CHAPTER TEN: BRING ME TO LIFE

Harry awoke, his eyes flying wide open, his mouth forming a silent 'O' as he gasped for breath. He was dying, the pain burning through his scar made him certain that he would not live a moment longer. Deeper still the pain reached into the depths of his mind, clawing at him, until he finally released a strangled, agony-filled cry.

Just as the world around him blurred, he fell to his knees, straining to release his soul into senseless, pain-free oblivion – until suddenly, the pain was gone.

Slowly lifting his head, his eyes blinking to grasp his surroundings, he felt his mouth stretch into a smile that was not his own. He was certain that his features had never contorted into the sadistic smile it currently enjoyed, yet at the same time it felt like the most natural reaction in the world. He watched as a man shrieked and writhed in pain before him, feeling both elated and deeper within like he were going to be sick.

Harry had never felt such emptiness within him, as he did at this moment. He stared again at the man, now twitching on the ground and found that he felt neither pity nor remorse.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul, my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

"I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming this," he thought frantically to himself at the same time he felt his hand lift. Glancing down, he watched detachedly as his fingers though palely wrinkled and cold, he understood them to be his. Staring he felt his mouth move, forming words he could not understand and startled, he gasped as jets of light flew from the wand his fingers grasped. He yelled for the man before him to watch out, but his words were drowned out by the sound of maniacal laughter ringing through his ears. He stared transfixed until he realized that his mouth was thrown open wide and it was from him that the laughter was originating. "Where am I?" He thought desperately and he battled to push aside the feeling of complete satisfaction at the man dying before him.

(Wake me up) Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up) Wake me up inside
(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up) Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up) Before I come undone
(Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become

He was inside Voldemort's body. Or was it his mind? Trapped with nowhere to turn or run, Harry focused on a hissing, raspy breath echoing ever so softly in the depths of his mind.

Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life

No sooner had he realized where he was, he felt a slash at his arm and dazedly, he glanced down and saw blood pouring from his arm that was now all of a sudden his own, and no longer belonging to Voldemort. Looking up he fought to hide the shout of fright that was lodged in his throat at the sight of Voldemort, standing before him, smiling wickedly. Automatically, he delved his hand inside his robes, searching in vain for his wand and realized that it was not there.

Taking a phial from within his robes, he watched Voldemort glide forward to collect his blood still trickling, ever so steadily from his wound.

All of this time, I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything

Harry watched transfixed, as his life poured forth, willingly gathering in Voldemort's possession. Unbidden, flashes of red hair danced before his blurry eyes and he smiled as he recognized the blazing eyes dancing before him. Ginny tip-toed and danced before him, smiling and giggling, carelessly humming songs in a voice that tinkled like wind chimes in Harry's sluggish mind. Watching weakly, he reached out to touch her with his fingertips, but smiling playfully she bounded out of his reach. Closer to an abyssmal light she danced, holding her arms out to him and beckoning him to her. Summoning all his strength, Harry started forward, keeping his eyes locked on Ginny's smile. Her eyes widened and she put a finger to her lips, motioning him to silence. Then, blowing kisses, she laughed and still farther into the depths of light that must lead somewhere she skipped.

Harry began to run. She was leaving him behind. Following the wafting trail of her sweet, flowery scent, he began to laugh as he thought of catching up to her. How happy he would be and they would laugh and laugh.

He stopped short as Ginny suddenly whirled to face him, her hair fanning around her face. Her eyes were no longer joyful and laughing, but were now wide and filled with fear. Her mouth was moving, calling out to him. Without hearing her words he knew she was telling him to hurry. He must reach her now.

As if treading in thick mud, Harry tried to move his legs. Struggling he placed one foot in front of the other, propelling his body forward. But he was so tired and his arm was beginning to hurt again. Glancing down he saw his blood leaving a trail-like path behind him, clearly it would lead Voldemort to him again. Light-headed and dizzy, Harry began to lie back in invisible arms that held him. He didn't need to follow the light, he was just fine where he was, he thought.

Glancing up once more, his eyes sought out Ginny and she saw her face looming before him. Harry stared confused as tears ran down her cheeks. With all the strength he felt he had left in him, he extended a fingertip and smiling ghostlike before his eyes, Ginny reached out to touch him.

Without your thought, without your voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here, there must be something more
Bring me to life

Harry awoke, his eyes flying wide open, his mouth forming a silent 'O' …as he felt the gentle pressure of soft lips against his own. He breathed deeply as warm air filled his lungs silently ordering him to live. Slowly, blazing eyes came into focus and he became aware of silky strands tickling his cheek.

Ginny pulled away from him, her face stricken with alarm that was slowly turning to relief. Gently, she pressed her warm palm against his cheek. Her other hand, resting on his chest, pressed flat feeling the steady heartbeat coming from within.

"One moment I was watching you sleep and then the next…I thought I'd lost you," Ginny whispered, her hands now trembling as the extent of the events slowly began to dawn on her. "What happened?"

Slowly raising himself up on his elbows, Harry tenderly wiped a tear escaping from Ginny's lashes.

"You brought me back to life…"