The End of the Beginning

After packing and returning to the common room to put out the fire and make sure they both had everything, Hermione broke down.

"They actually killed him." She sobbed as she fell to the floor, dropping her bags beside her.

"I know 'Mione…it's going to be so different." He sat down beside her and grabbed her hands in his own.

"He turned 16 a month ago! He's only three months older than you…five older than me. We've spent countless hours by his side and he's gone!" her tears tumbled to the rich carpet on the floor. "Gone." She whispered.

"I know how you feel…we loved him! He was our best friend! But we can't change the past, not without royally screwing up everything else…you taught me that."

"But he's gone." She said almost inaudibly. He roughly grabbed her shoulders and looked sharply into her overflowing eyes.

"I know Hermione! I miss him as much as you! He's only been gone for a short time but he's never coming back. Get a hold on yourself! I've lost lots of people I've cared for…my parents, Hagrid at the beginning of this year and now Ron…I'm not going to lose you! Please, just understand that just because he's not here in body…doesn't mean he's not still with us in spirit. His memory and his spirit will be with us forever. But we've got to get over this. I'm sure the next year is going to be harder than any year we've had to date…we've got to stick together." he wiped the tears from her cheeks and gave her a hug. She nodded and they stood up, put out the fire and left the common room for the last time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Come along Harry and Hermione…you must hurry before the portal closes." They heard Peneole say through the door in the entrance hall. Dumbledore was standing beside them…seeing them off. Hermione looked at the Professor with teary eyes and gave him an impromptu hug. Pulling away she looked into his intense eyes.

"Make a memorial for Ron by the old willow beside the lake please, Headmaster." She turned around and stood right next to the door, waiting for Harry to say his farewell.

"It was his favorite spot." Harry explained as he too hugged the Professor. He walked to Hermione's side. They clasped hands and went through the entrance.

A bright blue light engulfed them as the stepped through the portal and once they had reached the other side they looked towards the other. They almost didn't recognize one another because of the drastic changes that would've happened in the four years that they had skipped. Hermione's hair was straighter and more auburn than it used to be. The blue flecks in her eyes stood out more and she was considerably taller. Harry's hair was more so curly than unruly and his eyes seemed the same if not brighter. He was also much taller. They simply looked at each other for a few minutes, trying to take in all the changes, when Peneole interrupted their thoughts.

"Come along you two." He said grabbing a staff from the tree trunk it rested on. They picked up the trunks and bags they had dropped and started to follow the old enchanter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She had fallen asleep on the train and had been carried, by Harry, to the car that would take them to the airport. As they did not yet know how to apparate (or invisiate for that matter) they would have to take a plane to the training camp.

The camp was situated in France, somewhere close to the Mediterranean. Harry didn't know exactly where they were going but he trusted Peneole. He trusted him almost as much as he trusted Dumbledore, which was odd considering he had just met the man.

The plane ride was long and tedious and Hermione did not awake until they were almost there. She had been exhausted from shock and grief, but felt much better now that she had had a good cry and a long sleep.

Another car took them to the camp, which seemed more like a resort than a camp. You were assigned a cabin partner and would live in a rather large cabin with them. Each cabin had a nicely furnished kitchen, living room and two bedrooms, each with their own privet bathroom. In the basement of each cabin was a stimulation room, a gym, a lab and a pool. They took a short tour together and decided to go to sleep and take a longer look in the morning.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The first few weeks passed with incredible speed and all they were doing was learning what they would be learning at Hogwarts…sort of. They only had two months to learn all the things they would in two years so…they had to work a lot faster. One month would be sixth and the next would be seventh.

There was only one day left in their sixth year and it was Harry's birthday. Peneole had decided to let them take the day off, as they were finished the sixth year studies anyways.

"Happy Birthday Harry!" Hermione bounded into his room. He was still asleep and she still had her pajama's on. In her arms she was carrying breakfast. She had decided they would sit on his bed, talk and have a good brunch.

"Good morning." He replied, sitting up in his bed, yawning. "What's all this?" She smiled.

"I brought you breakfast in bed, and we're going to share it." He smiled right back at her as he grabbed a glass of orange juice.

"What prompted you to do this…exactly?"

"I thought we needed to talk about what's happened in the past month."

"I totally agree. Do you want to start?"

"Well firstly…I want to tell you that Peneole is giving you your staff today."

"How do you know that?"

"Remember the first day of lessons how he asked what kind of wood our wands were made of?" Harry nodded. "Well he sent off to have them made and they're our birthday presents from him."

"That's amazing!" He said, grinning again. "Ron would love that idea." She stopped smiling and crept up beside him. She closed her eyes and buried her head in his shoulder. He could tell she was trying not to cry. She finally stood up and said:

"Do you want the present I got you now?"

"Sure." She got up and walked out of the room. When she came back in she had two packages with her.

"Pick a hand." He looked at the left one…then back to the right one.

"Left." She smiled and handed him the bigger of the two packages. He ripped the wrapping off and looked, amazed at the book inside. (Yes, a book.)

" 'Tor and "Tress: The True Tales.' Wow 'Mione, this is amazing!"

"I found it when we went into town the other day, I thought it would be perfect for a present…. even if I had already gotten you something." She handed him the other parcel and he opened it slower.

Inside was a box. Almost like a jewelry box, but it seemed somehow different. He opened the box and saw a sort of necklace. The chain was very thin and silver and the pendant was a ruby.

"Look closer at the ruby." Hermione said. He obeyed and looked into the stone. Inside was something written in Latin. It said 'Mui Cruor, Tui Cruor.'

"Mio… what does that mean?"

"It means my blood your blood, I have one too." She pulled on the thin silver chain around her neck and an identical necklace appeared.

"Why this saying 'Mio?"

"Because I mean it, Harry." She grabbed her hand and pulled Ron's old Swiss-army knife, which she and Harry had given his as a birthday present the previous year, from behind her back. She slashed her left hand and winced at the pain. She gave Harry the knife and he slashed his right hand. They clasped hands.

"My blood, you blood." He said confidently.

"Mui Cruor, Tui Cruor." She responded and the room was suddenly filled with a blinding light.

A/N….i've been working on this for too long…lol. But I've been busy guys, been away and I've had TONS of homework. I hope u like it!!!! R/R!

ThAnKs, ThE cRaZy KaCcEe