Chapter twenty eight

Reunited

Darkness and light. It is odd that a simple change in colour holds entirely different meanings. White is safe and comforting – it is home. Black is unknown. It is nothing. And though not easily scared, he was unnerved, for wherever he looked there was only darkness stretching on for eternity. There was no sound, no movement, only him in this wide open space. Another thought struck him – how odd it was to feel claustrophobic in such an open place. He could move anywhere he wished, but he felt trapped, tethered entirely to the black surrounding him. It felt wrong – he didn't belong here.

Something flickered in the corner of his eye. It was bright and he immediately felt drawn to it. He headed forward finding that he was walking on a strange surface. He was unsure what, though it was hard under his feet.

'I wouldn't go that way.'

Well that was impossible, he was sure he just heard a voice. One he hadn't heard in a while and one that filled him with intense pain and guilt.

'Are you ignoring me now?' the voice said with a hint of a smirk.

Harry turned around and a smile lit his face.

'Alright mate,' Ron said. He looked content, relaxed, like he was completely at ease here. 'How's your stomach?' he asked, gesturing towards Harry's shirt. It was ripped, he noticed, at the point where Bellatrix had driven the sword through his stomach. He pulled his shirt aside, grimacing at the gruesome hole in his body.

'It doesn't hurt,' he said, unsure whether that was a good thing or not. He traced his fingers over the hole and laughed as Ron visibly winced.

'Harry, that's gross – stop it.'

'Sorry,' he said, pulling his shirt down – the light behind Ron caught his eye again...

'Don't look at it,' Ron said, 'It's easier if you try to ignore it.'

'What is it?'

Ron turned and looked over his shoulder, momentarily distracted.

'On,' he said simply, dragging his eyes away to find Harry looking back at him, his face the picture of guilt. Ron held his hands up, grinning.

'I know what you're going to say – Harry, if I was angry with you, do you think I'd be here?'

Harry shrugged, running a hand wearily over his eyes. 'Where is here, anyway?' he asked.

Ron shook his head and shrugged. 'Not sure. It's okay though.'

Harry looked at him, puzzled. 'You stayed here? The entire time? Why didn't you go on?'

'It wouldn't let me,' Ron said. 'Every time I tried to get near it, the light would go out.'

Harry swallowed thickly. 'Do you think it would let me?'

Ron eyed him carefully; he looked much older than his years; he was almost x-raying him like Dumbledore would have done.

'Do you want it to?' he asked, mysteriously.

'I don't think so,' Harry said, shaking his head, staring back at the flickering ball – it seemed so far away from him.

'Wow,' Ron said suddenly, pulling him from his reverie. He was staring down at his feet, a strange twisted smile upon his face. 'Snape's trying to save you,' he said grimly. 'When did that greasy git suddenly get a heart?'

Harry laughed. 'He's not as bad as you think...once you get to know him.'

'Are you sure?' Ron said. 'After all the things he did to you?'

'We found a common interest...' Harry frowned suddenly. 'Wait, Snape's trying to what?'

Ron pointed towards his feet and Harry ran over to meet him. He found himself looking through what appeared to be a huge pain of glass beneath his feet. He was high above the forest, as though he were in the sky itself, staring down at the clearing below.

Remus was knelt next to Harry's lifeless body, one hand stroking his hair, his face gaunt and lifeless. Snape was stood above him looking almost as bad as Harry did, aiming his wand directly over his chest and chanting something with an intense expression. As Dumbledore appeared to be yelling instructions at them both, Snape wavered on his feet, wiping a sleeve across his sweaty brow, and then he cast the spell once more. Harry watched his own body arch and then fall to the ground, his pale head rolling around in the leaves.

'Am I dead?' Harry asked, shocked.

'Not really.'

Harry groaned. 'Can you stop being so cryptic? You're starting to morph into Dumbledore.'

Ron laughed but cut off abruptly as Harry launched himself at him, overcome with the need to explain himself and wrapped his arms firmly around him.

'I'm so sorry Ron – I missed you so much…'

'I don't blame you, Harry. I really don't.'

'But I didn't stop him, I couldn't!'

Ron clapped him hard on the back and pulled away. 'I mean what I said. If I was angry with you, I wouldn't still be here.'

Harry sighed heavily. 'Hermione misses you.'

Ron nodded. 'I know,' he said, his throat tight. 'I miss her too.'

'Can you forgive me, for ruining what you had?'

'How many times - '

'Just say it,' Harry cut in, 'please. I need to hear you forgive me.'

Ron sighed and smiled gently. 'I forgive you...You're my best friend Harry, nothing will ever change that.'

Harry looked down at his body again. 'Have you been watching all the time?' he asked.

Ron shook his head. 'Not all the time. I can only see certain things.'

'Like what?'

'Well, I know that you and Ginny are pretty much together now,' Ron said with a raised eyebrow. Harry felt his gut clench.

'Yeah...' he said awkwardly. 'But I really love her Ron, I've never felt anything like it before.'

'I know,' Ron said reassuringly. 'I trust you wont hurt her...' he trailed off, following Harry's eyes through the glass below them. Remus was now leant over Harry, his hands pushing fiercely upon Harry's chest; Snape was bent over the grass now, struggling to catch his breath, Dumbledore looked positively bewildered - an expression Harry had never seen cross his face before.

Ron looked horrified.

'What on earth is he doing?'

'It's a muggle method. CPR, it's called,' Harry said, turning away. It was difficult to watch the two men, battling to save him, knowing they were fighting a loosing battle. If they couldn't save him, Snape would be next. Two lives lost for the sake of one. Harry shook his head, there was nothing right about that.

'Remus is good for you Harry,' Ron said, watching as Remus continued to pump his arms up and down, almost frantically now. 'He's done more for you than I ever could...'

'It's different Ron,' Harry said gently. 'I need you to be my best friend, not my dad.'

'You think of Remus as your dad?'

Harry nodded. 'He's been there for me when nobody else was. It's hard to explain. You and Hermione helped in a different way, but you couldn't be there all the time, it would have been ridiculous of me to expect that. But Remus, he was there all the time. He wouldn't push me, but he'd be there to catch me when I needed it. I've never had anybody do that for me before...After you...died...he stopped me from doing something very stupid.'

'I know.'

Harry pulled his head up quickly. 'You saw that?'

Ron nodded. 'I'm glad to see you were so upset about me,' he said, grinning. 'But if you ever do something as stupid as trying to run off to kill a mad wizard by yourself again, I will have to kill you.'

Harry laughed. 'It's a bit late for that isn't it?'

Ron shrugged. 'No.' He pointed down beneath his feet again. 'Look.'

Harry didn't need to look. He could feel it. A gentle tugging, like someone had grabbed hold of his ankles and was attempting to pull him through the glass separating him from his body. He staggered slightly, surprised at the odd feeling. He could see Remus below, shouting with an utterly confused expression at Snape who was pulling himself up from the grass. He suddenly looked better, in fact, he was almost smiling. Dumbledore was aiming his wand once more, the same blue waves as before were pulsing outwards and this time, were firmly attaching themselves to Harry's stomach.

'You have to go back,' Ron said. 'People need you down there.'

'What about you?' Harry said, wincing as somebody tugged on his ankles again. 'I don't want to leave you here.' Harry looked beneath him again – colour was retuning to his pallid face.

'Come with me,' he said.

Ron raised an eyebrow. 'How am I supposed to do that?'

Harry shook his head. 'Who knows! But there's a reason, I swear there is, for that light not letting you through. I bet you anything it was waiting for me.'

'Harry...'

'No Ron. We can do this! Just...I don't know, hold on to me or something.'

'Harry,' Ron said gently, prying his friends hands from his arms. 'I can't go back with you.'

Harry swallowed hard. 'Why not,' he demanded, sounding all of ten rather than sixteen.

'There's a reason that I haven't been allowed to go on yet,' Ron said calmly. 'And I don't think it's to come back with you,' he added quickly as Harry went to interrupt. 'I think it was to make sure you went back.'

'But I don't want to go back without you,' Harry said quietly. 'Why don't you want to come back!'

'You've managed alright without me so far,' Ron said.

There were silent for a few moments, watching the scene beneath them.

Dumbledore was still chanting rhythmically.

'Nothing can bring people back from the dead, Harry,'

'Will you stop that!' Harry said with a frown.

'What?' Ron said, laughing.

'You sound like Dumbledore. It's really unnerving.'

'Sorry,' Ron said. 'But you know I'm right. You need to go back without me.'

Harry shook his head, still not wanting to leave. 'What if you get stuck here?'

Ron turned to look at the light again. It had drifted closer and was twinkling brightly. When he turned back, a smile had lit his face.

'I think I'll be okay. I've done what I need to do.'

Harry folded his arms. 'I haven't said I'm going back yet. Like you said, nothing can bring back the dead.'

'Ahh, but you're not really dead.'

Harry whacked Ron upside the head. 'Then what is all this for!'

Ron was thoughtful for a few moments. 'This is...making sure you make the right choice.'

'Which is going back?'

'Which is going back,' Ron repeated. 'Harry, people down there need you.'

'And what about you?' Harry cried. 'People need you too! I need you.'

'You'll be fine, Harry.' Ron patted his shoulder gently. 'Remember what Remus told you? Just remember, the guilt will fade and the memories will help – even it it's just a little.'

Harry felt another tug on his legs, this one much harder and he almost felt himself slip through the glass pane beneath him.

'I think it's time to go,' Ron said with a grin. 'For both of us.'

Ron held his arms out and Harry grasped him tightly.

'At least I get to say goodbye this time,' he said tearfully. 'I'm so sorry Ron.'

'I know,' Ron said, pulling backwards with a stupid grin on his face. 'I'll be watching – if you do anything to hurt Ginny... I'll send down some lighting or something to strike you.'

Harry laughed. 'Don't worry. She's the most important thing in my life now. Or she will be when all this is over.'

Ron nodded. 'Take care of yourself, Harry...tell Hermione...well, she already knows.'

'I'll see you again,' Harry said, holding out his hand. Ron shook it fiercely, laughing again.

'Seriously mate, just go!' he said. 'People are waiting for you down there.'

And with one last, almost lethal, tug Harry found himself falling and tumbling through the blackness. Within seconds the light burned so brightly, Ron was gone and Harry's world dissolved into white.