The Houses Competition: Round four

House: Gryffindor

Class: DADA

Category: Drabble

Prompts chosen: [Restriction] Must have a twist ending

Word Count: 810

Summary:The war is over and Harry's friends gather one last time.

Title: Left Behind

The air was deathly calm and silent, as if the world understood what day it was and who was in mourning. This was the memorial of the loss of someone who died too young and way too soon—of a person who died before they had a chance to really live. Ron Weasley sat in front of the gravestone, though the funeral ended hours ago.

He couldn't bring himself to leave. How could he? His friend, his best friend, was dead, and all that remained was a piece of granite.

Harry deserved better than that; he deserved so much more.

How could the only thing that remained of his friend be a piece of rock with his name on it? It wasn't fair.

"So…" Ron muttered as he titled his head up, fighting the tears that desperately wanted to fall. "After everything…this is how it ends?" Ron asked into the empty air.

They had been through so much together. The philosopher's stone, a giant basilisk, dementors. The Triwizard Tournament, Umbridge, and, of course, Voldermort. Ron honestly thought they were all gonna make it out alive, but as Voldemort's body fell to the ground, so did Harry's.

It was only then that Ron learned about the prophecy, "For neither can live while the other survives." Harry knew the whole time that he wasn't going to make it out alive, yet he fought for all of them. He gave his life so they could live. "How are Hermione and I supposed to go on without you, mate?" Ron asked.

He was hoping for some kind of miracle that he would receive an answer, but all he got was the cold wind brushing through his hair.

The funeral had been much more peaceful than Ron would have expected. Hermione organized everything, and she knew that Harry wouldn't have wanted some big thing. If they had allowed it, everyone in the magical world would have shown up for the savior of the wizarding world, but Harry would have wanted something small, so only friends and family were allowed.

In attendance were the Weasley's and Hermione. Luna and Neville, the students from Dumbledore's Army, and the Professors. Hermioene had never seen so much emotion on McGonagall's face before; the strict Professor looked so sorrowful. Madam Pomfrey even came for her number one patient.

Hermione could have sworn at one point that she saw Draco behind the trees as McGonagall gave her speech, but she chose not to say anything. Draco and Harry didn't have the best relationship, but in the end, Draco chose to fight with them, even saving Hermione's life as he blocked a killing curse from hitting her, as she was dueling with another Death Eater.

"Ron," Hermione's small, broken voice came from behind him. She had been crying for the past hour; everyone had left, leaving Harry's two best friends to say goodbye in peace.

Hermione had been keeping it all together for days; but when everyone left, and it was just her and Ron, she broke down. Harry was gone, their best friend was gone.

"Just a little bit longer," Ron said, not even bothering to look up at Hermione as he continued to stare at Harry's tombstone.

Hermione didn't say anything, simply sitting down next to Ron as she laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her hand around his. "As long as it takes," Hermione said softly as the two of them sat in silence, mourning their friend.

…

Harry's eyes snapped open to find himself surrounded by darkness, the earthy smell assaulting his senses. He soon realized where he was. Harry's breath caught in the back of his throat as he wiggled his arms free from where they were trapped at his side and started to dig at the wooden coffin with his fingernails.

This couldn't be happening; he couldn't be buried alive.

"Please…not like this…please…HELP!" Harry screamed in a desperate hope that someone might hear him under six feet of earth.

Voldermort's last spell was meant to put the victim into a deep sleep, so deep the victim was oftentimes believed to be dead. This was his final revenge. Voldermort knew he was going to meet his end, and he made sure Harry would soon follow in one of the most horrible ways one could go, being buried alive.

Harry screamed himself raw as he tried to dig himself free, but all he managed to do was tear his fingernails out as they got caught in the wood. Harry didn't even notice the pain he was putting his body through as he tried with everything he had to get himself free.

He let out one final scream before collapsing. He couldn't get enough air into his lungs; his chest felt tight as he gasped for his final breaths. In the end, Voldermort got what he always wanted.