Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to J.K Rowling.
Keeping Her Alive
Remnants of the sun were hard to find in the deep blue, murky skyline. Stars twinkled full of promises unfulfilled and crickets chirped their disdain far away.
Throughout his lifetime, Ron Weasley had seen only one night that had held as much serenity as the one before him. The night she had passed on, into the dark depths of the unknown afterlife. He sighed, as silent tears found pathways down his cheeks, and even as the glass door slid open and closed, he did not try to wipe them away.
He had learned long ago, that any emotion worth having was worth showing.
"Shouldn't you be celebrating your decent away from the world of Hogwarts with the others?" Rod asked, turning to look as the shadowy figure standing a few feet away from him on the balcony.
A whisper of "Lumos" and his nephew's bright green eyes and shocking red hair came into view.
"What's a party without my favorite uncle to celebrate it with?" James Potter countered, stepping up to the railing and looking up at the blinking stars just as Ron had moments ago.
Noticing the tear stains on Ron's cheeks, his expression turned grim and he sighed.
"I don't understand, uncle. Why don't you ever settle down like Mum says? It's great that you loved her, but it's been eighteen years, shouldn't you move on?"
"I moved on a long time ago James."
"Then why don't you start looking for love again?" frustration evident in the seventeen-year-olds voice.
"I have already found love." Ron stated, peering intently at his nephew, trying to make him understand. "I found it, and now I am content knowing that at least I have found my soul mate, even if she is gone."
"What's so special about her anyway? I ask Mum and Dad all the time but they refuse to tell me saying it's your story to tell when I am of age!" James took a deep breathe, calming himself before speaking, "Well I am of age now, and I think it's about time I leant why my favorite uncle is always so bloody miserable. I can't even enjoy my own party!"
Ron chuckled. "Well, I am immensely glad that you care so much about my well being," he held up a hand, silencing the urgent protest on James' lips. "and I agree that you should know exactly why I am—as you so blatantly put it—'so bloody miserable'"
Pulling his wand out of his pocket, Ron muttered a spell and instantly pulled two chairs on the balcony. Making himself comfortable in one, he motioned to James.
"You might as well sit down, you won't be going anywhere for quite sometime"
James merely nodded and took the other seat.
"Her name was Hermione—Hermione Granger. And the first thing she ever said to me, was 'Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one.'"
"Neville, as in Theodore's dad?" asked James, curiously.
"Yes now unless you keep your mouth shut, I will assume you don't want to hear this story." Ron said, looking pointedly at his nephew.
"Sorry" James grumbled.
With a curt nod, Ron continued, "I do believe I shall skip our Hogwarts years, and go straight to after the Dark Lord's vanquish. Even though Hermione had helped save the Wizarding World and had come out the battle a hero, many still thought of her as the annoying eleven-year-old who would not shut up about Hogwarts: A History. And as a result, she didn't come to fame quite as much as your father, or even me for that matter, although she was one of the main reasons we were ever successful…"