Chapter TenLife without Love

Harry opened his eyes slowly, testing life. He had no idea where he was or how long he'd been asleep. He felt like he had woken from the dead. Of course, he didn't realise how close to the truth that was.

"Where am I?" he rasped, unsure if there was anyone there to hear him.

"Harry! Oh, thank Merlin you're ok! We've been so worried about you!" Hermione's bushy head came into view, although it was blurred around the edges; Harry was not wearing his glasses.

"We missed you, mate. You've been unconscious for almost a month. Madame Pomfrey says you won't be able to leave here for at least another month. God, I'd die if I had to stay in here that long." Ron's voice came from out of Harry's line of vision and too scared to turn his head, for it had begun to throb terribly, he nodded slightly, wincing in pain.

"Harry, you did it! You defeated Voldemort! He's gone forever, Harry, they had a big ceremony and everything, they burned his body and his wand and everything," Hermione rambled. This stirred something unpleasant in Harry, but he couldn't think what it was. He was trying in vain to remember what had happened

"Casualties?" Harry asked, keeping speaking to a minimum to inflict as little pain as possible on himself.

A new voice answered his question.

"None of the Order lost their lives. It seems the Death Eaters were caught very much off guard, although a good deal of them had enough wits to apparate away. The ministry is still chasing some, including the Lestranges. Of course, Lucius Malfoy was murdered by Voldemort." Dumbledore said.

His words sparked something in Harry's chest. His heart was constricting painfully. Draco! Where was he?

Harry screamed and writhed in pain as his memory provided him with the answer to his silent question; Harry saw Draco being hit with the killing curse once more. He blacked out.

Harry didn't talk for three weeks after he woke up in the hospital wing. He was too angry, to hurt to talk to – or indeed to see – anyone. Only Madame Pomfrey was allowed in his room without receiving daggers from Harry's eyes, and that was only because she provided relief for his physical pain. His emotional pain wasn't going anywhere soon.

Harry lived in his memories. Memories of his life while Draco was still alive tortured him, for they reminded him of everything that he would miss in his life.

Harry was too wrapped up self-pity to notice that he was getting worse. Madame Pomfrey noticed, however, and as Harry woke up one morning, he kept his eyes closed, feigning sleep so that he could listen to the whispered conversation that was taking place by his bed three weeks after he had first woken up in the hospital wing.

"Albus, if he doesn't resolve whatever it is that's bothering him, he won't survive much longer. Isn't there anything we can do?"

"Poppy, if I knew what it was, I would do everything I could to save him. You know I consider him to be as good as a son to me. My only son," Dumbledore said, sounding suspiciously sniffly. Harry opened his eyes a crack to confirm that Dumbledore was crying. Even through his grief he registered that he couldn't willingly put another person through what he was experiencing. He reached out and squeezed Dumbledore's hand.

The old wizard turned his head towards Harry to see that he was awake. He gave Harry a sad smile, which Harry returned.

"It's hard to lose a loved one," Harry croaked, using his voice for the first time in weeks.

Although Dumbledore was greatly surprised to hear Harry's voice, he didn't show it; it suited him to have everyone think he knew everything that ever had, and ever would, happen. Instead of replying, he nodded, squeezing Harry's hand and giving an outwardly calm appearance, but inside his mind was working overtime.

Harry didn't speak again, letting go of Dumbledore's hand and turning away to get some more sleep. When Dumbledore was sure he was sleeping soundly, he turned to Madame Pomfrey.

"Poppy, I have to leave, there is some business I must attend to. Please ensure that Harry will be ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning." He said, preparing to leave.

"Albus, I really must insist that Harry remain here in my care, you can see for yourself that he is not about to make a miraculous recovery." Madame Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly.

"Oh, I beg to differ," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling for the first time since the battle. "Poppy, have I ever been wrong? Just trust me." Dumbledore said as he exited the hospital wing.

Well, how was that?

I know it was short, but I think the next one will be long. Yes, long, and happy too! Yay.

Ok plz review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ta.