Escaping Darkness [Book 1 of Through Darkness and Light]

Chapter 26: Coping and Loving

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Well, that describes the Weasley house right about now, Draco thought bitterly. He was sitting with his arm around Harry, who was somberly staring into the fireplace, deep in grief-stricken thought. After the attack on Hogsmeade, the students had been immediately sent home for the holidays, and a quiet, dismal holiday it was. Ron’s funeral had been two days after his death, and a memorial would be held at Hogwarts three days after the students returned from their break.

Now, the Weasley family sat at in silence contrary to their usual gaiety and laugher. Mrs. Weasley had yet to emerge from Ron’s room, where she sat on his bed weeping into Mr. Weasley’s shoulder. Percy had returned from the Ministry, and sat between Charlie and Bill, who had also returned upon learning of their youngest brother’s death. Even the twins, so usually merry and smiling, were glum, as everyone was lost in their thoughts. Ginny and Hermione had found solace in one another, and were quietly murmuring fond memories of Ron. Every so often, they would let out a mournful chuckle over a particularly amusing memory.

Overall, it was the worst Christmas Draco had ever heard of.

“I’ve got to kill him.”

Harry’s voice broke the silence, and Ginny and Hermione fell silent, looking over at him. Harry was seemingly oblivious to the eyes on him, as he slowly continued. “I’m tired of losing everything and everyone that is important to me,” he murmured. “I’m so tired and sick of this war. This has got to end. And it’s going to end. Soon.” He looked into Hermione’s eyes, then Draco’s. Both nodded in understanding, as the other occupants of the room looked confused. “We’re going to have to ramp up our movements against him, until the time comes to confront him at last.”

Draco sighed. “But we have no idea where to start,” he murmured. Harry slipped his glasses off his nose as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.

“We’ve got to try…otherwise, I’ll feel like…like he…well, that it was all for nothing.”

“We’ll do our best,” Hermione said quietly, picking at the carpet without looking up. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

The Weasley kids were obviously confused, but decided against asking what the three were talking about.

The three of us, Harry thought bitterly. There’s just three of us now. Now it’s just the Golden Duo. Our trio is broken…he’s gone forever. Harry was sure he was beginning to love Draco, but he felt that to include him in the Trio would mean replacing Ron…and that would never happen. Draco could never replace Ron’s place in his mind, memory, and heart. Ron would always be…special.

Things would never be the same again.

~ + ~

That fateful Christmas soon passed by, and April rolled around. The empty space that Ron had left would always be there, but it was easier to bear now. And with sixth year coming to an end, Harry had plenty of things on his mind to distract him from missing his best friend. Especially now that he was trying harder than ever to figure out what the last Horcrux was. Harry frowned down at the book he was reading, as if glaring at it would cause information to just pop out at him.

A pair of hands covered his eyes just then, successfully blacking out Harry’s world. He brought his own hands up to feel the hands that trapped his sight, gingerly feeling along the slender but strong fingers. “Draco?” he asked with a small smile. The blonde’s chuckle signaled his accuracy, as Draco pulled out a chair next to him.

“You look tired.”

Harry sighed, smiling a little more. “Thanks? I hope I don’t look too dead…”