Introspection

"Harry Potter."

Harry felt the stare of Voldemort on him, cold, though Harry could perfectly sense the feeling of triumph radiating from his disgusting body.

What now ?

Was it how his life was going to end ? Harry couldn't help smiling slightly, laughing sadly in his head. He, the Chosen One, was going to die in this forest, and worst of all, he came here voluntarily.

"The boy-who-lived... has come to die."

"What a pity" Harry thought for a second. He wondered what he could have become if he just had the chance ? "Maybe an auror. Or a teacher ? I don't know." Harry didn't really have time to think about his future. To tell the truth, he didn't have time to think about anything except surviving, the last years have been nothing but a blurry memory, anxiety constantly destroying any dreams Harry could've had.

An irritating laugh escaped from Voldemort's lips, which was quickly followed by those of the Death Eaters who were standing close to him. Harry took a step forward, trying to ignore the intense guilt forming inside of him and making him nauseous.

Hermione, Ron.

Thinking of his two friends was awfully painful, their faces appearing in his mind, as clear as water. Harry knew he made the right choice; he knew he had to die in order for his friends to defeat Voldemort, after all, he was the last string tying Voldemort to his immortality, the last horcrux.
Harry had to die, he knew it.

But still.

"Come closer, boy, face me like a man."

The sound of the raspy voice in front of him made Harry's whole body shiver in anticipation. He wasn't afraid, at least, he didn't think he was. Death wasn't new to Harry; he had seen death, he was prepared for his own for as long as he could remember.

Then why did he find it so hard to make a step forward?

"I believe we shall end this quickly, my lord."

Harry closed his eyes, just for a moment, taking a deep breath as he finally resigned himself and took three steps forward. The gaze of Voldemort on him was so cold, yet Harry felt his whole body burn with a feeling he couldn't quite describe.

"Do not tell me what to do, Lucius. Or shall I end your life at the same time I end the boy's ?"

"No... no, my lord, I'm sorry."

But Voldemort wasn't listening to him anymore, his attention back on Harry as if he couldn't stand looking away from him just for a second. A feral grin on his face, he raised his wand, pointing it at the exact middle of Harry's chest even though they were still inches away.

"Harry Potter."

"Voldemort."

If Harry had to die, he wouldn't die a coward. He would look at Voldemort in the eyes, he would speak his name, loud and clear, for anyone who could hear him.
He would die proudly, resigned but not fearful.

"This time, it really is your last day alive, boy, I won't let you escape me again."

Harry couldn't help the slight smirk taking place on his face, noticing the anger burning inside of Voldemort's eyes when he saw him.

"Kill me, Voldemort, I'm not moving."

If Voldemort was perturbed by Harry's resignation, he didn't show it, instead smiling broadly, his snake lips almost disappearing and his eyes burning with the same intensity as the day when Harry confronted him in fourth year.

"Well, if you're so eager to die- "

"Harry !"

Harry felt his body stiffen as he heard the familiar voice calling his name.

Oh, no.

He wasn't surprised when he turned around and saw Hermione running towards him, followed by Ron. His body burned with fear, yet he wasn't able to move, too shocked to see his friends here.

"Hermione, you... Ron- don't come!"

Harry almost screamed the last part, feeling his throat itching, but he didn't pay attention to it. He was too focused on the fact that his best friends, the ones he was so scared to lose for the last seven years, were here. At the same spot as him, touching his shoulders and hugging him so tight he almost couldn't breathe.

"It seems you came... accompanied, Harry."

Voldemort's voice didn't sound angry or irritated. In fact, he was almost interested in this act of - stupid - bravery, as if he was offered a really diverting show.

"I.. Hermione, Ron, what is wrong with you two ?! You can't be here, go !"

Hermione took his hands and looked at him in the eyes; she didn't have to talk, Harry could read her thoughts better than anyone.

One look at her and he knew that they succeeded. They killed Nagini, comforting Harry in the fact that he was the last of them, the only horcrux left to make Voldemort disappear. But why, why did they come here ?

"You won't die alone, Harry." Ron said, his eyes focused on the face of his friend.
Harry frowned, not quite understanding what he meant, until he did.

No way.

"What the hell ?! You're not dying with me here, get away !"

Harry started to lose it, his heart pumping way too fast in his chest as the fear overwhelmed him. Ron opened his mouth, certainly to say something to convince Harry they weren't going anywhere, but he was cut off by the - clearly annoyed - voice of Voldemort.

"As much as this display of fraternity touches me, I'm afraid I must end it here. You won't mind me killing the three of you at once, right, Harry ?"

Harry turned around, shoving his friends behind his back in an attempt to keep them away from Voldemort's amused gaze.
He could practically hear his heart beating in his ears, and he knew his breath was ragged, but he didn't back up.

"Wait ! They're.. they're not supposed to be here, you want me, don't you ? Only me !"

Voldemort smiled, a cruel laugh escaping his lips as he looked at Harry, his gaze almost fond.

"Oh Harry, are you asking me for mercy?"

"Harry stop it !"

Hermione's voice rang in his ears, and Harry tried, so hard, to calm the intense pressure he felt in his chest. Everything was fine until now; he couldn't let his panic drive him crazy, he had to protect his friends.

"Hermione you're not dying with me !"

He grabbed Hermione's wrist, so hard that he saw her wince in pain, a weak whimper escaping from her lips. As much as he tried to, Harry couldn't think clearly, breathing heavily and turning his head toward his friends behind him, just for a second.

"Enough, I'm getting tired of this."

Harry felt his heart sinking and quickly turned his eyes back on Voldemort, who was now raising his wand at Harry and his friends, his mouth opening as the words left his tongue.

"Avada Kedavra !"

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry didn't think when he raised his wand too, shouting the first spell that came to him. The overwhelming fear took over him, and he felt the painful need to protect his friends, again.

"Harry !"

He couldn't hear Hermione's panicked voice shouting at him, nor did he feel the strong hand of Ron on his shoulder. Harry's eyes were completely focused on what was happening in front of him : the connection of his wand and Voldemort's, as it had happened before in the graveyard. Everything was so bright, the green and red lights blinding him, and as much as he tried to see through, the only thing he was capable of discerning was the black coat of Voldemort.

"Protego !"

Harry blinked as he saw another light joining the battle and quickly understood Hermione was the one who cast the spell. He stayed focused, his hand clenching tighter on his wand as he started to pray.

Please, please don't let them die.

Harry felt something pounding inside of his head, an atrocious sound taking over the forest as soon as Hermione's spell joined Harry's and Voldemort's.

"Fuck ! What's happening ? Harry !"

This time, it was Ron's voice that drew him away from his thoughts, the incomprehension clearly visible on his face. Harry looked at Voldemort again, and his eyes widened when he realized all he could see was an immense sphere between them, as blue as the Ravenclaw's blason. The thing seemed to literally eat the three spells, growing bigger and wider each seconds. The disturbing sound got louder, and Harry resisted the urge to cover his ears just in time.

Everything was spinning around him, and he could almost swear he was hearing a million voices in the back of his mind, whispering incomprehensible words all at the same time. I was disturbing, almost painful, and he tried his best to keep his composure, because all his body was screaming at him was "let go". But he couldn't, there was Ron, and Hermione, he couldn't just let go and accept that they die here with him. Even if Harry didn't know what was happening and what this giant sphere was, he wouldn't risk letting his friends be hurt. He frowned, struggling to see through the blinding light in front of him and took a step back, not daring to break the bond between his wand, Voldemort's, and Hermione's.

"Harry I.. my wand- it's burning me !"

Harry looked over his shoulder and gasped when he saw smoke coming from Hermione's wand, her hand getting red as she obviously struggled to not let go. Harry quickly took the wand in his hand, groaning in pain, his hand feeling like he put it in the fire.

"Let go Hermione !" He yelled, a grimace taking place on his face as he struggled to breathe, having to focus on two things at once.

Hermione finally let go of her wand, breaking the bond between the wands at the same time, and everything suddenly went back to normal, the horrible sound stopped. Still, there was this giant blue sphere between Harry and Voldemort. There was a moment of silence, none of the three friends daring to talk, still processing what had just happened. Then, Ron's voice broke this peaceful silence.

"What the hell was that ?!"

Harry let out a shaky breath, opening his mouth to talk but his voice came out unsure.

"I.. I don't know Ron, I have no idea."

"And then there's.. this thing ! Do you think it's dangerous ? How do we get rid of it ? It's just- "

"Ron please just shut up !" Hermione groaned, placing her hand on Harry's cheek to make him look at her. "Are you okay ?" she asked. Harry looked at her in the eyes and nodded, slowly, frowning just a second later as he suddenly remembered what happened before this.

"You two ! What's wrong with your heads ? You could've died here !"

It was Hermione's turn to frown, her face hardening as she let go of Harry's face to cross her arms on her chest. "Harry, did you seriously expect us to wait while you were sacrificing yourself ?" she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Harry tried to ignore the warmth spreading in his chest at the thought of his friends coming here just to make sure he wasn't alone in the worst time of his life. Instead, he forced himself to feel the intense guilt that was whispering at the back of his mind, telling him how Ron's life could've been way better if Harry wasn't in it, how he probably hurt Ron so much, always being in the spotlight, always stealing every victory.

You're a terrible friend, Harry.

How Hermione could've had a perfectly normal school life, if only Harry hadn't been dragging the attention to her, exposing her to the mockeries of jealous people in the school. She could've been the perfect student, and instead, Harry dragged her into his - clearly not peaceful - life, in every little thing that has happened since they arrived at Hogwarts.

"Well, yes? I thought we got over this, I'm the last horcrux, I have to die." He said, looking away from Hermione's gaze.

"Mate, you cannot seriously think we- " Ron started, but he stopped himself mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he looked at something behind Harry.

"Harry."

"What ?" Harry turned around and froze as his eyes fell directly into the gaze of Voldemort. He was standing steps away from Harry and his friends, turning his back to the giant sphere still shining brightly. He wasn't smiling anymore, just looking at Harry so intensely the boy thought Voldemort could've seen through his body.

"Voldemort." Harry breathed, locking eyes with him while taking a step forward, ignoring the whispering of Hermione who tried to stop him.
He stopped after a second, leaving an acceptable distance between him and the taller man.

But suddenly, the image of Voldemort shifted, and, in his place, was standing Dumbledore. Harry gasped, his eyes widening as the man who was supposed to be dead appeared in front of him.

"Do you wish to protect your friends, Harry ?" Dumbledore asked. But before Harry could say anything, the figure shifted again, and his heart missed a beat, the face of his godfather appearing at the exact same place where Dumbledore was standing just a second before.

"Sirius.." Harry gasped, tears welling up in his eyes as he took a step forward. Sirius looked at him and then smiled, yet not moving an inch from where he was standing.

"Do better, kid, you can redo everything." Sirius said, his voice sounding shaky even though his figure was standing proudly. Harry frowned and tried to push his emotion away to concentrate on what Sirius was saying.

"What ? What do you mean I can redo everything.. I- "

"Harry !" Hermione called, and Harry immediately heard the panic in her voice. He forced himself to turn around, breaking the eye contact with Sirius and looking directly at Hermione's worried face. But her eyes weren't focused on his.

"The sphere, you should... slowly come back to us, Harry." She said, obviously trying to keep her calm, as hard as it was.

Harry frowned and turned back around, expecting to see Sirius in front of him, but his eyes fell on... nothing.
Nothing, except for the blinding light of the sphere, and the fact that it was growing bigger again. It was on the point of touching Harry's chest, but he took a big step back just a second before.

"What the hell ?!" Ron shouted, frowning and walking towards Harry before taking his wrist in his hand. "Come on, we cannot stay here." Harry nodded, following Ron and going back to Hermione.

But suddenly, the atrocious sound from the sphere came back, literally exploding Harry's ears, so hard that he wouldn't have been surprised if he started bleeding. He quickly put his hands on his ears, trying to muffle the sound as a groan escaped his lips. He vaguely heard Hermione and Ron whimpering in pain too, his heart pounding so hard in his chest he thought for a second he would die just from this. Everything went white around him, and he lost the sight of Hermione and Ron, closing his eyes to prevent the light from making him completely blind.

Harry didn't know how much time he passed in this position, hands pushing against his ears and eyes closed tight. He thought the sound would never stop, that he would go crazy in this forest, trapped for the rest of his life.

But eventually, it did stop.

Harry didn't dare open his eyes for at least ten seconds after the sound disappeared, too scared of what he would see. And when he did, he almost sighed in relief. Because Hermione and Ron were here, at the same place, in the same woods. Harry looked around him, groaning as he felt his head hurting so much from the noise, but everything was the same as when he closed his eyes.

Except the sphere disappeared, as well as Voldemort and all of his Death Eaters. Harry was alone with his friends in the woods, and he couldn't feel more relieved.

"Hermione, Ron, are you okay ?" He asked, looking back at them and approaching them to see if they were alright. Hermione nodded, yet a grimace took place on her face as she moved her head, certainly too fast. Ron looked okay too, apart from the same pain in his head as Hermione and Harry had, and Harry felt his body relaxing for the first time in hours.

"Where's You-Know-Who ?" Ron asked, frowning as he became aware of his surroundings.

"I don't know, certainly the sound from this sphere made him and his little friends go away."

"Do you think he's at Hogwarts ?" Hermione looked at them, a hint of worry in her voice. Harry nodded; he was convinced Voldemort was at Hogwarts, he could feel it. Maybe it was the bond between Harry and him, because he was a horcrux, but Harry immediately started to walk, quickly followed by Ron and Hermione.

"He's at Hogwarts, I can literally feel his presence, this bastard." Harry said between gritted teeth, clenching his fists and quickening his pace. Hermione looked at her wand, examining it the best she could.

"My wand looks fine, I can fight." She said, putting it in her jeans, her eyes focusing back on Harry's face. But Harry didn't look at her, no, he was looking at the two squirrels fighting for something that looked like a nut, just a few steps away from them.

"Harry ?" Ron frowned, noticing the way Harry didn't pay attention to them anymore.

"Don't you find it strange ?"

Ron looked at Hermione, and she just shrugged, opening her mouth to ask Harry what he was talking about, but he answered her question immediately. "The squirrels, I haven't seen a single animal in the woods since the start of the war, not even a single bird."

Hermione raised her eyebrows and looked at the squirrels, understanding what Harry meant; the war took more than the lives of their friends, it almost scared every living creature in the perimeter, and Hermione couldn't think of the last time she saw a living thing this close to Hogwarts.

"That's.. odd."

"Yeah, it is." Harry didn't say anything else, starting to walk again, quicker, without saying another word for the rest of the walk to Hogwarts. He couldn't quite describe the feeling he had inside of him, as if something wasn't right. As they arrived at Hogwarts, he realized something.

There isn't any sound, not a scream, not a cry, just... nothing.

And his friends seemed to have noticed too, because they both stopped at the same time as Harry, the three of them just staring at the castle, wondering what to say.

"Why is everything so...?" Hermione started.

"...calm?" Ron finished. He added, just a second later. "Wait, is that me, or does the castle look very... I don't know, not broke ? I mean, not that I had the chance to look at the architecture recently, but didn't the walls have literal holes in them ?"

Harry nodded, trying to stop his anxiety from growing inside of him. "You're right, Ron, Hogwarts is supposed to be completely destroyed."

"So.. why does it look fine ?"

Hermione sighed, slapping Ron at the back of his head. "Do you think we would be standing here if we knew the answer, you idiot ?" She then turned towards Harry and looked at him. "Don't you think maybe this sphere had something to do with all of this ? I mean, there was Dumbledore and Sirius but they're... you know." Yeah, Harry knew. She went on. "Could it possibly be some light magic ? Then maybe it fixed the material damages. I don't know though, it's just an idea."

Harry nodded again and sighed, taking a step forward. "Maybe, I don't know Hermione, it could also be a perfect illusion from Voldemort, maybe he's inside the castle, killing every single one of our friends So how about we go in there and find out instead of talking ?" He didn't wait for an answer, starting to walk to the entrance of the castle.

"Harry !" Hermione called, following him, Ron just behind her. Harry closed his eyes for a second and tried to calm himself, not stopping his quick walk. "I'm sorry, Hermione, I'm just.. "

"Completely stressed, I understand, it's nothing don't worry about it." She smiled at him and urged Ron, who was staring at the - perfectly fine - decorations of the castle. Harry wasn't as happy as Ron, because he couldn't believe everything was real; the castle was just as he remembered it before the war, portraits on the walls, red carpets all over the floor, and this warmth that Harry could only feel when he was at Hogwarts, at home.

Still, there wasn't anyone in the castle, and Harry started to panic again, wondering if Voldemort had already killed everyone. "Harry ? You okay mate ?" Ron's voice drafted him out of his thoughts, and Harry looked at his friends, realizing he had stopped in the middle of the corridor. "I.. I have a bad feeling guys, all of this is wrong."

Hermione nodded, looking at Ron and then back at Harry. "I'm not enthusiastic either, everything is just so weird, this place it's.. Hogwarts as we know it, it's- "

"Home." Ron finished, and Harry and Hermione nodded at the same time. "Okay, so, everyone is on the same page, I suppose we could just- "

"What are you guys doing here ?"

The three of them jumped at the same time, completely taken by surprise by the unknown voice. Hermione and Ron looked behind Harry, and he came to the conclusion that whoever talked to them must be standing behind him.

Still, the voice was somehow familiar.

Harry sighed, relieved to find someone, and turned around to see who it was.

"The ceremony is about to begin, every student is awaited in the Great Hall, you three are not an exception." When Harry met the eyes of the stranger, his whole body froze, and he was pretty sure the temperature dropped by at least five degrees.

What the fuck is happening right now?

It couldn't be; Harry refused to believe what was just in front of him because it was truly impossible. But then, everything started to make sense in his mind, and his breath started to quicken: the squirrels, the calm, the castle, and then...

"Shall I repeat myself ? I don't particularly like that."

Harry was practically sure he was dead, or dreaming, or anything that could possibly explain why those dark blue eyes were staring at him, why Harry was standing in front of fucking Tom Riddle.