For Life
"I'm sorry."
There were a lot of things she could say to him, and just as many things she could do to him. She could tell him that that wasn't good enough. She could slap him and walk away. She could hug him and tell him she was so worried. She could burst into tears. She could yell at him that he couldn't just walk away from her and come back and tell her he was sorry. She could tell him that she forgave him. She could tell him she'd think about it. She could do this, and she could do that. But in the end, she knew none of the reactions she could give him were good enough. There was no way that she could explain to him that she was pissed off at him for leaving her, but that she understood why. She couldn't show him that she was so glad that he had come back, but still mourning over her lost brother. She couldn't comfort him, but she couldn't bear to see him suffer. So she looked at him, hoping to convey everything to him. And then she turned away. He caught her hand.
"I truly am sorry."
"You left without telling anybody. They thought you were dead. I thought you were dead!"
"If I had come to see you, you would have persuaded me to stay. You would!" he nearly shouted when she started to protest. "And I would have stayed. For you. I went out there for you. I would have stayed for you. I would do anything for you. But it had to end. The suffering, the killing. It had to end!" He's sobbing now, so weak, yet so strong. He's been through so much.
"I'm sorry."
He's scared now. He thinks that you feel guilty, when you shouldn't. "It wasn't yours to be sorry for."
"I'm still sorry."
"Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Colin. They died because I didn't turn myself in. Because I didn't want to die. They died for me."
"Don't you dare. Don't you dare blame yourself, Harry James Potter. They died...they died...they died for the greater good. For freedom. For...for...for..." She can't think of a better reason. Then it hits her. "For life. They died for life."
He doesn't believe her.
"They died for life. For everything and nothing. They died for a life they should have lived. The life they saved. The lives they saved."
He believes her now. She sees it in his eyes. His emerald green eyes, sharp like stone, yet melted. They used to be dull; now they're full. Of hope. He believes.
"For life." His voice is tired, like a soldier home from war. He's seen so much, lost so much. But it's the first time she's seen him this alert since the final battle.
"Yes. So go live it.