Disclaimer (applies to entire collection): The world and characters of Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling.

Written for the OTP Boot Camp Challenge at HPFC.

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i. i've heard there was a secret chord

Her lips taste of despair, acrid and harsh and salty.

Her nails dig into his shoulders and he feels her trembling quicken. He has to wrap his arms around her to keep her from falling to her knees as she dissolves into grief and there's nothing to do but hold her.

"No, no, no," she says. She releases him and tries to take a step, to walk on her own, but her legs buckle and he has to catch her.

"Lucy," he whispers. "I've got you, I'm here."

And the chasm of loss looms over both of them, impenetrable and eternal and tinged with anguish and the acrid taste of a kiss. He traces her collarbone with a finger and they breathe in, breathe out, breathe.

"Don't let go, Zacharias," she says softly, and so he doesn't.