the world that still is ...

Many have put down the book.Many have said no to it.And many more still haven't even heard of it.But few have,at least--- those mighty few(pardon me sirs for this understatement)who could never put down the book,who could never dream of saying no to it,.... those countless 'few' whose hearts ticked even as Harry stood ground, radiating calm determination, valiantly bowing to death, waiting for Voldemort to curse him once more---

AVADA KEDAVRA.

And everything goes blank with that.

.

.

Is this the end of days? My insides shudder earlier to the slightest creeping thought.My eyes dart across the page,blankly but- no words noticed, no page.The next page might perhaps petrify me.I'm ageing.With the years the load of strains have risen, though not eclipsing the moments of sublime bliss.My days with Potter are at its wisdom age.I don't have the mental resilience to proceed into the next page.

And then someone simplifies the matter for me.Tuck in, it reminds me of.

The emotional race is on.Thoughts keep overriding the other even as pages retrace back--

--- back to the day when a skinny, bespectacled, eleven-year old appeared at the King's Cross station, the first time ever.

Here began a tale, the tale that had been bestowed with a rare gift-- to win hearts with hearts,hearts with love, love with love.

Here began the tale, of the world that still is.

Here began the tale, of the magical world, of Harry and Hogwarts.

Now where to begin.

He was home.

I am home.

Its the onset of days.The sky is greying.The scarlet snake spouting sooty steam is moving for the castle.

And visions keep shifting--- the compartments full of excited children, the ice cold pumpkin juice of the food trolley,Dumbledore's address to the school,those frequent visits to Hagrid's hut with Fangs leaping all over Harry(pleasant evenings spent on mugs of hot coffee), the Quidditch victories and the post match parties hosted by the Weasley twins at the Gryffindor common room, the foundation of the DA under Dolores' ugly nose(may be it's a bit too decent), a shaggy black dog bounding alongside the window, wagging its tail. . . . . . . no more.

Some things in life, are not that easy to digest.The pain of separation stings.And it stings even more, now that there's the emotional attachment,an invisible bond of love; blissed love and blessed love.This isn't normal pain.Nor is it the usual sting.There's an element of beauty asociated with the complete of everything.The pain feels pleasing; the sting not at all stinging.Dumbledore once said"Pain and suffering like this shows that you are still human".True.Perfectly true.But how-- how to get out of the fact that never again will I be able to accompany Harry,Ron and Hermione in their journey ahead, that there won't be anymore visits to Hagrid's', no more wise advice from Dumbledore,no Firewhisky, no Quidditch------ how to register the fact that the end has come; the Hogwarts Express moves not anymore.

And then Dumbledore whispers in my ear---"Leave the firm foundation of fact".Yeah. . .the bond is still there,how else could I hear Professor then.And yes, another piece of advice-- smart and simple.A fact doesn't mean we'll have to live through it.A fact is what it shows to us.And the fact is what I see and what I know.I open at the close--- my eyes are closed now.But..um.. yes. . .sorry,they've actually opened now I think.

I'm flying on a broomstick.I don't know where I am.The winter air is piercingly cold.But it brings a never-felt-before warmth to me.Its early morning,the sky- bright and clear.Perfect Quidditch conditions.How I know not, but I'm on a Firebolt.I descend now.The surrounding looks quite familiar.Its the village perhaps, Ottery St Catchpole.Now I know where I am heading for.

The Burrow looks the same as ever- brilliant.A bright light is emanatng from it.Something's waiting for me.I enter in.

They're seated round the table-- everyone of them-- Bill,Charlie,Percy,George(he's grinning back at someone),Ron,Hermione,Ginny,Neville,LunA,Hagrid,Arthur.At the back stands Molly- alongside Fred(so he's the one George was grinning at), both holding hands and smiling back at me.The first drop appears.Even the Order members are here.Mad-Eye's looking out through the window.My lips shudder a bit as Kingsley says he's being his paranoid self.And then they come out of the Burrow kitchen-- James,Sirius and Lupin,Lily and Tonks.I stand.And I stand still.Their faces are pale.Heavenly light is exuding from them.They look so much younger now, and excited too.They smile back at me;I cry hard;my soul smiles alongside those.

The deeper I look into the Burrow more smiling faces greet me--- Regulus and Kreacher,the plump witch who pulled trolley in the Hogwarts Express,barman Tom- wizened and toothless,Kevin- he finally seems to have left the wand,Cedric . . . . . . .

Harry's no where to be seen.

Just then a snowy white owl flies by me out through the door.HEDWIG- I hasten behind her into the garden.Two silhouettes are talking silently into the morning-- a tall one with a long billowing cloak, and a skinny seventeen year old.Albus and Harry-- The Boy Who Still Lives.As I come upon them, they turn and smile peacefully at me.So does Dobby,in Harry's arms.

At that instant, my eyes accidentally travel to a window on the second floor.Someone's looking at the sky-- a thin man, sallow faced, hook nosed, greasy haired.Severus Snape delves deep into the sky, eyes blank as ever.

Tears rain down my cheeks.I dont want it to end.Or is it just going on inside my head?

May be-

"But that doesn't mean its not real"says Dumbledore even as the two of them -Albus and Harry, start laughing childishly at me.

The world that still is...

Yeah....... and it still is.

.......