This story is completely dedicated to my best friend and surrogate sister Paula Watson, who was killed on 29th January 2007, aged just 18. I have decided to write this story as I think it's time I let myself go back to that time and write how I felt when I found out.

There are a few differences to what happened and what I wrote. Paula died because somebody spiked her drink and she had a reaction with the drug that killed her, whereas in this story, it is a different thing that causes the death. However, how the character finds out about the death and all the feelings and emotions I write for this story are exactly how I myself felt and found out, so please understand that even though this is a fanfic, it is also a true story of how I coped with the death of my best friend.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy this story.

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It was just a normal day for me. I worked as the head of the potions department at the Ministry of magic, and today was just the normal day. Inspect a few bottles of portions that the ministry wanted identifying, before writing a full report on each one explaining the properties and ingredients of each one was along with the effects of them. I was just reaching out to test my second vial of the day, when it heard it. Two female co-workers were sitting opposite me, before another woman burst into the room and hurried over to them.

"did you hear the news? You know that weird muggle Hermione Granger? Apparently she died last night"

I put my pen down, looked up in total shock at the girl. Did I just hear that correctly? I refused to believe it if I had heard correctly. The muggle was NOT dead, she couldn't be. Not her. She was too full of life to even think about the concept of her being dead. But, I found myself asking the girl where she found this information from.

"Amanda Peters from Finance told me. But why would you want to know? It's not like you'd care or anything."

I ignored her and shrugged my shoulders, but found I was unable to concentrate any longer, so went and I found this Amanda, and demanded that she tell me how she knew. I probably sounded desperate. I felt as if I was about to explode if I didn't find out the truth soon, and I know I scared her as I was almost aggressive as I almost begged to know the truth. I hoped it was just a nasty rumour.

Amanda explained that she had been told by Ron Weasley that Hermione had passed away in the early hours of the morning. Apparently the strain of giving birth had been too great for her small frame and halfway through pushing the child out, she had feinted, and didn't wake up again. My heart flew into my mouth, and I felt the sick rushing to my throat and barely managed to force it back down again. I thanked her for telling me, and stumbled down the halls until I eventually found my way to the misuse of magic department, and ultimately, to a door marked Ronald Weasley, Head of department.

I knocked on the door, trying to control my shaking hand, and soon the familiar red headed man poked his head out. As soon as he say it was me his eyes narrowed into a fierce glare.

"What do you want?" he spat.

"is it true?"

"what? That Hermione died giving birth to your daughter? Oh yes, it's very true, but you probably just wanted to confirm it so you could gloat, didn't you?"

I barely had time to move, before the door was slammed in my face. Even though it had been confirmed by one of her best friends, I still just didn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. My brain went into shock, and I found myself moving away from the office, and towards the exit of the ministry. I had no clue where I was going to go, only that I had to get out of there. I had to do something, or else I would completely break before I was ready to truly accept what deep in my heart, I knew to be truth.