Author's Note: All right, this is set at the end of the fourth book, roughly, before they leave Hogwarts. The song at the end is Jaci Velasquez's, although I've taken the liberties of altering it a bit . . . everything connected to Harry Potter is J.K.'s, lucky her. Yes, I'm aware that this is slightly (all right, very) corny, and I'm not sure Ron knows what harmonizing is, let alone how to do it, but hey, I've done worse. Let me know what you think! ^..^
Shelter Me . . .
Harry stared unseeingly into the Gryffindor common room fire. It snapped, krackled and popped cheerfully, contrasting sharply with Harry's mood. Voldemort had returned to power . . . he was growing stronger . . . the wizarding world was coming to Dark times- Dumbledore had said so himself, and Dumbledore was rarely wrong.
A loud sigh escaped his lips. Hermione looked up from Hogwarts, a History and tilted her head pensively. Harry hadn't been talking much since the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but then, who could blame him? It must have been a terrible experience, and Harry wasn't one to share what he felt. Poor Harry. He was practically all alone in the world- no parents to love him. Hermione went and sat on the couch beside him, putting an arm around him and her head on his shoulder. "It'll turn out all right, Harry," she said quietly. "You'll see."
Ron watched his friends, one comforting the other, and shook his head. Harry was awfully brave, facing Voldemort and all. And it wasn't over yet, not by a long shot. His dad had told him stories about the last time Voldemort was in power, and they weren't pretty. He shuddered to think of that happening again. And with the Ministy being in denial and all . . .
Ron got up and stretched out on the couch, laying his head in Hermione's lap. She smiled and brushed some hair out of his eyes.
The three friends sat there, silently, in the deserted common room, each lost in their own thoughts. The fire began to die, until it was only glowing embers, casting a flickering orange light on their faces.
Finally Harry stirred. "You guys-" he began. His voice cracked, and he tried again. "You guys- you know you're my- my best friends, right? You and Sirius- you're like my family." He swallowed hard. "You're all I've got."
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said. A tear trickled down her face and splashed onto Ron's. "Hey," he said softly, and reached up to wipe a second tear from her cheek with his thumb.
Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. Ron tilted his head back to look at Harry. "You know we're here for you, man."
Harry smiled sadly. "I know."
They lapsed into silence again, until Hermione began to sing.
How the mind can wander
How the heart can stray
Suddenly you're on the edge of darkness
How it makes me ponder
How I'm led away
Down a path that leaves me worn and tarnished.
It was a familiar tune, and Ron joined in, singing harmony.
Battling the will within
I have known all along
That I should lean on you
'Cause I'm never strong enough
To fight it on my own
Harry felt a lump form in his throat as he listened to his two best friends sing.
Shelter me . . .
You are the fortress that I seek
Shelter me . . .
Ignoring the pricking at his eyelids, Harry began to sing as well.
Safe from danger surrounding me
Safe from looming defeat . . .
The three friends sang their hearts out, finally having found a release for everything they'd been holding within.
You will never leave me stranded
Fending for myself
When the enemy advances
You are there to help
Standing in the gap for me
Whenever I grow weak
You are my deliverer
The refuge that I seek
The boys quieted as Hermione sang softly:
I should lean on you
'Cause I'm never strong enough
To fight it on my own
All three finished with a powerful
Shelter me . . .
The last note rang into the silence a moment. They all looked at each other, slightly embarrassed, then broke into laughter.
Harry laughed too. How could he not? With friends like these, he felt like he could face anything.
And he would.