The Dark Ones retreated; those still loyal to Voldemort and those who'd committed such sinful acts that could never be forgiven, ran to hide on the island, knowing whatever fate had in store for them would be punishment that many could not endure. For a beast that took indulgence in the freedom of open spaces, confinement was almost as good as death.
That wasn't what caught many people's attention. Many people stood shocked, in awe, and empathetically staring as I lay over my love's body. Unable to even function at this point, my only thought was to keep those putrid vultures from desecrating him.
My tears flowed freely off me and onto his pale cheeks, his gashed neck, his still body. My whimpers of pain no longer even able to form words as I attempted to plead for his reanimation, though I knew it wasn't possible. I begged, pleaded, and bartered, but there was no one to give me what I wished that could hear me.
I felt someone pushing my hair from my face and slung my head away, grasping Severus's body against me harder, uncaring that his blood was now starting to cover me, uncaring that the cold was penetrating my wet clothes, there was nothing left for me now. They didn't give up though and harshly jerked me up and away.
"No!" I screamed, making one last lunge back toward Severus. Another pair of hands reached out, helping the first as they drug me back to the beach. I kicked and screamed, but Severus's body moved farther away with little I could do to stop it. Finally, as I lay in the sand, I slumped with no more willingness to even move.
"Hermione," Harry knelt down beside me. Blood caking one side of his face and his arm shredded. "Hermione, I've been bitten," he said solemnly. He gingerly touched his arm, holding it up so that I could see it. "I need your help Hermione, I don't know what to do, how to handle it…" He paused, "Can you come back to us Hermione? Can you stay with us and help me?"
Tears blurred my vision, but I looked from Severus finally. I nodded at Harry, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to stop the pain my heart felt so keenly.
I pulled away, a semblance of thought finally piercing the haziness. "You can use my house… I have chains and such, we'll… get through… this." I had to take deep breaths and speak between sobs, but I managed to get it out. He nodded, but my mind had done moved to the waters behind him.
It had burned like acid, had tried to eat away at me, and now offered solace. I could jump in as the night had started and forget this wretched place. I could dive deep in the waters and end it. I could be with Severus as we could not be now.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey!" Harry shook my shoulder, almost as if he could read my thoughts as he looked between me and the crashing waves of the beach. "None of that now!" I started catching my sobs then, finally letting lose another wave of inconsolable pain.
No matter what happened, no matter who spoke, he would still be dead. There were no happy endings just as there were no easy paths. It was as he had said 'Life isn't fair.' I curled up, falling against Harry and Ron as heart wrenching sobs took over my body. Harry pulled away, leaving Ron to hold me as I cried of my loss.
AN: Only 2 more Chapters! Thanks again Lily S Potter! You're Wonderful!
