2nd May 1998

Kingsley

Red eyed at the loss of his first ever friend at the ministry, he spoke in rough tones:

"He knows we're near," he had said to Amelia,

"What?"

"He fears us," he added

"I hope you're right," she answered softly, mind already elsewhere.

"I am," he insisted, before downing an entire glass of firewhisky. The drink burned, but not as much as his loss did.

"He's acting out. He will make a mistake, you'll see," he spoke with more confidence than he felt. In truth Kingsley was desperate, his insides were thawing for the man that never was. But to honour his friend, he had to restrain and be smart.

And Riddle did. The final battle took place, Battle of the Ministry it was called. Deatheaters stormed the 11th floor Department of Mysteries. It was a victory, a pricey one albeit. Creature against creature, man against man, right against wrong.

But all sense of righteousness was lost as blood spilled on their pristine floors. They lost several of his most esteemed colleagues, Remus and Tonks, Scrimgeour and so many muggles. The weight in his heart was not quelled by the defeat of their foes. A loss was a loss.

Severus was the first to be exonerated, celebrated with a first class order of Merlin. Sirius Black too was asked to pardon the Ministry for his erroneous capture. He took his position as 35th Minister of Magic gravely. (It was a chore not a celebration)

Hermione

If Hermione would have to describe the last year in a single word, it would be : unexpected.

Strenuous, Deadly and Heart-breaking were all close seconds.

She didn't think of herself as naive, optimistic and forward-looking yes, but never unrealistically so.

Her wretchedly smart mind had cooked up the scenario you-Voldemort would win. She had even planned possibilities she and Harry, Draco and Parvati could take to escape his new world order. Somehow her thoughts hadn't drifted to her parents. She hadn't even thought of their danger. Her senses were already weakened.

After that stuffy week at the manor when her and Draco had come together in the most beautiful and unexpected ways -it was in the Malfoy's rose garden. They were grown in a special botanical area, glass shielded to protect them from the cold.

Odd it was, the most beautiful things were so fragile.

It provided a sweet chill from the heavy summer air. She hadn't planned it but she'd given herself to him in the most important of ways.

People would look at her and tut, look at that poor girl falling in love with her bully. This was her remake of beauty and the beast. Only she was hardly a beauty, he was stunningly handsome and there was no happy ending.

They were just two ends of a stick one didn't bring together, or the stick would break. So would the tree, and the entire forest would burn dry.

She let him keep his distance, they carried on in quiet at Hogwarts. She never asked for an official tag. She was that comfortable, or likely, that desperate.

The ministry officials came to deliver her the news. Her blood boiled, all she saw was his blond face smirking down at her. The years of torment, the months of turmoil, came crashing back. She could only associate one face with her hurt, him, Draco Malfoy.

His touch repulsed her, his voice made her ears bleed. She would gauge his eyes out for even being in her presence.

Years later she would realize he was not at fault, but could one blame her?

Parvati

She saw Hermione battle on the brink of life and death. Theirs was never a story with a happy endings, only short respites.

The past year was troublesome, they'd encountered more death than a lifetime. It was unfair how magic folk were better protected than muggle folk. That Hermione had to lose her parents at the hands of her lovers parents. A cruel irony as any.

It scared Parvati, she thought she'd loved Harry when he disappeared from the tournament. Since then she loved him a little more everyday. He was perfect, and everything in between. That realization struck something in her.

She became obsessive, worrying about the smallest of things. Tracking his moves everyday, how else were she to know he was safe?

He became aggressive, his pent-up anger was released during coitus. Slapping the round flesh or her arse and thighs, tying a collar around her neck. It was depraved. She didn't like the people they were becoming.

They loved each other, but maybe, just maybe their shared trauma wasn't to be shared. Maybe, they were better on their own.

She could be making the best decision, or possibly the worst. Parvati didn't know. She released him from the bleeding bond the both shared.

And they all turned a new leaf to their future.

She hoped it was peaceful.

Author's note: I'm sorry for being so horrible! Ehh not really..but if you enjoyed the story please drop a review and let me know. You really make the whole writing process fun and exciting.