A Shadow from the Past

By: The Duck - - but now by Mae Noelle~*~

Summary: What happens after the Dark Lord is defeated? How will Hermione deal with the loss of her allies and close friends? This is a H/S ficcy, btw. And though at first you shall be confused, do not fear. Mae Noelle is here. And I will make this story the best damn one out there!! Weee. Anyways.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. It never is. My best friend Ducky gave this story to me, as she couldn't continue it anymore, so now you will have to deal with me. 'Yes!' you should be saying.

~*~Prologue~*~

Hermione Granger, age seventeen, walked silently away from Hogwarts. From the look on her face you could tell there was something serious on her mind. For her gaze seemed very far away and as she reached her destination she involuntarily squeezed the permission slip that Dumbledore had signed that allowed her to apparate to her destination that would give her temporary time to use it.

In her other hand she gripped a small bundle of various flowers. She sighed heavily and stuffed the slip into her robe pocket. She exchanged the small bit of parchment for her long and sleek wand and, muttering several words almost silently, she disappeared from her spot at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione had her eyes closed as she apparated. The whole experience was surreal, and made her slightly ill, but it was over in the blink of an eye.

Opening her eyes, she saw the place she had put off going to for the past three weeks. She stood in front of the iron gate that was the entrance to the biggest cemetery that existed in the wizard world.

The neat rows of many stones reminded her of the Arlington National Cemetery that she had once seen on a vacation with her parents.

Clutching tightly at the small arrangement of flowers that she had brought, she pushed the gate open while it emitted a loud squeal of protest, and walked slowly towards the back of the cemetery. Where many of the recent graves where.

She fought back tears at the thought of just how many new graves had been added. Over the past three weeks she had experienced so much emotion that she had no idea how to feel anymore. She supposed that she should be happy, seeing that Voldemort and his reign of terror was finally gone. It was true that he was gone, but what good was it, at the price they all had to pay? So many had died bravely along the many battles that finally ended the war, up to the last one that claimed the wizarding community the winners.

Hermione herself had survived the last battle, but missed the funerals of several friends she had cared about, due to the fact that she was unconscious and recovering in the Hospital.

As she walked along, she noticed it was a rather long and agonizing walk to the back of the cemetery. Seeing all the graves was pulling her dead mood down even further. And since she was moving at the rate of a dying turtle, it was taking much longer then she had expected.

A stray breeze from the east whipped past her, ruffling her hair, and bringing her gaze up to the pale blue sky. Grey clouds encircled the clear spot above her head, stretching beyond the horizon.

Perhaps, she thought, looking down at the path she was following, the strongest feeling she could identify right now was regret. Regret for so many things, but most of all the fact that she would never be able to tell these people how deeply she had cared for them. She wanted them there to celebrate, they should be the people that would be clinking wine glasses with her and making insightful toasts to everyone's heath and good fortune.

Snapping out of her morbid thoughts, she realized that she had reached her destination, and took a deep breath as though she were preparing to re-enter the great and final battle.

She had not wanted to come, but found it was necessary, because she felt like if she didn't see the graves of these people, she would never believe them dead and gone forever. And she would fool herself into believing that one day she would see them smile and laugh again.

Passing many graves of those she had loved, she choked back a flow of tears. Laying a flower beside many of the ones she passed, her eyes caught an exceptionally dark and ominous gravestone.

Shaking her head glumly, she squatted in front of the grave she had especially come to visit, and the tears she had been holding back for the past many weeks finally broke free of their confines and made their way to the surface.

Silently the tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at the words engraved onto the stone.

Letting the remaining flowers fall from her grip, they separated and landed on their sides in front of the stone, just where she had wanted to put them.

Hermione simply stayed in that position, for what seemed like hours, just staring and not believing that he was dead – that Severus Snape was dead…

~*~

Hopefully the rest won't be so…. Angsty. My friend wrote this chappie, btw, and I just revised it and added a few things, since it is now mine anyways.

LOL – now, are you confused?? Now, don worry, all you people – even thou Sevvie is dead, he is still gonna be there. There will be happiness. There will. There will. But, if you can't figure out how, then lemme tell ya this – wait. And review too, while you are waiting, ok? Please? Thanks and see ya!