"And his beaks pinched the tip of my finger, just like this!"

The umpteenth anecdote about Luna's perilous and exciting job as a zoologist caused the room to erupt in laughter. Like he always did at the end of each month, Gary held a party at his spacious apartment in lower Manhattan. The Howling Monkey Club's team thus gathered in his large, fascinating living room, where every piece of furniture, object, and decoration was similar to a work of art. To Saki's and Harry's great surprise, Gary had also invited their new friends, even though they partly knew he only wanted to keep an eye on their new love interests, especially Harry's. It must be conceded that over the last several days, Draco had kept his hotel room mostly unoccupied and that it was no longer particularly difficult to detect the two young men's new relationship, especially for the elderly man who was continually roused by his protective parental instinct. On the other hand, Saki had made no effort to conceal her new relationship with Ginny. Even if she didn't always sleep at Saki's to avoid leaving Luna behind, the nights at the club always came to an end in a more or less daring manner, in unexpected places and at unreasonable hours.

Draco's new tattoo, which Joshua had completed that morning, had first sparked the conversation that evening. After great consideration in the tattoo shop, he had finally decided to keep the snake as a symbol of his house. He then requested Joshua to cover the skull with narcissus flowers, which symbolize rebirth and new beginnings as well as being a homage to his mother. The flowers were also used to adorn the snake, by filling the entire length of the tattoo. When Draco had gone to the hotel with Harry to pick up some clothing following the session, he had taken the courage to isolate himself for a moment with the small group of wizards and witches, to show them his transformed arm. They had been standing in silence for long minutes, before Hermione had unexpectedly hugged him tightly in a way he didn't think he deserved from her. Ginny had congratulated him with a more restrained but not less genuine embrace, while Ron had found no way to react, being both reserved and grateful to him for having made this decision.

The tattoo had therefore obviously been a subject of discussion launched by Joshua, who was particularly pleased with his work, even if he thought the original tattoo was already beautiful in the first place, which had the effect of settling a certain discomfort in the group of wizards. Gary also approached Draco to get a better look at his forearm, his wrinkles accentuated by his frown, and ended up simply nodding in silence, before slowly walking back to his kitchen to finish the appetizers. The conversation eventually veered off subject and focused on stories from Albert's boyhood, his early drag career, and his encounter with Gary, which he did not forget to tone down by omitting the traumatic moments of his journey, in order to maintain the evening's warm and joyful atmosphere. Luna and Albert seemed to get along like old friends, and they alone enlivened the mood with their enthralling stories, under the strained grimaces of Ron and Hermione, who were terrified at the idea of Luna dropping anecdotes related to their world in front of the others. Ginny, on the other hand, didn't seem worried, as she listened to her friend with pride, content to know and be friends with such a witty and interesting person. She also felt relieved to see how much Saki liked Luna, how she couldn't help but compliment her clothing, her jewelry, her humor (which wasn't always intentional), and Ginny was glad to be dating someone who knew how to see the good in the right people.

Ron was sitting across from Harry, who was next to Draco. He was trying somehow not to pay too much attention to this unimaginable new couple, but his eyes kept drifting to his best friend like a magnet pulled to its opposite pole. The two young men were seated on the main sofa, extremely close to one another due to the place Joshua and Chloe took on the other side of the couch. Ron could see a certain unease on Draco's face, as if he didn't dare to assume his life choices in front of them, when they were more than aware of their relationship and had all eventually come to terms with it. While Harry didn't appear to be much more at ease, he still made occasional attempts to approach Draco, smiling, placing a hand in his as if to remind him of his presence. Then Ron's gaze turned to his little sister. She was fooling around with his new girlfriend, who was none other than Harry's best friend and practically sister. Nothing made sense. If someone had told him that their trip to the United States to find Harry would have ended like this, he would have laughed himself to tears.

Hermione, who was seated next to him, gently squeezed his hand to jolt him back to reality. He then realized that his mind had been wandering, causing his gaze to be glued to Ginny and Saki. He smiled awkwardly at his girlfriend and tried to immerse himself in the discussion held by Luna and her North African birds. Fortunately for him, alcohol flowed freely in the circle of friends, allowing him to better digest the events by gulping down bottle after bottle of beer. To his surprise, he offered alcohol several times to Hermione, but she always declined, preferring to stick with fruit juice and lemonade instead. He thus had the feeling of drinking alone, of being alone, of listening to others as if he were not present as if he did not exist. The music coming from the reader at the back of the living room irritated him, buzzing in his ears and blending in with the various voices speaking but saying nothing, like white noise. Harry's continual smiles attacked his heart with hundreds of sharp blades, each blow reminding him of how insignificant and nobody he had become for him. His little sister's disapproving looks whispered in his ears that he wasn't a good brother, every sneaky glance from Hermione hammered home that he wasn't a good boyfriend either. Harry stood up at his father's call in the kitchen. He straddled Draco and slipped past the chairs to an empty tray next to his father, followed by Ron's absent gaze. The latter waited a few moments, still quiet and looking lost. He was starting to run out of air, and his legs were begging to move, to get away from the group. The voice of Draco, who had started talking to Joshua, was driving him crazy; he had to get out of there.

"I'm going to get some fresh air," he then said to Hermione, who was looking at him with a hint of concern. She stroked his back tenderly as he stood, and he walked slowly towards the kitchen, which opened onto a staircase leading to the roof terrace, the call for fresh air growing ever more urgent. He passed behind Harry and his father, who was finishing making a homemade pizza, and without saying a word, he slipped through the glass door, which he entered and closed behind him, before slipping away upstairs.

(***)

"Would you help me with the pizza?"

Gary had just spread his freshly made dough on the floured work surface, right in front of many condiments ready to be placed on it. Harry rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He loved to cook. He was surprisingly very talented, a talent whose origin he did not know, but which was quickly nurtured by his father, with whom he shared the passion of preparing delicious dishes; first for them, when they still lived together and spent whole weekends afternoons cooking, then for the rest of the group at each organized party. He thinly sliced the bright red tomatoes with a familiar gesture, while Gary took care of the cheese.

"Is the evening going well?" He asked, his eyes glued to his piece of mozzarella.

"Yes, perfect, everyone seems to get along well."

Gary spread the dough with tomato sauce and placed his cheese gently on top.

"How's it going, with the boy?"

"Draco, yes, everything is fine."

He looked up from his tomatoes and met his father's intense gaze.

"Are you sure? Would you tell me if something was wrong?"

He nodded, "I promise you. Everything is fine."

"Does he treat you well? Does he make any inappropriate remarks to you?"

"Dad"

"Answer me"

They looked at each other for several seconds, then Harry nodded a second time.

"Very well." Gary said, "Pass me the olives please."

Harry reached for the jar filled with olives and then felt a presence pass behind him. Ron had crept behind him and his father toward the outside staircase, quietly and with a determined look. Gary also noticed this furtive passage, his gaze and that of his son were locked on the glass door, which moved slightly with the force of the wind.

"This young man doesn't look like he's enjoying his night" Gary remarked as he returned to his pizza.

Harry shrugged, he hadn't really paid attention to Ron, in fact, he didn't pay attention to his surroundings when Draco was around. He nonetheless liked the others. He found Hermione fascinating and undeniably kind, Ron was funny, warm, and always seemed connected to him when they happened to talk (which remained quite rare, he must concede). His feelings toward Ginny were inexplicable, filled with contradictions and questions, but she wasn't quite available to bond with him either. Luna, he had hardly ever talked to her. She had appeared at the club one day, and the night that followed had been rocked by a nightmare of a precision he had never experienced before, as if she had awakened new parts of his mind, new fears, new inquiries. It wasn't that he didn't like her, but he didn't dare initiate a conversation with her alone yet.

"You should go talk to him. Maybe he will accept your company," Gary advised him then. "Take a beer with you; he seems to like it."

Harry dropped his knife and tomatoes, retrieved two beers from the fridge behind him, and headed out to the terrace.

Ron was sitting in one of the outdoor chairs, facing the stunning, bright New York night view. He didn't hear Harry approach him, and when his friend sat down in the chair next to him, he jumped with his whole body, escaping a small gasp from his throat at the same time.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Harry chuckled, handing him a bottle of beer freshly opened.

Ron looked him in the eyes for a moment, his mouth half open and unable to move an inch. Harry insisted by shaking his arm slightly toward him until he accepted the beer.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked.

Ron kept glancing at him as if he couldn't fathom that Harry had actually bothered to come and talk to him.

"Yes, I'm fine; thank you" He finally answered.

"Cheers" Harry clinked his bottle against Ron's, and they drank their beers in silence.

The sky was finally clear that night, allowing the stars to light up the sky and the moon to illuminate the roofs. They appeared to enjoy each other's company, like old friends who do not dread silence but embrace it.

"I just feel lonely" Ron said suddenly as if to complete Harry's first query. The latter turned his head towards him with a curious look. "Why?"Ron took a sip of his beer. It was the sixth one of the night, and he already felt lightheaded, but also more open to discussion.

"There are people I miss. My brother, and my best friend, who was as much as a brother to me."

The young American listened attentively. He delicately laid his bottle down on the coffee table in front of their armchairs, then settled back more comfortably on the cushions, in a position that suggested a long listening session.

"Can I ask you what happened?"

Ron hesitated, it felt strange to talk about Harry to Harry without him suspecting anything. But it was also a door that opened, an opportunity to finally converse with him, and his heart was so heavy that evening, that it became essential to lighten it.

"My brother passed away almost two years ago. He was my big brother. And my best friend..." he paused. How to phrase what he felt for Harry right now? "My best friend died too, the same year."

A sense of guilt rose within him at the mention of his death. Yet, it was what best described his feelings; the Harry he knew, the Harry who was his best friend, had died on May 2, 1998, and he couldn't describe what he felt otherwise.

"I am sorry..."

Ron looked up at him, those green eyes, so familiar yet so different, were searing his chest.

"I try to move on, I miss them every day, but I try to think they are happy where they are. Especially for my friend, he was so miserable in the world of the living, I try to think he must finally be at peace."

"Did he… do it to himself…?" Harry asked timidly.

How could he answer? How not reveal the whole truth without disrespecting Harry by inventing a random death for him?

"My friend had a very rough life, his whole life. It was rather his entourage who killed him. That's how I see it..."

He had so far managed to contain his emotions as much as he could, but he couldn't prevent the tear forming in his eye from escaping and betraying the mourning he had claimed to have accomplished. He was, however, somewhat relieved that Harry didn't ask about Fred.

"I'm truly sorry… If there is anything I can do, if you want to talk about them maybe, or anything…" Harry offered as he witnessed the tear rolling down his cheek.

Ron wiped it off with his sleeve in a sharp gesture and sniffed sharply.

"It's fine, don't worry. You must have your own problems as well"

Harry didn't answer. He continued to stare at him for a long time, his mind filled with questions he dared not ask.

"You don't have to hide, you and Draco" Ron said to change the subject. "We already know, and we're fine with it."

"Oh. thanks…" Harry simply replied, not looking too sure how to handle this new topic of discussion.

"I feel like you bring him only good things. He wasn't always the nicest lad... far from it, in fact," Ron paused, "but I guess he's changed, the way nobody ever has."

Harry remained silent again, his gaze cast far away, on the city illuminated by signs and cars.

"Anyway, we're just happy for you two, that's what I wanted to say!"

Ron barely had time to finish his beer when Gary's voice reached their ears. He had climbed a few stairs to the terrace to offer them pizza, before rushing back down to the kitchen.

"I guess we should go," Ron said, standing up as if he didn't want to bother Harry any longer. Harry also stood up and took the last sip from his bottle.

"If you want to talk, anytime...I know we don't know each other very well, but if you want to chat with someone outside your circle, don't hesitate to reach out to me. " Harry offered.

Ron stared at him for a long time, his words having once again awakened the sharp blades that stabbed his chest relentlessly. "Someone from the outside" "We don't know each other very well." These sentences sounded so wrong in Harry's mouth...

"Yeah, sure, thanks"

And with one last sincere smile, Harry patted him friendly on the shoulder and walked past him straight down the stairs.

(***)

Harry didn't even have time to unbutton his jacket before Draco removed it. They were still in the hallway of Harry's flat, which they had just walked into after their late night at Gary's. Harry chuckled at his friend's liveliness, who, as soon as they stepped through the doorway, didn't give him a second to catch his breath.

"I've been waiting for this all evening," he breathed against Harry's smiling mouth. "I craved your lips all night, every time I looked at you, it drove me crazy. You drive me crazy."

Harry kissed him while helping him slide his jacket down his arms before it fell heavily on the floor. They kicked off their shoes, still pressed against each other, lips glued together, hands wandering as if they were going to stay in this small hall for the rest of the night.

"Let's go to my room," Harry eventually muttered when he was able to free himself from Draco's hungry lips.

Harry's room had become Draco's favorite place over the past few days. He loved everything about this room; the warm wooden floor, the plants that Harry took special care of every morning; the old wood furniture; the brick walls; the wide bed whose sheets smelled of Harry, although they were also beginning to take on his scent. But he loved Harry above all else. He loved kissing him, pleasing him, looking at him fall asleep in his arms, waking up next to him. He loved his hair, his face, his body, his smile, his voice, his smell. Harry grew on him, made him a completely different person, a new man whom he was finally proud of.

It was already five in the morning, but he didn't feel tired, far from it. And neither did Harry. He was even particularly enterprising that night; as soon as they entered the room, Harry kissed him passionately, while unbuttoning his shirt to take it off.

"I want to do it" Harry said.

Draco looked into his eyes. The composed glance Harry slid over him drove him even crazier.

"Are you su…"

"Yes." He cut him.

The room seemed to have become warmer than it had been a few minutes earlier. Draco waited a few moments, his gaze locked with his eyes, expecting a change of heart, a hesitation, or even a sign of insincerity. But Harry held his gaze firmly and confidently. Draco then leaned gently towards his lips, slowly enough to give him time to change his mind, and kissed him long and passionately while unbuttoning his pants, in which he slipped his left hand towards his buttock, the other hand still busy in the middle of his black curls. He then pushed him towards the mattress, accompanying him in his fall with a gentleness unusual for him, and they removed the last tissues present on their bodies, leaving them naked, body to body, in their greatest vulnerability.

"Are you really sure?" He asked again.

Harry nodded and grabbed his neck to pull him closer and gain access to her face, which he placed his lips on as if marking his territory. Draco didn't want to rush, didn't want to scare him or force him. He then went gently, the most delicately he had ever been with a man; every move was punctuated with kisses, reassuring words. He kept asking if he was okay, if he wanted to continue, and Harry nodded. He kissed him, sucked every inch of his skin, stroked him, then, he was inside him, and the feeling was nothing he could even describe. Every sound, every smell, every feeling seemed to amplify around him; his heart pounding so hard it threatened to stop; their burning bodies melting against each other; their harmonized breaths merging together. It felt so good, it seemed unreal, like a dream he would wake up from soon and crave the fuzzy memory for the rest of the night, begging to fall asleep and continue.

"You're doing amazing."

Harry smiled. He was so beautiful he could never get tired of looking at him. However, the more his eyes sank into his emerald gaze, the more he began to sense concern there. He instantly calmed his rhythm and gently took his face in his hands; "Are you okay?"

He nodded again, but this time the rest of his body and face said no. Draco felt his body stiffen under him, shivering slightly despite the heat emanating from their skin, his heart was beating too fast, not with excitement like his own. Draco pulled back and gave him space to breathe by lying on his side to his right, he tenderly stroked his stomach and chest with his fingertips, he could see his hand rise and fall in time with Harry's breath. The young man turned his head towards Draco and they looked at each other as if for the first time.

"I'm okay"

"No, you're not."

Harry let out one last deep exhalation. "I'm sorry"

Their foreheads met as Draco brought his face closer, his hand sliding through Harry's hair as he closed his eyes.

"Never, never apologize to me" He said quietly, "You were amazing, you are amazing."

Harry smiled.

"I'm really proud of you," Draco added, his hand still traveling through his locks, massaging his skull with gentle circles. He kissed the corner of his smiling lips, then took him in his arms, Harry's head nestled on him, his chin resting in the crook of his shoulder, his long hair tickling his face. They stayed like this, huddled together in the perfect silence of their surroundings until Harry's heart finally slowed down.

"Thank you," said Harry

"For what?"

"Everything."

Draco hugged him tight. They couldn't see each other in this position, which prevented Harry from noticing the tears forming in his eyes. He had never thought Harry would ever thank him, and he couldn't receive that affection, not after what he had done to him. Everything seemed unfair, in the wrong way. He had come looking for Harry to apologize, and Harry had eventually thanked him.

He sniffed as quietly as possible, but Harry wasn't moving and his breathing had become relaxed and quiet again, like someone in a deep sleep. Draco continued to rock him in his arms tight around his body, and for the first time in many years, he cried.

"I'm sorry Harry. I'm so sorry."

(***)

Hermione flushed the toilet and splashed water on her exhausted face. She stared at her reflection for a long time in the mirror in front of her, unsure of how to tell him. Lonely, late drops would continue to fall into the white sink, punctuating the thoughts that fluctuated in her mind. She took a deep breath, before finally deciding to leave the bathroom and go back to the bedroom, where Ron was sprawled on the bed, lost in thoughts she didn't know. She slowly approached the bed to face him, which snapped him out of his thoughts; he slowly looked up at her, then lifted his body when he noticed the serious look on her face.

"Are you okay?" He asked, worried.

She nodded, still searching for the words to tell him.

"What's going on? Did something happen to you? Or Ginny? Harry? My family?"

At this level, Ron was practically on his feet, straightening a little more with each question.

"I am pregnant."

"Do you want to go home? Maybe it's your job, they're mad at you for taking so many days off..."

"Ron!"

His gaze locked on hers.

"I am pregnant."

"Wh..what?"

"I am pregnant." She said for the third time.

Ron gaped, frozen in place as if petrified in front of her. Hermione waited patiently. She knew her partner by heart, she knew how much time he needed to digest information, especially when it came to his family. He wanted to sit down, his legs cried out for help, too heavy to carry him any longer. But Hermione was standing in front of him, patiently waiting for him. He thus stepped forward with a trembling step and embraced her, his arms locked around her precious body. He struggled to find the right words to express his feelings. What was he even feeling? Happiness? Fear? Excitement?

Immeasurable love.

"Are you happy?" Hermione softly inquired into his shoulder.

He buried his face in her curly hair and squeezed her with all his strength as if to translate his love into a gesture.

"Much more than that, sweetheart, much more than that."

Hermione grinned, hugging him back and happier than she had ever been.

(***)

Ginny sat waiting at the bar, her gaze directed absently at the last customers who sauntered out of the club. Hermione and Ron were having a heated discussion at one of the tables in the corner of the room. They hadn't been paying attention to the rest of the group all evening, as if something had happened between them, something no one knew about. Ginny turned back to the bar and finished her mojito with a bang before setting it down next to Draco's, which he had already finished for several minutes now, and Luna's, which was still half full. Lady Peach had put on her Albert costume and apologized as soon as her show ended, leaving the club alongside a man described as just a friend, when everyone already considered him a date. Steve and Chloë left shortly after Albert, leaving Harry and Saki to close the club. Ginny and Luna were waiting for Saki, to finish the girls' night out; Draco was waiting for Harry, seated to their right; and Hermione and Ron had finally gotten up from their table and headed for the bar hand in hand.

"One last drink?" Harry offered when everyone gathered around the counter. Saki pulled out a new bottle of whiskey and started pouring seven glasses before they even had time to answer.

"Not for me!" Hermione declared, waving her hands in front of her, politely refusing the drink Saki handed her.

Ginny looked at her with a puzzled and suspicious look. Hermione had stopped drinking alcohol several nights ago, which was not usually her habit. Harry and Saki took their glasses and toasted each other, then the rest of the group.

"What are we toasting for?" asked Luna, who now had two glasses in front of her.

"Just…life, I guess?" Ginny replied with a raised glass.

Harry served a glass of soda to Hermione, who, after grabbing it, stood up, followed by Ron who seemed attentive to every signal his girlfriend gave.

"Actually, there might be something we could toast to…"

Everyone then turned their attention to the couple, especially to Hermione, who was once again searching for words, her fingers clenched against her glass, and her gaze tossed between the group and Ron.

"I am preg…."

A loud explosion sounded from the back of the room, and the door between the entrance hallway and the main hall shattered into a thousand scarlet red pieces of wood. Ron's instincts, still alive from the war, made him grab Hermione by the shoulder and they ducked under the counter. Ginny rushed towards Saki but was directly held back by Draco, who, after pushing Luna to a far corner of the door, grabbed her arm.

"Let me go!"

Draco pulled her towards him and Luna and forced her down when three men dressed in black entered the room, crushing the debris caused by the explosion.

"Do you have your wands?" Draco asked, his gaze drawn to the camouflaged faces of the three strangers. He couldn't see their faces, but instantly recognized the gait of two of them. Ginny shook her head, she had stopped bringing her wand several days ago, especially since she was spending time with Saki.

"Stay here!" He then ordered, his hand still on the shoulder of the girl who was trying to straighten up. A second explosion sounded in the direction of the bar, where Harry and Saki were a few seconds earlier. Luna grabbed Ginny's hand and crawled in the direction away from the attacks.

"Come on!"

But Ginny couldn't help but try to get up, to run to Saki and Harry even though she didn't have her wand. She couldn't leave them on their own. They heard several voices shouting amidst the deafening sounds of spells echoing through the room, shattering furniture, chairs, the chandelier; everything was confusing and chaotic around them.

Hermione and Ron huddle to the left of the bar, facing their friends who had taken shelter in the right corner. The room had become dusty, a cloud of smoke was floating in the air and making their vision extremely dim. Hermione's heart was beating so hard that she felt the irrational fear of her heart being heard by the armed strangers. They heard the men approaching, but they didn't seem interested in the couple.

"We have to protect Harry!" Hermione whispered to Ron.

He slowly pulled out his wand, ready to attack at the slightest sign. The three men were heading towards the counter where Harry and Saki were standing before the attack. Ron suddenly stood up and attacked them from behind, but one of the Death Eaters blocked his spell as if sensing his presence and caused an explosion right next to Hermione, who managed to protect herself just before the collision.

(***)

Harry dropped his drink at the sound of the door banging and instantly stood in front of Saki. His gaze was instantly drawn to the three masked and black-clad men who entered the room.

"What the hell?" Saki exclaimed behind him. She had already grabbed the half-empty bottle of whiskey in her right hand as the only weapon of defense against these three men who were advancing dangerously toward them. Harry looked around, also looking for a way to protect himself, but especially looking for Draco, who because of the attack, had taken refuge against the counter on the other side.

"Get down!" Draco yelled at them, his hand gesturing up and down to indicate the ground. Saki gripped his shirt sleeve and forced him down with her, just before another explosion erupted very close to where they were standing.

"Come!" He whispered to Saki before heading as discreetly and quickly as possible towards the opening of the counter, which overlooked the rest of the room. They managed to slip away, but couldn't see anything around them, the club had become dark due to the many exploded lights, the smoke emanating from the explosions obstructed their field of vision, leaving only the muffled sounds to allow them to locate the danger.

"What the fuck is that?" Saki asked again, but Harry couldn't give her an answer. He was scared. Not for his life, but for Saki's, Draco's, and the others. The conversation they had had in the bathroom resurfaced in his mind; his fear of only attracting misfortune and violence, his fear of losing all the people he loved, his ex's voice crushed his brain; "you are cursed, you are cursed, you are cursed."

"Harry!"

He opened his eyes again, Saki holding his hand, her black eyes looking into his for a sign of presence. "We have to hide!"

They were about to make their way to the back of the club, where low walls and tables could provide protection, when one of the men approached them, and everything happened too quickly. The man held out what appeared to be a piece of wood, and another burst of light erupted. Harry did not have time to react, or even to analyze the situation, as he stood in front of Saki, facing their attacker, who then found himself suddenly thrown violently backward as if a brutal wind had hit him with full force, exactly the same way as last summer in the bedroom of his previous attacker. The man fell heavily, like a puppet, and his head banged against the edge of the bar with a loud thump, knocking him out on the spot. Harry tried to catch his breath, his heart pounding against his ribcage, his arms that held the weight of his body shaking like a leaf.

"Get him!" Another man screamed in the distance. Saki got up as she could and took the arm of her friend who followed her.

"Harry!"

It was Draco. He recognized his voice but had trouble seeing him. The smoke was slowly dissipating, but he felt dizzy, confused, and unable to process the information unfolding before his eyes. Another man approached them, this time with a knife, while his friends fought around him, in a way that seemed unreal, surreal, impossible. The other man who was fighting in the distance turned to them, and in a split second that seemed like an eternity, he raised his piece of wood, and another explosion erupted right above them, causing the fall of part of the ceiling, including metal bars that served to support the bridge that overlooked the room, directly on Harry and Saki. The fall was brutal, too fast to be caused by gravity alone, as if a supernatural force had hurled these bars and the stones at them. His instinct was to push Saki violently to the side, then to jump himself, just before the metal rods crashed to the ground. His ears were ringing and buzzing in his skull, the metallic taste of blood spreading through his dehydrated tongue from the smoke and dust.

"Harry!"

He no longer knew where the voice came from, or even to whom it belonged. A man was standing near him. He felt the danger threatening him more and more strongly, without being able to do anything.

(***)

The smoke cleared, clearing Draco's field of vision, who had been looking for Harry all along. He noticed McNair who had just regained consciousness and was getting up from his fall, then he looked around for Harry, whom he finally saw halfway down on the ground beside the ruins. He suddenly straightened up and rushed towards his friend, when his path was intercepted by a Death Eater, Rockwood.

"Hello, Draco, it's been a long time."

The young man pointed his wand at Rockwood, who did the same. Draco also saw Ron and Hermione closing in on McNair, their weapons at the ready.

"Thank you for helping find Potter. That's very kind of you," the death eaters added, under the stupefied eyes of the others.

"Wh…What do you mean?"

"Let's say we got some information from one of your friends, who kindly gave us a picture." He withdrew a small photograph from his robe. "I'm sure you are familiar with it, aren't you?."

Justin…

"What did you do… What did you do to him?"

Rockwood burst out laughing, his wand still pointed toward the startled young man.

"I think Richard took care of him, you know, with his knife."

Draco looked around furtively until his eyes fell on the man who looked like a muggle, coming dangerously close to Harry.

"You… piece of shit!"

Draco cast a spell he hadn't used for a very long time, but Rockwood avoided it swiftly and didn't wait to respond to the attack. Hermione and Ron fought against McNair, while Luna and Ginny tried to get closer to Harry and Saki without drawing the attention of the two death-eaters.

(***)

"Saki?"

Harry scrambled over the remnants of the ceiling that separated him from his sister. His legs felt heavy, and he felt hot liquid sliding down his temple and his neck, but he didn't care, Saki gave no sign of life, she didn't answer, and he couldn't see her getting up. He finally reached the other side, where he had pushed Saki, and the world crumbled around him. There she was, lying in a pool of blood whose epicenter was her stomach, one of the small support bars of the bridge planted vertically in her body. Everything seemed to move slowly around him, he walked towards Saki, as if nothing else but her existed in this world. He barely felt the hand land on his shoulder and turn him violently. The man with the knife was facing him, his knife a few centimeters from his stomach, his hand clenched on his shoulder to the point of crushing his bones. He expected to die, for the blade to pierce him like the bar had pierced Saki, as punishment for not being able to protect her.

"Don't touch my son you bastard!"

His father's voice echoed through the almost ruined room. He only saw him at the other end of the club; he had just taken something out of his pocket and was pointing it menacingly at them. Then he yelled a word he didn't understand, and everything became a blur for Harry. Images raced through his head, so intense that his legs couldn't continue to support him. He was in the department of mysteries, his godfather was fighting beside him, his face so clear, so precise, smiling at him with a reassuring look, the one he had always had towards him. The faces of his friends, their names, their voices, their smells, their stories, everything seemed to come back to him like filmstrips racing through his brain. His head was heavy, painful, he wanted to vomit, pass out, vanish. When he came to his senses, the man with the knife was dead at his feet. And he himself was sitting on the ground, without having any memory of having fallen.

Saki.

He turned and crawled towards her, before gently laying his hand on her hair. She was inert, almost cold, and her clothes were drowned in her own blood. He tried his best to avoid looking at her stomach, focusing instead on her pale face.

"Saki?"

She didn't answer.

"Oh no, no no no, please Saki!"

He kneeled before her and hugged her tightly, pressing his face to her head as he rocked her like a child in need of reassurance. Her blood was soaking into his clothes, his white shirt slowly dyeing dark red.

"Please, please wake up… Saki, wake up!"

His tears were falling into Saki's hair, replacing the words that no longer came out of his mouth. His throat was constricting, his lungs were compressing and preventing him from breathing. All his organs were burning inside him, physically transcribing the emotional pain he was feeling, how much his heart was aching.

"Please…"

(***)

Ginny rushed towards Saki and Harry, but Draco held her by the arm, shaking his head no. Gary approached his children, the wand that had just slaughtered the three men still in his hand lowered toward the dusty floor. Draco was staring at Harry, and when the young man finally raised his red, tear-filled eyes to him, all he saw inside them was hatred. The same glare they exchanged when they were younger, that glare he had recently naively hoped he would never see on Harry's face again. That glare pierced his lungs and heart, making him miserable, whipping him back to all his sins, and the world collapsed around him once again.