Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 509
Warnings - Character Death
Until Next Time
Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it - Haruki Marukami
He was orphaned before he could talk. It's a fact of Harry's life that he's learned to deal with, but there's a pain inside him that will never go away. The death of his parents changed the course of his life in ways he probably didn't understand, even as an adult.
How different would he be, if only he'd had a happy childhood?
He watched his friend die at the hands of one he'd saved when he was only fourteen years old. Cedric's death had been needless and made worse because of it. How different would the world be, if only Harry hadn't told him to take the cup with him?
His godfather, his chance of knowing a life with a caring guardian, was stolen from him by a vindictive witch with a lifelong family grudge and his own stupidity. Would he have been able to live with Sirius, if he'd only remembered the two way mirror?
The death of Hedwig, his first real friend and his faithful pet, was cast aside in the light of the battle where Mad-Eye had also been lost, but Harry grieved her alone in bed that night, his tears of sorrow for her sinking silently into his pillow. Would she have waited at the Burrow for him, had she survived?
Too many lives were lost at the Battle of Hogwarts to focus on just one, but Harry felt each one singularly and painfully. Would the world miss Colin, or Fred or Remus or Tonks? Their families certainly would.
George would always know the loss of his twin, Dennis his big brother who protected him and cared for him and loved him.
Teddy… he'd feel the loss of both of his parents. He'd know the same pain Harry did, although if nothing else, Harry would ensure he had a happy life that Harry missed out on.
Through all of that loss, all of that pain, Harry wasn't prepared to become the master of it. He wasn't prepared to meet the cloaked reaper.
He'd thought he'd be ready, had in fact faced death before without flinching, and yet, when it came to him, he realised he'd never been ready.
From the moment he united the Hallows, Death followed him. From the corner of Harry's eyes, he would see the cloaked figure hovering near, would see the glint of silver that meant the scythe was about to fall.
Death never spoke to him, nor did Harry try, but he was ever present in his life. Through springs and winters, summers and autumns, as life carried on, so did Death.
Even as he mastered it, Harry fell victim to it, and eventually, replaced it. The Hallows scattered and Harry picked up the scythe.
This had been the cost, all those years before, and it would be his price to pay until the next time. For all that he knew it would be a while, he knew that there would be a next person to unite the Hallows.
Until then, Harry would linger.
And life would go on.
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life; it goes on - Robert Frost
Written for:
Scamander's Case - 19. Death is not the opposite of life but a part of it - Haruki Marukami
Hogwarts Olympics - Ice Hockey / Gold - Contains no dialogue / 4. Death
Galleon - 23. In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life; it goes on - Robert Frost
365 - 223. Sorrow