Until the End of Time [Tomarry]

Chapter 8: (Don't) Break Everything

Harry had zoned out again without noticing. It was happening more and more recently. He didn't even seem to notice. "Peter Pettigrew framed you for murdering a bunch of muggles. After Voldemort killed James and Lily on the night of Halloween, you went after Pettigrew in a fit of rage, too overcome with grief to do much else. He was the secret keeper, as you know, and one of the reasons for my parents' deaths. Snape was another."

James choked on a sob. The rest of the family wasn't faring much better.

How had everything gone so wrong in that life? Why does he always look so sad?

"One day." Harry seemed lost in his memories, but still entirely too present. "One day, I'll tell you all about my first life. Everything. But right now, I can't- I just can't. But.. even still.. I ask you to trust me, because I'm selfish."

Remus spoke up with a soft voice—calm and comforting, but also concerned. Almost.. worried. "Harry, I don't mean this to sound demeaning, but... are you okay?"

The room was quiet. Harry took the question seriously, and tried to answer as honestly as he could.

"No." He shook his head. "But.. I will be. Eventually."

Why did Harry look so doubtful of that last word?

. . . . .

Danny stood off to the side, where he feels most comfortable. Most people would think that Danny was jealous of the attention Harry would always get, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. He hates being put in the spotlight, while he understands that Harry thrives from the attention, like he's not used to it.

Danny knows he isn't. Harry has told him stories of his other lives, where he'd spend years and years and years alone, watching civilizations being built to the time they crumble. Watching universes being created by unknown forces till their inevitable collapse. Watching everybody he ever knew die eventually, no matter how long they lived.

Harry likes the attention because it keeps his mind off of other things. It staves off the depression of immortality. It gives him another reason to be alive, for his long life to mean something.

Danny, on the other hand, likes to watch from the sidelines. He likes watching everybody interact with each other. He does not, however, like having to interact with people himself. Danny doesn't mind it with his family, because he knows them. They don't make him talk when he doesn't want to. Tom is the exception to the family rule, because Tom, in the end, is there for Harry, and only Harry. He loves Harry just as much as Danny does, even if he hasn't realized it yet. (And Danny wonders just how long it will take for him to notice.) Tom wants Harry's attention, and he doesn't mind giving Danny space, even if he's apparently the 'chosen one' from the prophecy.

And Harry. Harry, wonderful Harry. Danny loves his brother so much. He knows he's not good at expressing his feelings sometimes, but he knows that Harry understands anyways. Harry knows Danny prefers listening, so he tells such wonderful stories that always leave Danny wanting more. He doesn't mind when Danny doesn't talk, because they can communicate without words. It's so easy to talk and interact with Harry, because he's Harry.

Which explains why Danny couldn't stop the sickening dread pooling in his stomach.

The Weasleys were due to come over any minute now, and Danny's mind has been screaming 'bad bad BAD-" for almost an hour. Inviting the Weasleys over made Danny realize that he has no clue how to interact with people. Harry's the one who can always make friends. Danny, on the other hand, cannot. He can't he can't he can't-