My Unreality

Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter characters etc.

Warning: Book 1-6 spoilers

A/N: An idea that has been in my head for some time. Big thanks to my BETA, Katie!!

Into The Light

Lightning struck the air, tearing the night sky apart; its swirling blackness suffocating the moon. The jagged lights briefly illuminated the bloodied ground below where a fierce battle had raged. Only two people were left standing; each one's eyes locked on the other, oblivious to the storm around them.

The raven-haired boy wiped the blood off his face, his breathing ragged as he glared at the man before him with intense hatred. “You killed them!” He yelled, choking slightly on his tears, “Now you'll die!”

The man laughed, a cold fearless laugh that would have made any other person shiver in fear, “And what are you going to kill me with?” The man asked, his crimson eyes smiling mockingly, “Your pathetic curses?” He laughed again and walked forward, his black cloak blowing in the wind. “Poor precious Potter, the saviour of the wizarding world,” The man laughed, “You've already lost everything you love. What is the use in fighting me now? No one is here to welcome you back home, Harry.” He said cruelly.

Harry walked forward, his emerald eyes sparkling with hatred, “Nothing matters to me anymore; you've made sure of that.” He said bitterly, the hatred surging through him like a poison. “Only one of us lives tonight, Voldemort, and I won't be running.”

Voldemort smiled and brought out his wand, “Then let us begin.”

Harry nodded and raised his wand in salute. He thought that he would have been more scared than this, but after everything he had been through, all the friends he had seen killed, somehow he had become numb. Only one thing was clear to him, and that was to kill the spawn of hate before him; the man who had taken everything from him, replacing it with bitterness and despair. This was his last chance to end it all. It was either kill or be killed, and Harry wasn't giving up without a fight.

Voldemort narrowed his crimson eyes and sent a jet of purple light to Harry. Harry deflected it easily with his wand and grinned, “You didn't think I would come here unprepared, did you?” He said mockingly.

”So you learnt a few tricks; it still won't be enough.” Voldemort sneered.

They clashed together in battle, sending curse after curse, until Harry thought he was so magically drained he would collapse. He knew he could not keep it up any longer, soon the inevitable avada kedavra would come, and that would be it. Voldemort was just toying with him, and they both knew it.

Harry gasped as a spell hit his leg. He heard the bone snap sickeningly, and a surge of pain shot through his body. His leg gave a nasty throb, and Harry collapsed to the ground. Gasping slightly, he stared at his mutilated leg; the bone was sticking out at an odd angle, and blood oozed from it with each throb of pain.

Voldemort laughed, “You cannot run from me now, Harry.”

He moved towards Harry menacingly, and Harry realised with a sudden jolt that he had lost his wand. He looked around feverishly for his wand and saw it lying on the muddy ground.

”Got-to-get-wand,” Harry gasped, as he stretched his fingers out, while trying to push himself towards the wand. His hands closed around the muddy wand, when Voldemort's foot slammed down on his fingers. Harry heard the crunching of the bones in his fingers and the loud snap of the wood splitting in two.

He cried out in pain and looked up into Voldemort's pitiless gaze. “I'm going to crush you until nothing is left.” Voldemort said softly, his crimson eyes lighting with malice. “And then you shall die, knowing that everything you have loved I have destroyed.”

Harry could feel the rage boiling inside him, the desire to kill taking over him. His hand slid around the mud coming to rest on a particularly jagged rock. Harry grasped the rock in his hand and looked up at Voldemort, “I won't let you win!” He yelled desperately.

Voldemort laughed and leaned closer, whispering softly, “My dear boy, you've already lost.”

Harry lunged forward with the rock, slicing Voldemort's neck, the blood splattering his face like crimson rain.

Voldemort fell back sputtering and choking, clutching his neck in disbelief.

Harry sat up and stared at Voldemort, “You were right in saying my spells couldn't hurt you, but even you can't stop this.” He said firmly.

Voldemort stared at Harry through his crimson eyes, “You'll never kill me, Harry. I'll always be there like your shadow until the day you die.”

Harry watched as Voldemort took one last shuddering breath and fell back against the ground in a pile of blood.

”You won't come back this time.” Harry said firmly.

He sighed and fell back against the mud, staring up at the stormy skies. He had defeated Voldemort, but he had gained nothing; Hogwarts was destroyed and all his friends murdered.

”I can't even move.” Harry said bitterly. Was he going to just have to lie here next to Voldemort's body until he bled to death?

Unbearable tiredness seemed to sweep over Harry. He closed his eyes and felt the blackness start to surround him. If this was what death was like, it wasn't so bad. It kind of felt like you were falling into a peaceful dream, even the pain in his leg and hand seemed to have lessened.
Suddenly a blinding light shot out through the air. Harry opened his eyes and sat up with a jolt. White light poured around him, and he could feel a strange sensation in his body. What's going on? He thought to himself.

A still silence rang through the air, and Harry could only hear his own ragged breathing. That couldn't be right; there was a storm.

He looked next to him, but Voldmeort's body had gone. “What's going on?” Harry said, confused.

”Harry.” A voice said softly.

Harry looked up into the blinding white light and saw a figure descending from the light, her brown hair blowing gently in a non-existent wind.

”Hermione?” He whispered, tears falling from his eyes.

”Harry,” she whispered coming in to close the door.

”Hermione, what are you doing?” Harry asked, quickly pulling on his shirt.

”I'm sorry,” Hermione said, blushing, “I just needed to talk to you.”

”Oh?” Harry said surprised and sat down on the bed. “What's up?”

Hermione fidgeted slightly with her hands and frowned. Harry had never seen her so agitated before; she was normally so calm. “Hermione?” he prompted.

”Harry, please don't go to the cave; it's too dangerous. I promise we'll find another way.” She burst out desperately.

Harry sighed, “Hermione, you know there is no other way.”

”But-“

”No,” Harry said firmly, “You know what I have to do.”

Hermione stared at him, her honey brown eyes filling with tears, “But so many people have died already. I don”t want you to-“

”I'm not going to die, Hermione.” Harry said firmly and pulled her into his arms. “Don't you believe in me anymore?” He asked, looking down at her sadly.

”I do believe in you,” Hermione said softly, “But I don't want you to go.” She grasped his hands firmly and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, “I love you, Harry.”

Harry stared at her shocked. His whole life he had wanted to hear those words, and now hearing them, he finally understood why love was such a treasured thing. Looking into her eyes he knew that nothing could compare to the feelings of warmth that burned through him. “I love you too.” Harry said, smiling tenderly before he kissed her gently on the lips.

Harry opened his eyes and stared around him. The pillar of light, and the person had gone. Harry was surprised to see that his leg and hand had been healed.

”What's going on?” he muttered, standing up.

He peered around the room, but it appeared that there was no way out.

”Harry,” the voice said again, but this time clearer.

Harry spun around and saw Hermione standing before him clothed in white. She looked unearthly, almost angelic.

”Hermione, it really is you?” Harry said disbelievingly.

Hermione smiled, “Wake up, Harry.”

Harry tried to walk forward, but the world began to dissolve. He stared at Hermione's smiling face as it began to fade, “No, come back!” he shouted as he ran forward. Harry yelped in surprise as the ground fell away, plummeting Harry into the blinding light below.

OOOOOOOOOOO

”Young man, what are you doing?” A voice asked shocked.

Harry groaned and opened his eyes. His body felt stiff, and an odd buzzing sound was ringing in his head. “Where am I?” he asked as he looked around the cool stone walls that looked so familiar.

”Must have hit his head.” Someone said amused. Harry thought he recognised that voice but couldn't quite place it.

He stood up and swayed slightly; he noticed a bunch of people staring at him curiously. A man Harry had seen before was peering at him through his glasses, “Maybe you should go to Madam Pomfrey?” He said firmly.

Harry stared at them, confused, “What are you talking about?” Madam Pomfrey was dead; how could he go see her?
He stared at the young girl looking at him and was surprised to see a Ravenclaw crest on her robe. That was when it hit him: stone walls, the familiar faces, he was in Hogwarts, though he couldn't understand how.

”I have to go,” Harry said quickly and walked away slightly shakily. What was going on? And how was he possibly in Hogwarts?

He walked down the familiar corridors and gasped as a boy with flaming red hair walked past. “RON!” Harry yelled, running forward. “Ron, it's me. Harry!”

Ron looked at him confused. His blue eyes narrowed slightly, “What do you want?”

”Huh?” Harry said, confused.

”Don't even talk to me,” Ron said rudely and walked away.

Harry watched him walking away feeling very confused. What was up with Ron?

He looked around and noticed Hermione walking alone towards the library. “Hey!” Harry called, running forward, “Hermione.”

Hermione stopped and looked at him, confused, “Harry?”

Harry felt a wave of relief sweep over him; at least one of his friends recognised him. “Hey, what's going on?”

”Sorry?” Hermione said, puzzled, “What are you talking about?”

Harry sighed, “Well, you are my friend, aren't you?”

Hermione gazed at him blankly, “Friend? You hardly even talk to me.” She accused.

”What?” Harry said surprised, “Of course I talk to you; you're my best friend.”

Hermione only stared at him. “I think you've hit your head. Maybe you should get Madam Pomfrey to check it out?”

Harry let out a frustrated yell. Why wasn't anyone talking to him normally? “Look, I just defeated Voldemort, and now I'm in this weird place, and I need your help to get me back.”

Hermione walked forward and felt his head, “Are you feeling alright?” She asked concerned.

”What? Didn't you even listen to me? I defeated Voldemort!!” Harry declared.

”Um, Harry, who is this Voldemort? Seriously, did you take some babbling potion or something?” Hermione asked, bemused.

Harry stared at her, shocked. There was no way that anyone in the wizarding world would say, `who is this Voldemort?' Something was wrong, and Harry had to find out what.

”Ahh, Mr. Potter.” Professor McGonagall said briskly as she walked forward. “I've been looking for you. Your mother is here to see you.”

”Mother?” Harry said faintly. He stared behind Professor McGonagall and saw a beautiful woman with emerald-coloured, almond-shaped eyes. Her long ruby red hair fell around her, and she smiled tenderly. “Harry, how are you feeling now?”

”Mum?” Harry gasped, “Is that really you?”

Lily laughed, “Of course it's me, Harry.”

”This can't be real.” Harry said fervently, all of a sudden feeling very light headed.

They all looked at him strangely, and Harry knew, whereever he was, it was certainly not his reality.

A/N: Review please and tell me what you think.