April 19th 1998
White.
Harry blinked, trying to bring something into focus, but all he could see was white.
Slowly, he got to his feet.
Wherever he was, he was alone, in a great expanse of space. His wand was missing from his wrist holster, as was the Invisibility Cloak – but then, he supposed he didn't need them if he was dead.
He began walking, unsure what else to do, in this great big world of nothing.
As he walked, his surroundings began to come into being, although they remained the same blank canvas.
It looked rather like King's Cross station, except he had never seen King's Cross without the crowds of people or the trains, so he couldn't be sure.
Up ahead was a bench and the first sign of life – a quiet whimpering sound.
Harry approached the bench cautiously and peered beneath it. Lying on the ground was the ugliest baby he had ever seen, red raw and whimpering with pain.
Harry hesitated. Surely he should try to help the child.
"You can't help."
Harry jumped, spinning around to see a young woman a few years older than him, who certainly hadn't been there a few seconds ago. She had blonde hair pulled back in a pony-tail and sparkling brown eyes – the same brown eyes as his father. "You're a Potter, aren't you?"
The woman smiled at him. "That's right, Harry. I'm your Aunt Bethany. I was two years younger than your dad, but I died when I was two years old."
Harry frowned. "If you died when you were two, why do you look like you're in your twenties?"
"Well, it's easier for you to communicate with an adult than a toddler," Bethany said.
"Besides, her soul has had more than enough time on the Other Side to grow up."
Two older adults were approaching them – a blonde woman who resembled Jen and Sirius and a man who looked just like his father.
Aemilia Dorea Black-Potter swept her grandson into a tight hug. "Oh, Harry, you look so much like James. I'm so sorry I never got a chance to meet you or Lily."
"You'd have loved Lily," her husband said, beaming at Harry. He had died six months before James and Lily's wedding. "And you, young man – you have been so brave, Harry."
"So brave," Emily repeated, releasing him. "Although you probably should have spoken to your friends, sweetheart. There was another way."
Harry's jaw dropped open. "But …"
"Albus has a lot to answer for," David said darkly. "But there is one thing he didn't count on."
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"When Tom Riddle used your blood to come back," Emily said, "he cursed himself. It created a two-way tie."
"Does that mean that removing the Horcrux any other way wouldn't have worked?" Harry asked.
"No," Emily answered. "Not exactly. As long as the Horcrux and the blood connection were there at the same time, any Killing Curse would have this affect. If the Horcrux was removed first and either of you was hit with a Killing Curse, it would kill you both."
Harry nodded. "So what do I do now?"
"Well, it's up to you, Harry," Bethany said. "You can choose to go back, or you can come with us."
"I have to go back," Harry said. "You know that."
"We do," David said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We are so proud of you, Harry."
"We are," Emily agreed, giving him another hug. "You'll give our love to James, won't you?"
"I will," Harry said into her shoulder. "I promise."
"Tell him I owe him a couple of Howlers," Emily added. "Gave me a bloody heart attack every month when he was at school."
"Lighten up, Emmy," David said, embracing both of them. "Jamie's his father's son."
"More's the pity," Emily joked, as they released their grandson. "Good luck Harry."
Harry blinked, his grandparents shimmering in front of him. When he opened his eyes again, they were gone, leaving him along with Bethany.
"Same goes for me, Harry," Bethany said, kissing him on the forehead, where his scar was. "Tell James that I love him. And tell Lily thank you, for putting up with the prat."
Harry laughed. "I will, Aunt Bethany."
Bethany Potter took a step back. "Time to wake up, Harry."
"Wait," Harry said. "Is this real? Or is it all happening inside my head?"
The light around him got steadily brighter and Bethany began to fade from view. "Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean it isn't real?"
The light became so blinding that Harry had to close his eyes.
When the light vanished, he kept his eyes closed. He was no longer in King's Cross – if that was indeed where he had been.
He was lying on the ground, the scent and sounds of the Forbidden Forest all around him, his Invisibility Cloak pillowed beneath his chest. His arm was bent at an awkward angle, but he didn't dare move.
There were no sounds of jubilation from the Death Eaters.
"My Lord …" Bellatrix whispered. "My Lord, are you …?"
"Enough," Voldemort said sharply, cutting through the whispers.
"Potter?" Bellatrix asked. "Is he dead?"
Footsteps approached him, and Harry forced himself to lie still, keeping his body as still as possible trying to keep his breathing shallow.
Softly scented long hair brushed against his cheek as someone bent over him – a woman. Gentle hands turned him over and checked his pulse.
Harry braced himself for the shout, but it never came.
"Are you alright?" Narcissa whispered to him. "Is Draco alive?"
Harry gave two small nods and she withdrew, straightening up. "He's dead."
Unaware of the events in the Forbidden Forest, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Draco ran back into the Entrance Hall, which was now unnaturally silent.
The flagstones were stained with blood, emeralds scattered across the ground, and part of the banisters of the marble staircase had been blown away.
As one, they approached the Great Hall, where survivors stood comforting one another, healing the injuries that had not caused the Portkeys to activate.
Through the door to the antechamber, they could see eight sheet-covered bodies.
Without a word, Ron and Draco turned back to scour the rest of the castle for Harry.
Hermione cast another glance at the antechamber, but allowed Ginny to lead her straight to where the Weasleys had gathered with their friends.
Eight fatalities was not a bad number considering the odds that had stacked against them – but that was not counting anyone who may have passed away in the infirmary.
Katie was clinging to Oliver, who had a nasty cut above his right eye. Katherine was putting her creature healing training to good use, helping Jen with injuries.
Ginny pulled Hermione straight over to Bill, who was treating a cut on George's head. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that his ear had been blown clear off.
"Ginny," Bill said, sighing in relief. "Thank Merlin you're okay! Where are the others?"
"Where's Fred?!" George demanded. "Something's wrong."
"The corridor exploded," Ginny answered, trying not to remember how pale Fred had been. "He was unconscious; Draco sent him to Ravenscroft."
"How are you feeling, George?" Hermione asked softly.
"Saint-like," George answered, his voice croaky with relief.
Alicia, clutching his hand, looked terrified. "What? Was his brain affected?"
George cracked a grin at his girlfriend. "Well, I'm holy now, aren't I? Get it? Holey?"
Ginny laughed. "Pathetic," she informed him. "All the ear-related humour at your feet and you come up with holey."
Ginny! We need to move!
As Alicia began to scold George for scaring her, Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand again. "We've got to go."
"Ginny!" Hermione yelped. "What's wrong?!"
"Draco," Ginny said grimly. "They found something."
We're on our way.
They ran into Ron and Draco just past the top of the marble staircase.
The two young men looked livid.
"Dumbledore's Pensieve was out on his desk," Ron growled. "It contained a memory of a conversation between Dumbledore and Snape."
"About how Harry's a Horcrux?" Hermione guessed wearily.
Draco nodded. "And about how the only way to defeat Voldemort is for Harry to walk out there and let Riddle kill him."
Ginny cursed violently, turning back towards the front doors. "Come on; we've got to find him!"
"Dumbledore must have Obliviated Snape afterwards," Hermione said as they hurried to the staircase. "He would have told Addie otherwise."
"Wouldn't Snape's Occlumency have blocked that?" Ginny asked.
"Not one of Dumbledore's," Hermione answered. "I can only block them because I'm a Natural."
Halfway down the staircase, Voldemort's voice washed over them once more, freezing them in place.
"People of Hogwarts. The battle is won. My Death Eaters outnumber you. And the Boy-Who-Lived lives no longer."
Hermione felt the blood drain from her face and she stumbled, her legs losing the ability to hold her upright.
Ron caught her arm as Draco grabbed Ginny's, and they raced down the rest of the stairs, as people flooded out of the Entrance Hall towards the grounds.
"NO!" Jen's scream seemed to echo through the castle and across the grounds, and it was even worse than the cold chill of Voldemort's voice, because Jennifer Lupin was always in control, even when she seemed not to be, but now the anguish in her voice could not be faked, and no one had any doubt that her world had been ripped apart.
The slipped and slid through the emeralds scattered across the Entrance Hall and joined the crowd, finally emerging into the cool summer's night.
There, illuminated by the light from the castle, Voldemort stood waiting, flanked by his Death Eaters, Nagini lying patiently near her master.
At his feet lay the still, dead body of Harry James Sirius Potter.