Title: An Ending
Author: Xehra )
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: G
Summary: The War is over
Disclaimer: JKR owns it all, I make no coin
Author's note: Thanks to jenavira for the fab beta
"He's dead."
You stare unblinking; the words are wrong. Ron says them again.
"He's dead, Harry!"
You blink and the world moves again, it felt for a moment time stood still. Comprehension dawns but understanding is not yet within your grasp.
"How? When? Where?"
The question you most desperately want answered - iwho/i - you swallow at the last moment. But Ron sees it on your lips anyway.
"London. Not an hour ago. The Order found him, cornered him - killed him! Ten of them."
The sound of pounding feet behind you and you turn; Hermione is a blur of movement before pulling herself up short.
"Did you hear? Isn't it wonderful? Can you believe it?"
Her face is a mirror of Ron's; glowing with wonder and barely contained excitement. Any moment now they are going to realise your own expression does not match.
Because it wasn't you. You didn't do it. Your stomach is twisted in an evil knot because iyou didn't kill him/i.
This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.
"Harry?"
They see; they know. Hermione's smile falls and she shakes her head, eyes never leaving your face. Ron moves a step closer, hand and arm extended.
You manage a small but brief smile.
"I… "
"Only two of them lived."
Your head turns sharply, Ron's voice is flat. Hermione gives a little gasp; she did not know.
The words seem to hang in the air, suspended by three minds trying to grasp their implication. Seconds stretch and nobody speaks.
Hermione shatters the moment, flinging herself forward and pulling you and Ron into a fierce, two-sided embrace.
"I'm so glad it wasn't us!"
Her face is buried in your shoulder and you look up at Ron. His arm is already around her shoulders.
Then the knot inside your belly is gone and you hug them both, pulling your two best friends closer.
An ending, then.
END
Author: Xehra )
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: G
Summary: The War is over
Disclaimer: JKR owns it all, I make no coin
Author's note: Thanks to jenavira for the fab beta
"He's dead."
You stare unblinking; the words are wrong. Ron says them again.
"He's dead, Harry!"
You blink and the world moves again, it felt for a moment time stood still. Comprehension dawns but understanding is not yet within your grasp.
"How? When? Where?"
The question you most desperately want answered - iwho/i - you swallow at the last moment. But Ron sees it on your lips anyway.
"London. Not an hour ago. The Order found him, cornered him - killed him! Ten of them."
The sound of pounding feet behind you and you turn; Hermione is a blur of movement before pulling herself up short.
"Did you hear? Isn't it wonderful? Can you believe it?"
Her face is a mirror of Ron's; glowing with wonder and barely contained excitement. Any moment now they are going to realise your own expression does not match.
Because it wasn't you. You didn't do it. Your stomach is twisted in an evil knot because iyou didn't kill him/i.
This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen.
"Harry?"
They see; they know. Hermione's smile falls and she shakes her head, eyes never leaving your face. Ron moves a step closer, hand and arm extended.
You manage a small but brief smile.
"I… "
"Only two of them lived."
Your head turns sharply, Ron's voice is flat. Hermione gives a little gasp; she did not know.
The words seem to hang in the air, suspended by three minds trying to grasp their implication. Seconds stretch and nobody speaks.
Hermione shatters the moment, flinging herself forward and pulling you and Ron into a fierce, two-sided embrace.
"I'm so glad it wasn't us!"
Her face is buried in your shoulder and you look up at Ron. His arm is already around her shoulders.
Then the knot inside your belly is gone and you hug them both, pulling your two best friends closer.
An ending, then.
END