A single tear slid down his cheek, over his chin and dropped onto the photo in his hands.
"My Love..."
A thumb emerged from a over large jumper and carefully wiped the tear away. The photo seemed real. It talked to him. Reminded him of times past – before the betrayal… before the love…
He remembered the look she gave him – a plea for what he needed, what she wanted. Those eyes – they haunted him now, visiting him in dreams, nightmares, memories and photos. They seemed to speak to him about what she once told. That north wind. She had said it possessed her. Told her what to do, controlled her.
But to him she had lied. How could someone love someone else so dearly – then tear themselves away, refusing to believe that it was their own choice, their own changes, wanting to be influenced by someone, something else.
That's why she had turned to Voldemort.
Almost the whole world seemed to know about them. People talked about what was happening. People laughed at him for trusting 'someone so fickle'.
Hands ran through messy hair.
"Why…?"
Choked, whispered – with a voice unused for days. Tears fell more – eyes clouded over. Sobs racked his chest – breath heaving he hurled the picture across the room.
Screaming he turned – trying to escape. She was here, everywhere. Discovering the locked door he threw himself, streams on his cheeks. WHY? Why did she have to go! Why did she have to have him wanting to follow?
Why couldn't she let him rest in piece?
Images of her flew through his mind – hair blowing, laughing, joking, teasing, smiling, giggling, frowning, reading, learning, questioning, answering. Then sobbing, bawling, hurt, wounded, leaving…
Memories hurt – yes they did but –
Harry…
He whirled, trying to find the source, everything was closed. Ears opened – straining. That's when the wind chime tinkled. The chime she gave him.
But how?
Wind never came through that window… the window was facing south exactly. Nothing except a north… wind…
She was here.
The wind had bought her.
Harry… forgive me…
Choking her blocked back more tears – they couldn't come – they couldn't!
You remember when we promised each other to leave something if the other one left Harry?
More tears came.
I couldn't give you mine, they wouldn't let me.
Choked sobs, heaving chest, tinkling chime.
"Yes Love – I remember."
My message for you – find it Harry I can not stay longer, the wind is moving. It tells all.
"I will Love! I Promise!"
Good bye… my love.
Slowly the chime stopped, papers stopped moving, everything settled.
"I swear… Hermione…"
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die…