It's Almost Time
A soft ticking sound fills the headmasters old office as Harry makes his way down the stone steps.
Eventually he collapses onto one of the steps.
His face is pale and thin, making him appear a lot older than he actually is.
He shuts his eyes tight and begs for the slow humming of words to go away.
The boy must die.
And Voldemort himself must do it.
That is essential.
He has to die.
What better time than now?
Never has he wished for death so quickly.
But he's desperate.
So many people hate him now.
It's because of him that they lost relatives.
Friends.
Parents.
And even children.
It's because he had to be so damn noble.
And for what?
They're all going to die in the end.
And for Harry, his end is coming much quicker than he expected.
He looks up at the room around him.
The walls are bare, the portraits having moved around the castle for a better view.
The glass vial that had once held Snape's memories is broken in his hand from holding it so tight.
Even though he would eagerly throw himself into death's path to stop anyone else from getting hurt, a small selfish part of him wants to stay.
Here in the world where he belongs.
He could have a future.
Maybe even start a family, of course if Ginny still wants him.
Harry saw the hurt in her eyes when he returned.
The pain.
Every once in a while he would catch her staring wistfully at him, but before he could blink it would be gone, replaced by anger, betrayal.
A muffled sob echo's across the grounds and Harry stands up.
After much thinking he makes his way to the door.
The knob is ice cold but as soon as he fully grasped it it feels as if there are a hundred voices inside of his head. Every single one of them are shouting at him. Saying that it is his fault. Rubbing in the fact that they are dead because of him. He should have died when he was an infant. Than maybe none of this would have happened. His parents were shouting at him. His mothers hair flying as she did. His dad just glared at him. Next to them was Sirius. He had his arms crossed and looked like he had just escaped Azkaban. Remus and Tonks were close by too. Harry could hear her sobbing. It was his fault that she would never be able to hold her son again. His fault that Teddy was now an orphan, he was only a month old. Remus just looked at him. He didn't shout. Instead he fixed Harry with a disappointed look. It was worse than the shouting. On and on it went. There were hundreds of people. Harry leaned against the door for support as if got louder.
"I'm sorry." He whispers, tears nearly leaking from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry."
The shouts continue. Louder and louder. It's nearly unbearable.
"Harry?" A familiar voice snaps him out of his pleads.
The shouts vanish. The voice was coming from behind the door but he knew exactly who it is. Should he ignore her until she goes away? It would be better for both of them
"Harry, are you in there?"
The pain in her voice makes him cringe.
That pain is there because of him. Slowly he walks to the door and opens it.
Ginny's face breaks into one of relief at the sight of him.
She throws herself into him and wraps her arms around his neck.
"I though you had gone into the forest."
It wasn't until then that Harry realizes she is crying.
He doesn't say anything, instead he kisses her on the forehead.
Eventually she pulls back enough to see his face.
"You're going to the forest, aren't you?"
It was a statement. Not a question.
He knows its stupid lying to her, she wouldn't believe him for a second. He shrugs, not fully looking at her.
"Don't you dare."
Harry's head snaps up at the force behind it.
"What?" He asks and stops rubbing the back of his neck.
"I said don't you dare. If you go to the forest you are letting him win. You'd be giving in to him. Why do you want to give him that? Do you know the effect if would have. Not just to him but to the entire wizarding world. Every one would be distraught. He would take over, probably kill us all. Just think about it Harry, do you really wan that to happen? Think about me."
She says, her voice quiet.
"If you died I... I-." With out saying a word Harry pulls her to his chest again.
What are you doing?
You shouldn't be comforting her, it will only make it worse.
Harry pulls away from her as if he was shocked. Ginny looks up at him, hurt filling her eyes.
"Why?" She asks as she takes a step back, her voice loud and demanding.
"What do you know?"
Harry doesn't look at her, instead he fixes his gaze at an empty painting behind her.
"Fine." She snaps.
"Don't tell me. Go ahead! Do what ever the hell you want!"
Ginny desperately tries to keep the tears out of her eyes as she backs away.
"And when you die more will join you. And it will be all your fault."
Ginny knew she had hit a nerve when Harry's head snapped up. His eyes flashed dangerously as he took a step closer.
"I am trying, okay? I've been trying for years. I try and try but it just makes it all worse. He should have killed me when I was a year old. He should have killed me at any of those other times. I'm still alive! I'm still freaking alive and because of that hundreds of others have died. Don't you think I'm trying?" He asks shakily, tears cloud his vision.
His breathing is heavy and his hands are shaking.
"I'm trying." He says quietly.
Ginny pulls her hand away from the door knob and takes a step towards him.
It's hard for her to tell what he is feeling. His eyes are dark and there is guilt seeping through them. But heres something else she doesn't understand. He doesn't say anything and neither does she. Ginny takes another step closer. They are at arms length now. Now she can see what is really in his eyes. Not just guilt or pain.
Love.
Wistfulness.
Revenge.
Bravery.
But fear.
He's terrified on the inside.
"Please... Please don't leave me." Ginny takes another step closer and says the three words that she's been aching to say for ages.
"I love you."
*****
The only sound in the forest are his footsteps.
Nothing else.
No birds perched atop of the tree's, humming their beautiful song.
Not one centar is out doing their usual hunting.
All thestrals and bowtruckles and kneazels are away.
Only footsteps.
The trees clear out a bit, enough for him to see. Here Harry takes out a small gold ball and presses it to his lips.
Just minutes before he had heard three words that made his heart melt. After pressing his lips to hers he also said those wonderful words. Then, pretending that that moment of spontaneous passion had never happened, Harry told her everything. Of course Ginny was reluctant to ever let him go but with one final kiss she pulled away from him and watched as he left, the tear never stopping.
Now, Harry mutters five heart breaking words so quietly that if any one was further than a foot away they wouldn't hear.
"I am ready to die."
A small clicking sound breaks through and the golden balls opens. He holds his other hand out as a small stone lifts out and gently places itself into his hand. Just like in the children's story Harry turns the stone three times in his hand. The leaves crunched softly and his head snaps up. A woman is standing in front of him. Next to her are three men. Each smiles warmly at him. He turns to the woman and the man next to her.
"Mum? Dad? I'm here."
He says softly, tears threatening to fall.
"I came back."
*****
Tom Riddle thought he knew the boy very well.
He thought that he would come.
He thought that he would rather die than let his friends pain continue.
But, as Lord Voldemort stood in the forest he began to have his doubts. Maybe the boy had finally ran.
Maybe he decided to run so far that no one would ever find him.
No.
A Gryffindor would never do that.
A Gryffindor would die proud.
They would die foolishly to save some one else, but proud.
His doubts soon vanished when sudden footsteps broke the silence.
Smiling, Tom looked up to see the boy. He looked down right scared.
Guilt was practically radiating off of him as Voldemort raised his wand.
"Harry Potter. The boy who lived. Come, to die. Avada Kedavera."
And with out even raising his wand Harry Potter collapsed to the ground.
