When the Snow Melts

The Tears that Weren't Shed

Hermione carefully opened the box that had arrived from Harry. "At least he hasn't forgot us," she stated mournfully, still feeling a bit bitter.

The day after they had arrived at the Weasley home, they had overheard the adults discussing Harry. He had given everyone the slip and boarded the Hogwarts Express. The Order had spies everywhere and he had been quickly located at the Leaky Cauldron. Everyone was eager to return him to safety, but Dumbledore had interceded. He had asked the Order to stand down and post a guard on Harry instead. There had been quite the uproar and a lot of angry whispers about not wanting a repeat of last summer. Ron and Hermione had been unable to get any details about Harry's summer break, but it was clear something bad had happened. Even Harry refused to talk about it, his eyes going cold every time they brought it up.

Ron was sulking on his bed, his present from Harry tossed angrily to the side.

"Come on Ron. Don't be like that," she scolded, strolling across the room to sit next to him.

"Why Malfoy?" he grumbled, crossing his arms over his knees.

It hadn't taken very long before rumors about the two boys spending their Holiday together had reached The Burrow. Initially, they hadn't put much stock in those rumors as they had been hearing similar all school year. It had felt like a betrayal when those claims had been verified during a heated argument between Professor Snape and Mr. Weasley. It had been a silly argument really, as they both wanted the same thing – the two of them separated. Ron hadn't taken the news well.

"You know how Harry is," she consoled, only half believing it herself as she lay her head on Ron's shoulder. "Takes in strays all the time."

"But why Malfoy?" he repeated.

Hermione shrugged against him, wondering the same thing herself.

She had sort of understood why he ran away from them. That's not to say it didn't hurt, but she understood it. In true Harry fashion, he had been shutting them out for a while now, preferring to solve things on his own. Maybe he felt they were safer that way? Had she been in his shoes, she couldn't say that she wouldn't have done the same. That still didn't mean that it was the right answer. He had too much on his plate for one person to handle all on their own. He might not agree with it, but he needed his friends more than ever.

"Harry's next procedure is in two days," she reminded, shifting so that she could get a better look at Ron's face. "Let's just try to act normal and maybe he'll open up about everything. We're his best friends, we need to be supportive."

"Even when he's being a giant ass?" Ron grumbled.

"Yes, Ron," she admonished. "Even when he's being a giant ass."

"And look," she stated, showing off the butterfly pendant that Harry had sent her. "Does this look like the kind of gift you would buy someone that you wanted to be rid of?"

She smiled warmly at the pendant before putting it on.

Ron didn't say anything, eyes burning holes in the opposite wall.

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Harry was walking down a dark hall – it was horrifyingly familiar. Fog began creeping up from out of nowhere, twirling about in billows as he walked through it. He continued despite knowing what he would find at the end of the hall. His mind was screaming for him to turn back, but his feet weren't responding, nothing was responding. He'd been having dreams like this since the summer, but they were evolving, becoming darker and more violent. His subconscious was constantly finding new ways to torment him.