Harry Potter is sitting at home sixty years after the battle at Hogwarts, an old man now, when suddenly his scar hurts.
Harry sat alone. The house that once housed Ginny and his children was near empty. Ginny has passed away a year ago, and he had to admit it had taken something out of him. He had lost so many people, but this had struck him hard.
He thought of his children. They all had families of their own, and they were supposed to be visiting him soon. He sighed.
No one knew he was sick. Ron knew, but he made him swear on his life not to tell anyone. He'd a good life, and he wanted to go without a fuss. Enough close brushes with death had made him want to go quietly.
He wanted some tea, but felt too weak to get up. He took out his wand, then stopped. He held the old, etched wood in his hand, then lightly made sparks fly out of the tip.
He smiled. He always loved how still, so many years later, magic still amazed him.
Suddenly, his scar hurt.
He wasn't alarmed by it, nor by the man who had appeared in the corner of the room.
It was Tom Riddle. Not snake-like, pale and red-eyed. Human. He smiled, not menacingly, but warmly.
"Hello, Harry." Harry smiled as well. "Nice to see you again, Tom."
"Is it nice? I was never much of a warm presence when I was living. I hurt many people. But most of all, I tried to hurt you. It's ironic that you were among the few who saw me as Tom Riddle, rather than Lord Voldemort.
"Fear can drive you mad," said Harry. "I've seen it many times."
Tom Riddle smiled again, somewhat sadly. "Harry, we've got to go."
Harry looked at him. There were tears in his eyes.
"I'm scared," he said.
"I know." said another voice.
Harry turned. It was Ginny. He gasped. Behind her stood every person he had ever loved and lost. Hagrid and Dumbledore, Dobby and Lupin and Tonks and Snape and Cedric and Sirius and even the Dursleys. His parents stood next to Ginny, smiling.
"We're with you, Harry." his mother said softly.
Harry turned to Riddle.
Tom stuck out his hand. "Come Harry."
Harry laughed, tears in his eyes, his scar burning, as he grabbed Riddle's hand, and then left this world together with death, as equals.
This ending really resonated with me. I could relate so well with it that it feels surreal yet beautiful. Really beautiful.