Disclaimer: I am sad to report that I do not own the rights to any of the original Harry Potter characters. If I did, I would be a very rich woman.
A/N: I'm SOO sorry it took me so long to post the third chapter. It's been ages! I got busy and completely forgot. : but please, read and review
Harry knew that Hermione and Ron needed rest more than he did; that's exactly why he offered to keep lookout first. It's not like he slept much anymore anyway. He was constantly worried about how close his goal was or if he was in any real danger. Everything in his life always seemed so far out of reach, and this time was no different. Harry felt alone in this battle for the safety of human kind, Muggles and wizards alike, and he wasn't really sure how to handle it. He didn't want to be on the front page of the newspaper anymore, or gawked at whenever he walked by. But he couldn't exactly sit there and sleep soundly every night when he knew that he was the only one that could end this war. If Voldemort won, then there were many wars to come, and Harry certainly didn't want to be responsible for that.
Not only did the matters of life and death for other people cloud Harry's mind, but also the life of his own. Harry could be dead in five seconds for all he knew, and he'd be forced to leave everyone he loved behind. He didn't know where he was going or what he was doing after he died, but he certainly didn't want to find out any time soon. Truth was, Harry was scared out of his mind and he felt more alone the more he thought about it. Sure, he had always been primarily alone in the world, however, since the death of Sirius and now Dumbledore, Harry felt more alone than ever. Horcruxes were scattered all over Britain and were calling his name and Harry had to look for them and kill Voldemort on his own. Although Ron and Hermione insisted that they would be by his side every step of the way, Harry couldn't help but notice that they seemed to be sleeping fine, while his mind was still reeling with the same thoughts from the night before. Harry would have to be the one to finish off Voldemort, no one else, and Harry couldn't really prevent that. Wasn't that what the long nights with Dumbledore the previous year had been for? To provide Harry with the knowledge he needed to proceed with his endeavor? Harry grew sick thinking about it. How even the last man in the world who seemed to understand Harry's circumstance was gone too; Harry just couldn't take it.
Harry couldn't pretend that he didn't feel his stomach tighten into a million knots as he thought about that fateful night just last summer. He felt a surge of hatred as recalled how Snape had deceived Dumbledore, the one wizard who truly trusted him, ultimately killing him and returning to his secretive life. Harry could feel the hot tears threatening to overflow from his eyes and roughly brushed them away with the back of his dirty hand. He looked to the stars for any answer that they might be able to give him when he heard Ron yawning behind him. Ron popped up beside Harry with a bad case of bed head and stifled another yawn before he spoke.
"Harry, go to sleep. You've been awake for way too long," Ron stated.
"I haven't been awake long enough," Harry replied, sadly. He looked back at the stars and was almost back to his thoughts when Ron interrupted yet again.
"Harry, not sleeping isn't going to numb it. In fact, it'll probably make it worse. It gives you more time to think about it," Ron informed his exhausted friend. Harry peeled his eyes away from the glittering stars and looked Ron in the eye. Ron appeared so sad himself in the soft light of the moon, as if he was done with all his goofiness and immaturity. Like Ron understood that he would never feel what Harry felt or even come close to comprehending it. It was as if Ron was growing up, just like everyone else.
"You're right, Ron. I'll see you in the morning," Harry spoke. Ron took his spot as Harry got up and walked toward Hermione and Harry looked back at Ron, proud to call him his best friend. Harry smiled to himself as he laid himself down next to Hermione and was soon in a very deep sleep.
A/N: sorry the chapter was short, im trying to catch you guys up.