Story: Broken But Brave
Chapter Sixteen: Harry Surrenders

⚠Mature for depictions of blood and self harm. Character Death. Read at your own risk.⚠

The sky rumbled as the overcast weather was starting to set in with rain. Minute drops of pure water were sprinkling over the passersby of Diagon Alley, the beautiful and magical alley which was lined with enormous and fancy stores, each displaying their best stocks on their fronts. The crowd bubbled happily, visiting each store and picking their favourites and needs. Through this crowd were several disguised aurors on the command of their boss. Also among the crowd was one man.

A man in black cloak approached a huge, rich looking marble building. The doors opened as he walked in, the aura of power enveloped him and several people stepped aside to let him through. He smiled underneath the hood but he knew full well that they will not be able to see it. His intimidating appearance made a goblin behind a desk stand and walk to another section of the building. He followed the goblin and as soon as he was in, a seat appeared in front of a mahogany desk.

"Well, Mr Potter, I thought that you already took your file on your last visit before," the goblin started. The man beneath the hood laughed though it sounded forced.

"I thought so, too Master Ragnok but information makes it a necessity, I'm afraid. I am here to check the total amount present and deposit some money in a couple of vaults," he said as he took out a peach coloured file from his robes.

"Sure, Mr Potter. Excuse me for a second." saying so, the goblin left the desk and returned with another peach coloured file. Harry raised his eyebrows. He wanted to make sure that he had zero as the balance in his account before he deposited the money he earned in his muggle office. Ragnok placed the file on the desk and pushed it to Harry. He opened it and what he found left him astonished.

Inside the peach coloured file were the title deeds of 76, Potter Manor; 12, Grimmauld Place and 22, Potter Cottage at Godric's Hollow.

"These were the assets left after your ex-wife donated your shared wealth. You were not informed of this before as recent Azkaban releases must not take part in anything financially as per the rules of the bank. The bank knows full well how the haunting presence of a dementor would change a person."

"B-but why did she not sell these?" Harry stuttered.

"Miss Weasley said that these houses were the treasures you held close to your heart. Treasures which connected you with your parents and parental figure. Hence, she decided not to sell them," Ragnok explained. Harry's eyes misted over with tears which he tried desperately to hold in. If she cared for his sentiments, why did she reject him. . .? As if to answer that question, Ragnok spoke again. "I am a goblin, Mr Potter. I can sense that you are very much needed and loved. Do not take the wrong decision."

"Thank you for this, Master Ragnok. I wish to deposit thirty six galleons in the Weasley's family vault and forty galleons in Ginny Weasley's private vault. Also, I request of you to give full rights over these three properties to her starting tomorrow. She has the right to sell it as well. I hope I made myself clear, yes?" Harry asked, choosing to ignore Ragnok's warning. The goblin nodded. "Thank you."

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He walked and walked through the thick snow as he approached the graves he was looking for. The place where his parents resided. He knelt down and conjured a wreath of flowers. He placed them just as a drop of tear rolled down his bruised cheek.

"Mum, Dad. I'm sorry. I have failed in everything. I have failed you. I let you get killed when I should have been killed. I let Sirius to be killed just because of my foolishness. I let Teddy become an orphan just because I would become the saviour. I let so many people down including my own wife due to my 'nobility' as she so correctly puts it," Harry said, his voice turning hoarse.

"I tried, mum, I tried my best to be a good son, a good godson, a good friend, a good godfather and a good husband but I failed. . .in everything! Each and every thing! I was so arrogant that I did not listen to my friends when they were right! I was so ignorant to believe that damned man, Riddle! I was so naïve to let my wife get broken just because I couldn't stand up for myself even when they did for me! I was careless and non observant that I ignored Ginny's plea to live in the muggle world just because I had bad experiences with the Dursleys! Now I understand why the Dursleys called me a waste of space and time. I deserved that. I-I know. There is no other way with which I would be able to rectify my mistake. If only there was some suicide spell. . . I'm sorry, dad that I let the whole Potter lineage down. I-it's going to die because of me. . . with me."

With a determined glint, he touched the engraved text on the rocky stone and said, "I will not let anyone else down. I cannot and I will not be able to either. Yes, mum, dad. You may get angry but that's the last option I have to make her happy. If I'm not alive, she will m-move on. Find someone else and h-have kids. But that doesn't mean that I don't love her or that it wouldn't h-hurt me to see her with another bloke. It will shatter my breaking heart to pieces but i-if she's happy, I'm happy. She deserves all the happiness of this cruel world. S-she needs it. . .I-I will look after her from ab-above, if I can.

"I-I will be seeing you in an hour or so. . . I shall meet you there, mum, dad."

Unbeknownst to him, a figure saw him.

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Harry stared at the empty hallway in front of him. The last time he had been here was when he and Ginny visited Kreacher. Remembering the elf, Harry called out to him.

"KREACHER?"

Immediately, Mrs Black's portrait started shouting as the curtains covering it swung open. "YOU FILTHY HALF-BLOOD! HOW DARE YOU STEP INSIDE THIS NOBLE HOUSE?!" Harry sighed. No matter however hard they tried, they just could not get rid of the portrait. With an angry wave of his wand, he shut the curtains and took one step further as a resonating crack sounded in front of him. A pale looking elf looked up at him with a smile.

"Master Harry. What can I do for you, sir?" Kreacher asked. Harry smiled in return and took something out of his paper bag. He had purchased a pair of fluffy socks for Kreacher.

"Here you go, Kreacher. You worked all your life and you need rest. I am thankful for your help. From hence, you are a free elf," saying so, Harry handed the fluffy socks to the wide eyed elf.

"Master, as much as I would like to work for you, I sense something else in your future." Harry laughed a mirthless laugh at the word future. It seemed so very Greek and Latin to him right now. "It's time for Kreacher to leave to the Great Meadows. Thank you, Master and Mistress, for everything." Kreacher thanked him and a non-existent Ginny and took the socks from the confused wizard. Just as he did, he smiled and looked up at his master for one last time. That was the last time he smiled.

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'Here lies Kreacher The Loyal Elf' was etched on the headstone. Harry buried the old elf without magic at the backyard of Grimmauld Place and stood in silence as he watched the ground with apt sadness. He failed an elf too. Not one but two - Dobby and now, Kreacher. How many people would he fail? No. He will not fail anyone anymore. At least, not until the next birth though he never wished to be born again.

"May you rest in tranquility, Kreacher. I hope you never come to this cruel world and suffer ever again, my old friend. Thank you for everything."

With that, Harry left the backyard, a few tears escaping his pale green eyes. He walked up to his godfather, Sirius' bedroom and shut the door using an auror levelled locking spell. He took a few steps as he began to notice several things. The letters he last read when he was here during what was supposed to be his seventh year at Hogwarts, lay on the bedside table. He slowly lifted the one with his and his father's photo. Baby Harry seemed to be really happy on the broomstick. Harry smiled at the sight of his father chasing him. O! How he wished his father chased him now and punished him for the mistakes he did but at least, in a few more minutes, his father would be able to punish him in heaven. That is, if Harry even deserved heaven. He set the photo down slowly as he took another treasured item of his out of his robe pocket.

A velvet box. He opened it and the brilliant gold of the ornament reflected in the tears of his green eyes. He brought it up to his lips and kissed it gently. It was his wedding ring, the only remaining treasure to remind him of his and Ginny's wedding. He set it inside the box and placed it on the table.

He dug into his pocket and took out two more items - one sharp and one wooden. He placed his loyal wand on the bedside table. As he looked at it, he was remembered of the sad truths of the deaths this wand's twin had caused, the number of fights this holly wand it self fought.

He then took the sharp object. This is it, he thought. A small line of cut, which bleed freely, was made on his own hand when he heard a shout - the shout of Mrs Black. He groaned. Would her voice be the last thing he would hear? He was beginning to feel a tad bit dizzy. That was when his question was answered by the explosion of the door.

A sad chapter to write. I'm not crying, you are! Well, I hope you liked this chapter. This chapter was titled after the soundtrack, "Harry Surrenders" from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two (7 II/8). That soundtrack along with its predecessor titled 'Harry's Sacrifice' would be the perfect music to listen to when you read this chapter. In truth, I was listening to the latter when I was writing the chapter.

Did you get pranked when I put 'Character Death'? Did you think it was for Harry? *Evil laugh* I intended to do just that! Honouring our dear ol' Fred Weasley by showing Diagon Alley and pranking the readers into thinking that I killed Harry. Sorry (not sorry) if you are angry at me for that!

Thank you for reading. What do you think exploded the door? Death eaters? Wait and read!

Miyoko x