The young man stood alone in a multitude of hundreds, isolated by immutable grief. He stood silent, still, though many milled beside him. The chipped and cracked walls of the Great Hall surrounded the crowd, a low murmuring underlaid with grief providing a grim atmosphere. Thirteen candles sat unlit upon the Head Table, behind which stood Professor Dumbledore. He cleared his throat and a silence fell immediately upon the waiting people. The man did not notice though, continuing to stare at the candles with bloodshot eyes.
"We gather here to honor the memory of those who were lost to us before their time. As each name is spoken, a candle will be lit in their memory."
Swallowing hard, the man clenched his fists unconsciously.
"Draco Malfoy."
"Malfoy! This is not the time nor place to play who's better! They're after us!"
The blond sneered elegantly at the other.
"Oh, now is the perfect time. All I have to do to become an Eater is kill you."
"WHAT?!?!? Oh, shit. Malfoy, I knew you were bad, but you're better than that at least!"
He'd grown pale when Draco had told him what he'd intended to do. But he'd seemed better these past few years, ignoring the trio rather than taunting them, ceasing to glare at them every time Gryffindor won points. And now he was turning Death Eater?
"This is it. Any last words?"
The handsome youth raised his wand, aiming it carefully. As his eyes focused on the wand before him, other noises were heard behind him. Knowing there was only one thing it could be, he ducked his tall frame to the ground and rolled to the side at the same time a spell was shouted behind him.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The spell hit Malfoy right on the chest and he watched with horror as the body hit the floor with a deafening thump.
"Dean Thomas."
He stumbled out of the initial blast, tripping over a log. Falling to the ground, his bile rose as he realized that it was not a log, but a body he had tripped over. One of Dean's eyes stared blankly into his own; the other half of his face was gone.
"Lavender Brown"
Lavender shouted at him, but he couldn't make out the words over the din of the battle.
"WHAT?"
She opened her mouth again just as a flash of green light hit her in the back.
"Vincent Crabbe"
A leg shot out and tripped him as he raced to escape the deathtrap. Glancing back, he was just in time to see the chunk of ceiling fall directly on a menacing Crabbe.
"Minerva McGonagall"
As he careened around a corner, he ran smack into the Professor. They both fell to the floor and were up in the same instant, panting for breath.
"Weasley?"
"Professor?"
"Weasley, I need you to call the Ministry. There's a Teleson fire in my office. Get help!"
With that she dashed back into the fray. It was the last time he'd seen her.
"Gregory Goyle"
Skidding on the ground as he turned another corner, he'd almost run right into the lowered pike held by a suit of armor, enchanted to protect the castle. Skewered on it was Goyle. Backing quickly away, he left as soon as he could.
"Neville Longbottom."
He'd happened to meet up with Neville in the corridor and had explained the situation as he ran along behind him. Reaching McGonagall's office, he hurriedly stuck his head into the Teleson fire. A shout behind him distracted him and he looked back to find Neville slumped to the ground, having saved him by blocking the curse. A cold fury filled filled his breast as he looked upon the murderer and the body of his friend.
"Seamus Finnigan"
"Ron! Get over there!"
The youth pointed to a corner where hastily organized defense seemed to be failing. As he followed orders, his classmate went up in flames.
"Sirius Black"
A dog bounded among the Eaters, drops of blood flying from its muzzle as it bit into one throat after another. He looked away for a moment, distracted by a random explosion. When he looked back, the dog was no longer there.
"Remus Lupin"
The Dementor advanced on him as he scrambled desperately back. Up against a wall, he could retreat no further, able only to watch in horror as the creature bent to Kiss him. A flash of gray, and the Dementor hissed in pain and fury. As he scrambled to his feet, it sent the wolf crashing into a nearby wall with a sickening crunch.
"Parvati Patil"
Parvati hadn't lasted past the first surge. She'd been fighting alongside him when she went down, tagged by the Killing Curse.
"Hermione Granger."
Meeting his fiancee in the hall, relief flooded him. He stooped to kiss her, to celebrate the victory- and she slumped in his arms, victim of Avada Kedavra from one of the Eater prisoners. This time, no fury flashed across his eyes, only pure, insurmountable grief. As he slid gently to the ground, her still form in his arms, his voice hoarsely called her name, tears leaving a trail between the blood and dirt on his face.
"Harry Potter"
Ron suddenly gave a choking sob and collapsed to the ground in a puddle of robes. Violent tears racked his body but all he could think of was his loss.
"Where's Harry?!?!?"
His voice had sounded desperate, even to him. No one answered him though, tending to the injured and covering the dead. Wild eyed, he grabbed the robes of the nearest person, who happened to be Madam Pomfrey.
"Where. Is. Harry?"
Glaring at him, she replied, though most likely only so he would let him go.
"He's not here."
A choked gasp escaped him and his menacing stance collapsed. Turning dejectedly away, he slumped against a nearby wall and slid to the floor, head and arms resting on knees. Tears wouldn't come and the absence burned like a knife at the back of his eyes.