Note: Hey everyone, I'm actually not sure if i want to end this story here or not. I do have an idea for a next chapter/epilogue, but i feel like this might be more satisfying….let me know what you think!

"What?" Severus said, stunned. But Harry had a resolute look in his eye that Severus didn't like.

"Next week." He said thoughtfully.

"Harry-"

"I'm going to have to fight him. At least this way, i won't be surprised. And...and i think im as ready as I'm going to be."

Severus gaped at him. He should have known he was going to suggest something stupid like this.

"But that means…you'll if you win, you'll die" Harry kissed him, long and sweet. He pressed their foreheads together, somehow more intimate than kissing.

"Yeah." He said after a moment.

"You can't." Severus said, his voice tight.

"I have to." Harry said, "Maybe I'll even see Hermione…" His voice caught and he looked down, still playing with Severus's hand.

"You can't." Severus said again

"This is what i was born to do. This is why i'm alive. And i think it's time. At least...at least let's go to dumbledore. See if its a good option." He said, cautiously. Too many times had he ruined things by rash action. Severus smiled sadly. Hed finally learned. And Severus couldn't argue with that.

"Okay." He sighed.

It was decided by a committee. By the time they were done, they all had tears in their eyes, none were too proud to admit it. But it had been decided. Harry had to go.

"The plan then." Dumbledore said, looking by far the saddest Harry had ever seen him, as if some kind of light had gone out. "Severus will arrange the date for next sunday afternoon. It will be in Hogsmeade park, where Severus will "trick" Harry with a book portkey. It will be set for 12:00 sharp. This will take him to Malfoy manor. However there will be at least three other portkeys to the same location, distributed to our most trusted. These will take them to him one minute after his original port key. 12:01. We can't risk us being earlier than you, Harry. You'll have to keep him off for one minute, do you understand?"

"Hell probably spend it all talking about how great he is." Harry predicted with a smile. The other chuckled softly. They had to admire his courage. But dumbledore pressed on.

" There is only one horcrux left- nagaini. We will had a team specifically tasked with killing her. The rest will keep voldemort and his supporters off of Harry untill she is dead. And then…"

Here he stopped. He didn't know what to say.

"And then you all step aside." Harry finished for him.

The week went quickly. Too quickly. He had a lot of last things he wanted to do. Fly. Catch another snitch. Go on a real date with Severus. Get to know Luna better. But he couldn't. All he did was sleep, study and practice dueling. He even neglected Severus. He knew he was too. And he was sorry. But Severus understood.

"Its okay." He said, the thousandth time Harry apologized. They were sitting in the Black family library, taking a rare break to simply hold each other. "I want you to focus. I want you to have every chance you can."

"Oh Darling." Harry said sadly. "Your not...holding out hope that I'll survive this, are you?"

Severus looked down, guilty as charged.

"That's not.." Harry started before clearing his throat. "Everything else in it has been completely right. Its… its fact. And besides, if you've ever known anything, you know that you can't out run a prophecy"

Severus pulled him closer. Time went too fast.

The night before was like nothing Harry had ever experienced. It was half way between a party and a wake.

Of course, not many people could be there, because not many people knew. Those that did had to be on lock down for the preceding three days, so that they couldn't somehow leak the plan to the enemy.

It was Harry, obviously. Ginny, who had never returned to school either. Severus, Dumbledore, Neville, who had returned to school but came back again quickly, after accidentally cursing his own ear off. He was still getting therapy at St Mungo's. Ron was there. It was the first time he'd seen him since…. He said nothing, but hugged Harry. He didn't let go for a long time. Everyone shared stories and secrets, hugs and kisses. There was toast after toast, but of pumpkin juice only. Harry had to be in good condition tomorrow. It was like preparing for the most bleak quidditch game ever.

Eventually, it was time to go to bed. Harry had to have a good night's sleep after all. He and Severus took hands. Severus was shocked, he never expected such a public acknowledgment of their relationship...but he was pleased.

"Was it worth it?" Harry asked, as they lay in bed together one last time. "Being with me. Knowing...knowing that there will be such grief tomorrow."

"Absolutely. I wouldn't change a thing." Severus replied, not a doubt in his mind. "Can i ask…" he bit his lip "possibly the most selfish thing I've ever done...I shouldn't ask more of you." Severus started, haltingly.

"Anything."

"Can i have something of yours?"

"Of course. What do you want? You'll be getting a lot of money." Harry said.

"Oh." Severus said, shocked. "Well...thank you. But i meant… just anything of yours, really. Something that smells like you. A shirt perhaps…" And Harry gave him the one off his own back.

And they kissed, and they made love. And dawn came too soon.

Harry stood shakily. All too aware that this was the last time he'd ever be doing this. 'Now, none of that.' he told himself. 'Hold yourself together.'

And he did, admirably, apart from one time when Ginny offered him the newspaper and he said "oh, I'll read it later" And then of course realized...he'd be doing no such thing. Everyone at the table suddenly went silent, frozen in grief.

"Come on everyone, don't look like that." Harry said, his voice tight. "You'll make me feel guilty and you don't want that on my last day. Eat" And they did, though it tasted like ash.

At 11:30, Severus met him at the door. "Ready?" he asked. Harry nodded, tried to smile.

They left, hand in hand. "Let's side along appreciate." Harry said suddenly.

"Yeah? You know where it is."

"Yeah. But i want to hold you."

Severus couldn't help but smile. So they did. They landed at the edge of Hogsmeade and hogwarts, just outside of the anti apparition parameters. Harry's heart soared to see the castle, but his stomach flopped, knowing it would be the last time.

They walked hand in hand down the path. And then-

"Is that Malfoy's dad?" He asked, as a pale man dipped into a shop in front of them. Shit, they were obviously being watched. Voldemort must not trust Severus as much as he made out.

The realization that they were being watched changed everything. Suddenly, it wasn't their last, real moments together, but an act. Severus scowled and Harry squeezed his hand gently.

"Is it?" Severus asked tersey. "I doubt it. It would be remarkably stupid for him to be here." He said, loudly enough for the man to hear. "He has no reason to be after all."

Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"So where are you taking me? Where is this surprise?" He asked, getting into character. It actually felt quite nice. Like he could fool himself, even for a second at a time, that this was a real date.

"Just down here. There's a picnic." Severus said gently.

"How romantic."

"And i have a gift."

"Ah, i don't have anything for you…"

"You've given me everything i could ever have dreamed of." Severus replied softly. They saw many other quasi questionable folk on their way, there was basically a legion of death eaters accompanying Harry to this little date. Harry stopped suddenly, and kissed Severus deeply, just because he could.

They got there too soon.

"Wow." Harry said, and he meant it. It took his breath away, Severus had clearly gone all out. It was a huge field of butter cups, and there, in the middle, was a blanket, embroidered with silver and gold. It shone in the light, like an Passos if solid sun. There were a thousand white roses, their scent filling the air. A violin played itself. Dish after dish of all Harry's favorite foods was set down neatly.

"This is the most beautiful thing i've ever seen." He said, his voice clearly catching. Aware that he was still being watched he added. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be sad. It's just...hermione."

"I understand." Severus said gently.

Severus wanted to grab Harry. To run. To stop all this. And he was sorely tempted. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that the others, the army that would soon be following them, their port keys would work even if Harrys didn't. And then they'd be stuck, stuck and slaughtered. Severus wondered if that was why Dumbledore had done it.

And then it was time. 11:59 "I have a gift for you…" Severus started. He pulled out a book, wrapped in gold and bound with a beautiful green ribbon.

"Oh Severus." Harry smiled, the barest hint of mischief in his eyes. "You shouldn't have."

Slowly, he opened it.

"It was from your mother…"

"Really?" Harry asked, genuinely surprised.

Well no, but Severus couldn't very well say that in front of all these death eaters now, could he? Oh well.

It was worn and tattered, clearly old. Harry tore the wrapping off and simply held it. Waiting. And then came the chiming of the church bells, and then… a tugging sensation at his navel. He was being pulled backwards, away from the safety and beauty and into-

He landed with a crash, onto hard stone floors and the smell of something toxic. And that familiar cruel laugh.

"Potter, Potter, Potter. What a pleasure it is to have a guest. Someone get him a chair." He waved his wand and suddenly, Harry was seated in a chair, held lightly by ropes. He was surrounded by death eaters, all jostling to get a better look at him. Seated high on a throne was the dark lord himself, and around his feet, Nagini.

Harry was suddenly, strangely calm. Hed done this before, he'd fought Voldemort before loads of time. This wasn't scary. This was strangely familiar.

"Hello Tom." He said.

"My name is Voldemort, boy."

"Oh so you do want people to call you that, okay, I thought you wanted them to be too scared-"

"Silence!" Voldemort spat. "I must say Potter you are in a shockingly good mood, glad to find yourself here? Finally given up? Or do you know something we don't?"

Harry had to think fast. "Severus will come and save me!" He said, doing his best to seem wide eyes and innocent.

The whole room exploded in laughter.

"Don't you know, boy? Haven't you realized? Famous Harry Potter, thinks he can charm everyone."

Harry let his smile slip."What?" He asked innocently.

"He's been using you, potter. This whole time, told us what you were like in bed and everything. 'Good body, but he just lays there'" The room laughed again. Harry felt a bit stung. Did he really say that? It was kind of true...

"And your ridiculous performance after that granger mudblood died. Said you just laid there like a doll, too stupid to even move. Although he made good use of you then as well potter. Ever wondered why you can't remember that time? He'd been modifying your memory. He was so bored he had to find some distraction. He used you. Knocked you out and used you."

With a jolt, Harry remembered how sore he'd been some mornings.

"N-no…"

"But then, apparently you weren't much more responsive when you were awake."

Laughter, again.

"Well i let him have his fun, might as well get some use out of you. Make up for all the time he had to listen to you prattle on about your many faults i expect. Oh yes he told us all about that as well. He didn't want to do any of this you know, why would he? But i made him, that's why he refused at the start."

Harry's heart sank. Suddenly, things started to make a lot more sense…

" Just like i made him bring you here."

"No!" Harry protested, all acting now gone. He looked down at his watch 12:02. His blood froze. It was true. No help was coming. This couldn't be real. He couldn't let this happen. He had to fight. He thought of Hermione and all those he'd let down if he failed. He. Pulsing fail. He had to do it alone.

As calmly as he could, he said. "Fight me like a man then, one on one. You never have before you know"

A look of hatred crossed voldemort's face, the crowd hissed, and Harry breathed deep.

With a wave of his wand, Voldemort transfigured the entire room. Now, it was a feild, the perfect size and shape to duel on. The death eaters were behind seemingly impassable boundaries. For the first time, a true 1 on 1 fight. But it wasn't fair and Harry knew it- he had to get Nagini first. But how?

But before he could think, they were off. A burst of light missed Harry by inches, reflexively, he shot a shield out, ducking low and winding up for his neck attack. But he couldn't do anything from behind a shield, he jumped out for just a moment, shot out a hex- and got blasted by curse so bad, it sheared the flesh right off of his arm. He screamed. But his hex had landed too, Voldemort was on the ground. Harry raised his wand, this time at nagini-

And suddenly BANG, Tonks, Shacklebolt and kingsley were there. Another BANG and more people, a third and the room was almost too crowded. And finally...A small "pop" and Severus was by his side. He couldn't look at the man, even mid duel, the scariest thing he could think of in that moment was that voldemort was right, that Severus didn't love him. But Severus took his hand. And suddenly Harry felt he could do anything. "I'm sorry Harry- I'm so sorry, there was an issue with the port keys."

"It's okay." He breathed. They were together again, and suddenly he could focus.

Voldemort immediately struck a defensive pose, conjuring the greatest shield he could muster. But of course, they weren't going for him, not yet. Nagini got slammed with curses and in moments lay dead. By now the death eaters had managed to get on the field and it was a true battle.

But they stuck to the plan. They did nothing more than keep the death eaters out of Harry's way, allowing him a clear shot at Voldemort.

Harry let out a scream of fury, and packed every part of his soul, every part of his power into this one curse. There was a burst of green light.

And it was all over.