the_debt_of_time

He stared into the mirror image of himself that he knew to be his father.
Harry had always known his parents had died so very young, but to see them face-to-face like this
only reminded him more of his own impending mortality. He was only seventeen, but soon to die at the
hands of the man that killed both of his parents—not much younger than they had been when they died.
"You're nearly there, son," his father said with a smile on his face. "We are so proud of you."
"I'm scared," Harry said. "Does it hurt?"
"Dying?" his mother asked. "Not at all, sweetheart. Don't be afraid. We're here with you."
"I'm so sorry. You died, and it was all because of me.. ."
"It was because we made choices, son," his father insisted. "Life isn't about fate. It's about choice.
We chose to fight. The only thing we didn't choose was to protect you because that came naturally. As
naturally to us as you protecting those you love."
Harry tried to summon back his courage. "Ginny and Sirius and Ron and Hermione."
His father grinned brightly.
"You'll stay with me?" Harry asked.
"Until the very end."
"Hermione!" Harry called out for her as he began to wander in the direction of the
clearing where the final battle had taken place—where Voldemort had struck him down
with the Killing Curse, destroying the Horcrux inside of him and ultimately sealing
everyone's fate. The place where Sirius and Remus were tortured, where Neville killed
Nagini, and where Hermione tried sacrificing herself.
"Harry Potter."
Harry turned, wand drawn on instinct until he was met with a familiar face and
withdrew it with an apologetic smile. "Firenze. You're looking... well," he said, his eyes
immediately scanning the centaur's flank where he knew he had been wounded in battle.
"I didn't expect to see you in the forest."
The palomino centaur stepped forward, his long, white-blond hair pulled to the side
in a braid. "While the castle is being finished, I have re-joined my herd here and have yet
to decide whether or not to return to the school."
"Have the planets and stars not told you what's already going to happen?" Harry
asked with a wry grin and was answered by a silent stare that looked neither upset nor
amused but left him feeling guilty all the same. "Sorry. Umm... you haven't seen
Hermione, have you?"