Forever

The last note rang out and the last words fell from my mouth. Forever. It was a whisper on the air of the hall. I looked out into the hall. Never had I done this before, but I felt compelled to tell them. I had never sung before, but as I proved, I could sing in a club. I swept the tables with my gaze, picked up my glass and started.

"You've no doubt heard the story of the final battle. Well...I'll tell it tonight." I took a swig of the liquid from my glass. Triple shot tequila. Always good for when you spill your heart.

"It started with the final battle. Two men going at it to free or enslave the world...Well actually it began eighteen years before." I sat down on a bar stool that had been placed on the stage. " A prophecy was made about who would have the power to kill Voldemort. Lily and James Potter had given birth to a son, as had Alice and Frank Longbottem. These two children fell into the predicted date of the prophecy, but one child was chosen. One Harry Potter.

I was fortunate to meet Harry, eleven years after his parent's death. He was alone, lost in this world of magic. I met him on that train on our first day. He was sorted into Griffindor. So was I. As the year went on, we became close friends. Through many adventures we rode. But the burden grew. Even now I wish I could have helped. He gained more friends and a certain Sirius Black." A small smile crept at the corner of my mouth.

"Harry and Sirius became close." Then my smile faded. "He was taken from Harry, the only person who understood his burden. The prophecy was told and his pain grew. I watched through that year, as the dark circles grew darker still. His face pale and wax like, with sunken eyes, once green, but then dull and lifeless. I was there...I was there the day he cracked." Pain throbbed through my heart and a single tear stung my eyes.

"He told us, the DA, about the prophecy. Teachers came in the end to comfort him, but the truth was told and a vow was made. We promised him he would not face this alone. We would not follow, but would stand beside him. He became part of a family. The Weasly family in fact. But now the DA became his other family." The tear formed a stream, cutting away the mask I held over my emotions.

"Then Remus was killed. No, he was tortured, then slaughtered." My voice breaks. "He was left in his bedroom before Christmas. Harry went to visit him...I can still hear his scream. He yelled out in pain, in horror...in anger!" I downed the drink. "I never saw him while I was at Hogwarts over the Christmas. I knew he had hid away. The sixth year drew to a close and he was sent back to his Uncle and Aunt. He was then sent to Hogwarts after a breach in security, but seeing him on that day..." I swallowed back the lump in my throat. "Seeing that tortured look on his face when he was told that the Weasly family had been attacked. He cried out in rage, but inside his heart was breaking. He attacked Draco at the beginning of the seventh year as Draco's Dad had killed Ron and Ginny after he had driven them mad. He had also Raped Molly again and again. They found her naked body hanging from a tree a week later. Her wrists were slashed." I wiped angrily at my face.

"The next hurt came when Hermione was killed. She was thrown off the Astronamy tower in the middle of the night. No one knew who killed her, or if she had taken her own life. Suicide was eventually put on the death certificate. But we knew someone inside the castle had killed her. She was so determined to kill Voldermort herself that no one understood why she would just give up." I slumped my shoulders in despair. "Harry snapped that day. He charged out of the castle and ran to the gate. He was met by Voldemort. They took their fight to the field and there they beat each other senseless. We watched from the towers, from the windows and the front entrance door. We watched as the last spell was cast. Voldemort fell from Harry's newest spell, the new and fourth unforgivable curse. He named it the forever curse, because it trapped the soul forever. He turned to crowd. Reporters had shown up near the start as did Minister fudge." I spat those words. Fudge the little rodent; he ignored so much until it was too late.

"Harry turned to them...to us. He said 'I have done your task that was asked of me from before I was born. Are you happy now? Can I rest at last? Can I lay down these burdens and mourn my friends and family? Can I start my life a new?' Then he fell to his knees. His close friends ran to his side. Even the press knew to keep out the way. I knelt by him as he fell onto his back. He then muttered his last words to those he knew." The tears fell once more.

"He said 'Tom Riddle became like that because of his own burden, don't ever let anyone have that again. We know what has happened because of those mistakes. Learn from History; don't let it replay again. I have sacrificed everything for you. Don't let it go to waste. I am free forever.' He took his last breath, past his last real smile and left us forever. He was my friend. I mourn him for his burden. I celebrate his freedom, but something will happen that will put burden one someone. They will turn evil and this event will happen again. He lost so much, for what he knew would happen again. He did this, if only to give us a little extra time before the next event. Remember him."

I put my glass down on the stage. Put my coat over my arm. Stood up. And swept my gaze across the empty hall. No one will hear this, because there is no one left to tell it to. No one who will listen. I walked down the stage and to the door. I only hope he has not died in vain. I only wish things had played out differently. But I know there is no point living in the past. I have to help the next before they die for the world. What can be done but to learn from the past and move on?

Opening the door I feel the cool air rush in, like the last breath Harry James Potter took. I am all that is left of the DA, of this family formed from pain. There is no one left as I walk out that empty hall into the cool night air. "Remember him...Forever!"