Authors Note: I want to thank my beta Mabel!! Yay thank you for dealing with my stupid mistakes! And this is what I like to call the tear jerker chapter, though I expect the next one will be just as, if not more sad…
They had been some of the worst days of her entire life; preparing to die so that her fiancé and her best friend could both live. What was worse was the fact that she was keeping all of it a secret, meaning she couldn't personally say goodbye to anyone. This fact alone broke Hermione's heart into about one billion pieces. She hurt, she cried, but by the end of the week however, she felt prepared to face death with bravery and love.
Hermione wasn't sure whether she had to return to the tree by the lake where she had first fallen asleep and met the fates or not. To be sure, she made her way towards it anyway. She slowly walked across the Hogwarts grounds, the white moonlight flowing down on her so perfectly. In a few days it would be the full moon. She settled herself down under the tree again, but sleep didn't come easy for her this time.
She sat there playing with the grass, the daisies and everything around her. She wanted to absorb everything she possibly could before departing. They would find her under the tree, but her cause of death would be unknown. Judging by her current state, it would probably be a combination of stress and malnutrition.
Several hours passed and she still felt as wide awake as she had when she first arrived at the tree. Eventually though, she began to get drowsy, and began to fall into a very deep sleep.
She walked into such a beautiful garden, with its waterfalls, its plants, and its fountains everywhere. The grass was greener than anything she had ever seen, the water was such a blue that made you draw into it and forget all of your troubles. She wanted to walk around for a bit before meeting with the fates and tell them of her decision. The lush gardens made her smile; she would have loved to be able to go to Greece and spend time in one of these gardens with Harry and Ron. They would have loved it, she whispered with tears in her eyes.
She wanted to go swimming in the pool below the waterfall; it looked so glorious, so peaceful, like nothing could ever disturb this fantastic place. Removing her shoes, she dipped her toes into the water, finding it was the perfect temperature. This is what she imagined Heaven was like, more beautiful and much more peaceful and quiet than any other place in the world. The only sounds surrounding her were birds singing their sweet songs, water splashing everywhere, and the mystical creatures that surrounded the area.
About twenty feet away from her, stood a Pegasus; the magnificent winged horse that was whiter than a blanket of freshly fallen snow. Hermione began to walk towards the Pegasus as it welcomed her over. It allowed her to get on its back, and took off towards the sky. The sudden flight frightened Hermione, but it was also bittersweet as it reminded her of how she and Harry had taken a similar ride on Buckbeak to save Sirius in their third year at Hogwarts.
After exploring the garden on the back of the Pegasus, Hermione dismounted and walked towards the spot she knew the fates would appear. She soon reached the clearing where the fates were already waiting.
"I take it my dear, that you have made your decision?" Lachesis asked.
"Yes," Hermione replied, "although it may be different than what you expected. Instead of choosing between Harry and Ron, I want to give up my own life so that they both can live."
"My dear, you are a true friend to make a choice such as this, although however noble your intentions are, I am afraid you will not be able to do such a thing," Clotho explained as gently as possible.
Hermione broke down in tears and sunk down into the grass.
"Do you have an alternate decision?" Lachesis asked
Hermione slowly nodded as memories of her and Ron her and Harry, and of the three of them together flashed through her mind.
"I ch...ch.. choose…" Hermione paused thinking of her promise to Ron.
"I choose… for Harry to live," Hermione stuttered through the tears.
"Let it be so," Atropos acknowledged her decision.
"Goodbye Hermione Granger. May your life be one of peace and happiness," Clotho told her.
Before she knew it, Hermione was back under the familiar tree at Hogwarts, where she once again broke down into sobs. Hermione slowly picked herself up, and walked back to Hogsmeade where she apparated back into her flat. She heated up a cup of coffee, and settled down in her armchair with her photo albums from her days at Hogwarts.
From her first year, she relived every memory from the troll, to fluffy, and Harry's fight with Voldemort. Second year was a blur, as she was petrified for a large part of it, but she did know the story of what happened with Tom Riddle's diary and the Chamber of Secrets. Third year brought with it Dementors, Sirius, and the use of a time turner. She didn't neglect to notice how much Harry, Ron and herself were growing up every year. Fourth year was the year of the Quidditch World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament, Victor Krum, and the death of Cedric Diggory. By the time she reached her fifth year, her emotions were once again taking complete control as she looked at pictures of their stay at Grimmauld Place, the attack on Ron's father, and the Sirius' death.
There was so much death that surrounded her for so many years. This was, of course, expected considering they had fought and won a war. Sixth year was probably the most difficult to look at, since it was the most recent. Sixth year brought Ron's poisoning, Dumbledore's death and the relationship between Harry and Ginny, with her relationship with Ron soon afterward. There were no photographs of her seventh year. It never happened.
As she sat with the photo album on her lap, she didn't hear Ginny floo into her flat.
"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed, causing Hermione to jump off her seat.
"What is it? Is it Ron or Harry? Are they awake?" Hermione knew this wouldn't be Ginny's answer, but it was something to hope for.
"Hermione, Ron has taken a turn for the worse; it doesn't look like he's going to make it. I'm so sorry Hermione; I know how much he means to you."
Hermione broke down into sobs, dropped the photo album on the coffee table and got up to follow Ginny to the fireplace where they flooed to St. Mungos.
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