A Visit from a Magical Zoologist

It was such a wonderful day.

The sun was shining and the breeze was just the right kind of soft across a person's face. Even the scent of a warm summer night could entice the most introverted individual outside to bask in the summer's breath.

Only Harry was stuck inside, laying in his bed as his head pounded and his entire body seemed to throb with a pain that he hadn't felt in years. Not since the final battle when he had pushed all he had to defeat Voldemort.

It had been going on for months now. Constant headaches, weakness, body aches, and a loss of appetite that worried everyone since he lost weight. Weight he couldn't afford to lose because he was already like a twig because of his upbringing.

"Hey sweetheart." Ginny said as she walked into their bedroom, voice soft and footsteps like a feather. "Any better?" her hand reached out and laid against his forehead, frowning when she felt the heat coming off of him. "Not so much then." She muttered as he gave a shake of his head that barely was noticeable. "There's been no word from the healers as well, they still haven't figured out what's going on."

Harry reached up to cover her cool hand with a heated one of his own. He knew he had always run colder than her, so for him to be warmer, it was strange and different. He didn't really like it. "It'll be ok Gin, I've survived worse." He gave her a small soft smile with what energy he had.

"I know, but this has been going on for sometime now. You only seem to be getting worse." She sighed as she settled on the side of the bed so she could keep her hand on his forehead, spreading her magic from it and into him to try and cool the temperature. "I'll get a fever reducer and pain reducer for you, but while I'm doing that, you have a letter. It arrived today."

She held the envelope out to him, simple parchment that you could buy cheap at any store, but the scrawl on the front with his name and address was rather fancy looking, really loopy in scrawl, much like McGonagall's was whenever she wrote home about the kids and their antics. Disciplinary letters really, but it sounded more like the kids were having fun and that didn't really bother Harry like it did Ginny. "Hmm, whose it from?"

"Newt Scamander, though I haven't the foggiest clue on why he'd contact you. I'd think he'd get a hold of Charlie instead, with his work on the dragons and their protections." She gave a shrug at his raised brow. "Now go on and read that, I'll fetch those potions and see if they help any this time."

Which he doubted. Nothing seemed to help with his growing weakness, no matter what they did or who they went to. He sighed as he forced himself onto his back after Ginny left and held the letter over his head. Why someone like Scamander was getting a hold of him left him befuddled and confused. It was certainly out of left field for even him.

Either way, he better open it and find out. With that he tore the wax seal, a thunderbird with its wings spread wide, and pulled the single piece of parchment out to read it.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I'm sure my contacting you is rather strange, but I assure you, there is a reason for it. During the time of the wizarding war that you fought in, I was in correspondence with Albus Dumbledore. To be more accurate, I was in contact with Albus back when you were still just a year old. We talked of you and your abilities, possibilities, and future occurrences over the years that came. I fear that there was a course that Albus chose to follow that concerns your health and well-being, one I wish to verify with you in person.

If you are willing and able to meet me, I have gain permission from Headmistress McGonagall to meet upon Hogwarts grounds within the next week, that being the weekend of September 17th, a Saturday where the students will be in Hogsmeade. I would be more than willing to meet at the Great Lake at noon that day.

Please respond cordially so that we may meet post haste.

Sincerely,

Newt Scamander

Harry frowned at the letter for a long moment, trying to decide if he would even have the energy to go, but he truly felt that this was important. Especially if it concerned Dumbledore and his plans for Harry back during the war. If this man could help him and explain a few things, the plans and circumstances that had been set up for him, then maybe he could be helped.

Maybe he could finally just rest in his life quietly with no more concerns or worries. He'd just be able to enjoy his life and watch his family grow.

He prayed that this meeting would bring good and hopeful news, something he felt he direly needed.

It took a lot more effort than it should've to get to Hogwarts, especially since it was just the floo that he was taking. Once he was on the floor of the headmistress's office though, all he could manage was to stare up at the ceiling for several long moments.

"Mr. Potter, I see you've managed to get here in one piece for once." Minerva stated with a raised brow at the downed man. "Mr. Scamander is already down at the Great Lake waiting for you, said I would need to give this to you when you arrived." She held a yellow potion bottle in her hands.

"Ugh." He muttered as he slowly and carefully shoved his hands underneath him to at least sit up long enough to take the damned thing. "Potions…potions…potions." He muttered as he finally sat up and held a hand out for the bottle. It was quickly given to him, already unstopped, and he downed it just as quickly. "That's all I've been doing."

"I knew you were in straights, but I didn't realize they were quite so bad." She muttered as she settled into a chair next to him instead of behind her desk. "Do you think you can make it down to the lake? I do believe that Mr. Scamander could very well help you."

Harry sighed as he took stock of his body. It was sore and achy, his head pounding lightly, but he had an energy working through his body. "That potion must've helped, I think I can make it down easily enough." He stood up, using the chair Minerva was sitting in to steady himself as he did so. "It's the getting back up here that might be a problem."

"Well, just call an elf if it becomes too arduous, alright Potter. I don't need another incident caused by you, your daughter causes enough of them." She sent a scowl at the man who just smiled back.

"She's such a good kid, following in her grandparents' steps." He gave a chuckle before shaking his head and turning to leave. "I'll see you before I leave then."

The walk down to the Great Lake wasn't enjoyable. Even with the potion, Harry had to stop several times to take a break for several long moments. He was almost tempted to call Kreacher or one of the other house elves to get him the rest of the way down, but he persevered and made it.

He had just stopped about have a dozen yards away from the lake when an elderly man made his appearance, ambling his way slowly over to Harry like there wasn't a care in the world. For an elder wizard, his face was clean shaven, showing off the wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. His white hair was kept short and swept to the side out of his face. He wore a long blue jacket with a white button down underneath, a blue bow tie sat primly at his throat. Black slacks and what seemed to be hiking boots finished off his look. The strangest thing about him was that he carried an old battered brown suitcase at his side.

"Ah, to be back at Hogwarts, especially to see the Great Squid again. He's in good health too, so they must've taken my advice to stock the lake with yellow finned tuna then." He said as he came to a stop at Harry's side, looking the ill man over. "It's nice to finally meet you Mr. Potter, Albus had told me quite a bit about you."

Harry gulped in a breath of air before standing up straight once more, holding out his hand towards the other man. "Nice…to meet you too…Mr. Scamander. Though I….don't know why a….Zoologist would…want to talk to…me." He shook the hand that was placed in his before wiping at his sweating face.

"Oh, just something I need to confirm about you." Scamander said as he set his suitcase on the ground and fully turned to look the younger wizard head on. Harry blinked and went to ask but was stopped cold in his place.

A wand tip slammed into his forehead out of nowhere.

Harry blinked for a long moment, taking in the bright blue sky and the few little clouds floating around happily. "Wha…." He tried to speak but stopped when his lungs seized and all he could do for several moments was cough harshly.

"Hmm, seems I was right." A face appeared above him, a potion held down towards Harry. "Here, drink this, it'll help with the symptoms for the time being." It was that familiar yellow potion that McGonagall had given him earlier.

He gave a chocked huff before accepting the potion but unable to sit up to drink it, his body suddenly drained of energy and motivation to do anything.

The man sighed as he kneeled down and helped the younger on sit up, quickly retaking the potion and then feeding it to Harry as gently as he could. Once the potion was down, he had some energy back and the pounding was just an ache in his head once more. "Wha…" Harry coughed for a moment before trying once more. "What…did you…do?"

"A simple test of your magic, I didn't even cast a spell, to see what it would do in a surprising circumstance." Scamander explained. "Your magic literally exploded from you once something had surprised you or you felt in danger, trying to protect you from whatever the cause of states was." The man waved his wand and a backrest was soon holding Harry sitting up, with a little wicker bottom to it so he wasn't sitting on the ground anymore.

"What's that…tell you? That I've…got some strong magic?" He questioned, because his magic had always been like that. Exploding out of him whenever his emotions were ramped up or he was surprised by something. His friends and family had learned to never surprise him, it never ended well.

"I have some questions to ask, and I'd like some honest answers Mr. Potter. These could very well tell me exactly what's wrong with you." The man had summoned his own chair, a rather bare one that Harry had seen adventurers use because they were easy to fold up and just carry with them anywhere. "Will you do that?"

"To the best…of my ability." He got out with a nod of his head. If this magical zoologist thought he knew what was wrong with Harry and fix it, well, it wasn't like he had much left to lose. He was already almost bed ridden and sickly, hardly able to keep food down, and his magic felt even more wild than before. "Go ahead." He waved his hand at the older man to get on with it.

"When you were younger, were you ever in a family or situation where they told you magic didn't exist? That magic was terrible? That it was bad and was not to be mentioned in any shape or form?" Harry could only blink and nod at that question in surprise. That was rather detailed of one as well concerning Harry hadn't even told his friends or wife how bad his life with the Dursleys were. "Did they ever hit you if you even so much as mentioned it in any form? Punished so that you would reject even the idea of magic until proven otherwise?"

Harry gulped with a nod of his head. He really didn't want to answer these questions anymore. It sounded more like this man was trying to dig into his past and get juicy details. He had known some journalists to try and question him under the guise of people he knew or other famous individuals interested in talking to Harry.

"Relax, I truly am Newt Scamander, I just need to know because some of the things Albus questioned me about a certain subject concerned me, especially when you came into the picture." He explained with a tired sigh.

"You and Dumble…dore were friends?" He questioned, head tilting to the side on the back rest. Thank god this guy was at least nice enough to do that much for Harry. This way he could watch the other a lot easier and carefully.

"Him and Aberforth, yes. I helped during the war against Grindelwald back then, not that many know about that. Didn't really want the publicity for that, not my cup of tea honestly." The man's hands seemed to wave and twitch in front of him, as if trying to explain a story. "It was actually during that time that I had tried to save a young man, he had the most curious affliction that I'd run into a handful of times."

Harry's brows raised at this, now curious about this affliction and what it had to do with him. There was no real other reason for Scamander to bring it up now, not without it have something to do with the younger wizard.

"Credence was a young wizard I had met in New York City, a young oppressed wizard that had been abused so greatly by the muggles meant to care for him…well…his magic was forced down so deep and harshly that it eventually just began to eat Credence whole, turning him into a creature known as an Obscurus."

Harry huffed as he took the information in, trying to figure out why that mattered, he used his magic and he trusted it. His magic had saved him so many times over the year that there was no way this pertained to him. "Okay…."

"Do you know what an Obscurus is?" He received a shake of his head and the man sighed. "I knew I should've started with that. Well…Credence's magic, because it was pushed so far down and harsh and he rejected it for so long, it turned on him. An Obscurus is made when the magic of a witch or wizard is unable to be released for so long that it eventually turns on the host and begins to eat them alive, taking over the individual so that it can be free to destroy."

"Sounds…painful." Harry admitted with furrowed brows. To have his own magic do that to him, he couldn't fathom it.

"Yes, it is. It's a slow and painful process and most don't make it pass their twenties. Their magic will have them eaten by then, and not even turning around and using their magic can cure this ailment. They'll die no matter what once their magic has begun to eat them." Scamander ran a hand through his hair before looking back down at the rather pale and shaky form of the hero of the wizarding world. "Many of them will actually lose control, bouts of magic flaring from them and destroying things around them. Many had been told accidental magic even though accidental magic stops almost as soon as a young child gets their first wand."

He looked at Harry sternly, as if this should explain all to the younger wizard, and he could do nothing but stare back in confusion. "I did…accidental magic even…now." He explained, his chest aching from how much he had exerted himself that day. He was just so tired and wanted this man to get on with it and tell him what he thought.

"That's what I'm worried about, especially after that rather aggressive display a moment ago. You see Mr. Potter, I was in correspondence with Albus for a very long time before he died. He questioned on the spells needed to contain an obscurus once they fully bloomed and what needed to happen to allow the magic to dissipate back into the earth." He shook his head before making sure he kept eye contact with Harry. "He wanted to know how to allow an obscurus rest after their host body had finally failed, like he had one in his grasp and was preparing for the time it finally passed. Much like we did with Credence when he passed so many years ago."

"I don't…I don't understand….why are you telling me this?" Harry asked as he pushed himself forward so he could try and make himself look strong and able, not like his body was about to fall over in absolute pain and exhaustion.

"I feared that Albus had done the unthinkable, and looking at you Mr. Potter, I'm very much certain of it." The man's lips thinned as he pointed a finger at the man. "Albus Dumbledore created an obscurus and then pitted it against the darkest wizard in the world in hopes that you would kill each other."

Harry stared at the finger pointed at him for a long moment, stunned and in disbelief of what he had just been told. "No…that can't be it! He wouldn't do that to me!" He yelled as he forced himself to his feet, trembling from the simple exertion but not allowing it to stop him. Magic popped around him and made the grass wave beneath his feet and the lake nearby rippled outwards from the force.

"He signed you up to be a lamb at the slaughter, did he not?" Scamander questioned with a raised brow.

"I needed to die then! I had a horcrux in me!" Harry defended. He had known about the horcrux and he understood why he had to die. He had been one of two pieces left that kept that madman alive at the time.

"He could've just killed you himself to destroy the horcrux, or kill you with basilisk poison, which I could have happily given him. But he didn't. No, he sent you to a home that told you magic was not real. You've already admitted they punished you whenever you even thought magic could exist, just like Credence and so many other obscurus." He drove home. He stood and soon he was in front of the shorter wizard, a kind sympathetic look on his face. "You can feel it already, right, your body falling apart. You're tired and exhausted, headaches and body aches almost all the time. No potion and really relieve it, not even the ones I've given you."

"No…I'm just tired." Harry stated even as his shoulders began to slump in defeat.

"I'm sorry, but you and I both know that's not true." The man placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just looking at you, I can tell you are near the end. You're magic will tear you apart within a month or so."

Harry wanted to deny it so dearly too, but at this point, after everything he had ever been through and the shit he had to put up with from powerful wizards around him…he knew…he knew deep down that this man was right.

The thing he had trusted the most since he came into the wizarding world…his magic…is what was killing him.

"Is there nothing…we can do?" he questioned as he fought to stay on his feet, so tired and done with everything as he was, he was surprised he hadn't ate dirt yet.

"Unfortunately, no, all we can do is get your affairs in order and then prepare to make sure your magic can rest once you pass." His hand gave a firm squeeze at that. "How about we return you to the Headmistress's office."

"Forgive us Minerva, but if you can give us a moment with Albus." Scamander asked as he settled Potter in a chair, the man's entire body slumping forward in exhaustion.

"But of course Newt, do let me know before you leave though, I have those biscuits that Tina loves." She explained as she stood from her chair, moving to leave the room.

"But of course." He watched her close the door behind her before turning to the now open and sparkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore's portrait. "You've done a great sin. To curse the boy to the same fate as your sister."

"I had no choice." Albus stated mournfully as he clasped his hands together, ignoring the shouts of the other portraits around him, asking and demanding to know what the previous headmaster had done now. "He needed the power to defeat Tom and I couldn't assume he would have enough on his own."

"So turning….me into a monster…was the answer?" Harry spoke up from his place, not bothering to try and reposition himself from the slump he was in. He had no real energy anymore. "To take what life…I created… away with this last thing?"

"I did not wish to put you through this dear boy, but it was necessary to win the war. You must understand tha-"

"I DON'T NEED TO UNDERSTAND!" Harry shouted, his magic flooding his body suddenly, whipping around and destroying several items to dust while sending portraits flying from the wall. "You have sentenced me to death even before I ever was dropped on the Dursley's doorsteps!" He glared at the headmaster's portrait as the man remained silent. "I will not even get to see my children grow fully in the adults that I know they will be! You've taken that and so much more from me!" his magic faded and Harry was slumped once more, his eyes closed with his exhaustion.

"You've done a great sin Albus, and I'm afraid there is no fixing this, because even now, I've never been able to find a cure for an obscurus. Not even death itself would be a cure for him if I did not perform the ritual to release his magic from its vessel. He will die, there is no changing that." The man sighed as he stood up once more. "We need to get you home Mr. Potter, that way we can start to get things in order for what is to come. I will help every step of the way as much as possible. I fear that is all I can do."

"I am sorry Harry, my dear boy, I am sorry." Dumbledore bemoaned in his portrait, trails of liquid falling down his cheeks.

"Sorry won't fix…anything." Harry muttered before allowing Scamander, he was a lot stronger than he seemed, to help him to his feet and to the floo. "It never does."

"You can't be serious, this can't be happening." Ron Weasley growled as he paced back and forth in his best mate's living room. Hermione and Ginny were both sat in chairs in front of the couch were Harry was laid out. Newt Scamander-Charlie would flip his shit if he knew about his idol being in his little sister's house right then-stood off to the side with a saddened look on his face. "You have to be wrong about this."

"I'm afraid that I'm quite correct. The test I performed is made to bring the obscurus to the front to try and protect its host, and unfortunately it did exactly that with Mr. Potter." Scamander explained once more, patience pouring out of him to take in the small group of a family. "He does not have more than a month, maybe two if he's lucky."

"But…you said obscurus don't last beyond their twenties! Harry's thirty-three! He's past that age limit!" Hermione argued as she turned in her chair to look at the zoologist. "There's no way he could be that if he's made it past the age limit!"

"Ms. Granger, you know outliers exist, no matter what survey you are making. Yes, Mr. Potter is over thirty and the age limit for normal obscurus, but that does not mean he is not one. It just means he is much more stubborn and strong willed then the others." He sighed as he sipped at his cup of tea, having summoned it from his bag some time ago.

"Will…will he be in pain the…entire…." Ginny gave a choked hiccup as she fought her sobs, staring at the sleeping form of her husband. "He won't hurt the…entire time…right?"

"Unfortunately, the process is painful and it is slow going. He'll be tired and ill, he'll be in pain near constantly at the end. No potions or spells or even muggle means will make this easy." He shook his head sadly as Ginny gave a sob. "All we can do is prepare and be there for him."

"What are we going to tell the kids?" She gasped as she thought of James, who was supposed to graduate this school year, to Albus who had won a scholar event and would get a reward later in the year, to Lily who was the current seeker on the Ravenclaw team and wanted her parents to come to her games.

"We….we'll have to tell them the truth." Hermione whispered as she wrapped her arms around the younger woman, leaning her head on Ginny's own. "We'll tell them together, I'm sure McGonagall will let us take them out of school for a weekend."

"We can't just give up!" Ron snarled as tears began to bubble at the edge of his eyes. "We've never given up before, we can't now, not with Harry dying."

"Ron, there's nothing we can do! Not even the expert in this whole thing has found a cure!" Hermione scolded as tears fell down her face. "And he's been looking for years."

"Which is true. I failed in finding a cure for so many years and that's just because magic…magic is not something we can cure." Scamander explained before flicking his wand and refilling his teapot. "We could, of course, pull the magic from his body, but he would die. We could try and seal it, but it would break it and then just kill him. I've tried many different ways, none have worked and all have fallen to the same fate. There is no curing magic, Mr. Weasley, I'm sorry." He bowed his head as the red headed man finally came to a halt, hands covering his face.

"Fuck." He muttered as tears finally began to fall down his face and reality set in. "Fuck."

No one said much else after that, just standing in silence and solace as their main focus slept on.

"You can't be serious?" James questioned as he looked at his mom, aunt and uncle, their faces pale and bags underneath their eyes. They obviously hadn't slept in sometime and his mom's and aunt's eyes were so red that he was highly concerned for their wellbeing.

But he couldn't focus on that, not when his mom had just explained everything concerning their father. "But, dad's strong, he'll pull through this!" Lily just about screeched as tears fell down her face, refusing to believe just like James was. "This isn't going to kill him! Not when even Voldemort could!"

"Sweetheart…this is much different then an actual person trying to kill your father." Ginny sighed as she wiped a hand across her face, catching and clearing the few tears that fell. "This is…well…"

"His magic is killing him." Albus spoke, his face blank and his tone bland. James had never seen his little brother like this before. Not even being a Slytherin had even removed Al's propensity for kindness and sunshine. "He's an obscurus, those are always killed by their own magic." He'd read about them before, not how they were made, just that they were dangerous and the host always died.

"No! I don't believe this!" Lily screamed as she turned and ran from the room. If he had to guess, he would think she was running to their parent's room, to get their father to tell her it was all a lie. She was always a daddy's girl after all.

"I'm so sorry you two." Mom sobbed as she covered her face with her hands. "Your father….he doesn't have much longer, a month at most, maybe two if we're lucky."

"It's not your fault mom." James assured as he moved around the table, his body feeling staticky and numb, like he wasn't fully aware of the situation. Regardless he wrapped his arms around his mother's shoulders to try and give and receive some comfort. "It's not your fault." It wasn't anyone's fault really, except maybe the muggles his dad had lived with before, he wasn't really sure. Either way, he would have to try and help out after this, help his mom and his siblings and….

"Oh James, you don't have to be so strong." His mother murmured as she pushed him away long enough to stand and bring him into her own arms. He was taller than her now, her head at the level of his shoulders, but he would never stop letting her bring his head to her shoulder to hide. "You'll be so strong for them, I know, but you don't have to be strong for me. I'll be here to hold you up, no matter what. I'll be here for you and your siblings and I'll help hold you three up whenever you need me to."

James tried hard, but he couldn't stop the tears and he could stop the sobs as the reality of the situation finally fell on him. He wasn't the head boy or the Gryffindor's best chaser at the moment. No, he was just a little boy that had learned his father was dying and there was nothing he could do about.

Albus walked out of the kitchen and instead moved to his parent's kitchen, letting his mom comfort his older brother while his Aunt and Uncle could only watch on silently. No, he didn't want his mother's comfort at the moment, what he wanted was his father, the man that had always been on his side no matter what. Even when he had been sorted into Slytherin his first year, his father had always had his back.

Now he wasn't sure what he would do when his father was no longer there to reassure him and to instill confidence in him at his choices or to give advice when something didn't go the way he wanted.

He'd have to figure it out because that time was coming up. He'd have to live his life without his father in it.

He entered his parent's room, taking in the sight of his father in the middle of the bed, on his back and in his comfiest and rattiest t-shirt, most likely wearing the matching ratty pajama pants. His right arm was wrapped around Lily's shoulders, her head resting on his chest and listening to his heart beat as she sobbed, holding onto that ratty t-shirt. She was curled as close to their dad as possible.

"Hey Al." His dad held his free hand out to the boy, his face pale and gaunt, so different from before they left for Hogwarts when he had fat to his cheeks and he looked so alive with bright eyes and a flush to his cheeks. Now he looked like a skeleton. "Why don't…you come…here?" He gasped out with a soft smile.

Al's eyes flooded with tears then, his entire body shaking as a sob ripped from his lips, diving forward so he could take his father's free side and curl up there. "Why?" He sobbed out as he clutched at his father's shirt, most likely wet from him and Lily both crying. Not that it mattered, not when their dad was dying and there was nothing they could do about it.

"Because my lucks run out." Was the simple answer given. That just made the two teens cry harder, both trying to clutch their father as tightly as they could to try and keep him with them. "I'm so sorry." Harry whispered to them, kissing the crowns of their heads and whispering how it would be okay, they would be okay, how sorry he was, that he didn't want to leave, and so on and so forth.

But none of them blamed him. They couldn't blame him for this, not when he did everything he could to make their lives so great and free and happy.

He was the best father they could've asked for and one they didn't want to lose.

A little over a month had passed since they had found out and Harry could easily say that it was the worst time of his life.

He hurt constantly and it was near impossible to move after the first couple weeks after the discovery. His wife had to take time off to take care of him, helping him change and shower, even having to help him with the bathroom. He eventually just told her to use that spell she had learned from a healer forever ago when he had gotten injured to the point where they just wanted him to rest in bed. He hated the feeling of suddenly feeling lighter, but it was better than struggling to the bathroom and sitting on the toilet, especially after he had almost fallen off the damned thing.

He was declining and he hated how it made him feel.

It made him feel even worse when his kids came to see him every weekend as well. They had been given special permission to visit home due to circumstances, which he had thanked McGonagall for when she had made a visit as well.

Not that she cared for it, saying it was what she could do to make things easier for the little family, for the boy that was like a son to her.

Harry could only smile at that.

At least for a while each day, he could feel like a normal person as friends and family came to see him. George brought jokes and new plans for products he was making. Charlie told stories of the dragons he took care of. Bill and Fleur came and visited, having tea while Harry just held his in his hands, not very interested in the drink. Molly and Arthur were by almost everyday to dote and mother hen him, helping Ginny out when she needed a moment to herself.

Hermione and Ron had practically moved in, doing a lot of the heavy lifting with Ginny and helping in care for Harry where needed. Neither wanted to leave their best friend alone and neither wanted to miss it when Harry told them it was time.

Which brought his thoughts back to the final guest of his home, Newt Scamander. The man had taken over his guest bedroom and was here only to help with the end of it all. The man had said he was gather the ingredients and supplies to prepare for the ritual he had created with Aberforth to lay his magic to rest once it broke from his body.

He would stop in and speak with Harry every day, checking on him and his condition, but would otherwise stay out of the way of the family. He had told Harry once, that this wasn't a time for him to intrude, this was a time for Harry's family to show their care and love for him until the very end.

"We will have to figure out where you wish to have ritual though. It'll take up a great deal of space and a place where you feel the happiest or calmest would be ideal." Scamander explained one day during their little chats. "Do you have an area in mind."

Which of course made Harry smile at the only place that had been home for him for so long. "Hogwarts." He sighed out as his eyes began to feel heavy.

"But of course, a splendid place in deed. I'll deal with getting permission then, you just rest." With that Scamander left and his wife was soon lying at his side, his arm around her shoulders, and the two napped together for the rest of the evening.

The day came and Harry wanted to laugh at the ironic twist of things.

Of course he would die the same day his parents did, the same day that had ruined his entire life, the same day he would close his eyes and never wake again.

"Now, you'll just relax right there and I'll set things up around you." Scamander said as he watched Ron and Ginny settle the ill wizard onto the little cot out in the middle of the grounds. "I'll be setting up the runes to contain his magic here, so go ahead and get him comfortable, it'll be a while."

Which meant they had time to say goodbye. If there was one thing Harry had learned over the month of dealing with Scamander, it was he was blunt and didn't really people well, much like Harry. The two could understand how neither really cared for emotions but would put up with them when it mattered.

"The kids?" Harry asked and then watched as an otter was sent off to gather the kids. It was a good thing that this was happening at Hogwarts, at least it would be easy to get his kids to him.

"They're coming." Ginny assured as she shifted a soft and warm blanket onto the pajama clothed form of her husband. He was near skeletal and the ratty things hung off of him, but she refused to change him into something else. Those were his favorites after all.

Harry smiled and nodded before turning to his two best mates, the two that had his back for what seemed forever. "Mion…Ron…" he reached his hand out, smiling as Hermione took it and Ron settled a hand on a blanket covered knee, the two kneeling at his cot. "Thank you…for being there…for me." He shook his head as the two went to speak. No, it was his time to get his words out, his time to say goodbye. "You were my family….for so long…and you continued even after….everything. I'm so happy…to have met you that…first year."

"We're happy to have met you too Harry, we wouldn't change anything in anyway." Hermione sobbed as she held his hand up to her face and rubbed her cheek against it. "They were the best years of our lives."

"Well, we could've done with less blood and possible loss of life." Ron gave with a shaky grin, ignoring the halfhearted slap from his wife. "But I honestly wouldn't change it either mate, best person to have at my side is you and Hermione."

He shook his head as tears began to fall down his face. "We'll miss ya mate."

"We'll miss you so much. But we love you even more." Hermione choked on a sob as she gripped tightly to his hand, not wanting to let go. "So so so much."

Harry gave a tired huff and a nod. "Me too. Love you guys." He agreed before his eyes moved over their shoulders where three more figures appeared, all different heights and in different colored robes, but still very recognizable. He gave Hermione's hand one more squeeze before releasing it and holding it out over her shoulder. "James…"

The two adults moved aside, allowing the oldest of the Potter children to come forward and take his father's hand. "Dad…" He gulped as he fell down onto his knees next to his dad. "You…I…." There really weren't words he could use at this point.

"You've been…so strong the entire…time." Harry stated as he gave a glance at his two younger children. All three of them had bags under their eyes, but two looked much better than their older brother, who had been taking care of them the best he could during the month. "Taking care of…Al and Lily…keeping up with….head boy duties….and helping your mother….when you're home." He gave him such a proud smile. "I'm so proud of you all."

"Thanks dad, we're…we're so proud of…of you too." James stumbled out, leaning his head onto their clasped hands, knowing these would be their last words to each other. He had to make them count. "I love you dad."

"I love…you James." He used his free hand to run over the messy raven hair, it was oily and he could see the exhaustion raining on his son's shoulders, but there was little he could do for him at this moment. He would just have to grieve after this. "So proud…so loved….thank you for being my son." He took a deep breath to finish with his oldest. "You'll be strong and go….far….I know you will. You'll…be great James."

The boy nodded his head as he buried his face in their hands. Harry nodded and went to call his next child but gasped when a head of red slammed into his side instead. Not that he minded though as he smiled and put his hand into his daughter's fire licked hair. So much different from her mothers, much more like his own mother's hair, but with bright brown eyes. "Lily…"

"You can't go yet!" Lily yelled as she pushed back to stare into his face. "You can't go until I get married! I have to have you walk me down the aisle! You have to daddy! So you can't die until long after that!" She demanded as she pulled at his shirt, tears and snot rolling down her face in desperation and sadness.

"I'm so…sorry honey." Harry ran a hand through her hair gently. "I won't…be able to….physically…be there….but I'll still…walk you down….you just won't…see me." He promised as he brought her head to him and he kissed her crown. "You'll be beauti…ful…just like your mother." He hummed as he nuzzled her head. "You'll be strong….beautiful….and fierce just like….the rest of the women in…our family. I know it."

"Don't go daddy, don't go! I love you! You can't leave us! I love you daddy! Please just stay!" She screamed before she collapsed into his side, her head laying on his chest to listen to his heart beat unsteadily in his chest. It was no longer beating on rhythm and it would stop on and off, timing perfectly with gasps of air and pain.

"Love you too…princess." He said instead of promising anything. He would be there in a sense, but more in spirit and memory. That was all he could promise his kids honestly. He had no clue what would happen after he died and he had no clue where he was going. There was nothing he could promise.

"You know it won't be the same after you're gone." Al said as he walked over to the cot, taking in the forms of his sobbing siblings over his dad's body, trying to figure out where he could fit. He decided to sit on the side of the cot next to James, who was still holding his dad's hand and the other was wrapped around a wailing Lily. "It's never going to be the same." He leaned over to set his hand on his dad's shoulder.

"Good things…never last Al." Harry stated as he looked up into matching green eyes. The only one out of the three that had inherited his eyes, his mother's eyes. "They must…all come to an end…and that's ok." He gave Lily a squeeze and James's hand a squeeze as well as he continued. "Things change…they get worse….then they get better. It's the worse…now…but even…tually….it'll get better. You'll greive…and then move forward….with that pain. It'll get easier…if not lighter….to bear." He spoke from experience. It was the story of his life honestly. It was so bad and then it got better and then worse and then better and the pain he lived with, it never went away, it just easier to deal with in the end.

Al nodded his head in understanding. "Doesn't mean we won't miss you when we're a hundred." He laid his hand from shoulder to cheek. "We love you dad, and we'll miss you." Tears flooded down the boy's cheeks as he bowed over his father with his siblings.

"Love you three…too." Harry whispered as he just soaked in the moment with his kids, tears falling down his cheeks. He didn't want to go either, but the way his body felt, the way his magic felt like it was bursting from the inside…he knew it was time.

"I'm sorry, but it's almost time." Scamander stated as he appeared next to them. "I think you three should head back up to the school, you'll not want to see this next part."

"We want to be here to the end!" Al spat as he looked up from his father to glare at the other. "We don't want to leave him."

"Daddy, please, don't make us go." Lily whined. Holding tighter to her father as hard as she could, she would not be separated easily.

It was James though that looked at their exhausted and tired father, took in what seemed to be cracks in the corner of his mouth and eyes, and made a decision. "Let's….let's go. We really shouldn't be here." He stated as he took in that proud smile his father gave him, watching as those cracks expanded in black lines, like fissures in the earth.

"Yes, yes, you must go. You won't want to remember your father like this." Scamander continued as James stood up and pushed his little brother away before slowly peeling his sister off of their father.

"I know you want to stay." Ginny stated as she appeared next to them, hooking a finger underneath Al's chin and bringing Lily to her chest. "But what's about to happen…your father will not wish for you to see. Scamander explained what is going to happen and it is not….it's not pretty you three. I don't want you to remember your father like this and neither will he." She gulped as she turned them from the cot and pushed them towards the school. "Go, up to the school. I'll come get you once this is all over." She looked to her oldest, knowing the burden she was putting on him, but having to trust that he could handle it.

He gulped and nodded his head as he pulled his two siblings behind him, ignoring the screaming and struggling they gave as they tried to turn back to their father. "I know…" He sobbed, that being what finally catches their attention from screaming again. "I want to as well….but this…this isn't easy for any of us…let alone dad."

"We just want to be there." Lily wailed as she finally latched onto her older brother's side, Albus right behind her as the three trekked up to the school.

"I know, I know…." He assured even as he made sure none of them looked back.

"Ginny." Harry sighed as his wife turned to him, falling onto the side of his cot with him. She leaned to press their lips together before she leaned back just so their eyes to meet. "I'm…." a finger covered his lips and she smiled down at him lovingly.

"This isn't your fault, there's nothing to apologize for." She stated calmly even as tears fell down her face. "You have fought against this for as long as you could, you've stayed by mine and the children's sides for as long as you could." She gave him another kiss, gentle as a breeze, before continuing. "You have survived for so long and we could ask no more of you then we already have. So…now is the time to rest, to finally relax and let us handle things."

He smiled as he lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. "So…beautiful…love." He gasped as his lungs began to fail him and his strength was finally leaving his body.

She sniffed loudly as she grabbed his hand with her own and kept it there, leaning into the touch and lending her strength the best she could in these final moments. "I love you too Harry, so know this, I promise to take care of our children. I promise to stand with Hermione and Ron in all they do. I promise I will always love you, no matter what."

Tears dripped down her face onto his, falling into the black cracks that were starting to appear as little wisps of darkness began to leak through. "Greive…" he managed, curling his fingers as a frown took over his lips. He needed to finish his goodbye to her but he was running out of time. "For…ward." That would be about as close as he could get. "Love."

Ginny gave a wobbly smile at the words, knowing exactly what he meant even now. That was why the got on so well, why they fought together so well, why they raised such grand children together. "I'll try, but it'll be a while before I even think of trying." She stated, leaning down and giving one last gentle kiss. "Harry James Potter, you'll always be the love of my life, so now it is time for you to close your eyes and rest. Leave the rest to us." She ordered gently.

"Love." He gave one more time before he obeyed and closed his eyes, his hand going limp in her hands.

"You need to move away now." Scamander stated gently as he took in the fissures of black appearing all over the man's skin. It wouldn't be long before the obscurus tried to escape now. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine, he's asleep anyways." Ginny said as she stood unsteady and made her way out of the runic circle that her husband now laid in the middle of. "Do what you need to, to make sure he's at rest." She stayed standing straight as she stood in front of Ron and Hermione, all three watching from a safe distance.

"So, Harry James Potter, I do hope this helps you rest." Scamander said as he brought his wand up and out, beginning to spell that would activate the barrier and runic magic he had set up.

The two thirds of the golden trio and the hero's wife, stood by as they watched the symbols light up like a Christmas tree, surrounding their friend in a soft warm glow. "How long do you suppose before…" Ron brought his hands up in an explosion motion and made a sound to go with.

"Ronald!" Hermione snarled as she slapped him upside the head.

"Dunno. Could be any minute, could be an hour from now." Ginny explained as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Scamander said it depends on how long the wizard or witch fights against their magic. It could take only a second or hours upon hours." She wiped her eyes as wisps of black began to come away from her husband. "He said he's never had anything shorter than half an hour though, the individual always fighting against their magic to the very end."

"Except….Harry, the one thing he always trusted to the very end, no matter what situation he was in…." Hermione stared as her friend's body began to be hidden underneath black gravely like smoke.

"He trusted his magic, he always did." Ron finished as he leaned his head against his wife's own, the two watching their long time friend and brother disappear in a cloud of darkness. "This won't last very long."

"No…" Ginny agreed as she gripped her arms tightly. "it won't."

Black smoke erupted up into the air. It was smooth and almost velvety looking to the three, taking in gentle fall of the smoke back to the ground where it began to twirl.

"Oh, that was fast." Scamander stated from his place in front of the circle, wand still lit with his magic and the magic of the circle. "I've never had it do it that fast before."

"That's because you've never dealt with Harry Potter." Ginny stated as she stepped up next to the man, Ron and Hermione on his other side. "I don't think I've ever known Harry not to defy odds."

"Though this is truly strange in deed." Scamander reminded as he held his wand and watched the smoke twirl and twist within the barrier, brushing up against it as if to see what it was holding it in place. "Most Obscurus magic is more wild, violent, and malignant than this."

"Harry was a kind soul, he never wanted to hurt anyone, especially those he loved." Hermione explained as she leaned heavily into Ron. The man tightened his arm around her waist as he grunted in agreement. "I'm not surprise this is out of the ordinary."

"I wonder how long before it settles then. Especially since it's already detracted from the host body." He tilted his head, watching with narrowed eyes as the smoke began to pull towards the middle where said host had once been. "Oh dear, I hope this wasn't the calm before the storm." He widened his stance and raised his wand a bit higher, channeling his magic to strengthen the barrier.

The four watched with wary curious eyes as the smoke pulled into the middle as much as it could before coming to a standstill. "What's it doing?" Ginny whispered, unsure of the magic that had once been her husband. Her kind and self-sacrificing husband.

"I do not know, I've never seen an obscurus act like this before, but best be prepared for anything. Be ready to run if I tell you to." Scamander pushed all he had into his barrier, ready to hold it strong against the wild magic in front of him. He would not allow it to hurt anyone on the grounds of Hogwarts.

Which, thinking about it, was probably a horrible idea to have done it here when the obscurus was such a powerful wizard to begin with. Credence had destroyed whole cities, he honestly didn't want to think about the utter ruins Hogwarts would be in if he lost control here.

He would not.

He blinked and then the entire barrier was hidden behind the mist as it had shot outwards, slamming into the barrier on all sides before falling still.

"What's it doing now?" Hermione asked quietly, grip tightening on Ron's arm as they all watched the smoke just fall to the ground.

"No clue." Which was true, he'd never seen an obscurus act like this. They always thrashed and scream and fought to destroy all around them. He'd never seen one be so tamed and relax in his life. "Maybe it's looking for a way out carefully. Not that it will but well…."

Nothing moved and no one made a sound for a very long moment.

"Well, what's this now?" He questioned as suddenly, a bright white light appeared in the middle of the barrier. "This is definitely new."

"Harry." Ginny gave a whisper as the black shroud fell to the ground, in one giant wave of a blanket movement, settling around a single bright glowing light. "That's…." She gasped as her hands flew up to her face , tears flooding even faster as she took in the figure standing in the middle of the black.

"Oh, even in the end Harry." Hermione sobbed out happily.

"Always having to be a show off." Ron grouched with his own tears dripping off his chin.

"Well, this is definitely strange." Scamander stated as he tilted his head to take in the figure, unsure of what to make of it all.

For in the middle of a sea of black was a pure white figure of a deer with large antlers that held small bulbs of energy at the tips. Green eyes stared at them as the deer finally stook a step forward.

A blast of energy hit Scamander and he lost control of the barrier in his surprise, black washing past him and the others as everything fell apart before him. He panicked and moved to reinvoke the spells but stopped as he watched the black fade docilely into the ground. "Well then." He looked over to the three and took notice how none of them had moved, all their eyes still on the now moving deer.

His eyes snapped towards it as well as it moved towards them, steps sure and steady the entire time. There was no rush and no leisure, it was just moving as if it had everything planned out already. Maybe it did too, Newt had no real clue if it did or not, he wasn't even sure what this was as it was the first time during all of his years that he had seen an obscurus do something completely different.

The deer came to a stop from them about a yard away and stood right there, staring right at the group. None of them moved for a very long moment.

"Well, mate, time to go. Go and rest." Ron stated as he straightened up and met the deer's eyes without hesitance. "You've done enough."

"Yes, go Harry, we've got everything covered here." Hermione stated next with that wobbly smile of hers. "We don't need your reckless saving people thing anymore, we can fully well do that on our own now."

Ginny chuckled as she nodded her head in agreement. "We love you Harry, but it's time for you to go. Wait for us, we'll see you soon enough love."

"It was an honor to meet you Mr. Potter, and an interesting case." Newt added as the deer's eyes turned to him. He gave a small bow to the creature, still rather unsure exactly what it was, or even if it was the wizard himself in an entirely new form. He'd have to do some more research, maybe there was something he missed.

That or it was because it was Harry Potter this happened too.

Who knew.

The deer watched them all for a long moment before slowly, its head lowered and it bent one leg and lowered itself into a bow to them. The other three returned the bow, tears dripping off of their faces as they stood once more.

Once the deer was fully erect once more, it reared back with a soundless bell before turning and running towards Hogwarts itself. "What's it doing?" Ron questioned worriedly as all adults turned to the front doors of the school.

Ginny gasped as her hands reached out towards the grand doors that were open. "The kids!" She screamed as she watched the deer belt straight for the kids.

James stood in front of his siblings as he watched the white glowing deer with blazing green eyes head straight for them, his arms spread out to protect them the best he could while facing what was coming head on.

Lily was screaming behind him while Albus held her close to his chest to help protect the youngest of the three. None of them were sure of what was about to happen.

No one expected the deer to explode into bright little bulbs of light right in front of the children.

"They're….warm." Albus whispered as one fell against his tear stained cheek, spreading along it as if a hand had caressed it.

"They're…it's like….dad's magic." James muttered as he allowed one to fall into the palm of his hand, watching as it dissipated without leaving a trace it had been there but for the warmth he felt.

"Daddy." Lily cried as she held one light in her cupped hands, watching it slowly disappear into her skin, leaving that warmth to spread, like a warm hug.

"Oh kids, I told you to stay inside." Ginny said as she gathered into her arms, ignoring the balls of lights that fell around her, knowing they would do no harm. Not to her or her kids or the rest of the family.

"We couldn't just…leave him." James muttered. He had fought to stay inside, but it wasn't much of a struggle to change his mind as he wanted to be there with his mom and dad. He wanted to be there to see his father disappear from their reach.

"I know, I know, and I'm sorry." Ginny said as she kissed his cheek before kissing the crown of Lily's head and then Albus's temple. "I'm sorry."

And that was all she could really say in the end. There was no reassuring at this point, just grief and sadness.

Harry James Potter was gone…and nothing in the world would ever make that better for the little family.

"So…how'd it go?" Aberforth cleaned his glass, making the smears much worse than they had been before as the other man slumped in his seat.

"Different. Much different to that of Clarence's or Arianna's." Newt waved it hand and the bartender slid a shot of fire whiskey over to him without comment. The younger wizard shot the liquor down before setting the shot back on the table. "I don't think we'll ever see something like that again. Much too….strange honestly."

"But you were able to help him pass, right?" He stilled remembered when his own son had passed from the parasite he hosted. It tore him apart and his poor boy had fought for days before it had finally destroyed him. Left nothing but ash behind at the end. The screams of his and Arianna's mixed in his nightmares most nights now.

"I did." Newt sighed as he ran a hand over his face. "I wish I could cure this, but I fear we may never find one. Not when it's the magic inside of a person causing the problem." He stared blankly at the bar counter for a long time. "Did you know what he was?" It would be hard for the man to not, not after having to care for two of them in his life.

Aberforth stayed silent for a moment, cleaning his dirty cup, thinking on what to say. Finally… "I had…suspicions of what my brother had done." He admitted slowly. "I had prayed to Merlin and back that I was wrong though. I could not believe my brother would sentence another to the same death as my son….but I had thought he'd not sentence a boy to walk to his death as well."

"We were both wrong, maybe naïve, about what Albus would do to win. Especially after what he had to do to win against Grindelwald." Newt admitted to the both of them. "We wanted to have faith that our friend and brother was better than those we fought."

"We were wrong." He finally put his glass down and covered his face with his hands.

"We were wrong." Newt agreed.

A.N. I made myself cry in the middle of this. I feel like shit for writing this but it was something that's been sitting on my brain for a while now and here it is! The rest of you get to suffer with me over this whole thing and I hope that you all cried because I did! Made me think of my grandpa, who raised me like his own daughter, who died back in 2009. So yeah. Either way, I hope you all will be okay and that you know you aren't alone! Someone will be here for you! Just ask and they'll be there! Stay safe and I hope you enjoyed!

I would like everyone to think about some of the authors on Fanfiction that died recently or a while ago. Some of them died in tragic accidents or illnesses and have left stories unfinished or had others finish them for them in memory. I would like everyone reading this to lower their heads, clasp their hands together and pray for those who have been lost. Allow there to be a moment of silence for wherever you, the reader, are and remember not just the writers here on this site but those who have been lost in your life or in tragic events.

Please remember that life is short and that you should love those in your life while you can and show your appreciation for water comes into your life.

Again, thanks to those who have lost their lives for spreading inspiration through their works.

I've written a story that wasn't exactly all cuddles and snuggles and some of the comments made my blood turn to ice. I worry for those who suffer from abuse of any form or depression of any form and so I decided to look for numbers to offer to those who need them. So I hope all of those who need one or more of these numbers will make use of them.

You all are loved and I pray that none of you give up on your life because of the assholes around you. Know that we are here for you and all you need do is reach out and we'll all help where we can.

Suicide: The number has been changed from the once before one and instead has been switched to a three digit number you can call or text. 9-8-8 is now the new suicide hotline number that is being released and used to connect to trained professionals. Please use the number if you are feeling like you aren't going to make it and get some help. Giving up is always an option, but that doesn't make it the best option.

Thanks to Ownerofattackcat for contacting me about this update to the suicide hotline, I appreciate any new or updated numbers for me to post for individuals to use. Please don't be afraid to give me numbers to information to use, I will gladly take it all into consideration and use as soon as I can.

Bullying: 1-800-420-1479

Self-Harm:1-800-366-8288 or text 1-800-656-4673

Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673

Lifeline: 1-800-784-8433

Greif Support: 1-650-321-3438 or 1-800-445-4808

Depression: 1-630-482-9696

Drug/Alcohol: 1-877-235-4525

Eating Disorder: 1-630-577-1330 or 1-800-931-2237

Mental Health: 1-800-442-9673 or (National Alliance on Mental Illness) 1-800-950-6264

Abuse: 1-800-799-7233

RAINN - 1-800-656-4673

RAINN's (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) hotline is for anyone who's experienced sexual abuse or assault.

When you call their main hotline, you'll be connected with someone at a local organization in your area who can provide live support and direct you to additional resources.

National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-855-812-1001

The National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline is a spinoff from the NDVH specifically for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.

You can get help over email, or talk via video call to a trained counselor.

Text Hello to 741741 if you aren't comfortable talking via phone.

Crisis Text Line fields messages about suicidal thoughts, abuse, sexual assault, depression, anxiety, bullying and more. What makes it unique is that it's entirely text-based, which makes it easy for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable or safe talking on the phone to use it.

You can text 741741 in the US or UK (686868 in Canada), or message Crisis Text Line on Facebook for help. You'll be matched with a volunteer counselor, who is supervised by a licensed, trained mental health professional.

YouthLine - Text teen2teen to 839863, or call 1-877-968-8491

YouthLine provides a safe space for children and adults ages 11 to 21, to talk through any issues they may be facing, including eating disorders, relationship or family concerns, bullying, sexual identity, depression, self-harm, anxiety and thoughts of suicide.

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline - 1-800-422-4453

For issues related to child abuse, Childhelp connects you with a professional counselors to help in a crisis, and provide information on how to get help. They offer phone support in 170 languages.

The Trevor Project - 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678

LGBTQIA+ kids and teens can reach out to The Trevor Project for support during a crisis, if they are feeling suicidal or need a safe space to talk about any issue. You can also chat via their website or by texting START to 678678.

Trans Lifeline - 1-877-565-8860

The Trans Lifeline provides support specifically for transgender and questioning callers, run trans people. They provide support during a crisis and can also offer guidance to anyone who is questioning their gender and needs support.

The hotline is available between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. PST (9 a.m. to 3 a.m. CST or 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST). But, operators are often available during off-hours, so no matter when you need to call, you should.

LGBT National Hotline - 1-888-843-4564

LGBT National Youth Talkline - 1-800-246-7743

LGBT Senior Hotline - 1-888-234-7243

Also thanks to Anake14 for giving me some more websites to add on for the suicide preventions. The websites are and . please reach out for help if you need them and don't be afraid to ask for help, we're stronger for helping each other, not for ignoring each other to drown.