'Harry Potter,' he said, very softly. His voice might have been part of the spitting fire.' The boy who lived'.None of the Death Eaters moved. They were waiting: everything was waiting. Hagrid was struggling, and Bellatrix was panting, and Harry thought inexplicably of Ginny, and her blazing look, and the feel of her lips on his– Voldemort had raised his wand. His head was tilted to one side, like a curious child, wondering what would happen if he proceeded. Harry looked back into the red eyes, and wanted it to happen now, quickly, while he could still stand, before he lost control, before he betrayed fear-He saw the mouth move and a flash of green light, and everything was gone.

Bright light surrounded him as he blinked, and for a moment he thought that he was dead. A feeling of calmness overtook him as he took a deep breath, looking at the cliff and the magnificent sea around him. He bowed his head, taking deep breaths as he surveyed his surroundings.

"I'm dead, aren't I?" he asked himself, breathing in the tangy air and the smell of saltwater.

He had meant to die, he had gone to his death willingly but he felt a deep, acute longing for his friends, for the happiness he had felt with them, for all the time he had spent with them, for Ron, who would crack jokes to cheer him up when he felt down, for Hermione, who nagged him about his schoolwork and kept up a steady stream of chatter, for Ginny who would understand when he wanted to be alone, who knew how it was like to be branded by Voldemort, to have a piece of him inside you. For Luna, who kept up her cheery attitude even if she wasn't alright, and hugged them to death, For Neville, who could always be counted on to comfort someone. He missed them, all of them and how they all fit together with Hagrid's rock cakes and evenings spent outside.

His though shifted to Hagrid as he blinked the tears out of his eyes.

(Then a voice yelled–

'HARRY! NO!'

He turned; Hagrid was bound and trussed, tied to a tree nearby. His massive body shook the branches overhead as he struggled, desperate.

'NO! NO? HARRY, WHAT'RE YEH–?')

A sob spilled from his mouth, a low guttural whimper as if he was being hurt. And in a way he was, Hagrid had been his first friend and his heart tore at the half-giant's shouts as Harry had stood there limply. Breathing in the salty air, he tried to meditate like Remus had once told him.

(As Ginny and Hermione moved closer to the rest of the family, Harry had a clear view of the bodies lying next to Fred; Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling.)

The cave loomed in front of him as he banished all thoughts of Lupin and Tonks and Fred out of his head. There were splashing sounds coming from inside as well as someone crying, whimpering exactly. He tried to think of when he'd seen this place before and his blood froze cold.

(Harry wiped his grazed forearm upon the stone; having received its tribute of blood the archway reopened instantly. They crossed the outer cave and Harry helped Dumbledore back into the icy sea water that filled the crevice in the cliff.

'Its going to be alright, sir," Harry said over and over again, more worried by Dumbledore's silence than he had been over his weakened state.

'We're nearly there...I can Apparate us both back...don't worry...'

'I am not worried, Harry,' said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water.

'I am with you.')

His mind reeled as he gazed upon the towering cliff, which seemed much brighter now that the faint rays of the dawn were approaching but it had the daunting atmosphere around it, like the last time he had been there. Not bothering to pause, Harry climbed towards the edge of the rock, where a series of jagged niches that made footholds led down to boulders that lay half submerged in water and closer to the cliff. The lower rocks were slippery with sea water as Harry landed in the sea and began to swim, towards the dark slit in the rock face, litting his wand and lifting it up. The water was icy and Harry's waterlogged clothes billowed around him and weighed him down.

The fissure soon opened into a dark tunnel which curved to the soft, extending far into the cliff. Harry stood in the middle of the cliff, pressing his wand as Dumbledore had done and for a moment an arched outline appeared there, blazing white as though there was a powerful light behind the crack. He pressed his numerous scrapes and bruises to the wall, hoping that the blood would be enough and sure enough, the blazing silver outline of the arch appeared again.

Harry stepped in, trying not to shiver as he walked on the edge, stopping in front of a lake and grabbing the chains which pulled the boat before anything else could grab him. Someone else was in there as he heard a tell tale pop of dissaparition and whimpers coming from the direction ahead. He stowed him wand, getting on the boat and it floated ahead, a few pale hands rising above the water.

After a moment, he could see the outline of someone on the tiny island, clutching the basin and the sounds of whimpering got louder.

"Don't, please DON'T hurt him!! Mother, Father !! Please! Grandfather!! DO SOMETHING."

The voice was getting louder and Harry jumped off the boat and landed neatly on the island, coming face to face with a hunched over body of a person. It was a boy who seemed no older than eighteen clutching the Slytherin locket in his hands.

Harry's blood frosted in his veins. The locket of Slytherin was destroyed, gone and he had given the other one to Kreacher. How had it gotten here??! The boy screamed again as Harry clutched his arm, coming face to face with him. He looked pale and gaunt, with long black hair and smoky grey eyes which were staring at him with confusion.

"Sirius?" Harry whispered uncertainly.

"It's-I'm... Reg"