A/N: When I first came back to writing this story after a ten year break, my main goal was to get the story finished. I wrote frantically for a while and when I got to this chapter, so close to the end, I realized I needed to convey the passage of time without bogging everyone (and especially myself) down in a lot of exposition and random plot. Hence, the description of the eleven days. If I had to do again, I might change it, but then again, I think it mostly works here, so maybe not.
Once again, they were all together in the Headmaster's office. Harry had called the meeting this time; he didn't want to wait for someone else to make the decision. He also was the first one to speak.
"We have to prepare for my confrontation with Voldemort." Direct and unemotional was the only way Harry was going to get through this discussion. "I don't know if the snake will be dead by then, but if not, each of you must be prepared to hunt it down and kill it. And then go after him."
"What if, what if . . . you strike Voldemort first?" Neville had a hopeful look on his face. "Doesn't the prophecy say 'one must die at the hand of the other?' So, couldn't Voldemort die at your hand?"
Harry shook his head. He and Dumbledore had discussed this in private; now it was time to tell everyone else. "Even if I could possibly beat him in duel – which I can't – merely trying to kill him with the Avada Kedavra won't work."
"Because of the Horcrux in you. He can't die as long as there is a Horcrux in you." For once, Hermione did not look at all happy to have gotten the answer right.
Harry nodded. Exactly. And because he knows I'm a Horcrux, he's going to prepare ahead of time to get it out of me while he kills me. That is what Draco was trying to do – get the Horcrux out of me and put it into that skull. But since he failed, we reckon that Voldemort is going to do it himself. Remember, the way to destroy a Horcrux is to put its container beyond all magical repair. I don't have to guess what that will require him to do to me."
He tuned out the predictable clamor that accompanied his words. Maybe it was because the inevitability of everything had finally hit him, but Harry was having a difficult time maintaining a constant sense of sadness and horror at his fate. He suspected he was practicing avoidance, but for the moment, he didn't care. All he really wanted to do was snog Ginny, and more. Normal, 16 year old bloke things, really.
"That soon?" Ginny's devastated cry broke through Harry's haze. He looked up from where he had been tracing circles on her hand.
"When?" he asked.
"A week from Friday," repeated Dumbledore. "There will not be a full moon that night, so we have less to worry about if he brings Greyback."
"But how exactly are we going to make sure Voldemort is where we want him to be, a . . . a week from Friday?" Leave it to Ron, considering tactics and strategy.
Dumbledore nodded. "Severus and I have been working on that," he said. "He has been able to make certain . . . connections that have proved useful. Voldemort will be where we need him at the proper time."
Harry's head snapped up. "You are trusting Snape? He hates me. Even more now, I bet. How do you know he's going to do whatever it is you need him to do? How do you know he's not feeding secrets to the Death Eaters right now?" Around the circle, everyone nodded.
Dumbledore sighed. "As I have told you before, Harry. I trust Professor Snape, and I have no doubt that he will be able to fulfill the role I have asked of him. I cannot say anything more without breaking his confidences. But if you trust me, Harry, and I think you do, then I ask that you trust my belief in Severus as well."
Harry nodded, a little petulantly, but didn't say anything else. The Headmaster continued.
"But you understand, you will have to go alone. I cannot put any of your friends at risk."
With this, Harry quite agreed; he had already made his peace with it. Protecting his friends was too important. Indeed, he rather wished Professor Dumbledore had not told them all the deadline; it would have been much easier if Harry had been able to slip away to his fate. He looked around the circle, a plea on his face. "It has to be this way, please don't protest. I don't think I could stand it. And yes, I know you would all be there in a heartbeat. I'm asking you, begging you actually, to let me do this alone."
For once, there was no argument. Solemn faces peered back at him. Ron opened his mouth as if to speak, but closed it again. Ginny shook in his arms but didn't say a word.
A knock on the door interrupted the moment. A second later, Professor Snape strode in. He looked around the circle with an expression Harry thought was a mixture of contempt and pity. He had barely seen the man since Draco had died, and for a brief moment, he wondered what the man thought about Harry's role in the death. He shook his head; there were obviously more important things to think about now.
"Ahh, Severus, good. Did you get the information I requested?"
"Snape nodded tersely." It is done. "But there are a few . . . details to work out. Would you take a walk with me, later?"
The Headmaster nodded. "Of course, of course. The grounds are so lovely this time of year." Dumbledore turned to the assembled students. "If you will all excuse me, I need to talk to Professor Snape. I'd would like us to continue meeting, until . . . a week from Friday, if that is all right. I will send you all messages with the next time."
Everyone stood up to leave, looking, not surprisingly, kind of lost. As they walked out, Hermione said in a low voice, "Room of Requirement?" Harry nodded. He suspected that they would all be spending a lot of time there until a week from Friday.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHP
A week from Friday. Eleven Days.
Everyone spends most of the day hiding in the Room of Requirement. Harry has designated this day as "get it out of your system," and there is a lot of crying, a little laughter, and of course, Hermione frantically trying to get the Room to give them "the book" that will explain how to save Harry's life.
A week from Friday, Ten Days.
Everyone goes flying. Even Neville, who has never been comfortable on a broom. They toss a Quaffle back and forth in the air, release a Snitch to chase, and stay out until everyone is stiff and sore and exhausted and able to sleep.
A week from Friday, Nine Days.
Harry takes Ginny to the Room of Requirement. They don't make love, not yet. They have decided to make that the activity for day three. But they do nearly everything else together. Harry sleeps well, again.
A week from Friday, Eight Days.
Thanks to the Invisibility Cloak and some of Hermione's well-placed Disillusionment Charms, they sneak through the tunnels into Hogsmeade. Butterbeer, Honeydukes, even a trip to see the Shrieking Shack take up the entire day. Harry suspects that Dumbledore knows where they are, but they make it back without being discovered.
A week from Friday, Seven Days.
Without actually saying goodbye, Harry begins the process of saying goodbye to the students and teachers of Hogwarts. He plays Exploding Snap with Dean and Seamus, walks with Pavarti and Lavender to class, talks to Colin Creevy about his camera, seeks out Professors McGonagall and Flitwick to ask "questions" about homework, and, hardest of all, has tea with Hagrid. Not telling any of them his plans was nearly impossible, and Harry returns from the grounds to go hide in his room for a while. Ginny finds him there. Snogging ensues.
A week from Friday, Six Days.
Harry and his friends walk the entire castle. They run through the secret passageways, gorge themselves on snacks in the kitchens (Hermione refuses to eat), climb every tower, talk to the ghosts. The ghosts know what Harry is facing and urge him to "go on" when it is all over.
A week from Friday, Five Days.
The hardest of all. On the thinnest of pretexts of needing to conduct an interview for History of Magic, Harry, Ron and Ginny go to the Burrow. They fly in the orchard, de-gnome the garden, eat too much of Molly's cooking, and talk and talk and talk. When Harry hugs Molly and Arthur goodbye, he's barely able to let them go.
A week from Friday, Four Days.
The six of them walk the grounds from end to end. They visit the lake, point out the best trees to snog under, walk through the greenhouses, visit the Quidditch Pitch, watch the Whomping Willow from just out of the reach of its branches. They take a walk into the edges of the Forbidden Forest; Harry wants to try to find a Centaur. The Forest is peaceful and soon they find themselves in the clearing where Harry first encountered Voldemort, feasting on the blood of a downed unicorn. The silence is enormous and complete; the sun barely able to push its way through the tangled tree branches above them.
And Harry's scar explodes in pain as Voldemort steps out of the shadows.