Snapshots
Author's Note: Originally published on July 25, 2009
He often saw life as a series of snapshots, perfect little scenes captured and frozen in time forever. As he skirted down the abandoned corridor, images played in his head like one of his dad's old black and white films, allowing him to re-live the happiest times of his young life. Upon hearing the unmistakeable sound of hurried voices, he silently slid behind a nearby tapestry, afraid of getting caught... or much worse. The initial rush of foolish courage which had pushed him to sneak away was now replaced by a surge of terror. He wanted to be brave and fight, but now that the moment was at hand, he felt his heart drop.
The hushed whispers grew louder and came to a halt in front of him. His hands were shaking as he braved a quick peek and spotted his fellow Gryffindors, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, each of whom was clutching an odd bundle. He wasn't surprised to see them together; he had witnessed it innumerable times over the years. And yet, something between them had changed since he last saw them. The unidentifiable tension which usually surrounded them had given way to something else entirely.
He observed them for a moment, fascinated. She was looking up at him with such honest admiration and he, in turn, looked like he'd been waiting his whole life for her unguarded praise. Despite their dirty and tattered appearance and the war looming around them, they took this moment to simply stare into each other's eyes, clearly conveying a message of longing and something much stronger.
Love.
It was a perfect snapshot, he thought to himself, an intimate moment which would cease to exist in mere seconds. Their heads leaned forward in anticipation, but before they could close the distance, a low rumble shook the castle foundation, causing them to break out of their trance with obvious disappointment and continue on.
He marvelled at how they sacrificed their own happiness for the greater cause, for what was right. An unbidden picture popped into his head, one of a boy belching slugs to defend the honour of his friend. He remembered wondering why someone would go to those lengths, and now he had the answer. To defend the ones you love, sometimes sacrifices were necessary. This is what they had shown him then, and he saw it in action once more. He thought about those he loved: his parents, Dennis, and his friends, and he knew he had to fight to ensure they had a future free of strife.
As he made his way towards the battle, his fear and uncertainty were washed away by a sense of hope and purpose. He thought about the beautiful, tender moment he had just witnessed and his heart soared. Even if he didn't make it through the night, he would die knowing he fought for love; that his sacrifice might give countless others, like Ron and Hermione, the chance to create a thousand more perfect snapshots.