The Middle Life

Harry held the sword of Godric Gryffindor in one hand and his wand in the other. He knew that this last spell was it. He'd felt Voldemort weakening under the onslaught of spells from his friends. He was on point in the formation. He looked down the lines of witches and wizards that stood slightly behind him. Molly and Arthur were there with the rest of the Weasleys minus Ron, who was on Harry's left. Sirius was to Ron's left and Hermione was to Harry's right and Remus was to her right. Directly behind Harry was Albus.

Harry drew in a sharp breath. His ribs ached. They were all bruised and battered but he'd taken the worst of it. Hermione had found a spell that linked everyone's mind to Harry's so he could tell them what to do next. This spell was a simple one but it had potential when all this energy was poured into it. What needed to be done was to physically draw blood or behead the Dark Lord. Severus had taken care of the Death Eaters. Sirius, in front of the Ministry and after a lengthily confession from Pettigrew, asked for permission to duel Wormtail to the death for dishonouring his name.

Surprisingly the Ministry agreed. Had Fudge still been the minister they wouldn't have agreed but Arthur Weasley had been promoted to the position after Fudge was found dead with the Dark Mark floating in the sky above him. So, Sirius got the satisfaction of defeating Pettigrew.

Harry recalled everything in his memory of the last eight years. Everything he had done concerning Voldemort since he'd rejoined the wizarding world to go to Hogwarts. He felt the energy and magic surging in his veins.

~Everyone, on my count of three, all we need to do is to stun him long enough for me to finish it. We all know my wand alone can't battle him.~

Every witch and wizard acknowledged Harry's thought. Wands were at the ready position. ~Three, two, one. NOW!~

In one voice the gathering shouted, "Stupefy!"

Streams of light shot out from more than fifty wands and struck Voldemort in the chest. He dropped to the ground. Harry ran forward after the light of the spell shimmered out. He raised the sword and in one mighty swing it was over. The head of Voldemort was separated from his body. Harry gave it a gentle shove away. To be on the safe side he ran the blade through the head and lifted it up. Blood trickled down and the eyes blinked at him once. Harry felt himself filling with anger suddenly. Seventeen years worth of anger at this man who took his life from him. The man who forced him to live the life of a servant because he'd murdered Harry's parents.

Lifting the sword, head and all above him, Harry plunged it through, where he guessed Voldemort's heart may have been. The head gave an ear splitting, dying scream. Harry's forehead was a fire with pain. He let go of the sword, staggered backwards and fell to the ground. He lost consciousness shortly after that.

"Harry!" a number of voices screamed. He didn't hear them. What he heard we the voices of his parents.

"Job well done, son," a disembodied voice said. Harry thought it was his own but when he opened his eyes his father's form was standing over him, smiling.

"Father?" Harry managed to say.

A nod was his reply and a hand was stuck out so Harry could stand.

"But where am I? Where's Mum?"

"I regret that she couldn't be here. She felt it would be too much of a temptation for you to stay here."

"But where is here?"

James again said nothing but beckoned Harry instead to a silvery pool that was a couple feet away.

Harry looked at it and he saw his own body next to Voldemort's. Everyone who'd been at the final battle was gathered around. Ms. Figg was hanging back from the group crying. Hermione and Ginny were each holding a hand to their cheeks crying. Ron was sitting with Harry's head in his lap and Molly was being consoled by Arthur.

With a wave of his hand a flood of sound entered the room. Harry could hear sobbing from everyone.

"James, I'm so sorry I didn't protect him better," Sirius was saying as he looked at the lifeless Harry in front of him.

"Harry, please come back to me," Ginny was whispering.

"Harry, I never told you this but you, you're like a brother to me. All the fights we've had, just like family," Ron was saying between sobs.

"Harry, the bond between the caster of the linking spell and the subject hasn't been broken," Hermione said, "I can feel you still here. Please don't leave us. I can feel your indecision. Harry we love you. Don't leave us," Hermione pleaded softly.

Madame Pomfrey was close by healing his wounds. Harry's aching ribs were slowly becoming less painful. It seemed that he could still feel his wounds.

"Do you understand why you mother didn't come Harry?"

Before Harry could answer he wiped the falling tears but that didn't stop them from coming.

"Dad, I understand," Harry paused, "I think. She gave her life for me to go on living. Now as I'm dying there on the ground, she wants me to keep living."

"Harry James Potter, it is not your time to go yet. You have other people to make happy. You have a destiny to fill. You have a son in your future," said another voice.

This one was right next to him as well but when Harry looked up his mother, not his father was the one next to him. Harry gasped and threw his arms around her.

"Mum, but I want to stay here with you and Dad. I've missed you both so much."

"Harry, it is not your time. You are here now so you can make it back to the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Look," Lily said as she gestured to the pool again.

Sure enough they had loaded him on a stretcher and mounted broomsticks. Hermione had his Firebolt since she didn't own a broom of her own. Dumbledore was casting a spell to hide their numbers. Ron and Sirius were setting a magical fire to the corpse of Voldemort. Ron and Sirius stayed behind to take care of the remains.

"Ron, you have been like a son to me and a brother to Harry. If he doesn't survive would you help me," Sirius voice caught in his throat.

Ron placed a hand on his shoulder, "Sirius, he'll make it. He made it out of being poisoned by a basilisk remember. Harry is strong. But, yes I will help you."

Harry couldn't think of bringing more pain to anyone. He saw Ron pull the sword, Harry's sword, out of the flames. It was sparkling like the first day Harry had drawn it out of the sorting hat.

"Harry, do you understand now, why you have to go back?" Lily said and gestured to the pool again. The scene changed to the hospital wing and the group leading a stretcher in. Ron and Sirius were at the very back of the group.

~They must have apparated back~ Harry thought. He could almost hear Hermione saying 'You can't Apparate onto Hogwarts grounds.' He smiled at that thought.

"Harry, it is time for you to go back. I love you and don't regret for a minute that I gave myself so you could live. Fill your destiny, Heir of Godric Gryffindor. My son, we are watching over you, always." With a hug Lily sent her son back to the world of the living.

As Harry faded away she said, "You will never forget this meeting. You will hold it in you until you have a son and pass on the Gryffindor legacy."

Harry's eyes snapped open and he was aware of his surroundings immediately. He gasped for breath. Poppy was next to him in a second grasping his hand and smiling.

"Welcome back, Mr. Potter. You had everyone worried there."

Hermione came bursting through the door followed by Ron and his family. Dumbledore, Sirius and many others trialed behind. Harry heard the commotion out in the hall and knew that the whole school had been waiting for him to return.