Only a Matter of Time
There is a scream, but he can't tell if it was his own. His heart is beating in his throat, his hands shaking as he reaches out for her body. There is blood everywhere. His blood, her blood; the deep red stains everything, distorting the perfect picture into one of a horror movie.
His eyes are wide, but he can't see properly. He is frozen on the spot, unable to move, unable to breathe. If he stays like this there is only one way this will end. Her eyes are blank as she stares at the ceiling — not seeing anything before her.
Her mouth is hanging open, a drip of red running down her cheek. His fingers find her throat, praying to feel anything but the uncomfortable stillness he expected. His hand forms a fist as he beats against her chest, pleading for her heart to move again.
It was so unfair, it wasn't meant to end like this. Too much had happened, too many people had fallen — she wasn't meant to be one of them. He had seen something, when they kissed earlier. He had felt something. A future loomed before them, so bright, so beautiful. They were supposed to grow old, they were supposed to start a family, watch their children run around with his wild hair, and their mother's wild spirit.
She wasn't supposed to end here.
There are more screams now as other's find them. A brother scoops her into his arms, his tears still fresh from the last one. A woman screams as she sees her best friend lying immobile on the ground. There are too many people, too many mourning for her – she's not even cold and people are crying out.
He's on his feet, unsure where he is headed, but knowing that wherever it is – he wouldn't be far behind her. He starts to run, his tears clouding his eyes, but he doesn't care. People jump out at him, but their bodies hit the floor before they can even register that they have taken their last breath.
He sees her as he passes a window, and he sees her hair darting through the crowd, but he knows it's not her. She's gone. As he runs, he knows that there is only a matter of time before he sees her again. He will see her again.
Up ahead he finds his target, the man that started this – who will now be the end. Their eyes meet, red against green, and it is as though nothing else is between them. Spells are flying; red, green, black, gold, many that Harry doesn't recognise. He screams as channels his anger through his arm and prays for this all to end.
There is a bright light, and a searing pain then everything stops. He can hear screaming of those around him. They yell his name as he falls. He can hear Hermione as she calls him back, and he knows Ron is by his side. There are wails from the crowd as his eyes fall shut.
He sees her again, finally. She's smiling at him from the other side. She can't be there, but as he stares at her he knows it's no one else.
Fred is there too, his face is clean and his clothes are intact. He beckons him to come, he calls for Harry. He's at peace, but standing alone he doesn't look finished – like he's missing something. Harry knows he's waiting for his other half – however long that takes.
Next to them stands Remus and Tonks, their hands joined together as they smile at him. They look sad, and he knows what they're thinking of. A small boy lies in his grandmother's arms, waiting for the moment he returns to his mother's. That moment never comes. That boy will grow up with stories of is family instead of memories.
Harry's eyes run down the line of people waiting for him. Lavender is smiling next to Colin on the other side. His parents are waiting on the other side. Sirius is there, as is Dumbledore. They've all been waiting for him. It was only a matter of time.
Silence.
A/N: Words – 694
History of Magic #2: Option One: Write a story about the battle between good and evil, or Light and Dark magic.
