Stillness.

Like a ringing in his ears that is both overwhelming sound and not; a moment outside of time. Then a creeping awareness of the forest sounds, a cool breeze in the clearing caressing his face softly.

"Is he dead?" a cold, high hissing tone cutting the silence.

Narcissa made her decision and looked the dark lord straight in the eye. Unwavering. "Yes, my Lord."

It hadn't been enough. Harry had done everything they asked of them. Sacrificed his family, his childhood, he had fought and fought. Sacrificed, killed, died and survived. And it hadn't been enough!

Harry walked through the forest, footfalls sounding one after the other, crunching on the undergrowth. There was peace here. Running his fingers over the rough bark of the pines that reached overhead he walked forward. One more footstep, one more breath. In...out, in...out. An unspeakable effort. Deeper into the forest instinct guiding him onward. And there, the clearing an opening in the trees like a song only he still knew the words to. Harry had made it. He had made it! They wouldn't follow him here. Hunted. Harry Hunting his mind supplied unhelpfully, he gave a soft laugh. Harry sank to the ground the cold of the frost creeping through the knees of his jeans. His fingertips brushing the dirt before closing around the stone, cold and smooth in the crook of his fingers. Relief flowing over him like cold water.

A snap of a twig breaking.

"I'm so sorry Harry" her voice soft against his ears. Harry swallowed, head bowed, shoulders hunched. His heart cracked. So, in the end it would be her. When he looked up, he would meet not the red eyes of. a monster, a villain carefully crafted for heroic battles ripe for vanquishing; they would be a warm brown he knew, tinged with fear and resignation. The anger surged within him and he lifted his chin defiantly. If she wanted him dead, she would have to look him in the eye while she did it. And met a wave of green light which consumed him.

"I'm so, so sorry Harry"

Stillness.

He was back in the station. White as far as he could see. Stillness, the ringing was back in his ears. Harry ran his fingers through his hair, thick, black and unruly. Down the back of his neck feeling the trickle of cold sweat that had gathered there. Up and over his face feeling the lines of his jaw, the curve of his nose, the frames of his glasses and the jagged rise of his scar. He closed his eyes. Opened them again, blinking slowly. He was real. This was real.

"You weren't ready before young Master" a deep voice spoke behind him.

Harry jumped in his skin. Looking around sharp enough to crick his neck. Breath caught. "Wasn't ready to hear what? Who are you?" Harry said.

"You mean, what am I young master. I am the end of all things. The being that greets each and every soul that passes through this station on their way to where all must go eventually. I am an inevitability a blessing to some and a fear to most." the voice rumbled. "Look at me young master. Meet my gaze"

Harry turned. A man stood there, tall, arms loose at his sides, posture relaxed. The stance of one who has no reason to be wary. He wore a dark cloak, hooded and stark against the white of the station and when Harry raised his eyes to meet the being's gaze, they were black.

"You have a choice to make, now that you have experienced more of this world, last of the Peverell's brothers mine. You have gathered and mastered the Hallows, met Death thrice now with innocence, with sacrifice and with acceptance."

A shiver ran down Harry's spine.

You have questions." The man said softly.

"You say I have a choice to make. What choice? I'm dead am I not?" Harry met the man's eyes unnerved by how they did not blink.

"You could be you know, should you so choose. As my master you cannot die by nature's hand or another's until you make the choice to pass on. And if I am not mistaken that will not be your choice at this time. Too much to do." he smirked. "I can even return you to your body in the clearing, I would advise you against that though. It would not end well."

The breath rushed into Harry's lungs causing them to seize, his eyes seeing but not as a future flickered by.

Dust falling from the sky, metallic in his mouth. Hogwarts in ruins, ash and fire. All he could see were the bodies. The cries and pleas of people long gone cold thrumming in his ears. In..out...in...out his lungs choking on poison. It would be a slow death. There was no such thing as an unforgiveable curse now. Avada kedavra was seen as a mercy now "As easy as falling asleep" and he was the last. There would be no such mercy for him. Not now the statute had fallen.

Harry gasped, eyes watering. He turned to the man with the dark eyes.

"Your kith have garnered rather too much attention lately" His eyes Still. Not. Blinking. He looked straight back at Harry. "I would grant you a boon young master. I can send you back."

"Back?" Harry squinted. "Yes back." the man sounding rather exasperated now. "Keep up."

"Sorry for taking time to acclimate! It's not every day you get murdered, meet an amortal being and are told the muggles will burn the world now is it?" Harry answered his tone sharp, exasperation rising to meet the others, running his hand across his forehead rubbing absentmindedly at his scar.

"I suppose so." said the man.

"So, you can send me back. Back to when, would I … Wait would I still be me?"

"Yes, young master. I can make it so you are re-born as your younger self with the knowledge and magic you hold now. A chance for change of your making. A chance for the redemption of your kind and for some an opportunity for contrition."

The anger burned within him once more, surging from low in his belly out to his fingertips still caked in the dirt of the clearing floor and itching behind his eyes. "I'll take it." And the world went dark.

Stillness.