I wasnt sure i pressed the switch all the way so I pressed it a little harder and it came on then flickered then the entire mower just died mid cutting.

Battery totally drained wont turn over. Im sort of a novice on mowers but what should my next steps be.

Im thinking unhook that light recharge the battery and see if it comes back to life. really hoping to avoid sending off to the dealer.

The first thing for you to do is to find the fuse and check it to see if it has failed.
If it has failed, replace it with a new fuse of the identical size (amp rating). You may want to buy several of these fuses as locating and repairing electrical shorts sometimes consumes a few fuses in the process.
With a new fuse in place, turn on the key switch and try starting the engine.
If engine starts and runs, or does not start and run, post your results and we will then proceed with tests.
If you do not already own a 12 volt test light and/or a "volt/ohm multi-meter", you should buy them (you can get cheap ones for your needs). If it turns out to be more complex than a blown fuse and a defective headlight switch, it will require a volt meter or a 12 volt test light to go beyond what is found in the basic fuse failure scenario.

Disconnect the headlight switch before replacing the fuse and restarting the mower. Otherwise, you are likely to blow the new fuse as soon as you turn the key.

Good luck !

Marco