I do not own Harry Potter or the Vampire Diaries (Otherwise both Harry and Damon would deserve better than Ginny and Elena)

Damon had been shocked when he saw Stefan throw the part of the banister he had broken off into the wall literally nearly all the way in and then punch a hole through another after the girl said that Lyra, whoever she was, was going to die. How much did she mean to his brother? He had never looked this torn up about anyone before, not even when they were younger and found out Katherine was dead.

The tension tightened in Damon's chest as Stefan suddenly vamp-sped to his room. Instinct or something else entirely drove him to follow. Opening the door to Stefan's room, he took in the chaos—the shattered wood, the upended furniture, the barely-contained rage that laced Stefan's every move. For once, Damon felt uncharacteristically unsure, hovering in the doorway as Stefan finally stopped, leaning heavily against the wall.

As he watched, Stefan sank down, tugging open the drawer of his cabinet, pulling out an old photo album and clutching it close as he crumpled to the floor. Damon fought the urge to look away, but something in his brother's expression held him there. Should he leave? Stay? It wasn't like he knew how to handle this. If anything, he thought about calling Elena... until he remembered that she'd been kidnapped. Just perfect.

Lost in thought, Damon's attention snapped back to Stefan as the album slipped from his hands. Stefan broke down completely, curling up against the wall, his heart-wrenching sobs filling the room. Damon had never seen him like this, vulnerable and shattered. It made him feel... things he wasn't willing to admit. After an eternity, Stefan's cries finally quieted, and, with a suddenness that startled him, Stefan vamp-sped to the balcony. Damon watched as his brother leaned against the railing, face tilted up toward the sky, tears falling freely.

Damon shook his head. Why was he even still here? It wasn't like he cared. Comforting Stefan wasn't exactly his thing. Yet, just as he turned to leave, something caught his eye—a soft, iridescent blue light moving toward the balcony window. He looked back, confusion knotting his brow as he saw the strange light taking shape, a reindeer composed of gentle, wavering blue wisps.

"Don't do it, Stefan. I know what you're about to do, but don't turn it off."

A voice came from the glowing creature, and Damon's eyes widened. Did he just hear that right? Stefan was about to flip the switch—over a girl? He thought his brother was in love with Elena. Who was this Lyra, and how did she mean so much that he'd rather turn it off than live without her?

"Prongs," Stefan whispered, his voice cracked and raw.

Damon frowned. The thing had a name? AndProngs? What kind of name was that?

"I...I don't know what to say to you to be honest, I wanted to tell you this over the phone but I...I just couldn't. I was a coward but I couldn't leave without at least saying goodbye at least in some way. You're my best friend Steffie, you always have been, you've been there for me when no one has and you have no idea how much I love you for it, you've always been like the brother I never had and I'msosorry that I'm leaving you when I promised not to but I don't have a choice. If Voldemort lives, it will be like the first war all over again and I can't let that happen when I can stop it even if it means having to leave you. I know that this won't be easy but I don't want you to turn it off for me, I know what happened the last time you nearly thought I was dead and tried to flip the switch but please don't do it this time. Don't throw away your life for me, I'm not worth it."

Damon was confused, he had thought Stefan's only best friend was Lexi, so who on earth was this?

"You are," Stefan whispered as he stretched his hand out causing Prongs to move towards him and nudge his hand. It was the weirdest thing Damon had ever seen, to be honest.

"Live your life Steffie, find someone to love and who'll love you in return, you deserve that and my last wish to you, which you have no choice but to follow - no arguments. Do not turn it off, not for me, I will be very upset up there if you do...So...I guess this is goodbye Stefan, I love you bestie." As this was said the reindeer faded away leaving nothing but silence in its wake as the words that held so much pain and grief were whispered into the endless blue sky.

"I love you too Lyra."

Damon stood silent near the doorway as he watched Stefan walk back into the room, visibly drained. Watching his brother's hands shake, his own resolve weakened. He wanted to say something, to do something - but the words wouldn't come. He turned, slipping from the room as quietly as he could, leaving Stefan alone. Whatever his brother needed to get through this, Damon knew it wasn't anything he could offer.