Disclaimer
I don't own Harry Potter, any of the characters, or parts of the HP Universe. All associated elements belong to JKR. All Beta work is done by Silver1119
CHAPTER EIGHT: Return to War
Harry walked out the main doors, avoiding the grisly remains left behind after the Creevey brothers were moved. He skirted along the walls of the castle, making sure to stay as out of sight as possible, heading towards Hagrid's hut. His sojourn was slow since most of the defenders were moving any of the wounded they could find. Finally he reached Hagrids home, or more aptly, the charred ruins of the hut. He instantly thought of his gentle giant of a friend and the cowardly dog. Deciding to take the time, Harry searched all around. Inside he found the crispy body of Fang, but no Hagrid.
Slowly walking a spiral, Harry widened his search for Hagrid, only to find his crossbow, still grasped in one of his giant hands. Fear coursed through his system as he frantically searched, but found no other signs of Hagrid. After searching within thirty yards of the ruins, he finally decided he wouldn't find any other sign of the Groundskeeper. Slowly, unwilling, but determined, Harry turned towards the Forest and started walking into the oppressive darkness. As he went deeper into the foreboding foliage, Harry realized he heard nothing moving. He warily made his way towards Aragogs Hollow, expecting an attack at any moment. Taking in his surroundings he realized l the webs had been burned away.
He stopped fifteen feet from the entrance to the hollow, pulling out the Resurrection Stone. He truly debated using it, but he remembered he would be facing Voldemort within minutes. He slipped the Stone back into his pocket with his tightly folded invisibility cloak. After taking a few deep, fortifying breaths, Harry walked the remaining distance and entered the clearing. Within seconds Death Eaters closed ranks around him, while his focus was on three things. On the right side of the clearing, Hagrid was tied down, a bloody stump where his left arm used to be. Voldemort standing calmly at the other end, staring at a person kneeling in front of him.
The sight before Voldemort held all of Harry's attention once he finally realized what it was. He could only stare in horror at the naked and bloody, flayed bodies of a still living Kingsley, Krum, and Blise Zabini. As he watched, Kingsleys teeth were slowly pulled out one at a time, while Krums eyes slowly, excruciatingly slowly, melted, and every single one of Zabinis joints were slowly popped out of place, one at a time. The entire time all their bodies wept slow crimson tears of blood. As they opened their mouths to scream, Harry realized their tongues were removed as well. Eventually Voldemort turned to face Harry, a dark, sadistic smile on his face as he took in the young man before him.
"Harry Potter. The boy who survived every attempt I've made to end his life. Pure luck, a mothers sacrifice, and a meddlesome old fool. That is all that saved you, nothing more, but now you will finally die, as was prophesied all those years ago," Voldemort said while slowly walking to the left side of the clearing. Harrys eyes tracked his movements, until he realized Voldemort was standing in front of a body. She hung in between the trees, ropes tied to each of her limbs spreading them out to the sides. Small holes and gashes covered most of her stripped body, while chunks were shredded from the bones, and knives were imbedded into her randomly. It took Harry a moment to realize who it was: Sybil Trelawney was strung up like a hog and tortured.
"She was rather easy to break. Two minutes and I had the full prophecy. Once I had it she was of no use, besides entertainment for my followers. She lived, right up until you walked into the clearing, by the way." Voldemort watched Harry's face as he took in all five bodies. With a wave of his wand three flayed heads were brutally ripped from their bodies "Ah, that just leaves our dear friend, Rubeus Hagrid. MacNair, do the honors and make it slow."
Slowly the executioner walked forward and raised his ax. Harry instantly started moving to stop him, but a lazy flick of Voldemorts wand froze him in place. He could only watch as MacNair cut Hagrids remaining arm off in sections, before moving to his legs and reposting the process twice more. Hagrid bellowed in agony, but was silenced when his tongue was cut out, followed by his teeth. Harry could only watch the brutal, torturous death of his first connection to the wizarding world. Once he was done, MacNair sliced Hagrids stomach open and chopped his head off. With a low sadistic chuckle, Voldemort turned towards Harry and said "Goodbye, Mister Potter." A streak of green struck Harry, ending the resistance to Voldemorts rise of power. _
Once the green flash faded from his vision, Harry saw he was still surrounded by fog filled trees. The biggest difference was that these trees had a light, airy feeling to them. Blinking a few times he turned in a circle a couple times, before he realized there was a quaint little cottage near the edge of the clearing. As he stared the door opened and two people walked out, two familiar, yet unknown people walked out. Harry immediately went for his wand, unable to believe anyone would do such a cruel thing as copy his parents' looks. As he raised it to start casting spells, a familiar voice rang out, stalling him and chilling his heat, while giving him a glimmer of hope. "Sweetheart, it's us, truly. There is no need to be alarmed. You're safe for now." The Lily look alike said, while the man nodded in agreement.
Even with his defensive stance and a spell on the tip of his tongue, the two couldn't help but do one thing. Giving him proud smiles, they opened their arms, patiently waiting to hug their son after being separated for sixteen years. After hearing his mothers voice, Harry finally broke out of his defensive trance, his shock and anger melted away. Hope, happiness, and love rushed through him as he tentatively walked towards his parents. Six steps away, he finally rushed forwards throwing his arms around his parents. "I'm dead, aren't I?" He asked, voice muffled from being buried into his parents shoulders. Two sets of arms wrapped comfortingly around him, before he heard his father speak.
"Yes, unfortunately you are, but you do have a choice. One that none before has been given. The first option is that you could stay here with us, a family once more. The second is that you can go back and finally defeat Voldemort. The meddlesome old goat was correct that you had a piece of Voldemorts soul in your scar. What wasn't expected was for the killing curse to strike that soul instead of yours. No matter the choice you make, we couldn't be any prouder than we already are." James said, his face buried in Harry's hair.
After what felt like eternity, Harry pulled back and took in his parents' faces. As they all stared around each other, they instinctively knew that Harry would go back. They were all at ease, finally, even if temporarily, a happy and peaceful family once more. As one they all said I love you and with one final hug, Harry turned and walked out of the clearing into the foggy woods. He felt lighter and happier than he ever remembered. He had his one moment of true peace. Now it was time to return to war.