Stay With Me

Chapter 8

Olivia looked out at the vast forest. Tear's were streaming down her face as her heart clinched. If dying meant that Lily was safe, then she'd die. She'd finally be with her parents, and the people she loved.

What about Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco? What about all the others who love you and want you to live? A voice in the back of her head reminded her, but she shook them off. They would all move on. 

Olivia took a deep breath before taking off into the forest, looking for the Dark Lord. This was the end of her story and she was ok with it.

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Harry's heart was racing once he finally reached the Forest's edge. Within, further on, he could see Dementors drifting within the trees. Harry started to enter, then paused, reaching into his pocket and removed the Snitch. Eyes the words etched upon it: "I open at the close."

Harry frowned, then closed his eyes, brings the metal orb to his lips. His fingers trembling, then lower his hand, watching as the metal shell falls away to reveal... the Resurrection Stone. A jagged crack ran down its center, along the line representing the Elder Wand. The triangle and circle, representing the Cloak and Stone, are faintly visible. Harry stared at it, then closed his eyes and began to roll the Stone over in his hand.

"Once. Twice. Thrice..." Harry mumbled, this would take long, he thought to himself. Olivia needed him, but he needed his family too.

Harry stood for a moment and then, slowly, opened his eyes. Five people stood within the Forest: James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Lily Potter. Severus Snape stood behind them, a smile on his face.

Lily eyed him lovingly and beckoned him forth. As if in a dream, Harry drifted through the trees, stopped before her. "You've been so brave, sweetheart." She smiled down at him, Harry could believe his eyes. "You and your sister." 

"Why are you here? All of you?" Harry asked as he looked at them all.

"We never left, dear." Olivia knew she shouldn't have waited for Harry to show up, but she didn't want to die before saying goodbye to him.

"Does it hurt? Dying?" Olivia asked as she walked from behind a tree. Harry almost dropped the stone in his hand.

"Liv!" Tear welded in her eyes again, and Harry pulled her into his chest. This was his little sister, the only family that he had left. 

"Quicker than falling asleep." Sirius told Olivia with tender eyes, she was so young, barely about to do magic outside of school. Merlin, she hadn't even finished school.

"And he will want it to be quick." Remus reminded her and she nodded.

"You're nearly there, Bug." Olivia lifted her eyes and saw her father behind James. Her heart clinched and a new wave of tears fell.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want any of you to die for me. And Remus, your son..." Lupin looked at the siblings, it always confused him when the spoke together.

"Others will tell him what his mother and father died for. Someday he'll understand..."

A chill breeze shook the trees. Harry looked ahead as Olivia took a deep breath. "I...Goodbye Harry." With that Olivia ran back into the forest.

"No!" Harry looked at the other. "You'll stay with me?"

"Until the end." James reminded his son as Snape dissipated.

"He won't be able to see you?" Sirius shook his head, gesturing to Harry's heart.

"No. We're here, you see." Harry turned to his mother.