Story: Disconnected
Chapter: One ; Just The Two Of Us
Pairing: Hermione/Remus
Rating: M (Eventually)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any other characters, places, abilities, plots, etc. that have been seen, heard or read in the Harry Potter series of books, or movies. My polt ideas are my own, and the 'Kartel' family is made from my own mind, and doesn't hope any significance as of yet.
A/N: I hope you enjoy, and I'm always open for ideas; and criticism as long as it is constructive. Have a great day! [:
Hermione Granger, one third of the Golden Trio, resident know-it-all and Princess of Gryffindor stood a broken young woman. Yet, she was still just a young teen; lost and alone within the confines of despair so overwhelming and heartbreaking. She was one of the most powerful witches of her age, if not the most powerful. Though Muggle-born the amount of magic and knowledge she possessed wasn't far behind that of Harry's and was equally as strong as Ron's.
They'd spent the last year of their lives training, reading, learning, plotting, and locked away deep within the forests of America. They'd come up with a plan alone, without the pushing of Dumbledore and the forceful hand of Voldemort. And they'd won at a cost that was far too high, Hermione didn't even want to think about it. So many orphaned children, so many parents that had to watch their children die, so many people that had lost loved ones and hope.
And now all her strength had vanished, all that will and fire had blown out and she had nothing left to cling to. She stood upon a small hill at the very edge, overlooking the grounds of Hogwarts that had once held such fond and happy memories for her. The school which had become like a second home to her, a place she finally felt she belonged , now lay in half destruction in the wake of War. She couldn't bare to think of all that had been lost, and yet she forced herself to think of them, remember them, and honor their death. She wouldn't pity them, but remember them with fondness and love, it was the least she could do.
She'd known for a while know, as had been the plan, that whether Harry won or lost, she would be leaving. She would be leaving and never returning, and it was a decision she couldn't bring herself to regret entirely. Yet here she was, still alive, and almost wishing she had died instead. Her fate and destiny had always seemed too obvious, so blatantly set in front of her. Her life had been so closely intertwined with Harry and Ron's, for so long she wasn't sure how she could handle leaving. But, she knew that it would be better for them if she did. She also knew, that tonight would be the last time she saw them, possibly ever. Hermione sighed, and closed her eyes against the bloodied field before her, all those bodies, all those that were lost.
She turned her back to it all, and faced the sun that was just starting to peak from behind the trees in the distance. She pulled the time turner from her pocket, she knew it was no use in what she was about to do, it would give her no help and aid her in no way. But, holding it made her feel more comfortable about the journey which she was about to embark upon. She held an odd sentiment for it, and it had become like a small security blanket to her, one she had used regularly over her years at Hogwarts. She noticed the red rim that was surrounding the sun, the pinks and purples splayed across the horizon. It looked like a perfectly created work of art, soft clouds at the corners, adding to the sunrise but not covering any of it.
There was a light breeze, ruffling her honey brown curls, pulling them away from her scratched up face and dirtied shoulders. She wished for a soft drizzle of rain, to smell the beginnings of a storm. She wished for a down pour, to wash away all the pain and loss the War had left behind. She closed her eyes, and sighed in exhaustion. The sun seemed to be mocking her, just like the naïve happiness she'd felt all those years ago, the first time she'd entered Hogwarts. All she wanted to do was curl up into a ball, and sleep for days. But there was no time for that, no time for anything, but what she knew she had to do. What she had chosen to do, something that no one even suspected, except Harry knew. She'd never be able to keep a secret from him.
She'd spent months, perfecting her potions, making sure she'd had the best ingredients, the perfect concoction. She'd checked side effects that were possible, and she knew what to expect, exactly once she took the potion. She sighed, and placed the time turner around her neck, before kissing it softly and letting it fall down against her chest. She took a deep relaxing breath, allowing the tension to slowly drift down and out of her body. She nearly jumped out of her skin as a small hand came in contact with her shoulder, no one was suppose to see her alive.
"Mione?" Harry's voice sound stretched and hoarse and Hermione could feel his hand shaking slightly on her shoulder. She sighed and let her body sink back and into the comfort of his arms. Harry held her tightly, he knew what she was preparing herself for, what she was about to do. He couldn't help but feel like he should be talking her out of this, that she was almost all he had left. But, the possibility of getting so much more back, the slight chance, was enough for him to keep his mouth closed. And he knew that he would only be insulting her if he told her not to go, this was something she'd been determined to do for a very long time, and somewhere through the years she'd found the strength and courage to go through with it.
Hermione turned in Harry's arm slowly, placing her cheek against his, their tears mixed together and ran down onto their necks. "I'll miss you Harry James Potter," Hermione whispered into Harry's ear, before leaning back and smiling softly at him. He looked worse than he sounded, strained, tired and lost. He had been pushed and pulled around by people all his life, putting everyone else's need and wants before his own. If there was one thing that could be said about Harry Potter it definitely wasn't that he was a selfish being. Hermione had to do this for him, it was about time someone else put Harry before themselves, about time someone cared explicitly for him and him alone.
He'd held so many burdens upon his back, for so many years now that he seemed hopeless as he looked at her. His bright green eyes had dimmed over the years, and she hadn't seen him really smile or laugh in so long. And that fact brought a sharp pain to her heart, she would change the past for the better, she would make sure that at least someone was there for Harry growing up, no matter what. He would be loved and cared for.
"I'll miss you more, Hermione" Harry finally whispered back his voice so low, she'd barely heard him. He pulled her into his arms tightly again, burying his face into her light brown waves inhaling the scent that was uniquely hers; the sweet scent of cinnamon, the fruity scent of apples, mixed and combined with the scent of books and ink. He sighed and leaned against her a little closer, holding her a little tighter, as he felt the tears prick at the back of his eyes, that all too familiar burn in the back of his throat.
"Smile Harry, and be happy. Please don't feel regrets and don't take all the responsibility on your shoulders alone. And please help Ron, he won't understand, he won't. He's lost so much already…" Hermione choked as her emotions threatened to close her throat. They'd be faking her death today, right now, and she'd be gone forever from this lifetime.
"I won't let him dwell on sadness forever Mione, I promise you that. And I won't forget you, I'll never forget you." Harry pressed his cheek against Hermione's, taking in her smell one last time, memorizing her warmth and safety. He took a step back and etched her face into his memory. Her cinnamon eyes, and the warmth that poured from those same eyes that were slightly tilted at the corners. Pixies eyes they'd always teased her, and said that's were her rebellious streak came from, the little pixie in her. Her lips were pouted, yet slightly quirked up at the edges. He took it all in one last time, before turning to look behind him. "You'd better go now," Harry said quietly, piercing green eyes scanning over the grounds that was quickly though efficiently being checked over for survivors and injured.
Hermione nodded before pulling the bright pink vial, which hung from a chain around her neck, out from below her shirt. She bit the top off quickly and looked up at Harry one last time, she smiled at him before downing the liquid in one gulp.
"I love you, Harry Potter, my brother," Hermione said clearly, through the tears before she vanished right before Harry's eyes, and then suddenly a body appeared that looked exactly as she had. Though it was unmoving, unresponsive and completely un-alive. Harry fell to his knees, and grabbed the hand tightly, the warmth was leaving the body rapidly and he choked back a sob that threatened the wrack his body.
"Harry!" he heard his name being yelled, but he couldn't distinguished who it belonged to. But the second he felt a warm body leaned against his, felt the warmth and height that was uniquely Ron's he felt his heart break even more.
"And then there were Two," Harry whispered softly, before falling into Ron's warm embrace as they cried themselves sick, both refusing to move or allow anyone to remove Hermione's body until many hours later.
Hermione landed roughly on the ground, and wobbled slightly on her feet. She looked down at herself, quickly checking to make sure everything on her body had come with her. She sighed, then looked around her quickly. Pulling out her wand, she cast a number of intricate and difficult charms and spells over herself, changing anything that would lead to her future self. She rolled her shoulders, before sliding out of the alley and slowly walking down the road. She wasn't sure exactly what time it was, so she leaned against a tree at the corner, and decided she just needed a minute to relax, a minute to breathe, just a minute to feel alive.
Hermione noticed a paper folded up, and laying on the grass. She picked it up, and quickly opened it up.
July 27th, 1977.
She'd gotten that part right at least, now she just had to make the cover true, solid, and believable. And in less than a week, no problem for the know-it-all, hopefully.