Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Pointless

By: ChoCedric

"And I think," Bellatrix sneered, hatred pulsing through her words, "that we can dispose of the Mudblood. Greyback, take her if you want her. Avada Kedavra!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Ron's roar of heartwrenching agony sliced through any other sounds as he ran pell-mell into the drawing room. But he knew, with a sickening clarity he could not deny, that it was too late. A blinding flash of green light hurtled out of Bellatrix's wand and hit Hermione, straight in the chest.

Without thinking, without even realizing what he was doing, Ron hurled himself at Bellatrix with a roar of rage. He began to punch every inch of her that he could find. Grabbing her wand out of her hand, he raised it high and uttered, "Crucio!"

"RON! NO! RON! STOP!" Harry bellowed, also running into the room. A look of horror and shock was etched across his face. He couldn't even take in what had just happened.

Ron let out a laugh, a laugh of total insanity as he watched Bellatrix writhe on the ground. But his enjoyment was cut short as Harry cried, "Expelliarmus!" and the wand went flying out of Ron's hand. Harry then proceeded to stun Bellatrix, and then shot a stunner that was so powerful that it hit Narcissa, Lucius, and Draco in rapid succession. Greyback started forward, but Harry's next Stunner hit him straight in the stomach and he toppled.

The hot blood still boiling in his veins, Ron went running over to Hermione, bent down, and looked into her eyes. But they were now a mockery of the eyes which used to shine with such intelligence and honesty. They were now lifeless, empty, and staring. A blank expression was pasted on her face for all eternity. "HERMIONE!" Ron bellowed, shaking her limp body. "HERMIONE, WAKE UP!"

But the bushy-haired girl didn't move. She just continued to lie there, staring at her two best friends, her eyes still unseeing.

Ron's voice then grew soft. "'Mione, wake up," he whispered, stroking her bushy hair. "Remember what you said before, that we would finish the war and we'd live a happy life? C'mon, 'Mione, wake up. I love you, c'mon, wake up ..."

Ron didn't even realize that he'd uttered the three most sacred words, the words he'd wanted to say to her for months, years even. But Hermione still didn't respond.

A sniffle was heard then, and Ron wheeled around to face Harry, whose lower lip was trembling. Rage burned in his veins again as he snarled at him, "Don't go near her, Harry! And don't you dare cry! You killed her!"

"Ron, I ..." Harry started shamefully.

"YOU SAID YOU-KNOW-WHO's NAME AND SO YOU GOT HER KILLED!" Ron howled, swinging his fist back and punching Harry, who fell to the floor, his nose bleeding.

"Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby the house-elf made his presence known. "Dobby must rescue what is left of Harry Potter's friends plus Harry Potter himself!"

"You're too late, Dobby!" Ron spat, glaring at the little elf. "You weren't in time to save Hermione, were you?"

And as Ron continued to stare into Hermione's lifeless face, a thousand hopes and dreams were shattered. He'd never see her eyes light up again, for those lifeless orbs were now forever dimmed. He would never hear her nag him again, nor hear her speak of lines she'd memorized from books. Never would he laugh with her again, smell her scent again, or just plain be with her again. He was sorry for everything he'd ever done wrong in their relationship; he'd give anything to tell her. God, he loved her, loved her so much, and now she was gone. This pain would never end, the war would forever be raging in his head, and he would be forever lost. With Hermione's death, everything to Ron was pointless.