A/N: Originally written in June 2007 as an entry for a contest. Mom brought home a newspaper clipping from Florida which asked kids ages 6-18 to write a story about how they thought the Harry Potter series would end. Mine didn't win, but it was still fun to write. The title comes from Harry's thoughts in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I can't remember where it was, but Harry was thinking that his world was divided into two universes, the one with Sirius, and the one without. Rated K+ for character death.
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter. If I did, I'd be one rich lady. Not making any money with this story. If I were, I'd be one slightly richer lady.
The Second Universe
It seemed unfair to Harry that the sun should shine so brightly upon a cemetery.
Harry walked silently past the rows of gravestones, wearily reading the names. Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape . . . just two of the many people who had perished at the hands of Voldemort. He closed his eyes and walked on. Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy. They had been murdered while protecting Draco. Harry approached a headstone and fell to his knees in front of it, dreading to see again the words etched into the rock and yet unable to tear his gaze away.
Ronald Weasley.
Why?
Why was he forced to fulfill a stupid destiny?
Why did he have to be the one to kill Voldemort?
Why did Ron have to die because of him?
The wizarding world was rejoicing over the death of Voldemort. Harry punched the ground bitterly. They had no idea what it was like to search the world for Horcruxes; to battle the most feared wizard of the age; to see your best mate die . . . Harry was clenching his teeth together so hard that it hurt. If Ron had not jumped in front of him, he would still be here with Harry, would still be alive. If it had not been for Voldemort, Ron would not have died.
And if it had not been for Ron, Harry would not have been able to kill Voldemort. The unbearable grief he had felt had been the one thing that had finally finished Voldemort off.
A hand touched his shoulder gently. Harry swung around and found Ginny facing him. He opened his mouth and tried to speak, but no sound came out. He tried again.
"He was so stupid," he rasped. Tears were rolling down Ginny's cheeks.
"He died saving you, Harry. That was not stupid." The tears that he had been stubbornly holding back broke free at last. He embraced Ginny tightly and cried with her for a long time.
A/N: The story's vague, so I'll explain. I really thought that the series would end with the death of Ron Weasley. I thought that Ron would sacrifice himself to save Harry, and thus give Harry the upsurge of emotion that was required to kill Voldemort. Of course, J. K. Rowling thought up a better ending than I ever could have. Read and review, Harry Potter fans!