XXXVI. We're in the living room. Neville, called back from his customer visit, has taken in one of the chairs from the kitchen and is sitting with his elbows on his knees and his forehead leaned in a hand. Draco and I occupy the couch, sitting close, Draco with an arm around me as if he still fears that I'll disappear. It's just the three of us left. Aurors have been here, many of them, working effectively; some taking care of Travers while others asked us question after question for what seemed to be hours. We told them about the sound in the Greenhouse and Travers' attack, about me being hit with the Avada Kedavra and the Vampireflower attacking Travers while I was out. None of them even looked sceptical; my second resurrection was readily accepted.
What I have yet to tell anyone is what happened between dying and waking up again.
"I can't believe you died again," Neville groans tiredly and rubs his hands over his face.
"I can't believe he's still alive," Draco counters and squeezes me closer. "How do you do it?"
"I don't really," I answer and they both look at me questioningly. "Death did."
"Death? As in, Dead in the Tale of the Three Brothers?"
"Yeah, I guess," I answer and shrug. "The first time, when Voldemort killed me, he asked if I wanted to live and if I was ready to pay the price – and I said yes. So he took my memories and my magic and gave my life back."
Something sad comes over Draco's gaze and he draws back a bit. I wonder why when he says: "But you remember now?"
I take a deep breath and he shrinks back again. Because of our past, he thinks I'm going to… what? Break it off? Break what off? Whatever it is that is between us, I sure don't want to end it.
"When Travers killed me, my memories returned," I say and hasten to continue when Draco looks almost despairing. "I remembered everything, about Ron and Hermione and our time at Hogwarts, and Death asked me if I wanted to have my memories back. And… I said no."
Complete silence fills the room and they're both staring at me; even the flames in the fireplace and the clock in the kitchen seem to have fallen silent.
"You said no?" Draco whispers and I nod.
"I remembered the war, and… and you. And I realized that… if I kept my memories… I wouldn't be able to be who I am now. With the memories, I would become that other Harry, and I didn't want that. Or, well, I guess you could say that I was the other Harry, then, seeing as I remembered everything at that moment… But I chose this life."
"But… How can you remember what happened if you still don't remember?" Neville asked slowly.
"It's like… I know that it happened, but… I know that I got all my memories back, but I don't actually remember them… if that makes any sense?"
By my side, Draco makes a happy but frustrated sound and then he pulls me into a tight hug and kisses me hard on the mouth.
"It's good to know that you're both well," Neville says quickly and the door slams as he makes his hasty escape.
I laugh into the kiss and Draco hugs me tighter still.
"I'm warning you," he mumbles against my lips. "I'm never going to let you go now."
The next chapter is the last one, people ;)