Phoenix Echoes

“Phoenix Echoes”

Harry Potter stood alone amidst the smoke, debris and broken bodies which surrounded Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The remains of the world’s last hope to defeating Voldemort. The war was now over, Voldemort was finally defeated, though not without the sacrifice of millions.

Harry had been called earlier from Ron’s home, where Hermione was giving birth to her and Ron’s first child. Despite his and Ron’s wishes, at Hermione’s insistence that she would be fine with only Molly Weasley, they left to fight the epic battle which raged on the Hogwarts grounds.

Harry and Ron themselves had struck the final blow together. Voldemort was finally dead, but the release of his pent up magical energy had more dire consequences than any of them could have imagined. One by one, all the magical communities fell, all magical lives lost forever, all save Harry.

He stood alone as he watched all those around him fall to the ground, unmistakably dead. He watched silently as a great chasm opened in his heart. Emptiness, shock, heartbreak filled him. Cold dead eyes surveyed the destruction. Harry gazed at all the lives lost, at his best friend who would never again feel the joys of life, who would never again gaze upon his wife or child, except in eternity.

Harry stumbled across the grounds, as tears filled his eyes. Hogwarts castle still stood, high and proud. Harry ran through the silent corridors, echoes of laughter and joy mocking him as he ran on. He finally collapsed, as silent sobs racked his body and for the first time in years, Harry Potter let himself cry for the victims of hate, cruelty and war.

*****

Time passed before Harry finally raised himself form the cold stone floor. he passed silently through the empty castle with only one purpose in his grief stricken mind. He found his way to the headmaster’s office. Cold glittering steel caught his eye. Harry’s fist broke the cabinet, sending shards of glass flying across the room. He glanced at his hand, watching in fascination as blood trickled down his wrist. Harry felt the life and magic flowing steadily in his veins. The same blood which had brought about the resurrection of Voldemort and the only thing that had protected and shielded him against Voldemort’s power and magic.

Harry picked up the sword lying in the cabinet, fingering the sharp blade. There was no reason to keep on living. It would be so easy. An end to his suffering, his pain, an end to the agony of life. He pressed the cold steel to his chest, savouring the last moments of life. He took a last shuddering breath...

“...scritch...”

Harry jumped at the sudden noise and caught a glimpse of movement. A quill was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment located on a desk. Harry leaned over and read...

Molly Hope Weasley
born June 6th, 2003 7:38pm
Parents: Hermione Granger-Weasley (deceased)
Ronald Weasley (deceased)

The sword clattered to the floor and Harry wept again, becoming once more “the boy who lived”. He fingered the name engraved in the sword as courage and new hope filled him. There would be more tears, sorrows, pain and heartbreak in the future, but as always, life would go on. Harry now rose with new purpose, his ears ringing with the faint echoes of a phoenix song.