Chapter 17
"Hey," Kalevi heard a gentle voice speak above him. Kalevi didn't respond, he just pulled the covers back over his head.
Draco sighed softly and sat down on the edge of the bed, his presence a steady anchor amidst Kalevi's grief. He reached out and gently brushed his fingers through Kalevi's hair, offering a soothing touch without intruding on his space.
"I know you're hurting," Draco said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "But you don't have to face this alone. I'm, no we're here for you."
Kalevi peeked out from under the covers, tears staining his cheeks as he looked at Draco with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. He could see the genuine concern in Draco's eyes, and it offered him a sliver of comfort amidst the overwhelming pain. "You don't have to come, but they're holding a moment for August in the hall today," Draco continued softly, moving his fingers through Kalevi's curly mess of hair in an attempt to comfort him.
Kalevi's heart ached at the mention of the memorial for August. Part of him wanted to hide away, to avoid facing the reality of his brother's absence. But another part knew that he needed closure, that he needed to honour August's memory in some way.
Kalevi nodded slightly, his voice still choked with emotion. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely, appreciating Draco's understanding and support.
Draco gave a gentle smile, his hand still resting on Kalevi's head. "Of course," he said softly. "Take all the time you need, but remember that we're here for you whenever you're ready." With those words of reassurance, Draco stood up from the bed and quietly left the room, giving Kalevi space to process his emotions.
Kalevi hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed, his eyes glancing around the room, realising no one was in the dorm besides him. He looked in the mirror, his hair was a mess and he was still in his pyjamas from two days ago. His eyes made their way to August's abandoned bed, his bags and clothes still layed out from the night that he died.
Kalevi's heart clenched at the sight of his brother's untouched belongings. It was a painful reminder of the void that August had left behind.
Feeling a mix of sadness and determination, Kalevi slowly got dressed in clean clothes. He knew that he couldn't hide away forever, and attending the memorial for August felt like the first step towards healing. As he made his way to the hall, memories of his brother flooded his mind - their shared laughter, their late-night conversations, and the bond they had formed over the years. It was bittersweet to remember these moments now, knowing that they would never be able to create new ones together. Draco joined him in the corridor, they walked silently into the mess hall, making their way to their spot at the Slytherin table. It had felt as if all eyes were on Kalevi.
Kalevi took a deep breath and tried to steady his racing heart as he settled into his seat at the Slytherin table. The hall was filled with whispers and solemn faces, evidence of the collective grief that hung in the air. As he looked around, Kalevi noticed familiar faces from all houses – friends and acquaintances who had come to pay their respects to August.
“Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss. August Karlsson was, as you all know, exceptionally hard-working, and intricately fair-minded. And most importantly a fierce fierce friend. I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, August Karlsson was murdered by Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I think would be an insult to his memory. Now the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that and August Karlsson will not have died in vain, you remember that. And we'll celebrate a boy who was honest,” Dumbledore spoke solemnly.
After Dumbledore's heartfelt speech, the hall fell into a heavy silence. Kalevi could feel the weight of grief and loss in the air, he put his head down on the table feeling the need to sob, but no tears were left inside him.
Kalevi leaned against the table, his body trembling with suppressed emotions. Draco, sensing his friend's pain, reached out a hand and gently placed it on Kalevi's shoulder. No words were exchanged between them; they didn't need to be. At that moment, their silence spoke volumes. Draco's touch provided a small measure of comfort amidst the overwhelming sorrow that hung in the air. Kalevi closed his eyes, allowing himself to lean into the support offered by his boyfriend. It was a gesture of solace, a silent acknowledgement of the shared grief they both carried.
Kalevi's heart was heavy with grief, his emotions swirling inside him like a tempest. The weight of the loss pressed upon his chest, making it difficult to breathe. As he sat at the Slytherin table, surrounded by whispers and solemn faces, Kalevi felt as if all eyes were on him, aware of the pain that consumed him.
The room emptied as students retreated to their dormitories, leaving only Dumbledore, Potter, Draco, and Kalevi behind. The atmosphere was heavy with grief, the weight of August's loss still lingering in the air. Silence filled the room like a thick fog, broken only by the sound of soft footsteps.
Dumbledore's eyes were filled with sorrow as he looked at the three remaining figures. He approached them slowly, his voice carrying a deep sense of compassion. "I know this is a difficult time for all of you," he said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "August was a brave and honest young wizard, and his loss is deeply felt by all of us." Dumbledore paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "Kalevi, we're hear if you need to talk," Dumbledore said softly, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder before walking out of the room.
Draco and Kalevi exchanged a glance, their shared disdain for Potter momentarily forgotten in the face of overwhelming grief. Kalevi's heart ached, his emotions consuming him like a storm. The weight of August's loss pressed upon his chest, leaving no room for anything else.
As Potter stood nearby, uncertainty etched across his face, Kalevi could feel Draco's hand tighten on his shoulder. It was a silent gesture of support, reminding him that he wasn't alone in this pain. At that moment, their mutual dislike for Potter was overshadowed by their shared sorrow.
Kalevi closed his eyes, allowing himself to lean into Draco's touch, finding solace in the simple act of being understood. His grief was too raw, too all-encompassing to care about petty rivalries. Right now, all that mattered was finding some semblance of comfort amidst the chaos.
"What are you looking at, Potter," Draco mouthed at Potter, so Kalevi wouldn't realise.
Potter ignored Draco's comment, choosing instead to focus on the grief-stricken Kalevi. He could see the pain etched across Kalevi's face, mirroring his own feelings of loss and sadness. Potter knew that he couldn't take away Kalevi's pain, but he wanted to offer some form of support.
"Kalevi," Potter said softly, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I know we haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but I'm here for you if you need someone to talk to." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "August helped me with the challenges, I would even consider him a friend too, and I'll miss him just as much."
Kalevi looked up at Potter, surprise evident in his eyes. The animosity between them had been strong throughout their time at Hogwarts, but in this moment of shared grief, it seemed trivial and insignificant.
Draco glanced back and forth between Potter and Kalevi before nodding slightly in approval. It was a small gesture but one that conveyed understanding and acceptance.
Tears welled up in Kalevi's eyes as he finally spoke. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. And with those two simple words came a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.