Chapter 2: A Little Fall of Rain
March
The gap between Harry and Hermione grew when he'd learned about her getting drunk and she refusing to talk to him. He couldn't dwell on this problem for too long. Voldemort had gained full strength. They needed to prepare Hogwarts.
A fight was breaking out soon.
May
Voldemort had warned them through Harry of the attack. It had been raining, but they had to put up with it to create a barricade that would protect Hogwarts.
While he was overseeing the protection from within Hogwarts, he heard a noise from outside. He ran to see what was happening.
"Someone's climbing the barricade," Dean informed him. Some wand were already poised to attack, but Harry stopped them.
"Homenum Revelio!" The barricade revealed Hermione struggling up the barricade to get to the other side. Harry immediately climbed up the barricade to help her.
When they were both on safe ground, Hermione spoke.
"They're getting ready to attack," she said breathlessly, hugging her coat to her body.
"Hermione what were you doing outside?" Harry demanded. He couldn't help being angry. How dare she risk her life without his permission? He was so worried for her.
Eponine, what's wrong? I feel...
There's something wet upon your hair
Eponine, you're hurt
You need some help!
Oh God, it's everywhere
"I sneaked out to Hogsmeade," Hermione said, still breathless and gripping the coat tighter. "They have fifty men for the first line of defense."
"Hermione, I really appreciate what you're doing but—"
"Harry," Hermione gasped.
"You could have been stunned or killed out there!" He gripped her shoulders tightly.
"Harry," she gasped again, firmer this time.
"I—I don't think I can stand anymore." And in that moment she collapsed in his arms.
"Hermione what's wrong?" Harry asked. Dean and Seamus helped support her and together they brought her to the Great Hall. Her breath was ragged and her trying to steady it only showed how shallow it really was. "What's wrong? Tell me, please." He caressed her head and felt something wet. "Hermione why—?"
His hands were bloody.
Harry ripped open her coat and saw that her clothes were drenched in blood.
"Hermione, you're hurt—"
"Stop worrying, Harry," Hermione said, closing her coat. "Nothing hurts. It's just rain."
"Hermione, it's blood—"
"Stop worrying," she said again. "I'm okay. I'll be okay as long as you're here."
Her words pierced his heart. "No, Hermione. Madam Pomfrey can do this—"
"Madam Pomfrey is too busy and it would be a waste of potion," Hermione said. "You need it more than I do. Just…stay with me, okay? Try to make it as painless as possible."
Don't you fret, M'sieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.
Harry continued to shake his head in denial and changed his position so that Hermione lay against his body. He smoothed her hair and wiped away the blood.
"You'll live, Hermione," he said. "You're going to live. I love you, I love you so much."
Hermione smiled. How ironic, her wishes were coming true only as she was dying.
"I'm not going to leave you," he continued.
But you will live, 'Ponine - dear God above,
If I could heal your wounds with words of love.
Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me
You would live a hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now...
"I know you won't," she breathed. "It's nice, you know. The weather."
Harry laughed. She was hurt, and she was talking about something as fickle as the weather.
"Yeah, it's quite nice," he agreed.
So don't you fret, M'sieur Marius (Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine)
I don't feel any pain (You won't feel any pain)
A little fall of rain, can hardly hurt me now (A little fall of rain, can hardly hurt you now)
I'm here
That's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe (I'll stay with you)
And you will keep me close ('Til you are sleeping)
And rain…
And rain
Will make the flowers…
Will make the flowers
Grow
"Remember the flowerbed down the lake?" she breathed. The rain would be good for it. Make the flowers grow." She winced.
"I'm here, I'm here," Harry chanted, hugging her and rocking her back and forth gently.
"That's all I need to know," she said, smiling. "Harry?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Hermione smiled. "I'm okay. You're here," she said. "You'll keep me safe. You'll keep me close. The rain will make the flowers grow. I'll sleep in your arms at last."
She looked up at Harry and smiled. Harry moved closer to place a kiss on her lips.
And in that moment, the Fates cut the thread of Hermione's life. Her limbs limped. Her eyes shut. Her heart stopped.
"'M-Mione?" Harry said in a broken voice. "'Mione, wake up." He shook her lightly. "'Mione, please wake up." She continued to lay unmoving. Harry began weeping.
"Hermione," he breathed. "Hermione, no!"
He held her lifeless form to his body and wept as the rain continued to pour.
And a flower started to bloom in their flowerbed by the lake.
So there! Thanks for reading! Please review :)