cking his view。 It lifted an inch into the air and drifted sideways silently。 As quietly as he could； he pulled himself up into the room。 He did not know why he was doing it； why he was approaching the dying man： he did not know what he felt as he saw Snape's white face； adn the fingers trying to staunch the bloody wound at his neck。 Harry took off the invisibility cloak and looked down upon the man he hated； whose widening black eyes found Harry as he cried to speak。 Harry bent over him； and Snape seized the front of his robes and pulled him close。 A terrible rasping； gurgling noise issued from Snape's throat。 〃Take。。。it。。。Take。。。it。。。〃 Something more than blood was leaking from Snape。 Silvery blue； neither gas nor liquid； it gushed form his mouth and his ears and his eyes； and Harry knew what it was； but did not know what to doa150a150 A flask； conjured from thin air； was thrust into his shaking hand by Hermione。 Harry lfited the silvery substance into it with his wand。 When the falsk was full to the brim； and Snape looked as though there was no blood left in him； his grip on Harry's robes slackened。 〃Look。。。at。。。。me。。。〃 he whispered。 The green eyes found the black； but after a second； something in
the depths of the dark pari seemed to vanish； leaving them fixed； blank； and empty。 The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor； and Snape moved no more。
pC0=〃Chapter Thirty…Three： The Prince's Tale〃
bChapter Thirty…Three
iThe Prince's Taleib
Harry remained kneeling at Snape's side； simply staring down at him； until quite suddenly a high； cold voice spoke so close to them that Harry jumped on his feet； the flask gripped tightly in his hands； thinking that Voldemort had reentered the room。
Voldemort's voice reverberated from the walls and floor； and Harry realized that he was talking to Hogwarts and to all the surrounding area； that the residents of Hogsmeade and all those still fighting in the castle would hear him as clearly as if he stood beside them； his breath on the back of their necks； a deathblow away。
〃You have fought；〃 said the high； cold voice； 〃valiantly。 Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery。
〃Yet you have sustained heavy losses。 If you continue to resist me； you will all die； one by one。 I do not wish this to happen。 Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste。
〃Lord Voldemort is merciful。 I mand my forces to retreat immediately。
〃You have one hour。 Dispose of your dead with dignity。 Treat your injured。
〃I speak now； Harry Potter； directly to you。 You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself。 I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest。 If； at the end of that hour； you have not e to me； have not given yourself up； then battle remences。 This time； I shall enter the fray myself； Harry Potter； and I shall find you； and I shall punish every last man； woman； and child who has tried to conceal you from me。 One hour。〃
Both Ron and Hermione shook their heads frantically； looking at Harry。
〃Don't listen to him；〃 said Ron。
〃It'll be all right；〃 said Hermione wildly。 〃Let's … let's get back to the castle； if he's gone to the forest we'll need to think of a new plan … 〃
She glanced at Snape's body； then hurried back to the tunnel entrance。 Ron followed her。 Harry gathered up the Invisibility Cloak； then looked down at Snape。 He did not know what to feel； except shock at the way Snape had been killed； and the reason for which it had been donea133
They crawled back through the tunnel； none of them talking； and Harry wondered whether Ron and Hermione could still hear Voldemort ringing in their heads as he could。
iYou have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself。 I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Foresta133One houra133i
Small bundles seemed to litter the lawn at the front of the castle （？）。 It could only be an hour or so from dawn； yet it was pitch…black。 The three of them hurried toward the stone steps。 A lone dog； the size of a small boat； lay abandoned in front of them。 There was no other sign of Grawp or of his attacker。
The castle was unnaturally silent。 There were no flashes of light now； no bangs or screams or shouts。 The flagstones of the deserted entrance hall were stained with blood。 Emeralds were still scattered all over the floor； along with pieces of marble and splintered wood。 Part of the banisters had been blown away。
〃Where is everyone？〃 whispered Hermione。
Ron led the way to the Great Hall。 Harry stopped in the doorway。
The House tables were gone and the room was crowded。 The survivors stood in groups； their arms around each other's necks。 The injured were being treated upon the raised platform by Madam Pomfrey and a group of helpers。 Firenze was amongst the injured； his flank poured blood and he shook where he lay； unable to stand。
The dead lay in a row in the middle of the Hall。 Harry could not see Fred's body； because his family surrounded him。 George was kneeling at his head； Mrs。 Weasley was lying across Fred's chest； her body shaking。 Mr。 Weasley stroking her hair while tears cascaded down his cheeks。
Without a word to Harry； Ron and Hermione walked away。 Harry saw Hermione approach Ginny； whose face was swollen and blotchy； and hug her。 Ron joined Bill； Fleur； and Percy； who flung an arm around Ron's shoulders。 As Ginny and Hermione moved closer to the rest of the family； Harry had a clear view of the bodies lying next to Fred。 Remus and Tonks； pale and still and peaceful…looking； apparently asleep beneath the dark； enchanted ceiling。
The Great Hall seemed to fly away； bee smaller； shrink； as Harry reeled backward from the doorway。 He could not draw breath。 He could not bear to look at any of the other bodies； to see who else had died for him。 He could not bear to join the Weasleys； could not look into their eyes； when if he had given himself up in the first place； Fred might never have dieda133
He turned away and ran up the marble staircase。 Lupin； Tonksa133 He yearned not to feela133 He wished he could rip out his heart； his innards； everything that was screaming inside hima133
The castle was pletely empty； even the ghosts seemed to have joined the mass mourning in the Great Hall。 Harry ran without stopping； clutching the crystal flask of Snape's last thoughts； and he did not slow down until he reached the stone gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office。
〃Password？〃
〃Dumbledore！〃 said Harry without thinking； because it was he whom he yearned to see； and to his surprise the gargoyle slid aside revealing the spiral staircase behind。
But when Harry burst into the circular office he found a change。 The portraits that hung all around the walls were empty。 Not a single headmaster or headmistress remained to see him； all； it seemed； had flitted away； charging through the paintings that lined the castle so that they could have a clear view of what was going on。
Harry glanced hopelessly at Dumbledore's deserted frame； which hung directly behind the headmaster's chair； then turned his back on it。 The stone Pensieve lay in the cabinet where it had always been。 Harry heaved it onto the desk and poured Snape's memories into the wide basin with its runic markings around the edge。 To esca