Harry's Wonderful Life

Harry's Wonderful Life

"No, Ron! There's too much tinsel on that side! Try and even it out a little more, please."

Ron sighed and removed a large bundle of tinsel from the tree yet again and determinedly attempted to please his over-achieving fellow prefect, and, most recently, his girlfriend, Hermione. It was Christmas Eve, and Hogwarts had never looked better for the holidays.

"How that, dear?" said Ron teasingly.

Hermione came over to inspect. "Much better," she smiled, planting a brief kiss on Ron's lips. "Well, I think we're just about done here."

"Good," said Ron, stretching his long arms over his head. "I can't wait for hot chocolate in the common room." He stood back and examined the scene before him.

The Great Hall was decked with over a dozen Christmas trees, icicles hanging from the ceiling, and holly and mistletoe hovering over unsuspecting heads in almost every doorway of the castle. It was sure to be a splendid holiday, even though it would be quite different from any Hogwarts had seen in quite some time.

"This will be our first Christmas without Dumbledore as headmaster," said Hermione quietly, as though she had read Ron's mind. Ron was just beginning to contemplate this thought when a familiar voice drifted into the Great Hall singing, "God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs." The pair of them whirled around to see Harry carrying armfuls of holly toward them.

"Thought you could use some more decorations," said Harry grinning.

"Well, you seem unnaturally cheerful tonight," said Hermione, eyeing him warily. "Anything wrong?"

Harry shook his head. "It's my last Christmas at Hogwarts, so...well I guess I thought I should make the most of it."

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other briefly and nodded in agreement. This was going to be their last Christmas at Hogwarts. Not only that, this was going to be their last week at Hogwarts. Ron, with the help of his parents, Lupin, and Tonks, had convinced Harry to return to Hogwarts for half of his seventh year. Now that that half was drawing to a close, Harry and his friends had begun preparing for the journey ahead; the dangerous journey to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. Harry had been brooding, worrying about this expedition for weeks, so it was only natural for Hermione to ask why he was acting so cheerful. Ron and Hermione still insisted on accompanying him, and Harry still insisted on trying to persuade them not to. He felt it was something he had to do alone.

"Harry? You still with us, mate?" asked Ron uncertainly.

"Huh...oh yeah, sorry," said Harry. "So, um...you guys...I mean...are you sure about this? The Horcrux hunt, I mean-"

"Harry, I've said it once, I've said it a million times, and I'm saying it again," said Hermione exasperatedly, levitating the holly onto the tree branches. "Ron and I are coming with you, and nothing you can say or do will stop us."

"But-"

"We've had time to turn back, haven't we?" said Hermione, turning to face him, repeating the exact words she had said only six months earlier. Unfortunately, it did not rest with Harry, he continued to press on.

"But what about your parents, your families? Ron, come on, mate, your mother will never let you-"

"I've already talked with my mum. Well...okay, it was mostly shouting for three hours. But Mum and Dad have accepted my decision. I just told them I'm of age now, and I should be able to make decisions for myself." Ron stopped and looked Harry in the eye. "I'm going with you, mate. There's no going back now."

Harry stared at his friends as they finished decorating, his cheerfulness evaporating faster than the air in the enchanted ceiling above them, which was a cloudy midnight blue. How could they be so calm about this? This was a journey to defeat the world's most powerful Dark Wizard, and they were talking about it as though they were discussing tomorrow's weather. The more Harry stared at them, the more he was convinced that they were both out of their minds.

His thoughts immediately strayed to Ginny. Sweet, beautiful, perfect Ginny. Harry's insides glowed warm at her name. He still loved her; that much was obvious. He still cared for his best friends; also obvious. Often, he regretted his decision to break up with Ginny, but knew it was for the best. He had to break away from the one he cared about most. He couldn't watch anyone he loved get hurt. Yes, it was for the best. For both of them...for all of them...

Something suddenly clicked into place. He knew what he had to say. It was the only way.

"No!" Harry blurted out.

Ron and Hermione spun around and stared at him, alarmed by his outburst.

"Harry, what-?"

"You're not coming with me. Either of you. No, I can't bear to see either of you hurt."

"Harry, we don't care if-"

"I know you don't care, but I do!" Harry shouted, all of the emotion, all of the feelings he felt for so long spilling out. "Sure, so I could defeat Voldemort, but if anything happened to you two at the expense of killing him, I'd be done for! Empty inside! I wouldn't want to live life anymore!"

"Harry, you know we'd risk anything for-"

"I KNOW YOU'D RISK YOUR LIVES FOR ME! AND THAT'S WHY I CAN'T LET YOU COME WITH ME!" screamed Harry at the top of his voice. "I broke up with Ginny so that I wouldn't have to worry about her following me into battle! Now I'm doing the same to you two! You can't risk yourselves for me! If anyone's going to be killed, it's going to be me and no one else!"

Harry saw the looks on his two best friends faces. Ron shocked and hurt, his jaw dropped open. Hermione' eyes were brimming with tears. Harry wanted to stop shouting, but he couldn't. Not when he'd bottled all of this up for so long.

"We should never have become friends. If we hadn't, you both would be safer. Ginny would be safer. Everyone would be safer. No one would be threatened by my presence. I WISH I DIDN'T EXISIST!"

Harry finally stopped, panting as though he had just run ten miles. Ron was shaking his head in disbelief. Hermione stared at Harry, a large tear dripped off her cheek and onto the floor. Without another word, Harry whirled on his heel and ran out the door.

Ron made to follow him, but Hermione grabbed his arm.

"Ron, no. Leave him be."

Ron turned to face Hermione. Tears slid slowly down her cheeks, onto her chin and dripped to the floor; she didn't bother brushing them away. Ron enveloped his girlfriend in his arms as he stared out the door after Harry.

"I'm so scared for him, Ron," Hermione whispered, tears still dripping from her eyes.

"I know, Hermione," said Ron, a painful lump rising in his throat. "I know. I am too."