Protection in Silent Words

The snow fell, blanketing the world in white, but to Harry it looked like a thickening river of scarlet, pooling blood, a stream of lifetimes cut short before their time.

Lifetimes cut short � cut short by him.

�I want this to end,� he whispered quietly, his words heard only by himself, as always. �I want this to be over� before he cuts short my life.� Or I cut his�

The snow fell, and Harry watched it fall, heedless of the cold seeping into him as he sat on the ground. He held out his hand as snowflakes drifted into his palm, each one an icy kiss, and could see the blood that continuously stained them.

Someone else�s blood� too many people to remember�

�Come inside. Mum�s worried about you, and you know how she gets. Best come inside before she comes out for you herself.� Bill stood behind him, the tattered hem of his cloak brushing against Harry�s shoulders and arms.

�Thanks, but I think I�ll stay out here for a while,� Harry said, refusing to look up at him.

�You�ll catch cold. Or worse,� Bill remarked. No response; he sighed. �It wasn�t your fault. You didn�t make Malfoy do what he did. You were not the catalyst.�

�I killed his father. I�d say I actually was the catalyst,� was Harry�s sharp reply as he glared up at him.

Bill rolled his eyes. �Fine, if you say so.� Harry stared up at him and Bill raised an eyebrow. �What? Forgotten that I�m the only one who refuses to rise to you argument-impending bait?�

Harry sighed. �Sorry.� He started when Bill draped his cloak over his shoulders, warmth over his dampness. �What?�

�Try not to freeze to death,� Bill said, turning away. �Come in when you�re ready. I�ll keep Mum at bay.�

A cold hand caught his wrist. Bill stopped and waited. The moments trickled by.

�I�m not going to any more of the trials.� Harry paused, then swallowed. �I�ll come inside.�

For you�

Bill grinned and hauled him to his feet. �Let�s warm you up, eh?� he said, draping an arm across Harry�s shoulders and steering him towards the door.

�because you�ll protect me, won�t you, as best you can?

 

End