Chapter One – The Loss
The weather was perfect. The chirping of the birds in the sky were almost like a song in the air. White fluffy clouds were floating and moving above the green spring grass. The air that flowed between the trees brought a bit warm breeze that gently rustled the flowers in the bushes. The bright sun was shining down below, illuminating the scenery.
The weather would be perfect indeed if it wasn't for the sense of despair that had overcome the group of people standing in the grass. Before them sat a group of coffins about to be lowered into the holes next to them.
The second war was over and although the light side had won, they had lost even more. Friends and family had come to give their respect for the dead and the terrible silence of grief was killing them inside. There were so many casualties. Young students, mature adults, even the elders had been killed. So many people had lost their lives in this fight, this wasted war. It was such a high price to pay. No one deserved to have their families ripped from them. Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, sisters and brothers, lovers and friends. They were gone for good and each one had died a hero.
Almost half the Order had been killed and the rest were standing at the graveside service waiting for their comrades to be lowered into the ground. Charlie Weasley had been the first to die but he had not been alone. He had taken six death eaters with him. Colin Creevey had been next, the victim of a severing charm. Some of the Order had dueled the werewolves and inferi on Hogwart's grounds. Others had been ambushed in the streets of Hogsmeade by trolls.
Even the civilians were not spared as Death eaters killed them in their homes, women and children included. Cho Chang, Terry Boot and Dean Thomas had made their stand and had fallen at the edge of the Forbidden forest, where Death Eaters had brought in two Dragons. They had killed one before they met their own fiery demise.
Arthur Weasley was killed by Dolohov with a hex in the back. He never even saw the man who killed him, but Bill Weasley had. In his rage, he transformed into a werewolf, his first transformation and his first kill. He ripped the man apart and moved on to the next person in black robes.
Draco Malfoy was wearing the robes and mask but not willingly. He had been forced to don them under the imperius curse by his own father. He knew that Voldemort planned to use his death to make another Horcrux to take the place of the ones Harry had destroyed. He had tried to run but he had been caught.
Inside the Forbidden forest, among the trees, twenty more Death Eaters and Voldemort dueled against Hogwarts students. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband Rodolphus along with others, faced off against Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Seamus and the Patil twins. The members of the DA fought well and bravely but soon Seamus and the twins joined the many dead.
Voldemort finally stepped forward, when he thought that Harry had been weakened enough and everything became a blur of color, screams and blurry images. Jinxes and charms were flying everywhere. Curses… unforgivable… fire and smoke… cries of pain and screams of terror… the earth tremored and quaked beneath them, explosions and torrents of magical energy spread from the center of the conflict.
It lasted for hours and it was as if every minute stretched into infinity.
It seemed everything changed in an instant. Draco Malfoy ducking and dodging curses, shot the Killing curse at Ginny, but Harry had seen and was quicker. He pulled her to the ground with just an instant to spare. The curse flew over their heads and took Narcissa Malfoy directly in the back. She fell limply to the ground. Harry quickly charmed a strip of his robes into a portkey and forced Ginny to leave. She disappeared just as a green light hit the place she had fallen, barely missing Harry.
Voldemort, seeing Harry's weakness, laughed and pressed harder. Harry dodged curse after curse, sending some of his own. Nearby, Lucius had seen his wife's death and went mad. It didn't matter that it had been his own son who had killed her. He began to viciously curse anyone who wasn't wearing the Death Eater robes. He killed several people before he spotted her, Hermione Granger. She was dueling Rudolphus LeStrange and had her back turned. As Lucius said the words, Hermione turned and saw the killing green light. She closed her eyes, knowing her life was over but the curse never reached her.
Ron, who had seen what was happening, had thrown himself into the path of the curse. It hit him diretly in the chest and he collapsed at Hermione's feet. She screamed loudly with pain and horror so deep that yards away, Harry looked to see what had happened. He saw Ron's murderer and flicked his wand, screaming with all his hatred and pain "Avada Kedavra" but the curse never reached Lucius Malfoy. Draco had moved between Lucius and Harry, his wand aimed at the young woman on the ground. He took the curse meant for his father, unknowingly. Lucius swore and disapparated.
This time, enraged by his followers desertion, Voldemort attacked more viciously with his wand and a sword. He didn't know that Harry had expected such a move and had been training with his own sword, the Sword of Gryffindor. He had been trained by Mad-Eye, Kingsley, and Tonks. They fought, both losing energy, until Voldemort made a fatal mistake and let his guard slip.
Harry took the opportunity and took the life of the Dark Lord. He cut his head off and burned the body to ashes 'to be sure' he said. Beaten and bruised, Harry had finally defeated the Dark Lord. All the months before, training and searching for Horcruxes, being weary beyond imagination and almost to the point of giving up had finally paid off. They were free.
"Oh Ron, why did you do this?" Hermione murmured, with tears in her eyes staring at all the coffins, one in particular. "I'm not worth it. Why did you do this? You didn't have to die for me."
With tears on her face, she turned away from the graves and her eyes fell on Molly Weasley. She was being held up by Bill, Fred and George. Ginny had her head buried in Harry's shoulder. Harry was in a wheelchair, too weak to support himself but alive nonetheless. Beyond them were other survivors, two being Neville and Luna. Neville's Gran had been killed as well as Luna's father.
They were both orphans now, Hermione thought, like me. Her parents had been killed too, three days before the final battle. She found herself alone. There was no one to console her, no arms to support her or to grieve with her. Hermione tried to brace herself in an attempt to be strong but it didn't help. In her mind, she was having a terrible debate.
And then Hermione finally decided she did not belong there, not here with them, not anywhere. She slowly withdrew from the crowd so no one would try to stop her. She slipped away thinking no one was watching. Someone was. An anguished emerald gaze watched her as she slipped through the crowd and then disapparated with a sharp crack.
"Hermione" he whispered as a tear fell down his pale cheek.
Hermione apparated into the yard of the Burrow. She ran into the house and up the stairs to the room she shared with Ginny. With a quick flick of her wand, she packed her things into her trunk. Once she finished, she looked around the room and her eyes fell on a bridesmaid gown in the far corner. Hermione closed her eyes trying to suppress the tears that were battling to spill free but she didn't succeed and soon she was sobbing silently.
With a final glance around the room, avoiding the gown in the corner, she flicked her wand again and moved her trunk down the stairs. She walked down the narrow hallway and down the stairs and into the kitchen. She looked around, mentally saying goodbye to the place she had come to think of as home before moving her trunk outside. Before apparating away, she turned and gave the Burrow a final look and a final goodbye to the people she had considered her family, including her now deceased fiancé.
"Farewell" drifted along the wind and she was gone.
Meanwhile people wandered the graveyard calling Hermione's name. No one had seen her leave but Harry and he was in a vague trance, not hearing or really seeing anyone. Finally Molly put a hand on his shoulder to bring him out of it and Harry told them he had seen her leave. Fred, George and Tonks decided to apparated to the Burrow, leaving Harry with Molly, Ginny and Remus.
When the battle had ended, Harry had been badly injured. He had been taken to St. Mungo's, only to be released for the funeral. He had agreed to return to the hospital when it was over. Later, when Hermione came up missing he refused to return until she was found. He stayed at the Burrow, cursing his weakness and waiting for some news.
Six hours passed with no news and Harry was devastated. Ginny stayed by his side, desperately worried for her friend but being brave for Harry. Everyone who was able was searching for Hermione with the exception of Molly, Fleur, Luna and Remus. They were Harry's guard.
"Harry" Ginny said in a low voice.
Slowly a pair of green eyes looked up and met hers. She could see the empty loneliness in them and it made her want to cry. Before the battle, before the war, they had sparkled with laughter and mischief and now they were empty.
"I know this is not the time… but…" Ginny hesitated to continue. Looking around she saw that they were alone. Ginny continued, her voice no more than a whisper. "I would like to talk about the wedding."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Ginny, this is not the time." He said in a deceptively calm voice but she could see he was barely containing his fury and anguish.
"I know, Harry" Ginny said soothingly. "You didn't let me finish. I just wanted… well… I mean… I want to postpone the wedding until Hermione gets back." She finished in a rush of words. "I don't want to get married this weekend unless Hermione is here. I just wanted to make sure that is ok with you." She said miserably.
Ginny watched as Harry's eyes lost focus and knew he was lost in thought, plagued by the images of the battle and Hermione's absence. This last was what was killing him inside. Finally he mustered a simple yes. Ginny opened her mouth to speak but the door opened and others came in, effectively silencing her words.
Later that night, Harry sat staring into the fire with Ginny curled up next to him, her head in his lap. Molly slept on another small sofa nearby. She couldn't bear to sleep in her bed without Arthur. Luna and Fleur had curled up in armchairs and Remus had made a pallet on the floor. Harry lay in the silence, grieving for his friends and praying for Hermione.
'Merlin, I beg you,' thought Harry, 'take care of Hermione… I don't know what I will do if she doesn't come back.' Tears leaked from his eyes and he closed them. 'She means everything to me. She is my pillar. Don't let anyone hurt her.'
At the thought of anyone hurting Hermione a powerful burst of rage swept through his body. Suddenly the house began to shake and all of the windows shattered. Remus jumped to his feet wand in hand, Luna fell out of the chair and Molly, Fleur, and Ginny screamed.
Aurors burst in the door, wands ready, thinking they were being attacked. Two of them checked the upstairs but didn't find anyone and the other two joined the group in the sitting room. Aurors had been assigned to protect them because of the Death Eaters that had escaped.
Harry watched them stalk around the house looking for danger. Where were they when Hermione was running away? Why didn't they stop her?, he thought with a flicker of anger. He was and unaffected by the effect of his anger.
"What happened? Why did the windows explode?" one auror asked, looking down at Harry and Ginny on the couch. Ginny was curled up tightly against Harry.
"Harry, was it you?" Remus asked softly. Harry nodded.
"Mr. Potter, you need to be careful otherwise we will be cleaning up your messes instead of watching for Death Eaters. They are still out there and-"
"And" Harry interrupted, raising his voice over the auror's. "Just why didn't you do your job and protect my friend when she disappeared. You were supposed to watch all of us, not just me. This is your fault she is missing." He said furiously.
"Mr. Potter" the auror growled, gritting his teeth. "How on earth were we supposed to know she would throw a tantrum and disappear like that?"
Before anyone could stop him, Harry was up and had his wand in the auror's throat. "Don't you talk about her like that." He snarled. "She is grieving and people do stupid things when they are grieving. She should be protected, not despised. She left because no one was there to help her. You did not do your job."
"Harry, please don't." Ginny cried, grabbing his arm but Harry took no notice of her. It was like she didn't exist. The auror's eyes were wide and the look in Harry's eyes reminded him that this was the man who had killed the Dark Lord, who had killed the strongest and most evil wizard in thousands of years.
"I don't need you to watch over me. There are death eaters out there who want revenge against me… They know how too… take away the people most important to me. You will watch over them, not me. That means everyone in this house and Hermione. Do you understand me?"
The door opened and in came Tonks, Fred, George, Bill, Neville and a few others from the Order. They stopped when they saw Harry and the auror. Remus waved a hand at them to stop them from interfering. He didn't know what would happen if someone tried.
"Do you understand?" Harry demanded coldly and the auror nodded, seeing he was not going to get help from any who had just entered. When Harry released him, he pushed past the audience in the doorway and disappeared. One of the other aurors followed him.
"What the hell happened?" asked George and Fred at the same time, while Neville hurried to help Luna get to her feet. Fleur flung herself in her husband's arms uncaring that he had his wand drawn. Ginny looked at Harry apprehensively. She had never seen him like that. She thought he was going to kill the auror.
"What was that?" asked Luna, shakily, all her dreaminess gone from her face.
"It was Harry" Answered Ginny, with her eyes searching Harry's face for a response. He glared at her and then turned, searching the crowd for Hermione.
"Where's Hermione? Did you find her?" he asked almost desperately.
"I'm sorry Harry, we looked in all the places we could think of but she is no where to be found. We even tried her parent's home and some Muggles in the area but they hadn't seen her." Bill answered, holding his wife tightly.
Suddenly, Harry felt weak and sank down into the couch heavily. Immediately Ginny and Remus moved to assist him but he waved them away. Bill and Fleur began to repair the window, while the others left the room, headed for the kitchen and something to eat.
"Ginny will you help me make tea?" asked Molly. Her daughter was sitting next to him, trying to catch his eye.
"Go" said Harry "I'll be fine" his voice cold, like the one he had used with the auror.
At this, Ginny stood up, defeated and followed her mother to the kitchen. As soon as the door closed behind the two women, Harry got to his feet, though weak as he was, faltered and would have fell if it hadn't been for Remus catching him before hit the floor.
"What are you doing?" asked Remus in a furious whisper so as to not catch anyone's attention.
"I'm leaving" Harry stated firmly.
"You are not going anywhere. You are too weak to even defend yourself."
"I don't care".
"But I do."
Remus forced Harry to sit down again and took Harry's wand. With a flick, he incarcerated him on the couch. Harry struggled weakly against the bonds.
"I'm going to say this once, Harry, and I'm not going to repeat it. You lived through that battle but if you get up now and leave, you may not live much longer than that. When we find Hermione and yes we are going to find her." Remus said firmly to Harry's skeptical look. "What are we going to say to her? That we let you carelessly take matters into your own hands. That we let you die? Do you want her to be alone then?"
Harry turned his head and stopped trying to get up. Sighing Remus put a hand on one of Harry's shoulders and continued.
"Harry, we are doing our best, but it isn't like we can go down the street calling out her name. You should know that would be the first thing to alert Death Eaters to her disappearance. They would hunt her and torture her just to hurt you. I don't like the way she ran off, so carelessly. It's not like her to do so and I am going to scold and hex her as soon as we get her back." At this, Harry smiled sadly. "Meanwhile you need to heal, Harry because we all need you and so does Hermione. Merlin help anyone who tries to hurt either of you. You are both like the children I never had and I promise you Harry, I will not rest until I find her. But you need to swear you will do as I ask. Its not a question, it is merely a request."
Harry, knowing that Remus was right, nodded.
A/N: This is the first chapter edited!!! Thanks to my beta reader SnapesSweetheart for the great help!!! Please, R&R!!!!