A/N: This is a work of fiction using the characters from Harry Potter that are trademarked by J.K. Rowling
Timeline: Post-Battle of Hogwarts
Characters/Pairings: Hermione Granger x Bill Weasley (Est)
Hermione stood alone, muscles tense, in the Hogwarts Courtyard. Harry and Ron had retreated inside to be with the Weasley family, but she needed to be outside. She needed fresh air even if it was air tainted with death and dust. After being trapped and tortured in the Malfoy Manor, Hermione wanted to be in wide open spaces. She wanted the sky above her and she wanted no walls in sight.
She looked around, numbly, at all the damage the battle had caused to what was one her home. Wall crumbled, bridges fell, trees were blackened, and debris covered the ground. This was no longer the fortress that offered sanctuary.
Hermione didn't know how long she stood outside, her tears had long since run dry but the grief she felt was a continuous river that she feared would never end. Without warning she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist and she flinched away before the sweet scent of Maple wafted around her and she instantly relaxed into her boyfriend's comforting and safe embrace.
She turned in his arms and gazed up at the solemn face of Bill Weasley.
"Sorry love" Bill whispered in response to the flinch he felt, "Didn't mean to sneak up, thought you heard me"
"It's okay" Hermione assured the worried red-head. They spent a few loving moments gazing into one another's eyes before Hermione's gaze drifted towards the still pink scars that down her lover's cheek. She gently ran her finger tips over the wounds and let out a shuddering breath.
"Do they still hurt?" she asked though she was reluctant to hear the answer. The last thing she wanted was for Bill to be in constant pain.
Bill weighed whether or not to tell the truth and quickly decided that a half truth would be fine, "They itch…but I'm fine Hermione. I promise" and he knew he would be as long as he had Hermione by his side.
Hermione's smile was a little forced and she knew that Bill was downplaying how he was feeling but she decided to let it slide, this time. She leaned forward and rested her head on Bill's chest and sighed in delight when his grip on her tightened in response.
"What's going to happen now? Where do we go from here?" Hermione pondered as she once more surveyed the damaged surrounding them.
Bill took a moment as he too took in the chaos, "We'll rebuild. It may not be the same as it once was, but it will become stronger than before. You'll see."
Challenge: Every Kind of Pairing Competition, Prompt: Non-Canon Pairing
Word Count: 427
