In the dark, no one can see the tears sliding across his face.

In the dark, he can pretend that the family downstairs can't hear him choking down sobs.

In the dark, he can pretend that they would even care he was breaking down.

In the dark, he could almost imagine what it would feel like to have his mother walk into his room and hold him tight as he cried.

In the dark, he can picture his father giving him a small, reassuring smile and telling him it would be all right.

In the dark, he remembers that is will never happen.

In the dark, he can almost see the fateful flash of green that insured it.

Harry knows that in the dark some find comfort and other find only misery. He wonders why he can find both.