Hermione could not believe what she had just done. Her parents had always been there for her. They were the only people who had never shunned her, always trying to protect her and now she wasn't sure if she would ever see them again. It had seemed like such an easy task, one little spell then it would all be over. Hermione had not counted on her grief afterwards. She knew that she had to toughen up; that war was filled with sacrifices but she wished that it did not have to be this way. She gazed around her dimly lit room, shaking herself mentally. It was mostly empty by now apart from her bed, wardrobe and small writing desk. She had nearly everything packed by now but she was finding it difficult to say goodbye to her childhood home. Hermione looked at the few items that she could not face to put in her small beaded bag, the photographs that showed the only signs that a person had lived in her room. They were the last things that she wanted to put away, knowing that once she did she could never go back. She felt a comforting arm around her shoulder and relaxed for a second, then, coming to her senses she whirled around, drawing her wand as she did so. Ron Weasley looked at her fierce expression in shock, going cross-eyed as he stared at the wand that was pointed directly at his face.
"What was the comment I made on your appearance when we first met on the Hogwarts express?" She said slowly, looking him up and down.
"That I had dirt on my nose." Said Ron, smirking slightly at the memory, he remember how bossy she had been, very different from the Hermione he knew and loved. Hermione lowered her wand breathing heavily and Ron sighed in relief. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of one of Hermione's curses. He looked her up and down, noting her tear streaked face and her puffy eyes.
"Did you do it then?" He asked sympathetically. She nodded turning away not wanting him to see her so emotional.
"They left ten minutes ago. I was just finishing packing." She wiped her eyes sniffing. Ron offered his tissue, which she accepted gratefully despite it being crumpled and torn slightly.
"Looks like it's just a couple of photos left to pack. Hey, I remember that one. And that's when we won the Quidditch cup, oh and Dumbledore's Army…" He ran around looking at all of the memories that lined her cream walls. Hermione smiled slightly, happy that she had a friend to comfort her. "Hermione what's this one?" He asked looking round suddenly, confusion evident. "I didn't know you were friends with the twins." She glanced at the photo in his hands that had been taken on her sixteenth birthday of Fred, George and herself laughing at the camera. She smiled slightly as she saw the stupid feathery hat they had made her wear that turned her hair blue the next morning. Then she thought about Ron. He had forgotten all about her birthday that year, spending the day snogging Lavender Brown in secluded corridors rather than celebrating with her. He had given her a present but that was in December, not what you'd expect a friend to do but she had not pressed him. She recalled all of the other times where she had worked so hard to help Ron without so much as a thank you. This was the last straw and Hermione looked up at him, annoyed. Hermione was astonished that Ron had not noticed her friendship with his brothers especially as she had been dating Fred for the past few months. She had been friends with Fred and George since Ron had ruined her time at the Yule Ball. She could remember it well:
Hermione sat on the stairs leading to the Great Hall watching all of the happy couples ascending the stairs behind her or exiting through the double doors, desperately wishing that she could be among them. Viktor had seemed so wonderful but now she was not so sure. Ron had already planted the seed of doubt in her brain and the irrational part of her mind had started wondering if she should be with Viktor. Ron had ruined her entire evening due to his jealousy. Hermione started to get angry. 'What was it with boys?' She thought as she buried her face in her hands and cried silently. Suddenly she felt two arms around her shoulders and she looked up.
"Fred, George, what are you doing here?" she asked quizzically looking at the identical boys that sat either side her. She quickly wiped her face with a lace handkerchief trying to make it seem like she had not been crying her eyes out for the last hour.
"More importantly why is the girl that captured the heart of one of the most famous seekers alive sitting here crying?" She stared at the two of them confused, thinking of Harry. Then the full force of what had happened that evening with Viktor and Ron hit her and she had to fight to choke back the tears.
"Ron" she said simply, hoping that it would be a good enough explanation for them.
"Ah" said Fred, understanding perfectly. He knew what a prat he could be at the best of times but when it came to Hermione Ron always managed to royally screw up.
"What has our sad excuse of a brother done this time?" asked George. The entrance hall had mostly cleared by now with only a few stragglers remaining. Hermione was confused as to why they were there. They had never normally spoken to her, preferring the company of more popular people but was glad they were there for her. Hermione spent the next hour explaining her situation and the twins spent the next two consoling her. It was the early hours of the morning when they reached Gryffindor tower to go to bed. Her room mates had been eager to question her the next morning as to why she returned at sunrise but when she mentioned crying over Ron they backed off. Lavender and Parvati may have been insensitive at times but they knew when to stop asking questions. After that Fred, George and Hermione became better friends, she even helped them with some of their products. Not many people suspected that Hermione's threats in fifth year were just a sham so the clients couldn't see her name on the label. She was always lenient on them if she discovered them during her rounds as a prefect and helped them set up the swamp when they escaped Umbridge's rein of terror. After that the twins sneaked into the school to see her, helping Hermione pull off anonymous pranks. It was on the first of May, after Harry and Ginny had run off snogging that Fred plucked up the courage to ask her out. She accepted at once, amazed that the bookworm had managed to get the hottest boy Hogwarts had ever seen. George had never been romantically involved with Hermione, preferring the chaser Katie Bell, though they were still best friends. Hermione had gone to visit Katie with George in St. Mungos after she had touched the cursed necklace. Harry had spotted their friendship from the off and been the first to congratulate her when Fred had asked her to go out with him. He had even helped Hermione choose the twins Christmas presents in sixth year when she had struggled to find something to beat last years. She had tried to ask Ron for help but he was busy being glued to Lavender Browns lips. Even though she did not approve of Ron's choice in women, she was happy that he had found someone to keep him happy (though even that ended in disaster). Those were the best years of Hermione's life and now she was wondering how she would live without the twins by her side. How Ron didn't notice her friendship she could not fathom. After all he was supposed to be her best friend.
Ron stood impatiently in front of her holding up some of the pictures that had taken from above her bed. Hermione stood up, irritated at Ron's tone of voice.
"For your information Ronald they have been two of my closest friends since forth year." Ron clenched his fist, screwing up the photos in the process but did not say anything so Hermione continued "Also I have been Fred's girlfriend for the last three months." Ron gaped at her for a few seconds then his face contorted in rage. He dropped the pictures and took a step towards her but she stood her ground.
"No!" he shouted making Hermione step backwards in shock. She had expected him to be a little angry but this was a full blown Weasley temper. "That bastard, of course it would be Fred, it's always Fred. You were supposed to be with me, me, and no one else. We were destined to be together, everyone knows that. How could you betray me like this?"
"Excuse me?" said Hermione, her voice level but quivering with fury. "I betrayed you, is that what you think? If it weren't for you then I would never have become such good friends with the twins. It was because of your behaviour at the Yule ball that they spoke to me at all. You've got yourself to blame Ron. We are not meant to be, we never were. Fred and I are happy together so don't blow this out of proportion like you usually do."
"Blow this out of proportion. How dare you?" He spluttered, grabbing her arm forcefully. She struggled but found he was stronger than her. Hermione winced in pain as she felt the palm of her hand collide with Ron's face that was bellowing incoherent threats and insults at her. He stumbled backwards into her open wardrobe and she locked it with a flick of her wand. Hastily Hermione picked up all the remaining photos in her bedroom looking sadly at the memories that lay crumpled on the floor. She stuffed them inside her small beaded bag along with her wand and jacket and put the bag inside her coat pocket. It was just as she neared her bedroom door that her wardrobe door exploded.
Ron Weasley stepped out of the rubble, dusting off his robes. Hermione saw the manic look in his eye before she noticed the wand pointed directly at her chest. She stumbled backwards edging away from the madman that had replaced her best friend. She tried to reach for the beaded bag but knew that she would not find her wand in time so she yelled trying to stall him.
"Ron what are you doing? It's not funny. Just because I have a boyfriend does not mean we can't be friends." She had reached her bedroom wall, desperately looking for an escape route but knew that she could not get out without Ron cursing her into oblivion. She had forgotten rule number one – always keep your wand at your side in case of an attack. How could she have been so foolish?
"If you and Fred want to destroy my life then that's fine, just remember that you brought this on yourself. Avada Kedavra" He said slowly and clearly. She had barely opened her mouth to retort, to plead before the jet of green light hit her square in the chest. She stayed standing for a few seconds haloed by an eerie green glow, swaying slightly before she crumpled to the floor and moved no more.
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