Chapter 10: Celebrating and Remembering
Hermione felt herself floating in a purple light. Sometimes it went to white when she opened her eyes more. Her body was so cold and she couldn't even shiver. But slowly, very slowly, she felt her body began to warm up. The heat began at her toes and finger tips, and then began to move up and inward towards the center of her body. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and the light faded to reveal a white high ceiling. She turned her head and realized that she was lying in a bed in the hospital wing. She hoped all that had happen had been a dream that she had been in a coma for a few weeks. She saw there were several comfy overstuffed chairs surrounding her bed. Some of the chairs where covered with thick warm colorful blankets and two had books sitting on them. The white sheets of her bed were tangled around her and she pulled them off of her. She was wearing a long thick white night gown. She needed to have a nice long bath. She was sweaty, her muscles ached, her joints were sore, and if she moved too much her stab wounds bleed a little bit. She noticed that she had been stabbed twice in the shoulder and three times in the chest and stomach area. The one on her lower left side was the worst the rest barely bled when she moved. There was starving but what made her worry is that there were no other injured people in the hospital wing.
"Thank goodness you are finally awake," Said Madam Pomfrey but her voice was very gentle and motherly. She came and checked Hermione and then did a spell to make sure everything inside was okay too. She gave Hermione a bright smile, "Miss Granger I must say you have always been a fast healer and this account has been no different."
"How long have I been asleep?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, dear it had been awhile," She said sadly, "It has been about 9 weeks." Hermione felt her eyes go wide and her heart drop. Just then she saw Dumbledore come into the wing, he worn a smile and his eyes twinkled.
"Poppy would you please excuse us," He said and then looked at Hermione, "I am sure Miss Granger has many questions." Madam Pomfrey smiled and nodded before walking away. Dumbledore sat down on a blue chair near her and gave him a sigh. "Like I said before, Hermione, I am sure you have a lot of questions."
"So all the things that happened this year really did happen?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, Hermione, I am afraid they have." Dumbledore said gravely the twinkle no longer in his eyes.
"The Grangers?" She asked while leaning against her pillows so she was sitting up.
"The trial has taken place and they were sentenced," He trailed off and she understood and didn't push it any further.
"How about Harry?" She asked very quietly. She truly hadn't meant to ask that question since she was afraid of the answer. But, the words had just spilled out of her mouth. She also had to make sure what she remember was the truth or if Harry had yet again escaped death.
"Your memories are safe to trust." Dumbledore said. Hermione felt her heart break and felt tear come to her eyes. Dumbledore got up and help Hermione so that she was lying down again. "Get some more rest. We are having a special ceremony in two days. Rest, so you can attend." He waved his hand and a new red and gold night gown appeared followed clean white bed sheets. He patted her unwounded left shoulder and turned to leave.
"Sir," She asked quickly and he turn back around and looked at her, "What happened to Voldemort?"
"Your spell killed him, forever this time." He said and then turned and walked out of the hospital wing. Hermione stared at the ceiling trying to process everything that had happened. Then she found herself suddenly very tired and soon she closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.
* * *
Hermione awoke again to a soft snoring beside her bed. When she opened her eyes she saw a familiar red-head young boy sleeping in a chair. His head was leaning against the back of the chair and his mouth was hanging open. Hermione practically flew out of her bed and embraced Ron in a huge hug. Ron, on the other hand, was ready to defend himself when he realized who it was and hugged her back. Then he realized she was bleeding from her side and rushed her back into bed. Hermione let go when he placed her back into the bed and realized her mistake. She said a healing spell and fixed her wound and then used a cleaning spell to get the blood off Ron's robes. He stared at her his mouth hanging open.
"My wandless magic has gotten better since you been away." She said sheepishly.
"Ah, duh!" He responded and Hermione giggled at his attitude.
"So how was America? When did you get back? What do you know? What is the press saying? Were you or any one else attacked? Is your family okay?" She said all in one breath and rather quickly and Ron was left to figure out what out what she had just said.
"America was great, I just got back today because the ministry wasn't letting anyone travel for a while, I know about everything thanks to my parents and Remus, no we weren't attacked over in the States, and my family is fine well, except for Ginny of course." He said.
"How is she?" Hermione asked quietly, after Ginny was St. Mungo's she hadn't received a letter from anyone is the Weasley family. "Does your mum hate me too much?"
"Mione, you know that wasn't your fault. My mum thinks you hate us." He said, "There hasn't been a change in Ginny though."
"How could you mum ever think that?" Hermione said tears running down her pale cheeks. "You guys are family to me. I sometimes almost call you mum, mum." Ron leaned over and hugged her tight a bright smile on her face.
"She will be glad to hear that." Ron said as he hugged his best friend tear also running down his cheeks.
* * *
Hermione slowly looked around the grounds of Hogwarts. The students and their families were standing on the very grounds that the battle had taken place over a month ago. The grass was just starting to grow back. Dumbledore had decided to let it grow back naturally. Everyone knew that she had been the one to destroy Voldemort, she had read the stories that her friends had clipped from the Daily Prophet. Dumbledore had asked her to give a speech for the memorial ceremony. She had only a few hours to prepare the speech but she didn't even try, she was going to speak from her heart. There were several people on raised dais, Dumbledore, McGonagall, the new Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley, her father Serveus Snape, her uncle Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and a few other ministry officials. She saw Draco and his mother sitting out in the crowd, they were both finally free of Lucius' control. Draco had ended up being the one to kill him and took no pleasure in doing it. Behind the dais was a tall black marble monument with, the people who died names in it. The names were done in thin beautiful platinum letters; Harry's name was exactly in the middle of the monument. The monument was two simple interlinking ovals. Each over was outlined with a line of thin platinum. It was beautiful in its simplicity and was Dean Thomas who designed it. Hermione's appearance hadn't changed since that night had stayed the same. She still had the dark brown hair with dark red mixed in and her eyes were still amber in color. She waited until Dumbledore had finished speaking and announced her,
"And now to say a few words and officiate this memorial, Miss Hermione Granger." Then he went over and took his seat next to McGonagall. Hermione stood up the wind gently blew her school robes. She walked up and stood behind the magical podium and took a long deep breath. The late February breeze blew her robes and hair slightly. It was surprising very warm, for this early in the year. The sun was shining beautifully and brilliantly casting warmth down upon them. It warmed both them and the marble monument and she was somewhat nervous. This was the only thing in her life, except the battle, that she hadn't planned for and for that reason it seemed right not to plan for it. She saw Mrs. Weasley sitting next to Mrs. Malfoy, they held hands. They were friends that were finally reunited. They all watched her waiting for her to begin. Reports were waiting to capture very word, since she was the one that destroyed Voldemort. She took a long deep breath.
"December 21, 2004 is a date that will be burned into our minds forever. No matter if we were here on that night or not. But, for those of us that were here will have more then a date burned into our minds. Today we are here to honor the people who fought for freedom on that day, people who lived and died for it. For they are the ones who we must remember because are truly the most selfless hero's of the battle, of this war. On that day people lost mothers, fathers, sisters, bothers, and people that they loved. Some of us watched those people die right in front of our eyes, but the sun did rise. We must use that simple fact to get us through the hardest moments in out lives. The moments when we missed them the most, that no matter what happens the sun will rise. They gave their lives for peace, so they did not die in vain and that is something we have to be thankful for. Their deaths were not in vain, even if it does not help the pain it will help us heal. The people whose names are on the moment behind me are the ones who won this war. They gave up everything and they faced death head on. But history has shown that these people don't always make it into the history books, the most heroic people in the battle. So we will make sure the world remembers, we will make sure the future remembers them. I know that we won't forget them, that I won't forget them." By this time Hermione had tears running down her cheeks and she wasn't the only one.
* * *
They were in the great hall celebrating Voldemort's fall. There were a lot of small round tables spread out around the hall, just like it was her 4th year at the Yule Ball. People were talking, toasting, and just being there for each other. When ever someone headed her way she would duck into the shadow and make her way into some other part of the hall.
"You can't shut yourself off from the world," said a voice. She turned and there stood Draco.
"I am not shutting myself off from the world." She snapped at him.
"He is dead Hermione," Draco said and tried to wrap her into a hug, "Harry is dead." Hermione pulled away from him quickly and looked him in the eyes.
"I know Draco. I was there just after it happened." She said wrapping her own arms around her body.
"But do you realize that he is dead," He started, "I have seen you looking at the doors, hope in your eyes. You are waiting for him to come in and say it was all a big mistake."
"So what!" She said, she wasn't yelling but her voice was filled with emotion.
"He is dead and he is not coming back." Draco said. Finally she let the tears fall. The real tears the ones that would bring her pain out with him. It finally sunk in that Harry was really dead. She was crying so bad that her body was shaking and Draco wrapped his arms around her and this time she let him. She rested her head on his shoulder and asked him a simple question,
"Draco, why do you make me cry?" He gently kissed her right temple and held her tighter.
"So I can always be there to wipe away your tears." He replied and then rested his head on hers.
Hermione felt herself floating in a purple light. Sometimes it went to white when she opened her eyes more. Her body was so cold and she couldn't even shiver. But slowly, very slowly, she felt her body began to warm up. The heat began at her toes and finger tips, and then began to move up and inward towards the center of her body. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and the light faded to reveal a white high ceiling. She turned her head and realized that she was lying in a bed in the hospital wing. She hoped all that had happen had been a dream that she had been in a coma for a few weeks. She saw there were several comfy overstuffed chairs surrounding her bed. Some of the chairs where covered with thick warm colorful blankets and two had books sitting on them. The white sheets of her bed were tangled around her and she pulled them off of her. She was wearing a long thick white night gown. She needed to have a nice long bath. She was sweaty, her muscles ached, her joints were sore, and if she moved too much her stab wounds bleed a little bit. She noticed that she had been stabbed twice in the shoulder and three times in the chest and stomach area. The one on her lower left side was the worst the rest barely bled when she moved. There was starving but what made her worry is that there were no other injured people in the hospital wing.
"Thank goodness you are finally awake," Said Madam Pomfrey but her voice was very gentle and motherly. She came and checked Hermione and then did a spell to make sure everything inside was okay too. She gave Hermione a bright smile, "Miss Granger I must say you have always been a fast healer and this account has been no different."
"How long have I been asleep?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, dear it had been awhile," She said sadly, "It has been about 9 weeks." Hermione felt her eyes go wide and her heart drop. Just then she saw Dumbledore come into the wing, he worn a smile and his eyes twinkled.
"Poppy would you please excuse us," He said and then looked at Hermione, "I am sure Miss Granger has many questions." Madam Pomfrey smiled and nodded before walking away. Dumbledore sat down on a blue chair near her and gave him a sigh. "Like I said before, Hermione, I am sure you have a lot of questions."
"So all the things that happened this year really did happen?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, Hermione, I am afraid they have." Dumbledore said gravely the twinkle no longer in his eyes.
"The Grangers?" She asked while leaning against her pillows so she was sitting up.
"The trial has taken place and they were sentenced," He trailed off and she understood and didn't push it any further.
"How about Harry?" She asked very quietly. She truly hadn't meant to ask that question since she was afraid of the answer. But, the words had just spilled out of her mouth. She also had to make sure what she remember was the truth or if Harry had yet again escaped death.
"Your memories are safe to trust." Dumbledore said. Hermione felt her heart break and felt tear come to her eyes. Dumbledore got up and help Hermione so that she was lying down again. "Get some more rest. We are having a special ceremony in two days. Rest, so you can attend." He waved his hand and a new red and gold night gown appeared followed clean white bed sheets. He patted her unwounded left shoulder and turned to leave.
"Sir," She asked quickly and he turn back around and looked at her, "What happened to Voldemort?"
"Your spell killed him, forever this time." He said and then turned and walked out of the hospital wing. Hermione stared at the ceiling trying to process everything that had happened. Then she found herself suddenly very tired and soon she closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.
* * *
Hermione awoke again to a soft snoring beside her bed. When she opened her eyes she saw a familiar red-head young boy sleeping in a chair. His head was leaning against the back of the chair and his mouth was hanging open. Hermione practically flew out of her bed and embraced Ron in a huge hug. Ron, on the other hand, was ready to defend himself when he realized who it was and hugged her back. Then he realized she was bleeding from her side and rushed her back into bed. Hermione let go when he placed her back into the bed and realized her mistake. She said a healing spell and fixed her wound and then used a cleaning spell to get the blood off Ron's robes. He stared at her his mouth hanging open.
"My wandless magic has gotten better since you been away." She said sheepishly.
"Ah, duh!" He responded and Hermione giggled at his attitude.
"So how was America? When did you get back? What do you know? What is the press saying? Were you or any one else attacked? Is your family okay?" She said all in one breath and rather quickly and Ron was left to figure out what out what she had just said.
"America was great, I just got back today because the ministry wasn't letting anyone travel for a while, I know about everything thanks to my parents and Remus, no we weren't attacked over in the States, and my family is fine well, except for Ginny of course." He said.
"How is she?" Hermione asked quietly, after Ginny was St. Mungo's she hadn't received a letter from anyone is the Weasley family. "Does your mum hate me too much?"
"Mione, you know that wasn't your fault. My mum thinks you hate us." He said, "There hasn't been a change in Ginny though."
"How could you mum ever think that?" Hermione said tears running down her pale cheeks. "You guys are family to me. I sometimes almost call you mum, mum." Ron leaned over and hugged her tight a bright smile on her face.
"She will be glad to hear that." Ron said as he hugged his best friend tear also running down his cheeks.
* * *
Hermione slowly looked around the grounds of Hogwarts. The students and their families were standing on the very grounds that the battle had taken place over a month ago. The grass was just starting to grow back. Dumbledore had decided to let it grow back naturally. Everyone knew that she had been the one to destroy Voldemort, she had read the stories that her friends had clipped from the Daily Prophet. Dumbledore had asked her to give a speech for the memorial ceremony. She had only a few hours to prepare the speech but she didn't even try, she was going to speak from her heart. There were several people on raised dais, Dumbledore, McGonagall, the new Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley, her father Serveus Snape, her uncle Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and a few other ministry officials. She saw Draco and his mother sitting out in the crowd, they were both finally free of Lucius' control. Draco had ended up being the one to kill him and took no pleasure in doing it. Behind the dais was a tall black marble monument with, the people who died names in it. The names were done in thin beautiful platinum letters; Harry's name was exactly in the middle of the monument. The monument was two simple interlinking ovals. Each over was outlined with a line of thin platinum. It was beautiful in its simplicity and was Dean Thomas who designed it. Hermione's appearance hadn't changed since that night had stayed the same. She still had the dark brown hair with dark red mixed in and her eyes were still amber in color. She waited until Dumbledore had finished speaking and announced her,
"And now to say a few words and officiate this memorial, Miss Hermione Granger." Then he went over and took his seat next to McGonagall. Hermione stood up the wind gently blew her school robes. She walked up and stood behind the magical podium and took a long deep breath. The late February breeze blew her robes and hair slightly. It was surprising very warm, for this early in the year. The sun was shining beautifully and brilliantly casting warmth down upon them. It warmed both them and the marble monument and she was somewhat nervous. This was the only thing in her life, except the battle, that she hadn't planned for and for that reason it seemed right not to plan for it. She saw Mrs. Weasley sitting next to Mrs. Malfoy, they held hands. They were friends that were finally reunited. They all watched her waiting for her to begin. Reports were waiting to capture very word, since she was the one that destroyed Voldemort. She took a long deep breath.
"December 21, 2004 is a date that will be burned into our minds forever. No matter if we were here on that night or not. But, for those of us that were here will have more then a date burned into our minds. Today we are here to honor the people who fought for freedom on that day, people who lived and died for it. For they are the ones who we must remember because are truly the most selfless hero's of the battle, of this war. On that day people lost mothers, fathers, sisters, bothers, and people that they loved. Some of us watched those people die right in front of our eyes, but the sun did rise. We must use that simple fact to get us through the hardest moments in out lives. The moments when we missed them the most, that no matter what happens the sun will rise. They gave their lives for peace, so they did not die in vain and that is something we have to be thankful for. Their deaths were not in vain, even if it does not help the pain it will help us heal. The people whose names are on the moment behind me are the ones who won this war. They gave up everything and they faced death head on. But history has shown that these people don't always make it into the history books, the most heroic people in the battle. So we will make sure the world remembers, we will make sure the future remembers them. I know that we won't forget them, that I won't forget them." By this time Hermione had tears running down her cheeks and she wasn't the only one.
* * *
They were in the great hall celebrating Voldemort's fall. There were a lot of small round tables spread out around the hall, just like it was her 4th year at the Yule Ball. People were talking, toasting, and just being there for each other. When ever someone headed her way she would duck into the shadow and make her way into some other part of the hall.
"You can't shut yourself off from the world," said a voice. She turned and there stood Draco.
"I am not shutting myself off from the world." She snapped at him.
"He is dead Hermione," Draco said and tried to wrap her into a hug, "Harry is dead." Hermione pulled away from him quickly and looked him in the eyes.
"I know Draco. I was there just after it happened." She said wrapping her own arms around her body.
"But do you realize that he is dead," He started, "I have seen you looking at the doors, hope in your eyes. You are waiting for him to come in and say it was all a big mistake."
"So what!" She said, she wasn't yelling but her voice was filled with emotion.
"He is dead and he is not coming back." Draco said. Finally she let the tears fall. The real tears the ones that would bring her pain out with him. It finally sunk in that Harry was really dead. She was crying so bad that her body was shaking and Draco wrapped his arms around her and this time she let him. She rested her head on his shoulder and asked him a simple question,
"Draco, why do you make me cry?" He gently kissed her right temple and held her tighter.
"So I can always be there to wipe away your tears." He replied and then rested his head on hers.
