written for the ultimate pairing drabble competition using the pairing harry/ginny and the prompt map.
also for the song fic boot camp using the song 'life after you' by daughtry and the prompt afterlife
ooo
It's so close, yet so very far away. You know that this battle can't last forever, but you're still uncertain whether or not it'll end by daybreak. You've noticed that you seem to be running on smoke and a thread of hope, and you're not alone in that aspect.
Checking the map yet again, your eyes scour the worn parchment for the little dot and name Harry Potter. Finding clusters of dots near the Great Hall that show those in battle, you begin to search the rest of the map. You know Harry well enough to know that he wouldn't be found in the heat of the fray, no matter how much his inner warrior would want to be. No, the Harry you knew would be off on his own, or else with Ron and Hermione, trying to find Voldemort and the way to stop him.
Finally, you see his dot heading off alone to the Forbidden Forest. "Harry!" you screech to yourself. Hastily looking around to ensure that you were still alone, you folded the map back up and stuffed it in your pocket, grabbed your wand, and ran flat-out towards the grounds.
Thoughts race through your mind: What if you don't see him in time? What if you never get to say goodbye?
What if you'll need to have said goodbye?
All that matters anymore is Harry's safety. All you need is for this damn battle to end and for Harry to come home.
All you ever wanted was love, and after everything you've both been through, you deserve it.
Without Harry, you're nothing. You're stuck in some nonexistent afterlife, because without Harry Potter by your side, what's the point of living anymore? If he—if you can't get to him in time…
Your legs are on fire, begging you to slow down, but with the price of stopping is too high. You dart into the edge of the forest, picking your way around overgrown tree roots and shrubbery.
You're worn out and your breathing is shallow. There's no way you can catch up with him now, and even if you could, what would you do? You know somewhere deep in your heart that Harry would have to do this, for noble reason, but a part of you thinks that Harry'll make it out alive. You know it's wishful thinking, but you can't help your thoughts.
Harry's too far gone now, you can't even see him anymore. You sink slowly to your knees, feeling as though you've failed: failed Harry, failed yourself, failed everyone fighting.
Closing your eyes, you pray for a positive outcome, that this all wasn't in vain. Somehow, you feel a ray of light will fall, that you just need to wait for the right time. That everything'll be alright.