Destruction and Renewal

It was Christmas Eve at the Burrow. A cold clear night with a light snow falling slowly outside. Out of the window where a young man by the name of Ronald sat, it was possible to see a family of snow people, their white visages iridescent in the pale blue light of the moon. Ron sat still and quiet peering out the window into the tranquil world of snow and ice. He only wished that his own world could be so calm. It may have looked that way on the surface but it was rotting away from the inside so much that Ron was having trouble finding anything to cling to anymore. Nothing was stable. With an almost inaudible sigh Ron stood up from his post by the window and stepped lightly across the room so as not to disturb the sleeping Harry that lay in the cot next to his own bed. He didn't stop to look at Harry or anything else for that matter, thinking only of extricating himself from the quiet prison. He left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Once he was down stairs Ron headed for the closet by the front door then took his coat, hat, scarf, and boots from it. With intense care to keep quiet he donned all these items and stepped out into the cold. The family stood waiting for him, welcoming. Or was it. They had been made that morning, each member of his own family building their own snow version of themselves as well as Harry. Even Bill and Charlie were home to build themselves, and though Percy was still hadn't come home, even after making up with their parents, Ginny had insisted that they build one of Percy as well. That was one issue right there. Why had Percy not come back? All had been sorted out, yet here it was, Christmas, and not so much as a card from his older brother. Had he seen the trouble and just decided that staying out of it all would be easier? Ron almost agreed with that.

The trouble came from the two snow people on either end of the group. The parents. Arthur and Molly had not spoken to each other more than twice while the activities carried on that morning and had either consciously or subconsciously decided to separate their own snow people. Lately it seemed as though that gap between them was real. They had fought more than usual over that past summer but Ron hadn't thought much of it until he came back from Hogwarts for Christmas. His parents never looked happy, his father was always working, his mother was completely stressed out, and Ron couldn't help but be scared about the changes happening right in front of him. He didn't think Ginny or the twins had noticed, maybe Charlie and Bill had but when he tried to mention it to Bill he told Ron not to worry and that all couples had problems. Ron agreed but couldn't help thinking that these weren't just petty fights and arguments but something far more significant.

Walking away from his snow father, Ron made his way towards his own snowy self which stood in close proximity to Harry's. The silly grin that was etched into the snow seemed false and in Ron's mind a cheap lie. With his brow furrowed Ron pulled out his wand and reworked the snow Ron's features. The new straight mouthed dull eyed snowman felt much more real. That alone made Ron want to cry. What was happening to the life he knew? He had never known himself, never mind the rest of his family, to act this way. Since when was he so serious, such a worrier? That had always been Hermione or even Harry's job, but never him. Even Harry had noticed something amiss with Ron after a few days of the winter holidays had passed and Ron had not once suggested going out to play quidditch. Then when questioned about his attitude by his friend Ron denied any problems, saying only that he had been tired and needed a break which Harry didn't buy for a second. At least Harry seemed to care.

Feeling a wave of emotions wash over him, Ron half sat half fell to the ground looking up at the pure white flakes falling all around him occasionally reaching out catch one only to have melt at his touch. He sat in that position for some time, how long exactly he wasn't sure. Eventually he was interrupted by a soft closing of a door and footsteps muffled by snow. Turning slowly he saw Harry walking toward him, the white flakes catching in his hair and contrasting so brilliantly against the black. Ron's heart melted at the sight of his best friend, the one thing that provided any sense of stability in his life.

"Ron mate, what in the world are you doing out here? It's bloody freezing if you didn't notice."

A few more steps and Harry was close enough to see the look of anguish on his friend's face. He stopped suddenly and looked at Ron, lost amongst the flurries that cascaded around him. Ron was looking in his direction but Harry strongly doubted that he saw him at all. And he was right. As Ron stared at his friend the only thing he saw was his family ripping apart and splitting at the seams. The stress of the war, his father's work, his mother's disapproval of Dumbledore's plan for Harry, all of these things were crashing down on him causing him to actually see what was happening for once. His parents weren't happy. Not with each other. Though it wasn't one persons fault, they just didn't function together anymore. He didn't want his parents unhappy, but how in the world was he supposed to remain sane if this, his one escape, crumbled as well?

"Harry?"

The noise had surprised Harry. With a start he closed the distance between them in a few quick steps. With the snow's padding his movements were silent as he knelt down next to the shaken red head. "I'm right here Ron. What is it? Are you all right?"

Ron looked up at Harry and saw the genuine concern in his eyes. With that it all came pouring out. Ron flung himself into Harry's arms and sobbed his heart out, not making much sense in the process. Harry wasn't expecting this action, but as soon as he felt Ron in his arms he closed them protectively and let him cry.

They sat there huddled together until Ron's cries had subsided to meek sniffles. After that Harry pushed him back so that he could see him properly and said softly, "How about we go on inside, get you dried and warmed up, and then we'll talk about what's going on. Come on, no arguing."

With a sigh and a small smile Ron let Harry lead him back inside and into his room where he was promptly changed into fresh pajamas and a large woolen blanket wrapped around his tall frame. Harry had gone to make some tea for the both of them and as Ron awaited his return he thought of he would say to Harry when he came back. Could he tell him about his family? Should he? If not that, then what? Harry wouldn't let this pass without some sort of explanation. I suppo-

In the middle of his deliberations Ron was interrupted by the door opening and Harry standing there with two steaming mugs of tea. Harry handed one mug to Ron, sat down on the end of the bed, and looked Ron in the eye. "So," he began, "mind telling me what's going on?"

"Its- its nothing. Really. Quite silly actually, don't think of it. Suppose I'm just tired." Ron knew such a weak excuse wouldn't pass with Harry, but he waited.

"Oh. I see."

"You do?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Of course not you prat! You think I'll let you off with that excuse after I just spent a half hour holding my best friend, while he cried no less. I've never seen you cry Ron. Tell me what's going on please. I'm worried for you."

Ron looked down at his fingers wrapped around the steaming mug. With a deep breath to strengthen his resolve he looked up and began to tell Harry everything that was going through his mind. He told him about how his father stayed late at the office every night now and how his mother never left him something to eat for when he came home. He talked about the way they never really looked each other in the eye anymore, and how when his father did come home they never went to bed together and Ron was even beginning to suspect that they didn't sleep in the same bed. He continues on about how all their actions around the children were stressed and often led to spats over how to discipline Ginny or Ron, or whether they should go and find Percy and bring him home. The subject of Percy and how maybe he saw all this and that's why he didn't come home brings another tear to Ron's eye. Yet the tears come in earnest when he tells Harry how he's afraid his family is being torn apart and there's nothing he can do.

As a tear trickles down a freckled nose Harry watches as it falls into the tea. He doesn't know what to do now. Never in a million years had he expected this to happen, the Weaslys were the perfect family, loving and caring. Hearing this was almost like knowing his own family was falling apart. Ron and the rest of the Weaslys were Harry's family. As the tears welled up in his own eyes Harry put down his mug, crawled over to Ron, took his mug and then firmly placed his arms around the sobbing red head. There wasn't much Harry could do he felt, other than be there and he intended to do that.

"Oh Ron... I'm sorry. Shh… come on. It'll be all right. I can't really help, but please don't cry, we'll get you through this."
Ron clutched on tighter to his friend and replied through the tears, "Just please don't leave me. I think you're the last thing left that I can rely on. If something happened between us... I don't think I could take it."

The sheer desperation in Ron's voice told Harry more than the actual words he spoke. The close contact and emotions that laced the situation brought meaning to Ron's words that Harry perceived as the greatest need and favor that he had ever asked of his friend, and Harry was more than willing to give it to him. "I'm not going anywhere Ron. Not now, not ever."

Ron cried harder for a moment and then slowly the sobs subsided. After a moment Harry spoke again. "Come on, let's get to bed. It's Christmas tomorrow, you're not allowed to be sad."

Ron looked hesitant to let Harry leave, a look which the brunette caught. "Don't worry. I'm sleeping with you tonight, I think you need it."

A small smile graced his tear stained face as Ron crawled beneath the sheets. Harry joined him a moment later. As one last small sniffle reached his ears, Harry made a grab for Ron's hand and squeezed it firmly. The gesture was returned and the two young men slipped into sleep.

So… what did you think? I'm not sure if I will continue this or let it stand. Tell me your opinion.