The second someone mentioned you were all alone
I could feel the trouble coursing through your veins
Now I know, it's got a hold
Harry and Hermione made their way into the great hall together hand in hand. The non-biological brother and sister duo needed something to grasp onto, to ground them, ready for what they were about to face. No one had known the truth about the third member of their trio, especially not his family, but they were about to. As they walked into the great hall and looked around the once grand room that had been reduced to rubble, they saw the group of redheads huddled into the corner, an almost scared but relieved look on all their faces. As far as they were aware, so far, they were unscathed. Their family had survived. Harry and Hermione didn’t want to be the ones to say otherwise. But they had to say something.
Just a phone call left unanswered, had me sparking up
These cigarettes won't stop me wondering where you are
Don't let go, keep a hold
“Oh goodness kids are you ok?” Molly said as she scrambled to her feet, the first one to spot them. She bundled both of them up into a hug as soon as she reached them. As much as they didn’t want to, they squeezed back just as tight. Molly was the only parent they had both really had in the magical world, they were terrified of her reaction when she realised they had failed to stop her youngest son.
“Where's Ron?” Bill asked as the rest of the family joined them. While Molly had fussed over the other two, it didn’t escape the Weasley children from noticing the red rimmed eyes on the duo's faces and the missing member of the Golden Trio.
The silence was deafening. Neither Harry and Hermione knew how to explain and were too caught up in their own heartbreak to offer one either.
“Harry, Hermione, where is Ron?” Fred or George said with even more urgency as the silence continued and the tears began to well up again in Hermione's eyes. Harry was barely able to keep his own tears at bay. If Ron was here he would know the difference. He had always known.
“He is doing what he needs to do,” Harry finally said with a harsh breath as he squeezed Hermione's hand even tighter.
“What is that supposed to mean? What is he meant to do? We are in the middle of a war field right now. Where the hell is he?” Fred or George screamed back as the Weasley’s began to panic. They had thought they were all ok. Was sure even though they couldn’t find Ron, he would be fine. He would be with Harry and Hermione. It was going to be fine. Right?
Harry couldn’t find the words to explain. Didn’t know if there were any. So he turned to Hermione instead.
If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse to a place where you'll be safe
To feel at grace 'cause we've all made mistakes
If you've lost your way
“We should go and watch. Say goodbye,” he said with a small sob as he looked towards the great hall windows that lay in shards across the floor. He had the perfect view of the courtyard and a perfect view of the two figures standing alone in the middle. One with Red hair, one with none.
The Weasley’s, the Golden trio and the others that had overheard in the great hall raced towards the courtyard. As Harry and the others got closer, they could see the dark billowing robes of the Death Eaters congregate in confusion on the other side of the courtyard. Death Eaters behind their master, Hogwarts behind their Lion.
As Ron’s hands raised into the air, as the sky turned dark and the flashes of light began, Harry knew. Harry knew it was time to say goodbye to his best friend. He squeezed Hermione’s hand tight as he listened to the screams of Mrs Weasley as she begged her son to come back to her, to stop whatever this was. The tears bubbled as he heard the Weasley siblings scream for their brother too, all trapped behind the shield that divided the two opponents in the middle of the chaos. But the tears only finally fell after he raced to grab ahold of the one person that was falling apart more than the duo were. More than anyone was.
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
Ron was scared. He wasn’t embarrassed to admit it. He always knew one day he wouldn't be able to keep his abilities a secret forever. He just wanted to feel normal for a little longer. Stay with his friends, with his family, with his love for a little longer. He remembered the day the dream had come to him on a stormy night during 5th year, when the lady with the coal black hair and crystal blue eyes had smiled at him softly and told him he was special. That the magic around him, the magic in the earth and the sky would be there for him. Would help him for the whole of his life. A life that she told him would end too soon. He remembered the story his mother told him as a child. The one where the final brother greeted death as an old friend, but he supposed in this story, he would be the first brother that would greet death first. He was just glad the others would be spared.
As he walked towards the courtyard where he planned to meet Tom, the world seemed to go in slow motion. He looked around and saw so much death and destruction before him, and was only glad he would be able to fix it, even if that meant leaving everything else behind. As the rubble crunched under his feet as he made his way towards the centre, his thoughts turned to a wisp of blonde hair and grey eyes he only wished he could stare at one more time. But he was doing this for him too. His whole life his love had been told what to do, how to stand, what to say. This was the only way Ron could make him free too. And he would find someone else. The self-deprecating in him said someone else would be better anyway. They would all be better without him. This was the least he could do. He couldn’t do much, not like his talented siblings and incredible best friends who could do just about anything, but he could save them. He could do something right.
Tell me what's been happening, what's been on your mind
Lately you've been searching for a darker place
To hide, that's alright
But if you carry on abusing, you'll be robbed from us
I refuse to lose another friend to drugs
Just come home, don't let go
A flash of lightning struck over all their heads as the Dark Lord looked at his followers in barely concealed shock. The grumble of the earth and screech of thunder deafening all around them. He had laughed at the challenge initially set before him by the blood traitor. Had humoured him as he came before him. He was going to use the boy as an example. That there was no place for blood traitors in his new world. Not even purebloods were safe if they wouldn’t comply to their fullest. He hadn’t expected an actual opponent however. He had been told the Weasleys were bare minimum wizards with too many children and little magical ability to show for it, but this right here was power in its purest form.
He watched in horror as the boy's eyes shone the brightest form of liquid gold. Swirls and lines began to form on every visible surface of the boy's skin until they detailed every rune the dark lord could think of and glowed rich and decadent versions of every colour of the rainbow. He could feel the earth beneath his feet shake and quake below him as he watched the boy begin to take on something he had thought impossible. There had been rumours for hundreds of years that sometimes magic itself would take on a human form. That it would touch one person in time of great pain and need and would step in when its children chose to fight against each other. That was the whole definition of Merlin himself. He was pure magic in a human form and brought magic’s children together to form the great Albion. But that had been a rumour. Hadn’t it?
If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse to a place where you'll be safe
To feel at grace 'cause we've all made mistakes
If you've lost your way
Draco banged and clawed at the shield that separated him and Ron. They had talked about this day a thousand times in each others arms. They could never pinpoint the exact time Ron would have to use his full powers, but they had always hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. Ron had been plagued by nightmares since 5th year that had explained that unlike Merlin, Ron wouldn’t be able to live once he finally used his full powers. He would know when to use them, could decide if he wanted to hide away from that task, but Draco and Ron knew he never would. One thing Draco loved and hated about Ron, was he was a Gryffindor through and through. He would never turn away from anything that could help someone else, even if that meant hurting himself. But Draco wanted more time, just a little more. Draco had never had the chance to fully be with Ron. Even after 2 years, Draco had been so controlled by his family, he had been too scared to let too many people know about the greatest moments of his life. His moments with Ron. But now there would be no more moments to share. No more cuddles under the stars as Draco taught Ron about his favourite constellations. No more chess games in their favourite nook of the library. No more soft caresses as Ron lulled Draco to sleep while gently stroking his hair and humming to him. Draco would be alone.
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
Tom Riddle was an ambitious boy. He had wanted to control the world that had let him down so inexcusably as a child. Had nearly succeeded. Was so sure he would succeed again. Until a boy with red hair arrived in front of him and the whispers and the screams of people he couldn’t even see surrounded him. As the redheaded boy, covered in shining ruins finally met his eyes, Tom Riddle knew he was destined to leave this world. Bolts of pure magic shot out of the boys raised hands and headed straight towards his loyal followers. Rich colours of purple and green and blue surrounded each follower and one by one they vanished in a shimmer of what looked like flakes from the finest jewels. Some of his followers were spared. He suspected those weren't as loyal as his dear Carrows and Lestranges. Those who magic itself didn’t deem a threat like the others. Like him. When every loyal death eater resembled a pile of shimmering dust on the moss and rubble covered courtyard floor, Tom spared a final glance at the boy before him. He barely looked of age. Barely looked old enough to know what true power was. But as Tom stood tall, he knew true power, and it was a redhead with holes in his jeans and a sweater that seemed one size too big. And then there was darkness.
If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse, it's a place where you'll be safe
To feel at grace and if you've lost your way
If you've lost your way
I will leave the light on
No one said a word as the Dark Lord disappeared and turned into a pile of ash at the feet of the youngest Weasley. No one knew what to say. The confusion only grew as those they had thought had fallen began to descend the stairs of the castle entrance and joined their peers. As the carnage of the Death Eaters' demise faced them, no one had noticed the same rich ripples of magic make their way around the castle and caressed those who had fallen until they arose. All anyone could do was stare at the youngest Weasley boy, the least talented Golden Trio member, as the runes across his skin began to fade. They didn’t fully vanish, but seemed to turn into a range of faded muggle tattoos instead of the shimmering symbols they had been before.
The Weasley family looked at Ron with a range of emotions as he finally turned around. Shock, pride, horror, joy. None of the siblings knew what to think and smiled towards them. They were just glad he was safe. But every single one of the hearts sank as they saw the circle of pure white light appear at the other end of the courtyard. Every Wizard knew what that was. They had been taught about it since they were children. It was in every great wizarding adventure. Had a place in every year's History curriculum, in every school across the world. The Barrier. The final journey for those blessed by magic itself. The kindest way to greet death.
And I know you're down and out now, but I need you to be brave
Hiding from the truth ain't gonna make this all okay
I'll see your pain if you don't feel our grace
And you've lost your way
Ron took a look at the people he loved as he walked towards the barrier before him. He had to return to magic itself now he had played his part. But he couldn’t leave without doing one last thing. He walked towards the shield separating him and his family and let it finally fall. No one moved, too shocked to even consider moving an inch, but that didn’t matter to Ron. The only thing that mattered to Ron was sitting in Harry’s arms, already sobbing with the knowledge of what happened next. Ron tenderly took Draco in his arms one last time and liquid gold met stormy grey. Ron’s hand slowly made its way up to rest on Draco’s cheek and stroked his thumb down gently, sifting away the tears, until it rested on his jaw. He smiled sadly as he rested his forehead against his partners and whispered a final goodbye to his dragon. With a soft kiss and one final squeeze, he passed a still sobbing Draco back to Harry with a declaration of love between the pair of them before he walked and took one last glance around. He squeezed Harry and Hermione’s hands as he passed them and passed one final smile over to his family, before mouthing a final I love you towards the blonde, and finally passed through the barrier.
I will leave the light on
I will leave the light on
Harry finally let the tears fall as he held Draco tight as he sobbed and screamed in his arms for Ron to come back. The barrier of light closing before them. He had always known his best friend was incredible. Always known he would be the best out of all his siblings, but he wished it didn’t have to be this way. As the rest of Hogwarts stood in a shocked silence, the only sound coming from the sobs and screams from Draco, Harry couldn’t help but wonder if it was all worth it. Yes those they had lost in the war were back. Alive and well. The Dark Lord was gone and had joined the rest of his true followers in a pile of ash that was slowly being swept away with the gust of wind that had followed in the storm that destroyed them, but was it really worth it? Because all Harry wanted right now was his best friend, his first friend All Harry wanted was the boy who he shared his sweets with on the train. All Harry wanted was Ron. Death finally claimed Ron as an old friend.
'Cause I will leave the light on