Thirty Sickles

 

"Come on, Harry. It's time to go."

Harry's indistinct form flickered slightly. "I just.. I just want to know how it happened. Being dead isn't so bad. I just want to know why he did it."

The other indistinct form sighed. "I understand. It's a bit of a shock, I suppose. Come on, I'll take you to him."

* * * * *

Voldemort promised me fame, glory, and I fell for it. I was angry. I was greedy. I wanted it.

I killed myself shortly after he had Harry.

Harry was the wizarding world's Messiah. Their Saviour. Voldemort their Pontius Pilate.

And I, their Judas.

* * * * *

"Hello, Harry," I said.

He looked at me with those sorrowful green eyes. "Why?"

I looked back at him dully. "Harry, it was many things. Anger. Hatred. Stupidity. But mostly it was because I felt like the moon to your sun. Always reflecting some of your radiance, but never glowing as brightly as you."

"When I betrayed you, I did not realize that without the sun the moon does not shine at all."

"Why? Because of the darkness that has always lurked in me. Ever since 4th year. Jealousy is an ugly thing."

Harry smiled. "I forigve you." I wanted to hit him. His forgiveness? What right did he have to forgive me for depriving the world of his brilliance?

He repeated himself. "I forgive you."

He and the other spirit with him left.

And I, their Judas.

* * * * *

Harry sighed sadly. "I hope he forgives himself one day."

The other spirit shook his head. "He may never. It took me years to forgive myself for what I had done. And I had the benefit of having done something to atone during life."

"I know, Draco. I have always been thankful that you defied Voldemort that day. You died for it, but you saved lives."

"Aye. I died to save lives, but nothing could ever pay the balance of suffering I caused. That is why when I finally made it out of hell, I choose to stay on as a ghost on earth. I try to help people in any way I can, as well as escorting spirits to Heaven."

Harry nodded, but his eyes had unfocused as memories bubbled up within him.

* * * * *

Professor Trelawney had asked him, and Ron to stay late after class, to ask them something about their homework.

In mid-sentence, her eyes rolled and she began to chant. Harry sat up straight. The last time she had done this, it had been a true prophecy.

In the years to come, the dark Lord will be betrayed.

Once betrayed, Voldemort shall again find a betrayer amoung the kekkai round the Potters.

The betrayer will kill himself and the previous betrayer, his as well as the Potters.

The dark Lord will win the battle.

The light Lord will win the war.

She blinked, and smiled mistily. "I'm so sorry, boys, I must have drifted off."

Harry rapped Ron's knuckles, telling him to keep quiet about her prophecy. He recalled what had happened the last time he'd tried to ask her about her prophecy.

As soon as they left the tower, Ron asked Harry, "What was that old coot going on about?"

Harry looked thoughtful. "I don't know. The last time she did this, it was a real prophecy. I'd better go to the Headmaster about this." he said.

"Well, maybe this time she was just putting us on.." Ron smiled tenatively.

"Maybe."

* * * * *

"Headmaster!" Harry called out.

The old wizard turned to see him and smiled. "What is it, Harry?"

"Well, Professor Trelawney made another prophecy--I think. It was like when she made that other one about the dark Lord rising again."

"I see," the Headmaster said thoughtfully. "Do tell."

"Well, she said that Voldemort would be betrayed.. and that once he was betrayed, he'd find a betrayer in.. in the.. kekkay? round the Potters.."

"Kekkai. It's a japanese word, and it means a protective circle," Dumbledore said. "Did she anything else?"

"Yes. She said the betrayer would kill himself and the previous betrayer, something about the previous betrayed being his as well as the Potters. Then she said the dark Lord would win the battle but the light Lord would win the war."

"I see. Did she say when this would happen?" the Headmaster asked.

"Well, she said this would be in the years to come.."

"Harry, you must heed her words. You will likely be betrayed by someone close to you. I fear I know all too well what she means. However, this is not an immdeiate threat, so I would suggest you simply concentrate on learning and having fun with your friends for the rest of the year."

"Yes, Headmaster," the boy replied.

"Now run along to dinner!" the Headmaster said with a twinkle in his eyes.

* * * * *

"Kill the woman and her halfling babe, then take care of the rest of the muggles," Voldemort ordered.

Draco Malfoy shook his head. "No, master."

"What?! What is the meaning of this, Malfoy?" Voldemort hissed dangerously.

"She is a witch, and a kind one. I will not kill her and her babe. I will not kill the muggles."

Voldemort's eyes glowed red. "I see. You betray me."

"I do."

"Protectis Incantata!" Malfoy shouted as Voldemort cast his spell..

"Avada Kedavra".

Green light flashed and Malfoy dropped, lifeless.

The Aurors arrived seconds later, as Voldemort disapparated.

"I'll be damned. Lucius didn't manage to completely rot his heart out.." one of them said wonderingly, as his eye rolled of its own volition.

* * * * *

Harry stared at his friend, in horror. "What are you doing, Ron?"

"I'm earning my pay, Harry." Ron said, with a shrug.

"I see. You've betrayed me and the side of good," Harry said sadly.

"I have and you are why! Voldemort has given me fame, glory and money. Everything that you've always had so effortlessly."

Harry sighed. "You've already taken Hermione to Voldemort, haven't you?"

"Yes. Now shut-up," Ron snapped.

"So we do."

"Avada Kedavra"

* * * * *

Harry had not felt any pain, physically, but he was aching from the betrayal of his best friend.

He floated along, following Ron and Voldemort out of the room.

So this was what it was like to be dead, he thought. Odd, I wouldn't have thought I'd be a ghost.

He was surprised to see them stop to talk to Pettigrew. He was more surprised Ron pulled out his wand and chanted the killing curse on Pettigrew and then turning the wand on himself.

But it warmed him slightly. Just slightly. Perhaps Ron had reneged on the dark side.

He kept floating and eventually found himself in a grey misty place. A voice called out.

"Come on, Harry. It's time to go."

* * * * *

Harry's mind refocused on Draco who was staring at him sympathetically. "Hermione is on her way."

"Yes, I suppose she is. Ron delivered her to Voldemort first. I suppose he killed me first, to take care of unfinished business," Harry said.

Draco nodded. "She'll be along soon, she's busy doing something. Come along, though. It's time to go."

* * * * *

I betrayed my friend.

I executed both his and his father's betrayer.

I, their Judas.

 

"Come on, Ron. It's time to go. "