Disclaimer: Harry Potter and related characters were created by JK Rowling.

A/N: Sometimes you people make me laugh. I read the reviews for the last chapter, and some of them were pretty funny. Anyway, I have about one or two chapters left. Not sure exactly. Keep in mind when you read these last few chapters that this story is an AU after fourth year. My story does not have anything to do with the prophecy or the Horcruxes. Thanks to my reviewers.


Curtains hung around one of the beds in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. Sirius tried to break through them in order to be near his godson, but Madam Pomfrey had apparently spelled them shut along with putting up Silencing Spells. Sirius was frustrated that no one would tell him what was going on. He paced quickly back and forth as he waited for Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis.

Snape was standing in the corner talking with Dumbledore. He was telling the Headmaster about everything that had going on in the past few hours. Every now and then, Snape would look over at the curtains; however, he tried to accomplish this as discreetly as possible. It wouldn't do for everyone to realize that he was actually worried about the boy.

Finally, Madam Pomfrey emerged from the curtains and allowed the three men in the Hospital Wing to scurry over to Harry's bedside. When they got there, they stopped in their tracks and stared at the body. Harry's face had paled dramatically, and his hair was lying limply against his scalp. He looked very different from the mischievous, happy boy that he normally was.

"What did you find out?"

"Why wouldn't you let us in there?"

"What's going on?"

Madam Pomfrey stopped the tirade by forcibly opening Sirius and Snape's mouths and pouring potions down their throats. They had been hurt while trying to escape Voldemort's lair, but it was nothing that was going to be life threatening. Sirius sputtered and gagged as the foul potions entered his mouth, but he choked the concoctions down when he spotted Madam Pomfrey glaring in his direction.

Tension filled the Hospital Wing as Madam Pomfrey rushed about trying to take care of her patients. She attempted to get Sirius and Snape to lie down, but they were only concerned about the person lying motionlessly on one of the beds. They refused to leave Harry's side. Madam Pomfrey eventually gave up her efforts and walked back to her office once Dumbledore gently grabbed her by the elbow and steered her away.

Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey quietly conversed in her office while Sirius and Snape remained staring down at Harry. Sirius, beginning to feel weak with fatigue and fright, flopped down in a chair that was sitting beside the bed. Snape wordlessly did the same on the other side of Harry's still form. Sirius slowly reached over and lightly picked up one of Harry's hands. Harry's body was starting to feel a little bit cold, and Sirius's eyes began to fill up with tears.

Dumbledore eventually came back over to where the two men were gathered. The Hospital Wing was empty except for them. All of the Aurors or Order members that had been hurt were being cared for at St. Mungos. Harry had been brought back to Hogwarts in order to have some privacy.

Snape looked up when Dumbledore came over to the bedside, but Sirius continued to gaze at his godson's face. All three men had solemn looks on their faces. Dumbledore glanced sadly at Harry before turning his attention to Sirius and Snape.

"Harry is not dead…" Dumbledore began to speak, but he was cut off when Sirius's head snapped up and he ran over to the Headmaster. Snape remained sitting, but he had a puzzled look on his face. Sirius had strongly grabbed the front of Dumbledore's robes in his clenched fists.

"How can you say that?" Sirius demanded. "He was hit with the Killing Curse. His hands are ice cold, and his body looks like it is deteriorating. Why are you…"

Sirius's voice trailed off when his body collapsed on the floor. Snape reluctantly came over to help Dumbledore lift him back into the chair. Madam Pomfrey, hearing the commotion, started to come back into the Hospital Wing, but she left when Dumbledore waved her off.

Once Sirius was seated, Dumbledore waited for him to calm down so that he could listen rationally to what he was being told. Dumbledore knew that the news was shocking, but Sirius needed to be calm for Harry's sake. Snape had quickly backed away once Sirius was seated, and he turned towards the Headmaster in order to hear the rest of the news.

"Sirius, I know what this looks like; however, you must believe that I am telling you the truth. Harry is not dead yet, but he will be if something does not happen soon."


Harry slowly became aware of his surroundings. He looked around, but all he was able to see was a dense gray fog. Harry strained his eyes in order to try and locate anything; however, he eventually gave up the task as being hopeless.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Harry called out.

Silence was the only response that Harry received. Harry didn't know where he was or what was going on. He hoped that he would be able to leave this creepy place soon. He didn't like being alone here. Since Harry didn't want to stay in the area any longer than necessary, he began to walk in a random direction, hoping to find his way out of the fog.

As Harry walked, the fog began to grow thinner. Harry was able to make out a shape in the distance. The shape started to become clearer and larger the more he walked. Once Harry realized that he was seeing Hogwarts, he began to run towards the building. He was ecstatic that he was finally somewhere that he recognized and loved.

Harry walked into the Entrance Hall and stopped for a second. Hogwarts seemed to be empty of people; however, Harry could feel a faint tug that was pulling him in a certain direction. He decided to follow the pull and see what he found. The pull became stronger the farther he walked, and he began to see the faint outline of a black string that was coming out of his chest and going in the same direction that he was walking. Curious, Harry continued following the string which was turning more solid each step he took.

He wasn't sure exactly where he would end up, but he knew that he had to follow the string. Harry didn't know what would be at the end of the string; however, he realized that he had to find out.

Harry's footsteps wound up taking him into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. He hesitated for a second before hissing at the sinks to open. The black string led down into the dark tunnel. As Harry followed the path of the string with his eyes, he was able to make out a green glow surrounding the string. The glow reminded Harry of the Killing Curse.

Throwing his legs over the side of the tunnel, Harry found himself sliding down under the school. His legs buckled once he landed, but he quickly righted his body and took off again. Harry continued to wander in the direction of the greenish-black string, and he soon ended up in front of the door to the Chamber of Secrets. Harry had a moment of apprehension about opening the door, but he hurriedly put it aside as he once again used Parseltongue.

Upon entering the Chamber, Harry saw that the string led towards the back of the huge room; however, the back wall was now a dark void. Harry stopped walking after he had taken a few steps into the room. He was able to feel Voldemort's emotions: anger, pain, hate. Harry couldn't tell exactly what Voldemort was thinking, but he was able to tell once the wizard had spotted his presence.

Those emotions that Voldemort had been feeling quickly intensified. Voldemort began to use all of his power to try to draw Harry farther into the room and towards the dark void. Harry found himself unconsciously taking a few steps forward.

'No. I don't want to go down there. I'm afraid of what will happen if I do. I'm pretty sure that if Voldemort manages to bring me towards him that I will die. I don't want to die. I want to see Sirius and Professor Dumbledore again,' Harry thought.

Once Harry's thoughts turned toward Sirius and the Headmaster, the pull Harry had felt wasn't as strong. Thinking about Sirius and Dumbledore caused love to blossom in his body. Thoughts of the Weasleys and Hermione soon followed. Harry realized that even Snape had popped into his head. He didn't know exactly how he felt towards the man, but he knew that he respected him and cared about him. Soon, Harry began to remember all of the people that he cared for, and he allowed those strong emotions to flow through him.

Harry could feel Voldemort's frustration at not being able to bring Harry towards him. As Harry concentrated on his feelings of love and caring, he closed his eyes. He wasn't able to see when the green glow began to move away from his body and towards the dark void at the other end of the room.

The string started to become thinner. Harry's list of friends and family grew as he thought about his parents, Remus, and his dorm mates. Harry didn't remember his parents very well, but he had heard some stories about them, and he still cared about them in a way. Voldemort's shrieking filled the room as the green glow vanished into the void, and the string began to become dimmer. Harry ignored Voldemort as he threw every ounce of his being into feeling love. As those feelings began to peak, Harry felt the string break, and Voldemort's screams were immediately silenced.


A/N: I hope that this last part hasn't confused you. Everything will be explained in the next chapter.