Comfortably Numb

Comfortably Numb

    The light rain drizzled onto the pavement splattering its contents all over the stranger's muddy boots. Within the sound of the rain hitting the pavement and draining into the gutter, a slight sigh echoed off the lampposts and reverberated back into the sky. The sky itself seemed to sigh as it looked down upon a young man who had given up all hope, and was resigned for the worst. With his tattered black robes and receding hairline, the only intimidating part of the man was his piercing golden eyes. As the sun finally broke through the clouds a slight grimace appeared on the man's worried, wrinkled face.

    "Harry Potter," muttered the stranger, his five o'clock shadow becoming more pronounced with each syllable.

    Funny how the world seemed to depend on a boy who has not even had his first shave yet. While we've forced this boy to stripe away all his childhood innocence and to take the leap of faith into manhood, placing the responsibility of the world onto his shoulders. What have we asked this fifteen-year-old boy to do? He still struggled to talk to the girl he fancied and finish his potions homework. Yet we believed him competent enough to vanquish the most evil sorcerer of all time. To have so much thrown at you, while people yearned for the fame and money he had, had to be overwhelming. And all these years the things he has yearned for are a family, a normal life, and the opportunity to love.

    As the stranger turned around to look away from number four, Privet Drive another stranger blocked his field of vision. Wearing a white mask with billowing black robes the Death Eater muttered the two most feared words in the wizarding world: "Avada Kedavra."

    As the stranger watched the green light flash just before his eyes he thought, Am I just going to be another Order casualty; just add me to the pile of bodies of people that have died to protect Harry? Does Harry even know how many people have died to keep him safe? Not just Ron, Sirius, and Bill, but the others. The ones he never got to meet personally, the ones that died in the line of duty because they felt compelled to help a boy who had everything and nothing in front of him. I wondered if he would ever know of the daily attacks on Privet Drive. I wondered if he will ever know Dumbledore had charmed the front yard so Harry could not see any of the attacks or the dead, cold, and lifeless bodies hitting the ground. Well, Harry Potter, send a letter to my loved ones and reach out for that everything that is in your grasp, right in front of you. Because if you do not the Wizarding World will pay in hell.

    Before the body even hit the ground Fawkes appeared and disappeared to check on the guard. With tears glistening in the phoenix's eyes, he let out one lone quivering note while staring at the man with twinkling blue eyes. And as the body hit the ground, the Death Eater Disapparated, leaving Privet Drive as depressing as it always was.

    Thirty seconds later a young woman with shockingly pink hair appeared out of nowhere and kneeled down to softly touch the dead, cold, and lifeless body lying on the still-wet grass. After standing back up and composing herself she turned around to watch Privet Drive with salty tears rolling down her cheeks.

Because of my line of duty this boy was allowed to live...