Harry was pacing the floor, waiting on Ron and Hermione to return from their short visit home. War was a lonely time and having his best friends and closest confidants away from him was wearing down on him. They had only been gone for two days and they had begged Harry to come with them. It had been seven long months since they had seen their families and Mrs. Weasley had downright demanded that they come home. Voldemort had disappeared over a month ago and the search was wearing thin on all of them.

Harry decided to sit down with a book and he rummaged through the stack that Hermione had left on the table. Everything was concerning the Dark Arts and dark magic, so Harry grabbed the only thing other than that, which was Hogwarts: A History. Hermione would have let out a smile from ear to ear at him, which was more than rare these days. He was barely on the second page when a loud pop cracked in the kitchen. Harry grabbed his wand and was about to blow the wall out when Ron appeared from around the corner.

"Bloody hell Ron," Harry sighed, as he tucked his wand back into his robes. Ron gave him a sorrowful look and sat down across from him.

"Hermione is still at the Burrow. Mum has done nothing but make a fuss about us all just coming home and leaving it be," Ron said, all the while rolling his eyes. His mother knew what was going on, but there was no chance she'd let them go without putting up a legendary Weasley fight. It was then that he noticed what Harry was reading.

"Harry, have you gone mad?" Ron gasped, with a look of mock horror. Harry let out a slight smile at this and Ron took comfort in knowing that Harry was at least trying to pull himself out of despair.

"No, Ron. There was nothing else to do and I just don't feel up to delving deeper into a mystery that already has my head spinning and people dropping around me," Harry said, his hardened expression returning.

"No one had died in a month Harry, at least not from attacks. They've gone into hiding and I, for one, say it's for the bloody best. The Malfoy's are gone and Bellatrix is locked up in Azkaban."

Harry's face remained still at the mention of Bellatrix. It had taken more courage and restraint than he had ever needed not to kill her on the spot. Instead, he bound her and watched as an Auror carried her back to Azkaban. The memory of her cursing Harry and everyone who wasn't under her Dark Lord was embedded in him forever. Ron noticed Harry's tightened grip on the book and spoke quickly, hoping to change the subject.

"Mum and Dad are a bit upset that you wouldn't come, but Charlie, Bill, and the twins said to give you their best," Ron said, hoping that the mention of family would brighten Harry's spirit. His friend's light had gone out weeks ago and Ron knew of nothing that would bring it back for good, except for this to all be over. Harry just nodded.

"I should go back and make sure Hermione is coming. She's been crying all day and spent most of the day with Mum. We'll be a few more hours," Ron said, not even rolling his eyes at Hermione's show of emotion. Harry once more nodded and Ron sighed as he stood and apparated back to the Burrow.

Harry gave up on reading the book and retired to his room, where he lied down and fell into a slumber quickly. He slept when there was no one else there to hear his screams. The nightmares he had been experiencing were only getting more intense and violent.

"Is this what you can't live without?" Voldemort taunted him. Harry was watching Voldemort point his wand at a figure in the corner and it was only when he heard a small cry that he realized it was Ginny. Harry stepped forward, but Voldemort turned his wand on him quickly.

"Don't touch her. I'll kill you," Harry said menacingly. Voldemort let out a low laugh at this.

"You don't have it in you," Voldemort hissed. Harry had his wand pointed directly at Voldemort heart, or where it would have been in a man with one. Voldemort simply returned his wand's aim at Ginny.

"Crucio"

Ginny's screams filled the room and he watch as she writhed on the floor. Harry felt something break inside him and at that moment he pointed his wand at Voldemort, and almost growled the words at him.

"Avada Kedavra"

A/N: Please tell me what you think. Honest critiques are welcome, as long as you actually have something constructive to say. Positive reviews work well too. :D