Cold Summer
The summer was back, the dark clouds were gone. People could finally cheer and fear was no longer with them. Everything was ended. The news were all over the place, old sensations were coming back to people's routine and peace was a word they could finally use when talking about the present. Despite the losses, there were good reasons to smile and be grateful.
The burrow was quieter than ever. Harry couldn't get used to that painful silence. He knew why no one was speaking, of course he did. And, like any other thing that happened in the world, he felt like it was his fault that everyone could smile but happiness was still missing. He opened his eyes as the sunlight hit his face, but he hide under the covers. He didn't want to wake up and go downstairs to see Mrs. Weasley's face cuts him like a knife on his chest, or Ginny's hard blazing look turning into empty. He felt like a coward man for not having the guts to go there and face all that, but it was too hard. Ron's noisy snoring told Harry his friend was still sleeping, which was really weird since Ron was waking up early everyday – or at least his nightmares were. Harry uncovered himself and looked at his watch. It was six in the morning. No one would be awake at that time and he wouldn't sleep again. He got up, wore his shoes and went downstairs.
There was no one there, he was alone. Without hunger, he decided to go for a walk outside the house. It was just too sad to stay there. The sun hit his head, shoulders and back turning the coldness inside that house gone. It was better outside. It was nice. At least it was beautiful and possible to feel life outside. The trees were greener than ever, the flowers were gorgeous, summer brought with itself the joy war took away from most people.
- Couldn't go back to sleep, huh? – he heard his favorite voice whisper behind him.
- No – he answered as he turned around to see Ginny still on her pajamas with her hair in a ponytail. – Why did you wake up so soon?
- I never went to sleep. I closed my eyes and all I could see was Fred's body lying on that floor and my mom like that and me not being able to do anything for them – she confessed as she walked further to get close to him. – Then I heard you coming here.
Ginny said every word as she was programmed to say them. With no emotions or feelings. It was like she wasn't there. Harry couldn't think of anything to tell her. What would he say? "Everything will be ok"? He knew only time could repair what Fred's loss had done to them.
His hands found her body as he held her tightly against his chest. He knew she needed comfort. She hasn't slept in weeks and wasn't eating much. It was weird for Harry to see her like that, she was always so strong. Every time Mrs. Weasley started crying silently she was there for her mother and never looked like someone defeated by sadness. It was when he finally realized that all the time she was hiding the way she truly felt to help her family go through that.
Tucked into his chest, she was not crying, she was simply breathing and listening to his heart beats. It was somehow comfortable to be sure he was there with her and nothing else could take him away, ever. His warm body was something that reminded her there were also reasons to be happy.
- You can cry if you want – he whispered in her ear while playing with a lock of her hair.