A/N: Fred knows he's dying, but he wants the best for Hermione. sad!Fremione. Slightly similar to a drabble in my How Do I Love Thee collection, though the roles are reversed.
Submission for:
Song Fics: Wherever You Will Go by Charlene Soraia. Fred/Hermione
Fanfiction Marathon Competition/Challenge: Fred/Hermione
All You Need Is Love Challenge/Competition: Round 4 - OTP - Fremione
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the song.
He watches the slight rise and fall of her chest in the light of the muted candles above his bed. She had fallen asleep just a few minutes ago, the added weight as she placed her head on her arms startling him from his light sleep. Even with the drugs and potions running through his system, he never slept heavily.
He raises a weak hand to run through her hair. Since the first bit of news about his condition, she had been at his side. Through all the healer appointments and experimental procedures, she held his hand and cried his tears.
But after every trial, he never improved and his health slowly declined, steadily faster and faster. They both knew what this meant though neither wanted to say it out loud - his time was running out.
He wishes things were different, that he could stay at her side forever. He would go anywhere with her. They should have grown old together, had two children with a white house and picket fence. However, things sometimes do go as they should.
His hand trails a bit to rest on her forehead, her skin warm under his ice cold fingers. They've talked about what could happen afterwards but he knows when the time comes, she will be devastated. She may lock herself away from the world and there will be no one there to get her back. It was usually his job to find her, to bring the smile on lips and the light to her eyes, but without him, her days will forever be dark and her laugh will never be heard again.
His heart hurts a bit when he thinks of another alternative, the same two children and the white house surrounded by the picket fence but another man filling his shoes. It is selfish to think this way but he wants her to be happy, even if she is happy with another. He hopes that man can do that, for her sake.
She smiles as his fingers trail a bit closer to her lips, and he feel his own lips curl slightly. He knows their paths will cross again in the future, and he will wait as long as it takes to see her again once he is gone, but right now, he is content to share his last moments with her. He will stay at her side until the end.