Breaking Point

Chapter 9

Final Straw

This could be the very minute

I'm aware I'm alive

All these places feel like home

With a name I've never chosen

I can make my first steps

As a child of 25

"Harry?"

"Didn't it mean anything to you?"

"No"

No. No! It was a lie dammit and now he was paying the consequences. Harry jammed his fist into the table recklessly and was startled to hear a squeak of surprise come from the other side.

"Harry, will you please stop muttering under your breath for a second and at least look at me! I've been trying to talk to you for the last five minutes! What's wrong with you for god's sake? You and Ginny both-"

"What about her?"

Hermione turned to Harry, startled by his sudden brusqueness. Harry swore to himself. Why did he have to wear his emotions on his sleeve right now? Hermione was the last person he wanted to talk to, he didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment for that matter.

Hermione gave him a long calculating look, but Harry remained silent. She looked about to say something, but thought better of it. She knew Harry well enough to know not to get between him in one of his disagreeable moods. Instead, she stood up and strode to the door.

"I have to leave Harry, I promised Ginny I would help her finish some last minute packing."

"Packing?" Harry couldn't help the ill-disguised curiosity that broke through his voice.

"Didn't you know?" replied Hermione coolly. "She's moving to France for at least a year. Her train leaves later this morning."

Her words hung suspended in the air as Hermione swept from the room. Silence engulfed the room soon after, reverberating off the walls and giving it a desolate air. Harry however, had never felt more alive.

This is the straw, final straw in the

Roof of my mouth as I lie to you

Just because I'm sorry doesn't mean

I didn't enjoy it at the time

You're the only thing that I love

It scares me more every day

On my knees I think clearer

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It gave Harry a sense of closure to be walking down the same path that had lead him to his current situation. However, this time he had a purpose; to make amends for his mistake. It was the second time in a matter of days that he'd taken such a huge leap, and hopefully, this time, he wouldn't find himself sprawled on the ground once again.

Harry's heart began to race as he made it out of the small copse of trees and out onto the grassy riverbank. He almost fell head over heels in his haste to reach the low dilapidated wall chasing the edge of the meandering river. And when he found she wasn't there, it was like he had been shot in the chest. He sank into the grass like a wounded man. Harry sat there unmoving, his legs like lead, letting his thoughts collect themselves, like raindrops running down a windowpane and pooling at the bottom.

It was completely foolish to believe she would be here he rationalized. When her memories of this place were still so painfully tender, why would she want to come one last time? But yet, it had felt so right to him. If only he had come sooner…

Harry was ready to leave with a heavy conscience and sore heart, when something caught his eye. Nestled in the thick strands of grass, lining the bank, lay a dainty silver necklace. Harry reached out a hand and held it up to the sunlight. The delicate, teardrop pendant reflected the sun, sending small beads of light shimmering across the dewy grass.

What have I done it's too late for that

What have I become truth is nothing yet

A simple mistake starts the hardest time

I promise I'll do anything you ask...this time