DISCLAIMER: Any character you recognize is JKR's All the rest is mine.
A/N: All previous action follows JKR's in the novels.
Harry looked at the body of the vanquished 'Dark Lord', half a dozen yards from him. He waved the Elder Wand and a pale yellow shield appeared with himself on one side, everyone else on the other side.
He looked at his most loyal friend, who was holding onto his former friend. "Hermione, please step over here". Whe she made to bring Ron with her, he clarified. "No, only you Hermione." When she stood next to him, he gently pulled up her left sleeve snd placed the wand over the slur Bellatrix carved into her arm. He incanted "Episky" too softly for anyone else to hear, but all saw the brilliant white light engulf the duo. When the light died, he removed the wand, and she gasped as she saw clear and unblemished skin. Harry murmured to her "That scar, Dolohov's scar, and any other scar you received because you stood by me are now gone.I only wish that I could do as much for the mental and spiritual scars you still bear. You can go back to Ron now."
Harry turned to the Malfoys. "Draco, Narcissa please come here." As they did, Lucius made to accompany them. "Lucius, what did Voldemort command Wormtail to do to Cedric Diggory?"
Shakily, Lucius replied "Kill the spare".
Ignoring the gasps of shock from the others, Harry declaimed, "At this time, you are the spare. Behave accordingly"
"Draco, Narcissa, we are in a two-way Life Debt situation. Draco owes me a Debt since last night when I saved his lfie at the risk of my own in the Room of Requirement from the Fiendfire cast by Vincent Crabbe. I owe Narcissa Malfoy a Debt from later last night when she lied to Voldemort. She asked if you were still alive, Draco. When I answered yes, she lied to Voldemort, saying I was dead.
"None of us desire this situation to continue. Therefore, Draco Abraxius Malfoy, do you acknowledge your Life Debt to me?" Draco, sweating rivers, jerkily nodded. "To pay your Debt, you must stand absolutely still for the period of one nanosecond". There was a huge flash of light.
Draco shook his head. "Potter, no excuse me, Harry, what just happened?"
"A nanosecond is a period of time so short that by the time we saw the flash, the Debt was long discharged.
Harry turn to Narcissa. "I, Harry James Potter, freely acknowledge the Life Debt I owe you, Narcissa Black Malfoy." With that, Harry bowed deeply.
Narcissa stood irresolute for a long moment. Harry James Potter, To pay your Debt, you must stand absolutely still for the period of one nanosecond". There was a huge flash of light. When the flash died, Harry saw that she was bemused."Harry, why did you show mercy to my son?"
Looking her straight in the eye, Harry said "On 31 October 1981, Lily Potter sacrificed her life out of love for me. Last night, you were willing to sacrifice your life out of love for Draco. I could not tarnish my mother's sacrifice by doing anything other than what I did. I know I could have ordered the Debt's repayment in any of a number of ways to benefit me. I couldn't, I had to stay true to who I am.
"Draco, we were wrong-footed from the moment we met. You thought and everyone thought I was a Wizard. In reality, I am and still remain a Muggle with Magic." Harry ignored the shocked looks and gasps of the others. "When we met, I had learned that magic was real and that I was a Wizard only six hours before. I knew nothing about Wizarding culture, for that matter, I still don't. When we met on the Express, I did not know how to properly reply to your offer." Harry extended his hand.
"I should have said that 'I will consider your offer', and then shook your hand. I say now that I bitterly regret my insult to you due to my ignorance and wish to make amends" The two Wizards clasped hands. Before Draco and Narcissa were sent back behind the shield, there was one more bit of business to address. Reaching inside his mokskin bag, he retrieved his broken holly wand. Hope this works. Pointing the Elder Ward at his old wand, he incanted "Reparo", and the wand became whole, and as he gave it a wave sparks flew. Holstering his wand on his left arm, he then held Draco's wand out. "Win it." After a brief tug of war, Draco came away with his wand, which rebonded to him. The yellow shield moved to come between Harry and the two Malfoys, leaving him alone. He reached into his bag, and removed his shrunken Firebolt, which he resized.
—Tfmtf—
Gazing at the survivors, they realized he had an unfamiliar expression on his face, disdain mixed with anger. "I expect this is the last any of you will see me." Waiting stonefaced, the tumult of disbelief mixed with anger and hysteria eventually died away.
"Tell me, why would I not leave? Dumbledore and McGonagall dumped me on the doorstep of my abusive Dursley relatives like a bottle of milk. Show of hands, how many of you were expected to tend the lawn and garden, cook three meals a day, cleanup the kitchen, and subsist on their uneaten scraps? My cousin and his gang played a 'game' they called 'Harry hunting'. They'd chase me, and beat me bloody. When I returned to the house, I was punished for messing up the house. How many of you only learned your name when you began school? They called me 'Boy' or 'Freak'. I didn't know I was 'Harry'! My Hogwarts letter was addressed to 'The cupboard under the stairs'. I slept in a cupboard more cramped than a Hogwarts broom closet!
When I entered into this world, I was mobbed and lauded for something I did not even remember. I was pushed onto a pedestal, and then knocked off it at your collective whim.
"Remember 'The heir of Slytherin'? Remember 'Potter Sinks'? Remember 'the attention-seeking, fear-mongering Liar'? For the rest of my life I will carry the scars that read 'I must not tell lies', courtesy of Delores Umbridge and her Blood Quill, and I was punished by all of you for telling the truth that Voldemort was back!"
Scorn filled Harry's visage as he now acknowledged the horrified screams at the mention of his name.
'Get ahold of yourselves! At the end of my Second year, a piece of his soul told me his real name, Tom Marvolo Riddle, and that he made up an anagram; 'I Am Lord Voldemort'. If you can't say his name, call him 'Anagram'.
"And do you know what the worst if it is? You tossed three SCHOOLCHILDREN into harm's way to fight your war, whilst you sat on your arses until you were forced to fight YESTERDAY!
"What didn't you understand about what Draco, Narcissa, and I discussed? Voldemort KILLED ME, and the only reason I'm here now is that he killed the next-to-last piece of his soul when he AK'd me. And then I got dumped back here to finish the job! So, why on earth would I want to stay here with you ingrates?
"I need to backtrack. A couple of you did stand by me. I can count them on one hand and still have and still have fingers left over. Neville, you are my god-brother. Every time I needed support you were quietly there. I'll never forget that." Harry walked over to his true best friend. "Hermione, you stood by me always. In your dwell all the virtues the Founders valued. Without you i would have died in our First year.
"See everyone? That's the lot and I have three fingers left.
"I need to tell you something more Hermione. I love you." Harry ploughed on despite the shocked and the increasingly hopeful look on her face. Ron's face, on the other hand, was scarlet. "I fell in love with you Second year, visiting you every night whilst you were petrified. I didn't understand what I felt until I saw you at the Yule Ball. There wasn't any good time to tell you before now. I truly expected to die and I didn't wish for you to become more invested in me than you already were. But know that wherever I go, there will be a hole in my heart shaped like you."
Before she could say anything, Ron exploded. "Oi! What about me! And what's this about being in love with Hermy? You told me you loved her like a sister!"
Harry snorted a bitter-filled laugh. "You deserted us Fouth year over the tournament. You treated us like dung and NEVER apologized. Last Samhain, you deserted us again. We both cried a river over your latest betrayal. You never showed your face until after Yule. And again you didn't apologize.
"So, let's take a look at my 'Sister' comment. We need a jury. Draco and Narcissa, come over here. You too Neville, Susan Bones, Daphne Greengrass, George Weasley, Professor McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt. I need you to determine if my actions make sense.
"Ok, Ron. You've just killed the soul piece in the Locket, after it has taunted you mercilessly about how inferior you are, and how Hermione and me don't need you. Tell us, what do you have in your hands?"
"The Sword of Gryffindor and my wand,"
"What do I have in my hands?"
"Your hands are empty."
"Are you wet or dry?"
"Dry."
"Am I wet or dry?"
"You're soaking wet."
"Why am I soaking wet?"
"Because you brought the Sword of Gryffinor out of a pond."
"So, you are dry and armed, whilst I am soaking wet and unarmed?"
"Yes."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I feared for my life! Ron was still upset, he's armed to the teeth, and dry. I'm unarmed, soaking wet, and freezing — this is still winter, mind. I said that I loved Hermione like a sister because he'd have killed me if I told the truth. Hell, if I thought he'd believe me, I'd have said I'm in love with Dolores Umbridge!" That evoked howls of laughter. "So, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, did I act sensibly?" Their response was 'Hell Yes!' "Vox Populi, Vox Dei."
Harry mounted the broom and hovered about ten feet above them. "This sums up my feelings:
I've been around for you
Been up and down for you
But I just can't get any relief
I've swallowed my pride for you
I've lived and DIED for you…
Oh I make you laugh
And you make me cry
I believe it's time for me to fly"
Harry floated up another ten feet or so.
"i know it hurts to say goodbye
But it's time for me to fly"
With that, Harry tilted his broom straight up and accelerated so fast he was out of sight in less than a second. Draco sank to his knees and gave a small cry of despair. "Draco, what is the matter?", Narcissa asked.
Draco did not lift his head. "We just saw the best man any of us will ever know leave us, never to return. And the blame is solely on us."
A/N: The song lyrics are adapted from REO Speedwagon's song "Time for me to Fly.