DISCLAIMER:
Don't own anything, not the title or the chapter titles – How to Save a life by the Fray. Listen to it brilliant song.
Chapter One – Step One
Hermione Granger woke with a start. Sweat beads had formed across her hairline and her eyes were stinging with tears. She looked around her dark dilapidated room at 12 Grimlaund Place and secretly prayed to god that what she saw was nothing but a dream. Looking over to the bed beside her she saw the covers thrown back and it was empty. It was a common thing for Hermione to look over and for Ginny to be missing. Usually she was downstairs in the kitchen playing cards with Harry or one of her brothers, or making a pot of tea being very domesticated for someone with such fire in her spirit. But she had a hunch she wasn't downstairs in the kitchen.
Throwing back her own covers she slipped into her sheepskin slippers the old wooden floor cold and often damp. The old house of Black was not a very good insulator of heat, the cold winter temperatures sinking into the house chilling the inhabitants. Over Christmas members of the Order of the Phoenix and those of Dumbledore's Army had come together to celebrate the holiday, even though there was a grim shadow cast down over the normally happy time. Hermione had cherished the time with her peers and the older wizards ever aware that they may no longer be there the next day.
She especially cherished her time with Harry. He had been absent from school for the majority of the year disappearing in search of the Horcruxes then reappearing with no success. Many times she had followed him but often times he just upped and left without telling anyone and thus Ron and her were left behind anxious for his return. Christmas was a time where they all left school and spent time together helping everyone out; it was very special.
Creeping out of her room she tiptoed down the hall hoping not to wake anyone after already experiencing the wrath of the Weasley boys who were woken up by silly girls. She walked down the creaky old stairs ever so carefully and came to the landing where Harry and Ron slept. The door was ajar. Quietly pushing it open she peered in and saw three beds squashed into the small room. Even in the dim light she recognised her boyfriend Ron Weasley's fiery red hair. He slept peacefully which was something remarkable in these times, limbs hanging over the side of the bed too long for its dimensions. But it was not him she was looking for. In the middle bed was another mound of red hair as Ginny breathed in and out quietly the old comforter pulled up and around her shoulders covering her partially naked body. Hermione swallowed with great effort hoping to find Harry in that bed as well. The final bed was empty but its occupant was soon to startle Hermione.
Jumping at the soft tap on her shoulder Hermione came face-to-face with the boy she had long learned to loath. Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway behind her his blond hair messed and ruffled from sleep his eyes surrounded by rings exposing his weariness. Two months earlier after fleeing the Death Eater headquarters at his own house to the safety of Professor McGonagall's arms he had been held prisoner at Grimlaund Place for his own safety. It was plain to see he did not want to live the life of his father as a servant to Voldemort. His hesitation in killing Dumbledore was an example of that. However he was not a welcome resident constantly isolated, left out and ignored. Treated as bad as a house elf paying for what he had done over the years.
"What do you want?" he whispered to Hermione who roughly pushed past him ignoring his question. He got that a lot people were not as forgiving as he had hoped.
Hermione continued down the stairs into the kitchen and saw it. The letter she had seen in her dream. It was in Harry's writing. Too scared to open it she prepared to wake everyone up but noticed in the corner the very person she was going to wake first. Remus Lupin was tired and looked like he had been crying.
"I had a dream, please say it was just a dream," Hermione begged a huge ball of emotion choking her voice. Lupin slowly shook his head. Hermione stopped breathing for a moment all emotion draining from her heart. All of a sudden the world stopped. A change occurred and with that she knew he was gone. A wave of and indescribable feeling washed over the world. Hermione collapsed to the ground blown over by the feeling. Everyone everywhere breathed a new breath, those asleep were awake those sick felt relieved, those weary and tired were rejuvenated. No sooner had the feeling of elation washed over did everyone in the old house run downstairs.
It was clear Voldemort was now dead. Preparations were made to make sure it was true, men and women apparated in and out the house was busy and full of life. Cheers and tears of joy erupted all around the world, as finally the world was free from its terror, reborn. Voldemort was gone and the power of his followers was dying. Suddenly the world was awake as arrests were made and final battles fought all the while people wondered how it happened.
Hermione sat quietly on the floor backed up against the wall tears pouring down her face, and they weren't tears of joy. Voldemort was gone, but so was Harry Potter.
(A/N:
Hey ok so yeah hope you like it please read and review I have a sequel planned and everything. Let me know what you think!)