Chapter 2: First Light

When the war began, the remaining Horcuxes that Harry had yet to destroy had been decimated as well. It was truly the end. The end for all things.

Now, instead of living in fear because of one shadow, there were no happy moments, as fear came from all things.

Somehow, impossible as it seemed, those of non-magic had gained control of the knowledge that was vital in the wizards' defense. Knowledge that could only be gained from the inside.

There were traitors.

To make matters worse, the beasts and things of the wizarding world had come into the open. Dementors and dragons and giants and all things… they all came at once.

For now however, it was only England's war.

It was isolated.

In light of the happenings within the country, the international community strove to keep it such. Radioactive fallout across the continent of Europe did not do well to help England's cause. Instead of aid to the entirety of the UK, it was quarantined. No one in, no one out.

Or so they thought.

Caught in a war they did not summon, many users of magic fled across the pond to the other countries.

With them, the news of the horror that had been wrought since Voldemort's defeat made those familiar with the entire history yearn for the original days of fear. At least then… muggles were harmless. That just wasn't the case any longer.

However… a relief effort was already underway in the greater parts of Europe.

Already, measures were being taken to discover the events that lead up to the beginning. Also, efforts to control the dangerous magical creatures that had not traversed the channel were already underway. The dragons in particular were strangely the most determined to wreak havoc, having been bottled up and contained in isolation these many centuries.

Those of the relief force not involved in quarantine were instead charged with global modification. In layman's terms… they were in charge of modifying memories of those in prominent positions into thinking the tragedy there was nothing more than the actions of a renegade terrorist faction, and not due to a war of their two races. It was a difficult falsity to entertain… let alone enforce. Still… they needed to do something.

Meanwhile, even more drastic measures were being taken in such that they were preparing to take the country back by force… a collective takeover from the outside in. It was an absurd if not impossible task… but something needed to be done… lest it spread. And if not stopped soon… it was only a matter of time.

Hermione lifted her hand from the overly still chest and smiled sadly.

In life, she had known the girl before her as incomprehensible… always sprouting the most bizarre of stories and the most irritating 'facts'. Over the years… especially the past one, she had become increasingly less herself as the harsh attributes of the real world fell into place. Instead, her love had taken over… and if not for her actions on the groups' behalf… yesterday could have been their last.

It just hurt now… that in these moments she would have found the reality Hermione had been attempting to feed her for all this time. It hurt that she would have to make her life easier by forgetting that of another one lost.

As she got back to her feet, she looked from Luna's expressionless face to the one that rested next to her.

It was a painful mask of so many emotions that she couldn't even bring herself to try to decipher just one. Unable to look further, she tore herself away and made her way across the debris laden floor to the figure she looked forward to seeing the most. As she picked her way towards him, he stirred and lifted his head.

"Hermione?" He pushed back his hood so he could get a better view of her eyes. "How is-?"

Hermione closed her eyes so she would not have to relay the emotion through them further, and instead, shook her head. No more words were needed.

In response, Ron said nothing, just looking at Hermione with empty eyes and a vacant expression, before letting his head fall back against the broken bench behind him. With his eyes looking toward the far wall, even out past it, to the sky beyond, he let his lips part only slightly.

"I'm sorry…"

"There was nothing we could do…" she started, but knew then that his whisper wasn't really directed towards anyone. With that understood, she just nodded.

"It's quiet." Ron offered, trying his best not to cry.

Hermione nodded again.

"Yes," she agreed, "it has been for a while now."

"Who do you think won?"

She looked at him sadly. "I don't think… either side wins anything…"

"No… they really don't… do they?"

There was a pause in their conversation… neither really having anything to say further. Instead, they both remained as they were, too tired for even thoughts.

After what could have been hours… or even just minutes, the sky began to brighten.

The darkness was breaking… and even now, thin streams of light were breaching the horizon.

In the church, the light played across the surface of the shattered glass, giving a false perception that the floor was drowning in a rainbow-ish sea of sparkling diamonds. For a world that was lacking beauty, in gave a false sense of majesty.

In kind of a trance, Ron picked up one of the blues, and rolled it absentmindedly over his palm.

"Hermione…"

"Yes?"

"We can't stay here…"

She gave a brief nod, and then looked over to the sleeping Neville, who was still deeply clutching Luna, the trails of salt on his cheeks sparkling in the light.

…

"I know."