Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series nor the characters.

I also want to just give you all a heads up. The first few chapters will be pretty familiar events. They are canon up until the end of the chapter. It will get into the actual story soon, though, don't worry. :)

Harry Potter

"You've been so brave."

He couldn't speak. His eyes feasted on her, and he thought that he would like to stand and look at her forever, and that would be enough for him. Her face was youthful; she looked about the same age as George and-.

Harry trembled. Nobody else will have to suffer because of me. He thought determinedly.

"You are nearly there, " James said. "Very close. We are... so proud of you." His father smiled down at Harry, his eyes shining.

"Does it hurt?" The childish question had fallen from his lips before he could stop them.

"Dying? Not at all." Sirius said. "Quicker and easier than falling asleep."

"And he will want it to be quick. He wants it over, "said Lupin wisely.

"I didn't want you to die." Harry whispered. These words took no prompting on Harry's part. "Not any of you. I'm sorry-" He choked out. He addressed Lupin the most out of the four, beseeching him.

"right after you had your son... Remus I'm sorry-"

"I am sorry too," said Lupin. "Sorry I will never know him... but he will know why I died and I hope he will understand. I was trying to make a world in which he could live a happier life."

A chilly breeze emanated from the dark forest, lifting the hair on Harry's brow. Harry gazed at each one of them, drinking them in like a starving man would a good meal. He knew, without a doubt, that they would not tell him to go. It was to be his decision. And he knew what decision he had to choose.

"You'll stay with me?"

"Until the very end, "James said.

"They won't be able to see you?" asked Harry.

"We are a part of you," said Sirius. "Invisible to everyone else but you." Harry nodded his understanding, and turned to the kind face of his mother.

"Stay close to me," he said quietly. Lily smiled at Harry and nodded.

And they set off, Harry's invisibility cloak wrapped firmly around him.

His companions acted like Patronuses around him, shielding him from the dementors. They marched, together, into the forest. Deeper and deeper they went. His companions gave him the courage he needed to keep on going. The task ahead of him was no small task, he knew. His mind became quite detached from his body, as if his body was running on autopilot, forcing him to put one foot in front of the other. He and his body didn't feel so connected anymore, which could just be a symptom of the fact that soon he would be leaving his body.

Time no longer held much meaning for Harry, and before he knew it he came across two lone figures.

Harry stopped.

"Someone's there," a voice pierced through the forest. "He's got an Invisibility Cloak. Could it be-?" Two wand lights suddenly sparked into existence, mere feet from Harry. Yaxley and Dolohov peered into the darkness.

"Definitely heard something," said Yaxley. "Animal d'you reckon?"

"That head case Hagrid kept a whole bunch of stuff in here," said Dolohov, glancing over his shoulder nervously.

Yaxley looked down at his watch.

"Time's nearly up. Potter's had his hour. He's not coming."

"And he was sure he'd come! He won't be happy."

"Better go back," said Yaxley, "Find out what the plan is now."

Harry watched as the two Death Eaters turned around and began walking deeper into the forest. Harry knew what to do. He looked sideways at James, who nodded encouragingly, and followed them. Minutes later Harry arrived at the edge of a large clearing. A fire glowed in the middle of the clearing, lighting it up and giving it an eerie feel. The clearing was, despite the large crowd gathered in it, quite familiar to him. This had been the clearing he and Ron had escaped from five years ago, when a horde of Acromantula had declared them dinner. Harry could still see the remnants of the large spider webs. Aragog's descendants, however, had clearly vacated the area. A crowd of Death Eaters filled the area, all eyes on their pale leader. Harry, though, was eyeing the glowing sphere that hung in the air beside Voldemort. The large snake writhed and twisted inside it. He knew, however, that the snake was not to be killed by his hand. He turned his eyes back on the serpent's master.

"No sign of him, my Lord." Dolohov said, voice grave as he kneeled. Voldemort's expression did not change. His red eyes seemed to burn in the firelight. Silence hung over the clearing like a bad omen. Bellatrix's husky voice broke the silence.

"My Lord-" Her voice was cut off the second Voldemort raised his hand to silence her.

"I thought he would come." Voldemort spoke in his high, clear voice. Eyes on the leaping flames, Voldemort opened his mouth again. " I expected him to come."

Nobody said a word. They all seemed just as scared as Harry was, heart pounding as he took off his Invisibility Cloak. He wrapped it into a ball, his wand inside it, and stuffed it into his robes. He did not want to be tempted to fight. That was not, after all, what he was here to do.

"I was, as it seems, mistaken," said Voldemort.

"You weren't." Harry said loudly. He stepped forward into the light of the fire. Gasps, cries and even laughter echoed around the clearing. But Harry paid them no mind. It was just him and Voldemort. Nothing but the fire to separate them.

"HARRY! NO!" Harry turned to the familiar voice. Hagrid was bound and trussed to a nearby tree, his massive body shaking the branches above as he desperately struggled. "NO! NO HARRY, WHAT'RE YEH-?"

"QUIET!" screamed Rowle. With a flick of his wand Hagrid was silenced. All was quiet, but the heavy panting of Bellatrix and the crackling of the flames.

Harry turned once more, and stared into the red, snake-like pupils of Lord Voldemort. Voldemort stared back at him. All was still. He wanted it to happen now, before he lost his nerve and gave in to his fear. He saw Voldemort's mouth move, a flash of green light...

And the ground opened up and swallowed him whole.