Without you –

                                                the mind churns, the heart yearns,

                                                the tears dry

                                                Without you –

                                                life goes on, but I'm gone

                                                'cause I die without you

            Harry sat crumpled on the hallway floor for over an hour, deep down he knew that Draco wasn't coming back, just like he had known that Cedric was never coming back or his parents. It seemed as if the Gods just didn't want him to be happy. He lay there wallowing in self-pity, loathing himself and the life he was cursed with.

Finally, emotions rising, he got to his feet and went into the kitchen. Looking around him, he suddenly felt extremely angry at everything in general. In a fit of rage he grabbed the egg carton off the counter and threw it against the wall, it fell to the floor and broken eggs oozed down the wall and pooled on the tiles. Harry then seized the breakfast tray with the red rose on it and carelessly threw it across the room. It hit the window and broken glass flew everywhere. He let out an anguished sob and watched the glass rain down on the floor before blacking out.

He woke up in confusion some time later on the kitchen floor. The phone was ringing shrilly on the wall near his head and he quickly got to his knees and snatched it up.

"Hello?" he asked, desperately hoping that it was Draco.

"Harry?"

Hermione.

"Oh, hi Hermione."

"You're back...what's wrong?" she asked, immediately sensing something.

Harry sighed, he didn't feel like explaining yet. He didn't want to talk about it when the pain was still so fresh, he was afraid he would break down again.

"Nothing," he replied, voice wobbling out of his control.

"Harry, don't lie to me. Do you want me to come over?"

"Fine," he relented tiredly.

"Okay, we'll be right over," Hermione said before the line went dead.

Harry stared at the receiver irritably before hanging it up. Now he would have to face his best friends and tell them that Draco had abandoned him. He would again be the poor, famous Harry Potter who everyone pitied and felt sorry for. He slid down the wall for the second time that day and sat exhaustedly on the floor.

Harry lifted his head minutes later when the doorbell rang. Before he had even gotten to his feet, Hermione and Ron came walking into the kitchen.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped, looking around. The wind was blowing through the broken window causing the curtains to lift and sway. The surrounding floor was covered with broken glass and puddled rain, the red rose lay in the middle of the water, its petals now wilted and damp.

"What the hell happened?" Ron asked, rushing over to kneel beside him "Are you okay?"

Harry looked into his best friend's face miserably.

"Draco's gone."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked softly, crouching down.

"He..." Harry choked, tears already pooling in his eyes.

"Come on, let's go sit on the couch." Ron lifted him by the arm and led him over to the living room. They settled themselves on either side of Harry protectively.

"Is Draco hurt?" Ron asked, looking around.

"I hope so," Harry said darkly.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other in surprise.

"He left me," Harry stated hollowly, suddenly feeling drained of emotion.

"What!?" Ron shouted. "Why?"

"Is this because of what you did this morning?" Hermione asked.

"Are you saying it's my fault?" Harry snapped, even though he knew it was true.

"No, I just wondered if it had something to do with it," she said hastily. "I just don't understand, he was so worried about you this morning and then he suddenly leaves..."

"He said that he couldn't wait around for me to kill myself. That I always put myself in danger and that I don't care about what other people are doing for me," Harry replied stonily.

"That bastard!"

"Ron!" Hermione admonished harshly.

"Hermione, after everything Harry has done for him he just decides to abandon him? He didn't even give a good reason, he's probably just been waiting all along for an excuse to leave."

"Ron, you know that's not true!" Hermione said sharply. "I know Draco loves him, he's probably just scared."

Harry stared unfocused at the carpet.

"He couldn't say that he loved me...he never could." Harry paused. "He doesn't love me, Hermione."

"No, that's not true, Harry," Hermione implored. "I've watched him, I saw it in his eyes even if he never said it."

"He's a coward and an ass-hole," Ron said angrily. "He's treated you like shit, Harry, but now you can forget about him and start over."

Hermione glared in exasperation at her hot tempered husband.

"He may not love me, but I still love him," Harry said, looking at Ron sadly.

"Harry listen, why don't you come stay with us for awhile?" Hermione spoke gently. "Draco will come back when he realizes the mistake he's made, I'm sure of it."

"I don't think so, Hermione," Harry said shaking his head. "He's not coming back...please don't say that again."

"Harry's right, he doesn't need to sit around foolishly hoping that that bastard will come back someday," Ron interjected, standing up and tugging Harry to his feet. "Come on Harry, you can stay with us until you feel up to coming back here. Maybe Dumbledore can even get you a new place."

"Yeah...thanks, I don't ever want to come back here." Harry followed Ron, who still held fast to his arm.

Hermione shook her head and stood up.

"This doesn't make any sense, I know he loves him," she thought to herself. She watched Harry walk away, his shoulders hunched and his eyes bereft of their usual spark.

"What have you done, Draco?" she thought sadly, before following the other two.