House: Hufflepuff
Category: Drabble
Prompt: "A much needed shower [Prompt/Situation]"
Word count: 444
Title: Ready To Go
Note: The song "Cancer" by My Chemical Romance was my inspiration for this.
~Blue Rose
Harry sighed as he stumbled out of the fireplace, not even bothering to brush the soot off his robes as he kicked off his shoes. He'd just come from St. Mungo's.
His hands shook as he unbuttoned his coat and dropped it on the couch as he passed it on his way to the bathroom.
He just… just needed a shower.
Slowly, he took off his clothes, letting them drop to the floor carelessly. Stifling a yawn, he stepped into the shower, turning on the water. Shivers went up his whole body, but Harry didn't have the energy to care — he was just so tired. Reaching out for the shampoo from memory, he carried on going through the motions, not even registering that he hadn't even turned on the light.
He didn't want to think about it.
He leaned against the wall, soap suds running down his back, and closed his eyes. It couldn't be true. It had to be a dream. Harry hoped with all his might that this was just a nightmare.
Pale skin, looking whiter than the sheets around him. His freckles were dusty, hardly there like they should've been. Peach fuzz where thick red hair used to be.
But Ron had smiled. Faint, and barely there. It was still enough to crack his lips and make them bleed. He brought a hand to his gray lips, gently dabbing at the blood.
"Oops," he said weakly.
"How are you feeling?" That was Harry. Ron tried for a joke, but his voice broke before he even got a word out. Tears rolled down his cheeks for the first time.
"I— I'm ready to go now, Harry," Ron whispered.
Harry grabbed his hand. Harry wanted to shout at Ron. His hand wasn't supposed to be so heavy! He wasn't supposed to be so cold! "Okay," Harry whispered instead.
Ron sighed gratefully. Harry missed Ron's smile.
The water continued to rush over Harry. It wasn't replaced by warm sheets. This was real.
Harry sank to the floor of the shower, drawing his knees up to his chest, his head flopping back against the hard, cold wall.
He wanted to throw up. He wanted to cry. He wanted to sleep.
His heart shattered as realization sunk in. It had been surreal before, but now it hit him like a bag of bricks.
The tears fell against his will, quickly turning into silent sobs that almost ripped chest apart.
The freezing cold water mixed with his tears, washing them away and masking all traces of Harry's sorrow. The sound of the drops hitting the tiles were covering up the escaped whimpers.
Ron really was gone.