Harry had been waiting for his friends outside the infirmary doors, remembering everything that had happened that afternoon. His conversations with Snape and the whirlwind of emotions they had triggered were still in his head, but he felt better than when he had run away from Hagrid's hut several hours ago.

"Harry!"

Hermione's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She looked up and there stood her friend, a small smile on her face. Next to her was Ron, who nodded his head in greeting. Harry returned the gesture, covering the few yards that separated them with a couple of steps.

"Everything alright?" He asked, studying their faces.

"All good." Ron said. "You?"

Harry opened his mouth, not quite sure what to say to that. He had told Snape that he was tired and would talk to his friends later. But, now that he had them in front of him, he felt the need to explain to them why he had behaved like that and everything that had happened since he had left Hagrid's hut.

"I'm fine too." He said finally. "I'm sorry for running off like that... I have a lot to tell you guys."

Ron put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed affectionately.

"We figured as much, Harry. But you don't have to apologize; we're all a bit weird these days."

"Exactly." Hermione nodded. "And it's perfectly normal."

Harry swallowed at those words, touched to see once again how much his friends understood him.

"Thank you..."

Ron shook his head.

"Don't thank us, Harry. It's something we're all going through, so we totally understand. And maybe next time it might be me or Hermione who has to leave somewhere or reacts in some strange way. The important thing is that we're in this together and we'll never judge each other."

The war had matured Ron by leaps and bounds. Harry could see it in the way he carried himself, in the wrinkles on his face and in his gaze that wandered off into nothingness from time to time. But if there was one thing that showed that new maturity, it was the empathy and emotional intelligence that the boy had been demonstrating of late.

"Thank you, Ron. I... it means a lot to me."

Harry already knew everything his friend had said, but he was grateful for the reminder. He had grown accustomed to dealing with problems and sorrows on his own, with no one to help him. Even after meeting Ron and Hermione it still felt strange to depend on them, like he was a burden, but gestures like that reminded him that he wasn't alone and that leaning on the people who loved him wasn't a sign of weakness or a bother to them.

"Like I said: don't thank me." Smiled Ron, affection in his eyes. "By the way, maybe we should go somewhere else." He said looking around. "The infirmary door isn't the most welcoming place in all of Hogwarts..."

Harry nodded, and was about to propose that they go to the Common Room when Hermione, who was watching him intently, asked:

"Have you eaten anything since this morning, Harry?"

It dawned on the boy that he had forgotten to do so.

"Er... I haven't, actually..."

"I thought so..." She sighed. "Well, let's go to the Great Hall and have some dinner, then. You can tell us all about what happened while we eat."

Harry agreed to that proposal, aware that he was going to need energy to explain to them what had happened with Snape.

In the good old days, the Great Dining Hall used to be full of students chatting with each other, laughing, and enjoying the delicacies cooked by the House Elves. But that was before the War, before the Battle of Hogwarts and before most people left the school. The few that remained at Hogwarts - teachers, the wounded, and a few students who either had nowhere else to go or wanted to help with the rebuilding of the castle - usually ate in their rooms or around the Hogwarts grounds. As a result, the tables were usually empty, except for a handful of healers who would come to get something to eat after long hours in the infirmary. The silver trays were automatically refilled when someone sat down in front of them and emptied in the same way when no one was there, returning the leftover food to the kitchens.

At the moment, to Harry's gratitude, the Great Dining Hall was empty. He had no desire for anyone to overhear his conversation with Ron and Hermione. The three of them sat down at the table that had belonged to the Gryffindor house and filled their plates with the food that had appeared on the trays. Harry took a couple of bites of the meat pie he had chosen and suddenly realized how hungry he was.

They ate in pleasant silence, giving Harry time to collect his thoughts. At another time, he might have been nervous about talking to his friends about everything that was eating him up inside, about being so vulnerable, about hurting them without meaning to, but recent events had changed his perspective. If he had been able open up to Snape, he could trust Ron and Hermione. Besides, as the man had said, they could help each other. So, after swallowing the last bit of food, he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"I know I haven't been very present these days. After everything that happened during the Battle I... I needed time to myself." He said, averting their gaze. "And... even though we've been together physically, I know you've noticed that my mind wasn't fully here."

Ron and Hermione nodded, it was true that they had noticed that. Still, they didn't interrupt him; they wanted him to let out what was inside of him.

"Ever since you found Snape... Ever since I knew he was alive... I... I've been using him as an escape route." Harry admitted embarrassed but forcing himself to keep talking. "I've put all my energies into visiting him in the infirmary, into making sure he was going to survive. And my thoughts have been focused on trying to understand him, to come to terms with the fact that he was on our side all this time."

On the one hand, it still felt strange to think that he had been, but on the other, imagining his life without the Snape of the infirmary, who had listened to him and helped him so much, seemed impossible.

"And yes," Harry continued, "I've also been thinking about everything that's happened, about the people we've lost. It's impossible not to. But I've been doing it from a distance, not really taking it in. But now... Now that Fred's funeral is coming up... The reality is right under my nose and I can't ignore it."

He sighed and picked up the glass in front of him to drink some water. He realized his hands were shaking and tried to conjure up the image of Snape's Patronus, her reassuring presence.

"Harry..." Hermione called to him gently. "We're going through the same thing. Maybe we haven't focused as much on Snape as you have, but... But we've also tried to distract ourselves in our own way."

Ron nodded at those words and took her hand, conveying his warmth and support. She thanked him with a small smile, albeit one that was loaded with sadness.

"Just think, Harry, that Ron and I started being together on the same day as the Battle. And these first few days of our relationship, these feelings... They have been a distraction for us. We have used them to try not to think too much about the other stuff. It sounds bad… But it’s the truth.”

Hermione, too, looked ashamed of herself. At the sight of it, Ron squeezed her hand tighter and said:

"It's horrible, yes, but it's the reality and no one can blame us for it. These first days, which in theory should be precious and full of joy, have been sad and strange. The least we can do is try to survive as best we can and find some moments of happiness in our relationship."

Those words comforted Hermione a little, and she nodded. It was clear that this was not the first time they had discussed the subject. Harry understood what they must be feeling: joy at knowing that their feelings were reciprocated and looking forward to spending time with each other; but at the same time, sadness and grief for what they had lost, as well as guilt for not thinking about it all the time.

"Each one of us has created a little shelter where we could take refuge from everything that's happened. And it’s normal." Harry told them. "But that's precisely why the conversation in Hagrid's hut affected me so much. Facing certain things, certain... moments is something that we have to do. But I don't know if I'm ready for it."

"You mentioned Fred's funeral earlier." Ron reminded him, pain in his voice. "Is that what scares you the most?"

Harry swallowed.

"Yeah... I... I've been talking about it with Snape."

Ron narrowed his eyes but didn't interrupt him.

"When I went to see him after Hagrid's hut... Let's just say I was pretty nervous and he, er... helped me calm down. We talked about what I was afraid of and I think I've figured out the answer." He swallowed, preparing to explain everything that was going through his mind. "Besides the obvious reasons, Fred's funeral will be about accepting that what happened really happened. That all the people we've lost to Voldemort - Fred, Remus, Tonks, Dumbledore, even Sirius, Cedric or my parents... They won't be coming back. It will mean that all those deaths are true, that defeating Voldemort isn't going to bring them back."

Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Harry continued speaking.

"You don't understand. I know you want to be positive and think about the future. Try to make some sense out of this. But the reality is that there's nothing left to fight for now. There is only this horrible pain and no solution. This emptiness. Forever."

"Harry..."

"And I'm sorry, Ron. I'm so very, very sorry. I should be beside you, cheering you on, being strong. Because you're having the worst time of the three of us - you've lost your brother, damn it! But I can't. I can't deal with this. Or help you or... Or Ginny." The words gushed out of his mouth and Harry wasn't able to hold them back. "I've left her alone like a coward because I don't even know what to say to her. I don't even know what to say to myself. All I know is that I don't want to hurt her. Or you. And I-"

He hadn't finished speaking when Ron lifted him out of his seat and wrapped him in a desperate hug. Harry clutched at his friend's shirt as tightly as he could, trying not to get swept up in the spiral of negative thoughts that threatened to drown him. He felt another pair of arms wrap around them and Harry could hear Hermione crying, joining in with his own cries. For the second time that afternoon, he was once again grateful that the Great Hall was empty.

They stayed like that for a long time until, little by little, they regained control of themselves. Ron, still holding him by the shoulders, put some distance between Harry and himself, studying his face.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked him.

Harry nodded weakly, feeling very tired all of a sudden. Maybe that was why the sadness felt less suffocating.

"Good, because I want you to listen to me carefully."

Ron sat back down on the bench and helped Harry do the same. Hermione sat down as well, trying not to break the moment.

"Harry, I'm going to tell you something and I want to make it very clear to you."

The boy swallowed, surprised by the intensity and seriousness on his friend's face.

"We will get through this. We will survive. I promise." Ron had never been so sure of anything in his life. "We will get to be happy again."

Harry wanted to reply, but his friend continued speaking, looking into his eyes. And there was such determination in them that it shut him up.

"It won't be in a week. Not in a month. Probably not in a year either. But, I promise you, we will live a life they would have been proud of. We will be happy and we will live as well as we can. Because that is what Fred, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, your parents, and everyone else would have wanted. Because if we're here, we have to take advantage of this gift. It will hurt. It won't be easy. And there will be times when it seems impossible. But we will find a way to be happy. I promise you that. And more importantly: I promise it to them."

Harry's eyes had filled with tears, but they were tears of emotion and relief. Until that moment he hadn't really believed he could have a future. But now, a strange warmth had spread through his chest, making him feel stronger and more optimistic than before.

"Thank you, Ron." He told him, moved.

Hermione, who until that moment hadn't wanted to interrupt, reached over once more to rest her hand on Harry's shoulder.

"We'll make it. You'll see. We haven't faced a thousand dangers over the years. This is just another battle. The most important one, true, but I'm sure we'll win."

Harry gave her a small smile and squeeze her hand.

"I'm very lucky to have you. I want you guys to know that."

Ron and Hermione smiled back at him, the affection evident on their features.

"And we're lucky to have you, Harry." Ron told him, as Hermione nodded.

Before anyone could say anything else, the clock in the Great Hall began to chime, indicating that it was eight o'clock in the evening.

"It's getting late." Harry said, watching the golden hands of the clock. "Do you want to go back up to the Common Room? Honestly, I'd like to get into my pajamas and relax a bit."

The others agreed, so they gulped down what was left of their drinks and then set off for the Gryffindor Common Room. Once they arrived, they changed into their pajamas and sat down in the armchairs in front of the fireplace. Hermione pointed her wand and said an incantation. Instantly, flames engulfed the logs and the smell of burning wood filled the air. The fire danced inside the fireplace, casting shadows and orange light on the teenagers. Harry smiled, enjoying the pleasant feeling, and relaxing completely for the first time in the whole day.

"You know? Little moments like this make me realize that you're right, Ron. That we'll get to be happy."

His friend smiled at him and then leaned his head back against the back of the armchair. The color of his hair and the light coming from the fireplace made it seem as if Ron was surrounded by flames. Harry thought that if that was true, it wouldn't be surprising. The boy exuded warmth. His presence and personality were as comforting as the crackling of the wood against the flames, as the cozy warmth of the fireplace. Once again, Harry felt lucky to have him in his life. Him and Hermione. If it weren't for them, Harry didn't want to imagine where he would be right now.

"Come to think of it, I haven't finished telling you everything I've talked to Snape about." He said suddenly, causing Ron to sit up again, giving him his full attention. "It's just that this moment reminded me… Snape told me one thing. He told me that I have to be better than him."

Hermione gave him a questioning look and Ron smiled, shaking his head.

"I don't want to pick on Snape now that I kind of like him…" The boy began. “But, Harry, you have always been better than him."

Harry ignored the teasing and decided to explain himself better.

"Wait, Ron, I didn't make myself clear. And I want to, cause it’s important what he told me. He said that, in the face of what we've been through, there are different ways of reacting. Snape, when my mother died, he withdrew into himself. He got angry at the world and became... well, the man we all know. And as brave as he was, and as much as I admire him for it, the truth is that he's not a role model... And he knows it. That's why he made me promise him that I wouldn't end up like him. That I would be better."

Ron's eyebrows rose up.

"Snape admitting his mistakes. Wow... He's really changed."

"He really has, Ron. And that brings me to what I was getting at. I can see myself being able to deal with everything we have on our hands because I have you guys, the other Weasleys and people like Neville and Luna. But Snape had no one. Until now.” He stopped talking for a second, acknowledging that fact. “Maybe that's why now he has been able to come to terms with his mistakes and with his past. Even if slowly." Harry nodded to himself. "It's clear to me now. Especially after the way you guys opened my eyes in the Great Hall. I felt alone and lost, but you, my 'support system' like Snape says, have shown me the way. You've shown me that we'll make it, that no matter how much it hurts, the people who are still here make it worth staying and going through all of this."

Harry smiled, suddenly remembering how he had said something similar to Ginny, a few days before. "I'm sorry, I don't have a formula for dealing with it. You just... do it. Because there is no other way. And because the people who are still here make it worth it." His own words echoed in his mind, and he realized that it was the absolute truth. Living was worth it and would still be worth it, even if sometimes it hurt so much that one could forget. Despite everything, despite the fact that loss, pain and grief would always be part of his life, Harry now knew that whenever he needed it, whenever his strength faltered, his loved ones would be there to remind him of that.