A Quiet Life
by refractive
He stood outside her door, soot covering his face and cloak. His green eyes were sunken and dulled and his shoulders were slightly hunched, as if he was trying to curl in on himself. He stared at her with those green eyes and managed a crooked smile.
"Can I come in?" She snapped out of her daze and nodded, checking the street before ushering him in. His footsteps echoed loudly on the linoleum floor, and she shut the door softly with a click, thoughts racing through her mind.
After they had won the battle at Hogwarts, Harry disappeared without a trace. She wanted to find him, but with the Daily Prophet back up and running, they had been forced into interviews, to go to ceremonies, to receive awards and badges for their bravery. People need hope and you're their hope, a wizard had told her as two witches tried to comb through her hair, preparing her for an interview. When you get your badge, remember to smile.
But every time she looked at the badges, her stomach turned, until she finally shoved them inside one of her drawers. The badges did nothing but remind her of what she wanted to forget. She just wanted to forget.
"Harry," she said, following him into the lounge. Her voice cracked and she felt tears prick her eyes. Relief finally washed over her, as her thoughts caught up with the present. Harry was here. Harry was back. "Harry." She found herself reaching for him. He let himself be held and she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing her eyes shut. Sobs wracked through her body. Ever since the war ended, she had tried to be strong, but it was hard, so hard. Ron had looked for her for comfort, for strength, forgetting that she needed to be comforted too, but with Harry, it was different.
With Harry, it had always been different.
"I couldn't stay there, Hermione," he whispered, finally holding her and returning her embrace. He was so frail in her arms, too thin. "I had to remember them, all of them, and I wanted to mourn. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" He kept murmuring the words, his tears staining her cheeks.
They were broken, so broken.
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Prompt 13. Broken.
For the dabble in a drabble competition on the HPFC forum
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AN. First time writing a Harry/Hermione! I've always been fascinated with this ship, and I'm glad I can finally write something for them! Reviews would be loved! Title has not much to do with the story, but I thought it fit :)
