Shuffle-y Thing I Swore Never to Attempt, with a couple of different rules. I simply played the song though as many times as it took to complete the one-shot/drabble and added the play count number to the title. But they're inspired by the song, of course.
1. Enter Sandman, Metallica (Played three times through, 7:27)
The war was devastating. It took everything. It still is devastating, actually. It's been going for three years now, with Voldemort still trying to "gain strength" and not to look as though he didn't want the all-powerful Harry Potter to kill his sorry ass.
I still remember the last time I saw my love. He tucked me in as if it was the most important thing to him, idiotic and it still warms my heart. He's so...I still want him. I want him to return. He's been on the chase, but to no avail. He's been gone...two months, almost. Three, maybe. If I round up. But I miss him so. I sleep every night praying to keep him safe from the worthless war, started by madness. It's so...
I still sleep with one eye open, despite being the last one, the only one...the light leaves me and I'm still half-afraid my father will come in and kill me for...killing him. But still, I am safe, this time...
Enter night. Again. Even as he left, leaving me all alone, nowhere to go. It comes in every night, and every night I curse that he left me. A sound, a soft creak, but I know the house-elves, the ones that insisted on staying, have already long gone to sleep. As should I. But it creaks again, and I open on eye, trying to convince myself that it was nothing.
Strong arms encircle mine. Familiar, strong arms. I seize up for the barest of seconds, and I look at him in amazement.
He's filthy. And covered in blood, and other unidentifiable liquids and powders. Maybe a couple potions that could never effect him. He squeezes me, and I can tell he's trembling.
"Harry?" I ask, bewildered. He kisses me, long and hard and fast, but I break away. "I...you...we...you left me!" I punch him, lightly and stick my tongue out at him.
"I had to. I had to keep you safe. I couldn't..." he trails off. He grins, kissing me again. "It's over.
"The War, everything...he's dead."
I start. I had never imagined, even though I had so much faith in the man in front of me. It had always seemed just out of reach. But to hear it come out of his mouth, firm and resolute. I smash my lips to him.
He stands me up, and holds out his hand and he sinks to the ground. He holds out his palm, and the imprint of the silver band is etched in his palm. "Take my hand. Please. Let me take your hand. Marry me." My eyes fill with silent tears. I nod, and he slides the ring on, perfectly.
"I've kept it for months, even before...I didn't want to before I had to...leave...didn't want to give you hope that might be crushed," he says quietly. I kiss him again, and he smiles. He takes my hand, and his eyes, bright and warm, fill me with heat, and hope. More hope for this world than I've had for all my life. "Come on, then. Let's go back to the battleground. I Apparated before they even registered what I'd done."
I smile, and I'm sure I'm positively radiating with happiness. I squeeze the hand I took hold of, and we leave to rediscover the world I've never even dared to dream of.