I really can't wait to get past the next few chapters. For some reason they are like pulling teeth, very very hard work.

I have made a few little alterations to the end of the last chapter. I realised when I was checking up on what chapter I had last updated that I had uploaded the wrong version.

Chapter 32: Sixth Year: Promises

Harry sat on one of the empty beds in the Hospital Wing, Hermione on his left and Ron on his right. Merlin was sitting on the floor in the corner, one leg stretched out on the floor the other bent at the knee. His arms were wrapped around his leg and his chin was rested on his knee, Merlin's eyes were distant and his face pale and exhausted. Snape and Professor McGonagall stood on the other side of the only occupied bed in the room, looking down at the bed's inhabitant.

Dumbledore's face was as white as his beard and his breathing was slow and strained. Merlin had come and woken Harry and Ron an hour ago before hurrying off to rouse Hermione. Harry's eye's flicked to his watch, it had only been an hour, it felt more like days.

Watching the slow painful movement in Dumbledore's chest made Harry's own breath come sharp and short. The Headmaster was dying. According to Madame Pomfrey and Merlin he only had a short time left.

Snape was watching Dumbledore with an inscrutable look on his face. Harry wished he wasn't here, he hated that Snape was probably enjoying this, he hated having Snape present when the only person standing between Harry and Voldemort was dying slowly. "There has to be something we can do." Hermione whispered. This particular phrase had been repeated several times by different people in the room since their arrival.

The dark eye of the Potion's Master flicked over to Hermione. "There is nothing." He replied almost gently. Harry's eye narrowed at the tone. Snape shouldn't be upset about this.

Dumbledore stirred faintly and opened his eyes. "Severus?" He gasped out.

"Yes." Was all Snape said in reply; however he flashed Harry a fast glance and twisted his head, indicating they should all come closer. Numbness started to spread through Harry's chest as he hurried over.

Behind them Merlin stirred and got to his feet.

Dumbledore's eyes slid slowly over to Harry, he seemed to be having trouble focussing his eyes. "Harry..." Dumbledore's gaze drifted. Harry winced. "Yes Professor?" Harry prompted.

"Harry... you have to be careful... you are the only one who can defeat Voldemort." Dumbledore's eyes skimmed over the faces gathered over his bed, settling on Merlin and Snape who stood side by side at the foot of his bed. "Please...you must help them. Nothing is more important now."

"Of course." Snape replied firmly. Merlin only frowned, the agony of his inability to help obvious in his eyes.

"Remember...the most...powerful..." Dumbledore's eyes slid closed and for a moment Harry's heart seized up. Dumbledore's chest rose with a dry rattle and Hermione sobbed into her hands.

A firm hand grasped Harry's elbow and he looked up into Professor McGonagall's eyes. "Come along you three, back to bed." She said in a softer tone than Harry had ever heard her use.

Harry's eyes spun back to Merlin. "Do something." He begged. Merlin was the most powerful wizard to have ever existed, there had to be something he could do. Harry wasn't ready to face Voldemort without Dumbledore's support.

Merlin's blue eyes were tear filled. "I'm sorry Harry, I've done everything I can. The curse is too powerful." Merlin looked down at Dumbledore's unconscious form. "I'm sorry.' He whispered as McGonagall led them from the room.

Dumbledore's death was announced the next morning at breakfast. As McGonagall's words faded into the air no one spoke. The black drapes and chilling silence only made the emptiness in Harry's chest more prominent. The teachers sat arrayed at their raised table, each one dressed in sombre black.

The silence was permeated by the occasional sob and the loud trumpeting of Hagrid blowing his nose. Dumbledore's high back chair was empty and no one seemed to be able to bring themselves to look at it.

Harry chewed automatically on his toast. Merlin was seated next to the sobbing Hagrid. The sorcerer's face was pale and his eyes were unfocused.

A flurry of noise exploded above them. Every student and teacher in the Great Hall jumped. Several people gave the post owl's cold glares, as though it was the bird's fault that their silent mourning was interrupted.

Hermione peeled open the Daily Prophet and looked at the front page. She burst into sobs and Harry took the paper from her. As he stared at the photo of Dumbledore on the front page he could find nothing inside himself. There was no emotion, no tears, just the endless and terrifying realisation that he was now alone in this fight against Voldemort. Dumbledore had been his greatest ally, the only person who stood between Harry and Voldemort. Now Harry was alone and defenceless.

Harry read through the long monograph about all Dumbledore's great achievements. None of them seemed nearly as important as the one simple title that Harry had known. Headmaster.

At the end of the article was a single question that echoed through Harry's mind as everyone rose to their feet. Classes had been cancelled in honour of Dumbledore's funeral to be held tomorrow.

As Harry joined Ron and Hermione on a walk down to Hagrid's hut the question continued to go around in Harry's head.

'Is the Boy Who Lived our last hope?"

In the dim light of Dumbledore's office Severus Snape stared up at the sleeping portrait of the man who had been his redemption.

The last words the Headmaster had spoken to him echoed through his mind. It is up to you now, Harry must succeed.

That everything should come down to Potter's son grated on Severus's nerves, but he had sworn to Dumbledore that he would protect Harry. He had been protecting the boy for five years and he wouldn't let that work go to waste.

The problem now lay in that without Dumbledore, Severus would have to interact directly with Harry Potter. He knew that was going to be a problem, Severus knew that the dislike between the two of them was mutual.

Clenching his fists so hard that his nails cut into the palms of his hands Severus slumped into one of the empty chairs.

He wouldn't fail.

I wanted a bit more redemption for Snape in this story; I am hoping it works out for him.

Now, I have two more chapters ready, so I will have two more updates for you each one week apart then there will be big break again.