Harry made his way to the headmaster's officer, and of course; it allowed him in without a problem. Harry looked around the grim office and immediately, a cabinet door opened to reveal the pensive to him. Harry went over and levitated the silver pan to the middle of the room and then walked to it before uncapping the vial with Severus's memories and pouring it in. Harry put the vial away into his jacket pocket and plunged his head into the pensive, eager to watch whatever Severus wanted him to see and understand.
~Severus's Memories~
An open field revealed two girls standing there and the smaller of the two held something in her hand as it magically turned to a flower. The older swatted it away. "You're a freak, Lily! I'm telling Mummy!" The older girl stopped when a boy emerged from the base of a willow tree and then the older child rushed away. The boy picked something up from the ground and allowed it to flap over to Lily, and she smiled. The next scene revealed Lily and the boy laying together on the ground.
"She's jealous, that she's ordinary and you're special." The boy revealed.
"Severus, that's not nice. She's still my sister and I love her." Lily replied.
The two giggled away as the scene changed to show Lily in her Hogwarts robes and being sorted into Gryffindor, and as she got to the table; she was introduced to James Potter, and on the other side of her, Sirius Black.
'You're just like your father. Lazy, arrogant…' Came Severus's voice and Harry remembered that day.
'Don't say a word against my father!' Harry had told him.
But the scene where that happened was a young James Potter running through Lily and Severus, knocking over Severus's books. The next was Lily and James older, and in love while twirling around the fountain. Harry had that picture.
"And servant and master shall be reunited once more!" That was Trelawney's prophecy in third year, when Sirius Black had broken out.
"Severus…" Voldemort had said.
Next was Severus on his knees as light blew past him. 'No, don't kill me,' Severus pleaded.
"The prophecy did not refer to a woman. It spoke of a boy, born at the end of July." Albus told Severus.
"Yes, but he thinks it's her son. He intends to hunt them down and kill them. Hide her. Hide them all. I beg you." Severus asked.
"And what will you give me in exchange, Severus?" Albus inquired.
Severus looked desperate. "Anything." He swore.
Next was images of a destroyed room.
"Harry. Harry, you're so loved. So loved. Harry, mama loves you. Dada loves you. Harry, be brave. Be strong." Lily Potter knelt before Harry's crib.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled.
Lily screamed out as she was killed.
"You said…" Severus was on the verge of tears in the next scene as Harry could see Albus against the window and Severus, the wall, a mess. "You said you would keep her safe!"
"Lily and James put their faith in the wrong person, Severus." Albus told him. "Rather like you," He added. It looked like Severus was fighting back breaking down that Lily was dead. Albus faced Severus now. "The boy survived."
"He doesn't need protection, the dark lord is gone," Severus claimed.
"The dark lord will return, and when he does, the boy will be in great danger." Albus informed. "He has her eyes." The man reminded. Severus looked at Albus quickly. "If you truly loved her-,"
Severus raised a finger, shaking almost. "No one…Can know," Severus said firmly.
"I never should have revealed the best of you, Severus." The images showed Severus standing outside the Potter's destroyed home in Godric's Hollow. "You risk your life every day to protect the boy," Albus's voice continued as the scene showed Harry's first year when he was sorted to Gryffindor.
'He possesses no measurable talent and his arrogance rivals that of even his father's and he seems to relish his fame.' Severus's voice said.
'Don't say a word against my father!' Harry told Severus.
'James Potter? Lazy, arrogant-,' Severus claimed.
'My father was a great man!' Harry yelled.
This was when they were practicing Occlumency for the first time and it didn't go so well. The image though, showed from Severus's eyes of walking past James Potter's dead body after Voldemort's attack on them.
'Your father was a swine!' Severus threw Harry back.
It changed again, to showing Albus's hand, affected by destroying the ring. "Drink this, it will contain the curse to your hand, for now," Severus told Albus. "It will spread, Albus."
"How long?" Albus asked.
"A year, maybe?" Severus replied, then he got up and prepared to leave.
"Don't ignore me, Severus," Albus stopped the potions master. "We already know that Lord Voldemort has ordered those boys to murder me. But should they fail, it should presume that the dark lord will turn to you. You must be the one to kill me, Severus. It is the only way." The image shows when Severus had found Harry below the Astronomy Tower, and had him stay silent. "Only then will the dark lord trust you completely." Albus informed.
'Avada Kedavra,' The blue blast hit Albus and sent him over the edge of the tower.
"There will come a time when Harry Potter must be told something," Albus said as the scene returned to Albus and Severus in the headmaster's office. "But you must wait until Voldemort is at his most vulnerable."
"Must be told what?" Severus asked.
"On the night that Lord Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow," The images changed to show Severus walking down the hall and into Harry's nursery, where he found Lily dead on the floor and a screaming baby Harry, though it was silent since Albus was telling the story. "And Lily Potter cast herself between them; the curse rebounded." The scene went back to the office. "When that happened, a piece of Voldemort's soul latched itself onto the only living thing it could find." The scene showed Harry again. "Harry himself." The images flashed to different parts of Harry's room. "There's a reason Harry can speak with snakes. There's a reason he can look into Lord Voldemort's mind. A part of Voldemort lives inside him." Then it went back to the office, where the realization hit Severus of what Albus was telling him. The fear washing over the usual stoic face of his.
However, he recovered. "So…When the time comes. The boy must die?" Severus asked.
"Yes," Albus nodded. "Yes, he must die and Voldemort must be the one do it."
The scene showed Severus entering Harry's room, and becoming overrun with grief to see Lily dead on the floor in front of Harry's crib. Severus hit the wall, in grief and crying. "You've kept him alive so he can die at the proper moment. You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!" Severus sounded angry.
When the scene returned to the office again, Albus stood calmly. "Don't tell me now that you've grown to care for the boy?"
Severus looked shocked at the accusation before pulling his wand and waving it with a whispered, "Expecto Patronum," then the silvery doe appeared, prancing the room before going out the window. Albus had followed it, then looked at Severus, surprised.
"Lily?" Albus asked. The scene showed Severus on the floor in Harry's room, cradling Lily's body and sobbing as Harry cried in the background. "After all this time?" Albus's voice asked.
The scene returned to them in the office as Severus looked Albus dead in the eyes. "Always."
The next scene showed when Harry was in the Forest of Dean, and had seen the silvery doe across from him before finding the sword of Gryffindor. "So when the time comes, the boy must die?"
"Yes. Yes, he must die." Albus said. "And Voldemort must do it." He repeated. "It's essential."
The last scene showed Severus looking at the man with what seemed, disgust.
~End Severus's Memories~
Harry pulled his face out of the pensive, panting as the realization hit him. Harry backed up and sat down as his thoughts consumed him. Severus only killed Albus because Albus told him to and Dumbledore was going to die anyway because of the curse. Severus had sent the sword to Harry, and used the doe to guide him there. Severus had protected him for years because of his love for his mother, and because he wanted to. Because Severus was furious with Albus having kept Harry alive all these years just for him to have to die by Voldemort's hands anyway. This was never a fight Harry was going to win. The only way to win…Was for him to die.
Well, what choice did he have? It was time to die, he supposed. That was his destiny, apparently. It wasn't great, but it was his role to play so to save everyone else; he would accept his fate and die at Voldemort's hand. Harry got up and took a breath before starting his way out of the office and down the stairs to leave the school. Of course, Ron and Hermione were waiting for him, having been on their way up.
"We thought you went to the forest already…" Ron said.
"I'm going there now." Harry continued walking.
"Are you mad?" Ron asked. "No. You can't give yourself up to him."
"Where's Draco?" Harry asked, never looking at them.
"Sitting with Severus, who is still unconscious." Hermione informed.
"I need you to do me a favor…Tell him I love him and that things had to be this way and it was all part of the plan. And then I ask you stay by his side and make sure he recovers. Be his friends…" Harry asked.
"O-Of course, but…Harry, it'll be alright. You'll duel Voldemort and win. The snake will be with him, you can kill it first and then get him. Everything will be-," Hermione stopped as Harry finally faced them and the look in his eyes said it all. "What is it, Harry. What is it you know?"
"There's a reason I can sense and hear the horcruxes. I think I've known for a while, and just didn't accept it. I think you knew too," Harry said.
Hermione cried. "I'll go with you. We both will."
"No," Harry said. "I have to do this. Kill the snake, and then it's just him. You can do this, I know you can. Tell Draco I'm sorry. And don't tell anyone the truth. Just say I went off on my own to fight him and when it's revealed I'm dead; I died fighting." He hugged Hermione and Ron again, then continued on down the stairs.
. . .
Harry silently traipsed the forest and eventually stopped to pull the snitch from his pocket. Harry saw the open at the close reappear as he held it tightly. "I'm ready to die." He said before kissed the spot again and the snitch reacted, revealing a diamond-like stone to him. Harry knew what it was. The Resurrection Stone. One of the Deathly Hallows. Of course Dumbledore would leave it for him, that's why he gave Harry the snitch in his will. Harry held the stone in hand, closing his eyes tightly for a moment. When he opened them, he saw his mother right across from him, then his father in his left. Finally, Remus and Sirius to his right. His mom reached for him
Harry walked forth to touch his mom, but it was only her spirit as his hand went right through. "You've been so brave, sweetheart."
"Why are you here?" Harry asked. "All of you?"
"We never left," His mother informed.
Harry looked at Sirius. "Do-Does it hurt? Dying?"
Sirius smiled some. "Quicker than falling asleep." He answered.
"You're nearly there, son," His father told him.
"I'm sorry, I never wanted any of you to die for me. And Remus, your son?" Harry looked to the man he called uncle.
"Others will tell him what his mother and father died for. One day, he'll understand." Remus reassured with a smile.
"You'll stay with me?" Harry asked.
"Until the end," His father smiled with a nod.
"And he won't be able to see you?" Harry questioned.
"No, we're here," Sirius pointed to Harry's heart.
"Stay close to me…?" Harry looked at his mom.
"Always," His mother assured lightly.
Harry smiled as the moment he blinked again; he was alone. He was ready. Harry continued alone to find Voldemort, who would be waiting for him. With Voldemort, the dark lord stood holding the elder wand in waiting as the hour came to a close.
"There's no sign of him, my lord," A death eater informed.
"I thought he'd come," Voldemort said, disappointed, turning around.
"For once, you thought right," Harry said, appearing from the fog.
Voldemort turned around, looking right at Harry. The others backed away and Harry could see Hagrid being held there.
"Harry? No! What are you doing here?!" Hagrid yelled.
"Ssh!" A death eater told the giant.
"Harry Potter, the boy who lived…Come to die," Voldemort said.
"Will you shut up, just once?" Harry snapped at him. "We know why I'm here, so cut to the chase. Spare me your dawdling in victory that I showed up at all before I die and let's do this." Harry told him as he tossed the wand, Pettigrew's, down and walked away from it.
The silence was deafening, all waiting for one to make a move. Bellatrix couldn't believe Harry was giving himself up like this. Did Draco know? Harry knew he'd die, right? Voldemort raised his wand at Harry.
"Avada Kedavra!" The green light of his spell was blinding and as soon as it hit Harry, he hit the ground and the force of the blast knocked everyone back. Harry laid on his side, unmoving as Bellatrix went to help Voldemort up, but he shoved her back and stood. "Is he dead?" Voldemort asked. "Go check him!" He ordered Bellatrix.
Bellatrix moved over to Harry, kneeling down next to Harry and leaning close. "Still alive, Potter?" Bellatrix saw the slightest head movement from Harry. The boy lived!? And she could use it to her advantage. Voldemort would pay for killing her little sister. "Play dead. Do not make your move now. Wait for the right moment to make it known." She stood up and looked at Voldemort with a blank face. "Dead."
"The giant carries his body, let's go pay Hogwarts a visit to inform them their savior is dead." Voldemort smirked.
"You heard him, giant." Hagrid was lead to Harry's body and lifted him up, not seeing him breathing as tears formed in his eyes.
"Let's go." Voldemort told his followers.
Behind Voldemort's lead, the group followed him to the entrance of Hogwarts.
. . .
Voldemort walked across the bridge, clearing things from his path as they walked through to the main courtyard. It was now daylight and still the 2nd of May as the first battle took place during the middle of the night starting on the 1st. People began to come out of the school, Neville being first. Ron, Hermione, and Draco weren't far behind. Soon, everyone was out and watching. Severus was awake, alive, and watching from the back and hidden as Voldemort stood before them, his followers behind and Hagrid to his right, carrying a body.
"Neville…Who is that?" Draco asked. "Who is Hagrid carrying?"
Voldemort grinned, throwing his arms up. "Harry Potter is dead!"
Draco's heart shattered. "No…" Draco tried to run to his boyfriend. "NO!" Ron and Hermione held him back.
"Enough. Stupid boy…Harry Potter is dead." His death eaters cheered. "Yes, haha. And now…It's time for you to declare yourselves. From this day forth, you put your faith in me. Come forward and join us, or die." Voldemort said.
"You said if Harry came to you, you'd leave us alone." Hermione remarked.
"I lied. Harry Potter might be dead, but you'll resist me and we can't have that." Voldemort said. Neville stepped forward, in his hand was the sorting hat. "Well, I must say…I'd hoped for better. And who might be you be, young man?"
"Neville Longbottom." Neville said.
"Well, Neville…I'm sure we can find a place for you in our ranks somewhere," Voldemort smirked.
"I'd like to say something," Neville stated.
"Well, Neville, I'm sure we'd all love to hear what you have to say." Voldemort invited.
"It doesn't matter that Harry is gone." Neville started calmly.
"Stand down, Neville," Seamus snapped.
"People die every day!" Neville said louder, looking at him. "Friends. Family. Yeah, we lost Harry today. But he's still with us, in here," He motioned to his chest, where his heart was. "So is Fred. Remus. Tonks…" He went on. "All of them. They didn't die in vain." He paused, looking back to Voldemort now. "But you will. Cause you're wrong. Harry's heart did beat for us…For all of us! It's not over." And just like that, Neville pulled out the sword of Gryffindor from the hat, tossing the hat aside.
And only a moment later, Harry threw himself out of Hagrid's arms and landed on the ground as Voldemort stared in disbelief. Draco ran towards Harry, "Harry, catch!" He tossed a wand at him; it was Voldemort's old one with the Phoenix feather, brother to his own broken one.
"Confringo!" Harry cast, aiming for Nagini and it went over her and then took out a small group of death eaters. "Surprise…" Harry smirked.
"How…You were dead!" Voldemort asked. He looked at Bellatrix. "You said he was dead!"
"I lied." Bellatrix casually walked over to Draco and Hogwarts' side. "Because you killed my sister and lied to me about it. And one from Potter's book…Everte Statum!" She shouted as the blast sent Voldemort back. "Go, Harry!" She called to him.
Voldemort shot blasts off to hit him, but missed. "I'll lure him into the castle. We have to kill the snake," Harry told Ron and Hermione.
"Harry, what the hell?! I demand an explanation!" Draco ordered.
Harry kissed him deeply. "Not the time, babe. Promise one later, though. Help Hermione and Ron, keep Severus hidden….I love you, Draco."
"I love you too, Harry," Draco replied.
Kingsley blocked a blast from Voldemort chasing them. Neville charged forth to kill Nagini, and Voldemort blasted him back.
"Let's go, Tom…Time to finish this." Harry taunted as Voldemort had Nagini come up on his shoulders and the man flew into a black cloud after Harry.
This was the final battle and everyone was ready to fight like hell.