Disclaimer: Harry Potter is a registered trademark of not belonging to me, yadda yadda yadda.
A/N: Sigh, the insane logic that hits while rereading the sixth book. It wasn't even anywhere near the part where Ron asks the question, either, but whatever. My mind works in mysterious ways...
Fear
"Did anyone we know die?"
It's such a simple question, so seemingly innocent. To one overhearing it, it would seem as if the one asking was simply making light of the dire nature of the situation that we are now surrounded by. But that is not the case. No matter how hard we try to conceal it, we are terrified, and we do not know what to do about it.
Fear is a funny thing. It comes and goes at the most inappropriate times: when we feel the need to ask someone something of the utmost importance to just before sitting down for a lengthy examination. Sometimes, when it does not seem like we should be afraid, we are. Then at others, when we think we should be frightened, we are not. Fear is not something that can be made sense of, but rather boarders on the edge of reason and logic.
Such a simple question, one that should be easy to interpret. But what one must understand is the dire need for an answer from the one asking. If they do not ask, they are afraid no one will tell them. If no one will tell them, they will not know. And that, above all, frightens us the most.
The fear of not knowing. We, as humans, are plagued with the overwhelming desire to know everything. We absorb all the information we can get our grubby little hands on, and then some. We never stop, even when we are unaware of our actions. Not a moment goes by when we are not learning, gaining new knowledge, a concept that some consider daunting.
Some believe that if we learn too much, that we will come to an unpleasant end. They think that, as if somehow knowing too much can be dangerous, knowledge will be fatal. Sometimes they are correct in their assumptions, such as when someone finds out someone else knows something that they should not. But then, what is to stop us from wondering if every piece of knowledge we possess, every tiny morsel of information, may lead to our untimely demise? What if we are indeed supposed to know nothing, but in the blundering way of humans, found out anyway? What then?
Then we would all go about life wondering when the final blow will strike. We would go about our lives in fear, constantly, never ceasing, until we are driven made from anticipation. We will believe that there is always someone out to get us, whether with justified reason or not. We will go about in paranoia, honestly believing that everyone is out to get us for everything. There does not need to be logic when faced with such a fear, only thought.
Yet, if we lived our lives in fear, what would there be to look forward to? Not more fear, certainly. If there is nothing but more horrors that lie in the future, then what is the point of continuing on in life? Why, there would be none. Which is exactly why we cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with this ever-growing phenomenon. If we do, then there would be no point to moving on.
Such would make us all hypocrites, more so than many already are. We tell our children and loved ones to always look to the future, to the light and hope that it brings. But if we ourselves live in the dark of fear and paranoia, who are we to preach to the next generation? We have no right. The only way to truly be free from such beliefs would be to cease to exist. But for now, that is not an option. We must persevere, no matter what life brings, to show those around us that there is indeed something to look forward to.