getting after his fourth year were mainly caused by the Dark Lord's usage of his blood to resurrect himself. Albus Dumbledore failed to take this into consideration when he gave his orders to Severus. Dumbledore may not have expected that Severus would develop feelings for the Gryffindor Golden Boy and try to save the said young man from having to walk to his certain death. No, the omniscient former Headmaster did not foresee that. Severus thanked his lucky stars probably for the first time in his life after he received the results of the teens' research. The relief he felt was supreme. The memories Albus had prepared remained in the warded and locked pensieve in the Headmaster's chambers.
"I want to talk about us, Harry –"
"Oh?" The young man looked positively surprised. "What about?"
Severus led them both towards the window, where he helped Harry sit on the charm-cushioned sill. "We are at war, Harry. And tomorrow, anything could happen. I merely do not want you to –"
"Wait. Are you breaking up with me?" Harry exclaimed, looking much alarmed. Severus stared at the handsome face of his lover, bathed in moonlight: the auburn highlights of his dark, messy locks were more pronounced; the hollows in his cheeks, more defined; the green in his eyes, more vivid, more startling. How could he stand being parted from such a beautiful creature? He held Harry's hands in his own.
"Harry, I am a wanted man. Spy or not, there are crimes I've committed. Mud will be thrown at my name should I live to see the day after tomorrow –and if I'm lucky, I would fall at the battle –it is not something you need to deal with –"
"Are you even listening to yourself?" Harry spat out heatedly. "Do you really think I would let anything happen to you? Do you honestly see me caring what the rest of the world would think about –about us?" His green eyes were all fired up. "I have fought my whole life for everything –everything I have ever wanted! Should I be ashamed that I am madly, deeply, in love with a man who made mistakes –a man who had paid dearly for those mistakes with the entirety of his life?"
Harry –"
"No, Severus! I am not giving you up! I will not lose you, not now, not tomorrow, not ever!" Tears began to well up in Harry's eyes. "I –I love you, Severus. I am fighting this battle for you –for us. You're my purpose –I already lost too much, please don't take the last thing that matters away from me."
Severus met the brilliant emerald irises with his own dark, fathomless pools of obsidian and was torn. "I do not want to hurt you, Harry. I know being in a relationship with me is not the easiest thing in the world, but I wish you no further harm. If I live –"
"You WILL live! Stop saying it as if your life is forfeit!" Harry yelled, yanking his hands away from his lover's grasp. "Don't push me away! Don't tell me you're doing this to protect me! Because whatever you say, you will never convince me to let you go. I will die before I would even think of letting you go –"
"I don't deserve you –" The current Headmaster averted his gaze ashamedly.
"Hell you don't!" Harry jumped off his seat, surprising the older wizard. He took Severus' shaking hands in his this time. "You deserve someone better, someone less idiotic, someone more mature, someone who at least knows the difference between minced bat liver and finely chopped slugs!" And like many times before in their brief, clandestine relationship, Severus was lost in those passionate words from his young beloved.
"Harry, I –"
"What?" The emeralds were ablaze, igniting the dying embers in its obsidian counterpart. Severus took a deep breath before sealing his fate in the final battle.
"I love you," he whispered, staring the younger man in the eye. "I love you." he then pulled Harry closer. "I love you." He bestowed a chaste kiss on the scarred forehead, the dainty nose, then finally, the soft, sweet, but sinful lips. "You are –you are just perfect."
"I am not," Harry whispered back, pulling away slightly as tears fell from his eyes like the dew the fast-approaching morning was to bring. "But you make me." Severus reached out a lone finger and traced the path of Harry's tears. "I am a fool."
"You are," said Harry, a smile now tentatively returning to his face. "You always make me cry, you know."
"I am deeply apologetic," Severus amended as he placed another kiss on the slightly parted lips.
"For making me cry?" Harry looked up at him. A smirk found its way on the Potions Master's lips.
"No, for allowing you to shed tears for me." Harry rolled his eyes.
"You and your wordplay –I don't know how I survived dating you without developing brain tumor."
"First of all, what we did on our spare time could hardly be construed as dating," Severus began, effortlessly slipping into 'Professor Snape Mode'. "Second of all, I refuse to use that horribly juvenile term –it is hardly unbecoming for a man of my age to be caught dating –especially the Savior of the Wizarding World. And lastly, I don't remember imposing myself on you –quite the contrary. I remembered you, barging into my rooms that one night –"
"You kissed me first," said Harry, now laughing. "You bloody pushed me against your door and kissed the living daylights out of me!"
"Oh come on, Potter! You were practically asking for it!" The older wizard found himself chuckling. Harry on the other hand, quirked his eyebrows before sighing."I can't complain though… best bloody kiss of my whole so-called life."Severus pulled him close once more.
"If you call that your best, then you are seriously one deprived soul."
"Do something?" Harry pleaded, batting his rather long lashes playfully. "Can I get my bestest kiss ever tonight, Sev?"
"Bestest? Is that even a word?"
"Shut up and kiss me, Snape! I did not go all the from the Black Forest just to –"
"Insolent brat!" Severus growled right before capturing those lips in a hungry kiss. Harry felt the world around him start to melt away. At that moment, nothing else mattered to him. But just as the sensations began to mount up and threaten to overtake him, Severus pulled away. Harry opened his eyes and lips to protest, but the older wizard was quick enough to silence him.
"Harry, I'm sorry, but I have to do this –before anything happens tomorrow."
"Do what?" Harry looked at him, clearly confused. "What are you going on about?"
Without further ado, Severus took a step back, not once breaking contact with his lover's eyes. Harry for his part, held on to the onyx-eyed man's hands, not wanting to risk letting go. A pregnant pause ensued as both men savored their one final moment of peace before all the chaos –the calm before the storm. After a while though, as the tension became already too much, it was Harry who broke the silence first.
"Severus? What's the matter?"
The older wizard took a deep breath, as if to brace himself for a round of 'Crucios' at the Dark Lord's hand. "Harry –I never expected to live past the Final Battle –"
"What did I –"
"No, let me finish, please." An inaudible swallow ushered in the rest of Severus' words. "I never expected to receive anything in return, the day I accepted my task of protecting you, training you, and eventually loving you… Every single day, I psyche myself up, not to anticipate a relief from my wretched existence." He paused to gather his thoughts. "But you came along. You shattered everything that I had long came to accept as realities. You made me realize the possibility of a reprieve from my hellish life as a double-agent. At first, you rattled me –seeing as how being with you took away all that I knew to be absolute truths. But eventually, I came to acknowledge that my life will never be the same again –that it hadn't been the same since I first saw you look at me on your first night here at Hogwarts. Being nasty to you was the easiest, yet most unpleasant thing I had to ever do in all my years as a reformed Death Eater. It was too late for me to realize that it was not your father's face nor your mother's eyes that I see in you, but a promise of what I could have become had my choices been right –you were a symbol of my failures and I used to resent you for it –but no more." Severus briefly closed his eyes, and Harry could tell how difficult it was for the man to let out his emotions this way. Severus Snape was never demonstrative –ever. Harry held his breath in quiet anticipation of the rest of the man's words.
"I'll admit, at first, a relationship with you, a student, was just my way of getting back at the world –my way of telling them to screw themselves. I was rebelling against their expectations of me –the fact that I was enjoying myself was just an added bonus. I felt free –no matter how awful that sounds to you right now –but I felt free whenever I was screwing the Savior behind closed doors without anyone knowing any better –"
"But that changed." There was no hint of accusation in Harry's tone. He simply eyed his lover. Severus sighed deeply.
"The day I had killed Dumbledore... The day when I had thought you would die from my own wand. I had asked you to stand aside, but you blatantly refused to do so," he shook his head. "That moment I realized that what we had went far beyond retribution and reprieve. Had anything happened to you because of my own hand –I would have –I would have submitted myself to the Dark Lord's mercy after revealing my true allegiance. If I had lost you because of my own foolishness, I would have –"
"You would have let him torture you to death?" Harry asked quietly, tightening the grip on Severus' hands. "Sev –"
"You are far more important to me now, that when I had begun to realize I have feelings for you. Before, it was an insane notion to even entertain that what we have could progress to anything more. But now…" Severus took no more chances and immediately went down on one knee, effectively rendering his younger lover speechless. With ardor, expectant onyxes stared up towards surprised emeralds.
"I have nothing to offer you right now, aside from my words. But if we make it through tomorrow, will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?"
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"Harry…"
Harry watched as the dark-eyed wizard fell to his knees in front of him. He knew what he must do, but as always, his heart won over his mind –and did instead what he had wanted to do. He reached for Severus' tear-stricken face and gently caressed it.
"Severus,"
Expectant onyx irises met hesitant silver ones.
"It –it is you," Severus whispered as his shaky hands reached up to touch the younger man's hands on him. "Harry –oh Harry, forgive me –for hurting you –for leaving you –for doubting –"
"For falling out of love with me?" Harry asked, his tone cold and hard despite the defeated look on his face. Severus' eyes widened as he shook his head fervently.
"No, never. I had stopped believing I deserved you. But never –never have I stopped loving you."
"You doubted me then." Harry held the gaze momentarily before looking away. "You doubted me –after all I've given you –after all we've been through." He released his grip on the older man. He then turned his back on him to face the moonlit window. Severus could only follow the man with his eyes, as the guilt and self-loathing he was feeling rooted him to his spot, on his knees.
"I am sorry, Harry. I am so, so sorry –"
"I told you, it's already too late for that," Harry countered bitterly, stepping away from his once husband, and then lover. "It will be over soon."
"Then, there is only one thing that I ask of you, Harry." Severus said, his voice trembling with fatigue and remorse. "Let me perish by my own hand. You are no murderer –"
"What?" Harry spun around, his eyes sharpening. "Do you think I came back to kill you?" A harsh smile crossed his lips. "I thought you knew me best."
Severus finally rose from his position on the floor.
"You've Bargained with Death… Draco is dead… and you're still alive," he slowly approached the young man. "If my death is not your purpose, then what is it, Harry? Your murderer had been exposed and killed, I've learned about our –our son, Everett," he shook his head. "Why do you still remain here, suffering, if not to bring me down?"
Silver eyes brightened mistily. "Yes, Everett –my brave and strong little one…" as his voice drifted, Harry absently rubbed a spot across his stomach lovingly. But when he realized what he was doing, he stopped and faced his ex-husband. "Severus –"
"Tell me, Harry. Tell me what I can do to ease your burden. Tell me what I need to do to show you how sorry I am," an almost sob escaped the older wizard's lips. "To show you how much I love you still –"
"No, Severus –"
"Please, Harry, believe me, Tell me –anything, I'll do anything –"
"Stop!" Harry cried out. Bells began toiling from afar. It was midnight. Harry stepped away from Severus and towards the window. "Severus –I need to go."
A deep frown crossed the dark wizard's face. "Harry? But –"
"My purpose is completed," said Harry, a forlorn smile gracing his lips. He took another step away from Severus, his eyes never leaving the older man's own. "It is done."
"What –what is done?" A completely perplexed Potions Master asked as he followed his beloved into the moonlight. "What is your purpose, Harry?"
Harry's back was almost against the window sill. With little effort, he sat himself on it, his feet dangling over the edge, facing Severus. The bells were still chiming a low macabre tune. Tears began flowing from his face once more.
"I love you too, Severus. I -I guess I just wanted to hear it from you."
The clock began sounding the individual hours…
"My Harry," Severus took a step forward in an attempt to get closer to the younger man, but a shake of his beloved's head stopped him. "No, Severus, it has to be this way. Death awaits my soul –as does Everett –"
"Can I not at least hold you in my arms?" Came the almost child-like request from the 43-year old wizard. "Harry, there –there is so much more I need to say to you."
The eight hour chimed…
"Severus –"
"Will I ever see you again? Everett?"
The ninth hour…
"I'm sorry, but not for long," whispered Harry as he stood upon the narrow ledge. The clear night sky was an impressive backdrop behind him. Severus thought that he had never seen anything as beautiful.
"Can I not go with you –now?"
The tenth hour…
Harry shook his head.
"There is something else you need to do for me…"
"What is it, Harry? Anything –tell me!"
The eleventh hour…
"Live. Live for me, my Severus."
"Harry?"
"Live, so that you may learn to forgive yourself –as I have."
Finally, the twelfth hour… Throwing caution to the wind, Severus closed the gap between Harry and him in one stride and pulled the young man in a tight hug… then, one final kiss…
"I love you, Harry –" he closed his dark eyes, not able to bear seeing what was to happen next. A swift force tore him away from the one he loved the most. There was an unseen gush of wind that swept through that dimmed room atop the Astronomy Tower like a small tornado. By the time the air had finally calmed down, Severus dared to open his eyes…
His arms were empty.
He was alone.
His knees finally gave way as tears spilled from his eyes like a never-ending downpour. It hurt to lose someone once, but it never compared to the pain of losing someone again. The moonlight continued to stream through the window as Severus' bare palms met the stone floor. By the time he had managed to get up though, it was already sunlight that greeted his pale face.
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Bright lights welcomed Harry. His eyes were closed, but the glare still seeped right through.
"Welcome home, Harry." A familiar voice to his right said. The young man opened his once-more brilliant emerald eyes and took in his surroundings. A dark figure stood beside him. "Death?"
"Finally," said Death. "Congratulations on getting your hair back to normal, by the way. I really think that blonde hair looks atrocious on you –"
"Wait, where am I? What is this place?" Harry asked looking around. Everything was seemingly made out of water and white smoke. "Is this the Afterlife?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Death gestured around. "It's not much, but it's home." Harry looked puzzled. "Quite a nice place to spend my cursed eternity at."
Death chuckled. "What cursed eternity are you talking about? You really don't get it, do you?"
"Get what?" The emerald-eyed man frowned. "I sold my soul for eternal damnation in exchange for another chance, for revenge. What are you going on about?"
"Did you now?" Death appeared to be in deep thought. 'I thought I gave you that chance because you were favorite, young Harry –"
"Death –"
Death held both its hands up in surrender. "Your soul, no matter how vengeful it has become, belongs here, in this realm. Your heart remains pure and steadfast –"
"But I killed somebody!" Harry exclaimed. "Should I not be burning in the fires of Hell?" Death shook his head and sighed. "Tell me, Harry –can someone evil love? Hurt ? Cry? Forgive?" It laid a gentle hand on the young man's shoulder. "If you think of yourself that way, then you will be no different from Tom Marvolo Riddle –"
"I'm not like him!" Harry protested. "I'll never be like him!"
"He killed in the same way as you did," explained Death. "Revenge was his purpose. His method was quite similar to the one you used –"
"But I'm not a monster!"
"There you go," smiled Death. "The one thing you are not that earns you a chance to spend the rest of your existence in this realm. You only fault was love, Harry. As long as there is love in your heart, you cannot be damned in Hell –there is always a choice –there is always hope for those who lose themselves in the darkness of their souls and yet, can still forgive others and most especially themselves." Death paused. "Redemption, ever heard of it?"
"You make it sound like Malfoy was a necessary evil that I had to get rid of," observed Harry. "You give me a weapon and pat me on the head for killing someone –"
"Think of it in whatever way you want, Harry. But I assure you, killing Draco Malfoy was by no means an act that you should be proud of. However, what you should be proud of is the capacity of your heart to forgive –"
"Severus?" Harry clarified. "You mean because I forgave him, I was saved from the fires of Hell?" Death kept smiling at him, its wispy, smoky face, taking on an uncharacteristic brightness to it. "Call forth your Reverse Patronus –the one your heart has produced in deep hatred and loathing of the man who had once loved and betrayed you. You will realize what I mean."
Harry closed his eyes and did as he was told. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes, surprise evident in his face. "How –what –"
He couldn't do it.
"Yes, your final act of forgiveness cleansed your soul. Yes, you killed a cursed man, and by no means was it the right thing to do. But you must realize, Harry that it takes greater strength to forgive and blindly accept your fate than it dose to exact revenge. The mere fact that you welcomed your damned fate with open arms says much about your strength of character. In the end, you managed to do what even the greatest of men had failed to achieve –you have pulled away from the darkness that was rooting in your heart –from the intoxicating lure of power. Yes, it took you killing an individual to realize that, but there is never a time-limit on repentance. Had you not learned to let the anger go in the end, you would have been nothing unlike the one they call Voldemort, nothing unlike Draco Malfoy –"
"I killed him," Harry reasoned out. "He was asking me not to, but I still went ahead –"
"You did." Death agreed. "Do you want to know of an alternate reality in which you never employed the Death Warrant Curse?"
Harry met the question with curious eyes. Death waved his hand around absently.
"You did not make the choice to come back, Harry. Draco Malfoy got away with your and your son's murder. Four years later, he and Severus become fathers to a little boy –they named him Albus Harrison –"
"I somehow doubt Malfoy would agree to that name," Harry interjected. Death gave him a look.
"He didn't. It caused a rift between the two of them. As Severus was the one to carry little Al, he got custody of the boy after a seriously messy Divorce suit –not that Draco was interested in raising a son anyway."
"The bastard –"
"Severus contracted a previously undiscovered strain of Wizard Pox in one of his many forays into gathering Potions ingredients. His loneliness, coupled with his failing health drove him to an early death –"
"He didn't –"
"Al was eight when his maternal father died. By this time, Draco Malfoy was already deeply entrenched into the world of muggle prostitution and was in no way fit to be a parent. The child was sent to an orphanage –a magical one. But still, his less than desirable heritage of being a son of two former Death Eaters, afforded him a less than desirable treatment in the hands of his supposed caregivers –"
"Let me guess, Tom Riddle the second?" Harry shook his head. "Are you sure you aren't just trying to make me feel better with regards to my choice, Death?" Death chuckled.
"So what if I was? You don't have to believe me, Harry. Nothing is set in stone, just like your fate is not certain the moment you had asked for my help in exacting revenge. You always had a choice. And you made the right one eventually –that is all that matters." Death began to pace before the still contemplative young man.
"Harry, there is never a right or wrong formula. Sometimes, all we need are words –sometimes, we need to move and conquer worlds."
"It sounds too simple," said Harry. Death eyed him pointedly.
"Sometimes… it just is. Is that so hard to accept?"
"But –"
"No buts." Death declared with an air of finality. "Your soul belongs here. And besides, who would take care of Everett if you are not around? I may have an endless stream of baby sitters volunteering, but really, all they do is spoil him rotten! Do you want that for your son?" Death quipped. "You should really have a talk with Snuffles and Prongs… taking the little boy on broom rides! What were they thinking?"
"What –" Harry shook his head good-naturedly. "I will. A little hex or two would teach them not to corrupt my son." The young man stood up from his spot and was about to see to his well-missed little one, when he remembered to ask Death.
"What happens in the future, now –now that I've made my choice?"
Death gave him a knowing look.
"You will find out in nine months."
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-END OF CHAPTER 10-
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A/N: Thanks for reading. Up next: EPILOGUE: Everett – a nice tie up of our loose ends. We find out exactly what that last comment of Death really meant -Don't miss it! If you are all good and give me nice reviews, I will post it earlier than next week. In the mean time, feel free to send a review/ comment my way. I love them. Like seriously LOVE them. See you in the following social media platforms as well:
FACEBOOK: C.M. Oliver is Eastwoodgirl (#cmoliverfanfiction)
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