Chapter4 – Bursts of Emotion

Harry had barricaded himself in the twin's room for the past two days, not getting out for any reason except to use the bathroom. Thankfully, the food came to him, but when Mrs.Weasley brought it, she came with a prepared lecture. She said that it wasn't his fault and that he had all their love and support, but he didn't say anything, hoping she would leave sooner. The others just stayed away, probably thinking that he needed to be left alone, and he was grateful for it.

The sight of that garden had upset him more than it should have. It brought back old memories that he thought he had buried. Once again, Harry saw Sirius falling through the veil, Hermione's lifeless body sprawled on the ground, Dumbledore flying through the air, and the imagined deaths of his parents. Voldemort's voice echoed past his ears whenever he tried to sleep. His dangerous whispers would say to him: "You can't kill me." The first few times Harry had enough strength to contradict it, but after that, he had become accustomed to hearing it. He started to believe in it. What did he have that others didn't? What was so special about him? Dumbledore had told him that he had love, but he still wasn't convinced. Who did he have to love? What had love brought him all these years except for death of the people he cared about?

On the third day, Harry couldn't prison himself anymore. Mrs.Weasley said that they were to go to Diagon Alley to pick up a few last minute items for the wedding and she purposely came upstairs to get him out of bed. He couldn't refuse with that. When he went downstairs, Lupin, Tonks, Moody, and another face that he didn't recognize were waiting for him along with the rest of the Weasley family.

Harry scratched his head as he traveled down the stairs, looking away from all the people. He was embarrassed at his actions for the past few days, and it reminded him of the time where Harry had secluded himself from everyone at Christmas two years ago.

"Harry! You're finally down!" Mr.Weasley was the one to speak first, putting an enforced smile on his face, "We were wondering when you'd come."

"Wotcher Harry." said Tonks, sporting purple hair this time, "Planning to dig a hole up there or what?"

"No." Harry said flatly, "So, are we going?"

This time, they didn't travel by car but took a Portkey and used an old black pot of Mrs.Weasley's. It transported them right to the Leaky Cauldron. Dedalus Diggle, who was standing at the front table, waved to him and brought down his navy blue hat. Harry didn't wave back.

"Alright then, you kids can go with Remus and Tonks while we go get some candles and such. Lupin, make sure you have them back here in two hours."

"Got it." Lupin nodded and lead Ginny, Harry, and Ron to the brick wall. Lupin tapped his wand three times and they were exposed to Diagon Alley. It appeared gloomier than last year, and it looked like some more shops had closed down. They walked past Madam Malkin's robe shop and saw no light through the dusty windows. Well, after that racket they had caused with Draco Malfoy and his mother last year, it was no wonder that she had abandoned it.

"Where do you want to go first?" Lupin asked them, but Ginny was the only one that replied, "Weasleys Wizard Wheezes."

Great. He needed a cheering up. They reached the shop in a few minutes and Harry immediately saw that their Un-No-Poo sign was still up, along with advertisements about products to use on teachers. The four of them walked in to see a fair amount of people observing the merchandise with curiosity.

"Harry! My dear boy!" George yelled out from behind all the people, coming out to greet him, "How are you? Need any Truthful Trooties? How about-"

"No thanks George." Harry grinned.

"Well, come on in. Let me show you our new items that you haven't seen at home."

Harry followed him to the rear counter and trailed George's items as he pointed them out one by one. He got a real laugh out of the Fanged Ferulas and Masked Mummies. However, a few minutes later, George became caught up with the customers and Harry was left alone. Lupin and Tonks were on the other side of the room looking at something that looked awfully like a shrunken werewolf head. Ginny was of course cooing over the Pygmy Puffs, but Ron was nowhere to be seen. With nothing else to do, Harry headed to the back of the shop, hoping to find a couch or chair that he could collapse on.

It was dark, with only a dim light coming from behind some large boxes to his right. He swore he heard sniffing. He peeked from the boxes and saw an intriguing sight. A tall red-haired boy was bent over a mahogany desk in tears like a five year old boy. He was always so powerful looking, yet now he looked weak. Harry couldn't bear the sight. He had never seen his friend cry. Harry wanted to turn around and leave but he knew he had to find out the reason.

"Ron?"

Ron elevated his head and instantly dropped it back down, "Go away."

"I just want to talk to you, please-"

"I told you. Go away."

Harry couldn't go away. Just the sight of him made his heart burn with emotional pain. Seeing him cry like that had invoked a dire weakness in the dark room. Harry could feel his own tears coming out but he did his best to hold them in.

Harry didn't know what else to do. He inched closer to Ron, waved his hands about, not knowing what to do, and retrieved them. Harry moved even closer and without another thought, hugged Ron from the side. Harry thought Ron would pull back but he didn't. Instead he hugged him back. Harry started to cry. He had never hugged Ron before, and it was in this moment when Harry knew that everything would be alright between them. He could feel Ron's anger melting away like ice under the sun.

"I miss her so much…" Ron gulped.

"I know. I do too, Ron. It's not only you." Harry patted him on the back.

"I was just looking at those Toffees and I remembered…the time when she told Fred and George to stop selling them…and she was mad that I didn't help her…"

"Oh, Merlin. That was such a small thing." Harry said softly.

"Maybe to you. I always made her so mad."

Harry pulled back and conjured up a tissue for Ron and handed it to him. He was relieved to see that Ron was speaking to him again, because whatever happened, Harry knew he could count on him.

"Everything's falling apart. We're losing everyone." Ron said, covering his face with his hands.

"What can we do about it? As long as Voldemort's around, we'll be losing people."

"Not unless you kill him."

"Ron, it's nearly impossible. You saw what happened. I think they know that we're searching for the Horcruxes. They will try to kill me even more now."

"If that's even possible." Ron said.

Harry nodded.

"I know you can do it…and for what it's worth, I believe in you."

"Thanks."

"And…I'm sorry for saying it was your fault that she's gone."

"It's alright."

"And for thinking it too."

"It's okay!" Harry laughed and Ron joined him. It had been a while since Harry had enjoyed a priceless moment with his best friend.

"I can't believe I acted like such an idiot. You must have felt horrible, all these days you were cooped up in St.Mungo's."

"Eh, it wasn't so bad. People sent me lots of chocolate and flowers. I managed. Oh, and speaking of St.Mungo's, you'll never believe Luna got me. She said it was a late birthday present."

"What?" Ron asked eagerly.

"A kind of photo scrapbook with all of our pictures in it."

"Ah, like the one Hagrid got you?"

"Yes. There are loads of pictures of Hermione in there too."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Can you imagine her looking down at us and laughing at them?"

"It is hard to imagine. Could she really be watching us?"

"I think so. I have that feeling that we're being watched." Harry said, and suddenly, a sound came from behind the boxes, "Maybe that's because we are."

It was Lupin and Tonks, holding hands and courting smirks on their faces, "Come on, you two. It's time to go."