It did not take long for the Death Eaters to march towards the castle in a mass group. Everyone at the school was ready to fight, to defend themselves and each other. Harry was at the front with Severus, the teenager was holding his hand and debating whether or not he should tell him how he felt. Harry knew, for sure, that he loved Severus. It happened so unexpectedly, and Harry knew he was going to die. Severus deserved to know that Harry loved him, even if this was their last day together.
"Severus." Harry said softly.
"Yes, Harry?" Severus responded, looking to his young lover.
"It might be old fashioned before an imperative battle, but I can't go into this fight without you knowing something…" Harry paused. "I love you." Severus stiffened a little and the area was quiet. "I don't know when, but I know that it just happened and I couldn't control how fast and hard I fell for you. I know how things started out for us, but I know where it's gotten us too. My friends, and you…It's made all the difference in my life."
"I'm happier than I've ever been. You are the love of my life. You are my soulmate. Thank you, for everything. Protecting me all these years. The comfort. The laughs. The cuddles. The dates. All the times we've made love." Severus's cheeks flushed. "I love you, Severus Snape-Prince. I know it's right before the battle, but I couldn't wait one more moment without you knowing how I feel about you."
"Harry…" Severus whispered. The teenager smiled, leaning up to capture his husband's lips. "When this is over, and we've won…You and I are going to disappear. With…Ivy and Hedwig. We'll go on an extended vacation, travel the world so I can show you all the foods we talked about from our first date. We'll come back and find that quiet little village to live in, small house…"
"Work our jobs. Me with potions, you being an auror. We'll have that normal life we've both always wanted. I promise. Maybe we'll adopt some kids along the way. All I know is I want that life we talked about. The one where we settle down together, and I want it with you…" Severus paused. "Because I love you, Harry."
Well, Severus certainly knew how to draw tears from people when he wanted to. Some were crying at the admission from the males, but what Severus said brought on the tears. Harry wanted to cry, but he wouldn't because what he had to do was going to hurt Severus like nothing ever had before. Harry kissed the back of Severus's hand. "Sounds like a plan, Sev."
When it came out Harry had died, people would just think that he had lost the fight with Voldemort. No one had to know that Harry knew all along he had to die and Harry had known since they learned about the horcruxes before Dumbledore died. Harry put the pieces together about the link, his connection to the horcruxes and Tom.
This was Harry's fate, it was sealed before he was even born with that prophecy. Harry was always meant to die with Voldemort. Severus felt Harry's emotions through the bond; there was more than joy. There was…Sadness. Regret. Severus was going to ask Harry what was wrong, but didn't get time.
Snatchers, Death Eaters, Trolls, Werewolves raced forward from the Forbidden Forest. Harry raised his wand up. "ATTACK!"
The battle began.
. . .
It went on for a while, no one was really watching the time and both sides were losing people. Harry knew that it would happen. Voldemort might not care, but Harry did. Harry knew that it had to stop, he would have to give himself up to protect the people he loved. The sad part, Voldemort wasn't even present in this battle; he was watching from the forest, likely, with his more loyal followers. They would be the second wave when everyone was exhausted and hurt. Nagini wasn't even here. No, Harry had to stop this.
"Harry!" Remus called.
"We can't stop them all!" Sirius added. "The dementors are the worst, and not everyone can fend them off."
"And ours aren't strong enough to handle them all." Ron added.
"Harry!" Hermione yelled. "Third year!"
"What?" Harry shot a stunner at a snatcher.
"Repeat third year, what you did! It's the only way!" Hermione cried out.
"What is she talking about?" Draco asked, he was grouped with his friends.
"Hermione, there's no guarantee I can pull that off right this moment!" Harry remarked.
"TRY! You're the only one I know with that kind of power!" Hermione shouted.
"Oh, god damnit!" Harry groaned. "Cover me!"
"We got your back, Harry," Fred and George promised, now guarding Harry, along with Draco and Hermione.
Harry closed his eyes before he crossed his arms in front of his chest, wand still in his right. Harry let out a breath as his magic gathered around him, appearing blue and putting him in what looked like a small barrier.
A moment later the energy turned red as Harry threw his arms out sending that barrier around him to pop and the burst expanded out to hit their enemies and blow them back or down. It would give everyone a break, for a minute or two. Harry shifted his wand outward.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry yelled as his stag appeared and stood behind him as a massive shield emitted from the wand, taking the form of a large, pulsating barrier that blew the dementors far away from the castle, in all directions too. When the dementors were gone, Harry's arm dropped as he struggled to keep standing. Severus was right there to let Harry lean on him.
"What…The hell…Was that?" Remus and Sirius demanded of Harry.
"What Harry did in third year." Hermione stated. "The whole…Traveling back in time thing that we told you about at the New Year's party. The blast Harry created?" She mentioned.
"That was that?" Draco blinked.
"Well, it was similar to that…But this one was way bigger and stronger." Hermione shrugged. "It got everyone to back off."
"At the expense of using a lot of magic, Miss. Granger…" Severus retorted. "Harry, you alright?"
"I-I'm fine." Harry assured. "I've barely tapped into my stores, Sev. Don't worry. I got plenty left for Tom…" Then he put a hand to his scar. "Speak of the snake…" He groaned.
"You have fought valiantly, but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest, and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me." Voldemort's voice echoed through the grounds.
That was what Harry was waiting for. His signal that it was time to go face the bastard alone and they both die. Now, how did he get away from everyone?
"Harry, ignore it. Everyone fighting chose to be here, and we all knew the risks…" Kingsley promised.
"That doesn't change who has died fighting this war…" Harry sighed. "I'll go face him."
"What?..." Ron stared at his friend.
"Harry, no…He won't fight fair, you know that!" Sirius scolded.
"It's not about fair. It's the deciding factor in winning or losing." Harry informed. "Tom has tons more people who haven't spent any energy fighting yet. Everyone here has been battling, using magic. Is tired, weak, wounded…Or dead." He explained. "I will go and fight him, it will buy you time to destroy the snake." He added. "I can do this…It's…What I'm meant to do."
"But Harry…" Severus tried to stop him.
Harry smiled and kissed his husband's lips passionately. "Hey…It'll be okay. This works, alright? I'll go fight him, you stay here to rest up. At some point, the battle will come back to the school and that will be the end."
"He'll lose focus on Nagini to fight me, then you guys can take her out and we can get rid of Tom. You've spent years protecting me, love." Harry stroked his cheek. "Let me protect you now. Remember, it ends today." Severus nodded. "I love you."
"I love you too," Severus responded.
Harry gave his husband one more kiss and an assuring smile before he picked up his wand and left them all standing there, watching him go.
"Severus…?" Narcissa asked. "Why do I get the feeling you're…Bothered by the decision?"
"Because that didn't feel like I'll see you soon…" Severus admitted as Harry disappeared into the darkened forest. "It felt like goodbye."
"What do you mean it felt like goodbye?" Draco inquired.
"Harry's been…Too calm since we got back here to fight. Then there was the love confession, it felt like he did mean it…But chose to say something because he wouldn't get another chance. A-And right before the first wave started…The bond felt strange. Not weak or broken, but while Harry was happy I returned his feelings…" He paused.
"I felt…Sadness and regret come through. I never got to ask him why he felt that way. Now this…Going off alone, saying it's his turn to protect me, that it's what he's meant to do. I don't…I don't know, but it feels like this was goodbye." Severus revealed.
"No, we can't think like that. Harry said he would be back and we'd finish this together." Remus told them. "Harry's…A man of his word."
"Right, he is." Sirius nodded. "We just have to wait for him to come back."
. . .
When Harry got far enough into the forest, he made sure to limit the bond so Severus would feel his determination and joy. Severus would know something was wrong when Harry died anyway. But for now, to prevent them from rushing in, it was for the best. In a clearing, Harry stopped to take a breath and pull the snitch from his pocket. Holding it in his hand, he relaxed.
"I'm ready to die." Harry said before he pressed his lips to the golden ball. To his surprise, it opened and revealed a black diamond in it. Harry chuckled as he held the object lightly. "The Resurrection Stone…" He remarked to no one. "I see what you did there, Albus. Unfortunately, we can't take the risk…" Harry closed his eyes and held the stone in hand tightly. A moment later, he opened his eyes to find his mother and father standing across from him, still as spirits.
"You've been so brave, sweetheart." Lily smiled, holding her hand out to him. Harry tried to touch her, but it went right through.
"Why are you here?" Inquired the teenager.
Lily gave a soft look to her son. "We never left."
"Does it hurt, dying?" Harry wondered, looking at his father.
James gave his boy, now a man, a calm smile and shook his head. "Quicker than falling asleep. You're nearly there, son. It's almost over."
"You'll stay with me?" Harry asked.
"Until the end." James promised.
"And he won't be able to see you?" Harry questioned.
"No, baby," Lily shook her head. "We're here, you see. Just as Uncle Sirius has told you."
"Stay close to me?" Harry hoped.
"Always." James and Lily promised.
Harry opened his eyes and his parents were gone. Taking a deep breath, Harry let the stone drop from his hand as he walked forward to meet his fate. The rest of the way wasn't far to go, Harry walked closer, seeing the group, but they hadn't noticed him yet.
"I thought he would come." Voldemort said calmly, turning his back from where Harry would have come in.
"For once, you thought right." Harry stated as Voldemort turned slowly to see him standing there. "Unlike you, Tom, I'm not a coward and I can face death like a man."
"'Arry!" Hagrid yelled. "No, what are you doing here!" The giant cried.
"Quiet!" A Death Eater demanded Hagrid, who was tied up and being held by them.
"It's alright, Hagrid…" Harry assured his friend. "Everything will be alright."
"Harry Potter." Voldemort smiled almost. "The boy who lived…Come to die." Harry raised his arms up and apart, eyes closed. "Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort thrust the wand forward as the blinding green light shot forward and struck Harry in the chest and then there was a blinding light to follow. As it faded, Bellatrix worked to help her lord up and Harry lay motionless on the forest floor.
"Check him! Check him and make sure he's dead!" Voldemort demanded. "Make the giant do it."
Death Eaters forced Hagrid to move and kneel to check on Harry. Hagrid tried to shake him, and he didn't move. "'Arry?...'Arry…" Hagrid sobbed.
"I'd say that means dead." Bellatrix grinned. "Let's have the giant carry him back? Shall we, my lord. What a surprise it will be for them."
"I agree. Get him, giant. Let's go pay Hogwarts a visit and tell them their savior is dead." Voldemort smirked.
Crying, Hagrid scooped Harry's lifeless body into his arms and then Voldemort led the charge forward towards Hogwarts.
. . .
/Limbo/
Elsewhere, after Harry was hit with the curse; he woke in a white train station. What he could only consider to be his afterlife. Harry didn't understand, but he heard gasping and wheezing close by; he went to investigate to find the disfigured, baby-looking Voldemort that Pettigrew had carried to the cauldron in his fourth year.
"Harry, you wonderful boy. You brave man." Came Albus's voice as Harry adjusted to see the man before him. "Let us walk."
Confused, Harry walked beside his grand-father figure. "Professor, what is that?" He is referring to the creature that looks like a much smaller version of Voldemort is in the fetal position under the bench.
"Something beyond either of our help. A part of Voldemort, sent here to die." Albus informed.
"And exactly where are we, sir?" Harry wondered, looking around.
Albus chuckled softly. "I was going to ask you that. Where would you say that we are?"
Harry thought about it while they walked. "Well, it looks like King's Cross Station, only cleaner, and without all the trains."
Albus nodded, agreeing with the idea. "King's Cross, is that right? This is, as they say, your party." There was a pause as they came to a bench and sat. "Harry, I expect you now realize that you and Voldemort have been connected by something other than fate, since that night in Godric's Hollow all those years ago."
"I always knew we were linked through our minds, but I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean, Professor?" Harry looked at him now.
"On the night Lord Voldemort went to kill you, Harry, after your mother had jumped between you and the curse…Voldemort tried to kill you after she was gone, but the spell rebounded. And a part of Voldemort latched itself onto the only living thing it could find in the room. You, my boy." Albus informed gently.
"So it's true then, isn't it, Sir? A part of him lives in me, doesn't it? We both have to die, that's the end of the prophecy." Harry reminded. "Neither can live while the other survives."
"Ah, you realized that. I hadn't been sure when our eyes met that day in headquarters. Of course you figured it out, but I fear you've…Misunderstood." Albus stated. "Yes, a piece of Voldemort has resided in you all these years. That created the link between you, your ability to hear and see the horcruxes, is because you were a horcrux yourself." Harry stared at him. "To amend my words, my boy. The piece living inside of you is no more. It was just destroyed many moments ago by none other than Voldemort himself, when he cast the curse at you again and you allowed it."
"So I still had to die." Harry looked down.
"Yes. I first suspected it when you came to me in fifth year after admitting to seeing through Nagini's eyes. I just didn't know exactly what it was until you got Horace's memory. After that, I realized that you, like Nagini, were a living horcrux, Harry. But you were the horcrux he never meant to make. He didn't know about you being one, and him killing you has only killed himself."
"Then…I have to go back, haven't I?" Harry inquired.
Albus smiled. "Oh, that's up to you."
"I have a choice?" Harry wondered.
"We're in King's Cross, you say? I think if you so desired, you'd be able to board a train." Albus told him.
"And where would it take me?" Harry looked to his mentor.
"On, I suppose." Albus begins walking away from him.
"Voldemort has the Elder Wand." Harry told him.
"True."
"And the snake is still alive." Harry added.
"Yes."
"And I've nothing to kill it with." Harry remarked. "Any advice, for old time's sake, Professor?"
Albus walks back to Harry. "Help will always be given at Hogwarts, Harry, to those who ask for it. I've always prized myself on my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it. But I would, in this case, amend my original statement to this: Help would always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it." He paused. "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living. And above all, those who live without love."
"Sir…Do you know what the power is? The one I have Voldemort doesn't know about?" Harry inquired.
"I do, Harry. And so do you. I gave you that answer long ago, my boy. You may not remember now, but you will." Albus promised.
"Professor? Is this all real? Or is it just happening inside my head?" Harry questioned.
"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean that it's not real?" Albus winked and faded into the light.
. . .
It had been too quiet for the Light fighters, ever since Harry walked away into the forest. Everyone was working together to collect the dead, heal the injured.
"Uncle Severus, I'm sure he's fine." Draco put a hand on his godfather's shoulder.
"No…No, I don't think he is, Draco…" Severus replied in a near broken tone.
"What? Why do you say that, Severus? Have you no faith!?" Sirius demanded.
"I-I can't feel the bond anymore…" Severus admitted. "It's…Not blocked, it's gone…I-I can't feel it. I can't…Feel Harry anymore."
"B-But that would mean-," Hermione gasped in fear, grabbing on to Ron.
"That Harry has died…" Lucius whispered.