Hermione stood before the grave, her eyes focused on the name inscribed into the headstone. It was small, rather simplistic in design. The wind blew from her left, and she shivered and tugged her sweater closer to her body. His scent wafted from the sweater, and she inhaled deeply, wanting to commit it to memory. Memories flitted in the back of her mind, running like a broken loop.
"We'll be together forever." He said it with a soft, tender smile as he idly played with her hair, gently tugging on the ends. She giggled and swatted his hand away before he pulled her into a warm embrace. Never had she felt more content, just staying there encased in his arms.
"Liar." She hoarsely whispered the word, raw emotion feeding her voice.
"We'll get married and live somewhere quiet, peaceful." He whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
"Liar." She repeated. Her voice cracked as tears sprang to her eyes, on the verge of spilling over.
"How many babies do you want?" He teasingly asked. His voice held a hint of seriousness though, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at her was anything but the playfulness you would've usually found in them. Her reply was a loud exclamation of his name, half in protest and half in laughter.
"Liar." Her voice broke, and she finally crumpled to the ground, glassy tears sliding down her cheek.
"I love you." He whispered into her ear, his tender words washing over her like a big, fluffy blanket of comfort. She'd stared into his eyes and repeated the words back to him, over and over again like a spell that would keep him forever with her. She'd believed in that spell, with all her heart.
"I loved you, dammit. You can't do this to me." She choked on her words, sobbing more freely now. Her right fist pounded the ground relentlessly as her left hand drifted to press against her chest, against the merciless squeezing of her lung. She felt breathless, as if everything in her body was constricting.
All because of that one man, who was just beyond her grasp. Her eyes drifted back up to gaze at the name engraved so meticulously on the stone.
Fred Weasley
1 April 1978 - 2 May 1998
Brother, Son, Prank Connoisseur
"Life is one big cosmic joke. Enjoy it."
