Three Months Later
The day couldn't have been more perfect. Molly Weasley had charmed flower garlands to float above the aisle in the Great Hall and similar flowers were tied to the beginning of each row of chairs. The enchanted ceiling let in the gorgeous sunlight, making the Hall resplendent with light.
Watching Fleur and Bill's wedding should have been a happy occasion for Hermione Granger, but all she could think of was Harry. Harry should be here. The old Harry wouldn't have missed something as important as this. Then again, no one had been acting like themselves since the start of their sixth year at Hogwarts. With the unveiling of the prophecy, Harry's quest felt more urgent, more dangerous. He had begun to speculate about different faculty members. Feeling a slight pang in her chest, Hermione felt guilty for going along with Ron and dismissing his feelings. For that reason-because Hermione Granger had pretended to ignore Harry Potter--, a man was dead. The grief and guilt Harry had felt was nothing compared to the guilt she shouldered. Her guilt came from all sides, for all possible reasons. She felt guilty for disregarding Harry, for still maintaining the façade of a relationship with Ron… for feigning happiness when Fleur looked at her in the makeshift bridal room and proclaimed it the best day of her life, in broken English of course.
Even as Ron grinned at her from beside his brother, a slight smile was all she could muster. The vows were said and the Secretkeeper ceremony was done, a grinning Charlie on hand. Minerva McGonagall presided over today's ceremony, and Hermione knew that every person in that room ached for it to be Albus Dumbledore, including the new Headmistress herself.
Minerva McGonagall had grayed with the passing of both her esteemed colleague and with the passing of the mantle of administration of Hogwarts. Hermione smiled as she saw a spring in her professor's step for the first time in years as they performed the binding ritual that ended the ceremony. It was like the two witches had grasped the same goal: find little pockets of happiness in the dark days after the… incident. Hermione Granger couldn't bear to call it by the Prophet's name "Death Eaters' Uprisal". Part of her, the part hurt worst by the unfortunate turn of events, the part jaded by months of worry and heartache, called it "The Day I Lost Everything." She lost her school, the haven she had called home for five years previous. She lost the security that she felt in these walls, assured by the steady beacon of Albus Dumbledore. And worst of all, Hermione Granger lost Harry Potter… in more ways than one.
Hermione's mood darkened just as quickly as that little smile had appeared on her face. Even as the sun shone down on her and two people she considered her family had started a new life together, Hermione could not feel a bit of happiness. Perhaps it was the weather, a common thread in her life lately. The weather outside-a pathetic fallacy to an umpteenth power-always seemed too beautiful. It seemed like no one had informed the heavens that such tragedy had occurred.
Watching Fleur and Bill kiss for the first time brought tears to her eyes. She kept the plastic smile on her face, where she was beginning to think it would stay forever. The happy couple ran down the aisle happily and embraced at the doors.
That should be Harry and me, Hermione thought, a lump coming to her throat. Not that I have any idea where he was at that moment. Those stupid Horcrux objects were more important to him than anything right now, and she understood that they were the key to defeating Voldemort. At least her brain did. Her heart still felt like a black hole, taking all the happiness she could feel and turning it into sorrow and hate.
Turning back to the altar, she watched as the happy Weasley family hugged each other and celebrated. Well, the Weasley family minus one. Hermione knew that Percy's absence hurt the entire family, but none more than Mrs. Weasley. Coupled with the practical disappearance of Harry, the son she never physically had, Molly Weasley was despondent most days. Preparations for the wedding distracted her from it all.
Hermione made her way to the front of the altar and pulled Mrs. Weasley into an embrace. For one moment, she forgot the sadness that plagued her days and melted into the warm embrace. Part of her wanted to run up and hug the Headmistress too. These women felt the pain that she felt. And all of them wished they could turn back time to regain the loss of their loved ones. Not that McGonagall had been in love with the former Headmaster, she amended, but the pair were close.
Pulling away from Molly, Hermione expected Ron to pull her to him and snog her in happiness. She had never seen Ron this happy, aside from becoming a prefect. And becoming Quidditch keeper. Luckily for her, Ron was already bounding down the aisle, flanked by the twins. Hermione watched as everyone filed out. Not surprisingly, Ginny trailed behind her family. She had lamented to Hermione for weeks after Harry left about "what they could never have." The words she had related to their un-romance thrown back in her face by someone who would never love Harry the way she did. Hermione felt another twinge of guilt for belittling Ginny's feelings, and she added it to the ever-mounting tangle of emotions she constantly felt rolling in the pit of her stomach.
Harry, if you're near, please send us a sign. Anything, she pleaded silently.
A lone phoenix feather, caught in the candelabra in front of her, glimmered in the sunlight.
For the first time, Hermione felt joy bubble up in her. Fawkes! It has to be Fawkes! Fawkes is with Harry, which means Harry is here! There was no sign of his invisibility cloak, and her voice ached to call out to him. Knowing that would mess up Harry's plan of stealth, Hermione kept her mouth closed.
Instead, she clutched the phoenix feather to her heart and ran down the aisle to catch up with the Weasleys. A line from Emily Dickinson reverberated in her heart.
Hope is the thing with feathers.