Perhaps it was the continuous rocking beneath their feet, the color show of spells that assaulted their eyes as they ran, their load of fangs pressed close to their heaving chests, that suddenly knocked the sense into them. Their nearsightedness had vanished, and the vast image of it all made their little spat seem incredibly minuscule- a grain of dust upon the cloak of fear and anger that laid across the castle. It became very obvious to Ron and Hermione that petty quarrels over who liked who should be left for times when people around them were not fighting to the death. So as they ran through the quaking corridors, in search of Harry, they came to an unspoken agreement that only best friends can come to. Matters of the heart laid forgotten in the shadows of their minds, and for now, they were simply Ron and Hermione, looking for their other best friend Harry.
The soft tinkle of the broken Hufflepuff cup coming from where Ron's jacket was the happy reminder that they were another Horcrux down, thanks to Hermione. Unlike the other Horcurxes, it hadn't put up much of a fight. It had emitted a strange scream that made the two feel like their bones were grinding together, and their brains imploding, but it had ended soon enough once Hermione had stabbed it.
"Warn me next time, won't you?" Ron puffed from next to Hermione.
She almost tripped over her own feet when she jerked her head to look at him.
"Warn you about what?"
"When you're about to make me do something I can't. Trying to speak Parseltongue made my throat feel all scratchy."
"Honestly, Ron." She muttered, but she smiled as she did. She knew that was his feeble way of showing he was willingly talking to her again.
Harry came into view a few moments later, and when he spotted their grins, he somehow knew, through all the chaos, they would be alright.
Hermione turned and watched as Harry walked away, the vial of Snape's memories still clutched tight in his hand. She yearned to follow, to leave the dead and the grieving behind her, but she felt that he wouldn't want it. Those memories were meant of him, and him alone.
And so she made her way to Ginny and held her close, although guilt ripped viciously at her. Ginny didn't push her away, meaning she didn't know about Harry and Hermione yet. And somehow, that made Hermione feel even worse.
"He's g- g- gone." Ginny wailed into Hermione's shoulder. Tears pricked at her eyes as she patted Ginny's back. She couldn't help but imagine this would be Ginny's same reaction when she found out about her and Harry.
"He's in a better place." She whispered through the lump in her throat.
Ginny's sobs rendered her silent, until finally she broke away so she could go and cling to her mother. Hermione stood there, feeling quite out of place. This wasn't her family, not her pain to feel. And so she, like Harry, turned her back on the dead and the mourners, going anyplace that wasn't there.
Her feet lead her up a staircase, though her mind had no idea where exactly they were taking her. The faces of Tonks, Remus, Fred, burned bright behind her eyelids. None of them were particularly close with her, but their deaths still sent a hundred knives driving into her heart, squeezing the breath she was fortunate enough to still be breathing out of her lungs. She dared not think of the scattered bodies that laid at this very moment across the grounds of Hogwarts, whose faces and names would be remembered with reverence, whose eyes would never open again.
When she stopped abruptly in front of the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office, she was torn from her thoughts. Subconsciously, she must have known this was where Harry had been headed. She didn't enter though, instead she slumped against the wall next to the entrance, feeling her weary head fall into her hands.
It might have been minutes, or hours, or maybe even years later when Harry appeared. He didn't notice her as he went on his way, down the corridor, looking oddly determined. He breathed in a strangely calm and steady manner, his head held high and his eyes void of emotion. The sight terrified Hermione.
When she was sure he wouldn't see or hear her, she stood up, intending on following him. She wouldn't allow him to do what he was undoubtedly going to do. But she didn't see him as she rounded the corner, and he wasn't descending the stairs, nor was he farther down the hall. Panic set in as she fled down the marble staircase, taking three of the steps at a time, not caring if she fell. Her heart was a wild animal, pounding to be let out, and she could even feel its erratic thump in her fingertips. Looking around wildly, like he might be hiding next to a tapestry, Hermione sped along- then suddenly, a thought struck her. Of course, he must be under the Invisibility Cloak.
The thought was no comfort at all. Instead, it made whatever hope that had burgeoned in her chest flee like a rabbit. It didn't hurt when she fell to the ground, in fact, her body remained quite ignorant of the fact she stood on hands and knees in the grass, just outside the front doors of the castle. The slight breeze didn't coax her skin into feeling- every bit of her stayed completely numb, her mind included. Someone might have been screaming her name, though it could also have been the blood rushing in her ears. The only thing that really seemed to register was that Harry was going to die. He was walking straight into the snake's nest and he would never come out.
How very foolish of her, to finally believe that she could have something as impossible as Harry. What an imbecile she had been to ignore the fact that this had been bound to happen. She should have listened to her instinct that night when she danced with him. Should have remembered how the possibility turned to darkness once the moment was over. The song had ended, and it was time again to remember reality.
A/N: Hi! Thanks for all the reviews! It makes my day (: Any constructive criticism is welcome, along with if you see some mistakes, but don't forget about the chapter itself! Anyways, have a good day.