Chapter 8: Return

They landed with a bang in the corridor in Hogwarts. The blood had disappeared from the floor but there was something cold and eerie about that place. Harry and Hermione decided to move on quickly. Harry helped Hermione to her feet, then cast a levitating spell on Ron's body so that it floated down the corridor before them.

'We have to get to Dumbledore's office,' said Harry.

Hermione nodded her agreement. They tiptoed along the silent corridors, praying that no one would catch them and yet at the same time longing for someone to take this horrible burden from their shoulders. Hermione glanced at her watch: it was 1am. It seemed to her like years since she had run from Ron.

After an age, they arrived at the gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office.

'Crap, what's the password?' Harry muttered. He tried the first thing that came to mind. 'Cockroach Cluster.'

To the surprise of both of them, the gargoyle turned to reveal the stairs. As they plodded up the stairs, they heard voices. They paused at the door, trying to determine the owners. To Hermione's surprise, Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey were sitting in his office in their bedclothes.

'Nothing is happening, Albus. Can I go back to bed?' Madame Pomfrey said as the teenagers silently reached the top stair.

'Good morning,' Dumbledore said. He looked at them with great sorrow.

Madame Pomfrey spun and gazed at Harry and Hermione with pity. 'You poor dears.' she murmured, her hand flying to her chest.

'Poppy, take Mr Weasley to the infirmary,' Dumbledore said.

'Of course, Albus.'

Madame Pomfrey took over the levitation of Ron's body and hurried down the stairs. They all sat in silence a few minutes after she left.

'He's really gone, isn't he,' Hermione said eventually.

'I'm afraid so, Miss Granger,' Dumbledore answered softly.

'I never got to tell him I was sorry,' she said brokenly, her voice cracking. 'I never told him I loved him.'

Harry looked up sharply at this, the hurt in his eyes quickly replaced with resignation. Hermione didn't notice this as finally her grief broke through her shock and she began to cry. Harry pulled him to her and tried to comfort her. For a long time the silence was only broken by Hermione's sobs. Eventually she began to quieten, and Harry released her.

'I must ask what has been going on,' Dumbledore said.

So Hermione described all that had happened since the first incident on the Hogwarts Express, while Harry interrupted her with other details.

'Why didn't you come to me, or one of the other professors?' Dumbledore asked when they had finished.

'Hermione didn't want us to,' Harry answered.

'Why not?'

'I don't know.' Hermione sighed heavily. 'I didn't know what was happening to me. I didn't want anyone else involved, I wanted to control it myself,' Hermione paused. 'But I couldn't.'

'Is that all?'

'Yes, professor Dumbledore,' Harry and Hermione said in unison.

'I would advise you to go and get some rest now,' Dumbledore said, rising to usher them through the door.

'Wait, professor,' Harry said. 'Lady Rebekah was an incredibly powerful witch. How did Ron kill her?'

Dumbledore looked thoughtful. 'I must suppose,' he said at length, 'that it was as in other cases like this, in that the spell was made powerful enough through love and despair.'

At these words tears welled up in Hermione's eyes again.

'He truly loved me,' she whispered. 'He loved me and I kissed him but I didn't love him.'

At this point Harry felt too dismal for his hope to flare again, so he ignored what she said and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other so that he could leave that place and sleep for a long, long time. When they reached the door, Dumbledore said, 'Harry, can I speak to you a moment?'

Harry stopped accordingly and Hermione continued down the stairs to wait for him in the corridor.

'You have been given a second chance, Harry,' Dumbledore said seriously. 'Don't lose her again.'

'Ok,' Harry said slowly, completely confused as to what Dumbledore was on about. He turned and drifted down the stairs. At the bottom Hermione was looking as exhausted as he felt.

'Come on, 'Mione,' he said tiredly. 'Let's go to bed.'

Hermione nodded and let him put his arm around her shoulders as they moved slowly down the corridor.

When they reached the common room, Harry made for the boys' dorm, but stopped when Hermione called after him.

'Harry?'

'Yes?'

'Don't leave me,' Hermione said tearfully. 'Stay down here with me.'

Harry blinked. 'Okay.'

He went over to a sofa and flopped down onto it, barely able to keep his eyes open. However, his eyes snapped open when he felt Hermione wrap her arms around him and sigh into his chest.

After a few moments of silence, Hermione said, 'What happened?' Harry made a confused sound. 'You know,' Hermione said. 'What did he say before he died? How did he die?'

Harry took a deep breath. 'He said, 'I'm sorry, Harry. Love her for me.' And then he performed the Unforgivable.and he died.'

Hermione was silent for a long time. Eventually she said, 'Do you love me, Harry?'

He was surprised by the question. 'You know I love you,' he answered.

Hermione tilted her head up to look into his eyes. 'Would you die for me?'

'As many times as was needed,' he said sincerely. He kissed her forehead. To his great surprise, she started crying again.

'Oh, Harry,' she sobbed. 'I feel so awful. He loved me so much, so, so much, and now he's dead and I feel so guilty because,' she paused to catch her breath. 'Because I've loved you all along.'

Harry stared at her in shock. He hardly dared to believe it: after all this time, the girl he loved had told him that she loved him too. He remembered Ron's last words, 'love her for me,' and he pressed his mouth against hers, tasting salty tears. She pushed herself up on her arms and kissed him back, glad to know she was finally doing something right for her.

~The End~

And that, my angels, is the end of another story. *sniff sniff.* I feel quite strange about finishing this one actually. When I finished The Secret Within I felt kinda drained, but with this one I just feel a kind of 'something missing'. Probably cuz it's taken so so long to complete.

Um, also, I don't know if I explained everything. If there's anything specifically missing, email me or ask me in the review and I'll answer your questions.

My thanks to Amanda; to Alex, always; to Andrea, who loved this story; to Cindy, Bubbles_123, Lady Priestess (what a cool name!), Starry-eyes184, Kimmie, Mistress Marchfly and Catrina for all reviewing this story; and to Emma.