Tragic October
by xink_slingerx

Rating: PG
Ship: Harry & Hermione
Canon: Books 1 - 5
Genre: Angst, Suspense
Status: Complete
Length: 1,633 words in 1 chapter
Published: 29 May 2005
Last updated: 30 May 2005

"Me being who I am, I have always been taught to show such weakness is unforgivable and the way these two showed their
emotions, let their hearts be shown on their sleeves, it was insulting to the magical race, which was exactly why people
like them needed to be deposed of." Dark and tragic one shot.

From the Unofficial Portkey Archive: https://portkey-archive.org/story/4386/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Tragic October

Dear Reader,

This one shot isn't a happy one, so please don't read this if you can't deal with anything but pure fluffy-ish types of
fics. This one shot is being told in first person POV from a certain character I think (or more hope) you'll be able to
guess whom by the end of the story. I guess that's all I have to say, besides reminding you that I appreciate any and
all reviews. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Ink.Slinger

* * Tragic October * *

I saw it with my own two eyes, the love they had for each other. You could see it when you looked into either of their
eyes. They were deep in love and nothing was going to change that. Nothing. But it sickened me to see it. It made me
writhe with rage to see two people so utterly devoted to each other.

He fell to the floor in an instant after the curse hit him and she came running an instant after. She fell to her knees
beside him, her tears streaming down her face like a river as she screamed in horror. She thought he was dead, but he
wasn't dead…yet.

Her hands, shaking, wrapped around him, pulling him into her lap and letting his head rest against her chest. She cried
louder when a thin trickle of blood fell from him. Her hands shook even more after that. She was so scared. I don't
think I have ever seen another person so petrified.

She whispered into his ear comfort. She told him they'd escape, one way or another. I could do nothing at that moment
but watch as her whispers trailed off and her sobs took control of her once again. It is funny to see how vulnerable one
person could be when they were scared for another. He was the same way.

And that's what their weakness was. They're love for each other. The second one of them was in danger the other would
come running, never hesitating to think of what consequences it may have, and never stopping to even strategize a plan.
In that instant in which they heard the other was in trouble, their mind was already made up; they would do anything to
reach the other, to protect the other.

It wasn't so much their mind that made up the decision; it was their heart and their soul, to which they had already
given to each other. It was automatic, no matter when or where or how. And that's what happened that night.

She heard he was in trouble and she came running without a second thought.

He stirred after those seconds where there was no other sound but her cries. He shifted gently in her lap and his eyes
opened, and they looked up at her upside-down from where he lay. She gazed right back into his eyes and for those
seconds they were in peace, they were back in their private little heaven.

She brushed away the strands of his unruly hair that had fallen down in front of his face, and now his scar had been
revealed. He closed his eyes as soon as her hand had briefly touched his forehead, and I knew he was probably savoring
the feeling of her touch.

“Harry,” she whispered to him, “I'm going to get you out of here. I'm going to get you to safety.”

Her voice quivered, but it was assertive and positive about what she was saying. She was absolutely determined to find
him an escape. She was going to find him a way out. Her expression intensified as she obviously thought harder than
ever.

Still I couldn't bring myself to move. I could do nothing but stand there and blink, like I were in some sort of trance
and as if this scene somehow puzzled me so much I couldn't bring myself to do anything. And that was true.

I had never really seen anything like it in all of my years of life and of battle. It made me so angry to see that they
would love each other until death did them part, and even beyond that. I really did feel sick to my stomach; it was so
weak and so pathetic that I really do believe they deserved what they were about to get that fateful Halloween night.

Me being who I am, I have always been taught to show such weakness is unforgivable and the way these two showed their
emotions, let their hearts be shown on their sleeves, it was insulting to the magical race, which was exactly why people
like them needed to be deposed of.

But I do know and I'm not ashamed to admit, that though I was disgusted beyond belief and comprehension failed me at
that moment, I felt a small and twanging pang of jealousy that no one had ever cared about me that much. No one ever
even bothered. I wondered that if maybe someone had, would I do the same and risk anything to save them?

No, I reminded myself. I wouldn't because I'm not stupid. I'm not one to need love and cherish. That was for weak little
fools that couldn't be strong on their own.

She stood, obviously unaware of my presence and she walked through the hazy debris floating through the air, around the
small and virtually destroyed chamber where there were once high pillars made of marble and where the Dark Mark was
imprinted everywhere you looked. She strained her ears to listen for any movement; I knew she was wondering if the Order
was still there floors below fighting the battle or if she and Harry were alone now.

Then she spotted it, the small and shady little doorway where I stood behind the corner of the wall. Her eyes lit up and
she ran back to him, and I knew she thought they were safe now and that they really would make it. She was so relieved
and so happy she almost smiled as she made her way back to him.

The time to do it was now. If I didn't it would be my ass on the line, my own fate that I was dooming, and I couldn't
have that. How could I? I'm selfish and greedy and evil, and I think of nothing but what I have to do.

I pulled out from the inside of my black robe, my wand. I held it out straight in front of me as I watched the girl run
to him with joy. I had no second thoughts about it and I knew I would never regret this. With my usual loud and sneering
voice, I screamed, “AVADA KEDAVRA!”

The jet of green light, the same shade of green as his eyes, immediately shot out of the tip of my wand and headed
straight for them. It was over in less than five seconds, but those five seconds felt like forever that night.

I watched, as if it were in slow motion, as she stopped running at the sound of my voice, turning around frantically,
her face so damn surprised. The light flew past her so fast it blew her hair over her shoulders. Her hazel eyes tried to
follow the light, her face still so surprised, as the light crashed into him. He was dead, so unexpectedly and so
quickly.

I screamed it again. I had to finish the job. Her eyes never left him, though I knew she knew what was coming her way.
That light that was the color of his glorious eyes collided mercilessly into her, too, and she fell backwards to the
floor, landing half on top of him.

They were dead and they had died together, the way I knew they probably would have preferred. I looked at their now
cold, now pale and now dead bodies, stepping forth finally from the dark shadows just behind that archway she had
thought she had found escape in and stood a foot or so away from them.

Their faces weren't very surprised. He hadn't really seen what was coming, yet even though she had her eyes weren't full
of astonish. She had known the instant that light hit her that she would be dead too and that at least they'd be free
forever…together.

I still felt sickened to see the way they died even together, her half on top of him, her hand touching his hand as if
she had purposely fallen that way. But I knew that I had gotten the last word, just like I had with Sirius.

A smirk was on my lips as I stared at them, so pleased that like always, I had gotten my way. That smirk eventually
turned into a sneer as I laughed so uncontrollably, quaking with mirth at the thought of my reward, the reward that
would be better than any other.

And it would be so indescribably sweet. I was going to be rewarded beyond my wildest dreams and what I had done that
night was no trouble at all. It was pure fun, a good old time. I had killed them and it felt good to show them that love
is a weakness and it shouldn't be shown. Never should it be shown.

You can thank me for that crime, the murder of the only person that could stop him. Please thank me for that. I want you
to, because you can say it's my entire fault that love is dying and the good people are dying with it. It's now a new
day, a new era under the rule of the most powerful wizard ever. Yes, thank me for that. Thank me for unleashing hell
that October night.

* * Finis * *

-->
