Can't Happen Here
Chapter 7: Saying Goodbye
~*~
Dr. Hastings looked up and sighed, stopping all medical procedures.
"Hermione, he's gone. I'm sorry."
Hermione stared at him, refusing to believe it.
"No! You're lying! He wouldn't leave me!"
Dr. Hastings put a reassuring arm on her shoulder.
"Hermione, it's the truth. I'm sorry. His body was refusing his heart and we couldn't help. He was dead even before we got here."
Hermione turned from him, sobbing.
"You're a lier. Just leave."
She looked away as Dr. Hastings left the room, saying that he was sorry again. Hermione looked at Ron's lifeless body on the bed and took the cold hand into her warm one and she kissed it.
"Ron, Oh Ron, how could you leave me? You had so many prospects, so many hopes for the future."
She leaned in, still sobbing and kissed him softly. Then she turned on her heel and fled.
~*~
Three days later, it was time for Ron's funeral. Hermione got dressed silently. She wore a simple black dress; the same one Ron had always loved. She chose not to wear makeup. Ron had always liked her best without makeup anyways. After she was done getting ready, she turned to a picture on her night table. It had been taken at Hogwarts, in her final year by Harry. It was a picture of her and Ron in their graduation attire. They were looking at the camera, big grins on their faces, with Ron's arm slung casually over Hermione's shoulder. Hermione shuddered involuntarily and closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. She stood up briskly and rubbed her sweaty palms on the dress.
"Well, it's now or never."
Whether she liked it or not, Ron had died. She had to go to this funeral, to see his body one last time. Ron would have wanted her to be there.
~*~
The service wasn't as bad as Hermione had thought it was going to be. The church was packed full of past class mates and teachers, who had all been affected by Ron's lively and loving nature. He had affected everyone who he came in contact with in a way that they would remember for the rest of their lives.
Slowly, people began to get up and say a few words about Ron. When it was Hermione's turn, she stood up shakily and turned around to face everyone in the church. She took a deep breath and began to speak.
"There are so many good things that could be said about Ron. He loved and cared very deeply about all his friends and family. He was fiercely protective of those who were close to his heart and he would have given the world to them, if he only could. Ron also had this great sense of humor, so even if you were mad at him, you just had to laugh at his jokes and all would be forgotten. The most important thing about Ron however, is that he dreamed big. He once told me he wanted to be marry me, have a big family and be Captain of the Chudley Cannons. I firmly believe he would have achieved that dream he had envisioned for himself if he only hadn't developed that heart problem. He was taken too soon from his loving family and friends, and we will miss him forever. I think I speak for all of us when I say things will never be the same without his presence in our lives."
Here Hermione was sobbing too hard to get the words out and she sat down in a rush. Harry immediately wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her back comfortingly as she sobbed into his shoulder. She looked up at him and mouthed the words 'It isn't fair.'
Harry gave her a big hug as a tear trickled down his cheek.
~*~
After the service was over and everybody had left, Hermione approached Ron's freshly dug grave and knelt, holding his gravestone as the tears fell silently onto the dirt.
"Why did you have to go, Ron? You had so many dreams that hadn't been pursued. They were ripped from you, from us, in a heartbeat. If only you had survived! We would be engaged, and Harry wouldn't have to have Dean as his best man at his wedding. The twins would still laugh and Percy would be his usual workaholic self. You don't know how badly everyone misses you Ron. I miss you so much that it actually hurts sometime. I won't mourn forever though, Ron, because I know you wouldn't have wanted that. I will move on, but just remember, it is you and only you who I will love and cherish forever. I'll see you every night in my dreams and one day we will be reunited. I'll be waiting for that day."
Hermione stood up, wiping her tears and left the cemetery softly.
~*~
Author's Note: Awww…! I almost died writing that. Sorry it ended so sadly. I really didn't think I made it sad at all. Just so you know, there are still 3 chapters to go. I have decided to go with an alternate ending, so the next chapter will be an alternate ending. Review please! Thanks a lot! I was going to have Ron live, but your reviews made me see that Ron probably would have died in real life, so I made it that way. I really hated having to write this chapter, but the next chapter will make us for it, I promise! Review please! Thanks a lot! -K
