Harry Potter people don't belong to me. Plot does belong to me.

Story: The emotionless MORON and the Potter boy
Summary: What happens when someone from the good side dies during a Death Eater attack? How do the survivors cope? And what's up with Snape?

Harry stepped into the Gryffindor common room and, just like every time he had walked in there the last couple of days, he saw Ginny crying. He couldn't blame her, it had struck him hard too. Harry walked quietly towards his dorm, he just couldn't confront Ginny.. not now. Harry lay on his bed reliving what had happened a few days ago.

*****

Harry was sitting in a comfortable chair near the fireplace when Ginny came in, crying. Sobbing she ran towards the girl's dorm where she met Hermione. When Hermione was trying to calm Ginny down and let her tell what was wrong Seamus had come to Harry telling him that professor Dumbledore was looking for him. Harry looked back at the door leading to the girl's dorm and turned, heading for Dumbledore's office. On his way he met professor McGonagall.

"There you are, Potter. The headmaster was looking for you. I'll escort you to his office."

Harry decided not to speak and just follow the head of his House. Professor McGonagall recited the password and the stone gargoyle moved aside. Before Harry knew it he sat in the chair opposite Dumbledore.

"Hello Harry." Dumbledore said with a soft voice.

"Hello professor." Harry replied.

"I assume, seeing Miss Weasley's reaction, that you have not yet heard about the dreadful events of this morning?"

"I only saw Ginny coming in the common room, crying. And then she rushed into the girl's dorm. What happened?" Harry was speaking rapidly, his voice controlled by the desire to know what happened. It must have been really serious, because Ginny didn't cry about little things.

"Yes, well, let's start at the beginning. Last year, at the Ministry, the Death Eaters failed to gain the Prophecy for Voldemort. Voldemort, and the Death Eaters too actually, were extremely angry that they didn't succeed. They took their revenge by an attack early this morning."

"Who did they attack? Lupin, Tonks, Moody, anyone from the Order?"

Harry could understand Ginny's reaction now. A Death Eater attack wasn't to be called little.

"They attacked neither Lupin nor Tonks nor Moody. But they did attack members of the Order. Early this morning about 10 Death Eaters arrived at the Burrow." Harry wanted to ask if anyone was hurt, but before he could ask Dumbledore had continued his story. "The Weasley's were unprepared, but they set up a good fight even so. They were fighting as long as needed, until they could leave to a safer place. They could almost leave when Bellatrix Lestrange had come up to Ginny. Ginny had lost her wand and was defenceless. Bellatrix was about to murder Ginny when Ron attacked Bellatrix. None of the Weasley's had so far attacked a Death Eater, as they were only defending themselves until they could leave safely. Ron, the poor soul, got 6 Death Eaters to shoot the killing curse at him. The Weasley's had taken Ron's body and departed as quickly as possible, to a safe place or not. Exactly what happened there I don't know myself, having heard this by Arthur Weasley."

"So", Harry started, "Ron's really.. dead?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so."

"D-did he feel pain?"

"No, I don't think he did."

*****

The scene of that evening had passed Harry's mind several times every day. Horrible, he thought, but he just couldn't get it out of his mind. Harry tried to get some sleep, though even in his dreams he found himself in Dumbledore's office talking about the morning Ron had died.

The following day was a Monday. This meant going back to lessons. Harry didn't want to go, even though Hermione reassured him that it would distract him a bit, he didn't have a good feeling about it.

*****

Hermione and Harry walked towards the fifth floor for their Charms lesson when they met Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. "Granger. Potter." Malfoy spitted with disgust in his voice. "Where's the Weasel boy?" Hermione bursted into tears and sobbing she ran towards the nearest girl's bathroom. "He's not here" Harry murmured. "Yeah, I can see that, Potter. I asked where the git was." "He's not a git. Just leave me alone okay?!" Harry started to feel his anger rising. "Aww.. Did little Potter and Weasel break up?" Crabbe and Goyle laughed. "If you need to know it, Malfoy" He said his name with fury. "He died a few days ago, saving someone okay? So stop joking about him. He was braver that night than YOU will ever be! He's dead!" "Oh.. Come Goyle, Crabbe." Malfoy beckoned the two boys to come with him. He always had fun teasing the Weasley kid a bit. He never wanted for anyone to die, though.

The whole Charms lesson Hermione didn't look at Harry. Harry felt his anger rising even more. Like it was his fault that Malfoy had to start about Ron. Hermione even sprinted out of Charms to avoid talking to him. Harry strolled down to the dungeons, where he had Potions. Harry regretted telling Malfoy what really happened to Ron. Even though he wasn't annoying him anymore since then, Malfoy had surely told the entire school about it. Professor Snape entered the dungeon and pointed his wand at the blackboard. Immediately notes began to appear.

"Today you're going to make a "Wound-Healing Potion". We shall see at the end of the lesson if your Potion passed by.. testing it."

Stupid man, Harry thought, how will I be able to make something that takes a lot of concentration when Ron just died? Ron.. Harry's thoughts went to his memories of Ron rather then to his potion. He was going to fail it anyway. Ron's potions were always worse than Harry's, but Neville broke the record. Professor Snape always seemed to judge Harry's potions severest though. Harry looked around him, the classroom had no real windows. How Harry longed to Quidditch, flying on his broomstick. But.. of course Ron wasn't going to be keeper anymore. Ron wasn't going to be there at all. He wasn't going to play chess with Harry, wasn't going to help Harry defeat Voldemort, he was gone. For the first time Harry started to realize that his best friend was gone, for good. The freckled boy wouldn't return. At this point Harry had no idea where he was and he couldn't care less. He just let all the held back tears flow.

Snape walked toward Harry and with his low, icy voice he asked: "What are you doing Mr. Potter?"

Harry had just realized what he was doing, and where he was doing it. "I-I'm crying? I just- thought about someone, who passed away." Harry could feel his eyes burn.

"Well.. People die Mr. Potter, and hard as you may find it, crying won't bring them back. I advise you to concentrate on your potion, seeing your grades are dropping by the minute."

"I can't concentrate! My best friend just DIED! Anyone, except an emotionless MORON like you, would understand!" Harry yelled while the tears glided down his cheeks.

"Detention Mr. Potter. I will not accept such tones. No matter how many people died. Now please remove yourself from my classroom."

Harry didn't care what would happen next. He just rushed out of the room. He ran towards the Gryffindor common room and his dorm. Once there he plumped down on his bed, still crying.