Ben Boot (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} zenben) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} breaking_point, |
Ben didn't know how long he'd stood there, just staring at nothing. He knew he was still breathing, because every breath hurt, but he couldn't remember any of his thoughts in the past however many minutes. Ronan was gone, that's all that mattered.
He finally broke out of his trance when Bob nudged him, and he looked down at the dogs. They knew something was wrong, if the slumped shoulders were anything to go by. He thought about Nicki, how if Ronan hadn't made it out of the Ministry there was little hope for her.
He choked back a sob, and stumbled towards the castle, dogs on his heels and trunk in his arms. He needed to do something, anything, to stop the pain that was threatening to consume him. He managed to hold himself together, give his name to Ted and get a room assignment with his father and job to keep him busy.
Walking down the halls of Hogwarts was like walking through a tunnel. He didn't notice anyone, just kept his eyes on his feet as he headed up to his dad's rooms and dumped his things. His dad wasn't there, he hadn't expected him to be. He'd be in the infirmary.
He left the dogs whining, and headed down to the Great Hall, not sure how he was still on his feet. He looked around, saw the relieved families huddling together, and felt cold.