Somewhere over the Rainbow

Disclaimer; The song 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' used in this one-shot is written by E.Y. Harburg.

~~~Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

There’s a place, a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby~~~

Closing his eyes, he tried to remember how it used to be. Blades of grass still green at the end of summer and sweet breezes to ruffle it. Wizards and witches dashing every which way trying to keep their children from dangers of Knockturn Alley. Tom the barkeep at the Leaky Cauldron wiping down the glasses. Cheerful Madam Rosemerta bringing chilled butterbeer to laughing students on Hogsmeade weekends. How the morning dew sparkled in the sunlight and had always managed to wet his pant leg straight through on his way to the Quidditch pitch. A great stone castle; the only place he ever considered home.

Gone, all gone.

~~~Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue~~~

White flakes of ash fall softly to the ground, mixing with the blood, mud and bones of friends and foe alike. Three sets of bleary eyes look to the horizon, watching as the impending storm clouds race each other across a red and gold sky. Griffyndor colors, and the irony is lost on none of them. Diagon Alley has been burning for three days now, bodies and buildings alike. The air smells like pork, the wet leaves of fall and charing wood. Ron wrinkles his nose, coughing. "Mate," he says softly and lowly so only his companions can hear, "if I didn't know where the smell was coming from, I'd be hungry." Harry laughs but it sounds hollow even to his own ears. They haven't had fresh water in a day and food in two. Ron gives a little puff of air upwards to blow his bangs out of his eyes. There's enough red here, he thinks, without my hair adding to the picture.

~~~And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really does come true~~~

Crawling on the ground and hoping that they're less conspicuous from above, they shuffle on scabbed hands and grimy knees over to the remains of the next building. Schooching over to the side of the wall Harry sighs in relief and makes room for his two companions. They'll be safe here for a bit. With luck. Exhausted and run down, he just wants to close his eyes. If only for a little while.

~~~Some day I wish upon a star and

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me~~~

"Shhh, Harry, I'll be all right," a soft voice whispers through the darkness as a vague shape little better than a shadow crept out from behind a pile of rubble. Harry glances sideways, his eyes darting quickly over the smoldering ruins. They had had to leave Simon and Collin behind a few hours ago so his team could scatter for safety. Blinking, Harry swiftly wiped his forhead with the back of his arm. The blood was dripping into his eyes again.

"How, Luna? How the bloody hell will it be alright?!" His voice was ragged and torn, almost pleading. Luna paused, fingers splayed on the jagged and splintered sign that in a previous life advertized specials for Madam Malkin's. Crouching to keep from being seen, she pursed her lips and tapped his nose gently. The green eyed man was watching her desperately and she smiled.

"Because I wished on a falling star, Harry."

~~~Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Way above the chimney tops

That’s where you’ll find me~~~

His jaw hurts badly. From grinding his teeth constantly, he supposes. Not that it matteres in the long run. For a minute, the gaunt face looks wistful. If Dumbledore were here... shaking his head ruefully, he kicks at the wall in front of him. He likes guard duty even more than he likes sleeping. Because of the nightmares. Harry sniffles and wipes his nose on his hand, wishing he could follow Dumbledore. He tries to tell himself that Dumbledore and his lemon drops don't matter to him, not anymore. That Dumbledore could've been more careful or that Harry could've helped his friend if only he had let him. But too much time has passed since then so he doesn't really believe that, either. Just another comforting lie.

~~~Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly~~~

Biting his lip nervously, Ron looked at Harry. "Mate," he begines hesitantly, voice growing stronger as he continued, "I can go for reenforcements, there's gotta be some people there. Remus... Remus is there, m'sure of it, and Charlie had...has, I mean has, extra supplies." Stray tears make trails down his filthy cheeks but he doesn't notice. "I can fly there, Harry. We can get help. They'll never suspect a bluebird." Ron gains confidence, visibly warming to the idea. Harry nods grudgingly. He knows that it's their only hope right now or they'll pass out soon from dehydration or exhaustion, whichever comes first. Help....help would be so good. Harry nods at the vacant sky as Ron gives him an almost feral grin of approval. With a pop and a merry little chirp Ron is off flying into a feiry sunset. Harry fingers the tears in his shirtsleeve absently as a jet of green light drops the bird in the distance. He starts to sob.

~~~Birds fly over the rainbow

Why, then, oh why can’t I?~~~

All of them...free. His confidants, his family, most of his friends. McGonagall murdered defending Hogwarts, Ginny shot down from behind with a bolt of blue flame. Hagrid taken down by Dementors while crossing with the first years...Oh Merlin, boats upon boats of children gone, all gone. Harry remembers vaguely that the water ran red that night.

The delicate popping sound of apparition makes his eyes widen. Jerking his head up at the sound from behind he whirls, cloak snapping in the faint breeze with his wand ready. Voldemort smiles darkly. At least, Harry thinks it might be a smile. It really resembles more of a grimace, he muses abstractedly. Like the time Crookshanks tasted one of Ron's socks by mistake. Emerald eyes met maroon and with identical snarls of rage, they screamed,

"Avada..."

~~~If happy little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why oh why can't I ~~~

"...Kedavra!"

And he fell, broken.