I finished the rest of the year in shock. True to his word as usual, Harry didn't come back. Much as the boy loved me, he never did return to Hogwarts. I don't think he'd ever been back in all these years.
We 6th years became 7th years, and the year dragged on. I realized what I'd been too blind to see before. I loved Harry. 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' Absence makes the heart realize what it's lost. I needed him with me, and he was gone.
I began to write him letters. Love letters, letters telling him about my day, letters searching for the reason why he left. Letters begging for him to come back to me. All of my classmates began to see me as a little crazy. I didn't mind. It gave me more space to miss him.
Ron was angry. He'd given up so much. As had his family. All for Harry. And their messiah had deserted them. Forgiveness came too late for my red-headed brother.
I missed Harry. I still do. I was in love with the man he had been, and the little boy who had left me. I wondered where he was. Was he warm? Was he dry? Was he safe? Was he alive?
As the years passed, the questions grew less frequent. My forever had left me, but there was no point in dwelling on it. We graduated from Hogwarts, and I left to go to a muggle college. I was going to teach at Hogwarts. Muggle Studies sounded nice.
I never sent the letters.
***
I went to Oxford. In my 5th year out of 6, I moved to my own London flat. Strange things began happening. 78 roses outside my doorstep one chilly winter night. I thought it was a bit odd, but I decided that it must've been a mistake in the delivery. I forgot about the incident.
One early morning, i found a letter with a familiar scrawl on the envelope slid under my door. I couldn't breathe.
Did you ever need me?
Did you ever miss me?
I meant what I said when I told you I loved you.
I should never have left.
I am here, if ever you should call.
78 roses, for 78 months of missing you.
Did you even care?
I saw you give half of them away.
I'll never understand you, Hermione.
I wish I could spend my whole life trying.
You're my forever.
There was no signature, but it was completely unmistakable. Harry was back.