Lumos Obscurum

Epilogue

A concentrated white fog filled the air. Harry stood by himself on what felt like a misty marshland, encased in this thick haze. The air was heavy, and it was rather difficult to breathe. He wasn't sure where he was, though he had a vague suspicion that he had been here before. The wet ground indicated that he might be near a shore, but he heard no swell of the ocean.

He stood, and waited. He was only greeted by more of the white murkiness every way he turned. He had a feeling that he had been waiting in this place for quite a while... hours, maybe days.

That's all right. He was patient.

He knew the thing he was waiting for would come, eventually.

He wandered through the mist, idly brushing it with one hand.

After a few more moments of waiting, a rickety-looking wooden bridge materialised in front of Harry, and Harry could make out a figure approaching from the other side. It stopped just before it could set foot on the bridge, remaining on the opposite side from Harry.

"Harry," the figure acknowledged. "I didn't expect to see you here so soon."

Harry smiled. "Hello, Sirius."

He moved to walk quickly over the bridge to meet Sirius, but an invisible obstruction blocked his way, preventing him from crossing. He pushed his hands against the barrier, but it would not budge. Harry glanced up to meet Sirius's gaze, confused.

"Sirius?" he asked. "Why can't I cross?"

Sirius smiled sadly. "I don't think it's your time yet, Harry."

"I want to cross," Harry said. "I want to be with you."

"It's not fair, is it?" Sirius agreed and shook his head. "We spent so little time together before I was called away."

"But I'm here now. We can have all the time in the world to do as we please!" Harry made another push at the barrier - the only thing preventing him from a long-awaited reunion with Sirius - but he could not get through.

"And we still can," Sirius said. "Only, we will have to wait for another time. You still have much to do, Harry."

"No, I don't!" Harry protested. "I've destroyed Voldemort... I found a way, Sirius. I did it."

"Yes, you did," Sirius said. "I am proud of you, Harry. You conquered your anger and hate, and found the true path."

"It wasn't all me, though," Harry corrected him. "It was the sword that did it, really."

"No, Harry," Sirius smiled. "It was you. As we all knew it would be."

"We?" Harry repeated.

"Your parents," Sirius jerked his head back the direction he had come. "They are able to watch you sometimes... they saw what happened. They're very proud of you, too."

"My parents?" Harry craned his neck eagerly, but Sirius was the only figure he could see. "Where are they?"

"They're not here. Not many are able to venture to this place," Sirius gestured to the area around them. "Once we are through here, though, I will return to them. Don't worry, Harry," Sirius smiled. "They are happy."

"I want to see them," Harry said, frustrated. "Can't I see them?"

"They look forward to seeing you, too. But only when your time comes."

"Can't my time be now?"

"I'm afraid that's not the way it works. You still have-"

"Things to do, I know," Harry finished it for him. Sirius folded his hands in front of him and gazed at Harry calmly. Sirius was acting different... changed. Matured? Was that the right word?

"You can finish school now," Sirius continued. "You and your friends can live life as you should, without the threat of Voldemort hanging over your heads. You can finally live normally, like you've always wanted. You don't want to miss out on everything, do you?"

"I've finished off Voldemort," Harry insisted, feeling quite irritated. He wanted to be with Sirius... his parents... his entire family. Why was he being deprived of this? It's the only thing he's ever wanted. "The world is safe... so why can't things be over? Haven't I done enough?"

"I quite agree that you've done enough, Harry," Sirius answered. "And that is why you must go back. The time for trial and suffering has ended. It is time, now, for joy."

"Joy?" Harry asked in a slight confusion. His only task now in life was to be joyful?

"It's what your parents want for you," Sirius added quietly. "It's what I want for you. We want you to be happy."

Voices began to gather in the back of Harry's ear, and he felt a small tug in his chest.

Sirius glanced up at something unseen to Harry, and said, "We haven't much time left. He's calling you back."

"Draco?" Harry asked quickly, before he could stop himself. "Draco's trying to save me?"

One of Sirius's old, roguish grins lit his face, and Harry realised that Sirius knew more than he was letting on.

"Er, I mean," Harry stumbled in embarrassment, and he could feel his face turning red.

"We want you to be happy," Sirius reiterated. "And Draco Malfoy makes you happy."

"He does make me happy," Harry said quietly, mostly to himself. And he realised that he didn't know whether Draco emerged from the battle unscathed. Harry desperately wanted to see him... wanted to make sure he was okay.

The pulling sensation grew stronger, and Harry stumbled backwards a few steps with it. "Sirius?" he called uncertainly. He couldn't leave yet! He and Sirius had talked for barely five minutes!

"Listen to me, quickly," Sirius's voice sounded far off. "There is still much anger left in you, Harry. But you can let go of it, just like before. I know you can."

"Sirius!" He called again, stronger. The pulling in his chest was becoming unbearable, and it was all he could do to stay in place. But Sirius and the bridge were fading gradually away, dissolving into the hazy atmosphere.

"Let yourself know love. That brings more strength than hate will ever know," Sirius's voice diminished, just as his form, with these parting words. "And don't worry, Harry. We will be together again before long."

Harry felt a yank on his middle. He was flung back, air whooshing through his ears, that strange misty place disappearing from his vision as he tumbled away.

***

Harry awoke suddenly in a warm bed in some sort of dimly lit room. "Sirius?" he whispered. But Sirius was nowhere to be found. He looked around and, by the sterile white atmosphere, decided he must be in a hospital ward.

Harry shivered and drew himself deeply under the covers. Did he really communicate with Sirius? Or was it just a figment of his imagination? Harry couldn't tell... everything felt muddled.

He heard voices coming through the closed door to his left. It was those same voices which he had heard at the back of his mind while talking to Sirius.

"Ouch!" an unfamiliar female voice exclaimed. "You two are here again? What are you doing sitting in the middle of the hallway?"

"Nothing, just sitting here watching our barren lives pass us by,? Harry heard Ron's voice say in a deceptively innocent tone.

"I?ve told both of you before, visiting hours are precisely ten o?clock to three o?clock. Haven?t you two been in here enough? What good it does to simply stare at somebody sleeping, I don't know...."

Harry coughed and tried to find his voice. "Ron?" he said hoarsely. "Hermione?"

There was silence outside, then the door opened and Hermione's head peeked in. Her eyes were wide and disbelieving. "Harry?" She turned quickly back to the nurse and Ron, whom Harry could see standing anxiously in the hallway. "He's awake!" she said to them in shock.

"Where am I?" Harry he asked her with his raspy voice. As Hermione and Ron approached his bedside, he tried to raise himself up on his elbows, but couldn't summon enough energy.

"You're in St. Mungo's - no, don't try to sit up. You've been badly hurt, Harry. You were nearly dead when they brought you in," Hermione said frightfully.

"What happened?" he croaked. He ached all over, and felt worn out, both mentally and physically.

"Mundungus Fletcher showed up at Dumbledore's office not long after you had left," Ron started to explain. "Snape and McGonagall came too. They told us that Dumbledore had gone to the Ministry, and they were on guard for that evening."

"They asked where you had went, Harry," Hermione said. "I know we promised that we wouldn't tell anyone that you had gone after Voldemort, but they are Order members. We knew they could help."

"So McGonagall told us to wait in the office for Dumbledore's return, and they left to summon other Order members and go after you. We waited there for hours. We were so scared, Harry. We didn't know what was happening. It was nearly nightfall when Dumbledore came for us... when he had found out what happened, he went straight after you. When he arrived, he said that the battle was over, and that you had been taken to St. Mungo's, and he brought us here."

"Where's Dumbledore now?" Harry asked. "Did he stay?"

"He's been coming and going," Hermione said. "He's very busy, there's a lot he has to smooth over with the Ministry... It's been nearly two days since you were brought here-"

"Hold on," Harry said incredulously. "It's been two whole days?"

"You were in bad shape, mate," Ron said now, looking very solemn. "We... we weren't sure what was going to happen."

"Dumbledore said you were hit with the lingering effects of Avada Kedavra more than once. All those near touches took a toll on you, Harry. You were so pale when they brought you in...."

"What about Draco?" Harry was almost afraid to ask, but he couldn't hold out for any longer. "Is he okay?"

"Yes, he's all right. Thanks to you," Hermione said quietly, and Harry felt a great sense of relief. Draco was okay.

Hermione continued, "He's here... he's been healing you."

"Healing me?" Harry blinked at them. "But he doesn't like using his powers. He doesn't want anyone to know."

"No one does but us," Hermione said. "The nurses don't know. Dumbledore said to let them think they were doing the healing spells to keep them from asking questions. He had faith in Draco's abilities. He knew if anyone could make you better, it was Draco."

Harry leaned back into his pillow.

"And... Voldemort? What about him?" Harry asked, though he already knew the answer. He just needed to hear it.

"He's dead," Ron confirmed, grinning. "You did it."

"Well all did it," Harry said. "The sword is the reason Voldemort died and I survived. And I wouldn't have figured it out if it weren't for you two."

"You were the only one who could wield the sword properly," Hermione said resolutely. "I'm sure if any of us tried to, it wouldn't have worked. You were the only one who was meant to do it, like the prophecy said."

"I know," Harry whispered quietly. Sirius had told him. And he was sure, now, that his contact with Sirius had not been a hallucination.

"Wormtail's dead," Ron announced with a vigour. "He died with most of the Death Eaters there. About bloody time, I say."

Harry, too, felt no remorse over his death. It was time that he paid for his misdeeds.

"And one of the Aurors Stunned Lucius Malfoy," Hermione added. "He's back in the custody of the Ministry."

"Good," Draco's voice cut in and Harry looked up in surprise to find Draco leaning tiredly against the open doorway. "He was just going to let Voldemort do what he wanted with me, the bastard."

Harry summoned his remaining strength and sat up. "Malfoy."

Draco inclined his head. "Potter," he acknowledged. "Finally decided to rejoin the land of the living, did you?"

Harry smiled. "Well, it wasn't really my decision to make. But, yes, I have."

"I'm glad," Draco's voice turned soft.

There was a moment of silence as Harry and Draco contemplated each other. "Ron," Hermione murmured. "I'm hungry, let's find some food."

Harry's face flushed as Ron shot her a knowing grin. "Food - right. Let's go."

"We'll come back later, Harry," Hermione said to him as they departed. "And we'll talk more then."

Harry nodded, and they slipped past Draco to leave the room.

Harry gazed at Draco for a couple more seconds, before speaking. "Have you really been healing me for two days?"

"Yes."

"I didn't know you had that kind of power."

Draco laughed weakly. "I didn't, either."

"You look exhausted."

Draco shrugged. "I haven't had much sleep. I've been working on you constantly."

"I'm sorry," Harry mumbled, guiltily.

"Don't be," Draco approached the bed, and Harry could see the dark circles gathered under his eyes. "It was something I had to do. Do you want some water or anything? There's a pitcher right here."

Harry accepted the glass of water, and felt the refreshing liquid move smoothly down his throat as he drank.

Harry put down the glass when he was through, and stared down at his hands for a long moment.

"I saw Sirius," Harry said to him finally, almost inaudibly.

Draco stiffened. "How is that possible?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know. I almost can't describe it. I was in this strange in-between place. I wanted to go with him, but he wouldn't let me. He kept telling me to go back because I still had things to do. He wanted me to live my life, and be happy." Harry paused, and grinned. "He mentioned you by name."

"He did?" Draco blinked.

"Yeah. He said it was you who makes me happy."

"Oh," Draco mulled this over. "And... do I?" he asked.

"Yes," Harry said. "You do."

Harry pushed back the covers of his bed, and slid over to one side. "Come here," he said softly. Draco hesitated only a half an instant before climbing into the bed next to him.

With a comforted sigh, Draco lay back on the bed, and Harry wrapped his arms around him.

"Potter?" he spoke, and his voice was heavy with drowsiness. "Did you really mean what you said back there? At the end?"

"Yes," Harry answered simply.

"I knew," Draco murmured. "I knew you did."

Harry gently placed a finger underneath Draco's chin, and lifted his head up. Their eyes met, and Harry leaned his head down and kissed Draco, trying to pour all his feelings of love, trust, and care into this touch. Draco hungrily responded, threading his fingers through Harry's hair.

The kiss ended, and Draco rested his head against Harry's shoulder, closing his eyes and breathing peacefully.

Laying there in Draco's arms, Harry realised that the tremendous weight he had been carrying with him through his entire life had finally lifted. "It's over," Harry breathed against Draco in wonder, as the full enormity of what he had done finally hit him. "It's really over."

"Nah," Draco smiled at him. "It's only just beginning."

They settled against each other and drifted silently off to sleep. The dawn light floated across their still forms and over their gentle breathing... promise of a new day, the hope of a found love.

And it was beautiful.