So there I sat, slumped on the floor of the boathouse, battling against the poison coursing through my veins after the snake's numerous bites. Potter was nearby, of that I was certain. I could sense his soul. Ever since those Legilimency lessons with that stubborn boy that the old man had forced upon me, I could perceive him. I could sense him whenever he was close. I must have intruded into his mind too often and too brutally for there to be no traces left. My breath rattled heavily. I probably wouldn't be able to endure this pain much longer. Only two options remained open to me. Either I stayed there and surrendered myself to death willingly, or I made it to my laboratory in Spinner's End. But before I could dwell further on my possible end, I had to carry out Dumbledore's final command. I had to enlighten Potter about the bitter truth of his entire existence and his imminent death. I had to show him that he had been raised like a pig for slaughter, only to rectify the mistakes of others, and I had to lead the boy to his executioner. It should have been indifferent to me, I didn't want to feel anymore. I wanted to leave.

The Dark Lord smiled at me, pleased with his deed and yet weighed in false security, assuming himself now to be the true master of the Elder Wand. He disappeared along with the beast that called itself his pet and had torn open my throat. Just moments later, the door of the boathouse opened. The boy stared at me, horror etched across his face. He gasped heavily. Now I was certain that he and his friends were nearby and had heard everything, those poor children. He stood there briefly, then strode toward me. He knelt before me and pressed his lips together. He attempted to stem my bleeding, with his bare hands. Merlin forbid, this idiot! Unable to get angry at his incompetence as a wizard, I instead looked into his face. The sorrow and regret reflected in his eyes were genuine. Lily's eyes, that beautiful, unmistakable green. And yet, he was not her; the green was not as pure as hers. I felt the tears welling up, and with a spell, one of the drops dissolved. "Catch it!" I croaked. "Quick, catch it!" He understood and demanded a vial from Granger. He still pressed his hand to my throat. I felt the cold glass against my cheek and let the spell go along with the tears and my memories of Lily. "Look at me." My voice was only a whisper now. Just a breath of what it once was. He looked at me. Lily, I saw her. Everything about her was in him. All her goodness and loyalty, her love and sincerity. And yet, he was not her. He was so much more, and yet his light would extinguish forever today. I turned my head away. Away from her and from him. I had entrusted Lily to him; now I was free. I had fulfilled my duty, atoned for my mistakes, and paid with a life I never wanted to lead. I closed my eyes, and the golden trio marched into battle.

The familiar burning sensation on my arm jolted me out of my lethargy. Damn it, I was still alive. With the worst fears gripping me, I felt along my neck. The bites were no longer bleeding. The skin where the snake had caught me was crusted over. My wounds had been magically sealed. But by whom? Who in all the bad omens had done this to me?
The mark on my arm felt as if it were being freshly branded on me again.
Potter must be dead, he had killed him. I couldn't imagine it any other way. Nothing else would have stirred him up so much, made him so euphoric.

From a distance, I heard noises. Hissing and cracking, like wind whipping through leaves and snapping branches, followed by the sound of dull impacts. They were coming from the Forbidden Forest. From the sound of it, the giants were felling every tree that stood in their way.
And then his voice rang out in my head, and surely in the heads of all those still resisting. The cold sound echoed across the entire Hogwarts grounds. "Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you gave your lives for him. We will bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won..." I felt dizzy. The Dark Lord continued speaking, but I couldn't follow his words anymore.

My thoughts lingered on the boy. The boy who had just sacrificed himself. It had been in vain; the monster still lived. Had Albus been mistaken?
The rumble of the footsteps of the giants, undoubtedly staggering with the entire Death Eater horde over the bridge, above me, to the main gate, reached me down in the boathouse. I listened to them, hearing every step of the massive beasts, and then something light, gentle, and familiar brushed my mind. My pulse instantly quickened. It couldn't be!
Was this your plan, Albus? Did it have to end this way? What have you done, you old foolish man!

My mark, it burned again, worse than I had ever felt it. This time, and I was sure of it, he was angry. The pain in my arm brought me back to full consciousness. My body still fought against the poison. I wouldn't be able to Disapparate, not without splintering myself. But I had little else choice. I could either die here or attempt to make it to my laboratory. Perhaps I would die there, how optimistic. The burning on my arm suddenly ceased, and it did not return. From a distance, I heard shouts and then the popping of several Disapparations. After that, it fell silent; the entire grounds sank into a peaceful stillness. Slowly, I pushed up the sleeve on my left arm. The mark still blazed black on my skin, but the disgust that overcame me every time I looked at it was gone. It had given way to a deep exhaustion and resignation. Then I noticed that the snake was no longer moving. The image was now only what it should have always been, just an image. The Dark Lord was dead.

I reached for my wand and directed my thoughts to my home in Spinner's End.