Through the Years and Far Away

Song: “Through the Years and Far Away”

Composed by Tenmon | Vocals by Low

Author’s note (VERY IMPORTANT): Okay guys, just one thing about this piece. The song makes this story. You need to be listening to it while reading it, or I’m afraid the entire feeling will be lost. The song information is above, but it’s from an imported, Japanese soundtrack (not to fear, its in English) and extraordinarily hard to find. So, I’ve made it available for download on my site. So here’s the plan. Click here to download the song, go read another story for a minute, then come back to this one. J

For Paul. I love you and miss you so much.

*~*~*~*

Two years. Its been two years since he walked out of my life without me knowing in the middle of the night. Two years since on Christmas Day of seventh year, I told him I loved him. Two years since he looked away from me, answering me only with heart breaking silence.

Hello little star

Are you doing fine?

I’m lonely as everything in birth

Its been two years since Voldemort was declared defeated. Two years since he was declared missing. One year since he was assumed dead.

Sometimes in the dark

When I close my eyes

I dream of you

The grief was too much to bear at the time. With the entire wizarding world celebrating around me, I could only cling to Ron as I prayed for his safe return. It was all in vein. He is still not here. I am still alone.

If I could fly across this night

Faster than the speed of light

I would spread these wings of mine

I used to dream about where he could be; somewhere alone, resting, recovering, grieving. I took comfort in the delusion that he was taking time for himself before coming back to the frenzy that he would surely face. He was all I had. He wouldn’t leave me alone.

Through the years and far away

Far beyond the milky way

See the shine that never blinks

The shine that never fades

“Where is he?” I had screamed viciously at the Minister of Magic the day it was announced that the world was free from Voldemort’s evil. “You saw the battle site! Where is he! Where’s Harry?!” I screamed frantically, tears running down my face as their faces turned puzzled.

“I’m sorry dear, we just don’t know,” they told me quietly as I fell into a crumpled heap on the floor.

Thousand years and far away

Far beyond the silky way

You’re the shine that never blinks

The shine that never dies

When we were named head boy and girl, we were brought to Hogwarts 3 weeks early to be prepared for our duties. We spent days outside together, in the fields and at the lake, just enjoying the sun and each others company. We even wrote our graduation speeches together. Those were the happiest days of my life.

Hello tiny star

Can you hear me call?

I’m so blind as everything in birth

On graduation day, I found the speech that I had written with Harry 10 months earlier. I sat on my bed in our empty suite, and cried desperately as I read the words. Memories of Christmases and Hogsmeade weekends and miscellaneous, random days came pouring into my mind. I tossed the paper aside harshly, as if it burned my skin. I couldn’t bear to read it.

If I could flow against these nights

Straighter than the string of light

I would lay these hands on time

That night, after graduation, I laid in the same field that we used to lay in, staring up at the stars. My diploma lay next to me, forgotten. All those years of time doing homework and spent in the library had only earned me the same piece of paper that everyone else had received that night. And had stolen away time with the one person I cared about the most. The one person that I would have died for to spend one, last moment with.

Through the years and far away

Far beyond the milky way

See the shine that never blinks

The shine that never fades

Ron began moving on soon after graduation and encouraged me to do so as well. I was furious, screaming at him to get out of my apartment and leave me alone.

“I know you loved him, Hermione,” he said from the doorway, turning back to glance at me. “Just don’t waste your life waiting for him to come back. He’d want you to move on.” He left then, closing the door quietly behind him.

“I don’t want to move on…”

Thousand years and far away

Far beyond the silky way

You’re the shine that never blinks

The shine that never dies

Two years, one month and 16 days after he left, I sit alone at the table in my apartment, staring blankly at a candle I have lit because of the blackout caused by the storm outside. Ron and I have not spoken in over a year. The trio was broken the day Harry left. Ron and I both knew that.

If he’s out there, somewhere, I wish I could send him just one thought. If one thought could travel across time, and distance, I would give anything to tell him one thing.

I am here.

My thoughts were interrupted by a harsh, urgent knock at the door.

Through the years and far away

Far beyond the milky way

You’re the shine that never blinks

The shine that never dies

I wipe my eyes as I approach the door, my steps echoing off the wooden floor loudly through the empty apartment. As I reach the door, I take a deep breath, preparing to put on the fake face I have worn for over a year.

"Can I help you?” I asked quietly as I opened the door. My words are lost on my tongue at the sight in front of me.

Tired, soaked, and breathing hard from running, he stands not two feet away from me. After all these years of wishing, I can only stare, and wonder if I am dreaming. He proves to me that I am not by pushing the door open and taking my face in his hands. The touch is electric, and I gasp as for the first time in months, I feel the touch of another human being on my skin. He stares at me only a second longer before lowering his lips to mine, and I am home.