Harry stood amongst the rubble looking out across the horizon. There was a strange sort of calm in the air. Harry took a deep breath, unsure of really where to go from here. Voldemort was defeated. The threat was gone. At the cost of so many lives. Harry heard the sound of footsteps behind him. They came to a stop at his side just a couple steps behind. He felt the warmth wash over him. A familiar scent filling his senses. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Memories flooded his mind. Hushed whispers and subtle glances. Every moment they shared flashed through his mind's eye. Harry began to smile at the thought but quickly corrected. This wasn't right. To feel this way now. So much loss and pain were waiting just inside. It wasn't something that Harry could escape. Not this time.
They stood there in silence, neither saying a word. Just watching the sky as time passed. They never really did have to say much to understand each other. Harry heard a rustle from behind him and felt the brush of fingertips on his shoulder.
"It's over," Harry said abruptly, with a soft tone. He didn't know if he was taking about the war or something bigger. He felt the hand pull away and a familiar sound of hands being shoved into trouser pockets. Harry closed his eyes again. He could see it clearly without looking. The way the head drops for the briefest second before returning to the perfect posture. The coy shrug as if to say 'Whatever it's fine.' He had seen the gesture too many times to count.
"Yeah," came the answer barely above a whisper. It wasn't what Harry wanted to hear. He wanted the figure to ask, to question what he meant, to be angry or fight. Something. Anything. But that wasn't coming. They stood for another moment. Neither of them speaking or moving. Harry felt a familiar choke in his chest but he steeled himself against it.
"Harry!" They heard a voice call from the distance.
The figure stepped back as if being formally dismissed. As Harry heard the footsteps begin to recede he turned to see the man walking away. Shoulders square, head high, blonde hair whisping gently with the breeze.
Turn around. Please just turn back. Harry begged silently. Willing the man to feel his wanting. But he never did. Harry watched as the figure turned the corner and disappeared from view and Harry released the breath that had caught in his throat. He felt his knees weaken and he turned around to rest his hips on the rubble that used to be a wall. He put his head in his hands and finally allowed tears to fall from his eyes. He hadn't cried. Hadn't allowed himself to feel the loss of everything. Standing in a place that used to feel more like home than he had ever had before, now torn apart, he wondered if he would ever feel that again.
"Harry, there you are," he heard a voice say sweetly. He quickly regained his composure.
"Hey Gin," he said as he pushed himself up.
"Everyone has been looking for you." Harry saw the pain on her face. Puffy red eyes showing the signs of her grief.
"Sorry. I just…needed some time to think." Harry said. "I'm not sure what to do."
"You don't have to do anything," Ginny pulled Harry into a tight embrace. "It's over now"
The words made Harry's heart clench. He looked back to the empty space he saw Draco fade from view.
"Yeah," Harry said solemnly, "I guess it really is."