A/N: Sorry that it has taken forever for me to post the next chapter. My muse was not being so kind with this story. Brilliant with the others that I have been inspired to write. Ah well, she's a feisty one. :o)
Also, totally lied. I really thought I was gonna end it in 7 chapters. I'm thinking that's just too much for one chapter. So in the end there will be 8 chapters. This one is a bit of a shorty. (Sorry.) But the last one is going to be freakishly long. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all the amazing people who have reviewed, fav'd, and alerted this story. You are wonderful.
Seriously.
~Belladonna~
Warnings: As always. I don't own the HP Universe. (I wish. gah!) JKR does. Any lines that sound familiar come from JKR.
Just a Kiss
~Previously~
"Harry. You can't go," sobbed Hermione as Harry came into view. " We'll figure something out. We will. You cant!" Tears rolled down the faces of his friends. Ron and Hermione.
They'll be fine when I'm gone. They'll have each other.
"I have to. It's always...it was meant to be this way. Me or him. If I don't... destroy the last horcrux."
"I'll kill Nagani."Hermione whispered.
With a nod, Harry curtly replied. "It's up to you."
Turning away from the two people who had anchored his life for so long, he was a sorry that it had to end like this. With the knowledge that he could never forgive them.
Harry felt a hand on his back. "Be careful mate."
"Ron." Harry nodded. "Hermonie."
With one final look back at his oldest friends, he set off to face his demise.
Chapter 7: What Once was Lost
The night air hummed against Harry's skin as he stood frozen on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. His very soul felt encased in the bitterest frost.
It's best not to think. Not to feel.
A macabre weight pressed upon him. Not a bird, not a person, not a creature stirred in the hushed darkness. It was as if the land itself was in mourning for his lost love.
Harry knew what he had to do. It was the only way. He was going to face Voldemort. He was going to die. He knew it. He was going to let himself die. Let the evil over take him.
It didn't matter. Nothing did.
He reached into his pocket for the golden snitch.
~I open at the end~
The end...when...when I'm ready to die. Well... I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm standing at the edge of the abyss and I'm going to jump.
Moving the snitch against his lips, he breathed, "I'm ready to die." The golden orb bloomed like a morbid flower, revealing a small stone.
The Resurrection stone... onyx coloured ...like Severus' eyes...
A tidal wave of grief smashed into him, breaking down the dam around his heart.
Severus.
Panicking,struggling to catch his breath, Harry collapsed to the cold, hard ground. The sadness, the horror, was overwhelming. It turned him inside out. It stabbed him. It turned his blood cold. He was numb, until he thought of him. Then the pain.
Balling his hands into fists, he pounded into the dirt, desperately trying to make the moment pass. He had to keep reminding himself, repeating the words I'll soon be with him. They'd be together and nothing will ever, ever separate us again.
"Harry..."
Harry jumped. Looking up through glassy eyes, Harry saw before him the faces of those he loved most in the world. His mother and father. Remus. Sirius. But...no Severus. Tears flowed down his face.
Not even now. The fates can't even grant me this.
"Harry...we love you so much sweetheart. You've been so very brave"
"Why are you here?"
"We never left."
Harry slowly looked at his family. He loved them. He loved them all so much, but...they weren't Severus. He couldn't believe how fast the man had consumed his heart. He wanted Severus. Here at the end, he thought he should at least have been given that.
"Does it hurt? Dying?" Harry inquired. Knowing that it didn't matter one way or the other.
Sirius, with a knowing gaze answered, "Quicker than falling asleep."
"I just wish.." Harry's voice broke.
No...it will be over soon. Don't think about it.
Taking a deep breath, Harry turned to looking into the ghostly faces. "Will you stay with me?"
"Until the end."
Without another word, Harry slipped his hand into his pocket and made his way to face the man who had brought him so much pain.
Surrounded by those who's love had meant so much, Harry stepped into the clearing, facing his life's destroyer.
"Harry Potter,"hissed a voice."The Boy-Who-Lived come to die," taunted Voldemort as he entered the clearing. "I didn't think that you were going to show. I was truly beginning to doubt that famous Gryffindor courage."
"I'm here."
"Yess...you are. Ah today is a great day. I do so enjoy watching someone's last breathe. First Severuss...now you. Yes, it is a good day."
Harry's world blurred around the edges, he was filled with a blazing hatred that was beyond comprehension. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to wrap his hands around that chalk-coloured throat and squeeze until his neck broke.
"Shut-up Tom."
"You will not call me THAT!"
"I will call you whatever I please, Tom. "
Red sparks flew from The Dark Lords' wand, sending Harry tumbling to the ground in agony. The pain was almost unbarable. Almost.
As mush as he hated the man, as much as he wanted to kill him, he was twice as ready to die. To be with Severus. That was the most unbearable pain. More unbearable than this curse. It didn't matter. He had killed his love. The man was really doing him a favor by killing him. Nothing mattered. Not even revenge.
With a wave of his wand, he ended the spell. A smug looked crossed the noiseless face. Poisonously hissing, The Dark Lord spat,"I told you. I told you not to call me that."
"I don't care what you want. You killed my Severus."
The snake-like head tilted. A amused expression pulled at the corners of the evil man's mouth.
"Ssseverus,"he hissed. "He was a loyal sservant, but he served hiss purpose."
"No. You're wrong. He wasn't loyal to you. He was mine. He was all mine."
"What doesss it matter to you? He wasss mine. My sspy. Mine. Why sshould you care what I do with what iss mine?"
"I loved him. He loved me and you killed him. He was mine. Not yours and you killed him," Harry screamed.
"You will not distract me with your liesss."
Insane with grief Harry railed at The Dark Lord."NO! He was mine. He was working against you. And he loved me. You thought you broke him, but you didn't. You didn't. He was mine. Even at the end, he was mine. Even though you're going to kill me, you won't win. You're giving me my love back. We'll be together. We'll be happy. Yes, give me my death. I welcome it!"
"SSsssilence!," screeched Voldemort. " Let us finish thisss."
Taking a final breath, he steeled himself for what was to come. It didn't matter to Harry.
He was ready to go.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Blinding green light.
Then...
He awoke.
For a moment he thought nothing had happened. He wasn't in pain. Cautiously, Harry turned his head. When nothing happened he opened his eyes. He found himself lying down on the floor in what looked like King's Cross Station. Everything was Peaceful. Still. Quiet. There was no colour. Everything was white.
Everything except the man in front of him.
"My dear boy."
There before him stood his lover. The other half of his heart. His Severus brilliantly dressed in flowing black and silver robes. He looked so much younger. He looked so handsome, like a dark prince in a fairy story; Like the strain and heartache of his life had been swept away. He was so beautiful. Harry's arms ached at the sight.
"Sev." Running he jumped into the arms of the one he loved more than life, unable to restrain himself.
"Love. Love. It's alright now. It's alright."
"Severus. You..you died and...it hurt so much. And I'm dead now too,right?"
With a patience he rarely showed in life the man replied," Yes, Harry. You died. But you have to go back."
"No! No, I can't. I can't be without you! I can't!" Almost manically staring into his lovers eyes, Harry yelled," I don't want to live without you!"
Severus gently stroked his lovers back, murmuring heartfelt endearments. It broke something within him to know that Harry was in so much pain at the thought of their separation, yet it filled his soul with joy to know that he was so well loved.
"But you must, My dear boy, you must," he spoke in hushed tones. Stopping to kiss raven coloured hair before continuing."If Dumbledore were here he would give you some vague answer about making a choice, catching a train and some such nonsense since we appear to be in King's Cross. But I'm not giving you one. You must go back. You must defeat him. You will go back."
Frantically Harry tried to make him understand. "I don't care. I don't care anymore. I only care about you. I can be with you. Please don't make me go."
Soft, warm lips pressed into each other. It was as sweet as the first time they had kissed. So full of passion, hope, and love.
Severus gently caressed Harry's face. "I wish you could stay here, with me. But this is a place of in-between. You can't stay here forever. Love, you had to die so that the piece of Voldemort that was inside of you would die. My dear boy, you were a horcrux. One he never intended to make. You had to die. You did. Now you must go back and finish him."
With eyes glistening with unshed tears, Harry buried his face into his lovers robes. They smelled of rosemary and flaxseed oil and something inherently Severus. A scent burned into his core. Timidly Harry inquired, "If I go, can I come back when it's over? Can I comeback to you?"
Sighing, wishing that Harry would go on for him, find the happiness that he so rightfully deserved after all that he had been through, Severus answered. "Yes. If that is what you truly want." Grasping the boys chin, he tilted his lovers beautiful face to meet his eyes. "But I wish you would live for me. I wish you would go and find the happiness that you deserve. I wish you would live Harry."
Cutting off Harry before he could protest, Severus continued, "I know what you are going to say. I cannot stop you. I'm here. If you choose to be with me so soon I will except it. But know that I would wait forever for you. I love you so much."
"I love you too Sev."
"I love you. I love you so much. You gave me a happiness I had never thought possible."
"Kiss me please," Harry whimpered.
Then they were together. Lips and teeth and tongue and it was beautiful. It was heaven. It was everything.
Neither wanted it to end. Both wanted to spend the rest of eternity wrapped in the other. But Severus knew Harry had to go back. With a willpower and bravery that was unmatched, he pulled away.
With a voice dripping with sorrow, Severus whispered,"Love, you have to go."
Harry could feel a pull coming from inside of his body. Almost the way a portkey felt when activated, only slower, more powerful.
"Not yet. Please, I don't want to go just yet," Harry begged.
"I know love. I know. But you have to. I'll be here. I'll be here waiting for you..."
"Severus!"
"I'll be waiting. Always..."
Harry awoke in the Headmasters office.
He was alive.
The Sumus Sempiterno spell worked. His body had been transported back to his lover's side.
Leaning over, Harry grasped Sev's cold hand and kissed each knuckle. With each kiss he made a promise. "I'll kill him. I'll kill him for you. Then I'll come back. I promise."
Gently laying the still elegant hand down, Harry stood and headed for the door.
He had promises to keep.
To Be continued...
