Not Harry…
…not Harry…
Not Harry!
Oblivion greeted him as the flash of green blinded him, his mother´s voice echoing around him. The hooded creature drew him in while inflicting the greatest pain Harry had ever encountered. He wanted to reach out to his mother as she died again and again, green eyes turning lifeless in an unending circle.
His wand was in two pieces, unusable thanks to his cousin. Harry wanted to curse at Dudley through the pain of seeing his mother die on repeat. But he reckoned it would do no good as Dudley Dursley laid only a couple of metres away from him. Deathly still and unblinking. Harry would soon join him in that, he could feel it.
The dark hood came even closer, and he felt how it tugged at something in him. Little by little Harry´s thoughts were corrupted. Expecto patronum he thought in his mind, wishing to see his stag once more.
Expecto patronum.
Expecto patronum.
Expecto patro…
Expe…
Arabella Figg screamed at the sight before her. Two young boys laid on the ground. Pale and still. Eyes staring. She barely paid the bigger one any mind as she hurried to the dark-haired one. The one she had babysat so many times during the years.
His green eyes stared back at her unseeing, empty. She let her hand caress his cheek and the coldness made her flinch.
“Oh, sweet boy.”
Petunia Dursley was humming to the radio, the lightning outside made her stop for a second. She frowned as she looked at the clock. Dudley should have been home by now, especially considering the weather. Perhaps he was at one of his friends´ houses? Yes, that seemed likely.
She put the roast beef in the oven and almost jumped in surprise when someone knocked on the door. It was most unusual to get guests this time in the evening. Taking off her apron she made her way to the door. A small smile adorned her face as she opened the door, it immediately died down as two policemen stood at her porch.
“Can I help you?”
One of the policemen started to talk, eyes sad and voice grave. The words barely registered in Petunia´s head as she stared at them in disbelief.
“Who is it, Pet?”
Vernon came up behind her, frowning at the sight of the police at their house. His face went from confusion to terror, to anguish and to rage as they explained everything again. Petunia just stood there.
She merely blinked when Vernon went into a rampage and punched a hole the wall.
She merely watched as the policemen tried to calm him down.
She merely breathed when they had to restrain her now sobbing husband.
Petunia Dursley merely stood there as she learned of her son’s death.
Dumbledore sighed as he answered the floo, wondering who would be flooing him this time at night.
“Albus!” Arabella Figg breathed, her voice meek and displaced.
“Is everything alright Arabella?”
The woman stammered and then fell into hysteria. He could barely hear what she had to say but felt dread within when the words finally came together.
Dementors and a broken wand.
“I still think it’s rubbish that we can’t write him!” Ron complained again. Hermione rolled her eyes.
“You know what Dumbledore said, we’ve had this conversation so many times now Ronald!”
She bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from agreeing with her friend. She too thought it absurd to leave Harry in the dark, but she felt that her hand was forced as the adults had clearly stated that it was for his own protection. She would never do anything that would risk Harry’s life. Even if by doing so she hurt him.
Ron opened his mouth to retort when they heard what sounded like a scream. They hurried in the direction of the sound and found it coming from the sitting room.
Hermione looked at Sirius Black wailing on the ground, his screams the most heartbreaking sound she had ever heard. She worriedly looked around the room and saw Professor Lupin sitting on the floor in the corner of the room. Seemingly apathic while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sobbing on the couch. Dumbledore stood in the centre with a grave look upon his face.
“What’s going on?” Ron demanded, seemingly shaken by the sight. It was only then she noticed how his siblings had found their way to the room too.
Mrs. Weasley wailed before throwing herself at her husband.
Hermione looked into the blue eyes of her headmaster, the usual twinkle could not be seen. She flinched as Sirius threw himself at the ancient man. Gripping his robes tightly. Looking very much like a crazed convict.
“It’s your fault,” Sirius Black spat at the older man, “You told me he was the safest there, you claimed that I would not be able to keep him safe here. Well, what do you have to say now? My godson dead by those monsters because his wand was broken! How did it break? How could those things have been there? Where was his protection?”
Sirius pushed Dumbledore into the wall behind him with such a force that the older man coughed at impact.
Hermione felt tears roll down her cheeks as she heard the words spoken.
His godson was dead.
Harry was dead.
She shook her head in denial and looked around the room, waiting for someone to say something. To prove his words false. Yet none of the grown-ups said anything. Her eyes went back to Sirius who for the first time looked truly broken.
“I’m coming, pup.”
The words were barely audible, and Hermione could only scream as Sirius Black raised a wand to his neck. His head fell to the ground in a thud as the man joined his loved ones.