Twenty-five days had passed since Harry and Draco celebrated Draco's birthday together in Severus's office. It was a fun night all around, especially after Harry and Draco returned to their dorm and had some fun in their nightly shower by being super quiet. The two slept in their own beds and the rest of the month went as smooth as expected. Harry and Draco took their final exams for the year and now it was the 30th, the night Harry was supposed to go with Dumbledore to get the horcrux.
"I want to go with you," Draco told Harry.
"We don't know what's waiting there and guarding that horcrux, Draco. It's not safe for you to come." Harry reasoned. "Just…Stay here and keep an eye on things with Ron and Hermione. I'll be back soon, we'll destroy the thing and one stop closer to taking away Voldemort's immortality. Please, promise me you won't try to tag along?"
"I promise," Draco sighed.
"Hey…" Harry stroked Draco's cheek. "No matter what, it will be okay. You'll be safe."
"What about you?" Draco asked.
"I'm always at the forefront of danger," Harry chuckled. "And I survive."
"That doesn't put anyone at ease, Mr. Potter," Severus drawled. "Never the less, Potter does have a point, Draco. He always manages to find a way and that is something everyone knows and has hope for."
"I know…I just don't know what I'd do without him." Draco admitted.
"I feel the same." Harry replied. "And the next chance I get…I'm telling everyone who you are to me. What you mean to me." Harry said as he looked into Draco's silver eyes. Harry kissed him deeply.
"I can't wait," Draco smiled afterward.
"Now, off you go, Harry. I'm sure Albus is waiting…" Severus said.
"Yes, sir," Harry nodded.
"And Potter…" Severus stopped him. "Just…Be careful." He couldn't give him anything more than that. It was too risky and Harry needed to be unaware for what was to happen.
"Yes, Professor," Harry smiled before he left the room to meet Dumbledore.
"You're not saying something." Draco eyed his godfather.
"Some things, godson, are better left unsaid to ensure success." Severus revealed.
"What's going on, Sev?" Draco asked.
"Nothing," Severus replied calmly. "I just want you and Potter to be careful, no matter what. The final battle is coming…You both need to be ready for whatever happens and understand that this is war and in war there are always sacrifices to be made for the greater good."
"I understand, Sev," Draco responded. "I'll see you later." And then he ran off.
Severus sighed as he went back to his work, final grading of assignments.
. . .
Harry reached the astronomy tower and found Dumbledore looking out until he sensed Harry and turned with a soft smile.
"You need a shave, my friend," Albus said. Harry rubbed his face. Yeah, he did. "You know Harry…I forget sometimes how much you've grown. I still see you as the baby I left at the Dursley's…" He paused. "Forgive my mawkishness, Harry. I'm an old man."
"You look the same to me, sir," Harry replied.
"Just like you mother, uncommonly kind." Albus laughed some. The place we travel tonight is very dangerous. I promised you could accompany me, Harry and I stand by that promise. But there is one condition…" Albus stared at Harry. "You must do everything I say. Every command I give, you obey without question. You understand what I'm asking. Should I tell you to hide, you hide. Should I tell you to run, you run. Should I tell you to abandon me and save yourself, you must do so. Your word, Harry."
Harry swallowed. "My word." Harry agreed.
"Take my arm," Albus held it out.
"But sir, I thought you couldn't apparate inside Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Well, being me has its privileges." Albus said. Harry took the man's arm and they were gone with a crack.
. . .
The place they ended up was on a rock, in the middle of a raging sea and facing a large rock area ahead with a cave opening. Albus took Harry inside the cave as they moved to the area Albus was leading them.
"This is the place. Oh yes. This place has known magic…" Albus stated in amazement almost. He turned, pulling a small blade and cutting his hand.
"Sir!" Harry gasped.
"Payment must be made. Payment to weaken any intruders…" Albus informed.
"You should have let me," Harry told the man.
"Oh, no, Harry. Your blood is much more precious than mine," Albus waved his hand over the area as it began to react and move apart to allow them inside.
Harry continued in with Albus as they had to go across some kind of lake in a boat and eventually arrive at a place in the middle with a pedestal. Harry and Albus got onto the little island as Albus inspected closely. "It must be drunk." He said without fail as Harry listened. "Harry, do you remember the condition on which I brought you? This potion could paralyze me. Cause me so much pain, I beg for relief. It is your job to ensure I drink it all until it's gone. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded to him, understanding he gave his word to Albus to do whatever he said. "Yes, sir." Harry replied.
"Good," Albus took the offered cup and got the first sip.
Harry watched as Albus collapsed, obviously in pain and looking scared. Harry, hating the promise he made, grabbed the cup and brought another one to Albus to drink down. This went back and forth until there was only one sip left. Harry continued to encourage Albus that he said to do this and it was almost over. When Harry brought the last one, Albus refused.
"Please, sir. Please? Just one more. I promise, the last one…Please?" Harry pleaded with his headmaster.
Reluctantly, Albus opened his mouth and let Harry pour the potion in and he swallowed. The man stayed silent, smacking his lips as if he were parched for thirst. "Water…Water…"
"Water," Harry smiled. Harry rushed back to the pedestal and saw the necklace laying at the bottom; he smiled and grabbed it. "We did it, sir. Just look…"
"Harry, water…" Albus said again.
Harry used a spell to fill the basin and try and pull the water out with the cup, only it wouldn't raise. Harry tried and tried, but it wouldn't work. Finally, Harry looked to the water below them in the lake. Harry made his way down and cast Lumos to see; he felt uneasy but couldn't let Albus down. Harry went to scoop the water and immediately, his hand was grabbed. Harry pulled back and it became a fight to keep the creatures he saw back. Eventually, Harry got pulled into the water itself and struggled to get back up. He was being pulled down and drowning, but then…A blast of underwater fire struck the creature and many more came beyond that. Harry got himself up and broke the surface. Albus was up and using his wand to manipulate fire to scare the creatures off.
"Harry," Albus called to him.
Harry got next to his headmaster quickly and they got back to the boat to exit the cave and leave the infernal place for good. Harry had never been more grateful.
. . .
"We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey, sir." Harry said as he was helping Albus stay up. They eventually stopped and Albus sat down.
"No…No," Albus told Harry. "Get me Severus. I need Severus. Go, speak to no one else." Albus told him.
Harry nodded, preparing to leave when a sound was heard and Harry looked back at his headmaster. "Sir?"
"Get below Harry. And stay there, hide. Say nothing." Albus commanded. "Do as I say. You gave me your word. Trust me, Harry…"
Damn his word to hell right now, but he would never go back on it. Harry nodded as he hid below the tower as told and found a spot to watch from underneath. Harry watched as Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle appeared and Harry knew this wasn't anything good.
"Good evening, boys. What brings you out on this fine summer night?" Albus asked calmly.
The boys had their wands drawn on Albus. "Who were you talking to. I heard voices." Theodore ordered.
"I often talk to myself." Albus said. "I find it useful. Have you ever talked to yourselves?" No answer. "Boys, come now…You're not assassins."
"You don't know us." Goyle sneered.
"We've done things that would shock you." Theodore added.
"Boys…" Albus sighed. "Cursed necklaces, ganging up on Harry Potter, even poisoned mead. Forgive me if I find those weak mentions to your…Actions." He added.
"We were chosen!" The three said together, revealing the dark marks on their arms. Harry was scared; this was bad.
"Very well," Albus raised his hands. "I shall make it easy for you." He was giving up? Oh, Harry had every mind to go up there right now and deal with them himself. Merlin knew he could after a month ago. But he promised Albus he'd stay put, and Albus probably had a plan.
The sounds of more footsteps as Harry laid eyes on Bellatrix Lestrange and other Death Eaters joining the boys. "Expelliarmus!" Bellatrix cast, throwing Dumbledore's wand from his hand now.
"Evening, Bellatrix." Albus greeted.
Oh, Harry really hated that he gave his word now. The person who killed his godfather was present and Harry, for once, wanted revenge.
"How did you ever come inside?" Albus asked.
"We mended the vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement…" Theodore said.
"Well done, boys. The dark lord will be so pleased," Bellatrix stated.
"Boys, there's no need to do this. Years ago I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. The same goes for you all," Albus attempted to reason. "Do not go down the same path as he. There is still time to change…I can help you."
"We don't want your help," Crabbe remarked.
"Don't you understand, old man?" Goyle said now. "We have to do this."
"We have to kill you." Theodore told Albus. "Or he's going to kill all of us."
"Love to keep talking, but we're on a bit of a schedule," Bellatrix said. "Do it, boys."
They hesitated, none made a move. "They don't have the stomach for it." A death eater sighed.
Harry was getting ready when he sensed someone behind him and looked to see Severus. Thank Merlin he'd come; he obviously knew something was up and he was going to help. Severus put a finger to his lips, giving Harry the signal to be quiet and Harry nodded as Severus gave the boy an odd stare. Harry couldn't make out why Severus looked…Sad. Severus moved away to join the rest on the main level as Harry watched.
"The dark lord was clear, one of the boys is to do it." Bellatrix reminded the others.
Severus wore an emotionless face as he stepped forward and the boys backed up. "No." Severus said as the boys stepped to the side.
Harry watched as Albus and Severus looked at one another. "Severus…" Albus said gently. "Please," Harry didn't understand. Wasn't…Wasn't Severus going to help Dumbledore.
And then it happened, Harry saw Severus raise his wand. "Avada Kedavra!" Severus said so calmly, sending a blast at Albus. Harry felt his heart stop, and his breathing got caught in his throat. Severus just…Killed Albus Dumbledore. Harry saw Albus go over the railing over the tower and from his sight. Albus was dead. Albus was…Gone. Harry watched as the death eaters grinned and left, going down the halls. Harry chased them down. Bellatrix destroyed the great hall and they went outside towards Hagrid's hut. Harry continued forward, moving on rage and confusion.
"Snape!" Harry bellowed angrily. "He trusted you!"
Bellatrix caught Hagrid's hut on fire as Harry raised his wand to Severus. "Go," He told the younger boys.
"Fight back. You coward!" Harry yelled at him. Severus stared a moment. "Stup-," Severus blocked it and fired back.
Bellatrix shot a blast that knocked Harry down on his back, groaning. "No! He belongs to the dark lord." Severus stated. Bellatrix wandered off as Severus looked at Harry, then went to walk away.
Harry got up. "Everte-," Severus threw Harry back again before he could finish the spell. Severus approached Harry, kneeling down.
"He trusted you…" Harry whispered. "I trusted you…Draco…trusted you." He felt weak.
Severus leaned closer to Harry. "I did what needed to be done. One day…You will understand. You both will…" Severus paused as he stood up and Harry looked at him. "Until then…I would advise only this, use the time you have well. It won't be long until the final battle begins."
Harry laid there, weak and couldn't believe that Severus killed Albus and now this? What did he mean? Was…Severus trying to help him? No, he wouldn't. Not after what he did to Albus. Still, at the back of Harry's mind; it nagged him as to why Severus would say something so…Specific. Use the time well? Harry looked to the sky and saw the dark mark appear. Severus and the others had gone, Harry forced himself to roll to his feet and stand. Harry turned back to the trees and went through. By now…Everyone in the school would know that Albus was dead.
. . .
As harry expected, he trudged to the base of the tower and towards the group of gathered students and staff. People saw Harry and began to move aside to let him through to the front.
"Potter," Minerva said softly.
Harry didn't speak he just moved head and knelt before Albus's body, he reached his hand out and closed the man's eyes then put a hand on his chest, closing his eyes as the tears formed and began to slip and he bowed his head. Draco looked around, none of Harry's friends were moving to comfort him. Draco stepped forward and knelt next to Harry, bringing the male into his arms and Harry cried on his shoulder silently.
Minerva silently lifted her wand, raising it to the sky as a light formed at the tip. Everyone seemed to get the idea, a final goodbye to their headmaster. Wands raised, lights beaming bright; the dark mark in the sky was taken over by light and soon faded to nothing. Draco continued to hold Harry, who sobbed against him. Albus was dead and he'd done nothing. Who knew what happened? Did anyone know Severus was the one who killed Albus? It was going to break Draco's heart to reveal such a truth, but Draco deserved to know. Harry would tell him tomorrow. Tonight was to mourn the loss of a great man; Albus Dumbledore.
. . .
It was a long night. After the small ceremony, everyone dragged along to their bed. The next day, Harry had to tell Minerva what happened as she was now Headmistress. It was hard and she was floored by the information that Severus had performed the awful act of killed Albus. Beyond that, Harry had to tell Draco the truth about his godfather and as Harry expected; Draco felt into a shocked panic and then it settled with sadness. Harry held him, just as Draco had done the night before when Harry cried for Albus's death. It was now three days later that the funeral was held and Harry found himself on the top of the Astronomy Tower, standing in the spot where Albus had taken his last breath. The whole place was a memory to him. A bad one. Harry dealt with nightmares and Draco tried to help by holding Harry close; it worked until Harry fell asleep. Harry sighed out, a decision having been made and he wasn't sure if it was because of what Severus told him, which Harry had revealed to no one else because he didn't understand. Use the time well? Harry was going to finish the mission he and Dumbledore started and kill Voldemort as soon as he had the chance.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice came through. Harry looked over his shoulder to see her and Ron, Draco was there too, but Harry expected such. The surprise was Blaise.
"You alright, mate? I know it's not the best to ask, but…We're worried about you." He admitted right off.
"Just…Going over that night. Wondering if I could have done something differently. Maybe I could have…If I hadn't promised Dumbledore I'd do exactly as he said, no matter what. I gave my word that if he told me abandon him and save myself, I'd do it. To hide, or to run; I had to obey every command without question."
"Was there any chance that things might have been different?" Blaise asked.
"I don't think Nott, Goyle, and Crabbe wanted to do what they were gonna do. Voldemort told them too, I heard Bellatrix tell the other death eaters that the dark lord said it had to be one of them, or all…" Harry sighed, leaning on the railing to look out. It was the last place he ever stood with Albus; it was both sad and comforting at the same time. "They mentioned that they had to do things, or Voldemort would kill them. They were lowering their wands…And then Snape showed up. He found me first, put a finger to his lips to have me stay quiet. I thought he was going to help. I thought…" Harry clenched his fist. "But he didn't. He looked Dumbledore right in the eyes when the man begged him with a please, and cast that bloody curse that killed him."
"I just…Can't believe Sev would do that." Draco looked down.
"Sev?" Ron asked.
"Short for Severus," Draco said softly. "He was my godfather, took me in when my parents were killed. He was always there for me, even as a young boy…I was one of the only people who could call him Sev. Definitely the only one to call him uncle…Damn it, Sev…What were you thinking?" He looked down.
"What's that you've got there, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Horcrux, or…We thought it was. It's what Dumbledore and I were getting three days ago, what we left the school for and came back to what happened…" Harry looked at the necklace in his hand. "It's fake," He handed it to Hermione. "Look inside."
Harry had checked the locket the first night after Albus died; he'd been ready to destroy the bloody thing right away. And found that it was a fake, with a note inside. Hermione opened the locket and found the small, folded paper. "To the dark lord, I know I will be dead long before you read this. But I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I've stolen the real horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I've faced death in the hope that when you meet your match, you'll be mortal once more. R.A.B." Hermione read off. "R.A.B?"
Harry shook his head and shrugged. "I dunno." He replied.
"Sounds like a death eater from the inner circle, the ones closest to Voldemort who would know his secrets, who went rogue." Blaise informed.
"Likely, but doesn't help us realize who or where the real one is." Ron stated.
"Whoever they are, they have the real horcrux." Harry said. "Everything was a waste." He looked out. "I'm not coming back, you guys." He informed as they all looked at him. "I've got to finish whatever Dumbledore and I started. I have to find the horcruxes and destroy them before the final battle takes place, or Voldemort cannot be defeated." He said calmly, but sure of his decision. "I don't know where it's going to lead me, but I'll keep you all posted the best I can."
"I've always admired your courage, Harry." Hermione sighed with a smile.
"But sometimes you can be really thick," Ron added. "You don't really think we're letting you go alone, do you?"
"You need us, Harry," Hermione told him.
"We're all going." Draco told him.
"Absolutely not." Harry refused. "We cannot all go, it's dangerous and the bigger the group, the easier it'll be for us to be captured."
"I'm going with you, Harry." Draco persisted.
"You are not." Harry told him firmly. "I need to ask a bigger favor from you, Draco. And you as well, Blaise…"
"What?" Blaise and Draco asked.
"I need you to stay back here for next year and watch things. Watch anything and everything you can, find a way to let me know if there's word on the final battle taking place. So I know how much time there is left to complete the mission." Harry said.
"But-," Draco started.
"Please?" Harry looked at him, pleadingly. "No one else can fulfill this part. I need your self-preservation, ambition, and cunning Slytherin selves to do this for me. Please?"
Blaise and Draco looked at one another before agreeing together. "We'll do what we can to help from this side." Blaise assured.
"Thank you." Harry smiled.
The group stayed up there, admiring the beauty of how it all looked. When the battle began, all this would fade away. And so it was decided that Harry, Ron, and Hermione would set out to find the Horcruxes, leaving Draco and Blaise behind to be their insider eyes. Harry looked out, assured of his choice. He was indeed going to use the time wisely and finish this mission.
