I own nothing you recognise, the words in italics are direct quotes from the books.

'I am not afraid, for I am with you.'

The words resonate in my head as I gaze at your coffin, a feeling of guilt welling up inside me. For all that you weren't afraid sir, I didn't do much good in the end. I couldn't even avenge you. I'm too weak. He beat me, just as Voldemort surely will whenever we next meet. I'm not strong enough to do this without you, I don't even know what I'm doing.

'It s the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.'

I remember when you said this, I thought you were mental. Now I can see just how much sense it actually makes. Facing death, again, doesn't scare me as much as what happens afterwards. Will you be there? Will you forgive me? Will Sirius? And Cedric? And the countless other's who should still be alive if only I were able to fulfill my destiny. Will I be able to repent for the loss of life I have caused in my life?

'We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.'

What if I can't live up to your expectations of me? I will try my best, you know I will, but will it ever be enough? I feel so empty, and yet so angry that you've left me alone to fight the world. Why did you have to go? I will battle on, for you, and my parent's, and I will take him down with me if I am able. I don't expect to live to see the world after him, but I will do my utmost to make you proud of me.

'It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.'

You showed me that I can be different to him, just by the choices I make, but what if I make the wrong choice? How many people will I see die because of a bad choice? You said that choices are more important than abilities, but if I don't have the ability to make a choice, what happen's then? I have so many questions to ask you, so many words I chose not to voice when I had the chance, and now I have no choice to make about them. There are so many thing's I should have told you, should have asked you. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, and now, you're not here.

'To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'

Are you enjoying your adventure Sir? Is it living up to everything you hoped it would? I hope it is, and I hope you've found happiness, wherever you are. Will we meet again? I hope so. I'd like to thank you, for never giving up on me. For always knowing what I needed when I needed it. For always being there when I needed you. I hope we meet again, so I can ask you all the questions I never had the chance to while you were alive.

Harry placed a hand on the white coffin, making a silent vow as he did so. 'I will make you proud of me, sir, I promise.'

Written for the Monthly OneShot Competition for prompt #2 Afraid.