Disclaimer: Yada yada. The puppets & stage belong to JKR…the strings are mine.

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long! I just…well…got lazy! I hope this and the Epilogue make up for it. Thank you all VERY VERY much for taking the time to read my little fanfic. I'm sorry it's short, but it just seemed better this way.

*~* The Simurgh's Nest *~*

          Warmth. All he could feel was a warmth that began in his heart and slowly spread throughout his body with every beat of his heart. And then, there was a field. It appeared suddenly, as though he had just opened his eyes. The grass was tall and tickled his knees as he walked, and there were patches of flowers dotted here and there. He took in a deep breath of air so clean and so rejuvenating it felt like he was breathing in the very source of life itself.

          "Harry!" He turned to find a babbling brook just behind him. At the bank of the brook were two people laughing together. The woman's back was to him, but he could see the fiery red hair that wrapped itself around her and shone in the sunlight as she giggled and turned to the side. It struck him suddenly that he recognized her profile from somewhere, but he couldn't quite place it. His attention was turned to the man as he threw the baby up in the air and caught him. His black hair and green eyes struck him instantly. Mom? Dad?

          "Harry," the woman said again. But she wasn't talking to him, or to the infant. She was addressing the man. "Be careful."

          "It's ok," his older self was replying. "He's fine. He's safe, I can catch, you know."

          He sat in the fields watching the two for a long time as they played and laughed with the baby. He had never felt so at peace before in his life.

          Harry, a voice broke through the vision and suddenly everything became a blur. It is time, Harry.

          He felt himself being pulled head first as though someone had done a summoning charm on it and the rest of his body were obliged to follow. Everything was a blur and he felt incredibly dizzy now. His ears pounded and his head ached, and then, there was nothing. Only blackness and tranquility.

          You have been healed.

          His eyes fluttered and he caught sight of the Simurgh watching him. He looked for the first time right into its eyes. In it he saw a pool deeper than he ever imagined possible. There was wisdom and pain, compassion and strength beyond what he thought possible.

          You had a dream, it was not a question.

          "Y-yes."

          It was pleasant? Surprisingly, this was a question.

          "Er-yes. It was very pleasant."

          The pools in the eyes softened and the Simurgh looked almost relieved. Come, you must attend to this one, she said, turning her head towards Voldemort. Harry's head suddenly cleared and he remembered why he was there. He took a minute to orient himself and realized he was in a huge nest larger in size than the Dursley's house. He didn't dare to look over the edge for he knew they were very high up. He doubted he'd even see the ground if he looked over. In the center of the nest were four enormous eggs, and laying beside them was a still very unconscious Voldemort.

          Harry crawled over to where Voldemort lay, still too dazed to trust himself to walk. "Is he…is he…?"

          He still breathes air. No, he is not dead.

          "Oh." Harry wasn't quite sure if he was disappointed or relieved. This was the man who had killed his parents. It was because of this man that his Godfather had spent thirteen lonely years in the most miserable place ever imagined. It was because of this man that so many people, like Neville Longbottom's parents, and many, many more have had their lives torn apart. And yet, Harry felt something in his heart. He couldn't quite place it--and he cursed his weakness. Surely anyone else would have used this opportunity to kill Voldemort while he was unconscious. Would have used it to rid the world of him for good. Harry just couldn't bring himself to do it.

          You debate with yourself, she said, breaking through his thoughts.

          "Yes."

          But you do not know your options.

          At this, Harry was incredibly confused. What did that mean? "What are my options?"

          You have heard of the Egg of the Simurgh, have you not?

          "Yes."

          And you know of it's powers?

          "It is poisonous."

          If Harry had known better he would have sworn he had seen confusion flash in her eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

          Let me ask you this: What do you want? Choose wisely.

          "I want…" Harry stopped. What did he want? Did he want Voldemort dead? But that didn't work last time. His body had died but his spirit, Harry shuttered at the thought, had lived on. It had possessed body after body until it could finally be restored. Did he really want to reset that wheel? Send Voldemort's shadow off to bide it's time until it was time to rise again? No. "I want him gone," he finally said, the resolution in his voice surprising himself. "I want him to be gone forever, never to rise again. Never to hurt anyone again."

          A sentiment akin to relief passed momentarily through the Simurgh's eyes and was quickly replaced with the same wise pools. You have chosen wisely, she finally said, for I cannot give you his death. Powerful though I may be, I will not kill him. I will, however, give you what you ask for.

          If Harry had thought himself confused when he dreaded to think that Voldemort was dead, it was nothing to this. "But, I don't understand."

          Place one of his hands on one of my eggs, but be careful not to touch it yourself. If you do, even I cannot help you, for there is no escape from the misery within the egg.

          Harry knelt beside Voldemort screwing up his courage. With a trembling hand, he did as he was asked and readied himself for something. Seconds passed and nothing happened. Voldemort lay motionless with his hand to the egg.

          He is strong, stronger than I would expect. She turned to Harry and looked him dead in the eyes. You must help.

          "How?"

          I sense a magic in you that you yourself are yet not aware of. You are stronger than you know. You must banish him.

          "But, but how?" He felt so very small and useless standing beside the majestic creature and he eggs.

          Concentrate on what you want.

          Harry wanted her to continue, to elaborate and explain to him just what she meant, but knew that was all the help he'd get from her. Concentrate on what you want…He closed his eyes tightly and thought of all the things that would change with Voldemort's banishment. He saw Neville reunited with his parents. He saw Sirius cleared and smiling happily. And he saw the Weasleys, all of them, sitting happily together in the living room, laughing and teasing one another. Hermione was there, holding Ron's hand. And Sirius was arguing with Bill about Quidditch while Charlie bounced a baby on his knee. Everyone was happy, everyone was free. Voldemort was gone. This was what he wanted.

          "I banish you," he said, his voice more steady than he ever would have imagined it could be. He kept his eyes closed and concentrated very hard on the image in his mind. He didn't dare break his concentration for fear of failing.

          It is done.

          His eyes flew open and what he beheld shocked him. Voldemort was gone. Literally. His body was gone and the egg he had been touching had turned a murky brown color.

          "Where is he?"

          She turned her head to the egg. He is imprisoned. He can never escape. No amount of magic will free him from the confines which hold him. There is only one way to free him.

          Harry felt the blood drain from his face. There was a way to free him. There was a chance for him to escape.

          He can only be freed by you. You who sent in into exile alone can consent to his being released.

          "There is no other way?"

          No.

          Harry felt a rush of relief. He knew that there truly was no chance for Voldemort to escape. He would sooner die than release him. Voldemort was truly gone.

          Your task is complete. I shall take you home now.

          Harry climbed up onto the Simurgh and listened as the wings resumed their rhythmic lullaby. There was still something gnawing at him. He was sure that his dream meant something, but he wasn't sure what. He knew she had the answer…but what was the question?

          You wish to ask me something?

          "Um, yes." He felt very shy now for some reason. "M-my dream. It felt so…real." He was feeling incredibly sleepy now. It took great effort not to nod off.

          It was a glimpse. Many dream when they enter my nest. The magic protecting it seems to give humans visions.

          "A glimpse? Visions of what?" His eyelids were drooping now.

          Of your future.

          They fell into silence as the beat of the wings lulled him to sleep. He did not remember anything of the trip home, and he never had a chance to thank the beautiful creature that had helped him rid his world of the evil of Lord Voldemort.