Don\'t Jump

His breath escaped him with a soft puff, clouding the air before dissipating swiftly only to replaced with another. He stared over the roof taking in the softly glowing lights of the city bellow him, eyes tracing the path of the automobiles traveling on the roads.

He viewed the world from the top of a thirty story building with a sort of apathetic demeanor, wonder how something as bloody as a magical war could end in a muggle city such as this, with so many people unaware of the darkness walking among them.

Harry leaned against the waist high barrier separating him from open air and sighed. Eight years he’d been doing this, fighting a mad man to save the world he loved. Ironic that would end here of all places, at least he hoped it would end.

On top of the roof
The air is so cold and so calm
I say your name in silence
You don't wanna hear it right now

“Potter?” The deep rough voice of his professor caused his eyes to slide closed, an ignored ache throbbing in the center of his chest.

“Yes, professor Snape?” Harry turned, automatically shielding his mind.

The man sneered, “We found him, Potter, time for you to do your duty.”

Harry’s eyes closed again sliding shut with pain, and he turned away again, leaning against the wall unable to stop the sudden burning of tears, “I’ll be ready,” He spoke softly, his voice hoarse from lack of use, A tear slid from his cheek falling to splash somewhere in the city bellow.

The eyes of the city
Are counting the tears falling down
Each one a promise
Of everything you never found

Severus Snape studied the hunched back of the you man before him, sharp eyes taking in the slightly shaking form before him and sneered slightly to himself, “It’s nothing to cry about Potter,” He watched as the boys back tensed, stilling for a moment before relaxing and straightening.

“Of course not,” Harry turned, and Severus caught a glimpse of the exhausted, ancient soul beyond shuttered eyes. He watched the jade eyes slide from his to glance over the roof once more before snapping back to his face an instant look of guilt gracing his features.

I scream into the night for you
Don't make it true, don't jump
The lights will not guide you through
They're deceiving you, don't jump

“Harry,”

The boys head snapped up, eyes flashing dangerously, “Don’t Snape,” He commanded, his voice dull, “I get it from everybody else, I don’t need it from you,”

His eyes closed with a sigh, “What will you remember?”

Severus frowned, confusion marring his usually expressionless mien, “What do you mean boy?” He stepped closer and Harry turn away, once more a gentle sigh carried to him on cold air.

“What will you remember when this is over?”

Severus felt his heart clinch as he heard the words the child hadn’t spoken, What will you remember of me when I’m gone? His jaw clinched as his thought raced for something he could say to reassure the boy.

Don't let memories go of me and you
The world is down there out of view
Please, don't jump

“It’s okay,” Harry said, “I wasn’t really expecting an answer,”

He glanced sideways, “I never hated you,” He spoke softly, and Severus moved nearer to grasp the soft words, “I tried so hard when he died, but I never could,”

He glanced at the stormy sky, the reflection the orange lights of the city bellow casted upon it. As they watched snow fell from above dancing on the wind and painting the air white,

Harry shivered, “I barely remember being happy in this world, I don’t remember what I’m supposed to be living for…only that I do…”

You open your eyes
But you can't remember what for
The snow falls quietly
You just can't feel it no more

“I’m almost happy that I’ll die tonight,” The young man ignored the harsh intake of breath from his silent companion, “I’m ready for it, all I feel now is pain, and it hurts so badly,” He laughed brokenly, “Ironic isn’t it, how you always tried to save me,” He bit his lip harshly, “Sometimes I used to wish you could save me from myself,” He cast a sideways glance in his potion masters direction.

Somewhere out there
You lost yourself in your pain
You dream of the end
To start all over again

“I wanted to save you as well,” He continued, almost thoughtfully. “You were always in the same kind of pain I was, even if you wouldn’t admit it,” His eyes clenched tightly and his bottom lip trembled, “I thought you would see,” He said brokenly.

I scream into the night for you
Don't make it true, don't jump
The lights will not guide you through
They're deceiving you, don't jump

Severus touched his arm lightly surprised when the boy didn’t jump, “I am truly sorry Harry,” He looked over the city ignoring the snow surrounding them, “I never saw you when I was looking,”

“I know,” The boy leaned into his hand seeking touch he had never been given, “I forgive you,” He didn’t hide his tear, “I need you to know that,”

Don't let memories go of me and you
The world is down there out of view
Please, don't jump, don't jump

He then brushed the tears away with his hand and stood straight for a silent moment, “Are you ready, Snape,” His for certain and calm, serene as the snow that fell around him, “There is one last this I must ask of you,”
Severus nodded.

I don't know how long
I can hold you so strong
I don't know how long

They found him on an almost identical roof top, not far away, surrounded as always by blank masks. Harry walked slowly across the thin layer of snow, ignoring their audience to stand before the man who had taken so much for him, “Tom,” He spoke tiredly, eyes clouded and withdrawn.

“You cannot defeated me Harry,”

Just take my hand
Give it a chance
Don't jump

The boy nodded, seemingly not surprised by this, and Severus knew he was not, but be the multiple gasps around him, the others were, “I know I can’t, right now, no one can,” he smiled sadly, “I can die, Tom,”

Lord Voldemort acknowledged this statement with a nod identical to the one Harry had given earlier ostensibly pleased that the boy-who-lived-to-annoy-him had finally chosen wisely.

Behind Harry Severus put out a hand to stop the Order from jumping forward at the boy’s words, and he realized why he had been chosen as a concessioner.

He was the only one who knew enough about duty to let the boy go.

I scream into the night for you
Don't make it true, don't jump
The lights will not guide you through
They're deceiving you, don't jump

“Well Tom?” Harry Potter removed his wand from his pocket, holding it before himself with a hand around each end before swiftly bringing his wrists together, there was a resounding snap and in the silence that followed all could hear the dull thud of two pieces of wood hitting the floor.

“Let me die Tom,” Harry turned away from Lord Voldemort palms held out and to the side, eyes locking with Severus and with a whispered Thank you His body suddenly lit with a brilliant green light, his eyes glowing unearthly.

And in the last moment before he collapsed lifeless to the ground Severus watched as the scar faded from his forehead.

Calmly and with great sadness, Severus Snape raised his wand and whispered among the scattered screams and sobs, “Avada Kedavra.”

As Tom Riddle fell to the ground, dead with Harry Potter’s sacrifice, Severus kneeled beside the boy and kissed his unmarred forehead, closed his eyes and smiled.

Don't let memories go of me and you
The world is down there out of view
Please, don't jump, don't jump
And if all that can't hold you back
Then I'll jump for you

“I’ll remember you Harry, just you,”
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Tokio Hotel-Don't jump