Ultimatum

Harry's eyes snapped open, though soon thinning, needing time to adjust to the bright light engulfing him. His head was foggy, scar prickling as it often did. He had a vague idea of what had led him to being stood in this sickeningly white setting, though he decided to do some investigating to be sure.

Ahead of him, smoke billowed from an unknown source. The only solid things in the vast white space seemed to be Harry, a white park bench and a tall figure with long, flowing, white hair. As he approached, Harry could further take in the small details of the figure. They seemed to be wearing a long satin robe of a cream colour, however as Harry had discovered at the young age of 11, this was normal for a being as such. Rubbing a hand over his eyes Harry draws even closer.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked incredulously, believing that his eyes must be deceiving him. He said this in such a way as the Professor had be murdered the year previous at the hands of Severus Snape, one of his most entrusted allies. However, as the figure turned to face him, there was no denying that the man who stood before him was the former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Greetings Harry." Dumbledore replied warmly. The rings around his eyes and wrinkles on his face seemed to be accentuated in the white light – though it was undeniable that Albus Dumbledore had aged. "I trust you know why you are here." He adds. Harry shakes his head at this, he truly had no idea where he was, let alone why he was here.

"Where are we Professor?" Harry questions.

"Well, that depends on what you mean." Is Dumbledore's response, though he carries on, clearly seeing the blatant look of confusion on Harry's face. "Literally, we are in your mind... Where this is supposed to be you can only ask yourself." Dumbledore turns away from him, seemingly also taking in their surroundings. He paid careful attention to the smoke billowing magically into the air. "As for why you are here Harry, you made the courageous decision to face Voldemort after seeing your untimely fate in my pensieve." It was coming back to Harry in bits, the blazing flash of green light, like the one that haunted his nightmares from a very young age. "Voldemort administered the Avada Kedavra curse upon you, unknowingly destroying the only thing keeping him alive." Harry nods, it was all clear now.

"I was a horcrux, destroying me meant destroying that part of himself he cast upon me when I was young." Harry repeated to himself as it came back to him. Dumbledore nodded, a small grin forming on his face. "What happened to that part Professor?" Dumbledore merely gestured to the lonely bench not far from the pair. Harry looked closer at it and noticed a shrivelled baby-like creature underneath. He flew back a few steps at the sight grimacing. He then turned back to Dumbledore who was giving him a very meaningful look. One thought played on Harry's mind.

"I'm dead, aren't I Professor." He questioned. Dumbledore shook his head, surprise coursed through Harry's body, he was ready to face the harsh reality that this would be his future.

Dumbledore settles himself on the bench, obviously unbothered by the creature lay beneath. "There is a choice you must make Harry, a choice I wouldn't even wish upon my worst enemy." Harry gives him an inquisitive look, confused where this was leading. "You can remain dead, move on. Or you can return and continue your fight against Voldemort." A pain seared through Harry, though it was a pain unlike the type he was used to from his scar, it was emotional.

"You mean, I could be with my friends; Ron, Hermione, Ginny... Or I could be with my parents again, Sirius." Dumbledore nods, signalling that he is correct.

"That is exactly what I mean. You must ask yourself what you truly want Harry." Dumbledore spoke with a soothing tone, in a way it made Harry's decision worse, that he was so calm. "These people died for a cause," Dumbledore began. "Would you forgive yourself if you knew you had given up on it? You have another chance nobody has ever had." Harry gaped at Dumbledore for a moment, he thought of everything he had done from when he first arrived at Hogwarts. Surely if anyone deserved to be happy it was him, and what if being with his parents once again truly made him happy?

Harry thought of what might happen if he did not return to the castle. Would Voldemort give in as he had all that he wanted? Would everyone who had fought to protect him at Hogwarts have to succumb to the Dark Lord? He thought of his best friends Ron and Hermione having to hear of his death and know that he gave up, left them to suffer the same fate he had.

"All I can say Harry is that if you did make that decision, then the sorting hat may have been correct to sort you into Slytherin on your first day in the castle... It appears you have an ultimatum.

A/N – Hi anyone reading this, thank you so much for giving my story a chance. I have written this story once before, almost a year ago now, though every-time I think of it I am left feeling dissatisfied and like I could have taken it further. Therefore, I decided to re-write it and I am already feeling so much prouder of it! If you did enjoy, please leave a review and like – or similarly if you have criticism please feel free to also leave that in the reviews, I will always try to better myself and improve my writing. Thank you once again!

- Ez x