Seven years ago they'd met in a train carriage on their way to school, bonding over sweets and the similar giddy excitement of starting a new adventure in a world they'd previously only dreamed of. The three had quickly become best friends, and had been almost inseparable. Now they stood together holding hands, staring at the remains of the school they'd known and loved. Each face was contorted with emotion- relief, triumph, grief. There was a long silence as their minds raced with the events of the last few hours. So much had happened in such a short space of time, but now it was all over.
The bridge was crumbling at the edges, the railings at the sides completely destroyed. Dust, debris and dead bodies littered the bridge, a nauseating reminder of what had taken place. The sky that had been so dark and foreboding was beginning to lighten. Suddenly a bright beam of sunlight erupted from between the grey clouds, shining like a spotlight on the three friends. They all looked up at the sky in awe. Hermione gasped and let out an amazed laugh as a tear slid down her cheek. Ron's eyes widened and he smiled. Harry stared at the sky and smiled too, his eyes shining with emotion. They looked at each other and started laughing incredulously whilst tears ran down their faces. Hermione squeezed both their hands tightly and rested her head on Ron's shoulder.
"My family" Ron murmured after a while.
"Go" Hermione urged him.
For a moment Ron's face twisted with pain and grief as he thought of his brother and he faltered.
"They need you" Hermione whispered.
Ron nodded and walked slowly towards the school, as if his whole body was made of lead.
Later that evening Harry and Hermione were sitting together on the front steps of Hogwarts, watching the sun sink lower in the sky.
"Thank you Hermione"
"What for?"
"Everything. Your friendship, loyalty and bravery- I couldn't have done any of it without you" Harry said sincerely.
"He's really gone" she said quietly.
"Yes he has"
Hermione sighed heavily and nodded. She turned as she heard footsteps approaching behind them and saw Ginny standing there. Harry turned around and stood up hastily when he saw her. He held out an arm and then put it back by his side, unsure what to do. He took a step towards her as she took a step towards him, and they were suddenly clinging to each other. Harry hugged Ginny tightly against him and buried his head in her shoulder. Unseen by either of them, Hermione quietly sunk into the shadows of the entrance hall.
"I thought you'd died… when Hagrid… it was…" Ginny whispered brokenly. Harry took her face in his hands.
"I know"
She reached up and took his hand and they sat down close to each other on the steps. The sun was setting now, the sky ablaze with red and orange and pink. The two stared at it, beyond it, deep in thought. Ginny let out the tiniest of sobs and Harry saw there were tears streaming down her cheeks. He put his arm comfortingly around her, holding her against him.
"It's beautiful" she said surprisingly steadily, nodding towards the sunset.
"Yeah" Harry said, looking at her.
"Fred" she whispered.
"He's up there" Harry said quietly but surely.
"Do you think so?" Ginny asked hopefully.
"I know so"
"With your…"
"Parents" Harry finished her tentative sentence; "and Sirius, and everyone else who was lost today."
Ginny smiled bravely as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. They sat there together until long after the sun had faded to darkness.
Harry had thought his head and heart were too full to sleep, but when he and Ron had found their old bedroom in Gryffindor tower, miraculously unscathed, he was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. He slept dreamlessly until late the following morning. When he awoke he found Ron standing by the window, surveying the remains of the previous day.
"Ron?" Harry said groggily, sitting up in bed.
"What happens now?" Ron asked, turning to look at Harry.
"I don't know" he admitted honestly, after a pause.