Disclaimer-I do not own Harry Potter

Thanks for reviewing…well some of you Ron haters were heartless gits but most of you were sympathetic. Anyway, I'm not really too happy with how this chapter turned out, it seems too forced to me but I can't be bothered to attempt to make it better so you're stuck with it lol

Random fact about me: I love tuna chunks but I hate tuna flakes

Warning: an almost drowning that may be triggering to anyone who's attempted suicide

Chapter 28-The Body

As soon as Hermione had darted out in her cat form, Tonks and Lupin had run out after her. Meanwhile, Kingsley was busy notifying the ministry as well as contacting the Weasley's. Barely five minutes had passed before the entire Weasley clang, minus Percy, showed up at the Granger's household.

Upon seeing her son, Molly let out a heart-wrenching sob as she collapsed by her son's body desperately trying to wake him up.

"Molly." Arthur spoke gently as he tried to pull his wife away.

"No." Molly wept as she brushed the ginger bangs away from Ron's face. "He's not…this can't be…this isn't real. A boggart. It's just a boggart."

A few feet behind them, Bill had his arms wrapped tight around Ginny as she sobbed into his chest. The twins were stood beside them with identical looks of devastation on their faces and Charlie looked as though he might vomit at any moment.

"I'm truly sorry." Kingsley apologised as he cast the grieving family a sad look.

"What was he even doing here?" Bill managed to ask unable to take his eyes away from his dead brother.

"He followed us." Doris spoke up from where she sat trying to console Mr. and Mrs. Granger. "When he heard Miss Granger was in danger he insisted on coming. We could not stop him."

"I promise you we tried." Kingsley told them. "But there wasn't much time and he refused to listen to us. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault." Arthur told him as he cradled his sobbing wife in his arms.

"Breaking the rules." Fred joked with a half a grin. "That's our Ronniekins."

"The kid would have made a great prankster." George said.

"Guys." Charlie sighed. "It's too early for jokes."

"I think the little man would have laughed." Fred replied.

"What h-happened to Her-hermione?" Ginny asked through her tears. "They didn't g-get her did they?"

"No." Kingsley told her. "Your brother died in her arms. She ran out afterwards. Remus and Tonks are out looking for as is Lucius Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Ginny blanched, sounding so much like Ron her family turned to gape at her for a few seconds.

"He's on our side Gin." Bill explained. "However the death eaters probably know he's the spy now."

"What do we do with…Ron?" Charlie asked.

"He's not my baby Ronald anymore." Molly wailed. "He's just a body. He's gone."

"The ones we love never truly leave us." Dumbledore declared as he apparrated into the room along with Severus. "Their memory lives on and they remain forever in our hearts."

"Where's Hermione?" Severus asked frantically and Bill turned to glare at the potions master for his lack of sensitivity over Ron's death and his mourning family.

"She ran out in her cat form." Kingsley answered. "Remus and Tonks are looking for her." The dark skinned wizard wasn't even able to finish his sentence before Severus had swept from the house in a whirl of robes.

"Someone should tell Harry." Fred said and his twin nodded in agreement.

"Percy too." Charlie said. "He should know."

"Bill, take Ginny back to headquarters." Arthur instructed. "She doesn't need to be here right now."

"I don't want to leave him." Ginny whimpered as she stared down at Ron's body. If she tilted her head to the side and squinted it almost looked as though her older brother was merely sleeping.

"Dad's right." Bill said. "You shouldn't be around all this stuff. You shouldn't be either." He told Charlie and the twins.

"Let me say goodbye." Ginny begged quietly and after a nod of consent from his father, Bill released Ginny from his hold.

She crouched down by Ron and rested a hand upon his chest, the lack of a heartbeat causing her a fresh tear. Ginny leaned down so her forehead rested on Ron's, her flaming red hair falling onto his neck. Had Ron still been breathing, the sensation would have tickled him.

"I'll miss you." Ginny whispered her breath ghosting over her deceased brother's lifeless form. "Where ever you are…be brave and be happy. I love you forever and…we'll be together to annoy one another again someday. Where ever you are, save me a seat and when the time comes I'll meet you there. Love you." Shedding another salty tear for her brother, Ginny pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before stepping back into the arms of her eldest brother.

***

As Hermione ran in her animagus form, her mind tormented her by remembering all the healing spells she hadn't been able to think of when they had been needed. Her head pounded with the knowledge that had she simply remembered these spells when she needed to, her friend might still be alive.

She could have saved him, she was sure of it. But her brain had failed her. Her mind had frozen and become blank as her fatally wounded friend bled to death in her arms.

Her thoughts then turned to the Weasley's. It pained her to think of how horribly the news of Ron's death would affect them. Would they blame her for his death?

Then there was Harry. Chosen one or not Hermione knew the emerald eyed boy would take it hard. For one so young, Harry had already lost so many, adding his first and best friend to the list could possibly destroy him.

Eventually, Hermione came to a stop by the harbour. Looking around quickly to ensure no muggles were in sight, Hermione returned to her human form. Standing by the edge of the dock, she looked down into the water.

She could just make out her reflection in the dirty water and the small hint of sun that peeked out from the winter clouds made her brunette curls look red in her watery reflection. Red, Weasley red.

Unable to stop it, a lump of vomit crawled up her throat and she wretched into the water. With a few tears streaming from her eyes she choked and spat out the odd chunk of puke.

Wiping her mouth on the sleeve of her navy blue jumper, Hermione wondered how her parents must be feeling at this moment. Not only had they been caught up in the death eater attack but they had lost Grandpa, witnessed their daughter's friend die in her arms before said daughter transfigured into a cat and ran as far away from home as possible.

At that moment, Hermione felt horrid and incredibly selfish. Her mum and dad must be so scared, confused and upset right now. They were also sure to be worrying about her just as they had when they'd been separated over the summer.

As she thought back to the previous summer a humourless laugh escaped her lips. Being trapped in her cat form in the company of Severus Snape had seemed like a nightmare. To begin with, she had thought that was the worst thing that could possibly happen to her and now here she stood struggling to see the good in her life.

All because of her, her Grandpa was dead, her parents had been put in mortal danger and one of her best friend's was dead. She knew that Ron must have heard that death eaters were planning to attack her and her family. He must have found away to follow Tonks and the others so he could protect her. As it happened, protecting Hermione had cost Ron his life. When he had desperately shouted for her to transform and run, he had been hit by a curse.

Hermione didn't know the identity of the death eater who had cursed Ron but she sincerely hoped that whoever he or she was met an incredibly painful end.

Looking down into the water again Hermione strongly considered jumping in. The water was sure to be freezing cold this time of year but she didn't care. Perhaps the cold temperature would help numb her pain. Without giving it any more thought, she set her wand down on the ground before stepping forward and diving in.

The water tightly encased her feeling like thousands of ice-cold knives stabbing at every inch of her skin. She kicked her legs and flailed her arms wildly to keep her head above the water. Her teeth were chattering together everything in her vision became an odd shade of grey.

Closing her eyes, Hermione took in a deep gulp of air before ceasing her movements and allowing herself to sink. For a few moments as the water clogged her lungs causing her to feel dizzy and lightheaded, she almost felt peaceful.

Then, the next thing she knew, she was back on land gasping for breath as a strong pair of arms wrapped a cloak round her. She then felt warmth spread throughout her body as a heating charm was cast over her.

With a groan she forced her eyes open and found deeply concerned black eyes staring back at her.

"Hermione?" A silky voice asked. "Hermione, can you hear me?"

"Sev-us." She managed to croak out.

"Here, let me carry her." A kind voice said.

"I've got her." Severus snapped as he held his student close to him.

"Severus." Lupin reasoned. "You're soaked to the bone from being in that water. You need to get warm too."

"I'm fine." He insisted.

"You're clothes are drenched." Tonks pointed out. "The cold and wet will only transfer onto Hermione. That isn't helping her when she needs to stay warm."

"Fine." Severus huffed in defeat as he carefully handed Hermione over to the werewolf.

Tonks then flicked her wand casting a drying spell over Severus's clothes and then a warming spell.

"Sev-us." Hermione mumbled again.

"I'm here." Severus assured her as he fell in to step beside Lupin. "I'm here."

To Be Continued

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