Ready To Die
Harry stood up straight and backed away from the Pensieve tears streaming down his cheeks, snippets of conversation surrounded him. That Dumbledore was dieing, and had asked Severus to be the one who killed him, for the greater good so Voldemort would totally trust Severus's. He saw the last moments of Severus's life as Voldemort told Nagini to kill him. He saw how much Severus had loved his mother, how he had begged Dumbledore to protect Lily. How after all this time he still had only ever loved Lily.
He sat on the floor of Dumbledore's office his eyes glassy as he remembered Dumbledore's face as Lily's Patronus had erupted from Severus's wand. The tears wouldn't stop as the image of Severus crying as he cradled Lily's lifeless body filled his mind, how broken Severus had looked.
Harry stood up wiping his eyes as the words of Dumbledore filled his head "the boy must die, and it must be Voldemort who deals the killing blow". That he himself was a Horcrux, the horcrux Voldemort never meant to make. Dumbledore had kept Harry alive so that he could die at the right time.
Harry left the office he saw Hermione sat on the stairs "Harry where are you going?" Harry looked at Hermione "too the forest" she was about to protest, but Harry spoke "I have to, there's a reason I can talk to snakes, and why I can see into his head" he looked into her eyes "I think you've suspected it too" Hermione shut her eyes and nodded. As he turned to go he spoke "I'm probably not going to survive, you only have one horcrux left to find, then it's just him, the last horcrux will be something important to him" Hermione watched as Harry left, she blinked but the tears still fell. She ran and caught Harry as he reached for the door handle, she pulled him into her arms tightly "be brave". As he left the hall he was joined by professor McGonagall, her hair was disheveled and she had a slight limp, he shook his head "just listen, you asked what I needed, this is what I need". McGonagall watched as Harry left. She waved her wand and did what Harry had asked.
Harry entered the forbidden forest. He smiled as he heard the bagpipes playing the song love shine a light, he looked up and saw a light fall of bubbles surrounding him, he smiled thinking about professor McGonagall and silently thanked her. He changed his shoes into clogs.
Voldemort turned as he heard the tune and saw Harry enter the clearing, he saw the bubbles, he shook his head trying to get rid of the memory of Harry's childhood. Voldemort's voice echoed off the trees "the boy who lived, finally come to die" Voldemort lifted his wand, Harry shut his eyes "Avada Kedavra" a green light hit Harry and he fell to the ground motionless.
Narcissa Malfoy stepped forward she saw Harry's chest move slightly she put her face close to Harry's "is he alive, is Draco alive? She spoke very quietly so Voldemort wouldn't hear. Harry gave a slight nod. Narcissa stood up and turned to Voldemort her face unreadable "dead, he's dead, you did it my lord".
Harry kept as still as possible, he felt himself getting picked up and a large tear fell on him, through his eyelashes he saw Hagrid was carrying him.
Back at the school people stood in the courtyard Ginny saw the crowd of people and Hagrid carrying a lifeless body. Voldemort's voice rang out "Harry potter, is dead" Ginny screamed falling to the ground crying, Molly Weasley ran to her daughter.
Suddenly Neville stepped forward “I’d like to say something. It doesn’t matter that Harry’s gone. People die everyday - friends..family. Yeah, we lost Harry tonight, but he’s still with us…in here" Neville put his hand to his heart, he continued "So is Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Lavender…all of them. They didn’t die in vain! But you will! Cause you’re wrong! Harry’s heart did beat for us! For all of us!”
Harry new he had to make his move now. He rolled out of Hagrid's arms and ran, Voldemort yelled. Harry ran pursued by Voldemort and the snake, he heard Voldemort in parseltongue "stay close Nagini, I have to keep you safe" Harry realised with alarm what the last horcrux was, the snake. He ran into the great hall he sniffed, good one house elves, there was the light sent of citrus fruits.
Voldemort strode into the great hall, he was momentarily hindered when he heard the sound of people walking in clogs, on the ground Harry saw a broom stick. Harry took off dodging Voldemort's spells and parts of the building as they dropped. Below sparks flew as death eaters did battle, everyone seemed to be giving it there all. He couldn't see Ron or Hermione anywhere, he needed to tell them about the last horcrux, but then he saw Neville sitting up after being hit with a stunning spell.
He saw Neville looked round he saw the sword of Gryffindor lay next to him. Harry realised what he needed to do, he swooped down to Neville he hissed in his ears "kill the snake" Neville grabbed the sword and ran at Voldemort but at the last moment he side stepped and aimed at Nagini cutting the huge snakes head off. Voldemort screamed advancing on Neville. Harry yelled "no, it's me you want, not him"
A few Columns were all that remained of the great hall Voldemort's voice rang out "ok, let's see who the greatest is then" Voldemort used the killing curse, Harry blocked the spell, he thought of all the sacrifices people had made to get here, Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Lavender, all of them, his mum and dad, professor moody, Severus, and his godfather they had all died for this moment. Harry felt love overwhelming him, and Voldemort's wand faultered the killing curse rebounded hitting Voldemort, whose body crumbled. The death eaters who were left stood open mouthed, before they apparated away in a plume of smoke. Harry could just make out Narcissa grabbing Draco's arm in a vice like grip as she apparated away with Lucius.
A while later Harry, Ron, Hermione, and ginny stood looking out over the great lake, "mum blew up Bellatrix" Ron said looking out over the lake. The ruins of Hogwarts stood behind them Harry looked at the ruins. He could see professor McGonagall putting a hand on Filch's shoulder as he held a sweeping brush, she handed him a cup of tea. Harry walked back towards the school. He walked over to Filch and McGonagall, he looked at the destroyed building and spoke "so it looks like it's time to rebuild" professor McGonagall gave a small smile and nodded.
The end