Heart Stops Beating.

8 years after the death of Voltamort Ron has tried to break the chains that bind him to his past. 8 years after he lost some of the most important people in his life, he's trying to rebuild his life with his American girlfriend in Muggle London. But can Ron break his chains? And will his girlfriend stay by his side?

Warning: May contain some or more of the fallowing: violence, sex, alcohol usage, slash, crude humor, and adult situations. I am not J.K. Rowling, and only own two of these characters (Tristan and Lori.)

Author's Note: I put my mp3 on random and wrote down the first 13 songs. I built my chapters (in order) around each song and how it made me feel, or what it made me think of. The name of each song & and the "story" behind it is at the beginning of each chapter. Again, I only own two of these characters, and I am not J.K. Rowling. I wish I could be that cool, but sadly, no.

Song: "Lithium" by Evanescence: Sorrow, relationship problems.

AN: Bear with me people, this is my first Harry Potter fan fic. Please tell me how I'm doin'.

Chapter One: Boxers, Coffee, and angst.

Tristan's P.O.V. London Flat 7:15 am.

The sheets were chains that bound me to my urge to sleep, caressing and soothing my tired mind like the arms of a lover.

But soon I caught the aroma of a long-time mistress and I couldn't resist her charms. Oh my sweet, sweet coffee!

I clumsily climbed out of our four poster bed. "Just like we had at Hogwarts!" Ronnie had exclaimed rather loudly when we bought it. Needless to say, everyone in the store turned to glare at us, for what do we Muggles know of the wizarding world?

I looked around the room for clothing. White tank top and….??? Outside, London sings her urban song. His boxers will have to do. Emerald green silk. What the hell was he thinking when he bought these???

Ron was already at the table, fully dressed and showered and (after last night's fight and angry sex) only looked slightly rumpled.
"Made you coffee."

" And that's why I love you." I said jokingly, pouring myself a cup and savoring my morning java. I looked him up and down. Dress shirt. Slacks. "You working today?"

"Sadly enough." He looked dejected. Unbelievably sad and distant.

I walked over to him and sat on his lap. "Look. You said you were sorry. And really, it wasn't your fault. None of it was your fault." I ran a hand through his shaggy hair.

He told me when we met he had problems with relationships. He told me he'd lost someone very dear to him. When we started falling in love and talking about "forever", he told me everything.

About his large family. About the "Boy Who Lived", and how he befriended him. About platform 9 ¾. About school.

"Why would anyone name a school after bumpy pork?"

He didn't think it was funny.

His past just started pouring forth from his mouth. Eventually he got to Voltamort. And the war. And those he had lost. Why he's always on edge. Always afraid of loss.

And now he's afraid of losing me.

"I know, I just--- I could have saved her!" his eyes were on fire with self hatred.

"No, Ron, stop! There's nothing any of you could have done." I smoothed his furrowed brow with my palm.

"I've got to go." he hefted me up with him and sat me back down in his empty seat before I could even protest.

He rushed to the door.

I ran to the window above the kitchen sink, threw it open, and yelled "I'll make this better Ron! I swear it!"

He didn't look up.

He just waved in acknowledgment as he disappeared into the subway tunnel.