Chapter Twenty-Seven; Harry's Sacrifice
"Harry, what are you doing in here?" his father asked him growing a look of concern about the look of fear and panic on his son's face.
"I just had another vision." Harry began as he slowly stood up and got to his feet. "Voldemort was telling you that before the night was over that I'd go to him. I'm a horcrux aren't I? That's why I have been having these visions ever since I was a kid." He said as Snape glanced down at the ground.
"Yes Harry, you are." He told him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked him before his father glanced back up at him as his eyes glistened with tears.
"Because I wanted to protect you. The only reason your mother escaped becoming a horcrux is because the dark lord never had intended on killing her. So after she begged for him to take her instead, the horcrux clung to your scar instead after you survived. Her love did protect you both, but it didn't stop you from becoming a horcrux." He explained as Harry nodded.
"It's alright, I understand. I have to die." He said.
"No!" Ginny and Snape shouted at exactly the same time before Ginny rushed over to him.
"Harry you can't!" she cried. "You can't just give yourself up to him!" she yelled as tears continued pouring out of her eyes and rolling down her cheeks as Harry grabbed ahold of his cross again and turned over to look at her.
"I'm sorry but I have no choice, I have to. It's the right thing to do. Besides God will protect me. Just promise me one thing. That you will never forget how much I love you." He told her with a shake of his head feeling as if he was on the verge of tears himself before he disapparated.
…
Ginny sprinted into the great hall as fast as her legs could carry her. Cowboy let out a sharp bark before Ron and Hermione quickly turned their heads over to look at her as she came to a sudden stop in front of them. "What is it? What's wrong?" Ron questioned her seeing that tear stains were marked all over her face.
"It's Harry! He's going to hand himself over to Voldemort, he's going to let him kill him!" she yelled while breaking into tears again as both of them just simply looked at her with shock and bewilderment before the doors opened again and Harry walked inside before Ginny rushed back over to him. "Listen to me Harry, you are not Jesus! Just because He willingly let Himself be killed doesn't mean that you have to too!" she hollered as Harry's heart began to break all over again seeing all of the tears in her eyes.
"Yes I do. It's the only way that Voldemort can truly be destroyed. Once I'm dead kill the snake, that's all you have to do. Then it's just him left." He explained as Hermione's eyes were suddenly flooded with tears.
"I'll go with you." She sobbed but Harry just simply shook his head.
"I'm afraid that where I go you cannot follow. Not yet anyway." He told her when she suddenly ran over to him and threw her arms around him embracing him tightly.
"I love you." She whispered while placing a quick kiss on his cheek.
"I love you too." He told her before they suddenly broke apart and Harry turned over to look at Ron who had a look of shock and disbelief on his face as his own eyes were suddenly full of tears. "Goodbye." Harry said with a slight wave as he started turning around again but this time Cowboy darted after him. Harry stopped and turned around to look at him. "No Cowboy, you have to stay here." He told him as he continued walking but Cowboy continued following him.
"No Cowboy!" Harry scolded while pointing a stern finger at him as he stopped and barked before springing forward. "I said stay!" he hollered as he stopped again and barked. "I'm sorry boy, but you can't come with me this time. You have to stay here with them." He said trying to hold back his tears as the dog barked again and started to whimper. "I love you." He told him before turning back around and leaving the room.
Cowboy continued to whimper and glanced up at Hermione while tucking his tail in-between his legs. Hermione glanced down at him and started to bend down. "C'mon Cowboy." She said with a sniff while she hoisted him up inside her arms and kissed the top of his head. "I'll take care of you, I promise." She reassured him while the dog continued to cry.
Meanwhile Harry had managed to make it into the Forbidden Forest. He had the Snitch tightly inside the palm of his hand. "I'm ready to die." He said when suddenly the Snitch opened its tiny compartment and the resurrection stone fell out inside his hand. He turned it around three times before a bunch of shadows had appeared in front of him. One of them happened to be his biological father James Potter while the others were Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, and Cedric.
"Hullo son," James began. "you're nearly there." He told him with a proud grin before he glanced over at Lupin and Tonks. He was unaware that they had died.
"Does it hurt? Dying I mean." He said before looking back over at Sirius.
"It's quicker than falling asleep." He assured him. "Besides, from the looks of it we'll soon be together before you know it." He said referring to Harry's cross that he still wore around his neck.
"So it really does exist then. Heaven." Harry said.
"Of course it exists." Sirius told him.
"I'm sorry, I still didn't want any of you to die for me. I don't think that I really deserve it." Harry said with a shake of his head.
"None of us did. But isn't it wonderful to love somebody so much to be able to lay your life down for your friends?" Sirius questioned him with a grin. "I'll see you soon Harry." He told him.
"Stay with me." Harry told him.
"We always have and we always will." James said as Harry let the stone drop out of his hand and watched them all disappear before his eyes.