Tattered and Torn

Numbly, Harry followed her down to the front desk. While the Healer spoke quietly to one of her higher-ups, Harry glanced around to see if someone was waiting for him. He didn't see anyone familiar except for the man called Andrew who had been Remus's roommate. Resigning himself to a long wait--visiting hours didn't end till seven and it was only two--Harry took a seat on a long bench. He didn't feel as though he had any insides at all...what had happened hadn't quite registered yet.

"Sonny, you should get home," a gentle voice said. Harry looked up to see the Healer who had brought him downstairs.

"I...someone's supposed to walk me home," Harry explained quietly. "I'm waiting on them."

"I can walk you home," Andrew offered, coming over. "I've just been discharged."

The Healer looked apprehensive, but Harry simply said, "All right. Thank you, ma'am." He stood up, gripped the large umbrella Tonks had given him, and followed Andrew out the door.

Harry was so distracted he didn't even realise the man was talking to him until Andrew hit him on the shoulder. "Huh? Oh, sorry, what was that?" Harry said, glancing up at the man.

"Your umbrella," Andrew repeated, pointing to the umbrella in Harry's fist. "You're getting soaked, kid."

Harry glanced down at the umbrella, which he hadn't opened. "Oh...right. Sorry." He opened the umbrella and held it up.

"All right, then." Andrew looked at him worriedly. "Where do you live, then?"

"Privet Drive. It's in Little Whinging...in Surrey."

"Surrey? Bloody hell, you walk all the way from Surrey every day?"

"It's not that far."

"Why don't you take the Knight Bus?"

"I don't know. Too many memories, I guess." Harry grew quiet for a minute. "The first time I rode it was the first night I saw my godfather."

"Who--" Andrew began.

Harry held up a hand to stop him. "Don't say it," he cautioned. "If you say that word I'll start bawling and we'll be stuck here all night."

Andrew looked surprised. "Sorry." Together, the two set off into the rain.

Harry really wasn't paying attention to where he was walking--he was too distracted--but Andrew apparently knew the way and steered him through the streets. Finally, they paused. "What's your house number?"

Harry glanced up and saw the street sign--Privet Drive. They'd made it. "I can get there myself from here."

"Kiddo, I'm not letting you out of my sight until I get a signed receipt. What's your house number?"

Harry sighed. "Four."

Andrew nodded. "All right then. Come on."

There was a lone figure reclining on the porch, nose buried in a book, but as Andrew and Harry reached the walk it rose to its feet. "Harry!"

Harry stopped and looked up at Andrew. "Thank you," he said quietly. "You can keep the umbrella, I don't need it..."

Andrew swallowed. "No problem, and thank you. Take care of yourself, kid." He turned and was gone.

Harry watched him, then turned towards the house and managed to walk up to the porch. Hermione hurried towards him and stopped in front of him, looking up anxiously. "Harry, you're early..."

Harry reached out and wrapped his arms around Hermione. She hugged him back, her arms warm and gentle. "Harry? What's wrong?" she asked him anxiously.

Harry gripped her tightly, feeling his chest constrict. "He...Remus..." Suddenly and without warning, he broke down sobbing. Hermione pulled him to sit down on the porch. She sat on the top step; he sat two steps below her and buried his face in her lap, sobs wracking his body.

"Harry, speak to me, sweetheart," Hermione said gently, a feeling of foreboding in the pit of her stomach. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Harry raised his head slightly and looked up at her, looking like a scared little boy who'd just woken up from a nightmare. "Hermione...I've lost him, he's gone. Remus is dead."