Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Written for Advent Calendar; Harry & Ron

Word Count - 334


By His Side


Ron walked into the common room rubbing his eyes tiredly. Hermione had fallen asleep curled up on conjured bean bags with Ginny and Luna, but he'd wanted to check on Harry before he slept himself.

He found his best friend in one of the comfortable armchairs by the window, looking out over the damaged castle.

"Grim picture, isn't it?" Ron commented quietly.

Harry didn't even bother looking at him. He snorted and nodded his head.

"How you doing, mate?"

Harry swallowed hard and shrugged. "It's weird," he said, eventually. "I expected to die. I did die. And yet… here I sit."

Ron rubbed his temple. Just the thought of everything that Harry had been through during the night was enough to threaten a migraine. Ron didn't know what to say. Was there anything that could be said to that?

"For… for what it's worth… I'm glad you didn't die," he said, not really knowing what else he could say. "I'm proud of you."

"I didn't do anything to be proud of," Harry replied darkly. "If I'd been better, quicker, stronger… well. Maybe so many people wouldn't be dead right now."

"None of what happened is on you, Harry. Thinking like that's just gonna drive you mad. It's on him. You did what you had to do, and you did it the only way you knew how. That's something to be proud of."

"Maybe. How's Hermione?"

Ron smiled. "She's good. Sleeping downstairs."

Harry nodded. "We should probably do the same. I'm exhausted, so I know you've gotta be feeling it too."

Ron snorted. Exhausted didn't even cover the tiredness he was feeling.

"I just… just wanted to make sure you were okay, before I collapse for twenty four hours."

"I'm not," Harry admitted. "But I will be. We all will, eventually."

Ron clapped him on the shoulder and squeezed. No matter what they'd been through, no matter what they were still to face, Ron knew he would stand by Harry's side through all of it.