Eventually, the end of the year rolls in, and the final trial is imminent. Harry feels more ice settle in his heart. How could Dumbledore ever let him be part of something so dangerous? Can’t the old fool see what it’s pushing him to? It doesn’t matter though, does it? At least Neville is there for him. It helps more than he wants to admit. It hurt to lose his friends. It hurt more to have to abandon them, but he didn’t want to have to lose anyone again. He knew Neville wouldn’t turn away from him until he turned away from Neville. There is a sort of comfort in that. No one cheers him on but Neville as he stands at the entrance to the maze, and he offers the boy as convincing a smile he can manage before stepping into the dark of the maze.