Harry held Hermione tightly, wanting never to let go.
"Please Harry...you don't have to do this." said Hermione, her amber eyes shining over with tears.
"Hermione, you know that I have to. I know that you understand." replied Harry.
"No harry! I cant let you go! What if ---"
"Hermione I will come back! We will be together again. I promise you."
By now the paper thin dam had broken inside of Hermione and the tears came pouring out. The hurt was to big for words. She had always known that someday it would come down to this, but the reality of it was unbearable. It was time for Harry, her Harry, to finally defeat Voldemort. His reign of terror so great that she would be forced into hiding, along with Ron, Ginny and of course Draco. Draco's story was complex but the point was that he had reformed after the death of his father. He had earned the approval of Ron and Harry, and was now Ginny's boyfriend, to be married as soon as Ginny was out of school.
The forbidden forest was eerie in the night, but it was the meeting place of the five and it was where the were now. Harry sat down on a stump and pulled Hermione on to his lap, Holding her tightly until her tears had subsided.
"But Harry, how will I know if you are alright"
Harry flashed a forced smile and answered "Hermione I'll be fine, but if I need you, you'll know."
"How?"
"I cant tell you, but you'll know, somehow."
"Alright" she said uncertainly."
Harry checked his watch and looked at Hermione..."Listen carefully, Mione we're running out of time and there's a few things a have to tell you.
Hermione fixed her big brown eyes on Harry's emerald ones and nodded.
"Hermione this is extremely important, you must abide by what I am about to tell you. Whatever happens you must not try and reach me. Do you understand?"
Hermione nodded again.
"OK that's the most important thing Mione, I know that you know this and I know that you know what is at stake."
She nodded once more to emphasize that she understood.
"I don't want you to worry about me, save that for yourself. Your in just as much danger as I am. Take care of yourself and watch your back. Stay close to Draco and Ron and look after Ginny."
Hermione had started crying by now.
"...--There's one more thing, Hermione. I love you, and I always will. No matter what happens--
"NO Harry !!! your coming back! I know that you will...you have to..."
She replied with a slightly pleading note in her voice.
"I will." he said while standing. Still holding her close to him, they walked back to the clearing where the rest of the group waited. Harry pulled her close one last time and released her. She walked solemnly towards Ron and took her place beside him. Ron placed a comforting arm around her. Harry walked straight to Dumbledore, and stood infront of him.
"Harry you know what you must do, it does not make your task easier but you know what you have to do."
Harry nodded in grave acceptance.
"Harry you have been like a child to me, it has been the hardest thing for me to control my emotions, but i must let you go...it is your destiny; decided generations before your time."
Harry cast his eyes on the bare earth. A stab of unexplained annoyance surfaced. It felt like Harry was standing before a man giving his own eulogy. The surprising stiffness was imediatly followed by a wave of guilt and self remorse. What was he thinking. This man before him had just called him his child and was the only father he ever knew. Harry shook the feeling off at the sound of Dubledores voice.
"It's time we go now."
Harry slowly turned first to Ron. They hugged each other, praying that it wouldnt be the last time. Ron whispered in his ear "You'll be fine mate." and Harry whispered back "Take care of Hermione for me Ron."
Harry bid farewell to Draco and hugged him aswell. Then Ginny. He took both of her hands and kissed her on the cheek. He loved Ginny like a sister and admired her optimism as she spoke softly to him "We'll see you soon Harry." A small smile lighting her tear streaked face.
Finally there was Hermione. She quickly wiped away her tears and put on a brave front. Harry pulled her close one last time and enveloped her in a commpassionate hug. She placed her head on his chest and felt his heartbeat. She allowed the sound to penetrate her well organized mind and clung on to it as though her life depended on it. Harry took in the scent of her dark golden hair. The smell encouraged hidden memeories from his mind and an image of Hermione laughing in sheer joy filled his head. He could hear the laughter and wished that it would never end. But it had to. and slowly, they pulled away from each other.
"I love you Hermione."
"I love you too Harry"
She replied through silent tears
"Please Harry...you don't have to do this." said Hermione, her amber eyes shining over with tears.
"Hermione, you know that I have to. I know that you understand." replied Harry.
"No harry! I cant let you go! What if ---"
"Hermione I will come back! We will be together again. I promise you."
By now the paper thin dam had broken inside of Hermione and the tears came pouring out. The hurt was to big for words. She had always known that someday it would come down to this, but the reality of it was unbearable. It was time for Harry, her Harry, to finally defeat Voldemort. His reign of terror so great that she would be forced into hiding, along with Ron, Ginny and of course Draco. Draco's story was complex but the point was that he had reformed after the death of his father. He had earned the approval of Ron and Harry, and was now Ginny's boyfriend, to be married as soon as Ginny was out of school.
The forbidden forest was eerie in the night, but it was the meeting place of the five and it was where the were now. Harry sat down on a stump and pulled Hermione on to his lap, Holding her tightly until her tears had subsided.
"But Harry, how will I know if you are alright"
Harry flashed a forced smile and answered "Hermione I'll be fine, but if I need you, you'll know."
"How?"
"I cant tell you, but you'll know, somehow."
"Alright" she said uncertainly."
Harry checked his watch and looked at Hermione..."Listen carefully, Mione we're running out of time and there's a few things a have to tell you.
Hermione fixed her big brown eyes on Harry's emerald ones and nodded.
"Hermione this is extremely important, you must abide by what I am about to tell you. Whatever happens you must not try and reach me. Do you understand?"
Hermione nodded again.
"OK that's the most important thing Mione, I know that you know this and I know that you know what is at stake."
She nodded once more to emphasize that she understood.
"I don't want you to worry about me, save that for yourself. Your in just as much danger as I am. Take care of yourself and watch your back. Stay close to Draco and Ron and look after Ginny."
Hermione had started crying by now.
"...--There's one more thing, Hermione. I love you, and I always will. No matter what happens--
"NO Harry !!! your coming back! I know that you will...you have to..."
She replied with a slightly pleading note in her voice.
"I will." he said while standing. Still holding her close to him, they walked back to the clearing where the rest of the group waited. Harry pulled her close one last time and released her. She walked solemnly towards Ron and took her place beside him. Ron placed a comforting arm around her. Harry walked straight to Dumbledore, and stood infront of him.
"Harry you know what you must do, it does not make your task easier but you know what you have to do."
Harry nodded in grave acceptance.
"Harry you have been like a child to me, it has been the hardest thing for me to control my emotions, but i must let you go...it is your destiny; decided generations before your time."
Harry cast his eyes on the bare earth. A stab of unexplained annoyance surfaced. It felt like Harry was standing before a man giving his own eulogy. The surprising stiffness was imediatly followed by a wave of guilt and self remorse. What was he thinking. This man before him had just called him his child and was the only father he ever knew. Harry shook the feeling off at the sound of Dubledores voice.
"It's time we go now."
Harry slowly turned first to Ron. They hugged each other, praying that it wouldnt be the last time. Ron whispered in his ear "You'll be fine mate." and Harry whispered back "Take care of Hermione for me Ron."
Harry bid farewell to Draco and hugged him aswell. Then Ginny. He took both of her hands and kissed her on the cheek. He loved Ginny like a sister and admired her optimism as she spoke softly to him "We'll see you soon Harry." A small smile lighting her tear streaked face.
Finally there was Hermione. She quickly wiped away her tears and put on a brave front. Harry pulled her close one last time and enveloped her in a commpassionate hug. She placed her head on his chest and felt his heartbeat. She allowed the sound to penetrate her well organized mind and clung on to it as though her life depended on it. Harry took in the scent of her dark golden hair. The smell encouraged hidden memeories from his mind and an image of Hermione laughing in sheer joy filled his head. He could hear the laughter and wished that it would never end. But it had to. and slowly, they pulled away from each other.
"I love you Hermione."
"I love you too Harry"
She replied through silent tears