Work Text:
Death
That's what awaited him at the end of this road. He was alone, trudging though the fascimile of a path he once followed with Ron in his second year, following in the tiny footsteps of his tiny 12 year old self.
Life was much simpler then.
As he walked towards the clearing in the Forbidden forest where his fate, a monster with red eyes and pale skin with slits for nose, his life flashed in his memory like images from an old dream.
All those lonely nights he spent locked inside a cupboard with pangs of hunger , the despair of feeling unwanted, left trails of tears down his cheeks as he tried to catch few hours of restless sleep before another day of chores and humiliation. The resentment he felt for his parents leaving him all alone. The longing to feel his mum and dad embrace him, to tell him that they loved him, made him feel more alone that anything else ever could.
The hope he felt when he found the letter addressed to him, that maybe there was somone who cared about him. The anger and rage he felt when the Dursleys took the letter away.
A letter that would change his life forever.
The night of his birthday when Hagrid came bursting through that door, with a birthday cake, his first ever. Finding out that he was no freak, but a wizard. That his parents too were wizards and there was an entire population of witches and wizards just like him. That there was a magical school where he would learn magic, and maybe make a friend or two.
His hope of finally belonging somewhere finally fulfilled.
How that hope was doused when he found out he was the Boy-Who-Lived.
How, even in the world of magic, he was somehow different.
He remembered getting on the Hogwarts express, making his first friend in Ron.
How they saved Hermione from the troll and their bond of friendship that tied them together from then to his end, here in the forest.
He remembered all their adventures, close calls with death, times they stood together, against all odds and overcame the obstacles in their path.
He remembered Ron, his best friend. Brave and Loyal, standing by his side all the while battling his own demons and insecurities. Always able to lighten the mood cutting through despair when it surrounded them like a thick miasma. Ron who matured from the emotional range of a teaspoon to what felt like an ocean at times.
His brother in all but blood.
He remembered Ginny, beautiful, brave, fierce and loyal Ginny.
Luna, whose quirks overshadowed her wisdom beyond her years and optimism to look beyond the darkness and see the light.
Neville, brave and kind Neville who stood his ground and led others to stand up to what was right instead of taking the easy way out.
He remembered Sirius, his Godfather. He got to spend so little time with him. His one chance at having somone who loved him unconditionally. At having a family. The familiar guilt gnawed at his stomach. Even after all this time, he couldn't fully let go of how his stupidity got Sirius killed. How it could've gotten his friends killed.
How close he came to losing her that day.
Then he remembered her.
He'd finally reached the clearing. In front of him stood Voldemort. The man, no, monster who took everything from him, would now take away his future too.
But he didn't feel any fear. His mind was full of images of beautiful brown eyes, so full of compassion and warmth that he could drown in them.
"Harry Potter, come to die." rasped a cold and high pitched voice. It didn't even make Harry flinch.
Images of her in her periwinkle dress, her bushy hair tamed into graceful curls, flashed in his mind's eye. He remembered how beautiful she looked on the night of Yule ball. The jealousy he felt towards Victor for dancing with her, making her laugh and blush. The new feelings he felt for his friend left him confused and scared at time.
They only grew stronger since.
"Looks like your luck has finally ran out.....Harry." Voldemort said with manic glee.
"The story of Harry Potter will be not one of hope, but tragedy. A story of hopelessness against the will of Lord Voldemort. It will be cautionary tale of standing up against me.
But you've fared better that any that have come before you...."
When he finally realised that he was in love with her, it terrified him. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. In classes, he kept shooting furtive glances towards her. Whenever she was close, the need to touch her would arise unbidden, but he kept himself in control. Her smell, peaches, would overwhelm his senses. Her bouncing curls would mesmerize him.
All these emotions, they terrified him. So, he kept them buried deep inside.
The dam broke during the dance they shared in the tent. When he looked into her eyes, puffy red and swollen from all the crying, there was something more. An intensity he'd never seen her direct towards him.
He didn't know when they leaned closer but in the next moment, her lips crashed against his. The kiss was hot and passionate ,their bodies mashed together. Her lips soft, but no softness or tenderness in her kiss.
It stopped as suddenly as it'd started. She pulled away completely from his embrace. He felt confused. He was scared.
Had he done something wrong?
She didn't meet his eyes, but the next words that left her lips tore apart his heart.
"I'm sorry.....I can't...We shouldn't do this. I'm sorry."
Then she left the tent, leaving behind a deep chasm between them. He didn't know how to cross over to the other side.
Even she had left him behind.
"...for that, you have my respect. This is the end. You may finally rest."
He knew what was coming next. On his way here, he'd thought he would feel terrified. That his legs would shake and he'd be unable to stand with his head held high in his last moments. But all he felt was calm and a deep sense of loss. There would be no future for him.
He'd never know how she truly felt about him. He'd never know if he could cross to chasm and reach her on the other side and tell her how he truly felt.
Voldemort, Tom Riddle, lifted the elder wand.
Harry closed his eyes. Tears ran down his cheeks.
Avada Kedavra
His last thought before green flashed before his eyes were of her beautiful brown eyes, her soft pink lips, her soft body pressed tightly against his and the words he so desperately wanted to tell her.
I Love You
Then he knew nothing but darkness.