Prologue
Hermione Granger made her way to the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for her morning meal. This was her seventh and last year attending this school and, in only three days, she would walk across a stage that had been magically put up in the Quidditch Field and receiving her diploma along with her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
At the thought of the later of the two, Hermione's heart jumped again and she spotted the handsome red haired young man saving her a seat at the Gryffindor table with Harry. Ron hadn't really changed a lot to her. Sure, he had grown taller even developed a more muscular abdomen from all of their encounters with Lord Voldemort over the last seven years, but, really, he seemed like the same old Ron to her.
The Dark Lord was gone, for good this time. It had been a hard battle, one that ended in many senseless deaths, including the one of their own great mentor, Professor Dumbledore, who had been Head Master of Hogwarts. In the end, it was his selfless sacrifice that had enabled them to win the horrible battle against Lord Voldemort.
Tears gathered in Hermione's eyes. It had only been two months since Dumbledore's Death and the Dark Lord's downfall, but it still hurt so much to think of the head master and the fact that he was no longer with them.
She felt a hand squeeze her own under the table.
"Thinking of Dumbledore?" asked a familiar voice kindly, with a hint of sorrow.
"Ron, it just won't be the same without him with us. He should be there when we graduate..." Hermione was ready to burst into tears yet again but tried to gather her strength up and hold them back. She had to be strong, not crying like a baby when it had all happened two months ago.
"I know," he said, actually gathering her up and holding her close in comfort.
Hermione buried her face in his chest even has she felt another hand on her back. She knew that had to be Harry.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry had been the ones present when Dumbledore died, no one else had been there, they had all come too late. It had been these three students who had seen Dumbledore's sacrifice, had seen his eyes glaze over and his body crumple in a heap at the Dark Lord's feet.
The battle between Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort had left the Dark Lord so weak that it had given Harry, Ron, and Hermione a chance to all hit him with the Avada Kedavra Cruse, one of the Unforgivable Cruses, the one that kills, destroying him for all eternity.
It was than that they mourned the loss of their mentor as well as all the other lives that had been lost during that horrible war.
"It'll be okay, Hermione," Ron whispered reassuringly.
"It's just not the same," Hermione whispered.
"I know," Ron said. "I know."
It was than that the owls came with letters for everyone. Every single seventh year had received some sort of letter of congratulations or graduation present.
Hermione pulled away from Ron, ignoring the little ping in her heart, and caught her own bundle of mail and began sorting through it while Ron and Harry followed suit.
~*~
Later that same day after classes, Ron and Harry made their way to the Gryffindor Common Room, to clean up and meet up with Hermione before going down to dinner.
"I hope she hurries," Ron said, growled. Harry and he had already washed their faces and hands and where now waiting, rather immanently in Ron's case, for Hermione to make her appearance. "I'm starving."
As if on cue, Hermione rushed into the room, all smiles. She was breathing heavily as though she had run from the entrance of the castle to the common room.
"Hermione, what is it?" Harry asked, a bit alarmed at her appearance.
"I finally got it! The letter!" Hermione said, holding up a manila envelope with words written in red on it. It was addressed to
Ms. Hermione Granger
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Seventh Year Gryffindor Girl's Dorm Room
"I came late," she informed them. "I just got it!"
"You mean? Its from?" Harry began, eyes wide.
"Yes!" Hermione said, grinning.
"And you?"
"YES!" Hermione said, before Harry could finish the question.
"Hermione, what is all this about? Whose the letter from?" Ron demanded, he hated being left in the dark.
Hermione looked at Ron. He was a full head taller than her, so she had to look up. "Ron, the letter is from Hogford University!" she stated excitedly. She looked so happy that she might bust. Hogford was the best university for Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was as highly esteemed as Hogwarts. Only the best and brightest were excepted there and Hermione had received a full scholarship. "I got in! I'm going to Hogford University!"
"Hogford? Isn't that in the United States?" Ron said, confusion lifting as fear entered his heart. He did his best not to let it register on his face. "How can you go if it is in the United States?"
"I'd move there of course," Hermione said laughing. "But, can you believe it?! I, Hermione Nora Granger is going to be a Hogford girl!"
"I'm not surprised at all, Hermione," Harry stated, hugging her tightly. "You are our Valedictorian after all. Congratulations."
Hermione grinned. She was so caught up in her own joy she didn't see Ron going though an emotional hell.
She was leaving. Not just the school, not just the town, but the COUNTRY! She seemed so overjoyed by it all...
He shoved his hand into his pocket were a small, velvet wrapped box lay and wrapped his hand around it, his heart shattering. Inside lay a ring, a beautiful, diamond ring that he had saved the whole year to buy for her. He had had it with him ever since he had purchased it a month ago, deciding that he would ask Hermione to marry him.
How could he now? She just seemed to happy with the thought of leaving England, leaving him... How could he ask her to marry him and stay here? He had, as much as his two best friends, suffered over the years, but nothing could have prepared him with the thought of a life without Hermione with him. It felt as though, even now, with her standing right there, a huge chunk of him had been wrapped away and was, even now, floating across the seat to America, never to be seen again.
"Well, now, how about we go get some dinner," Harry said cheerfully.
"No thanks," Ron said, a little numbly. "I'm not really hungry." He turned and headed up the stairs that would lead him to the Seventh Year Boys Room.
"Ron, are you alright?" Hermione asked all too concerned. Why did she have to be concerned?!?
Ron turned and smiled. "Yeah. I'm just tired. I think I'll go to be early tonight," he said, and, for effect, added, as best he could, a jaw-breaking yawn and stretch.
"Alright," Hermione said. Ron didn't catch the sound or look of disappointment in her voice. "Sweet dreams."
"Yeah," Ron said, turning his back and hurrying up the stairs.
Hermione's lower jaw quavered for a few moments. She had half hoped he would have demanded her to stay, to not leave, but she saw that was not to be. He didn't even seem to care that she was leaving, possibly forever.
She forced a smile as she felt Harry's hand on her shoulder. "Lets go eat," she said, full of cheer.
Harry pursed his lips he watched her back as she lead the way to the Great Hall. He wanted to say something to her about Ron and his behavior, but also felt it wasn't his place. He hated to see his friends suffer like this though, but what could he do?
Harry had kept his mouth shut about how Ron was head-over-heels in love with Hermione and he watched the two in their silent suffering. A wall seemed to have erected itself between the two of them. They didn't really talk anymore, barely looked at each other. Only Harry could see that it was tearing them apart and if it hadn't been for his promise to Ron that he wouldn't mention anything to Hermione, Harry would have given in long ago and told her, but a promise was a promise and Harry Potter always kept his promises.
So the last of their school days trickled away with silent suffering all around. They marched across the stage in the middle of the Quidditch Field for their graduations, not one eye was dry for the fact that Dumbledore was not among them anymore.
Than, the next day, Hermione, bags packed, got off the Hogwarts Expresses and into a Taxi that drove her to the Airport, where she left from Hogford in the United States of America and away from Ronald Arthur Weasley, the man she loved and, unbeknownst to her, loved her in return.