Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Eight

Dead … Or Not

Harry's heart hammered in his chest as Voldemort's words rang in his ears. He had thought that he had prepared for this moment. He thought that he knew what to expect, but now that he found it was time for him to die, he didn't want to. He was frozen to the spot he was sitting at behind one of the overturn carriages. He had been prepared, but in all honesty he had never thought it would have come this soon. He had planned on going home and being able to see Remus and his dad. Sirius had just told him about his elaborate plan in asking Emmeline to marry him … He was sure that Remus was going to do the same with Tonks … why couldn't he be able to see that happen. Why did Voldemort have to pick this moment to attack … to make him surrender his life now?

"Harry," Ron said softly as he placed his hand on Harry's shoulder, he wasn't sure if Ron was trying to be comforting or was terrified about what they were hearing too. All Harry knew was that Ron's hand was trembling, and his voice shook and it wasn't comforting or reassuring at all.

"Harry, don't give yourself up," Angelina said urgently. "I don't think they're just going to let us walk away, even if you do …"

"She's right Harry," Ernie said. "I'm sure Dumbledore … Sprout … all the other will be here soon. I can't imagine them being held off by any number of Death Eaters for long. You don't have to do this."

Harry looked at them, he knew they were trying to help but it wasn't. He wanted to listen to their words, and he knew that what they were saying could be true. Voldemort wasn't known for keeping his word, and the staff (especially Sirius) was probably working their hardest to get to the students.

"Harry …" Hermione said, tears were in her eyes but she was trying to be strong. Ron and Hermione knew that he didn't actually have a choice. He knew that they wished they could talk him out of it but they knew better so they were trying their hardest not to make this more difficult for him.

"Tell the others …" Harry tried to say but he found his mouth had dried up and really … he didn't know what he wanted them to tell the others.

He was just starting to stand up, his legs feeling weak as his heart continued to hammering making his ears roar, when a crow flew towards them. Before it landed there was a popping sound and it turned into a person.

"Fred!" Angelina gasped as the other DA members around all looked startled by his sudden appearance.

"Harry we're all going to keep fighting," Fred said. "Everyone in our group figured that you were going to try to save us, but you don't have to worry about that. We took out some of the Death Eaters on the other side, Remus was fighting there too, and the Aurors and Law Enforcement wizards were just showing up. The other students are going to get out. So there's no reason to listen to old Moldy shorts."

"I'm sorry Fred," Harry sighed, "but that's not why I have to do this."

Fred looked confused as Harry walked passed him, but that was nothing to the confusion he felt when Ron stopped him from reaching for Harry. "What …?"

Harry looked back at his friends, at Ron and Fred; one confused the other shaking his head looking beyond pained. Of course, when Ron realized that he was looking at him he tried to pull his face into a better expression but it just turned into a grimace. Harry turned away to look at Hermione, who was crying silently. Then there was Angelina, Ernie, as well as Seamus, Lavender, Terry and even farther in the distance, Cedric and Cho.

Looking at these people gave him the courage he needed. He knew that he had to start moving now, because the more he thought the harder it was to move. At least I can help protect these people, he thought, at least that's something.

He wanted to say something inspiring, and if he couldn't manage that something meaningful but no words came to him. Instead he offered them a smile that probably wasn't any better than the grimace that Ron gave him and he turned back around. He found it difficult to lift his feet, but somehow he managed to move forward. He could hear the conversation behind them, the muttering of his friends as he walked, but he couldn't make out the words.

"Aw if it isn't itty bitty Potty," the cackling voice said making Harry raise his wand on instinct but he remembered he wasn't supposed to be fighting any more. He lowered his wand and then decided to put it in his robe. "Not afraid I'll kill you?" the Death Eater said, lifting her mask to reveal Bellatrix Lestrange.

"I'm not sure your master would appreciate that," Harry said, glad his voice didn't waver at all. He supposed that was the upside of knowing you're going to die … fear of other things sort of washed away.

"Oh, you are brave, little baby Potter," Bellatrix eyes gleamed with madness as she smiled at him. "My Lord knows that. It's why he spoke to you. I only wish my dear cousin was able to see this in person."

Harry tried to glare but he was grateful that Sirius wasn't here. That Sirius didn't have to watch this. It was going to be bad enough as it was.

"Come on," Bellatrix jabbed him in the back with her wand and moved him forward.

Harry walked on for another minute until he was standing in front of Voldemort.

"Ah, Harry Potter," Voldemort smiled at him. "I'm glad you have come to join me. I knew you couldn't refuse my invitation."

"You're not going to hurt them," Harry said.

"You have my word Harry Potter," Voldemort said. "What do I care about these children now that I have you?"

Harry didn't have a response to that or any idea what he was supposed to do now. He almost wished that Voldemort would get it over with so that he wouldn't have to be standing here anymore.

"Harry … Harry! No!"

"It looks like I get my wish," Bellatrix cackled again as Harry cringed.

He turned to look behind him and saw Sirius running towards him as fast as he could.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Harry didn't even have a chance to turn around before he was hit by the curse.

O

Harry opened his eyes to find himself in a bright room. At least he felt like it was a room but he couldn't see any of the walls or ceiling … or even the floor. It was odd that he couldn't see the floor as he should have been standing on it. It was even odder that the longer he looked down the floor seemed to start to form as he stared at it. It was a wood floor and he followed the progress of a certain piece as it disappeared under a rug that seemed to materialized out of nowhere. Next came a couch that he actually recognized, though not from his memories, but pictures.

Harry stared at the couch confuse for a while until he was taken out of his musing by the sound of something crying. He wondered if maybe he was in the past … but as he walked towards the sound he could tell it was no baby crying.

"Don't worry about that," Harry turned around at the sound of the voice to find himself face to face with a beautiful red-haired woman with brilliant green eyes.

"Mum," he smiled.

"My brave little boy," she said wrapping her arms around him and pulled him into a hug.

Harry closed his eyes as he was held by his mother for the first time that he could remember.

"You've made me so proud," Lily said after holding Harry for a long time.

"You're not angry … after what you did for me …" Harry found himself mumbling.

"Angry," Lily smiled sadly at him, "how can I be angry with you? You've had so much placed on your shoulders, and you've met every challenge. Even when it was something unbearable, unthinkable, you still had the courage to face it."

"I didn't really have any other choice," Harry said.

"Yes you did Harry," Lily said beaming at him, running her hand through his hair in a soothing manner. "And few people would have made your choice."

"You did," Harry pointed out softly, "you did for me."

"And I hope that I can save you again," Lily said and Harry cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Things aren't always what they appear to be."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "Where am I?"

"Where do you think we are?" Lily asked.

"The house that we used to live in," Harry said, "at least it looks like the photos Sirius and Remus showed me."

"I see," Lily smiled, looking at the fireplace that had a warm fire and then she sat down on the couch. Harry followed, wanting to be close to her. "We were happy here …" she added sadly.

"What do you mean that you could save me again?" Harry asked. "Aren't I dead already?"

"No, not yet," Lily answered.

"I'm not?" Harry asked. "But …"

"I know," Lily said. "And you should have died. I gave everything I had to save you but it wouldn't have been enough, not this time. But Voldemort made a mistake when he regained his body by using your blood."

"My blood," Harry said, "but didn't that make it so he could touch me."

"Yes, and that's why he thought it was a good idea," Lily said. "However, he didn't have the foresight to see everything taking your blood would do. But how could he, he never understood what you are. Or I should say what you were."

"You mean I'm not a Horcrux anymore," Harry said, the crying that he had forgotten the moment he heard his mum's voice came back to his attention again and he looked in that direction. "You mean that thing … it's … it's the …"

"Part of Voldemort's soul that had lived within you," Lily answered sadly. "Yes. But it's not part of you anymore. Voldemort saw to that."

"Yeah, I got that part," Harry said. "I just don't understand how I could still be alive."

"He took the protection I gave you into himself," Lily said.

The protection she gave him, he heard about it all the time but he didn't completely understand what was involved. He knew it had saved him from dying when he was a baby. He knew it stopped Voldemort from being able to touch him in his first year (and all the years up until the last). He heard it kept Voldemort for getting near him, that's why he was living with Sirius who had been made a blood brother to his mum. But how would that stop Harry from getting killed this time? What did she mean that Voldemort took the protection in to himself?

But he didn't really need an answer to that. It happened.

"So if I'm not died, than what happened and why am I here?" Harry asked.

"That's not the question you really want to ask," Lily said. "You want to know how long you can stay."

Harry didn't answer with words, he just nodded his head.

"Not much longer," Lily sighed sadly, "but we can take all the time we have."

Harry nodded his head as his mum hugged him again. Harry thought it would be difficult finding something to say but the words came out easy. He talked at first about whatever came to his mind and his mum listened and then she was talking and he listened. It seemed like he got to talk to her for hours (though he knew it wasn't), but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Lily said.

"Times up," Harry knew she was going to say this as soon as she opened her mouth.

"You have to leave now," Lily responded.

"What if I don't want to go?" Harry asked.

"If you don't go soon you won't ever be able to leave," Lily said and upon seeing Harry's face she added, "I know you don't want to be parted, but you have so much to live for Harry. And we'll meet again and you'll have so much more to talk about."

"I don't want to say goodbye," Harry grimaced.

"I know sweetheart," Lily sighed. "Neither do I."

"I love you," Harry said and hugged her, losing himself in his mum's hug one last time.

"I love you, Harry," Lily said, squeezing Harry tightly to her.