Harry looked around for the millionth time. How long had he been here? Was it night? Was it day? Where was everybody? What had happened?

So many questions. But not enough answers. In fact, no answers.

He looked up and vaguely wondered whether there was a ceiling here. Who knew.

Maybe this was what heaven was like? If it was, he certainly didn't want to stay here.

He wished Ron or Hermione was here. In fact, he'd even cope with Snape. Anybody. Just not to be here alone.

But more than anything, he wanted Draco. And regretted. Regretted what he'd never done with Draco, never had the chance to do. Make love together, have children, grow old, go on dates. All those little fantasies turned to nothing before his eyes. It was cruel.

He wondered how Draco was doing.

But even more than that, he wanted Draco himself. And with that thought he cried himself to a lonely, sad sleep.

----------------------

Draco let out an angst-filled cry into the silence. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Except Harry.

He'd lost his mate and didn't know whether he'd ever find him again.

He could feel himself transforming, and rapidly. He was becoming a Veela. He would probably stay like this until the day he found his mate; his love. He stretched out his long wings and looked down at his now long silvery hair. He could already feeling himself glowing, yet he was distressed.

He needed Harry; wanted him.

Draco whimpered and then howled into the dragging silence. Why were they just stood there? Harry could be in there, trapped. And all what they were doing was just standing there. Well, he was going to check to see if he was there, if nobody else was. He climbed through the ruins of the house and looked for the body of his mate. He was in here somewhere; he could smell him. The smell was in the whole house. then, in a particular area, the smell was strong; Harry was here!

He dug under all of the panels from the ceiling and checked under all of the rubble. Then he saw the tell-tale signs of messy black hair. With new determination, he dug harder and faster, removing everything that lay on top of Harry. Once Harry was in his arms, he cried. Draco knew exactly where he was.

He was on the border of life and death. And there was nothing Draco could do to get him back. He collapsed next to Harry's body before the welcoming darkness reached him.

-----------------------

Dumbledore watched in awe as Draco grieved over his mate. It was common knowledge that when a Veela such as Draco was particularly angry/sad, he would transform into the full Veela. At least until his mate was back. Which if he did say so himself, wouldn't be anytime soon. If ever. Draco then ran into the building, fully transformed, obviously trying to find anything that looked or smelled like his mate.

Hermione looked as if she was going to follow him. "No, Hermione. I trust you've read about Veelas?" She nodded sadly. "Then I suggest you keep away - for now. He's likely to be very sensitive at the moment, and would currently do anything to find his mate. Even kill one of his best friend if necessary."

She turned hazel eyes, shimmering with unshed tears towards the ageing headmaster. "He's not coming out is he?" She wailed. "He's dead isn't he? Dead...It's not fair!" Ron put an arm around her shoulder, which Hermione took gratefully. "It's not fair...too many people have died already..." She started to cry into his shoulder. "Too many..." Ron embraced his friend and patted her back soothingly.

"Shhh. Let Malfoy decide that for us...when he comes out with Harry, they're going to be wondering why we're all crying...they're going to be laughing at us." He continued patting her back as she carried on crying into his shoulder. "Shhhh. It's going to be alright in the end. Shhhh."

"BUT IT'S NOT!" she shouted into the awkward silence. "AND YOU ALL KNOW IT! OTHERWISE WE WOULD BE CHEERING THAT WE FINALLY BEAT VOLDEMORT! SO WHY ARE YOU ALL STANDING THERE LOOKING LIKE YOU'VE MISSED YOUR FAVOURITE WIRELESS PROGRAM?

"BECAUSE HARRY POTTER HAS JUST DIED WHILE SAVING YOUR UNGRATEFUL NECKS...THAT'S RIGHT! YOUR NECKS! HE PUT YOU BEFORE HIS OWN SAFETY! AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND THE WHOLE WIZARDING WORLD GIVE HIM BACK...? NOTHING BUT SHIT, THATS RIGHT... LIKE IN OUR FOURTH YEAR! WHAT DID YOU CALL HIM? OH YES, A LIAR WHO BELONGS IN THE LOONY BIN. NOW THAT YOU'VE REALISED HE ISN'T, YOU'RE ALL FOR WORSHIPPING THE GROUND HE WALKS ON! AND AS SOON AS YOU GET HOME I'LL BET YOU'LL BE CELEBRATING! WELL HIS TRUE FRIENDS WONT BE...BECAUSE IF YOU EVER TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT A NICE GUY HE WAS, UNDER THE SCAR AND THE NAME, INSTEAD OF MAKING THE BULLSHIT STORIES ABOUT HIM AND HIS FRIENDS, YOU'D BE GUTTED, TOO. AND NOT JUST FOR AN HOUR OR SO. THIS SORT OF GRIEVING LASTS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES!

"...BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WOULD YOU? BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER LOST ANYBODY THAT CLOSE, HAVE YOU? YOU ALL MAKE ME SICK...YOU DUMPED ALL OF YOUR WORRIES AND HOPES ON THE SHOULDERS OF A TEENAGER WHOS LOST MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW...HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY DROPPING AT EVERY CORNER...WHAT DID YOU THINK HE WAS? SOME LITTLE TOY SOLDIER THAT YOU COULD DROP WHENEVER YOU FELT LIKE IT? AND MAKE HIM FIGHT FOR YOUR LIVES AGAIN WHEN IT SUITED YOU?

"WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR HOMES TONIGHT WITH ALL OF YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, SPARE HARRY A THOUGHT, IF YOU CAN...IF YOU'RE NOT TOO BUSY TO THINK ABOUT THE GUY WHO SAVED ALL OUR ARSES TONIGHT, SPARE HIM A THOUGHT. HARRY POTTER. REMEMBER THAT NAME."

She looked around at the remaining people; the ones who hadn't already been killed. Then she looked to the floor...so many dead people, so many she knew, so many Harry knew and would grieve for, too. She wondered if everyone else would forget these people lying on the floor, their lives rapidly taken before their eyes.

Many were young, many had never even seen what life could be like. Many were sick, and just wanted everything to finish...Sick of Voldemort, sick of the Death Eaters, sick of losing friends, family and colleagues. They would have been happy to know that, with their help, they finally defeated Voldemort. Even all the Death Eaters.

They might have not played the big part in all of this, but they played the little parts, which to her, were just important. Without these people, who had also risked their lives, Harry would have not completed his final mission; kill Voldemort. Without these people, Harry's childhood would have been miserable. These were the people who stuck by him thin and thick, no matter what. These were the people who played the most important role in Harry's childhood.

Friends.

Then she broke down, falling to the floor, coving her face with the rapid tears that were falling. And, one by one, all of Harry's friends surrounded her, falling to the floor, sharing her grief, her worries...of the boy who saved them all...

Harry James Potter.