A Deathly Hallow

'The true master of death’? How can it be? The elder wand, the resurrection stone and the invisibility cloak!

Ron Weasely never really understood it. Hogwarts was calm. After a long time the piece had finally come. Voldemort had been defeated. And all the remaining death eaters were captured.  The atmosphere had been changed subtly by George Weasely and his senseless jokes.

Dead bodies had been collected and injured were sent to madam Pomfrey. Ron was just standing there smiling and he felt a slight blow. He turned to face ‘the boy who lived’!

“What’s up?” Harry asked.

“Nothing much.”

“Met Hermione?” Harry tweaked his shoulder.

“Nah! Not yet.” Ron extended his hand to take a fire whiskey.

Harry was staring at Ron. Ron looked at him in surprised, “Blimey, Harry! Why the hell are you staring at me like I’m Grawp?”

“I think you need a moment alone. Go out, mate.” Harry smiled. And for the first time in many weeks, Ron saw that real crooked smile with awkward round rimmed spectacles moving slightly upwards.

“I guess I do.”

On his way out, Ron saw Hermione talking with Neville Longbottom. Neville seemed quite pleased with himself after he learnt that he had destroyed Voldemort’s one of the seven hocruxes, of which Harry was one(At that time he completely freaked out and really thought Voldemort was still alive!)

Ron couldn’t place his feelings exactly. He was in deep thoughts. He never realized that he had walked enough until he almost reached at the end of the lake. So, he just sat there on the lawn, without thinking much.

On the other side, he could clearly see whomping willow. Heck of a tree! Ron sniggered.  It seemed happy. It moved its branches in joy and occasionally killed some birds. Suddenly, a loud noise made him turn toward the castle. Castle had suddenly been lightened by Seamus Finnigan and George Weasely’s combined Firecrackers. (They thought ‘Weannigan’ was a cool name for a cracker!)

The battle was won. But he wanted to cry. He could see his red haired sister and his best friend Harry Potter kissing each other in distance.

He looked at the sky, thousands of stars twinkling, glittering and living the moment. He opened his clenched palm. It was whitish with sweat and resting on his palm was the golden snitch and in that half open snitch neatly rested the resurrection stone.

While searching forest for the dead bodies, he had found the stone. And he didn’t know why, but he kept it. Now, there he was just at the lake with an insecure feeling.

And then he lumped. He spotted George. With his one ear and red hair he was easily visible. He was laughing but seemed lonely. Ron closed his eyes. Tears started pouring down. He clutched the stone tightly and he cried.

He cried for his brother who would never come back. He cried for his broken family that always seemed to be so large and yet so small, he cried for his life which seemed so fragile without love. He cried and cried and never stopped.  He clenched the stone so hard, blood gushed out of his palm.

“Ooh Ron, why are you crying? Did you saw Percy riding a giant spider? Or Harry blew up killing Voldy?”

Ron opened his eyes, startled. A silvery outline of his dead brother was there with a usual grin.

“F...F…Fred? Is that you?” Ron stammered.

“Took you more than half a minute, brother. Tell me, are you beginning to forget me? Because in that case, you’re gonna have a tough time, aren’t you?” Fred said smilingly.

 Ron tried to smile. He opened his bloody palm. He exhaled.

“Shut up. Let’s meet George.” Ron stood up as he realized he had just used resurrection stone and he was really awed.

Fred’s smile evaporated.

“What happened? Let’s go! Or should I call him here?” Ron moved ahead.

“I can’t, Ron” Fred sighed, “I can’t meet George.”

“But…why?”

“Because you called me, Ron! You came here. You remembered me. George doesn’t have the stone. I can’t meet him!”

‘’It’s quite simple then, isn’t it? I’m gonna give this stone to George. Then he can meet you.” Ron’s face brightened.

“You can’t.”

“Why?”

Fred inhaled.

“You might not understand this, Ron, but he’ll have to live. He’ll have to let it go. If he knows he can talk to me, he won’t be himself. I’m dead, Ron. He isn’t. He has whole lifetime ahead of him. Don’t make this mistake, Ron. Please, don’t make him weak. ” Fred pleaded.

Ron just stared. Then ever so slightly, he nodded. For the next half an hour, he talked to his dead brother stories of battle, how Harry killed Voldemort, how Neville killed Nagini, how Draco helped after battle and how Snape sacrificed. Fred laughed and joked and when Ron said something astonishing, his eyes went large. For a moment or two, Ron thought he was back.

Except that he wasn’t. He had to go.

“Throw the stone, Ron.” Fred said, “It is just like the mirror of Erised. It gives a false sense of security. You’re talking to me, but I’m not here. You must understand this, Ron. I trust you.”

Ron smiled and nodded.

“Give love to everyone. Mom, Dad, Ginny, George and everyone else.”

Ron grinned.

“And yeah, Ron! Please do not tell anybody about this conversation. I love you, brother.”

And he disappeared. Ron just stood there and watched for five minutes the plain air where his dead brother was moments ago. Ron moved his fingers and caught the stone. With all his might he threw the stone into the lake.

There is absolutely nothing that could bring the dead back and there will never be. Feeling light hearted, Ron picked up his wand and loitered back to the castle.