"Screw you, Tom." Harry said with another laugh. Voldemort, furious with Harry's use of his true name, yelled out "Avada Kedavra" and sent the killing curse flying towards Harry who was able to leap out of the way. Around them the Death Eaters, fearing that a stray killing curse could catch them unprepared, began to search for cover. Harry returned fire with a "Reducto", but Voldemort was easily able to avoid it. The Dark Lord then cast another killing curse, but Harry was able to conjure a rock wall to shield him from the spell. The shield exploded when the curse hit it, but Harry didn't wait for the dust to clear before banishing a conjured spear back towards Voldemort. When the dust settled it was clear he had missed, but he had no time to think about it because Voldemort sent yet another killing curse his way.
Harry leapt to the side to avoid the curse, but unfortunately Voldemort had been expecting that and had summoned a headstone which slammed into Harry's side and knocked him off balance. Before Harry could recover Voldemort had cast the killing curse again. Harry's eyes widened as he saw the green spell speeding towards him. In that moment he knew he couldn't avoid it, and that he had been beaten.
The impact of the spell knocked Harry off of his feet and sent him spinning to the ground. When he landed Voldemort stood victorious over Harry and looked down at his unmoving body. Below him, Harry's lifeless eyes lay open and staring off into the distance.
...
Back at Hogwarts, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge had arrived and taken the stage in an attempt to calm the audience and look for a way in which he could take advantage of the situation for his own political benefit. With his hearing on the Sirius Black case only a day away Fudge was getting desperate to find a way to remain in office. He knew the last thing the public wanted to hear was that You-Know-Who was still alive and so he spent his time on stage promising that the Dark Lord was dead and that there was no way he could ever come back. Some people seemed eager to believe him, but others weren't convinced.
Ludo Bagman had been transferred to the Ministry of Magic for further questioning. It seemed clear that he would not face charges for his actions due to the evidence pointing towards the Imperius curse. He was however immediately fired from his position with the Ministry and rumors were beginning to circulate that the goblins had demanded he be turned over to them after his release to face punishment for crimes against them.
Harry's friends did not give up searching for more information, but unfortunately they continued to find nothing new.
Meanwhile Dumbledore sat alone in his office wondering what he could have done differently, and what it would mean if Harry died. One thing was clear: dark days lay ahead.
...
Harry eyes popped open and he sat up, wondering what had happened. Upon seeing his surroundings however, he also wondered where he was. A strange whimper caught his attention and he turned to look in that direction. He saw a a strange creature that reminded him of what Voldemort had been before the ritual to return him to his body, but Harry had no idea what it meant. Around him the world was completely white and without definition, and the blankness of his surroundings seemed to go one forever.
"Harry." a gentle female voiced called out, seemingly from all around him.
"Hello?" Harry asked. "Who's there?" As he continued to look around he finally saw two forms approaching him in the distance. As they drew closer he saw that one was man and the other was a woman. They appeared to be holding hands and slowly walking towards him. After what felt like hours to Harry, they finally got close enough that he could see them clearly.
"Mom? Dad?" Harry said uncertainly. "Is that really you?" Finally they were close enough for him to be sure, and when he was he ran to them and allowed them to wrap him into a strong hug. Harry could not help but begin crying as he held on to his parents for the first time he could remember. For a long time they hugged and did not speak, and for that time Harry's questions about what was happening seemed unimportant to him.
"It's ok, Harry." his mother reassured him. "It's really us. Well, as real as it can be."
"I'm dead, aren't I?" Harry asked. "Does that mean I get to stay here with you?"
"You aren't exactly dead, son." his father informed him. "But you aren't exactly alive either. You have a choice, Harry. You can die, or you can go back."
"What if I want to stay with you?" Harry replied. The emotions from meeting his parents were still overwhelming.
"We have some things to explain to you first." Lily answered. "We love you very much Harry, but it is important that you go back."
"Why?" Harry asked, clearly upset.
"Because of Voldemort." James said, and glanced over to the ugly creature that Harry had noticed when he first arrived. "Voldemort has tried to make himself immortal, and that is how."
"What is it?" Harry asked, looking over at the creature his dad had pointed at.
"It's a piece of his soul." Lily answered. "He accidently transferred it to you the night we died. It is why your scar hurts whenever he is around. It's called a Horcrux, Harry, and as long it is still alive Voldemort can not truly be killed."
"But if I die it does too, right?" Harry guessed. "So I can't go back."
"That piece will die even if you do go back." James said. "But that isn't the only piece of his soul that needs to be destroyed. He's made others, and it up to you to find them."
"Why me? Why not Dumbledore, he's stronger than I am." Harry replied.
....
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