Worse Than Death

Prologue

'I can't do it, Headmaster.'

'We are all going to kill someone. It's a part of life Harry. Though some may go through life never realizing the effects of even the smallest things they did or didn't do, every one of us will commit murder.'

'I suppose that's true.' Harry said as he considered the Headmaster's words. 'But almost none of those people have to see the face of the one who's death they will be responsible for. They don't have to be there for it. I've seen people die before, sir, but I don't know if I could live after looking in his empty eyes knowing that I took his life.'

'Harry, your emotions make you better than most men… but we need to get you to a place where you can be gone of them. If only for an hour, if only for a few minutes. We need you to be able to kill him, you are the only one that can, and if you don't… I can't even begin to speculate how many more lives would be wasted.'

'Of course you are right, sir.' Harry was finding it hard to continue this conversation, but knew that he needed to. 'But wouldn't it make me as lowly as him? We say that we need to end him because of the people he has killed and those that he will kill. I just don't see how killing him resolves this. I don't know how I could be a part of that cycle of stupid violence.'

Dumbledore stared at Harry after he finished his little speech. While he had always known Harry was not unintelligent, he had never given much thought to his insightfulness. He considered what Harry had said for a few minutes, turning it over in his mind. The young man sitting before him must have seen the debate happening behind his mentor's eyes, because after a few moments he said. 'Sir, what is it that you are deciding whether or not to tell me?'

Dumbledore was caught a bit off guard but quickly recovered. He had made up his mind.

'Harry.' He said quietly. 'Do you remember what I told Voldemort during our skirmish in the Ministry of Magic at the end of your fifth year?'

Harry's stomach gave an awful lurch. Of course he remembered, even though it was probably the one night to this point in his life that he wished to forget more than any other. 'Yes, sir...' He answered slowly. 'You told Voldemort that there are other ways of destroying a man… you told him that there are things worse than death.'

'Precisely.' Came the reply. 'And have you never wondered what I meant by that?'

'I have, sir.' Harry answered honestly. 'Are you suggesting that…' he couldn't quite phrase it, 'that I might not have to kill him after all?'

'Well…in a sense…' Dumbledore looked Harry in the eye as he said. '…Yes.'

'Teach me.' It wasn't a request that left Harry Potter's mouth.

'Very well.' Came the reply of the tired Headmaster.

Review if you think I should continue. Plus, anyone who wants to Beta for me, let me know.