Hermione turned just in time to see the elder Malfoy coming towards her. She tried to move, she tried to protect herself but there wasn't time. Hermione closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable.
It never came.
She heard the words; "Avada Kedavra" and she could feel the heat from the spell. But when she opened her eyes she was obviously alive. Where her lifeless body should have been she found his instead, "Ron!" she screamed. She was a coward. She had closed her eyes and been ready to let death take her, and Ron had stepped in, taking it for her.
Hermione fell to her knees and cried, cried over her best friend and the love of her life. She didn't move until Remus Lupin picked her up and carried her off the field.
Hermione awoke with a start. She squinted in the darkness and realized she was Harry's flat. Harry came into the living room and sighed at the sight of his best friend." Why are you doing this to yourself?" Harry asked.
"Penance" Hermione replied.
"Penance for what?" Harry asked, handing Hermione hangover potion.
"He died to save my life" Hermione replied, "He died for me"
"That as his choice" Harry reminded her. Harry cleared his throat, "Mrs.Weasley asked about you"
Hermione suddenly felt ill. She hadn't seen the Weasley's since after the final battle. She couldn't face them, knowing they probably hated her. "Tell her I am dead" Hermione whispered.
"Just talk to her Hermione" Harry begged, "They don't hate you. They are worried about you"
"I am really tired Harry, Can I please just go to sleep?" Hermione asked. Harry stood up, kissing Hermione lightly on the cheek.
"Goodnight Mione" Harry whispered, leaving his friend to her nightmares.
Hermione went to work the next with and thanks to Harry she had no hangover. The whole day she threw herself into her paperwork and didn't think about anything. "I am done with drinking" Hermione told herself on her way out the door. "I am going to get my life back together." Hermione beamed with pride as she went to the apparition point but she saw something that made her feel nauseated. Ginny Weasley was standing there with her mother. They both smiled at Hermione and waved.
"Hermione," Mrs.Weasley started.
Hormone could see Ron's lifeless body in her mind and the world was spinning beneath her. Without a word to either woman Hermione turned and ran in the opposite direction. She ran until she couldn't hear their frantic voices calling her name.
George Weasley was at the Leaky Cauldron when he saw her come in. Hermione? He thought, Wow, it's been almost five years since I have seen her. The young woman took a seat at the far end of the bar. She ordered two shots and took them both herself.
"Hermione" George said as he rose from the barstool. Hermione froze for a moment looking like a scared puppy but George saw her recover rather quickly and ignore his presence. "Hermione" he tried again, knowing for sure this time that she heard him. "Hermione Granger"
George almost jumped out his skin when she turned around, Hermione looked awful. She was a beautiful girl, always had been, and even know some of her beauty remained but there was something wrong. Her once lively and bushy hair now hung in limp curls around her face. The eyes that was frightened all that came in contact with her, the eyes that looked to be on fire, were dull and sparkle-less.
"George" Hermione greeted. "How are you?"
"I am good" George answered. He nodded to the seat beside Hermione, "This taken?"
"No, go ahead" Hermione said. George slid onto the barstool.
"Care for a shot?" Hermione asked. George looked down at the beer he was nursing and shrugged.
"Sure" he replied. Hermione motioned Tom over.
"Ms.Granger" He said, "What can I get for you?"
"Two shots of fire whiskey, make mine a double" Hermione replied.
"Yes mam" Tom said and not less than a moment later two shots appeared in front of George and Hermione. "Cheers" Hermione mumbled as she picked up the shot and downed it in one gulp. George took his shot and tried to smile at his old classmate but was unable to hide his worry.
"I said I wasn't going to drink anymore," Hermione admitted, "But I am afraid of a sober world"
"Why?" George asked.
"Because then the bad things will catch up with me," Hermione told him. She motioned to Tom who brought another shot. Hermione lifted the glass; "This keeps the demons at bay". She brought the glass to her lips and noticed George ordered another shot.
"I am world class drinker," George told her, 'I wont let a lightweight like you get the best of me"