He sat on the broken swing set, feet swinging as he wrapped his legs around the thin bars in an instinctive attempt to brace himself brought on by his cousin's endless torments, and looked sadly around the abandoned park.

This used to be my playground [used to be]
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

He smiled sadly at the memories of the friend he'd had when he was small, when the playground was new. He could almost see the silver-blond headed boy clambering around, never still, dragging him along in his enthusiastic imaginings. He sighed. The only blond he'd met since that looked anywhere near was Draco Malfoy. His name was even similar, but he just couldn't see the bundle of energetic friendliness in the aloof and aristocratic teen.

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

He pulled the sleeves of his baggy hoodie further down his arms, absently slipping his thumbs into the holes at the cuffs. It seemed that his wrists and fingers were the latest victim to the painful affliction his malnourishment had nurtured, and the only thing he could think of to do to keep them from hurting was to try to keep them warm. He wished that his friend was here, he was so smart, and he'd always taken care of Harry. He'd have bent all his resources to finding a cure, when all the others had so many people to worry about it might be years before anything was found. At the moment, all they could say was that his transition would likely repair the damage the disease had done. Whether it would cure it or not was anyone's guess.

Live and learn
Well the years they flew
And we never knew
We were foolish then
We would never tire
And that little fire
Is still alive in me
It will never go away
Can't say goodbye to yesterday [can't say goodbye]

'I miss you, Co,' he thought sadly. He'd missed the boy since roughly 3 weeks before his 7th birthday, which was when the boy had disappeared. He wondered vaguely what had happened to keep the devoted boy away from him.

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday [the dream]
Those are words I'll never say [I'll never say]

He wrapped one leg around the pole as he slid slowly down, and made his way to the old merry-go-round, where they had used to run as fast as they could, and see if they could make the other fly off. Harry had managed it once, he now realized it was with his accidental magic, but Co had never managed to. Co hadn't been hurt by his landing though, which made Harry wonder, now, if the other boy had been magical as well. Back then everything had been taken for granted.


This used to be my playground [used to be]
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy

He ran one hand lightly over the bars, fingers catching on the chipped paint. Smiling slightly, he pushed lightly at the bars, wincing at the loud shrilling of scraping metal as it turned slowly, stilling almost as soon as his hand left it. There was a new playground at the elementary school, and nobody came here anymore. There was talk of scrapping the playground equipment and landscaping it into a park for adults to relax in.

This used to be our playground [used to be]
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

'I wish you were here, Co. I still need a protector, someone to keep my cousin from beating me, and my aunt and uncle from treating me the way they do. Maybe if you'd been here, I'd have been strong enough to fight off this stupid disease. Heavens knows, between your family and school, I never actually starved, but during the summers without you . . . it was hard to get enough food, and I was worked to the bone, and exhausted all the time. That's when I got this, after you left. I'm pretty sure your mother would have noticed and got me help before it was too late if it were when you were still here.'

This used to be our playground [used to be]
This used to be our great escape
This used to be the place we ran to
This used to be our secret hiding place

He sighed as he turned to return to the only place he had to call home. It was getting dark, and if he didn't get home in time to have dinner ready when Uncle Vernon got home, he'd be in for it. He rubbed his hands together, trying to rid himself of the persistent ache. It didn't help anywhere but in his mind, but nevertheless, he felt a small amount of comfort from the action. Smiling slightly, he recalled how Co had always insisted he and his mother walk Harry home on the days he couldn't take Harry home with him, postponing the moment when they had to part, and how his mother had indulgently allowed him the token of his affection towards Harry.


This used to be our playground [used to be]
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me

He sighed; he didn't know why he always came back here, on the same day that Co had disappeared, but for the last 7 years, every June 5th he could be found at the abandoned playground, waiting, hoping against all reason that he would show up, that his patience would finally pay off, and his friend would return to him. It seemed that he'd been there every day for the past week, not leaving until the sun was completely below the horizon, and darkness swept over the little town. But now it was the 10th, and he knew that if the blond were going to show up, he would have done it already. Maybe next year . . ..