Farewell, my friend

The first thing he noticed was the softness of the ground against his cheek. He opened his eyes and the whiteness of the area surprised him. However, it wasn't blinding him, and if he blinked several times, it was only an attempt to notice anything. Any detail that could give him a clue about where he was. But, as he got up on his feet, he realised the place was the perfect definition of nowhere.

He started to walk randomly. The ethereal white was extending to infinity. But strangely, Harry didn't feel oppressed or anxious about the place.

So, this is what death looked like?

Suddenly he heard a painful moan coming from behind him. He turned around and noticed a bench that wasn't here a few seconds ago. He approached it cautiously. The muffled cry was coming from a pile of rags under the bench. He bent over, and as he moved his hand towards the pile, he froze. The creature squirming under the bench was by far one of the most monstruous things he had ever seen in his life. It was a bloody monster in the shape of a baby whose face was missing a nose. Instead of eyes, he had snakelike pupils which dilated under the light. Harry considered the disturbing creature. This vision was vile and horrifying but at the same time he felt a strange impulse. He wanted to help the baby. He needed to do it. But he had no idea how.

'Harry Potter…' He heard behind him.

Harry stood up and saw an elegant figure standing in the light in a black unadorned outfit. The dark-haired man was a bit taller than him, and his face had fine and aristocratic features that inspired dignity and respect. His aura, though powerful, was serene and at ease. The wizard had a closely trimmed beard and was smiling warmly in the direction of Harry.

'You don't recognize me?' Asked the wizard with twinkling eyes. His smile grew.

Harry noticed silver streaks in the man's black hair and suddenly, a memory flashed before his eyes. He had already seen this smile. He had already gazed into those sparkling eyes.

'Tom?' Asked Harry uncertain.

The newcomer nodded and his smile grew. Harry wasn't sure about what was happening. He tilted his head.

'You look…'

'Older?' Finished Tom with an amused glimmer in his eyes. 'It shouldn't surprise you. I am almost seventy years old after all.'

The creature started to whimper more vehemently, and Harry couldn't ignore it anymore.

'What is it?' Asked Harry while pointing towards the monster.

'Something beyond your help and that I don't want to help anymore,' growled Tom while staring at the bench. He then turned his gaze towards Harry and his eyes softened.

'Come with me, Harry, let us walk.'

Harry followed Tom through the white place. As soon as Tom had invited him, the monster had disappeared from his mind. It didn't matter anymore. If the place was intriguing, it was nothing compared to Tom. His step was assured. The man seemed so calm and confident. The opposite of the dark wizard he had faced a few moments ago in the glade. He couldn't hold his question anymore.

'Tom, I need to ask you. What happened to you?'

'My dear Harry,' replied Tom with a soft smile, 'I think that you and I have seen enough to agree that magic works in very mysterious ways. A more correct question would be "What unhappened to me?"'

'Are you saying that Voldemort is dead?'

'Voldemort is the entity I have become for running away from who I was.' He stopped and looked at Harry. 'You told me that I have never known love and you were right. Because of that I despised it. I knew everything. Therefore, if I didn't know love it was because it didn't exist or it was something far too weak to be of interest to me.' He took a deep breath. 'But the truth is that it is far easier to hate than to love. It is a vicious trap in which it is comfortable to fall in.'

While talking, a sad veil had fallen on his eyes. But they lit up again as soon as they crossed Harry's eyes. They walked silently through the white immensity of the place.

'Tom, what is this place?' Harry asked.

'I don't know,' replied the man. 'Where do you think we are?'

As Harry looked around again, he started to see pillars connected by arches. This structure was strangely familiar.

'I think we might be at King's Cross station,' finally said Harry.

Tom glanced around him and smiled to Harry.

'It looks like King's Cross station indeed! I think that if you wished you could even board a train.'

'And where would it go?' Asked Harry a bit bewildered.

'On,' Tom blinked.

They arrived near another bench and sat. Harry was looking straight in front of him. If a train would indeed arrive to bring him wherever he wanted, where would he go? He started to feel a bit dizzy as he realised there was no where else he wanted to be. This place was so peaceful. He knew nothing could happen to him here. And he was with Tom. The man's presence soothed him.

'Would you come with me?' Asked Harry suddenly.

'Ah my dear Harry,' replied Tom. 'I think I'd like that. But there are things I need to do first. Things I have been postponing for too long now.'

'You mean like forgiving your parents?' Asked Harry while turning his eyes towards Tom.

'Forgive them?' Repeated Tom with a light chuckle. 'No… no Harry. It is I who must ask for forgiveness.' The smile turned sad, and the veil came back. 'My mother grew in a family that despised her, and my father's feelings for her were nothing but false love. They were both victims of a centuries-old arrogance. I held them responsible for my misery, but you were right Harry. I am responsible for what I have become. I am responsible for turning my back on hope and pursuing this dark path towards vengeance.'

They let the words float in the whiteness surrounding them until silence seized them both. It wasn't one of those uncomfortable silences that weighs on those who no longer know what to say, but a gentle, restful calm. Harry had never felt so relaxed in his life. Everything was over and, more importantly, he had succeeded in freeing Tom. But as the relieving joy filled him, an uncertainty rose in his mind.

And now what?

'Are we dead?' He asked softly. His voice was calm like what he was asking was nothing but a trivial information.

'Interesting question,' answered Tom. 'As far as I am concerned, my time in the Wizarding World has come to an end.' He looked at Harry. 'But yours is not over my friend. You have a long life awaiting you.'

'What if I don't want it?'

Tom didn't answer and Harry went on.

'What if I am happy with where I am and I decide to stay. You told me I could board a train. What if I choose to do so and never go back?'

'You mean, running away?' Asked Tom cunningly.

Harry didn't answer.

'I never thought I would be the one lecturing you about this, Harry,' continued Tom. 'But you can't turn your back on life. You, of all people, know how precious it is.' He stood up and started to pace slowly. 'I might have missed the most important secret of them all, but there are so many others lingering in the Wizarding World that are yet to be discovered. There is so much you still don't know. Knowledge to discover, secrets to uncover, adventures to be lived.' He stopped and turned to face Harry. 'Don't you want to explore the world?'

'The World isn't as interesting as it used to be,' replied Harry.

'What did it used to be?'

'Innocent,' said Harry with a sad smile. 'I remember I wanted to become an Auror. Everything was so simple then. There was light, there was dark. And now, everything is much more complicated. I am done with complicated.'

'It doesn't have to be like that,' said Tom. 'Do you remember what you told me about the Prophecy? The same applies here. Change the rules that make the world complicated. Play with them until you live in the world you want to live in. Carve your own path!'

Harry sighed and looked away.

'There's more to it,' eventually said Tom. His eyes sparkled as he was understanding Harry's true reluctance. 'You hid things to someone. And you are ashamed of it because you care about this person.' He narrowed his eyes. 'You never told Dumbledore about the true reason you left Hogwarts…'

'I didn't lie to him!' Said Harry abruptly cutting Tom off.

'But you're afraid he will think so. You are afraid he will think you used him.' He waited for Harry to look at him again. 'You are afraid you lost the trust he, and everyone else, put in you.'

The boy stayed silence, but Tom didn't need his answer. He held his hand towards Harry who, after considering it for a few seconds, took it in his own and stood up.

'You're not a coward, Harry Potter,' said Tom in a grave voice. 'You are the strongest wizard I have ever met.'

'I have to go back, haven't I?'

'The choice is yours to make.' Tom lowered his eyes. Harry hadn't let go of his hand. 'But if you do, I can promise it will be worth it. Love is worth everything.'

'Wow,' said Harry with a mischievous smile. 'Hearing it from you, that's something.' He paused a few seconds. 'But you are right. I have forgiveness to ask on my own.'

Tom squeezed Harry's hand softly and nodded with the same smile. Harry released his hand and the older man nodded again towards him before walking away.

'Will you wait for me?' Asked Harry, his voice filled with hope, as Tom was fading in the distance.

"I wouldn't miss your return for anything,' said Tom with a joyful voice. 'And I don't think I will be the only one!'

Tom was now almost undistinguishable from the white mist. Before darkness seized him, he promised himself he would live his life to the fullest. He would do it for Tom and for all of those who never got this chance. He would live by the only rule that saved Tom.