Title: No Other Season
Pairing: None
Rating: G
Summary: Harry sees winter as a time of peace rather than desolation.
A/N: Written for thepimpcane's Christmas Challenge 2004, Challenge 1: Winter.

There are people who believe that winter is a desolate time of the year (bleak, lifeless, chilling) but for him, it's different - for him, winter is a wonderland all of its own.

Winter is a time of renewal, of rest and calm, when the world seems to release that breath it doesn't know it's been holding. It seems to shut itself down, in winter, closing in on itself, saying "look, let's take a break, let's regroup and again prepare for the whirlwind of the year passing by once more."

Winter brings him a peace that no other season can afford, shows him a perfection (clean and white and brilliant) that no other season can bring to him, gives him the privacy that he desires.

Spring is a train, starting out from the station (people jumping on board, talking and laughing and getting acquainted with one another), summer is full steam ahead (bright and energetic, gathered so much life it's thrumming with it: people hustling and bustling, weaving in and out, conversations starting and ending) and autumn is the world beginning to slow (gathering up their things, preparing to get off, saying goodbyes, au revoirs and see you soons).

Only winter brings that calm peace of a train, empty, settling in a station.

Out in the countryside, away from the busy, active city centres, Harry feels like he can belong to himself again. Sometimes, between the press releases, Ministry meetings, playing idol to half of the Wizarding world's population, he loses himself - he can't distinguish between Harry the man and Harry Potter the legend.

Winter is his time to himself. Winter is his time to remember himself, remember who he is and remember what brought him here. It's this season that his memories are strongest - untarnished and undisturbed by outside noise and commotion, sights and sounds. He remembers those he fought with, next to, those who shared his memories, his life, his hopes and dreams - he remembers those he lost.

He remembers himself because, when it comes down to it, they're all a part of him. And it's only winter that gives him the time, the space and the peace that he needs to remember - and to keep them all alive.