Chapter 31: Harry's Sacrifice
Harry could feel the squeaking floorboards beneath him. He looked down and saw his pale, white skin. One hand stroking against the snake, Nagini, while his other hand encased around the Elder Wand. In front of him, stood the head of Slytherin house… Severus Snape.
Looking through Voldemort's eyes had never been a pleasant experience for Harry. It made him feel sick, nauseous, but this was one of those times where it was worth it. He knew exactly where Voldemort was now because of it.
The Shrieking Shack.
Nagini was the last Horcrux and would prove to be the most difficult one yet. Voldemort would be keeping her in his sights at all times now. It would be impossible to kill the snake without fighting Voldemort head-on.
"Harry!" A voice echoed throughout the room. "HARRY!"
When Harry opened his eyes again, the first thing he noticed was that he was back at Hogwarts, sprawled against the floor in front of the Room of Requirement. Leaning over him was Ginny, with Ron and Hermione's worried faces appearing behind her.
He could feel the sweat smeared across his forehead. It was hotter than he ever remembered it being before. The uncomfortable feeling in his stomach threatened to spread across his body but refused to let it out. Harry knew the feeling would go away within the hour.
The touch of Ginny's hand across his face forced him from his thoughts. Her soft skin was enough to calm him, his heart rate slowly returning to normal.
"What did you see?" Ginny's voice was calm but he could sense the worry within her. Her voice may be good at hiding it but her eyes betrayed how scared she really was. "Was it Voldemort?"
Harry nodded. "He's in the Shrieking Shack," Harry finally found his voice to speak again. "The snake is the last Horcrux. He's keeping her close to him. Snape is with him."
"Snape?" Ron was disgusted as if the name of their former potion's professor was an unspeakable word. "He's with him?"
"Yes, that's what he just said," Ginny shot back, annoyed. "Weren't you listening?"
"Well… yeah—" Ron stumbled before Hermione cut in.
"What do you think he wants with Snape?" She asked.
"No idea," Harry said. "But we best get down there. We have to try and kill the snake."
"But Harry," Ginny protested. "Voldemort's down there. Surely we can't—"
"We don't have any other choice right now." Harry reached out to give Ginny a comforting squeeze with his hand. "We have to kill the Snake. She's the only thing left. Maybe I can distract Kim while you guys kill the snake." Harry turned to face Ron. "You got the Basilisk Fang?"
Ron held up the large, snake tooth. "I'll kill the snake. You can count on me."
Harry smiled before taking Ginny's hand and dragging her alongside him. "Then we best get going."
Sirius was locked in a heated duel with one of Voldemort's Death Eaters that refused to show his true identity that was hidden beneath his mask.
Coward.
The Death Eater shot a slicing curse towards him, but Sirius was quick to avoid it. He quickly responded with a stunner of his own, hitting the dark wizard in the chest while propelling his body across the corridor. The cracking sound that echoed through the hall after the Death Eater hit the back wall convinced Sirius that the wizard was dead, or at the very least, not going to be moving any time soon.
Sirius turned around to see the stunned expression of his friend, Remus Lupin, staring back at him.
"A bit much, wasn't it?" Sirius grinned.
"Might have been," Remus smiled back at him. "Not worth worrying about it now."
The battle continued with more Death Eaters rushing into the courtyard. They had pushed the Death Eaters out of the Great Hall, but since then, have made little to no advancement. They continued to be outnumbered and had been on defense the entire battle. No reinforcements were coming, and eventually, they would be spent.
It was the speckle of red from the corner of his eye that drew his attention across the courtyard. There was no mistake to him the hair belonged to the infamous Ginny Weasley. Beside her was Harry who was followed closely by Ron and Hermione from behind.
They continued to run without taking a second to take in the chaos that surrounded them. Their mission was clear to them and it was clear they knew exactly where they needed to go.
"Remus!" Sirius called out, pointing towards Harry and his friends that had just slipped out from the courtyard.
"Go!" Remus yelled back. "We got this!"
Sirius gave him a nod before darting towards the area where Harry and the others had just disappeared. They were running away from the castle so was it possible they had already found and destroyed the next Horcrux? And where were they off to now?
Unlucky to him, Sirius did not go unnoticed from the several Death Eaters that filled the courtyard, forcing him to dodge the spells that he did not have time for.
"Oh, bug off!" Sirius shot at one of the Death Eaters, flicking his wand towards the dark wizard's direction. "Stupefy!"
After finally making his way out the courtyard and onto the castle's open grounds, he found the small outlines of Harry and the others, following closely behind them.
The closer Harry got to the Shrieking Shack, the more he noticed how more quiet the battlefield had become. Why didn't Voldemort have more Death Eaters positioned around him or at his side? Surely, he would after being closer to being mortal than ever before. Maybe he didn't want them to know that he was vulnerable and could be defeated.
"Did you hear that?" Hermione asked, turning around at the sound of a snapped tree branch that had come from behind. "Someone's following us."
Harry squinted his eyes, trying to make out the shadow that from behind them. He raised his wand, ready to cast his spell but stopped just before when he heard a low, but recognizable, whisper.
"Harry…"
"Sirius?" Harry lowered his wand to his side at the sound of his godfather's voice. "What are you doing here?"
"Following you, of course," he answered with a large smile. "I assume you guys destroyed the cup and found and destroyed the other Horcrux?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, Hermione destroyed the cup and Ginny destroyed the diadem."
"Brilliant you two!" He congratulated the two girls but kept his voice in a low whisper to not draw any attention to their current position. "Where are you all sneaking off to then?"
"The Shrieking Shack," Ginny said. "The snake is the last Horcrux. Voldemort refuses for her to leave his side. They're down there with Snape."
Sirius's eyes turned dark, turning to look at Harry. "You can't really think—"
"What other choice do we have," Harry cut in. "If we can get the snake then it's just him. I'll distract Voldemort while the others try and kill the snake."
Harry could see the inner turmoil of thoughts going around inside Sirius's head. He knew that his godfather did not like the risk of taking Voldemort head-on, but failed at coming up with an alternative.
"Fine," Sirius spoke after taking several moments to think about it. "But I'm coming with you."
"But—"
"No, Harry," Sirius held up a hand to stop him. "You and I will distract Voldemort. The others can kill the snake."
Harry let out a sigh of how dangerous it would be for Sirius to take on Voldemort with him but knew Sirius was probably feeling the exact same way about him. Sirius was a capable dueler and had even held up his own end at the Ministry, but Voldemort was stronger. Stronger than any of them. It was moments like these that Harry wished that Dumbledore was still here at his side.
"Fine," Harry whispered. "We best be going then."
The group quietly continued towards the Shrieking Shack, careful to avoid anything that could alert Voldemort to their presence. It was when they were just outside the Shrieking Shack, they leaned against the window to hear a heated conversation between Voldemort and Snape.
Voldemort ranted to Snape how he believed that he had not unlocked the full power that was held within the Elder Wand. How he learned that the only way he could unlock its full potential was to kill the person who had killed its original owner.
To kill the man who murdered Dumbledore.
Harry took the chance to look away and over towards Sirius to see that he had the same shocked expression that he currently had. Was Voldemort really going to kill his most loyal follower? The man who killed the wizard Voldemort had always feared most?
"My lord?" Snape's unease voice brought Harry's attention back to the room opposite of him. "I have—"
But it was already too late. Harry knew that Voldemort had released Nagini onto the Hogwarts headmaster as several loud strides and hisses came from the other side of the wall. A body stumbled to the wood floor below followed by a large crack in the air. Voldemort was gone.
"Damn it," Sirius cursed, taking his fist and slamming it into the wall before him. "He's gone."
Harry paid no attention to his godfather's words. He rushed into the room and knew the others had followed quickly behind him from the sound of scurrying footsteps that echoed from behind him. His eyes quickly looked down to find the dark cloaked figure sprawled against the wall, bleeding from his throat.
It was Severus Snape.
Upon looking down at his bleeding professor, Harry thought he would feel something of a relief at the sight of the man in pain who had made the last six years of his life at Hogwarts hell. But he didn't. Instead, his heart only felt that of sadness as his eyes locked with the faint eyes of his former professor.
"Professor," Harry said, rushing over to the side of his teacher, taking his hands to Snape's neck to try and stop the bleeding. He quickly looked towards Hermione. "Please, do you have anything?"
Sirius was at Snape's other side seconds later, trying to attend to his enemy's wounds. The look on his face showed that many of his thoughts reflected Harry's own.
"No." It was Snape's hands that stopped Harry's own, forcing him to look back at into his professor's eyes. "Take them," he croaked, blood forming around his lips as he pointed towards the tears that were forming in his eyes. "Take them… my memories."
Hermione quickly handed over an empty glass vial that she had grabbed from her bag that held the rest of their possessions. Harry quickly took the vial to Snape's eyes and managed to trap a stray tear inside before sealing it off.
"Look at me," Snape's weak voice brought his eyes back to him. Tears continued to run down the professor's eyes, but for the first time he looked up at Harry as if he was seeing an old friend. "You have your mother's eyes."
With one last drawing breath, Snape's breathing halted and his body went still.
Snape was dead.
It was Ginny's hand he felt first, carrying him away from the scene and out of the Shrieking Shack. He felt fragile. He felt weak.
The grounds surrounding Hogwarts were silent. No more fighting, no more death. Not even a Death Eater could be seen roaming its grounds. The battle had ceased… for now.
Harry didn't realize Ginny calling out his name until she had taken her hand, forcing him to look at her. Her eyes never dared move away from his own. A sadness reflected off her eyes much to the same way of how Harry was feeling.
"Harry…" Her soft, gentle voice tried to call out to him once again, but this time he heard it. He gave her hand a light squeeze, showing that he had heard her, but no words came from his voice. What could he say?
"We have to get back to the castle," Harry's voice croaked as if it had not tasted water for days. He looked down at the glass vial in his hand that contained the memories of Severus Snape. "I need to get to Dumbledore's pensive."
It was Sirius's voice that spoke next. "What did he say to you?"
Harry closed his eyes, replaying the memory over and over again. A man he thought he understood, but now made him question everything he ever thought of him.
"He said…" Harry started but found it hard to continue. "He said… I have my mother's eyes."
Sirius made sure to never leave Harry's side. He knew what he would find in Snape's memories, and the thought killed him. The truth would finally be revealed of Harry's fate that he had failed to change for the better.
There was a dark feeling upon entering the Great Hall as they were met with only murmurs and stifled cries. Bodies laid out across the stone floor; families gathered around their loved ones, exchanging their last farewells.
Many of these faces he recognized, but there were several others he did not. Many were Order members or students that had chosen to stay and fight. Too soon to be taken from their families like Lily and James many years ago.
"Sirius…" He heard his name and turned around to see his friend, Remus Lupin, bruised and weary but alive and well. His heart leaped out in joy as he rushed to embrace his friend.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, taking in the sight of the Great Hall.
"The Death Eaters retreated back to the forest," Remus answered. "Voldemort must have called them back, and a good thing too, as we were just about to be overrun."
"Why would he do that?" Sirius pressed. "Why would he pull out his forces when it was clear he was about to win?"
There was silence between the two friends until Remus finally answered. "I think it's obvious, but don't want to accept it," his voice was fragile at the thought. "He wants Harry to surrender to him."
Sirius clenched his hands into fists as he knew this is exactly what Harry would do after viewing Snape's memories. He knew he should stop him from viewing the memories, but his instincts told him otherwise. Harry deserved the truth—the full truth—once and for all.
The presence of Remus's hand coming across his shoulder made him relax his stance. His friend clearly could see that something was troubling him, and more than likely, they were thinking about the same thing.
"And where did you guys wander off to?" Remus asked.
"The Shrieking Shack," Sirius answered simply. "And Snape's dead."
"Dead?" Remus was shocked at the revelation. "How?"
"Voldemort," Sirius replied, but there was no hate towards his old enemy that he had despised ever since starting Hogwarts. "Well, his snake to be more specific."
"I—well, that's awful even for Severus of all people," Remus found it hard to come up with the words, feeling the same conflicted thoughts Sirius was. "No one deserves that."
"And now Harry has his memories," Sirius informed Remus. "He's on his way up to Dumbledore's office to view them probably."
"Then we got to stop him," Remus made an effort towards the direction of the headmaster's office but found himself stopped by Sirius's outreached arm.
Remus looked up to his friend, confused and shocked, but relaxed the moment his eyes met those of his friend. Sirius didn't need to speak any words because he understood exactly what his friend was silently telling him. There was no stopping it as it was something that Harry must face.
"So… this is it then?" Remus didn't even notice the quiet words that had escaped from his lips. "Dumbledore really should have told us sooner. What was he thinking?"
"I don't know," Sirius sighed in defeat, his eyes staring towards the direction Harry and his friends had just disappeared. He knew he would have to catch up with them soon as this was something Harry would have to do alone. "Dumbledore knew a lot more than the rest of us, but everything he did was for the same reason."
"And what is that?" Remus asked.
"For the greater good."
The entire journey up the staircase to Dumbledore's office was held in silence between Harry and his friends.
Voldemort had called only moments ago for Harry's surrender. If he did not give himself over within the next hour, more innocent blood would be spilled that night.
The images of the dead, filling the Great Hall never left Harry alone. These were images that he would have to live with for the rest of his life. The students that had chosen to stay, the staff that vowed to protect their home, and the countless other members who dreamed of living in a better world. Their futures now gone, stolen away from them from the dark forces that plagued the very land.
When would this all end? When would the killing finally stop?
Ginny had been strict with him that he was not to turn himself over under any conditions. He didn't have the words of comfort for her but only held her tight, letting her tears glide down and onto his shoulders.
"You can't," she cried into his shoulders. "You—you just can't!"
"We'll find another way," Ron tried to come up with the most comforting words he could muster. "There's got to be another way."
It was Hermione's reaction that was the least comforting out of all of them. Harry could see the sadness, and maybe even guilt, deep beneath the surface as if she was hiding something she didn't want to become known. A secret that she even continued to deny and discredit herself with what remaining strength she still had.
At the echo of footsteps approaching from behind, Harry released a now calm Ginny before turning to see Sirius striding towards them. His face matched similar to that of Hermione's, but Harry did not have the effort nor strength to find out what they were hiding. Was it even the same thing or were both their secrets different from one another?
"You got Snape's memories?" Sirius asked, his voice hoarse but still commended the strength and authority he had always been able to present.
Harry nodded. "We were just about to go up."
"I think it's best you do this alone." Sirius's voice was hesitant, and for the first time, refused to meet Harry's eyes.
"Not at chance—" Ginny began to protest.
"Trust me," Sirius was quick to stop her. "There are memories in there—between Snape and his parents—that I believe are best he visit them alone."
"But—"
"It will be alright, Gin." It was Harry's voice that stopped her this time. "Sirius is right about this. I'll fill you in afterward. I promise."
"Okay…" Her voice was hesitant. "We'll be right out here waiting for you when you're ready."
Harry leaned over and lightly pressed his lips against Ginny's forehead. He lingered there for several long moments, not wanting to leave the soft, confronting feeling of her skin. He always felt the most at peace when he was wrapped around her arms.
After finally stepping away from Ginny, Harry turned to face the doors that lead the office that had belonged to his departed mentor for so many years. What would he discover from Snape's memories in Dumbledore's pensive? What secrets had yet to reveal themselves still?
When Harry entered Dumbledore's office, the first thing he noticed was how quiet and still everything was. There was a darkness to the room, but also a brightness as he remembered all the fond memories he had from being up here ever since coming to Hogwarts and discovering a world that had been hidden from him all those years before.
A large air-splitting crack erupted from the other side of the room, taking Harry by surprise as he pointed his wand towards the source of the noise.
A soft, bird chirp filled the room revealing the phoenix, Fawkes, perched up high on his stand. Harry lowered his wand and smiled brightly at the sight of the familiar bird that had become his own not too long ago.
"I should have known you would find me," Harry said before reaching over to stroke the phoenix along his head. "Such a brilliant and loyal companion, aren't you?"
Fawkes gave out a soft moan while Harry continued to gently stroke his fingers against the bird's feathers.
When Harry reached the pensive, his memory of when he had accidentally discovered the magical object during his fourth year was the first to resurface. Just weeks before he would be thrown into a treacherous maze and play a key part in the rebirthing of the darkest wizard of all time.
"So much has happened since then," Harry spoke out loud to himself. "Only if I had known what yet was to come…"
"And how could you have possibly known of what was to come?" A familiar voice spoke from behind the headmaster's desk.
The voice was calm and gentle at its words that it spoke into being. A voice that Harry wished was real and not just from the memories embedded into a painting.
"Hello… Professor," Harry stifled between a loose tear that had escaped from the corner of his eye.
Hanging tall and mighty behind the headmaster's desk, was the large portrait of a smiling, but teary, man who let his long, grey beard hang loosely below him.
Albus Dumbledore.
"You have nothing to blame yourself for, Harry," Dumbledore spoke, his tone with as much seriousness as he had ever heard come from the man, but yet it was faint as if he was struggling with his own emotions. "If there is anyone to blame for all this it's me." His voice turned softer.
"No, Professor," Harry said. "There is nothing you could have done?"
"Is there not," Dumbledore asked skeptically, questioning his own actions before himself.
"Sir?"
The portrait took a deep, saddened breath before continuing. "Maybe I could have prevented this all," the former headmaster continued. "Maybe I should have listened to the others and never have allowed you to participate in the Triwizard Tournament during your fourth year. If I had listened maybe Voldemort never would have returned."
"Sir," Harry interjected. "We both know Voldemort would have returned one way or another. It was only a matter of when and not if."
Dumbledore chuckled lowly, his faint smile growing bigger ever so lightly. "Always so bright," he said. "But yes… I have to agree with you there."
Harry stepped closer towards the desk that sat in front of Dumbledore's portrait. Fawkes was quick to fly over and sit himself on the desk before him, reaching out so Harry could stroke his feathers once more. Harry looked down and smiled at the bird. The last tie he had with Dumbledore.
"I should have told you everything from the beginning, Harry," Dumbledore continued on. "Please, forgive me, as I am an old foul who lost himself in his mistakes."
"There's nothing to forgive, Professor," Harry said, turning his attention back to the glowing water that floated in the pensive. "I—I understand why you did it. You were trying to protect me."
"But doesn't mean it was right," Dumbledore sighed before closing his eyes and then quickly opening them as he continued to watch Harry's figure closely. He looked at the glass vial that Harry had pulled from beneath his sweater. "I assume those are Professor Snape's memories?"
"Yes," Harry answered but his voice showed the confusion he was feeling towards the man who had died just minutes ago. A man he had hated for so long, but now only felt regret and remorse.
"So, he's passed on then," Dumbledore's saddened voice returned.
"I'm afraid so, Professor," Harry replied without emotion. "He gave me his memories. Why?"
"It's best you find out yourself," Dumbledore motioned his head towards the vial that contained Snape's tears in Harry's right hand. "Don't be afraid, Harry. It is time you finally know the truth about everything. Professor Snape's memories will show you it all. Trust me this one last time."
Harry nodded back towards the painting before pouring the potion master's tears into the pensive that hovered before him. He could feel the memories slowly pulling him in.
"Goodbye, Professor," Harry said just before his vision took him from the headmaster's office.
"Goodbye, Harry," Dumbledore spoke back in his defeated voice. "Until next time…"
Ginny paced impatiently in the corridor just below the staircase that leads to Dumbledore's office. The rest of her family had come to wait with her, patiently waiting for Harry to reveal himself again.
"Calm down, Ginny," Ron spat, clearly annoyed at her infrequent pacing. "I'm sure everything is fine."
She turned to give her brother a rather uneasy stare but refrained from exchanging any hurtful words at the moment. She needed to keep a clear head and all for when Harry returned and told them what he had learned from Snape's memories.
"Ronald—" their mother glared at him.
"Hey—I'm worried too," Ron said in defense. "But her pacing around and everything is making me even more nervous."
"We all are, Ron," Fred joined in. "But we must remain calm for Harry's sake as well."
Ron opened his mouth to respond but found it cut off by the sound of a spiraling stone staircase descending from above them. It didn't take long for it to reveal the griffin statue that guarded its entrance, and besides that statue, stood the pale figure of Harry himself.
"Harry..." Ginny's voice was distraught, rushing over towards him but his eyes refused to meet her own. "Harry... what is it?"
Still no answer.
"So, the truth is out then?" It was Sirius's voice that caused her to turn around, more confused than ever. What did he mean by that?
"What do you mean?" Ginny looked for an explanation but only found the glossy eyes of Harry and Sirius looking at each other, their eyes refusing to break from one another.
"Did you all know?" Harry looked to the adults in the room.
Ginny turned to face her parents and saw nothing but a look of guilt and sadness. Harry's words had clearly affected them as both her mother and father were in tears; something that rarely happened to her father.
"Not until later," Remus was the only one of the adults to respond to Harry's question. "I... I'm so sorry."
It was the quiet sobs coming from Hermione that sent Ginny into a full panic. The girl had figured out something she had not but had refused to tell her. She needed answers... now.
"Can someone tell me what the hell is happening!" Ginny roared, but her sudden outburst caught no one off guard as if they were all expecting this kind of reaction from her. She was in tears now. "Please..."
Sirius clenched his arms into tight fists. "Harry here is..." He was unable to continue as he turned away from the group.
"A Horcrux," Harry's soft voice finished his godfather's sentence. "I—I'm a Horcrux."
Ginny shook her head in denial. "No, that's impossible—"
It was Harry's gentle touch that made her stop as he reached out to grab her hand. It was cold and unsteady, but that didn't bother her.
"Is it though?" Harry continued on. "There's a reason I can hear them—snakes. A reason I can look into his mind. A part of him lives inside me. He's been with me ever since that night sixteen years ago."
"But—"
"That night when he tried to kill me when I was just a baby," Harry went on. "His soul split and attached itself onto the only living thing it could find. Me."
Ginny turned to face the adults around her. She could feel the rage building inside her, wanting to lash out and attack something. How could they have kept this from her all this time? How could they have kept it from him?
"How could you!" She yelled at them, then turning towards Hermione. "And you knew too and didn't tell me anything!"
"How could I?" Hermione replied in between her shuddering cries. "I could have been wrong. I tried to find a way to—"
"You should have told me!" Ginny interrupted her. "How could you! You're supposed to be my best friend!"
"Ginny, that's enough!" Mrs. Weasley's voice echoed to match Ginny's own. "Hermione found out on her own, not from us. If you are to yell at anyone in this room, you yell at us. What would you have done if it was you who found out?"
"I would have run!" Ginny didn't have to think twice about her answer. "I would have taken Harry with me so we could leave it all and just be together!"
The corridor fell silent at Ginny's words. She knew they probably all had thought about doing that with Harry at one point when no answers to the problem had presented themselves. They all cared about Harry—no, loved Harry as if he was a son or brother of their own. The words just slipped from her mouth.
The one person who had been rather quiet during it all was Sirius. Ginny turned to farce him, plead with him that there had to be another way around this, but the sadness and distraught in his eyes did not give her any hope at all.
"Sirius…" Her voice registered just above a whisper. "There's got to be another way."
"I—I wish there was," his voice was low like her's. "I've failed."
"No," Harry said, his voice now strong and fierce. "You have not failed me in any way, shape, or form."
Harry let go of Ginny's hand so he could stand in front of his godfather. The boy that stood in front of him was not scared or frightened, but proud of what now stood in front of him.
"I should have protected you," Sirius's voice cracked. "It's all I've ever wanted to do."
"And you have. But this..." he looked around the room, seeing all the people he loved and saw as family. "This is where my story ends."
It was at this point that Ginny could feel the steady stream of tears rushing down the side of her face. She knew there would be no convincing Harry of how there must be another way. He saved and looked out for people; one of the many reasons she had grown to love him so much. She may have grown up loving the famous Harry Potter, but in the past years, she had grown to love just Harry.
All her dreams were being destroyed right in front of her. A future with Harry was now quickly fading. The life she had dreamed of having kids with that unmanageable black hair, fading from existence. What future would she have without Harry?
It was one she never wanted to be a part of.
"Please don't do this, Harry." She rushed to feel his strong arms around her, probably for the last time. "I beg of you. Please don't leave me."
"Like I ever could," he rubbed his hand alongside her back. "Remember, I'll always be with you."
Ginny continued to hold on to Harry, refusing to let go. It wasn't long after when she found the presence of two others who had joined in their embrace. She looked up through her red, tears eyes and made out the figures of Ron and Hermione.
"Mate, I—I don't know what to say," Ron whispered to Harry.
"Just kill the snake," Harry replied. "Kill the snake and then it's just him."
The four of them broke apart, but Ginny remained close to Harry, taking in every last moment she would have with him. Looking into those emerald, green eyes so she would never forget what they looked like. Feeling the soft and roughness of his skin that comforted her like nothing else could. That famous, but messy, black hair that he always complained about.
Harry then turned to embrace his godfather for what would be the last time. The closest thing he would ever have to a father besides Mr. Weasley.
"You got to kill him," Harry said straightly. "You're the only one powerful enough to do so. Kill him so this nightmare will finally be over."
"I promise," Sirius whispered into Harry's ear before finally breaking from their embrace. "Let's walk you out."
After Harry's final exchanges with the rest of the group, they all accompanied Harry to the edge of the forbidden forest where they knew Voldemort was waiting for him.
The twins had promised to give Voldemort hell for everything he had done for Harry. Mrs. Weasley was in uncontrolled sobs but embraced the boy she had always seen as a son alongside her husband. Remus was similar of state to Sirius, embracing not just a former student but a boy who he had grown to love as a son of his own as well.
"We'll finish it," he said to Harry. "I promise you that. Sirius and I will make sure to deliver the final blow."
"I look forward to that," Harry smiled for the first time since learning his true fate from Snape's memories.
Ginny continued to hang on to Harry as they walked across the castle's grounds. There was no exchange of words between the two of them, but they each knew what the other was feeling, and that was enough. It was not until they reached the edge of the forest until Harry finally broke the silence.
"I'm sorry about everything, Ginny," he said.
"Harry," Ginny spoke through her raw voice, "nothing here is your fault. It's Voldemort's. I just wished we would have had more time."
"Me too," he silently agreed. "I love you."
"I love you too." Ginny leaned over until her wet lips met Harry's own. The kiss meaning more to the two of them than anyone would ever know. "Always."
"Always," Harry smiled back.
Reaching into his pocket, Harry then pulled out the small, golden snitch that Dumbledore had left for him. Harry's first snitch that he had caught during his first game against Slytherin, even though it was in his mouth.
"I open at the close," Harry repeated the words inscribed on the golden ball, studying it closely before bringing it to his lips. "I'm ready to die."
To everyone's surprise, the snitch gave out a low click, opening itself up to reveal the contents that were hidden inside.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ginny asked in amazement but everyone was in too much of a shock to hear her words.
From within the small, golden ball, a black stone floated out and hovered in place before Harry. A small symbol could be seen engraved into the stone of a triangle, a circle, and a straight-line centered in the middle.
The Resurrection Stone.
"So, it is real," Remus whispered from the background, but his words echoed everyone's thoughts.
"As real as all the others," an unfamiliar voice came from behind them.
Ginny turned to see a man she had never laid eyes on before but knew exactly who he was. The man reflected her boyfriend as if he was from the future. Next to him, stood a red-haired woman that many would agree reflected an older version of Ginny too.
"James..." Sirius's voice was soft and in disbelief. "Lily..."
"Mum?" Harry was next. "Dad?"
"Hello, son," James smiled back at Harry.
The figures of James and Lily Potter were pale and light. Not like the Hogwarts ghosts, but more alive than the ghosts that roamed throughout the castle, their faces filled with color and life.
"We are so proud of you, Harry," Lily said in turn. She then turned towards Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Thank you for everything."
The two nodded humbly in return but remained silent.
Now James turned to face Sirius. "Thank you for being a father to him when I could not."
Sirius struggled with what words to respond with, his mouth opening and closing several times before finally speaking. "I—of course. Thank you for letting me be his godfather."
"I miss you both so much." Harry was in tears again, making Ginny shed her tears again with him.
"Harry," Lily said, her voice soft and comforting. "We never left."
"Does it hurt?" Harry asked, causing Ginny to twitch uncomfortably at his question.
Of course, he would want to know, it was only natural for someone who knew death greeted them just beyond the tree line that stood before them. It was a question Harry never should have been worried about, but he had seen death more than others.
"Easier than falling asleep," his father responded but with a look of despair that everyone had upon themselves.
"You have been brave for so long," Lily said. "Just be brave for just a little longer."
Ginny felt Harry turn to embrace her one last time as she attached to him for the last time before bringing her head up to passionately kiss him. The last time she would ever feel those wonderful lips pressed up against her own.
Harry turned to embrace all the people that made up his family and friends with Ron and Hermione seemingly taking it the hardest. How could they not? They had all been the closest of friends since the beginning, and now they had to say goodbye to one of their own.
No more sneaking around. No more running into trouble. No more adventures.
"Will you stay with him?" Sirius looked to his late friends after he was the final to embrace Harry one last time.
"Until the end," James answered sadly.
Harry gave the group one last faint smile before turning to walk into the forest, the figures of his parents by his side until he disappeared into the thickness of the trees.
Ginny didn't realize when she had fallen to her knees as she began to sob uncontrollably. The tears filling her eyes, making it harder to see the forest that had taken Harry just moments ago. But she never looked away from the spot Harry had disappeared from, knowing what was soon to come.
It took all her strength and power not to go charging into that forest after him. If Voldemort had to kill Harry then he could kill her too. She knew she would never marry or be with anyone else again. Her future was with Harry and him alone.
She could feel the presence of her mother and Hermione kneeling by her side. They cried together, but held each other for support and strength, watching Harry's spot, praying that by some small miracle he would return to them.
He never came.
And then it happened. The moment Ginny had dreaded for so long. A nightmare that she never wanted to become true.
A bright flash of green light filled the forest before quickly going dark again.
Ginny sobbed harder than ever before. Voldemort had cast the killing curse. The prophecy was now fulfilled.
Harry was dead.
When Harry opened his eyes, he noticed everything around him was bright and glowing white. His glasses were gone and his shirt clean from the blood and dirt from the battle before.
He remembered everything. Walking into the forest to find Voldemort waiting for him. Hagrid pleading with him not to give up. Voldemort raising the Elder Wand, casting the killing curse right at him.
Then nothing.
He felt no pain or hurt at all. His scar did not sting or prickle in the slightest. He felt... at peace.
Harry knew he was supposed to be dead. So, the real question was—where was he?"
"After all," a bright, familiar voice interrupted his thoughts from behind him, "to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
Harry turned to see the figure emerging from behind him, and couldn't help the bright smile that appeared across his face. He didn't take another moment before embracing the old man that appeared before him.
And just like the third brother from the tale, Harry greeted Death as an old friend.
A/N: Sorry for disappearing on you guys but I have not forgotten about you! Writing is harder than you would think and I've been trying to read more to improve it. Hope you like this one and thanks for loving the story!
