The Forbidden Forest was empty. All sentient creatures, human and otherwise, were gathered inside Hogwarts, celebrating the defeat of Lord Voldemort and mourning the dead. Hermione was still dirty from the battle. Her hair was matted with blood, she had cuts on her cheeks that stung, and her joints ached like she was a hundred years old.
She kicked something and Hermione looked down to see a small stone. Hermione frowned and bent down, picking it up and thumbing it in her hand. Almost instantly, she saw a transparent figure. She shrieked and fell backwards, staring up at the ghost of Fred Weasley.
"Hermione..." His voice broke as he gave her a crooked smile, and Hermione immediately felt tears welling up in her eyes. She understood. This was the resurrection stone.
"Fred. I'm so sorry... I never got to tell you... so many things." Hermione pushed forward on her knees, reaching out towards him, but not quite touching. She knew he was only a figment, but he looked so real, so there. Hermione felt a tear slip down and sting a cut on her cheek, but she didn't wipe it away. There was no one to see, no one to care—no one but the dead.
"Don't cry, love." He said, kneeling down next to her, his hand reaching out and almost cupping her cheek, but not quite touching. "You're alive and safe, and I died fighting for someone I love. I couldn't be happier." Fred had tears in his own ghostly eyes.
"I love you." Hermione said softly.
"I know." Fred replied, just as Hermione let the stone slip from her cold fingers. She sat in the forest, shaking with sobs, cries wracking her body. She crumpled on the forest floor, the sharp pine needles digging into her skin like knives. She didn't care.
She heard the caw of a bird and looked up, blinking through her tears. Something dropped onto her thigh and she picked it up with shaking hands. A small, grey silk pouch. She opened it and took out the small silver object she had used so many years before.
A timeturner.
"Thank you, Fawkes." Hermione stood up slowly, and felt a new strength building within her. The strength for change.