"Ron…" Harry whispered, the wind almost carrying his words away.
"She fell so fast," Ron replied with an eerily
monotone voice.
Harry was speechless. There was nothing he could
say really. They both saw her running, and then falling to her death.
Ron picked up a piece of dead wood and tossed it over the edge. He watched it tumble end over end until it was out of sight.
"Come on Ron, let's go."
"I… I can't Harry."
"Ron?" Harry asked, with a hint of worry in his voice.
"A piece of me died with her, Harry. I can't do this anymore."
Before Harry could react, he watched as Ron closed his eyes, placed his hand on the edge of the bridge, and pushed himself out towards oblivion. After a second of not feeling the expecting plunge, Ron opens his eyes to see Harry staring at him with horror, and Dumbledore behind him, wand extended.
"Do we really have to strap him down, Madam Pomfrey?" asked Harry
"It's for his own safety. We don't need him trying another stunt like that again," Madam Pomfrey scolded. Then with a look of sympathy, she added, "Harry, its late, why don't you try to get some rest? It's been a long day. You can come back and visit Ron in the morning."
Barely nodding, Harry turned away from Ron and headed back to the Gryffindor dormitories.
First Hermione, then I almost lose Ron. This can't be happening. Harry thought to himself. Lost in the fog of his own mind, Harry doesn't notice where he is going, and walks into the last person anyone would want to see on the best of days.
Professor Snape.
"Do watch where you're walking, Potter."
"Oh, sorry sir"
Harry waited for the routine lecture,
but was surprised to feel Snape rush by him faster than a snitch
down the dark corridor.
I wonder where he's going in such a hurry.
Not in the mood to mope around the common room, Harry decided to find out for himself.