Things Worse Than Death

Things Worse Than Death

You Reap What You Sow

****

The end was drawing near; the end of the horrific three-year clash between good and evil, and the end of many things which had grown to be familiar. And only one soul upon the earth knew it. Harry Potter knew it. He knew that today, he would be facing down Voldemort. Today, he would kill him, or die trying.

Harry could feel the hopelessness of it all, right down to his exhausted bones, as he stumbled over the dead or dying bodies strewn all about, and shot curses off in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

The final battle was at hand. Harry thought it ironic, that it would take place here, in the Great Hall, a place so full of happiness and memories.

Ah, yes, memories.... Memories are a sinister thing, full of deception and pain. Sometimes, you can escape haunting memories by finding refuge in the present, fighting away the demons of the past you so desperately struggle to forget. You can keep a cool façade, showing the world a strong face. But eventually, it all becomes too much, and at night, your memories seek to destroy you. They wash over you, taking all sense of reason and calm away. These are the memories that will never be forgotten. They force you to relive the darkest moments of your life; the mistakes you have made, the people you've left behind, and the choices that you know are to come. They will haunt you forever, leaving you only when you have finally given up and died. They live on for the sole purpose of forcing you realize how much better off the world would have been if you'd have never been born. The mind is so much more against you than you've ever imagined.

But then, as Harry fought so hard to remember, there are the memories that give you the power to produce a Patronus. The happy memories that give you reason to keep living your life, day after day; the ones that clear the clouds blocking out the sun. Even with the few happy memories Harry had managed to retain in his short seventeen years of life, it had been enough to give him the strength to keep going.

Harry looked around. So many good things had come to pass in this hall. Today would be the undoing of all that, for innocent blood had already been spilled. Powerful and great things were to happen in this hall.

Harry ruthlessly blasted another Death Eater apart. He didn't care if they died or not. Death Eaters meant nothing to him. They were scum that walked the earth, leaving death and destruction behind. The whole idea was, in Harry's opinion, utterly moronic. To think that so many high-minded 'mudblood' haters followed a man who was a half blood himself, made Harry sick. They took lives for pure joy, killed children for fun. So, he had learned that killing Death Eaters was something that had to be done, and to be thought nothing off. His last two years at Hogwarts had taught him that. He had lost too much at the hands of Voldemort. Too many people had died, just because they loved him. Voldemort didn't care who it was, as long as the death left another hole in Harry Potter. As long as it was destroying the one thing Voldemort had not--the ability to love.

Faces began to flash by in Harry's mind. He saw the faces of those who were dead now, only because they had the courage to choose not what was easy, but what was right.

Hagrid was found dead in the Forbidden Forest, halfway through Harry's sixth year, shortly after Hagrid's own engagement to Madame Maxime. Hagrid had a son now who would never know his father.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had perished in an attack on Diagon Alley on Christmas day. They were tortured slowly until they died.

Fred lost his life in the same attack, though George was in St. Mungo's, in very much the same condition as Neville's parents were. The absence of the twin's humor and pranks certainly put a damper on the Order.

Charlie was forced to go through the torment of watching both his parents and Fred die, and George tortured into insanity. He was killed soon after.

Professor McGonagall had died in the Battle of Hogsmeade, just after taking down Umbridge, now a self-proclaimed Death Eater.

Neville had went down like a hero, after taking down ten Death Eaters single handedly, when they attempted kidnap on several of Harry's friends. His Grandmother was awarded an Order of Merlin, 1^st class, in honor of him.

Ginny, the sister Harry never had, had been captured, tortured, and then was killed, by Voldemort himself. Then, Voldemort graciously returned her mangled body to Gryffindor tower. It was Ron who found her. He hadn't been the same since.

Madame Pomfrey too, was no longer around to annoy Harry with her ceaseless worrying in the hospital wing. Death Eaters had gotten her. She had a horrific death. Harry didn't even want to remember all the sick things they had done to her.

Tonks had fought until the end, though she had hardly cared for her life anymore, after they had killed Charlie. Before his death, they had a son together, named Arthur, after her late husband's late father. He was an orphan now. Harry hoped he had a better time of it than he had.

Moody had finally fought his last. He was very much missed among those who knew him.

His aunt, uncle, and cousin, who hadn't even loved him.... they were killed anyway, simply for giving Harry the protection of their home for all those years.

So many lives gone, all because of Voldemort and his screwed principles. The war was not worth the lives lost.

Harry stumbled over a body on the floor. He looked down. It was just an Auror.

That thought echoed through Harry's head.

Just an Auror. Just another faceless hero who died because they were fighting for what is right. He probably has a wife, and kids, waiting at home for him. He won't be returning. They'll always wonder...

There was nothing he could do. He continued rapidly shooting spells at Death Eaters.

He thought about those closest to him that were thankfully still alive, and here with him today, fighting alongside him in the Great Hall.

Ron... he had stood next to him through so much, even after most of his family was killed because they were like family to Harry. He was truly a faithful friend; no matter how affected he was by his family's deaths.

Hermione... Hermione had suffered so much just because she was his girlfriend. Hermione's parents had been killed back in sixth year, the day before the Fidelius Charm could be performed. Harry was supposed to be their secret keeper. Even Hermione's cat hadn't evaded death. Crookshanks had been done in by Pansy Parkinson, during a botched attempt to kidnap Hermione. But Hermione was still there, even now by his side, never giving up on him. Harry had asked Hermione to marry him just that morning, so that she would always know how much he loved her, incase things turned out the way he feared. He had engraved the memory in his mind--he never wanted to forget it.

***Flash-back to that morning***

The April morning had been bathed in a light misty sunshine, yet Harry had woken up that morning knowing what was going to happen. But before it happened, he had one last thing to do.... He slowly fingered the diamond ring inside his pocket as he was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. It was time to ask, before it was too late.

"Hermione, can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry asked, breaking the odd silence amongst his friends. Hermione looked up from the daily prophet she was reading over her breakfast.

"Yes, of course, Harry," said Hermione, smiling lovingly at him, while still looking quizzically at him, trying to read his expression.

"Why don't we go out to the bridge?" said Harry. Hermione just nodded, and rose from her seat, entwining fingers with Harry as they walked towards the decrepit old covered bridge that connected two parts of the castle.

"What's up, Harry?" asked Hermione, as they stopped halfway across the bridge, looking out at the expansive grounds, still covered in the pale morning sunlight.

Harry took a deep breath.

"Before I say anything else, I want to tell you, today will be the end... I know it. He's coming, and... this could be the last day on this earth for some of us."

Harry looked into her eyes, and saw a brief flicker of fear, but then a rapid succession of other emotions flashed through them--defiance, anger, sorrow, and finally, regret.

"It's funny, isn't it," she said softly, her light brown eyes studying Harry's face intensively, "how we used to struggle so often to be involved with the war; begging to know what was going on and to be in the midst of the action. And they told us that we were too young, but they finally gave in after realizing it could be more dangerous for us to be totally unaware of the situation, with open war breaking out everywhere.... But now, looking back, knowing that some of us might not be living tomorrow, I wish we had never gotten involved. We--"

Her voice broke. "We were too young. We're STILL too young. Look at us, Harry. We're only seventeen. We've been at Hogwarts for only seven years now. But it seems longer, doesn't it? It seems like it was ages ago. Harry, I remember.... I remember when we still had a touch of innocence, a hint of childhood naivety. I miss that. I don't want to live my life, wondering what could have been done different. I don't want to go to sleep wondering how many of my loved ones wick be murdered while I sleep. I wish... I wish everything was different. I wish we didn't have to put up with any of this any more. I just want to be happy Harry. Is it too much to want?"

A few tears ran gently down her cheeks. Harry enveloped her in his arms, brushing away her tears with his thumbs.

"It's not too much. I feel the same way, Hermione. And that's why I am about to do what I am about to do."

He reached into his pocket, knelt down on one knee in front of Hermione and tenderly took her hand.

"Hermione," he said pulling out the ring, "I love you. I always will, no matter what happens. I know there's no guarantee that both of us will be even here tomorrow, but that makes it even more important that I ask you this. Will you be mine, even in death? Will you marry me if we live, Hermione Jane Granger, the love of my life?"

Hermione gasped as Harry slipped the simple diamond ring onto her finger. Without hesitation, he threw her arms around him.

"Yes, Harry! Yes, I will marry you! I will marry you, Harry James Potter!" she said happily.

Tears actually came to Harry's eyes as they locked into an embrace, and stood there for hours, taking in each other's mere presence; hearts dancing together in the light wind that played gently through their hair.

***End Flash-back***

He would love Hermione always and forever.

Remus, too, had been there through it all, had lost so much, yet still, continued fighting for what was right, upholding the standards of the Marauders.

Finally, there was Dumbledore, who had already lost so much before the War. He was getting old. The strain of a fifty year battle was sometimes just too much for him.

A jet of red light barely missed his head. He turned to see who had shot it. It was none other then Peter Pettigrew. Harry felt his blood boil. He lost all rational thought. Peter was the reason his parents were gone, and Voldemort was back; the reason why Cedric was dead, why Sirius had died... If it weren't for him, none of those people would have died. His anger mounted. Harry would kill him, even if he had to rip him apart with his bare hands.

Peter let out a whimper at the look in Harry's eyes.

"Please," he begged, "Harry, your father wouldn't have wanted you to become a murderer for me!"

Harry blanched. How dare he talk to him about his father? The father that Harry never knew because Peter was too much of a coward to stand up to Voldemort and stay loyal to his friends.

"Too late," shouted Harry, "I am what I am. And it's your fault. My father didn't want you to become a murderer for him... but if I recall correctly, you didn't care too much about what my father wanted, did you?"

"Please, Harry, have mercy!"

"I have given you mercy many times before, Wormtail! You do not deserve my mercy! I have shown you mercy, and look what happened! You're a coward and a rat!" Harry roared, "But today, you die. I am going to kill you. Good bye, Peter."

He whimpered.

"Don't worry, this time, I'll make sure no part of you is to be found! Burn, Peter. Burn."

"REDUCTO!" Harry shouted, putting massive amounts of power into the spell. Wormtail halfheartedly began to lift his wand, but was blasted into hundreds of tiny pieces. Even the silver hand that was supposed to have been indestructible had been blasted apart by the curse.

Over the past few years, Harry had come to discover that if he used enough power for the Reducto curse, or for that matter, ANY curse, it could be lethal.

And, finally, Wormtail was gone. Harry had at last killed him. He had now partly avenged his parent's death. Now Harry had just one more to kill... one more, and he could rest in peace.

****

The Death Eaters in the Great Hall were all down. Their bodies lay strewn about the floor, for the light side had given no mercy to them, because they knew not to expect any from the Death Eaters in return. Not a single one was left alive in the great hall. Sounds of battle and death still came from other parts of the castle and grounds, where his classmates and teachers were fighting together against Death Eaters.

The few still standing converged in the center of the Hall.

Somebody was just asking, "What now?" when Harry felt a tremendous pain in his scar. He felt like his head was splitting in half. He screamed out in agony as his scar burst open. Blood trickled down his forehead. Voldemort was here, and was feeling an emotion Harry had never felt from him... Fear perhaps? Aprehension? All the same, Harry knew the end was coming... and Voldemort knew it too. The others rushed to him.

"GET AWAY!" he yelled hoarsely, "HE'S HERE! STAY AWAY!"

His voice cracked, as he tried to calm the inner turmoil going on within his heart.

He quickly caught Hermione's hand.

"I love you Hermione," he said, his voice raspy, through the pain, "Just know that."

Hermione gave him one last kiss and slowly backed to the wall with the others, trembling, her chin quivering from suppressed tears. Deep down, they all knew that this was Harry's battle to fight, and getting in the way would only result in their own death, as Harry had so often drilled into their minds.

Voldemort suddenly appeared with a crack in the middle of the hall, his great black robes billowing, his red eyes alert and ready for battle.

Harry knew that this was it. He had trained obsessively for years, and Harry and Voldemort both knew that Harry was finally the stronger of the two. Voldemort knew that Harry had risen above his equal, though he still didn't even know the full contents of the prophecy.

Thus, the last battle began.

"Well, Well, Well, Harry. Ready to die?" asked Voldemort, attempting to sound threatening.

"When you are, Tom!" Harry spat back.

Voldemort's eyes flashed in anger at the use of his muggle name. He looked at the others standing near the wall. They stood their ground, showing no fear of Voldemort. They had put their trust in Harry.

"We've grown into a BIG boy, haven't we now? Not letting dear old Dumbledore fight for you anymore? Come for revenge? Pity I'll have to kill you. You could have been great. I could have taught you so many wondrous things! Consider this my last offer, Harry. Accept now, or you WILL die, a slow and painful death. Think about it... All the riches you could want. Any wife of your choosing... Imagine the possibilities! We can do powerful things together Harry. Join me, and we will be invincible."

Harry threw back his head and laughed. For the first time in two years, the laugh reached Harry's piercing green eyes.

The eyes that laughed because Voldemort was ignorant about the things he loathed.

The eyes that laughed because Voldemort was going to die.

The eyes that laughed, simply because they knew it would be the last time that they laughed.

"You fool... Even as a naïve first year I did not accept your imbecilic offer. What makes you think that I would join you? You, the self proclaimed greatest sorcerer of the age? You, the one reason that countless innocent people have lost their lives? You, who believe half-bloods tainted, muggles to be scum, when you are nothing but the spawn of a failed marriage, between a muggle and your mother?" Harry's voice grew louder, as he became more enraged. "You, who murdered my parents, causing me to grow up with my spiteful Aunt and Uncle? You, who tried to kill everybody near and dear to me? Believe me, I would die and burn in hell before betraying those who love me, and joining you. Do you still not know why I declined each offer, and why I decline you still now? Do you want to know the one thing that separates you and me; which makes me incomprehensibly distinct from you, and why I will always be? I'll tell you why, Tom. Because I have a power that you can never have. And how ironic that it be the one think you hate and despise with all your black, rotten heart. I, Tom, can love. It was the love of my mother that kept me alive when I was a child, and it is my love for my family that keeps me from joining you. You told me once that we were alike... And perhaps you still hold to that interesting bit of philosophy. But a man I still look up to very much told me something--I believe you know him well. It is not our abilities that make us who we are... it is our choices. And that is what makes us so different. You are who you chose to be, and I am who I chose to be, and that is why I turn down your offer once again. And now, so that perhaps the past three years of your life will not be wasted, I will tell you the prophecy. Yes, I will tell you the prophecy that you worked endlessly to get you hands on, the prophecy that cost my Godfather his life. I will tell you why Dumbledore is not here 'fighting' my battles. And perhaps you will finally realize that you are never coming out of this school alive."

Harry saw Dumbledore beaming at him as he made a few slicing motions with his wand. "REVELAR UN PROFECIA!" he shouted. It was a spell of his own creation, which would pronounce to the whole world the contents of the hated prophecy. There was a horrific boom, and then the sounds of battle were silenced. It was eerily quiet. Voldemort looked around uneasily. Then came the softly piping phoenix song of Fawkes. Finally, a resounding ethereal voice echoed throughout the Hall.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.... The one with the power to Vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...."

Voldemort looked at Harry, his thin, snake-like eyes a bit wide, but conviction in his face nonetheless.

"Ah, yes. Now I understand." He said softly.

"It's time," said Harry, "To fulfill a prophecy."

"So it is."

Then they dueled. A duel to rival even the battle that took place decades back between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Cloaks whipped through the air, spells ricocheted off the walls, and thousands of colors dazzled the eyes of those watching. Grunts came from both Harry and Voldemort, as they shot of every curse known to mankind. Injuries were numerous on both parties. Harry knew he had broken ribs, numerous cuts, and large wounds on his body, but he also knew Voldemort suffered from the same, if not more, injuries. They went on for almost an hour, though it seemed ages more for Harry and the people witnessing the battle.

Suddenly, Harry found a weakness. Voldemort had paused for a moment, hesitant, almost as if to think of what to do next. Harry took his chance. Looking at Hermione, Ron, Remus, and Dumbledore, he thought of them and the unique love he held for each of them.

Dumbledore, whom had protected him since birth; his faithful mentor, held Harry's love as if he were his Grandfather.

Remus, his confidant, friend, and father figure; Harry loved him as one would love their father.

Ron. His best friend, who had been there with him through everything. Harry loved him as if he were his brother.

Hermione; his beautiful, elegant, and perfect Hermione. He loved her, and she loved him. Their love was beyond what words could describe.

He took all the pure magic from within, all the love he had in his heart; the power the Dark Lord knew not, he prepared to move in for the kill. And he uttered the words, which with a flash of green light had taken lives away from so many thousands before, including his own parents. Harry uttered the words he had never before. The words he had saved just for Voldemort.

"AVADA KEDAVRA"

Amazingly, instead of the all too dauntingly familiar green light, pure white light burst out of Harry's wand. Through the blinding brightness, Harry could see the silhouettes of many figures. The forms of every innocent person Voldemort had ever killed. He saw the shadowy forms of his parents at the lead, with Sirius right behind. They looked at Harry with love in their eyes, but at the same time they rushed toward Voldemort with hate on their faces, and enveloped him. Tom let out one last bloodcurdling scream as he was raised into the air and the life was taken out of him.

The body of Lord Voldemort lay in black blood, in the very spot that every student who had ever passed through Hogwarts had sat beneath the sorting hat. Voldemort had fulfilled his destiny in the very spot he began it.

Harry felt a tremendous weight lift from him. He sank to his knees, knowing that it was finally over. Voldemort was gone, but not without a price. He could feel his very life ebbing away from within, just like he knew would happen. Harry's blood ran in Voldemort's veins, and when Harry took the life out of Voldemort, it was as if he had killed part of himself.

Harry now felt the pain of his injuries. Cuts, bruises, broken bones. He couldn't restrain it anymore.

Deep down, Harry had known he was going to die once he had vanquished Voldemort, as much as he kept that thought out of his head. He had known that this was the price he was to pay, no matter what he had told Hermione. Peace came at a high cost. Harry knew that, for none knew better than he. He knew that Dumbledore hadn't even known what would happen. But Harry knew. And the time had come.

And what did Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived-and-conquered, do?

Harry Potter began to weep. Weep because of the lives lost because of the war. Weep because he was leaving so many behind, and weep because Voldemort was finally gone.

"He's gone, Dumbledore, gone for good!" said Harry through his tears.

He sank lower to the ground and into somebody's arms.

Hermione's.

He could feel Ron gripping his hand.

"I'm so sorry," Harry croaked.

"For what, Harry?" asked Hermione, trying to stop her voice from shaking. Harry has a feeling that Hermione knew what was happening. And she was frightened.

"For leaving you all."

"No!" shouted Hermione, with a hint of hysteria in her voice. "You can't go! Not now!"

"Harry," came Dumbledore's voice, "Don't worry, and don't give up. You're going to be okay."

He felt something wet surrounding him. His own blood.

"It's no use," said Harry.

"You listen to me!" shouted Remus. "You cannot leave! Just focus on us. We're getting you help!"

"Harry! You can't leave! Don't leave me Harry! We're getting married soon! You can't go now! Harry, please!" screamed Hermione.

Harry began to weep harder.

"It's not fair, GODDAMMIT!" he screamed!

"Harry, you're not going anywhere!" shouted Ron, who was still gripping his hand painfully tight.

Harry smiled grimly, but didn't answer. He heard Hermione sobbing loudly, and saw the tears flow down everybody's face.

Nobody said it was going to be okay anymore because it wasn't.

He could see more people coming in. Schoolmates and teachers. He saw Professor Snape come in. He went straight to Dumbledore.

"The Mark, Headmaster... it's gone. Does that mean...?"

"Yes, Severus, but at what cost, I do not yet know," answered Dumbledore looking the oldest Harry had ever seen him, glancing at Harry.

Snape sucked in a sharp breath as he looked at Harry.

"My god, Dumbledore, you've got to get him help, he's going to--"

"Shhh...leave him be. He knew the possibilities."

Harry saw Dean, Seamus, Parvati, Lavender, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Draco Malfoy... All of them had been fighting for him. Sobs came from everyone as they watched their hero and teacher slowly slip away in Hermione's arms.

He focused on Hermione's face, the last thing he wanted to see before he died.

"Hermione, remember that I'll always be there with you... Never forget me..."

"I won't forget you Harry! I love you! Promise you'll wait for me! Don't--Don't leave me behind!" she sobbed out.

"Always."

The pain worsened. Harry squeezed his eyes shut.

His life began to flash before his eyes. His Hogwarts letter, the troll, Hermione petrified, Giant Basilisk, Sirius grinning at him, Cedric, Krum, the Triwizard Cup, Umbridge, Grawp, the Veil, and Death. So much death. He saw it all in his head.

****

"Some say he died. Codswallop, in my opinion. Dunno if he had enough human left in 'em to die... No, I reckon he's still out there, too weak to carry on..."

"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why, but I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you. After all, He-who-must-not-be-named did great things... Terrible, yes, but great."

"If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loves us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin."

"Voldemort is my past, present, and future, Harry Potter..."

"There are strange likenesses between us, after all. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself. We even look something alike...but after all, it was merely a lucky chance that saved you from me."

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please--I'll do anything..."

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off..."

"Hasn't your experience with the Time-Turner taught you anything, Harry? The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed..."

"...But look, Harry! My true family returns...."

"This is old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it... but no matter. I can touch him now."

"Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery."

"No good sittin' worryin' abou' it. What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does."

"We both know there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom."

"If Death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy...."

"There is no shame in what you are feeling, Harry. On the contrary... the fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength."

"You do care. You care so much you feel as if you will bleed to death with the pain of it."

"It is time for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything. I ask only a little patience. You will have your chance to rage at me--to do whatever you like--when I have finished. I will not stop you."

"The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches..."

"We are gathered here today to mourn the deaths of..."

"Not letting dear old Dumbledore fight for you anymore? Come for revenge?"

"I won't forget you Harry! I love you! Promise you'll wait for me! Don't--Don't leave me behind!"

-*-*-

"Don't leave, Harry," said Dumbledore, almost desperately.

"Why, Dumbledore... To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure!" said Harry lightly, with almost a hint of amusement in his voice, though it was covered by the pain.

Harry Potter then breathed his last. The life finally left his stunning green eyes for good, the beautiful eyes, so like his mother's.

Nothing left of the boy-who-lived, now the boy-who-conquered, but a ghost of a smile, playing softly across his lips. They had won.

Harry had finally fulfilled his destiny.

He had completed the task fate had set for him, and it was his turn to finally have peace. Harry Potter would be with his parents again. The parents that Voldemort has taken away from him; condemning him to spend ten years of hell with the Dursleys. No matter. Voldemort was reaping his reward right then. You reap what you sow.

Hermione let out a wail of lament as Harry's body became peacefully still, and a sudden quietness settled over the great hall. Harry's spirit unwillingly left the earth, but not before giving Hermione one last, though invisible, kiss. Remus buried his head in his hands, the last of the great marauders of Hogwarts. Ron wept harder then ever before. Dumbledore shed silent tears, never removing his eyes from Harry's still peaceful face. The rest just bowed their heads, and let the tears fall.

To most, he was the boy who had lived and conquered. But in the end, it hadn't made much difference. Voldemort was gone, but at too high a cost. They lost Harry. He wouldn't be forgotten. He would live on in each of them. Those who knew him would remember him, not as the boy-who-lived, but as Harry, just Harry, who barely was given a chance to do just that-- live.

He would not be forgotten.

~fin~