Disclaimer : I own nothing.
Laughter
By Heir of Darkness
Chapter one
Harry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had been five years since she died. Five years since she died. Five years since we graduated. Five years since we have stood on that platform, shyly avoiding the other's glare as if we were strangers, as if we hadn't know each other for the past seven years, as if we weren't the best of friends ever. It had been short and just as painful as it had been short. A simple goodbye. A see you maybe one day sometimes somewhere somehow. A goodbye we both knew was a farewell. A bind between us strained at breaking point, that just one more step toward indifference would snap forever. Would be forgotten and never hurt again. We didn't. Why ? Did we fear ? Did we keep it as a last mattress to land upon if we fell ? A wall of shame between us and happiness, to remind us of how unworthy we had been ? The wind was harsh, I remember, and the station was empty, in the early morning it was.
And the sound of retreating footsteps as I didn't turn back.
We drifted apart like two light ships fighting against the raging seas.
Today I stand on your doorstep, a suitcase in my right hand and a broom in my left. I don't know if you're still here. I don't know if you still live. I don't even know if I will recognize your face when I'll meet your eyes for the first time. The house seems strangely calm, compared to the noisy Burrow it has once been. The birds are singing in the trees, their light song of spring, flowers and gentle breeze. The windows are closed. But then maybe that's because the sun has not completely risen yet, and that the trees still stand out as only dark outlines against the bluish-gray sky. Apparently most of the rooms are now inhabited. Only three are left which have about them a certain look of living.
I hear movement upstairs. Someone is struggling to get one of the windows open. They'd better not, the morning air is still kind of cold. I recognize the room as your younger sister's. Ginny, was it ? See, after five years I still haven't forgotten. There are two arms pushing the window panes open. Her head emerges from the room, and she inhales deeply, seeming content with the simple bliss it gives. She doesn't see me. My, how thin she is. I wonder if the same has happened to you.
More persons are moving around the house now. I stand with my back to the wall, not daring to ring, not daring to disturb that way of life you probably are snuggled into and don't want to change. Now it seems like you are the only one who isn't awake. I can hear their voices echoing across the house, talking in hushed whispers, perhaps not to rouse you from your sleep. How broken, cracked their voices seem to be. Or it must be only an effect of my imagination.
I am now facing the doorbell, pondering on if I would pull it or not. What good would come out of it ? Reopen a barely scarred wound I knew would still bleed for the rest of our lives at the very mention of her name ? Awaken drowsing memories which are only waiting for the slightest shake to come back to life ?
Or maybe, maybe have you forgotten, and …
Author's note : To be continued … for now, review !
