RIP

"SIRIUS!"

Harry ripped himself from Lupin's grasp and ran toward Bellatrix, ignoring Lupin's shouts behind him. "Harry, NO!"

"SHE KILLED SIRIUS!" bellowed Harry. "SHE KILLED HIM — I'LL KILL HER!"

And before anyone could stop him, he followed Bellatrix's swishing robes and into the room of brains. Soon he had her cornered, and Bellatrix's white face contorted with a ghastly smile. "Well, stupid boy?" she panted, her manic eyes bugging out grotesquely. "How do you feel—"

But she didn't have time to finish her sentence before Harry lunged at her with all the force of his skinny body. He had completely forgotten about using magic. He could only feel the rage and hatred pumping through his veins as animal barbarism consumed him. His consciousness was propelled by one thing, and one thing only — he had to kill her. He had to kill her, after she had killed Sirius. And Harry was so consumed by his wild vengeance that he did not notice the flash of green light flashing by him — and hitting him square in the chest.

Now he could no longer hear Bellatrix's scream of fury or the others' pounding footsteps as they raced into the room — for he was lying on the ground, dead.

"HARRY!" There was a racing of footsteps and then Lupin came hurtling into the room. His eyes landed on Harry's prone body and his eyes widened with horror. "HARRY, NO!"

Lupin rushed toward Harry and crouched beside his body, the living's face white with horror. "He's dead!" Bellatrix shouted, her entire body shaking. "I killed him — he lunged at me — I reacted on reflex… oh no, the Dark Lord won't be happy—"

There were more footsteps and then Dumbledore had come into the room, tailed closely by Neville. "Harry!" Neville shouted, his nose still bleeding profusely. He started to run toward him but Dumbledore's hand held him back.

"Neville, you and the others, stay back," Dumbledore said firmly. He had his wand up and strode toward Bellatrix, who was still shaking.

"Albus, she used… Harry…" Lupin said faintly, his voice tremulous as he stooped beside Harry.

At Dumbledore's entrance, Bellatrix's depthless black eyes reanimated with cold, fresh fury. She locked them onto Dumbledore's icy blue ones and raised her wand, but Dumbledore was faster. He whipped out his wand and muttered some strange incantation under his breath. Rainbow light flew from his wand and knocked Bellatrix backwards. There was a muffled scream, and she disappeared in a plume of rainbow smoke.

"Albus!" Lupin breathed, still staring at the spot Bellatrix stood just a second earlier, his eyes wide with incredulous shock. "What… what was…?"

"It's called the Pride Spell," Dumbledore murmured, his eyes shining with emotion. "One of my favorites. Remus, what about Harry?"

"Albus," Lupin said again, swallowing hard. "Harry, he… he's…" He took several convulsive breaths, but he just couldn't say it. He didn't want to give words to the awful ache in his chest, didn't want to admit the horrible truth and cross the boundary of no return.

Dumbledore must have sensed what Lupin couldn't say, for his face suddenly turned very white and still, graver than anyone had ever seen him. In two strides he reached Harry and crouched beside Lupin. Lupin stood up and closed his eyes, unable to watch.

Harry's eyes were closed and his face was still and tranquil, almost as if he was just sleeping. After several moments, however, Dumbledore's face darkened as he held Harry's wrist. "No… I don't believe it," the former headmaster whispered, and his blue eyes suddenly turned gray and misty. "Harry… no…"

"H-Harry?" Neville said shakily, approaching the two of them.

"Neville, stay back," Dumbledore ordered, but his voice trembled as well.

"No!" Neville cried, and now he was shaking violently as tears and blood rolled down his face. "I've got to see him! Harry's my friend! He taught me so much this year, he's the reason why I was brave enough to take on those Death Eaters — the people who ruined my parents. I have to see him, I have to see if he's alive!"

And so Neville crouched beside Dumbledore, and the plump-faced boy began shaking Harry. "Harry, please! It's me, Neville! Bellatrix is gone! C'mon, wake up! I need you to wake up, Dumbledore's here, and Professor Lupin—"

"Neville," Dumbledore said gently, placing a hand on Neville's shoulder. The man held the boy's tearful eyes, and Dumbledore's voice cracked. "He… Harry's gone. I'm so sorry."

"No!" Neville exclaimed, and began to sob harder still. "He can't be! No, Harry, wake up!"

The door to the brain room suddenly swung open again. In came the other members of the Order and the rest of the students. They were all a mess — their clothes were ripped and stained with blood, and their faces were all red and sweaty with shock and exhaustion.

"Dumbledore!" Kingsley's deep, commanding voice rang through the room as he strode to the wizened man. "Good news, we picked off the Death Eaters, and they're gone now. We must hurry now, it won't be long before they report to their — Dumbledore, Remus, what's wrong?" Kingsley broke off as he noticed the pair's frozen, resigned expressions. His eyes suddenly drifted to the dark mound lying on the ground, and the look of triumph on his face was quickly replaced by horrified comprehension. "No… no… Harry!"

Kingsley ran towards Harry. The members of Kingsley's party screamed as well. "Oh my God, Harry!" Hermione shrieked. "No, he can't be — he has to be — he's probably just stunned! Dumbledore's here, he'll help—"

"No! He can't be dead!" Ginny shouted, jostling past Hermione and hurtling toward Harry's body. "Harry's too strong to die! He'll live, he must, he must!" She bellowed these words with the utmost conviction, however, the unwilling terror in her eyes betrayed her.

Luna trailed behind them, her eyes bulging out of her head as she stared at Harry. "Don't worry, everyone," she murmured. "Harry's just in a temporary coma. He just needs a sprinkling dose of a crampir from a mature traxir and he'll be good as new."

Meanwhile, a delirious Ron sat on the ground, his broken ankle splayed out in front of him. "Hee hee hee hee hee hee, why is everyone crying?" the redhead giggled vaguely to himself as his eyes skirted around the room. He caught sight of Dumbledore's back crouched in front of Harry. "Dumbledore's here? And Harry, too? Oh, hey, mate! What's up? Why're you sleeping? Fighting all those Death Eaters must've been a lotta work… good job, mate!"

He started to crawl towards Harry and soon reached Dumbledore's backside. "Hey… hey, Professor." Ron tugged on the back of Dumbledore's robes, and the old wizard looked over his shoulder. "Why's Harry sleeping, Professor? He must be really tired, huh?"

"Ron," Dumbledore said in a hollow voice. "Ron… I'm so sorry. Harry isn't sleeping. He's dead." And his eyes misted over again.

"Dead?" Ron repeated faintly. "Dead… huh… you're joking, ya old nutter. Harry's not dead. He promised me… he'd take me playing Quidditch after this. He's just sleeping. I'm tired too now. Wake me up when he's awake too, mmkay?" And then Ron placed his cheek to the ground and closed his eyes.

"Remus, check on Ron," Dumbledore whispered as Remus stood to the side with the other Order members, white-faced and silent. "I think he's in shock from his injury and, well — Harry. Can you make sure he's all right?"

Lupin went over to Ron and began to prop him up against his knee. "Come here, Ron," he whispered, gently shaking his shoulders. Ron cracked open his eyes, his blue eyes bleary and dull. "How are you feeling Ron? How's your ankle?"

"My ankle?" Ron repeated in a mumble. "It feels okay, I guess… I can't even feel it, actually." He giggled.

"We'll get you to Hogwarts before you know it," Remus said shakily, "and Madam Pomfrey can treat your injuries. As well as the other Order members, and… and…" Remus's voice suddenly cracked and he was unable to go on. As he stared into the face of Harry's best friend, he felt the dam inside him crack. "Oh, Ron," he whispered as the emotions came pouring from his chest. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Ron. This is all my fault. I should have stopped Harry sooner. If only I had run after him, blocked Bellatrix's spell… he would have still been here… I'm so sorry, Harry…"

"Pro…fessor?" Ron slurred under his breath.

"I'm so sorry," Remus could only say, over and over. Tears welled in his eyes, and he had to press his hand to his eyes to stop the flow of shame. "I'm so sorry, Ron… I know how dear Harry was to you. And I lost my best friend too, today. Two precious lives lost. All because of me. It's always because of me." He laughed bitterly. "Oh, God, help us… what I would do to be in their place instead… you don't even know."

Ron stared blankly at Lupin's agonized face. Even in the boy's stupor, he knew something must have been terribly wrong. But his fuddled brain just couldn't piece it together. He was too tired. He just wanted to go home and get some sleep, and play some Quidditch with Harry when he woke up. And with a serene smile, and thoughts of his green-eyed best friend, Ron rested his cheek against Remus' knee and dove into the blissful world of dreams.