“Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,

How charged with punishment the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.”

-Invictus, William Ernest Henley

“People talking”

‘Thoughts’

:Phoenix speak:

Warning: Gore, probable swearing, slash (maleXmale) and my bad grammar... -.-;;

Invictus

Chapter 1

To anyone looking at the sky, it would seem like a beautiful morning. The sun rose, shining a brilliant red and gold. It was day where you would expect the chatter of birds to be deafening. But there was silence.

Dead silence...

A horrible stench filled the air. It carried the sent of decay, blood, and above all, fear. Oh yes, a beautiful day, until you looked at the ground. Any living person would have gasped in horror at the sight before them and probably run to the nearest bush to empty their breakfasts.

Therefore Harry Potter had come to the conclusion that he was dead...numb. He stood in the middle of the field with no sign of revulsion. He had passed that point long ago.

Bodies lay everywhere. They were strewn across the whole field, Death Eaters and wizards of the light side by side. Some had lacerations across the chest and limbs, or missing appendages. Others had slit throats or stab wounds to the heart. A few had no wounds, and had fallen only with a look fear. But all the bodies had one thing in common, Light wizard or Dark.

They were all very, very dead.

The wizarding war was over. Their whole world was exposed to the muggles. And Voldemort was finally dead, killed by Harry’s curse. But he did not rejoice. No one did. What was the point of winning the battle if they lost the war?

Harry groaned and sank to the ground, unmindful of the dirt and blood that soaked into his robes. He was covered in it anyway. There was no point in going on now. Everyone he ever knew...was gone. Ron and Hermione had fallen in battle two years ago when he was eighteen. Hermione lost to a Killing Curse sent her way. Ron had been so stricken with grief that he made a suicide charge straight into a knot of Death Eaters. Harry could do nothing but listen to Ron’s tortured screams until a knife was plunged in to the red head’s heart.

All of the Weasley’s had met their deaths, one by one, in the overflowing tide of battle. He had been forced to watch as Moony, Tonks, Moody, and many others all died at his side.

Then came the final battle with Voldemort. Both Lucius Malfoy and his son, Draco had converted over to the Light side several years before and stood proudly along with several of Lord Voldemort’s former strongest supporters, including the Zabini’s and the Parkinson’s. And then there was Severus Snape...

Harry was snapped back to reality when a cold wind blew through the field. He shivered. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this...” he whispered.

:No. It’s not.: A soft voice agreed. Harry’s head snapped up. “Fawkes. “ Indeed the large crimson and gold bird had landed in front of him without his noticing. It trilled a soft greeting.

“Why are you here Fawkes? I thought you left after Voldemort died.” His voice was harsh from the screaming caused by the many Cruciatus curses sent his way.

:I did leave: the phoenix agreed, then turned a beady eye on him. :but I could feel you crying out from afar. Tell me what is wrong nestling.: This had been Fawkes’ endearment for Harry ever since he had first spoken to the boy in his seventh year. The bird gave Harry a measuring look, taking in all the details. The young man as he was now had barely reached the height of 5’7’’, his matted hair was dirty with blood and other things. He had long ago given up his glasses in favor of a sight repairing spell. Fawkes noted with concern how thin and pale he had become, but what concerned him most was his eyes. The once vibrant flicker of life was now replaced by a haunted look. They no longer showed emotion. He watched as a tear slipped from the man’s eye.

“Everything is wrong Fawkes!” Harry suddenly slammed his fists to the ground in anger. The tears were streaming down his face now. He was letting go of the emotions he had bottled up so long ago when the war came into full swing. “This isn’t winning Fawkes! Not if everyone is dead!” Harry put his head in his hands, trying to stifle the quiet sobs that wracked his body.

Fawkes looked at him for a moment, considering what he was about to say. Then he spoke::Nestling...If there was a way to go back...Would you take it:

Harry raised his head. “What do you mean Fawkes?” he said slowly.

:I mean, if you could go back to the beginning of your life, and do it over again...would you:

Harry’s eyes widened. “I...Are you saying there’s a way?”

The phoenix bowed his head. :I have the ability to send you back to the beginning of your life. I could not do it while there was still hope for the wizarding world, but now...:

For the first time in years a glimmer of hope shone in Harry’s eyes. “Send me back Fawkes. If you can do it, then send me back. I have no reason to remain here.”

Fawkes was hesitant. :Nestling, you must know, if I send you back there is a price to pay. Something precious to you...:

Instantly Harry was wary(1). “No one will die will they? As a consequence of me going back?”

:No. Though I do not know what you are required to give up, it is yours alone.:

Harry did not have to think, he knew what he would do. So did Fawkes. “I have lost more than I can imagine in this war. If I-we can all have another chance at life, I’ll give up anything.” Looking at Harry’s determined face, the phoenix nodded in aquesence.

He flapped his wings and took to the air, a low song came from his throat that Harry had never heard before. It hummed with power and sent chills shooting down his spine. Suddenly the bird dived, and before Harry could utter a sound dug sharp talons into his shoulders. His world became a glory of red and orange fire that faded into blackness.

When the flames died down a pile of ash was left. But no baby phoenix emerged. The bird had sacrificed his life to send him back. A chilling wind swept the ashes away, as the world blurred and darkened. The realm of what was slowly disappearing, giving way to what could be.

“Lily, take Harry and run! It’s him! Go! Run! I’ll hold him back-”

Harry woke to the sound of chaos. He opened his eyes. ‘What’s going on? Where am I?’

He tried to sit up but his arms wouldn’t support him. They were small and chubby with baby fat. ‘What! It worked! I’m a child!’ He let out an invoulntary sound. Suddenly his vision was filled with red hair and green eyes as Lily Potter picked him up. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close to her chest. He heart was beating fast and her face was paniked. “Sh, Harry! It’ll be all right-” she was interrupted as the door to the room suddenly exploded inward. It knocked Lily of balance causing her to drop him. His head struck the floor hard and he felt his eyes loosing focus. Lily swiftly turned to face the laughing figure in the doorway. He stood tall and shrouded in a black cape, red eyes gleaming.

Voldemort.

“Move aside girl, and your death shall be quick.” he said in a hissing voice. His attention was fixed solely on Harry. Lily saw this.

“Not Harry! Not Harry! Please- Take me instead! I’ll do anything!-”

“Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!” But she didn’t move. Voldemort pointed his wand over her shoulder, directly at Harry.

“Avada Kerdavra!”

A green light shot toward him, but it did not hit. Lily Potter’s body fell from where she had dived to protect him. “Stupid girl.” Voldemort hissed, and kicked her corpse aside.

This was all happening to fast for Harry. He had met his mother again, just to have her killed before his very eyes with him powerless to stop it. He just stared in shock from his place on the floor as Voldemort glided toward him.

“And now Harry,” he pointed his wand at the boy’s forehead. “It is time for you to die.”

It was as the wand traveled down his face to the bridge of his nose that Harry remembered Fawkes’ words. :Something precious to you...:

And he now knew what it was.

His eyes.

“Avada Kerdavra!”

A/N: Hey everybody! Welcome to my first HP fic. Some of my creativity came back! Unfortunately the muses for my other stories seem to have died. T.T

This will be a SSXHP fic, so if you don’t like it, go suck rocks! (ahem)

(1) Hey! That rhymes:D

Please review and give your opinion! I’ll consider it, good or bad.

PRESS THAT PERIWINKLE BUTTON!

(Oh god, I sound like a ditz writer...T.T..)