Waiting

Waiting

By Spiral Breeze

The hand that held his wand ran through his hair.  His bangs relentlessly stuck to his forehead in the summer heat.  The sun would be setting soon, and hopefully would bring with it relief.  

Harry sighed.  This was the tenth evening in a row where he found himself on a forgotten curb, debating whether or not he should hail down the Knight Bus to bring him back to the wizarding world.  If it had been before the war, on any other night, he wouldn’t be questioning his actions.

He drew in a shuddering breath, and almost held up his wand hand, clenching his eyes, a tear threatening to escape.  His hand came to his eyes knocking his glasses askew, and swiped at them roughly.  He would not cry, he had spent to many weeks, months, god... it had been over a year since that day.

He brought his hand purposefully down, and slid the wand into the pocket of his jeans.  It had taken him some time to muster up the courage for this simple act, never feeling safe enough for finger tips to part with smooth wood.

He fixed his glasses, pushing them back on his nose.  Snaking his hands to his temple again fixing his sweaty hair. Dropping his hands, he took in a few short breaths.

A car horn blared suddenly, making him jump yanking the wand out from the pocket again, eyes searching around madly, breath held.

He should be used to the sounds of the city by now, but no... Harry Potter flinched when a dog barked, a tire screeched and heart began to race at the long piercing tones of an ambulance.

He tried to steady his breath and once again forced his arm to push the wand into his pocket, trembling with the effort.

No, today would not be the day.  Picking up his rucksack from the sidewalk, he began walking the few blocks back to the youth hostel.  Tomorrow, would be another day, he could wait until then.

To be continued...