Let The Fates Decide

sarses

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 24/11/2005
Last Updated: 06/02/2006
Status: paused

There is a problem with chapter 11 for some reason, it is not recognizing the entire thing. Took it down and trying to fix it. Begins just before the final battle. Hermione wakes up after the final battle only to discover Harry and Ron are still unconsious. After a visit from the Fates, Hermione learns that it is up to her to decided which one will live and which one will die. Warning: Begins as Ron/Hermione but will be a Harry/Hermione story.

Chapters

1. Hunting for Horcruxes

2. The Final Battle

3. Waking up

4. A Meeting with Fate

5. Excessum Iuxta

6. The Decision

7. Saying Goodbye

8. The funeral

9. You're Reading That Again?

10. Dinner

11. Important Authors Note

1. Hunting for Horcruxes

Authors Note: I had the idea for this awhile ago, although its going to take some time to get written as I am busy with school, a job, and volunteering, I'll try to do my best at updating though.

And I own nothing except for my plot :)

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They had been camped out in a dark, dingy, mouldy shack for three weeks now. Their hands and faces were caked with dirt, but they had never been as happy as they were at that moment. It was not the time, however, to act on what had made them so happy. They needed a good night's sleep or the situation they were placing themselves in the following morning would be much worse than it had to be. Two bodies laid snuggled together on the floor. A pile of bushy brown hair belonged to one, while the other, fiery red and screaming for attention, was wild and crazy. The pair looked so peaceful in their slumber with absolutely no worries or stress on their faces and the fear of impending doom completely removed from their features. A boy with black raven hair, and a peculiar scar who was the age of seventeen sat there and smiled down at them. It was the first time in a long time he felt any desire to smile. Watching how peaceful his friends looked made him happier than the richest man in the world. The safety and wellbeing of others, especially his close friends is what kept him going, he had to make the World a safer place for them, for their future.

After watching his friends sleep with complete ease, he went back to mapping out the strategy for the following morning, making sure it was fool proof. Although there was no guarantee their plans would work, victory for their side was sure to trigger a battle of immense proportions. He knew that could very well be the last night of his life, that morning could be his downfall, yet he felt oddly calm. Although the plan for the morning was a complete secret, many would be immediately called into action to protect the world if all went as planned. Harry Potter had found the final Horcrux.

The sixth Horcrux was not Nagini nor was it Harry himself as he had once believed. It was something no one would have ever expected, created on that famous night so many years before at the end of the first war. It was Harry's baby blanket.

Sneaking around at Godric's Hollow would have been far too simple, for they had already tried that unsuccessfully. The small cottage was in relatively good condition for what had occurred there. The years where the cottage had not been used were visible as the two storey cottage was unkempt looking. Voldemort had already become aware that five Horcruxes had been found and destroyed, taking the forms of the Tom Riddle's journal, Gaunt's ring, Helga Hufflepuff's cup, Rowena Ravenclaw's quill, and unfortunately for Harry, Godric Gryffindor's sword. The sword had come as a surprise because it had been in front of them for so many years. How it was turned into a Horcrux, was not known for sure, but they suspected Voldemort did it when he had met with Dumbledore so many years before. Harry believed that Voldemort had trapped the soul in another item and somehow managed to release it into the sword while he was at Hogwarts requesting to become a teacher.

The problem Harry and the others were up against was getting into Godric's Hollow while it was being guarded by fifty Death Eaters. Their strategy had taken weeks of deliberation and careful planning and it had all come down to something so incredibly simple. Polyjuice potion. Harry, Ron and Hermione were going to sneak into the house, stun three Death Eaters, hide their unconscious bodies, and take their forms for easy access to the sixth Horcrux. They decided to attack during the day because it was unexpected, and it would be easier to see who they were fighting in the day.

Harry suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Hermione standing before him.

“Hermione… you need your sleep.”

“No Harry, you need yours more. You haven't slept in days, which is enough to slow down your reflexes. Go get some sleep, I'll keep watch,” she argued.

“No. I can't sleep,” he responded.

“Harry you must!”

“No.”

“Fine. I'm staying up with you and for goodness sake Harry, this isn't healthy!”

Neither spoke, and although they were best friends, the thought of the following morning had managed to take the words out of them.

“Ron's asked me to marry him if we get through the war,” Hermione muttered quietly.

“That's fantastic Mione! I hope you said yes,” Harry replied.

“I did.”

And that's where that conversation ended. The sun was coming up and that meant the day they had been planning for so long had finally come. It was the final step to make Voldemort mortal once again, and in mere hours, they would know if their efforts had worked. Hermione quickly woke Ron up while Harry conjured up some breakfast; Bacon, Eggs, and Toast. Ron quickly let go to fill his plate, and after taking four servings, Harry and Hermione stared at him with odd expressions. It was Hermione who finally said something.

“Ron! Honestly, do you really need to take that much food?” she exclaimed.

“WHAT? For all you know this could be my last meal!”

“RON DON'T YOU EVER SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT,” Harry snapped.

“I know Harry, its just I need to have a sense of humour about this. I am hungry, and well it's true this could be my last meal, I want to enjoy it as if it was.” Ron said looking down at his plate as he moved the food around with his fork.

Hours later, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all equipped and ready to head out; each carrying a flask of polyjuice potion and invisibility cloaks borrowed from the Order.

“Now remember, we apparate into the woods near Godrics Hollow. Be quick, be silent,” Harry stated with determination

A moment later the three of them appeared in the woods behind a small cottage. As they silently walked towards the structure, they spotted several Death Eaters standing guard outside. It would be difficult manoeuvring around them because of the daylight, but Harry soon found his diversion. He slowly picked up a large rock from the ground and launched it towards in the opposite direction from where they were standing. The death eaters took the bait, and began searching for the source of the noise.

It was all Harry could do not to laugh; the Death Eaters had been stupid for leaving their post, but they were all quite grateful their little distraction had worked. As they slowly made their way into the cottage, they kept their eyes open for any Death Eaters to stun and capture. They immediately came across Bellatrix Lestrange, and with a silent Stupefy, she dropped to the ground and was stuffed into the nearest closet. Hermione shed her invisibility cloak and assumed Bellatrix's appearance. Hermione, having taken the form of a more senior (and more competent) Death Eater, was assigned to retrieve the blanket. The next two to come across the three teenagers were Crabbe and Goyle. The two proved to be quite easy to put to sleep. Standing guard at the door to what used to be baby Harry's nursery was Peter Pettigrew. He trembled at the site of Bellatrix.

“Move aside Wormtail. The Dark Lord needs me to inspect the Horcrux to make sure that no one has tampered with it. The final battle is near and he wants to be sure that it is safe.”

Pettigrew looked like he had something to say on the matter, but he allowed her to pass into the room.

Hermione walked into the small room, and felt her heart breaking. Although this was where the final Horcrux was being kept, it had also once been the where Harry spent the first year of his life. She calmly walked up to the blanket and picked it up with trembling hands. Utilizing the galleon she charmed in their fifth year for the DA, Hermione signalled Harry and Ron letting them know it was time to apparate out. Harry and Ron received the apparition signal while standing outside the door, just in case, after they had dismissed Wormtail for a break from standing on guard.

A few hours later the dark mark once again rose over the small cottage in Godrics Hollow, this time however, in it lay the body of the Potter's betrayer, killed in the same manner they had been murdered hose many years before. Peter Pettigrew was dead.

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2. The Final Battle

Authors Note: own nothing except the plot. I also what to thank my Beta Mabel! Thanks

so much for putting up with me!

Once again, the trio had been successful at capturing and destroying one of Voldemort's Horcrux. Six had been destroyed and only one more remained. The small sliver that resided inside Voldemort himself.

Since Dumbledore's death, Harry had taken over the leadership of Order of the Phoenix and had called a meeting as soon as the Horcrux was destroyed. Everyone attended; new and old members. Everyone looked scared and nervous, yet still determined. All of the Order's weapons and equipment were at Hogwarts, and all students who were not willing or able to fight were given portkeys to a safe haven located in France. Once there, Madame Maxime would provide shelter for the students at Beauxbatons.

Meanwhile, Madame Pomfrey was prepared with potions, spell books, and many the entire hospital wing at Hogwarts to take in the casualties of the upcoming war. Molly and Ginny Weasley would be helping her with those who needed it.

As the sun went down on that fateful day, everyone looked anxious as they waited for the final battle to begin. Everything was ready, and everyone was huddled in little groups with their families and their friends, all trying to block out imminent thoughts of war. Harry stood in the middle of the room looking around at all the people crowded together in the Great Hall knowing very well it might be the last time he saw them. Hermione and Ron sat in a corner deep in conversation, and when they saw Harry watching them, they immediately beckoned him over. The three friends sat down and spoke about nothing at first, each deep in their own thoughts and all very nervous for what they were about to do.

“So I suppose this could be the last time the three of us sit together,” Harry said looking down.

“Yeah mate… I guess you're right,” Ron solemnly agreed.

Hermione looked at the two boys in front of her and burst into tears. She had tried to be brave and strong for so long that it welled up inside her ready to burst in an instant. As Harry and Ron tried to calm her down, flashes of light began to make their way over top of the Forbidden Forest. The enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall had streaks of red, green blue and purple as it is enchanted to appear as the sky would. People looked up to the ceiling and stared, transfixed with fear of what was about to come.

“May I have everyone's attention please,” Remus Lupin stood up and spoke. “The battle will be upon us within minutes, please break off into your squadrons.”

There were six different squadrons in their mission, each serving a different purpose. Harry and Remus had sat down weeks ago, for about two days to designate the squadron leaders, and who was to be in them. The first was the medical squadron, those who would be recovering bodies and transporting the injured to Madame Pomfrey, her assistants and the other Healers. This squadron was commanded by Hermione. The second was the aerial squadron who would be attacking from above on broomsticks as well as scanning the battle from a bird's view. This squadron was commanded by Ron. The third squadron was the first wave of the ground assault, led by Kingsley Shacklebolt. Fourth, was the second wave of the ground assault led by Remus Lupin. Fifth was the third wave of the ground assault led by Tonks and sixth was the remainder of the aurors whose job it was to ensure that Harry got the chance to battle Voldemort alone. Harry would be hidden among the ranks of the sixth squadron and when the time was right, he would separate to face the evil wizard.

An explosion interrupted the silence on the grounds of Hogwarts, and it immediately became clear that the war beginning. It was the signal for the airborne squadron to take action. This also signalled the first wave of the ground assault to take their positions.

The entire scene before them quickly became a nightmare. Dementors, trolls, giants, dragons, and hundreds of Death Eaters flooded the school grounds. The Forbidden Forest caught fire and the heat from the blaze was so unbearable that fighting near it became a hazard. Thick smoke immediately dispersed into the sky combining with the miserable images emanating from the Dementors to effectively block out the rays of moonlight that had served as their only light source. As the first squadrons went into action, many wizards from both sides began to fall with a menagerie of spells blazing in the smoky air. Bodies lay tangled on the ground, many so grotesque that they were difficult to look at.

Ron felt tense. He knew that they had to stop the dragons, but due to their magical hides, the task seemed almost impossible.

“Everybody listen up, we have to take the Horntail down! On the count of three, everyone use the killing curse!” he yelled at his squadron over the explosions.

“One, Two, Three!”

“AVADA KEDAVRA!” All of the members of the squadron despised having to do this, however there was really no choice as the magical properties of dragons, made them impossible to banish

The brightest green light they had ever seen flashed in front of their eyes and the dragon immediately fell motionless to the ground. The remainder of the dragons were much easier to take down once the second squadron began working together, and they moved on to the Dementors. The Dementors were very difficult to stop, because it was difficult to come up with a memory happy enough to do what they needed in the heat of battle. It was such a challenge to come up with happy thoughts however, Ron thought of the very first ride to Hogwarts, when he met Harry, and Hermione- his two favourite people in the world. The patronus forms that appeared were truly amazing, an eagle, a tiger, a cat and many others.

The second and third waves of the attack were in full swing, and many members of the Order were engaged in duels with Death Eaters as the aerial squadron worked on the different creatures littering the grounds. Many had fallen, but many still remained.

Ron spotted Lucius Malfoy on the ground, right as the Death Eater pointed his wand at him and began to mutter a spell. Ron never found out exactly what happened after he was hit by a bright yellow curse because he fell to the ground unconscious from above. What Ron never saw was that as soon as Lucius began saying the curse, a green light struck Lucius from behind, and he fell to the ground dead. Behind Lucius, and shaking uncontrollably, was none other than Draco Malfoy.

Harry Potter had never been more terrified in all of his life. When he stepped out with the Aurors onto the Quidditch pitch, curses in all sorts of shades of light were flying in all directions. As Harry made his way past the front line of his squadron, he saw Fred and George carrying Hermione on a stretcher back into Hogwarts. The emotions ran wild within Harry, he wanted to run after her, to protect her, to make sure she was going to be ok. As soon as the Aurors cleared the area, Harry knew it was time to take action. He swiftly took off at a run looking for Voldemort, wiping a single tear from his cheek , as he ran. He found after several minutes near the edge of the flaming Forbidden Forest.

“We meet again, Potter,” spat Voldemort.

“For the last time. I hope you said your goodbyes,” Harry retorted calmly.

Before Harry knew what was happening, Voldemort shot a spell at him which he dodged using a bit of wandless magic he wasn't even aware he possessed.

“Swift Potter, very swift,” Voldemort responded with a little bit of awe behind his voice.

Harry didn't want to talk to Voldemort, he wanted to kill him. He hurled the killing curse at Voldemort, but it didn't work. Harry knew it would happen just as it had in his fourth year, and he quickly became terrified at the prospect of not being able to fight him off.

Moments later, Harry felt a presence around him, it appeared out of nowhere and Harry did not understand it, but the souls of those who had died had surrounded him, sharing their power before they crossed over into the next realm. Standing with him was Luna Lovegood, Seamus Finnigan, Padma Patil, Mad Eye Moody, Susan Bones, Hagrid, Percy Weasley and Severus Snape. As well several spirits appeared to help Harry as well, Cedric Diggory, Sirius Black, and Lily and James Potter. All Voldemort could see was a white aura around Harry, which he began to fear. Harry's wand fell to the ground and he yelled, “Avada Kedavra!”

That time, instead of a green light appearing, a white light shot out of the end of Harry's wand creating a blinding light for miles around him. The familiar sound of impending death surrounded Voldemort before he fell to the ground. When the spirits left Harry, he too fell to the ground. There lay He Who Must Not Be Named and the boy who killed him.

As the sun began to rise, the remaining Death Eaters fled, avoiding persecution after the war. The death toll was astounding, and all of the bodies littering the ground remained twisted and tormented. Harry had been discovered by the Forbidden Forest, just barely alive, and was immediately transported to St. Mungo's along with many others including Hermione and Ron.

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3. Waking up

Authors Note: I know your probably ready to kill me due to some of the characters I killed off, but I am sorry, but some of the “good guys” had to die, after all this was a war. And I still do not own anything. I also want to thank my two Betas. Mabel and Megan, I don't know what I would do without you two.

Her head was pounding, ready to explode and yet all the sounds around her seemed so far away. Her mind told her to move but she couldn't, no matter how hard she tried. She tried to speak, to yell, anything, but even that proved too difficult. In the distance, she noticed several lights, but they were too fuzzy and she couldn't make them out. She was suddenly overcome with a strong desire to get to those lights where she knew she would get some answers.

All at once the lights began to get closer and soon she was enveloped by them. She could feel the fuzzy shapes around her, but could not tell what they were or where she was. She let out a groan, and was startlingly aware that she could hear her surroundings.

She heard someone yell, “Come quick! She's waking up!” and she could hear the patter of several feet come storming towards wherever she was.

“Hermione, can you hear me?” someone asked.

She groaned once more, an indication that she had heard.

“Grab that pepper up potion, maybe we can get her back to complete consciousness.”

She felt something cold press up against her lips and she opened them slightly allowing a potion to flow through her mouth and down her throat. She then closed her eyes for a few moments and opened them again only to discover everything was much clearer than before. She was shocked when she saw her parents standing in the corner of the room, Ginny sitting in a chair nearby, and three healers standing over her. She could not remember why she was in what was assumed to be St. Mungo's, but she knew she was about to find out.

She tried opening her mouth to ask, but discovered that her throat hurt beyond anything she could imagine and she was unable to speak. A look of panic and confusion crossed her face and Ginny looked to the Granger's for some confirmation before they nodded to her.

“Hermione, you've been unconscious for over a month now,” she began. “During the battle, you were hit with a spell that nearly killed you and we're still not sure what it was. Hermione, we were afraid we were going to lose you.”

Hermione looked at Ginny with realization and all of the memories began to flood back into her mind. She suddenly felt very scared.

“Ron… Harry…” Hermione managed to croak out.

Ginny looked down immediately before speaking again.

“Hermione…”

The tears welling up in Hermiones eyes began to spill over, flowing freely down her face.

“They're both alive, but just barely. Ron was hit with something and we're still not sure exactly what it was either. Draco took him up to the school when everyone else thought he had been killed after the spell and the fall from his broom. And Harry, well…” her voice drifted. “Voldemort is gone for good, but Harry did something we don't understand. A white light surrounded him and then it exploded in front of them. When the light vanished, they found Voldemort's remains, and Harry was lying there unconscious.”

Hermione's emotions ranged with everything from shock, to heartbreak, to confusion. She didn't know what to do with herself with that knowledge. Her mother could sense this, as she saw all of the emotions cross through her daughters eyes.

“I think it's time she gets some rest, take this,” a healer said to her as she tipped another cup to Hermiones lips. Darkness soon surrounded her once more and everything seemed far away again.

Hermione woke up later that evening and it was dark outside. Her parents had gone home for the night however she had a new visitor in the room, someone she never expected. It was none other than Draco Malfoy.

“Hermione...” he began and nodded his head.

Hermione was shocked. He had never referred to her as anything but Granger or Mudblood before. What could have happened to him that changed him so much?

“I feel like I owe you an explanation. I was the one who killed my father during the battle. He was a horrible man who took pleasure in killing innocent people and I was never like that. It was I in our sixth year that was supposed to kill Dumbledore, but I couldn't do it. I made several lame attempts that did nothing but hurt others. Snape had no choice but to finish the task I was assigned because he made an unbreakable vow to my mother. I have never had the desire to live the type of life of my father lived but I was forced to going along with it only to keep my mother alive He was a cruel and unloving man, he was cold and pure evil. I believe that instead of causing the problems for the would people should instead try and fix them. I just wanted to let you know the truth.”

Hermione looked at this boy, knowing it had to be hard for him to reveal so much to her. She lost all of the hate she had ever felt for that boy. She knew deep down it was his father's abuse and his family's expectations that caused him to act the way he did for all of those years.

“I guess what I am trying to say is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I treated you, I'm sorry that all of this had to happen, and I'm sorry I couldn't stop my father from attacking Ron.”

Hermione nodded in understanding, unable to speak, but it was clear that Draco understood her, and he nodded in return before he left the room. She used her time alone to gather her thoughts and decided that sleep would be a much better alternative to having to think about all of her grief. That night, she did something she had not done in a long time. Hermione Granger cried herself to sleep.

Several days passed and Hermione was still being held at St Mungo's for continued monitoring. Her voice had finally returned, and as soon as it did, she began demanding to see Ron and Harry, but for some reason they still wouldn't allow her to see them. After relentless requests and some acquiescence on the part of the healers, she was finally allowed to visit the unconscious forms of Ron and Harry as long as she was accompanied by Ginny, Fred and George.

It hurt her more than anything she had ever felt to see Ron lying on the hospital looking so lifeless, but still alive. His bruises had healed, as had all of his broken bones, but there was really no logical reason why he was still unconscious. The fact that no one was sure what curse he had been hit with gave them absolutely no clue to how soon he would wake up.

Hermione visited Harry next. He looked incredibly peaceful laying there and he almost had a smile on his face. The reason for him to remain unconscious after so long but nobody knew what caused him to lose consciousness in the first place.

So many memories rushed through Hermiones mind, from when they first met, to the Yule Ball until their final moments together. It was like everything was playing through her mind like a movie on the fast forward setting.

No one said anything as they made their way back to Hermione's room where a Healer examined her once more before pronouncing that she would be discharged. Ginny helped Hermione pack up her belongings, but Hermione wasn't sure where she would go. Her parents wanted her to go home with them but she refused, stating that she needed to stay in the magical world. Ginny offered Hermione a place at the Burrow, but Hermione also turned that down because she couldn't deal with all the memories of Ron, or Harry.

Hermione then decided that she needed to find a flat not too far from St. Mungo's so that she could keep watch over the two boys. Her parents wanted her to move back home, but Hermione refused to, she wanted to be as close to Harry and Ron as possible. Ginny took Hermione's belongings and apparated with them to the Burrow where they resolved to go to Diagon Alley where finding a flat would present no problem at all.

Several hours later, Hermione was settling into a small furnished flat in Diagon Alley, on top of a building near both Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes and Flourish and Blotts Book Shop.

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4. A Meeting with Fate

It had been almost two months since Hermione had woke from her coma and neither Harry nor Ron had woken up. They had been transferred into a private room big enough to hold two people, a room that at any given moment served as a memorial for the two unconscious boys.

Hermione had been run completely ragged during that time. Between working at Flourish and Blotts, and monitoring the two boy's conditions, she had no time to sleep and barely ate a thing throughout the day. It was becoming quite noticeable as she began to lose weight, and she was on the verge of resembling a skeleton with the dark circles that were permanently etched under her eyes. As she arrived at St. Mungo's to start her shift, she was greeted by Mrs. Weasley.

“Hermione dear, go home and get some sleep. This isn't healthy, and please take this with you,” she said as she thrust a large container containing one of her delicious home cooked meals for her to eat.

“Mrs. Weasley, I can't just leave them here. It's my turn to sit with them and I don't care how tired I am.”

“Hermione, look in a mirror. You are not healthy. You have lost too much weight, and you aren't sleeping, go home. I'll stay with them,” she responded before pushing Hermione out the door of the hospital room.

After she arrived at her flat, she put down the food container and slumped down on the couch. Minutes later, she was sound asleep.

Hermione awoke the next morning to an owl pecking at the window. Hermione had no idea who would be writing to her, and shook with a slight nervousness as she untied the letter from the owl's leg.

Ms. Granger,

If you could please come and visit me

as soon as possible it would be

greatly appreciated. There are several

matters that we must discuss.

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hogwarts School of

Witchcraft and Wizardry

Although Hermione was curious as to what Professor McGonagall wanted to speak to her about, she did not feel that she was ready to return to Hogwarts. It was too soon; so many of her friends had died there and so many were still recovering from their injuries. However, she knew she had to go and quickly scribbled a response.

Professor,

I am available to come speak to you

later today. I should arrive in

Hogsmeadee around 11am.

Hermione Granger.

After changing into clean robes and fixing her appearance a bit, Hermione apparated to Hogsmeade for her walk up to Hogwarts. She looked up at the castle in the distance, and the tears welled up in her eyes. There were so many memories surrounding her; spending time in Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron, the Shrieking Shack, helping Sirius' escape, and of course, the final battle. It was all too much, she couldn't go but she knew she had to. She said she would be there, and she was going to go in. She took small, tentative steps at first, eventually increasing them in size and speed. Before she knew it, she was walking up over the lawn, past Hagrid's old cabin, and through the doors leading towards the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Classes were currently taking place, so she did not have to worry about running into anyone she knew, and with quick steps, she headed straight for the Headmistress's office.

After guessing everything she could think of to move the Gargoyle guarding the entrance move away, the stairway finally appeared, not because she had gotten the password right, but because Minerva had come down to meet her. Together they went up to the office.

“Tea, Ms. Granger?”

“Yes please, Professor.”

“Hermione, once a student leaves Hogwarts, they do not usually return, but Molly Weasley has informed me that you wish to complete your studies at the beginning of next year.”

“That is correct Professor, but also if…” Hermione's eyes filled with tears again, and her lower lip began to quiver. “If Harry and Ron wake up, will they be able to return as well?” she managed to get out.

“Yes Ms. Granger, they too will be allowed to return, however, I suggest that you begin studying on your own now. The courses have become substantially more difficult since you left us, and I recommend you get a head start on these,” she said as she handed Hermione five books that covered Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Arithmancy, Charms and Transfiguration. “You may also want to begin to look inside yourself to unearth what animal lies within you, as I will be coaching a select few students to become an animagus.”

Hermione nodded. “Thank you Professor,” and got up to leave.

“Oh and Ms. Granger,” McGonagall called after her. “They will get better, don't worry about that. They will be back with you soon, I'm sure of it.”

As Hermione walked through the main doors of Hogwarts, and took a detour towards the lake. Settling into the base of a tree where she, Ron and Harry always met, she stared off into space, and soon fell asleep.

Hermione opened her eyes and she was no longer at Hogwarts. She was still asleep under the same tree, but in what appeared to be a Mediterranean Country. She was in a beautiful garden, with lush green trees, waterfalls, and fountains littering the landscape. She felt at peace in a situation she knew, under normal circumstances, would be incredibly frightening.

She got up from under the shade of the tree and began to explore the garden. It appeared to go on forever into the distance. After wandering for a few minutes she came upon three old women who beckoned her forward.

“Hermione Granger, welcome,” said one.

“Who are you?” Hermione asked in a very curious manner.

“We my dear, are the Fates. The Greek Goddesses of Destiny,” said another.

“Destiny… what does this have to do with me?” Hermione wondered.

“Many years ago, I spun the thread of life for a young Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. I am Clotho, whose job is to spin the thread of life for all, and I remember each one clearly,” the first woman said.

“I am Lachesis and as she was spinning the thread, I allotted the length of the thread. The length determines how long a person will live,” the second woman said.

“And my name is Atropos. It is my responsibility to cut the thread of life, which results in the death of the person,” the third woman stated.

Hermione nodded but still did not quite understand what was taking place around her.

“Neither Harry Potter nor Ron Weasley were supposed to be injured in the second war against Voldemort, but due to circumstances that were beyond the control of even the Gods their life lines were shortened. Both are near death and although the threads of life were spun to be much longer than the years that have passed, it will not be possible for both to carry on. One will die from their injuries, and one will recover.”

“Hermione, it is up to you to determine which one of them will continue on with their life, and which will have their thread of life cut short,” Atropos stated.

Hermione looked at them with tears of horror in her eyes and said “No! You can't make me choose! I can't. I can't. I can't.”

“You must, for if you do not make a decision soon, both will die. You will have seven days to decide.”

The fates then began to fade from view.

Hermione woke up with a start.

She was back under the tree at Hogwarts, and sat stunned for a few minutes. She began to cry, and cried harder then she ever had before, tears flowing freely down her face with no end in sight. She cried for hours that day never moving from the spot under the tree.

Eventually the tears began to slow down, and Hermione wiped her face with her hands, got up and walked through the darkness back to Hogsmeade to apparate home.

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5. Excessum Iuxta

Authors Note: Howdy! Sorry for the lack of update. I've been incredibly busy with my final exams and with my job. I don't own anything and without anymore waiting here is the next chapter! I want to apologise about the delay in the posting of this chapter, I planned on having it out almost a week ago, but because of Christmas it just got too busy.

Hermione stumbled into her flat and threw herself down on the sofa. She laid there in the dark, not moving for about an hour before she finally got up and headed to the shower.

She turned the hot water on and stepped inside, letting the water beat down on her, trying to forget everything that had happened. How was she supposed to choose between her boyfriend and her best friend? There was no way she could possibly choose.

As the scalding hot beads of water rained down on her, her tears began to flow again, she leaned up against the shower wall, sobbing and it felt like time was frozen. After about an hour, she got out, dressed in her pyjamas, pulled on her bathrobe and performed a drying charm on her hair. She went straight to bed, and fell asleep almost immediately.

Hermione was once again in a strange room, she had absolutely no idea where she was. This time it appeared that she was in a study; there was a fire crackling in the fire place and there were several comfy chairs. In the corner there was a bookshelf, and a wizard's chess game set up not too far away from where she was standing.

A door opened over on the far wall, and Ron walked in. Hermione almost fell to the floor in shock.

“Ron?” Hermione asked, looking very confused.

“Hermione please sit down,” Ron said as he pointed to one of the comfy armchairs.

Hermione did so, the confusion not leaving her.

“I know about what the Fates told you. I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this.”

“Please tell me how I to choose, Ron. I can't live without you or Harry.”

Ron ignored this comment and continued on, “How is my family doing?”

“They're good Ron, but they miss you, and Harry. We all want you both back,” Hermione said. “But how can we get you both back, I need to know how.”

“You can't” Ron stated simply, “I'm sorry Mione, you have to make a decision between the two of us.”

“Where's Harry?” Hermione asked him.

“Harry has no idea what's going on with the decision, he has no idea the Fates visited you.”

“But then how do you know? I don't understand Ron.”

“Hermione, the spell that hit me was called excessum iuxta.”

Hermione gasped and immediately knew what had happened. Excessum iuxta was an ancient spell, and had almost the same results as Avada Kedavra; it was a spell that put the recipient as close to death as someone could get, without actually dying.

“Hermione, Harry's in limbo. He's resting in between life and death. With the spell that hit me however, I have the power to visit the afterlife and then return to my own state of limbo. That's how I found out about the decision. I wouldn't tell Harry, he can't know,” he continued. “Hermione, I love you with all of my heart and soul, we had such a promising life together, such a bright future, but I want you to choose Harry when the Fates ask for your decision.

“Harry has never truly been free. When Voldemort killed his parents, Harry was sent to live with the Dursleys who treated him like a piece of dirt, and forced him to do chores all day. And then, Harry returned to the wizarding world, he was forced to take up the role of protecting its well being. Harry deserves to live Hermione; he deserves to have a future,” Ron finished.

“But what about you?” Hermione wanted to know.

“Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I promise you. I'm ready to cross over for good; I have accepted my fate, even if it's different than what it was supposed to be.”

Ron kissed Hermione on the cheek. “Hermione, I love you with all of my heart and soul, but promise me, promise that you'll move on. I want you to be happy. Someday you'll get married, and have children. Don't feel guilty, because I know you will, but don't! It's time for you to wake up now, and promise me you will choose Harry.”

Hermione nodded, and had began to cry again as Ron and her surroundings began to fade, and she was back in her bed.

After thinking about the promises she made to Ron, she began to reason. What if she broke her promises to Ron, and instead of making a choice between him and Harry, she gave up her life for them. That way both Harry and Ron could live long and happy lives. They would both find wonderful women to marry, and would both be able to have many children.

In fact, that is exactly what Hermione decided to do. She would sacrifice her life for that of her boyfriend and her best friend. They both deserved to be happy, and Hermione was determined that both of the boys would be, no matter the cost.

The next few days flew by in a blur, and Hermione had begun to put her affairs in order. She had written her will, and had also written a letter explaining to everyone what was to take place.

My dear friends and family,

This is extremely difficult to write to you,

and I want to apologise for not telling you

or saying goodbye in person.

Several days ago, I was visited in my sleep

by the Greek Goddesses of Destiny, the

Fates. During this visit I was informed that

I would have to make a choice between

Harry and Ron, one would live, and the other

would die.

I have therefore come to the decision that,

instead of letting one of them die

I would instead give up my own life so that

both of them could live.

I will miss you all very much, and wish you

the best for your futures.

Please tell Ron and Harry that I love

them both and will miss them very much. Tell

them that I am sorry that I could not

tell them goodbye myself.

Love with all of my heart,

Hermione Jane Granger

Hermione magically sealed the letter so that it wouldn't be opened until two days after the decision had been told to the Fates.

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6. The Decision

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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7. Saying Goodbye

Authors Note: Thanks to my beta! I notice that as I am getting ready to post this I have 61 reviews. Hopefully I will hit 100 soon! Wow, this chapter was hard to write, I felt awful about what I was doing, but unfortunately it had to be done, or it wouldn't be the story I planned on writing would it? Well enjoy.

Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and raced down the hallway with Ginny fast on her heels. She arrived at Harry and Ron's hospital room, but was stopped outside the door by several healers; they were currently trying to find something to reverse what was happening. They would not allow anyone to go into the room and she saw Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Bill, Fleur, and Charlie sitting in the waiting room looking extremely anxious.

Hermione and Ginny walked over to where the others were sitting, while Mrs. Weasley stood up and pulled Hermione into a fierce hug. The emotions brought both women to tears.

Several hours had passed and no one had moved. No one had gotten up and gone for a walk. No games of exploding snap were played to pass the time while everyone simply sat and stared off into space. Every once in a while, a tear would run down someone's cheek. At about six in the morning, a healer walked over to where they were all sitting and addressed the Weasleys.

“Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, if you would please come with me, I would like to speak to you in private,” the healer told them.

“No, whatever you have to say, say it here. We are all a family; everyone deserves to hear this,” Mr. Weasley said.

“If you wish, but I ask that you please follow me this way and we will go somewhere more private,” the healer motioned them to follow her.

The healer took them down a long series of white corridors. There were a few paintings on the walls, but other than that, sterilized floors and plain white walls surrounded them. Eventually, they came to a door that was unmarked from the outside. They walked into a board room that was big enough for twenty people. The room was very different from the corridors; it had lush green carpet and the walls shined like richly dyed wood. There were great windows through wish they could all see the sun beginning to rise.

The healer then motioned for them to sit down, and she began her explanation.

“Here is what we know. Around midnight, Ron's vital signs began to drop.” Hermione visibly stiffened when the healer relayed that information. “We have made several different attempts at reviving him, but he isn't responding to anything,” the healer explained.

“WELL WHY AREN'T YOU IN THERE NOW? WHY AREN'T YOU TRYING TO HEAL MY BABY?” Mrs. Weasley roared.

“We have done everything we possibly could. There is nothing left to do. I'm sorry, but it appears that Ron is not going to make it,” the healer explained.

Mrs. Weasley burst into tears, sobbing into her husband's shoulder, while Mr. Weasley looked grave and sad. Fred and George hung there heads in defeat and Bill and Fleur sat solemnly. Charlie slumped in his chair and Ginny had tears beginning to trickle down her face. Hermione turned as white as a sheet.

“You can go say your goodbyes now if you would like.” The healer then stood up and walked to the door to lead them back to where Ron was close to death.

The first person to go into the room was Charlie.

“Wow, little brother,” he began. “I never expected to see this happen to you. First we lost Percy and I thought that would make the rest of us safe; there was so much death and suffering that I thought we had already suffered so much that we wouldn't have to go through any of this again. I know I'm a lot older than you Ron, but I look up to you,” Charlie paused because the tears began to flow. “Ron you've done things I never could have done. You, Harry and Hermione hunted down You-Know-Who and destroyed all of his horcruxes. You left school and risked your life to save the world. If you three had failed, we would have lost the war. You-Know-Who would still be alive. Thank you, Ron, and I love you.”

With that, Charlie got up and went back into the corridor while Bill and Fleur went into the room next.

“Ron, you are so brave, you are so young but you have done so many great things. You have done some stupid things… but you have done some great things as well,” Bill started.

Fleur continued on, “I remember when I was at Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. I remember when you asked me to the Yule Ball, and then ran away as soon as you did so. It was quite funny, but I have realized it is something only you would do. I wish we had more time to become friends.”

“You have always been able to make me laugh and I love you very much, I wish that we had been able to spend more time together your life was too short. Goodbye.” Bill said, and with that, he and Fleur stood up and left the room.

Fred and George walked in next.

“Ron, the first thing we want to do is apologise. We want to apologise for turning your teddy bear into a spider and for everything we've ever done to you,” Fred said.

“We're going to miss you so much,” George told him

“We've decided that in your honour, we're going to place a plaque on the wall of our shop. You were one of our greatest collaborators when it came to the joke shop; with all of the pranks we played on you. We're also going to create something new and name it in your honour,” Fred said.

“I guess through all of this, what were trying to say is that we love you, Ron and if you could, please bug Percy for us when you see him,” George told Ron before they walked out.

Ginny entered once Fred and George exited.

“Ron, my big brother, you've taught me so much. I know I was the annoying little sister who followed you around, and then I had a crush on your best friend, but as annoying as I was, you still looked out for me and you tried to protect me. Ron, you risked your life and came down into the Chamber of Secrets to save me. Thank you,” she said amidst tears. “Thank you for not being upset at Harry and I when we started dating and thank you for all of the fun times we have shared. I love you, and I promise you I will help Hermione get through this. She loves you so much, Ron. Goodbye big brother.”

Arthur and Molly had come in and Ginny had not realised it until she felt her father's hand on her shoulder. Ginny gave her mother and her father a hug and then headed back out into the corridor crying.

“My baby, I love you more than life itself and I wish I could trade places with you. You had so much hope for the future, so much promise! You were going to go places. I knew it right from when you were born,” Mrs. Weasley quivered as she spoke and the tears were flowing down her cheeks. Mr. Weasley took her hand.

“Ron, you have done so many great things in your short life. You helped defeat You-Know-Who, and you quit school to do so, which I'll admit we weren't very happy about. In time, we've realized that it was what had to be done and we love you so much for it, son.”

“Ron, when you were a small boy you used to be really difficult to put to sleep. I used to sing to you so that you could fall sleep every night,” Mrs. Weasley told him, and with that, she softly sang to her baby boy.

“Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
and you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
who cannot seem to give,
and the soul afraid of dyin'
that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been to long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed that with the sun's love
in the spring becomes the rose.”

“Goodbye my baby.” And with that, Mr. Weasley stood up and helped an extremely emotional mother out of the room.

Hermione saw that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had come out, and she knew it was her turn. As Ron's fiancé, she was given the last private visit.

Hermione walked into the room and her emotions were running wild. Guilt, sadness, heartbreak, they were all mixed into her feelings. She sat down in the chair next to the bed and picked up his limp hand.

“Ron, I… I don't know what to say. From the day I met you, when you tried to turn that wretched rat yellow, to the day you and Harry saved me from the troll, I was just an insufferable know it all who you couldn't tolerate. But that changed, we've had so many adventures together. I love you, and I always will…”

Hermione had to stop and try to overcome her emotions.

“Ron, I will take care of Harry. This was so noble of you, and I'm sorry. I wish the Fates would have taken me instead, but they refused. I'm sorry we're not going to be able to have a family, that we won't have children, or grandchildren, and that we won't be sitting on the doorstep in our old age complaining about everything from the weather to how easy children have it these days. I'm sorry, and I love you.”

Hermione then felt something move. Ron had squeezed her hand one last time, and with that, Ron Weasley passed away.

Authors Note: The song that Mrs. Weasley sings to Ron is called The Rose and is by Bette Middler.

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8. The funeral

Authors Note: And here it is… the funeral chapter. This is the longest chapter yet, I didn't realise how much I had written until I did a word count when I had finished it just sort of flowed. As of when I am posting it I have 82 reviews which is awesome! In the last few days I received 21 reviews which makes me super happy. Hopefully this time we will go over the 100 review mark! I hope you enjoy although myself I find this chapter terribly sad.

Hermione broke into a new batch of tears as she slowly let go of Ron's hand. Glancing at Ron again, she stood up and let herself out of the hospital room.

“He's gone,” Hermione said quietly with her head down.

Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Fleur all burst into tears while all of the Weasley men looked sombre and ill. The healers who were sitting nearby got up and headed back into Ron and Harry's hospital room to remove the monitors that were attached to Ron.

A few minutes later the healers came back out into the waiting area.

“Mr. Weasley, if we could please speak to you for one moment,” the tall healer with the beard asked.

Mr. Weasley nodded, rose and walked towards the healers.

“We are truly sorry that there was nothing else we could do to save your son. We have a funeral parlour here and if you would like, we can prepare him for his service. Where would you like to have his funeral?” the healer asked.

“The Burrow,” was all Mr. Weasley replied.

“And when would you like the funeral to be?” the healer inquired

“Give us two days. We need to contact all of our relatives and friends.”

Mr. Weasley walked over to where the others were waiting, full of shock and sadness. He then put his arms around his wife.

“Come on Molly, let's go home,” he said and he walked towards the closest apparation port.

The remainder of the Weasleys began to follow, except for Fred, George and Ginny. The twins were going to travel through by floo with Ginny.

“I'm sorry Gin… I'm so sorry,” Hermione said to Ginny, staring at her hands, which were sitting in her lap.

Ginny took this as a condolence, and not as an apology for making the choice for Ron to die and Harry to live. Only five knew what had occurred, the three Fates, Hermione and Ron himself.

“Hermione, don't be sorry. There's nothing you could have done to save him. You were his fiancé, people should be giving you condolences, not you giving them to other people,” Ginny said.

Hermione looked up with tears streaming down her face and thought, I wish that that was the truth, that there was nothing I could have done.

“Goodbye Hermione. Go home and get some sleep.” Ginny then turned and walked away with the twins.

Hermione sat in the waiting room for a few more minutes before walking down the hall to the apparition port to go home. She arrived at her flat and went over to her desk. She sat down and picked up a quill and began to write on the piece of parchment.

Mr. Flourish,

I regret to inform you, that I will no

longer be able to continue working

for you at Flourish and Blotts.

Around seven o'clock this morning,

my fiancé Ronald Weasley

passed away. With that, as well as the

fact I will be returning to Hogwarts

to complete my education when the new term

starts, I feel that I will no longer be

able to continue my job.

I apologise for the inconvenience.

Hermione Jane Granger.

Hermione sealed the letter, and motioned for Hedwig, who she had been taking care of since she had gotten her flat. Hedwig held out her leg and Hermione tied the letter on and the magnificent snowy owl took off into the sunlight.

Soon after, Pig flew into the open window and Hermione burst into tears. There was a note from Ginny on the leg of Ron's owl.

Hermione,

My mother plans on taking care of

all of the funeral arrangements and

contacting everyone to let them know about Ron.

She also wants to know if you would like

to read a eulogy at the funeral. Other

than that, there is nothing else you

will have to worry about. The funeral

will be on Thursday at two.

Ginny,

Hermione quickly scribbled back a note

Ginny,

Tell your mother that I will read a eulogy.

Hermione

Hermione couldn't eat, nor could she sleep; she went back to the coffee table instead and picked up where she left off looking through her photographs. A variety of pictures of Harry, Ron and her stared up at her, smiling and waving, looking so happy.

Harry, he was still unconscious! He was supposed to wake up, why was he still asleep?

All of these thoughts ran through Hermione's head. Then, several owls began to arrive in the afternoon; the news of Ron's death was traveling fast. Letters from friends, and from strangers; hundreds of condolence letters were arriving, but at the moment, Hermione had no desire to read them. Ron was famous, she was famous, both for being the friends of Harry Potter and for their roles in the defeat of Lord Voldemort.

Hermione heard the door to her flat open, her mother and her father walked in.

“Hermione, we came as soon as we heard!” her mother said.

“Baby, I'm so sorry,” her father put his hand on her shoulder.

“Hermione, go take a shower, then take a nap. I'm going to make you something to eat; you look like you've been starving yourself.”

Hermione didn't move.

“Darling, you need to rest, you look a fright. Go, I'll take care of everything.”

Hermione finally nodded and went to the bathroom to do as she was told. Fifteen minutes later, she stepped out of the shower, dried off, and dressed in her pyjamas, wrapping her bathrobe around herself. She then used a drying charm on her hair.

Staring at herself in the mirror, she realized her mother was right; she did look a fright. Hermione had lost weight, her face looked like it had sunken and there were dark black circles under her eyes. Her normally wild and uncontrollable hair hung limp and dead around her face. She was dangerously thin, and looked like she had been sick for a long time. She opened the bathroom door and the aroma of a roast beef was coming from the kitchen.

She went into her bedroom and lay on her bed, falling asleep almost immediately. She had no dreams that night; it was like a peaceful black fog. For the first time in recent memory, she slept soundly.

Hours later, her mother came into her room and woke her. Hermione rolled over and woke almost instantly. She followed her mother back out into the kitchen and sat down at the table where a roast beef dinner, complete with potatoes, carrots, peas and from what she could smell, there was now an apple pie cooking in the oven. After dinner was over, she sat down at her desk and began to write the eulogy.

The following day, Thursday, was a complete blur. When she woke up in the morning, she was quiet and almost emotionless. She walked into the guest room where she woke her mother and father. Before she knew it, she was holding her mothers hand and apparating over to the Burrow. When she and her mother arrived, she told her mother, “Go into the kitchen, I'll be back in a minute with dad.”

Hermione apparated back to her flat to meet her father to bring him to the Burrow. In her state, she wasn't sure whether she would be able to do two side-along apparations safely, and not wanting to splinch her or one of her parents, she decided to make two trips.

She went into the kitchen with her father where her mother and the Weasleys were already sitting. There were several people preparing to sit down outside on the lawn where the chairs had been set up for the funeral; those same chairs that had been used for Bill and Fleur's wedding, the very chairs that were to be used for the wedding she was supposed to share with Ron.

The funeral itself went go by very quickly. The weather was bright and it was sunny outside; it appeared as if nothing sad could take place on such a beautiful day. If only it were true, Hermione thought. Then, it was time for Hermione to stand up and give her eulogy.

She straightened the wrinkles out of her black dress robes and walked up to the podium that was set up.

“Ron. He was loving, he was caring,

he was funny, he was a git, and he was

brave. He wasn't perfect, nor am I. No

one is, but he was one of the greatest

friends someone could ask for. He lost his life

in the hopes of making the world a safer place.

I know he would be happy knowing that

Voldemort had been defeated. This was his goal,

this was his dream. He had great plans for his life

after the war ended; he wanted to play Quidditch,

he wanted to be part of Chudley Cannons, his

favourite team since he was a child.

His other dream was to have a family;

he wanted to have three children. He also wanted

to spend time with his other best friend. The one

he met on his very first trip to Hogwarts. Although

he was famous, he seemed very down to earth,

and amazed at everything he saw around him. He and

Ron became inseparable, heroes from the start. Near

Halloween in our first year, Ron and Harry saved

my life from a mountain troll who had managed

to find its way into the bathroom I had hidden in.

From then on, we became known as a trio. One was

never far away from the other two. Mr and Mrs

Weasley, I want to say I'm sorry. Sorry for not being

able to save your son, but I promise you I will not let this

happen to anyone else. When I finish my schooling

at Hogwarts, I plan on becoming a Healer, and I

will find new ways to cure those afflicted with

spell damage. What happened to Ron, and so

many others was not necessary. It was a waste

of a young live full of so much promise. Ron, I love you

and I'm sorry I couldn't save you.”

Hermione stepped down from the podium and saw everyone in tears. She took her seat, and Mrs. Weasley rose.

“When I was saying my goodbye to Ron, I sang him a song,” she said. Mr. Weasley rose and sat down at a beautiful grand piano that had been conjured up near the podium.

He began to play and Mrs. Weasley had began to sing.

“Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
and you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
who cannot seem to give,
and the soul afraid of dyin'
that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been to long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snows
lies the seed that with the sun's love
in the spring becomes the rose.”

If there had been anyone who had not yet cried, they would have been reduced to tears by the end of Mrs. Weasley's song. As she took her seat, Hermione studied her closely. Their emotions were so similar, both loved Ron so much. One either side of her, Hermione's parents took both her hands as the funeral continued.

When it came time for Ron's casket to be lowered into the ground, Hermione, with the support of her parents and the Weasleys, were the closest to the hole in the ground. As the casket closed and was lowered into the ground, each Weasley and Hermione laid a white rose on his casket.

After all everyone left after the service, Hermione sat at the kitchen table with the Weasleys. She had sent her parents home, telling them she would be fine there, and that they had to get back to work. Grudgingly, they went.

She thought about the funeral; there had been so many people there. All of the Order, their friends from Hogwarts, as well as so many other people they had met through their adventures. There were also many people she had never met as well, some carried the trademark of the fiery hair all of the Weasleys shared, others complete strangers. What intrigued Hermione was one person sitting in the back row with his white blonde hair reflecting in the sunlight. Draco Malfoy had been to Ron's funeral, but slipped out quietly before the burial.

After some coffee Mrs. Weasley had prepared, she announced that she was going to St. Mungo's to sit with Harry. Hermione initially was a little surprised by her statement, but then she realised that the Weasleys had virtually taken Harry into the family; he was like another son, another brother.

“Mrs. Weasley, I'll take over for you at eleven tonight,” Hermione told her.

“No dear, go home, get some sleep. Fred and George plan on taking the two overnight shifts and Arthur plans on taking the morning one. Get some rest, you can go in tomorrow afternoon if you would like.”

Hermione nodded. “I'll go with you to St. Mungo's and then I'll go home.”

The two of them apparated to St. Mungo's, and stepping out of the apparition port, they walked together down to what was now just Harry's room.

“Have a good night Mrs. Weasley, and I'm sorry.”

Hermione gave the woman a hug and walked back down to the apparition port where she apparated home.

Authors Note: As you can see I used the same song from the last chapter in this one as well. I felt that Mrs. Weasley should share it with all of their friends and relatives at the funeral. The song is The Rose by Bette Middler if you didn't know.

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9. You're Reading That Again?

Authors Note: I'm glad I was able to provide you with another fairly quick update, however my school work is now starting to pick up again so it looks like I will be producing about a chapter a week from now on. I hope you enjoy it.

Hermione stumbled into her flat and although it was only around seven thirty at night, she was worn and exhausted. She quickly performed a heating charm on the roast beef that was left in the fridge earlier that day, and when she was finished with her dinner, she changed into her pyjamas and climbed into bed.

As tired as she was, she couldn't seem to fall asleep. Plagued with guilt and the pain of losing Ron, she began to cry again. She finally cried herself to sleep past ten o'clock.

She woke around eleven the next morning, got up, and put on a pot of coffee, one of several muggle appliances she insisted on having in the wizarding world, while she picked up the Daily Prophet. On the cover was the following headline:

The Passing of a Hero

By Rita Skeeter

Underneath the title was a photograph of Ron.

Hermione threw down the paper; she had no desire to read what Rita Skeeter had written, even if it was about Ron. She shut off the coffee pot, went into her bedroom, changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt, and then put on her favourite casual robe, which was very similar to the robes worn at Hogwarts.

She walked down the two flights of stairs and headed out the doors into Diagon Alley. Once there, she sat down at a small café and ordered bacon and eggs with toast and coffee. When her breakfast arrived, she ate quickly and paid the bill to leave, then apparated directly to St Mungo's.

As she walked into Harry's room, she saw Mr. Weasley sleeping in a chair. She walked over and gently shook him awake.

“Mr. Weasley, go home and get some sleep. It's been a rough couple of days, you need to rest.”

Mr. Weasley rose and bid Hermione goodbye. She then took Mr. Weasley's seat and pulled out her favourite book: Hogwarts A History.

Even though she had read it so many times she was as engrossed in it as ever, and almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a familiar voice say

“You're reading that again?”

Hermione slammed her book shut and looked over at the bed and saw Harry trying to prop himself up. Just then, two healers ran into the room; the sensor charms had sent a signal to the front desk when Harry had woken from his coma.

While Harry was being examined, he kept asking Hermione questions.

“How long have I been out of it?” Harry asked

“Over two months,” one of the Healers answered.

Harry was astounded, he couldn't believe he had been unconscious for so long.

“Hermione, I need to know something; was I successful?” He was wracking his brain trying to remember, but the last thing he could remember was being surrounded by the spirits and sending the light at Voldemort.

“Yes Harry, you were. Voldemort's gone for good.” At the sound of that name, both Healers shuddered.

After one of the Healers stepped out of the way, Hermione was in Harry's view again; she had tears streaming down her face. What he didn't know was that these tears were a combination of joy for Harry being awake, and Ron being gone.

“Mr. Potter, you seem to be of excellent health. The time you spent in a coma appears to have strengthened you. We would like you to stay for a few more observations, but then you are free to go,” the senior of the two Healers explained.

“Harry, I'll be back in a few minutes, I'm going to go floo the Weasleys and let them know you're awake,” Hermione said.

“Great, I'd love to see Ron!”

Hermione paused, the tears welling up in her eyes once again.

“Harry, Ron didn't make it.” Before she continued, she vowed she would never tell Harry about the Fates, or about her meeting with Ron, she would try to keep a happy face on the outside, hiding her guilt and depression for when she was in private. “They don't know what spell hit him, he too was in St. Mungo's but he passed away a few days ago. His funeral was yesterday, I'm sorry.”

Harry was stunned, he began to join Hermione in crying while Hermione came over and sat on the edge of Harry's bed. Together, they cried for Ron and for everyone else they had lost.

Hermione sat there and told him everything she knew about the battle; who was killed, who was injured, and how Draco seemed to have changed sides, even attending Ron's funeral. Harry told Hermione of the final moments of the battle which astounded her, and she vowed to do research on what had occurred. They talked for several hours, and didn't even notice Mrs. Weasley walk in.

“Harry! You're awake!” Mrs. Weasley exclaimed with mixed emotions, which were once again joy for Harry and sorrow for Ron.

Not one minute after Mrs. Weasley arrived, a healer came in and told Harry he was free to go.

“Harry, you must come to stay at the Burrow,” Mrs. Weasley offered.

Although Harry loved the Burrow, he wasn't sure he would be comfortable staying there knowing Ron had just passed away.

“Mrs. Weasley, I love your offer, I really do, but in light of what happened, I find it might be too much for me to handle. I think I'll get a room at The Leaky Cauldron,” Harry responded.

Mrs. Weasley nodded, “I thought that might have been the case, but I thought I should extend the invitation anyway.”

“Harry, I have a flat in Diagon Alley not too far from the Leaky Cauldron. It has a spare bedroom. Why don't you come stay with me? There are no memories there,” Hermione said.

“Hermione, I think that is an excellent idea, that way he won't be alone,” Mrs. Weasley responded.

Harry thought about it for a moment and then agreed.

Hermione and Mrs. Weasley left the room while Harry changed. His clothing had all been in the dormitory at Hogwarts; he took it there before the final battle and had been transferred to St. Mungo's several days after he had been taken in.

Half an hour later, after promising Mrs. Weasley that they would have dinner as soon as they arrived, Harry and Hermione apparated to her flat, using side along apparation because she insisted that Harry was not fit to do so himself.

She showed him his room, which was rather plain. It had a double bed, a small table with a lamp on it and a dresser. After he deposited his trunk in the room, Hermione showed him around the rest of the flat.

“Harry, I'm going to cook dinner now, go have a shower and relax. You need your rest.”

“Hermione, I've been asleep for over two months. I think I've had enough rest. You're the one who looks like you need some, you look a wreck. Go take a nap, I'll take a shower and then I'll prepare the dinner,” Harry replied.

Hermione relented and agreed Harry would cook dinner, but she refused to go take a nap. Instead, she sat down on her couch. Thoughts of Ron ran through her head and she felt incredibly guilty. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she, Hermione Jane Granger, was a murderer; she had killed a good person. Not only was he a good person, but he was her fiancé.

Harry walked out of the bathroom and went over to the refrigerator and looked at its contents. He decided to grab a tomato, some peppers and feta cheese. He then looked in the cupboards and gathered some pasta. After he set the pasta on to boil, he sat down next to Hermione on the couch. Tears were silently falling down her face.

“I miss him too Hermione, I miss him too,” he soothed.

After dinner, Harry convinced Hermione to play a game of exploding snap with him. After several rounds, Hermione announced that she was tired and was going to bed. She bid Harry goodnight, walked into her room and changed into her pyjamas. She wasn't really all that tired yet and although she loved Harry's company, she wanted to be alone for a while. She knew he needed sleep but she knew it wouldn't come for several hours. She then remembered that her mother had given her some sleeping pills; they were in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

The bathroom had two entrances, one from her bedroom and one from the hallway. Hermione opened the cabinet, but as she reached for the bottle of pills, she knocked her razor off of the shelf. It fell and as she reached to pick it up she cut her finger on the blade. She watched the blood begin to gently flow out of her finger. It hurt, but it also felt like a great release. She picked up the razor and began to stare at it. She got a sudden urge to feel that pain again, and as she lowered the blade towards her arm, the bathroom door opened.

Harry stood there in shock.

“Hermione, please don't do what I think you were about to do.”

She began to shake in shock as the rational part of her mind returned. She dropped the razor into the sink and began to cry. Harry walked up to her and gave her a hug.

“Hermione, no pain is worth you hurting yourself. Promise me. Promise me that you won't even think about doing that again.”

Hermione nodded.

“Come on, let's go have a mug of hot chocolate.”

Harry went into the kitchen while Hermione followed. They ended up sitting in there for about a half an hour. In that time, Hermione filled Harry in on the last two months as well as her plan to return to Hogwarts at the start of term.

“I want to go back to Hogwarts too,” Harry said at the end.

“Harry, I think it is time we both turn in now,” Hermione responded.

Harry realised he was much more tired than he thought, and agreed.

“Goodnight Hermione.”

“Goodnight Harry.”

Harry was asleep by the time his head hit the pillow so he didn't hear Hermione cry herself to sleep.

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10. Dinner

Authors Note: First off I want to apologise. I AM SO BEYOND SORRY. I had so many issues come up while working on this chapter. First I had a horrible case of writers block, I knew what I wanted but I just couldn't seem to get it on paper the way I liked it. Then my computer got eaten by viruses. It disabled my virus scanned and my spy ware scanner so it was telling me my computer was fine, but it clearly wasn't. Eventually I managed to get on the internet in safe mode and do a remote scan which told me I had 3 Trojan horses and about a mountain of spy ware. Needless to say I got it fixed. I am very sorry for the extreme delay though, so without further ado. Chapter 10! (and remember. I still own nothing except my plot)

At the first hints of light outside her window, Hermione's eyes fluttered open, red and puffy from the night before. She cried so hard and for so long, finally falling asleep only two hours before waking up again. She had no desire or need to get out of bed yet.

Two hours later, Hermione heard Harry stir in the room next door and she decided that she too should get up. She went into the bathroom, careful to lock both doors so that Harry could not accidentally barge in again, and she turned on the shower. She stepped into the shower and let the scalding hot water pour over her. At some point, almost mechanically, she managed to wash herself and her hair, and turned off the shower, stepping out onto the bathmat. After drying herself with her towel, she dressed in the clothing she had picked out for the day, a pink shirt and a pair of blue jeans and then proceeded to step in front of the mirror, performing a drying charm on her hair.

“I'm a horrible person. I'm evil. I'm a murderer,” Hermione muttered under her breath, looking at the reflection in the mirror, a reflection of someone who was no longer healthy; she was too thin and looked sickly.

She then went into the kitchen where she found a pot of coffee brewing on the counter, and Harry sitting at the kitchen table looking at old photographs of the trio. He didn't notice Hermione come in and she heard him talking to himself.

“I can't believe he's gone, I can't believe he's gone. I didn't even get to say goodbye to him.” He was repeating this over and over with tears in his eyes. Hermione quickly and silently retreated into her room where she threw herself on her bed and began to cry again.

Around noon, there was a knock on her door, and Harry walked in.

He looked around her bedroom; it was dark and appeared almost as if no life ever passed through there, except for the figure curled up in a little ball on the bed.

“Our Hogwarts letters arrived; I thought we should open them together,” Harry said, however no response came from Hermione.

“Hermione,” Harry walked over to the window and opened the blinds allowing light to come into the room. He then walked over and sat down on the edge of Hermione's bed.

“Hermione, sit up. Our Hogwarts letters are here and I want to open them together.”

Hermione finally acknowledged him and sat up. Opening her letter, a Head Girl badge fell out and with a resounding “oh,” for the first time Harry saw a hint of happiness in her eyes.

Harry opened his letter as well, and a Head Boy badge fell out of his. “But I was never a prefect…… oh,” Harry said and tried to change the subject quickly, but Hermione with tears in her eyes gave Harry a hug.

Harry looked down at his letter and realised the book list was about a mile long. At least that's what it looked like to him.

The Standard Book of Spells Book 7

The Art of Animangi

Transfiguration Tasks

Advanced Potion Making vol. 2

Daily Potion Use

Defensive Spells and When to Use Them

Defending Yourself and Others

The Power of Healing

The World of Wizardry

He couldn't believe how many books there were! Hermione's list only included one more: Looking Deep into the Study of Arithmancy

“Come on Harry, we better go down to Flourish and Blotts to get our books and get anything else we need while we're down there. We leave on the train tomorrow, so we need to get this done.” Hermione then stood up and walked out of her bedroom just a little bit happier than she was before Harry went in.

Stepping out into Diagon Alley, Harry and Hermione went directly to Flourish and Blotts where they began to collect their books. It was a zoo in there; just like every other year making it almost impossible to move. The only difference this year was that they would not be running into their school friends, as they had all graduated. Ginny would be the only close friend they had left at school.

“Harry! Hermione!” They both turned around and saw Mrs. Weasley standing in the middle of the store, carrying several books for Ginny.

“How are you dears?” Mrs. Weasley sniffed.

“Alright, I guess,” Hermione responded.

“I know, it's been hard on all of us,” Mrs. Weasley said sympathetically.

“Tonight is the last night of your holiday, you must come over for dinner,” Mrs. Weasley continued.

Hermione looked at Harry with a look of utter terror on her face. There was no way she could go to the Burrow now, there were too many memories of Ron.

Harry always understood her, so when she said, “Thank you Mrs. Weasley, I think we will,” she could not believe what was going on.

Hermione then began thinking carefully and realised that she had had the chance to say goodbye to Ron, not only at the Hospital but at his funeral as well. Harry had not had that chance, which is why Hermione reluctantly agreed to go in the end.

After their shopping was done, the two went back to Hermione's the flat to gather all of their school things, promising Mrs. Weasley they would floo to the Burrow around four that afternoon.

Hermione insisted she and Harry pack everything now because she assumed that they would probably be at the Burrow until late in the evening, leaving them no time to pack later.

After making sure she had everything, she began to clean the flat so that it could be sealed until the end of the year when she would move back into it. Harry came out to join her and they were soon cleaning up a storm even though the flat had not been that messy to begin with.

By the time four rolled around, both Harry and Hermione were exhausted but quite satisfied with the job they had done on the flat. Stepping over to the fireplace, they each took a small handful of floo powder and disappeared amidst the flames to the Burrow.

Stepping out into the Burrow was emotional for Harry; he had only seen Mrs. Weasley since he had woken, but had not spoken to any of the other members of the family. It was rather overwhelming for him, and when he looked to his right it appeared that it was a bit overwhelming for Hermione too.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY,” he heard several people shout and in an instant, Ginny, Fred, and George surrounded him.

“But my birthday was almost a month ago,” Harry replied.

“Yes, but you were still asleep then so we're celebrating it now!” Ginny smiled at him.

“Kids, DINNERS READY!” Mrs. Weasley shouted from the kitchen.

Sitting down at the table, Harry and Hermione were welcomed by a meal of gigantic proportions.

“Fred, George, how's the shop going?” Harry asked

“Great. Business is booming,” Fred replied.

Harry noticed that every time he looked over towards Ginny, she would blush and smile at him, like the way she used to at Hogwarts. He found this kind of uncomfortable, and in the group setting it made this entirely worse. He just wasn't used to big groups again yet.

After dinner ended, Harry excused himself for a few minutes to get away from the crowd. He just wasn't used to that many people just yet. Stepping outside, he began to wander through the yard, and eventually in the distance, he saw the gravestone he knew belonged to Ron.

As he approached it, he stood staring in silence for a few minutes when he felt a presence next to him.

“I missed you,” Ginny said.

Harry nodded in acknowledgement but did not say anything in return.

“I was kind of… I mean I was sort of… oh Harry, I was hoping that we could get back together now that you defeated You-Know-Who,” Ginny stammered.

“Ginny. I… I…” but before he could say anything, Ginny kissed him quite forcefully and it took several seconds before he came to his senses and pushed her away, breaking the kiss.

“Ginny, I don't want to get back together with you, I'm sorry. I enjoyed our relationship while it lasted, but we ended that over a year ago now. A lot has happened since then; I've grown up a lot. I really did think what we had was love, but I now realise that's not what it was. Ginny, I think of you more like a sister, I'm really sorry, I hope we can still be friends,” Harry said.

Ginny's eyes welled up with tears and she nodded before running away from him. Harry then took his wand out and conjured a rose to place on Ron's grave before turning around and leaving.

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11. Important Authors Note

Authors Note: After I posted chapter 11, I noticed that all of my reviews were saying how short the chapter was, which I thought was odd because it was around the same word count as the other chapters. I went to look at the chapter to see what the problem was and for some reason only the first 750 words were posted. I decided to remove the chapter, even though this meant losing the reviews which saddened me, and re post it. However the same thing happened. My next idea was to post it in two mini chapters, however the same problem was coming up, it would not allow me to post the latter half of the chapter so therefore I am posting this note to inform my you, my readers of what is going on and I promise as soon as I can get it fixed I will re post the Return to Hogwarts as well as the next chapter.

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